Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten TD will speak about the importance of delivering high speed broadband to support small businesses during a fireside chat at the Facebook Boost Your Business event in association with Galway Chamber of Commerce.
The event, which takes place in the Wellpark Retail Centre in Galway next Friday, September 23rd, aims to help small businesses tackle the challenges of being online by providing practical face-to-face support and inspiration from local entrepreneurs.
People are spending the vast majority of their time on mobile, with 20% of that time spent on Facebook and Instagram. Of all people on Facebook in Ireland, more than 86% are connected to at least one Irish business and more than 55 million people around the world are connected to a business in Ireland. However, businesses are still facing challenges to reach the right people, scale their operations internationally or use limited resources effectively.
With 2.4 million people a month using Facebook on their mobiles in Ireland, and a global community of more than 60 million small businesses, Facebook can help companies fulfil their digital potential by providing an instant mobile marketing platform with easy to access tools.
At the Boost Your Business event, Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment will join business journalist and RTE broadcaster Richard Curran for a fireside chat and Orla Malone from Facebook will give a talk on the evolution on communication.
In addition to these sessions, successful Galway-based businesses The Dough Brothers, Aran Sweater Market and Marrey Bikes will share tips on how they have used Facebook to meet their business goals. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in workshops, providing training on how best to use Facebook and Instagram.
Niamh Sweeney, Head of Public Policy and Economic Growth Initiatives Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Facebook, commented:
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, they drive economic growth and new jobs. As more and more people turn to the web and to their phones to discover and connect with businesses, it’s crucial that small businesses have an online presence. And Facebook is the best platform for them to connect with customers both in Ireland and internationally. The Boost Your Business event aims to equip local businesses with the vital skills and resources to unlock the potential of the digital economy.”
Conor O’Dowd, President of Galway Chamber of Commerce, said:
“As President of Galway Chamber of Commerce, a membership organisation with a remit to make business better for our members, I welcome Facebook’s Boost your Business event to Galway. As the major shareholder in the Galway Technology Centre and as a founder of The PorterShed, Galway Chamber works with SMEs on an ongoing basis as they seek to grow and expand internationally from their base in Galway. We are also delighted to welcome Minister Denis Naughton and we look forward to learning how to further maximise our business potential over the course of the morning.”
Boost Your Business run by Facebook and in association with the Galway Chamber of Commerce is a free event for business owners and those interested in how to use Facebook to unlock the potential of their business. Register to attend the event here: FBBoostYourBusiness.ie