Keelie Briggs Marketing - Swadlincote

16/12/2024

Nothing brings me more joy than gathering a group of business owners and seeing them relax, chat and enjoy each other's company. Amidst the conversations, I watched advice and support being shared, along with exchanging flyers, business cards, and phone numbers among those who could offer opportunities to one another.

Building a network truly works, but it's about so much more than that. This year, I’ve made incredible friends, heard countless inspirational stories, and witnessed businesses I’ve introduced to one another promoting each other’s offers and successes online.

My heart feels full after Friday's festive afternoon tea. I know that for many of you, attending meant stepping outside your comfort zone, and I’m so glad you did. It was such a lovely group of people, and hearing how much you all enjoyed yourselves was really special.

Thank you for putting your trust in me and my business to guide, support, and celebrate yours.

That was my last event of the year but I promise, there will be plenty more next xx

10/12/2024

I have one last ask.
No fancy graphic, no photo pulling the heartstrings, just a genuine ask to those of you reading.

On Friday after the Swad Business Owners Festive Afternoon Tea at Sharpe's Pottery, I will be taking any and all gift contributions to South Derbyshire CVS for them to distribute to our neighbours and people within our community who won't receive anything this year.

This campaign is not just for children, it's for families, teenagers, adults living alone, and anyone who deserves to open a gift and know someone cares who won't receive anything without campaigns like this.

I'm calling out to you business owners, I'm utilising my network, my contacts, my friends to help.

This is the final few days for us to gather contributions. We're asking for Vouchers (toy/gift shops, anywhere that a parent could buy gifts) as well as beauty and toiletry sets that can be matched and gifted to someone fairly easily.
Monetary donations are also very important - the wonderful team at SDCVS use it to buy whatever they feel is needed to those who rely on their services.

That's it, my big ask.

If you can bring anything/drop anything off before/on Friday to Sweet Caroline Cafe, we'd all be so grateful, and you can be sure that your gift will be truly appreciated by someone within your own postcode.

Also kindly accepting donations for the same campaign are:
Visit South Derbyshire
Crown Kickboxing

Not everyone is in a position to buy for others right now and if you or someone you know is struggling, know that organisations such as South Derbyshire CVS are there to help.

Whether you can help or not, please give this post a like. Text-only posts often struggle with the algorithm, but your support can help it reach more people. Together, we can make a bigger difference.

Thank you all xx

10/12/2024

TICKETS CLOSE TONIGHT!!

Friday will be a lovely afternoon of delicious food and great company for all of us on the self-employed journey.

Connect with fellow, local business owners, share ideas, success stories, and challenges or simply use it as an excuse to put on your Christmas jumper, get off your screen and share some laughs with others.

This evening, I will confirm numbers with Sharpe's Pottery Museum for the venue hire and Sweet Caroline, who is catering 😋

If you're a last-minute booker - this is your last chance to secure your place!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1084089092659?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/12/2024

Recognition for a local business that goes above and beyond for their customers 🙌🙌

For the last couple of years, Churchills Traditional Sweet Shop has helped me create thoughtful token gifts on behalf of a large team.
Despite a tight budget, Karl provides plenty of great options and always manages to prepare the bulk order with just a couple of days' notice (I promise to plan better next year!).

Thank you, Churchills! You’re such an asset to Swadlincote High Street - and now Ashby’s too! 🎉🍬

Anyone needing tasty Christmas treats for small or large teams, shop local - check out Churchills Traditional Sweet Shop!

09/12/2024

'I don't feel confident posting photos of myself on social media'.

I know a lot of you relate to that statement.

I'm guilty of those feelings too and I'd be apprehensive about posting myself if I hadn't done my hair and my makeup nicely.

BUT, the photo below is one of my best performing photos ever posted on social media.

And I look dog-rough 🤣🤣

Do you know why it got so much love?
Because it was real!

This was the last photo taken after the Swadlincote Small Biz Showcase that we pulled off in the Summer. We all worked so hard to make it the fantastic success that it was.
I very nearly didn't post this photo - I was embarrassed, but it was a reminder that my followers don't support me because I'm some highly-filtered, picture-perfect Instagram influencer (🤣 at the thought!!) but because I'm a real person, with knowledge and skills that are valuable to you.
I was exhausted in this photo - every muscle ached from running up and down the highstreet for 9 hours straight checking that everyone was ok, but the outpouring of love you showed was incredibly humbling and a huge boost of confidence.

So stop this 'I haven't got the face for social media'.
Show us that you're a real person who can do what you say and you'll have our attention - even if your nails aren't freshly manicured or you're not wearing your best shirt!

08/12/2024

All the fence repair businesses out there patiently waiting for the storm to end 🤣🤣

06/12/2024

Well, this time next week, the tea and coffee will be flowing, and we'll be tucking in to our delicious Christmas lunch while sharing laughs and stories of what it's like running a business in this area.

Don't miss out! Get booked in!

We'd really love for anyone running a business locally to join us in sharing this Festive afternoon tea together.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/festive-afternoon-tea-for-swadlincote-small-businesses-registration-1084089092659?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawG74IhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfXO8bAoJgVHLFHzZT_KKyzdSdGzA-B8D7O8hlu4C3upQqCr5tIvOp0GVA_aem_jfqJYWDwjCT73KSZtZYsrQ

Join us this December for a festive afternoon tea! Expand your network and enjoy Christmassy treats with Swadlincote's entrepreneurs.

03/12/2024

New drop-off point confirmed for our local charity gift campaign.

Anyone who wants to drop off their generous donations is invited to do so at the Visitor Information Centre Visit South Derbyshire in Swadlincote where I will then collect and deliver directly to South Derbyshire CVS.
Whether it's adults, teens or children, the team at CVS are working hard to establish those in our area who will benefit from a gift this year.

Please leave your name and business name on your donation to be included in the shout-outs over the coming weeks.

Thank you to everyone who has been in touch or got involved so far, we're really making a difference to local people who need a helping hand to make Christmas feel special this year 🙌🩷

03/12/2024

There's only 1 Week left to book your tickets to the local business owners' Festive Afternoon Tea!!

After that, the numbers will need to be finalised so food can be arranged by the lovely Sweet Caroline.

It will only be a small group of us, nothing overwhelming - and those signed up so far are a particularly friendly bunch! :D

Put the laptop away, dig out your Christmas jumper and treat yourself to a Christmassy afternoon with people who understand the entrepreneurial journey.

Get the date in the diary and book your ticket now!!

Join us this December for a festive afternoon tea! Expand your network and enjoy Christmassy treats with Swadlincote's entrepreneurs.

02/12/2024

Happy New Week!

Last week, I stepped out of my comfort zone and did something completely new, I joined my friend Dan from Daniel Dennis - Derbyshire Video and Social Media for my very first podcast! 😱

It was such an exciting experience, and I’m so glad I went for it. I love working with Dan anyway, we both bring lots of energy and passion to what we do and there's always a great atmosphere!

He was a fantastic host and naturally kept the conversation flowing while I was finding my feet, thanks so much for inviting me Dan, I'm so pleased I took the risk and went for it - despite some initial nerves.

Anyway, after Dan's finished editing and taken out all my 'erms' and long pauses 😅, there will be a fantastic 20 minutes of us talking in depth about marketing, social media, how to increase reach, basic SEO, and how to appeal to a local audience. Who wants the link??

29/11/2024

A little while back, I asked who would be interested in contributing to a gift drive in partnership with South Derbyshire CVS this Christmas. The interest and kindness you’ve shown so far has been truly inspiring.

South Derbyshire CVS does wonderful work to support our community, and this holiday season, we’re aiming to reach even more people, especially the most vulnerable, with a small gift to remind them they’re thought of.

Could your business contribute some gifts?
Could you donate some vouchers enabling a parent to choose gifts for their children?
Could you make a monetary donation allowing South Derbyshire CVS to purchase items they know their service-users would most appreciate?

Every bit of help makes a difference, so if you’re able to get involved, we’d love to hear from you!

DROP OFF POINTS:

South Derbyshire CVS
Sharpe's Pottery on the 13th of December 12-2 while I'm hosting the Swadlincote Business Afternoon Tea
Crown Kickboxing
Swadlincote Electrical Supplies

or get in touch if you'd like to discuss your involvement further.

After the festive period, I’ll be working with South Derbyshire CVS to publicly recognise each business that supported this campaign.

Together, we’ll highlight the heart behind your brand and our caring community and express our gratitude for your generosity.
I'd absolutely love to see our local businesses get behind this. Thank you for helping make this season special for so many.

26/11/2024

Ian from Castle Creative is my go-to for printing.

Not only are his prices great, but his level of service and commitment to achieving perfection for those of us needing marketing materials, is fantastic.

I've referred a few businesses to him now who have become happy, loyal customers and will continue to do so.

A good business Is worth shouting about, and you know you've got my backing Castle Creative 😎👍

HOW MUCH!?

We don’t usually advertise our pricing on Facebook as we prefer to lead with service and quality rather than selling on price but I wanted to post this after speaking to two new customers this week who were previously ordering their print through Canva (they’re now Castle Creative customers).

First of all, we’re not Canva-bashers, it’s a great platform which has helped democratise design and put design tools into the hands of those who like to do it themselves. Not all printers and designers are Canva fans as they feel it poses a threat, but we’ve always been supportive of the platform.

However, those prices…

If you’re creating content in Canva that needs to be printed, go to Share > Download > PDF Print and click download. You now have a print-ready PDF that you can send ANYWHERE to be printed.

Email the PDF to [email protected] and you’ll receive a quotation along with delivery date in a matter of minutes.

We also price check business cards, certificates, booklets, posters, banners, stickers… and guess what?

If you want to save money on your print, let us help.

[email protected]
07999762954 or PM us via Insta, FB, X.

26/11/2024

Bookings are now open!!

Swadlincote Businesses, we earned this!!

We've worked our bums off this year on our businesses and as many of us work independently, we don't always get to enjoy the fancy Christmas parties that bigger teams and organisations do - well, that doesn't mean we can't get together and celebrate now, does it?

Let's close our laptops and hang up the branded hoodies, it's time to treat ourselves, get together and enjoy the festive season with others who understand the entrepreneurial journey.

There will be some of you who have met before and others who may have never attended a get-together. Well, you're all welcome - so book your space, get your Christmas outfit ready and let's all enjoy a really lovely afternoon together 🥰🎄

**Booking is essential, spaces are limited**

Booking link ⬇️

Join us this December for a festive afternoon tea! Expand your network and enjoy Christmassy treats with Swadlincote's entrepreneurs.

25/11/2024

Keelie, I've seen that you get around a bit, what do you actually do?

First of all - minds out of the gutter people, we're obviously talking in a very professional sense 😂

Ok, here's the wordy bit: My 'why' is to strengthen the local economy by empowering small businesses, start-ups, and charities in South Derbyshire and surrounding areas with accessible, effective marketing. I am committed to fostering community growth, supporting collaboration, and helping businesses tell their stories to thrive in our shared local marketplace.

Let's dig deeper.
We've all got dreams, and we'll all take different paths, but those looking to start and run their own businesses deserve the confidence, skills, and support they need to thrive. If you're determined and passionate, you're on my wavelength, and I want to help you.

What do I actually offer?
Marketing workshops, 1:1 marketing consulting, community events, social media management, and graphic design (along with a load of projects that seem to constantly pop up out of nowhere 😅)

My business is adaptable, and I will be led by the needs of my community and clients.
When I discovered a need for high-quality graphic design, I launched my Pinned Post Package (more graphic design packages to come).
When I established a need for people to get out of the house and meet other entrepreneurs, I set up with ad-hoc networking groups.
When I recognised the need for our local businesses to have a platform for showing their products and services to local people, I proposed and organised the Swadlincote Small Business Showcase, alongside SDDC and Swadlincote Markets.

I've got your back and I'm always eager to hear your ideas on further promoting our area.
Keep talking, keep getting involved and thank you all for trusting me and believing in my business to help you shout about yours.

I'll leave you with one last message - I truly believe that by working together, everyone wins!

Soo, that's me. What do you do?

22/11/2024

Happy Friday, everyone! 🎉 What a week it's been - bitterly cold but still full of opportunities to grow and thrive.

So, let's reflect:
What went well for you this week?
What did you finally tick off your to-do list?

What didn’t go as planned?

Take a moment to make yourself accountable for your progress, say it out loud and share it in the comments below. Let’s celebrate wins, big or small, and encourage each other to keep moving forward. 👏

Mistakes, delays and disruptions are inevitable and an essential part of the growth journey - feel free to share and normalise those too.

I will add mine to the comments :)

21/11/2024

A charity close to my heart.

They're sooo close to achieving their target and creating this wonderful lodge for Derbyshire's poorly teens and their families to have a much needed break 💜

I'm asking if you could share this... We really really need you to share this.. can we make it viral?

If you don't know who we are or what we are doing, i'll explain... We are Hannah's Hope, Founded in April this year by Hannah and family & Friends to support Teenage cancer patients like Hannah (who sadly has brain cancer) emotionally and psychologically during and after their cancer diagnosis. 7 Teenagers a day hear they have cancer!

We are £148,000 into our fundraising right now with a target of £203,000 for a respite retreat at Mercia Marina
This facility will allow us to bring families together, to offer therapy, to give families a safe place to come to terms with the new normal.

We have a pop up shop at Mercia marina stocked with the most amazing items! Many supplied by businesses and locals, to whom we are grateful beyond measure..

But as the weather declines and takes custom with it, we genuinely need some help. We still have our own battle & journey with Hannah's cancer. Combining making memories and making a safe place for others like us.
B
So if you can spare a pound or 2, would you consider helping us make this happen sooner rather than later, so we can help faster

Please remember to share, please tell your friends, Family & work colleagues...
Thankyou so much ###

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/hannahshopeatmerciamarina?utm_medium=campaign&utm_content=campaign%2Fhannahshopeatmerciamarina&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

21/11/2024

I've just had the menu through for our Festive Afternoon Tea Christmas Party local business owners - how scrummy does this all sound 😍😋

The event is being held in The Glaze Room at Sharpe's Pottery and is designed for us all to put our laptops and work away and enjoy a relaxed, festive afternoon together with people who understand the self-employed journey.

Date - 13-12-24
Time - 12pm-2pm

Some of you will know others in the group, some of you may not, but I can promise you, we're a welcoming bunch! So get your seat booked, dig out your Christmas jumper and we will see you there. You earned this treat!

Thank you for providing such a delicious menu for us Caroline

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1084089092659?aff=oddtdtcreator

20/11/2024

Andrea!! You did it! 🙌🥳👌

I've been encouraging Andrea to start posting videos for a little while. Her services are very specialist, she's got a true gift and passion for helping people and I can't wait to hear more as she starts to dive into detail.

Please head over and give her page a like to learn more about Kinesiology and to support a fellow local business owner on the same brand and marketing development path that so many of us can relate to. 💕

How many of you remember the nerves from posting your first video?