"How to make small business into BIG!" was the theme of this month's Start to Grow Forum, organised by Hereford & Worcester Chamber , sponsored by Hayward Wright and hosted by the lovely people at Holland House in Cropthorne, near Pershore. Thanks to everyone who came, I hope you found it both useful and inspiring?
The Little Soap Company
There was an excellent local business hero, Emma Heathcote-James who owns and runs The Little Soap Company, based in Bretforton. She told us about her journey and how she developed her product range, taking it from small, local, agricultural shows and how she came up against "the big boys" and has now successfully developed The Little Soap Company into a big business where you will find her Little Soap range in Waitrose, Warners Budgens and possibly coming soon to another major supermarket chain. She managed to get onto the Waitrose shelves in just under 12 months, the shortest time ever for a fledging business to have achieved this. Take a look at how she uses Facebook to engage with her clients and build a community around her product I think a great way to learn how to engage with people online is to see it in action and then have a go yourself.
My task was to inspire and educate small businesses in how they can start using Facebook to develop, grow and enrich their businesses by developing their business and brand through human communication and develop a sense of community and brand loyalty that can all be achieved when you use Facebook effectively.
Why aren't more SME's taking advantage of Facebook business pages?
However, I was shocked by the number of local business in the room that still don't even have their own business page on Facebook. Facebook is a free marketing and communication tool that empowers you to have a two way conversation with your customers. You can discuss what you've been doing and they can tell you what they like and don't like, if there's something missing from your products or service offering - there are a multitude of ways in which Facebook can help to grow your company.
It became apparent from speaking to people in the room that still some are concerned that information posted in their personal account will be visible to their business customers - this simply is not true.
People are still worried about, what will they talk about, who will see it, what will they think, what if a I look silly? Well what do you talk about usually with your customers and more importantly what are your customers interested in hearing more about? Just transfer that to your Facebook page.
How to create your own Facebook business page
In less than 4 minutes you can learn how to create your own Facebook business page, just watch this brief online tutorial to learn how quick and simple it really is.
Thank you inspirational ladies!
And finally, I would just like say a big thank you to Faye Hurley from Eden Aromatics. The next morning I received a message to say that Faye had been so inspired by our talk that she got straight onto it and created her own Facebook business account - if you're impressed by this business lady taking action and promoting her beautiful smellies, show her the love and "Like" her Facebook page. I thinks it's amazing how much information she has shared in just a couple of days and 7 people "Like" her business already - I'm sure this is just the start of making her small business into BIG! X
Like to learn more about Facebook?
Anyone interested in learning more about How to use Facebook for Business - why not come along to one of our interactive and action packed Facebook workshop?
