Welsh Uni: Social media benefits for business

A free workshop on how Welsh business can benefit from social media takes place tonight (November 9) at Swansea’s Marriott Hotel.

It is being hosted by Software Alliance Wales, a £13m all-Wales project led by Swansea University - and I urge business people to attend.

The hour-long workshop, from 6.30pm, will be delivered by Dr Max L Wilson, lecturer at the uni’s Fit Lab (Future Interaction Technologies).

The event - Social Media as a Business Tool - will offer valuable info on how enterprises can use online resources as great communication and marketing tools.

Feedback

Two weeks ago, Effective Communication hosted its own client presentation on the issue and received fabulous feedback.

Dr Wilson, who has an international research and publication record, told me: “Social media is the single most influential change to how individuals and businesses gather information and communicate messages.

"With over 90m tweets posted each day, and with many people spending more time on Facebook than Google, the power of these tools shouldn’t be ignored.

“Some businesses may have flirted with social networking and social media, but few are truly comfortable with the potential that it has.

“This workshop aims to provide businesses and individuals with the knowledge and confidence to fully utilise the opportunities available for their business via social media platforms.”

Details 01792 606663, events@softwarealliancewales.com, www.softwarealliancewales.com/events.

Twitter: 5 reasons why it's useful

For those in any doubt about the usefulness of Twitter, here's a small cross-section of South Wales tweets from yesterday afternoon.

They're from a range of organisations and they're all very worthwhile - and I'll try to explain why after each.

Crucially, they all talk directly to their audience (or 'followers') and importantly they all lead to useful info.

Ignore Twitter at your peril.

Tweeter South Wales Police
Twitter name swpolice
Tweet Officers Seize Fireworks http://fb.me/Epte419i
Useful because It links to a news item about advice on storage, underage sales and the anti-social elements of Guy Fawkes Night. Good PR, good public info.

Tweeter Cardiff Business Online
Twitter name CardiffBiz
Tweet Any FREE DESSERT when you order a starter and a main course at Mocka Lounge with the voucher here http://ow.ly/33hBa
Useful because It links to a hot eating out offer - and hopefully a few extra sales.

Tweeter Swansea University Students Union
Twitter name SwanseaUnion
Tweet Taking action for broke and broken postgraduate students! http://fb.me/tqb3MrtV
Useful because It links to a blog about the union marching on London urging the UK government to not cut higher education. Good to rally support and deliver a political message.

Tweeter Wales In Style
Twitter name WalesInStyle
Tweet Andy Fisher is the 3rd person to Pack His Bags to WIN a stylish break in Wales. Enter now - http://ow.ly/33joF
Useful because It links to a promotional competition, creating strong PR, customer interaction and a little bit of fun.

Tweeter Bishop Gore School, Swansea
Twitter name bishopgore
Tweet Boys PE Extra Curricular Oct View http://bit.ly/94PYAh
Useful because It links pupils to important information.

New focus for Wales media scene

The Welsh media comes in many forms – and the latest addition provides a signpost to the future.

The Swansea Economic Focus aims to provide information on current and planned regen activities across the city.

There’s a lot more too. Indeed, the first edition runs to 19 tightly scripted pages of news, stats and data.

It’s unlikely to challenge the South Wales Evening Post as the city’s most popular written media – but it will be well viewed around boardroom tables.

Together

Its publisher – the Swansea Economic Regeneration Partnership (SERP) – brings together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to deliver the city’s economic regeneration strategy – Swansea 2020.

Edition one includes articles on tackling economic inactivity, regenerating Swansea city centre through the Waterfront City project and promoting enterprise education.

One article looks at the impending public sector expenditure cuts, and the implications of these cuts for Swansea.

It states: “To counteract job losses it will be important to drive private sector jobs growth.

Exploit

“Swansea 2020 is seeking to exploit opportunities in six key sectors, to create new businesses and employment.

“These sectors are creative industries, information and communication technologies (ICT), life sciences, marine industries, professional business services and tourism.

“There are a number of existing and proposed developments to stimulate the growth of these sectors, including the Swansea Metropolitan University/Coastal Housing proposed Creative Industries Cluster in the Urban Village development, Swansea University’s Institute of Life Sciences and Swansea University’s proposed Bay Science & Innovation Campus.”

May 24's Swansea Bay media highlights

... For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
...
Print South Wales Evening Post Click
News - Campaigners are to make a last-ditch attempt to save Swansea's Earlsmoor care home from closure.
Sport – Swansea City's Stephen Dobbie used his play-off final for loan club Blackpool to reveal a T-shirt tribute to former clubmate Besian Idrizaj.
...
Broadcast The Wave Click
Editorial - Swansea West's new MP, Geraint Davies, says it's time to get over the fact that the UK went to war with Iraq under false pretences.
Commercial - Typical ad break ... Pennant Homes, Trade Centre Wales, ratedpeople.com, Norton House Hotel & Restaurant.
...
Online BBC Cymru Wales Click
Recommended 1 - A British lawnmower - ridden by Don Wales - has cut the world land speed record by reaching a new top speed of more than 86mph at Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire. Click
Recommended 2 - Researchers at Swansea University are amongst those to trial a scheme to help families stop youngsters turning to drink, cigarettes and drugs. More than 700 families will take part in the Strengthening Families Programme. Click
...
Links Twitter | Website
...

April 27's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

...
For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
...
Print Western Mail Click
Editorial – Revealed: The secrets Richard Burton shared with his pocket diary - thanks to the Richard Burton Centre at Swansea University.
Commercial – Nice plug for one of South Wales' greatest pubs, Maesteg's Old House Inn, in a feature on new Peter Long book The Hidden Places of Wales (Travel Publishing).
...
Broadcast Bay Radio Click
Editorial – The bosses of Swansea's closure-threatened Ethnic Cuisine say a WAG grant to upgrade its plant wouldn't have saved its 230 jobs ... a new customer contract was needed.
Commercial – Typical ad break: Ace Windows, Welsh Blood Service, Neath Port Talbot Council Recycling Services, Fortress Wales at Margam Park, Skoda UK, Car Arena Swansea.
...
Online South Wales Evening Post Click
Editorial – The family of a young woman attacked on Llanelli beach are furious with the way police dealt with the case. They claim she was taken from the scene in a police van which contained one of her attackers. Click
Most viewed stories – An apology to Robert William Stevens - Click. Man dies as crews called to early-morning kitchen blaze - Click. We're down but we are not out - Click.
...
Links Twitter | Website
...

April 26's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

...
For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
...
Print South Wales Evening Post Click
Editorial - Comic star Eddie Izzard will be backing Labour with a guest appearance at Swansea University today.
Commercial – The Evening Post has joined BreakFree Holidays to offer readers weeks away for as little as £15 per person. Locations include Riviere Sands Holiday Park in Hayle, Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay and Perran Sands Holiday Park in Perranporth. Click
...
Broadcast The Wave Click
Editorial - The countdown is on for Wednesday's Local Hero Awards night being hosted by The Wave and sister station Swansea Sound. Wales rugby skipper Ryan Jones is one of the judges.
Commercial - Typical ad break: Trade Centre Wales, webuyanycar.com, caravansinwales.com, FRF Vauxhall Swansea & Bridgend.
...
Online BBC Cymru Wales Click
Sport - Swansea City midfielder Darren Pratley insists the Championship play-off pressure has shifted to Blackpool. Click
Video fun - A machine that carries British hopes of shattering the world land speed record for a lawnmower has been unveiled at a beach in Carmarthenshire. Click
...
Community Radio Tircoed Click
News - A man has died following a fire at a house in Port Tennant.
Charity - The station is supporting a new fund-raising push for children's hospice Ty Hafan. Click
...
Links Twitter | Website
...

March 25's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

...
For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
...
Multi-media ITV Wales
It's a big day for three regional news consortia bidding to become the new provider of ITV Wales news. Expect updates on BBC Wales TV and ITV Wales News. Bidders: 1 - ITN with Newsquest (incl South Wales Guardian), Northcliffe Media (incl the South Wales Evening Post, Llanelli Star, Carmarthen Journal), Town & Country Broadcasting (incl Bay Radio, Nation, Scarlet FM, Radio Carmarthenshire), Tindle, Boomerang, Swansea University and ITV Wales news staff; 2 - Tinopolis (Llanelli); 3 - UTV (incl Swansea Sound & The Wave) with NWN Media Ltd.
...
Online South Wales Evening Post Click
Editorial – Today’s most commented-on story ... A renegade councillor is questioning the result of a ballot that saw tenants vote in favour of handing over their council homes to a new landlord. Click
Commercial - First Great Western is a prominent advertiser at the moment ... and their travel bookings website is a lot better than what it was. Click
Fashion Addict – For those who missed yesterday’s link to the Swansea University media students catwalk film, here it is again – great work ... Click
...
Broadcast BBC Radio Wales Click
Key Welsh story – WAG is launching its biggest drive yet to cut down on violence against women.
You heard it here – WAG Environment Minister Jane Davidson has given the go-ahead to the introduction of a non-native insect to tackle to problem of Japanese knotweed.
...
Print South Wales Guardian Click
Editorial – Residents have been urged to blow the whistle on disrespectful horse riders after hoof prints were found circling graves at an Ammanford cemetery.
Advertising – The WRVS and Carmarthenshire Council are appealing for volunteers to sign up for the county’s Country Cars scheme which helps those unable to get out and about.
...
Community Radio Tircoed Click
Funding – Marvellous news from station manager Phil England ... Radio Tircoed has secured a Big Lottery Fund grant to assist in continuing to provide this broadcast service.
...
Links Twitter | Website
...

Tutor Sara considers new Swansea media hook-up

Sara Robb, right, and her colleagues could be onto something at Swansea University.
A tutor in public and media relations, she chatted with guests at the refreshments desk as we gathered for last night's special lecture hosted by the School of Arts and Humanities.

Teaching and research there explores the history, theory and practice of media, film, journalism and public relations.

Degree programmes cover print, broadcast, film and new media and include tuition by industry professionals.

Sara was refreshingly interested in the four Swansea-based members of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) who tucked into the pre-match olives, nuts and Mini Cheddars.

So it'd be a handy development for all concerned if union and uni got together for a few (initially) modest gatherings. Watch this space.
Incidentally, the lecture was a little cracker. Click here to see how Media Master previewed it a couple of weeks ago.
Broadcasting professor Andrew Crisell chose as his subject the BBC and how it may evolve.
The corporation, he decided, had largely foregone its remit as a public service broadcaster. Only some elements of its radio output now supplied a credible platform for intellectual debate.
The new era of cable and satellite competition was a key factor, with the Beeb's TV output becoming too focused on sharply-edited popular entertainment.
He conjectured that this, indeed, could be the natural endgame for the visual medium.
It was a thought-provoking address and will have given the students present some good talking points for the Fulton House bars.

Highlights from today’s Swansea Bay media

...
On the road - Andy Pearson Publicity will be an exhibitor at enterprise show Kick Start Your Business, Tue 9 Feb, 11am-3.30pm, Neath RFC. Free advice, legals, networking & more- http://bit.ly/9KNVtz
...
Broadcast BBC Radio Wales
Key Welsh story - More MPs’ expenses shame due to be piled on today with new parliamentary report.
Swansea Bay - Kirsty Grabham murder trial – jury set to continue deliberations as husband Paul Grabham awaits verdict.
You heard it here - March 1 could see new law to strengthen the development of the Welsh language. A Welsh Language Commissioner post could be created.
...
Online www.thisissouthwales.co.uk
Key local story - Kirsty Grabham murder trial latest (http://bit.ly/b3AqJq) … plus Swansea University medical research powerhouse the Institute of Life Science is bidding for a share of a £1m windfall as the Government plans to develop a life sciences “super cluster.” (http://bit.ly/91E8Nb)
Publicity power - This morning’s banner ad: VW Van Centre, Cardiff Sinclairs – The new evolved Transporter (http://bit.ly/cwMsGh)
Recommended - Video messages from Swansea Bay troops in Afghanistan - http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/
...
Print Swansea Life magazine
Top celeb story - Showbiz writer Ed Gleave interviews Rob Brydon who’s photographed at Port Talbot’s Aberavon Beach Hotel (http://www.aberavonbeach.com/). The comic says: “Playing in Wales? It’s a bit like making your family laugh.”
Key opinion - As Valentine’s Day approaches, “being romantic and doing special things with the one you love is always special and worthwhile. There are many ways you can do that in this area.”
Ad power - A 4-page bridal photo shoot gives a strong promo platform for hair salon Andrew Price (http://www.andrewpricegroup.com/), make-up expert Sascha Martini (http://www.saschamartini.com/), Narberth boutique White Bride (http://www.whitebride.net/) and Narberth jeweller Audrey Bull (http://www.audreybull.co.uk/).
Don’t miss - 20 or so happy snaps of Swansea revellers snuggling up to X Factor finalists Olly Murs and Danyl Johnson at clubs Play (http://www.playclubs.co.uk/) and Oceana (http://www.oceanaclubs.com/).
...
Community Radio Tircoed
Big name interview - Today’s morning show saw Caroline Carpenter has with an interview with Alice Beer (BBC TV’s Watchdog) on new research into shopping habits. Top hates - queuing, unhelpful assistants, busy stores.
...

Media folk's Swansea chance to mull over BBC

Media folk are encouraged to pop into Swansea University next week.
February 8 brings a little teatime treat - an open-to-all presentation by one of the UK's most respected broadcasting academics
And Andrew Crisell's ever-topical subject for Swansea will be the BBC and how it may evolve.
The lecturer is professor of broadcasting at Sunderland University. He is the author of three books on broadcasting, editor of another and contributor to many.
Other roles have included editorial board membership of the Radio Journal and the Journal of Media Business Studies.
He arrives in Swansea Bay with the BBC under more scrutiny than ever, with concerns including everything from its local news coverage to its top talent's multi-million pound pay.
So well done to the Uni's Research Institute for Arts and Humanities. It's they who've brought Crisell here and it's they who are promoting this public lecture, entitles Auntie’s looking sickly: the last days of public service broadcasting.
It's in the Wallace Building, the large place to the left of the Uni's main entrance drive.
Admission's free and everyone's welcome. Get there by 5.15 pm to enjoy refreshments.

More
Uni - riah@swansea.ac.uk
Andrew Crisell - http://bit.ly/dcQWPw