A capability statement is one of those business documents that sounds boring until you actually need one.

Then suddenly it matters a lot.

You’re quoting for a bigger job. Applying for a tender. Trying to get on a supplier list. Meeting with a corporate client. Pitching to government. And someone asks, “Can you send through your capability statement?”

Cue the scramble.

Someone digs up an old PDF. Someone else finds a Word document from 2019. The logo is stretched, the services are outdated, and there’s a paragraph in there that sounds like it was written by a committee during a power outage.

Not ideal.

A good capability statement should do more than list what your business does. It should make you look credible, organised and ready for the work you want to win next.

It’s part introduction, part sales tool, part proof of trust.

So, what should every capability statement include?

1. A clear business overview

Start with the basics.

Who are you? What do you do? Who do you help? Where do you operate?

This section should give the reader a quick, confident snapshot of your business. Include your business name, specialty, location, service area, years in operation and the types of clients or industries you support.

Keep it clear and direct. If someone has never heard of your business before, they should understand what you do within a few seconds.

2. Your core services

Next, show what you actually offer.

This is where a lot of businesses either go too vague or way too detailed. “We provide quality solutions” doesn’t say much. But three pages of every tiny thing you’ve ever done is too much.

Aim for a clean, scannable list of your main services, grouped in a way that makes sense.

The reader should be able to quickly see whether your capabilities match what they need.

Clear beats clever here.

3. Your experience and track record

People want to know you can actually deliver.

This section should show evidence, not just claims. Include relevant experience, past projects, industries served, project scale or types of work completed.

You don’t need to include every job you’ve ever done. Choose examples that build confidence.

A nice-looking document gets attention.

Proof gets trust.

4. Your points of difference

This is where you answer the quiet question every potential client is asking:

Why should we choose you?

Your points of difference should be specific and believable. Avoid fluffy claims like “we care about quality” unless you can show what that actually means.

Think fast local turnaround, in-house production, strong safety processes, dedicated project management, multi-site rollout experience or the ability to handle complex projects.

Make your business feel distinct, not like every other supplier in the pile.

5. Relevant certifications, licences and compliance

For many industries, this section matters more than people realise.

If you work with government, construction, mining, infrastructure, education, health, corporate or large commercial clients, they’ll often look for proof that you meet certain standards.

This may include licences, insurances, safety certifications, quality systems, environmental commitments, industry memberships, supplier registrations, WHS policies or procurement credentials.

Keep this section tidy and easy to verify.

And don’t overclaim. Credibility is built on clarity.

6. Case studies or project examples

This is where your capability statement starts to feel real.

Short project examples can show the kind of work you do, the problems you solve and the results you create.

A simple structure works well:

Client: Who it was for
Project: What you delivered
Challenge: What needed solving
Outcome: What changed or improved

For visual industries like branding, signage, construction, interiors, manufacturing or creative work, include strong photos where possible.

People can skim a paragraph.

But they feel a good project photo almost instantly.

7. Clear contact details and next steps

This sounds obvious, but it gets missed more often than it should.

Your capability statement should make it incredibly easy for someone to contact you. Include a main contact person, phone number, email, website, business address or service location, and any relevant registration details.

Then give the reader a clear next step.

Not something vague like “get in touch”.

Something more useful, like:

Need a signage partner for your next project? Contact our team to discuss your requirements.

The document should end with confidence, not just a phone number sitting awkwardly in the corner.

A few things your capability statement should not do

Your capability statement should not be overloaded with every service, every team member, every paragraph from your website and every photo you’ve ever taken.

It should not feel like a company profile from 2008.

And it definitely should not look like someone made it in a hurry using whatever logo file they found on the desktop.

Keep it sharp. Keep it relevant. Keep it easy to scan.

A good capability statement should usually be one to four pages, depending on your industry and audience. For tenders or major corporate work, you may need a more detailed version. But even then, clarity still wins.

Final thought

A capability statement is more than a business summary.

It’s a credibility piece.

It tells potential clients that you’re professional, prepared and capable of delivering the work you’re asking to win.

The best ones don’t just say, “Here’s what we do.”

They say, “Here’s why you can trust us with the job.”

And that’s the difference.

Need a capability statement that actually sells your business properly? Brand Hero can help you create a polished, practical document that looks professional, reads clearly and helps you show up ready for bigger opportunities. Let’s make your business impossible to overlook.

There’s a pattern I see all the time.

A business decides it needs “more marketing”.

And suddenly the room fills with tactical ideas.

“Let’s run Google Ads.”
“We need a new website.”
“Boost a few posts.”
“Maybe sponsor that industry event.”

It feels productive. Fast. Action-focused.

But it skips the step that actually determines whether any of it works.

Clarity.

Any decent sporting coach starts with fundamentals. Not fancy plays. Not flashy moves.

Marketing should work the same way.

Tactics Without Clarity Just Burn Budget

If you don’t know:

• Exactly who you’re targeting
• Where they hang out
• What problem you solve better than competitors

…then tactics are just noise with a price tag attached.

You can launch campaigns.
Redesign your website.
Print brochures.
Post every week on LinkedIn because someone said you should.

But if the message underneath is fuzzy, you’re just amplifying uncertainty.

I’ve seen businesses across Queensland spend serious money promoting something they’ve never clearly defined. The result is usually the same. Activity everywhere. Traction nowhere.

This is often the first thing a seasoned marketing coach Brisbane businesses trust will address. Not colours. Not taglines. Not ad platforms.

Clarity.

Because without it, every campaign becomes a guess.

Define What “Winning” Actually Means

Before a coach builds a game plan, they define the win.

Marketing is no different. Start with the end in mind, as they say. 

Are you trying to:

• Attract higher-margin clients instead of price-driven ones?
• Break into a new sector?
• Improve your tender success rate?
• Become the recognised specialist in your niche?

If you can’t articulate the objective clearly, your marketing will pull in different directions.

Clarity creates alignment.
Alignment creates momentum.

And momentum is what most businesses are really chasing when they say they want more marketing.

Consistency Beats Intensity

One big campaign rarely changes perception.

Consistent messaging does.

Clear positioning repeated over time across your website, signage, capability statements, social media, proposals and conversations. That repetition builds familiarity.

Familiarity builds trust.

And trust wins work.

Particularly in industries where reputation matters and relationships drive revenue. Construction. Professional services. Manufacturing. Trades. You don’t win those markets with noise. You win them with clarity and consistency.

What Happens When You Get Clear

Something shifts internally.

The leadership team speaks the same language.
Sales becomes sharper.
Marketing decisions stop feeling random.

You’re not reacting to every shiny opportunity. You’re choosing strategically.

That’s the real value of working with a marketing coach Brisbane companies rely on. It’s not about adding more tactics. It’s about removing confusion.

And when confusion disappears, confidence grows.

Campaigns Come After Clarity

Once positioning is clear, tactics finally work the way they’re supposed to.

Your website reinforces the right message.
Your campaigns target the right audience (in the right places).
Your brand looks and feels aligned.

Everything pulls in the same direction.

Without clarity, marketing feels scattered. With clarity, it feels controlled.

And control builds serious momentum.

If you’ve been jumping straight to campaigns and wondering why results feel inconsistent, it might not be a platform issue.

It might be time to pause and define the fundamentals properly.

Clarity first. Campaigns second.

Most marketing plans don’t fail because the ideas are bad.

They fail because they are built as documents, not as working tools.

They look impressive. They cover everything. They tick all the boxes. Then they get saved, shared, and quietly ignored while day-to-day business takes over.

A marketing plan you can actually execute looks very different.

It is not about doing more marketing. It is about creating clarity, focus, and momentum that works in the real world.

Start With an Honest Marketing Review

Before you plan anything new, you need to understand what is already happening.

Most businesses skip this step and jump straight to tactics. That is where confusion begins.

An honest marketing review looks at what is working, what is unclear, and where effort is being wasted. It examines your messaging, channels, brand presence, and systems without judgement or assumptions.

Look at your entire brand from every touch point. The website, social media, your traditional printed materials and even your signage. How do they align to one another?

This clarity matters because you cannot build a useful plan on top of guesswork.

Align the Plan With Capacity, Not Ambition

One of the fastest ways to break a marketing plan is to overload it.

Businesses often plan as if they have unlimited time, energy, and resources. The reality is very different.

A plan you can execute is aligned with your actual capacity. It clearly defines:

• what to focus on now
• what can wait until next
• and what should be left alone for the time being

This prioritisation removes pressure and creates progress. Fewer, well-chosen actions done consistently will always outperform a long list of half-started initiatives.

Structure the Plan Around How Growth Really Happens

Effective marketing plans are not built as random collections of tactics.

They are structured around how people move through your business.

A practical plan clearly addresses three areas:

• Attraction: how the right people find and notice you
• Conversion: how interest turns into enquiries and sales
• Retention: how relationships continue after the first sale

This structure gives your plan logic. It ensures effort is balanced, rather than everything being focused on visibility while follow-up and retention are ignored.

Build Simple Systems That Support Action

Ideas do not create momentum. Systems do.

Even the clearest plan will stall if there are no tools or workflows to support execution. This is where many plans quietly fail.

Simple systems might include:

• clear content workflows
• basic project management
• defined follow-up processes
• ownership of tasks and timelines

The goal is not complexity. It is consistency.

When systems are simple and visible, marketing stops relying on motivation and starts becoming routine.

Make the Plan a Living Tool

A marketing plan should not be something you revisit once a year.

It should guide weekly decisions, shape priorities, and provide a reference point when new ideas appear. It should help you decide what to say yes to, and just as importantly, what to say no to.

This only works when the plan is reviewed regularly and adjusted as the business evolves. Progress comes from use, not perfection.

Accountability Turns Plans Into Progress

Execution improves dramatically when someone is accountable.

Whether that accountability comes from a coach, a leader, or a regular review process, it keeps the plan moving forward. It creates momentum between ideas and outcomes.

Without accountability, even well-built plans tend to stall.

Final Thought

A marketing plan you can actually execute is not bigger, louder, or more detailed.

It is clearer.

It is aligned with capacity, supported by systems, and focused on what matters most right now.

When a plan is built this way, marketing becomes more confident, more consistent, and far less overwhelming.

And that is when it starts to work.

I have been re-reading The 12 Week Year recently, and it has been reshaping how I think about planning, focus, and execution in business.

The central idea of the 12 Week Year is simple. A year is a long time. When goals sit twelve months away, urgency fades and accountability softens. Plans exist, but execution drifts.

Instead of planning in twelve month blocks, the 12 Week Year treats twelve weeks as a full planning cycle. Goals are shorter, clearer, and far harder to ignore. The result is better focus and more consistent execution.

This way of thinking has real relevance for marketing.

Why Long-Term Marketing Plans Often Struggle

At the start of the year, many businesses set broad marketing goals.

Improve the brand.
Be more visible.
Get more consistent.

They are well intentioned, but they are also distant. When the finish line is far away, it is easy to stay busy without being deliberate.

Marketing becomes a collection of activity rather than a focused effort. Things start, stall, and restart later.

This is rarely a motivation issue. It is a planning issue.

Why December Feels Too Far Away

December is so far off it almost feels abstract.

There is plenty of time to refine the plan later. Plenty of room to delay decisions. Plenty of chances to reset when things calm down.

That distance quietly removes urgency. Marketing slips down the priority list, not because it is unimportant, but because it does not feel immediate.

The 12 Week Year removes that distance.

How the 12 Week Year Changes Marketing Planning

By compressing the planning horizon to twelve weeks, priorities become sharper.

Instead of asking where marketing should be by the end of the year, the question becomes simpler and more practical.

What should marketing achieve in the next twelve weeks.

This shift creates:

• Clear focus
• Stronger decision-making
• A direct link between planning and action

Marketing stops being a background task and becomes an intentional business function.

What a 12 Week Marketing Reset Looks Like

A marketing reset does not need to cover everything.

Trying to fix brand, website, content, social, and campaigns all at once usually leads to overwhelm.

A twelve week focus encourages restraint.

It asks:

• What needs to be clarified first
• What will make the biggest difference right now
• What progress is realistic in the next twelve weeks

   

This creates momentum without burnout.

Why This Builds Marketing Confidence

Shorter cycles create faster feedback.

When marketing is reviewed over twelve weeks rather than twelve months, businesses can see what is working and what is not.

Adjustments happen earlier. Confidence grows through action, not speculation.

Marketing becomes something that is guided and understood, rather than something that feels vague or out of control.

A Better Question to Ask Right Now

Instead of asking what marketing should look like by the end of the year, ask this.

What does success look like for marketing in the next twelve weeks.

That single question brings clarity, focus, and intention into the present.

Final Thought

December is a long way away.

Waiting for the perfect annual plan often delays the clarity that would actually move things forward.

The 12 Week Year offers a simpler alternative. Focus on the next twelve weeks. Plan with intention. Execute with purpose.

That is how meaningful marketing progress is made.

Get the book 12 Week Year here

Gosh, here we are again. A new year.

This morning I was up early, headphones charged, sneakers on, ready to hit the treadmill. Gym bag packed. Fully committed to banishing a few Christmas and New Year diet sins.

The start of a new year has a way of sharpening focus.

Businesses review what worked, what did not, and where they are heading next. Goals get set. Plans get refined. And often, somewhere in that process, a familiar thought appears.

“Our brand feels dated.”
“We have outgrown our logo.”
“We might need a rebrand this year.”

That instinct is usually right. But what happens next is where many rebrands lose impact.

Rebranding often is about modernising and refreshing. The mistake is treating that as the finish line rather than the starting point.

Why Brands Feel the Need to Modernise

Most rebrands are not driven by boredom. They are driven by growth.

A business evolves. Services expand. Audiences shift. What once felt right now feels slightly out of step. The brand has not failed. It has simply been left behind.

Common triggers include:

• A logo that looks dated next to newer competitors 
• Inconsistent visuals across platforms
• A business that has matured but still looks early-stage
• A sense that the brand no longer reflects where the company is going

Wanting to modernise is not shallow. It is a rational response to change.

When Rebranding Becomes a Visual Upgrade Only

Rebranding is often approached as a design task.
New logo.
New colours.
New fonts.
Cleaner layouts.

These things matter. Visuals shape perception and influence trust.

But when modernisation happens without direction, a rebrand can still:

• Lose recognition 
• Create inconsistency
• Solve the wrong problem
• Or introduce new confusion

A brand can look newer and still feel unclear.

That is when businesses end up with something that is visually improved but strategically weaker.

Where Clarity Strengthens a Rebrand

Clarity does not replace modernisation. It gives it purpose.

A strong rebrand aligns how a business looks with who it is now and where it is heading.

Clarity ensures the refreshed brand communicates quickly and consistently.
What do you do?
Who is this for?
Why should I trust you?

When those answers come easily, the brand starts working properly.

Intention Over Optics

There is a difference between looking better and looking right.

Looking better focuses on appearance.
Looking right focuses on alignment.

A brand that looks right:

• Feels confident, not forced

• Is recognisable across every touchpoint

• Works on signage, screens, vehicles, and print

• Reflects the maturity of the business

It does not chase trends.
It does not try to be clever for attention.
It simply fits.

That sense of fit is what people respond to.

Why the New Year Is the Right Time to Address This

The new year brings momentum.

Businesses set targets, launch initiatives, and push into new markets. If the brand does not support that direction, it quietly becomes a constraint.

Rebranding at this point is not about starting over. It is about removing friction before the year accelerates.

When done well, a rebrand becomes a strategic reset rather than a distraction.

Modernisation With Intention

The most effective rebrands balance two things.

Evolution. Updating the look so it feels current and relevant.
Clarity. Making sure the brand communicates clearly and consistently.

This balance turns design into a business asset.

The result is not just a nicer logo. It is a brand that is easier to recognise, easier to apply, and easier to trust.

Questions to Ask Before Rebranding This Year

Before touching visuals, it is worth asking:

• What has changed in our business since the brand was last updated?

• Are we modernising to keep up or to move forward?

• Does our current brand reflect where we want to be by the end of this year?

These are alignment questions. Answering them early makes everything that follows stronger.

Final Thought

Rebranding is not about chasing new. It is about evolving with intention.

When a brand looks current and communicates clearly, it stops being decoration and starts doing real work. It supports growth, builds confidence, and creates consistency throughout the year.

That is what it means to look right.

Hi,

Today marks a major milestone—my little girl is starting high school.

It feels like just yesterday I was chasing her around with a spoonful of mashed carrots and wiping sticky fingers. And now, here we are, facing the next big chapter.

In the lead-up to this day, there’s been plenty of preparation and more than a few nerves. New routes to school, new routines, and new faces to meet—it’s all been a whirlwind.

And then there’s the uniform.

Wow—the effort, time, and expense that has gone into getting her ready has been nothing short of monumental. Gone are the simple polo shirts and floppy hats of primary school. Now we’re dealing with blazers, school bags, and hoodies. Dresses, socks, and water bottles. The list feels endless.

But I get it—this is a big step, and first impressions count.

I guess starting high school is a bit like starting a business in this regard – you want to make a good first impression.

Whether it’s a new school or a new business, how you present yourself from day one sets the tone. My daughter wants to feel prepared and confident—because stepping into something new can feel daunting, and having the right tools makes all the difference. It’s the same with branding.

How is your brand looking in 2025?

When someone encounters your business for the first time, whether through your website, signage, or marketing materials, they form an opinion almost instantly. That first impression can mean the difference between earning their trust or losing their interest.

Just like my daughter’s carefully packed bag and well-organised uniform, your brand needs to show up looking its best.

Book your free branding health check with us today and get 2025 off to a flying start.

Hi all,

This week I was in a mentoring session with a small business owner as part of my role in the Queensland Government Mentoring for Growth (M4G) program.

For those of you out of the loop, M4G is a fantastic program, offering free mentoring for Queensland businesses of all shapes and sizes. If you ever want a second opinion from experienced mentors and business professionals, this is a great resource for you.

Anyway, I digress…

As the mentoring session went on, the topic of grants arose as the mentee was keen to look at government incentives to help boost their business. I explained, grants are a little like Aldi Special Buys… whilst they happen all the time, there are only a few you really want and you need to be like lightning to take advantage of them.

And that’s only the half battle.

Once you’ve found the grant, you need to then be successful in your application. This, my fellow entrepreneurs, is an artform.

Let’s have a closer look at how you can put your best foot forward and win those all-elusive grants to help grow your business.

How to Write a Successful Grant Application

How do you plan to use the grant money?

Do you want an automated sales system so you can pursue your lifelong dream of becoming a yoga teacher? Or a fancy AI chat feature to your website so you never have to speak to another human again?

Go to the back of the line.

When government officials evaluate grant applications from small businesses they looking for one thing… Return on Investment (ROI).

The government is giving you cold-hard cash and they want to see bang for their buck. The grants team wants to ensure that the funding will lead to tangible benefits for the community and the economy.

Let’s explore some of those elements they are looking for:

Job Creation

I can’t highlight this one enough. Job creation is one of the main goals of any government and a key ROI of almost every grant initiative. Officials want to see how your business expansion will lead to new job opportunities for local residents. Providing details on the number of jobs expected to be created, the types of positions, and how these jobs will benefit the community is essential.

Bonus Point: If you can offer job creation opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds, you’ll also likely get extra brownie points.

Economic Growth

Officials look for projects that contribute to broader economic growth. This could include:

• Increased sales revenue
• Growth in customer base
• Expansion into new markets or regions

Note on this… if you mention increased sales revenue, DON’T link this back to that new gold watch you’ve always wanted. This isn’t about you…

Community Impact

Government grants are often designed to benefit the community. Officials will assess how your project will improve the local quality of life, such as:

• Enhancing local services
• Supporting local suppliers and businesses
• Addressing community needs (eg, health, education, accessibility)
• Providing sustainability (eg, is there an environmental benefit to the community?)

Innovation and Competitiveness

Government officials often favor projects that demonstrate innovation. This could involve new technologies, processes, or business models that not only advance your company but also enhance the competitiveness of the local industry.

Have Measurable Outcomes

Having clear, measurable outcomes helps officials assess the potential ROI. Be prepared to outline specific metrics for success.

For example, we will use this funding to create a strategic marketing plan that we will roll out over the next 3-6 months. We anticipate this would lead to an increase of 30% of new leads into our sales funnel. Successful implementation of this plan will enable us to employ an additional 3 full time employees by the end of the next final year.

Try to Align with Government Objectives

Finally, ensure your proposal aligns with the government’s strategic objectives. What are they trying to achieve with the grant? Is there an overarching policy that underpins the initiative?

These potentially could be:

• Supporting economic recovery post-pandemic
• Advancing local development goals
• Promoting social equity or environmental sustainability

When applying for government grants, make sure to articulate how your business expansion will deliver a strong ROI not just for your business, but also for the broader community. Tailor your proposal to highlight these factors, demonstrating a clear vision for growth, impact, and sustainability that aligns with government priorities. This will enhance your chances of securing funding and making a positive contribution to your local area!

Happy granting,

Jonathan Edwards

 

PS… if you’ve recently applied for a grant and are looking for help with the application, get in touch with us to see if we can assist you. 

 

Greetings, brand champions!

Tax time doesn’t always have to be painful. Yes, paying the ATO can be like pulling teeth, but every cloud does have a silver lining! Instead of handing over wads of your hard-earned to these guys, why not try to minimise your tax spend with some savvy businesses purchases, designed to GROW your business?

Buckle up as we unveil five powerhouse tips to leverage branded items for maximum impact on your bottom line, business growth and tax bill.

1. Invest in Website Design

Your website is your digital headquarters, so make it shine! Invest in professional website development to create a user-friendly interface that captivates visitors and converts them into loyal customers. Not only does a stellar website enhance your brand’s online presence, but it also qualifies for valuable tax deductions.

2. Turn Heads in Traffic with Vehicle Wraps

Turn your company vehicles into mobile billboards with eye-catching vehicle wraps. These rolling advertisements not only grab attention wherever they go but also serve as a tax-deductible marketing expense. It’s a win-win solution for boosting brand visibility and slashing your tax bill.

3. Make a Statement with Building Signage

Your storefront is your brand’s first impression, so make it count! Invest in striking building signage that showcases your brand’s personality and draws customers in like moths to a flame. Plus, you can deduct the cost of signage as a business expense, making it a smart investment for both branding and tax purposes.

4. Gear Up with Garments and Teamwear

Deck out your team in branded garments that scream professionalism and unity. From custom uniforms to branded merchandise, outfitting your crew not only boosts morale but also qualifies as a tax-deductible business expense. It’s branding brilliance that keeps your team looking sharp while saving you money come tax time.

5. Revitalise Your Brand with a Logo Rebrand: 

Is your logo feeling a bit outdated? Give your brand a fresh new look with a logo rebrand. Updating your logo not only revitalises your brand identity but also qualifies as a tax-deductible expense for marketing and advertising. It’s a strategic investment that breathes new life into your brand while maximising tax savings.

Choose one (or all!) of these great tax-saving tips for your business and you’ll harness the power of branded items to minimise your tax bill while fueling your brand’s growth and success. It’s a Win-Win!

If you’re thinking about popping up some advertising signs in the lovely City of Moreton Bay region, just a friendly heads-up – there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. You might need to snag the City of Moreton Bay Council’s nod of approval for any signs, even if it’s for your home-based business. And hey, if your signage is linked to a charity, club, or event in Moreton Bay, getting a thumbs-up from the Council could be on the checklist too. 

Signage approvals for City of Moreton Bay Council

It is not always necessary to have signage approval for your building signage via the City of Moreton Bay Council. As long as your signs meet the specific requirements, there is no need to apply for council approval for your signage project.

That said, there are quite a few different angles to the regulations so getting advice from council is always advisable before starting your signage project.

City of Moreton Bay Council signage regulations are broken down into zones: various town centre precincts, community areas, industrial, emerging community, residential and rural. The regulations will differ depending on the zone in terms of signage surface area and a few other key factors. 

How much signage am I allowed for my business?

Signage surface area allowances in Moreton Bay differ depending on where the signs are located. The general rule of thumb for most local businesses is for 1 metre of primary frontage, you are allowed either 1 metre squared or 20 metres squared – whichever is less per site. 

Whilst this accounts for most businesses in the City of Moreton Bay Council signage regulation zones, businesses located in Redcliffe and Kippa-Ring have slightly different signage regulations – For every metre of primary frontage, you get 1 metre squared, up to a total of 10 metres squared, whichever amount is smaller.

Throughout Moreton Bay, businesses working from home are allowed 0.3m squared per site, with rural homes allowing 1.0m squared per site. Rural businesses are allowed up to 5.0m squared per site.

Regulations of specific signage types

Awning Signs

If you are installing an awning sign, it must not be placed directly above the awning and you’re only allowed one such sign for each business. Importantly, there must be a minimum gap of 2.4 metres between the lowest point of the device and the ground or pavement. Furthermore, the attachment to the awning should not be more than 100mm thick. Lastly, the signs must remain within the limits of the awning itself.

Fence Signs

Fence signs are commonplace in and around Moreton Bay. For fence sign advertising it should not exceed a thickness of 100mm, and should not hang outside of the fence.

Freestanding Signs

For businesses, freestanding signs are limited to 1 per site entrance, with a maximum of 2 per frontage. They cannot be more than 6m in height. In addition, the signs should be set back a minimum of 1 meter from the front boundary and 3 meters from the side and rear boundaries of the site. Signs in residential areas cannot exceed 1.5m in height. 

Roof Signs

Businesses wanting to advertise on their roof are limited to 1 sign per site in addition to the roof sign not protruding from the roof beyond 100mm, and must not extend beyond any edge of the roof it is connected to.

Wall Signs and Facade Signs

Probably the most common type of building sign, wall signs and facade signs must have a maximum thickness of 100mm and cannot extend beyond the edges of the wall or facade.

Illuminated LED Signs

For illuminated LED signs, electrical work must adhere to current safety standards, with concealed wiring and static graphics, while maintaining light levels between 300-500 cd/m2, depending on the zone. All electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrician.

Whether it be a roof sign, fence sign or freestanding sign, whatever the type of sign is affects the additional considerations mandated by City of Moreton Bay Council. Your signage may even contain a combination of the outlined elements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for signage approval in the City of Moreton Bay?

Getting signage approval from the City of Moreton Bay Council is a breeze with their step-by-step online guide. Just make sure to send in your application and all the supporting docs at least 30 days before you plan to showcase your sign. This gives them enough time to review everything, ask for more info if needed, do a final check, and make a decision. Head over here to get started.

Do I need to pay advertising signage fees to the council?

When you’re all set to showcase your sign, just a heads up that there might be City of Moreton Bay Council signage fees to cover. For the nitty-gritty details, hop over to the council’s advertising signs page for the most up to date fee information. 

Can I get my signage application processed quicker?

Sometimes you cannot wait. Perhaps you open your doors in two weeks, or you’ve got an important event just around the corner. Luckily, council offers a fast track option if you wish to have your application seen a little quicker.

Does my sign need building approval?

Whilst a little uncommon for most businesses, obtaining building approval is a necessary step for advertising signs meeting specific criteria. This includes signs that are freestanding and exceed a height of 2m from ground level or are wider than 1.2m when freestanding. Additionally, signs that form a distinct structure upon attachment to an existing building or structure also fall under the purview of building approval. 

What if my sign is an election sign? 

There are specific rules and regulations around election signs. These relate to sizes, locations as well as how many election signs you can display. Go here for a full run down on election sign displays for City of Moreton Bay Council.

The Ultimate Guide to Attracting Customers, Building Your Brand, and Enhancing Your Business Presence.

Need a building sign for your business?

Brand Hero has been installing signage in the City of Moreton Bay and other local areas for over 15 years. Whether it’s a wall sign, freestanding sign or window sign, it gives your business a great first impression and lets you be seen to a wider audience. Get in touch with Brand Hero today to make your business soar.

 

This blog is a guide only – Before you make any signage purchases & installations, please consult your local council for a full brief of the guidelines and requirements. Content correct at time of writing

White space… is there anything worse when you are doing creative planning. Staring at The Dreaded Blank Whiteboard with just a heading to ‘get you started’ can be a daunting task.

“How to improve our systems”
“Increase sales for the next quarter”
“Get more online reviews”

If this is your only starting point, you’re in for a tough few hours in the meeting room. Brainstorming, either by yourself or with a team can be tricky. However, if done correctly it can have a huge impact on your business.

The Natural Planning Model

Having a simple and structured approach to brainstorming sessions is essential to overcoming The Dreaded Blank Whiteboard. David Allen, the author of the super-successful time-management book Getting Things Done, developed The Natural Planning Model specifically for this purpose.

The Natural Planning Model is an informal approach to planning that enables a large amount of value from a seemingly minimal amount of effort – and it works. Let’s take a look at the five simple steps involved in supercharging your brainstorming for business success so you can avoid The Dreaded Blank Whiteboard.

Step 1: Start with Why
Like many goals, projects or problems it’s important to start with why. Why you need to do it, why it’s important to you and also the business. What deep-seated benefits will it bring?

Example: Workplace health and safety is important to us. Proper attention on this enables us to feel safe and return home to our families after work.

Step 2: The End In Mind
What does the ideal outcome look like? How do you define success? Make this part measurable – this will enable you to not only have a clear direction, but also allow you to measure the results at the end of the specified period.

Example: We want a 15% decrease in workplace accidents by the end of the year.

Step 3: Brainstorm Your Ideas
Now you have a purpose and direction written down, get your ideas flowing. We are going for quantity not quality in this instance. Don’t dismiss an idea and fail to write it down – it may lead to another idea or could be used in another project down the line. There are no wrong answers for this task. This approach is particularly useful with group brainstorming sessions.

Example: Improve safety signage; Conduct a Safety-themed week around the company; Offer rewards for good safety practices

Step 4: Organise It
By now, you should have a whiteboard full of new ideas and concepts. It’s time to organise them, assign them, prioritise and file. More on this in a moment…

Step 5. Next Action
This part is super important to get traction on your project towards the end goal. Allocate the resources needed to move the project forward and decide the Next Actions for each member. This way, they have a starting point to move ahead.

Tools for Organising, Planning and Tracking

You can do this all on a blank sheet of paper with a cup of coffee and some quiet time. But ideally, you want a decent sized whiteboard for the initial planning session and some online tools to help organise and track the results.

After we’ve finished in our planning room, we move all the content into Trello, a project management tool. You could also use Asana, Monday or To Doist. Keeping a regular check on the actions, goals and priorities with scheduled check ins for accountability, will ensure your brainstorming of ideas comes to fruition, hopefully smashing that end goal in the process.

 

 

Need a whiteboard to supercharge your next planning session? Get in in touch with us today.

Want to learn more on David Allen and his methods? You can check him out here.