Marketing tips

Can you tell when social media posts are written by AI? There are some obvious clues (too many emojis) as well as more subtle ones. Humans are good as sensing when something is real and when it's fabricated, just as we're pretty good at knowing when something comes straight from the heart. 

There's someone I know who has a really good business, with loads of potential. But he said that he’s struggling, both to get more attention and new visitors, and financially. When we talked a little more I …

For some reason two sad times popped into my mind this morning. I think they were triggered by realising I wasn't many years older than my daughter is now when I started my business. Those memories of turmoil and tears prompted me to think about my 'why': what motivates me, my values and how I came to start my business. 

Bear with me: I think this is relevant to you and your business too!

The first moment of turmoil was decades ago. My father was made redundant when the small business he worke…

The gift voucher market is booming. The experiences market is booming. 

People are spending less on 'things', more on experiences and memory-making. 

Whether you run an accommodation, activity, or food and drink business, there's a thriving market for gift vouchers.

Now's the time of year to offer them. But don't just do a quick post on social media and hope for the best. Promote them now. Promote them next week, and then promote them repeatedly as we get closer to Christmas. 

It's a useful …

It's the one thing everyone tells me they struggle with - ideas for social media posts.

What can you write about to keep people interested and engaged, even if your business isn't open or busy at this time of year? 

Here are a few ideas

Before we get started: instead of just scanning through these ideas, I suggest you get a pen and paper (it works much better if you can actively scribble, not just think or type) and jot down related thoughts as you read each topic. Let the list below spark mo…

We're lucky. We work in a really fun industry. 

Imagine if your job was something like promoting toilet rolls? Or making and selling widgets? Dull!

The tourism industry is all about enjoyment, fun, uplifting moments. 

So why is so much tourism marketing bland and boring?

We need to be better at talking about the joy, the sense of discovery, the playful moments, the happy days, the unforgettable experiences, the laughter, the small adventures we can offer. 

How could you do that for your bus…

There are many reasons you might not be getting the level of bookings or visitors you'd like.

One reason might be your prices: too high, or even too low ('free' can even put some people off). 

But chances are it's something else. 

You might not be showing the value of what you offer in your marketing - so your prices don't seem aligned.

You might not be differentiating yourself from your competitors. 

The words and images you use in your marketing might not be eye-catching, appealing or rel…

I'd like to suggest something that is going to sound a bit odd.

Trust me, it really can help you market your business more effectively.

Tell people about something that's bad about your business. 

Yes really. Declare a downside or a disadvantage. Don't hide it. Tell people about it. 

it doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering or something that will really put people off. Just something you're aware of. Perhaps an aspect that some people find a bit odd or off-putting. Or something that c…

I really dislike the expression food to die for. For most people it means eating something delicious. For me, it's a reminder that someone close to me could eat something that will kill her. 

I used to think people with food allergies were just being faddy and attention-seeking. Since then I've woken up to the reality. You really understand how severe food allergies can be when you’ve travelled in an ambulance, sirens screaming, blue lights flashing while someone close to you lies motionless, m…

Have you noticed an increasing number of ads and mentions of toilet paper? The newer ones have silly names like Naked Paper, Who Gives a..., Cheeky Panda. They're brightly coloured and use a fun approach to marketing, often getting lots of engagement on social media. Meanwhile more traditional toilet roll companies like Andrex stick in our minds thanks to the cute puppies. 

All this for a daily essential. Promoting toilet roll doesn't sound like a very exciting job, yet somehow all these compan…