You may have noticed that a big part of what we're trying to accomplish with the NetworkInAustin events is more productive networking. Not just talking and writing about it, but demonstrating it in an experiential way. If you're like me you learn a lot better by doing or experiencing something rather than reading about it or being told about it. Which brings us to the next step in highly productive and meaningful networking. I've written and talked before about the idea of Passionate Involvement. In my experience this form of networking is by far the most powerful and creates the best outcomes for you and your community. This is such an important concept we wanted to create ways for you to experience these benefits in a low-risk way that will also have a tremendous impact on local organizations here in Austin. Enter "NetworkInAustin Gives." The idea behind this initiative is to partner with a different local non-profit organization each quarter and offer a couple of ways we can get involved together. With each of these quarterly programs there will be a volunteering component and a fundraising component where you can get involved with one or both aspects. We'll be partner with a variety of organizations in an effort to broaden your horizons and understanding of the many different causes who want and need your help here in Austin. Our hope is that these programs reach beyond just the NetworkInAustin membership. Networking is not just something that happens when you're out at events or in a professional setting. All of your relationships are important: Family, friends, co-workers, church, neighbors, etc. We hope that you'll use these projects as a tool to help strengthen all of your relationships. We'll be working to keep these opportunities broad enough that you can get many people involved. Demonstrate your leadership and value to your organization by raising money for one of the causes, or bring together a group of your close friends to volunteer. In the end we hope to strengthen our own community and the broader Austin community through giving. Please join us in NetworkInAustin Gives! Happy Networking! Scott Ingram NetworkInAustin.com

I am honored to be a nominee for the Texas Social Media Awards. The Texas Social Media Awards is a brilliant idea brought to us by the Austin American Statesman. The Statesman is truly leading the way not just in Austin, but nationally when it comes to traditional media's usage of social media. They're not eligible for their own awards, but I would argue that its the Statesman who really deserves to win the Social Media Award. With nearly all of their reporters on Twitter it's now possible to truly have a dialogue with the daily paper. They really understand that the power of social media is creating community and conversation, and that's just what they're doing. Currently there are 125 nominees. The top 25 will be chosen and displayed by Feb. 18. An overall Statesman winner will be awarded at a party on March 15 which coincides with SXSW. It appears that much of the selection for the finalists will be based on the public comments about each nominee. Hopefully this doesn't turn into too much of a popularity contest. I'd much rather see the individuals who set the best examples of social media usage be finalists, not just those who receive the most comments. That being said I'm personally not beyond doing a little bit of campaigning, and would like to ask for your help. If you've benefited from the events and networking tips I share in the NetworkInAustin.com Newsletter or from any of the hundreds of blog posts I've written over the last 3.5+ years I hope you'll share your comments about the specific value you've received. Also if you have learned anything from the way that I utilize LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter I hope you'll share that as well. Share your comments on Scott's social media usage: Help me become a finalist! I'm probably not the only nominee you know. Please also considering commenting on the nominations of some of the other nominees who you feel are deserving. Here is a list of some of my friends and others I'm quite familiar with who certainly deserve a nod: Andy Meadows Bryan Menell Bryan Person Connie Reece David Davenport Elizabeth (Liz) Handlin Eugene Sepulveda Jay Ehret John Erik Metcalf Joshua Baer Kay Bell Doug Ulman (Lance Armstrong Foundation)   Michelle Greer   Mike Chapman Sam Decker If you really want to learn what social media is all about spend some time understanding what these folks and the rest of the nominees are doing. Something tells me your time will be very well invested. I hope to find some time to do this myself. Congratulations to all of the nominees! Happy Networking! Scott Ingram NetworkInAustin.com

The most excited part of the new NetworkInAustin.com monthly meetings is the NetStorming format that we've spent the last couple of months refining. Most networking events don't provide a structure for truly productive networking to occur. Most just throw a bunch of people in a room together, perhaps they apply some alcohol and then hope for a successful networking experience. Others give everyone an opportunity to stand and give an elevator pitch. That's not networking. That's advertising to each other. Not exactly productive. I think many people become frustrated with networking or find that it isn't productive and doesn't produce the results they were looking for. That's because they're not really networking. They might be going to networking events, but they're not getting enough opportunities to really network. NetStorming fixes all of this. You'll have an opportunity to provide value, get value, demonstrate your unique expertise and begin building real profitable relationships. This is about experiencing what networking really is. Not talking about good networking, or learning about it from a speaker. No, we're talking about experiencing productive networking in real-time. In a nutshell you'll be seated at a table with 7 others. Each person will have 5 minutes to do whatever they like with the group. Those who don't know better will probably pitch for 5 minutes. The good news for you if there's someone like this at your table is that you only have to put up with them for 5 minutes. The real networkers will provide 30 seconds to a minute of background and context and will ask for very specific advice or specific introductions from the others at the table. All of this advice and follow-up items will be captured and e-mailed back to the group to provide a level of accountability for the follow-up items that were committed to. Plus you don't have to stress about taking a bunch of notes and can remain fully engaged. I'm not going to explain every nuance of the format here. Those who register for our events will receive a NetStorming primer prior to the event where you'll learn more about how the format works and how to get the most out of it for yourself. The results from my initial tests of this format were phenomenal! I tried NetStorming with a small group that's been getting together consistently for the last 3 years. This is a very productive group based on real revenue results from our relationships. After just one demo we agreed that this was the single most productive meeting we'd had together. As in the best of over 150 meetings! Come join us and experience for yourself what NetStorming is all about. Happy Networking! Scott Ingram NetworkInAustin.com