#29Social Archives |

May 30, 2016

Glasgow Networks Summer Drinks

After a rousing success at Christmas, when five of Glasgow’s business networking groups came together to co-host a drinks event, it’s been mutually decided to have a summer event.

This time there is a sixth networking group invited into the mix no less. The six Glasgow networking groups co-hosting the event are – Business Banter, Coffee Connections, Collabor8te, Speedy Meet, Southsiders in Business and my own #29Social.

On June 22, 2016 – we are all coming together to co-host this FREE event – which is open to all who run businesses or work for one – that are within traveling distance of Glasgow.

We are hoping for decent weather, but in Glasgow, there are no guarantees on that score.

FIRST #29Social OF 2016

Due to other work-life demands, this event is the first #29Social of 2016, but hopefully they will resume after the summer holidays. Watch this space.

In the meantime, do please join us for the Glasgow Networks Summer Drinks on 22 June 2016 from 6pm.

Held on the Lanson Roof Terrace* here at 29, this is a social networking evening with emphasis on the social.

Space will be limited, so please register in advance to avoid disappointment: http://bit.ly/glasummer

October 2, 2015October 2, 2015

Glasgow Networking, Training & Southsiders in Business

Glasgow Networking

The past few weeks have been crazy-busy networking – both in Glasgow and in Paisley (for a change). For starters, I had hoped to get up in time for the FatBuzz New Media Breakfast to hear Tim from Attacat talk SEO – but after a long week and heavy workload my bed was far too cosy to go.

So I resigned myself to checking out the hashtag on Twitter for any nuggets that were tweeted out. As I didn’t get up for that, I also didn’t manage to make it along to the West End Business Banter – which I generally love to attend.

However I did manage to make yesterday’s Banter at Martha’s in town, so that’s something! Want to host a greeting cards party in Glasgow

On Tuesday this week, it was my first visit to Paisley for the Renfrewshire Business Network monthly networking group. As a speaker had backed out, I was asked to step in and speak for ten minutes. Instead of just talking about what I do, (though I did mentioned my Younique by Thea business, my new greeting cards venture, my networking events and my Web and Social Media training), I asked the group if they had any questions about Social Media or Blogging and that seemed to work pretty well.

Thankfully no one asked me anything I was unable to answer fairly easily. I recommended to all of them that they take advantage of the FREE courses that are on offer from Business Gateway (click to book). More on BG in a moment.

#29Social – September

The night before last, Wed Sept 30, was my latest #29Social at 29 Private Member’s Club Glasgow. The RSVP numbers had been worryingly-low, but it was, as they say, alright on the night!

We had a wonderful panel and more than thirty people showed up for this intimate event on blogging.

I met some new folks (including my panel) and had some fantastic coversations. Was even able to showcase and mention the greeting cards (several times). Well why not? It’s my event and I don’t get paid to run them so at least I can take advantage of some self-promotion, the audience did! 🙂

Next up? Southsiders in Business

Pretty excited that Southsiders in Business has been resurrected after much prodding of it’s founder Liam. The last one was more than a year ago in a different venue. This one is on Tuesday October 6, 2015 from 9:30-11:30am. The RSVP numbers have been insane for weeks now. Every day another ping (or three) in my inbox to say another registration has come on Eventbrite.

RSVP here now.

The tickets are just about all gone, but if they are gone, do feel free to comment below if you’d like to attend and we’ll try to squeeze you in! Bring business cards if you’re coming as there will be a prize draw. More info on that soon.

NOTE: Though it’s called “Southsiders in Business” – I don’t suspect we’ll be checking your ID to ensure you’re a south of the river person…

Web and Social Media Training

Next week it’s south-bound for a change. Normally I go north to train – to the Highlands and Islands – but this time it’s toward the border – down to Dumfries to deliver a few Business Gateway courses.

One will be about e-commerce and different ways for trading online, and the other will be Facebook. Facebook’s a funny one because of my relationship to the platform. It’s a love/loathe sort of feeling. It’s handy to keep in touch with family and friends all over the globe, but as a business owner – it’s less than ideal (in my opinion).

It’s simply more challenging to reach the audience. But this is a very basic “Intro to Facebook” course so we won’t need to go into too much detail about how market on it like a rock star!

Other Upcoming Glasgow Networking Events

So you may want to check out some of these events if you’re interested in doing some networking in Glasgow this month.

BDX GLASGOW – Wednesday October 7 is about Blogging. A very topical subject. It’s Free, at the Butterfly and the Pig (Buff Club upstairs) and features a panel. Check out BDX for more info.

BWS – Thursday October 8, the Royal Concert Hall. The Business Woman Scotland live event.

SWIB – Tuesday 13th October, 6.30pm – Scottish Women in Business

COMMUNIC8TE – Tuesday 20th October, 8am – Communic8te and 12pm – Glasgow Business Club *(I don’t know this last one but know some names involved!!)

Do you know any others? Are you hosting a Glasgow networking event soon? Let me know in the comments below!

September 30, 2015September 30, 2015

#29Social is Tonight at 29 Private Member’s Club

Please Join Us #29Social – Tonight From 6!

Really looking forward to tonight’s event about Blogging. I love blogging. Wish I had more time to keep blogging but like most small business owners there are not enough hours in the day. In any event I look forward to spending some time chatting to my panel – Emma – Allison and Andrew – who are foodie, wedding and beauty bloggers respectively! The event’s open to anyone who fancies a night of informal networking. You don’t necessarily need to be a blogger or be interested in setting one up any time soon. It will still be a good chance to come and meet some new and fabulous folks! See more details about the event and my panelists – in my last #29Social update.

Open to suggestions on what the topic should be for the next #29social. If you can’t make tonight please feel free to follow along on the #29social hashtag

Next blog post I’ll talk more about next week’s event at the new Village Hotel in Glasgow – it’s called Southsiders in Business and almost all our tickets are gone for that popular event.

September 21, 2015September 22, 2015

September #29Social – Blogging Panel

Networking in Glasgow

Well it’s just over a week away from the #29Social September event at 29 Private Members Club in Glasgow. As ever the event will be held from 6pm and this month’s topic is Blogging. I’ve asked three lovely bloggers to come along and share their experience of blogging for business.

#29Social September Panel

The format, like last time will be Q&A – so get your questions for the panel ready now. Oh do you want to know a bit more about who will be on the panel? They are as follows:

1) Beauty blogger, Andrew James. So excited to hear his story, challenges and his experience of having just won “Best Beauty Blog” in Scotland for his blogbeautyandtheboy. (Follow Andrew on Twitter).

2) Also Emma Mykytyn, the Glasgow Foodie from Foodie Explorers at Food and Drink Glasgow. (Follow Emma and Co on Twitter)

3) Finally, last but not least, Alison Tinlin, “UK Wedding Blogger with an eclectic style” on Mrs P & P – Plans and Presents (Follow Alison on Twitter)

Please note that my #29Social events are open to everyone…

The event is FREE for 29’s members and just £5.00 for non-members. The price includes a drink upon arrival and some wee nibbles to see you through!

If you have any questions feel free to ring me on: 0141 416 1492 or Tweet me @newthea

July 21, 2015July 22, 2015

Networking in Glasgow (part 2) – Past & Future

Over the years I’ve done a few posts about networking in Glasgow. A recent one was over on Linkedin and and another much older one was a post that was a “part one” which still gets a fair bit of visits. So I thought it was high time to update it with some broad options for places to Network in Glasgow or near by.

Collabor8te

This morning was an event run by Collabor8te in All Bar 1. It’s a FREE monthly event and worth popping into if you run a Scottish business. They run periodic evening events (Educa8) and have a wonderful co-working space in the Merchant City for those home-based business owners (like myself) that would like an office to go to now and again without the cost of having an actual office. There are a few different options according to different budgets and needs and there’s new plans on the horizon for a new space too.

GoGrow – Various

Another event worth considering is GoGrow in Glasgow. I’ve only attended one event hosted by Gary Eoghan at the Butterfly and the Pig, on what was arguably Scotland’s hottest evening, but it was a decent little night with a few women speakers (from Mo’s Cookie Dough and Yelp Glasgow). To add to that, I walked out with a Yell fan, and some free chocolate chip cookies, so what more could you ask for?

Business Banter – Thurs/Fri AM

Still among my fave places for networking in Glasgow is at Martin Jack’s Business Banter. It takes place in two places – Thursday mornings in Martha’s on St Vincent Street (8-10) and Friday mornings on Byres Road at Paperinos (9-11). If ever I am free, I do my best to make it along to one or both of those. The people are good, it’s a relaxed atmosphere and best of all for folks like me, it’s FREE.

29 Social

And I could not do a blog about Networking in Glasgow without mentioning my own event that happens every two months in 29 Private Members Club, Glasgow. They fall on a Wednesday night at the end of the month, usually and cost £5.00 to non-members and free to 29’s members.

The next one in September 30, 2015 from 6-8pm. All the #29Social events have a Social Media feel to it. Have now moved on from “speakers” to “panelists”. Last month’s event was held in the Apartment at 29, featured three experts in SEO and Social Media and it was relaxed, informative and fun. If you want to get on the mailing list for #29Social fire off an email to me here (thea at theanewcomb.co.uk with “#29Social” as the subject line and I’ll add you. Proper mailing list subscribe box coming soon as poss…) Event link to be added once the event’s been created on 29’s site.

Networking Goals

In my personal experience Networking is not generally a “quick results” option for small businesses – whether that’s online or offline. It was probably a year of going to some of these events before I received any paid work out of it. It takes time to build up that “know, like, trust” factor. Rapport is not generally earned after one meeting (though it can be).

So if you’re new networking – set some realistic goals, and prepare to be in it for the long haul and go in with an open mind. I would seldom write off any event after just one attempt. Some nights or days can be better than others. Luck of the draw. I say that both as an attendee and a hostess too!