Internet Strategy Consulting

The Internet used to be dominated by big brands, large companies and organisations with deep pockets.

Some of those organisations are still around, but the "new Internet" favours individuals, smaller players, the personal touch, and a real sense of connection between businesses and their customers. In the last ten years, from 1999 to 2009, the list of top 15 Internet companies has changed. And the new players in the market include Google, eBay, Wikipedia, Facebook and Apple - all companies who foster community, sharing and the personal touch.

This is perfect for us in small business, because we can do that as well as - and often better than - the big companies.

The bad news is that if you want to succeed, you'd better do something about it. Through its world-wide reach, the rise of outsourcing, and the ease of access to information, the Internet has made business more competitive, more demanding, and potentially less profitable. If you don't do anything, you will fail. It's not just that your business will do better by changing; it will definitely do worse by not changing!

What's new?

The world of marketing has changed in nine ways, and you need to adapt to stay in touch with these things. Marketing used to be about brand, advertising, crowds, promotions, what you've got, broad reach, products, feature lists and transactions. Now it's about you, your reputation, your network, value, what they need, niches, experiences, frames and connections.

These are the nine principles for on-line success in today's highly connected world:

Show your face, not your brand.
Lead with value, not with promotions.
Invest in reputation, not advertising.
Build your network, don't just attract a crowd.
Create an experience, not just a product or service.
Match their needs, not your wants.
Service a niche, not the mass market.
Make a connection, not just a transaction.
Set their buying frames, instead of force-feeding features.

This is a simple list, but it's not easy to put these principles into practice.

The good news is that you don't have to do all nine at the same time. For most businesses, just getting six out of nine will give you everything you need. In fact, working on the top three in the next three months will give you a strong head start.

That's where the Internet Strategy consulting program comes in ...

Over six months, I'll work with you personally to show you how to implement these principles to be more competitive and successful in today's marketplace.

Is this right for you?

This program is for smart, passionate small business owners, primarily based in Perth, Australia. I do have a few places for business owners who aren't based in Perth, where we replace all the face-to-face contact with telephone or Skype sessions.

This program isn't right for everybody. You'll get the most out of it if you meet these three criteria:

You're already running a successful business.
In this program, we work on marketing strategies that leverage your business. This means you must already have a successful, viable business. If you're just starting out, this probably isn't the right program for you.

You're willing to position yourself as an expert.
On the Internet, you have to prove you're an expert even before people visit your Web site. To do this, you must be ready and willing to produce high-value content regularly. Otherwise, it's difficult for us to help you leverage it!

You want to succeed, and are willing to work at it.
This might sound obvious, but this program won't work if you expect miracles. You or your team will be doing most of the work (with my help, of course), so you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and pitch in. Because the Internet is so personal now, it's no longer good enough to simply throw some money at a marketing company and hope for the best. The businesses that thrive are those that offer a personal touch.

How does it work?

This is a six-month consulting program with a range of activities. I'll explain some of the key features and how they will increase your value in the marketplace.

Strategy Survey

I'll send you a strategy survey to help you clearly identify your current marketing strategy and tactics. You might be surprised at just how much you're doing already, and how little you have to tweak it!

Strategic Planning Session

We follow that up with a two-hour face-to-face strategic planning session to discuss the survey and map out a plan for the next six months.

We'll make sure things fit your business strategy, follow a logical sequence, and lead to easy "wins" that boost your bottom line quickly.

Mentoring Sessions

Over the following six months, we have a one-hour consulting session each month, alternating between telephone sessions and face-to-face sessions. These regular sessions are designed to keep you on track with executing your plan. At the end of each session, I'll send you an audio recording for your reference. You will also develop a "Next Steps" report of action steps from the session.

If you have an implementer or support person, invite them to join the sessions. Or send them the recordings of each session.

Additional Access

The mentoring program is based on access, not on hourly rates. The scheduled sessions are to keep us focussed, but you also have access to me at other times as well. I'll be available when you require help, and I'll keep you front of my mind when I find new opportunities.

I'll give you a special e-mail address and my mobile phone number, so that you get priority access to me outside our scheduled sessions. This allows you to call me up for quick advice on things in between our scheduled sessions.

Additional Sessions

If you require more sessions during the 90-day period, they are available at 50% discount on Gihan's current consulting rate (The current rate is $1,500 per session).

What do you do next?

Your investment for the Internet Strategy Consulting service is in two parts:

$1,500 + GST to commence the program and conduct the strategic planning session.
$1,500 + GST per month, each month for 6 months.

Your total investment over six months is $10,500 + GST.

To get started with this package, phone me on (02) 8005 5746 or e-mail .