A partner at Lincolnshire chartered accountants Nicholsons will be giving his insights into the increasing importance of firms using social media to reach potential customers at a conference later this month.

Richard Hallsworth will be speaking at a workshop organised by the UK200Group of accountancy and legal firms on how sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube have moved on from being a means for friends to share photos and swap gossip to become a serious marketing tool for firms of all sizes.

Nicholsons began blogging in April 2009, and has since used social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to reach out to potential clients.

The workshop, on Wednesday, October 27, at London's East India Club, will see Richard team up with specialist marketing firm JE Consulting to share his expertise.

Established in 1986, UK200Group is the leading mutual professional association in the UK with over 110 UK quality assured independent chartered accountancy firms and lawyer firms, as well as 50 International Associate member firms around the globe

Richard said: "Social media is an increasingly important means of communication that few businesses can afford to ignore, although many companies will understandably wonder whether it is for them and whether they can put in the time involved.

"I hope to show people that using social media is not as complicated as it may seem, and putting in just a little time on a regular basis can produce positive results."

For further details on the workshop, please contact Dee Bates on 01252 401050 or email dbates@uk200group.co.uk.