‘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…
DetailsRight? Well. It’s true, your trusty iPhone (other smartphones also exist…) has a pretty amazing camera. Add into the mix the filter and edit aps available and you can create some great homegrown images for use in the marketing of your business. But a word of caution. Whilst these images are often more than adequate…
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…
DetailsFrequently I feel like a bit of a party pooper. My clients are often incredibly excited as we begin brainstorming and planning for a new communications campaign. With ideas bubbling and top of their agenda: The question most business owners want to address. "What do I want my potential customer to know about my business?"…
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…
DetailsLast week was a really great week. As part of my one women mission to improve the business story telling abilities of Essex I met, and coffee’d with, lots of small business owners. Unbeknownst to them (sorry!) I was conducting a little secret survey during these meet ups. I had set myself a goal of…
DetailsI attended my first Business Women’s Network event at Joseph’s Kitchen Cafe in Billericay yesterday. Nick Looby of Feet on the Ground training was the keynote, and gave a really insightful masterclass on effective networking. It struck me that he and I talk the same language…and have one very similar pet hate. Narcissistic businesses. In…
DetailsI’ve just completed a new brochure project for client Paul Robinson Solicitors. (PAT ON THE BACK WARNING) I successfully managed the project to come in for half that of their previous re-design, and there’s still not a stock photo in sight! My brief was to showcase what makes this award-winning, independent firm special…and ensure that…
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