Alcorn co-sponsors free seminar on social media

Alcorn co-sponsors free seminar on social media

Things really got social in Port Gibson on Tuesday evening at Mississippi Cultural Crossroads thanks to Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University Extension Service. On October 16, Chance McDavid, regional coordinator for the Mississippi Broadband Education Initiative, conducted a free seminar on social media for interested residents.

As participants enjoyed refreshments from Isabella’s, courtesy of River Hills Bank, they heard about all the ways that social media has moved into our daily lives. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Pinterest, Google Plus, Dropbox, Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Hashtags, The Cloud . . . all relatively new terms, were on the agenda for discussion.

Some facts about social media turned out to be eye-opening for many. For instance, in 1995, 15% of the population was using the Internet on a regular basis. Now, that number has risen to 80%. Use of desktop computers has flat-lined. It is projected that by 2013 more people will be accessing the Internet on a mobile, wireless platform that on a desktop. Today, there are over 901 million users of Facebook.

The seminar participants learned that social media is not just for social situations! Smart businesses are taking advantage of electronic methods to market their specials, products, services, and sales! Facebook, Twitter, and other similar media become more valuable each day as companies compete for their market share of customers and sales. Facebook has even become a popular means of organizing and preparing for group events like class reunions or family gatherings.

Local community sponsors of the seminar were Claiborne County, City of Port Gibson, Chamber of Commerce, Harriette M. Person Memorial Library, Claiborne County Economic Development District, and Port Gibson Main Street.

Through the Office of Educational and Community Partnerships, Alcorn will be offering more free seminars in Port Gibson, Fayette, and Natchez in the near future!