Viva Business Networking Blog

When thinking about marketing materials for your business put yourself into your customers mind. All too often I see marketing materials which just say 'we do xyz, for this price and save you money' they don't actually show how they solve a problem. Before you start to write copy do some research. This is so easy obtain online. Find out what you competitors are doing. What are they offering and how are they marketing themselves? Check what people are saying about them. You can use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and their website to find out so much about your industry.

Like networking events there are so many business exhibitions around.

So how can you get the best from visiting or exhibiting ?

Attending as a visitor

. The main highlights of the Chancellor’s speech were:

It will never happen to me- fact 40% of Brits when faced with a serious or life changing disability would turn to a charity for support.

I have just returned from a one night stay at the MacDonald Bath Spa. This hotel is amazing in every way.Lovely landscaped gardens, stylish interior and stunning spa facilities. But what makes this place really special is the service. From the moment we pulled up the excellent service began. Porters to take your cases, a valet to park your car and a smiling and helpful receptionist. Emma, the receptionist was a credit to her generation. Just 19 years old and she oozed customer service excellence. Nothing was too much trouble.

HERTS SME EXPO DACORUM

26^th April 2012 Open 9.30am -1pm

Ramada Hemel Hempstead AL3 7AF

Over time building business relationships you build trust. Friendships grow from some business relationships based on shared interests and mutual respect.  Joint business ventures can occur and because there is so much trust there you can easily over look paperwork-contracts are forgotten as your friendship means you feel confident that there is no need for such details. My view is never ever trust anyone with the inner workings of your business without an agreement which is written down and clearly defined and ideally drawn up or at least checked by a solicitor.

Local media titles across the UK have revealed their shortlisted businesses for the Local Business Accelerators campaign.   

Viva Business Networking has been selected by the Hemel Hempstead Gazette. We have scooped the LBA prize of free advertising in our local paper, business mentoring, and a chance to win a year’s mentoring from the campaign’s national ambassador Deborah Meaden of the Dragons’ Den.

Running your own business is not the easy option. Many people think it is. People think they will get the freedom to make their own decisions, they are not answerable to anyone and they will make lots of money quickly. The harsh reality is very different. It takes a lot of hours to structure a business,market a business and get things moving with sales and collecting payments from customers. To begin with many small business owners are every single department. So time to reflect on the past 12 months as another year passes. Have things panned out the way you thought it would?