by Hamish | Aug 5, 2017 | Uncategorized
I am a member of a number of different “networking” groups. I am a member of BNI, I am a member of Final Field, I am a member of Strathmore Rotary (many argue that Rotary is not a networking organisation but I disagree. It’s a Service Organisation wrapped around business networking. This is why the organisation was started.) But, I was also looking for more informal networking breakfasts in my local area – I wanted something that could go across venue and meet new people regularly. When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I decided to start my own networking group – the Western Suburbs Business Network. Here are the benefits of starting your own business network as I see them: Create the Group You Want To Create – If you can’t find the network you want, why not create it? I mean, chances are there are others that are looking for the same thing anyway. You get to create the group that suits you and suits those who you are inviting. (You could create many different types of groups – depending on your needs. You could set up an educational group, a referral group or a more informal breakfast networking group like mine – that covers a bit of everything – networking and referrals. Build Credibility Within Your Network – For me, there are added benefits when I contact other business owners. If you create cost-effective business networking opportunities, if you help connect people with those they need to be connected with, then this massively boosts your own credibility and social capital. If you help others...
by Hamish | Aug 4, 2017 | Uncategorized
Just thought I would write a quick post today about 5 of my favourite business focussed Smartphone Apps – 5 Apps I use everyday to help run my business. There are a lot more than 5 that I use but these are Apps that I have used for a long time and continue to use. These are great Apps and I think everyone can benefit from using them – these Cloud based Apps can change your life and improve the effectiveness of your business. G Suite – G Suite is not really just one App. It’s a suite of apps (G Suite – get it) but I will cover them all under the one sub-point. G Suite is a range of cloud based document, presentation and spreadsheet software (similar to Microsoft Office) that you can use to run your business across devices and across offices. You can collaborate with stakeholders in real time. Facebook – On August 4, 2017 I was an attendee at the Sports Analytics Conference in Melbourne. There was an attendee from Facebook there. 7 in 10 Australians have a Facebook Account. 50% of these people access their Facebook Account daily. Your target audience is using Facebook regularly and you should be using Facebook to market your business Messenger – Messenger is a great App for you to keep in touch with Stakeholders. Many consumers suggest that they are more likely to buy from someone they can connect with on Messenger. You can create individual chats, you can create group chats, you can easily share files and photos – you can also make audio calls and...
by Hamish | Aug 3, 2017 | 365 Day Challenge
The prevalence of high speed internet, combined with cost effective or free access to online marketing platforms, has led to a multitude of people claiming that that they live a “laptop lifestyle” and that they can teach you to do the same. The laptop lifestyle basically means running an online business. These people that run blogs or write books are basically selling you a story of being able to run a business remotely, a business that you can run, with clients, no matter where you are in the world. My pitch to you is not a pitch of a “laptop lifestyle” business model. I am not going to tell you what business you should run. The pitch today is basically showing you what tools are available to you that actually make this online business model, this remote business model, a viable option to you. Here are the things that could help International Roaming Rates – One problem that held back business owners and entrepreneurs from travelling overseas in the past was international roaming rates. With my first major overseas trip I had a “small” international roaming bill of just over $1000. Nowadays, Vodafone have a $5 roaming offer (not available in all countries but available in the popular countries that Australians do visit..) For $5 per day you can keep connected whilst you are overseas. Using The Cloud So Storage Is Not Too Much Of An Issue – Another product I love, and another product that allows you to run your business remotely, is G Suite. Google is a Cloud Service that offers Docs, Sheets and Slides – similar...
by Hamish | Aug 2, 2017 | 365 Day Challenge
Many articles talk about why Facebook is great for your Rotary Club – many don’t talk specifically about Facebook Ads. I want to talk about why Facebook Ads are great for your Rotary Club. (I am working on the assumption that your Club has a budget for the PR Committee Chair. If you don’t that’s a topic for another article.) Before more specifically talking about Facebook Ads, let’s look at some basic Facebook Statistics first. As at July 2017, there are 17000000 Australians who access a Facebook Account at least monthly. 17 million. That’s approximately 7 in 10 Australians who have a Facebook Account. Further noted in the linked to article, Approx 50% of the Australian population logs into Facebook on a daily basis. These two reasons enough should show you why you need to be on Facebook. The problem is though – if you create a Page for your Club, there’s no guarantee that people will organically see your posts. You could be posting and having your posts seen by no one. It doesn’t have to be this way. You can use Facebook Ads to reach, in a cost-effective manner, those who are exactly perfect for your Club. Let’s take my Club for example – The Rotary Club of Strathmore. If I were to create a Facebook Ad for my club I could do an add for Men and Women aged 18+ who live within 5km of Napier St Essendon (where our Club meets.) The potential Audience is 320000. I could further laser target this ad by targeting people via education level or via job title/industry. You can...
by Hamish | Aug 1, 2017 | 365 Day Challenge
I joined BNI in 2009. Before I talk about why I joined BNI, let me talk about BNI. BNI (Business Network International) is the world’s largest professional networking organisation. Each week hundreds of thousands of members around the world meet to grow their business through a structured, positive, and professional referral marketing program enabling them to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business people. The proof, however, is in results. Now operating for over 30 years, last year member’s generated over A$12 billion dollars in business globally for each other. In the Melbourne Central region alone, our members generated in excess of A$52 million making us the most successful BNI region in Australia. The philosophy of BNI is built upon the idea of “Givers Gain”. Our members tell us that being part of BNI is like having a room full of promoters working for you who market your product or service to their own extended networks. When I joined the BNI Essendon Chapter in 2009 I had two main goals: I wanted more leads so I could make more money – When I joined i was young and ambitious. I had an established business and wanted more customers. Immediately after visiting a BNI Chapter meeting I decided that BNI was for me. I wanted to expand my network so I could offer valuable services to my clients – I wanted a way to find a trusted network that I could share with my non-BNI network. I’ve always wanted to be the “go to” guy – the guy that “know’s a guy.” thought BNI would be a great way to...
