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Businesses Embrace Social Media to Survive Economic Downturn

Overview

In the current economic climate, many businesses have seen their advertising and marketing budgets slashed, forcing them to get creative with their sales and marketing efforts. As a result, businesses are embracing social media as a new sales and marketing channel and benefiting from the network effects of social media, as well as influencing buying decisions as a means of surviving and thriving in the economic downturn. What role will social media play in economic cutbacks for companies of all sizes? Will it be pared down or will it be treated as a more efficient means of communicating with customers? Hear more on this and much more at the upcoming Social Media Strategies Conference on October 29-30, 2008 in Silicon Valley.

Industry thought leaders and experts will delve into social media to provide high-level strategic expertise on how businesses can harness the power of social media to achieve their business goals. The Conference will also be an opportunity to meet others seeking to incorporate social media for their business, and hear from the community of social media practitioners, experts, thought leaders, and companies.

Speakers

David Carter, Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Awareness Networks
Mike Walsh, CEO, Leverage Software
Gary Stein, Director of Strategy, Ammo Marketing
Liz Miller, Vice President, Programs & Operations, CMO Council
Lauren Coberly, Director of Worldwide Marketing, Kodak Direct
David Needle, West Coast Bureau Chief, Internetnews.com
Paula Drum, VP Marketing, Digital Tax Solutions, H&R Block
Connie Bensen, Community Manager, Network Solutions
Aaron Strout, Vice President, New Media, Mzinga
Francois Gossieaux, Partner, Beeline Labs
Mark Yolton, Senior Vice President, SAP Community Network, SAP
Robin Carey, CEO, Social Media Today
Edward Moran, Director of Product Innovation, Deloitte Services LP
Dr. Jim McGee, Director, New Shoreham Consulting
Scott Wilder, GM - Online Communities at Small Business Division, Intuit
Sean O'Driscoll, Ex GM MVP Program, Microsoft
Chris Carfi, Co-Founder, Cerado
LaSandra Brill, Manager, Web & Social Media Marketing, Cisco
Matt Warburton, Director, Community Management, Yahoo!
Michael Brito, Social Media Strategist, Intel
Paul Dholakia, Associate Professor of Management, Rice University
Rajiv Parikh, CEO, Position2
Shel Israel, Social Media Strategist, Global Neighborhoods
Sylvia Marino, Executive Director - Community Operations, Edmunds.com Inc.
And many others!

Agenda

Keynote -- The State of Social Media

Leveraging Social Media for Business

Social Media in the Economic Downturn

Internal Communities: Tapping into the Power of Employees Through Social Media

The Importance of Content in Social Media

Thinking Vertically Across Social Media

The Best and Worst of Social Media Marketing

Creating Your Social Media Strategy

Measuring the Effectiveness of Your Strategy

How to Implement Social Media Strategies for Big Business

Overcoming Objections to Social Media

The Future of Social Media & Business

Links / URLs

--  Powerpoint from Previous Webinar "Leveraging Social Media for Business"
    http://www.webguild.org/2008/10/free-webinar-leveraging-social-media-
    for-business.php
--  Powerpoint from Previous Webinar "Social Media Analytics"
    http://show.zoho.com/public/svwebguild/Social%20Media%20Analytics1
--  Video:
       -  WebGuild Measuring Engagement In The Social Media Revolution
          Event
          http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8546887471860007982&hl=en
--  RSS Feed for Organization: http://feeds.feedburner.com/svwguild
--  Mailing List: http://www.webguild.org/lists/?p=subscribe
--  Social Media Discussion Forum:
    http://www.webguild.org/groups/groups.php?category_id=120&page=index
--  Social Media Directory:
    http://www.webguild.org/ratings/search.php?tag_id=social%20media
--  Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/socialmediameme
--  LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=956157

About WebGuild

The WebGuild organizes information and services for the Web industry designed to keep the Web community on the cutting edge of the field. Providing an industry blog, social network, online discussion forums, jobs board, Web site ratings and review service, and events and conferences, the WebGuild fosters information exchange, professional development, and networking for Web enthusiasts to learn about emerging technologies, innovations, business models, and best practices and industry standards in the Web field. Information about WebGuild can be found at http://www.webguild.org. For Conference information, please go to http://www.socialmediameme.com.