Introducing the Sponsorship Program w/ AIMC Business Solutions

The Sponsorship Program w/ AIMC Business Solutions

The mission of AIMC Business Solutions is to help small/mid-size businesses as well as innovative corporations increase revenue and reduce operational expenses through its online and offline digital and referral-based marketing services and community building.   AIMC Business Solutions founder Jeffrey DeSocio started one of Greater Boston's most successful business networking groups, Mass Professional Networking in 2013 with thousands of members as well as Little Rhody Professional Networking in 2024, Mass Tech Networking and Treasure Coast Florida Business Networking in 2018.  The goal of our organization is to help businesses expand their lead generation by connecting and building relationships with other successful professionals.

Through our Sponsorship Program, we like to assist you to reach your potential business partner, client/customer or network colleague and help your company reach your business goals.

We are offering the following sponsorship packages for your business.  Each package is for one event cycle which is monthly (30 days).   

The sponsorship packages are for the following Business Networking Groups:

• Mass Professional Networking
• Mass Tech Networking
• Treasure Coast Florida Professional Networking
• Little Rhody Professional Networking

We would like to offer four sponsorship options - Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum.

All plans can be customized to tailor to your company's promotional needs.

Please note the onsite and online options:  

Bronze - $99 - RSVP Directly on Eventbrite

• We will mention your company is sponsoring our networking event for the month and include short marketing pitch as part of the event description or social media posts with links back to your company website.
• We will include your company introduction as our sponsor for all social media posts of our upcoming event on various social media platforms.
• A Digital Business Assessment of all social media accounts for your business w/ suggestions 
• Online Event: We will also include a 5–10-minute introduction of your company at our event introduced as our sponsor.
• Onsite Event:  A vendor table at our monthly business networking event to promote your product or service.  Be creative!

Silver - $149 - Contact AIMC Business Solutions for RSVP

• We will mention your company is sponsoring our networking event for the month and include short marketing pitch as part of the event description or social media posts with links back to your company website.
• We will include your company introduction as our sponsor for all social media posts of our upcoming event on various social media platforms.
• Shoutout on the Market Like a Hotshot Podcast before the event date.
• Online Event: You will provide a 5–10-minute introduction at our event intro as our sponsor.
• Onsite Event:  A vendor table at our monthly business networking event.
• A Digital Business Assessment of all social media accounts for your business w/ suggestions.
• OR a video with AIMC Business Solutions
• $199 for all the above options for Silver.

Gold - $299 - Contact AIMC Business Solutions for RSVP

• We will mention your company is sponsoring our networking event for the month and include short marketing pitch as part of the event description or social media posts with links back to your company website.
• We will include your company introduction as our sponsor for all social media posts of our upcoming event on various social media platforms.
• Your contribution can be applied toward appetizers at the event.
• Online Event: You will provide a 5–10-minute introduction at our event intro as our sponsor.
• Onsite Event:  A vendor table at our monthly business networking event.
• A Digital Business Assessment of all social media accounts for your business w/ suggestions 
• One month of up to 5 hours of social media advisory services consulting with AIMC Business Solutions on the company marketing plan $199 Value if done separately)
• OR a video with AIMC Business Solutions

Platinum - Starting at $999 - This plan can be customized

• You will have the option of having a vendor table at all Mass Professional Networking and Little Rhody Professional Networking Events for a year from payment date.
• We will mention your company is sponsoring our networking event for the month and include short marketing pitch as part of the event description or social media with links back to your company website.
• We will include your company introduction as our sponsor for all social media posts of our upcoming event on various social media platforms.
• Your contribution can be applied toward appetizers at the event.
• Online Event: You will provide a 5–10-minute introduction at our event intro as our sponsor.
• Onsite Event:  A vendor table at our monthly business networking event.
• A Digital Business Assessment of all social media accounts for your business w/ suggestions 
• One month of up to 5 hours of social media advisory services consulting with AIMC Business Solutions on the company marketing plan $199 Value if done separately)
• OR a video with AIMC Business Solutions

The process of signing up for our sponsorship program is through our event on Eventbrite.com or via our Contact Us page on AIMC Business Solutions website.  The company simply can RSVP at the event of their choice as a Sponsor selecting one of the options - Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Package.   

A representative from AIMC Business Solutions will follow-up with the company to review next steps.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your options w/ us, please contact Jeff at jeff@aimcbizsolutions.com or submit a contact form on our business website, http://www.aimcbizsolutions.com.

An Overview of AIMC Business Solutions - Digital Marketing - IT - Intern...

The Obsession, The Smartphone - How Businesses Can Take Advantage of Them

As I was driving into downtown Boston getting through yet another epic traffic jam, I couldn't help but look around at my fellow drivers and why periodically some end up drifting into another lane.  My betting money was they were not looking for their blinker, but instead they were heads down looking at their phone, checking out what is going on in their Instagram feed or responding to some worthless email.  I actually believe it is because of the smartphone obsession while driving and Uber, that traffic is worst than ever in Boston.

After an hour long commute to go 20 miles, I finally got to my office and decide to take a quick walk to Starbucks to get some caffeine.  On my way, it was like playing Frogger trying to walk around all the people not paying attention to where they were going, but instead  were looking down to their smartphone, hoping to get that last Facebook post in before they get to their destination.   Ugh!!

And it doesn't stop there.   On my way back to the office, I went by a bus stop and no word of a lie, every single person was looking down on their phone and there was no offline conversations going on.  Gee, have we forgot to smile and say hi to the person next to you?

I can go on on here including the time a young girl walked right into a bus, phone goes flying and her nose goes right into the side of the bus.    But heck, let's be realistic and positive here, we are in an online world.  The concept of conversation is Whats Up App, Facebook Messenger or tweeting more than the local bird sanctuary.   I actually saw someone freak out when they saw that rare pay phone at the train station. 

The old saying when something bothers you is if you can beat it, join it.  Yes, smartphones are a pain in the you know what, but there is a lot of ways for small businesses to take advantage of everyone's obsession.  Let's touch on a few quick concepts to turn the smartphone obsession to transactions for your business.

First, of course, is your website responsive?  Responsive websites are built to adjust to any device, whether is a computer, tablet or smartphone.   Since roughly 60% of all websites are accessed through a smartphone now and it is only going to get bigger, the time is now to make sure your website is built for the smartphone.

Do you use texting to communicate with your customers?  For example, can a customer have the capability to text an order to your company, for example a restaurant?  This is another fast growing concept, since the days of dialing toll free numbers and going through an endless menu of options is not the most convenient way to connect to customers.  They will likely hang up and pick up their smartphone and connect to your competitor.

Does your company have a mobile application to make it easy for your customers to collaborate with your company and conduct all business with you?  Think about a company like CVS or Open Table where via their application, you can do everything from ordering your prescriptions to reserving a table of 4 for dinner at your favorite restaurant.   If you have an application for your business, you are taking advantage of the smartphone obsession.

How prevalent are you on the social media channels?  How often does your company tweet or post on LinkedIn or Facebook?  Considering just about everyone has a smartphone and has all of the social applications on their phone, the sky is the limit in terms of who you can reach via the social channels.   If your company's post goes viral, it can reach millions of smartphone users!

So there you have it... does your business have a responsive website, or a texting capability to reach customers, are you active on social media or do you have your own mobile application.  If you are doing all this, chances are the obsessed smartphone user will be fully engaged and maybe become obsessed with your business.   That is powerful since they may refer business to you to their connections, via a text or a tweet.

For IT Professionals - Five Things You Can Do To Be Less Of A Jackass

 

Attention Information Technology Professionals:

 

First things first, you’re probably acting like a jackass without even realizing it.

 

Don’t believe me?  IT is generally considered the least favorite department in an organization. You don’t wind up on that list because you’re NOT acting like a jackass.

So, now that we know you’re actions are, less than favorable…how can you be better? Here are 5 tips:

1. Technobabble.

 

Using a bunch of technobabble will land you on the jackass-list every time. No one cares how smart you are. You talking over someone’s head to prove how smart you are? Jackass! The last time you went to the doctor, did she launch a bunch of medical terminology at you or did she put it in easy-to-understand English? Chances are, she laid it out simply for you. 

 

 

 

 

If you can’t explain something simply? You don’t understand it well enough. So, if you are trying to talk over someone’s head it means you’re either not as smart as you think you are…or you’re a jackass.

2. Be Nice!

I don’t know why this one is so hard for the IT team. But be nice! I get it, users aren’t as smart as you. And they whine when stuff doesn’t work (and they probably broke it in the first place) and you were up way too late rolling out new patches…but does that give you permission to be a jackass? No! Be nice!

3. Put The Laptop Down.

Maybe this is just a pet peeve, but when I’m having a conversation with someone, the last thing I want them doing? Banging away on their laptop. I don’t care if you’re “taking notes” (PS-I call Bull$&!, you aren’t taking notes).

Bring a pen and notepad if you must, but if I’m talking to you? Have the courtesy to look me in the eye.

4. Mr. (or Ms.) Automatic.

Has there ever been a meeting involving something new where an IT person hasn’t automatically said “no?” Ever? IT is like the Department of NO!

User: “Can we do this?”
IT: “NO!”
User: …but you don’t even know what it is!
IT: “NO!”

Instead of the automatic “no,” find ways to say yes. Find ways to help users move their ideas to something that is both feasible (from a tech perspective) and still accomplishes their goals. Automatically saying no? Makes you a jackass.

5. Bloody Respond To Me!

Yes. You’re busy. But guess what? We’re all bloody busy! If I send you an email, I don’t expect an immediate response…but I do expect a response; and not a month later! If I leave a voicemail? Same rules apply! Ignoring a message doesn’t make something go away. I’ll either work around you or escalate to your boss. Does that make me a jackass? No. You left me no choice.

We’ve gotten a bad reputation in IT…and much of it is well-earned. We need to find ways to reduce our contribution time to tactical firefighting and focus more on strategy. We need to pull ourselves out of the weeds and spend more time with our customers (users!) and enabling them to succeed. 

If You Don't Like Change, Maybe Information Technology is not the Career for You

Information Technology is all about innovation and how technology can help streamline processes and workflows and make it easier to access the information you need to make decisions, learn or simply get the job done.  With the Internet of Things and Robotics, it has also become somewhat of a controversial field with the loss of some jobs and the closing of factories.  But yet, a lot of IT Professionals get stir crazy when they hear the word "Change" whether it affects them directly or the company they work for.

I have a quick story about a manager that had a 1-on-1 meeting with one of his employees recently.

The employee came into the manager's office looking a little stressed about the topics at an all department meeting.  The employee proceeds to ask questions about why the company was bringing in all of this "new"technology and how it will affect the job they were doing.   The employee also recalled the speaker talk about being agile when it comes to project management and then asked what does agile mean.   After a few more topics, the manager was thinking that their employee really has no clue with what is going on in today's ever-changing technology world.   It reminded them of the perception of older technology workers is that they are not interested in learning anything new and the old "this is how we always did it" is a mantra for "if it ain't broke, then don't change it".   I am sure some IT managers can relate to this.

Nothing is further from the truth that saying "This is How We Always Did It" when it comes to Information Technology.   An IT Professional has to adapt to change since what they learned five years ago may not be relevant today.   Companies and businesses change, organizations change and even that database software you have known for over 20 years is going to change.  If the word "Change" scares you, then maybe IT is not the career for you.   

At a lot of older large corporations, you may have a veteran IT staff of professionals that have put in quite a few years doing the same thing day in and day out and have no interest in learning anything new.  I personally have managed teams like this and challenged myself to see it from their perspective and sell the idea that change is good and that they should always be ready to adapt.  One way I have done that is simply mention to them how IT has changed the way we do things anything from how you do your banking, order food at your favorite restaurant or get directions in a town you are not familiar with.   People adapted to and embraced those changes so likewise our company and you as an IT Professional have to be ready for change or else the company and yourself may be out of business.

So put away those Oracle Database Tech Manuals or that Cold Fusion Web Design book and be ready for being in constant learning and adapting mode.  If not, your picture may be placed in the local Computer Museum!

Putting It All Together - What is This DeSocial Connector Thing?

I debuted my DeSocial Connector Blog and You Tube Channel this past year and with 20 videos and 44 blogs and counting, we are well on our way to our mission of connecting people to products, services and people!

Before I dive into all of the resources available to my connections, I like to share what led up to the debut of the DeSocial Connector!

I have been in Corporate America in Information Technology for many years and after initially starting to attending business networking events back in 2007, I decided to dip my toes into entrepreneurship, by starting a new business venture in Internet Marketing.   I was living "two professional lives", the 9-to-5 life of Corporate America and then the 5-to-9 life of an entrepreneur/networker with that "side gig".  The difference in environments was stunning.    Negative energy versus Positive Energy.  Looking for Problems versus Looking for Solutions.   There are many comparisons of the two lives, but at the end of the day, I needed both to pay the bills and to build my empire.

My first dip into entrepreneurship was registering an unfranchise business with Market America.   Ok, what is an unfranchise?   Inquiring minds want to know.   I started my businesses with the mission to build an on-going income while I am not working.   I also started my first business to also learn about running your my own business and learn from failure.  Yes, learn from failure! 

This "unfranchise" I registered evolved into multiple businesses over time and two business networking groups.   The mission was to of course build an on-going income, think the right side of the CashFlow Quadrant but most of all to connect people to products, services and other people.

Ok, for the next section,  I am going to list my resources by product, services and people in a question format and hopefully one or more can be of help to you or other people you know.  This is meant to be a reference with a marketing/sales twist!  Just click the respective link to continue to the resource.

Let's start with products!

Do you take vitamins?   We got Isotonix!
You don't know what vitamins to take?  We got Nutriphysical!
Do you need to eat healthy?  We got TLS Weight Management!
You don't know where to start your Weight Loss?
Do you want to look amazing?  We got Motives Cosmetics!
Do you have a pet?  We got Pet Health!

Do you like to clean?  We got SNAP!
Do you like a nice car?  We got Autoworks!
Do you have a baby or young child?  We got DNA Miracles!
Do you shop for Groceries?  We got a store!
Do you like Coffee?
Do you like to shop online and earn?  We got an amazing shopping site that has it all!!

Whew!
Now onto Services!!

Do you need a website for your business?  Think AIMC Business Solutions!
Do you want to do your own marketing?
Do you need help with your digital marketing?
Do you want to save on Merchant Services? Think iTransact!
Do you like to SHOP Local?
Do you want to expand your customer base?  Think SHOP Local again!
Do you need IT Help? 
Do you want to own your own business just like me?

Ok, now it is onto People via Networking!

We have a business networking group called Mass Professional Networking for all professionals and hold monthly events in Greater Boston.  We have a group both on Linkedin and Facebook.

For you techies, we got Mass Tech Networking on Linkedin and Facebook with our own events!

Finally we have a few social media groups, just click the link to go to the page and follow it:
AIMC - Internet Marketing Group on Linkedin
AIMC - Social Media Group on Linkedin
AIMC Business Solutions Company Page on Linkedin
All in My Cart Facebook Page
AIMC Health Solutions Facebook Page
AIMC Business Solutions Facebook Page
AIMC Business Entrepreneur Group
AIMC Music & Entertainment & The Scene Facebook Page

There you have it.   A bunch of links and lots of opportunity.   By the way, I still sleep eight hours a day!