Highland Park, IL, February 2, 2010 — ATI Graphics of Highland Park is proud to announce its sponsorship of the second Business Networker’s Expo and Social Media Fair, a bi-annual event held each spring and fall.

The Expo will take place on Friday, April 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove.  The event will focus on successful networking in today’s economy. Speakers will offer effective networking strategies as well as the best ways to use social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to prospect for new clients, generate business leads or undertake a job search.  In addition to the slate of speakers, the Expo will feature panel discussions on networking and social media.

The event also will include an exhibit hall where local entrepreneurs and area companies can showcase their products and services.

The first Expo, held in October 2009 at Mission Hills Country Club in Northbrook, was a great success. More than 300 people attended the inaugural event and presentation rooms were standing-room-only for the entire day.

“We had an overwhelming response to our first Expo,” says Bloom. “The line was literally out the door with attendees waiting to check in that morning.  It was amazing!”

Bloom, an entrepreneur and Web designer who has owned his own business for 13 years, developed the Expo Website and the marketing and promotional materials for the event. He co-founded the Business Networker’s Expo with J.D. Gershbein of Owlish Communications, Chad Coe of Coe Financial, and Amy Spitzer of Amy on Call and Sociable, Inc., three of his colleagues who have also tapped into the social media environment.

“There’s no question that a certain degree of social networking is an integral part of a successful business plan these days,” adds Bloom. “If you aren’t part of the social media landscape, you’re doing yourself and your business a huge disservice.”

Bloom himself is walking the walk. In January of this year, he launched a new consulting business, Bloom Intuitive, to guide clients through issues of Web strategy, branding, marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and social media – all critical elements to a successful Web presence.

Bloom, who characterizes himself as having a “pre-Web sensibility,” believes that having a Web site to promote your business is not enough. “A website is a marketing tool, albeit a powerful one, but only a tool.  All of your on- and offline efforts that lead to and from your site must follow a strategy, or else what’s the point?”

Advance online registration for the Business Networker’s Expo and Social Media Fair is $25 and will open on [date]. Tickets are $35 at the door. Sponsorship opportunities, starting as low as $295 for the day, are available as well. Corporate photography and other specially priced services will once again be offered on-site at the Expo.

For more information, visit www.biznetexpo.com.