Success of social media workshops

A free social media and online marketing training workshop for tourism businesses is proving so popular that two additional sessions have been organised to
meet demand.

So far this year more than 85 Shropshire businesses have attended the ‘social media… 4 starters’ workshop, and now two more sessions are to be held in March.

The training is organised and financially supported by the Shropshire and Telford Tourism Strategy Board which includes Shropshire Council as a partner.

Each workshop covers a range of online issues, such as planning an online marketing strategy, using Facebook and Twitter for business, Pay Per Click advertising and Website Enhancement. Most of the workshops are ‘hands on’, with participants encouraged to bring their own laptops.

The workshops are organised by two local trainers, Jan Minihane and Tim O’Grady.

Jan Minihane said

“We are delighted to be able to provide this training in collaboration with the Shropshire & Telford Tourism Strategy Board. With 2012 just around the corner, tourism businesses need to be positioning themselves now so that they stand out from the crowd and maximise their share of the revenue that the Olympics will generate. The timing of the training is absolutely ideal for this.”

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economy and waste, said:

“In the current competitive economic climate we all need to work harder and smarter to attract visitors to our county; I am delighted that so many of Shropshire’s tourism businesses are making the most of these free training sessions.”

The additional courses will take place on 7 March 2011 at 10.30am and 8 March 2011 at 1.30pm in Ironbridge. For more details and to book, visit http://4starters.eventbrite.com or email 4StartersUK@gmail.com