We had another great network meeting last night. Representatives from 15 Leitrim businesses attended.

Items Discussed.

1. Cost Saving Ideas for the Small Business. (Suggestions/experiences from attendees)

  • Cheaper phone calls using Skype and 13434.ie.
  • Shop around - Examples - Company Insurance, Car Insurance (BestQuote.ie was suggested), alternative telephone companies, look at bundle packages. Look at reducing mobile bill by changing tariff.
  • Negotiate with your bank to reduce bank charges.
  • Consider alternative electricity suppliers.
  • Reducing advertising costs by using the web,
  • Look at open source software - Examples Open Office,
  • Conduct meetings online to avoid travel time. Example - GoToMeeting.ie
  • Use Irish language on stationary (more on this shortly),
  • Reduce costs by streamlining business processes and consider home office if feasible.
  • Make better use of the Internet and email.
  • Recycling,

2. Positive aspects of the network

  • The fact that there is a network.
  • Meeting new contacts.
  • Sharing knowledge, experience & ideas.
  • Social aspect and meeting peers.
  • Helps re-charge.
  • Self-support.
  • Subcontract work to other members.

3. Suggestions for improving network

  • Have the network meetings on a fixed day every month. e.g. First Tuesday.
  • Have meetings in the morning as breakfast meetings e.g. 7am.
  • Breakout in to groups and have a short brain storming session getting ideas from other companies (more on this shortly).
  • Have a specific topic for discussion and send out prior to meeting.
  • Do more offline marketing of the network.
  • Provide more help with using LinkedIn
  • Keep content of meetings fresh
  • Record or webcast network meetings for those who can not attend.

Apologies if I have left anything out. Please add to the lists above using the comment section. Please contact me if you wish to discuss any of the items outlined above.
E-mail is johnnyREMOVEFORSPAM@leitrimenterprise.ie