Jack Smith is an interactive media consultant specializing in social media and the "Barista" behind the Social Latte. I am passionate about brewing up the perfect combination of people, technology, marketing and business expertise to help business owners and entrepreneurs successfully implement online marketing and social media into their overall business strategy. Browse the site, leave a comment or contact us to set an appointment to meet for coffee to see how The Social Latte can help your business.

I can remember when I first thought seriously about Twitter. Last March, I was at the SXSW conference, a conclave in Austin, Tex., where technology, media and music are mashed up and re-imagined, and, not so coincidentally, where Twitter first rolled out in 2007. As someone who was oversubscribed on Facebook, overwhelmed by the computer-generated RSS feeds of news that came flying at me, and swamped by incoming e-mail messages, the last thing I wanted was one more Web-borne intrusion into my life.

If you are not using Twitter yet or if you are unsure of how to put it to good use, this article in the New York Times is very well done. Hard to believe, but I actually read this in the actual newspaper! CRAZY!

Posted via web from TheSocialLatte.com

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The Social Latte Presents At...

I am totally excited to be presenting today for Technical Assistance Partnership which provides an opportunity for non-profit team members to learn collaboratively. Here are four of the areas that past teams have focused on:

Strategic Planning

A TAP group on organizational strategic planning:

  • Views the future as unpredictable.
  • Views planning as an ongoing process.
  • Emphasizes strategic development tools (such as SWOT analysis).

Based on the current environmental context, each participant is guided to answering the question “how best can we use our resources to achieve our mission?”

Organizational Planning

A TAP group on organizational organizational planning is centered on program design and evaluation in contrast to an overall strategic plan. Organizational planning teams:

  • Focus on short-term (less than one-year) objectives.
  • Develop detailed plans (what activities, accomplished by whom, accomplished how).

Based on the current environmental context, each participant is guided to answering the question “what do we need to be doing this year to best accomplish our mission?”

Alliances

Alliance-oriented TAP groups are formed when a group of agencies desires to collaborate on a shared issue such as improving foster care or strengthening a particular geographic area. The ingredients for an Alliance TAP Group:

  • A common issue.
  • Willingness to partner.
  • An emerging understanding of how the collaborative whole can more effectively address the are of focus.

Alliance groups have historically produced breakthrough change.

Executive Director Roundtables

An Executive Director Roundtable is an environment for coaching, peer-counseling, problem-solving and relationship building that is uniquely focused on the leaders of nonprofit organizations.

Roundtables currently form three times each year. If you’d like to hear more or connect with our roundtable coach, contact us.

It’s a very cool concept and the people I have met to date have been great so I am excited for today’s presentation.  I’ll be sure to update this post later in the day.
And if you attended today’s presentation and are visiting The Social Latte for the first time, WELCOME!  Please be sure to take a look around and be sure to leave any feedback, comments or questions in the comments section below.  The slide stack I used for the presentation is also posted below.

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#PalmPre Users Group Takes Over #EVTM

January 28, 2010

Great group at #EVTM today.  In fact, it was reported by @matthewpetro that the group was so big there were actually 2 PalmPre users in the same building.  Thanks for showing up @shollenbeck!

– Sent from my Palm Pre

Posted via email from TheSocialLatte.com

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CenPhoCamp Saturday Fun

January 24, 2010

First and foremost, I would like to thank Tyler Hurst and the team behind CenPhoCamp and say that it was an honor to be selected to speak.  I really had a great time and was one of the most enjoyable events I have been to in some time.  I would also like to thank everyone [...]

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Businesses Using New Media & Classic Service To Succeed

January 21, 2010

As the FourSquare Mayor of Sign Of The Whale, I feel compelled to post this great article that was done on one of my favorite places in Tempe.  If you have not been in to meet Bruce (Owner), Mike (Manager), Andy (Bartender), Chris (Server) Sharon (Server) and the rest of the gang, I highly encourage [...]

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Twitter goldrush on the way. Old usernames to be released

January 21, 2010

Twitter goldrush on the way. Old usernames to be released
By Martin Bryant on January 19, 2010
Twitter tells us it is planning to release all of its old, neglected usernames from inactive accounts for others to grab – and some of them are bound to be in big demand.
Many early users of [...]

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Yelp Adds Geolocation Check-ins (via @ktvan)

January 21, 2010

Image from TechCrunch

This last week, Yelp announced an update to their mobile apps, allowing “check-ins.” This announcement is an attempt by Yelp to take advantage of the growing popularity of geo-location based networks like Foursquare, Gowalla and MyTown.
All of these location based social networks operate off the same basic concept — Users sign-up [...]

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Wireless Plans: Verizon vs. AT&T vs. T-Mobile vs. Sprint [Comparison Chart]

January 19, 2010

via mashable.com
Thought this was a great post on cell phone comparisons. What plan/phone are you using and are you happy with it? I am on Sprint with a Pre….

Posted via web from TheSocialLatte.com

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TMAAZ Social Media Class

January 19, 2010

Working on a Posterous class with a bunch of great peeps.

– Sent from my Palm Pre

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CenPhoCamp Update (via RailLife)

January 13, 2010

CenPhoCamp is coming to the Cronkite School to help business owners improve their game. The fact is, many small, local businesses are looking to better connect with their customers, they need a kick start on internet marketing and they need to be reminded that the internet isn’t a place, it’s a channel they can use [...]

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