Social Media Saturdays: Need Your Help

by Phil Gerbyshak on May 18, 2009

I’m working on a new series of live workshops I’m calling “Social Media Saturdays” because they’ll be held on Saturdays and will be all about social media. I’ll be holding them all in Milwaukee, and I’ll also be recording them and uploading the files for folks to learn more about social media.

Each class will be 90 minutes, with 30 minutes for me doing an overview, 30 minutes for me answering questions, and 30 minutes of folks actually DOING what we talked about (if they bring along their laptop). 

Does that sound like something you’d pay $35 a session for if you knew little/nothing about social media?

Here’s a tentative listing of courses:

  • Social Media Basics: The basics of social and a little bit more to get you started. High level overview of blogs and blogging, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
  • Listen First, Sell Last: Finding who already is doing what you want to be doing in your niche and learning from the experts’ successes and failures.
  • Blogging: Explaininging the various platforms and getting your blog started. 
  • Twitter: Can you really say anything in 140 characters? How to find folks who want to hear what you say, and how to use Tweetdeck.
  • LinkedIn: Setting up your profile, finding folks to connect to, and using LinkedIn Groups and Answers
  • Facebook: Not just for students anymore. Setting up a profile, basic search, updating your status, and customizing to fit your personality.
  • Google basics: Search basics, setting up a Gmail account, adding Google Alerts, Google Reader, Google Documents, take a tour of the labs for new stuff.
  • Online video basics: Review a few videos, discuss what to include in your video (and what to leave out), what sites are available for upload and a basic overview of searching for other videos.
  • Online photos and graphics: How to batch upload your photos, how to tag them so you and others can find them, a little bit about Creative Commons (and why you might want to let other people use your pictures) and how to buy photos you can use for your online and offline marketing campaigns.
  • Newsletters are NOT dead: Showing folks how to create a newsletter using content they’ve already created in other places, and so they don’t get sued for sending spam.
  • Contact Management: From Outlook to Plaxo to BatchBlue and beyond. What you need to know about your contacts and how to keep it in your mailbox. 

Here’s where you come in, and where I need your help:

What am I missing? 

I’m doing these sessions starting in late June, so I’d love to know what your thoughts are on this. I’m booking the room I’ll be using this week (down to 2 very cool places in Milwaukee), so please share your feedback with me soon.

Thanks in advance!

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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

Adam Green May 18, 2009 at 4:52 am

Phil:

If you are teaching people how to use Google Alerts, feel free to distribute copies of my Google Alerts tutorials. As long as you include a link back to the site, you are free to republish them.

http://www.alertrank.com/google-alerts-tutorial.html
http://www.alertrank.com/google-alerts-marketing.html

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Thank you VERY much Adam! If I use them, I’ll be sure to give you full credit!

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Brad Shorr May 18, 2009 at 7:17 am

Great list, Phil! Well worth the investment. Other ideas …

1. How to avoid social media overload – for people who think, “I don’t have time for this!”
2. Measuring results – is all this time and effort doing me or my business any good?

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:18 pm

Love those Brad. I am DEFINITELY including those! Thank you sir!

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Jack Hayhow May 18, 2009 at 8:56 am

Phil: I think this is a great idea! If I was in Milwaukee, I’d be there. A session that specifically addresses “why social media matters to your business” would be a session that I think would be well attended. Good luck – I’ll look forward to hearing about your success.

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:18 pm

Good point Jack! Definitely going to include the “why social media matters” in each course.

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Nancy Bleeke May 18, 2009 at 10:06 am

Phil – this is a great series you have planned! Any thoughts of adding a virtual offering at some time? Geography and Saturday-family-schedule issues could keep many away.

Keep up the great work!

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:18 pm

Yep, going to start with live sessions, and then record them and offer them on-demand and on DVD with workbooks.

Thanks for the support Nancy!

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Miki May 18, 2009 at 12:03 pm

I think that Brad keyed on a critical factor, but I’d go even further a la “Social Media of necessity, not desire.” Not everyone wants to spend their free time on the web and many don’t enjoy virtual interactions. They know they “should” do something, but have no way of knowing what minimal things they can do for the greatest impact.

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Yep, you’re right Miki. I’m going to focus on the little things folks can do in 90 or so minutes a day to really make a HUGE impact.

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Joan Schramm May 18, 2009 at 2:36 pm

Phil –

What a great idea! I’ve been kicking around something very much like this in the Annapolis area. I’ll be interested in hearing more as your plans firm up, and maybe we can exchange some ideas.

If I were in your area, I’d definitely attend.

Joan

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Thanks Joan! I’ll definitely keep everyone up to speed on this. Should be fun!

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Tim May 19, 2009 at 9:26 pm

Phil:

I think this is a great idea. As a person who is “in transition,” but has plenty of experience in marketing, advertising and sponsorship, I am still trying to understand social media. I’ve been looking for classes in the Chicago area for something like this. I’ll also throw out SEO, which I am trying to understand, as well. I would say this is a great idea.

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Thanks Tim! I am very glad you like this idea. Milwaukee’s not that far, so let me know if you have an interest. I would even pick you up on the train station if you got here earlier enough.

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Hilary May 20, 2009 at 3:21 pm

Hi Phil .. sounds good to me .. and I’d definitely attend if it was here in the UK – preferably Eastbourne .. a nice genteel town by the seaside!

No – sounds like a really good idea .. especially the three break sessions .. whether you can achieve all that in 90 minutes .. I am unsure .. especially with all your attendees doing their thing in the last 30 mins ..

also the commitment to x number of weeks .. so they don’t miss out .. unless free webinars can be accessed by attendees?

Really good idea though as we all need it ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Wish I could hold something closer to you. You get 30 people to commit to $250 for a day long session, and I’ll be there :)

I do plan to offer the webinars later for attendees, for sure. Good suggestion!

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Beth Rosen May 21, 2009 at 8:37 am

Phil…this is great…would love to help in any way I can..and I have a few ideas..I’m a better phone person..so listen I will be calling soon…
Beth

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Phil Gerbyshak May 27, 2009 at 6:15 pm

Thanks Beth! Would love your help!

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Esteban Kolsky May 29, 2009 at 6:57 pm

Phil,

Not sure if you are doing this for biz people, but if you are you may want to throw a session on SM and biz.

Also, make sure to include communities, you can do things like Ning, Yahoo groups, some vendors (best buy, e.g.).

Also, when you do blogging please make sure to mention STRONGLY how leaving comments is a good idea, and how no comment is too stupid.

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Phil Gerbyshak May 29, 2009 at 7:01 pm

Esteban – this course should be best for small business people and entrepreneurs, so I will definitely talk about communities. Not sure if that fits in the first 5 sessions, but in future sessions I will for sure include that.

And great point about comments too! Thanks for stopping by!

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