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Here in the midwest, we don't talk about social media, we put it to practical use. Check out all the ways we walk the talk on Flickr.
Mana is founder and president of the Chicago Digital Marketing firm, Lightspan Digital. In over 8 years of digital marketing experience Mana developed and led the implementation of over 100 marketing campaigns from email to web content optimization and social media marketing, in multiple business environments, including corporate, client-facing, small business, non-profit and international business. Prior to Lightspan Mana led digital marketing strategy and program development for HSBC Card Services, and in 2008 she received HSBC's highest performance award in North America, the President's Award.
In 2010 Mana was listed in the top 30 most influential Chicago people on Twitter by wefollow.com. and klout.com. Mana is an Expert Contributor on Focus.com and her Twitter Tips have been published by Twitip.com.
Mana believes in taking a hands-on approach to marketing, giving due attention to strategy while stressing the importance of getting things done via strong planning and execution.
Mana has an MA in Mass Communication from BYU, with a thesis on discourse and narrative in the United States' coverage of the Kosovo war. She loves SCUBA diving, circuit training and opera. She is also a supporter of local and sustainable businesses.
A wise man said that social media is not a fad, it is a revolution. It fully deserves the revolution label because it didn't just change how businesses and their customers interact but it changed the business-consumer dynamic altogether. Customers, potential customers, fans and friends of brands are not just buyers anymore, they have become active contributors to how brands are perceived, how they change and grow.
While the idea of putting your brand in the hands of a bunch of unpaid strangers who blog and tweet a lot can be scary, when done well it can become one of the most powerful tools in your marketing toolbox. This session will look at examples of successful people-driven social media campaigns, such as social media ambassador programs and crowdsourcing contests. We will discuss powerful, yet simple techniques to get more value from your marketing by inviting your customers, fans and supporters to participate in growing your business presence online.
