Marketing
How to get on social media: tips for SMEs just getting started
Half of small businesses are still not using social media.
Do novelty businesses last?
![Dracula's worker Taylor outside the restaurant.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/p/z/8/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gppz1e.png/1466650063073.jpg)
Sylvia Pennington A quirky point of difference may be a great way to get people through the door, but what next?
Too busy for an adventure? Send your dog on one
![Tom Lillecrapp and his dog, Captain, lead the charge.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/9/r/i/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp9rj9.png/1464934838359.png)
James Douglas As more of us live in apartments, our dogs won't be missing out on the great outdoors.
'The gamble has paid off'
![Jade Costello and Simone Fleming.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/4/p/a/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp4nwq.png/1464744065902.jpg)
Bhakthi Puvanenthiran The 'poorly serviced' rental market has provided an opportunity for two Melbourne women.
How to handle bad online reviews
![Prospective customers almost always look at online reviews.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/a/v/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gp28w5.png/1464739850860.jpg)
Bhakthi Puvanenthiran Customers love complaining online, but you don't have to take it lying down.
The bloggers making the big bucks
![Lisa Corduff combines family life and blogging.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/s/8/r/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gos8p1.png/1463017767762.jpg)
Alexandra Cain Meet the laptop jockeys making a full-time living from the comfort of their homes.
Ready for your close-up?
![cinema.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/x/y/p/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.goo91x.png/1463009505844.jpg)
Nina Hendy Nine sure-fire ways to get your mug in print, on radio, TV and online.
Meet the super influencers
![Bellabox's first campaign using influencers focused on They All Hate Us bloggers Tash Sefton and Elle Ferguson.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/z/0/4/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmx2y2.png/1456093950562.jpg)
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
![More Australians are buying and drinking than ever before.](/web/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/x/1/k/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmwzry.png/1462758953270.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/e/8/2/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.ghb7ua.png/1467257336723.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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/20160708171614im_/http://www.theage.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.