Zero Lives Left Business, Career & Life Podcast

This is an on location Podcast.  I am in Dubai and I'm chatting with my good friend Barry Cummings.  Barry runs a successful Digital Marketing Agency in Dubai and works with a number of different clients across different sectors.  In this Podcast I chat with Barry about this move to the UAE over 10 years ago, how he found the country and what it's like to set up a business in Dubai. We talk about the difference of running a business in the UK and how it works in Dubai and why you need to have patience and tenacity to be successful in Business.   We also talk about a career in the Digital Marketing industry and what need to get thought abut if you are considering working in the Middle East.  Barry shares his insights, thoughts and offers great advice to those looking to work as a digital marketing professional in the United Arab Emirates.  

With 91% of Retail using 2 or more Social Media Channels  - Retail Businesses both small and large really need to be fully taking advantage of Social Media and the opportunities which it provides.   In this episode I chat to Emma Gribben which helps retail businesses get more out of their social media efforts.  Emma shares her insights on the importance of content within social media, what are the trends for retailers in 2016 and how social media can help you gain traction & the importance of relevant, meaningful messages Emma chats about the importance of taking your message and putting it in video format and how this will help you get more exposure.  She stresses the importance of knowing your market and carrying out regular research.  Retail businesses need to make it simple for customers to interact with them  - Emma share's some tips on how this is possible.   We wrap up the show with some tips for those looking to break into a Career in digital marketing and why experience is very important with

The topic of Career Branding has never been more important than now with the explosive growth of Social Media and Platforms like LinkedIn which enable people to develop their own professional network and apply for career opportunities. Episode 21 of the Podcast is a big one I get the opportunity to chat with global career branding expert Niels Reib from Denmark.  Niels shares many of this top tips and advice which he covers on his awesome courses which he runs via his online platform He chats about his Career Branding Roadmap which he has developed to help those starting out on the journey or those looking to make a career change and why your website or 'Home Base" as Niels calls is a tool which you need to have up and running. Niels finishes off with his Top 5 Tips for a effective LinkedIn profile which include: Picture  - Make sure you smile and it's a professional image  Your Headline Matters - this is a teaser of what you are all about Keyword - 5-7 of your strongest skills Summary - not to f

They say an pictures says a 1000 words, in Social Media Marketing getting the correct image associated with your campaign can be a make or break.  Sourcing good stock images can be costly and also challenging in terms of the terms of use.   In this episode I chat to Top Northern Ireland based Professional Photographer Jude Malone from Cool For School.  Jude talks about her own experience in business as well as what goes into capturing the perfect image for your social media campaign and what's possible with your Smartphone device and why you don't need to spend thousands on equipment you don't know how to use.  

The World of the Internet and Social Media has become the way in which we communicate and share information.  When it comes to Social Media many of us can think of all the positive benefits which it has one being how easy it is for us to stay in touch with each other at a touch of a button.   But there is a dark side to the Internet & Social Media with many people experiencing Online Bullying as a direct result of the Internet and Social Media.  In this episode I get to chat to Northern Ireland based Anita Dennison who herself was bullied online while at School.  She has recently given a TEDx on her experiences and shares her advice on how to overcome online bulling and why getting help so important.  She has tuned this very negative experience into a positive one and now helps others in the same situation.  

Digital PR for your Business & what you need to know right now.  This info can help change the game for your Business.  You will need a Pen & Paper to listen to this episode.   I chat with the talented Leanne Ross Digital Communicator who has a real knack for coming up with creative and innovative ways to help businesses use Digital Communication methods to Reach & Win customers.  Leanne shares her story on how she got started in Digital Marketing, Why Personal Development is important, her 6 Low Cost Marketing Ideas for 2016 as well as a bunch of other great insights.   This episode is packed to the rafters full of tips which you can implement to your business right way.  

When it comes to business being able to communicate your key businesses message is vital.  In this episode I chat with former UTV & BBC presenter Sarah Travers & Sales and Business Specialist Camilla Long of Bespoke Communications who each share top advice how how to become a better communicator.  How to handle a media interview and how a to nail an elevator pitch in 3 key steps.   In this episode businesses get real tips on how to actually become a better communicator a skill which will help bring your business & career to the next level.  Grab a Pen & Paper and get ready for some amazing useful information you can action right away.  

In another packed episode I chat with Adrian Curran of WhatsThePointMedia about using Facebook for Business.  Many Businesses now use Facebook as a way to engage with their Customers but are customers really coming onto Facebook to be sold to? Adrian shares his insights and advice to how businesses can get more out of their Facebook efforts.  Adrian talks about what content works, why businesses need to think about a strategy and the importance of building a community around your Facebook Business Page.   In this episode businesses get real tips on how to actually use Facebook to make it work for a business, you will learn how to become your own media channel.  

When we are kids many of us have dreams of maybe someday becoming our own Boss and starting our own Business.  For Martin Murtagh of Newry City Tours he decided to do just that.  Winner of the 2015 Newry City Business Awards for Best Tourism Business, Martin's business has been growing and he currently has plans to launch City Tours in other parts of Ireland focusing on the scary or dark tourism industry.   In this episode Martin shares his 3 tips for those considering starting a Business in 2015 - he talks about keeping things simple, developing partnerships & surrounding yourself with the right people are key for success.   Visit http://newrycitytours.com/ to find out more 

Having the Motivation to follow your dreams is something at times we all lack.  "Its not about results, it about the person you become" My friend Cameron Parker one of the UKs Top Elite Motivators takes time to chat with me about building confidence and developing as a person and how we all can be successful in our own right. Cameron shares his journey and talks honestly about the highs and lows & how he says he has been lucky enough to have dyselxia and ADHD and using this to his advantage. He leaves us with 3 of this top tips:  Don't make excuses, drop the BS Start by starting  Learn to fail  

Pr remains as important today as it's ever been.  But what is PR?  What do businesses need to think about when considering engaging in PR?  How can someone graduating in 2015 get a start in the PR Buisness. We hear from Cathy Martin Fashion Guru & PR Boss of CMPR in Belfast who specialise in beautiful communications that evoke feeling and leave a lasting impression.  Cathy shares her insight on getting started in the PR Business, Why Pr is important for Businesses, PR Tips for Businesses & how to develop a Career in the PR Business.    

When at School many of us struggle with trying to find a path to choose for our Career. Some decide to follow a path into third level education, others decide a more vocational training route is the way for them, either way we all have choices.  In this episode I chat with entrepreneur Connaire Mc Greevy on this journey from HighSchool, University, starting his first business and becoming a Politican all under the age of 30. Here how his journey developed and find out tips and advice on how he build his business from a grass roots approach to one of the most successful energy companies in Northern Ireland and how he's now setting out on a new journey to brew craft Beer. Connaire shares honest and frank advice on developing and growing your business & being your own boss.   In his words "Anyone can make it happen"

Your Website is your shop window to a globa customer base.  In this episode I speak with Claire Savage of CS Editorial based in Portrush.  Claire shares her insights, tips and advice on how a business can get more out of their Website & increase the chance of converting a customer by having compelling,engaging copy on their business website.   We also discuss the added benefit of why it's important to work with a copy writting professioanal who can help improve visability of your website in the major search engines by having SEO friendly copy.   Claire also share's her advice for those graduating in 2015 on how focusing on your personal profile online can also help you get noticed by potential employers and why copy on your LinkedIn profile is so important.  To find out more information on claire & her services please visit www.cseditorial.co.uk 

In Episode 10 I decide to leave the comfort of the Zero Lives Podcast Studio and take episode10 on the road to chat with 4 different people all doing great things in their Career & Business.  First up we hear from Nicole Curran from Newry Junior Chamber and the benefits for joining and getting involved in your local Junior Chamber. Next up is Aidan Malone from Accountancy firm Malone Lynchehaun on a fantastic new cloud based accountancy solution called Xero and how it can help small businesses become more compliant with their accountancy practises.   We then hear from Lisa Mc Manus of The Wellness Cafe in Newry who shares her advice and insight on why a healthy diet is important.  Lisa also shares her top tips for those people thinking about starting a business in 2015 and why having experience is key.   Last up I get to chat with Shane Mulholland from Global capital markets software and consultancy firm First Derivatives who's HQ is based in Newry.  Shane shares his insight on what it's like to w

In episode 9 I chat to NI Social Butterfly Lyndsay Malone Northern Ireland Lights who chats about her role as Web Show Presenter and Events Blogger.  Lyndsay's jobs to suss out all sorts of cultural events, venues and local talent.  She shares with me what the talent scene is like in Northern Ireland and how NI Lights helps artists & muscians get promoted via their regular web show which she presents.   We chat about how she got started in the NI Entertainment scence and what her job involves.  Lyndsay shares her insight and advice for thoses seeking to get into a career in the media industry.   To find out more information about Lyndsay you can check her out on Twitter @LyndsayMalone or via her Web TV Show by Clicking Here

In episode 8 I chat to Aine Bermingham Utter Digital.  Aine shares her valuable insight and experience into the world of blogging for business.  What makes a successful blog?  How do you drive traffic to your blog?  How does a business find the time to blog? These questions and more are what we discuss.  Aine gives real practial tips for how businesses can gain more from blogging and the steps which they need to take to ensure it's a success.  Following on from Episode 7 blogging is a key component to SEO and in this episode Aine explains why.   If you want to find out more information on Aine Bermingham &  Utter Digital Click Here  or connect with her on Twitter @UtterDigital

In episode 7 I speak to Brian Power owner of Avantech Web Design, Development & IT Consultancy based in Cork.  Brian shares his insight on SEO and how businesses both small & large can get more out of their efforts.   Brian helps demystify SEO and what SMEs need to think about.  He shares 6 tips to better SEO and what businesses need to know about Google's Penguin 3.0 and how can this affect your Business? We also chat about those with an interest in SEO how to develop a Career in the Industry.  You can find out more information about Avantech by clicking here or by following them on Twitter @AvantechLabs  

In episode 6 I speak to Nial Toner Senior Digital Marketing Exective at The Tomorrow Lab in Belfast.  Nial shares his valuable insight on how graduates in 2015 can kick start their Career in Digital Marketing. Nial gives practial tips and advice on why blogging is important and landing work experience are 2 of the most important factors for future digital marketing professioanals to factor in.  Key Steps to get your Career started in Digital Marketing.   In the second part of the interview we get to explore the world of Digital Marketing for SME's and how Small Businesses can get more from their Digital Marketing efforts - Nail shares some really valuable advice on why Content and personality matters, just why engaging content matters and how SME's can benefit from Link Building.   You can find out more information on The Tomorrow Lab Belfast by clicking here  and follow Nail on Twitter @nialtoner

In episode 5 we take a look at inside the world of recruitment  - I talk to Derry based Head Talent Finder Lynn Jennings of Talent Social.  Lynn shares some great advice and insight for anyone currently on the look out for new employment opportunities as well as advice for Students graduating in 2015.   In episode 5 we look at: How to get found on LinkedIn  What recruiters are on the look out for. Why keywords are important Building your network  What LinkedIn groups help in the job search  Why recommendations matter We also chat about why your Online Reputation is so imporant and how you can help protect it.  For more information on Lynn check out Talent Social  and follow her on Twitter @talentSoc 

In Episode 4 we look at what it is like to work within Marketing in a Tech Start Up?  I chat with Marketing Superstar Emma Leahy about her journey from a student at the University of Ulster to a freelancer and how she landed a job with Northern Ireland based Tech Start up Get Invited    Emma chats about why getting experience is an important part of the learning experience and how surrounding yourself with the right people is key.  She chats about why having passion alone is not enough to be successful and how she lives by the words of Mike Lowe "Don't follow your passion,but always bring it with you"