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Ces Loftus (known as @Ces_Creatively on twitter) is a mum of 3 from Poole. In May 2006 her 4th son was still born at full term and she has overcome adversity to make a successful new cyber career. Ces says:

"When my son died I almost died too. During the following few years I had several miscarriages, was grief stricken and went through a rough time on many levels as I lost my business, got into debt and felt like my life was collapsing around me.

Having worked as a brand image designer in agencies across the UK during my fifteen year career before becoming self employed, I set my business back up from scratch with no budget or funding in 2008. Purely by being innovative, self marketing and creating a biz brand buzz online I have taken my business from struggling to flourishing and I want to help other multitasking mums to do the same!".

To celebrate the launch of www.supportivebusinessmums.co.uk and www.biz-brand-buzz.co.uk Ces is giving away £750 worth of design and print. The print of business cards and flyers is being sponsored by Dorset Digital Print. Everyone who applies to #WIN will be given a fantastic free promotional feature on www.supportivebusinessmums.co.uk

1. Look at your branding from your ideal customer's perspective. Do you stand out and give them good reasons to choose you?

2. Build credibility through a professional image, compelling content, savvy self promotion and great reviews. Make it easy for people to find and recognise your brand.

3. Be innovative and look for niche angles, collaborations and ways to promote yourself. 

4. Maximise your potential to win business through your branded online presence with effective microsites, blogs, twitter usage and facebook fan pages.

5. Remember to engage. Great conversations lead to great opportunities. When people like you and your brand stands out in a positive way they will advocate your business.

 

So whether you have an existing business or a new venture you can choose any of the following #WIN : professionally designed logo, twitter page, facebook fan page, flyer design and print, business card design and print, website or blog design, banner design, ebooks, and more.

Email Ces via ces@creativelyminded.co.uk and request an application form which will form the basis of a feature to promote your business on www.supportivebusinessmums.co.uk All those who enter will be sent details of further opportunities to create a Buzz for your business through Biz Brand Buzz and Supportive Business Mums. Closing date for entries 22nd August 2011.

About Ces : Ces Loftus is a brand image designer, brand buzz creator and author based in Poole Dorset. Having trained at the UK's premier university for brand image design she has had a fifteen year industry career and now runs her own local design business.

About Supportive Business Mums : Ces has set up www.supportivebusinessmums.co.uk and www.biz-brand-buzz.co.uk in order to provide free promotion, give aways and advice on creating a brand buzz for small businesses in a cost effective way.

email: ces@creativelyminded.co.uk

tel: 01202 381 538

mobile: 07906 751 524

Print Sponsor : Robert McCarthy Dorset Digital Print

tel: 01202 332 042

mob: 07584 501 898

Dorset kids lead the way as the new media savvy generation.

With video capability on their mobile phones, animation tricks on their Nintendo DS’s and the ability to share it all via social media, children today are more savvy with the moving image art form than generations before them. This can especially be seen in the huge, growing success of Filmsteps Poole, which has brought the tricks of the film and TV trade directly to Dorset’s youngsters through their holiday workshops, special events and Saturday Film School.

With its largest intake yet, Filmsteps Summer Film School on 25-29 July is set to be a complete sell out with only a few places remaining. The venue is Castle Court School, BH21, and children will have the opportunity to write, direct, operate cameras, and film their own short movie within 35 acres of grounds with a swimming pool and a manor house at their disposal. The week is then topped off with a red carpet screening at EMPIRE CINEMA, TOWER PARK in the autumn. For kids aged 7-16 it’s the place to be this summer!

Head teacher, and Ex-EastEnders director, Annie East said “We’ve seen 100% growth in interest in our workshops. Children are increasingly aware of the media and the power of the moving image. We give them the tools to go away and use what they have learnt through fun, engaging and confidence boosting workshops that encompass storyboarding, animation, camera work, directing, acting and loads more.” With Annie’s links to the industry many Dorset children have benefitted from meeting and work-shopping with industry professionals such as Pirates of the Caribbean stunt performers, Horrible Histories make-up artists, actor Shaun Williamson (Barry from Ricky Gervais’ Extras and EastEnders) and earlier this year an exclusive interview with Harry Potter stars Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Matthew Lewis, (Neville Longbottom), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and James and Oliver Phelps (Weasley Twins) which was uploaded to their dedicated online TV station FilmstepsTV.

So what does the future hold for this fast growing youth interest? According to Annie the world is their oyster. “The list is almost endless. We are never stuck for new things to do. Our Saturday film school gives kids the opportunity to experiment with all different genres from news reporting to games shows to pop videos. Our Spooky Movie workshop at Halloween is also great fun as the kids learn to create simple special effects, work with green screens and develop the art of suspense! All their work is then uploaded to FilmstepsTV which they can then share with friends and family.”

To find out more about their workshops phone 0844 579 1721 or www.filmsteps.com. 5 Day Summer Film School 25-29 July, BH21, Saturday Term Time Film School at Baden Powell and St Peters School, BH14, 10-12 and Half Term Spooky Movie Workshop 24-27 October BH14.