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Category: Business Advice

incubate business training
Business Advice

Goal Review Time

Business owners are renowned for setting pretty ambitious goals at the start of the year. While it is hard to believe, 2022 is already half over. With the year flying by at lightening speed it’s important to take stock of your goals and see how you are tracking. So, grab that goal list you created

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July 1, 2022
It’s estimated that every day we are exposed to between 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements; this includes print, radio and TV ads, brand labels, online ads and the many other ways we see company logos and promotions. You need to think about this when you strategically plan your markting. You’re probably thinking that is a crazy number and isn’t possible. But your brain protects you and filters out most of them. Less than 100 get past this, and some for less than half a second. On top this advertising bombardment, consumers are becoming incredibly cynical toward advertising. People trust online peer reviews more than a business’s advertising. So how do you make it through the clutter? The crux of marketing is putting the right product, in the right place, at the right price, at the right time. Your job as a marketer is to attract people to your product or service, give them the motivation to act and buy it. First up marketing should be viewed as an investment in your business. This doesn’t mean you need an eye-watering marketing budget. But rather that you take the time out of your business to strategically plan your marketing. Many business owners get caught up in the wording – do they need a marketing strategy or a marketing plan. Both have important roles to play, so you need to consider the elements of each. This doesn’t mean you need to produce two large documents that collect dust on the shelf! Rather that you have thought about the key areas and plan out the best spend of your marketing dollars. Strategic marketing is the ‘why’ behind your business, the ‘what’ and ‘how’ you deliver. It’s the thinking part of your marketing. It gives you an overall destination. The marketing planning focusses on the execution – the doing. It’s the road map with all the directions on how to achieve your goals. It includes all the campaigns, events and marketing tactics. A lot of small and medium businesses tack on marketing activity as an afterthought. They do it in fits and bursts when they have a spare five minutes in the month. They get approached for sponsorship or radio adverts or newspaper adverts and agree to them as they sound like a promising idea. And they very well might be. But we urge you to take a moment and think about your overall marketing goals and whether that activity will provide the best bang for your buck. When businesses are reactive rather than proactive they are missing out on the power of effective marketing when it is planned strategically to support what your business does and where you want your business to go. So how is your marketing doing? An important part of any marketing planning is to review how your current efforts are tracking. Ask yourself: Are the numbers of leads, sales and new business opportunities increasing, staying the same or declining? This will give you an indication of how well your marketing activity is going. Is your market changing? Growing or shrinking and how is this affecting your business and clients? You need to be aware of what’s going on outside of your business so you can innovate and adapt to changing environments and evolving customer needs. Which of your marketing activities are working well? Do you know how new clients or sales came about? This can help you direct your marketing spending. Are your products or services making the expected revenue? Do you know your gross profit margin and are you happy with it? Are there other marketing activities that you could try? When should you start? Overall, the most effective marketing and planning strategy is when it is done from your client’s perspective. It’s vital to know your tribe and connect with them. With careful planning, being authentic and telling a story that resonates with your audience you can make a significant difference to your marketing efforts
Business Advice

Strategically Plan your Marketing

It’s estimated that every day we are exposed to between 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements; this includes print, radio and TV ads, brand labels, online ads and the many other ways we see company logos and promotions. You need to think about this when you strategically plan your markting. You’re probably thinking that is a crazy

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March 2, 2022
firestation business networking tips
Business Advice

Networking Tips

While it is necessary to grow your online professional networks though the likes of LinkedIn, this should never replace face-to-face business networking. Networking is an essential part of building relationships, opening yourself up to new ideas or ways of thinking, seeking opportunities and raising your profile. In fact, it is the personal connections you make

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November 21, 2021
Attracting the right talent for your business
Business Advice

Attracting the Right Talent for your Business

Let’s face it, when it comes to hiring new staff for your small or medium business it can be a little daunting.  If you make the wrong choice it can have major ramifications for your business and your back pocket. It’s important that you focus on attracting the right talent for your business. Hiring right

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February 2, 2021
business training programmes
Business Advice

Firestation Fundamentals Webinar Series

Our Firestation Fundamentals Webinar Series provides advice and support to businesses and non-profits to get through the impacts of Covid19. Videos of each webinar are added to this page. To access any links mentioned in the webinar, please watch on YouTube.

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July 8, 2020
succession planning
Business Advice

Succession Planning

New Zealand businesses are woefully unprepared for succession planning. Some business owners think succession planning doesn’t need to be on their radar, especially if they have no intention to exit the business in the next ten years or more. But there is a crucial part of succession planning that is often overlooked that can impact

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March 8, 2019

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