The social media wave will be the focus of Project Social, a series of seminars for retailers attending the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings and Rug Markets in January.

Headlining the host of events is a keynote address by Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business.Qualman will take key points from his new book to define social media and teach how to best use it for business success. Attendees will also receive a complimentary book following the presentation on Sat., January 9, 11 a.m. to noon in Building 1, Floor 10, Room 1004.

Other programs in the series include:

WITHit Seminar: Social Media Success: Low Cost and No Cost Marketing Tools Today
Presented by Melissa Galt
Galt, a relationship marketing specialist and social media strategist, will provide insight on how to go from being “best kept secrets” to “well-known now” with cost effective marketing mentoring.
Friday, January 8
9-10 a.m.
Building (1) Floor 14, Seminar Room 14-D-9

The Accidental Blogger
Presented by interior designer Brad Ford
Learn how one designer’s quest for inspiration quickly detoured into the fascinating world of social media marketing and its buzz-worthy, brand-building and attention-grabbing capabilities. Ford is the creator of the popular design blog DesignTherapy.com.
Friday, January 8
10-11 a.m.
Building (1) Floor 14, Seminar Room 14-D-9

Two days of complimentary One-On-One 101s
Hosted by Aspen Marketing
Experienced social media experts from Aspen Marketing set aside time to teach individuals how to leverage social media for their specific businesses.
More details can be found atwww.AmericasMart.com.

AmericasMart University will also offer spotlight social media in several courses taught by Nick Goebel:

Bringing Your Business Online
Building Your Brand – Beginner Level
Goebel explains the concepts of online business (the real estate analogy), why businesses should get started today and how to choose a Web designer who is a good fit for the company.
Saturday, January 9
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Building (1), Floor 10, Room 1002

Getting the Most Out of Your Website
Building Your Brand – Intermediate
Find out how to define goals for company websites; brand companies, gather data, increase sales, communicate with current customers, and gain new customers.
Building (1), Floor 10, Room 1002
Saturday, January 9
1-2 p.m.
Building (1), Floor 10, Room 1002 

Make Your Website Work Harder for You
Building Your Brand – Advanced
Learn how to manage web presence by creating content to help the company be discovered and learn the importance of regular updates and connecting with social networking sites. Find the best ways to convert traffic and pageviews into customers and learn how to properly manage an e-commerce website to maximize sales.
Saturday, January 9
2-3 p.m.
Building (1), Floor 10, Room 1002