‘Using social media to promote your business – a beginner’s guide’ will be the title of four workshops hosted by training company GPA Solutions, who are based in Terryland Retail Park on the Headford Road.

The workshops will be facilitated by Liam Horan, of Sli Nua Communications and Careers, one of whose specialities is the application of social media for small to medium-sized businesses.

The workshops will take place over four Tuesdays (March 1^st, 8^th, 15^th, and 22^nd) from 9.30am to 12.30pm each day.

Over the four sessions, Liam will discuss practical ways in which social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter can be used to boost sales, marketing, and profile.

“Everything we do will be underpinned by the need to know your message before you start broadcasting it – so, in that regard, the workshops will have be very practical for businesses,” said Liam, an award-winning broadcaster and journalist.

He will aim to illustrate how social media is not only relevant to local business, but also well within the compass of all businesses to conquer.

A novel element of the workshops will be a ‘hands-on’ dimension. “Each participant will sit at a PC, or their own laptop, for the duration of the four workshops, which means they can work on their own social media pages throughout. This way, they can see the progress as they go along, and bounce ideas off the entire group,” added Liam.

The cost is €200, and places can be reserved by contacting GPA Solutions on 091 562 838, or info@gpasolutions.com.  Further details are available on: http://www.gpasolutions.com/schedules.html.

For more details:

LIAM HORAN, Sli Nua Communications, Tel: 094 95 42965

Mobile: 087 9185 867, Email: liam@slinuacommunications.com

It exposes Patrick to a tv audience of almost 1m people, which is a great break for him.

The Mirror cover the story today.

IRISH MIRROR: Patrick Feeney in today's edition

GiveawaysIreland.com is the brainchild of journalist and broadcaster Liam Horan, and it follows a very simple model.

“Businesses such as hotels and restaurants pay us to give the prizes away to our database of entrants,” explains Liam.

“It’s very straightforward. There is no cost to enter, while the participating businesses are glad to promote their brands to our database.

“The cost is very attractive. Another feature is that consumers must answer a simple question to enter – and the answer to that question is contained on the website of the participating business.

“So this drives traffic directly to the site of the participating business. We have got a very good reaction to that element of the service.”

GiveawaysIreland.com is just two months old, and already has over 1,200 consumers on its database. The current draw is for a two-night stay at the Carlton Hotel & C-Spa, Kinsale, Co. Cork. To be in with a chance of winning, go to http://bit.ly/bhwkzp.

Businesses who wish to promote their brands through this novel approach can contact Josephine Pearce at Giveaways Ireland, tel 094 95 42965, email giveaways@giveawaysireland.com.

And here to see Paul’s All-Ireland final performance at the INEC, Killarney: http://bit.ly/aMjeXC

“Effective communication is a crucial issue for the Archdiocese, and this is why we have invested in the site, and also in the accompanying social media,” said Fr Fintan Monahan, the diocesan secretary.

Tuam Archdiocese extends from Achill to Galway, and from Aran to Roscommon. It has many famous pilgrimage sites of note, including Knock Shrine, Croagh Patrick, Ballintubber Abbey, and Máméan. The total Catholic population is believed to be in the region of 120,000, with 56 parishes and just over 100 Priests.

“The site and our Facebook and Twitter accounts provide a means of two-way communication – a way for us to broadcast our news, and also for parishioners to communicate with us,” added Fr Monahan.

The social media contact details are Twitter (tuamarchdiocese) and Facebook (Tuam Archdiocese.)

The site was built by Ballinrobe-based media organisation Sli Nua Communications, who have also overseen the social media strategy for the Archdiocese.

“Through the site, and our accompanying Facebook and Twitter presence, we aim to provide all our followers with up-to-the-minute news from Ballinrobe Racecourse,” said course manager John Flannelly.

“We will also be running special promotions through the site, Facebook and Twitter, and already there are clear indications that people are keen to hear all that’s happening at the course.

“We have over 550 Facebook followers already – and the Facebook account was only opened three weeks ago.”

The site features all manner of information relating to the course, and attempts to satisfy the curiosity of punters and also those involved in the trade.

The site was built by local media organisation Sli Nua Communications, who have also overseen the social media strategy for the Racecourse. “Our hope is that the site, Facebook and Twitter would help to bring more people to Ballinrobe to enjoy the races, and everything else the region has to offer,” said Liam Horan of Sli Nua Communications.

Racecourse Committee member Sean O’Connell, who co-ordinated the project, urged all fans to seek out the Racecourse on Facebook (Ballinrobe Races) and Twitter (BallinrobeRaces.) “We also welcome contributions of photographs and items of interest to the site, which will continue to grow over the months and years ahead,” he said.

http://bit.ly/5eKEpr

http://bit.ly/dA7XRn

Sli Nua Communications have previously worked with the Irish Kidney Association on the 2007 and 2009 World Transplant Games (Bangkok and Gold Coast, Australia) and the 2008 European Transplant & European Games (Wurzburg, Germany).

“We look forward to bringing the 2010 Games to as wide an audience as possible. One of the primary aims of the Games is to promote organ donation – and the athletes do this by celebrating the gift of life,” said Liam Horan, Sli Nua Communications.

“We are planning a great Games in Dublin, the first time these European or World Games have come to Ireland. In 2004, Ireland hosted the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games, which were a great success,” said Colin White, chairperson of the European Transplant & Dialysis Games 2010 Organising Committe.

For Organ Donor Cards freetext the word DONOR to 50050 or visit the Irish Kidney Association website www.ika.ie