Public relations firm Bottle PR has appointed Claire Dunford as a social media consultant following an application via the YouTube website.

The Eynsham company ran a Social Media Challenge through its online blog and Twitter profile that invited candidates to apply by using social media rather than through a traditional CV or application form.

Ms Dunford’s application included a YouTube slideshow run across social media sites Flickr, Twitter and Facebook.

A former journalist at Wessex Features, she will help manage social media for clients as well as driving e-marketing campaigns.

She said: “I really believe companies can benefit immensely by using social media. It enables organisations to become involved in numerous communities, from LinkedIn groups to Flickr sharing, and using each of these in conjunction with a brand will help yield results in the long term.”