Generally most people have a basic idea of what they believe a graphic designer does. The list probably goes something like creating logos for businesses or brands, fixing or editing images using Photoshop and probably making magazine ads… correct? Well technically yes, graphic designers do in fact do all of these things, but they’re only a fraction of what makes up a much bigger picture.

Graphic design is everywhere - just look around! I can guarantee you’ve had some interaction with a graphic designer’s work - possibly before you even leave your house of a morning. Did you pick up a cereal box this morning? There’s a great example of graphic design!
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​Content marketing has become such a big trend in business promotion. Successful businesses have become publishing houses. As a business owner, how do you take advantage of effective content marketing without having to do it all yourself?
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Content marketing is the process of creating and curating high-quality, valuable and relevant content, that aims to engage, inform and attract a targeted audience. In other words, you are educating people about your industry, business, brand, team, product or service, so that they can get to know you, begin to like you and then actually trust you enough to decide to do business with you.
 
Great content marketing can be a wonderful referral tool. Every business I have ever worked with over the last 20+ years has always cited word of mouth as one of the ways they get new business. Content is a great tool for your happy customers to refer others.
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The Australian Government has established a website to make it easier to find out what funding, development, support or assistance your business may be eligible for. 

​Signwriters are an unruly, unlicensed bunch - I should know, I married one of them! In Australia, signwriting is not a licensed trade. Yes, there is a four year trade apprenticeship and yes there are formal signwriting qualifications. However to own a sign shop, you don’t need any of this. In fact, I checked out a signage franchise a few years ago and they stipulated that they only wanted unqualified franchisees! With this in mind, it doesn’t surprise me that navigating the field of signwriting as a business owner can be a bit tricky.

In today’s digital world everything changes minute-by-minute, which can make it hard to decipher what’s worth the investment and what is not when it comes to your marketing. Buyers are consuming new information every single day, so how exactly do we capture and keep a buyer’s attention?

​In today’s highly competitive world a customer can find anything with just a few keystrokes and a click of a button. In business it only makes sense to make it EASY for your customers to do business with you.
 
Ask yourself these simple questions:

• Why would a customer choose to do business with you and not your competition?
• What makes you worth the customer’s time?
• What are you doing in your business that draws a customer’s attention and keeps it?
• How are you making it EASY for them to do business with you?

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A plan without action is just a dream – Cielito Bello.

This is so true. Of course it's great to dream. I encourage you to dream big. But don't get your head stuck in the clouds, or in paperwork. The power is in the action.

You've spent time creating a vision and you have identified your goals. That’s GREAT, but it's what you do next that is most important.

START is the key word here. Don’t over complicate things, try and achieve one goal at a time before moving onto the next, it’s better to complete one, than start thirty-three and not complete any.