Each year at their Conference & Exhibition, the Direct Marketing Association awards companies or individuals for outstanding achievements in the multichannel direct marketing process.  We are pleased to announce that Best Buy has been named the 2009 Marketer of the Year!

The award praises Best Buy for our commitment to new ideas and for our focus on enhancing customers' enjoyment of technology which has been instrumental in making us a leader in the retail and marketing communities.

The award specifically called out our strength in the social media space, including the widely known Twelpforce.  In fact, several of our Twelpforce champions attended the event to be recognized.

Last year when I began helping Best Buy journey into the blogosphere, I never expected to grow those concepts into paradigm shift within the company.  So many local Best Buy stores and senior leaders have embraced the possibilities of social media.  It has been an exciting journey and I am glad to have played a part in it.  Having Best Buy's efforts in the social media realm be honored by the DMA is both humbling and inspiring.  Our Best Buy Communities team will continue to help Best Buy be successful by supporting our customers on our Best Buy Community forum as well as our many other social media engagements.

I am happy to announce the expansion of our Best Buy Communities' team's capabilities.  In addition to our team of Community Connectors, we are launching a new team of Retail Marketing Advisors who will assist our Best Buy retail locations with their local marketing initiatives, leveraging the Retail Marketing Tool.  This tool has been in place for over a year and provides access to pre-approved, brand appropriate and legally compliant marketing collateral to help grow their local business.  Our new Advisors will not be participating in the Community Forum in the same way the Connectors do, but they do welcome your input about how local Best Buy stores can connect better with customers through both traditional and  new marketing means. 

What can your local Best Buy store do to reach your specific community?