ask the expert

How to future-proof your sales and marketing strategy

With a potential recession on the horizon, soaring energy costs, labour and supply shortages, the market has never been so uncertain.

Niall Habba

Managing Director The Telemarketing Company

In the face of this disruption, every business needs a robust and sustainable sales and marketing strategy. Here are our recommendations to help you build resilience into your approach.

Be strategic - A concrete plan will ensure your team and resources are well aligned to your strategic goals. Use the knowledge and experience of your team and draw on reliable, accurate insight to set your destination and plan a route forward.

Be flexible - Once the plan is in place, continuously review and change course as the environment changes. Always have a contingency.

Spend well - Keep investing to drive growth but set robust measures for highspend channels and activities to ensure budget isn’t wasted.

Cherish your data – Your database is your greatest asset. Mine existing data for valuable insight and continuously nurture inactive leads, contacts and clients to flush out potential opportunities.

Look after staff - With the cost-ofliving crisis employees are experiencing extremely tough times, so invest in staff wellbeing. Not only is it the right thing to do, happy employees are more productive and will stay with you for longer.

A network of industry partners that share resources and offer mutual support is also vital in current times. Since 1990, The Telemarketing Company has provided flexible inbound and outbound telemarketing services to hundreds of clients, extending their in-house capabilities and reinforcing their sales and marketing strategies. Get in touch for more information.

www.ttmc.co.uk

info@ttmc.co.uk / 01273 765000

Drive recruitment and retention with an electric car salary sacrifice scheme

A key issue facing all industries is recruitment, with many businesses asking the question ‘how can we attract and retain talent?’ Mandy Settle, a director in Moore Kingston Smith’s Redhill office with over 20 years’ experience across audit, accounts, corporation tax compliance and business advisory work, helps her clients with business planning, forecasts and advises on internal controls.

Mandy Settle

Director Moore Kingston Smith

Amid the great resignation, the huge increase in the cost of living and the lingering effects of the pandemic, Mandy stresses that offering benefits such as the government’s electric car salary sacrifice scheme to your people distinguishes your organisation from other employers, while also improving your Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) credentials.

“The government has committed to keeping the benefit-in-kind rate for electric vehicles at 2% until 5 April 2025. An employer allowing its people to exchange part of their gross salary for an employer-provided electric car will typically halve the cost of the car to the employee, making electric cars much more affordable. However, many employers haven’t introduced the scheme yet, shying away from it due to perceived complexities, confusing paperwork, and the fear of ending up stuck with a car or a large bill.” Mandy explains.

“But the benefit far outweighs the bureaucracy. Not only is introducing the scheme a great way to help your people, particularly in the times we are currently experiencing, but it’s also an advantage to your business in terms of ESG. Encouraging and providing your people with a cleaner car for their commute will in turn reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Employers adopting an attractive benefits scheme will gain a competitive edge, while those that don’t may get left behind.”

Find out more on electric car schemes for business at mooreks.co.uk