SOCIAL media tools such as Twitter and Facebook should not be used as a box-ticking exercise by businesses - that was the message from a conference in Liverpool today.
More than 100 people from as far afield as Cumbria attended the Social Media Morning at Liverpool Science Park.

BIRKENHEAD-based production company Mills Media has completed its third promotional film and DVD package for the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network (MCCN).
Wirral-based Mills Media was commissioned by MCCN and Aintree University Hospital to create the DVD to raise awareness of mouth and oral cancer.

MOBILE games publisher Thumbstar Games has relaunched its website and unveiled a new logo as it plans for growth in 2011.
Liverpool-based Thumbstar, which was founded in 2008, publishes and distributes games for 50 development studios worldwide.

LIVERPOOL is the star of one of Britain's largest automotive magazines today after the city played host to its Car of the Year photoshoot.
What Car? chose the city as the backdrop to its annual awards photoshoot - and the images of Liverpool feature in a special edition of the magazine that hits the shops today.

LIVERPOOL design agency Uniform is working with Center Parcs on its £230m holiday park in Bedfordshire.

I WROTE a feature for today's Liverpool Echo on the state of the Mersey creative sector in 2011 - and thought I'd post a copy here for you to have a look at.

WHEN it comes to Merseyside's creative sector, Kevin McManus is a veritable fountain of case studies.
Kevin runs Merseyside ACME, the agency that works to promote and support the region's creative and digital firms.
He says small firms in the sector are seeing an upturn in business after an uncertain three years of downturn and recession.

HOME shopping giant Shop Direct says successful marketing campaigns starring Holly Willoughby and Coleen Rooney have helped boost its festive sales.
Liverpool-based Shop Direct today said sales for the six weeks to December 31 were up 5% on last year.
That sales boost was driven by sales of clothing, particularly through its Very.co.uk and Littlewoods websites.

CREATIVE and digital firms that want to attract new investment have until Monday to sign up to a support scheme.
Fast Company 2, which was launched at Liverpool Software City in November, aims to help firms in the sector forge links with potential investors, including venture capital companies.

A MOBILE marketing specialist is planning to expand into new Asian markets after celebrating its "best year ever".
Event Marketing Solutions (EMS), of Ellesmere Port, saw turnover rise above £5m last year after winning contracts with brands including Barclays, Sky and 20th Century Fox.