It’s the time of year when I hear “the call of the wild”. It’s coming from the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Convention in Las Vegas. And what could be wilder than Las Vegas? Thousands of Broadcast Professionals all converging in the same place at the same time ― that’s what.

I love Vegas.

I have been there during the months of November, December, March and April and as far as I am concerned, April is the most perfect month to be in Las Vegas. I have been attending NAB every year since 1998; sometimes on my own; and sometimes for whoever I worked for at the time. The weather is always perfect in April, and a funny thing happens every year. I watch my fellow Broadcast/Media professionals as they prepare for the trip. Everyone seems worn and tired. We file onto crowded planes and cram ourselves in too small seats. But as we approach Las Vegas, the energy level changes ever so slightly. There seems to be a little spark in everyone’s eye. The talk centers on what we are focusing on at the show. We step off the plane into the perfect weather and it can’t be helped … the sides of our mouths start to curve upward. By the time we hit the convention floor on Monday morning, you would barely recognize those weary travelers from the day before. The game is on. Let’s see what’s new, what’s improved and just how big the Sony booth is this year.

The past couple of years have been trying times for Broadcast/Media folk. We have said good–bye to long standing co-workers and some of us said good–bye to places we worked at for a decade or more. Of course there were cutbacks: things not purchased; trips not taken. As they say on Twitter … “fail”. If there is anything that can raise morale in a company, it would be to send the brightest and best somewhere, anywhere that they can get refreshed, energized, and learn. NAB affords an opportunity to learn and grow. To network. To see new technology. To touch new technology. To talk to experts. To ask questions … Yes, I could go on and on. On the trip home, when the same bedraggled people get back on the same overcrowded plane and sit in the same too small seat, they don’t even notice. They are talking to anyone and everyone. Did you get to talk to “Ted from Red” ? Did you catch David Basulto at the Post Magazine booth? Can you believe the size of that Sony booth? That all comes home with them and it’s contagious. They bring back a breath of fresh air for those who were left behind. But their enthusiasm spreads like wildfire. It was worth every cent.

This year, I hope some of the people attending NAB will go home talking about FORscene.

FORscene @ NAB

That’s right, FORscene will be there.

The booth (SL8305) will be manned by the creators of FORscene – the good people from UK-based Forbidden Technologies plc.
I’ll be there too, along with Lucy La Grassa the President of Formidable Technologies. We would love to talk to you. You can send me an email michelle@formidabletechnologies.com or tweet me @FormidableTech

There it is again…can you hear the call?

Talk soon,

M

Now, I like to think I have a pretty good handle on it all and that I can hold my own to a certain degree. I’ve read “Trust Agents”, by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. I’ve read “Six Pixels of Separation” by Mitch Joel; “Get Seen” by Steve Garfield; and “Crush It” by Gary Vaynerchuk. All are considered the “bibles” of social media.

This weekend I attended my first ever “Pod Camp” along with 1400+ others. Pod Camp Toronto 2010 took over the Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson University on February 20 & 21. It was a wonderful, action-packed weekend with multiple speakers running simultaneous seminars throughout the day. It was tough deciding which one to attend at any given interval. My favourite part was actually meeting some of the people I have been actively communicating with for some time ― in person ― and recognizing them from their avatars. So what did I learn? I learned that no matter how much I think I know, I know nothing! There is more to learn every day: new stuff, updated stuff and stuff I’ve never heard of!

Last night (Tuesday February 23, 2010) I am attended my second “Meet Up – Third Tuesday Toronto”. One presenter – Mitch Joel from Twist Image, author of “Six Pixels of Separation” – with 400 people in the room. Mitch Joel brought his “A” game for his presentation and for answering some pretty complicated questions.

There is no lack of participation in these groups. You could probably attend something different every night and find it to be standing room only. There is no way to keep up with all of it. You can only do the best that you can. The key is to not let it overwhelm you. All of these Social Media tools are just that… tools. Fill your tool box with what works for you. When you get a new tool, give yourself some time to get the feel of it. If it doesn’t work for you, put it down and try another. Social Media, in one way or another, is here to stay. You might as well start building.

So, what’s in your toolbox?

In 2010 there are numerous ways you can “put yourself out there”.  Most of these ways involve the internet. You can tweet on Twitter, you can be a friend on Facebook,  you can write a blog  on pretty much anything your heart desires.  I have found that one of the most useful tools professionally is LinkedIn.  There are many more tools out there, however, none of them are of any use if you don’t utilize them to their full potential.  You can sign up, log in or create an account to give you an online presence, but you have to keep the content alive and engage your potential audience for them to take notice.  So many LinkedIn pages I visit are blank. There is the name and perhaps a contact or two, maybe even your current title or occupation and then nothing.  How often will you visit a page that offers you no insight or fresh news? Not often, perhaps twice just to confirm that no one is active on that page.

I applaud CWC for challenging their membership to become better communicators, and therefore better members.  I would like to challenge all of you to take a look at this very simple list, even if you are not a member of CWC, and to fulfill the tasks on it.  You will be rewarded by expanding your professional network and your online presence.

What more could you ask for?

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