Scott Monty to Present at Module 09 Midwest Digital Conference

We’ve received considerable positive feedback on our lineup for this year’s conference and we’re excited to be able to add to that with the following update:

Scott Monty, Digital & Communications Manager for Ford Motor Company has graciously agreed to join our lineup for this year’s Midwest Digital Conference as a presenter. In his segment he’ll be discussing how to properly design and execute a coordinated social media strategy within your organization. A subject in which he’s most certainly well versed.

Much has been said about Ford’s innovative marketing strategy amidst the current automotive industry’s financial woes. At the forefront of such timely innovation is Scott Monty and his social media savvy marketing focus. You can read about his perspectives at ScottMonty.com

Scott is a marketing and communications professional focused on the digital industry – specifically on social media. His career spans a number of industries such as healthcare, pharma, biotech, travel, automotive, tech, and communications, and includes a wide range of clients, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

Scott is currently the head of social media for Ford Motor Company, where he holds the title Global Digital & Multimedia Communications Manager. While his role is based in the Corporate Communications area, he is a strategic advisor on all social media activities across the company. From blogger relations to marketing support to customer service to internal communications and more, social media touches many facets of Ford business, and Scott is there to ensure it is consistent across all of them.

We’re excited to be able to add Scott’s voice to our program of distinguished presenters and offer our audience perspectives and practical insight that can benefit us all as professionals.

We look forward to seeing you all the conference on April 10.

Module 09 Digital Conference highlights:
Our goal is to help companies respond to new media communication challenges including:

• Why should I care about the digital landscape in 2009 (and beyond)?
• Which technologies are right for my needs?
• How do I manage communication via the digital space?
• How do I measure my return on investment?

Featured sessions will provide practical approaches to meet these challenges by using readily available digital tools:

• How to evaluate and integrate new technologies and trends for your business
• Selecting the right digital channels to broadcast your message
• Your digital mindset: How to create your online presence
• Digital marketing’s global impact

Social Media Symposium: How to responsibly & effectively broadcast your message over the social media channel

• Relationship management via the social media sphere
• Learning to listen: How to hear your customers and join the discussion
• Making social media work for your brand

For more information about the Module 09 Digital Conference, please visit the conference web site or contact us.

National Digital Experts Bring the Future of Social Media to Detroit this April

DETROIT, February 9, 2009 — Module LLC will host the Module 09 Midwest Digital Conference to be held April 10, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. Professionals from around the country will gather together to discuss the future of digital media and its related impact on business.

The conference is designed for both professionals and students in marketing, public relations and business development. Attendees will gain practical knowledge and a greater understanding of how digital technology can be applied to strengthen communication across all audiences — both inside and outside an organization.

“The digital landscape is changing at an extraordinary rate,” commented Adrian Pittman, Conference Chairman. “To keep pace, business leaders need to appreciate the tools available … how to navigate and connect their organization’s content creators with external audiences.” Pittman is a 16-year marketing veteran and founding partner of Module LLC.

Pittman added, “In the spirit of the conference theme, attendees will impact what’s covered on stage. We will use the latest trend-tracking software to monitor, in real time, which items interest our audience most … then immediately feed those relevant topics to our speakers. We’ll leverage the interactive conversation, bringing added value to both the audience and our digital experts.”

Featured presenters include:

• Chris Brogan, ChrisBrogan.com, a ten-year veteran of using social media and technology to build digital relationships for businesses, organizations, and individuals.
• Marcel Lebrun, Radian6.com, the CEO of Radian6, is a serial entrepreneur with a decade of experience with technology start-ups and an understanding of how technology impacts business.
• Shannon Paul, Hockeytownblog.com, is enthralled with communications issues and new media, and currently creates content and social media strategies to help the Detroit Red Wings broaden its fan base.

Module 09 Digital Conference highlights:
Our goal is to help companies respond to new media communication challenges including:

• Why should I care about the digital landscape in 2009 (and beyond)?
• Which technologies are right for my needs?
• How do I manage communication via the digital space?
• How do I measure my return on investment?

Featured sessions will provide practical approaches to meet these challenges by using readily available digital tools:

• How to evaluate and integrate new technologies and trends for your business
• Selecting the right digital channels to broadcast your message
• Your digital mindset: How to create your online presence
• Digital marketing’s global impact

Social Media Symposium: How to responsibly broadcast your message over the social media channel

• Relationship management via the social media sphere
• Learning to listen: How to hear your customers and join the discussion
• Making social media work for your brand

For more information about the Module 09 Digital Conference, please visit the conference web site or contact us.

Recessionary Marketing: Innovate & Do Something!

Marketers are squeezed like never before. The consumer is more fickle than ever. Every day, there is a new hunt for how to best engage a consumer, how to effectively gain trade support and how to truly measure performance. It is essential that small businesses find the best ways to streamline their processes, market their core products and reach their core audience. Companies who effectively do this will make it out of this recession stronger than ever.

In the current economy, it’s all about cutting costs, not cutting corners. A marketing strategy in ANY economic scenario should always center on targeted, relevant, and timely messages. During a recession, however, companies are obligated to evaluate costs more closely. More often then not, says Bruce Temkin, a vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, executives make across-the-board cuts that adversely impact any company’s two core concerns: Who represents the target market you’re serving and what is the value proposition you’re delivering?

“In a recession, you don’t have the luxury of making mistakes when it comes to answering those questions,” Temkin says, “You have to more diligently answer those questions because once you do that, you then have a clearer picture of which customer you actively go and continue to market…and what you are going to do or deliver.” In other words, he says, instead of taking a hatchet to your marketing agenda, it’s time to whip out the scalpel.”

In better economic times, Temkin explains, targeting is expected, but “it doesn’t make sense to hold the entire company purely to it.” It’s easier for a company to go outside of its comfort zone when budgets are less restricted. In those times, he says, “you don’t need to be as rigorous.”

When return on investment is the top priority, here are a few low cost options that can help you do more with less:

1. Integrate your marketing channels to avoid redundancy and create a comprehensive view of the customer.
2. Create an internal and/or external blog or discussion board where customers and employees can communicate with upper-level management to create transparency and solicit input.
3. Host virtual events to complement your in-person events.
4. Tap into social networks for advice from your peers.
5. Improve the usability of your customer-facing channels. Especially your website.
6. Switch to cost-per-acquisition networks (like TrialPay) that only charge when you make a sale.

Many times, it takes a crisis for companies to recognize their inefficiencies. The companies that survive will be the ones that know how to get creative and do more with less.

Obviously no recessionary strategy is one-size-fits all, but one overall message should ring out consistently: DO SOMETHING. Don’t hide under the desk and wait it out until next year. During these times - this is when great companies emerge.