Are you struggling to keep up with actioning your marketing plan whilst balancing the demands of running your business? Did you know that we can help and what's more we are offering a tasty 10% off our packages if you book before the end of 2009.
Newsletter and Autoresponder package: Been meaning to write your newsletter for ages or set up your autoresponders and just not got round to it, not sure what packages to use or maybe you just don't have time to do it anymore? Get it sorted from £60 per issue sent.
Copy editing and proofreading: Get your sales letters, blogs, email blasts and reports written in a compelling way from £60 per draft.
Virtual Sales & Marketing Support Package: From £500 per month your business will have a minimum of 2 days a month undivided attention from an experienced professional to plan and carry out your sales and marketing plans to make your business boom.
Telemarketing package: We can get your sales pitch perfected, and weedle out those pain points which is why your customers hammer your door down for more. We will get on the phones and drive your business development forward from £250 per day.
Get 2010 off to a great start by calling us today on 0845 075 1044 or email Sarah to discuss your requirements and claim your 10% discount.
Business Support Services for UK and Foreign companies and entrepreneurs. Our services allow companies to have an immidiate structure and presence in the UK. - Company formation - Virtual office - Personal assitant. - Marketing Development - Accouting, legal and HR support - Onshore and Off-shore services. Visit our webite: www.tailoredtime.com or contact us at contact@tailoredtime.com - tel: +44 207 243 6455
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Going to hell in a handcart
At some point in your business life, you will realise the restrictions of your particular business model. Whether it is down to your IT system not handling enough emails or not having enough back up staff, it will feel painful. Some business owners are great at planning ahead and are able to track, plot and manage for all eventualities, others like to live life by the seat of their pants. We think that when you are starting and running your own business, its not possible to plan for every eventuality. The fear of getting things going wrong would mean you would never get out of bed in the morning.
Even if you are a 'fly by the seat of your pants' kind of entrepreneur, it is possible to put aside a bit of planning time to think... 'where are my back up files kept'....'how quickly could I access my documents if it all went to hell in a handcart?'. These are quite dark musings for a Tuesday morning but Tailored Time has had our fair share of these and that is why we know that back ups.. human or technological are v.v. important if you are going to sleep well at night.
These are our top tips to help you sleep well at night:
1. Use a remote back up as well as /instead of your extra hard disk that you just keep forgetting to back up each week. Check out companies like www.carbonite.com or www.datasafehaven.co.uk - there are millions of companies out there and we think the most important things to consider are a) where are there servers located b) how quickly can you download the data c) how slow will your computer run when it is backing up d)cost
2. Have a remote call handling company to cover your phones if everyone is out of the office. There is nothing worse than an answer machine and call handling is so affordable and efficient there are no excuses
3. Use a bit of cloud computing technology that is currently reaching dizzying heights of functionality and accessability. This means that if you office disappears tomorrow (or you just want to work from home) your key documents are there, ready to use. We are liking www.officelive.com at the moment because it just looks so much nicer to use than googledocs.com (sorry google!)
4. Ensure all passwords are kept in a secure document somewhere - I can only imagine how much time I waste forgetting what password was used where despite best intentions and then I have to try and explain how to find them to a new hire
5. Ensure that all your procedural documents are up to date - this can be time consuming but if you have different people working on different accounts and projects and they have the most knowledge you need to make time to get that knowledge out of their heads on a regular basis
What are your most important contingency plans - we would love to hear from you!
Even if you are a 'fly by the seat of your pants' kind of entrepreneur, it is possible to put aside a bit of planning time to think... 'where are my back up files kept'....'how quickly could I access my documents if it all went to hell in a handcart?'. These are quite dark musings for a Tuesday morning but Tailored Time has had our fair share of these and that is why we know that back ups.. human or technological are v.v. important if you are going to sleep well at night.
These are our top tips to help you sleep well at night:
1. Use a remote back up as well as /instead of your extra hard disk that you just keep forgetting to back up each week. Check out companies like www.carbonite.com or www.datasafehaven.co.uk - there are millions of companies out there and we think the most important things to consider are a) where are there servers located b) how quickly can you download the data c) how slow will your computer run when it is backing up d)cost
2. Have a remote call handling company to cover your phones if everyone is out of the office. There is nothing worse than an answer machine and call handling is so affordable and efficient there are no excuses
3. Use a bit of cloud computing technology that is currently reaching dizzying heights of functionality and accessability. This means that if you office disappears tomorrow (or you just want to work from home) your key documents are there, ready to use. We are liking www.officelive.com at the moment because it just looks so much nicer to use than googledocs.com (sorry google!)
4. Ensure all passwords are kept in a secure document somewhere - I can only imagine how much time I waste forgetting what password was used where despite best intentions and then I have to try and explain how to find them to a new hire
5. Ensure that all your procedural documents are up to date - this can be time consuming but if you have different people working on different accounts and projects and they have the most knowledge you need to make time to get that knowledge out of their heads on a regular basis
What are your most important contingency plans - we would love to hear from you!
Monday, 28 September 2009
Top 10 twips for prooof reading (geddit?)
Some of the Tailored Time team carry out valuable proof reading and copy writing services for our clients. A client recently asked us what the difference is and for us the main difference is that when proofreading, we are mainly looking only for typos. Copy editing is a much more detailed process as we look for style consistency/inconsistency, technical punctuation and grammar problems and rephrase awkward sentences. If you don't have the budget to outsource your proof reading, then here are our 10 top tips to help you get it right the first time:
1. Re-read Your Work
Over and over again - even if it drives you crazy....
2. Minimize Distractions
It is a good idea that when you are proofreading your work that you minimize all distractions or as many distractions that you can, turn the radio off, take yourself to a quiet place, schedule time out of your diary, don't pick up the phone...
3. Read Your Finished Piece Out Loud
If you read it out loud, you are less likely to scan the document and miss vital errors. This might be difficult in a busy environment but it makes a big difference.
4. Use Spell Checker
The document spell checker is a great way to spot really obvious mistakes, but equally, you cannot rely on a 100% accurate document without re reading it yourself. Remember to make sure that you have chosen the correct language setting too...
5. Use Grammar Checker
Also a useful bit of kit but again, this is used in conjunction with reading the document through yourself.
6. Page numbering
Ensure that you always closely review page numbers and other footer/header material for accuracy and correct order.
7. Read Slowly
By reading both out loud and slowly you will increase your chances of catching an error. Follow the words with your finger, take your time and this will give you a chance to spot more inaccuracies.
8. Read it backwards
Sounds crazy but by reading it backwards you focus more on the spelling of each word.
9. Give it to someone else
Having a second/third/fourth pair of eyes on the document makes a huge difference.
10. Proofread Everything
Remember, if your document has tables, graphs and headlines read them all because your audience certainly will.
What are your recommendations? We would love to hear from you!
1. Re-read Your Work
Over and over again - even if it drives you crazy....
2. Minimize Distractions
It is a good idea that when you are proofreading your work that you minimize all distractions or as many distractions that you can, turn the radio off, take yourself to a quiet place, schedule time out of your diary, don't pick up the phone...
3. Read Your Finished Piece Out Loud
If you read it out loud, you are less likely to scan the document and miss vital errors. This might be difficult in a busy environment but it makes a big difference.
4. Use Spell Checker
The document spell checker is a great way to spot really obvious mistakes, but equally, you cannot rely on a 100% accurate document without re reading it yourself. Remember to make sure that you have chosen the correct language setting too...
5. Use Grammar Checker
Also a useful bit of kit but again, this is used in conjunction with reading the document through yourself.
6. Page numbering
Ensure that you always closely review page numbers and other footer/header material for accuracy and correct order.
7. Read Slowly
By reading both out loud and slowly you will increase your chances of catching an error. Follow the words with your finger, take your time and this will give you a chance to spot more inaccuracies.
8. Read it backwards
Sounds crazy but by reading it backwards you focus more on the spelling of each word.
9. Give it to someone else
Having a second/third/fourth pair of eyes on the document makes a huge difference.
10. Proofread Everything
Remember, if your document has tables, graphs and headlines read them all because your audience certainly will.
What are your recommendations? We would love to hear from you!
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Balancing the cost of hiring staff to grow your business
Finally, you are living your entrepreneurial dream and have launched your own business, sales are coming in, clients are happy but the reality of the dream is that you are working a 70 hour week, you no longer have your weekends to yourself, your in tray is overflowing and you haven’t even started work on your VAT return which is due tomorrow.
Okay, so you may be familiar with the story. You have a few choices at this point – either hire a full time member of staff, persuade your partner to help with the admin (a common starting choice) or outsource to a virtual assistant… or of course continue to do it all. Before embarking on hiring someone full time, let’s just check out whether the figures stack up for you.
Assume a minimum of £10 per hour at 40 hours per week which means that over the course of a year you're spending £20,800 on salary alone. Add in the cost of NI, taxes, office/desk space, supplies, fringe benefits etc. at approximately 60% of salary and you're spending about £33,280 annually for your full time, in-house employee.
Don't forget the less obvious, and difficult to quantify, expenses such as overhead related to time and money spent filling and training your position, the cost of lunch hours, sick and holiday pay, and numerous wasted, non-productive hours on the clock.
Now, lets look at how it stacks up using a virtual assistant....
Rates average from £15.00 to £35.00 for a good VA, and depending on what tasks are being fulfilled. Therefore, assume a minimum spend of £22.00 per hour for your Virtual PA (vs £19.00 per hour for a full time member of staff) but with this model you are paying for the time that you need for the tasks you need to achieve on.
Many see their virtual assistant as a full time partner that has a vested interest in the growth of your business that will work in collaboration with you towards the success of your company - sometimes this is a very lucky work ethic to find in an employee. A virtual assistant is much more focused on the task in hand - your money isn't spent on gossiping with colleagues or extra long lunch hours.... after all, time is money.
Other than the money element, you are saving time on training, payments made to NI and HMRC, administrative costs, recruitment, base salary, benefits, office space and furnishings, equipment....
But then again, of course, you could continue to do the work yourself....
Would love to hear your opinions on this! Agree, disagree, what have your experiences been?
Okay, so you may be familiar with the story. You have a few choices at this point – either hire a full time member of staff, persuade your partner to help with the admin (a common starting choice) or outsource to a virtual assistant… or of course continue to do it all. Before embarking on hiring someone full time, let’s just check out whether the figures stack up for you.
Assume a minimum of £10 per hour at 40 hours per week which means that over the course of a year you're spending £20,800 on salary alone. Add in the cost of NI, taxes, office/desk space, supplies, fringe benefits etc. at approximately 60% of salary and you're spending about £33,280 annually for your full time, in-house employee.
Don't forget the less obvious, and difficult to quantify, expenses such as overhead related to time and money spent filling and training your position, the cost of lunch hours, sick and holiday pay, and numerous wasted, non-productive hours on the clock.
Now, lets look at how it stacks up using a virtual assistant....
Rates average from £15.00 to £35.00 for a good VA, and depending on what tasks are being fulfilled. Therefore, assume a minimum spend of £22.00 per hour for your Virtual PA (vs £19.00 per hour for a full time member of staff) but with this model you are paying for the time that you need for the tasks you need to achieve on.
Many see their virtual assistant as a full time partner that has a vested interest in the growth of your business that will work in collaboration with you towards the success of your company - sometimes this is a very lucky work ethic to find in an employee. A virtual assistant is much more focused on the task in hand - your money isn't spent on gossiping with colleagues or extra long lunch hours.... after all, time is money.
Other than the money element, you are saving time on training, payments made to NI and HMRC, administrative costs, recruitment, base salary, benefits, office space and furnishings, equipment....
But then again, of course, you could continue to do the work yourself....
Would love to hear your opinions on this! Agree, disagree, what have your experiences been?
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Getting to task with your Virtual Assistant
Here at Tailored Time Towers, we live and breath in our virtual world. It sounds bizare but still some folks out there don't get working virtually. Face to face is good but sometimes it can just get in the way of getting on with the job. With that in mind, for those readers out there who might be thinking 'what could I get a virtual assistant to do for me' we give you our top 13 most requested jobs:
1. Telephone answering & diary management - having your VA answer your phone, manage calls and co-ordinate important meetings and appointments
2. Newsletters - the right VA will know about what package to use, can sort out the design and even work on the copy with you
3. Mail forwarding - if you travel a lot or are based out of the country for most of the year then you can get your VA to organise, scan the mail and deal with it in your absence
4. Research - got a new business idea but dont have the time to look into it right now?
5. Spreadsheet and mail shot management - timing and accuracy is very important so who better to get your VA to handle it
6. Co-ordinating suppliers and colleagues - when you are in meeting, holding events or juggling all the business balls in the air, your VA can be on the front line co-ordinating everything else
7. Event organisation - sending out emails campaigns, handling replies, liaising with venues and suppliers
8. Travel co-ordination - finding the best price, booking complicated arrangements, it all takes time
9. Transcribing meeting minutes and notes - qualified VAs can be demon typist with an ear and an eye for accuracy
10. Copywriting - your VA can be an experienced writer or editor so this would easily be within remit
11. Proof reading - if you have poured over the copy you can get your VA to proof read for any final mistakes before you publish it to the world
12. Website maintenance - need a new one designing or an existing one updating, well there are VAs with the experience to do this
13. Book keeping - sending out those dratted invoices that keep the world going round, chasing up payments and getting those expenses inputted in time for the VAT return and end of year accounts
We would love to hear from you so do drop us a line with your thoughts!
1. Telephone answering & diary management - having your VA answer your phone, manage calls and co-ordinate important meetings and appointments
2. Newsletters - the right VA will know about what package to use, can sort out the design and even work on the copy with you
3. Mail forwarding - if you travel a lot or are based out of the country for most of the year then you can get your VA to organise, scan the mail and deal with it in your absence
4. Research - got a new business idea but dont have the time to look into it right now?
5. Spreadsheet and mail shot management - timing and accuracy is very important so who better to get your VA to handle it
6. Co-ordinating suppliers and colleagues - when you are in meeting, holding events or juggling all the business balls in the air, your VA can be on the front line co-ordinating everything else
7. Event organisation - sending out emails campaigns, handling replies, liaising with venues and suppliers
8. Travel co-ordination - finding the best price, booking complicated arrangements, it all takes time
9. Transcribing meeting minutes and notes - qualified VAs can be demon typist with an ear and an eye for accuracy
10. Copywriting - your VA can be an experienced writer or editor so this would easily be within remit
11. Proof reading - if you have poured over the copy you can get your VA to proof read for any final mistakes before you publish it to the world
12. Website maintenance - need a new one designing or an existing one updating, well there are VAs with the experience to do this
13. Book keeping - sending out those dratted invoices that keep the world going round, chasing up payments and getting those expenses inputted in time for the VAT return and end of year accounts
We would love to hear from you so do drop us a line with your thoughts!
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
how much is too much?
I'm often asked how often should you chase a sales lead if they arent responding? It's a strange thing, as a business owner, when you receive a web enquiry and you respond and return their call. Sometimes they are very engaging and you get the impression that they really want your services so badly it hurts. And then they disappear. You are then in the position of wanting to convert the lead but sometimes not wanting to come across like you are stalking them.
My rule of thumb in cases like this is that you do have to draw the line somewhere. My line tends to be three calls, one voicemail message and then move on if you aren't getting any response. There are other ways to gently remind them that you are still there by dropping them an email every couple of months with some update on your service.
Then there are the cases when you have knuckled down to your weekly cold calls, it may be painful but you have set your targets and are getting on with it. But some people are hardly ever there - what do you do? Keep calling and keep leaving phone messages. My advice is in most cases, if you have never talked to the person, do not leave a phone message the first time - they don't know you, why would they call you back? If you do feel the urgent need to leave a message make sure it is clever and compelling enough for them to ring back, but also think about what you are going to say when they do ring back. I have had cases where a 'hard to reach' director has rung me back and Ive been in the middle of doing something completely unrelated (like getting a sandwich at the shop) and on the move and that doesnt give a good impression either.
The other issue that tends to come up from time to time that I get asked about is what to do with the leads that you have managed to talk to but you feel like you are always being fobbed off.. e.g. they are always saying 'send me an email' or 'call me back'. I say EMPOWER them to say No - a no is much better than a maybe... you cant buil your business on maybe... it might as well be a No in my book.
So, to summarise:
1. Warm leads - Three calls and then move on, you have better things to do with your time
2. Cold calls - In most cases don't leave a phone message unless you have already talked to them before
3. Cold calls - if you do get through to your caller and they keep saying 'send me an email, call me back' and you feel like it is a 'no' in disguise then empower them to say No; make it easy for them... because ultimately hearing a No means that you are going to hear a Yes sooner rather than later.
Was this helpful - what are your thoughts...?
My rule of thumb in cases like this is that you do have to draw the line somewhere. My line tends to be three calls, one voicemail message and then move on if you aren't getting any response. There are other ways to gently remind them that you are still there by dropping them an email every couple of months with some update on your service.
Then there are the cases when you have knuckled down to your weekly cold calls, it may be painful but you have set your targets and are getting on with it. But some people are hardly ever there - what do you do? Keep calling and keep leaving phone messages. My advice is in most cases, if you have never talked to the person, do not leave a phone message the first time - they don't know you, why would they call you back? If you do feel the urgent need to leave a message make sure it is clever and compelling enough for them to ring back, but also think about what you are going to say when they do ring back. I have had cases where a 'hard to reach' director has rung me back and Ive been in the middle of doing something completely unrelated (like getting a sandwich at the shop) and on the move and that doesnt give a good impression either.
The other issue that tends to come up from time to time that I get asked about is what to do with the leads that you have managed to talk to but you feel like you are always being fobbed off.. e.g. they are always saying 'send me an email' or 'call me back'. I say EMPOWER them to say No - a no is much better than a maybe... you cant buil your business on maybe... it might as well be a No in my book.
So, to summarise:
1. Warm leads - Three calls and then move on, you have better things to do with your time
2. Cold calls - In most cases don't leave a phone message unless you have already talked to them before
3. Cold calls - if you do get through to your caller and they keep saying 'send me an email, call me back' and you feel like it is a 'no' in disguise then empower them to say No; make it easy for them... because ultimately hearing a No means that you are going to hear a Yes sooner rather than later.
Was this helpful - what are your thoughts...?
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Little Fluffy Clouds
As our minds turn towards holidays, we might be considering how we could work remotely more effectively. A term that has been around for a while now is 'cloud computing' and Tailored Time has been exploring what this means, what is out there and the pros and cons of working this way for the entrepreneur/business owner.
According to the big dictionary in the sky ' Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet'. You may already be doing it... we all use remote mail servers, hosted webspace, google mail, hotmail, survey monkey, constant contacts, salesforce.com... we have embraced it and it means that it is easy to work with colleagues who are no longer sitting in your office. However, along with the highs that we experience on working this way, there are also some downsides to consider...
Some highs
Some lows
www.surveymonkey.com - surveys online
www.google.com - document sharing and lots of other functionality
www.salesforce.com - CRM system
www.freecrm.com - CRM system
www.officelive.com - document sharing and lots of other functionality
www.ymlp.com - newsletter software
www.constantcontact.com - newsletter software
We would love to know your thoughts, good applications to use and useful stuff like that so get commenting!
According to the big dictionary in the sky ' Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet'. You may already be doing it... we all use remote mail servers, hosted webspace, google mail, hotmail, survey monkey, constant contacts, salesforce.com... we have embraced it and it means that it is easy to work with colleagues who are no longer sitting in your office. However, along with the highs that we experience on working this way, there are also some downsides to consider...
Some highs
- you can access them anywhere you have internet access
- you can share documents easily
- it is often free (hooray!)
Some lows
- If your connection is slow, working on your cloud will be slooooowww... very frustrating with things like salesforce.com if you are used to working on a CRM hosted on your machine
- You are dependent on someone else for your technology and just like we have learnt to hate Microsoft, we could soon feel the same about the likes of Google....
- With google applications and others that are free it is very tempting but beware... you can get hooked and though it may be free now, we are sure it won't be free for long...
www.surveymonkey.com - surveys online
www.google.com - document sharing and lots of other functionality
www.salesforce.com - CRM system
www.freecrm.com - CRM system
www.officelive.com - document sharing and lots of other functionality
www.ymlp.com - newsletter software
www.constantcontact.com - newsletter software
We would love to know your thoughts, good applications to use and useful stuff like that so get commenting!
Thursday, 25 June 2009
What ingredients do you need for a successful telemarketing project?
Telemarketing gets a bad rap. We have all had experience of someone calling, uninvited, reading from a script, hammering through until finally you get a change to say NOOOOOOO Im not interested... even if you might have been considering changing your current gas supplier or whatever. We just don't like to be sold to that way. We are approaching market saturation, we are being overloaded with advertising and BUY BUY BUY messages and enough is enough.
Not all telemarketing campaigns have to be that way though. We have had a pow wow and have come up with a short list of must do's to consider before you embark on your own telemarketing campaign:
Targeted list
This is crucial to the success of the calls. Make sure it is TPS checked too (telephone preference service) for more info http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/. Even if your service might be suitable for everyone, narrow it down otherwise you wont be able to judge whether your campaign has been a success.
Specific messaging
Get working on that pitch and make it perfect. If you work with an outsource company they can often help you put together a killer pitch but remember it is often a work in progress and will need to be adjusted according to the feedback you get from each caller. Are you turning them off or turning them on. And also, remember don't immediately bang on about your features and benefits... think what pains are you solving... think why your customers will buy from you. We buy emotionally and then back it up intellectually, not the other way round.
Clear objectives
Set out with the end in mind. Think about what you want from this campaign - how many appointments, how many cleaned leads, how many hot leads, how many confirmed attendees at an event. It is quite clear to see whether your campaign is working when you specify your results. And make sure you share them with your team too!
Inhouse or outsource?
If you are thinking about or already have a killer sales team is their time best spent on the phones warming up cold leads or are they best placed closing those leads. It is a different job and requires different skills to do it. Sometimes it works to mix it up a bit - use an outsource solution to trial a campaign and if they do a good job and drum up the revenue you can cost the options to take the team in house. There is also the concern that an external team wont have the 'experience' or the 'knowledge'. However, sometimes it is actually a benefit that the initial call isnt made 'by the expert' as then they won't spill all their knowledge and put the potential customer off. It swings in round abouts.
Open mind
If this is a new project, never been tried, be prepared to tweak the message, tweak the list and treat it as research. Not everything works but if you choose the right team or supplier who has come with good references then you have done everything you can to make the project a success.
These are our top tips of the moment. Do let us know if you have more!
Not all telemarketing campaigns have to be that way though. We have had a pow wow and have come up with a short list of must do's to consider before you embark on your own telemarketing campaign:
Targeted list
This is crucial to the success of the calls. Make sure it is TPS checked too (telephone preference service) for more info http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/. Even if your service might be suitable for everyone, narrow it down otherwise you wont be able to judge whether your campaign has been a success.
Specific messaging
Get working on that pitch and make it perfect. If you work with an outsource company they can often help you put together a killer pitch but remember it is often a work in progress and will need to be adjusted according to the feedback you get from each caller. Are you turning them off or turning them on. And also, remember don't immediately bang on about your features and benefits... think what pains are you solving... think why your customers will buy from you. We buy emotionally and then back it up intellectually, not the other way round.
Clear objectives
Set out with the end in mind. Think about what you want from this campaign - how many appointments, how many cleaned leads, how many hot leads, how many confirmed attendees at an event. It is quite clear to see whether your campaign is working when you specify your results. And make sure you share them with your team too!
Inhouse or outsource?
If you are thinking about or already have a killer sales team is their time best spent on the phones warming up cold leads or are they best placed closing those leads. It is a different job and requires different skills to do it. Sometimes it works to mix it up a bit - use an outsource solution to trial a campaign and if they do a good job and drum up the revenue you can cost the options to take the team in house. There is also the concern that an external team wont have the 'experience' or the 'knowledge'. However, sometimes it is actually a benefit that the initial call isnt made 'by the expert' as then they won't spill all their knowledge and put the potential customer off. It swings in round abouts.
Open mind
If this is a new project, never been tried, be prepared to tweak the message, tweak the list and treat it as research. Not everything works but if you choose the right team or supplier who has come with good references then you have done everything you can to make the project a success.
These are our top tips of the moment. Do let us know if you have more!
Friday, 19 June 2009
Finding your sweet spot
Every business has its sweet spot. The questions is. Have you found yours? This is an interest question that we have been musing on and consequently learning all about. You imagine in big companies they have teams devoted to researching and analysing data to find out how to hone their products to a niche market.
But what if you don't have a big team at your disposal? You have to do it yourself. Tailored Time has been investing time (ha ha) into finding and developing our sweet spot (s) and this is our suggestions of how to go about it:
1. Review what you do for your clients - check out your spreadsheets, it may reveal a pattern. If you dont have a main pot of data... sort it out
2. Contact your top clients (the ones that love you and have been with you for a while) - ask them some questions around what service you provide and what they love and what they are possibly missing from your current service/product
3. Check out the competition - check in with your competitors, find out which markets they play to... what are you missing out on?
4. What markets are particularly successful at the moment - check out the stocks and shares, read the business press, ask fellow entrepreneurs......
5. Put your findings together of the above and you should see a pattern starting to emerge, namely a target group who need your product which is the centre of your sweet spot.
These five points make it sound very easy, where as in fact it can be highly frustrating and take a good chunk of time to work it out. But, it will not be time wasted because by going through this process you will become a bit leaner and a bit fitter which is an all important thing in the ever evolving world of business.
mmm yum. we love a sweet spot.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
But what if you don't have a big team at your disposal? You have to do it yourself. Tailored Time has been investing time (ha ha) into finding and developing our sweet spot (s) and this is our suggestions of how to go about it:
1. Review what you do for your clients - check out your spreadsheets, it may reveal a pattern. If you dont have a main pot of data... sort it out
2. Contact your top clients (the ones that love you and have been with you for a while) - ask them some questions around what service you provide and what they love and what they are possibly missing from your current service/product
3. Check out the competition - check in with your competitors, find out which markets they play to... what are you missing out on?
4. What markets are particularly successful at the moment - check out the stocks and shares, read the business press, ask fellow entrepreneurs......
5. Put your findings together of the above and you should see a pattern starting to emerge, namely a target group who need your product which is the centre of your sweet spot.
These five points make it sound very easy, where as in fact it can be highly frustrating and take a good chunk of time to work it out. But, it will not be time wasted because by going through this process you will become a bit leaner and a bit fitter which is an all important thing in the ever evolving world of business.
mmm yum. we love a sweet spot.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Friday, 15 May 2009
Time for some spring cleaning?
Dunno about you, but here at Tailored Time, we’ve rolled up our sleeves, donned our proverbial rubber gloves and are pretty much up to our eyes in a big old bout of business spring cleaning right now. And while this lacks a certain glamour and excitement, it shouldn’t have you running for the hills just yet. A spot of dusting off the cobwebs now can help make you into the lean mean business machine you need to be if you’re planning on having a long, hot summer. But where to begin?
Check your margins for error…
We’ve started by looking at our margins. If you’re like us, some services, set up to bring in new business at the turn of the year, may well need some revision now. First then, what are your product/ service lines and what are they doing for you? Where do you make the most and the least; and, more importantly, where does your client base sit within this? This is by no means a straight culling exercise; the latter will be key to understanding what you can afford to sustain. Also key to managing your margins will be to take into account the shifting marketplace: it could be that with such a rapidly evolving economic situation this year, some margins could actually be better than you’d realised. For example at TT, we’ve found that some of our catering suppliers’ costs have become more competitive, bringing improved margins on our events work, while demand for other services we offer has dipped meaning the economies of scale we were able to achieve, aren’t what they were. As a starting point, we’ve found this site which can help you with a proper analysis of your numbers. http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=11088
Prick up your ears
Gather some feedback: how are your clients finding what you’ve been up to so far this year? What are they looking for, in the months ahead? Send out a short questionnaire, find out what they’ve got to tell you, then use this to revise your business for the next few months.
Revisit your business plan
If you’re anything like us, you probably wrote your business plan at the end of last year, then, mission accomplished, have since left it to gather dust aboard a shelf somewhere at your mum’s. Dust it down and have a good read. If nothing else it will remind you of your macro goals for the year. Aim to tinker with rather than rewrite; it will naturally flag up areas for you to examine to see how they may need to adapt to the market shift since you produced it.
Make sure it’s legal
Is your employment/ health and safety/ tax legislation knowledge up to date? Whatever the nature of your business, don’t get caught out by being out of date. A quick web search should put paid to any oversights.
Weigh up the competition
A bit of desk research should tell you how your competitors are doing and let you know you’re not missing a trick; OR that you’re not the one step ahead you thought you were. Make this your monthly business.
Get yourself a healthcheck
We’ve taken care of our clients’ business MOTs and healthchecks a-plenty this month. Give us a call to find out how a second pair of eyes could help you pull in some loose ends and tighten up your good ship. Contact us today to find out how we can help review your business health, seek out new areas for growth and generally and see some wood for the trees. Contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Check your margins for error…
We’ve started by looking at our margins. If you’re like us, some services, set up to bring in new business at the turn of the year, may well need some revision now. First then, what are your product/ service lines and what are they doing for you? Where do you make the most and the least; and, more importantly, where does your client base sit within this? This is by no means a straight culling exercise; the latter will be key to understanding what you can afford to sustain. Also key to managing your margins will be to take into account the shifting marketplace: it could be that with such a rapidly evolving economic situation this year, some margins could actually be better than you’d realised. For example at TT, we’ve found that some of our catering suppliers’ costs have become more competitive, bringing improved margins on our events work, while demand for other services we offer has dipped meaning the economies of scale we were able to achieve, aren’t what they were. As a starting point, we’ve found this site which can help you with a proper analysis of your numbers. http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=11088
Prick up your ears
Gather some feedback: how are your clients finding what you’ve been up to so far this year? What are they looking for, in the months ahead? Send out a short questionnaire, find out what they’ve got to tell you, then use this to revise your business for the next few months.
Revisit your business plan
If you’re anything like us, you probably wrote your business plan at the end of last year, then, mission accomplished, have since left it to gather dust aboard a shelf somewhere at your mum’s. Dust it down and have a good read. If nothing else it will remind you of your macro goals for the year. Aim to tinker with rather than rewrite; it will naturally flag up areas for you to examine to see how they may need to adapt to the market shift since you produced it.
Make sure it’s legal
Is your employment/ health and safety/ tax legislation knowledge up to date? Whatever the nature of your business, don’t get caught out by being out of date. A quick web search should put paid to any oversights.
Weigh up the competition
A bit of desk research should tell you how your competitors are doing and let you know you’re not missing a trick; OR that you’re not the one step ahead you thought you were. Make this your monthly business.
Get yourself a healthcheck
We’ve taken care of our clients’ business MOTs and healthchecks a-plenty this month. Give us a call to find out how a second pair of eyes could help you pull in some loose ends and tighten up your good ship. Contact us today to find out how we can help review your business health, seek out new areas for growth and generally and see some wood for the trees. Contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Friday, 1 May 2009
So: What kind of recession are you having?
I knew something must be seriously out of kilter when I realised BBC business editor Robert Peston’s voice was more familiar than my mum’s. And that I know, at any given moment, the latest rise or fall of the Dow Jones index. Or that off the top of my head, I could quote you the UK’s current unemployment figures, the average percentage drop in house prices and the latest turn in Toyota’s redundancies avoidance strategy.
Recession mania
With the help of the media we are becoming a nation of news-hungry recession obsessives. We’ve gone economy mad. We can’t get enough of it. It’s like Diana-fever all over again, only without the flowers and crying. Frankly it’s not healthy and it’s got to stop. So, never mind what you’re reading about, what you’re watching on the TV or having streamed into your ears from the radio as you wake up in the morning; what sort of recession are you actually having?
Whose recession is it anyway?
Chances are you are feeling recession by proxy. Like many other businesses at the moment you may have to pull your belt in a couple of notches, but in reality, unless you’re in a particularly high price ticket or luxury end of the market, your business is unlikely to have to completely grind to a halt. Indeed, where one business finds its customer stream ebbing, somewhere along the line is another that has gained new customers, thanks to some competitive customer service or pricing strategy. Discussions with our clients in recent weeks show that their business is as likely to be the latter as the former; or, more likely, somewhere in between. They may be losing a few accounts, but with lessons learned, some hindsight and planning, they’re gaining a few too. Margins may be slightly tighter but ultimately our clients are weathering the storm.
The Undercover Economist
A recent piece by the FT’s Undercover Economist, Tim Harford, investigates the theme of the personal recession experience. He expounds a theory that unless you are a particularly high earner (in the top 10 per cent), you are unlikely to truly notice much flux in your personal standard of living during a recession. For the majority, in the remaining 90 per cent of earners, studies of previous recessions show there is little or no impact on personal standards of living.
Read the article in full and more, at Mr Harford's website: http://timharford.com/ or check out the Undercover Economist archive at the Financial Times website.
Take control
The fact is, not all people’s personal recession experience is or could possibly be as bad as the news would have us believe. At a personal level for the majority the impact is most likely to be a pay freeze, therefore far from immeasurably impacting your current standards of living. So, while keeping abreast of the news is healthy, don’t get swept away on a tidal wave of gloom. On the contrary, keep your eye on the ball, watch out for new opportunities and take control of your personal recession experience.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you; and in particular if you’ve a recession experience of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Recession mania
With the help of the media we are becoming a nation of news-hungry recession obsessives. We’ve gone economy mad. We can’t get enough of it. It’s like Diana-fever all over again, only without the flowers and crying. Frankly it’s not healthy and it’s got to stop. So, never mind what you’re reading about, what you’re watching on the TV or having streamed into your ears from the radio as you wake up in the morning; what sort of recession are you actually having?
Whose recession is it anyway?
Chances are you are feeling recession by proxy. Like many other businesses at the moment you may have to pull your belt in a couple of notches, but in reality, unless you’re in a particularly high price ticket or luxury end of the market, your business is unlikely to have to completely grind to a halt. Indeed, where one business finds its customer stream ebbing, somewhere along the line is another that has gained new customers, thanks to some competitive customer service or pricing strategy. Discussions with our clients in recent weeks show that their business is as likely to be the latter as the former; or, more likely, somewhere in between. They may be losing a few accounts, but with lessons learned, some hindsight and planning, they’re gaining a few too. Margins may be slightly tighter but ultimately our clients are weathering the storm.
The Undercover Economist
A recent piece by the FT’s Undercover Economist, Tim Harford, investigates the theme of the personal recession experience. He expounds a theory that unless you are a particularly high earner (in the top 10 per cent), you are unlikely to truly notice much flux in your personal standard of living during a recession. For the majority, in the remaining 90 per cent of earners, studies of previous recessions show there is little or no impact on personal standards of living.
Read the article in full and more, at Mr Harford's website: http://timharford.com/ or check out the Undercover Economist archive at the Financial Times website.
Take control
The fact is, not all people’s personal recession experience is or could possibly be as bad as the news would have us believe. At a personal level for the majority the impact is most likely to be a pay freeze, therefore far from immeasurably impacting your current standards of living. So, while keeping abreast of the news is healthy, don’t get swept away on a tidal wave of gloom. On the contrary, keep your eye on the ball, watch out for new opportunities and take control of your personal recession experience.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you; and in particular if you’ve a recession experience of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Getting government business
What with everything feeling a bit at sea at the moment, it’s good to hear the government is investing to try to kick start the economy. And not just by bailing out banks. Government contracts can be lucrative and importantly are generally a safe bet, being less susceptible to the market ebbs and flows that affect private business. Once recognised as a trusted supplier, this could be your route to some dependable long term business opportunities.
Supplier rosters
For central government contracts you will often need to be on an approved suppliers’ roster. The process for applying varies by department, but is generally a pretty protracted affair. The Department of Health, for example asks new suppliers to register (for free) in the first instance, with Dun and Bradstreet (database of UK businesses) which is in itself a detailed application. There then follow several more involved, procedural hurdles to take your application to its conclusion. And then if you do get approved, there’s the business of pitching, as public spenders are required by law to have several companies pitch for a contract. The application system is character building stuff; at best laborious, not surprisingly, a real turn off for many; but if you’ve the tenacity to stick with it, a single contract can pay some serious dividends. Find out more about supplier rosters by heading to the procurement section of central offices’ websites.
Pitching direct
In the interests of fair business however, central government has pledged to make the tendering process more accessible, and government contracts worth over £100,000 must be advertised via the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEC). You can apply for these without being on a roster, though the application process will be no less arduous. An organisation called Tenders Direct extract and publish all advertised contracts published by the OJEC and can keep you in the loop with regular e-updates. You will need to pay a subscription to access Tenders Direct, however. Check out their website and run some free searches to find out whether this is for you: http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/
Local government
Unfortunately there is no such central location for smaller, local government contracts. The good news about local government though, is that they generally operate a policy to use local business. The bad news is they may advertise their business as and where they wish and like other business, existing suppliers are often favoured. Which pretty much, like other business, makes them a bit of a slog to nail down. So how to find them?
Speak to them
A bit of old fashioned cold calling should help you unearth the best way to reach your local council. Start with their website to find out if you need to target them by individual office or if they have a procurement office, which often acts on behalf of all departments. Find out what’s coming up: are there imminent renewals? Or new business opportunities? Can you join a notification list? When’s the next good juncture to call again?
Get online
Public service spenders use the web to source their suppliers. Make sure your site is what they’re looking for - can you advertise specific deals or discounts for their business? Also, make sure you have a decent search engine profile by including the key words these buyers are seeking in your tags. A quick web search shows there are lots of sites which specifically target public sector buyers. The Buyers’ Guide is a listing site for suppliers to local government. This type of listing may have a fee attached, but it may be worth the investment if it is something regularly trawled by the procurers you want to reach. http://www.buyersguide.co.uk/get-listed.php
Network
Meeting and speaking to buyers at events and exhibitions will help you understand face to face, what they’re looking for. There are heaps of opportunities to network. By registering for free with Local Gov.co.uk, you will be able to look at government events for the year ahead: http://www.localgov.co.uk/Equally this site offers a comprehensive list of public and private sector-facing exhibitions across the UK: http://www.exhibitions.co.uk/
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Supplier rosters
For central government contracts you will often need to be on an approved suppliers’ roster. The process for applying varies by department, but is generally a pretty protracted affair. The Department of Health, for example asks new suppliers to register (for free) in the first instance, with Dun and Bradstreet (database of UK businesses) which is in itself a detailed application. There then follow several more involved, procedural hurdles to take your application to its conclusion. And then if you do get approved, there’s the business of pitching, as public spenders are required by law to have several companies pitch for a contract. The application system is character building stuff; at best laborious, not surprisingly, a real turn off for many; but if you’ve the tenacity to stick with it, a single contract can pay some serious dividends. Find out more about supplier rosters by heading to the procurement section of central offices’ websites.
Pitching direct
In the interests of fair business however, central government has pledged to make the tendering process more accessible, and government contracts worth over £100,000 must be advertised via the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEC). You can apply for these without being on a roster, though the application process will be no less arduous. An organisation called Tenders Direct extract and publish all advertised contracts published by the OJEC and can keep you in the loop with regular e-updates. You will need to pay a subscription to access Tenders Direct, however. Check out their website and run some free searches to find out whether this is for you: http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/
Local government
Unfortunately there is no such central location for smaller, local government contracts. The good news about local government though, is that they generally operate a policy to use local business. The bad news is they may advertise their business as and where they wish and like other business, existing suppliers are often favoured. Which pretty much, like other business, makes them a bit of a slog to nail down. So how to find them?
Speak to them
A bit of old fashioned cold calling should help you unearth the best way to reach your local council. Start with their website to find out if you need to target them by individual office or if they have a procurement office, which often acts on behalf of all departments. Find out what’s coming up: are there imminent renewals? Or new business opportunities? Can you join a notification list? When’s the next good juncture to call again?
Get online
Public service spenders use the web to source their suppliers. Make sure your site is what they’re looking for - can you advertise specific deals or discounts for their business? Also, make sure you have a decent search engine profile by including the key words these buyers are seeking in your tags. A quick web search shows there are lots of sites which specifically target public sector buyers. The Buyers’ Guide is a listing site for suppliers to local government. This type of listing may have a fee attached, but it may be worth the investment if it is something regularly trawled by the procurers you want to reach. http://www.buyersguide.co.uk/get-listed.php
Network
Meeting and speaking to buyers at events and exhibitions will help you understand face to face, what they’re looking for. There are heaps of opportunities to network. By registering for free with Local Gov.co.uk, you will be able to look at government events for the year ahead: http://www.localgov.co.uk/Equally this site offers a comprehensive list of public and private sector-facing exhibitions across the UK: http://www.exhibitions.co.uk/
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Are we a nation of budding entrepreneurs?
I have been pondering this for a while thinking as I keep coming across articles about Britain being a nation of entrpreneurs. Obviously Dragons Den and old Alan Sugar do their bit to glamourise setting up your own business and making millions (yes millions I say), but what about what is happening at a grass routes level, away from all the cameras and the hoy paloy?
I was asked to be a judge in the HSBC Young Enterprise Innovation Awards (West London finals) in March and can truely say it was the best thing I had said yes to in a long time. Young Enterprise is an initiative that has been running for 40 years inspiring children to get interested in business. The main things that struck me about Young Enterprise is that children who take part are more likely to earn more money, more likely to start up their own businesses and more likely to volunteer, just by taking part.
Children from all backgrounds, all types of schools join in and I was amazed at their effort and energy that they put into their projects; it bought a tear to my eye that they were so motivated and excited and got so much out of it. More schools should take part. I witnessed better business plans and better execution than many trading businesses that I know - amazing!
Juggling the business with other responsibilities, navigating holding meetings, chasing up suppliers and realising that they need to make things happen - these are all things that we take for granted, that we know how to handle as adults and that we have learnt along the way. Just think if you had had that experience and insight to the working world whilst you were still at school. One very excitable young Managing Director said to me 'so is this what you do EVERY day' when you run a business.... yes, I said to him, and I thought to myself that maybe I should get a bit more excited about the day to day business of being in business again.
For more info:
Friday, 3 April 2009
What are the business uses for Twitter we muse....
The world of Twitter (www.twitter.com) has been in the forefront of our minds at Tailored Time Towers and thus, we have been musing about whether it really does have a use as an everyday business tool for a business to business SME. The short answer is no we dont think, but its a damned fine way of wasting lots of time. However, please read on and we look forward to our dear readers proving us different.
Suddenly Twitter came into the common conciousness in the new year and everyone is talking about it. Schools have started to include it in the syllabus for young children and they have even put together a Masters Degree at Birmingham City University. Hilariously, this degree is offering a £4,400 one-year Masters in Social Media, which covers sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo. Students will learn how to set up blogs and podcasts online and also how to use the sites in communications and marketing. "Virtually all of the content of this course is so basic it can be self-taught," one student said.... you don't say.
Anyway, we dont need any excuses to try out something 'new' so we have got our Tailored Time tweets going and this is what we have found out so far:
The blurring of personal and business uses: think about this when you set up your profile because what you are sharing personally might not be the best thing to share with your business clients. Do you really want people to know what you are doing every second, is it a good idea that they also link up with your staff (remember hideous stories from facebook of people putting up pics of themselves having a wild time at the weekend and getting caught out when pretending to have a sickie)... we arent so sure its such a good idea. These boundaries might not be so defined for the likes of Stephen Fry and Brittany Spears and its all good for their PR but is it really going to work for you, fellow business owner?
Allocate a set amount of time: as with lots of new 'self taught' projects, it can swallow a huge amount of time - you have to educate yourself about it, understand what you want to post (see below) and then keep the momentum going. If you don't keep posting, your listeners are going to loose interest.
Selecting your followers: we signed up and within minutes we had followers (we now have 27 and counting!) but only a handful actually know us. From what we can see its not as easy as Facebook or Linked In to find people from your Outlook, right now you can only scan your hotmail account.
What to post: You need to ask yourself what you want to say to the world; as we have already got a blog we are already 'broadcasting' but really, even the most exciting things can sound mundane and trite with a minimum of 140 characters.... Do you post ' just out to lunch now' or do you show off... 'just landed a brilliant client!'; if you read other more famous people's tweets they are amazingly dull....
Best uses for business so far: the likes of Starbucks are really using Twitter for a good use, increasing brand awareness, telling the world about new products, building a fan base. http://twitter.com/Starbucks Right now, we think that the best way a smaller business could use Twitter would be if they were running a specific event, targetted at a user group - this way you could build interest and ultimately get lots of delegates/attendees coming your way if it is done correctly.
So effectively the jury is out, you can follow us if you want to hear our tweets! https://twitter.com/tailoredtime but whether we can be bother to post information to yet another interface is yet to be seen (more passwords to remember, more places to log into to check out any updates... information overload argh!!!)
As always we would love to hear what you think about this and what you have learnt too so feel free to post and share your thoughts!
Suddenly Twitter came into the common conciousness in the new year and everyone is talking about it. Schools have started to include it in the syllabus for young children and they have even put together a Masters Degree at Birmingham City University. Hilariously, this degree is offering a £4,400 one-year Masters in Social Media, which covers sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo. Students will learn how to set up blogs and podcasts online and also how to use the sites in communications and marketing. "Virtually all of the content of this course is so basic it can be self-taught," one student said.... you don't say.
Anyway, we dont need any excuses to try out something 'new' so we have got our Tailored Time tweets going and this is what we have found out so far:
The blurring of personal and business uses: think about this when you set up your profile because what you are sharing personally might not be the best thing to share with your business clients. Do you really want people to know what you are doing every second, is it a good idea that they also link up with your staff (remember hideous stories from facebook of people putting up pics of themselves having a wild time at the weekend and getting caught out when pretending to have a sickie)... we arent so sure its such a good idea. These boundaries might not be so defined for the likes of Stephen Fry and Brittany Spears and its all good for their PR but is it really going to work for you, fellow business owner?
Allocate a set amount of time: as with lots of new 'self taught' projects, it can swallow a huge amount of time - you have to educate yourself about it, understand what you want to post (see below) and then keep the momentum going. If you don't keep posting, your listeners are going to loose interest.
Selecting your followers: we signed up and within minutes we had followers (we now have 27 and counting!) but only a handful actually know us. From what we can see its not as easy as Facebook or Linked In to find people from your Outlook, right now you can only scan your hotmail account.
What to post: You need to ask yourself what you want to say to the world; as we have already got a blog we are already 'broadcasting' but really, even the most exciting things can sound mundane and trite with a minimum of 140 characters.... Do you post ' just out to lunch now' or do you show off... 'just landed a brilliant client!'; if you read other more famous people's tweets they are amazingly dull....
Best uses for business so far: the likes of Starbucks are really using Twitter for a good use, increasing brand awareness, telling the world about new products, building a fan base. http://twitter.com/Starbucks Right now, we think that the best way a smaller business could use Twitter would be if they were running a specific event, targetted at a user group - this way you could build interest and ultimately get lots of delegates/attendees coming your way if it is done correctly.
So effectively the jury is out, you can follow us if you want to hear our tweets! https://twitter.com/tailoredtime but whether we can be bother to post information to yet another interface is yet to be seen (more passwords to remember, more places to log into to check out any updates... information overload argh!!!)
As always we would love to hear what you think about this and what you have learnt too so feel free to post and share your thoughts!
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Widening your marketing mix
We recently had a foray into brandable items for Tailored Time as we were given the opportunity to put some marketing material into some goodie bags which were going to 400 business owners of our target groups. An opportunity which was too good to miss! Even though we are well aware that building brand is a very costly and some say, pointless, way to spend your marketing budget unless you are an already giant brand. Despite this knowledge, we thought we would have a dabble anyway! We set about costing up the operation and working out how best to make the most of the opportunity. From researching around, we feel the best way to approach this excercise is to think of something that would:
- be long lasting
- stand out from all the usual gubbins you get in a business goodie bag
- get the message across to our potential clients about our services
So whether you are choosing items for your next exhibition, to send as a mail shot or to include in a post event goodie bags; we reckon these are the all important ideas to choose from....
Good quality - you must always remember that what you are promoting is your business and if the branded promo item looks cheap that this will reflect on you and your business... Don't be tempted to go for the cheapest and you can always request a sample before you go ahead and order.
Suitable pricing - estimate your budget and stick to it because once you go out shopping there is a whole world of exciting options and if you dont set your budget up from the outset you could find yourself spending a whole lot of money.
Imagination - think about what your target audience actually needs, do they need some more pens even if the pens might be the cheapest option; do they really need another calendar or a mug? Some of the cost effective options that we liked were bottled water from Cooler Water www.coolerwater.co.uk, energy drinks from Fresh Twist, chewing gum and also some rather tasty and cost effective options of delicious tea (Barry O' Dwyer from Brand Reminders was really helpful in our research into single sachet tea bags).
Eventually we opted for bottles of water which means that we definitely satisfied the second two of our three criteria, but maybe not the long lasting one! They were received very well and we got a host of compliments... but whether it has really made a difference to our bottom line, perhaps it is a little too early to tell... or maybe we will never know!
Please share! As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Negotiating your way to better business
We think we’ve spotted a very fine, silver lining around this low economic cloud that’s been mooching our way of late. We’re hearing time and time again from clients that their bargaining muscle for items like venues, catering, rent and insurance has never been stronger than in these challenging times. With the right approach to negotiation, we reckon there are currently some seriously canny business deals to be had. In the light of this we’ve put together a couple of tips that should help smooth your path to better bargaining.
Have clear aims
Ahead of any meeting you know you’re going to need to negotiate in, write down exactly what it is you’d like to gain. Whether it’s a discount for cash, an improvement to your payment terms, or a new sale or return arrangement, it is important to have this clear in your head so that you can articulate this with confidence. Also, list your alternatives. What else would you accept? This takes us neatly on to…
Know your limits
Set yourself a clear threshold and keep this close to your chest. If you’re really serious about getting the deal you’re asking for and this particular supplier really can’t help, it may be time to take your business elsewhere. To do this, it will be especially important then, that you…
Know your market
Half an hour spent on a bit of on-line research could pay some serious dividends in terms of your negotiating power. By exhibiting a knowledge of the market and its current trends and prices, your supplier will sit up and take your proposal all the more seriously.
Consider the right approach for your relationship
Who are you negotiating with? What is your history with them and what exactly is at stake? If it’s a long-standing business contact, diplomatic handling is going to be key to ensure that good business relations won’t be harmed in the process. In fact, the real art to this situation is to…
Where you can, go for win-win
Look for an approach where there are benefits to both parties. For example if you are asking for a sale or return arrangement from a caterer, it may be that you can buy a slightly better, more expensive wine from them.
But if all else fails…
Be prepared to play hardball and take your business elsewhere. If you’ve taken some time to research, you should be confident there are others who will be interested. This hardball approach should be saved as your secret weapon and only used a last resort, especially if dealing with existing suppliers. It may however, be pulled out of the hat a whole lot sooner if you are scoping for a new supplier…
Find out more
If you want to brush up on your negotiation skills, you may want to check out some training. A quick web search threw up the following, which may be of interest…
Reed run a two day workshop aimed at helping you assess your negotiating skills and arm you with some new tactics.
The Negotiation Experts as their name suggests, specialise in negotiation and run a couple of courses, the next of which is in April.
Read all about it
If you don’t want to commit to training proper, you may want to read around your subject with one of these…
Just Ask the Right Questions to Get What You Want by Ian Cooper takes a fearless foray into the questions we often find most difficult to raise.
25 Role Plays for Negotiation Skills by Ira G. Asherman (Author), Sandra Vance Asherman (Author) – check this out if you are thinking of doing your own, in-house training.
Negotiating for Dummies – another of the rather brilliant dummies’ series which help make the most daunting prospects seem simple.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Have clear aims
Ahead of any meeting you know you’re going to need to negotiate in, write down exactly what it is you’d like to gain. Whether it’s a discount for cash, an improvement to your payment terms, or a new sale or return arrangement, it is important to have this clear in your head so that you can articulate this with confidence. Also, list your alternatives. What else would you accept? This takes us neatly on to…
Know your limits
Set yourself a clear threshold and keep this close to your chest. If you’re really serious about getting the deal you’re asking for and this particular supplier really can’t help, it may be time to take your business elsewhere. To do this, it will be especially important then, that you…
Know your market
Half an hour spent on a bit of on-line research could pay some serious dividends in terms of your negotiating power. By exhibiting a knowledge of the market and its current trends and prices, your supplier will sit up and take your proposal all the more seriously.
Consider the right approach for your relationship
Who are you negotiating with? What is your history with them and what exactly is at stake? If it’s a long-standing business contact, diplomatic handling is going to be key to ensure that good business relations won’t be harmed in the process. In fact, the real art to this situation is to…
Where you can, go for win-win
Look for an approach where there are benefits to both parties. For example if you are asking for a sale or return arrangement from a caterer, it may be that you can buy a slightly better, more expensive wine from them.
But if all else fails…
Be prepared to play hardball and take your business elsewhere. If you’ve taken some time to research, you should be confident there are others who will be interested. This hardball approach should be saved as your secret weapon and only used a last resort, especially if dealing with existing suppliers. It may however, be pulled out of the hat a whole lot sooner if you are scoping for a new supplier…
Find out more
If you want to brush up on your negotiation skills, you may want to check out some training. A quick web search threw up the following, which may be of interest…
Reed run a two day workshop aimed at helping you assess your negotiating skills and arm you with some new tactics.
The Negotiation Experts as their name suggests, specialise in negotiation and run a couple of courses, the next of which is in April.
Read all about it
If you don’t want to commit to training proper, you may want to read around your subject with one of these…
Just Ask the Right Questions to Get What You Want by Ian Cooper takes a fearless foray into the questions we often find most difficult to raise.
25 Role Plays for Negotiation Skills by Ira G. Asherman (Author), Sandra Vance Asherman (Author) – check this out if you are thinking of doing your own, in-house training.
Negotiating for Dummies – another of the rather brilliant dummies’ series which help make the most daunting prospects seem simple.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Stressed out?
Developing a tick? Hives? Sweaty palms? A bit unexpectedly SHOUTY? You, my friend, are probably feeling the pressure…under the kosh…at the end of your tether and toying with trouble, frankly. Call it what you will, it serves little purpose to you, your team or your clients. The sooner you can identify the signs, the sooner you can get rid of the symptoms and restore the semblance of calm and order your organisation knows and loves you for. To this end, it's probably time to do at least one of the following...
Take a rain check
Take a walk. Take a break. Give yourself a day off. If you’re feeling pressured, chances are your sharp business mind is not what it could be and you’re not doing your staff or clients any favours. Take a day away from the office to refresh you batteries, clear your head and give everyone a break. With the benefit of a bit of distance, you will be able to come back tomorrow and tackle yesterday’s crisis with renewed vigour.
Prioritise
OK. You’ve probably got a list as long as your arm of Important Stuff To Do. You've staff constantly rattling your door for advice and in general there seem to be a lot of people breathing down your neck for soemthing or other. But what actually needs doing? Make a list so you can see in cold, hard print what you have on your plate, then prioritise it ruthlessly into ‘necessity’ versus ‘pointless worry’. Then you can...
Chunk it up
Er, chunking up is thankfully nothing like as horrible as it sounds. ‘Chunking up’ should actually be your friend as it's all about sorting your to-do's into manageable chunks. So once you’ve written your giant list and prioritised it ruthlessly, your next step will be to break it into realistic, time-bound chunks and at the same time, take your poor anxiety levels down a few notches.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
However frazzled you feel with those around you, remember that as well as being someone to take your troubles out on, they might actually be able to help. So this might be about delegating more to your partner or your team. It might be about calling in favours from family or a friend. Whatever it is you need, don’t be afraid to ask; you don’t need to struggle alone.
Some useful links
Stress management courses:
http://www.siliconbeachtraining.co.uk/business-skills-training/stress-management/
http://www.stress-counselling.co.uk/
Stress management at work – advice:
http://www.i-resign.com/uk/inwork/copingwithstress.asp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/emotion_stress.shtml#work-related_stress
Need a hand cutting your to-do list down to size?
At TT, our very core business is helping SMEs like yours, who all too often can’t see the wood for the trees. The source of business stress is often tricky to spot, especially when it's your own. We can help you to objectively assess and review what you have to do; take some pressure off your shoulders and some weight off your mind. Call Sarah today to find out more on 0845 075 1044.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
TT
Take a rain check
Take a walk. Take a break. Give yourself a day off. If you’re feeling pressured, chances are your sharp business mind is not what it could be and you’re not doing your staff or clients any favours. Take a day away from the office to refresh you batteries, clear your head and give everyone a break. With the benefit of a bit of distance, you will be able to come back tomorrow and tackle yesterday’s crisis with renewed vigour.
Prioritise
OK. You’ve probably got a list as long as your arm of Important Stuff To Do. You've staff constantly rattling your door for advice and in general there seem to be a lot of people breathing down your neck for soemthing or other. But what actually needs doing? Make a list so you can see in cold, hard print what you have on your plate, then prioritise it ruthlessly into ‘necessity’ versus ‘pointless worry’. Then you can...
Chunk it up
Er, chunking up is thankfully nothing like as horrible as it sounds. ‘Chunking up’ should actually be your friend as it's all about sorting your to-do's into manageable chunks. So once you’ve written your giant list and prioritised it ruthlessly, your next step will be to break it into realistic, time-bound chunks and at the same time, take your poor anxiety levels down a few notches.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
However frazzled you feel with those around you, remember that as well as being someone to take your troubles out on, they might actually be able to help. So this might be about delegating more to your partner or your team. It might be about calling in favours from family or a friend. Whatever it is you need, don’t be afraid to ask; you don’t need to struggle alone.
Some useful links
Stress management courses:
http://www.siliconbeachtraining.co.uk/business-skills-training/stress-management/
http://www.stress-counselling.co.uk/
Stress management at work – advice:
http://www.i-resign.com/uk/inwork/copingwithstress.asp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/emotion_stress.shtml#work-related_stress
Need a hand cutting your to-do list down to size?
At TT, our very core business is helping SMEs like yours, who all too often can’t see the wood for the trees. The source of business stress is often tricky to spot, especially when it's your own. We can help you to objectively assess and review what you have to do; take some pressure off your shoulders and some weight off your mind. Call Sarah today to find out more on 0845 075 1044.
Please share!
As always we’d like to hear from you if you’ve either comments on this blog or tips or advice of your own to share. Post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
TT
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
At last: watching telly is good for business!
But not just any old telly. Ready Steady Cook may indeed extol the merits of keen time management, but we’re thinking more along the lines of some current, very pertinent TV and radio programming packed with business insight which has been inspiring and exciting TT of late. Importantly, the best thing about this type of ‘business broadcast research’ is that you can legitimately do it from your armchair in your comfy clothes. Keep a look out for some of the following…
Working Lunch – BBC 2
As the name suggests, this programme takes a lunchtime look at the current issues affecting consumers and business across the UK. It offers bang up to date information and insight and if you aren’t able to catch it during the day, it is also available online, via BBC i-player.
http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?tab=all&q=working+lunch
Captains of Industry – BBC Radio Scotland (Sundays, 6am or via BBC i-player)
Host Lesley Campbell talks to Scotland's top business leaders to explore their entrepreneurial spirit and find out how they plan to deal with the current economic situation. The next show goes out on 1 March and will focus on Scotland’s first female head of a clearing bank. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/?q=captains%20of%20industry
The Bottom Line – Radio 4
The Bottom Line is presented by Evan Davies (he of Dragon’s Den fame) and goes out each Monday at 8.30pm. This show brings in a panel of businesses’ finest to discuss the current big issues affecting organisations like yours and mine. This week their discussion was on the whys and wherefores of negotiating and the commercial property market. Podcast downloads available.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/bottomline/bottomline.shtml
Dragon’s Den – BBC 2/Dave
The nation’s favourite business investors invite spunky/hapless entrepreneurs into their den to pitch for business. The current series is now finished, though you can still catch a Best of… via BBC i-player and there are frequent repeats to be had on the freeview channel, Dave.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/
Panorama – BBC2
The programme that went out this week (and you can currently catch again on i-player) takes a timely look at whether banks and the government are doing enough for small business.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hvty9/Panorama_Credit_Where_Its_Due/
Others to look out for
It would seem that the BBC is responsible for the majority of the good, regular business-focused programming. Shows from other channels which throw up occasional business gems include the Tonight Show on ITV (Fridays 8pm) and Dispatches on Channel 4 (8pm, Mondays).
Please share!
If you’ve recommendations of your own or comments on any of the above, please post these below or contact TT on 0845 075 1044.
TT
Working Lunch – BBC 2
As the name suggests, this programme takes a lunchtime look at the current issues affecting consumers and business across the UK. It offers bang up to date information and insight and if you aren’t able to catch it during the day, it is also available online, via BBC i-player.
http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?tab=all&q=working+lunch
Captains of Industry – BBC Radio Scotland (Sundays, 6am or via BBC i-player)
Host Lesley Campbell talks to Scotland's top business leaders to explore their entrepreneurial spirit and find out how they plan to deal with the current economic situation. The next show goes out on 1 March and will focus on Scotland’s first female head of a clearing bank. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search/?q=captains%20of%20industry
The Bottom Line – Radio 4
The Bottom Line is presented by Evan Davies (he of Dragon’s Den fame) and goes out each Monday at 8.30pm. This show brings in a panel of businesses’ finest to discuss the current big issues affecting organisations like yours and mine. This week their discussion was on the whys and wherefores of negotiating and the commercial property market. Podcast downloads available.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/bottomline/bottomline.shtml
Dragon’s Den – BBC 2/Dave
The nation’s favourite business investors invite spunky/hapless entrepreneurs into their den to pitch for business. The current series is now finished, though you can still catch a Best of… via BBC i-player and there are frequent repeats to be had on the freeview channel, Dave.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/
Panorama – BBC2
The programme that went out this week (and you can currently catch again on i-player) takes a timely look at whether banks and the government are doing enough for small business.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hvty9/Panorama_Credit_Where_Its_Due/
Others to look out for
It would seem that the BBC is responsible for the majority of the good, regular business-focused programming. Shows from other channels which throw up occasional business gems include the Tonight Show on ITV (Fridays 8pm) and Dispatches on Channel 4 (8pm, Mondays).
Please share!
If you’ve recommendations of your own or comments on any of the above, please post these below or contact TT on 0845 075 1044.
TT
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Business advice overload?
Buy! Sell! Save! Spend! Stand up! Sit down! Ok, we’ll stop there. Although we could go on. There can rarely have been a time when there was quite so much business advice around. Flying in from all corners, this veritable tsunami of tips, hints and advice for SMEs, rather than help, can be utterly confounding if you are trying to take time, under increasing pressure, to make the right decisions for your business.
Two government business support sites have produced some excellent, accessible advice which, if you don’t already know about them, could prove very useful.
1. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) runs the Action for Business programme, the focus of which is to help steer British business through the economic downturn. It has produced a rather helpful summary of the recent government measure around financial and other business support recently announced and helps unpick how these translate into real, accessible support for you and I.
Find out more from their website: http://www.berr.gov.uk/aboutus/corporate/performance/actionforbusiness/index.html
2. Businesslink’s Real Help for Business Now initiative expands on the relevant, sensible help theme and has produced a summary of FAQs in a bid to help tackle some of the $5M questions that many SME owners are chewing over at the moment. Areas addressed include:
• How to save money
• Managing your cashflow
• How to get more time to pay your tax bill
• How to keep staff on and improve productivity
• Alternatives to redundancy
These are easy to read, helpful and importantly, all in one place. Ideal if you need sensible, relevant business advice. Find out more at:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1081750153&type=ONEOFFPAGE&site=0&furlname=realhelp&furlparam=realhelp&ref=http%3A//www.berr.gov.uk/&domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk
[Tailored] Time for your business MOT?
Finally, we have been able to help many of our clients with our own Tailored Time business MOT service, which offers a fresh, independent pair of eyes on your business planning for the year ahead. Contact Sarah on 0845 075 1044 or visit www.tailoredtime.com/newyear2009 to find out more.
Please share!
As always we’re keen to hear from you - either if you’ve some recommendations of your own to share or have feedback on any of the above. We look forward to hearing from you.
TT
Two government business support sites have produced some excellent, accessible advice which, if you don’t already know about them, could prove very useful.
1. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) runs the Action for Business programme, the focus of which is to help steer British business through the economic downturn. It has produced a rather helpful summary of the recent government measure around financial and other business support recently announced and helps unpick how these translate into real, accessible support for you and I.
Find out more from their website: http://www.berr.gov.uk/aboutus/corporate/performance/actionforbusiness/index.html
2. Businesslink’s Real Help for Business Now initiative expands on the relevant, sensible help theme and has produced a summary of FAQs in a bid to help tackle some of the $5M questions that many SME owners are chewing over at the moment. Areas addressed include:
• How to save money
• Managing your cashflow
• How to get more time to pay your tax bill
• How to keep staff on and improve productivity
• Alternatives to redundancy
These are easy to read, helpful and importantly, all in one place. Ideal if you need sensible, relevant business advice. Find out more at:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1081750153&type=ONEOFFPAGE&site=0&furlname=realhelp&furlparam=realhelp&ref=http%3A//www.berr.gov.uk/&domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk
[Tailored] Time for your business MOT?
Finally, we have been able to help many of our clients with our own Tailored Time business MOT service, which offers a fresh, independent pair of eyes on your business planning for the year ahead. Contact Sarah on 0845 075 1044 or visit www.tailoredtime.com/newyear2009 to find out more.
Please share!
As always we’re keen to hear from you - either if you’ve some recommendations of your own to share or have feedback on any of the above. We look forward to hearing from you.
TT
Friday, 6 February 2009
Keeping your team motivated
It would be fair to say it's not been a hugely upbeat start to the year. Between the snow, the dark mornings and the prevailing economic gloom it's frankly a wonder any of us are making it out of bed of a morning. At times like these, it's important to keep an eye on what's important. Your staff are the engine of your organisation. Taking time to make sure they're ok will help you get the most out of them and ensure they are focused, fulfilled and thinking as a team. Here at TT we've been scouring the web and business press for some simple measures to help keep your team motivated and during what seem to be spectacularly trying times…
Keep your team in the loop
Allocate time to ensure everyone understands the business plans and priorities that lie ahead. These may be changing more than you'd anticipated at the moment; the important thing is to keep your team in the loop, when they do. Factor this in to your weekly team get-togethers to offer a sense of organisational direction for all.
Make time for 1-2-1s
Make time for regular 1-2-1 meetings with each of your team. This is time to revisit goals and refresh focus. It also gives you both the opportunity to discuss workload issues and any other areas they may need your support or reassurance in.
Reward and recognition
If your team are doing well, make sure you recognise this and let others know. This could be as simple as a handwritten note to say thanks. It could be a cross-team e-mail, something which will encourage others to try hard too. In the absence of a hard cash bonus, you may offer a half day holiday, surely something that could incentivise the most demotivated of staff…
Team building events
Mercifully gone are the days when this necessarily meant a bungee jump or abseiling. (Though if that's what floats your boat, we're sure you can still find it.) Team-building events span a world of choice, so why not involve your team from the start, by canvassing their opinion and making sure you book something that will really make them tick.
There's loads out there to choose from - we found these for starters, which may inspire some interesting ideas:
http://www.teambuildevents.co.uk/?g07v5&gclid=CPjHxszJx5gCFRaA3godjizM1A
http://www.outside-adventure.co.uk
http://www.phoenixleisure.co.uk/
http://www.teambuilding.co.uk/team-building-event-list.html
Show 'em a good time
Taking your team out every now and then can make a world of difference to morale. And given we're only just through Christmas, this doesn't need to be a full private hire of the London Eye with an exclusive personal appearance from Cher. It can be a late lunch down your local or an early finish on a Friday: whatever it is, why not delegate the event organisation to a team member? If there's something burning you'd like to discuss, pre-allocate some time to say what you have to say, then leave the rest to socialising. Essential for team bonding and reminding people just how much you value them.
Please share!
As always, we'd love to hear from you – please post your comments below or contact our team on 0845 075 1044.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Does your business need an angel?
You wouldn’t be on your own if your business was feeling a bit cash-strapped at the moment. Government measures to encourage the banks to assist small business with cashflow issues may be a help to some, but frankly this may not be quite the panacea we were hoping for. We’ve been reading about business angels which may just be the answer to your prayers…
What are business angels?
Business angels are private investors on the hunt for a good return for their money. Business angels are often skilled, senior business players themselves, operating in networks locally, nationally and online. Not unlike the premise for Dragon's Den, they invite registered members to send solid business plans, which they will then review and potentially, buy into, in exchange for a share of the business on the table.
Feeling brave?
Angel’s Den is one particular network of business angels who also organise speed-pitching events, the next of which is on 2 February in central London. If you’ve seen Dragon’s Den, then you’ll understand how this may operate, however we are assured it is with none of the usual accompanying humiliation…
Angel’s Den is overseen by the official body, the British Business Angels Association. There is a fee to register and a further fee to submitting a business plan. There is no fee, however, for taking a look at their site, which offers lots of useful advice on planning, as well as testimonials, case studies and more:
http://www.angelsden.co.uk/
Find the British Business Angels Association
Angel’s Den is just one of a number of angels networks operating across the UK. Go to the British Business Angels Association website to see a full list and find out more about opportunities which may work for you:
http://www.bbaa.org.uk/
Please share!
As always we are keen to hear about your experiences – with business angels or otherwise. Please post your comments below or contact the TT team on 0845 075 1044.
TT
What are business angels?
Business angels are private investors on the hunt for a good return for their money. Business angels are often skilled, senior business players themselves, operating in networks locally, nationally and online. Not unlike the premise for Dragon's Den, they invite registered members to send solid business plans, which they will then review and potentially, buy into, in exchange for a share of the business on the table.
Feeling brave?
Angel’s Den is one particular network of business angels who also organise speed-pitching events, the next of which is on 2 February in central London. If you’ve seen Dragon’s Den, then you’ll understand how this may operate, however we are assured it is with none of the usual accompanying humiliation…
Angel’s Den is overseen by the official body, the British Business Angels Association. There is a fee to register and a further fee to submitting a business plan. There is no fee, however, for taking a look at their site, which offers lots of useful advice on planning, as well as testimonials, case studies and more:
http://www.angelsden.co.uk/
Find the British Business Angels Association
Angel’s Den is just one of a number of angels networks operating across the UK. Go to the British Business Angels Association website to see a full list and find out more about opportunities which may work for you:
http://www.bbaa.org.uk/
Please share!
As always we are keen to hear about your experiences – with business angels or otherwise. Please post your comments below or contact the TT team on 0845 075 1044.
TT
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Online boosts small business by 20 per cent
More people are online than ever before. Internet advertising revenues are continuing to grow at a pace completely out of kilter with most other sectors, and now accounts for a whopping 19 per cent of the market, which is only 0.6 per cent behind total press display advertising and 3 per cent behind TV.
But what does this mean to the SME?
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) conducted recent research which indicates that businesses that use internet advertising smartly can expect to grow their revenues by around 20 per cent. The FSB’s annual survey of its 8,700 members showed 43 per cent of respondents reporting notably positive sales increases by internet-related advertising.
So how can I make it work for me?
Internet advertising solutions can be cheap and simple. In its simplest form you can start by reviewing and improving your website and making sure you get smart with tagging and blogging (see TT blog, 20/01/09). Beyond this, you should be thinking about getting your web links added to as many relevant websites as you can – speak to suppliers, business colleagues, networking associates. And ultimately if you can demonstrate decent footfall figures for your site, you can take this to the next level and sell space on your site to other advertisers. Equally if you want to place ads on other sites, when compared to other media, online is very competitive both in the costs and the increasingly large numbers it reaches.
Right I’m going to move all my marketing budget to online…
Not so fast. It’s worth bearing mind, that what is a very attractive marketplace today could be very crowded in the not too distant future. At TT we try to keep ahead of the game by combining our online advertising with offline and by allocating our advertising budgets across a few options, to maintain an effective business profile to a variety of audiences. Additionally we try to keep abreast of developments in digital/online media by looking out for courses and seminars to keep our online work smart. To this end we found a great site, http://www.netimperative.com which offers tips, predictions, news, courses and much more for internet advertisers.
Please share!
As always we’d be interested to hear what you have to say, please get in touch or post your comments below.
TT
But what does this mean to the SME?
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) conducted recent research which indicates that businesses that use internet advertising smartly can expect to grow their revenues by around 20 per cent. The FSB’s annual survey of its 8,700 members showed 43 per cent of respondents reporting notably positive sales increases by internet-related advertising.
So how can I make it work for me?
Internet advertising solutions can be cheap and simple. In its simplest form you can start by reviewing and improving your website and making sure you get smart with tagging and blogging (see TT blog, 20/01/09). Beyond this, you should be thinking about getting your web links added to as many relevant websites as you can – speak to suppliers, business colleagues, networking associates. And ultimately if you can demonstrate decent footfall figures for your site, you can take this to the next level and sell space on your site to other advertisers. Equally if you want to place ads on other sites, when compared to other media, online is very competitive both in the costs and the increasingly large numbers it reaches.
Right I’m going to move all my marketing budget to online…
Not so fast. It’s worth bearing mind, that what is a very attractive marketplace today could be very crowded in the not too distant future. At TT we try to keep ahead of the game by combining our online advertising with offline and by allocating our advertising budgets across a few options, to maintain an effective business profile to a variety of audiences. Additionally we try to keep abreast of developments in digital/online media by looking out for courses and seminars to keep our online work smart. To this end we found a great site, http://www.netimperative.com which offers tips, predictions, news, courses and much more for internet advertisers.
Please share!
As always we’d be interested to hear what you have to say, please get in touch or post your comments below.
TT
Friday, 23 January 2009
Time you got out more?
While all else may seem to be on the decline, there are thankfully networking events a-plenty for small business owners. So in these dark winter months, we reckon the time to get out and about, make contact and share ideas with some like-minded souls, is now.
A couple of recommendations in the London area:
The examples above are just the tip of the networking iceberg and wherever you are there will be something going on. Check online for other local or virtual business groups such as Sistersnog, Anthena, The Room Upstairs, BRE, The Millionaire's Club, ecadamy and many, many more. We use this website which can put you in touch with events to meet like-minded business contacts right across the UK: http://www.findnetworkingevents.com
Please share!
If you know of any events you either need support with or you’d simply like to share, please do so by adding your comments below or contact the TT team on 0845 075 1044.
TT
A couple of recommendations in the London area:
- BNI business breakfasts are the stuff of networking legend. TT has been going along for many years because we find them quite simply, to be a brilliant way to meet other businesses. Join us and some 400 other members as they launch International Networking Week at the Lords cricket ground on 5th February, 7-8.30 am. Find out more about BNI at: http//www.bni.com/
- Business Junction is a London/South-East independent business referral network. Their monthly networking events pull in SME owners from far and wide. February’s lunch event is at The Ebury restaurant in Pimlico on Tuesday 3rd February. This month’s guest speaker will be London Mayor, Boris Johnson. Go to www.businessjunction.co.uk to find out more about registration.
- We Have No Office Party is a new networking event, offering the self-employed an informal chance to meet, network and generally shoot some business breeze. This event will be in full swing from 6.30 at the Kings Arms, Roupell St, Waterloo: http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub1006.html Contact the TT team on 0845 075 1044 to find out more.
The examples above are just the tip of the networking iceberg and wherever you are there will be something going on. Check online for other local or virtual business groups such as Sistersnog, Anthena, The Room Upstairs, BRE, The Millionaire's Club, ecadamy and many, many more. We use this website which can put you in touch with events to meet like-minded business contacts right across the UK: http://www.findnetworkingevents.com
Please share!
If you know of any events you either need support with or you’d simply like to share, please do so by adding your comments below or contact the TT team on 0845 075 1044.
TT
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Boost your blog and website traffic today
If you have a website, chances are you bought it, set it up and have since given it very little thought, save to add the occasional blog or news update. We have found that by smartening up our blogging we've managed to make a big difference to the potential clients who have been searching for something we can provide.
For starters...
• Use the right keywords – think about what your audience will be searching for
• Chose the right title – no more than 10 words, keep it short and to the point
• Use meta data where you can though be aware of the spam implications (follow links below to find out more)
• Make them lively – keep content engaging with pictures and links
• Encourage comment and debate
The following links go to sites we have found or had recommended by clients and colleagues, which offer expansive and relevant advice on boosting your blog and website footfall.
• http://www.xarj.net/2008/seo-secrets-to-writing-the-perfect-blog-post-wordpress/ - offers accessible, comprehensive advice on search engine optimisation and more
• http://www.searchengineguide.com/mack-collier/10-steps-to-creating-the-perfect-small-b.php - this site offers tips on content for small businesses.
Additional thoughts...
• http://www.money-from-blogs.com/ - this site is an example of one that can put you in touch with advertisers who will pay you to appear on your blog
• http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470230177/interactiveda3375-21 - there is now a Blogging for Dummies book – this successful series now makes the most complex blogging tasks seem simple.
Please share!
If you want to share experiences or good practice of your own, we’d love to hear from you. Please ask any questions or add your comments here.
TT
For starters...
• Use the right keywords – think about what your audience will be searching for
• Chose the right title – no more than 10 words, keep it short and to the point
• Use meta data where you can though be aware of the spam implications (follow links below to find out more)
• Make them lively – keep content engaging with pictures and links
• Encourage comment and debate
The following links go to sites we have found or had recommended by clients and colleagues, which offer expansive and relevant advice on boosting your blog and website footfall.
• http://www.xarj.net/2008/seo-secrets-to-writing-the-perfect-blog-post-wordpress/ - offers accessible, comprehensive advice on search engine optimisation and more
• http://www.searchengineguide.com/mack-collier/10-steps-to-creating-the-perfect-small-b.php - this site offers tips on content for small businesses.
Additional thoughts...
• http://www.money-from-blogs.com/ - this site is an example of one that can put you in touch with advertisers who will pay you to appear on your blog
• http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470230177/interactiveda3375-21 - there is now a Blogging for Dummies book – this successful series now makes the most complex blogging tasks seem simple.
Please share!
If you want to share experiences or good practice of your own, we’d love to hear from you. Please ask any questions or add your comments here.
TT
Saturday, 10 January 2009
So why are people outsourcing?
If buzzwords like ‘downsizing’ and ‘cutbacks’ are doing the rounds in your organisation, you’re not alone. You may in turn be looking for some smart alternatives to big overheads for your business, which is where outsourcing comes in. The following are a few reasons outsourcing aspects of your business may be the way forward for 2009…
If you need to downsize your team
You may have had to cut overheads by downsizing your team, but all too often this will leave a surfeit of work. When it becomes clear that its simply too much to handle the alternative is to seek part time or virtual support to help fill that gap. Outsourcing offers as little or as much support as you need.
If you have restricted workspace
If you don’t have the space you need, outsourcing is perfect for taking care of for example, accounting, sales or office support, which would otherwise take up valuable desk space.
If you’d like to improve your image
You may just be starting out; maybe run your business from home? Outsourcing a 24 call answering service or virtual PA support can give clients the impression your business is a bigger and more impressive operation.
If you’d like to try before you buy
It could be that you are moving into an area you haven’t before – web-based expansion is a common example. Outsourcing at this stage means you can have ‘taster’ of this new area and see if it is something you are sure is worthy of investing in full time staff/technology etc of your own.
To cope with the busy times!
Outsourcing is perfect for when you need support to cope with your business peaks, but can’t justify the cost for a fulltime team. A good example may be a telesales team to help you drive Christmas or new financial year sales.
At Tailored Time, we think the key to making outsourcing work is to try to allow them as much time as you can and to ensure they are well briefed and understand your business inside out. We help lots of clients with all types of outsourced business help, including book keeping, project management, web, PA and sales support… Give our team a call on 0845 075 1044 to see if we can’t help point you in the right direction for more nimble business in 2009.
TT
If you need to downsize your team
You may have had to cut overheads by downsizing your team, but all too often this will leave a surfeit of work. When it becomes clear that its simply too much to handle the alternative is to seek part time or virtual support to help fill that gap. Outsourcing offers as little or as much support as you need.
If you have restricted workspace
If you don’t have the space you need, outsourcing is perfect for taking care of for example, accounting, sales or office support, which would otherwise take up valuable desk space.
If you’d like to improve your image
You may just be starting out; maybe run your business from home? Outsourcing a 24 call answering service or virtual PA support can give clients the impression your business is a bigger and more impressive operation.
If you’d like to try before you buy
It could be that you are moving into an area you haven’t before – web-based expansion is a common example. Outsourcing at this stage means you can have ‘taster’ of this new area and see if it is something you are sure is worthy of investing in full time staff/technology etc of your own.
To cope with the busy times!
Outsourcing is perfect for when you need support to cope with your business peaks, but can’t justify the cost for a fulltime team. A good example may be a telesales team to help you drive Christmas or new financial year sales.
At Tailored Time, we think the key to making outsourcing work is to try to allow them as much time as you can and to ensure they are well briefed and understand your business inside out. We help lots of clients with all types of outsourced business help, including book keeping, project management, web, PA and sales support… Give our team a call on 0845 075 1044 to see if we can’t help point you in the right direction for more nimble business in 2009.
TT
Monday, 5 January 2009
Winter warmers
January: duvet or not duvet?
OK. It’s January, it’s cold, it’s back to work and frankly it's the time of year when if you’re anything like us you’d probably like to hibernate under your duvet at least until the weather cheers up a bit… and just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the business press has it that 2008 has merely sniffed at the economic horrors that 2009 is set to bring. Oh dear.
BUT WAIT - what’s that noise?
Ah yes. That’s the sound of you, me and every other self-respecting SME owner snapping out of the winter doldrums and looking for new ways to keep on motivating our teams, inspiring our clients and to keep driving our business forward.
Winter warmers
We’re keeping our eyes peeled for news and information - aka winter warmers - to help you on your way. This week we are delighted to see news that commercial property providers are under increased pressure to release some of the pressure business is under at the moment. The Pru – one of the UK’s biggest commercial landlords is leading the way to help retail and other commercial clients with measures including reduced service charges and new, more manageable payment plans for rent. Even if the Pru isn’t your landlord, it is expected the effects of the benefits they offer will cascade pretty quickly onto other commercial landlords, ultimately offering benefits for anyone that rents commercial property, to pass onto clients and staff.
Need to know business news
The Times has a rather good, ‘Need to know’ section as part of its online offering. Follow this link to keep abreast of breaking news on commercial property benefits and more at:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/need_to_know/
That’s all for now – so keep warm, keep your chin up and as always, keep us in the loop with your news by posting your comments below.
TT
OK. It’s January, it’s cold, it’s back to work and frankly it's the time of year when if you’re anything like us you’d probably like to hibernate under your duvet at least until the weather cheers up a bit… and just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the business press has it that 2008 has merely sniffed at the economic horrors that 2009 is set to bring. Oh dear.
BUT WAIT - what’s that noise?
Ah yes. That’s the sound of you, me and every other self-respecting SME owner snapping out of the winter doldrums and looking for new ways to keep on motivating our teams, inspiring our clients and to keep driving our business forward.
Winter warmers
We’re keeping our eyes peeled for news and information - aka winter warmers - to help you on your way. This week we are delighted to see news that commercial property providers are under increased pressure to release some of the pressure business is under at the moment. The Pru – one of the UK’s biggest commercial landlords is leading the way to help retail and other commercial clients with measures including reduced service charges and new, more manageable payment plans for rent. Even if the Pru isn’t your landlord, it is expected the effects of the benefits they offer will cascade pretty quickly onto other commercial landlords, ultimately offering benefits for anyone that rents commercial property, to pass onto clients and staff.
Need to know business news
The Times has a rather good, ‘Need to know’ section as part of its online offering. Follow this link to keep abreast of breaking news on commercial property benefits and more at:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/need_to_know/
That’s all for now – so keep warm, keep your chin up and as always, keep us in the loop with your news by posting your comments below.
TT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)