Hi Everyone 

Hope You are all well. This is a very different type of Blog post. It’s kinda business related. I guess the basic principles can apply to any small business really. My business is hairdressing and running a salon is my area of expertise. I have really utilised social media and embraced the trends of our time. I’ve been lucky over the last five or six years. Social media has really helped me to raise my profile as a hairdresser and a business lady. I was inspired to write this post after being to a few events lately. I heard some very strong inspiring women talking about their own journeys through social media channels. Joanne Sweeney Burke @tweetsbyJSB is one. So thought I’d give it a whirl  and write my own piece on what has worked for me as a small business owner in recent years. 

Now first let me tell You, I’m no digital expert. I have learned as I went along. Some was trial and error, some was through training courses, reading blogs etc. I learned more from research from building relationships with other digital divas. I watched and learned studying what was been done by social media experts. My lovely friend Jenny Brennan who runs virtual office Worx in Ballinrobe taught me many tricks on Facebook marketing. As did Inke Oates who works for Jenny. We Mayo ladies have to stick together in the digital world. Louise MC Donnell is Enniscrone based and runs 2Market I also picked up some great tips from Meeting with Louise in person and following her busy Facebook page.  Another expert I like to follow is San Diego based Instagram specialist Jen Herman. I enjoy reading Jens blog posts for her Instagram hints and tips. I love Instagram it’s such a positive place full of beautiful images. My favourite Twitter lady has to be Samantha Kelly @tweetingodess Samantha is a social media expert based in Wexford and the founder of #irishbizparty. This is a great Twitter chat on Wednesday nights everyone can get involved by using the hashtag.

 

 
So where did my zest for social media marketing for my hair salon begin??? Well it all began back in 2009 I hadn’t really a clue what I was doing to be honest. I set up a Facebook profile for my salon, called Glam Divas and started adding friends. God I cringe now when I think of it. It wasn’t the polished professional business page I run today. I had a little Kodak camera and I started flying up photos of every upstyle I was doing in the salon. I photographed my products that were for sale. I took pictures of every head of highlights, colour etc You name it, I photographed and uploaded it. The funny thing is it worked a treat my phone was ringing and loads of local ladies were calling and messaging me for appointments. It was brilliant I loved running that profile I used it to show case my work and I got massive support from the ladies in my local town. 

As time went on, I learned more and got better at my Facebook game. I upgraded to an official Business page Called PLATINUM Hairdressing Maria Conneely the same name as my salon. Now I was able to register with google maps and have the exact location saved on the page. You’d be surprised how handy this is for people visiting the area. It’s free to register and I would definitely recommend doing it. Making it easy for customers to find you is a simple step that they will really appreciate. 

 

 
When You decide to put your work out there on the Internet, it’s like an invitation for customers to come into your business. Opening up your world and your skills to the general public can be scary but it’s so worth it. I have met some of the loveliest people through my salon page. I’ve gained loads of followers who have turned into customers and some have turned into friends. I love the relationship I have with the followers of my page. The ladies who follow me are very supportive and have been so kind to me over the years. They came with me on my wedding prep and weightloss journey last year. Congratulated us on our Marraige in March.Some wrote very kind words to me during my Mothers illness and sympathised sincerely when she passed away in August. Some even came to the funeral to show they cared. I really appreciated those kind gestures at a time of great sadness. I also have gotten huge support for my blog which kind of evolved really from my love of Facebook . I’m very thankful to everyone for this. It has been amazing.

The point I am making is building up a good relationship with customers and followers online can really benefit your business. People like to do business with people. Personal branding is important but the personal touch always wins in the end. People will forget what you did but they will always remember how you made them feel. In an age where digital is taking over, I feel as a salon owner We need to embrace this. It goes back to basics really, a kind word,a little bit of advice, good old fashioned craic and banter. Once it was in the local shop or the pub, now we’re doing it from our smartphones. It’s the age old social way just digital. 

Running a Facebook page for a salon  can be great fun. I always ask permission to take photos of the hairstyles. Most people don’t mind. If they do, I won’t take them. Some of the girls love to be featured on my page. If they love their hair and they feel great in it, I’m delighted to show off the work I’ve done. I always feel really proud showing the beautiful hair I’ve created for my clients online. Let’s face it, we all like pretty things. I’m a very visual gal, I like things to look pretty. I love nothing more than making things look beautiful. I love detail, I love to create, to perfect and to share my beautiful work online where it can be seen and appreciated. 

There has been a lot of talk lately about the impact Facebook is having. Especially all the drama over whether to pay or not to pay. I’ve done both and to be honest I don’t think it matters whether you pay or you don’t. If your content is good you will get an impact. A little tool that has always worked for me is scheduling posts. I have always found this helps to boost my posts on the newsfeed. I tend to go with theme days, it can be colours, bridal, blondes, occasion hair or short cuts. Sticking to a theme can help hold the readers interest. I do a series of related posts with ideas on that theme. I like to post every hour over a 10 hour period. So that’s 10 posts related to one subject. If you get an average of 10 likes per post. That increases your reach on the newsfeed. Remember if you are running a local business like I am. Local people are all on Facebook.

Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Snapchat are all great  platforms. Believe me I use and love them all. However the most common social media network is still Facebook. You need to know Your audience and the vast majority of people in Your locality are on Facebook. In the case of a hair salon where you are providing a service and customers need to physically come to your premises to purchase your service Facebook is your only man. Never underestimate the power of word of mouth and in my opinion Facebook is the 2015 version. Friends can tag to alert each other to an interesting post. 

   

  
So as my Facebook page grew I caught the blogging bug. I began writing blog posts for my salon on my website 

PLATINUMHAIRDRESSING  

I loved how I could write a long post with photos and explain exactly what I had done and how to the readers. It was far more detailed and informative than a Facebook post. Of course it was leading readers to my website. Facebook is brilliant for sharing links as readers can click straight I and read the posts. This is not available on snapchat or Instagram as of yet anyway. Most of my traffic still comes from Facebook so never underestimate the power it has to reach your existing or potential customers.

So I was hooked on blogging and in July this year I set up MrsDillonsDiary, a lifestyle blog.  These days I run two  Facebook pages one for PLATINUMHAIRDRESSING one for my blog , I also run two Twitter accounts which I love for networking. Instagram which I adore for all the positive vibes, Pinterest I spend less time on. Snapchat where I share my days in real time.

Into the west blogger network is a great support network for Bloggers and Digital influencers.We have loads of meet ups and keep each other updated on all that’s happening in the digital world. I also attended Blogger Conference in Dublin recently. Attending these events really helps as I always come away with fresh ideas for my blog and online marketing. 

Thank You all for reading this, I know it was a long one and it won’t interest everyone. If you know someone who is struggling with social media for their business please share this post. I’m hoping some of my tips might help others. I appreciate Your continued support without You none of this would be possible. Thanks again.

Love Maria xx

  
Hi Everyone 

Today I’m sharing my simple recipe for Beef Casserole. It’s an oldie but a goody. Sometimes a simple staple family meal is all you need. Especially at this time of year. This is packed with yummy veg so it’s low fat and high flavour. It’s easy to prepare and is warming filling and tasty for these cold dark evenings. It will also freeze very well, so ideal for Meal prep too. I bought all my ingredients in Aldi so it worked out at under €10 all in. I hope You enjoy this recipe let me know how you get on. As always sharing is caring.

Love Maria 

Xx

Ingredients 

1. Packet of diced steak pieces.
2. 1 small turnip
3. 2 parsnips 
4. 5 carrots 
5. 2 onions 
6. 3 beef oxo cubes 
7. 2 cloves of garlic 
8. Thyme, rosemary, black pepper & a sprinkle of salt. 

Method

Chop all the veg and toss into a casserole dish with a little bit of water in the base. 

  
Brown off the steak pieces in a pan with the garlic, onion, thyme, pepper, Rosemary & salt. 
Add the meat into your casserole dish. Melt your 3 oxo cubes in 2 pints of water and pour over the mix stir well. Cover with the lid and place in a hot oven. I used Gas mark 7 for the first 40 minutes. Then I turned it down to gas mark 1 and left it to simmer for 1 hour 30 mins. 

  
This lets the meat get nice and tender. This dish will fill your house with the most divine smell. Just delicious. 

  
About 30 minutes before you are ready to serve dinner steam some potatoes. Potatoes are the perfect partner with this yummy casserole. 

Hi Folks,

Hope You are all Well, I’ve been busy lately getting ready for December. On Sunday I had a lovely day in Dublin at  the Blogger Conference. This is my idea of heaven a great day out with like minded people. I just love going to these meet ups and I always get loads of inspiration and ideas for my blog. It’s lovely to spend time with others that have the same interests as myself. It can be hard at times because some people can’t understand what the “blogging bug” is all about. I often get asked why do you blog?? Isn’t it a lot of work?? Social media addicts like myself don’t see it as work though. We blog because we love it. We document our lives and loves for many different reasons. Some do it to grow their business, or to self motivate, some do it for their love of fashion, food , photography etc. There’s no real rules, if your passionate about it you can blog about it. Either you have the “blogging bug” or You don’t. That’s my view anyway. I certainly have it. So a day of listening to inspiring talks on all things blogging and social media related is pure bliss. 

 

 
The Blogger Conference was held in The Marker Hotel in Dublin. This is a fabulous part of the city and a perfectly apt location. As far as I know this is the social media hub of Ireland. Google and Facebook have offices in the locality. The Marker Hotel is a super cool venue with a great atmosphere. It was a great choice for the event organised by the lovely Emma o Farrell from EOF media in Dublin. 

  
I met up with my lovely friends Amy from Floralesque blog and Sarah  from Siren and Soul. We are all members of Into the west blogger network based in Galway. We also ran into our friends from The creative yoke, blog and Mags style. 

There wereloads of amazing speakers on the day. It was a lot of information but great fun too. I learned loads but it felt like we were all there having the craic. I love when learning and good fun roll in together like that. The day absolutely flew. The hillarious James Butler was MC for the day. If you are not already following him on Snapchat add him ASAP the man is actually hilarious. 

  

We heard from Rachel Dalton who is a PR guru. Jenny Taffe from Izest marketing and got some great tips on personal branding. Jenny and her team look after Pippa O Conner, I often wondered who handled Pippas PR as she has achieved so much and has a following most of us could only dream of. So I was very interested in Jenny’s tips and advice. 

   

 

We also got some legal advice on how to mind ourselves online. This really opened my eyes to the legality of posting online. It’s not just about not writing anything negative about anyone. In a world where we over share all the time, things could get messy. Definitely one to think about. We also heard from Laura Haugh who writes for Mummypages.ie her hints and tips for getting noticed as a writer were very helpful.  The info on Google Adsense was great as I had been a bit baffled by it before. It was great to get an insight. 

 

 Soon it was time to break for lunch as we were all starving after all that heavy concentration. The Marker Hotel looked after us in style with a fabulous spread of yummy sandwiches and treats.

   

 
Barbra Scully was one of my favourites from the day. She was so charming and full of wit. Her talk was very inspiring. Barbra hosts a radio show which is something I’m quite interested in pursuing myself at some stage. I’ve done a few small bits on local radio and I’ve always really enjoyed it. 

We were treated to a Canon camera masterclass with Simeon Quarry this was hillarious  and just brilliant fun. Simeon’s approach to delivering the information to us was so energetic and full of life I didn’t even feel like I was learning at the time. I will definitely remember his tips on lighting and video.

    
  
  
Samantha Kelly otherwise known As tweeting goddess gave us a lovely talk on Twitter. I’m a big fan of Samantha so I was delighted to see her there. I think she’s a brilliant business lady and so down to earth and helpful too.  Later on We heard some great You tube advise. We also heard from the panel of Lifestyle, fitness and travel bloggers. Last speaker of the day was fashion blogger Anouska who was great fun. Her Instagram is to die for. We heard a few of her photography tips. 

  

All in all the day was great fun. I met some lovely people including Karen from Declare Ireland. It was lovely to see Freida from Athlone town Centre again too. Our goodybags were packed full of treats for us to try. As a hairdresser I’m very interested in the Viviscal products from Life’s too good. 

  
   
 
Blogger conference 22/11 was a brilliant day I really enjoyed it and I’m already looking forward to the 2016 event. 

Thank You all for reading and remember Sharing is caring.

Love Maria xx

   
    

Hi Everyone 

Happy Saturday. We received our Christmas order from ALFAPARF yesterday. We had great excitement doing our Christmas window display. The salon feels so festive I just love Christmas. 

  
So here’s what We have in stock for Christmas 2015. We have four different types of gift sets. So for Yourself or someone else We have it covered. Check out the little videos on my Facebook page for a proper look at the sets.

  
    
Semi di Lino Illuminating shampoo, mask and hairbrush sets are €24.99. Suitable for normal hair and gives amazing shine. It’s suitable for any hair type.

  
Semi do Lino disipline sets contain a shampoo, mask and a humidity block spray. This set is suitable for frizzy hair that is difficult to manage. The butter mask is quite heavy so it’s perfect for thick unmanageable hair. €24.99 for this set.

  
These make great Christmas presents. Especially if You get someone in the Secret Santa. Who wouldn’t love some luxurious hair products?? I’m always raving on about it, but good quality products makes hair so much easier to manage. 

 

 
Next Up are two beautiful sets. Once is the “magnifying ” range for hair that is fine in texture. I actually use this myself and I love it. It’s good for short hair as it gives perfect lightweight hydration. It also comes in the “reconstruction ” range which is packed full of protein and is for very damaged hair.These set contains a gorgeous precious oil body wash and body cream. These are slightly more luxurious and come in at €29.99.

 

   
Next is the “moisture set” these contain a shampoo, conditioner and a split ends serum. This is suitable for dry hair. I have used this shampoo in the past and I found it brilliant. It’s very nourishing but again not too heavy. This set is priced at €29.99

  
  
Last but not least We have Professional Salon dryers for €49.99 this is an excellent Christmas present for anyone. It’s also a great investment for Yourself. Everyone needs a proper hairdryer with a nozzle to Blowdry their hair properly. 

  
I hope You enjoyed this post and please share it. You can call into us in the salon anytime to have a look. We are located on Market Sq Castlebar. You can’t miss us with our big pink PLATINUMHAIRDRESSING sign outside. 

Thanks for reading 

Love Maria xx

Hi Everyone 

I had been feeling very de-motivated last week week. I think it’s since the weather changed. It’s so nice to put on the fire and snuggle up on the sofa in the evenings. Sometimes a little chill- out time is good for the soul. There’s times in life when our bodies are telling us to slow down and take some rest. I think November is the perfect time to indulge in a little rest and relaxation before the busy Christmas season kicks in.

I have been doing a little meal prepping .Last December I found it was a lifesaver to have some meals prepared and frozen for the busy times at work. It can be so easy to fall into temptation when I’m up to my eyes. I have filled my freezer with some staple dinners such as spagbol, chicken curry, beef casserole, beef curry. So handy to have at the ready. For anyone who struggles in December I highly recommend doing this. When it comes to the war on fat You need to be two steps ahead of Yourself.

  
  I had a few bad days last week, We had been away for the weekend and it really took me a while to get back to routine. It can be difficult at this time of year when it’s so cold and miserable. It can be easy to slip into comfort food. Especially if I’ve had a few drinks over the weekend I felt so exhausted and lethargic I found it hard to get motivated again. Then I had a head cold aswell so I got no exercise done at all. I didn’t go to my Unislim class either. This made me feel even worse. 

Anyway this is a new week and Yesterday was my first day back on the wagon again after my little break. Once I get one good day under my belt I’m flying it again. Monday meal prep was in full force yesterday. There’s nothing like it and now I feel organised and in control again. 

A photo from my Instagram account. If Your not following me already come on over. I love Instagram I find it so inspiring and it helps put me in a great mood. There’s so many pretty things on Instagram to look at. I always get great ideas for meals on there too. Instagram is all visual, it’s photos instead of status updates. This works very well as there’s a lot of positivity.  The best time to check Instagram is first thing in the morning. Honestly it puts me in a good frame of mind for the day. 

  
I’m following the Unislim plan so I use my own recipes and weigh out the carbs 60g dry pasta or rice per portion. If anyone wants recipes let me know I will do a post on them no problem. 

As always thanks you for reading and please share this post.

Love Maria 

  

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday. As my snap chatters will know I went to Sligo A few weeks ago to get the Impressions done for my Invisalign braces. In layman a terms an impression is like a mould. It’s basically to take an exact copy of the shape of my mouth and teeth. It needs to be so precise so they can make the brace to fit me perfectly. I was very nervous and anxious getting into the chair, there was no need at all. It was totally pain free. I guess I just didn’t really know what to expect.

 

So to explain what actually happens. Well basically a piece of equipment which resembles Lee’s gum sheild for Gaelic, is filled with a soft squidgy material. This was placed inside  my mouth and held firm for a minute or so, top and bottom. It was all over very quickly & I was wondering what I had been nervous about.

Next step was to get my teeth photographed. This has to be so exact for the Invisalign to be accurate. I felt a bit awkward as I had never done this before. Again it was over in two minutes and the girls showed me exactly what to do. Then I had an X-ray of my mouth. Just like the usual ones I’ve had before in the Dentists.
So that was it, very simple and all I have to do now is wait six weeks or so for my Invisalign to arrive.

 

So as always Thank You for reading. If you are unhappy with Your smile I would advise booking in for a Free consultation. If you decide to go with Invisalign you can avail of a discount simply by mentioning MrsDillonsDiary when you call 071 9150860 to book.

Click here for the Facebook page
Sligoanddonegalorthodontics.ie 

Bye for now,

Love Maria xx

Good morning Everyone 

I have teamed up with the fabulous Bowtique lane Cavendish lane Castlebar for this fabulous competition. Bowtique Lane are having their grand opening this Saturday evening 14th November. I for one cannot wait. Are you attending the event?? Let me know I will be there and I would love to meet You on the night. 

  
  
So who has been into the shop?  I have bought a few great items here lately. My street one leather trousers were a great buy I have worn them loads. My cosy winter parka has been keeping me cosy in this freezing weather. 

Anyway here’s the competition, You can win this beautiful Pauls Boutique fantastic handbag. Worth €100. Wouldn’t it be lovely for Christmas. 

  
  
So this competition is a little different, You need to leave Your name and number in store to enter. I think this is a great idea, of course You are going to pop in for a look at all the fabulous clothes available in store. While Your there, just mention this post to Dawn or Tara and leave Your name and number to enter the draw. Easy peasy!

Bowtique Lane Facebook
You can check out this fabulous shop on Facebook too. 

Make Sure You mention Mrs Dillons Diary when You call in to Bowtique Lane. 

As always thanks for reading and best of luck with the competition.

Please like and share and tag your friends so they can enter too.

Love Maria xx

Hi Everyone 

So on Friday I was very busy I spent the morning in Beleek Castle Ballina styling a beautiful bridal party. My snapchat followers will have already seen a little bit of the castle. I had been there once before years ago . I was Blown away by the place. Log fires and candles burning it was just fabulous. The bedrooms are all really modern and luxurious. I’ve heard loads of great reports on the food too. Beleek castle is definitely on my Wishlist for dinner and a romantic getaway soon. 

On Friday morning it was down to business. I arrived at the castle shortly after 8am and we got to work. We had the beautiful bride Sarah her gorgeous bridesmaids , her lovely Mum and two little princesses to style. I really enjoyed Styling Sarah and her bridal party. It was great fun. 

  

Sarah’s bridal hair was all her own ideas. I loved that she was so clear on what she wanted. Sarah has her own style and this look was evident in her theme on the day. I remember being like that for my own wedding too . We created this look by  pin curling Sarah’s hair the night before for extra volume, I started by braiding the back section first. Poor Sarah had a creek in her neck while I was trying to get this right. Braiding has never been my forte, but I managed it fine on the day. 

  
Next I used clip in extensions to create a detailed high bun with soft curls falling out from the top. I kept the sides clean and side swept the top sections keeping Sarah’s natural parting. I really loved this bridal look. It was different to any bridal hair I had done in the past. Refreshingly fabulous. 

The fabulous Michelle Anderson did the make up. It was my first time working with Michelle and let me tell you she is one talented lady

Michelleandersonmakeup.com

  
I also got to meet two lovely ladies from Dublin they were photographers for the Day. Check them out here.

Pritzelphotography.com 

 

  

For the Bridesmaids we kept a rustic theme  incorporating the braids. 

  

We went with princess style buns for the two little ladies. 

  

  

Thanks Sarah and your lovely bridal party for having me as Your hairdresser for Your big day . The pleasure was all mine. Best wishes to Yourself and Your new husband in Your married life. 

  
So as always thanks you for reading and don’t forget to hit that share button. 

Bye for now 

Love Maria xx
  

 

Hi Everyone 

I’m doing a series of Wishlists on the blog over the coming weeks. I’m trying to source as many local little gems as possible. It great to shine the spotlight on what We have available here in Castlebar. I’m not really a huge fan of buying online unless I know the brand and sizing very well. I really need to try things on and see them in person, but that’s just me. Today I stopped by The Closet link road in Castlebar. I love this shop as they do Vero Moda, it’s great to have this brand in Castlebar. 

  
  
I spotted this beautiful Clutch bag today. It is definitely on my Wishlist. Along with this fabulous envelope style bag with a jewelled cuff.

  
Everyone knows that handbags are my weakness. Take note Mr Dillon my Wishlist is getting long. 

  
 
I loved this Vero Moda cosy coat. I already have a winter coat but this caught my eye. This granite coloured Jumper dress is a winter wardrobe staple. It feels heavy and really good quality material. A piece like this will never date. I’ve been seeing this colour everywhere. I love it. It’s just as flattering as black but is a little edgier. Very 2015.
  
I did  buy  something from The Closet to wear to a wedding this weekend. I’m going to keep it as a surprise to be revealed over the weekend. We are off to The Armada hotel in Spanish point Co. Clare. Keep an eye on my Snapchat over the weekend.

  

As always folks thanks for reading. If you like any of these items let me know. Please share this post if You find it helpful. If You know of a local shop with some amazing pieces get in touch maria@mrsdillonsdiary.ie or get me on Facebook or Snapchat. Bye for now,

Love Maria xxx

Hi folks,

Hope you are all well. It’s hard to believe November is here. It has been such a crazy year for me. Sometimes I feel like my head is spinning with all that changed for me this year. Anyway Christmas is coming. It will be here before We know it. 

  

November is s great time to knuckle down with healthy eating and exercise. The weather is so fresh at the moment it’s great to be able to get out for walks. I also started doing this DVD at home. It’s very handy as I don’t have to leave the house. Especially as it gets dark so early now. There’s a warm up first then the workout is broken up into 3 minute sessions. There’s 12 rounds to complete and then a cool down. The moves are fairly simple punches, knee raises etc progressing onto to lunges, squats,  and ab work. I only made it to round 8 yesterday but today I did all 12. I’m a bit sore, I can feel the burn already so it must have done something. I will keep you posted on how I’m getting on. 

So what have I been eating?? Well I’m still going to Unislim I lost 1 &1/2 lb last week. I have a lot on my mind lately, so it’s even harder. But I keep telling myself junk food won’t help me. Eating clean and nourishing my body the right way will help. 

  

A few of the breakfasts I’ve been having lately. All Unislim friendly of course.   
 

 
  

On Monday I had a little look around the shops & met a friend for lunch. O Briens is a favourite of mine as there’s loads of healthy options available. I usually go for the gentle spiced chicken salad with a slice of soda bread instead of the foiaccia to save a few calories.  You can always make healthy choices when out and about. A little tip of mine is to go online and have a browse of the menu before You go. This helps me to make a better decision. Avoiding places that serve chips helps too. Out of sight out of mind.

Another good trick I learned when I was attending Motivation in Castlebar about giving in to temptation was. Ask yourself what are you saying yes or no to?? For example if you say Yes to the chips today, You are saying No to wearing your favourite outfit at the weekend. I always remember that when I think about giving in to junk food. Is it worth it?? Not really, I’d much rather have the salad today and wear that great outfit at the weekend. 

So on that’s it for today folks.

If you enjoyed this post please share it.

Thanks for reading,

Love Maria Xxx