Small Business Marketing

Our small business marketing section clarifies what the owner of a small business of one needs in their marketing kit. With information on learning new written and oral presentation skills, this section will help get you noticed.

You’ll get advice on how to write articles to promote your services, how to develop a website that sells, how to be noticed by the media, the role of direct mail, the secrets of attracting business through word-of-mouth referrals and how to avoid some of the biggest marketing mistakes.

Plus you will find tips on writing and producing your own ezine, the role of PR and advertising for small businesses and how to use testimonials in your marketing.

Whatever your knowledge of marketing, prepare to be challenged, stimulated and inspired.

Want to keep up to date with all our small business marketing articles? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, sent to over 14,000 loyal readers each Tuesday, and receive four valuable bonus reports to download instantly.

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Marketing articles

• The easiest way to better marketing

  The key to better marketing is to focus on the benefits, not just the features, of what you offer. Here's how to create a list of compelling benefits for your business, and use it to boost your marketing results.

  • 22 June 09
  • Charles Cuninghame
  • 8 Comments

• Tips for promoting your website

  You’ve been handed the keys to your brand new website, and are ready to tell the world. But how exactly are you going to promote your website, and will it cost the earth? Consider these seven good ol’ fashioned tips.

  • 17 June 09
  • Amanda Gonzalez
  • 18 Comments

• How to make money from blogs

  We all know blogging can be good for business, but how do you make money from blogs? I have worked strategically on a variety of blogs and other web 2.0 strategies and have some sage advice and revenue models for would-be bloggers to consider.

  • 15 June 09
  • Zoe Warne
  • 11 Comments

• New business and going to the movies

  Before seeing a movie I’ll browse the poster, watch the trailer or ask a friend what they thought before paying to go and see it. Understanding this process can work wonders when thinking about attracting new business.

  • 05 June 09
  • Bronwyn Simmonds
  • 3 Comments

• Seven winning article writing tips

  Recently, I wrote about how article marketing gives you free publicity. Here are some practical article writing tips to help you write an article that your clients and prospects will love!

  • 01 June 09
  • Lucinda Lions
  • 12 Comments

• Beyond Selling Information

  The Information Age has turned the intangibles of Data, Information, Knowledge and Ideas into very real careers and livelihoods for many of us. But perhaps it’s time to look beyond selling information.

  • 29 May 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 8 Comments

• 23 simple tips on writing for the web

  Writing for the web is not the same as writing for a brochure or magazine. There are many essential differences that you need to consider. Here are 23 simple tips I’ve picked up over the years.

  • 22 May 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 7 Comments

• 

  Spread the referral virus and work less!

  Sounds good, doesn't it? Just imagine attracting a flood of clients through word-of-mouth referrals and adjusting your workstyle to get more done in less time. These are topics Flying Solo founder, Robert Gerrish, addresses in two CDs and he has a sale on

• Service culture: Encouraging customer loyalty

  Loyal customers return more often, resulting in more sales and lower acquisition costs. Yet many businesses do nothing to encourage loyalty. Here are some simple steps to improve things.

  • 20 May 09
  • Jack Fraenkel
  • 3 Comments

• Doing business on the Internet

  People you have never met face to face or even spoken to can become your best customers or suppliers. So how does it happen, and where can you find them? This article looks at doing business on the Internet.

  • 18 May 09
  • Tristan Boyd
  • 5 Comments

• Business writing: How to tidy up sentences

  Do you want to express yourself better in your business writing? Then tidy up your sentences. Looking closely at sentence length and structure will help make your words work for you.

  • 11 May 09
  • Mary Morel
  • 3 Comments

• How to overcome fear of selling

  When I started out in business I had a real fear of selling. I thought salespeople weren't to be trusted, and I never wanted to hear 'no' from a prospect.

  • 08 May 09
  • Zoe Routh
  • 8 Comments

• Seven reasons NOT to blog

  You’ve read enough articles telling you why you should blog. What about reasons not to blog? This will help you objectively decide whether you should or shouldn’t start a blog.

  • 06 May 09
  • Amanda Gonzalez
  • 15 Comments

• Get free publicity through article marketing

  Writing articles doesn’t cost a cent, but the results are priceless. It’s the perfect publicity-boosting activity for every business in all economic climates. Read on to find out how article marketing is good for your business.

  • 27 April 09
  • Lucinda Lions
  • 10 Comments

• 

  SEO Secrets: A DIY guide to topping Google

  A no.1 Google ranking is every small business owner’s dream. Especially in a recession. This ebook can make your dream a reality. 213 pages. No fluff. Written specifically for small business owners.

• The importance of customer loyalty

  Loyalty leaders are successful because they have designed their entire business systems around customer loyalty. Building a highly loyal customer base must be integral to your basic business strategy.

  • 03 April 09
  • Jack Fraenkel
  • 8 Comments

• Online marketing tips for local businesses

  Often I hear “my web site doesn’t work because I only service local clients”. Here are online marketing tips for soloists to effectively market their local business on the Internet.

  • 30 March 09
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 10 Comments

• 

  Nominations now open for the 2009 Telstra Business Awards

  Celebrate the journey. We want to hear your story. Nominate your business or a business you know for the 2009 Telstra Business Awards. Visit www.telstrabusinessawards.com or call 1800 262 323. Nominations now open. Click to read more.

• Tips for writing marketing material

  As soloists, most of us have to write our own marketing material whether or not we enjoy writing. Often we’re so busy thinking about what we want to say that we lose sight of our audience. Even experienced writers can fall into this trap.

  • 23 March 09
  • Mary Morel
  • 4 Comments

• How to meet and greet potential clients

  The meet and greet is the business world’s equivalent to a job interview. The process of meeting potential clients can make even the most fearless of us break into a sweat.

  • 20 March 09
  • Karen Morris
  • 4 Comments

• Are you your own best customer?

  There is a saying in technology circles, that if you believe in your own products, you should use them in your business. It’s called: eating your own dog food.

  • 16 March 09
  • Greg Pritchard
  • 8 Comments

• What is attraction marketing?

  Conventional marketing has been primarily about one-way push promotion. Attraction marketing offers a more authentic alternative. After decades of sanitised hot air, the opportunity to listen to authentic people is a breeze of fresh air.

  • 13 March 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 10 Comments

• 

  Looking for free, easy to access content?

  If your website, email newsletter or other publication is read predominantly by a small business audience, you’ll love Flying Solo's highly focused articles written by Australia’s leading experts.

• Three effective low-cost marketing weapons

  With the economy slowing, now is a great time to rev up your marketing. But you need to get the most bang for your marketing buck. Here are three super-effective and low-cost marketing weapons to help you attract new clients in tough times.

  • 20 February 09
  • Charles Cuninghame
  • 8 Comments

• The importance of search engine optimisation SEO

  Here’s a quick experiment that will speak volumes about the importance of search engine optimisation (SEO). The results may be inspiring, frustrating or ho-hum all at the same time. I call it window shopping the competition.

  • 17 February 09
  • Peter Crocker
  • 10 Comments

• Understanding resale price maintenance (RPM)

  If you’re involved in the wholesaling of goods to retail outlets, you need to know about resale price maintenance. Here’s how to ensure you don’t fall foul of the RPM prohibition.

  • 06 February 09
  • Michael Terceiro
  • 4 Comments

• Audio visual presentation tips

  Ever thought of recording a series of customer testimonials to show prospects? Or recording of a presentation for participants to review? Here’s the lowdown on producing a top quality audio visual presentation.

  • 04 February 09
  • Wendy Buckingham
  • 4 Comments

• Tips for getting media coverage

  At Flying Solo, we get some valuable media coverage. Not only is this great for our brand, it makes us smile a lot! Here are some tips from our approach to the media that may help you with yours.

  • 03 February 09
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 11 Comments

• Advice for entering small business awards

  A business award is a publicity bonanza for the lucky winners, with many reaping huge benefits such as cash injections, interest from potential business partners and more customers. So how do you go about getting on a small business awards shortlist?

  • 02 February 09
  • Robyn Haydon
  • 5 Comments

• Designing written communication

  When working on a piece of written communication it is easy to focus on the words and overlook the design of the message. Here’s how to craft your message perfectly.

  • 30 January 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 5 Comments

• Why good writing skills are important

  Many solo business owners are passionate about good writing skills and the English language. Clients are passionate about this, too, and many will buy elsewhere if the writing is bad.

  • 26 January 09
  • Lucinda Lions
  • 13 Comments

• 12 signs you should say NO to clients

  Making the decision to say no to clients is not made lightly. Do you know how to recognise when you should say no? No to an existing client, no to future income, no to potential new clients?

  • 21 January 09
  • Heather Smith
  • 11 Comments

• Free publicity or paid advertising?

  It’s not always easy to recognise the difference between free publicity and paid advertising. Here's how you can and how each can help your business.

  • 07 January 09
  • Joh Baker-Dowdell
  • 7 Comments

• 

  Four unique corporate gift ideas

  If you struggle with Christmas present ideas for clients, here are four unique gifts that have worked well for me.

  • 17 December 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 73 Comments

• Tips for a successful presentation

  Brilliant words are only part of a successful presentation, so here are some strategies to create a great speaking environment.

  • 10 December 08
  • Wendy Buckingham
  • 8 Comments

• Why I don't send Christmas cards to clients

  I spent two years religiously sending Christmas cards to my clients and contacts. But in 2006 I just stopped. Let me explain why.

  • 08 December 08
  • Megan Tough
  • 12 Comments

• Six ways to get media coverage

  Although there are no guarantees for getting media coverage, here are some simple tactics that will improve your chances.

  • 03 December 08
  • Ellen Gray
  • 9 Comments

• Examples of bad customer service

  In the course of planning a tree change, I’ve been reminded of some classic no-no’s in the area of customer service. I can’t believe bad customer service still goes on. See what you think.

  • 02 December 08
  • Sam Leader
  • 50 Comments

• Grow your business: Sack a client!

  With all this talk of downturn, why not go against the flow and do something radical to grow your business? A client of mine did and she’s still reaping the benefits. If you work with anyone who drives you nuts, you’d best read on.

  • 25 November 08
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 59 Comments

• Styles in modern business writing

  First impressions count and we usually judge a piece of business writing on its visual appearance before we’ve even read a word.

  • 21 November 08
  • Mary Morel
  • 8 Comments

• Business tag lines that sell

  An effective business tag line is a constant source of premium advertising that will reinforce your brand while generating sales. So what is a tag line, why should your business have one and how do you go about writing one?

  • 05 November 08
  • Lucinda Lions
  • 24 Comments

• Self promotion: Making it easy to get found

  A recent experience reminded me just how many businesses make it unnecessarily difficult to be found by their prospects. In a world that’s increasingly obsessed with Google ranking, let’s not overlook the basics of self promotion.

  • 28 October 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 18 Comments

• Getting clients: Who are your people?

  If you’re struggling to find and connect with new clients, then perhaps it’s time to turn to your people. Today, I got a call which dramatically changed the way I viewed getting clients.

  • 27 October 08
  • Trish Weston
  • 16 Comments

• Punctuation rules: Correct use of apostrophes

  With so many different punctuation rules that need to be followed when writing the English language, it can sometimes get confusing. This article outlines the correct use of apostrophes.

  • 13 October 08
  • Mary Morel
  • 12 Comments

• False economy: Beware the lure of the quickie

  So your customer rings and says, “I need something fast, cheap and cheerful, nothing fancy. Could you have a quick look?” Don’t believe it. This is false economy and the result can be less than satisfying for all involved.

  • 07 October 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 35 Comments

• Tips for successful Google AdWords campaigns

  Google AdWords can be the most profitable advertising you’ll ever do, provided you do it correctly. This article reviews three common mistakes businesses make when running their own Google AdWords campaigns.

  • 26 September 08
  • Philip Shaw
  • 17 Comments

• Business quoting: 10 secret line items revealed

  The world of big business is renowned for mysterious fees and charges. But here amongst small business, the use of hidden line items is running rampant! Here's an exposé of the black art of business quoting.

  • 16 September 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 24 Comments

• Why word of mouth advertising matters

  It’s easy to think of word-of-mouth advertising as being feel-good marketing, but thanks to my contrasting experiences at two international airports, I can report that feel-bad also has its place.

  • 09 September 08
  • Sam Leader
  • 26 Comments

• Tips for self-editing and proofreading

  As most soloists can’t afford to pay a proofreader to edit their writing, the occasional typo is inevitable. However, to make sure your final copy is as good as possible, here are some tips for self-editing and proofreading.

  • 05 September 08
  • Mary Morel
  • 14 Comments

• How to raise your profile using a case study

  A well constructed case study has all the elements necessary to get your marketing message across and establish the trust needed to build good business relationships. Here’s how to create a case study to help you win business and raise your profile.

  • 20 August 08
  • Karen Morris
  • 6 Comments

• The role of great website photography

  If you’re selling products or showcasing your services online, great website photography is an essential piece of the effective website puzzle.

  • 13 August 08
  • Nicky Jurd
  • 14 Comments

• 5 ways to gain small business PR for free

  Marketing your solo business can be tough when you have little spare cash. Here are some tips to gain great small business PR, with no outlay - other than your time, Internet connection, office stationery and business cards.

  • 06 August 08
  • Joh Baker-Dowdell
  • 15 Comments

• Business relationships: How can I help you?

  In our business relationships we often tend to focus more on 'what can you do for me?’ rather ‘what can I do for you?’, but is this the best way to create meaningful business relationships?

  • 22 July 08
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 17 Comments

• Personal branding at work

  Soloists often work in isolation and don’t get to see clients on a constant basis to help build that easy camaraderie you get at work. Therefore to succeed in your business, it’s critical to establish strong relationships through personal branding.

  • 18 July 08
  • Sue Currie
  • 10 Comments

• How to price right for maximum profit

  There are a variety of methods for determining the price of your goods and services. To ensure you price right for maximum profit, let’s look at some of the merits and pifalls of different pricing strategies.

  • 09 July 08
  • Sue Hirst
  • 5 Comments

• Being misunderstood

  If there’s one breed of person I have little time for, it’s so called shock jocks. These talk radio DJs earn fabulous sums by making provocative and often offensive comments… all in the name of entertainment.

  • 08 July 08
  • Sam Leader
  • 12 Comments

• Client briefs: Asking smart questions part 2

  My previous article on client briefs covered asking smart questions to yield the right information to help you secure contracts. For best results, you also need to consider who, when, where and how to ask these questions.

  • 02 July 08
  • Mark Moore
  • 3 Comments

• Google: Organic versus AdWords

  Everyone wants to rank well in Google. Did you know, though, that there is more than one way to get to the top of the pack? Read on to find out the difference between organic versus AdWords to ensure you don’t miss out on a very real opportunity.

  • 30 June 08
  • David Lawrence
  • 7 Comments

• Business logos: How to design your own logo

  Following on from how to get the business logo designs you want, here are some tips if you want to by-pass the graphic designer altogether and design your own logo.

  • 16 June 08
  • Megan Hills
  • 19 Comments

• Social media marketing – a definition

  You've probably heard of social media marketing (SMM). It refers to websites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, YouTube, Squidoo, Yahoo Answers, Flickr, Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit and del.icio.us.

  • 09 June 08
  • Louise Gorrie
  • 14 Comments

• Client briefs: Are you asking smart questions?

  Delivering for a new client is of paramount importance. Yet many struggle to do this because at the outset, they fail to obtain the right information about their client’s needs. Are you asking smart questions in your client briefs?

  • 28 May 08
  • Mark Moore
  • 7 Comments

• Get serious about online marketing strategies

  In the 2008 Understanding Micro Business survey, you told us online marketing strategies such as websites and social networking were among the top ways to find new clients. Yet only 53% of us soloists have a website we’re happy with.

  • 13 May 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 16 Comments

• Business logo designs: Getting what you want

  My previous article discussed briefing a designer prior to business logo design. It is important to give a detailed account of your business and market as well as your design ideas. Naturally you will want designers to introduce their own ideas also.

  • 12 May 08
  • Megan Hills
  • 8 Comments

• Business communication styles: mobile vs email

  There’s nothing like an article on mobile phone manners to get people stirred up, as Megan Tough’s piece proved. In this article I look at the mobile vs email debate. Which business communication style do you prefer?

  • 06 May 08
  • Sam Leader
  • 40 Comments

• Client meetings: What am I doing here?

  I’m as social as the next guy. I love people and I adore lounging around in cafés. One thing I hate, though, is putting on a posh shirt and slogging across town for client meetings only to have my time wasted. Frankly, I’m over it.

  • 29 April 08
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 40 Comments

• Client feedback: Do you shy away from it?

  If you did a bad job for a client, would you be happy for them to let you know where you went wrong? Do you seek client feedback or would you prefer not to know?

  • 25 April 08
  • Linda Anderson
  • 9 Comments

• Business logo designs: Briefing a designer

  In a previous article on business logo designs I wrote about making an effective logo. If your business needs a new identity, here are some tips on briefing your graphic designer.

  • 07 April 08
  • Megan Hills
  • 12 Comments

• The importance of communicating with clients

  There’s a simple email you can send to your clients or customers that they are guaranteed to love. If you want to be perceived as switched on, reliable and trustworthy, then read on to find out more about the importance of communicating with clients.

  • 01 April 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 21 Comments

• Develop your Personal Brand - Twelve tips

  Personal branding is the relationships an individual has with its public - essentially personal public relations. How others feel about your personal brand determines whether or not they want to have a working relationship with you.

  • 31 March 08
  • Sue Currie
  • 4 Comments

• Saying sorry: Knowing when to say sorry

  Last year I wrote about the importance of apologising when you know you’re in the wrong. By saying sorry, you encourage feelings of goodwill and show you’re responsible for your actions.

  • 25 March 08
  • Sam Leader
  • 28 Comments

• Online Marketing: Google Pay-Per-Action

  Targeted traffic still isn’t enough to convince most small to medium businesses to advertise with AdWords. The result is Google’s latest initiative – Pay-Per-Action.

  • 10 March 08
  • Louise Gorrie
  • 2 Comments

• Boost referrals with a memorable introduction

  Positive word-of-mouth is the main source of new business for many soloists, and networking is a good way to build it. But people have to remember you to refer clients, so how you introduce yourself to people you meet is important to boost referrals.

  • 03 March 08
  • Robyn Haydon
  • 23 Comments

• Successful media interviews

  Successful media interviews are a great way to promote your business. But if you’re unfamiliar with being interviewed, you may get daunted by the prospect. Rather than saying no to the opportunity, there are ways you can eliminate unnecessary fears.

  • 25 February 08
  • Sue Currie
  • 3 Comments

• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tips

  My last article explained how search engine optimisation (SEO) works. Now I will discuss how to use keywords on your website to improve your ranking in search engines and how to get links from other websites to improve your credibility.

  • 18 February 08
  • Philip Shaw
  • 14 Comments

• A beginners guide to Podcasts

  I love my iPod - it has opened my world in ways I could not imagine. The reason for this is simple: podcasts! Before I got my iPod, I didn’t even know they existed.

  • 15 February 08
  • Heather Smith
  • 3 Comments

• Marketing tips for targeting small business

  With more than one million businesses in Australia falling into the micro category, it can be hard to attract their attention. This article provides four marketing tips for targeting small businesses.

  • 13 February 08
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 13 Comments

• The easy way to speak to target prospects

  This one’s for those who love speaking, but struggle to find an audience; hate speaking, but know people; or simply don’t have anything very interesting to say. It’s a straightforward strategy to target prospects and I think you’ll like it.

  • 12 February 08
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 23 Comments

• How to make money from business blogging

  Business blogging takes a big time commitment, but it could be worthwhile if it generates more customers and dollars. So how do you make money from business blogging?

  • 04 February 08
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 20 Comments

• Managing customer expectations

  Good customer service is about managing customer expectations. My recent experience with a multinational cosmetics firm provides a textbook lesson on how not to treat your customers.

  • 29 January 08
  • Sam Leader
  • 17 Comments

• Why specialist positioning matters

  Typically, the smaller a business is, the more important it is to specialise, and you can’t get much smaller than solo. For a soloist, specialist positioning is a powerful target marketing and business management tool.

  • 25 January 08
  • Robyn Haydon
  • 8 Comments

• Use the power of channel marketing

  Selling products or services direct to customers is all good and well. But could you be missing out on a potentially larger and more lucrative marketing opportunity? Here I will discuss the power of channel marketing.

  • 15 January 08
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• How Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) works

  Being easily found using Google and other search engines can impact the success of your business. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a way of increasing traffic to your website and ensuring your business ranks high in internet search results.

  • 14 January 08
  • Philip Shaw
  • 10 Comments

• Nine tips for improving negotiation skills

  Professional salespeople love negotiation, but many soloists are more comfortable doing their job rather than negotiating about it. Here are nine tips for improving your negotiation skills.

  • 10 December 07
  • Robyn Haydon
  • 8 Comments

• Communication skills and techniques: Showing empathy

  As part of our lives as solopreneurs, we come across many different people who hold many different view points. To deal effectively with those who have a different opinion to our own, empathy is an important communication technique to develop.

  • 07 December 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 5 Comments

• Gift giving: a selfless elf or last minute Dasher?

  Soloists have lots to look forward to in December, with a well-deserved break on the cards for most of us. But it also has its stresses, many of them to do with gift giving.

  • 04 December 07
  • Sam Leader
  • 16 Comments

• How to handle customer complaints

  How often are you pleasantly surprised by great customer service? If you’re like me, then sadly not very often. But recently, I had a good customer service experience that demonstrates the best way to handle customer complaints.

  • 21 November 07
  • Tim Reid
  • 9 Comments

• Creating a lead generating website

  Creating a website whose sole ambition is to generate leads can be a very profitable exercise. A lead generating website provides valuable tools or resources for your potential clients, in the hope that they will then share information with you.

  • 12 November 07
  • Louise Gorrie
  • 8 Comments

• 

  Five tips for naming your business

  Naming your business is one of the first steps in flying solo, although it is often not an easy task and there are many factors to consider. Here are some practical tips to help you with the process of naming your business.

  • 31 October 07
  • Heather Smith
  • 19 Comments

• How to create a newsletter template

  A commenter on my how to get ideas for your newsletter article asked for formatting advice, so here are ten tips on how to create a newsletter template.

  • 24 October 07
  • Jess Tyler
  • 16 Comments

• Why publicity wins you business

  Word of mouth is a very powerful public relations weapon and one of the best ways of generating it is through publicity. Although publicity can be very valuable, it is often overlooked as a true means of creating interest in a product or service.

  • 22 October 07
  • Sue Currie
  • 5 Comments

• Stop thief! When customers don't pay

  Missing: One Word document, three ideas and a truckload of expertise. If seen, please return to Noel Ranger. I've been robbed and am not happy, Jan.

  • 19 October 07
  • Noel Ranger
  • 17 Comments

• Get more business with sampling

  I know sampling isn’t new. But lately I’ve been thinking that such an effective marketing tool, with the ability to get lots of people trying your product or service, is not used often enough.

  • 17 October 07
  • Tim Reid
  • 13 Comments

• Ten tips on how to avoid business jargon

  Business jargon can be misleading, confusing and boring, but as a soloist it is a trap we can easily fall into without even realising it. Here are ten tips on how to avoid business jargon and learn to speak a language your clients will understand.

  • 12 October 07
  • Megan Hills
  • 3 Comments

• 

  Pricing strategies: Deciding on price setting

  Price setting is tricky for new soloists to master. Do you charge on a project, daily or hourly basis? Do you base your pricing startegies on what others charge, what you’d like to earn or what you think the market and/or prospect will bear?

  • 10 October 07
  • Robyn Haydon
  • 15 Comments

• Viral marketing campaigns: How do they work?

  You’ve probably heard of viral marketing, but what actually is it and how do viral marketing campaigns work? Read on to find out how to apply the principles to your business.

  • 24 September 07
  • Megan Tough
  • 3 Comments

• How to get ideas for your newsletter

  As the editor or your own newsletter, thinking of ideas without an all-nighter at deadline time calls for some smart management. This article will help ensure a good flow of ideas to create a vibrant, informative and useful newsletter.

  • 17 September 07
  • Jess Tyler
  • 9 Comments

• Using affiliate marketing to generate leads

  One of the big hurdles for solo businesses is generating leads. How would you like people you’ve never met promoting your business online round the clock and you only have to pay them when you make a sale? Welcome to the world of affiliate marketing.

  • 14 September 07
  • Louise Gorrie
  • 9 Comments

• Writing style guidelines

  I’ve been working on some writing style guidelines designed to help our new contributors write their articles. I thought I’d share some highlights in the hope they’ll assist your own writing.

  • 11 September 07
  • Sam Leader
  • 30 Comments

• Choosing the right customers

  Most of us see the decision to buy as the customer’s. But us soloists are, to a degree, defined by who we do business with, so our part in the decision is equally important. This short exercise will help you to focus on choosing the right customers.

  • 07 September 07
  • Robyn Haydon
  • 4 Comments

• The key message everyone should hear

  In a typical week the majority of us soloists meet many potential ideal clients. Are you making the most of these meetings by being able to clearly articulate the key message of your business?

  • 04 September 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 83 Comments

• Generating new business through sampling

  My last newsletter on proactive marketing looked at selling to existing customers with the phrase "I've got an idea for you." But what about using a similarly proactive approach with generating new business? This can be done using sampling.

  • 28 August 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 18 Comments

• What it means to be a good communicator

  Judging by our recent poll results, we reckon we're very good communicators. 70% of respondents describe their ability to communicate as 'higher than average'.

  • 21 August 07
  • Sam Leader
  • 25 Comments

• Deliver your message with a podcast

  Podcasts are rapidly growing in popularity and have the potential to provide many benefits to your business including raising your profile and updating clients. Read on to find out whether it is time for you to stop typing and start talking.

  • 15 August 07
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 12 Comments

• How to write a media release

  Publicity is supposedly seven times more effective than advertising, and it is free if you do it yourself! Learn how to write a media release to capture the attention of journalists, and you can cash in on the free editorial coverage.

  • 13 August 07
  • Sue Currie
  • 2 Comments

• Clear communication: how to explain difficult concepts

  Do you ever struggle when trying to explain difficult concepts? Clear communication is important in business, but due to the different experiences and backgrounds of each of your clients, it is not always easy.

  • 10 August 07
  • Jess Tyler
  • 5 Comments

• Winning new business: How to avoid the giving trap

  There’s you in pursuit of winning new business, all excited by the prospect landing a star client. You’ve spent months, even years, perfecting your policies and procedures and as quick as a flash you shoot yourself in the foot by giving stuff away.

  • 08 August 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 13 Comments

• Proactive marketing: I've got an idea for you

  In one of our weekly polls, 43% of respondents said they would like to increase their flow of new business. To do this, thinking tends to focus on "How and where can I find new customers?" But there is an alternative - proactive marketing.

  • 07 August 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 6 Comments

• Customer surveys: Writing a customer satisfaction survey

  Measuring customer satisfaction is a great way to focus your business development on the areas that will really make a difference to your customers. So how do you go about writing a customer satisfaction survey?

  • 25 July 07
  • Kate Tribe
  • 3 Comments

• How to appeal to your target market

  Are you using clear marketing signals to appeal to your desired tagret market?

  • 24 July 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 11 Comments

• Interactive websites: What is Web 2.0?

  We've all heard of Web 2.0, but what does it mean? I think of it as the Interactive Internet. It encourages collaboration between users and is driving the trend towards more interactive websites.

  • 20 July 07
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 12 Comments

• The basics of logo design

  Your logo is the primary part of your brand identity, so it’s important to make sure it communicates the right message. Here are four key things to bear in mind when looking at logo design.

  • 18 July 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 27 Comments

• Billing clients in six minute increments

  Being a soloist, there are many factors to consider when billing clients. How do you work out how much to charge your clients?

  • 17 July 07
  • Peter Crocker
  • 43 Comments

• Customer relations: How to apologise to a client

  Mistakes in business are inevitable, and sometimes your actions will have a negative impact on your customer relations. Now the good news: my advice on how to eat humble pie enables you to admit the error and come out looking good.

  • 16 July 07
  • Linda Anderson
  • 4 Comments

• Typos and other errors: Dealing with mistakes

  With delightful regularity, we receive feedback from the solo community offering some form of praise for the work we do here at Flying Solo. Occasionally, though, we'll receive a comment dealing with mistakes where the karma isn't so good.

  • 10 July 07
  • Sam Leader
  • 69 Comments

• Client relationships: when to take on something new

  If you are new in business and keen to develop new client relationships, it is tempting to take on something you’ve never done before. Or existing clients may ask you to do something unfamiliar. But when is the right time to take on something new?

  • 04 July 07
  • Kathie M. Thomas
  • 6 Comments

• Are your key marketing messages clear?

  A recent experience reminded me of the importance of having clear key marketing messages if you want to get the attention of your target market.

  • 03 July 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 20 Comments

• Customer feedback surveys: What's the point?

  In previous articles, I focused on making your survey easy to answer, survey design and survey writing. To get the most meaningful results from your customer feedback surveys, it is also important to ask the right questions.

  • 27 June 07
  • Kate Tribe
  • 1 Comment

• Ideal clients? Man, you just gotta love big ones

  Dear big, massive, ideal client, Thank you for getting in touch to request a proposal for my services. I was so honoured when you selected little old me to be officially added to your ‘strategic solutions partners preferred supplier list’.

  • 20 June 07
  • Noel Ranger
  • 8 Comments

• Business blogs: Can a blog help your solo business?

  Many businesses are now adding business blogs to their website to better communicate with their target market and build traffic to their website. Can a blog help your business? Or is it simply a fad?

  • 13 June 07
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 36 Comments

• Do you recognise buying signals?

  Now I don't want to cause alarm, but to put this week's story about recognising buying signals in context I need to tell you that I started my working career as a used car salesman.

  • 12 June 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 5 Comments

• Presentation skills: What makes a great presenter?

  Being able to communicate effectively is a key part of business success, making the ability to confidently deliver a speech or presentation is an important skill. Here are a few tips that may help improve your presentation skills.

  • 11 June 07
  • Sue Currie
  • 8 Comments

• Business Branding: The ABC of branding

  ABC, which stands for Actions, Beliefs and Clothing are the basic building blocks of business branding. You have an authentic and strong brand when these three aspects work together harmoniously.

  • 08 June 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 8 Comments

• Survey writing: Is your survey easy to answer?

  When survey writing, the wording of response options should be carefully considered. Customer surveys should be easy to answer, not a chore and good answer options increase your response rate.

  • 23 May 07
  • Kate Tribe
  • 4 Comments

• Good customer service tips that work

  It's a marketing no brainer, but I was recently reminded of the remarkable effectiveness of good customer service.

  • 08 May 07
  • Sam Leader
  • 14 Comments

• Effective Communication: Facing the frustration of "you don't understand!"

  Do you ever get stuck trying to communicate a certain understanding of something? No matter what you say or how hard you try to make yourself plain, the person on the other end is just not getting it. So why aren't you having effective communication?

  • 07 May 07
  • Kath O'Sullivan
  • 7 Comments

• 

  Smart marketing: More than the wow factor

  There's much spoken of the need for the ‘wow factor’ in our work and how without it we risk being invisible. But I have to tell you I’m totally over businesses that lead with ‘wow’ only to follow up with…er, nothing actually.

  • 01 May 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 18 Comments

• Six strategies for sales success

  Sales success depends on conversion. If you don't currently track your conversion rate, you will notice an increase in sales just by doing so. People always do more when they are being watched!

  • 18 April 07
  • Summer Nelson
  • 9 Comments

• The importance of apologising

  John-Paul and I got carried away at an auction last week and it reminded me about the importance of apologising. Luckily we weren't buying a house. Instead we were purchasing orchids.

  • 17 April 07
  • Sam Leader
  • 29 Comments

• Event management: How to organise and stage a special event

  Special events come under the umbrella of public relations and are a great way to promote your business. If you have event management plans for your own special event, you are in a good position to make the most of the PR opportunity it presents.

  • 16 April 07
  • Sue Currie
  • 5 Comments

• Business partnering: Everyone's a partner

  Wouldn't it be wonderful if businesses truly, madly, deeply, partnered with each other? Some businesses talk about 'business partnering with clients', but you can bet most of them are not connected with their so-called partners in any meaningful way.

  • 10 April 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 11 Comments

• Marketing communications strategy: Your target audience doesn't care

  Let's face it, promotion, advertising and marketing is not cheap. In fact, it's really expensive! And the crazy thing is, we're so often at a loss to know which parts of our marketing communications strategy are reaching our target audience.

  • 30 March 07
  • Tim Reid
  • 3 Comments

• Telephone sales techniques: Preparing for calls to prospective clients

  The telephone is a communication vehicle where you only have one chance to make a first impression and like many aspects of the business development process, preparation can dramatically enhance your telephone sales techniques.

  • 28 March 07
  • Richard Woodward
  • 3 Comments

• Winning new clients: How to get the gig

  I recently received an email from Sylvia, a coaching client, which prompted me to write on the important topic of winning new clients.

  • 20 March 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 5 Comments

• Marketing communications: the basics

  Sales, PR, event management, marketing and promotion... chances are you'll have many roles to play within your solo business. You should also add Marcoms Manager to your job description. Learn more about how it can help you to succeed.

  • 19 March 07
  • Sue Currie

• How to boost website traffic and sales

  The first step to boost website traffic and sales is to get listed in the search engines. Unsurprisingly, Google dominates this field, and is likely to yield the largest amount of traffic to your site.

  • 16 March 07
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 17 Comments

• Winning proposals: Why was your proposal rejected?

  Rejection is always hard to accept, and often potential clients aren't clear why they turned us down. We assume it has something to do with price or their relationship with a competitor. Are these the reasons why we are not winning proposals?

  • 09 March 07
  • Paul J. Morris
  • 7 Comments

• How managing anger helps you communicate

  Managing anger enables you to diffuse conflict and open a new way to communicate that’s powerful and authentic and serves all relationships - at work, in love and even with phone operators.

  • 05 March 07
  • Kath O'Sullivan
  • 5 Comments

• What is your key marketing message?

  As regular readers will know, in my coaching and speaking business I put considerable emphasis on clarifying who is an ‘ideal client’ for me before creating a key marketing message.

  • 27 February 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 53 Comments

• Why informal communication styles work

  For years, experts have been telling us it is essential to adopt a formal, professional communication style. But I believe it is way more powerful to drop the formality and add some humanity back into communication.

  • 26 February 07
  • Megan Tough
  • 7 Comments

• How to write articles that generate free publicity

  Writing articles and submitting them to the media is an excellent way to get free publicity. Any time you have something published it creates awareness and enhances your credibility. So how do you go about it?

  • 19 February 07
  • Sue Currie
  • 2 Comments

• 

  Grow through your existing customer base

  There is real growth potential in a sole trader's existing customer base, but many fail to realise its full potential. Often, more energy goes to attracting new customers or clients than looking after current ones.

  • 07 February 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 3 Comments

• Verbal communication skills: Improving your verbal skills

  It's easy for soloists to let their verbal communication skills lapse. If you worry about what to say at a networking event and would rather email than pick up the phone, your verbal skills may be a bit rusty.

  • 19 January 07
  • Sue Currie
  • 9 Comments

• Client management: Refusing work

  It would be lovely to think we only ever attracted dream clients to our businesses, but unfortunately we also get the occasional stinker. Here I look at client management and why refusing work is sometimes necessary.

  • 16 January 07
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 35 Comments

• Why to enter your business into awards

  An original way to get some excellent profile for yourself and your business is to enter awards. By going through the process of a business awards program, you can learn so much about yourself and the psyche of being a soloist.

  • 10 January 07
  • Jess Tyler
  • 4 Comments

• How to work out your hourly rate

  If you intend to charge using an hourly rate, it helps to know how much you are worth. Only then can you quote accurately and build a successful business that you can enjoy.

  • 20 December 06
  • Megan Hills
  • 2 Comments

• Managing customer relationships

  To succeed in business today, you need to develop a real relationship with your customers. An authentic approach to managing customer relationships can help you shine through and win out over your competition.

  • 15 December 06
  • Zern Liew
  • 5 Comments

• How to make visitors stay on your website

  The problem of how to make visitors stay on website looms large in the solo business community. No matter what your site’s purpose, you need loyal visitors. Capturing and keeping them means ensuring they are so happy nothing can steal them away.

  • 06 December 06
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 12 Comments

• Gain media exposure - develop an online profile

  An online profile is the ideal way to improve media exposure and that of your brand. By creating a dedicated 'media room' you will maximise your chances of getting noticed.

  • 04 December 06
  • Sue Currie
  • 4 Comments

• Marketing mistake #1: No differentiation strategy

  Looking the same as the competition is one of the most common marketing mistakes around. Here's a seven step differentiation strategy that one business is using to stand out.

  • 27 November 06
  • Peter Griffin
  • 6 Comments

• Business logo designs: Making an effective logo

  Has your business got an effective logo that is an accurate reflection of what you do? Does it work in every way possible? Here are some tips to give your logo that extra punch.

  • 22 November 06
  • Megan Hills
  • 8 Comments

• Exceptional customer service: Having the right attitude

  Every business should care about providing exceptional customer service. But what does that “service” really mean?

  • 10 November 06
  • Zern Liew
  • 4 Comments

• How to keep customers for life

  We all know the adage that it’s a lot cheaper to keep customers than it is to get new ones. Dan Kennedy, one of the world’s leading marketers, has conducted a study into why businesses fail to keep customers.

  • 30 October 06
  • Peter Griffin
  • 7 Comments

• Effective customer service: Keeping your client informed

  Keeping your client informed, particularly when things aren’t going so well, can save your relationship and boost your business. The secret to effective customer service is how you contact your client - and how often.

  • 20 October 06
  • Megan Hills
  • 6 Comments

• The art of getting a business referral

  Every business needs a few influential people willing to speak glowingly about what you do and regularly send a business referral or two your way. Here’s how to cultivate these gems so both parties get great value from the relationship.

  • 18 October 06
  • Megan Tough
  • 3 Comments

• Survey writing: Do your surveys say what you mean?

  As we mentioned in our earlier article on survey design, good survey writing is very important. Accurate phrasing gives accurate responses you can rely on to improve your knowledge of your customers. Check your survey against this phraseology checklist!

  • 13 October 06
  • Kate Tribe
  • 2 Comments

• Business communication skills: Throw away your crystal ball

  You don't need psychic powers to work well with your clients, but you do need to be an effective communicator. Here are five steps that will make a huge difference to your business communication skills... and take away the guess work for good.

  • 29 September 06
  • Kath O'Sullivan
  • 6 Comments

• Four ways to increase customer value

  Your existing customers are people that already know, like and trust you. By focusing more effort on increasing their total customer value, i.e. the amount of money that they spend with you, you are virtually guaranteed to increase your profits.

  • 27 September 06
  • Peter Griffin
  • 4 Comments

• Planning marketing beats binge marketing

  By carefully planning marketing you can avoid the grand daddy of all bad business behaviours: binge marketing. All it takes is some regular time allocated to the task.

  • 22 September 06
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 4 Comments

• Marketing principles: The psychology of persuasion, part 2

  Both this and my previous article on the psychology of persuasion are a must-read for anyone who is developing marketing principles and is interested in understanding why we do the things we do!

  • 13 September 06
  • Karen McCreadie
  • 1 Comment

• Email marketing: Making the most of your opt-in email newsletter

  Publishing a simple opt-in email newsletter (or ezine) as little as once a month is guaranteed to help you increase sales. Follow these email marketing tips to maximise the impact of your newsletter.

  • 06 September 06
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 6 Comments

• Business blogs: how to make money blogging

  The self-styled Blog Traffic King describes the opportunities business blogs have presented him, explains why blogging has changed his life and outlines some ways to make money blogging.

  • 04 September 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 8 Comments

• Niche marketing: the business specialist

  When it comes to working smarter we shouldn't overlook niche marketing and the benefits of positioning yourself as a business specialist. Here are five compelling reasons to do just that.

  • 01 September 06
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 1 Comment

• Get personal for effective business communication

  Has modern technology stifled effective business communication and depersonalised our relationships with our nearest and dearest? Is a text message as meaningful as a hand-written note? I think not.

  • 25 August 06
  • Karen Morath
  • 5 Comments

• Marketing principles: The psychology of persuasion

  Why do people behave the way they do? An understanding of the psychology of persuasion not only gives us a fascinating insight into people in general, it can also help us to develop marketing principles and have empathy with potential buyers.

  • 21 August 06
  • Karen McCreadie
  • 2 Comments

• Six simple steps for solo business branding

  Credible business branding has been revealed as a big issue for soloists. Is it our problem if people don’t take us seriously? I think it is. Here are some ways we can show the world we mean business.

  • 07 August 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 8 Comments

• Tips to get your marketing plan moving

  Wouldn’t it be great if your overall marketing plan was streamlined and got the results you wanted? To get to this point requires effort and sometimes, we just can't motivate ourselves to move forward.

  • 04 August 06
  • Megan Tough
  • 4 Comments

• A promotional campaign: Planting the seeds for success

  When it's time to take your idea to the streets, a far sighted promotional campaign is almost certain to yield better results than a one-off event.

  • 21 July 06
  • Jess Tyler
  • 2 Comments

• New marketing: personal branding

  What is personal branding and how does it impact marketing for a solo business? Here are the answers...

  • 17 July 06
  • Sue Currie
  • 3 Comments

• Customer feedback: Ten steps to great survey design

  Effective customer feedback helps you drive your business forward. Do you really know what your customers think about your business? That's where great survey design comes in. Here are ten steps to consider when designing a survey.

  • 12 July 06
  • Kate Tribe
  • 3 Comments

• Seven tips to multiply your online sales

  When putting your products onto your website, don't sit back and expect the orders to roll in, instead create an online sales strategy to generate interest in your online offering.

  • 05 July 06
  • Melissa Norfolk
  • 2 Comments

• Marketing advice: what not to do

  None of us want to struggle with marketing, and yet it continues to create problems for many solo professionals. Here's seven pieces of solo and small business marketing advice that reveal common marketing mistakes.

  • 03 July 06
  • Megan Tough
  • 4 Comments

• Creating effective marketing strategies

  As a new solo business owner, when creating effective marketing strategies it is vital you ensure your marketing has relevance. This may seem obvious, but trying to be all things to all people is an extremely common mistake.

  • 26 June 06
  • Karen McCreadie

• Is it good to exchange services?

  From time to time it can be tempting to consider the exchange of business services, but are such contra arrangements a good idea?

  • 21 June 06
  • Wendy Buckingham
  • 3 Comments

• Internet marketing: Breaking down technical skills barriers

  In our Internet marketing series, we talk about how a website, a blog, autoresponders and pay per click advertising can help your business. If online marketing excites you, but you are nervous about your technical skills, you do have options.

  • 19 June 06
  • Yaro Starak

• The power of personal branding strategies

  Strong personal branding strategies can help you to create a successful, satisfying and stunning solo career. Here's how to go about building a personal brand for your business.

  • 16 June 06
  • Thomas Murrell
  • 2 Comments

• 10 ways of marketing and promoting email newsletters

  In my last article on email newlsetters, I highlighted the need to be clear about what you want to achieve to manage the expectations and outcomes of your newsletter. It’s the same with marketing and promoting email newsletters.

  • 12 June 06
  • Diane Lee
  • 3 Comments

• Choosing a business name and image

  Getting the right business name and creating a strong image are central to your success as a soloist. Here's how you can get it right from day one.

  • 24 May 06
  • Sue Currie
  • 1 Comment

• Internet marketing: The basics of blogging for business

  Blogs make it easy for soloists to create dynamic websites with little technical skill. Blogging is one of the best communication tools to “talk” to your potential customers and build relationships. Here are the basics of blogging for business.

  • 22 May 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 6 Comments

• Public relations strategy: Getting action through attraction

  If your approach to developing new business is based only on identifying and approaching prospects, you might need to think about a different public relations strategy so you don't miss out on attracting business to you.

  • 17 May 06
  • Richard Woodward

• Customer relationship management: give first, receive later

  People buy goods and services from people they know, like and trust. Therefore you should you should focus more on developing customer relationship management processes, rather than the “one step” marketing of some companies.

  • 08 May 06
  • Peter Griffin
  • 2 Comments

• How to conduct effective meetings

  Meetings can prove to be either a positive, fruitful encounter...or a total waste of time. To conduct effective meetings, you need to bring clarity and preparation to the table.

  • 05 May 06
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 4 Comments

• Internet marketing: Search engine optimisation (SEO) part 2

  This follow up article to an earlier Internet marketing article on search engine optimisation (SEO) delves deeper into how to make your site findable via keyword phrases. Plus we reveal the top eight SEO techniques.

  • 01 May 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 3 Comments

• Getting media coverage: 10 tips

  You don't need a huge PR budget to enjoy media exposure. Follow these 10 tips to increase your chances of nabbing the attention of editors and journalists.

  • 24 April 06
  • Sue Currie
  • 2 Comments

• So...you want your own email newsletter?

  Having your own email newsletter (or ezine) is a great way to boost your profile and increase your credibility. But before you jump into the world of e-publishing, consider the following questions.

  • 17 April 06
  • Diane Lee
  • 5 Comments

• Internet marketing: Introduction to search engine optimisation (SEO)

  Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the practice of developing your website so it appears high up in search engines. This topic is one of the most frustrating Internet marketing issues for one reason – it takes time.

  • 10 April 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 3 Comments

• How to create a successful media campaign

  Every day publications of all description need words to fill their pages. Someone has to provide those words, it might as well be you! When seeking to get your story into print, a successful media campaign can really make a difference.

  • 29 March 06
  • Jess Tyler
  • 3 Comments

• The essentials of good business writing

  Good business writing is at the heart of successful marketing. Without it you will be at best, misunderstood, at worst, totally ignored. Follow these simple guidelines to ensure your business writing hits the spot.

  • 22 March 06
  • Karen McCreadie
  • 11 Comments

• Internet marketing: How to use pay-per-click advertising

  The most common complaint about internet marketing is traffic, or lack of it. So how do you get visitors to your website? Here's an overview of how to use Google AdWords (pay-per-click advertising) to attract visitors.

  • 20 March 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 7 Comments

• Why following up is one of the key sales skills

  Are you regularly in touch with your clients and prospects? If not you could be missing out on valuable relationship building opportunities, not to mention sales! Following up is one of the essential business sales skills to produce sales growth.

  • 10 March 06
  • Peter Griffin
  • 11 Comments

• Getting website traffic

  You may know how to look for a business via a search engine, but do you understand how to generate your own flow of website visitors and encourage them to visit again and again?

  • 01 March 06
  • Sue Currie
  • 2 Comments

• Internet marketing: Using email autoresponders

  Creating an effective business website was discussed earlier in this series. Now that you understand the need to build customer relationships, let’s look at the most powerful Internet marketing tool available to achieve this, the email autoresponder.

  • 27 February 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 1 Comment

• How business partnerships can work for soloists

  Can business partnerships help you grow your business without getting paid? Possibly. One way is to help a client build a business by putting the value of your expertise on the line.

  • 24 February 06
  • Peter Crocker
  • 4 Comments

• Internet marketing: Creating an effective business website

  An effective business website lets you communicate with prospects to a degree that no print publication can match. Why have a static brochure website when you could be using Internet marketing to your advantage?

  • 13 February 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 9 Comments

• A pricing strategy solution for small business owners

  Open-ended service contracts can leave clients feeling somewhat uneasy. How can they judge if they are getting value for money or that the price is reasonable? So it's essential for small business owners to have an effective pricing strategy.

  • 06 February 06
  • Jess Tyler
  • 1 Comment

• Internet marketing: Its use as a business growth strategy

  How can Internet marketing be incorporated into your solo business growth strategy? This article is the first in a seven part series outlining the process of establishing a website that sells and how to build a client base using just online marketing.

  • 30 January 06
  • Yaro Starak
  • 12 Comments

• How to sell yourself

  Do you know how to sell yourself and your business? The key is to be happy promoting who you are, what you do and be clear on the benefits of doing business with you.

  • 27 January 06
  • Barb Clews
  • 7 Comments

• Customer service example: a tip on how NOT to do it

  Soloists who dazzle their customers from the outset are likely to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. In this customer service example I ended up on the receiving end of an IT service provider having 'one of those days.'

  • 23 January 06
  • Karen Morath
  • 11 Comments

• Quality marketing: Shortcut? Short-change!

  When money and time are tight, it's often tempting as a soloist to take the cheapest and quickest option at hand. But are these cheap and hasty actions a false economy? Is quality marketing important?

  • 20 January 06
  • Paul J. Morris
  • 5 Comments

• Strategic sales plans: Key drivers to increase sales

  "Increase sales" is the stated goal of many soloists at the start of the year. Having strategic sales plans maximises your chances of securing the business you need to get on track for achieving this year's targets.

  • 16 January 06
  • Richard Woodward
  • 3 Comments

• Business presentation skills: How to make presentations memorable

  In my last article on business presentation skills I focused on how to deliver effective presentations relevant to your customer. Let’s now focus on how to make your presentations memorable.

  • 11 January 06
  • Ricky Nowak
  • 4 Comments

• Seven tips on how to write marketing articles

  In a previous article, Promoting your business using article marketing we looked at the benefits of writing marketing articles to generate new business. Which is all well and good as long as you have something to write about – right?

  • 05 January 06
  • Megan Tough
  • 7 Comments

• Small business tools: Compiling a Communications Toolkit

  One of the most quick and easy small business tools is a 'Communications Toolkit’ – a repository of words, images and ideas that’s always ready with your best openers, lines, written examples and pictures of your work.

  • 19 December 05
  • Jess Tyler
  • 4 Comments

• Getting targeted web traffic

  So your business website is up and running. But is anyone visiting it? Here are some tips to drive the right kind of traffic to your site.

  • 07 December 05
  • Sue Currie
  • 2 Comments

• Is it good business to barter?

  Whether you call it a contra deal, a business exchange or a trade, bartering amongst soloists is common practice. But is it necessarily the best way to support one another?

  • 06 December 05
  • Karen Morath
  • 14 Comments

• Can innovation be a marketing tool?

  If you're forever hearing great things said about your work, yet not seeing these translate into sales and revenue, it could just be because you've fallen into the innovator trap. Can innovation be a marketing tool?

  • 25 November 05
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 3 Comments

• Direct mail campaign tips

  Direct mail campaigns are an important part of the marketing mix. Here are some tips to make yours a success.

  • 23 November 05
  • Barb Clews
  • 2 Comments

• Five strategies for delivering effective presentations

  If you've ever been guilty of subjecting your audience to death by PowerPoint, these five strategies for delivering effective presentations will help.

  • 18 November 05
  • Ricky Nowak
  • 1 Comment

• Preparing your elevator statement

  It is good practise to develop an elevator statement or elevator pitch, namely a short, sharp summary of your business that could be delivered in the time it takes to go a couple of floors in an elevator.

  • 16 November 05
  • Jess Tyler
  • 6 Comments

• Why consider sending a media release?

  If you want your business to stand out from the crowd, a media release may just be the answer. Not only can you enjoy free publicity, you'll also get added recognition.

  • 15 November 05
  • Sue Currie
  • 5 Comments

• Exceptional customer service

  Even if your customer service is good, there will be times when you ought to push the boat out and provide exceptional customer service.

  • 02 November 05
  • John Raymond

• Successful marketing: Avoiding the seven sins of marketing

  Soloists who are aware of the common pitfalls of marketing are better able to keep their businesses on track through successful marketing.

  • 28 October 05
  • Thomas Murrell

• When sales leads slow

  When the generation of sales leads inexplicably dries up, try some simple navel-gazing to unlock the gates back to the good times.

  • 25 October 05
  • Wendy Buckingham
  • 1 Comment

• Developing client presentation techniques

  When presenting to potential clients, you're more likely to get them over the line if you keep these client presentation techniques in mind.

  • 14 October 05
  • Richard Woodward
  • 2 Comments

• How to deal with project scope creep

  Those of us trying to move away from charging an hourly rate can suffer when clients expect more than initially agreed. So how can you avoid project scope creep?

  • 12 October 05
  • Megan Tough
  • 9 Comments

• How to use Personal PR and get noticed

  When it comes to meeting potential clients, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Effective personal PR holds the secret.

  • 11 October 05
  • Sue Currie
  • 1 Comment

• Effective communication skills: Managing difficult conversations

  Effective communication skills are critical to running a successful business. However, every now and again, we inevitably have difficult conversations. Here are some tips on how to face up to the task.

  • 04 October 05
  • John Raymond

• Target marketing: Being heard amid the noise

  To get noticed, soloists should use target marketing and be specific with their message. It's far better to be heard well by one person than ignored by many.

  • 26 September 05
  • Robert Gerrish
  • 1 Comment

• Business branding: Are you really a Nudie Virgin?

  When it comes to your business branding, rather than trying to emulate others, it's more revealing to look in the mirror.

  • 20 September 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 1 Comment

• Marketing advice for new sole traders

  For sole traders to promote their business effectively, it helps to understand the real nuts and bolts of marketing.

  • 14 September 05
  • Grant Hyman
  • 4 Comments

• Promoting your business using article marketing

  If you run and promote your own business, you have expertise in at least one area and other people may just want to read about it. Promoting your business using articles (like this one) is a cost effective way of building profile and credibility.

  • 05 September 05
  • Megan Tough
  • 4 Comments

• Selling yourself as an expert

  Those starting out in their solo business often struggle with selling themselves as an expert. It's more common to take on anything and everything regardless of whether it’s exactly what you want to do or not.

  • 02 September 05
  • Barb Clews
  • 1 Comment

• More to building rapport than meets the eye

  When I introduce the subject of building rapport to clients I sometimes get the response “It's okay, I get on fine with people” and a look that says “no need to cover that, let's move on”. Well, not so quick!

  • 29 August 05
  • Richard Woodward
  • 2 Comments

• Pricing strategies: How to calculate a mark up

  Our earlier article gave an overview of the mark up principle. Now let's take a look at mark ups in action and how to calculate a mark up.

  • 24 August 05
  • Kathryn Williams
  • 2 Comments

• Good customer service skills: Is your business a leaky bucket?

  Are you busy welcoming new clients through the front door, only to have existing ones go out the back? Good customer service skills can overcome this problem.

  • 22 August 05
  • Thomas Murrell
  • 2 Comments

• Pricing strategies: The lowdown on mark ups

  Understanding mark ups is one of the pricing strategies you will need to understand as a soloist. The points below may provide a useful checklist.

  • 17 August 05
  • Kathryn Williams
  • 5 Comments

• The soloist's guide to public relations

  Having control over how you're seen by your public is one of the joys of soloism. So are you using public relations to get your message out there?

  • 15 August 05
  • Karen Morath
  • 1 Comment

• Increasing sales by building relationships

  In the pursuit of new business, do we sometimes focus too much on increasing sales and not enough on building relationships?

  • 12 August 05
  • Richard Woodward
  • 2 Comments

• Four steps to getting customer testimonials

  Getting Impressive customer testimonials on your website or marketing collateral is a very powerful way to win new business. But how do you get them?

  • 22 July 05
  • Peter Crocker
  • 12 Comments

• Attracting prospective new clients

  Understand what makes your prospective new clients tick and you're on the way to doing business with them.

  • 13 July 05
  • Richard Woodward
  • 5 Comments

• Pricing strategies: Hourly rates? No thanks!

  Most independent professionals use hourly rates as a pricing strategy. Yet charging for your services this way can lead to mediocre business success.

  • 07 July 05
  • Megan Tough
  • 16 Comments

• PR planning within your brand marketing

  There are a variety of ways to spread the word about your business - developing a PR plan encorporating promotional activities is surely the way to succeed in solo brand marketing.

  • 07 July 05
  • Sue Currie
  • 1 Comment

• Six steps to creating a successful email newsletter

  Good newsletters (or ezines) build reputations, plus they inform and attract customers. Best of all, they cost next to nothing. Read on for six steps to creating a successful email newsletter.

  • 06 July 05
  • Sam Leader
  • 2 Comments

• Client communication skills: The Power of saying 'No'

  One of the most important client communication skills soloists need to master is the ability of saying ‘no’ to certain requests.

  • 06 July 05
  • Sam Leader
  • 2 Comments