Transforming creativity into cold, hard cash has never been easy - ask Henri Rousseau, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Hans Christian Anderson if you want proof. All of them died in poverty, despite the brilliance of their work. In their day, the alternative to starvation for struggling artists was to find a wealthy patron such as the Duke of York to provide the income required to sustain their existence. But if your links with nobility aren’t exactly solid, then you might prefer to look to the Internet to find ways of earning some reward for your artistic endeavours. Push-button publishing and easy web tools that simply take a couple of clicks for even the least technical user to install onto their online place of business are opening up new models for distribution and sales. Anyone can become an e-bay entrepreneur, and the online auction house and the dozens of alternatives springing up every day have the potential to make it easier for artists to make money. They might also make things more complicated by giving too many choices, with conflicting terms of service and staying up to date with what’s on offer adding to your difficulties. With this in mind we …

Publicity and Promotion on a limited budget (afternoon seminar with refreshments) How to reach your clients and prospective clients with modest budgets. What promotion works and what does not. The importance of branding and sustained, consistent messages. Everyone on the team is an ambassador, but some need training. Looking at classic promotion such as advertising, leaflets, exhibitions, press contacts and giveaways. Investigating some different approaches that work such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, networking and business groups.

We are kicking off this year’s series of Colchester, Essex events on Wednesday 27th February 2008 with a presentation called ‘PR’fection by Nichola Cain of Voice Communications. Nichola will be giving you an insight into PR and not as you probably know it!. No air kissing or “sweetie-daalings”, just ideas and tips on how to raise brand awareness grow your business to new heights in 2008. So, if you want to learn as well as being pampered and indulged with a delicious lunch and cocktail along with the odd chocolate or two then please join us. We guarantee you will make new friends, have fun and go away feeling relaxed, refreshed and energised.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – JOURNALISTS Rachel Bridge is the enterprise editor of The Sunday Times newspaper and has written two books about successful entrepreneurs, How I Made It and My Big Idea. She will cover what makes a story for her. Further speakers TBC SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – PR EXPERTS Francis Ingham, director general of the Public Relations Consultants Association, will explain how agencies operate, how to choose the most appropriate one for you - and tell you what PR firms can and cannot do for your business. Kaizo CEO Crispin Manners (see above) will cover word-of-mouth marketing. Helen Westgate, founder of Westgate Communications, a marketing agency specialising in all forms of creative design, PR and event management. Westgate will talk about her work with Suffolk brewery Adnams and how a targeted PR campaign reaped huge rewards for the business. Matthew Rock, co-founder of Caspian Publishing and former editor of Real Business magazine, is hosting all four media training events. Keith Elliott, a former Fleet Street journalist and chairman of Europe’s largest media training company PMA Training, will introduce delegates to the world of news at all four events.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – JOURNALISTS Lynne Jones is deputy editor of BBC2’s Working Lunch. Jones will look at what makes for a good story on the programme and how you and your business can feature on the programme. Dave Sumner-Smith, journalist and entrepreneurial founder of Wordzone. Sumner-Smith works with many leading newspapers and magazines and knows what makes a story and why. SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – PR EXPERTS Francis Ingham, director general of the Public Relations Consultants Association, will explain how agencies operate, how to choose the most appropriate one for you - and tell you what PR firms can and cannot do for your business. Belinda Lawson is co-founder of media relations specialist Lawson Dodd. The agency handles corporate positioning, experiential and guerrilla marketing and Lawson will outline the most effective marketing she has undertaken and how you and your business could benefit from similar tactics. Dominic Shales is co-founder of Paratus Communications and formerly of international PR firm Hill & Knowlton. He will talk about business-to-business marketing techniques. Michael Hayman, chairman of The Communications Group, will discuss the vital importance of reputation to the entrepreneur. Matthew Rock, co-founder of Caspian Publishing and former editor of Real Business magazine, …

This seminar is run by King’s Cross Business Forum and Centa Business Services, the Enterprise Agency for Camden. It is aimed at micro and small businesses in the boroughs of Islington and Camden. It will be delivered by Jo Lynn, a very successful public relations consultant who set up Slash Press Agency. Her extensive clients list includes brands such as Kodak, Weight Watchers, Coca-Cola and Tesco to name a few. Topic: By the end of this session you will learn how to: • Draft a press release • Sell a story to the press • Increase your chance of getting coverage • Establish a company image The first half of the session will include a power point presentation followed by an interactive session in which delegates will be asked to participate. Places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment. Send your contact details and name of your business to: kxbf@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 6019

In the competitive world of business, it can be difficult to get your business noticed, and then to be memorable. This session will help you to consider some practical strategies that be used to ensure sure you communicate a consistent, clear message about your business that delivers results! Charlotte Mannion, Quicklearn Charlotte Mannion is Quicklearn’s MD. She oversees all the programmes as well as working as an executive business coach. Charlotte designs and delivers workshops with the emphasis on ‘learning by doing’. She uses accelerated learning techniques to ensure all her small group activities are memorable and fun. As a skilled facilitator Charlotte enables organisations to meet their objectives quickly and effectively