Free Workshop on Using Social Media For Research set for May 23rd at Harrisburg University

Jan. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- From pharmaceutical companies taking a new drug to market, to legislators advocating new public policy, understanding your audience is a key part of any communication strategy. Traditional focus groups are time consuming, expense and subject to the observer effect. However, social media research processes can analyze thousands of tweets, blog posts and other social media content and determine key themes, sentiments, velocity, influencers and more. This process can analyze larger sampling sets, without the observer effect, with fewer resources than traditional focus groups.

As part of the free 2012 Social Media Summit set for May 23 at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Amy Marshall, Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Webbed Marketing, will lead a workshop “Using Social Media for Research” to help attendees understand how to harness the massive amounts of real-time data are available via social media.

The workshop is set for 11 am. to noon., on May 23, 2012.  It is part of the free 2012 Social Media Summit taking place at the University.  To register for the free workshop or the free 2012 Social Media Summit, go online to www.HarrisburgU.edu/SMS2012

Marshall joined Webbed Marketing as a partner in 2007, where she serves as an expert in social media marketing, social media best practices, social media guidelines and online marketing and social media policies. In August, Webbed Marketing expanded its capabilities even broader with its acquisition by Cleveland-based Fathom Online Marketing, one of the top 25 SEO firms in the nation. Marshall has extensive experience with SEO, allowing her to excel at integrating online marketing campaigns for clients. Additionally, she has worked in-depth with healthcare and membership organizations in regard to online marketing and is deeply involved in analyzing social media and data for clients. Her client focus has been working with healthcare organizations and systems such as OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio; NHS Human Services in Philadelphia, PA; and TriHealth in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Social Media Summit is a day-long event that consists of 9 panel discussions and 4 workshops featuring authors, academics and other leaders addressing various social media topics. Now in its third year, the Summit attracts several hundred attendees each year and is nationally unique. Attendees come from around the U.S. and several foreign countries and range in occupation from CEOs to students.

Panel discussions for 2012 include: How NFL Stars Become Facebook Stars, Social Media and Training & Education; Disconnecting from Social Networks at Home and Work; Social Media and Game Development; Social Media and Political Change; Social Networks and Future, Social Media and Product Development, Social Media and the Job Search, and Social Media and PA's Economy. Four workshops include: Protecting Your Children Online, Social Media for Research, Social Media and Network Security and an Entrepreneur Pitch Camp.

Register or get more info online at www.HarrisburgU.edu/SMS2012

You can literally take planes, trains and automobiles to the event. The University’s location at 326 Market Street in downtown Harrisburg is near Interstates 83 and 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, making it an easy drive to the University from any of Pennsylvania’s major cities. And it’s only a two-hour drive from the University to Baltimore, Washington, DC or Philadelphia. The Amtrak Passenger Train Station and Greyhound Bus Station are one block from our location. And the Harrisburg International Airport is only nine miles from the University. http://www.harrisburgu.edu/campuslife/directions.php

Harrisburg University is located at 326 Market Street in Harrisburg. Free parking is available on the street. Additional parking is available in the Harrisburg Parking Authority operated garage accessible via Fourth Street. Cost for parking in the garage is $5.00 for 0-2 hours. Kiosk for parking accepts cash only. More information on parking rates and directions to the University are found online at http://www.harrisburgu.net/campuslife/directions.php#parking

Founded in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution that produces graduates who provide increased competence and capacity in science and technology disciplines to Pennsylvania and the nation. Harrisburg University ensures institutional access for underrepresented students and links learning and research to practical outcomes. As a private University serving the public good, Harrisburg University remains the only STEM-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

For more information on the University's demand-driven undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in applied science and technology fields, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu.

# # #

Established in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution.