Ideas & Advice

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

Business Tips

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What we learned: Hiring employees & growing a staff

Hiring an employee is a major step for a small business owner. When you decided to start your business, you […]

NAIDOC Week 2022: Celebrating Indigenous business

NAIDOC Week is here and to celebrate, we’re showcasing some amazing Indigenous-owned businesses. Torres Strait Island and Aboriginal businesses are […]

Shining a light on LGBTQ+ owned businesses

The LGBTQ+ community is filled with inspiring people and stories; from dreamers and go-getters to innovators and trailblazers. And although […]

How to launch & market your side hustle

Whether you’re a small business owner looking to branch out, or just want to earn a bit of extra cash, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

7 ways eateries can use QR codes

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes QR codes have made a comeback in the last few years — they’ve proven to […]

How small business is shifting in 2022

Regardless of industry, the small business world is ever-changing. In 2020, we saw resilient small business owners shift their offerings […]

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 […]

Turning customers into a community: How Pride Fitness built a loyal following

A small business is nothing without its customers. But as many small business owners know, there is a fine art […]

How to use Instagram link stickers for your small business

Good news for small businesses — Instagram link stickers are now available to everyone using the social platform. This feature, […]

How Aussie small businesses survived 2020

A global pandemic, bushfires, floods and a mouse plague – Aussies did it tough in 2020 and continue to do […]

Adapting to change: Serving up something new with food truck-inspired takeaway

Adapting to change: Serving up something new with food truck-inspired takeaway Estimated reading time: 7 minutes The COVID-19 pandemic threw […]

How to respond to negative reviews as a small business owner

The internet is one of the first places people turn to when they’re searching for a new provider or service. […]

Rooted in community: How Kelly Polanco stands out at local events

Rooted in community: How Kelly Polanco stands out at local events Estimated reading time: 4 minutes One of the best […]

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 […]

6 unexpected ways to use stickers for small businesses

Stickers are amazingly versatile tools for promoting your brand. You probably showcase your branding on your essential marketing materials, like […]

5 big benefits of social media for small business

Social media has evolved from a space for personal interaction into a vibrant marketing channel for businesses of all sizes. […]

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 6 marketing materials you need to start a business

To effectively market your small business, you need the right tools. After all, marketing is one of the most important […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

How to use the back of business cards: 11 creative design ideas

Your business card contains a lot of essential information about your business. Your logo should be loud and proud on […]

How to design a brochure in 8 steps

Are you ready to take your small business brochure design up a level? After all, you pride yourself on what […]

Business card design ideas for different industries

We chatted with Mark LaRosa, a Creative Manager at Vista, for his insights on business card design. Read on for […]

6 ways to make your product packaging market itself

Each time a customer buys something from your business, whether online or in person, it’s a golden opportunity to get […]

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 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 […]

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, […]

How to choose brand colors using color theory

Colour theory can play an important role in your small business branding. Colours carry meaning, and the colours you choose […]

Colour psychology for business branding: How to choose the right colours

We chatted with Dr. Sally Augustin, PhD, an environmental and design psychologist, to learn more about the psychology of colour. […]

Create a unique look for your business & watch it grow

Beautiful design can help your business grow – especially when it translates into branding that works everywhere your customers see […]

Ideas & Advice

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Seasonal & Lifestyle

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