Women’s Network Australia Blog

Free Report - Social Media for Small Business

Like it or not if you own a business and intend to be successful you’ll have to get your head around social media and exactly how you are going to implement it into your business.

It’s not rocket science predicting the future and how consumers will be communicating and gathering information on which they will make all purchasing decisions, just take a look at any 10-21 year old. They can barely go 3 hours without logging onto their favourite SocNet site to catch up on the latest gossip and who is saying what about whom. 

Now you might not think this is doing them any good (that’s the mother in you talking) but the fact is to succeed in a commercial enterprise your focus needs to be on meeting market demands, not making value judgements about how people choose to live their lives. (Unless of course you’re running a counselling service for online addicts) So if you don’t want to end up on the quaint bygone era business junk pile, you’d best get with the program.

The other day I came across this great little eBook about social media for small business owners. It’s a perfect read for small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to leverage social media to expand and enhance their businesses. You’ll learn the basics about social media, including tips on how to get started with social networking, social bookmarking, blogging, micro blogging and more.

It’s a 23 page PDF doc written by John Jantsch from ‘Duct Tape Marketing’ and better still it’s sponsored by Microsoft Office Live Small Business which means it is yours for FREE (no registration required either).  Follow the link to download Let’s Talk - Social Media for Small Business by John Jantsch for free.

Lynette Palmen AM - Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Network Australia speaks to, for and about women in business and issues relating to their success. Visit www.womensnetwork.com.au 

Guest Editor for Connected Women

This week I was invited to be the guest editor of ConnectedWomen’s ezine. It was great to be able to share with other women how I am personally using technology to expand and enhance both my personal and business life. What tech gadgets do you use to make your life easier - tell me.

Lynette Palmen AM is the Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Netword Australia. Get yourself into the WNA community. Subscribe FREE to the weekly eNoticeBoard.

Business: Some days aren’t as good as others

Ever had one of those days where you’ve thought that you just can’t put a foot right? Customers and clients only making contact with you to complain about what you have done wrong? The way to move past these days is to simply handle them for what they are and never take anyone’s anger on board or allow them to disempower you. I have always found that when in comes to complaints it is not so much about fixing the actual complaint as it is about about how you handle the situation. After all we are all human which means we’re not perfect and that includes the customer or client who’s doing the complaining - and they know it.

I enjoyed Valerie Khoo’s spin on the subject in her blog in The Age this week. Have a read and you’ll pick up some handy tips for those days when you wonder why you even bothered getting out of bed.

Lynette Palmen AM is the Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Network Australia W: www.womensnetwork.com.au  Lynette speaks across the nation to, for and about women in business.

Networking Streets Ahead

I have spent the last week or so in beautiful Tasmania. I was officially on the ground to host our inaugural networking event, which took place in the usual civilized surroundings of one of the top hotels and it was a fabulous success.

However the day after the event my travels took me to the beautiful  Oatlands area. We dropped in for a nosh up at a fabulous little eatery - run by two wonderfully enthusiastic young women who cooked up a storm in kitchen but it was whilst wandering the streets and browsing the shops that I got a real feel for the community that exists between the traders that line the streets of this quaint township.

As always I found myself interviewing the entrepreneurial women running the various antique and craft shops that lined the towns centre. How did they network and share ideas and what forum did they find worked best for them to exchange ideas? It didn’t take long for them to introduce me to their afternoon ritual of a cuppa on the footpath outside the shop of whosever’s turn it was to boil the kettle that day.  From the footpath each store owner can see the comings and goings from their various shops and unlike in the city there is no fear of items being stolen or broken. The sense of trust was soothing for the soul.

It was an amazing experience and just exactly like a WNA Networking Event except held in the beautiful main street of Oatlands. I am not sure that we city folk have it that good after all. A big thank you to my new friends in Tassie, I loved the opportunity to take part in footpath networking. I’m on my way back in the month of November - so put the kettle on girls. 

Lynette L Palmen is the Founder and Managing Director of Women’s Network Australia W: www.womensnetwork.com.au   

Digital Magazines - Good idea or not?

Are you currently reading or viewing any magazines in digital format and if so how useful do you find the concept? Take a look at the mag addicts  site, click on a magazine to preview and you’ll see how the concept works.

Digital magazines are the latest buzz, but I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the value you see in us offering our glossy magazine Working Women in both print and digital format.

A digital format of Working Women magazine would provide an entire copy of each edition and include functionalities such as page flipping, comment and note taking boxes, book marking and hyperlinks straight through to the websites and email addresses listed in all articles and advertisements.

There’s the obvious environmental benefit and our advertisers would gain outstanding value and amazing exposure through an increased online presence. But would you as a reader find value in the service?

For so many reasons I personally think it’s a great idea.  But I am an online junkie. I currently use the web as my prime source of news, business information and resources. But in saying that, every month I also read an abundance of printed magazines, so I have a foot in both camps. I just don’t think you can replace the experience of a great read over a hot cup of coffee. So is it horses for courses? Is there a place for both formats or are we galloping ahead of the current needs and wants of our readers? Will we see the day where digital magazines become common place? Let me know your thoughts.

Lynette Palmen, Founder and Managing Director W: www.womensnetwork.com.au

Critique Your Press Releases for FREE

I am always on the lookout for innovative ideas and tools that can help women work smarter not harder and this one will save you hours, lots of money and produce better outcomes from a marketing perspective.

The issue of writing press releases is a daunting task for anyone in business and, if you don’t have the budget to engage a PR firm, it’s a task that usually sits in the too hard basket. But if you’re willing to have a go at Read the rest…