Thanks Ann; really good to connect and I will be doing my bit to push the message. I should just say that although I am lawyer by day, I am also insanely passionate about people power and trying to exploit that inner voice to maximum effect. People like Napoleon Hill and Dale Carnegie are hard to beat (even Tom Peters doesn't come close) in these enlightened times.

Best wishes
Julian

Hi Julian

Yes its a little scary that the message is getting lost somewhere. There are three stages at the moment:

1. The social media gurus who won't make much sense to most businesses because their thinking is at a different level
2. Those that have embarked and will use 2010 to capitalise
3. Those that have heard of it but really don't know what to do

I think there is a huge opportunity for someone to travel up and down Devon spreading the message and delivering practical help (I know some people do already including myself) but the early and late majority are always 'slow' to adopt new things.

My hope is that once the case studies come through, they will see the proof...just hope its not too late for them.

Thanks for your comment Julian, will check out Jeff Bullas.

Ann, I am staggered by the number of businesses in Devon who have not yet woken up to the full power of social media; Riverford are a good example of a business who have started using it (good on Guy Watson). I wonder what your own experience is? There isn't any shortage of so called Social Media Gurus in the region but the message doesn't appear to be getting out there. I like Jeff Bullas blog which from a marketing perspective does give a good illustration of the brands who have grasped the proverbial nettle.