Following a request from a group of business people in Omagh, we are holding a seminar in the South West College on 14 June.  This seminar has been run several times before, mainly in the Belfast area.  Comments are always positive.  Here are some recent responses:

“Had all relevant aspects explained and plenty of opportunity to ask questions.”  Kerry Smyth, Knowledge Transfer Centre, QUB

“I went to a Social Media Workshop run by Dawn from Sensei last week in Antrim. Dawn managed to condense a huge subject into a very simple, easy to follow and interactive presentation. There were people there who didn’t have a clue about social networking. There was a lot of excitement in the room and there were many questions about the possibilities. Dawn was very calm and professional and managed to keep people interested throughout. I would have no hesitation in recommending Dawn to run courses for my company or anyone else’s for that matter. Very pleased. (First published on Lookaly).”  Dean Langasco, I Love Mondays

Who Should Attend?

This session is for anyone who wants to gain a quick-fire overview of what social media is and how it can be incorporated into a business marketing and networking strategy.   It is most suitable for those who are new to online marketing, or those in the very early stages.

Results

This seminar will help you to:

• Understand the benefits and meaning behind the jargon and hype
• Know what to do to establish a professional online profile
• Access relevant industry information and local business assistance
• Keep in touch with your customers to encourage repeat sales
• Network more effectively with other SMEs

Thanks to South West College, Omagh, who are hosting this event.

A similar event will be held in Limavady.

We would like to hear from all those who would like an opportunity to guest blog for us.  Please get in touch if that is you.  

Benefits of Guest Blogging?

• It will help direct visitors to your business.  If you write well, it may enlighten old customers about other services you provide and help you discover new ones.
• It will hone your content and SEO-writing skills!

Requirements

1. You must be a business owner or someone who pays a significant role in the business you work in.  You do not need to be in the same industry as us.
2. Your business must be based in Northern Ireland/Ireland or the UK.
3. There is no need to be a blogger already, as long as you have something to say.
4. Topic is up to you, as long as it can be easily related to business.
5. Email us first, to suggest your idea, before starting to write.
6. You will be allocated a month to write for, unless you have any specific date in mind, perhaps to co-incide with something you are trying to promote.
7. Blogs must be submitted well in advance of the month in which they are to appear, to allow time for editing and uploading.

Other Stuff

• Sensei Learning & Performance reserve the right to edit your piece.
• We will not publish it elsewhere under a different name, though it will appear on all the usual social networks, attributed and with links back to you.
• We may decide not to publish it at all.
• There is currently no payment for guest bloggers.  We will provide links to your site and share it around the social networks to help drive traffic to your site.

OK, get to work.  Email all suggestions to info@sensei-winbeforehand.co.uk.

Right about now, we’re mid-way through either a bacon roll, a scone, a croissant and jam, or my presentation at our Social Media Business Breakfast… pity you missed it!

Social Media gets a sometimes deservedly bad press, for things such as the ability to “throw sheep” on Facebook, for example, which seems an almighty waste of time, for people who’re busy.  I agree.  So, I’m planning a new public workshop on social media and business.  There will be no throwing sheep, or playing games, such as Mafia Wars.  If you want to get into all that, great.  But, my guess is that most businesses owners and managers don’t have time for games during work.

I want it to be very practical, in that you learn lots during the day and go home with profiles or blogs or whatever already working.  Despite the title of this blog (which may become the name of the workshop), I’ve not yet decided what to call it… because I’m not sure what it will be.

• Would you attend such an event?
• What would you like to see covered?
• Any thoughts on format?
• How long?  Full day?  Half day?
• Cover lots?  Or, shorter workshops to cover one topic only, such as Twitter or Facebook, podcasting, blogging?
• Or, would you prefer some more seminars/talks/breakfasts on policy, markeing, networking, market research, competitors or analytics for example?

It’s likely that I’ll get others involved to deliver such workshops.  So, if you’re interested in that and have experience of using these tools in a business setting, or have some speaking or training experience, get in touch too.

Please add your answers in a comment below.  I’d be delighted to design a workshop or seminar around you and your business needs.  Alternatively, please email me at info@sensei-winbeforehand.co.uk with your thoughts.

Twitter, Facebook, blogging, podcasts, social media, online marketing…

Ever wanted to know just exactly what this is all about?  And, how it could possibly increase the visibility of your business brand?  Or, indeed, your sales?

On Wednesday 23rd September, 07:45-10.30, we are holding a Social Media Business Breakfast at Belfast Activity Centre, Malone Road, Belfast.

You’ve heard the hype.  What is social media.  Why should you bother?

This breakfast session is aimed at those in the beginner stages of adopting these online techniques.

Click here to learn more about this event and book your place. (Those already using Facebook can indicate interest here also.)

An additional follow-up event will take the form of a practical workshop.  Look out for details on this page soon.

Any queries about this session, please contact us on 028 9043 6634 or info@sensei-winbeforehand.co.uk.  We’d love to know what you’d love to know about Social Media.  Let us know and we’ll try to incorporate as much as possible.

I’m not sure I convinced him, but it was a really interesting experience, following on from my previous one and only radio appearance on the David Dunseath Programme, again, talking – for approximately 38 seconds – about blogging.

This opportunity was  a little longer, and I had a lovely time.  John took me into the studio, ostensibly to open a few sites, so we’d something to focus our thoughts on, and calmed me a little, as I was rather nervous, to be honest.  I was rather calmer after realising someone had set up little stoves right there in the studio and had started cooking Tikka Masala.  The smells were mighty!  It was just like being at home…

Then, one of the other guests made me some Earl Grey tea, from a fascinatingly high-tech looking tea/coffee machine and I settled into comfy leather sofa to listen to the other guests on the show.  I met the chef for the morning, a music magazine editor and the producer.  Everyone was nice and casually dressed, which put me further at my ease.

Listen to my little slot on John’s show here ( you’ll need to fast foward to 10:30am).  It lasted about 5-6 minutes.  It was relaxed, it was calm, everything was quiet in the corridors around us, and I felt right at home when it got to my turn.  I’d encourage anyone who’s asked to appear on radio to have a go.  Anyone I’ve met around the corridors of the BBC have been incredibly friendly, professional and above-all ‘human’ (which is nice).  There are no drama queens nor full-of-themselves personalities nor egos.  And, not all have a ‘face for radio’!  Especially not the lovely John Toal.

Thanks for the opportunity, BBC.