Learn All About Word Press at Word Camp Miami

WORDCAMP MIAMI KICKS OFF SOUTH FLORIDA TECH WEEK

WordCamp Miami will kick off Miami’s Tech Week on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 9:00 a.m. at the University of Miami School of Communication.

The event will feature three different tracks with speakers covering a variety of topics related to WordPress, an open source blogging platform owned by Automattic. WordCamp will also feature special sessions from local social media professionals who will discuss the business value of social media platforms.

“WordCamp is for everyone from the blogging beginner to the experienced web developer,” says John Jacoby, a Core Developer for Automattic’s BuddyPress project.

WordCamp Miami is a community organized event that brings people together to share their personal and professional experience with one of the most popular blogging platforms. WordPress has been used to power websites for CNN and the New York Times.

Miami’s Tech Week will also include BarCamp, an “unconference” where community members deliver impromptu presentations on technology related topics, on Feb. 21 and Future of Web Apps (FOWA) Feb. 22 – Feb. 24 which features speakers from leading internet companies such as Mozilla.

Tickets are currently on sale for WordCamp Miami at www.wordcampmia.com.

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If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Jessica Jurick, please call Jessica Jurick at 920-248-9174 or e-mail Jessica at jess@miami.edu.

SFIMA February 2010 Peer to Peer Mash Up Event

Thursday, 2-11-2010

Expert Mashup: Peer to Peer Forum

New Venue: Pier 66

The 2009 version of this event was so successful, we decided to bring it back for 2010.

Everyone is an expert on something, this event is your turn to shine!

Everyone has a question about online marketing they would like answered. This is your turn to ask!

This event features you! Our Peer to Peer networking event is about sharing the wealth of expertise, experience, and knowledge that makes up our South Florida Interactive Marketing Association. The open forum will be lead by our former presidents, Mark Evans and Joe Laratro. They will moderate this session where you can ask questions of the audience or provide your insight on other member's questions.

The SFIMA board will be available to answer questions on the following subjects: copywriting, internet law, search, email, print, social media, analytics, event planning, surveys, ecommerce, Web design, and more.

Please submit questions in advance. These questions will be posted on the SFIMA Blog and the answers will be summarized after the event.

Some of the questions already submitted:
What are some tips for successfully interacting with your agency?
What are some of the new Social Sites worth engaging?
What does bounce rate mean in my analytic's stats?
How successful is traditional advertising vs. online advertising and what should I do with my budgets for 2010?
Should I be working on Social Media for my Company?
Yellow Pages? Anyone, Anyone?
What do I do with negative posts about my brand online?

Note: Register early to avoid the $10 walk-up charge.

SFIMA Text Alerts

Join the SFIMA Text Alert program by texting the word SFIMA to: 247365.

Benefits include:

• Monthly Alerts about events (we will not send more than 3 messages per month. No spam here)
• Last minute event updates and special announcments.

JOIN Today!

Event Details Time/Date: 6:30 pm Thursday, 2-11-2010 Place: Pier 66 2301 Southeast 17th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Contact: Member Cost & Registration No Cost for SFIMA Members Non Member Cost & Registration $39

SFIMA January 2010 Event Recap

In case you missed it . . .

SFIMA's January Event featured Miami Dolphins Senior VP Jim Rushton.

Mr. Rushton gave us an exciting overview of Miami Dolphins' marketing efforts and how they accomplish the big job of getting everyone "on the team" and on board, not only to purchase game tickets and Miami Dolphins merchandise, but to interact with the Dolphins on many different levels: TV, radio, online & mobile.

Mr. Rushton was not only enlightening and personable, he is a very charismatic speaker.
Here are some highlights from his talk:

The Miami Dolphins marketing team developed 3 fundamental commitments to fans:
1. create a team worthy of supporting
2. enhance the fan experience
3. contribute to community

The team has to focus on so many areas of business, many might not be aware of the scope:
Stadium | Merchandising | Ticket Sales | Consessions | Sponsorship | Integrated Media

Mr. Rushton pointed out that advertising on the internet is such a challenge because it is still very new and hasn't been figured out just yet. "The internet is a combination of all 3 previous media: text (newspaper), audio (radio) and video (TV)."

The Dolphins media team recognized that the fans / consumers are connected to them, but in so many different ways & they react differently to ads & events put on by or about the Dolphins. The challenge is reaching and connecting with as many fans / consumers as they can.

Mr. Rushton was kind enough to share a campaign case study with us. The campaign he highlighted was a 2009 New Season Ticket Holder Acquisition Campaign. This was particularly challenging effort for that year since, as many Dolphin fans and South Floridians know, the Dolphins were coming off of a 1 and 15 season for 2008. (Yes, that's just 1 win and 15 losses, sadly - don't rub it in!) That, in addition to a recession made the task particularly daunting.

Campaign Objective:
- increase season ticket holder base
- recover lost ticket holders
- increase new ticket holders

Target:
- high income
- past single game ticket holders
- former ticket holders
- key South FL businesses

Strategy:
- highly personalized
- interactive
- engage
- invite
- be part of the team

Execution:
- integrated multi media
- direct mail
- large email campaign, personalized, with recipient's name on the Dolphin jersey
- miamidolphins.com
- sunsentinel.com
- personalized
- interactive video message
- relevant sales content (different content to different categories)
- specific & consistent rep. contact

Step 2:
Drive registration to a micro site: www.MyDolphinsLive.com

You HAVE to check this out! the site is still live now. It creates a custom video with your last name inserted in all the media buzz of being signed as a new Dolphin football player!

It really is very ingenious, interactive and fun for any Dolphin fan!

This generated 44,000 videos created by 25,000 unique users and also led to 50K + entries into the contest they were running to win a suite at Landshark Stadium.

The Results!
- 9600 new season ticket packages purchased
- 30% of the new season tickets attributed to the campaign
- $18.50 ROI for each $1 spent on the campaign
- $82.60 LTV for each $1 invested

A secondary value, Mr. Rushton pointed out, was the learning experience about new media advertising. As he had stated at the top of his presentation, internet marketing and advertising is still so new, we are learning more and more with each click, each campaign.

Mr. Rushton concluded his presentation to us with a look at some new advertising directives they are exploring for the Dolphins going forward.

Their new concept:

1st Staduim - Landshark Stadium
2nd Stadium - MiamiDolphins.com
3rd Stadium - Mobile & Radio

They are exploring new ways to cross engage all 3 stadiums and also integrate The 5th Quarter after game show.

Thanks so much to Mr. Rushton for a great, insightful presentation and look into the world of sports marketing. Coming from someone like me, who has been a fan since I was born, it was great to see how two things I love (Dolphins Football & online marketing) come together.

And finally, congrats to Pam Stein, of Clientize, who was the lucky winner of the signed Dolphin helmet, which we discovered was signed by Ronnie Brown, not Ricky Williams, so Mr. Rushton took it back to have Ricky sign it too! Now, Pam will get have both running backs' signatures on her helmet!

SFIMA After Party Tweetup Tomorrow Jan 14th

Make plans to join us at The Living Room bar after the event for the SFIMA After Party TweetUp! Complimentary desserts will be served. This is a great opportunity for some relaxed networking.

Please also register for the After Party Tweet Up here: http://bit.ly/4MX0Jy

You can choose to go to either event or both. (We hope you come to both!) There is no charge to attend the After Party Tweetup. Desserts will be served!

Speaker Change for this Thursday's Event

Announcing a speaker change for this Thursday's event. Jim Rushton, SVP of Corporate Partnerships and Integrated Media for the Miami Dolphins will be stepping in to speak instead of their V.P. Chris Overholt. Mr. Rushton will be speaking about their digital marketing efforts and how they tie offline and online marketing efforts together. His presentation is titled: “The Miami Dolphins – Winning Fans Hearts and Wallets thru Education, Promotion, and Connection”

This Thursday's event is surely one not to be missed! It's at The W Hotel Ft. Lauderdale Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 6:00pm.

Make sure to register ahead of time for the event! http://bit.ly/7grlrX
The education event is free for SFIMA members and $39 for non-members. Register ahead of time to avoid the walk up fee.

Make plans to join us at The Living Room bar after the event for the SFIMA After Party TweetUp! Complimentary desserts will be served. This is a great opportunity for some relaxed networking.

Please also register for the After Party Tweet Up here: http://bit.ly/4MX0Jy

You can choose to go to either event or both. (We hope you come to both!) There is no charge to attend the After Party Tweetup

SFIMA January Education Event: Dolphin VP Shares Winning Secrets!

Thursday, 1-14-2010

Miami Dolphins' Marketing VP Shares Winning Secrets

Check out new media plays, such as personalized videos. Learn about increasing brand preference and sales.

Christopher R. Overholt - Vice President, for Dolphins Enterprises LLC

Mr. Overholt serves as the senior sales and marketing executive responsible for all business and marketing functions for both the football club and stadium facility. Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Overholt leads a team of professionals charged with enhancing the efforts of all aspects of the sales and marketing function including, general ticket sales and premium seating, corporate sponsor sales, strategic partnership planning, and various media sales initiatives. Day to day responsibilities include, all aspects of corporate sponsorship sales, broadcast and new media revenue, team and facility advertising and promotion, strategic and financial planning and event presentation. In addition, Overholt is charged with the overarching business plan including the selling proposition of various stadium properties, naming rights and including areas of new media, and international brand strategy. Read Full Bio Here.

Come join us for an opportunity to network alongside marketers, agencies, vendors and the top brands of South Florida!

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Special Raffle Prize:

Win a Dolphins' helmet autographed by star running back Ricky Williams, who has already rushed for more than 1000 yards this season.

A true collector's item could be yours!

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Note: Register early to avoid the $10 walk-up charge.

Join us for post-networking at the Living Room bar on the third floor at the W Hotel from 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm.

SFIMA Text Alerts

Join the SFIMA Text Alert program by texting the word SFIMA to: 247365.

Benefits include:

• Monthly Alerts about events (we will not send more than 3 messages per month. No spam here)
• Last minute event updates and special announcments.

JOIN Today!

Event Details Time/Date: 6:00 pm Thursday, 1-14-2010 Place: W Hotel 401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Contact: travislberger@gmail.com Member Cost & Registration No Cost for SFIMA Members Non Member Cost & Registration $39