marketing

[Wayne Ghosh]

Hi ,

just wonder if there is any new business marketing funding that I can tap into. I am opening a massage therapy clinic in Glossop, totally self funded. Just wonder if there's anything or anyone out there who will give a helping hand with hard marketing .

 

[PipeTen-Carl]

10/15 years ago there was a lot of quango money splashing around for high growth startups in different sectors (creative and digital especially for the north), there's less money about but still opportunities for assistance rather than cash. We have Business Sheffield ( http://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/business ), SENTA ( http://www.senta.co.uk/ ) and various associations like Sheffield.Digital ( http://sheffield.digital/ ), the chambers of commerce and probably more than I forget, but I've no idea about Glossop/Derbyshire and the latest and greatest.

 

[Wayne Ghosh]

Cheers Carl.

Most of these organisations are quite lip service
Generated. They just refer on and on for a tick in a box.

I'm after real help where someone develops a plan and sets to work on it.. All I have done so far has been self funding and paying for stuff comes out of the bookings I take. I've done a few bits of online marketing but very time consuming, hence help is required

 

[ethical PR]

Hi Wayne

Have you spoken to the business team at your local council or your local chamber of commerce? They should know about any local sources of funding you would be eligible to apply for. It will depends where your business is located as to what might be available and some schemes require match funding.

You're right in identifying marketing as being a key investment that you need to make in order to promote your business.

Of course your marketing costs are going to come out or your business, so you should build these costs into your prices.

I would suggest you look to identify someone local who has experience in your sector and who can work across the marketing channels you need to use. (Do make sure you get references and that they are agreeing measurable outputs and returns for any activities they provide)

You could look at a freelance and perhaps look at a model where they give you a fixed fee to develop your plan and then a monthly retainer to develop your PR and marketing across the channels you need to use to reach your target audiences for example advertising, media relations, promotions and social media.

 

[AllUpHere]

I'm not aware of any funding that may be available, but as Ethical PR mentions, your local council or chamber of commerce should know.

Don't get too caught up worrying about funding though. Yours is a type of business that doesn't need to spend a lot of money on marketing. In fact, if you are prepared to put the hours in you could promote your business for next to nothing.

 

[XanderMarketing]

Have a look at Growth Accelerator, government run scheme where they can help you with marketing.

 

[DH Marketing]

Can't help with money Wayne, but to get your marketing plan started on the right track, the most important thing is to get your branding strategy right. To do this, you need to understand your customer's psychological goal. There's a free tool for this at headwaybranding.com

 

[AllUpHere]

Can't help with money Wayne, but to get your marketing plan started on the right track, the most important thing is to get your branding strategy right. To do this, you need to understand your customer's psychological goal. There's a free tool for this at headwaybranding.com

Are you recommending that tool because you've used it? I had a quick look and it looks like pretentious nonsense to me. I'd be interested to know if you found it useful.

 

[DH Marketing]

Are you recommending that tool because you've used it? I had a quick look and it looks like pretentious nonsense to me. I'd be interested to know if you found it useful.

It's actually a tool that I've developed to help small businesses get the focus of their branding right. Getting a deep understanding of their customers is absolutely vital for effective marketing. Sorry if you think this looks like pretentious nonsense, but I appreciate the feedback!

 

[fisicx]

I tried it and couldn't get past the first question. Most of the choices are waffly and woolly and I'm sorry but I agree with Alluphere.

PS: just filled in with a bunch of random answers and got your email. It turns out I now need to pay you £40 for the marketing report. A good way to alienate potential clients!

 

[AllUpHere]

It's actually a tool that I've developed to help small businesses get the focus of their branding right. Getting a deep understanding of their customers is absolutely vital for effective marketing. Sorry if you think this looks like pretentious nonsense, but I appreciate the feedback!

Right, gotcha. I didn't realise it was purely a self promotional post. I thought you were just linking to a resource.

I'll be honest, I think the thought behind it is sound, and I do agree that something like this could be of use if it was executed properly. However, in it's current form anyone would struggle to get a meaningful result from it because you have tried to be far more clever with it than is necessary. Anyone familiar with psychometric testing will recognise what it is you have tried to do, but you've got in over your head and made it pointless.

At the moment it's a good idea but you need to realise that for most clients it would be confusing and misleading.

 

[DH Marketing]

Right, gotcha. I didn't realise it was purely a self promotional post. I thought you were just linking to a resource.

I'll be honest, I think the thought behind it is sound, and I do agree that something like this could be of use if it was executed properly. However, in it's current form anyone would struggle to get a meaningful result from it because you have tried to be far more clever with it than is necessary. Anyone familiar with psychometric testing will recognise what it is you have tried to do, but you've got in over your head and made it pointless.

At the moment it's a good idea but you need to realise that for most clients it would be confusing and misleading.

Appreciate the constructive feedback, thanks.