Video Killed the Radio Star - Is Your Business Communicating Effectively?

Video Killed the Radio Star - Is Your Business Communicating Effectively?

As part of its drive to promote and encourage digital advancement in Co. Waterford, Dungarvan Enterprise Centre is embracing online video.  The centre is offering professional video production for businesses in Co Waterford who wish to take the next step in online communication.

"There are several benefits to using online video", says mags Durand O'Connor, "you can build instant rapport with your audience, you put a face to your business, you can demonstrate your creativity, your product and your expertise. Moreover, you can build your brand, create virality for your communications and ultimately increase traffic to your website".

According to research conducted by Online Publishers Assoiation (OPA), around 46% of people who watch online video take some action.  Roughly 22% of viewers visited the website relating to the add, while 26% looked for more information, 15% visited the company and 12% purchased that specific product.  Other online research demonstrates that 52% of consumers say that product videos help them to make purchase decisions, while 66% of consumers watch videos twice or more.  Website and blog visitors who view online vidoes are 85% more likely to buy and videos have been proven to boost website sales conversion rates by 9%.  With proper optimisation, a web video increases the chance of a front page Google position by 53%.

"These stats speak volumes for themselves", states Mags, "so we feel it is important that local businesses reap the benefits of online video."  Dungarvan Enterprise Centre is currently gathering names of interested businesses for their online video offering, if there is sufficient interest, the centre in association with Waterford County Enterprise Board, will offer subsidised filming days at the centre.  If you are a local business and think you could benefit from online video give Mags a call at 058 23598.

What can we do for you?

We are planning our training for 2013 and would really appreciate your feedback, please take two minutes to take this short survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z2M5CS7

Marketing In Action in association with Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber Of Commerce

Marketing in Action

This programme is being run in association with Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber of Commerce.  Each session is practical - the programme is worksheet and discussion based, focussing on your marketing and planning specifically for your industry & business, to consolidate and progress in 2013

Business owners & managers would benefit from attending this programme in order to take a fresh look at business and marketing, review current activity and plan for effective business development in 2013.

It will be held in Dungarvan Enterprise Centre on Thursday mornings from 8.30 - 10.00 am commencing Thursday 22nd February until Thursday 16th May 2013.

The usual cost €240 - Chamber discount €120(€10 per session) payable in advance

What will we be looking at?

• Strategy - where are we heading? How do we get there?
• Planning - How to plan effectively and how to implement a plan on limited resources
• Market research - What do i need to know? How can I find out?
• Product - What am I really selling? Can I augment if for 2013?
• Pricing - How effective is my pricing? How can I improve my margins?
• Budgeting - Developing a realistic marketing budget and getting a return
• Promotion - Review of current activity
• Promotion - Planning of future activity
• Place - Where are my customer touchpoints? How are people interacting with my product?
• Branding - What does my brand say about my business? What are my brand values? How do I reflect them in practice?
• PR - Writing press releases and how to get releases published and other PR activity 
• Social Media - Incorporating effective social media into my marketing plan

To book call 058 23598 or email info@dungarvanec.com

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre Celebrates First Birthday

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre first opened its doors on 5th December 2011. In the past twelve months the centre has become a key player in the business landscape, offering a comprehensive range of services to the local business community. The centre is almost at full occupancy, with just one office space remaining free. 

The aim of Dungarvan Enterprise Centre is to stimulate and encourage enterprise in West Waterford, while acting as a support to the local business community. The centre achieves this through letting affordable office space, meeting room hire, training, mentoring and event management. The centre offers a number of free services to start-up and growing businesses including flyer display, promotion through our newsletter and social media sites, general business advice and facilitation of networking and seminars. The centre also offers affordable practical business training and has provided training in areas as diverse as social media, cloud computing, self-effectiveness, e-tendering and marketing over the last year. To date the centre has provided training to over 100 local businesses.

The office spaces at the centre are of a very high spec and are offered at affordable rates, starting at €180 per month including management fee and VAT. The centre also offers subsidised high speed broadband with speeds of up to 120mg and VOIP telephony, with built-in IT support. “We are delighted to have eight businesses on board to date, this equates to 18 people employed within the centre,” says Mags Durand O’Connor, centre manager, “We have also provided room hire to a variety of clients including FAS, LEADER and Waterford WEN, numbering over 200 people having accessed our facilities over the past year. We have been fortunate to work closely with Waterford County Enterprise Board, Dungarvan Chamber and Waterford County Council in our endeavours and we will continue to do so in our mission to find practical means of supporting business in the local community.”

The next big project for the centre is a Coder Dojo in association with Waterford County Enterprise Board, who are driving the initiative through their Student Enterprise Programme. This free programme which helps children to develop essential IT skills will be available from January. The centre has already received a generous donation of two laptops for the programme from TQS Integration and would ask any other businesses who might be able to donate old laptops to get in touch with the centre as it is the aim of the programme to be inclusive.

Three Canadian Students visit Dungarvan Enterprise Centre

Three students visited Dungarvan Enterprise Centre from Canada on Monday 26th November.  These students are part of the Tradewinds Student Exchange programme.  A mandatory module these students have to take as part of their semester in WIT is Enterprise and Regional development.

Tradewinds is an International Exchange program that provides students with an opportunity to acquire knowledge and competencies that support their future work in regional economic development, entrepreneurship and other contemporary subjects.  While studying abroad, students will be earning course credits at their exchange school that will easily transfer back to their diploma or degree program at their home school.

The Higher Education Institutions involved in Tradewinds are:

Fanshawe College, Ontario, Canada

University of Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada

Brittany School of Management, Brest, France

University of Glamorgan, Wales

Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland

Enterprise and regional development are mandatory subjects for students on this programme.  As part of them getting a better appreciation of Ireland's enterprise policies and how enterprise copes in the current economic climate in Ireland it was decided to take them to visit a number of enterprises in the South East to talk to the owner/managers of these organisations.  Dungarvan Enterprise Centre was delighted to have a tenant chosen in this International Programme. Students visited Rosie Plummer Mansfield of TEFL to ask her about her enterprise, Ireland's enterprise policies, and how her enterprise copes in the current economic climate, etc

Speaking after the visit Rosie Plummer Mansfield said " I was delighted by the enthusiasm and interest from the visiting WIT students, it was a pleasure to introduce them to TEFL Express.  It's key to look at how companies can create success stories in recessionary times and for students to have access to real companies, not just text book examples"

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre to Host First Main Street Mini-Market as part of Christmas Celebrations.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre to Host First Main Street Mini-Market as part of Christmas Celebrations.

From the bustling markets of Cologne, Germany to the festive flair of the Danish markets in Copenhagen and from the Belgian delights of Brussels to the Christmas cheer at the Czech markets in Prague, Christmas markets are a much-loved European tradition.  At Dungarvan Enterprise Centre, we are delighted to work with Waterford WEN to host a Christmas mini-market this festive season. 

The benefits of local retailers and manufacturers availing of a stand at the market include:-

- Promotion by WEN and DEC
- Facilitates Direct Sales
- Perfect opportunity to promote and sell Christmas goods
  and ideas
- Low-cost opportunity to make Christmas sales
- Network with other businesses
- Cross-sell products with complementary businesses
- Provide demonstrations of products or services to a
  captive audience          

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre in association with Waterford Women's Enterprise Network will host the first Main Street Mini-Market on the 12th December 2012 from 4-7PM.  Avail of this unique opportunity to deal directly with product manufacturers and business owners in a small scale market feel.  This is the perfect opportunity to get some great gift ideas and grab some Christmas bargains whilst getting into the festive spirit.

Stands available from €20 - call 058 23598 or email mags.durand@gmail.com for further details.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre Tenant Wins Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber Business Awards

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre Tenant Wins Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber FBD Award

Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber held a successful Business Awards night, sponsored by FBD, which took place at Lismore Castle on Friday 2nd November 2012.  Guests were treated to a memorable night at the Castle.

There was an unprecedented number of entries and RIKON who were judging the event had an extremely onerous task to select winners.  RIKON are Ireland's Leading Service Innovation Centre located in Waterford Institute of Technology.  Since inception, RIKON have been assisting companies in becoming more innovative in their approach to doing business.

  

Each category was whittled down to three shortlisted candidates - Dungarvan Enterprise Centre and TEFL Express were shortlisted in the E-Business & Technology category of eleven entrants. Congratulations to Rosie Mansfield of TEFL Express Ltd who won the E-Business & Technology Award sponsored by TQS Integration.  Winners in each category received a framed certificate and a commemorative prize.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre were also proud to sponsor the Start up Business Award and would like to extend their congratulations to the winners of the award - Once Upon a child.

Dungarvan Enterprise Centre provides business services, office space, conference facilities, training & mentoring to small and growing businesses.  DEC has worked with over two hundred start-up and growing businesses since opening in January 2011.