Last week I presented a short presentation on how to use social media effectively for SMEs at the Let’s Do Business Show in Brighton.

The talk was very well attended and I’ve been asked to share the slides – so here they are! Please post any questions you may have in the Comments section below.

photo credit: kthypryn

This is an odd photo for me to post since I consider myself to be entirely “non-sporty” – but the loneliness of the image drew me in. This kid is part of a team playing baseball, but here he is entirely alone.

Do you feel alone in your business?

Working for yourself as a small business owner can be an isolating experience, especially when you are juggling between providing the services your business offers, as well as effectively marketing them both on and offline. Sometimes there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day and it feels like things are slipping – so how do you cope?

Keeping your eye on the ball

This can be one of the most difficult things to do in business (especially when you don’t feel you have enough hours in each day). You need to have the vision of your bigger picture as well as being able to focus down to the micro-level of detail to ensure you are keeping on track.

Getting support I feel is essential. This can take a number of forms – from being part of a business mentoring group, to buddying up with a fellow business owner to keep accountable, or working with a business coach. We can always see more clearly what others could be doing differently  - somehow when it comes to ourselves we are too closely involved and find it difficult to gain perspective.

Getting stuff done…

Now this is the killer isn’t it? How easy is it to lose focus and get distracted because the stuff it is most useful for us to do just feels too difficult to start. (This excellent post by Jonathan Meads from Illuminated Mind has some inspiring and practical tips – and is well worth a read!)

Personally, I’ve found it hard to get things done when I haven’t had a plan. (This is my achilles heel, as I’m still working to oppose my natural feeling that planning = ultimate boredom!) However, experience has taught me that unless you have some kind of plan in place (it can be as simple as one page, or a series of bullet points) for the next week, month, quarter, or year, you have no clear direction for your attention.

[At this point, I took a break from writing this post, to put together a bullet pointed list of what I am going to work on in the next month. It really WORKS when you focus and get started].

Inspiration to keep going (having faith in your business)

Without this you may as well pack it all in right now. (Dramatic statement I know, but confidence in your business – which necessarily includes yourself if you are offering a service – is essential if you are to keep motivated). Sandi Amorim from Deva Coaching wrote a wonderful post on this very subject (another “must read” for equal measures of inspiration and feet-on-the-ground practicality).

Connect with what drives you – the “Why” of what you do. Find inspiration to keep you motivated on a daily basis – subscribe to the blog of someone you admire;  keep an eye out for small bit of wisdom that resonates with you; or simply do something fun that takes you away from “burying” yourself in your business.

So, in summary:

• Get support – helping you keep your eye on the ball
• Write a plan – and follow it through
• Keep the faith in “Why” you are doing what you do – re-connect with something that inspires you every day

What are your tips for keeping motivated and on track? Please share your thoughts in the Comments section below…

Today’s post is inspired by Fiona Robyn and her new book “My Most Beautiful Thing”. She is encouraging people all over the world  to post something about what this means to them and celebrate the book launch.

This detail of a beautiful statue of Buddha Shakyamuni at Bodhisattva Kadampa Meditation Centre in Brighton where I practice, study and teach. It is definitely my most beautiful thing…

What is yours?

Download a free copy of Fiona’s book for your eBook Reader!

I’ve written previously about the value of having a mobile version of your website since more and more people are accessing the web through mobile devices, and the trend is only set to increase.

This week Mashable posted the video above about a new app to turn your Facebook Page into a mobile app. At a cost of $5 for the iPhone version (free if you “like” the app on Facebook) with a version for Android apparently coming soon.

You don’t even need to create new content, as it directly pulls what you have already created (and continue to add) to your Facebook Page. There is room for a small amount of customisation, but if you love your new large Timeline Cover Image it is unlikely to look as good when viewed on a mobile device (and there doesn’t appear to be room for editing within the app!)

450 million people already use Facebook Mobile to access the site on a monthly basis. Currently, it is not particularly easy to view, let alone interact, with Facebook Pages – this new app could be set to change this.

I am trying the Facebook Mobilizer app from Cabana out myself. I’d be interested to hear what you think, so go and check it out here.

Thanks to Nic Askew of Soul Biographies for some Monday morning inspiration…

photo credit: cote

This article was written as a Guest Post for the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce Blog (following a speaking engagement last week at their Spotlight on LinkedIn Supper).

LinkedIn is the most popular social network for developing business to business relationships. There are many ways the platform can be used successfully, and today I would like to focus on 3 tips:

• The Power of Recommendations
• How Company Pages help build your brand
• Using Answers to highlight expertise

The Power of Recommendations

Recommendations are a powerful way of gaining authentic testimonials from past clients, joint venture partners and colleagues on LinkedIn. Unlike website testimonials (which could have been written by yourself – not that I would ever suggest you use such tactics!) a Recommendation via LinkedIn necessarily is written by a real person with a valid Profile on the site.

Don’t be shy of asking to be recommended – people like to give compliments (it makes everyone feel good) and will be happy to recommend you if they have enjoyed and gained value from working with you.

To ask for a Recommendation you need to follow these simple steps:

• One you are logged into LinkedIn, click on “Edit Profile”
• Find the position for which you want a Recommendation and click on the “Ask for Recommendations” link
• Follow the steps and send your request to whomever you have worked with (as long as they are a LinkedIn connection)
• Tip: in your personal message you can be specific about what you would like to be recommended for (some people struggle with what to say, and this can be a helpful guide)

How Company Pages help build your brand

Just as long as you already have an individual Profile on LinkedIn, you can set up a Company Page for your business. This helps build your brand in the following ways:

• Raises the profile of your company – Company Pages are searchable within the site
• Shows who works with you – individuals can add themselves as employees
• Creates a profile of your work – Products and Services can be highlighted with text, images, videos, and you can even ask to be Recommended
• Tip: to add an individual as an employee they must have an email address with your company URL in the title

Using Answers to highlight expertise

Answers can be found under the “More” button at the top of your LinkedIn page. This feature of the site enables you to search for Answers to questions, as well as posing your own questions that can be answered by anyone at all on LinkedIn, or just those in your network (it’s up to you). Using Answers has the following benefits:

• Using Answers highlights your expertise on a subject – yours can also be chosen as the “best answer” which is then featured
• Asking a question can be a valuable tool for research – especially as you can reach out to everyone on LinkedIn
• Build connections through Answers with people outside your network – you never know what might evolve
• Tip: search for Answers by industry and even language.

I provide training in LinkedIn, working both one-to-one and with groups. Further details can be found under Training.

photo credit: Juliana Coutinho

Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons, even the dull and the ignorant they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself to others you may become vain or bitter for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career however humble it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is.

Many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere the world is full of heroism.

Be yourself especially do not feign affection neither be cynical about love. For in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you from sudden misfortune, but do not distress yourself with dark imaginings, many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. You have the right to be here, and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding.

Therefore be at peace with god, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful, strive to be happy!

Max Ehrmann

(Redwood Cafe, Brighton)

photo credit: Henriksent

Do you fear technology?

Either developing an online presence or learning how to use all the tools available to do so effectively?

I find this is a common theme with clients. They know they could be making good use of the web to develop their business but they become frozen (like a deer in headlights) when it comes to actually getting started. It’s not easy either, when it seems that every two year old with access to one finds an iPad easy-as-pie to use. “Intuitive” is not the word many adults would use, however, when faced with learning about the latest technology!

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right”

The famous quote by Henry Ford is very accurate. Cloud Coach, Ethan Waldman, just wrote an interesting post about how attitude makes the biggest difference when you are faced with technology that appears totally beyond your understanding. (Thanks Ethan, you inspired this post!)

Where do you start if you are “stuck in the headlights”? How can you change your attitude, especially if you’ve been telling yourself you can’t for a long time?

5 Tips to Overcome Technology Overwhlem

1. Take the risk of being prepared to try is the first step.
2. Get help, from someone who speaks your language. Like Ethan, I aim to work with clients using as little “geek speak” as possible. There is nothing worse then asking for help and not being able to unravel the answer because it is not given in plain English. (I know, I’ve been there myself!)
3. Try one thing at a time. Keep your expectations realistic – if you find technology a challenge trying to learning everything at once will turn into a nightmare. Pick one place to start and build on your skills as your confidence grows.
4. Develop a plan. Randomly trying out web and social media platforms to “see if they stick” will only lead to overwhelm and disappointment. Find out which will work best for your business, test them out, and only continue if they are working for you.
5. Keep an open mind – be prepared to succeed, it’s going to happen if you believe it.

Good luck and feel free to ask if you need to – my business includes training clients to manage their WordPress websites and social media. I love helping business owners navigate the minefield of technology and feel empowered to develop their business presence online.

photo credit: ironix

I’ve just returned from Copenhagen  - an unexpected trip that gave me a fresh perspective on where I’m headed with my business.

I’ve wanted to look at (no let’s be completely honest) develop my business plan for a couple of months now. However, I was feeling stuck – unsure of the direction I want to take. Overwhelm at all the different services I offer and feeling the need to re-group, gain perspective and figure out which way forward.

Then I was offered the opportunity to take a trip to Copenhagen which I first refused point blank – I have commitments, I can’t just leave…however I was persuaded to change my mind, and am glad that I did!

Being in a different city and culture is the best way to see business (and life) with fresh eyes. My friend and coaching colleague Sandi Amorim has just returned from Hawaii, and while away wrote about the effortlessness of focusing on joy and how she intended to take that with her when she returned home.

What have I taken home with me?

• The wish to focus on the work that brings me fulfilment
• The intention to write a post a day for a year on happiness (starting 1st April)
• The belief that stepping out of my comfort zone is necessary for growth

THIS is where I’m going to start with my business plan – I’ll keep you updated with the direction/s I decide to follow…

photo credit: Wonderdawg777

This is the start of a series of bite-size tips for using social media effectively in 2012.

Twitter can seem like a daunting prospect for businesses new to social media. The “noise” of potentially 1000′s of people conversing with you on the platform often feels a bit much and the tendency is to give up and regain some peace and quiet!

The following will help you to manage Twitter effectively and regain your sanity:

1. You don’t have to “follow” back everyone who follows you. A lot of your followers will be competitors or people who have randomly connected with you on Twitter. Be choosy – follow those whom you WANT to hear from.
2. Create Lists to easily find those who matter. Segmenting Lists into groups (say, networking, inspirational people, industry leaders) makes it easy to keep up with those you follow on Twitter. (Lists can be public enabling others to follow your useful resource, or set to private so only you can view them).
3. Use the hashtag (#). Want to start/be part of a discussion around a particular topic? Add a “#” at the end of your tweet followed by the subject (e.g. #SocialMediaTips – don’t uses spaces between words) and you can find your conversation easily amongst the “noise” on Twitter.
4. Set up Searches. The tip above can be linked with setting up a Search for the hashtag subject to keep up to date with the conversation’s progress.
5. Social Media Management Tools. Make the most of tools like Hootsuite and TweetDeck to manage your social media engagement, including scheduling tweets in advance. (Check out mobile apps for both these free tools so that you can also manage social media on the move using your iPhone or SmartPhone).