Resolutions for the New Year: Building Brand Advocates through Influencer Engagement

This event is sold out but you can watch it live at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/smbseattle.

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Many companies these days may be jumping on the social media bandwagon but how many are actually engaging the customer in meaningful conversations? Or have social tools become another way to broadcast marketing messages to consumers?

Start the New Year off by joining CEO of Ant’s Eye View, Sean O’Driscoll, as he explains how identifying and fostering deeper connections with a company’s most loyal and respected fans - influencers - can help to infuse the customer’s voice back into the business dialogue and empower customers to become advocates in speaking on behalf of the brand.

Since customers increasingly trust the opinion and advice of their friends and neighbors over ads and radio spots, this session of Social Media Breakfast Seattle will focus on actionable tips, using Microsoft’s MVP program as a case study, for inciting effective word-of-mouth by building brand advocates through influencer engagement.

In this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify and communicate to brand enthusiasts;
• Harness the power of brand influencers to better align business objectives to an influencer's activities;
• Enable brand enthusiasts to build deeper connections with the brand and to each other;
• Neutralize detractors; and
• Determine the type of resources and governance needed to sustain and maintain influencer engagement.

Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2009

Time: Networking - 7:30-8:00 a.m., Program - 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Location: RealNetworks

Cost: $10

Event tag: #smbseattle

Speaker Bio: Sean O’Driscoll is currently CEO of Ant’s Eye View, a strategy development and consulting firm that helps guide mid to large-size companies through the process of transforming customer experience and brand engagement by activating and embedding customer voice into all aspects of a company’s social business.

Prior to co-founding Ant’s Eye View, Sean was a 15-year veteran at Microsoft Corporation. In his most recent capacity as General Manager, Community Support Services, Sean was responsible for developing social media and community-based support models and leading the global Microsoft MVP program. The MVP program was designed to award and recognize amazing individuals in technical communities around the globe who share a passion for technology and the spirit of community.

Sean is the co-chair of the influencer council for the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, and graduated from Pacific University (1992) in Forest Grove, Oregon, with degrees in business administration and philosophy.

Sponsored by RealNetworks

About Social Media Breakfast Seattle

Established in 2009 for social media practitioners and enthusiasts in the Puget Sound area, we provide learning, in-depth content sharing, skill building and networking opportunities in a morning business setting. Through thought-provoking discussions with speakers and guests, we build awareness of best practices and help shape the future of digital media professions.

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