Think6 Marketing Solutions

This week started with a super charge on the networking front. I made a last minute decision to attend the AwakenHub - SheVentures Island Edition Conference at @lustybegisland Am I glad I decided to go even if it was last minute? emmm yes! With an amazing range of speakers and insights from networking expert @Kelly Hoey, understanding the "Wander,Watch,Whittle,Wow&Whoa" Model from @Monica Parker, a frank and no frills chat from Glamour Editor and shape shifter @Samantha Barry followed by an "un-Cork-ed" interview with Lynette Fay and Susan HayesCulleton CFA, "The Positive Economist". The day was packed with really valuable business insight, Joe Kennedy even dropped in for a chat. I returned home (after my regular bedtime of 10pm which if you know me you will know that I'm not an night owl), I lay awake until the wee small hours, churning over in my head those many conversations and insights into how others are doing business, their journey in business and their life outside business - for instance......... 🤔 the mum of 5 under 12, a shout out for your sanity or insanity.................. the lady, whose mothers dog had just passed away a few minutes before we met and she was fighting back the tears and the lady who was distracted by her Angel pitch on Friday, just turns out I was talking to that Angel and introduced them! 🤔 It always amazes me when you get a group of people, total strangers into a space, that gives us the space to Network, a magic can happen. 🤔Lets see how things unfold for think6 as a result of this epic networking event. 🤔A shout out to all the Fermanagh ladies in attendance, it is always always good to see a familiar face in room full of strangers. #fermanaghomaghdc #networking #awakenhub #investnorthernireland #sharedisland #atlanticfutures #universityofulster #ulsterbank #giyst #aimapit #westerndevelopmentcommission

Are you a Zoho whizz? see below, send me a dm if you have the know-how. thank you

Back in the day, in a previous life, I worked at what was formerly known as the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark now Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. It was my initiation into environmental tourism, promoting environmentally sustainable practices in tourism and promoting the protection and conservation of the environment.  20 years on and it seems the sustainable tourism/travel message is only really starting to take hold.   A lifetime ago, initiatives like the Green Box, were fore runners in sustainable tourism but I’m not sure the Green Box team were ever truly given credit for their work. These Thought leaders, such as Mary Mulvey (who if you don’t know Mary and want your business or organisation to get a proper grip on sustainable practices, then I cannot recommend her highly enough) were pushing water up hill to bring the tourism industry into the sustainability fold. Boy did the rest of us get it wrong! We should have been listening and we should have been taking responsibility much much sooner than now.   That environmental sustainability conversation is now on the tip of everyone’s tongue.  At think6, we are doing what we can to make our contribution to sustainability, zoom, paperless, rather than drive, promoting local businesses and working with local communities.  The latter is all about helping to make a contribution to a circular economy, a local economy and ecomony that can be sustained through tourism.   In essence are talking about regenerative tourism, that buzz phrase that everyone seems to interested in.  Have a look at our recent blog, and why not have a go at answering the 6 questions, if you want to make a conscious effort to build a sustainable tourism offering (or any business, organisation or group in general).  #regenerativetourism #sustainabletourism #tourismmarketing #tourismireland #tourismnorthernireland

Regenerative Tourism - is it really a new concept? Or, is it just something that businesses, organisations and groups like to talk about. Think6 have always been involved in tourism experience development, tourism marketing and this is the new-ish way to elevate and market tourism. It is not just a tourism marketing strategy, it is a whole switch in the way we view our tourism industry and it is essential to get on board.  Lots of words, and lots of inaction won't cut it any more. It is now imperative for people to embrace regeneration and for us especially, the regeneration of rural communities. Have a look at our recent blog, and why not have a go at answering the 6 questions. If you want to make a conscious effort to build a sustainable and regenerative tourism offering (or any business, organisation or group in general).   #regenerativetourism  #communitydevelopment  #communitytourism  #ruraltourism  #sustainabletourism

Did you happen to catch Teresa O'Loughlin on BBC Ulster's 'Your Place or Mine' at the weekend? If you are interested in community tourism, and would like to know more about how your local area can utilise their authentic stories as part of a way to enhance the tourism offering, then have a listen to this. You can always contact us to learn more about how we can help through consultancy as a starting place, and/or if you have a project you would like us to facilitate or work on. On our website you will find our blog page which showcases some of the community heritage projects we have worked on.  #communitytourism  #heritagemarketing  #communityheritage  #tourismmarketing

Attending the Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Conference today in Galway - super presentations and plenty to think about especially on the application of creative thinking and sustainability. Great to chat Martina Canty from Failte Ireland. #sustainabletourismnetwork #failteireland #communitydevelopment #thinkcommunitytourism

The Network For Enterprising women is my go to place for support, conversation, contact, insights, knowledge and general chat.  It is a place where like minded women can come together in a safe space to do all of the above.  I suppose over the years, the network has developed into a pet project.  There are lots of networks out there, and they all have their place but there isn’t another network quite like the Network for Enterprising Women.  This is simply because it is a women’s network for self employed women, free lancers, entrepreneurs, female business owners,  we talk about the very ordinary things, from professional indemnity insurance to pricing, from tendering to branding.  And depending on each members specialism, the conversation can talk some interesting turns, Anita Kirkpatrick is a superb photographer and over her years as a member has provided some excellent training, Nicola is a graphic designer and brand advocate, Claire is setting out on her journey as a business owner,  it takes all sorts to make the world go round, it take all sorts to make our network work but what it also takes is good conversations, a willingness to share and an abundance of support,  you’ll be hard pressed to find a network quite like the Network for Enterprising Women In our latest blog, we took a question which was posed back at the last year at the Network of Enterprising Women as to what country is the most progressive in terms of female entrepreneurship.  Obviously, this a topic close to our hearts given that think6 was female-founded and is still female-run. Take a look at the blog and don’t make yourself too mad if you are female (especially one with young children).  You might be surprised! Don’t forget the NEW meet on the last Thursday of each month and much like us preaching about the benefits of tourism clusters etc, this is just an informal setting, in which to offer support to other businesses/business people. #femaleempowerment #femalebusinessowner #femaleentrepreneur

Do you know how to enhance events to maximise their potential? At the end of last year we attended an event in Longford, in the Heart of Irelands Hidden Heartlands, showcasing the very best of community tourism, the hardships, the struggles, the years of graft, the joys and ultimately the satisfaction (if you’ve done all things well) in building community tourism.  During the event we were asked to speak about leveraging community events and how it is the people who can come together to enhance the community they live in. We have worked on many sold out events and the example we used from a community perspective was Trad Under the Trees.  Events in any space whether it is the community organising them, or small/medium businesses, getting every last drop of value out of the event is imperative. In our latest blog we discuss how events for the most part, shouldn’t be just a one hour, or a one-day event (that’s not to say we are expecting a Glastonbury showcase). What we mean is that when organising an event, it should encompass a complete experience. If you are thinking about planning an event, why not check out our most recent blog, to see how you can ensure that you are giving the ultimate customer experience, that you are retargeting your audience and that you are building your brand.  Take Trad Under the Trees as an example. The concept of the event was to build an event that harnessed the community spirit of the area, offered a unique experience, is sustainable environmentally and economically and appeals to community and visitor alike. Although the event is in its infancy, (Trad Under The Trees 2022 and Trad Under the Trees 2023) there have been excellent learnings from each one. If you can sell tickets on your community website if you have this facility, its saves on those crippling Eventbrite fees.  Location, location Location.  The event is hosted in Castle Caldwell, a completely unique venue and one which is very much part of the cultural heritage of the area. Events don’t have to be in theatres, auditoriums, schools halls or community centres, make the venue part of the experience and it will help to sell it.  LEAVE NO TRACE.  It is a ‘leave no trace’ event, meaning it is respectful to the landscape and environment in which it is hosted and the ticket holders are hugely respectful of this, leaving not a bottle cork behind.  We are using Trad Under the Trees to leverage other events that are equally unique, off the place and connected to the local heritage. There are many things to think about when devising an event, we have listed our ultimate checklist in our latest blog. Check it out and we hope you are inspired.  #communitytourism #communityevent #communityeventourism

Collaboration - why bother? Collaboration can be exceptionally exciting and beneficial for your business. It can mean additional resources, varying knowledge, the opportunity to explore new business models, a great sounding board. This can be very important when you look at the wider picture. For example tourism is the prime instance where working as part of a team for the benefit of wider area can be hugely beneficial. On Tuesday last week we facilitated a tourism cluster meeting for Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, at the world renowned Belleek Pottery. Plus you get little perks like tours around Belleek Pottery. #tourismmarketing #tourismclusters #clusterdevelopment