Use the power of sharing on social media

19/09/2012 by Leave a Comment

People talk about the viral effect of social media, but what is it and how can it help your business?

That’s what we’ll be discussing in our NDBA two-hour workshop on Etiquette and good practice in social media sharing at B My Office in Barnstaple, North Devon on Friday 28 September.

How can you persuade your followers to like and share your messages so that hundreds or thousands of people see them?

What do you have to do to become part of a community that shares and supports each other?

Is it acceptable to ask people to share your content?

These are all questions we’ll answer so that you can start sharing and be shared.

The workshop runs from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and costs just £15 per person (NDBA members £10).

Why not sign up for the morning workshop on Website product shots and photo optimisation and book in for our networking lunch on the same day? Members can book all three for £30. Non-members can book all three for £45 and enjoy one-year membership included which will give discounted rates on future workshops and events.

To book your place(s), call 01271 344545.

To start practising now, please use the buttons on this blog post to share on Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook

Filed Under: All Blogs, Social Media, Workshops Tagged With: , , , , ,

BMyOffice offers a taste of business support services

10/07/2012 by 2 Comments

How can you improve your business? Do you want to increase productivity and profits? Would smart tips on accounts, customer relationship management, social media and public relations help your business grow?

Virtual business assistance specialist B My Office is offering free taster sessions for businesses in North Devon to try out services that could help them.

All businesses are welcome to drop into B My Office in Bear Street, Barnstaple on Friday 20 July for a chat, a cup of tea or coffee to see what’s on offer, attend a workshop, network with other businesses or to try out the businesses facilities and meeting room.

There will also be the opportunity to enter the prize draw for an A3 laminator donated by South West Office Supplies.

Each taster session will be run by a North Devon business specialising in its field.

Choose your workshop(s) from:

9am – What is customer relationship management (CRM) and how can it help your business? – presented by Convallis Software

10am – Blogging basics: what is a blog? – presented by Multiheat & Energy Systems Ltd

11am – How to use social media and public relations to build campaigns – presented by Zarywacz

12noon – Accountancy tips to improve cashflow and profits – presented by Accountancy Edge

2pm – What is a business mentor?  To be confirmed

3pm – hands-on demonstration – open a twitter account! For all those in business who want one but not sure what to do.

See the BMyOffice community noticeboard to find out what’s happening in the area.

We’re looking to welcome as many businesses as possible on the day to make new connections and to meet old friends.

For details, call 01271 344545 or turn up on the day!

Filed Under: General Business, Networking, North Devon Events Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Should I blog?

28/05/2012 by 8 Comments

I am writing this blog after attending a blogging workshop last week run by the North Devon Business Alliance with Robert Zarywacz and Kevin Woodward. I have written a few blogs in the past, in particular for Devon Social Media, but always struggle so thought I would go along and see what I could learn.

Well, I now have a better idea of why to blog:

  • To interact with my customers/potential customers
  • To expose my business to a wider audience
  • To promote products and services
  • To show myself as an expert in what I do and much more………
I will also try and to remember that if I have an idea for a blog to write it down then rather than forget and wonder what it was. I came away with 3 ideas for blog titles whilst I was there (including this one!) so I must make sure that I get on and write the others.
The workshop involved a lot of discussion between the participants and I think we all came away with ideas of how to either improve an existing blog or how to get started. Have you got a blog? Why not give it a go if you don’t, I’m sure that if you search online or attend a workshop like I have you won’t find it quite so daunting as I thought it would be.
Thank you Robert and Kevin, I now have a bit more confidence to start writing more blog articles and hopefully my readers will enjoy them!

 

Filed Under: All Blogs, General Business Tagged With: , , ,

The power of the #ndevon network

25/05/2012 by Leave a Comment

When there seem to be so many obstacles, regulations, procedures holding back enterprise, it’s so uplifting to be reminded of the power that people have within themselves.

Today I’ve been to two events – the NDBA blogging workshop in Barnstaple and the monthly NDBA lunch at Westward Ho! Apart from being among friendly, open, positive people, I think what I found so energising is how everyone is working on developing their businesses at a time when there are so many challenges, not just here in North Devon but nationally and internationally.

This morning our group were very keen to discover how blogging can help their  businesses and we’re hoping to see more dipping their toes in the water and entering our blogging competition. Come on, everyone.

At lunch too it was good to chat in a relaxed environment, taking time to enjoy the glorious sunshine and the view out to sea. Perhaps it’s the open, welcoming atmosphere that makes me – and I hope others – look forward to them so much.

Whatever the reason, it’s had a powerful effect on me so that I’ve pulled into a layby to write this blog. It had to be done.

So thank you everyone. Keep working at your businesses. And let’s look forward to more workshops and lunches.

Enjoy your weekend.

Filed Under: All Blogs, Networking Tagged With: , , , ,

Trip Advisor: don’t get Mad, get Wise

17/02/2012 by Leave a Comment

Hi all, I’ve been asked to give this event a shoutout to all NDBA networking folk. I spoke recently to one of our members who had some astonishing tales to tell about using TripAdvisor so this may well turn out to be a worthwhile course. Obviously I have not been on one of these courses but any feedback from anyone who has would be most welcome.

7th of March 2012

Exeter  

A short, simple, powerful and effective 3 hour workshop for Managers, Owners, and Team Leaders in the Hospitality Industry by Customer Feedback and Sales Expert Guy Arnold, to give you the tools and skills you need to:

·         Avoid suffering from unfair reviews on Trip Advisor and similar feedback sites

·         Get good reviews

·         Boost your ratings

·         Reduce your marketing costs

·         Empower and motivate your staff

·         Continually develop and improve your customer experience

Many people are wary of Trip Advisor (and the like), but fighting against them is as wise as King Canute trying to stop the tide coming in.

You have to accept the tide is changing (and changing very fast) and then take the right actions to turn this to your advantage.

This workshop will teach you the:

·         Knowledge of what to do

·         The skills of how to do it, and

·         The attitude to understand why doing it well can be such a benefit to you

Guy has used his ‘Great or Poor’ system to help hospitality businesses across the Country: achieving remarkable results in short spaces of time (one hotel increased it’s rating from 3.4 to 4.2 in just 6 months, and one pub increased turnover by over 800% in under a year).

This will be followed up 2 weeks afterwards by a ‘Go the Extra Inch’ workshop, to help you communicate these ideas to your staff and set up a system of continual ongoing development.

You can take these ideas away and use them immediately, or you can work with Guy and his associates on a longer term basis to make sure this happens effectively in your business.

For further information and to book, please follow the link: http://tripadvisor.eventbrite.co.uk

This invaluable course is ONLY £42 and you can receive an additional 20% discount by using discount code greatorpoor (all one word) when booking.

Filed Under: North Devon Events Tagged With: