Communicating in a Virtual World

The way in which businesses communicate has completely changed in the past six months. Everything about this work is different from our pre-pandemic worldHow we talk to team members, clients, and the broader community has been completely disrupted. That means it’s time for some fresh strategies and unconventional thinking. Through some of our upcoming programs, we hope to provide our members with a spark on this front.

Next week, we will be hosting two virtual events that will focus on how businesses can make the most of the new norms that are shifting how companies communicate. As the pandemic continues to be a part of our everyday lives and business operations, it’s important to begin thinking about which changes will be permanent. The realm of marketing, communications, and brand management is a good place for companies to start looking.

To kick things off, we have public relations pro Heidi Otway joining us for our August Professional Women’s Forum. “PWF” as we commonly call it was founded in 1985 and is the longest-running program we have here at the Chamber and although we can’t gather in person this edition is something you don’t want to miss. Otway is the President of SalterMitchellPR and has more than 15 years of experience in her field. She’s developed integrated campaigns for clients such as Verizon, Bank of America, the Florida Department of Health, and No Kid Hungry Florida. As a former journalist and television news manager, Otway earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism from Florida A&M University. She is accredited by the Universal Accreditation Board for public relations and is a Certified Public Relations Counselor. In addition to her career accolades, we might argue that her most important credential is being a past Board Chair of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. You can tune in to PWF next Tuesday from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Registration is available at www.talchamber.com.

Later in the week, our Access Tallahassee program is presenting a Power Lunch virtual event featuring one of the brightest social media practitioners in the world today. Matthew Kobach is the Director of Content Marketing at Fast, a new company aiming to change how people make purchases online. As the former Manager of Digital and Social Media for the New York Stock Exchange, Kobach helped that brand pivot their approach to build relevance online. He’s been called a psychic in the realms of digital and social marketing and was recently named to Adweek’s Top 100 Most Inspiring Minds in Marketing, Media, and Culture. Kobach has earned an impressive following on Twitter and other social channels where he speaks to the ever-changing norms of online social cultures. You can join that event next Thursday from 12:00pm – 1:00pm and registration is available at www.accesstallahassee.com.

The first step towards making strategic changes in how you and your organization are communicating is to build a better understanding of what is working in that space right now. There are many uncertainties in our world today, but one thing is for sure, you must keep sharing your story and other important messages with those who want and need to hear them. While we are all seeking to effectively navigate the shifting sentiments of today’s competitive markets, it’s good to come together and learn from experts with some serious know-howEven while gathering virtually it still pays to engage with those who are seeking to solve similar problems. We hope you will join us next week to do just that.

Jay Revell
Vice President, Advocacy & Public Policy