I’ve been working with a number of businesses lately developing their marketing strategy and marketing plans for the next 12-18 months. One of the key parts of the planning process has been identifying clear and measurable targets, so we can develop a plan on how to achieve them. For some businesses it also helps manage internal expectations of what can be achieved.
As a small business owner, growing your business contacts and networking is central to your business success. However, traditional networking methods can be time-consuming and expensive which is why small business owners are investing their time building their online brand presence on LinkedIn.
We released some interesting results from the MYOB Business Monitor this week, which revealed that only 35% of Aussie businesses have a website. This figure has surprised some, however it’s consistent with our research over the last few years.
Last week I wrote about the importance of having a marketing system in your business. This week I’m continuing the theme and will focus on technology-based systems that help automate or improve the effectiveness of your marketing.
Snap printing has launched Snap Promote, allowing business owners to create their own marketing material with free software, through Snap’s new online service Snap Promote.
One solution to this issue is TransPromo, the printing industry’s term for the combination of personalised marketing messaging and “must-read” documents such as bills or statements.
I see so many marketing consultants giving advice to small business owners that are focused purely on marketing tactics, without any thought to marketing strategy.
This week we released the latest results of the MYOB Business Monitor*, and its positive news. For the first time since the Global Financial Crisis, more business owners in Australia report revenue increases (35%) than report revenue decreases over the last 12 months (22%). And in the next quarter, half of Aussie businesses have got more work on than usual, and only 14% have less.
It’s not a new question but it’s an important one to ask. Theodore Levitt wrote an article for Harvard Business Review in 1960 entitled “Marketing Myopia”, where he encouraged businesses to switch their focus from selling to meeting customer needs. He asked an important question to the railroad industry: What business are you really in? Railroads or transportation?
I was having a chat with my neighbour last week. We started chatting about things of national importance, like what the surf was like at the moment, and if he was going out in the morning.
