Lessons from Catalyst Connector's - The Business of Social 3.0 Workshop

This event was held on 16 Sep 2010 in Singapore. It was a half day workshop/networking session on Making Social Media Work for Your Business - focusing on networking and business matching within the context of entrepreneurship, incubators, startups and small businesses.

This is the first of a series of workshop/networking events to be organized by Catalyst Connector, a new and innovative business catalyst that actively builds the connections between people, companies, projects and opportunities

While there are many events that advertise to address social media uses and ways to improve your business, this one takes a very different tack. Instead of merely giving general high-level tips, tricks and best practices, this is a serious attempt to formulate a structured methodology on using new media to generate and connect with compatible partners and projects.

Here are the takeways:

1 New Media = Social Media (SM) + Traditional Media (TM)

To create Authority, Authenticity and Sustainability we have to deploy social media and traditional media. While 'old' media like newspapers, tv etc are on the decline, their demise shouldn't be exagerrated. The majority of people still formulate opinions and views based on what gets published/broadcast there. Further, many just focus on headlines and buzz words.

Whilst TM provides the punch, the impact is fleeting i.e. mentions in newspapers, tv, radio are ephemeral and are quickly replaced by the next news articles. With SM, memes, ideas and events can live on for a long time. The buzz can continue much longer and with lasting impact online and be transformed into a warm glow.

TM = authority, ephemeral

SM = authenticity, longevity, virality, referencability

However, the interplay between the online and offline requires intricate management and many would benefit from more structured handholding and guidance.

2 Workshop Series - Journey Of Multiple Steps

This event introduced the idea that networking and matching in the era of Social Media is a journey. Instead of providing lists of to-dos and general concepts, the organizers take the view that a structured process is needed to fully realize the value to be obtained from the current new media environment vis-a-vis business networking and matching for startups.

They provided a high-level map of what this journey entails. This process essentially takes the form:

1. Transform
• Persona Management - managing multiple personas
• Knowledge Management


2. Take-Off
• Networking tools/techniques
• How to work a (virtual) room
• Integrate online and offline


3. Target
• Matching and Closing the deal
• Executing Transactions/Projects
• Getting results

This novel idea is still at its inception stages and we'll be very keen to see how this works out in reality. However, I think it is headed in the right direction and I am really looking forward to the next events in this series.

It was a real pleasure to have participated in the Business of Social 3.0 workshop/networking event and connect with many friends and colleagues working towards promoting social media for business and making the entrepreneurial environment more vibrant and rewarding.

---

Here are some links to useful resources related to this subject.

Catalyst Connector on Facebook - where you'll find updates and event information posted regularly

Catalyst Connector's Resource Page - where there are many links to media, presentations, articles etc.