It’s so phenomenal that it only happens once a year! On May 3, Social Media Club Chicago will host SOBCon’s opening event. As an SMC Chicago board member, I’m thrilled to invite you to join us!!! Pick up your tickets at the SMC Chicago SOBCon event site. Want more details? Here’s what you’ll find on the invitation site.

Social Media Club Chicago and SOBCon Event on May 3 at Loyola Chicago’s Kasbeer Hall

Thought leaders from around the country and the world will be gathering in Chicago on May 4-6 to attend SOBCon, the Successful and Outstanding Business Conference.

On May 3, SOBCon and Social Media Club Chicago will connect for an epic night of networking, socializing and learning.

Panel Moderator: Dean Donald Heider [@donheider], Loyola Univeristy Chicago’s School of Communication

Donald Heider is the first appointed dean of Loyola University Chicago’s School of Communication. Dr. Heider is an award-winning broadcast journalist and joined Loyola from Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. In 2011 Dr. Heider was elected vice president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC) and will serve in that postion until 2012, when he will become president-elect and then president through 2014 of the non-profit, educational association composed of some 190 JMC programs at the college level.

Join us at Loyola University’s Kasbeer Hall [25 East Pearson] to hear this power panel of leading thinkers/SOBCon speakers.

Liz Strauss

Liz Strauss is a brand strategist and social web community builder and is perhaps the most influential “real-ebrity” on the Internet. Liz has over 20 years in print, software, and online publishing, and has strategized with publishers in Europe, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. She was recently a featured speaker at the Cass Business School of City University in London and teaches a Master’s Level class at the CityU School of Publishing. She has been named to the Top 100 Social Media & Internet Marketing Bloggers, The Invesp Top 100 Most Influential Marketers of 2008 and again in 2009, the 50 of the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Social Media, and NxE’s Fifty Most Influential ‘Female’ Bloggers. The WordPress Plugin Liz Comment Counter by Ozh was named in her honor to celebrate her dedication to responding to the readers of her blog.

Terry Starbucker

Terry is a native Midwesterner now living on the East Coast, spreading ìrealistic optimismî through a philosophy he calls “Half-Fullism.” He’s been in the business world for over 25 years in various leadership positions, most recently as a senior operations executive for a service business based in the Rocky Mountain west. Terry is a constantly learning student of leadership and personal development, and shares his ideas, experiences and knowledge through his blog, Ramblings from A Glass Half Full.

Carol Roth

Carol Roth is a business strategist, recovering investment banker and author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Entrepreneur Equation. She has helped her clients, ranging from solopreneurs to multinational corporations, raise more than $1 billion in capital, complete more than $750 million worth of M&A transactions, secure high-profile licensing and partnership deals and create million dollar brand loyalty programs.Carol is a frequent radio, television and print media contributor on the topics of business and entrepreneurship, appearing regularly on Fox Business, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and more. Additionally, Carol’s blog at CarolRoth.com was recently named as one of the Top 10 small business blogs online and she was named a 2011 Top 100 Small Business Influencer. Carol is a contributing blogger to outlets like The Huffington Post and Crain’s Chicago Business/Enterprise City and is the only business strategist with a fashion doll made in her likeness.

Tickets include program, beer or wine, and light appetizers.

Preview the party: take a look at the SOBCon SMC Chicago 2011 video!

About SOBCon

SOBCon is the Cirque du Soleil of business strategy events. It’s an interactive think tank that moves ideas to action — packed with business strategies and social media immersion. You will walk away with new ideas and the energy and network to implement them.

The theme this year for Chicago 2012 is Creating and Leveraging Opportunity: Strategy and Execution. We’ll be discussing and applying qualitative and quantitative critical thinking. We’ll focus on the seven keys to strategy and execution: Mission & Vision, Position, Conditions, Decisions, Networks, and Systems. Each presentation, model, and mastermind session will change the way you see yourself and your business. The interviews lined up are stellar (no kidding). The interactive sessions will keep you in the room.

Look forward to more wisdom and thought-provoking questions from these successful and outstanding business people–Tim Sanders, Rick Turoczy, Les McKeown, Katherine Burdick, Carol Roth, Laura Fitton, Rick Calvert, Lisa Horner, Gary W. Goldstein, Steve Farber, Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie, Liz Strauss, and a few others that will be equally outstanding!

For more information, or to register, for SOBCon, visit http://sobevent.com.

SMC Chicago Sponsorships

Social Media Club Chicago relies on sponsors to provide quality events. Our sponsors receive exposure to thousands of connectors via email, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Plancast and more! If you are interested in sponsoring a future SMC Chicago event, please contact Jeannie Walters at jeannie@360Connext.com.

Social Media Club Chicago Chapter

Social Media Club [SMC] is a worldwide organization, with local chapters, that serves as connecting organization for anyone interested in social media. Membership is free and open to all levels, including beginners. Chicago’s SMC chapter, launched in October 2008, presents events that mix socializing, networking and learning. Event attendees include entrepreneurs, corporate communicators, journalists, business professionals, publishers, marketers, media creators, citizen journalists, students and technology types. For more information, visit http://smcchicago.org, email smcchicagonews@gmail.com, follow @smcchicago on twitter, or call 630.207.7530 or 312-970-0846.

Social Media Club Chicago Board Members

Barbara Rozgonyi [@wiredprworks], Founder

Jeff Willinger [@jwillie], President

Amy Korin [@interactiveamy], Volunteers

Jeannie Walters [@jeanniecw], Sponsors

Carolyn Martin [@cm_socialmedia], Communications

Planning to go? Let us know so we can look for you there!

Are you a mom. a blogger or a business owner looking to recharge your brand, your appearance and your lifestyle? Then you’ll want to know about an event that’s happening steps away from Oprah’s Studio at Centered Chef on April 13.

This is your invitation to attend Andrea Metcalf’s Women’s Dream Conference. As the mother of three, a blogger for six years, and a business owner for over 20 years, I’m looking forward to sharing my insights on two panels.

But more importantly than that, I can’t wait to learn from the other amazing women who will speaking, and attending!, that day. The Women’s Dream Conference is sure to be a turning point that will give you guidance, clarity and direction to improve your business and your life.

Here’s a special offer for wiredPRworks readers:

Register for the Women’s Dream Conference before April 1, and use code SPEAKER to take $40 off of your ticket price.

When Andrea shared her conference vision with me, I was excited to share it with you, too! Here’s Andrea’s story of how the Women’s Dream Conference came to be . . .

This conference was a dream of mine since 2009, when I realized I needed to shift gears in my career and create a new life.

My vision was to create a women’s conference for business professionals, bloggers, aspiring career seekers and those who needed a rejuvenating change and help them create their dream life. We can all use a little insight these days in getting ahead in business, understanding the impact and success of social media as well as developing our own personal brands and health.

Networking and coaching events like the Women’s Dream Conference provide those insights. Combining forums and interactive workshops on Career & Social Media Development, Personal Confidence & Relationships, and Healthy Mind & Body sessions is sure to create inspiration and impact on those that attend. The Women’s Dream Conference brings all aspects of life together for a blended, revitalizing day in Chicago.

Women’s Dream Conference Speakers

Want to see who’s speaking? Here’s the list!

Andrea Metcalf, Health Journalist/Producer

Beth K. Rosen, 4 Keys Media

Sandra Kumorowski, assistant professor of marketing communications

Frances Renk, Sequin

MJ Tam, Chicagonista

Barbara Rozgonyi, CoryWest Media

Kerry Knee, Flirty Girl Fitness

Laurie Dimakos, LD Sports  Marketing and Events

Mary Amons, “Real Housewives of DC”

Sandi McKenna, MidLife Road Trip

Vonda Wright, Orthopedic Surgeon and author of “Fitness After 40”

Cynthia Ellis, Horwich Coleman Levin, LLC

Monika Dixon, JMP BeeCloser

Saran Dunmore, The Trainer Next Door

Dr. Stacie McClane, Chicago Plastic Surgery Center

Audarshia Townsend, 312DiningDiva.com

Jennifer Christenson, JMP Global

Tressa Thomas, singer, actress, film-producer

Erica Strama, North Bridge Mall and Chicago stylist

Hope Bertram, Digital Megaphone

Angela Rose, PAVE Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment

Elizabeth Ruske, Tiara Coaching

Audree Grubesic, PETacularUSA

Jen Knoedl, JenChicago.com

Chef Ryan Hutmacher, The Centered Chef

A few weeks ago I got to meet many of the other speakers at a video shoot. These women all have inspiring success stories that will encourage you and enlighten you about how to realize your own dreams. In the photo, that’s me with Andrea Metcalf, MJ Tam, Beth Rosen and Sandra Kumorowski.

Hope to see you in Chicago on April 13!

Every been to an SMC Chicago event? If not, you’re missing out.* Next week, SMC Chicago presents a panel discussion on “The Future of Community Management.”  Beginning at 5:30 on February 23, the event runs until 8:30 at Google’s Chicago offices located at 20 W. Kinzie. Purchase SMC Chicago tickets in advance for $10 or pay $20 at the door. Tickets include Domino’s pizza by Ramon DeLeon and beverages.

The following day, the first ever Community Manager Unconference takes place on Friday February 24 from 12:30-5:00. Plan to go if you’re a community manger or interested in learning how to develop your skills. Students are welcome, with a discounted rate. Purchase Community Manager Unconference tickets. Congrats to SMC Chicago board member, founding mentor of My Community Manager and Lake County Social Networking founder, Tim McDonald, for organizing this amazing event!

SMC Chicago Presents The Future of Community Management

Expect a lively panel discussion that will take you inside the inner workings of community management.

Tim McDonald, Astek senior community manager will moderate the discussion by these panelists:

Amy Ravit Korin, Google Chicago community manager

Jessica Murray, Social Media Club community manager

Sara Altier, EventBrite event evangelist

Sam Ogborn, Walgreen’s community manager

About the Social Media Club Chicago Chapter

Established in October 2008, Social Media Club’s primary mission is to expand digital media literacy, promote standard technologies, encourage ethical behavior and share best practices. We bring together journalists, publishers, communications professionals, artists, amateur media creators, citizen journalists, teachers, students, tool makers, and other interested collaborators. Essentially the people who create and consume media who have an interest in seeing the ‘media industry’ evolve for everyone’s benefit. We are more than just users, we are the reason the tools exist – we are the people who communicate our thoughts and ideas near and far. Join us and let’s shape the future together!

Disclosure: I, Barbara Rozgonyi, serve on the SMC Chicago board along with Jeff Willinger, Tim McDonald, Amy Ravit Korin, Jeannie Walters and Carolyn Martin. The video is from our September 2011 Social Media Week Chicago Icons event.

*If you’re not in Chicago, but would like to watch what’s going on around here, follow @smcchicago on twitter.com

How about you – when do you get involved in community management?

This week I had one minute to cover CES 2012 on Chicagonista Live!, a live Internet TV show, based in Chicago. A year ago, I covered CES live in Las Vegas, as a member of the Sears Blue Blogger Crew, for three days. Here’s a quick recap of my UltraLight “Barbed Wired” report. Did you cover the show? Please add a link to your coverage in the comments section – I’d love to hear your take.

As I watched the CES12 news coming in, I’ll admit it: I kind of missed being on the floor of the world’s largest trade show. As a member of Sears Blue Blogger Crew last year, all five of us were treated to individual attention at the Sony, Samsung and Panasonic booths. It was entertaining, exciting and exhausting.

As one who’s been there, I can tell you CES live is a head spinner. Even though I am not there in person, I am on the CES press list. Announcements flooded into my email box touting the latest, the best, the newest. All of this promotion makes me want to buy more gear. And, I’m not alone. According to a LinkedIn survey about consumer buying habits, 41% of business people surveyed plan to spend over $1,000 on electronics this year.

What’s amazing to me to about the CES 2012 media outreach?

In over 240 releases, no one’s reached out beyond my inbox to find me on twitter, Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn. For the most part, the releases are pretty basic. Here’s a quick round up of what’s hot this year. Check out Sarah Evans’s CES12 coverage, too.

CES 2012 Trends

CES is about prototypes and what’s coming next. What you see, you probably won’t be able to buy – yet. That’s why Microsoft is pulling out of CES. They announce their new products in the fall. By the time CES rolls around, they’re recapping, not revealing. Apple’s not there, either. But Sony is. Here are a few highlights from their press conference.

CES 2012 Announcements from Sony

Special thanks to my high school junior for watching Sony’s live press conference with me. It’s so cool to get his take on what these announcements mean to teens and gamers. And, it was fun to wear our 3D glasses and watch Sony’s 3D sports clip together – all while two batches of cookies baked away in the oven. This is my kind of bonding!! A few of the highlights . . .

• Sony Ericsson is now Sony Mobile Communications. Sony’s new phone will have a 12 mega pixel camera.
• Sony Blogger will come with build in wi-fi so you can live stream from anywhere.
• Sony Walkman will be Android based, wi-fi enabled and will come with a touchscreen.
• 4K is a new resolution standard than increases HD video quality by up to four times.  4K projectors are installed in 10,000 theaters now. A 4K home projector is in the works.
• Sports goes 3D. Sony will be broadcasting more sports events in 3D. The clip showed several sports, but not football.
• Sony earned $6 billion on 3D releases in 2011

6 CES12 Trends

1. Ultrabooks

Tablets took over the stage in 2011. At CES 2012, Ultrabooks are all the rage. According to PC Magazine, to be an ultrabook, a laptop must be less than an inch thick, use Flash storage, and come with both HDMI and a USB 3.0 port.

“Ultrabooks are light, powerful and svelte. What they are not is cheap: expect prices to air-kiss $1,000.” Source

What’s your number one portable business device?

2. Digital Wearable Devices

Expect to see a bevy of wearable devices, including a bandage-like patch from BodyMedia, that will monitor approximately 5,000 data points on its wearer. Using technology developed by I.B.M., the patch can determine things like calories burned, steps taken, sleep patterns and much more. Source

Who do you know that could use one of these?

3. Connected Cars

There are two trends to watch here: The rise of the “connected car,” which can take the various apps and content off your smartphone and redistribute them around the dashboard, and the growth of automatic safety systems that can keep you from rear-ending someone, drifting out of your lane or missing a car in your blind spot — presumably because, in part, you have apps and content all over your dashboard. Source

When do you use apps in your car?

4. More Likeable Laptops 

“Laptops are about to change…later this year laptops coming later this year featuring Windows 8 and Ivy Bridge will bend over backward to wow with new design elements. The redesigning of what’s currently a pretty boring landscape of laptops may start soon enough.” Source

5. Smarter TVs

Samsung’s 2012 line of smart TVs includes a built-in HD camera and dual microphones to support voice controls, motion controls and face recognition. The Smart Hub adds three new services: Family Story for users to share photos and messages, Fitness for customized workouts and a Kids option to help parents find educational programming. Samsung Smart TVs will add a slot on the back for “Evolution Kits.” These kits allow owners to make quick TV upgrades.  Source

6. MySpace Comes Back – on TV

Specific Media-owned social network Myspace on Monday unveiled  Myspace TV, a social TV service that it will launch on Panasonic Viera Connect-enabled HD TV sets during the first half of the year. Myspace co-owner and singer/actor Justin Timberlake: “We’re ready to take television and entertainment to the next step by upgrading it to the social networking experience. Why text or email your friends to talk about your favorite programs after they’ve aired when you could be sharing the experience with real-time interactivity from anywhere across the globe?” Source

Want to watch my Barbed Wired report for Chicagonista Live? Fast-forward to the 54 minute mark. Thanks the show’s co-hosts for including me: MJ Tam, Nancy Loo, Beth Rosen and Duong Sheahan.

Image: CES 2011 press conference by Barbara Rozgonyi.

What’s on your 2012 must-have gear acquisition list? 

“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.” George Bernard Shaw

Boy, do I know how to fail fast. I made so many mistakes with the cooler social media marketing webinar series I finished today, I felt compelled to share them with you. On the flip side, here’s how to create and produce a webinar.  You’re probably perfect, but if not, we’d like to know about your mistakes, too.

15 Webinar Mistakes I Made That You Don’t Have To

1. Announce with a super short lead time – this is real time, right?
Fix: Plan a few months, at least, in advance. Sure, it’s good to challenge yourself to get things done, just make sure you have a work in progress to work from.

2. Assume people will actually show up and participate in the complete webinar series.
Fix: Even with paid registration, few people showed up. Why? They knew they would be getting a recording, transcript and a workbook. I’m not sure what the answer is for this – what do you think?

3. Add in too much time for questions and answers.
Fix: To me, the biggest value was in getting time to ask questions. So I allowed 45 minutes, but that was way too much time. Maybe add in a study call?

4. Structure it like an old-school college class.
Fix: Handouts, a power point and case studies may be too much – and students may want more of multi-media experience. How to do that? Add in a few videos. What else?

5. Leave action plans open for interpretation.
Fix: A general guide is good and works for the masses, but not everyone is motivated or creative enough to fill in the blanks.

6. Forget to unmute yourself before you start recording. Yep, I did that.
Fix: But . . . I did have a backup recorder. I used a Sony digital voice recorder, which goes for around $40.

7. Write the reminders and replay emails as you go.
Fix: Write them all at once, you’ll save time and stay in the flow. Plus, you can schedule if you’re following number 8.

8. Don’t send emails through a tracking system.
Fix: Set up an automated system to deliver and track email opens and clicks – you’ll know who read what.

9. Rely on email to communicate; let messages get lost.
Fix: If your group can’t find their email messages, set up a private Facebook group, a Google group or even a Google+ circle. Everyone can talk to each other and all the information stays in one place.

10. Delay packaging as an information product because you need a designer.
Fix: Digital products may be priced less, but there’s much less fuss in getting them out. And, if people really want your information, don’t make them wait.

11. Don’t plan on providing customer service. Everyone will get everything the first time.
Fix: Troubleshoot signup, checkout, registration, replay – you get the idea.

12. Skip on promotions, you don’t want to bug anybody.
Fix: Map out a promotional strategy that includes news releases, partner offers, posts and invitations. If you’re going to all this trouble, you want people to show up, right?

13. Include three times more information than you can cover.
Fix: Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but I found myself edging an extra 15 minutes into the question session with material. Can they really absorb all of it? Better to offer as a special report or bonus.

14. Talk really fast – like you’re from Chicago and you’ve just had your fifth cup of coffee in an hour.
Fix: Wow, can I zip along, but can people follow what I’m saying? Can I? Slowing down grounds the conversation.

15. Don’t make a list of what to fix – you’ll remember.

Well, that’s what this post is about. What webinar mistakes have you made – or fixed?