Social Media and More

Creating Personalities and Brands on the Web

Using Social Media to Create Brand Loyalty

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It was an honor to be a featured speaker at the 8th Annual Internet Dating Conference in Miami Beach.

My presentation, Dating 2.0: Using Social Media to Create Brand Loyalty shows examples of how online dating sites are successfully using social media. For more information on how Social Media and More can help your brand become more social, contact us at SocialMediaMore.com/contact

Julie Spira to host Date and Skate Night at Social Media Week

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES, CA – September 16, 2010  Bestselling author, dating and social media expert Julie Spira will host Social Media Week’s Date and Skate Night singles party in conjunction with Down & Derby on Thursday, September 23, 2010.

Social Media Week, a multi-city global conference connecting people, content and conversations around emerging trends in social and mobile media, will be held on September 19-24, 2010 in various locations throughout Los Angeles.

“I was honored to be asked by the advisory board to participate in a singles event during social media week,” said Spira.  She added, “I have been marrying love and technology for over 15 years.  This event is a natural combination of how we combine social media and technology to meet other singles in real life. It’s going to be a terrific event.”

Date and Skate Night is taking place at Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 in Los Angeles from 9:00pm – 2:00am.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their iPhone, Blackberry, or Android to download the latest dating applications at the event. Spira will be on hand providing her expert dating advice to the guests.

“It was a no brainer to partner with Social Media Week and dating expert Julie Spira,” said Richard Alexander from Down & Derby. Alexander added, “When you think of a retro roller disco, you think funky music, retro entire and couple skating. We love the idea of a Date night, Skate night at the Echoplex. It’s going to be a great night.”

During the entire length of Social Media Week Los Angeles, conference participants will be invited to contribute to Inner-City Arts, a learning oasis in the heart of Skid Row where professional artists teach students in a real studio environment.

Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Skate rentals are $5. To purchase tickets, visit http://losangeles.socialmediaweek.org

For more information, please contact:

Julie Spira

Julie@JulieSpira.com

About Julie Spira

Julie Spira is a social media expert, dating advice columnist, and media personality. She has always been known for being on the leading edge of technology. Spira’s digital life started in 1981, where she was an executive for RKO Radio Networks, the first digital-delivered satellite radio network. Spira was an executive for several communications and Internet companies; and as Executive Vice President, Sales of InterPacket Networks, was the first to bring high-speed Internet via satellite to third world and emerging world countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, and throughout most of Latin America. She is the founder of Social Media and More, a social media marketing company and is the bestselling author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online.  She is a frequent guest in the media on the subjects of online dating and social media and was named one of the Top 10 Columnists to follow on Twitter.

Visit her at http://SocialMediaMore.com and http://CyberDatingExpert.com

About Down & Derby

Down & Derby is a retro-inspired roller skating party created and designed to give attendees a unique nightlife experience. The throwback events combine décor reminiscent of a 70s roller disco with attendees participating through fashion attire evocative of the era. DJs known for pushing the limits of mixing and music production are procured, adding vibrant energy to the event with underground and popular mixes. Down & Derby is bringing roller disco back to the forefront. Inspired by the Roxy roller skating party in New York City, Down & Derby is putting wheels on a whole new generation of skaters. Set to a backbeat of disco-inspired party anthems, complete with skate rentals and a candy bar, Down & Derby is poised to bring out the kid in just about anyone. Four wheeled revelers are encouraged to dress the part in everything from neon spandex to headbands and glitter making for a memorable party atmosphere.

Visit them at http://downandderby.org

About Social Media Week

Social Media Week, being held on September 20-24, 2010, includes dozens of events hosted at locations all over the city. Influential hyper-connected: CEO’s and CMO’s, entrepreneurs, journalists, bloggers, brand managers, social media strategists, artists, activists and the technology/media digerati will join together at over 70 events in Los Angeles. The breadth and depth of topics and participants is tremendous; from the guilds (DGA, WGA, PGA) to MySpace, LiveNation, RedBull, WholeFoods, the US State Department, City Hall, CleanTech LA, USC, mommy bloggers, the VC/startup community, and more. Select media and event partners and sponsors currently include the City of Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Times, The Financial Times, Fast Company, Wired, the LA Business Journal, LA Weekly, Meebo, iCrossing, LivePerson, Thinkwell and others.

Visit them at http://socialmediaweek.org/losangeles

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Social Media Club Los Angeles January Event

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Join me on January 14, 2009 as the Social Media Club – Los Angeles presents, “Dating and Relationships: The Game Has Changed.

I will be a panelist along with my friends @Avlox @EvanMarcKatz @LindaSherman @LizHKelly where we will be discussing how social media has changed the rules of dating. The event is exactly one month before Valentine’s Day.

RSVP on Facebook at the Social Media Club Los Angeles event page.

Who: Social Media Club Los Angeles
What: Panel and discussion: Dating and Relationships: The Game Has Changed
Where: 12th and Highland, 304 12th Street, Manhattan Beach, CA
Time: 7:00-10:00 pm
Why: January is the biggest month for new members to join online dating sites. Social dating has changed the landscape of online dating. We’ll help you get armed and ready just in time for Valentine’s Day.

RSVP: Social Media Club Los Angeles

Follow me on Twitter @JulieSpira

LA Times – Top 10 Moments in Social Media, and a Few of my Own

The Los Angeles Times has just published their Top 10 Moments in Social Media in 2009. In their year-end summary their list goes from #10 down to #1. I’ve added my thoughts,  reversed the order, and added four of my own.  Feel free to comment on these as well as add your own social media memorable moments in 2009.

The LA Times List

1. Hudson River plane landing – I have to agree with the LA Times. The photos taken from an iPhone of this brilliant landing clearly reflects the change in how we now gather the news. It was a powerful shot. I think I’ll upgrade my mobile device this week.

2. Iran “green” protests – I think I missed this one where the avatars turned green. I’ll wait and see the film instead.

3. R.I.P. Jeff Goldblum? – With or without the web, he seems to fall prey to rumors. Thanks to the LA Times for the others I missed, including Natalie Portman, George Clooney, Britney Spears, Ellen DeGeneres, Michael Lohan, alleged Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, Jared from Subway, Emma Watson and P. Diddy

4. R.I.P. Michael Jackson – The power of the Internet at its best.  I recall the moment I saw the news on my Facebook live stream. I was sitting in a panel at the Social Networking Conference in Beverly Hills, still commenting on my thoughts about Farah Fawcett’s sad death earlier that day when the news about MJ broke. Confused at first as to whether the MJ was Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson, I,  like the others started commenting. When news breaks online, we have to take a serious look at social media for news distribution. When polled at a Digital LA event I attended a month later, more than 60% of the room found out about Michael Jackson on Facebook or Twitter. I found myself in front of my television watching the memorial service tweeting about the musical selections and the speeches on-stage. It was my first Twitter funeral. I have a feeling there will be more to come.

5. Susan Boyle launches career – The power of video and YouTube brought her from “frumpy” to “famous.” Kudos to her and others such as Gary Vaynerchuk who made online videos a household word.

6. Ashton Kutcher vs. CNN – It was an interesting race. Kutcher went from the underdog to beat CNN to the 1-million mark of Twitter followers. Sure, I saw the billboards on the freeway promoting the campaign. Anything that engages community to benefit a charitable organization gets my vote.

7. Twitter and Facebook under hack-attack – I experienced a few minor glitches, but never found my sites to be unavailable. The phishing emails have become annoying. The bottom line: Don’t rely on only one form of social media. Try the new Backupify service to back up your tweets, streams, friends, and followers.

8. Google Wave – I have to agree here with the LA Times. I was excited and thrilled to receive my not-so-exclusive invitation. I tweeted about it. We all did. And then I lost interest as it wasn’t user-friendly enough for me. I’ll wait for the next wave and join in again.

9. Whopper Sacrifice – Did I miss Burger King’s free offer to entice Facebook fans to remove their friends in favor of a F>R.E.E. burger? Perhaps it’s because I’m a vegetarian. In any event, thank you to my friends who didn’t de-friend me in favor of red meat. It’s nice to know I’m still popular.

10. The World of Web – They call it the new currency. No mention is made of monetization, but clearly bloggers and businesses using social media have less time on their hands as they are jumping in on the bandwagon.

Thank you to Andrew Nystrom and Mark Milian for a terrific article.

As usual, I like to add my tw0-cents and have listed a few more for your reading pleasure.

11. Facebook Marriage – The October wedding of Kelly and Kelly Hildebrandt, the couple who shared the same name, met on Facebook. “Girl Kelly” in Florida did a simple Facebook search for her name and up popped “Boy Kelly” from Texas. A Facebook friendship turned into a beautiful courtship. They appeared in my Cyber Love Story of the Week as well as on the Today Show and numerous other media outlets.

12. Facebook becomes “third largest country” in the world. – Hitting the 350 millionth subscriber in December shows their startling growth. Facebook is now multi-generational with parents spying on their children’s walls and kids seeing who their parents are now dating. Facebook went from a personal photo album and social connecting to creating business brands. Every business should have a Fan Page. It’s like having another website to promote your brand.

13. Twitter accountability – Oops! I used the wrong hash-tag at a conference and within moments on Twitter, I was corrected by another attendee. The value of messaging in real time is clear. When you make a mistake, you stand corrected instantly.

14. Mobile Dating – For the younger generation and the tech-savvy, they have moved from traditional online dating sites to iPhone apps such as Skout, Hot-or-Not, Grindr, and more. Why wait for an email when you can meet up or hook-up now? Meeting “in real life” has taken on a new meaning.

Julie Spira is a social media expert and author of the bestselling online dating book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at SocialMediaMore.com

Click here to read full article from the LA Times