Social Convergence & The Enterprise: Case Studies & Roundtables will have over 300 communications, marketing, customer service, human resources, and technology professionals from large- and mid-sized organizations across B2C and B2B industries. The conference will consist of several case study presentations in the general auditorium, followed by two moderated interactive roundtables on very specific topics. The event will also host a networking breakfast and networking breaks in between sessions.

WHEN
July 21, 2010, 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM

WHERE
The Graduate Center of The City University of NY
365 Fifth Avenue (at 34th Street)
Conference Level C
New York, NY 10016

REGISTRATION FEE
$195

To register online, click here.

According to a recent survey by The NY Enterprise Report 71% of their readers are using social media to increase business with 41% blogging regularly.

Of the social networking sites, 60% find LinkedIn to be the most effective for increasing business, followed by a Facebook at 31%.

Of the variety of online marketing venues, e-newsletters top the list with 76% saying they are Very Effective or Somewhat Effective.

One insight noted by publisher Robert Levin is the surprising number of small businesses that do not have websites but are still participating in social media. This may just be a reflection of the type of businesses that make up the Report’s readership but more likely has to do with a misunderstanding on how to best leverage social media to drive business.

Have you ever had a salesman come to the door trying to sell power washing or gutter guards? They give their pitch but when asked for a business card they don’t have one. It is like that.

Every business should have a website even if it is just to be listed on Google.

Think of it this way: Participating in a social community is like attending a cocktail party. Having guests visit your website is like hosting a cocktail party.

Mashable does it’s annual list of upcoming Social Media & Tech Events. They include over 25 events in their Events section but for the B2B set, consider attending:

• Online Marketing Summit (OMS) – July 12, 2010, Washington, D.C.
• Social Convergence & The Enterprise: Case Studies & Roundtables – July 21, 2010, New York, NY
• SocialTech 2010 – October 26, 2010, San Jose, CA

Perhaps we’ll see you there, be sure to check the Mashable’s post as some events offer up to 20% off on admission if you have their promo code.

Anyone in the service business knows not all clients are created equally. And not all clients are easy to work with. So this post is not for the professional who puts their clients first but for the client who assumes their vendors are second-class citizens.

Just because you’re paying someone for their services doesn’t mean that they are desperate for work or that this somehow gives license to treat them poorly. The fact of the matter is that you need them more than they need you. You have a problem to solve. You need a pro to help solve it. So be nice… and you might actually save yourself time and money.

While it is true enough that not all vendors are created equally (too), if you’re well prepared and listen closely, it is fairly easy to recognize those people who really know what they are doing (and not just giving lip service).

Tip: The more “buzz” a topic gets (e.g. social media), the more charlatans crawl out of the woodwork. So be wary… but be nice.

Having had a bad experience with a vendor doesn’t mean the next one is going to be just as bad. If you need to, take a break to restore equilibrium to your objectivity. It is always best to error on the side of caution and give the next person the benefit of the doubt. I know it is not always easy (which is why I never respond to emails when angry) but trust me, it will serve you well in the long run. Stay focus on your goal.

How does this save you money?

Is it really that hard to imagine that the people who are true professionals do what they do because they love it? And because they love it they are very good at it. It is not all about making money but they certainly know what their time and knowledge and talents are worth. They don’t need your validation.

When a vendor is facing the prospect of working with a client that respects their time/knowledge/talents versus one that does not, they will either go with the former (most cases) or charge a lot more (exception to the rule).

In addition, if you are not nice then you’re most likely going to end up with only charlatans to choose from. A charlatan may charge you less upfront but it will cost a lot more time/money in the end (and you may still not have solved your problem). As David Ogilvy once put it: “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.”

So be nice.

It cost nothing and it can save plenty.

At last, somebody finally put all those B2B social media stats into one nifty video a’la Socialnomics. Actually, that somebody was a company called Earnest (giving credit where credit is due).

Last year eMarketer published a “shocking” report that B2B companies are far more active in certain social media initiatives (e.g. microblogging) than their B2C counterparts. For example, 81% of B2B companies maintain company-related accounts or profiles on social media sites versus 67% of B2C. The video cites its sources. Enjoy.