So last Tuesday was a very special day for me, Nicole, and for Pinpoint Marketing. As an SBS winner (SBS is the brainchild of successful businessman and philanthropist Theo Paphitis), a guest (my friend and website business associate Jo Dickie) and I were invited to the ICC in Birmingham for a jam packed day of networking, learning, celebrating and making plans. I won my #SBS award back in October this annual event was my first one. I had heard so many great things about the event from the previous winners on Twitter and Facebook and they were not overselling it at all I since found out.
From the Google talk, which was full of tips, to the Cyber Security advice, to the networking, catering, headshot photo area by HP, goody bags, exhibition stands, sponsor session and all the breakouts (hosted by winners, including me, but more on that later – Simply Bows and Graffiti Life), it was so educational, inspiring and it genuinely made me proud to be a winner but to also be a business owner of a UK based small business. The highlight, apart from meeting the man himself and getting my photo taken with him as he presented my winners certificate, was the conversation on stage between Theo Paphitis and Sir Tom Hunter. The take home message from this session as a business owner was definately to keep dreaming. To hear from inspiring business gurus who had been there and done it was very very motivational.
So onto my workshop! In January, the SBS crew asked for winners who would consider giving one of the breakout sessions. I put my hand up, whilst panicking slightly, and a few emails and chats later, they liked my idea of presenting what is marketing, how to plan it and how to measure as a workshop with handouts, advice, tips and stories. They kindly promoted the session for me as part of the agenda and event build up and it was really well attended. I couldn’t of been more proud of myself and thrilled I was able to help the people and the businesses in the room with my experience. The feedback to the session included the word fabulous and I have seen posts saying some of the attendees/winners had already started putting the tips to create a marketing plan into place! Wow! So thanks to the crew for allowing little old me to be part of such a prestigious and high calibre agenda and to all those who came to listen to me on the day. I have emailed out the handout to some winners who couldn’t make the marketing workshop session on the day.
I urge all the small businesses out there to get on board the SBS train, keep dreaming and enter just like I did. You have to be in it to win it as they say. The increase in Twitter followers, the support, the networking, the opportunities and the learning journey are just a few of the reasons why you must go for it from this Sunday onwards! Find out more about #SBS here
SBS is celebrating its 8th birthday and there have been 2500 winners and around 700 were there on the. With over 370,000 applications, us worthy winners account for less than 1% of the entrants. Wow, wow, wow! Thank you Theo, your crew and SBS!
