Gauteng Smallholder July 2016 | Page 22

SOCIAL MEDIA How social media can work for YOU F orget for a moment the fact that humans with their smartphones are fast losing the ability to communicate verbally with one another (when last did you have a complete dinnertime conversation with your children without one of them clicking away on their phones?). Rather, consider the ways in which the various features of your phone and so-called social media could change the way you live your life, and do business, on your smallholding. Already many communities have their own Facebook pages which they use for a variety of purposes. The Smallholder, even, has a Facebook page where visitors can ask for advice, or leave comments or links to items that interest them. We, as 20 www.sasmallholder.co.za publishers, in turn, use the page to notify readers of deadlines and developments as they occur, for example when a new edition has been published electronically to our website. Down in Walkerville there are now a couple of active Facebook pages. One is dedicated to promoting businesses in the area, while another provides a useful online exchange mechanism for smallholders wishing to trade their excess produce. Bapsfontein has a Facebook page to highlight driving conditions on the notoriously dangerous R25, as well as security concerns. Gerhardsville and Rhenosterspruit residents have a page dedicated to community affairs and Continued on page 22