Our upcoming evening is... Social Networking

Our next evening discusses all the aspects of social networking - the pro's, the con's, the do's and the don'ts!

Come along and learn about:

* Blogging — setting it up and what to write about
* Twitter — is it right for you? How to use it?
* Facebook Fan Pages to build that fan base
* Making the most of the free on-line tools that are there to really give your business the exposure it needs!

Plus TIPS from successful bloggers, practical DEMONSTRATIONS on how it all works and FACT SHEETS to help you when you get home!


Registrations are Closed - Sorry!

What other topics will we cover?

Each month we will target a different topic, to help you get the most out of your business. Here is a brief overview of some of the things that we will cover:

Branding
Branding is more than just a logo, here we will explore why it is important to have a clear focus when you are creating your brand. We’ll discuss public relations, getting yourself noticed and maintaining a consistent image.

Christmas and Holiday Planning
Pre-Silly season can be a very busy time for crafters with plenty of markets and people doing their Christmas shopping. We will be discussing keeping your head above your orders, interesting packaging idea's and other important tips. We will help you get prepared for the busiest time of year.

Online Selling
Markets are one very effective way of selling your items but selling online is also very popular too. Not to mention it’s easy and cost effective to do. We will have a guest speaker that will give you some top tips of what to do (and what not to do!) when it comes to selling online with places such as Etsy, Felt and Big Cartel.

Intellectual Property
One of the things that often gets forgotten when running a small business, but a very important topic. We’ll discuss issues around copyright, trademarks and protecting yourself. A knowledgeable Intellectual Property expert will be the guest speaker.

Social Networking
An online presence is very important in this day and age, so we will be discussing Blogging, Twitter and Facebook in detail, with a successful blogger along to chat to you all about creating an effective online persona and making a blog that is highly regarded.

Markets
A topic that a lot of people will all be well aware of, but perhaps there are some things you may not have thought of? We’ll cover things such as applying for markets, getting ready for your market, displays, advertising materials and more.

Customer Service
This is usually a second nature to most people, but it is always great to get some tips and pointers from someone in the know. It’s often a bit more personal and you have your heart on your sleeve when you are selling your own creations, rather than something mass made and generic. We will have a guest speaker helping you turn an unsuspecting browser into a buyer.

Planning your year
New Years are fabulous. It’s a great time to think about your future, not only personally, but for your business too. If you have spent the last year thinking about something you want to try, be it a new product range or perhaps a new craft altogether, then we want to help you get sorted. We will discuss revamping your business and planning for a productive and busy year ahead.

Wholesaling and Consignment
Selling to stores, galleries and retailers is a whole different ball game. We will cover things from pricing, to approaching stores, the pros and cons of selling wholesale and on consignment and how to set yourself up with a wholesale information kit.

Photographing Your Items
It is very important when selling online that your photographs of your products look their best. You need to make sure your customer gets a really accurate idea of what they are purchasing. Plus, the photos need to stand out if you are selling in places like Etsy and Felt. We will discuss different (as well as cheap and free) ways to photograph your items to their full potential by using a regular digital camera.

Packaging
We'll talk about how to make your items cohesive and professional. Do you need tags, care labels, instructions or protective packaging? Make them yourself vs. outsourcing, mailing your goods and how to make your items stand out.

Book Keeping
It’s a must for any business, so we will shed some light on things like basic book keeping, tax, defining your business, and your obligations. Of course we are in no way experts, so we will have an accountant as our guest speaker.