by Jolene Roelofse, Owner of Bludoor Market and Co-founder of Fluence

Given the current status quo globally and the State of Emergency declared this past weekend in South Africa, it is far from Business as Usual for businesses. But it is the ideal time to do business differently, change the course, be a disruptor, and use the current situation to your advantage.

By Jolene Roelofse, founder of BluDoor Market

As a new mum (yes, after my second child, I still consider myself a new mum), I often battle with finding a balance between my business and my two toddlers.  Aged 3 and 1, I feel they still need a lot of my time, especially since their Dad started traveling quite a bit with work again.  It seems only fair that one parent remains present for consistency and emotional comfort.  But the reality is that my business is also my baby.  Also 3 years old and demanding a lot of attention, love and care.  But where do you draw the line?

Many entrepreneurs miss the importance of having a marketing strategy and a plan. Some don’t understand the difference between the two, and some feel that it is only important once you have a bigger brand and you can afford to hire a marketing manager with the skill-set to create and manage all marketing activities. But it is actually crucial to have one in place.

To date I’ve had a couple of clients who seem to be confused as to the reason one should have a Business strategy or a Marketing strategy - do you need both or will one or the other suffice?