Social media: make the numbers work for you | Bristol24-7

Whichever way you look at it and whatever source you turn to, the numbers are staggering: one billion active Facebook users, 600million Twitter users, and 200million LinkedIn members in more than 200 countries and territories ? and counting.?

With the growing number of platforms that each network offers to share information, social media is changing everything about the way we behave, which brands we invest in and the causes we choose to support.

The internet is saturated with information, but while the number of sites may appear infinite, the numbers of people whose attention they are clamouring for are not.? So how do you make sure you stand out from the crowd while staying true to your purpose?

It?s a question of professional standards, says David Niven, who has spent the past three decades working with the public sector, private corporations and the charitable sector.?

?Social networking is here to stay.?The formats may change and technology may improve but this will only bring with it further challenges and ethical and moral issues to be sorted out by professionals,? says Niven, who will be speaking at the ?Social Media Policy Development Conference? on April 18 at Bristol?s Ashton Court Mansion ? guaranteed to be an eye-opener for anyone with an online profile who wishes to learn how to navigate the challenges and reap the benefits.

Whether you?re a business seeking new custom, or a charity that wants to attract new donors, or a public sector organisation looking for the best way to engage with your clients, social media is without a doubt the obvious route to take.

Over 50% of active Twitter users are said to follow companies on social networks, while 57% of companies using social media for business use Twitter.? The scope of Facebook is even more astounding ? 70billion pieces of new content are shared each month, and seven million apps and websites integrated within Facebook.? Not to mention Linked In, which attracts 43million visits each month, and other platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest.

For the uninitiated, the options can seem daunting.? Virtually all experts therefore agree that the key to success is greater understanding of how social media works, the legal issues and the risks, and how to protect the interests of your organisation and those you represent.

Niven adds: ?Whether preventing people tracing children and vulnerable people who should not be found by certain others, or interrupting cyber-bullying or accessing that vital piece of information to determine levels of risk in a family, the use of social-networking surveillance has to be conducted with a level of ethical professionalism as well as being mindful of human rights legislation and the law.?

Conference places are available at ?130+VAT per person, with a 20% discount for registered charities.? To register call the DNA Office on 0845 833 0859, email the ISAS Academy,enquiries@isasacademy.com, or book online at?www.dnivenassociates.co.uk.

Source: http://www.bristol247.com/2013/03/22/social-media-make-the-numbers-work-for-you-45247/

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