Past LA2M Events

Managing the Public Conversation: Comment Moderation at AnnArbor.com

Edward Vielmetti, Lead Blogger of AnnArbor.com

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

Printed newspapers traditionally place a great distance between the reporter, who writes under a large headline, and a reader, who submits a letter to the editor that may not be published for space or content reasons. Not every newspaper has made a successful transition to taking online comments, and some online media sites comment boards are full of spam and bitter invective. Edward Vielmetti shares some lessons learned from the first six months of moderating comments on AnnArbor.com.

How to Brand Your Business Using Social Media

David Kiley, Vice President of Content/Brand Development of ICON Creative Technologies

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

Companies today want a Facebook Page and Twitter Feed. Many of them aren’t sure why. They just want them because they feel they need to, or should. But after you enter the social media channels, it is crucial to have the right content. It isn’t enough to just “Be there.”

Join us at LA2M, as our speaker David Kiley shares his business-wise experience of counseling companies on how to fill their Internet-based communications channels aimed at the public and the media.

Lessons Learned in Blogging: How to Build a Better Blog

Christopher Rizzo of Online Tech

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

Anyone who has ever thought about starting up a blog, has quickly found out how hard it can be to attract a sustainable audience. A blog can be a very time consuming endeavor but it also can be very rewarding at times.

Chris will share his story of how he built his own blog from the ground up. Having had his music blog for over 3 years now, he has seen the whole blogging world evolve and strengthen. Proven techniques to gain traffic will be shared as well as miscellaneous tips on how to create a more incising and interesting blog.

Decision Making and Randomness in Marketing

Mike Kessler of Workantile Exchange

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

Our mental strategies for making decisions worked well when the decision was to run or be eaten by the lion, these strategies do not always serve us well in today’s complex world. As decision-makers we fall victim to biases, inappropriately extrapolate from past events, improperly use individual behavior to explain collective behavior, wrongly correlate cause and effect, and we do this exceedingly poorly when there is very little or a huge amount of information available.

Using Radio to Beef Up Your Brand

Kyle Stuef of Ann Arbor Radio

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

This event is CANCELLED (Feb. 10) due to all the snow Ann Arbor got last night. It will be rescheduled in the future. See you next week at LA2M.

Book Review: “The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki

Charles Hammerslough, President of DemoMetrics

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

This week’s LA2M presentation is taking a slightly different approach to its popular lunch series. We’re featuring a Book Review – but not just any book. Charles Hammerslough is going to provide an overview, and highlight some of key features of Guy Kawasaki’s book, “The Art of the Start”.

Online Digital Magazines and Catalogs

Jeff Kalman, President of iPaper USA

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

Bridging the gap between print and digital publications is a current trend that embraces cost savings and going green. Taking your print-based publications and converting to digital is the perfect way to engage your readers, take advantage of digital features, AND get great ROI.

Posterous - A Cool New Tool for Developing Your Personal Brand

Deb Nystrom, Owner of Reveln Consulting

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

If you've always wanted to set up a blog, but aren't particularly web savvy or don't want to invest a lot of time in blogging, you may want to consider using Posterous.

Posterous (pronounced "PO-ster-us") makes it easy to set up a blog and share your thoughts, photos, videos and favorite links with others on the web via email.

Deb will share her story, lessons learned, and tips & strategies for staying on top of social media development and the decision questions that will help you make wiser choices for how you budget your marketing time and money. Deb's presentation will include looking at the niche of marketing for independents, consultants, and small to medium sized business, which may be overlooked in much of the social media research geared to large business.

She'll also share her contacts with those in the business who are discovering new trends regularly and sharing them and links to tutorials and helpful Posterous blogger examples.

Turning Software as a Service (SaaS) into Revenue

David Bloom of Factotem

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

SaaS ("Software as a Service") is the new Field of Dreams. Too many great online applications falter, for want of an effective business model.

LA2M’s Jan 13th talk focuses on how backend systems, user experience engineering, and online traffic work together to generate revenue and profit. First, David Bloom will explore the four cost centers of a SaaS business, and how setting user expectations balances burn-rates. Next, he will delve into revenue models, metering, and promotions and introduce the sales pipeline - from awareness, interest and intent to conversion, virality and churn.

Come listen and learn about sustainability concepts - touchpoint branding, release trains, and channel partnerships and the three key business metrics that determine SaaS success: CoCA, CoSD, and TLCR. Before launching into Q & A, David will wrap up the session covering exit scenarios, in a "Web 2.5" world where Web 2.0 businesses are no longer fundable, and Web 3.0 businesses have little traction.

Which Silver Bullet? Strategic Market Planning

Dee Davey, Owner of Creative Ideas Marketing

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 - 11:45am - 1:00pm

There are hundreds of ways to market your business. Which silver bullet should you use?

At the heart of a successful business is an understanding of who your customers are, what they want, how they buy, where they are, and if there are enough of them to warrant you even being in business in the first place. Successful businesses also need to have, or be able to build, the core capability to provide what your customers really want, at a profit, and be ready to execute focused and targeted promotions and communications programs to attract and engage potential buyers.