Catalyst Connector held the first of its series of social media workshops cum networking events on September 16th, 2010, attracting 30 plus participants from local SMBs interested in finding out how to better engage in the social media scene for business.
Entitled the “Business of Social 3.0”, the series is aimed at formulating a structured methodology on using new media to generate and connect with compatible partners and projects.
The first workshop itself – “Transform” – zoomed in on corporate personae management, i.e. managing multiple business personas on multiple social networking sites. Kicking off the session, were Felix Lee, Project Director, and Roland Hor, Executive Consultant from Catalyst Connector. They took us through an insightful and in-depth journey of business networking and matching in the age of social media. Among the things they touched on: why businesses today should harness social media and how to use it effectively to give their businesses a competitive edge; the social customer ecosystem and its evolution over the years; different social media tools and their key advantages; monitoring your company’s social media networks and measuring their metrics.
Figure 1. Social Media Facts & Figures for B2B Sales
The workshop itself was led by the dynamic Andrew Chow, founder of IDEAMART. He delved into corporate persona management proper. We learnt for example that in this digital age, it’s crucial to be a connector, which is why the first “P” of Persona Management is “people”. The other 7 “P’s” he shares, are: Portal; Partnership; Public Speaking; Publication, Publicity; Prize and Power, Reach and Influence. 
Attendees learnt that balancing each of these with the other is crucial to maintain credibility and gain success in the business social networking scene. Andrew ensured that the attendees participated actively in the session and through various activities and sharing, he reinforced the point that if done well, business social networking can drum up a buzz that lasts much longer than most other media, thereby transforming, arming and giving companies the edge they need.
All in all, networking and matching in the era of Social Media is a journey, and by ensuring a structured process is in place here, all companies can harness the power of the business social world.
Keep your eyes peeled for Catalyst Connector’s next workshop on the Business of Social 3.0 and learn how to ensure your business takes-off with the help of social media.
To download the workshop presentations, reviews, read more articles and see photos of the event, please visit:
By Shanti Anne Morais
