Blog Entries

Do you tweet, RT, #FF, like, or share – or is a hashtag just that funny little symbol at the bottom of the phone keypad?

It seems the world of social media is still a mysterious one to many small businesses. Profile has been banging the drum about the power of social media for some time and we have recently launched social media training sessions to help people get started.

We’ve been out and about at various events and we still find that when we start talking about social media, Twitter in particular, some people will dismiss it as a trendy fad that’s not for them.

We promise it’s not as scary/weird/full of celebs and pictures of what people had for dinner as many people think!

It’s a powerful tool to reach potentially thousands of your customers, stakeholders, business partners and competitors.

Done right it can be incredibly effective - and it’s free, all you need to invest is time and an open mind.

It gives your business a ‘human’ face, a way for customers to get in touch without wading through phone lines, an instant way to seek feedback and promote offers.

Above all it’s about engagement, starting conversations with your customers in a way never before possible.

Entire advertising campaigns are carried out on social media. The hashtag has spilled over into TV shows and day to day conversations. Everyone is using Twitter from the Queen to Bob the Builder. Your competitors are probably using it.

Can you afford not to be?

Here’s an amusing little tale and one of my favourite Twitter stories that shows just how much it has changed the way we communicate and how powerful it can be.

Some months ago the Chancellor George Osborne was taking the train to London. George had a standard ticket but was sitting in First Class. The conductor queried this and suggested he move to standard carriages or pay the difference to stay in First Class. George’s assistant suggested he stay in First Class, with his original ticket.

Unfortunately for George the conversation was overheard by an ITV reporter sitting nearby. She tweeted what she heard and within minutes her tweets were being followed and retweeted by hundreds of people, and the hashtag #getgeorgeinstandard swiftly emerged.

Soon after, the story appeared on the ITV and BBC websites and by the time poor old George got to London there was a barrage of journalists waiting for him at the station and he had to be ushered out of a back door.

So there you go. Don’t underestimate the power of Twitter!

Worried you wouldn’t attract any followers?

The office mascot of Tatler Magazine, Alan the sausage dog, had his own Twitter account and was followed by more than 3,600 people. His fans took to Twitter to express their condolences when he was killed in an unfortunate accident with some revolving doors.

The Downing Street cat Larry has almost 30,000 followers.

On a more serious note, there are some great Cheshire examples of businesses making Twitter work for them.

The Cheshire Cheese Co (@1cheshirecheese) has more than 11,000 followers and their #freecheesefriday promotion is very popular.

Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo_no1) has almost 17,000 followers with great use of pictures.

Macclesfield-based Lifestyle management company RnR For You (@RnR_ForYou) sent its first tweet in August and now has more than 1,000 followers.

If a lack of time is holding you back – that’s where we come in. So there’s really no excuse not to get tweeting!

 

 

As Christmas becomes a distant memory it’s been ‘back to business’ for the Profile team.

 

Some fantastic coverage has been achieved for our clients in the first few weeks of 2013, and we are looking forward to the exciting events coming up in our calendar.

 

Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre has been featured in Cheshire Life as one of its most popular residents, Edward the stallion, celebrated his 21stbirthday. There has been coverage for Delamere Forest which donated leftover Christmas trees to enhance the lion enclosure at Chester Zoo (which necessitated a trip to the zoo for the Profile team of course), and Blakemere Craft Centre which launched the search for its 2013 Charity of the Year.

 

We have had some great successes in a campaign to break into industry media for a new North West  repairs and maintenance company and we have also achieved coverage for different clients in other trade media including logistics and leisure and tourism.

 

We’ve managed to get our clients featured in: Liverpool Post and Echo, Chester Chronicle, Yorkshire Evening Post, Stafford Express and Star and Staffordshire Newsletter, Peterborough Telegraph, Cheshire Life, 24 Housing, Inside Housing, Countryside Magazine, Horse and Hound, North West Business Insider, Freight Business Journal, National Club Golfer and many more key publications. This has meant more than one million people have had the opportunity to see the great work they are doing.

 

We are now looking forward to the Shire Horse Society 2013 Show in March, having secured fantastic coverage in the run up so far, and we are working with three BBC radio stations across the North Westto highlight more Cheshire-focused news.

 

As for the Profile team – we’ve Rocked up in Red for the British Heart Foundation (see photo above) and won ourselves dinner out on the Signal One Workplace Challenge quiz.

 

There’s another busy year ahead, but there’s never a dull day!

  

COUPLES are being offered the chance to indulge in a truly romantic Valentine’s Day with a hotel competition.

The Macdonald Hill Valley Spa, Hotel and Golf in Whitchurch, Shropshire is offering one couple the chance to enjoy their Valentine’s Break package for free.

The package is available from February 14 – February 16 and includes an overnight stay in a classic room, a glass of bubbly on arrival, romantic four-course candlelit dinner and full English breakfast.

"Valentine’s Day is a chance to go all out and wow that special person in your life – and what better way than with an overnight break in a four star hotel set in acres of private grounds,” said Terence Southwad, General Manager.

"Hill Valley is a popular wedding venue because of the sumptuous surroundings inside and outside, this is a fantastic chance for one lucky couple to indulge for free…and who knows perhaps the winners may end up getting married here in the future.”

To be in with a chance of winning this Valentine’s package simply email your name, address and phone number with the subject Hill Valley Valentine to kathryn@profilecommunication.com before February 10.

The start of a new year is a great time to review your business...What was successful? What wasn’t so successful?

 

By building on your successes and focusing on new ways to grow your business you can help make 2013 another successful year!

 

A fresh approach to public relations and social media can positively boost your reputation and brand awareness, while a new website design can create an attractive outward appearance for your business.

 

Has your business been tweeting? If not, you’re missing out on a whole host of benefits. Twitter is an extremely effective way of engaging and getting your brand seen by a mass audience.

 

To better understand the benefits of Twitter - click here.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Profile Communication!

The Forestry Commission’s  Delamere Forest is set to be transformed into an enchanted winter wonderland this Christmas.

The Forest, which is Cheshire’s largest area of woodland, will be buzzing with festive cheer throughout December with a number of yuletide events for the whole family to enjoy.

And this year for the first time Santa’s Grotto will be open every weekday from 3-5pm from 28^th November to 18^th December, so everyone can enjoy the magical experience.

The Christmas extravaganza will be held every day in the run up to Christmas at the Whitefield site, featuring a magical Victorian street fair, real Christmas tree sale, Santa’s Grotto and land train.

Visitors can also keep warm with a selection of local culinary delights including burgers, pork and crackling, fresh donuts and a licensed bar.

Land trains will operate from 3pm daily and throughout the weekend taking families on a trip through the ancient woodlands.

Two late night events will also take place on 7^th and 14^th December with activities running until 8pm, including visits to Santa’s Grotto.

Rachael Clayton of the Forestry Commission said: "This year promises to be the best yet with lots of festive activities taking place throughout the week.

"For the first time ever Santa will be here every afternoon throughout the week so everyone will get the chance to meet him.

"We are also really looking forward to hosting two late night events giving families the chance to collect their tree and enjoy the forest in the evening when it is even more magical.”

Trees will be available to buy every day from 28^th November to 19^th December, 9am to 5pm, with a wide selection of sizes in pine, spruce and fir along with wreaths, holly and mistletoe.

Schools nurseries and pre-schools can book to see Santa in his grotto during the week. For more information visit: www.delamere-forest.co.uk

A FREE festive weekend is being held at Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre with the chance to meet Santa and the animals up close.

The Christmas celebratory weekend will be held on Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2 at the centre which is home to Shire horses, otters, polecats, pigs, chickens and more.

As winter is setting in, the weekend offers the chance to get even closer to the Shire horses as they will be keeping warm in the indoor stables.

"We held this event for the first time last year and it proved very popular so we are delighted to be inviting people once again to start their festive celebrations with us for free,” said Janet King, who runs the centre on the A49 with husband Alistair.

There will also be a range of other activities including:

• Breakfast with Santa (pre-booking essential)
• Pony grooming
• Carron’s Christmas Quiz
• Pin the rosette on the Shire horse competition
• ‘Meet My Shires’, a personal introduction to the horses from Alistair King
• Shire horse grooming and farrier work
• Mulled wine and mince pies
• ‘Make a Wish’ Christmas tree
• Winter walk around the Nature Trail

For more information call: 01829 760506 or visit: www.cotebrookshirehorses.co.uk

Most households are probably not thinking too much about Christmas just yet but for Trafford-based AKW Group, the countdown started months ago.

The company, which is traditionally known for its transport solutions, has invested heavily in other areas of the business over the last six years and is now firmly established as one of the UK’s leading contract packers.

Working with a host of world-renowned names, including L’Oreal, Armani, Maybelline, Lynx, Boots No 7 and Guinness, AKW now plays an even bigger part in the journey of many gifts that will appear under the tree this Christmas.

"This is our busiest time of the year as we prepare for Christmas – long before most people have even given it a second thought,” said Tony Worthington, AKW Chairman and founder of the company.

"We have invested millions of pounds in expanding the company in recent years and during our peak 180 members of contract packing staff will handle around 100,000 packages a day to ensure Christmas gift sets start hitting the shelves as early as August.”

AKW’s facilities, based in Trafford Park, also includes 500,000 square ft of warehouse space, over 100 vehicles, access to a further 1,500 through Partnerlink offering UK distribution and  specialist freight forwarding and container freight movement services.

"During the run up to Christmas we experience a 35% increase in orders and a 45% increase in pallet volume when compared to average,” added Rebecca Davies, who heads up the Contract Packing Division at AKW Group.

"Christmas starts early for certain accounts – mainly those supplying the major retailers with seasonal products.

"Overlay this with volume increases from clients who are focused on winter products, from woollen clothing to pipe insulation, and you can understand why we need to ramp up to cater for this increased traffic.”

To help cope with the huge increase in demand the Group, which is a member of the UK’s leading palletised distribution network Palletforce, has sourced additional vehicles and drivers specifically to deal with the upturn in volumes and to ensure that customer service is maintained.

The Profile team had a fantastic time at the Cheshire Business Expo yesterday.

We are all tired but very happy that it went smoothly and all the guests had an enjoyable day.

Thanks to everyone who has tweeted us with their good wishes and positive messages about the event.

The Expo, held at the Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa in Tarporley, was many months in planning by the Profile team – coordinated by Pauline and Sarah in our business development department.

The event was also a celebration of Profile and Business Update magazine's 10^thbirthday and brought together many local businesses who have been associated with the company over the years.

More than 250 delegates attended during the day which was jam-packed with lots of networking opportunities, headline speakers and a range of workshops.

The One in Eleven Appeal is delighted to announce that thanks to a substantial donation from the Frank Hockenhull Trust, the appeal is now only a short distance from its goal.

In the biggest single donation ever received by Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s (MCHFT) charitable fund, the Frank Hockenhull Trust has given £1.5m to the appeal to create a new neonatal unit at Leighton Hospital.

The donation means that the project can be brought forward by approximately 18 months, with preparatory work likely to start in spring 2013.

Hospital staff and those behind the appeal have expressed their thanks to the Frank Hockenhull Trust and everyone who has raised funds and supported One in Eleven.

The appeal is still £20,000 from its goal and supporters are asked to keep going with their vital fundraising.

Tracy Bullock, Chief Executive of MCHFT, said: "This donation makes it a certainty that the new unit will go ahead, and that we can start putting plans into action now. However we still need a last push so that we can achieve what we want and possibly make it even better.

"We never dreamt that something as astonishing as this would happen and we are incredibly surprised and moved by the generosity of the Frank Hockenhull Trust. On behalf of our staff, parents, little babies and visitors we would like to extend our sincere gratitude for this donation.”

Frank Hockenhull has been a businessman in Crewe and Nantwich for 60 years. His wife Felicity worked at Leighton Hospital for 26 years until 1994. She has now passed away and the Frank Hockenhull Trust wanted to benefit the hospital and the people of Crewe in her memory.

A spokesman for the Frank Hockenhull Trust said: "We are very pleased to be able to help the One in Eleven Appeal and look forward to seeing the new unit take shape. Felicity would have been very proud to be a part of it.”

The One in Eleven Appeal, launched by Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity earlier this year, aimed to raise £1m to fund the renovation works for the new unit. A further significant amount was to be injected by MCHFT as part of its planned capital investment programme to supplement the development work.

MUIR Group Housing Association has been recognised as one of the best organisations for customer service provided by its contact centre.

Carina Homer, based at the Association’s Helsby office, has been selected as Support Person of the Year in the North West Contact Centre Awards 2012.

The judges said that Carina ‘is a real inspiration for others, consistently going above and beyond what is expected of her.’

Muir Group also received the Highly Commended Award in the Contact Centre (under 100 seats) category of the awards which celebrate excellence and best practice in the sector.

The judges recognised Muir Group ‘as an organisation with clear drive and a real passion for delivering the very best service for its customer.’

"We are so proud that the hard work of our Customer Services team has been recognised by these awards,” said Diane McLellan, Customer Service and Improvement Manager.

"Our aim is always to deliver excellent service to all our residents. The Customer Service team’s dedication to providing the highest standard of service possible is second-to-none and it is fantastic that it has been acknowledged as among the best in the north west.”

Muir Group is a social landlord that manages some 5,000 properties across the UK and has its headquarters in Chester.

The awards are now in their seventh year and are organised by CallNorthWest, part of the University of Central Lancashire.

Carina, alongside a number of her colleagues, attended the awards ceremony held in central Manchester on Friday, October 12 where she received her trophy and certificate in front of an audience made up of staff from a range of public and private service providers including housing associations.

"This year the judges were impressed by the high standards set by our finalists, passionate, dedicated and inspirational were just some of the words used over and over within the feedback,” said Alison Hitchen, CallNorthWest Project Manager.