Let me take a step back and explain. I used to work in the House of Commons and had a good network across both Houses so I knew who to call if I needed help or a sounding board on whatever I was working on. I just didn’t realise that’s what I did as I’ve always done it. It’s just part of the way I work and didn’t realise that other people don’t do that as well!

When I started working with small business I very quickly realised that many of them were working on their own and were totally focussed on their business. They didn’t have a
support network around them and often didn’t realise that they needed help in a particular area. When they did need help, they didn’t know who to call.

The crazy idea was therefore to create a way of supporting businesses by sharing knowledge and promoting each other or “networking in print” as I like to call it. It has evolved into a glossy magazine with community of small businesses who engage with the content, share their knowledge and support each other.

Each article is two pages long so an easy read but it’s enough to understand what someone does and how they can help. There are contact details at the end of each article so you can click through to the author’s website, check them out, ask a question or book a call. Depending on the product or service, you might also buy online there and then.

I think of it as a networking meeting but one that you can return to again and again if you want to, rather than just for the hour of the meeting. The contact details are like the chat
room and you can get more help quickly by going straight to the website for more information. The magazine has built up a resource of people and information as well as a community of supportive businesses who are looking to help each other.

Alongside the magazine we have a business directory which is a great way to get noticed. It’s affordable and accessible to most businesses and serves as an entry level to our
community. We also have a podcast which is another great way to increase visibility and allow prospective clients to get to know the person behind the business. Interviews are informal and go back to the beginning of the business journey. It’s always fascinating to find out where someone started out and how they got to where they are now. It’s another touch point for people to understand why you do what you do and how you can potentially support them in their own business.

A combination of articles and the podcast is a great way to market a business without coming across as too pushy or salesy. Articles can be shared on social media as can the
podcast, giving people time to decide if the like the person, their values and how they work. It builds the “know, like and trust” which we all want with our clients.

If you’d like to know how you can get involved, please contact me –
sally@steeryourbusiness.com or book a call in my diary.