A blog is a website, or section of a website, where regular commentary is posted on a particular subject. A typical blog combines text, images and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.

So why are more and more businesses blogging?

Industry: Sun Protection Manufacturers

Project Elements: Creative Development, Graphic Design, Print Management, Direct Mail

It is a well known fact that during times of recession the first two budgets to face the chop are training and marketing. Yet if your competitors are reducing their marketing efforts, surely isn’t this the time to take advantage and increase yours?

Just like people, every business differs in terms of its personality, values and processes. There are those methodical businesses amongst us that plan for every eventuality with a clear strategy for the next one, two or even five years. Then there are those speculative businesses at the other end of the scale that continue to rebel against the mission statement, preferring to adopt a more opportunist stance.

As the relentless growth of people using the internet continues, companies are increasingly recognising the role that the web now plays within the buying decision process. In fact, a recent survey carried out by The Association of Online Publishers revealed that 82% of key business decision makers worldwide use the internet during the research stage of the buying process.

It is surprising how many businesses neglect their customers despite the fact that attracting new customers costs twice as much as simply taking care of your existing ones. A fundamental mistake made by many businesses is assuming that once attracted, a customer will simply stay.

Marketing planning is all about understanding your customers, how well your company fulfils their needs and setting clear and concise business goals for the future.

It is amazing how many companies have marketing literature produced, such as a brochure, leaflet or flyer, without first thinking: Who will the literature target?, What is our marketing message?, What do we want the literature to achieve? and Does it need to be updated regularly?

It is amazing how many businesses write their marketing literature, website and direct mail letters without first taking a step back to establish the vital marketing foundations that should underpin all marketing activities.

Sounds nasty but just like a virus, viral marketing enables your marketing message to be spread rapidly between friends, family and colleagues, in a very cost effective way. Sound complicated? What exactly is viral marketing and is it suitable for your target market?