Friday, August 28, 2009

GWINNETT CHAMBER LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN 2.0

Second Wave of Social Media Tools to Extend the Chamber's Reach, Value, and Ability to Serve Members

Duluth, GA – The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the official launch of its social media 2.0 campaign designed to extend the Chamber's reach, value and ability to serve members more effectively and more completely than ever before. Through the Gwinnett Chamber's involvement with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and the Chamber's blog, Chamber members will experience enhanced capabilities for networking, staying informed on Chamber activities, and growing their businesses.

The Chamber first began using social media in its job recruitment efforts in 2008 and has already received national recognition for its implementation of social media as an effective communication tool.

"Our economic development department has really been a pioneer in the use of social media and job creation efforts," said Gwinnett Chamber Vice President of Communications and Public Policy Demming Bass who has also served as the National Chairman for the American Chamber of Commerce Executives' Communications Division. "At national conferences across the U.S. and in blogs and message boards related to our industry, the Gwinnett Chamber has been held up time and again as a model of the effective use of social media. Now we are taking it to the next level."

In a recent article by the
Gwinnett Daily Post, the Gwinnett Chamber was referenced as a leader in Gwinnett in using social media tools as means to network and keep the community informed.

"When we started using social media around February 2008 – for the purpose of externally marketing Gwinnett – we could not have predicted the effect it would have," said Lisa Sherman, marketing & pr director for Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett. "From heightened SEO [search engine optimization] exposure to increased attention from nationally-recognized and highly-respected media outlets like USA Today, the concept of social media has quickly become one of the important aspects to our overall marketing strategy."

The Gwinnett Chamber currently manages a
LinkedIn group offering members the opportunity to connect and interact with one another in an online, professional format. The Gwinnett Chamber created a page and a group on Facebook where the business community can stay informed on the Chamber's activities, network and build relationships. Local businesses can follow the Gwinnett Chamber's blog to stay informed on issues that are relevant to their companies and in an effort to enhance the benefits of members, a Gwinnett Chamber Member News & Events Blog was also created. The Gwinnett Chamber and Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development have a YouTube channel that is used as a platform to engage with members using the power of video. Finally, the Chamber is using Twitter to provide members with short, timely bytes of information impacting local businesses.

In addition to the Gwinnett Chamber Twitter account, several Gwinnett Chamber staff members have Twitter accounts providing specific information on the Gwinnett Chamber and local business activity. For up-to-date information on overall Chamber initiatives and efforts as well as public policy affecting local businesses follow Vice President of Communications and Public Policy
Demming Bass. To stay informed on the Gwinnett Chamber's Economic Development activity follow Vice President of Economic Development Nick Masino, Economic Development Director of Public Relations Lisa Sherman and business development managers Melanie Brandt (Technology), Lauren Salas (Corporate Office) and Alison Nalley Starnes (Trade & Logistics). Follow Vice President of Membership Services Vince DeSilva for the latest information on Chamber member businesses. For exclusive access to the Gwinnett Chamber's Focus newsletter before it hits the newsstands follow Communications Manager Delaine Gray.

"The Gwinnett Chamber prides itself on being a progressive chamber and recognizes the importance of innovation and using a variety of tools to communicate with members, including social media," said Bass. "In addition, one of the most significant benefits that the Chamber of Commerce offers is networking. By engaging in social media the Gwinnett Chamber is able to take networking to the next level for member businesses."

For more information on the Gwinnett Chamber, visit
http://www.gwinnettchamber.org/.

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