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Since launching in 2005, the Enterprise Nation team has helped thousands of people start and grow their businesses. Led by founder Emma Jones MBE, Enterprise Nation continues to be the most active UK small business community and a leading campaigning voice for small business. Joining Enterprise Nation connects you with resources, community and connections you need to reach your business goals.

Finding and maintaining contact with customers is one of the most essential tasks for every small enterprise, but it can be very time-consuming. Beryl Pettitt of 

 offers her six straightforward tips for saving time on your marketing, without reducing your impact.

Just when you thought you had got the hang of Twitter, people tell you that you should be on Google+ and Pinterest as well,Â 

. Oh, and how do you keep up with finding stuff to share on social media, or write content for your website? It can all feel overwhelming when you are running a business, so just how can you do it? Here are some ideas and tools to help.

You spent hours preparing that training session or presentation, so don't waste it. The chances are that with a bit of tweaking you could use it again in a different form for a different audience.Â  It could become a blog post, a podcast, press release or article, or part of an email newsletter. Then you could share it on social media, so that you really get some value out of it.

2. But I don't create enough stuff to share on social media!

Don't feel that everything you share has to be your own work - your prospects and clients are also short of time, so if you share useful stuff from other people, they will appreciate that, and you will build your reputation as a helpful contact.

"With tweaking you could reuse material in a different form for a different audience. A presentation could become a blog post, a podcast or an article."

3. But I haven't got enough time to look for stuff to share!

 to set up some searches for the type of information your customers would find useful. So if you are running a B&B, that could be information on local events and tourist attractions. If you are an accountant, your clients and prospects will appreciate information on the latest tax changes and other business information.Â  For a fancy dress company, tips and hints for organising parties, recipes, games, and so on.

4. Use a scheduling tool for social media

If you are concerned that social media is taking up a lot of time, or that you just don't post frequently enough, then a scheduling tool such as 

(or Sign-Up.to - see our special offer below! Ed)Â

 will enable you to schedule your posts in one go, say once a week or every few days, and spread them throughout the week. (Facebook actually lets you do this, too - look for the Â little clock bottom right hand side of the post, then select Add a Year, Month, Day, Hour, Minute and click Schedule). This needs to be done with care - don't go sharing the same stuff across all social media, as your followers may follow you on more than one, and will soon get fed up with seeing the same post. Also, be aware that you may need to delete a post if it seems inappropriate as news unfolds. You also still need to allow time for interacting on social media, but having some posts scheduled will take the pressure off.

"If social media is taking up a lot of time, then a scheduling tool such asÂ HootsuiteÂ orÂ BufferÂ will enable you to schedule your posts in one go."

Now that you have got some great material to share, then it makes sense to start emailing it to customers and prospects, too. Using email marketing software not only looks professional, but will save time. You can link it to your sign-up page on your website, and it will automatically handle unsubscribes and delete bounces. You can link to your blog posts or website, and check how many people click through your links.

It may take you longer at first to get the hang of a new way of working, but a small investment of time will pay off in the long term! There are additional benefits to all of the above - Google Alerts can also be used to find out about competitors or what mentions your own or client businesses are getting online. By searching for relevant information for your clients and prospects, you will also keep your own knowledge bang up to date at the same time. These are just a few ideas that could save you some time on your marketing, but what do you use? Feel free to share! 

 and has more than 25 years' experience as a marketing mentor and trainer for small businesses and organisations across the UK. You can connect with

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 of its email, SMS and social media marketing software to Club members, including 1,000 email sends, followed by 

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Six tips to help you save time on your marketing

<p>I'm a <a href='http://www.danmartinuk.com'>freelance content creator and event host</a> who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I have 18 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from billionaires like Sir Richard Branson to the founders behind brand new start-ups. I've worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company's blog and social media. I'm based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community and have strong connections to major business organisations in the south west region. In total, I've hosted over 50 events; from intimate meet-ups to conferences with an audience of hundreds including events for international brands like Facebook and Xero. I'm also a big fan of podcasts having hosted Enterprise Nation's Small Business Sessions as well as lots of online events including Facebook Live interviews, webinars and three live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street. With my partner, I co-run Lifestyle District, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.</p>

<p>I'm here to help. I'm volunteering free advice calls of up to an hour as part of the Recovery Advice for Business scheme, over the next 6 months. Please get in touch to see how I can help your business.&nbsp;</p>

Freelance content creator & event host

Small businesses encouraged to 'lead the charge to net zero'

Government urges small companies to do their bit in the race to net zero.

&lt;p&gt;I am a &lt;b&gt;C&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;hartered Accountant&lt;/b&gt;, having earned a respected reputation in the field of accounting, with more than &lt;b&gt;15 years of experience&lt;/b&gt; in working with small and medium-sized enterprises.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Having worked with business owners ranging from one-man start-ups to large companies requiring a different level of services, I have developed a passion for the profession and I am driven by the success of my clients.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I have spent many years in business working at boardroom level, holding various positions before being motivated to start my own practice, Makesworth Accountants, where I have blended my technical skills in accounting and tax with my business skills derived from my time in the industry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I have embraced the changing times and technologies and strongly agree that accountants are moving from being number crunchers to being reliable and trusted advisors. Throughout this process, Makesworth has been able to secure various affiliations and awards.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;My objective is to add value to my clients’ businesses through the application of my extensive experience and knowledge in accounting, tax, HMRC investigations, business start-ups, and much more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;You can expect us to provide expert solutions for your business needs no matter what business model you have. You will receive a cost-effective service and a free initial consultation.&lt;/p&gt;

Chartered Accountant

Accountancy, Taxation and Business Advisory

Accountancy, Taxation and Business Advisory Services in the UK

Creative Director

Finding and Talking to your Customers

&lt;p&gt;What will you get?&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;You will have a wonderfully effective and easy to implement marketing playbook.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;What you cover&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;How to really get to know your customers; who they are, where they spend their time.&lt;/li&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;How to talk to them, and why they should care about you.&lt;/li&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;How to select the right channels to interact.&lt;/li&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;How to get them excited.&lt;/li&gt;
	&lt;li&gt;You

&lt;p&gt;I am a seasoned sales and marketing professional with over two decades of experience working in private and public sector organisations. Over the years, I've developed a passion for small businesses&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;As the Marketing Co-ordinator for Business Enterprise Fund (BEF), I am the go to person for all things marketing. This covers everything from daily&amp;nbsp;website updates&amp;nbsp;and social media posts through to campaign planning and delivery to the production of our annual Social Impact Report.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In all things, I&amp;nbsp;work closely with&amp;nbsp;a friendly, talented and experienced team of investment managers to provide flexible finance to micro businesses, small and medium (SME) businesses and social enterprises across the North.&lt;/p&gt;

Marketing Co-ordinator

Shaun Connell

&lt;p&gt;I am a seasoned sales and marketing professional with over two decades of experience working in private and public sector organisations. Over the years, I've developed a passion for small businesses&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;As the Marketing Co-ordinator for Business Enterprise Fund (BEF), I am the go to person for all things marketing. This covers everything from daily&amp;nbsp;website updates&amp;nbsp;and social media posts through to campaign planning and delivery to the production of our 