In this issue: Meeting News – How Communicators Feed the Insatiable Hunger for Mobile Apps; The Secret to Outperforming Your Competitors; and more.

Mobile is growing up. What was once the domain of carriers, highly-specialized developers and infrastructure experts is now a playground for marketers, creatives and more traditional web developers.  The consumer demand for mobile services, at an all-time high, is a mandate for organizations to deploy mobile services if they want to stay relevant in this brave, new world.

The fog around mobile technology has begun to lift, but there are still plenty of pitfalls to avoid in developing a comprehensive mobile strategy.  Join us as we explore the top 5 myths around mobile and set a framework for building an enterprise mobile strategy.

Technology SIG
Wednesday, March 7
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Box lunch provided
Free parking on site:
Definition 6
2115 Monroe Dr.
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30324
Register online >

Mark Emery – Strategist, Mobile Marketing

In his role as Mobile Subject Matter Expert, Mark is responsible for creating mobile strategies for Definition 6 clients and shaping the agency’s burgeoning mobile practice. He assists clients in deploying mobile solutions that drive real-world business value, complement existing enterprise goals and engage consumers across an ever-changing mobile landscape.

Prior to this role, Mark served as Director of Channel Marketing/Mobile at INgage Networks, where he created a partner network responsible for driving millions of dollars in revenue in year one, and helped develop the company’s blended social and mobile strategy.

Prior to INgage Networks Emery worked as Senior Director of Agency relations at Air2Web, a mobile marketing software company helping brands, agencies and media companies leverage multiple wireless technologies for a unified mobile experience. Previously Mark directed marketing communications for Synchrologic, an advanced mobile synchronization company recently acquired by Nokia. At Synchrologic, Mark won several awards for his writing on numerous topics, including advanced data synchronization, mobile email and PIM, and wireless file distribution. In all, Mark has 12 years’ experience in digital marketing, 10 years concentrating specifically on mobile. He has a BBA from Baylor University.

Our February speaker: Branden Lisi of Object 9

The proliferation of inexpensive mobile technology is dramatically changing the landscape for professional communicators.  In just 2011, 120 million smart phones and 20 million tablets (e.g., iPad) were sold. By 2015, these numbers are projected to grow at 10 times that rate!

What does that mean for you as a communicator? Join us for this interactive presentation with tech guru Branden Lisi of Object 9 to find out.

According to Lisi, “Mobile is an inevitable platform for communicators—both internal and external. As employees, clients, customers, and consumers move away from computers as their main source of interacting, you will need to alter your method of communicating to reach and engage them.”

In this career/business-changing program, Lisi will reveal:

• How to get more ROI and ROE from a mobile application strategy
• How to build a mobile application strategy for a more successful, efficient, and engaged workforce
• How to measure the effectiveness of an integrated mobile application strategy in your communication plan

About our presenter…

Branden Lisi is a product of a globe-trotting military family. He studied chemistry and jazz at Louisiana State University but soon realized he was too center-brained to exist in a pure science or pure art environment. He subsequently co-founded a digital marketing agency before Al Gore had even heard of the Internet. Over the past 20 years, Branden has directed a broad array of projects, integrating tools with Web, software, and mobile elements.

Our February meeting sponsor:

WHERE
Buckhead: Maggiano’s Little Italy
3368 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326

FEE (Early-bird pricing shown below; prices increase after February 24)
Members: $32
Nonmember: $47
Students: $15

Register online! >

In this issue: Meeting News – A 2012 Resolution for Advancing Your Career: Master the Art of Bragging; Blog Roll Call; and more.

The programs are scheduled for the 4th Tuesday of every month, except October, when we have our Golden Flame event, and December.  See the dates and location schedule below.

The Annual Pass is transferable.  If you can’t attend, just e-mail us and let us know who will be attending in your place.  

 Add Up the Annual Pass Advantages:

• Save money
• Save time on expense reporting and multiple payments with a one-time purchase
• Offer the program opportunity to colleagues or clients by transferring your pass if you can’t use it

The deadline for the Annual Pass offer is the day of our first program: January 24th. The pass is only offered this month because it’s only good for 2012.

Purchase your Annual Pass on the January 24 luncheon registration page >

IABC/Atlanta Luncheon Program Schedule

1/24 – Buckhead/Maggiano’s
2/28 – Buckhead/Maggiano’s
3/27 – Perimeter/Villa Christina
4/24 – Perimeter/Villa Christina
5/22 – Buckhead/Maggiano’s
6/26 – Perimeter/Villa Christina
7/24 – Buckhead/Maggiano’s
8/28 – Perimeter/Villa Christina
9/25 – Buckhead/Maggiano’s
11/27 – Buckhead/Maggiano’s

• Why “brag” is no longer a four-letter word;
• The three reasons we need to start bragging today, and;
• How to brag so others don’t gag!

You’ll have the rare opportunity to practice sharing your successes in a friendly, safe environment, where you can’t make a mistake. Plus, Darcy will offer coaching and encouragement along the way, and you’ll learn from listening to other colleagues, too.

If you feel like you never get the chance to brag on all your great work in real life, you’re not alone. So invite a friend, colleague or client to join you for this unique, engaging opportunity! You’ll likely find out something great about someone else–and perhaps about yourself as well!

WHERE
Maggiano’s Little Italy / Buckhead
3368 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326

FEE (Early-bird pricing shown below; prices increase after January 20)
Members: $32
Nonmember: $47
Students: $15
Annual Pass Holders: Purchase an Annual Pass for $272 and save 15% off regular price of 10 luncheons, $320! (Learn more)

Register online today! >

Darcy Eikenberg, ACC

Darcy Eikenberg helps aspiring professionals make the leap to leadership in ways that work for their organizations and for themselves. With a practical, real-life perspective on creating success and making the most of talent, and with over 20 years’ experience working with Fortune 500 companies as a leadership and workplace coach, communication consultant, speaker and facilitator, Darcy’s clients consistently grow to greater levels of clarity, confidence, and control—all leading to better business results.

Through her corporate coaching company Coach Darcy LLC, and her work with individuals at RedCapeRevolution.com, she has designed and motivated individual and team change at companies including The Coca-Cola Company, GE Energy, The Home Depot, State Farm, Cracker Barrel and Verizon. Before launching her own business, Darcy was a Principal and led the Southeast Communication Consulting business for Hewitt Associates (now Aon Hewitt), the HR consulting firm. In addition to her leadership and consulting work there, she also created and led an innovative internal coaching program to support and grow the firm’s high potential associates and high-producing teams.

Darcy speaks and teaches across the nation, working with companies and professional organizations such as the International Association of Business Communicators and the American Marketing Association. She’s also a frequent guest of the media, frequently quoted on work, success, and career issues in publications such as TheLadders.com, CareerBuilder.com, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among others. She is the 2011 President of the Georgia Coach Association and holds her coaching credentials from the International Coach Federation. In addition, her book, Bring Your Superpowers to Work: Your Guide to More Clarity, Confidence & Control, will be released January 2012.

For more:

• Visit www.RedCapeRevolution.com and enjoy many free tips and tools available there
• Connect on LinkedIn at www.LinkedIn.com/in/DarcyEikenberg
• Visit on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/RedCapeRevolution
• Follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/RedCapeRev
• Email Darcy directly at Darcy@RedCapeRevolution.com or Darcy@CoachDarcy.com

2011 – A Year of Change and Opportunity for IABC Atlanta

Change was, once again, word of the year for 2011. In an iffy economy, communicators continued to master the art of doing more with less. Many of us assumed new responsibilities, took new jobs or looked for new employment. And even if we continued on the same track, the tools of our trade were constantly changing. Some of us were stressed by the challenge, some were energized by the opportunity, but whatever our experience, IABC members benefitted by coming together to navigate change.

At monthly meetings this year, we learned about a broad range of strategies and tactics for building corporate culture and internal brands, making successful executive videos, selling ideas to bosses and clients, publishing corporate history, using search engine optimization, and connecting design with business objectives. At mixers in Midtown, we swapped stories and expanded our circle of professional friends. At our Golden Flame Awards gala in October, 21 companies earned the Gold – a 10 percent increase over last year – proving that local communicators are getting measurable results from their efforts. All of these programs and events were possible because of the hard work of many volunteers. Thank you!

What’s in store for you in 2012.

Our board members listened to what you said in the recent member survey and in other forms of feedback and planned 2012 with what you asked for in mind. Look for more meeting locations, more tips on using technology tools, more case studies, more senior speakers, more mixers, and if you have more requests, send them our way, directly to individual board members or through LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. A great way to get more out of your membership in 2012 is to get involved as a volunteer. Raise your hand if you’d like to be on a committee or serve on the management team. If you can’t make a big commitment, consider signing up to do just one thing on one day to help with our programs. We’ll have some suggestions coming your way. There’s something else you can expect to see in 2012 – an emphasis on using communications to get business results and positive outcomes. After all, we’re part of a powerful network of international business communicators, so getting results is what we know, what we practice, and what differentiates us from other professional associations. The point of all of this – the meetings, the communications, the focus on results – is to help you enjoy your work, hone your skills and advance in your career. Please share your ideas, get involved and help make it happen!

Serving in a leadership role is a great way to meet people, showcase your expertise, develop a skill, and access professional development opportunities. Join us at Gordon Biersch/Buckhead on Thursday, December 1st from 5:30pm to 7pm to talk to board members about volunteering with the IABC/Atlanta chapter. Drinks are on us!

Here are some of the types of volunteer opportunities the chapter offers:

Board Positions: Vice presidents are officers of the IABC/Atlanta chapter and serve on the board.  Candidates for these positions may be self-nominated or nominated by other IABC members.  The nominating committee of the board selects a slate of officers, which must be approved by the board at its December meeting.

Coordinator and Committee Member Positions: These positions are selected by the vice presidents to whom they report and will be filled between now and year-end. Experience in these positions often leads to board positions.

Find out More: For a list of open positions and detailed job descriptions, download the full list (PDF) . See a position or two that interest you? Drop by Gordon Biersch on December 1st to chat with board members and learn more about the positions that pique your interest.

Drop-ins are welcome, but we’d love to get a headcount in advance, so RSVP if you plan on attending >

You can also contact these members of our Leadership Taskforce directly:

• Lawson Cox, president@iabcatl.com
• Jo Ann McCracken-Redding, vice.president@iabcatl.com
• Eric Berrios, recognition1@iabcatl.com
• Terry Cerisoles, marketing@iabcatl.com
• Anne Wainscott Sargent, communications@iabcatl.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

In this issue: Meeting News – Creatives behind the Southern Company’s book Big Bets speak on Tuesday; Two Metrics that Matter Most to Winning a Golden Flame; and more.