Experts from the worlds of sales, marketing, online promotion and social media are to help local businesses make 2012 their best year ever at the next Action for Business Live! event.

The Staffordshire Marketing Academy is returning to the Best Western Moat House on March 30th (9am-1pm), with presentations from marketing strategist Caroline Law, sales expert David Hughes (Annodata Print Services), and online marketing specialist Matt O'Connor (Cyberzia).

There will also be a session on social media from Yellow Circle Web Solutions, as well as an interview with a leading local business figure in the mould of Autonet's Iain Donaldson and Lister Trade Frames' Mark Warren, who featured at last year's events.

More than 250 businesses attended the four Staffordshire Marketing Academy events in 2011, and organisers are looking to double that this year.

John Capper is one of the business development specialists who formed the academy in 2010.

He said: "Our 2011 events were well-received but we want to practice what we preach and deliver advice and support to even more local business owners and entrepreneurs this year.

"Businesses are still facing difficult times and our feedback from previous events has told us they are looking for help with issues which have a direct, positive influence on their bottom line, like sales and marketing - and particularly online marketing.

"As ever we will deliver that in a fast-paced, fun and above all, inspirational way, and we would urge businesses to book their places as soon as possible."

Tickets are available at www.staffsmarketingacademy.co.uk and are priced at £35 plus booking fee. Early bird tickets, priced at £30, are available until February 17th.

Anyone can join the discussion online on Twitter (@staffsma) and LinkedIn.