Social Media Workshops at Digital Conference

News release

25th February 2013

Most of us will use social media in our personal lives, but for many businesses, launching a Facebook page, setting up a Twitter profile or writing a regular blog can still be a daunting task.

Now, social media guru John Popham will host workshops offering advice and guidance to any business as part of the free onlincolnshire Digital Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln on 13th March.

People attending the conference will be able to chat informally with John during the registration and initial networking session between 8.30am and 9.15am, and raise any questions or concerns they might have. Two 15 minute bite-size workshops will then be held in the networking breaks at 10.30am and 12.10pm which will demonstrate how to make the most of social media.

Each workshop will be limited to 20 people, with places booked on a first-come, first served basis on the morning of the conference. Anyone interested in attending the sessions should book in with John at his stand.

John, who helps get rural communities online and developed #twicket, the world’s first live broadcast of a village cricket match which became a global phenomenon after Stephen Fry showed his support on Twitter, said: “Social media is really important for businesses as it gives them the tools to connect directly with their customers wherever they are in world.

“It allows businesses to build relationships of trust which can be more effective than traditional marketing methods.”

The conference will also see five speakers offer expert advice on the day, including keynote speaker Rob Wilmot, a digital expert and one of the founders of Freeserve. Other speakers are Stephen Parry from Lloyd Parry, Trefor Davies from Timico Technology Group, Jonathan Fitzgerald from Lincolnshire County Council’s communications team and Richard Duxbury from Lincolnshire Media, which publishes the Lincolnshire Echo.

Delegates will have a chance to take part in a question and answer session with all the speakers. Selected suppliers and Digital Business Cluster members will also exhibit and demonstrate their online and digital products and services to the delegates, highlighting the local knowledge, skill and expertise available within the county.

Lincolnshire County Councillor Kelly Smith, Executive Member for Finance and HR, said the conference will be a chance for businesses to learn about broadband ahead of superfast services being rolled out across the county by 2015. He said: “Many businesses aren’t aware yet of how to take advantage of the digital services that come with better broadband, and the many commercial opportunities through improved efficiency, connection with customers and exposure to an expanding global market. Our aim with the conference is to change that.”

The event has been organised by CDI Alliance on behalf of onlincolnshire. The idea is to inform, engage and connect Lincolnshire businesses so they don’t get left behind the rest of the UK when superfast broadband arrives. The conference is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Keep up to date by visiting www.onlincolnshire.org, following @onlincolnshire and #godigital2013 on Twitter or by joining the onlincolnshire Business Support group on Linkedin.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

About the conference

• The conference will take place between 8.30am and 12.30pm at DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln on Wednesday 13th March.
• Stephen Parry from Lloyd Parry, will explain how companies can encourage their employees to be more creative and innovative; Trefor Davies, from Timico Technology Group will look at the technologies available and offer examples of how some Lincoln-based businesses have benefited from new digital services; Jonathan Fitzgerald from Lincolnshire County Council’s communications team will demonstrate the power of social media; Richard Duxbury from Lincolnshire Media will explain how the media industry has adapted to the digital age to continue provide news to the local community.      

About onlincolnshire

• onlincolnshire is a £57 million project run by Lincolnshire County Council which aims to provide broadband speeds of at least 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) for 90% of homes and businesses in the county, and a guaranteed 2Mbps for the remaining premises by 2015.
• onlincolnshire is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013
• Some Internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 7.6 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
• The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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