Member Spotlight
Combining both business coaching and business consulting services, the Proxim Group offers a fully comprehensive approach to helping small business... Read more
What say you?
I’m in this business for:
65% - The long haul
2% - The shortest time possible
31% - As long as I enjoy it
Marketing | Business marketing
It doesn’t matter how good your product or service is if your potential customers are unaware of your
existence. This is where business marketing
comes in.
This section provides a wealth of useful resources and tips for creating effective business
marketing strategies. From direct mail campaigns or niche marketing to
viral marketing
or event
management, no two campaigns will be the same. With so many small businesses in existence, you need your business to stand out in the crowd.
Five tips to help your sales letter get opened
20 Jan 12Lucinda LionsA well-written sales letter can generate loads of sales, but only if the envelope is actually opened. These strategies will help boost your success. Read more
Comments: 17Six simple ways to transform your business
18 Jan 12Jo MacdermottWant some simple ideas that will have a real impact on your business? Start with the six tips below. Read more
Comments: 4Doing business Vanuatu style
13 Jan 12Heather SmithWhenever I travel I enjoy observing how other cultures approach business and wonder how I can benefit from their practices. Here are some ideas I picked up in Vanuatu. Read more
Comments: 2Our bestseller is back! Bigger, bolder & fully updated...
09 Jan 12Flying Solo: How to go it alone in business is a book that gives you the tools you need to start your own venture, or totally rejuvenate one that’s been ticking along for years. Read more
Podcast: Twitter. Your offer. Domain leasing. Starting a small business.
07 Jan 12Tim Reid and Luke MoultonIn this episode of the Small Business Big Marketing podcast, Tim Reid and Luke Moulton question the value of Twitter. Can you believe it? Who do they think they are?! Read more
Comments: 0Flying Solo's Business Class: Expose yourself!
26 Dec 11 | AdvertorialBusiness Class is Flying Solo's premium membership. It's packed with exclusive benefits and exposure for your business. All for just $19.95/month with no contracts and a money-back guarantee. Read more
Why freebies boost sales
21 Dec 11Lucinda LionsWhen you give away free things to your prospects it activates a social phenomenon known as the norm of reciprocation. Here’s how it can boost sales. Read more
Comments: 4Four tips for magic marketing messages that multiply business
14 Dec 11Dean ParkerIn your quest to attract and keep new customers, simple marketing messages work best. Here are some examples of how to talk engagingly and grow your business. Read more
Comments: 4Run a competition: Win more customers
08 Dec 11Connor JamesA stack of prizes and cash are given away each year by Australian companies via competitions. How can businesses run a competition that works for them? Read more
Comments: 4The seven Ps of the marketing mix
18 Nov 11Jo MacdermottThe marketing mix is the basis from which all good marketing stems. Read on to discover the seven factors that go into it. Read more
Comments: 2Podcast: Marketing from the inside out
29 Oct 11Danielle MacInnisI was lucky enough to interview Lorrie Thomas Ross from Web Marketing Therapy. Lorrie approaches marketing from a strategy first position, which I live by too. Read more
Comments: 0Get more value from your advertising dollar
06 Oct 11Dean ParkerThis easy-to-follow plan will help improve the results you get from your small business advertising – in eight simple steps. Get ready for the phone to ring! Read more
Comments: 7Avoiding business burnout
17 Sep 11Jo MacdermottI’m hearing more of my fellow soloists talk about business burnout lately. From what I can tell, it typically starts when we take on too much. Read more
Comments: 4Podcast: How to generate 10000 backlinks from one press release
10 Sep 11Tim Reid and Luke MoultonIn this episode of Small Business Big Marketing, Tim and Luke share some insights on how to drive traffic to your website. Read more
Comments: 2Small business marketing on a budget
07 Sep 11Dean ParkerNeed to promote your business, but don’t have much money to play with? These easy and economic ideas will add zing to your small business marketing. Read more
Comments: 4What’s Your Opposition up to?
03 Sep 11Trevor WeedingHow much attention do you pay your competitors? Here’s a cautionary tale about treading the fine line between too much and not enough. Read more
Comments: 1Small business marketing questions every soloist should ask
02 Sep 11Deborah JacksonWant to be clearer about your goals, more effective in your small business marketing and enjoy more growth in your business? Ask yourself these questions. Read more
Comments: 4Podcast: How to run a successful B&B
20 Aug 11Tim Reid and Luke MoultonIn this podast, Tim Reid and Luke Moulton are joined by Laurel from LaPerouse Bed & Breakfast in Lorne, Victoria who shares how she runs a successful Bed & Breakfast business whilst also building a strong business community in her local township. Read more
Comments: 0Just do some business marketing!
29 Jul 11Deborah JacksonMany soloists find time for marketing only when business is a little slow. It’s far more effective though to make business marketing one of your regular business processes – and it doesn’t need to be daunting. Read more
Comments: 12Is inbound marketing for you?
16 Jul 11Jo MacdermottIf you’re trying to attract new clients, you’re probably employing a variety of marketing techniques. But are they the most effective ones for your business? Have you considered inbound marketing? Read more
Comments: 5Podcast: Lessons from a marketing action taker
09 Jul 11Tim Reid and Luke MoultonIn this episode of Small Business Big Marketing, Tim and Luke share seven ways to create more time to market your business, plus they talk to Darren Finkelstien of St. Kilda Boat Sales. Read more
Comments: 0Tips for attracting sponsorship marketing
08 Jul 11Russell DymondIf you’re involved in not-for-profit, sporting or even business endeavours, you may benefit from having a financial sponsor. But how do you attract sponsorship marketing? Read more
Comments: 9Podcast: What are your customers thinking about you?
18 Jun 11Tim Reid and Luke MoultonTim Reid and Luke Moulton talk with Mark Copeman, the founder of Customer Thermometer, about a real time, customer satisfaction survey tool for small businesses. Read more
Comments: 0Marketing through storytelling
11 Jun 11Danielle MacInnisPeople buy from those they know, like, and trust. Part of that is the story of the business they’re buying from and the people behind it. What’s yours? Read more
Comments: 10Customer profiling
03 Jun 11Russell DymondIf you don't know who your customers are, how can you truly fulfil their needs? This article explains why you should profile your market, and gives you some pointers for getting started with customer profiling. Read more
Comments: 13Podcast: Outside the box marketing ideas
28 May 11Tim Reid and Luke MoultonTim Reid and Luke Moulton discuss guerrilla marketing tactics with Dave Milne, co-founder of Noodle Box. Read more
Comments: 0Finding your niche
20 May 11Deborah JacksonMany soloists are afraid to identify and focus on a niche for fear of cutting off some of the potential market. But finding your niche and marketing to one distinct group really can work. Read more
Comments: 16Product differentiation: How to stand out from the pack
11 May 11Dean ParkerToday’s market is very cluttered, making it more important than ever that your message attracts customers to your product or service. So what does it take to stand out? How can you make the most of product differentiation? Read more
Comments: 10Marketing insights from Australia's hottest weight training brand
07 May 11Tim Reid and Luke MoultonIn this podcast, Tim Reid and Luke Moulton talk marketing with Ric and Cam from Kettle Bells. Read more
Comments: 0Know your features and benefits
22 Apr 11Sara HowardWhat makes your business truly remarkable? Unless you know your features and benefits and what they mean to your customers, they won’t really care. Read more
Comments: 13Modern marketing methods
20 Apr 11Jo MacdermottMarketing methods have changed enormously over the past 20 years. How do you navigate the ever-changing playing field and get the best return on your investment? Read more
Comments: 5Promoting your unique selling proposition (USP)
18 Apr 11Megan HillsKnowing your unique selling proposition (USP) is one thing. ‘Working it’ is quite another. Read more
Comments: 4Content marketing 101
15 Apr 11Amanda GonzalezPublishing content is an excellent way to position yourself as an authority in your industry. But unless you have a firm content marketing strategy, you may be wasting your efforts. Read more
Comments: 13Are your marketing messages consistent?
30 Mar 11Trevor WeedingAdvertising dollars are hard to come by, so it’s important not to waste them. Yet small and micro businesses often do just that by having inconsistent marketing messages, formats or themes in their advertising. Read more
Comments: 6What’s your unique selling proposition (USP)?
14 Mar 11Megan HillsUSP means ‘unique selling proposition’. Ironically, this boring-sounding term is what makes you really exciting to other people. Your USP is what makes you special. Read more
Comments: 9Marketing plans made easy
02 Mar 11Dean Parker“Without a plan, you haven’t got a hope.” This message, from a recent bushfire safety community service announcement on the TV and radio, also applies marketing plans for your business. Read more
Comments: 6Grow sales by using sampling methods
19 Feb 11Danielle MacInnisGiving potential customers a taste of your wares is a great way to move them along the buying path. Supermarkets, shampoo and coffee companies have been using sampling methods for years. Here’s how you can too. Read more
Comments: 7Marketing lessons from Queensland's theme parks
12 Feb 11Tim Reid and Luke MoultonHaving spent eight days schlepping through Queensland’s theme parks, Tim Reid decided he’d turn his family holiday in to a tax deduction by making 10 marketing observations. Read more
Comments: 0Improve your results with direct mail campaigns
09 Feb 11Jo MacdermottDirect mail can be a great way to seduce new clients. Here are a few tips for getting your direct mail campaigns right. Read more
Comments: 42Your small business marketing strategy made easy
10 Jan 11Deb PilgrimDeveloping your small business marketing strategy doesn’t need to be complicated. You can do it in just four simple, practical steps. Read more
Comments: 8Share your business pitch in 140 characters
14 Dec 10Peter CrockerIs Twitter a sign of society’s shrivelling attention span and trivia obsession, or does it provide the strict discipline we need to distil our thoughts into focused nuggets? Read more
Comments: 145Introduction to affiliate marketing
06 Dec 10Steve FordAffiliate marketing is a very flexible and cost effective (but often overlooked) marketing tool, which can be implemented by businesses of all types and sizes. Read more
Comments: 6Six common small business marketing mistakes
01 Dec 10Jo MacdermottWatch out for these six small business marketing mistakes and assumptions that many small business owners make, but switched on operators avoid. Read more
Comments: 28Podcast: Is Yellow Pages still relevant?
27 Nov 10Tim Reid and Luke MoultonHear what Paul Ascos, Sales Director (Yellow Pages, Victoria & Tasmania) has to say about whether Yellow Pages is still a relevant marketing communications channel for small business. Read more
Comments: 18Small business advertising: Assessing opportunities
27 Oct 10Jo MacdermottThere are an infinite number of ways to spend your advertising dollar, so how do you know which small business advertising opportunities are worth pursuing and which shouldn’t be touched with a barge pole? Read more
Comments: 13Podcast: Marketing Q & A
16 Oct 10Tim Reid and Luke MoultonHear Tim Reid talk briefly with the father of creative and innovative thinking, Dr Edward De Bono, as well as answering some interesting marketing questions. Read more
Comments: 4Identifying your competitive advantage
15 Sep 10Sara HowardIdentifying your competitive advantage - the one thing you do better than anyone else - is actually harder than it sounds. Read more
Comments: 11Podcast: Why marketing should be at the heart of your business
04 Sep 10Tim Reid and Luke MoultonIn this show, 21 year old Young Entrepreneur of the Year Pete Williams explains how a great marketing strategy underpins his success. Read more
Comments: 10Low cost small business marketing ideas - Case study
18 Aug 10Jo MacdermottThis case study demonstrates how a hair salon used low-cost small business marketing ideas to attract new customers and more sales. Read more
Comments: 5Your event organising checklist
09 Aug 10Peter ChalyRunning your own events can be daunting. If things go belly up, you could jeopardise the very business you were hoping to secure. This event organising checklist will help ensure your event is a success. Read more
Comments: 17Four tips for an effective advertising strategy
04 Aug 10Gary GriffithsFollowing these simple guidelines can help ensure that you have an effective advertising strategy that helps boost your bottom line. Read more
Comments: 7Lessons on being unique
18 Jun 10David MooreWhile there isn’t much new under the sun, why do so many people in business worry about what everyone else is doing instead of being unique? Read more
Comments: 15Marketing insights from The Wiggles and Hi-5
09 Jun 10Deb PilgrimWatching a Hi-5 concert with my kids, I wondered why The Wiggles are so much more appealing – and so much more successful. The answers I came up with gave me new marketing insights for my business. Read more
Comments: 8A guide to avoiding green-washing
22 May 10Chris EcclestonIn the rush to promote environmental credentials, many businesses may be 'green-washing' their clients. Read more
Comments: 3Conducting market research, solo style
23 Apr 10Jo MacdermottAs a soloist on a tight budget, how can you learn about your target market and adapt your product offering accordingly? Here are some tips for conducting market research, solo style. Read more
Comments: 8Green marketing for small business
12 Apr 10Chris EcclestonGreen marketing is all the buzz at the moment, but if you’re not exactly sure what it involves, or why you should use it in your business, you’re not alone. Read more
Comments: 13Seven traps to avoid when writing a book
04 Apr 10Karen McCreadieBecoming an author can do amazing things for your profile and profit, but before you sit down and start writing a book, be aware of these seven sure-fire steps to publishing failure. Read more
Comments: 8Why you should sin more often
23 Mar 10Zern LiewThe seven deadly sins were designed as a guide to keeping on the straight and narrow. But sinning can be constructive too – especially in business! Read more
Comments: 14Four things writing a book won’t do
28 Feb 10Karen McCreadieBeing an author increases the profile and profit of your business. But there are some things writing a book won’t do. Here we shatter four beliefs that new auth Read more
Comments: 5The four-step sales and marketing audit
28 Jan 10Jo MacdermottAre your promotional materials delivering the best possible outcomes? Here we go back to basics to identify the pieces that need refreshing using a four step sales and marketing audit. Read more
Comments: 9Writing a book for profile and profit
24 Jan 10Karen McCreadieThe advantages of being an author go far beyond royalty income. If you have something worthwhile to say, there are many business gains to be made from writing a book! Read more
Comments: 4Five steps to marketing mojo
17 Dec 09Yesim NicholsonFor many soloists, the pressure of coming up with new and innovative marketing ideas can be de-motivating. If you’ve lost your marketing mojo, take these five simple steps to reclaim it. Read more
Comments: 4Marketing tools: A business marketing plan
24 Nov 09Gary GriffithsMost small business owners don’t have one, yet those that do, can’t live without it. So just what is this silver bullet? Quite simply, it’s a business marketing plan. Read more
Comments: 10Storytelling in marketing
13 Oct 09Mary MorelWe all love a good story, so how can we use storytelling in marketing material? It’s easier to tell stories when face-to-face with a prospect, but we can also use some storytelling concepts in our written marketing material. Read more
Comments: 4Five low cost marketing ideas
04 Aug 09Emma RhoadesSpending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on advertising is really not the soloists' idea of effective marketing. Try some of these low cost marketing ideas instead. Read more
Comments: 10The easiest way to better marketing
21 Jun 09Charles CuninghameThe 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. Read more
Comments: 7How to get published
10 Jun 09Robert GerrishThere can be little doubt that writing and publishing a book is a great way to build your profile and grow your business. Watch this video interview with publishing maverick, Lisa Messenger to better understand what needs to be done. Read more
Comments: 1Are you your own best customer?
15 Mar 09Greg PritchardThere 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. Read more
Comments: 8What is attraction marketing?
12 Mar 09Zern LiewConventional 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. Read more
Comments: 9Three effective low-cost marketing weapons
19 Feb 09Charles CuninghameWith 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. Read more
Comments: 8Self promotion: Making it easy to get found
27 Oct 08Peter CrockerA 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. Read more
Comments: 17Marketing tips for targeting small business
12 Feb 08Robert GerrishWith 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. Read more
Comments: 14Use the power of channel marketing
14 Jan 08Peter CrockerSelling 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. Read more
Comments: 6Get more business with sampling
16 Oct 07Tim Reid and Luke MoultonI 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. Read more
Comments: 13Viral marketing campaigns: How do they work?
23 Sep 07Megan ToughYou’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. Read more
Comments: 4The key message everyone should hear
03 Sep 07Robert GerrishIn 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? Read more
Comments: 86Generating new business through sampling
27 Aug 07Peter CrockerIn a previous article on proactive marketing, I 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 through sampling? Read more
Comments: 20Proactive marketing: I've got an idea for you
06 Aug 07Peter CrockerIn 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. Read more
Comments: 6How to appeal to your target market
23 Jul 07Robert GerrishAre you using clear marketing signals to appeal to your desired tagret market? Read more
Comments: 11Are your key marketing messages clear?
02 Jul 07Robert GerrishA recent experience reminded me of the importance of having clear key marketing messages if you want to get the attention of your target market. Read more
Comments: 20Smart marketing: More than the wow factor
01 May 07Robert GerrishThere'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. Read more
Comments: 18Event management: How to organise and stage a special event
15 Apr 07Sue CurrieSpecial 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. Read more
Comments: 9Marketing communications strategy: Your target audience doesn't care
29 Mar 07Tim Reid and Luke MoultonLet'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. Read more
Comments: 6What is your key marketing message?
26 Feb 07Robert GerrishIn my coaching and speaking business I put considerable emphasis on clarifying who is an ‘ideal client’ for me before creating a key marketing message. Read more
Comments: 53Marketing mistake #1: No differentiation strategy
26 Nov 06Peter GriffinLooking 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. Read more
Comments: 6Planning marketing beats binge marketing
21 Sep 06Robert GerrishBy 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. Read more
Comments: 4Marketing principles: The psychology of persuasion, part 2
12 Sep 06Karen McCreadieBoth 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! Read more
Comments: 1Niche marketing: the business specialist
01 Sep 06Robert GerrishWhen 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. Read more
Comments: 2Marketing principles: The psychology of persuasion
20 Aug 06Karen McCreadieWhy 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. Read more
Comments: 2Tips to get your marketing plan moving
03 Aug 06Megan ToughWouldn’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. Read more
Comments: 4A promotional campaign: Planting the seeds for success
20 Jul 06Jess TylerWhen 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. Read more
Comments: 3Marketing advice: what not to do
02 Jul 06Megan ToughNone 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. Read more
Comments: 4Creating effective marketing strategies
25 Jun 06Karen McCreadieAs 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. Read more
Comments: 0Is it good to exchange services?
20 Jun 06Wendy BuckinghamFrom time to time it can be tempting to consider the exchange of business services, but are such contra arrangements a good idea? Read more
Comments: 3How business partnerships can work for soloists
23 Feb 06Peter CrockerCan 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. Read more
Comments: 4Quality marketing: Shortcut? Short-change!
19 Jan 06Paul J. MorrisWhen 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? Read more
Comments: 5Is it good business to barter?
05 Dec 05Karen MorathWhether 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? Read more
Comments: 15Can innovation be a marketing tool?
24 Nov 05Robert GerrishIf 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? Read more
Comments: 3Direct mail campaign tips
22 Nov 05Barb ClewsDirect mail campaigns are an important part of the marketing mix. Here are some tips to make yours a success. Read more
Comments: 2Preparing your elevator statement
15 Nov 05Jess TylerIt 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. Read more
Comments: 6Copyright © 2005-2012 Flying Solo Pty Ltd · Web design by Sharkey Media
Small Business is Australia's fastest growing sector – this business community site was created for those running a small business of one to five people. Here the solo and micro business owner will find small business forums, a small business directory, free resources, help, tips and advice on: starting a small business; working smarter when working from home; effective small business marketing; small business networking; the solo psyche; staying balanced as a small business owner; small business technology advice and small business finance tips.
