Marketing is a key business function for every successful business around the world.  That is a fact.  So why in “SME world” do many businesses choose not to invest in marketing?  It seems counter-intuitive, yet sadly it is the case.  It is for the simple reason that, through a lack of understanding of what marketing actually is, many SME business owners see marketing as a cost, rather than an inward investment.   This article explains why this is a classic mistake. What is a marketing function and what should marketing do for you? Before we get into the detail o ..read more

It is well documented that the success rate for a new start-up business is not great.   Out of 10 businesses who launch this year, only 2 of them will still be trading three years from now. What’s more is that only 1 of those 2 businesses will successfully manage to have a longer-term future! So why is this?  Why, when we have access to so much information, knowledge and entrepreneurial support, do business struggle to build momentum quick enough? This article explores this issue, to try and explain some key areas where small start-up businesses could give themselves a better ch ..read more

In the fast-paced world of marketing, adapting to economic uncertainties is crucial. As businesses grapple with concerns over costs and economic fluctuations, marketing budgets often find themselves under scrutiny. However, in the face of such challenges, there are strategic approaches to not only safeguard your marketing efforts but also expand your reach. This article explores the landscape of marketing on an elastic shoestring and offers three practical methods to simultaneously tighten your budget and broaden your influence. The Squeeze: A Glance at Tightened Marketing Budgets These are an ..read more

Are you interested in building a large following for your business? Of course, you are–because who wouldn’t want to attract many subscribers and users to boost business growth? But how do you create a massive audience quickly and promote success without breaking the bank? The secret to achieving this objective is to think outside the box and get creative with your marketing campaigns. A study in the Expert Journal of Marketing reveal that by adding a touch of creativity to marketing, businesses can address large audiences, improve consumer experiences, attract attentio ..read more

Why is SME marketing so important?  Well, SMEs are the lifeblood of the British economy.  Without the entrepreneurial spirit of those starting their own business and inwardly investing in growth, the country would be in a bit of a mess.  With this mind, marketing of SMEs to help support and fuel this growth is critical. Why is there a marketing skill gap? The trouble is that when it comes to marketing within SMEs there is a bit of a skill gap. Most people who start their own business are not marketeers, have never studied it, and probably aren’t aware of 90% of what marketing ac ..read more

Currently there are around 48,000 franchise businesses in the UK , a number which has doubled in the last 25 years, across 900 franchise brands that now employ over 621,000 people (an increase of 70% in last 10 years).  Franchising is big business.   For good reason too. Banks prefer to lend money to franchises as they are proven business models with a higher success rate.  For the exact same reason, they are growing in popularity for those looking to start their own business.  Why spend years on trying to establish and build a brand and business model, when you can pa ..read more

Marketing isn’t difficult.  The problem is that most people overcomplicate it.  It isn’t a dark art.  It is just a really logical way to approach how you  present your business.  Some people build it up to be this really complicated discipline that they don’t understand.  In reality they just have little interest in the process (the work) – they just want to see the fruits of their labour (the results)!  This article is a quick 3-minute read which could really help to improve how you market your business with potentially no outside intervention required. 1. S ..read more

Our values are our core beliefs – guidelines for how we live our lives. They help shape our decisions, influence our behaviour, and regulate our actions towards others. Personal values are often intrinsic – we act on them naturally and feel conflicted if our values are compromised. Company values are slightly different. In some cases, values form the foundations on which a company is built, and in other cases, they develop as the business evolves and grows.   If you are a one-person business, your company values will usually reflect your personal values. After all, you probably wouldn’t f ..read more

There aren’t many businesses that don’t have a website – even if it’s just a basic one-pager. It’s often one of the first marketing tools new companies invest in, and with good reason. After all, most people use the internet regularly – smartphones have allowed us to keep the internet in our pockets. So it makes sense for businesses to have an online presence. But, despite the many advantages of having a website, it shouldn’t be the sole focus of your marketing strategy. A website is only one element of marketing A good marketing strategy begins with the things your customers don’t see – resea ..read more

You’ve probably heard phrases like brand, branding and brand identity being bandied around, but what do they all mean and are they actually that important? In the simplest terms, your brand (or branding) is what differentiates you from your competitors and helps customers form perceptions of your company. It’s your purpose, positioning and personality. It’s how you look and sound – the image you portray to everyone who interacts with your company. Brand identity refers to the visual and verbal representation of your business – the elements that make you distinguishable. Things like your compan ..read more