At the Google HQ for train the trainer workshop for ‘Getting Business Online’ training with lots of people from the county enterprise boards!  See some FREE web site templates below and click here to get started with a free domain name, web hosting and training -  well done to sponsors Google, Blacknight and An Post and thanks to Google’s Michelle Beirne for her short video message!

www.GettingBusinessOnline.ie

Connector at ‘Getting Business Online’ training is a post from: Connector

On Thursday evening we had the first Connector Brainstorm event at the Science Gallery and here are some photos from Kyle Tunney and more here on Facebook.

The idea behind Connector brainstorm is to create a space for small ideas to collide and create BIG ideas.  So we have created a mashup of classic Connector networking mixed with brainstorming!  Each table has a moderator who guides the conversation and keeps the notes on paper or on our mind mapping software.

We have some generic topics for discussion but there are opportunities for startups to have their business brainstormed by 8 people for 30 minutes.

The launch of Connector Brainstorm event provided a fascinating insight into the world of Irish politics, economic and society. A diverse mix of people gathered in the Science Gallery in Trinity College to ask important questions politicians won’t never think to ask themselves.

Conor Lynch, organiser of the Connector Brainstorm said; “Einstein once said ‘We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.’ Age old policies need new age thinking and with this in mind our team of experts came up with some radical suggestions on how the future of Irish politics and economy should be ran.”

Saving Ireland Inc.

One of the first ideas to come to fruition was a way to deal with the thousands of empty properties across the country.  There are an estimated 74 ‘Ghost estates’ in Ireland, due to the oversupply of housing during the boom.  These Ghost estates are now on the verge of being demolished.

Instead of knocking the estates down the group proposed devising a lottery system whereby a lucky winner in the midst of our economic crisis could go on to win a property on one of these derelict estates. The rest of the lotteries proceeds could be put to good use by employing the skill sets of unemployed people on social welfare which will regenerate and finish development on these estates for the people that really need them.

A team of business strategists proposed a radical suggestion which might be considered futuristic to say the least. This approach applies the principles of computer gaming structures to the welfare and taxation system adding value back into society so that public moral is renewed to spend again. As users work hard to progress through the various levels of the game, engaging and gaining rewards they’ve spent time to earn, the same can be applied to real life.

Therefore, it was suggested that people on social welfare could use the skill sets they have to pay-it-forward, clocking up twenty hours per week adding value to a person or a business and this new currency could add credits to each individual through the welfare and taxation system.

Another contributor said; “Another suggestion which was one of topical debate discussed Ireland’s technologically starved politicians. Most of Ireland’s politicians are between the ages of forty to sixty, but a lot of people in our society are between the ages of fifteen to thirty. As we face an uncertain future it’s imperative that our government is up-to-speed on emerging markets rich in technology. At the next election we need a more balanced age profile in Irish politics in order to speak the language of the Irish population and other successful economies.”

In a quirky suggestion the majority also agreed that TD’S should be prohibited from drinking so that they’re heads are clear for tackling the biggest issues Ireland has had to face in political history.

Connector Startups

The Connector Brainstorm event also gave some of Ireland’s most exciting start-ups the opportunity to gain new ideas for their businesses including GoCar.ie, AM Works, Twitter TV, Smart Leads, Pet Photography, Happy Gardening Co. and EggFuel.ie where they were able to share and propose ideas to the different groups and get valuable feedback. 

“The Connector brainstorm event was extremely beneficial to the businesses that were there.  They all left with new ideas for their businesses from some of the top experts in a range of fields.  For businesses to grow and succeed in the current economic climate they have to recognise that they need to think outside the box and gain input from a range of areas and this event will help anyone who is looking to get a new perspective on their business,” Lynch went on to say.

For more information on upcoming Connector Brainstorm and networking events then log on to connector.ie

Idea generation for startups & freelancers @ Connector Brainstorm is a post from: Connector

Conor recently spoke at the Hotel Website Marketing Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin on getting started on Social Media. Below are the slides for your viewing pleasure.

Hotel Website Marketing Conference @ the Crowne Plaza Hotel is a post from: Connector

As part of the Irish Internet Association’s ‘Digitize the Nation’ campaign, Conor will be giving free consultations on Friday 21st of May between 2 and 6pm. Friday is the designated Social Media Day and conor is the current Chair of the iia Social Media Working Group.

We will be helping our guests to diagnose digital marketing problems and prescribe solutions based on the Connector 10C’s strategy.  Regardless of the size of your business we will decide a tailor made action plan to suit your need based on your business and budget.  Please email training [at] connector.ie to make your appointment.

Connector Clinic Social Media Consultations is a post from: Connector

On the 22^nd April 2010 the IIAs Social Media Working Group held an event entitled Audio Video Culture: Behind the scenes of audio & video content online.  Conor the current Chair of Social Media Working Group at the IIA was the chariman for this event.

Speakers from RTE, RaboDirect, Channelship, Mason Hayes and Curran, CEUD NDA, Google Ireland and YouTube all spoke at the event and helped to make it a great success.  Pictured is Sebastian Missoffe from YouTube in action from Conor at the top table!

There was very positive feedback with most feeling they learned a great deal about  audio and video content online.

Review of iia Audio Video Culture Event is a post from: Connector

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve  added a new Connector Training Video to the training page of our website. The video introduces Connector Training in digital & social media.

Produced by Progressive Productions, the short video features some nice effects and innovative use of graphics, text and footage, not to mention an appearance by Conor Lynch himself who narrates with class and style!

New Connector Training Video is a post from: Connector

Connector was invited down to the great launch of JOE.ie today in the Morgan Hotel penthouse suite.  I got to make a bunch of new connections from JOE.ie, the parent company, Impact Media, FHS and the Brand Army girls. Some of the stars of the web site out in force were Jerry Flannery (See Video), Gerald Keane, Ciaran Whelan, Ray Foley and the Hardy Bucks!

Connector is delighted to be one of the  featured startups on the site’s business section, check it out there >>

Connections @ JOE.ie is a post from: Connector

After being involved in Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start Up programme, Weedle seemed to have a very promising future.  Then to top that, it also received funding, announced via Brian Cowen totalling US $4 Million to expand the Weedle social platform in the U.S and other global regions.

Weedle was founded by Iain McDonald, who successfully sold his previous company Perlico to Vodafone in 2007, and Michael Gallagher previously CIO of Perlico, Weedle is set to grow from the 16 handpicked employees who began developing Weedle last August.

Also among these is Brendan Hughes, Director of Community, with whom I had the pleasure of talking to a few weeks ago. Brendan has previously worked as  e-Commerce Manager at FBD and as e-Business Manager at Vhi Healthcare.  When he stepped down as Chair of Social Media Working Group at Irish Internet Association in 2009, it was Connector’s Conor Lynch stepped up to  take Brendan’s place.  Small world!

Six degrees of separation

There’s a theory that states that “if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth.” This is known as the Six Degrees of Separation theory. Whether you actually believe this theory or not, it is an interesting concept and one that is “core to what Weedle is about.” according to Brendan.

Weedle works on powerful connections and the idea that you can recommend someone and word of mouth recommendations are the strongest persuasions.  It was through word of mouth from Brendan that the launch plans were conceived.

Weedle Launch

Weedle had a soft launch, preferring to launch and showcase the product the night before the official launch to a select few connected online experts including that guy Conor Lynch yet again!

The social networking site officially went live on Thursday and it was already named in 5 blog posts and on Friday the site had hit the Irish Times. In the first 24 hours Weedle had as many people signed up as they had anticipated in the first month and had a surprising flurry of activity from as far away as Holland.

The more people who sign up for Weedle the more powerful the social network will become and for Weedle to realize its vision it needs to become global.

Best of luck!

Obviously Connector is a big fan of connections, Conor is excited about using this new platform. Thanks to Brendan for his time and best of luck to all the Weedle team!

Nicola O’Reilly

Connect with Weedle is a post from: Connector

Since I am now working at Connector full time since February, I have been looking at ways to get the support & advice I need from mentors and peers.  Invited originally by my mate Iarfhlaith Kelly, I have now been at 2 meetings of The Board and it is worth checking out for any business owners out there.  Here’s how they describe it in their own words, see what you think -

The Board is an exclusive support structure for your business delivered in the form of monthly board meetings. These meeting are chaired by a trained facilitator who controls the meeting, ensuring that everyone gets a fair share of the allocated time.

This is an exclusive club. So it’s not for everyone. We want entrepreneurs, innovators, natural sales people, people with boat loads of experience. We want the very best people, so the advice they give is of the very best quality. If this sounds like you, then The Board needs you.

To find out more, visit The Board and apply for an information pack or you can visit us on Facebook.

We’ve also compiled a quick Q&A, addressing many of the questions we’ve received about The Board so far. If you’d like to know more, then reading these will be a good place to start:

Is my information confidential? Confidentiality is a key area. All members sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the sign up process. Only members can attend meetings and a member must sign an NDA in advance of attending a meeting.

Will my competitors be at the meeting? Each meeting will be made up of members from non-competing sectors. Actually it is expected that members’ services will compliment each other and there may be market opportunities from within the group.

Do I have to stay in the same group for 6 months? No, if you are not happy with the expertise in any particular group we will facilitate you in joining another group which is directly suited to your needs

Define what I receive for €200:

• A three-hour monthly meeting with four fellow experts.
• Access to emergency meeting to discuss any urgent business issues.
• Online 24-hour confidential forum to ask members advice based on their experiences (launch date tbc).
• A structured environment to focus on your business.
• Procedure to set goals and continuous monitoring to ensure goals are achieved.
• Complimentary negotiation service on behalf of your business. You only pay if we save you money and what you pay is a percentage of the savings achieved.
• Internal Meeting Management Software (available in June 2010). Our software makes it easy for our members to implement their strategies.
• Discounts – Members qualify for exclusive discounts. Our boarding card will be updated monthly. We will add a new discount every month.
• Our monthly fee will not increase but we will continually add to our services

Is this like BNI (business network international)? This is a not a networking service. However by its nature it will offer networking opportunities between members. Our service it to allow business owners to step back from their business to focus on and grow their business in order to increase profits.

You should be paying me for advice! I am in business 12 years and I have no issues. All businesses evolve. To be the best business in a sector, owners must continuously be in tune with the market and customer demands. Our meetings gives members an opportunity to discuss cash flow, banking, taxation, sales, staffing issues or any other issue a business owner may have. By joining The Board it will help you secure your business for another 12 years!

I am a one-man band, is this suitable for me? This is a perfect structure for you. Business can be a lonely place. We are offering you a virtual board of directors. We are giving you a soundboard to use to bounce ideas off, to share their experiences with you. You will never have to make a decision on your own again.

I already have a board of directors, so I don’t need another? Using The Board can help you to impress your directors. You will go to your internal board meetings focused, with clear thought out strategies and solutions. You can use the board to solve operational levels that your directors will not be sympathetic towards.

How will I know there will be other members equipped to help me? Every member is a business owner like yourself and an expert at running a business. They like you have extensive experience and their experiences mirroring your advice will be very beneficial. At any stage if you have a specific area of expertise required we can arrange an extraordinary meeting to deal with that issue specifically.

35 minutes seems short, how will this sort my problems? This is a three-hour meeting and we plan to launch a 24hours Q&A online forum for members. Our members to date have found that by giving advice they are actually learning themselves. All the advice given around the table is generic to all business so everything that happens in the meeting is relative to your business.

What is the negotiation service? We can negotiate a deal on your behalf. You can always do your own negotiations but our results speak for themselves. We saved one company €18,000 on rent alone in the last 6 weeks. You only pay for the service if we achieve savings and our fees is only a small percentage of the savings you achieve.

What is the PA for a Day? This service is optional and is very much on a need only basis. You can register for it at no cost and then if you ever need a PA it will be available. We can book flights, tidy your office, type letters, record minutes of meetings etc. Our philosophy is to offer a solution to fit our members needs. If you need something tell us, if we don’t offer it today, we will strive to add it to our services.

Where’s the catch? There is none. Join The Board to focus on your business, in order to grow your business, in order to increase your profits.

Can anybody join? No, this is an exclusive club and we have a strict application process in advance of granting a new membership. We want entrepreneurs, innovators, and natural sales people, people with boatloads of experience. We want the very best people, so the advice they give is of the very best quality to fellow members.

Further information can be obtained from The Board website.

Connect with The Board is a post from: Connector

The Irish Internet Association (iia) is running an event in Dublin for those interested in learning more about how to promote their business using Online Video & Podcasting.  The event features a fantastic lineup of expert speakers from RTE, YouTube, Rabodirect, Mason Hayes & Curran and Channelship.

The event is organised by the iia Social Media Working Group (SMWG) and as the current Chair of the SMWG, I will be there on the day helping out and available to answer any questions you might have. The SMWG is a group of social media professionals who will also be on hand to ensure this is an excellent event for you to learn more about digital content.  We will also have some cool prizes to giveaway and an opportunity to network during the event and maybe afterwards too.

Event Details

Event Date : 22 Apr 2010
Time : 1.30pm – 5pm
Location : Clarion Hotel IFSC, Dublin
Price per person : €75.00
iia Members price per person : €45.00

Speakers and Agenda

Speakers will include a mix of case studies and strategic advice and include:

13:00 – Registrations

13.30 – Welcome & Introductions – Conor Lynch, Connector.ie

13:40 – Lucy Campbell, Marketing Manager, RTE Player

14:10 – Aoife Mahon & Gina McCrudden, RaboDirect

14:40 – Online Video on a Budget – Fred Caballero, Channelship

15:10 – BREAK

15:40 – Digital Content and the law: Points to consider – Peter O’Neill, Mason Hayes+Curran

16:10 – Sebastien Missoffe, YouTube

16:40 – Panel Q&A

17:00 – Close

IIA members should log into the site to avail of the member price.  For more info on bookings of tickets please click here>>

Learn how to promote your business @ iia Online Video & Podcasting Event is a post from: Connector