6 strategies to build a brand on a shoestring
Small businesses everywhere suffer from the unequal access to the marketing funding they have compared to their larger competitors. Some complain about it, others get on and short circuit the system by turning it on its head. Large companies overrun with so called...
Census night melt-down was expected
Human beings are pre-disposed to trust, is it a part of our evolutionary DNA, we need each other to survive. We all know we are stronger in a group, relate to those similar to us, who share similar histories and beliefs, and who are held to us by shared relationships....
9 considerations when planning sales follow up
You never fail to get a sale because you followed up too much, but understanding the inflexion points in the process when you reach them is critical, and it will vary almost every time. You might follow up poorly, or with inappropriate ineffective material, but the...
4 simple measures of Digital Marketing Effectiveness for small business
Marketing has always been a bit like juggling. Lots of balls in the air, and everything seems fine until… it isn't. Digital has just added significant complication, try juggling on a unicycle. Many small businesses shy away from measuring the effectiveness of their...
12 common & avoidable marketing mistakes I see small businesses repeating.
How true is the old chestnut "those who do not know history are destined to repeat it"? It is an unfortunate truth, but in a business environment where 75% of new businesses fail, and 61% of actively trading businesses have no employees, it may be understandable. The...
Has Woolworths done enough?
I have been around long enough to see Coles and Woolworths swap places a couple of times. It seems that just like most blood sports, there is room only for one at a time at the top. This is understandable given that between them they have 70% plus of grocery sales,...
How desperately does politics need a strategic makeover?
The train smash that doubled as the recent Australian federal election, and more tellingly, the 'cluster-intercourse' (politeness overcame me) that is the US presidential race have something in common. They both lack any sort of the foundations for prosperity that we...
4 questions every business owner should ask themselves. Now.
In principal, business is simple, sell something for more than it costs you too produce it. After that it gets more complicated, but is always tangled up with the word "Value" It is a word with many meanings to different people in different contexts. How do we create...
Is technology killing advertising, and ruining our lives?
A while ago I asked the question 'Is the net killing marketing creativity' and came to the conclusion that the instant gratification now apparently demanded in all phases of our lives has indeed killed creativity. Perhaps tritely I put it down to the not so bright...
9 point plan to create your business model
One of the major things most small and medium businesses give little thought to, and which can have a major impact on their financial outcomes is their business model. There has been much written over the years, huge volumes of academic and consultant driven tomes ,...