Get to know a MITX member! This month we're featuring Sitecore.

This is the third post in our social blog series. Throughout the month of May we'll be featuring posts from some of Boston's most expert thought leaders, answering these questions: “How is the new technology landscape changing social marketing?  What do marketers need to understand now and in the future in order to be prepared for these changes?” This post is by Jamie Pappas. Jamie is Vice President of Social Media and Public Relations at AMP Agency, where she leads the development and execution of integrated digital and traditional marketing, public relations and social media campaigns and initiatives for global Fortune 100 brands. Converse with her on Twitter @JamiePappas.

The evolving technology landscape continues to influence the need for brands to provide consumers with multi-channel experiences across a range of traditional and digital properties, including social media channels. Surprisingly, when it comes to social media, most brands believe they are meeting consumer’s needs and expectations by simply maintaining a Facebook page and a Twitter account. In today’s digital age, this strategy is simply not enough. In an increasingly mobile society, users expect to be able to access information anytime, anywhere, and on any device they choose.

Our MITX Innovation Award finalists are working hard every day to make an impact on the way we work and play. It’s incredibly inspiring to hear their stories and see their results. Many of them talk about the mentors, coaches and partners that have helped them along the way – allowing them to get where they are now and see where they are going next.

In fact, there are individuals in our community who wake up every day with the sole purpose of supporting this great community in exactly this way.  These people give so much of themselves – yet to them, it’s all in day’s work. They too are incredibly inspiring.

Industry News

This is the fourth post in our social blog series. Throughout the month of May, we'll be featuring posts from some of Boston's most expert thought leaders, answering these questions: “How is the new technology landscape changing social marketing?  What do marketers need to understand now and in the future in order to be prepared for these changes?” This post is by Seth van der Swaagh. Seth started at Google in 2004 as the 11th person in the Google Boston office. At Google he has led multiple advertising sales teams across a variety of industries, from Retail, to Consumer Packaged Goods, to Telecommunications.  Prior to Google Seth worked for an IT consulting company and was also a school teacher.  He holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University along with MBA and MIS degrees from Boston University

It is undeniable that the web has dramatically changed people's lives.  And as technology continues to advance at breakneck speed, it is critical as a marketer to understand how people's lives are changing, and how you and your business can take advantage of those shifts.

This post is by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager at Punchbowl.com. Punchbowl is a 2011 MITX Innovation Award Winner for “Best Consumer Tech that Makes Life Easier.”

This is the third post in our social blog series. Throughout the month of May we'll be featuring posts from some of Boston's most expert thought leaders, answering these questions: “How is the new technology landscape changing social marketing?  What do marketers need to understand now and in the future in order to be prepared for these changes?” This post is by AJ Gerritson. AJ is a Founding Partner at 451 Marketing, an award-wining Boston-based communications agency that focuses on integrating public relations, social media, and search engine marketing campaigns for mid to large-sized companies. In 2010, Boston Business Journal recognized AJ as a member of their “40 Under 40” class. He serves as President and Board Member for the Boston Irish Business Association, an organization he co-founded, and sits on the boards of Junior Achievement of Northern New England and March of Dimes of Boston. When he's not devouring information on new media, you can find AJ on the rugby pitch – he was a two-time Rugby All-American and played professionally in Ireland.

A couple of themes really stick out to me when I think about the changes in and the future of social marketing, and they are both directly linked to mobility and the advancements in web and mobile-based technology. It’s obvious that smartphones and tablets have become a dominant force in the way people find and share information. Now, these devices are shaping how we target, engage with, and market to our audience.

What will the future of Marketing look like? How will it be different than today? In the final part of a guest blog series exploring these very questions, Chris Colbert, CEO of Holland-Mark, shares his thoughts on demand creation and loyalty. Do you have an opinion on the future of Marketing? Submit a session proposal to speak on the subject at FutureM 2012, or share your opinion here.



In the future…

…more marketers will realize that they must still invest in demand creation. They will realize that social is too slow a build, and often too limited a connection, to really drive significant business. They will see that the digital milieu is best suited to demand conversion and delivery and that the analog world still holds cost-effective opportunities to create awareness and interest.

The Innovation Awards are fast approaching and we've been on the hunt for just the right person to host this year's ceremony. The host is an integral part of the celebration, and we are determined to find just the right person - someone who understands Boston's Innovation Community, someone who's unflappable and fearless, and someone fun who can turn this into a real party!

We captured one of Debi Kleiman's conversations about the search on video. Check it out:

It's clear that the power of a marketing message is strengthened expotentially when you can leverage the collective voice of employees, partners, customers, and fans. So how, exactly, do you empower these people to share, how do you measure ROI once they DO share, and how do you know what channels are most efficient? In today's Sitdown, Dave sits down with Glenn Gaudet of GaggleAMP, a CIC-based startup that is attempting to solve all of the above.