Changing the status quo Big business came out of a period of ‘live and let live’, by aggressively poaching any markets they could, to prop up profit margins. They did so very successfully with massive advertising budgets and powerful PR teams. Small business had no choice but to capitulate and allowed itself to be pushed into an ever decreasing corner. The ‘status’ is thus - Shopping centres have troops of devotees that wander aimlessly through endless corridors of merchandise ‘spending’ whilst local shops, cafes, restaurants, groceries and Yes! the butcher, baker and candlestick maker! - have NO ALTERNATIVE WORTH TALKING ABOUT. The ‘quo’ is thus - Huge advertising budgets are searching for ‘absolutes’ with proof positive of results - PR is in a headspin - Paper marketing is with yesterday’s chips - Free to air advertising is no longer in a comfort zone - SMALL BUSINESS IS IN A BOX SEAT BUT IS CONSUMED WITH BEING DEFENSIVE AND IT’S TIME TO COME OUT SWINGING. Social Media is only part of the network of success for small business AND THERE ARE NO EXPERTS IN SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ONLY A HANDFUL OF US WHO WORK OUR BUTTS OFF TO TRY AND HARNESS IT’S UNBELIEVABLE POWER. We’re going to approach this new raft of opportunities by mixing social media with solid, hard hitting, commonsense methodologies. We’re going to convince our participants that a meal, a product, a service and in fact a beautiful smile or a handshake wrapped up in a sensitive and novel idea will bring folk from around the world to our doorstep - Welcome to The Balmain Bus.

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