Social media sites such as facebook, twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace have become a very popular means by which people can stay in touch with their online friends and family. In fact, facebook alone has over 350 million members worldwide and in the few years since its launch, 50 million people have ‘tweeted’ on twitter. With the emergence of multimedia and business smart-phones, people can now take their online social networks everywhere they go.

Given the huge popularity of Social Media sites and the potential online markets, businesses are now keen to familiarise themselves with these new and exciting technologies and explore how they can network with new customers.

Recently Jonathan Heggarty, BMC Curriculum Centre Manager for Multimedia and Damien Caldwell, BMC Employment Engagement Co-ordinator held a Social Media workshop in the Signal Centre of Business Excellence on behalf of Ards Borough Council. The workshop was attended by 35 delegates from the local tourism sector who received presentations on the benefits and challenges for small to medium businesses engaging with Social Networking tools such as facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and TripAdvisor.

The workshop was positively received and feedback from the session highlighted the wide interest there now is in using these tools for both business and pleasure. The College is planning a range of courses based on understanding and using Social Media technologies within business, education and for social activities.

For further information on Social Media courses for businesses contact Damien Caldwell dcaldwell@belfastmet.ac.uk or telephone 028 9026 5069.