Social media isn’t supposed to be anything other than an additional, super-low-cost communications channel. Although it has the power help marketing and PR, it’s only a new arrow in the quiver of a brand.

I can understand the detractors in this respect: Social media use is a niche play, yet its proponents can be quite outspoken. Let’s face it: Archimedes did not yell “Eureka!” when he discovered the property of displacement because it was revolutionary so much as it was sudden and unexpected (coming to him, if you’ll believe the legend, during his bath). We’re loud for the same reason. It hit marketers broadside. We’re still yelling Eureka.

But when the shouting and running around is over, social media will still be there — a phenomenon that doesn’t need to be buoyed by loud proclamation to still be powerful — sometimes even a game-changer.

You guys, oops, girls were the ones who got that ball rolling. Offering us the opportunity to be “twitter tutors” was huge. We owe ya.. big time!

BTW, need any tutors for the anniversary party?

I have owned my business for 11 years now and this past year was one of our busiest years yet, even with the down economy.

This is not to say that we are any better than any other social media community around the country or the world, just that what we are doing seems to be working really well for us at this moment.

To that end, we are planning an anniversary party of the first BIG #milwaukeetweetup which will be held at Swig on April 22. Watch your Twitter stream for details!

The idea that a few smart local businesses popped-up and started tweeting is hardly news worthy. But the increased growth and continued success marketing exclusively through social marketing platforms provide good case studies of some low cost, high return, long term investments in these brands, their beliefs, and the overall benefit they’re able to bring to the community.

The continued embrace of various forms social media in Milwaukee have begun to reshape the city. Suddenly, many like minded people have begun to converge and discuss all of the possibilities. People have begun to realize that many of our goals aren’t very uncommon at all. We know how easy it is to make Twitter fun, we can’t help but play.

Let’s face it, there’s a growing segment of people spending more time staring at their touch screens while eating. Some places look down on that, others embrace. Those places have emerged, the people have connected, and their ideas are fantastic.

Maybe we’re just behind the curve… maybe San Fran and NYC have already been connected with like this. Maybe they found each other and formed exponential networks of influential, like mined people a long time ago. If so, we really lucked out. We’ve got tools to enable this to happen at incredible velocity.

I’m not suggesting Milwaukee is the best thing ever, but coming back from some great discussions at SXSW, I know that there are smart people around here that understand and embrace the Social Media phenomena as well as anyone. Yes, social media is a viable marketing platform. Yes it can be hugely beneficial, even in a little ol’ market like Milwaukee. Use it wisely, and great thing can happen.

Super post. Really had me thinking.

I totally agree with you and all the others. What is really exciting for me to see is that us “older folk non facebook generation people” are starting to be re-energized by this change as well. We need this type of new focus on relationships since that is the way we were designed. Some would say that this stuff is making us “antisocial” and I say “hogwash’! it’s just the opposite. These new relationships we are building are going to fill our lives with more joy and reason for being along with improved productivity on the business side as well.

It’s a blast, thanks for being one of the leaders we all look to.

Wayne

This post was mentioned on Twitter by raffel: Just commented on @triveraguy ’s new “The Social Media Lovefest in Milwaukee” blog post – great stuff! – http://ow.ly/1o0oK...

You and I go way back, but Augie is one of those guys that I so appreciated Social Media finally allowing me to meet.

I had heard of Augie’s Twappy hours but hadn’t been to one. The Iron Horse Tweetup was the game changer for us, because it allowed us the opportunity to participate as “Twitter Tutors” at an event that the local media was all over. It gave Social Media…and Trivera…a HUGE spotlight.

http://www.trivera.com/wordpress/local-media-tags-trivera-as-one-of-milwaukees-social-media-authorities

Our phones started ringing right after the media coverage ran… TMJ4’s was that night, Fox 6’s aired during the May ratings sweep.