Altrincham Duck

To enable me to stay at home behind my computer doing the free stuff, when I was made redundant in July 2013, I decided to work for myself as a social media manager. I was already being asked for these services anyway so it made sense to see how it went. I'm lucky to say that I have not as yet needed to advertise these services and am not looking for more work. I do need the money, don't we all, but there are only so many hours in a day and my bills at least are paid and my children fed. (If something came up that was a fun and interesting project I could get my teeth into, I would consider it of course!)

My social media clients are rarely seen on Cheshire Ladders platforms as either my followers are not their target audience or they are not based in Cheshire. My clients come via Linkedin (though not my fave platform and I rarely update) or by word of mouth. I tell my clients NOT to leave reviews as it doesn't look good on their business to employ someone outside to run their social media. It's like saying 'Hey, this person does my social media for me, it's not really me you're interacting with sorry!'

I organise a few networking parties by request from our followers and invite people in the SEO or social media industries to speak and promote themselves because I'm a useless speaker haha! I have made good connections with most of these people and we collaborate on many things. My 'competitors' are still small businesses trying their best, we all shine at different things and can learn from each other. A year ago I was paid for some white label campaigns. I now outsource and pay these same people for their skills in design or SEO because I know and trust them. I couldn't have continued in business if it wasn't for my 'competitor' friends putting their trust in me in the early days and I'm grateful for that.
Networking works!

The website will always be free to list - all listings will have a review/star system in place at some point and I'm constantly reviewing to see if there is another way that small businesses can benefit from Cheshire Ladders. The site was built in response to followers feedback that there was nowhere to promote/advertise for free or cheaply. Many don't have a marketing budget at all let alone a very big one.

There will soon also be very AFFORDABLE advertising options available too (got to pay for the website after all). NO ONE is bombarded with spam emails (a bugbear of mine) or pushy sales techniques to get them to advertise. It's up to them and their budget and I intend promoting the site for the good of ALL listed.

It's not all about free promotion, it's about educating people that they can do it themselves. That they are not alone and there is a support system amongst like minded people. You don't have to have money in the bank. People do business with people they like. Let people get to know YOU.

I am of course proud of the work I do for my paid clients, but I feel more pride for empowering people to succeed without paying someone.

''You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job and not be paid for it.'' - Oprah Winfrey

They say pride comes before a fall. I say passion comes before success - #followthecat