Module 4: Marketing

The business world is changing! Today customer’s are better informed and much more demanding. The internet has made information readily available to customers and for the first time ever small companies are able to compete with the big boys on very small marketing budgets.

It is therefore imperative that your business is ready to respond and has an up to date and robust marketing strategy. In this week’s tip of the week, Serial Entrepreneur Patrick White introduces you to Module 4 of the Business Growth Course, which addresses these very issues and offers helpful insight.

Find Out More About the Business Growth Course

Session 4: Marketing

A good Marketing strategy is at the heart of a solid growth strategy. In order to increase your revenue and profitability, you first need to understand your customers’ needs, provide a product or service to meets those needs and let your customers know that the solution they are looking for exists!

What you’ll be covering in this session:

• The concepts behind a Marketing-led approach to business and the POISE model of Marketing
• Contents and Structure of a Marketing Plan and how each section is relevant to your business
• Marketing Research—working within the process, different types of Marketing research
• Using Marketing Research tools and techniques
• Applying analytical tools to your Marketing Plan
• Understanding Buyer Behaviour and what makes people decide to buy from you—you’ll be shown how this applies to both B2B and B2C customers
• Classification and segmentation of customers according to type and buyer behaviour
• Setting strategies according to the current stage of the Product Life Cycle and planning for New Product Development and Launch
• Applying the Boston Matrix and Ansoff’s Matrix to your business to identify which products you should be offering to which markets
• Pricing Strategies—you’ll be shown 13 different short-term and long-term strategies for using your price to position your products and services in the marketplace; as well as in the minds of your customers, and to generate sales
• Channel and Distribution Tactics—selling via agents, wholesalers, retailers and other intermediaries
• Communicating your message and promoting your products and services through appropriate media
• Relationship Marketing and Business Development strategies for forging strong business contacts
• Creating your own Marketing Flowchart which illustrates how you will execute your plan

Find Out More About The Business Growth Course

Module 3: Strategy

“Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail” this is advice we’ve heard since our school days but how many of us really believe it and follow it in our business. In this video Patrick White discusses just how important it is to have a strategy if you want your business to succeed.

Have you got a Strategy? Is it right for your business?

On Module 3 of the Business Growth Course you’ll be introduced to eleven potential strategies and evaluate which one is right for your business based on your Vision and Goals, and the Diagnostics you created in the previous session. Having the right strategy for your business if fundamental to your success!

What Does Module 3 Include:

The saying goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. When preparing for growth in your business, it is essential to know exactly where the business is heading and how you are going to get there.

In this session you will be building on the work you have already done to set your Vision and Goals, and combining that with the in-depth knowledge you now have about your business from the Diagnostics session, to create a realistic plan for growth. During this session, you will start to work on the Strategy Document for your own business.

What you’ll be covering in this session:

• How far ahead can you realistically plan for?
• The key elements of Strategic Planning—Competitive Advantage, Adding Value, Mass markets vs. Niche Markets, Cost-Based Strategies & Market-Based Strategies
• Examining Contingency Plans and Growth Plans
• Corporate Culture—what is it, what drives it and how do you go about defining the culture of your company?
• Integrating your Strategic Plan with your Vision, Aims and Objectives
• Using Analysis tools such as SWOT and PEST within your Strategic Plan
• Porter’s Five Forces model and how this can be applied on a practical level within your business
• The resources that you need to implement your strategy
• 11 Different types of Strategies and how to choose the strategy/strategies that will enable your business to grow and meet your objectives

Find Out More about the Business Growth Course

Module 2: Business Diagnostics

There is more to business success than having a great idea.  For some people, their ideas translate instantly into a profitable business and for others, years of hard work and study. Often entrepreneurs who find success quickly are considered lucky, but as Patrick tells in this video there is more to it than just luck, and early success does not dictate ongoing success.

For more information on the Business Growth Course and upcoming start dates, click here.

Module 1: Vision & Mission

Knowing where you’re driving your business is just as important as driving it. Having a clear vision and mission for your business allows you to make decisions that are right for the long term growth of your business, rather than short term ones that feel good.

In this video Dr Patrick White introduces the first module of the Business Growth Course and explains just how important having a clear vision for your business is.

To find out when our next Business Growth Course starts Click Here

Or call Lenka on +44 (0) 20 7939 9910 to discuss whether the course is right for you.

Fast Business Growth is Not Always Best

It can be very rewarding and exciting when your new business takes off and experiences fast growth, but as Patrick White explains in this video, its not always a good thing.

The Business Growth Course, led by Patrick White, takes place over 6 weeks. The 2 hour sessions are perfect for learning the theory and then applying to directly to your business.

To find out when the next Business Growth Course starts Click Here

Or call Lenka on 020 7939 9910  to discuss whether the course is right for your business.

Read Testimonials for this Course

Funding is available via Train to Gain. A Home Study Course is available.

Watch the Full Video by Clicking Here

What Does It Take To Be A Millionnaire?

Patrick White, a Director here at SME Academy, opens up about his background and how he learned the skills that have helped him to dramatically transform businesses all over the world. With 14 successful businesses of his own, each selling for millions, he now shares his tools and techniques with you on his unique Business Growth Course.

To find out when the next Business Growth Course starts Click Here

Or call Lenka on 020 7939 9910  to discuss whether the course is right for your business.

Read Testimonials for this Course

Funding is available via Train to Gain. A Home Study Course is available.

To hear the full interview Click Here

Recession: Sales Problem or Growth Opportunity?

Watch video about this event

Free seminar delivered live via your computer
Time: 9.30-10.30am
Date: Tuesday 25th August 2009
Can’t make it? Don’t worry. A recording will be available if you are unable to attend.

Right now a certain kind of small business is thriving. While their competitors scratch around for sales leads and a magic bullet to solve their short-term cash-flow problems, these canny businesses are systematically building solid foundations for growth – often flying completely under the radar of their competitors.

Find out more about what makes these businesses grow in a recession and what you can do to make immediate changes in the way you run your business.

Hannah McNamara

====> Click play to hear a message from Hannah McNamara (right)

Audio lasts approx 1 minute

Join Patrick White and Hannah McNamara as they show you how to maximise the opportunities for growth in a recession

Topics covered:

• Why your business plan is useless and could be damaging your chances of increasing turnover and profitability
• How to weigh-up short-term gain against long-term growth
• Exactly what to look for when prospecting for business – you could get a MUCH better conversion with certain sections of the market, we’ll show you how
• Why you need to watch your back now more than ever before – while you focus on new leads, your competitors are getting ready to poach your most loyal customers
• How to turn your customers’ fear of recession into a selling tool

Patrick White will be previewing material from his forthcoming Business Growth Course starting on Thursday 10th September, which is also available as a home-study course.

Register now to receive details on how to attend this seminar.

About Patrick White

Dr Patrick White

Dr Patrick White is a Consultant and Trainer specializing in Business Strategy, Business Finance, Marketing Management and Organizational Behaviour.Initially qualifying as an accountant, he then obtained his Master of Finance and subsequently his Master of Business Administration (Marketing Major) In 2000 he completed his PhD which was focused on Business Strategy and Leadership. Mr White is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (New Zealand).

After a successful international corporate career in a variety of industries across 13 countries with responsibilities for up to 14,000 staff he then went on to become a serial entrepreneur owning businesses in the hospitality, retail, IT and food and beverage industries. His last business covered fuel and oil distribution and had a turnover of $US 2 billion and 600 staff.

For the last 12 years while owning the above businesses, he has also worked as a high level management consultant in various business sectors as well as an international public speaker and trainer on a variety of business and people management topics.

What people have said about Patrick White:

“Just setting aside time to focus properly on planning was a major benefit.”
Ian Cockburn, Managing Director, Rescue IT

“The right mix of practical working, listening and learning, and I felt it was truly value for money. The tools will be useful, and I have already scheduled regular review sessions into my diary to work on my business not in it. I will certainly recommend Patrick to all my business associates.”
Michael Gottlieb – The Smart Information Consultancy Ltd

“The course was great and I really appreciate all the work you did and the enthusiasm you generated which was a great inspiration and has spurred Belderbos Landscapes on to bigger and better things.”
Ed Belderbos – Belderbos Landscaping

“I found the Business Growth Course to be a valuable learning experience, particularly because of the flexibility of the course material to suit my individual needs, and also because of friendly and informal atmosphere that made for a comfortable learning environment that was rich with anecdotes and nuggets of shared experiences. The course content included some really useful tools and templates – all of which were of exceptional quality and will serve me well for years to come.”
Mark O’Brien, Head of Retail, Richard House Children’s Hospice

“The insightful presentations and workshops were led by friendly Aussie ‘serial entrepreneur’ Patrick White.”
Rebecca Parker – Into English Ltd, comments taken from her blog

http://intoenglish.blogspot.com/2007/11/seminar-report-business-link-win-win.html

Register now to receive details on how to attend this seminar.

Business Growth Course Sept – Oct 2009

The next Business Growth Course starts on 10th September 2009.

This course is designed for directors and owners of small businesses who are going through periods of change. It will give you the practical business knowledge you need to get through changes positively. All the course content is relevant whether you are growing, restructuring or rationalising.

For some people, recession is good for their business. For others, it causes uncertainty and worry. Either way, the Business Growth Course helps you to analyse what’s going on in your business right now and work out a plan for what to do next.

Topics covered:

• Goal Setting & Vision
• Diagnostics
• Business Strategy
• Marketing Strategy
• Business Planning (including Financial Planning & Forecasting)
• Project Management

Starts: Thursday 10th September 2009

Ends: Thursday 15th October 2009

Number of Group Workshop Sessions: 6

Number of Private Coaching Sessions: 2

Course Fees: £1,200+VAT

Funding Available? Yes – certain businesses qualify for a grant of up to £1,000 to help part-fund the course. Please contact us to find out how to access this grant.

You can find full details at Business Growth Course.

[Video Tip] Put a shark in your business

Dr Patrick White from SME Academy explains how a little-known Japanese fishing technique can be applied to your business in a recession to improve results. …Read More

[Video Tip] Never let me make a mistake

Dr Patrick White from SME Academy talks about the dangers of surrounding yourself with ‘yes-men’ in your business. His story illustrates how not allowing people to challenge your decisions can lead to expensive mistakes.
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