Moving Beyond Social Media Theory

We had a small tweetup in Boston a couple Fridays ago and I got to spend some fun time with @Ericleist @Julito77 @MeghanMBiro @Katjaib and @rachelmello. It was awesome to meet Eric, Meghan, & Kat IRL. They are great and I look forward to spending time with them again. I really enjoy sharing ideas, concepts, and approaches with smart people like them.

We got into a conversation about the so called Social Media experts and what they like to talk about. I believe most SM Experts like to espouse a lot of theoretical ideas but don't back them up with examples of how they execute them for a client. This has become a pet peeve of mine while watching some of these people tweet & blog.

I am not a Social Media Expert (No one is), hate the name, but I do have a marketing foundation of 12+ years. My experience is currently being applied to execute successful Social Media Campaigns through my company BuzzCal Communications.

Here is where I want to differ from most Social Media blogs...

I want to Move Beyond Social Media Theory and start discussing Social Media Execution. I want to share my real world client experiences with you from the theory behind my approach to the execution.

I debated back and forth about sharing my approach but by opening myself up to y'all I hope to achieve the following:

1) Give the people who read my blog ideas to help them execute Social Media Strategies for their clients.

2) Create a place where people can share ideas and help others succeed.

3) Create opportunities with potential clients who read my blog and need help.

4) Create opportunities to speak with groups about how to execute Social Media Strategies.

I was honored by @MeghanHBiro when she called me #authentic. She recognized what I hope all of you get to discover one day when we meet...I am the same guy In Real Life as the one you tweet with on Twitter...R-E-A-L!

To carry the #authentic tag one step further please re-read my points 3 & 4. I am not pretending to any of you that I am not trying to make money because I am. I wake up everyday ready to work hard building BuzzCal Communications just like all of you are working hard to achieve in your jobs.

I plan on providing information that you can use to bring value to your clients. In turn I hope my sharing creates new clients and or opportunities to speak with others about how to execute successful Social Media Strategies.

How is that for #authentic and transparent?!

One last point...

My approach to Marketing, Social Media, etc. is from my view of the world. If you put 100 different Marketers in a room they will have 100 different approaches to how you should market a business.

The foundation of my marketing approach is how cost efficiently I can grow revenue for a company.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Mello

My 11/20/09 Twitter Follow Friday List

For those of you who are not familiar with Twitter...Follow Friday is a way to give a shout out on Twitter to the people who add value to you. The following is my list for the week of 11/20/09. You can visit some of my previous blog posts to see my past Follow Fridays.

Onto the list...

MeghanMBiro This very smart lady has it going on. She has a clear vision for her company and has really cool ideas in the works. Check her out and watch her grow:) I had the pleasure of meeting her IRL and it was a blast.

EricLeist Interns with @MeghanMBiro and is very sharp. I wish he was working with me! He gets it, has a passion for Social Media, a desire to learn, and will go far in the Pr/Media Industry. I met him while up in Boston last week and I look forward to meeting him again.

katjaib It was an absolute pleasure to meet this lovely lady last Friday. She is better IRL:) Smart, funny, helpful, and a very enjoyable person to know.

evolutionfiles Founder of a web design & graphics firm for a long time plus a real nice guy to connect with.

ergeekgoddess A real nice lady I recently started tweeting with thanks to @Julito77 . She is nice, real, and she keeps the Latin Culture going strong.

americannanny Real nice lady up in Boston who I have a virtual shake that we will meet:)

Nong_ling I have been tweeting with this kind and knowledgeable gal for a long time. She is always fun and helpful.

zoeyshea Take two of my favs @shandrab & @zoeyjordan , mash them together, and what do you get? A whole lot of AWESOMENESS!

jennifervides Really fun gal to tweet with. Will keep you laughing!

Ylsoccermom This lady is a TON of fun and always makes me laugh when we discuss her lack of cooking skills:)

ShawnPButler Cool guy kickin it in the ATL!

jademorey I constantly get a kick out of this girls tweets. She is funny!

Pats4Me This lady is another fav:) She is a rabid New England Patriots Fan, makes me laugh constantly, and is now an official member of the Boston Posse.

Kim23Supernova Very cool lady who knows how to step back and smell the roses. She knows how to enjoy life and is a GREAT photographer. She is also VERY FUNNY!

ShellyKramer Always providing a ton of valuable information.

matusik5 Another one of my favs! She simply brings joy everyday to my life:)

HowellMarketing Very smart Marketing gal who I enjoy sharing ideas, concepts, etc. She is always willing to listen, offer guidance, and help where possible. Another one of my favs!

ChicagoDiane Looking for a cool lady who is not just smart but funny too? Follow her now:)

JoeTheProducer All around nice guy who is smart, funny, and will help you whenever possible.

gaillamarche Marketing Director for a law firm in Ft. Myers, Red Sox Fan, and someone I really enjoy.

rachelmello HUGE 49ers Fan, funny, smart, shorter than me...thank GOD, and my wife:)

aakomas A MUST!

nancymyrland Social Media marketer focused mainly on Lawyers. She is kind, smart, and is always willing to help.

foiledcupcakes One of the BEST! She is such an AWESOME entrepreneur and always brings a smile to my face.

angelica7641 My partner in the Hall of Fame Twitter conversation from today:) I tweeted her saying "I hope you are still licking butt in Chicago". I obviously meant "kicking" and it made us both crack up for an hour:) She is soooo much FUN!

debdobson Working to help clients in Social Media, is sooo kind, and fun to tweet with.

CandiceStone She always pops into my stream at random times. Smart and entrepreneurial.

ShawnRecruits4u Working hard recruiting for Yahoo! Extremely nice and helpful guy who y'all should know.

kevinvandever Easiest way to describe this guy is...just one hell of a FUNNY dude! Cracks me up! OH...he loves Christopher Cross:)

CesLSU He is so smart but also sooo FUNNY! I wish I could share how hard I laugh with some of his emails. TOO MUCH! GREAT GUY here!

justinthesouth Nice, funny, HUGE Red Sox Fan, and a member of the Boston Posse!

julito77 One of my closest friends who I met through Twitter. He is doing a lot of GREAT things in Social Media and is fun to follow.

adriandayton Such a talented and amazing guy! His specialty is teaching Lawyers how to utilize Social Media. Boston Posse member and someone to watch as his stature grows in the Social Media World.

Saving the best for last...

JaimieField OMG! One of my newest favs!!! I got to meet her IRL for lunch while driving back to the ATL. This gal is a typical Jersey girl...NO BS! <----One of the qualities I love most in a person. She is very smart, funny, extremely helpful, and someone I will definitely continue to develop a relationship with.

@rachelmello and I both left our lunch with Jaimie thinking about how amazing she is and how we can't wait for the opportunity to spend more time with her."

My Follow Friday lists take hours to complete and is well worth it!!! I truly believe everyone I place on my list is someone who brings value to my life and can add value to yours.

If you are not on this list then please make sure you tweet with me. I enjoy connecting with as many people as possible and want to connect with you.

Happy Follow Friday!!!


Mello

My 11/6/09 Massive Follow Friday List

JaimieField This lady proves why Twitter is so cool. We just connected earlier in the week and she has already tried to help me with BuzzCal Communications. She has GREAT taste in music too:) We did quickly learn to not talk sports...LOL!

americannanny The President of the American Nanny company and a really cool lady.

TransitionalTee This gal is young and insightful. I wish I could Blog like her. Check her out.

RealBlackWidow Cool Oakland Raider Fan and someone who is not afraid to share her view. I really enjoy outspoken people.

Nong_ling This gal is always cheerful, engaging, fun, and kind.

kinetixhr Smart, eclectic, and @Rachelmello's boss!

txm77 Real cool lady to tweet.

jod_writer Cool attorney/writer up in Chicago.

KelliThompson Kind, fun, and interesting.

jennifervides She spoils me by constantly RT'ng my Blips. Glad you like my #Mellotunes

LoisMarketing Real nice marketing lady here in the ATL. She is a HUGE Formula 1 racing fan. I guess someone has to be....hehe!

amtomei This gal is not afraid to throw out her political views. I love em:) Please excuse her Steelers background.

Ylsoccermom Just call this lady "Chef" LOL! If you want a good meal...burnt then have her cook it. All kidding aside this gal is real fun to tweet.

USNAVYSEALS Much RESPECT for his service to our Country PLUS I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE Fan of Special Forces. These guys don't play games...THANK GOD!

ShawnPButler Real cool guy here in the ATL who is into Sport's Marketing and Social Media.

madebyhippies Need a tie dyed shirt then go here. Peace!

jademorey Real smart gal in the ATL fighting for Republicans...one campus at a time.

nwchptr4me Get to meet this cool gal next Friday at a Boston tweetup in Harvard Square! Can't wait. She is funny and interesting.

Pats4Me This lady ROCKS!!! HUGE Boston Sport's Fan trapped in Texas:) A must follow if you are into having a fun time tweeting.

matusik5 Here is another must follow if you like having FUN! This lady cracks me up all the time. LOVE IT!!!

Gina_Lee_Garcia Entrepreneurial lady in GA who is bottling BBQ Sauce which will hopefully be coming to a store near you.

MurphDawgRadio A JETS Fan...LOL! What happened to Sanchez?

MktgEmpress The name says it all! She is working it in the ATL!

KennyHamilton Yankee Fan...UGH! Still a cool guy to know!

gtiadvisors When you want to feel safe call this guy. Real nice guy.

jsbsox HUGE Red Sox and FSU Fan!!!

HowellMarketing Real smart PR/Marketing lady who is real helpful. I appreciate her veiws on Marketing.

sumaya Smart and Funny! GREAT COMBO!

saradavidson PR/Marketing gal is fun to tweet.

crcpr21 A real interesting and fun follow!

SocialDivo The man, the myth, the legend. Making it happen in the ATL!

coreyanderson Someone please buy this guy's house in the ATL! LOL! Nice guy who loves all things Tampa Bay.

ChicagoDiane COOL lady who is smart, funny, kind, and just an all around great person to know.

joe_charles Another Yankee Fan. Just shoot me:)

rachelmello Beside being AWESOME she also deals with me. Trust me when I say it is not easy:) She loves the 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons. If you are a 49ers Fan please follow her so she can complain about them to you instead of me...HA!

aakomas YES she does ROCK!

krismap This fun lady is in Detroit so please give her a reason to be uplifted...Follow her:)

vcolon & AmberAusten Are my virtual running partners:)

katjaib Smart and insightful. I get to meet her next Friday!!!

shandrab Amazingly talented gal. Real Happy to call her a friend!

zoeyjordan Don't let her humor fool you. This gal is one smart Marketing gal and awesome person to know. I hope to meet her in 2010.

MeghanMBiro Life coach. HR, fun, and I get to meet her next Friday!

debdobson Real nice lady who loves her some "Levon" Blips:)

AbbieF If you need PR in Phoenix then this is the intelligent lady you need to know.

CandiceStone She randomly pops into my stream to put a smile on my face. She is smart, funny, and an entrepreneur. I am glad we met.

Dos_Equis_Guy You know why? I want to be this man when I am 60! ROCK ON! Just live your life tweeps!

PaulSegreto If you want to be in or are already in a Franchise than this is your guy!

nancymyrland One of the kindest people I have met on Twitter.

SydneyOwen This gal makes me smile.

jonesdel It is always fun to connect with this extremely talented journalist. He holds no punches which is refreshing.

martinwaxman Real nice and smart PR star in Toronto. I hope to meet him in person one day.

rockingjude She is fun, kind, and loves my Blips.

bizwhig The #FF King and Re-Blip'ng Master!

foiledcupcakes This girl is one of my favs! She is such a smart biz woman and so down to Earth. I cannot wait to hang with her again.

angelica7641 Another gal who brings a smile to my face when she pops into my stream. She is the energizer bunny with a punch!

fleurdeleigh GREAT Photographer and really nice lady.

The Boys:

CesLSU Incredibly smart, funny, strong republican, and a friend!

thescottbishop Smart Man in the world of Social Media.

ShawnRecruits4u Nice guy who recruits for Yahoo! helpful, funny, and Italian (inside joke)

tedrubin He is one of the Yankee Fans I will deal with since he is a GREAT GUY!

4thGear Extremely Smart and is always willing to help. A man y'all should get to know.

Keith_Shay An Insightful CEO who is not just really smart but is funny too! GREAT COMBO!

SoxFan24 My Brother from another mother. FUNNY FUNNY GUY!

justinthesouth One of the nicest guys you can meet. A GREAT Red Sox Fan, Social Media lover, and a friend!

adriandayton Social Media for lawyers is his specialty but he goes waaaay beyond. He is a writer, attorney (don't hold that against him), funny, intelligent, helpful, giving, World Traveller, and when I stand next to him I reach his waist:) Most of all a friend!

Saving the best for last...

julito77 This guy is like the Mayor of Twitter. He tweets more than me which is an accomplishment in itself. He is a HUGE Boston Sport's Fan, extremely intelligent, HIGH ENERGY, Entrepreneur, helped me in my Twitter beginnings, and one of my closest friends I have met on Twitter. He picks on me like the brother I never had. We will be hanging out next Friday at our Tweetup in harvard Square.

Sorry if I did not include you on this list. If we connect often on Twitter then you are guaranteed to make future lists. I love meeting new people so tweet me. I don't bite...I nibble:)

Mello