Just when you thought you knew everything about social media, or were afraid to ask anymore questions, a new resource arrives on the scene. Social Media Studio (SMS), a partnership between Rapid Fire Media and Virginia Marti College, launched on January 1 of this year, and is off to a speedy start with the announcement of six upcoming events and the release of its daily e-zine.

"The intent of forming SMS was to create a forum for the best social media practitioners and educators," says Michael DeAloia, the former tech czar of the City of Cleveland and social media guru, who is helping to spearhead this new learning community.

The learning opportunities began on January 11, with an intro to social media led by DeAloia. On January 25, there's a class on effective Twitter tools. "We have planned our first six events for 2011," DeAloia says, "but I suspect we will produce between 20 and 24 events over the course of the calendar year." Experts in social media, marketing and branding will lead various classes. "The Northeast Ohio area is blessed with a rich number of social media experts," he says.

In addition to fee-based classes, SMS recently launched its inaugural  Social Media Studio Daily, containing local and national news.

Through classes and the online publication, SMS seeks to broaden Northeast Ohioans' understanding and use of social media. "We have actually created a class where we are going to teach students how to be social media entrepreneurs," DeAolia says.

SOURCE: Michael DeAloia
WRITER: Diane DiPiero