A Practical Introduction to Using Social Media for Business

Social media is broadly defined as conversations between people enabled by digital technology. In this changing world, audiences and customers are no longer content to passively absorb messages or believe your advertising. They want to talk to you. To reach people effectively – people who use Facebook and Twitter and blogs but will probably never visit your website – you need to join the conversation.

A social media marketing strategy is a powerful and cost-effective means of building relationships that lead to new business. This hands-on training day helps you enter the social media space and implement an effective strategy for your organisation.

We show you how to:

• Develop an online presence with an appropriate ‘voice’
• Make your organisation more accessible, transparent and interactive
• Build brand awareness without advertising
• Engage directly with potential customers
• Convert friends to fans, and fans to evangelists
• Create, customise and publish a blog in under an hour
• Track what people are saying about your products, services and areas of interest
• Use RSS to save searches, share research with colleagues, and keep on top of everything
• Use Twitter effectively for marketing
• Use social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn to make connections and generate new business

About this workshop

• To make the most of this workshop it is advised that delegates should set up a GMail account prior to attending
• This workshop will involve you in a mixture of interactive exercises and discussion.
• Our trainers are experts in their topic and deliver courses in a practical, interactive style
• The maximum number of people on a training course is 12 so that the trainer can accommodate the learning needs of each delegate
• A two course buffet lunch and unlimited tea and coffee are included in the price

Facilitator - Your Trainer

Kyle is a successful serial entrepreneur with a background in journalism and a focus on building brands through social media marketing. In 2005, he founded Scoopt.com, a social network of amateur photographers selling newsworthy photos and videos to the media. This was an innovative, disruptive model that used the power of web 2.0 technologies and network effects to grow a business with zero spend on advertising. Getty Images acquired Scoopt in 2007. Kyle subsequently headed a pioneering social media project for Channel 4. He currently helps companies exploit the social media toolset to reach new audiences in new ways.

Level
Introductory

Timing
Courses start at 9.30 a.m. and end at 4.30 p.m. with half an hour for lunch.

Support available
If your business is located in the West of Scotland you may be eligible for a grant of up to 50% of the cost of participating in these courses. There are a number of places available which are reserved for businesses with less than 250 employees and companies must meet certain eligibility criteria.

Click here to see location map

Options

• The GO Group and Blether Media are working in partnership to offer a package of support that helps you utilise social media for your business effectively. It combines an exploration of the opportunities for your business with the development of a strategic plan and training for your team. Click here for more information.
• We can customise this course for you if you have a particular challenge in your company. One of our specialist advisers will be happy to work on a solution with you. If you have a group of 12 people who need the same training customised learning is a cost effective way to develop them and costs can be as little as £100 per person. Click here for more information