Heard about the 5 minute marketing event organised by Irish Women in Business via Tara's post on IGOpeople. Reach target audiences, recieve feedback on your performance, make new contacts and reach more customers is what's billed on the schedule so if it delivers even half of that you'll be on to a winner given that it's one of many free seminars available to members, a snip at only 50 euro for annual membership.

Where: Bank of Ireland, Tallaght
When: Wednesday 24th June 2009
Time: 4.30pm to 6.30pm

They're also holding a draw on the evening for IWIB members. Select Digital Print have offered a Starter Pack Stationery Set comprising of business cards, comp slips, letterheads worth €300 to one lucky member who participates and is creative with their 5 Minute Marketing pitch OR vouchers/flyers/postcards for your business.

Labels: Entrepreneurship, Flexitimers, Out and About, Social Media

Came across this post on, one of our members, Deirdre's Spellcheck editorial services ezine. It outlines the 6 most common mistakes of social media marketing which are Large Following, Content, Endless Promotional Messages, Joining on a whim and the double whammies of thinking that social media should replace all marketing activity and indeed that is is free. Deirdre has fleshed it out in more detail and given credit to the original author. Worth a visit if social media is on your agenda.

Labels: Flexitimers, Social Media

Flexitimers are attending the IIA Congress tomorrow in Dublin. There's an excellent line-up of speakers including representatives from Realex Payments, dotMobi, Google and Facebook.

I'm also involved in one of the break-out sessions where, along with my colleagues from the IIA Social Media Working Group, we'll be running a workshop entitled 'Establishing a Social Media Strategy in 45 mins' so if you're looking for a hands-on whistle stop tour of blogging, tweeting and general social networking well this is the 45 minutes for you. Hope to see you there.

Labels: Flexitimers, IIA SMWG, Out and About, Social Media

The wait is now over, the Flexitimers' 'Thinking Outside the LunchBox' movie is now live. This video was produced thanks to Enterprise Ireland innovation vouchers in conjunction with Institute of Art & Design Dun Laoghaire and Glimpse Digital.



Credits:
The concept of this movie was developed by Dervla Cunningham and Joy Redmond of Flexitimers with Ger Fox from IADT and Andy Clarke from Glimpse Digital. Inspiration came from RTE The Business presenter/writer John Murray's book 'Now that's what I can jargon.'
Actors: Amy Redmond, Stephen Rooney and Shane Nestor. Script by Alan Kinsella.

Labels: Flexitimers, Social Media

Just back from the launch of "Join the Conversation: The Guide to Business Blogging" hosted by the IIA and their Social Media Working Group, which is now available for download.
Great turn out and excellent presentations from Aedan Ryan, Director of Puddleducks.ie and Michelle Daly of Paddy Power Trader.
Brendan Hughes, eCommerce manager with FBD.ie and chair of the working group spoke about the need for businesses to start getting involved in social media, "We called this guide "Join the
Conversation" because many companies may not even be aware that their customers are already
talking about them online. Once upon a time your customers' criticisms may not have spread beyond family and friends, but with the arrival of social media, the audience and reach has multiplied. These online conversations, good and bad, are happening. We're encouraging businesses to join in so they can get involved in the conversations about themselves."
You can view a video round-up of the event which was produced by Villa81.
So if you're looking for inspiration, reason or know-how on how to get started in the blogosphere, this is the guide for you.

Labels: Blogging, IIA SMWG, Out and About, Social Media

As a member of the IIA Social Media Working Group, I'm delighted to tell you about a breakfast briefing we're hosting this Wednesday in Dublin City Centre which will present the business applications of blogging. So if you've recently asked yourself the following questions:
Should I start a company blog?
Should my communications team engage with bloggers?
Is it time to get on Twitter?
Well then, these are some of the questions that the IIA's Social Media Working Group will address at this event.
An overview of blogs and micro-blogging (e.g. Twitter) will be given. Case studies will be presented of how Irish businesses are using these tools to achieve real business benefits and cost savings. The critical issue of measuring return on investment will also be addressed and time will be allowed for addressing questions and concerns from the attendees.

Event Date : 22 Apr 2009

Time : 7.45am - 9.30am

Labels: Blogging, IIA SMWG, Social Media

Flexitimers went along to a brilliant session entitled 'Marketing on a shoestring' kindly organised by Wicklow County Enterprise Board. The seminar was eBranding Guru Krishne De
who had so many great ideas on how to market and sell without any or
much marketing budget. The event shows how truly worthwhile the Enterprise
Boards in Ireland are in helping business upskill and remain competitive.

Labels: Flexitimers, Out and About, Social Media