Strategy & Planning
Foundations, goals and simple plans for micro businesses.
31 articles in this topic
Stage
Level
Intent
How can I tell if my business is ready to start online marketing?
The Ultimate Marketing Guide for Small Businesses
Pick Your Level: Beginner Confident or Advanced
The Complete Small Business Website Audit Checklist (28-Point Guide)
The Single Biggest Marketing Blocker (And How to Fix It in 15 Minutes)
How Much Time and Money Will I Need?
DIY vs Hiring: What Can You Really Do Yourself?
How to Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)
How to Identify Customer Pain Points
Find Your Target Audience Online: A Step-by-Step Research Method
How to Write a Value Proposition Statement
Understand Search Intent: Find What Customers Actually Search For
How to Handle Customer Objections Before They Say No
Set 3 Simple Marketing Goals You Can Easily Track
Packaging Your Services: How to Turn What You Do Into 1–3 Simple Offers
How to Price Your Services: A Simple Method for Small Businesses
Create a Simple Guarantee for Your Small Business
Decide: Should You Niche Down as a Micro Business?
Create Your Unique Selling Point (USP) Worksheet
Quick Competitor Scan: Identify 3 Rivals in 45 Minutes
Map Your Customer Journey in 30 Minutes
Choose Your Primary Marketing Channel
Create a 90-Day Marketing Plan for Your Small Business
Website vs Marketplace: Where Should You Sell?
Set Realistic Content Goals in 15 Minutes
Create a Content Calendar in 30 Minutes
Choose Your Primary Social Media Channel (Action Guide)
Pick a Handful of Numbers That Matter
Weekly Marketing Check-In: Your 15-Minute Routine
Execute Your Monthly Marketing Review Routine (60 Min)
Build Your Quarterly Business Review (QBR) Process
Common Problems
DIY SEO Mistakes Made Things Worse, Now I'm Penalized and Losing Traffic
Made SEO mistakes that hurt your rankings? Learn how to identify and fix common DIY SEO errors before they cause lasting damage.
How can I market my business when I hate technology, coding, and complicated software?
Not a tech person? You don't need to be. Learn simple, low-tech marketing strategies that work for small business owners who hate technology.
I Can't Afford a Marketing Agency—Where Do I Start Myself?
Agencies too expensive but DIY too hard? Discover affordable middle-ground options for small business marketing help.
I Can't Afford to Market My Business (No Budget!)
Think you can't afford marketing? Think again. Discover free and low-cost marketing strategies that actually work for small businesses.
I Don't Have Time for Marketing -- Should I Just Automate It?
Too busy running your business to market it? Learn how to build effective marketing habits in just 15 minutes a day without overwhelm.
I Don't Know How to Price My Services or Write an Invoice (UK Guide)
New to invoicing? Learn what to include, payment terms to set, and get free templates to get paid faster.
I have 10 different marketing gurus telling me 10 different things. Which advice should I actually follow?
One guru says X, another says Y. Learn how to filter marketing advice and find what actually works for YOUR business.
I have a business, but I have no idea how to start marketing it. Where do I even begin?
Feeling overwhelmed by marketing? Learn exactly where to start with our step-by-step beginner's guide for small business owners. No fluff, just action.
I Have No Idea How Much I Should Charge for My Services (or Products)
Unsure what to charge? Learn proven pricing strategies including cost-plus, value-based, and competitive pricing for small businesses.
I have too many monthly software subscriptions, and nothing talks to anything else.
Overwhelmed by software options? Get a curated list of essential (and mostly free) tools to run your business.
I Keep Explaining What I Do, But People Still Don't Get It -- I Need a Better Elevator Pitch
People don't understand what you do? Learn how to clarify your offer and create messaging that resonates instantly.
I'm a Small Business Owner, But I Feel Like an Imposter and I Can't Promote Myself
Feel like a fraud? You're not alone - 84% of entrepreneurs experience imposter syndrome. Here's how to push through.
I'm Spending All My Time on Random Channels and Nothing Is Working. Which One Should I Actually Focus On?
Facebook? Instagram? SEO? Email? Learn how to choose the right marketing channel for your specific business.
I'm stuck choosing between Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress—which is actually best for my small business?
Confused about website builders? Compare Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress to find the perfect platform for your small business website.
I'm trying to appeal to everyone and feel like I'm selling nothing. Should I niche down or will I miss out on customers?
Conflicting advice about niching? Learn when to specialise, when to stay broad, and how to decide.
I Paid an SEO Agency £X,000 and They Delivered Zero Results
Paid for SEO that did nothing (or worse)? Learn the red flags of bad agencies and how to find legitimate help.
I Tried Marketing for Months and It Failed -- What Went Wrong?
Tried marketing and failed? You're not alone. Discover the common reasons marketing fails and what to do differently this time.
I've launched my business but I have zero customers—where do I start?
Starting from zero? Learn proven strategies to land your first paying customer without a portfolio or testimonials.
My business is too boring. I don't know what to post on social media or my blog.
Think your business is too boring for content? Think again. Get creative content ideas that work for any industry.
My Marketing Feels Sleazy, Pushy, or Just Plain Inauthentic
Hate feeling salesy? Learn how to promote your business authentically without feeling like you're being pushy or manipulative.
My marketing is failing because I don't actually know who I'm selling to.
Struggling to identify your target audience? Learn simple methods to research and define your ideal customer profile.
Overwhelmed by Marketing: Where to Focus First
SEO, social, email, ads... too many options? Learn how to cut through the noise and focus on what will actually move the needle.
Should I Register as a Sole Trader or Limited Company?
Not sure whether to register your business? Understand the differences and which structure is right for you.
Should I Spend My Limited Time Trying DIY SEO, or Waste Money Hiring an Expensive Agency?
Not sure whether to tackle SEO yourself or hire help? Compare costs, time, and results to make the right decision for your business.
Should I stop paying for ads and focus on SEO, or should I just buy my way to the top?
Torn between SEO and paid advertising? Learn when to use each, how they work together, and where to spend your limited budget.
Why am I ranking for the wrong keywords (or competing with massive brands)?
Keyword research overwhelming? Learn a simple process to find the right keywords for your business (without expensive tools).
Why Competitors Are Ranking Higher Than Me on Google
Competitors outranking you? Learn the 7 reasons why and actionable steps to climb above them in Google search results.
Why Did My Google Traffic Drop After an Algorithm Update?
Rankings tanked after an update? Learn how to identify what went wrong and create a recovery plan for your website.
Why is my competition getting all the business? I just look like a cheaper version of them.
Feeling lost in a sea of competitors? Discover how to differentiate your small business and find your unique market position.
Why is my SEO taking so long? I'm doing all the work and nothing is changing.
Frustrated waiting for SEO results? Learn realistic timelines (3-6 months) and what to do while you wait to see rankings improve.
Why Isn't My Business Showing Up in the Google Local Map Pack?
Invisible in Google Maps? Learn why your business isn't appearing in local search and the exact steps to fix it.