Australian Small & Medium Business Marketing Blog

Free New Organisational Cutlure Survey

In addition to marketing, one of my interests lies in Organisational and Community Change, to whit earlier in the year, I created the non profit Australian Future Search Network.

Organisational Culture is critical for any organisation irrespective of size. Accordingly, I have just created a free Organisational Culture Survey.

The survey has been limited to 20 questions so that it will take you no more than 5 minutes to complete.

Help a Reporter Out?

This is a great free service that links journalists working on a story with experts. It is the brainchild of US based Peter Shankman.

Journalists fill out a form and their request gets added to the daily email distribution to members.

As a member, If you think you can help, you simply reply directly to the query.

Of course, the benefit is you get to promote your business. Signing up takes 30 seconds and can be done here.

If you’re a journalist sign up here. Keep in mind this includes podcasters, bloggers and authors.

Stop The Excuses and Go Get Blogging

I suspect that the true reason why many small businesses dont blog is that are simply not used to doing it and therefore have some uncertainty about it.But the 2 biggest excuses I get from small business owners and managers is:

1.I don't have time
2. It might get out of control

Both are important aspects to consider but are reasonably easily overcome. Here's some simple thoughts to consider on each aspect:

1. As with anything else, if you don't have time, then delegate it. Nothing can be better for your SEO and Google ranking than to find a good writer who has expertise in your industry. Here's some places to look

ProBlogger, Performancing, or Craigslist.

And make sure you try a few people before you settle on the right person. You can normally find somebody reasonable for about $10-20 per post. Also consider paying staff or providing bonuses for posts that get published.

2. This is an easy one. Set your blog up so that everything is saved as draft until you have had time to review them and sign off on them.

So, its time to stop using excuses. The hardest part is often taking the next step.

Here's 2 possible next steps:

1. Do it yourself, or
2. Blogging is one aspect of the SEO work we do (and we also provide individual quotes to create blogs).

A Small Business Blogging Example

I've said it before but I'll say it again. I am still surprised by the number of small businesses that haven't engaged with blogging. There are many great reasons. Here's an example of one company who did it

Lincoln Sign Company in Lincoln, New Hampshire is a company that makes and installs custom signs.

On eof the things they recently announced was a way to use their blog to tell the story of a sign as it is being made in their premises.

"Our new strategy can be summed up as follows; “We are not using our blog to sell signs, we are using our blog to sell the EXPERIENCE of getting a sign.

As we create a sign in-house, we blog about it throughout the process, and it enables us to interact with our customers as a new way. We also use it as a selling point.

At the end , you get more than a sign, you get a sign, AND the story of how that sign was made.

We have also just started providing our customers with “Memory Boxes”. Basically paint samples, scrap materials, hand-written notes, etc. The flotsam and jetsam of making a sign."

Search engine optimisation is enough reason to justify blogging but using it for this sort of purpose is a bonus.

Digital Nomadding with Dell

  Digital Nomads is a new initiative just launched by Dell. They have created a site that is focused on people working in a digital, no set office, environment.

Of course, the site features the odd recommendation that a Dell laptop is essential for the small business owner who is on the move or has an interest in all things technology, its worth a look.

Small Business Marketing Coaches

Have you ever thought about using your skills to become a small business marketing coach?

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Distilled Marketing as the Australian/NZ Regional Manager for Duct Tape Marketing,

This new role includes co-ordination of Duct Tape coaches across Australia and NZ.

The Duct Tape Marketing approach received high praise from the likes of Harvard Business Review, Forbes Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Dell, HP, Microsoft and Michael Gerber.

It has been described as the World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Approach and is now emerging into Australia so the time is right to jump aboard.

More details on the idea of becoming a Duct Tape Authorised Coach.

Steven MR Covey and Free Coaching Excellence Series

Business owners and managers, you know how tough it is keeping up to speed in this modern world of rapid change.

Which is exactly why the Global Duct Tape Marketing Coaches Network brings to you each month a recognised expert that you can learn from without having to leave your office - and for free.

In fact, because of the fact that they're on at like 3am AEST, you might just want to wait until the audio is available and then download it and listen to it in your car or when you have a spare moment - or if you're an insomniac, by all means, get it live.

Past sessions that I highly recommend include Michael Gerber, John Batellle, and Tim Ferriss. And if you have an interest Stress Free Productivity - and you should have - David Allen is a MUST.

The August session will feature Steven M R Covey talking about leadership, authenticity and his new book Speed of Trust.

More on the Duct Tape Coaching Excellence Series.

More on Duct Tape Marketing and how we help small business get all the clients they can handle.

Twitter for Business - Free Beginners Guide

This is not the definitive guide to all things twitter, bit its a nice, simple, practical road map to show you how to start using Twitter to reach some of your business and marketing objectives.

Beginners Guide to Twitter for Business

Brought to you courtesy of Duct Tape Marketing.

The 10 Commandments of Small Business Marketing

Here's 10 small business marketing commandments that I like from my Duct Tape Marketing colleague in Atlanta, Scott Campbell:

I. Marketing is defined as getting someone who has a need to
   know, like and trust you…in that order. You can’t
   circumvent the process.

II. There is no mystery in marketing. The more people you
   communicate with and appeal to in a compelling way, the more
   business you’ll generate.

III. Unless you operate a monopoly, it generally takes 6 to 9
   contacts with a prospect before they’re ready to buy.

IV. Marketing never "ends" until you sell or close the business.
   effective marketing is like continuously building a house.
   Planning is the foundation and marketing activities are the
   bricks. Marketing contacts are never wasted…they’re
   small investments in a foundation that will eventually lead to
   business.

V. The most important aspect of effective marketing by far is
   follow-through. If you’re doing something, then half of
   the battle is won.

VI. You should be investing at least 5% of your ongoing revenues
   back into the business through marketing. It takes money to make
   money.

VII. If the business you’re generating is only as good as
   your last advertising dollar, then you’re not branding
   (differentiating) yourself. Effective branding is essential to
   taking your business to the next level.

VIII. Marketing today is an integral part of a small business.
   If you’re not devoting time and/or resources to it
   continually, then you’re at the mercy of the cycles and
   pitfalls of the marketplace.

IX. Due to its creative and reflective nature, marketing can and
   should be fun.

X. Marketing is not sales. Sales can have more immediate
   results. Marketing generally has a longer return on investment
   but because you’re communicating with the masses, has a
   much broader impact.

For more on Scott's work as one of Atlanta's top marketing coaches.

The Importance of Blogging

Don't take my word for the business benefits of blogging.

Listen to what the horses mouth (Google) has to say about it.