“Say what you need to say”.

This comes from a song by John Mayer written for the Rob Reiner film The Bucket List in 2007.  Titled “Say”, it has 13 verses, 53 lines in total, of which 32 are simply “Say what you need to say”.  OK, John, I get the message….and I think it’s Twitter “gold”.

“Say what you need to say”.

In fact, what I really love is how succinctly it answers the classic ‘Twitter debate’.  You know – that’s the conversation where one person loves Twitter and the other thinks it’s a total waste of time!  Truly, I don’t really care which fire hydrant your puppy prefers…..but I would never discount the genius it takes to deliver valuable advice or offer relevant content in 140 characters or less.

“Say what you need to say”.

The notion of getting to the point, giving value, and generating a response (call to action?) has always made big money in the marketing world.  How is this different?  In truth – it’s not.

“Say what you need to say”.

The concept of a Bucket List is this: make a list of all the things you want to do/dream of doing in your life….and then cross them off, one by one before you ‘kick the bucket’. In the film, this takes Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson on the journey of their lifetimes…..at the end of their lives.

I had heard good things about this movie; friends recommended it…..it was the first time Freeman and Nicholson had acted together……I was familiar with the concept…..but when I finally watched it (a late night re-run on TV), it was this song by John Mayer which stuck in my head.

“Say what you need to say”. Say what you mean to say. Send ‘say’ ringtone to your cell – it will be a good reminder.

FreelanceCampVancouver2010 was sold out before it ever began. The Network Hub was filled to the brim with excited freelancers, entrepreneurs, and independent business owners who came together for discussions, demos, and interaction in sessions proposed onsite by attendees.

In preparation to attend, my ever-inquisitive business partner Bonnie Sainsbury went through the list of those registered, to make some connections in advance.  Imagine her surprise to find that only a few people had added so much as their website to their registration info.  They were coming, but until someone could actually shake their hands….they were as good as invisible online!

Being social-media-savvy, and a persistent sort, Bonnie did manage to find a few people….but the intent of the event was to increase business exposure.  People were letting an opportunity pass them by(!)…all of which explains how Bonnie came to speak at Freelance Camp herself.  See her notes, below, if you would rather be VISIBLE yourself:

Preconference

Prior to the conference or meeting, check on the event website for organizers, speakers and attendees. Are there links to their social networking accounts? Follow the anyone you can find on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook. Don’t forget to mention the conference when you ask to connect with them. Mention you will be attending the conference to your social networking contacts. When registering for the conference, pay special attention to opportunities to display your social networking account credentials and your blog url.

Ensure your social networking account credentials are displayed on your landing page. There are numerous free social networking logos on the internet. Link your account to the logo and you’re done.

Don’t be shy or invisible. There were 43 people who missed the opportunity to advertise their web presence on the eventbrite website for Freelance Camp.

At the Conference

When you arrive to register, ask for the wireless password and the hashtag for the event. If you’re able to access the internet during the event, send out at least three mentions of the conference each day. Ask everyone you meet for their twitter id, it’s the easiest to remember and you can find their other accounts from their twitter id. At the end of each day, when you have internet access, mention the folks you met that made an impact on you.

After the Conference

When you return home, on twitter, facebook and linkedin mention you attended the event and specifically mention people you met or speaker(s) who’s presentation you enjoyed. Take the time to follow the folks you made contact with on twitter, linkedin and facebook. Don’t forget to mention the conference you have in common in the invitation to connect. On twitter, search for the hashtag for the event and connect with the people you didn’t have a chance to meet during the event. Have a conversation with the people you connected with in the week after the event. Not sure what to say? Retweet someone, listen – what are they talking about? Remember, if you don’t provide value, you’re spamming .. 

Afterwards Bonnie did tell me that having friends and supporters like Sales Guru Howard Olson, Webnames Exec Cybele Negris, and Super-blogger John Chow in the audience was a little daunting. She did a fine job – see John’s blog for more.

One of the great things about being part of MBNS (MetroBlenz News Squad) through the Olympics has been all the great relationships that took off as a result. A couple of great examples have been recent invitatations to the Blenz Protein Shake launch (#BlenzProtein, on Twitter) and Marc’s business anniversary bash!

Happy Birthday, Marc!! Well done, indeed. May 19^th marked the 5^th anniversary for Marc Smith and his Vancouver event-organization firm, the aptly named Amuse Consulting.

Amused, indeed, was definitely the order of the day! Superbly coordinated by Marc in a series of 5’s , this man really knows how to throw a party! His personal style makes everyone feel welcome and included, and there was so much fun stuff going on that you could not help but join in the real spirit of celebration. His guests filled the Harrison Galleries to the walls. There was great food – like the pulled-pork sliders and the sweet potato pies. I would hate to leave out the sushi, or the rum and the beer – all first-class, too. People got tattoos and chair massages, had their caricatures done and were wowed – to say the least – by the floor show. There are prizes – soon to be awarded – and lots of great conversation and laughter all washed down by great wine, courtesy of B.C. vineyard, Road 13.

The crowning touch was in the ‘Back Gallery’, set up in advance for a wine tasting and blending event. Red wine is my personal favorite, so I was in my glory. The generous folks from Road 13 led us through the tasting of three able-bodied reds – a Cab Sav, a Merlot, and a Syrah. Then, with all that newly acquired expertise, we created a blend of the three. All of this involved rampant sampling and much glee!

To say “a good time was had by all!” would be an understatement. I saw some good friends, made some new ones, and wish Marc continued success. I can’t wait to see what he does next!

Personality Not Included  is an excellent resource for those businesses that are struggling to understand how “real, raw and relevant” fit into their marketing strategy. The days of a pretty brand are over – you need to discover the soul of your brand.

Amazon Product Description

“The age of the faceless corporation is over. In the new business era of the twenty first century, great brands and products must evoke a dynamic personality in order to attract passionate customers. Although many organizations hide their personality behind layers of packaged messaging and advertising, social media guru and influencer Rohit Bhargava counters that philosophy and illustrates how successful businesses have redefined themselves in the new customer universe.

Personality Not Included is a powerhouse resource packed with bold new insights that show you how to shed the lifeless armor of your business and rediscover the soul of your brand. “

Reviews From the Back Cover of the Book

““Personality Not Included breaks down the old barriers between marketing, advertising, and PR and shows you how to nail the single objective of it all: creating powerful conversations with your customers and getting them to choose you over the rest.”
-Timothy Ferriss, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek

“Just being pretty isn’t enough anymore, today a brand also needs a strong personality to survive. In Personality Not Included, Rohit gives you the techniques and tools to help your brand go from wallflower to social butterfly.”
-Laura Ries, bestselling author of 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, cofounder of Ries & Ries”

An excellent read before creating a Marketing Strategy using Social Markeing tools.