Great Techspectations…
Are Irish businesses ready to take control and grow their business through social media?
It was a question that cropped up a number of times as I spent a stimulating afternoon at The Helix, DCU experiencing #GetSocial13
This “Techspectations” event featured an impressive line-up of speakers outlining real insights as to how business here could benefit from addressing social media.
JP Donnelly from Ogilvy managed to state in the most simple of terms what many have known for a long time about Irish businesses “You cannot avoid social media any longer”. Many indigenous firms have made some effort to create a social profile however they have failed to follow it up with content - engaging, original and thought-provoking content.
The power of video content and how it is changing social media was cleverly highlighted by Philippe Brodeur from Aer TV. “Why buy an Ad when you can own the whole channel”. Statistics prove that traditional television viewing is certainly still top of the pile, but no-one in the room could argue with the reality that our televisions of the future were mostly in our hands/pockets/bags…it’s all about mobile.
#GetSocial13 may have coincided with Budget Day but the mood was clearly optimistic in the Helix particularly on hearing the story of Garry Connolly and #positiveireland, encouraging the young PR/Marketing professionals of the future to invest their time in the growing hashtag – ALL about feeling good!
This feel-good vibe continued with Luca Machetti from Microsoft showing us the importance of ‘digital trust’. He reinforced the importance of companies examining the tonality of what posters are saying about them on social media and using that data to grow their business. Sounds simple, but so many firms here are just not doing it.
At Newsaccess data is our business. The data from social media is becoming more and more a part of what we do. It’s exciting to think that across Ireland companies will start listening to their customers and providing them with a whole new way of doing business.
Techspectations is a digital participation initiative of the Leadership, Innovation and Knowledge Research Centre at Dublin City University
Paul Moriarty is Head of Insight at Newsaccess Media Intelligence. Newsaccess is the leading provider of media monitoring and media analysis service in Ireland. For more information on Newsaccess click here..
