Learn how to build an effective marketing machine

Marketing is different today than it was 20 years ago or 10 years ago or even a year ago. You can’t just pour gobs of money into print, radio and TV and hope for the best – and that’s a good thing.

Augusta Free Press will help you sort your way through the new media marketplace with its Building the Machine 101 series – which this week will offer two classes aimed at helping you figure out your way through the maze.

The two-hour overview class, Building the Machine 101, will be offered Monday from 7-9 p.m. The two-hour Building the Machine 101 class covers the basics of building a business website, the use of social media and traditional advertising and how to integrate web marketing into an effective overall marketing campaign.

On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., the focus shifts to Social Media 101, which will give you an

overview of the top social-media platforms and how you can use them to add customers, clients, donors and sponsors.

Other classes upcoming in the month of March include:

– Effective PR 101: The basics of writing an effective press release – and getting your news out on the web, in print and on TV. Offered Monday, March 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

– Viral Messaging 101: YouTube is where Justin Bieber and videos of cats that look like Richard Nixon get millions of page views. Is there any way for you to use YouTube to have your business or organization go viral? This class covers the basics of video production that you can do yourself to get your business or organization out in the viral marketplace. Offered Wednesday, March 21, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

– Advertising 101: It all sounds valuable when the account executive is making the pitch. But not all advertising is created equal. This class helps you sort your way through the thicket that is advertising – print, TV, radio and web – in 2012. Offered Monday, March 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

– Building the Machine 101: This two-hour class provides an overview of the elements – from your website to social media to writing a press release – that you need to have to build a solid marketing/PR strategy. Offered Wednesday, March 28, 7-9 p.m.

More information on classes: Click here.