Small Business Marketing Blog
How to become a business people go out of their way to support
Most businesses focus on being found. The ones people are truly loyal to have figured out something different - how to become a habit. Here's what that actually takes, and what you can do about it.
How local businesses can work together as fuel costs rise in regional Australia
Fuel price increases are impacting small businesses across regional and rural Australia. Discover practical, low-cost ways local businesses and councils can work together to reduce transport costs, attract local customers and support stronger local economies.
Why the most effective small businesses aren't doing it alone (and what that means for yours)
Here's some insight into what I'm seeing across the businesses and community organisations I work with: the more tools we have access to, the more isolated a lot of business owners are becoming, and I think that isolation is quietly costing them. Read my insights and practical solutions here.
How regional and tourist-dependent towns can turn a quiet Easter into real economic momentum
Here's an idea - people staying close to home this Easter might not be a problem for local business. It could be an opening. A genuinely good one too if your town is ready to meet them. Explore some practical tips in this article.
Ten years of Mac&Ernie - a celebration and a rare personal share
A rare share from me on what it feels like to hit a milestone while falling back in love with your business.
Feeling overwhelmed by decisions? Try this one thing
Decision fatigue doesn’t come from big strategic choices, it comes from hundreds of small, poorly defined ones. What if you could reduce the feeling of overwhelm by simply reducing the number of decisions you have to make each day?
Why ease in business is a signal of good strategy (not a luxury)
When work feels consistently hard, clunky, or draining, it’s rarely because the people involved aren’t capable. More often, it’s because the way the work is designed no longer matches reality. How can you fix that? How can you push and pull more ease into your marketing or workflows?
How can I use AI to make marketing easier, but still sound like a human?
People-powered marketing is about keeping the human voice at the centre, while using systems and tools (including generative AI) to make the work more sustainable, consistent, and manageable over time.
“I’ve been doing my own marketing for years - why isn’t it working?
If you’ve been doing your own marketing for years and it isn’t working the way it should, it’s not a motivation issue. It’s a strategy gap.
And once that gap is filled, marketing starts to feel clearer, lighter, and far more effective, here’s how.
Why getting organised with your marketing isn’t about doing more - it’s about setting the scene to do less.
January organisation doesn’t need a full reset. Sometimes it just needs easier ways to use what already works to make it simpler and more effective. Lots of tips for how in this article.
How to run a successful competition on Facebook and Instagram
You want to run a competition on social media; but how does it work? What are the rules on Facebook and Instagram? Don’t worry - I’ve got you covered. This step-by-step guide will teach you everything you need to know.
Why I use a Do-Try-Consider framework in my Coaching (and how the “you should” culture doesn’t work)
I haven’t publicly spoken much about my coaching method, but it’s grounded in a simple but powerful structure called Do–Try–Consider - a framework that creates clarity, reduces overwhelm and supports healthier, more thoughtful decision-making. It’s the opposite of shouting orders. It’s a conversation. I’d like to share it with you.
How to really support local and small this Christmas (2025 edition)
Every year I set myself a challenge to do as much of my Christmas shopping as possible locally. It takes more time, and sometimes more money, but in 2025 - a year where the cost of living is still stretching families and local business owners to their limit - it feels more important than ever. Here are my tips, if you’d like to join me.
The smart way to simplify your marketing: add kindness, reduce friction
If you’ve ever wished your marketing felt simpler and more impactful, the answer might not be another tool, trend, or tactic. It might be in how you make people feel - and more specifically, how easy you make it for them to connect, buy, book, and belong.
How to repost content in Instagram
If you're taking screen shots and dropping them into your Instagram feed or using an app with an intrusive watermark, you'll want to read this post. How to repost in Instagram and the etiquette.
If AI Optimisation (AIO) is the evolution of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), what does this mean? How can small businesses catch up?
If you’ve been hearing the term AIO in conjunction with SEO lately, you’re not imagining it–it’s a thing. This article explains what AI Optimisation is in the context of search engines and social media and gives tips for small business wanting to increase their discoverability online.
'Confirm Shaming' and other marketing practices that give me (and probably your customers) the ick!
You may not have heard this term, but I bet it’s been used on you before. I think it’s important to understand how to not fall into the trap of unethical marketing practices as a consumer, but also as a business.
How to convert your Meta Business Suite into a Meta Business Portfolio (and why you should do it).
Here’s a step-by-step guide to transitioning your Meta Business Suite account into Meta Business Portfolio to secure your assets and safely manage access by third-parties and employees.
A guide to supporting Australian Made and local businesses all year round
I think shopping local should always start with “could I?” rather than “I should” because it can be a little harder to do. That said, the month of May is Australian-Made month and a good chance to check in on your habits. I’ve put together a stack of ways to support local with less effort in this blog.
Navigating the use of the ‘Anzac’ Brand in marketing: rules, missteps, and best practices
Thinking of branding your special treat, fun run or sale using the word ‘Anzac’? Before you hit go, there are some very important things you should know about this word, its significance and legal uses.