President's Blog

Yes, as with the many professional organizations in the greater Philadelphia area, PAMA relies on the efforts and dedication of marketing professionals who are volunteering their time and expertise to provide you with the education, knowledge and skills development and networking opportunities to succeed within each member's career.  With that said, our Website and all other communications are our 'calling cards' and needed to more effectively and positively represent PAMA and our expertise as marketing professionals.  After all, would you look to a 350 lb personal trainer for fitness advice?

We set out with our top five goals (in priority order) when we embarked upon the redesign of the PAMA Website:

1. Make it easier for site visitors to find key information – our event calendar, event archives, news, resources, etc.
2. Establish PAMA and the PAMA Website as a valuable resource for regional marketing professionals – to connect with each other, to find valuable information to assist you in your daily activities, to get a job, keep a job and excel in your job
3. Refresh the look, feel and persona of PAMA to be more current and more indicative of that marketing colleague that everyone wants on their team (because it’s about making YOU better, getting you your next job, assisting you to ascend the ranks of professional stardom).
4. Make it easier to manage and update the site, to list PAMA events, to list partner events, to post event presentations, etc
5. Establish a TEST environment for introducing and developing our own “best practices” for emerging marketing technologies and concepts.  This is somewhat contrary to “putting our best foot forward” but let’s be honest, marketers are looking for ways to effectively market products and services, stay in touch with customers, provide new and innovative ways to measure effectiveness.  PAMA MUST be a resource for our members in emerging areas so that you can explore new tactics with a little more confidence in the outcome.

Did we achieve our goals?  Do you find it easier to get a calendar of events?  Can you find a list of marketing resources to help you in your day to day activities?  Let me know at .

I wouldn't claim that we've achieved marketing nirvana as the site will continue to evolve, content will continue to be ported over from the old site and opportunities to integrate our various interactive properties will be completed.  We (the members of the PAMA Board) feel confident that we have vastly improved the experience for site visitors and are representing the marketing profession in a manner more indicative of what one would expect in today's highly interactive, visual and open business environment.  Many thanks to PAMA’s VP of Communications, Matt Roberts and Erin Hyland of Jack Out of the Box Designs for their efforts in launching the new site.

All the best,
Craig Barton
President
Philadelphia Chapter, American Marketing Association