Social media guide

Social media guide for BelgiumSocial media guide for Belgium : Private Individuals

Regarding social media guide for Belgium, according to the Internet World Stats (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats4.htm) more than 80% of the Belgium population uses the Internet and nearly all (more than 90%) use social media of some kind. Moreover, the use of social media in Belgium has grown considerably within the last few years and Belgians are becoming proactive in social media endeavours. New mobile technologies like smartphones and netbooks are supporting the rapid diffusion of social media amongst the population.

With more than one million profiles from Belgium, LinkedIn is the fastest growing social networking site in the country. However, with more than 4.5 million Belgian users, Facebook is the most used social network. Another heavily used social network is Netlog, which has more than one million users. The most used platforms in Belgium are:

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Netlog
  • Twitter
  • Myspace

For statistics and further information about the use of social media in Belgium, please visit the links below:

Social media guide for Belgium : SMEs

The use of social media in Belgium is relatively widespread. Over 70% of Belgian businesses have a profile on at least one social media platform. However, quite often only an organisation’s communication managers have full access to social media, and most employees are blocked from it during working hours. Although a lot of companies use social media, fewer than one in three have company-guidelines or a strategy on how it might best help the business. Social media platforms can be used as valuable tools e.g. for customer acquisition or marketing campaigns. However, nearly half of Belgium’s businesses are not currently thinking of planning and implementing social media guide for Belgium or strategies in order to fully exploit its potential. It is assumed that the younger generation (generation y) will already have and bring to the company, all the necessary skills to get the most out of social media. Thus, more than 2/3 of all companies are not currently planning to train their employees in the use of social media. Hence, this social media guide for Belgium can be used as a helpful and essential tool and a trustful reference while managing different social media platforms in Belgium.

Further, social media activities are only monitored by a small number of companies and the response to customer feedback is quite often neglected. If a negative comment about a company’s service/product is posted on social media, 1/3 of companies would not react to it and 20% would not answer openly.

Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business

Learn how to use social media for business from one of Salford Business School’s latest business management courses. The course was jointly researched by the Passport to Trade 2.0 project team and prepared in collaboration with some of the leading digital marketing agencies in the UK.

This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) can help businesses and individuals to make the best use of search and social media platforms. The course is called Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business and is applicable to students looking for placements abroad as well as businesses thinking about new trade links; it comprises the following twelve topics:

Before you start the course please complete this short MOOC entrance survey.

How to develop a personal brand online (1/12)

  • Whether you are a student beginning a job search or a business person planning a new business venture, personal branding can make a difference.
  • Learn about personal branding and why it is important for you.

How to use Twitter (2/12)

  • Learn the basics of using Twitter to develop an individual or business profile.
  • Remember to use hash tag #SSMMUoS to share your learning journey on this course so far!

How to use Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) (3/12)

  • Learn the principles of SEO to ensure that your website and any social media profiles are found by individuals searching for your name, products and services.
  • These basic principles of SEO include keyword research, on-page optimisation and off-page optimisation.

How to use social media for international business development in Belgium (4/12)

  • Social media networks break down the traditional country barriers, but do you know which networks are relevant for the country you are interested in trading with?
  • Find out in this video how to identify the relevant networks and what social media strategies you might be able to use on these networks.

How to use Facebook in Belgium (5/12)

  • Facebook is currently the largest social media network in the world and it can benefit you as a business as well as an individual.
  • Learn how to develop a Facebook business page and see how other businesses use it and what strategies work for them.

How to use YouTube (6/12)

  • YouTube was identified as the second largest social network amongst younger internet users as part of the Passport to Trade 2.0 project.
  • Learn how to optimise your video content in order to reach wider audiences for your profile.

How to use LinkedIn (7/12)

  • LinkedIn is one of the three main professional social networks – the others being Xing and Viadeo which are also popular in several European countries.
  • Learn how to make the most of LinkedIn for your profile.

How to use Google+ in Belgium (8/12)

  • Google+ is the second largest social network as of January 2013.
  • It is one of the fastest growing social networks and one that has the biggest impact when it comes to search engine results integration for anyone who uses Google as their main search engine.
  • Learn how to make the most of Google+ for you and your digital profiles.

How to use copywriting online (9/12)

  • Copywriting is a process of translating technical specifications and product descriptions into engaging and understandable customer focused text.
  • Learn about the basic techniques in structuring your online content here.

How to stay legal on social media in Belgium (10/12)

  • Everything and anything you do and say online can be potentially viewed by anyone who has internet access.
  • Always respect the law and familiarise yourself with new options offered to you through a creative commons licence which is popular online.

How to use monitoring and reporting (11/12)

  • Whether you are an individual or a business spending time on social media – there has to be a return on your engagement online.
  • How do you justify your engagement on social media to your boss? Listen to the industry experts in this area and see what you might be able to measure in respect of your on-line engagements.

How to blog (12/12)

  • Blogging is a process of writing text and sharing content with others. It can help your customers or friends to keep in-touch regardless of social media platforms.
  • Think about the voice you might want to adopt and who your audience might be. Share your thoughts with us by writing a blog post about this MOOC.
  • Tweet us the link to your post on the #SSMMUoS Twitter hash tag.

Please complete the MOOC exit survey.

In addition to social media guide for Belgium, do you want to learn more about business culture in Belgium?