My dual citizenship in the two worlds leads to a lot of questions and pleas for advice. Bloggers want to know about the world of children’s products. They ask why some manufacturers are so difficult to work with and what’s up with the trade shows?  How can they help promote small brands without being taken advantage of as “free press”? Business owners have even more questions to ask of me. Burning questions like where/how/when should they advertise? On which blogs? What’s a facebook page for? Which free tools on the web are best for photo editing and should they have one twitter account or two?

I have opinions, but I don’t have all the answers! What I do have is friends. Smart friends, with a vast range of knowledge. Nothing delights me more than bringing together people and sharing information. Which is what social media, and networking are all about. As a community we are so much stronger, and richer for our connections. Networking  and building excitement for your brand has never been easier. Social media sites and tools have made it possible for even the smallest brands to generate big buzz online, by finding, nurturing and growing their community.

The keys to making the most of your time and energy online, and launching an effective social media campaign, are yours for the asking. I’ve asked some of the cleverest people I know to come to this conference and share their knowledge with you. I know that like me, you probably started your business because you wanted to do something you enjoy, something that allowed you more time to spend with your family, a way to express your creativity and a sense of connection with your work, your customers, your product. You are not alone.

Social Media for Small Biz is the realization of a dream for me. A dream of partnership, cooperation and learning from one another. Get ready to socialize, to network, to grow your business, and to have a great time doing it.