How to be less afraid of “Social Media”
Social media, also known as new media or web 2.0, is revolutionising the way companies talk with their customers. The digital world is growing and companies need to understand the potential of this new medium, or risk being left behind!

So, what does this new-fangled technology have to do with me?
Not too long ago, people sent letters to keep in touch and they used public phones if they needed to talk to people when they were out and about. News and current affairs were delivered in 3 simple ways – newspapers, the 6pm news and the radio, and we went to the library to do research and find out information.

Fast forward to 2007 and letters are no longer the easiest way to stay in touch with someone, we use our mobile phones to communicate when we are not at home and news, current affairs and information are at our fingertips 24 hours a day.

How do I get any attention in this crazy world?
When there is so much competition for customers and their interest, it is important to stand out and to stay on trend. Social media provides a way to interact with people and to tap into vast networks of like-minded people.

Today’s consumers have endless choices in every facet of their lives and it is important that information about you, your company or your product is packaged in a way that allows them the option of when they want to receive it. Podcasting and blogging allow you to engage with your audience without shoving your message down their throats.

You’re losing me…speak plain English please!
A Podcast is an audio file that is stored online and made available for anyone to access. Almost any kind of information can be put on a podcast – you might like to consider producing an audio version of your newsletter for people who don’t have time to sit and read through it, or you might like to interview key people in your organisation and put together a snapshot of what it is like to work in your industry.

A Blog is an online diary or discussion that can be linked to your website. It is an excellent way of establishing a dialogue between you and your customers, and allows them to get to know you, your company and your brand on a more intimate level. You can write about daily experiences in your business, or provide more in depth information on a product. It is also very important to remember that just because you’re not blogging doesn’t mean you’re not being blogged about.

So what should I do next?
It is important to consider what benefits social media might bring to your business and how you can use this information to your advantage. As with any new technology, it can be extremely terrifying to get involved. However, when you consider how far we have come in such a short amount of time, it’s not so scary at all.

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