SOCIAL media is as important for businesses today as the Internet was a decade ago, an Enfield expert has said.

Michael Cuschieri is urging traders across the borough to embrace Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to reach out to more customers and tackle the economic troubles head-on.

He said: “Now, we have to embrace social media like we did when the Internet came around.

“It has got a huge role to play in helping people engage with retailers and venues.”

Mr Cuschieri is a director of Loving Social Media, a company which is helping to deliver the Love Your High Street campaign with Enfield Council and Enfield Business and Retailers Association (EBRA).

The latest stage of the campaign saw a flash mob from Winchmore Hill-based North London Dance Studio descend on Enfield Town for a flash mob on Saturday.

Mr Cuschieri was the brainchild of the event, and set it up after a chance encounter with some of the dancers in Winchmore Hill.

The flash mob video has already been watched by more than 300 people, and is part of the growing online campaign with 250 people joining the Facebook page and nearly 1,500 followers of @weloveenfield.

Garry Kousoulou, fellow director of Loving Social Media, says part of the efforts online to shoot videos of Enfield traders and features positive activities like the flash mob is to erase the negative image of the borough formed during this summer's riots.

He said: “When you typed in 'Enfield' into YouTube or Google, it was horrible – the first three or four pages were just about the riots.

“In another six months time, there will be no trace of the riots. We can claim this back and make it about promoting Enfield as a place.”

Both Mr Kousoulou and Mr Cuschieri stressed the importance of firms interacting with customers online to ensure their business thrives.

The campaign is looking for traders and customers to log on to Facebook and join an online conversation about what is on offer in Enfield.

There is also a last chance on the We Love Enfield website to enter a prize draw which finishes on Friday, December 16.