Because your time is better spent on what you do… leave the marketing to an expert.

A virtual marketing executive is a real person – but they are outsourced.
Leaving you more time to focus on building your business and the services you offer.

For many start ups, self employed people and charities, there is simply no budget to employ a marketing expert full time. This is the ideal alternative. Getting all the expertise at a fraction of the cost. But, you get the benefit of a dedicated team member by using the same dedicated account manager.

You can chose the number of weekly hours whith-out the added expense of of adding an employee. Leave the marketing to an expert in a cost effective way. With flexible hours and affordable monthly retainers you could dramatically improve your marketing in a consistent way.

What can a virtual marketing executive provide?

• Consistent branding
• Evolving marketing strategy
• Budget friendly
• Expert experience
• Social media management
• Improved brand visability
• Better web presence
• More sales!

I offer freelance fundraising support and consultancy for charities locally and nationally, with a focus on smaller or niche causes.

Its imperative to have a down to earth, pragmatic approach and understand the merits and pitfalls of working with a small budget on volunteer lead initiatives. Often a Charities focus has been on the services they offer and they need guidance on expanding income or visibility within their community. With current restrictions preventing fundraising events its hard for many to diversify and retain income that is sorely needed.

Having first working in the charity and events sector 15 years ago I have a real working knowledge of traditional and modern charity strategy and development. Its also allowed me to see patterns in donor behaviour and how we can develop new and exciting ways to increase I engagement.

The post Covid world is a great place for charities to develop their digital strategy and really utilise peoples time at home. A great example of a home challenge was the Ice Bucket challenge. This was contact free and raised millions for people with ALS.

What can you think of to help support your local charities?

No longer can you trudge along to networking events hopeful for a fresh lead. Traditional networking will now be scaled back in light of social distancing, but it wasn`t always the best way to engage with clientele and lets be honest, could be awkward and fake. If you are a B2B supplier and you are aiming to engage with other SMEs in your area then they will be bountiful events for you – but in the real world they are often expensive and outdated.

Modern networking is much more of a digital affair. A great way to get to know other business owners in through following their socials  and commenting and sharing their achievements. Supporting fellow business owners online leads to reciprocal support. Mentioning great experiences and peers services offered on your own digital platforms will make you look like a supportive ally to the business and show how you connect to your own followers.

The key to great networking online isn’t about selling – its about offering solutions or experiences and making your followers and peers want to interact with you. For every 5 posts you make only one should mention your service. A great way to achieve this is to give out free advice. A florist who offers tips on keeping flowers looking fresh for longer or cost effective wedding bouquet ideas will get more interest than someone who continually advertises offers. This is because you appear more relatable and honest.
Business networking online follows a similar pattern. Discuss ways to simplify tax forms. Ask how they unwind and switch off from work. You will be amazed at what interactions and business comes your way.
This is where “gossip” comes in to its own. When friends or members of local social networks have a problem you will be able to solve it for them by recommendation.
Friend looking for a party venue? Mention (with a tag @)the local pub that is under new management. Perhaps a fellow school parent is looking for a tutor for GCSES? Mention the Instagram handle of a member of your Facebook Networking Group. The great thing about tagging is that the business you have recommended with see that it was you recommending them.

It seems easy enough, but conveying the right message to your clients isn’t all that easy. You need to catch their attention within 6 six seconds whilst simultaneously emotionally engaging them and showing your brand. The best solution is to use a graphic designer/marketing specialist who knows how to do all three.  EXPENSIVE i hear you groan. It doesn’t need to be. The most cost effective way to utilise your designers time to to get them to create a series of marketing materials that compliment each other. That way they don`t need to start from scratch each time. See the example below. If you would like advice on what you can do to take your business forward affordably – get in touch hello@thatmarketinglady.org I don’t charge for advice and would be happy to help you work out the best way to get your business seen within your budget.

Though SEO can at times be very complex – and dare I saying – boring – sometimes there are quick and easy cheats to help up your site in online rankings.

Here is a list of sites you should aim to be listed in – oh and they are FREE!

We have all heard the phrase better to have a few good friends than lots of fake ones, and this is the same for both real life and Facebook fan-bases.

It is much better to have 100 engaged, relavant and interested followers than it is to have 1000 random ones.  Many new businesses feel compelled to join in liking an sharing pages to boost their liker/follower numbers. Like for like, share schemes etc  simply attracts shallow tick boxers who have no reason to like your service or refer you to others.

Algorithms and complex Facebook tools then are designed to to assume your pages target audience is the sum of all your likers – (if Fred the Wood turner from Australia has liked your page but you are actually selling women’s tights in Ireland…. you see my point). So when you boost posts you are automatically shown in preference to your current audience (which will include some very random people who have liked your page simply to boost their own likes in reciprocal fashion).You might conclude in fact that you may benefit and save money if you go through your likers list and remove likers who you know will have no interest in your business. This way when you boost posts you wont be wasting money on impressions that will be ignored.

There are several ways to invite people genuinely interested in your product or service and you don’t need to employ someone like me to do it. See this short video for a great tip that will take a few minutes but make a massive difference.  

I have heard a few rumblings from independent businesses and networks recently – that leaflets are not worth the paper they are printed on. I think this is true if you are making leaflets with no value and handing them out to people who are not in your ideal demographic.

However – if you stick to 3 golden rules of leafleting you are sure to find success in your efforts.

1. Make the leaflet something people want to keep-  it is much more likely to end up in a purse or handbag than in the recycling box at the end of the week.

Two leaflets land on your doormat; one for a local shop that offers £5 off to the bearer if they spend £10 or more in the next 3 months. The other also for a local business but has no offer/voucher on it and simply reminds you that the business is there.

It doesn’t take a masters in marketing to work out which is likely to be kept.
Yes if  used it has a cost value to the business, but it is your job once they arrive at your business to make sure they purchase several items, have a great customer experience and decided to return again another time.

2. Only deliver leaflets to properties/places you will find your core clients.
If you are offering a hairdressing service ask local beauticians to take a few leaflets, or local softplays where (mostly)  women hang out.
If you are selling cruises leave leaflets in golf clubs.

That way you don’t need to print 1000s of unnecessary leaflets and wont waste time and money delivering them to places they will never see the light of day at.

3. Keep it simple. As with any advert keep it simple. you have 8 seconds to grab the interest and retain the attention of your customer. Keep lines clean and modern and make sure your contact details are easy to see.

If you think your business would benefit from a leaflet redesign or strategy don`t hesitate to get in touch. Email me. 

Are you weighing up the pros and cons of getting a website?
It seems like another expense sometimes and you have no guarantee it will get you any more business.
BUT. Have you ever looked up a company and discovered they do NOT have a website?

Isn’t your first thought.. “how unprofessional”?
You don’t need a huge eCommerce site with bells and whistles, but you need a decent looking landing page and info pages to assure customers you are the real deal.

Show them what you are made of and get a website that reflects what you do. To discuss how I can help you email hello@thatmarketinglady.org

I officially started volunteering for The Lily Trust as of last night. I will be offering a couple hours of my time a week to help them get their website a little slicker. I met with their founder for a coffee last night and she was very inspiring. Julie is a primary teacher and has set the charity up in her own time. They are 100% volunteer led and don’t as yet get any funding but rely on events and donations. The Lily Trust provide practical help to people (mostly women) who have escaped having been a victim of human trafficking from slave labour or sex work.
Julie told me a gut wrenching statistic last night, in Croydon ALONE since the beginning of this year they have had to help a family every single day. That is over 70 victims.  That 30% of people trafficked are children. Many women are forced into the sex trade and are often left desolate when they become pregnant or have children. 

If you would like to help in a practical way donate today, even £5 can buy a toietry pack for a new mum, who has been through a horrendous ordeal.  www.thelilytrust.org/get-involved

In a world where we are bombarded with logos it is vital your logo is easy to remember and shouts what you do.

For those of us who run independent businesses it can be difficult to get across the right image and convey our message in one image. We are drowned out by bigger brands so being eye catching is a must.

Recently I worked with a lovely client who runs a de-cluttering firm.
How do you convey that she in fact is an organiser and not a cleaner?
The business name was very helpful – Little Miss Organise. Simple and to the point – no explanation needed. It also meant I could use inspiration from the Little Miss books for graphics and after just a couple of drafts we agreed on this image for her logo.

I am sure you will agree the logo is memorable and clean and with the help of the strap line you are left with no questions about what she does.

Do I really need a logo? I am just a one man band?  Having branding from the outset of your business is a great way to be remembered. It looks professional and differentiates you from your competition. If you know what you want from a logo I can design them from £20 so they don’t need to be expensive.

For more info or if you have any questions please email hello@thatmarketinglady.org