The Great Recession continues to have a lasting impact on many sectors, including professional services. As a result, marketing and business development departments have become more creative with limited resources and must identify marketing tools that can serve multiple purposes. Tools and tactics have to support the firm’s bottom line or they become obsolete. The most effective marketing tools are those that can serve many purposes and be leveraged for business development priorities. Three such tools have emerged as key components of a marketing department’s multipurpose toolbox: awards, public relations, and LinkedIn.

The program will review these three tools and explain how they can serve a variety of marketing and business development purposes. You will learn best practices and tips for each tool. Importantly, we'll discuss how these tools are connected and the additional value that they offer because they highlight a firm’s expertise, can credential a firm’s services, and provide opportunities for direct outreach to current and potential clients.  

Meet the Discussion Leader:

Andrew K. Ryan, partner with Commonwealth Partnerships Group, a marketing, public relations, and community relations firm based in Virginia. Andrew develops marketing and communications strategies that help clients grow their business. Honored by PR News as one of 2009’s “15 to Watch” top PR professionals, he has worked with a variety of organizations and individuals in the real estate, professional services, and nonprofit sectors. He has assisted clients with a wide array of services, including marketing strategy, content marketing campaigns, social media training, market research, and public relations. Andrew’s creative approach and detailed-oriented nature have helped position clients as leaders in their fields and supported their business development objectives. He has won MarCom, Mercury, PR News, and Virginia Public Relations Awards for his work. A graduate of the University of Richmond, Andrew is active in a number of professional and community organizations in Virginia. He also recently received a Social Media for Business Certificate from UR.

CEU’s: 1

Agenda:

11:30 - 12pm - Sign-in, lunch, and networking

12pm - 1pm - Chapter announcements and forum

We will begin promptly at NOON; please arrive at 11:30 am to enjoy networking and lunch before the presentation begins. As always, SMPS Virginia Brownbags are open to members and non-members, so please feel free to bring interested colleagues and friends. Bring your own lunch.

Become a lunch sponsor! If you are interested in providing lunch for the group, please contact Alyah Bowler at abowler@koontzbryant.com.

Cancellation Policy and Service Charge: Due to the commitments of our speakers and sponsors for our free Brownbag Programs, we kindly ask that cancellations be made in writing up to 48 hours in advance. No-shows and cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance are responsible for a $10 service charge and will be billed accordingly.