<p>Aim:</p><p>This is a study of social media in the Future Valley media network.</p><p>•To study social media is important because it ischanges the rules of marketing forever. The new economy gives the individual power.</p><p>•In this study it is found how the Future Valley view development of social media, but also how the valley can use social media to develop its future competence and networks.</p><p>Method: This study is built on the qualitative method. For the theory part I have used sources and to get empirical data I have made sixteen interviews with managers within the network of Ahead - Media & Communication. The restriction in this report is that I focused on blogs and social spaces.</p><p>Results & Conclusion: Trademarks can be built with social media,but to do that the sender must be able to communicate back through the media, which takes a lot of time. The use of social media will increase.</p><p>The Future Valley and the network Ahead - Media & Communication is in need of strategies for social media. I suggest: social media mix, service community and international cooperation with other clusters.</p><p>Suggestions for future research: Investigations that could be done is to find target groups. Behavioural and psychological factors could then be studied. New ideas for social media can be found in the US.</p><p>Contribution of the study: This study contributes to the field of social media. It investigates networking and competence development in a strategic perspective.</p>

Aim: This is a study of social media in the Future Valley media network. •To study social media is important because it ischanges the rules of marketing forever. The new economy gives the individual power. •In this study it is found how the Future Valley view development of social media, but also how the valley can use social media to develop its future competence and networks. Method: This study is built on the qualitative method. For the theory part I have used sources and to get empirical data I have made sixteen interviews with managers within the network of Ahead - Media &amp; Communication. The restriction in this report is that I focused on blogs and social spaces. Results &amp; Conclusion: Trademarks can be built with social media,but to do that the sender must be able to communicate back through the media, which takes a lot of time. The use of social media will increase. The Future Valley and the network Ahead - Media &amp; Communication is in need of strategies for social media. I suggest: social media mix, service community and international cooperation with other clusters. Suggestions for future research: Investigations that could be done is to find target groups. Behavioural and psychological factors could then be studied. New ideas for social media can be found in the US. Contribution of the study: This study contributes to the field of social media. It investigates networking and competence development in a strategic perspective.