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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.

Sector trends

What particular trends are affecting specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm)? We explain some of the key trends for 200 types of business.

Resource topics

14 results shown

Car bodyshop sector trends

Demand for car body repairs depends to a large extent on the accident rate. Accident damage is likely to remain a big source of work for the foreseeable future with insurance work accounting for around 80% of repairers' workload.

Car alarm fitter sector trends

This trends summary explains how there continues to be a high demand for car alarm fitters to sell security upgrades and tracking devices as vehicle-related theft is still a problem in the UK.

Vet sector trends

This trends summary explains changes in the vet sector reflecting the increase in small animals and a decrease in farmed livestock.

Turf supplier sector trends

This trends summary explains that the turf supply market reflects the housing market and weather conditions.

Tree surgeon sector trends

This trends summary explains how the tree surgeon sector reflects the housing market and disposable income of households.

Smallholding sector trends

This trends summary explains how the smallholding sector reflects price and legislation changes in the agricultural sector.

Poultry farm sector trends

This trends summary explains how intensive poultry production has changed in line with sensitivity to animal welfare issues.

Plant nursery sector trends

The main factors affecting the plant nursery market trends are largely based on the economy and weather conditions.

Pig farm sector trends

This trends summary explains how the pig meat sector in the UK is always cyclical, so peaks and troughs in profitability are the norm. But the troughs have become harder to weather and the peaks have become less profitable.

Organic farm sector trends

This trends summary explains how the demand for organic produce is forecast to grow, but it is also greatly affected by the economy.

Livery stables sector trends

This trends summary explains that the market for livery stables stays broadly in line with the economy

Farrier sector trends

This trends summary explains that the farrier market stays broadly in line with the economy as a whole

Farm supplier sector trends

This trends summary explains that the performance of the farm supply sector is closely linked to the fortunes of the farming sector as a whole, which itself is dominated by commodity prices

Farm shop sector trends

This trends summary explains that shopping in farm shops has become increasingly popular with UK consumers, with the number of farm shops growing in recent years.