The first of SMCFW’s quarterly crowd sourcing events of the year was held last night at Times Ten Cellars. It was a chilly, rainy evening, but over thirty SMCFWers (some old and some new friends) came out to network and learn more about measurement and social media ROI. From small business owners to representatives from local publications, non-profit organizations, and corporations, there was a wide variety in attendance, proving that social media is crucial no matter what business you’re in.

Moderators for the evening were Kevin Richardson and Andy Lawson who did an excellent job keeping the group on topic and throwing in a few laughs, too. As a group we we discussed specific tools we use for tracking social metrics such as Sprout Social, Radian 6, Google Analytics, Tweet Reach, and Facebook Insights, among others. We also discussed the importance of including a call to action for every post you send out so that you are working towards effective goals and conversions.

With so many moving parts in social media from different platforms to different metrics, it’s easy to feel isolated. Biggest take-a-way from the evening? Andy Lawson got it right when he said, “Social isn’t an island. It’s part of everything you do”.

Check our Facebook and Twitter for updates on our next crowd-sourcing event. You’ll want to sign up early as we keep these gatherings to a maximum of forty to maintain the intimacy of the group.

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