Slide presentation from ASBPE's June 3, 2010 webinar. Mary Slepicka, group content director for Advanstar Communications' Powersports group, tells how she learned digital best practices.

1. Cross-Communication is Key Obtaining digital skills training in a large corporate media environment – or, how to find out what the other guys are doing! -- Mary Slepicka, Group Content Director – PowersportsAdvanstar Communications Inc. Contact: mslepicka@advanstar.com

3. Automotive (Chicago/Cleveland)

4. Veterinary (Kansas)

5. Powersports (Southern California)Budgetary constraints have forced many large B2B media companies to cut annual nationwide or regional editorial meetings, seminars and training programs. In some cases, they’ve cut corporate-wide newsletters and briefings. Everyone is left to their own devices, at least in the short term. This calls for a GRASSROOTS effort!

7. Establish monthly conference calls to determine gaps in skills training and the types of materials you can make available to established editors and writers, new hires (don’t laugh!) and freelancers.

8. If you can get the attention of one of the web designers or developers at your company, ask if he/she would mentor you for a half-day on a Saturday in exchange for a nice lunch or dinner.

9. Make “cheat sheets” and compile them into notebooks for each editorial staff member. Offer PDF guidelines for freelancers.

11. Check out your corporate Intranet for templates… guidance documents…even old online training programs

12. Weekly editorial meetings: set aside time for editors to share PROBLEMS and SOLUTIONS.

13. Be prepared to turn your copy flow management process UPSIDE DOWN (web first, print second)

14. Can’t afford training? You can afford $25 webinars from ASBPE, FREE brown-bag lunches with your team, FREE educational materials on websites (and some greattraining book deals on Amazon.com.)

15. Document your new processes, your new templates, your new keystrokes and shortcuts.

16. Practice…practice…practice!