An RGU student, Imogen has just finished her year-long placement as communications assistant at the Chamber
SOCIAL media has become such an important tool in today’s world, and yet it’s strange to think that 10 years ago we were just realising its potential.
In 2006, MySpace was the most popular social networking site in the United States as Facebook was still in relative infancy, Twitter had only launched and Instagram was just a twinkle in an app developer’s eye.
Looking at a timeline of the rapid expansion of social media year-on-year since then is astonishing and it doesn’t stop there, with quirky ideas appearing all the time.
New words have even been created, as we saw the renowned “selfie” added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013.
My generation has grown up constantly exposed to new technology and has grown with it as it develops.
We’re not afraid to push a button and “see what happens” so handling it has become second nature.
Not to make anyone feel too old however, I should add that I do remember that delightful sound the computer used to make when dialling up to the internet.
This year, I had the pleasure of joining the Chamber team as communications assistant for a year’s work placement.
Among other things, use of the Chamber’s social media platforms has been a large part of my role.
What has been a learning curve for me, however, is the difference between personal use of social media and its use from a business perspective.
On my travels with our membership network managers to their meetings with members, I came across varying perceptions of social media.
Some businesses already had an established presence through many platforms, while others were reticent in taking that first foray into the world of social media.
They were unsure whether it was a worthwhile investment of their time and how it would help their business.
My advice to them has simply been to give it a go - we’ve all been beginners at something once.
Once you have yourself an account - be that Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or beyond - start by following accounts of people or companies that mean something to you.
Whether that’s a news source, a local company, or a world leader; build your network to suit you.
You may learn of an event or an opportunity that you wouldn’t otherwise have known about.
Engage with people you follow, and those who follow you.
Interacting with members on the Chamber’s Twitter account has been great fun, and a great learning experience - if not a bit difficult at times to respond to comments from a neutral standpoint…
Share your good news, and engage with other people sharing theirs.
I have learned it is posts like this that followers relate to most as you’ve added a personal touch and taken a genuine interest in what’s happening at that company, be it an award win or a new recruit.
Interactions between businesses have changed over the years, and social media is a great way to make your business relationships more of a continuous two-way conversation and your organisation that bit more personable.
Don’t be afraid to take that first step.
You never know where it might lead!