Social Media Marketing Focus of “Business Talks Business” Series Event

By Tom Gresham

Cynthia Schmidt, director of University Marketing at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Tammy Berwanger, project manager for University Marketing at VCU, will explain the intricacies of social media marketing next week for “Business Talks Business,” the speakers series developed by the VCU School of Business.

Schmidt and Berwanger will speak about best practices in social media marketing and provide case studies from VCU’s own efforts at three separate events in the Richmond area. They will speak on Nov. 11 at 11:30 a.m. in Room B2165 of Snead Hall on the VCU campus, 301 W. Main St.; on Nov. 12 at 7:30 a.m. at Innsbrook, 4521 Highwoods Parkway; and on Nov. 13 at 7:30 a.m. south of the James River at the Arboretum, 300 Arboretum Place.

Each event is open to the public. Registration is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Lunch or breakfast is included. For registration, visit http://www.business.vcu.edu/businesstalksbusiness.html, call (804) 828-1485 or e-mail bus-rsvp@vcu.edu.

The presentation by Schmidt and Berwanger will be useful to businesses planning to get their feet wet in the social media world. Topics include the basics of social networking, understanding and embracing your audience, building a fan base and advertising in social media. Schmidt and Berwanger will illustrate these concepts with examples from VCU’s own marketing efforts.

“Business Talks Business” is the VCU School of Business 2009-10 speakers series. Topics are presented in three different locations, covering downtown, the West End and south of the James. Speakers include VCU faculty and staff, VCU Business Society members and other experts in the community.

Karl Bren, founder of GreenVisions Consulting, will discuss sustainability and the economics of going green on Jan. 27-29 in the next scheduled event in the series.