Marketing focus for network meeting

AWARD-winning marketing and publishing professionals will present at the next Golden Plains’ Northern Business Network meeting early next month.

Berringa businesspeople and founders of The Rural Copywriter, The Rural Marketing Company, and The Rural Publishing Company, Sarah Walkerden and Toby Billing, are set to speak at Smythesdale’s The Well between 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday, 6 October.

The pair will offer a basic overview of digital marketing, social media, websites, and search engine optimisation for small business.

“When it comes to digital marketing, it’s all about spreading what you’re doing through a variety of channels and having clear cut strategies, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket,” Ms Walkerden said.

As The Rural Publishing Company, the pair have recently launched a new free digital magazine, Rural Entrepreneur Australia.

Ms Walkerden won two gold medals in the 2021 Roar Awards which celebrate and encourage Australian businesses, taking out the best blogger, writer, author, and Service Business of the Year categories.

She has been a finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, the AusMumpreneur Awards, and the Weekly Times and Harvey Norman Shine Awards, and is the co-author of Rural Business Women, a book aiming to offer regional and rural women advice about growing a small business.

The Golden Plains Northern Business Network is open to all enterprising people in the Shire’s north.

It launched last month to nurture relationships between local businesses in the area, and create a space to share ideas, seek advice, solve problems, and collaborate.

“We often feel so isolated working from home, so we’ve really enjoyed the last couple of networking events, and are really pleased we have this opportunity,” Ms Walkerden said.

“Local networking is really powerful.”

If you are interested in being a part of the network, or attending the October meeting, contact [email protected] or 5220 7102 by 5pm on Tuesday, 4 October. Finger food will be provided.