August 4, 2010
Networking
No Comments
I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while. I read an article today and it made me put my fingers to the keyboard.
Simply put: Do you hand out your business card willy-nilly or hold onto them and give them out to qualified people?
The printing companies out there will say, shout even, that you hand them out to everyone you meet, in fact give them two I hear them scream! So I’ve thought on-the-fly of some pros and cons of handing out your business card.
Pros for Giving away Business Cards
1. You won’t get business with business cards sitting in a box
If your card is in the public domain, there is a greater likelihood that you will get business.
2. You just never know
People might just LOVE your logo, will be so impressed with the design of it that they’ll see you in a new light. Some people aren’t consistent with their brand and after all, it’s your work, your competence not your selling skills that people are buying.
3. They are a crutch
Some people are very shy at networking events so handing out a business card could help the talking juices to flow.
Cons for Handing out Business Cards by the Handful
1. Who cares?
You could give two cards to a prospect while saying “give one to a friend/colleague/favourite business person.” But those two cards could sit on a desk for years. Take a look at your own desk - have you got business cards from networking events that are gathering dust?
2. You know it’s a quality lead
If you have a policy of being selective with your business card, then you know that the person you are conversing with is a person you want to follow up with. There is a need there or a potential mutually beneficial relationship could be created. You walk away knowing the night was a success.
3. er……
Well I’m trying to think of a third one. I’m not in either camp - I’m very much sitting on the fence on this one.
So what do you think - Hand them out as if you’re giving away free money or hold onto them until the right person comes along?
Let me know.
April 8, 2010
General Marketing, Marketing advice, Networking, strategic marketing
No Comments
Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to hear Veronica Canning speak at a networking event and you know what, everytime I hear her, I learn something different.
She is engaging, entertaining and enthralling. I could listen to her all day, every day. On this speaking occasion, she shared with us her Personal Brand Success Programme which is a five step model.
Shoeism - Personal Brand Success Programme
This five step model makes sense - yet many of us don’t follow it as unfortunately common sense is not so common! The five points are Veronica’s five points - the sub-information is my personal take on Veronica’s words of wisdom.
1. Act Strategically
I’m a marketing consultant so I always tell my clients to think strategically. My constant advice is that marketing should not be done on an ad-hoc basis but should always be part of an overall plan.
Veronica applies this same logic to your brand - you as your brand should act strategically. Ask yourself before you do or say anything - “Does this help my personal brand?” If not…don’t do it!
2. Make your Message Match the Messenger
Be consistent with your brand. If you are a fun, quirky person, then don’t have a corporate banal brand. You are not representing yourself in the correct way.
3. Get Out of your Own Way
This was one of my favourite points. How many times do we get in our own way? Have you ever used phrases such as:
Go on - be honest. If you say any of these (and more!), then you are in your own way. Veronica is a big believer in this. We are our own worst enemy and as successful women (and men) that has to change to move forward.
4. Benchmark against the Best
Look at who is the best in your industry and benchmark yourself against them. Ask yourself what skills or talents do they have that you don’t? What can you learn from them?
If you benchmark yourself against the best, then you will find ways in which to improve yourself. And self improvement is a constant in today’s environment.
5. Fake It until you Make It
If you don’t have an office in Dublin 2 or 4, then meet in a Dublin 2 or 4 hotel. If you’re travelling somewhere, hire a porsche or jaguar. There are ways where you can fake it without breaking you or your bank. Once you have self-belief and the right skills, then fake things before you make it. Take control of your own destiny.
Again, this is my take on Veronica’s five step model. If you want help with your personal brand, contact Veronica directly - she will do an audit of your brand and work with you on a one to one basis.
The Shoeism Book
Veronica has recently written a book called Shoeisms: Working Woman’s Guide to Take Control and Be the Sassy, Successful Woman You Know You Can Be. The world has changed and finding your role in the world as a powerful woman just got more difficult. Shoeisms will enable you to think independently and to carve out your own destiny.
I hope to bring you a review of the book later in the month but all you sassy ladies are recommended to check it out - www.shoeisms.ie
October 13, 2009
Awards, General musings, Networking
No Comments
Before I sojourned off to Spain, I was a guest of Patricia Rooney, General Manager of Murphy Environmental Hollywood Ltd at the Women Mean Business Conference & Awards at the Shelbourne Hotel.
The theme of the day was ‘Anything is Possible‘, inspired by leading businesswomen JK Rowling who said “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve” and Oprah Winfrey who said “If you neglect to recharge a battery, it dies. And if you run full speed ahead without stopping for water, you lose momentum to finish the race”.
This theme was carried through the entire day, especially at the networking session prior to lunch. Perhaps it was the sunshine streaming in through the windows, but there was a palpable air of positivity - things are on the rise.
The women that I spoke with were sustaining their businesses and creating opportunities while acknowledging that things aren’t as good as before. There was realism mixed with positivity and it was quite motivating.
Awards Ceremony
After lunch, the awards ceremony kicked off. Patricia Rooney, my host, was nominated for Businesswoman of the Year award. A well deserving nominee, of all the women I know, she has an unlimited supply of energy. The passion she brings to Murphy is obvious to see given the success of the business which she started from scratch and as President of Drogheda Chamber for the past 15 months.
Unfortunately, she didn’t win and the award went to Cathriona Hallan, MD of Microsoft European Operations Centre.
I met up with Veronica Canning, author of Shoeisms who was a finalist in another category, the Accenture WMBig Idea Award. Another deserving nominee, and unfortunately, she didn’t win either.
It got me thinking about awards. It’s always a little bit disappointing when you don’t win. Human nature being what it is - our the competitive spirit compels us to win. However, over 200 people applied for these awards. 15 people got short-listed. That’s a fantastic achievement in itself.
Perhaps award ceremonies should acknowledge the finalists a bit more - at the end of the day, there is only one official winner. Yet those 11 women who didn’t take home an award are winners. They beat 185 other women to be short-listed and recognised for their achievements.
I’m sure that we will see a lot more from the award winners and the short-listed candidates in the future. I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more about them in the new Handbag-sized Women Mean Business magazine.
Congratulations to all the winners who have motivated the rest of us to believe Anything is Possible.
Click here for more details on the winners and finalists.
August 10, 2009
General Marketing, Networking
No Comments
Last Thursday, I was running late for my BNI Abbey meeting. I’m not a morning person, I find it difficult to get up between 5.30am and 6.00am and I was moaning to myself on the way in…is BNI worth this? And the answer is yes. When I’m at my BNI meeting. I really enjoy it. This week was no exception.
For those of you that don’t know the BNI, it is an international Business Networking & Referrals Organisation. Set up by Dr Ivan Misner in 1985, it has become a global network with chapters in almost every country in the world. It’s interesting because Ivan Misner never set out to create a global organisation, he was simply looking for referrals for his consulting business.
That’s really the premise of BNI - getting and giving referrals. However, I always find that there is more than business networking to a BNI meeting.
Take last Thursday’s meeting for example. 28 business owners around one table are all going through the same ordeal of the recession. They’re all concentrating on surviving and thriving in tough economic times.
BNI Creativity at its Best
But the level of creativity that is coming out of this table alone would inspire anybody.
Derek Balfe of Heritage Insurance posed the question:
“If you were to swap jobs with me, who is the first person that you’d contact?“
The question was obviously posed in a business context but I thought isn’t that a clever way to seek referrals? A few names naturally came to me and that helped me get a referral to Derek and hopefully get him new business.
Stephen Monaghan of Phonelink and Ronan Reynolds of ACS have collaborated to offer a package for employers who have employees with suspected and actual swine flu. Many employers aren’t equipped to network out their telephone or IT system but these guys are now allowing an employers to do that - give access to an employee while they’re at home.
Tom Molloy of Flux Web Design created “The Flux Factor” report - a report that assesses everything about your website - SEO, design, wording, graphics etc. For the month of August, he’s giving free reports. It normally retails at €199.
BNI is more than a 6am start. It’s about collaboration, looking out for one another, learning from each other and having a bit of fun in the process.
Ivan Misner may not have set out to create an organisation that affected millions of business owners but that’s exactly what he has done. I’m sure my 28 colleagues around the table would agree.
June 8, 2009
Drogheda, Networking
1 Comment
OpenCoffee Club Drogheda is off the blocks….and both Mary Carty of Spoiltchild and I are delighted. This idea started last year as we went for an evening stroll to catch up. We’ve constantly talked about it but as this the year of Innovation & Change for Achieve Marketing - taking action was the most important step.
Mary was on the ball and found out what locations had free wi-fi and were open at 9.30am! Very and far between we realised in the Drogheda area and decided on the d hotel and on a date - Friday, 26th May. Thereafter we send out the word.
A great bunch of people from many different backgrounds turned up. Our group was hard to miss with dramatic, large foam Open Coffee cups emblazoned at each table, commissioned especially for the event by Made in Hollywood.
The coffee (and scones!) and location was good and spirited conversation and networking ensued. Among the attendees, other than myself, were Alan O’Rourke, Campbell Scott, Sian Maloney, Shane Cowley, David Behan, Raul Dore and Richie Bowden.
Thanks to the trusty iPhone belonging to Alan (O’Rourke), we managed to get great photos of the event. (and thankfully he managed to grab a coffee as well!).
Check out the gallery of photos on the OCC Drogheda website.
In all, 15 entrepreneurs supported the event and made connections with others from Drogheda, Ashbourne, Skerries and surrounding areas. Hopefully in true OpenCoffee spirit, these links will continue to grow and flourish and provide us all with opportunities.
On foot of the positive feedback from those that attended, we have organised another meet up for the 26th June, 9.30am at the d Hotel. Come along and meet enthusiastic business folk for advice, support, coffee and a chat.
We have created a twitter account @occdrogheda so make sure to follow us. Post a reply and let us know that you can make it next time.
On behalf of Mary and I, we’d like to thank all that attended - and I know from emails that I’ve received, there will be more new faces around on the table on Friday, 26th June.
April 28, 2009
General Marketing, Marketing advice, Networking
No Comments
Today I gave a marketing talk to members and friends of the Drogheda & District Chamber. It was meant to be 20 mins but I talked for 40 mins on
- How to network properly
- Turn your customers into advocates
- 5 quick tips to action today (or no later than tomorrow)
Over 50 people were in attendance and it was great to see so many people writing and taking notes. I have to make a note again on the food provided by Bru. As I was the main speaker, I didn’t want to eat too much or too little - can you imagine hearing a rumbling tummy when you’re concentrating on how to set marketing goals?!
What I ate was just right and from what I could tell, there were some people who went for seconds!!
I’ll talk a bit more over the next couple of days on the advice that I gave out today - the feedback I got was good so why not share it with others?
A word of thanks to Patricia, Karen, Marian, Sarah and Cathal for their idea, organisation and marketing of the event. All I had to do was turn up and deliver my talk!
More to come……
April 28, 2009
Networking
1 Comment
I was one of the lucky few who had the opportunity to hear Brendan Murphy of Osborne Recruitment speak at last weeks Staying up in Down Times event, held at the Ballsbridge Court.
Brendan is a quiet spoken man and he is clearly devoted to his profession. He is clear, concise and has a real desire to help people find work.
The recruitment industry is like the car industry, it is going through the floor. Employment is declining and unemployment is rising. Murphy didn’t sugar coat his delivery. The recruitment industry has contracted about 60% over the past 6-9 months. That is incredibly scary stuff. I believe that in a city of 1.2million, there are about 9,000 jobs being advertised.
Those that know me are aware that maths is not my strong point but that is not a good number. If my maths is correct, then it’s around 0.75%. Dismal would be the word that I would describe it.
Brendan explained that these days, there are really only three positions that a person can find themself in:
1. Safe - Employed by the government
2. Not Safe - Plan what you’re going to do
3. Not Sure - Plan what you’re going to do
Recruitment Advice Tip No. 1 - Control the world rather than letting it control you. Plan ahead.
If you don’t have a CV, do one up.
If you do have a CV, then improve on it. It can always get better.
The top 10% of people who apply for jobs have CVs that are
- Complete
- Accurate
- Truthful
You should ask yourself the question: ‘ How are you going to differentiate yourself?’ The reality is that you may not be different to others going for the same job but as long as your CV is accurate & correct, then your CV and yourself will go a long way.
Recruitment Advice Tip No. 2 - Have a Truthful & Correct CV
He came down to the interview stage preparation. He gave four pieces of advice
1. What are your strengths?
You need to know what they are and you need to communicate them clearly at interview.
2. What are your weaknesses?
Okay - everyone has weaknesses. Admit them. Acknowledge them and tell them in a positive way.
3. Differentiate Yourself
Brendan told us the story about a supermarket chain who were hiring about 20 years ago in the UK, during the last recession. They were inundated with applications so they decided to have an open day. At one point, they got rid of people who had white socks. Yep! white socks.
They just had to differentiate people - rightly or wrongly.
You, however, should differentiate yourself for the right reasons. Know what makes you different.
4. Answer the question ‘Why you?’
So you’ve done the interviews and it’s down to you and someone else, equally qualified and equally experienced. What makes you different? It is related to point number 3 and essentially it comes down to personality. But you should know and prepare the answer.
Recruitment Advice Tip No. 3: Be fully prepared before interview. Know your strengths, weaknesses, your differentiators, your ‘why you?’ answer
He suggested that everyone should develop your skills - get new ones or upskill the ones that you have. That will always stand to you. Keep moving forward with your skill set.
Recruitment Advice Tip No. 4: Keep developing your skillset
Like any good presenter, he finished on a positive note. There are industries that are surviving and even thriving. They include
- Transport
- Education
- Alternative Health
- Insurance
- ICT (certain areas)
- Languages (and not necessarily academic posts)
- Niche sectors - farming, bio-sciences, etc
and dare I say death! Well, there will always be births, deaths and taxes!
Recruitment Advice Tip No. 5: Do your research as there are still sectors surviving
Brendan summarised with four simple points:
- Look at where you are
- Do your CV
- Do a balance sheet analysis of you
- Stay Positive
My Recruitment Advice Tip: Go to Osborne Recruitment if looking for a job. They offer real, practical advice.
April 28, 2009
Drogheda, Networking, Retail
No Comments
One thing for sure is that the Drogheda & District Chamber do not sit on their laurels. After organising a fantastic luncheon networking event, they are right on the button delivering events that their members need.
This time around, they are organising an information evening for all businesses that work in the retail sector.
Here are the details:
The Retail Committee of Drogheda and District Chamber in conjunction with An Garda Siochana are hosting an information evening on Security Measures and Fraud Prevention for Business on Tuesday 5th May. The event will take place at 7.00pm in the Boardroom at the Drogheda Chamber offices.
Speaking this week Chairman of the Retail Committee Jim Corcoran explained “This issue is particularly important for business. During times of economic downturn business are more susceptible to fraud and the risk of theft increases. This in turn threatens the viability of business and employment. This information evening should help business to take practical steps. We are delighted that An Garda Siochana are working closely with us on this event.”
The event is free to attend, but it is essential to register in advance by calling 041 9833544 or by e-mailing enquiries@droghedachamber.com. All are welcome.
So if you are in the Drogheda and it’s district area and you operate in the retail sector, this is an event not to be missed. You’ll get a chance to network with other businesses and learn a bit more about protecting your business.
April 24, 2009
Networking, Relationship Marketing
3 Comments
I attended the seminar run by PA-assist and Osborne Recruitment entitled ‘Staying up in down times’. Held in the Ballsbridge Court, I spent great 3 hours talking to many great people and learning how to stay positive in these times. And as you know, I’m a big believer in positive thinking - hence the Good News Thursday weekly blog. But everyone needs a little extra inspiration.
This seminar, which I hope they turn into a series, was really uplifting. I took over 5 pages of notes, on the three speakers that gave us food for thought and fuel for the soul. The speakers were
As I’m away for a long weekend, I will get down to telling you the advice that I and the 40 odd people in the room received. It is information that NEEDS to be shared. Information is power but it’s the way you use it. I plan on making everyone benefit from it as I think that is just what PA Assist and Osborne would like me to do!
Once I’m back on Tuesday, I’ll be writing up all my notes. Get ready to be inspired for the last week in April.
April 21, 2009
Networking
No Comments
There are just a few places left on this seminar, taking place tomorrow evening, April 22nd at 5.30pm in the Ballsbridge Court Hotel.
This seminar is being hosted by Osborne Recruitment & PA Assist and promises to be a fantastic event. Previous events run by PA Assist have proved to be productive and fun.
As a result of attending this evening seminar you will:
- Learn practical strategies for boosting your motivation and self confidence at a time when we need it most.
- Discover ways of coping with fear when we are pushed outside our comfort zones
- Get clear as to how you can ‘fuel’ your positivity and become a source of inspiration for yourself and others
- Know how to move from reactive to proactive by taking ownership of what is within your control -
- Discover practical tips to manage your career through networking online and making the most of new media to recession proof your career.
The agenda is as follows:
17.30 - Registration
18.00 - Welcome and Introductions
19.15 - Questions & Answers
19.45 - Networking Reception
20.30 - Finish
The fee is a very reasonable €40.00 per person and the price goes down to €30 each when there are 3 people or more from the same company/organisation attending.
To Book Your Place, go to PA Assist - www.pa-assist.ie/event2009.asp
« Previous Entries