The first Speaker Series of 2010 that we introduced to you in December is now just around the corner and open for registration. The event will focus on Leveraging Social Media to Accelerate the Customer Lifecycle.

Social media is playing a significant role in shaping customer buying decisions. As a result, retailers are abandoning traditional advertising channels in favor of social media and other digital channels to proactively engage consumers in real time.

TOPICS will include:

+ Hooking new customers via social media
+ Building community
+ Leveraging brand evangelists to drive word-of-mouth
+ Social CRM
+ Promoting sales and events

SAN DIEGO Panelists:

+ Crosby Noricks, Senior Social Media Strategist, Red Door Interactive
+ Natalie Malaszenko, Director of Ecommerce, Petco Animal Supplies, Inc.
+ Christine Morrison, Social Media Marketing Manager, Intuit
+ Liya Sharif, Director, Marketing, Qualcomm
+ Moderator – Reid Carr, President, Red Door Interactive

DENVER Panelists:

+ Tony Felice, Data Insights Strategist, Red Door Interactive
+ Brian England, Marketing Manager, Social Media Strategist, Western Union
+ Beth Leleck, Email Marketing Manager, ExactTarget
+ Joe Rogel, Social Media Strategist, Gaiam
+ Mike Slone, Director of Interactive Services, Vail Resorts
+ Moderator – Scott Esmond, Director of Business Development Denver, Red Door Interactive

EVENT DETAILS
The San Diego event will be held on Tuesday, January 26 in our beautiful space on the 15th floor of Diamond View Tower; and the Denver event will be held on Tuesday, February 2 at the hip and funky Fuel Café at TAXI.

8:30 – 9:00 AM Registration, Breakfast & Networking
9:00 – 10:00 AM Presentation & Questions
10:00 – 10:30 AM Networking

Cost: $35
Parking validation included.

If you have any questions about the Speaker Series, please contact:

Erika Werner, San Diego event: ewerner@reddoor.biz
Scott Esmond, Denver event: sesmond@reddoor.biz

Thanks to everyone who attended the latest installment of our Speaker Series! For those who may not be familiar, we host quarterly panel discussions focused on specific online marketing topics. A group of subject matter experts and thought leaders in that particular subject engage in an interactive panel discussion in which we act as moderator. These events are hosted both in San Diego in our beautiful space on the 15th floor of Diamond View Tower (equipped with spectacular panoramic view of downtown and Petco park) as well as in Denver, CO (see details below for upcoming event).

This latest event was focused on Mobile Marketing. Mobile Marketing is revolutionizing the way that brands connect with consumers. For many marketers the world of Mobile can seem daunting but this channel offers a wealth of opportunity to strengthen brand awareness, drive conversions and increase customer retention.

Success of the iPhone 3G, Blackberry Storm and Google Android enabled phones empower brands to drive sales via the small screen. Food & beverage, sports, apparel, travel and tourism companies as well as retail giants are proving that mobile commerce is here to stay. Additionally, couponing, voting, store location, surveys and digital downloads are a handful of other ways to communicate with consumers through their Mobile devices.

Dan Flanegan (CEO, BrandAnywhere), Andy Jedynak (Internet Executive and Author), Greg Hallinan (CMO, Verve Wireless) and Travis Falstad (Marketing Strategy Consultant, formerly of Hot Topic) made up our expert panel. Red Door President Reid Carr moderated the hour and a half long discussion on the opportunities that this emerging channel provides as well as what marketers should be thinking about when launching a Mobile Marketing campaign.

Here are some photos from the event:

Here are some insights from the @reddoor Twitter feed (#reddoor hashtag to follow along):

“We are beyond the “Year of Mobile Marketing” focus is no longer on the technology but on the use and application for marketers”

“Most brands creating apps (@starbucks #chipotle are leveraging GPS functionality – becomes a bit like the Minority Report”

“Mobile technology is at the point where the local has become possible”

“Execution of the mobile campaign is becoming easier, but u have to have good marketing plan”

“Mobile is simply another marketing channel. Creating an effective marketing campaign is key to getting users interested”

“Open rates of text messages much higher than email, 60%-90%+”

“The majority of big brand’s mobile budgets are going toward advertising to drive users toward a mobile experience”

“The majority of big brand’s mobile budgets are going toward advertising to drive users toward a mobile experience”

“Theme among panelists:don’t do Mobile just to do it – understand your target audience, have pertinent reason to engage the customer”

“For most marketers, unless national or using GPS, there’s really no reason to build an app because mobile web is catching up rapidly”

“Keep up to date on what’s going on: http://usshortcodes.com/ and http://mmaglobal.com/main”

Our next Speaker Series event is in Denver on Tuesday, October 27th. The topic will again be Mobile Marketing and we have another great panel including Dan Flanegan (CEO, BrandAnywhere), Greg Hallinan (CMO, Verve Wireless), Sue Chandler (Senior Product Manager, Cricket Wireless) and David Gould (CEO, mShopper). Morgan Witt, Manager of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships at Red Door will be moderating. We hope that you can join us!

REGISTER NOW!!!!

Things to do Fridays is a weekly post of local events in San Diego for the week ahead. If you are interested in submitting your event, please email cnoricks[at]reddoor.biz for consideration.

December 12 - If you are lucky enough to be a Red Door employee or count one among your closest friends, you just might be spending Friday night at the House of Blues’ Delta Room for the annual RDI Holiday Party.

December 14 -  Holiday gift shop while supporting local independent fashion designers at THREAD. Over 1500 people have already purchased tickets for the hourly fashion shows (12-4p.m.) and are ready to storm the Sheraton for 80% off.

December 16 - PRSA New Pros is designed for professionals in the public relations industry with less than five years experience. Head over to Las Hadas in the Gaslamp for their A Holly Jolly Holiday Mixer.

December 17 – The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Jingle Bell Kroc Christmas Festival starts at 4:30 pm and is FREE with the donation of a new unwrapped toy. Ice Skating, Arts and Crafts, Hot Chocolate, Photos with Santa, Figure Skating Show, Cookie Decorating…a pretty good reason to leave work early no?