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There are many ways to market your brand. One look on the average Internet marketing website and the chances are they will specialize in one form of marketing. The reality is that you should be using a range of techniques in order to boost the stature of your website. If you’re new to the game, this article is going to introduce to you the main types of Internet marketing techniques you should be aware of. Search Engine Marketing This is one of the most common forms of marketing, and certainly the most enduring. The aim of the game is to get as high up in Google’s indexes as possible. It’s one of the trickiest forms of marketing
to get into because all your competitors have a major start on you. You also have to be aware of the fact that Google will change the rules without warning on a regular basis. There’s absolutely nothing you can do about this and, in some cases, your efforts can be wiped out in a matter of minutes. Social Media Marketing The newest form of marketing is social media marketing. It’s all about yielding the power of social media in order to bring in more customers. To do this, you will build up human relationships and spend most of your time interacting with people on a personal level.
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The social media channels you choose to interact on will differ depending on your business. You may decide that you want to keep things casual on Instagram, or become more formal on LinkedIn. There’s also paid social media marketing. Platforms like the Facebook Power Editor make it easier than ever before to pinpoint your target market and speak directly to them. This requires lots of split testing, but once you get it right it can yield huge rewards. Content Marketing You’ve heard the fact that content is king before. And nothing has changed because it does remain the most powerful option for marketing your brand. Everything is driven by great content that’s relevant to your target audience. Understand your target market and start writing long form content that targets specific issues. Content marketing is something that drives every other marketing channel. Email Marketing Getting in touch with people via email is one of the oldest forms of marketing. Today, it’s a hub for exclusive content. This exclusive content can be used to encourage people to sign up to your list.
The same content will keep people glued to your list, as well. Keep in mind that email marketing can still be used to sell, although this is not something that you’ll be doing the majority of the time. Start building up your list early. Doing a Good Job The best way to maintain a positive reputation online is to just do a good job. This is one of the best Internet marketing strategies you can adopt. Invest in the quality of your customer service and make sure that you are taking any complaints seriously. By doing a great job you will ensure that people flock to your brand because they know that they are going to be treated right. This applies to every type of interaction you could have with a customer. Conclusion – Combine for Maximum Effect These five types of Internet marketing techniques should be combined together to help your brand gain the largest amount of exposure possible. It’s easier than you think to do this because you will be doing it naturally just by talking to your customers. Examine what other brands are doing. Refine your own strategy. Boost your brand’s prospects today!
About the Author Charlie Robinson is an accomplished marketer and interim VP of Marketing for high-growth tech startups. He is currently the VP of Marketing at Adling, a digital marketing agency based out of Cupertino, CA You can find him on Twitter here.
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Easily Avoidable Accounting Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands By Russell Smith Accounting a complicated and vital
simple solutions. If you’re a business owner
component of the business machine — the
managing your own finances, be sure to
core around rich everything else operates.
keep reading, and discover some easily
You cannot run a successful business
avoidable accounting mistakes which could
without having a strong grasp of your
potentially cost your business thousands
finances. Accounting mistakes, however, are all too easily made.
Data-Entry Inaccuracy Caused by Human Error
Many small business owners undertake
The problem: Unfortunately, it is human
their own accounting, which can often
nature to be imperfect. We get distracted,
prove to be problematic. Untrained in the
we get tired, confused and we make
complexities of accounting processes, many
mistakes. The most common accounting
struggle with the day-to-day running of
mistakes are caused by human error in data
their finances. While there are many
entry. Simply failing to record purchases, or
potential mistakes to made, most also have
calculating income incorrectly, can lead to
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inaccurate books, books that will then be
and work from simplistic, poor quality
used to form reports and tax returns.
financial reports.
Running a company on an inaccurate
The answer: Specialised accounting
financial report is a surefire way to run into
software offers a sophisticated and
trouble, and incorrect tax returns can incur
technologically advanced solution to the
penalties and fines that knock your business
complex task of accounting. Automated
backwards.
features allow for quick and easy reports, updates, invoices and more, while specific
The answer: Human error is hard to stamp
recording options offer easy access to
out, but it can be reduced. Another eye can
everything from supplier accounts to
be invaluable, and having somebody simply
payroll data. By speeding up accounting
check over the data previously entered into
processes — some of which can take hours,
a system can help stop errors occurring.
or even days under inadequate systems —
Data reconciliation is also a vital part of
and improving the quality of the
ensuring accuracy. Matching records to
information you run your business from,
bank transactions is a simple, yet effective
you can save a small fortune.
technique for maintaining error-free books. Failing to Monitor Client Payments Working from Basic, Unspecialised
The problem: A business which does not
Software
get paid is not profitable, and cannot
The problem: In order to maintain an
survive. Yet, many misunderstand the
accurate understanding of your business's
difference between a promise of payment
financial situation, you must keep any and
and actual payment. Small businesses are
all fluctuating numbers under a strict and
fragile things, and 30 days of no payment
watchful eye. Yet, most small businesses
can be the difference between profitability
run their complex accounting systems out
and insolvency.
of inadequate and basic software. Whilst some businesses are simply too By doing your accounting out of generic
lenient with payment deadlines, others are
software, you are likely to endure
too busy to keep track of every client that
unnecessarily slow accounting processes
owes them money, and resort to trusting
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that debts will be paid. This can have severe
cause of inaccurate data entry, beyond that
and costly repercussions.
of human error, but it also means that you
The answer: Treating clients and customers
cannot claim on expenses as there is no
like cash cows is a quick way out of
evidence to back them up — potentially
business, but so is allowing them to get
incurring large and unnecessary costs on
away without proper payment. It is
tax returns. Evidence is also required in the
advisable to set strict deadlines for invoices
event of an audit. If you were to be called
and be rigorous with follow-ups if they are
upon by the government, without proof of
not met. Keep track of all clients and money
transaction, they will have to take your
owed — specialised accounting software is
word for incomings and outgoings, which
an easy way to monitor this — and never let
they are unlikely to do. This can cause a
an invoice go unpaid. Offering discounts for
range of time-consuming issues, but is so
prompt payments almost always results in
easily avoided.
fewer late payments. The answer: Maintaining records of all Mismanagement of Transaction Evidence
transactions is the most effective way of
The problem: Keeping the evidence of your
ensuring you don’t ever have to deal with
business transactions — invoices, receipts,
matters of inadequate transaction
bills, bank statements — is vital for
evidence. Save and backup all online
everything from data reconciliation and
transaction records, and keep all paper
bookkeeping, to tax returns and expense
receipts, invoices and bills — be sure to
claims.
request electronic evidence whenever possible, as this is easier to store.
Without them, you cannot prove what transactions you have made. This is another Russell Smith, a chartered accountant from Leeds, is a small business owner and finance expert. Russell is passionate about using his knowledge of finance to help small business owners, and he regularly blogs about important updates, as well as on good accounting practice. Site: www.rsaccountancy.co.uk Socials: https://twitter.com/rsaccountancy?lang=en-gb
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Whati ft hechange you’ r eavoi di ngi st he onet ogi veyouwi ngs ? Embr aceeachchal l enge i nyourl i f easan oppor t uni t yf or s el f t r ans f or mat i on. www. bus i nes s br eakt hr ough. co. uk
Business Gifting 101: Do’s and Don’ts of Giving Presents to Clients By Kit Kalagayan Giving gifts is huge when it comes to business.
present into that information. If you give them
Your gift can either make your client extremely
something they love, they will be utterly
impressed or it can turn off the happy client
impressed.
faucet.
Choose to give food or beverage. Gourmet cookies, artisan tea or a cake are great gift
Since giving gifts to clients is a difficult ordeal
ideas for clients because food gifts always
that can either make or break your relationship
imply “I want you to be happy!” Wine is also a
with your customers, it would not hurt to make
great choice, but do research on what kind of
a bit of preparation. Here are some do’s and
wine your client likes, first. Food also is the
don’ts in giving presents to clients.
best inter-company gift because it can be shared by many people.
When Giving a Present to a Client, Do:
Choose to give something useful! A small
Tailor your gifts to your recipient. If you
statue looks great but it might just gather dust
research about them a bit, you will get an idea
on your client’s closet.
on what they like and you can work your
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Give something from your hometown, if you
Give general store gift cheques like Amazon
just got back from home. It shows that they are
or Walmart. Giving general goods vouchers
in your mind and that you value your
only shows you are too lazy to actually care.
relationship with your client.
However, something specific like spa gift
Consider cultural differences. If you have a
check is fine.
client that is of a different nationality, research on what gifts and gifting etiquette are
What Kind of Gifts to Give?
appropriate at their homeland and apply it to
Glad you asked! Here are some gift ideas for
them. For example, the Chinese consider
your clients:
umbrellas a bad luck when given as a gift and
Gourmet cookies, a cake, dessert delicacies.
the Japanese will refuse your gift around three
Coffee or tea gift baskets.
times before accepting it (so that means you
Dessert gift baskets.
should offer it more than three times).
Wine. Books on how to grow their business.
When Giving a Present to a Client, Don’t:
Your hometown’s specialty.
Print or engrave your company logo or name
A spa or massage voucher.
on the present, especially those that are
A cute or funny coffee mug. (Sans your
intended to be used everyday like shirts or
company logo. Resist self promotion this
umbrellas. This is not the time to promote your
time.)
company and your clients are not your walking
Handmade soaps or scrubs.
billboards.
An iPad or an android tablet.
Expect anything in return. While some cultures
A pocket watch.
make it a point to return the favour by sending
Pocket multitools.
a present on your way, your intention of giving a gift is to strengthen the relationship with a
Should I Give a Gift to All of My Clients?
valued client.
The last thing to remember is not all clients are created equal! To save on expenses, you may choose to give presents of your biggest clients only and choose smaller but useful trinkets to give to the others.
Give money. In the business world, money gifts are considered bribery.
About the Author Kit Kalagayan owns Gift Canyon, a website that discusses gifting etiquette, tips and lists of gift ideas for any occasion or recipient. You can follow Kit at Twitter.
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How Apprentices Have Become the “New Norm” Hadyn Luke Government statistics show there has been a rise in the number of apprenticeships in the UK in recent years. Many youngsters are viewing apprenticeships as a preferable alternative to going to university. A study of almost 3,000 young people in 2014 found that more than half of the respondents said they would be interested in an apprenticeship rather than going to university. In a separate study it was found
that employers ranked apprentices 15% more employable than youngsters with degrees or other qualifications. So prolific has the rise in apprenticeships been that skills minister Matthew Hancock urged young people to consider an apprenticeship, referring to them as the “norm for school leavers who want to earn while they learn and forge a successful career.”
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With those embarking on apprenticeship schemes on the rise, CMS VOC explores how apprenticeship schemes are fast becoming the “new norm”. Workplace training is being viewed alongside further education With apprenticeships gaining a higher profile, they are no longer thought of as inferior to further education. There has been a positive shift towards apprenticeships in recent years, with more and more people recognising the many benefits of apprenticeships, including having a better chance of getting a job, being given the opportunity to gain broader experiences, and having the chance to learn useful skills. A survey conducted by the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), which was released to coincide with the National Apprenticeships Week, found that out of 1830 homeowners in the UK, 86% agreed that school leavers should be considered to become involved in an apprenticeship instead of being pushed into higher education. 19% of the survey’s participants acknowledged that higher education is not for everyone. Alongside this increased positivity around apprenticeships and how they offer a credible alternative to embarking on further education, there is still an idealised perception of this type of work-based training and how it provides a stepping
stone into securing a career in important industries. As The Guardian writes: “In an era where most of us work in front of a computer screen, there’s still a romanticism attached to apprenticeships. They conjure up images of Britain’s industrial part and a time when employers took a young person, probably a young man, under their wing and taught them the tricks of the trade.” A rise in standards in apprenticeships In accordance with the growing demand for apprenticeships there has been an increase in standards to this type of training. The UK government has made changes to the way it assesses and approves bids from employers to develop new apprenticeships. An independent report saw entrepreneur and educator Doug Richard call upon the government to improve the quality of apprenticeships and make them more focused on the requirements of the employer. Some of these changes includes focusing on the outcome of the apprenticeship and what an apprentice can do when they complete their training. Another change mapped out in the Richard Review of Apprenticeships Report is that all apprentices should reach a good level in Maths and English before they are
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able to complete their apprenticeship. Doug Richard spoke of how apprenticeships need to run in-line with further education: “Apprenticeships need to be high quality training with serious kudos and tangible vale both to the apprentice and the employer. I want to hear about an 18-yearold who looked at their options and turned down a place at Oxbridge to take up an apprenticeship if that is the right path for them.” Combating skills shortages In-line with Richard’s calls for apprenticeships to benefit both the apprentice and the employer, there is a myriad of benefits associated with this type of work-based training. One of the key benefits is that apprenticeships help combat skills shortages. By providing apprentices with practical, onsite training, skills within a workforce are improved, which not only benefit the individual being trained, but also the company providing the
apprenticeship, both in the short-term and in the long-term. Qualified apprentices help fill vacancies and skills gaps. They enable employers to recruit the right candidates with the right skills, acting as a dynamic approach to tackling problems associated with the ageing workforce and skills shortages. The increasing number of high quality apprenticeships being offered by employers in the UK are designed to develop the next generation of skilled workers and managers. They encourage new entrants into sectors that might be struggling with skills shortages by providing an alternative route to learning high skills. With the mutual benefits apprenticeships bring to both employers and employees it is hardly surprising that the Centre for Economics and Business Research predict that in the forthcoming years, apprenticeships could contribute up to £3.4 billion a year to the British economy through productivity gains by 2022.
This article was written by CMS Vocational Training (CMSVOC), specialists in providing a vast range of courses and training programmes across diverse sectors. CMSVOC is committed to helping people of all ages, backgrounds and industries, find the right course and training programme so they can progress in their chosen career or embark on a new career. CMSVOC’s professional and talented staff have specialist knowledge in a wide range of industries and work with learners to help them achieve their career dreams.
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How to Improve Your Digital Marketing Strategy Diana Smith
It is no secret that if you want to be competitive on the market you have to invest into digital marketing. Luckily, today there are many opportunities for businesses to do so. It is important to think carefully and make smart moves if you want your digital marketing strategy to improve. If you decide you want to invest more into digital marketing you should take a look at the following 5 tips.
Focus on Mobile Devices One of the biggest mistakes many business owners make today is that they do not focus on mobile devices when advertising their business. When designing a website, you have to make sure it is easily accessible from devices such as smartphones and tablets. Not delivering a proper mobilefriendly experience can seriously hurt your
brand. Besides all of this, Google has recently released a new algorithm which ranks websites that are mobile-friendly higher in searches. If you want to make sure your website is easily accessible from a mobile device, you can run Google’s mobile -friendly test.
Keep it Simple There are many businesses that tend to cram too much information in a little space. But the fact is consumers are inundated with content and their attention spans have become shorter. That is why if you want your digital marketing campaign to be effective, you will have to try to keep it as simple as possible. Pick a single message you want to send to the consumers and focus on it. It is up to you to decide whether you want to build up your brand,
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promote a new product or highlight something that your business has been doing.
Identify Your Audience This is another crucial step you will have to make. You have to know what are the interests of the consumers what are they most likely to type into search when looking for products or services you provide. This will make it possible for you to target your marketing strategy directly to your audience and make the most of it. Consumers who are looking for the products or services you provide will be able to sign up and contact you directly. There are tools you can use to check out what consumers search for the most.
Engage in Social Media A recent study has shown that 75% of all internet users has at least one social media account. This only proves that social media is one of the best places to advertise your business today. You should consider opening accounts for your business on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Once you do that, you can start sharing the information about your business and
products with the consumers. Still, getting some help from the experts is always a good idea. If you do business in Australia, there is a social media agency in Sydney you can turn to and improve your social media presence.
Build a Base of Loyal Customers Whenever a consumer visits your website, you can try moving them towards becoming a loyal customer. The best way to do this is to offer them a chance to sign up for your mailing list. You can then notify them about new products or any upcoming sales. Try making every e-mail you send personal and make sure it includes a link that will drive your customers to your website. Having a mailing list is a key to creating a base of loyal customers and increasing the number of people who trust your products or services. Technology is becoming one of the most important aspects of every business and if you want to be successful, you will have to invest in it. Make sure you do all of the above mentioned things and you are guaranteed to attract more customers.
About the Author Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in topics related to business and technology. In her free time she enjoys exploring new low cost advertising opportunities.
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How You Can Achieve a Paperless Office: Get Started Today By Joseph O’Brien
The paperless office still seems like a distant dream, despite the advent of the smart tech and cloud computing. Traditional paper based processes like paper contracts and invoices are slowly dying out, yet companies struggle to adopt fully paperless technologies. We look at how to make your office more paperless and reduce paper waste, as well as unpick some of the reasons why you aren’t ready to let go of paper yet.
up on a cloud drive, synced to many devicespractically impossible to lose. The misconception about paper being somehow ‘safe’ is simply not true; single paper hard copies of a document are the most vulnerable type of company data.
Paper places a burden on the environment (and business)
Almost half of paper used in the office gets binned at the end of the day. Despite campaigns about smart paper practicespeople still waste a lot of paper at work.
The US is the biggest global paper consumer, with an incredible annual paper & card consumption of 229 kg per capita- compared to the global average of just 57 kg! Consuming too much paper is bad for the environment, depleting natural resources and creating harmful industrial waste. The paper industry are doing their best, but the destruction of forests, and the chemicals needed to treat paper, are environmentally devastating. Paper can be bad for business too. Paper processes waste valuable employee time, and can lead to costly mistakes. These statistics from the Paperless Project are stark: Companies lose a paper document every 12 seconds, costing them $350 to $700. Compare this to documents that are backed
Paper leads to inefficiencies: more than 70% of the world’s industry would face imminent failure in the event of the destruction of their paper records.
What is holding you back? Despite the obvious problems with paperbased records- they still persist. Due to technological barriers and inefficiencies, a completely paperless business is not a feasible target for many people. Here’s some key paperless business sticking points: Low adoption rates for new technologies means businesses aren’t primed for the transition. Issues like not having enough tablets for a meeting, or a robust WIFI connection, make people reach for the paper. New technologies are still not robust enough to fully replace paper.
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Lack of facilities and supporting infrastructure means processes are slowed down, not speeded up. Unwillingness to change in key industries that have traditionally relied on paper. Lack of awareness means business case for change is sometimes missed. Often personal preference and team dynamics take precedent over change and progress.
Begin with simple policy changes The best way to move things forward is to implement small policy changes. In starting small, you will immediately have an impact. All company printing should be double-sided. Using scrap paper for printing internal documentation like meeting notes should be encouraged. Emails don’t need to be printed. Meeting agendas can be shared amongst people, or read off a tablet.
paperless competition between different teams is a great way to get people talking.
Adopting paperless processes Thanks to the possibilities offered by cloud computing and software you can axe the paper in more than one business area. Benefit from key time-saving innovations like cloud bookkeeping to streamline your finances, and move your HR processes online. Online timesheets, e-payslips and eP60s are making everyone’s lives simpler. On the creative side, there are loads of ways to mind-map and brainstorm online- you don’t need reams of paper to develop a new creative idea.
Make it easy by investing in the right technology Dual monitors, smartphones, fast computers, broadband- you will need to give people the right tools to ensure that they can do their jobs properly without paper. Digitisation is an investment, but it’s worth it!
Paperless office benefits
Cloud file sharing platforms (Google Drive, Dropbox ) should be used for sharing editable documents around the team.
A more environmentally-friendly office.
Save money on buying paper, printing, photocopying, and waste disposal.
Make it about people
Less time-consuming archiving.
Business is more portable and travels better- no massive folder to take with you on trips!
Less human error, increased productivity.
People often have a bigger impact than policies, so get people on board with the paperless drive. Appoint paperless heroes, feature paper statistics by the printer, and start a newsletter to shout about all the company’s paperless innovations. A
Hi, I’m Joseph O’Brien, and I am a curious freelance writer who has a strong interest in business processes and productivity. I’m particularly interested in covering paper-based business processes like secure shredding, as well as digital ones like outsourced cloud bookkeeping and big data.
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The Importance of Writing a Will For Business Owners By Georgina Bullock Writing a will isn’t something that many people like to think about. It’s quite depressing to dwell on what will happen after you die, but without proper preparation, your assets might not be distributed how you’d like. The outcome might be as simple as a prized possession not going to the right person, or as devastating as your family losing the family home.
Many people assume that their assets and possessions will be very simply divided up between their loved ones, and that will be the end of it. Unfortunately, without a will in place, the law takes control and dictates how things should be divided. This might result in your family home being sold to settle care home expenses. Things can get particularly complicated if you own a business and business assets. According to
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research, it is estimated that 1 in 10 business owners feel that their business would have to cease trading should one of the key individuals in the business pass away. However, the risk of this happening could be easily mitigated with some careful planning. If you are the head of an ownerdependent business, it’s important you put a will in place so your business can continue to run smoothly in the event of you passing away. It’s not unusual for businesses to meet their demise as a result of lengthy legal proceedings following a death. Even if only one child is working in the business, the law states that the business would have to be equally divided between all children. If this happens, that child would then have to buy their siblings out to take control of the business, which can lead to unnecessary will disputes and emotional distress for your loved ones. If it is not your wishes for your family to inherit the business, as you have partners or other critical figure heads within the organization, arranging for each business owner to take out a life policy in trust for
the other business owners can protect that. This way any funds are paid directly to the surviving owners should one of them die, so that they can buy out your part of the business. Succession planning is the most important aspect of writing a will for business owners. In order to maximise the benefits of Business Property Relief, which provides relief from inheritance tax, careful and strategic planning is required. If your spouse takes control of your company and sells it on, the proceeds from the sale will become part of their estate and be subject to inheritance tax when they die, leaving less for your children. It makes more sense to keep the shares, but hand over the company to a trust. Your spouse will still benefit from the trust, but they won’t pay the inheritance tax. Being elderly or developing an illness shouldn’t be the only precursors for writing a will. If you get married, enter a civil partnership, or have children, you should start thinking about how you’d like your assets to be divided, should the worst happen.
Georgina Bullock is a freelance writer and research journalist, who specializes in a number of core areas, including business, law and property. Through studying journalism at university, Georgina was introduced to a number of contacts in different industries, which is where she discovered her passion for these areas. She is a regular contributor to Gorvins Solicitors, where she comments on the latest developments in the legal industry.
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