We had a terrific group of 16 at Wednesday night's Social Media Club Orlando meeting. The group was intimate enough that everyone could introduce themselves and say a bit about why they were there. After that was a terrific presentation from Central Florida's own Bess Auer (@bess_auer).

Auer is a local blogger, novelist, technology educator, and runs an online business live-streaming swim meets from across Florida. She was very humble, but we were all impressed. While walking us through her path to understanding and maximizing social media in her career, she shared a number of valuable lessons.

#1 Social Media can be used to promote or enhance just about anything.

Auer promoted her successful hyper-local blog "Central Florida Top 5" using Twitter almost exclusively. She quick won all sorts of awards and recognition including "Best neighborhood blog" and "Most influential tweeter".

#2 Deliver a Quality Message.

Use your messaging to prune/focus your following. A dedicated following for your brand is better than hit and miss messaging. Use the to craft your reputation and brand. While running Central Florida Top 5, Auer found that non-profits love bloggers. The cross-promotion opportunities are usually a win-win. Pick a visual brand that people will remember. Auer used a stock photograph of a face and that image has stuck with her no matter where she goes. It's not her, but people identify it with her brand now. She might be stuck with it.

#3 #hashtags can be powerful viral propelling devices and useful for measuring results.

#4 There is value in reaching your audience in several different ways; blog, video, Facebook, twitter, traditional print media and television news

The post to read here is from J's Everyday Fashion:

#5 Explore other Mediums. Social Media is not just blogs, Facebook, and Twitter. Auer received great exposure on YouTube & IzonOrlando. That increased her marketability to companies wanting to advertise or partner with her.

#6 Live streaming is the hardest thing she's ever done in her life.

#7 Most marketing professionals do not know how to engage or use social media or bloggers

#8 Others know far, far more than me!

Sometimes the smallest social media connection may turn into the biggest promotion of all/

#9 Most of the world is not aware of tweeting or blogging or watching webcasts

Most have heard of Facebook only a few actually use it. Or as Auer put it "Most people are not there yet." That means that there's still a lot to come in social media. So be prepared.

#10 People will help you out if you've cultivated the relationship

Remember: Be Creative! Have fun with it! You never know who has connections.

A big thanks to Bess Auer for contributing so much to Social Media Club Orlando and Orlando in general.

The rest of the evening was spent discussing the local blog scene, changes to Facebook that appears to be affecting edgerank, and planning for a conference later this year.

Or next meeting is February 15th and will have talk on Pintrest from @Themeparkmom aka Leigh Caldwell. Location details to be posted on soon. Hope to see you there.