5 social media posts to reconnect with your followers

7th February 20207th February 2020

5 social media posts to reconnect with your followers

How many business pages do you follow on social media?

And out of all those pages, how well do you know the businesses? The people that run them, the services or products that they offer?

So how well do your social media followers know you and your business?

Do they know all the treatments you offer? The health products you sell? The workshops you run?

In January 2020 I decided to reacquaint my business with my followers. I also thought it would help other small business owners to do the same with their followers.

So I created a 5 day challenge #letstalkaboutmybusiness

I did the challenge in January as it’s traditionally a slow month and I wanted to get my business visible again. I’d been on maternity with my second child and made changes to my business so it was a good time to just let all my followers know what I was up to.

However, you can do this challenge whenever it suits you. You might be stuck for ideas for posts and use this as prompts. You could even do one a week over 5 weeks. Whatever works for you.

So, let’s get started.

#LetsTalkAboutMyBusiness

1st October 20193rd March 2020

Logo v brand – what’s the difference?

And why is it important to your small business?

Do you have a logo? Or do you have a brand? The two terms get bandied about a lot and seem interchangeable. Most small businesses now realise they do need some sort of a logo. But do they need a brand? Isn’t that just for big corporations with lots of money?

Your logo and your brand are two different things. And simply explained.

6th August 20196th August 2019

10 reasons why your lovely business needs a website

This blog came about when one of my customers asked me whether there was any point keeping her website going. She didn’t seem to get much traffic to it so should she concentrate on social media instead?

Her business is very niche and very visual so she’ll probably get more from clients following her on Instagram or Facebook.

Even though most of her business will be through social media, there are very good reasons why it’s still worth keeping a website online. Whatever your business.

5th June 20196th August 2019

9 things every leaflet should include

Designing an A5 flyer is something most businesses do, to promote themselves when starting up or for events and special offers. It’s the easy and cost effective option. But it’s also a very saturated market so your flyer has to work harder.

It’s not just about making it look pretty, there are some very essential pieces of information that need to be on your flyer in order for it to do it’s job properly.

Whether you’re using a designer or creating it yourself, here’s 9 things to remember to include on your next leaflet.

2nd October 20182nd October 2018

10 places to use your logo to brand your small business

Scenario one: You’ve finally done it, you’ve had a brand spanking new logo created! You’re excited about it and you want everyone to see it. But what next?

Scenario two: You’ve had your logo for ages, it’s obviously on your business card but where else can you put it? It’s not being seen and no-one seems to recognise it.

Here are ten places you can use your logo so your customers and potentials customers will see it and start to recognise it.

Add your logo to your email signature

It’s an obvious one but how many of us forget to add it or it’s just on the list of things to do when you have a minute. Your email will get seen by tons of people – clients, prospective customers, networking contacts, business contacts – just think how many emails you send out every day.

Pop your logo onto the bottom of yours.

Put your logo on your website

You’ll probably have your logo up on the top of your website pages but you can also add it in other places too.

A watermark on your header images
On buttons
On your Call To Action images
A favicon

Just don’t go overboard, use it wisely and sparingly.

Use your logo on social media

For most small businesses, social media is a large chunk of their marketing plan – it’s where they spend most of their time promoting themselves. Myself included and most probably, you included.

So it’s the perfect place to give your logo plenty of exposure.

Use a simplified version or an element of your logo as your social media icon and use it across all your social media so people start to recognise you.

Try to use your logo on your header image – it doesn’t always work and it depends on the design. But if you can’t get your logo on there, make sure you use your brand colours, fonts and images.

And most importantly try use your logo on post images and memes. Again, it might not work for every single one but make sure they use your brand colours, fonts and images. If you can’t get your logo on or a watermark version, at the very least include a website or @handle or a hashtag that is business related.

Include your logo on video

Whether it’s for Facebook Live, a Youtube video, a video for your website or online course, try to get a copy of your logo some where. It might be a roller banner in the background, on clothing

Logos and business forms

Take a look at what you send out from your business – it should all be branded and have a copy of your logo on there. Invoices, quotes, receipts, contracts, information packs, FAQ, instructions.

Not only will you be getting your logo in front of more people, your business will look professional and more trustworthy too. 10 reasons to have a logo gives loads more examples why a logo can help your business.

Mail your logo

Your business might send out lots of letters and parcels every day so include your logo on all of it. You might only send out a few items a year, just pop a sticker with your logo on the envelope.

If nothing else, it shows you care about how your business is perceived and hopefully take just as much care with your products and services. It might tempt people to take that last step and buy from you.

Take a look at pretty packaging – 10 fabulous ways to brand your packaging for more inspiration on how to brand your parcels.

Presentations need a logo

Presentations for clients, courses, speakers slots should all be branded and have your logo on every slide. People might be miles away, thinking of other things, but at least if your logo is on every single slide, there’s a chance that it might stay in their memory next time they’re looking to buy from your business.

Add your logo on giveaways and info sheets

Any giveaways or information sheets, no matter how simple should include your logo plus your contact details. I’ve seen so may people hand out information sheets at networking events with no branding or contact details. They can be passed on to anyone and there will be no way for them to know where it came from.

Secondly, the information can easily be copied and passed off as some one elses. If it’s branded properly, it makes it harder.

Remember your logo on your guest blog posts

Guest blogs are a great way to get your knowledge and expertise in front of a new audience. Have a look through your contacts and see whose business you complement – ask them to return the favour and that’s one less blog you need to write!

Just remember to supply a copy of your logo so it can be added to the blog.

Business listings – don’t forget your logo

Business listings often give you an option to add your logo to your listing so don’t miss the opportunity to use it. It’s just another small way customers might see your logo when browsing the internet.

And finally

Use the same logo and colours consistently so you become recognisable. Your customers and potential customers might see you any where, you have no idea what route they’ll take to get in touch with you. Once they start to recognise you, they’ll start thinking about buying from you.

If you’ve found this blog useful, I have a freebie if you sign up to my monthly newsletter with 30 ideas on how you can use your logo and maximise your visual identity.

Liz x

4th July 20188th August 2018

10 ideas you can use on your social media headers

Why should I like this social media business page?

Your social media header is one of the first things your potential customer notices when they are browsing your business page. The image has to be creative and inspire your customer. If your social media header isn’t unique and doesn’t grab their attention then they won’t want to delve deeper into your page.

But what can you put on your social media header that has impact and will connect with your potential customers?

Continue reading “10 ideas you can use on your social media headers”

5th March 20188th August 2018

Pretty packaging – 10 easy ways to brand your packaging

I’m a real sucker for a beautiful, well thought out parcel. I’ve reordered from places simply because I’ve loved the parcel they sent me. Obviously, I’ve loved the products too but I could have got them from some where else. But I didn’t.

The anticipation begins as soon as you place the order, you’re waiting by the letterbox every day for the postman to arrive with your longed for goodies. It’s even more exciting if you recognise the packaging, that small extra special touch.

Opening the parcel and unwrapping your goods becomes an experience in itself which you want to share with your family and friends, you want to tell every one how lovely it was.

You’ll probably never meet most of your customers. So this parcel they receive should be as enjoyable as the goodies they have bought. Your branding and customer experience shouldn’t stop at your website, that’s just the start. It should continue right down the line and straight into their hands.

And these ideas aren’t only for the on-line retailers among you. Any retailer who sells a product wants their customer to have their full brand experience – gift shop, florist, cake maker, clothes shop. Even the photographers among you are using beautifully branded packaging to complement your gorgeous photos.

Continue reading “Pretty packaging – 10 easy ways to brand your packaging”

6th February 20188th August 2018

10 reasons your brilliant business deserves a logo

You have a small business, right?

You have a logo? You might be thinking about one?

I spend a large chunk of my time designing logos and just recently I’ve been getting lots of feedback from my customers – more business cards are being picked up, it’s easier to do their marketing, the actual design process helped changed the focus of their business.

If your business already has a logo, have a read and remind yourself of what your logo actually does for your business and then try find some new ways to make more of it – your email signature, a freebie download or a social media post.

If you’re debating about investing in a logo then definitely have a read to see how a logo can help grow your business and how it can help make your marketing so much easier.

Continue reading “10 reasons your brilliant business deserves a logo”

5th April 20178th August 2018

Why does my small business need a brand style guide?

You’re only a small business, you’re self employed, your desk is the kitchen table. So why on earth would you bother with brand guidelines? That’s just for big, corporate companies, isn’t it? Little old you doesn’t need fancy brand style guide.

Well, for a start, don’t knock your small business (Steve Jobs started in his parents garage). But more importantly, you have a brand whether you know it or not.

Your logo is the visual identity of your business, it’s how your customer recognises you. Your brand is how your customer feels about your business, and this encompasses every thing you do in print and online. So whether you’re bothered about branding or not, your customer is out there seeing and reading everything you put out there and forming an opinion.

Now, it’s starting to look more important. Good, because I’m going to help you put together some simple guidelines which you can refer to regularly (and update if you need to) and these will be the foundation of every contact you have with your customers, and your potential customers. They will help you create consistency making you more recognisable to your customers and help you stand out from your competitors. Continue reading “Why does my small business need a brand style guide?”

2nd February 20178th August 2018

4 reasons it’s time to update your logo

How often do you think about your logo? Is it something you put together yourself when you first started up? Or have you been in business a while and don’t think about it any more? Perhaps you’re thinking about it all the time. Is a logo really that important?

Well, the job of your logo is twofold. Firstly it has to make your business recognisable to your customers. And secondly, your logo has to make your business stand out from your competitors. Whether you think it or not, it does a really, really important job.

Lots of elements have to come together to make up a logo – colours, font, graphic, style, layout. And each of these go towards creating an overall impression of your business. Are you fun, quirky, serious, modern, traditional?

When I mention Apple, Nike, McDonalds, you can immediately imagine their logo and feelings about their company spring to mind. Now we’re looking at things on a much smaller scale but how do your clients and competitors feel about you when they see your logo?

Be honest and take a good look at your current logo. Or ask your clients what they think (friends and family are usually too polite to give an honest answer!)

Then see if you answer Yes to any of the following questions: Continue reading “4 reasons it’s time to update your logo”