LAST Thursday, final year Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) students staged CLICK: Sign in to Cash in, a social media seminar, aimed at exposing students to entrepreneurial opportunities in the virtual world.

The 22 students of the final year Public Relations class, under the tutelage of Blossom Laidlaw, hosted a three-hour crash course in how to earn a living via social media presented by some of industry’s leading experts and entrepreneurs.

Words of wisdom came from from expert in the field, media consultant and author of Music, Media & Adolescent Sexuality in Jamaica, Dr Marcia Forbes, as well as feature presentations were made by three successful Jamaican entrepreneurs — Tyrone Wilson, founder and CEO of eMedia Interactive Limited; Jomarie Malcolm, founder of the fashion blog, Lace & Zippers; Jermaine Robinson, founder of SocialMediaJamaica.com; and Dominican blogger Ayeola George, creator of the blog CaribbeanCelebs.com.

According to project manager Shavar Maloney, the idea for the Click expo came out of a class discussion on social media last year, which evolved this year into a discussion as to how young people can use it, as an income generating tool or to become their own bosses.

“Social media has become a part of everyday life and as young persons there is now the presentation of opportunities to be entrepreneurs in this field,” Maloney said.

He further stated that the purpose of the expo was to hone their skills as PR practitioners and soon to be graduates, and for the students on campus to gain knowledge on how to become entrepreneurs and social media income generators.

Guest speaker Dr Marcia Forbes, also revealed that a study revealed that “if twitter were a country it would be the 12th largest country in the world”. This she said should give the attendees a gauge to measure the social network’s reach.

She continued her speech citing statistics about Jamaica’s access to and consumption of social media and the internet on a whole.

“In Jamaica, using social media or using the internet as a business is only as strong as how much penetration is in your household, as opposed to Internet access. Based on a study done by Mona Information Technology Services and Professor Hopeton Dunn Internet penetration in Jamaican households is 16 per cent, where as Internet access is 55 access,” she said.

When founder and CEO of eMedia Interactive Limited, Tyrone Wilson spoke, he presented his topic “Starting your Business Onine — Maximising your Potential” outlining his journey from an ordinary 22-year-old student, who started his company in 2008, to becoming the owner of a publishing company that generates more than $4 million in sales revenue.

Wilson explained that the concept of social media is no longer brand new, stating “We know where it is going and what it can do, so now is the best time to capitalise on it”.

Wilson stated that when he started his online company in 2008, there were only about 300,000 Facebook users in Jamaica, while now in 2012, only four years later there are twice that many.

“Universities should now offer software engineering courses because countries who move away from just being users of the technology to being creators, and have power in income generation.” he concluded.

The rest of the programme included a presentation from Norman Manley Law School student, graphic designer and TEENage member Jomarie Malcom, who shared her experience of managing several of her clients’ Facebook and Twitter accounts in Writing for Social Media… Enhancing the Twitter and Facebook Experience and the Do’s and Don’ts of online marketing in Jermaine Robinson Online Marketing 101.

Fellow PR student Ayeole George also shared her experience on the responsibilities of an entertainment and gossip blogger in Blow Me Away Blogging… Cashing in on your Words.

The expo catered to over 100 students and staff at the University of the West Indies.