I first wrote this post for the Lift Summit blog, where I’ve been contracted to create promotional posts for the event (for money). They have been awesome enough to let me repost it here.

It’s easy to see how social shopping can be beneficial for business to consumer (B2C) companies. Consumers like to reference other people’s opinions as they shop for clothes, DVDs or food processors. They like to know what others thought of the quality of the product, and how they rate their experience with the company who sold it to them. They like to know the current trends in purchases so they can keep up with the Joneses. The more B2C companies make shopping online a more social experience, the more their sales will increase. But where do business to business (B2B) companies fit into this equation? Do businesses want to be social when they’re shopping for services? How would that work?

On September 23, Lift Summit will provide the answers in the panel session “Social Shopping for B2B” moderated by Jeff Cohen. Jeff, who has more than 15 years’ experience in both B2B and B2C marketing, is the Social Media Marketing Manager at Howard, Merrell & Partners. He is also a partner of OurHashtag, and Managing Editor of SocialMediaB2B.com—a social media site highly ranked in the AdAge Power 150. Jeff is also a photographer who blogs at DigitalPapercuts.com, and hosts an online video show about North Carolina Wine.

Members of the panel include Robert Ball, Sam Decker and Mike Lewis. Robert Ball is CEO and Co-founder of Office Arrow, LLC. He has served as a member of the founding executive team of Akamai Technologies, where he directed the company’s acquisition strategy, strategic partnership activities, new product development and international expansion. He was also the co-founder and manager of Alston & Bird’s Internet and E-Commerce practice.

Sam Decker is the Chief Marketing Officer of Bazaarvoice. He frequently speaks at eCommerce and marketing events, and maintains an award-winning marketing blog. Sam has written two books on word of mouth and guerrilla marketing, and serves of the boards of both Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) and the Web Analytics Association.

Mike Lewis is Chairman and Co-Founder of Office Arrow, LLC. He has 25 years’ experience in forming, financing and profitability managing startup companies. Recently, he has focused on social commerce, leading to the launching of Social Strategy1, which assists companies in building and monitoring effective social commerce as well as social media strategies. He’s also very involved with the Wharton Interactive Media Initiative (WIMI).

Come listen to these experts as they explore how B2B companies can use new sales techniques and outlets to grow their business, and how they can join the social shopping trend.

Lift: The B2B Social Commerce Summit is a “must attend” event for marketing executives, senior management and business owners looking to apply real-world social tactics that drive sales lift to their business. This year’s event will take place on September 23 in Atlanta.

Photo by danielbroche