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Join us Monday, February 6th from 6:00pm – 7:00pm as we explore the latest weapons in social media, Pinterest and Instagram. The two platforms have found their way into the hearts of many, and are raising the eyebrows of brand strategists everywhere. Are you thinking about using them to build your personal brand or your clients?

During this month’s Twitter chat we’ll ask you:

1. What brands have you found to be successful on Pinterest or Instagram?
2. Are you thinking about using one of these sites?
3. Have you had any success?
4. What are some cool tricks you’ve found to work on Pinterest or Instagram?
5. Who should we be following?

Date: Monday, February 6th
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Topic: Exploring Pinterest & Instagram to build your brand
Hashtag: #smphxchat
Hosted by:Daniel Moran (@dmoranjr)

This month experts Clintus McGintus and Merlin U. Ward discussed the issue of leveraging video to drive traffic. Sharing their expertise they stressed that it’s essential for you to:

1. Explore ALL Channels: Learn where you audience is and post your videos on those platforms. There are more sites than just YouTube, so do your research.
2. Meta Tags: It’s important your Meta tags not only speak to the content of your videos, but how people will search search for your videos.
3. Content. Content. Content: Don’t expect to have millions of people view your channel, if you’re not consistently uploading new videos.

The Social Media Club of Phoenix would like to thank Clintus and Merlin for speaking to our group. If are looking to leverage video marketing and have questions send a Tweet to Clintus (@Clintus) or Merlin (@MerlinUWard).

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If using videos either personally or professionally is something you want to do more of in 2012…then don’t miss out on this month’s topic!

Please join us at social media club as we discuss how to use videos to help drive traffic to your site. We’ll start by finding out how much you all know about video and production. Then dive into how our panel members got involved with video, what their favorite tools and tricks are for making videos, and end with tracking the success of a video campaign.

Our panelists are:

• Krys Vansylke
• Clintus McGintus
• Merlin U Ward

Our moderators are:

• Samantha Leopoldi
• Jerilyn Kruger

We’ll see you at our usual hangout on January 12^th at 6:30pm at Gannet Local.

Socially yours,
SMC Phoenix

Other Social Media articles:

• DECEMBER SMC: The good, bad and ugly of 2011 (smcphoenix.com)
• Updated Chapter Guidelines & Stricter Requirements on New Chapters (socialmediaclub.org)
• Social Media Club Seattle: What more can we accomplish in 2012? (heidi-miller.com)
• Are there cultural differences in social media? (socialmediaclub.org)

Last night we picked the biggest moments in social media and here are our favorites.

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• Best Social Mishap: While Kenneth Cole’s infamous blunder that insulted the Egyptian people was pretty crazy, we thought Weinergate toped them all. Our group voted by a wide margin that Anthony Weiner’s failed DM was the biggest social mishap in 2011. After all, his Twitter picture bearing the family jewels managed to end his political career.

• Hottest Social Media Campaign: Online privacy is a hot topic and no other campaign showed us how vulnerable we are than Facebook Lollipop. Set to a creepy soundtrack that channels a Chainsaw Massacre flick, it’ll make you a little bit nervous the next time you log on. Check it out at www.takethislollipop.com.

Hidden Gems: What do you get when you cram a room full of social media junkies into a room? You’ll get some amazing recommendations for apps that’ll rock your world.

        Favorite Apps: Goodzer; Twitter for Debates; Square; Apple Check Out; Waze; and Kurrently.

        Favorite Sites: Turntablefm; Pinterest; Social Bro; Uncrate; and Procatinator.com.

Biggest Moment in 2012: It was when some crazy guy gave everyone access to his Starbucks card. And like all good things in life it came to an end after one bad apple ruined it for everyone. It’s why coffee lovers across the world LOVE Jonathan Stark and HATE Sam Qdio after he banked some Bengamins. Get the full scoop here: http://mashable.com/2011/08/12/jonathans-card-hacked-starbucks/

Social Hangover 2011: When this topic was brought up…everyone almost instantaneously yelled out Klout. The black sheep of the social media family has a long way to go before it wins the hearts of social junkies across the globe….or at least from the SMC Phoenix crew.

From everyone at SMC Phoenix HAPPY HOLIDAYS! We wish you the best of luck in 2012 and look forward to seeing you at next year’s meeting. Just because it’s 2012 doesn’t mean we’re changing our schedule. We’ll see you on January 12th at 6:30pm at Gannet Local.

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• Social Media Club of Phoenix 2011 Recap of all things Social | Social Media Club Phoenix
• Last Night’s Phoenix Social Media Club
• No meeting in September – Join Us at Social Media AZ!

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Ask Social Media Club – Phoenix To Recommend Your Posts

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As 2011 comes to an end, Social Media Club of Phoenix wanted to hear from its members about what the biggest topics, trends, issues, etc. you’re expecting in 2012. Why? So that we cannot only start planning next year’s monthly meetings, but so everyone can better understand what obstacles and opportunities the future holds.

We’ll ask you to chirp about:

1. What will be the biggest focus in social media?
2. How will it change how you market a brand?
3. How will change how you market your personal brand?
4. What are you going to do differently in 2012?

Join us on Thursday, December 15th from 6:00pm – 7:00pm to discuss what the future holds. You can participate in our conversation with the hash tag #SMCPHXCHAT.

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In the time honored tradition of countdowns in December, Social Media Club of Phoenix is hosting a mash up of the best and worst of this year’s Social Media. We’ll enjoy a lively discussion of a handful of topics to ring in the New Year.

We’ll explore:

• Best Social Mishaps: Anyone remember the Gap Logo Change, B of A fumble on Google+ or Kenneth Cole’s blunder during Egypt’s uprising? We do!
• Hottest Social Campaign: From the creepy “Take this Lollipop” on Facebook to Twitter voting on X Factor…. social media pushed all the right buttons this year. Let’s all share what turned us on in 2011.
• Hidden Gems: We’ll unveil our guilty pleasures and ask you to share what sites you just can’t live without. 
• Biggest Moments of the year: We’ll have you OMGing it all evening, as we explore as a group the biggest social moments of the year.
  
• Social Hangover 2011: Like a bad boyfriend or Friday night regrets there are a few things we just wish would go away. See who and what tops the list, and be prepared to share—after all it’ll one of the few times in your life where complaining is ok.

Like a detective on a case we urge you to pull out your smart phone or notepad and jot down things to add.  Be prepared to share your favorite and not-so-favorite social media moments of 2011.

We’ll see you at our usual hangout on December 8th at 6:30pm at Gannet Local.

Socially yours,
SMC Phoenix

PS Feel free to get a jump-start on dishing out your favorite moments in social media on our Facebook page!

P.S.S. From everyone at Social Media Club of Phoenix happy holidays and best of luck in the New Year!

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• Social Media Club Phoenix Next Meeting
• Twitter Chat: Social Media Club Phoenix | Social Media Club Phoenix
• Klout | Social Media Club Phoenix

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Last month Social Media Club of Phoenix hosted its first Social Media Camp to help fellow social junkies get a firm grip on social media. During our two hour mini camp, our team members Jerilyn Kruger and Daniel Moran discussed the basics of how to get started on social media. The two tackled topics that included Facebook, Twitter and establishing your brand’s personality.

If you were not able to attend the event, our experts were kind enough to post their presentations online via Slidshare. We will be hosting a Social Media Camp in early 2012, so stay tuned for more information.

Can’t wait for our next Social Media Camp? You can attend our free monthly meetings where we discuss everything social. If there is a specific topic you want to explore, please post it on our future topics section of our website or let us know on Facebook.

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Facebook has evolved since its early days. During this month’s Twitter chat we took an in-depth look at the newest changes and the affect they have on users. We first discussed Timeline and found that SMC Phoenix members liked the new page features. @afmarcom shared how she thought the new changes would allow people to enhance their profile, “I’m sure other people will trick out their profile a lot more.”

The new cover photo allows people to brand themselves and give a better snapshot of their personality, interests, etc. A recent article on Mashable.com showed how people are having fun designing their Timeline cover photo. Ultimately by completing the information the way it’s designed, Facebook has created a virtual timeline of your life—allowing you to tell people exactly who you are.

Like with any new changes some are not so welcomed. Two of the biggest issues we discussed were centered around Facebook’s new apps policy and Ticker. The latest changes in its apps policy allows them to access your information and post updates without having to ask your permission. While privacy is a big concern it is also becoming an inconvenience as @phxgrl31 pointed out that Spotify is, “listing every song I listened to.”

While the information trickles into Facebook’s new Ticker it’s still viewed as spam by most users. @CherylMarquez added that you are able to adjust your privacy settings, so that your every move won’t be posted by apps on your newsfeed or ticker.

With the latest changes marketers are finding it harder to increase or maintain engagement because posts are being buried. @CherylMarquez said, “[It’s] so hard to drive engagement on FB [Facebook] too” in response to @afmarcom’s tweet referring to her lack of ability to see posts. @afmarcom continued to add, “All FB [Facebook] activity has been slow; the new algorithms are hurting conversations.”

What hiccups are you experiencing? Are you finding it hard to increase engagement or see your friend’s posts? Be sure to stay tuned for November’s Twitter chat. We will be announcing the day, time and topic soon.

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Ask Social Media Club – Phoenix To Recommend Your Posts

Join us on Wednesday, October 26th at Gannett Local for Social Media Camp – hosted by SMC Phoenix. Social Media Camp is designed to help people and businesses harness the power of social media. This camp will last 2 hours (from 6:00pm – 8:00pm)  Please keep in mind this event is designed for novice users with some experience with social media.

Space is limited. To reserve your spot RSVP HERE

Below are the topics we will cover:

I. Developing your personality –you opened a Twitter account, started a blog or created a Fan page on Facebook; it’s time to start getting active. SMC Phoenix will guide you through the posting process, helping you create an online persona that speaks to your business or personal brand.

1. Defining who you are
2. Integrating SEO terms
3. Putting words online
4. Questions

II. Gaining Followers—creating post isn’t fun if you don’t have any followers. We’ll give you tips and guidelines to help you attract followers on your Twitter and Facebook pages.

1. Like and follower campaigns
2. Facebook ads
3. Marketing your page
4. Questions

III.  Snapshot of Facebook—it’s a behemoth of a program. Navigating through Facebook can be challenging and confusing. We’ll give you the ins and outs of applications, touch on basic rules and more to help you get started with your page.

1. Apps that help you manage your page
2. How to increase your impressions
3. How to generate engagement
4. Questions

IV. Twitter Refresher Course—Twitter is a way to quickly inform your followers about what’s going on in your world. We will give you tips, information and a general snapshot of what the Twitterverse looks like.

1. Understanding the Twitter lingo
2. How to join other conversations
3. Questions

V. Resources—It’s important to do you homework. We’ll quickly recap and guide you to different sites, books, etc. that will help you navigate the social universe on your own.

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