Fiona Scott of Scott Media has a busy August coming up!

August is upon us – it’s the month of holidays, summer fun and time off for many people. So how are small business owners coping with the month often known as ‘silly season’?

Fiona Scott, MD of Scott Media, based in Swindon, offers PR training or support, alongside blogging strategy, organic social media management, animation and video services. Fiona has been a journalist for more than 35 years with a long career in print journalism and tv. She set up her consultancy 15 years ago and in 2022 won the title of UK’s PR Adviser of the Year for SMEs. She also has her own podcast PR Not BS with Fiona Scott.

How is August looking in your business? 
Busy. In the early years, August was a month to take holiday, pause, breathe and catch up and it was also like that in 2020 and 2021 as the pandemic continued to pack a punch. Now August is busier than ever and I’m not booked out in full and filling my diary – and that of my freelance team – up into September. I’m very grateful for that. 

What are your personal plans for this month?
To spend time with my son before he goes off to college and to encourage our daughters who are entering the next phase of their lives. One is about to start her first job after university and the other is going back to university in September to train to be a primary school teacher. We’re also heading to the Edinburgh Fringe as one of our children is taking part in a comedy show for the second year running. 

If relevant – what advice would you give to small business owners trying to navigate the ‘holiday’ period? 
If your business is quiet at this time, then use it wisely and plan. If you need to take time off, prepare your clients for that down-time in advance so they don’t feel you’ve abandoned them – particularly important if you are a one person company. Also get a telephone answering service (I use the Virtual Business Centre) to answer your phone over any holiday period. It will pay for itself.

Did you know that July 29 to Aug 7 is Love Parks Week. What do you think of your local parks?
Love them, particularly Lydiard Park but also other green spaces in and around Swindon. Great for walking, even meeting up with people and walking, great for play dates if you’ve got young children. 

August 13 is International Left Handers Day. Are you left-handed and what issues, if any, have you ever had around being left handed? 
I am left-handed or as my dad often called me ‘cack-handed’. I’ve never seen it as a big issue however there were some silly things. I can’t knit – I look weird doing it and everything I create is ten times bigger than it should be. When I’m writing I can smear ink or pen down the page or down the side of my hand as I don’t write in that distinctive way that many left-handers do. I am actually right-handed in certain things like holding a knife and fork. I’ve discovered that many people in tv were also left handed. 

August 20 is World Photo Day – can you share a photo as an attachment which means something to you this year so far? 
I could choose several so I’ve actually chosen two! One of my son with my grandson on the occasion of his Prom. Also my daughter on her graduation day. 

Did you know August 21 is World Entrepreneurs Day? What does this word mean to you and do you apply it to yourself? 
Some people are sniffy about this word. Not me, I believe anyone who earns their own money by the sweat of their brow created from nothing is an entrepreneur. The key is to make it a success – whatever success may look like for you. 

We are in a cost of living crisis at the moment - what’s your advice for those in business? 
This is affecting every business and everybody. My best advice is to watch your cash flow carefully and be sensible. Don’t panic and cut all spending – the biggest reason companies fail is a failure to do PR (marketing) adequately so it makes no sense to stop. Also seek advice and help early if you are struggling to pay bills, burying your head in the sand just means things mount up and get worse. Face them, ask for help and take the action required. 

Have you got any events planned for the autumn you’d like to shout about?
I’m running a podcast training day later this month which is fully booked so that’s great – I’ll do another in December. I’m also organising a charity event on Friday October 6 and you can find out all about it here (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-15th-birthday-bash-tickets-597760085507). 

For more information visit www.scottmedia.uk