Ideas & Advice

A small business blog with helpful tips, practical advice and inspirational stories.

Business Tips

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Shining a light on women-owned businesses

Women-owned businesses are innovative, strong and leading the entrepreneurial charge in Australia – according to a 2020 Xero survey, two-thirds […]

Side hustle into a full time business.

How to turn your side hustle into a full-time job

Working on a passion project, earning extra money, becoming your own boss – there are many reasons to start up […]

Pivoting with purpose: From greenhouse to garden pizzeria

Small businesses constantly have to adapt, whether it’s a change in location or a logo adjustment. One business that’s no […]

How to work from home with kids

The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic as COVID-19 spreads rapidly around the globe. For most non-essential employees, our […]

40 Ways to Thank Your Team and Your Customers

Saying thank you is important – it feels good, makes others feel good and is great for business. It needn’t […]

Focus on these five elements to ensure your perfect pitch

Pitching is an important way to gain new customers and grow your business but, if you really had to, could […]

7 ways to increase small business customer engagement

You’ve probably heard the term ‘customer engagement’ while marketing your small business. Customer engagement encompasses all of the ways you […]

Everything you need to know about TikTok for small business

Social media is one of the best places to market your small business and connect with your customers while driving […]

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Marketing & Advertising

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Email marketing subject lines: 6 guidelines & best practices

Email is one of the most budget-friendly marketing tactics available to small businesses, but it is only effective when your […]

Influencer marketing for small businesses: How it works and how to get started

These days, influencer marketing is one of the most buzzworthy strategies in the marketing world. Partnering with influencers can be […]

Selling on Etsy: Tips for small business owners

The business world has been shifting to e-commerce for years. But that shift has definitely accelerated over the past 12 […]

The Power of Referrals: How Word-of-Mouth Marketing Can Accelerate Your Business.

Would you go to a hairdresser without a recommendation from a friend? What about trusting someone to prepare your taxes? […]

8 website merchandising tips for your online shop front

We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, for tips on creating a website that makes the […]

How to write a marketing plan when you know nothing about marketing

What’s the big secret to starting a successful business? The answer is, in a word, marketing. No matter how good […]

Trade show booth must-haves: Everything you need to stand out at events

Meeting new customers: it’s not only the lifeblood of your small business, it’s the reason you bring your business to […]

Trade show tips & advice

For a small business owner, trade shows can seem overwhelming. They often require a lot of additional work on top […]

Ready, set, glow: How this woman-owned business continues to grow

To be successful, small businesses have to grow – whether it’s evolving their offerings or ensuring their customer bases continue […]

Email marketing best practices for your small business

Email marketing is a great way to connect with your customers and deliver targeted messaging while driving engagement, sales and […]

How to manage email marketing for your small business

Billions of people use email every day. According to data from Statista, there are currently 4 billion daily email users […]

How to combine online and offline marketing strategies to build a small business community

Customers are the backbone of any successful small business. As such, if you want your small business to continue to […]

Everything you need to know about email list building

In today’s increasingly digital world, email marketing for small businesses is key if you want to grow your company, reach […]

The 5 marketing materials you need to start a business

Marketing is one of the most important elements of successfully launching a new business. And to effectively market your business, […]

Local awareness on-the-go

Not all small business owners have brick-and-mortar shopfronts — so, you may have to get creative with where you hang […]

How to create a YouTube channel & playlist

If you have a smartphone, an internet connection and a Google account, you have everything you need to start a […]

How to optimise signage inside & outside your shopfront

When it comes to communicating with customers, the right signage can make a world of difference. Customers could potentially pass […]

A digital marketing checklist for small business owners

Digital marketing doesn’t have to be complex to be successful. With simple yet thoughtful planning, and a consistent branding approach, […]

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Seasonal & Lifestyle

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Creative announcement ideas to share your next big milestone

Getting married, having a baby or packing up and moving to a new city? When you have exciting news to […]

Save the date wording – what to write and how to write it

So, you’re getting married? Congratulations! Now it’s time to get organised — and one of the first steps is to […]

Wedding thank you card wording: Writing tips & examples

You’ve said your vows, opened gifts and maybe even been on your honeymoon…now, it’s time to sit down and write […]

When to send save the date cards for your wedding

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! From the engagement to the planning, it’s such an exciting – and busy – time. […]

The ultimate children’s birthday party planning checklist

Whether it’s a get-together for your family or a back-garden bash for all of your child’s friends, a party is […]

Your ultimate wedding planning guide

Congratulations on getting engaged! Now that you’ve celebrated your engagement with family and friends, it’s time to set a wedding […]

Say ‘I love you’ without saying ‘I love you’ with custom photo gift ideas

A picture says a thousand words…so, show someone you love them with a photo gift. Go beyond a simple framed […]

6 unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes Yes, we know, we should show our love for those around us every day and […]

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Design Tips

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How to create (& use) a logo for your yoga studio

We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vistaprint, for tips on getting the right logo look for […]

design services

Hiring a graphic designer: 6 times you should consult a pro

If you’re a small business owner, you’re probably used to wearing many hats – accountant, marketer, IT department. But in […]

Event branding: Give your recurring events a unique look

Event branding: Give your recurring events a unique look Estimated reading time: 4 minutes One of the best ways to […]

Working with a Designer: 5 Essential Tips to Get the Best Results

Working with a designer can help you create a polished website or a visually appealing piece of marketing. But like […]

Before you design your business card, ask yourself these 5 questions

Choice can be overwhelming. And while we’re pretty proud of the fact that we’re constantly adding new business card designs […]

What customers love – and loathe – in a business card

In an increasingly digital age, some might wonder whether business cards were getting a little old school. At the same […]

6 visual merchandising tips for your small business

If you run a business with a brick-and-mortar shop, the term ‘window of opportunity’ couldn’t be more appropriate. Your window […]

Brochure design in 4 easy steps

Information brochures are a perfect choice for saying more about your company. They come in as many formats and designs […]

Flyers

Flyer size guide

When it comes to attracting customers to your business, getting the word out is usually the first hurdle. That’s why […]

Tips for small business owners when working with designers

We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, for his insights into how small business owners can […]

How to design T-shirts in 8 steps

We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, for tips on creating impactful T-shirts. Whether for your […]

Postcard hero

Postcard size guide

When it comes to marketing, there are lots of items you could add to your tool kit – business cards, […]

Attract attention with these signage design tips

We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, to get some tips on creating stand-out signage. Read […]

Business card size guide

A business card is a marketing classic for a reason – as a small business owner you’ve probably passed them […]

How to stand out at an outdoor event

Outdoor events, like craft fairs and farmers’ markets, are great places to make meaningful connections, attract new customers and build […]

How to create a logo for your gym or fitness studio

We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vistaprint, for tips on getting the right look for any […]

Build a brand that builds a following

People love swag, whether it's a T-shirt from their favourite brewery or a promotional tote bag from a local shop.

Design decoded: The top 12 easy to read fonts

How important is it to choose the right font for your website? With a legible font, your business’ message comes […]

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Branding

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A glossary of branding terms that every small business owner should know

If you own your own business, chances are you’ve heard the term “branding.” But there’s a plethora of other words […]

Should you rebrand your business in 2022?

The world — and the world of small business — is constantly evolving. Maybe you started out as just a […]

How to create brand guidelines

We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, for tips on creating a brand style guide. Read […]

10 things that make your business look unprofessional online

Whether you’re launching a business for the first time, or you’re looking for ways to grow your existing business and […]

How to Write Your Business Pitch [ eBook ]

As a small business owner, it’s vital to clearly and succinctly pitch your business to prospective customers or clients. However, […]

Branding made for word-of-mouth marketing

As a small business owner, there are plenty of things you can do to make your brand stand out. But […]

Redesign resolution: A new look sparks a brand transformation

MY MARKETING MUST-HAVES Redesign resolution: A new look sparks a brand transformation Estimated reading time: 6 minutes A new year […]

Our customers share tips on how to get the most from stickers and labels

Whether you promote in shops, at fairs or online, the presentation of your products speaks volumes about your business. And […]

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