UNLESS a business repeats its message at least seven times, people don't remember it.

That was the message from Robert Craven, a marketing expert and adviser to Sir Richard Branson, during a Barclays seminar in Chatham.

More than 100 people attended "Bright Marketing for Smarter Business" at the Bridgewood Manor Hotel, run by the bank in association with media partner Kent Business.

Mr Craven, author of the book Customer Is King. How To Exceed Their Expectations, published by Virgin and with a forward by Sir Richard Branson, said that many business people were good at what they did but poor at marketing their product or service.

"Do they know their customers, do they make themselves different?" he asked. "Why should people buy from you when they can buy from competitors?"

He added: "Most people tend to be very good at doing what they do; they are brilliant running a garage, being an accountant or a jeweller. They are great at doing the doing but a lot of people have trouble marketing what they do.

"They have to be cleverer and smarter, attract the right people and give out the right messages. Skill one is doing the business, skill two is about how you grow the business and marketing is top of that. Unless your message goes out seven times, people don't remember you."