If you are like many marketers or event professionals, you are considering adding new media tools to your communication mix. While you have the best intentions, the reaction from management might be “you want to do what?”
I was fortunate to have worked for two of the best networkers in the world. Domenick Iellimo and Sally Glick both taught me the importance of networking as a business development tool. It wasn’t just about meeting people, but about helping others succeed. It’s about paying it forward. Both of these individuals, both successful in two very different industries, seem to know everyone. They are out there in the world, attending events, having lunches, having breakfast, having dinner…never alone, but with people that they could help.
If you look up the word “social” on Wikipedia, it says: The term Social refers to a characteristic of living organisms (humans in particular, though biologists also apply the term to populations of other animals). It always refers to the interaction of organisms with other organisms and to their collective co-existence, irrespective of whether they are aware of it or not, and irrespective of whether the interaction is voluntary or involuntary.
As meeting planners and associations (and the rest of the world) continue to learn about social media, many people are looking for cookie-cutter solutions. They want to attend a webinar and leave knowing exactly what they need to do to implement social media.
In mid-2009, Christina Costerasked if anyone involved in the Twitter group, #Eventprofs, was interested in producing an unconference for event professionals. With a lack of low-cost meetings for the meetings industry, I jumped at the idea. After several planning calls with Christina, Jeff Hurt, Mike McAllen and Mike McCurry, Event Camp 2010 was born.