If you want to DIY your own marketing on a budget then you can crack the code on 8th September. Perfect for small business, start ups and sales teams. Come and learn all the secrets marketers don't normally tell you ... but I will, and you can claim for $200 training voucher too.

When you are introducing yourself and your business, can you do it in less than 7 seconds? 

Do you just state what your business is, or do you form a short sentence that has the listener interested to hear more? 

Think about explaining your business in terms of what the listener will gain if they do business with you.

If you are circulating your newsletters via Microsoft Outlook, check how many mass emails your internet provider allows you per day. Your provider might allow 50 or 500 - it varies greatly and you might need to break up your circulation lists to accommodate their spam rules.

There are at least 10 really important features you should be including on your website so that it attracts visitors, meets search engine criteria and is found by prospective customers looking for your offerings.  If you are not confident concept planning your website, then Marketing Talk can help with a "Whip Up Your Website" session.

It is worth taking time to register on as many free directories as you can.  Every one is a back link to your website and that ranks well with the search engines. It costs you nothing to register so what are you waiting for?

Ann Mackey of Fortix Freedom Solutions contributed the newsletter tip this month and won herself a Marketing Talk  ebook "Advertising and Marketing in a Nutshell" from the Online Shop.

Ann suggested you check www.maps.google.com.au to see if there are any reviews (good or bad) left against your business name.  Good advice Ann.  I'm not clairvoyant, but I'm guessing you are just about to hit the link right now to type in your business name in the search box to check it out for yourself! 

The best question you can ask your customers/clients is how did they find you.  It is the cheapest market research you will ever do and it helps you test and measure your advertising, marketing, website SEO and networking streams.

Marketing is what you do to create a demand for the service or product you provide.  It is different to advertising - advertising is concerned with making sure potential customers have heard of your product, while marketing focuses on capturing and keeping your customers over time.  A satisfied customer is always going to be your best referral and a successful business is one that does everything it reasonably can to keep customers satisfied.

SEO is making the most of organic searches through the search engines. Search Engine Optimisation is all about good web content, page names etc to attract web visitors searching for information/products and services like yours online.

SEM is your paid web presence.  Search Engine Marketing includes pay per click advertising like Google Adwords, Facebook Ads and sponsored links on the first page of a search engine.

Google is the most commonly used search engine.

Had a great time speaking at the BiZFiT breakfast in South Perth this morning.  MC Harry Bozin asked me what 3 things I wish I'd known when I first went into business. 

For me it is the fun of working with entrepreneurial businesses (always energising), the flexibility you gain having your own business (taking the laptop down to the river to work for example) and the ability to choose your clients (and sack them if it seems right). 

The BiZFiT Extend 2 day program is a great fit for small businesses needing to spend some time away from work on their directions.