Linked In for business and Other Social Media

Nigel T Packer

Proving to be an excellent start to 2011, the local FSB committee held a new members evening which brought along a record breaking number of attendees with over 70 people. 

The extremely useful Linked In talk was given by committee member Nigel T Packer who started by pointing out that to make the most of this and other social media some thought must be given to an entry.

He then went on to give the following very beneficial tips:

Get some training
You would not jump into the pilot’s seat of a Jumbo jet and try to take off without any training would you?  So if you don’t want to crash and burn in social media it is worth getting a day’s social media training on the subject.

Know your customers
You can say that all your customers are on all social media platforms but do they want to see you in the media that they choose to discuss their current romance hobbies holidays or social engagement with friends?

Make a plan!
What do you want to achieve from your activities?  Make sure there is an objective and you have time to do it.

Set up a profile
Make sure you have the right type of profile for the platform you are using.

Use all the functionality
There is more to a social media platform than just posting a profile.  Use the various functions on offer.

Keep posting
If you choose to use social media for business be in it for the long haul.  You must keep doing something on the platform on a regular basis or people will forget you.

Reputation management
Remember that everything you publish online will remain there for many years.  Write with care publish thoughtfully.

Thanks to Nigel people went away at the end of the evening with a better understanding of what they should be doing and no doubt felt it was time well worth spent.

FSB News & Events

If you are an FSB member some of the following may be of interest to you.  They don't necessarily affect us here in Swansea but of course it can be quite useful to know what's going on elsewhere:

Book now for FSB Conference
With only three weeks to go, time is running out to book your tickets for FSB Annual Conference in Liverpool on 17-19 March. There, delegates will hear from high-profile political speakers including Ed Miliband MP and Vince Cable MP, and news reader, Peter Sissons will chair the Question Time panel. Find out more and book your place at www.fsb.org.uk/conference 2011.

Graduate internships should not be axed
In a new report, the FSB is urging Government to extend the highly successful Graduate Internship Scheme, due to come to an end in March. With graduate unemployment at a record high, the FSB believes scrapping this scheme will be a mistake.

Youth unemployment podcast
Listen to the FSB’s Chief Spokesperson, Andrew Cave talk to the Guardian about how the Government can help to stem youth unemployment, in its latest podcast.

Women on Boards
Read National Chairman, John Walker’s comments in the Independent, on a Government report which aims to get at least one in four women on the boards of top companies. 

Importance of continuity planning
Read an article in the Guardian which looks at how continuity planning can help a small business survive.

Inflation continuing to rise
Read the FSB’s comments in the Daily Telegraph on how small businesses are being affected by rising commodity prices – in particular fuel.

Insurance providers removing pubs as clients
The FSB would be interested to hear from members that have had problems getting insurance as insurance providers look to remove public houses from their client base.

Get your views heard before the Budget
As always, the FSB will be submitting evidence to the Treasury ahead of the Budget (23 March) on behalf of all members. However, for members that wish to contribute to the consultation in their own right, submissions will close on Wednesday 2 March.  Email the FSB press office if you would like to be a case study.

Banking on Essex to be axed
A joint venture between Essex County Council and Santander – Banking on Essex – is to be closed, due to budgetary constraints and a lack of demand from small businesses, according to the Council. Read FSB’s comments in the Daily Telegraph.

Exporting workshops
The Overseas Security Information for Business is holding a workshop on ‘managing the risk of doing business in China’ on 30 March. Find out more on the UKTI website.

New CT vulnerability assessment tool for businesses
The current terrorism threat assessment for the UK is classed as ‘severe’.  Businesses in ‘crowded places’ such as high streets, shopping centres, near stadiums or theatres, are being encouraged to go through a straightforward risk assessment to assess and address, potential vulnerabilities to their business. 

New defence contracts
The Ministry of Defence has announced that it will develop six regional capital works frameworks for construction projects valued below £12 million and one national framework for higher value projects, more complex projects and cross-region programmes up to a value of £50 million, under its Next Generation Estate Contracts programme. Find out more.

Dates for Swansea Bay Branch FSB Events 2011

Full details will be circulated nearer the time for each event, but here is the proposed line-up of FSB event dates for 2011 that may be of interest, for you to note in your diary :

FSB National Conference will be held this year on Thursday, Friday & Saturday 17th to 19th March in BT Conference Centre, Liverpool
If you are interested you just have time to book, but do hurry as these need to be in by Tuesday 1st March!

Members Evenings
Following on from our very successful evening in February when we had over 70 attendees, we have these lined up:
Tuesday 19th April in the Mansion House, Ffynone Road
Tuesday 14th June in the Village Hotel, SA1
Tuesday 20th September – venue to be confirmed

Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells
Monday 18th to Thursday 21st July
Where you can go & visit the FSB stand

Swansea Bay Business Show – Swansea Bay Branch is a sponsors
Thursday 24th March in the LC, Oystermouth Road
Starting off with a networking session, there will be a wide range of businesses on show

Swansea Bay Branch AGM
Tuesday 15th November

Contracts for London 2012 Olympics

Welsh companies have already won contracts in excess of £38m, and there is still up to £700m worth of contracts to be won.  These range from catering equipment to sporting equipment, from mobility vehicles to office furniture, from portable water to outdoor furniture and include licensing opportunities for London 2012-branded merchandise.

To help companies across Wales the Welsh Assembly Government and its partners are staging events in North and South Wales aimed at giving Welsh businesses the best chance of competing for these opportunities:

    8 March 2011                      and                   22 March 2011
    09.30 - 12.30                                              09.30 - 12.30

Millennium Stadium                                            Venue Cymru

        Cardiff                                                      Llandudno

Find out more and register for your FREE place here

And you can also view regularly-updated Olympics-related contract opportunities on the competefor website

Successful Tendering

Just a quick reminder of this event which is being held next Tuesday 1st March 2011 at 9.00am at the QED Centre, Main Ave, Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, CF37 5YR. 

The aim of the event is to help attendees to increase your chances of winning some of those future public sector contracts worth around £5billion in Wales every year.

It is free to attend, with refreshments provided, but places are limited.  If interested please use the following link to register your details and reserve your place:
http://www.venturewales.aurorabusiness.co.uk/successfultendering