St. Patrick’s Day is approaching, and so - with no disrespect meant by mixing nations - now seems like a good time to look at a comparison of British pubs and social media.  A lot of good ideas about the former can apparently be arrived at after visiting one of the latter.

Matt Bailey’s the lucky bloke who went to the Twin Farms pub in Newcastle.  He discovered that it contained no televisions or jukeboxes, which cut down on distractions and put a focus on conversation.  This created a strong sense of community.

Regular customers were also comfortable and loyal enough to refer to the place as “my pub.”  Bailey notes, “Unless you feel a sense of pride in what is being built and a sense of participation in the success, then you don’t have a true investment in the community.”

So we wind up with dependable, happy, people who are more than willing to chat.  And yet, while these observations should encourage people to promote their products or services on social media sites, it’s still wise to take things slow.

In a follow-up to Bailey’s article, Jennifer Laycock points out that respecting the locals is an important part of entering a community.  And, to once again bring up an Irish theme, the thought of a certain bar scene in “The Boondock Saints” should remind everyone that social types don’t always want to mix business with pleasure.

In any event, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.

Share: del.icio.us Reddit Google Netscape StumbleUpon Technorati