Prospective clients and customers now have many ways to screen out “interruption” style advertising ranging from TiVo to spam blockers. In order for businesses to reach their target audiences compelling, valuable content is critical. Today’s most successful firms are employing content marketing strategies to make consumers smarter and more knowledgeable.

To help educate Southwest Floridians about how buyer behavior is changing on a national basis, The Social Media Club of Southwest Florida is pleased to welcome Newt Barrett as our keynote speaker. Newt Barrett is the founder of Content Marketing Strategies and its parent corporation, Voyager Media, Inc. and will be speaking to our club on September 22, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the new Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center.

Newt is a leading thinker on the new discipline of content marketing. He urges marketers to think like publishers by delivering essential, relevant, and timely information that makes customers smarter and wiser–and much more likely to become buyers.

Newt is a successful publishing executive with more than 25 years of experience as both a manager and business owner. He has launched profitable publications in the high tech arena for both CMP and Ziff-Davis. He was an early player on the web in 1996 as Publishing Director of an early Yahoo competitor, NetGuideLive.

As an entrepreneur, he launched Southwest Florida Business and BusinessNewsNow.com in the late nineties, later selling them to Gulfshore Media. His publication still thrives under its new name, Gulfshore Business.

In addition to his sales and marketing skills, Newt is the co-author of the content marketing bible, Get Content. Get Get Customers, published globally by McGraw-Hill.

Panel Discussion

Following Newt’s presentation, we are pleased to welcome a local panel of small business leaders that are successfully employing social media and content marketing strategies to promote their local brands. Are panelists for the evening are:

Chris Griffith – Realtor, Downing-Frye Realty, Inc., Bonita Springs Florida Real Estate, @Twitterzilla – Chris is the consummate content marketing and social media enthusiast. A successful local real estate agent who obtains over 90% of her clients from her online activity which include her popular Southwest Florida area real estate blog, a column for the Naples Daily News and active participation on social networking platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

Kevin Alexander – Senior Vice President-Marketing, Sky Angel Family and Faith Television, @SkyAngelTV – Sky Angel is a premier source for faith based television with corporate offices in Naples, FL and a national presence. Sky Angel’s effort to connect with their community range from a content rich website, online videos, a Facebook Group, a corporate blog integrated with their website, email alerts and senior executives using micro blogging platforms such as Twitter.

Ken Glasgow – Owner, Simply Cupcakes of Naples, @SimplyCupcakes – Simply Cupcakes is, as the name suggests, a specialty bakery offering delicious, delectable cupcakes for the many celebrations and events. They have embraced social media as a way of connecting with their customers and have an extremely popular Facebook page with over 700 fans following their regular posts. They have recently starting posting updates on Twitter as well.

Immediately following the conclusion of a panel discussion we will be continuing our conversation during a social gathering to be held right at the Holiday Inn property. If you have time, please consider joining us for some additional socialization.

Location

Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center
9931 Interstate Commerce Dr.
Fort Myers, FL 33913
Phone: 239-561-1550

Directions and map to the Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO COST AND THIS EVENT IS FREE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SEATING IS LIMITED AND YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND

The Social Media Club of Southwest Florida would like to thank Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. and The News Press for underwriting this event. You can find more information on Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. at http://www.henlaw.com/. You can read The News Press online at http://www.news-press.com/.