Award for Urban Mind

Urban Mind has won 'Most Professional Business Award 2009' with the University of Worcester. I hope this is first of many....

Network, network and breakfast!

Networking has been my most success way of generating money full stop! I'm not just talking about telling the local shop owners and your current hairdresser about your services or products, although you must do this too. The SPEED programme introduced me to the Chamber of Commerce who organise Breakfast Network Meetings for it's members on a regular basis in locations around your area. These events put you in front of professional business people that may need your services and also connect you to people providing those other essentials i.e. accountants...

The events start nice and early so that you can get them in before you go to work and refreshments are included. Although, I must admit the breakfasts aren't great if you don't like a Full English, so if your on a diet you may struggle. The veggie option isn't too bad although it really depends on where you go, but be sure to let them know of any requirements before you book your place!
However, the breakfast is a great way to sit down and chat to people. It's at this point that I have generated a lot of my current clients. Seriously, I rate this type of advertising more highly than on paper or the web especially within the graphic and web design sector. If your unsure of whether this would work for you, I'd recommend phoning your local Chamber of Commerce and cheekily asking if you could have a free trial, well it's worth a try! If you do get a freebie please let us know. For other networking opportunities contact Business Link as they hold many free events that include training and time to connect with other businesses.

Are you judged by the type of car that you have?

I'm not sure, but a lecture on branding during my SPEED placement opened my eyes to the possibility. Personal branding effects all areas of presentation, from the type of clothes that you wear to the cup that you serve your coffee in. I love my car and I haven't had it long, but I'm starting to wondering whether the effect of the Subaru Impreza Turbo has an negative impact on what people think of me as a business women. What do clients envision about my capabilities when the Bailey dump valve goes off, and does the large Prodrive spoiler and pink furry dice scream 'Girl Racer'!?
So, here's the question. Do I sell my car and buy something quiet and more sophisticated for the sake of personal branding, or will people see my car as a choice from a confident and flamboyant designer??