My seven actions this week for Operation Author: 365 Actions to Succeed as an Author have involved lots of real world networking.
For writers, it's very easy to fall into the trap of relying on online networks to spread your message, but, as with any marketing activity, there is no substitute for going out and meeting people.
To successfully market a product, in the case of writers, a book, you need a good mix of activities. Generally speaking, people need to see, hear about or notice something at least 3 times before they respond to a call to action.
My week started with my leg of the blog tour. I spread it around the interwebs. I also actively commented on threads about it and helped out my writers who are on the next leg of the tour to find their next 3 writers.
See the Blog Tour here
On Tuesday I went to a Fridge Networking Event at the The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer pub in Bristol. The event is on the first Tuesday of the month
The pub, affectionately known in Bristol as The Volley, has recently undergone a refurbishment and has an awesome selection of craft beers. It's well worth a visit: http://www.navyvolunteer.co.uk/
The guys who run Fridge Networking are a really enterprising bunch and I would encourage any entrepreneurs in Bristol to connect with them: https://twitter.com/FridgeNetwork
If you're reading this, and decide to come to the next meeting, come and find me there, I've love to meet my blog readers in person. The trouble with blogging, is sometimes is feels like you're writing to no one!
On Wednesday I went to a Bristol Creatives networking event where creative entrepreneurs in the city heard from a new crowd funding organisation that are launching in Bristol.
Sally at Bristol Creatives is lovely and really passionate about creative businesses. Another action this week was that I became a member. I'll add myself to the directory as an action next week.
The presenters at the event were Fundsurfer https://www.fundsurfer.com/. Fundsurfer is an innovative new platform for crowd funding and Derek and Oliver that run it are really passionate about supporting independent businesses and in particular, to support the creative industries. Look out for them, they will be having a launch event soon. Love their Samurai Rabbit logo too!
It did spark an ambitious idea for me: Could I crowd fund the publication of Solomon's Secrets and put on a spectacular launch event involving other creative talent in Bristol?
My next action was to immediately start putting a pitch together. I sent some copy to Fundsurfer for their marketing. I'll be working on my plans and putting some more concrete proposals together next week before setting up a meeting with them. I'm really excited about the ideas.
My next action was to go to a Bedminster Town Team Arts Led Regeneration Conference at the fantastic Tobacco Factory Theatre.
The Mayor of Bristol, George-red-trousers-Ferguson, opened the event with a great presentation about his experience of breathing new life into a derelict factory and creating one of the Bristol's treasures, The Tobacco Factory.
As Mayor, he's been making some radical changes in Bristol that have attracted some criticism. He has a great vision for our beloved city and has really put us on the map. Personally, I have a lot of time for George. Bristol needs some radical action after suffering years of indecision and neglect. Change will always scare people, but in time Bristol will be the richer, culturally and economically, for it.
(Plus, I'm a biased because last year George did buy a copy of my debut novel, The Bronze Box with his Bristol Pounds!)
I attended the event with 3 hats on: as an interested resident of Bedminster, an Enterprise Coach for Outset Bristol and a creative business myself.
It was a great event, with some encouraging developments in the regeneration of Bristol, through our powerhouse of creative enterprises. It just makes me love Bedminster all the more!
Lunch at the event was courtesy of Marks Bread and was delicious. https://twitter.com/Marks_Bread
I particularly enjoyed the talking carpet performance by an actor from Show of Strength Theatre Company. They do amazing street theatre and have been doing pop up theatres in shops in Bedminster.
I met Sheila from Show of Strength and am looking forward to meeting her for coffee soon as I'd love to involve them in the launch for Solomon's Secrets in some way. A bit of guerrilla theatre would be great. I already have a couple of scenes from the book in mind that I'd love to get a couple of actors to play out.
In this busy week, I've also somehow managed to find time to start proof reading Solomon's Secrets.
Tell me what you think:
If you could recommend one networking event in Bristol UK,
to attend, what would it be?
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