My Top Ten Tips: Have a plan and study the competition

1. Have a plan. It may sound like an obvious point but many businesses simply start their marketing activity without a plan or strategy.

2. Become the number one expert in your business. Studying your industry, competition and clients will help you learn how potential clients think – this will make it easier to connect with them.

3. Do your research. This is one of the most important elements in the planning process and covers many areas. Correctly identifying your target audience is a key consideration.

4. Keep it simple. Market your business as clearly and concisely as possible.

5. Build your reputation. There’s not always a quick fix to securing new clients, so building your businesses reputation is just as important as marketing.

6. Step out of your comfort zone. It may be that you feel uncomfortable going to networking events, don’t like pitching for new business or feel uneasy about sending out direct mail. However, it is vital to explore different types of marketing.

7. Gather honest feedback. Sometimes it’s hard to see weaknesses with your business because you’re too close to it.

8. Put yourself in customers’ shoes. Think about marketing that has worked on you and what has turned you off.

9. Never stop marketing! Most businesses launch with lots of activity and then slow down when work comes in. This is dangerous because if business drops off it can be hard to get going again.

10. Employ an expert. Many businesses don’t have the time, resources or expertise to execute an effective marketing programme.