4 Takeaways from Social Fresh Tampa

by Beatriz Alemar on February 23, 2011 · 1 comment

in Social Media

Officially checked attending a Social Fresh conference off my list of always wanted to dos! After going to the one in Tampa the past few days, I know for sure it won’t be the last one I attend either. I met many talented individuals that impressed me with their knowledge and passion – some I know will become very good friends.

Besides laying the foundations of some lasting friendships, I can describe what I learned at Social Fresh in these 4 takeaways:

1. Facebook ads are fundamentally different from Google ads. (from the Facebook Ads – How to, Tips, & Tricks session by Justin Levy)

While Google ads focus on targeting keywords and location to attract clicks, Facebook ads focus on a user’s lifestyle and their friend recommendations. Identify what your target segment would have in their profile (age, interests, likes, etc.) and use that information to filter exposure to those who would be most likely to click through.
2. “Like Gating” increases conversions on Facebook Pages. (from the Facebook Page Building: Tabs and Add-ons session by Ty Downing)

One of the best ways to use the tab features in Facebook is to set up a “like gate.” Users that haven’t liked your page will be shown a special tab and restricted access to all the other tabs you have set up including the Wall. The tab should encourage users to like the page and describe what features they can expect when they do. “Like Gating” prompts users to like the page in order to access deals, enter contests and other information you want to reserve for just your fans.
3. Companies need to focus on rewarding all individuals for checking into location based services. (from the Relevant Ideas Delivered Everywhere: Incorporating Location Based Services into Content Strategy session by Mike Schneider)

Most companies still don’t understand how to reach customers through location based services. They don’t offer any specials or if they do, they focus on the “major” (that’s exactly 1 person) and ignore the many others that go out of their way to check-in. People that check in jump through hoops to spread the word to their social networks that they do business with you. The least you can do is provide everyone with a good deal that makes them feel like a valued and included customer.
4. Nothing will ever replace face to face interactions.

That doesn’t mean that online connections are some how less important. The internet and social media bring people together with common interests that might have not otherwise met. I’m very lucky to have met the friends and mentors I have through Twitter. But, there is something to be said about sharing an experience with someone else. You both come out of it with shared memories and a reaffirmed sense of camaraderie that you just can’t get anywhere else.

Miss out on the action this time around? You can still get all the Social Fresh Tampa decks over at Slideshare. Definitely worth taking a look at.

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I should probably already be sleeping considering that I have to get up at god-awful hours of the morning tomorrow to drive to Tampa for Social Fresh. In fact, when this actually gets published, I should be in the middle of my drive! Instead of sleeping like a sane person, I wanted to share why I’m so super pumped about Social Fresh in the first place.

1. Networking

First off, the people.  As my first solo conference, Social Fresh is my first opportunity to meet a few of the people I talk to on Twitter on a regular basis all at once! People I admire, people that challenge me, people that are just plain smart! It’s been exciting to chat with them, make plans to meet up and now get to know them on a different level.

Twitter brings people together, but nothing beats face-to-face. Honestly, the interaction is the real reason people actually go to conferences. Social Fresh is no exception.

2. Great topics

The team at Social Fresh did a great job of putting together a very interesting program of speakers and topics for attendees at all different levels of expertise.

The first day is devoted to exploring Facebook – I’m particularly interested in the Facebook Page Building: Tabs and Add-ons talk by Ty Downing, the Facebook Ads talk by Justin Levy and the Facebook Analytics talk by Christopher Penn. I just hope my battery holds up for the massive note-taking and tweeting I’ll be doing during those sessions!

While the second day focuses more on social media in general, I’m looking forward to Mike Schneider‘s talk on location-based services. I’m not as knowledgeable in that area as I wish I were.  From what’s being said in the Social Fresh Facebook group, it’s gearing up to be a very dynamic talk.

3. Experience

Like I already mentioned, it’s my first solo conference. I wanted my first conference to be welcoming and not overwhelming – so far Social Fresh has already kept up its end of the bargain. Between the great Twitter list Summer Joy drafted and the active Facebook group, I already feel like part of the community, and I’m not even in Tampa yet! Very empowering way to start a conference.

All in all, the next 2 days will definitely affect my perspective – I am so looking forward to it!

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Taking the Plunge

by Beatriz Alemar on February 18, 2011 · 1 comment

in Coaching,Social Media,Start Ups

Have you ever felt super pumped about an idea that you just can’t wait to start on? You plan; you prep; you get everything in place. But, you never start. When it comes time to show your worth, you freeze – caught in the headlights of your own uncertainty.

Sound familiar?

Sounds eerily familiar to me. It’s what’s happened each and every time I’ve tried to start any major project. Be it a side job, a group or even this blog. Each time, I would plan and get so close, but when it came time to execute and make it real, I couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger. I had never done anything like it before. I didn’t know if I could succeed. And, it scared the crap out of me. As long as I didn’t make a decision, I could keep things how they were. I could potentially save myself from failing.

I was wrong.

I wasn’t saving myself from anything. I was preventing myself from doing great things. I was protecting my ego at the expense of my long-term happiness. Pretty bad trade-off if you ask me. Finally, I realized the real mistake – the real failure – isn’t failure itself. It’s not trying.

I’ve decided to take the plunge. Yes, I may fail. In fact, I can tell you I will fail many, many times. But, every time I stumble, I will have learned something new. With that knowledge, I’ll be one step closer to my goals. Will you?

Don’t let the fear of the unknown dictate how you should live your life. Embrace the fear, and take a risk. So what if you fail? It’s NOT the end of the world. You will never do anything extraordinary if you don’t get out of your comfort zone.

Take the plunge.

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