So you’re a freelancer, self employed, business owner.
You know your product or service is amazing and that if you just knew how to reach your customers – or had the time – that you would be on your way to financial freedom.
But outsourcing feels expensive and marketing strategy sounds like something from the corporate world.
Research suggests that businesses who spend 7-10% of revenue on marketing are more likely to succeed.

 

With social media assistance from £15 a week and annual strategy and report from just £75 my prices are affordable and get results.
So come on then, why wait?

Get a quote today email me  thatmarketinglady@gmail.com

One thing that I see a lot in my business is that many of my clients know what they need to do – they just need a nudge.

Often marketing is seen as daunting and can often be very removed from what service they offer.

“I’m a hairdresser – I haven’t got a clue about marketing.” 

You put it off, try half halfheartedly and then feel cross with yourself that your business isn’t booming.

You must deep down feel there is a market out there for your business – or you wouldn’t have started it!

The first step is really identifying who your market are – what they do – and when and why. Then ask yourself – and why would they use my services? What can I offer that no one else can? The answer is usually YOU. YOU are your USP and and your skills and personality make your business what it is. This is something relatively exclusive to independent business. In the corporate world here is not so much room to be the USP in person.

Once you have identified your market and USP you are halfway to knowing how and where to reach out to market your business.

If you are a high end barber in the city – you will know your clients shop, work and what they do in their spare time. You can identify which social media they are using – if any. Use that to your advantage – get your leaflets in the local gym and ask shops to swap affiliate links.  Make sure your leaflets showcase what is special about you – do you offer a free hot towel shave – can they have a whisky while have a haircut – inform them about what they are missing out on.

If this all sounds encouraging to you but you lack the confidence to dive head first into your marketing activities book a 2 hour marketing coaching session with me. I can help you identify what makes you special and who your clientele are and where you can find them.    thatmarketinglady@gmail.com

 

 

Have you ever noticed that you remember more from watching a video on a subject than reading a book? It is not because you are lazy or have a bad memory – Dual Coding Theory comes in to play. Essentially scientific research has shown that you store information you see and information you hear in two separate parts of the brain – so when you see and hear something you learn it twice. This is most effective when a descriptive video shows the action, verbally describes the action and is topped up with subtitles.

How does this impact on my marketing?  Well lets say you sell carpet shampoo. If your advert was a video that showed how clean the carpet became, whilst your actor described how the product worked and you also used subtitles on the video (like most social media videos do) the dual coding would mean people would remember the brand more than they would just a still image.

If you’d like to discuss how I can help you create this on a scale that suits your business please get in touch.

To find out more about dual coding see this video! Watch for more info.

 

 

Sometimes all we need is to understand how a tool works to use it.  Social media to your business is simply a tool. It may be a confusing and complicated tool at times but once you know how to use it you can get the best out of it.

Some business owners simply do not have the man power or time to invest in social media marketing and that is fine – it is how I earn a living supporting businesses as they grow by managing their marketing and social media.  But for other people they begrudge paying to outsource it when they know they have the time and ability to manage their social  media platforms they just don`t know where to begin.

This is why I have started Social Media Management Training.  No stuffy classrooms or awkward groups. One to one. You get me and my expertise for 2 hours. We can meet in a comfy cafe or I can visit your offices. Together we can work out what you need to know and develop a social media marketing plan that fits around your needs.

Each business is as individual as you are and no two organisations need the same skills.

For more info email thatmarketinglady@gmail.com

 

 

Pressure on women today to be everything to every person has created a bit of an employment trap for mums.  It is almost impossible to find a women that doesn’t have some sort of guilt relating to the employment choice she has made – be it stay at home mum, full time working mum etc. Childcare costs are high and if you need to earn money to put food on the table you don’t have a lot of choice in how many hours you work. But what if there was a way of compromising? What if these women could start up businesses that work around their lifestyle and brought income in?

More and more women  – myself included – have adapted to these pressures in an unexpected way. In fact the word Mumpreneur has been invented for a generation of women who were determined to create the best of both worlds. Flexibility of hours and control over their own destiny. It is almost as if a maternal instinct has given women a new found confidence that they can start up companies in their own terms.  It does come with risks  and downsides – it can be lonely without daily support from colleagues, where the next pay check comes from can be directly affected by your 3 year old getting chicken pox and many evenings are spent whiling away online to catch up with tasks.  But these issues can be overcome with mum to mum networking for support, forward planning and being strict with working hours.

It is amazing what you can achieve with the right support and drive to succeed. If you think you have what it takes to start up your own business here are some top tips.

1> Get support – join some local mums business networking groups – read the forums – introduce yourself!

2> Create structured working hours within your day.

3> Take a break! We all need a Twix and a cup of tea in peace from time to time.

4> Get outside. You need to socialise and get some vitamin D. Many mums groups are great places for networking and socialising. Who knows maybe the lady that runs Sing and Sign would be happy to tell her clients about the great mobile beautician that you are and vice versa.

5> Have a plan – and stick to it. Do not give up until you have exhausted all the avenues.

6> Get great marketing advice! Have marketing strategy and know how to sell your USP.

 

 

It is a question that niggles at every small business owner.

You know you need to invest in your business but have no idea what is too much or too little. Your competitors are not going to hand over what they are spending willingly and you could waste a lot of time and money if you get it wrong. It can be a “chicken and egg” situation.

There is however a consensus among experts that spending 10% of predicted revenue in the first 6 months is necessary – moving on to 6/7% of revenue there after. It can be hard to envisage what your revenue will be in 6 months time but you can be practical and work on a – what do I NEED to be taking for this venture to be worthwhile – figure.

Then comes the question of where the funds should be directed. Online or offline? Affiliate or referral? All these are questions a marketing consultant can help you find the answer to.

It is really worth taking time to have a strong marketing strategy for both your start up and then annually from there on.

If you have limited time whilst starting up or running your business to do this you should really consider outsourcing your marketing.

For an informal chat or to book a consultation at affordable rates for small businesses please get in touch!

Well you don’t need a degree in marketing to know that customers like value for money. What they like even more is something for nothing. Freebies with real value are always a great draw. Enticing customers is even more valuable if by doing so you get their contact details from it to stay in touch.

This can be achieved in many ways, a free download with free advice that requires an email address. Or free advice from an expert that requires a face to face meeting. This is invaluable as you get  one on one time to sell your service or business. As long as the cost of your resources are outweighed by gaining a client you can be really creative with what you gift a client.

I love discovering a new craft selling page on Facebook or Instagram. It gives me hope that traditional crafts are still alive and well, and there is nothing like a handmade gift.  It fills me with sadness though when I see such craftsmanship undersold with awful photographs of products. Its no coincidence that successful craft businesses have amazing images.

Take this great photo from #toastedglass on the left – this is one of my favourite craft shops – These images are crisp bright and clear. Compare it to a poorly planned out images using a flash with junk in the background. I know which I would rather buy.  These items are not easy to photograph, but with a bit of research and tips from Youtube videos anyone can improve how they present their products. If you think your business would benefit from presenting products better, research is very easy. See what your favourite businesses are doing and adjust your tactics accordingly.

www.toastedglass.co.uk

It is no secret that marketing has moved at a fast rate to the online domain.

Even an old fashioned cobblers needs to be searchable on Google if they want to get new business. But as a marketer it is often scary to see that a majority of small businesses haven’t even registered on Google Maps. This is vital if you provide a local service.

If you are allergic to computers you needn’t fret as we can set you up on basic directories for as little as £15 but if you are willing to put in the leg work it can be done for free and a little tech know how. Is your business on ?

 

No plan? No worries – I can help you set up your marketing strategy for 2018. If you need help with goals, budgets or don’t know where to begin get in touch!

It is much easier to stay on track with your marketing when you have a strategy. But when your time is taken up with the distraction of running your business it is much easier said than done.

By outsourcing your strategy and or implementation to me I can take the burden off you.

If your budget is small we can work out a strategy for you to follow yourself. It may involve just 15 minutes a day dedicated to getting your great product or service out there!  Whatever your budget or goal there will be an affordable and useful solution for you.