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: • Business Owner Beware • What is VoIP? • Top Tweaks for Windows 10 • Let's get fit - desk fit! • The importance of winter checks for your fleet • Business problems? • Cyber insurance matters more than ever • Refresh the face of your business • The eye in the sky
BUSINESS TIPS & ADVICE! Issue 41/2015
October/November
ACCOUNTANCY MATTERS
October/November
Business Owners Beware By Alistair, Luke & David at BKB Accountants Do you own a business and take a mix of salary and dividends each month? Beware, as the playing field is changing from April 2016.
From April next year, there will be an additional personal annual tax charge of £1,875 per shareholder on that level of dividend.
We will all witness the introduction of the new “dividend tax”. Currently dividends are tax free for basic rate taxpayers, a 25% charge for higher rate taxpayers and 30.6% for those earning over £150,000. This will be increased to 7.5%, 32.5% and 38.1% respectively.
How can you minimise this tax charge? Consider whether it would be worthwhile to pay more dividends prior to April 2016, albeit other issues may dictate otherwise. Ensure maximum use is being made of all available basic rate tax bands this year. Explore other ways of extracting money from your company.
HM Revenue & Customs have also said that the first £5,000 of dividends will be taxed at 0%, rather than the 7.5% rate. A typical husband and wife company, for instance, may decide to pay themselves a dividend of £2,500 each per month £30,000 for the year. Currently this will be tax free as the Company has already suffered a 20% tax charge on its profits of course.
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Whatever you decide, do talk to your accountant because EVERY owner needs to consider what options are best suited for their needs. To see how we can help you to understand the ramifications of these changes in your business, 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
October/November
Editor’s Note
CONTENTS
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed?
02 BUSINESS OWNERS BEWARE
Have you ever felt like the business woman on the front? Too little time, too much to do, totally overwhelmed? It happens all too often these days with the pressures of deadlines, bills to pay, clients to keep happy and families to lead.
03 CONTENTS & EDITORS NOTES
Maybe that is the time to sit back, relax, not panic and take one piece of work to do and do just that. One stable datum in the morass of confusion. Once you have done that to a result, something you are happy with, you may find that the next piece of work just flows, then the next and so on. I have adopted this attitude and it works for me. Dealing with many clients, many adverts, many articles can feel like a mountain to climb, and I am not fit! Taking one article, one advert, picking up the phone to call one client takes away the confusion and actually means I get something done, as opposed to worrying about everything at once, being totally dispersed and getting nothing done! This month in New Business Matters there is an accountant, an app designer, telephone solutions, resolution to PC problems, advice on auto enrollment, a personal trainer, fleet vehicle checks, a place to relax and party, insolvency help, insurance advice, online marketing advice, printing solutions, landlord 'health checks', an offer of a free consultation to lift the face of your business, social media strategies, utility bills information, a VA to outsource to, an expert film producer and all your IT needs resolved! We are here to take the strain away and give you experts that can help you have more time for yourselves and the family, whilst creating a fantastic business! See you on Monday 19th October at The Hotel Royale, Jervis Road, Bournemouth BH1 3EQ for another evening of fun and information to help your business to grow! Best wishes,
NBM
04 FUTURE PROOF YOUR BUSINESS 05 WHAT IS VoIP? 06 WHAT MAKES A GOOD ADVERT? 07 TOP TWEAKS FOR WINDOWS 10 08 WORK PLACE PENSIONS & AUTOENROLLMENT 09 LET'S GET FIT - DESK FIT! 10 WINTER CHECKS FOR FLEETS 11 CHRISTMAS PARTY TIME! 12 BUSINESS PROBLEMS? 13 CYBER INSURANCE MATTERS 14 HOW SHOULD YOU MARKET ONLINE? 15 THINKING BEFORE PRINTING 16 BUDGET FOR LANDLORDS? 17 REFRESH THE FACE OF YOUR BUSINESS 18 DESIGN & PRINT SERVICES 19 WHY PRINT WORKS... 20 HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY 21 DEVIL IN THE DETAIL 22 WHAT CAN I OUTSOURCE?
NEW Business
23 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
Y OSECURE U R IS L YOUR O C ADATA? L B U S I N 24 HOW
Debbie Corney
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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
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APP MATTERS
October/November
How to future proof your business and stay up to date with customer expectations By Darren Dinnage of App Solutions Local
Twelve years ago, many business owners asked if they really needed a website. Now, it’s a key ingredient for success. If you don’t have a website you’ll lose business to your more tech-savvy competitors. People are just too busy to go out of their way to look for information. Whether they want to make a booking or shop online, they now want and expect everything to be available at their fingertips. The future of marketing With 8 out of 10 people in the UK expected to own a smartphone by the end of 2015, clever business owners know that the best way to engage with customers is through their mobile device. Think about it, people carry their phones everywhere with them. Your business could have a direct line of communication to your customers with a mobile app. This enables you to tailor your marketing based on your businesses services and how to best meet your customer's needs. You can make promotions relevant and timely. What about email marketing? Unlike offers and promotions sent by email which have an approximate 4% open rate, PUSH notifications sent through your business app have a 97% read rate. Apps for businesses have come a long way. There are numerous options available for each industry sector, with features specially designed for optimal contact. Let’s take a look at some of these features. 1. Loyalty Schemes Do you have a loyalty card for your customers? So do most service businesses relying on repeat trade. When you add up all the services the average person uses, it amounts to a lot of loyalty cards. People take them and forget about them or throw them away to make room for new ones. This renders most loyalty cards useless. Having the loyalty scheme function on a mobile app for your business ensures that customers get the full value from your offer and continue to use your service. 2. Food Ordering What if your customers could order directly from you with your very own app? Directory Apps like Just Eat will provide a good flow of orders for your business but they do charge high rates to use their service which can eat into your small businesses profits. Incentivising customers to use your app by pairing this feature with a loyalty scheme could save your business thousands of pounds each year.
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3. Booking Form Many bookings are lost because customers are unable to make a phone call or simply can’t get through to your business. Adding a booking form to your business app for your dentist office, hairdressers, beauty salon or other service based business can make it easy for your customers to book on the go. It also saves you time by automating the process. 4. iBeacon Technology Wouldn’t it be great if your customers were notified of your latest offer just as they were passing your store? With iBeacon technology you can send PUSH notification messages to anyone within range. An excellent tool to boost sales and passing trade. 5. Social Media Integration Sync your social media pages to your app for quick access to your content and posts and drive your business to reach a wider audience. For a full list of features and app facts, visit our website www.appsolutionslocal.co.uk. If you are interested in finding out how an app could help to boost sales for your business please call 0800 044 3750 or email sales@appsolutionslocal.co.uk
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
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HOSTING
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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 /#. 15* 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 November 2015 Offer expires30th 31st July 2015
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
COMMUNICATION MATTERS
October/November
What is VoIP? By Mark Scott of Technovox You’ve probably heard of it and you may be using it, but what is it and how does it differ from a normal phone system? With a normal phone line, the sound waves from your handset are digitized at your local exchange. Between the exchanges are dedicated groups of circuits, or trunks and sophisticated switching works out which trunk to use to get your call to the correct recipient. Although based on standards, the implementation of these normal phone systems is largely proprietary. Changes in the services tend to evolve slowly and are expensive. A VoIP system uses a technology called Voice over Internet Protocol. The handset sounds are digitized in the handset and are transmitted using normal internet broadband. The implementation uses relatively inexpensive standard computer technology and internet protocols evolve much faster than legacy telecommunications.
In its early days, VoIP was somewhat experimental and really only enthusiasts would put up with the shortcomings, but over the past ten years or so, the available network bandwidth, router and firewall technology have become well able to cope with VoIP traffic, so the technology can now be considered mainstream. For the business owner the main advantage is flexibility – the number of “lines” you have available scales easily and cheaply, since they all use the same broadband link and your number works wherever you plug your phone in. For help and advice on whether using VoIP in your business could be beneficial please call Mark on 01202 282426 or send an email to info@technovox.co.uk. You can also view the full range of products and services that we provide to help businesses make the most of their telecommunications on our website at www.technovox.co.uk
Simple, inexpensive VoIP systems
Tel: 01202 282426 Web: www.technovox.co.uk
Email: info@technovox.co.uk Vizz Business Centre, Willis Way, Poole, BH15 3TB
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COMMUNITY MAG MATTERS
October/November
What makes a good advert? By Debbie Corney, Director at Dorset Publications Writing a successful advert that attracts attention in a split second is what is needed in our fast pace life today. So what constitutes a successful advert? How do you know what to write that has an immediate impact and creates an instant reaction on the reader? Do you know your product well enough? Do you know why people buy from you as opposed to the opposition? What is your unique selling point? What can you provide to potential clients? Do you in fact really know what your clients are looking for and why? These are all questions it is worth asking before writing a successful advert. If you know the answers to these questions then you need to provide, in just a few words, a benefit you know the client not only wants, but will get from buying your product.
This benefit, written as a headline, can create real interest and a desire to do business with you. You understand the client, so they trust you and are willing to call you. If you show that you can solve a problem for the client, make their life that bit easier, they will come to you in droves. Follow up your message with great service, deliver what you promise, and you will have a company with an excellent reputation that expands beyond anything you can imagine. We at Dorset Publications would like to help you expand beyond your dreams. 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
October/November
Top Tweaks to Optimize Windows 10
By Clifford Johnson from PCs Made Simple Windows 10 has been with us for a few months now. Most of the bugs and kinks have been worked out and we’re seeing less people with problems with it coming in to see us. However, there are a few things that you should do before you start using it to ensure that it is the best it can be. These range from technical tweaks to cosmetic ones, but all are essential for a smooth experience with Microsoft’s newest operating system. Tweak #1 – Windows Update
Obviously, the first thing you should do after upgrading is to download and install any updates. You should also go into Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update -> Advanced Options and change the first drop down from “Automatic (Recommended)” to “Notify to Schedule Restart“. This will stop your computer from automatically restarting in the middle of the night, potentially causing you to lose any work that’s left open or generally just causing a nuisance by waking you up at 3am to the sound of several fans going nuts.
Tweak #2 – Get Your Folders Back on Start
By default the new Start Menu isn’t set to show all of the folders that you will be familiar with. Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Video and Network are all missing for some reason. We don’t know why, but they’re quite easy to get back. Just go to Settings -> Personalization -> Start ->
Folders -> and then choose what folders you would like to appear there. They should then appear immediately.
Tweak #3 – Microsoft Office for Free!
Unless you want to sign up to a monthly subscription, Office 2013 will set you back £110 and Office 2016 will likely be even more. Luckily though, if you’re a rather casual user who won’t need too many features, there are versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel on the Windows 10 Store that you can download for free. They’re quite stripped down but most of the things you’ll need will be there. They kept that quiet didn’t they!
For the next few months PCs Made Simple are offering a Windows 10 Upgrade Service during which we’ll upgrade your system, apply all of these tweaks and give you a 30 minute introduction to Windows 10. If you’d like to know more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can also read 6 more tips pertaining to Drivers, System Restore, Temporary Files, Quick Access, DVD Playback and Contacting Support on our website! We really do suggest that you run through the list. 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
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FINANCE MATTERS
October/November
Workplace pensions and auto-enrollment
Advertising Feature
By Lee Walker, Wealth Manager
Automatic enrolment is ‘one of the biggest reforms to UK pensions in decades,’ according to the National Association of Pension Funds. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that the new rules ‘could almost double private pension income by the time people now starting work reach their retirement.’ No employer – however small – can afford to ignore these changes. This radical set of reforms means that all UK businesses who employ one or more workers must put them into a workplace pension scheme, if they meet certain criteria.The first phase of reforms got underway in October 2012, and employers will be coming into the scheme over the following six years. The automatic enrolment of employees and certain other workers into workplace pension schemes draws on ‘nudge theory’ – the notion that individuals can be nudged into taking beneficial actions that they might otherwise avoid, such as joining and contributing to a pension plan. Millions who might never have got round to applying for a pension are expected to save in schemes organised by their employer. Alongside automatic enrolment, the government is legislating for the introduction of a single-tier state pension of about £148 a week to replace both the basic state pension and the state second pension (S2P) from April 2016. This will reduce the risk that individuals could be better off opting out of auto-enrolment and relying on means-tested benefits. The government is also planning to introduce automatic transfer to a new employer’s pension scheme when those with small pension pots move job. For employers, automatic enrolment brings extra cost and administration. For the first time, employers will be obliged to pay into pensions unless employees opt out. There will be extra administration, involving communicating with staff, dealing with pension providers and satisfying the Pensions Regulator. The process of introducing automatic enrolment into an organisation is not something that can be left to the last minute. Almost all employers are affected. The main exception is a company with only a single employee who is also a director. The range of employers affected, therefore, runs from multi-national companies to a family who employs a nanny. The change also affects all ‘workers’ between ages 16 and 75 who work, or usually work, in the UK. ‘Workers’ includes employees and others who are contracted to work for you, except as part of their own business. Agency workers are included, and employers are likely to be responsible if they pay them directly. Eligible jobholders must be automatically enrolled into a suitable pension scheme unless they are members of an existing ‘qualifying scheme.’ It cannot be assumed that a current scheme will necessarily be suitable for automatic enrolment, because it may not meet the requirements for payment levels or include an appropriate agreement with the pension provider. Non-eligible
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jobholders must be offered a pension on the same basis as eligible jobholders, but they must apply to join rather than being automatically enrolled. Every employer has a ‘staging date’ between 1 October 2012 and 1 February 2018. The ‘staging date’ is determined by the size of the PAYE scheme at 1 April 2012, the PAYE reference number or, for businesses started since 1 April 2012, when they first paid PAYE income. There is no exemption for employers with fewer than five employees, a floor that applied under the now defunct stakeholder pension employer access rules. After the staging date, employees who become eligible jobholders must be automatically enrolled, although they can defer enrolment for up to three months. And every three years an employer must automatically re-enrol those who have chosen to opt out. Because there’s a significant amount of effort involved in assessing the workforce and ensuring that appropriate pension arrangements are in place, the Pensions Regulator recommends that employers start planning for automatic enrolment 12 to 18 months before their staging date. Each employer must have one or more ‘qualifying’ pension schemes. A qualifying scheme must include a formal agreement that the employer will pay at least the minimum contributions, including passing on any from the employees. In addition, employees who are automatically enrolled must not be required to make any decisions, which means there must be a suitable default investment option. There is a maximum charge for members on the default fund under every qualifying pension scheme, equivalent to 0.75% of the value each year. Complying with auto-enrolment obligations is a complex process, and it’s important that businesses develop an action plan; autoenrolment imposes new duties and, probably, additional costs. There are many decisions to be made and potential pitfalls at every stage. There is then the ongoing process of ensuring that all employees are auto-enrolled as they become eligible and repeating the process every three years for any who have opted out. The Pensions Regulator has produced detailed guidance and pension providers can help to some extent, but many companies value the expertise of an adviser who can look at their particular circumstances and recommend solutions. 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. Lee Walker 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.
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
FITNESS MATTERS
October/November
Let's get fit – Desk fit!
By Angela Barton at Body Fitness We all keep hearing about how sitting down all day is detrimental to our health, and we need to get up and move more. The latest craze standing up desks! How much do they cost? Just checked, in excess of £300! Or how about a treadmill and desk £1500... Great ideas but just not cost effective. I think we all know what we should be doing, but I think we forget. We get too busy on the task in hand then promise ourselves we will do something after work. Then we don’t do it, we make excuses. I’m too tired, I haven’t got time or you decide you’ve got something better to do instead! Well I thought I would give you a gentle reminder of what you can do. I know you’ve heard it all before but please bear with me. Use the stairs - NOT the lift 5 or why not 10 squats before you sit down, or hover
over the chair and hold for 10 seconds Everyone can pull in their tummy muscles, can’t they? Imagine you are trying to do up your belt that’s just a bit too tight… you breathe in to do it up. There you go and hold. You should still be able hold and breathe. If you can’t breathe at the same time you are holding in, you’re holding in too much, let it out a bit! Seated leg extensions - Sit upright on your chair with good posture, one foot flat on the floor, lift the other knee, straighten leg tighten your quads and hold. Use your chair (tricky if it’s on wheels!) or your desk to do tricep dips. Your desk to do press ups. Use the stairs to do some step ups. Feeling a bit self concious? Do it with a colleague and challenge each other it only take 15 minutes in your lunch hour. To get started and get fit call me 07813 805541!
• 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
October/November
The importance of winter checks for fleet vehicles By Ian Pounds of Longham Motor Engineers
Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Santa’s on his way, get your vehicle serviced now, or else you’re gonna pay! Festive ditties aside, it makes sense that your vehicle should be well maintained and road worthy all year round, but this is doubly important through autumn and the lead into winter. Wet, greasy roads and worn tyres don’t mix, and tired batteries have a habit of always letting you down when you least need them to on those cold, damp mornings. And with Christmas just around the corner, we all need to save our pennies for the festive season and a winter check-up for your car simply makes sense. A winter safety check is also the easiest way to quickly identify any potential problems that can then be rectified before they become expensive and ruin your festive period before it’s even begun.
Whether you are a private car owner, or a manager of a small fleet of business cars or light commercial vehicles, now is the time to get on the phone and book an appointment and put your car or van into the hands of Longham Motor Engineer’s team of experienced mechanics. You can then avoid the stress and extra costs which can occur with vehicles being off the road due to breakdowns or accidents. For results that matter and a fast and friendly service that will cost much less than you think, do your vehicle a huge favour this autumn by saving money, time and effort and head down to Longham Motor Engineers for some preChristmas peace of mind. Contact Ian at Longham Motor Engineers on 01202 894488 and let him take the hassle and worry out of winter driving.
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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To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
HOSPITALITY MATTERS
October/November
Christmas Party Time! By John Marsh, Webmaster at Oceana Hotels If you haven’t booked your Christmas Party yet, it’s definitely that time of year to start making plans. OCEANA Hotels have four great properties in Bournemouth, The Cumberland, Suncliff, Cliffeside and BEST WESTERN Hotel Royale. Each hotel provides vibrant parties from the end of November to celebrate the festive season in style. “Christmas and New Year at OCEANA hotels is a magical time. We specialise in Christmas parties in Bournemouth and have so much to offer during the festive season. With years of experience delivering top service, great food and that all-important magical atmosphere, OCEANA hotels should be your first choice for celebrating Christmas.” OFFICE FESTIVE PARTIES at the Cumberland – We can cater from 4 to 400 people in our incredible Winter Wonderland. Menus start from only £19.95 for lunch and £25 for evenings. Prices include free Disco in the evenings, crackers and freshly cooked festive fayre.
VENTANA GRAND CAFÉ daily delights –From 27th November our 2-rosette brasserie is packed full of treats to get you in the Christmas spirit. Costa Coffee with FREE mince pie, festive lunches (from £13.95) and dinners (from £15.95) and our delicious merry mulled spiced wine which is served from noon until 6pm. For a classy celebration come and enjoy our traditional festive afternoon teas with free cracker and mince pies, yum! THE OVERCLIFF PUB – Perfect for smaller teams looking for a social get together in a relaxed environment. From the 29th November we’ll be offering mulled wine, Festive Roast Turkey (1 course £10.90, 3 course £16.95) and a festive happy hour with selected drinks for £2.50 between 3pm and 6pm. For more information, or to book a party, 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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INSOLVENCY MATTERS
October/November
Business Problems? By Mark Liddle from the Mark Liddle Partnership Thirty five years ago, I stood on Lambeth Bridge and threw my briefcase in the Thames saying 'never again will I work conventionally.' At the time I was MD of three companies, part of a large group, but I couldn't stand the politics. That was on a Thursday, the following day I went into my three offices and said goodbye to all my staff and put my car keys in the post box of the group head office and caught the train home. The following day I went to Italy for two weeks and on the first day back, I saw a Midland Bank manager, told him what I'd done and he said, "despite the fact you're young, you've had a lot of experience in running companies, I think you can help some of my customers." That's how I got into helping businesses make money and sorting out problems. So for thirty five years, I've been helping companies and it took me years to work out the one reason why a business makes money is the same reason
why a business loses money: FOCUS. Focus just on your skill, you'll never make money. Focus on profit and you'll make money. What you focus on is what you get. I just wish that companies who give credit to other Limited companies would do a search before giving credit. We have offered this service free of charge to numerous businesses but very few take up the offer. Want to know why? Because they are focussing on their skill, not on profit. I also wish directors/business owners take a debenture when they lend their companies money. Again, the majority don't. Lastly, if your business is a 50/50 share holding, make sure there is a "Shareholder Agreement" in place, as I have never seen a 50/50 shareholding work! Contact me on 01202 551193 or email me at office@markliddle.com for help and advice regards focussing on the right things for your business.
Business Problems? Talk to people who care...
discreet | confidential | professional | friendly We work for you
• not your creditors • not your landlord
• not your bank • not the tax man
Call us for a free confidential chat
01202 551193
My creditors were chasing me and I felt like I was losing control of my own business. The people at Mark Liddle Partnership helped me get control back.
30 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3PD
www.markliddle.com Page 12
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
INSURANCE MATTERS
October/November
Cyber Insurance matters today more than ever By John Palmer of Coversure Insurance
Businesses of every size rely on information technology (IT) and data to some degree or another and are all therefore exposed to the risks of business interruption, income loss, damage management and repair, and possibly reputational damage if IT equipment or systems fail or are interrupted. A UK Government survey estimated that in 2014 60% of small businesses suffered a cyber breach. The average cost of such a breach is £65k-115k for SMEs. While existing insurance policies such as commercial property, business interruption or professional indemnity insurance, may provide some elements of cover against cyber risks, businesses are increasingly buying specialised cyber insurance policies to supplement their existing insurance arrangements. This is particularly true if they hold sensitive customer details such as names and addresses or banking information; rely heavily on IT systems and websites to conduct their business; process payment card information. The risks associated with data loss are increasing. A serious breach of the Data Protection Act could result in a £500k fine. The issue of cloud computing further obscures the nature of data responsibility managed externally. Many firms outsource some element of their data management process but mistakenly think this absolves them of their own data responsibility. This trend in outsourcing certain security functions and the use of ‘Cloud computing and storage’ continues to rise. It is worth remembering that it is unlikely to be thought appropriate for infrastructure cloud providers, many of which are based outside Europe, to become subject arbitrarily to obligations under the EU Data Protection Directive due to choices made by their users. EU data protection responsibilities and liabilities are imposed primarily on the 'controller', who may employ 'processors' to process data for it. The fact remains few businesses have procedures and processes in place for when a ‘cyber event’ occurs. Many do not cover this. Insurers have responded with specific cyber insurance. With immediate access to expertise in the event of an incident, a crisis management team can limit financial and reputational damage to the business from the moment a breach is discovered, instead
of finding out much later via a third party claim. Cyber breaches are new territory for businesses but for larger companies, the cost of informing customers and, for example, replacing customer credit cards, can quickly escalate. PWC reported in their 2015 research that the average cost of the worst single breach suffered by small business ranges from £75k to £311k. The impact of a cyber event on a small business is clear but where opinions diverge is in the probability of this risk but PWC reported 38% of the small businesses interviewed admitted to an attack by an unauthorised outsider last year. Insurance is the logical way in which to manage cyber risk. Brokers and insurers can help firms reduce their losses by providing insight from claims and near misses across their client base however, as with any nascent market, at the moment that information is patchy though growing. Experience in other jurisdictions means that in a global market, very soon actuarial models will be highly accurate. But this is a work in progress that means there is a window for businesses that means cover is affordable. Cyber insurance is a new market, one that will reward early adopters that develop good histories as time goes by while industry claims data becomes more readily available. The question for firms will not be ‘if’ they should get cover but ‘when'. 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 01202 929141 or email poole@coversure.co.uk.
!
Tel: 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
October/November
How should a business market itself online?
By Gino Cirelli from Website Internet Marketing The online marketing strategy is partly dependent on what type of business we are dealing with. For example a shopfront business such as a wine shop or restaurant may adopt a different approach than a local service based business such as an electrician or estate agent. Then there are businesses that just sell online or those that use a combination of online and offline such as bed and breakfasts and hotels. It is good to start with one goal first so as to avoid getting overwhelmed. A good goal to set may be to get more clients in through the door of the shop or restaurant; or to get more clients to a website. Another goal may be to get email addresses with a view to starting an email marketing campaign or mobile numbers to start a text messaging campaign. If there is no website then this would be a good place to start, even it is just a two page “about us” and “contact us” site.
For all except the online only business it would be a good idea to start with claiming a Google My Business listing next. For shopfront businesses it would then be a good idea to promote the business on relevant review sites so a restaurant may want to start on a review site like “tripadvisor”. Then it would be good to think of an incentive to get clients to come back after a first visit such as a discount coupon or loyalty card. For the service based business it would be useful to use social media to target customers and also use internet advertising to target customers in their geographic area. The online only business would benefit from sending out a newsletter and the combined online / offline business should collect email addresses to start a newsletter. For more information call Gino on 01425 200 678 or email gino@webiml.co.uk and quote NBM.
01425 200 678 Page 14
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IT MATTERS
October/November
Thinking before printing By Katie Clark from Copyrite Business Solutions For today’s copy, scan and fax management, the modern approach is to think “inside the box”. As our multi-functional devices continue to evolve, you must also choose to incorporate software that is managing to keep up. Copyrite is an independent company formed in 1993 that continues to be driven by the original senior management team, including its founders. This means, as with most companies, change has had to be welcomed in order for us to continue to grow and expand. No longer are we just a provider of office equipment, we are now a complete solution provider. One of the key areas being discussed by nearly every local business we speak to is the costs associated with their print. Many companies are starting to assess ways in which the business can control costs and cut waste. We at Copyrite are heavily behind a company called PaperCut™. By implementing PaperCut™ you can: Cut Waste and Your Carbon Footprint You can encourage responsible printing with PaperCut™ MF quotas and print policies, cutting paper and toner costs and power usage. Apply Print Policies Enterprise-Wide Printing requests are intercepted at the print server to control jobs according to policies that encourage or enforce good behaviour. For example, you might route large jobs to dedicated high speed printers, display pop-ups to ask end users to confirm single sided output, automatically delete print jobs with incorrect paper sizes or suggest an alternative printer when a device is offline. Secure Print Release You are able to protect confidential documents and slash the volume of unclaimed printouts by ensuring users release print jobs at the point of printing. With Find-Me printing, users queue print jobs to a virtual queue, they can then release them on a specific printer. Secure print release
will require a form of authentication before printing, this will ensure that only authorised users can print and collect confidential documents. Monitor and Report on Usage Real-time monitoring and reports address all areas of print/copy/fax/scan management, ranging from detailed page logs to summaries by user, department, device, or environmental impact. PaperCut™ offers more than 50 reports out of the box, in PDF, HTML, or Microsoft Excel (.csv) format. Simple Deployment An installation wizard installs server software and then proceeds to automatically detect printers and multi-functional devices on your network. Create users and groups automatically from directory services including Active Directory, Open Directory, Novell eDirectory or LDAP. As you can see, PaperCut™ MF is the easy way to automatically monitor and manage all the copying and printing in a company. It is an effective method of giving you control over your costs and environmental impact. We are currently offering local businesses a free print audit, this will involve a member of our staff visiting your business and providing you with a complete report detailing your current print costs and potential savings. To find out more, visit: www.copyrite.co.uk Or email Katie Clark at: katie.clark@copyrite.co.uk If you want to rate this article and/or place your vote for the next topic to be covered, then please go to www.copyrite.co.uk/itmatters
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LETTINGS MATTERS
October/November
Forget location – it is all legislation!
By Sharon Canning from Move on Rentals You would be forgiven if you have let the latest legislations pass you by. We have had probably the busiest year I have known in my 24 years of working in the industry of so many changes and updates to the property industry legal updates and changes. And then, when you think you have it all covered, they amend it again. There has never been a more prevalent time where you as a landlord or letting agent or solicitor has to be a legal eagle. The purpose of the Deregulation Act 2015, as the name suggests, is to try to clarify and simplify a number of areas of the law. From a property perspective, it is questionable whether this has been achieved and has most definitely added regulatory burden to private landlords. It is becoming increasingly more difficult for a landlord to do this on their own. Although good news for me as a letting agent, it does mean landlords will need to be doing their due diligence on making sure the agent they use is up to date with the new legislations and ensuring you as a landlord is completely legally covered. Because the alternative of not adhering to the new changes will ultimately come back on the landlord in ways of hefty fines and in some cases a criminal record.
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1ST OCTOBER 2015 – remember this date! The following new rules took effect from the above date. 1. All properties must have a smoke alarm on each floor and a carbon monoxide reader by the boiler and gas fires. 2. New Section 8 wording, where a tenant is in breach of their tenancy. 3. New Section 21 rules, in the way you can now issue and a new format. 4. Retaliatory evictions will not be allowed within six months of any maintenance issues. 5. Proof must be proven on at least 6 pieces of paperwork to be given at the commencement of a tenancy. If you would like a free health check on your documents you are providing your tenants, we are happy to provide a free 30 minute consultation, just ring 01202 711169 and book an appointment with myself or Gina. Now is certainly not the time to be burying your heads in the sand, let us give you peace of mind.
To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
MARKETING MATTERS
October/November
Refresh the Face of Your Business
By Jamie Street from J Street Creative Give your business a fresh look with creative graphic design and marketing services from JStreet Creative. Your logo, brochure, business card, flyer, banner, literature and letter heads represent the face of your business. Let me deliver a face lift that will help elevate your company above the competition. Through creating a positive first impression, businesses can impose themselves in buying decisions and enhance the opportunity to gain new long term customers. A fresh approach not only creates a positive impression on new customers, but can also represent a powerful reminder to existing customers about the services you provide and place you as a modern leader in the field. In an age where finer details make the difference, large and small business’ can benefit significantly from taking a fresh look at how their brand communicates with
their customers in order to spearhead their sales goals. As a self-employed marketing consultant I am eager to help your business grow, and offer complimentary consultations to assess areas of your company profile that need improvement. Whether you simply require a new logo or flyer or a complete range of new marketing literature, I have the skills to help you meet those goals without unnecessary expense. Projects of any size and duration are welcome and are approached with your company ethos and best interests in mind. To learn more about the graphics design and marketing services I offer or to book a free consulation to discuss how I can help your business gain new customers visit my website at www.jstreetcreative.co.uk or send me an email at jamie@jstreetcreative.co.uk.
Refresh The Face of Your Business
FREE CONSULTATION
Marketing strategy guidance, graphic design services, eye catching adverts, vibrant visuals, gripping press releases or powerful product descriptions. I can help your company meet its goals. • • • • • • •
Flyers and brochures Logo designs & revisions Business cards and stationary Vehicle signage Copywriting and press releases Company presentations and CPDs Packaging design & production
J ST REET
www.jstreetcreative.co.uk jamie@jstreetcreative.co.uk 07738832743 To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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WE PROVIDE: • Instant drying print on our Lightcure Press • Complete project from design to delivery produced in house • Fast turnaround times, we work to your deadline • Experienced team, delivering print for the last 30 years to find out more, call, visit or click 01963 250920
alan@remous.com info@remous.com
www.remous.com
Remous Print, Wyvern Buildings, North Street, Milborne Port, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5EP
Bunter, Alan Bunter, Keith Sparks. Registered in England: 1479229. Registered Address: Nylands, Charlton Horethorne, S
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To advertise in this local journal telephone 01202 233580
PRINTING MATTERS
October/November
Why Print Works When Email Doesn't...? By Alan Bunter, MD of Remous Limited
The anticipation and excitement that we could communicate without having to interrupt some one with a phone call, or print off a memo then stand by a fax machine whilst it was sending was a revelation. The paperless office and all the benefits that come with it.
An envelope, with a prospect’s name on it, perhaps square proportions (Different to the norm) with a bespoke sticker to seal it closed but most important a large lump or bump in the middle suggesting there is something inside that is worth looking at will always capture the interest – it is human nature. We can’t resist opening up to see what is inside – a bit like birthdays, Christmas and the like – we all want a pleasant surprise – the smart solution is to make sure they aren’t disappointed.
Seems a very long time ago now and very difficult to imagine running a business with out it. But sadly it has gone though the same cycle as nearly every other form of communication, – print included, where marketers, salespeople and selling in general grasp hold of a new tool and grind away at it until it’s use is completely saturated with scattergun approach to prospecting.
There is a place for email and perhaps in a few years we will see that become more prominent again, as it is convenient but a combination with tangible marketing, designed from the beginning to supplement one another will always deliver better results. Whether it is prospecting or simply corporate/SME client communication – we can help you create that campaign..
How excited to you get when you receive an email? How many times do you simply delete if you don’t recognise the sender? Probably more often than we realise, in the same way marketing material used to fall through the door every day and then straight into the bin (Apart from the occasional letter that catches your interest)
If you would like to know more or indeed like some print support for your business, give us a call on 01963 250920.
Remember email when it started? I do, waiting for the exciting little tone to say a new email had arrived – Yippee! ‘We are really at the cutting edge now…‘
So email has been devalued so much we simply dont take any notice, they have little value, the cost is negligible so this leads us to value it as such. Print has seen a resurgence, not junk mail, though it will always have a place. But targeted, personalised and clever ideas will often grab attention. Something print can offer which electronic services and specifically email is a tangible product that can include ideas, shapes, popups, finishes, weight and visceral qualities that only some with handling the communication. To receive a FREE copy go to www.newbusinessmatters.com
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SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS
October/November
Is A Lack Of A Social Media Strategy Costing You Time And Money? By Mike Sharp from Mike's Online Academy
I believe one reason that social media marketing isn’t always taken seriously by business is because social media isn’t seen as part of an overall strategy. I know strategy isn’t a sexy word but whatever we do should be part of a strategy and social media is no different. Let’s start with the definition of “Strategy”. According to the Concise English Dictionary the definition of Strategy is “A plan designed to achieve a particular long term aim.” So per the definition we need a long term aim or goal. So before embarking on a social media campaign you need to work out what the long term goal is. If you are posting without a long term strategy or goal you are wasting time and will not reap the economic rewards that a good strategy will give you. Your strategy could be driving traffic to a sales page on a website selling a product, It could be driving traffic to a opt-in form to collect names for your own database or mailing list. It could be driving traffic to a website that has advertising on it so you can make money from the commission. Or it could be getting people to come into your shop or visit your seminar. The Goal would have to be something that you can exchange with someone else for money eg an email address for a mailing list or a visit to your website. Having worked out your long term aim or goal then it should be easier to work out a strategy for yourself or your client. When using social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter what you write in your personal bio and what you put in your posts should contribute towards the long term goal. Page 20
Posting without a strategy will not get any great result on social media. Even if your post does not directly mention your product or newsletter it still has a purpose. The purpose of your post could just be to make people think well of you as a brand. This doesn’t mean promoting your website in every post or photo but it does mean that you should started building relationships with people first so they look forward to getting your posts. Your posts should be interesting such as a personal story, interesting news or an eye catching image. Your posts need to attract eyeballs, let’s face it you wouldn’t read a magazine if it was all wall to wall adverts unless it was Exchange And Mart! If you want to just put out ads then social media isn’t the place to do it. This is SOCIAL media after all! In life relationships and friendships are built steadily not all in one go. With social media it is the same. Do remember to have a Strategy with Social Media or you will just be “fiddling around on Facebook!” Next time you post something on Social Media ask yourself does it contribute to my overall goal or strategy?
T: 07445 033826 E: mike@mikesonlineacademy.com W: www.MikesOnlineAcademy.com
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UTILITY MATTERS
October/November
Is the devil in the details? By Frank Marsh of Positive Business Services When you shop or have your car serviced, book a holiday or have that meal out you always check the bill before you pay... So why don’t we check our Utility bill in the same away when it arrives? Now you can with Positive Business Energy... • Would you like to reduce your monthly utilities bills? • Are there areas of your business where you think money could be saved? • Would you like to feel confident that you have the BEST deals from your utility suppliers to suit your business requirements? • Are you interested to see what energy is running during working hours and what is still running and costing money out of hours? • Do you feel that your bills are higher than they should be? • Do you have multiple sites across the world and need to track energy usage globally? If you can answer yes to any of the above questions then we want to talk to you! For most, there are areas of their business where considerable energy savings can be made. Here are just a few scenarios where as the manager or owner, you may not be aware of how your energy is continually ticking and more importantly, costing you money: • PC’s / monitors / screens / printers left on standby over night (offices / call centres / large organisations, schools, hospitals etc.) • Electrical equipment not performing at its optimum level (think refrigeration / vending / engineering /
medical) • Lighting arrangements not set appropriately - do you really need to have the whole floor lit up if there is only one area in use? • Air Conditioning - if not set properly, this could be a big drain. How often do you see the air conditioning on full, yet people shivering below? • Televisions left on with no one viewing (gyms / reception areas / hotels & bars / hospitals) The list goes on! Here at Positive Business Energy, we specialise in working with businesses of all shapes and sizes, helping them to save money on their utility bills. How Do We Do This? Saving money on energy falls into two key areas: Firstly: By showing you how and where your energy is used, organisations can then make housekeeping, operational and work practice changes to cut their bills considerably. Secondly: Have you got the best deal to suit your business needs from your supplier? In most cases, there are savings to be made in all areas of your business or in your energy suppliers contract; It’s being able to identify where to make them. By working with the team here at Positive Business Energy, we will help you those areas and work with you to put the measures in places to improve and reduce your energy costs and to validate your business utility bills.
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VA MATTERS
October/November
What can I actually outsource to a VA?
By Barbara Marsh of Barbara's Office Services We all have lots of routine and repetitive tasks that eat into our time. Whether its organising meetings or updating databases, these tasks can easily passed to a Virtual Assistant. And, more often than not, they can complete these tasks a lot faster than you can! Typical tasks you consider mundane and repetitive that can be passed to a VA include: • Accounts, income and expenditure, invoice creation and management • Diary management, booking in client calls, dealing with general inquiries and scheduling group meetings • File organisation and set up – including file sharing facilities etc. • Qualifying potential clients • Mail outs – physical and online • Database management
• CRM management and client relationships (i.e. birthday cards, thank you cards etc.) • Report printouts and summaries • Marketing analysis When you sit down and start writing out all of the tasks you take on during any one month, you’ll be amazed at how much you’re doing yourself! Once you have that task list written out, you’ll soon see how much you can actually pass over to someone else – and how much time you’ll recoup as a result. 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
October/November
Lights! Camera! Action! The eye in the sky By Colin Froud of Divercol Productions
One exciting aspect of advancements in new technology is that we now have the ability to film from the air. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) commonly known as drones can carry cameras for the purpose of taking photos and for filming. With amateur drones cheap to buy from your local electrical store you’d think you can do it yourself, right? Wrong. Let me dispel some myths regarding the use of a camera equipped UAV: Commercial Gain - Using footage for commercial gain, regardless of if any money changes hands requires you to be licensed by the CAA. So even if you merely want some footage for your own website, you must be registered. License - You need to be licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in order to fly for commercial purposes and hold a current ‘Permission for Aerial Work’ (PFAW). How do I get my license and PFAW? - You have to go on a training course, pass a theory exam, create
an operations manual yourself outlining how you will operate your UAV safety, pass a practical exam and then apply to the CAA for a PFAW license. Plus you need to buy the aircraft and camera. All of this amounts to a considerable investment in time and money. What about flight crew? - The pilot should not be flying alone, but utilize a spotter to assist in the location of the aircraft and the security/safety of the area of operation. Some UAV’s require a third person to operate the camera. Hire Experts - If you require aerial photography and video, the best option, as in all walks of business, is to remove the stress and worry by hiring experts who specialize in just that. We will shortly have a state-of-the-art UAV capable of taking broadcast quality video and high resolution photographs. If you are interested in our new service or any other aspect of filming, then please feel free to call us for a friendly, no obligation chat on 01929 462585 or email info@divercol.co.uk.
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