Last week I attended a kick off reception for the Maker Faire that will be visiting Detroit and The Henry Ford Museum this summer. I will admit, my immediate impression of the Maker Faire is that it was just a chance for people to show off the stuff they built in their garage.
However, I learned that inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries are at the core of this event.
The speakers stressed the importance of trying new things. Of experimenting and tinkering to find solutions and discoveries. In this day and age this more important than ever, and when it comes to the social web, this is equally important.
Social Media doesn’t fit into a box. It is an organic medium that constantly evolves.
This requires us, the handlers, to tinker and experiment with it.
There are many pieces that make up the social web and it requires a bit of discovery to find the best solutions for your clients. Now this may go against the grain and it is fair to say that clients may not want to pay you to experiment, but there really is no other way for it to work.
Social Media is not the silver bullet solution. It is but one component of the overall branding and marketing strategy. And though it may seem like a waste of time to experiment, the social web pays back those who take the time to discover its strengths. Like the inventors at Maker Faire, their value is in finding what works through trail and error. By taking the time to discover solutions, they invent and create things that couldn’t have happened without going through that process.
Throw it against the wall. Pay attention to what sticks and build off that.
That is not to say that you shouldn’t discount the importance of strategy. Social Media will eat you alive if you play with it blind. You do need to outline objectives and goals of what you want to accomplish using social media.
Just don’t forget that within that well defined and outlined strategy you leave room to tinker.
Image taken by Jon Wisby
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maker faire,
michigan,
social media,
social web,
strategy
Even in these days of all-online-all-the-time, sometimes it’s just good for the soul to actually get together with friends, co-workers, relatives
and others who share some common interest or goal.
Earlier this month, I participated in the Relay for Life in Redford. I walked in memory of my brother, who was only 55 when he lost his battle with lung cancer. The relay is a 24-hour event and a person representing each team must be walking on the track during that period. The weather certainly did not cooperate - most of the evening it was pouring rain. Eventually, when tornado sirens sounded, the organizers sent everyone home to return in the am.
It may have been wet, but the weather did not put a damper on the spirit of the event. We celebrated 83 survivors and we remembered 652 loved ones. A lot of money was raised by 30 teams in the fight against cancer: $70,991 and still counting! My team came in second place. With only 12 members, we raised close to $6,000!
I have lots of generous co-workers, friends and family to thank who helped me contribute to this amount. It felt good to get involved and to try to make a difference! You should log off and try it sometime.
Posted in
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social media Tags:
Cancer Society,
charitable events,
Relay For Life,
social interaction
Last week I was very fortunate to speak at Tedx Lansing, an independently organized TED event. The conference showcase some of the regions brightest minds including, Bob Fish, Allie Merrick, and Karl Gude.
I wanted to share my passion I have for not only our region, but for Michigan as a whole. We’ve done a great job isolating ourselves, but now it is time to tear down our garden walls and reclaim our brand.
Below is my presentation. All presenters can be found at TEDx Talks.
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events,
lansing,
michigan,
movement,
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ted,
tedx,
tedxannarbor,
tedxdetroit,
tedxlansing
The brains behind the team that developed President Obama’s official iPhone application for his presidential campaign – Raven Zachary – is at the top of an industry that never existed up until two years ago. Zachary will travel to Ann Arbor in September, to inspire Michigan residents to reinvent and innovate. Ann Arbor Ad Club, in coordination with University of Michigan American Advertising Federation Student Chapter, is honored to introduce this luminary on Thursday, September 17 from 7-9 p.m., at the Michigan League. Active networking, refreshments and cash bar are available. Raven spoke at Advertising Age’s Creativity and Technology Conference in New York where tickets where $395/person. Entry into this event is free for members, $35 for the public, and $10 for students. Register at www.a2ac.org.
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Apps,
iPhone,
social media
Here are some worthwhile events to consider. We’ll be there - either speaking or attending.
May 12th: “Telling Your Story” at Ann Arbor Spark. For details and to register go here. Rhonda Huie, re:group’s creative director is a panelist.
May 12th: ‘Salute to Women’s Leadership” Noon Luncheon at Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building. Susan Martin, president of Eastern Michigan university is the featured guest speaker. The event honors, Lisa Hesse, Ann Mattson and Ellie Serras. For more information contact carey.jernigan@regroup.us.
May 21st: Atlanta Franchise Alliance. Networking with about 75-100 like-minded franchise types, at the PaperMill Grill, Atlanta, Georgia, from 5-7PM. re:group is your host. No. charge. For more information contact carey.jernigan@regroup.us.
June 2nd: Southeast Michigan Women’s Franchise Network, topic:“Innovation”. Sponsored by re:group and featuring panels Linda Girard, Pure Visibilty; Kevin Ward, uRefer; and Linda Daichendt, Strategic Growth Concepts.
Posted in
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awards,
events,
franchising,
general Tags:
creative,
event,
events,
franchise,
marketing,
social,
women,
women's marketing
Last week I attended a kick off reception for the Maker Faire that will be visiting Detroit and The Henry Ford Museum this summer. I will admit, my immediate impression of the Maker Faire is that it was just a chance for people to show off the stuff they built in their garage.