Blog o' RAMA

Where in the World is... Everyone?

The answer to where in the world is... everyone... is... online. Everyone is online. I'm sure Carmen Santiago is even online.

I know, someone out there will dispute this with me - but, you start from a position of weakness right out the gate because you won't know about this post unless... you're online.

According to reports across the net, broadband usage is UP. And, advertising online is UP. And, engaging the customer is UP. It's all about being connected, in real time.

The best place for that is online. As marketers we need to keep up with new technology and keep pace with what our customers are aware of, what they're expecting, what they're participating in... all of which is part of the user-generated content world, today.

What do you know about Second Life? Do you know that IBM is spending millions there? As is computer giant, Dell. That you can make a real living with your avatar? (in the last 24 hours, over $1million has been spent in this virtural world). That creating a place in Second Life isn't a lame excuse to play games, but a business decision showing your willingness to engage in conversation (and online activity) with -- your future customers?

How about blogs? Did you attend our blog session in February? Are you coming to Wednesday's luncheon with Jackie Huba on social media and networking? Do you know that blogs have become major web presences for... a lot of businesses? They're NOT just conversation generators. They're interactive, robust, full-featured websites.

The world isn't going to slow down to let you jump on and get with it. Either open your eyes to the new possibilities in the world of marketing, or retire. Go off to Tahiti and sip some sweet, orange drink on the beach. Oh, and the young folks gazing off into the cloud s - who look like their talking to themselves... they're using Bluetooth.

Get it.

RAMA Awards AMA International Scholarships

Alfred, February 24 - The Rochester Chapter of the American Marketing Association (RAMA) has awarded International Scholarships to three Alfred University AMA student members.

The RAMA Board voted to provide $1,000 to each of the three students to attend the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival (IAF) in France as part of the International Marketing and Advertising Program (IMAP) with the College of Business.

AMA student Executive Officers Todd Ford, Mike Heaney, and Jessica Kernan are the recipients of the  awards.

"Todd, Mike and Jessica have demonstrated leadership and enthusiasm through their participation with the AMA and will be excellent ambassadors at the IAF," commented Bill Ward, AMA Faculty Advisor.

Alfred University is the first university to attend the week long IAF industry event. The students will post to the RAMA blog during the trip and will present to the RAMA Board after their return.

"RAMA has been such a great resource for us throughout the entire year with the workshops and speaker series that we have attended. I have learned so much from RAMA already, and thanks to them, will learn so much more with this trip to the IAF," Todd Ford said.

Jessica Kernan added, "I look forward to presenting to the RAMA board when we return and updating them through blogging while on the trip."

After studying international marketing and advertising in Spring 2007, the students will attend the IAF in Cannes, France from June 14 - 24, 2007. Known as the "Oscars of advertising," the IAF takes place soon after the celebrated film festival and is the only annual gathering of the world's industry elite. The program examines the best strategic and creative persuasive communications from around the world.

Faculty Leader Bill Ward, Assistant Professor of Marketing, College of Business, and co-Leader Séverine Collignon-Ward, Adjunct Professor of French, will accompany the students.

Power Marketing | Get Connected. Get Smarter. Get Results

SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE!

The American Marketing Association – Rochester Chapter presents:
New Member / Member Prospect Breakfast

Join us for RAMA Membership Orientation Breakfast on April 5^th from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Bagel Bin (12 Corners in Brighton) as we discuss the value and benefits of a RAMA membership.

You’ll have an opportunity to meet the RAMA Board members and learn more about the RAMA chapter.

We’ll let you know about some terrific ways to enhance the value of your membership by getting involved and working with the premier marketing organization in Western New York.

You do not have to be a RAMA member to attend. This is a free event.

To RSVP or request more information, email RAMA or Holly Ferrell .

RAMA Collegiate Scholarship Competition

Announcing: 2007 collegiate scholarship awards

The Rochester Chapter of the AMA, which has doubled membership in the past three years from 116 to 279, is proud to announce that we are accepting applications for our collegiate scholarship awards. RAMA has built a strong relationship with five universities in the area, and currently has 120 student members in our chapter. This program is designed to increase their visibility by providing a scholarship to a student studying marketing in the Monroe County, New York area.

Deadline to apply is May 1, 2007
Download RAMA Scholarship Application Form here.

• Scholarships will be eligible to marketing students who belong to a RAMA collegiate chapter.
• One $500 scholarship will be awarded to a member from each collegiate chapter.
• Awards will be paid directly to the student.
• The RAMA board will serve as judges for the competition.
• Awards will be paid in June to the recipients.

Please continue to the next page for more detailed information on the Collegiate Scholarship Award from RAMA.

Jackie Huba Talks Creating Customer Evangelists

March 21, 2007 RAMA will host another mind-tingling luncheon event guaranteed to send you off in a creative mood.

Jackie Huba of the Church of the Customer blog and Creating Customer Evangelists will be here to present "Citizen Marketers: When People are the Message."

Jackie says, "A solitary citizen today with a broadband connection and a few inexpensive tools has a substantially better chance of influencing the public persceptions of billion-dollar corporations than ever before." [isn't that what we told you at the blogging seminar last week?]

Also, from Jackie, "Furthermore, the 'social media' of blogs, podcasts, and social networks are fusing pop culture with traditional marketing, and that's causing all manner of disruption."

It's that kind of talk that makes Jackie and her partner, Ben McConnell, so popular. Jackie will be joining us to provide some clarity and insight into the fast-moving world of social media. Along with Ben, Citizen Marketers examines the early history of social media and why it's taken root so quickly.

You'll learn about the various types of citizen marketers, their motivations, how to work with them, and how they are influencing purchase decisions for products, brands and companies (yours?). The Wall Street Journal hailed this book and encouraged its readers to "drop everything and read this book." RAMA will be handing out copies of Jackie's book... so be among the first in Rochester to have this important information in your hands!

Location: Mario's Via Abruzzi
               2740 Monroe Ave
               Rochester 14618
Time: 11:30-1:30                     

Register today to reserve your place! Click HERE.

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ANNOUNCING RAMA's 2007 Collegiate Scholarship Awards! Click here for details!

SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE! NEW MEMBER AND PROSPECT BREAKFAST. DETAILS HERE.

Blog Seminar Big Success!

Events come and go so quickly here, it's sometimes hard to get a post up about them. This will be short...but full of facts!

On Tuesday of this week WME Blogs (that would be Tom Collins and Yvonne DiVita, helped by Greg Bell and Dianna Leach) held an all-day blogging seminar. The goal in the morning was to cover the basics: what a blog is, why people choose to write them, and what a business blog looks like. The afternoon covered more detailed information - including building a Typepad blog from scratch and showing participants how to put content in the sidebars.

A good time was had by all - but most importantly, the attendees agreed (via email to Tom and  Yvonne afterwards) that they all learned a lot. You can read more about this event (including information on blogging ROI) here.

Thanks go to Jennifer Young (program chair) for arranging the Holiday Inn Airport as our venue. It was a great location. The folks at the Holiday Inn went out of their way to help us. Kudos to them for making sure we had enough Internet connections for all attendees to get online and follow along as their instructors moved about the blogosphere.

Here are some comments from the event:

Susan J. Sullivan: (Dir of Marketing & Recruitment, Roberts Wesleyan College) "I was just singing the praises of yesterday’s presentation; actually, for the second time this morning!  It was really important for me to understand the value of blogging for an organization in terms of marketing and promotion, as well as what NOT to do in that arena.  Having your team walk us through the steps and nuances of building a blog was extremely valuable."

D-D Flannery (PR professional and board member) "From an attendee's eyes, I can't even begin to express how great the seminar was yesterday! A BIG Thank you to you both! I learned a LOT!"

Jennifer Young (Marketing professional and board member) "Yvonne and Tom were wonderful. Starting from the big hug Yvonne gave this weary soul upon arrival. They allowed the audience to interrupt with thousands of questions. And answered with great insight and patience."