SMC of SLC

It is the SMC of SLC’s pleasure to highlight new member Kevin Young: biologist, environmentalist, entrepreneur, and enthusiastic student of social media.

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SMC: Welcome, Kevin, to the SMC of SLC blog! You’re fairly new to the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City, right? How did you hear about us? What do you hope to gain from club membership?

KY: I am quite new to the club. In fact, I’m not sure I’m really a member – does going to a Tweetup count for enrollment?! Basically I decided to look into Twitter for business purposes, having never used it prior to summer 2009, and started looking around for other Utahns. Eventually I stumbled upon #SMCSLC and found the tweets useful and interesting. Through my association with the club I am hoping to gain insights into how I can be a community builder and a contributor of interesting information rather than simply an advertiser. I also want to facilitate “word of mouth” communication about my business and use social media to introduce Utah eBikes to influential Utah bloggers, tweeters, and Facebook users.

SMC: Tell us a bit about your getting into the scooter-style ebike biz. You were a biologist…and decided to bring electric bikes to Utah after attending a sustainability conference, right?

KY: I still am a biologist, as a matter of fact. Part of my trouble has been figuring out how to do two full-time jobs! My wife and I have studied black bears and horned lizards for years. Now I mainly teach things like anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. And yes, I have an abiding interest in sustainability, green technologies, and ethical business practices. When I attended a sustainability conference about a year ago, I was introduced to scooter-style ebikes. There were a number of intriguing booths within the vendor area, but the ebikes really grabbed my attention. I chatted with the owner off and on throughout the week. I then decided to buy an ebike for my own use, but nobody was selling this style of ebike in Utah. This made my entrepreneurial antennae start to vibrate! I ended up jumping head-first into business just a few months later.

SMC: What are some of the perks of going “ebike”? I can guess a few, based on your slogan “No noise, no fumes, no fuss.”

KY: The first surprise, upon sitting on a scooter-style ebike, is that it is so quiet. It’s nearly silent, so it seems like you’re gliding magically. Second, there are no emissions, so there is no smell. This is a huge plus for me. Third, the system is simple – no messy fluids, cooling system, or carburetor – so you just turn the key, twist the throttle, and away you go. It is so reliable that I am able to confidently offer a full two-year warranty. Another little feature I love, which you can’t find on a gas scooter, is cruise control. After holding the throttle in position for a few seconds, you can relax your wrist and the ebike will continue cruising along until you tap either brake. I tell people that an ebike is far cheaper than a car, safer than a motorcycle, less work than pedaling a bike, and leaves a lower carbon footprint than if they rode the bus!

SMC: Love all the “green” talk! What social media tools have you tapped into so far to market Utah ebikes? Any lessons learned?

KY: Yes! My first big lesson was discovering that I had more ideas and ambitions than skills. I learned this when trying to build my own website. It was terribly boring! But I’m very pleased with the look and feel of our website now, after finding a good designer. I still want to add a wiki component, to make it more interactive. I also made a page on Facebook, but frankly I don’t really “get” how to use Facebook yet for business. My third tool, Twitter, has been a great learning environment for me – and my favorite way to connect to businesses and people. I would spend more time on Twitter, if I could. I have even incorporated it into my classes this semester.

I am learning that social media facilitates relationships. But like any relationship, it takes time and consistency to maintain the connections. I feel very privileged to be rubbing shoulders with the great thinkers of the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City, and to be part of the wave of Utah businesses participating in social media. As I am a new business, I have the opportunity to really build my business with social media tools – rather than tacking them on as an afterthought. I look forward to discovering the ways that social media shapes my business culture!

SMC: Sounds like you’re well on your way, Kevin! Please tell us, in one sentence, why social media blows your mind.

KY: Social Media blows my mind because it is a global phenomenon – expanding exponentially – that also serves as an increasingly relevant tool at the local level. I have my finger on the pulse of breaking ebike news across the world, but am also aware of the experiences and questions of my newest customers.

SMC: Thanks, Kevin! Happy ebiking! Hmm…what kinda deal can we get for club members? HA!

Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt is a freelance writer, editor, and social media trainer/marketer. Catch her online at www.Bell-Rehwoldt.com, http://www.facebook.com/SheriBellRehwoldt, and http://www.linkedin.com/in/sbrehwoldt