Every business, big or small, needs to give a customer some reason to choose their product or service. The best way to do this, is to define why your product or service is different from the competition and more importantly why your customers should care that it’s different. In short, you position your business as distinct in the market.
We all know that when you develop a website, you have to make sure people can find it. Which means making sure it ranks high on the various search engines, which in most cases means Google.
This need is referred to as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), an area of expertise dedicated to putting your website ahead of all the others i.e. the competition. Without question having effective SEO makes perfect sense, in fact it’s critical.
From a marketing point of view Facebook can seem like the ideal place to promote your business. Unlike most traditional forms of media, Facebook is bi-directional, so instead of just sending someone a one-way message, you can use it for things like research, brand building, customer service, finding new prospects as well as marketing.
There is a big difference in the way large and small businesses manage and interpret their customer numbers. In most cases, corporates are able to define and analyse these numbers, but it’s an area where small businesses should take some lessons. For those that do, exceptional results are waiting.
We hear it all the time – ‘I spend too much time IN my business, and not enough time ON my business’. So how do you spend quality time on your business, but still make sure your day to day work gets done?
First work out how much of that ‘busy being busy’ stuff YOU actually have to do. It’s a common problem that many of us think no-one could possibly do the job as well as we do.
Most businesses find it difficult to say how they’re different from their competitors. Making those differences valuable to your customers is even more of a challenge. So is it worth the effort? The answer is obvious for those that are clear about their point of difference.
Sales and marketing plans, when produced well, have the ability to dramatically improve your bottom line results. They can create more leads, drive greater sales from those leads, and even help you tailor your products to new and wider markets. Of course all of this relies on you actually following the plan.
The important thing to be aware of with any sales and marketing plan is that it is not a promotional plan.
A great website with some key tools (such as a supporting database system) is not only a great way to keep in touch with your existing customers; it will allow you to promote your business, reach out to potential new customers, take enquiries and entice people back time and again.
A database is essentially a simple list of your customers – typically your best customers. Databases won’t help you make money if you don’t use them properly
Being online is no longer something that businesses should just think about, or put on a list to do ‘one day’ – it is now imperative. Your customers are turning to the net many times a day, looking for the types of products and services that you offer. If you’re not online, you could be left behind.
It’s easy to get lost in the technical stuff when it comes to websites, but if you understand a few key areas and can use these to judge how well your site is performing you’ll be able to maximise the effectiveness of your site.
"We were looking for something different, but within the company brand guidelines to tailor to the "inner city western fringe" that is Grey Lynn. Appealing to this clientele can be a challenge within existing company offerings and being respectful of the company brand guidelines. The RHM team came to the office to get a feel for the environment and our people and then set about creating a website with videos of staff, snapshots of local iconic buildings and spaces and local news articles. The result was a funky digital presence in our market that has attracted people to our office."
“I would like to take the time to write Richard and his team at Right hand man. My business, The Four Saucemen, needed an upgrade to our website. We had a site I had built myself for our venture in 2019. Whilst it did the job at the time, we quickly out grew it. We wanted a polished look to go with our premium brand. Meeting Richard and the team I was comfortable knowing they had the expertise to get this done. Several meetings going over content and great communication meant the new site came in on time and on budget. Very happy and would be happy to recommend Richard and the team at Right Hand Man.”
“When we were looking for a marketing partner, we chose RHM for their passion, their enthusiasm and, to be fair, grass roots attitude.
I highly recommend RHM to anyone who is looking for that A-level of service and care well above the rest.”
Working with the Hampden team, Right Hand Man put together an effective tradeshow plan complete with a lead generating strategy and designed an attention-getting stand. Thanks to Right Hand Man’s help, our attendance at the show was a success and we look forward to attending Facilities Integrate 2020.
“RHM were very good to deal with. The team took the time to get to know us and our business and applied an approach that suited our needs. There was no desire to overcomplicate the solution. We’re very happy with the value for money and the ease in dealing with the RHM team.”
“RHM definitely delivered what I expected. Angela, Rob and Hej from RHM have been working as part of Tino’s startup team. I’m very happy with the team and will definitely continue to work with them to make Tino the top structural and seismic engineering consultancy in New Zealand.”
“Right Hand Man’s knowledge of the Auckland hospitality scene combined with their expertise in social media can only add value to any venue in our city or wider afield. I recommend them to any hospitality organisation seeking marketing initiatives in their business plan as a very worthwhile option.”
“As a small growing business, we dipped our toes into the marketing space and committed to the Right Hand Man Team. We are delighted with the service levels and seeing real results in our business performance. Thank you RHM!”
“The team at Right Hand Man are genuinely passionate about helping our business grow. They have brought a fresh perspective and offered invaluable insights around our brand and positioning. We really enjoy working with them and the enthusiasm and energy they bring. We are delighted with the partnership we’re forming with Right Hand Man.”
"Right Hand Man just got the site built within our tight time frame and built well. It was a very smooth experience from the beginning they simplified all the technical side and arranged a boardroom meeting to draw up the site layout. The new site has lead our company to a large increase of contracts."
“We first approached Right Hand Man because we liked the idea of outsourcing our marketing requirements. And in short, it’s been a smart move for us. Richard and his team have become a true partner, getting right inside our business, understanding our needs and implementing a plan to help us meet our sales targets. The results have been fantastic, and now we’ve asked Right Hand Man to provide their personalised marketing support direct to our nationwide dealer network.”
“Right Hand Man has been a great source of guidance and advice for me. From the initial development of my Brand Position to the regular conceptual meetings, all has been an interesting, rewarding and helpful journey, bringing me closer to my business goals.”
"We are the credit experts so if anyone should recognise that credit should be given when credit is due, then it's us!! So thanks again – awesome work!"
"I found the team at RHM committed to helping me through the maze of marketing, promotion and packaging resulting in me confidently exhibiting at the Gift Fair, and knowing that my products were being presented in the best way. I think that Richard, Angela and the team really 'got' me, and helped to expand the horizons of Keepsake beyond where I thought it could go."
“I would describe Right Hand Man as a key business partner, a team who genuinely care about the outcomes for you as a business owner. We found Richard and the team great to work with, easy to get along with, patient listeners and always offering great insights.
Right Hand Man are very much part of the Little Ants family."
“Working with Richard, Daniel and Chris from Right Hand Man is a pleasure and we have gained an enormous amount of clarity surrounding our strategic vision and corresponding operational requirements.”
WOW!!! Angela, Richard and the team have gone above and beyond anything I had ever imagined!! RHM were able to see my potential even when I had doubts and really did everything they possibly could to make things doable.
I can’t imagine not having Ange and the team in my or Mood’s life, and I’m really looking forward to further years of working with them… Super love for these rock stars!!!”
"From the very beginning Right Hand Man made a huge difference to our marketing efforts. Our website has gone from something we kept quiet about to something we’re very proud of. They also delivered a huge improvement in our email marketing results – with a 250% increase in website click rates and a 116% increase in openings. Right Hand Man has transformed our marketing – we only wish we’d worked with them earlier!"
“I always knew I needed a right-hand man; a side kick team to run ideas past, keep me focused and to help me see through the fog of running my business, then I met Richard and Ange at Right Hand Man Marketing and discovered that they are fun to work with, and they could help me plan and implement some changes to my business. They each have different strengths and those filled in some blanks for me. Together, we worked to make my event a success and created an updated website which lead to a smoother sales process and positive feedback from new clients.”
“We worked with this bunch of slippery gypsies for several months and they were indeed a good find and fit. They actually listened to us, heard our story and it also made great therapy for us. Right Hand Man managed to get inside our heads and turn those confusing mass of thoughts into a very simple plan and take it to the World. I believe we achieved that without having to spill any blood…
Pirate Nation thoroughly recommend Right Hand Man as your Right Hand Men and Women!”
“Right Hand Man has been very thorough in addressing all aspects of our marketing and advertising with attention to detail in our physical appearance, new logo, website creation, online marketing programme and customer relationships.
We have been very happy with the results and Right Hand Man has been very easy to work with, industry savvy and a very positive influence on our business. We look forward to our ongoing relationship with them."
I know the team at Right Hand Man put the interests of my business at the heart of the work they do and, as a result, have created a strong partnership that benefits us all. Knowing they deliver on the marketing promises they make, I am free to focus on those aspects I am good at. I am so glad that the Right Hand Man team is a part of my business."
"I've worked with marketing agencies before. So when it came to my own small business, I knew what I was looking for. People who take the time to understand my company and the market it operates in. People who are dedicated to finding solutions that work, are cost effective, and are measurable. People who are not afraid to suggest ideas I may not have thought of. I found all this in Right Hand Man."
"Richard and the team at Right Hand Man have helped immeasurably to get my business off the ground, and they continue to assist me with different marketing strategies as I grow. When I need advice I can just get on the phone, plus we have regular meetings to check on progress and fine-tune what we’re doing. I can highly recommend them to any new or existing business owners for good advice and effective strategies."
“We wanted to get traction fast and Right Hand Man helped us do it. The promotions they suggested have had the tills ringing, plus we’ve been able to build a loyal following of customers in a short space of time.”
