00-Julia_19aHow does your business help entrepreneurs and professional women?

Throughout my career, I’ve been privileged to work with smart, energetic entrepreneurs – many of them women. When I founded SocialNorth in 2010, my goal was to help small and mid-sized businesses find their voices online and grow through their online communities.

The sad reality is that many businesses that need a strong social strategy to get past the big guys can’t afford it. My blog on SocialNorth was born of the desire to help those who have the vision but not the resources. To be honest, if someone were to read through all my posts over the past two years, they’d have a solid social – and content – strategy locked down.

What advice would you give to conference attendees?

Perfect your pitch

One of the most important things you can do is perfect your pitch so it’s easy for others to understand your business. Write out your pitch and practice it – seriously. And keep these tips in mind.

• It should be no longer than 2 sentences

• Keep it to 3 points, like the holy trinity and bar stools, there’s magic to the number 3

• Be prepared to customize on the spot – what you say to a potential partner will differ than what you say to a potential sponsor

Know what you need

Search through and read bios of speakers and attendees beforehand – a little bit of homework can go a long way.

Bring your stuff

Business cards still have a place in this world. If your biz is online, bring your laptop or tablet so you can show off your online collateral (website, social media channels, etc.). Connect with people while you’re at the conference through friend requests or follows – and make your requests personal. I ALWAYS personalize my LinkedIn invites and am always a little disappointed when others send me the generic one.

What’s your favourite business tool?

My favorite business tool is the one that works best for me. Listen to what others use and then mold it to fit your world. My strongest tools are the ones that keep me organized. I’d never survive without Excel and my digital calendar. For me, organization keeps me ahead of the game, strategizing and delivering instead of reacting.

Describe in one word what keeps you going during stressful times and why?

Disconnecting

I spend so much of my life digitally connected – it’s my business. But truly disconnecting is my salvation. When I take time off to be with my family, I take it off completely. I work with very smart, capable people and being able to leave my business in their hands when I’m gone means I’ve done my job properly. And it allows me to relax and recharge so I can come back stronger and ready to take it all on again.

What do you hope conference attendees will take away from hearing you speak at our conference?

I hope conference attendees will learn that success is not an endgame. It’s a bunch of little things you do consistently. And every little win gets you closer to building a stronger business that can weather the storms as they come. But mostly, loving what you’re doing – that’s the big secret. If you love what you’re doing, success will be your companion not something you strive for.

About me, Julia Rosien

I currently serve as the Chief Idea Officer of SocialNorth, a content and social media strategy firm as well as Chief Girlfriend for GoGirlfriend, a travel-based website for women. I also serve on various non-profit boards of directors and am currently the 2013 Chairman for Withit.org, a non-profit organization for women in the home and furnishings industries and Chief Marketing Officer of a startup tech network for women – Women Powering Technology.

Co-founder of Canada’s first 140 Conference and its master of ceremonies as well as a presenter at the 2012 140 Conference in NYC, I’ve also been honored to speak at TEDxWomen Waterloo, Impact99, Tweetstock.ca, Women in Biz Conference to name just a few. This past year, I’ve been privileged to share a stage with Kathy Ireland, super-model turned super-mogul at both High Point and Vegas Furniture markets.

I consider myself a relationship whisperer and nurturer of open communications across diverse and sometimes geographically-separated teams. I approach everything I do with a no-nonsense, honest attitude that fosters team building. I’m especially proud of my ability to understand the rules and then jump the gate to deliver on deadline. Multitasking in fast-paced environments while smiling is part of my native culture.

As a marketer, brand evangelist, writer/blogger and speaker, I employ lessons learned from my diverse past, which includes being an editor of a national pregnancy magazine, college instructor, teacher at a women’s prison and communications director for an international mattress manufacturer.

My growing body of work online proves that communication is both the fuel and catalyst for success.