Business builder seminar to focus on social marketing

At 8 a.m. April 22 at the Holiday Inn Express in Minden, the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce business builder seminar series looks closely at what you've been hearing about (or have been told to start doing) - social marketing.

Instead of providing "How to build a Facebook page" or "Tweet your way to profitability," the chamber and Main Street Gardnerville have invited Dr. Bret Simmons of University of Nevada, Reno, to present on content and inbound marketing.

"Content marketing isn't about marketing in the old way," Simmons said. "It isn't about intercepting and bothering prospective customers while they're doing something else. It isn't about intrusion at all. Content marketing is about getting customers to invite you to interact with them. It's about creating relationships that transcend transactions. The secret of content marketing is to put yourself in the customer's shoes and look for opportunities to simplify and improve their lives."

Inbound marketing, he said, a subset of content marketing, is about getting found on the Web using Google, social media and blogs. Inbound marketing is content marketing on the Web.

Simmons will discuss the basic operating principles of the new framework of content and inbound marketing.

"If you don't understand and practice these new principles, your fancy Facebook fan page and everything else you are doing online is eventually going to fail," Simmons said.

Chamber Executive Director Bill Chernock said the seminar will be helpful for any small business owner who needs help getting started with social media.

"Simmons will also give advice on how to evaluate and select people to help your social media marketing efforts," he said.

The event begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. with the session from 8-11:30 a.m. There is no charge for chamber or Main Street members to attend, but attendance is limited and reservations must be made with the chamber. Non-members may attend for a $10 fee on a space availability basis. Reservations may be made by calling 782-8144 or writing admin@carsonvalleynv.org.