I offer these talks and workshops because I want to remove the fear, show people how social media tools can help them tap into and contribute to the richness of the collective mind, and share the many ways in which these tools can enrich our lives.
Get a Life (Online): A Gentle Introduction to Social Media
What does it mean to have an online identity, and why would we want to create one? What do you do with your virtual self once you have one? This talk gives an overview of various kinds of social media (blogs, social networks, etc.) and how they are used (communication, collaboration, sharing, and entertainment), with a focus on the pleasures and benefits of online self-expression and interaction and how to get the most out of the undiscovered country that is the Internet. This is an entertaining talk designed for absolute beginners. It can also be a multi-session workshop for those who want practical instruction. It’s great for seniors! (Given at the American Library in Paris, “Evening with an Expert” in January, 2009.)
Beyond the Writer’s Notebook: How to Start and Write a Blog
In what ways can blogging benefit writers? In this talk, I cover the general benefits of blogging, including the social aspects of it. Much of the discussion focuses on the particular constraints and challenges of the medium and how these shape what and how you write. I also give plenty of concrete and practical strategies for blog writing. This can be a talk or a multi-session workshop, and it can also be tailored to the general public, rather than writers in particular. (Given at the Paris Writers Workshop, 2007.)
The Sum of Your Parts: The Importance of Online Identity
We all know how important first impressions are. These days, whether you like it or not, the first impression people have of you may come from the results of a Google search for your name. What do these results reveal about you? And what can (or should) you do about it? This is a short and entertaining talk that takes a lighthearted look at online identity. I can also provide a more in-depth exploration of how and why you should manage your online identity. (Keynote given at the Society for Technical Communication France annual conference in March, 2009.)
Custom talks and workshops
Please contact me if you have an idea for a talk or workshop that you’d like me to give, or if you’re looking for suggestions!
[...] or e-reputation, or whatever you want to call it). I have plenty to say about it too; I even give talks on the topic. And since personal branding was the theme on Web Worker Daily last month, I [...]