To celebrate here are 10 of my top marketing blogs…

I have not regretted starting my business for one moment and have enjoyed immensely working with so many ambitious small business owners to make their businesses an even bigger success. I’m also proud that I have successfully reached this business milestone over what haven’t always been easy economic times(!) and excited about what the next decade will bring! Combined with a little reflection on how marketing has changed and developed over the last 10 years. So I decided to put together a top 10 of articles from my blog – free hints, tips and guidance that are still very relevant today for anyone trying to market their small business.

1. Are you in a marketing muddle?

How do you feel about marketing and raising awareness of your business? Is it something you struggle with or are unsure of how best to go about it? You’re certainly not alone and this article looks at how small business owners can adopt the right marketing mindset.

2. Native video is taking over – are you using it yet?

Used well, social media is an absolute godsend for small businesses – it’s low cost (or even free) and immediate. The ability to incorporate video into your Facebook page or Twitter feed adds a new dimension and I’ve come up with some useful ways that you can use native video, whatever your business may be.

3. Inspired by Instagram

None of us can afford to get left behind in the world of social media. Younger audiences have rejected well established platforms such as Facebook in preference for Instagram, and businesses have quickly realised that it’s a good bandwagon to jump on – maybe you should too!

4. Don’t forget to blog

Away from social media developments it’s important to remember that your blog has an important part to play in your marketing toolkit. Make sure you’re getting the most out of blogging with my blog post checklist.

5. Get visual!

As the saying goes, a picture says a thousand words. And this is never more true than on social media – images and video clips really help you stand out from the crowd.

6. Are you a marketing mud slinger?

Good marketing is less about quantity and more about quality. It’ll only ‘stick’ if your message is something that your audience wants or needs to hear. How would you answer the questions I pose about marketing?

7. Content marketing is still king

The more engaging and relevant your online content, the better your ranking in search engine results. It’s the Holy Grail of the Internet and I know that it’s something that perplexes many people. But it’s not rocket science, so here’s some practical advice about blogging that will help you get it right!

8. Email marketing still works

The secret is to write a good subject line that entices the recipient to read the email. Again, it’s not rocket science but I do have a good trick to share.

9. Free marketing tools, they’re indispensable!

Admittedly there is a huge amount of tools out there and it can be a nightmare trying to figure out what you should use. So let me save you the time and trouble with my top 5 free or low cost marketing tools.

10. Celebrate your own business birthday!

Back when Orchard Marketing Associates was just turning five I came up with a marketing idea on the theme of five. It’s something that’s applicable to any business of any age, so take a look at a few ideas you might be able to use for your next business birthday!

Now where’s my birthday cake and balloons…. 🙂