Apologies for the delayed event recap, better late than never, right?

On Tuesday, May 15th 40 members of Jacksonville Social Media Club along with members of the Jacksonville chapter of FPRA met at one of Jacksonville's beach oases, Nippers Beach Grille. There were a lot of new faces so lucky for us the event started with an hour long networking cocktail hour. After some epic mingling and business card exchanging it was time for the main event!

About Michelle

Michelle Chance has been working online for over 16 years first as a corporate webmaster (she was picked for the position because she had a modem). In 2001 she started her own online business selling one wallet, which has grown to sell thousands of itmes and generated more than Five Million Dollars in revenue. She did this all from her home often while wearing fuzzy slipper socks, she knows what she's talking about.

The Main Event

First there was search, then came social and now they've run away together to the delight of some and the disgust of others. Regardless of your thoughts the bottom line is they're in love so you better get used to it. Michelle described search as a phonebook you can yell (type) at, "You can't yell at the phone book... New Honda." and get results but you can type "New Honda" into Google and get hundereds and even thousands. The thing with search is you already have to know what you're looking for, income social! Social allows people who don't know who you are to find you and continue the conversation to learn more about you and you them (what marketing is). 

The SEO & Social Marriage 

Social and search can be an annoying couple (You can thank Google and Google+ for that) but it's game night and you have no one else to play with so you might as well drink some wine and kick their butts. Hints for dominating the annoying couple:

Michelle Hint #1: If you want to rank at the top "Tell the Truth!" if you sell waterproof iPhone cases, call your profiles, posts etc... "Waterproof iPhone Cases".

Michelle Hint #2: Use Facebook Notes, they are HUGE for SEO. "They're ugly, but the money is good." 

Michelle Hint #3: Pay-Per-Clicks keep getting bigger and taking up more space and at the same time screens are getting smaller. (You need to kick even more butt than you used to.)

Michelle Hint #4: Google Maps. Set up all your locations and profiles. (for more info checkout David Mihm) It is extremely important for your business to be "On the Map"

Michelle Hint #5: "Claim your Business!" Claim in every directory and social site, you don't want someone who hates you to get a hold of it.

Michelle Hint #6: People care what other people have to say. Have you ever eaten somewhere with bad ratings?

Michelle Hint #7: Always use your full URL (Http://www...) the full URL is clickable and searchable. This is especially important on YouTube and Pinterest.

Do you have anyother tips for optimizing SEO and Social, share them below. If you have questions feel free to Tweet @SMCJAX or @MichelleChance.

Checkout Michelle's book Incremental Marketing on a Micro Budget.

Thanks to Nippers Beach Grille, attendees, FPRA Jax, and especially Michelle Chance. If you ever have a chance to meet her make sure you do it, she is an absolute treat.

Oh, and if you want one of those waterproof phone cases go here.