Monetizing the conversation: Social Media Club goes pro

Social Media Club declares “This is the beginning of a global conversation about building an organization and a community where the many diverse groups of people who care about social media can come together to discover, connect, share and learn.”

Going forward those discovering, connecting, sharing and learning at the “club” will be asked to contribute not only to the global conversation, but to the Social Media Club kitty as well. 

Howard Greenstein, co-founder, called the New York City meeting to order tonight with the announcement that for him Social Media is the real thing and he is banking on it, literally. Greenstein left his day job to devote himself entirely to building the Social Media Club, worldwide:

Yes, it is true - we can not build this based on the continuing extension of our personal credit cards - we need your help to co-create an organization that will serve the needs of the broader Social Media community. These funds will provide the community organizing support that is needed to further expand the appropriate use of Social Media across all aspects of our society and fund projects that ensure a media literate public. So today, we are asking you to join us as an official member of Social Media Club, to put your money where your heart and mind are - to contribute a few dollars in support of the community and ensure that more of the right things happen and less of the wrong things.

Greenstein began his presentation by citing Groucho Marx’s telegram to the Friar’s Club: “Please accept my resignation. I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.” He then put forth a social media business case for his entrepreneurial Social Media Club asking “What do participants in an emerging industry need?”: 

1) Broader understanding of key knowledge, insights and protocols,

2) Establishments of standards, ethical guidelines and principles companies agree to, and under which the industry operates,

3) Good PR! 

How does Social Media Club plan on delivering?

Professional Networking: Discover new people, products, business opportunities…

Industry Education: Workshops, seminars…

Formal Credentials: Social Media Consultant…

How will Social Media Club derive its revenues? 

Member Services

Advertising/Sponsorship

Social Media Focused Media

Workshops/Training Materials

Event Services 

What is Social Media Club’s fee structure? A multi-tiered selection of options is offered including charter “co-founder” status (see below).

Can Social Media Club make a (profitable) go of it? 

Greenstein is passionate about Social Media as well as the Social Media Club business opportunity. In the past four months, Social Media Club has welcomed over 800 social media professionals to meetings in eight different cities, with four more cities going social soon.