This Saturday (January 28), I will be speaking to a group of NGO’s and non-profits at the “Take Action” summit in Toronto, on how they can use social media to influence change. Social media, if utilized correctly, can be a very powerful tool for charities to get the word out, connect with constituents, rally support, and even raise money. However, that does not mean you can create a Twitter account, a Facebook Fan Page and then expect the donations roll in. We all know, it doesn’t work like that. At this seminar, I will review various features of Facebook and Twitter and demonstrate how, with hard work and diligence, charities can get the most out of social media when promoting [...]
It is said some of the best business ideas came about on a kitchen counter or in a pub/restaurant over drinks and conversation. I could not agree more. My Entrepreneurs’ Dinner Series was launched in Toronto in 2010 and I’ve decided to introduce it to this Meetup group and will be hosting the first session in Burlington. This is how it works: A small group of entrepreneurs (between 4 and 10) enjoy a 3 course meal and over dinner and drinks (selection of beer/house red and white) I lead the discussion on one or two topics. For our first (hopefully not the last) Dinner Circle in Burlington, we will be discussing this topic: Social Media Marketing – What is it? [...]
On November 11, 2011, I was invited by the Treehouse Group, to speak at the Toronto Reference Library, as part of the Treehouse Talk series where I shared insights on “The Personal Brand” and its importance for entrepreneurs. The time allocated to me was just 20 minutes and there’s a lot of material to cover. So instead of rushing into the techniques and tips on how to develop your personal brand, I chose to focus on its importance. Hope you enjoy the video. I am a big fan of The Treehouse Group – a collective of Toronto-area thinkers who promote the exchange of ideas by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. Their sessions are free to attend and they bring [...]
I have always maintained that good communication skills are integral for the success of any enterprise (or any relationship, for that matter). On August 11, I will be sharing communication tips and strategies which can be harnessed by individuals and businesses, alike! From building your personal brand to broadcasting it to your customers – as always, the information will be shared in an ‘easy-to-implement’ and practical format. See details below and I hope to see you there! Eclipse the Competition We all know the names: Wal-Mart. Apple. Staples. Google. In a market dominated by big players, how can your small business compete? We’ve got good news; through effective communication with consumers and investors, you can grow your business and hold [...]
Too many entrepreneurs these days are eager to jump on the Social Media bandwagon without quite understanding what it even means. Social media is not just Facebook, Twitter, or even blogging. Do you know what it means to have a “Facebook Strategy” or how to “leverage twitter”? Join us for a candid and informative session on Social Media and benefit from the lessons I have learned. What works, what doesn’t. What makes sense for one business and not another. As always, the information will be shared in simple, practical and an easy-to-implement format! Attendance is limited to 12 registrants so please sign up asap! The fee is $25 pp and light refreshments will be provided. And, by popular demand/requests, this [...]
If you have attended my “Getting Things Done” seminar, you have heard me talk about syncing your calendars, installing dropbox, consolidating your contacts, using online back up, social media optimization, etc. You know what you need to do but either don’t know how to get started or just can’t seem to find the time. Join this hands on workshop and I guarantee that you will leave with a working knowledge of at least five of the f…ollowing applications and maybe more, if you’re a quick learner and have a fast computer I will install on your computer, train you and help you navigate the following applications: 1. Dropbox to centralize your documents 2. Plaxo to consolidate your contacts 3. Set [...]
Based on John Jantsch’s best selling book of the same name, The Referral Engine workshop, is more than just a meet up. Think of it as a book club for Entrepreneurs! It is a hands on workshop with action items and checklists on things your business should do to leverage word-of-mouth marketing! According to John Jantsch, word- of-mouth referrals are what drive business today. People trust the recommendation of a friend, family member, colleague, or even stranger with similar tastes over anything thrust at them by a faceless company. Most business owners believe that whether customers refer them is entirely out of their hands. But science shows that people can’t help recommending products and services to their friends—it’s an instinct [...]
These days, everybody and their uncle seems to be an expert on social media and networking. While we’re all talking about Facebook, Twitter and Linked In, not enough is being said about Meetup! Meetup.com was founded in 2001 (long before Facebook!) by Scott Heiferman, Matt Meeker and Peter Kamali. I first heard about it sometime in 2003. Most people I knew then were using meetup to connect socially and the groups were unified by a common interest, such as books, games, movies, dinners etc. I was a busy bay street lawyer at the time and had little time to socialize so after browsing the site a bit, I dismissed it and filed it away. Over the last few years, I [...]
Every Entrepreneur is hungry! In no particular order, it may be hunger for success, recognition, information, knowledge and/or wealth. This post helps you quell your hunger for information. Before I delve into the value of good and timely information, it is important to also acknowledge the distraction that “too much” information can cause. How many times have you logged on to a news site or a social media site to find one thing and ended up staying there a lot longer because you got distracted by other pieces of information which were not at all relevant to your search? Maybe you were on facebook looking up information for an event (and ended up spending an hour checking out photo albums [...]
How many times have you attended a networking event only to realize that you didn’t quite know what to do once you got there? Do you ever wonder why some people seem to effortlessly move around the room, smiling, laughing and making valuable contacts while you stand by the bar nursing a drink or, worse, get trapped in conversation with a leech who just won’t let go? In partnership with MyBindi.com, I am pleased to announce a special IMPROV Networking Workshop! Whether you’re a networking novice or a social butterfly, this workshop is sure to offer valuable tips and dispel many myths about networking. Styled in an interactive format, you’ll network as you learn. At the end of the workshop, [...]
