Yesterday’s Social Media at Work event in Harrisburg, Pa., hosted by the Harrisburg Social Media Club and founder Anne Deeter Gallaher, was a smashing success. The group delivered on its promise of “a day well spent” by connecting some of the brightest marketing thought leadership out there with many of the region’s social media and marketing practitioners.
Anne Deeter Gallaher and Deborah Weinstein
I was thrilled to meet many of my online connections in real life for the first time, including Deborah Weinstein, president of Canadian PR agency Strategic Objectives, who flew in from Toronto to participate in one of the panel discussions. For me this event was yet another manifestation of the belief I share with many that social media connections are powerful and translate to, and enhance, real world relationships.
I highly recommend joining the Harrisburg Social Media Group if you’re in the Harrisburg area, and also taking a look at the event’s website and blog, which includes some great posts on various social media topics by leaders featured at the event.
Mark W. Schaefer
One of the many highlights for me was Mark Schaefer’s keynote presentation and a late-breaking announcement about his upcoming book.
Schaefer is an illustrious thought leader in the field of marketing, and between his brainiac insight and absolutely enchanting sense of humor, he draws you right into his world.
At a post-cocktail presentation offered exclusively to the remaining, stalwart group of stragglers who really wanted to hear more, Schaefer previewed his book for the first time. Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for his Return on Influence, due out in February from McGraw-Hill.
From his new book you will learn from Schaefer how and why:
- Content is power.
- We’ve arrived at the era of the citizen influencer – and now anyone can get behind the velvet rope.
- In addition to the internet and social media, a whole new marketing channel has evolved – and that channel is “people who create buzz.”
- The social media analytics company Klout really is more important than many people think.
- Right now Klout can measure one thing, and it’s “historically important” because it’s never been measured before.
- That one thing is “the ability to move content through a system virally to influence the behavior of others.”
- The layers between marketers and their customers are about to get even more interesting, and fast. (Think mobile, augmented reality, and gamification.)
I can’t wait to get that book into my hands, and in the meantime I’m off to play catch-up by reading Schaefer’s The Tao of Twitter.
Thanks again to the Social Media Club of Harrisburg for a fantastic day well spent.
Laura:
You captured so many salient points in your post from Social Media at Work. It was wonderful to meet you IRL again! And truly, one of the most powerful benefits from social media is finding great content and then connecting with the writers, bloggers, PR professionals, CEOs. So glad you made the trip to Harrisburg. Our hashtracking report tells the story that we did indeed, with your help, shine a bright light on Harrisburg! For Mark Schaefer, Kristie Wells, Laura Duran, Hal Good, Deb Weinstein, Ryan Sauers, Shannon Zimmerman, and Joanna Phillips to fly in and drive to Harrisburg for a SM conference? That means we have Klout!! Cheers!
Anne
Indeed Anne, I for one was not disappointed to have made the trip! I’m going to go take a look at the Hashtracking report, I haven’t had a chance yet to read through all the tweets. What a wonderful day — fine work as always to you and your team. Kudos!
Thanks for coming to the event and this great post. You have the distinction of being the first blogger anywhere to feature my new book in a post … including me! Great job.
I’m thrilled to have that distinction Mark, although I’m sure I don’t deserve it! (And if I got the title of the book wrong, I guess you’re just going to have to go with whatever I said.) Thanks for your great presentation yesterday, you really put a dent in things, to borrow a Steve Jobs metaphor.
Laura, Thanks for traveling to join us yesterday! Delighted you felt it was a good investment on your time that will have ROI. There are an increasing number of good things happening in the Harrisburg business community and we’re hoping that the Harrisburg Social Media Club will help in bringing more positive attention to the state capital. And I’m especially thrilled the Mark Schaefer Fan Club has a new member!!
Absolutely, and it was great seeing you Kathy. What a great event you all provided, and your introduction of Mark was thoughtful and memorable. Thanks for all of your hard work in service of others, you’re a very special lady and I’m glad to call you my friend.