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PROMOTA
PROMOTA and social media
Ahead of launching its Twitter page in the run up to the International PROMOTA Show 2010,
PROMOTA, the leading trade association for the promotional merchandise industry discusses the
benefits of using social media for business and the build up to large events.
I
n basic terms, social media can be described as your thoughts on recent news, your business, or on the planning of the show and they will all be
an online method of communication enabling simply what you have been up to that day, ‘tweeting’ their backstage insights.”
users to share information via text, images, depending on the tone of your ‘tweet’. Using social media in the run up to events such as
audio and video. Using Twitter is an ideal way of bringing life and exhibitions can be very effective. Social media is
Social media is all around us with sites such as personality to a business. It is also a way of free and not at all time consuming, and as now so
Twitter and LinkedIn becoming part of most showing a company to be up-to-date and forward many people are ‘online’ you can be sure that you
people’s daily routine. The sheer popularity of thinking. will be noticed. Using Twitter for example will help
social media was shown when Facebook hit the An involvement in social media is, in this ‘techy’ to create followers and a positive energy around
headlines for its use in Barrack Obama’s business world, very important for businesses. In a an event, especially if you drip-feed information
presidential campaign. The American president’s similar way to a company website, social media is over a period of time.
campaign team used the networking site to help a free method of self-promoting and a great way Mr Duncan continued: “We hope that members
encourage younger Americans to vote, making his of creating an awareness of a company. A few and non-members alike will read the updates over
page the one with the most ‘friends’ in the world ‘tweets’ a week or creating a profile on LinkedIn the next few months and get more and more
– with close to three million people registered. or Facebook will automatically increase people’s excited about what will be on offer.”
Another campaign that proved the sheer power of awareness of your business. Sites such as Twitter also enable you to post
social media was the Cadbury Wispa group. A Social media can provide more creative outlets for pictures or ‘Twitpics’, which is a great way to add
Facebook ‘group’ was created to encourage business messages and campaigns. Charities are another dimension to your social media campaign.
Cadbury to consider producing their Wispa bars using sites such as Facebook to alert people to Mr Duncan said: “We will be posting images from
again – and it worked! The popular 80s chocolate what they do or if they are holding a fundraiser. last year on the Twitter page so that new visitors
bar was back in shops for a limited time period. They can of course use regular media and and exhibitors can see what to expect.”
In terms of business, more and more people are communications channels for these messages but When you decide to start using social media for
taking their work life onto the online community. by using Facebook they are reaching a whole new your business make sure it has a purpose,
Newspapers and news channels use social media audience. otherwise it will not attract the interest or
as a resource to keep the public up to date with In the run up to the International PROMOTA Show following that you are hoping for. Also ensure that
breaking news. 2010, PROMOTA will be ‘tweeting’ about the it presents your business in the right way;
Businesses across the world are using LinkedIn, a show and what will be on offer. choosing which social media outlet you use is very
social networking site aimed specifically at Rod Duncan, chairman of PROMOTA, said: “It is important. Finally, above all, make it relevant as
professional people. Enabling the user to create an important for us to ensure we are communicating people are investing their time in these sites. So if
online business profile, LinkedIn is a platform for with our members on every platform, and you have something interesting to say these forms
online networking. While this can not be a launching a Twitter page ahead of the show was a of communication can open a whole new set of
substitute for real networking, being part of the great place to start in terms of social media. doors.
online business community can be very helpful – “The Twitter page ahead of the International
you never know when contacts may come in PROMOTA Show will offer teasers about the For more information about PROMOTA and the
handy! show, and will keep the audience informed about International PROMOTA Show visit
Take Twitter as another example. With short daily important, need-to-know information in the run
www.promota.co.uk. For more about social
entries, you can provide the outside world with up to the event. We’ve a dedicated team working networking see this month's Business Monitor.
| 64 | January 2010
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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