Content marketing is the new buzz word in the digital world right now- I know what you are thinking. Another new thing to learn, another new way to do things. But don’t stress content marketing has been around for years and chances are, you are already doing it.

Email. Can’t live with it. Can’t get your job done without it. Am I right?

Last year we sent over 2.5 billion emails. And here’s the bad news. In spite of a good amount of loathing, that number is only expected to grow. The volume is an issue, as is the time you spend on it. In fact, reports say you check it about 36 times per hour. 36 times. In a single hour.  

We talked with one of our construction and trade members to find out the advantages the network brings to their business. Here Duncan Edwards tells us about what works for his business, Cast Iron Services Ltd.   

Where’s one of the first places you look when searching for a local business? Facebook of course!

 Still wrapping your head around social media in your business? Here are three essentials when it comes to tapping into your market online and leveraging your brand socially.

With such fierce competition and all consumers looking to bag a bargain, it’s no wonder they turn to discount websites such as GrabOne, TreatMe and Groupon for offers. Why wouldn’t you? But as a merchant and small business owner, have you worked out the real cost of discounting and the impact it has on your business? Daily deal websites charge a fee of approximately 15-20% of the sale price and stipulate that the offer presented must be at least 50% off the original sale price. 

Finding partners that have brand synergy and share similar markets can leverage your business and expand your customer base. But did you know at least 50% of partnerships fail in the first 2-3 years? This statistic alone may scare you into staying solo, but we have the insight to keep your partnership rock solid.

The world is forever changing, and attracting new customers in a market that’s louder, faster, and where consumers are more discerning, can be harder than ever. Which is why we’ve written an eBook “Eight ways to attract new customers”. This blog features three of the eight techniques to implement to help you re-think your approach to attracting new customers, while evolving your skills as a business leader.  

A trade exchange can be defined as a community or association of businesses trading goods and services using mutual credit outside of the cash economy. Although the concept of barter is thousands of years old, bartering through a trade exchange combines modern technology, a community of businesses, and marketing channels to increase profits through new customers and improved cash flow.

Due its complexity, the digital marketing space can be difficult to navigate for seasoned traditional marketers, let alone small business owners. To make matters more confusing, the digital landscape is constantly changing and there seems to be a never-ending and growing list of service providers, all claiming to be ‘the best’ in their respective fields. This combination makes it difficult and potentially dangerous for small businesses owners to choose the right service and provider without the appropriate guidance or education.