Good morning and welcome to the Monday Morning Marketing Podcast. I'm Esther. And today I'm joined by some of the organizers of Kickstart Dublin, Carmel Seery, Louise Brogan and Melanie Boylan. Welcome, ladies.
Nice to be here. Esther. Thank you for inviting me.
You're all very welcome. So Kickstart Dublin is coming up on the 27 April 2022. Who is it for? Carmel?
Good morning, Esther. The Kickstart conference is for small business owners who need a presence online and are struggling, possibly after the two years we've had and trying to get back in touch with what's happening, what are the latest trends and also who want to meet other business owners and get back into networking again and have a little bit of fun as well.
Oh, we've all missed the face to face networking and the fun. Let's be honest here. Is it only for people from Dublin, Melanie?
No. We've actually got quite an international set of people traveling to come and see us. We've got people from the UK and beyond, but obviously we've got a good contingent coming from around Ireland as well, which is great. So it's nice to have an international audience back together again.
Brilliant, brilliant. So if our audience is listening to us here from the States, from the UK, they are more than welcome to join with you as well. I'll get the link from you at the end. I'm sure there's a way that people can find the link easily because you're all over social media. I mean, these superstars are everywhere on social media. Who should go? I know Carmel has already said small business owners, but what about medium business owners, larger business owners who are struggling at the minute too? Are they not invited, Louise?
Okay, this event is yes, there is a great focus on small business, but actually some of my clients are coming and they are consultants, so they work with corporates and they also need to understand how to use online business. We are also talking with Carmel is going to be talking about finances, which anybody in business needs to get a hold of and get hold of the knowledge and understanding of. So it is for anybody who I would say it's for people who want to get in a room to get their knowledge up to speed. They maybe have been spending the last two years at home on Zoom calls, kind of struggling a little bit. And they want to get back out there and get refreshed on their knowledge and get themselves out online, update their knowledge and get in a room full of people who are actually going to be really interesting, having brilliant conversations, networking. And of course, Andrea and Peter coming over from Newcastle. And if you don't know who they are, they are really like if you want a Kickstart in your business, those guys are the guys to follow. So we've got lots of people coming from England, Northern Ireland, not sure I've got any Welsh people yet, and it's only a ferry ride across Hollyhead. So this guy should be coming, too. We have at least one person who is coming from the US, and I think Dublin in April, in the springtime. Where else would you rather be? I was talking to my own network. I've got a great network of women entrepreneurs in the US, and they can't believe that they can't come. And I said, well, don't worry, we'll do it again next year. And I'll give you advance notice and you come and have a holiday over your Easter holidays. So they're like, yeah, that sounds brilliant. So it's for anybody who's really interested in up leveling and upscaling their knowledge on how to grow their presence online. That's what I would say.
Okay, so it's not just about social media. It's not just about leveling up online, because as you said, Carmel is going to be talking about financing. So what else will they learn on the day, Melanie?
Well, I'm delighted to announce that I am going to be moderating a panel of content creators, and we're going to be learning from them what it's like to work with content creators, what they can bring to your business, to raise your profile, and what experience they have changed people's entire online presence just by working with them. So we're going to be getting some case studies, learning some direct stories, and it's just about being better informed at the end of the day. It's been such a weird, bizarre couple of years. We've all had to sort of I'm going to say the word, I hate saying it, but we've all had to pivot one way or another. I could see you mousing it there. And we've had to embrace this change. And so we've got a couple of people announced at the moment, and we've got a third person coming up soon, hopefully. So just keep an eye on myself, Amanda Webs, Louise Brokens, the Carmail series, and of course, yours, Esther, as we announce any further speakers and any other changes. But it's not all about just being at the conference on the day. We're also going to be meeting and gathering with each other afterwards as well. So it's a bit of downtime and chill time together. And boy, if I miss networking.
So if nothing else, go for the Guinness in Dublin.
Just as well as that. Bringing the numbers in, as Louise was mentioning, it does bring that business element into the conference. So while it is marketing focusing and digital focusing, there is also that business element and that business discussion. So when you start talking about numbers in a room, the conversation can often learn about the issues people are having and how they're going to solve them. So it's for all kinds of business owners to get back into that environment where you don't even know what you're going to learn because you didn't know that. You didn't know it if you don't.
Obviously, people all around the world that are listening to us have their financial year end at different times of the year. But you can always be keeping on top of your finances. You don't have to wait until the tax man is knocking at your door.
You can talk about monthly, shouldn't you, Carmel?
Well, funny you should say that, because one thing that I hear the most is that people can't hear from their accountant, and it's because they have a yearend accountant. So your accountants only don't come to you at the year end. We're a management accountant, and I'll be talking about this more on the day.
So don't give too much away.
It's more to do with they're like a fractional CFO in your business. They're helping you run your business.
Brilliant. Which is what we all need, right?
Absolutely.
Yes.
And I'm sure people go with questions about pricing, especially at the minute where prices are soaring for even working online. Cost of electricity, the cost of everything is just through the roof. So can they pass those costs on down to their plan to find out?
Exactly.
Yeah.
Well, I just wanted to mention, unfortunately, we couldn't get Amanda on the podcast today. She was busy, but she's going to be covering digital marketing strategy, return on investment. And with her background and experience, the people she's worked with, the information that she's going to be downloading on the day is going to be so valuable. And because this is in person, you can't just dial in from anywhere. You have to make the effort to get your ticket come along and benefit from the many, many years of experience that are in the room. With the lineup like we've got, it's going to be a tough one to surpass, I think, in 2022.
So I see there are two ticket options. So there's a morning session and an afternoon session. Can you tell us a bit more about the morning session, Louise?
Yeah, absolutely. So in the morning, Amanda and I are actually running a small group workshop for 20 people maximum. And we are diving into how to build your business on LinkedIn strategically. Amanda is a digital marketing strategist and computer expert in using strategy. So she will be starting off the morning diving into how to create a proper, effective digital marketing strategy. And then I will be teaching the room how to use LinkedIn properly in a way that gives them leads and sales without being sleazy or spammy. And because it's a small group, it's going to be really engaging and interactive. And the people who come to that will be able to ask us lots of questions. And actually, my session will be very much driven with examples depending on who is in the room, because obviously when people buy their tickets, we know who's coming. So I can apply the examples on LinkedIn to those people. And it will not be me standing with a big slide show at the front of the room. We will be going through LinkedIn the platform actively. So if you're coming to the morning, make sure you bring your laptop with you because you will take action during the workshop, then the people who come for the workshop, we are buying you lunch. And then after that, if you buy a ticket for the morning, you get a ticket for the afternoon included as part of your package. So the morning session is because the price includes VAT, it's around $320, which includes your VAT, which also gets your ticket to the afternoon. And the afternoon you come into that solely. It is around 68 Euro, which also includes VAT and includes the after party. And Andrew and Pete will buy you a paint of black stuff. Or in my case, I am going for champagne. Thanks, guys.
I hope they're listening. Right. So actionable tips in the morning. Obviously. Actionable tips in the afternoon as well.
Esther, more than tips. This is a workshop. They will be working. It's not just tips. They will be so crammed full of information that they will need to lie down after their lunch.
No, they can't because they have to go to the afternoon session, then they have to get kick started in the afternoon. No, but I think it's something that we've all missed out on for the last couple of years. Just being able to go to an event and being able to meet face to face and being able to bounce ideas off other business owners that are in the same boat issue, that are maybe have a couple of employees more than you. But at the end of the day, you've still got the same problems and the same issues and the same worries.
Can I tell you a story, Esther?
Sure, Louise.
Okay, so two weeks ago I went to San Diego to social media marketing world. And we will leave the story about the travel for another day. But the biggest benefit I got from that event was not actually the speakers. It was not the conference itself. It was meeting the other people who were there. And the best two sessions the entire week I was there was when other women who run their own marketing agencies decided to get together and have a few glasses of wine and talk about how they built their businesses. And the other session was a doughnuts and coffee session. So both sessions that I got the most out of was talking to other people who are in the same boat as me and the learning you get from that. So being at an event like this and it's the same when I went to I don't know if any of you guys went to Eupeneur in London. When I went Chris Ducker ran Newpreneur in London, which was a massive online business conference 2017. I think it was the first year. I'd never been to anything like it in my life. And just being in a room full of other people who also are running their own businesses, it just skyrocketed my business just being there. And that's what this event is going to do for people. If someone's listening and they've never been to an event like this before, it's hard to understand what it is actually like. But getting in that room, making those connections with the other people there, is worth its weight in gold. And it's only 68 Euro. I mean, it's a no brainer to me.
But like you said, Louise, tickets for the morning are limited to just 20, and I'm sure they're selling like hotcakes. What about the afternoon session, Carmel? How many people can go to the afternoon?
So the afternoon is we're opening it up to a few more people. We have about 80 people that will fit in the room. So we're limited to what the number of tickets as well? I'm just following up from what Louise says there. It's actually a great one. If you haven't been to an event before, it's a great one to dip your toe in because it is 3 hours and it's a great way of coming to see if you like it, which I know you will. But it's not overwhelming for people who don't want to come for the two or three conferences.
Because that event in San Diego in a normal year has 3000 people out.
Yeah.
And that's a lot of people where this is going to be intimate. Well, you're going to be able to speak to whoever you want to who's there, which I think is really valuable.
Yes. And that is where the value is. It's not in the Mason Hotel in Dublin. And for people who want to stay over, there are special rates, but you just need to get in touch with them directly.
Yeah. It is a gorgeous hotel.
It really is. Looks stunning.
It's a no brainer as far as if you're listening and you're on the fence, get off the fence and grab up your ticket quickly.
So it's recapping. So it's for small businesses who are wanting to up their game, who have doubts, worries, concerns and issues with working online, wanting to work with creators, not knowing how, wanting to learn how to get a better ROI, which is something that we get asked a lot. How do you figure out your return on investment from setting for 4 hours a day on social media, things like that.
If you're sitting for 4 hours a day on social media, you need to come to my session in the morning because I'll teach you to be on twice a week on LinkedIn and get proper leads and sales.
Come to my event
time management in the morning.
It can be lonely working on your own. A lot of the people that were coming are probably solar printers, not home, but it can be lonely. And it's great just to have people that you can WhatsApp and message because people you meet here, you will be in contact forever. Forever.
As long as you behave yourself. That is, of course, Carmel.
And you mentioned that it's in partnership with Andrew and Pete of Atomic.
Yeah.
I think we all met through Atomic as well. I mean, we all knew each other prior to Atomic as well. But Atomic and ATOMICON, which was just last November, was just another out there event. And like you said, Louise, the guys just bring the energy and they will kick start and give you a good kick to get you started and get you motivated in your business. Is there any other little gems that are hidden away in the speakers? Who else?
Oh, my God. We haven't even talked about May King. No, making the formal creator. If you don't know who May King is, go to Twitter and follow May King Sang. She is a force of nature, and she is coming to talk about creating FOMO fear of missing out and talk about her career. Talk about an energy ball. I can't wait. I was at a conference with her in 2019. She was the formal creator at the Financial Services Conference in England in October 2019. I was speaking about LinkedIn at the same conference. That's the first time we met in person. And we are just I just love her. She's just so fabulous. And she is also speaking. And then, of course, Melanie has her panel Niamh Crawford Walker. Melanie, who I have invited on to the panel, is a content strategist in Dublin. I can't wait to hear her speak in person. I've been following her for a long time. Who else have you got on your panel?
I'm just trying to get the name up. I've got Loretta Negavan from Lorg Media as well. And so she's also a digital marketing strategist as well. And between them and a third member that we're going to be announcing shortly, it's pretty much just down to what they can bring to the people in the room, because obviously, we're not recording this. We're not recording or going live anywhere. So it's only going to be to the people in the room. They're special knowledge. And we're going to open the floor to Q and A as well. I love the fact that we actually have such a small, intimate gathering that we can all approach each other after the session as well and ask questions face to face. No red ropes. I'm sure we've heard that expression before, haven't we, ladies?
There's no question, as a glass of champagne.
You're not going to drop this, are you? But going back to the FOMO creator. She was our FOMO creator at DMAT, wasn't she?
She was. And she's been on the podcast, too. And all we did was laugh and have a great time. It's fabulous. But yes, it sounds like such a great event and obviously Louise is speaking and Amanda Webb is speaking who we've also had in the podcast and Carmel is speaking and Melanie is as the journalist that she is interviewing the panel
as well. Alice Billion is from Lorg Media will be interviewing Andrew and Pete as well at the event.
Oh brilliant.
There's a Q and A with Andrea and Pete and there will definitely be an opportunity to ask them about how they have grown their ginormous business. So that's going to be so valuable to the attendees as well.
Yeah, definitely. And as Melanie said, it's only for the people who can make it there on the day. So get your tickets guys. Where do people go to get tickets?
Go to eventbrite.ie and check. Look for kickstartdublin.
Okay. It's also on Amanda’s Spiderworking website, spiderworking.com
and in your show notes. Obviously for this podcast.
Obviously it'll be at the bottom of the podcast notes and click on it. Go have a wonderful day. Enjoy yourself, have a pint of Guinness or a glass of champagne. And that might only be reserved for Louise though and just get back into business guys. Just use this day and have a stay over the night before the night of both if you feel like it and just enjoy taking a bit of time out of your business to be able to work in your business. I highly recommend these wonderful ladies. You've heard them all on this podcast before and they've joined together to make this wonderful event. And as Louise has already dedicated herself to saying, there will be another one next year. If you can't make it to Dublin.
No your future ones if you come to this one.
If you rewind the podcast near the very start.
You're not allowed to come to the next.
Tip for the next one. But in all seriousness, it is time to get back and kick start your business. We have been on pause, been on hold for so long because of world events. Now is the time to take action. Now is the time to book your tickets for kickstart. Dublin, thank you very much guys for joining us.
Esther, thanks so much. I will be toasting my champagne to you, obviously. Thanks for having us on the podcast.
Thank you so much.
You're very welcome. And we'll be back next week, guys, with more of the Monday Morning Marketing Podcast. Until then, bye.