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The phrase “mature market” can quickly conjure up clichéd images of retired couples strolling on the beach, or a frail elderly person in an armchair. And yet this huge and lucrative market is no niche – it encompasses consumers from all walks of life who just happen to be over a certain age. Rachel Miller […]

Marketing isn’t cheap, so it’s understandable that business owners look for value for money and often that results in a strategy that targets a large audience. But that can be a mistake. Imagine you sell petrol lawnmowers. You might be tempted to target people with an interest in gardening. But some enthusiastic gardeners live in […]

No business today can afford to rest on its laurels. Your business may be keeping up with economic and market changes but is your brand keeping pace? Sookie Shuen, digital and social media specialist, explains how to decide if your business needs a rebrand How much could your company benefit from a timely rebranding exercise? […]

An effective sales strategy is an essential part of building a growing business. A well-thought out strategy lets you make the best use of your resources and ensure a co-ordinated approach across the business. Your strategy should be underpinned by clear objectives and a thorough understanding of your customers and the market. Key issues include […]

Selling can be intimidating, but our useful checklist will help you prepare to persuade the customer, overcome objections and close the sale Find out which services or products the customer is interested in. Establish your objectives. Do you want to make a sale now, or create initial interest to justify a later presentation to the decision-maker? Clarify what style and […]

New research by Acas has revealed that sourcing staff with the right skills will be the biggest issue faced by businesses in the year ahead. The survey, conducted by YouGov for workplace experts Acas, has found that over half of workers (53%) believe that getting the right people with the right skills will be the biggest issue faced […]

A new report on social media trends has found that Instagram is in the ascendancy but it warns that influencer fraud is also on the rise. Socialbakers, the social media marketing platform, has investigated social media activity in 2018 and looked ahead at the likely trends in 2019. Its findings show that Instagram advertising spend […]

New research has found that employee wellbeing and engagement increases in workplaces with Christmas décor. However, many companies don’t bother with Christmas decorations even though they are appreciated by employees and customers alike. A poll of 300 employees and managers by Ambius has found that one in six companies do not put up seasonal decorations in the […]

Media coverage is a blessing for small businesses – as your profile goes up, so will your sales. However, marketing campaigns can be costly. Free publicity is a great way to increase the profile of your small business. While traditional print media still has clout, in a world of “viral” marketing and social media, what other options are […]

Location-finding apps and business directory apps make life easier when you are on the road. Not only can you find what you need but you can also help customers find you by showing them the location of your business Foursquare This app uses global positioning data so businesses can share information about their location. By […]