March - the first month of spring! Whether you count from 1st (as meteorologists do) or the equinox (as astronomers do), spring definitely starts this month! The evenings are getting noticeably lighter and our morning dog walks are a bit less dark and chilly: it fills me with enthusiasm, how about you?

In marketing terms, spring is the time to plan ahead for summer campaigns, holidays and, yes, even Christmas! (You can never be too organised, particularly if you have quiet periods that you can usefully fill).

To get you enthused, in this edition:

Exit strategy - closing or moving your business?
My essential guide to Apprenticeships
'Get to grips with Digital Marketing' one day course
Spring content ideas

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the better weather, when it finally arrives!

Claire

If you need marketing help, send up the Minerva signal!

Exit strategy - closing or moving your business?

One of my longest-standing clients has let me know they are retiring in the summer. I'm thrilled for them, of course, but will miss the business and the fun jobs they had me doing! As part of helping tidy up any business loose ends, we've been compiling a checklist of people you need to tell, planning when to stop actively marketing and working out if and when to 'switch off' things like the website. There doesn't seem to be much information out there on that - lots on the financial side of closure but not much else.

And it occurred to me that, actually, whether you are retiring, moving premises or making any other big changes to the way your business operates, many of the considerations are the same. A bit like moving house, it would be easy to forget something so we've been making a list.

In case it's helpful to you or anyone you know, I've turned it into a blog on my website, which you can read here if you like.

Do let me know what you think - and if we've missed anything!

Guide to Apprenticeships

Those who know me well know that I 'moonlight' as an Apprenticeships Ambassador, visiting schools and colleges to share the benefits with potential students.

For National Apprenticeship Week this year (10th-16th February) I wrote a blog offering my essential guide to getting an apprenticeship, for employers, parents and aspiring apprentices. If it's something you're interested in, do read it here.

Do you need to get to grips with your marketing?

Course: 4th April

Need to get to grips with digital and social media marketing but don't know where to start? Or don't know what to say?

I'm running another one-day course designed for busy small business owners who'd rather be doing what they're good at than doing their own marketing. If you know someone to whom that applies, please share the details. Thanks.

Email Claire to book now