Tricks and tips for using Facebook and Twitter to grab the attention of Somerset’s tourists will be revealed in a new series of free workshops.

Somerset County Council, as part of the EU Interreg COOL Tourism Project, is inviting Somerset’s tourism businesses to find out how they can stand out on social media.

Eight practical sessions to show companies how they can use social media to harness an online following – and new customers – are currently on offer:

• Tuesday 18 November at Minehead’s Beach Hotel
• Thursday 20 November at Glastonbury Town Hall
• Wednesday 3 December at Burnham-on-Sea’s Princess Theatre
• Tuesday 9 December at Exmoor House, Dulverton
• Thursday 8 January 2015 at Monks Yard, Horton Cross Farm
• Friday 23 January 2015 at the Willow & Wetlands Visitor Centre, Stoke St Gregory
• Monday 2 February 2015 at Mendip Hub, Mid Somerset House, Southover.
• And Monday 9 February 2015 at Abbey Manor Business Centre in Yeovil.

Aimed at businesses who already have social media accounts, these hands-on, creative workshops will give pointers for posting more interesting content, and making more of an impact online.

Cllr David Hall, Cabinet Member responsible for Inward Investment and Policy at Somerset County Council, said: “These sessions are a great way to get Somerset’s tourism businesses thinking about different and creative ways to get themselves noticed online.

“The workshops will cover everything from how to use photography and video to get your message across, to different, attention-grabbing ‘sharing’ techniques.

“Social media is such a key tool for 21st century business, so to be able to harness its benefits will be vital for Somerset’s tourism sector, and give them a good run-up ahead of Somerset’s next busy visitor season.”

Sessions run from 10am until 3pm. To book and to view new dates as they are added, click www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk/get-up-to-speed/events , phone 0300 123 1046, or email info@get-up-to-speed.co.uk
Notes to editors

The events are fully funded by the COOL Tourism Project, an EU Interreg Channel Programme initiative, of which Somerset County Council is one of the partners, together with the Connecting Devon and Somerset ‘Get up to Speed’ service.