Life’s not all about bubble gum cards.

When I was a kid there was a craze for bubble gum cards.

Topps bubble gum – I can smell it now. It took a long time for the smell to leave the cards. In those days there weren’t rare gold cards, sparkly cards or limited editions. It was all about quantity.

When I first joined LinkedIn it seemed to be a good idea. I thought of it as Facebook for grown-ups. Handy for re-connecting with previous work colleagues and getting your profile out and about whilst job-hunting. I think that holds true now and if that’s what you want it for fine.

When we formed Clark Hearsey I started to do a lot of networking. So much so that I joined BNI which involves pretty intense networking. Meeting lots of new people and swapping bubble gum business cards.

It became something of a compulsion. I’d write the date I met the person and where on their card and the lucky ones made it into my rotadex.

I would also see if the person wanted to connect on LinkedIn. When a list of possible connections came up I would go through them, clicking away.

Over the years I have built up connections in the manner of a teenager on Facebook.

Now the LinkedIn “sell” is that people will see you’re connected to someone and ask for an introduction but does that really happen? No. Also I get fed up of strangers wanting to connect. Invariably when you do connect under the mistaken belief that they must be someone you know you just get an advertising hard sell. Linked In can be useful to give you a face to look at when you can’t remember the name of who you are looking for but that doesn’t work too well when you’ve hundreds of pictures to go through.

Three months ago I decided to have a cull. I started with recruiters and then all those people I’d met once and exchanged business cards with. I then moved onto the people I really know and have regular contact with.

Having reduced my connections I now generally say no to people wanting to connect. Or, if I think they are a legitimate contact I allow them to connect, then send them a postcard thanking for them connecting together with a set of literature.

So, if you are really looking for customers rather than a collection of virtual bubblegum cards take this challenge:

delete a connection;
invite a connection for coffee
send some information to a contact you’d like to do business with.

Let me know how it goes…

Now, the West Ham team of 1977/8…

Changes to the Furlough Scheme

By Victoria Hearsey | 8th June 2020

When it commenced the furlough scheme meant that furloughed workers must not carry out any work for their employer. This will change from 1 July. Employers will be able to bring back furloughed workers on a part-time basis. The employer must pay the employee in full for the hours worked but can continue to claim […]

Bounce back loan scheme – small/medium sized businesses

By Victoria Hearsey | 4th May 2020

For small to medium sized business there is a new loan scheme available. Eligibile businesses can apply to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 for up to six years with no repayments in the first year. The scheme is government backed. You apply directly to the lender, the first choice for which would typically be your […]

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)

By Victoria Hearsey | 4th May 2020

From 4 May HMRC will be contacting self-employed people who are eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). There is a checker so you can see if you are flagged as entitled to this – you will need your Unique Tax Reference (UTR) and National Insurance number. If you don’t already have a Government […]

Relaxing at a stressful time

By Victoria Hearsey | 3rd April 2020

Looking after yourself in this stressful time I wanted to share this really good article from the ACCA. We are all in a stressful situation and this has some really good practical advice. The link will open in a new tab. Anxiety, Emotional Quotient and taking care of your own wellbeing I hope you find […]

Coronavirus Resources

By Victoria Hearsey | 30th March 2020

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is publishing guides to certain aspects of the grants and aid available to businesses and the self-employed as a result of COVID-19. Where these are written in plain English they are being added to the Downloads page (opens in a new tab). Please note that some of these […]