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The quickest way to being a spammer

Add everyone to your database
When you go to networking, conferences or training events, the common activity is the exchanging of business cards.

This exchange may be done for all sorts of reasons and you have to be clear what people are expecting when they offer you their card.

If you are in doubt, ask them at the time whether they would like to receive your regular newsletter or promotional material. If you are uncomfortable with asking this, then that is a sign that the answer may not be affirmative. Wait and build that relationship further before asking them.

This doesn’t happen when networking online for people’s email addresses are usually hidden from view. You have to wait for them to give you their details.

The next time you receive emails after a networking event, let the person know that you don’t want to be contacted in this way or you can just consign them to the spam folder. The upside is that their emails will become less likely to be delivered in future. The downside is that you may still receive further emails.

Karen Purves runs HaveMoreClients.com providing mentoring, training and consultancy to small service businesses. She recently launched Workhorse Website Design so all the marketing effort can be focused. To learn more, please contact her on 01737 735400 or book a Marketing surgery session http://marketingpotential.co.uk

Posted by on 13/05/2010 15:30:08

Too Small?

Due to holidays and sickness some of the 1230 meetings I’ve headed over the past couple of weeks might be considered (by some) to be “too” small. But one of the things I have learnt over the years is that there is no such thing as a meeting which is too small. Groups of around 8 are small/er, but you might say beautifully formed and what networking opportunities they present. Each one I have attended has given everyone, including me, the opportunity to find out much more about all those there. And as we all know with all things, it isn’t size but quality which is important and, what you do with those contacts.

We talk about and know that networking success is about building relationships which leads us to secure business, but how great it is when we actually see this working at a meeting – for ourselves and for others. It is so rewarding to see this happening.

Recently at the Esher meeting I listened as a to-be member had gained business in just one short meeting with a member. Her 1230 membership cost was secured in that one meeting! How great is that!

At this week’s Beckenham meeting I was able to make recommendations and connections to 2 of those attending – which reminds me I need to confirm the details in an email to them!

And so the success of networking goes on, but you need to be there to make it work for you!

See you there!

Posted by on 13/05/2010 16:19:08

Looking forward to 12 June meeting

I’m so excited, this month we had our biggest group since 1230 TWC Croydon South re launched in February. It was a really complimentary group of business women with businesses ranging from complimentary and natural therapy products and services, jewellery, body shapers and so much more. The conversation was great and as always fantastic ideas exchanged.

I feel like a proud parent! Thank you so much ladies! Looking forward to next meeting on 12 June!

Posted by on 13/05/2010 17:25:37

1230 TWC Croydon South – May meeting- our biggest group yet!

I’m so excited,today we had our biggest group since 1230 TWC Croydon South re launched in February. It was a really complimentary group of business women with businesses ranging from complimentary and natural therapy products and services, jewellery, body shapers and so much more. The conversation was great and as always fantastic ideas exchanged.

I feel like a proud parent! Thank you so much ladies! Looking forward to next meeting on 12 June!

Posted by on 08/05/2010 21:13:20

Katie Moore Helps Bristol 1230 TWC with Social Media

Great meeting today in Bristol – its just our second meeting, but we had 14 wonderful women from different backgrounds, all enjoying Katie’s talk about social media.

There was so much to learn, and we just dipped our toes in. But Katie has kindly offered to send us tips and crib sheets and add us to her mailing list, so we can regularly receive updates about social media trends. Thanks Katie!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at Bristol 1230 again on 8 June.

Meanwhile we’ve delayed Malmesbury 1230 next week, to the week after (now on 13th)- due to the clash with the election! Looking forward to the post election debate over lunch next week!

Posted by on 04/05/2010 16:29:17

W Smith Accounts

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Working on or off site I work as your business partner, leaving you free to concentrate on what you do best. I can also train your staff and streamline your processes to ultimately save you time and money.

Please contact me for a chat and a free initial consultation.

Posted by on 29/04/2010 21:52:09

Is Twitter a Driver or Receiver Stream?

People can be forgiven to push one activity into lots of different channels eg Facebook and Linkedin to name two. After all, it’s only for a very few that marketing is a full time occupation.

But, is Twitter the driver for all applications?

I say No. For the simple reason that Twitter has its own vocabulary and, even though there are millions of users, not everyone will be familiar with it. You could be reducing your impact by continuing to use it. To quote Lee Iocacca, “Talk to people in their own language. If you do it well, they’ll say, ‘God, he said exactly what I was thinking. And when they begin to respect you, they’ll follow you to the death.”

And this is really what you want from your social media activity. You want a loyal tribe; a tribe that consumes your products and services. You certainly don’t want to be expending effort on creating tribes on the different platforms to find that people hide you because of your constant twittering.

If Twitter is a receiver stream, what are the driver streams?

And, these are ever changing and certainly will change in how people rank their usefulness to them. For all the sites where you are able to create material whether that’s a status update, a blog post, new video or podcast, these are the driver streams. And, it is from these streams that you turn on the link to Twitter but not in reverse!

The upshot is that people will be consuming your material in an ‘original’ form and in a way they understand.

You are then able to decide how much more you want to do on Twitter in terms of original postings. But then it’s the community aspect to participate in and that doesn’t need to be broadcast around the internet. As Lee Iococca says, “and, when they begin to respect you, they’ll follow you to death”

Let me know whether this struck a chord with you. Do you have your twitter posts streaming into lots of different sites? How has that worked for you?

Posted by on 13/04/2010 08:35:28

Power House!

what a power house of activity and business development at Saturday’s 1230 TWC CROYDON meeting!

Well done Julia – look forward to the next one on 8 May!

Posted by on 11/04/2010 09:38:11

Sevenoaks

What a productive meeting today a small group but lots of helpful brainstorming.

Posted by Fiona Coppard on 08/04/2010 17:12:42

Pure View Photography

We are contemporary photographers based in East Grinstead, West Sussex. We have a studio which is in a gorgeous setting. It used to be a farm but they have now converted all the out buildings into business units. This means that we are able to use the outside environment for our portrait and couples sessions. And a huge benefit to 1230 Members is that we are just round the corner from where the meeting takes place each month. If you ever fancy coming along to see where we are just let me know.

In the studio our meeting area is set up in a very cosy way which helps to relax our clients. I know a lot of people don’t like having photographs taken and I will do anything I can to make them more comfortable. If this means it helps to chat with them beforehand over a cup of coffee (or wine!) that is what I will do. This area is also great if you want to do a lifestyle photo shoot as we have everything we need right there.

It is extremely important to us that we keep abreast with new developments in Photography and to that end we have recently been to WPPI in Las Vegas. This is a huge convention where around 20,000 photographers get together and exchange ideas. There are also classes and workshops held by some of the top photographers in the word. It was hugely beneficial to us and we have come back brimming with new ideas. So watch this space…

Posted by Louise Jeffrey on 07/04/2010 14:22:09