Schedule
Webinar 1: Augmented and Virtual Reality
New 'realities' in economic development marketing
Wednesday, September 25 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Looking to give a tour of your main street attractions, or draw attention to your communities' hidden gems? Want to showcase available properties and investment opportunities? Augmented (AR) and virtual (VR) reality are revolutionizing the way businesses and locations connect with people around the world. AR and VR technologies offer unique, experiential marketing opportunities, giving clients and individuals an immersive product experience from any location. Join us for this webinar to learn how your organization can utilize these technologies without breaking the bank and re-envision marketing for property development, small business growth, and more.
Speakers:
• Lucien Parsons, Founding Director, MAVRIC, College Park, MD
• Michelle Samson, CEcD, Economic Development Officer, City of Vaughan, Vaughan, ON, Canada
• Sandy Sponaugle, CEO & Founder, Platinum PR, Frederick, MD
• Connie Stopher, Executive Director, Southern Idaho Economic Development, Twin Falls, ID
Webinar 2: Data Privacy and Compliance
Secure your data: privacy and compliance in digital marketing
Wednesday, October 2 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET
With the internet's growing role in our daily lives, privacy is becoming more important and more complicated. Now with the introduction of GDPR (the EU's sweeping data privacy legislation), for businesses and marketers, new questions arise: where is the line between spam and effective communications techniques? How much personal information can be collected and shared, and what are your responsibilities? This webinar will discuss customer privacy and legislation compliance, giving your organization the tools it needs to conduct responsible and effective digital marketing campaigns.
Speakers:
• Holly A. Brady, Associate, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Richmond, VA
• Matthew Mullin, Vice President of Policy, Programs, & Communications, International Economic Development Council, Washington, DC
• Jennifer Wakefield, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Greater Richmond Partnership, Richmond, VA
Webinar 3: Artificial Intelligence
Your newest marketing team member: AI
Thursday, October 10 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the future of marketing, working constantly in the background to boost your organization's competitive edge. From more personalized website experiences, to targeted advertising, to writing unique copy, AI can enhance your marketing efforts while reducing your workload and is gaining adoption across every sector and industry at an alarming rate. In this webinar, we will discuss what AI means for marketing your EDO and community and best practices for using AI-powered technologies in your campaigns.
Speakers:
• Andrew Fitzgerald, Senior Director of Business Intelligence, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Baton Rouge, LA
• Mignonne Hollis, Executive Director, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Steven Jast, President & CEO, ROI Research on Investment / Gazelle.ai, Montreal, QC
• Jaxson Khan, CEO, Khan & Associates, Toronto, Canada
• Dean F. Whittaker, Founder & President, Whittaker Associates, Holland, MI
Webinar 4: Creating a Website for Success
Tools for a Responsive, Innovative Website
Wednesday, October 23 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Let's face it: we don't all have the means to create dynamic websites like Apple. But that doesn't mean your organization has to settle for second best! Thankfully, technology has made it extremely practical for anyone to modify and update a website without the need for a web development background. Join us this fall as we discuss strategies for designing on platforms without breaking the bank, and for measuring and optimizing return on investment. We'll look at successful campaigns, hear from economic development professionals who have found creative ways to market their organization, and learn how to get the most out of the marketing tools available to you. In this webinar, learn how to find your voice, audience and strategies for increasing website traffic.
Speakers:
• Lauren Cartwright, Events and Communications Coordinator, Sonoma County Economic Development Board, Santa Rosa, CA
• Dennis Fraise, President & CEO, Lee County Economic Development Group, Keokuk, IA
• Jeff Kline, Founder, Chief Executive Officer & President, Accrisoft Corporation, Charlotte, NC
• Dana Millard, Economic Development Project Director, Lee County Economic Development Group, Keokuk, IA
Webinar 5: Using Data Visualization to Tell Your Story
Visualizing marketing success through data
Wednesday, October 30 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Your organization uses data to improve its services and understand your community's needs. But are you using data to tell your story? Join us for this webinar to learn how EDOs can use data visualization to market their community's assets and their organization's impact. We'll discuss the different types of data visualizations, cutting edge tools available to you, as well as best practices for building an effective dashboard and determining what information is most important for shaping your story.
Speakers:
• Wayne Encalarde, Manager, Small Business Growth, New Orleans Business Alliance, New Orleans, LA
• John Grimwade, Assistant Professor, School of Visual Communication, Ohio University, Athens, OH
• Devon Hogue, Business Information Officer, City of Cambridge, Cambridge, ON
Webinar 6: Social Media Advertising and SEO
Discover advertising strategies for success
Wednesday, November 6 | 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET
Improve brand recognition and trust through your social media platforms. Explore how targeted paid advertising can improve your overall reach, attract your audience and generate recurring revenue. Work smarter not harder by implementing SEO strategies to increase your visibility and reach your desired audience. This webinar will dive into the analytics of advertising to gain an understanding for each platform and how to apply best practices to each.
Speakers:
• Julia Sakas, Director, Marketing & Communications, Toronto Global, Toronto, ON
• Jolene Schalper, CEcD, Senior Vice President Business Development, Great Falls Development Authority, Great Falls, MT