Refining your Business Niche

When the company was set up almost 35 years ago, the main offering to clients was a writing and design service, which we still offer but possibly not for much longer. Why? Our work in design has decreased as software has become more widely available and students are graduating from a number of related courses, enabling them to work independently if they are unable to secure employment.  

Declining standards of grammar means that our writing, proofing and editing work remain buoyant. However, we have noticed an impact from the number of businesses using Artificial Intelligence, recently, so this may eventually begin to decline.

In the past 25-30 years, website design has been the mainstay of our business but creating an 'all singing, all dancing' website with all its associated costs is proving difficult to offer good value. Added to this, large companies such as IONOS (who reach millions with their TV ads) and other companies who offer easy-peasy-DIY solutions with a low entry cost for their proprietary website creation tools, are taking money from small businesses who are struggling to budget and may also struggle to maintain their website, social media, etc..

We have therefore decided, going forward, to switch from creating corporate websites, too. So what are we offering?

• Wordpress blog set up, can be set up to emulate a website;
• Wordpress blog writing/posting;
• Writing, proof-reading, editing;
• Social media posts - LinkedIn page, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter/X and more.

These are probably functions that you could undertake yourselves but may not enjoy doing them or you just don't have the time. We may be able to help small businesses, individuals, communities, non-profits and local charities in other ways, such as hand-holding and research - just ask. And our rates are probably the lowest you'll find.

Now that we have decided where to focus the business, we'll aim to update the website in the near future.

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P.S. I touched on the affordability of 'slowing down' in a post a year ago. There are several more related posts from 2019, too.

Too Many Plants?

Be useful within your community. We offer our services to community groups who are always grateful for help. Here's one way we've been useful to  a local school. 

Every year, Chlorophytum Comosum (spider plants) produce several 'babies' which are incredibly easy to make into new plants. Just pop the cuttings into a jar of water until some roots begin to sprout, then plant into a pot, watering frequently until the maturing plant is settled. You'll have more cuttings the following year.

What can you do with all the cuttings? 

From each plant, you could have 10 or more cuttings. You pot them up, keep a couple, and offer the rest to people you see regularly. The next year, you may have 20, 30 or more, so you pot them and give these thoughtful gifts to your friends, relatives and neighbours. 

The next year, however, you have to be more creative. Perhaps offer to supply some plants to a local charity stall at the village fête. 

This year, we contacted the local JMI school and asked if they would like some cuttings. They were delighted, as their Early Years Foundation Stage pupils love to grow things. 

You can usually find and follow your local charities, PTAs, community groups, etc. via Social Media. 

Social Media for Business or for Fun

Time for an update? It's not that nothing occurred to me since the previous post but life changed during and after lockdown. Please accept our apologies for diverting our attentions elsewhere.

On 30th August 2016 (yes, almost 7 years ago) I wrote a post about Google+ and Tumblr which predicted that Google+ was doomed. It died in 2019, R.I.P..

I also made observations about Tumblr which noted... 

Tumblr is a popular blog tool, supposedly, but in my opinion it is rarely used for business. I have struggled to find interesting posts, despite trying a variety of search terms. It seems mainly full of images and these are mostly from photographers and the leisure crowd. I dip back in now and then but find no significant improvement.

So, here is an update of what's changed, in my opinion, since then. I would now state that... 

Tumblr is a popular blog tool, supposedly, but in my opinion it is unsuitable for business-to-business. I have struggled to find interesting posts, despite trying a variety of search terms. It seems mainly full of images and self-indulgence - lost people who are trying too hard to be seen to be different. I dip back in now and then but find no significant improvement. 

Not a lot different, really. And guess what... 100 posts but no more followers. In fact, I think I may have lost one! 

It's probably not a bad thing that there is a non-business element to Tumblr as there are other options for businesses: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok are largely leisure posts. 

Twitter has a foot in both camps, despite all the negative publicity over recent months. 

If you want to advertise your business online, the three listed above in purple text are worth considering in addition to or as an alternative to Google ads. Depending on your niche market, Amazon can also be used for paid promotion. 

Is blogging worthwhile?

As previously stated, Tumblr is essentially a blogging tool. Its reach via search engines does not compare favourably with WordPress or Google Blogger (in the UK, anyway). WordPress is the most interesting, at present, as it offers a free blog (with ads) or a paid option (ad-free). They can both be made to look and function as websites and no other software comes close to the popularity of a professional WordPress-based website.

Personally, I love blogs. To be able to read at my own pace, rather than sit through a webinar or YouTube output, is the best use of my time. 

Keep on blogging! 

FYI, here's some more about blogging and alternatives.