BJ spreadheaded the integration of the Tasti D-Lite brand experience with online communities by engaging customers and working with franchisees to expand the brand through social media. BJ shared what Tasti D-lite and Planet Smoothie are doing in the local markets to engage and build raving loyal fans.

Sometimes it takes a few years to finally meet these digital friends in real life but when it happens WOW is it worth it.

FranCamp is only two weeks away and it is the 2^nd annual Social Media conference for the Franchising industry. This year there will be another FranCamp Tweetup on Thursday night May 3^rd and if this year is anything like last year’s Tweetup, you will not want to miss it. You can RSVP here.

Free Content: That’s right, at a Tweetup you get the awesome Social Media professionals in their normal everyday lives, having fun and acting silly. I recorded 10 videos at last year’s Tweetup which were a hit during my presentation the next day at FranCamp.  I was also able to gather testimonials on why people were attending FranCamp and what they were hoping to learn, which was great for promoting this year’s event. After attending a Tweetup it is very easy to write a recap post on the event, and you can highlight attendees which can provide you with backlinks for extended visibility of your blog post.

Top-Notch Connections: Chances are if you are at a Tweetup it is focused on one subject or industry, and can potentially be centered on a small niche focused group of professionals. What better place to network if this is your industry or the target audience you are trying to get connected to? CEOs, VP Marketing, VP Technology, Social Media Strategist, Entrepreneur, Franchise owner, Franchise consultant, these are just a few of the titles that the people I’ve met at Tweetups have owned. Tweetups help break down the barriers; everyone is on the same level and it is very easy to interact with other professionals in any stage of their career.

Opportunities: This list NEVER stops growing. I’m still hearing from people who met me years ago at an event. Speaking, Consulting, Freelance, anything that you might be open to could come your way from networking with the attendees at a Tweetup. If you’re a little nervous about approaching people who you do not know I recommend VIDEO. Have a video camera in your hand and ask if you could shoot a quick video asking them why they are here. It’s a conversation starter, icebreaker and instant introduction. If Video isn’t your thing then have your tablet ready to take notes and say that you’re planning to write a blog about the Tweetup and you were hoping to get a quote from several of the attendees.

What’s been the best Tweetup you’ve ever been to?

- Jennifer MacDonald, Director of Community & Client Engagement Engage121

Our goals for your business:
To increase website search engine ranking.
To increase business findability on the web.
To provide maximum market exposure.
To establish and maintain relationships with your target market.

What we do:
Social Media Marketing Training/Coaching
Social Networking
Social Media Marketing

Process: We create profiles and maintain a presence for your business on the following types of sites:
Social Networking
Social Bookmarking
Blogging
Directory
Document Sharing
Video Sharing

…about Twitter? I discuss 4 big takeaways from FranCamp and I add one tip for you at the end about QR codes. What are you waiting for? Click Play!

FranCamp presentation

Tasti D-Lite Nashville is hosting a special night of networking, promotions and fun on Friday night October 21st from 7-9 pm. Stop by our Tasti Tweetup for specials, giveaways, contests, and product samplings.

Who: Twitter Followers, Tasti Fans and #FranCamp attendees

What: Tasti FranCamp Tweetup

When: Friday, October 21st 7-9 pm

Where: Nashville, TN Tasti D-Lite (West End)
2418 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 342-0063

• $1.99 Small Tasti Cups or Cones
• Buy One Get One Free Smoothies and Shakes
• $5 Off Cakes and Pies
• Best Swirl Contest! read more…
• Giveaways
• Special Tasti Tweetup Flavors

Specials valid only at Tasti D-Lite Nashville during the hours of the event and not valid with any other offers. BOGO OFFER: Buy any size Tasti Shake or Smoothie get one of equal or lesser value free. Taxes not included. CAKE OFFER: $5 Off cakes and pies – minimum $15 purchase.

How Twitter Really Works:

1. You post content and none of your followers read it.

What?!? They don’t read it!?! At all?!? Hold on, it’s about to make sense.

2. Then, when anyone, follower or not, searches for a name, keyword, topic, or hashtag, they see your content.

So when we all say great content is key, we’re not kidding. High quality, high value, interesting content – with an attractive headline or catchy wording – is much, much more important on Twitter than your number of followers. Remember, all of those followers aren’t really reading everything you write. Sure they say they are, but Tweeps are nice like that.

More to think about: RTs not only matter, but also perhaps are the most important thing besides quality of content. We used to think about RTs as a great way of your content getting shared into new groups of people and communities. But, no one is reading all of your followers’ Tweets either. Or your followers’ followers’ Tweets. But, once again, it’s all about search. If anyone searches about your topic and sees multiple RTs pop up with your content, I’m betting that it will get read and your links will get clicked more often than if it only shows up once.
So, remember these Twitter points:

Interesting content      =   Most Important

Searchable Tweets      =   Very Important

RTs of yours        =   Important

Number of followers =   Not so much…