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Marketing consultancy offer
Alison Jobson
March 30, 2020
Our special offer to help small businesses market themselves in these challenging times.
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The helpful little marketing book
Alison Jobson
March 24, 2020
A new quarterly magazine packed full of useful marketing advice.
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Free marketing advice #FreeFriday
Alison Jobson
March 19, 2020
Our pledge to support local business.
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How to keep marketing when money is tight
Alison Jobson
March 14, 2020
7 low-cost marketing suggestions.
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5 tips to optimise your Google My Business listing
Alison Jobson
February 21, 2020
Improve your online visibility through Google My Business.
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Copywriting tip – write shorter sentences
Alison Jobson
January 15, 2020
How to make your copy clearer, sharper and more compelling.
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What to include in your new year marketing plan
Alison Jobson
December 20, 2019
Start 2020 with a clear plan of action.
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Free Exeter business networking event
Alison Jobson
December 6, 2019
Free Exeter business networketing event.
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MailChimp launches website builder
Alison Jobson
November 27, 2019
Create a new website with MailChimp.
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How to maximise your marketing budget
Alison Jobson
November 7, 2019
11 ways to make your money go further.
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How to add credibility to your marketing
Alison Jobson
October 22, 2019
How can you substantiate your marketing and build trust in your brand?
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10 business networking tips
Alison Jobson
October 7, 2019
Maximise your networking success with these 10 business networking tips.
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Top email marketing tip
Alison Jobson
September 24, 2019
Improve your email open and engagement rates with this top tip.
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Digital advertising – what metrics should you be reviewing?
Alison Jobson
September 12, 2019
How did we analyse a recent digital display campaign?
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Is your direct mail, junk mail?
Alison Jobson
August 27, 2019
Another critique - this time of a direct mail piece.
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How to attract followers to your blog
Alison Jobson
August 11, 2019
9 ways to increase traffic to your blog.
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Marketing email critique
Alison Jobson
July 29, 2019
The following marketing email was sent to me recently. I receive several cold emails a week, as I’m sure you...
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How to come up with creative marketing ideas
Alison Jobson
July 17, 2019
Struggling for ideas? Check out these 7 tips.
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Do you know about the Facebook ad library?
Alison Jobson
July 10, 2019
A handy tool for Facebook advert inspiration.
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Our latest design and copywriting project
Alison Jobson
June 24, 2019
Check out one of our recent marketing projects.
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Always stay true to your brand
Alison Jobson
June 12, 2019
Brand consistency is key. Find out why with this example.
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How do you stand out from the competition?
Alison Jobson
June 10, 2019
An example of how to use your brand personality to stand out.
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A guide to social media profile image sizes
Alison Jobson
May 30, 2019
Size your profile images correctly for each platform.
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What makes a good PR photo?
Alison Jobson
April 29, 2019
A picture paints a thousand words.
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New LinkedIn update: Reactions
Alison Jobson
April 18, 2019
New ways to express your feelings on LinkedIn.
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Google Images warning
Alison Jobson
April 9, 2019
Select images with care to avoid a copyright breach.
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How to market your local business event
Alison Jobson
March 16, 2019
18 tips on how to market your business event for free.
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Local radio now not so local
Alison Jobson
March 6, 2019
Global announces major changes to its local radio format.
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Split testing emails explained
Alison Jobson
February 27, 2019
All you need to know about A/B email testing.
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42% of UK businesses outsource marketing
Alison Jobson
February 22, 2019
New research reveals that over 42% of UK businesses outsource marketing.
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When to post on social media
Alison Jobson
January 30, 2019
A quick guide to help you work out when to post on social media.
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12 low-cost marketing ideas
Alison Jobson
January 20, 2019
Some ideas if you're marketing on a tight budget.
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New website design
Alison Jobson
January 11, 2019
Our new website is finally here! We hope you like it.
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Advert design mistake
Alison Jobson
January 4, 2019
Need to design a small space advert? Here are some design tips.
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Free marketing plan template
Alison Jobson
December 24, 2018
Download our free marketing plan template to help you with your marketing planning for 2019.
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Free Exeter business & networking event
Alison Jobson
December 14, 2018
Join the launch event for Cyber Security Awareness Week.
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New LinkedIn business page features
Alison Jobson
December 3, 2018
Three new LinkedIn features for your LinkedIn business page.
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What is a landing page?
Alison Jobson
October 30, 2018
Here are 6 key elements to a successful landing page.
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Five things to include on your homepage
Alison Jobson
October 24, 2018
Five things you should include on your homepage to make your website successful.
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A muddy time out from marketing
Alison Jobson
October 15, 2018
Getting muddy on Woodbury Common in aid of charity.
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Google+ is shutting down
Alison Jobson
October 9, 2018
Yesterday, Google announced that Google+ is shutting down.
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10 creative direct mail ideas
Alison Jobson
September 27, 2018
Direct mail works especially when it’s creative. Here are 10 suggestions for a creative campaign.
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How to increase your LinkedIn company page followers
Alison Jobson
September 13, 2018
7 ways to increase your LinkedIn company page followers.
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New – MailChimp direct mail postcard
You can now send printed postcards through MailChimp.
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3 ways to follow up direct mail campaigns
Maximise the effectiveness of your direct mail campaigns with these three steps.
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How to get Google Reviews
Google Reviews are highly important for your business. Here are Four easy steps to getting Google Reviews for your business.
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How to evaluate a sponsorship opportunity
Alison Jobson
July 23, 2018
Six questions to consider when assessing whether to sponsor or not.
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Blogging can lead to radio interviews!
Alison Jobson
July 13, 2018
We’ve just done our third radio interview which came off the back of an historic blog post.
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Devon radio advertising
Here’s a low down on the main Devon radio advertising opportunities which are available to you.
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Recommended Exeter venue
Alison Jobson
June 29, 2018
Following a recent visit, we fell in love with this Exeter venue. If you’re looking to host an event, take a look.
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Do you really need a corporate brochure?
Alison Jobson
June 22, 2018
Is your website enough or do you need a printed brochure to work alongside?
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Why use radio advertising
Take a look at the most recent stats from RAJAR, the official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK.
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6 easy tips to boost your site speed
Alison Jobson
May 31, 2018
From July, Google will be using mobile page speed to help determine a page’s search ranking.
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Avoid a not secure website warning
Alison Jobson
May 24, 2018
Have you updated your website so it won’t get labelled as “not secure”?
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How to make the most out of being shortlisted for an award
Alison Jobson
May 9, 2018
If you’ve been shortlisted for a business award you need to shout it from the rooftops!
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Exmouth marketing agency award finalist
Alison Jobson
April 27, 2018
We’ve made it onto the shortlist for the Exmouth Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2018.
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GDPR: Do you need B2B marketing consent?
Alison Jobson
April 17, 2018
Legitimate interests is a lawful base that B2B marketers can use to process personal data.
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Key client management programme – selecting key clients
Alison Jobson
March 28, 2018
Some suggested criteria to use when selecting clients for your CRM programme.
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7 ways to encourage referrals
Alison Jobson
March 18, 2018
Referrals are often the easiest way to generate new business. Here are 7 tips to encourage referrals.
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Free business support in Devon
Alison Jobson
March 8, 2018
A European Regional Development Fund is currently providing free business support to Devon businesses.
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What to do if someone steals your content?
Alison Jobson
February 28, 2018
If you find your content has been plagiarised what can you do about it?
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Are you authentic with your marketing?
Alison Jobson
February 21, 2018
An example which highlights the importance of being honest and authentic with your marketing.
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Top 100 UK marketing blog
Alison Jobson
February 14, 2018
Our Straight Marketing marketing blog has been selected as one of the top 100 UK marketing blogs.
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South West business exhibitions
Alison Jobson
January 31, 2018
Here is a round-up of South West business exhibitions taking place this spring/summer. A good opportunity to meet new prospects.
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Event management success
Alison Jobson
January 26, 2018
See what we’ve been up to lately. We’ve just helped our client successfully launch their forthcoming awareness week.
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Event Twitter checklist
Alison Jobson
January 19, 2018
Use our event Twitter checklist to help generate leads, expand your network and raise your brand profile.
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Is this the end of Facebook for business?
Alison Jobson
January 12, 2018
If you use Facebook for business you need to be aware of a forthcoming change.
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Exeter business event: January 25th 2018
Alison Jobson
December 29, 2017
Join us at this not-to-be-missed free Exeter business networking event next month.
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Top 10 Christmas 2017 YouTube ads
Alison Jobson
December 19, 2017
Here are the top 10 Christmas YouTube ads. Is your favourite on the list?
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2018 marketing tips
Alison Jobson
December 9, 2017
Ten 2018 marketing tips to get your new year marketing off to a great start and boost your business in 2018.
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Christmas corporate gift ideas
Alison Jobson
November 28, 2017
Six Christmas corporate gift ideas to thank your clients and customers for their business and show them you care.
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Worrying Facebook news field trial
Alison Jobson
November 10, 2017
A new Facebook news feed currently being trialled could be catastrophic for businesses that rely on Facebook to reach customers.
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8 marketing tips on preparing for GDPR
Alison Jobson
October 31, 2017
Spooked by GDPR? Read our 8 practical marketing tips.
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How does GDPR impact marketing?
Alison Jobson
October 30, 2017
There are 3 areas which marketers need to be concerned with regarding the GDPR.
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GDPR helpline for small businesses
Alison Jobson
October 26, 2017
Unsure about the GDPR and what it means for your business? A new helpline is coming soon to assist.
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Why use direct mail over email marketing
Alison Jobson
October 20, 2017
9 reasons why you might want to consider using direct mail instead of email.
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MailChimp Google remarketing
Alison Jobson
October 6, 2017
The email marketing platform MailChimp has introduced a new channel – Google remarketing adverts.
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How to get local press coverage for your business
Alison Jobson
September 26, 2017
9 tips to help you get local press coverage for your business.
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How to improve your local ranking on Google
Alison Jobson
September 17, 2017
With more people using mobiles to search the internet, local ranking on Google is key.
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Local Business Awards: Devon
Alison Jobson
September 7, 2017
Local business awards are great for publicity and endorsement. Here’s a round-up of Devon awards.
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SW cyber security event
Alison Jobson
August 27, 2017
Learn how to protect your business from cyber crime at this free SW one-day cyber security event roadshow.
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12 sources of blog inspiration
Alison Jobson
August 17, 2017
Are you stuck on what to blog about? Check out our 12 sources of blog inspiration to help get your creative juices flowing.
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Exeter charity quiz night
Alison Jobson
August 7, 2017
Why not enter a team in Exeter Business Club’s first “Quiz ‘n’ Fizz” night in aid of the Exeter Foundation?
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Creating great email subject lines
14 tips to help you create catchy email subject lines that stand out in a crowded inbox and avoid your email going straight to trash.
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11 steps to an effective direct mail letter
Alison Jobson
July 24, 2017
Generate leads with a good direct mail letter. Find out how.
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8 tips to improve your WordPress website security
Alison Jobson
July 17, 2017
8 easy to implement security tips to help protect your WordPress website from being hacked.
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Thinking of using a telemarketing agency?
Alison Jobson
July 6, 2017
Are you thinking of outsourcing your telemarketing? Read our 11 point checklist first.
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How to evaluate an advertising opportunity
Alison Jobson
June 26, 2017
Consider these six key questions to evaluate an advertising opportunity.
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Do you need a printed brochure?
Alison Jobson
June 16, 2017
In this digital age, is there still a place for the traditional, glossy, corporate printed brochure?
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Using AIDA to write an advert
Are you planning on advertising your business? Find out how to use AIDA to help you write an effective advert.
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Blog topic generator
Alison Jobson
May 30, 2017
This blog topic generator is a great tool when you’re stuck for blogging ideas.
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New website development project completed
Alison Jobson
May 22, 2017
Check out our latest website development project which went live last week.
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Domain registration warning
Alison Jobson
May 14, 2017
If you’re about to register a new domain name be careful about who you use as domain name registrar.
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Grammarly review – great copywriting tool
Need help with your copywriting? Check out the Grammarly app.
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9 steps to clean marketing data
Alison Jobson
April 27, 2017
Clean marketing data is essential for effective marketing. Follow these 9 steps to maintain clean marketing data.
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Increase Google rankings with images
Alison Jobson
April 13, 2017
Find out how to increase your Google rankings by using images on your website.
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Marketing and the GDPR
Alison Jobson
March 27, 2017
The GDPR comes into force in May 2018. If you use personal data for marketing you must comply.
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Trade show marketing tips
Alison Jobson
March 15, 2017
Exhibiting at a trade show? Read our 17 show marketing tips to get the most return on investment.
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We’re exhibiting at The South West Business Expo
Alison Jobson
March 9, 2017
Come and see us at The South West Business Expo on 30 March 2017. We’ll be at Stand 68.
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Social media confession
Alison Jobson
February 28, 2017
My social media confession. Why it’s OK to give yourself a break and how it might be better for your business.
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Be creative with your direct mail
Alison Jobson
February 21, 2017
Direct mail shouldn’t be boring. See our recent creative direct mail example and the results it achieved for our client.
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MailChimp Facebook advertising
Alison Jobson
February 10, 2017
MailChimp has launched a new feature which allows its customers to create Facebook adverts within the MailChimp platform.
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Free Exeter networking event
Alison Jobson
February 1, 2017
Register now to attend this free networking event in Exeter.
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How to win back lapsed customers
Alison Jobson
January 27, 2017
It costs around 6 to 7 times more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one.
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Marketing retainer – how does it work?
Alison Jobson
January 16, 2017
Find out how our retained marketing contracts work.
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Not secure website warning
Alison Jobson
January 6, 2017
If you don’t have an SSL certificate and HTTPS Google plans to warn your website visitors, which could have a detrimental impact.
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Straight Marketing’s most read blogs of 2016
Alison Jobson
December 30, 2016
In case you missed them, here’s a round up of our five most read marketing blog posts in 2016.
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Cyber Security Awareness Week in Exeter
Alison Jobson
December 20, 2016
A must attend event coming to Exeter in February 2017.
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Pros and cons of advertising
Alison Jobson
December 10, 2016
Thinking of spending your marketing budget on advertising? Check out the pros and cons.
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Themed marketing campaign
Alison Jobson
November 29, 2016
Use a themed marketing campaign to introduce your company to target customers. See our recent successful example.
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Google tests mobile-first index
Alison Jobson
November 21, 2016
What is mobile-first indexing and how will it affect your website rankings?
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2016 Christmas TV adverts
Alison Jobson
November 14, 2016
A round up of the 2016 retailer Christmas TV adverts. They’re all very different, which one is your favourite?
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Direct mail advice
We’ve consolidated of all our direct mail advice blogs so just one place to go for direct mail guidance.
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8 reasons why you need an explainer video
Alison Jobson
October 26, 2016
An explainer video is a short video introduction to your company or product.
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How to get customer testimonials
Alison Jobson
October 24, 2016
Use customer testimonials to help convert and persuade potential customers. Read our tips on how to collect them.
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Sort your email subject headers out!
Alison Jobson
October 18, 2016
Email marketing is a great marketing tool but don’t send emails like this example!
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What to put on your business card
Alison Jobson
October 9, 2016
First impressions count. What should you put on your business card to help convey the right message?
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How to write an advert
Alison Jobson
September 29, 2016
9 steps to help you write an advert that will pack a punch and make the most of your advertising expenditure.
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How to increase word of mouth recommendation
Alison Jobson
September 19, 2016
7 ways to encourage your customers to give more word of mouth referrals.
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Event: how to find and build your audience using social media
Alison Jobson
September 9, 2016
Find out more about using social media for your business at a CIM event in Exeter this month.
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How future proof is your company name?
Alison Jobson
August 19, 2016
Will your company name grow with your business or could it hold you back?
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Busy bees at Straight Marketing
Alison Jobson
August 11, 2016
It’s been a busy time at Straight Marketing lately. Take a look at what projects we’ve been working on for clients.
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The life stages of mail
Alison Jobson
August 3, 2016
A recent research report from Royal Mail MarketReach shows that direct mail is still effective.
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Business accreditation: Cyber Essentials
Alison Jobson
July 26, 2016
We recommend all businesses achieve Cyber Essentials accreditation. Find out why.
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Devon business awards
Alison Jobson
July 20, 2016
Here is a round-up of business awards in Devon.
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Is it OK to tweet the same thing several times?
Alison Jobson
July 13, 2016
We explain why you might want to share the same content more than once.
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Facebook for business just got harder
Have you noticed a decline in your Facebook business page reach? It’s about to get worse.
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Glossary of marketing terms
Alison Jobson
June 29, 2016
Are you baffled by certain marketing terms? Here we attempt to demystify the world of marketing and define 11 of the more obscure terms.
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Email marketing tips for small businesses
Alison Jobson
June 20, 2016
If you’re new to email marketing here are some email marketing tips to get you started.
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Time to update your marketing plan?
Alison Jobson
June 10, 2016
Download our free marketing plan template to help you write or update your marketing plan.
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How to get press coverage for your small business
Alison Jobson
June 2, 2016
Tips on how to get press coverage for your business without engaging a professional PR.
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More Twitter updates
Alison Jobson
May 25, 2016
Yesterday Twitter announced a series of Twitter updates which will be rolled out over the coming months.
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Should you pay more attention to Bing?
Alison Jobson
May 21, 2016
Is it time to pay more attention to Bing, Microsoft’s lesser known search engine?
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Twitter to increase character limit
According to a recent report, Twitter is going to stop counting photographs and links in its 140-character limit for tweets.
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Outsourcing marketing to a marketing agency
Alison Jobson
April 27, 2016
What do we mean by outsourced marketing department and why might you use one?
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Clients reducing their print advertising, why?
Alison Jobson
April 15, 2016
We’re not popular with the sales manager at a local East Devon newspaper. Find out why.
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Blog editorial calendar – why you need one and how
Alison Jobson
April 8, 2016
A blog editorial calendar will save you time and make your blogging more strategic.
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Optimising images for SEO
Alison Jobson
March 30, 2016
Using images in your blog posts will help with SEO. Here’s how to optimise images correctly to boost your SEO.
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Poor sales copy or am I difficult to please?
Alison Jobson
March 15, 2016
Do you agree this is an example of poor sales copy?
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When is the right time to redesign your website? Now!
Alison Jobson
March 1, 2016
Guest blog from digital marketing expert, Kristen Sousa.
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What colours mean in branding
Alison Jobson
February 17, 2016
Does your brand colour accurate reflect your brand? Take a look at this colour spectrum to see if it does.
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What is your brand personality?
Plot your brand on the Brand Personality Spectrum to understand what your brand represents.
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When is it time for a brand refresh?
Alison Jobson
February 4, 2016
We’re often asked “when is it a good time for a brand refresh?” Here’s our advice.
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Our latest marketing projects
Alison Jobson
January 29, 2016
Here’s a snapshot of some of the marketing projects we’ve been working on.
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Facebook advertising – a beginner’s guide
Alison Jobson
January 17, 2016
If you’d like to try Facebook advertising for the first time here’s a beginner’s guide.
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DIY SEO Tips
Alison Jobson
January 12, 2016
Here are 8 DIY SEO tips to help you boost your search engine rankings.
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5 marketing resolutions for 2016
Alison Jobson
January 5, 2016
If you’ve committed to sorting out your marketing this year here are 5 marketing resolutions for 2016.
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Our most popular marketing blog posts of 2015
Alison Jobson
December 29, 2015
In case you missed them, here’s a round up of our five most read marketing blog posts in 2015.
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Free marketing planning workshop
Alison Jobson
December 16, 2015
In our December issue of Marketing Tips we’re giving away a half-day marketing planning workshop to one lucky business.
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Find us in Yellow Pages
Alison Jobson
December 7, 2015
Would you use a “Find us in Yellow Pages” sticker on your company vehicle? What value does it add?
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Christmas TV adverts 2015
Alison Jobson
November 25, 2015
Which Christmas TV advert is your favourite? Here’s a round up of the 2015 Christmas TV adverts from the major retailers.
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How not to conduct a sales call
Alison Jobson
November 16, 2015
Here's an example of how not to conduct a sales call.
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Great email subject line – #notjustforkates
Alison Jobson
November 11, 2015
A great email subject line is crucial to encourage the recipient to open your email.
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How to get people to open your email – subject headers
9 tips on how to write an email subject line that will encourage people to open your marketing email.
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Facebook Search FYI
Alison Jobson
October 29, 2015
Facebook Search FYI is Facebook’s latest update, enabling users to search the entire database of public posts in real time.
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Free image sources
Alison Jobson
October 22, 2015
Here are some free image sources that you can use.
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How to create an effective advert
Alison Jobson
October 14, 2015
Here’s our handy guide to help you create an advert that has impact.
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Where to advertise?
Alison Jobson
October 7, 2015
Six tips to help you decide where to advertise to ensure maximum return on investment.
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Final advert revealed
Alison Jobson
October 2, 2015
Here is a sneak preview of the third advert in our six-month advertising campaign for our legal client, Veitch Penny.
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Customer loyalty can be a fickle thing
Alison Jobson
September 23, 2015
A real-life example to illustrate how important good procedures are.
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How to build a B2B prospect list
Alison Jobson
September 9, 2015
Our 4-step guide to building a B2B prospect list for your business.
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Why use a PR agency
Alison Jobson
August 19, 2015
Here are 6 reasons why you may want to consider using a PR professional to help.
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Buyer persona template
Use our buyer persona template to really get to grips with what your ideal customer looks like.
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Good customer service saves the day
Alison Jobson
July 29, 2015
A recent example to demonstrate the importance of providing good customer service.
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Half price marketing offers
Alison Jobson
July 22, 2015
We’ve got two great half price marketing offers, which are only available until 31 August 2015.
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How do I make my website mobile friendly?
Alison Jobson
July 15, 2015
With Google now penalising non-mobile optimised websites, here are some tips on how to make your website mobile friendly.
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Good marketing & bad marketing – all in one day
Alison Jobson
July 10, 2015
An example of what we thought was good and bad marketing practice from the same company in just 24 hours.
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Paddy Power shows how to do agile marketing
Alison Jobson
July 3, 2015
Another ‘off the cuff’ marketing campaign from Paddy Power illustrates what agile marketing is all about.
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How to find journalists on Twitter (for free)
Alison Jobson
June 16, 2015
Some handy tips on how to find journalists on Twitter so that you can start to engage with them and build relationships.
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How to engage with journalists on Twitter
Alison Jobson
June 9, 2015
One way to raise your profile in the media is to engage with journalists on Twitter. Here are our 5 tips.
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Two new websites launched for clients
Alison Jobson
June 4, 2015
We’ve recently completed two website build projects on behalf of clients, which have just gone live.
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Second advertising campaign revealed
Alison Jobson
May 26, 2015
A sneak preview of the second outdoor advertising campaign for our law firm client, which goes live in June.
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Marketing tips for exhibiting at a county show
Alison Jobson
May 12, 2015
If you are exhibiting at a county show here are some marketing tips on how to maximise your attendance.
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How to write an elevator pitch
Alison Jobson
May 6, 2015
Can you describe your business eloquently in 30 seconds or less? Here are some tips.
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Are you saying the same thing twice: tautology?
Alison Jobson
April 30, 2015
Tautology is needless repetition of the same sense in different words. It’s a common error in copywriting, are you guilty of it?
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Social media cover photos – dimensions & template
Alison Jobson
April 16, 2015
Here is a handy guide to the image requirements for Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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New Facebook feature: Subscribed events
Alison Jobson
April 9, 2015
Facebook has introduced a new feature to pages, which is useful for those that regularly host events.
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Straight Marketing case study: Omega Electrical Services
Alison Jobson
April 2, 2015
Straight Marketing case study: Marketing planning workshop.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Swan Transformations
Alison Jobson
March 19, 2015
Straight Marketing case study: Website build.
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7 tips to keep visitors on your website for longer
Alison Jobson
March 10, 2015
7 tips for improving visitor engagement.
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Marketing budgets to increase in 2015
Alison Jobson
February 27, 2015
A recent survey shows that marketing budgets are expected to increase in 2015.
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Show your customers some love
Alison Jobson
February 12, 2015
5 tips for demonstrating love to your customers.
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New features on Twitter
Alison Jobson
February 10, 2015
Two new features now available on Twitter.
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Advertising campaign goes live
Our client’s outdoor advertising campaign goes live this week.
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Website development tips for 2015
Alison Jobson
January 22, 2015
Our 3 website development tips for 2015.
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Case study template
Alison Jobson
January 13, 2015
A template to help you put together great case studies.
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Get your marketing in shape for 2015
Alison Jobson
January 6, 2015
Our new fitness concept to help Exeter businesses get their marketing in shape for the coming year.
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Straight Marketing top 2014 marketing blog posts
Alison Jobson
December 31, 2014
A round-up of our 5 most popular Straight Marketing blog posts for 2014.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: NHS Trust
Alison Jobson
December 18, 2014
project management of an open event to raise awareness amongst the local business community.
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December Marketing Tips
Alison Jobson
December 11, 2014
Our December edition of Marketing Tips, useful marketing tips and advice in a short, easy to read format.
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A great direct mail marketing example: Nice pants!
A great example of a good direct mail campaign: Y fronts in the post!
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Do your market research
Alison Jobson
November 27, 2014
Improve your chance of success with some market research.
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Christmas TV advertising campaigns 2014
Alison Jobson
November 18, 2014
A round-up of some of the Christmas 2014 TV adverts from the major retailers.
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Advertising: How to maximise spend
Alison Jobson
November 11, 2014
Tips on how to maximise the return on your advertising expenditure.
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5 benefits of case studies in marketing
Alison Jobson
November 5, 2014
Why you should use case studies in your marketing.
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Free Devon business networking event
Alison Jobson
October 30, 2014
Free business networking opportunity for all South Devon businesses.
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Telemarketing training course
Alison Jobson
October 15, 2014
A half-day telemarketing course to equip you with the skills to be successful on the telephone.
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Groupon: a good marketing tool?
Alison Jobson
October 7, 2014
What are the pros and cons of using Groupon as a marketing tool?
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Marketing planning workshop
Alison Jobson
September 27, 2014
Kick start your marketing with our half-day marketing workshop.
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What image does your LinkedIn profile photograph portray?
Alison Jobson
September 17, 2014
What impression does your LinkedIn profile photograph give out?
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Bitpod
Alison Jobson
September 3, 2014
Straight Marketing case study: Lead generation.
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What do your marketing words convey?
Alison Jobson
September 3, 2014
Would you describe your company as cheap?
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How to write a press release
How to write an effective press release to get editorial coverage for your business.
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New direct marketing code of conduct
Alison Jobson
August 13, 2014
New code of conduct from the Direct Marketing Association.
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Tips to improve your direct mail marketing
Alison Jobson
August 6, 2014
Improve the success of your direct mail campaigns with our top tips.
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Funding available for strategic marketing advice
Alison Jobson
July 31, 2014
Did you know you could be entitled to up to £2,000 to put towards strategic marketing advice and support?
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How to cross-sell in professional services
Alison Jobson
July 10, 2014
Tips on how to cross-sell more services to existing clients.
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Video marketing: content ideas
Alison Jobson
July 1, 2014
Content ideas for video marketing.
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Outsourcing social media?
Alison Jobson
June 19, 2014
How to effectively outsource your social media.
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Never knowingly undersold: how solid is your brand?
Alison Jobson
June 12, 2014
Does your brand match up to my John Lewis example?
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Marketing launch: revolutionary bedding product to be unveiled this weekend
Alison Jobson
June 5, 2014
Straight Marketing client to launch at the Ideal Home Show this weekend.
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Brand names: how important is the name?
Alison Jobson
May 28, 2014
How important is the name when choosing a new name for a brand, company or product?
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What is telemarketing?
Alison Jobson
May 15, 2014
What is telemarketing and how can it benefit your business?
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Timeout Retreats
Alison Jobson
May 8, 2014
Straight Marketing case study: Strategy and brand development.
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What is video marketing & why do you need it?
Alison Jobson
May 7, 2014
Video marketing and the benefits explained.
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Business award for Straight Marketing?
Alison Jobson
April 17, 2014
Straight Marketing has been shortlisted for the 2014 Exmouth Business Awards.
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Content marketing: copywriting for beginners
Alison Jobson
April 10, 2014
Tips to help you get started with copywriting.
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B2B Marketing: time to get emotive
Alison Jobson
April 5, 2014
Research reveals that B2B brands respond better to emotive rather than rational marketing messages.
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Growth Voucher Accredited Adviser for strategic marketing
Alison Jobson
March 26, 2014
Straight Marketing is now an Accredited Growth Voucher Adviser.
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Understanding your customers
Alison Jobson
March 19, 2014
A direct mail from E.O.N. illustrates the importance of understanding your customers.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Select Dental
Alison Jobson
March 14, 2014
Straight Marketing case study: Marketing campaign to increase patient numbers.
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Renewables marketing: marketing agency, why employ one?
Alison Jobson
March 13, 2014
Video: the benefits of using an external marketing agency.
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Direct mail marketing: a poor example
Alison Jobson
March 7, 2014
BT demonstrates how not to deliver a direct mail marketing campaign.
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Renewables marketing: marketing on a small budget
Alison Jobson
February 27, 2014
Video: how can renewable energy companies market themselves with a small budget?
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Renewable Energy Marketplace 2014
Alison Jobson
February 20, 2014
An exclusive discount code for attendance at this key renewable energy event.
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Valentine’s Day Marketing Campaigns
Alison Jobson
February 14, 2014
3 examples of Valentine’s Day marketing campaigns from brands you wouldn’t expect.
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Renewables marketing: how to target a different market
Alison Jobson
February 11, 2014
Video: In renewables marketing how can companies target a new market sector?
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Developing a marketing campaign
Alison Jobson
February 6, 2014
Presentation: How to develop a marketing campaign that will raise your profile, attract new customers and increase sales.
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Renewables marketing: How can we differentiate ourselves from the competition?
Alison Jobson
January 23, 2014
Video: In renewables marketing how can companies differentiate themselves?
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Seminar: How to develop a marketing campaign that kicks ass
Alison Jobson
January 16, 2014
Your opportunity to learn how to develop an effective marketing campaign.
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Renewables marketing: Communicating the financial savings & incentives
Alison Jobson
January 8, 2014
Video: In renewables marketing, how can companies communicate a tricky message?
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Straight Marketing top marketing blog posts for 2013
Alison Jobson
December 30, 2013
A round-up of our top 5 blog posts in 2013.
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Video marketing: how to write a video script
Alison Jobson
December 18, 2013
Practical tips on how to put together a marketing video script.
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Traditional marketing is not dead!
Alison Jobson
December 6, 2013
Traditional marketing should still be included in the marketing mix.
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Marketing agency interviewed on BBC Radio Tees
Alison Jobson
November 28, 2013
Two minutes of fame for our Director, Alison Jobson.
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Devon marketing agency explains why you should employ a marketing agency
Alison Jobson
November 23, 2013
What are the benefits of using a marketing agency?
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Renewable energy marketing – how can we help?
A video marketing series for renewables, what are your burning questions?
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Christmas TV advertising campaigns
Alison Jobson
November 10, 2013
Five of the major Christmas 2013 TV adverts.
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Free marketing help for renewable energy companies
Alison Jobson
October 31, 2013
South West renewable energy companies might be entitled to a £1,000 business development grant.
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5 ways to get your direct mail opened
How to get your direct mail letter opened before it hits the bin.
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Devon marketing agency to speak at charity marketing event
Alison Jobson
October 15, 2013
Straight Marketing has been confirmed as a speaker at SW Forum’s ‘Funding Expo South West’.
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Creating a marketing plan: A short video tutorial
Alison Jobson
October 8, 2013
Our contribution to the YouTube ‘In a Nutshell’ business expertise channel.
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How to write a direct mail letter that will get read
Alison Jobson
October 3, 2013
Tips on how to write a compelling direct mail letter.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Space
Alison Jobson
September 23, 2013
Straight Marketing case study: strategy and marketing plan.
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Guest Blog: Is PR photography worth investing in?
Alison Jobson
September 19, 2013
Guy Newman, PR photographer, highlights the benefits of investing in good PR photography.
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New professional services marketing client for Devon marketing agency
Alison Jobson
September 12, 2013
A new professional service client win for Straight Marketing.
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CIM Q4 Marketing Confidence Survey: Growth is back on the agenda
Alison Jobson
September 4, 2013
A summary of the latest results from the Chartered Institute of Marketing Confidence Survey.
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Are your marketing campaigns consistent with your brand and portraying the right message?
Alison Jobson
August 29, 2013
How to ensure your marketing campaigns are not gimmicky and brand damaging.
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Does brand development via Devon Hour work? Yes, we think it does
Alison Jobson
August 23, 2013
The benefits of engaging in #DevonHour.
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Guest Blog: The Benefits of SEO
Alison Jobson
August 14, 2013
Joe Hibberd of Skyline Marketing discusses the importance of good SEO.
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Retail marketing: tips to avoid seasonal fluctuations in sales
Alison Jobson
August 9, 2013
Five top tips on how retailers can avoid seasonal dips in sales.
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Responding to your needs. Really?
Alison Jobson
July 26, 2013
Does this advertising message work for you?
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Guest Blog: The smartphone revolution
Alison Jobson
July 18, 2013
Why does your website need to be mobile friendly?
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Marketing agency interviewed on BBC Radio Devon
Alison Jobson
July 13, 2013
Straight Marketing interviewed live on BBC Radio Devon.
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The royal baby marketing machine
Examples of UK brands that are using the royal baby for their marketing campaigns.
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Niche Marketing Example – “Just Japanese”
Alison Jobson
June 26, 2013
What are the benefits of niche marketing?
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Guest Blog: YouTube – Back to basics
Alison Jobson
June 19, 2013
What are the benefits of YouTube for small business marketing?
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Listening – the key to successful business development
Alison Jobson
June 7, 2013
What has Paralympic blind football got to do with effective business development?
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What is an editorial calendar, why have one and how to devise one?
Alison Jobson
June 1, 2013
What is an editorial calendar, why is it important and how do you devise one?
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South West Digital Marketing Conference 2013: A review
Alison Jobson
May 23, 2013
Key messages from the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s South West Digital Marketing Conference 2013.
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Good marketing communication – getting the message right
Alison Jobson
May 15, 2013
A lowly pen but an example of a badly conceived marketing message.
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Devon marketing agency secures new marketing client
Alison Jobson
May 8, 2013
New client win for Straight Marketing.
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How to use LinkedIn Groups effectively
Alison Jobson
May 2, 2013
Top tips on LinkedIn etiquette and how to derive the most benefit from group membership.
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Help for Exeter businesses on content marketing
Alison Jobson
April 26, 2013
Straight Marketing educates Exeter-based businesses on content marketing.
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Straight Marketing gives marketing advice to small businesses
Alison Jobson
April 23, 2013
Straight Marketing was recently invited to deliver a marketing presentation to Budleigh in Business members.
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Devon marketing agency shortlisted for Exmouth Business Awards
Alison Jobson
April 19, 2013
Straight Marketing has been shortlisted for an award in the Exmouth Business Awards.
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The importance of good messaging
What message is East Devon District Council trying to convey with its new car park signage?
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Marketing training seminar for Devon small businesses
Alison Jobson
April 5, 2013
A free to attend marketing seminar for owners/managers of small businesses in Devon.
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Sector-based marketing: Why and how?
Alison Jobson
March 28, 2013
The benefits of a sector-based approach and practical tips to implement one in your business.
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Small business marketing: How much should you give away for free?
Alison Jobson
March 19, 2013
Where do you draw the line at giving away free advice?
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Content marketing strategy
A step-by-step guide to developing a content marketing strategy.
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Sponsorship: Pros and cons
Alison Jobson
March 4, 2013
What are the pros and cons of sponsorship as a marketing activity?
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Writing an SEO friendly blog – 10 steps
Alison Jobson
February 14, 2013
10 tips to help you achieve good search engine rankings from your blog.
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Is there a ‘what’ in your marketing plan?
Alison Jobson
February 9, 2013
Why is ‘what’ so important in marketing planning?
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Fair Energy
Alison Jobson
January 30, 2013
Straight Marketing case study: Marketing consultancy and campaign support.
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Twitter does work for B2B marketing
Alison Jobson
January 20, 2013
Two examples that demonstrate Twitter does work for B2B marketing
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DIY Marketing?
Alison Jobson
January 13, 2013
Do you really need to employ a marketing professional or can you do it yourself?
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Marketing new year’s resolutions
Alison Jobson
January 4, 2013
Five essential new year marketing resolutions for 2013.
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Straight Marketing’s most useful marketing blogs of 2012
Alison Jobson
December 28, 2012
A round-up of our most useful blog posts of 2012.
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What is content marketing?
Alison Jobson
December 20, 2012
What is content marketing and how can it help your business?
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Outline marketing plan template
A basic marketing plan template to help you get started on your marketing planning with a great new year offer!
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Guest Blog: How Digital Marketing can optimise your success
Alison Jobson
December 7, 2012
Guest blog from digital marketing expert, Kristen Sousa on using digital marketing to optimise your success.
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What to give as a Christmas corporate gift
Alison Jobson
November 30, 2012
What purpose do corporate gifts serve and what should you give at Christmas?
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How to integrate your offline and online marketing campaigns
Alison Jobson
November 23, 2012
Suggestions on how to integrate your offline marketing with your online marketing.
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Offline marketing versus online marketing
Is there still a place for offline marketing? What are the advantages of offline compared to online?
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Zero Carbon Future
Alison Jobson
November 8, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Marketing consultancy.
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How to promote your blog
Alison Jobson
November 2, 2012
8 suggestions on how to promote your blog.
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LinkedIn: An abused marketing tool?
Alison Jobson
October 26, 2012
Top tips on LinkedIn etiquette.
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Working with a marketing agency – FAQs
Alison Jobson
October 19, 2012
How does Straight Marketing work? Answers to our most frequently asked questions.
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Business blogging – what to blog
Finding blog ideas is a key challenge for business bloggers. Here are 10 business blog content suggestions.
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#FreeTheTopsham1 – Why you need a social media policy
Alison Jobson
October 4, 2012
A recent local Twitter campaign highlights the importance of having a social media policy.
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How to measure marketing effectiveness
Alison Jobson
September 27, 2012
How can you measure the effectiveness of your marketing expenditure?
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Questions to consider when outsourcing your marketing to a marketing agency
Alison Jobson
September 17, 2012
What do you need to ask when looking for a marketing agency?
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How to deliver an effective email marketing campaign
Alison Jobson
August 28, 2012
Tips on how to improve the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns.
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10 reasons to have video content on your website
Alison Jobson
August 15, 2012
Why should you consider incorporating video content into your website?
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Teign Housing
Alison Jobson
July 29, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Strategy and marketing planning to target a new customer base.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: @one Wellness
Alison Jobson
July 29, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Strategy and marketing planning for a start-up business.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: SW Forum
Alison Jobson
July 29, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Strategy and marketing planning.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: AFA
Alison Jobson
July 28, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Email marketing campaign.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Hosted Desktop UK
Alison Jobson
July 28, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Strategy, marketing planning and implementation.
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Why blog and how to blog?
Why is it good for your business to blog and how do you go about blogging?
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“Mastering Marketing” – Marketing seminar for Exeter businesses
Alison Jobson
June 14, 2012
Learn how to be a Marketing Master in just one hour. Alison Jobson of Straight Marketing will show you how.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Potburys
Alison Jobson
May 29, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Rebrand.
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How to write an award-winning award entry
Ten top tips to help you write an award entry which will get shortlisted and win!
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Sampson Hall
Alison Jobson
March 3, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: marketing strategy and short-term marketing plan.
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Straight Marketing Case Study: Hartnell Chanot & Partners
Alison Jobson
February 28, 2012
Straight Marketing case study: Website redevelopment.
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Types of marketing agency explained
What are all the different types of marketing discipline and which agency is right for you?
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12 low-cost marketing suggestions for increasing sales in 2012
Start the new year with a review of your marketing strategy with these 12 low-cost marketing suggestions.
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Does your business need a Google+ business page?
Google+ launched Business Pages earlier this month. What’s it all about and should your business have a page?
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A Meeting of Like Minds: My review of Like Minds Conference 2011
Alison Jobson
October 23, 2011
My personal review of the Like Minds Conference 2011 – “Innovation and Opportunity”.
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Are you hiding your light under a bushel?
Alison Jobson
October 10, 2011
A tale of two vans and a missed marketing opportunity.
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Never “Knowingly Undersold” – Will your positioning statement stand the test of time?
Alison Jobson
September 28, 2011
What is positioning and why is it so important to the successful marketing of a business?
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Dead pets don’t need vaccinating. How clean is your data?
Alison Jobson
September 19, 2011
How clean is your data?
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Golden client care rule: Don’t let activity prevent proactivity
Alison Jobson
September 12, 2011
Being proactive can provide a point of differentiation.
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Lessons learned from a year as a Marketing Consultant
Alison Jobson
July 31, 2011
Straight Marketing passes its first anniversary.
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At what point do you stop chasing a sale?
Alison Jobson
July 6, 2011
When is it time to accept a sale is unlikely and move on?
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Why am I still cleaning for the cleaner?
Alison Jobson
June 24, 2011
First impressions are vital but consistency is everything.
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How to create an effective eshot
Alison Jobson
June 16, 2011
When sending eshots do you consider how each recipient will receive it?
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Why am I cleaning for the cleaner?
Do you ever think about what first impressions your business creates for your potential clients?
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Do as I say, not as I do
Alison Jobson
May 17, 2011
Sometimes even marketing consultants need to take a dose of their own medicine.
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Tenuous off-shoots of the Royal Wedding marketing machine
Examples of tenuous links to the Royal Wedding.
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10 reasons why a business should employ a marketing consultant
Alison Jobson
April 5, 2011
What benefits can a business gain from employing the services of an external marketing consultant?
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Innovation in marketing communications: why don’t we talk anymore?
Alison Jobson
February 28, 2011
What happened to good old talking?
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Top business development tip: follow up
Alison Jobson
February 13, 2011
Follow up is simple yet crucial to any successful business development activity.
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Business etiquette at networking events: handshake or kiss?
At what point is it appropriate to kiss a business contact in greeting?
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The art of effective networking is to make friends
Alison Jobson
January 31, 2011
The key focus of business networking should be to build relationships not sell.
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Starbucks unveil new logo. Is re-branding always a good marketing move?
Alison Jobson
January 16, 2011
How much of a disaster is a re-brand gone wrong?
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How can professional service firms use innovation to maintain competitive advantage?
Alison Jobson
December 19, 2010
How relevant is innovation to the development of a professional service firm?
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How can you make more effective use of your marketing budget?
Alison Jobson
November 29, 2010
How can you make the most effective use of your marketing budget?
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Retail law firm: Is this a major innovation in law firm marketing?
Alison Jobson
November 21, 2010
QualitySolicitor announces its plans to open the first retail legal store. What does this mean for law firm marketing?
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Lessons in online marketing gained at an Exeter networking event
Alison Jobson
November 11, 2010
How do you make your blogs SEO friendly?
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Is service quality important in marketing?
Alison Jobson
November 1, 2010
Why is good quality so important in service provision?
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How do you prepare a marketing plan?
Alison Jobson
October 25, 2010
How do you plan your marketing activity?
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Top tips to make a marketing seminar successful
Alison Jobson
October 15, 2010
How do you ensure you achieve maximum benefit from seminars?
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B2B marketing: what are the pros and cons of hosting a seminar?
Alison Jobson
October 8, 2010
What are the pros and cons of hosting a seminar?
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Exeter based marketing consultant shares examples of poor marketing communications
How does a business ensure its marketing communications create the right impact?
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Segmentation in the marketing of a service-led firm
Alison Jobson
September 17, 2010
How do you prevent your clients from pigeonholing your firm?
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Business ideas to make networking a successful part of your marketing mix
Alison Jobson
September 9, 2010
How do you ensure that your firm is best represented by your junior fee earners at networking events?
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How effective is advertising for professional services marketing?
Alison Jobson
September 8, 2010
How effective is the use of advertising in promoting a professional service firm?
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Who’s behind new Exeter based marketing consultancy, Straight Marketing?
Alison Jobson
September 8, 2010
An introduction to the founder of Straight Marketing.
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Are you a social media sceptic or believer?
Alison Jobson
September 8, 2010
Is there a place for social media in the marketing mix employed by a B2B organisation?
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