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How I Got Into Social Media Part 1
After working for Citysearch for a year I started to get intrigued about online marketing. I spent hours studying online marketing trends, SEO & SEM techniques. Later I joined a freshly formed internet marketing group called Search Engine Marketing Portland or SEMPDX. During this time an idea surfaced for a niche social networking site. Next I did a lot of research on Social Networking platforms including Ning, PHP Fox, Drupal, Joomla, KickApps, Dolphin and several others.
It was at a SEMPDX meeting that I met John Hartman a social media consultant at Feedia. He suggested several platforms including Joomla & Ning. I took some of his suggestion and further continued my research and decided on a paid option called PHP Fox. At $299 for a license I could afford this myspace in the box software. This was the best option for me because of the price, features and the ability to buy additional features once I needed them. After hiring a local programmer to set up my site and style the css; mydrinkingclub.com was born. A niche site dedicated to people of legal age creating their own online/offline drinking clubs. My friend Kelly Quashine an award winning graphic designer created my logo. I let my friends know about the site and it started virally growing. They really thought I had something. Next, I created an online store on CafePress selling my own swag including t-shirts and hats. For several months I managed the site, engaged in the community and contributed content to the site. Unfortunately; my lack of programming skills and dissatisfaction with the platform resulting in me doing nothing on the site and I recently took it down.
Part Two Is Coming Soon!