Brand Camp University 2009 Video Recap

Last Saturday was a big day for Detroit’s interactive community. A number of social media, business and communications experts from all over North America gathered in Southfield at Lawrence Tech. to share their thoughts on social media and personal branding.

When the conference finally came to a close, and co-workers, fellow professionals and friends started asking me about what I learned, the first words that came to mind were, “You simply had to be there.”

To see my take on the energy and excitement felt during Brand Camp University 2009, check out this recap video.

I also encourage you to check out some of the attendee and speaker reactions available on the Brand Camp University blog.

Special thanks to Henry Balanon and Hubert Sawyers for helping shoot the footage. Super special thanks to Brand Camp University’s official photographer, Paul Manoian, and Brian Ambrozy of Prime Pics for the awesome photos.

Your turn.

If you made it out to Brand Camp University 2009, what was your big takeaway?  What are you going to change about your personal brand and the way you do business?

Filed under: community, conferences, detroit, events, iDetroit, social media, social networking , april holmes, Biggby Coffee, brand camp university, detroit, Hajj Flemings, ken brown, lawrence tech, mitch joel, personal branding, Scott Monty, social media, Strategy, valeria maltoni

Social Media Strategy at the Third Annual Walsh College Small Business Conference

I was recently asked to speak on the topic of digital marketing and social media strategy at the third annual Walsh College Small Business Conference.  Walsh has always been known as one of the region’s top business schools, and their continued commitment to providing local companies with the tools and counsel for growth is definitely commendable.

This year’s conference focused on “The Big 3″ for small business: marketing, management and money.  Numerous breakout sessions where available that shed light on a variety of topics including cash flow management, tax strategies, H.R. regulations, business succession planning, electronic payments and marketing communications.

While floating among the conversations and seminars, I noticed that social media was a hot topic of discussion.  Even Jim Hiller, the conference’s keynote speaker and founder of the uber-successful Hiller’s Markets, regularly referenced the use of free social technologies as a way for small businesses to cope with the “post-advertising marketplace.”

However, with all this talk of social media this and social networking that, small businesses often get caught up in the technology before developing their strategy.  Companies need to create a plan that aligns with core business objectives instead of trying to repackage their goals so they can fit them into a certain network or community.  It just looks messy… and not in a good way.

As digital technologies evolve and continue to gain more traction, will we see more companies stating “we have Facebook” instead of “we have a strategy?” Are we already at that point?  What do you think?

Filed under: Michigan, community, conferences, detroit, graduate school, marketing, public relations, social media, social networking , Biggby Coffee, Chris Brogan, conversation prism, David Meerman Scott, Ford, Forrester, groundswell, Lee Odden, MIPRO Consulting, Peter Kim, Presentations, Quicken Loans, Slow's BBQ, Small Business, Small Business Coference, social media, Social Media Strategy, Todd Defren, Urbane Apartments, Walsh College