Last week I gave a speech at the Red Bank Toastmasters club about social media. I started by asking the audience a simple question, “Who here is involved with social media?” 

Now, how many questions outside of, “Who here breathes air?” do you think you could ask where every single hand in the room goes up?

Apparently social media is as common these days as the air we breathe…crazy! 

After my speech I had a few people approach me with questions about how to get better at social media. One person didn’t have a company, but wanted to work on his personal brand. I gave them a few ideas such as registering his name (URL), starting a blog and completing his LinkedIn profile.

I had another gentleman tell me that his company actually frowned upon their employees engaging in social media. I gave him a few ideas to bring back to his boss, and then showed him how to set his privacy on Facebook so that he can still mingle socially online, because let’s face it, with a boss like that who knows when he may be looking for a new job…of course that was a joke, but he understood the point, that you need to stay connected because you never really know, right?

So even if you don’t completely get it yet, start “social”-izing…it’s the only way to stay relevant…The Time Is Now!

John Zalepka

As a marketer, this comment from prospects and clients has always baffled me. I have always screamed in my head, ‘What do you mean you have enough business already?!’ 

Tonight as I presided over our biweekly meeting as President of the Freehold Phrasers Toastmasters Club, as is customary at the end of the meeting, we took volunteers for the different roles for upcoming meetings; Grammarian, Ah Counter, Joke Master, and the ever-coveted Speaker role. We basically set our agenda until the middle of September…it’s starting to seems like “we have enough business already”.

When I first took over the position of President of the club, I quickly assembled the executive board for a meeting about the upcoming year. When it came time to discuss public relations and new membership, I had a TON of great marketing ideas.

After I was finished presenting all of my “great ideas” to the group, they asked me a very poignant question, “How big do we want to get?” At 32 members, our club is rather large for a Toastmasters club. And because we have so many members, and a limited amount of roles, I understood what they were saying.

Of course we could get more members if we advertised more, but at what cost? By adding too many members too fast, we would risk alienating and discouraging the members that we already have.

However, as a marketer this is unacceptable to me. Maybe we could just add a few minutes to the agenda to allow for more speeches? Maybe we could meet 3 or 4 times a month instead of 2? Maybe we could start a whole new club? Maybe, maybe, maybe…

Or maybe we should focus our marketing internally for now. Perhaps we need to focus on developing the talent we already have and really help our members to grow. Yes of course, that’s it! While we can and should plan for expansion and the future, we should never do it at the expense of what we already have.

So when you feel like you have enough business already, focus on what you have and how you can help your people grow. Then, when the time is right you will grow too. 

Because let’s be TOTALLY honest here, you can never really have enough business, can you?

John Zalepka

Do butterflies attack your stomach whenever you’re asked to speak before a group? 

Can you confidently express your thoughts and ideas? 

Do you have the nerve to ask your boss for a raise?

Whether you’re speaking to one or one thousand, Toastmasters can help you speak clearly and confidently. At home or on the job, Toastmasters will provide you with the confidence you need to get ahead.

I spent my writing time today putting together a presentation about giving effective Toastmasters speech evaluations. I will be delivering my talk tomorrow night at the Freehold Phrasers’ BBQ & Pool party meeting. The BBQ starts at 6:00pm followed by the meeting at 7:30pm.

Toastmasters is a “learn-by-doing” public speaking club where men and women hone their speaking, listening, evaluating, presenting & leadership skills in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere.

Guest are always welcome to attend our meetings on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of every month at the Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, located at 57 Schanck Rd, Suite C-3 in Freehold, NJ. The exception is tomorrow’s meeting which will be held at 125 Crine Rd. in Morganville, NJ.

For more information please visit our website: www.FreeholdToastmasters.com or call club President John Zalepka at 732-610-7654.