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Find out ways on how to market your small business in an affordable and effective way.

We believe that every business should have equal standing. Generally, the companies who have the biggest budgets get all the business. That doesn’t always mean that they have the best products. What we want is to give everyone the opportunity to show the world what they can do.

What is Content Marketing

Marketing is changing

Marketing is changing What is Content Marketing? With the internet the consumer now has control. Most consumers will research a product before they will even think of contacting you. There is advertising but this becomes expensive and is short term. Now there is an intelligent way of getting your brand known and recognized for the...

Small Business & Marketing tips newsletter 28th February 2019

Welcome to your small business marketing tips newsletter. Remember to communicate with your customers A lot of small business think that if they send an email to their current or old customers that they are annoying them. We all hate the unsolicited email, right? But here’s the thing. If you have already had dealings with…

Small Business & Marketing tips Newsletter

Small Business & Marketing tips newsletter 28th February 2019

Welcome to your small business marketing tips newsletter. Try having links to your website from social posts. A post is great for showing your networks all about your brand. When posting try having a link from your posts to your website with more information. This will help your search engine profile (SEO) and ranking by…

How to link your website pages to gain better Search Engine Optimisation

How to link your website pages to gain better Search Engine Optimisation

Linking pages on your website is a great way to increase your ranking with Google and other search engines. The best way of doing this is by using the keywords used for the page as links to the connecting page. That means with every link there should be an accompanying keyword or key term. We…

What are Keywords

What are Keywords

Keywords are one of the most important attributes to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Simply put, being found on Google. They are placed on the front and back of your web pages. So, what are keywords? They are the phrases that a website uses to give search engines such as Google information about what your page…

better ways to promote your Solar Installer business on social media

A better way to promote your Solar Installer business on social media

A better way to promote your Solar Installer business on social media Most Solar Installers and indeed small businesses are busy with their day to day activities and will find it hard to promote themselves. So, I just wanted to touch on how you can promote your business in a more efficient manner. One of…

A better way to promote your business on social media

A better way to promote your business on social media

A better way to promote your business on social media This is an issue that I come across all the time. Most small businesses are busy with their day to day activities and will find it hard to promote themselves. So, I just wanted to touch on how you can promote your business in a…

Small Business & Marketing tips newsletter 28th February 2019

Welcome to your small business marketing tips newsletter. Remember to communicate with your customers A lot of small business think that if they send an email to their current or old customers that they are annoying them. We all hate the unsolicited email, right? But here’s the thing. If you have already had dealings with…

presentation CEIA Con 2019

Assertive Marketing Launches new book at SEIA Vic Conference 2019

Why we presented? Assertive Marketing was asked to present by the SEIA Vic Committee because a growing need for Solar Installer companies to understand more about marketing. “It was the perfect opportunity to talk about the book” Said Gerard McAllister Director of Assertive Marketing. “Given our many years in the Solar Industry helping the smaller…

How to start thinking about your marketing

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 5th December 2018

How do you write a good content story? A lot of customers ask me how do you write a good content story? It is quite simple. You start with a problem your customers or potential customers may face. Then you solve that problem. If you are helping them out and if you are true to…

Talking to Customers

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 23rd November 2018

Are you Communicating with your customers? A few newsletters ago we talked about what you could be doing to communicate more with your customers. I just want to touch on this point again. A lot of small business think that if they send an email to their current or old customers that they are annoying…

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 16th November 2018

Are you posting to your customers or yourself? When posting something on social media most business tend to talk about what they have done and how they did it. They talk about a project here or a great job they have done etc. This could be a waste of time. A better approach is…

Posting & Blogging

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 8th November 2018

Tip of the week! How often should you blog or post? This is always a hard question to answer. But here are some things to consider: 1. Your Audience. What does your audience want? It all depends on them. If you are targeting people who want to go to your restaurant, you might want to…

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 31st October 2018

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 31st October 2018 Communicate with your customers A lot of small business think that they if they send an email to their current or old customers that they are annoying them. We all hate the unsolicited email, right? But here’s the thing. If you have already had dealings with…

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 26th October 2018

Taking a break over summer? As the holiday season approaches for a lot of small business it becomes the busiest part of the year. So, in effect just because a break is coming you often work harder. So why does everyone think that you should slow your marketing down at this time? This is the…

Ways you can manage your Marketing activities

Keep your marketing going over the holidays

As the holiday season approaches for a lot of small business it becomes the busiest part of the year. So, in effect just because a break is coming you don’t slow down your activities. In fact, you often work harder. So why does everyone think that you should slow your marketing down at this time?…

Ways you can manage your Marketing activities

Ways you can manage your Marketing activities

In this training, I will introduce ways you can manage your marketing activities. There are methods and some documents that will help you stay in control. You have come this far but it is important that you do not lose momentum. It is like starting any project, it is always exciting at the start, but…

How are you communicating

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 17th October 2018

So what is Marketing? I was at a football club reunion the other week and a friend asked me what I did. I said to him that I run a marketing company. He looked at me and said, “yeah but what do you do?”. So, I started to tell him all of the things…

Promoting your small business

How are you Currently Promoting your small Business?

How are you currently promoting your small business? You need to do an analysis of what you are currently doing. If you are advertising anywhere or even what social media sites you are on. I often find that businesses will often forget that they are doing any kind of advertising or social media. You must remember…

What is Marketing for a small business

What does Marketing for a small business mean? I was at a football club reunion the other week and a friend asked me what I did. I said to him that I run a marketing company. He looked at me and said, “yeah but what do you do?”. So I started to tell him all…

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 4th October 2018

Let’s start on a good note I went to an industry exhibition yesterday and bumped into Stephen, a past customer. Stephen is the kind of customer that was perfect for us as his values aligned with ours. (See more on that in the training segment). When we first started talking a few years ago…

Analysing your Target Customers

Analysing Your Target Customers

Analysing Your Target Customers Establishing who is your perfect customer by going through your current customers. If a customer is good to deal with then look for more like them. 9 out of 10 times these customers will be aligned with your own company values. They think like you do. From this information you can…

Market Research

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 27th September 2018

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 27th September 2018 Do you do any market research? Do you know everything about your market? Most people who have had a business for a while don’t go back and look what is happening in their industry. We are all too busy I suppose. Sometimes it is a good…

market research

The swot analysis and market research

The SWOT Analysis This is often an overlooked part of the plan as it is normally implied that you know what is going on within your company and your market. But we will always include it as a part of the process as it allows you to brainstorm the internal and external environment. Thus, giving…

The Digital Plan

The Digital Plan

The Digital plan The digital plan or strategy that you embark on will also be determined by what goals you want to achieve. We suggest that you embark on a digital strategy to build brand awareness and create sales in a wider area. By using the following techniques, you can successfully market your business with…

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 20th September 2018

Small business & Marketing Tips newsletter 20th September 2018 The psychology behind the Online review. Are you screaming to be reviewed Online? A lot of companies think that they live and die on the reviews that they get. So, I thought I would talk about some of the psychology behind the review. Why is this…

Market Research

The Psychology Behind The Online Review

Are you screaming to be reviewed Online? A lot of companies think that they live and die on the reviews that they get. So, I thought I would talk about some of the psychology behind the online review. So why do people review a business? This question can’t be answered by a simple generalisation of…

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 14th September 2018

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 14th September 2018 Talk to your customers There is one thing that I always tell my clients and that is, if you have a customer (or past customers), you should communicate with them. A lot of companies think that if they email or call a past customer they will…

Talk to your customers

Talk to your customers

Always talk to your customers. There is one thing that I always tell my clients and that is, if you have a customer (or past customers), you should communicate with them. A lot of companies think that if they email or call a past customer they will be annoying them. You won’t. If you have...

Gaining Word of Mouth

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 7th September 2018 If you’re not measuring your activity how do you know it is the right choice? Marketing can be expensive so If you’re going to commit time and money make sure you can measure the results. Set up ways to track conversions that stem from each marketing…

Talk the same language as your customer

Do your customers understand the Industry Jargon?

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 31st August 2018 The buyer is in control! Last week I mentioned that Digital marketing (especially Content Marketing) gives the buyer control. That is when they are ready they will contact you. I brought up the issue of ‘what if you want the control?’ What if you didn’t want…

Digital or Traditional Marketing

Are you putting all your Eggs in One basket

Are you putting all your eggs in one basket? Do you do Digital or Traditional Marketing? A lot of marketing advice these days is to “go digital”. The rise of digital marketing companies is staggering and a lot of them are young companies that only think in one direction and that is how to market…

Are you rushing everything?

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 16th August 2018 Are you rushing everything? A lot of small business want to get that “new idea” done immediately. They see other businesses doing something and think we should be doing that. They then stop everything and start to follow that new idea. The problem with this is…

Search Engine Optimisation Tips

Search Engine Optimisation Tips

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 10th August 2018 Search Engine Optimisation Tips This week we are going to focus on getting your website noticed by the search engines. So here are a few tips on how to do that. Some Definitions What is Search Engine Optimisation? First of all, let’s explain what Search Engine…

Search Engine Optimisation

Are you using Local SEO to your advantage?

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 2nd August 2018. Are you using Local SEO to your advantage? Using the free directories is a great way to utilize local Search Engine Optimization to help increase Google ranking. This is all about utilizing the directories for their SEO potential. Every time your site is referenced Google puts…

utilize local Search Engine Optimization

How to utilise local Search Engine Optimization

How to utilise local Search Engine Optimization Are you using Local SEO to your advantage? Using the free directories as a great way to utilize local Search Engine Optimization to help increase Google ranking. This is all about utilizing the directories for their SEO potential. Every time your site is referenced Google puts it up…

How fast is your website?

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 26th July 2018. How fast is your website? Did you know your website speed influences SEO? The longer it takes to load your site – especially on mobile – the higher the chance that your conversion will drop. Site speed can affect your SEO in many ways, both directly…

Internet marketers are on the rise

Always optimise your website the right way

Internet marketers are on the rise Do you get those emails that suggest that you could be getting more visitors to your website? They have visited your site and found that you aren’t ranking very well. Often they have a list of all the wrong things your site is doing. So are they real? Well, the ones…

Always have links to your website from social posts.

Do you have links to your website from social posts?

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 18th July 2018. Tip of the week… Try having links to your website from social posts. A post is great for showing your networks all about your brand. When posting try having a link from your posts to your website with more information. This will help your search…

What is the best way to manage your Marketing?

What is the best way to manage your Marketing? So, you have decided to do something about your Marketing. Your first step is to start looking at who may be able to help you. There are 4 standard ways of doing this: Do it yourself Hiring an internal person (Marketing Manager or Coordinator) Hire a…

Social Media are you posting for your customers or yourself?

Small business and Marketing tips newsletter 11th July 2018. Tip of the week… Social Media are you posting for your customers or yourself? When posting something on social media most business tend to talk about what they have done and how they did it. This is not always the best approach. People only care…

How can you fix the problem when you don’t know the full story?

How can you fix the problem when you don’t know the full story?

How can you fix the problem when you don’t know the full story? I had an issue with an appliance (tablet) and rang the service department to find a solution as I couldn’t talk to the retail outlet direct. The person on the other end of the phone was very polite and asked "how can...

solar industry training

A good approach to learning about Solar and Battery Storage

A good approach to learning about Solar and Battery Storage. By Rob Moss, Trainer at Skillbuild Training. When it comes to learning I think one of the most important things is to have an open mind. Especially when it is relating to Solar and Storage. Often the students, who are all qualified Electricians and Solar…

How quickly should you get results from your Marketing?

How quickly should you get results from your Marketing? People often think that when they start any form of marketing that they will be instantly rewarded. I’m going to have to break it to you, that’s not the case. Marketing is not a magic wand that you can wave and the customers come running to…

How to Build a New Audience

Building a new audience for your business

Building a new audience The other year I was travelling around England and I stayed in a small hotel in the tiny seaside town of Portreath Cornwall. It was a Monday night in the middle of March and what should have been a quiet night wasn’t. I was surprised it was so busy because walking…

How do you get good marketing on a small budget?

How do you get good marketing on a small budget? By Gerard McAllister So how do you get good marketing on a small budget? That was the question that I’ve had to answer for most of my marketing career. For years, I was a Marketing Manager for smaller family businesses. This is the type of…

solar industry training

The Solar industry’s training is in good hands.

The Solar industry’s training is in good hands. Recently I came across an article in the 'Ecogeneration magazine' that talked about training in the Solar industry. In this article, Jeremy Chunn talks about the importance of training in the Solar industry and how “the Solar training sector has a weight on its shoulders turning out...

How to Start Your Marketing Planning

How to Start Your Marketing Planning

How to Start Your Marketing Planning So, how to start your marketing planning. Most small businesses don’t have a current marketing plan, even though almost all big businesses do. In big business the plan is looked at every year and revised. Often there is also a periodic assessment to see if they are on the...

Word of Mouth

How to gain Word of Mouth It is often said that word of mouth is the best way of getting business. This is true. But how do you get word of mouth? The best way to get word of mouth is by reputation. You work hard and do the right thing for your customers. They…

Sales strategy

The Sales Process This is just one of the many sales theories that are available. I use it to explain the process of how to make a sale. If all elements are there then it is easier to make a profitable sale. And that is profitable for both parties, the buyer and the seller. Befriend…

Don’t Have a Marketing Budget? Here’s how to get started.

Don’t Have a Marketing Budget? Here’s how to get started. By Gerard McAllister Most small businesses do not have an idea of what money they should be spending on marketing. You may be investing in marketing already. But without a well-planned marketing budget, your business faces costly mistakes of spending money in the wrong areas....

Talk the same language as your customer

Are you talking the same language as your customers?

Are you talking the same language as your Customers? Or are you talking industry jargon? Many businesses think that because they are in a certain industry they must use industry terminology. The more you work within an industry the more you understand and thus modify the language to what is often quicker and more efficient….

How to get good customers

The importance of having good customers.

The Importance of having Good Customers. How to get good customers, especially when we are just starting out. We all know that as a small business the first thing we need is customers. Every business must build on its first few sales. In doing this you build both financially and in confidence. However, a bad…

Always remember the name

What’s in a name?

I know we have all been told how important it is to remember someone’s name, especially when it comes to business. The correct spelling and pronunciation all help towards the customer thinking that we actually paid attention. This gives them a sense of importance. A strong human need that we all have. People do mental…

How to set your marketing budget

How to set your marketing budget – Start small and build

How to set your marketing budget Start small and build One of the hardest things to do is to start something especially when you want to know how to set your marketing budget. Often the idea of starting something new is so daunting that we fall into the trap of not doing anything. When it comes…

Understanding your Why

Understanding your Why or Purpose

Understanding your Why or Purpose We all know that the best way to get your message to your audience is to have your story right. Even better to have a good story. Some of the greatest salespeople will live by their story, the one that they will tell on the phone or at a meeting….

Are you forgetting who your customers really are?

When it comes to understanding our customers there is one fundamental thing that we continue to forget. Our customers are numbers measured and dissected by sales figures, demographics, location etc. Things that help us break down and understand them. Someone once said to me that he is the Financial Director and the Marketing Director of…

Assertive Marketing presents at the 2016 Solar Energy Installers Association Vic Conference.

The Solar Energy Installers Association Victoria (SEIA Vic) has been going for 30 years. They offer many services to the Renewable industry in Victoria. One of them is a yearly industry conference (held in Albury on Feb 17-19th). This valuable event boasts many presenters and for SEIA Vic members to meet and discuss their thoughts…

Assertive Marketing presents at the Melbourne Polytechnic (formally NMIT) Stand Alone Power Supply Systems (SPS) short course.

The option of energy storage and its related technology is starting to play a larger part in the renewable energy sector. Melbourne Polytechnic (formally NMIT) offers a course that teaches participants how to install and design standalone power systems. As a part of industry involvement, manufacturers and suppliers give presentations on what’s available in the...

Understanding our customers assertive marketing

Sales Channel Communications

I have been working with sales channels for quite a while now and I find that there are simple approaches that make it easier to obtain good sales results. The first thing to do is ask what the best channel for your products is. I will in this instance talk about the industrial sector as…

the power of social media

The power of Social Media

An interesting thing happened to me the other day. Due to my football team not being played live on TV I had to listen to the radio to follow the game. Since no Melbourne radio stations were calling the game I had resort to listening to the Geelong radio station K-ROCK. Being on the other…

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