Guest Blog: 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Social Media For Your Business!

Written by +Ronke Lawal

It still surprises me that some small business owners are still not using social media to its maximum potential as part of their business marketing mix. It has actually become quite tiresome to hear some dismiss social media as a "waste of time".

Here are just a few reasons why you should be using social media to market your business and your brand.

Reason 1: Most social media platforms are FREE. Even though I'm not an advocate of just signing up tosomething because it's free the very fact that social media is pretty much given to us for FREE is reason enough for any small business owner to sign up to twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest etc. There are costs associated for advertising of course but it's worth paying for marketing...just in case I haven't mentioned this enough before. 

Reason 2: Social Media is a great way to reach a global audience. Most social media platforms can be accessed pretty much anywhere across the world, this means that you potentially have access to the entire UNIVERSE to sell to...well maybe not the universe but you catch my drift. You can network with people in countries that you have never even been to and start making international sales. 

Reason 3: You can make friends with benefits! The benefits of social media influence have not been valued enough in my opinion. Just one retweet or share from the right person can make a message go viral/trend within a matter of seconds. Imagine what that can do to your business brand. Get networking, don't be shy, you don't even need to print business cards or wear clothes to get networking on social media (although I recommend that you do both)! 

Reason 4: It is a great source of market research, if you are savvy, smart and swift you can jump on a trending topic and get some coverage for your own business brand. Also by monitoring what is trending or being talked about on social media you can be more flexible and imaginative with how you operate in your own business.

Reason 5: It is a great way to get feedback from your client base, your followers and fans will not only let you know about what they think about your business but they will let the world know. This can be great if you're excellent at what you do...so make sure you are excellent but even if you aren't quite excellent you can learn from feedback and people respond well to great customer service via social media.

Well that's my Top 5 for now - Join my and The 2Inspire Network on June 27th 2015 to learn more. Book Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-use-social-media-to-grow-your-business-have-fun-doing-so-tickets-16518702885

Please do share and tweet me @ronkelawal @ariatupr if you have any thoughts.

Originally written on http://ronke-lawal.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-using.html

 

GUEST BLOG: E-Marketing - Creating real relationships with real people

Is Networking Important?

The world is changing.  Everyone is online, on Twitter and on Facebook.  The world is at our fingertips, we are a global society.  Even so, people still like to do business with people.  They like to see the whites in your eyes, as the saying goes.

A whopping 80% of jobs are landed through networking.  It’s the simple principle of “You never know who, you’ll meet and who they know”

It’s the same in business; people buy more through recommendations than through advertising. We trust our friends’ and families’ recommendations way over billboards or TV ads.

Imagine you meet someone at a networking event, make a great impression and connection?  Better still you find a way to help them?

Do you think that person will remember you and what you do? If you’re a photographer and the next time they meets someone who needs a photographer guess whose name comes to their mind?  You guessed it - Yours! 

That’s the power of Networking.  It’s not your well rehearsed elevator pitch, that you know so well that it sounds robotic.  It’s not shoving your business card in someone’s face without even taking the time to ask them about who they are.  It certainly is not droning on about your awesome company and the amazing product that’s changing people’s lives.  In fact it is simpler than all of the above.  The key to great networking is connecting with a person.  Finding out about them, being interested in them, rather than trying to be interesting. Why would you do that? Simply because no one is really interested in how special you are.  A person’s favourite subject is themselves.  The most used word in any language is I, Yo, Ich, Je Eu…….

The Fortune Is In The Follow Up

Have you heard that expression “The Fortune is in the follow up”? Well it’s 100% true.   When they say fortune they not only mean more business or sales, they mean a larger network.  It means more people that know who you are, what you do and if you’ve connected well with them, they’ll even advocate you.  That is priceless.  So don’t go home and add the cards you collected to the other pile of cards you already have.  Don’t ignore the people you met until you want something and suddenly remember them.  Connect with them at least 24hrs after the event.

The best reminder is a quick “great to meet you” text message on your way back to the office after the event.  If you can do something for the person you connected with (not necessarily business orientated) maybe some information that you know would be useful to them.  How would you know what was useful to them? Because when they were talking you were busy listening ;-)

And Then

Then comes you’re  e-marketing aka building the relationship.

E-marketing is a fantastic way to stay connected with your network as it grows.

I'm constantly hearing business owners say;

"I don't see the point in sending emails/e-marketing, besides I don't know how"

"I get lots of annoying emails and I don't want to be a nuisance"

"What on earth do I talk about in emails and I have enough to do anyway"

All good questions if you don’t understand what the real purpose of e-marketing is. It’s real purpose; build relationships, build trust and build a community of people who are interested and eager to know how you can serve them, all by taking one

simple action?

How?

It's called e-marketing, but all it is really is sharing, communicating and connecting with people - people who already are, or may become your ideal customers.

It's not hard and it's not heavy.  In fact it's simple and straightforward.

If you’d like to know more about what to do you can take a look at my free 1o steps to e-marketing ease

But if you’d line to know “how” to do it I have an invitation for you.

I'd like to show you how you can make sense of e-marketing and make it work effectively in your business.

On Thursday 24th April, I'll be working with a group of hand-picked business owners to help them make sense of e-marketing, and I'm inviting you to join us.

If you’d like would to speak to me, call me on 07403398822 or email info@launicaindependent.com. 

To book now go to: https://emarketingwithease.eventbrite.co.uk

Blessings & Prosperity  

Evette Franklin

Founder of launica Independent

Creating connections, collaborations and co-operation is how you Network With Ease: www.aprilnwe.eventbrite.co.uk

The 2Inspire Network celebrates its 1st Anniversary & fundraises for the 2inspire Academy

Saturday 8th June saw the celebration of the 2inspire Network 1st Anniversary party and fund-raising event take place at the Anise Bar in Liverpool Street.

2inspire Network was founded on 25th May 2012 and is a business dedicated to providing a platform of events, social media & training that empowers & inspire women particularly in business. A main objective of the business is to support women in enterprise and to assist them to enhance their socio-economic power. The company was founded as a result of the inspiration and support founder Hazel Chawapiwa received from her family & friends network, particularly during a difficult time in her life.


"Although the 2inspire Network is a new venture I wanted to mark the 1st year anniversary as I really wanted to celebrate the achievements of the organisation in such a short space of time, to acknowledge one of the inspirations behind the start up of the Network, (which is my mother whose birthday it was that week) and also to thank the women who have supported me and been a part of the 2inspire Network journey. It was not only a lovely celebration but a great chance to network and provided a fantastic platform for the performers to showcase their talents." - Hazel Chawapiwa

The event was also a fundraising event for the 2inspire Academy who are aiming to run a project in summer 2013 called "Inspire the youth" this is a project which intends to run workshops for 16-24 years olds in the following areas:

• Enterprise skills
• Multimedia
• Music technology
• CV writing/Interview skills

The 2inspire Academy was formed in March 2013 and is a a personal development & life-skills programme for young men & women aged 16-24. The academy was set up to address negative stereotypical images of young people and present them with additional life skills and role models. The aim of the academy is to guide and support young people so that they can make informed decisions, increase their skills and achieve personal targets to become confident active citizens within their communities. A steering group was formed for the Academy which consists of 8 16-24 year olds who guide the decision making of the Academy. The steering group members assisted in the planning and execution of the event and 5 of them were in attendance at the event. The Academy ambassador Charley Jai was also present and was instrumental in sourcing some of the amazing raffle prizes which included donations from Amor Magazine, Anise Kitchen, Mr Gorgeous, Bquav Photography, Dazzling Little Delights, Smomo, Diva's Addiction, Lorna Stewart, Deja Vu radio etc

It was a fun packed event and was hosted by inspirational speaker Usha Oliver of Dare to Dream.

The event highlights were:

The inspirational talks from guest speakers: Lorna Stewart (Black 100+), Carl Thompson (Self Made Me) Margaret Aberdeen (Life after Domestic Violence).

Lorna Stewart (Black 100+)

Carl Thompson (Self Made Me)

Margaret Aberdeen (Life After Domestic violence)

Spoken word performances from Cezanne Poetess and Patricia Foster.

Cezanne Poetess

Patricia Foster

Musical entertainment from artists: Nyrai Kizzy/ Amen noire, Joshua, Jen Titi-lola Da Sweetnezz, Rebecca , Linda E and Candice Chenade.

Nyrai Kizzy/ Amen Noire

Joshua

Candice Chenade

The event has now allowed the Academy to raise £464 towards their goal and was a great opportunity for the Academy message to be shared and get the support and encouragement from attendees. The Academy steering group will be holding their own fundraising event targeted at young people to help them reach their target in the summer. Please see link with information about the 2inspire Academy and possible ways you may be able to help them. http://www.2inspirenetwork.com/2inspireAcademy



A big thank you must go out to the sponsors of the event: Dazzling Little Delights, Smomo, Organo Coffee and Smomo:

 
More pictures from the event can be found on following link: 

https://plus.google.com/photos/111854041199502473986/albums/5891220528857886673?authkey=CN_DpseNv9bBBA

Photographs taken by Brian Quavs - bquavs@gmail.com