Business show lures Swansea media folk ... and others!

Well done to Swansea radio blogger Mike Leahy for his efforts in staging the Swansea Business Show 2010.
It took place on Friday at the LC and brought out a few notable media individuals.
They included the South Wales Evening Post business reporter Rupe "The Scoop" Hall, editions of the new-look Carmarthenshire Life magazine and a dynamo from further east, Prabhjote Chada.
The latter is an interesting fella, new to many on the Swansea media circuit.
He seems to have more energy than the National Grid and more ideas than a Government think-tank.
In media terms, he's involved with community broadcaster Radio Cardiff. He broadcasts on the subjects to business and gadgets-made-simple ... and he's doing a good job by all accounts.
Prab's also launched Cardiff Business Online, a directory with a difference. Check out the funky logo right here.
An honourable mention, too, for others listed in the show's  guidebook.
They all helped to stage a colourful and varied show. Well done on all your efforts ... and don't forget where to come if you need to publicise your enterprise further - or if you need writing or newsletter services of any description.
They included: AIMS Accountancy for Business, Aquatherm Plumbing and Heating, Atech Graphics, Barry Training Services, Beach Software, Biz Mobiles, BNI, BCS Media, Business Sense, Call Catchers, Celtic Wine, Chwarae Teg, Clickbridge, Costco, Colourbox, Compare Wales, CTS Engineering, Davies and Co accountants, Dragon Innovation, Dividend Training, Dylan Thomas Experience, Dynamic Rock, E-crime Wales, 4 Networking, the Federation of Small Businesses, Flexible Support for Small Business, Giles Insurance, Green Dragon Energy, Inspiration, IntroBiz, ISO in a Box, Jakson Lee, LEAD Wales, Life Photography, Mac Guru Wales, Noremac Hygiene, NFU Mutual Insurance, Photographs Of, Ramada Jarvis Hotel, SIFE Bright Futures, Star in a Jar, Stupid Tuesdays, Swansea Business College, Swansea College, Swansea University American Football team, Sue Preston Hypnotherapy, Taybarns, Teimlo, Total Building Controls, Trevor Lewis Signs, Utility Warehouse, Valley design, Veritas Language Solutions, The Steven Williams Practice, the Welsh Business Show, Wolfestone Translation and the Zaal restaurant.

Swansea broadcast blast for Mike, Olly, Chris & Steve

Sketty broadcast phenomenon Mike Leahy is ploughing on energetically with his fledgling blog radio show In Town Today.
He broadcasts every Thursday from 7-8pm and the show can be enjoyed after that by download.
The latest features news from the Uplands Diner, home of The Beast breakfast, a frank chat with Swansea Council leader Chris Holley over budget cuts and some verse from Olly the Uplands street poet.
Olly's charming first poem begins: "The small, quiet village settles down, only protected by the stars/ The women make the suppers as the men put away the cars/ The lights disappear into the night as the village soundly sleeps."
There's a splendid interview with Steve Balsamo (pictured), lead singer of Swansea band The Storys who plan a rousing farewell gig at the Grand Theatre this June.
He tells Mike: "I grew up listening to my dad's favourite, Mario Lanza, and my mother's country choices like Jim Reeves. I was greatly influenced by that mix."
Tune in!

Photo: Terry Morris Photography

Swansea Bay's sounding good for Mike

Listen out for a new edition of Blog Talk Radio's In Town Today, presented by Swansea's own Mike Leahy.
It's due to air via the internet today (Thursday) at 7pm.
It's an interesting concept, this broadcasting on a shoestring - and Mike tells me he's thrilled with the way it's going.
His eclectic range of interviewees ranges from an author reading part of her book nude on the radio - the full frontispiece, I assume - to a member of staff at London's oldest restaurant.
You can catch all the shows Mike's done so far on the relevant web page.
As a marketing tool it's clever because it's memorable, interactive and thoroughly engaging. It's a lot of work to put together a talk-radio show like this but our man is getting more accomplished by the week.
Keep up the good work, Mike.
Incidentally, if you're a Swansea Bay business which fancies a bit of publicity, give me a shout on 07758 745 240. I'll put you onto the man himself.

Swansea Bay media - snapshot survey coming

Business operators from across Swansea Bay will be at Neath RFC on Tuesday (http://bit.ly/9KNVtz)... and I'll be asking them to complete a local media survey.
With the increasing fragmentation of the Swansea area's print, broadcast and online scene, it'll be interesting to see how folk feel.
I suspect there'll be a lot of confusion; there's a lot of media out there now with many, many ways of advertising and lots of barriers to editorial content.
However, let's ask the people who count first - the readers and advertisers.
Here's a taster of the questions I'll be asking:

• What's the most effective Swansea Bay publicity vehicle for your enterprise?
• What are the biggest hurdles to getting a story about your enterprise into the local media?
• Why don’t you pay to advertise in the local media?
• Would you be happy to run a low-cost promotion in the local media?

Tuesday's Kick Start Your Business event begins at 11am with addresses from JCP solicitors (http://www.jcpsolicitors.co.uk/), marketing man Mike Leahy (http://www.intowntoday.co.uk/), and Flexible Support for Business (http://bit.ly/bhMmrM) duo Clare Hale and Vicky Griffiths.
Lunch at 1pm brings networking opportunities. Lots more chat after that, no doubt.
More details from Tourism Swansea Bay (http://www.tourismswanseabay.co.uk/) - 01792 403339 / 07854 464648.

Mike the mic - Swansea's smallest media mogul

You can't keep a good man down - and Mike Leahy resides in that category.
The energetic Sketty marketeer runs what is possibly Swansea's smallest media operation.
Every Thursday from 7pm he lavishes upon the internet an hour-long show called In Town Tonight - http://www.intowntoday.co.uk/.
Being new to radio-blogging (and you're not alone there, Mike) the show has a few creases to iron out. He's refreshingly up front about that.
There are some genuinely interesting individuals and tales on In Town Tonight.
I recommend that those with a new product or service to flog, go on the show - Mike will welcome you because he understands that humanity makes for maximum texture to his output.
This week's effort is due to reveal that Mike is making rapid progress in developing the show's content. The line-up features:
• The musical Russian Orthodox priest
• Conversation from Rules, one of London's oldest restaurants - http://www.rules.co.uk/
• Swansea artist Martin Williams on working for the World Health Organisation
• Young film-makers
• Rag week with medical students
• The "naked writer" who reveals all
• Encouragement from Spencer Kelly, of BBC technology show Click - http://bit.ly/XTQ8V
• A competition from Taybarns - http://bit.ly/auPtHC.
And don't worry if you're out and about when the show airs - you can always log on and enjoy the recorded version whenver you like.

Swansea Bay media scene welcomes web show

Anybody who aims to big up Swansea Bay with a new media idea is to be applauded.
And Mike Leahy falls into that category.
The "Sketty entrepreneur" as the South Wales Evening Post like to call him has launched his own online radio show In Town Today - and it's worth a listen.
Mike himself admits that it's a little rough at the edges at this early stage, but that's no reason to decry his effort and energy.
The broadcasts specialise in promoting local enterprise and that's no bad thing. If you want to talk business, give Mike a shout - he's eager to hear from those keen to appear as guests.
To find out more and the download his shows, go to www.blogtalkradio.com/intowntoday.
And, Mike ... good luck, sir!