Until recently, Julie Dunlap had always worked for others. Taking the plunge to go out on her own was a big step, but the South Australian Business Chamber Cultivate Hills program helped set her focus and put her plans down on paper.
“After about four months out on my own, I thought to myself ‘this is getting real now’. I’ve always been spur of the moment in my actions, but for my business to succeed, I realised that I needed the motivation and know-how to put down on paper what I was doing, why I was doing it, and what my ultimate goals were.
“I’ve got a story to tell, and this program helped me realise how important this was to grow my business.
“I heard the saying to imagine you have reached your goal, then work back from there. That visualisation really helped me to document the steps I needed to take to get to my ultimate goal of winning for my portfolio of clients.
“To Jade Henschke, who paired me with my mentor, you did a fabulous job. From day one, my mentor and I clicked. We agreed on a no-nonsense approach and that my mentor would simply tell me if something was a bad idea. No need to be subtle about it.
“Going through the program was even better because the group of Adelaide Hills businesses was so diverse. We had true start-ups through to established businesses across many sectors. We could share common business issues and brainstorm ideas.
“We’re still in contact too – so thank you, the South Australian Business Chamber, for starting this new business networking group in the Adelaide Hills.
“After many years away from Adelaide, it was so refreshing to come home and remember the two-degrees of separation we have here. This program has definitely given me the confidence to get out there and build on my networks to benefit my clients and my business.
“Everything I do is to help my clients get more customers. I help them understand that marketing is not just advertising, it is also how you deal with staff, clients, and suppliers. An integral part of marketing is the language that you use.
“When I think about the future of digital marketing, I know there will be a role for social media. But equally important is having a business asset of your own – your website. Gone are the days when you need to understand coding to manage your website. I encourage all my clients to completely own the components of their website. This manages the risk of a valuable business asset.
“With Facebook still having market share across all demographics, I do not see this going away any time soon. However, because of COVID-19, lockdowns, isolation, etc, I think what we’ll see in the future is a re-emergence and localisation of more traditional forms of marketing. Like letterbox drops, postcards, or flyers. These get a different cut-through and allow for personalisation and an opportunity to build a relationship.
“We will see some significant changes in just the next five years, so I look forward to using those changes to win for my clients.”
