Last week Alissa and I represented jhP at the Free State Social a social media conference in Lawrence. While there, we had the opportunity to hear from some of the country’s top social media thought-leaders. So what did we take away? Check it out – the first of a series of two blog posts covering the event.

Thursday kicked off with a BANG with keynote speaker Chris Brogan, President of New Marketing Labs and New York Times best selling author of Trust Agents on stage. Then we heard from Shawna Coronado, author of Gardening Nude. Here’s what we learned from these two …

In social media it’s all personal. This is something we already know, encourage and practice regularly, but Shawna made a great point in her presentation – when you think about it, aren’t some of the best sales people the best because they are personal?

If that’s true, then how do you keep this in perspective and not end up spending all day building relationships through social media? A good tip given at the conference was the 2-hour rule. Chris referenced this in his presentation. If you have two hours a day to spend on social media then spend 30 minutes listening, 60 communicating and 30 minutes publishing. There’s no foolproof formula – this is just a reference to show you how important it is to communicate with your audience.

At the end of the day, these new media channels are a place for social networking and we need to do just that – be social in our networking! So engage with your friends and followers. Build those relationships by sharing something personal about yourself. Office out of diet coke? Share your frustration with your followers – it’s a great way to start a conversation! Just be real and authentic, don’t hide behind your brand’s logo and expect people to engage with you.

Our nerdy claim to fame? I got to have lunch with Chris Brogan and Alissa got him to autograph her copy of Trust Agents! Check it out:

It’s crunch time at jhP! We’re working feverishly to get our booth together for the Chamber Business Expo on Tuesday, October 27. Even Accounts Payable is feeling the pinch. Some of the partners are foregoing breakfast in order to have enough time in the day, while others are harnessing their “super powers” to get the job done!

We can be as creative and as outlandish as we want to when we work on our own self-promotion and this year’s Chamber Expo booth will be no exception. We wouldn’t simply dream up a theme, put out some brochures and call it good. No, we have to design a booth that will captivate and inspire attendees, educate them on our multitude of marketing services and then deliver the creative juice that leaves them wanting more! That’s a tall order. I’m not sure even Superman could fill those shoes…

We promise to wet your marketing and advertising appetite with our tasty display. Visit us at the Chamber Business Expo on Tuesday, October 27 from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Ramada Inn.

Keeping up with the critical changes in today’s digital media landscape can be overwhelming. But the jhP philosophy is: With a few good friends and a cold brew we can do anything.

Friday, April 10, jhP launched a new educational forum for clients and friends, tied to our famous Beer-30 festivities. Starting at 4:00pm, an enthusiastic flock joined us for our inaugural “Twitter Tips Beer-30.” The education session covered the basics of Twitter, a rapidly growing social networking phenomenon.

In an informal hour, we discussed what it means to follow, tweet, retweet, reply and repeat – highlighting the importance of Twitter in today’s business world. The fellowship was fun, the beer was tasty, and everyone took away a better understanding of Twitter and social media planning.

Such valuable good times must be repeated. We’ll soon host more Beer-30 educational forums about Twitter and other hot digital media topics. Check back soon for dates and times. Better yet, sign up for our email blasts so you’ll know immediately!

Lately, it’s not uncommon to hear people talking about tweets and retweets. No these people are not discussing birds – they’re talking about the social media network Twitter.

Twitter is a microblogging service where users explain what they are doing and share information in 140 characters or less. The key to Twitter is summed up in five simple steps: Follow, Tweet, Retweet, Reply and Repeat.

If that sounds like gibberish to you, please join the jhP team Friday, April 10 at 4:00 for a fun “Twitter Tips Beer-30” at jhp, 3200 sw huntoon in Topeka. For valuable Twitter info and a cold brew, make your reservation by calling us at 785.228.0900 or by email: lweichert@jhpadv.com. Seats are limited, so don’t delay!

And if you’re still wondering why your company should care about Twitter, consider these facts:

1.)   Twitter is good for business.

I’ve been told many companies are uncomfortable with social networking because they can’t control what’s being said about them. Today’s truth is, more than ever before, the customer controls your brand. So it’s imperative that you find out what your customers are thinking – and saying. Twitter’s search features let you monitor what’s said about your company. This gives you up-front and personal opportunities to monitor and manage your company’s image. If a customer had a poor experience, now you’ll know and can get to the front line, speak with them and resolve the situation. Think of the times you’ve been in a restaurant and had poor service. Do you still go back? You might – if the restaurant’s recovery was handled right. Twitter is your chance to recover and develop a better relationship with your customer base.

2.)   Twitter is a great training and research tool for your employees.

My favorite Twitter feature is following other industry professionals. I can post industry-specific articles or read links posted by other professionals that I find interesting. I no longer have to search various blogs for industry-specific information because I just log into Twitter. Now I’m usually one of the first to know about industry news and emerging trends.

3.)   Twitter allows you to subtly market your business.

Twitter puts a face to your brand and personalizes the experience for your clients and customers, AND it allows people to learn more about what’s going on in your company. Taking part in a tradeshow this week? Let your followers know! Help them realize they should be there to learn that your product or service is just what they’re looking for.

So logon to Twitter and start following people! Remember to Follow, Tweet, Retweet, Reply and Repeat. These five steps will help bring value to your tweeting experience. But also keep in mind that Social Media isn’t something to experiment with. You need a plan and strategy just like all your other marketing efforts. That’s the only way to turn this fun activity into business success.

Make your reservation now for our “Twitter Tips Beer-30,” 4:00pm Friday, April 10 at jhP. Call 785.228.0900 or email lweichert@jhpadv.com and ensure you’ll have a seat. (And a frosty beer!)