Month: June 2020

This Thursday (June 4) a free webinar is taking place that will demonstrate the vital role of a mailing list in business growth.

The webinar Why You Need To Build A Good Mailing List, which is a part of a series of weekly events by Excalibur Press, is being delivered by company founder Tina Calder.

During Covid-19 Tina pivoted her business and, as a result, has increased her mailing list by a whopping 960%.

On Thursday Tina will help attendees find out the importance of building a mailing list for any business as well as some tricks, tips, tools and techniques for capturing the right data.

“I have been torturing my clients for years to look after their mailing lists,” she explained.

“Now I have finally gotten around to doing it myself and have been astonished by the response.

“By quickly pivoting my business and finding ways to communicate with our clients and prospective clients we’ve managed to nurture a new, and growing, list of people who now know what services we provide as a company.

“At Excalibur Press we’ve used our mailing list activity throughout this pandemic to let people know we’re open for business and help them have faith that we won’t desert them when they need us the most.

“Throughout this webinar I intend to share my own experiences and reveal the secrets behind the scenes as well as give top tips and advice from the experts.”

The free webinar Why You Need To Build A Good Mailing List will take place at 3pm this Thursday June 4.

“In this webinar attendees will learn why building an email list should be a crucial part of your marketing strategy,” said Tina. 

“It will include ways to build your mailing list, how I manage my mailing list, some of the scary legal matters you have to think about, ideas for building your mailing list, communicating with your mailing list, and much more. There will be an opportunity to ask questions throughout.”

Tina added that the session is aimed at mailing list beginners and people who have a list that they don’t know what to do with or people who have yet to formalise or create a mailing list. Tina explained it will be an “overview” and not a detailed look at the technical side of managing a mailing list.

As founder of Excalibur Press publicity management, content creation and copywriting agency Tina has been in the business working in Northern Ireland for over 20 years and has worked with a wide range of businesses during that time.

In this session Tina will break down why creating, building and managing a mailing list should be a key part of your content and marketing strategy, how you can use yours effectively and show you some of the tricks, tips and tools she uses to manage her own list.

To register for the free webinar Why You Need To Build A Good Mailing List  book your spot here >> https://bit.ly/3gORAbr 

For more information on other free webinars in the series, go to https://excaliburpress.co.uk/events 

Children with autism often have a hard time dealing with noise, whether that be loud noises, constant background noise or strange sounds they may not be familiar with.

Background noise is a constant nuisance and can be overwhelming for a child with Autism causing difficulties when making decisions, constant confusion and distractions.

Ear defenders or noise cancelling headphones are extremely useful for shielding your child of all unnecessary harmful noise.

Meta Auden from Spectra Sensory Clothing who stock ear defenders explained: “Kirsty my daughter has had them from quite a young age, I didn’t realise how bad it was for her until she showed me a video she found online. Although Kirsty is 19 I’m still learning about her autism, and continue to do so, as we all have to.

“Wearing headphones can lower the overall decibel rate of background noise while still allowing your child to hear someone speaking to them.

“Without headphones your child could become extremely overwhelmed when in a loud environment leading to sensory overload.

“Sensory overload occurs when one or more of the body’s senses experiences over-stimulation from the environment. Sensory overload can happen in places like school or at an event.”

Examples of places your child might need noise cancelling headphones are:

School

Airports and on a plane

Shopping centres

Concerts

Community or school events

Public transport

Meta said the ear defenders, for many, “are a real lifesaver for children, teens and adults with Autism or Sensory Processing Disorder who find certain sounds or loud noises upsetting”.

She added: “As we’re a relatively new business, I would have got around to stocking these eventually, however we brought them due to customer demand. People were telephoning me to check if I had them in stock.”

Spectra Sensory’s Ear Defenders:

These great value, budget ear defenders were designed for professional tradespeople, so they really block out the noise.

Ideal for sensitive souls.

Lightweight and flexible, easy to use

Ear Defenders conform to EN352-1

Padded ear and headband

Fully adjustable

Wipe clean

Sturdy and durable

One size fits all

Can block noises of 22 decibels

To purchase the Ear Defenders go to >> https://www.spectrasensoryclothing.co.uk/product/headphones-ear-defenders/

To watch the video Meta’s daughter Kirsty shared with her check out >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2P4Ed6G3gw&feature=youtu.be

Girls just wanna have fun, right? 

Everyone is missing out on quality time face to face with their friends due to lockdown restrictions. 

However, just recently Amanda Holden, star judge on Britain’s Got Talent, showed us all how important it is to catch up with the girls during lockdown. 

“Amanda and her friends held a girls night in via zoom and invited us along via her instagram to show us girls how important it is to keep the girl power going strong” said artist and designer Kelsey Tyson, owner of Girl Limit, a home accessories and beauty brand.

So, if you’re missing your Sunday spa sessions, Tuesday treats cinema nights or Friday evening catch up drink’s with the girls, well look no further because we have you covered! 

Staying in has now become the new going out.

Check out Girl Limit’s top 7 ideas for catching up with the girls during lockdown: 

1. The HouseParty App

Instead of going out to the party, bring the party to you! HouseParty is the face-to-face social network where you can connect with the people you care about most. 

The app makes connecting face to face effortless, alerting you when your friends are “in the house” and ready to chat so you can jump right into the conversation.

This is perfect for cocktail night’s in with the girls. 

Check it out here >> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.herzick.houseparty&hl=en_GB

2. Zoom Quiz Night

Zoom has been very popular for online webinars and conference calls, however, it has been proving popular all over the UK in bringing families and friends closer together for weekend quiz nights.

Get the girls together for virtual drinks and have a themed quiz night chick flicks, heartthrob actors, dance floor bangers all while having fun from the comfort of your own sofa! 

Check Zoom here >> https://zoom.us/

3. Online Pampering sessions

Who says you have to spend a fortune on a spa day out when you can bring the spa to your home. 

Get the girls together for a relaxing evening unwinding, we could all use a break during the current stressful climate. 

Make your own mud face masks, chop up a cucumber and place on your eyelids, show off your latest skincare routine and rate the products amongst your friends comparing and contrasting, dress in your comfies and pour yourself a glass of champagne. 

Zoom will even let you change your background to make it look like you’re somewhere relaxing. 

Check out some DIY mud masks here >> https://www.siobeauty.com/blogs/news/mud-mask

4. Online Yoga workouts

Get your girls vrtually together and do a workout from your own living room or home gym with online Yoga workouts. 

Ask each friend to research a different exercise and then show eachother how it’s done. 

It’s the perfect excuse to catch up with the girls whilst still maintaining your healthy lifestyle. 

Yoga is also very soothing and relaxing, after the workout stay online and chat to check in with each other, make it a weekly thing! 

Youtube has a great selection of yoga workouts check it out here >> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZkDZKOcvYTh4dRDXQ71m7gQUmWkDmLAl

5. Digital Book Club

Want to clock out of social media? Why not create your own digital book club. 

Choose a book and make it up lifting, a book you can all lose yourselves in. 

Each week  arrange a digital meet up to chat and discuss the chapters you have just read. So pour yourself a glass of wine and escape with your friends.

Check out these bestsellers of 2020 on Amazon >> https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/2020/books

6. Cook Dinner Together

I know you can’t go to that favourite restaurant you all love but why not bring your favourite foods to your kitchen.

Organise an online dinner night. Pick a theme, make it fun, Mexican night with homemade fajitas, cocktails and why not even dress up? 

Have a starter, main and dessert and share the recipe with your girls. 

The BBC have loads of tasty treats and homemade meals ideas, check it out here >> https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes

7. Just Dance 

Missing tearing up the dance floor with your best friends? 

Well now you can bring the dance floor to your living room. This was originally a game that needed a console and remotes. 

Just Dance have designed an app using a smartphone. Pick your ultimate fav songs and dance the night away, together.

Check it out here >> https://justdancenow.com/

8. Keep Connected

And finally, just connect. If you don’t feel up to any activities don’t stress, just check in on your friends from time to time and let them know you’re thinking of them. 

We all took for granted spending time with our closest girlfriends but staying connected online can make us appreciate them even more when we do get to finally see them in person. 

Looking for the perfect gift for one of your girls? Check out the Girl Limit collection at https://bit.ly/girllimit 

Many small business owners make the mistake of thinking that branding is something that’s only for the bigger players, and they couldn’t be more wrong.

For over ten years, Steve Neill from The Foundation has helped small and medium sized businesses tell their brand stories and communicate with their key audiences. He believes in using design to support strategic business growth and to build enduring relationships between businesses and their customers. 

At a recent Cathedral Quarter BID Lunchtime Learning event, Steve delivered a workshop on brand and design for SMEs, here are the key takeaways: 

“Lots of businesses make the mistake of creating pretty pictures for pretty picture’s sake – your brand has commercial value, so what you do with it should have commercial purpose” said Steve. 

“In years gone by, advertisers believed you had seven seconds to grab your audience’s attention, today we believe it is closer to three seconds. Therefore, you need to share your message succinctly, ensure your branding is distinctive, and tell your story in an engaging way.”

Your brand isn’t just your logo, or your slogan, or even your font and colour scheme. Your brand is what your customers and potential customers say and think about you. This is your brand identity. 

Your logo, and slogan, and font and colour scheme are building blocks that help to make your brand identifiable, and which can visually represent your brand by triggering in customers and potential customers associated thoughts and feelings. 

Steve explained: “The truth is – you have a brand whether you create it or not. All your interactions and communications feed into this story of who you are. If you aren’t intentional about it, it can become messy and unruly. Take control of your brand story and ensure consistency.”

Still not convinced? Here are 5 reasons why your brand matters: 

1. Strong branding creates trust through maintaining a high level of professionalism. 
2. Strong branding improves recognition. This can be boosted with a unique logo, even better if your logo tells a story. Don’t follow trends, go with what’s true for your brand. 
3. Your branding will help your marketing. You can create specific messages for target audiences that are on-brand. 
4. Branding helps you to attract the “right” talent that are a good fit for your organisation. It’s not news that today we have an employee-led market with the lowest unemployment rate on record. Getting the right people into our businesses is crucial and our branding can help to attract top talent, as well as the right talent. 
5. Branding helps to generate new revenue and business growth. Being recognisable and representing high quality helps your bottom line.

A final word from Steve: “Ideally, invest in brand-building early on. Determine your “what”, “how” and “why” – what do you do well, how do you do it, and why do you do it? Use this to create your business’ vision and mission. Identify your key values, also sometimes called your brand values. What are the three or five key things that matter to your business? 

“From here, it’s important to understand your market and your customers – what are their pain points? What problems do you solve, or what solutions do you provide? What matters to them? Finally, engage your audience and remember to respond to them – engage in conversation and dialogue – don’t just sell ‘at’ them.”Want to hear even more top tips about branding for SMEs? Check out the full recording of Steve’s workshop here >> https://www.cathedralquarterbelfast.com/whats-on/lunchtime-learning-brand-design-for-smes-2
Check out other Lunchtime Learning sessions here >>  https://www.cathedralquarterbelfast.com/lunchtime-learning

Monday 1 – Sunday 7 June marks Volunteer Week 2020, giving us the perfect opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to the amazing volunteers who work tirelessly in our communities each and every day.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman John Smyth acknowledged the selfless work carried out by volunteers in a video message to launch this special week; “As Mayor I have been so proud to see so many step up across our Borough and support the Council’s response to Covid19 and provide vital assistance throughout the most challenging circumstances.  I, on behalf of the Council and the Borough want to say Thank You. There are so many examples of amazing community spirit and gallant volunteering that I am delighted we as a Council will be celebrating, showcasing and highlighting many of these throughout this week.  In addition to this we will be lighting up our Civic buildings purple on Monday evening to publicly show our support.”

Volunteer Now, based in Northern Ireland, are leading Volunteer Week locally and the Council are delighted to support this brilliant initiative which covers a different theme each day. These themes include; 

•          Listening and Support

•          Spotlight on Youth

•          Fundraising

•          Covid 19/Civic Action

•          Nature and Conservation

•          Arts and Culture

•          Sport

Previously Volunteer Week would involve numerous events and celebrations to mark the occasion, however this year as we are still faced with the challenges of the Covid19 pandemic, it is even more important to support Volunteer week given what our volunteers have done throughout this emergency to support our communities, especially the most vulnerable.  

Each day next week we will cover a story based on the themes, showcasing the exceptional work being carried out across our Borough by an army of volunteers who deserved to be recognised for their noble efforts.