Network sites signal traders mean business

THE growing importance of using social media networks to boost business will be a major feature of an exhibition this autumn.

The 'We Mean Business' event is taking place at Fairfield in Park Lane, Croydon, on October 7, from 10am to 4pm.

It is organised by the Croydon branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, and two experts in the use of social media have been lined up as guest speakers.

Nigel Botterill, chief executive of "the best of", a company promoting local businesses, will be speaking about how firms can use social network sites to help them expand.

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His firm is one of the fastest growing online companies in the country.

Mr Botterill will be joined by Mark Shaw, who has gained fame in the business world for helping companies market themselves on the Twitter social network.

He will be outlining how businesses can make, what he says is a free and worldwide phenomenon, work for them.

Denis Rawlings, vice-president of Croydon FSB and one of the exhibition organisers, said: "Mark knows what works and what doesn't so saving every businessman and businesswoman time, money and energy while at the same time giving them the knowledge and the power to make their business even more successful."

Mr Rawlings added: "Social media is a powerful business tool and people need to be aware of how to use it properly."

October's exhibition is the second to be organised by the FSB and the hope is that the number of companies taking stalls to promote their businesses will top the 105 who took part last year.

Mr Rawlings said he believed the emphasis of the exhibition would be different this time.

He explained: "Rather than focusing on how to cope with the recession as happened last year, this year companies will be looking at how to build their business post recession."

Mr Rawlings said response from companies to the exhibition had been good with around 85 per cent of the 120 or so planned stalls already taken up.

The cost of a stall is £90 plus VAT.

Networking opportunities, seminars and workshops will also be taking place at the exhibition.

For more information visit www.wmb2010.co.uk or ring 01403 734257.