Small business PR and marketing

Today’s Technology: Are you controlling IT or is IT controlling you? The commercial reality will be revealed! 28 August 2007

The October Women Network Australia lunch will feature Lisa Harvey, Tech Savvy Guru and Managing Director, Energetica who is an innovative speaker, she has a deep understanding of the value of IT in achieving the strategic objectives of an organisation.

Lisa shares her knowledge and expertise with passion and more importantly for those of us who are not tech savvy she uses simple English to express her concepts. She consults extensively to SMEs but also has a strong background and interest in the not-for-profit sector. Lisa says ?Technology has the potential of keeping costs of business operations down, whilst creating a competitive edge?.

Over lunch Lisa will explain how to use technology as a strategic component of business and how to get the most out of technology by applying simple commercial principles. Her presentation provides a framework for incorporating technology into business strategies and innovation.

Topics addressed by Lisa will include;

Getting the fundamentals of IT right
Getting control of your IT
IT is not about technology
Open source (free IT) – how useful is it for you?

Lisa will showcase innovation within the SME sector and show the process that assists organisations to create great ideas and carry them out. Lisa?s IT career began with an IT vendor in the 1980s. As IT Manager with Sydney City Mission and National IT Co-ordinator with a major trade union she became an expert in IT requirements for organisations. Lisa believes that SMEs should use innovative information and technology concepts in their service delivery. It?s all about people and outcomes, not the technology.

Networking Lunch Location: SYDNEY
Venue: The Vibe Hotel, 111 Goulburn Street, Sydney
Date: Wednesday, 24 October, 2007
Time: 11:30 am – 2:15 pm
RSVP Date: Friday, 19 October, 2007

Book here

Talk to the media 1 August 2007

The Women in Business Growth Strategy workshop “Talking to the Media – How to Write a Media Release” is being held Tuesday, 7 August from 9.15am for 9.30am until 1.00pm.  Some seats are still available for this dynamic workshop – book now!

The right media exposure can rocket your sales, consolidate your reputation and build your brand.  Valerie Khoo, (former features director of CLEO, features writer at Girlfriend and now Director, Sydney Writers’ Centre) leads this practical workshop.  She will show you how to identify and make the most of your media opportunities. 

The workshop will give you strategies to understand what the media wants from you, work out an angle and approach a variety of media with your idea.  The workshop will also assist you to create a media release, perform well in an interview and ensure your message is heard.   For the savvy business owner and not to be missed!

Venue:  Parkes-Hamilton Room, Level 47, MLC Centre, 19 Martin Place, Sydney
For registration and information contact:  Sue Hooworth at DSRD at email sue.hooworth@business.nsw.gov.au

How to write an article training 18 July 2007

One of the most often read posts on this blog is are the ones about how to write an article. If you want to spend time learning how to write feature articles that will get published I would recommend a course that I have done at The Sydney Writers Centre – Feature writing for magazines and newspapers

This is the outline:
If you like the idea of writing articles for magazines and newspapers, this course is for you. It suits first-time writers or anyone who wants to brush up on their writing skills. The course will teach you about:
# which ideas work – and where to get them
# understanding the magazine/news market
# different types of feature articles
# how to research, structure and write a feature
# what editors want from a writer
# how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!

If you would like to see your article in CLEO, The Sydney Morning Herald, Wheels or Ralph, we’ll show you how.

This course is presented by Valerie Khoo, an award-winning feature writer whose articles appear every week in The Sydney Morning Herald. Before becoming a freelance writer six years ago, she was features director of CLEO.

This writing course is usually held in the evenings at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. It is a 5-week course (evening classes) as well Intensive Daytime Session.

Turning your great ideas into reality. 14 June 2007

The Women’s Network Australia next event features the wonderful Karen Miles who will be speaking about how to turn your ideas into a reality by breaking down your ideas into practical steps.

Karen Miles inspires people to bring ideas, careers, and businesses into reality. Her enterprising approach to life and business has equipped her to make a difference to people with their future goals, self-belief, and ambitions. Karen is a bestselling author of ‘Career Advice you wish your mum told you’ and a respected motivational speaker and trainer. Karen thrives on authenticity and integrity in business.

Whether it’s starting your own business, realising your career passion, or organising a community project, Karen shares her first hand skills and knowledge with energy and charisma. Her style is also very down to earth and genuine, hence the name of her company – The Frank Team. The Frank Team offers fun and innovative skills training, guest speakers and resources in the area of entrepreneurship and career passion. Karen always hits the mark with her audiences because she speaks from experience. In addition to The Frank Team, Karen runs her own media business as a freelance magazine editor, author and journalist. Her first book ‘Career Advice you wish your mum had told you’ (September 04), provides inspiring and genuine career advice for women, and is now on the Dymocks bestseller list.

If you are overflowing with great ideas and finding it a struggle to turn them into a reality Karen’s presentation is a ‘must do’ for you.

SYDNEY
Business Networking Luncheon
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Topic: Table Talk : Turning your great ideas into reality. Learn how to break down your ideas into practical steps.
Speaker: Karen Miles – Director, The Frank Team and author of best seller – ‘Career Advice You Wish Your Mum Had Told You’
Venue: The Vibe Hotel, 111 Goulburn St, Sydney
Time: 11:30am – 2:15pm  
RSVP: 15 June

e-Quip Your Business: Free Online Tools 24 April 2007

The Internet has changed the face of business. No matter what your business, the Internet can be used to extend your reach. There are many FREE online tools that you can use to promote your business and stay in contact with customers.

In this workshop, Carol Daunt, Founder & CEO of LearnTel, will share those that she finds useful in running her business. You’ll immediately want to put some of these to use! Discover what the following FREE tools are and how they can be used to support business:

• Online Surveys
  Blogs
  Wikis
  Podcasts
  Discussion Forums
  RSS Feeds & Aggregators
  Chat/Instant Messaging
  Online Calendars (public & private)
  Video Streaming
  Various other interesting bits & pieces!

At the end of the workshop you will have an understanding of the options available to you and be able to make an informed decision about the use of these tools in your own business. You will receive course notes with all of the links you need to get started.

Venues & Cost (Interstate dates to come in July)
May 1 (3:30pm – 5pm AEST) – Webinar from your computer: $99 (GST inclusive)

May 2 (9am – 12 noon AEST) – Face-to-face at 111 George St, BRISBANE: $145 (GST inclusive)

For info & Register

Networking – The Last Thursday Club 21 March 2007

In previous posts I have mentioned how important neworking is in an SMEs PR stategy. One of the great groups I have found is The Last Thursday Club.

The next one is all about developing new business.

“Your success depends on how well you do in business is DIRECTLY related to how well you develop new business. At our March event you’ll learn unconventional yet powerful techniques for growing your business, from two excellent speakers who’ve been there and done it:

Business-building strategist, John Jacob. John’s business-development insights are so valuable he’s shared the stage with Brian Tracy and Jay Abrahams. John is an author, international speaker and true expert in the science of business development.

Corban & Blair cofounder, Gillian Corban. Gillian will give you the inside story into how she built her global brand with a flawless reputation for quality creative products.”

Event details:Date: 29 March 2007
Time: Doors open 6pm.Speakers from 6.45pm sharp
Where: The American Club, Level 15, 131 Macquarie St, Sydney city
Cost: $49.50 incl. GST* (RSVP & prepayment essential)
Book: www.lastthursdayclub.net

Search Summit – The Australian Search Marketing Conference 26 February 2007

Australia’s first search marketing conference of the year is set to raise key issues within the industry as well as provide basic training and advanced strategy and tactics for industry professionals.

Search Summit organiser Barry Smyth said that the Summit’s aim is to have a national conference that embraces the local Australian search industry where online marketers can learn from local and international industry marketing experts.

“The event has been developed for search marketers by search marketers. We understand the issues that are facing our industry today, and at a content and speaker level we know what they are looking to learn and discuss.”

“Search marketers can pick up practical knowledge from leading global experts while participating in business networking with search industry professionals, a rare opportunity in Australia” said Mr Smyth.

Search Summit focuses on a range of hot search topics with over 90 individual presentations on training, tactics and industry issues including:

2007 Search Outlook: Discussing the trends and the future of Search, world renowned Search Engine expert Chris Sherman will be keynoting Search Forecast 2007.

Google Webmasters Central: The team from Google will discuss various coding issues, and their affects within Google’s Search Engine. Topics up for discussion include CSS and hiding, validating code, semantic structure and Industry Influence, as well as a chance to ask any questions that audience members may have.

The sessions I think will be really interesting are:

Day 1 – 13:00 – 14:15  – Copywriting for Search (Training Stream) – Learn the key elements of combining keyword selection, online writing and internal site structure together with Article PR.

Day 2 – 11:15 Web 2.0 & Search (Tactics Stream) – Flash, Ajax, DOM Scripting, Tagging, Blogs and SEO.
14:45 – 16:00  – Social Search (Training Stream) – Get to know how to maximize the power of Social Media sites like Digg etc

There will be 40 speakers from the US, UK and Australia including world-renowned Search Engine expert Chris Sherman, Google’s Search Evangelist Adam Lasnik, Marketing Pilgrim’s Andy Beal, Position Tech’s Detlev Johnson, Bill Hunt from IBM.com + Australia’s Fionn Hyndman from dgmAustralia and Ian Leuchars from 24/7 Real Media.

Event information:
When: March 1 & 2 2007
Where: Luna Park, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point
Cost: $845 Registration:
http://www.searchsummit.com.au