Build your personal brand and grow your business with marketing strategies, social media tools and low-cost promotion ideas.
Whether you are considering a major corporate image overhaul or need to promote an event with an ad in the local paper, the first decision to be made during the design planning process is whether to do it yourself or bring in outside help. Here James Leal-Valias, Creative Director at iStockphoto looks at the options available to you.
In musings past I have talked about the importance of knowing your product, understanding your market and identifying a route to that market. There was nothing particularly revolutionary in my prose, it was merely a collection of my meandering thoughts that, when merged, reiterated the need for a startup to have a clear marketing strategy and vision.
Some of the most prestigious golf courses are supporting a new and bespoke business networking organisation to provide business leaders with a tailored networking environment set against the backdrop of six of Britain’s finest golf venues – Sunningdale, Wentworth and Walton Heath in England as well as Kinsgbarns Golf Links, Mar Hall and The Carrick on Loch Lomond north of the border.
Less than one in ten small and medium sized businesses are monitoring social media to better understand their customers, as they broadcast sales messages, new research has revealed.
With everyone all of a Twitter, and with the number of users growing by 300,000 each day, this social networking site provides an effective tool for small businesses keen to expand their growth by reaching out to key audiences.
LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, have announced that over one million UK professionals have joined LinkedIn since June 2010, bringing the total number of UK members up to five million, which represents 40 percent of UK professionals.
The online database findaTVexpert.com, which puts experts in various fields, including business, has announced it has teamed up with Mentorn Media, one of the UK’s longest established independent television production companies, to host a series of ‘Could You be a TV Expert?’ seminars across the UK hunting for new TV talent next year.
The launch of the new Windows 7 phone into the Smartphone market that is dominated by iPhone, pits two of the world’s biggest brands, Microsoft and Apple, into direct competition. Microsoft is the proverbial David to Apple’s Goliath in this situation, and represents a struggle that small businesses face every day when they attempt to launch into an already competitive market – how do we compete with the dominant brand?
Whilst many businesses appreciate the importance of having a website to promote their company, few recognise that there are four types of essential content that ensure the website serves its purpose. This content can help establish a company as a leader in its field; drive traffic to the website; help to generate leads and provide an ongoing narrative of success stories.
4Networking, the business breakfast network started by entrepreneur Brad Burton, has unveiled its plans to launch in the USA, Republic of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and ultimately to create the world’s first, joined up global business network.
There are a few ways a start-up or SME can distinguish itself from the masses in a crowded market, but perhaps one of the most the effective, certainly the most cost effective, is to sell yourself alongside your product.
Nigel Botterill, the UK entrepreneur and marketing expert who has established five million pound businesses, including the UK’s leading franchise company, Thebestof, and has been responsible for setting up over 2000 people in business since 2004 shares some of his top Twitter tips to help you and your business maximise the platform.
The big search engine news this month has been the launch of Google Instant. We spoke to online marketing specialist Gareth Morgan to put into context what the change means for businesses which use the web to market their products.
Getting your business exposure is key to healthy sales and steady growth. However, for an SME or start-up with a limited budget, decent coverage is hard to come by. That said, there are a number of ways to successfully market your business on a tight budget, and through this series of columns I aim to highlight the myriad effective yet budget-conscious ways to raise your business’ profile and, ultimately, boost sales.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is extending its remit to cover the online realm, and so online marketing and ads will, from 1 March 2011, be subject to the same strict advertising rules as traditional media.
