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There are five free seminars (wait, I like that word, so I'm gonna repeat it), free seminars coming up in Charlotte showing small businesses how to best use social media. Thank the folks at Kirtsy, the do-gooder online platform; and Microsoft Office Live. Local businesswoman Laurie Smithwick of LEAP Design, and one of the founders of Kirtsy, says that the sessions lead business owners through Twitter, Facebook and the rest. "And the focus is really on questions. The stuff we're teaching isn't hard, but it's hard to figure out on your own." The first one is Monday night.
Details: www.hands onsmallbusiness.com.
Hoffman joins Duke Energy team
Duke Energy has hired Charlotte Twitter favorite Lisa Hoffmann as a social media specialist. Hoffmann will work under Duke's social media director, Michelle Pearson. Hoffmann says Duke is taking its social media use beyond emergency alerts to offer tips and reminders on energy conservation and cutting costs, and connect more personally with customers. The deal was sealed two weeks ago, but Hoffmann announced it Tuesday. "I knew once I sent it out, it would be all over," Hoffmann said. How many social media pals did she hear from within 24 hours of the announcement? More than 150. Good news for all those friends, Hoffmann will keep her personal Twitter account, @LisaHoffmann. Enlightened of Duke to want her to keep that popular presence.
Ken Lewis news traveled fast
Charlotte Web heads were hanging out Wednesday evening, wondering when their Google Wave invites would come in, when - WHAM! - big news broke that Ken Lewis was on the way out as BofA chief. What do you do when news breaks? Tweet it out! Twitter's advanced search shows 50 Charlotte tweets about Lewis leaving within an hour of CNBC breaking the news around 5 p.m.
Teacher donates URL for project
More free: Hats off to Rock Hill teacher Jimmy Chrismon, who donated the URL laramieproject.org to "The Laramie Project," a theatrical project that tells the story of Matthew Shepard, the young man killed in a hate crime in Wyoming in 1998. Chrismon and colleagues at the Rock Hill Community Theater bought the domain years ago when they planned to do a production of the play. They could have made big money by selling the Web address to New York-based Tectonic Theater Project, but donated it instead. In return, Chrismon has been invited to take part in a global Web production of the play Oct. 12.
Romeo gets his cause out
Romeo The Cat, Charlotte's favorite feline Twitter personality, caught the eye of the Associated Press in a Wednesday story about pet parties on social media. Romeo's owner, Caroline Golon, has raised more than $20,000 for animal rescue groups since February. www.romeothecat. com.
