The team in the Dublin office of 11890 Directory Enquiries were host to David Thomas, Managing Director, Corporate Banking Division, Ulster Bank Group for hands on demonstrations and call handling on Friday last. As part of Ulster Bank's SME program, Small Business Can and as customers of Ulster Bank, David visited our Dublin contact centre to get first hand experience of the day-to-day running of a 24hour multi-functional contact centre. 

Following training, David handled directory enquiry calls and in the afternoon delved into the world of social media using a beta version of Cloud90; a bespoke social media monitoring system designed for live monitoring and moderation of digital media. 

Staff were commended on their professionalism, friendliness and enthusiasm for customer experience. Read more on David's blog and review of the day in 11890 on the Small Business Can site. 

Image courtesy of Small Business Can 2013

"The team there are friendly and professional backed by slick and innovative technology that can manage both customer experience and efficiency well." - David Thomas, MD Corporate Banking Division, Ulster Bank Group. 

Facebook's Small Business Boost Programme is encouraging Irish businesses to get 100 likes on a business page by the 31st October 2012 in order to claim €100 in free Facebook Advertising. 

In June we blogged about the Facebook Small Business Boost programme. There is now 2 weeks left on this programme to claim your €100 in free ads. There are 3 caveats to note to claim your free advertising:

1. Your Business Page must have a minimum of 50 likes
2. You must register your Business Page with Facebook here
3. Once registered, you must get 100 likes, by any means, on your registered page before 31^st October 2012

Here are some ideas and tips on how you can get 100 likes to your business page:

1. Tell customers what they can expect to see on your Business Page and why they should like it. Download printable PDFs here to put up in-store
2. Invest in targeted Facebook Advertising promoting your business with something of value to customers, such as a special offer. Remember, fans are twice as likely to buy something from you
3. Link other social media accounts, such as Twitter, to your Facebook page
4. Use Facebook plug-ins on your website or blog site to encourage visitors to Like your business on Facebook
5. If your a small Irish business, like 11890 Directory Enquiries on Facebook and we will support you and like you back! That's one "like" in the bag ;-)

For 20 ways to promote your Facebook Fan Page checkout resources from Social Media Examiner

As a small business owner, you want to focus on what you do best and that's running your business. You know that your business needs to get digital and start using the internet to bring in customers and make sales. Time limitations or costs may be causing you to miss out on opportunities. We recognise the sore points for small business owners and have developed a solution to meet all your web needs. In partnership with Limerick based technology company Cauwill, 11890 have developed MyPage.

MyPage is an enhanced web page that can hold as much or as little text content as you like, using the template we have set up for you.

It is Search Engine Optimised, which means that it is designed to appear in Google search results when a customer searches for keywords or phrases relating to your business or local area.

Using the same content and structure as your website, MyPage Mobile is built using responsive design. This means that when a customer is browsing your site on a mobile phone, it is easy to read and navigate the page without having to pinch or zoom in on the screen.

Unique features on MyPage include a mobile marketing feature. Business owners are encouraged to make the website work for them by using it for promotions and special offers. Directly from MyPage, a user can send a free SMS to themselves, or any Irish mobile number in order to redeem the special offer in-store.

Other features include click-to-call, an interactive map which gives a user directions to your business, and the ability to show your Facebook, Twitter profiles  or TripAdvisor reviews on your page, not just as icons.

MySocial is the social media side of this solution. We take care of your social media marketing and online reputation. MySocial works as a listening post for online conversations relating to your business category, the products and services you provide, your local competitors and most importantly customers in your area. Only information we deem as relevant is brought back to you.

We are developing MyPage and MySocial with business owners for their needs. The first clients are:

Village Coffee House, Templeogue Dublin.

In the evening, the Village Coffee House transforms into a tapas and wine bar with an extensive menu and great value. Enjoy a complimentary bottle of house wine when you book a table of 4 for a Wednesday or Thursday night. Avail of this mid-week treat by texting yourself the offer from villagecoffeehouse.mypage.ie

Brazco Coffee Academy, Carraig Lair S.C and Main Street Oranmore, Galway

Enjoy the best quality coffee, breakfast and lunch in Brazco Coffee Academy. Get a homemade fresh scone on the house when you purchase a tea of coffee at Brazco in Carraig Lair Shopping Centre or in Brazco Main Street. Text yourself this offer from brazco.mypage.ie and show it in store to redeem it.

DK Hair Design, Killester, Dublin 3

Quality and superior styling is guaranteed from DK Hair Design, a Wella Elite Salon located in the village of Killester in North Dublin. Treat yourself to 30% off all colouring and highlights for the month of August. Visit dkhairdesign.mypage.ie to text yourself, or your friends, the offer.

Bojangles Hair Salon, Ardrahan, Galway

Recently renovated Bojangles Unisex Hair Salon is a pampering haven for women and men. Located in Ardrahan, Bojangles is within 15minutes of Kinvarra, Gort, Clarinbridge, Loughrea and Athenry. For a limited time only Bojangles are offering a great deal of €50 for a cut and colour, normal price of €72. Don't miss out, text yourself the offer from bojangles.mypage.ie

Greenacres Bed & Breakfast, Rathcoole, Dublin

Reviews for Greenacres B&B and Mary Spillane the welcoming host, speak for themselves. This luxury B&B is offering luxury accommodation for €35 a night per person. Visit greenacres.mypage.ie to text yourself or a friend this special offer.

If you would are interested in how MyPage and MySocial can help your business, please contact 012568610 or email marketme@11890.ie   

Wicklow based Wolfhound Web have launched their new look website - horaay for alliteration! More importantly, horaay for the team for being a great bunch of lads to work with. We're also glad 11890 have prime position in their portfolio showcasing the unique build for 11890.ie that brought our Irish Directory Enquiry Database online and to life! Bringing numbers and maps to the masses, Wolfhound Web team also designed and implemented a Facebook app for the 11890 Directory Enquiries Facebook page.

You can contact Dan or Ian here, tell them we sent you ;-)

11890 Directory Enquiries wishes Irish Olympians the Best of Luck in today's events.

On the road to gold, Katie Taylor will meet Mavzuna Chorieva in the Womens Lightweight semi-final at 2pm. Paddy Barnes will secure at least a bronze medal in the mens fly-lightweight competition, if he can defeat Indian opponent Singh Devendro Laishram in the quarter finals at 8.45pm. 

Whatever the outcome, nothing will beat the cheers and songs we heard from London's ExCel boxing arena during her quarter final on Monday. We sure are doing the Irish proud at London 2012! 

From 11890.ie, you can SMS a business listing to any Irish mobile number. This free service is for your convenience when you are on the go, arranging a meeting point, directing a customer to your business or simply saving information to your phone. It is free to send and recive an SMS from 11890.ie*

When would I use this service?

• If you're planning a journey and want to send a meeting point or directions to a friend, or to your own mobile, search for your meeting point on 11890.ie and SMS the listing to any Irish mobile number. It is free to send and receive this listing*.
• Planning a weekend away and want to make sure everyone knows where you're going? Send the listing to a few people!
• If you're going to a meeting, or have a customer coming to meet you, SMS your listing so that it is readily accessible on a mobile phone or to put into a sat-nav.

Why would I not just use Google?

• We love Google, who doesn't?! But planning, marking out a journey, emailing it around to friends or printing it out is a laborious task. With 11890 Maps & More you can SMS yourself the maps to a location and get directions in 2 clicks. You can also use the map with a sat-nav, in 1 if your mobile phone is aware of your location, you get directions, distance and travel time from point A to B. 11890 Maps & More works on any Smartphone. No need to download software, it recognises your type of navigational software and works off that.
• Google often doesn't have a business location marked correctly. We have almost 200,000 Irish businesses precisely mapped and geo-coded so we can ensure our maps are accurate.  

How do you want to use maps?

• We want to provide the best Directory Enquiries service that is most useful and relevant to you as a user. We would love to hear feedback or ideas for how you would like to be able to use 11890 Maps & More. If you would like to participate, please email your suggestions to" rosie [at] 11890 dot ie".

 * Free to send & receive an SMS from www.11890.ie online search service only. 

Good news for small business owners who want to learn more about advertising on Facebook. In September of this year, Facebook will roll out their Business Boost programme in Ireland. The primary initiative of this programme is to provide business owners with the opportunity to learn about advertising on the social network. Launched in May 2012 in Britain, the company teamed up with Chambers of Commerce to deliver these workshops across the UK.

Led by Director of User Operations, Sonia Flynn, Facebook will also incentivise business by crediting their ad campaigns on the platform. Roisin Burke of the Independent.ie writes "Local businesses that have 50 'likes' on their page at sign-up stage get €25 of ad credit to spend on Facebook advertising. Those that garner another 100 'likes' during the promo period get a further €75-worth of free ads". Seems like a good deal, right?

As a rule of thumb, Facebook execs are inclined to encourage businesses to keep users within the "Facebook experience" when advertising, by directing them back to the company profile, rather than an external page. Will the Business Boost programme be restricted to advertising within the "Facebook experience", or will it support outbound links from Facebook? We'll have to wait and see! 

Image: Andrew Thornton (2012)

"We will not melt" is our motto for this weekend.  It's time to rock out the wet gear and get out and about this weekend. We're not made (entirely) of sugar after all! 11890 have put together their choice events and festivals that are on in Dublin this weekend.

Dublin Bay Prawn Festival 

Where: Howth, Co.Dublin

When: Friday 27^th April - Sunday 29^th April

From Friday 27^th April, the bars, restaurants and market stalls in the seaside village of Howth are celebrating the iconic Dublin Bay Prawn and seafood fare. There are set meal options from €12 - €60 and a Street Food Fair on Saturday and Sunday which will cater for all budgets. Fireworks, fish & cookery skills, a sea rescue demonstration from the RNLI, treasure trails and traditional Irish music are all to look forward to over the weekend.

The DART from Connolly Station, Tara Street or Pearse Street will take about 30 minutes to Howth and run every 20 minutes or so.

Dublin Bus route 31 runs form Eden Quay, Dublin City Centre to Howth Village.

Recommended places to sample the wares are Deep Restaurant, West Pier, Howth, Co.Dublin, The Big Blue, Church Street, Howth, Co.Dublin and Aqua, West Pier, Howth, Co.Dublin.

 

Cirque Du Soleil Alegria

Where: The O2, Dublin

When: Friday 27^thApril - Sunday 29^th April  

Alegria is one of the oldest and most celebrated Cirque Du Soleil shows. In Spanish it means happiness, joy and jubilation, the show is an ode to the energy, grace and power of youth. Famous for carvival costume, dance, acrobatics and bursts of colour, Alegria is "must see". Running in the O2 from Friday to Sunday, there are tickets still available for 16:00 on Saturday 26^th, Sunday at 13:00 and 17:00. Tickets range from €49.20 - €70.70.

 

Alice in Funderland

Where: The Abbey Theatre

When: Friday 30^th March - Saturday 12^th May

The first musical to graces the stages of The Abbey Theatre in over 20 years, Alice in Funderland is a break from the norms of our iconic theatre. Based on Lewis Carroll's classic tale, this bright and ballsy show follows Alice as she falls through the rabbit-hole. Ending up in the Big Smoke, Alice from Cork is thrown under the bright lights of Dublin city and exposed to the telling characters of the town. Ticket prices range from €13 -€40 and the show starts at 7.30pm Monday-Saturday with a 14:00pm matinee also on Saturdays.

 

 

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Where: National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

When: Saturday 28^th April, 15:00- 16:00

Each Saturday afternoon in the National Gallery there is a Family Programme which is a 1 hour fun class for children aged 4-10 and free to attend. Places are limited to 30 kids so get there early! All children must be accompanied by an adult and supervised during the class. The theme for this Saturday's programme is Mary Had a Little Lamb and is being delivered by qualified instructor Melissa Corish.

 

Have a great weekend, from all in 11890!

 

11890 is a nominee for the award for Innovative Use of Social Media in this year's Bord Gáis Energy Social Media Awards.