Director of Inis Communications, Trish HegartyAlmost 70% of Donegal businesses with websites are now using social media like Facebook and Twitter, but the majority want help with what they should be saying online. That’s according to a sample survey conducted in the county by PR specialists, Inis Communications.
“The results are encouraging in that they show Donegal businesses are embracing new digital media,” says Inis Communications director, Trish Hegarty, “but they also highlight the difficulties they face with selling themselves online.”
“We found that local businesses are actually updating their social media more regularly than their websites, whereas they could be updating their websites at the same time. We also found that 60% find it hard to create website content and that over two thirds want training or support with their social media content.”
The survey results show that over 55% of those using social media update every week – with almost 20% updating every working day. In contrast, only 36% update their website more than once a week.
“The majority say they would benefit from staff training and support to help them both with website and social media content, and to meet this demand we offer Website and Social Media Packages and are launching our new Digital Content Training Course: What to say and how to say it online,” says Trish.
“The 10-week course will equip you with the understanding, the ability and the practical tools to regularly update your own website and social media content in a way which attracts your target audience. It will be based on practical work which covers how to create lively written content, find regular sources for news, and how to produce your own audio and video content.”
Commenting on the course, Tim Kelley of innovation agency NORIBIC says “quality business conversation in online social media rises to the top, like cream. It’s common sense. First impressions count, and putting an engaging message forward attracts customers and gives your business the advantage, whether it’s the internet age or the stone age.”
“What to say and how to say it online” is being delivered in partnership with award-winning producers Timmy Gibson and Tommy Conway at their Full Tilt Studios in Letterkenny. Full Tilt’s state of the art training room is equipped with projector, WiFi, PC and laptop stations. Timmy and Tommy will deliver the training on using music with audio and video content and creating and posting your own ads, and their Live Studio will also be used for the audio and video production training.
The Digital Content Training Course starts on Tuesday 4th October, and runs from 7-9pm until Tuesday 6th December. Places are limited to 10 per course and must be booked in advance by Friday 23rd September. Details and booking forms on: www.iniscommunications.com or directly on: http://svy.mk/pMX80w. YouTube video on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7tIN_TSo8A