First Elk Grove Tweet Up a community success | Business

ELK GROVE - Local bloggers, business owners and residents gathered together Thursday evening to celebrate the area's first "Elk Grove Tweet Up & Community Meet Up" event at Strikes Bowling on Laguna Boulevard.

The event brought together folks who may have interacted with each other on Twitter, Facebook, Elk Grove Online or other social media websites, in efforts to meet face-to-face in a fun, interactive environment.

Using Twitter hashtag #elkgrovetweetup, participants Tweeted about the experience, organized by co-founders Rodney Blackwell (@ElkGroveCA) and Krista Guerrero (@getkdm).

"Met some great people last night at #elkgrovetweetup thx to @ElkGroveCA for hosting," Tweeted @ThatGirl_D.

Explore Sacramento, an online informational website about what's new and happening in Sacramento, Tweeted "Met Elk Grove Online last night at #elkgrovetweetup. Great site w/lots of info for Elk Grove residents & businesses."

The group of about 50 people mixed and mingled, sharing stories, business ventures and ideas with one another. As Blackwell put it, "I wanted to start an event that would make the city seem a little bit smaller. So you will have one more person to wave hi to when you're driving down the street."

Jenna McKay, with Volt Worforce Solutions (@voltnorcal), said it was her first time attending a Tweet Up. "This is my first time coming to an event like this. Twitter makes it so much easier to meet people and we all understand social media."

"Events like these emphasize the importance to keep personal interaction and the community involved," said Mark Fawcett with Fawcett Group (@FawcettGroup), a local business development company.

Social media expert Alejandro Reyes, who is responsible for the successful "sactweetup" events every month, briefly spoke to the group, urging them to make the most of Twitter as a business tool and means to personally connect to your community.

"Social media done right won't take away from the live interaction, it should enhance it," Reyes said.

A plethora of giveaways were provided by local businesses, including free "I Love Elk Grove" t-shirts, Strikes bowling passes, 1/2 off coupons to the Sacramento Zoo, and a copy of social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk's new book "The Thank You Economy."

Blackwell said he was pleased with the turnout and is excited about growing the event to reach even more local folks next time around.