14 ideas to help small businesses wow customers revealed on Marketing Donut.

Bristol, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/24/2009 -- Ever sent a thank you note to a customer who paid on time? Give it a go and you'll be amazed by the results says Derek Williams of the WOW! Awards, in a new article on SME marketing website Marketing Donut.

Embracing the power of saying thank you is one of 14 suggestions Williams has to help small business owners and managers dazzle customers with exceptional customer service.

His other ideas include simple things like engaging with customer's personal interests and taking gifts to meetings. "Over the years I have won huge amounts of business from taking cakes to meetings," says Williams.

Williams' more serious suggestions include treating complaints as a nugget of gold and offering a guarantee. "Make your guarantee truly outrageous. The greater your commitment to your customer the more likely they are to try buying from you."

Marketing Donut is a free, specialist resource for SMEs. Backed by Google and Royal Mail, it's packed with comprehensive, easy-to-follow advice and resources to help small business owners and managers address all aspects of small business sales and marketing.

The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk

Further information:
>> The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk
>> Contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@marketingdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Start Up Donut launches to provide free business information to entrepreneurs

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2009 -- Many business experts say a recession is an ideal time to launch a new business. Start Up Donut, a new free resource for start up businesses is betting that many UK entrepreneurs will take that advice on board and continue launching new businesses despite troubled economic times.

Published by BHP Information Solutions, which also publishes the highly successful Marketing Donut site, Start Up Donut is an online resource where business people can get free information about how to deal with common business issues, access expert advice and get inspiration from people who've succeeded already.

"When you think about it, there are a lot of advantages to the current climate," says Mark Williams of BHP Information Solutions. "There are a lot of bargains to be had in plant and equipment, talent is more available, and customers are hungry for great value.

"I think people are as interested in starting new businesses today as ever. What's good for us is that all the headlines mean they are particularly aware they need good quality, expert information – which is where Start Up Donut comes in."

Start Up Donut covers every aspect of launching and running a new business, from the pre-launch right through to start-up phase. The content comes from recognised experts and includes video and audio resources. As well as information and advice, Start Up Donut has downloadable toolkits, resources and a forum where entrepreneurs can share problems and seek advice.

Further information:
>> Visit http://www.startupdonut.co.uk
>> Contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@startupdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Free business information site Start Up Donut is next step for BHP Information Solutions in successful Donut concept

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/11/2009 -- The concept is simple: an online hub where small business owners and managers can go to get free, credible information about every day business issues. First came Marketing Donut which quickly won backing from Royal Mail and Google. Now there's Start Up Donut, an online resource that's been developed specifically for entrepreneurs.

Launched at the end of July, Start Up Donut features information and resources that cover a diverse range of topics.

Mick Dickinson from BHP Information Solutions, which owns and operates the site, says the content reflects the real issues, big and small, that start up businesses face every day.

"Just like Marketing Donut, Start Up Donut is all about practical advice that people can actually use. There's plenty of theory out there, but our conversations with people in business tell us that what they really want is for an expert to say "ok, here's what you need to understand, and these are the steps you need to take."

As well as information and resources, Start Up Donut features an interactive forum where entrepreneurs can get free answers to specific problems. It will also help them connect with service providers and advisory services throughout the UK.

"Often when they get more information, people say 'I do need some help with this'. Start Up Donut can introduce them to the right people if it's required."

Further information:
>> Visit http://www.startupdonut.co.uk
>> Contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@startupdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Research and hire locals, successful exporter tells Marketing Donut.

Bristol, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/03/2009 -- Moving into international markets has paid off for under-floor heating systems manufacturer and supplier Warmup plc, but taking time and effort to understand each market has been critical says international director Howard Flood, in a new case study on small business marketing website Marketing Donut.

Established in 1994, Warmup moved to exporting as a way to sustain the high-growth it enjoyed in the early years trading exclusively in the UK. Flood says UK Trade and Investment's Passport to Export scheme was particularly useful in helping the company make significant inroads into the US, Spain and Portugal.

Flood says market research has been essential. "We found that regulations in the US can vary from state to state - in one state we found that only qualified electricians could install our product, while in others anyone with DIY skills could do it. It meant we had to have a different strategy for different states."

Hiring staff with local knowledge has also been important. "If you are going to go international, then you need to have staff who can speak the language and people who the locals can relate to. We hire people in the UK and abroad who really understand the culture of the markets we are selling into."

Marketing Donut has a special section dedicated to helping small business owners and managers with exporting. It covers planning and first steps, understanding legal issues, and much more.

Marketing Donut is a free small business marketing website that's backed by Google and Royal Mail. Marketing Donut is packed with expert advice, tools and resources on every aspect of small business sales and marketing strategy.

Further information:
>> The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk
>> Contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@marketingdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Bakers tell Marketing Donut visitors how they triumphed over supermarket competition by developing a profitable new business online.

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/01/2009 -- With local supermarkets squeezing the lifeblood out of their business, bakers Tim and Kevin Slatter moved their business online with phenomenal results. As the pair say in a recent Marketing Donut case study, "e-commerce saved the business".

Marketing Donut is a free marketing resource that's been developed specially for small businesses. As well as providing expert advice and tools, Marketing Donut publishes case studies where small business owners share their experiences.

In the case of the Slatter brothers, it was an all too common scenario – a small business facing dwindling profits because of supermarket competition.

In 2001 Tim was running a struggling bakery business with four shops in South London when one of his cake decorators suggested focusing on celebration cakes. Today the business has just one shop, but is a much bigger operation thanks to a website that offers 900 celebration cakes, ranging from simple to ornate £900 wedding towers.

The website generates 500 orders a month at an average of £75 each. When it was a high-street only set up, the business had less revenue and higher overheads.

"Running a shop is extremely expensive. Why battle when our customers are either prepared to travel to collect cakes or pay for delivery?" says Tim.

Backed by Royal Mail and Google specialises in practical advice and ideas to help small business owners and managers tackle all aspects of sales and marketing, including ecommerce.

Since its launch earlier this year, Marketing Donut has developed a loyal following among businesspeople who like its no-nonsense, practical approach to solving all- too-common small business challenges.

The Marketing Donut is at www.marketingdonut.co.uk

Further information:
>> visit http://marketingdonutblog.co.uk
>> contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@marketingdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Small business marketing resource provides step-by-step advice to help businesspeople pitch their business in minutes.

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/01/2009 -- The worst mistakes you can make when pitching your business include using industry jargon and being defensive when questioned, says a business pitching advice expert on Marketing Donut.

Marketing Donut has published a checklist of how to pitch your business in just minutes. It includes some cardinal rules that all small business managers and owners need to adhere to when they explain what they do. These are:

- Show confidence in yourself and your business
- Encourage a two-way dialogue
- Be brief, clear and to the point
- Differentiate your business

A free marketing resource that's backed by Google and Royal Mail, Marketing Donut is packed with expert advice and tools to help small business owners and managers with every aspect of sales and marketing. Unlike many expert books and resources, Marketing Donut is not about business theory. It focuses exclusively on providing practical advice that's relevant for real small business marketing situations.

Marketing Donut's sales section has a huge range of resources, from how to generate sales leads through to negotiation and sales techniques. It also has specific tips on niche subjects like how to win public sector contracts or how to bid for Olympic contracts.

The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk

Further information:
>> visit http://marketingdonutblog.co.uk
>> contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@marketingdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

All the advice you need to launch a new business is free on Marketing Donut.

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/09/2009 -- A recession could be an ideal time to launch a new business say the experts. If that's what you're doing then all the free marketing and sales resources you need are waiting for you at Marketing Donut, a new small business marketing resource that's backed by Royal Mail and Google.

Marketing Donut's customer service expert Derek Williams says the current recession has some excellent conditions for starting a new venture. He cites falling costs and cheaper credit as distinct advantages, as well as the fact that competitors may be busy downsizing or simply riding out the recession.

"I think many salespeople have stopped selling because they don't think they're going to get a sale," he says.

Marketing Donut covers all aspects of small business sales and marketing, from developing a marketing strategy and branding the business, right through to specific ways to improve your sales negotiation and customer service. The site has articles, online video, podcasts, toolkits and resources on literally thousands of common small business sales and marketing issues.

Since it launched earlier this year, Marketing Donut has fast developed a following among small business owners and managers who like its no-nonsense approach and practical advice that's relevant to real business situations.

The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk

Further information:
>> visit http://marketingdonutblog.co.uk
>> contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@marketingdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Marketing Donut’s experts discuss Twitter as a small business marketing tool

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/27/2009 -- Recent research suggests 6000 small firms a day are joining Twitter. Should you be one of them? You won't know until you try. A new article on free marketing website Marketing Donut sees the experts look at Twitter's potential as a marketing tool and reveal the simple first steps businesses need to take in order to give it a go.

There's no doubt that Twitter usage is spiraling, particularly among the 35 to 49-year-old age group. However, when it comes to discussing whether using it will add value to your business, Marketing Donut's internet marketing experts say that it's early days and the only way to find out if is to try it.

"A restaurant might use it to give its 'followers' exclusive offers or an estate agent could post details of properties and attract a local following by tweeting news about the area," says marketing expert Nikki Pilkington on Marketing Donut.

Pilkington says the first step for businesses wanting to get more involved is to sign up to Twitter and get started.

"You can work out quickly whether you're doing the right thing by seeing how many people start and stop following you."

Marketing Donut provides practical advice for small business people wondering how best to market their business. Backed by Google, and Royal Mail, Marketing Donut is packed with free information and resources on every aspect of small business marketing, from traditional through to online marketing.

As well as looking at Twitter, Marketing Donut's internet marketing section provides up-to-the minute advice and recommendations about other possible approaches to online networking and PR.

The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk

Further information:
>> visit http://marketingdonutblog.co.uk
>> contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@marketingdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New small business website Marketing Donut provides a timely lesson in market segmentation, the essential building block of any good marketing strategy.

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/19/2009 -- Despite the rhetoric about understanding their unique customer needs, many small businesses waste time and resource sending a generic message out to an ill-defined target market. But simply by investing time and energy in understanding their customers, they could achieve much better results. Marketing Donut, a new small business website backed by Google and Royal Mail, explains how.

Successful marketing is about getting the right message to enough of the right people. Every time the wrong message goes to the wrong person it's a wasted effort. So of course, the better you are able to target your marketing, the better your return on investment. That's why marketing segmentation or target audience analysis is an important step in developing any kind of marketing strategy.

So where does the small business person start? The good news is that many small business people already have a huge amount of information about their customers, both in their business records and inside their heads. It's simply a matter of assessing the evidence to ask questions like:

• Who is a customer?
• Who was a customer?
• Who might be a customer?
• What else might a customer need?

These kind of questions help you to develop customer profiles, a clear picture of who you are selling to, what they are looking for and what will motivate them to say 'yes'. In other words, the essential ingredients of a marketing strategy.

Understanding your customers and the different buyer personas associated with your business is something that requires an investment not of money but time. In the current economic climate, where every penny counts, it's an investment well worth making.

The Marketing Donut is at http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk

Further information:
Visit http://marketingdonutblog.co.uk
Contact Mick Dickinson, BHP Information Solutions, tel: 0117 904 2224 or info@marketingdonut.co.uk

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm