Inspirational Women in Business
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’ve put together a list of inspiring women in business for you to check out. May their stories motivate and ignite the passion in you!
“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them” – Stacey Bendet
Emma Isaacs - Emma is the founder of Business Chicks, Australia’s largest online community for women in business wanting to connect with likeminded women. The platform strives to empower working women through the sharing of ideas, knowledge and skills. Emma is a long-time entrepreneur, having never worked for anyone else (apart from the coffee shop jobs in her teens). She started her first business at the age of 18 and had bought another four by the age of 28!
Jane Lu - At the age of just 23, Jane founded Showpo, an online clothing store. Bored of her corporate life, Jane decided to quit and started her own business which failed and saw her $60,000 in debt. Not letting that discourage her, Jane launched Showpo a month later in her parent’s garage, with just a laptop and two shelves of clothing. The company is now a multi-million-dollar fashion empire...talk about determination paying off!
Lisa Messenger - Lisa is an entrepreneur, author and magazine publisher. She founded the Messenger Group in 2001 as a publishing company. It now has 18 arms including publishing, events, marketing and consultancy. Having written 14 books herself, she definitely knows a thing or two about business! Lisa also founded Collective Hub, a business and lifestyle platform that aims to uplift and empower people to live their best life. If you’re after a good read, give her book ‘Daring & Disruptive’ a go.
Ally Watson - Ally, a female developer, was put off by the predominantly male tech events and meet-ups she attended upon moving to Australia a few years ago. She decided to start her own tech event which then turned into Code Like A Girl - a business that runs events and workshops to provide girls with support to flourish in the world of coding. Ally is all about shattering stereotypes and breaking down barriers…what a great inspiration for young women!
How did we go? Are there other women in business who inspire you? Let us know in the comments below. Also, Happy International Women’s Day ladies! Send love and empower all the women in your life, not only today but every day!
If you’re looking to expand or grow your business in 2018, our team may be able to help! Whether you’re in need of content creators, community managers, a graphic designer or photographer, we’ve got you covered. Shoot us an email to find out more!
4 Ways To Build Your Personal Brand
Regardless of whether you’re a business owner, employee or on the hunt for new work, developing a professional personal brand on and offline is a great way to establish authority and credibility within your industry.
So how can you build your personal brand, in order to showcase the best 'you' possible? Here are 4 places to start.
1. Audit your online presence:
Do a quick google search on your name. Are you happy for a potential client or employer to see those search results?
One of the simplest and easiest ways to start creating a professional personal brand is to audit your online presence. That means going through all your social media channels and removing any unprofessional images or content so you can put your best foot forward! Yes - that means deleting those party pics from your high school days. Make sure you use a professional profile picture and only post content you’d be happy for a client or potential employer to view.
(If you're not quite ready to remove your historical happy snaps, you can always set these particular social media profiles to private. Just be careful when accepting friend requests from co-workers or industry peers.)
2. Create a LinkedIn profile:
After you’ve audited your existing online presence, the next step is to create a LinkedIn profile - if you don’t already have one. LinkedIn is a great way to showcase your experience and skills, search for jobs, seek new business opportunities and network with likeminded industry professionals.
It’s important that you create a standout profile that will draw the attention of potential clients, customers or employers. Here’s how!
3. Secure a personal website:
If you really want to stand out from the crowd, why not create your very own personal website? Having a personal website is one of the best ways to increase your name ranking on Google and provide a professional hub where you can present your experience, skills and expertise in your field. Don't worry, your website doesn’t have to be extensive, it just needs to showcase your resume, some great blog posts, an 'about' section and contact information.
4. Add some value:
In order to separate yourself from your competitors and present yourself as an authority in your industry, it’s always important to provide value to those you connect with. A good way to do this could be by writing a blog on your personal website, adding some great tips and tricks to your social media posts, or offering to help out a new connection to make a lasting impression.
Do you need help showcasing your personal brand online? Here at Melbourne Social Co we are experts at getting your brand “out there!”
Contact us now for more information.
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
Five Tips For Networking Success
Whether we like it or not, an essential part of our careers is networking, as it’s a vital way to meet new customers/clients, share new ideas, drive word-of-mouth recommendations and perhaps make some great new likeminded friends!
If you’re unsure of how to nail your next networking event or meeting, read on below for our top tips.
Be prepared:
Whether you’re about to walk into a meeting with potential clients or attending an event, make sure you are prepared! Being prepared means thinking of some great conversation starters or questions and determining what your “elevator pitch” is. An elevator pitch is your chance to explain who you are, what you do and what you are passionate about in around 30 seconds. The trick is to practice this pitch so you capture your audience’s attention and entice them to stick around and continue to talk to you.
Other ways to be prepared include planning the right outfit ahead of time, figuring out how to get there, and making sure you get to the meeting or event early so you're not feeling rushed or stressed out when you arrive.
Be friendly and conversational:
Coming across friendly and approachable will go a long way in helping you to meet new people and make great connections. This means being aware of your body language, your tone of voice, the way you speak and make sure it is coming across as approachable and relaxed as possible.
Ask questions:
For those of you who don’t like to talk to much (and for everyone else as well!) make sure you ask questions. Asking questions is a great way to learn more about other people and to become inspired by other’s passions, skills and experience.
Share your passion:
Everyone has a story, but what captures people’s attention is when you share your unique selling point. What is it about you that makes you stand out from the crowd? Usually that will be what you are passionate about, the very thing that makes you tick! Sharing your passions is a great way to win people over with your enthusiasm and make a lasting impression.
Follow-up:
Now that you’ve done a great job at networking, remember to follow up. Ensure that you exchange business cards, or connect via social media so you can continue the conversation and make lasting friendships or business relationships. LinkedIn is a great platform for keeping in touch with likeminded professionals or potential customers/clients so don’t be afraid to add your new connections. As a general rule, it’s best to follow up within 2 days of meeting the person so that you're fresh in their minds.
Do you need help getting your personal brand or business out there? Your digital marketing experts Melbourne Social Co can help!
Get in touch with us now to find out more:
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165