WalesCymru.com

If you are a member of Facebook you will know they are going to drop Regional Networks. Their argument is that to provide the level of privacy users now demand they need to remove a feature which, in my view, provided a great attraction. The argument goes … “Almost 50 percent of all Facebook users are members of regional networks …”, but this doesn’t matter to so we have come up with a “plan” and this is “to remove regional networks completely …”. Huh?

I don’t get this, how is something that was used by 50% of users a bad thing?

Personally I think Regions are an important feature that defines a community, even virtual ones. True I share interests which cross global boundaries, but I also share interests which can only be expressed in social interaction, and in ‘locally focused’ world, this means shared with people who live close by. To me, some of the most interesting aspects of Facebook were the local groups I found by accident, because they were local. With the removal of regions, how will I find these now?

This naturally brings me to the role WalesCymru has, or should have. Are we a regionally focused Social Network? Should we be?

This was the ambition we had in 2007, but is still some way off. Should this be pursued as our goal now, or should Regional Networks, as Facebook thinks, be consigned to the past?

What do you think?

I was recently asked by the e-Commerce Manager of a major retailer how they would benefit from Social Media.

On the face this question seemed surprising, especially given the person who was asking was in theory the one person you’d expect to know the answer. But then I thought, maybe it’s not that strange to find major UK retailers struggling to see the value in Social Media; after-all only 59 of the top 100 US retailers currently have a page on Facebook. Given that this is free to set-up and has the potential to tap a US audience of around 50 million, mainly middle to high income college students and recent graduates, it seems strange the other 41 have not even taken this most basic of steps.

So, can  Social Media help UK Retailers?

Personally I believe the answer to this is YES, but let’s be more specific by focusing on several of the main social media applications.

Blogging is a very effective and more attractive way to make announcements than any ‘News’ system. As a retailer you will constantly update your stock, add new items, offer discounts and reward loyal customers. Blogging allows you to post time based announcements that include pictures, or video, and links to the actual items in your eCommerce application. What better way it keep your website users up-to-date and generate direct sales from featured items?

Social Bookmarks / Tweet This allow users to share items they find interesting with their friends. They also help build back-links and generate sales momentum; you’re a fool not to include these features.

Facebook Pages / Groups. These are easy to set-up and provide the retailer with free access to a potentially loyal customer base. If used to garner feedback on your store, or on specific items, events, etc. these pages provide an ideal way to measure if your efforts are working, or where they may be failing. Who needs expensive market research and focus groups when you have Facebook!

Facebook Connect. Another free service and relatively easy to install. Facebook Connect can be linked to your own login / comments system, allowing users to import their Facebook profile (name / image / etc.) and friends list, and post items directly to their Facebook news feed. What better way to encourage viral marketing!

Reviews, Ratings, Recommendations & Comments Walls. These are the stock and trade of all Social Media applications and provide honest and highly valued feedback on your offering. If you value your customers opinions, USE THESE. If, however, you’re scared by the inevitable ‘could do better’ responses, then maybe these are not for you.

YouTube. If you produce TV commercials this is a no-brainer as YouTube provides a FREE social broadcasting channel. If you’d love to produce TV commercials but can’t afford the £££s, then YouTube is also for you. All it takes is a digital video camera, editing software and some creative thinking and your DIY approach could pay handsomely.

Is social media the saviour of UK retail?

Unless you’re an online shop, the answer is probably no - your foot-fall, product mix and pricing are always going to be more important; although here too I suggest time will be the judge. But as we all need loyal customers and as Social Media provides the best platform available to engage ‘friends’ and build a following, it certainly won’t do you any harm. And if you wait for your competition to show you the way you’re probably not going to be around to find out.

On January 3 2008 the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce closed after 141 years. According to news reports the problem dated from 2004 when the Chamber received between £1m and £2m in training payments “to which they were not entitled”. The debt, now due to the Welsh Assembly’s Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, could not it seems be deferred without contravening European law, thereby forcing the Chamber into liquidation.

As the Chamber’s account manager for over two and half years, while at Peter Gill & Associates, I had numerous discussions about web based membership services. It was disappointing none of my suggestions were taken up, but the reason why is now clear. Let’s hope the new look ’south Wales’ Chamber embraces the web to deliver real business networking services when it’s operational.

In the meantime, Welsh business should look at the some of exceptional online networking services that now exist and which deliver REAL value. These include:

XING founded in August 2003, is one of the best, and uses the latest social networking tools to connect tens of millions of members across 16 languages and all industries. If you follow the 6 degrees principle you’ll understand how XING works. XING’s annual premium membership is just £50 pa; although most users will try for free first. Unlike many of the other sites XING allows users to upload their Outlook address book - a tool which is very useful in building your online network.

LinkedIn is a professional relationships providing an online network of more than 17 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. A business account costs £10 per month, although the free account is good place to start.

ecademy is probably the UK best offering, but unlike the others is not based on the latest Web2.0 toolkit. Again the basic membership is free, but as this doesn’t allow users to initiate a contact is of limited use. To get any real value you need the £10 per month PowerNetworker.

Facebook - no don’t laugh. Facebook is a great social networking tool for 60+ million. If you haven’t checked laterly you’ll have missed that Corporate Networks and Business Groups are springing up daily. You’ll probably have also not realised that the events calendar is an excellent tool for all sorts of gatherings. But best of all it’s FREE to join.

These are just some of the sites that exist today to help Welsh business network. So don’t mourn the loss of Cardiff Chamber - it will be replaced. Instead see this as an opportunity to review what business networking is all about and join one of these sites.