At our October 12 lunch meeting at the Delta’s Top of the Inn, SEBA members and guests heard from a blue-ribbon panel of experts on the opportunities and challenges in the world of Web Marketing. Industry heavyweights Michael Donovan (DONOVAN Creative), Adam Rozenhart (Calder Batemen Communications), Walter Schwabe (fusedlogic inc.) and Joyce Byrne (Venture Publishing) shared their perspectives on the most effective means to leverage social media platforms to benefit business and charitable ventures.
Key takeaways from the panel session included:

• Look before you leap: get clarity on what your brand means, who your audience is, what resources you can commit, and what you want to accomplish with your social media strategy, then select the appropriate platform (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.)
• Be consistent: tailor your social media activity (text/video/audio/image) to your brand and to your existing “traditional” marketing message
• Get ready for your close-up: park your ego because, unlike traditional marketing, social media comes with instant public feedback, some of which might not be so flattering
• Give Back: because social media is particularly effective in generating support for causes and projects, you can enhance your profile and burnish your reputation by initiating or supporting projects and charities which reflect your values
• Google rules: “search engine optimization” remains the key tool to getting your message out to the masses

The “expert panel” format marked a departure from our usual lunch meeting style of a featured guest speaker. As with everything we do, SEBA welcomes your feedback on the event. Share your thoughts below.