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Marketing Eye Blog Articles
Blogging isn't for everyone. In fact, few people can pull it off and actually get a reasonable return on investment. While it can be fun to share your ideas, there is a whole world out there whose ideas differ from that of your own. And beware... sometimes they are even happy to tell you about it.
But it isn't all doom and gloom.
Blogging can be quite lucrative from a brand profile prospect and for some, financially. Successful bloggers don't just make their livings out of blogging, they quite often make their fortune. Think Mia Freedman (www.mamamia.com.au) and Seth Godin.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Your brand started off as a figment of your imagination. Then you put it out there for the whole world to see - except the whole world didn't see it like you thought it would.
So, you gave it a bit of a push. Here and there. Everywhere. Networking. Business cards. Advertising. Facebook. You name it - you've tried it.
And then what?
So, you gave it a bit of a push. Here and there. Everywhere. Networking. Business cards. Advertising. Facebook. You name it - you've tried it.
And then what?
Published in Small Business Marketing
Yesterday, I wrote a blog on how women can help their man be more successful. As promised, today I am publishing how men can help their women be more successful (in business).
If you are a man and lucky enough to have a woman that is determined, ambitious, talented and intelligent - as well as owning their own business or having a high flying career - then count your lucky stars. You are in the minority, Published in Small Business Marketing
This may surprise many who read my blogs, but I am a firm believer that women should support their men.
Coming from a European family, where the men rule the roost and women play the pivotal role of supporting their man, I am an advocate of women doing what it takes to support their families and in particular, the men in their lives.
When I grew up, my father was the provider. He took the rubbish out and mowed the lawn. He fixed anything that needed to be fixed.
Coming from a European family, where the men rule the roost and women play the pivotal role of supporting their man, I am an advocate of women doing what it takes to support their families and in particular, the men in their lives.
When I grew up, my father was the provider. He took the rubbish out and mowed the lawn. He fixed anything that needed to be fixed.
Published in Mellissah Smith
Keep Pushing: You'll Get There - A lesson to all small businesses
Mar 24, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
Success does not just happen. You won’t be born with it, nor will you just be ‘lucky’ and have it. That would be too easy. It is a consequence of several different actions being put into motion to achieve a desired outcome from an individual person.
To have success though, you need to have a reason. Every successful person has a reason as to why they want to be successful.
To have success though, you need to have a reason. Every successful person has a reason as to why they want to be successful.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Consumers are fickle. We all know it. Many of us has experienced it and all of us have been a fickle consumer at one time or another.
5 weeks ago, I embarked on taking a picture that I had painted in 2007 to be framed as a gift for my best girlfriend.
5 weeks ago, I embarked on taking a picture that I had painted in 2007 to be framed as a gift for my best girlfriend.
Published in Small Business Marketing
How often are you asked to do a speech or presentation?
If it is like me, I am always asked to do speeches, but as I have gotten older and more experienced, I am a lot better at picking and choosing where I should spend my time doing presentations.
Steve Jobs used to say that he spent 100 hours preparing for a presentation. Well, I don't have 100 hours! I am a small business owner.
If it is like me, I am always asked to do speeches, but as I have gotten older and more experienced, I am a lot better at picking and choosing where I should spend my time doing presentations.
Steve Jobs used to say that he spent 100 hours preparing for a presentation. Well, I don't have 100 hours! I am a small business owner.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Leadership and succession planning go hand in hand for most small businesses. If you are a founder of a small business, it's always important to earmark who in your organisation is going to lead your company, reinvigorate your staff and your product or service, and create fresh blood that catapults your business to heights you never imagined possible.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Body language and marketing go hand in hand - just ask your customers
Mar 20, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
I met with a friend of mine who is an absolute genius. You know the type, a kindof Bill Gates clone that has peculiar habits but is as smart as they come. What struck me as surprising is that he is an avid reader of cold reading books. Surprising because I would have thought that he would think body language books are a bit beneath his 'genius'. Obviously not.
Actually, he reads cold reading and body language books in the dozens. The other week, he bought a whole host of new body language books and has no doubt already read them from start to finish. Sitting with him for a chat is extraordinary because he is so bright, but also because he is absolutely fascinating with his passion for knowing more about why people do what they do. He likes the idea that he can read people which no doubt has made him a lot of money over time. Important if you are in the business of dealing with people and you need to know what they are thinking to make better decisions yourself.
Actually, he reads cold reading and body language books in the dozens. The other week, he bought a whole host of new body language books and has no doubt already read them from start to finish. Sitting with him for a chat is extraordinary because he is so bright, but also because he is absolutely fascinating with his passion for knowing more about why people do what they do. He likes the idea that he can read people which no doubt has made him a lot of money over time. Important if you are in the business of dealing with people and you need to know what they are thinking to make better decisions yourself.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Sportsmen And Entrepreneurs Are The Same - they want to be the best
Mar 19, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith
"It's a lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself." Muhammed Ali
When you look at a top sportsmen or women, they have two things that resonate with entrepreneurs; the first is the desire to be the best, and the second is that they believe in themselves enough to win.
When you look at a top sportsmen or women, they have two things that resonate with entrepreneurs; the first is the desire to be the best, and the second is that they believe in themselves enough to win.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Smirking to myself, I typed onto twitter a response to a girlfriends tweet about whether or not I would be going on extended travel after a business conference in Instanbul, Turkey.
In no time, I responded. "Depends on whether I am married and have other plans" or something to this effect.
In no time, I responded. "Depends on whether I am married and have other plans" or something to this effect.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Never Eat Alone - Why having a friend to lunch can make you money
Mar 19, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith Have you read the book "Never Eat Alone"? It's a great read and I remember picking it up at a Vegas Airport Bookstore and not putting it down until I got to the last page.
Today, I had lunch with a girlfriend. She is super smart, entrepeneurial, full of life and just a wonderful person.
I met her in Houston at a business conference and got to know her over a week because she was good friends with a friend of mine. Actually, our mutual friend insisted that we meet and catch up. Which we did and have never looked back.
Her name is Michelle Carden and many people may remember her when she gained profile and respect for building a very big company in Australia and selling it off for millions.
She sent me a text this morning to see if I was available for lunch. I hate doing lunch during the work week because it takes me away from my beloved computer, but she said she had some feedback on my IM for me, so it really was in my best interests to go.
5 Minutes with Michelle is worth a fortune. If you don't become so inspired that you are literally jumping up and down on your chair, you are certainly getting insight into her brilliance as a business woman and as a human being.
She is dynamite. Her energy is completely contagious and she has so many business ideas up her sleeve, that I am surprised how she can possibly walk around.
What I learnt today was simple; A lunch date with someone can change your outcomes.
She gave me some advice that superceded that of everyone who has been speaking to me about my Information Memorandum to date. Now, I have taken that advice, raced back to the office and I am straight back to work.
Thanks Michelle. You rock!
Today, I had lunch with a girlfriend. She is super smart, entrepeneurial, full of life and just a wonderful person.
I met her in Houston at a business conference and got to know her over a week because she was good friends with a friend of mine. Actually, our mutual friend insisted that we meet and catch up. Which we did and have never looked back.
Her name is Michelle Carden and many people may remember her when she gained profile and respect for building a very big company in Australia and selling it off for millions.
She sent me a text this morning to see if I was available for lunch. I hate doing lunch during the work week because it takes me away from my beloved computer, but she said she had some feedback on my IM for me, so it really was in my best interests to go.
5 Minutes with Michelle is worth a fortune. If you don't become so inspired that you are literally jumping up and down on your chair, you are certainly getting insight into her brilliance as a business woman and as a human being.
She is dynamite. Her energy is completely contagious and she has so many business ideas up her sleeve, that I am surprised how she can possibly walk around.
What I learnt today was simple; A lunch date with someone can change your outcomes.
She gave me some advice that superceded that of everyone who has been speaking to me about my Information Memorandum to date. Now, I have taken that advice, raced back to the office and I am straight back to work.
Thanks Michelle. You rock!
Published in Small Business Marketing
Negative feedback is sometimes the best thing you could ever receive
Mar 14, 2012 Written by Mellissah Smith Putting it out there again!
This blog is getting more and more personal, but through sharing real life experiences, entrepreneurs and business leaders are hopefully able to gain some insight into what makes an entrepreneur tick, mistakes that some of us make and some real life business goings-on that affect us in so many ways.
Last week, I sent my Information Memorandum out to a number of my friends. When I say friends, they are business leaders, and some of them are in the most successful 50 business people in Australia. The first lot of feedback was awesome. Immediately I was put on a high with positive comments and encouragement.
Yesterday, I received from 3 different parties some constructive feedback; Information Memorandum is too long, you need to have the financials in the IM, covering letter needs to say what the financial upside is and where's the Gantt Chart?
While the financial projections have been done for 5 years, I was told by a couple of parties that you only send this in the second contact after the person/company has read the IM. So, I have held off on this. I was also notified that I only need 3 years, but I am a bit confused because it is a 5 year plan. Not sure who to listen to here.
The Gantt Chart and manuals are all complete, but as with the financials, I was told not to send this through in the first instance.
There are so many differing opinions that it is hard to work out which direction to take. Perhaps a bit of everything is worthwhile taking into consideration afterall, these people do this everyday. Like most things, it is subjective to the person looking at the IM.
In any case, it was my first piece of constructive criticism which set me back momentarily and had me second guessing as to whether I should have sent it out without taking it to someone and going through it page by page.
Overall, I am happy with the result, but feedback should always be considered and if you put yourself out there, then you have to expect sometimes you won't like what you hear.
This blog is getting more and more personal, but through sharing real life experiences, entrepreneurs and business leaders are hopefully able to gain some insight into what makes an entrepreneur tick, mistakes that some of us make and some real life business goings-on that affect us in so many ways.
Last week, I sent my Information Memorandum out to a number of my friends. When I say friends, they are business leaders, and some of them are in the most successful 50 business people in Australia. The first lot of feedback was awesome. Immediately I was put on a high with positive comments and encouragement.
Yesterday, I received from 3 different parties some constructive feedback; Information Memorandum is too long, you need to have the financials in the IM, covering letter needs to say what the financial upside is and where's the Gantt Chart?
While the financial projections have been done for 5 years, I was told by a couple of parties that you only send this in the second contact after the person/company has read the IM. So, I have held off on this. I was also notified that I only need 3 years, but I am a bit confused because it is a 5 year plan. Not sure who to listen to here.
The Gantt Chart and manuals are all complete, but as with the financials, I was told not to send this through in the first instance.
There are so many differing opinions that it is hard to work out which direction to take. Perhaps a bit of everything is worthwhile taking into consideration afterall, these people do this everyday. Like most things, it is subjective to the person looking at the IM.
In any case, it was my first piece of constructive criticism which set me back momentarily and had me second guessing as to whether I should have sent it out without taking it to someone and going through it page by page.
Overall, I am happy with the result, but feedback should always be considered and if you put yourself out there, then you have to expect sometimes you won't like what you hear.
Published in Small Business Marketing
13 years as an entrepreneur has ensured that I have seen many things; the highs of business, the lows of business, the joy of winning a big account, the butterflies in your stomach when something goes wrong, staff come and go, lessons learnt and some that kept on repeating themselves until finally I woke up or didn't, business associations that excelled through a mutual sharing of trust, respect and benefits, business relationships that sour, bad debts, innovation, dreams that fall apart, pinching myself because I felt so lucky to have the life that I live, fatigue from working too hard, eye off the ball moments and so on.
We have all been through it in one way or another.
We have all been through it in one way or another.
Published in Small Business Marketing
Needy is probably the wrong word. It's more like, are you an employer who knows how much you need your employees?
I am. My employees rock. They are the heart and soul of our business. They work darn hard and as a former employee and now editor of a top business magazine once said to me, "if you work for Marketing Eye, you really work".
It's certainly no holiday. Clients are everything. This is drilled into every single person who works for Marketing Eye over and over again.
I am. My employees rock. They are the heart and soul of our business. They work darn hard and as a former employee and now editor of a top business magazine once said to me, "if you work for Marketing Eye, you really work".
It's certainly no holiday. Clients are everything. This is drilled into every single person who works for Marketing Eye over and over again.
Published in Small Business Marketing
