New Webinars Focus on the Business Applications of Social Media

Software & Information Industry Association and Strategic Communications Group Partner to Present Webinar Series on Social Media for B2B Companies

Silver Spring, MD (August 26, 2009) – As social media and Web 2.0 technologies continue to reshape the PR, advertising and marketing landscape, many B2B companies remain on the outside looking in, wondering how they can utilize social media for business objectives.

This is why the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) and Strategic Communications Group (Strategic) have partnered to produce a series of Webinars for B2B companies about how social media can benefit them and ways to implement social media strategies.

“Social media is rapidly becoming a standard way to communicate and connect, but many companies are unsure of how social media can benefit their businesses and help them reach their goals in a measurable way,” said Jeff Majka, director of marketing and business development at Strategic. “These Webinars will show how social media can help generate leads, support the sales cycle, better connect with their current and prospective clients, and strengthen brand reputation.”

The series, “The New Marketing Paradigm: Social Media in a B2B Setting,” will consist of four separate Webinars starting September 8, 2009 and continuing through the month of December. Dates and topics of the Webinars follow:

• Overview of Business Applications of Social Media
Tuesday, September 8th - 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Social media has already begun the transformation of how we interact, and has the potential to transform the way we do business.

• Enterprise Sales Support - Using Social Medial to Support the Enterprise B2B Sales Cycle
Monday, October 5th - 1:30pm - 2:30 pm EDT
With new service-based models and the rise of “freemium,” the sales cycle is getting complicated—and every advantage counts.

• Using Social Media to Target the C-Suite and Close Deals
Monday, November 2 - 1:30pm - 2:30 pm EDT
Many of your customers are using social media to communicate with THEIR customers.  How can you tap into their social media programs?

• Social Media for Brand Awareness, Thought Leadership and Other Traditional PR Activities
Monday, December 7th - 1:30pm - 2:30 pm EDT
Social media should be an integral part of your PR strategy, not just your sales function.

Registration for the first two Webinars is free for both SIIA members and non-members. There is an $89 charge for non-members to register for the third and fourth Webinars. Additional information about the “New Marketing Paradigm: Social Media in a B2B Setting” series is available on the SIIA events page (http://bit.ly/h3aDe) and on the official Facebook fan page (http://tinyurl.com/m5wapd). To follow the Webinar as it occurs and participate in a live Q&A, follow the official SIIA Twitter profile (http://twitter.com/SIIA_Software) and utilize the #SIIA hash tag.

About SIIA
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to 500 leading software and information companies. For further information, visit http://www.siia.net.

About Strategic Communications Group
Strategic Communications Group, Inc. (Strategic) is a nationally recognized, award-winning public relations firm that provides integrated communications and business development services to help its clients increase sales, profitability, and corporate and product valuation. Strategic has worked with successful, growth-oriented companies such as Aptara, Callis Communications, GovDelivery, Integral Systems (NASDAQ: ISYS), Lagan Technologies, Microspace Communications Corporation, Pitney Bowes Management Services (NYSE: PBI), Senforce Technologies, Stanley, Inc. (NYSE: SXE), Tellabs (NASDAQ: TLAB), Zebra Technologies Card Systems Division (NASDAQ: ZBRA), among others.