Announcing: Coworking and Networking Days in Philly!

Describe your current office or working environment:

• At a desk
• 2 monitors running
• Large coffee resting dangerously close to the keyboard
• USB hub filled to capacity
• Music playing
• IMing with partner as emailing 2 different clients
• 8 Internet tabs and 4 spreadsheets open
• Dog sleeping at your feet…which are still in slippers

Describe your working environment on Thursday, December 10th:

• At a big round table surrounded by great art, hardwood floors and rich burgundy walls
• Hot fresh chai, latte, or coffee in hand, made by someone else
• Engaging in great conversation with an entrepreneur about a new project idea
• Making new connections with local business owners
• Music playing overhead
• Still answering emails and IMing with partners

Interested?
Emily Morgan and Cheryl Amaya of Entrepreneur’s Entourage are!

Entrepreneur’s Entourage will be hosting our first off-site Coworking & Networking Day in Philadelphia! This month’s will be Thursday, December 10th at Double Shots Coffee, located at 211 Chestnut Street in Old City. We will be there starting at 10am, so drop by anytime, open up your laptop, start a conversation, grab some great coffee or a pastry and get some work done…or at least some good networking done!  Maybe we can even convince our favorite Double Shots owner, Steve to make us some fresh gingerbread cookies like he did for us today!

We have a great group of established Philly entrepreneurs interested in making new connections and sharing a desk for the afternoon.  There’s no agenda and no dress code!  Spend the afternoon or just drop by and check your email – with a group of active business owners we are guaranteed to have an exciting time!

Coworking may be a new concept to you, or coworking may be something you are big fan of and are currently supporting in Philadelphia through jelly sessions or established coworking office spaces.  Whether you run a virtual or brick and mortar business, coworking not only provides you with an escape from your office for the day but it also facilitates connections and offers opportunities to think and communicate more creatively about your business, bounce ideas off of other entreps and could even lead to new business!

So, bust out of your lonely office for the morning or afternoon and experience a new type of collaborative work environment; Coworking in Center City Philadelphia!

What is a “Virtual Professional?”

Times are changing in our Virtual industry! With more and more highly skilled people out of work, and the concept of virtual work environments becoming more widely accepted; it’s a natural progression within our economy to blend the two into a new hybrid, now termed the “Virtual Professional.”

A Virtual Professional can essentially be described as any creative or technically-skilled professional performing services remotely. Because the terminology is so new, it’s not surprising that we are writing the definition in real-time. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most active VPs within this growing industry:

• Graphic Designers
• Web Designers
• Copywriters
• Bookkeepers
• Business Consultants
• Social Media experts
• Online Marketers
• Public Relations Reps
• Sales Reps

Let’s face it, Going Virtual is a greening, cost-effective option for companies and a freeing, results-only work environment for employees or freelancers. Entrepreneurs with little or no office space can effectively partner with VPs to launch new products, start-up a side business or build out an existing business.  In Corporate America, even large companies like Best Buy, IBM and AT&T have a reported 40% of their workforce working “remotely.” Couple that massive acceptance of virtual office arrangements with a floundering economy and talented employees looking to create some sense of stability in their lives, and you have set the stage for the emergence of Virtual Professionals.

The Basics of Social Marketing – Is it Meaningful?

Social Marketing through social media is a hot buzz word right now, but it actually has some weight to it, so it is time you put together your social marketing campaign. There are a plethora of social media outlets to tap into, but for this free marketing to pay off and grow your business you need to focus your efforts on what is meaningful. Here are just the basics to consider when planning your campaign.

Twittering can be fun as well as lead generating! Twitter is essentially mobile blogging and an easy way to share thoughts while keeping up with fellow enthusiasts, industry professionals and friends. Be leery of the proposals to grow your followers to 10,000 with one easy step. Do you really want that many followers? Is it meaningful? http://twitter.com/EntrepEntourage

Facebook is the next generation of Myspace. Facebook allows you to create a business page, let others comment on it, find old friends, make new friends, and send group emails. Facebook needs special attention to not become a sales tool. It will be more meaningful as a marketing tool. http://www.facebook.com/people/Cheryl-Lever-Amaya/1587900093

LinkedIn should also be a part of your social marketing campaign. This site is strictly professional and great for networking with specific target markets. Use LinkedIn for press release circulation, Q&A from industry specific groups, and as a place for meaningful professional associations. http://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylamaya

Blogging lets the world know your thoughts, your actions and your intentions. It is a great way to get your name circulated to establish your brand. Blogs can feed into almost any social media site. Video blogging is also starting to break ground; even Barnes & Noble are video blogging to give you the experience of chatting with a knowledgeable bookseller on the Internet!

Yelp is a user-generated review site for all businesses and services and is organized by geographic location. You, your family, your neighbors, your friends, and your customers need to Yelp about your business. Not only is this a great social marketing tool and a way for potential customers to find your products and services, but it also is a free tool to get feedback and constructive criticism without having to ask for it! Absolutely meaningful.

Keep Connected!

Entrepreneur’s Entourage: Customize * Strategize * Organize * Realize

Next Social Media update: Tools to use to make your social updates more productive.