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I was lucky enough to attend TEDxDetroit with my teammates Nikki Little and Tom Nixon this past Wednesday. After a day full of tales of out-of-the-box thinking and entrepreneurial success, I wanted to share with you three presentations that I just can’t get off my mind.

My hope is that, after reading this, you too will be inspired to tackle an idea and watch it grow into something beautiful. An idea is always at the epicenter of entrepreneurial success. It’s whether we choose to act on it and surround ourselves with smart people with a common goal that we can really begin to make a difference.

Instead of considering the proper use for a Facebook page, some business owners, or, I hate to say it, marketers, treat Facebook as just another way to slap advertisements and promotions in front of their fans. But if they really understood the platform, they’d realize Facebook is an opportunity to get on the same playing field as their customers. This is where information can be shared, conversation exchanged and feedback given. Suffice to say, this is more than a little scary to some big brands that aren’t used to open communication and public opinion.

Let me start with this question: How many emails do you get on an average day? Remember, don’t just count your work account; include your personal one in there, too. Is your head spinning? Your email is most likely victim to a barrage of e-blasts, all along the lines of this company’s the best and that company has a new president, and don’t forget about that other company’s latest products!

At first, I tried to keep up. Ryan Cabrera has a newsletter? Oreos will email me new flavors? Of course I’ll sign up!

ATTN Social Media, Marketing or PR professionals:

How often has “contact local social media influencers” been part of your communications plan? If you’re anything like my firm, probably quite a bit. Now, I admit, “influencer” is a very vague term, and the fact is, it’s got a very vague definition that varies from person to person.

In most cases, one’s influence or reach is measured in a person’s number of Twitter followers or Facebook likes. For a more complex reading, some trust complex algorithms put together by companies like Klout or PeerIndex to measure influence on a number of factors, including true reach, amplification probability, activity or network influence.

Pitching – it’s a crafty business, but somebody’s got to do it. And, no, I don’t mean everyone should. An effective pitch is not a one-off kind of deal. It is the work of a dedicated individual – one who takes the time to do the research, understand the writer and creatively structure the pitch.