By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – As director of public relations at a Birmingham-based digital marketing agency, David Barry is well versed in techniques to boost businesses’ presence in the digital realm.

Barry spoke at a Chelsea Business Alliance membership luncheon at Chelsea City Hall on Sept. 9 about the company he works for, ZeeKee Interactive, and marketing strategies for businesses––particularly small, locally owned businesses––through websites, emails and social media.

“We love helping small businesses,” Barry said. “We actually started out as a small business. We love small communities. We love local.”

ZeeKee was founded 11 years ago “as a one-man Internet consulting firm” whose first client was famous singer Jimmy Buffett’s sister, Lucy Buffett, owner of LuLu’s restaurants in Gulf Shores and Destin, Fla., Barry said.

ZeeKee assists clients with interactive marketing, digital marketing and web design.

ZeeKee has created websites for area events including the Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest and crawfish boil, SliceFest and Birmingham Restaurant Week, along with communities such as Forest Park South Avondale and Five Points South, both in Birmingham.

“We love to do local events,” Barry said. “It’s all about bringing awareness to your local community. It’s all about building a site and building a user experience. The purpose is to drive people there.”

Barry stressed the relevance of video in promoting a business on the web and referred to a PowerPoint slide that read: “Video – If you’re not doing it, start.”

“Video is now becoming the king of content,” Barry said. “Video does not have to be an expensive production. What video can do is it can connect emotionally.”

CBA President Ben Smith said the CBA board approved funds for the organization’s future website, which ZeeKee is working with members to create.

“We want to see this community grow and thrive in the way we’re seeing it in Forest Park South Avondale and Five Points South,” Barry said. “They don’t have to be big communities to use the power of the web and the power of Internet marketing.”

He also touched on businesses utilizing email marketing and social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to connect with current and potential customers.

“Use everything to connect with your audience,” Barry said.

CBA Executive Director Je Anne Smith asked Barry if businesses could use social media too much.

“You don’t want to fill up people’s feeds so much that they get tired of seeing it,” Barry said, adding that an organization like the CBA could post four to five times a day to spotlight its members, while other businesses or groups might be better off posting just once or twice a day.

The next CBA monthly membership luncheon will be held on Oct. 14. The luncheon is also the general membership’s annual meeting.