Chosen as one of Mashable’s top 10 food writers to follow on Twitter, Monica Bhide knows a thing or two about the power of social media. Her workshop, “Social Media Savvy: A Practical Guide to Personal Branding and Strategy,” at the Smithsonian helped participants create a social media identity and identify the key elements of a strategy to interact effectively and efficiently in the virtual world.
Participants explored the fundamentals of social media and its tools, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others. The pros and cons of each and their use in creating a social strategy were discussed to help identify which works best for each person’s needs. Practical considerations, such as social media etiquette and learning how to use social media efficiently, were also tackled.
The seminar concluded with an interactive panel of social media pros who shared their experiences and practical insights. Panelists included Sarah Elizabeth Banks, manager of online engagement at the Air and Space Museum; Shashi Bellamkonda, vice-president of digital marketing at the Bozzuto Group, a real estate organization; Sean Gardner, a consultant and correspondent for Social Media Week, Huffington Post, and Smedio, named by Forbes as one of the top 50 social media power influencers in 2013; Elianne Ramos, principal and CEO of Speak Hispanic Communications and vice-chair of marketing and public relations for Latinos in Social Media, who specializes in U.S. Latino and Latin American advocacy campaigns; and Monica Sethi, founder and president of e-Buzz Edge, a firm specializing in public relations, marketing, and branding for the restaurant industry; Casey Benedict, a social media and food marketing innovator behind Kitchen PLAY and Eat Write Retreat, platforms that connect brands with bloggers.