Do you have a little time on your hands between Christmas and the New Year?  The approach of ‘review, learn and refine’ can be applied to almost any practice, but especially at this time of year and in the current economic climate; use it to refocus your business activities for 2011. Review Review what has happened in […]

However you brand yourself or market your business, ensure you are consistent across all mediums and communications, online and offline.  Inconsistency can be both confusing and unsettling for your customers, which would be detrimental to your business offering. The same applies to your approach and consistency of services levels; important to any business but especially […]

“My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people’s” Much-revered Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, Oscar Wilde 1854 – 1900 If there is one piece of advice I always give to a small business owner, it is to be passionate about your own business. I’m sure Mr Wilde wasn’t referring to […]

Are you missing a piece from your Jigsaw? Branding is at its most effective when it encompasses not only the name, logo, colour and slogan but also the entire ethos of the business, from product values to consistency of service, whilst capturing the attention of its target market and personality of its employees. Without the […]

Can you DIGG it?  Yes we can! No this isn’t a blog with lyrics to a dance track, its about the social PR and news site DIGG.  If you haven’t yet found your way to DIGG, it’s a very useful way of distributing your PR and news stories to a wide audience with numerous identified categories such as Business, Lifestyle, Sport, […]

Do you know the difference between your Push and your Pull? Pull Marketing is the terminology that we use to differentiate social media from the more traditional forms of marketing which tend to have a ‘broadcast’ style. Examples of  ‘push’ marketing include advertising, leaflet dropping, cold calling etc.  One is literally ‘pushing’ a message out there.  […]

How do I stay positive as a business owner? Focus on your Strengths Running your own business is hard work and the amount of time, energy and sheer perseverance should not be underestimated.  It can also be quite a lonely and isolated existence, so don’t just focus on what went wrong.  Learn yes, but focus on your […]

What advice can you give me to survive my first year as a business owner? Do what you say when you say you’re going to do it! In an age where recommendations and referrals are key and time is of the essence, developing a reputation for reliability and consistency can often put you ahead of […]

One of my thoughts behind starting a blog was the ability to offer added value, not only to my clients, but the small business world in general, with the odd helpful hint and tip. These hints and tips will form no particular order, but will be based on my own thoughts on current topics, learnings […]

My First Blog by Alison Page Wow, how exciting is this! Not sure if I feel like an intrepid explorer taking my first tentative steps into the great world of the unknown or an actress receiving a BAFTA complete with quivering voice and smudged mascara! Either way, first of all some thanks… to my family, […]