Krishna De: Insights From Ireland On Digital Marketing, Social Media And Entrepreneurship

Quick thoughts and tips about building visibility, buzz, reputation and profits - plus stuff that doesn't fit my blog

Is your marketing and social media marketing on brand?

Having spent over 20 years working with corporate and consumer brands, when I set up my own organisation I realised that I not only needed to brand myself but also my small business. In fact I also then began to teach people how to do the same and I used social media to help me build visibility for my business and my own profile as a speaker and mentor.

It's funny how people seem to have been forgetting the importance of developing their brand and have jumped straight to marketing - so I was pleased to be invited to speak again on developing a profitable brand essence at an event recently for a group of start up businesses.

The one problem was that the event organisers made the mistake of having got the participants in the programme work on their marketing plan before they had figured out thier brand - the result being that they are now going back to revisit their brand and then review their marketing plans again - how frustating!

A logo does not a brand make - yes it can be helpful in terms of your visual identity and can aid recognition but that's not what I mean when I talk about branding.

And at the same time it is critical that your marketing is consistent with your brand essence.

I have a new extensive programme launching in 2011 which I am developing at the moment that is going to incorporate developing your brand if you are a small business, but if you can not wait to get started here is a great resource - a branding telesmummit - in fact it is FREE to attend - though if you want to purchase the audio and PDF's there is a payment.

the live event runs from 27 September to the 1 October 2010 - but if you miss it you will be able to access the programme as a virtual product should you register after that date.

Some of the speakers include:

  • Nick Nanton who is covering "The 5 Step Celebrity Branding Blueprint That Will Position You As The Expert Authority And Have Customers Begging To Do Business With You"
  • Andrea J. Lee on "How To Brand Yourself As THE Go-To Authority In Your Industry, Even If You’re Starting From Scratch".

Check out the branding telesummit here if you are interested in learning how to get started in developing a brand for your small business.

Make a Referral Week - help stimulate the global economy

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via makeareferralweek.com

Referrals make the world go around don't they? Most businesses I know find that the majority of their business comes from referrals be than online of offline.

Small business marketing coach and author John Jantsch hosted 'Make a Referral Week' in 2009 and I am delighted that he is hosting it again during the week of 8-12 March 2010.

So don't forget to add who your referred and why in the comments section at http://www.makeareferralweek.com/referralcounter – you can add URLs so others can learn about the business you referred.

Who will you be referring business to this week?

Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association Training: HSE Procurement and Meet the Buyers

Are you an organisation who wants to work with the HSE? Then you might be interested in this series of events that ISME is running across the country giving you the opportunity to meet buyers of services in the HSE.

Sligo - 15th September 2009 - 4pm - Clarion Hotel
Athlone - 16th September 2009 - 8.30am - Radisson SAS
Dublin - 22nd September 2009 - 8.00am - Red Cow Hotel
Kilkenny - 22nd September 2009 - 4pm - New Park Hotel

AGENDA

  • Overview of HSE and HSE Procurement
  • Tendering, Contracting and How to Engage with HSE
  • Overview of HSE Logistics and how it impacts suppliers
  • Q & A
  • Meet the Buyer Sessions & networking opportunity


COST TO ATTEND

ISME Members: €55
Non Members: €95

HOW TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

You can access the booking forms on the ISME website HERE.

Thanks to @MiriamAhern for the tip off on this series.

 

Irish Artisan Food Companies: opportunity to sell your products in Superquinn

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Superquinn Ireland will be running an exciting food event in October 2009, where artisan food companies who does not currently supply them will be given the opportunity to go into their shops over a 2 week period.

Access the details (in PDF format) of the programme HERE (on the DCEB.ie website)

Access the application form (Word format) HERE (on the DCEB.ie website)

 

Transfer of BT Ireland residential and small business clients to Vodafone is approved by the Competition Authority

The Competition Authority has approved plans by BT Ireland to transfer its residential and small business customers to Vodafone.

Last month, the two companies unveiled plans that will result in BT exiting the consumer market here, and hiving off its 84,000 phone and broadband customers to Vodafone. A further 3,000 small business customers at BT will be moved. BT Ireland's primary customer base is the corporate sector.

The initial seven-year deal will increase Vodafone's total fixed-line customer base in Ireland to more than 170,000 and make it the second-biggest player in the country's fixed-line market after Eircom. Vodafone will also have 15pc of the country's fixed-line broadband internet customer base.

The Competition Authority said it had formed the view that the proposed acquisition did not raise competition concerns.

The BT-Vodafone plan also includes a multi-million euro commitment from BT to upgrade a further 58 telephone exchanges around the country so it can ensure that more of the population can access its high-speed internet services.

BT will sell the wholesale broadband capacity to Vodafone, which will in turn market it to fixed-line customers.

The deal will also have an impact on Eircom's revenues.

- John Mulligan

via independent.ie