#stratsm

Yes; that’s a ‘hashtag’ for the Strategic Social Media Conference at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester yesterday.

What an amazing line-up of speakers! We heard from Westminster City Council, McCann Erikson, Wolfstar, MediaEdge, The Guardian, The Conservative Party and Staniforth.

Brilliantly we found ourselves on the line-up to talk to the attendees about our Social Media Strategy  – as an example of best practice!

Visit Lancashire – Strategic Social Media.

Loads more to follow soon as there are so many top tips from the speakers I certainly can’t formulate all my thoughts on the topics at 5pm on a Thursday

Sarah Lundy

Social Media – The Presentations

It’s a new week, and for alot of you this half-term could be the busiest week of the year – especially those businesses in and around Blackpool. I hope you’ll have a small chunk of time to look through the presentations from Thursday’s Don’t Panic Guide to Social Media Conference.

In reflection (and from reading the feedback forms), it appears that the day was very valuable for those of you who attended. I’m hoping that you keep up the impetus and are engaging, reading and planning your social media strategy right now!

One attendee sent us this feedback: “Just wanted to say thank you for a brilliant & inspiring day. Have come away with some great ideas, fired up about using Twitter etc. But also with real pride in Lancashire. It was great to drive over, you forget just how spectacular our scenery is.”

We have uploaded all the presentations to Slideshare (another marvellous free online service!). Please see the presentations on our industry website http://www.lancashireandblackpool.com here or alternatively click on the links below.

Rob Brown – Social Media Overview
Emma Gardiner and Amy Johnston – Go Ape Blog Influence
Sarah Lundy – visitlancashire Blog
Mark Hanson – Twitter for Business
Hetty Byrne – Forest of Bowland Aggregate Blog
Sarah Lundy – visitlancashire Twitter
Neville Hobson – Social Media for Business – to follow
Heather Price – SKV Blackpool Viral
Constandina Milios – Visit England Social Media Wizard
Rob Brown – Reputation Management

Lets Get Sociable, Sociable

Yesterday was our ‘Don’t Panic’ Guide to Social Media Conference at Towneley Hall in Burnley.

Lunch at Towneley Hall

What a gorgeous day and a beautiful setting. It’s inspirational to be sat in one of Lancashire’s Historical Gems talking about a communications revolution. Thanks to Ken and the team for their hospitality and the scrumptious lunch. If you ever hold a meeting there I recommend ordering the Meat and Potato pie for lunch!

I hope every business took away with them some positive and simple actions with which to change their marketing strategy and to start to find new audiences.

There is so much to talk about from the day that I’ll do this over a number of blogs in the coming week. In conjunction with this will be a number of practical steps for you to take with us to continue your journey and to help you implement the things you heard about yesterday rather than putting your folder on the shelf and forgetting your initial enthusiasm.

I’d just like to start with a couple of things really. Firstly – please make sure that you are social media enabled. You heard from VisitEngland about the Social Media Wizard. This can be found at www.EEwizard.co.uk This will help you set up all your accounts for Twitter etc if you don’t have them. If you do have some already it can help you ‘fill the gaps’.

Also – unfortunately you were unable to see the second Blackpool viral video. Enjoy Valerie and Frank part Two – Love, from Blackpool!

Photos and Video and Presentations from the day all to follow soon…

Sarah Lundy

Social Media Revolution

Before you come to the ‘Don’t Panic Guide to Social Media’ conference tomorrow – watch this video.

It’s inspirational and it is one of the reasons that we decided to do this conference in the first place.

Tweet your thoughts www.twitter.com/touristboard – #LBTB

Sarah Lundy

Hit Headline Honcho

Those lucky, or wise enough, to have secured a place on the DON’T PANIC GUIDE TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR TOURISM CONFERENCE will get to hear Neville Hobson speak.

Personally I’m really excited as I’ve followed his blog for a long time now and it’s going to be great to hear the uber-communicator in person.

For those of you that haven’t heard of Neville, he is a great blogger and has recieved many accolades over the years (and I don’t think my ‘crush’ on his business blog counts). I would recommend that you read his blog rather than me trying to explain… www.nevillehobson.com

I love today’s entry and invite comments as to whether my blog title hits the spot!

Sarah Lundy
www.twitter.com/touristboard