Two Great AIC Events

AIC Social Media Workshop and our regular AIC Networking Meeting

 

AIC Social Media Workshop starts at 1 pm

(FREE for AIC Full Members, $250 for Remote and Non-members)

 

We're deluged with discussions about social media these days. There are many ways to spend your time and/or money. What's best for you? The Association for Independent Consultants make social media real in this hands-on workshop. You'll learn where it fits into your marketing strategy and how to improve what you're doing. If you aren't already on LinkedIn and Twitter, be sure to setup accounts in advance. For the best results, bring your WiFi-enabled computer or tablet. You'll have time to start applying what you learn.

1 PM: Registration

This is also your time for networking as we won't have group introductions.

1:30 PM: The Big Picture presented by Sean Stanleigh, Report on Small Business editor atThe Globe and Mail

Is social media more than buzz? Sean will give an overview of the small business landscape. There are opportunities and pitfalls. He will show where social media fits. What are the keys for success? Where can you go for help? This is your opportunity to find out what's really going on and ask questions.

Sean (LinkedIn profile) is the editor of the Report on Small Business at The Globe and Mail. He is in charge of coordinating small-business coverage across three platforms: web, magazine and newspaper. He comes up with story ideas, assigns them to writers and reporters, edits the copy, and publishes. He also manages a group of regular columnists and contributing professors. There's a video and podcast series too.

Journalism today means more than writing and editing. Sean also also responsible for promoting content and extending the Your Business brand. Sean runs @GlobeSmallBiz on Twitter, contributes to The Globe's page on Facebook, and manages the Your Business group on LinkedIn.

2:30 PM: LinkedIn presented by Paul Van Wart, Social Media Marketer at Paul 2 The Max

Paul will describe what makes a LinkedIn profile effective and help you improve yours.

Paul (LinkedIn profile) is an avid social networker with a diverse background. He's certified through the Certified Coaches Federation to coach business owners and their employees in the use of Social Media to promote their business, services and products. He's also skilled at coaching job seekers on the use of social media to enhance their job search efforts.

3:30 PM: Break

Stretch, have coffee or continue working.

3:45 PM: Twitter with Stephanie Goodman, Digital Marketing Representative at Venture Accelerator Partners

Stephanie will explain how to use Twitter better and help you improve your usage. You'll also see how to connect Twitter with LinkedIn to expand the reach of your messages.

Stephanie (LinkedIn profile) has a passion for constant learning and social media. She has strong communication skills. You are likely to see here at social media and start-up events. She watches trends to spot new ways to generate sales leads and optimize B2B marketing programs. She is also the event coordinator for the Golden Horseshoe Venture Forum.

4:45 PM Content with Susan Corcoran, Managing Partner at Indigo Oceans

Creating original content shows your expertise and intent to help. Yet few bother and many who start quit. That creates an opportunity for you to stand out. Learn how to create quality content, find the time and stick to a schedule.

Susan (LinkedIn profile) has extensive, practical experience in long-term, high performing Sales and Marketing initiatives. She's worked with organizations - small to large - to create cultures that inspire leadership, engage employees, build effective teams and drive performance. Susan listens and offers pragmatic solutions to reveal what's possible.

VISITORS PRE-REGISTER ONLINE THROUGH PAYPAL BY JUNE 24 AND RECIEVE A 20% REDUCTION  (DISCOUNTS ARE NOT COMBINABLE). Cost for Visitors is $250.00 or become an AIC member for $199  for 12 months and attend this event for free.

MEMBERS PRE-REGISTER ONLINE  BY JUNE 24 AND HELP US REDUCE LINE UPS AT THE DOOR

NOTE:  If you're having technical difficulties pre-registering on-line, please send us an e-mail directly at finance1@aiconsult.ca stating your problem and requesting a manual registration.

5:45 PM Dinner

This is on your own. There are several places just steps away.

Regular evening program starts at 7 pm

(FREE for AIC Full Members, $35 for Remote and Non-members

This is when you'll be able to do your infomercials and share your good news stories.

7 PM: ePress Kits and Using Social Media to Find and Retain the Best Clients presented by Julia Hidy

Give the media, other bloggers and especially clients the information they need to about you and your work. By developing and posting an effective online ePress Kit, you can raise your profile and be seen as /the/ expert in your specialty. In this workshop, you'll be given examples of the key components of great press kits. Find out what kind of content industry-leading social media consultant, Chris Brogan, has on his website, and how this has helped him become a leader in his field. Also learn how businessman, Gary Veynerchuk, author of "Crush It!," took his online presence and WineLibrary web TV show and leveraged his media and social media reputation while growing his family business' revenues from $5 million to $65 million in under five years.

You'll get quick and inexpensive ideas to build a world-class online press kit. You'll also learn how you to pitch and build your relationships with consumer and trade media. You'll see how to use articles, guest blogging, radio interviews and/or TV interviews on your website so your current and new clients see you as a leader and content expert in your field. Find out how, why and what kind of dollar value media and social media can add to your business and well as helping your retirement or exit strategy.

Julia Hidy (LinkedIn profile) is a senior marketing consultant and strategist to leading North American retail and supply chain technology developers. Her boutique marketing, PR and advertising agency has successfully re-engineered flagging brands, dramatically increased client sales, and has run campaigns that have helped her clients win U.S. national awards and receive featured media coverage. She has been the key media and press contact for her clients at major U.S. and Canadian trade shows. Her campaigns have brought her clients page 1 Google rankings for highly competitive keywords and 'captured names' so she could give her client thousands of highly qualified leads for a million dollar solution.

Julia Hidy will also cover how and why her Canadian clients have been able to successfully compete against large, well funded global software solutions' leaders with only a fraction of these firms' budget. She will show you how she leveraged an advertising campaign for one of her clients that featured Gary Veynerchuk's company, WineLibrary. Julia Hidy is a non-fiction author and professional speaker. She has been a keynote speaker at BookExpo Canada and the Independent Publishers' Association's Publishing U in New York.

When and Where

DATE: Monday, June 27, 2011

Workshop: 
1:00 PM: Registration and networking
1:30PM: Workshop begins.
5:45PM: Workshop ends

Dinner on your own

Regular AIC Networking Meeting 
7:00 PM: Registration and networking
7:15 PM: Program begins. Attendees can give 20 second infomercials.
9:30 PM: Program ends

PLACE: Both events are at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel (33 Carlson Court, Toronto, M9W 6H5) | website, map

Onsite parking is $5 but only if you pay at the front desk. (Note: if you use the outside parking kiosks, you will be charged the undiscounted rate.)

Tickets

Special AIC Workshop Free for AIC Full Members - $250 for everyone else

Regular Evening Networking meeting: Free for AIC Full Members - $30 for everyone else

Special rate for members of SIP: Regular Networking Meeting $10. You MUST show a current membership card to get this discount.

Visitors can save 20% on the evening meeting only, use PayPal and register online by June 24th

VISITORS PRE-REGISTER ONLINE THROUGH PAYPAL BY JUNE 24AND RECIEVE A 20% REDUCTION  (DISCOUNTS ARE NOT COMBINABLE)


NOTE:  If you're having technical difficulties pre-registering on-line, please send us an e-mail directly at finance1@aiconsult.ca stating your problem and requesting a manual registration.

NOTES

• Discounts are not combinable

• If you're having technical difficulties registering online, send an email to finance1@aiconsult.ca stating your problem and requesting a manual registration

• Cancellations must be received by an email to the VP Finance at least 24 hours before the event. Otherwise, your fee is forfeited.