Name: Back9 Creative Studio
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

How to Write a Business Plan That’ll Actually Get Read

Posted on November 13, 2022 by Phil

So you’re starting a business and you’ve been told you need a business plan. And you’re like, “Ugh, really?” Because if there’s one thing entrepreneurs love more than starting businesses, it’s writing lengthy documents about those businesses. Just kidding. We all know that business plans are about as much fun as getting a root canal. But the truth is, whether you’re seeking funding from investors or just trying to figure out what the heck you’re doing, a business plan is an essential part of any successful business. Here’s how to write a business plan that’ll actually get read.

Write a Business Plan in reverse.

When you’re writing a business plan, if you start with what you want to achieve, (such as how much profit you want to make) and work backward from there, this will help you identify the actions you need to take in order to achieve success. Having some SMART goals along the way will definitely help too.

1. Keep it short and sweet.

No one wants to read a 100-page document, no matter how well-written it is. So don’t make your business plan longer than it needs to be. One page is all it needs to be. The key is to include only the most important information—the stuff that’ll actually help you achieve your goals. Anything else is just fluff. Find out how to do this with our Business advisor and mentor, John Schol.

2. Make it visually appealing.

Remember, your business plan is a sales pitch—you’re selling your business idea to potential investors or partners. So it needs to look good! Use plenty of white space, headings and subheadings, and images or charts to break up the text and make it easy to scan. Perhaps engage a graphic designer to make it look great.

3. Write a business plan in plain English.

Avoid jargon and technical terms like “synergy” and “leverage.” Remember, you’re writing for people who may not be familiar with your industry or your company, so make sure your language is accessible to everyone.

4. Be honest—but optimistic.

No one likes a braggadocious blowhard, but investors and customers do want to see some confidence in your ability to succeed. When writing a business plan, strike a balance by being honest about the risks and challenges involved in your business while still conveying your enthusiasm for its potential success.

Write a Business Plan and Smash your Goals

Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be a pain in the ass—if you keep it short, sweet, and visually appealing; write in plain English; and strike a balance between honesty and optimism, you’ll be sure to create a document that’ll actually get read (and maybe even help you achieve your goals).v

Google Business Profile – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Posted on November 11, 2022June 19, 2024 by Phil

You may have seen it before. You do a search on Google for a local business and up pops a little box on the right-hand side of the screen with the business name, address, phone number, hours of operation, and even reviews. That little box is called a Google Business Profile (GBP) , and it can be a powerful tool for businesses if it’s used correctly, and there are a number of reasons why you should have one.

The Google Business Profile Good

Google My Business listings are free and easy to set up. All you need is a google account (which most people already have) and some basic information about your business. Once you’ve claimed your listing, you can add photos, post updates, respond to reviews, add products and more.

Imagine you own a nail salon. If your business has an optimised profile, when a potential customer or client searches for a business close by (e.g nail salon near me), your nail salon will likely be ranking near the top and will gain new business over a competitor nail salon who may not of optimised or claimed their listing.

The GBP Bad

While Google My Business listings are free and easy to set up, they’re not always accurate. That’s because anyone can edit or claim a listing—even if they’re not associated with the business. This can lead to wrong information being displayed on your listing, which can frustrate potential customers who are trying to reach you. There is nothing worse than searching a stores business hours in Google only to find out that they’re incorrect and the store is actually closed when you thought it was open. Negative customer experiences can lead to Google reviews that may harm your business too.

The Google Business Profile Ugly

Inaccurate GBP listings can actually hurt your business if they’re not updated or corrected in a timely manner. That’s because potential customers who see the wrong information or can’t see what they need are likely to go to one of your competitors instead. In addition, if you have duplicate listings (meaning there are two or more listings for your business), this can also confuse potential customers and hurt your chances of being found online.

Make sure your Google Business Listing is up to date

Having an accurate Google Business profile listing is essential for businesses that want to be found online – plain and simple. If you don’t have a GBP listing, now is the time to create one. And if you already have a listing but it’s inaccurate or out-of-date, take the time to claim or edit it. Post updates and information regularly. This is also important as Google makes updates frequently. So that said, you want to ensure potential customers will have the correct information about your business. Your future customers will thank you for it!

Updated 19 June 2024

9 Tips For Succeeding online

Posted on November 9, 2022March 9, 2023 by Phil

The internet has a lot of advice. You can find tips on everything from how to fix your sink to how to be a better person. But when it comes to business, things can get a little trickier. There are so many moving parts to a business, and the internet offers a million different solutions to each problem. It’s enough to make your head spin! So how do you succeed online?

Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of 9 tips that we think will help you succeed online. These are tried and true methods that we’ve seen work time and time again for our clients. So without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Define Your Goal

The first step to finding success online is defining your goal. This is a huge part of your Digital marketing – or inbound strategy. What do you want to achieve? More website traffic? More sales? More engagement with your customers? Once you know what you want, you can start planning your strategy.

2. Know Your Audience

If you want to achieve your goal, you need to know who you’re talking to. Who is your target audience? What do they like? What do they dislike? What problems do they need solved? Knowing your audience (or buyer persona) is essential to creating content that resonates with them.

3. Create Compelling Content

Once you know who you’re talking to, it’s time to start creating content for each stage of your buyer’s journey. This is where the rubber meets the road—your content needs to be compelling enough to get people’s attention and keep them coming back for more. How do you do that? Write headlines that make people want to click, create graphics that are eye-catching, and above all else, provide value. This may mean engaging an outsourced team or an agency, but by working with the right team you will get results. Give people something they can use, something that will make their lives better in some way. That’s what will keep them coming back for more. If you need help with a content plan check this out.

4. Promote Your Content

Just because you’ve created great content doesn’t mean you’ll succeed online. Or that people will automatically see it—you have to promote it! There are a number of ways you can promote your content, but some of the most effective are through social media, email marketing, and paid advertising such as Google Ads

5. Analyze Your Results

In business, you have to know your numbers. So it’s key to know your goal as mentioned before – that helps you understand what to measure. Once you’ve been promoting your content for a while, it’s time to take a step back and analyze your results. What’s working? What’s not working? What can you change or improve? If you want to succeed online, don’t be afraid to experiment; the only way to find what works best is by trying new things and seeing what sticks

6. Rinse & Repeat!

Now that you’ve analyzed your results and made some changes accordingly, In order to succeed online, it’s time to start the process all over again! Keep creating great content and promoting it—before long, you’ll start seeing the results you’re looking for.”

7. Be Consistent

to truly start to succeed online, it’s important to be consistent with your branding across all channels including social media sites like Twitter which now offers users the ability to see when someone hasn’t tweeted in a while as well as how long ago their last tweet was sent.” It looks bad when potential customers come across an inactive brand on Twitter or any other social site for that matter.” Being consistent also means posting regularly which brings us too…

8. Post Regularly

You should have some sort of posting schedule whether it’s once a day or once a week but try not to go longer than 2 weeks without posting anything or people may forget about you.” If needed set reminders in Google Calendar or whatever system works best for you so nothing falls through the cracks. There are lots of systems out there to help you succeed online with this stuff. In fact Social media platforms themselves let you schedule posts now too. The key is to have a plan of what content you will post and when.

9. Keep Track of Everything

Last but not least – to succeed online, keep track of everything! This includes metrics like website traffic (Google Analytics is great for this), social media stats, leads generated from each campaign as well as anything else related directly or indirectly related .” This will help tremendously when trying different tactics down the road as well as knowing which ones worked best so they can be repeated.”

To Succeed online – where do I start?

It’s easy to say that if you can follow these 9 tips, you’ll be well on your way to being able to succeed online! But where do you actually start? Well like anything the best place to start is with a plan or a Roadmap. To succeed online, it does take time. Just remember to be patient—Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful online presence. But if you stay focused and keep at it, we have no doubt that you’ll find the success you’re looking for. Thanks for reading!

Free Website Design – Is it the best option?

Posted on November 8, 2022July 4, 2024 by Phil

When it comes to website design, there are a lot of options out there. You may be wondering “Can I create a website myself?” The short answer is yes, You can go down the DIY route, by using a pre-made template. Or, you could hire a professional web design company to undertake the task. One option you might be considering is free website design. But is it really your best option? Before you decide you need to understand how much a website costs, and how much revenue a decent website could return too. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of free website design so you can make an informed decision.

The Pros of Free Website Design

Cost – Obviously, the biggest pro of free website design is that it doesn’t cost anything. If you’re on a tight budget, this can be a great way to get a professional-looking website without breaking the bank.
Ease of Use – Free website design platforms like Wix and Weebly are extremely user-friendly and easy to use. This means you can create a website quickly and easily, without having to learn to code or hire a professional.
Flexibility – Free website builders offer a lot of flexibility in terms of design, which means you can create a website that looks exactly the way you want it to. Plus, if you ever want to change something, it’s easy to do it yourself.

The Cons of Free Website Design

Limited Features – One of the biggest downsides of free website builders is that they often have limited features compared to paid options. This means you might not be able to add all the bells and whistles you want on your site.
Lack of Support – If you run into any problems with your free website builder, good luck getting help from customer service. With paid options, you usually have access to 24/7 support so someone can help you solve any issues you’re having. With free builders, however, you’re usually on your own.
Limited Customization – While free website builders offer some flexibility in terms of design, they often don’t allow for much customization beyond that. So if you want a truly unique website, you might need to look elsewhere
You Get What You Pay For – This phrase is especially true when it comes to free website builders. While they might be fine for small personal sites or hobby blogs, they’re not going to be suitable for businesses that need a more robust online presence. You may also want to think about and understand what to expect from a web design company.

Should I get a free template or Custom built by a Pro?

So should you use a free website builder for your business? Or get it designed and built professionally? Well, there are a few benefits of custom building a website. However, it’s ultimately up to you! It really depends on your needs and budget. If cost is your primary concern and you don’t need anything too fancy, then a free website builder might be worth considering. However, if you want a website that works for you, maybe you need more features and customisation? Then it’s worth investing in a decent solution. That means paying for a professional web design company, to design it. With a skilled web developer to build it. Only you can decide what’s best for your business in order to reach your goals. if you need some help deciphering or deciding on the best course of action, then a Digital Marketing Roadmap could be a great first step.

How Much Revenue Can My Website Generate?

Posted on November 7, 2022December 13, 2024 by Phil

So you want to measure Website ROI? Whether you have a website for your business or are thinking about getting one, you may be wondering about the potential return on investment (ROI). A website can be a great sales and marketing tool. It can help you reach the right audience, and convert vistiors into leads. But how much revenue can it actually generate?

Image-CTA-How-much-Revenue-can-my-website-generate

Website ROI – How much cash can your website generate?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors.

These include:

The type of website you have
Products or services you sell
Your target market, and;
Your marketing strategy.

There are a number of ways to monetise a website for ROI, such as selling products or services online, running ads, or charging for subscriptions. The most effective way to monetise your website will depend on your target market and what they are looking for.

If you are selling products or services on your website, you will need to set up a payment system (Payment gateway) and shipping options. For subscription-based websites, you will need to set up a billing system. And if you are running ads on your website, you will need to sign up for an advertising network such as Google AdSense.

A "working website" picture pasted on a cardboard box

What if I can’t sell my service or product online?

So you’re a service-based business, and your product is not transactional. You could be forgiven for thinking, that you can’t sell your product or service online. But wait! Just because you physically can’t sell or transact a tangible product, it doesn’t mean your website can’t sell you or your business or service. And it doesn’t mean you can’t optimise a website for ROI. The best part of this approach – a good website can sell your business 24/7. Websites are like staff. And a good website is not just any staff member – it’s your best salesperson.

The content and information on your website should represent your business. For example, your values, your beliefs, and ultimately as a sales tool a website should inform and educate. Most importantly, a website doesn’t need to process the final transaction to earn its keep or generate revenue. If you use the right methods and embrace an inbound, measurement marketing approach, your website can therefore help you generate, qualify and convert your website visitors into leads.

Design your website for ROI

The amount of revenue your website generates depends on a number of factors, including the type of website you have, the products or services you sell, and how you educate and inform your target market. And of course your overarching marketing strategy. As a result, monetising a website for ROI, is not just about selling products or services (transactionally) online, or running ads, or charging for subscriptions. You may want to consider how live chat function can increase sales too.

The most effective way to monetise your website will depend on your approach. You need to see your website as an investment. An investment in growing your business. Then you need to understand your target market and what they are looking for. So understanding who your ideal customer is is key. What are their pain points and how can you solve them? If you want to maximize the revenue generated by your website, it is important to understand and consider all of these factors.

What do Google Ads Cost?

Posted on November 4, 2022December 11, 2024 by Phil

You’re probably familiar with the saying, “You have to spend money to make money.” It certainly applies to Google Ads campaigns. But what exactly is the cost of running a successful Google Ads campaign? Let’s start by debunking some myths and breaking down the facts behind the cost of Google Ads.

The Cost of Google Ads Spend

The first thing to consider when thinking about what do Google Ads Cost, is how much you can realistically set aside for your ad budget. It’s important to think about both the upfront costs as well as long-term costs (e.g., maintenance, optimization). The amount that you decide on will largely depend on your business size and goals.

The cost of ad spend will vary depending on the type of campaign you are running, what keywords you are targeting, and how competitive your industry is. But generally speaking, most campaigns will cost around $1-$2 per click or an average cost per click (CPC) between $0.50 -$2.00 depending on your industry and niche.

However that’s just for starters; there are also other factors that affect CPC such as keyword competition, quality score and location targeting so keep that in mind when setting up a budget for your campaign.

The good thing with Google ads is you can choose a monthly budget – and you won’t spend more than that. For example, a small business may choose to budget $500 per month, while a larger enterprise may spend upwards of $50,000 or more per month.

Get an Instant Estimate Below

Paying Someone To Manage Your Ad Account

You may be wondering”Can manage Google Ads Myself?. Well, the short answer is yes. If you have experience with Google Ads, and the time then it’s definitely an option. And you should do it. But if you don’t have the experience then it might be worth hiring someone to do it for you. Especially if you plan on running multiple campaigns at once or have a larger budget allocated for Google Ads. We have seen people in the past spend thousands of dollars on Google Ads – And not even know if they’re working,..

An expert who knows the ins and outs of Google Ads can help increase efficiency while reducing waste. The cost depends on the size and complexity of the account but usually starts around $500 -$1000/month plus any additional fees associated with managing the account such as setup fees or performance bonuses (if applicable). On top of that, many agencies charge a percentage commission based on total ad spend which can range anywhere from 5-20%. This is to cover the admin costs and risk for taking on the ad spend costs. This is an opportunity to save on what Google Ads cost you, by asking if you can pay the ad spend directly to Google. Personally, we prefer it that way.

Ad Spend Optimization

Finally, one of the key components of running a successful Google Ads campaign is optimising your ad spend for maximum ROI (Return on Investment). This involves analyzing data points such as impressions, clicks, conversions, keyword performance metrics, and more in order to determine where your ads are performing best—and where they could use some improvement. While this process can be time-consuming and tedious without help from specialised software tools like Campaign Manager Pro or AdEspresso Pro, investing in optimization services will ultimately save you money in the long run due to increased conversion rates and greater ROI potential.

There’s No one-size-fits-all

The true cost of running a successful Google Ads campaign varies widely depending on factors such as:

business size and goals
ad budgets allocated for each campaign
pay-per-click management fees charged by external professionals (if applicable),
ad spend optimization services utilized (if desired).

When it comes down to what Google Ads Cost, it’s something you need to factor into the bigger picture. You may be asking “Does doing google Ads help my website ranking?” or “how much should I spend on Marketing as a whole then?” And just like Google Ads Cost – There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Only you know how much money you want (or need) to invest in order for your marketing efforts to pay off in spades! True success with Google Ads requires careful consideration of all these factors—so take your time when making any decisions about launching an advertising campaign via this platform!