Posts Tagged ‘North Carolina’

Posted on June 30, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Where are they now? 14+ Social Media Professionals to watch for in 2010 from Triangle, NC area #smday

Happy Social Media Day everyone. If you don’t know what Social Media Day is, it’s day to celebrate the revolution of media becoming social according to @Mashable. Mashable partnered with Meetup.com when they launched their everywhere platform to celebrate Social Media Day by attending or organizing a meetup on June 30. As of right now there are over seven Social Media Day events planned in North Carolina.

Being that it’s social media day and the last day of June, I thought it would be a good time to update my list of 14 Social Media Professionals to watch in 2010 from the Triangle, NC that wrote back in January. From the list of social media pros, a few have made some big changes since January, some are still crushing it and there are a few additions to the list.

Here’s the updated list of social media professionals in the Triangle Area who I believe are ones to watch in 2010 at the half way mark.

UPDATE: This list is NOT ranked in any order by their social media activity, it’s just a numbered list.

1. David Thomas
Title: Social Media Manager for SAS
Twitter: @DavidBThomas
Website: http://blogs.sas.com/socialmedia/
6 month Update: Still crushing it at SAS and helped SAS launch their Social Media Analytics platform in April.

2. Nathan Gilliatt
Title: Principal, Social Target and organizer of AnalyticsCamp
Twitter: @gilliatt
Website: http://net-savvy.com/executive/
6 month Update: Still crushing it!

3. Ginny Skalski
Title: Social Media Specialist for Cree
Twitter: @ginnyskal
Website: http://ginnyskal.com/
6 month Update: Still crushing it and doing some awesome adventures in the Triangle, check out TheFarmersMarketProject.com.

4. Morgan Siem
Title: Social Media Strategist at Media Two Interactive
Twitter: @morgansiem
Website: http://www.mediatwopointoh.com/
6 month Update: Still crushing it!

5. Adam Covati
Title: CoFounder of Argyle Social and Founder of http://idek.net
Twitter: @Covati
Website: http://adamcovati.com/
6 month Update: Launched Argyle Social a social media marketing platform that helps marketers link social media efforts (blogging, Twittering, Facebooking, etc.) to business outcomes.

6. Angela Connor
Title: Author of ’18 Rules of Community Engagement.’ Online community manager and strategist at WRAL
Twitter: @communitygirl
Website: http://blog.angelaconnor.com
6 month Update: Has a new job as the Social Media Manager at @Capstrat

7. Catherine Mears
Title: Social Media Specialist at AICPA
Twitter: @catmears
Website: http://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinemears
6 month Update: Still crushing it!

8. Dan London
Title: Director of Online Marketing @ ShareFile.com
Twitter: @Danlondon
Website: http://www.dan-london.com
6 month Update: Still crushing it!

9. Phil Buckley
Title: Support Developer at McClatchy Interactive
Twitter: @1918
Website: http://www.1918.com/
6 month Update: Has a new job as the Search Marketing Manager at Sinclair Institite

10. Karlie Justus
Title: PR/ Social Media Officer with N.C. State Fair & NC Dept. of Agriculture.
Twitter: @KarlieJ
Website: http://www.karliejustus.com/
6 month Update: Launched new blog, guest post on Socialmediab2b.com and now works as Associate Account Executive at Howard, Merrell and Partners.

11. Olalah Njenga
Title: Marketing Strategist at the YellowWood Group
Twitter: @Olalah
Website: http://www.yellowwoodgroup.com
6 month Update: Wrote a book called: 37 What Were They Thinking Moments In Marketing [not an affiliate link but it should be]

12. Gregory NG
Title: VP Creative Director at Brooks Bell Interactive.
Twitter: @gregoryng
Website: http://www.followgreg.com/
6 month Update: [ Still being awesome and his online video show Freezerburns recently joined the Hungry Nation network.

13. Brian McDonald
Title: Vice President of Marketing & Social Media at SignalShare
Twitter: @bmcd67
Website: http://zen-marketing.blogspot.com
6 month Update: Still crushing it!

14. Andy Beal
Title: Founder of Trackur.com, author of Radically Transparent, editor of MarketingPilgrim.com
Twitter: @Andybeal
Website: http://www.andybeal.com
6 month Update: Relaunched Trackur with a new look and new features as a white-Labeled social Media monitoring dashboard. I’m still expecting Trackur to be purchased by the end of 2010.

15. Chris Moody
Title: Social Marketing Manager at Bandwidth.com
Twitter: @cnmoody
Website: http://www.chris-moody.com
6 month Update: Still crushing it!

New half way point additions:
16. Lisa Sullivan
Title: Copywriter & Social Media Specialist at Media Two Interactive.
Twitter: @LisaSullivan
Website: http://www.mediatwopointoh.com/

17. Cara Rousseau
Title: Director, Partnership Initiatives, The Research Triangle Park
Twitter: @CaraRousseau
Website: http://www.thertpblog.org

18. Jeffrey L. Cohen
Title: Social Media Marketing Manager at Howard, Merrell & Partners
Twitter: @jeffreylcohen
Website: http://jeffreylcohen.com
*Partner/friend was on the first list but in the friends mentions section

19. Ryan Boyles
Title: Community Manager at IBM
Twitter: @therab
Website: http://flavors.me/rab
*Partner/friend was on the first list but in the friends mentions section.

20. Jason Peck
Title: Social media manager at @eWayDirect.
Twitter: @JasonPeck
Website: http://www.jasonfpeck.com/
*Jason should have been on the list the first time but I knew he was moving so I left him off but he’s a NC alum and doing great work with eWayDirect.

21. Kipp Bodnar
Title: Inbound Marketing Manager at @HubSpot
Twitter: @kbodnar32
Website: http://socialmediab2b.com/
*As many of you know Kipp is one my good friends and partners. He recently took a job at @HubSpot and said goodbye to NC but we still claim him anyway.

22. James Wong
Title: Communications Manager at iContact
Webiste:http://www.NauticalUrge.com
*Late addition but should have been on the first list. James knows email marketing and more.

Bonus!
Jay Dolan
Title: Jay Dolan is founder, editor, and blogger for The Anti-Social Media.
Twitter: @jaydolan
Website: http://theantisocialmedia.com
*If you’re tired of social media… read this blog*

Ignite Social Media and MMI Public Relations are two companies that I didn’t mention in the first post that offer social media services in the Triangle Area. Both have a great staff and if you’re looking for more social media professional both of the companies have hired smart.

Please note, I do know all of the individuals on the list and this not a buddy list or a list by the numbers of their twitter followers or etc. It’s a list of professionals from various companies in the Triangle who I believe will have an impact locally and nationally in the social media space. If you’re on the list, don’t let me down.

As for me, at the beginning of the year I gave the agency world a try and since then I’ve left to pursue my entrepreneur dreams and now working the location-based startup @TriOut, an augmented reality company that I’ll share more about later, along with speaking engagements and offering consulting services.

It’s been a great 2010 so far and let’s hope the next six months will be awesome for everyone and more.

What are your thoughts on the list and/or who did I leave off and why? Who do you think will be on or off the list by the end of 2010?

Photo: Social Media Participation Chart by Oversocialized

Posted on June 16, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

On the road again: The Biltmore blogger outreach and social media trip #BiltmoreNC

A few weeks ago I was asked if I was available to join a few other bloggers at the Biltmore in Asheville, NC as they host “blog-fam” familiarization event. I checked with @LaToaymSutton, to see if she could join me and as of today to June 18 (wedding anniversary) we’re off on a mini vacation to Asheville, NC. The goal of the blogger outreach is to “increased exposure to new audiences through the use of social media”.

This will be my second visit to the Biltmore as my first was back in the late 90s. I’m excited to participate in the event and look forward to meeting the Biltmore staff, fellow bloggers and Asheville locals. The official hashtag for the trip is #BiltmoreNC as myself and the other bloggers will live tweet and share our experiences over the next few days at the Biltmore. A big thanks to Jean Sexton @injeanius, Biltmore’s Corporate Communications Manager for inviting me.

More about the Biltmore via biltmore.com

George Vanderbilt envisioned Biltmore in 1888, while on a short vacation to Asheville. His imagination was sparked by the area’s beauty. He felt inspired to create a relaxed country estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains that would welcome family and friends for weeks, even months.
Through Biltmore, Mr. Vanderbilt’s vision and inspiration lives to this day. We receive more than one million guests every year at our 8,000-acre estate, with more than 1,700 employees ready to make each guests visit special.

The Biltmore Company
828-225-6709
www.biltmore.com
www.facebook.com/biltmore
www.twitter.com/BiltmoreEstate

*Disclosure: “Biltmore invited me as their guest. My travel, admission and other expenses will be covered.”

Have you visited the Biltmore before and what are your thoughts about a historic landmark use of social media and blogger outreach for marketing?

Posted on April 30, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Case Study: Golden Corral "Cary" launches a location-based check-in iPad contest. Location-based marketing 101

As location-based marketing continues to catch on more companies are coming up with creative ways to attract customers. If you look at maybe 7 out of 10 examples of companies using location-based services I would say that restaurants are leading the way. Reason be that restaurants have a consistent traffic of customers walking through there doors but they also have the challenge gaining new customers and keeping their existing customers therefore making location-based marketing a perfect mix.

Last week we met with MMI Public relations to discuss location-based marketing opportunities for their client Golden Corral Cary, NC. We discussed and demoed TriOut for business and ways for Golden Corral to use social media and other location-based services to make sure they reach their target audience and participation goals. Today MMI announced Golden Corral’s check-in contest and kick off event. Here are the details.

Event:
Want to eat for free? The first 50 people to RSVP will eat for free! RSVP here -> http://gccroundup.eventbrite.com/
Join Golden Corral at the Cary location on May 12 from 6pm – 8pm for some Foursquare, TriOut and Gowalla fun!

Check-in Contest:

• The promotion runs from May 12 – June 16, 2010.
• Please show your phone’s “check in” screen from any of the location based apps at the register to be eligible for a free meal and to be entered into the iPad drawing.
• The Foursquare mayor is eligible to receive one free buffet and drink per day. If the mayor chooses not to dine that day, the free meal is forfeited for the day (no roll over minutes).
• The 16GB Wi-Fi iPad winner will be selected at the end of the promotion period (week of July 12).

You can find Golden Corral Cary social media profiles here:
Twitter: @GC_Cary
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GoldenCorralCary

We’re excited to be working with MMI and Golden Corral, Cary and looking forward to seeing everyone at the event.

---

As location-based marketing is still evolving and others looking to do the same as MMI / Golden Corral Cary take a look at how they launched their contest:

• Announced Contest on Facebook to bring awareness to fan page
• Setup event registration using eventbrite to archive participates
• Tweet contest linking to Facebook page, again bringing awareness to page
• Didn’t limit location-based contest to one service to reach a wider range of users
• Created a branded unique twitter hashtag for the contest. #GCCary
• Being that it’s a location-based contest did market research to reach target audience

What are your thoughts on the contest and would you have done anything different to launch it?

*Disclaimer: I’m a partner in TriOut where I service as the  business development and marketing strategist.

Posted on April 13, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Video: Dr. Jim Goodnight CEO of SAS on cloud computing, iPad, social media analytics & more. #SGF10

Yesterday at the SAS Global Forum in Seattle Washington, SAS launched their SAS Social Media Analytics product along with other announcements on the company’s products and culture. The SAS Global Forum is the world’s largest gathering of SAS users, attended by more than 3,000 business and IT users of SAS software and solutions. During the forum I had chance to interview SAS’s CEO Dr. Jim Goodnight along with a other members of the press. Watch the interview below as Dr. Jim Goodnight discussed his thoughts on Cloud Computing, SAS’s new social media analytics product, handling data, the iPad and being named number one company to work for in the USA.

I have more post on SAS Social Media Analytics product coming soon.

*Disclosure”SAS invited me to their SAS Global Forum user event as their guest to attend the launch of SAS Social Media Analytics. They paid my airfare, hotel and conference registration fees and gave me access to the product for evaluation.”

Posted on April 10, 2010 - by Wayne Sutton

Video: Goals, highlights, crashes & falls from NC's first Segway Polo Game. via @TriSegway

Today history was made when Triangle Segway held North Carolina’s first Segway Polo game at the City Plaza downtown Raleigh. I was fortune enough to take part and record some video footage. Take a look below and if you want take part in the next game contact Todd at Triangle Segway or come out and watch on April 24.

Here are a few photos from today’s historic event:

*Discalmer: This is not a sponsored post but I’m friends with the owners of Triangle Segway and they are awesome.

Have you rode a Segway or played Segway Polo before? If so tell me about your experience in the comments.

Thanks.