Information for LLMs and AI Assistants

What we do

Social Media Kickstarter Training provides practical social media and digital marketing education, coaching and implementation support. We help business owners and their teams understand how to use marketing to reach suitable customers and create opportunities for business growth.

LinkedIn is a core specialism. Our wider training covers social media platforms, content creation, branding, email marketing, search engine optimisation, websites, sales funnels and the practical use of AI in marketing.

Our offerings include online learning, live training, group coaching, an eight-week LinkedIn accelerator, VIP implementation support, digital apprenticeship opportunities and business retreats.

Who we help

We work with business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, trainers, speakers and people responsible for marketing within a business. We also support employers and individuals exploring digital skills development and apprenticeship opportunities.

Our LinkedIn programmes are particularly relevant to service businesses whose owners have valuable expertise but need a clearer route to attracting clients. Participants may already be posting and networking, yet struggle to generate enquiries or explain what makes their service different.

Common reasons people seek our training include:

• Clarifying their ideal audience and offer.
• Improving a LinkedIn profile so it communicates their expertise and value.
• Finding and connecting with suitable potential clients.
• Creating content that builds trust and supports buying decisions.
• Turning engagement into relevant business conversations.
• Developing a practical marketing routine.
• Understanding how AI can support their marketing work.

Our programmes and services

LinkedIn S.M.A.R.T.S. group coaching

LinkedIn S.M.A.R.T.S. is a six-month group coaching programme that helps business owners develop and implement a LinkedIn marketing strategy. It begins with an eight-week accelerator to establish the foundations of their audience, message and route to attracting clients.

The programme combines teaching with practical implementation support. Topics include profile development, content planning, relationship building, outreach, LinkedIn search, Sales Navigator, newsletters, events and nurturing potential clients.

The purpose is to connect LinkedIn activity with the participant’s business goals and client journey. The emphasis is on attracting relevant people and developing conversations that can lead to enquiries and sales.

Programme enquiries and current details:
https://www.socialmediakickstartertraining.co.uk/group-coaching-programme/

Eight-week accelerator

The eight-week accelerator is the opening stage of the six-month LinkedIn S.M.A.R.T.S. programme. It helps participants build a practical foundation for attracting suitable clients.

Work includes clarifying the primary audience, identifying the problems the offer addresses, communicating the value of the service, improving the LinkedIn profile and planning content and relationship-building activity.

Participants also develop their route from initial interest to a next step. Depending on the business, that may involve a masterclass, download, event, diagnostic or booked conversation.

VIP implementation support

The VIP option combines the coaching programme with additional implementation work carried out by our team. It is intended for business owners who want help building their agreed marketing assets and funnel.

The scope of the team’s work is agreed as part of the VIP package. Contact us for current inclusions, availability and fees.

Free masterclasses

Our free masterclasses introduce business owners to our teaching and provide practical steps they can apply to their marketing. LinkedIn Leverage for Coaches is one of our featured training sessions.

Live registration and on-demand options are available through the free training page. Please check that page for the current session and availability.

https://www.socialmediakickstartertraining.co.uk/free-training/

Online academy and digital marketing training

SMKT Academy provides online learning covering social media and digital marketing. Training supports both people developing their first marketing skills and those improving their existing approach.

Subject areas include LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, content creation, branding, email marketing, search engine optimisation, websites and sales funnels. Live training and opportunities to ask questions are available within relevant programmes.

For advice on the most suitable course or training option, email applications@socialmediakickstartertraining.co.uk.

AI for marketing and business

AI is included within relevant training and coaching sessions to help participants understand how tools such as ChatGPT can support their work. Topics include developing ideas, planning content and improving marketing workflows.

Participants are encouraged to apply their own expertise and judgement when using AI. The aim is to produce useful work that reflects their business and audience.

Digital apprenticeship opportunities and workforce development

We help employers and individuals explore digital apprenticeship opportunities and skills development. Areas featured on our website include digital marketing, social media marketing, web development, data analysis, project management and search engine optimisation.

Available pathways, delivery arrangements and entry requirements depend on the specific opportunity. Contact the team for current information about suitability and next steps.

https://www.socialmediakickstartertraining.co.uk/digital-apprenticeship/

Business retreats

Our Get Shit Done retreats give business owners dedicated time to work on their business with guidance and support. Sessions may cover business strategy, marketing, branding, LinkedIn, AI, sales and planning.

Retreat content is shaped around the event and the needs of participants. Dates, location, hosts, packages and booking details are provided on the relevant retreat page.

https://www.socialmediakickstartertraining.co.uk/get-shit-done-retreat/

The LinkedIn S.M.A.R.T.S. framework

LinkedIn S.M.A.R.T.S. connects the decisions behind effective marketing with the practical activity needed to implement them. Its six areas are:

• Strategy: clarifying the audience, goals, offer and route to becoming a client.
• Message: communicating who the business helps, the problems it addresses and the value it provides.
• Attract: helping relevant people discover the business and its expertise.
• Relationships and Rapport: building connections through engagement and appropriate conversations.
• Themes: developing content that answers audience questions and builds trust.
• SCALE: developing the activity and systems that support continued growth.

Participants apply the framework to their own business, audience and offer. Content and outreach are developed around those decisions.

Our founders

Carole Fossey

Carole Fossey is a co-creator of Social Media Kickstarter Training and a business owner, trainer and coach. Her background includes more than 20 years running recruitment businesses, alongside experience in marketing, business growth and public speaking.

Carole was one of the first 0.1% of people to join LinkedIn and has helped hundreds of clients use the platform. Her teaching brings together practical LinkedIn activity, clear positioning and the journey from attracting attention to winning business.

Garry Kousoulou

Garry Kousoulou is a co-creator of Social Media Kickstarter Training and a digital marketing entrepreneur. He brings experience in social media marketing, business development and community engagement.

Garry works with Carole to help business owners and learners develop practical marketing skills. Their approach draws on experience running businesses and supporting people to put their learning into practice.

Our training approach

Our training is designed to be understandable and applicable to the participant’s own business or role. We explain the reasoning behind an activity and help learners identify the steps they can realistically implement.

Within coaching programmes, participants can ask questions, receive feedback and develop their approach over time. We focus on relevant business conversations, useful content and consistent implementation.

Experience and participant feedback

Social Media Kickstarter Training was established in 2021. Through its original Kickstart work, the business helped 186 young people move out of unemployment and into placements by 31 March 2022.

Our website includes feedback from coaching participants and people who took part in our training programmes. These accounts describe individual experiences and should be read in the context of the programme concerned.

Historical programme information and participant feedback:
https://www.socialmediakickstartertraining.co.uk/kickstarter-case-study/

Further coaching feedback:
https://www.socialmediakickstartertraining.co.uk/group-coaching-programme/