We have just started working with the Foundation who describe themselves as, “…process doctors who can help you transform the productivity of your marketing communication development and production processes.”

We’re hoping to transform the levels of traffic to their web site.

Planet Positive is working with key members of David and Associates to develop its brand identity and marketing material. The lead agency M-A-D-E, headed up by Mark Andrews, is being supplemented by other senior team members including David Hughes, Lindsay O’Hagan, Dominic Rutterford, Sue Singer and Mike Everett.

A key component of PP’s service delivery is a new web site: http://www.beplanetpositive.com

The service helps SME’s reduce their environmental impact through a simple, quick and cost neutral 4 step process that involves measurement, reduction, positive action and communication.

Businesses get an internationally recognised accreditation that will help them pursue new business opportunities and fulfill tenders. It’s a simple online process that avoids the need for expensive consultants and can deliver certification within as little as 4 weeks. Throughout the process the registering business is in control of a process that is both transparent, quick and cost-effective.

There are many benefits:
- Reduction in running costs
- An aid to winning business via environmentally sustainable and accredited business practices
- The knowledge that your participation is making a distinct and measurable contribution to local, national or international sustainability projects.
- And last but not least, the tools to promote employee engagement and behaviour change helping to reduce your carbon emissions still further.

Everyone’s emissions are measured by the same internationally recognised system so there is real credibility surrounding the certification process. Certification will help small and medium sized businesses demonstrate that they are committed to being environmentally sustainable. And any business can Be Planet Positive. It’s positive news for business, the bottom line, your employees, the local community and the planet.

January 20th saw the second in a series of talks I’m giving focusing on different aspects of social media and getting to grips with the major platforms. The Wednesday session took LinkedIn as its subject and specifically how this online networking tool can best contribute to sales and marketing efforts.

It was aimed at those about to register on LinkedIn but not sure of the benefits and those that may have been registered for some time but still unclear about how to make it work for them.

In the event the audience spanned those completely unfamiliar with the service at one end and a few that could be considered as advanced users managing their own groups and having migrated to fully paid-up subscribers, at the other.

My intention over the course of this two hour session was to bring some clarity and structure to making the most of this excellent social media and business networking tool. This aim wasn’t helped by losing all my carefully prepared screen-shots about two hours before the start of the talk. This meant that the session was delivered live on the internet rather than canned. And possibly the better for all that if the feedback is anything to go by. Here are a few of the comments made:

“David’s workshop on LinkedIn was clear and concise and exactly what I needed to get me started. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this seminar to anyone interested in making the best out of this site and I look forward to attending his other workshops.”
Mary-Jane Maybury Photographer

“The session was an excellent insight into LinkedIn and how I can make the most of networking opportunities it offers.”
Mike Goldwater Photographer

“I came to the session totally bewildered about how to utilise LinkedIn for my business. I left with an understanding of the power of Linkedin and how I can access that power to improve my sales. Excellent value for money.”
Duncan Morrison Upstream

“The course was a revelation! I can highly recommend David’s seminars to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of social media.”
Ian Freeman Freelance Journalist

“David really knows his stuff and his sessions are excellent value for money and highly recommended.”
Lin Sagovsky Play4Real

“Invaluable course which every business owner, networker, should attend, even if you are already a Linked-in member and are active, as I am. I got some helpful tips and I met some really interesting people too. The course was very well presented and good value – very worth my time. I am looking forward to the next one.”
Adria Bannocks Infinity Associates

“David brought linked in alive for me – so I now see the benefits and can start using it as a business tool.”
Liz Emtage Liz Emtage Ceramics

“The presentation was informative and concise and delivered in an informal style. LinkedIn – previously perceived by me as a complex business website for people skilled in online networking has turned into a user friendly online resource that will now hopefully become one of the many ways that I create new business leads. Well done David!”
Brigitte Halliday The Core Process

It wasn’t a unanimous vote of approval. I had one delegate who didn’t think I’d done that good a job and I’ll be working on the particular criticisms for next time. Speaking of which the attendees voted for YouTube and web video generally, to be the next subject for exploration. I’ve yet to set a date for this but it’s likely to be towards the end of February. If you’re interested you can drop me a line and I’ll add your name to the circulation list.

Keren Lerner of Top left design kindly recommended us to SAV Mayfair Developments Limited a building contractor providing residential building services in London. Thankfully they took up her advice and we are now helping them build a larger and more qualified stream of traffic to their website.

Piers’ recent work on behalf of the International Fund Raising Consultancy (IFC), a sub-brand called First Fridays, prompted this remark from John Baguley the IFC’s founder:

“Piers is a genius and you can quote me on that. He has created some stunning products for us that perfectly capture the spirit of First Fridays which is different from the IFC itself, more fun and light hearted.

First Fridays have taken off and we have both a full house at The Hub – Kings Cross every first Friday of the month from 2.00 – 5.00 and a budding Facebook group ‘First Friday fundraisers’ from around the world.”

John Baguley – International Fundraising Consultancy

John Baguley has been a long standing client for many of us. First at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and subsequently, via the IFC, for many other charities and not for profit organisations. We owe him a lot for the interesting and worthwhile projects he has invited us to work on over the years.

First Fridays is a monthly, free to attend, fundraising surgery where charities of all sizes meet to discuss their fundraising issues with International Fundraising Consultancy (IFC) founder, John Baguley and his colleagues.

John asked Piers to create an IFC sub-brand that had a chatty, informal tone of voice to match the atmosphere at the meetings.

He designed the logo and created the typographic campaign seen here.

The meetings have become such a success that at times it’s standing room only.

The relationship with John and the IFC goes back many years and everyone in the collective has lent a hand in support of its aims and produced some outstanding work along the way.

Here’s what John has to say about working with Piers on this project in particular.

Mike had been working with production company New Moon for many years by the time they shot to fame creating the films for London’s 2012 Olympic bid.

Having helped in a small way on the second of those films, Mike was much more involved in New Moon’s work for the Russian city of Sochi, in its bid to host the 2014 Winter Games. Although Sochi began as the underdog, it ended up victorious, ensuring a clean Olympic sweep for New Moon.

“Mike’s collaborations with New Moon have continued to be creatively and personally satisfying. He’s thoughtful, inventive, diligent and laid-back – all qualities that make him a creative worthy of recommendation to even the most demanding Client!”

Caroline Rowland, Founder and Executive Creative Director, New Moon

We’ve known Lisa and Peter for a good few years before they became clients with their online business school. I’ve personally attended a number of their live seminars and been happy to recommend them to others. When they approached us at the tail end of 2008 with plans for an online version of their successful ‘Blueprint for business success’ training program I was delighted to be involved.

Now that the business school is live I was also pleased to receive the following testimonial for the work we produced:

“We wanted to write and say a huge thank you for all your hard work in launching The London School for Small Business website.

We are delighted with the results and we know we would never have got this far without all your help, advice and expertise.

This was always going to be a difficult project, limited budgets and an untested market. From day one you have helped us use our money wisely, spending where absolutely necessary and providing alternatives when needed.

It worked so well because we were able to trust you both implicitly and this makes for a very relaxed and stress free working relationship.

The quality of the work you have delivered in the time scales and with the budgets available we believe are of the highest standard.

We were also heavily reliant on your knowledge of this market and the latest technology available. We appreciate all your patience in educating us when required and taking time to explain the different elements, so we were able to make the best possible decisions.

We feel the website we have and it’s content is above and beyond the brief we gave to you. Our decision to continue working with you in the future and to hand over day-to-day development to you, we hope demonstrates our confidence in you both.

As most businesses are dependent on word of mouth and recommendations, we are delighted to feel absolutely secure in recommending you to our clients and most treasured contacts.”

All the best
Lisa Temperley and Pete Goonery, Directors

The London School For Small Business Ltd

We really appreciate it when clients do go out of their way to spread the word. It’s not every day that we get such glowing reports. Indeed many companies fight shy of endorsing their suppliers however happy they are with the work produced.

Mike not only wote the new website for Think Tank, a print and production specialist, he also used the opportunity to help the client develop a tone of voice much more in keeping with its spirit. The results are now on show at www.thinktankmedia.co.uk.

“Mike has been fantastic to work with. He has managed to get the balance right on our site, effortlessly mixing humour with professionalism. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending him to anyone in need of wordsmith brilliance!”

Niki Deighton, Founder, Think Tank Media

The London School for Small Business has appointed David and Associates to work on developing its web site and marketing material for it’s video-based small business training course. The school, set up by Lisa Temperley and Peter Goonery, has been established to offer high quality online business education at low cost. It provides a series of video-based training modules to ensure business owners make the biggest possible impact on their business results in the shortest possible time.

Given the current economic climate, the timing couldn’t be better.

Currently they have a special launch offer that saves clients £150 off the regular course price. They also have free downloads available on subjects such as time management and attitudes and traits of successful business owners.