Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) might want to look at options such as adding promotional labels to their products after they were urged to invest in marketing.

According to KISS Communications, many new start-ups believe they can achieve their goals by "marketing their business on the cheap".

However, managing director Simon Fryer insisted that this approach is fraught with problems and would prove to be a "recipe for disaster".

He urged SMEs to put a clear marketing strategy in place, along with a "well thought-out approach for achieving their business objectives".

Mr Fryer was speaking after research by KISS Communications revealed that 96 per cent of business professionals believe "unprofessional marketing and a poorly thought-out proposition" significantly increases the risk of a SME failing.

Businesses were also advised recently by the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) to create branded items such as calendars, mugs and pens as part of an integrated marketing campaign.

Denny Bros Ltd, 24 March 2011