Westchester Social Media ‘Experiments’ Yielding Results
Those who know me, know that I’ve been experimenting with social media for the past two years. In fact, a great deal of what I’ve learned has been through trial and error. Fortunately, we don’t have to gain all of our knowledge in this way, because there are others all around us conducting their own social media experiments.
Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in a social media experiment conducted by Westchester’s own Sarah O’Grady and Maria Colaco. The two women kicked off Westchester’s first online Twitter party — an event dubbed #westchat. Hosted by O’Grady’s and Colaco’s new startup called The Chatshop, the first edition of #westchat featured a conversation centered around daily deals — with featured guest Pigford Banks, the character behind Westchester’s daily deal company Knowtorious Deals.
The conversation was lively, and there were many interesting questions asked and answered. There were prizes, some online laughs and a fair amount of networking. And it was determined that there is definitely enough interest in this sort of thing to warrant coming back for Week 2.
This Thursday (January 19) from 9-10 pm, the theme of #westchat will be wine. The special guest will be Wine Geeks Armonk, a “Westchester wineshop that specializes in organic, sustainable and bio-dynamic wines.” Learn more and sign up to be eligible for prizes on the #westchat Twitvite.
It will be interesting to see how #westchat progresses. You can keep up with the latest developments and news of that project — and other Westchester-related social media news and information — on the Westchester Social Media Facebook page. In fact, there are literally dozens of indivduals right here in Westchester doing exciting, innovative or just plain interesting things in the social media space — and on that page, I have the privilege of sharing their news every day.
Recently, I posted a link to an article in Westfaironline.com that featured several of Westchester’s social media innovators, including — Elizabeth Nunan, Nancy A. Shenker, Scott Forcino and J. Philip Faranda — who were involved with the success of the recent real estate event known as RE Barcamp. Hosted by the Lucky Strikers Social Media Club, a group of real estate and technology professionals in the NY metropolitan area, the event featured presentations and workshops about various aspects of social media.
Events designed to share knowledge about social media are springing up all around us. Attending an event is an excellent way to meet others who share common goals, and to learn techniques and strategies designed to help you reach your objectives. For those of you who have not yet checked out the NYC offerings for the upcoming Worldwide Social Media Week, you should do so soon. I know spots are filling up fast for many events, so make your plans today.
Closer to home, the Professional Women of Westchester is holding its “I Love Networking” event on February 7, at 42 at the Ritz Carlton in White Plains. The women are allowing men to attend in honor of Valentine’s Day, so this should be a particularly well-attended event. The event costs $15, includes appetizers, and will have a cash bar. RSVP is required.
If you have a social media-related event, website or other information you’d like me to share in a future column, you can send it to me at chris@WestchesterSocialMedia.com.
Chris S. Cornell is the Director of Social Media at Thompson & Bender — a Westchester-based PR, advertising and marketing firm. He manages several online communities, and consults, speaks and writes about social media. He is also the owner of Cornell Gallery, a custom framing business in Pleasantville.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.