Why social media marketer Dave Evans matters to me … and why he will to you, too…

From email greeting to exciting, FREE social media marketing event in Rockville, Maryland on March 9

So social media marketing super star Dave Evans is coming to Washington DC March 9th and 10th.  But I have to say, he surely wasn’t coming for anything related to me, per se. You see … about a month or so ago, I received a very kind email from Dave reaching out, saying hi and letting me know he’d be in town … any chance for connecting??

It was from this very simple question of possibly connecting over coffee or something really simple that, without any formal planning or warning, has now become a very exciting, free social media marketing event with Dave on March 9, from 6-8pm in Rockville, Maryland.

A bit of background

Mayra Ruiz-McPherson, host of the Social Media Primer workshop, stands for a photo opp with the lucky winner of the Dave Evans book, Social Media Marketing: One Hour a Day

Before you can appreciate why I am such a huge Dave Evans fan, you have to understand how our paths first even crossed.

Here’s a quick run down of how Dave’s path collided with mine:

• I blogged about an article Dave had written on ClickZ.com last fall entitled, “Social media properties are searched for more often than sex”
• Dave kindly took the time to leave a nice comment on that blog post
• I emailed Dave to thank him for making a comment on my blog
• Dave wrote back to thank me for my thank you
• Email rapport continued to develop
• I contacted Dave about possibly contributing one of his Social Media Marketing: One Hour a Day books as a giveaway for my November 5 social media primer
• Dave surpassed all expectations by sending me not one but four of his books, personally autographed to my home’s front door (awwwwww, whatta nice guy!!!)
• Dave also takes the time to do an exclusive interview with me, which I gave away to workshop attendees
• Dave and I continued our email contact
• Post my workshop, I facilitated an interview between Sharon McLoone, small business blogger for the Washington Post, and Dave
• Holidays came and went
• Dave pops up in my email inbox a month or so ago to let me know he’ll be in town and might there be an opportunity to connect

…and this brings us to today.

Selfish with Dave; selfless with you

So when Dave offered to connect with me while in town, I went into “selfish-selfless” mode … what I mean by this is that poor Dave was on his way to DC to speak at another conference and had, then, no other items on his agenda.

I wondered selflessly why I should keep Dave all to myself over coffee when I was fully aware many people here in our area could learn from his talented social media marketing expertise.

Selfishly, I then asked Dave if he would consider – as opposed to meeting with little ol’ me over coffee or a meal – if he would please speak at a free event on any social media marketing topic of his choice.

A week or so later, I got a “yes” from Dave and since then, all systems have been a go!

Please help me give Dave a super warm DC welcome!

Given the story shared above, it is my sincerest hope that you will help me to give Dave a very warm welcome to the Washington DC metro area!

Dave comes to us with extensive social media marketing experience, authoring the ClickZ.com social media marketing column twice a month in addition to having authored his book, Social Media Marketing: One Hour a Day.

There’s no agenda … and that’s on purpose!

In the true spirit of social media engagement, we do not have any kind of formal agenda for our March 9th event with Dave. Simply, we are positioning the event as a casual and conversational fireside chat with Dave Evans … meaning …

• you get to ask anything you want and Dave will share his insight and answers
• there’s no formal Microsoft PowerPoint presentation … just open sharing and interactive discussions

The evening’s “content” will be mandated by the audience: YOU!

Relevant social media marketing topics to chat about include…

…but are not limited to:

• Take Control by Letting Go
  What happens when the conversation goes down a path that is at odds with your marketing objectives?
• A Sea of Shared Knowledge
  Social media-based marketing stands in contrast to the traditional advertising practice of interrupting and telling. Not everyone gets that — yet.
• The New Social Contracts
  When you start a social campaign with a genuine, consumer-centric offer, all roads lead (eventually) to success.
• Social Media: Moving Into Programming
  How high-quality audio and video online content provides marketers with opportunities to connect with their audiences.

Exciting night of social media marketing gab and goods underway!

We are soooooo excited to have Dave here with us and are looking forward to seeing you there on Monday, March 9th … 6-8pm @ Johns Hopkins University’s Montgomery Campus!

FREE REGISTRATION!

Please share this event link with any others interested in attending!
It will be a good time and there will be lots of idea exchange, interactive discussion and, best of all, fun to be had!

See you there!!

http://socialmediastardom2.eventbrite.com