Nautical Networking Cruise Tickets Going Fast!

Hurry and get your seats now for the premier networking event of the year! SFIMA's Nautical Networking Cruise will sell out, so get your table or seat before it's too late!

Visit NauticalNetworking.com or SFIMA.com for tickets and details.

Want to get the word out about your company? Sponsorships are still available - get your company promoted at this event and all of the advertising leading up to the event as well!

Competitors Gaining on Your Website Despite Your Best Efforts?

This article by Stoney deGeyter really spoke to me, so I thought many others gain from it as well!

Have you optimized your site and done everything possible to be on top of the search engines, but your competitors are still gaining on you despite your efforts? Stoney's answer is "simple but profound : DO MORE!"

See his full explanation and advice on today's Search Engine Guide Article

Where do I start? Blog Writing 101

So just do it, eh Jay? How about this for a great way to kick start your Internet expertise - a completely online, how to create, start, write, promote and maintain a blog. I don't know about you but I need the discipline of a deadline, a start and end date, commitments to be kept along the way, milestones, to do lists, project plans or whatever system you happen to prefer.

Starting October 12, there is a new Blog Writing 101 course being taught by a phenomenal homeschool mom who has been blogging for many years. But the benefit of the class is the interaction of participants, helping each person find their own voice, providing feedback, encouragement, and support.

Full disclosure, this class is taught by the company I work for, Time4Writing but it is offered entirely as a labor of love only a few times each year. The course teaches both how to create and promote your blog. Cost of the course is $59 for an eight week session. A great product at a great value. If you have ever thought about starting a blog, here's the push you just might need to make it happen.

And as a special offer for anyone that is working for a non-profit or who might be in between jobs, please contact me for a special $9 course rate. My contact is founder@sfima.com.

How to become an Internet Expert - Get Started and "Just Do It!"

I am often asked by people who have a traditional marketing background how they can get into the new marketing.

My best advise is to: "Just Do It!"

As Nike says in their marketing, you must jump in and immerse yourself in the new tools and technologies, it is free and so easy a 10 year old can do it.

Get set up with your own WordPress blog right away so you can practice the different internet marketing skill sets. It only takes about 15 minutes! Pick a subject that you are passionate about and start developing blog posts. Learn how to link, set up Google Analytics and track how many people visit your blog and where they come from. Set up and track your own revenue generating programs such as affiliate banners and Google AdSense Ads - Yes you can make money from a simple blog!

Get involved with one or more of the popular social media sites. Pick one that people you know are always talking about among Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube and Twitter. I love Twitter, if you'd like some basic tips on how to start a Twitter account and learn about this exciting new communications world read my Ten Tips Twitter Beginners Guide.

Good Luck Just Doing It - Please let me know how it turns out.

Tickets Now On Sale for the 6th Annual SFIMA Nautical Networking Event

The place to be, and to be seen, the 6th annual SFIMA Nautical Networking event sponsored by BGT Partners, LivePerson and Omniture. This year's theme is Unmasking Your Potential.

When: Friday, October 23 at 5:00 pm (networking)
Where: Onboard The Lady Windridge Yacht
Tranquility Marina • 2950 NE 32 Ave. • Ft. Lauderdale
Directions:
I-95 to Oakland Park Blvd. (east) • Drive 3 miles east (cross the Intracoastal Bridge) • Right turn on Ocean Drive (Rte. A1A) • Drive 1 block • Right turn on NE 30th street • Drive until you see the large public parking garage on your right • Pre-pay for parking

Set sail on the Intracoastal with over 400 interactive marketers from around the globe during South Florida's principal networking event of the year. This year, a portion of the proceeds will go to the benefit of Junior Achievement of South Florida, the world’s largest educational charity.
Reserve a table now as space is going fast!

Tickets include an array of appetizers, a sumptuous dinner, elegant desserts, networking games, prizes, raffles and musical entertainment in three parties as one:

1. Pre-boarding networking party, including media event provided by Experian
2. Dinner cruise provided by ExactTarget
3. After-party provided by MarketLinkX Direct at Taverna Opa (don't miss the prize drawings)

Prizes and dinner seating will be announced via text messages provided by Neighborhood America’s Movo Mobile Platform.

Sponsored tables are still available but are going fast. Half tables start at $1,000 for 4 seats.
To sponsor a table, please contact Travis Berger at 917-804-5193 or travis@loringinteractive.com.

To volunteer or donate a prize, please contact Jayne Wesner at 954-695-8889 or jayne.wesner@gmail.com

SPONSORS: AOL, Search Engine Strategies, Undertone Networks, COMCORP, Lucid Media. Mad 4 Marketing, SEO.cc, SLI Systems, Tandem Interactive, Vayan

DONATIONS: BankAtlantic, DTS Direct, Kangen Water, PrivateScubaLessons.com, Random Access, Signs In One Day, Sunshine Boating, Taverna Opa Restaurant, TimeToSpa.com, Warm Wishes Gift Baskets of Ft. Lauderdale, Wing Zone,The W Hotel Ft. Lauderdale

Free Business Advice for Facebook Executives

I hate Twitter. And I love Facebook almost as much as I hate Twitter. I know, I'm not cool to hate Twitter but there is just too much noise to make it worthwhile for me. Even the people I love dearly have too much to say for my taste on good days. I have tried TweetDeck, Seesmic, TwitterBerry, you name it. I just love Facebook more.

I don't have enough time or energy to devote to something that takes too much bandwidth to sift through. Okay, it doesn't help that I have over 1,200 followers (what are they following anyway?) on Twitter but on Facebook I allow only a few hundred of my closest friends to connect with me. Quality over quantity.

So my colleague, John Edelson, wrote a compelling article with "free advice" to Facebook executives. I think if they heed his advice they could insure their survival and ultimate domination of the social media web (Google is the emperor of the entire Internet so Facebook needs to be satisfied with king of social media for now).

Here is a quick synopsis and a link to the article, worth reading and commenting on - well, that is if you want Facebook to win :-) If you know Mark Zuckerberg, please forward the link to him before it is too late.

Sphinn article synopsis:
Free strategic advice for Facebook executives to insure ongoing success delivered in a few hundred words from my colleague John Edelson. Facebook has two challenges: A need to lock in users and a business model that brings in recurring cost-effective revenue. The strategic advice to achieve these goals includes three things: Allow individuals to have multiple Faces and categories of friends/contacts, permit archiving of all digital assets and make groups/subgroups and clubs work. It's just that simple. And no big price tag for a high-falutin consultant either.

Message from the President on NNE and Junior Achievement

We’re halfway through September and the Nautical Networking Event is almost here. We are excited for our 6th annual sell-out event! This year, we are thrilled to have Junior Achievement involved. I’d like to take a moment to showcase an amazing photo and say to thank you to JA for their recent showing of hospitality.


"Biz Town" photo credit Warren Corpus, SFIMA Board Member

JA World is the new HQ of Junior Achievement of South Florida, everyone on the SFIMA Board were not only impressed by the creativity with the interior architectural design, but equally impressed with the vision and passion of the JA World leaders and their dedication to the local community.

Special thanks to Melissa Aiello and Anna Parker for generously hosting our September SFIMA Board of Directors' meeting at JA World. We all had a great time and managed to get a lot done in the "Hall of Fame" meeting room.

SFIMA and JA share a passion for education, personal growth and success. The Nautical Networking Event on October 23, 2009 will benefit both groups.

Learn more about Junior Achievement South Florida

Learn more about the 2009 Nautical Networking Event

South Florida Business Journal Tech Awards Now Accepting Nominees

The South Florida Business Journal, SFIMA's Media Partner for 2009/2010, will once again honor the advancements made possible by innovative South Florida companies with our annual Technology Awards. http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/nomination/

Technology Awards - Deadline: September 18, 2009

The Business Journal is looking for the best technology-based companies, CEOs or CIOs leading the way, and the companies making the best use of a technology in South Florida. Whether it’s a growing startup, a team of researchers or a trend-setting innovation, the Technology Awards will highlight the most innovative research, products and services in South Florida. The Technology Awards will recognize organizations and people in the following categories:

• Internet-based/Telecommunications (ISPs/hosting)
• Software/Hardware Systems/ASPs (companies that provide products/services or companies that use them)
• Biotechnology Research
• Interactive Marketing (B2B, B2C)• Innovator/Product or Service of the Year
• CEO/CIO of the Year

Take just a few minutes to complete a nomination form today!
Hurry! Nominations must be received by Friday, Sept. 18! Self-nominations are accepted.

Save the date!

Finalists and winners will be honored at a Nov. 5 awards luncheon, sponsored by Verizon Wireless and will be profiled in a special section of the Business Journal.

For information on the nomination and selection process, contact Editorial Coordinator Brenna Mello at bmello@bizjournals.com.

Please note, we will not follow up with nominee's for more information. If you are missing important information to complete a nomination, please contact the nominee for the info or email Brenna Mello and she can contact the nominee on your behalf.

Top 10 Twitterers in South Florida

"What's a good tweet? What can someone say in 140 characters or less that will make me want to keep reading? Some of my favorites are random thoughts usually reserved for the person you're sharing an elevator with, or, better yet, the thought that isn't shared in the elevator. Others I like to read inspire, entertain, inform or make me laugh." Writes Sun Sentinel reporter Seth Liss.

The Sun Sentinel recently published a great article on the Top Twitterers in South Florida posting great info about our local happenings. SFIMA member, Laura Parke of PrivateScubaLessons.com was mentioned among writer Seth Liss' favorite Twitterers from Miami to Orlando!

Check out his full article to get connected with some great information on South Florida via Twitter!