About 150 random Mainers gathered for cocktails at RiRa’s in the Old Port on Wednesday night for no particular reason for Facebook Maine’s launch party. I’m on Facebook, and I live in Maine, so I joined my virtual friends for some real-world interface.
I mingled among some vague acquaintances, but mostly complete strangers, for about two and half hours (approximately 1.5 pints of Guinness). I met a variety of people of varying ages in the following professions: marketing and advertising, real estate, banking, social work, publishing, students, photography, and a couple hair dressers, and some folks in retail.
I finished the evening with several new friends and a couple additions to my professional network. I enjoyed gaining a better perspective on the major issues the folks in my community are concerned about: the economy, the lack of leadership in developing the waterfront, work, staying fit, family, sports, vacations, etc.–you know, all the stuff you normally talk about when you’re at the bar.
The fella who organized the event runs a media business. He made sure we all had name tags. He snapped photos for the website and gave the local TV news crew a walk through the party. The event displayed his fine social media chops, as I’m sure he intended. But there really wasn’t an overt sales pitch. There were no products or brochures on the table. Just a “hey, thanks for coming.” Sometimes, that’s all it takes to let people know who you are.
If you’re into marketing and public relations, an event like this leaves your mind swimming in opportunities to use social media to mobilize and connect with your audience. Specifically, if a crowd of 150 people are eager to gather in the name of nothing as they were for Facebook Maine, imagine the energy you might spark with a similar event for a community of people with a common interest–whether it’s for a brand, a cause, a hobby, a profession, or whatever.
Facebook Maine clearly demonstrats the emergent, viral power of social media and how social media is playing an increasingly important role in our personal and professional lives. If your company is ignoring this movement, you might very well be missing out on something.
Think about it. In the meantime, I’ll see you at the next Facebook Maine party.
By Brock Foreman
One Response to “Facebook Maine meetup, what does it mean for your marketing?”
Hmm… I read blogs on a similar topic, but i never visited your blog. I added it to favorites and i’ll be your constant reader. Paulus Setyo