enthuse.me blog

Tipping point 

What made you take the decision to leave the corporate world and start your own business?

It has been a series of events, starting with me realising that the learning curve and level of challenge had flattened off in my corporate job! I took the decision to start looking around, and along the way I met Jared with whom I ended up founding WeSwap!

For me the tipping point to make the change was finding an idea and someone with complementary skills to take it forward.

  WeSwap’s funding journey so far

3 Rounds of funding:

1. Backing up from family and friends.

During this stage we were presenting our idea to convince our family and friends that it is a viable one and that they should invest in us. (Tip: be blunt & honest to them. “Don’t invest if you cannot afford to lose your money!”)

2. Second round of investment came from angel funding (from the UK & the US) and contacts through networking

At this stage we proved that we can actually make it happen. We used the money that we raised to start signing partnerships and building the prototype, to build our team.

3. Third round came from some new, amazing investors and some of our old (also amazing) investors

We had a working product but still no significant revenue. We added members to our team and continued refining the product, building and adding new features.

  3 advice tips to startup founders

1. Hiring: The characteristics we are looking for when recruiting are:

Positive attitude

Knowledge

Intelligence

Enthusiasm

Eagerness to learn

Personal attributes

If you have these in place then relevant experience is not always important. There are agencies who specialise in placing top graduates from top universities, and WeSwap used such an agency to find several team members. Sure, it’s costly but we knew we wanted to recruit some of the brightest and most keen and they helped us achieve exactly that.

2. Open culture: encourage communication among all team members; open plan offices allow you to achieve that.

3. Structure/Procedure: Despite the loose startup culture, having some structure in place is beneficial. For instance, we use annual appraisals for all team members. The reason we do that is because it helps us collaboratively set targets and each one of us knows exactly what’s expected from them.

  You can learn more about WeSwap journey here

Would you like to ask Simon anything else? Post your question below!

Cheers, 

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Along with the festival, they wanted to reach out to people via web and social media. So, together with producers and a graphics team, we created a program format that would feature two artists, from two different countries as well as genres, that would come together to produce a track using tools from ‘the future.’

We produced a trailer and then they ordered a whole episode, which we produced. It was a different way of making a series, which was new to me, but I always like a challenge.

-You take a humoristic approach on the promotional video about Swedish Match - Snus. Many people would argue that it could be risky though as it might be misinterpreted. What are your views on that?

I was approached to pitch a concept and an idea with a colleague for Swedish Match’s launching of snus in the USA. They were looking for an informative site that would educate people about what snus is and its risks and history.

I pitched an idea that would feature a more of a ‘how-to’ use the snus. It was done in a matter-of-fact and humorous way, which was even more humorous to Swedes as snus is so prevalent here. The films were weaved into the site so they were in full frame instead of being separate from the site - an organic approach.

I don’t think it was risky, although, possibly perceived so. I think it was just different. People hadn’t seen something like this before - an informative and integrated campaign about snus, with a humoristic approach.

-How is the internet affecting your work and the way you promote it?

I think things have been changing in the past year or so. If you had asked me this 5 or 6 years ago, the answer would be different. The internet is inundated with millions of videos, millions of directors, etc. So it’s quite difficult to promote video work these days.

I have gone from sending out a physical dvd showreel to having a website to incorporating my website with a CV on sites like linkedin and enthuse.me. I think curation is becoming more and more important, so we can weed through the work and feature certain artists for a certain amount of time.

Curation is and will be a vital aspect of the internet in the coming years.

-How do you use your enthuse.me profile?

I honestly just put my enthuse.me profile up and hope it will be a vital aspect in my attempt to curate a little. Sites like enthuse.me are a great tool for this fact.

-Any advice tips to people that are making their first attempts at film making?

Yes! Many, probably too many. haha. We live in a time where anyone can make a film. It’s cheap and easy to learn the technology. But the same thing happened when it became cheap to be a photographer or painter. Millions of people have the opportunity to make films now. But what I feel is really important is to not rush into it. An even cheaper alternative is to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and begin to sketch out your story. Every film, unless an art film or documentary film, has the same elements. Well thought-out characters, plot, wants and needs, goals and twists, three acts (give or take) and interesting and personal emotions. I like to compare filmmaking to a human: It’s not about how amazing it looks or sounds, but it’s the meat and skeletons and brains of the story. Then when you have that down pat, we can begin to add the skin, hair and features. Spend more time preparing and pondering, then fixing everything in post-production, because no matter what, people want to see, hear and feel a good story.

Some tips that I find very useful are:

• Start. Start with coming up with a story. • Focus. Focus more on the pondering, thinking and pre-production process; it will save you time, energy and money in the long run. • Observe. Observe everything around you from people, to nature, etc. • Listen. It is extremely important to listen to people, especially your actors. • Core. Explore your core beliefs, aesthetics and ideologies to bring them out in your filmmaking. • Watch and Read. Watch as many movies as possible from all genres and all time-periods. Read, read, read, read scripts, books, etc. to give you a taste of the art of storytelling. • Connect. Connect with people familiar and unfamiliar. Film is about connecting us to the people on the big screen. • Be patient. Patience! You are not going to become rich and famous overnight. If you get a ‘no’, just keep moving on.

-What’s the next exciting project you are up to?

I am trying to go back to my roots. So in the past year or so, I’ve been developing a few shorts, TV pilots and a feature. I went to a traditional film school and started off my career in shorts and features working in the art department. I am still working with commercials but I'm in the process of moving to the dramatic world too :) I’m also trying to finish a collection of short stories.

Very best of luck Philip!

Any questions for Philip?

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At 14, I then decided to go into music promotion with two friends. We found that there was a lack of gigs for people under 18 in our area so we set up a promotion company which brought local, national and international artists to a small town in South Wales. During my time running the promotion company, I bought a video camera and started to record the gigs and then posted them on social media platforms to promote upcoming events. I was doing my GCSEs at the time so it was really important to get a work/education/social life balance.

I did like to keep myself busy and was also involved with the local Youth Council, community radio station, a member of Funky Dragon, which is the Young People's Assembly for Wales and became a Climate Change Ambassador for The Welsh Government.

After my GCSEs, I decided to go to Sixth Form to study German and Physics (I know, nothing to do with what I'd been doing outside school, but I enjoyed studying them). The promotion company then went into club nights and then at 18, I accidentally became a resident DJ in a nightclub.

After finishing Sixth Form, I decided to set up a video production company as I really enjoyed the video work I did with the gigs so thought I’d give it a go. I worked for a training company for a few months to save up to start the business and then in April 2011, Buffoon Film and Media launched. Just before starting the company, my son was born which gave me a big push to work hard and make sure it succeeded to support him and my family. 

Buffoon Film & Media is a video production company based in South Wales and works with freelancers and small businesses, all the way up to large corporations such as Tata Steel Europe. We are a team of three who produce promotional, training, event and wedding videos. In 2012, Buffoon won a Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award on Twitter which gave the company a great boost and I am looking forward to meeting Theo later this month.

- Why video production?

I decided to set up a video production as I’m a very creative person and quickly learnt how to use a video camera when I was filming gigs. I don’t have any formal qualifications in video or any form of media production so I had to learn the hard way. Luckily, I pick things up quickly so didn’t take me long to work how to use the equipment.

Video is a great way to promote a business and I love going into companies and helping them share their stories, products and services. I see every video as a challenge, and it’s great seeing a happy client at the end of a production. It’s even better when they come back for more!

- Going through your enthuse.me profile I've noticed you are currently involved in three amazing projects. Tell us a bit more about them and how you are involved!

As you can tell from the first question, I have always liked to keep myself busy. The main project I'm involved with is Buffoon Film and Media, which is what I'm working on full-time at the moment.

Another project I'm working on is the Big Ideas Wales Campaign by the Welsh Government. I'm a Role Model for the project and there are hundreds of others around Wales. 

The newest project I'm working on hasn't really got a name yet, but I've called it Space to Work for now. I've always been passionate about helping young people into business and this project will offer a low risk and supportive environment for them to do so. As it's in the early stages, I can't give out too much information so watch this space!

- As a Role Model for the Welsh Government Big Ideas Wales Project, what kind of support do you offer to students that have a business idea and want to start their own businesses?

Role Models for the project are real entrepreneurs who go into schools, colleges, universities and youth groups and deliver inspirational talks to young people. The talks aim to encourage them to consider setting up their own business and will give them an insight into the different routes you can take and the support that's available. Big Ideas Wales also have roadshows, speed networking events and visit major events across the country.

- You recently picked up the Swansea Bay Young Entrepreneur 2013 Award. How did that affect your career?

Winning the award was a great boost for me and the company. We had some great PR from it and we’ve picked up some great new clients. It came at the right time as the company had only just celebrated completing two years of trading a few months before.

- As a successful entrepreneur, would you say that it is important for people to promote their expertise online? 

Definitely, especially when your company is in the start-up phase and hasn't got a big portfolio to show off. Saying that, no matter how big your company is, it's always a good idea to be recognised as an expert. I know it's a cliche, but people do really buy from people and if you don't know what your talking about, then you will never get an order through. It's really hard running a small business and a personal brand. You've got your company's Twitter account, blog, mail outs, personal Twitter, personal blog, Facebook and all the other things you've got to keep up to date, it's really hard to do everything. Even if you can't do it online, get out there and network and give out plenty of advice face-to-face.

- How do you use your enthuse.me profile?

I'm really guilty of not paying enough attention to my own personal brand when I started Buffoon. I was focused on pushing the company so much, I didn't even use my own Twitter or Facebook account. Buffoon now employs a team so it's not just me running it on my own anymore. I now have a lot more time to develop a personal brand for me and wanted my own website so that people can find out more about me rather than sending them to Buffoon's website. I tried out a few different websites, but I then came across enthuse.me, which is perfect for what I need. As I'm now involved with a number of projects, I've now got one site where people can find out about me, the projects I'm working on and can get in touch. I love that it's connected to my Twitter and LinkedIn account and automatically updates so I don't have to worry about editing my profile too much. The Press section is also really good that allows me to post stories in the media!

- Name the 3 biggest challenges you have encounter so far as a young entrepreneur.

Challenge 1 - Starting from scratch

Starting a business is hard, but when you’re starting one from scratch with no track record behind you from a previous employment to help you sell your services, it’s even harder! I really had my work cut out building the company from nothing and getting clients to trust me to turn their money into a great video. It took a lot of persuasion and plenty of discounts, but I’m proud to say that the company got through it and now has a great portfolio of clients that keep coming back.

Challenge 2 - Cashflow 

Planning ahead is so important, especially when it comes to finance. When I was sending out invoices, I assumed they would all be paid on time, oh how wrong I was! I've waited up to six months for some invoices to be paid which caused a lot of stress when I had other bills to pay. It's really important to build up a profile of each client individually, you will then know their average paying time, how they're going to pay (remember cheques take time to clear) and who to contact to chase up invoices. It's also good to get some money up front if you can!

Challenge 3 - Being taken seriously

As an 18 year old going into business, trying to sell services to businesses bigger than mine; it was tough. Luckily, I do look older than my actual age, which helped, but it was still hard. It's really important to do your homework before going to meetings, work out what type of person you're going to meet. Should you wear a suit or go casual? If they've got a profile on the company website, try to find out their interests or hobbies that they may talk about. It's really important that you go in prepared. Make sure you've got everything you need to make a sale if they're happy to shake hands during the meeting.

- What would be the top 5 business tips you would give to entrepreneurs starting their own business.

Tip 1 - Don’t be afraid to switch off

People seem to think that running a business means you're working 24/7. It doesn't have to be like that, it's just people are too afraid that they will miss an important e-mail or phone call if they switch their phone off, or they will lose lots of money if they take a day off. You've got to remember why you're running a business, you're doing it to be happy and you need to be able to switch off so that you can have a healthy work/personal life balance.

Tip 2 - Network

You can spend as much as you like on advertising on radio, in the newspapers or online, but it will never be as effective as networking face to face. Networking is free and easy to do. If you do it well and you look after your clients, they will look after your business.

Tip 3 - Credit Control

When I first started the business, sending my first invoice out was a proud moment. It’s really important that invoices are paid on time, unfortunately, some larger businesses don’t realise this as much as the small ones. Credit control is easy to do as long as you’ve got a system in place to monitor your invoices. Make sure, as soon as you send your invoice out, that you say when it is due by and if they can’t pay it by then, to let you know as soon as possible. As soon as it becomes overdue, send a gentle reminder to them. If you don’t hear anything back, send another e-mail a few days later saying that you’re going to add Late Payment Interest (which you can do by law), this usually speeds things up! Larger businesses don’t understand that an invoice being paid only a day late can have a massive impact on a small business. I’m sure their Finance Officer wouldn’t like their salary being paid a day late?

Tip 4 - Be organised

Being organised is one of the most important parts of running a business. Even when you've got a team of staff, it can be hard to keep on top of things. At Buffoon, we use a free online app called Trello that each team member has a log in for. We set up a wall for each project that we work on and then set the tasks that we need to do and allocate them to each team member along with a due date. This app means that at any time, I or anybody in the team can log in to any project to see what has been done, is being done and needs to be done.

Tip 5 - PR

Public Relations can save you a lot of money in advertising. Spotting a story that you can send out to your local paper isn’t the easiest thing to do when you’re busy working on projects, but a good story in the press can generate a lot of free advertising for the business. Develop a relationship with your local journalist who you will be able to send press releases to when stories come up. You could also comment on stories you’re interested in or be part of projects that attract media attention.

  Any questions for Adam?

Post your comments below and let's keep the conversation going!

I was living in Killarney ,an area of Ireland renowned for its Natural Beauty. I found that when I went out with my camera, it gave me a new perspective on things. It taught me to appreciate all around me. You could,in many ways say that my Passion for Photography was a huge factor in the healing process.

5 years ago, I fell in Love and moved to Tralee... 30km down the road from Killarney.

While living in Tralee, I joined a local Camera Club...I am now treasurer of this club.

I listened heartily to all the critiques of my work and over time developed the skills that I now use in my working life. 3 years ago we married, and just 16 months ago we started our Photography Business. Bang Smack in the middle of a recession!!

We are still going strong. Photography is a tough business to succeed in.... but we are getting there. In my short but fulfilling photography career, I have photographed artists such as Elvis Costello and Imelda May, as well as being the Official Photographer for the final concerts of “Emerald Elvis”, Ireland’s number one Elvis Tribute artist. I have also recently just finished photographing the “Rose of Tralee International Festival”. My real photography passion lies in Wedding Photography . I love making a difference to the most important day in a Couple’s life. I also undertook a project called “Faithfoto”, working with young people in Killarney, making them aware of the things around them, teaching the basics of photography, and culminating in an Exhibition, which ran in Killarney Cathedral for the entire Summer.

I also developed a natural flair for Marketing....my main source of Marketing is my Website, and Social Media. I am always looking for new and exciting ways to market my business. I feel enthuse.me has given me a platform to market myself in a new and exciting way.

-What inspires you?

I am inspired by all around me. Looking through a lens at the world gives a wonderful and fresh perspective on life.

Young people inspire me. Perhaps because I had such a misspent youth!!!I am also inspired by people who succeed in their Photography Businesses, mainly because I know how incredibly difficult it is, especially in this digital age!!!

-Why did you decide to specialise on event and wedding photography?

It takes a long time to find your “niche” in photography.

I decided on Wedding and Event Photography simply because through trying all different types of Photography, I find that this is what I am best at.

I don’t have the patience to be a professional Landscape Photographer.

I work best under pressure, and, with 15 years of experience in the Catering Industry, I feel that I have all the necessary people skills to go the extra mile and make a difference to the people who hire me. I love creating memories for my clients to look back on. Whether it be by recording an event, or a once in a lifetime occasion like a Wedding.

-You are an active contributor to several online marketplaces for imagery. Tell us about them and why you decided to join them.

Yes, I am an active member in several on line marketplaces for imagery. 

I find internet marketing very helpful.

If people don’t know that you are out there ,they won’t hire you. 

I believe also that an image is a powerful marketing tool...when a client looks at one of my images,they can see the style that I shoot in,and if they like it,they may hire me at some stage.

I have spread myself all over the web...my photos are everywhere. I devote some time every day to marketing....and,it works...I get enquiries from Americans wanting to get married in Ireland....the other day I even had an enquiry from Poland!!

-What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue event photography?

The best advice that I can give to somebody wanting to pursue Event Photography is “know your camera”.

Photographing events you need to be on your toes and alert all the time. You are also dealing with constantly changing lighting conditions, so it is important to be able to adjust your settings accordingly ,and quickly.

-How important is promoting your business online?

On line marketing is my main source of marketing. I get enquiries from America all the time for people wanting to get Married in Ireland. It is, I think, important to know how to market on line. If you are using social media to market your business, you don’t want to be telling your customers what you have had for dinner, or to spend all your time saying how great you are. There is a method,and when applied properly it can be very effective.

I like the idea of the enthuse.me profile. The idea of giving people an idea of what you are about all on one page, in my opinion, can also be very effective in marketing your brand.

-How do you use your enthuse.me profile?

I use my enthuse.me profile to lead people to my website and increase my web presence.

I will shortly be adding it as an e mail signature, so that every time I send an e mail, all a person has to do to find out what I am about is click on a link at the bottom of the page.

Simple, but effective.

-Can you share with us some awesome awesome Paul Keeling images?

Showcase _ Concert Photography

Showcase _ Concert Photography

Showcase _ Concert Photography

Showcase _ Concert Photography

Showcase _ Concert Photography

Showcase _ Event Photography

Showcase _ Event Photography

Showcase _ Event Photography

Showcase _ Wedding Photography

Showcase _ Wedding Photography

Showcase _ Wedding Photography

If there is anything you want to ask Paul, post your comments below and keep the conversation going! 

I opened up my doors as a coach back in 2005.  I started out working with clients who were seeking career advancement opportunities and I eventually began working more with entrepreneurs who were looking to promote and sell their services.  In both situations, I found that one of the biggest questions my clients had is, "how do I present myself in a way that is attractive to the people I want to impress"?  

As a certified online branding and marketing coach, I learned both formal and "street" lessons around leveraging the internet to build credibility and influence.  As I established a stronger brand online for myself, the things I learned helped me reach more of the market I wanted to attract.

-What do you love the most about your work?

I most enjoy showing service providers how to use the internet to free up more time so they can do all the promoting & marketing they want without losing their minds. It's so noisy out there, it's tough to know where to focus your energy!  Learning to prioritize and employ the right tools helps you serve more people and be more present.

-As an online business coach would you say that it is important for someone to have an online presence when they are trying to promote their expertise/business?

Absolutely!!! It's critical to be accessible online because the internet is a virtual "phonebook".  Almost every market has prospects who seek their resources through Google or other popular search engines, whether on a laptop, desktop computer or smartphone. Having a presence lets people know you are open for business.

-How do you use your enthuse.me profile?

Since I'm doing a lot more online training now, I see Enthuse.me as an excellent platform to showcase my content portfolio - highlighting my teaching style, testimonials, products and more.  I haven't seen anything that does this in the way Enthuse.me does – it works well on mobile, lots of white space, easy to navigate - all of these get a thumbs up in my book!

-What advice tips would you give to those that are just starting their solo careers?

The best piece of advice I'd share is to work on being disciplined, consistent, and clear about your brand in the internet space.  It can take time to establish respect and influence, but with the right tools (like enthuse.me), quality deliver, and a consistent effort to stay visible in a positive way, you will be successful!

If there is anything you want to ask Tanya, post your comments below and keep the conversation going!