Mike Blinder knows how to sell stuff. He may personify the old cliché of someone who “can sell ice to an Eskimo.” But, most importantly, he can help you — the businessman or woman — learn to do the same.

Make no mistake, I mean this as a huge compliment. Blinder isn’t a fast-talking salesman. He is a proven leader in marketing and business promotion.

A former radio and TV talent whose business acumen helped him excel in a career in marketing and sales, Blinder rose through the ranks of media management before launching an Internet division for a leading media group.

Since then he has consulted for some of the world’s most prestigious companies and now more than 60,000 businesses across the world utilize multimedia marketing programs his company designed.

As a partnership with The Tribune, Blinder will present his world-class workshop “The ABCs of Interactive Marketing” to the Tri-State business community.

The best part? It is free to those who show just a little initiative.

Some of the items Blinder will cover as key points in his hour and a half workshop include:

> The secrets of leveraging social networking to find and maintain customers; and, why you need to know what people are saying about your business, online.

> The essential tips to make sure you are found when your customers search for you. And, how to improve your website’s performance and visibility.

> Why you must embrace the “Mobile Movement” today; or lose business to your competitor.

We have worked with Blinder, who is also the author of “Survival Selling Even in the Toughest Times,” to set up three convenient sessions over two days next month.

The first day is Tuesday, April 9 at Ohio University Southern (The Ohio Room in the Collins Center), located at 1804 Liberty Ave. The first session is at 11:30 a.m. with complimentary lunch by the always amazing Heidi Clark and Spice of Life catering. An after-work session will be at 4:30 p.m. with complimentary appetizers.

The second session is Wednesday, April 10 at 8:30 a.m., at the Ashland Elks Lodge Banquet Hall, located at 900 Carter Ave. Join us there for a tasty breakfast.

Pre-registration for any of the workshops is absolutely free and seating is limited. Admission is $40 at the door for those who wait until the last minute.

So don’t be that person!

Register by April 4 by calling (740) 532-1445 ext. 29, visiting localmediaworkshops.com or emailing advertising@irontontribune.com

The focus isn’t on selling attendees something but instead on providing an education about navigating the minefield that is digital marketing. Although we will certainly offer information about how The Tribune can help meet some of those advertising needs, no one is obligated to buy anything.

In the end, we simply want to provide local leaders the knowledge and tools to succeed. Prospering businesses lead to strong communities, which in turn lead to a vibrant newspaper.

 

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.caldwell@irontontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeCaldwell_IT.