Alan McAleavey

If your first reaction to the New Year is: “We’ll just keep costs down for a bit and then  think about marketing…” …you’re definitely not the only one. UK small businesses are still dealing with higher taxes, energy costs and finance pressures. Surveys show many firms expect flat or falling turnover, and a growing chunk are even predicting contraction or closure rather than growth. At the same time, UK marketing budgets have  started to wobble. The IPA Bellwether report found total marketing...

If the thought of a headshot session makes you want to run a mile, you’re not on your own. Most of the people I photograph on the Wirral are not  natural in front of a camera. They’re accountants, coaches, trades, creatives, shop owners, charity leaders – not models. But they still need good images for LinkedIn, their website, and Google profile. This guide is for you if: You hate having your photo taken You “never like any photos” of yourself You know you should  update your headshot, but...

Running your own business on the Wirral can be equal parts rewarding and unsettling. Whether you’re working from a studio in Birkenhead, your spare room in West Kirby, or a café table in Heswall, the work is yours — and so are the thoughts that come with it. Most sole traders and small business owners I meet across Wirral and Merseyside share a similar feeling: “I know my work is good… but I don’t always feel  like I look like a professional business.” It’s not dramatic self-doubt. It’s the...