Influence Marketing And How I Participate

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I began blogging years ago as an extension of twitter and facebook.  It was a way to stay connected with my audience back when a facebook status had a maximum length and I needed more characters to express my thoughts. Most days I can sum up my thoughts in 140 characters, but to get a broader picture of my ideas I wanted to bring in several media sources (such as images and youtube videos) into my posts and blogging allows for that as well as links to other resources for my readers to learn more about my topic.

I enjoy fruitful conversations and have helped many people connect with my experience in networking both on and offline.  One of the best examples of this is the Tweetstock franchise out of Brantford Ontario.

Several years back I had the opportunity to be quoted in Scott Stratten's UnMarketing book and I attended the launch of his book in Oakville Ontario.  There, Lindsey Jacobs (who I had met via twitter) introduced me to Trevor Cherewka, who had started holding meetups/tweetups in Brantford Ontario.  With a mutual like for networking Trevor invited me to speak at Tweetstock 3.  A few months later I found myself gathered with about thirty Brantford residents explaining how important twitter was to businesses and how it would become the next level of networking.  I really enjoyed the event and quickly connected with the majority of the people in the room (many of which I am thrilled to have as my friends today).  After the event I let Trevor know how impressed I was by what was happening in Brantford and would do my best to support his next event. When he announced the Tweetstock 4 event I went to work spreading the word about Tweetstock to my audience.  Because of my posts Tweetstock 4 had several out of town attendees and the audience quickly grew. Each event after came with it's own unique twist and I would find ways to incorporate what was happening into my online conversations and blog posts.  Coupon codes that were spread through my network became very popular and helped persuade readers to buy tickets for the event.  Several Tweetstocks later the Tweetstock franchise has grown from a meetup to an event to an all day conference.  This is just one example of how word of mouth advertising through online networks can evolve something that started out small to something much bigger. Influence marketing was used to amplify awareness of an event that takes place in Brantford Ontario but has attendees that drive several hours just to be in that room.  This then turns the conference into a room full of influencers broadcasting their messages to their networks and continuing the topics of discussion for days following Tweetstock.

Connection is key.  You never know where it may take you (perhaps to Brantford Ontario for the next Tweetstock Conference!)

Tweetstock007 The Web Is Not Enough

Tweetstock You've Come A Long Way Baby!

If you follow any of my posts/tweets/status updates you know I am Tweetstock's biggest fan.
I dare anyone to dispute that fact.  You can see a glimpse by searching this blog and seeing how many times I mention Tweetstock in my posts.

I think of myself as a Tweetstock early adopter.  I met Trevor, Tweetstock's founder through Lindsay Jacobs  at the Unmarketing book launch.  Soon after I was asked to speak at Tweetstock 3 and was hooked!  Everyone I met so wonderful.  Since then I've attended Tweetstock 4, where I first met Kevin who then was kind enough to put me in his book that launched at Tweetstock 5.  By Tweetstock 6 Diane & I were coined as the VolunTIARAS and we truly feel part of the Brantford family!

#Tweetstock007

The buzz about this event was hard to ignore, especially with an Atomic Spark  promo like this

The day started off with a BANG! or should I say DAGONE! Marcus wondered why no one was filling up the front seats.  I always wonder that as well
If you were going to a CONCERT you pay excessive amounts of money to be in the front row, but when it comes to speaking engagements everyone does whatever they can not to be in the front row.  Am I right?
So after Marcus loosened everyone up it was a great day! Lots of great moments from the speakers, panels and so many connections were made. I could give you a run down about all the speakers, but I'll let you get some thoughts from others.  I think I've already posted about it all over twitter & facebook anyways.

There was one thing very unique about this event.  A sixteen minute Webisode was created and screened at the event.  Now that is smart thinking.  If your event takes place in a movie theatre, create a movie for it!
They brought together the top names in Social Media (& then let us be part of it).  The day of filming was so exciting and I wish that I could spend every Saturday having that fun!

Tweetstock007 - The Movie

Now that you've expirenced the Director's Cut Version, tell me what you thought (pick all that apply) 



The next Tweetstock will be happening this November, and all the details will be posted on the Facebook page as they are released.  You can also following along on twitter and tweet to @TweetstockCA

 

You might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent if....

• If you know where the Galaxy Cinema in Brantford is, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you know what a Power Point ARTIST is, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you can tell me what a Giant MY is for, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you know the words to Rockin Robin because of this and this, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you know why there was a scramble for a 4 pixel camera, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you know what a VolunTIARA is you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you have enjoyed Gummy Vitamins as a snack, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you have been quoted in a book because of a tweet, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you are waiting on the edge of your seat everytime you hear OK GO is about to do a new video, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent
• If you have been seen drinking Perrier water while wearing sunglasses, you might be a #Tweetstock007 Agent

These are the 10 ten reasons why you might be a #Tweetstock007 agent.  Have more? Add them to the comments.
Want to become a #Tweetstock007 Agent? Make sure you use the secret code
 those2bondgirls at http://guestlistapp.com/events/85692  before it self destructs Sunday Feb 26th at Midnight!

Is Brantford the Centre of the Universe? #Tweetstock5

Tweetstock 5

This week entailed another adventure to Brantford for Tweetstock 5 - Art Of The Community.
What does that mean?  Kevin Magee said the idea came to him at a Chamber of Commerce meeting.  It's about creating something in Brantford that will change how the people there feel about their city.

But I don't live in Brantford

(Although most people think I do)

My community is created online and extended to the places that it takes me to.  My last Tweetstock post spoke of how I came to meet the creators of Tweetstock and became sucked into the GREATNESS they have happening there.

The community they are creating reaches far beyond the Brantford city limits.  They are creating a movement.  Its something that everyone can take part of.  It can be incorporated in any part of the world where passionate and caring people live.
THEY JUST HAVEN'T REALIZED IT YET.

Walter Gretzky says that Brantford is the Centre of the Universe.
& I'm starting to think he's right.

How Tweestock Made Brantford My 2nd Home

It all started on Twitter (of course it did, all the great things do).

@unmarketing 's Scott Stratten sent out a tweet.  He was working on the #unbook at the time & asked how business owners felt about Trade Shows.  I messaged back asking him if he would be interested in hearing about it from a show organizer's point of view (I am never afraid to ask, I figure the worst people can say to me is no & I'm okay with that).  Scott said SURE & I was very excited to be given this opportunity.  Fast forward several months and not only did Scott read my take on it, HE QUOTED ME IN THE UNMARKETING BOOK!

(this is my current claim to fame.  I spent most of the summer saying, not only am I in a Book, I'm in a book THAT PEOPLE ARE READING-this is a big deal to this little KW Gal). 

I can't thank Scott enough.  It's brought a lot of attention to MeFest and my co-host Diane & I are eternally grateful for it.
But we're also thankful for a whole other reason.
We gained a new set of Friends because of it.  They live in Brantford Ontario.

Diane and I headed off to the Unmarketing Book Launch in Sept 2010.
It was the first time I got to meet @LindseyJay face to face.  She brought @Trevor_Cherewka with her.  The four of us chatted about tweetups and how they have so many in Toronto and area, but that's a lot of travelling for us.  Lindsay said that Trevor organizes Tweetstock in Brantford and how fun it was.  We said that it's just down the road from KW & we would love to attend the next one.

A few weeks later Trevor messaged me asking me if we would speak at the next Tweetstock.  I agreed, but unfortunately Diane wasn't available.  This posed a bit of a problem.  If you know or follow me, I'm very social.  I love the back and forth of a conversation, coming up with ideas, learning about new things, so this would be easy right?  I found myself standing in front of a group of people talking to them about using twitter in an engaging way, only to find out most of them weren't on twitter.  So my talk became a bit of a ramble but after the speaking part I went back to having convos with the people in attendance and really loved how they were open to trying twitter (and taking Tiara pics!).

Since then I have been back to Brantford several times and my new pals have come to events in KW as well.  I was so excited to hear that the @TweetstockCA team were going to have both @KathyBuckworth and Scott Stratten for #Tweestock4 , but then quickly saddened by the fact it was the same day as TEDxWaterloo.  Just because I didn't think I could make it work it didn't stop me from helping my pals get the word out about such an #EPIC event!  It took until the week of the event to get all the quirks worked out so that Diane & I could arrange to GO TO TWEETSTOCK4 !!!  Yes I was that excited when I found out I could be there.  Upon arrival we were welcomed with open arms Literally (I warn people that I hug & take lots of pics).  The event was fantastic take a look here.  We had friends from London to Oakville that made the trip and the energy in the room that day was UN-believable (see how I threw that in there).

Hours later we arrived at the after party only for me to realize that I left my camera behind.  All of my pals hopped on twitter (remember the people who didn't have twitter just months earlier) and were messaging the organizers and the @SandersonCentre to let them know what had happened.  The following day I was informed that my camera was found and for fun Trevor tweeted out that a camera was found.  So many tweets came in saying that it belongs to @Those2Girls .  It made me feel so good to know that so many people were looking out for me.

As you can see I do have my camera back in my possession and speaking with Diane I said, once this weather breaks I can see us spending most of our time in Brantford (aka now my 2nd home).