Customer service is in the dumps. Large organisations have been in a mess and consumers are suffering. But there's a silver lining for smaller businesses: an opportunity to deliver the kind of one-to-one service consumers are craving, with genuine expertise and empathy. If you want happy customers, do this first before thinking about price discounts.

Nearly all businesses have a visibility problem to some degree. They're too difficult to notice and find. Ensuring your business has both physical and online visibility means that you're maximising opportunities to increase your customer base. Read our recommendations to assess your visibility.

An interview with branding expert, Laura Hodgkinson, who emphasises the significance of branding for businesses to stand out in the market by understanding their target audience, being consistent, and building trust with customers.

Many small businesses rely on Facebook, Instagram, and word-of-mouth to generate new customers. These are rarely enough. Instead, business owners should consider the many under-utilised, but effective, marketing channels out there.

While customer loyalty is important, it's the acquisition of new customers that truly drives sales growth.