1) 50% OFF one advanced ticket for this Wednesday’s NJ Social Media Training Session: Intro to Google+ (reg.price $49)

2) 50% OFF first 3 months of Constant Contact Email Marketing Services

*****

NJ Social Media Workshop: Introduction to Google+
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Time: 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: Launchpad Creatives, 97 Main St., Woodbridge NJ 07095
Cost: $49 in advance, $59 at the door, includes dinner. Seating is limited, wi-fi available
RSVP: via EventBrite http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2547106464
USE PROMO CODE: CYBERMONDAY to receive 50% off one advanced ticket, offer ends at midnight Monday 11/28/11

*****

Get started with your own Email Marketing Campaign for your business!
For more info: http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?pn=njsocialmedia
USE PROMO CODE: CYBERSP when signing up, to receive 50% off your first 3 months of Email Marketing. Offer ends midnight Monday 11/28/11

NJ Social Media is a Constant Contact Partner

 *****

Talk to you soon,
NJ Social Media. com
Tel. 1-877-708-0884
Email: editor@njsocialmedia.com

Join us on Facebook: NJ Social Media

Sign up for our NJ Social Media Email Newsletter

Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Time: 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: Launchpad Creatives, 97 Main St., Woodbridge NJ 07095
Cost: $49 in advance, $59 at the door, includes dinner. Seating is limited, wi-fi available
RSVP: via EventBrite  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2547106464

Sponsored by NJ Social Media.com and Launchpad Creatives

Let’s take a look at the newest social networking site, Google+ (Google Plus, G+) recently introduced by Google.

In this two hour presentation and Q&A session with Eva Abreu, you’ll get a basic overview and tour of the Google+ platform, learn how to set up a new personal profile and Google+ business page, define and demonstrate features such as Circle, Chat and Hangouts, and compare and contrast Google+ with Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.

Case studies will be featured to highlight how others are using Google+ on a personal and professional basis. Participants will have access to a free follow up Hangout and webinar for additional Google+ training.

Questions: Email confirm@njsocialmedia.com or tel. 1-877-708-0884

RSVP: via EventBrite  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2547106464

Instructor: Eva Abreu writes a weekly social media business column for the Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com. She teaches at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University and publishes NJ Social Media .com

Hope to see you there!
NJ Social Media. com

Join us on Facebook: NJ Social Media

Sign up for our NJ Social Media Email Newsletter

***

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Desert Island Discs
By Brian Swisher

Today’s NJ Social Media music column will discuss Desert Island Discs, a term used to describe an album or music that you would want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island.

I know that this is a topic that is repeatedly found on the Internet but, as the lead music columnist for the NJ Social Media Music and Entertainment section, I would like to get an idea of what everyone is listening to, past and present. Let us know what album or song resonates with you on either an emotional or spiritual level.

So, to start things off, I’ll share with you my Top Five Desert Island Discs (in no particular order) from a bass player’s point of view (me).

1. Abbey Road – The Beatles – This album blew me away. Up to that point in my sheltered youth growing up in suburban Midland Park NJ, I was listening to The Monkees Greatest Hits and Multiplication Rock on my parent’s old record player in our living room. When one of my older brothers played this album, I was sent on a journey like nothing else before. The harmonies, the melodies and, oh yeah, amazing songs. Paul McCartney took pop bass playing to a new level; just listen to ‘Come Together’ and try to imagine no bass playing. You can’t.

2. Tapestry – Carol King – My  mom played this album a lot in my house when I was growing up and still, to this day, when I hear ‘So Far Away,’ I am taken back to the house I grew up in, more specifically the living room with the ugly green carpeting and fake panel flooring. Hey, it was the 70s after all.  Charles Larkey was the bass player and he played every track with grace.

3. All the Worlds A Stage – Rush – When you grow up the youngest of three boys, who are both musicians as well (I am a bass player, and the others are a guitar player and a drummer), hard rock makes its appearance. Sure, there was the live Deep Purple album, some Alice Cooper and some Black Sabbath, but when I heard the inventive Geddy Lee play his bass and sing (albeit a very high screamer) at the same time, I knew I stumbled upon some very influential bass playing. I love the track ‘Lakeside Park’, it tells a great story.

4. Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder – There was a Latino family who lived around the corner from my house and their youngest and I were best friends growing up. The kid’s name was Gerald Gerard – haven’t seen or heard from him in about twenty years now.  When I went to their house, his older sisters would play lots of R&B and Funk – this is where I first heard ‘Living for the City’ and it hit me like a ton of bricks. If Geddy Lee of Rush taught me how to be fearless, Stevie Wonder’s left hand taught me how to hold a groove.

5. Living with the Law – Chris Whitley – For some unknown reason, this album resonates with me on an emotional level and I couldn’t really tell you why. Hearing the spacious ‘Big Sky Country’ and the haunting ‘Phone Call from Leavenworth’ have left an indelible mark on me and honestly, I could not tell you why. I just love this album. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album with headphones. It takes you away.

Let me know what your favorite “can’t leave home without’ em” albums are! We want to hear from you. Leave a comment below or on our Facebook Page

Contributing author,

Brian Swisher
www.totallywink.com

Brian is a full time music lover, thirty year bass player, part time blogger, dad and husband.

Photo courtesy of Brian Swisher, listening to music in the living room of his parent’s house with headphones on, back in the day.

Scroll down for additional articles and resources.

Photo credit: Morris County Library, Info Center via Flickr Creative Commons License

Updated: November 15, 2011

NJ Job Search Stories Wanted

Seeking Guest Writers to help us update our site by contributing real-life stories of job search challenges in New Jersey. Are you using social media to help you land a job? What questions do you have about social networking and the job search process in NJ? Email: editor@njsocialmedia.com with your story ideas, questions or comments. Thanks!  ~Eva

Updated: May 11, 2011

NJWorks.org

Here’s a resource that I saw on the side of bus as I was driving this morning, so I thought I would check it out: http://njworks.org
The goal of NJWorks.org: To help in the economic recovery of the state by giving libraries the tools they need to expand services to the unemployed and underemployed.

You can search for free classes and workshops for help with your resume and online job search, view career videos, learn about resources for small businesses, plus more.

Have you used your local library as a resource for your job search? Was it helpful? Contact me with your comments by email: editor@njsocialmedia.com and let me know how your job search is going.

Updated: April 22, 2011

Energy Bill Paying Assistance

Do you know someone having trouble paying their energy bills? Let them know help is available. In challenging economic times, there are customers who may need assistance in paying their natural gas bills. Non-profit organizations and federal, state and local agencies offer a variety of programs to assist qualified individuals.

Click pdf for more info or visit http://www.elizabethtowngas.com/Home/EnergyAssistance.aspx

It’s a new year, let’s take a new look at you.

We all have a talent, something that we’re really good at. What’s your talent?

Need help figuring it out?

1. Talk to someone who really knows you and ask them for their honest opinion.

2. Figure out a way to let the world know about your talent, like Ted Williams did. Don’t keep it to yourself!

3. Let me know how I can help — by helping you figure out your talent, or by helping you publicize your talent here on our site for free. Contact me, let’s talk: email editor at njsocialmedia dot com.

Let’s get you working for the new year!

Best wishes,
Eva, email: editor at njsocialmedia dot com

Updated: December 17, 2010

Back to Work NJ

Commentary on NewJerseyNewsroom.com about “Back to Work NJ” — a legislative initiative to create jobs, lure new businesses and jump-start economic development, written by Stephen M. Sweeney and Sheila Y. Oliver.

Sweeney, of Gloucester County, is the Senate President. Oliver, of East Orange, is Speaker of the General Assembly.

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/commentary/its-time-to-put-new-jersey-back-to-work

Updated: November 15, 2010

For those receiving NJ unemployment benefits, how will this change affect you?

A recent article from Oct. 27, 2010 in the Asbury Park Press [ or see link at http://www.app.com/article/20101027/NEWS03/101027004/NJ-to-replace-unemployment-checks ] discusses how the NJ Department of Labor will replace weekly unemployment checks with either direct deposit or Bank of America debit cards, saving the state up to $8 million a year. According to the report, the last of the checks will be sent by February 2011. What are your thoughts? Join the discussion on Facebook at NJ Social Media page.

Updated: November 8, 2010

Social media paid training offered by NJ Department of Labor

You  may have read about the accelerated Social Media Marketing Course, offered as part of the Rutgers Mini MBA Program. (See previous post on NJSocialMedia.com for more information).

Here is exciting news for New Jersey residents who are receiving unemployment benefits!
For those living in New Jersey, funding (up to $5,000) is available from the New Jersey Department of Labor that, if you qualify, would pay for the entire course! Job-seekers can find out more by visiting their local One Stop career office (click here for the State of NJ One Stop office locator) and making an appointment to meet with a jobs counselor to discuss how to apply for these funds.

Updated: November 5, 2010

RESOURCE:
Website link for State of New Jersey re UnemploymentClaims, Benefits, Career Training
Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development: http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/ui/ui_index.html

What has your experience been in dealing with the State of NJ and unemployment benefits and training? Has it been good, bad, or otherwise?

We’d like to know! Contact us via email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com or voicemail: 1-877-708-0884

Updated: August 11, 2010

Hire Me-NJ Job Search Discussion and Networking
Featuring Absolutely Abby

Previously held on Sunday, Aug. 8, from 7pm-8:30pm
Location: Nighthawk Book, Highland Park NJ

See more details and info on our Events Page: http://njsocialmedia.com/nj-events

* * *

Updated: July 29, 2010

Job-focused community collaboration in Somerset County, NJ

In a recent column by Paul Grzella, General Manager/Editor of Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com, he explained about a new job-focused initiative created by the Somerset County Business Partnership.

Grzella wrote:

“The group’s aim is to know what jobs employers have now, and what jobs they will have in the future, so that the workforce in the region can fit employers’ needs today and five years from now. The group’s goal is simple yet profound — to develop a system so that everyone can work in a productive job and be ready to be retooled if the job market and job needs change.”

Read Paul Grzella’s full column from July 26, 2010 here: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100726/OPINION06/100726030/1187

For more information about the Somerset County Business Partnership, call 908-218-4300 or visit www.SCBP.org

* * *

Updated: July 28, 2010

Getting a Job in Social Media, interview with NJ’s Deb Ng

Column in myCentralJersey.com by Eva Abreu features Deb Ng of Hillsborough, NJ; discusses how Deb has landed jobs in social media

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107280313

* * *

Updated: July 16, 2010

NJ – Getting a job using Social Media

Here’s a great example of the use of Twitter and social networking to land a job.  Interview with Colleen Curry – @currycolleen – Hyperlocal Editor for Freehold.InJersey.com Video by @AsburyPop, VoxPopNJ.com Laura Gesin.

This interview, taped in July 2009, details how Colleen found a job right out of Journalism school through the use of Twitter.

(Video used with permission. Thank you to Laura Gesin at voxpopnj.com!)

Updated: July 13, 2010

From Australia to NY: how graphic designer Jacob Cass was hired through Twitter.

Here is his blog post from July 2009 describing how he received a job inquiry through Twitter: Aussie Goes to NYC
An update: as of today, he’s now searching for another full-time opportunity and has posted it publicly on his blog. Best wishes to Jacob and we’ll keep watch to see if he finds his next gig using social media. Do you know of a similar story of landing a job using Twitter or Facebook? Let us know: email editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com . Update: Jacob found a job within 2 weeks of his job search! Here he explains how he did it and his advice for job seekers: http://justcreativedesign.com/2010/08/02/design-agency-job-hunting-tips/

Updated: July 10, 2010

25 Places to Find Social Media Jobs

Looking for a job in social media? NJ’s own Deb Ng shares some great resources in her blog post:  http://kommein.com/50-places-to-find-social-media-jobs/

Updated: July 9, 2010

A New Job Just A Tweet Away

By Sarah E. Needleman, Wall Street Journal Article, Sept. 8, 2009
This article discusses how companies use Twitter to list job openings.
Hat tip to Joseph Cannizzaro (Twitter @Cannizzaro718 ) for posting this on Twitter

Updated: June 30, 2010

Job Search Sites

Here’s a good source for job listings in NJ on www.CNNMoney.com:
http://jobsearch.money.cnn.com/a/all-jobs/list/l-new+jersey

What other job search sites do you think we should add here? Email: editor at njsocialmedia dot com or tweet @NJSocialMedia

Updated: June 29, 2010

Real Simple Article: How to Find a Job (yes, even now)

I recently picked up a copy of the June 2010 edition of Real Simple Magazine on the newsstand (yes, I’m one of the only 2 people left on earth who actually reads a hard copy of a magazine!) I read the following article “How to Find a Job  (yes, even now)” featuring 9 women who describe how they got their most recent job.

I thought it might be helpful to you (whether you’re a man or a women, the same job search strategies can apply to anyone) so I looked up the online edition to post here: http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/job-career

What are your thoughts? How are your job search efforts coming along? Leave a comment below or tweet me on Twitter @NJSocialMedia.  Best wishes –Eva

Updated: June 24, 2010

NJ Wired for Hire

For NJ folks seeking employment, a free 10 week program in Flemington NJ is being offered by MGD Services. They are accepting applications for Wired for Hire, which is part of a national program, visit http://mgdservices.com/career-center/candidate-services for details.

Updated: June 11, 2010
I’ve decided to pull the plug on comments and disable the feature because of the extraordinary amount of spam, until further notice.  Sorry for any inconvenience! Have a question or want to get profiled on this site? Email editor@njsocialmedia.com – Thanks!

Update: May 31, 2010 by Eva~
As mentioned, one of the features of this section is to profile individuals in NJ who are ready, willing and able to work. Here’s our first Hire Me – NJ profile, Kevin Haughwout (his photo is the one that you see featured in our banner above):

Profile: Kevin Haughwout

Kevin Haughwout is a recent MBA graduate from the New York University Stern School of business. He’s a product developer with five years of experience in client-facing roles working with Fortune-500 retail companies on their point-of purchase marketing activities. He’s also a blogger and social media enthusiast. Check out his blog at http://www.freedmarketer.com for samples of his work and a link to his LinkedIn profile. Kevin’s open to new opportunities in branding or social media marketing. You can reach Kevin by e-mail at kevin @ freedmarketer.com,  on Twitter or LinkedIn. (Our previous banner photo courtesy of Kevin Haughwout, who wrote “Hire Me” in bold letters on his business card).

Would you like your profile to be featured? Contact us: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

Where are the jobs?

Help us develop our local NJ job postings on our site: http://njsocialmedia.com/nj-jobs Would you like to volunteer to help us update the page? Do you know of a job posting to add? Contact us by email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

Update: May 22, 2010 by Eva~

What are your thoughts about this article?

How Facebook Helps with Unemployment by John Douglas Marshall from The Atlantic
Leave a comment below with your thoughts or email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com

-

Update: May 13, 2010, 3:00pm by Eva ~

John Lee, CNN’s 30 Second Pitch

I met John Lee at Fair Media Council‘s NJ Connection Day on May 7, 2010 when he spoke on the panel “Pitching TV/Radio Reporters”. I looked up his website for the link to download his free report “How to Pitch TV Reporters“  and saw that he was previously featured on CNN’s 30 Second Pitch segment. I called him up on Wed. 5/12 to ask him about his experience. This is what he shared with me:

John Lee explains:

“CNN’s “The 30 Second Pitch,” is a weekly segment in which three or four folks from around the country get the chance to give their half-minute “elevator pitch” live on TV.   I decided to give it a try, pitched myself to “The Pitch” by email: 30secondpitch@cnn.com and one week later was sitting in a studio in CNN’s New York headquarters waiting to go live with anchor Kyra Phillips in Atlanta.

As someone who includes the word “spokesperson” prominently in his resume, I thought the segment might play to my strengths, but recognized that it was a risky maneuver as the segment is live and you have to memorize your pitch—no teleprompter!  I also saw it as a chance to seek opportunity, rather than just a job, to show I was open to consulting work and gaining more clients as well as a full-time position.

I used social media to crowdsource presentation advice from my network, to let people know when the segment would air and when I had posted the clip on YouTube.

Here are the results:

If you are able to get on “The 30 Second Pitch” my advice is to practice, practice, practice with a stopwatch, cutting back words and syllables until you have your message down to a comfortable half-minute.  As you’d be speaking to a general audience, I’d recommend your goal be to just make a good impression and to leave people with a general sense of what you do, leaving out industry jargon as much as possible.”

Great advice! I’d like to thank John for sharing his experience and wish him the best of luck in his job search.

To reach JOHN LEE
Email: johnlee@johnleemedia.com
Tel. 917-475-6981
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnleemedia

Update: May 13, 2010

Getting a Job Using Social Media

On the NJ Social Media Group Discussion Board on LinkedIn, I posted the following question a few months ago:

Q: Have you landed a full time or part time job through your social media or social network contacts? Leave a comment or contact me directly: editor@njsocialmedia.com for possible inclusion in a future business column. Thanks!

We’d like to thank the following LinkedIn members for their replies and their permission to re-post their responses, which we hope you’ll find helpful in your job search –

Rennie Filler
New Jersey
Online Marketing & Social Media Professional
“I was found on LinkedIn by my childhood friend and neighbor who was looking for someone to direct the social media and online marketing initiative at his company. We lost touch over the years and because of LinkedIn, he was able to gain insight into my professional portfolio and contacted me for an interview. In the end, if it weren’t for LinkedIn, I would not have my current job (that I absolutely love!) and most likely would not have had the opportunity to reconnect with my friend.

Amy Vernon
Union County NJ
Writer, editor and new media strategist. And Bacon Queen
“Every job I’ve gotten since being laid off in December 2008 has been through my social media/networking contacts. I have not sought out a single job yet and have found work – contract, piecework and other – for several friends of mine.”

Timothy Mack
Technical Recruiter at TEKsystems, Inc, Parsippany NJ
“I recently placed a few IT and telecom professionals in permanent sales and engineering roles. The skill sets were as vastly different (Nortel Sales Engineering and UNIX Systems Administration) as the organizations that were hiring (a large Avaya business partner and a global financial firm). I would not have been able to network through the different professional talent pools without the use of LinkedIn. In addition, the last few high-level technical people to contact me directly did so due to my status updates on Twitter. I now find that updating my status on Twitter and LinkedIn is actually highly productive. It only takes a few seconds to do and keeps the positions I’m working on in the public spotlight. Because potential consultants or contractors can see that I’m updating several times a day, they know the positions I’m trying to fill are still open.”

Do you have advice to share or questions about finding a job using social media?

• Would you like your profile featured in this section?
• Interested in being a Guest Writer or Associate Editor of this site?

Email us at: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com or Tel. 973-610-5571 or Twitter: @HireMeNJ

Let us know how we can work together NJ, to get NJ working!

Regards,
Eva Abreu, Publisher – NJSocialMedia.com

What are your thoughts?

Recent USA Today article, May 10, 2010, click link below:
“Today’s job seekers add ‘social’ to networking” by Julia Schmalz

Socialnomics recently released…
an update to their Social Media Revolution 2 video with the following statistics:

80% of companies use social media for recruitment; the percent of those companies that use LinkedIn = 95%

Here’s the updated Socialnomics video, released May 5, 2010:

April 12, 2010

Introducing… Hire Me – NJ!

A new section devoted to individuals in New Jersey who are ready, willing and able to work, and want to let the world know about it through social networking (or in any other way possible, like in the picture above!).

This idea was inspired by a reader of our website who is looking for a full time job in NJ.

He spoke to me offline and suggested having a section for NJ folks to post their resume, network with others, blog about their job hunting experiences and hold tweetups and workshops to support each other in their quest to be gainfully employed.

• What are your thoughts on how to develop Hire Me – NJ?
• What would you like to see within Hire Me – NJ?
• How would you like Hire Me – NJ to be of benefit to you?
• How do you think social media can help to land you a job in New Jersey?

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below or send an email to: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com.

Let’s work together NJ, to get NJ working!

Regards,

Eva Abreu, Publisher
NJSocialMedia.com

Addendum: Here’s a little more insight on how this section came to be –

The genesis of the idea started on Friday, April 9th, 2010 while waiting at my child’s school for dismissal. Another parent, a graphic designer who previously worked in NYC and has been volunteering to help me with the print publication of NJSocialMedia, came to me with the idea. He is unemployed and said he would like to meet other unemployed people in the area to network with and have a place on the website to post his resume for other employers to see. He felt that job boards such as Monster.com were too big and you get lost there. He wanted to focus on New Jersey, to go to a site where he can connect with potential employers and others who are local.  In his words, “If I’m sitting home alone and depressed, and another guy is sitting home alone depressed, and others, why not have everyone get together and lift each other up and see what ideas and leads we can help each other with?” He was inspired with the idea after seeing the NJ Jobs section of our site, which I started back October 2009, and he suggested to name this new section “Hire Me in NJ”; he said  “Why not? We’re desperate, we have to be bold.” Plus, he said he didn’t want to commute into New York City any more. He offered to help me with the graphic design once the site was up. I thought it was a great idea, as I was inspired in the past after seeing an idea done in print by a friend of mine, Ron Ostroff, former Operations Manager of the Jewish State, who initiated free ads for unemployed in their newspaper. Another local paper The Crit had done something similar in the past to offer free Work Wanted ads in their classifieds, as well as the Star-Ledger has run profiles of unemployed, and Jack Ellery on WCTC-AM has had unemployed folks call in, as has CNN with it’s 30 Second Pitch segments.

I’ve had it in the back of my mind for a while to develop something like this (I’ve previously managed two temporary employment agencies in the past), so when the acquaintance brought it up, I said I could get it up and running that weekend. We talked about how to monetize the idea (he said, “Well, you can’t do it for free, you have to cover at least some of the costs of running the website”) so we came up with the idea to post free profiles, then, if members finally end up getting a job, they can “donate to the cause” and contribute to our group whatever amount they felt that the group was worth to them during their time of unemployment, as a way to pay it forward. I thought that was a great idea, as I am very much a believer in paying it forward. I then mentioned to him that maybe we could get employers or different services to be paid sponsors as well, for a revenue stream.

So, that’s it in a nutshell. This will be a work in progress. If you’d like to be a part of this start-up process, feel free to contact me. I’m very much into collaboration, partnering, sharing ideas, and shining the spotlight on others to help them reach their goals (or, in this case, land a job). Let’s work together NJ, to help get NJ working!

Best wishes on your job search. Let me know how I can help! ~Eva Abreu

Photo credit: Wonderlane/Flickr Creative Commons

“Hire Gary” Creative Commons Photo by blorntso via Flicker

Petty’s Run: An In-Depth Talk and Discussion with Dr. Richard W. Hunter
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ
General Admission $10, Free for members of the Trenton Museum Society and the Trenton Historical Society
Richard Hunter, president and principal archaeologist of Hunter Research, Inc, a Trenton-based historical and archaeological consulting firm, and Trenton Museum Society trustee will unravel the mysteries of Petty’s Run that his firm worked to solve and what they reveal about Trenton’s importance as an industrial center for the growing colony and later the country. Sponsored by the Trenton Historical Society and the Trenton Museum Society, Tel. 609.989.1191 Web: www.ellarslie.org

*****
Young Authors Workshop with Ruby Shivers, Author
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011  REGISTER HERE
Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at The Tutoring Center of Piscataway NJ
Free, for ages 7 to 17

Download PDF of flyer

Workshop Location: The Tutoring Center of Piscataway, 1318 Centennial Ave. (at Piscataway Towne Shopping, next to ShopRite) This is a free Introductory Session in series of workshops. Optional workbook available: $10
NJ Social Media.com Sponsored Event. Limited seating, RSVP: tel 1-877-708-0884 or email: confirm@njsocialmedia.com or ONLINE Registration
Ruby Williams Shivers of Plainfield, New Jersey and published author of four books will share her love of writing at this workshop to help aspiring young authors get started with writing and self-publishing their first book. Visit her website: www.RubyShivers.com

 *****

Community FoodBank of NJ’s Turkey Drive
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Locaiton: Heidi’s Cottage Country Gift Store, 445 North Ave. (Rt. 28) in Dunellen
Tel. 732-968-1886
Items needed to feed NJ families: Frozen turkeys (never thawed), Canned Fish/Meat, Powdered Milk and Infant Formula, Boxed or Canned Meals, Peanut Butter (Plastic jars only), and Canned Vegetables.  Heidi’s Cottage was named 2011 Best of the Best Home Decor Store in Central Jersey by the Home News Tribune/MyCentralJersey.com. Visit http://heidiscottage.com . CFBNJ supplies food to feeding programs at some 1,500 non-profit charities in 19 New Jersey Counties.  The charities include soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, food banks, after school programs and senior centers among others. For more info on the Food Bank or for additional drop-off locations: http://www.njfoodbank.org/turkeydrive

*****
Pet Holiday Photo Shoot
Sunday, November 20
2 Sessions: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon and 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Morris K9 Campus, 1 Aspen Drive in Randolph, NJ 07869
$10 sitting fee includes 5×7 photo and benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey.
Additional photos will be available online for purchase. More details will be provided the day of the Pet Holiday Photo Shoot. For more information contact Abbie Stuttard at abbies@morrisk9campus.com or call 973-252-5100. Web:  http://www.morrisk9campus.com/index.asp

*****

Keep It Local New Jersey!

Visit our sponsors, we’re promoting purchases in the Garden State.

It’s November, time to think about snow blowers for outdoors, replacing your kitchen stove or other home appliance inside your home. Visit Derby Appliances serving New Jersey with showrooms in Edison and New Brunswick NJ.  Visit Derby Appliances on Facebook.

*****

Send your event listings to editor@njsocialmedia.com or post on our Facebook Page, subject to approval. Priority will be given to sponsors of NJ Social Media.com. Find out how you can become a sponsor by filling out our Sponsor Contact Form here.

Thanks for your contribution!

Eva Abreu, Publisher
NJ Social Media.com
Email: editor@njsocialmedia.com
NJ Social Media.com on Facebook

Photo credit: John Beetham http://www.flickr.com/photos/dendroica/

Sign up for our NJ Social Media Email Newsletter

***

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Get started with your own Email Marketing Campaign for your business
Constant Contact Partner

*****

Updated: Nov. 12, 2011 – Dusting off this post and looking to add/delete/edit the entries below. Can you help? Let me know if any links are no longer working, or if any blogs should be removed, or if you have a NJ-based blog that should be added. Email: editor@njsocialmedia.com . Thanks!

Visit these New Jersey-based bloggers and leave a comment on their blogs to support their work and talent.

Thank you for helping to spread the influence and benefit of social media in New Jersey.

Do you have a favorite NJ blog? Do you know of a NJ blog not included which we should add (including your own)? Please leave a comment below to let us know or send an email to: editor {at} NJSocialMedia {dot} com. (sorry, due to extraordinary amount of spam, we’ve had to close comments on this post.  Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding).

Update Oct. 2010: We’re currently in the process of updating our blogger list — In the meantime, feel free to add your blog on our NJ Social Media LinkedIn Group discussion board (or via email) and we’ll add it to our list as soon as we can. Thanks! LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2201619

Business:

In The Money by Asbury Park Press Business writers David P. Willis, Michael Diamond, & Business editor Dennis Carmody
A look at how business news affects your world

Pachter’s Points by Barbara Pachter
Workplace blog providing business etiquette tips and career suggestions

The Freed Marketer by  Kevin Haughwout
A fresh look at marketing practices for the layman and the professional

Food & Beverage:

Gonzo Gastronomy by Katie Pizzuto
The Angels & Demons of Food & Wine

Jersey Bites by Deborah Smith
A Quest for Food with Attitude

Jersey Girl Cooks by Lisa
A recipe & cooking blog which includes local NJ ingredients; also covers Lisa’s foodie adventures

John and Lisa are Eating in South Jersey by John & Lisa Howard Fusco
Our eating adventures in and around South Jersey!

NJFoodie by Jane
Honest, non-biased opinion of local restaurants in the beautiful state of NJ (and maybe a few in the NY and Philly area)

Simply Beer by Peter Kennedy
This home brewer loves his beer!

South Jersey Locavore by Robin
A place to find information about sources of local food, wine and beer and the restaurants and events that support local foods

Going Green:

Leafygreen.info by Mike
Green Product Reviews for a Green World

Life:

An Englishman in New Jersey by Graham Gudgin
Graham shares his experiences as an ex-pat Brit living in the United States

Italian American Girl by Margaret
A cultural blog about growing up Italian American in the USA

Karma Cooler by Rebeca Trautner
Inspiring people to spread good karma around the world

Living:

Free 2 Be Frugal by Niki DiSilvio
Great freebies, coupons and deals

Moms, Dads, & Family:

NJ Playgrounds by Sheila @njplaygrounds
Your complete guide to NJ Playgrounds

NJ Towns:

Bergenation.com by Mike
Bergen County Blog covering all 247 Square Miles

Freehold in Jersey by Colleen Curry
A place for you to find out about anything and everything going on in Freehold, NJ

Metuchen Living by Valerie and Ernie Agtarap
People, Events and Places in the “Brainy Borough”

Here in HP by Leora W.
A potpourri of: Highland Park; Jewish topics; Central New Jersey; art, Twitter, WordPress, health, web design, gardening …

Non-Profit:

For GrantWriters Only by Melanie R. Negrin
For those interested in nonprofit/philanthropy and fundraising/grant writing

Special Olympics New Jersey by @SONewJersey
Our mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities

Photography:

Scott Wyden Imagery by Scott Wyden
Blog by Scott Wyden Kivowitz, New Jersey based photographer

Sports:

Ice on Broad St by Cody Gray
Daily blog about NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers
“I am a senior in High school,  I’ve been following the Flyers as far back as i can remember and love to give my opinion and share the latest news, but my girlfriend didn’t always want to hear so i thought that starting a blog would be a good idea.” -Cody Gray

Technology:

Attention Digital by Johnny Makkar
A blog about digital marketing, mobile trends, and the social web

Digital Duels by Cavaughn Noel
Blog about digital competition and strategies

Things to Do:

NJ Hiking by Tom & Dawn
A blog about hiking in New Jersey, with trail info, photos, and videos

Videography:

Quintanomedia by Anthony Quintano
Blog about media, videography, photography and news-related happenings in the North Jersey area

Weddings:

NJWedding.com by Erik Kent
A new blog by NJ Wedding.com, helping New Jersey brides & grooms plan their wedding

Add your NJ blog to our Directory!

Feel free to add your info in comments below or send an email to: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com and we’ll update our listing with your NJ blog.

Please include the following info:
- URL to your blog
- Your name (and Twitter username)
- Brief description, NJ location (or tag) for your blog

(Hat tip to Deborah Smith, Social Media Consultant for the suggestion to add this new NJ Bloggers section!)

NJ Bloggers!
We also recommend creating an Expert Page for yourself on this site :  SelfGrowth.com (created by NJ resident David Riklan). SelfGrowth.com is the most complete guide to information about Self -Improvement, Personal Growth and Self Help on the Internet. It is designed to be an organized directory, with articles and references to thousands of other Web Sites on the World Wide Web.

Volunteer Help Wanted!
If you have WordPress programming skills, we’re looking for volunteer assistance with updates / RSS feeds. Please contact us if you can assist. Thanks!

Regards,

Eva Abreu, NJ Social Media
Email: editor {at} njsocialmedia {dot} com
Tel. 1-877-708-0884
Facebook: NJSocialMedia

Photo by: Annie Mole via Flickr

Eva Abreu will be presenting the topic: “Creating an Online Community Using Social Media” with definitions, tips, advice, best practices and case studies of local NJ businesses using social media.

Eva will include examples of how New Jersey social media business users are posting on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google Plus to increase brand awareness and engage with their customers, followers and industry partners to cultivate a virtual community of contacts.

We’ll post a list of the NJ businesses and links profiled in the social media presentation as an addendum to this blog, after the conference.

Hope to see you there!

NJ Social Media. com

Join us on Facebook: NJ Social Media

Sign up for our NJ Social Media Email Newsletter

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“Monster Mash” by Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers (1962)

Do you  have a New Jersey Halloween video or photo to share? Let us know!

Post your Halloween videos, photos and event listings on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/NJSocialMedia or email: editor@njsocialmedia.com and you could be featured on our next blog post!

Happy Halloween from NJ Social Media.com

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011
Time: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in our Bridgewater NJ location (see below for map)
Topic: Learning About LinkedIn
Fee: $25 special price (brown bag, bring your own lunch)
Bridgewater Location: 991 US Hwy 22 West, Suite 200 Conference Room, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Map: http://www.officenj.com/bridgewater_googlemap.html Plenty of free parking

Date: Friday, October 21, 2011
Time: 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm in our Piscataway NJ location (see below for map)
Topic: Learning About LinkedIn
Fee: $25 special price (brown bag, bring your own lunch)
Piscataway Location: 200 Centennial Ave, Suite 200, Piscataway NJ
Map: http://www.officenj.com/piscataway_googlemap.html Plenty of free parking

RSVP: Email confirm@njsocialmedia.com or Call 1-973-610-5571

Classes will be kept small, with personalized attention, hands-on demonstrations and plenty of time for questions and answers. Additional classes in the series $50 (regular price) per 90 minute session.

This is part of a series of Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Sessions, sponsored by NJ Social Media . com. Bring your own lunch, small group presentation, PowerPoint slides, live Internet demonstration, Q&A, handouts.

Instructor: Eva Abreu is a speaker, writer, organizing coach and social media trainer. She teaches at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University, writes a weekly social media business column for the Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com and is founder of NJSocialMedia.com. A graduate of Rutgers University, Eva was a former technology manager with two Wall Street investment firms, is active as a community volunteer, wife, mom and lifelong resident of New Jersey.

RSVP: Email confirm@njsocialmedia.com or Call 1-973-610-5571
Fee $25: PayPal, credit card, check or cash

Hope to see you there!

  Join us on Facebook: NJ Social Media

 Sign up for our NJ Social Media Email Newsletter

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Date: Friday, October 14, 2011
Time:  12:30 pm to 2:00 pm in our Piscataway NJ location (see below for map)
Topic: *UPDATED: Google+ Hangouts Testing with NJ users
Fee: $25 special price (brown bag, bring your own lunch)
Piscataway Location:  200 Centennial Ave, Suite 200, Piscataway NJ
Map: http://www.officenj.com/piscataway_googlemap.html Plenty of free parking

RSVP: Email confirm@njsocialmedia.com or Call 1-973-610-5571

Classes will be kept small, with personalized attention, hands-on demonstrations and plenty of time for questions and answers. Additional classes in the series $50 (regular price) per 90 minute session.

This is part of a series of Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Sessions, sponsored by NJ Social Media . com. Bring your own lunch, small group presentation, PowerPoint slides, live Internet demonstration, Q&A, handouts.

Instructor: Eva Abreu is a speaker, writer, organizing coach and social media trainer. She teaches at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University, writes a weekly social media business column for the Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com and is founder of NJSocialMedia.com. A graduate of Rutgers University, Eva was a former technology manager with two Wall Street investment firms, is active as a community volunteer, wife, mom and lifelong resident of New Jersey.

RSVP: Email confirm@njsocialmedia.com or Call 1-973-610-5571
Fee $25: PayPal, credit card, check or cash

Hope to see you there!

Join us on Facebook: NJ Social Media

Sign up for our NJ Social Media Email Newsletter

Previous sessions:
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011
Time:  11:30 am to 1:00 pm in our Bridgewater NJ location (see below for map)
Topic: Your Social Media Image – Do’s and Don’ts
Fee: $25 special price (brown bag, bring your own lunch)
Bridgewater Location:  991 US Hwy 22 West, Suite 200 Conference Room, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Map: http://www.officenj.com/bridgewater_googlemap.html Plenty of free parking

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Constant Contact Partner