Since late 2007, I’ve had a vision to start up an international social media association, focused on best practices, education and marketing, along with providing solid social media certification training programs. My social media consulting, training and speaking business continues to expand at an intense rate and I wanted to have a cadre of awesome like-minded professionals to refer clients to, and to help others grow their social media businesses too.
So, in early March this year, I decided to get over my perfectionism (ha!) and I launched my first protege program, MentorWithMari. I did a fairly soft launch – just a few tweets, Facebook updates and one email to my subscriber list. I was completely blown away by the response over the course of a few weeks – and now have 40 phenomenal proteges!!
Why would I create a course to teach people to do exactly what I do? Here’s what I believe: there’s an abundance of needs and niches out there. No one can be all things to all people. If you’re looking at getting into social media as a business, just know that you can get rich in a niche! Think about your areas of passion and expertise and imagine going an inch wide and a mile deep in that niche!
I’ll keep you posted as my course progresses (and the association launches). Meantime, I’d love for you to meet and connect with these fine folks: (All names and photos link to their Twitter pages and open in a new window).
Certified Social Media Strategists
Social Media Strategists
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| Susan Critelli | Kris Hoots | Francine Allaire |
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| Angela Albright | Lisa Garcia-Ruiz | Karmen Reed |
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| Kathryn Rose | Lani Voivod | Allen Voivod |
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| Cathy Planchard | Jack Smith | Monique Ramsey |
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| Michelle Tjelmeland | Dee Overly | |
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| Cheryl McLeod | of course, be sure to follow me too: Mari Smith |
By the way, we officially started on May 6th. Registrations are now officially closed for this first iteration; to secure your place in the next program you’re welcome to visit http://mentorwithmari.com.
[...] recommend you check it out for your own groups. As an example, I have a protected account for my 40 students in my mentorship program at @MentorWithMari – all students can tweet through the same account and [...]
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Thrilled to be one of your lucky proteges, Mari. Even here, at the beginning of our MWM journey, it’s been exciting to see the leaps and bounds (and the baby steps, too!) our gang has been making…
…and to catch glimpses of what’s possible in this amazing, opportunity-rich social media space.
@LaniVoivod
Visit My Twitter PageLani and I are on dueling laptops, racing to deliver the first comment on this post.
We’re so excited to be in this program with you – it’s coming at the perfect time, just as we’re being called to step into a larger social media marketing role in our own home state of New Hampshire.
It’s also awesome to be in here with a fellow New Hampshire-ite in Mark Eldridge – what a small world! Thanks for getting us all together on this journey, and prepping us to help the up-and-coming businesses and entrepreneurs diving into the social media waters with grace, authenticity, purpose, and results.
Best,
Visit My Twitter PageAllen
I’m Kris Hoots’ partner in Oneicity. In the short time she’s been in the Protege program I’ve been amazed by the level of connection, engagement and benefit. Michelle Tjelmeland (@ewebsmart) has already become an extraordinary relationship for us professionally and personally. This social media stuff really works and clearly is all about relationships.
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Visit My Twitter PageMari – thanks for sharing the twitter handles of your mentees – some I know personally and have worked with and some I am already following. I hope you also encourage them to follow people back as you do too!
Visit My Twitter PageThis is truly an amazing program and I feel blessed to be a part of it.
Thank You Mari
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