Where Can Social Media Take You?

I recently read @Julz156’s Amazing things happen on the way to change and was reminded of the amazing journey that social media and community can be. Access to almost anyone and the ability to go almost anywhere are instantaneously yours. Just remember that relationships still take time and that trusting relationships are not built overnight.

The Proof is in the pudding. I, like Jules, have been able to accomplish some amazing things with the tools that social media and community have put in my hands. Following is a list of the accomplishments (mostly within my industry) that stand out most for me.

• Wisconsin Publishers Production Club (WPPC) – Since January, I have spoken about Twitter for a meeting, been asked to join the board of the organization, and am organizing/moderating the September meeting centered around effective use of social media and community within our industry.
• Access to a captain of my industry. After about a year of following and engaging Jeffry Hayzlett (then CMO of Kodak and now best selling author of The Mirror Test) on Twitter and Facebook I secured an interview with him for my company blog.
• Speaking engagements. I’ve spoken in the past but never nine times (confirmed so far, and still looking for three more to meet my goal for 2010) in one year. More than half of these engagements would not have happened without my use of social media and the revitalization of the community right here on this blog.

The channels are wide open. I think those of us active in social media and community sometimes forget how new these tools all are. As mainstream as some of the tools are (Facebook), in many ways it’s still the wild wild west out there in social media land. Figure out what you want and go get it. Stake your claim.

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