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I am a sad geek of a Fancy Lad, this is true.

A child-free work zone is offered at Zimbrick's Fish Hatchery Road location, thank the Social Media gods!

I admit that with no small shame as I sit in the thoughtfully designed waiting room at Zimbrick on Fish Hatchery Road here in Madison. This is a business that gets the true meaning of customer service – and they probably spend a good amount of cash to make sure I get it. And oh, I get it. From the free WIFI, the separate kid’s play area and arcade (separate being the key word), the complimentary cookies, coffee and soft drinks, capable customer service agents, I’m practically soaking in positive customer experience. I’m likely absorbing some form of Zimbrick Kool-Aid through the comfy work kiosk I’ve been so generously provided, and you know what? Bring it on. I love it here. It doesn’t hurt that Zimbrick’s social media team is on its game – after discovering Facebook access was blocked (I need it to do my job!) I sent out a tweet to Zimbrick and got a speedy response from Zimbrick Fish Hatchery’s Twitter account – that’s exactly the type of social media customer service I expect and demand as a customer.

Bottom line? No other shop is touching my Element: Zimbrick has my business. Why? They make this car stuff easy. No matter where I take the thing, I’ve got to open my wallet, so why not go to Zimbrick, where they make it easy? And since they’re nailing the whole customer service thing, I bet they’re all over my car issues too. I bet if something went wrong with it they’d have my back too. That’s a pretty neat feeling.

A pretty neat feeling that turns into a pretty valuable third-party endorsement thanks to the power of social media, no? After all, if just one of you is thinking, “Damn, next time I’m going to Zimbrick!” then they’ve come out on top. I have too as I want to help Zimbrick succeed. Why? Because they get it and I like supporting businesses that get it – they make other businesses get it and that makes all our lives easier. I also couldn’t resist adding Zimbrick Honda to Gowalla – and I dropped a virtual espresso maker just in case anyone wants it! Now Zimbrick Honda will show up on Gowalla searches, that’s pretty cool. At the end of the day, this is some endorsement for Zimbrick – and I’m not getting a dime out of it. Sure, I’d love to partner with ‘em to get some super cool car-based giveaway going with the Social Media Club of Madison gang, but if nothing comes of it I’ll still be bringing the ol’ Element in for service here – and at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. New brake pads? Bring ‘em on!

But how sick is it that I get a true and genuine thrill out of connecting with local businesses through social media? Perhaps it’s the networker in me or my strong belief that customer service should rule the roost of any local business, but there’s obviously a reason I’m the Czar of Affiliate Partnerships for the Social Media Club of Madison – I’m passionate about helping local businesses connect through this new-fangled and often confusing technology. (Okay, the real reason I’m the Czar is probably because I was the only taker, lol!)

I had the opportunity to chat with local business leaders in Fitchburg this week as part of the Fitchburg Chamber’s Breakfast Before 9 series. A great group of business types from all walks of life, I truly enjoyed the opportunity to help a few social media Newbies and perhaps entertain a few social media Savvies with my cheeky social media song and dance. Which is kind of sad really, but true – I like helping people. Sometimes when you’re developing PR and Social strategies for a national product launch it’s easy to forget why public relations is attractive as a profession – it’s certainly not the glamour (the glamour – can you imagine?) or the unending churning out of press releases, heavens forefend. It’s about using my gift to communicate – yes, I said it – to help others who don’t have that gift, or don’t want to spend the time training themselves for a world of media rejection and endless grilled chicken luncheons.

That’s what I really want to do as a PR professional – help people. Make enough money to fund my outrageous addiction to gummi candy, and help people. Perhaps go to Paris again at some point too, that’d be pretty swell. But candy and international jet-setting aside, I really do want to help people. That’s why the Social Media Club of Madison is so perfect for me, I get the opportunity to help others in my local community– my fellow SMC members, our business partners, Madison’s social media movement, all pro-bono. That makes me feel kind of warm and fuzzy inside and I like it.

So how are you helping your community connect through social media? Is it telling your realtor about Yelp, convincing your local coffee shop to reward the Mayor with free coffee, or helping your dentist understand the benefits of Facebook Fan Pages? (That said, anyone know a good dentist for someone with dental anxiety? I’m in the market!) As a member of the Social Media Club of Madison, it’s practically your duty to help others grapple with this crazy world we call social media – so go and do people!