Tweak Your Biz » Technology » Go Connect! @ Small Business Can

Go Connect! @ Small Business Can

by Niall Devitt on June 21st, 2010
11 Comments



Supported by Ulster Bank, Small Business Can is the fastest growing small business network in the UK & Ireland today.

Founded by Ron Immink & Fionan Murray, the site is divided into 4 sections.

A Blog

Some great articles already included & I like the fact that they actively encourage their members to submit content.

The Community

This is where you build your SBC profile & can see what other people are up to. There  is a status bar feature, you can set up groups, manage connections & upload video.

The Forum

The forum is the most active part on the site, members can go ask for advice and/or answer questions. Currently conversations are taking place under the headings:

  • Introductions
  • General
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Money
  • Management
  • Motivation

The Growth Centre

In the Growth Centre you will find a series of case studies, articles, templates and tools across a range of business topics. These artcles are further sub-divided by which stage of growth your business is at.

So….

I joined the site a few weeks back & something I like is that you can log in using your Facebook account. There are some small issues around html & comments, which can be a little awkward @ times but I’m sure these will be sorted in due course. Overall Small Business Can has a vibrant & active business community, the team are supportive & thorough community builders and so far it is proving to be a worthwhile business networking exercise.

If you are a member of Small Business Can or any other online business networking sites, Please share your experiences & thoughts?

Thank you for reading,

Niall




Category: Great Business Resources

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The Author:

Niall Devitt is a doer, not a talker when it comes to social media. Niall advises organisations how to plan, design and implement social media strategies that generate real business returns.  Niall is Chief Digital Strategist & Founder at the Ahain Group, an independent, ideas-led social business consultancy with experience of working with all types of clients and sectors– from large blue-chip multinationals to the 1 SMEs. Download our industry specific and researched social business reports. In 2009, Niall co-founded TweakYourBiz.com (formally Bloggertone.com) an international, business community and online publication. http://www.ahaingroup.com/

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  • Fionan

    thanks Niall…hopefully we’ve sorted out some of the issues you highlighted with the latest upgrade.

  • http://www.tweakyourbiz.com Niall Devitt

    Hi Fionan, I see you guys have made some big changes since this post was published and were mentioned in another BT post yesterday, good job!nhttp://tweakyourbiz.com/marketing/2011/04/27/using-internet-forums-to-market-your-business/

  • Steve Fitzpatrick

    If you’re making statements like “it has become apparent that businesses and consumers alike find it horrific to do and horrific to receive.” Then businesses really need to think about how much they are annoying people – more than helping them. Cold calling could be damaging your business more than building it.

    This whole article seems to be written about how businesses who are doing well using new mediums shouldn’t throw out old redundant ways of selling. Perhaps in your next article you may want to write about “increasing market share by paying for a much larger ad in the Yellow Pages for the 10 people left reading it”

  • Torihawthorne

    Hi there Steve,

    I am not for one minute suggesting Businesses that are doing well using new mediums should drop them for what you are suggesting is old and ‘redundant’
    This is about adapting methods that traditionally worked (and still do when done correctly) to working within a new faster paced environment… 

    Business and customers alike have difficulty with Cold Calling because some of the aggressive manors and approaches that cold callers have decided to use in recent years. Cold calling isn’t redundant it has evolved into Business Development, which is something that I know many still do.

    And It isn’t that Cold Calling doesn’t work this is about remembering that we still need to move from initial contact to meeting prospective clients. As I stated in this and the last blog post, this is Business Development that is still needed. I know many small Businesses that cant afford a small advert in the Yellow Pages (or similar), let alone a large one! So they chose Business Development calls. I am addressing the point to go about it correctly so it isn’t ‘horrific’.
    Thanks so much for your comment…

    Much appreciated
    Tori

  • http://twitter.com/virtualvip Jeff Yablon

    You’re missing a key point here.

    Regardless of the point of your cold call (and I’m limiting that term to mean “picking up the phone to reach out to a stranger”), it’s become nigh on impossible to get to people that way. Even people you know don’t pick up the phone any more.

  • Torihawthorne

    I believe calls are being answered. Businesses are afraid to miss possible business opportunities. The point here is we need to gain the skill set to make Business Development Calls and how to receive them. We have to get their attention and that’s where a good online plan can help taking prospects and making them sales.
    Thanks so much for your comment
    Tori

  • http://www.smartsolutions.ie/blog/ Elaine Rogers

    A hugely interesting read, especially as posts like this can bring out the best and worst in us as business owners. Certainly for me today, your points are very valid and make a lot of sense.

    I do believe that in todays world of business in Ireland, it certainly makes sense to meet and greet, even if that is initially online. If we can get from cold to even luke-warm, that is the beginnings of a relationship (which is a 2-way process) and veers away from polite spamming or perceived stalking :)

    Thanks Tori 

  • http://twitter.com/virtualvip Jeff Yablon

    Tori, your point is well put; to be good at sales you need to actually BE good at sales. But … I’m afraid I disagree with the base principle. Seriously, think about it; we ALL say “email me”, and only answer the phone live if we think there’s something in it for us (and rarely do)

  • Torihawthorne

    Maybe Jeff,
    But in my experience we need to take that “email me” further… I’m not advocating pestering pointless cold-calls, I’m talking about Researched Business Development. I believe we cannot build Business on email alone..
    Its a great topic for discussion, thanks for responding back
    Tori ;)

  • Torihawthorne

    Hi there Elaine,
    Online mediums have made connecting so much easier, but that’s where we as Business owners need to move them on to building a business relationship.
    I like “polite spamming or perceived stalking” ;)  My next Blog is about how peoples perceptions have a lot to do with how Business Development is being received.  
    Thanks
    Tori

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