Social Media Groups leading the evolution of networking

It's been half a year since I wrote my last article about 'Kicking in the Door of Promotional Marketing' and I can tell you I've done just that. I've been an Independent Contractor working more than full time as a field marketer all across the country. You can read further down the blog for a description of what my position entails, but is basically face to face advertising, traffic driving tactics, experiential marketing (which leaves a strong impact on consumers), and typically an immensely effective soft sale.

I'm writing today to talk about the facebook groups that have been evolving through the networking efforts of our social media savvy brand ambassadors across the country. Awhile ago agencies began using facebook pages as platforms to post staffing opportunities (and for the larger marketing companies, post results, campaigns, and other media), staff caught on, and agency recruiters and BAs began to connect personally. In the employee/any industry workforce it is heard of for employers to google you, or to look you up on facebook, but in this industry we found ourselves accidentally even researching talent (and recruiter alike). The most recent step has been the use of the 'group' function.

Personally, I have hundreds of contacts and staff on my facebook page, and they all have their contacts that I don't know yet. Using the group we've both added all our contacts into one pool, and effectively combined and organized our network on a convenient and friendly platform (as a job board the way groups 'walls' keep the most recent posts on top and give you notifications - the way it functions is easy to use and effective). This almost reminds me of LinkedIn and the way it connects you by second and third and so on connections...but I have interviewed several staff in the field and heard similar feedback along the lines of how a facebook account and social media linking make the connections feel more personal and meaningful. You not only instantly assign a face but also who a person is and who they know and talk to (or you can even learn that they are very private and have their walls hidden from all but close friends). (a whole side conversation can be spoken about social media, not only about responsibility but also about the  'circles' that google+ pioneered and then facebook adopted with 'close friends' but I digress....)

Now, you may understand how we've been networking recently. Before the groups began there were community websites, forums, and job boards like EventSpeak, StuckforStaff, MarketingRockStar, and craigslist. They provide google index searchable websites that provide the most permanent and public resource, but the social media groups involve dynamic and personal (while professional) interactions and both quick and deep networking. Between the groups there is a variance between how privately restricted and publicly open the groups operate, but found across them all that the connections made with the face/pictures/social media personas attached make for stronger, more personable, and more meaningful connections.

The USA Promotional Talent Lifeline has breached over 1900 members at this point, and has staffed entire stafflists for clients upwards of 60-100 positions for a single days activation at locations across the country, as well as single teams over 50 strong in a single location. Our staff (including myself!) find it to be an immense resource in booking jobs and events. It has drastically cut down my office hours spent on searching for, applying, and booking events. I used to spend 10-15 hours per week working as such (and of course with an hourly rate of 0$/hr) and now accomplish more in less than 5 hours spent similarly!

While it is in the lead as the largest of the nationwide networks, there are several dozen groups, most of them being regional, run by different moderators (with slightly varying view and directions), and many overlapping. While there has been some competition, it seems to be at a low level as the majority of the groups are interested in working with each other and networking across the board. So, we have a staggered set of group names and locations like: USA Promotional Talent Lifeline, Brand Ambassadors of the Greater LA Area, Florida Promotional Talent, Chicago Promo Hookup. (I'll post another document as a 'group masterlist' that Sara Eliza who started the Promo Road Trips group put together as well at the bottom of this posting*). Aside from the regional groups there are some that have been created for other effects like the last mentioned for arranging travel/lodgings. There is one call United Trade Show Talent which focuses on tradeshows and similiar (more often high end) events. There are also groups that have focused more on conversations, like Super Promotional Rockstars, The Promotional Network, and even Promotional Access, the group created  and moderated by agency owners to provide a place to solicit questions and answers about the other side of the industry, and have access to those agencies!

I've put a lot of work into branding the group as the nationwide network for field marketers (and look forward to meeting and recruiting many more members at large events like the upcoming superbowl activations) and have recently started a subgroup for Automotive Product Specialists. Those staff who have reached the levels with the automotive clientele who fit the brand image, have the ability to learn, and articulate product knowledge have a different supply and demand within the industry. Although many Product Specialists also do BA work, for someone that is consistently employed at a higher rate with travel and lodgings compensated, the field marketing groups don't have much to offer them in relation to a job board. Now, I do highly encourage everyone in the industry to connect with that group to strengthen the network and maintain the lines of communication that also exist within the groups and hone our skills and professionalism.

The USA PTL has a job board demanding a minimum rate of 15/hr to honor a job posting (we've agreed that as an IC with the tax situation, the hours (convert it to a day rate) and the consistency of work anything less is not enough to be reasonable compensation). We have a casual screening involving verifying that applicants are or have in fact worked as a brand ambassador and ask new members to introduce themselves once to the group with their experience. Event and industry related conversations are both fostered and encouraged on a  range of things from tips for successful activation in the field, negotiation tactics, positive things like favorite events, and negative things like reports of non-payment, contract violations, or other issues.

The USA Automotive Product Specialists may be in need of a catchy name, but is selectively screening applicants for proof of automotive brand training and product specialist history as a prerequisite. I am interviewing staff that apply as well as verifying employment through various measures (photo proof, approved recommendations, and further verification) and have plans to maintain tabs on the group and remove members who do not maintain the level of quality and integrity the group demands.

I have also opened another group for Tour Staff and Managers, and then realized there was another preexisting one. Big things are coming...a leader I know who has been training himself in social media, internet, and viral marketing told me some plans that will open the floodgates on our industry. Experiential Field Marketing is going to grow and continue providing brands and companies more productive, effective, and financially efficient means for promoting their products and services.

*PROMO GROUPS - MASTER LIST (complied and edited as of 1/24/12 courtesy of Sara Eliza)

UNITED STATES
CLUTCH MEDIA GROUP - They have a FB group for nearly all markets!
http://clutchmediagroup.webs.com/apps/links/
PROMO NEWSWIRE
https://www.facebook.com/groups/327385847271807/
SUPER PROMOTIONAL ROCKSTARS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/superduperpromorockstar/
USA PROMOTIONAL TALENT LIFELINE
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PromoHotline911/
USA AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT SPECIALISTS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/338093216209337/
USA MOBILE TOUR STAFF AND MANAGERS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/225218154226882/


CALIFORNIA
CENTRAL CALI PROMO PEEPS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/105343049555561/
D.C.
Baltimore/Maryland/DC Brand Ambassadors and Promotional Models
https://www.facebook.com/groups/142060565850352/
FLORIDA
FLORIDA PROMOTIONAL TALENT
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FloridaPromotionalTalent/
BRAND AMBASSADORS OF ORLANDO
https://www.facebook.com/groups/227618977307874/
TAMPA BRAND AMBASSADORS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TampaBrandAmbassador/ +
SOUTH FLORIDA PROMO MODELS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/148262540540/
GEORGIA
ATLANTA PROMO
https://www.facebook.com/groups/268338553214843/
HAWAII
BRAND AMBASSADORS OF HAWAII
https://www.facebook.com/groups/295257043847778/
ILLINOIS
CHICAGO PROMO HOOK UP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chicagopromohookup/
MARYLAND
Baltimore/Maryland/DC Brand Ambassadors and Promotional Models
https://www.facebook.com/groups/142060565850352/
NEVADA
BRAND AMBASSADORS OF LAS VEGAS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/327488013932905/  

NEW YORK
BRAND AMBASSADORS OF NYC
https://www.facebook.com/groups/102105246573695/
TEXAS
BRAND AMBASSADORS OF TEXAS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/227247787343352/