While you and your team might be hanging on by a thread as you race to the finish line this festive season, don’t forget to thank the many people who have been part of your success throughout the year.

There is no question in business that we get asked to contribute to so many organisations and sponsor so many causes. And it’s sometimes easier to just say no so people stop bothering you and asking you to put your hand in your pocket.

Pitching your business wares to potential customers can often be a daunting task as many people see it as talking about themselves and find it off putting when they have to put themselves out there. Firstly don’t think of it like that, think of it as showcasing a new way to solve a problem for someone to make their life better in some way.

How are you travelling? No I mean really? How are you and your business travelling right now?

We are excited to announce that we’ve moved the Danae Jones Consulting Headquarters into our new office! It’s uber modern chic with a high tech sustainable edge and we absolutely LOVE our new space.

I was chatting to a small business owner the other day who was convinced that email marketing was dead and buried and that people were disengaged with email communication these days. I presented a different point of view to this business owner as I didn’t agree – Why? Because that is not what the current research is telling us and I’ve seen the results first hand. eCommunications are actually one of the most cost effective, results driven mediums that a business can utilise.

It is not uncommon to hear people say public relations is simply a publicity stunt. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is, the communication industry is growing daily and effective public relations is a series of actions and activities that form a comprehensive Strategic Communications Plan.

It is very easy to switch to a cost cutting mentality to increase profit margins and stem the cash losses in a business during an economic downturn, but when you start slashing from the line items that actually assist in generating revenue for your business, it is a slippery slop that I strongly advise against. We must think much longer term as business owners in tough economic times with every decision we make. And if you, or those around you see Marketing and Public Relations as an unessential cost to your business, then I stand before you to challenge that thought process.

The festive season is upon us and while many businesses are planning to close their doors for their annual set timeframe, many others remain open, as it is their strongest trading period of the entire calendar year.If you’re a business that is looking forward to the annual shut down, that doesn’t mean your Public Relations needs to wind down as well.

When it comes to engaging in the digital space, if you are unfamiliar playing in this arena, it can be very confusing what gives you the best reach and engagement with your target audience. I could write pages and pages on what achieves the most effective engagement in the digital domain as it is requires a holistic approach to your marketing efforts, but for the purpose of this article I’d like to focus on two of the most dominate and cost effective methods: Video and eMail communication.

As we enter a new financial year it is highly recommended to take a relook at your Marketing & Public Relations Planning to ensure that by December you achieve your desired goals for the calendar year.

Overnight like it or not we have all had to embrace a new world, a virtual world. Video conferencing and excessive online data use has become the new norm. Digital marketing has been anointed the ‘chosen one’ without even trying and the echoes of experts urging businesses across the world to embrace the digital age for the past decade have become very loud voices in the distance for many business owners who failed to act sooner.

Putting on an event need not cost the earth either, it’s all about establishing the purpose of the event in the first place and then working through the key elements from there. Professional event managers and marketers know how to put on an event to WOW your audience to fit within your budget, so don’t hesitate in engaging a professional to assist you and your team make your event be remembered.

It surprises me just how many companies do not have an active media policy or media crisis management plan in place.

Having worked in all forms of media throughout my career, I’d have to say that there’s not too many people that don’t get a case of the nerves when it comes to doing interviews, but what I can say is it can be overcome easily with training.

When speaking to the media, creating a positive image for you and your company is essential. A positive image doesn’t arise out of thin air though, it takes a lot of hard work and effective planning on your part to be portrayed in a positive light.

Something significant happened recently in the legal world in North Queensland. A precedent was set to pull vindictive social trolls into line through an NQ restaurant owner suing the anonymous troll for defamation.

There is no question that social media and the worldwide web have seen the arrival of the overnight expert. For consumers this has created no end of problems as people are signing up for products, services and programs with so called experts that are no more than amateurs with a very captivating social and online presence.

I don’t know about you, but when someone tries to do the hard sell on me in business these days I try to find the closest rug to crawl under.

Preparing people to front the media in good and bad situations is something I do as part of my daily work with clients. Having worked with everyone from seasoned professionals through to amateurs over the past 16 years, when it comes to media the truth is no-one is alone with the nerves or self doubt that are associated with it. Here are some helpful tips to get you better prepared for your next media opportunity.

Media releases are a great way to get credible exposure for your business without having to spend thousands of dollars on advertising.

Have you sat down and reflected on the year that was and strategised for the year ahead? If not, this is the perfect time of year to do so, as you’ve hopefully had some much needed down time with your loved ones and you’re relaxed and refreshed and ready to tackle 2019 with gusto!

Video is gaining momentum online like never before and if you aren’t producing video content to promote your brand, then you’d be wise to give it some consideration as it really could bring you the attention on your social media platforms that you desire.

In a business world full of noise and every business owner yearning to cut through the noise and be heard, how do you plan to make your marketing stand out in 2018?

People have become so desensitised by the avalanche of advertising in the market these days, that people are craving information, not sell. If you can adequately inform and educate your public about your products or services, you are far more likely to build a stronger long term relationship with your consumer base.