Isn't it about time that...

[Rob R]

...the Dexter Cattle Society got itself on Facebook & Twitter?

[ann]

WHY

[Louisa Gidney]

I agree with Ann.
I think the DCS email circulars are a good way of keeping the membership up to date.
As for general promotion, there are regular features in Private Eye demonstrating that these social media are in fact very poor performers as a means of advertisement. Also Facebook is notorious as an entry route for viruses and identity theft etc.

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Of course if DCS had facebook or twitter it would allow TWO WAY communication - a bit of a novelty for Council.

Duncan

[Rob R]

Regardless of any personal views on social media, communication is an ever more important part of promotion & attracting new blood. Melton received very little interest, from what I've heard the buyers just weren't there.

Meanwhile the Limousin Cattle Society have a facebook page with almost 3000 followers (although you don't need to have a facebook account to see it, see here), and a twitter account with 1500, regularly updated & they're talking about record prices. Holstein UK too have 3675 / 2450 respectively.

There are a few herds with dedicated pages out there too, doing the job of promoting the breed very well.

[Rob R]

Of course if DCS had facebook or twitter it would allow TWO WAY communication - a bit of a novelty for Council.

Duncan

I was going to mention this too, then I saw Duncan had put it rather succinctly.

Granted, social media are only valuable tools if people have something good to say about you, otherwise it could be a disaster.

[Builth]

I would like a Facebook page.
I'm a member of many groups that use Facebook to advertise events and exchange ideas.
There are a few Dexter people on there doing an excellent job already.
It would be an easy way for many people to find out what sales are coming up with photos of the animals.
If people are not "nice" to each other it's very easy to delete their posts and remove them from the group.
Sorry I don't do Twitter, I'd never get any work done

[Hillside Ben]

I find Facebook and Twitter invaluable. I pick up a lot of customers through our facebook page, although I don't have a huge number of followers on there. I use Twitter mainly for gathering information rather than advertising but I have had new customers from there too. They are both effectively free advertising. Well a little bit of time, but no financial cost.

[ann]

Surely its up to us to promote our dexters, its hard enough to get people to stand for council as they are mainly volunteers so I'm not sure they all want to be twittering. I am on face book but I am very selective with my friends and this way I keep in touch with people i don't see very often. At anyone time I have requests from over 100 people who I have no idea who they are.

I have also set up a facebook group which is limited to a few of us who compete in agility and we still get requests from people I have no idea who they are.

Some one would have to police a facebook group, do we have a volunteer, if so it could be put forward for discussion at next years AGM.

JMHO

[Rob R]

Surely its up to us to promote our dexters

Yes, but the Dexter breed surely takes a collective effort rather than relying on individuals. I always thought that at least some of the considerable fees I pay every year should go towards promotion of the Dexter breed.

Also, people like pictures, the website is very "wordy" with PDFs - more people use mobile devices than PCs for the internet these days too, so they aren't looking for loads of information, just the most important bits (hence why the 140 character Twitter has taken off).

[Jac]

...the Dexter Cattle Society got itself on Facebook & Twitter?

Yes. Thought I would shuffle this back up the queue. Use it to promote the Dexter Beef Certification mark'?

[Saffy]

....or even just use it....

[Jac]

Surely its up to us to promote our dexters, its hard enough to get people to stand for council as they are mainly volunteers so I'm not sure they all want to be twittering.

JMHO

Yes, It is up to us to promote our own Dexters/beef but promotion of the breed, the 'mark' is a matter for the DCS. Why would Council have to set this up/maintain it when we have three paid members of staff?

[Rob R]

...the Dexter Cattle Society got itself on Facebook & Twitter?

Yes. Thought I would shuffle this back up the queue. Use it to promote the Dexter Beef Certification mark'?

Yes, I'm struggling to see the benefit of the certification mark so far - we've had it for a few years now and I haven't seen any promotion or received any business as a result of it.

[Jac]

...the Dexter Cattle Society got itself on Facebook & Twitter?

Yes. Thought I would shuffle this back up the queue. Use it to promote the Dexter Beef Certification mark'?

Yes, I'm struggling to see the benefit of the certification mark so far - we've had it for a few years now and I haven't seen any promotion or received any business as a result of it.

I have written a letter to a member of Council voicing my concerns.