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December 3, 2014 by Julie Stanford Leave a Comment

Marketing on a shoestring

Blog-avatars-julieWhen I was Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Brighton Business School, I often sat on the panel of business owners to hear business pitches by final year degree students at the end of their Entrepreneurship Module. The students presented a business plan to the panel who critiqued their pitches for practical and potentially profitable business ideas coupled with a creative marketing plan. And we get them both! It was inspirational to hear their ideas.

It was clear that there is a delicate balance in business of money vs. time/effort. There’s no doubt that if you’re lacking one then you’ll need more of the other. If you have lots of money to invest in your marketing then you won’t need to invest as much of your own time or effort. If, on the other hand, you are like most small business owners and have a limited marketing budget (if any!) then you’ll have to invest much more of your own time and effort. You’ll need to be both creative and persistent. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Marketing

December 3, 2014 by Julie Stanford Leave a Comment

Near to the ground and feeling every bump

Blog-avatars-julieThe first car I owned after passing my driving test was an Innocenti Mini Cooper S. It was a great car, pillarbox red with a black roof, and I loved it.

Exhilarating to drive, and also very scary, it was so light and fast that it was all too easy to get into trouble. Luckily, because it was so nippy and responsive, it was also just as easy to get quickly out of harm’s way.

Mini-CooperThe old-style Mini was very low and close to the road, and the suspension was so tight that I felt every bump. As I sped along with only inches of metal between me and the tarmac, I definitely knew I was driving at speed! I felt every movement and nd I also felt very small and vulnerable as the big trucks sped past me. No safety cage, no airbags. Just me — and that tiny, racing steering wheel — between delight and disaster. As I drove, adrenalin pumping, I certainly felt alive.

Just like running a small business, then!

When you own your own business, you are always inches away from exhilaration — when you get the new contract, sign the new deal, get the order — or disappointment, as the contract falls through, the deal is called off, the order rejected, or your competitors go thundering past you. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business

November 3, 2014 by Julie Stanford Leave a Comment

Business information fatigue

Blog-avatars-julieI’m concerned.

When I first had the idea about publishing our Essential Business Guide, all those years ago, it was as a result of my own experience of starting and running businesses. Although technically skilled in the various ventures, I was definitely not skilled at business. That came later.

In the meantime, whilst struggling to get out of the trap of working ridiculous hours simply to make a living, I knew I had to learn to work smarter, not harder. (That old chestnut.) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business

January 8, 2014 by Julie Stanford Leave a Comment

Hurray for the business owner

Blog-avatars-julieSome business stories leave you feeling impressed at the courage of the person at the core of the business: its founder. Recently I watched this video about how LEGO® came about. (Thanks to the great website, Brain Pickings for leading me to it.) [Read more…]

Filed Under: You as a business owner

December 3, 2012 by Julie Stanford Leave a Comment

Business know-how

Blog-avatars-julieWhen interviewed about The Essential Business Guide winning the Plain English Award, I’m often asked why it is so important for business information to be written and presented clearly. I try to explain (in the usual 20 words they allow you in a radio or presss interview!) how the challenge with business is that we all have to know so much. But here’s the rub: we don’t know how much we don’t know. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business

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