There is no doubt that everyone wants to make their life better and improve their standard of living, getting a better work/life balance. I partially achieved this when I decided to go my own way and start my marketing consultancy after more than forty years working in retail, sales and marketing for others. With the[…]
During the ‘lockdown’ period, there will be brands that take advantage of the situation, along with those who scale back their marketing activities. While the latter is a reasonable thing to do and save money while sales revenue is scarce, I do not recommend scaling back on your marketing completely. With digital and social media[…]
Marketing is a constantly developing industry with the evolving online elements, technology and variety of approaches. With that in mind finding the best strategies for small businesses this year may mean doing some things differently than before, while others could remain the same. Here’s some of quick topline marketing tips for 2020 to help you[…]
Marketing a small business is becoming more time consuming and a whole lot more complicated … it’s not just placing an advert in the local paper, running a commercial on the local radio or delivering a few leaflets anymore? On top of those, there’s digital (e.g. Google Ads, PCP), too many social media channels, SEO,[…]
There is a well known seven-step approach for attracting new clients. Much, if not all, of this information will be in your Marketing Strategy and Plan of course. Have a clear picture of who you’re targeting. How can you make their lives easier with your product/service? Find out where targeted customers are likely to be[…]
What’s the best way to market my business is a question I hear quite often. Well, there’s no clear or straightforward answer, which is where the involvement of a marketing expert can make a difference. Now, if you had a leaky pipe wouldn’t you call in a plumber? So, to market your business successfully, wouldn’t[…]
Here are 6 fundamental reasons why marketing is so important for any small business. Marketing is one of the most important things a small business can do. It builds brand awareness and it also increases sales, grows businesses and engages customers, plus so many core business functions stem from a good marketing plan. It informs: Marketing[…]
Over the last year or so I have focused on giving tips about marketing your small business successfully, however I thought this time I would turn it on its head and talk about how you can ensure your marketing DOESN’T WORK! Now, one of the more exciting parts of running a small business is doing[…]
Now we’re all back at work and the festive season seems like months ago … and ‘Blue Monday’ has passed us by hopefully without any major mishaps, here’s a few thoughts on what I think will be the key trends in small business marketing this year. We all know time is precious and resources are[…]
Go back ten or fifteen years … if someone someone had said in the future you would be able to communicate directly to your customers or prospects, anywhere in the world, for free, sending them any message you want … no paper, no printing, no envelopes, no brochures, no postage costs. And … it would arrive[…]
Most of the people searching the web on their phones are looking for something local, stats suggest. A study by Search Engine Land in the USA showed that 50% of people go to business they searched for within one day of that search. Additionally, 60% of people used the information they found on local online[…]
If your business is like most others, you probably rely on and use just one or two main forms of marketing to grow your business … this might be advertising, or referrals, direct mail, website, emails, PR, telemarketing, partnerships or strategic alliances, etc. If you want to grow your business more rapidly, one of your[…]
You sell great products or services; however, do you fail to focus on the benefits these products and services offer to your customers? Consider this … if you’re buying a new sound system, do you buy just the equipment – casing, electronics and wires – or buying the benefits of the system in the sound[…]
We all know why we do marketing: to attract more people to buy a product or service. Yes, it can be expensive, but even worse… if not done properly, it can be expensive AND ineffective. For new and established businesses with relatively small budgets it’s a real concern… they must market themselves to raise awareness and start to[…]
These days, a successful business owner must try and look for ways of getting that competitive edge over its competitors, adding to the bottom line to grow and prosper. In recent years, many companies, big and small, are ‘restructuring’ their workforce’s and the way they work to make themselves leaner and ultimately more profitable … HOWEVER that[…]
Definition: A marketing consultant is a very skilled professional who understands analysis, what motivates consumers and how to put marketing strategies in place to improve business. There are many that confuse advertising/marketing agencies and marketing consultants, assuming marketing consultants do the same thing, but not tied to an agency. However, in truth the two are[…]
It’s both easier and cheaper to trade your products or services online than you think … recent research suggested UK adults were online for a staggering 25 hours a week – up from just 9 hours in 2005 – and consumers spend around a pound in every £5 of their shopping budget online. However, it[…]
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of different marketing channels in later blogs, I thought it worthwhile to mention ‘marketing audits’. Everyone has heard of audits, right? Usually the ‘audit’ word is connected to ‘finance’ and is considering a boring nuisance. However a Marketing Audit (or Marketing MOT if you prefer) is seldom mentioned, but[…]
In this hugely competitive business environment we all work in, marketing a small business can be a real struggle, particularly in the early stages. You need to raise awareness of your business products or services on a limited budget and do you really know what marketing techniques are right to attract your target market and[…]
With a combined turnover (according to government figures) of £1.9 trillion, UK SMEs account for more than half of all private business turnover, so no surprise that more small businesses are setting up to get a slice of this ever-growing cake. Recent figures suggest there is more than 5.7 million private businesses with 99.3% of[…]
If you are one of those currently considering starting or have recently started your own business, have you done your research into what might be your BIGGEST CHALLENGES? Well, startups.co.uk have conducted a survey of their audience of start-ups and small businesses, in partnership with business broadband and phone provider Plusnet, and found that a[…]
For my first blog, I thought I’d ask the question I’ve heard most often during my 25+ year marketing career … Why isn’t my marketing working? Is that a question you’ve asked recently? Yes? OK the scenario is not enough traffic to your website, the phone isn’t ringing and no one is buying … now[…]