Two practical workshops to help you reach the right people and turn more interest into income.

Helping businesses improve visibility, generate demand and convert enquiries into customers through practical marketing & sales techniques.

Attract Customers & Increase Sales

Date: Thursday 4th February 2027

Time: 9am - 1pm

Location: Freedom Works - The Palace Workspace, 1-3 Robertson Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1HN

Ideal for: Sole traders, early-stage businesses and micro businesses operating in East Sussex

Format: In-person | Practical | Interactive | Peer learning

Cost: Fully funded for East Sussex businesses

About this event

Most businesses need a steady flow of customers, but marketing and sales can feel difficult to manage when time and budgets are limited.

You may be posting on social media without seeing results, relying heavily on referrals or receiving enquiries that do not consistently turn into work.

This event brings together two complementary workshops covering the complete journey from attracting attention to securing a customer.

Practical Marketing That Works will help you identify the right audience, sharpen your message and focus on realistic marketing activity.

From Interest to Income will then help you manage enquiries, communicate value, follow up confidently and guide potential customers towards a decision.

Meet your speakers

Workshop C

Alex Ryan, Marketing 101

Alex Ryan is a marketing strategist, speaker, podcaster & DJ. He is the founder of several businesses including the agency Marketing 101 and alcohol brand Vermouth Actually, as well as the Chair of Gaydio (the world’s biggest queer radio station). He has over 15 years of experience helping businesses improve visibility, attract customers and grow through effective marketing. Alex works with businesses across a range of industries and is known for delivering practical, no-jargon marketing advice that businesses can implement immediately.

Workshop D

Ric Hayden, LearningCog Ltd

Ric is the founder of LearningCog, and has years of experience in Learning and Development, coaching, and consulting. He has worked with gloabl corporations and small to medium-sized businesses, focusing on strategic and operational organisational development. His expertise spans business management, logistics, customer operations, sales, and service, with a strong track record in turnaround and change management.

Workshop C: Practical Marketing That Works

Marketing does not need to mean being everywhere, posting constantly or spending large amounts of money.

This workshop will help you focus on the customers you want to reach, the messages most likely to connect with them and the marketing channels that make sense for your business.

You will begin developing an approach that is practical, focused and manageable.

What we’ll cover

Understanding your ideal customers

Clarifying what makes your business valuable

Communicating your offer clearly

Choosing appropriate marketing channels

Websites, social media and email marketing

Creating relevant and useful content

Planning consistent marketing activity

Measuring what is working

You’ll leave with

Clearer marketing priorities

A stronger understanding of your target customers

Ideas for improving your business message

A manageable marketing plan

Practical actions you can implement immediately

Workshop D: From Interest to Income

Generating interest is important, but it does not automatically result in a sale.

This workshop focuses on what happens after someone discovers your business. You will explore how to respond to enquiries, understand customer needs, explain your value and follow up without feeling uncomfortable or overly sales-focused.

The aim is to create a clear, confident and repeatable customer journey.

What we’ll cover

Mapping the journey from first contact to purchase

Responding effectively to enquiries

Asking useful questions

Understanding customer needs

Communicating value rather than competing only on price

Discussing pricing with confidence

Responding to questions and objections

Creating a consistent follow-up process

Reviewing and improving conversion

You’ll leave with

A clearer sales process

Greater confidence in customer conversations

Practical ways to communicate value

A more structured approach to follow-up

Actions to help convert more enquiries into customers

Why are these workshops paired?

Marketing creates awareness and interest. Sales helps turn that interest into income.

The two workshops have been paired so you can examine the whole customer journey-from first attracting the right audience through to converting an enquiry into paying work.

Who should attend?

This event is suitable for business owners who:

Want to attract more customers

Are unsure which marketing activity to prioritise

Find it difficult to communicate what makes their business different

Receive enquiries but do not always convert them

Lack confidence discussing prices

Want a more consistent approach to sales and follo

Description supplied by the event organiser.