TBTF’s Third Annual coolTECH 2010

Special edition podcast: 3^rd annual coolTECH in Tampa, FL, June 4, 2010.

I roamed the exhibit floor at coolTECH 2010 where I interviewed several of the entrepreneurs, inventors and existing companies showing off their cool technology.  coolTECH is one of three signature annual events hosted by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, aka TBTF, of which I’m a proud member.

My podcast opens with an interview with TBTF CEO Amy Norman and 2010 Board Chairman Anand Pallegar. Amy explains that TBTF’s mission is to grow and promote Tampa Bay’s technology ecosystem. Through events, education, networking, advocacy and philanthropy programs, TBTF provides targeted forums that bring all the constituents of this ecosystem together to advance our industry and member objectives.

Anand Pallegar brings a new level of energy to TBTF. Anand is passionate about the vision to make Tampa Bay a top 10 technology market by 2015.  One of the ways TBTF will achieve this lofty goal is by working closely with peer groups throughout Florida such as the Suncoast Technology Forum in Sarasota, and by helping the Orlando area, which is already a rich technology area, to forge a tech forum similar TBTF. The result will be a statewide tech community where members  can connect and help one another. A natural by-product of a stronger tech community in Florida will be a renewed brand strength for Florida as a hot bed of technology companies and talent.

coolTECH is an annual event that offers a platform for entrepreneurs and existing tech companies to display their wares and network. As I walked the floor at coolTECH I was impressed by the sample of products, people and even inventions represented at coolTECH which exist and flourish in Tampa Bay.

Another TBTF signature event is coming up in August. TechJam is the annual fund raiser for the TBTF Foundation which serves at-risk and disadvantaged kids to get them interested in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through outreach programs such as CompuTer-rific, and an alliance with Boys & Girls Club. This year’s TechJam will bring back the battle of the bands. TBTF members will able to showcase their bands at the event. It is sure to be a huge party with a purpose!

Amy Norman and Anand Pallegar bring a visionary leadership, tireless energy and passionate devotion to being a servant organization in central Florida to benefit the tech community throughout the state.

The pics below are a sample of the cool people and products I discovered at coolTECH. Please give the podcast a listen to meet them. You just might learn about a product you’ll soon be using and you can say; “hey I learned about that product through coolTECH!”

Do You Have a Blog Strategy?

This podcast elaborates on a blog post about blogging strategies. 

We start with a plug for the annual Tech Jam party hosted by TBTF – a party with a purpose to support the TBTF Foundation!

At Find and Convert, we frequently get asked by our clients about business blogging strategies.  “Should we have a blog?  How would a blog benefit our business and our SEO strategy?”

Sidenote: Podcasting has its roots in blogs.  The first podcasts were posted (and many still are) on blogs.

The real question is what is your social media strategy?  A blog is a component of a social media strategy.  Social media is not rocket science.  It is any web platform where communities of like minded people go, they subscribe, they contribute thoughts and user generated content.  They “socialize” online! The collective influence of communities in social media is very powerful.

When considering a blog within a social media strategy, a business should first consider what they want to accomplish.  Do they have subject matter experts, thought leaders AND the available resources who can be committed to a blog? 

Many companies start and stop a blog because they don’t get instant results.  One reason is they don’t commit the resources to the blog.  I sometimes visit a blog and see the last post was three months ago.  That blog instantly has NO credibility!

Where do you start?  Start by being a “listener” first.  Before a business starts a blog, they should visit other blogs where their community hangs out.  Read about what they’re talking about.  Get involved in those conversations with any frequency that suits your comfort.  You can gain really valuable insights from other blogs.  People can be talking about your company, your products, your competitors and even your employees.  They may be talking about issues your company addresses well but they don’t know that you do.  That’s an opportunity!

What should businesses blog about?  Most companies should blog about what they are capable of blogging about!  Begin by finding the person who has the interest in writing and the knowledge (authority) to write.  If a business has more than one person who likes to write, divide up the roles on the blog.  It’s ok to have more than one person “hosting” a blog.  They should be able to write in a blogging style.  Write conversational, not as corporate speak.  Always write relevant content!

Mistakes to avoid? One big mistake is not being transparent.  Don’t be someone you are not.  Be honest with your community.  If you use a screen name, be real behind the screen name.  No smoke and mirrors.  Your community will eventually find out and trash you.  Don’t underestimate the power of the online community.

How often should we blog?  No one answer.  Just be consistent.  Not too infrequent.  I blog about once per week.  Each business blog is unique.  As long as the content is relevant and of interest to your audience.

What’s the benefit to my SEO strategy? Blog content is an effective way to add content to your website if your blog is connected to your website.  If your blog is standalone you can link back to your website with relevant anchored keywords.  Blog content is an effective way to add content because many businesses struggle with adding fresh content on their website.  The link value of your content is what counts the most in your SEO strategy in the long run.

What’s your blog strategy?  Is it in the context of a social media strategy? 

 

Social Media Lines Blurring

As social media continues evolve, grow, blossom and even mature among both personal users and businesses, the lines are beginning to blur among them.

Well known social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn are now being used in the same sentence as Twitter and Flickr.  Isn’t Twitter a micro-blogging tool?  Isn’t Flickr a photo content sharing tool?

What about YouTube?  Is YouTube a social networking site?

I don’t intend to give you a concrete answer to these questions.  Who am I to define these platforms? The user community is defining them.  But I will offer some offline comparisons to consider as you ponder this question.

If you belong to a health club, you joined it (presumably) to exercise.  On the surface, that is the purpose of a health club (or gym).  If you belong to a business organization such as a chamber or local business club, each of these organizations has a defined charter.  When you join any of these organizations mentioned here as examples, the premise of your membership is to participate in their charter.

Even if you joined any of the above for pure networking, you have to play by their rules.  You can’t go to your gym and hand out fliers and a business card in street clothes.  You’ll annoy so many patrons you’ll get kicked out. 

I have developed some very good relationships at my health club that carry into my personal and professional life.  I can say the same for a local non-profit business club I belong to (TBTF).  In both cases, my intent has been sincere.  I go to my healthclub to workout.  I go to TBTF functions to get involved, give of my time and talents and meet smart people.  Because both of these examples are local to me, I occasionally overlap.  I see people at my healthclub that belong to TBTF and vice versa.

The same can be said of social networking, even though the local aspect is much less a factor.  I know people in Facebook whom I also know in LinkedIn and Twitter, and vice versa.

So, what’s the benefit to this cross platform networking online?  I submit there are many benefits.  At a minimum I can meet other smart and interesting people through both platforms, and I really enjoy meeting smart people.

Since my profession is Internet marketing, and in particular we do search engine optimization (SEO) for our clients, another benefit is exposure to the content I produce.  Such exposure can result in content being shared among the network resulting in quality links.  Some content exposure can be incidental and some can be intentional. 

As I continue to network in the online social media world, I’m amazed at how the mutual benefits of social, networking and relationship building coincide with SEO value through the propagation of content and organic link building that occurs.

What’s your experience on social networks?  Which platforms do you use the most?  Which platforms mentioned here are social networking sites and which are (fill in the blank)?

 

Amy Norman Speaks at Tampa Bay CEO Magazine Power Player Breakfast

Amy Norman, CEO – Tampa Bay Technology Forum

Amy spoke on November 6, 2007 at the Tampa Bay CEO Magazine Power Play breakfast event.  Amy spoke to over 100 CEO’s and local business executives about the origins of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF), its vision and current contributions and achievements in central Florida. 

In this podcast you’ll learn how TBTF has grown to over 450 member companies representing over 45,000 people, hosting over 120 events throughout the year and is connecting business professionals through various peer groups.  TBTF is focused on providing an environment where business, innovation and technology thrive.  You’ll also learn about TBTF’s commitment to the community through its foundation which is dedicated to providing computer labs to disadvantaged youth across Tampa Bay. 

TBTF’s vision is to make Tampa Bay a recognized top 10 technology hub in the U.S. by 2015.