Chamber Lunch-N-Learn - Social Media for Business

Description

Learn the latest trends
Apply strategies that work
Discover resources
 
Many folks with a Facebook business page or a Twitter account struggle to effectively use these resources. This workshop explores strategies and tactics small businesses can use to engage and interact with customers via Social Media. We examine real small businesses that are successfully using social media at no or low cost to engage with customers and improve their bottom line.
 
Business owners, managers and key staff are encouraged to take advantage of this educational opportunity. Staff from nonprofit organizations and government agencies can also benefit. Workshop participants are strongly encouraged to bring laptops and smart mobile devices to the session. Tablet-type devices are less useful for this workshop.
 
The session connects learners with trends, strategies and resources, and includes hands-on learning exercises, but does not offer one-on-one counseling or consulting for business-specific solutions. Business owners and managers may follow-up with free and low-cost actions on their own, and/or hire professionals to help with technical work. 

PRESENTERS:

Merritt Bussiere is one of 8 University of Minnesota Extension Community Economics educators serving Greater Minnesota. He is based in Brainerd working with community and business partners in Aitkin, Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Morrison, Todd, Wadena counties. The Community Economics program develops applied research and education strategies to help partners address economic development challenges and opportunities.

In previous work, he has served as a city community development director, certified business counselor/trainer, community planning and development consultant, loan fund manager, and state land use specialist. Merritt earned an M.S. degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. in Latin American Political Economy from Temple University in Philadelphia.



Adeel Ahmed is a University of Minnesota Extension Community Economics educator. He is based in St. Cloud serving South Central Minnesota. The Community Economics program develops applied research and education strategies to help partners address economic development challenges and opportunities.

Adeel taught chemistry and physics in Tanzania with the Peace Corps. In addition to seven years of private sector experience in information technology, he is fluent in Urdu and Hindi, and has language competencies in Swahili and Arabic. He earned a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota?s Humphrey Institute in Minneapolis, and a B.S. degree in chemistry from the same campus.


Lunch & Learn is a series of educational luncheons targeted on local business needs. Convenient, affordable classes offering quality professional development locally.