When it comes to marketing your business, product or service most small businesses will depend on digital channels such as their website, social media and other platforms such as Google My Business.

According to Social Media Examiner 96% of small businesses say they use social media in their marketing strategy whilst HubSpot reveals 48% of companies in general will leverage blogging in their content marketing strategy.

In order to truly maximise the opportunities available online to market and promote your business it’s important to have a robust digital and content marketing strategy and plan.

According to Google 59% of shoppers say they’ll research a product before making an in-store or online purchase.

Belfast based multi-disciplinary marketing and communications agency Excalibur Press has launched a new webinar training series aimed at helping businesses create a social media content strategy and improve their blogging and content marketing as well as giving top tips and tricks to creating effective communications for promoting your product online.

Delivered by trainer and content strategist Tina Calder, the sessions will run every Friday over the next four weeks. They will include How To Supercharge Your Blogging & Content Marketing (January 28), Set Up Your Social Media Content Strategy & Plan (February 4), Creating Killer Comms & Content To Sell Your Product Online (February 11) and Everything You Need To know To Create Your Brand Story (February 18).

Speaking of the sessions Tina said: “Micro, small and medium businesses more than ever before need support and assistance with their marketing. 

“For many of those businesses that spend is a luxury and often the first to go when things get tough.

“There’s no question the last few years have taken their toll on business owners and the fight to survive and thrive has become a crowded space.”

Tina explained the 90 minute sessions are specifically designed to “offer business owners practical and actionable support that will help them streamline, maximise and optimise their marketing activity.”

She added: “Throughout the sessions I will be revealing all the tools, systems and processes we use at Excalibur Press to create good quality content and marketing tactics for our clients as well as lift the lid on the secrets other professionals don’t want you to know.

“These sessions will help businesses reduce their stress levels when it comes to creating a social media content strategy, improving their blogging and content marketing as well as creating effective communications for promoting their product online and honing their marketing messages and brand story.

To book on to How To Supercharge Your Blogging & Content Marketing (January 28), Set Up Your Social Media Content Strategy & Plan (February 4), Creating Killer Comms & Content To Sell Your Product Online (February 11) or Everything You Need To know To Create Your Brand Story (February 18) go to excaliburpress.co.uk/2022-training-webinar-series 

Give the gift of food this Valentines with a sweet treat from Belfast’s homemade food delivery service, Dished Up Deli, with their ‘Love In A Box’ Valentines range.

Made to order and delivered straight to your door, the collection includes a decadent chocolate brownie box and a belgian chocolate geometric heart filled with a choice of rose water sponge or chocolate brownie. 

Founder of the food delivery company which was started over the first lockdown, Philip Davison, believed there is an emphasis on buying personalised and thoughtful gifts this year due to Brexit’s influence on Northern Ireland.

“I’ve seen a definite rise in consumer demand for personalised gifts instead of the typical off the shelf items especially due to Brexit, we are now shopping more locally and supporting local businesses like myself who have the capacity to offer customisable gifts,” he said.

Philip has also created an at home Valentines meal menu for those wanting to bring the restaurant to their living rooms this year.

The luxury four course ‘Heat at Home’ meal for two features a colourful chorizo salad, mouthwatering slow cooked beef, fresh meringues and a cheese board with crackers and chutneys.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions on hospitality, Philip recognised the demand to create an at-home dining experience for couples to still celebrate the most romantic day of the year.

“There has been an increase in people renovating their homes over lockdown and creating a nicer environment to relax and enjoy a romantic meal in.

“This year due to Covid, restaurants will also be working at less capacity so trying to secure a  booking over the Valentines weekend will be much more competitive”.

After sharing images of food he made throughout lockdown, hospitality management graduate Philip decided to make the leap and complete requests from family and friends.

Since then, his business has expanded to offering rotating weekly menus, savoury and sweet snacks which are based around quality homemade cooking paired with innovation to match the needs of the seasons.

“Over the several lockdowns I shared pictures of some creation on Facebook and got slightly hounded,” he explained.

 “I finally got a call saying would you make that dinner for me and my friend and that is how Dished up Deli was born.” 

Orders received by 6pm on Wednesday 9 February will be delivered on Friday 11 February between 5-8pm.

For more information visit dishedupdeli.com or social media @dishedupdeli.

Comedian William Caulfield is back on The Market Place Theatre stage with the latest of his ‘Our Jimmy’ shows featuring the beloved Ulster characters first created by the late James Young.

Far from being dated, William has transported them right up to date and we meet them in newly written sketches and songs in the present day.

All the usual characters are there, Derek, Lily O’Condriac, Emily Beattie, Willie Simpson, Billy Hulk, the wee Schoolboy, the shipyard worker and Orange Lil. Wondering what they are up to in the present day? Come and find out!

As well as new sketches, some of the iconic and poignant monologues still feature. William will be joined by two of Northern Ireland’s talented actors, Orla Mullan and Keith Lynch.

Book now – sure it will be a quare geg!

‘Our Jimmy – Past & Present’ will be on stage on Friday 28 January at 8pm. Tickets are priced £21, and can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre

Flowerfield Arts Centre is celebrating the return of live indoor music by giving away free tickets to a special performance by American folk artist Sam Amidon.

The gig in Portstewart on Sunday 6^th March at 3pm is one of only two dates the artist will perform in Northern Ireland as part of his 2022 tour, which takes in venues across the USA and Europe so it’s an exciting opportunity for local music lovers.

Lucky winners will be selected at random on Monday 14th February 2022 to receive a pair of tickets – a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day and an opportunity for the Arts Centre to show its appreciation to its supporters.

A singer, fiddler, banjo player and guitarist originally hailing from Vermont in the US, Sam has released six solo albums on the Nonesuch and Bedroom Community labels, most recently 2017’s The Following Mountain.

His material often consists of adventurous reworkings of traditional American ballads, hymns, and work songs, with the New York Times writing that he, ‘transforms all of the songs, changing their colours and loading them with trapdoors’.

The albums have been deeply collaborative in nature, inviting contributions from musicians such as composer Nico Muhly, guitarist Bill Frisell, and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. 

Sam has also recorded or performed as a guest artist with musicians such as Bon Iver, Emmylou Harris, Tune-Yards, Pekka Kuusisto, and his wife Beth Orton. He has also appeared as a soloist performing with ensembles such as the Kronos Quartet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the Aurora Orchestra, among others. 

The son of Peter Amidon and Mary Alice Amidon, both well-established folk musicians who raised him on a diet of old Irish and Appalachian folk, Sam has released a string of acclaimed albums, ranging in theme from interpretations of traditional Irish fiddle pieces to old-time melodies and tales from traditional American folk history.

His albums draw on old work songs, ballads, hymns, and other sonic artefacts from the past, reimagining them in bold, creative new ways to breathe new life into them and recontextualising them alongside original compositions.

To be in with the opportunity to be on the guestlist for this one-off gig please register your details at www.flowerfield.org.

For further details contact Flowerfield Arts Centre on 028 7083 1400.

The Big Friendly Giant (BFG) in Pictures exhibition, is coming to the Flax Gallery, Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey, from Thursday 3 – Friday 25 February. The exhibition features 40 reproductions for Roald Dahl’s much-loved story, ‘The BFG’ including illustrations not used when the book was first published in 1982. The exhibition charts the development of one of the most iconic characters in children’s literature and offers a glimpse of a BFG that might have been. These are exhibited alongside reproductions of the final illustrations for the book, providing a fascinating insight into the collaboration between author and illustrator Quentin Blake.

The exhibition is free of charge and will open during the following hours;

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9am-5pm
• Wednesday: 9am-8pm
• Saturday: 10am -4pm
• Sunday: 10am-2pm

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Billy Webb said “I am pleased that the Flax Gallery at Theatre at The Mill is hosting this remarkable exhibition. This is a great opportunity for the public to visit a display of such calibre. BFG is known worldwide and I am thrilled that we have this on display in our Borough.”

The BFG is a children’s book which tells the story of a friendship between 10-year-old orphan Sophie and a friendly Giant.

Northern Ireland company, Zymplify, has been appointed as a preferred supplier to deliver Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s digital growth plan for small and medium sized businesses, helping them to learn new skills, reach new customers and boost profits.

The Portstewart-based company has been approved to provide three innovative digital solutions to empower users to enhance their marketing and sales performance. 

After a rigorous application process, Zymplify was one of a small number of UK vendors to be awarded the contract to deliver the scheme through which eligible businesses will be able to get a discount of up to 50% on the costs of approved digital software including Zymplify Starter Package,  Zym Lite and Zym Pro.

Michael Carlin, chief executive of the Zymplify Group said the team were delighted to be chosen to support SMEs on the scheme.

He added: “From day one, our goal at Zymplify has been to help real business owners use digital technology to grow their business – a vision that is mirrored by Help to Grow Digital.

“Like the Chancellor, we believe that small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of our economy. We are a small business ourselves and created Zym and Zymplify for people like us – real business owners who want to save time, save money and grow.

“Just like the scheme we offer SMEs more than just the software. We have developed an ecosystem of three core elements – a planning framework to help users map their sales and marketing strategy, an Academy to help them master digital skills and the platform to execute, manage and measure their digital campaigns. 

“I believe that it is this approach that helped us become one of the few suppliers selected to deliver this fantastic programme.”

Zym is a complete marketing software solution ideal for small and medium sized businesses. With a continuously expanding selection of innovative tools, unlike other solutions, the Zym platform lets users take full control of every aspect of their digital marketing journey, from finding new customers to ongoing marketing communications and detailed reporting all in one place.

More suited for medium size enterprises and B2B organisations with sales and marketing teams the Zymplify platform combines marketing automation, lead generation, sales prospecting and accurate real time reporting within a single platform.

As the first ever precision sales and marketing platform on the market, the unique software allows users to create, execute and report on sales and marketing campaigns at scale. It is the only solution on the market that provides users with qualified prospects who are actively looking for their products or services; while putting users in control of connecting with their target audience and closing sales at speed.

Zymplify Group chief marketing officer, Debbie Rymer explained: “Through the Help to Go Digital Programme, business owners will be able to catch up with the technological needs of their business and access discounted prices for tech platforms. Through Zymplify and Zym, eligible businesses will also be able to access daily live classes, digital marketing training advice and guidance to help their business save money, grow and scale fast.

“I have worked as a mentor on numerous business support programmes over the years and am also the CIM Academy Course Director for Digital Marketing Techniques so have seen first-hand the positive impact good marketing and digital technology can have on a business.

“That’s why we have developed our learning Academy to provide our users with the knowledge, skills and support they need to maximise their voucher and grow their business with the support of the Help to Grow Digital scheme.”

Last year Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced that through the Government funded scheme businesses will receive expert technology advice and discounted software, as it aims to spark innovation as the UK maps out its recovery out of the pandemic.

Mr Sunak said: “Our brilliant SMEs are the backbone of our economy, creating jobs and generating prosperity – so it’s vital they can access the tools they need to succeed

“Help to Grow will ensure they are embracing the latest technology and management training, fuelling our Plan for Jobs by boosting productivity in all corners of the UK.”

The programme offers a new online platform where business owners can get free advice on technology that will help businesses to save time, reduce costs, and reach more customers.

Any eligible SMEs will be able to get vouchers offering up to 50% off the purchase of new productivity enhancing software worth up to £5,000 each for the period of one year.

Businesses interested in Zym or Zymplify will be given the opportunity to “try before they use their voucher”.

“We are committed to helping UK SMEs maximise the scheme. Anyone considering using either the Zymplify or Zym platforms won’t be pressured into redeeming their voucher without seeing our software in action first” said Debbie, adding: “we want to help them choose the right product for their business and their employees. That’s why they can take either or both products for a free 14 day test drive before making their selection. We hope that by providing the free trial and the live classes we help them to invest wisely.”

For more information on how to sign up and take your business to the next level go to zym.ai/help-to-grow-digital 

A new website listing arts and cultural events in the North West has been launched to provide a one-stop guide to the best family fun experiences in Derry, Strabane and Donegal.

The www.happydaysnw.com website, which covers the entire spectrum of arts and culture events and experiences across the region, is a joint initiative by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council.  The initiative, which is primarily aimed at engaging more families with arts and culture, is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and is part of the ongoing, cross border, North West Audience Development Project, supported by the North West Strategic Development Fund.

The comprehensive ‘What’s On’ guide involves partnerships with hundreds of cultural partners across the North West. These include visitor centres, theatres, arts centres, entertainment venues, festival organisers and experience providers offering great family days out, ranging from unique and exciting instead adventures to more relaxing cultural activities. The initiative also fosters and encourages public engagement and participation with cultural partners through social media channels.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Jack Murray, said: “Our region offers among the best family-orientated arts and culture experiences available anywhere and happydaysnw.com gives everyone the opportunity to quickly find and explore the information needed to plan their perfect family day out.

“The Happy Days initiative is yet another example of the strong partnership approach that exists between our two local authorities and will play an important role in engaging many more families with our rich arts and culture scene.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, said the new initiative is designed to “simplify the planning of great family days out in the North West”.

“I’m delighted to launch this initiative which gives people instant access to the many fantastic arts and cultural events and experiences our region has to offer – all in a single online hub. The North West has a very rich calendar of arts and cultural events, boasts a great many wonderful destinations and offers some of the most fun-filled experiences on these islands.

“Happydaysnw.com brings all of these and more together in an online listing that makes discovering, planning, and enjoying family days out simple and convenient for all.”

Sharon Meenan, Arts and Culture Officer at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said: “Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Challenge Fund, this initiative is part of the NW Audience Development Plan and is designed to enable everyone to easily access information about arts and culture in the North West.

“By providing all the practical information on one website, it’s easier for families to find out about cultural activities near them, connect with like-minded people online and plan their special days out across the Derry-Londonderry, Strabane, and Donegal areas.

“Whether it’s dancing, crafts, heritage, festivals, literature, theatre, visual arts, sport or learning activities you’re after; Happy Days offers a one-stop guide to what’s on, where and at what time. It also details all of the amazing spaces on our doorstep and highlights access-friendly spaces so you can plan great days out for everyone.”

This weekend sees the start of a series of Chamber Music concerts at Portico in Portaferry. With Lottery Project Funding support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Portico has been able to programme a range of high quality performers.

This Saturday (22 Jan) pianist Ruth McGinley and mezzo-soprano Carolyn Dobbin join forces to explore songs from the North of Ireland. The programme is drawn from Carolyn’s ‘Northern Songs Project’, which documents and celebrates songs from Ulster not often recorded elsewhere, and includes pieces by Hamilton Harty, Howard Ferguson, Joan Trimble, Dorothy Parke and Charles Wood.

French, Spanish and South American influences arrive in February with classical guitarist Thibaut Garcia and accordion player Félicien Brut. Their programme explores the common histories of the two instruments and the mixed roots of the players in what they describe as a captivating “Vol de Nuit” (Night Flight) including waltzes, tangos and fandangos!

In March, the multi-award winning Sitkovetsky Trio will perform Beethoven’s Trio No. 2  in G major, Perkin’s Freakshow and Schumann’sTrio no 3 in G minor. Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, pianist Wu Qian and cellist Isang Enders have toured extensively to enormous critical acclaim: Gramophone noting, “The playing is at once virtuoso and even-handed, textures and counterpoint beautifully clear … a really beautiful performance.”

Piano duets from Amandine Savary and Coraline Cuenot are set to enthrall audiences in May, with a programme including Ravel’s Ma Mere l’Oye, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Debussy’s Petite Suite and a selection of waltzes from Brahms. Amandine has won many prizes including First Prize at the Osaka Chamber Music Competition and the Frankfurt Commerzbank Piano Trio Competition and special Prize of the Vienna Chamber Music Competition. Coraline enjoys innovative and unusual projects such as this concert for piano duets.

To find out more please visit porticoards.com

To celebrate its new charity partnership with the Children’s Heartbeat Trust, one of Northern Ireland’s leading forest schools, Holistic Kidz, is holding a fun Forest Adventure Camp on Saturday 5^th February.

Over 200 babies are born each year in Northern Ireland with congenital heart disease and the Children’s Heartbeat Trust provides practical, emotional and financial support to children, young people and their families affected. 

The popular Holistic Kidz Forest Adventure Camp will be held in the great outdoors at Barnett Demesne from 2pm – 5pm, and promises lots of action packed fun and adventure for children aged four to 12 including forest trekking, stream trailing, tepee building, tree swinging, nature assault course and mudslide adventure. The fundraising initiative is being supported by Pizza Co with complimentary lunch for every child. Tickets are £20 per child and every penny raised is being donated to the Children’s Heartbeat Trust.

Colette McCartney, Founder of Holistic Kidz said: “We are excited to launch our new charity partnership with the Children’s Heartbeat Trust and have lots of plans to help raise as much money as possible for this amazing charity to help support the children across Northern Ireland who are born with heart disease to live full and empowered lives. And what better way to begin our fundraising than with one of our famous Forest Adventure Camp to have a day of fun in the great outdoors with our fabulous Holistic Kidz on Saturday 5^th February.

I was introduced to the charity by an amazing young lady, Lucy Stewart who is 10 years old from Belfast, who has been supported by the Children’s Heartbeat Trust since she had heart surgery as a baby. Lucy is an incredible girl and started making beautiful handcrafted friendship bracelets over lockdown and we have commissioned her to make a bracelet for all of our Holistic Kidz. Promoting close friendship bonds is an important part of our ethos, so this really is the perfect partnership.”  

Lynn Cowan, from Children’s Heartbeat Trust said: “We are absolutely delighted to have the support of Holistic Kidz with their outdoor forest adventure camp in February. This will be a wonderful opportunity for kids to have a fantastic day out whilst raising funds and vital awareness of congenital heart disease (CHD) and its impact on children, young people and their families in Northern Ireland.  

Over 200 children are born with CHD in NI every year.  We hope the local community will get behind Holistic Kidz in raising as much awareness and funds as possible.  As a local charity, we receive no government funding and rely heavily on public donations to fund our support services so all funds raised from the Holistic Kidz event will be greatly appreciated and make a real difference to local heart children and their families.”

Booking is essential and to secure a place for your child at the Holistic Kidz Forest Adventure Camp in aid of the Children’s Heartbeat Trust on Saturday 5^th February go to www.holistickidz.com

Top recruiter warns businesses they need to invest in the right systems & processes 

When it comes to remote working one Northern Ireland recruitment firm says employees need to learn and display new skills to secure work from home roles.

A Global Workplace Analytics report said that since 2009, the number of people who work from home has risen by 159%

Michelle Tyson, director of Tyson Wilson is also warning businesses that they “must invest in the right systems and processes” in order to be able to facilitate a “productive, healthy and happy remote working workforce”. 

Michelle said that although the rise in work from home opportunities originally surged as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that she believes it’s a trend that’s here to stay.

She added: “The biggest trend that will continue into 2022 and beyond is the working from home and the hybrid working model. 

“Statistics from Upwork say that by 2028, 73% of all departments are expected to have remote workers.

“It is undeniable that many companies are becoming more open to hybrid and work from home after being forced to put systems in place to handle the challenges that come with it during the pandemic.”

According to Michelle what this means is business leaders must now recruit differently for those remote roles.

She explained: “In the call centre industry, for example, companies are looking for a new set of skills for people working from home – they now need to ensure those staff have self motivated, disciplined and proactive traits which whilst beneficial previously were not essential because the working model created an environment in which they had to be productive and were constantly monitored by line managers in person.”

This, in turn, means there can be a more flexible approach to talent acquisition.

Owl Labs reported last year that small companies are twice as likely to hire full-time remote workers than their larger counterparts.

However, whilst the future is bright for hybrid and remote working Michelle said one of the biggest challenges for business leaders has been changing the way in which they communicate with their team.

Research published by Buffer suggested that communication was one of the top three challenges associated with remote work behind “unplugging after work” and “loneliness”.

Michelle explained: “Communication is key. Mutual respect in the team is more vital than ever before – for example, in online meetings everyone has to be given the opportunity to take their turn to speak and leaders and colleagues need to learn how to listen.”

Michelle’s top 6 tips for managers and leaders are:

1. Be available

Michelle said: “Leaders have to ensure they make time available for the staff to be able to check in and ask questions because in an office environment this is very often done off the cuff or on an adhoc basis.”

2. Connection with colleagues

“When working from home there needs to be an onus on the business leader to create a culture where people feel connected to their colleagues” said Michelle.

3. Remove the stigma of struggling 

Michelle explained: “It is important that staff understand the importance of speaking up when they feel lonely, disconnected, frustrated or lost as a result of the working from home model.

“This can only be effective if they believe their disclosure of these things won’t have a negative effect on how they are seen and treated by management and colleagues.”

4. Open lines of communication

“One solution that works for many teams is leaving a Zoom or Google Meet call open all day or having a Microsoft Teams, Facebook messenger, WhatsApp or Slack group can help employees keep in contact with each other throughout the day” said Michelle.

5. Morning emails

“Another way I find works really well is to have communication every morning with your team” said Michelle, adding: “An email for example rounding up the achievements from the day before, outlining new developments, recognising outstanding work and outlining the work and priorities for the day can help people feel more focused and ultimately more productive.”

6. End of day reporting 

Michelle said: “I’ve also found with many of my clients that having staff email their direct line manager an end of day report helps everyone to keep on top of what other departments and their own teams are doing. An end of week report from all departments to each other is also crucial for larger teams.”

Tyson Wilson currently have a number of remote and hybrid working roles in Bangor, Newry, Belfast, Antrim, Omagh and across Northern Ireland including customer support advisors, customer service operators and customer sales and retentions advisors among many others.

To see these jobs and others go to tysonwilsonrecruitment.co.uk/jobs

For more information on what Tyson Wilson can do for your business contact Michelle at info@tysonwilsonrecruitment.co.uk