Marie Swift on the Value of Social Media for Financial Advisors at FPA Denver 2010

Marie Swift, President and CEO of Impact Communications, shares her insights on the value of social media for financial advisors in this FTL report. The Investius film crew spoke with Swift at the FPA 2010 annual conference in Denver this October where she led workshops on getting started with social media for financial advisors.

Marie Swift on Success With Social Media at FPA Denver 2010

The 12/15/10 Financial Thought Leaders report takes another look at social media for financial advisors. The Investius film crew spoke with Marie Swift, President of the financial advisor PR firm, Impact Communications, at the FPA 2010 Annual Conference in Denver this October. There Swift led social media workshops and shared with us one financial advisor's success using social media. For more FTL videos, see the Financial Thought Leaders page. To view the Kids Finance Coach blog and learn more about top financial advisor Brett Ellen, go go www.kidsfinancecoach.com.

AdvisorTV Film Crew Surprises Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp Instructors, Participants

When Marie Swift and the other Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp instructors and participants arrived on October 9, 2010 for a special pre-conference workshop right before the main FPA Denver 2010 conference, they did not expect to find a television crew waiting for them.    

Financial Planning magazine decided to hire a film crew to document the 3/4 day-long event. For an inside look at some of what happened at the boot camp, watch this 5 minute AdvisorTV clip:

 Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp Aims 

to Shape Up Advisors Online

 

Watch Video Clip Now

What you do online may help beef up your bottom line. In an effort to beef up their online presence, many advisors are turning to social media. But can this help your business? Financial Planning magazine's AdvisorTV film crew reports.

Living in the Clouds - How the Internet Creates Freedom

Here’s what advisors are really doing with social media

RIABiz said in a story they published on 10/12/10 called:

Eavesdropping from the FPA Denver 2010 Conference

The FPA’s annual convention is probably the industry’s broadest gathering of advisors, and it’s interesting to eavesdrop on some of the thoughts and conversations of attendees, especially those with decision-making roles in the industry. Here are three blog posts sent to RIABiz by Tim Welsh, president of principal of Nexus Strategy of Larkspur, Calif., Bob Glovsky, chairman of the CFP Board of Standards, and Marie Swift, president of Impact Communications. On the whole, in what advisors have described as a soaring new convention space in Denver, Colo., the conference seems to have an air of getting-down-to-brass-tacks. It’s a tough new environment – and advisors have a lot of work to do to adapt.

Read what advisors are really doing with social media on RIABiz -- http://www.riabiz.com/a/2557055

Reminder for all Paid Participants - If you attended either the morning or the afternoon Web 2.0 and Social Media Session ... this bonus session is for you!

Element 5 - Post-Conference Webinar (11/11/10) 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT

To ensure that you have the help you need to leverage your new found knowledge and build your online presence, a follow up webinar will be offered to all attendees of the live training sessions held on Saturday, October 9th in Denver (Elements 3 & 4, as described below) .

Marie Swift and select coaches will answer your remaining questions, take a look at your evolving web presence, comment on things you are doing wrong/right, etc.

Watch for an invitation from FPA with passcode information for the teleconference and a link to the webinar.

NOTE:

This webinar was previously scheduled for 11/3/10 but has been moved to 11/11/10.

Participation in Element 5 is included with your registration for either Element 3 or Element 4.

What to Expect at the Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp - Morning Session

During this live hands-on session, Impact Communications' team of experts will help you build out your branded Twitter and blog pages, complete with your first videocast, podcast and several foundational entries. This will be a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves working session conducted live in Denver.

Logistics:

1. Check in at the FPA main conference registration area by 8:15 a.m. local time. Get your name tag. Find your way to the Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp room.

Colorado Convention Center - Room 403 | 700 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202

2. Arrive in the Boot Camp room between 8:15 - 8:25 a.m. You should bring your own laptop, mouse and all corresponding batteries, cords, etc. We will provide a wi-fi internet connection for each participant. Hook up your equipment. If you need a loaner computer, please let Marie Swift know ASAP by sending an email to her assistant maryellenbanta@impactcommunications.org or by calling the Impact office at (913) 649-5009.

3. You should dress in a professional manner - business casual, at a minimum. We will be filming your first video-cast. You may write your own script and deliver it on your own, in a one-person face-front fashion. Or, you may use a version of the script sent to you with registration confirmation and Andy Millard will briefly interview and interact with you in a two-way dialog. We will provide the video equipment needed. You will need to bring your talking points / script. We will discuss this on our pre-Boot Camp Webinar, providing tips and advice so that you are ready when you arrive.

4. You should arrive with your initial blog and Twitter pages established and ready to load with the podcast and video clip that we will be creating live at the Boot Camp. Remember: we'll be giving you a step-by-step demonstration of how exactly to set up your initial blog and Twitter pages during our pre-bootcamp webinar on 9/29/10. For the live boot camp: Bring your username, password and urls to both your blog and your Twitter accounts. Again: We will discuss this initial set up requirement on our pre-Boot Camp Webinar, providing a virtual tutorial to get you started.

5. You will be shown how to record your first podcast using a telephone (land line that we will provide). You will need to bring your talking points / script. We will discuss this on our pre-Boot Camp Webinar, providing tips and advice so that you are ready when you arrive.

6. At 8:30 a.m., local time, Marie Swift will welcome the group and introduce the coaches who will be assisting her that day.

• Special appearance by advisor/blogger extraordinare Andy Millard - star pupil from the premier Boot Camp session offered by FPA on 2/28/10 in Dallas. How Andy has been using his blog, videos and podcasts in conjunction with his enewsletter to build relationships and buzz. How he applied what he learned from the boot camp he attended. How's he modified and improved his approach since then.
  

• Tips on developing good content and headlines for blogs by professional writer/blogger Tom Nawrocki - founder of Triton Financial Newsletters, former journalist who once wrote for the Rolling Stone (and other more traditional business publications).

• How to communicate well when recording your first video and podcast clips - coaching from professional podcaster Chris Hall - co-creator of www.AdvisorPod.com.
  

After the 1 hour foundational conversation, Marie Swift will break the room up into 3 groups - Red Team, Yellow Team and Blue Team. Each team will have a team captain (a volunteer from the attendee group).

For the next 2 hours, attendees will rotate to 3 planned workstations:

• Podcast recording room (coach: Mary Ellen Banta)
  
• Videocast recording room (coaches: Leslie Swid and Andy Millard)
  
• Content creation and file upload center (coaches: Quinn Law, Chris Hall and Tom Nawrocki)

Anyone who still needs help setting up their Blog and/or Twitter pages will stay in the:

• Brainstorming and foundation coaching room (head coach: Marie Swift)
  

We will come back together as a big group approximately 11:30 pm to share what we learned, insights gleaned, etc. You may wish to show your newly branded blog and Twitter pages to the group. We will have an LCD projector and screen, as well as an internet connection established, at the front of the room so all you will need to do is key in your blog and Twitter URLs.

6. The session ends at 12:00 noon. There will be a one-hour lunch break before the after noon session "Managing and Leveraging Your Social Media Strategy" begins at 1:00.

If you have not yet signed up for the afternoon session, you may do so now or on site. A separate fee will apply. The afternoon session is described below.

PACKING LIST FOR DENVER

Please be sure to bring the following items with you:

1. Laptop, batteries, cords, mouse. We need everyone to be self-reliant with their own computer equipment; however, a few "loaner" laptops will be available for emergency use.

2. Your customized scripts / talking points for both your audio recording and your video recording. You should have received two base scripts - one for the audio and one for the video - to edit and "make your own" (earlier this week, from Danielle Hall at FPA). If you did not get your base scripts, contact MaryEllenBanta@Impact Communications.org. If you don't have time to customize them before you arrive in Denver, don't worry, we will have hard copies at the boot camp and you can do quick edits there.

3. Ideas for your first "foundational entries" for your newly established blog and Twitter page. You can also just "get into the spirit" and create them in the moment while in the Content Creation Room in Denver. Professional bloggers Chris Hall and Tom Nawrocki will be on hand to help you with any mental blocks. Professional web master Quinn Law will be there to help you with any technical / upload and posting issues.

4. URLs, passwords and usernames for (a) your blog account (b) your Twitter account. You will need to get into both your blog and your Twitter accounts to post content.

5. Wear camera-ready attire. We will be filming you.

6. Smiling face, alert mind, energy!

Don't worry if you don't have everything "perfect" before arriving in Denver. Just be sure you have your basic blog and Twitter accounts established. Your head coach, Marie Swift, will be on hand in the Foundation Room to help you finish up that process if you have not had time to get through that entire set up process.

The goal of the boot camp is to show you how easy it is to create and upload content to your blog. We will also help you do your first couple of Tweets to draw traffic to your blog and/or website (or to other important articles).

If you need to hold back a little bit due to needing compliance approval first before going "live" with any audios, videos, text, etc., no worries. You can use this as a practice session - and, who knows, compliance may approve your content "as is" once they see it.

Here's contact info for my team:

• (913) 649-5009 - Impact Communications Main Office (will route calls to me or the team)
  
• info@impactcommunications.org - (staff will respond and/or forward notes to me)
• (303) 618-2755 - Coach Mary Ellen Banta's cell phone
• (303) 503-1157 - Coach Leslie Swid's cell phone
  

My team and I will be on the ground, in Denver, as of October 8th.

See you there! We are going to have a lot of fun creating and adding content to your newly established blog and Twitter pages.

Warm regards,

Marie Swift
President and CEO
Impact Communications, Inc.

FPA Denver 2010 Updates

With only a few short weeks away, it's time to prepare yourself for everything FPA Denver 2010 has to offer so you can make the most out of your trip. Take a look at some of the great activities and resources available to you at FPA Denver 2010:

8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 9
Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp 2010
Head Coach: Marie Swift

During this live hands-on session, Impact Communications' team of experts will help you build out your branded Twitter and blog pages, complete with your first videocast, podcast and several foundational entries. This will be a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves working session conducted live in Denver. Special appearance by advisor/blogger extraordinare Andy Millard. Also learn from multi-media expert Chris Hall and professional writer/blogger Tom Nawrocki.

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9
Managing and Leveraging Your Social Media Strategy
Led by: Marie Swift and Friends

This advanced class will focus on online cross-linking and leveraging strategies that will really boost your online presence. Led by Impact Communications' president and CEO Marie Swift and multimedia expert Chris Hall from Securities America, you will go more in-depth into how to use social media to your advantage. Special appearance by advisor/advanced LinkedIn user Chip Workman. Also learn from professional writer/blogger Tom Nawrocki, founder of Triton Financial Newsletter service. Peter Baird and John Birrenkott from WealthBook will tell you how to set up a private social media site for your clients and/or your business.

Keep reading to learn more! Scroll down now...

Don't Miss the Fall 2010 Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp Series!

Back by popular demand!

A new and improved Web 2.0 and Social Media series powered by FPA and Impact Communications!


Save $50 off full meeting registration by using code: ICFPA10

Are you interested in using the latest Web 2.0 technology to drive traffic to your website? This five-part program uses both webinars and on-site training to help you understand the many things you can be doing now to build relationships with your clients and market your business.

The Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp (offered in two parts in Denver on October 9, 2010), and supplemented by three related webinars, will help you harness the power of the World Wide Web through blogs, podcasts, videocasts, community forums, multimedia presentations, webinars, etc., that serve as a comprehensive expression of your brand and offering. A professional coaching team, lead by industry communications consultant Marie Swift, will show you exactly what to do to use social media and Web 2.0 to your advantage.

 

Element 1: Introductory Webinar (9/01/10) 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT

During this optional introductory webinar, marketing expert Marie Swift and multi-media expert Chris Hall will provide an overview of the various social media tools, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Groupsite and Ning. In addition, Michelle Jacko, Esq., a securities attorney and industry compliance expert, will provide insights about what you can and can't do as an RIA and/or Registered Representative. This webinar is appropriate for those who are just getting their feet wet in the world of social media.

Cost for Element 1: $25 (FPA Members) or $35 (Non-members)
Advance Registration and payment for Element 1 is required. Please click here to register.

 

Element 2 - Pre-Boot Camp Webinar (9/29/10) 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT

Registrants for the Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp pre-conference (see Element 3, below) are strongly encouraged to attend this session that will build on the optional introductory webinar (see Element 1, above). Marketing pro Marie Swift and award-winning graphic designer Christy Barron will tell you everything you need to do to get ready for your live Boot Camp experience in Denver. They will give you a virtual tutorial, showing you how to set up your own branded blog and Twitter pages. They will give you important homework assignments and encourage you to be ready for the live Denver Boot Camp session on Sunday, October 9 from 8:30 a.m. to noon MDT.

Participation in Element 2 is included with your registration for Element 3. You can register for Element 3 with your Denver 2010 conference registration, please click here to access.

 

Element 3 - Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp (10/09/10) 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MDT

During this live hands-on session, Impact Communications' team of experts will help you build out your branded Twitter and a branded blog pages, complete with your first videocast, podcast and several foundational entries. This will be a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves working session conducted live in Denver from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 9, 2010. You will be provided with a cable internet connection; attendees are asked to bring their own laptop, batteries, cords and mouse. Impact's professional team of graphic designers, copywriters, film producers and web wizards will be on hand to assist you every step of the way. Walk away with a firm foundation for your professional online presence and business-related social media strategy.

<<< ... Special Guest Appearance and insights from "the Star Pupil" from the 2010 Spring class, advisor Andy Millard.

Cost for Element 3 (includes registration to attend Elements 2, 3 & 5): FPA Members: $300 / Non-members: $350

Advance Registration and payment for Element 3 is required. Register with your Denver 2010 conference registration! Click for access.

 

 

 

Element 4 - Managing and Leveraging Your Social Media Strategy (10/09/10) 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. MDT

This advanced class will focus on online cross-linking and leveraging strategies that will really boost your online presence. Led by Impact Communications' president and CEO Marie Swift, you will: gain an understanding of the advanced features of LinkedIn; dissect a news release so that it not only has power but search-engine-friendly keywords in place; see how embedding deep links and graphics into news releases can boost search engine results; watch as the instructor loads the news release along with a podcast and other digital assets onto a newswire service; discuss the differences between professional newswire services and low-end (or free) newswire services; learn cross-linking strategies (e.g., between Twitter, blogs, website and newswire pages); discuss how to gather and use intelligence from the web; learn how to use RSS feeds and Reader systems plus monitor your online reputation in real time; get a list of resources for building websites, blogs, group sites and super profile pages. Got a problem with your blog/website or a question about how to do something online? Bring your laptop (and all related cords, mouse, etc.) and the coaches who will be on hand will try to help you fix the problem or enhance your pages while you're there together.

<<< --- Special Guest Appearance and insights from advanced LinkedIn user/blogger, advisor Chip Workman.

Cost for Element 4 (includes registration to attend Elements 4 & 5): Full Rates (August 28 - October 9, 2010): FPA Members: $145 / Non-members: $180

Advance Registration and payment for Element 4 is required. You can register with your Denver 2010 conference registration, please click here to access.

Element 5 - Post-Conference Webinar (11/11/10) 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT

A follow up webinar will be offered to all attendees of the live training sessions (Elements 3 & 4, as described above) to ensure that you have the help you need to leverage these new tools and build your online presence. Marie Swift and select coaches will answer your remaining questions, take a look at your evolving web presence, comment on things you are doing wrong/right, etc.

Participation in Element 5 is included with your registration for either Element 3 or Element 4. You can register for Element 5 with your Denver 2010 conference registration, please click here to access.

Save $50 off full meeting registration by using code: ICFPA10
 

Read Great an article about the 2010 Spring Boot Camp by Davis Janowski of Investment News:

http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20100307/REG/303079970






Would you like to be able to add blog posts, audios and videos quickly and easily to your online presence? Attend the 2010 Fall Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp and walk away with professionally branded blog and Twitter pages, complete with your first podcast, video and text comments!

Save $50 off full meeting registration by using code: ICFPA10

You can register with your Denver 2010 conference registration, please click here to access.






Read read this account of the 2010 Spring Boot Camp written by Christina Nelson, Associate Editor, Financial Planning Association Practice Management Center: Social Media Boot Camp to the Rescue!

Building a Strong Online Presence - Share Your Tips and Advice Here!

Over the many years that I've been coaching financial advisors on Marketing Communications strategies, we've continually discussed how building a strong online presence is essential.

10-12 years ago, websites were just "coming of age" and advisors were asking "Do I really need to have a website? None of my clients are online." Today we know that not only do you need to have a website but it must be A GOOD website. People will look you up online and if they see a poor website (or no website), chances are they will move on to another option. Bottom line: you have to have a good website today to be considered a serious business.

Today, with the advent of LinkedIn, Naymz, Ning, Groupsite, Facebook, My Space, Intranets, Wikis, blogs, Twitter (which is essentially "micro-blogging), You Tube, EONs, and thousands of other social media sites ... coupled with the ability to cross-link to "traditional media mentions" such as WSJ, Kiplingers, local newspaper and magazine mentions, TV clips, etc. and audios, videos and/or multi-media presentations you produce on your own ... it's a wild, wide world of possibilities. I hear this common objection from advisors all the time: "Do I really need to do all this stuff? None of my clients are on XYZ (fill in the blank with Twitter, for instance). I predict that in 2-3 years, we will look back and see that participating on several social media sites - in addition to maintaining and populating a good website and blog - and in addition to having numerous "traditional media hits" - will be required to be seen as a viable resource.

Moral of the story: You owe it to yourself to understand your options today and to get ahead of the curve by embracing several online tactics now.

What happens when people "google" (or "bing") you? What do they see? Online reputation management and presence is important. You want scads of cool stuff to show up on the first google / bing page - articles you've had published, quotes in publications, a blog, your Twitter feeds, your LinkedIn page, your profile on FPA's site (or NAPFA, Garrett Network, Paladin Registry, WiserAdvisor, NAIFA, etc.), a You Tube video channel, a book you contributed to or wrote, online news releases, etc.

Here's one other "must": REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS WITH GOOGLE LOCAL AT http://www.google.com/local/add. You want to make sure that if anyone searches for you online, your name comes up!

Using the right keywords and meta tags (and copy in your web content) is also important.

I could go on and on ... but let's see what you all have to say. Everyone please chime in with your best tips and advice by posting your comments on this blog site.

Not only will be learn new ways to improve our online presences, but I'll be sharing some of our collective wisdom at Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp that I'm doing for FPA as a pre-conference offering (right before FPA's national conference in Denver) on Saturday, October 9, 2010.

If any of you want to attend that boot camp session, it will run from 8:30 am - noon (the 3.5 hour long session will include setting up professionally branded blog and twitter pages and populating your blog with both a podcast and a video clip / interview that we'll record there on site, as well as core content). We'll have a lunch break from noon - 1:00. Then I'll be leading an advanced cross-linking and online reputation management class from 1:00-3:00. The main conference kicks off that evening.

Just watch the FPA Bulletins if you want to consider joining me for the Social Media Boot Camp.

Meanwhile, please share your tips and advice on building a strong online presence here.

Thanks,
Marie Swift
Marketing Communications and PR Coach

Is Social Media a Fad? A Little Friendly Persuasion!

Listen to this: Building Relationships with Web 2.0 and Social Media

Vince Esposito of AdvisorConnect and Marie Swift of Impact Communications talk about ways financial advisors can use Web 2.0 and Social Media to market their services and build relationships.

Audio here:
http://www.audioacrobat.com/sa/WZT0dCrT

Slide show here:
http://www.slideshare.net/bgeyser/marie-swift-social-media

FINRA Guidance on Blogs and Social Networking Web Sites

Regulatory Notice 10-06

Executive Summary

Americans are increasingly using social media Web sites, such as blogs and social networking sites, for business and personal communications. Firms have asked FINRA staff how the FINRA rules governing communications with the public apply to social media sites that are sponsored by a firm or its registered representatives. This Notice provides guidance to firms regarding these issues.

Questions concerning this Notice may be directed to:

• Joseph E. Price, Senior Vice President, Advertising Regulation/Corporate Financing, at (240) 386-4623; or
• Thomas A. Pappas, Vice President and Director, Advertising Regulation, at (240) 386-4500.

View Full Notice

PDF 108 KB

To Blog or Not to Blog ... That is the Question

Last week, I was pleased to receive a phone call from journalist Helen Kearney.

Helen writes the Wealth Manager content for Thomson Reuters, the big news wire syndication service. She was hoping to speak with someone for a story she was writing on blogs - were they a useful marketing tool for advisors?

I was happy to share my opinions with Helen. And, yes, I did tell her that I thought blogs were a useful marketing communications tool for advisors.

I was happy to tell her about the first-ever Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp powered by FPA and Impact Communications (held 2/28/10 in Dallas in conjunction with FPA's annual Business Solutions Conference) and how Andy Millard (that's Andy in the photo on the left, about to go into his video interview session), one of the 22 participants in that beta boot camp had really embraced blogging since he set up his professionally branded blog and Twitter accounts as a part of the boot camp experience.

Below is Helen's article. There's lots of good advice in it - including insights from boot camp participant Andy Millard.

I also have great news:

FPA and Impact Communications will be offering another Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp on October 9, 2010 in conjunction with FPA's annual national conference (it's being held in Denver this fall). You can learn more at www.fpanet.org.

Pricing, location and other details are yet to be determined but we are thinking there will be one webinar to set the stage before the live boot camp, then a 3/4 day at the live boot camp in Denver where everyone will set up their own blog and Twitter accounts, film their first interview, record their first podcast, enter their first blog comments, and then share their results with the class while there in Denver. We'll still offer some sort of support after the boot camp - either a live webinar 30 days later or use FPA's online discussion board system.

I'll also be travelling quite a bit the next 3-6 months, talking about how to use social media to build your business while being compliant and still finding time to embrace your traditional marketing and PR activities (oh, and take care of your clients, your staff, your business, your life ...).

I'll be at IAA's Annual Conference in Chicago on April 28, FPA's Dallas Symposium on May 7 and FPA's Chicago Symposium on May 24 talking about the aforementioned topic (as well as many other conferences where I'll be talking about Marketing and PR, articulating your value as an advisor today, and much more. You can see all my speaking events at www.impactcommunications.org.

And so, without further ado, here is Helen Kearney's article:

To Blog or Not to Blog

By Helen Kearney

NEW YORK, April 6 (Reuters) - If you think blogging is something better left to your teenage daughter, think again. Financial advisers who have jumped into the world of social media say it's a big hit with their older clients -- and a great way to attract new ones.

"My retired clients spend a lot of time online. Their kids have set them up on email and they have more time to look around," said Andy Millard, a Tryon, North Carolina-based independent financial adviser who recently started a weekly blog.

Blogs can be a useful marketing tool for advisers.

READ MORE>>>
To Blog or Not to Blog

At Boot Camp, Advisers Learn Social-Media Tools

Dear Boot Camp Graduates,

You may have noticed that Davis Janowski, a reporter from Investment News, sat in on our Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp last week.

Here's his report:

At boot camp, advisers learn social-media tools

Sammie Gatti, Steve Johnson and "Midwest Marty" (Marty Kurtz) are quoted - and our premier got some good, positive ink!

You can "follow" Davis Janowski on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ddjanowski

Enjoy,

Marie Swift
Lead Instructor

Reminder to all Boot Camp Graduates

Post-Boot Camp Webinar (3/30/10)

A follow up Webinar will be offered to ensure you have all the help you need to leverage your new tools and build your online presence. Marie Swift and select coaches will answer your remaining questions, take a look at your evolving Web presence, comment on things you are doing wrong/right, etc. Watch for login / callin instructions to arrive via email directly from FPA.

See you there!

Twitter Digest - A Baker's Dozen

Hey Boot Camp Graduates!

Here's a quick look at what I've been reading and tweeting about:

1. Getting the Most Out of Twitter - good NY Times article - http://nyti.ms/dqg9cU
2. Advisers aim to ramp up marketing spending - Investment News: http://bit.ly/cListy
3. David Drucker profiles @brettellen #1 w/ Securities America multiple yrs - FA mag: http://www.fa-mag.com/fa-news/5252-strong-alliances.html
4. Financial Planning mag: Special Report - Your Practice Management Questions Answered: How do I stand out? http://bit.ly/cmNxeH
5. Happy to be home after a flurry of trips. Spoke at TD Ameritrade conf, #T3Show and #FPABizSol. Next up Tiburon CEO Summit to run press conf.
6. Dare we try this? At least we can read this journalist's blog entries about her travails. No Spend Challenge Week 1 http://bit.ly/bPv7Td
7. FinaMetrica offers risk-tolerance test online FREE thru April if use link www.riskprofiling.com/money (offer in conjunction with MONEY mag)
8. Gauge your appetite for risk FinaMetrica’s 25-question risk-tolerance test www.myrisktolerance.com accurate measure psychological tolerance
9. Good article on balancing appetite for investment risk and capacity for investment risk. http://tinyurl.com/riskprofile
10. From @RIABiz: The FPA's practice management event #FPABizSol boasts two hot speakers in its first day http://www.riabiz.com/a/139166
11. Wow! This is a GREAT site. Full of free worksheets and articles focused on creating Financial Happiness. http://www.financial-happiness.com
12. Securities America Advisors Collaborate and Achieve Success - podcast with Paul Lofties, plus related news release: http://shar.es/m3JOb
13. Estate Planning in 2010 - Good article by Kate McBride, editor, Wealth Manager: http://shar.es/m3iN

Not on Twitter yet? You should be! Sign up for free at http://www.twitter.com and search "people" to find "marieswift". Then follow @marieswift and join in as the spirit moves you.

I learn a lot from following my favorite journalists and industry peers on Twitter.

Why not give it a whirl - if only just to listen?

FPA Business Solutions Conference Recap 2010

Great recap of the conference on Day 2 from Davis Janowski of Investment News!

http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100302/BLOG02/100309972/1094/INDaily03

Social Media Boot Camp to the Rescue!

Great recap of our 3.5 hour workshop together in Dallas on 2/28/10 compliments of the FPA national staff. Good photos, too - Julie Littlechild, Sammie Gatti and
Lewis Walker.

Excerpt:
"Marie Swift hosted a Social Media Boot Camp on Feb. 28 as a pre-conference event to FPA Business Solutions 2010 in Dallas. During the live session on Sunday afternoon, participants worked with on-site media experts to learn more about avenues on the Web for building interactions with colleagues, clients and prospects. They also got the chance to record short video and audio clips for uploading to their newly created blogs."


Read FPA's complete boot camp recap by clicking here.

We hope to repeat the Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp in cities across the country in the coming months. "Follow" @marieswift on Twitter to ensure you get the latest and greatest news. You can also "follow" this blog and get updates via email every time something new is posted - just click "follow" on the left hand side of the screen.

Also - don't miss this example of new blog one of our "students" created - complete with video interview, podcast and compelling article - during the 3.5 hour workshop: http://www.andymillard.blogspot.com.

Blog on new students!

Marie Swift
Lead Instructor, Dallas Boot Camp 2/28/10

Check List for Your Dallas Trip

Your coaching team and I look forward to seeing you in Dallas this Sunday, February 28, 2010.

Please arrive 15-30 minutes early to check in and get settled. We will begin promptly at 2:00. We have a lot to accomplish in our 3 1/2 hours together.

Please be sure to bring the following items with you:

1. Laptop, batteries, cords, mouse. We need everyone to be self-reliant with their own computer equipment; however, a few "loaner" laptops will be available for emergency use.

2. Your customized scripts / talking points for both your audio recording and your video recording. You should have received two base scripts - one for the audio and one for the video - to edit and "make your own" (earlier this week, from Mary Ellen Banta at Impact Communications). If you didn't get them or haven't customized them, don't worry, we will have hard copies at the boot camp and you can do quick edits there.

3. Ideas for your first "foundational entries" for your newly established blog and Twitter page. You can also just "get into the spirit" and create them in the moment while in the Content Creation Room in Dallas.

4. URLs, passwords and usernames for (a) your blog account (b) your Twitter account. You will need to get into both your blog and your Twitter accounts to post content.

5. Wear camera-ready attire on Sunday. We will be filming you.

6. Smiling face, alert mind, energy!

Don't worry if you don't have everything "perfect" before arriving in Dallas. Just be sure you have your basic blog and Twitter accounts established. A coach will be on hand in the Foundation Room to help you finish up that process if you have not had time to get through that entire set up process.

The goal of the boot camp is to show you how easy it is to create and upload content to your blog. We will also help you do your first couple of Tweets to draw traffic to your blog and/or website (or to other important articles).

If you need to hold back a little bit due to needing compliance approval first before going "live" with any audios, videos, text, etc., no worries. You can use this as a practice session - and, who knows, compliance may approve your content "as is" once they see it.

Here's contact info for my team:

• (913) 649-5009 - Impact Communications Main Office (will route calls to me)
  
• info@impactcommunications.org - (staff will respond and/or forward notes to me)

My team and I will be flying in to Dallas on Saturday 2/27/10 (today). We will be staying at the conference hotel so if you need to reach one of us, just call the front desk and ask to be connected with either Marie Swift or Quinn Law. We'll be on the premises as of 7 pm cst 2/27/10.

See you there! We are going to have a lot of fun creating and adding content to your newly established blog and Twitter pages.

Warm regards,

Marie Swift
President and CEO
Impact Communications, Inc.

What to expect at the February 28, 2010 Boot Camp

Click player bars below to listen to audio comments

Introduction - from Head Coach Marie Swift

What to Expect at February 28, 2010 Boot Camp - from Head Coach Marie Swift

1. Arrive in the Boot Camp room at 1:45 p.m. local time. Get your name tag. Hook up your equipment. You should bring your own laptop, mouse and all corresponding batteries, cords, etc. We will provide a cable internet connection for each participant.

2. You should dress in a professional manner - business casual, at a minimum. We will be filming your first video-cast. You may write your own script and deliver it on your own, in a one-person face-front fashion. Or Marie Swift will briefly interview and interact with you in a two-way dialog. We will provide the video equipment needed. You will need to bring your talking points / script. We will discuss this on our pre-Boot Camp Webinar, providing tips and advice so that you are ready when you arrive.

3. You should arrive with your initial blog and Twitter pages established and ready to load with the podcast and video clip that we will be creating live at the Boot Camp. Remember: we'll be giving you a step-by-step demonstration of how exactly to set up your initial blog and Twitter pages during our pre-bootcamp webinar on 2/12/10. For the live boot camp: Bring your username, password and urls to both your blog and your Twitter accounts. Again: We will discuss this initial set up requirement on our pre-Boot Camp Webinar, providing a virtual tutorial to get you started.

4. You will be shown how to record your first podcast using a telephone (land line that we will provide). You will need to bring your talking points / script. We will discuss this on our pre-Boot Camp Webinar, providing tips and advice so that you are ready when you arrive.

5. At 2:00 p.m., local time, Marie Swift will welcome the group and introduce the coaches who will be assisting her that day. She will break the room up into 3 groups - Red Team, Yellow Team and Blue Team. Each team will have a team captain (team captains will be determined on site).

For the next 2.5 hours, the 3 teams will rotate to 3 planned workstations:

• Podcast recording room
• Videocast recording room
• Content creation and file upload center
• Brainstorming and coaching room
  

Assistant coaches and team captains will facilitate the process, coaching and rehearsing people as needed.

We will come back together as a big group approximately 5:00 pm to share what we learned, insights gleaned, etc. You may wish to show your newly branded blog and Twitter pages to the group (we will have an LCD projector and screen, as well as an internet connection established, at the front of the room so all you will need to do is key in your blog and Twitter URLs.

6. The session ends at 5:30 pm. You will be encouraged to form dinner groups to continue the dialog and idea sharing. Get a good night's sleep as FPA Business Solutions Conference begins bright and early the next day.

Program Overview

Click player bar to listen to audio comments from Marie Swift

Are you interested in using the latest Web 2.0 technology to drive traffic to your website? This four-part program uses both Webinars and onsite training to help you understand the many things you can be doing now to build relationships with your clients and market your business.

The Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp and three related Webinars will help you harness the power of the worldwide web through blogs, podcasts, video-casts, community forums, multi-media presentations, webinars, etc. that serve as a comprehensive expression of your brand and offering. Impact Communications will show you exactly what to do to use social media and Web 2.0 to your advantage.


Here’s an overview of the four-part plan:

Element #1 – Introductory Webinar (1/20/10)

In an Introductory Webinar, marketing expert Marie Swift (www.impactcommunications.org) and multi-media expert Chris Hall (producer of www.Advisorpod.com) will provide an overview of the various social media tools, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Groupsite and Ning. In addition, Nancy Johnson Jones (www.compliancemaze.com), an industry compliance expert, will provide insights about what you can and can't do as an RIA and/or Registered Representative.

Attend this Webinar FREE if you have already enrolled for the rest of the program, as shown below. Or pay just for this Webinar: $25 if an FPA Member ($35 if non-member) and skip the rest of the program below – but you’ll be missing out on several highly valuable deliverables if you don’t continue on with the rest of the program. If you decide to register for the full program, below, the Webinar fee you paid for element #1 will be deducted from your total fee.

Element #2 – Pre-Boot Camp Webinar (2/12/10)

Building on the Introductory Webinar, above, marketing pro Marie Swift and award-winning graphic designer Christy Barron will tell you everything you need to do to get ready for your live Boot Camp experience in Dallas. They will give you a virtual tutorial, showing you how to set up your own branded blog and Twitter pages. They will give you important homework assignments and encourage you to be ready for the live Dallas Boot Camp session on 2/28/10.

Element #3 – Live Boot Camp Experience (2/28/10)

Then, in the live onsite Boot Camp, Impact Communications' team of experts will help you build out your branded Twitter and a branded blog pages, complete with your first videocast, podcast, and several foundational entries. This will be a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves working session. You will be provided with a cable internet connection; attendees are asked to bring their own laptop, batteries, cords and mouse (some “loaner” laptops may be available if you really can’t bring your own laptop – inquire). Impact's professional team of graphic designers, copywriters, film producers and web wizards will be on hand to assist you ever step of the way.

See “What to Expect at the Boot Camp” above.

Element #4 – Post-Boot Camp Webinar (3/30/10)

A follow up Webinar will be offered to ensure you have all the help you need to leverage your new tools and build your online presence. Marie Swift and select coaches will answer your remaining questions, take a look at your evolving Web presence, comment on things you are doing wrong/right, etc.

Welcome from Head Coach Marie Swift

Hello! We are excited that you have enrolled for (or are considering enrolling for) the Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp powered by FPA and Impact Communications. I'm Marie Swift, President and CEO of Impact Communications. I am pleased to be working with FPA to mastermind and bring this new and exciting pre-conference event to financial professionals nationwide.

This Event Blog will give you important information and help you leverage your participation. Please read it carefully.

To ensure you get updates and the most current information:

Please sign up to “follow” this blog. Click the “follow” button to the right. If you do not already have a Google Account, set one up now so that (a) you can get automatic updates via email whenever we update this blog (b) you will be able to set up your blogspot account during the pre-Boot Camp preparatory Webinar described below.

If you have questions:

1. Please post them on this blog and one of the faculty members will reply. It is important that you include your phone number and email address in any questions/comments you post.

2. If you need more immediate help, please contact Teresa Law at (913) 649-5009 or via email info@impactcommunications.org.

We look forward to interacting with you on the various webinars, teleconference and live boot camp in Dallas!

Save 15% on FPA Business Solutions Conference 2010!

Sponsored by

To save 15% on registration: Use code BSC10MS

Visit www.fpasolutions.org to register for both the

FPA Business Solutions Conference 2010
an advanced practice management conference
being held in Dallas March 1-3, 2010

and

Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp
a special pre-conference session powered by FPA
Impact Communications in Dallas on February 28, 2010

Important Dates – Mark Your Calendar Now!

Recorded on: January 20, 2010

Introductory Webinar: Using Web 2.0 and Social Media to Build Relationships and Market Your Business

with Marie Swift, Nancy Johnson Jones and Chris Hall

Details: http://www.fpanet.org/Learn/VirtualLearningCenter/ClassDescriptions/UsingWeb20AndSocialMediaToBuildRelationships

Note: Anyone registered for the live Boot Camp being held in Dallas, TX February 28, 2010, will have access to the above webinar at no additional charge as part of the Boot Camp package.
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Register now for best price for both the Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp and the FPA Business Solutions Conference

FPA Business Solutions Conference: The Advanced Business Management Conference (March 1-3, 2010, Dallas, TX)


Faxed registration - http://www.fpanet.org/member/downloads/BSC2010REG.pdf


Online registration - http://www.fpanet.org/EventsConferences/Conferences/BusinessSolutions/RegistrationHousing/

Members: $675
 Nonmembers: $775

Pre-conference Workshop: Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp, Powered by Impact Communications (Sunday, February 28, 2010, 2:00-5:30 p.m.) (Limited to first 60 participants)

Members: $350
 Nonmembers $450


Details: http://www.fpanet.org/EventsConferences/Conferences/BusinessSolutions/About/WhatsNew/SocialMediaBootCamp/

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February 12, 2010 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm CST

Pre-Boot Camp Webinar: Preparing for the Boot Camp / Homework Assignments


with Marie Swift and Christy Barron
Free with paid Boot Camp tuition

Details: A webinar invitation will be sent to all paid Boot Camp participants. Log in and call in
information will be included in that automated webinar invitation.

Note: Do not miss this webinar! We will be telling you how to set up your blog and Twitter accounts, doing a virtual tutorial - including how to brand and customize your pages - plus providing details on what you need to do between 2/12/10 and the live Boot Camp in Dallas on 2/28/10.

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February 28, 2010 from 2:00 - 5:30 pm CST

Live Web 2.0 and Social Media Boot Camp in Dallas

http://www.fpanet.org/EventsConferences/Conferences/BusinessSolutions/About/WhatsNew/SocialMediaBootCamp/

http://www.fpanet.org/EventsConferences/Conferences/BusinessSolutions/RegistrationHousing/Housing/

See “What to Expect at the Boot Camp” – below.

March 1-3, 2010 (2.5 days of educational content)

FPA Business Solutions Conference: The Advanced Business Management Conference, Dallas, Texas

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March 30, 2010 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm CST

Post-Boot Camp Webinar: Completion and Self-Empowerment Session


with Marie Swift and Select Coaches
Free with paid Boot Camp tuition

Details: A webinar invitation will be sent to all paid Boot Camp participants. Log in and call in information will be included in that automated webinar invitation.

Note: Bring your final questions and success stories to this completion and self-empowerment session having used your new online presence for the past 30 days since completing the live Boot Camp in Dallas on 2/28/10.