Do You Lose Your Marketing Focus? A FREE Handy Print Out and Stick up Guide

10Yetis — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:20:43 +0000

I was tidying up our website this week and I came across a load of our old newsletters... as I reminisced about the days when we first started out and it was just Jilly and I, I also thought how bloody good some of our old freebies were :-)

So, today's quick blog post is to give you one of these freebies... a free marketing guide from 10 Yetis PR Agency that you can print out and stick on your wall.

Now, ignore the fact it is pretty basic looking and keep in mind that the reason we did it is that we are all sometimes guilty of concentrating on the one marketing area that we know will deliver and forget what else we could be doing.

If you pop this on the wall by your desk you can always glance up and maybe try a new activity each week.

Alternatively, you could fold it into a paper aeroplane and lob it at an unsuspecting colleague.

The choice is yours!

Andy, from a Consumer PR Agency

Moving On

matmsg — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:41:53 +0000

If technology had a mantra surely it would be “advance”. Odd then that so many of us get stuck in a technological rut when it comes to updating software on our computers. Let’s take internet browsers for example. A recent article states “IE6 started off 2010 with about one-fifth of the browser market share”. Amazing considering it was launched in 2001.

Concerns have mounted in recent weeks over Internet Explorer 6 after it was revealed security flaws within the browser were to blame for the “cyber attacks” on Google that apparently originated from China. These security issues have led to calls for the UK government to make a move away from IE6 to a modern browser. The NHS for example has been urged by The Department of Health to update as soon as possible.

Why business needs to become a real part of the education system

Dan Martin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:34:41 +0000

I spotted a tweet early today from entrepreneur Oli Barrett about the Make Your Mark With A Tenner competition. Organised by Enterprise UK it is one of my favourite business competitions. School children around the UK are given loans of £10 and have four weeks to come up with a business idea which makes as much money as possible.

The results in 2009 were astounding.

Tories turn to LinkedIn for business consultation

Dan Martin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:20:04 +0000

Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke is using online social network LinkedIn to gather views from business owners about re-introducing a scheme which helpd the unemployed set up businesses.

Introduced by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, the Enterprise Allowance Scheme (ELS) provided £40 a week to people who wanted to get off the dole and start a their own company. Among those who used it were Julian Dunkerton, founder of the Superdry fashion label and Alan McGee, who set up Creation Records.

The Conservatives are currently exploring a revival of the initiative and Clarke is using LinkedIn to gather feedback from the business community.

At the time of writing his post on the network had received 59 responses.

Among those who have commented is Simon Carrier, chief designer at SPC Design. He said: "I did set a small business in the early 80s under the Enterprise Allowance Scheme.

Win a laptop: Better times ahead in 2010?

Dan Martin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:59:59 +0000

As official figures reveal that the UK has emerged from recession, will 2010 hold healthier financial times for your business? Tell us your views and you could win a brand new laptop!

Join us in assessing the financial outlook for the coming year by taking part in the BusinessZone.co.uk Business Finance Survey 2010.

The results will be announced in April and published in a comprehensive whitepaper. The free to download guide will contain key research, business advice and expert opinion from Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance.

By taking part in the survey, you also have a chance to win a Samsung N130 laptop.

Click here to participiate.

Be brave and take a punt on strong SMEs, banks told

Dan Martin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:06:37 +0000

Supporting strong small businesses through the recession could prove a masterstroke for a bank brave enough to take a risk on more marginal companies, an expert has claimed.

Phil Meeking, from business turnaround specialists Wilson Field, said given the number of people SMEs employ and the amount they generate for the UK economy, a confident lender should move beyond the corporate market and back those small companies which are sustainable but need a helping hand to cope with the recession.

"Businesses are suffering as a result of a continued dearth of the availability of commercial credit and this will hamper the rate at which the economy recovers," he said. "So as we only just struggle out of recession (with a huge journey ahead), at some point one bank – perhaps a new player in the market – will break the cycle.

Mandy turns to Germany for technology innovation lessons

Jon Wilcox — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:22:10 +0000

Lord Mandelson has visited Berlin on a fact-finding mission to invigorate innovation in the UK.

Sectors to Watch this year!

Rose Lewis — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:02:15 +0000

Clean tech entrepreneurs on mission to conquer the US

Dan Martin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:50:34 +0000

The entrepreneurs behind the UK's most promising clean technology businesses are taking part in a visit to Silicon Valley to showcase their innovations and explore ways to expand into international markets.

The 20 business owners will arrive in San Francisco on 20 February as part of the Clean & Cool Mission which is supported by organisations including the Technology and Strategy Board.

Among the products and services, which aim to tackle the impact of climate changes, are straw bale low impact buildings, waterless washing machines and hydro and wave-power generating devices.

During the week-long trip, participants will meet the media, peers from around the world, investors and potential partners and also engage with financial and public policy agenda experts relevant to clean technology businesses operating in the US.

Video interview: Tony Wheeler, co-founder, Lonely Planet

Dan Martin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:29:52 +0000

In an exclusive video interview, Tony Wheeler, co-founder of travel guide firm Lonely Planet, explains how the idea for his business was sparked by a trip around the world with his wife, the impact of technology and the internet on the guide book industry and what entrepreneurs should do to cope with the economic downturn.

The interview was recorded at the UK launch of Dell's Take Your Own Path campaign. Tony Wheeler has been identified by Dell as a business 'Trailblazer'.

EXCLUSIVE: Lord Digby Jones - Surviving SMEs are the 'veterans of recession'

Jon Wilcox — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:15:38 +0000

In part one of a two-part exclusive interview, Jon Wilcox speaks to Lord Digby Jones about the current economic climate for small businesses, and what the government should be doing to help the situation.

"If we're going to get out of this mess, we're going to need successful SMEs that's for sure," comments Lord Jones, former trade minister and director general of the Confederation of British Industry. "This country is only going to get itself out of this economic malaise if we trade our way out of it. If you ever analyse the first year out of a recession, it's always the small business sector that pulls the country out; it's the sector that starts to employ first; it's that grows wealth again first. The small business sector is key to economic recovery."

How can Twitter help you find customers?

haveapeek — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:18:53 +0000

Twitter expert, Mark Shaw, was recently asked ‘Which is better, Google search or Twitter search?’

In this feature Mark puts Twitter search under the spotlight and shows how it can be used to attract new customers.

Google or Twitter?

Search me! If you are a consumer or customer waning to search for a business or solution to your issue/problem then by far the best search tool is Google. Clearly there are other search engines, Bing etc. but for now, we will focus on Google. So let’s imagine, I am looking to go to Bali on Holiday. I type into Google, Bali, or hotels in Bali, or how to get to Bali etc… What will come up? The results will all be hotels, flights, airlines, car hire .. everything to do with Bali. That’s great. Now imagine you are the business, and you want to find a customer. How do you do that? You can’t find customers or clients through Google. That’s what Google adwords are for. You place an advert with the solution, and people click on the advert to find out the answer. But that costs money.

Eavesdrop on the world

Organising an event? Plant a Twitter garden

Dan Martin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:29:23 +0000

I spent a very enjoyable two days in Cardiff this week at Voice10, the annual conference of the Social Enterprise Coalition. I've been to the event before but what was different this year was the involvement of Twitter. As many of you will know I'm a self-confessed twaddict so I was always going to be tweeting madly throughout the conference but I wasn't the only one. At one point the event hashtag, #Voice10, was the highest trending topic in the UK as the socially entrepreneurial Twitterati typed away on their iPhones, BlackBerries and laptops.

National employee engagement campaign targets SMEs

Neil Davey — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:28:49 +0000

Employee engagement strategies shouldn’t be a concern solely for larger enterprises, as even organisations at the smaller end of the spectrum can reap rewards, an audience at the headquarters of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have heard.

Held as part of a wider campaign to raise awareness of employee engagement on the recommendation of the government sponsored MacLeod Review, the ‘Sustainable employee engagement’ conference saw a host of experts provide case studies and advice for firms of all sizes. And new measures being executed in partnership with the government will also ensure that small businesses seeking to improve engagement will receive extra support.

Top 10 worst customer complaints

Dan Martin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:31:02 +0000

All business owners have to deal with difficult customers at some point but how do your experiences compare with the 10 worst complaints one small company faced in 2009?

Taxman may accept recession as excuse for late tax payments

Gina Dyer — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:08:23 +0000

Entrepreneurs submitting late tax payments to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may be able to use the recession as an excuse.

The development follows a recent tax tribunal case in which judges accepted the economic downturn as a "reasonable excuse" for a business owner not paying his taxes on time.

Young, old …or optimum?

inmyprime — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:09:45 +0000

Last week we attended the launch by the EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission) of their new research report "Working Better: the over 50’s – the new work generation".

Lobby group chief calls for social enterprise pandemic

Dan Martin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:47:04 +0000

Doing business for the benefit of society and the environment must become a global phenomenon, the chief executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC) has claimed.

In a rallying call to social entrepreneurs at his organisation's annual conference, Peter Holbrook said while companies which plough their profits into a social, community or environmental cause have made great strides in the UK, the social enterprise approach to business needs to expand internationally if it is to become mainstream.

Opening Voice10 in Cardiff, he said: "The financial crisis has demonstrated that making profits at any cost is no way to do business. It's unsustainable, unjust and dangerous. We are in a great position to play a bigger role. I want to see a full blown pandemic of social enterprise spreading across the world."

REPLAY: Live blog and video - Voice10, the Social Enterprise Coalition's annual conference

Dan Martin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:39:16 +0000

Under the banner 'No more business as usual', Voice10, the annual conference of the Social Enterprise Coalition, took place in Cardiff, Wales on 1 and 2 Febrary. See below for a replay of live video coverage as well as a blog featuring highlights of the event plus Twitter tweets from conference delegates.

Replay: Day one

Replay: Day two part one

Cash hungry entrepreneurs turn to family and friends

Dan Martin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:04:12 +0000

Personal insolvency could well have cushioned corporate failure rates last year as the continuing credit drought forced small business owners to turn to family, friends and personal credit cards for funding.

These are the findings of a study undertaken by business support organisation, the Forum of Private Business (FPB), and commercial credit reference agency Graydon UK among 750 small firms during the last six months of 2009.

The survey revealed that 28% of company owners had no option but to turn to friends, relatives and company directors to secure business financing, while a further 8% used personal credit cards to weather the financial storm.

This situation came about because a huge 40% saw their applications for credit turned down. Some 52% of this group were refused business loans, while 38% were denied extensions to their overdraught facility.