Remember when you would see a friend's Facebook status laced with Hashtags and you'd think "Why are they using Hashtags on Facebook, they don't work?!"

Sotic representatives have been to a variety of conferences and events in the past month. Here are some points from two which we felt had some real takeaway value.

We have seen how teams, companies and competitions harness social media to improve their products, but what about individuals in the sporting world? Too often we become aware of a sportsman's social media use because of the negative reaction it creates.

This month we've turned the spotlight on Lyndsey Irwin who joined Sotic in August 2012 and works as part of our Marketing Team...

Subscribers are the lifeblood of any email marketing strategy, however, beware the temptation of the quick fix as it's vital that you put a little bit of time into building a quality list.

Social media is growing and growing fast. Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Twitter in particular are revolutionising the way we live and consume.

Today signalled the end of the only constant in my life outside of my family since I was born. In fact, scratch that, this feels like family. Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to end his career, one which has taken in St. Mirren, Aberdeen, Scotland and Manchester United, means that for the first time since I was born in 1987, my team are going to have a new boss.

The Luis Suarez affair - are we calling it Bitegate yet? - is seemingly a watershed moment for Football Association disciplinary matters.

In the first of a series of case studies, Sotic takes a look at how specific clubs, competitions and companies are using social media to boost their brand, starting with the IPL and the Big Bash competitions in cricket.

As is often the way with sport, the build-up to the 2013 US Masters golf at the Augusta Country Club is focussing seemingly only on two men. So by Sunday evening, it would seem we should prepare ourselves to welcome a resurgent Rory McIllroy or a redeemed, reborn and restored Tiger Woods as champion.

Sotic's Joe Lamb, a part-time member of the Barmy Army and currently travelling in New Zealand was searching for a silver lining at the 3rd test.

The basketball tournaments at the London Olympics were the underrated highlights of a fortnight packed with memorable events and milestones. Seeing the dominant American Men's and Women's squads take gold, playing some jaw-dropping basketball along the way was an almost inevitable conclusion, with All-Star Lebron James heading up the 'Dream Team' alongside teammates like James Harden was something that thousands of people flocked to see.

Sotic's very own Joe Lamb is currently enjoying some time out, travelling in New Zealand. However, give that he's visiting such a sports mad nation, we couldn't let him off the hook without doing a bit of blogging for us. Here's the first of his missives from the Land of the Long White Cloud ...

It may seem as though we're always banging on about the importance of measuring and evaluating your online activity but there really is no point applying time and resources to maintaining and monetising your website if you don't monitor the activity and success.

Chances are your website is used primarily as a source of information for your supporters and stakeholders, providing fixtures, news and reports. But are your online properties actually generating revenue for you?