Five things I learned from the Akron Bloggers Community Group

A couple of months ago, I joined the Akron Bloggers Community group on LinkedIn.  What I really like about this group is that they actually meet face-to-face on a regular basis.  The meetings are held at a great little coffee house in Stow called Mocha Joe’s.  Since I’m new to blogging and writing is not one of my strengths, I feel a little out of place.  This group consists of many talented people, so I’m sure to learn a lot.  Hopefully, I can contribute something of value now and then.

While sipping vanilla flavored coffee and taking old fashion, handwritten notes,  Chris Brown of Branding and Marketing, the administrator of the group, gave us a homework assignment.  This is something I haven’t had in many, many, moons.  We are to blog about five things we learned from the meeting.  So here it goes.

1. What I learned is that I have a lot to learn. I understand only 60% of what this group is talking about.  The rest is like a foreign language with words like “ Ping” and “Trackbacks”.
2. There is a plug-in for WordPress that can make quotes bold as a way to break up the copy on your blog.  It sounded so easy, but so far, I haven’t been able haven’t figured it out.  Although, it did make me explore various layouts and menus in the program, resulting in a new look for my blog.
3. There is something called, “Pod Camp”, where speakers discuss the various aspects of social media.  Fellow Akron Blogger Deborah Chaddock Brown of All Write Ink is speaking at one this week in Chautauqua. There is another one coming up in September in Pittsburgh.  Sounds interesting.
4. Simplex IT , located in Hudson, is having a Networking Picnic on August 18th.  If I don’t have any video  shoots that day, I plan on attending.
5. Seated next to me was Ivana Taylor of Third Force and she explained to me about Foursquare.  It’s a location app for you to mark where you’re at and tell others about it.  I’m not sure I feel comfortable about giving out that information on a consistant basis.

So that’s it. I’m hoping for a passing grade.  If you are interested in reading what other Akron Bloggers turned in for their homework assignment, click on the following links to the members of our group.  I’ll update it as they complete their projects.

The Bloggers:   Maria Santoferraro of www.mariamedia.net, Deborah Chaddock Brown of All Write Ink, Chris Brown of Branding and Marketing, Jennifer Cox of the National Network of Embroidery Professionals

-Deborah Shapiro is owner of Montrose Video located in Fairlawn, Ohio.   Montrose Video produces videos for a variety of business applications including video for websites, YouTube, corporate, business profiles, marketing, promotions, training, fund raising, education and more. Website: www.montrosevideo.com.  Follow Montrose Video on Twitter.  View our Demo Reel on YouTube.