For a while now, MI has been dipping its toe into the pool of social media, but recently we decided to dive in from the very top board, having pulled off the perfect reverse tucked, double somersault on the way.

Since the introduction of sites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, we’ve been aware of the potential opportunities they could offer our clients. An idea we recommended to one of our clients in order to encourage more traffic to their Facebook page, took their friends from a stagnant 77 staff members to more than 1,500 new contacts – almost overnight. By developing the initial idea and regularly updating their content, the client now has over 2,600 active friends made up of interested parties, case studies and potential investors that they are now engaged with.

It’s clear that these sites have (like it or not) forever changed not only how we communicate with those distant relatives and kids you never spoke to at school, but also those who benefit from our professional services, and how we organise ourselves to produce them.

During months of attending lectures and workshops on the subject, in many diverse settings (but sinisterly, all with the same tasting coffee and uncomfortable chairs), we crossed paths several times with a fella by the name of Euan Semple. Whilst being a charming bloke with a wickedly dry sense of humour, he also happens to be ‘one of the foremost independent advisors on the application of social computing within the business world’. Or a proper social media boffin to you and me.

As we hit it off with the aforementioned whiz kid so well, we have agreed to work together to produce some introductory material on how embracing social media will benefit you and how you can get started.

Having studied the opportunities that social media offers to all industries we represent, we have decided to focus initially on the benefits apparent in the housing sector. The positive response received to Marketing Impact’s ‘Social Media for Social Housing’ mailing proved that many Housing Associations are interested in investigating social media, but apprehensive of initially getting involved.

Whether or not you choose to become involved in social media now, it is clear that online conversations are going to become a significant part of many more people’s lives. Those organisations that have the courage to get involved early and learn the ropes will gain significant advantage in terms of connecting with existing and potential customers.

To request a free copy of ‘Social Media for Social Housing’, or if you want to discuss how social media could help your communications with residents, staff and other stakeholders, please email: socialmedia@marketing-impact.co.uk