Blog

Be certain of your true goal

Every business-owner needs to be certain of their goal. We hear a lot about the importance of goal-setting in business and in life. Have you paused recently to check that you’re sure that you’ve identified your  long-term marketing objective correctly? And that you’re genuinely progressing towards it? Recently, I was reminded of the importance of… Continue reading Be certain of your true goal

How to use desk research to improve your marketing

“Marketers need to know how to use desk research. It is a valuable part of being informed but are you doing your research properly? If not, how can you form a coherent long-term strategy?” Jean Sutton, Course Director (CIM) You need to remember that all small business owners are their own marketers. Whenever disruption keeps… Continue reading How to use desk research to improve your marketing

How to promote your message online

In today’s digital world, it is essential for any business large or small to know how to promote your message online. Whenever you update your marketing information system by researching your market’s current conditions.  You may have completed the process which permits you to polish your message. If so, it’s now time for you to… Continue reading How to promote your message online

Published
Categorised as Resources

How to check that your Marketing message is right

Whenever you revisit your Marketing Planning process, you’ll need to check that your Marketing message  is right. Once you have completed a refreshed Audit of your marketplace if so, You will be ready to check that your your Marketing message is right. By now, you should have a clear idea of the problem that your… Continue reading How to check that your Marketing message is right

How to make a strategic choice for long-term growth

Whenever there is change in your market’s conditions or in your business set-up, you will have an opportunity to review your strategic choice. Steps which will help you to make a strategic choice for long- term growth in the prevailing market conditions: First, you should begin by establishing your business goals. Next, you should revisit… Continue reading How to make a strategic choice for long-term growth

Lisa’s planningprocess infographic

Follow the sequence of steps each time you revisit your Marketing Audit: customer-centric strategic planning begins with an audit of the current market conditions.

Published
Categorised as Resources

Lisa’s planningprocess infographic

Follow the sequence of steps each time you revisit your Marketing Audit: strategic planning begins with an audit of the current market conditions.

Published
Categorised as Resources

How to begin a successful business recovery

Whenever a business needs to focus upon its need for recovery it is helpful to focus on a time-frame that’s dictated by your business-planning calendar. A new year or quarter should bring new opportunities and fresh energy for you to develop your business for recovery throughout the next period. Following any period of business disruption,… Continue reading How to begin a successful business recovery

When is price-cutting good for your business?

Price-cutting has become a seasonal tradition.  This blogpost examines its drawbacks and explains when price-cutting can be good for your business. It has become traditional for firms to join the frenzy of price-cutting in November and December called Black Friday and Cyber Week/Month. I shared my fears about how it can damage the direction of… Continue reading When is price-cutting good for your business?

What is CRM for sole traders?

CRM for sole traders does not need to be complicated. CRM is a buzz term, you may have heard Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a process that’s used by a company to monitor and analyse its interactions with its past, current and potential customers. The objective is to maximise customer satisfaction and the firm’s profitability.A… Continue reading What is CRM for sole traders?

Marketing tips for surviving winter

Trading conditions in winter are often difficult, or quieter than usual. Many small businesses need Marketing tips for surviving winter. I can reassure you, if you have a strong grip on your Marketing processes there will be actions which you can take immediately to mitigate the challenging times you face in winter.  These marketing tips … Continue reading Marketing tips for surviving winter

Where should I sell?

The meaning of Place in Marketing Where should I sell? This question concerns more than the physical location of your business. Place is the final tactic for you to deploy speedily in the series of 4 main P’s in the Marketing Mix (Product, Price, Place, Promotion). Place in Marketing theory is also called Distribution. The… Continue reading Where should I sell?

Would you like to know how to get press coverage to deliver your goals?

Knowing how to get press coverage in the local and national press is an important tool in the marketing arsenal for any small business owner, at any time  it can be particularly useful when times are tough This topic follows my earlier insight into using twitter to make big announcements post-disruption. You can remind yourself… Continue reading Would you like to know how to get press coverage to deliver your goals?

How to get more followers on twitter

Twitter is an extremely useful broadcast medium, which is free. Knowing how to get more followers on twitter will enable you to build an audience.  So that when you have important news to share with your clients or potential customers, you will have a ready-made following to receive your news. Many small businesses will emerge… Continue reading How to get more followers on twitter

How to adapt tactics to stay relevant to your customers

“Our abilities to adapt, innovate, and learn will be a key factors in resilience and recovery.” Rohit Talwar and J Walker Smith , 17 Aug 2020  (Kantar Futureproof podcasts available on spotify)  Here, I focus on how to adapt tactics following any type of market disruption. Many small business owners are wondering how to adapt… Continue reading How to adapt tactics to stay relevant to your customers

How to promote your brand’s story

Nowadays knowing how to promote your brand’s story should be at the heart of your Marketing Communications activities. Telling your brand’s story can be an extremely powerful and cost-effective method to promote your business, build awareness of it, and attract the right customers. There are many opportunities for you to tell your brand’s story, I… Continue reading How to promote your brand’s story

How to develop a brand identity

It is important for every sole proprietor to understand how to develop a brand identity and maintain it at times of disruption. The latest McKinsey research has shown that during the COVID-19 crisis consumers  became less loyal, and increasingly tried new retailers and new brands. As the loyalty dynamics of the retail sector shift, it is… Continue reading How to develop a brand identity

Strategies to maximise your competitive advantage in tough times

A cactus has developed its competitive advantage, in order to grow tall and strong in an arid desert. Its lack of water is akin to the possibility of no customers, in tough trading conditions. So, how does a cactus survive without this basic necessity? It deploys two strategic methods from which we can learn: Survival… Continue reading Strategies to maximise your competitive advantage in tough times

7 truths about how advertising works

Learn the truth about advertising how advertising works Advertising is an important element in every Marketing Plan. However, not many small business owners are unfamiliar with how advertising works I will share with you some insight by shedding light on seven widely held assumptions. I will address each of these statements with a rebuttal, which… Continue reading 7 truths about how advertising works

How to prepare your business to pivot

Whenever there is disruption in your marketplace, or your personal life; it is important that you’re ready to pivot.It’s good for your business resilience to have some preparation in place so that you’re able to adapt whenever there’s a significant change in your personal circumstances or in your marketplace. This type of alteration is called… Continue reading How to prepare your business to pivot

9 things you need to know about niche marketing

As a small business owner you’ll hear many remarks about  others having a  preference for niche marketing,  but is it right for yours, or not? Find out  with my checklist 9 things you should know about niche marketing”. You should keep these in mind to ensure that you remain strong and don’t become vulnerable to… Continue reading 9 things you need to know about niche marketing

How to drive traffic to your website

An image of a macaw is a reminder of how to drive traffic to your website

Whenever you’ve spent time or money on your website.  It’s important that you know how to drive traffic to your website, so that you can attract new customers to your business. This activity doesn’t require lots of technological or digital skills.  It is a type of pure marketing which I seek to enable you to… Continue reading How to drive traffic to your website

Social media offer

Exclusive offer for Mailing list subscribers who require assistance with developing a social media plan to drive traffic to their website. I will conduct a half – hour consultation with you, viaZoom or telephone to coveryour objective for your website promotionyour target audienceI will deliver a written plan to you for you to implement£40 with… Continue reading Social media offer

What is social listening?

While chatting with friends and clients about my main business service, I’ve often been asked “What is social listening and how can it assist me with marketing my business?”  Social listening is the action of paying attention to your current and potential customers across social media platforms with the purpose of generating new leads. I’ve… Continue reading What is social listening?

Remember to communicate clearly to inform customers

Though it is important to communicate clearly with your customers at all times,  now it is more important than ever, as businesses prepare to re-open as lockdown eases. Why do you need to communicate clearly after disruption? After any period of disruption for a business, customers are likely to be wondering about what might be… Continue reading Remember to communicate clearly to inform customers

How to find your perfect customer after disruption

Perfect customer Introduction Finding your perfect customer is critical to effective Marketing.  At all times.  As the COVID-19 lockdown continues, I hope that you’re finding this series of business resilience blogs helpful for navigating your business through and nearly out of the disruption. This is the ninth week in the Business Resilience series. New subscribers… Continue reading How to find your perfect customer after disruption

Published
Categorised as Resources

Prepare for long-term growth after disruption

This week’s theme is: Prepare your business for its long-term success. There is a flippant saying in Marketing Strategy circles: “You can only get to enjoy the long-term by getting through the short-term first”. Recently, I expect that you’ve been working hard during disruption to get through each day while developing your new projects which… Continue reading Prepare for long-term growth after disruption

How to accelerate growth of a new product

Last week we took steps to protect our young business development ideas/seedlings from any additional threats which might jeopardise their success after the period of disruption ends.  This week’s focus is to find methods which will encourage them to grow quickly so that they’re no longer fragile seedlings.  Hence, this week’s illustration shows well-established plants.… Continue reading How to accelerate growth of a new product

How to prepare to take a new product to the market

I hope that you have stayed well, as you navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal lives and commerce. In your journey of business development following the disruption that’s arisen during the lockdown period, it is now the time for you to harvest your new ideas and prepare to take them to your… Continue reading How to prepare to take a new product to the market

Anticipate opportunities for business development

n this series of memos, I have been guiding you on how to prepare your business for growth post disruption.  If you need a recap, you can find all the relevant memos here. Last week, I told you about my long-term decision to switch to holding consultations virtually.  That’s the adaptation which I’ve identified for… Continue reading Anticipate opportunities for business development

Anticipate threats to your business development

Welcome back to the next stage for helping your business to continue to thrive after disruption.  By now, I hope that you’ve planted the seedlings which represent your new ways for moving your business forward post-disruption. This week, it’s time to nurture them with care to give them the greatest chance for success. This means… Continue reading Anticipate threats to your business development

How to capitalise on loyalty during uncertainty or crisis

A period of crisis is a good opportunity for you to develop your Marketing, by understanding the topic  “Customer Loyalty”. It will come as no surprise to any of my regular readers that your most valuable customers are those which you already have.  In this period of uncertainty, those customers must be cherished more than… Continue reading How to capitalise on loyalty during uncertainty or crisis