Recently we have been asked if getting a listing in a locally based Online Directory (In this case LoveGorey.ie) is worth doing as part of the companies Digital Marketing strategy. The answer I gave is the same as I would give for any Online Marketing directory. As LoveGorey.ie is a directory for Gorey and the North Wexford area, the first thing you should do is type in “Gorey Wexford” into Google and see if the directory shows up on the first or at most, the second page. If the directory does not appear on the first page of Google but other directories do, then you are probably better to go with the other directories. The second thing I would ask LoveGorey.ie or any other local online directory, for is their up to date statistics and also their statistics for the last couple of years. Remember there is a huge difference between Hits, Page Views and visitors. Then compare the price for listing divided by the number of visitors for each directory and that should give you a good idea as to which one to go for. With all this new technology, it’s very easy to forget the basics when calculating
From Zero to 86,000 Weekly Facebook Reach in Six Months.
Since November 2011 I have been involved in an Integrated Internet Marketing campaign to help promote a seaside holiday resort, Courtown Harbour, which had not seen much Internet Marketing since 2006. This meant that while we were not starting from scratch, we were starting from a very low base. Last November there was a static website for Courtown that due to lack of funding had only been updated sporadically in the previous five years. While a Facebook Page and Twitter account had been created, they were essentially dormant with no entries, which meant there was no co-ordinated Social Media presence for Courtown on the Internet. The first thing that we did was decide who the target audience was. It’s very difficult to meet the requirements of your audience if you don’t know who they are or you are trying to be all things to everyone. Extensive research was done to establish who was searching for Courtown on the web, what exactly were they searching for, when were the searching (people look for different things depending on the time of year) and where the people searching for Courtown were located. Based on this research we decided to build the Social Media
Well done to Kilmurry Nursery for success at Bloom
Well done to Kilmurry Nursery for success at Bloom 2011. Best in Show and a Gold Medal, is there no stopping Paul and Orla Woods. Great to see a local North Wexford business doing so well. Check them out at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kilmurry-Nursery/345970965399
Well done to “Ciara’s Pantry” and all the contestants in the BNI Gorey Dragons Den Competition
Well after a entertaining evening, some great presentations and tough competition, Ciara O’Dowd of “Ciara’s Pantry” won the €10k prize from the BNI Gorey members. The competition was tough and a huge thanks goes out to all the participants for their fantastic presentations and professional delivery in front of a large audience. I’m not so sure that many of us who have been business a long time could promote our businesses in such a professional manner. The other participants were Ciaran Dolan of “Gorey School of Kayaking”, Dean Keating of “Monaseed Sales”, Lynsey Moorehouse of “Irish Dance Superstore” and Kelly-Anne Breen of “Shen Acupuncture Clinic & Shen Cosmetic Acupuncture Clinic”. A massive thanks also to Shane Byrne of Arklow Waste, Niamh O’Sullivan of Ruby Rouge and Pat Walsh of Walsh Mushrooms who gave some very practical advice for all businesses in these tough times and in particular to our contestants. Finally our host for the evening Mick Molloy of Molloy Architects and the chief organiser Mick McGovern of Horizon Financial. After last night it’s quite clear that business is alive and well in Wexford and Wicklow.
Gorey Businesse’s taking a positive approach to promoting Startup Businesses in Wexford and Wicklow
Why not forget about the election for a few hours and come down to the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey from 6pm where the local chapter of BNI have a Business Expo and are hosting a Dragon’s Den type competition with a €10,000 prize fund. While all the hype and attention is on politics, we all know that the people who are going to get Ireland out of the recession are the Small and Medium Sized business owners. In an effort to promote and highlight businesses in Wexford and Wicklow the local chapter of BNI are running a Dragon’s Den type competition with a prize fund of €10,000 available for the winning Start-up Business. So why not come down to the Ashdown Park Hotel this evening (Thurs 24th Feb) from 6pm and meet like minded business owners with a positive outlook. (Dragon’s Den competition starts at 8pm).
Bank of Ireland, National Enterprise Week
I attended a networking event in my local Bank of Ireland branch in Gorey, Co. Wexford. Now while I have no love for the banking system in Ireland I do think this is a good initiative and the local managers are trying their best, within the constraints imposed on them, to work with small businesses and do everything they can to make finance available. The Enterprise Week initiative is an opportunity to promote your business in your local branch and hopefully generate a bit of business or if nothing else, make a few contacts.
Computerised Accounts Training in the Gorey area.
For anyone looking to up-skill here are some Computerised Accounts courses from GD Accounts Training coming up in the Gorey area. Big Red Book Computerised Accounts -The Net IT Centre, Esmonde St, Gorey. Monday Nov 22, 29, Dec 6 and 13. 10am – 1pm €250 Big Red book Computerised Payroll – Craanford IT centre, Gorey Thursday Nov 18, 25, and Dec 2. 7pm – 10pm €180
Goreylinks launches updated Business Directory for Gorey
GoreyLinks have launched an updated version of their Local Online Business Directory for Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland. The new site looks great and has a very effective and easy to use Search Facility. A quick check on Google will show that a search for anything related to Gorey will have GoreyLinks as the first or second entry. Also check out Do Local Online Business Directories Deliver Value for Money
Is Twitter really THAT popular? And who uses Twitter anyway?
Ever since Senator Dan Boyle forced Willie O’Dee’s resignation with Twitter, the Irish business community have suddenly started to take note. Nearly every day I get asked “What is this Twitter thing? And who’s using it?“ Well the 10 billionth entry (commonly referred to as a Tweet) recently went up on Twitter. Below is a graph showing the dramatic rise in the use of Twitter. Note how high Ireland is on the list of regions. So now we know that Twitter is popular, who uses Twitter? Well you would be suprised to know that most Twitter users are over 30. That’s the age profile of most of the business owners in Ireland. While Facebook and Bebo are favoured by the younger age group, the business community has adopted Twitter. So now that you know that you should be using Twitter, where do you start. Here is a simple guide from Adrian Wreckler on how to start using Twitter. Twitter for Beginners Now that you are up and running with Twitter, check out some Businesses in Gorey and North Wexford who are on Twitter.
BNI Gorey Chapter, BNI Falcon actively looking for New Members
I attended the weekly meeting of the BNI Gorey Chapter, BNI Falcon (substituting for Dave Jordan, Cada Media, Web Designers). While the Gorey chapter is relative small they are very active and I was pleasantly surprised at the range and quality of Business Services offered by the members. If you are a business in the North Wexford area and are interested in a Business Networking Group that will help you grow your business then you could do a lot worse than getting involved with the BNI Gorey Chapter. They can be found at BNI Falcon Chapter, if you want to find out more.
