We’re excited to share that The Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant is back for a third year, providing funding to eligible female business owners to empower and support the growth of their business. Successful applicants will receive up to $5,000 to purchase vital equipment, education and training, and procurement of professional services, with a total fund of $250,000 available.
At Springboard Digital, we’re passionate about growth and innovation. We’re committed to helping small to medium businesses leverage opportunities like the Women in Business Grant, especially when it comes to implementing strategic, high-quality digital marketing that helps you reach your business goals.
In this blog post we’ll recap everything you need to know, including eligibility criteria and what the grant funding can be used for. We’ll also provide examples of the digital marketing services and support you can apply for under the funding program criteria.
Let’s go.
Am I Eligible for the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant?
To be eligible for the grant, you must be a woman who owns at least 50% of your business, which must be registered in Queensland and have traded for the full 2022/2023 financial year.
You must also meet the following criteria:
- Active Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Headquarters/business outlets based in the Brisbane Local Government Area (LGA)
- Owner is an Australian Resident/Citizen and 18+ years of age
- Business needs to be operating/trading for 12 months prior to the date of grant opening and demonstrate more than one client
- Business must not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are an undischarged bankrupt
- Annual turnover between $75,000 and $500,000.
Please note if you are a previous recipient of this grant, you are ineligible for the 2023 grant.
See the full eligibility criteria here.
What Can I Use The Grant For?
The Women in Business Grant can be used to support the procurement of professional services, training and education, and operationally critical business equipment.
These pillars aim to support women in growing their personal capabilities as business owners, and building a sustainable, strong business that contributes to the local economy.
What Digital Marketing Can I Get for $5,000?
We are proud to offer flexible and high-value digital marketing services with no long term lock-in contracts. This means we can customise a marketing strategy for your grant application, with the option for a once-off project or ongoing support.
We have 3 service levels at different price points within each of our core services that we can match to best suit your business needs and marketing goals. Here are some examples of what value we can add to your business for $5,000:
Up to 9 Months of Google Ads (excluding ad spend)
Google Ads is a form of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising that involves bidding on keywords or search terms you want your business to appear for in Google Search results. Whether you’re looking to drive website visits, boost sales, or increase leads, Google Ads is a highly-effective way of targeting people who have shown clear intent to enquire or purchase from businesses like yours.
As well as setting up your PPC campaigns to align with the latest industry best practices, our team will ensure comprehensive website conversion tracking is installed and optimise your account month-on-month to ensure you’re getting the best return on your investment.
See what’s included in our PPC service packages here.
Up to 4 Months of Social Media Marketing (excluding ad spend)
Get in front of your target audience on the social media platforms they use everyday. We offer paid Social Media Marketing (SMM) on Meta (Instagram and Facebook), TikTok, Pinterest, and Linkedin, which are crucial Top-of-Funnel platforms for increasing brand awareness and driving traffic to your website.
Our team will tailor unique SMM strategies for your business, ensuring your ads resonate with your target audience. We will also install comprehensive website conversion tracking and conduct ongoing monthly optimisations to achieve optimal results.
See what’s included in our SMM service packages here.
Website Audit + Up to 5 Months of SEO
Feel like your website is lost in Google and isn’t generating clicks or views? Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is for you! SEO is the practice of optimising your website so it organically appears in Google search results for keywords related to your business, helping to drive high quality traffic.
Our team will conduct a full technical audit of your website and provide a month-by-month SEO strategy. This may include tasks such as link building, keyword research, content creation, on-page optimisations, and more.
See what’s included in our SEO service packages here.
Combined Service Packages:
Website Audit + 3 Months of SEO +
Up to 3 Months of Google Ads, OR Up to 2 Months of Social Media Marketing (excluding ad spend)
In a holistic marketing strategy, it’s never wise to put all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. By combining SEO with paid Google Ads or Social Media Marketing (or both), you create the opportunity to reach new audiences and potential customers. Depending on your business, it may make sense to prioritise Google Ads over Social Media Marketing, or vice versa.
Explore all of Springboard’s digital marketing service packages here.
Up to 3 Months of Google Ads & Social Media Marketing (excluding ad spend)
Are you already generating sales or leads, but looking for more? Pairing Google Ads and Social Media Marketing is an excellent way to target all stages of your marketing funnel.
The two channels work together to reach new audiences and increase brand awareness at the top and middle of your marketing funnel, while also targeting users at the bottom of the funnel who need a little more encouragement to make that final purchase or inquiry.
In this option, our team of experts can help set up your Google and SMM campaigns, and optimise and manage them for 3 months to set you up for success.
What is Not Funded by the Grant?
The Women in Business Grant will not cover costs for any ‘business as usual’ costs, including but not limited to:
- General operating costs or fees
- Payments related to real estate or property
- Staff salaries
- Purchase or maintenance of digital technologies
- GST related expenses
See the full list of funding exclusions here.
How To Apply:
If you meet the eligibility criteria and believe digital marketing is the next step for your business, you will be required to provide quotes from local suppliers up to the value of $5,000 (excluding GST).
To receive a custom quote to use for your application, please reach out to Springboard here ASAP or contact our Client Service Team directly at [email protected] with the subject line ‘Women in Business Grant 2023.’ We will be in touch to find out more about your business and organise your custom quote based on your needs and marketing goals.
Once we have provided you with your quote, you can create a profile via the Brisbane Business Hub Application Portal and complete and submit your official application form.
Application Deadlines
Entries close at 4:00pm AEST on Monday 6 November 2023. This grant has filled up fast in previous years, so be sure to get the ball rolling now!
Final Words
At Springboard Digital, we are advocates for leveraging opportunities to grow your personal skills, professional skills, and business. If you meet the eligibility criteria, we strongly encourage you to apply for the Women In Business Grant in 2023.
If you have any further questions about the grant, please do not hesitate to contact our team here. One of our Client Success Managers will be in contact to help with any queries or doubts you may have.
Until next time,
The Digital Marketing Team at Springboard Digital.