When the economy took a nosedive last year, many businesses found themselves searching for cheaper ways to market themselves.

Many of them turned to social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Others created Web videos or podcasts.

Sure, they're free. But are they viable ways to market a small business?

That's the question that Lu Ann Reeb, president of Skyways Communications Inc., will attempt to answer in the fourth installment of the "Weathering the Storm Part 2: 'Has the Rain Stopped?'" breakfast series this Thursday, Oct. 29.

Reeb's talk, titled "Internet Marketing/Social Media — Where should I be?" will focus on the many changes that have taken place over the past year in the areas of new media and social media, and how businesses can best take advantage of these tools.

"What's changed is, in the down economy, people have had to look for either free or very low cost ways to market," Reeb said. "That's why social media has exploded. It's free. Everybody's on Facebook, Twitter's gone crazy. That's all good, but is it working, and how is it working?"

There are a ton of choices out there, and she will look to explain which tools to use and how to go about it.

"We'll talk about how to take advantage of it but be smart about it," Reeb said. "All those things take a lot of time, so you really have to weigh what works best for your company, and you've really got to define your audience. If your audience is not on Facebook, why do you want to be on Facebook?"

Following Thursday's talk, there is one final session scheduled that will focus on preparing for growth as the nation — and the region — emerges from the economic slowdown.

The "Weathering the Storm" breakfast series is being sponsored by The Eagle-Tribune, in conjunction with Suffolk University, Merrimack College, and the Greater Derry Londonderry, Greater Haverhill, Greater Salem and Merrimack Valley chambers of commerce.

Thursday's session is scheduled from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Business people of all kinds are urged to attend these free sessions, held at The Eagle-Tribune offices, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover. For information or to reserve a space, call Lil Toohey, at 978-946-2111. (For further details, please see the ad on this page.)

WEATHERING THE ECONOMIC STORM PART 2: 'HAS THE RAIN STOPPED?'

Thursday, Oct. 29, 8 to 9:30 a.m.: Internet Marketing/Social Media — "Where should I be?", with Lu Ann Reeb of Skyways Communications

Thursday, Nov. 12, 8 to 9:30 a.m.: Preparing for Growth — "Ready? Set? Go!" with Robert Cuomo of Merrimack College and Michael Barretti of Suffolk University

ABOUT LU ANN REEB

Lu Ann Reeb is president and co-founder of Skyways Communications Inc., a new media marketing firm in Norwood.

Prior to founding her company in 1999, she was the executive producer at WBZ-TV/CBS Boston. As a television journalist, she produced nightly news programs, documentaries and covered news stories, including presidential elections, major national court cases, jetcrashes, natural disasters, the Boston Marathon, and John Glenn's second historic launch into space.

Reeb combines experience creating high quality video content with strategic marketing utilization of new media. A wide range of corporate clients turn to Skyways Communications to develop customized new media content paired with the best technology delivery. She received her master's degree in business administration from the Suffolk University Sawyer Business School in Boston. She also has a single engine private pilot certificate and flies antique airplanes in her spare time.