Comments for Inspired!

Comment on W is for Websites (Part 1) by AnnHawkins

AnnHawkins — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:59:47 +0000

@Simonecas Thanks for such a great contribution Simon (or is it Simone?)
You’re going to love the next instalment which is more about SEO and branding!

Comment on W is for Websites (Part 1) by Simonecas

Simonecas — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:06:03 +0000

Being a sole trader I had no budget so I crafted, wrote and optimised my website. I learnt everything I know thanks to the generosity of web groups where experts share tips and suggestions. I “gave back” by writing an article on how to set up a simple website on a budget (http://simone-castello.suite101.com/setting-up-a-website-on-a-budget-a339771 – copy and paste the address if link doesn’t work).

My website landed me a big client in 2009, a digital media agency I still do occasional work for. They googled me and as my website ranked in the top three in the first page of Google for certain keywords, I got the call. I worked on three advertising/marketing campaigns for a global brand, through which I learnt a lot more about SEO. Of course, my knowledge of the specific topic they wanted played a part, although I’m not the only one offering it. I subsequently found out that my LinkedIn page had hugely boosted my website. So I agree with all those who mentioned social media tools.

The most useful lessons I have recently learnt is that you need recent content and you should watch competitors. My website has slipped to page 2 and have noticed that a competitor is using my keywords in the same order. So I have spent some time differentiating myself again and I am now trying to optimise my website for local searches (i.e. Cambridge area).

So once your website is up and running, you have to keep honing it. You need to keep abreast of new social media tools. It can be hard work as it all happens at the speed of light. So if you have zero interest in these things, I’d suggest you pay somebody to do the job for you.

Comment on Why Power Point should be Banned by AnnHawkins

AnnHawkins — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:24:40 +0000

@maxinemaxxy I didn’t realise they got kids to use PP in school! I’m just off to tell all the presentation skills trainers I know to get in there and show them how to present to engage!

Comment on Why Power Point should be Banned by maxinemaxxy

maxinemaxxy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:20:18 +0000

lol love this so much … even if it’s not certain death it can be a slow painful one … and you are absolutely right if you cannot speak or present then powerpoint won’t save you.

What I hate is the way they teach powerpoint in schools. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is where some of this starts. My 13yo has a powerpoint presentation to do for science homework and can you believe my 7yo also has a powerpoint presentation to do on world war 2 !! Yeuch! I have asked them both to rehearse the phrase ”mummy says that SlideRocket is better as a cloud based application with more engagement and we don’t subscribe to the microsoft money making machine” … hahaha … I bet their teachers will love me!

Comment on The holes in Mary Portas’ knickers by Ann

Ann — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:55:41 +0000

Hi Ladyfen
I’m glad the knickers are comfortable and yes, its great that people have got jobs out of this project. The post was more about if there was anything business owners could learn from Mary’s example. I like her chutzpah but I think there are a lot better examples of people running successful garment manufacturing businesses in the UK that would have been better and more useful (not to mention realistic) role models.
The Cambridge Raincoat Company is one new one and Barbour is an established one.

Comment on The holes in Mary Portas’ knickers by ladyfen

ladyfen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:07:56 +0000

Have to say I like Mary and her knickers are very comfortable. I appreciate that working in a factory may not be everyone or indeed anyone’s idea of fun but, hey … these people didn’t have jobs and appeared to have no prospect of getting jobs. If this opportunity gives them some confidence and makes them feel part of a productive team isn’t that good?

Comment on The holes in Mary Portas’ knickers by AnnHawkins

AnnHawkins — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:45:30 +0000

@Hall Thanks for taking the time to share your point of view Hal.
I agree I am very cynical about TV shows based around business and maybe that’s because I work with owners of small businesses who are often faced with trying to explain what they do to people whose only experience of business is through shows like this.
I, too, hope the factory continues and expands and leads to other jobs being created and I think there are some real heroes and heroines already running manufacturing businesses in this country that deserve support and publicity and accolades too. Maybe Channel 4 will put its next tranche of money into celebrating them instead of encouraging the celebrity obsession we seem to have fallen into.

Comment on The holes in Mary Portas’ knickers by Hall

Hall — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:10:45 +0000

Ann, I don’t know much about business, but I know that the pants are now completely sold out everywhere in the UK, and that seven people in Middleton are still employed. I cannot help but think that around 20,000,000 females in the UK must buy around ten pairs of pants per year, making the market worth 200,000,000 pairs per year. It doesn’t seem impossible to me that the UK brand could take 20% of this market and achieve the economies of scale necessary for enduring success. If they started making other lines too….well, I’m only an economist, not a business person, so perhaps I shouldn’t speculate further.

I do feel that it is very, very easy to knock and undermine stories / shows such as these. Another way to look at the situation might be to assume that most of the audience knows that it is just watching light entertainment, and that if it prompts people to think a little more seriously about the impact of their purchasing decisions, then it has merit. If it takes a celebrity to get that message across, then so be it.

I think your point about factory work not being seen as a noble pursuit has some merit, but I believe that a lot of people would see it as much more noble than being long term unemployed in a small town and not having enough money to buy your son a pair of football boots.

I take my hat off to Mary Portas. I am glad that she is using her celebrity status not just to trouser a few hundred grand, but to have a go at making a real difference. If she leads, perhaps the “ordinary Jo” might be inspired to follow, and perhaps his or her path to do so may be slightly easier. Tomorrow I’m going to put on my rose coloured spectacles, go out and order ten pairs of Kinky Knickers for my wife.

Comment on Do you need tea and sympathy? by viviensabel

viviensabel — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:00:36 +0000

So true Ann! Focusing on what we want instead of what we haven’t got is so much more positive. Thank you for sharing.

Comment on Is Mary Portas bottom line in the red? by AnnHawkins

AnnHawkins — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:04:51 +0000

@bob1 Ha! I love the part where you say we spend time bemoaning the things that annoy us and yet do nothing to change them Bob. I’ve changed my thinking now and look at great ideas and say “Why didn’t I think of that?” It’s an interesting exploration of creativity and who knows where it might lead!