Social Media: A key device in the business world

 

THE floatation of Twitter on the New York stock market and its pre-valuation at over $10bn indicates the high perceived value of social media. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and others are now recognised as powerful devices of communication for businesses to reach their present and potential customer base.

Much of this is driven by the adoption of ‘smartphones’, now estimated in the UK at around 35 million users.  

 

Events such as the Rugby League World Cup have highlighted how this media can be used to keep ‘a buzz’ going and maintain an information stream. With ‘retweets’ going throughout the world this has also helped to raise the profile of Warrington.

However, most businesses have a long way to go in using social media to build their brand and communicate effectively. Marketing has moved on and some firms have been left behind.

A 30 minute drive from Warrington (traffic permitting) will take you into Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and well into the heart of Cheshire. This gives the 8000 businesses in Warrington a potential regional customer base of several million people.

 

It’s no wonder that the excitement over Twitter is so high on the world financial markets. How else could you communicate with so many people?

How can Social Media help your business? Tanya Hemphill, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader tells us how in our four-part guide.

 

 

Professor Lawrence Bellamy is Associate Dean at the Warrington School of Management, University of Chester Warrington (Padgate) Campus.

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