Internet Entrepreneur Pushes Students to Look to the Internet for Success (Story 4 part 1)

by: Mandie Garcia

A self made internet millionaire spoke Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Texas State University on the topic of: "Making a Name for Yourself in Social Media," during the school's Mass Comm Week.

Gary Vaynerchuck is the founder and owner of winelibrary.com and Wine Library TV; and is the author of Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion. He was also named No. 1 blogger of the year and was ranked at No. 18 on Askmen.com's top 49 Most Influential Men of 2009.

Vaynerchuck spoke to students at 3:30 p.m. in the teaching theatre of the Alkek library about the best ways to make media connections and why the internet is the greatest tool made available to any entrepreneur looking to achieve their goals.

Vaynerchuck credits blogging and social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to be the most efficient outlets that allow you to immediately get your name and what you represent in the public eye, and to build connections that can lead you to success. He stressed the fact that anyone can start their own business now, and people should never be discouraged by not having the best equipment or not having money to throw around. He further proved this point by admitting that he still uses iMovie to edit his video for Wine Library TV.

"You have to live in the time of now," Vaynerchuck said. "[Blogging] is not about the tool you're using; it's about the message you're delivering...Storytelling is the key...Brands that succeed are the ones that know how to paint their picture."

Vaynerchuck explained to the students that he does not believe the public is taking advantage of how powerful a launching pad the internet can be.

"The Internet is the single most underrated thing in the world," Vaynerchuck said. "The internet has allowed everyone in this room a platform with no cost."

Freshman theatre major Ivana Border, 18, explained how the internet is important to her when it comes to finding a time and cost efficient way to publish her work.

"I always wanted to be a writer so I use fictionpress.com and fanfiction.net almost everyday," Borden said. "I submit my short stories and I love how I automatically have a free way to get my stories out there and get constructive criticism from the user comments."

Geography major Natalie Bowman, 19, sees blogging as a way to get diverse ideas from people all across the world.

"I search blogs to find out what people from all over think about something," Bowman said. "I like how with blogging and tweeting, it gives us an option to pick and choose whose opinion to trust."

Vaynerchuck closed his session by telling the students that they have to be patient when it comes to making a name for yourself and, "you can't build a million dollar business in a week."

Links:

http://www.crushitbook.com/

http://www.winelibrary.com/

http://www.twitter.com/garyvee

http://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/

http://www.corkd.com/

http://www.askmen.com/specials/2009_top_49/gary-vaynerchuk-18.html