The PEST or PESTLE analysis is one of the most common diagnostic tools used in marketing and business planning. Its six basic perspectives provide a framework for understanding external factors which may impact the organization, which is easy to follow and yet the tool is so often misunderstood.PESTLE - Political, Economic, Sociological, Ecological, Legal, Environmental.PESTLE provides the external perspective to a SWOT analysis...where: PESTLE + PRIMO-F = SWOT Six simple rules for … [Read more...] about 5 common mistakes in doing a PESTLE analysis
Modern Marketing – You don’t know what you don’t know
The world of business, sales, marketing and communications is changing, the question is are you 'up' with the new strategies or will you be scampering around for the scraps after the main pack have eaten?Use of social media as a part of an organizations marketing and sales strategy should not be overlooked. 10 key questions to ask your senior managers (or yourself)Do you have enough information to decide whether to ignore or engage new technologies? Do you know what your … [Read more...] about Modern Marketing – You don’t know what you don’t know
make-the-most-of-social-media-for-marketing
Make the most of social media for marketing Ok so you are one of those people (like me) that uses social marketing sites as part of your marketing strategy?Is your approached integrated or haphazard? Did you know that you can feed your blog posts to your twitter account or face book etc?You have to be careful about content as each is a slightly different audience, however if you can have more activity with less effort all the better.Tools like Twitterfeed help take your blog … [Read more...] about make-the-most-of-social-media-for-marketing
Attracting clients in a freelance market space – lessons from MLM
How do we attract and retain clients when we are working as a freelancer? As trainers or consultants we get a meeting booked, we have a successful meeting and we are asked to submit a proposal. Often after submission of a proposal we are disappointed when we are not successful, thinking that it was a 'done deal' when we left the initial meeting. But how do we get the initial meetings? the more meetings, the more proposals, the more proposals the greater opportunity of a contract being … [Read more...] about Attracting clients in a freelance market space – lessons from MLM
50 Tips for Using Twitter in Business
50 Tips for Using Twitter as a Marketing ToolTwitter is the communication tool of the moment. In 2008 if you had asked anyone about Twitter they would have thought that you were a bit of a geek - now many people are using it for social, learning and business purposes.Twitter is a powerful way to hear about the 'hear and now' thoughts on a key topic - not just from people you know or follow you - but from anyone interested in the topic - all in 140 character bite sizes pieces.Twitter can … [Read more...] about 50 Tips for Using Twitter in Business
Marketing and SEO for training providers
So you have decided to run a training company, you have identified what it is you want to train and in what sector (see porter five forces ). Now all you need to do first tell the world you exist...wrongMarketing is as important part of running a business as delivering the product or closing the sale. How can you close a sale or deliver a product if people don't know you are there?Some would argue that you need to follow: Top 6 ways to market Training Services 1. Build a … [Read more...] about Marketing and SEO for training providers
Why to use Twitter as a business marketing tool
Why to use Twitter as a business marketing tool Use a new tools in the market as a key strategy? - you must be mad! In a changing economy, it might seem wrong to experiment with mediums such as Twitter for marketing and customer outreach. After all, the more well-established Facebook has a documented 800 million active users, while estimates place Twitter (which twitter doesn't disclose such figures) at around 5 million users. ** update Dec 2011 - Facebook is now 800+ active users and Twitter … [Read more...] about Why to use Twitter as a business marketing tool
Ansoff Matrix – product -v- market grid
What is the Ansoff Matrix Product -v- Market grid/ matrix? The Ansoff product matrix is a common model taught in nearly all business and marketing courses. But what is it and how do we use it? Introduction to the Ansoff matrix The Ansoff product/ market matrix is a tool that helps businesses decide their product and market growth strategy.Ansoff's product/ market matrix suggests that a business' attempts to grow depend on whether it markets new or existing products in new or existing … [Read more...] about Ansoff Matrix – product -v- market grid
Centurion pitch – the key to success in social marketing?
We have all come across the following marketing strategies (in one shape or form):Minute to win it Elevator pitch Get your point over in 30 seconds or lessAll of which work well in a given situation or context, but how does this translate to the world of social networking? Here we operate in a world where the message is everything, but people need to be drawn-in to be interested to:ReTweet or post your message Be interested enough to proactivly find out more about … [Read more...] about Centurion pitch – the key to success in social marketing?
90-9-1 rule or theory for marketing, communication & social media
Social Network Contribution Ratio 90:9:1 The use of social media to support marketing has increased in recent times. How can we use this to develop our business?Is the 80/20 rule applicable to social networks, forums and web 2.0? Is the 90-9-1 Rule the new Pareto Principle for web 2.0 and other online environments?Lets start by understanding that this is not a "rule", but some say a modern "Myth of Community Participation".To me the "99-9-1 rule" is a tool or guide to help manage … [Read more...] about 90-9-1 rule or theory for marketing, communication & social media
Going Freelance in difficult times – consulting and training
Many people believe that one of the most successful ways of starting as a freelancer and maintaining a growing consulting or training business is to specialise or to find your own niche. What is a business niche? A niche business is one with a focus or area of specialisation. It is a market segment that particularly suits your experience, knowledge, talents, interests and personality. It is a segment of the market that you can make your own. You make it yours because it fits your expertise and … [Read more...] about Going Freelance in difficult times – consulting and training
Ansoff matrix – product market grid – Management theory & model
Introduction to the Ansoff matrix Igor Ansoff is known as the father of strategic management. He was a mathematician and business manager. In the 1950s his work was developed and eventually published providing managers and the marketing world with a simple, practical tool that is in use 50 years later.In essence the Ansoff product/ market matrix is a tool that helps businesses decide their product and market growth strategy.Ansoff's product/ market matrix suggests that a business' … [Read more...] about Ansoff matrix – product market grid – Management theory & model
Evaluating the impact of training – another failure
Evaluating the impact of training is this as successful as we would like to believe?On one forum I regularly visit was the question:I am currently trying to answer a question for my course, but have hit a slight problem. The question I need to answer for my written project is:- Conduct an analysis to determine the effects that training has had on the success of your organisation. I was planning on writing about Customer Service training we have been running on going for the last 18 … [Read more...] about Evaluating the impact of training – another failure
What the colour of your logo says about your brand
Colour is important when it comes to brand design. We react differently to certain colours – allowing them to influence our decisions and come to conclusions about something before we have even tried the product. Red Logos It’s a well known fact that red is a colour symbolising passion but did you also know that it can encourage you to eat? The colour itself doesn’t make you hungry but it evokes feelings of happiness, excitement and love – feelings many of us harbour towards our favourite … [Read more...] about What the colour of your logo says about your brand
Do you cover all your social media with all of your content?
Do you cover all your social media with all of your content?Many of us write blogs and articles on LinkedIn, on our own blogs or as a guest blogger on other peoples sites.The perceived wisdom of the SEO and marketing gurus is to push your piece everywhere. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn status, all of your LinkedIn groups, StumbleUpon etc. In fact everywhere you can. But is this "push everywhere" a help or a hindrance? Certainly the wider you promote the content, the more people will see … [Read more...] about Do you cover all your social media with all of your content?
Plain English communications?
Today I received a great email, its text without the advert is below:Dear Mike, I’m going for the plain English approach here because I want to keep things simple, in the hope you’ll find time to get back to me. We (xxxx) are a full service integrated demand generation agency with specialties in working with technology, ecommerce and people services businesses. Our goal has always been to deliver high impact and measurable campaigns that really do deliver outstanding results. This … [Read more...] about Plain English communications?
Can online forums damage my small business
Can Online Forums Damage My Small Business? The fact that word on the Internet travels so quickly can be beneficial to small businesses regarding advertising and word of mouth recommendations. Unfortunately, it can also be detrimental if the wrong thing is said.With all the different social media sites and forums online, any business needs to stay abreast of what is and is not acceptable. Is there a choice? Can any business afford not to be online or on social networks and forums? I … [Read more...] about Can online forums damage my small business
Marketing Excellence #TDAD13
Some events are public, some are private. Sometimes we are lucky to be allowed to attend a private event and share.This is a blog on marketing excellence from a trade event somewhere in the South East of England for a group of elite professionals in the marketing space.For commercial reasons I cannot say where this marketing excellence event is happening, or who it is for, but I can share some of the great learning taking place. Marketing Excellence Speakers The lead speakers … [Read more...] about Marketing Excellence #TDAD13
You reap WHAT you sow – what does this mean in marketing?
Social media marketing - tips for success in 2010 Read my 9 top tips for social media marketing below.As entrepreneurs and smaller businesses marketing is a vital yet difficult concept for many of us. Many of us hate it and want to find the "quick fix".What prompted me to write this article was receipt this morning of a 'newsletter' I get that goes straight to my junk mail. It is from Kenneth Yu "the Puppet Master" (take care with his sites as they take a lot of processing power and clever … [Read more...] about You reap WHAT you sow – what does this mean in marketing?
Don’t let SEO burst your budget
This is a historical page, and remains for historical reference only - Jan 2020 SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a specialist activity, expensive and you need to know what you are doing... don't you? Right?... wrong!The current commercial and financial climate that we are operating in is causing most of us to tighten our belts and think twice about spending. This especially true for Training, HR and other small consultancies and entrepreneurs. SEO has always been seen as a "technical" … [Read more...] about Don’t let SEO burst your budget
