What kinds of companies come to mind when you hear the words social media? High tech? Professional service firms? Retail?

How about manufacturing? Let’s stretch it a little further. How about TEXTILE manufacturing and social media?

At our last meeting, Kim Madden whet our appetite and piqued our curiosity about Carolina Manufacturing, bandanna swimsuits, and @BandannaBabe. She told us how she went from pre-newbie to full-fledged social media adventurer since last summer—and that was just with Flickr! Imagine the world of possibilities as Carolina Manufacturing extends their customer embrace through other platforms.

For a fresh look at how social media’s invigorating a stale industry, join us Monday morning at 8AM March 8, 2010 at the NEXT Innovation Center. You’ll soak up some of Kim’s passion for commerce and share with her your ideas, too.

A couple of reminders:
DIRECTIONS TO NEXT: There’s a map on the Eventbrite invite. There’s also a map on the Facebook event.

PARKING: There’s a HUGE parking lot in the vacant lot behind the NEXT building. You can park there. There’s a stadium sized parking lot that’s paved, just across University Ridge next to NEXT. You can park there, too.

If you’re having trouble getting your boss to understand why you’re excited about the possibilities fostered by social media, bring him to Social Media Club Greenville. Kim’s enthusiasm for the new life at Carolina Manufacturing and your fellow members’ enthusiasm just might get him excited, too.

Video Provided by BobbyRettew,llc

Update 2-9-10 (Doug):

Slides from Richard Peck’s presentation:

Slides from Amy Wood’s presentation:

Slides from Russell Tripp’s presentation:

Slides from Kim Madden’s presentation:

Thank you to Linda Haight for including Social Media Club Greenville in her Greenville Business Magazine article on Skype. The article begins on page 50.

Sam Edwards mentioned our December meeting on social media and privacy on his site.

Logan Stewart got us a couple of mentions in printed media last month as well:

• Social Media Club Greenville on SwampFox
• Social Media Club Greenville on Palmetto Morning (scroll down to “Social Scene”)
• Social Media Club Greenville on Greenville News

If you see news of Social Media Club Greenville, would you please let us know?

Got a favorite tool you’d like to talk about? Here’s a chance to present your cool tool to everyone at Social Media Club Greenville. The big bonus is, you’ll come away with a video of the meeting you can embed on your website. (That’s to Bobby Rettew, LLC, we’ll have a video of the whole meeting available for you.)

If you’d like to make a 7-10 minute presentation on one specific social media tool you’re finding useful, would you please take a moment to complete the form below?

Our next meeting will be Monday, February 8, 2010, from 8:00am to 9:00am at the brand new NEXT Innovation Center at 411 University Ridge. We’re hoping to have 4-5 presentations from our membership.

An informational meeting to hear what our elected officials think of social media, how they’re using it, and their expectations for future use.

Social Media Club meeting downtown Greenville at Michelin on Main brought a great crowd to enjoy an open conversation between Trey Pennington and Bob Inglis, all wrapped around politics of social media.

December in the Windy City is usually cold; on the 16th, it was hot with supercharged ideas and discussion at GasPedal’s SuperGenius conference. Two of our own supergeni were featured speakers: Spike Jones of Brains on Fire and Olivier Blanchard of The Brandbuilder Marketing.

I found a couple of blogs post about our duo that are worth checking out. Spike’s presentation was 11 Lessons to Ignite a Fan Community. Here’s an earlier post on the same blog about Olivier.

Olivier Blanchard shares a thought while Jeff Elder (Charlotte Observer) and Spike Jones (Brains on Fire) listen and ponder at the September 2009 meeting of Social Media Club Greenville at Skyline Exhibits & Designs. Photo by GetzCreative.

The summary of Spike’s presentation is worth pondering as you make plans for 2010. Now more than ever, real movements are essential for the creation or continuance of enduring brands. In 2010, no one will be able to fake their way to success. The good news is, no one HAS to fake it. Spike’s 11 lessons present a good road map to create lasting influence.

Olivier’s presentation has some worthwhile nuggets: “you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you just have to understand it.” Apparently the whole world (at least the whole social media world) is taking note of Olivier’s teaching on measuring word-of-mouth (and measuring social media marketing). His Basics of Social Media ROI presentation on the topic housed at SlideShare.net has been viewed 75,520 times and embedded another 445 times. That’s huge.

Folks have asked, “why is it that Greenville, South Carolina is at the center of the social media world?” While I’m not sure there is a center of the world, I am impressed at the work folks in our community—folks like Spike and Olivier—are doing to put the Upstate on the social media and word-of-mouth map. No doubt there are others amongst our 650+members who are also speaking about meaningful engagement through social media. If you are or if you know of someone who is, would you please let me know? It’ll be good to share the word.

Would you please take a moment to complete a survey in preparation for our upcoming meeting with our representative? Thanks.

What are politicians doing to leverage social media? In January we’ll talk with our politician, SC Fourth District Representative Bob Inglis, about his experience with social media so far. We’ll also get his take on the future of citizen governance and how, if any, social media will recreate the way politicians engage with their constituents.

We won’t be talking public policy. Instead, we’ll focus on the principles and practices behind engaging with people in the political sphere. It should be a solid learning experience for people of all political commitments. The moderator will work hard to ensure we stay on track discussing information to build our whole community.

Thank you to Bobby Rettew of the newly minted and launched Bobby Rettew, LLC for doing the video work for our January meeting. Thanks, too, to Jeffrey Jacobs and the folks at Michelin on Main for providing the meeting space. One more thanks goes out to Costco for help with the food.

Please pre-register
Pre-registration is $8.00
Registration at the door is $10.00

Tempted to click that shortened link to compare your IQ? Maybe not so smart. Stay safe on Twitter and the rest of your digital world with Security Tips from Doug Cone of NullVariable Web Consulting.

Wondering if you should catch the Wave, Google Wave, that is, for 2010? Russell Tripp of Infusion Web & Video gives us an definition and overview of the lastest SNO (shiny new object).

Thank you to Reggie Williams and her crew from GreenvilleHD.com for shooting the footage for our upcoming Social Media Club Greenville video promo.

Thanks, too, to our friends at Hyatt Regency Greenville for sponsoring our venue and breakfast!

[note: this video was shot and post-production services provided by Trey, a rank amateur videographer with old, old equipment. Our professional, Bobby Rettew, was called out of town and wasn't able to film. We are SO looking forward to having Bobby back next month!]

Safely close out the year with short link and other safety guidance from Doug Cone of Null Variable. Maybe ride into the new year on the Wave (Google Wave, that is) with an introduction and dreamscape session with Russell Tripp.

Due to the overwhelming interest in Russell’s Wave workshop on Tuesday, December 8, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at Michelin on Main, we’ve asked Russell to give a shortened introduction to Wave for our regular monthly meeting.

SPECIAL PROMO OPPORTUNITY: I’m doing some work for GreenvilleHD. In return, they’ll be making a promo video for Social Media Club Greenville. They’ll be shooting at our 12/14 meeting. I’d like to have a few of you give a quick sound bite testimonial regarding your experience with SMC Greenville (primarily, the connections you’ve made and the content you been exposed to). If you’d like to be featured on the promo, please let me (Trey) know. We’ll only be shooting 12/14 at the meeting, so here’s your chance to get some camera “face-time.”

THANK YOU to the Hyatt Regency Greenville for hosting the meeting and to Bobby Rettew who has done so much to create a video history of our club. As usual, please pre-register on Eventbrite and save a little money. Admission is $10 at the door.