About Us workshops teach Northland's small businesses how to use social media to reach more customers and #BoostYourTown

Steve Adams launching the #BoostYourTown workshops in Kaitaia in May. Photo / About Us

Northland's remote location isolates it from its New Zealand markets, so business communities need to use social media to reach new customers. Two free workshops will be held this month, funded by Facebook NZ and run by About Us, a movement aimed at training and connecting business communities online. Christine Allen speaks with About Us founder Steve Adams about Northland's need to connect.

The national roadshow of 13 #BoostYourTown workshops was launched in Kaitaia on May 21. The evening workshops will be held at The Butter Factory in Whangarei on June 12, in association with Northland Inc, and with the support of the Kerikeri District Business Association at the Cornerstone Hall on June 13.

#BoostYourTown is an initiative aimed at elevating the online presence of regional areas through the use of Facebook and Instagram.

Speaking to the Business Advocate, About Us founder Steve Adams said many small Northland towns had a limited local audience.

"But towns in regions like Northland can use social media to reach the whole country – it's a game changer."

Adams said the rollout of better broadband across Northland left communities with a stronger online hand.

"Northland is a hard one to crack. People are never just passing through the region and it's remote from major markets.

"In business, Northland has a small catchment area – the solution is social media."

He says the importance of telling your business stories on Facebook and Instagram was crucial to reaching these markets.

"There are 3.2 million New Zealanders on Facebook.

"Business owners offer feel like social media is just too hard. But they need to get some training and ask younger family members for help if they need it.

"What Northland businesses need to remember is that, as a tourism destination, tourists are searching Instagram hashtags, such as #Whangārei. Your customers are right there, looking for you."

About Us

Having set up About Us, an online platform and movement to help small towns connect, Adams said Facebook was keen to jump on board and fund the road trip.

The workshops provide local business owners and community group leaders the latest Facebook and Instagram training and advice for building new connections, reaching new customers and are designed for people new to online as well as those wanting more advanced skills.

Adams said #BoostYourTown was an online economic development project, aimed at capitalising on the global reach of Facebook and Instagram to "elevate the online presence of regional communities, putting towns 'on the map' and attracting more visitors and customers".

The difference between the workshops and many other types of social media training events was that these were free and designed to connect entire business communities online, rather than only boost individual businesses.

Workshop participants also received access to online learning resources and communities, so they could continue to build knowledge and confidence.

Adams said Northland businesses which were smashing out some excellent social media skills were Mint Floral and Cuppacakes in Whangārei, and Kainui Brewing Co and Te Ahu Cinema.

At the Kaitaia launch, Far North Mayor John Carter said the training would help towns like Kaitaia boost their online links and use these to better achieve their goals.

Facebook New Zealand head Spencer Bailey said #BoostYourTown aimed to lift the capacity of regional communities to participate and thrive in the digital economy.

The workshops will cover Facebook and Instagram, focusing on creating accounts, content, boosting posts and analytics to measure success.

• To register for the free workshops, visit AboutUs.co.nz.