by Linda Parkinson-Hardman on July 16, 2014 · 0 comments

Your network is a unique mix of individuals who know, like and trust you. It won’t be the same as anyone else’s network as it’s made up of family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and other business buddies. It’s this diversity which makes each network distinct from any other and we should celebrate that fact.
However, it is also worth remembering that not every network is born equal and some are more relevant to particular areas of our life than others. For example, past colleagues and business buddies are often those we associate with our business networking activities. But that doesn’t mean to say the other groups should be ignored. [click to continue…]
by Linda Parkinson-Hardman on June 10, 2014 · 0 comments
There are many online social networks around that can help you to become more visible to a potential audience, no matter who they are. Customers, potential customers, suppliers, stakeholders, collaborators and supporters can all be added to the social media mix.
However, it would be fair to say that not all social networks are created equal, and that some are better than others at supporting specific tasks. In my opinion, LinkedIn has to be one of the best at supporting entrepreneurs and there are a number of reasons why I think it’s such a great tool to use. There are many delights to being an entrepreneur, not least that of being your own boss. You get to call the shots, decide what you are going to do and when you are going to do it. If you wish, you can change your business at the drop of a hat; it’s all YOUR choice. And that of course, leads us to the biggest issue with being an entrepreneur … you are the buck, it stops with you. You have to take responsibility for the decisions you make and if they go wrong you are the one picking up the pieces. As a result it can be quite a lonely existence, being the person at the top of the tree. [click to continue…]
by Linda Parkinson-Hardman on February 4, 2014 · 0 comments
With its ‘always on’, 24/7 culture it is very easy to become so wrapped up in the world of social media that burnout is a very real risk that everyone participating runs. However, with a few simple changes to the way that we manage our online lives, we can avoid this pitfall and continue to enjoy the benefits for many years to come. [click to continue…]
by Linda Parkinson-Hardman on August 27, 2013 · 0 comments
If you have been around the web and on any of the social networks you will probably have noticed an increasing ability to ‘like’ something, be it a website, Facebook page or LinkedIn status update. It can seem as if the word ‘like’ is taking over the world. [click to continue…]