‘Creating the Buzz’

Web 2.0/Social Media Strategies for Sustained Tourism Business Growth

Awareness Workshop

Overview

The Web 2.0/Social Media revolution presents major opportunities (but also threats) for Edinburgh based tourism and hospitality businesses.  As a consequence of customer-to-customer interaction and collaboration in online communities, user generated content and people empowerment, traditional sales, marketing and brand promotion strategies are declining in effectiveness.  Rather than talking ‘at’ customers, social media presents exciting new opportunities for talking ‘with’ your customers i.e. marketing as a ‘conversation with your customers, a conversation with your network’. 

There will be ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in Web 2.0.  ‘Winners’ will be tourism and hospitality businesses who fully utilise the interactive power of Social Media for engaging with and energising customer and network relationships – ‘Creating the Buzz’. 

About the Workshop

The ‘Creating the Buzz’ half day workshop, supported by ETAG & Scottish Enterprise will ensure that your company is fully aware of the business opportunties (and threats) presented by Web 2.0 and the key issues involved in developing, implementing and managing effective Web 2.0/Social Media strategies for achieving sustained business growth and competitiveness.

Facilitated by acknowledged social media experts, Dr. Jim Hamill and Alan Stevenson of the University of Strathclyde, key topics covered will include:

·        Web 2.0/Social Media – what is it? How will it impact on my business?

·        Business opportunities and threats

·        Social Media in Action:  ‘Best Practice’ examples from global tourism and hospitality

·        ‘Getting There’ – developing successful Social Media strategies

·        Measuring your Web 2.0/Social Media Performance and Business Impact – the 4Is

·        Using Social Media Monitoring tools to track what is being said about your business, by who, where online and how best to respond

Who Should Attend?

This is NOT a technology workshop. Given the strong focus on 2.0 strategy development and business benefits, ‘Creating the Buzz’ is aimed mainly at Owners, Managing Directors, Senior Executives, Business Development and Marketing Managers in Edinburgh - based tourism and hospitality businesses serious about leveraging emerging new media opportunities.  The Workshop will have a clear focus on the bottom line business benefits to be derived from effective use of social media.

How to Attend

Places are strictly limited, to book your place please use the "Order Now" button at the top of the page. If you have any questions contact Joanna Parker - joanna.parker@scotent.co.uk

On-Going Support

Eligible companies attending the workshop may be entitled to access additional support for social media training, strategy development and implementation.  Scottish Enterprise & ETAG representatives will be available at the event to answer your questions.

Also register at www.etag.org.uk to receive up-to-date information on the wide variety of activities being undertaken by ETAG which you could get involved in.

Where: Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh

When: Wednesday 24^th March 2-5pm