SMBME 25 – Social Media Workshop – Speed Dating Style!

At the previous Social Media Breakfast, I told you about this crazy idea I had to do a workshop style breakfast. So for SMBME 25 we gave it a whirl! A lot of you have told me how much you enjoy the breakfasts but you could use some more one on one time or an arena to ask specific questions – so that is why I wanted to try it!

We lined up some of our favorite local experts on all topics in and around the social media space and asked them to participate. We had 1-2 experts at each table for a few minutes and then they would switch to the next table. So from our seats we had direct access to an SEO expert, a blogging expert, a PR expert, a video marketing expert and more.

This was NOT a sales pitch from the experts. I just wanted us as a community to know what resources and brains we have available locally. If participants chose to follow up with someone after, that worked out great but their job was not to sell you.

This breakfast was sponsored by Mainely SEO, The Internet Educator, The Cohen Tracy Team, Catholic Charities of Maine, Mainebiz and Hall Internet Marketing.

Our Social Media Experts

Thank you so much to our local experts who came to talk to us! Check out who we had below.

Rich Brooks – Expert #1 on Blogging

Enjoys: talking about Blogging, social media, designing websites, killing zombies and long walks on the beach Company: flyte new media Location: Portland, ME Twitter: @TheRichBrooks

In My Own Words: Rich Brooks is founder and president of flyte new media, a Web design and Internet marketing firm in Portland, Maine. His monthly flyte log email newsletter and company blog focus on Web marketing topics such as search engine optimization, blogs, social media, email marketing, and building Web sites that sell. He is currently an Expert Blogger at FastCompany.com and a regular contributor at SocialMediaExaminer.com.He is a co-founder of Social Media FTW, an organization putting on conferences and events to educate small businesses and non-profits about the power of social media marketing.He is a nationally recognized speaker on blogging, internet marketing and social media. He is the “tech guru” on WCSH Channel 6’s evening news show, 207, and teaches Web marketing and social media courses for entrepreneurs at the University of Southern Maine’s Center for Continuing Education.

Chris Cavallari – Expert #2 on Video

Enjoys: talking about Video and Video Marketing, social media, gadgets, craft beer and outdoor activities (hiking, fly fishing and more) Company: Filmosity Location: Lewiston, ME Twitter: @Filmosity

In My Own Words: Chris Cavallari, owner of the award winning Filmosity Productions, is a social video maker. With more than 16 years of artistic and technical background, Chris crafts custom media pieces for his wide array of clients, from photographers to bakers, IT professionals to multi-national corporations. In 2005, Chris dipped his toes into social media, joining in the first wave of podcasters, and since then has created several successful podcasts, video series, and blogs. A community manager with a penchant for geekery, Chris shares his passions for all things craft beer, hiking, fly fishing, travel, and technology with like-minded people in search of a tribe.

Nathan O’Leary and Meg Stiffler – Expert #3 on SEO

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Enjoys: talking about SEO, Social Media, dogs, decorating their new home and sipping on Skinny Girl Margaritas. Company: Mainely SEO Location: Portland, ME Twitter: @MainelySEO

In My Own Words: Meg Stiffler manages several blogs and is the social media queen at Mainely SEO. She helps small businesses use social media, SEO and inbound marketing strategies to grow their business and reach people all around the world. She is also a dog lover and yoga enthusiast. Meg is currently working on a radio segment called Stiffler’s Social Scoop for Q97.9 and is also the Portland, Maine Twitter Examiner. Nathan O’Leary is the owner of Mainely SEO, an internet marketing company specializing in Search Engine Optimization and all forms of inbound marketing. Nathan is a very creative individual with more than 10 years of experience developing online marketing plans. He has worked with a wide variety of clients such as photographers, restaurants, real estate professionals, landscapers, direct response companies and local retail stores to grow their business from online channels. Nathan enjoys skiing, mountain biking, traveling and all things digital.

Taja Dockendorf – Expert #4 on Branding

Enjoys: Being creative, branding, laughing with her clients, and being a good listener Company: Pulp+Wire Location: Portland, ME Twitter: @PulpandWire

In My Own Words: Taja Dockendorf is the founder and principal at Pulp+Wire, a branding, graphic design, packaging and web firm in Portland’s Old Port. With a colorful track record of outstanding creative and brand savvy, Taja has worked with clients of all sizes locally, nationally and internationally. She has managed multi-million dollar creative accounts and created outstanding design for small businesses alike. Taja’s real reputation comes on the client side for being known not only as an outstanding creative, but also for her sense of humor, willingness to really listen to the client needs and ultimately her ability to surpass their expectations. Over the years Taja has also garnered numerous awards and accolades for her work. Additional to this, her design work has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox Business Morning.

Tobin Slaven – Expert #5 on Mobile

Enjoys: main street, small business, videography, being mobile, being a caricature Company: Mobile Marketing of Maine and Mindboom Media Location: Bangor, ME Twitter: @TobinSlaven

In My Own Words: Tobin Slaven is the founder of Mobile Marketing of Maine and Mindboom Media, located in Bangor, Maine. Tobin’s mission is to save main street – one small business at a time, with practical information about how social media and mobile technology is changing the rules of doing business and giving small business owners an unfair advantage over their national brand and big box store competition. Basically, he helps small business owners get more business from the web with 3 main things: Social Media – because social is fast becoming the new search. Video – because YouTube is now the second largest search engine and video is the #1 driver of engagement/conversation. Mobile Marketing – because everyone has a cell phone and where we are specifically focused on automated sales & marketing follow-up campaigns to build the know, like, and trust factors.

Monica Wright – Expert #6 on Google

Enjoys: Karate, breaking the internet, and causing trouble on twitter Company: Hall Internet Marketing Location: Portland, ME Twitter: @MonicaWright

In My Own Words: Monica Wright is a veteran online marketer specializing in SEO and social media, and has worked with national and regional clients in a wide variety of industries including hi-tech, medical, hospitality & tourism, higher education and media companies. Her core strengths are building audiences and visibility using search, as well as diagnostic SEO. Monica is a nationally recognized search marketer who has spoken at SMX East, SMX Advanced, and contributes to internet marketing sites across the web. When she is not busy working with Hall clients, she serves as Community Editor for Search Engine Land, the leading online publication for search news, research and anaylsis, commentary and expert advice. You can always find her causing trouble on Twitter (@monicawright).

Dwight Sholes – Expert #7 on Email Marketing

Enjoys: World travel, speaking foreign languages, email marketing Company: Sholes LLC Location: Portland, ME Twitter: @dsholes

In My Own Words: Dwight Sholes has over 20 years’ experience in sales and marketing, with a focus on the the travel industry. During the dot-com boom he leveraged his direct marketing skills to become an early expert in the emerging medium of e-mail marketing. On behalf of adventure travel portal Away.com, Sholes managed one of the very first e-mail newsletters transmitted in HTML format. In 2001 he founded Quotient Marketing, a provider of email marketing technology and expertise that helped leading brands like InterContinental Hotels, Krispy Kreme, L.L.Bean, Liberty Travel, OARS and Silversea Cruises create and sustain highly successful e-mail campaigns. After selling Quotient to Fishbowl Marketing in 2008, Sholes continued to advise travel companies on how to create winning email marketing programs. His current clients include American Express Vacations and Virgin Vacations. Earlier in his career, he held senior positions in sales and strategic planning for European car rental provider Auto Europe, and managed direct marketing for Hideaways International, a villa rental company and travel club. Sholes has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master in International Affairs from Columbia University. He was born and raised in India, Pakistan and Turkey and speaks French, Hindi, and some Spanish and Turkish.

Rob Gould – Expert #8 on Twitter and PR

Enjoys: Writing and blogging, talking, pop culture, the news Company: Earned Media Consultant Location: Portland, ME Twitter: @bobbbyg

In My Own Words: With close to 20 years of experience Rob currently works as an earned media consultant to clients, both corporations & individuals. He is also a writer & blogger. From 2005-2011 Rob worked in a variety of positions with The VIA Agency, a full-service advertising agency headquartered in Portland, ME with a satellite office in NYC. Most recently Rob served as VIA’s director of earned media. Prior to serving in that role he was the agency’s director of social media & agency communications. Before joining VIA in 2005, he worked in a variety of positions with PR agencies in London & Boston. He is a graduate of The University of Vermont. Rob describes himself as a pop culture junky & a news addict. He maintains a large following on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Linkedin, Google+, Foursquare, Gowalla, blip.fm & other social media networks. Rob is friendly & he likes to talk.

Thanks to all our experts and everyone who came out to SMBME 25! We hope to see you all at the next Social Media Breakfast in September. Stay tuned on our Upcoming page and on our Facebook for more info to come.

Location

Eastland Park Hotel
157 High Street
Portland, ME 04101