You may have heard there was an SMB road crew heading to SXSW this year, and making stops in 4 Midwest cities.  That team is Albert Maruggi and myself.  I’m glad to finally be able to post a bit about our experience on the drive down.  The two and a half day trip allowed us to stop and meet with folks in some great places and learn new things about the social media community around the country.

On our trip to Austin, we stopped in the following cities:

• Des Moines, IA – March 10th at the Raccoon River Brewing Company (RSVP)
• Omaha, NE – March 10th at the Caffeine Dream (RSVP)
• Kansas City, MO – March 11th at the Kansas City Cafe (RSVP)
• Wichita, KS – March 12th at The Donut Hole (RSVP)

Along the way we’ve had some great conversations with folks who’ve faced the same challenges and opportunities that everyone has with social media, and learned a bit about how they approach them.  The meetups in Kansas City and Wichita were especially great with the entire group engaged in the conversation.  Kind of reminds me of the early days of the Minneapolis/St. Paul meetups where 30-40 folks would be engaged in a round table discussion. Very fun.

We happened to capture the Kansas City meetup on video, which you can find at http://www.twitterface.com/sxswroadtrip.

Here’s a few more pics from the road.

So that’s the first couple days. We’re deep into SXSW at the moment and are currently prepping the SMB SXSW Breakfast as I write this.  More info, pics, vids and such from that tomorrow.  Thanks everyone, and thank you Bryan Person for creating something so unique that we keep coming back – and keep growing!

Regards – Rick Mahn

For December, host/producer Brad Bellaver and SMBMSP organizers Rick Mahn and Mykl Roventine welcome Lindsi Gish, communications manager at Second Harvest Heartland, on a “very special holiday show.”

Enjoy the discussion–and other holiday treats!

Other special guests:
Bing Crosby (Toby Cryns | @TobyCryns)
Santa Claus (Phil Wilson | @Philson )

Additional links:
SMBMSP CafePress Store
SMBMSP Ning site

Music:
“White Christmas” – Esquivel
“Frosty the Snowman” – Toby Cryns

This month we’ll be talking about online reputation management with two of Minnesota’s thought leaders on the subject.  Both Greg Swan (@perfectporridge) and Christopher Lower (@MrChristopherL) will talk about online reputation management in both large and small organizations.  Come and learn about the important aspects of monitoring your brands, and measuring community reach.

We’re also looking forward to hosting Social Media Breakfast founder, Bryan Person for his first visit to SMBMSP.  Bryan will be giving us some background on the history of SMB and where he sees the organization going in the future.

Details

• Date: Friday, May 22nd, 2009
• Time: 8AM to 10AM (CT)
• Location: Concordia University – St. Paul, MN
• Address: Concordia University Library Technology Center, 1282 Concordia Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104 (Map) (Campus Map)
• RSVP: smbmsp15.eventbright.com

Agenda

• 8:00 to 8:15 – Coffee & Networking
• 8:15 to 9:15 – Online Reputation Management (Greg Swan, Christopher Lower)
• 9:15 to 9:45 – SMB History & Future Trends (Bryan Person)
• 9:45 to 10:00 – Networking

Speakers

Greg Swan

Greg’s experience with the Internet, social media, emerging media and how specific audience groups interact online provides Weber Shandwick clients valuable strategy, insight and counsel as they consider a standalone viral campaign or expanding a brand or product launch using new media. An expert at monitoring blogosphere buzz, Greg uses this expertise to inform client campaigns on brand, product and trend issues. (@PerfectPorridge on Twitter)

Christopher Lower

Christopher is behind Social Media campaigns for over a dozen clients such as: moto-i, Baja Sol, Curry Up, The Bailey Group, Hospitality Minnesota, The Minnesota Restaurant Association, The Minnesota Lodging Association, & The MN Campground & Resort Association.  Christopher has over 17 years of Marketing, Sales, PR, & Copywriting, and 10 years of focus on emerging web technologies and their use in marketing. (@MrChristopherL on Twitter)

Bryan Person

Bryan Person is a social media evangelist for LiveWorld, Inc., a company that builds, manages, and moderates online communities for leading brands. In his role, Bryan writes and speaks about the latest trends and best practices in social media. (@BryanPerson on Twitter)

Sponsors

Location:

NOTE: About parking, ramp parking is available and the gate will be open from 7:30-8am. Before/after that just press the assistance button and say you’re here for SMB
There will be bagels, coffee and bacon

Agenda:

• Supercharged Personal Branding
  by Mykl Roventine
  What do you need to think about to build "Brand You?" It doesn’t matter what industry you belong or aspire to, everyone has a brand. Being able to define and convey your unique brand will become necessary skills as the explosive growth of the social web continues. The alternative is to be lost in the digital shuffle. Far from being complicated, there are simple lessons that can be applied immediately to get started. Tools, tips and common sense techniques will be explored to help harness your brand now and well into the future. To jump-start the process, a Holly Iverson, of Holly Marie Photography, will be on hand to take free avatar photos of attendees. Feel free to dress up above the waist.
  

  Mykl Roventine is a Senior Interactive Designer at Allianz Life and self-proclaimed social media junkie. He designs things like web sites and social media strategies, drinks lots of coffee, runs the Minneapolis chapter of TechKaraoke and blogs at myklroventine.com.

  Holly Iverson started Holly Marie Photography (hollymarie-photography.com) about 2 years ago after graduating with a BFA from the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, MN. Always trying to learn more and push herself, she strives for fabulous photography.

• What Matters With Twitter, an in-depth look at 2 Million Tweets
  by Scott Pete
  These days it seems that the Twitter metric given the most attention is Follower Count. But is that what really matters? In this presentation, we will explore how Twitter is being used by a group of 300 "Tweeters" over the past 5 months, to build their personal brand and/or support their business. This hand selected group includes 100 high volume users, 50 thought leading businesses, as well as 250 authors/speakers, business coaches, and marketers.
  

  Scott Pete is part of the sales team at August Ash, Inc. – a Minneapolis Internet Marketing and Web Development firm. He has over 20 years of experience working within marketing agencies, end user environments, and as a freelance consultant in the Internet Marketing space. He specializes in the innovative application of technology to drive business results. His Web site is www.scottpete.com

• The Scoop on Skimmer
  by representatives of Fallon, TBA
  Skimmer is an Adobe® AIR™ desktop application designed to streamline, beautify, and enhance the experience of participating in your most frequently used social networking activities. It improves upon your day-to-day interaction with multiple social networks, removing distractions and providing a rich experience that is particularly suited to multimedia content.

Organizers:

Rick Mahn, Mykl Roventine

Sponsors:

At #SMBMSP 13, we’ll be talking about Community Managers and their role in brining value in today’s challenging economic times.

This event is the morning event of a one-two community manager discussion Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul. The second half is the MIMA The New Deal: Recession-Era Marketing and the Rise of Social Media panel discussion which will be held in the evening.  Be sure not to miss that either!

Details:
Location: St. Paul Pool & Yacht Club (Map)
Date: March 18th, 2009
Time: 8am to 10am
RSVP: http://smbmsp.ning.com/events/smbmsp-13-community-managers

So come chew the (bacon) fat with us on the role of a community manager, what they bring in a down economy, and how they can help new & existing brands or companies.

I’d like to thank Albert Maruggi of Provident Partners and MarketWire for their sponsorship of this event!

Thursday, February 19, 2009
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Aloft Hotel
900 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis (Map)
(parking available in adjacent Guthrie ramp)

RSVP: http://smbmsp.ning.com/events/smbmsp-12-one-year-of-smb

Join the top interactive professionals in the Twin Cities at this pre-conference networking event (think “The Justice League” – but with less superpowers and more bacon).

We’ll talk about the SXSW conference and its’ anticipated impact on the local interactive scene and identify ways to keep our Minnesota friends who can’t attend the conference in the loop.

One lucky attendee will win two free registrations (and many, many new “best friends”), to the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival, so bring your business cards.

We’ll also be celebrating one year of smbmsp magic (bacon + birthday cake?). So after we talk about the future, we’ll take a look back on the highlights of the past year.

A timely topic, the January 2009 SMBMSP brought recruiter Paul DeBettignies in as the topic leader for the morning.  Paul demonstrated several techniques and tools to augment your job search in our troubled economic times. You can find Paul’s recap of his presentation on our SMBMSP Ning social network.

And appreciated it was – over half the attendees at this event were new to the Social Media Breakfast experience – many of whom are now in the job market because of recent high-profile layoffs here in Minneapolis.

Our audience of over 100 last Friday was welcomed by, and SMBMSP was hosted by the Minneapolis Central Library.

Thank you to our sponsor this month was Gimigo (thank you Lukas!), who brought in food and beverages for the group.

Thank you to our sponsors, our speakers & presenters, and everyone who continues to participate and make SMBMSP such a great, powerful event.  Much more to come!

We will be meeting at the Lake Elmo Inn Event Center, where we’ll have a full breakfast buffet with all your breakfast favorites (including bacon!), served during the entire event.  The Lake Elmo Inn has great food, and is a consistent reader’s choice winner in Mpls./St. Paul Magazine, with great facilities and excellent food.

This is a pay event and costs $20 per person. Registration will be open through Dec. 16th and there are only 60 seats available, so don’t wait! Click Here to Register

We’ll be having a great morning with the story of Ratchet, related by Katie Konrath.  If you didn’t hear the story, it’s one of community, social media, and compassion coming together to make something happen.  One of the great examples of our interest and commitment to social media on a personal level.

Also, we will have an “open mic” for you to share your stories from past events, or to talk about things that Social Media Breakfast has enabled for you.  Tell folks what exciting new ideas you’re working on  or what you do.

Along with that, we’ll have much more time to talk and trade stories on a more intimate setting, with smaller groups and less pressure to adhere to an agenda.  Bring your ideas or stories and share with the folks at your table or the one next to you.

So come enjoy our most exciting event, our 10th event in Minneapolis & St. Paul, our first full breakfast, and probably the best chance to simply connect with more of the SMBMSP crowd than you’ve had a chance to previously.

I look forward to seeing everyone who can make it!  If you want to make it, but don’t have a ride lined up, direct message or “@” smbmsp on Twitter and we’ll do our best to connect a some folks together

When:
Friday, December 19th, 2008 from 8am to 10am

Where:
Lake Elmo Inn Event Center
3712 Layton Ave. N.
Lake Elmo, MN 55402

View Larger Map

What better way to wrap up the month of October and start your Halloween weekend than to meet up with your local social media peeps? How about how about a chance to talk social media with the bestselling author of the hit book The New Rules of Marketing & PR: David Meerman Scott? In addition we’ll have a chance to talk with startup entrepreneur Steve Nielsen, President & CEO PartnerUp, a Deluxe Corporation Company.

The fine folks at Fallon will talk about their Twitter campaign for SciFi’s “Eureka”. Each attendee will get a free copy of David’s Book (up to 100 attendees), which he’ll be happy to sign — courtesy of our friends at New Horizons Computer Learning Centers.

Event Info:

• Where: Deluxe Corporate Headquarters, 3680 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, MN 55126 (Map it!)
• When: October 31st, 2008 from 8am to 10am

Agenda:

• David Meerman Scott – “Thought Leadership & Viral Marketing Strategist”
  • Each attendee will get a free copy of David’s Book (up to
    100 attendees), which he’ll be happy to sign — courtesy of
    our friends at New Horizons Computer Learning Centers.
    (link: www.nhmn.com)
• Steve Nielsen, President & CEO PartnerUp, a Deluxe Corporation Company.
• Fallon folks talks about their Twitter campaign for SciFi’s “Eureka”
  
• Post-Networking with David, Steve, and everyone else!
• Our continuing conversation on social media in Minneapolis & St. Paul

RSVP at our EventBrite page:
http://smbmsp8.eventbrite.com/
Sponsors:

We’ll be meeting at the Best Buy headquarters in Richfield, MN again this time and will welcome the co-founder of Blue Shirt Nation, Gary Koelling who’s going to share some stories and background on Best Buy social media initiatives like BSN, Gift Tag and so on.

We’ll also talk about social media "Purists" vs. "Corporatists" in the enterprise, take a quick look at the SMBMSP social media site on Ning, and hear from ThreeVolts about web video. We’ll see you there!

• Location: Best Buy (yes, again – I’ll try to keep the suits out
• Date: September 19th, 2008
• Time: 8am to 10am
• RSVP: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1084480/

Agenda:

• Gary Koelling, co-founder of Best Buy’s BlueShirtNation will talk about BSN and GiftTag
• Group question: Social Media "Purists" vs. the "Corporatists" in the enterprise. What’s your take?
• Three Volts will talk about web video and it’s use by companies
• Conferences – Who’s going and why (BlogWorld Expo, DEMO, Defrag, SXSW)
• Local event/meetup update – what’s coming up & details on SMBMSP8.
• Social Media Breakfast needs a logo! Lets start submitting samples – we’ll talk a bit and define some requirements.
• Announcement: We have a bacon sponsor!!!

Breakfast sponsored by:

Chat:

We’re going to try using a Meebo room that should work better from behind company firewalls. We couldn’t connect to the chat room from the event last time and missed a lot of "back channel" discussions. Let us know what you think!

http://www.meebo.com/room/smbmsp/

Video:

We’ll be using our Mogulus video channel again this time, and we expect better video performance this time. We’ll be limiting the number of cams and the number of folks at the event watching the feed while they’re there. This should help the outgoing stream and our recording abilities!

http://www.mogulus.com/smpmsp

Social Media Breakfast & Social Media Club

Local conversations, with national connections!