We waved goodbye to 2024 with truly staggering results, effectively shocking the most ardent fan of social media into disbelief! North Wales Hour (#NWalesHour) – hosted weekly on ‘X’ by NorthWalesSocial – commanded a barely believable 1.1 million views throughout the year!
Having hosted the regular hour since 2013 on what was previously known as Twitter, I was well aware of how popular it had been over the years, so I decided it was high time I kept track of figures that would either demonstrate to people with a business portrayed on X that it was still worth the effort and totally justified.
During the live hour on many occasions I’ve hardly had time to put a cup of tea to my lips, the demand from visitors has been so relentless – but to discover over 1 million views in a single year, wow! There in itself is living proof that Twitter changing to ‘X’ has not effected its popularity, and it’s still very much worth everyone dropping by to say Hello, even if it’s just occasionally.
North Wales Hour is now the most popular live hour for North Wales on social media by quite a distance – but just how did it all begin …
So #NWalesHour hosted by NorthWalesTweets (as we used to be known) first started back in 2013, I’d learnt the ropes on Twitter for many years by this time promoting my own business socially and supporting others as well as encouraging those businesses to become more active on Twitter (X).
Support for North Wales was imperative, an absolute must-do to continue the level of confidence and business growth across the region.
#NWalesHour continued uninterrupted week after week with uncompromising support with those who joined us realising if they supported others with actual likes, comments and reposts, they to would be acknowledged as great supporters themselves, gaining respect and considerably improving on their own following count in the process.
12 months after the supportive #NWalesHour began, that regular question kept being directed at me by those who joined us on X and many Facebook users who had also now received word.. ‘Could I organise events for businesses to meet up in large groups at different venues across the region?’
My answer was ‘yes let’s do this’ although I was slightly reserved. At the time I had little experience of hosting events or public speaking, it was a huge learning curve for me and one that I soon relished!
Actual networking events (tweetups) took place at venues on a monthly basis stretching from Wrexham right across to the Llyn Peninsula. This was an opportunity for everyone who had been previously introduced through #NWalesHour to attend our monthly destinations and finally meet those people face to face. It was a fantastic win-win routine where many groups of people could not only connect with new business people but also learn how to progress through social media and learn from our chosen speakers.
More and more people – some hugely respected business leaders, while others small businesses just starting out on their learning curve – were attending our events and discovering what a huge advantage it was to be present during #NWalesHour. It became a necessity for many to connect with and keep in touch with friends and potential future clients.
In 2020 the publicised exciting switch from NorthWalesTweets to NorthWalesSocial joining forces with Celtic Financial Planning Ltd CEO Rob Lewis coincided with a temporary hurdle through the pandemic lockdown, but the initial base was set to provide local businesses with an opportunity to shout about their services.
Then in 2024, networking events restarted once again with NorthWalesSocial bringing people together with 2 well attended evening events at high profile venues in Flintshire and Denbighshire.
It felt like we’d never been away!
To those of you who join us regularly on #NWalesHour, a big thank you for your own committed support and if you are one of the few who haven’t yet joined up with me on X, give it a try. Maybe you are not sure how to get started, don’t worry, many are in the same boat as yourself and remember, everyone has to start somewhere.
Contact me, I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction with some friendly advice.
Have a wonderful 2025 everyone and keep your ears open for our networking events taking place this year at some fantastic venues.
Dave Ledward
NorthWalesSocial
Dave@northwalessocial.co.uk
