Alix Bell Associates

17/06/2026

Six months ago, Mid Sussex Momentum was just an idea.

Today, it's becoming something much bigger than a networking event and I am excited. I'm not quite ready to share ALL the details yet, the meeting was only yesterday and a few creases need ironing out, but if you're a business owner in Sussex and growth is on your agenda, you'll want to keep an eye on what comes next.

The next chapter of is coming.

More details soon 🤝

15/06/2026

Networking is important, but networking alone doesn't grow a business, just like learning doesn't grow a business either but taking action does.

That's why, from September, Mid Sussex Momentum will evolve into a Business Growth Series designed to help local business owners tackle the challenges they face and create sustainable growth.

Over the 12 months, we'll cover the subjects that matter most, including:
• Marketing Strategy
• Sales
• LinkedIn
• Networking
• Customer Experience
• AI & Productivity
• Finance
• Systems & Automation
• Leadership
• Cyber Security
• Scaling

Every session will focus on practical advice and one key action attendees can implement immediately at no cost to their business.

We've already secured some excellent speakers and will be announcing the full line-up as soon as all confirmations are in place.

I'm excited about the impact this can have. Stronger businesses create stronger local communities which lead to more opportunities and a better future for the next generation.

Picture of me, finally, with the Pirate at the ARRACAN CONNEXIONS - HEATHFIELD networking event... if you want to increase your network in East Sussex, contact Zoe Britton to find out more.

12/06/2026

A few months ago, someone asked me why I started Mid Sussex Momentum.

My answer, because I could see a gap...there are networking events, there are business groups and there are organisations supporting businesses, but I couldn't find a local space focused on helping business owners connect, learn and grow together.

What started as a monthly networking event has become something much bigger, and I am really excited about how Mid Sussex Momentum is evolving...

Every month I see people making introductions, solving problems, sharing knowledge and opening doors for one another and that's what business communities should do, but Mid Sussex Momentum was never about collecting business cards, it's about creating momentum and I'm only just getting started.

With more details to follow, I'd love to know what's been the most valuable introduction or opportunity you've gained through networking...

Photo below as a friend has just told me this photo is 'pure me' and it was taken at a Gatwick Diamond Business networking event at the outstanding Roffey Park Institute.

10/06/2026

The real value of networking isn't who you meet at the event, it's what happens afterwards.

Since the Brighton & Hove Business Show and yesterday's ARRACAN CONNEXIONS - HEATHFIELD event in Heathfield, I've had conversations continue, new introductions made and been tagged in more LinkedIn posts than I can keep up with - literally!

Some opportunities appear weeks or even months down the line. The message that arrives a few days later, the coffee that gets booked and the introduction you weren't expecting.

I know some people don't see exhibiting as networking, but I disagree, whether you're standing behind an exhibition stand, attending a networking event or speaking at an event, you're doing exactly the same thing.

You're meeting people, building trust, starting conversations and creating opportunities for future relationships and these opportunities rarely happen in the room on that day!

Networking isn't collecting business cards, it's building relationships before you need them and it's one of the reasons I started Mid Sussex Momentum. Not to create another networking group, but to create a community where local businesses can build genuine relationships, learn from each other and grow together.

If you want to know more about how I see Mid Sussex Momentum evolving over the years, come to the June event. It is going to be a great session.

Your brand is more than a logo. Learn how to create a brand that people remember, trust and recommend.

08/06/2026

One letter isn't a strategy, It's a tactic.

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make with direct mail is focusing on the design, the print quality or the postage costs but they're not usually the reason a campaign succeeds or fails.

The real problems are often:

• No clear strategy
• No follow-up process
• No consistency

Too many businesses send one letter, get little response, and decide direct mail doesn't work. Imagine applying the same logic to networking, social media or email marketing.

Marketing rarely works because of a single activity, it works because of a series of planned, consistent actions that build trust over time and that's exactly what we'll be exploring at my upcoming FREE Direct Mail Workshop.

No jargon, just practical advice, real examples and actionable ideas you can take back to your business.

Because one letter is direct mail but a campaign is a growth strategy.

A hands-on, in-person workshop that covers how to plan, create and deliver effective direct mail campaigns!

07/06/2026

This just got real…. I’m stepping out of my comfort zone with this one.

I’ve spent most of my working career presenting to everyone from boards of directors to government officials, but this is a whole different level.

For those who know me, you’ll know my version of disruption isn’t about causing chaos. It’s about positively challenging the status quo!

24/05/2026

I have recently listened to the Mel Robbins podcast on adult friendships and one part really stuck with me… the different friendship styles and how we all need to better understand not only our type, but that of others.

The four main types are Butterfly, Wallflower, Firefly and Evergreen (the types are below, would love to know yours)

As a Firefly, it made complete sense to me. I do not need constant connection, but I do value deep conversation, meaningful ideas and the kind of relationships where people genuinely help each other grow and that is exactly why I created Mid Sussex Momentum.

It is not another networking group with forced pitching, but a group that encourages natural conversations over awkward sales pitches.

There seems to be a huge amount of networking groups appearing right now, but I think many business owners are looking for something deeper than just “networking”.

They want, genuine connection, honest conversations, support, collaboration and growth.

We all know building a business can be lonely and sometimes the biggest value in the room is not the lead you generate, it is the conversation that changes your thinking.

At Mid Sussex Momentum, we have people in the room who are all completely different personalities and at different stages of business, but what matters is that people show up willing to share, learn and support one another and that is where growth happens.

Butterfly - Someone who thrives on frequent, casual social connection.
Loves chatting and meeting people is comfortable in groups. Energised by variety and interaction an is often the connector in a room!

Wallflower - Someone who prefers selective and infrequent connection.
Quiet initially, observes before engaging, prefers meaningful one-to-one interactions and needs time to warm up socially

Firefly - Someone who prefers infrequent but deep connection, needs lots of solitude, hates shallow small talk, comes alive in meaningful conversation but can vanish for periods without it meaning anything negative

Evergreen - Someone who wants deep and constant connection, maintains regular communication, invests heavily in close relationships is loyal and emotionally available

There are two spaces left for our event on Tuesday, grab your tickets now and join us for some Social Health - in the words of Kasey Killam 'Taking care of your social health is a way to change your life and change the world.'

A structured business growth session for small businesses that want clarity, connection and commercial progress.

18/05/2026

Why most Door Drops fail in seconds and how to make yours stand out...

Door drops are judged even faster than addressed mail. There’s no name or personal hook so you’re fighting pure instinct. The decision happens in seconds, so your job is not to explain everything but to earn the piece a second look. Your message must be understood immediately.

A strong headline, a clear benefit and a bold visual should communicate instantly what this is and why it matters. If someone must work it out, it’s already lost.

Make it relevant. Door drops feel generic because they often are. Refer to the area, the type of home or a problem that clearly applies to the reader. The closer it feels to ‘this is for me’, the longer it stays in their hand.

Lead with value not your logo, your company history or why the reader needs to buy from you. They need to know, in a second what they get… A saving, a solution, a result. Put that front and centre. Keep it simple with one message, one offer and one action. The more you try to say, the less they take in.

Use design to grab attention, use different sizes or shapes, bold colours or an unexpected layout can slow that automatic dismissal just enough to get noticed.

Finally, give it somewhere to go. A clear next step matters. Make it easy to scan with QR codes or encourage a website visit or call, make sure the piece doesn’t exist in isolation.

If you want to know more about how Direct Mail can help you grow your business, drop me a message.

16/05/2026

My second column for Sussex Exclusive is out and has even been chosen as the Editor’s Feature of the Week 😃

This month I’m talking about one of my biggest bug bears… the phrase 'junk mail' and why we dismiss a marketing piece as such before it has even had the chance to do its job!

Just remember, that piece of junk is part of a £13.7 billion industry, so next time, maybe take a step back, retrain your brain and look at what has landed... you might be pleasantly surprised!

Direct Mail Consultant, Alix Bell explains why junk mail is a misnomer as well as a missed opportunity for local businesses

15/05/2026

Two printed messages in one week, both delivered a great response.

Firstly, when you attend your first Mid Sussex Momentum event, you are sent a thank you postcard with a QR code that has a link to my Events page so you can follow me and book future events. The card is a simple, but one that keeps the connection going and is often commented on as a nice touch. Now, thanks to someone who attended, has been shared on a digital platform.

The second was a flyer promoting the networking event itself and at the bottom of the flyer it simply says 'Turns out the doormat still works.'

Someone I am connected with on LinkedIn has been looking for a local networking group but hadn’t seen any of my posts. I organised a flyer drop to local businesses and the next day, when she booked her place, her message to me simply said 'So yes… turns out the doormat does still work.'

As I have said before, and will continue to say, print is not dead. It is very much alive and still supporting business grow.