Marketing
Meet the super influencers
Kate Jones They're the new darlings of the marketing world and businesses are clamouring to get them on board.
Thirsty Camel attacked for body shaming
![Thirsty Camel bottle shops will not run the advertisements for free bottled water again.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/x/1/k/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmwzry.png/1455756755129.jpg)
Cara Waters Thirsty Camel bottle shops have run into trouble over advertising a free bottle of water as a "gourmet supermodel's lunch".
Outcry over gagged Santa lingerie ads
![Another advertisement in the Honey Birdette Christmas campaign which is still displayed on the chain's Facebook page.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/f/n/6/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmfmab.png/1453977908968.jpg)
Cara Waters The Advertising Standards Board has upheld complaints against lingerie advertising by Honey Birdette due to suggestions of sexual violence.
M&C; Saatchi under fire for striptease at party
![A striptease performer, wearing a bag on her head, emerges from a birthday cake at M&C Saatchi's 21st birthday party.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/c/5/e/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmbzyp.png/1453558963798.jpg)
Cara Waters "Let's stop being an industry where girls jump out of birthday cakes" says Mumbrella after backlash over M&C; Saatchi's party.
When you are the brand
![Nigella Lawson doesn't like the idea of brand Nigella, despite her popularity.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/a/p/5/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmain1.png/1453969374552.jpg)
Cara Waters Like Nigella Lawson you can benefit if your personal brand becomes your business.
'Tis the season to be launching
![Fred Schebesta, founder of Finder.com says the bigger the launch the better.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/y/0/a/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glcm87.png/1448953026622.jpg)
Fred Schebesta The world's best Obama impersonator, chauffeured Tesla rides and a banana split stall were the key elements to this successful business launch.
'Anti-male violent advertisement'
![NSW crime statistics show that the percentage of domestic violence call-outs involving a child threatening and harassing ...](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/6/6/6/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl65it.png/1451737835805.jpg)
Cara Waters The advertising watchdog has dismissed complaints an advertisement for ADT Security promotes and trivialises domestic violence.
How the two-litre towel was born
![Michael Mazur and Paul Taylor put The 2 Litre Towel to the test.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/0/0/z/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkzpdn.png/1447653495110.jpg)
Patrick Hatch A historic Australian manufacturer hopes a towel that soaks up two litres of water can help it compete with imported products.
Online search trumps family and friends
![Edible Blooms founder Kelly Baker-Jamieson relies heavily on online search but believes word of mouth is also important.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/0/1/i/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkzwzh.png/1447651212968.jpg)
Cara Waters Research shows small businesses are finding the power of online search is more compelling than old-fashioned word-of-mouth recommendations.
'It could cripple our small business'
![Reuben Republic offered a free sandwich deal for locals.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/t/9/r/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkt8cf.png/1446896434925.jpg)
Esther Han Reuben Republic feared it would "be crippled" after a sandwich deal for locals was misreported by a food blog as one open to all Sydneysiders.
'Duck's nuts' Wallabies star ad complaint dismissed
![Wallabies star Nick Cummins has come under fire for an ad in which he describes his undies as "the duck's nuts".](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/v/l/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkj7um.png/1445928440268.jpg)
Cara Waters Advertising Standards Board dismisses complaints about television advertisement for Tradie underwear starring Wallabies player Nick "Honey Badger" Cummins.
The risk of a viral approach
![Alizee Michel, as "Natalie Amyot", pleads for help to find the father of her baby on YouTube.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/c/e/w/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjgakh.png/1441793158797.jpg)
Sylvia Pennington As one tourist town found out, marketing campaigns can sometimes work against you.
Why normal marketing doesn't work
![Katie McMurray: took an alternative approach to marketing.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/e/u/k/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjeugb.png/1442172813320.jpg)
Claire Dunn It's time to forget everything you used to know about how to reach customers.
Never call your customers
![Public servants have been warned about the dangers of phones.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/d/6/n/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.giu52v.png/1445236208149.jpg)
Kate Jones If calling your customers is part of your sales plan, think again. Research shows phoning customers is outdated, intrusive and most importantly, nothing but a waste of time.
The superpower fuelling turbo start-ups
![Often a so-called unlimited phone plan is extremely limited once you read the terms and conditions, clearer industry ...](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/0/q/e/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gix7vx.png/1439345585985.jpg)
Lauren Davidson What's the secret ingredient the top new ventures all share?
Five things to consider before building a website
![Computer generic](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/r/z/l/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gijeje.png/1437682522043.jpg)
Ashleigh Ryan COMMENT: Avoid common mistakes business owners make with these great tips.
Kick stage fright to the kerb
![Caption](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/6/l/b/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gi22yw.png/1437542943484.jpg)
Kate Jones Terrified of public speaking? Never again dread a presentation with these great tips.
NBN putting video in the spotlight
![Gone are the days when Australian web users had to wait minutes for a video to load.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/9/8/2/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gi69bw.png/1437451078360.jpg)
Simon Palan COMMENT: It's a premium marketing tool businesses can no longer afford to ignore.
Is Facebook dead?
![Facebook use is declining.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/e/8/2/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.ghb7ua.png/1459119994883.jpg)
Christine Long It looks like the once-popular social media platform is heading the way of MySpace, at least for business purposes.
The secret to getting to the top of Google
![TPG is facing growing opposition from iiNet shareholders over its takeover bid for the company.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/0/x/e/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.ghf2u3.png/1433467584170.jpg)
Kate Jones Jump to the top of search engine lists with this nifty tip.
Five free marketing tips
![money](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/g/x/5/b/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gh0dxk.png/1442875419053.jpg)
Kate Jones At least one of these ideas has the potential to quadruple your revenue.
Google punishes clunky mobile sites
![mobile phone](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/j/5/a/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mdq0d.png/1432530267119.jpg)
Sylvia Pennington If you don't have the right website your business will effectively disappear.
Make LinkedIn work for you
![LinkedIn](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/3/7/o/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13v301.png/1428900116727.jpg)
Caroline James It's an incredible way of generating business leads and contacts if you get it right.
A million Insty followers and counting
![Thessy Kouzoukas (L) and Yiota Kouzoukas from Instagram sensations Sabo Skirt.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/r/2/9/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13r1qf.png/1427740454816.jpg)
Larissa Ham Meet the local duo that is dominating the hottest social media channel on the planet.
Encouraging 'intrapreneurs'
![An entrepreneurial mindset delivers advantages for companies.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/q/t/6/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13nbb3.png/1437724861488.jpg)
Cade Witnish COMMENT: Encouraging staff to be entrepreneurial has business benefits.
Do Google Adwords really work?
![Elisha Casagrande decided to pull the pin on Google AdWords and continue with alternative marketing strategies.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/0/j/q/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.130jnm.png/1424158472153.jpg)
Louis White Elisha Casagrande had a three-month campaign on the platform. So why didn't she get a single sale from it?
Eight tips for an effective multi-channel marketing plan
![An unusual name can help you stand out in a good way, say those who have one.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/a/r/4/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.12usbi.png/1426645586116.jpg)
Scott McMillan You're more likely to be successful if you use more than one communication method.
You need to monitor trending topics
![In the final quarter of 2015 Facebook increased its advertising revenue to $US5.64 billion.](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/e/8/2/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.12u3at.png/1459119994883.jpg)
David Hickey If something's happening online that affects your business, you need to be on top of it.
COMMENT
Great approaches for content marketing
![Target](/web/20160416155830im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/2/h/3/q/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.3kj0w.png/1416200242753.jpg)
David Hickey Three tips for content strategy and brand development.