Using digital strategies to grow your business. Sarah O’Connor share’s insights at AIB Digitalisation Breakfast

By @SimonCocking. Insightful interview with Sarah O’Connor From Cork, live in Dublin, #loveireland co-founder of @coolbeancompany interested in entrepreneurship, travel, food and craic

1 min pitch for what you are doing now?

Right now we are relaunching as Cool Foods to allow us to broaden out our product ranges within our company pillars of taste, health and convenience. We want to bring products to people which make their lives easier and their diets better across the chilled, ambient. drinks and utensils categories.

What are your plans for 2017?

For 2017 we are focusing on our chilled range extension and will be launching a new full meal solution product, Cool Beans and Spuds which is all natural, gluten free, dairy free and only 1 syn on slimming world! We are also working on a new drinks range which is low in sugar and contains all natural ingredients.

Amazing weather for a day out in the @NissanIreland beanmobile visiting @SuperValuIRL #nissangennext #foodacademy pic.twitter.com/Ag9BFQRIO1

— Cool Bean Company (@CoolBeanCompany) April 10, 2017

Why were you interested in talking about your digital presence at this event? 

Our digital personality across multiple platforms is key to our business. I wanted to share some insights into how we create and manage content and the move towards video as the must have online content.

What inspired you to attend it?

We bank with AIB and they have been amazing supporters to us as a business so we were happy to give back to other businesses who might take a nugget or some helpful advice from what we have to say. This area constantly evolves so it is great to get out and meet people, share learnings and network.

Brilliant to see so many customers join us in Swords for our Digital Event with @SimonCocking @markbrennan_ and @sarah17eoy #backedbyAIB ? pic.twitter.com/0hwfK4ny9i

— AIB Business (@AIBBiz) April 6, 2017

How was 2016, what worked well, what didn’t move as quickly as you would have liked?

2016 was a year of learning, lots of new platforms gathered traction and old platforms changed the goalposts. With algorithms becoming more and more sophisticated it costs more to reach your target audience unless you create truly viral content. We invested in hiring a full time digital marketeer and that has worked extremely well however the barrier to reach new audiences in terms of cost has been a huge challenge and continues to be into 2017.

Thanks so much @AIBIreland @AIBBiz for having us this morning with @SimonCocking asking all the tough questions ?? pic.twitter.com/7rI89daHmd

— Cool Bean Company (@CoolBeanCompany) April 6, 2017

Which influencers and websites do you follow to keep up to date with the latest developments?

I think anyone in Ireland involved in digital needs to follow the big social stars to see what content is attracting viewers so the likes of The Happy Pear, Pippa O’Connor, James Kavanagh, The White Moose cafe, Marissa Carter are all must follows.

How can people find out more about what you are working on?

You can follow us on any of our social media platforms
www.coolbeans.ie
www.facebook.com/coolbeanco
Twitter: @coolbeancompany
Instagram: @coolbeancompany
Snapchat: coolbeanco

Anything else you’d like to add / we should have asked?

Be open to new trends and don’t be afraid to fail. Dont say a platform doesn’t suit your brand, make the channel suit your brand as if customers are on it then you have to be on it.

If you would like to have your company featured in the Irish Tech News Business Showcase, get in contact with us at [email protected] or on Twitter: @SimonCocking