Archive for the 'Blog' category:

Oswestry Jelly – A Co Working Event For Local Businesses

September 12, 2011

Posted by admin in Blog with no comments

Shropshire Jelly - Oswestry Lion Quays - October Event 2011

What is Jelly?

Jelly is a casual monthly co-working event, where homeworkers, freelancers, small business owners and office based people, who want a change of environment once in a while can get together with their laptops once a month to have a change from their usual working environment. Jelly is a mixture of work, chat, sharing ideas, helping others with business issues, passing on tips and even collaborating on the birth of a new project.

Jelly is NOT networking.

The aim is not to meet clients, pitch your business or try to sell – anyone blatantly doing this will NOT be popular – there are plenty of excellent Shropshire networking groups where you can do this. Jelly was started in the USA and is now increasingly popular in the UK with over 20 active groups already operating.

IT’S GREAT TO THINK THAT OSWESTRY IS ONE OF SEVERAL SHROPSHIRE TOWNS LEADING THE WAY IN THIS INNOVATIVE IDEA.

So if you ever feel isolated in your home office/work office and want to meet some other like-minded people in a different work environment, then JELLY is for you. It’s free so jump on in and give it a try!

What is the cost to attend?

Whilst It is FREE to attend, there is a £10 working lunch available which we encourage all attendees to purchase to show our appreciation for the free venue space and wifi. Apart from this all you need do is bring money for tea and coffee. Do I have to stay all day? No, we don’t barricade doors. It’s up to you when you come and when you leave – obviously the more that stay for the duration, the more vibrant and interactive it will be.

Do I qualify to attend?

As long as you have a laptop or craft to keep you busy and you’re a business person, consider yourself eligible. The more variety of people we have attending, the better! Even if you’re still researching your business you are more than welcome to come along and get some inspiration.

Who is organising it?

Heather Noble of Salt Solutions – I provide marketing, pr, event and presentation solutions to help small to medium sized businesses connect with their target audiences and improve their ‘image’. My passion is to provide creative solutions to make you look good!

Any questions?

Follow @saltsolutionsuk or @shropshirejelly on Twitter or email heather@salt-solutions.co.uk with any questions you may have. Alternatively contact @janminihane (the Jelly Queen who first brought Jelly to Shropshire) on Twitter or visit http://workatjelly.com/shropshire

Still Interested?

Then click on this ticket link http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2173599294. You MUST sign up to secure your place as numbers are limited. If you do not get a place this time, your name will go onto a shortlist and you will be contacted to replace anyone who drops out due to other commitments.

If you get a ticket but are then unable to attend PLEASE, PLEASE do let us know so that we can reallocate your place.

Seven Wonders of The Oswestry Hills Walk

September 12, 2011

Posted by admin in Blog with no comments

If you are at a loss as to what to do this weekend, why not check out this charity ramble through the amazing Shropshire countryside?

All walks start from Trefonen Village Hall and there are a range of options available. So whether you fancy a 7 mile or 14 mile ramble with optional mini bus return after 7 miles, there’s something for all abilities. There are also guided walks available from 9am.

For just £10 on the day, including maps, drinks and cake en route, you can have a fantastic day in the great outdoors whilst raising money for the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

Check out further details at www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

Work that Network

August 18, 2011

Posted by admin in Blog with one comment

Those who know me will be aware of how massively passionate I am about Networking and of my one woman mission to encourage businesses (particularly new businesses) to learn to love this amazing opportunity that takes place all over the country, on all days of the week and at all times of day, so there’s really no excuse not to give it a chance. What have you got to lose?

Whether mornings are your thing, or you prefer a lunchtime or evening meeting there are groups and opportunities to suit your working day and work life balance.

My preferred group is www.4networking.biz and you can find out more about their 300+ groups via their website. This blog is not an advert for 4Networking although the temptation to rave about my journey at 4N is overwhelming.

Many people think that they can’t afford to join a regular networking group. I’d say you can’t afford not to. Of course, for a new business all costs have to be ‘weighed’ up and justified. I’m not just talking financial investment but also emotional investment but as any financial expert will advise, if you don’t invest, you’ll get no return.

No genuine networking group should profess to do it all for you. They can only facilitate, and of course some do a better job of that than others. The best way to find the type of networking that ‘works’ for you is to try several but remember, you should network in the style that suits you, not that suits the group. You MUST be yourself and speak out and speak clearly.

You need to make your investment work for you and the only way to do that is to make an effort, engage and as I like to say ‘put yourself about a bit’.

You may find the following key tips useful for your business networking journey. Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences of networking in the comments field and get in touch if I can advise or help in any way.

1. Sample several groups in your local area (or the area that you want to promote your business to). Most groups offer the chance to visit several times as a visitor to ‘suss out’ whether they are right for you. DO NOT be pressurised into membership. A genuine group should sell itself. If it feels right, it probably is right but only you can decide.
2. Be prepared. Don’t miss a single opportunity. Remember your business cards and flyers. Prepare your ‘Elevator Pitch’ and be very clear about the message you want to convey. And remember using notes as a prompt IS OK!
3. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t. Dress in a way that reflects you and your business. In 2011 suits aren’t always the best dress code and your appearance should reflect your personality and business. It’s another form of non verbal communication.
4. Talk to people. Tough though it may be don’t wait for people to approach you, because they may not (sad but true). Don’t assume that everyone else knows everyone else in the room, they probably don’t.
5. Swot up on small talk. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to ‘dry up’ unless you have mastered the art of verbal diarrhoea in the way that I have! Talk about the venue, the coffee, the traffic whatever it takes.
6. Ask questions, questions, questions. Bizarre as it sounds, don’t try to sell your business. Listen, listen, listen. You’ll be amazed what information people will share with you when you make them feel relaxed and ask open questions.
7. Follow up on your promises. If you promise to forward some information, make to someone after the meeting, make sure that you do. If you planned to forward diary dates for a follow up meeting, make sure that you do.

Much of the above is common sense but you’d be amazed how many people don’t follow these few simple rules.

Most importantly, get out there, make some decisions and stick with it. There are no quick fixes in business. If you business is new or flagging, the one thing you are is ‘time rich’ and there lies your biggest opportunity.

If you would like help with perfecting your Elevator Pitch or your networking techniques, we can help. Call Heather for an informal chat about how we can help you get the most out of your networking journey.

Stand and Deliver

August 8, 2011

Posted by admin in Blog with no comments

Speaking in public doesn’t come naturally to many of us. In fact, it seems to be a skill that we develop as a child and then lose as we enter adulthood. Perhaps it’s something to do with our hormones…

The most common ‘issue’ when it comes to speaking in public or presenting to a group are nerves. Those butterflies and sweaty palms that trouble us all can be considerably reduced by following a few key steps.

Here are a few pointers that you can easily build on.

Who?
Take time to think about who your audience is and the most appropriate way to present to them. Are they work professionals or perhaps a social club or group? What age are they? You may need to adapt your presentation style to suit different age groups.

What?
What are you going to speak about? Presumably you have been invited, or are planning to present on a subject you are familiar with. Consider the audience and their familiarity with the subject matter. Try not to use ‘jargon’, assume your audience has no knowledge of the subject matter and paint a clear picture for them.

Where?
Be sure to check out the venue you will be speaking at. Is there a projector or flip chart available for you to use? What is the size of the venue? Will you be standing at a lectern, on a stage or amongst your audience?

Why?
What is the objective of your talk? Are you trying to persuade a client to buy your services? Are you educating a group on a given subject? Perhaps you are sharing an experience or specialist knowledge? Whatever the case, you should be very clear about what you remit and objective is.

Being very clear about what you are trying to achieve, really thinking about what might interest your audience and how best to deliver your message can all make the art of speaking in public less nerve wracking however, the most important message to take on board is to be yourself, be sincere and genuine and, even if you have to fake it a little, be enthusiastic, it’s catching.

If you would like to know more about how to improve your speaking performance or speech writing, contact Heather on 07843 006984 of via the contact form at www.salt-solutions.co.uk.

Shropgeek 2011

July 22, 2011

Posted by heather in Blog with no comments

Salt Solutions are thrilled to be working with the Shropgeek team to plan and deliver their Theory of (R) Evolution event again this year.

With a larger venue it means we are able to maximise not only on the scale of the event but provide a greater opportunity for ‘geeky networking’. We know how much you love sharing those ‘techie tips’ and advice so there will be plenty of time to do this in between our fantastic speakers and alongside, of course, beer.

This year we are delighted to have secured local Radio Shropshire’s own Jim Hawkins to host the evening who we know will be sure to get the very most of our guest speakers.

Compared to other similar events this is a real value for money evening, so clear out Friday 2nd September in your diary and come indulge your inner (or outer) geek.

Check out the full and varied line up and book your tickets via the dedicated Shropshire (R) Evolution website http://www.shropgeek-revolution.co.uk/

Falling in love again…

July 22, 2011

Posted by heather in Blog with no comments

In a recession we all take steps to cut our spending both at home and in business but is this really always the best strategy?

With so many companies falling by the wayside, the desire to hold on to what money we have is understandable but not necessarily pragmatic. However, there are ways to maximise on potential client opportunities without breaking the bank.

Let’s explore a few affordable options.

Consider the following;

Do your clients know that you are still in business?
Is there a pool of potential new clients whose normal supplier has gone out of business?
Are you fully aware of what your clients need in a recession?
Are your staff ‘treading water’?
Do your clients know what you can offer them?
Have you and your staff fallen out of love with your business?

How much money might any one of the above be costing your business and what steps could you take to reduce that cost? New business, retained business and lost business all have a monetary value.

Let’s explore how to eliminate these costs and keep moving towards maximised productivity and profitability;

Engage with New Clients Host an open day at your premises.

Publicise what you offer and the level of service you can provide. If not for now, for the future.

Remind lapsed clients you are still in business – Run a workshop to showcase your services.

We all have clients we only work with periodically. If you don’t maintain contact with them they might assume that you have ‘disappeared’ and place their business elsewhere.

‘Press the flesh’ of existing clients – Organise a seminar with a keynote speaker relevant to your line of business and share some ‘free’ information.

Show appreication to your existing clients and be sure to ‘thank’ them for their business. Existing clients are the cheapest audience to market to. Make the most if them.

Interrogate your clients, new and old – A client questionnaire aligned with a free prize draw will increase response levels and provide valuable marketing material.

In times of recession our needs change. Make sure you keep abreast of what your client needs NOW and in the future. The only way to do that is to ask questions.

Re energise your team – a small team building event can clear the air, bring new energy to a team and (if handled correctly) identify some great marketing ideas.

Recession is a difficult time for everyone. Don’t allow your staff to think that your business is treading water. This is bad for morale and for business. Maintaining energy within your business is a fundamental part of success.

Educate your clients – Workshops, Seminars & Training sessions can all educate your clients and (with luck) highlight just how much they need your products/services.

Make sure your clients understand what you have to offer. As you introduce new products, services, team members, move premises etc keep you clients informed of what you can provide and how.

Re energise yourself – Providing your business with a target (other than a KPI) can increase energy levels immensely.

Remember that businesses need energy. If you fall out of love with your business, your clients will fall out of love with you. If you lack energy – fake it.

If you need help with falling in love with your business again contact Heather Noble on 07843 006984 for an informal chat and to find out more about how we can help.

We all know how to eat an elephant…

July 14, 2011

Posted by admin in Blog with no comments

We may all know how to eat an elephant but do we know how the same principles can be applied to our marketing strategy?

In business it is so easy to crave a bite of every cherry on the tree (no jokes about painted toe nails here folks). The desire to be all things to all men, particularly during hard times, can be overwhelming and the temptation to compromise quality for quantity beckons loudly.

We all know that when there is less work to go around, the harder we have to work for our share and, believe it or not, this doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds.

Whatever your business, the only real key to success is to be VERY clear about what you can offer your client. If you don’t know this, how can they understand what you have to offer? Once you know what it is, you simply need to hone in to where these clients ‘hang out’. Track them down and it’s just a case of grabbing their attention.

As a starting point, here are a few tips on how to begin to eat that marketing elephant;

What have you got to offer?

Take time out to really think about what it is you have to offer clients and write down a few broad headings as to what type of client your services/products could appeal to.

Where do your clients hang out?

Look at your existing, and past, client base to see what types of client you have attracted in the past. Categorise them under a few broad headings and give some thought as to how you came to be selling to them in the first place. Where did you meet them? What was it you sold to them? What else could you have sold to them? What feedback did they give you? Can you use this feedback to highlight your products/services to others Use this information to identify and seek out similar types of client.

How do you capture attention?

Clients want solutions, we all want to cut through the elephant dung, we just want to know what’s in it for me so…

Ask clients for feedback on the products or services you provided and use this information to find creative ways to ‘attract’ potential clients. Eg. If a client says your service gave them ‘peace of mind’ then potential clients need to know that you are in the market for providing ‘peace of mind’

So you see, it’s doing things chunk by chunk you can really focus on your message, identify your true market (rather than the ‘anyone and everyone’ strategy) and, from that, widen your horizon in a very ‘specific’ way.

The above has probably only got you as far as nibbling the ears but you’ve got to start somewhere…

If you feel you need help in any of the above areas, please feel free to contact Heather Noble on 07843 006984 for an informal chat on how Salt Solutions might assist.

Shropgeek (R)Evolution

July 10, 2011

Posted by heather in Blog with no comments

The Theory of (R)Evolution is an event, run by Shropgeek, showcasing some of the most forward thinking ideas on the web today.

After the huge success of last year’s first event, we are delighted to be involved in the planning and promoting of this event again for 2011.

If you work in the world of IT or simply have a ‘geeky’ interest in the world wide web, this is for you.

This event gives you a chance to mix with like minded individuals, get the inside track on the latest geekery from three expert speakers and enjoy a drink or two.

With a new, larger venue we are able to accomodate more people than before so there’s no need for anybody to miss out.

Further details and bookings can be made here http://www.shropgeek-revolution.co.uk/

Oswestry Speakers Corner

July 8, 2011

Posted by heather in Blog with no comments

This local group provides support, instruction and coaching on how to improve your public speaking skills.

Regular attendees say that they have grown in confidence, generally, as well as mastering their speaking skills.

We have occasional guest speakers who share their experiences and/or hints and tips with us as well as regular ‘learn sessions’ where we focus on a particular aspect of speaking, speech writing, handling nerves and building rapport with your audience.

We meet every other Monday at The Walls in Oswestry http://www.the-walls.co.uk/.

Meetings run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and visitors are welcome to attend two meetings without charge to find out more about what we do. Normal fees are £5 per meeting.

Meeting dates for the rest of 2011;

25th July
8th August
22nd August
5th September
19th September
3rd October
17th October
31st October
14th November
28th November
12th December

Contact Heather on 07843 006984 for an informal chat and to find out more.

Give us a try… we have lots of fun and we don’t bite!

New website goes live!

July 6, 2011

Posted by heather in Blog with no comments

Hello World!

I understand that’s what all web geeks type when they are testing a new website.

Fortunately for me, the wonderful Kirsty Burgoine has done all the testing that needs doing and my lovely shiny new site has arrived. Welcome! Read more »

Archive for the 'Blog' category:

Oswestry Jelly – A Co Working Event For Local Businesses

Seven Wonders of The Oswestry Hills Walk

Work that Network

Stand and Deliver

Shropgeek 2011

Falling in love again…

We all know how to eat an elephant…

Shropgeek (R)Evolution

Oswestry Speakers Corner

New website goes live!

Categories

Archive

Tags

Contact us

Work with us

Twitter

Connect