Leitrim Business Network

• Network Members - 82 - up 15% on February
• 538 absolute unique visitors - up 18% on February
• 992 Visits - up 33% on February
• 2,562 Pageviews - up 1% on February

As you may already know, we encourage people to use LinkedIn.com when joining Leitrim Business Network.

Firstly:

81 Leitrim Businesses have now joined through LinkedIn and so it is becoming a real ‘live’ business network/directory for Leitrim.

Not only that, but each network member brings other contacts outside of Leitrim to the table, increasing the possibility of meeting new contacts and potential clients/customers. This is one of the key advantages of LinkedIn over traditional business directories.

The network now has over 900 ‘connections’ combined. On Friday last, an INNOVATE client in Omagh asked me for an introduction to 4 different companies he seen on my contact list. YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME - JUST ASK ME. If it is appropriate, then I will make the introduction.

People cannot introduce/recommend you/your business if they don’t know you.

Secondly:

LinkedIn have upgraded their site with some new features and improved usability. Of course the same reasons for using it still apply:

- When you create a profile on LinkedIn (which is FREE), link to your website, it is another qualified link to help improve your Google search results.

- When you add a new connection, others see that you have - it keeps your name out there.

- People tend to have a browse around and look at their connections’ connections so to speak.

You may also find this blog useful – ‘I’m on LinkedIn, Now What?’ .

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Damien Mulley (among other things) organises the Irish Blog Awards. Today, he provides us with a useful insight into business blogging.

From ENN

Search giant Google has crushed all opposition in a survey of visitor numbers to Irish websites.

According to the report by Net Behaviour, 78 percent of all Irish internet users visit Google every month, well clear of second-placed Yahoo on 49 percent and Aer Lingus on 48 percent. The Dublin-based internet agency commissioned the survey in a bid to better understand Irish web traffic. “We need to know how the Irish people use the web,” Emmet Kelly, operations director with Net Behaviour, told ENN.

The study, which was carried out by research firms Amarach Consulting and Monitrack Internet Research on behalf of Net Behaviour, asked 2,500 people about their use of 500 websites. While search engines topped the charts, other areas, such as finance and banking sites, also played a prominent role. AIB was the most popular money-related site with 30 percent of users visiting it regularly, followed by Bank of Ireland on 25 percent with Permanent TSB, Rabo Direct and Ulster Bank rounding out the top five. In total Net Behaviour estimates that 641,000 Irish internet users, or 45 percent of all users, visit these kinds of sites at least once a month.

The most prominent sector in the top 30 sites listed was travel. Ryanair was tied with Aer Lingus on 48 percent while Aer Arann also cracked the list on 16 percent. Other sites from the industry to chart well included ebookers.ie and Budget Travel.

The success of both finance and travel in the study shows the increasing interest Irish internet users have in processing transactions online. People are becoming more willing to pay for goods and services over the internet, indicating a rise in the confidence Irish web surfers have in buying online. No site testified to this trend more than eBay, which is visited by 37 percent of Irish internet users at least once a month.

The study also found that attitudes towards the internet are changing, with younger users setting the trend for the future. Social networking and Web 2.0 style sites such as Bebo and YouTube performed well with this segment of the market. Kelly said that having this breakdown of data on how different users behave online can aid businesses trying to reach specific target markets. He said the aim of the study was to use this information give advertisers a better idea of what various market segments are doing online.

HR Solutions have recently re-designed their website. Embracing Wordpress and blog technology, visitors can keep up to date will regular features and news on human resource managment. The website was developed by local web development company - Reverb Studios.
Recent News Items include:

• It’s not a joke - highlighting the potential costs of jokes gone wrong especially on April Fools Day
• Cost of unfair dismissal

Contact Details.

Carmel Murphy
HR Solutions
The Old School House
Keshcarrigan
Co Leitrim

T: 071 9642748
M: 086 83372228
E: info@hrsolutions.ie

At our last network meeting, it was suggested that we fix a regular day/time for network meetings.

I would be grateful if you could provide feedback by ticking some options below.

You may choose more than 1.

This is a great blog with useful information on  Creativity and Innovation.

I use bloglines to manage all my blog subscriptions. Bloglines is a free service that makes it easy to keep up with your favorite blogs and news feeds.

In addition to local blogs, here is a sample of other blogs I read regularly:

Damien Mulley

ENN

Enterprise Ireland

Krishna De

The Long Tail

PC Live

Seth Godin

Silicon Republic

Web2.0 Ireland

Unit 1

Unit size; 48.1 sq. mtrs. / 517.74 sq ft.

Unit location; 1st floor unit

Features; Very central, excellent condition, suitable for a variety of enterprises

Available from; April 2008

Unit 2

Unit size; 34.09 sq. mtrs. / 366.94sq ft.

Unit location; Ground floor unit

Features; Great office or health/and beauty space

Available from; April 2008

Unit 3

Unit size; 68.22 sq. mtrs. / 734.32 sq ft.

Unit location; 2nd Floor unit

Features; Overlooking the Market Yard Centre, excellent light, large open plan space

Available from; April 2008

MRD Marketing Ltd, The Market Yard Centre
Jenny Jessop
The Market Yard Centre, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)71 9650816
Fax: +353 (0)71 9650820
Mobile: +353 (0)0861935452
E-mail: info@themarketyardcentre.com

Workshop Objectives

• Allow participants to start generating website sales and leads within 24 hours.
• Demonstrate why most websites fail and how to solve this problem.
• Educate participants about all commercial and technical issues relating to Internet and email marketing activity.
• Practically demonstrate tools that allow participants apply new knowledge gained to improve their online business.
• Allow participants to overcome any fears they have regarding Internet marketing via hands-on training
• The workshop is most suited to small business owners and marketing managers.
• Intermediate PC skills are required. Owning a website is preferable.

This fast-moving programme for a max of 10 participants will be hands-on and involve considerable group participation and interaction. Questions and contributions will be actively encouraged.

The positive & developmental web experience of participants will be used to illustrate what works online.

Date: Thursday March 27th
Location: Leitrim County Enterprise Board
Time: 9am - 5.30pm
Cost: €20

BOOK NOW by leaving a comment in the comments section below. Payment required on the day.

Workshop Materials
Notes will be provided during the workshop and will also be available online.

1 Day Workshop Agenda

9:00 Registration

9:30 Start & Introductions

9:45 Search Engine Optimisation Overview

10:15 Hands-On Keyword Research

11:00 Break

11.15 Link Building & Hands-On Submissions to DMOZ.org

11:45 Google Adwords Overview

Google Ads Hands-On Account Setup incl €50 free credit per person

1:00 Lunch

2:00 Google Analytics Overview

Google Analytics Hands-On

3:15 Break

3:30 Email Marketing including reviews of campaignmonitor.com, newsweaver.ie, spinnakerpro.com, constantcontact.com, ciculator.ie

Email Marketing – What not to do, legal issues etc

4:15 Copy Writing Overview

Hands-on writing for the web

5:00 Blogs - Overview of software & blogging

5:30 Finish