This week I attended the Women in Biz Network Conference where a group of female entrepreneurs gathered to network, eat, be entertained and most importantly learn. Here are a few key things I wanted to share with other women entrepreneurs that I felt were important.
1. Take some risk
We learned from Kelsey Ramsden , Canada’s #1 Female Entrepreneur, taking a risk doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Sometimes we need to play the odds to be in the game. And if we make a mistake that’s ok. We often worry more about what can go wrong than what the possibilities will be when it goes right.
2. Spend time working on your business to make it strong
Some great advice from the ladies at MomBiz :
– Make sure you have a clear understanding of what your brand stands for and who your ideal client is.
– Find out how you can reach that market and start to build relationships within that market.
– Sales is something we have to do but if you know your target market and listen to their needs it won’t seem like selling, it will be like you’re helping.
– You need a business plan and that business plan may have to be adaptable as you grow.
– Make sure to always keep learning.
3. How to get some PR for your business
Patrick McCaully of Pointman! PR , gave us some tips on getting the attention of the media.
Be creative, be original, be controversial, be relevant and tell them something they don’t know. Watch the news and connect your business to something that’s trending. Turn your information into a tip, provide a top 5 list of ‘how tos’ from your expertise. Provide the results of a poll you’ve done. And adding humor or using alliterations can work wonders.
4. Grow your business through your list
Melanie Martin, Webrite Design Solutions , gave us some great insight into the benefits of email marketing.
It’s easier to get business from your existing clients than to always be getting new clients so make sure you keep your contacts and lists up to date. If you’re not already doing so then start building your email list.
There are many ways to capture emails and they start with asking your existing clients to join your list. Add a form on your website offering something of value such as a newsletter or tip sheet. Use your email signature to ask for people to sign up for your newsletter. If you’re hosting an event have a place for clients to provide their email.
5. Ideas to Grow Your Business for less than $100
The partners from Spark Consulting gave us 100 ideas and here are just some of them.
– Form a charitable partnership
– Get a vanity phone number
– Add testimonials to your website
– Create a white paper on your expertise
– Develop a list of 100 people you’d like to get to know on social media
– Update your bio
– Have a sale in your quiet times
– Always be learning
Thank you to Leigh Mitchell, founder of Women in Biz Network , who does such a wonderful job of bringing us together to hear great presenters to help us in growing our businesses. It was the perfect day of learning.
If you are an entrepreneur that is starting out or already has a business make sure to check out conferences and workshops that will help you grow and profit by continuing to learn. Conferences and workshops I attend include BNI | Biz Network Conference | Company of Women | Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs and Success Academy with Vantage Business Leadership .
Purple Moon Creative runs workshops for Small Businesses who need to attract more clients to their business. If your company or group is interested in learning more about how branding can help grow your business contact kspeed@purplemooncreative.com