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Staying Close, Reaching Afar
This is the first post on the Choazan blog, and we felt it was important to begin by saying who contributed to building this website. I could say we made a deliberate choice to work with local businesses, but in truth it was so natural that it wasn’t the subject of any debate. No doubt because I launched my first freelance business in 2007 when we moved to Le Mans and the network I began weaving back then is still thriving.
Natural Connections
Anyone with a website will have heard of natural search engine optimisation. In a nutshell, if you write clearly and what you say is relevant, readers will find their way to your content. Networking is quite similar in that there are what I call natural connections. Prospecting isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and it’s even more difficult to devote time to reaching out when you’re an entrepreneur with several hats. Many of us are responsible for marketing, admin, IT, etc. At the same time, when you love what you do, it’s easy to talk about it. And sometimes those conversations convert to customers. The first ever contact to reach me via my first website in 2011 was my daughter’s friend’s mother who worked just up the road! And a chat with a neighbour led to a chain of referrals and ultimately a contract that has lasted ten years.
Club Meet-ups
On advice from a career coach, I joined several local clubs and associations when I set up my first freelance business in 2007 and am a member of various coaching groups, including the International Coaching Federation. In all these circles, the onus is on friendly collaboration. This makes for longer-lasting relations than simply swapping business cards. Over the years, many of the entrepreneurs, freelancers and small business owners I have met have become my clients, or I theirs, and sometimes both.
Partners of Choice
- Before we even began working on the website, we went to see Florian and Jena at Extra Studio for our headshots, as usual. We walk to the studio, have a chat and a laugh and before we realise what’s happening we have a selection of profile photos to use. We’re always pleased with the result, so we keep going back!
- Aurélie Pécaud of Rhêtorikê and I got to know each other through the Club Business Sarthe ten years ago. We live in the same neighbourhood and often meet in the street. Knowing her aptitude for business strategy, Mike and I turned to Rhêtorikê for advice on how best to orchestrate our service offer.
- Lila and I met at Créapolis when she presented her agency, La Petite Pousse. Her sunny outlook and enthusiasm easily convinced us to entrust her with building our website.
- Thanks to a Créapolis meet-up, I had already visited Air2D3’s (magnificent) offices and studio, so when Lila suggested we have the website photos taken there, we didn’t hesitate. We spent a relaxed afternoon with them and especially appreciated the team’s openness and humility.
A Talent Pool on Our Doorstep
We called on local businesses to relay our message far and wide, because our services can be provided remotely wherever our clients happen to be. It’s easy to work with people close by, but comfort isn’t the only reason we do so. We are proud to say that if you’re near us, there’s no need to look beyond La Sarthe to find skilled people for your marketing and communications. We’ve only cited the people we have worked with for the Choazan website, but we can recommend many more! If you’re looking for the right person in La Sarthe, take advantage of our network. Get in touch!
