NEW-start businesses in Scotland are being urged to look beyond the hype – and take a ruthless approach to their social media use.
Digital marketing agency, NSDesign, is running a series of free social media workshops at this week’s ‘New Start Scotland’ exhibition at the SECC and the company’s managing director, Gary Ennis, says it’s all about getting maximum results in as little time as possible.
He said: “Facebook and Twitter get huge amounts of hype and do generate a big return for many of the businesses we work with.
“But there’s more to it. For some businesses, LinkedIn will produce better results.
“For others, particularly in retail, it’s increasingly becoming Pinterest and for a business struggling to rank on Google then a Google+ profile should be their priority.”
With so many social networks in such a fast-moving sector and fierce competition for attention from the public, Ennis believes new start companies are particularly at risk of becoming overwhelmed by it all.
“What depresses me most is when I hear of someone who’s taken a scatter gun approach to social media, with no plan or strategy behind it.
“They think it’s something they have to do, because everyone else is, so they set up a Facebook page or Twitter profile and start saying stuff, hoping for the best.
“After a few weeks, when they haven’t got the return they expected, they wonder why they wasted their time and declare the whole thing ‘rubbish’. It doesn’t have to be like that.”
This year’s New Start Scotland takes place at the SECC, Glasgow on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th November and as well as handling all the official social media activity for the event itself, Ennis and his team will be on hand to offer digital marketing advice at stand C29.
They’ll also provide a series of free social media workshops, and for once, the focus is not on Facebook and Twitter.
“Too many people are sitting on LinkedIn wondering why nothing is happening. They’re doing it wrong and by following a few quick tips – which my colleague, Colin Kelly, will give them this week – they can see benefits straight away.
“Since the start of this year, some retailers in America have been seeing their presence on Pinterest driving more shoppers to their websites than every other social media channel combined and I’m delighted that Stephen Whitelaw has taken time out of his schedule to give the New Start Scotland audience the benefit of his knowledge of what is the fastest growing social network in the world.
“Stephen will also present a fun, interactive look at what’s next for the social web.
“And if anyone reading this doesn’t see the point of Google+ then Thea Newcomb’s workshop should really open their eyes.”
2012 is already a landmark year for NSDesign which employs eight staff and is based at Hillington Park Innovation Centre as the company continues to expand further into training and consultancy.
Recent clients include Eastern Western Motor Group, Scottish Leather Group, Aulds and the Customer Contact Association.
“I get the same buzz for it all now as I did when I started the company 14 years ago”, says Ennis.
“There’s nothing more fulfilling than having an idea, working hard at it then seeing it come to fruition so I really do wish everyone attending this year’s New Start Scotland all the best, and I hope they’ll take advantage of the free help and support that’s available.”
And when the lights go out at the SECC late on Friday afternoon the NSDesign team will be straight into a hectic couple of weeks preparing for their next full day, ‘Embrace The Space’ Social Media masterclass, which takes place at Hillington Park Innovation Centre on Friday 14 December.
Tickets are available now from www.embracethespace.co.uk and Ennis promises businesses who prefer to focus on Facebook and Twitter won’t be disappointed.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Colin Kelly Media. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Colin Kelly
Phone: 01505863990
Email: colin@colinkelly.net
Website: http://www.colinkelly.net
