Ziff Davis Enterprise Announces the Launch of Smart Social: Online Communities Targeting Technology Professionals

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ziff Davis Enterprise (ZDE), a leader in innovative enterprise IT media and engagement solutions, announced today that it has launched Smart Social, a turnkey social media solution that leverages industry expertise and existing professional networks to engage qualified group members, based on specified criteria, to drive high-level discussions and deep engagements.

Smart Social is a multi-touch, push-pull solution that is comprised of a number of tightly integrated activities around key technology topics, including a dedicated LinkedIn group, a companion Community Connection (CC) page on any of the Ziff Davis Enterprise brand websites – eWEEK, Baseline, CIO Insight and Channel Insider, expert ZDE content creation and group moderation.  The CC page features an engaging set of topically-focused content, sponsor assets, links, and discussion threads to generate community interaction within the LinkedIn group, increasing user value and fostering higher-level discussions between all parties.

"With the vast number of social conversations targeted at IT professionals, it is important that we use multiple touch points to communicate with audiences to engage them," said Josh Heitsenrether, Senior Vice President Marketing, Ziff Davis Enterprise.  "Our solution enables us to connect with niche audiences on a deeper level and foster discussions that are relevant to both the audience and IT solution providers."

Smart Social works for a variety of IT technology solution offerings and allows marketers to share content with social value and variable depth on a broader level.  When combined with third-party subject matter expertise, Smart Social enables a vendor's sales teams to proactively engage with customers and respond to their needs.

"One of the main principals of Smart Social is engaging the conversation where it currently exists and amplifying it using our editorial, custom curation, and relevant assets," said Anthony Adams, Senior Vice President of Products, Ziff Davis Enterprise.  "The current approach, used by many in our space, is to build destination sites and try to engage a conversation there.  With Smart Social, we build a curation site and bring the assets and experts to the conversation where it is naturally happening."

Smart Social is fully turnkey, thereby reducing the strain on the sponsor's internal resources.  Ziff Davis Enterprise creates, manages and nurtures the growth of every Smart Social program.  This includes the development of custom blog posts, discussion threads, and custom groups to ensure audience alignment with the topic. Ziff Davis Enterprise Subject Matter Experts will work with the sponsoring vendor to showcase how they can solve critical, detailed user issues and foster community around solutions.

About Ziff Davis Enterprise, Inc.:

Ziff Davis Enterprise, Inc. is B2B technology's trusted information resource.  Millions of technology buyers rely on our brands – including eWEEK, Baseline, CIO Insight, Channel Insider, WebBuyersGuide.com, TechDirect, and the Developer Shed network, for relevant, objective content to identify the right solutions for their organizations.  Over 300 technology companies, from industry giants to emerging start-ups, rely on our contextual content, marketing, and audience development expertise to compress sales cycles and lower their go-to-market costs.  Ziff Davis Enterprise has proven marketing solutions for branding, engagement, and events.  Products include print and online advertising, multi-media sponsorships, content syndication and lead generation, eSeminars, Digital Universities, face-to-face events, and custom media and marketing services.  Ziff Davis Enterprise has a global database of 5.5 million users representing an unparalleled community of business and technology professionals, developers, and the channel. Visit www.ziffdavisenterprise.com or follow on Twitter @ZDEMarketing.

SOURCE Ziff Davis Enterprise