TOP FIVE FACEBOOK LIVE IDEAS FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

After confidence issues, the main objection that I often hear for not going live on Facebook is a lack of ideas!

In this article, I want to share with you my top five suggestions for your Facebook Lives. There really is so much scope, so you never need to feel stuck and uninspired ever again!

1. ANNOUNCE A NEW PRODUCT

Build some suspense and create an aura of excitement and anticipation about the launch of any new product or service. Share your enthusiasm and let it shine through!

2. SHARE SOME EXCITING NEWS

Whenever something happens that’s relevant to your brand, don’t be afraid to share it! This could be a breaking news announcement, something specific to your industry, a holiday, or a season when you know it’s popular for clients to want your products or services.

3. SHARE SOME TOP TIPS

People love top tips and it’s a really simple yet effective idea for a Live. Take some time to think about your business and industry, and you’ll quickly find plenty of areas where you can offer some valuable and practical top tips.

4. STREAM A LIVE INTERVIEW

Live interviews are a fantastic form of cross-promotion. Plus, if you’re feeling nervous, then you can relax knowing that the spotlight isn’t solely on you! You also don’t need to worry about interviewing face to face as there are plenty of options to do it on a split-screen.

5. BROADCAST AN EVENT

If you’re attending a conference or going on a training course, take your audience along for the ride! Do a quick Live beforehand and then hop on afterwards to share how you got on. Your audience will love to share your journey with you.

Know your audience!

This is crucial, and I can’t stress this enough. Before you launch into your Lives, make sure that you understand your audience inside out so that you know what it is that they want to learn from you.

What are their pain points? What challenges do they face? How can you solve their problems? What value can you give them? Once you know all of this, it will be so much easier to plan your content, not just for your Facebook Lives but throughout your overall marketing strategy.

Are you ready to get more engagement on your social media?

My Engaging Content Power Sessions are really popular to get the ideas flowing and create great content that your can stream across your platforms

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FIVE REASONS WHY NETWORKING WILL SERIOUSLY BOOST YOUR BUSINESS!

I’m sure that we’re all familiar with the old adage, “it’s not what you know but who you know.” Well, this is something that really resonates with me and why I firmly believe that networking should be a fundamental part of your overall marketing strategy!

In this article, I’ll share with you five main reasons why networking on a regular basis will significantly boost your business!

1. Networking will increase your visibility and credibility

It can be tough to get your business noticed and to make it stand out from the crowd. When you regularly attend networking meetings, you hugely increase your visibility both as an individual and as a brand. Your face will become well-known amongst your peers, and by offering useful information and top tips, you can swiftly build up a reputation for being an expert in your field. As your credibility grows, so will the number of recommendations and referrals that you receive!

2. Networking will help you to build relationships

For me, making genuine connections with other like-minded people is what networking is all about. Think of your networking group as the cheerleaders in your corner. They want you to succeed and they’re rooting for you! By making these connections and friendships, you’ll have people that you can easily call on to get any help or advice that you may need in your business. You also increase the chance of meeting your ideal client, and that’s surely got to be a good thing! This is not where networking ends though. With each connection that you make, you’re also gaining access to their network, and you never know what influential people they may be able to introduce you to. The possibilities are endless!

3. Networking will inspire you!

Every time that I attend one of our networking meetings, I’m blown away by the energy and enthusiasm that fills the room, albeit the virtual one for the time being! We talk about our ideas, share inspirational stories, ask each other for advice, and generally support and encourage each other. Speaking to people who are in a similar situation to yours is hugely motivating and sharing your goals with others will hold you accountable. These things are invaluable when you’re a small business owner.

4. Networking will increase your confidence

Confidence is a very hard thing to gain yet a very easy thing to lose. Confidence is something that we develop, and by networking regularly, you can really push yourself out of your comfort zone, boost your confidence and grow as an individual. Having a more confident mindset will have a huge, positive impact on your entire business!

5. Networking will generate more income!

This is probably the most obvious advantage and the reason why most business owners decide to participate in networking. The leads you generate through networking meetings are usually much higher quality than those you gather from other forms of marketing. You can then follow up on these leads and hopefully turn them into valuable clients!

Networking - The Gossip Gals way!

At Gossip Gals Networking, we do things a little differently! Our friendly and relaxed meetings break away from the traditional networking approach!

⭐️No membership fees

⭐️Low meeting costs

⭐️A maximum of 20 people to ensure everyone connects well

⭐️ 2 mins intro each then 3 breakout rooms

Come and join one of our upcoming events. You'll definitely be welcomed and feel at home when you join us!

www.gossipgals.co.uk/networking

DOES NETWORKING GIVE YOU THE CRINGE FACTOR?

It’s fair to say that for most people, networking is a little bit like marmite. You either love it, or you hate it!

Whichever side of the fence you’re on though, there’s no getting away from it; networking is the perfect opportunity to meet new people, make genuine connections, and show off your amazing business.

If the thought of ‘working a room’ fills you with dread, here are a few top tips and strategies to help you to go from cringe to confident.

It’s all in the planning

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

If you find meeting new people difficult and are terrified of those toe-curling awkward silences, then the key is to plan ahead. Prepare a few questions beforehand so that you feel more organised. By having these pre-rehearsed questions under your belt, you’re going to feel much more in control of the situation and far less overwhelmed.

Also, people like to feel that other people are interested in what they have to say, so it’s a great way to break the ice and get conversations flowing!

Prepare your elevator pitch

“Anxiety is caused by a lack of control, organisation, preparation, and action.” - David Kekich

Like anything in life, it’s all in the preparation. Be sure to take some time before your networking meeting to plan your elevator pitch and practice it until you feel comfortable. An elevator pitch may sound scary, but it really doesn’t have to be overly complicated. It just needs to cover a few sentences about who you are, what you do, and why you do it.

It’s also important to remember that networking is not just about trying to market your business. It’s about making genuine human connections. So, be relatable and be authentic. People want to get to know you as a person and not just as a business owner.

See the potential and be polite

“Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.” Bill Kelly

Even if it becomes clear that there isn’t a direct business opportunity with the person you’re speaking with, you never know who they know and what circles they move in. They may well be familiar with someone who’s looking for a business just like yours!

Above all, be polite. Manners cost nothing and go a long way to showing others who you are as a person and how you operate in your business.

Make time to follow up

“Not following up with your prospects is the same as filling up your bathtub without first putting the stopper in the drain.” ― Michelle Moore

Networking doesn’t finish once the meeting is over. It’s a long game. It’s about making genuine connections and building relationships, so take the time to follow up with people after a meeting. Connect with them on social media and pop them a message to say how nice it was to meet them. Be genuine though, and not spammy!

Don’t worry!

Don’t worry if you find networking cringy. It’s completely normal and a sign that you value authenticity over pretence, which is undoubtedly a good thing!

If you’re looking for a warm and welcoming networking community filled with amazing women who are all rooting for each other, then come and join us at one of our next events. We would love to meet you!

If you’re still on the fence, take a look at some of the fantastic feedback that we’ve received recently!

“Some networking meetings are like trying to break into conversation with a group of school mums you don’t really know, but yours isn’t like that at all. It’s so friendly and welcoming from the start!”

“I will learn to put my assumptions aside. I thought when I came to the second meeting that it would be repetitive. But it’s not at all! So inspirational and such a lovely bunch.”

“I didn’t know if your networking was for me when I read that it was informal because I’m a professional person. But when I’ve come to them, I’ve realised informal isn’t actually the right word. It’s more personable than informal. And I’m now on my second meeting since this week’s meeting, working with someone that I met at it.”

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