Marketing strategy

A marketing strategy tells you what to say, how to say it and who to say it to in order to make more sales. Our guide to the basics.

Start here - our simple guide to creating an effective marketing plan, why you need one, what information you need and what it needs to cover.

Where to start with SWOT analysis, what to include, where to find the information and how to use it to help your business survive and thrive.

No idea whether your business needs a brand? The basics of how to create a valuable brand and how to exploit it for business advantage.

Your business needs to get pricing right. The basics on the different pricing strategies you could use, and what you need to consider.

Successful exporting needs to be carefully planned to avoid expensive failures. Our guide to where to start and what you need to consider.

How to attract customers and make a success of being a small independent retailer, whether on the high street, selling online or both.

How to market your business on a shoestring, and why measuring, testing and fine-tuning is the key to getting the biggest bang for your buck.

Where to start when hiring marketing and sales staff, the sorts of skills and attributes you should look for and pitfalls to avoid.

Our introduction to identifying market segments, and how it can help you tailor your offer to meet their needs - helping you sell more effectively.

Our guide to product development, including customer research, market positioning, the product life cycle and how to keep your product range fresh.

A memorable brand can reinforce your identity and encourage customer loyalty. But there's a lot more to a lasting brand than a well-designed logo.

Small businesses can create an effective brand by examining how the business works and what it means to customers. Our guide to SME branding.

Effective use of design in your business can increase sales, reduce costs and present a new image to customers. Our guide to getting design right.

Use this checklist to help to develop new products, from developing new ideas to setting budgets, deciding on product specification and prototyping.

Exporting can be more financially complex than selling in the UK. How to negotiate payment methods, choose financing and deal with foreign currencies.