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How to use data to guide marketing decisions
Data doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just has to be useful. If you’ve been following along this blog series, you’ve already: Reviewed your overall marketing performance Started using Google Analytics to track what’s happening And looked at the key metrics for measuring financial ROI So what now? This final blog is all […]
Key metrics to measure for marketing ROI
Not all marketing is equal and the numbers can prove it. If you’ve already started tracking your marketing success and made sense of Google Analytics, the next step is digging into what the data actually means for your return on investment (ROI). To clarify, here I’m talking about marketing activities that deliver a direct […]
Making sense of Google Analytics
Not sure what to look for in Google Analytics? Start here. In my last blog on tracking marketing success, I talked about the importance of reviewing your marketing results, especially around end of financial year. One of the simplest tools you can use for that is Google Analytics. But I get it. If you’ve […]
Analytics 101: Tracking Marketing Success
Is your marketing actually working? I know. Not the most exciting question. ut tracking marketing success is important. Especially as we get closer to the end of the financial year. Because this is the perfect time to stop for a minute and check in on your marketing. What’s worked? What hasn’t? Where did […]
How to use marketing trends without losing your voice
How to use marketing trends without losing your voice. In the last blog, we talked about how to stay across marketing trends without falling down a doom scrolling rabbit hole. Before that, we covered how to decide which trends are worth your time, and what keeping up with marketing trends actually means. So […]
How to stay across marketing trends (without falling down a doom scrolling rabbit hole)
How to stay across marketing trends (without falling down a doom scrolling rabbit hole) In the first blog of this series, we looked at what keeping up with marketing trends actually means and made sense of the difference between useful trends and distracting fads. In the second blog, we tackled how to decide which […]
How to decide which marketing trends to follow
Wondering how to decide which marketing trends to follow? You’re not alone. In the last blog, I unpacked what keeping up with marketing trends actually means, without the fluff. If you missed it, you can catch up here: What does keeping up with marketing trends mean? We covered how trends can be helpful, […]
What does keeping up with marketing trends mean
What does ‘keeping up with marketing trends’ actually mean? When I ran a survey last year to help shape a marketing book (yes, that’s happening – slowly… very slowly, but we’ll get there), I asked business owners to tell me what they struggle with most when it comes to marketing their business. The […]
Marketing on a budget: Tips for SMEs
Marketing on a budget: tips for SMEs Making the most of your marketing budget – how do you do it? Marketing often ends up in the “when I get time” pile and when you finally do get to it, the budget’s tight and the options feel endless. It’s no wonder marketing gets […]
Brand awareness: what it is and why it matters for your business
If you’ve ever heard a business owner say, “We just need to get our name out there,” what they’re really talking about is brand awareness. It’s one of the first steps in marketing. Making sure people know who you are, what you do, and why they should care. Recently, I surveyed business owners […]
Marketing Spaghetti
Stop throwing marketing spaghetti at the wall. You’ve probably heard me mention ‘marketing spaghetti’ a fair bit. It’s one of my go-to ways to explain what happens when marketing isn’t strategic. Throwing spaghetti at the wall might seem like a fun idea, but in marketing, it just leads to wasted effort, messy results, and a […]
The difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing plan
The difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing plan In my last blog for 2024, we covered planning your 2025 marketing strategy and if you’ve done that (before 2025), snaps to you. But strategy is only half the story. To actually make your marketing happen (and see results), you need a plan to make […]
Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Plan Your 2025 Marketing Strategy
In my last blog, I wrote about 2024 marketing wins and lessons for 2025, sharing why reflecting on what worked (and what didn’t) is so important. Now it’s time to take those insights and plan your 2025 marketing strategy. Having a clear plan means no scrambling in January, no guessing what to do next, […]
Looking back at your 2024 marketing wins and lessons for 2025
It’s time to look back at your 2024 marketing wins and lessons for 2025 2024 is fast coming to an end. And while it’s tempting to roll straight into 2025, it’s worth taking a moment to stop and reflect. Whether you’ve had a consistent strategy or just been winging it, reflecting on your […]
How do I know who my target market is?
Who is my target market? How do I know who my target market is? This is probably the question I get asked the most by business owners. And it’s not a simple answer. Let’s start by saying I have to admit that I don’t necessarily like the terminology “target market”. I use it […]
4 questions to help you start your marketing
4 questions to help you start your marketing When it comes to marketing, one of the most common things we hear from small businesses is “I don’t know where to start”. Yes, marketing can seem overwhelming, or hard, or scary. Particularly when there are sooooooo many options out there, or you are not a […]
The difference between sales and marketing
The difference between sales and marketing If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably heard the terms “marketing” and “sales” tossed around. They’re often used interchangeably, but they’re actually two very distinct aspects of your business. Understanding the difference between sales and marketing can help you strategise better, allocate resources more effectively, and ultimately grow […]
End of Financial Year Marketing Checklist
Everything You Need to Do Your End of Financial Year Marketing Checklist It’s that time of year again – the end of the financial year is just around the corner! This can be a busy time for businesses, as there is a lot of work to be done in order to wrap up the previous […]
Top 3 Marketing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Top 3 Marketing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Marketing can be a tricky business. You want to make sure you’re reaching the right people without having to spend a bucket of time or money in the process. To help you avoid common marketing pitfalls, here are my top 3 marketing mistakes and […]
Why Marketing Is Vital for Regional Businesses
Running a business is tough. So when you’re in a location like Albury Wodonga it’s important to understand why marketing is vital for regional businesses. As the business owner you wear a million hats, juggle a to-do list that never shrinks, and often have to compete with national chains who have seemingly endless marketing […]
What are the latest trends and strategies in digital marketing
Trends and strategies in digital marketing for 2024 As a business owner, I totally get it – you’ve got a million things on your plate, and sometimes marketing can slip down the list. Understanding the latest trends and strategies in digital marketing gives you a better grasp of what works best for your […]
Word of the year 2024
Here we are in 2024! And at the start of each year, many of us search for that one word that will set the tone for the year ahead. Our word of the year 2024. It’s more than a resolution; it’s a guiding principle, a north star that helps steer our actions and […]
What is marketing?
It’s funny what comes up if you google ‘marketing’. I was searching for an image to use and this came up. Now, I’m actually going to shout (apologies). I HATE THIS… and I hate everything it portrays about marketing. Marketing is not: shouting at people through a megaphone (or […]
Eight steps to build a marketing campaign
Eight steps to build a marketing campaign If the thought of developing a marketing campaign yourself gives you the heebie-jeebies, don’t worry; here are eight steps to build a marketing campaign. Marketing campaigns can be fabulous things if done right – and you can know if it is successful (or not). Done well, a great […]
Writing your About page
Writing your About page. It can be really hard writing about yourself and your business. Most of us find it easier to talk (and write) about someone else. But don’t worry – I’m here to help with these three simple steps. Start by answering the questions below to create the About content for your website. When […]
Optimising Your Google Business Page
These days, having a solid online presence is absolutely essential for businesses regardless of what size your business is. And guess what? Optimising your Google Business Page (GBP) is one of the best ways to increase your visibility on the interwebs! GBP (formerly known as Google My Business page) has a huge impact […]
Get smarter marketing with analytics
Are you ready to look into the world of marketing measurement and analytics? I love this stuff. It’s such an important aspect of marketing that is often overlooked. So, let’s talk about why this stuff is sooooo important. Starting with…what exactly is marketing measurement and analytics? Basically, it’s collecting any data […]
Local Marketing Tips to help you make a splash in your community
Are you ready to take your local marketing game to the next level? As a business owner, you know the importance of connecting with your local audience, but sometimes marketing can feel like an overwhelming sea of options. That’s where I come in. Let’s explore the exciting world of local marketing to help you […]
Unlock the Power of a ‘Word for the Year’
How to Set an Intention and Achieve Focus and Clarity Have you ever heard of a “word for the year”? It’s a concept that’s been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to set an intention for the coming year. A word for the year is a single word that serves as a guiding […]
What are the most common questions asked about small business marketing?
What are the most common questions asked about small business marketing? Ahhh, small business marketing. It’s the bane of many entrepreneurs’ existence and the source of much confusion. That’s why I’m here to answer all your burning questions about small business marketing! And I’ll be up front here – I’ve actually left out the most […]
Marketing on a budget
As a business owner, you’re always looking for ways to save money. But when it comes to marketing, you don’t want to skimp. After all, effective marketing is essential to growing your business. But there’s no need to break the bank. There are plenty of ways to market your business on a budget. […]
Festive season marketing
It’s that time of year again! The festive season is just around the corner, and that means people are going to be spending money. Whether they’re buying gifts for loved ones or treating themselves to some festive season cheer, people are more likely to open their wallets during the festive season. As a […]
What are the best inbound marketing strategies?
Best Inbound Marketing Stratigies for the win! Inbound marketing is a great way to attract more clients to your business. It involves creating quality content that attracts people to your website and then converting them into leads. There are many different inbound marketing strategies that you can use, but which ones are the […]
The difference between inbound and outbound marketing
What’s the difference between inbound and outbound marketing? So you’ve heard of inbound marketing and outbound marketing. But you’re wondering what the hell they are. Well, I’m here to explain it to you. Inbound and outbound marketing are two different strategies that businesses can use to generate leads and sales. But what is the difference […]
The Know, Like, and Trust Factor in Marketing
Why It Matters and How to Build It When it comes to marketing, there’s one thing that’s more important than anything else… What is it? Well, it’s called the know, like, and trust factor. If you read my blogs or hear me talk, you’ll know that I mention this all the time. […]
Measuring Your Marketing
Measuring Marketing Success Do you know how to measure marketing success? If not, you’re not alone. A lot of business owners struggle with measuring your marketing. Marketing is a complex beast, and it can be tough to know what to focus on when measuring your marketing. And… there are a lot of marketing KPIs (Key […]
5 creative marketing ideas for small businesses
Marketing on a budget Don’t have a large marketing budget? No problem! There are plenty of creative marketing ideas that can get your business noticed on a shoestring budget. Here 5 creative marketing ideas for small businesses: 1. Get involved in your community One great way to market your small business is to get […]
5 Tips for Making Your Marketing Happen
Do you struggle with making your marketing happen? If you’re like most business owners, you know that marketing is important. But maybe what you don’t know is how to make your marketing happen. I hear it all the time. “I just don’t know where to start, what to do, or how to make my marketing […]
Marketing should be
One day, before I started paying to use professional images for Starfish Marketing, I was searching for an image to use for a ‘marketing concept’. Can you guess what came up? It was something like this. and this and this Megaphones!!! Megaphones being used to shout at people – because obviously louder is better, right???? […]
Santa Season Strategy Time
Santa Season Strategy Time Santa season is almost upon us. Have you got your Santa season marketing strategy ready? I hope so! But if you haven’t, here are some quick tips on building a successful marketing strategy this Santa season. What are you doing this Santa season? First – start with figuring out what […]
Building your marketing plan
This week I’m talking about building your marketing plan. This is the step you take after you’ve worked out your marketing budget and have a marketing wish list. Chances are your marketing wish list will end up as a pretty scary investment required to do everything on your list. That’s okay. Building your marketing plan […]
Marketing activities you can do on a budget
Marketing activities you can do on a budget When it comes to marketing many people think that you need to spend ENORMOUS amounts of money. And let’s face it – not all of us (especially smaller businesses) have enormous amounts of money to spend. However, there are plenty of marketing activities you can do on […]
Marketing Goals
Marketing goals – where to start when talking about marketing goals? Well, we all know that having a marketing strategy is vital to the success of your marketing. And if you didn’t know that, well… you do now 😊 I know I quote this stat aaaaallll the time, but it’s a really good one. And […]
Identify your ideal target market – 5 questions to ask
Identify your target market Let’s talk about fish! When it comes to marketing it’s very tempting to promote your business everywhere and market to everyone. I mean who doesn’t want all the business you can get? Right. However, when you think about it, do you really want to compete with all the other businesses out […]
Awards and Marketing and choosing ice cream
Awards and Marketing Awards and Marketing – choosing ice cream Have you ever bought a specific ice cream because it had lots of medals on the packaging? Or any other product displaying medals, trophy, or award stickers (like wine perhaps)? I’m guessing those medal’s gave you a stronger sense of confidence in the ice cream. […]
Maximising your sponsorships
Have you ever consider sponsorships as part of your marketing strategy? Sponsorships are more than handing over money to an organisation and expecting the leads and sales to roll on in! So where do you start? Like any marketing activity sponsorship should have a strategy and budget behind it. In other words: What do you […]
3 ways to market your business
3 ways to market your business What to focus on With so many options and ways to market your small business, it can be hard to know what to focus on. If you’re not sure how to market your business, here are three ways. Make sure you have a website Make the most of social […]
Why you need a marketing strategy
Why you need a marketing strategy If you’ve been wondering why you need a marketing strategy, here’s six good reasons. It’s a roadmap that helps you understand your market and therefore tailor your product/services to better meet their needs, which in turn increases your revenue Having a marketing strategy in place makes it easier to […]
Finding time to do marketing
Finding time to do marketing Are you doing everything but your marketing? Small business owners tell me all the time that they really struggle with “finding time to do marketing”. So, here’s the process that I follow to make sure my marketing gets done! Step 1: start with a plan Start with having a marketing […]
Silly Season Marketing
Silly Season Marketing Five+ tips to help you with silly season marketing Silly Season is only seven weeks away which means the big fella is on his way and you need to start your silly season marketing NOW!!! Whether you call it Silly Season, Festive Season, Christmas or Yule this time of year is a […]
23 marketing freebies
23 marketing freebies! Over the last year we have shared a number of marketing freebies that we use. As it’s the festive season and a time of giving, we thought we’d end the year with a bang and revisit them all of them. We’ve also included a few freebies we haven’t previously mentioned. Most of […]
Five more awesome Facebook posts you can do
We all know that you need to be active on Facebook to build a following and connect with your audience (your customers target market). After all, it’s not the number 1 social media platform for nothing. And Facebook considers engagement as really, really important. So, what is engagement? Well, it’s more than just likes. It’s […]
Five awesome Facebook posts to help create engagement
Five awesome Facebook posts to help you create engagement. We all know that you need to be active on Facebook to build a following and connect with your audience (your customers target market). After all, it’s not the number 1 social media platform for nothing. And Facebook considers engagement as really, really important. So, what […]
What is meme marketing?
Did you know that meme marketing is a thing? Yep. Businesses are using memes strategically in their marketing. So, what makes memes special? When we’re told that the average person spends nearly 2 hours on social media EVERY DAY, you can see why creating content that cuts through the scroll is important. […]
Five tips to help you get ready for the silly season
Are you ready for the silly season? Yep, it’s that time of year again. The shops have pulled out the Christmas decorations, there’s Christmas countdown messages hitting your inbox every day and you’ve already received several party invites. The silly season has officially begun. Are you ready for it? To make the most of your […]
How do you do a brand audit?
Yes, we know, the word “audit” can be scary. But doing a brand audit is an important part of creating consistency all through your business. And really, it’s not that hard. There are six steps involved: Identify gaps Develop an action plan Budget Prioritise Implement Annual review The first step in creating brand consistency is […]
Four reasons brand is important
Your brand is more than a logo. There are a number of reasons your brand is important. And having brand consistency throughout every aspect of your business is vital. Over the next few weeks we are going to take you through the steps to create brand consistency throughout your business. Starting with four reasons your […]
The difference between Facebook advertising and boosting posts
What’s the difference between Facebook advertising and boosting posts? Warning – this blog comes with a rant! Do you boost your Facebook posts? If so, please, please, please stop it. And stop it now. If you’re going to spend money on Facebook, spend it on proper ad campaigns that will actually deliver you some […]
Top two tips to stay competitive
Three reasons to use email marketing
Three reasons to use email marketing Email marketing is dead! You hear it all the time, but in reality, it’s not the case. When done right, email is one of the most cost-effective ways to connect with your existing and potential clients and customers. According to Campaign Monitor, “Email marketing is the king of the […]
Nine free things to help you with your marketing
A while back (2019) I met with Jade, a local business owner, comedian, student (then studying her MBA) and wearer of many hats. Like a lot of us, Jade likes to do things herself. However she was feeling frustrated with her marketing. We had a catch up to see how starfish marketing might help, […]
Finding your right marketing platforms
Finding your right marketing platforms If you’re hearing that you must be doing all the socials, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, etc and you’re feeling overwhelmed, give yourself a break. Why? Because you really only need to focus on where your market is. And your market (your ideal customer) isn’t going to everywhere. Most likely they’re […]
How to schedule Facebook posts
How to schedule Facebook posts Are you spending too much time manually posting on Facebook? Scheduling your Facebook posts can save you a stack of time. And time is money. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to schedule your Facebook posts. Step 1 – Create your posts Go to your business page Click on the […]
Touchpoints
I was recently asked to present to a group of business leaders about marketing and the importance of touchpoints. The combined knowledge in the room, from a leadership and business perspective, was pretty impressive. However, they were facing a common challenge with their marketing. And that was that their marketing wasn’t really focused on supporting […]
Magical Marketing Fairies
Magical Marketing Fairies What a year it has been. There were some big changes with starfish marketing as we grew; set up an office in Dean St, Albury; and welcomed Kaitlyn to the team. And we updated our branding! To our fabulous fabulous clients thank you for having us as your Marketing and Social Fairies […]
Friday 13th and Marketing
Friday 13th and Marketing From a marketing perspective, Friday 13th being unlucky is quite interesting as it’s a fairly global phenomenon. So how did it start? Well, apparently no-one really knows where the superstition all started. But, one of the most popular stories stems from Friday 13 October 1307, when hundreds of Knights Templar […]
Funk up your LinkedIn Profile
We all know social media is an important business marketing tool, and playing where your market plays is a key aspect of choosing which social media platform to “play on”. If your market is the business world then having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile is more important than ever. Why is having a LinkedIn profile important? […]
Promotion – Your number three P
Promotion – Your number three P Promotion is your number three in the seven P’s of marketing and is most commonly, what people think of when they think of marketing. And they usually equate Promotion with Advertising, but it is so much more than that. Disclaimer: I have no research or facts to back this […]
Price Number Two P
Price – Your number two P While price, is your number two P in your marketing mix (Product being #1), it could conceivably be the most important factor of your marketing mix. Why? Basically because it’s the element of the marketing mix that generates revenue and without revenue, we don’t really have a business. Pricing […]
Product – Your number one P
Product – Your number one P For your product – your number one P in your marketing mix, to be successful there are two key things it needs to deliver: Satisfy a specific need of your customer, and It has to deliver on it’s (your) promise I have discussed this many times – to meet […]
Do you understand your marketing mix?
Do you understand your marketing mix? I’ve talked about the importance of having a marketing strategy. And I touched on the marketing mix, otherwise known as the 7 Ps of marketing. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at each of those Ps in a bit more depth. But first a simple explanation of what […]