#getsidekicker

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"Know your ideal client and make them an offer they can't refuse"

Will from SEO Melbourne helps people find your business online. Read about his journey and top tips.

1. Tell me about your business and why you started it

I had spent over 10 years in the big corporate environment and had the chance to take a package and embraced it. The big corporate environment really makes it difficult to create and implement innovative and effective marketing strategies. I really wanted to work with people who were entrepreneurially minded business owners with a strong focus on making their business more successful. It is so much more fun helping people who are willing and able to be helped. My business has evolved from traditional marketing consulting into internet marketing including a big focus on ranking business sites on page 1 of Google (search engine optimization or seo as it's often known). In recent months my business evolved further with the introduction of an internet marketing coaching program which is aimed at business owners who want to do some work themselves but need an experienced guide and some support. This has really taken off and in coming months I will be launching an internet marketing membership site which teach only things that work right now each month to members. This means that no matter what the size of the business they can still get access to information that will specifically help them grow their business using simple internet marketing techniques.

2. What has been the hardest thing about starting your own business?

The toughest thing has been the isolation that comes from running a home based internet marketing business. I have worked to overcome this with networking and attending as many business events as I can. There are many people in the same situation and when you connect with them everyone benefits. The other critical thing is making sure that my revenue is diversified across a range of products/services and clients. You need your business to have this otherwise it is too dependent on a small number of things and if something changes (as business always does) you can find yourself in trouble.

3. What are your top 2 marketing tips that really helped your business grow?

1. You absolutely must know who your ideal client in as much detail as possible. If you know this then it makes it easier to find them and easier to create marketing that they will respond to. This is really valuable now with the incredible targeting capabilities within Facebook Ads.

2. You must make them an offer they can't refuse. Business is built on know, like and trust. The relationship starts out with the prospect highly (and rightly) sceptical of your business. So make it easy for them to come into your business. Offer some free help or valuable information to get them on your list and keep communicating valuable things with them until they are ready to become a client.

4. What is your vision for your business?

To be helping as many entrepreneurially minded business owners around the World as I can. Either via coaching or my upcoming membership site. I want to allow people to create the life they want through having a successful business. The business is a vehicle for that and should not be all consuming or stressful.

William has been kind enough to offer Sidekicker blog readers a free e-book highlighting 10 mistakes small business owners make with their website, you can download it here.

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Erika is a Melbourne girl on the rise, already heading up Willow and Blake and frank

1. How did your business start and why?

Willow & Blake started as an online publication headed by myself, Bree Johnson and Jess Hatzis. We met while studying at university and working the same part time job. We all had an interest in writing across food, lifestyle and music and wanted to clash heads and see what the result would be.

We won a competition through marketing agency, Cassette to have our website built. I ended up working at the agency for almost two years as a copywriter and social media manager, while Jess worked at 360 Music Agency as head publicist and Bree as Editorial Assistant at Broadsheet. Winning the competition caused us to reassess what it was we wanted our brand to be about. Rather than writing about those three aforementioned things, we wanted to write about the brains behind them. We figured there were enough people writing the same shit every day– we were over it, and were pretty sure the rest of the world was too. We wanted to discuss these peoples' ideas, insecurities, idiosyncrasies etc. Find out information that no-one knew, or that the people in question wanted to tell the world– as a result Willow & Blake's 'Things' section was born (formerly known as 'The Attic')

2. Tell me about your business and the vision for your company?

In two years our brand has evolved immensely. Our website received a lot of attention and with it came several freelance requests. Eventually, Jess and I decided to jump ship and start the business side of Willow & Blake, and Bree followed a year later. We now work across brand strategy and tone of voice development, which we execute across copywriting, social media, editorial and PR content. We work both B2B and with various branding agencies in providing creative content, from the finance or tech industry to fashion, food, and retail clients. This year we developed our own product, frank - to which we've been able to roll out full brand and creative control- it's been fun getting thousands of girls naked across the world, just look up #thefrankeffect on Instagram.

3. What are some of the challenges you have faced?

Growing our business from two girls working in a lounge room to an agency of six has been one hell of a ride. Working around one wobbly desk that we found on a nature strip, to our own desks and chairs that we can slide across the room in– and not break– has been one of the most tangible achievements- apart from the increase in our bank balances. Every month- if not week- we look at our workload and clientele and assess what's working for us and what isn't. We often throw ourselves into projects and let the adrenaline and challenge of the new lead the way, but this can result in some projects being more challenging than others.

4. We all know how hard it is to grow a business, have you got any marketing tips to share?

Social media has played a huge role for our own businesses growth, however we started in a time when Facebook provided a far greater return than present. Still, we're adamant that we talk about all things Willow- not just the services we provide for our clients. We knew that most of our friends didn't want to hear about us writing for a real estate company or a bank, that they'd rather hear what music we're listening to, or what images are having us in fits of hysteria on our office floor. So we kept out conversations on social a mix of work/lifestyle related posts. One other thing: Hustle, but be patient. We 're pretty adamant about walking our own talk- if we say we're going to do something, we generally do it. We work extremely hard to develop personal relationships with everyone we meet. There are endless business opportunities available, it just depends how you approach them. And these things take time, and will continue to do so. We're still learning and see so much scope for new business, new timezones etc for Willow.

Oh and don't forget to stop, look around, and enjoy the ride.

http://www.willowandblake.com

https://www.facebook.com/willowandblake

https://twitter.com/willowandblake

http://instagram.com/willowandblake

Erika Geraerts // the glass is for the taking

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Karen from Karen Will Cater puts the success of her business down to customer referrals and faith

1. How did your business start and why?

Continued requests from friends, those needing catering and those who had seen my work mostly in a voluntary capacity.

2. Tell me about your business and the vision for your company?

I never intended to grow a business. I believe my food is great and in demand and I am in an area of Sydney where there is disposable income and time poor clients. I was encouraged to “give it a go” by my husband, family and others who wanted my food. It was also a great opportunity to generate additional income to support Christian ministries that I am passionate about. I see the success of my business is a gift from God. I have honesty, transparency and professional service as some of my key business principals.

3. What are some of the challenges you have faced?

Balance of work/family. Having a business operating from my home.

4. We all know how hard it is to grow a business, have you got any marketing tips to share?

I have 2 strategies – word of mouth is priceless, many of my jobs are repeat clients. I pray about my business and believe that it is not mine but God’s and he absolutely blesses it. I do not expect others to understand this principal but I could not accept credit for the growth of my business without this.

Need catering in Sydney? Visit www.karenwillcater.com.au/

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5 links to kickstart your social media

Did you know only 27% of SME's are using social media? With 11.8 million Australians on Facebook alone, it seems crazy not to be using social media to drive business and brand awareness. Knowing what sites to use, what content to post and where your target market hangs out online is a tough game, as is the time commitment that an active social media presence requires. So we've put together a list of 5 great links you should check out to kick your social media campaign into action and drive customer engagement, brand loyalty and conversions. 1. The A-Z of Social Media for 2013- Social Media Marketing 2. The four golden rules of social media- Dynamic Business 3. How online marketing drives offline success (infographic)- Kissmetrics 4. Dr. Seuss's 7 social media lessons- Ragan's PR Daily 5. How to optimize your content- Marketing Magazine

Not convinced social media is as disruptive as they say? This quick video by Erik Qualman will blow you away- Social Media Revolution 2013

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My day as a Sidekick

On Saturday last week it was my turn to fill in and be a Sidekick for the day. All of our team at Sidekicker have to experience what it is like being a Sidekick as we think this is the best way to improve the user experience. 

On this particular day I was lucky enough to see a clear example of exactly why Sidekicker is needed.

We had a Sidekick already acting as a concierge for an event when we received a call from the client in desperate need of extra staff as someone had just called in sick. They were running out of time to get help. So they posted a job on Sidekicker and within 30 minutes Sidekick Helen and I came to her rescue. We helped set up the event, pack show bags and welcome guests for the afternoon.

It was good fun being a Sidekick for a change and it was great to see first hand the pain points for businesses and how we can help.

It got me wondering, what would this client have done before Sidekicker?

TA.