Contact: April M. Williams
Cyberlife Tutors
Phone: 414.502.7745 Facebook: Your Toastmasters Club PR Friend
Social Networking Connects Toastmasters Community
ALGONQUIN, IL, December 30, 2010 – Toastmasters clubs see the power of social networking as Facebook, Twitter and other popular tools gain popularity. Now Toastmasters clubs are using these tools to build their clubs, communicate and expand their reach.
Recognizing the need to connect with their members and potential members, more and more clubs are getting into social networking. April M. Williams, president of CyberLife Tutors http://www.cyberlifetutors.com wrote the book “Social Networking Throughout Out Your Career: What’s all the Buzz About”. She shares best practices with fellow Toastmasters at the Toastmasters Leadership Institute on January 15, 2011.
For more information or to register for the event, visit Toast of Chicago.
Topics will include:
How to get started with social networking for your club.
Why a social networking strategy is important to your marketing success.
How to engage your club and inspire action.
Social media is critical for today’s business – for profit and non-profit alike,” said Toastmasters Northwest (A) Division Governor Michelle Kabele. Toastmasters provides skill based training classes for members and on Saturday, Jan 15, Toastmasters will provide 36 sessions for members and guests including a session on Social Media, led by social media expert April M. Williams, to help our members increase their capabilities in this important area.
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About CyberLife Tutors:
CyberLife Tutors, located in Algonquin, Illinois, specializes in integrating social networking with traditional marketing for McHenry County businesses. April’s book, Social Networking Throughout Your Career is available on Amazon.com.
EDITORS: If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with April M. Williams, please contact April at 847-207-7412 or email April.
Press Release: Illinois Small Business Development Center Classes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Contact April M. Williams
CyberLife Tutors
(414) 502-7745
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http://www.cyberlifetutors.com
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BUSINESS SERIES
Illinois Small Business Development Center and Cyberlife Tutors host Social Media classes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALGONQIUN, ILLINOIS – November 1, 2010
Please join the Illinois Small Business Development Center and Cyberlife Tutors for an interactive, four part series on Social Media and how it applies to YOUR McHenry County business today.
This series is designed for those new to or curious about social media as a business building tool. Hosted by Illinois Small Business Development Center and April M. Williams of CyberLife Tutors, attendees will see how business can harness the power of free tools to target specific customers. Sessions cover LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and blogs. Mark your calendar for February 2, 9, 16, 23, 2011 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane, McHenry, Illinois 60050. Cost is $30 per session or $100 for the series. For registration or more information please contact Illinois Small Business Development Center at (815) 455-6098 or email sdbc@mchenry.edu .
“Understanding the keystrokes of how to harness and use social media is a key capability to operating effectively,” states ISBDC Director Mary Margaret Maule. ”These classes shorten your learning curve and reduce wasted time trying to learn yourself, self taught. Social media is the fastest growing form of marketing, most cost effective and flexible. Social media is a MUST have for all small businesses.”
April M. Williams, a nationally recognized speaker, author, coach and blogger actively leverages the power of social networking tools. April is President of CyberLife Tutors and shows clients how to leverage their strengths to enhance their business. April published a book “Social Networking Throughout Your Career” and has been featured in major publications including the Wall Street Journal, Project Management Institute, Savvy, Business Journal and Nations Restaurant News.
ABOUT the CyberLife Tutors – Serving McHenry County, Northern Illinois and surrounding areas to promote business through low cost, high impact marketing, building relationships and driving results.
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<<<< Due to weather, this series will run February 9 – March 2. >>>>>
Scholl Construction Company is a full service builder and remodeling company located in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Karen Scholl, head of Marketing, summarizes the company’s philosophy, “Our job starts with the customers’ idea of what they want their house to be. We help them realize that vision.”
The company approaches each job as an opportunity to partner with the customer and work as a team to get the construction project completed perfectly. Scholl strives to educate, demonstrate credibility, build confidence and establish relationships with prospects and customers. It is with an eye toward this goal that Scholl approaches social media.
THE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
We face three major challenges. In today’s economy, customers are more careful about spending and calculating return on their investment while their list of “must have” options is shrinking. Meanwhile, the media is professing gloom over the home building and remodeling market. Lastly, some builders have not geared their business toward customer satisfaction and that attitude has negatively impacted our professionalism.
We used to spend considerable time and money creating PowerPoint presentations and customer recommendation sheets. We found that customers rarely looked at them or followed up with our past customers. Now we refer customers to our Facebook page where we post project photos, videos and customer comments; updating the site one to two times per week.
We attend networking events as part of our marketing strategy. These are often held in the evenings so it extends the workday and takes a lot of time. Although in person contact is an important part of networking, the social media connection, with a minimal time commitment, can increase that initial contact ten-fold. I would have to attend a networking group every day for 10 years to meet the same number of people I do through social media.
A few months ago, I did not even know what “social media” meant. I was skeptical and thought no one looks at the internet. Was I wrong! I attended Cyberlife Tutors’ social media training classes and just loved them. Now Scholl Construction is on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and we are blogging. We have something going on all the time and we are getting positive feedback and results.
CAMPAIGN RESULTS
Social media has given us a broader audience while expending less energy and time. I keep us with all our social media activities in less than 30 minutes a day. Each social media tool, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Blogging, has a different feeling and a different way to connect, yet each lets me “meet” people in a quick and casual way. I used LinkedIn to post a business question and never expected anyone would respond, yet I got two answers almost immediately. I was really surprised by the results.
SOCIAL MEDIA BENEFITS
I found social media allowed us to get our name out there; getting well known for what we do. Scholl Construction has gotten some very positive leads through Facebook. People can see the type of work that we do and we get to connect with people we normally would not see.
Initially I thought of Facebook as a “teenage thing”. I am finding that all ages: young adults, baby boomers and retired adults are online.
CYBERLIFE TUTORS BENEFITS
If it were not for Cyberlife Tutors, I would not be able to do what I do now. Cyberlife Tutors has been very supportive, given me a good introduction on how to get started, and made me less fearful of getting online. I was encouraged when Cyberlife Tutors said, “Go ahead and do it, you will be fine”. Cyberlife Tutors connected me with discussion groups where I could share and learn from others and April encouraged me as I got started.
In the beginning, it was confusing. But once I got started and just did it, I knew Cyberlife Tutors was there to support me. I knew that I could call for additional help and I think that is really important. Classes are well organized and got me up and running in a couple of hours. I think that in itself is amazing.
I am using our blogging site to talk to people about what to expect when working with us. I have written about the safety of children and pets at the construction site and other subjects related to the building industry. Blogging helps bridge the gap and build healthy working relationships and I find that it is a powerful tool. The pictures we post are a big help in allaying fears about our level of expertise because people can see what we are producing as they follow our current job up-date photos.
SUMMARY
What is Karen’s advice to business owners?
“Take a class. Get some coaching. Learn a little bit. Get in there and just do it. If you are not using social media, I highly recommend you contact April M. Williams for her vast working knowledge of social media. We are finding that our customers are going to the internet to see who we are, what we do, read feedback about our services and see how we communicate. Social networking is the way we keep in contact with a large number of people; many of whom are looking at our services. These days, in the business world, I believe that social media is going to be a vital part of any business success story.“ Follow Scholl Construction on Facebook and Twitter.
The Career Transition Center of Chicago is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization providing professional assistance to individuals in employment transition. CTC represents an alignment of academic institutions, faith communities, and businesses concerned with supporting people in their search for meaningful employment and sustainable success.
Over the past several years I worked with the Career Transition Center of Chicago providing coaching to job seekers. Laura Sterkel, Program Director, asked me to recommend resources for their coaches related to Social Networking. I am speaking to the group about social networking for a job search this week. Anita Jenke is the Executive Director.
LinkedIn and Social Networking Quick Tips – Free! Sign up for my Career newsletter in the box on the right then check your email mailbox
Do you remember the “The Giving Tree” book written by the late Shel Silverstein? It is one of the first books I owned. Enter the Giving Tree Band from Yorkville, Illinois.
The Giving Tree Band uses social networking to connect with their fans and share their message of environmental sustainability. The band knows their audience and how to connect with them. They made a green statement when they recorded their “Great Possessions” album in 2009. While recording, the group stayed near the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center where they recorded the material to reduce their carbon emissions. Even the instruments used were made of recycled materials. After the recording, the band raffled off this guitar, signed by the band, through the Chicago Blues & Blue Grass Festival. Kyle also a song writer and guitarist, won this Taliesin model guitar which Jason Harshbarger of Highland Strings created from reclaimed materials.
Guitar Giving Tree Band used on the “Great Possessions” album
Guitar inlay Giving Tree Band used on the “Great Possessions” album
Read more about the band’s eco friendly practices and recording. Purchase the Great Possessions album. Listen to their music on MySpace and Facebook. Follow Giving Tree Band on Twitter.
At a networking event yesterday, one of the attendees told me
“Twitter does not work.”
It was an emphatic statement and he appeared frustrated by this scenario. Curious about his experience, I asked him to tell me more. He explained he had set up a Twitter account about 6 months ago and had not used the account since then. In his situation, he tweeted a couple of times then completely stopped using the account.
I do not have all the details but assumed the results he saw did not match his expectations.
In your experience, how long does it take, assuming active use of a networking tool, to see results? What would you advise someone you met who told you social networking tools do not work?
I just read an article in Forbes that said social networks are the newest recruiting tool.
Here are a couple of LinkedIn statistics from the article:
* used by 80% of companies recruiting through the social Web.
* 90% of companies that recruit through social networks have successfully found candidates on LinkedIn.
I talk with recruiters and hiring managers every week who tell me the same thing. They research candidates online and what they find impacts their decision to follow up. They do not hire those who have negative comments or pictures on their profile.
Just as interesting, they do not hire people without a social networking presence either. They assume the candidate who is not online is “behind the times”, “out of touch”, “just not current”. Who wants to hire someone like this?
Webinar: LinkedIn for Job Search
July 28 Noon – 1:15 pm Central
led by April M. Williams, Speaker, Author, Coach
Workshop Fee for Columbia College Alumni: $15 (Discounted from $32)
Learn how LinkedIn has helped 70 million professionals around the world further connection, create opportunities and build careers. This webinar is specifically for who are new to using LinkedIn and/or interested in how LinkedIn can serve their job search. Get an overview of key features along with important effectiveness and etiquette/protocol tips.
This fast-paced webinar highlights:
– Tailoring your profile to be noticed in your job search
– Building online networking connections
– Initiating introduction requests
– Effectively using groups
– Leveraging Q&A
– And more!
Sessions will last about 75 minutes with time for participant questions. Please note: your registration confirmation will include logon information and dial-in number (long distance charges may apply).
REQUIREMENTS:
Basic computer knowledge and a computer with high-speed internet access and telephone.
Contact Information
Primary Contact Cynthia Vargas
312-369-8640
Date: July 28, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM
Location: online
What does Twitter and your tweets have to do with your insurance rates? There could be a close relationship.
According to web strategist, Jeremiah Owyang, there could be a deep connection between our insurance rates and what we say on social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook. In his resent blog post, Jeremiah notes that insurance companies already influence rates based on historical behavior.
Jeremiah predicts there are three ways companies can influence rates based on social data:
Monitor and glean intelligence
Penalize ill-behavior
Reward members with pro-wellness activity
photo credit: Ross Catrow
In my experience working at an insurance company, we used statistical information to tie behavior to rates. For example, data showed customers with lower credit scores submitted more claims. Therefore, our rating included credit scores and low scores resulted in higher insurance rates.
What implications do you see this having on social networking behaviors? Will your behavior change do to these concerns?
Does your LinkedIn profile have a photo? People remember faces and your profile photo helps others recognize and remember you.
Did you ever attend a networking event then get an email from someone you met there several days later. When a photo accompanies the name, we are more likely to recall meeting the contact.
Here are best practices for choosing a LinkedIn profile photo:
Photo should be high enough resolution so as to not look grainy
Project a professional image
Close up image so you can be recognized
Image of you, not a group of people
Photo of a person not a logo or graphic
In good taste and not offensive according to generally accepted standards
Upload only images you have rights to use
LinkedIn may remove your photo if they consider your image inappropriate. Follow the best practices above and you have no need to worry.
Include a photo in your LinkedIn profile and put your best face forward.
I go way beyond the basics in the book. My goal was to answer some of the deeper, more specific questions I’m asked.
