The Cost of Neglecting Your Digital Footprint: How Much Revenue Are You Losing? In the fast-paced digital age, having a phone that still rings despite not investing in your website for years might seem like a sign of success. But pause for a moment and think about the calls that never come through because your…
DetailsBuilding a Powerful Construction Brand to Boost Sales A lack of brand differentiation and new project leads can put a strangle hold on growth for built environment firms at this stage of expansion. We call it the “growth chasm”, the point at which the existing network becomes too small to deliver the number of new…
DetailsHere’s why you shouldn’t cut your marketing budget Marketing is often one of the first budgets on the hit list when businesses are looking to weather economic challenges. You would of course expect us to be bias, but with 25+ years’ experience working across startups and global brands, we know what it takes for sustained…
DetailsSo many of the small business owners I meet talk disparagingly of direct mail. Otherwise known as doordrop leaflets. “We’ve tried leaflets,” they say. “Never get any results”. Thing is. The growth in technology, social media and personalisation actually means that in today’s marketing landscape good old-fashioned direct mail has the power to impact your…
DetailsI had a rather frustrating shopping expedition at the weekend. I won’t name names as that would be unkind…but I will use my experience as an example of how impactful seemingly inconsequential decisions can be on your small business’s brand. I popped out, in a bit of a rush, to buy a birthday present for…
Details‘Get more customers’ is not a marketing strategy. ‘Get more customers; located in area A, who have hobbies B, have issues C, who also shop with retailer D, are willing to spend budget E, need help solving problem F, during this time period G,’ is. You need to make understanding who your customers are, and…
DetailsHow much should you spend on the marketing of your business? Rule of thumb is 10% of revenue…more if you want to make a huge impact, quickly. Really? I hear you say. Yes. Really! OK. Now I’ve got your attention. I’d like to talk about why having a marketing budget is so important, and share…
DetailsWhen you’re a sole trader or small business owner it’s not easy to dedicate hour on end to social media. And you know what, I’ll let you in on a secret. It’s not the be all and end all. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE MASTER OF FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, UTUBE, PINTEREST etc. to succeed. There…
DetailsLots of small business owners will have taken a bit of a break from work during the past few weeks, allowing time to make plans for the year ahead. There’s nothing quite like some distance from the day to day, and a glass of red wine, to allow for clearer thinking. Perhaps you are such…
DetailsTwas the night before Christmas, when all through the town Not a business owner was stirring, and much wine had been downed! For Christmas day brings a chance to relax, and re-set With the hubbub of the festive season finally at rest! When at Essex Business Forum there arose such a clatter, I sprang from…
DetailsI’ve started to notice a common trend amongst the small businesses I work with. For many of them, the business is charge of them…and not the other way around. Take a freelance hair stylist & make-up artist I recently met at an Essex business networking event. Over a quick coffee, she told me that she’s…
DetailsI work with around four new companies each month, in addition to my regular client base. Usually, these new companies contact me with very specific copywriting requirements. This might be some web copy for a new website, or a sales brochure, perhaps a leaflet or even a company handbook. A few weeks ago I was…
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