Grow Socially CEO John Foley to Lead Social Media & Inbound Marketing Master Class

Publishers have a unique opportunity to capitalize on social media, says Grow Socially CEO & CMO John Foley, but few are doing so. To truly engage with audiences, publishers should be presenting the great content at their fingertips in ways that provide value to readers. And Foley has some ideas on how to do just that.

In partnership with Publishing Executive, Foley will lead the Social Media & Inbound Marketing Master Class being held on October 16^th in New York City, delivering social media know-how tailored specifically to publishing and media professionals. The Master Class is an interactive event that will provide tactical and strategic lessons on using social media to drive traffic, meet audience development goals, and grow revenue.

Foley, who advises on social media and content marketing strategies through his consulting firm Grow Socially, says it takes more than a couple tweets a day to engage an audience. A holistic content and marketing strategy needs to be created and implemented across a variety of platforms, including social media. Following, Foley explains why social media is a critical tool publishers need to incorporate into their content and marketing strategies and how they can do that more effectively to engage readership. Join us on October 16th in NYC to explore these topics in depth at the Social Media & Inbound Marketing Master Class.

What are the strategic benefits of a media organization investing in its social media know-how?
There are many, but there are six in particular that I think are worth focusing on. These are in no particular order; branding, exposure, growing communities, thought leadership, influencing, and lead generation. But all of these are part of a larger online marketing strategy, and we are going to talk a lot about that during the Social Media Master Class, because without strategy, it's incredibly difficult to reap the rewards of social media.

What are some common misconceptions around social media?
The biggest four misconceptions are that it's free, it's easy, start on Facebook, and build it and they will come. Social media requires an investment -- typically financially nominal, but time is money, and to do it right takes time and dedication. Social media is not easy. It takes hard work, a sound strategy, and the right people executing who understand how to build a community. In terms of where to start, it really all depends on a publisher's goal. Facebook is not always the right place to start. Lastly, the "if you build it, they will come" only works for a field of dreams, it does not work for social media. Major misconception right there.

What are the lessons you want attendees to take away from this Master Class?
There are many, but let me give you my top 7:

1. The right way to effectively use social media
2. How to develop and execute a social media strategy
3. The development and execution of a social media plan
4. How to achieve better results
5. How to measure social media and understand the return on investment
6. How to implement social media strategies to improve interaction with your brand
7. Why you want to involve your writers, and how!

In closing, let me say that I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at the Social Media & Inbound Marketing Master Class on October 16^th in New York City. It is going to be an incredible event with some wonderful guests and a lively group of attendees. We'll have a lot of interaction going on throughout the day, and I am confident that all of our attendees will leave with actionable takeaways that they can implement quickly upon returning to the office. If you have questions or want to chat before the event, email me; JohnF@GrowSocially.com, or tweet @JohnFoleyJr