Creative founders often mistake boredom for failure

Creative business owner simplifying multiple marketing ideas into a clear 90-day business and marketing strategy.

Creative minds are full of brilliant ideas. The challenge isn’t coming up with another one. It’s knowing which one to focus on. If your marketing feels messy, inconsistent or like you’re constantly starting again, this article explores why getting the foundations right and sticking with them might be the breakthrough you’re looking for.

AI is speeding everything up. So why does everything take longer?

Anna Short networking at a SAM Networking. Photograph by the brilliant John Steel.

Is it just me, or are we all drowning in AI-generated dross?

From automated phone systems and chatbot conversations to generic emails and sales messages, it often feels like technology is making simple things harder. Here’s why I believe trust, relationships and genuinely helpful customer experiences matter more than ever.

The businesses that stand out rarely get there by accident

Green sheep wearing star-shaped sunglasses standing apart from a flock, representing business differentiation and confidence in being different

One of the most common conversations I have with business owners is about what makes their business different. It’s a perfectly normal challenge and one that many businesses struggle with. This article explores business differentiation, positioning and the lessons I’ve learned building Boo! Marketing and helping businesses stand out in a crowded market.

Why reviewing your marketing matters more than doing more marketing

Reviewing marketing performance to focus on what works instead of feeling overwhelmed by data and reports

Doing more marketing won’t fix the problem if you’re not reviewing what’s already happening When marketing isn’t delivering, the natural instinct is to push harder. Do more. Post more. Try something new. That feels productive. It gives you something to focus on. It doesn’t always move things forward. More activity isn’t the solution Most small […]

How do I know if my marketing is actually working?

Reviewing marketing results for a small business to see what is working

If you can’t clearly see what your marketing is doing for your business, it’s very hard to improve it A lot of businesses are doing marketing. They’re posting on LinkedIn, sending emails, updating their website, trying new ideas and keeping things moving. From the outside, it can look like progress. Inside the business, it often […]

Do I need a marketing plan or something else

Person standing between a wall covered in colourful sticky notes and a whiteboard, pointing in both directions, with text “Plan or rethink first?” and a 3-step plan reading: clarify the goal, explore options, choose and take action.

A marketing plan isn’t always the first thing you need A lot of businesses ask for a marketing plan when what they really need is clarity. That is not because planning is a bad idea. It is because a plan only works when the thinking underneath it is sound. If the business is unclear on […]

Why your marketing isn’t working and what to fix first

Person using multiple phones while on a treadmill and holding a megaphone, surrounded by bold text saying “More marketing isn’t always the answer,” illustrating overwhelm and busy activity.

If your marketing isn’t working, doing more is rarely the answer When people say their marketing is not working, what they often mean is that it feels heavy, unclear and disappointing. They are doing things. They are posting. They are sending emails. They are trying to stay visible. From the outside, it can look like […]

What does a marketing strategy actually include

A marketing strategy is not a list of activity. It’s the thinking behind it A lot of people use the word strategy when they really mean activity. They mean social media. They mean email. They mean a list of things they would like to post, improve or finally get round to. That is usually where […]

If nothing changes, your marketing won’t either

Business owner sitting at a desk, reviewing notes and marketing books, pausing to think about what needs to change in their strategy

Why your marketing isn’t working, even though you’re doing the work You’re doing the work. You’re posting, updating your website, trying different things, and staying visible where you can. From the outside, it looks like progress. Inside, it feels slower than it should. If your marketing isn’t working, this is often where the problem sits. […]