Read full Sentinel article here:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_20292744/santa-cruz-becoming-hot-spot-tech-locals-gather

Forgive me but although the article went to press on March 30, I didn’t read it until yesterday when someone pointed out (by tagging me in Facebook) that I’m quoted in it. Good summary of what’s been going on the past few years and why I really appreciate this community and the support it offers me as an independent consultant in Santa Cruz.

In reference to Freelance Camp several years ago:

Sara Isenberg
Sara Isenberg Web Consulting & Project Management
Email: sara@saraisenberg.com
Website: http://saraisenberg.com

Web & Social Media Consultants, Sara Isenberg & Karen Kefauver, team up to teach “ABC’s of Integrating Social Media with your Website“

• Class: ABC’s of Integrating Social Media with your Website
• When: Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 6:30-9:30 PM
• Where: NextSpace, 101 Cooper Street, Santa Cruz
• REGISTER NOW at City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation, activity #15200, $79.00 (city residents), $98 (non-residents). https://online.activenetwork.com/SCInstaReg/Start/Start.asp or call 831-420-5270 Mon-Thur.

Many small businesses are harnessing the power of social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or blogging to promote their businesses. These social networks can help drive current and new customers to websites – but only if the social networks and the website are properly integrated. Learn how to do this in a class with two Santa Cruz consultants and social media experts.

Sara Isenberg and Karen Kefauver will provide the tools to help connect business’ websites – where core products and services are explained – with social media networks through a discussion of best practices and concrete tips as well as time for questions and answers.

Sara Isenberg (http://saraisenberg.com) is a web consultant and project manager who helps clients plan and manage web, social media, and email marketing projects. Karen Kefauver (http://karenkefauver.com) is a journalist and social media pro. For more information: http://saraisenberg.com/classes/

The Winter-Spring City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation catalog arrived today! Get ready to start 2012 with information and inspiration about Marketing, Website planning, and Social Media. In January and February 2012 I’m teaching (and co-teaching) three classes with two of my favorite collaborators, Kathryn Gorges and Karen Kefauver.

If you receive the paper catalog, our classes are listed on page 34. You can also view our classes online here. All will be held at NextSpace, 101 Cooper Street, downtown Santa Cruz.

Online registration opens on Tuesday, January 3 at 8am. Here are the steps to find our classes online (or register by calling the Parks & Rec office at 831-420-5270 Monday-Thursday).

>> Click on the right side blue box “Register NOW with instaReg”
>> Click on “Register for Programs”
>> Click on the left side “Special Interest”
>> Click on “Show Courses” under each of the following class titles:

• ABC’s of Your Marketing Makeover, Tuesday, January 31, 6:30-9:30pm, $79.
• ABC’s of Planning Your New or Revamped Website, Tuesday, February 7, 6:30-9:30 pm, $79.
• ABC’s of Integrating Social Media with your Website, Tuesday, February 21, 6:30-9:30 pm, $79.

Read the class descriptions here. If you have any questions, contact me here.

Website: http://saraisenberg.com
Blog: http://saraisenberg.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaraIsenbergConsulting <= Visit & click “LIKE”
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/saraisenberg
Twitter: @saraisenberg
About.me: http://about.me/saraisenberg

Have you heard of the new MakersFactory in Santa Cruz? If not, you will soon.

I’ve been helping MakersFactory get started and can say there’s a lot of buzz and excitement, validated by the 70+ attendees at last Friday’s first ever MakersFactory Meetup.

What is MakersFactory bringing to Santa Cruz?

1. Workshops, classes, courses all about 3D printing, modeling, animation, and robotics.
2. Lots of cutting edge equipment.
3. A brick and mortar workspace opening in November at 877 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
4. A community of makers, geeks, students, hobbyists, kids, parents, and other folks who are interested in this new technology.

For more about MakersFactory in Santa Cruz:

• Visit thewebsite: http://makersfactory.com. Sign up to receive the newsletter (at the bottom of the website).
• Follow on Facebook: http://facebook.com/makersfactory.
• Join the MakersFactory meetup: http://www.meetup.com/MakersFactory-Meetup-Group. (The next meetup is Nov 11, 2011, 6:30pm.)

If you aren’t able to hear Kathy Long give this presentation in person, check out the slide presentation. This is chock full of information on how to rise to the top of local search results.

===

===

Lately I’ve disappeared into the dark hole of non-blogging. Facebook and Twitter haven’t been much of a focus for me, either. Even if your life (professional, social, or otherwise) revolves around social media, it’s good to take a break. I’ve taken such a break from “myself” — blogging, tweeting, posting only minimally — but have continued to be active with social media both for clients and in my volunteer endeavors. Recently I’ve been tweeting and posting (Facebook) for TEDx Santa Cruz. Amazingly, this event is coming up in just a few days: June 11, 2011. As a first time in Santa Cruz event, the organizing committee has been and is excited, nervous, thrilled, amazed, and sometimes overwhelmed. We just got some great local press in this morning’s Santa Cruz Sentinel. The speaker lineup is great. Tickets are selling like hotcakes, so get yours soon! I hope to see you there!

Two great 1-evening classes coming up June 14 and 21. Register online at City of Santa Cruz Parks & Rec or call 831-420-5270. http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=540

1. Get the Best Online “Local Search” Results! Tue, June 14, 6:30-9:30pm at NextSpace. $68 for one evening class. #14476
2. Before You Hire Your Web Designer or Developer! Tue, June 21, 6:30-9:30pm at NextSpace. $68 for one evening class. #14475

Details:

Hot off the press — Here’s another great new presentation from Shane Perlman,  http://shaneandpeter.com, called Freelancers are slutty, but so are you: Strategies for the successful managment of independent contractors.

[In November, I posted a blog entry of another great presentation by Shane about managing distributed teams called Leading Without Seeing — Managing a Distributed Team.]

Here’s the latest from Shane:

===

Thank you for attending the Santa Cruz Parks & Rec class Build a Free Blog or Website with WordPress.com – For Beginners on October 12, 2010.

1. My presentation is available for viewing or downloading here:
MyPresi-Oct12-2010 [PDF]

2. I’ll be teaching How to Prepare for Your Website Overhaul (or New Website) on Tuesday, January 25, 2011.

3. I’ll be teaching Expand Your Reach with Social Media (with co-instructor Karen Kefauver) on Tuesday, February 1, 2011.

4. I’ll be teaching ABCs of SEO — Basics of Search Engine Optimization (with co-instructor, SEO expert, Steve Penny) on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.

5. I’ll be teaching this class – Build a Free Blog or Website with WordPress.com – For Beginners — again on Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

All of my upcoming classes will be listed on this page. Links will be provided when Santa Cruz Parks & Rec is ready for registration:
http://saraisenberg.com/upcoming-classes/

Thanks!
Sara
Website: http://saraisenberg.com
Blog: http://saraisenberg.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaraIsenbergConsulting
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/saraisenberg
Twitter: @saraisenberg