Kelmany's Business Blog: Anyone interested in SUSHI? Or better yet a big chunk of SASHIMI?

Networking as a form of marketing your business was one of those things I knew I should do, but I simply never had enough time in my busy day to JUST DO IT! I would look at a date and say, I should go to that networking opportunity, pay the fee, and just go! Then I would find myself in bed, just about to fall asleep and "blink" I would realize I missed the opportunity once again! I guess you could say I was a living example of an entrepreneur working "IN her business, not ON her business!"

I am a female entrepreneur. I find it very hard to promote myself. I hate to talk about what I do. I find it even more difficult to answer that proverbial "what do you do" question when a a big man in a fancy suit asks it of me at a networking session!

It was in this emotional state that market2world communications inc. found me when they presented their VOX Web 2.0 workshop in Almonte. What did the introduction to Web 2.0 technology do for me?

First, I went home, googled OCRI web 2.0 pod casts, and listened away. I get it, it is like a rain forest, the

Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us

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information is out there, constantly being recycled, changed, and renewed! If a customer wants access to a new product or service, or general information, they "plug in", and voila. Instant access to not just "corporate" branded information but a collection of a wide variety of interpretations, mine included! Amazing!

While searching, I  stumbled upon these  Web 2.0 YouTube Video: I am startled, excited, and motivated to see where this technology is going to take us!

Ask A Ninja: Special Delivery 1 "What is Podcasting?"

Then, I realized that I needed to get involved. I became a member of CATA/WIT  Not only did I join, but I offered my professional event management services assisting in Ottawa's Women in Technology Web 2.0 Symposium featuring women entrepreneurs leveraging Web 2.0 technology to grow their business. Then I built my Vox Blog site.  There is no turning back. 

What can Web 2.0 technology do for a small businss owner?

Well, I am no expert, but I can tell you my story and what I think. It levels the playing field. It makes it just as easy for entrepreneurs to showcase their abilities, products or services to prospective clients as it is for huge corporations. The difference is that corporations have monstrous bank accounts. They can afford to pay thousands of dollars on marketing research, and product development. They can launch huge promotional campaigns, and aggressively target their audiences from every angle with a branded product and generate sales, and huge profits. Entrepreneurs do not have the same resources!They cannot compete dollar for dollar with them. As small business owners, we are left bottom feeding! Web 2.0 gives us the chance to take a bite out of a bigger fish. YUMMY!  

Yes I do have a .com web site, and it is important to my corporation. But, I feel it is flat. My blog is the dimension and the personality behind the website and showcases "me" and thus an integral tool of my business. I think a blog is the "ON" that many business advisers, (myself included) suggest[ed] entrepreneurs do, "work ON your business not IN it!"

Yes, I worked as a business adviser, I was just so "old school". I participated in those "think tank" sessions, and encouraged entreprenuers to try to define "what their Unique Selling Proposition" was, and why a customer should buy from them? Their response to the question, "my customer buys my product because they know me". I would say, "great, but how are you going to grow"? Now, I am leveraging the "me" and claiming that my blog enables "me" to create buy in of my products and services because of "me". What a shift! Sorry small business owners that I spent countless hours coaching, and advising, I have changed my mind, promote yourself as the "me" and BLOG!

Does VOX understand my entrepreneurial wants & needs? 

 I want:

• fast, free, simple measureable results.
• my web site and my VOX blog profile to pop up as #1 in the google search engine.
• to communicate with my customers on a personal and professional level, offering them the opportunity know me and the full dimension of my personality. Afterall, they are not just renting my product, they are putting their trust in who I am as a person. 

I need:

• to be able to invest time and energy into business growth that will give me immediate return. Why? Because I cannot afford to flush money away on a glitzy media campaign. 
• to have the opportunity to act as quickly as I think. I do not have the time to book an appointment with my web developer to discuss and develop a new idea that I want to put onto my site.  (I barely have enough time to get my books to my accountant before the tax man comes calling!)
• to get new photos up and out for public viewing as soon as I have them.
• to see the idea I am developing in action. I need to have the opportunity to rework, re post, and change the idea as it grows and develops in my mind. I need to do it at midnight, mid afternoon, after my child gets picked up off the bus or while I am traveling.
• to exchange information with my customers fast, efficiently and effectively.

VOX and Web 2.0 technology has filled these business wants & needs for me. Others do it too, but VOX is free, and it looks good! 

Have I embraced "the blogosphere and community-based online networking" that market2world communications inc. pitched to me that cold day in February? YES!

OK, so, what are the Web 2.0 simple, measureable results to date? 

1. I produced, and launched an entire event called "Jazz It Up" singlehandedly. I got the information to my target audience for free. I am selling tickets fast! When someone has a new question about the event that I did not consider, I post a comment. Instant information!
2. Since my blog, and my shift in mental vision, for myself and my company, I have been elected to sit on The Mississippi Mills Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, The Algonquin College Event Management Board of Advisors, and been asked to work on the promotions committee for MAAP. This has happened in 1 & 1/2 months! That is networking results!
3. I am being sent on training early May to qualify as a teacher at Algonquin College for their Event Management Program. I am on the list of 2 potential final applicants to be hired by Algonquin College to coach and mentor up to 85 event managers working on their course requirement events for the 2007/08 season.
4.  2007 event season is at full capacity 4 months ahead of schedule. I recently booked 3 Ottawa events by residents of Almonte. ( a first!) My client base has always been 100% Ottawa.
5. While I signed an exclusive event design contract with the Ottawa Marriott for all their wedding and corporate functions just prior to my blog, I have been asked to podcast & video not only the Ottawa Marriott but numerous other reception site venues to assist them in marketing their venues to clients.

I believe it is fair to claim that these are fast, measureable, career advancing, results! 

I will not pretend that Web 2.0 has magically done all of this for me. There is no magic in business. I have worked incredibly hard to grow my business. I am a self motivated, self propelled entrepreneur. I have invested alot of time and energy into my personal, and professional development. I live my business. 

What Web 2.0 has done for me is it has leveled the playing field and allowed me to showcase my qualities on a personal and professional level and made it easier for me to promote myself and my services to my prospective clients. VOX and Web 2.0 has created amazing opportunities I otherwise would not have had access to.

Oh, and by the way, what do I say to that man in a suit when he asks me that proverbial "what do you do" question at a networking session? Here is a link to my VOX site, you have to check it out!

I am having a sushi party, want to come?