May 14, 2009
Good News Thursday
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Another week older & wiser! Time is flying by and we have to grab it before it flies away completely on us. I’m glad to see that some SMEs are taking lots of action and continue to recruit and create new innovative ideas.
1. Recruitment is still alive & well in SMEs
Innovation Employment was in touch with me to tell me about 5 jobs that they are looking to fill.
- Sales Director (Full-time) in South/Central Dublin
- Senior Sales & Marketing Manager (3-6 month contract) in South/Central Dublin
- HR Administrator (Contract) in Cork
- CFO (Part-time) - Location not specified
- Business Partner (Part-time) - strategic thinking required
Contact Lynda by emailing lynda@innovationemployment.ie or call 01 495 4891.
2. New Theatre Company Launched in Cork
Having worked in the arts scene several years back, I was delighted to hear about a new theatre company opening based in Cork. Roundhouse Theatre Company launched its first summer season at the Boardwalk Bar in Cork city this week with much fanfare. The first plays - Lipstick & Spitting Love are scheduled for June.
We’ll look forward to hearing more about them in the future. Check out the Granary for more information for more information on this exciting new theatre company.
Roundhouse Theatre Company will launch its first summer season, at the Boardwalk Bar, May 12th at 7pm
3. Innovative Ideas to Beat the Recession…
This section shows the the entrepreneurship of Irish businesses. I love this section and hope it will continue to grow.
StyleFish.ie
Style Fish is a new business that I have come across. The main idea behind it is to give women an alternative to having to spend a huge amount of money on one to one consultations and personal shopping. Stylefish inspire, teach and encourage women to learn about what is right for their body shape, colours, make up etc in a fun, informal and really practical 8 week evening class.
They are holding classes all across Leinster, with one specifically for the Dublin ladies, starting Monday, 25th May. Contact Stylefish owner and Xpose regular Julie Cobb on julie@stylefish.ie or call 087 413 0336 for more information.
Irishwomeninbusiness.ie
Another organisation on the horizon for the working woman. Irish Women in Business is a professional body, representing all women working in business. The aim of the IWIB is to unite women and allow them to share resources, information and ideas.
Membership is a very reasonable €50 plus VAT. Please contact Tara Wilson Black, Founder of IWIB on info@irishwomeninbusiness.ie
4. BNI North East - Best in the World
I’m a member of the BNI Abbey in Swords. BNI is one of the most popular networking organisation for SMEs in Ireland. Mary Eastwood, Assistant Director of BNI called me earlier in the week to inform me that BNI, Ireland North East is currently No. 1 in the world of BNI because of the growth of chapters, amounts of referrals given and general growth trends.
Well done to all member of BNI, Ireland North East area.
5. Achievements/Twitter News
This week I’m afraid I’ve not much to report. I don’t think I paid enough attention this week. Will try harder for next week.
@elainerodgers - informed me of the Roundhouse Theatre opening (had to do a bigger story!)
@marycarty - organising Open Coffee in Drogheda/North Dublin for 21st May
@maryrose - shared her email marketing results for Ireland for the last 2 years: http://bit.ly/f7dUf
***Ends until next week***
May 7, 2009
General Marketing, Good News Thursday
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The celebrations of Leinster beating Munster have put a dint in my gathering of good news stories this Thursday. Or perhaps it’s the weather - we are all waiting for the winter winds to end and let the sunshine through…maybe this weekend?
So good news stories a bit thin on the ground this week & so I’ll be looking for double next week.
1. Recruitment is still alive and well with SMEs….
I’m delighted to be able to fill this section week after week since Good News Thursday (GNT) started. My good friend, colleague and client Paycheck Plus is hiring. Two new positions have been created - they are looking for a Business Development Officer and an Office Manager with Payroll Bureau Experience. In today’s economy, it’s fantastic to hear the growth story of Paycheck Plus. They have recently expanded their premises to make room for the new members of staff and the growing files of clients they continue to get.
If anyone is interested in finding out more information about the Payroll Outsource Assistant, please contact Anne Reilly on 041 98 81744, email enquiries@paycheckplus.ie and visit www.paycheckplus.ie/careers
2. Some-one listened to my marketing talk last week…
Bru, one of Drogheda’s finest eateries and best cocktail bar in town has begun a customer engagement programme. Well, that’s what they told me but I think it’s down to Colm Devine’s love of golf. They have put a temporary putting green into the restaurant (with a separate one for the kiddies) and will run a fun competition from today. (Now Colm can work and play at the same time!)
So if anyone is around Drogheda or Baltray as the Irish Open comes to town, roll up your sleeves and practice your putting while having a little drink or lunch/dinner.
3. Dublin voted Europe’s friendliest city
In a little digression from our SME good news, we’ll stay with Irish good news, thanks to Graham O’Rourke who spotted it for us. In a poll by Trip Advisor, Dublin was voted Europe’s friendliest city…so well done all you friendly Dublin residents.
London was named as the dirtiest city and the most expensive although it was number one for free attractions and public parks. (Is Dublin getting cheaper?!) Copenhagen was rated the cleanest city, while Edinburgh was named one of Europe’s most underrated destinations.
4. Achievements/Twitter News
@claireboyles - a good news story for next week me thinks but she is bringing experts together to collaborate on a new project idea.
@miriamahern - Launched DCEB LINK! Start-up Business Network Member2Member Discount Directory.
@ezinearticles - over 64 members have completed the challenge - 100 articles in 100 days
****Ends until next week. Keep those stories coming***
May 6, 2009
General Marketing
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Karen Wiseman who runs Goal Focused Solutions was in contact with me and asked if I could help promote a course that she is running in Dundalk next week.
What: CareerForward
Where: Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Co. Louth
When: 11th, 13th & 15th May
Duration: Three mornings over the three days
Who: It is targeted at those who are currently job-seeking
More Information:-
CareerForward is a programme designed to enable participants to job seek proactively in these challenging times. It provides training in the skills and strategies necessary for focused job searching.
Learn how to….
- Access the hidden jobs market
- Develop a multi-strategy job search
- Create a CV with impact
- Market your skills & achievements
- Improve your interview technique
- Strengthen your self-belief and resilience
Whether you are seeking a career change, are unemployed or have recently been made redundant, CareerForward will help you to find the motivation and resilience needed to job search in the current climate. The small group setting provides ample opportunity for individual attention.
Testimonials for CareerForward
“Excellent - totally new way of looking at how to develop CV & contacting companies.” - DM
“I now feel a lot more confident and relaxed about going for interviews.” JB
“Goal Focused Solutions CareerForward programme not only ticked all the boxes in relation to the hard skills but more importantly focused attention on increasing motivation and building confidence and self-esteem. The participant feedback was excellent and I would highly recommend this programme.” Sheila Dignam, HR Operations Manager, Xerox Dundalk.
For more information, contact Karen Wiseman on 087 6386478 or email karen @ goalfocusedsolutions.ie
May 6, 2009
General musings, Marketing advice
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Bank Holiday Monday saw me at the home office catching up on emails and planning & revising my own 90 Day Marketing Plan.
I was broken from my reverie of dollar signs (thanks to my own 90 Day Marketing Plan!!) to the shrill ring of the phone. The conversation went like this:
DF: Hello there (as I’m at home, I thought it was a friend/family calling)
Caller: Hello this is xx (didn’t catch) and I’m calling on behalf of Raymond xx (again didn’t catch) of Libertas, who is running for upcoming election. We’re calling to see if we can get your No. 1 vote.
Do we have your No. 1 vote?
DF: eh, no. I don’t know who I’m voting for yet so sorry, can’t commit to No. 1 votes just yet.
Caller: Oh okay then. Thank you.
That was the phone call.
I’ve since learned that it is Raymond O’Malley from Libertas who is running in the European Election. There is a big poster outside the local GAA pitch.
I think in terms of marketing, telephone marketing is a good strategy. Some people would have been at home on the bank holiday (given the weather was so bad) so chances are they had a high success rate of pick ups. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
Result from Phone Call
I have no political allegiance. Every time there is a vote, I always place my vote as it’s a democratic right. However, I’m still clueless about the Libertas party politics, Raymond’s background or personality. And quite frankly, this phone call wouldn’t encourage me. If their approach to telephone marketing is such as I experienced, then I would question their other approaches. I’m a marketer, I look and listen to all elements of marketing, perhaps more than others but if you’ve got a budget for marketing, then spend it wisely.
Alternative Phone Call
Who wrote the script for that call? Because I’ll tell you what - they need a copy-writer, script-writer and good marketer. If I was engaged by Libertas, I would have suggested the following:
Caller: Hello, I’m calling on behalf of the Liberatas party who are running in the upcoming election. Are you familar with them?
Voter: em no.
Caller: Well, they are running with three main policies - x, y, z. How does that sound to you?
Voter: May ask question, may nod or may disagree
Caller: Our website, if you’re on the internet is www.xyz.ie or our campaign team will be in your area shortly. Go up to them and ask them any questions if you have any more.
We are looking for No. 1 votes for the European Elections, not the local elections. Anyway, I don’t delay any longer. Thanks for taking the call and I hope you will vote for us.
Lessons from Alternative Phone Call:
1. Relationship is built up.
2. It isn’t a sales call.
3. You’re not being pushy - you’re just giving information, allowing the voter to make an informed choice
4. You’re differentiating yourself from other parties who are not calling
5. You’re giving information particular to their area (our team will be visiting your area soon)
I’ve mentioned another blog about cold calling. It isn’t rocket science and I know it’s the hardest thing in the world to do. But if you’re not selling anything other than information, then the caller would be more at ease.
Anyway, the irony is not lost on me that I am in someway promoting Libertas. However, i just wanted to write or be-moan how even companies that have big budget don’t know how to spend it wisely!!