Two Tracks

[Mitchell Hislop]

I wrote a post on my blog about why I would not be attending the SMBMSP on a stick. Boy, did that stir up a racket.

The purpose of this thread is to gauge interest in starting another track-a more advanced track. This would be for the social media practitioners, the people with experience who are starting to feel that they are at SMB for the friends more than the content.

If you have an opinion, leave it here, and please pass this on to your friends in the

[Preston Odenbrett]

I would be open to doing this, if we can have it during lunch time... can't make it now, oh well.

[Jason DeBoer-Moran]

I am sort of hearing two ideas out of this discussion that occurred via Twitter, your blog, and here.

1) A more of a meet-up style event where people can just get together to hang out with friends who use all this social technology.
2) A more advanced version of Social Media Breakfast where practitioners can talk about practitioning.

In terms of option 1, I have always been a fan of that. The reason I attended my first SMB was because I wanted a chance to catch up with folks I met via Twitter in real life. Getting together for the occasional tweetup with no agenda apart from saying howdy is nice. In my opinion the community has always been up for that.

Option 2, is also interesting. What do you see as some relevant topics to explore at a higher level? How does this group not just become the SMB that happens at a different time? The great value in SMB is the same value that I find in social technology, the fact that everyone is on level playing field. If we create a group where some are practitioners and others are not experienced... where does the mixing and mingling happen between these groups?

Anyhow, those are my thoughts/questions at this point.

[Mike Keliher]

It's not a bad idea. It's been discussed before. The problem is, when you grow from about a dozen attendees to a couple of hundred in the course of a year, you must be doing something right -- and are not exactly eager to make a dig change.

Consider this, too: Perhaps SMBMSP is exactly what it's supposed to be, and the more advanced, hands-on stuff fits at a place like MIMA meetings or the like.

[Mitchell Hislop]

The issue I see with that is that MIMA is also not advanced-they are a 101 group as well.

Is there another group that we are missing?

[Mike Keliher]

In having a specific topic to be discussed in depth each month, MIMA does go beyond 101. I don't imagine groups like MIMA expect all people to be interested in all events. They pick a topic and dive deep, going beyond the basics.

But maybe we need to start a Social Media 201 series... (copyright 2009, Michael Keliher).

[Mitchell Hislop]

Having attended MIMA events, and spoke with a bunch of people about it, I feel like they also dont go deep enough-sure, they are only on one topic, but it is usually an entry level discussion about it.

[Nathan Eide]

Hey all. If you're interested in a more practical discussion of social media tactics and techniques, especially for a small business environment, we're starting a group discussing just that.

Our first meetup is going to be on Tuesday, Sept 8 over lunch (provided) at Island Lake Park in Shoreview (across from Deluxe HQ).

Check out the ning for the MSPSMSB group over at http://mspsmsb.ning.com/events/mspsmsb-1

[Mike Keliher]

Sounds like a good group, but I'm surprised that someone thought up an acronym more unwieldy than SMBMSP!

[Jeff Pesek]

Hi Mitchell,

Can you please link to the post for context?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Mitchell Hislop]

http://www.mitchellhislop.com/why-i-wont-be-at-smbmsp-tomorrow/

[Jeff Pesek]

Hi Mitch,

Thanks for the link, interesting thoughts and responses.

-Jeff