#@peterjharvey

[peterjharvey]

Twitter - helping our community talk to each other

SHE can send a text message (with the help of her Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass) and she knows her way around her electronic bread maker. Sheʼs even switched on when it comes to recording the Antiques Roadshow.

One day soon I am sure my motherʼs technological prowess will extend to Twitter, especially if it bolsters her armoury in her lifelong persecution of anyone in authority.

Twitterʼs rise in popularity since its launch in 2006 is overwhelming and all consuming. The social network service has an estimated 350m users globally, giving us ʻlittle peopleʼ an instant and direct voice. And the voice is getting stronger.

We can engage with our favourite brands, organisations and people (allowing them to engage with us too) and most importantly tell our world what we think, what we enjoy and what we dislike. Paying compliments or ranting has never been so much fun! And, of course, itʼs free...for now at least.

Sefton Council (@SeftonCouncil) has signed up, as has the Crosby Herald (@CrosbyHerald) and the Plaza (@PlazaCinema). Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson (@BillEstersonMP) is a daily tweeter.

Some local schools are also engaging with their communities through Twitter - notably Merchant Taylorsʼ (@MerchantsCrosby) and English Martyrs Primary School (@EnglishMartyrs).

Even Anthony Gormleyʼs ʻAnother Placeʼ statues (@IronMenCrosby) are happily tweeting...or someone who knows them well. ʻNot easy tweeting with a damp dongle,ʼ they proclaim to their 1,200 followers while they ʻbig upʼ Crosby and the surrounding area with banter, snippets and links to stories of interest.

Having been on Twitter for several years (@peterjharvey) and used it professionally, including co-ordinating a Twitter campaign for the John Smithʼs Grand National and advising Satterthwaites, I can see the increasingly powerful role it plays in terms of PR. Every marketing or PR strategy needs social media at its heart, and Twitter outweighs Facebook for simple engagement.

@Satterthwaites is utilising Twitter well, interacting with its customers on a daily basis while gently promoting its products and facilitating a celebration of what is already a verypopular brand. Not a day passes without their Bavarian slices, meringues or scouse pies winning praise locally, nationally or even from abroad.

More local businesses are joining the conversation every week as the Crosby and Waterloo area takes a lead in using Twitter to its advantage. Even the retail giants are limited to 140 characters so its a level playing field to that extent.

Communities work best when people talk to each other. Twitter offers us a chance to do this. Its simplicity appeals to all people of all ages with even limited internet know-how. All you need is internet access and an opinion. My mum has plenty of the latter!

Published Crosby Herald 1st March 2011