On February 6, 2017, the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) hosted a successful Social Media Bootcamp. The workshop, presented by social media guru Dennis Brooks, was aimed at exposing participants to the skills associated with crafting a marketing strategy using the freely available social media platforms and their associated analytics.
Participants were guided in the ways that businesses can harness social media to capitalise on their highly accessible nature, which allows them to appeal to audiences across continents and time zones. They were also guided in how to maximise the use of the tools to reach clients wherever they are, once their mobile devices are switched on.
Content creation is a challenge for some companies in their quest to use digital technology. This was the subject of a lively discussion in the SAJ workshop.
Among other things, participants learned how companies can create and maintain their digital identity. The presenter also showed participants how to find and use tools to measure the return on investment which social media applications generate. This knowledge helps content creators to decide how and when to share information and to communicate particular messages to their audiences.
Participants, drawn from banking and finance, tourism, the book industry, shipping, education and security industries, responded overwhelmingly with praise for the content and presenter.
Stacia Nosworthy-Cunningham, sales and marketing manager at Lannaman and Morris Shipping Limited, said she found the workshop "highly informative. The presenter made it interesting. He (Brooks) shared insight into social media that even as a user, I was not aware of."
Simone Foote, marketing manager of British Caribbean Insurance Company, said it was "a fantastic workshop. It was very instructive. We are very active on social media, especially on Instagram and Facebook, so I was happy to learn of the benefits of Twitter."
Assistant sales manager of Franklyn D. Resorts, Janique Johnson, said that she "really enjoyed" the workshop. "I am looking forward to doing another,'' she added.
The importance of moving with the growing tide of social media and adapting to digital marketing trends was a major outcome of the group discussion.