For Immediate Release - April 23, 2008

Contact:
Gina Kazimir, PR Right Now
410-459-8765 cell / gkazimir@prrightnow.com

Making Sense of Social Media for Marketing: VillageWorks offers easy methods to help marketers use new media effectively

(Frederick, MD) –Social Media. Facebook. Twitter. MySpace. Special interest newsgroups. Everywhere you look these words have replaced the traditional language of communications and marketing. “Everyone” needs to be using “new media” but the fact is that few companies truly know what that means or how to do it well.

That’s where VillageWorks can help. “VillageWorks began helping companies use Internet marketing nine years ago, and it’s still what we do,” explains CEO/Founder Beth Schillaci. “Over time, the buzzwords and tools have changed, but companies still need a partner in planning strategic communications and evaluating the best tools for achieving their marketing goals. Today, we recognize that new media, especially social media, is a critical component of communications – this is as revolutionary as the printing press in terms of changing the way people communicate. Companies can no longer control their message with a single corporate point of view, but need to be aware of and engaged with outside viewpoints. But the reality is that it’s a constantly changing landscape, and that’s why we’ve come up with easy ways to help companies make the most of their opportunities.”

Growing naturally from their Web site design and development work, VillageWorks is now offering businesses of all sizes new media marketing opportunities with their affordable, strategic packages and custom projects. VillageWorks works with clients to define the effective and appropriate tools to use, including both social media and more mainstream online marketing tools like Web sites, e-books, whitepapers, microsites, email newsletters and more, and helps them develop, implement and evaluate appropriate campaigns.

“Companies know they need to be using new media, but it can be a daunting prospect,” says Schillaci. “VillageWorks has packaged together some of the most needed services so that clients can quickly get an evaluation of their options and an understanding of the costs and benefits. It takes valuable time for in-house staff to look at everything that’s available and come up with a plan. That’s why we do it for you.”

In addition to Web site design and development, VillageWorks offers both packaged and custom services including:

Social Media Planning and Management - Evaluate which available social media tools are right for your company to get a jump start on joining the conversation in the blogosphere.

Social Media Event Promotion – An easy way for organizations and event planners to take advantage of social media tools to promote events.

Web Discovery –Evaluate your company’ site along with competitors' to provide an action plan of how to keep visitors engaged and convert visits to leads.

“Just figuring out how to get started using social media marketing can seem overwhelming,” Schillaci states. “Working with our clients, we came to realize that companies want and need help here. We work with everyone from small to large corporations, non-profits, ad agencies and marketing firms to make managing social media marketing easy.” Schillaci also speaks on the topic of social media and what it means to marketing, and hands-on workshop seminars are being planned. “There’s a lot of confusion, and a thirst for information. I’m here to help.”

Costs for complete packages begin at just $2000. For more information on VillageWorks’ services, contact Beth Schillaci at 240-529-3000, or at www.villageworks.net.