An upcoming event aims to teach Central Illinoisans how to harness the power of the Internet to generate business.
The atMidwest social media conference has returned for its second one-day session, June 21 at Heartland Community College in Normal.
"Social media has blossomed so fast that people are still unsure about it and how to use it in their business practices," said Brian Huonker, a board member for atMidwest and assistant director of marketing at Illinois State University.
Those who do not use Internet sites such as Facebook and Twitter are missing out on a wide audience, Huonker said.
"People trust recommendations from their own networks over anything else," Huonker said.
The conference is hosted by the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area, the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Illinois State University, Heartland Community College and other community groups.
More than a dozen experts from both the Twin Cities and Chicago will address a range of subjects, from practical advice to legal considerations for online contests, said Huonker.
About 200 small business owners and professionals attended last year's conference, the first ever hosted in the Twin Cities.
Organizers received feedback that was used for this year's seminars, Huonker said, adding that among the interests was the use of Pinterest and utilizing video in online marketing.
"It (the Internet) provides an instant network to talk to people," Huonker said.
