Manchester’s social media city

The city’s digital community is abuzz with the issues and possibilities posed by social media at the moment.
Social media, also sometimes called participatory media, is having an impact on all areas of communication – whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, Flickr or youTube – the effects and disruption on previously established media is providing both opportunities and threats for companies and individuals alike.
Not only have two centres been set up to study it’s impact on life and business – Manchester Business School’s Institute for Social Media and Salford’s Social Media Centre – but there’s also events coming up in the city.
The organisers off this Friday’s seminar on the topic at Bridgewater Hall have found no shortage of people looking to find out more about the power of social networks.
Spokesman Andrew Wake of Don’t Panic events told me: “The conference has surpassed our expectations, particularly given the current financial climate, and we’ll have an audience of at least 120 on Friday which just shows how important delegates feel social media is as part of the communications mix.
“We’ve seen a phenomenal rise in social media use as organisations and businesses realise the value of creating a dialogue with their audiences via blogs, podcasts and networking and videosharing platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.
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“Social media is without doubt the hottest topic for communicators and those that don’t have an understanding of its potential uses are at risk of doing their organisations a major disservice.”
And one of those behind next the recently launched Manchester Social Media Café agrees. Julian Tait of the northern quarter based Littlestar TV said more than 50 people had already registered for Monday night’s event.
He said: “Judging by the interest in the Cafe, there is a huge desire to share experience and knowledge. Social media ushers in new forms of collaboration and distribution allowing greater and more fruitful participation. Whichever direction social media is going, it will be interesting and the people who come to Social Media Cafe Manchester are part of it.”
* Find out more about the Don’t Panic Guide to Social Media here.
* Find out more about Manchester’s Social Media Café here.
* Both events will also be covered in detail on this blog and on Twitter at @Sarah_Hartley.