Have you got a networking strategy, other than talk and eat?

Today I went back to networking after and absence of a couple of months.

Mostly I was just pleased to be going to a lunch that had chips; but on the drive over I thought I better just re-think my strategy and set myself some goals to make sure I was making the most of my time:

1. Arrive on time or a little early if you can. It is easier to speak to people in a less crowded room, less daunting and you are more likely to get to meet and chat to new people who have arrived early on their first visit.

2. Think about how you can be memorable. Today I relaunched myself as Push Start Marketing, as opposed to an employee of Urban Element, so I took presents for everyone with my new cards.

3. Have a clear idea of who your perfect client/customer/connection would be so you'll recognise them easier when you meet them, or the questions you need to ask to qualify them.

4. ALWAYS sit next to someone you don't know or haven't had a decent conversation with before.

5. Think about what you are promoting, your blog, website, event or just ask for Twitter followers. Make sure you mention it and invite people to come and speak to you in your 60 seconds.

6. Make 60 seconds, 60 seconds. Some of these turn into mini presentations. Let the group know who you want to speak to/work with " ...anyone who has no money to spend on marketing...". and what you're promoting my workshops and leave it at that.

7. Take the cards of the new people you met. Write a note on them where you got them and if there is any synegy or you need to contact them/follow them up

8. Ask the group/individuals if they would be happy for you to contact them if you have an event to promote

9. Go follow them all on Twitter. Even if you have not talked to them, a follow on twitter is a very light touch.

10. This one is just for a round number... practise your 60 seconds in the car on the way, make it friendly interesting, and too the point - give the room a reason to come a speak to you.
" ..is this driving you nuts? I can fix this... ...come speak to me if you're fed up with....."

20 things to consider when building your own website

Creating your own website?

It's few pictures and words on pages right?

When you break it down there is an awful lot of work involved in creating a website. I have just created my first one from scratch (well a ) template. It's very daunting, sometimes frightening, always hard work, incredibly frustrating but so rewarding once it's done.

The best thing is as I built it I know what's there, how to make changes, and constantly thinking how to improve it and working on it now no longer seems to be a chore.

Now I have created my all new website here are 20 things to consider when you think about building your website:

1. Domain hosting, buying your www.mynewwebsite.co.uk
2. Email address lucy@mynewwebsite.co.uk, gmail, office365, outlook?
3. Creating your site: template or not to template
4. Which template site 
5. Site hosting
6. How do I make it look good and not amateurish
7. How can I make it different and stand out
8. What pages do I need
9. What keywords for each page (search engine optimisation)
10. What to write on each page
11. How to write what I want on each page, tone of voice.
12. What pictures to use
13. Where do I get these pictures from
14. Linking to my email address
15. Linking to my social media, setting up social media
16. Getting content checked for spelling errors
17. Creating and connecting a blog
18. Pointing your domain to your new site 
19. How to promote it
20. Populating you blog with the first one

So much to consider. But I have done it, number 20 also now complete. And how did I do it? Minimum budget, a great plan, a detailed vision of what I wanted, who I wanted to talk to, what I wanted to say and how I was going to say it. 

Want help creating a website like mine on a shoestring budget as part of your marketing plan? I did it and so can you. Just give me a call and we will do it together for a price you set. 
07813 846569 
lucy@pushstartmarketing.co.uk