Buckinghamshire Business First shines a ‘Spotlight on Digital’

Through our wide range of events in March, we want to help businesses make the most of the opportunities that embracing digital create.

The financial cost of small businesses not engaging with digital is estimated to be more than £20 billion per year, or approximately £20,000 on average per business, according to research conducted earlier this year by eBay UK.

That’s why we are devoting the month of March to digital. These events form part of our commitment to the 100 Days of Digital campaign being run by Do it Digital.

Our ‘Spotlight on Digital’ programme of events comprises the following:

First Steps into Digital, 10 March, Saunderton

Over 60% of small businesses with 5 employees or less are not digitally engaged, but even a business that struggles to find the time for digital can benefit from using just a bit here and there.

At our 'First Steps into Digital' event you will discover how your business can take the first steps into digital and make the most of what is on offer. At this event, guest speaker Michelle Ovens MBE, Director of Do It Digital, will show how, with just a little bit of investigation, a host of new opportunities can be realised.

You will get the opportunity to consider and discuss the following:

  • Why bother? Financial benefits of digital (from our research)
  • The basics - email, website, Google listing, social media, trading platforms, cost and time saving - and why you need them
  • Email - get a professional email - here is how to do it
  • Website - quick and easy - here is how
  • Google listing - make sure you are found 
  • Social media - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn - easy listing and management (other social media are available)
  • Trading platforms - the options, where to go, and what you need
  • Cost and time saving - some examples - digital storage, digital accounting, price comparison

Who should attend?

Businesses taking their first steps to adopt digital technologies, or early stage businesses. Sole traders and micro businesses would especially benefit.

BOOK HERE: https://bbf.uk.com/event/first-steps-into-digital

Focus on Digital Marketing, 23 March, Great Missenden

This event presents an effective 8-stage process to making digital marketing work harder for your business. This process, developed by your speaker Jayne Reddyhoff from Zanzi Digital will look in detail at the below steps and how you can implement them in your business to find the right digital approach for you.

The steps are: Situation; Objectives; Target Market; Money (how much to invest, how to calculate the ROI you want); Tactics to secure big results; Resources you need; A Cunning Plan to tie it all together; Measures to track your success.

BOOK HERE: https://bbf.uk.com/event/focus-on-digital-marketing

Business Leaders’ Dinner, 23 March, Bisham Abbey, Marlow

The Buckinghamshire Business Leaders’ Dinners are high-level networking events attended by passionate and prominent members of the Buckinghamshire business community. The Dinners also attract expert guest speakers on a range of topics, the next one being digital.

The next event in the series welcomes guest speaker Jacqueline de Rojas, Managing Director of Sage UK & Ireland and President of TechUK. Jacqueline believes that the UK can become the digital nation of choice and a magnet for digital investment and tech talent. She has spent the latter part of her career committed to the UK Technology industry and how it can harness its potential to become a nation of entrepreneurs.

BOOK HERE: https://bbf.uk.com/event/buckinghamshire-business-leaders-dinner-march-2017

Breakfast Briefing focusing on Social Media, 31 March, Aylesbury

This free event will examine what social media can and cannot achieve for businesses, with speaker Greta Paa-Kerner, a senior lecturer in Bucks Business School at Buckinghamshire New University.

With Greta, attendees will examine how to develop a business profile, appreciate the value of posts through channels including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, and identify which application to use and when. The briefing will also examine the importance of social media for improving search engine optimisation.

BOOK HERE: https://bbf.uk.com/event/breakfast-briefing-focusing-on-social-media-for-business

Digital Marketing Masterclass, 16 March, Saunderton – EVENT FULLY BOOKED, EXPRESS AN INTEREST FOR THE NEXT ONE

This unique one-day masterclass helps attendees master the digital marketplace from the ground up. By the end of the day attendees will have knowledge and insights that will immediately improve their sales and marketing strategy. The hosts will share low cost marketing tools and techniques used by marketing experts around the world to increase the profits of businesses.

EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN THE NEXT DIGITAL MARKETING MASTERCLASS: Click on ‘Book now’ to the left of the page and then on ‘Waiting list’.

Stay tuned for more events

Check in on our events page in the coming days and weeks as more events may be added to our ‘Spotlight on Digital’ series.

Business community ambassadors