Detroit Creatives Unite to Share Social Media Tips/Trends

This afternoon, I attended a social media event titled "Cultivating Detroit's Creative Culture Through Social Media" hosted at Cranbrook. Eric Cedo, CEO of Troy-based BrainGain Marketing (company that publishes MiLife MiTimes) and Brian Boyle, the man behind Issue Media Group (company that publishes Web-only magazines like Model D and metromode) were the driving forces of the free event that brought together social media experts and those itching to learn how to utilize social media in their careers.

I feel like I've got a pretty good grasp on the concept of social media, but I was eager to hear what those who live and breathe social media had to share. I gained a TON of great knowledge and could probably rant on for a few pages, but I'll break it down by speaker and bullet out what I found to be most interesting.

Brian Boyle - Issue Media Group

• Media is now more fragmented and it's harder to make an impact
• Compelling content is key
• Job of Issue Media Group pubs is to share remarkable, untold stories about growth/development/creative talent in various regions across Michigan (great pitching opps for PR pros with cool clients!)
  
• Video is emerging content and it needs to be incorporated in marketing plans
• Make a significant investment in getting content/stories out to people en masse
• Read "The Long Tail" by Wired Magazine editor-in-chief Chris Anderson

Nettie Boivin - BrainGain Marketing (need to add that I LOVE this lady!)

• Social media also relies on the PR fundamental of building relationships
• Content is king
• Bloggers will recognize if you're fake, so ALWAYS be authentic
• Use social media news releases to push your content into the blogosphere through sites likes del.icio.us., Digg and reddit
• Use Netvibes to organize RSS feeds
• Research and comment on blogs before pitching them
• Pitch bloggers through Facebook or Twitter
• Ask bloggers how they like to be pitched
• Check out Mashable.com for 350+ social networking sites

Lori Laurent Smith - Organic

• Widgets are portable applications, focused and serve one main purpose (think Superpoke on Facebook!)
• 69 million adults and 15 million teens will use a social network site in 2008
• Desktop widgets give at-a-glance info
• Widgets allow users to customize Web experience
• Can use widgets to leverage upcoming event "hype"
• One time minimal investment, lasts forever

PHEW! My head is spinning just from writing all that! Becoming a savvy social media guru can definitely be a full-time job, but it's a must-learn tool for anyone involved in the communications industry. I absolutely love it, and I love that D-town has young, creative talent like Eric, Brian, Nettie and Lori who care enough to spread the social media love!

And on a sidenote (maybe I'll write a separate post about this once my post-vacation craziness calms down a bit) -- I was away from the D for six days in Arizona. I had an amazing time, but I truly realized how much I've come to love Detroit and Michigan once I was away for awhile. It's like no other place, and regardless of what people who only read the news say/think, it's a budding garden of creative, young talent looking to make a mark on the world!