Online Impact 2010 gathers social media for business experts at STCC

Date: 1/5/2010

Gordon Snyder, director of the ICT Center at STCC, and Mary Fallon, media director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc., discuss their presentations for the upcoming social media for business seminar, Online Impact 2010.
SPRINGFIELD -- Gordon Snyder, director of the ICT Center at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), has been traveling the country lately talking about something that is making a lot of local businesses successful.According to Snyder, social media -- comprised of internet based networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn -- is increasingly being used by small businesses.

"It's a great way for them to reach out to customers and other people that they ordinarily would not have access to," he suggested. "They are using these online tools to connect, promote, and establish themselves and their expertise."

Snyder will be gathering with other social media experts at Online Impact 2010, on Jan. 14, at STCC's Tech Park, with the specific objective of teaching other local businesses to use these free tools and increase their success. He will be providing tips and tactics for those interested in using blogging and Twitter to connect to customers.

Mary Fallon, media director at Garvey Communication Associates Inc., is another presenter who will be teaching businesses how to create and grow Facebook Fan Pages. Fallon said she is used to the raised eyebrows "look" when she brings up Facebook as a possible business promotion tool.

"It's a look of surprise," she noted, "because most business people feel Facebook is for college students.

"Yet, the statistics don't lie -- adults 35 to 45 are the fastest growing demographic and there is more gray hair on Facebook than beer-pong players. Locally, there are well over 100,000 adults on Facebook and they are on it for hours every month."

Online Impact 2010 is a half day series of presentations and panel discussion that will be covering not only the "how to" but also case studies on successful application of these online business tools. Topics will also include online video, blogging and search engine optimization, social media in higher education, and a special presentation by Gov. Deval Patrick's New Media team.

Individual presentations will be geared for beginner or advanced level, so there will be strategies, tactics, and new business examples offered for just about everyone. There also will be a time for open networking.

Online Impact 2010 will take place 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 at STCC Technology Park, Scibelli Enterprise Center. Cost is $45 (proceeds will fund future RTC technology events).

For more information, go to www.onlineimpact.eventbrite.com.