World Book Day used to strike fear into my heart as a parent, usually as the school seemed to decide very last minute that the kids needed to go in fancy dress. Thankfully my kids are beyond that age now! And I think for many small businesses it’s a great day to drive some […]
Why I’ve been doing newsletters all wrong, and what I’m going to do next
So, confession time. My newsletters have been terrible. Well, I say that, but in my head, they’ve been brilliant: informative, educational, funny, entertaining. Except that’s exactly where they’ve been. In my head. Not a single one sent out in over a year. Which is most definitely not best practice in building an audience, or keeping […]
Why small businesses can, and possibly should, be political
Big businesses tend not to take sides. They try very hard not to offend anyone at all. They walk the middle of the road. They bend with the wind of opinion, apologising for everything. They are never, ever, political. Which is all very nice, but it tends to mean that we don’t really care […]
Always speak in your own voice
Imagine you are a young brand, with a great story. You’re operating in an area of the market where there aren’t many authentic players. And you’re proud of your roots in Croydon, Your business has grown out of a barber shop; your focus is on “grooming for the black gent”. You’re young, ambitious, and […]
Why dreams have a place in every business
This Saturday is Make Your Dreams Come True Day. Which sounds like a wishy-washy kind of day, with rainbows and unicorns and no possible connection to your business. Except dreams can be incredibly powerful. Your dream has got your business to this stage already. That and a shedload of hard work, I get it. […]