My top networking tip.

I run Wightbuzz, a networking group for the small/medium businesses on the Isle of Wight. My top networking tip is to never go out without your business cards. You never know when you might need them. I find that I give at least one out every day. Yesterday, as I was leaving to go to a meeting, I noticed window cleaners next door. One of my members had been asking if we have a window cleaner in the group. (which we don't) I asked them for their card and had a brief conversation, leaving them with my card before I went on my merry way. 

I blame it on granny brain!!

My intentions were good when I started the Ultimate Blog challenge on 1st July. It wasn't long before I started to lag behind! I can assure you I wasn't sitting idle. Far from it!!! At an age when most people retire, there am I starting all over again to build my portfolio of businesses. I have worked long and hard and suddenly life is throwing some very exciting projects at me. Wightbuzz, my network group is growing very fast and with it lots of other great opportunities.


So back to the blogs subjects. The trouble is, I didn't jot down what I had done in the way of blog posts and last night I was trying to play catch up in the wee small hours! Not a good plan! I was clearly a very tired granny! It seems I have covered some of the same topic in two blog posts and I've only done 4!!! I apologise and now vow to make notes!!!!


I promise to try much harder and  vary the content. Today I took time out to be pampered by my hairdresser!! 



We sat and chatted while she coloured my hair and as we chatted I told her about the Ultimate Blog Challenge! Well it wasn't very long before we started coming up with ideas for new blog posts. I have jotted those down so hopefully the content will be more varied in future and my granny brain will not be so evident!!! Don't think I do badly really!!!

Botty Rule number one.

I have been a member of Nigel Botterill's Entrepreneur's Circle since December 2011 and am now lucky enough to be part of the Business Growth Advisor's Team for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.Nigel has built several million pound businesses over the last few years.  I have gained an enormous amount of marketing knowledge which is delivered in bite size nuggets. I have read The Botty Rules and often quote from them when talking to business owners including those in my Wightbuzz networking group. 


Rule number 1 As a business owner, you are 100% responsible for what happens in your business. It's all your fault.(I prefer the word responsibility)


I must take ownership for what happens in my business. I cannot blame anyone else if anything goes wrong. As Nigel says, "Responsibility is a powerful thing. Think differently. Get out of your rut. Take responsibility."

I am now seeing the benefits of investing in my business and I am looking for entrepreneurs to join the circle and enjoy the many benefits(£69.99 + VAT monthly - with no fixed length of commitment) For those who sign up before the close of play on the last day of the Olympics, Nigel will arrange for "Getting Customers" Surefire Attraction templates for your business (worth £499 )to be sent out FREE of charge. It includes a monster size toolbox of completely done-for-you, "fill-in-the-blanks" blueprints that you can simply put to work in your own business - all tried, tested and ready to put to work attracting new customers, clients, patients into your business. Dozens of ready to go templates for your marketing emails, sales letters, and auto responder campaigns. Plus you will learn how to find the perfect message for your market, a complete guide to writing subject lines that really get emails opened, leaflets and flyers - how to make them work, plus much more. If you would like one of my special envelopes detailing all the contents of the Getting Customers toolbox and the benefits of joining the circle, please get in touch with me Lyn Blackledge  soon.


Other benefits of the circle are many - local meetings, weekly marketing updates, a monthly magazine, National events ( I attended the Olympic Challenge - national event last week  in Birmingham and very good it was too & certainly was an Olympic challenge to get on a 5.45am ferry from the Isle of Wight!) a one to one with Nigel's team, the opportunity to have a piece of marketing critiqued etc etc - so much value that I can't afford not to be a member. 


So, remembering Botty rule number 1 - It is up to me to make my business succeed - no-one else and with his marketing help I certainly will.

To tweet or not to tweet?

It took me a long time to "get" twitter. I really didn't understand why I would want to know Johnny was standing at the bus stop with a jam sandwich. Why would I? Slowly it dawned on me as I watched and listened to others "in the know"  I am now about to organise workshops for my Wightbuzz members as many of them have yet to discover the power of twitter. At the beginning of this week, I was tweeting lots of my Wightbuzz members websites to the world. It hit home even more just what a brilliant marketing tool it is, when one of my tweets was retweeted by someone who had 18,000 followers! 


The following day, a friend of mine and Wightbuzz member ,  therapist, Maire Reeves, told me about a book called Twitchhiker by Paul Smith.

This demonstrates the incredible power twitter holds. It is the story of how one man travelled the world by twitter. Paul crossed the world from Gateshead to New Zealand in 30 days. He had 5 rules 1) He could only accept offers of travel and accommodation from people on twitter, 2) he couldn't make any travel plans further than 3 days in advance, 3) he could only spend money on food and drink and anything that fitted in his suitcase. 4) If there was more than one offer he had to choose. If there was only one, he had to take it within 48 hours and 5) If he was unable to move on from a location within 48 hours, the challenge was over and he had to go home. 

I have just started reading it and I know I am going to find it fascinating from my friends account of it! Paul raised much money for charity on his trip.

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a meeting where Dan Thompson was the speaker. He is the creator of the pop up shops and also spoke about Pop up People

He has used twitter extensively and it was he who started the #riotcleanup after the riots last year. He thought he would motivate a few people to help clean up but as the power of twitter is so extensive, thousands of people were motivated to help. 

So if you are in business can you afford NOT to be on twitter. Find me @Wightbuzz, @bookladyofryde and @Lynsbiz

An Olympic Challenge

Yesterday I attended the Olympic Challenge. This was a national event hosted by Nigel Botterill's Entrepreneurs Circle (I work with Mike Stevens the business growth advisor for Hampshire and the Isle of Wightand represent the circle on the island.) It was in itself, an Olympic challenge as it meant getting up at 4 am. linking up with 4 other circle members from the Isle of Wight and catching the 5.45 am  ferry in order to be in Solihull for a 10 am start. Helen, our driver and owner of Overdene Chase Cottages in Ryde, made very good time and we arrived in time to enjoy coffee before the main event started. Helen and I were joined by Dave Crewe , Bev Jessup of Speech Train and Sharon Lake of Naturally Wight In true Botty style, Nigel entered the room, carrying the Olympic Challenge although health and safety prevented it being lit!!!

I have been a member of the Circle now for 7 months and have gained so much marketing advice for my businesses! One of my businesses is Wightbuzz - a network group for the Isle of Wight and beyond. With the absence of a tourist board (not the council's brightest idea when our industry is tourism) I am implementing lots of Nigel's golden nuggets to promote our Island. Yes I invested in a flip camera and made a start promoting our beautiful Island . 

It was a fantastic day yesterday and well worth the early start. Nigel gave us an Olympic challenge - to find 2012 new members for the Circle before the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.  Would you like to know more? Nigel is offering a free tool kit to help you get more customers "Getting Customers - Surefire Attraction Templates for your business" worth £499 - to anyone who has joined the circle by the close of play at the end of the Olympics. Why not leave me a comment or pop over to my facebook page and leave me a comment. It has already been a great benefit to my business. I would love to help others. 

It's always good to have a plan B !

How often does your plan A work out? Are you flexible? Can you come up with a plan B or C at short notice? 


I have learnt to master the art and in fact got to plan E today!!!


As I sat thinking  of the content for  my first blog of the 31 day blog challenge, 

 I cast my mind back 40 years. I was 21 and was a brand new bride of 5 hours. It had been a wonderful day and I had  delighted my mum by choosing her birthday as my wedding day. My dad gave me away and had spent many hours practising "I do" in answer to who giveth this woman? I have such fond memories. 

Sadly, Plan A didn't work even though I tried my hardest. However, although the marriage ended after 16 years, I do have three wonderful children from that marriage,  of whom I am very proud.

And so over the years, if plan A hasn't worked, I have never given up but looked for another way to do things. Often Plan B hasn't worked either but I just plod on until I find a solution and a plan that does work. The message I am trying to convey here is that winners never quit and quitters never win. I may not have enjoyed a very long marriage, but I have enjoyed my life and the challenges it has presented. (and there have been many!) Writing my autobiography was never part of the original plan either, but I started it on father's day this year -  as a tribute to my wonderful dad who died two years ago at the age of 89. As my life has taken so many twists and turns, I have tried always to be positive and look for the good. Along this path, I have had to deal with some unpleasant and unkind people but also soooo many wonderful people have come into my path. I am very grateful for my wicked sense of humour and it has always managed to shine through even the darkest of days! Many people have told me they enjoyed my positivity and my sense of fun. It is these people who have also encouraged me to put pen to paper. As I say, it was never something I thought about before. So whilst I may not be celebrating my ruby wedding anniversary today, I have to say that my life has been full of other gems along the way. Gems of people and gems of situations and for that I count my blessings. I could so easily have given up and allowed my life to go in a downward spiral. I am so glad I didn't!