Please guide this lost geek.

So much time has passed. Five years ago Joe at AJBombers got me excited about social media and I jumped right in. I signed up for accounts on many services, so many that I have lost track. I started a blog because "it was the thing to do" but was concerned that I was not a journalist or writer so became shy and did not utilize the power to express myself. Five years later I am still excited about social media. I have studied this entire time with books, websites, tools such as twitter and discussions with Social Media Stars. I try to attend as many events as possible but walk out of many feeling like "the brain surgeons" are talking and I am just a janitor. How do I connect with others as excited as me that are willing to share knowledge and time to point me into further success? Last year I discovered The Milwaukee Social Media Club and was amazed at how many skilled and talented people were there. I said "this is the place for me" until I found out that a membership fee eliminated my option. I do show up for the public events and learn everything possible. I can think of five specific people who I have known this entire time who are happy to say hello but make me feel like I am not at their level. The attitude is that their success and knowledge makes them worth what they earn so I can only give you a minute or two. Social Media is suppose to be about community and interaction, so please have open arms to someone who really wants to be part of the club. Recently I was invited to demonstrate my ability with a new business, use social media to get Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt brand known in the Milwaukee area. I have only been at it about a week and have seen an increase of customer walk-ins rise 67% by using Facebook. Now I need your help. Show me how (briefly) to use other tools so that I can do so much more. Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+ and even Youtube are in every portfolio I look at. I considered going back to school for a degree or certification in Social Media. Will this be worth the time? Will companies or other experts take me more serious? I need to know how to gain credit in the world of social media. Please make comments and suggestions to the blog or you can find me on many services as PaulRCopsey (me being my brand). My early attempts can be found on my personal accounts found under PRC2U.

A year has gone by

As I watch the Twitter feeds about #sxsw interactive I realize that at this time last year I became a social media student. One year later I look back at everything I have learned and realize that I have not even scratched the surface. I try to connect with the local 'experts' to exchange idea's and offer my time and services to their busy lives. These people to just mention a few are: Phil Gerbyshak, Katie Felten and Scott from Streetza Pizza (sorry scott don't remember the last name). I have met many new people but have found it hard to earn a place in their 'circle of buddies'. Twitter is a networking tool but I find myself feeling like the outsider (like back in high school) trying to fit in with the Kool Group. I ask that you get to know me because I have much depth you have not yet discovered.

There are so many ways to learn. I see so many options, then I realize the costs. Would I like to be at SXSW? more than you know! Conventions and seminars such as UnGeeked provide so much insight but that also comes with a registration fee. I often wonder how so many people can afford to attend. So I turn to books. This to has a cost but no where near as high as the prefered attendance at meetings. Has anyone ever considered funding or fundraising to take new 'interns' to these events so that their talent can shine in the future? Any idea's how I could implement this idea? Please make suggestions in the comments.

For just today I need to walk away, take a deep breath and care for me. Take time to relax and leave the drive and perfectionist attitude at home. Tomorrow I dive back in working as hard as I can to learn EVERYTHING.

I learn each time I dedicate time.

This has been a week of MUCH learning. I was introduced to Hootsuite and by spending time 'playing around' I discovered the power and potential of this tool. I like that you are able to follow each of your social sites in one place. I entered my Twitter feed, Facebook account and Foursquare. I need to remember my passwords so that I can enter my other accounts. I am also figuring out how to post at a scheduled time, times when most people are using these services or when I am able to post in real time. I have much to learn but for just being introduced I think I am picking this up quite fast.

I spent some time searching the net for Tutorials or "Intro 101" to Twitter and Facebook so that I do not have to keep buying books. There is so much free information out there, my Favorite Places is filling up fast. I also placed folders on my desktop so that I can read for a few minutes each time I discover a lag in my day. I also found many things provided by people who are a fan of Unmarketing, like I am. What he has to offer could be a course in itself.

I am a customer of Groupon and will check the daily discounts. It allows me to try places that I may not afford to go or to return to places I now love. I am also looking into the details on how to get a business or two that I regular to get involved with Groupon advertising.

Here is my thought for the week. Are you a business that put yourself of Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare so that you can say you are there and then never activly put any new information on those sites? Social Media is interaction, not just being present!

So much information so little time

I dive into my study of social media by selecting books to read and understand. My first choice was Chris Brogan's Social Media 101 as an ebook on my iPhone. I could not put it down, I had to keep moving forward because each new piece of information made me want more. I regret that I used an ebook reader because I like to highlight key passages and flag pages for quick and easy reference. I know for next time that hard copy is the way to go. Chris inspires excites the reader but also makes you stop and think by the questions he asks. Congradulations Chris Brogan for being the first blog entered into my RSS reader for repeat access.

At this time I am working on two other books. Sally Hogshead's Facinate and Inbound Marketing by the guys from Hubspot. One revelation I had is that to learn so many aspects of social media will never allow one to know it inside out. I need to pick one such as Twitter and learn everything I can before thinking about Facebook or LinkedIn. The shotgun approach to all the tools only gives an overview of how to use each tool. Cage the excitement and focus to get the most out of each book.

I am having a hard time getting thru Facinate because I have me Sally Hogshead and her way of presentation makes the data so much more real and human. Sally's personality and excitement makes her such an interesting speaker and presenter that when I opened her book I was a bit let down. I do see tons of information and data that is of interest but it is in such a 'textbook' feel that I lose interest. I sure hope that Sally Hogshead will do video presentations (if has not already) to get the maximum affect of her passion and personality.

Inbound Marketing caught me off guard. I was not sure it was a topic I wanted to learn to much about so I paged thru parts of the book reading here and there. The more I looked at it the more I wanted to read it. First I used the index and skipped aroung but now I have read the book cover to cover twice! The information is presented in a down to earth format that is easy to read and keeps my attention. I will keep this book on my shelves for a long time and keep going back to it when I need to remind myself another way social media has impacted my life.

So where do I journey next? I think it is time to learn about LinkedIn. I set up my profile long ago with little information on how to use it or what it was all about. I know now that it is a powerful tool that I need to put to more use. I will start my education on MKELive for a 5 hour training offered to me by Katie Felton, the best LinkedIN milwaukee specailist as far as I am concerned. Once I have a foundation I will seek out other greats and ask questions specific to how I can put it to use for what I need it to accomplish just for me.

Question folks, what was the most influencial book to your social media experiences?

I had the honor of sitting down with Phil Gerbyshak and talking about social media. I have been on twitter for just one year and see that the only limit is one's creativity. Phil and I discussed what he feels is the best way to get started in social media as I frantically tried to remember all that he said. I did take a few keyword notes near the end which are already becoming helpful. For those who do not know Phil he is the author of the book "10 Ways to Make it Great". I came home that night and opened his book. He has such a positive way of looking at things and is so motivational. I had to send him a text about being in awe. Since that night I have put a lot of time into a journey that I have just begun. I am reading blogs and commenting where I feel my opinion would mean something to someone, I am looking at websites and podcasts, and I am taking online courses in communication on Hubspot. The next step will to be to look at MkeLive.com and learn about another useful tool called Linkedin. I am grateful that I have met Phil Gerbyshak, someone who knows so much more than myself and is willing to share his knowledge and guide me as a mentor.

From the eye's of a wheelchair user.....

Many would not even think about how life is different sitting in a wheelchair. I propose that everyone spend at least one day of their life in a chair to experience how the world is different. An example is the pool area of your apartment complex. ADA laws deemed it necessary to put a lift into the pool so that the disabled and elderly could get transported into the water. Wow, what a great idea, until you find out that there is a block long area of grass you need to go over to get anywhere near the gate. For some this grass would prevent access to the pool. Motorized scooters would travel over it but the drain on the battery would be substancial. Manual wheelchair users better be strong because grass is no easy task to wheel thru. From the eye's of a wheelchair user.....

I really think the world is lacking in common sense. I have seen a ramp from the sidewalk down to the street then on the other side there is no ramp to get back up. Do we really have to have a high IQ to know that another ramp is needed? Why is it not thought of? From the eye's of a wheelchair user....

In the 1800's disabled people were locked in institutions. Today we are part of society and mingle with the able world. Jobs are required to adapt locations so that we can work, and public places need to be accessable. Isn't it great that restaurants have a wheelchair ramp so that we can get into the establishment and eat just like other folks? Has anyone wondered what it felt like to come in the back door and thru the kitchen just so that we can enter? It is not normal to have that much attention just to enter a building. From the eye's of a wheelchair user....

Society accepts disabled much better than in history. We have come a long way but there still needs work to be done. Stereotypes need to be broken, assumptions put to rest and educating the children that everyone is different is the place to start. The next time you see someone different ask yourself "if I were being treated like that would it be ok"? If you dont like the answer take action. Offer your assistance and understanding but never pity. I just want to fit in, be like everyone else even if I have limitations different than most.

From the eye's of a wheelchair user....

Ungeeked Elite shows how much I need to learn.

I attended Ungeeked Elite, a gathering of social media guru's that have found success using social media. Speakers educated in blogging, podcasting, facebook, twitter and youtube share how to become a brand known to many. I am excited that the book TwitterWorks is soon to ship, three local businesses who have made their name known nationally are friends I have met thru twitter. Without my having any education in social media I rely on books recomended by others and hope to one day to participate in a business that enables companies to use social media to further their business visibility and overall success.