What's it all about? Marketing, that is...

(copyright: intersectionconsulting.com)

I thought this little diagram, care of intersectionconsulting.com hit the nail on the head!

'It's the stuff you do to convince people to buy your stuff' (Financial Post -http://tinyurl.com/smallbizmkting). Yip, that sounds about right, I hear you say... however, there is just a little more to it than that (ahem).

As the cycle above shows, there is a generous dollop of fear and 'whoops' involved, especially where a lack of insight has come into play.

I know only too well how excited your average business-person feels when their 'baby' (also known as business idea) is unleashed on the public... the perception being 'I think it's brilliant, so everyone else will'. Unfortunately this is where 'whoops' becomes that well-known downer of 'despondency'.

I may be sharing in this blog, but I ain't going to tell you everything! Let's just say, the old adage: 'Fail to prepare, prepare to fail' has a lot to do with it.

We've only just begun...

(image copyright - musicnotes.com)

Welcome to the irishbusinessintelligence.com blog... this is our first entry (of many, we hope)!

Our business is in helping small-medium businesses hone their identity and marketing / communications so that they reach all their potential customers instead of just existing and hoping for a positive outcome.

Our blog will be focused on items of interest for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as specific posts on marketing, communication and all-things online... so stay tuned!

A little help from online friends...

A special 'thanks' to all the users of irishbusinesswomen.com who have been so helpful in answering my recent online ravings!

With their help, I have been able to collate and analyse a survey completely dedicated to my new business idea. If you are not a member, please join, I promise you won't regret it!

Business Plans = FUN

Not strictly true, I'm afraid...

As a seasoned procrastinator, I have found myself ignoring this end of the bargain in an almost determined way! Sadly, if either a) I want the business to succeed or b) I want anyone to take it seriously (and in this regard, give me money!) then I need to have one.

Admittedly, the part I am grappling with most, is the projections... so I am approaching it with the view that I will most probably be laughed at when I present it, so therefore I may as well make it as cosmic in its over-arching aim as possible!

Will keep you all posted :)

Good Vibrations!

Now on to week two...

The nerves are abating somewhat although now I am wondering why?

I have to say that the influx of support in email, phone-calls and general conversation has been really heartening. If it's any indication of whether this was the right thing for me to do... well, I'm guessing that yes, it was.

At this point, I've had two associates express an interest in using my business so that is also very positive. I'll also be collecting the results of a survey I put together earlier this week tomorrow - that should give me more insight into how to market the service... by the way, for anyone checking this blog out, my website is http://www.irishbusinessintelligence.com/.

Now it's on to the part I have been dreading... business plan time!

One week on: Nerves!

I report to you from my home-office (again, AKA kitchen table)... nerves are progressively becoming more fried with the "what if" scenarios I have reeling around in my head. However, I am comforted by the notion that (I believe) every other human being in the same position feels this way too...

So far I have been bashing away at my website and at times, also bashing my head off the table. Ah, I hear you say, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. I now HATE that maxim!

Kitchen-table Business Planning

This blog post is being written at my new seat-of-operation (well, for the last week or so!). Also known as my kitchen-table office.

I have to admit that the first month of freedom from work has been fun, and I've been able to utilise it to catch-up with people, do a bit of much-needed apartment cleaning... etc, etc.

Now, however, the lack-of-any-serious-routine bug has bitten.

SO - I have decided to look at starting my own business! Having been given the opportunity to do some work with a friends' PR agency last week, which allowed me to test my interest in the area, I've come up with a variation on the PR theme... more of which later.

I'll end this piece by saying: I am exhausted from the sheer energy I've used working on the rudiments of this idea... additionally, I am terrified it won't work... BUT I am excited. An interesting combo! Stay tuned ;)