Articles & tips on building clever into your business

Insights on how to build clever into your online business. I write about how clever websites can move your business forward, how your brand impacts the perception of your business in the market (how clever it is, not just what it looks like!), and tips on growing your business through an organic, content-based strategy — the most cost-effective marketing you can do to scale your business.

Sign up to the Box Clever newsletter

Straight-up tips to help you work smarter, not harder
— direct to your inbox.

No spam, no spin. Unsubscribe at any time.

Business - Entrepreneurship
Featured

My story

My story: who I am and how I got to here I’ve built a career around designing systems that make getting stuff done easier. That

person sitting and looking down near black DSLR camera
Business

Why I don’t take anything at face value

The most significant feedback I consistently receive from our clients is that we understand their business. Nice proof that my process to ‘get you’ works!

Robot walking up stairs
Business

Creating brand value in your business

Creating value in your business can be easy when you’re thinking about the long game. Read our thoughts on how to build to grow with exit in mind.

brand-identity-moodboard
Case study

Case Study: small business branding

Case study on the process and results from brand, to website, to marketing foundations for a financial planning business

person holding 3 x 3 rubiks cube
Business

Clever Up Your Online Consultancy Business

Time to take your online consultancy business to the next level? Check out our clever guide with all the info on scaling and website help you need.

Writing - Reading
Digital Marketing

Ideas for Content

If you’re a small business owner, then you know that marketing your business can be tough. One of the most effective tactics is content marketing: creating valuable content that engages your audience and helps you reach your goals. But what should you blog about? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Marketing - Plan
Business

Better Marketing for Services with a vCMO

If you’re a small business owner, you know that marketing your services can be tough. You need to find the right mix of strategies to reach your target market and generate leads, without spending too much money. A vCMO can help. Read on to learn more about what a vCMO is and how they can help your business grow.

Finance - Funding
Q&A

How much should web design cost?

Investing in a new website is an exciting step for your business. But, how much can you expect to pay for custom web design?

Internet - Website
Featured

A buyer’s guide to web design

So, you need a website for your business? Great! But, how do you choose the right web designer for your needs? A quick Google search will reveal heaps of businesses offering web design in Sydney alone! How will you know which one will be the right choice?

Graphic of person using computer with eyes watching
Digital Marketing

Understanding data privacy for your business website

Understanding what private data your website is collecting from your site visitors, and what happens to that data after it is collected, is crucial to protecting your business and your website visitors.

Web design - Search engine
Business

Making the most of your website investment

If you’re going to all the effort of building a website, you may as well milk it for all it’s worth. The bottom line: your business is wasting a huge opportunity if your website isn’t doing a range of clever things to help you out. One of these is targeting new leads who find you via an internet search.

Google Analytics - Google
Featured

Google privacy violations for business websites

Google Analytics and Google Fonts have been ruled to be in violation of Europe’s data protection laws. What does this mean for Australian businesses?

UserZoom - Marketing
Featured

Clever guide to productized services​

For service-based businesses, having a really close look at your core services and determining which services can be productized can save you an enormous amount of time and keep you organised for the year ahead.

Oncology - Radiation therapy
Healthcare websites

Design essentials for healthcare websites

Websites for health practitioners: what to include Your healthcare website should be designed to convey personality and professionalism. It’s the first point of contact for

Apple MacBook Pro - MacBook Air
Branding

9-step guide to business reinvention

I’ve rebuilt my business from brand foundations up. Check out the nine steps I used and think about how you can apply them to your own business reinvention.

Business - Chief Financial Officer
Business

Traditional services & digital-first business strategies

Explore how you can leverage innovative and creative ways to drive your company forward through a digital first strategy that includes productized services for streamlined sales, creating better client experiences, and taking advantage of automation in your tech systems.

Computer - Computer Monitor
Branding

How to register a name for a business​

Are you thinking of starting a business? If so, it’s important to do a name availability check to make sure the business name you want is available. This 6-step guide will walk you through the process of checking for name availability and registering your business. So, whether you’re just getting started or are already in the thick of things, this guide has got you covered. Let’s get started!

Text - Book
Branding

How to Brainstorm a Business Name with Wordplay

Coming up with a great name for your business can be harder than it seems. You want something that is unique, memorable, and inspires confidence in customers. But where do you start? One way to get the creative juices flowing is to use wordplay. This involves playing with different meanings of words or combining words in unusual ways. With a little imagination, you can come up with some truly inspired names this way. So if you’re struggling to come up with a moniker for your new venture, try using wordplay to brainstorm some ideas. You never know what might inspire you!

Converse - Shoe
Branding

Defining Your Brand Personality Traits

If you want to be a distinctive and interesting brand, consider what makes you unique. You don’t want to be a one-dimensional business with no personality, so thinking about the qualities that define you is an important first step in solidifying your branding — whether it’s through your brand name, logo, or website.

Post-it Note - Business
Branding

Ideas on how to name a business

In order to start and run a successful business, you first need to come up with a clever name. This can be tricky, because you want something that is unique and memorable but still professional. Here are some ideas on how to go about choosing the perfect name for your business.

Computer security - Software
Web design

Plain English guide to website terminology

If you’re like most professionals, you don’t have time to become a website expert. But that doesn’t mean you can’t understand the basics. This plain English guide will help you decipher website terminology, so you can communicate with your web developer and make informed decisions about your website project.

Writing - Documentation
Web design

The Ultimate Guide to web design and development for your business

Are you thinking of launching a WordPress website for your business? If so, you’re in the right place. In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step. We’ll start with planning and design, and then move on to development and launch. By the time you’re done, you’ll understand what’s involved. So let’s get started.

Data - Data security
Business

Making sense of the GDPR

Feeling a little confused about the GDPR? In this blog post we explain the ins and outs of the GDPR and how it affects small business owners in Australia.

Photograph - Photography
Business

What does your website say about you?

We know we shouldn’t, but most of us really do judge a book by it’s cover. And the same goes for websites. We critique the credibility of every business we look at online and are quick to dismiss the websites that don’t speak to us. What does your website say about your business?

Stock photography - Unsplash
Uncategorized

How great images can improve your content

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Choosing great imagery is integral to ensuring that your content gets a look in among all the other stuff out there. Show your audience that you are serious about your brand and the way you present yourself by choosing impactful imagery. Read our quick guide to learn how.

Social media - Digital marketing
Digital Marketing

Is it worth investing in a digital marketing strategy?

Digitial marketing is a constantly changing beast. It evolve every time Google changes it’s algorithm, Facebook launches a new feature, or platform merge under one company (when Facebook bought Instagram). You have to be saavy to stay on top of it all and that starts with your strategy. Plan it, implement it and monitor it and you too can master the art of digital marketing success.

Unsplash - Stock photography
Digital Marketing

Copyright: why you can’t just use Google images

Don’t risk your business on something as easy to get right as copyright. Why risk a lengthy and costly law suit when you can easily find the correct attribution for the photographs you use online and ensure that you are not infringing on anyone’s copyright. Follow these steps to ensure your business is operating in line with copyright law.

Google Search - Google
SEO

Mobile friendly websites: good for Google AND clients

When is comes to Google, mobile rules. Thanks to the smartphone, we all walk around with sophisticated computers in our pockets. We can search from anywhere. And the evidence shows that we do. Is your business mobile friendly? If not, you may be missing leads from a lot of potential customers.

Social media - Media
Digital Marketing

What makes a good social media presence for consultants?

Some people have the idea that the creation of a good social media presence has an element of luck to it, the idea that it was the right place, the right idea and the right time. While all these things are vital to the success of a company on social media, luck has nothing to do with it. Luck is for gamblers. Business relies on an approach that is thoroughly thought out.

Search Engine Optimization - Search engine
SEO

SEO for beginners part 2

Search Engine Optimisation is the art of being found on search results. These results are a combination of the search term entered and the ranking of a site for that particular search term (or subject area). You can improve your search results by thinking about what people will type to find your website and then applying those thoughts to your website’s content.

Search Engine Optimization - Search engine
SEO

SEO for Beginners

In this SEO blog series we delve into what to think about when you’re thinking about SEO. Search can get a lot more full-on if you want it to but these fundamentals will see you off to a good start.