Are you looking for a business advisor in Hampshire? Maybe you are new to business or your business has grown / developed at such a rate that you find yourself asking: “What now?”

For me, I guess the finish line for any business owner is when he or she no longer feels a slave to the company; the company in a nutshell can run itself!

Business Networking Link would love to hear from any business advisors, mentors, self-development coaches or companies offering SME business solutions in Hampshire. Being myself a business owner, entrepreneur and all round workhorse it would be nice to hear your thoughts / advice on growing and developing both new and established businesses in the area.

Ok, I would say business is all about the people you employ, the relationships you build, choices you make, sales, repeat business, marketing, branding, hard work, building assets and managing your time effectively… However, putting the basics aside… has any one thing helped you to grow and develop your own business?

If you are new to Business Networking Link then welcome, the idea behind this site is to post lots of business and motivational info for start-up companies and people looking to expand or develop a business idea. Through our business networking blog, reader comments, our mobile app (this coming soon) and the FREE Membership option above, we aim to connect SME (Small and Medium Enterprises), entrepreneurs and business owners across Hampshire and the UK! Remember, it is not about the number of connections, it’s more about the quality of connections!

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To end a busy week I thought I would type up a short blog post on new business marketing strategies that I believe really work! Running a web design business I often deal face to face with business owners, it is after all them signing cheques for new websites or the SEO campaigns we offer at Tidy Design. Anyway, I have found that not everyone embraces social networking, video marketing or SEO as viable business marketing strategies. Many established business owners are still hooked on old school marketing strategies such as Yellow Pages or cold calling… However can we really say which is right and which is wrong? Ok, Tidy Design invested several hundred pounds into Yell Group one year… To me this was a waste of money however if you don’t try these things then you will never know! As business owners I believe everyday should see some form of investment into your company, be it a blog post, investing in an advert or social networking, continual efforts and hard work will pay off in the long run! If you don’t invest your time and money into your own business and marketing strategies then don’t be shocked if your website generates no business or your brand / company is not talked about on the high street! Like with all things in life you get out what you put in, and business is one tough cookie to crack!

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The main purpose of our website ‘Business Networking link’ is to blog lots about business, branding, web marketing and networking… As well as this we also hope to assess the demand for real face to face networking events in Hampshire that we aim to organise, in comparison to the online networking via our blog and website. If you are interested in either of the above then please register above today!

At ‘Business Networking link’ we hope the articles posted will provide some form of mental stimulation or entrepreneurial motivation to our readers. Our goal is primarily to assist start-up companies and business minded people living in and around Hampshire to find their way both on and off the web. It is after all about who you know, as much as it is about what you know! In today’s economic climate ‘Business Networking link’ believes 2011 is the year to be making these business to business relationships, friendships, new connections etc… 2011 is not the year to stand still!

Although we have the B2B (Business 2 Business) links page on our website (this aimed at companies looking to purchase a featured listing), we would like all Hampshire based businesses to use this page as a FREE business directory or business listing… We believe ‘Business Networking Link’ is different from other Hampshire business directories, at the end of the day we want YOU to succeed in business and find other Hampshire based businesses / networks that will benefit your company!

So to conclude, if you run a business or are looking to market your Hampshire based company on the web, then this page can offer you a FREE backlink to your website! Simply post some information about you, your services, products etc and following a quick check by our team (to ensure you exist and are based in Hampshire) we will approve your post for future readers to see… Who knows, maybe they will be interested in the products or services you offer!

We update ‘Business Networking link’ regularly with news, reviews and business related articles so please come back soon. Whether you are new to the world of business, a Hampshire based hotel or bed and breakfast, a shop or restaurant; we would love to see you added to our Hampshire business directory.

Have an awesome 2011 and I hope to see you all soon

Michael Jon Ward

This week I wrote a very long article (over 2100 words) for my ‘Business and Investment Blog’ titled ‘Ten Tips for Business Blogging & Writing Blog Posts’

These ten tips for business blogging I have listed below:

Noting each of the above points is important when it comes to ensuring the growth and development of your business blog. Like all things business related, it is worth creating a schedule, setting aside X amount of hours per week to researching and writing content for your business blog.

If at first you don’t succeed then try, try again! Why not experiment with different blogging schedules to see what works best for you and your business. Being in business myself I know first hand that certain days will be busier than others, things also rarely go exactly to plan! So if Monday is a busy day for you then don’t try to blog, maybe a Friday afternoon is quieter, a better time to reflect on the week past etc… Another idea could be to do your business blogging in bite sizes, allocate just X20 minutes a day or night to one decent article per week.

Ok, maybe this sounds obvious but it is worth remembering that your blog needs to deliver what your customers want, you should be posting information that your customers will want to read. Also, why not try linking your business blog with your next company newsletter; ask existing customers and that database of pending people to click a link and comment on the various topics / posts you have published.

If you would like to find out more about business blogging then please check out my full post, it breaks down each of these ten tips into more detail. And finally, if you are new to business or the world of blogging then I would like to wish you the best of luck. Remember, both business and blogging require great discipline, the investment of time and determination… Neither is easy however both offer great rewards!

Michael Jon Ward

Business mentoring is all about creating a mutually and rewarding relationship between two people with that all important similar interest, ‘business’! A business mentor should be more than just your advisor, but a loyal and trusting friend for life!

In my line of work I get to meet different types of businesses across Hampshire, Surrey and the UK. Some of these business owners have become very good friends of mine over the years. I often meet up with several of them for a beer or coffee once a month, to chat about our families, targets, work, investments and businesses! It is what I would like to call a perk of the job!

This kind of mentoring works well for me, I mean we are all in business so I guess we are all going through the same things day in day out… things like staffing, the recession, online marketing etc tend to be the topic of conversation! I would say the bond between my clients / friends has really helped me to develop our business. This free mentoring often concludes with new ideas being taken away by both parties (and sometimes a hangover). That said; it was not until I went into business that these business relationships formed… Your life really does change so much when you go into business so expect to loose and make new friends along the way!

Having parents and in-laws who are also in business is another advantage for me, answers to questions or feedback on new business ideas is often easy to come by, and for that I am extremely grateful!

So how can you build a solid mentoring relationship? Who should you turn to for feedback or advice on those new entrepreneurial ideas? Friends and family (depending on experience and knowledge of business) is a great place to start… Let’s face it, people like to talk and people also like others to listen!

Taking an interest in the person as a human being is also important, success is not just about money or what car you drive, ask your business mentor what’s going on in his or her life, say something funny that happened to you, make yourself real! Try not to bleed as much business information as you can as quick as you can, don’t call or email saying “can I pick your brain about something?” … Set a date in your diary to meet up and discuss those all important life changing decisions face to face!

In life I am a strong believer that you get out what you put in, if you have a business or service you can offer your business mentor then do it! A business mentor should not be seen as just your council, they are not here to hold your hand or to make the decisions for you! Every now and again you should thank them for the differences they make, offer rewards when rewards are due, and make sure your mentoring relationship is mutually rewarding! In business backs need to get scratched from time to time, be honest about what you do and what you can offer, never forget relationships (both business and personal) are built on trust!

So to conclude, the role of the business mentor or life coach is to assist business owners through honest advice, guidance, support and encouragement. A business mentor should be able to generate sales, locate and address any marketing or branding issues, understand business management, team building and help pinpoint those entrepreneurial strategies for growth.

If you are looking for a business mentor in Hampshire then please post your comments below or register for ‘Free Membership’ above. This site has been designed and setup to connect people, so business mentors in Hampshire and business owners in Hampshire today is the day you need to register or start joining in the debate!

Michael Jon Ward

What a great gift for startup companies in 2011! The government has recently announced its plans to expand its proposed New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), in an attempt to create 40,000 new businesses by 2013!

It has been announced that unemployed people wanting to set up their own businesses will receive up to £2000 financial support! The idea is a good one, I mean if I had 2K when starting up my own business then life would have been slightly easier! Starting a new business does cost money, little things you initially may not consider will add up! That said, people who invest in stupid things like company mugs, large offices or branded t-shirts on day one do need some guidance… This is why I feel the government allocating each new business a business mentor to help guide them through the initial stages is essential! I mean, the last thing our government should be doing is handing out 2K of tax payer’s money to people who invest it in liabilities and not company assets!

Due to spending cuts and our economic climate 2011 is going to see more and more people out of work and looking to set up new small businesses, so I feel the NEA is something that will help people get off the ground and find their feet! Lets face it, it will be the success of these new businesses that eventually generate new employment and new job opportunities across the UK!

I also feel our government needs to look at helping companies to grow, I mean those of us who have been established for 3 years or more and need guidance or financial support to expand or develop new ideas!

I look forward to 2013 and seeing exactly how many businesses backed by our government are still alive and kicking! Will the NEA be money well spent or have one too many people been watching ‘Dragons Den’ or ‘The Apprentice’ and walked away thinking “I could do that, it looks easy!”

What ever your thoughts on this, I feel it is a step in the right direction! Please feel free to post your thoughts and comments on the NEA below. If you are a startup company then you may wish to visit (and bookmark) my personal ‘Business & Investment Blog’ http://www.mjward.co.uk/blog

Wishing all startups the best of luck!

Michael Jon Ward

So here we are… December 1st 2010, can you believe it! In just a couple of weeks many businesses will prepare to wind down for Christmas, offices will shut up shop, budgets and forecasts will be made for 2011, and as we wash away the stresses of 2010 in the enjoyment of family, friends, wine, turkey dinners and lots of mince pies… In the back of any self employed persons mind will be the spending cuts, 2011 marketing strategies, and the survival of yet another year in business.

So what makes a super business? Well, I am no expert however I would say acting before the inevitable (noticing change) is one important talent to master… Take Rupert Murdoch for example, a recent announcement was made that his News Empire is launching an iPad specific daily newspaper called ‘The Daily’… You then hear Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Group) has also announced a new bespoke magazine exclusively designed for iPad users!

Let’s face it; the future will likely see popular magazines / newspapers offering digital issues, companies developing interactive electronic brochures and mobile apps! We live in a world where we want things now! Take any service or product… Thanks to technology, information is accessible within a couple of clicks of your mouse!

We all know technology is advancing at such a crazy rate! The question is for many businesses (especially in my line of work), will mobile devices eventually overtake laptops as the more popular way to access content on the move? If this is the case, then will mobile apps overtake the traditional web browser?

Thanks to the development of Smartphone’s, iPhone, BlackBerry and other mobile devices it means people like me can never switch off completely (if my phone is not vibrating with work emails, I am often reading up about new technologies)!

I believe a hunger for information is important for any business; it is after all this new information that you can use to future proof your own business! Well these are my thoughts anyway… I hope you enjoyed the read and took away something positive or interesting from this blog post, please feel free to post your comments on what makes a super business below.

Michael Jon Ward

Earlier this week Back Care Beds and Tidy Design went out for dinner at the Dragon Marina Chinese Restaurant in Port-Solent. It was a very pleasant evening; the food was lovely, service ok, conversation great and reflecting back on past Bulgarian adventures was very entertaining… Especially after a couple of bottles of wine!

The owner of Back Care Beds has been working really hard this year to cut costs for his customers and increase the manufacturing of Waterbeds and Adjustable Beds across Europe. As if having a factory in Chichester was not enough, Back Care Beds has now expanded its production of adjustable beds and adjustable bed components to Bulgaria!

Having visited Bulgaria myself a few times with Back Care Beds (AKA Bulgaria Property Agent) we have witnessed first hand the great people, properties, investment opportunities and potential this awesome country can offer (We even ended up buying a house and some land!).

To be honest, every time I meet up with Back Care Beds I take away something new in terms of business advice, investment ideas or feedback… So what did I learn this week? Well, it goes to show that hard work truly does go hand in hand with success; I mean I don’t know many people who put in the same hours as the owner of Back Care Beds when it comes to expanding / improving a business… I also don’t know many people who are as happy or excited about life!

In my line of work I am privileged to meet a lot of business owners when it comes to designing or marketing a website through Tidy Design. I really believe that new businesses, start-ups and even established companies should invest as much time as possible into listening to others… Information is free (well most the time!) and you can learn so much from people who are already in business. If you don’t know anyone in business then don’t panic, a business book by Alan Sugar, Duncan Bannatyne, Peter Jones, Richard Branson etc will not cost the earth and the advice / motivation they can provide is priceless!

What ever happens next with the recession, spending cuts, job losses etc I am certain that hard work, determination and honesty will prevail! I know this because of people like Back Care Beds, and the many other hard working businesses that Tidy Design works with.

If you have enjoyed this Business Networking Link article then please feel free to post your comments / feedback below. Maybe you recently received some entrepreneurial tips, strategies for growth or business inspiration? Let’s face it, in today’s information age we all need to learn as much as we can!

Michael Jon Ward

This week the news has focused on, you guessed it… Cuts, spending and an important question, “Can entrepreneurs save the British economy?” Prime Minister Mr David Cameron recently praised small businessmen, women and entrepreneurs; he said it will be these grafters and hardworking individuals who will rebuild Britain’s economy!

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin has backed cuts in the public spending as the best way to protect our economy. I read an article on the telegraph.co.uk website that quoted him saying:

“We are going to have to cut our spending and I agree with the 20 leading economists who said we need to start this year. The next government, whatever party that is, must set out a plan to reduce the bulk of the deficit over a Parliament by cutting wasteful spending and must not put off those tough decisions to next year.”

I totally agree with this, brushing problems under the carpet is not the way forward. This goes for a lot of things in life! As a small business owner I know all about working hard… Sadly jobs in the public sector do sometime get a bad reputation, by this I mean, they don’t get, they strike, the want more, they strike! This is not something that small businesses or self employed people could consider… At the end of the day we are no different; we work long hour, get annoyed with our job at times, we find certain situations difficult to deal with! The question is how do you deal with things? Every action has a reaction, and we all need to adapt to the changes at hand.

So back to the question, can entrepreneurs save the British economy? I think they will definitely help, however banks should start lending to those who need it, those who can prove growth and the foundations of a stable company… It was after all the tax payer who bailed out the banks!

Also in the news are government grants for unemployed people want to set up their own business, is this a good idea? I think it could help, however this should be monitored very carefully… The stats speak for themselves! I recall reading that 95% of new business will fail in the first five years! So although grants for new businesses could contribute towards your brand development, logo, website, business cards and some flyers etc, the government should put in place strict guidelines to assess who is eligible.

What ever happens over the next couple of years I am sure that business / life will be far from easy for a lot of people! Difficult times are ahead for the public sector, entrepreneurs and the unemployed, new jobs will need to be created across our country and fast!

If you have a new business idea, maybe some feedback about this article, or you would like to find out more about Business Networking Link then please post your thoughts below. Ok, you can’t turn on your TV these days without hearing of the doom and gloom in our economy, so maybe now really is the time to setup a new business and take control of your own destiny!

Michael Jon Ward