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If you're running a small to medium-sized business… respect! Having the gumption to start and run your own business is no mean feat. It’s far from long lunches and never-ending holidays. It’s more like no lunch, working on holiday, and just working… a lot. Navigating the business landscape is challenging. So many things to learn, so many hats to wear, so many platforms to manage, so many… things!

You started your business because it was your passion, because you are bloody good at what you do. No-one mentioned you need to be good at all the other ‘things’. We’re hoping you learnt an early lesson and got yourself a good accountant, a bookkeeper, perhaps you have an office cleaner or even an admin person. But like so many business owners, we bet you have a go at doing your own marketing, after all, it can’t be that hard… can it!?

Well, yes, it can. A good marketing professional, like an accountant or bookkeeper, is qualified and experienced, and ideally have a bit of life experience too (huh hum).

A good marketing agency consists of a group of individuals who are each experienced in their own field, and when you put these skills together, wham bam, you have a cracking marketing team.

So, if you’re having trouble knowing your SEO from your SEM, what URL connects to your CMS, whether to send an EDM or an SMS, or whether you should even be on X, formally known as Twitter, it could be time to outsource to people that love it and speak in fluent acronyms.

A strategic marketing team, not only knows what all those letters mean, but how and when to use them, efficiently, to reach your goals. Leaving you to concentrate on your business and what you’re good at.

Stay Fruity

Barefruit x

The calendar has flipped and the school holidays are (finally) over with the kids starting their new terms. It’s still a fresh year, and businesses have a golden opportunity to align their marketing strategies with the prevailing mindset of fresh starts and resolutions. The beginning of a new year often brings a wave of enthusiasm for positive change, and businesses can leverage this momentum by crafting messages that resonate with common resolutions.

One powerful avenue is tapping into the health and wellness craze that typically accompanies the new year. Messages emphasising healthy habits, more exercise, and nutritious eating can strike a chord with individuals eager to prioritise their well-being. For instance, gyms and fitness studios can promote special packages or challenge programs, while health food stores and restaurants can highlight their offerings that cater to those adopting a healthier lifestyle.

More people are committing to cutting back on alcohol and embracing a more mindful approach to consumption. Hospitality businesses can tailor messages to promote alcohol-free alternatives or events centered around non-alcoholic experiences. This not only caters to the growing market of health-conscious consumers but also aligns with the broader cultural shift towards wellness.

Learning something new is a popular resolution and provides a fantastic opportunity for businesses offering educational services or products. Whether it's language classes, skill development workshops, or online courses, your marketing should focus on the joy of personal growth and gaining new skills this year.

In essence, tap into the new year mindset by aligning marketing messages and tactics with prevalent resolutions. It’s most important to (really) understand your audience, and then it’s so much easier to craft messages that inspire them and those around them. You will not only attract new customers but also contribute to the well-being and growth of the community.

Stay sparkly
Barefruit x

The tree has been packed away for another year and the Christmas hangover is subsiding, so now what… planning for a bright new business year of course!

January is usually a quieter time of the year, unless you’re in hospo, so it can be a good time to start planning your marketing for 2024 and getting organised to smash the business year ahead.

Set your goals for the year. Short, medium and long term. Then start as you mean to go on, and get yourself ahead now, so you can stress less when things get busier again, and they will.

• Plan

Brainstorm potential promotions and themes and pop them in your calendar. That way you can be prepared in advance of time and relieve some of the pressure during the year. It also means you can start creating the content relevant to these sales.

• Did somebody say content?

Make a cuppa, or something stronger if you’re still on hols, and start drafting some interesting content ideas. AI can be your friend here, just make sure it only does the heavy lifting – you still need to zhuzh up your content with your own brand personality, and some AI tools haven’t quite nailed that… yet.

• Batch it baby

From that list above, start producing your content, whether that is video, podcasting, writing. Lock yourself away for a few hours and imagine how you’ll feel when you emerge, with the whole of the first quarter underway.

• Multi-purpose

Some content can take a while to produce, so be efficient and repurpose it. Start with one hero piece of content, and cut, slice and edit to use across your other channels for consistency of message.

• How’s your website looking?

All this content should help drive traffic to your website. Will it delight or disappoint when they get there? Think about your customer’s journey and how they will find what they are looking for. Websites should be ever-evolving, as your business evolves. Could it be time for a little makeover for the new year?

• An oldie but a goodie

Email marketing is one of the oldest, yet still one of the most effective marketing strategies, so consider this as part of your mix. Use the content above to capture email addresses of existing and potential customers and then add some regular communication to that plan you were working on, back at point 1, remember 😉

Stay sparkly
Barefruit x

‘Tis the season to be jolly, falalalalaaaa (who counted the la’s). Yes, the holiday season is upon us, and as a small business owner, it's time to ‘sleigh’ your marketing game (ha).

Here’s some tips that are as sweet as sherry and as bright as your baubles, so snuggle up and read on…

Decorate Your Online ‘Presents’
Deck your halls, website, and social media channels with holiday cheer. Acknowledge the time of year with your visuals and words and show your fun side. Nobody likes a Grinch.

Special Seasonal Offers
Everyone loves a bargain, especially at this time of year, and doubly-especially, given the financial stress we’ve been under this year. Offers, discounts, and bundles are the candy canes of Christmas marketing – sweet and irresistible.

Email Marketing
Email marketing is a secret weapon. Craft engaging emails to share your holiday tips, promotions, and special offers, and spread some yuletide joy. Remind your subscribers that you are here, and you’re a jolly, holly, friendly business.

Leverage social media
Get on your socials and spread some Christmas cheer! Post content that's relevant, engaging and more visually appealing than Aunt Edna's Pavlova. Let people know what festive events you have happening and support the other businesses in town with theirs. And don’t forget to let your customers know when you are open and closed.

All Wrapped Up
If you have a retail business, can you offer some extra Christmas sparkle this year with some festive wrapping? It is minimal cost, and that extra touch could be the icing on the Christmas cake that separates you from your competitors.

Give Back
Make Santa proud and go to the top of the good list. Christmas is a time for giving and spreading kindness. Consider donating a portion of your December profit to a good cause, or collecting Christmas presents for those that would really appreciate it this year.Go on, pop on your elf hat and get ready to sleigh the competition with some festive marketing magic.

Stay sparkly
Barefruit x