Connecting with customers in the 21st century — How the ‘Digital Revolution’ has changed Marketing

Digital marketing is the convergence of the practice of marketing with technology (both hardware and software) and the ubiquity of the Internet. The debate today seems to centre on its place and its value, in business planning and execution. Traditional pundits view digital marketing as providing new tools in the on-going, and relatively unchanged, discipline of connecting buyers and sellers; more contemporary marketers, on the other hand, are relinquishing this practice for a newer and more innovative model.  While the very definition of marketing remains consistent – the activities that bring “buyers” and “sellers” together in order that an “exchange” of goods, services or ideas may take place – how this happens has clearly been altered over the last few years due to the introduction and proliferation of new technology

Flextronics International,

Kilbarry Ind. Park, Dublin Hill      

Thursday February 27th at 6.30pm

Our February business briefing addresses the topic above. We have two expert speakers who will present their practices and achievements within this new sphere.

Stephen Ryan

Stephen is Head of Marketing for Fota Wildlife Park one of the top ten visitor attractions in Ireland. Since taking up this role in November 2008 he has completely changed the brand identity and image that the park has in the public domain. He has managed to create a brand that is colourful, fun and exciting but more importantly a brand that people can identify with. To do this he has used social media and online communications as the key role in this brand building strategy and as a result has managed to increase website hits from 60,000 per annum to 250,000 per annum. In addition he has created an online following for the park which has 41,000 fans on Facebook and 8,000 on Twitter.

In 2010 Stephen was rewarded for his successful online communications strategy when Fotawildlife.ie was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix award for best website in Ireland at the Eircom Spiders. Stephen is a proud alumni of CIT having completed a Masters in Business Studies specialising in Marketing. He has given talks on social media to businesses and third level institutes (CIT, UCC, LIT, Tennessee State University.) In 2013 he spoke at the Web Summit in Dublin, County Mayors Tourism Conference and Cobh Chamber members event.

Stephen will present on         ‘The Value of Marketing in a Digital Age’

John Brennan

John is an Internet Marketing Expert with ePresence Online Marketing. ePresence helps companies to grow their revenue by taking advantage of the Internet.

He is an Electronic Engineering Degree graduate from the Cork Institute of Technology, with a MBA from University College Cork and Executive Training at Kellogg Business School. He is currently on the Mentor Panels for Enterprise Ireland and the South Cork Enterprise Board. Before becoming an Internet Marketing Consultant, John held various roles including Director of Engineering, Director of Product and Program Management, Vice President of Product Development and General Manager in world leading organisations such as Apple Computer, IBM, Snap-on Inc. and FMC. John combines his technology know-how, management experience and customer focus to help his clients achieve success. Services provided to clients include internet marketing strategy development, implementation and management.

John will present on:      ‘Digital Marketing Performance and Measurement’

Don’t miss this opportunity to attend what promises to be an illuminating and an engaging business briefing.

We would like to thank Jerry Fitzpatrick and his team in Flextronics International for hosting this event.

After the presentation, there will be the usual networking opportunity with light refreshments served.

Please contact info@ceia.ie for further information