thebestof Exeter member, Optix Solutions has announced that they are working with the UK's leading specialist tour operator, Shearings, to help them use Social Media to attract and retain customers.

Shearings already has traditional and highly effective methods of advertising in place, but after attending a presentation from Optix Solutions on the power of Social Media, the forward-thinking team at Shearings acknowledged the huge potential social media had to offer them.  With a staggering  2.8 billion social media profiles in existence,  there is not only a massive opportunity to reach out to a much wider audience, but a chance to use social media as a channel by which they could interact with their existing customers.

The two companies will work with each other to develop and implement a social media strategy that will initially focus on the Coast and Country Hotel brand which resides under the Shearing's group of companies. Working closely with the team at Shearing's, Optix Solutions will plan and manage the integration of Social Media into their marketing mix and provide Shearing's staff with full training on how to effectively use key Social Media networks, empowering them to manage their own presence.

Optix Solutions Co-Founder Alastair Banks said "Shearing's are renowned for the supreme loyalty of their customers and Social Media presents a fantastic opportunity for them to continuously engage with their audience and closely monitor all activity. We are very much looking forward to working with them to help them understand how they can use Social Media to not only gain new customers, but engage with current customers too."
It's not only Shearings that are leading the way with such an innovative move; they are among 69% of companies that are planning to increase their marketing budget for third party social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and 66% that are planning to increase budgets for on-site social media activity such as blogs and reviews.* (UK Social Media Statistics, Econsultancy May 2012)

Vince Flower, Managing Director of Shearings said "Shearings are delighted to be working with Optix Solutions. We are very keen to embrace all the opportunities that the Social Media technologies now provide us with, using them to engage and listen more to our customers.

Having a proper, well thought out Social Media strategy in place is essential in today's world and we see this as key to future success. We already know that our customers love to tell us what they think about our products and services and hopefully with their help and some expert guidance from Optix. Read more about Optix here.