We were in Galway for the long weekend just passed and one thing struck me forcibly. There were ‘help wanted’ posters or signs up in a tremendous number of service-based businesses. Bar staff, waiting staff, sous chefs, baristas, serving staff. The signs were everywhere. And in the Esquires coffee shop in Eyre Square there is… Continue reading Help wanted in Galway
Category: Small Business
Missing the social media opportunity
The vast majority of small businesses fail, in my view, to properly exploit the power of social media to promote their business and brand. The simplest, most effective way is to use video. Video can be shared on most social media sites in one way or another. And you can bang out a new video,… Continue reading Missing the social media opportunity
Reconsidering email access
I have written in the past about the ever-present problem I have with my email inbox. I have had a problem with the sheer volume of emails I receive on a daily basis and my determination to maintain a policy of trying to clear my inbox every day. It has become such a problem that… Continue reading Reconsidering email access
“You need a catchphrase”-No, you don’t
A commenter left a comment on a TikTok video I posted: “You need a catchy catchphrase if you want to make it online”. No you don’t. Not if your idea of making it online is to show up with monotonous regularity with something useful for the audience you seek to serve. Because you want to… Continue reading “You need a catchphrase”-No, you don’t
My most viral video ever (and why it’s not important to my business)
I had my most successful video ever, if you judge success by virality, last week. I published a video about Simeon Burke being convicted in the District Court of a public order offence. Four days later, it has been viewed 68,562 times, has generated 103 comments and 377 likes. This video, even after only 4… Continue reading My most viral video ever (and why it’s not important to my business)
Accused of seeking to gain more followers
I was contacted by a guy last week who wanted to have a chat with me about a video I published online. I told him I wasn’t a great man for the chats, that if he wanted to chat he would have to arrange a consultation with me. A paid consultation, obviously, because I am… Continue reading Accused of seeking to gain more followers
Two reminders to myself
I am writing this note to myself to try to remember two important principles of what I do to build my brand and business. I often forget them and get side-tracked. Firstly, don’t try to make content for everyone. You can’t and won’t please everybody. Make stuff for those with whom you will do business,… Continue reading Two reminders to myself
Getting 1-star reviews
All the great books and films have a plethora of 1-star reviews. And that’s a good thing. Because if you make or do something for everyone, for the general populace, you may avoid 1-star reviews, but you will make something average, something mediocre. Something designed to avoid 1-star reviews and land somewhere in the middle… Continue reading Getting 1-star reviews
Distribution channels and your small business
If marketing is about changing the culture, then distribution channels for your message are of vital importance. There are many channels of distribution nowadays to allow you distribute your message and make a change: videos on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, podcasts, websites, blogs, Instagram, TikTok, email newsletters. If you are a small business owner like me… Continue reading Distribution channels and your small business
The price of exploiting trending topics and controversy
When you do your own online/digital marketing as I have done since starting my solicitor’s practice back in 2011 you experiment. You try all types of different things to see which are the most effective, which give the most return for the expenditure of your valuable time. You discover, amongst other things, that it is… Continue reading The price of exploiting trending topics and controversy