Recently I had the privilege of sharing my “Showcase Yourself on LinkedIn” presentation with Boost Denver – Actionable Education for Passionate Enterprises. Over 20 members learned about ways to optimize the headline, summary, and experience sections of a LinkedIn profile. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had as a social media trainer.
My favorite part of the morning was when each participant shared what action they were going to take with their LinkedIn profile based on the tips that I had shared. Talk about powerful feedback!
History and Background of Boost Denver
Dru Shockley, CEO and Founder of Call to Action Alliance, and Marketing Specialist with 10.10.10, created Boost Denver and has remained the driving force behind it. When I asked him about the organization, here is what he had to say:
“In October of 2009, I was inspired by the events Chuck Blakeman and his Crankset Group were holding. I thought I could serve my community within web, design, and tech with a regular education event that featured different speakers.
The departed John Nelson, of Achievement Dynamics, was our first speaker back in the back room of a restaurant called Toast at Main and Santa Fe in Littleton. We soon expanded our reach to the general business community and the location has bounced around the southern suburbs to the heart of Denver.
142 events and over 75 speakers later (and with over 1,000 people on our mailing list), we are proud of the tradition we have built of what we like to call actionable education, which is knowledge and insights that have immediate and practical application to improving business. Our topics include leadership, communication, sales, efficiency, processes, marketing, people, and networking.”
How Dru Makes This Experience So Successful
- He books speakers at least two months ahead and provides specifics about the group and its expectations of the speaker. This helps presenters to tailor their talks to the specific needs of the group.
- A few weeks prior to the speaking date, he sends a detailed email to the speaker outlining important details such as a reminder of the date, time, and location, as well as parking information, media arrangements, a link to pre-written PR the speaker can use to promote the event through his or her own social media network, and more.
- Shortly before the event, he confirms with the speaker via email to make sure s/he is all set.
- On the day of the event, he shows up at least 30 minutes early to make sure that any necessary technical aspects have been addressed. He even brings his laptop in case the presenter has issues connecting theirs to the venue’s equipment.
- He has a warm and inviting style of welcoming everyone, introducing the speaker, and wrapping things up efficiently at the end.
- The next day, he thanks the speaker via email asks her or him to share the word about Boost Denver.
Dru’s regular routine is an ideal format for having a smooth-running presentation and insuring that speakers and attendees leave with a positive impression of the organization. It’s a system I heartily recommend for anyone considering bringing in speakers to their company or organization.
How About You?
Have you ever been responsible, with or without the title of program coordinator, for selecting speakers, communicating with them, and being their point-of-contact at the presentation? What advice do you have for others with this responsibility within a volunteer or business organization?
About Joyce
Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 50 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter.
She provides social media tutoring and training to business owners, business development professionals, authors, speakers, coaches, business consultants, job seekers and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.
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