Get inspired and learn how to market your small business effectively on on a shoe string budget.

Small Business Big Marketing talks to business owners about thier successful marketing activities.

through some kind of discovery process, and it forces you out of your comfort zone. Its only by forcing the brain into thinking in this manner that truly fresh and innovative business marketing ideas can be allowed to occur. And if you can add a little diversity into the mix, then youre well on the way to creating killer combination. By diversity, were talking about looking at your industry/service/product from a view other than your own. Sure you run a restaurant. And, in your opinion, you know the best way to do so. But would that also be the opinion held by an 18 year old lad? A single mother? By a blue collar worker or the wife of a doctor? And theres only one way to do this, and its to ask. True innovation often comes from the most unlikely sources. So take advantage of who you know. This might be friends, family, other small business owners whoever. But one things for sure, the further outside the box you go, the more likely it is that youll hit on that winning formula.

Brainstorming Doesnt Work Killer Questions Do

There cant be a person in the modern business world thats not sat in on a brainstorming session. You know, where a bunch of you sit in a room, someone grabs the marker pen and writes everyones ideas on a flip chart, along with some funky looking arrows. After the event, in 99% of all cases, all that happens to those innovative ideas is that they get typed up, emailed around to those who need to know and. Forgotten. Fab! What a waste of time, energy and possibly, just possibly, that very idea that might have been the catalyst to the business big time. Brainstorming is dead Apart from the above, dyou know the other reasons why brainstorming fails to produce results? Because its not from the lack of talent of those doing the brainstorming, it comes down to the way its carried out. When the human brain is presented with a question, weve been conditioned since birth to search for the solution and then move on. So, when a group of people sit down to brainstorm, not only does the brain stop working once it thinks all the ideas have been placed on the table, theres also that unconscious thought that, as discussed above, its all pretty pointless anyway. So whats the answer? How on earth can you utilize the collective genius of different people in a way to discover the next innovative step to promote your business? Well, weve got two words for you: Killer Questions Diversity Oh, okay, three words then But seriously, innovation is all about asking the right questions. Killer questions. So what is a killer question? A killer question is one that forces you to turn conventionality and general assumptions on their head. It forces you to think about the question before you answer it. It forces you to go

#89 The Voice A Runaway Marketing Success Story.

In this weeks episode I have a fireside chat with Adrian Swift, the Nine Networks Executive Producer of The Voice one of the most successful TV shows Australia has ever seen. At the time of the interview they were getting 2.5 million viewers per episode by the end of the series, this had skyrocketed to 3,000,000 viewers just slightly more than Australias #1 small business marketing podcast ;0) Now, you may well be wondering what can us small business owners learn from the marketing of a hit TV show like The Voice. The answer is PLENTY! Youll discover how and why big brands are so tightly managed, why frequency is such a powerful marketing strategy, how the online strategy supported what was happening on the TV, and how to manage 35,000 tweets in one hour if you ever run in to that problem (!) oh, and I give Adrian my two cents worth as well on what they could be doing better. (He didnt listen!). Enjoy

Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Home page of The Voice. Check out Netregistrys End Of Financial Year Sale. Domain names from just $12.45 / year!

Marketing Coaching with Timbo - Email me at tim(at)smallbusinessbigmarketing(dot)com if youd like to enquire about my Marketing Coaching package Ill set up a 15-minute Discovery Call where Ill be able to establish if I can help you move your business forward.

3. The inability to place yourself out of your comfort zone Do any of those touch a nerve? Because around 75% of people think that they arent creative or innovative. But the good news is, Innovation is a skill that ANYONE can learn. Steve McKinney comes from the fabled Silicon Valley. Hes pretty much one of the worlds leading innovation gurus. And he sure is the expert at placing himself well out of his comfort zone. 6 or 7 years ago, when podcasting was just that twinkle in a select few individuals eyes, Steve locked himself into a bathroom in a Marriot Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, and recorded his first podcast. Did he feel stupid? Yes. Was he plagued with self-doubt? Yes. Did he want to do something different, that wasnt already known as a great marketing strategy already? Yes. This was innovation at its most pure. Taking a concept in this case imparting information and placing a brand new spin in a way not been done before. And if youre wondering why this first recording was done in a bathroom, it was simply down to acoustics. Plus not having to worry about any expense of a recording studio or other outgoings on what was, at that time, a completely out there venture that he had no idea if it would work. And thats what innovations all about. Having the balls to get out there and, to coin a phrase, just do it! After all, youve had the cojones to set up in business yourself, so the next step is to use that drive to create some innovative marketing.

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Ive personally created these marketing training products in response to listener feedback
Site Boost - Discover the characteristics of a successful website. Spotlight - I create an exclusive podcast episode solving the marketing challenges of your business. List Builder - How to build an email subscriber list Fast. Online Marketing Communications Masterclass - This is all about getting found online.

What does a Marriott Hotel Bathroom have to do with Innovation?

Innovation something that just the select few are blessed with, right? WRONG on so many counts. You see, innovation is something that we all possess, whether or not you know it. And in relation to the marketing of your small business, a vital talent that you need to nurture and hone to take full advantage. So what is innovation, exactly? Well, according the one of the masters himself Steve McKinney former Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Hewlett Packard, innovation is, and we quote, The end result of human creativity. Confused? Lets explain a little further. You see, many people are creative, but putting that creativity into action is the step that so often fails to happen. People use the words creativity and innovation interchangeably, but in reality, theres a big difference. Innovation is the ability to implement that creativity. And the three reasons that so many fail to be innovative? 1. The lack of personal drive 2. Self-doubt

Marketing 101 For A Massuer (Or any small business wanting to get found online).
I checked in to a hotel today in Perth A city I am unfamiliar with. After a five hour flight my body was screaming massage, massage! So I Google Mobile massage Perth. And the fun begins Not! The first two pages (yes, I was so desperate I went to page 2 of the search results) were littered with basic directory listings with minimal information, large enquiry generating sites with no personal touch and the odd individual Massuer who, upon clicking on their link, bamboozled me with irrelevant information. Seriously, either no one has a need for mobile massage in Perth or the concept of ranking number 1 on page 1 of the worlds biggest search engine is yet to get through to this industry (as well as many others).
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Seriously, how fricken hard can I be to dominate such a search? Heres what Id do. 1. Create a simple website that recognized that people looking for massage are tired, stressed or sore show that you understand how they feel. Id also have a section telling them a little bit about me and my approach to massage and include a clear, friendly photo or two. In fact, a video of you introducing yourself and your services would be a great idea. The main section is your Services simply describe what you offer and how much. Give each offer a cool name like the Release From Stress package (we love to buy packages) and spray a few testimonials about as well. Then, last but by no means least make it easy for people to contact you. In fact, Id have your phone number at the top of every page. 2. All of the above should be short, simple copy. Headlines, sub-heads, bullet points. NOT War and Peace. And make it keyword rich that doesnt mean every second paragraph should start with As a mobile Massuer in the Perth but it does mean understand what phrases your prospects are keying in to Google and include them in the copy of your site. 3. Now that the front of your site is sorted, complete the back end. This gets a little techie But its worth learning. Basically, you need to ensure every page has a key word rich page title and description If youre website is built in WordPress, then add a plugin like Yoast and complete the empty fields for each page. At this point, you are so far ahead of the game its not funny. But I did say dominate So lets continue. 4. Now youve got a website that will resonate with prospects Go and list yourself in all the free directories And when I say list, dont just put your name and mobile Complete all the fields they give you. By doing this, youve begun your SEO campaign AKA search engine optimisation. If you want to take it up a notch then have a professional team do your SEO I use these guys and theyre damn good. 5. Verify and complete your Google + Places listing. This is like a free website that Google gives you and they will always list a businesss Places listing whenever anyone does a search with a suburb name attached. 6. Finally, go ahead and create some videos. Just use your iPhone camera. Answers the five most frequently asked questions about massage, upload them to Your new YouTube channel that youve created, and then complete the headline, description and category information ensuring the odd keyword is used. Do this and your on a winner. And so am I As next time I come to Perth, youll be the first one I call. What do you think? Would you add anything to this online marketing strategy?

Apart From Your Profile, How Else Can LinkedIn Promote You.Inc?
Utilizing the power of LinkedIn for business development is something that a lot of people still havent managed to grasp. Weve already covered how vital it is to spend time developing an awesome profile, but what else can the site offer you when it comes to promoting your small business? Free now but what about the future? Basic membership to LinkedIn is free, and there are many small businesses that can get everything they need from the site from the free service. And, wed like to let you in on some insider information; weve been told by the MD of the Asian and Australasian arm of LinkedIn that there are currently no plans to change this. There are paid upgrades to the site, and in some cases these upgrades can be beneficial, but right now, lets talk about some other free ways that you can use LinkedIn marketing to benefit your small business. Share your expertise LinkedIn offers a plethora of different groups; groups that cover every business, trade, profession and industry, along with ways to market and expand your business. Choose the groups you wish to interact with carefully. They should be relevant to your own business, and you should decide if you want to take information from the group, or if you want to input your own expertise. Because, and this is the important part so pay attention, every time you ask or reply to a question in a group, its linked to your profile. This means that a few carefully chosen words here and there is yet another way of showcasing you and companys talents. In essence its free advertising. Utilizing these kinds of strategies to expand your LinkedIn marketing efforts are powerful, clever and show potential clients that youre passionate about what you do. And if you fancy setting up a group of your own, then dont do it simply to advertise your business. What the canny marketer will do is to set up a group that gives value to others. It should be relevant to those who might be in the market for your services, but provide them with a reason to join in other words, direct promotion is not what setting up LinkedIn group for marketing purposes is all about. Subtle, clever advertising. Thats the most successful kind. In a nutshell, utilizing the power of LinkedIn to market your business is something that shouldnt be overlooked. And as with every other aspect of communication, make it personal. Personal to the people youre trying to connect with, and personal to your target market. And if you fancy connecting on LinkedIn with us, then wed love to hear from you.

#88 A Million Dollar Business in 2.5 Years on $0 Marketing Budget.

Three years ago BlackMilk Clothing didnt exist. Then one day in 2009, James Lillis sold a pair of leggings for $10 that hed stitched together around his kitchen table. The dream was launched. Two and half years later BlackMilk Clothing is a multimillion dollar, 100% Australian-owned business employing 130 people and selling out of everything they make driven by an unbelievably loyal following of raving fans 160,000+ of them on Facebook, alone! Not to mention the tens of meet-up groups that connect globally, all manned by volunteers who live for BlackMilks next product. Oh, and did I mention theyve done this on a modest marketing budget of ZERO DOLLARS! Yep, nudda. Zip! So sit back, pull on some silky leggings and listen up as Cameron Parker (BlackMilks first employee) shares with us exactly how theyve done it. PLUS, also in this episode of Australias favourite small business marketing podcast, I pick a fight with a listener or two ;0)

Ive personally created these marketing training products in response to listener feedback
Site Boost - Discover the characteristics of a successful website. Spotlight - I create an exclusive podcast episode solving the marketing challenges of your business. List Builder - How to build an email subscriber list Fast. Online Marketing Communications Masterclass - This is all about getting found online.

You Are Who Google Says You Are!

Sad perhaps, but true. And lets face it, its page 1 of Google that really counts. Thats why using the SEO power of LinkedIn for business development is a tool that only a madman would not consider using. Building your small business brand has many aspects. You, and you alone, create the look, content and image of that brand. But when it comes to getting that message out to the public, then the ability to piggyback on the success of others is something that the savvy entrepreneur takes full advantage of. In regards to LinkedIn, this is all about using the website to your personal advantage. The great thing about LinkedIn marketing is that the site has a great deal of kudos with Google. With only a small amount of effort, you can utilize this power to help get your business brand right up there, on that all important first page. And that starts with filling out your profile. Yes, we know that youve got a million and one other things to do, and creating a decent profile takes time. But this is one area where investing some of those precious hours really will be returned to you threefold. Not to mention that for the basic package, and one that will suit many small businesses, is free! (A word sure to put a smile on the face of any person agonising over their advertising budget). Profile, Recommendations and Key Words The more complete and relevant your profile is, the more chance you have of high ranking search listings. A good LinkedIn profile includes the following: A great summary. Short, concise and explaining exactly what it is that your business offers. Key skills and achievements. Goes without saying that this is one place where you should definitely be blowing your own trumpet. Key words. Spend some time to discover the key search words used by potential customers looking for your line of business. Incorporate these crucial words into your LinkedIn summary and give the search engines that much needed helping hand to find you. Recommendations. One of the most powerful tools offered by LinkedIn. When another LinkedIn member
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Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

BlackMilk Clothings online store and BlackMilk Clothings Facebook. Please welcome my new sponsor Netregistry theyll sort you out with all your online marketing questions. Check out Netregistrys End Of Financial Year Sale. Domain names from just $12.45 / year! Marketing Coaching with Timbo - Email me at tim(at)smallbusinessbigmarketing(dot)com if youd like to enquire about my Marketing Coaching package Ill set up a 15-minute Discovery Call where Ill be able to establish if I can help you move your business forward.

Join the marketing discussion beyond my podcast

For in-depth marketing discussion, join the Small Business Big Marketing LinkedIn Group. See the lighter side of marketing on the Small Business Big Marketing Facebook Page. Receive small business marketing tips on the Small Business Big Marketing Twitter feed. Leave a review for Small Business Big Marketing in iTunes. Its a rankings thing ;0)

can vouch for what you and your company can offer, this is one of the very best forms of advertising you can ask for. Not to mention that its fully trackable, and any potential customer can see whos providing the recommendation. If youve not checked out your business or personal name on Google lately, then do so right now. And if your image is not one of complete professionalism, and exactly what you want to showcase to the world, then you need to leap into action. Its your business, its your image and ultimately, its your profits. So start telling Google what youre all about, instead of letting a computer make all the choices

In case we havent yet made it clear enough, LinkedIn is NOT Facebook. And its certainly not about the number of connections you have. With LinkedIn its all about the quality. To be brutal, if a connection isnt a person who can either advance your business, career or might be a person that one day you need to talk to in order to achieve those, then why on earth would you need to connect with them? Harsh, maybe but business is business, after all. So to sum up, when it comes to utilizing the power of LinkedIn for business development, then any small business would be crazy not to take advantage of it. Yes, it takes time to develop a good profile, but in this world of information at our fingertips, itd take a very brave (for brave, read stupid!) small business not to realize the power it yields.

So How Important is your LinkedIn Profile?

Youd need to have been living in a cave for the past few years not to have heard of LinkedIn. But is it just another Facebook? And how important actually is LinkedIn for business. Well firstly, its necessary to know the rationale behind the website. And the word from those in the know namely, Cliff Rosenburg, the Asia, Australia and New Zealand MD for LinkedIn themselves (oh yeah, were not adverse to a bit of name dropping when its deserved) is that its a website for professionals to network and connect with likeminded people in order to become more productive and successful. Okay, so we can all raise a glass to that! But hang on a second. Without wishing to sound somewhat disrespectful, doesnt that just make it a kind of Facebook for businesses? And hasnt that already been done? Well, in our humble opinion, you should think like that at your peril. Because not only does LinkedIn connect the worlds largest network of professionals together, but it also allows you to present the face you need to for your life as a professional and competent person and business. Separate Business from Pleasure Lets face it, you might have hundreds (or thousands) of friends on other social networking sites. Friends with whom you share jokes, controversial opinions and photos of crazy nights out or that baby picture of you naked in the bath. But is that really the image you want to portray for your small business? We think not, and thats exactly where you can use the power of LinkedIn for business development. Not only is your LinkedIn profile vital for raising that crucial business awareness, but it provides you with yet another valuable tool for that all important online marketing. Can I be your Friend? Another day, another LinkedIn connect request in your inbox. But should you blindly accept everyone who asks, or is it prudent to be a little more discerning about the professionals you connect with?

The PR Rabbit Hole

PR something that every small business owner needs to embrace with open arms and become good at it. And its something that we never stop learning about, thats for sure, and the whole raison detre behind Small Business Big Marketing. So what are we referring to when we talk about the PR rabbit hole? Well, picture a rabbit hole, if you will. But its not just a hole, is it its a single entrance to a whole host of interconnecting burrows. And thats how you should view your PR efforts. Not as single entities, but as a whole bunch of different angles, ideas, publicity and coverage that all lead to a single aim the rabbit hole. Or in this case your business. Confused? Okay, lets explain some more. When is a Press Release not a Press Release? Say youve got a new product, topic, idea, feature or whatever for your business. And you want to announce it to the world. So your write a press release and submit it to the various sources, yes? Actually, perhaps not in every case. Because press releases have their place and value but theyre also a little, erm, how shall we put it old hat? What you need to be doing is creating opportunity for your small business that steps away from the tried and tested. Get out there and edgy create different burrows for your own personal PR rabbit hole that are different from what all the others are doing. Get Personal Say youre an editor, or perhaps a journalist. Youre looking for that story with a difference that niche product or quirky angle that you can write about. How much nicer would it be to receive a well written, personal email or phone call from a small business owner (thats you, in case you hadnt caught on), rather than trolling through endless dirge of press releases that are published on virtually an hourly basis. Your email (or letter never underestimate the power of a little retro marketing) needs to offer something that is going to make that person think hey thats different. And that they
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think its worth featuring. And that equals free advertising and the best possible type of PR your business can gain. Dyou see what youve managed to do? Youve written a successful press release simply in another guise. Be Extraordinary Because who wants to be ordinary. Take advantage of every single piece of coverage your business gets and see how you can get a new angle from it. This again adds those extra burrows and tunnels to your personal PR rabbit hole. And also means that you gain every bit of mileage possible from everything you do. Let your personality shine through; have fun with your marketing in a way that a large corporation simply isnt able to. After all, thats what makes small businesses stand out from the crowd. The size of your PR rabbit hole is simply down to the extent of your imagination. And well bet you can imagine allsorts if you just let your mind run wild.

enquire about my Marketing Coaching package Ill set up a 15-minute Discovery Call where Ill be able to establish if I can help you move your business forward.

Join the marketing discussion beyond my podcast

For in-depth marketing discussion, join the Small Business Big Marketing LinkedIn Group. See the lighter side of marketing on the Small Business Big Marketing Facebook Page. Receive small business marketing tips on the Small Business Big Marketing Twitter feed. Leave a review for Small Business Big Marketing in iTunes. Its a rankings thing ;0)

Ive personally created these marketing training products in response to listener feedback
Site Boost - Discover the characteristics of a successful website.

#87 How To Market A Business In Tough Times.

Larry Bloch co-founded Netregistry in 1997 right in the high diddle diddle of the dot com boom. Things were going swimmingly with the business doubling every couple of months until mid 2000 when the boom went bust. BUT thats where it gets interesting really interesting. You see, marketing a business in boom times is relatively easy theres plenty of money and eager buyers especially in the area of domain names and websites where every one was trying to stake their claim. But how do you manage a business through the down times, and come out the other end shining? Well, thats exactly what Larry did. In fact, in 2012, Netregistry is now Australias most trusted provider of online services. Listen in to this fireside chat I had with Larry as he shares his inspiring story of business growth. From having a great business idea, to the importance of a strong partnership, to implementing some incredibly smart marketing strategies that were way ahead of there time youll hear it all. PLUS we talk about the online marketing world today and the many opportunities it provides for the small business owner. Larry even gets his crystal ball out and shares with us where he sees the biggest opportunities being in the coming 12-months. Enjoy!

Spotlight - I create an exclusive podcast episode solving the marketing challenges of your business. List Builder - How to build an email subscriber list Fast. Online Marketing Communications Masterclass - This is all about getting found online.

Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Please welcome my new sponsor Netregistry theyll sort you out with all your online marketing questions. Check out Netregistrys End Of Financial Year Sale. Domain names from just $12.45 / year! Marketing Coaching with Timbo Email me at tim(at)smallbusinessbigmarketing(dot)com if youd like to
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