Michael Jackson: “You got to be startin’ something.” In 1996, I started a group called IWOW, Independent Writers of the West. In 2008, a small group of folks, including me, started Social Media Club Chicago’s Chapter. Now, it’s time to start something completely different . . . and that’s DIF. Why DIF? Why now?

DIF stands for Digital Innovation Forum. Like others who write about and proselytize about the future of social media, I believe that the future is beyond, or ahead of?, social silos.

The future is driven by collaborative digital innovation.

While there’s so much conversation around what social media tools to use and how to measure [almost] everything, at the heart of the hunt is a search for what’s really working – and why – right now.

That’s where DIF comes in. Right now, this whole concept is a bit fuzzy. The focus comes in when people get together and talk about what’s really happening in 3D: in real life, onscreen and in between.

If you know me, you know I’m fond of describing myself as “an alien whose spaceship has come in.”

Most of the time people who live on the edge, like every early adaptor, mature two years or more before everyone else gets to what we consider to be familiar territory.

But, that’s changing. As technology, people and communications converge, the lead time between what’s next is shrinking from years down to months, weeks, days, hours or minutes.

At this moment in time, there’s nothing like DIF in DuPage County – that I know of.

Why DuPage County?

Because that’s where I live.

Actually, I live smack dab in the center of one of the richest and most progressive counties in the country – in terms of technology, probably not politics.

We moved to DuPage County in 1996. My company’s local client list includes our village’s school, government, library, chamber and economic development corporation – along with retailers and non-profits. Event production includes the first local Idol competition. Last summer, we managed the social media for JazzFest Glen Ellyn. We all thrive on collaboration and that’s why I’m so excited about watching DIF come alive.

Special thanks goes out to our client, Illinois Institute of Technology’s School of Applied Technology for providing meeting space and computer lab access.

Digital Innovation Forum Event Details

Date: March 10, 2010

Time: 7:30-9:30 am

Location: Illinois Institute of Technology School of Applied Technology 201 E. Loop Road Wheaton, Illinois

Tickets: $5 for community conversation, $25 includes LinkedIn Lab and Learn Session

Digital Innovation Forum Registration http://budurl.com/difdupage

Contact: CoryWest Media, LLC 630.207.7530/voice/text, @wiredprworks on twitter.com

It’s new. It’s now. It’s DIF.

Mixing socializing with programming and a live learning lab, Digital Innovation Forum [DIF] breaks the traditional networking world mold into a 3D [digital, dynamic and direct] experience.

If you’re looking for a place to connect with other social media enthusiasts where you can:

1. exchange digital innovation ideas

2. learn more about how to get social media to work for you and your business, and

3. grow your community connections in 3D

DIF is it.

Launching on the eve of South by Southwest Interactive, a five-day conference in Austin, Texas, DIF DuPage is a community think tank that focuses on content and community development via social media, mobile and interactive platforms.

Convene. Connect. Converse.

7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast and Socializing

8:00 – 8:30 Program and Community Conversation

8:30 – 9:30 LinkedIn Lab and Learn

“LinkedIn Power Profile Strategies: How to Go from the Sidelines to Superstar Status” led by Barbara Rozgonyi, LinkedIn author in “Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars”

DIF is starting out in DuPage County, but I’ve already had a request from Arizona to listen in. You’re welcome to join us, too.

Here’s the album I was listening to as I wrote the DIF news release. . .

What does Digital Innovation mean to you?

Coming up on October 30 in Lombard, Illinois . . . here’s a press release about an event that’s expected to draw over 500 people and 50 exhibitors. Need a business to business social networking or social media marketing strategies speaker? We released new about the expo via PRWeb.

Social Media Talks Buzz Up Lombard Chamber Business EXPO

Lombard, Illinois October 16, 2009 — Successful businesses know that one of the best places to network is a chamber of commerce business EXPO. Even better? Add in presentations on how to build up social media buzz and then attend a networking reception. Thanks to the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, businesses can do all three at the 13th Annual Expo at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois. Social Media keynote speaker Barbara Rozgony of CoryWest Media, LLC – online at http:wiredPRworks.com – a virtual PR, social media and marketing consultancy will present three 20-minute social networking presentations: Facebook: Your Business or Your Life; Twitter 101: How to Tweet: Not for Birds, But for Business; and LinkedIn: 5 Power Strategies to Stand Out and Be Sought Out.

The “Wired PR Works” presentation is being sponsored by Chamber Gold Member Premier Payment Systems provider of Merchant Card Services. For more information visit: http://lombardchamber.com or call 630.637.5040.

Yvonne Invergo, Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director, says exhibitors represent a wide variety of business sectors including banking, finance, insurance, marketing, computer, healthcare, senior living, education, publications, recreation, government and more. A social networking reception, at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., follows the EXPO.

Sponsored by Premier Payment Systems, Barbara Rozgonyi’s social media keynote presentations will cover:

Facebook: Your Business or Your Life? | at noon
How to have it both ways and become friends with people you can do business with
Learn how to harmonize your business, life and branding into a unified, cohesive presence that compliments your business – and your life!

Twitter 101: How to Tweet: Not for Birds, but for Business | at 1:00 p.m.
How to fly into twitter and attract a flock of loyal followers and customers
Birds tweet, but should you? Find out if twitter is a time-waster or a tool worth turning on and powering up. Discover how to leverage twitter to attract prospects, connect with customers, personalize branding and respond to everyone, including the media.

LinkedIn: 5 Power Strategies to Stand Out and Be Sought Out | at 2:00 p.m.
Becoming an authority on LinkedIn is easier than you think. In this session, take a look at the top five strategies authorities use to get attention and claim their space on LinkedIn: profiles, recommendations, answers, company sites and networks.

About Premier Payment Systems, specializing in merchant accounts for credit card processing
Premier delivers a personalized hands-on approach to businesses that are looking for competitive merchant solutions. Managed by an expert team with a collective 50 plus years experience in the bankcard industry, Premier’s leadership’s extensive background in risk management, leadership and sales management drives the company’s service and its vision. Premier’s diverse client portfolio consists of thousands of businesses, some of whom process as little as $60,000 annually in credit card charges while others process in excess of $100 million annually. Headquartered in Chicago’s western suburbs, Premier’s client base includes internet, retail, wholesale, mail order, phone orders and home-based businesses. Partnerships and alliances with the most well respected financial institutions in the world include First Data, named by Inc as the #1 Fastest Growing Business in Financial Services Industry 2008. For more information, visit http://ppsbankcard.com.

###

Disclosure: Thanks to Premier Payment Systems for sponsoring my presentation and the event promotions.

What do women business owners really want to know about business, technology and communications? Listen in to a podcast and read twitter transcripts captured at a lively evening at the Apple Store.

Thanks to Theresa Carter, founder of Chicago’s “The Local Tourist” and Blagica Bottigliero [don’t we look like a fun trio?] for letting me speak to the group, “It’s Chic to be Geek,” I got to find out what women want to know about how to market their business online. If you’re in Chicago, you’ll want check out “It’s Chic to be Geek.”

Heidi Miller  generously offered to record my presentation. Read Heidi’s review and highlights of our group discussion about how technology drives business online. I love these types of presentations that begin with a backdrop and then open up to an open forum. Thanks to Heidi for all the coverage, which included a post-talk video interview. 

Check out my Chic to Be Geek photos on flickr, all by Beth Rosen – thanks, Beth!

 Twitter Transcript: Barbara Rozgonyi on writing, business, communications and technology at It’s Chic to Be Geek

Copied directly from twitter search using chic2geek – comments in reverse order. Thanks so much to all of you who tweeted! You added another communications channel to the live event.

heidimiller: Photos and video from #chic2geek up in the Facebook group: http://is.gd/jjcV (expand)

heidimiller: Multitasking: conference call talking over contracts while uploading video from #chic2geek to Facebook.

heidimiller: @blagica Thanks! I’ve actually been abbreviating “chic2BG” in my notes, but #chic2geek is probably more clear. GREAT job organizing!

celikins: @thelocaltourist & @blagica thanks again for another wonderful and educational event #chic2geek

heidimiller: Fantastic event that @blagica and @thelocaltourist put on! Great geek girls, great info. #chic2geek

khw77: @dijana hi it’s Kim who met you on the way out. Congrats on the wedding. #chic2geek

gizmodesign: HA! RT: @bcbeatty @heidimiller: “Twitter is like sex: you don’t know what it’s going to be like until you try it” #chic2geek

bcbeatty: RT @heidimiller: “Twitter is like sex: you don’t know what it’s going to be like until you try it” #chic2geek

heidimiller: Talking about how cool and energetic @chrisbrogan is. #chic2geek

khw77: @heidimiller want to talk to you more about your business #chic2geek

gizmodesign: so sad i had to miss hacked sites require attention [take note all wordpress folks!] #chic2geek

thelocaltourist: Great, @Blagica. Now the windows are all steamed up #chic2geek

MaggieConv: Bummed about missing the #chic2geek event, but rest is much needed.

karitas: barbara rozgonyi did a nice presentation tonite at #chic2geek event

khw77: @windycitysocial hi I’m sitting right behind you and talking about your business with you. #chic2geek

amyseye: eNjoyed Barbara’s presentation at the #chic2geek event. Thanks @blagica for the visual presentations:)

stacyjill: Next event will probably be about Blogging #chic2geek

heidimiller: How do you pitch your release online: Pitch Engine and TwitPitch. #chic2geek

heidimiller: How do you use Facebook for business? A: join a related group and ask the admin how you can help #chic2geek

stacyjill: RT @heidimiller: Can’t keepip with @stacyjill ‘s #chic2geek Tweets.No fair! She’s got a laptop, and I’m just one-thumbed iPhoning! *giggle*

stacyjill: Btw… all of you wedding people in the crowd… get ahold of me please. #chic2geek

stacyjill: Get to know the admin of the event you are attending. (great way to network) #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q from crowd – what is the best way to use Facebook for Business? A. FB is great for events (not so much an expert for Biz) #chic2geek

heidimiller: Can’t keepip with @stacyjill ‘s #chic2geek Tweets. No fair! She’s got a laptop, and I’m just one-thumbed iPhoning!

heidimiller: “You’re not going tone able to predict what will be great content until you ask your readers” @wiredprworks #chic2geek

stacyjill: @mediabistro is a great site #chic2geek

stacyjill: 20somethings.ning.com is on the screen… #chic2geek

heidimiller: Anything Guy Kawasaki writes is good. #chic2geek

heidimiller: Recommending @shel ‘s Blogging for Business #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks – surround yourself with great advisors #chic2geek

stacyjill: Shel Holtz books – @shel check out his books #chic2geek

stacyjill: Selling advertising space on your blog is good if you have the traffic #chic2geek

stacyjill: A. Check out Six-Figure Blogger….. #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. from crowd: Is there a list of the best sites to use for blogging? #chic2geek

stacyjill: comment from crowd – newbie – blogger/typepad are good for people who might be intimidated by wordpress #chic2geek

momofteenstwit2: What if there was only one Doctor in the world?. There is room for you too in business.. #chic2geek @wiredprworks speaking

stacyjill: Comment from crowd- when you go to websites and check domains, buy it immediately so nobody else buys it up! #chic2geek

stacyjill: You may want to have a guest author #chic2geek

heidimiller: #chic2geek question: how do you let people know to come to your blog? A from @wiredprworks: SM press release, postcards, email

stacyjill: A. You may want at least 3 posts, etc #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. How much content do you want on your blog before you send it out #chic2geek

stacyjill: A. Press Release – let people know your blog is up. Place your blog URL on every biz card you have. Create a postcard #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. How is there a way to build up your followers – How do you let people know? #chic2geek

stacyjill: @blagica – there will be a sep. blogging event in the future #chic2geek

stacyjill: @blagica is picking out funny domain names online #chic2geek

8 days ago from TweetDeck · Reply · View Tweet · Thread Show ConversationHide

heidimiller: “Twitter is like sex: you don’t know what it’s going to be like until you try it”

joipodgorny: @blagica you keep going to every site I think would be a good background site #chic2geek

stacyjill: Some people say Twitter is like Sex – you won’t know until you try it @wiredprworks ( that should be a tagline…LOL) #chic2geek

heidimiller: What question would you like to ask @wiredprworks on getting new media to work for you/writing for social media? #chic2geek

stacyjill: Figure out who your audiences are #chic2geek

stacyjill: Q. How do you start a blog? A. Make the decision… read blogs… what do you like that people are talking about? #chic2geek

thelocaltourist: http://twitpic.com/1fwep – At #chic2geek, @wiredprworks presenting

stacyjill: Btw – @leahjones is curious if we are going anywhere afterwards??? Ladies?? #chic2geek

stacyjill: Opening up to questions #chic2geek

heidimiller: Strategizing content plans for Facebook, Twitter, blogging: decide who your audience is and what they need #chic2geek

tokissthecook: @Blagica Hello Ladies!! So sorry I’m still at the office but have fun!! #chic2geek

stacyjill: What are your audiences? What are your goals? #chic2geek

stacyjill: Windycitysocial.com is asking the question – #chic2geek

blagica: http://twitpic.com/1fwc1 – @wiredprworks at the #chic2geek event

heidimiller: @wiredprworks on 17 Ways to Enliven Your Message question: how can a blog drive traffic to the website?#chic2geek

stacyjill: Quick Q Does a blog talk away traffic from a website (can you put your blog within your website) – Yes, talk to your web designer #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks – check out her blog post today called Wired Writing – 17 Ways to Enliven Your Message #chic2geek

stacyjill: @blagica is running through great twitter accounts on the screen… @comcast cares, @barackobama, @zappos #chic2geek

heidimiller: @blagica is blazing across the Twitterverse at #chic2geek

stacyjill: People like twitter because it is faster than google (in terms of info) (The Octo-Mommy, the Hudson River plane) #chic2geek

momofteenstwit2: @@Blagica thanks for a great event..love when the girls hang out #chic2geek in Chicago..go girls

stacyjill: Twitter is a great place to show people what you are working on. #chic2geek

stacyjill: Watch out – she is pimping out the single ladies @blagica #chic2geek

blagica: YO SAY hello to the LOVELY ladies at the #chic2geek event at the Apple Store…boys plenty of ladies in the house:) single, too,

stacyjill: Question – @blagica is tweeting! #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks -businesses communicate with customers (email, PR, advertisements, telemarketing, twitter, facebook) #chic2geek

heidimiller: From @wiredprworks: Think of yourself as a content producer and a storyteller #chic2geek

stacyjill: Check out @wiredprworks blog for a creative work plan and how to liven your writing #chic2geek

stacyjill: If you take away one thing tonight,… How to become a content producer #chic2geek

stacyjill: @leahjones just got a shoutout at the event by @wiredprworks #chic2geek

stacyjill: @wiredprworks Back when she started a computer cost $2800… Ouch #chic2geek

stacyjill: @Blagica is introducing @wiredprworks #chic2geek

stacyjill: Ok – Heidi has a hashtag.. woo hoo #chic2geek

heidimiller: Wiring @wiredprworks for an impromptu Podcast of her #chic2geek talk

heidimiller: @wiredprworks is about to speak on business communications. Any questions for her? #chic2geek

Social networking online is a lot like driving in Chicago in winter. This time of year it’s difficult to drive down the street without dropping into a pothole. You know, a dip that jars your car. After a few potholes, you start to dodge the drop off. This post covers five ways to fill the biggest potholes and navigate your social network smoothly.

Here’s where the question originated . . .

Question

In preparing an online networking presentation for small business owners, I got a call from the meeting planner who asked me: “Can you talk about the icky stuff first? I know these questions will come up sometime in the presentation.”

Answer

As a former sales person, I know how important it is to overcome objections. And, I know that not every product or service is for everybody. If you’re one of the ones who sits on the sidelines and waits for people to invite you to join their social network – or you’re not participating at all, see if one of these possible potholes is holding you back. The two biggest concerns are privacy and time management.

1. PRIVACY Set social network privacy boundaries – shading the view 

How much do you want people to know about you? is not the question

This is: How much do people have to know about you before they make a decision to connect with you?

Meeting someone online is a first stopping point in what may or may not be a long-term relationship. The key here is to give people who want to follow enough information to make a decision to connect. It’s okay to turn off some people. Believe me, you don’t want to attract everybody.

Decide how much you want to reveal before you get started because once you put anything out online, it can be impossible to cancel it. For example, if you work from home, you don’t have to give your specific address or even the name of your village. I use Chicago because more people recognize this city than the name of my town. Will you post pictures of your family? Mention your hobbies?

2. TIME MANAGEMENT Manage your online social networking time as an investment in your business

Yes, social networking can be time consuming and distracting. But, most business owners aren’t used to spending much personal time on building their business. Typically, they’re more focused on delivering products or services. Traditionally, brochures, mailings and emails manage most of the marketing contact time. What do these strategies have in common?

To build your community online, think of treating your time as an investment in building your credibility and connecting in new ways. How do you find time to network online? Try checking email only once or twice a day and then schedule in 30 minutes to check in with your online networks. Start small and build up. The key here is frequent interaction, in small bites. It’s kind of like working out. You don’t run a marathon the first day you start training.

3. INVITATIONS Decide who you want to connect with

Be prepared for “invitations” that come from unlikely people on networks you aren’t on. Don’t join a network just because your friends are on it. Check out every person who invites you to connect before you accept. Have an invitation you don’t want to accept – like the one from your sister’s ex-husband? It’s up to you to decide. If you have 1500 connections, one isn’t likely to stand out. If you have 20, you want them all to be people you like.

4. PRIORITIES Strategize your system by identifying professional priorities

Why am I here? What do I want to get out of it?  Who do I want to talk to? Should I stay or should I go now? 

Join networks that you will participate in – check out the conversation first. Smaller networks within a larger site like LinkedIn offer more opportunity for connecting in a small group setting.

5. ETIQUETTE Be nice and act responsibly

You get what you give. If you’re nice, others will be, too. But, sometimes people are mean and nasty to those who are more successful than they are. And, your message might get misconstrued. Nuances drift into short messages. People read words the wrong way. Apologize and correct any misunderstandings immediately. Read your message out loud before you send it. And, if you don’t have anything nice to say . . . well you know  . . .

What do think?

What’s your biggest social networking pothole?

Challenge: Differentiating You and What You Do

Solution: Promote ALL of YOU, including your social network

Read: 33 Ways to Get Social Networking to Work for You

Time: < 3 minutes to read

Action: Choose top 2 or 3 to implement

Inspiration: Chris Brogan’s post “Will Companies Value Your Personal Network?”

33 Ways to Get Social Networking to Work for You

Share your ideas – let’s see if we can get the list to 50!

1. Clarify your message: what do you want to be known for? Social networks ask for a personal tag
2. Commune with crowds: choose a few select social networking communities and be active
3. Gather in groups: start or join a group on LinkedIn or Facebook, expand your network by connecting with others who share your interests
4. Track your referrers: find out where contacts coming from – ask new twitter followers how they found you
5. Name your a network and make it a desirable destination
6. Promote your affiliations: let people know who you’re affiliated with and why
7. Join an association or membership group and show up in forums
8. Build on your blog’s reach to other bloggers
9. Choose a few mentors and see how they present themselves online
10. Welcome new members with a link to a helpful article or a free report
11. Set aside time to get to know people you like offline
12. Call new contacts to get to know them
13. Be ready to respond to questions that position you as an expert
14. Know who to go to when you or your network needs an expert opinion
15. Make it easy for people to find you; use your real name or an ID that people recognize
16. Optimize your profiles with your keywords
17. Give out a guide on how to be better at . . .
18. Celebrate milestones with your community like number of new followers
19. Invite others to share your space in interviews or guest posts
20. Present your network as part of you in your profiles
21. Sketch out a social media bio that lists where to find you online
22. Volunteer to help out and share your expertise
23. Start your own group and guide it
24. Be known as a leader with something to say
25. Get to know people that others think of as influential and find out what makes them that way
26. Select a dozen high-profile people to follow
27. Leave thought-full comments on blogs you like
28. Track social activity via aggregators like Friend Feed or MyBlogLog
29. Make it a point to get out and meet the people you admire
30. Write about meeting them
31. Send out a postcard every other month to let everyone know what you’re working on and how they can participate
32. Form a mastermind group with people you know that have similar goals to yours
33. Think of your network as your people; people you want to know and relate to

What’s the most important step to take first? What would you add to the list?