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Marketing, Talent Attraction: Top Challenges for NZ Small and Medium Sized Businesses



This article is a 5 minute read. You will read about:

  • The article discusses the challenges and benefits of offshoring for small businesses in New Zealand

  • The main challenges are lead generation, marketing, and talent attraction

  • Lead generation is difficult because of low brand awareness, limited budget, and lack of skills

  • Marketing is difficult because of high competition, low online presence, and low customer loyalty

  • Talent attraction is difficult because of skill shortage, high turnover, and high salary expectations



Small businesses in New Zealand face many challenges in today's competitive and dynamic market. One of the most common and pressing issues is how to generate more leads, market their products or services effectively, and attract talented employees. In this article, we will explore some of the factors that contribute to these difficulties and how offshoring can help small businesses overcome them.

Generating More Business: NZ Businesses Continue to Struggle in Lead Generation

Lead generation is the process of attracting and converting potential customers into interested prospects who are willing to buy from you. For small businesses, lead generation can be challenging because they often lack the resources, time, and expertise to create and execute effective marketing campaigns. According to a survey by HubSpot, 61% of marketers say generating traffic and leads is their top challenge. Some of the common obstacles that small businesses face in lead generation are:

  • Low brand awareness: Small businesses may not have a strong online presence or reputation, which makes it harder for them to reach and engage their target audience.
  • Limited budget: Small businesses may not have enough funds to invest in paid advertising, SEO, content marketing, or other lead generation strategies that require upfront costs or ongoing maintenance.
  • Lack of skills: Small businesses may not have the in-house talent or knowledge to design, implement, and measure effective lead generation campaigns that align with their goals and audience needs.
  • Marketing is the process of promoting and selling your products or services to your target market. For small businesses, marketing can be challenging because they often have to compete with larger and more established competitors who have more resources, reach, and influence. According to a report by MYOB, 42% of small businesses in New Zealand do not have a website, 56% do not use social media, and 66% do not use email marketing.

Some of the common challenges that small businesses face in marketing are:

  • Lack of differentiation: Small businesses may struggle to communicate their unique value proposition or point of difference that sets them apart from their competitors.
  • Lack of strategy: Small businesses may not have a clear marketing plan or strategy that defines their objectives, target market, positioning, messaging, channels, and metrics.
  • Lack of consistency: Small businesses may not have the capacity or discipline to maintain a consistent and coherent marketing presence across multiple platforms and touchpoints.

Talent Attraction for Small Businesses: A Continuing Dilemma

Talent attraction is the process of finding and hiring qualified employees who fit your company culture and values. For small businesses, talent attraction can be challenging because they often have to compete with larger and more attractive employers who offer better compensation, benefits, and opportunities. According to a survey by Xero, 44% of small businesses in New Zealand say finding skilled staff is their biggest challenge . Some of the common challenges that small businesses face in talent attraction are:

  • Low visibility: Small businesses may not have a strong employer brand or reputation, which makes it harder for them to attract and retain top talent.
  • Limited pool: Small businesses may not have access to a large or diverse pool of candidates who have the skills, experience, or qualifications they need.
  • Limited resources: Small businesses may not have the resources, time, or tools to conduct effective recruitment processes that include sourcing, screening, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding.

How offshoring resolves these problems

Offshoring can help small businesses overcome some of the challenges they face in lead generation, marketing, and talent attraction by offering them the following benefits:

  • Cost savings: Offshoring can help small businesses reduce their operational costs by taking advantage of lower labour rates, taxes, overheads, and infrastructure costs in other countries.
  • Quality improvement: Offshoring can help small businesses improve their quality standards by accessing skilled and experienced professionals who can deliver high-quality work at a faster turnaround time.
  • Scalability: Offshoring can help small businesses scale their operations by providing them with flexible and scalable solutions that can adapt to their changing needs and demands.

Small businesses in New Zealand face many challenges in lead generation, marketing, and talent attraction. However, by leveraging offshoring as a strategic option, they can overcome these challenges and gain a competitive edge in the market. Offshoring can help small businesses save costs, improve quality, and scale their operations while focusing on their core competencies and customer satisfaction.

For any questions or if you need help with your business, send us a message here on on our website and we will be happy to start a conversation with you.



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