Choosing the Right Network

Joni Farthing, Regional Director of The Athena Network, advises that choosing the right network group to join is crucial.

Networking is everywhere these days. How do you decide which events to attend when they all take time and many take money too?

There are three main types of network: deep, broad and niche.  Join one network from each category as they all bring different benefits to your business.

Supportive groups

Typical of deep-networking is the members-only group where each member represents a different profession.  This builds loyalty and members swap ideas, advice and recommend suppliers and potential clients to each other.  In the past it was usually men who networked like this in groups such as the original Rotary clubs but today it is a common form for women’s networking e.g. The Athena Network.

Big busy groups

Broad networking gets as many people together as possible.  People swap business cards, introduce their business and ‘work the room’. This is a great way to meet lots of people very quickly.  But they won’t easily remember you, so ensure you put in the time later to follow up the potentially useful contacts and arrange individual meetings.  Business Biscotti, and Lloyds Business Breakfast (Bristol Golf Club) work in this way.

In the know groups

Niche networking looks for numbers too, but where an industry or aim is shared.  These meetings are a great way of looking for finance, staff or getting a new job.  They help you understand the way the industry works and get the latest information and news.  The Wedding Tweet-up (Goldbrick House) is a delightful example of this as is Media First Tuesday (The Square Club).

You simply won’t have time to do more than this.  After all networking is just one part of your marketing strategy and you have to run your business too.  As with all initiatives, research online and ask others.  Most groups allow you to visit so go along to several in each category before deciding which to commit to.  Remember that it’s not the number of people you meet but the relevance and ‘quality’ of those contacts that makes a network cost-effective over time.

Joni Farthing, The Athena Network

joni.farthing@btinternet.com

Why Good Copy Matters

Jenni O’Connor, Director of Kaiku Communications, gives us her advice on why spending a little time on marketing will bring large rewards to start-ups and small business owners

Many of us focus hard on our actual business, taking great care to get the client offering or product mix right; ensuring both quality and service, and working hard to pitch our prices at the right level for our customers and the straightened times we are living in.

However, many firms, especially small ones and start-ups, pay considerably less attention to how they market themselves – the words and images they use to convey who they are and what they do for their customers.

Poor grammar, spelling and design are all real turn-offs

Does this matter? Yes it does. How do you react, when, for example, you see a menu in a restaurant with spelling or grammar mistakes, or (my personal bête noire) a missing or incorrectly placed apostrophe? Or (even worse), an advert which looks as it’s been thrown together in a hurry? Most of us, consciously or otherwise, will perceive that business as sloppy, poor quality, and unwilling to pay the level of attention to detail that we hope they would extend to us, as their customers. In short, it makes us far less likely to spend our hard-earned cash with them, however good we may have heard them to be.

By contrast, if we are presented with a flyer or brochure, or for that matter an email or website, which is well-presented, clearly written, nicely designed and, all in all, a pleasure to look at while telling us what we need to know, the chances are we will automatically feel well-disposed towards the company concerned, and far more likely to trust them with our money.

Do your business a favour – put a little effort into your marketing

So, it may be time to do your business a favour. By spending a little more time, care, love and attention – and probably a few pennies, though it need not cost much at all – on your presentation, you should dramatically improve your bottom line.

Large firms tend to budget for spending at least 15% of turnover on marketing (which may also include market research, advertising and other more costly activities) – but small ones will find that just 3-5% can make a real difference. It will not only help bring in new clients, and probably encourage existing ones to upsell or upgrade; it will also help create the image you want to build a healthy future for your company.

Jenni O’Connor can be contacted at jenni@kaikucomms.co.uk

www.kaikucomms.co.uk

Top #5 Secrets to create a Great Business Website… On a Budget!

Ken Builder is MD of www.WebEden.co.uk and gives us his 5 Top Tips for creating a Website to stand out from your competitors

In these heady days of rapid digital innovation, maybe more than ever before, there are opportunities out there for any budding entrepreneur with a big idea but only a small budget.  So what are the tricks to creating an online business on a budget that will not only be a success, but will last?

Tip 1 – Take advantage of the latest developments in DIY website building

These days, you don’t need to be under 17 and have spent the last 5 years, bedroom-bound and glued to a computer screen to be able to create your own all-singing and professional looking business website. With online DIY website building tools such as WebEden.co.uk, (admitted bias!) even a total beginner can choose from literally 1000s of pre-designed templates and, by using very simple drag and drop software, create the exact look and feel they want for their new venture.

Beginner packages are free with WebEden and this includes your website, it’s hosting and a domain name.  Accounts can be upgraded at a low monthly cost to gain additional services, email boxes, extra bandwidth etc .

Tip 2 – Make sure your homepage is ‘outstanding’

That’s not to say that you’re very proud of it and think the text you’ve written is witty and clever – that is to say that it stands out, that it’s impactful and gives a stylish and efficient demonstration of your company and what it offers.

Tip 3 – Know your customers

Utilise the ever more comprehensive analytics packages on your website, such as Google analytics for example. With these free tools you can track and analyse seemingly unlimited details of website visitor patterns and behaviour.  How are your customers finding you? What time of day do they visit? What pages do they dwell on and which do they leave immediately? By studying this data, you will start to build up a vivid picture of who your customers are, what they like and, more importantly, what they don’t.

Tip 4 – Know your competitors

Being a successful business on the internet, or anywhere else, is not necessarily about doing things differently than your competitors, but doing them better. Make the online experience for your customers as engaging, efficient and satisfying as possible. What better way to start than to educate yourself on what others in the field are doing, both poorly and brilliantly.

Tip 5 – Stay on top of it

Websites are never finished. The most successful are commonly those which are nurtured, tended to consistently and respected as an integral part of the business. 

LASTLY – Look to the FUTURE!! Among others, American banking powerhouse Morgan Stanley is predicting that the mobile web will be bigger than desktop internet use by 2015. Having a mobile optimised version of a business website has become essential. For just a few pounds a month, your website can be fully optimised for every mobile phone screen. This means they are far quicker to load and easier to navigate for any of your potential customers on the move.

Ken Builder is MD of www.WebEden.co.uk

Many of our readers and advertisers at What’s On 4 Me (www.whatson4me.co.uk) are business owners already or they are looking to turn their hobby into a business. 

If you have a service that will help them – get in touch now marilyn@whatson4me.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you!

#5 Top Tips for taking your business from the kitchen table / spare bedroom to an Office

Richard Smith, entrepreneur and Managing Director of Search Office Space (SOS) give us his advice for taking your business from the kitchen table to an Office

If you’re considering taking your business out of your bedroom or off your kitchen table and starting to rent office space, Richard Smith, entrepreneur and Managing Director of Search Office Space (SOS), looks at what you should think about when finding the right space for your business… 

Tip 1 – What are you looking for?

The most important step at this enquiry stage is research. For example, what are your priorities with respect to budget, location, company branding, and number of staff? The answers will be different for every company and lead to different solutions, of which there are many. The traditional long lease is certainly an option which must be considered but there are also serviced offices, managed offices, and shared offices to think about. Further, if you decide that renting any space at all is not suitable for your business but you would like to add a professional feel to it then you could consider a ‘virtual office’.

Tip 2 – What are you getting for your money?

Be sure to know what is included or not included in the rent. For example, the rent for most serviced offices includes business rates, service charge, phone installation, IT and cleaning. This means that there are no extras which you would need to budget for, such as dilapidation costs or expensive initial capital expenditure on business set up costs or estate agents or solicitor’s fees. In a serviced office, all outgoings are tax-deductible and treated as standard operating expenses.

Tip 3 – How much space do you need?

You need to consider exactly how many square feet you will need so that you don’t get something too small or pay for superfluous space that will not get used. For offices, allow roughly 100sq. ft per employee. Also consider any storage space that you will require – this is especially important if you are in retail and need an area to store stock. Also think about your growth plans and consider whether there is enough space in the building to allow your company to grow. If in 6 months time, you plan to have trebled the size of your staff, is there the potential to move within the building? This could save on time and costs rather than looking for alternative offices later down the line.

Tip 4 – What else is in the building?

In the future, would you use a conference room or meeting room? As you grow your business, it may be important for you to arrange meetings with clients and suppliers so you may want to consider an office space where you have access to meeting rooms. You may want to also think about whether it’s important to have a restaurant or coffee shop in the building, if you’re working late, this could be essential for you whereas for others, it could be a perk.

Tip 5 – Who else is in the building?

Try to find out who else is renting space in the building. You may find out that some tenants could be your direct competitors so consider whether you want to be on the same floor or even the same building as them! You might also find that some companies could be working in your sector so this could be great for networking.

For more information about finding the right office space for you, contact Search Office Space on 0800 740 8080 or visit us at www.searchofficespace.com

Many of our readers and advertisers at What’s On 4 Me (www.whatson4me.co.uk) are business owners already or they are looking to turn their hobby into a business. 

If you have a service that will help them – get in touch now marilyn@whatson4me.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you!

How to promote your business to the Media in a cost effective way – #5 Top Tips

PR Expert Janey Lee Grace offers What’s On 4 Me Business Owners 5 Top Tips to Hit the Headlines!!

I’m an author, speaker, and I  run my own holistic living business but I also work on the other side of the microphone as a Radio and TV presenter and journalist and I’d like to offer you some the inside tips on how to get your brand featured in the media without the need for expensive PR campaigns.

Tip 1 – You are the brand and Your brand is YOU.

Its worth reminding yourself that its you that people are interested in, so remind yourself of your unique selling point.    Remind yourself who your Target audience is and ask what are the problems your niche market has that you can solve?

Tip 2 – Become an enthusiastic expert.

An enthusiastic, interesting expert could be given opportunities in many different markets to offer information about your company, product or service, and interviews or editorial is usually far more effective and cheaper than using direct advertising.   When listening to the radio or reading an article, people like to connect with the person, not merely the goods and services on sale. It’s your authenticity, your warmth, enthusiasm, knowledge, human interest story that makes you different and we know that Clients like to buy from people they LIKE, KNOW AND TRUST – editors, journalists and TV producers definitely want an easy life so you’ll be called time and time again.

Tip 3 – Create opportunities to link what you do with current news.  

Ask yourself what is the journalist looking for ?  Where are your opportunities to get your business in the media ?  Ask yourself when you last read a news story, heard a radio interview and thought…’We offer the solution to that !’   Keep up with the zeitgeist and find angles to promote what you do to a mainstream audience by responding to topics, if you’re a member of the business ‘twitter-arti’ you’ll know that social networking is excellent for ‘trending topics’ but also ensure that the editors of local newspapers and  radio stations have your details on file and are assured you can offer an interesting informative and enthusiastic take on whatever it is that you specialise in. Explain to them just how that could fit with certain news and human interest stories.  A lawyer I trained on a one to one ‘Get yourself in the media’ session,  knew that the issue of Prenuptial agreements was going to come up,  so before the ruling was made he contacted radio stations to offer himself as an interviewee, once the story broke he contacted them again and was indeed used as a spokesman.

Tip 4 – Generate your own news story

Set up a survey and turn the results which show your business in a favourable light into a press release, Keep it simple, bear in mind what makes a good story with broad appeal.   Make it topical quirky, or controversial !

Tip 5  – Prepare for your interview

Remember that poor preparation will result in poor presentation so especially for live TV or radio interviews, choose two main points and rehearse delivering them in 20 or 30 seconds, have a further 5 or 6 bullet points ready and remember an interview is not an exam, stick your own agenda, for great examples of this, listen to any politician being interviewed !

Janey Lee Grace offers media / communication skills and presentation course and workshops www.mediatraininguk.co.uk email janey@imperfectlynatural.com

Many of our readers and advertisers at What’s On 4 Me (www.whatson4me.co.uk) are business owners already or they are looking to turn their hobby into a business. 

If you have a service that will help them – get in touch now marilyn@whatson4me.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you!

Tough times? Have you turned your hobby or interest into a Money Maker?

Recent survey says 2 in every 5 Brits Making Money on the Side

According to a survey conducted this week, almost half of employed Brits say their finances are being stretched more than ever before. And they’re not just sitting back and taking it: 2 in every 5 are supplementing the income from their main job with their own money making ventures. And more than half say that without these exploits they would struggle to survive.

The survey(1) of 1000 employed adults, carried out on behalf of DIY website builder www.WebEden.co.uk, showed that whilst the traditional car boot provides an income for around one in three, two thirds have turned to selling on eBay and one in ten are even turning to gambling to try and balance the books.

 Middle classes hardest hit

And it’s not the lower income earners who are being most affected. Middle class respondents, in positions of business ownership or senior management were almost 10% more likely to be feeling the pinch and starting businesses on the side.

Ray Francis, Spokesperson for WebEden says ‘In this digital age, people who are struggling to make ends meet can be entrepreneurial relatively quickly and easily.  A fully functioning online shop, for example, can now be set up in an evening and orders taken literally within hours.’

 No help from banks

Of those who weren’t currently supplementing their income, 1 in 4 said they were thinking about setting up a business on the side. So what’s stopping them? Well, almost half say they struggle to find the time with a similar number saying start up capital is their main barrier. And to underline how harsh banks are with lending these days, one in five said that they have no support for their new venture from their bank managers.

 (1) 1000 UK employed adults independently surveyed by Onepoll

If you have turned your hobby or interest into a money making venture then our What’s On 4 Me fans ( www.whatson4me.co.uk )would love to hear your story.

Please comment and let us know how you are doing it!

Make Your 2012 Plan!

New Year Resolutions not working out?  How about instead of making changes why not make improvements? Be a better you? Start the journey of being the YOU you know you can be, and want to be? Wow – there’s a thought!

Be honest with yourself because you know deep down that in the logical part of our hearts and mind, making changes that you don’t really want to isn’t going to work. When you change doing what you want to and what comes naturally – you’re going to be miserable and feel bad! So, how’s this for an idea….what about this January, instead of making all the new year’s resolutions like going to the gym, giving up smoking/drinking/chocolate, etc. etc…  Why not try something a bit different instead? What if you spent time working out what you can do to improve yourself instead of what you need to change? Instead of beating yourself with a stick for being and wanting all the things you think are wrong (but oh so nice) what about thinking about how you can be good to yourself throughout 2012? What would it feel like next Christmas to look back on all the things you’d done and achieved personally throughout the year?

Every January I set myself a challenge for the following year – and in the main I have achieved them – 2011 has been the year I learnt to swim underwater so I could be a proper swimming companion to my son. But now I want to take it one step further – this January I’m going to take the time and effort to make a detailed plan for 2012, something that will keep me focused, energised and motivated. I want to do something positive with my life every day, I want to be good to me, take care of myself and plan to achieve the things I know and believe I can, but as yet never have. There is no surprise that in the past I have
often not achieved my goals and dreams, generally because I’ve never gone about it in the right way.

I heard once about a lady who, through desperation, was forced to do something she never in her wildest dreams thought she could – her 4 year old Grandson got trapped under the wheels of her car when he was playing on the drive – no one’s fault, the handbrake cable just chose that moment to snap and a pleasant playtime with Grandma turned into a disaster. But you know what she did? She managed to lift the car just enough for her Grandson to free himself. In that moment of sheer emotion and panic she achieved more than she ever thought she could and happily her Grandson walked away with just a few bruises.  But, once she was over the shock and all the attention died down she began to think about all the times in her life when she had wanted to do something but hadn’t simply because she didn’t think she could. Maybe she wanted to do or buy something that was too expensive, time consuming, or difficult – that she wasn’t able because she wasn’t clever enough, brave enough, young enough, or old enough. She thought about how her life would have been different if she had applied that same negative logic when she tried to save her Grandson – the outcome didn’t bear thinking about.

But what if she had put half of that belief and determination into achieving some goals in her life – what might her life have been like? A journalist who had heard about the incident asked to interview her and he was interested to know why she seemed so subdued and reflective about her act of heroism. She explained that she felt she had missed out on so much in her life because of her limited belief in herself and her abilities. He asked her what sort of things she had wanted to do and she told of how she had always wanted to study for and achieve a degree and then lecture at university – the excuse she had for everything now of course what that she was too old, she was 70. The journalist said very simply to her that in 5 years’ time she was going to be 75, and that she could be 75 with a degree, or she could be 75 without a degree – the choice was hers.

And the same goes for all of us. This time next year when we’re getting ready for Christmas 2012 we have the choice now of being able to reflect on a year that has seen achievements, successes and positivity. We can achieve what we want to – everyone has the ability to reach their dream, but let’s not wait for an accident to happen for us to test our metal and show us what we are made of.

Let’s start planning now to realise those dreams, goals and ambitions. I know I want to look back on my life – when I am old and grey, and know that I have never let my limiting belief in myself or the limiting beliefs that others have, effect what I have done. To every problem or barrier there is a solution, it’s just a case of finding it.

Remember the 5 Ps – Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
So be good to yourself, make a plan for 2012 that is the first step to achieving what you want to, that you know you are capable of and what you dream of.

To see my 2012 plan and to download my free report which include a template for your own New Year 2012 plan visit my ‘Girlie Gatherings’ website.
Bring on 2012!!!

Julie Hampshire

7 STEPS TO SKINNY JEANS IN 29 DAYS OR LESS!

Here are some more fantastic fitness tips from Nottingham’s Fitness Guru, Jiten Nandha, owner of Manage Muscle, Personal Training and Boot Camp:

* Get the 7 steps to fast and permanent fat loss

* Discover the secret to the perfect diet program

* Why most fitness and weight loss programs fail you.

Get Instant Access Now!

Introducing Carol Fry – Owner of Central Manchester What’s On 4 Me

Introducing Our Newest Franchisee – Carol Fry

My name is Carol Fry, I am the franchisee for What’s on 4 Me in Central Manchester and Stockport. I live with my partner and our three children in Heaton Mersey. Between us we dabble in karate, rugby, football, gymnastics, music, chess and rounders and we’re always on the look-out for our next challenge. (I’ve got my eye on a Tabata class at my local sports centre which should complement my karate training nicely).

Up until very recently I worked for the Ministry of Justice as a court clerk in the crown court. I decided to take on the challenge of What’s On 4 Me in Stockport and Manchester in order to have a career that allowed me to work from home and have a better work life balance.

At the moment I’m diverting all my energy and spare time into training for my next grading in December 2011 when I’m hoping to earn my brown belt in Shukokai Karate. One of my goals in life is to achieve and then maintain a good level of fitness and flexibility. Up to now I hoped to achieve this by working towards attaining ‘the coveted black belt’. However, since taking on my local What’s On 4 Me I’ve come across so many different activities and classes that I want to try that I’m not sure how I’ll be able to fit it all in. I think I may have tipped the balance too far the other way!

See Central Manchester and Stockport What’s On 4 Me today!

GEAR UP FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE IN 2012

Orchid are calling on all cycling enthusiasts to join them on an epic London to Edinburgh 37 hour, 400 mile cycle ride challenge

Orchid, the UK’s male cancer charity, is organising an epic 37 hour unique relay charity cycle ride from Buckingham Palace, London to Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh to raise awareness for the 37,000 men diagnosed each year with a male specific cancer. So if you fancy a challenge of Olympic proportions for 2012 or just want to boost your fitness and raise money for a great cause, why not sign up and get cycling!

If you would like more information see What’s On 4 Me

Ian Michelson from Leeds, explains why he is already signed up and raring to go; “Having been diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008, I found Orchid an invaluable source of support and information and I was able to find out the specifics what I needed to know without being overwhelmed with ‘too much information’ from the web. I am looking forward to this challenge and would also encourage all men to listen to ‘nagging’ wives and don’t be embarrassed to check themselves regularly.”

The Palace to Palace challenge begins on Friday 22nd June 2012, at Green Park, Central London where relay teams of two will set off from Buckingham Palace to embark on the 400 mile journey. The cyclists will take it in turns to alternatively pedal through night and day with each rider cycling up to 200 miles during this fast paced 37 hour challenge.

All cyclists will set off together leaving London via Hyde Park heading North. The route then skirts around Peterborough and Lincoln, across the Humber River and heads on towards York. Riding through the night challengers will cross the Scottish border via Galashiels on the Saturday and carry onwards to Edinburgh. The group will then reconvene on the outskirts of Edinburgh before entering the city together, arriving en masse at Holyrood Palace.

To commemorate the completion of this gruelling challenge participants will spend Saturday night in Edinburgh in a 2/3* hotel and will be rewarded with well deserved celebratory meal in the evening.

If you would like more information see What’s On 4 Me

Rebecca Porta, Chief Executive of Orchid, comments: “Last year’s London to Edinburgh event was a great success raising £40,000 and we are keen to build on that this year and encourage all cycling enthusiasts to take part. Cycling from palace to palace in just 37 hours will be a tough challenge but it will be extremely rewarding and will not only increase awareness of the prevalence of mens’ cancers but the funds raised will also ultimately save mens’ lives.”

This demanding challenge is not for the faint hearted, high levels of fitness, stamina and mental determination will be a must for all participants. Cyclists will also need good road sense as the route will incorporate many ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads. Cyclists will be supported by experienced Discovery Adventure leaders/drivers, a cycle guide at night and mechanic support.

 The route will be marked and snacks and drinks will be available at the regular team swapping points.

To take part, each team of two will need to raise a minimum sponsorship of £1,900 per team of two. To register visit www.orchid-cancer.org.uk or contact events@orchid-cancer.org.uk or call 0203 4657 197/ 0203 4657 293.

If you would like more information see What’s On 4 Me