If you’re not sure about how to use social media for business – web sites and services such as twitter, LinkedIn and ecademy – today we were commissioned by a new client partly as a result of blogging.

Getting the mix of personal and business right is important, as people dislike blatant sales messages but also want to be reassured that a supplier they use is professional.

We generate most of our business through our web sites and it is good to see that both our business and personal blogging is reinforcing this.

Remember that many social media services are free or offer free entry-level membership, so all that you’ll be investing is your time. If you think of it as one more marketing tool to promote your business, it could provide the extra boost you seek to increase business or offset any effects of the downturn.

You can follow me on twitter @ robertz

Meet me for afternoon tea at the North Devon ecademy club meeting at Sands Café Bar at the Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton from 3.00pm to 5.00pm on Wednesday 25th June 2008.

We’ll be talking about business, social networking and enjoying the marvellous views of the Atlantic Ocean, Saunton Sands and the Braunton Burrows UNESCO Biosphere and SSSI.

If you’d like to join us, please register on ecademy or call me on 07971 176044.

I look forward to meeting you.

Robert Zarywacz

On Thursday I went to a business breakfast which was attended by Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon and Liberal Democrat spokesman for Defence.

Networking can be a funny old game, but this breakfast was a good reminder of the practical advantages of making connections through meeting people. It’s not every day that you get the chance to ask questions of and discuss issues with your MP. There’s no guarantee that what you say will change the world, but you never know what ideas you could spark off and spread to Westminster and beyond.

Meeting people and discussing issues with them are healthy for individuals, business and democracy. Perhaps in some small way we are capable of influencing the wider world for the better?

Robert Zarywacz