Stop Press: Anyone interested in a Photoshop course in Carmarthen?
Software Alliance Wales is planning a 2 day Adobe Photoshop CS5 course in late May / early June. The course will be 60% subsidised for eligible businesses and freelancers and comes in at £176 + VAT (£440 + VAT for others). Interested? To register your preferred dates, click here.

Monochrome Conversion with Adobe Photoshop

May Training in SW Wales from Gallu
For dates and details, click here.

Taking Facebook to the Next Level
21 May 2013, The Plough, Rhosmaen, Llandeilo. From Software Alliance Wales. Tips and tricks on improving and measuring Facebook performance. This workshop is aimed at small and micro sized businesses/sole traders who already have a Facebook Page with a minimum of 30 ‘likes’ (this is to ensure that Facebook insights are accessible for the workshop), have been updating their Facebook page with content for a minimum of 21 days and are proficient Facebook users. for details and registration, click here.

Managing Social Media with Hootsuite
22 May 2013, Bridge Innovation Centre, Pembroke. From the ACT Ireland / Wales project. Do you have several different social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ etc.) and find it difficult to manage them effectively? This free full day HootSuite workshop presented by Allan Blair Beaton can offer one solution to this problem. HootSuite is the leading social media dashboard to manage and measure your social networks. For more information and to register, click here.

Talking ICT to Business
23 May 2013, The Liberty Stadium, Swansea. Free evening event from the Dragon Innovation Partnership of regional universities. Want to find out what ICT expertise you can access to grow your business? The event is aimed at both ICT sector businesses and those businesses wanting access to ICT support. For the, speakers, exhibitors, assistance on offer, and to register, click here.

Twitter: Language, Etiquette and Features
23 May 2013, Conference Centre, Parc Nantgawr. From Software Alliance Wales. Twitter is much more than a random "tweet what I eat" platform. It’s all about relationships, brand building and much much more. Learn how to use twitter to get more customers, keep those customers, and build a community that helps and supports you in achieving your business goals. We will also uncover the much overlooked feature of Twitter that generates business leads for you without any need to sell yourself. To register, click here.

Memorable Online Communication Tools
28 May 2013. Members-only webinar from The Chartered Institute of Marketing. BBC technology reporter Kate Russell uncovers the best of the web with the ultimate collection of communication tools. Create presentations that will help you manage relationships and get your message in front of stakeholders. For information and to register, click here.

Lampeter Jelly
30 May 2013, Canterbury Building,  University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter. From Software Alliance Wales. Jelly is an informal co-working event where freelancers, home workers and small/micro business owners bring their laptop or other work and work, chat and collaborate with other small business owners. Jelly differs from networking in that the aim is not to find new clients or to sell yourself or your business. The ethos of Jelly is to be accessible to all so the venue, wi-fi, parking and light refreshments are provided FREE of charge. It’s an informal day with no agenda. You can drop-in any time between 10am-4pm, and stay as long as you like – although please still register so we can organise the refreshments. Click here.

June Training in SW Wales from Gallu
For dates and details, click here.

Digital 2013
3 - 4 June 2013, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. Free Welsh Government event with leading industry speakers, case studies and workshops. How the 'cloud', mobility, analytics and other megatrends can help your business. Something for businesses of all sizes. To register, click here.

Your Online Reputation
6 June 2013, Fairwood House, Aberkenfig, Bridgend. From Software Alliance Wales. The that way you and your business is being presented online clearly affects your conversion rate. You have control over your website and social media accounts, but how do you deal with third party websites that have reviews and comments about your business? To register, click here.

Building Web Sites with WordPress
6 - 7 June 2013, Bridge Innovation Centre, Pembroke Dock. From Software Alliance Wales. This 2 day course is aimed at those wanting to enhance their existing website or for those wanting to take control of their own web-presence, and build a new website from scratch. To register, click here.

Making It Look Just Right
12 June 2013, Aberystwyth, Venue TBA. From Software Allicance Wales, teamed with Aberystwyth-based media and design company thinkplay.tv to present a fully-funded workshop on the key design factors affecting webpages, mobile apps, games and other customer-facing media. Includes an introduction to Gimp, the free image editing programme. For details and registration, click here.

Building Web Sites with WordPress
13 June 2013, Aberystwyth, Venue TBA. From Software Alliance Wales. This workshop is aimed at those wanting to enhance their existing website or for those wanting to take control of their own web-presence, and build a new website from scratch. To register, click here.

Social Media and Your Business: 1-2-1
13 June 2013, Carmarthenshire, Venue TBA. From Software Alliance Wales. 1-2-1 sessions tailored to address your specific needs. With so many choices of sites to use for your marketing, it becomes difficult to understand where to start and how to identify which will get you the best results for your business. The one-on-one sessions last approximately 45 minutes and feedback from previous events suggests that this format is as effective as a half-day workshop. To register and obtain a choice of available time-slots, click here.

Introduction to iPhone Software Development
June 17 - 18 2013, Beggars Reach Hotel, Burton, Milford Haven. From Software Alliance Wales.  A two day course that will give the attendee the basic skills to build iPhone Apps. To register, click here.

Spotlight West Wales
21 June 2013, Halliwell Centre, Carmarthen. A one day conference based on the successful formula already used in North and Mid Wales.  The theme of the conference is Creating Opportunities and the event will bring representatives from the private, public and not- for-profit sectors together for a day of inspiration, learning and valuable networking. To register your interest and receive updates, click here.

Personality Marketing
26 June 2013, Park House Club, Cardiff. An evening workshop from The Chartered Institute of Marketing. A brand is much more than a visual identity. If there is no reference to the values of the company and personality within the communications, can long-term relationships be formed? This event suggests ten ways to inject personality into our brands through building and exploring their essence, values and emotional benefits. To register, click here.

Creative Web Content as Added Value
26 June 2013, The Village Hotel, Swansea. From Software Alliance Wales. E-books, blogs, infographics, podcasts and videos can all have a role to play in adding customer service elements to an Internet presence. This workshop will help you identify which media and channels are best suited to your business. For details and registration, click here.

For later in the year, read more ...

July Training in SW Wales from Gallu
For dates and details, click here.

Policy Forum for Wales Keynote Seminar
1 July 2013, Cardiff, Venue TBA. The Next Steps for Welsh Infrastructure. Includes keynote addresses from Jane Hutt AM, Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, Welsh Government and Rt Hon David Jones MP, Secretary of State for Wales. The conference is scheduled as the Welsh Government prepares for the annual update for the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan for Growth and Jobs and follows the additional capital spending for infrastructure announced by the UK Government in March 2013. To book, click here.

Tourism Society Annual Conference - Cardiff
2 - 3 July 2013, City Hall, Cardiff. Inspire - Compete - Regenerate (and Win). The main conference (3 July) will be preceded on 2 July by study tours, an informal reception at the Dr Who Experience and the Conference dinner. For the Conference Programme and list of speakers, click here. To book your place, click here. If you will be coming to the dinner, please mail John Walsh-Heron (Wales Chair) who will try to organise table(s) for the Welsh contingent: jwalshheron@btconnect.com.

Sports & Mobile Event
3 July 2013, Liberty Stadium, Swansea. Free event from the Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications & Sciences [CEMAS].  The event features the Welsh developers of the official British & Irish Lions tour app, and companies who have worked with the players and management of the Lions tour party. Other speakers will advise on the IP implications of digital development related to sports and general businesses and feature the developers of ‘Snow and Surf Forecast’. But there is much more on the development of moblie apps, and CEMAS Developers and Business Analysts will be available at the event to chat about your ideas and can advise on the prospects of app and mobile ICT development. For more information and to register, click here.

Data Protection & Information Security
3 - 4 July 2013,  Student Union Meeting Rooms, University of South Wales, Treforest. From Software Alliance Wales. What value does information have? What effort and cost should we put in to protecting it? What are our legal obligations to keep information safe? What are the legal consequences to consider if we don’t keep our information secure? To register, click here.

Venturefest Wales Breakfast Event
9 July 2013, City Hall, Cardiff. Venturefest brings together directors of high growth companies, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics to exchange ideas and advice. Keynote address by Nic Weng Kan, MD of confused.com. The Welsh government Innovation team is supporting the event and will be able to advise on innovation funding and support. To register, click here.

Joomla
9 - 10 July 2013, Johnstown Building, University of Glamorgan, Treforest. From Software Alliance Wales. Joomla is one of the world’s most popular open source CMS (content management systems). With millions of websites running on Joomla, the software is used by individuals, small & medium-sized businesses, and large organisations worldwide to easily create & build a variety of websites & web-enabled applications. For more details and to register, click here.

Social Media for Business
12 July 2013, TSW Training, Bridgend. From Software Alliance Wales. An introduction to social media as tools to drive traffic to your web site and improve your Google ranking. To register, click here.

Hootsuite – Manage, Monitor, Engage, Automate
15 July 2013, Conference Centre, Nantgarw. From Software Alliance Wales. Hootsuite is a social media management tool with powerful features. Learn exactly how to create your own social media command and control centre to manage, monitor and engage with customers and prospective customers across channels like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more. To register, click here.

Maximise the Potential of your Web Site
17 September 2013, Borderlands, venue to be advised. Part of a programme of subsidised practical IT workshops from North Wales Tourism in partnership with ByteBack Training. £30 per head. For more information contact Eirlys Jones at North Wales Tourism, 77 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7LN 01492 539058 or e-mail: eirlys.jones@nwt.co.uk.

Social Media - Beyond the Basics
18 September 2013, NWT Office, Colwyn Bay. Part of a programme of subsidised practical IT workshops from North Wales Tourism in partnership with ByteBack Training. £30 per head. For more information contact Eirlys Jones at North Wales Tourism, 77 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7LN 01492 539058 or e-mail: eirlys.jones@nwt.co.uk.

Welsh App Showcase
18 September 2013, Marriott Hotel, Cardiff. From the Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications & Sciences [CEMAS]. This annual event is an opportunity for Welsh SMEs to promote their apps and mobile related products to a wide audience and includes exhibitors from around Wales. SMEs, Freelancers and potential new start-ups can also take advantage of the wide variety of support available to them throughout Wales and attend free informative seminars relating to the benefits of Mobile Apps in Business. For more information and to register, click here.

Introduction to Social Media - Golf Specific
19 September 2013, NWT Office, Colwyn Bay.  Part of a programme of subsidised practical IT workshops from North Wales Tourism in partnership with ByteBack Training. £30 per head. For more information contact Eirlys Jones at North Wales Tourism, 77 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7LN 01492 539058 or e-mail: eirlys.jones@nwt.co.uk.

Introduction to Social Media Workshop
16 October 2013, Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon. Part of a programme of subsidised practical IT workshops from North Wales Tourism in partnership with ByteBack Training. £30 per head. For more information contact Eirlys Jones at North Wales Tourism, 77 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7LN 01492 539058 or e-mail: eirlys.jones@nwt.co.uk.

Social Media - Beyond the Basics
12 November 2013, Plas Tan y Bwlch. Part of a programme of subsidised practical IT workshops from North Wales Tourism in partnership with ByteBack Training. £30 per head. For more information contact Eirlys Jones at North Wales Tourism, 77 Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7LN 01492 539058 or e-mail: eirlys.jones@nwt.co.uk

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Gwalia Stores, St Fagans National History Museum, by National Museum Wales.

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Is the PC Dead?

Notebook or Tablet?

In the first place, it should be recognised that the results aggregate pcs and laptops. IDC and other market analysts note that a significant factor in the overall decline is fading laptop sales in favour of tablets: compact lighter units that have equal or improved functionality while retaining fitness for purpose. So that the scenario is one of like-for-like functional replacement as consumers, and especially business users, update their portable work platforms.

No more upgrades?

Outside of tablets and smartphones, ICT development seems to have reached a plateau for the time being, so that buyers are breaking the habit of frequent desktop upgrades. The ICT industry business model for many years has been to introduce regular  'improvements' to draw consumers into a cycle of replacement, whether to access a wider range of functions or to tap into the psychology of a gadget-fixated culture that needs to be permanently up to speed. That these marketing tactics are stumbling is perhaps indicated by the lukewarm reception of Windows 8. The latest Microsoft product is seen as offering little new in the way of capability. Users are uneasy with the compromise between desktop and portable formats. The 'touch' configuration is regarded as insufficient reason to change, especially given price resistance to touchscreen technology (even though Windows 8 will work on conventional desktops). And many users are still finding their way around their recent upgrade to Windows 7.

A decline in desktop sales does not necessarily indicate a decline of desktop users. We are unlikely to see skips and recycling centres struggling under the weight of discarded pcs - until, of course, the next big leap forward that kicks off a whole new replacement cycle.

Different strokes for similar folks

So far we have seen that the apparent decline of the pc has been in part due to the amalgamation of desktops and laptops in the headline data and in part due to technological maturity that renders frequent upgrades unnecessary. But at the same time the well documented growth in mobile platforms does not necessarily indicate the demise of desktop systems. Mobile technology is still undergoing continuous development so that the 'upgrade and replacement' business and marketing model still has a long way to run. Tablets, especially, are a recent market entry that have highlighted the failings of the smartphone as an exclusive mobile platform. More and more users are embracing the full suite of ICT solutions, each of which has its particular strengths for particular purposes. Today's consumers may use a desktop in the workplace. And a smartphone for communications, instant photography, social networking and personal applications. And a tablet for home or out-of-office business use. Or any permutations of the above.

Over the horizon ...

Whether a new generation of technology will regenerate the personal computer sales cycle remains to be seen. What is just as likely is that the focus of development will be on converting our television sets into domestic ICT terminals. Television programming via broadband connection is now commonplace and providers are moving towards full Internet access.

For the tourism industry, as with others where family or group decisions are the norm, TV Internet may well be the next new strand. It is one of the several arguments for retaining print as a tourism marketing medium that brochures lend themselves to discussions and joint decision making. How much more so will Internet-enabled television in the living room fuel family holiday choices?

Déjà vu all over again

What is emerging is clearer differentiation between ICT channels - between small screen delivery (smartphones) and medium to large formats (tablets, desktops and television).

This web site, and the digital community as a whole, has for long been stressing the importance of a smartphone Internet presence given the changing patterns of use. The requirement is for cogent information presented in an attractive and user-friendly configuration that is especially suitable for audiences on the move, and primed for instant decision making. Most Internet content management systems now offer automated transition between web and mobile formats and most tourism business at the smaller end of the spectrum will find the flip-over between web and smartphone views sufficient to their needs.

For larger businesses with more (and more complicated) information to convey, the necessarily condensed smartphone format can only deliver a précis of the product offer. We are moving away from online replication of printed marketing material towards multimedia, where text, photography, video and audio converge into a format which most closely resembles a broadcast magazine. A seven inch smartphone screen is hardly adequate for this purpose, whether for viewing quality or ease of navigation. The best end-user experience will depend upon at least a medium format device. This sits well with the joint decision-making process discussed earlier, which in turn leads to a desirable function of tourism marketing: early intervention, where marketing taps into buying decisions as early as possible in the purchasing cycle. So that while smartphone-friendly content will form an integral part of an online strategy, this does not mean that medium format and large screen static devices should not be ignored - quite the reverse.

For medium and larger businesses, and especially if Internet TV develops, some strategic refinement may be called for to take account of audiences that use different devices for different purposes. And this multi-channel, multi-platform environment calls for another consideration - content quality. Good visual content essential marketing component. A photograph or video that may survive scrutiny on a small or medium sized screen may be less impressive on a 24" desktop monitor or a 42" television!

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Marchlyn Reservoir, Snowdonia, by Hefin Owen.

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In the three weeks since 21 April, Share Wales on Flickr has broken through 300 members and 3,000 photographs. We continue to be encouraged by most contributors following the protocol that allows content to be shared (click here) and complying with the tagging guidelines that increase the cumulative power of the Group with search engines (click here).

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Nant Gwynant, Snowdonia, by Kristofer Williams.

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Day visitor attractions are an important contributor to Welsh tourism. Taken together, they offer an enormous range of experiences, from large capacity family oriented venues, to museums of all sizes, to steam railways and to our castles, cathedrals, manor houses and country seats.

The Welsh Association of Visit Attractions [WAVA] has launched a new web site for the attractions industry, intended to encourage online information sharing and collaboration between members. The site will act as a conduit for news on legislation and other factors that can affect members' businesses. A Trade Forum gives operators the opportunity to share their views and concerns. As importantly, the WAVA site will be a vehicle for data collection, where members can add to the cumulative statistics that give a clear picture of how the sector is performing as a whole and identify where action and support is needed.

WAVA will provide a united voice for a tourism sector that attracts millions of visitors and employs thousands of people. A strong membership association has the potential to shape the industry in Wales for the future.

Membership in 2013 is free. To visit and sign up, click here.

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Portmeirion, by Matthew Wells.

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A year and a (few more) day(s) ...

It is now more than a year since the Digital Tourism project and Share Wales went fully live, and while complacency is never an option in the digital world (or marketing and business in general) we thought it a good time to reflect on what has been achieved.

ICT Health Checks

Almost 600 tourism businesses in Wales have benefited from ICT Diagnostics delivered as part of the Digital Tourism programme. There are, at the time of writing, a few opportunities remaining. For details, click here. A video case study can be found on the Share Wales Toolbox.

Innovative Pilots

A number of innovative digital projects received support under the Digital Tourism programme and are now moving towards implementation. We will be featuring case studies of examples in the near future.

Share Wales on Flickr

The Share Wales Flickr Group was our first content sharing initiative and now has around 250 members and a group pool of more than 2,300 photographs, with more awaiting moderation by the administrators. (since our last Blog post on 10 April we have gained 25 new members and more than 250 new images). Membership was boosted by the announcement that the new Visit Wales web site (scheduled for May) will draw on the Flickr Group for visuals and, as with all shared images, the selected pics will link back directly to the originators’ Photostream and Profile. An ‘Editor’s Choice’ from the Group is now a feature of all posts on the Share Wales Blog. It is encouraging that most contributors now follow the protocol that allows content to be shared (click here) and comply with the tagging guidelines  that increase the cumulative power of the Group with search engines (click here).

The Digital Toolbox

The Share Wales Toolbox is developing as a resource for tourism businesses and features explanatory videos on subjects that currently include QR Codes, E-Crime and Social Media. At the beginning of the year we began publishing a series of downloadable ‘How-to Guides’ covering all things digital – many more are in preparation.

The Training & Events Calendar

There are now many training and networking initiatives all over Wales, covering all aspects of the digital environment and tailored to suit all levels of knowledge. We are contacted regularly by many organisations that offer free or heavily subsidised training opportunities; and we carry out our own searches for workshops or events. The Calendar is updated as information becomes available, usually contains more than 30 events and is regularly recycled to appear among the top four or five posts on the Share Wales Blog.

The Share Wales Blog

While the Toolbox is building as a structured resource for business development, the Share Wales Blog has continued to complement this content with less formal coverage of digital topics, often in the context of current and recurring issues. The most recent posts include “Rural communities: The pub’s the hub”; “Fruit of the vine” – a few examples of the video sharing app; “Virtual Tours: Free and easy(ish)”; and, in the lead in to Easter, “Something for the weekend” – a glorious example of viral video which is creeping towards 10.25 million views on YouTube. Around 150 blog articles have been published over the life of Share Wales and many have been retained on the site: it is interesting to go back over the months, track our coverage of developments, see the recurring themes and check some of the predictions! Click here.

The Trade Events Page

The theme of this year’s Visit Wales tourism industry events was ‘Improving the Visitor Experience’. The last event, from the Ruthin Castle Hotel, was streamed live on the Trade Events page. The day’s filming is now being edited and highlights will be posted in the near future. Watch this space!

Share Wales News

Our News page does what it says on the tin. Recent coverage includes "Alan Walks Wales" Google Earth in Snowdonia, Facebook’s ‘Home’ launch, Anglesey Heritage’s social campaign, and 4G coverage in Pembrokeshire. The page also features ‘Scam Alerts’ that are notified by our networks or through news gathering – and the most virulent/current are sometimes covered in the Blog.

You ain't seen nothin' yet ...

Over the past year we have seen the transformation of the digital world by the take up of smartphones and the migration to tablets. We have seen the application of QR codes and the development of local ‘Wikis’. We have seen see-through wearable devices from Google Glass and Epson. We have seen the growth in 'instant postcards' with Instagram and, 'instant video postcards' with Vine. We have seen social media extended as a powerful marketing tool. We have watched the transformation of cloud-based computing and web hosting from the preserve of large corporations to an open source resource available to all, at no or little cost. We have seen search algorithms develop to the extent that the received wisdom on search engine optimisation is increasingly redundant.

But we ain’t seen nothin' yet!

Help us spread the word

Share Wales continues to receive positive feedback from the trade, from digital professionals and from the many regional organisations that share our commitment to tourism development. We would appreciate your help in creating awareness of Share Wales by sharing on social media, circulating information and linking to the site.

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Harbour Crack, V. Diff, Porthclais, by "Fast Eddy".

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It is an interesting (and sometimes tedious) part of the Share Wales editor's role to monitor the blogs and postings of digital gurus for tips, tricks, new developments and other useful information. Perhaps every business should do the same? But objectivity is needed if occupational hazards are to be avoided: it is very easy to be seduced by a particular 'flavour of the month' or 'the Next Big Thing'. Some bloggers are heavily focussed on a single aspect of digital marketing - search engine optimisation, social media or data analysis. Others, perhaps with experience of a particular industry, may expound on lessons learned as if they were universally valid for every commercial sector from fast moving consumer goods to business services. (For a little more on this, see our May 2012 post No Magic Bullets.)

All this is a preamble to a current preoccupation of the blogosphere: should digital marketing concentrate on words or pictures? Each has its (not necessarily disinterested) supporters. The answer for the tourism sector is crystal clear.

Words alone are certain good?

Proponents of the written word argue that good authoritative content is a key component of an Internet presence.

We agree completely and have made the same argument consistently on this web site.

Good copy paints a detailed picture of the product on offer (especially the local destination) engages customers, retains interest and makes for higher search engine rankings (see our April 2012 post The Google Panda Algorithm). In tourism especially, where our visitors have diverse (and often overlapping) interests, a good web site or blog can deliver niche information essential to their choice of holiday. Walkers, twitchers, history buffs and rock climbers may well select their destination on the grounds of information that you provide; and if you have influenced their decision and are knowledgeable about their interests, this empathy will place you in poll position for a booking. The consensus has long been that relevant information is a subtler and better driver of conversions than the hard sell.

Every picture tells a story?

The advocates of visual content argue that imagery is a key component of an Internet presence.

Pwllcrochan on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Fixed descent rope supplied!

We agree completely and have made the same argument consistently on this web site.

Powerful pictures and videos catch the eye, enliven web pages and add stopping power to social posts. Tourism, more than any other industry, benefits from pictorial subject matter that can re-create the atmosphere and ambience of destinations and the passing seasons. Or the adrenalin rush of rugged pursuits. Or the vibrancy of towns and cities. Even so, photographs and videos can seldom tell the whole story of a destination or a tourism business, especially where specialist interest markets are concerned. And a digital presence based purely on visuals may well escape the attention of search engines, even where 'Alt Text' descriptions are embedded behind pics.

Good copy once more rears its head.

The trend of this article should now be apparent. Good copy is at its most effective when supported by illustrative content. And vice versa. Either / Or are not the options.

The best of both worlds

It should be obvious that the optimum digital mix will combine text and images in meaningful and mutually supportive combinations. From the smallest business with a ten page Blogger site (click here) to a prime holiday destination with massive coverage and functionality, digital offers the opportunity for delivering totally immersive messages with a degree of dynamism impossible before the advent of the World Wide Web. And while print may have a role to play for the foreseeable future, where the Internet is concerned it is possible (and desirable) to break away from the traditional print model of bedrooms and bars, or endless accommodation listings, and aspire to an interactive multimedia magazine that paints a vivid picture of holiday experiences and keeps readers up to date with news, events and developments.

A word about Share Wales on Flickr

If you are looking for inspiration or high quality pictorial content (so long as you are prepared to give a photo credit) you could do worse than browse through the Share Wales Flickr Group. At the time of writing the Group has 227 members and more than 2,100 images. Or perhaps you have images of your own that you would like to share? For a summary of the benefits, see our March post A good time to join us on Flickr. Our current target is 2,500 images and 275 members.

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Llynau Mymbyr & The Snowdon Horseshoe from Plas y Brenin, by Patrick Higgins.

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It has been part of our mission to help small tourism enterprises create their own online space and develop their own, individual, content. Individual content differentiates one business from another, addresses the pre-occupations of selected market audiences and opens up multiple lines of communication. A digitally active business community creates a cluster in cyberspace - in effect, a local destination 'cloud' that will attract the attention of search engines and potential visitors. Good as far as it goes, and the benefits of multiple perspectives on a local area cannot be dismissed. Having said this, the result can approximate the old story of the blind men and the elephant: one grasps the trunk and decides the elephant is very like a snake; another feels a leg and is sure the elephant is a tree.

So that there is a strong argument for an Internet construct that encompasses every facet of a community, especially in our rural heartland where the tourism assets are so diverse: coast and uplands, wildlife and activities, history and heritage. There are now community initiatives going forward to accomplish this ideal at a sub-regional level, with local circumstances dictating the best way forward in terms of collaborative effort. But drilling down to the very local, this writer has long been convinced that the village pub has a role in translating its traditional community focus into an extended online community that resonates with the spirit of place.

The pub's the hub

The traditional pub, at the heart of every village, is the place where visitors come into close contact with host communities and the authentic atmosphere of neighbourhood life. Over and beyond the formal infrastructure of tourist information the pub is an invaluable source of local knowledge, a public space that plays a key role in engaging visitors with the holiday destination. The pub has the potential to stimulate interest with archive photographs, memorabilia and artifacts: a mosaic of community memories. These are the talking points that ease the stranger into conversation with the natives: farmers, inshore fishermen, outdoor activists, wildlife enthusiasts, amateur historians; and into the remembrances of a fading past preserved by the shrinking generations of one-time quarrymen, miners, stonemasons and the rest.

By reflecting the intrinsic qualities of a destination and the pre-occupations of visitors, the local hostelry has a route to the web with more than the usual inventory of real ales, menus and wine lists. With a little hospitality to oil the wheels the enterprising publican can enlist the specialist knowledge of his locals to create authoritative core content. Thoughtful use of imagery will bring a village and its hinterland to life. Reciprocal links will steer Internet surfers around the area. Guest blogs with a focus on the current - events and festivals, seasonal activities - will disseminate the vibrancy of local life to the world at large.

As importantly, the village pub can be a key point of connection in rural areas where the tendrils of the mobile Internet have yet to reach. Free public wi-fi closes gaps in the online information network and should be regarded as an indispensable service to the general public. And as a survival mechanism for the local pub: more and more are finding a new role as cyber cafés as the licensed trade struggles under every new attack.

The Pub's the (Wi-Fi) Hub

Wi-fi connectivity opens a portal to the Internet through which can flow 'instant postcards' and other user generated content - online reviews, check-ins on social sites, personal blog updates and, at simplest, emails to friends and family.

Finally, judicious use of social media will make for a sense of community participation by our visitors, wherever they call home. Because lasting friendships are forged over a pint and a pie; and in the digital world friendship is a year round thing. The more a digital community resembles the real world, the more effective it will be.

At the end of Bill Forsyth's 1983 classic Local Hero, the main protagonist has returned to America and his mundane life as an oil company executive. In the final poignant scene he tries to contact the remote Scottish village that welcomed him into its idiosyncratic community. We are left with the forlorn ringing of a telephone in an unattended public call box. Thirty years later he would be happily connected on Facebook!

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Mumbles Boathouse, by Emma Howell-Williams.

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We just had to share this, which has been cropping up all over the place on Facebook.

A small girl drops a small coin into a hat and unleashes five minutes of splendour in the Plaza!

Last year Banc de Sabadell in Catalonia celebrated it's 130th anniversary with a promotional flashmob video, currently running at over TEN MILLION VIEWS on YouTube. Not to mention the smartphone sharing that took place during the event. Wonderfully life affirming, this is truly an 'Ode to Joy'. Probably the best money they ever spent!

And this is from a bank. Any examples from urban marketers, events organisers or the trade in general?

Spread the joy by sharing this with friends and colleagues. Have a crisp Easter.

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Ffestiniog Railway, by John Jones.

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If you are in one the many broadband not-spots or slow-spots in Wales, the Welsh Government Broadband Support Scheme provides funding for alternative solutions. Eligibility is across a broad spectrum - small businesses, local communities, voluntary organisations and individual households, to an upper limit of £1,000 per individual premises.

We are, as always, keen to encourage broadband coverage in the more remote areas in Wales. Not only does it bring the advantages of the Internet to businesses and organisations that contribute to local economies, it also extends the network of access for our visitors, not least through the provision of public wi-fi.

For details, guidance and application forms, click here.

The Coastal Communities Fund

The Coastal Communities Fund [CCF] opened for applications on 12 March 2013, with stage one applications required by 17 April 2013. The strongest applications will be invited to submit a full application in the summer of 2013.

Funding awards of over £50,000 are available for projects lasting up to two years. CCF exists to encourage the economic development of coastal communities by funding sustainable growth and jobs. The following types of organisation can apply:

* Charities
* Voluntary and community sector organisations
* Social enterprises, including cooperatives and community ownership initiatives
* Local authorities
* Development agencies
* Private sector companies.

CCF is a UK wide programme, but there are country-specific requirements and priorities which are detailed in the guidance notes that accompany the application form. For details, guidance and application forms, click here.

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Comet PANSTARRS over Gower, by Gwri Pennar.

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The Times of London: We are nothing if not current! This was posted today to illustrate one element of the Chancellor's budget.

 Tenovus: An early fund raising Vine tweet from the Welsh cancer charity.

Major League Baseball: The six second format works well for fast moving animations - and everybody needs a bit of fun from time to time. We are assured that no baseballs were hurt during the making of this video.

Tropicana: This should stimulate lots of ideas for promoting events and special occasions.

Hotel Tonight: A short sharp demo of a booking app.

To search Twitter for more examples and inspiration, click here.

Already using Vine? Why not share your efforts on our Forum?

Editor's Choice from Share Wales on Flickr. Sgwd Gwladys, Ystradfellte, by Ben Salter.

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