Julie Nichols Marketing Blog

Small business marketing advice and tips

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How to Prep a Trade Show Booth for Your Small Business
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

How to Prep a Trade Show Booth for Your Small Business

Trade shows can be huge for small businesses looking to grow their brand and make valuable connections. I’m sharing critical insights on how to make the most of your trade show experience, from preparation to follow-up.

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Marketing Launchpad: Propelling Jane's Business in a New Direction
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Marketing Launchpad: Propelling Jane's Business in a New Direction

Discover how a strategic marketing partnership transformed a struggling business pivot into a thriving new venture. Learn about our step-by-step process, from initial assessment to brand strategy workshops and targeted marketing initiatives. See how personalized marketing solutions can revitalize your business and expand your reach. Perfect for entrepreneurs looking to rebrand or pivot their business.

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Why Learning and Development Teams Need Email Marketing
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Why Learning and Development Teams Need Email Marketing

In my podcast episode of Learning For Good with Heather Burright, we explored various email marketing strategies and techniques that L&D professionals can use to effectively market their training programs. From writing compelling email subject lines to segmenting your audience for maximum impact, we covered a range of ideas that can help you increase engagement and participation in your L&D initiatives.

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Trade Show Success: Insider Tips for Attendees Without a Booth
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Trade Show Success: Insider Tips for Attendees Without a Booth

As a marketing expert who has attended countless trade shows, I've seen firsthand how overwhelming these events can be, especially for small business owners who are new to the game. But fear not! I'm here to share my insider tips on how to make the most of your trade show experience, even if you don't have a booth. In this post, I'll walk you through the essential steps to prepare, execute, and follow up effectively at your next trade show.

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The First 90 Days of Marketing Your Small Business
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

The First 90 Days of Marketing Your Small Business

The first 90 days of your marketing journey are crucial. This period is about laying a solid foundation, establishing clear goals, and setting the tone for future efforts. Let’s break down these critical initial steps into manageable chunks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

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Building Your Small Business Marketing Budget
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Building Your Small Business Marketing Budget

So you want to start marketing your small business to reach people beyond your referral network. but how much is this going to cost? Let’s get into the details of a small business marketing budget to help you determine when you’re ready to start your marketing investment.

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How Long Does SEO Take to Work?
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How Long Does SEO Take to Work?

As a small business owner, navigating the complexities of digital marketing can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be! In this post, I’m breaking down SEO to help you learn how to make it work for your website and how long you should expect it until you see an impact in search engine results.

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Email Marketing: Always Be in Touch with Your Customers
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Email Marketing: Always Be in Touch with Your Customers

Email is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal for reaching and engaging with our audience. Despite the rise of social media and other communication platforms, email remains a constant, reliable method to connect with our customers. I've always had a soft spot for email, just like I love snail mail. There's something about receiving a message directly addressed to you that feels personal and meaningful. Today, I want to dive into why email marketing is so essential and share some insights and strategies to make the most of it.

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Does my small business need to be on all the social media channels?
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Does my small business need to be on all the social media channels?

How do you pick social media channels for your small business? Do you need to be on all of them? Figure out the best channels for your business if you’re just starting with social media. We’ll explore when to introduce new social channels and when to focus on the ones that matter most to your audience.

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What is a Fractional CMO?
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

What is a Fractional CMO?

A fractional Chief Marketing Officer — or fCMO — is a part-time contract executive who shares their marketing expertise with multiple companies, offering a cost-effective and highly beneficial solution for marketing challenges. They are hired to design and execute a marketing strategy that aligns with the company's goals. Unlike traditional CMOs, an fCMO works on a contractual basis, which can range from a few hours a week to many days a month, depending on the company’s needs. This allows companies with tighter marketing budgets to bring highly qualified and talented marketing leaders on board without paying a full-time salary plus benefits. It’s a huge savings for the business, while offering the fCMO flexibility and independence.

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Marketing Trends for 2024
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Marketing Trends for 2024

2024 is just around the corner (does that bring you relief or anxiety?) and as we step into another exciting year, the world of digital marketing continues to evolve. While it’s impossible to see the future (boy, do I wish I had a crystal ball!) we can look at what’s going on in digital marketing right now and make some strong guesses as to what is going to attract those good leads to your door in 2024. From the rise of AI-driven marketing tools to the ever-growing importance of personalized content, we'll cover the key trends that will make waves in 2024. So, grab your favorite cup of coffee (or something stronger…), get comfortable, and let's dig in.

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Behind the Scenes of Starting a Marketing Agency
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Behind the Scenes of Starting a Marketing Agency

Ever wondered what it’s like to start your own marketing agency? Now you can! I’ve been a guest on the Inbound Back Office Podcast every month to share all the behind the scenes planning, drama, worries, wins, and more as I start a marketing agency from the ground up and try to figure out what the hell I’m doing.

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Blog Post Checklist | Optimizing On-Page SEO
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Blog Post Checklist | Optimizing On-Page SEO

A simple guide for optimizing your blog posts to help them get noticed by search engines through on-page SEO, which focuses on making your web content as relevant and accessible as possible to rank higher in search results.

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What is a Value Proposition?
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

What is a Value Proposition?

Learn how to write value propositions for your small business to communicate your value to your customers. Including details on what is a value proposition and examples to get you started quickly.

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Free Marketing Tools for Small Business
Julie Nichols Julie Nichols

Free Marketing Tools for Small Business

Boost your small business online presence with free marketing tools you can implement today, including free graphic design, email marketing, SEO, and content writing tools for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

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