Social Media Club: No Butts About It

Yeah…I may have set a record for using the word “butt” at one social media conference.

That story in a bit, but (butt?) first — why I was there in the first place? And SPEAKING, no less! Well, the answer to that goes back to Social Fresh Tampa, and a chance meeting with Mindcomet’s and Social Enchilada Jeremy Hilton.

(Anyone else get hungry when they realize that he’s an Enchilada and I’m a Silly Tater Tot?)

At the time, Jeremy and I sat with group of other young professionals and talked about social media success stories, disasters, working with clients and more. A lot of heady conversation for a simple boxed lunch, huh? He especially got a kick out of my wonky business cards, which I’d pieced together the night before the conference. And, my cute shoes.

So, when it came time to launch Social Media Club Orlando, he seemed to think I’d be able to provide some insight into the business…or at least some entertainment value.

I’d like to think I succeeded on both fronts, although what follows is my honest evaluation of the meeting and my role in the inaugural event.

I attended the conference on behalf of the company I work for — Bolder Media Group, and specifically, GrowingBolder.com.

What’s my social media street cred?

• I am an addict of all things media — traditional, social, Web 2.0 and more. When it comes down to it, I’m a Type A that likes to have my nose in other people’s bid-nass, so social media somehow legitimizes what is, in reality, curiosity about what other people are into.

• I run three Twitter accounts (@kwidrick, @growingbolder, @ageopportunity) and five Facebook pages (personal, Growing Bolder, Growing Bolder TV, Growing Bolder Radio, Night With the Hops).

• I blog regularly, both here on KatyWidrick.com and on Bolder Media Group and Growing Bolder.

• I use social media on a daily basis to spread the word about the projects I’m involved with, and that has led to a national syndication group working with us to offer our programming across the country.

• I help moderate and train community managers for social networking platforms that we build and deliver, including GoldsGymFL.com and the Women Playing For T.I.M.E. community.

There’s more, but anything past five bullet points and I get itchy.

The first meeting of SMC Orlando focused on the pitfalls of social media, and so I shared my most recent and personal disaster — the time I made people think I’d been fired.

I also talked about my recent move from SillyTaterTot.com to KatyWidrick.com, why I think it’s important to wear cute shoes in public and raised questions about recent stories (Tiger Woods, Nestle/Greenpeace, the mine explosion).

And I answered some questions…I tried to be an instigator…I riled up the crowd.

The Good:

• Of the 77 people who RSVP’d, about 60 showed up. That’s amazing, and proves that there’s an interest in social media in the Orlando/Central Florida area.
• The panel — I think it was a good mix, from me to Christina Morton to Mark Krupinski to Jeremy Hilton. We were able to share our experiences and work off of each other pretty well.
• People in the audience seemed to be ready and willing to engage, both with the panel and each other. I love debate, and part of these conferences is about brainstorming and problem-solving.

Room for Improvement:

• Overall, I think a more structured agenda might have helped. Networking is difficult, and if you’re not the type of person who is willing to go from group to group shaking hands and saying hello, it can be difficult to connect. I wish I’d had more opportunity to talk face-t0-face with people.
• I think having the audience submit some questions/topics ahead of time might have helped — even having a moderator step in and get the crowd involved. I tried to ask some pointed questions, but I think at times they fell flat.
• Since it’s a social media event, I think we need to find a way to involve Twitter, Facebook, Flickr etc. Both during the meeting and after.

And finally, I’ll give my personal performance a B-. I spoke too much and came off a little aggressive at times, when my intention was to spark debate. I think I entertained (it’s always fun to laugh at others) and shared some usable tips for social media leadership.

Now it’s your turn — if you were at the event, what did YOU think, of both the conference and my role? Honest feedback is appreciated.

Back to the “butt” stories…I may have told some people to kick butt at social media, drag clients’ butts into social media and asked one attendee if she had to use butt glue during her bodybuilding performances. And on the way out, I warned the group that I may have gotten my nametag stuck to my butt, and worried that I would fall on my butt due to my high heels.

Oh, and while we’re confessing?

I took two sodas for the road. I feel better for having shared.

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