NEW Business MATTERS Y O U R L O C A L B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L Reaching 16,000 business people in print & online Exclusivity in each business category - guaranteed!
Points of Interest in this Issue: • Is your business mobile yet?
• Are you recruiting?
• The key stages of wealth management
• Make your mark with integrated marketing strategies
• Taking the stress out of fleet servicing and repairs
• How to manage your business card collection...
BUSINESS TIPS & ADVICE! Issue 40/2015
August/September
ACCOUNTANCY MATTERS
August/September
So what value do you think your business is worth? By Alistair, Luke & David at BKB Accountants
We often get asked to value our client’s businesses and we will generally reply with “it depends”. A typical accountant’s answer I know but the biggest factor in determining your business value will be who the buyers are.
being the holiday season, what better time to assess your businesses worth. Make a note of how many times you are taken away from relaxing with your spouse and kids (if this is possible) and also assess what you come back to when you arrive back at your desk.
The most attractive buyer to you will be a bigger company doing the same thing that will be able to swallow your costs up with economies of scale and is therefore only interested in one thing – your customer database and is prepared to pay a multiple of turnover to get it.
If you feel that you are being dragged in to too much detail then it’s time to make a change. It’s not a quick fix to engineer the business to have you on top solely dealing with the strategic decision making with managers reporting to you, and certainly something young businesses would find impossible. But it can be done after experiencing some blood, sweat and tears and you may find it takes longer than you imagine.
But this doesn’t always happen so how do you position yourself to get the most from a buyer? The key is to ensure that your business is not reliant on you. If as the owner, you are involved in day to day decision making then how can you expect a buyer to make you an attractive offer if they know that they have to keep you on board and pay a salary for the privilege. Holidays are always a good test of this and this
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I would allow at least a year, maybe two, to make fundamental changes within your team to reach the ultimate goal but it will be worth it in the end To see how we can help you, please contact us on 01202 950527 or email us at info@bkbaccountants.co.uk
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
NEW BUSINESS MATTERS
August/September
Editor’s Note
CONTENTS
The holidays!
02 HOW MUCH IS YOUR BUSINESS WORTH?
We all look forward to a break, a getaway, some time to relax and put our feet up. Maybe some sunshine, mountaineering or golf. Whatever it is for you I do hope you have had a great summer!
03 CONTENTS & EDITORS NOTES 04 IS YOUR BUSINESS MOBILE YET? 05 SIMPLIFYING NON-GEOGRAPHIC 06 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION...
Now the question is, how do you come back to work, what attitude do you have? Are you like the man on the front photo, full of beans, enthusiasm and desire to get on? Or do you moan, grumble and feel deflated at the prospect of another long year ahead? This attitude could make all the difference to your business. It is true that not everything goes right all of the time, in fact that would probably be pretty boring. Some ideas don’t work, some things do go wrong. It is how we ‘attack’ the problems, the manner with which we intend something to happen, that makes the difference.
07 WINDOWS 10 - WHEN, WHERE, WHY
Walt Disney had lost everything… just before he drew ‘Mickey Mouse’ on a train one day. Boy was that a turn around for him. So I do hope you are running back to work with a spring in your step, ready to take on the world… well maybe not the whole world, but at least your own business! The professionals in New Business Matters are here to help. Do give them a call to exchange ideas, help you keep that enthusiastic attitude, and may you have a fantastic ‘return’ to work!
14 5 TIPS ON EMAIL MARKETING
08 KEY STAGES OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT 09 BENEFITS OF MASSAGE AT WORK 10 TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF FLEET SERVICING 11 THE OVERCLIFF PUB 12 ARE YOU RECRUITING? 13 IMPORTANCE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE 15 GOING DIGITAL SAVES COSTS 16 BUDGET FOR LANDLORDS? 17 INTEGRATED MARKETING 18 DESIGN & PRINT SERVICES 19 LOOKING FOR NEW CLIENTS?
Our next Network Party is on Monday 7th September at the Cliffeside Hotel in Bournemouth 6.30pm-8.30pm. You are invited to join us. Please bring a smile with you!
20 SOCIAL MEDIA & VIDEO
Best wishes,
22 BUSINESS CARD COLLECTION?
NBM
Debbie Corney You can be the only company of your trade or profession represented in this local business to business journal. For details on the ‘marketing packages’ available, please contact: Stephen Corney on 01202 233580 or email sales@newbusinessmatters.com New Business Matters UK Ltd 1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR Tel: 01202 233580
21 ENERGY CONTROL AT YOUR FINGERS
NEW Business
23 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Y O U R L O C A L B U S I N 24 HOW SECURE IS YOUR DATA? The information contained within this publication is not intended to be complete. Whilst the publisher endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this publication, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and the publisher accepts no liability for the use of, reliance on or the accuracy of such information. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher and therefore the publisher accepts no responsibility for them. All artwork and editorial is copywrite and may not be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher.
NEW Business Y O U R L O C A L B U S I N
© New Business Matters UK Limited January 2009 Designed by: Stephen Corney
Printed by: Remous Limited, Sherborne
Published by: New Business Matters UK Limited
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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APP MATTERS
August/September
App Solutions Local create custom mobile apps for smartphones and tablets that are specifically designed for small to medium sized businesses. We take care of everything
DESIGN
BUILD
HOSTING
SUPPORT
Call us now to discuss how we can help you increase the revenue you generate from your existing customer base and get better connected with your customers! Receive10% discount by quoting /#.0615* We also offer website and marketing solutions too so if your site needs help or you are considering an upgrade talk to us!
Find us on *Terms and conditions apply – 10% code applies to the set up and build cost. Offer expires 31st July 2015
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To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
COMMUNICATION MATTERS
August/September
Simplifying Non-Geographic Numbers By Mark Scott of Technovox
That’s not a headline that would obviously sell newspapers, so perhaps you overlooked the changes that were brought into force on 1st July this year. Non-geographic numbers are those in ranges that don’t start with a geographically based area code. This covers almost everything except mobile numbers, but is most easily recognized by the 03, 08 or 09 prefix. OfCom has realised for some time that the charges for calls to these numbers are not very transparent. Premium rate numbers achieved great notoriety and have somewhat tarnished the whole of the non-geographic number range. So from 1st July, the cost of calls to these numbers is conceptually split into two parts: a service charge levied by the company that uses the number and an access charge that your network operator applies. The service charge should be made clear by the number’s owner and the access charges should be
spelled out in your network operator’s tariff listing. In theory this should make it easier to find out how much you’re going to be charged for each call, but in practice you’ll probably still need to hunt around a bit to find out. The most visible change is that free phone numbers (starting 0800 or 0808) will now be free wherever they are called from – previously some operators, particularly the mobile networks, were applying quite punitive access charges with 14 pence per minute being typical. Look out for the additional information you can now get about non-geographic numbers and perhaps think about whether now is a good time to look into using a freephone number yourself. For help and advice on using non-geographic numbers in your business please call Mark on 01202 282426 or send an email to info@technovox.co.uk.
Simple, inexpensive numbers and call routing
Tel: 01202 282426 Web: www.technovox.co.uk
Email: info@technovox.co.uk Vizz Business Centre, Willis Way, Poole, BH15 3TB
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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COMMUNITY MAG MATTERS
August/September
Location, Location, Location! By Stephen Corney, Director at Dorset Publications When I came up with the concept for this article, the title works in several different ways... Local community magazines are just that... local. This means that businesses are able to choose the exact locations in which they promote. For the sole trader or smaller business, this enables more local business to be generated, cutting down on travel times and getting a greater saturation of the local market. For larger businesses, this can still work by choosing adjoining titles that then between them cover the larger area that they wish to target.
position of a smaller advert in his local community magazines reaps a regular trickle of new and repeat business. With regard to the subject matter around the advert, it has to be said that much news today seems negative. This may not put your prospective client in the most positive frame of mind from which to then purchase your products or services. Compare this to the content of a local community magazine that tends to be positive, supportive and generally aimed at helping local people.
Choosing the location of your advert, i.e. what medium you wish to communicate through, can also play a large part in its effectiveness. This may be either from a cost perspective or from the subject matter that may appear around your advert.
As previously mentioned, having your promotion in as many different locations as possible should maximise your chance of getting new business. So do have a website, but keep putting your name out there in print too!
One of our clients spent a large amount of money to take out a full page advert in a local newspaper for just one insertion. The direct response from this was nil, whereas in comparison the regular
For more information about how local community magazines could help your business to grow, give Stephen or Debbie a call on 01202 894397 or send an email to info@dorsetpublications.co.uk.
Would you like your business to reach 1000s of potential residential clients on a monthly basis? Full colour A5 glossy magazines distributed by our own team of distributors - you can rely on us! » A free article, the same size as the advert booked in one of the months, with a 3 months booking » Free advertising on our magazine Facebook pages » A free listing on our Website Directory pages » Each magazine is fully uploaded every month on the internet via our website
Call Debbie or Stephen on
01202 894397 info@dorsetpublications.co.uk
West Moors • Ferndown & West Parley • Bournemouth • Poole • Southbourne • Christchurch Page 6
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
COMPUTER REPAIR MATTERS
August/September
Windows 10 – When, Where and Why!
By Clifford Johnson from PCs Made Simple Most of you over the last few weeks would have seen a little icon appear in your task bar (bottom right hand corner) With the title ‘Get Windows 10’ this is Microsoft trying to get as many people using the new OS as soon as possible. When – Windows 10 is coming on 29 July 2015 Where – Clicking on the Windows 10 app in the system tray Why – Well, It’s FREE! Yes for eligible devices the upgrade to a full version is free! So should you upgrade? In our opinion, if something isn’t broken don’t fix it! There is a large limit on what devices the free upgrade applies to and you are then entering a subscription service to future updates of the OS. Many hardware companies may have not made
drivers for your hardware yet so you may end up with limited functionality. So what to do... If you are keen for the new OS and you are using Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 (excludes enterprise editions) then go for it! If you are working on any other OS, Windows Vista, Windows 8, Windows XP, NT, 2k or other. Now is the time to purchase and upgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1 while it’s still available. We can help with this upgrade and even tell you if the hardware will work afterwards. As with all things like this its customer’s preference that triumphs but we are always hear to lend a hand. If you need or want some help with this or would just like a chat to discuss the options, we are simply a phone call away on 01202 830121.
We make computing easy... It's as SIMPLE as that! PC & Laptop Repairs & Sales
PCs Made Simple can usually fix any sick computer. We can also supply a new one, off the shelf or tailor made just for you.
We Come To You!
If your computer can’t come to us, PCs Made Simple can come to your computer! We cover all of Dorset and most of West Hampshire.
Tel: 01202 830121 E: info@simple-pcs.co.uk W: www.simple-pcs.co.uk
312 Ashley Road • Poole • Dorset • BH14 9DF
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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FINANCE MATTERS
August/September
The key stages of wealth management
Advertising Feature
By Lee Walker, Wealth Manager
A wealth manager can help you with such issues as: investing a lump sum, deciding how much you need to save in order to retire comfortably, estate planning and saving inheritance tax, dividing up pension entitlements on a divorce or separation, getting the right types and amounts of life and health insurance planning to pay school or university fees, deciding how much to borrow and providing a general financial health check. It’s generally best to look at the whole of an individual’s financial affairs, not just the issue that is of most immediate concern. It can be hard to deal with one issue in isolation because most areas of financial planning are interconnected. Initially the wealth manager and client must get to know each other well enough to decide whether to take the relationship further and the best way for it to work. This will involve agreeing the broad content and scope of the service and crucially how much it will all cost. You should be asking yourself: do I trust this person and can I work with them? And it’s important to settle the practicalities: does this adviser and the firm have the right expertise and can they provide what I am looking for? There’s likely to be an enormous amount of information to be gathered together about a person’s financial circumstances: savings, investments, borrowings, property, mortgages and other loans, wills and other documents, pensions, life and health insurances, income and expenditure, tax and much more. The planner’s job is to find out what the client wants to achieve with their money, both now and in the future. Most people do not think about their future very much – at least not in an organised way and not from a financial perspective. There will be specific questions about the level of risk the client is prepared and able to take on. And that will lead to discussion about how various asset classes have
behaved in the past and what they might do in the future. The aim is to build a portfolio of investments that will provide the returns the investor wants and needs and with which they are comfortable. The next step in the planning process is to make sense of all this information and come up with a range of preliminary conclusions and initial ideas for ways forward. An important aim of the analysis stage is to identify financial gaps or shortfalls. These could be between income and expenditure now or in the future, pension or insurance provision and several others where some action is needed to bridge the gap between aspiration and reality. Once these needs and wants have been identified, , it’s time to do some specific product research into funds, tax wrappers – like ISAs - and insurance products. Most clients want their adviser to keep an eye on their investments and other financial arrangements. The review process is intended to act as a catch up with what has changed – either in your own circumstances or in the financial world generally. There may have been some very substantial changes in circumstances like a marriage, divorce or a substantial inheritance. To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management, Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax Planning, contact Lee Walker on 07770 333302 or email lee.walker@sjpp.co.uk. The value of an investment will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested. The favourable tax treatment of ISAs may not be maintained in the future and is subject to changes in legislation. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
LEE WALKER
WEALTH MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Mastermind your financial future
We provide an experienced wealth management service and offer specialist advice in a wide range of areas including: • Mortgages • Investment Planning • Retirement Planning • Inheritence Tax Planning For further details contact Lee Walker on 07770 333302 Email: lee.walker@sjpp.co.uk Website: www.leewalkerwm.co.uk
The Partner represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group's website www. sjp.co.uk/products. The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the title 'Partner' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.
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FITNESS MATTERS
August/September
The Benefits of Massage in the Workplace By Angela Barton at Body Fitness
When I worked at the NHS I found so many office workers suffering with the same problems. Such as neck ache, tight shoulders, low back pain and headaches. All of which can be relieved by massage. Louise came to see me suffering with a tension headache after a particularly stressful meeting and by the end of the 15 minutes session her headache had disappeared. Impressed? Read on... As I am sure you are aware, stress is the number one problem in the workplace and it is a contributing factor to aches and pains. This can cause you to take valuable time off work due to illness caused by stress. Why massage can help? It promotes a feeling of well being, helping you to tackle that awkward customer on the phone. Help you feel more refreshed making you less inclined to reach for
a sugary snack and overall make you feel less stressed reducing your levels of cortisol – the “stress hormone”. Cortisol can impair your cognitive performance, which affects how you work and you will be less productive, it can increase your blood pressure, disrupt your sleep and lower your immunity. Massage can help reduce your stress levels making you more productive, over time lower your blood pressure and you will sleep better – what can be better than that! Plus I make the experience as pleasurable as I can, scented oil, relaxing music and my magic hands to soothe those aching muscles. You will leave feeling more alert and ready to tackle the rest of your day! For more information about the services that she can offer, either from my studio or your place of work, contact Angela on 07813 805541 or send her an email to angela@bodytherapy.fitness
• Personal training • Holistic massage • Deep tissue massage “Angela is a tremendous force of nature. For me, she does the impossible, by making exercise fun. I always have a fantastic work out and a massive laugh. She is more of a friend than a trainer, I cannot recommend her highly enough!” Claudia Tuohy
Contact Angela now:
T: 07813 805541 E: angela@bodytherapy.fitness
www.bodytherapy.fitness
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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FLEET MATTERS
August/September
Taking the stress out of fleet servicing and repairs By Ian Pounds of Longham Motor Engineers
Taking care of light commercial fleet servicing and repairs has always played a major part in Longham Motor Engineer’s extensive history. When a vehicle is off the road, it is losing money, therefore fleet managers from across Dorset and Hampshire have quickly come to appreciate the effective customer care and quick turnaround that Longham Motor Engineers provide. Ian Pounds, Managing Director of Longham Motor Engineers emphasised: ‘Providing our customers with a quick and cost-effective repair and servicing strategy cannot be overestimated. We are able to offer both excellent labour rates plus a full 60 days payment terms to help keep light commercial fleets where they should be: on the road.’ Customer relationships are paramount at Longham Motor Engineers and further commercial clients include local taxi firms, private hire companies as well as many single vehicle operators.
‘Saturday mornings tend to keep us on our toes too,’ continued Ian. ‘At this time of year we see a large upsurge in servicing vehicle air conditioning units from both commercial and private sectors. Taxis and private hire companies understand that they need to keep their customers comfortable during the summer months and we always keep a few gaps in our busy work schedule of any last minute emergencies for our commercial clients.’ Understanding the demanding requirements of light commercial fleets and private vehicles helps keep the service scheduling full at Longham Motor Engineers. Having successfully paired this understanding ethos alongside values of professionalism and honest advice seems to be a formula that works extremely well at Longham Motor Engineers, just ask any local fleet manager. To find out how using Longham Motor Engineers for your fleet can benefit your business, contact Ian on 01202 894488.
Stress relief for commercial fleets... Your local motor experts for specialist advice, servicing and repairs on all makes & models. MOTs • Servicing • Diagnostics
Tel: 01202 89 44 88
Here to service your fleet vehicle’s every need!
www.longham-motor-engineers.co.uk 441 Wimborne Road East, Ferndown, BH22 9NA
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HOSPITALITY MATTERS
August/September
The Overcliff Pub... By John Marsh, Webmaster & Sales Coordinator The Oceana Resort, located on Bournemouth East Cliff encompasses the Cumberland, Suncliff and Cliffeside Hotels. After the successful business acquisition in April 2015 by ABQ Investments UK Ltd, we are excited to see some swift additions to the diverse facilities we already offer our guests in the form of a traditional English Pub at the Suncliff Hotel. “The Overcliff Pub has been designed to offer locals and visitors to Bournemouth a traditional English pub with stunning sea views, proper British pub food and cool beverages in a laidback, friendly environment. The large dining room conservatory enjoys panoramic views from Hengistbury Head, across the bay to Old Harry Rocks, the perfect backdrop for sipping on a pint of real ale whilst tucking into a delicious pie.” Our aim is to offer choice. Staying in any of
the Oceana hotels offers use of the combined facilities. Choose from a number of bars and restaurants including the two-rosette Ventana Grand Café and Overcliff Pub. Then there’s the leisure facilities, consisting of two outdoor and one indoor swimming pool, mini gym, sauna, squash courts and not forgetting TripAdvisor’s top ranking wellness centre in Bournemouth; the Oceana Day Spa. As we embrace the busy summer months and continue to drive our service delivery and execution we eagerly await the next exciting project to further improve the Oceana Hotels portfolio including our stunning new events room, due for completion late August. For more information, or to book a table contact our sales and reservations team on 01202 298 350 or send an email to sales@oceanahotels.co.uk.
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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HR MATTERS
August/September
Are you recruiting? By Tom Doherty from The HR Dept Congratulations – business is expanding and you need to take on a new member of staff but with a tight budget, how can you attract the right person? Recruitment advertising can be an expensive business with an advert in a national newspaper costing an eye watering sum and even regional recruitment agencies charging a typical rate of 15-20% of your employees first year’s salary. But you don’t have to spend the earth to find exactly the new recruit your business needs. Firstly you need to be clear about the role that you are filling and the knowledge, skills and experience your ideal candidate will have. Once you have decided this, you can consider where such a person is most likely to look for a job – it could be anything from the website of a professional body through to a postcard in a local shop window. This will help you target your advertising which in turn will ensure your budget is used in the most effective way. Teasers are tops in recruitment advertising – Teaser adverts attract potential applicants but don’t try and cram in every bit of information. Rather, they grab your
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attention and sign-post to where fuller details can be found - that may be a website/email address or telephone contact number. Teaser advertising can also extend to your emails – how about adding a sentence or two about your vacancy into your email signature template? Make every word in a written advert count – try and convey the benefits of joining your business using active, engaging language directed at the reader. A well written advert means you recruit first time around and save on repeat advertising costs. Social media is your best friend when advertising for staff. You can promote your vacancy free of charge on many sites and are able to respond quickly to queries and build a rapport with potential recruits. You will need to tailor your approach to fit your business and the role you are recruiting for. Don’t be tempted to cut corners however. The HR Dept can help get it right for you, saving you time and hassle. Contact me on 01202 023093 or email me at tom@hrdept.co.uk for help and advice on getting the right person for the job and preventing people problems.
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
INSURANCE MATTERS
August/September
Don’t underestimate the importance of Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance By John Palmer of Coversure Insurance
Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance covers the costs associated with the defence of an allegation of a wrongful act, including: • claims issued against a director by a shareholder • unfair dismissal claims • allegations of libel/slander Directors’ and Officers’ liability policies do not generally cover an act of fraud that has resulted in a criminal conviction, or criminal fines and penalties. It’s important to note that a claim can happen against any director of any sized businesses. It’s not just the ‘big boys’ that should be concerned about the possibility of an expensive claim, your small to medium sized businesses are at risk as well. We live in a litigious society these days, with more and more regulation, which has seen directors face more scrutiny over their actions and how they conduct themselves, in areas such as health and safety, bribery laws, mergers and acquisitions, insolvency, wrongful trading, corporate manslaughter or equality in the workplace. The European Union is overhauling its data protection laws, which means directors in the UK will increasingly be held accountable over any failure of a company’s privacy and data protection policy. As well as that, there is also the Bribery Act. This means came into force in 2011, which means that companies found guilty of failing to prevent bribery face an unlimited fine and directors convicted of the same offence can be prohibited from future roles. To successfully defend themselves against such action, companies and their directors must prove they have adequate procedures to minimise the risk of bribery occurring, such as clearly communicated policies on giving or receiving of gifts and hospitality. On top of that the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, means
organisations can be prosecuted (with an unlimited fine the maximum penalty) if the failings of senior management are found to have played a significant part in the death of a person to whom the company owed a duty of care (e.g. an employee or customer). Whilst, punishments under the Corporate Manslaughter Act apply only to companies, directors and officers can be prosecuted separately under the health and safety or criminal law, and face substantial fines or even imprisonment. In addition, the legal costs of defending such an action can also be substantial. Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance can cover the legal costs of defending a director from a claim and brokers like Coversure Insurance Services can help companies and directors understand the underlying issues they face – it’s not just the company that’s at stake, it’s also the personal liability of a director. Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance costs less than most people think. In fact you could be spending less than £500 for £1 million worth of cover. If you have any questions regarding your insurance, whether you have the right cover or could get a better deal, give John a call on 0800 223 0060 or email poole@coversure.co.uk.
!
Tel: 0800 223 0060 01202 929 141 Email: poole@coversure.co.uk www.coversure.co.uk/office/poole
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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INTERNET MATTERS
August/September
5 Ways to make email marketing work for your business By Gino Cirelli from Website Internet Marketing
Sending emails to clients and prospective clients can be an effective way of marketing a business or individual product or service. If you don’t have a list of clients and email addresses then I recommend building a list. Remember when collecting emails to ask for permission to send emails as unsolicited emails are illegal in the UK. To comply with UK legislation you should also make it clear in the email as to who you are and if you are selling or promoting something that you are clear about what this is and what the conditions are. You should also make sure that there is some way to unsubscribe from the list. 1. Use an email marketing service provider Send emails out from a service provider as sending many emails out from your own email account may get it listed as a spam email account and get it blocked. An email service provider will send out the emails for you as well as tracking how well the emails do.
2. Remove words that can be seen as spam Spam filters will check for certain words and send the email straight to the spam or junk folder so avoid using them. Words such as “free”, “discount” and “cash” but also less obvious ones such as “visit our website” can be seen as spam. 3. Be careful with the design of the email Less formal designs do better than those with lots of images and colour formatting as these can be seen as spam as well. 4. Measure the success of your emails Most email service providers will measure how many emails were opened and how many bounced or unsubscribed. It is good to track how well the emails are doing. 5. Be regular Regular emails will ensure that your clients will get to know you and will expect emails from you. For more information call Gino on 01425 200 678 or email gino@webiml.co.uk and quote NBM.
01425 200 678 Page 14
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
IT MATTERS
August/September
Save costs and improve processes by going digital
By Ava Lambert from Copyrite Business Solutions The management of vast amounts of paper documentation, evidence, statements, filings and court proceedings leaves no room for errors or lapses in security or availability for law firms. Moore Blatch, a highly successful law firm in the South of England, needed to accelerate their physical mail distribution process to support business growth and boost their legal team efficiency. At the same time, the firm must provide exceptional customer service while maintaining security and confidentiality. Copyrite previously implemented Print Management solutions at Moore Blatch and understood the challenge to reduce administration costs and increase productivity. Scanning all post in bulk was essential to ensure fast, accurate delivery and enable mailroom staff to concentrate on handling exceptions. Solution: A Digital Mailroom Solution incorporating ABBYY FlexiCapture enables intelligent, accurate and highly scalable data capture and document processing. It provides a single entry point to automatically transform streams of different forms and documents of any structure and complexity into business-ready data. With automatic document classification and data capture features, the automation of paper-based business processes significantly reduces administration costs. The combination of Document Scanning and intelligent data capture now enables incoming mail to be digitised and documents to be classified and distributed. Information is dynamically extracted and used for indexing into Practise Management Systems, eliminating the need for manual indexing, apart from exceptions. Documents can be indexed by type and content (e.g. invoice due date), making them fully searchable and editable in the future.
has significantly increased efficiency. To maintain document security, procedures are in place if recognition of a document falls below an agreed level of acceptability. The document in question is referred to a verification role to ensure the data is accurate before returning to the automated process. • Immediate notification of document arrivals ensures quicker decision cycles • Less paper results in reduced costs for printing, distributing and storage • Better compliancy, data tracking and records management adherence • Improved customer service through access to information and answers Paul Walshe, Partner at Moore Blatch explained, “Eliminating manual post distribution was essential as we were spending a lot of time distributing and filing documents. The Copyrite solution has enabled us to reduce our administration overheads, accelerate the process of document delivery resulting in improved client relationships. We now have a solution that can scale as our company continues to grow.” Ian Stewart, Director at Copyrite, said, “Having worked with Moore Blatch for 14 years, the increasing volume of paper documents made the move to a digital mailroom solution compelling as they would definitely save costs while improving processes. The productivity of legal professionals is increased when processes are automated and standard industry and company workflows can be followed.”
Benefits: Digitising incoming mail, classifying and distributing key business documents to individuals and Practise Management Systems
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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LETTINGS MATTERS
August/September
Budget for Landlords? By Sharon Canning from Move on Rentals Well, what was the budget all about? Landlords definitely seemed to be on the agenda. One of the concerns that I am receiving lots of calls about is the mortgage interest being phased out by 2020. The summer finance bill will hopefully explain the finer detail. But here is my understanding of it. In your tax return presently, the interest part of your mortgage, which most Buy To let mortgages are interest only, can be deducted as an expense. In 2017, you will lose 25% and will be able to claim 75% of the mortgage expense. In 2018, you will lose 50% and can claim 50%. In 2019 you will lose 75% and can claim 25% and in 2020 you will lose 100% of the mortgage payment. However, the government will give back a relief, so in 2017 the 25% you lose in the mortgage payment you can claim at the basic tax rate of 20%. In 2018 50%, 2019 75% and 2020 100%. I will try and explain further. You receive £800 rent per month and your mortgage is £600, your profit is £200. £200 now (2015) at 20% tax means you will pay the taxman £40. In 2017 you lose 25% of the £600, meaning £800 less £450 mortgage (£600-25%) leaves a profit of £350. £350 x 20% tax is £70. The new relief back is £150 (the 25% deducted) £150 x 20% basic tax rate is £30. So, £70 less relief of £30 means the tax you pay is £40 (the same as now).
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In conclusion, if you are a basic tax rate payer, you will be no worse off or better off than you are presently. It will however make a difference to the 40% and 45% taxpayer. In 2020 on the same rental of £800 pcm and same mortgage payment of £600. The 40% taxpayer will pay £200 (up £120), so an extra £1,440 more per annum. The 45% taxpayer will pay £240 (up £150), an extra £1,800 more per annum. Definitely an ‘ouch’ if you are a landlord in these tax brackets and own more than one property. I do hope that helps. As said, the finer detail will be in the Summer Finance Bill. Good news though if you take lodgers or students, as they are increasing the tax free earnings from £4,250 to £7,500 per annum. If you let furnished properties, the 10% wear and tear will be replaced, no idea with what, but we should know in the Summer Finance Bill. Lastly, do you owe the taxman? Well, in the small print of the budget, the taxman will be able to dip into your bank account without permission if you owe more than £1,000. If you would like a friendly, no obligation chat regarding any property matter, then please telephone 01202 711169 or email sharon@moveonrentals.com.
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
MARKETING MATTERS
August/September
Make Your Mark With Integrated Marketing Strategies By Jamie Street from J Street Creative
Creating the right impression is a key factor in all walks of life, none more so than when it comes to your business. Your company logo, business card, website, social media, flyer, banner and more all come under immediate scrutiny. All of these marketing tools form an immediate impression on existing and potential customers about your products and services even before you have the opportunity to inform them about what you do. Marketing should represent an integrated activity, that incorporates the ethos of your business and broadcasts a consistent message across appropriate channels. Do your customers use social media or read trade literature? Are your colours and fonts consistent on all media? Are your product or service benefits aligned across all communications?
M A K E
Failure to choose the right channels and deliver a consistent message can lead to a significant loss of consumer confidence and trust, resulting in the loss of a potential customer. The rule applies for businesses of all sizes; retain consistency and ensure accuracy. Through well thought out integrated marketing strategies, small businesses can impose themselves in buying decisions heavily populated by high profile companies and enhance the opportunity to gain a long term valued customer. As a marketing consultant I analyse a company's existing marketing activities and help them gain new customers through integrated marketing techniques. To learn more about the marketing services I offer, and how I can help your business gain new customers visit www.jstreetcreative.co.uk or email me at jamie@jstreetcreative.co.uk.
Y O U R
M A R K E T I N G
J S TREET
C R E A T I V E
Your Marketing Consultant
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
077 388-32-743 www.jstreetcreative.co.uk jamie@jstreetcreative.co.uk
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Remous Limited, Wyvern Buildings, North Street, Milborne Port, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 5EP
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To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
PRINTING MATTERS
August/September
We are all looking for more clients, right? By Alan Bunter, MD of Remous Limited
An often misunderstood marketing tool is business networking. It has earned a bit of a bad reputation in recent years, but on the whole it’s a positive and proactive way to get you and your company name out there with people you most likely wouldn’t have met otherwise. Human nature means people are inquisitive about new businesses and want to learn more – it isn’t always about the people in the room but how many people they know. Here are our 8 Golden Rules of Business Networking to enable you to get the best out of networking meetings. 1. Be Open – Both in your selection of networking groups to attend and your approach when you are there. There is nothing more frustrating than people arriving on time then carefully checking their phone through the meeting, avoiding eye contact and hoping they don’t bump into any one! If you have made the effort to find a Business Network, got up early, pushed yourself to go along, then when you’re there make the most of it! Open up, smile and engage with the people there. The likelihood is lots of other business people feel exactly the same as you and when you’re the new kid on the block it’s always a great conversation starter too. Remember you are there to promote yourself and your business, so make sure you are looking for and open to approach and conversation. 2. Dress Appropriately – It may seem obvious but I have seen some bizarre attire at business networking events! I always follow the rule you can’t be overdressed but you can be underdressed, so always wear smart business attire, shirt and tie for men as an example is hardly ever wrong. Arriving in jeans and t-shirt with trainers will not really work unless you are looking to make it a point of conversation and ‘all part of the plan’. As a rule your attire needs to fit with your business profile and also make others feel comfortable engaging you in conversation. 3. Ask Questions – Everyone loves to talk about themselves and their business, without fail. So ask questions and listen, make it your personal goal to find three people and learn about their businesses. There is nothing more endearing than someone who is interested in what you do, what you enjoy and what you are saying. It is often amazing what you have in common with other businesses and can even lead to great insights that you may not have considered already. When the tables are turned remember not to simply answer all the questions without asking about the other person too; it should be a mutual and engaging process for everyone concerned! 4. Humour, Humility & Honesty – For some people this will come naturally, for others may be not. Try to add some humour and indeed plenty of humility into the conversation – nothing false but perhaps displaying some of your natural
personality as you talk. Remember people can always sense a false or forced conversation. You no doubt enjoy humour in the office, so why not enjoy that with people in business networks? Obviously remember to keep within appropriate boundaries but you will find humour can go a long way. Humility and honesty are always endearing and can show people you are a good reliable person to work with as a potential supplier. It sounds simple because it is, but so often people forget to be themselves. 5. Always Carry Business Cards – Something that has stood the test of time regardless of the apps on your phone is business cards. This is your miniature advert that will introduce you to whoever you are talking to and leave a lasting reminder of who you are. Carry them everywhere and don’t buy cheap. Easy for me to say as a printer but people know when you have ordered ‘Free’ business cards online, they are instantly recognisable and you don’t want people making assumptions about your business “buying cheap”. In fact ask us about our business networking starter kit! Business cards can remain on desks, in pockets and in day planners for weeks and months to come. You need to have them at the ready at ALL times! 6. Prepare a Summary – Always have a 60 second summary of you and your business and what it does prepared and with you. Most groups have this opportunity for everyone in the room to give a brief talk about their company. What should you say? KISS! Keep It Stupidly Simple…. Your Name, Company Name, What you do, Where you are based, What you are looking for, then close with Name and Company name with preferably your tag line. It is as simple as that, but easily forgotten if you are put on the spot! 7. Carry a brochure – You can talk as much as you like but leaving someone, or everyone at the event, a mini brochure will ensure a lasting tangible memory of you and your company. The brochure should reflect and expand upon your summary of services to provide more information and make them inquisitive to find out more about whether your services are something they are looking for. Arrive early and leave a brochure on every chair, refer to it in your talk – connect it to your website via clickable paper or QR code. 8. Carry a roll up banner – How many people take a roll up banner? Not many… ask first but wouldn’t it be great if you are the person with a 2m high banner detailing what you do, who you are and how you can help? First impressions count and this is an ideal opportunity to make a great one. If you would like to know more or indeed like some print support for your business, give us a call on 01963 250920 and we can talk to you more about our networking starter pack along with ideas on how you can get more out of print in your business.
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS
August/September
Social Media, Video And Your Business
By Mike Sharp from Mike's Online Academy In the dark and distant past getting a video in front of thousands if not millions of people belonged to the privileged few. Small local businesses used print ads and radio ads were a luxury. Big businesses and big advertising budgets ruled. The internet and particularly social media has changed all that, now even the smallest company can compete on a level playing field. The technology for making video and it's distribution is now available to the smallest business. The most basic smartphones can now be used to make decent looking videos. And broadband has made interuption free viewing a reality. When promoting your business with video the best place to start is YouTube, this video sharing site is the 3rd most popular website on the planet after Google and Facebook. If you have a Google account you can create a YouTube channel for your business easily. For businesses a great way to start is to film a short introduction to your business which can be as simple as recording yourself talking to the camera. Do you have a customer who loves your products? Film them enthusing to the camera! Now you have your YouTube video there are many ways to distribute it. The easiest option is to share your video on the numerous social media sites. You can also embed the video onto your website or put it in your email newsletter. You are not just limited to YouTube, Facebook is rapidly becoming a serious rival to YouTube for video sharing. Facebook have integrated their video platform with their business pages and advertising services. Page 20
Another video platform used by businesses is Vine. Vine is an app that integrates with Twitter and has 40 million users, you are a limited to six seconds of video so no need to learn a script! This platform is best suited to the younger generation and shorter attention spans so if your product has an appeal to the youth market then this could be a better option. Other platforms worth looking at to promote your business are Instagram (youth market), Periscope Meerkat and Google Hangouts (live streaming). With live streaming you can create a virtual event that could potentially reach hundreds of thousands of viewers, just like live TV really! When creating a video it goes without saying that your video should be interesting. Ideally it should connect with a viewer on an emotional level (personal stories, behind the scenes, humour) and/or help solve a problem. For example if you a car mechanic you could film a series of car tips and direct viewers to your website/phone number. Getting your business on video is the smart thing to do in this audio visual age. If you need any help or have any questions on implementing social media and video in your business get in touch.
T: 07478 668138 E: mike@mikesonlineacademy.com W: www.MikesOnlineAcademy.com
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
UTILITY MATTERS
August/September
YOUR Fingertips Now Control YOUR Energy
By Frank Marsh of Positive Business Services Here’s a thought for your CHIEF ENERGY OFFICER... how much more powerful it will be if you could see your energy in real time and that you could have at your fingertips the power to control your own energy efficiency in your own work place environment. What could that do for you...? POSITIVE Business Energy are consultants who give you that fingertip control of your energy within the fabric of your building. You will be amazed at how much energy you are paying for that you don’t know about or don’t recognise or simply, it just happens every day because it’s the norm and the worrying thought is that you are also continually paying for it. So if you are really interested in reducing energy in your work place environment and making life a whole lot better for everyone including your bank account, then start right now and book a FREE one hour consultation with POSITIVE Business Energy. Telephone 033 0400 4262 NOW... or email our business energy consultants on info@positivebusinessservices.co.uk Here are a few more thoughts on what to expect from the POSITIVE Business Services team...
• Performance - proactively manage your energy in real time as it happens, every day right down to the minute. • Welfare - improve housekeeping practices, control air, lighting, temperature and humidity and employees will work and feel better, increases performance and reduces absenteeism. • Resource - energy experts working with you on single site to multi site locations worldwide. • Flexibility - measuring energy performance in 33 languages and principal currencies. • Who BENIFITS? - YOU and all that surrounds you... Here is something extra about POSITIVE Business Energy that you may also want to consider. The consultants also provide valuable support to clients requiring invoice validation, energy audits and benchmarking, metering services, tenant billing and utility contracts. POSITIVE Business Energy and POSITIVE Telecom Ltd are trading names to POSITIVE Business Services.
• Financially - provide you with greater savings under your control...Instantly... • Environmental - nothing in our world can escape our measurement and management.
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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VA MATTERS
August/September
How to manage your business cards and grow your business opportunities By Barbara Marsh of Barbara's Office Services
You have had a very successful networking meeting, made lots of new contacts and collected a stack of new business cards. What then? Do they sit on your desk in a pile (which grows after every network event you attend) or do you (a) make a spreadsheet of them, noting dates, events, position in company and points of interest or business opportunities. Filter the information as needed and arrange a meeting with the contacts you feel would be most important to your business; or (b) have every intention of doing this but other stuff gets in the way. If business cards are a necessary evil to you why not scan via Dropbox and send them to a VA to compile an excel database document for you. A Virtual Assistant can also arrange a mail out to your new connections and even arrange a suitable date and time for a meeting with a new contact. To grow your business contacts details will need to
be updated regularly so that you can reach out to continue nurturing and building the relationship so further business opportunities can come your way. It can be a mammoth task and if not managed, sadly opportunities are missed. Don’t let this happen to you. Also having your contact information readily available is a perfect way for you to pass on referrals to contacts within your network. Have you been in a position where one of your contacts need a service, you know you have the card somewhere, with details of the ideal person within your network but you cannot find it. Need some support? Contact me on 01425 839550 or send an email to barbara@barbarasofficeservices. co.uk to establish how I can support you with managing your business card dilemma and other administration activities you may be struggling with. Do not miss out on valuable business opportunities to grow your business!
BARBARA'S OFFICE SERVICES Would you like 30+ years of experience to help run your business more efficiently & save you time and money? If you are looking or thinking about help and you want someone to work flexible hours at a cost you can afford, then call Barbara for an initial free chat or email over your business needs.
T: 07813 318466 E: barbara@barbarasofficeservices.co.uk www.barbarasofficeservices.co.uk Page 22
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
VIDEO MATTERS
August/September
Lights! Camera! Action! The true value of film By Colin Froud of Divercol Productions
Films are an essential training and marketing tool. Having a film on the homepage of your website is also a good way to raise your search engine optimization ranking and helps to make your business stand out from the crowd. But what does it cost? Well, film making can be expensive, but the true value of film making isn’t in the cost of making the film, but in the rewards to be gained from having the film made. The key here is making sure you get value for money. While we would all like a Hollywood style blockbuster made about our business starring all our favourite actors, the reality is there is always a balance to be met between budget and expectations. Therefore, it is important to have a video producer who is knowledgeable and creative in getting the most from different sized budgets. It is also important to be focused on your goals when planning a film as it will save costly mistakes later on. Here are a few things to think about to get you started:
Who? - Who do you want to watch the film? Think about who your audience is. What? - What is the message in your film? What emotion do you want the viewer to feel? Where? - Where will the film be watched? Will it be online, watched on a mobile, part of a display at a noisy trade show or on a big screen at a conference? When? - When is the film to be shown? When is your deadline? Why? - Why do you want a film made? What are you trying to achieve? Answering the basic questions above is a good start to making your film. Having a clear idea of why you want a film made and what message it should portray is paramount to it being a success. A free download is available on our website to help you plan your film further: www.divercol.co.uk/downloads/ If you require help with a filming project, then feel free to call us for a friendly, no obligation chat on 01929 462585 or email info@divercol.co.uk.
To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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