Updated 17/09/09

I have been effectively using LinkedIn for about 3-4 months; it’s a super networking and business development tool. If you do not have a LinkedIn profile - well you should have? Here is a list of some of the Irish LinkedIn groups that I am a member of - to join a group, just click on the name.

If you are a founder or member of a group that you feel should be included – please let me know @ nialldevitt[at]btbtraining.com

Sales Leadership Ireland

This is the group I founded and you guessed it - its focus is selling in Ireland. Sales Leadership Ireland is a new group that aims to help Irish B2B sales people network and discuss all things related to “selling in Ireland”

SOCIAL MEDIA IRELAND

The second group I manage on LinkedIn. it’s for anyone that is interested in learning about using social media tools to effectively and organically grow business -
Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn etc

Irish Software CEOs

This group is for Irish Software CEOs with experience to share and have high-growth aspirations for their businesses. From early stage to global domination, how does a software company grow through the stages. How can Enterprise Ireland / IDA help? What are they good at and what should people expect?

Paddytech

Paddytech is a new group on that aims to connect Irish ICT executives within Ireland and those overseas interested in keeping abreast of the Irish marketplace

OpenCoffee Ireland

Self-organising business meet-up group with members in all major Irish cities such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

Ireland Business and Professional Network

Ireland Business and Professional Network is the leading business and professional network in Ireland, bringing together experienced, sophisticated private investors and professionals with exciting, early-stage, high growth companies.

121 Marketing Network Ireland

This is a group for Ireland-based Marketing professionals to discuss marketing ideas, industry trends and help people find other marketing experts. Connect with friends, colleagues, alumni, and develop new marketing contacts. Check the notice board for 121 Marketing Network Ireland associated marketing events in your area and meet up with other like-minded professionals.

121 Business Network Ireland

This group is for Ireland-based business professionals to discuss ideas, industry trends & help people find other experts. Connect with friends, colleagues, alumni & develop new business contacts. This is a platform to interact with your peers.

Irish American Business Network

The IABN is founded on the cultural and historical contributions Irish descendents throughout North America. Using a light hearted approach, we seek to use our collective experiences and insights to further our social, professional, and individual pursuits.

Irish Executives

Networking group for Irish business people abroad with close ties to Ireland and want to see it continue to thrive. The aim of the group is to share business connections, ideas, job or consulting opportunities with Irish folks first.

Irish Business Association

The Irish Business Association is a group of professionals and business owners committed to promoting business relationships and personal interaction within the Irish-American business community based upon a shared heritage.

IT Ireland

Group of IT Irish professionals and people working in IT in Ireland.

Freelance Ireland

Brand new LinkedIn group dedicated to freelancers based in Ireland (and anyone looking for freelancers). Find Job postings, participate in discussions, read news and reviews, show your work and expand your professional contacts.

SME Links Ireland

This Group is for Owner-managers / Senior managers of irish SMEs and specialist consultants working within the SME space. Its intention is to allow members to share ideas, gather information, express opinions and concerns, and to make contacts. It is an opportunity to discuss issues, explore opportunities and learn from best practice.

HR Ireland

HR Ireland - HR Network Group run by HR Professionals for HR Professionals in Ireland and Europe. Network of HR Professionals in Ireland and Europe to share and discuss people topics.

Mise Éire (I am Ireland)

Ok, so not a strictly business focused group but well worth a mention not the less. Mise Eire is a varied group of Irish and Irish diaspora. The topics of discussion include politics of all kinds, ancestry, history, music, recipes, humor… and there’s even a virtual pub that’s just shoy of having 15,000 posts in just the past four months! A great bunch, and great craic!

Irish Twitter User Group

Irish Twitter Users on LinkedIn

This is a meet event organised by the Sales Leadership Ireland LinkedIn Group. This is a not-for-profit initiative.

When: Wed, 03 Jun, 2009, Start time: 07:00 - End time: 09:00      Cost: 15 Euro

Where: Burlington Hotel, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4 ireland. View on Map.

Des: A practical look at how companies and sales people might respond to the current challenges and opportunities in the market.

SECTION 1: Interactive sessions with Speakers (45 minutes)

1) Introduction to Sales Leadership Ireland
- Niall Devitt, Beyond the Boardroom Training

2) “Removing the New Bottlenecks in today’s Sales Processes” – 10 minutes
Niall Devitt will lead a discussion on how sales challenges are always changing with changing markets, how to identify these changes and how to respond.

3) “Partnering into New Markets” – 10 minutes
Donagh Kiernan of Maidsfield Associates will present a case study of how corporate partnering is an effective method of entering new sectoral or regional markets.

4) “Engaging with Customers through New Media” – 20 minutes
Damien Mulley of Mulley Communications will discuss how new media can be used to communicate with your market and gain new business.

SECTION 2: Key Challenges Roundtables (1 hour)

Maximum attendees 30 – 3 round tables of 10

A number of identified Key Challenges in the industry today will be discussed and debated to share insights on how challenges can and are be met by members. The key challenges will be collected from the Sales Leadership Ireland - Linked-In Discussion Group.

Structure:
a) Introduce identified “Key Challenges” – (5 Minutes)

b) One “Key Challenge” will be assigned to each roundtable. Each table will select a spokesperson to chair a discussion and collect suggested actions to meet these challenges, taking notes on a flipchart page (30 Minutes)

c) Each table’s spokesperson will present their findings to the whole group (30 Minutes)

d) Session Summary and Close

COFFEE & NETWORKING

A session report will be submitted to the Sales Leadership Ireland LinkedIn Group Discussion

SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT HERE

I have been very busy of late, so apologies for not posted sooner. I just noticed that we passed 100 blog posts - didn’t see that coming. A BIG thank you to everyone that contributed and I plan to write a post soon, on what I have learned about blogging for business – but enough of that for now though!

Sales Leadership Ireland Update

Mr Joe Hussey, Principle at Via Consulting, just became our 100th member. Thank you to Joe and all the members for making SLI a success thus far. The group is still very much a baby in terms of age, but there seems to be a collective appetite for a sales specific type networking group. I am involved in ongoing discussions with the members as to what shape they would like SLI to take. These discussions thus far, have focused on three needs/aspects.

1. Off-line Networking Activities including Talks from experts.
2. On-line Networking Activities built around Focused Webinars
3. Strategic Partnerships, both National and International.

You can join and get involved with Sales Leadership Ireland @ http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/1860441/