Tweetchat, social media, and pharma marketing

The biopharmaceutical marketing and social media tweetchat, #SocPharm, celebrated its second anniversary. Join the conversation!



I’m pleased to announce the biopharmaceutical marketing and social media tweetchat, #SocPharm, celebrated its second anniversary. If you aren’t familiar with tweetchats, they are simply conversations held via Twitter around an area of interest at a pre-arranged time. The #SocPharm tweetchat is every Wednesday from 8 to 9 pm EST.

The chat includes people who work for biotech and pharmaceutical companies, agencies and associated services, but patients, doctors and nurses also occasionally join in. The idea is to get a variety of perspectives and to share best practices as we all figure out this whole new world of biopharma marketing.

The topics range from breaking news to larger issues, such as the use of Facebook for branding and the growth of mobile apps. The moderator starts off with introductions and then raises a topic for discussion. Everyone tweets about the question (using the hashtag #SocPharm), and the virtual conversation goes back and forth. About every 15-20 minutes, the moderator presents a new topic.

I founded and lead the tweetchat with the help of guest moderators. I’d like to thank the industry thought leaders who guest moderated in 2011:

  • Craig DeLarge, Novo Nordisk
  • Craig Engesser, Purdue Pharma
  • Joyce Ercolino, CSL Behring
  • Ellen Hoenig-Carlson, Advance Market WoRx LLC
  • Krista Giuffi, Temple University School of Medicine
  • Jeff Greene, HealthEd
  • Shwen Gwee, Edelman
  • Laura Kolodjeski, Sanofi
  • Kevin Kruse, Kru Research
  • Fard Johnmar, Enspektos
  • Jim Lefevere, Roche
  • John Mack, Pharma Marketing News
  • Rich Meyer, Online Strategic Solutions Inc.
  • Joan Mikardos, Sanofi
  • Gigi Peterkin, Edelman
  • Heather Powell, Daiichi Sankyo
  • Meredith Ressi, Manhattan Research
  • Jess Seilheimer, Euro RSCG Life MetaMax
  • Dan Sfera, South Coast Clinical Trials, Inc.
  • Ed Silverman, Pharmalot
  • Michael Spitz, Ignite Health
  • Earl Whipple, Consilium Engagement Strategies

Anyone interested is welcome to take part on a Wednesday evening. We learn from each other and also have some fun. All it takes is a Twitter account and an interest in sharing your ideas and opinions!

Eileen O'Brien is director of search and innovation at Siren Interactive. She blogs at Sirensong.

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