BBC On The Money

This past Sunday, 31st July 2011, I was lucky enough to be able to contribute a question to the 'Business Doctor' on the BBC 5 Live programme, 'On The Money'. During the week before I noticed on my Twitter feed that BBC Business has re-tweeted a tweet from the show asking if anyone required any marketing tip and hints. I replied, generally asking how a small business can market itself on a shoestring, and was surprised when a couple of days later I received a tweet back and a call from the show!

It was arranged that I was to appear live on the show and ask my question to marketing 'guru' Scott Knox. So duly tuned in and tied to my radio last night I waited for the call. There was a slight change of tack in my question as, in introducing Scott earlier in the show Declan Curry asked a general question on marketing on a budget but I think ultimately this was a bonus. The BBC called in plenty of time and I was able to listen to the show as I was on the phone, before going live on air!

You can hear my questions, and Scott's answers roughly ten minutes from the end of the show here (please note that after a week the BBC iPlayer will remove this show). For those who can't receive iPlayer I explain that as a relatively recently relocated soul trader its difficult to market a business, especially after you have had to pay regular suppliers and put food on the table. Then, if something should go wrong with the marketing you have planned, there may well be no funds left to market your business for a while. What can be done in this situation?

Scott's three main answers were the use of social media, especially LinkedIn; to try and make use of local press and local awards; and to offer free services for charities and non-profits. When I pushed him on this last point, 'if you are working to earn money how do you find time to do work for free, no matter how good the cause?' he pointed out that for any charity work there should be something in it for the business. If not payment what other benefit can be gained from completing a charitable task, which will help market the business?

Based on these answers it appears that I have much more to learn about LinkedIn and I shall be researching that soon, that I should try and find more news type stories for the local press and consider how I can achieve a 'quid pro quo' with a non-profit organisation. Plenty to consider, don't you think?