Truly, given the time of day I attend these things; a real case of  ‘the early bird catching the worm’ wouldn’t you say?

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

Variable Factors

The success I’ve enjoyed through these groups can be variable and depends upon a number of key factors such as;

• How I hone my business networking skills so that they include an elevator speech that is specific about asking what type business I’m looking for and who from. In other-words: better networking skills = improved return on the time I spend networking.
• The format of the networking group. Some are very strict in their format to such an extent that you’d think you’re part of some cult, through to ones that are nothing more than a busy social activity over breakfast. Both format extremes I find to be non-productive for me. My current breakfast business networking group of choice is proNet in West Yorkshire, which offers a relaxed format that is midway between the overlay evangelical approach and the time-wasting ‘let’s have a chat’ approach.
• The mix of people within each group. Irrespective of the group’s format, one thing has become clear to me over time with any networking group, is that the quality of people that are members of the group is pivotal to its success as a business networking platform. If there’s a good mix of real business owners, which excludes MLM scheme holders and franchisees — this latter type is probably a controversial one for many people, but hey oh! Then the probability of some decent business flowing, improves considerably in a group where the mix is right .

Breakfast Business Networking in Action

Getting Out of Bed

If you run your own business and particularly a young business that is hungry for new clients, then surely you must be open minded to every possible avenue when it comes to new business generation.

You would think so right?

However I’m constantly surprised by the number of small business owners that I come across on a regular basis who refuse point blank to dip their toe into the world of breakfast networking groups (or even business networking meetings in general) giving the objections of:

1. I don’t do early mornings.
2. Breakfast networking groups don’t work for my industry/sector.
3. I’m too busy.

So whilst I’m conscious that some people do have genuine reasons why they can’t make an early morning networking meeting (childcare being the primary one), surely being too lazy to get of bed to try these meetings out, can’t be one of them if you’re serious about growing your business.

What’s Your Favourite?

Do you participate in breakfast networking groups? If so tell us which ones and why they work for you or alternatively if you’ve given them a go and found them to be unproductive. Tell us why in the comments below.

Photo Credit: Roger V Moody Photography

Let me explain..

Creative Connections

Loca is an arts and regeneration agency offered by Kirklees Council as part of its Creative Business Support Programme for artists and creative businesses within the Kirklees region which covers towns such as Huddersfield, Batley, Cleckheaton and of course Dewsbury to name just a few examples.

They run regular networking events under the moniker of ‘Creative Connections’ which feature a guest speaker. On this occasion I was asked to give an overview of Social Media and how artistic businesses could use it to their advantage.

I’ve posted more details about the mechanics of the actual event I spoke at here if you want to learn more.

Brief Encounters (Or Not So, Perhaps)

What made this networking event interesting to start off with was that it was held in a formally disused retail shop bang in the middle of Dewsbury town centre.

Encounters Shop Dewsbury

However it wasn’t any old shop.

For a start off it was previously a vacant shop (of which unfortunately Dewsbury has many) that the council has now taken over on a 2 year lease and has, in collaboration with an artistic collective called Encounters who go around occupying empty shops and then turning them into useable spaces for the local community, turned the shop into community resource.

Chalk Board Wall — Encounters Shop Dewsbury

The shop in Dewsbury I was presenting at was newly opened. Read more details about the shop with some pictures of it by following this link to the Encounters website.

An Introduction to Social Media

My presentation to a room of some 25 artists and creative business owners was an introduction to social media and how they could use it to market their creative businesses.

In my presentation I used my trusted little video “Social Media in Plain English” (below) which I’ve used several times and which always go down well by way of a simple explanation of how social media works for those that don’t know.

However, I needn’t have worried as just about everyone in the room was using social media in some form or other for their businesses and out of a lively open discussion at the end of my 20 minute slot, came some good uses of it.

Two examples of social media being used by people in the room were; Michael Lee Barrett a graphic artist, whom was already making good use of Twitter (@3m3lbi) and has built up a loyal following with his blog which showcases and discusses his work; his “Friday polaroid” feature is particularly popular he told me.

Adrian Burnham, an architectural and CAD designer, was just getting to grips with LinkedIn (http://uk.linkedin.com/in/adrianburnham ) and wanted some advice on how he could connect with people in his target market.

Other examples included a textile-rug artist who is using Flickr to showcase work and collaborate with his associates and a video artist who is using Vimeo to demonstrate his work.

(Sorry I don’t have the URLs for these people which is a shame I know!)

Tell Us Your Story

We’re you there at this event? Post a comment below and share with others your experiences of using social media and how you’ve used it to enhance, promote or add value to your creative business.

Photocredit: Rick Harrison of Forty Below Zero

This forthcoming Thursday (25th March 2010), I’ll be presenting at the Bradford GRID* South’s “Cosy Coffee Morning” event in front of a small crowd of business owners talking about the virtues of business networking and how it can be used as a successful marketing technique for any business.

Olga and Shelley at the Bradford South Grid

However, like all strategies and techniques, there’s a few golden rules to follow if you’re to be successful.

Learn what these are, meet up with other like minded business folk this and join in with the exercises I have planned this Thursday morning.

Read more on the GRID* website and book your place with Olga by email.

Event Location

Admin Block 1,

Low Moor Business Park,

Off Common Road,

Bradford, BD12 0NB

Photo Credit: John Steel Photography

This was the question posed to me by a member of the audience following my presentation on Social Media Marketing at a business networking lunch earlier this week.

To be honest I must admit that I did waffle a response to the question presented to me which no doubt didn’t give anyone in the room any satisfaction. Still no one let on! Phew!

So being the inquisitive person that I am and not wanting to be put on the ‘spot’ like that again; I decided to do a bit of research and find an answer to the question:

“What’s the difference between a Facebook Fan Page and a Facebook Group?”

Here’s my findings

Fan Pages vs Groups

Facebook in its Help Centre summarizes the differences as;

“Groups and Pages serve different purposes on Facebook. Groups are meant to foster group discussion around a particular topic area while Pages allow entities such as public figures and organizations to broadcast information to their fans. Only the authorized representative of the entity can run a Page”

But surely there’s more to it than that?

Digging a bit deeper on the official Facebook Blog, where I found an informative post which talks about this very subject. You can read the full post for yourself here but to pick out the salient points of their features, here’s a comparative table;

For more information on this subject, take a surf over to the highly respected Mashable blog with its vast library of posts related to Social Media.

One pertinent to this subject may be found here and includes a nice definition of what Facebook Pages and Groups actually are. (Just in case you’ve read this far into my post and are thinking “What the…?”)

Just be aware that Facebook is always tweaking the features of it Pages and Groups so these and any other posts you may read on the subject, will degrade in their relevance over time.

Anymore for Anymore?

If I’ve missed out some key differences between these two Facebook features or if you’ve discovered any quirks yourself through your own efforts or research, then feel free to post them in a comment below.

Whilst you’re thinking about that, feel free to become a Fan of iNet’s own Facebook Page.

Jaimie Dobson at Business Networking Group proNet

Last Thursday was a busy day of networking and presenting as I made an exhibition of myself at the GRID* Enterprise Expo in Bradford.

The day started off in the dark at 7 am with a busy business networking breakfast courtesy of proNet which was immediately followed in the same building by a small business Expo organised by those folks at the Bradford Grid* Park Lane.

Despite early pre-match nerves regarding low advanced bookings, minds were set at rest on the day as numbers through the doors proved to be plentiful and steady.

Jaimie Dobson of iNet inSights

iNet shared exhibiting floor space with support agencies such as Bradford Kickstart, Business Link and service providers ranging from HSBC, a couple of marketing companies, an IT provider, an accountant and a HR consultancy to name but a few.

Wide Range of Interests

Interest from those that came to say hello ranged from a health counselor who wanted to know about the the ins and outs of blogging, through to a web designer start-up wanting advice on the logistics of running a web design business and a private healthcare provider wanting to get to grips with LinkedIn.

Mid-way through the event I contributed one of the mini bite-size seminars that were being run throughout the day by talking to a packed room of small business owners about the ways in which they can promote their website for free. This presentation may be viewed again on our slideshare account.

Pleasantly Surprised

Traditionally I’m not a great lover of exhibitions (both as an exhibitor or as an attendee) — however, this one proved to be a good one as not only did we run a busy stand but we picked up a few enquiries as well.

Lovely jubbly!

Currying Favour

Being in Bradford, the curry capital of Britain in my book; exhibitors and attendees were treated to a scrumptious curry buffet meal at lunchtime. None of this pre-made, politically correct manufactured rubbish either, the real McCoy with a bit of a kick to it. (You can tell I’m a curry fan).

What else would you expect in Bradford!

What a way to curry favour with local businesses? Great networking, a great mini-Expo and a great lunch.

Thanks to everyone at the Grid* for their hard work in pulling it all together.

Photos

The above pictures were taken by John Steel Photography. You can view more of John’s pictures of the proNet networking event here and of the Expo day here.