Living and Loving the Web

As a passionate, tech-loving digital marketer, I often speak on the subjects that I spend my time on: social media, web strategy, content marketing, blogging and other similar topics. I keep current in digital marketing trends and as partner of Magnetic Ideas, I often get to put them into practice. I have been known to speak about some of the the other topics I’m passionate about, including cooking, and the gluten free-life.

Learning to “Speak”

I have always considered myself a communicator. First I was a visual communicator, working in the the medium of design. I designed logos, advertisements and more, using a vocabulary of form, shape and color.  Next I became conformable communicating through the written word. Blogging helped me find my “voice” and made me adept at putting my thoughts down on paper. But there was something missing. For as long as I could remember I wanted to be able to get up in front of people and express my thoughts. I imagined myself standing up in front of a crowded room and simply giving an “off the cuff” speech that was profound and entertaining. After several failures I realized that this was not a natural gift of mine. In fact as soon as I stood up all of my thoughts seemed to immediately flee my head to leave me standing there, devoid of wit or content!

All of that changed when I joined Toastmasters and learned the fundamentals of public speaking. I learned that it takes hours of practice and preparation to making a speech seem effortless.  I learned that studying and “knowing your material” allows you to speak “off of the cuff”, and that impromptu speaking was an art in and of itself. The more I had the opportunity to speak in front of groups, the more confident I became, and the more I found my “voice”. Now that I have given dozens of talks in various venues with various subjects I know how to create and present stimulating presentations that inform and entertain.

Here is a list of some events where Jeff has given a presentation or speech:

• Enhancing Content with Visuals – ConvergeSouth, October 2014, Winston-Salem, NC
• What is Gluten Free and What Does it Have to Do With Me? December 6th, 2013, Summit Rotary Club, Greensboro, NC
• Bite-sized tips for Facebook Pages  – ConvergeSouth October 15, 2013, Greensboro, NC
• Quick & Dirty WordPress Customization The WordPress Doctors- TIMA,  Raleigh, NC
• A Balanced Digital Marketing Diet  – Business can Be Sweet- May 2013, High Point, NC
• Social Media for Health care Administrators, Randolph Hospital, April, 2013, Asheboro, NC
• Triangle AMA Social Media Discussion Panel, Raleigh February 2013, Raleigh, NC
• What is Gluten Free and What Does it have to do with me? February 2013, Crescent Rotary Club, Greensboro, NC
• Content Marketing: Getting and Keeping Attention  – October 12, 2012, ConvergeSouth, Greensboro, NC
• Using LinkedIn for Lead Generation – Falcone Training Center, December 2011, Greensboro, NC
• Building a Web Presence for Non-Profits – ConvergeSouth 2011 October 6, 2011, Greensboro, NC
• Using WordPress as your Online Home – Social Media Summer Camp- Proximity Hotel-  Aug. 2011, Greensboro, NC
• Featured Speaker, Social Media Tweetup,  Rioja Wine Bar, June 30th, Greensboro, NC
• Marketing Made Clear – 4 person discussion panel. June 23, 2011, Greensboro, NC
• Blogging 102 – Linking Greensboro – April 19, 2011, Greensboro, NC
• Marketing for Artists – Greensboro Center for Creativity April-May 2011
• Social Media Marketing – ITT-Solutions March 2011
• Blogging 101 & Everything I needed to know about Social Media I Learned from Blogging – Linking Greensboro – Jan 19th, 201
• Marketing your Business Online, Smug Mug Users Group – November 2010, Greensboro, NC
• Blogs and Web Search – Gluten Free Meet up-  – November, 2010, Greensboro, NC
• iPhone and iPad App Development – ConvergeSouth 2010, Oct 2nd, 2010, Greensboro, NC
• Social Media Marketing – Quanteniance Weaver Social Media Summit – April 2010, Greensboro, NC