We’re here with practical marketing information for your business.

Marketing essentials

How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

Online marketing

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Advertising

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

PR and promotion

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

Pitching

A sales presentation is a great chance to progress or even complete a sale. It's up to you to make a truly effective presentation.

READ OVERVIEW

Essential guide to sales presentations

Making presentations: a step-by-step guide to preparing for and giving successful presentations that keep your audience engaged and get results.

Pitching your business to investors - checklist

If you need investment in your business, you will need to pitch your business. These tips can help you hone your pitch and convince investors you’re worth investing in.

Delivering presentations - checklist

This checklist will help you to deliver a presentation, and includes advice on body language, covering the key points and dealing with questions.

Approaching start up investors: using donuts charts

Many start up businesses fail to secure external funding due to poor presentation skills and inadequate pitches. Here's how donut charts can help.

Seven top tips for building rapport with your audience

Building rapport is key to convincing your audience of what you're saying. These seven top tips will help calm your nerves and connect with the crowd.

Understand body language in business

Being sensitive to the body language of prospective customers is a useful skill for salespeople if they want to capitalise on selling opportunities.

Sales presentations FAQs

Ten FAQs on planning your sales presentations, including how to prepare your notes, what can go wrong and how to deal with questions.

Write a quality statement

How to write a quality statement when tendering for a contract that will demonstrate your skills, experience and expertise

How to write a winning business proposal

The difference between winning and losing a contract could be down to the quality of your initial proposal: saying the right things in the right way.

Ten ways to win public sector contracts

The public sector spends billions of pounds directly on orders with SMEs. How can you improve your chances of getting a piece of the action?

How to pitch to corporate partners

Partnering with a bigger business can help you leverage your innovations. How to get in front of the right people - and make a great impression.

Preparing your sales pitch - checklist

Selling can be intimidating, but our useful checklist will help your prepare a sales pitch that will persuade the customer, overcome objections and close the sale.