If you want long-term success you need to differentiate your small business brand. Following trends and copying successful competitors seems to be a popular business and brand strategy, but it is a flawed one. There is much more to be gained by being ‘yourself’ and devising a business and brand that is unique. Here I outline the key reasons to...
As a business owner, you cannot underestimate the importance of having a business circle. By that I mean an intimate group of small business owners in the same situation and on the same journey who you regularly connect with. This business inner circle might also be called a brains trust, accountability group or small business club. Whatever the label, being...
Determining and articulating your small business vision and values is an important part of your business planning. Your vision and values communicate why you are in business and how you do business. Together they play an important role in directing your branding strategy, marketing activities and operations. This article looks at vision and mission statements as well as business values. There...
As we embark on a fresh year I thought I’d share my strategy for having a balanced lifestyle in small business. As small business owners we can easily get caught up in the many facets of running our businesses and leave little time for the other important areas of our lives. Such as relationships, hobbies and fun. The pandemic reinforced...
Use our ultimate promotional calendar for 2022 to plan your marketing themes and dates for the year. We have all been there, when suddenly it’s Chinese New Year and you haven’t developed a special offer for your customers. Or created a social tile to acknowledge Remembrance Day. Or identified when it’s International Coffee Day as a hook to sell more...
Use our quick and easy 6 week Christmas promotion planner 2021 to increase your silly season sales. Christmas has snuck up on many small business owners with the distraction of the pandemic. Especially for those of us in Melbourne who are more recently out of lockdown. If you haven’t had a chance to organise your Christmas promotion don’t panic, but...
Now is a great time to spring clean your small business. If you spring clean your business you will be prepared as we enter the busy end of year, or if you’re coming out of lockdown you will be ready to go as the economy ramps up. Spring cleaning can also give you a strong sense of satisfaction and helps...
Lockdowns are difficult, as is maintaining business creativity in lockdown. Living in Melbourne, and experiencing more than 200 days of lockdown I understand the struggle! Juggling working from home with three kids doing remote learning, as well as the monotony and sameness. But it is pursuing creativity that has kept me sane. When I say ‘creativity’ I don’t mean artistry, but...
Improving your self-awareness is an important skill for any successful entrepreneur or small business owner. Self-awareness means knowing your strengths, weaknesses, emotional triggers, motivations and how you behave. Strong self-awareness will help you leverage your strengths to improve your business. And conversely, know where and when to bring in skills and competencies. It guides you on where to improve and grow....
Having a growth mindset in small business is essential to success. We learn and improve from being comfortable about making mistakes and learning from them, embracing challenges, taking on negative feedback, not feeling threatened by the success of others and being resilient. So what exactly is a growth mindset? In the education sector, psychologist Carol Dweck’s work on fixed and growth mindsets...