A question I am being asked regularly by small business owners is ‘Ailsa is the global economic crisis hitting businesses?’. I reply how have your sales been? Many business operators say that business is going well for them. We all like a one size fits all approach and my favourite mantra is one size fits [...]

If a customer who complains is a gift for business why do customers ignore them?  In my particular situation I wrote a detailed letter (yes very old school on paper with an envelope) to Qantas over really really bad service I received, I also emailed as well just to make sure and 6 weeks has [...]

What can I say just because you can doesn’t mean you should!  I’m sure you have experienced the sudden increase in email newsletters promoting everything in the shop using a ‘one size fits all’ method. It is unwanted, untargeted and e-nnoying!  When times are tough it is important not to don’t give in to negativity [...]

All businesses undertake marketing activities.  At the very least they get business cards, a brochure, a website, maybe they undertake advertising, direct marketing campaigns or other targeted promotions.  Increasingly businesses are finding that even their best marketing efforts are not achieving results. Over the next couple of weeks I plan to highlight a range of [...]

It can take years to build up a brand.  As well as lots of money, hard work and consistent performance yet it just takes months to unravel a brand.  Let’s look at Qantas.  Qantas 10 years ago was undisputably one of the world’s best airlines known for safety, reliability, quality aircraft, professional and capable staff, [...]

Last week a workshop participant at a seminar I was presenting in Melbourne asked the question “What’s the best and cheapest way for small business to promote their brand”? Such a great question and yet such a complex issue. A brand is so much more than a slogan, point of difference or consistent image, it [...]

A couple of weeks ago I was part of a panel speaking to businesses in the City of Stonnington about marketing in tough times. It was a delight that all three panel members choose to be optimistic rather than pessimistic. The podcast is now available and has handy hints for marketing when things are tough.

One of the biggest challenges facing small business owners is keeping high levels of motivation to continue doing what needs to be done in order to achieve success. It is not an easy thing to achieve. I think the key three ingredients are: