Pacific Conferences welcomes 2011 with Social Media Marketing Conference in Singapore and Hong Kong

Social Media Marketing is not a fad. It is a crucial socialisation strategy that marketers need to harness for brand expansion & engagement. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) November 16, 2010 - Social Media platforms have become large, powerful centres of interrelated communities and activities, with people across the globe gravitating towards social networks at an exponential rate. This dramatic shift in social interaction has highlighted the importance of Social Media in shaping consumers' opinions and behaviours to turn brand enthusiasts into advocates. The challenge now is for brands to learn how to build a more collaborative relationship with customers through creation of compelling Social Media experiences.

Highlighting Social Media's impact on marketers today, Neil Hudspeth, Regional Digital Director APAC, Leo Burnett mentioned that, "the explosion of social media regionally and globally is redefining the way all brands engage and communicate with their customers."

Recognising the challenges faced by companies today, Jeremy Woolf, Senior Vice President and Global Social Media Practice Lead of Text 100, commented that "many Asian companies stand at a marketing crossroad. They intellectually understand that growing importance of social media, yet struggle to build social media channels into their marketing programme," and specifically, "two key 'chicken-and-egg' issues faced by companies today - resources and executive endorsement."

Social Media strategies need to go beyond just the platforms. Setting up a Facebook page does not equate to a Social Media strategy - a Facebook page without relevant content to engage has little difference from an official press release. Community building and interaction are vital components of a Social Media campaign. John Stauffer, Regional Strategy Director of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, shares that, "one of the most pressing challenges many of our clients face is understanding consumer's behaviour online. How many friends on Facebook can a person really influence? Do ideas spread faster in forums or on Twitter? The key for success in social media is not necessarily the technology but the way people interact with one another online."

Challenges aside, Social Media when properly leveraged on, can generate positive word of mouth and sales. Peter Dingle, APAC Digital Marketing Manager & Social Media Lead for Intel, mentions that, "Online has a direct influence on Purchases & Referrals; (in fact) Facebook users who LIKE a brand's page are 33% more likely to buy a product, and 92% more likely to recommend it to others."

With the aim of addressing marketers' social media challenges, this two-day conference on "Social Media Marketing" will be held in Singapore and Hong Kong on 17 - 18 January and 20 - 21 January 2011, respectively. Woolf, Hudspeth, Stauffer and Dingle are among experts in the field who will be addressing these issues and more. Key highlights would include employing Social Media in a B2B setting, implementing Social Media guidelines, producing creative viral content that engages customers, as well as identifying means of integrating media platforms effectively.

Conference Details:
Title: Social Media Marketing Conference
Date & Venue:
17 - 18 January 2010, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore
20 - 21 January 2010, Regal Hongkong Hotel, Hong Kong

Organiser: Pacific Conferences
Contact Person: Ms Leah Katigbak
DID: (65) 6372 2216
HP: (65) 9015-4764
Email: leah ( @ ) conferences dot com dot sg

Attachment: Full Programme
Full programme can also be found at: http://www.conferences.com.sg/S1375-SMM4-01J-P.pdf

About Pacific Conferences
Pacific Conferences (www.conferences.com.sg) specialises in organising business conferences aimed at providing interactive, insightful information and analysis about issues facing businesses in Asia Pacific. Catered to middle and upper level executives, its events are usually case studies-driven with emphasis on providing in-depth and unbiased practical knowledge.

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