Business of Software Conference coming to Ireland May 2016

By @SimonCocking

Great interview with Joseph Glover who will be bringing the Business of Software Conference to Ireland this May.

Brief background about you?

I’m the Head of Marketing at The BLN (Business Leaders Network), based in Cambridge, England. I’ve been here a year now after shifting from a previous life in SAP Consultancy. (Despite these horrible titles, I promise I’m a nice guy!) My interests outside of work include soccer, triathlons, cooking and being a shameless gamer.

What inspired you to run this event?

Business of Software has been running for ten years in the USA now. It was initially started by Neil Davidson, Co-Founder of Redgate Software. Neil was in a position where he was finding it difficult to find a community for software leaders who were already running successful businesses and were ready to take the next step up, as opposed to start-up or coders events. So he started one himself.

Since then, Business of Software has grown into a respected bi-annual event with conferences in the USA and Europe. We keep the event small (limited to 300 people) so guests actually get the chance to realistically meet people who could help them grow their business or provide support in the future.

Why it will be helpful for people to attend. What will they get out of it?

We enable software companies to scale up in two different ways.

First, we curate a line up of some of the most thoughtful software leaders in the world to speak. We’re a non-technical conference where software founders, managers, entrepreneurs, and leaders can gather to learn about the business side of software. This means topics such as marketing, culture, mental health, lifestyle, acquisitions and more are spoken about by respected leaders such as Seth Godin, Joel Spolsky, Dharmesh Shah, Rand Fishkin, and Kathy Sierra.

Second, It’s about providing a place where software leaders can feel safe to learn in an environment which encourages listening over boastfully shouting. By keeping the atmosphere relaxed and capped at a small number, Business of Software encourages real human conversation and interaction. The audience is always of a high quality and willing to help others with their problems. It would be unusual for you to leave the conference without a few new allies who can really help you in the future.

The Powerscourt hotel in County Wicklow really represents a Software Leaders ‘retreat’. Somewhere they can get out the business for a couple of days and actually take the time to reflect on things they should know around the people who could help them grow.

#Innovate. But on your #customer's terms. @Ulwick explains how. https://t.co/Xi5zmgtQLr pic.twitter.com/hNdaQhheeE

— Business of Software (@bosconference) January 12, 2016

What does your business do?

We’re completely focused on producing these events – although there are only three a year, maintaining quality takes a lot of work! We produce Business of Software in the USA (12-14 September) and Europe (16-17 May), and the IoT Forum (9-10 March) in Cambridge

Your tips for people looking to do well on social media?

I think the thing above all else when using social media for corporate purposes is to be human and provide value.

Social media in it’s essence is a platform for personal interactions with each other. I think companies which try to use it in a standardised fashion when interacting with customers are missing a trick. Each social media conversation should be as unique as the person you are having it with.

With regard to value, is someone has taken the time to follow you and show interest in what you are saying, make sure it is worth their time. Provide content that will make them better people, not try and make yourself look good. One of our speakers summed it up perfectly with the phrase ‘what can I do to make my customer feel badass?’

How do you battle the ever changing world of #SEO? Listening to @randfish is a great start https://t.co/FUuhCLaiCA pic.twitter.com/Vy5X2tkIu5

— Business of Software (@bosconference) January 7, 2016

Without naming names what avoidable mistakes have you seen companies make with their social media strategy?

When interacting with corporations online I can’t stand it if I get a standard reply back. The whole point of social is that it is a human interation. If I feel like I am being pushed through a computer system, it does make me feel worse.

The second thing to remember is it is always about the customer. The worst phrase in marketing today is ‘we’re so excited’. This is as it looks inwards to the company and the fact they are excited about something they have done – it’s a virtual equivalent to giving yourself a pat on the back and taking a celebratory selfie. Explain why the customer should be interested by the product and how it will make their life better. If you can’t do this, then why are you trying to sell this product?

Running your own business is also tough, how do you manage the work /life, online / offline balance?

It’s a constant juggling act. I work in a very small team with the founder of the company and one other. By setting clear boundries and having other hobbies that keep me busy, it allows me to unwind and stop reaching for that email app on my phone.

My daily reminder to make #customers the focus of #marketing, not the #product features. #badass pic.twitter.com/vxan5Lhcq3

— Joseph Glover (@josepheglover) October 26, 2015

Who has inspired you?

The person I admire most are two strong characters from my childhood. My dad and my grandad. My dad because despite his job, he always made time for us and we never felt his work was in the way. My grandad because he lived an interesting life.

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

I’d love to meet as many people in the Dublin Software and Tech scene as possible. Please feel free to drop me a message at [email protected] at any time.

Our website is businessofsoftware.org. The conference will be held on 16-17 May at the Powerscourt Hotel. Tickets are available soon, sign up for updates to be first in line when they’re released at businessofsoftware.org/updates.

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