Being a new member of the Charleston, South Carolina community means all kinds of new opportunities. One of these opportunities happened to be DIG SOUTH. "DIG SOUTH Innovation Conference is the first and foremost event elevating the South’s digital economy. Produced by DIG SOUTH and held annually in Charleston, the Conference welcomes 2500+ attendees, 150+ high-level speakers, 100+ investors, and national touring bands. DIG SOUTH Innovation Conference is where leading global brands such as Facebook, Buzzfeed, CNN and IBM connect to the region’s most successful companies and the smartest scalable startups." 

I ended up getting a media pass for the event, which means awesome event privileges and behind-the-scenes action. I had an INCREDIBLE time, met amazing people, and learned so much. My goal with DIG SOUTH was to get the perspective of a young person working in the business world. For those of you who don't know what else I do besides write (Currently in the process of getting a book traditionally published!), I also own and operate two clothing lines. Inspire Thread Company, which inspires shirts after up-and-coming young professionals, and The Follow Me Company, where you can advertise yourself, whether a business or a personal brand, in your every day life. So without further what-this-is-about, here's an overview of my three days at the DIGSOUTH Innovation Conference.

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Day one consisted mostly of pitches by businesses and awesome elite investor keynotes. The Venture Keynote was a highlight of the day, run by Paul Singh, who is a co-founder of 500 startups, and has been a part of investing in over 1,500 companies in 50 countries. 

Paul talked about tech and its high level of importance. He discussed AOL, stating that it was "One company that changed the face of the town...every city has its own 'AOL'", basically a business that changes the face of the city or town that it was created in. I know AOL is to Google, what Myspace it to Facebook, but it was a key part of the culture in its starting city, believe it or not.

His key advice was that "the best way to build a better company is to learn how other businesses are working." In regards to the Charleston area... "Every city has the same growth capabilities." Also the fact that MOBILE IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD. To those people that haven't yet mobile-optimized their websites and products...it has to be done. Now. 

Today is basically the best day to get started in a business, because there has been a 99% reduction in startup costs since 1995. It used to cost about $5 million dollars to get going on a new company, and now the typical cost is $5K. This is a REALLY exciting point, because it means that the average person is now able to start their own business. The American dream is coming true world wide.

Web is getting bigger, and the world is getting smaller. Companies are growing faster than ever.

Another point that Paul hit on, is that transparency is everywhere. This one really stood out to me, because it's a main point at The Follow Me Company. Being transparent in your business practices and image is KEY to success. People want to see that there are people behind a company.  So act that way.

A key question to ask yourself regarding your business, that is petty much indispensable...

"What have you done so far? What are your competitors doing?" Asking yourself that question will help you figure out where you're going wrong (if you are), and how you can improve. 

The next section of my day was The Cohort 5 Pitch, presented by the Harbor Entrepreneur Center, based in Charleston, SC. This was one of my favorite events of the day. Basically, ten different startups pitched their businesses to top investors, and competed for a $5,000 prize. The companies that competed were Wavve, The Scholarship System, eScout, StockAid, and RAAD, among others. The investors were Sig Moseley (Sig is currently the record holder of the largest southeast venture deal with the $5.7 billion acquisition of Tradex by Ariba.), Michael Kane, and Steve Parker.

The Scholarship System won first prize, but the other competitors all have amazing companies that I would highly suggest you check out! The CEO and founder of The Scholarship System is Jocelyn Pearson who embodies "lady boss". She's highly intelligent, and one of the brightest young entrepreneurs, and people in general, that I have ever met!

I also got to go to a couple awesome "after event events", including THE INVESTOR BASH and the UPLOAD SHINDIG, featuring some awesome music from Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics

The opening keynote featured one of the most inspiring and accomplished people I've ever heard speak. Robert Swan is the first man in history to walk to both the North and South Poles. On Both expeditions, he experienced firsthand, the effects of environmental damage on the Polar icecaps, thus shaping Swan's lifetime goal - to work for the preservation of the Antarctic as the last great wilderness on earth. He since founded 2041, an organization dedicated to this goal. 

Today, Robert Swan compares his icy experiences to boardroom maneuvers and his inspirational addresses have received the acclaim of discerning audiences worldwide.

​Robert spoke on "Leadership on the edge."

On Robert Swan's expedition to the South Pole, him and his team were alone in the Arctic for one year, without any outside connection. They lived in complete darkness in an outside hut, experiencing  -83 degree days, and all they used for direction were the sun, a sexton, and a watch. They had to find one building somewhere in the Arctic--a place the size of the entire U.S--and they were the only people there.

I can't even get to the grocery store across the street without a GPS.

Jack Custo was Robert's patron, and he helped him raise money for the expedition. During the trip, Swan lost 69 pounds.
Their ship sank five minutes before they arrived at the pole, and they had no insurance. If this doesn't tell you how much perseverance Robert has, I don't know what will. In other words, they arrived at the small building with no way to get back. Robert said that at this point, he realized the importance and weight of leadership. He said to "Think carefully before you make a commitment, because you have to follow through with it." Robert isn't one to give up. If you don't follow through... "Who will believe you a second time?" Robert, after negotiations and stressful circumstances, was able to get him and his crew back with help from the U.S. 

"Do what you say you're going to do. It builds a track record." 

Robert's expedition to the North Pole took 56 days, and people from 7 different nations accompanied Swan on the trip. 

Robert's expeditions have show him that his mission in life is to help keep the Arctic clean and preserve it. He has helped recycle 3,000 miles of solid waste from the Arctic in only 8 years, creating a massive positive impact on the area and the great wilderness, reversing Arctic melt. 
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Most likely my favorite event of the entire conference was this one. Walrus has always been a marketing company that I admired and drew from, and being able to hear Deacon speak live about advertising avenues and how to market was a highlight of the entire conference.

Just a few points to consider about today's marketing world...

- General Mills is spending $10 million on mobile media for their new launch. What does this mean for advertisers? There is more money than ever put into mobile avenues, and we need to put as much value as possible on that
- Media/marketing has changed a LOT, and we need to follow these changes, and not market like it's 2000
- There's no longer a barrier to entry

One of the most incredible marketing campaigns EVER, in my opinion, is what Walrus did for Maloney & Porcelli, a NYC Midtown Restaurant. With a $10k budget, Walrus managed to get this businesses 38.9 million impressions, and a 15% increase in reservations, using expensesteak.com. Basically, they helped business people and Maloney & Porcelli regulars expense their $900 (or so, or less) meals. The campaign made nationwide news, and was marked as one of "The sexiest marketing campaigns ever." If you can make advertising sexy, I'd say you've hit your mark.

Deacon's main advice was to "be willing to take risks in marketing." His company focuses on taking risks, which creates viral marketing campaigns. AKA using Kevin Bacon in an ad for home-fix-it stores.  

Brooks Buffington is super inspiring to me, being a fellow young entrepreneur. He spoke on operating as a millennial and advertising to millennials, and the to-do and not to-dos of the millennial marketing world. I was really excited for this event, and it was a packed. 

Brooks Buffington founded Yik Yak in 2013. After passing up a career in finance in favor of app development, which he was drawn to because of the power and reach that apps have in a world where nearly everyone has smartphones. Brooks and Tyler created Yik Yak because they wanted to let people instantly be connected with the community around them. Today, Yik Yak is popular on over 1,600 colleges and university campuses. Brooks is originally fro Atlanta, Georgia. He is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking and camping, and whose love of the outdoors took him to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

Some key points of his speech...

"Millennials are impatient and in the moment." AKA, be brief. If you want to catch a millennial's attention with your businesses, then don't post a long ad, and don't be boring. 

When Brooks and co-founder Tyler Droll were launching Yik Yak, they knew that they had to create something immediate. Yik Yak was the answer. 

He said that "with millennials, you have to be willing to do what no one else is willing to do."

A main point being, BE PERSONAL.
-Millennials love experiences.
-Make everything an experience, and make it special.
​-Be authentic! "Millennials can smell BS from a mile away." 

"THE ECONOMY OF THE NEXT FIFTY YERAS WILL BE LED BY CUSTOMER SERVICE."

Peter Shankman is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, speaker, and worldwide connector.

Here are some key quotes from this high-energy, amazing entrepreneur. 

"Keep trying new shit." Yep.
"Fail as much as humanly possible." Because enough failure, and you'll (I mean, hopefully) reach success.
"Understand your audience." This couldn't be more important! Know who you're selling and marketing to. Know your audience, and know them well. They will determine your success.

- We're in the age of the customer economy. Let other people sing your praise, instead of singing your own. Be known, not because of how you talk about yourself, but by what people see that you do. It's the ol', actions speak louder than words topic.

"Have a plan for when you succeed, and when it [your business] goes viral." BRAND EVERYTHING YOU DO. Peter couldn't stress enough how important this is. What happens when you craft a piece of content, and you don't brand it with something? No one will know it was you, and you won't gain anything from the piece. Brand, brand, brand.

"It is impossible to lie." Screw up? Own up to it. This leads back to the point that transparency is everything. 

Here's some more helpful, totally usable advice from Peter:

1.) How do you know what people want? Ask them, "What can we do better?"
2.) Take an improv class. Learn how to talk to people and be more confident.
3.) Ask... "How can I help you?" "Stop focusing on likes, and start doing more likable things." ​I LOVE this point.

that, take a break, and post more content. You'll be put to the top of the person's feed again!
- Post content that ads value for people
- Want to stand out? Make really unique content! This was a stand-out point from Shonduras. If you want people to follow you, then the content must be stellar.
- Add color
- The more you have on your story, the higher the attention
- Make people curious
- Don't just "post to post" Post great content

Hopefully you guys know how much of a super fan I am of Gary Vaynerchuk. If you don't know who he is, here he is in a nutshell:

Gary Vaynerchuk build businesses. Fresh out of college he took his family wine businesses and grew it form a $4M to a $60M business in just five years. Now he runs VaynerMedia, one of the world's hottest digital agencies. Gary is The New York Times best-selling author of Crush It!, The Thank You Economy and Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook. Along the way, he became a prolific angel investor and venture capitalist, investing in companies like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Uber, and Birchbox before eventually co-founding VaynerRSE, a $25M angel fund. Gary also currently hosts the #AskGaryVee Show, a way of providing as much value as possible by taking questions about social media, entrepreneurship, startups, and family businesses and giving his answers based on a lifetime of building successful, multi-million dollar companies. The show is also available as a podcast. Gary is also a prolific public speaker, delivering keynotes at events like Le Web, an SXSW, which you can watch on his YouTube channel. He was named to both Fortune and Crain "40 under 40" lists in consecutive years, and has been profiled in The New York Times, Fortune and Inc. 

For Gary's keynote, I focused on listening rather than writing, AKA living in the moment. I had seen Gary speak before in Vegas, and drew new content from this keynote, which was totally indispensable. It was a sort of "unplugged" style keynote, and, as always, Gary was laid back, he spit fire, and was purely awesome. You would seriously benefit from checking out his keynotes on YouTube.

OH, and did I mention that I finally met him?! He's super down to earth, and was totally willing to retake the photo when I screwed up. 

I had an amazing time at DIG SOUTH, learned an unfathomable amount, and met a ton of really incredible people. Here are some wrap-up photos:

Instagram: @Elysia_Regina
Twitter:@Elysia_Regina
Website: elysiaregina.com
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I had the opportunity today to attend the Why Networking Matters event at The University of Maine today, and thought that I would share some of the key points with you. Here they are!

Abe Furth is a local business owner in my area, and he gave 10 Principles for Networking:

1.) Say yes to engagement opportunities. You never know what networking event will be instrumental to something in your future, so you should take advantage of every opportunity that arises.

2.) Foster friendships from every generation. If you're young, don't feel like you can't interact with the older generation. They have a lot of wisdom to offer, and you can benefit from great friendships with them. For the older generation, younger friends can be great, too! You may even be able to learn something from them. 

3.) Be approachable. A lot of times, your facial expressions and the attitudes that you're giving off say MUCH more than what you're actually saying, so be approachable and conscious of how you appear. 

4.) Nurture hobbies that you're passionate about.

5.) Be an expert at a few things in life. Abe said that this point is a bit more difficult to achieve, but that it's a great idea to aim toward becoming an expert in an area.

6.) Read social cues! Does someone look like they want the conversation to be over? Are you talking too much? As point (3) stated, social cues say a lot. 

7.) Image management. Also related to point (3), your image is important. How do you come across on social media? Would a professional looking at your social pages respect what you have listed as public information? Would a potential employer hire you after seeing what you put on social media?

8.) Excel at your current occupation. What are you doing now? Are you taking it seriously? Even if you don't see yourself staying with your current employer or occupation, give it your all while you're there.

9.) Volunteer. 

10.) Be okay with standing out, and get comfortable with getting uncomfortable. (I love this point!)


The next person who spoke was Emily Cain, who is a politician and served in the Maine Senate. I had the opportunity to meet her and speak with her for a few minutes, and really enjoyed doing so. Here are some of the main points that she made on professionalism and networking:

1.) "You have to be comfortable in your own space if you want someone to connect with you." This connected with what Abe Furth said about being comfortable and approachable. Emily pointed out that in a professional setting, it's important to be comfortable, dress like yourself, and trust your gut.

2.) Make genuine connections with people. Don't be fake. When you connect with someone, connect with them as a person, don't just connect with them to make another contact. 
-Find ways to connect with people for who they are.
-Frame of mind matters. Be positive!
-Focus on the benefits of an event. Like Abe said, take advantage of engagement opportunities.
-Have a good handshake! This is so relative. I repeat, HAVE A GOOD HANDSHAKE. 

3.) Talk to strangers at events. Don't just stand next to a wall by yourself. Introduce yourself. Emily said to risk rejection...it's not always better to be safe than sorry. You'll regret it more if you don't take action in introducing yourself, than if you risk the possibility of being rejected. Emily even quoted Taylor Swift... "Shake rejection off!" 

4.) Use your OAR. Observation, Ask a question, Reveal something about yourself when meeting someone new. These three tips will help you make a genuine connection.

5.) Listen more than you talk. This is extremely important, not just in a professional setting, but in every-day life. People who listen are more approachable and more likable. 
-Nod, smile, ask questions
-Be open and receptive
-Make eye contact
-Bring the conversation full circle (remember what the person you're talking to says)


The event was great, and I'm glad that I attended. I'm feeling proud to be a Mainer! I hope that you guys learned something from these points. Until next time, connect with me on Twitter HERE.

Here are a few photos from the event:

I love social media. When used correctly, social media can help businesses multiply their impact and create the brand image that they desire. Social media used correctly is the difference between a retail store with a professional sign, and a retail store with a 8x10 piece of paper taped to their window.

That said, there are a few companies that stand out with their social media presence. Some companies just do things right. I'm starting a new blog series where I'll be highlighting brands that have great social media marketing. These companies make their social media sites look like a cozy place for their customers to sit by and rely on. There's probably a fireplace and a cup of coffee waiting for them there...

1. Starbucks. If you guys follow me on Twitter (If you don't already follow me, here's a shameless plug to my profile: @Elysia_Regina YIPPEE, let's tweet together!), you know that I'm a Starbucksaholic. I will openly admit this, and I often post on Twitter about strange things that I see at Starbucks. For example, today at Starbucks there was a man with a trash bag full of wool socks. Trust me, I don't make this stuff up. 

Anyway, Starbucks's Twitter presence is impeccable. Their social media team responds to nearly every tweet, and honestly does their best to resolve issues and offer a humorous response when appropriate. They offer suggestions on food choices, and answer questions about their drinks (For example, what their new Flat White drink is).

How to be like Starbucks if you're looking to improve your social media presence, particularly on Twitter? Here are a couple helpful tips:

1. No inquiry is too small. Someone tweets at you saying that they were dissatisfied with the music played in your restaurant. You may not want to respond, because if they don't like your music, then why not just go somewhere else? You should respond, because every customer is important. Sure, they could go somewhere else, but why not WOW them with your public response? Here's an example (I'll be using @ThatSandwichPlace as my business example. I don't know any restaurant named that, and it is purely for example purposes):

HATE TWEET: @ThatSandwichPlace, your music reminds me of a scratched cd playing in my eardrum. Sincerely disappointed, @RestaurantHater123: 

YOUR RESPONSE: Dear @RestaurantHater123: , we're sorry to hear that our music wasn't to your liking. We'd love to make it better next time. Any suggestions? Sincerely sorry, @ThatSandwichPlace

First of all, @RestaurantHater123 will probably be shocked by your response. Let's keep going:

HATE TWEETER: @ThatSandwichPlace, I don't know, some Sinatra? 

YOUR RESPONSE: @RestaurantHater123, We love Sinatra, too! Come by next time, and we'll do our best to get him on the playlist. 

HATE TWEETER: @ThatSandwichPlace Thanks! I'll be back.

Hurray, you have turned a mad customer into a return customer! This may not work in every circumstance, but see how that was turned around? One customer is sometimes worth a hundred customers. If you honestly can't solve the situation, an apology often fixes a multitude of issues. Apologize, and say that you hope their next experience is better. My point is this: someone saying that something wasn't what they expected doesn't seem like a big deal, but it is. If you respond in a timely matter with either help or an apology, most likely that upset customer will turn around and tell their friends how you fixed the issue. Sometimes the "smallest" issues have the biggest impact.

2. Be fun. This is a subjective suggestion, because I know that some brands seek a highly business-like approach to social media. That is fine, but Starbucks isn't like that. I love social media brands that lean toward the light side of things. Are you funny? Be funny! Respond to people with humorous interjections such as Starbucks offers. For example:

CUSTOMER/ TWITTER USER: @ThatSandwichPlace Your sandwiches are cool.

YOUR RESPONSE: @RandomUser, Gee thanks, we think you're cool, too! Come again and we'll be cool together? 

That response is relaxed, fun, and suggests that the customer comes back. It gives a face to your brand. It's not mechanical, it's real. It's sincere, and I love brands and companies that are sincere. It creates a sort of trust between business and customer. Some companies may be scared to be a customer's friend--they may think it's unprofessional--but I disagree with this. Be their friend. Smile, act goofy, shake their hand and if you're That Sandwich Place, make them the best sandwich they've ever had.

In summary, if you want your business's Twitter presence to be similar to Starbucks's, then be fun and treat every inquiry like it's a big deal. This will please your customers and show them that you're real, which are two huge points in this internet age. Until next time!

Connect with me on Twitter where I try to be funny and post helpful things, and follow me on Instagram where I post random photos and lots of selfies. 

Twitter: @Elysia_Regina
Instagram: @ElysiaWalton

To writers like myself, the idea that publishing is dying is terrifying. The fact that so called "experts" are saying that something I've been working my whole life at is becoming obsolete is painful. They say that Kindles, Amazon.com, and ebooks in general are destroying the paper library. When I get nervous about publishing dying, I have to remind myself that there are still people like myself--people that love the feel of a real book. There are still people that look forward to going to a bookstore and picking out a book in person. I disagree with the "experts". I think that these people think that books, like movie stores, are dying, because people love the internet too much. However, regarding the movie argument, movie stores started in the 1970s, whereas books have been around for thousands of years. So, "experts", I think that you should reconsider your thoughts of books dying. There are too many print lovers, and book nerds to let books disappear. Check out this chart that shows the finance end of publishing. 

If you can look at those margins, and then tell me that publishing houses will stop printing, I think that you may be crazy.

The photo above shows the revenues between the year 2000, and the year 2012. Book sales are growing. This is in large part from help of ebook sales, but not from printing dying. Ebooks are offering more revenue for publishing houses, who continue to print books. You may see less bookstores, or the uprise of Indie bookstores, but I don't believe that bookstores will ever become obsolete. We love books too much for that. 

This may seem like the incessant complaining of a writer who believes too much in her craft, which you can believe if you'd like to, but it's also the pointing out of big business from someone that appreciates business. Think what you want, but don't lose faith in the printed book. 

Thanks to HughHowey.com for the photos! 
http://www.hughhowey.com/two-important-publishing-facts-everyone-gets-wrong/