• How to get booked, put on and fill a room for your own event
• How to create powerful presentations-faster and easier
• Speaking skills-ten ways to connect with the crowd

Watch Brian talk about his presentation:

Register here.

It’s Spring Membership Drive-Time at the AMASV and only a few weeks remain…  

Time Tamer Consulting’s Christine Giri, will be presenting at next week’s AMASV luncheon on time management in the age of social media.  She’s a productivity expert, international speaker, author of “Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn: A Quick-Start Guide” and host of “Time Tamer Talk,” which airs Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. on BlogTalkRadio.

Register for the March 9 event here.

Being Productive on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin

By Christine Giri

One of the many pitfalls organizations face when engaging in social media is failing to lay out a plan that makes them both effective and efficient. To be effective, your primary goal should be to send out timely, valuable information that connects with your target audience. To be efficient, you must determine how much time and personnel to invest.

The value you bring to the social media table is sharing your expertise and supporting others with your knowledge. Organizations that send out only promotions and sales notices will soon find that people are not connecting with them.

How do you feel when you are being bombarded with sales information before you have developed a relationship with another person? People must know you and trust you before they will buy from you or your organization. That’s how it works in real life, and that’s how it works with social media.

The five critical steps in building your social networking presence are:

• Decide how often you will post updates. You can post three times a day, once a day or twice a week. The key is to be consistent.
• Offer expertise.  Always provide something, like insider tips and expert advice that your target market will value or see as worthwhile.
• Monitor comments and responses to your posts. Be responsive and timely.
• Manage your online reputation. Watch what others are saying about your organization, good and bad.
• Follow hot topics in your industry. Can you identify a problem that your organization can solve, a new product opportunity or a service that you can offer?

When posting updates, provide links to your organization’s blog or articles on your website. That adds to your expert status while directing your audience to your website.

Social media is a fantastic marketing tool for any organization to build its brand and its credibility. It also allows you access to conversations you normally would not be privy to. Seize those opportunities to monitor or engage your customers and prospective buyers. With a well-planned strategy and processes in place, the time spent will give you a great return on your investment.

Social Media – it’s worth your time, just not all of it.

Join the AMASV by Nov. 27 and Save!  Here’s what some current members have to say about the organization:

“Over the years my association with the AMASV has been invaluable in my professional development as both an employee and entrepreneur. I’ve heard memorable speakers, met key prospects and developed irreplaceable vendors all through the association. I also appreciate the direction and leadership the AMASV is taking in new and social media.”    

- Janet Osterdock, Owner & Executive Producer, ZOOM Cross-Media

“AMASV is a great marketing organization. Great people, great resources, and the luncheons provide an excellent opportunity to network with other area marketing professionals and share advice.”

- Jennifer Guerena, Consumer Market Manager, VSP

“I support the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the American Marketing Association because the organization encourages both personal and professional growth in the field of Marketing.  Each month, the AMASV has a luncheon program dedicated to presenting the newest and most beneficial marketing concepts to its members. Featured speakers provide personal real-life examples of how these concepts can be applied across a variety of business categories.

“I had the opportunity to address a number of members and guests at a recent luncheon where I outlined the retail and cause marketing techniques that Sleep Train has utilized during this down economy.  I was impressed by the knowledge base of the group and their desire to participate in my presentation.  I would recommend attending these luncheons to anyone working in the field marketing or who has an interest in marketing.

“The benefits do not stop at the local level.  The national American Marketing Association provides constant opportunities to access everything from their resource library to special AMA conferences addressing current national trends in marketing.  Their web site is a one-stop resource for its members.

“As a member of the AMASV, you have access to it all!  I encourage Sacramento area marketing professionals to make it a priority to get involved in the AMASV in 2011!”

- Mike Wilson, VP of Marketing, Sleep Train/Sleep Country/Mattress Discounters

Join the AMASV by Nov. 27 and Save!

Get more details on the luncheon here.  Or just register here.