Talk to other Business Owners

"Friday Night and where did it all go wrong" playing on the radio right now.

This week has just disappeared and gone for ever. We all have 7 days, 168 hours, 10080 minutesa and 604799 seconds in a week. Just a second check out my maths and prove me wrong. That "one second" is as important as the 606799 others.

It is so important to make the most of every minute, whether workinmg on your business or enjoying a social life.

And what a week. Last Saturday saw more snow and I caught my postman on camera. He was one of jone of a handful of vehicles that made it up the hill to my home. It doesn't look too deep but it was really frozen and like an ice-rink.

It was actually very sunny until I went to Pembokeshire where it changed to blizzard conditions and there were several vehicles strewn along the road.

This week we have had our Local Business Networking meeting at the Dylan Thomas Theatre on Wednesday. These meetings work well. We sit in a circle at a table so we can munch on sandwiches and talk. I was able to update on the Swansea Business Show that is to be held in the theatre in May. It's looking very positive.

Last evening saw me at Swansea University where I manage Unibus (the university supporting local business). WE were able to give sme good input to the Student event being arranged by Bright Futures, the student organisation that oprepares students for the commercial world. They are holding a dinner at the local Marriott hotel on 18th March bringing local businesses and students together.

Today I've been involved in looking at sheltered accommodation for a housing association. It has taken several visits this week to different locations looking at disabled access. Can I finish by next Tuesday? I still have two locations to view. Then there is the report to finish. I'll keep you updated.

Much more has happened. I have commitments on Monday am, Tuesday all day, Wednesday all day, Thursday am and Friday all day.

So my advice is to keep a minute by minute check for a week and see how your time is used. Could it be more fruitful?

If I can help you make more time of your business call me.

regards

What is the problem? Bang that Drum

Where has personal marketing gone?

I remember as a cinema manager back in the early sixties that I was constantly looking for promo material that would tell local people about the films I was showing.

What did we do? remember that we had stars of forthcoming films attend and in particular Oliver Reed. His film was about an advertising executive who has some sort of breakdown and smashes up his office. Well, he came to the cinema where we had set up a desk on stage, just below the screen so it wasn't visible and in the intermission, when the lights came up he strode down the main isle with an axe over his shoulder and onto the stage where he smashed up the desk. This was great for us because we'd announced he be there and so the cinema was packed and we could expect a crowd the next week for his film: it was great for the audience because they saw one of the stars of the day: and it good for Oliver Reed because it kept his exp[osure high.

I remember when we had Bond 007 films showing, we'd either dress up for local newspaper shots or have some of the big props and equipment from the studio set up in the foyer. We also had an open lorry that we'd tour the streets with where we'd paste up posters on a giant A-board.

Nowadays that's changing. I as amazed at two things on Friday and one on Saturday. The former very negative whilst the latter both positive and negative.

On Friday I went to an indoor shopping centre to look at a retail outlet. One of the points we discussed was giving out leaflets. He staggerred me by saying that it was against the centre rules. He wasn't allowed to step outside the shop to hand anything out!! I then went to a large outdoor shopping centre and heard the same story.

People buy from people. The best introduction is not through adverts, websites, mailshots or bill-boards. No! It's through personal contact. How can you make contact with possible prospective customers if you can't approach them?

Imagine fishing and having to dangle the line and bait right at your feet, rather than throw the line into the middle of the river or lake! I know that fish hide under the bank and can be tickled but that's a different game ; thery are usually resting or asleep - if fish sleep.


On Saturday I went into Swansea and passed through Swansea Market taking photos when I came across Jannis.

Jannis is Greek and has a market stall selling authentic Greek speciality foods. He's had the stall for just under a year and is a really happy chappie.

When I saw Jannis he was walking around the busy market ringing a bell and holding a tray of what could be doughnuts (I'm going back to find out). And he was shouting "Support local businesses" I couldn't believe it, particularly as I'm organising the Swansea Business Show in May and one of the themes is just that - support local business.

But there's a problem here as in the shopping centres: the management seem to disapprove because when I asked other stall-holders why they didn't shout or do anything to attract attention I was told that this wasn't acceptable!!

When I had a stall in Pettycoat Lane in London with a friend we were expected to shout out and try anything to attract attention.

What is going on? Is this being politically correct? Have we lost our sense of proportion? Please help?

Visit my Marketing Basics website to learn about easy ways to market.

Swansea in and around the Market



If you are doing anything different to attract attention on the street do let me know. Write a comment.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS . . .

. . . . at the Dylan Thomas Theatre on Saturday night was a superb production. There was one set and the main characters were there throughout then production. It was snappy and well rehearsed. I sat in the front row and didn't hear one prompt. The play went from being a serious production and slipped into a riot of slapstick at times. I couldn't stop laughing in the second half.


Until the curtain call when we all had a surprise and the Director a shock! But you'll have to wat until tomorriow for more about that. Another rmarketing trick is to leave the reader in suspense. There's no prize for guessing what happened but read on tomorrow.


Keep busy. Market well and be successful.

Yes! Video works wonders

Look at yesterday's post. I told you that just a simple basic video is easy to put ion your website and adds a third dimension.


Take a look at http://www.swansealittletheatre.org.uk/nextproduction.php and see for yourself. Just a simple video about the latest production rehearsal and your imagination is set alight.

Try putting up some video yourself.



The Swansea Business Show is falling into place. See the blog . Just click on the link. http://swanseabusinessshow.blogspot.com/ Want to increase your turnover and profits then book a stand today.

If I can help you be more successful call me.

regards

Dylan Thomas Theatre Around the World in 80 Days

"Opening Nights." "Break a leg." "Green Room." "5 minutes beginners"

Yes It's curtains up at the Dylan Thomas Theatre tomorrow night 27th January until Saturday 31st for the Swansea Little Theatre Company to present "Around the World in 80 Days"

Curtains up at 7.30 and tickets at £8.50/£7.00. It'll be a great event and I would strongly recommend you to book now on 01792 473238. Book any night but if it's Saturday I'll see you there.


The bar will be open for a pre-show drink, during the intermission and afterwards.

I've been planning the Swansea Business Show over the weekend and I believe we'll have space for up to 45 stands. All are the same size and within the budget of the smallest business. We'll be e-mailing around 4000 business people next week as our first salvo. I expect stands to be snatched up rapidly and I already have 9 booked without having definite stand sizes and cost. The cost will be inclusive of table and 2 power points for low-energy usage such as laptops, parking in the nearby public carpark and welcoming coffee/tea and biscuits. We'll have a special package deal for an advertising pack of pop-up banner, business cards and A5 leaflets. We'll be having a goodie-bag and a show-guide/wall-planner.

The aim is to have a busy exhibition that will be worthwhile for exhibitors and visitors. As the FSB Road to Success Show isn't running this year We are offering you a dynamic alternative.

Grab a video and capture some interest about your business.





Quality isn't too important, high resolution isn't either. Think about getting some testimonials, show how to usev a product, capture some video of your staff or yourself talking about the compnay success. Use a free or low cost editor, add in some text and launch on Youtube. Embed on your website or blog and send out e-mails to tell your contacts. Just seen on www.



Good marketing isn't fancy ideas and big budgets. It's about doing the simply and basic things well. Good successful marketing can be free or low cost.



Be active. Try something new. Be lucky.