ACPR Blog

Using Social Media to Promote YOUR Company?

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:14:15 +0000

Over a third of SMEs use social media on a daily basis to promote their

businesses, new research has revealed.

A survey of 269 companies conducted by Daryl Willcox Publishing found

that half (54%) used social media – and 35% of these said they posted

updates every day to platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. A

quarter of companies updated every few days, while 17% used social media

platforms weekly.

Almost three quarters of the companies experimenting with social media

claimed they used LinkedIn (73%) the most, compared to Facebook (64%)

and Twitter (63%). Of those who did not reach customers via social

media, more than a third (35%) blamed a lack of time, 31% said their

customers didn’t use it while 24% didn’t understand it.

Multiple reasons businesses gave for using social media included

networking (68%), attracting new customers (63%) and raising brand

awareness (61%). The research also found that 14% admitted to using

social media simply because others were doing it and 12% said they were

engaged ‘just for the sake of gathering followers’.

In contrast to big brands using incentives such as money-off vouchers to

develop and grow social media audiences, 83% of SMEs said they did not

use such incentives to attract followers, friends and fans. Despite

this, 60% said social media was having a positive impact on their

business. 46% reported an increase in brand awareness and 36% said they

had attracted new customers.

“The number of companies participating in social media on a daily basis

shows the growing importance of this marketing channel,” said Daryl

Willcox, founder of Daryl Willcox Publishing. “The fact that 60% have

reported a positive impact on their businesses shows SMEs are becoming

increasingly receptive to the benefits.”

The survey also found the use of social media by SMEs is still in its

infancy, with more than two-thirds using it for less than a year.

Other forms of marketing still take precedence over social media –

around half of the total sample carried out email marketing, search

engine optimisation for their websites and direct mailing. More than a

third (34%) used online press release wires to distribute their news.

The proportion of SMEs using social media has doubled since Daryl

Willcox Publishing, which helps small businesses raise their profile in

the media, last conducted research into SME use of social media in

December last year.

Online Income: Get My Best Tips

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:51:18 +0000

Erica Douglas and I are sharing our best tips for maximising your online income in new ‘how to’ videos on our You Tube Channel . Whether you have a business already or want to set on up this could help you. Follow us for new videos on online income every few days this month.

Ideas for Promoting Your Business: Events

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:19:46 +0000

Do you need some ideas for promoting your business? Think about tying a press release, competition or event into a forthcoming awareness week, festival or sporting fixture. The list below comes courtesy of Expert Sources, a great site to subscribe to if you are trying to raise your profile as an expert.

SEPTEMBER 2010
——————————————————–

Thursday September 09 – Saturday September 11
Plaid Cymru Conference, Aberystwyth

Friday September 10 – Sunday September 19
Commonwealth Conference, Kenya

Saturday September 18 – Wednesday September 22
Liberal Democrats Party Conference, Liverpool

Wednesday September 22
BBC Last Night of the Proms

Sunday September 26 – Thursday September 30
Labour Party Conference, Manchester

———————————————————
OCTOBER 2010
———————————————————
Saturday October 02 – Sunday October 17
Paris Motor Show

Sunday October 03 – Thursday October 14
Commonwealth Games, Delhi

Monday October 04 – Thursday October 07
Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham

Saturday October 23
Launch of UK Poppy Appeal

Sunday October 31
UK: Halloween

Sunday October 31
2am: UK End of BST: Clocks Back 1 Hour

——————————————————-
NOVEMBER 2010
——————————————————-
Friday November 05
Guy Fawkes Night

Sunday November 07
London To Brighton Veteran Car Run

Thursday November 11
Armistice Day

Sunday November 14
Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph ServiceThursday November 25 – Monday November 29
Cricket: Australia v England 1^st Test, Brisbane

Tuesday November 30
St Andrew’s Day

——————————————————-
DECEMBER 2010
——————————————————-
Friday December 03 – Tuesday December 07
Cricket: Australia v England 2^nd Test, Adelaide

Friday December 10
Nobel Peace PrizeThursday December 16 – Monday December 20
Cricket: Australia v England 3^rd Test, PerthSunday December 26 – Thursday December 30
Cricket: Australia v England 4^th Test, Melbourne

Awards to Enter

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:09:04 +0000

Thanks to Boost Marketing for this useful list of awards to enter:

Business Awards

- Startups Awards – submission deadline: 3rd September
- Shell LiveWIRE Awards – submission deadline: 6th September
- Virtual Business of the Year Awards – submission deadline: 15th September
- Growing Business Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- Precious Awards – submission deadline: 20th September
- The Internet Business Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- The Grant Thornton Quoted Company Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- International Trade Awards – submission deadline: 26th October – 11th January
- Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – submission deadline: 29th October
- The Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For – submission deadline: Late October
- The Home Business Awards – submission deadline: 6th November

Business Leader Awards
- Women of the Future Awards – submission deadline: 3rd September
- Precious Awards – submission deadline: 20th September
- Stevie Awards for Women in Business – submission deadline: 30th September

Corporate Social Responsibility Awards
- Green Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- Social Enterprise Awards – submission deadline: Late September
- BCE Environmental Leadership Awards – submission deadline: 11th October
- Rushlight Awards – submission deadline: 31st October
- Community Partnerships Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- Low Carbon performance Awards (CIBSE) – submission deadline: Late October
- Queen`s Awards for Enterprise: Sustainable Development – submission deadline: 29th October
- St Andrews Prize for the Environment – submission deadline: 31st October

Customer Contact Awards
- ACE Awards (Retail) – submission deadline: 15th October
- Contact Centre Innovation of the Year Award – submission deadline: Early November

IT Awards
- Construction Computing Awards – submission deadline: 7th September
- The Internet Business Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- SIIA Codie Awards – submission deadline: 1st October
- e-Government National Awards 2009 – submission deadline: 6th October
- EMEA Inavation Awards 2011 (Technology) – submission deadline: 10th October
- Datacentre Awards – submission deadline: 15th October
- Real IT Awards – submission deadline: 22nd October
- National eWell-Being Awards (for ICT) – submission deadline: Autumn/Winter
- EMEA Inavation Awards 2011 (Project) – submission deadline: 6th November
- PC Retail Awards – submission deadline: Late November
- Computer Weekly Best Places to Work in IT Awards – submission deadline: Late November
- Hot Companies and Technologies – submission deadline: 10th December

Marketing and Communications Awards
- BIMA Awards (British Interactive Media Association) – submission deadline: 2nd September
- The DMA Awards – submission deadline: 10th September
- Word of Mouth Marketing Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- MCCA Awards – submission deadline: Early October
- European Excellence Awards (PR) – submission deadline: 8th October
- CIM Marketing Excellence Awards – submission deadline: 8th October
- Design Week Award 2011 – submission deadline: 14th October
- Workworld Media Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Innovation Awards – submission deadline: 19th November

Training and HR Awards
- National Graduate Recruitment Awards – submission deadline: 3rd September
- National Online Recruitment Awards (NORAs) – submission deadline: 10th September
- IT Training Awards (IITT) – submission deadline: 30th September
- ELTons Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- The Bersin & Associates Learning Leaders Program – submission deadline: 8th October
- RAD Awards (Recruitment Advertising) – submission deadline: 30th October
- MCA Management Awards – submission deadline: 5th November

Public Sector Awards
- Sustainable schools award – submission deadline: Ongoing
- Education Business Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- Academic Enterprise Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- The LGC Awards – submission deadline: 1st October
- e-Government National Awards – submission deadline: 6th October
- LGC Finance Award – submission deadline: 14th October
- Queen’s Anniversary Prize Scheme – submission deadline: Late October
- Local Innovation Awards Scheme – submission deadline: Late October

Industry Specific Awards
- Journalism – The Paul Foot Award – submission deadline: 1st September
- Food and Drink – The British Curry Awards – submission deadline: 1st September
- Healthcare – Premier Awards – submission deadline: 3rd September
- Builders Merchants – The Builders Merchants Awards – submission deadline: 3rd September
- Food and Drink – Publican Food And Drink Awards – submission deadline: 3rd September
- Legal services – The Personal Injury Awards – submission deadline: 6th September
- Publishing – International Customer Publishing Awards – submission deadline: 6th September
- Legal Services – The British Legal Awards – submission deadline: 8th September
- Media – The Broadcast Awards – submission deadline: 9th September
- Food and Drink – Academy of Food and Wine Service Awards – submission deadline: 10th September
- Utilities – Utilities Industry Achievement Awards (Utility Week) – submission deadline: 10th September
- Construction – Architectural Review Awards – submission deadline: 10th September
- Healthcare – Dentistry Awards – submission deadline: 13th September
- Travel & Tourism – Business Travel World Awards – submission deadline: 13th September
- Travel & Tourism – International Travel Journal Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- Construction – The Civic Trust Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- Education – Education Business Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- Financial Services – Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- Financial Services – Mortgage Strategy Awards – submission deadline: 17th September
- Leisure – UK Theme Park and Visitor Attraction Awards – submission deadline: 15th October
- Vehicle Leasing – Fleet Europe Awards – submission deadline: 21st September
- Procurement – Procurecon Awards – submission deadline: 24th September
- Health and Social Care – GSK Impact Awards – submission deadline: 24th September
- Financial Services – IPE Awards – submission deadline: 24th September
- Financial Services – Compliance Awards – submission deadline: 24th September
- Property – International Property Awards – submission deadline: 26th September
- Utilities – NJUG Awards – submission deadline: 27th September
- Charity & Not for profit – The Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service – submission deadline: 30th September
- Digital and Media – Digital Magazine Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- Overseas Projects – The British Expertise Awards (Construction News) – submission deadline: 30th September
- Education – Academic Enterprise Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- Education – Queen’s Anniversary Prize Scheme – submission deadline: Late September
- Financial Services – Consumer Moneyfacts Awards – submission deadline: September
- Financial Services – The Card Awards – submission deadline: 6th October
- Health and Social Care – Health Business Awards – submission deadline: 8th October
- Legal services – The Lawyer HR Awards – submission deadline: 8th October
- Financial Services – Business Moneyfacts Awards – submission deadline: 8th October
- Design – Spark Awards – submission deadline: 10th October
- Design – Datacentre Awards – submission deadline: 15th October
- Healthcare – Patient Experience Network National Awards – submission deadline: 15th October
- Financial Services – Corporate Adviser Awards – submission deadline: 15th October
- Publishing – The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children’s Book Awards – submission deadline: 22nd October
- Financial Services – Euromoney Private Banking Awards – submission deadline: 22nd October
- Health and Social Care – The Lean Healthcare Academy – Exhibition and Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- Transport & Logistics – Rail Business Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- Retail – Drapers Etail Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- Travel & Tourism – Globe Travel Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- Fashion – British Fashion Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Financial Services – Money Marketing Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Retail – Oracle Retail Week Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Travel & Tourism – Business Car Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Construction – Specialists Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Retail – Convenience Retail Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Property – Property Management Awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Transport & Logistics – London Transport Awards – submission deadline: 5th November
- Property – Innovation Awards – submission deadline: 19th November
- Construction – AR Future Project Awards – submission deadline: 19th November
- Property – NHMF Awards – submission deadline: 26th November
- Energy – Rosenblatt new energy awards – submission deadline: 26th November
- Vehicle Leasing – Fleet News Awards (Lease) – submission deadline: Mid November
- Publishing – The People’s Book Prize – submission deadline: 30th November
- Legal services – Legal Business Awards – submission deadline: 30th November
- Construction – The WAN Product Awards – submission deadline: 30th November
- Publishing – UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur award – submission deadline: Late November
- Housing – Gold Award – submission deadline: Late November
- Music – Music Design Awards – submission deadline: Late November
- Property – BCO Awards (British Council for Offices) – submission deadline: Late November
- Telecoms & Mobile Technology – Global Mobile Awards – submission deadline: Late November

The hyperlinks for these and numerous other awards can be found at http://www.boost-marketing.co.uk/awards/

Kick Start Your Mumpreneur Business this Autumn

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:25:37 +0000

Did you know The Mumpreneur Guide’s Start Your own Business Book is now available as an e-book for just £9 – buy it now and you will get a link sent through to your inbox so you can use the book to develop your business straight away. www.themumpreneurguide.co.uk

“I have started my own business already as a writer and I run a busy blog. I thought Antonia’s book may be a bit basic for me but NO! It was truly fab. I have read stories of other successful inspiring women and feel very motivated. Antonia writes simply and to the point…a delightful, helpful work book.” Becky Goddard,

Enter the Business Mums Conference Awards

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:48:55 +0000

Winning an award for your business has to be the best feeling. When you run your own business you rarely get external acknowledgement and an award makes all the difference. It can help you gain all sorts of publicity, and builds customer trust.

Whether you have yet to win an award for your business, or you have won already and know just how powerful an award win can be, why not enter this years’ BusinessMums Conference Awards?

Entering is simple. Don’t panic about your style or grammar: we’re looking for inspiring businesses run by committed mums who are making a success of their enterprise. The more detail you supply the more able we will be to make a good decision. Please include supporting material as appropriate:

Media coverage
Customer testimonials
Images

Send in your entry by 17th September. The panel of judges is headed by What’s On 4’s award winning founder Sam Willoughby, Lynette Allen of The Womens Coaching Company together with Nicky Chisholm, Suzanne Borrell, and Antonia Chitty.

CATEGORIES:

Best ‘business start up’ award – for businesses within
their first two years.

Your Marketing Plan Check Up: You, the Expert

admin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 10:07:36 +0000

If you can become an expert it will help build your business profile and attract customers. Whatever sort of business you run you should be looking at ways to showcase your expertise. Could you offer customers:

Free consultations
Trial periods if you offer a service

And can you raise your profile as an expert by:

Responding to media requests
Writing tips and articles for your website and other people’s websites

Your task for this week:

Think of one way to start raising your profile as an expert to market your business and try it out. Spend a few minutes each day doing this and see what results you can get this week.

This is the last in this series, but watch out for an exciting new course and book to help you marketing your business coming this Autumn from ACPR.

Events for August 2010 Onwards to Help Your PR

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:18:17 +0000

Do you need some ideas for promoting your business? Think about tying a press release, competition or event into a forthcoming awareness week, festival or sportting fixture. The list below comes courtesy of Expert Sources, a great site to subscribe to if you are trying to raise your profile as an expert.

AUGUST 2010
————————————————————-

Saturday August 07 – Sunday August 08
London Triathlon

Tuesday August 12
Glorious Twelfth: Start of Shooting Season

Wednesday August 11 – Friday September 10
Islamic Festival of Ramadan

Thursday August 12 – Sunday August 15
US PGA Championships, Wisconsin

Tuesday August 17 – Friday August 20
Horse Racing: Ebor Festival, York

Thursday August 18 – Sunday August 22
Cricket: England v Pakistan 3^rd Test, Oval

Friday August 19 – Sunday August 22
British Transplant Games, Bath

Thursday August 26 – Monday August 30
Cricket: England v Pakistan 4^th Test, Lords

Saturday August 28
Challenge Cup Final, Wembley

Sunday August 29 – Monday August 20
Notting Hill Carnival

Monday August 30
Summer Bank Holiday

Monday August 30 – Sunday September 12
Tennis: US Open, Flushing MeadowSaturday September 04 – Sunday November 07
Blackpool Illuminations

——————————————————–
SEPTEMBER 2010
——————————————————–

Thursday September 09 – Saturday September 11
Plaid Cymru Conference, AberystwythFriday September 10 – Sunday September 19
Commonwealth Conference, Kenya

Saturday September 18 – Wednesday September 22
Liberal Democrats Party Conference, Liverpool

Wednesday September 22
BBC Last Night of the Proms

Sunday September 26 – Thursday September 30
Labour Party Conference, Manchester

Sunday October 03 – Thursday October 14
Commonwealth Games, Delhi

Monday October 04 – Thursday October 07
Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham

Saturday October 23
Launch of UK Poppy Appeal

Sunday October 31
UK: Halloween

Sunday October 31
2am: UK End of BST: Clocks Back 1 Hour

——————————————————-
NOVEMBER 2010
——————————————————-
Friday November 05
Guy Fawkes Night

Sunday November 07
London To Brighton Veteran Car Run

Thursday November 11
Armistice Day

Sunday November 14
Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph ServiceThursday November 25 – Monday November 29
Cricket: Australia v England 1^st Test, Brisbane

Tuesday November 30
St Andrew’s Day

Your Marketing Plan CheckUp: Telemarketing

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:00:14 +0000

Telemarketing is an area where many business owners lack confidence. A phone call can market your business, though, in a way that an email can’t. You can ensure that your messages get to the right person and rapidly adapt your approach and response to what their individual needs are. There are a number of tools that make telemarketing easier:

Contacts databases
Telephone surveys
Call scripts
Cold and warm calling
Client follow up
Enquiry follow up

Your task for this week:

Look at how you use the phone in your business. Do you have a database of enquirers and customers WITH phone numbers? If not, start collecting numbers. If you have people’s numbers, think about why you might cal them. What benefit could you offer them, and what action would you want them to take. Develop a script with some possible ways a conversation could pan out and try them – on a friend or colleague at first if you haven’t made business calls like this before. Then start slotting in some time to follow up clients or call enquirers each week.

I have more secrets to help you use your expertise to market your business in next week’s post. For more ideas to help your business grow, buy A Guide to Promoting Your Business: The Ultimate Workbook for Business Owners by Antonia Chitty.

Your Marketing Plan Check Up: How Your Customers Can Help Promote YOUR Business

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:55:02 +0000

Your customers or clients can be your business’s strongest advertisement, so it pays to make it easy for them to promote your products or services. Add in rewards and incentives and you will find that word of mouth is a really effective marketing too. You could ask your customers for

Case studies
Testimonials
Referrals

You could also look at allowing your customers to start to earn for their loyalty and support. Think about introducing:

A loyalty scheme
Affiliate schemes
Party plan and other direct sales
Drop shipping

Your task for this week:

Pick one activity from the list above. Will you ask your customers to share their story and explain the benefits they have had from your business so you can tell others? Or do you think that people would like to start selling your products for you as part of an affiliate scheme or by drop shipping?

I have more secrets to help you use telemarketing to market your business in next week’s post. For more ideas to help your business grow, buy A Guide to Promoting Your Business: The Ultimate Workbook for Business Owners by Antonia Chitty.

1.	To be nominated for an award you must be a mum and own your own business.
2.	You may nominate yourself or someone else.
3.	Judges and relatives of the judges may not enter.
4.	To enter you must be able to attend the BusinessMums Conference on October 5th in Brighton.
5.	Shortlisted entries and winners will be announced at the BusinessMums Conference on October 5th in Brighton.
6.	Award entries may be submitted until midnight 17th September.
7.	Businesses in their first two years of trading may enter the best business start up category. All other businesses will be judged in the ‘growing business’ category.
8.	There will be a shortlist of three finalists for each category.