What are you using your blog for?

Calgary Entrepreneur Peer Group Q1 meeting = success

This past Friday, the Calgary Entrepreneur Peer Group met for our first quarter meeting, meeting number 6 for our group of talented Calgary business professionals.  Our group has been meeting now for over a year and although we have had a few members come and go, our core base is still very much intact and I am so grateful for each and every person who trusts in our group.

We are not running more groups

This week after consulting with the group I have decided not to “fight the puck” when it comes to trying to get a second group up and running.  This is something I turned towards when I was looking for distractions on what I need to be doing not what I wanted to do and feed the ego machine.  The reality is when there is enough buzz about what the eight of us are doing, we can review starting a second group.

This is not a group for those with a weak stomach

We get down and dirty about each of our businesses, peel back the skin of the onion.  Sometimes tears flow and laughter erupts, but we are a serious business group of eight who are extremely committed to the success of every member.  It just feels super safe to have a trusted group like this.  I know many of my colleagues in Calgary sit back and would never even consider joining something where they need to be real, it is not an option, it is a requirement to let it all hangout.

During the eight hours per quarter we are together we discuss many topics. One of them this time around was on Social Media.  Perfect, a topic for me and something where I can get a chance to share my expertise, but this time I was the student.  We have experts from all aspects of business in our group ranging from insurance, technology, accounting, business leadership, governance, photography and international trade.  Like I said, a great group and mixture of professionals.

We discussed the importance of blogging and social media.  I ended up being the student on this day on how many Calgary small business professionals look at Social Media.  Most of them understand that social media is important but many struggle with the why, how and when to focus on social media marketing.

One of the strongest social media tools is blogging

It is so important that David and I focus one whole session in our “website owner” program and offer a full day of Calgary business blogging training.  However, what did I learn today from our group of Calgary Entrepreneurs?  My learnings came from all the members but especially from my trusted business mentor for many years that the real strength of blogging is around focusing on addressing customer or prospect objections in your blog.

Wow, great point.  All those items prospects push back on in your business are food for your business blog.  You can use your business blog to address those reasons why someone may say no to your proposal.  What a great vehicle and awesome insight to one of the powerful reasons business in Calgary needs to have a business blog up and running.

The power of peers

This is the importance of having trusted peers around you and your business.  Where can you turn for help and a shoulder to lean on?  I recommend forming your own business peer group, if you need help, just reach out to me.