As many of you know, I moved into an office downtown in January of this year, as part of the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center‘s Incubator Program. Today I’m proud to announce that in a few weeks I’ll be leading a workshop for them as a part of their Fashion Industry Network (FIN) program!

I’ve been speaking more & more recently, and really enjoy sharing what I have learned with the community. Not to mention I always learn something back from the audience. This spring I co-lead a core-convo at SXSW, titled Snappy Strategies for Selling Art Online, and more recently spoke on a panel at the Summit of Awesome titled, What’s a Social Network and How to Use it for Good. The Renaissance Center’s programs have been nothing short of amazing for me, so I’m delighted to be a part of their incredible line-up of educational resources for entrepreneurs.

Here’s the full workshop description & my related bio. If you’re in the Bay Area & this sounds like a topic you’re interested in, please register online & join us!

Using Social Media To Grow, Market and Sell Your Fashion Line

With all the social media websites and services out there, it can be daunting to pinpoint which ones are the most effective for marketing your products or services. In this workshop, you’ll learn what it means to develop and engage with your community both online and off, as well as the best practices for each.

Other Topics Include:

• Creative ways to market your line without paid advertising or expensive PR.
• Utilizing your network to brainstorm or launch a new product.
• How social media can help increase online sales.
• The value of maintaining authentic communication with your community.

When: Wednesday, May 27, 2009, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Where: Small Business Administration, 455 Market Street, 6th Floor, SF, CA
Cost: $30 or $15 for Fashion Industry Network (FIN) or FBI, Inc. members
Register: Sign up through Acteva by going to www.acteva.com/go/rec

Download Event Flier (PDF)

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Willo O’Brien moved to San Francisco at the dawn of the first Internet bubble. As a highly social individual, she has no trouble making new friends – whether it be at a rock concert or in line at Whole Foods. Her friendly, outgoing demeanor has allowed her to spend the last decade building long-lasting friendships with the entrepreneurs and trendsetters of the Internet 2.0 phenomenon, and she has become a dyed-in-the-wool early adopter of social media technologies. Her experience in social networking has fueled the success of her business as an illustrator and music lover who turned her lifelong passion into a unique, eco-conscious gift line for babies and toddlers: WilloToons.com – where geek meets rock ‘n roll.