Ok, it is not all doom and gloom… And if you are prepared to put in the hours, box clever and work hard then why shouldn’t you be amongst the minority of businesses that survive, grow and succeed…

In this blog post I would like to ask the question, do you need a business card? In a World that is becoming more and more paper free is a business card a dated business accessory or do we still actually need them?

Me personally, I believe it depends on the sector / industry you are in, for example I spent a small fortune on a Yellow Pages advert for my web design business a couple of years ago… Total revenue generated from this advert was nill, because pro-active companies looking for a website will be looking on the web! For me business cards are similar, I have designed / purchased them in the past for my company, however do I really need them being in the industry I am in??? You could argue otherwise!

However, if you are a proactive business owner, who meets and greets his/her clients, attend regular networking events, send out promo packs etc then a business card is important… Think of it as webpage in your wallet, a company or personal reference point that helps people connect with you!

When it comes to designing and investing in your own business card, here are some points to remember:

When it comes to developing your brand and promoting your company name to the masses it is important to create the right impression. A nice looking business card can help you do this, and for that reason I believe it is still important to carry a business card with you at all time… It is better to have one and not need one, than need one and not have one.

Well, a strategy is all about how, when and why… It is setting long and short-term goals AKA a plan of action to achieve your business objectives. So the long and short of it is, your business strategy should be able to tell you in which direction your business is going.

Like with any new goals or targets in life, a business strategy will need to be frequently reviewed and monitored to increase your chances of success. It is easy to get lost in the moment, work hard and not clever when you are setting up a new business! The purpose of a business strategy is to help direct and channel this energy…

If you missed our post on the Pareto principle and the 80 / 20 rule in business then this is well worth a read. The 80 / 20 rule states approximately 80% of your business will come from 20% of your clients, so is less is actually more? Taking this rule into account in your business strategy is important, identifying quickly what works for you and getting rid of the things that hold you back… Sounds simple doesn’t it.

As a business owner, some form of business strategy is important to have… To create a basic one try picking up a pen and paper, write at the top where your business is now and at the bottom where you would like it to be in say three years… Next, in the middle of the page, write down a list of what you need to do to reach these business targets, a short little exercise to get your creative and entrepreneurial juices flowing!

Lets face it; everyone’s business strategy is going to be slightly different and having one will force you to constantly assess how things are progressing… We all need to develop existing and consider new strategies; the world of business is constantly changing so keeping one step ahead is part of the challenge.

Ok, you will find no shortage of SEO companies in Hampshire, prices will vary, and SEO jargon can take time to get used to… but remember, it is the job of the SEO Company to explain their processes, break down the work, time scales and costing involved… If you are unsure at any point, just ask! Making sure both parties fully understand the SEO campaign, requirements and expectations before work gets underway is vital…

Hampshire and the south coast of England is not short of creative and talented web design and marketing folk, from freelancers that manage a select few companies to larger organisations that deal with hundreds of sites and monster SEO budgets… The best place to research SEO companies in and around Hampshire is on Google, I mean if an SEO company emails saying they can get your site to number one when there site is on page ten, I would be a little concerned!

Finding out what works best for you as a business is also important, I mean you should not set an SEO budget of £50 per month and demand weekly meetings or hour long telephone consultations every other day! However, if you are paying £500 or more per month on SEO, then maybe a closer and more personal working SEO relationship should be expected… Like with all things in life, you get what you pay for!

Whoever you decide to use for SEO, it is important you can pick up the phone, or meet up once in a while to discuss a campaigns progress! Some companies will only offer email support, some may charge for consultations and others may assign you your own SEO campaign project manager… However the business relationship is structured between you and your SEO Company, the important word to remember is ‘progress’!

Page one of Google will not happen over night and some SEO campaigns may even take several months! In some cases the keywords you decide to target and the budget you have allocated for SEO may just not be enough! If the competition (AKA businesses also targeting highly searched key phrases) has money to employ staff for in-house SEO, working 5 days a week, then will your £150 per month SEO budget be able to compete? This is worth thinking about…

If you have found this article on SEO of interest then why not sit back and take a FREE SEO Test! This test lists X15 SEO related questions that business owners should be asking! Serious about SEO then give it a go!

As always, your comments / feedback on this blog post would be appreciated, if you have had a good or bad experience with an SEO company in Hampshire, maybe succeeded in some DIY SEO etc then please tell us about it… Thanks for stopping by and we hope you visit again soon.

Month end to me is an allocation of time at the end of each calendar month to look over the month passed. If you keep a daybook and update your company accounts on a weekly basis then this allocation of time does not need to be massive! We often have a coffee in the afternoon, along with a 30/45 minute chat about our own facts / figures… Remember, a company is only as good as its accounts, so if you do not keep purchase and sales ledgers, check the bank daily etc then I can imagine month end being a nightmare! Our month is officially sealed when all of the month end processes are complete…

So what kind of questions do we ask at month end?

Below I have listed the key areas I like to address at month end. These are questions linked to our web design and marketing company so they may vary depending on the kind of business you are in… Some general questions I like to ask are:

Then financially our month end consists of a simple profit and loss report… We also monitor how much was invoiced during the set period, and how much was received. It is important to log both of these figures, especially if like us your payment terms are 30 days net.

I believe if you start this kind of month end procedure early on in business, while your business is still small, you won’t have to adapt or re-structure systems as your business grows. Allocating time for a month end can help you better understand your business, identify errors or issues, it will also make quarterly or annual reporting much easier… So to conclude, running a small or large business is not easy, therefore it is important to be proactive and not reactive, a month end process can help you and your business achieve this!

If you run a month end at your company, or if you simply found this article of interest, please post your comments and thoughts below. As always I would love to hear from you… Have a great month!

I say this speaking from experience, working with what you have, starting small and keeping an eye on your spending is one possible option! You would be amazed how much you can achieve in business with little money and a ‘work hard’ mentality…

The problem when starting up a new business is this; there are always things that will crop up in your life! Waiting for that perfect day or ideal moment usually won’t happen… I went from a full time job that become a part-time job when building up the Tidy Design brand, but even with a few clients already on our books, taking that leap from employed to self-employment was pretty scary!

If you sit back and think about stuff, read books, make notes, deliberate ideas, dream and plan to do stuff in the future, then maybe now is the time to act! I think sitting back and waiting is a sheer waste of time, although planning and research is important, finding time to act is as (if not more) important!

One word to remember here is ‘confidence’, this you will need to locate within yourself before starting up a business! You will need to have confidence in your brand, products or services, ability and in your business plan. Let me ask you this, why do you want to start a business in the first place? Have you identified what motivates and drives you forward? Also, if you didn’t setup or try to setup a business, would you regret it later in life? Remember, it’s all about confidence!

Ok, if you really want to start something today, you can! You have just as much chance of succeeding as anyone else! A lack of knowledge should not put you off starting a new business. People I know who have been in business 30+ years are still learning new things! We all need to learn and develop new skills along the way, this is part of the process, its all part of life (business or no business) and this hunger / passion to do and be better will help your business grow!

I don’t think anyone can answer ‘When is the right time to start a business?’ apart from the individual… For me I believe in a follow your gut, act now and give it all you got approach. If there’s one thing I have learnt about business in recent years, is that there is no time like the present! Are you one of life’s thinkers or one of life’s a doers?

Please tell me your thoughts on this below, it would be great for you to share what motivated or inspired you to start a business, or why you are yet to take that leap into the unknown…

It all started about four years ago when our paths first crossed, a vision to create this chain of language colleges was literally an idea in the making! For me (as an observer) it is clear to see that hard work, guts and determination have made his dream a reality, what was initially a small group teaching 24/7 in a tiny college, has now grown and developed into something truly awesome… Witnessing first hand this rate of growth is very inspirational, and I honestly do wish him every success in the future!

Fortnightly meetings with the owner of TEG (Tompkins Educational Group), in a local pub for a chat about business, entrepreneurial strategies for growth and family life have really helped us build a strong business and personal relationship… Enough to have us at his staff thank you dinner on Friday, and his family at our wedding last year! It just goes to show, so much can happen in the space of a year or four! Over the years a business relationship has definitely grown between Tidy Design and TEG, from supplier and client, to good friend and business associate.

We all know it can pay to invest time in building good business relationships with your suppliers or clients. So on that note, don’t be late paying those invoices or waste a supplier’s time, time after all is money… The fact is this, both businesses stands to gain if the relationship is good!

This blog post is just one example of how my own business has built and benefitted from a solid business relationship! I believe if we can work with our suppliers and clients, then we can help each other grow, giving everyone a better chance of success during these tough economic times!

This weekend (mid-way point of 2011) is the perfect time to sit back and ask questions such as; how has this year been for me so far? Have I stuck to various goals and targets set six months ago? Has business been how I imagined or have I had to evolve or change business strategies? Have I tried new marketing techniques, did they work? Do I need to cut costs or overheads to keep things ticking over? … In a nutshell, how are things developing for you and your business?

One thing for sure about us business folk, we cannot stand still, nor shut up shop and go on strike when times are hard! With public sector strikes dominating the headlines this week, it certainly is hard for me (as a businessman) to sympathise! I spoke with several business owners last month, each admitted to working harder and longer hours than ever before! I think this is a sign of the times, and also a better example to set for young kids! Lets not embed a ‘go on strike if I don’t get my way’ approach to life!

So… Why is it so important to monitor your business? Well, as business owners we need to know exactly where our time is being spent and also detect any jobs, tasks or specific areas that are counter productive or costing the company money! Lets face it, business is not all about volume of sales, money or working harder than the completion… it is also about boxing clever and creating the lifestyle that you (the business owner) wanted! We live to work, not work to live!

Recording and assessing exactly how time is spent is an interesting activity to perform, it is amazing how much time is wasted, and also how much more you can achieve by sticking to strict rotas or deadlines… When I fist started to log my own ‘tasks V time’ it was interesting how much of my day was spent answering emails, often emails that I could probably just delete! I guess with all new businesses you do take that little extra time to send super detailed replies! Even to half-arsed enquiries such as “hi, I am interested in your hotel booking system if it is free!” … Delete!

I also believe having important dates (and reminders) in your diary such as month end, year-end, pay Tax and HM Rev bills, pay accountant etc can help you perform better in business… We all know it is good to pay our suppliers on time, they don’t enjoy cash chasing because you don’t enjoy cash chasing! So being organised and monitoring your accounts on a daily basis is well worth the time investment!

I hope you found some of the above points of interest? As always I would love to hear your thoughts / feedback on monitoring time and business, have any techniques worked for you? How often do you evaluate your own company?

Advances in technology (primarily the internet) have opened many doors for innovative businesses to develop and grow… But with these advances have come bigger and better competition, making the task of standing out from the crowd much more difficult!

Identifying your sector and competition

When I look at the web design and marketing sector I am amazed to see lots of new businesses starting up left, right and center! I mean, anyone can pick up HTML for dummies via amazon or take a crash course about websites and SEO online… The basics are not rocket science, however like all things in life and business, being the best at something (AKA a market leader) requires hard work, dedication, a desire to learn and lots of practice!

To become a market leader you really need to know your industry and deliver quality results day in day out! Facts about these happy customers (or in the web design sector, awesome websites you have created) need to be promoted to the masses… A proven track record and high quality of work is one valuable USP!

You can also charge slightly more for quality, take Apple and Dell for example… You could not pick up a new Apple laptop for the same price as a Dell, however Apple products will not de-value as quick, they will last longer and perform much better… Something certain customers (like myself) are prepared to pay a premium for!

So, how can I make my own business Tidy Design stand out in such a competitive industry? Why should people use my web design and marketing company instead of Mr Cheap, just starting up, offering websites and SEO or two a penny? These are good questions to be asking about your own business / sector… We all need to identify and promote what we can offer that the competition cannot?

Tips for making a business stand out from the crowd

My advice would be to think outside the box! If you can identify a gap in the market or deliver real value for money then people should take notice and buy from you… Here are 10 tips for making a business stand out from the crowd!

I hope the above points have helped? I could go on all day about marketing and branding however it is time for some dinner!

If you have any suggestions or feedback on this blog or blog post then please add them below. Also, why not take advantage of FREE membership by clicking the banner at the top of this page… Business Networking Link does not spam, we just notify you of any new networking events or ground breaking business news!

What ever your business, good luck making it stand out from the crowd…

The 80 / 20 rule was named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who noticed 80% of land in Italy was possessed by 20% of its people; he then developed the principle by later noticing 20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas! So there you have it, in a nutshell (or a pea pod!) the 80 / 20 rule… Now we need to apply this rule to our day-to-day work and the development of your business!

The 80 / 20 rule states approximately 80% of your business will come from 20% of your clients! So task one needs to be identifying who these clients are… Next we have 80% of the money you make will come from 20% of the time you spend! So, if you can identify the tasks that deliver real value and avoid tasks that you could argue are counter productive, then your time will be better spent. Time after-all is money!

I had not heard of the 80 / 20 rule until a recent trip to Italy and a chat with my wife’s father (who I would call a very successful and decent businessman)… He said that by applying this 80 / 20 rule over the years it had helped him to filter out certain tasks and any counter productive areas of his own business.

In business and life I feel it is important to listen and learn from others, hence me sharing this blog post with you! For me it was very interesting to hear that by focusing on the most effective areas and eliminating, ignoring or automating others, you can really transform your business! Since returning home last weekend I have now stared to breakdown sections of my own business into different areas, it is clear to see 80 / 20 ratios all over the place when you actually step back and evaluate things!

Does the 80 / 20 ratio apply to your business?

This evening I have been searching Google for various posts and websites about the 80 / 20 rule in business. There are many business examples such as 20% of a companies employees are responsible for 80% of a companies profits! Ok, not every company will be the same or will work like this, however the key metrics within a business will show (when broken down) a minority creating the majority!

When I look at my own business Tidy Design it is clear to see that a small percentage of our awesome clients account for a majority of our income each month… It is these clients who sign up for SEO, send several emails each month / every month requesting website updates etc that pay a majority of our wages! For me this is one example of an 80 / 20 ratio within my own business.

So to conclude, by identifying these ratio’s within your own business you should be able to maximize performance and profits! I hope the above info on the 80 / 20 rule in business has provided some food for thought? If you have any thoughts or personal experiences with the 80 / 20 rule in business then please post them below.

I have met business owners and entrepreneurs over the years that knew a little about a lot, rather than a lot about a little! Two other characteristics that jumped out with these individuals was a thirst for information and a passion to do better, a mind-set that helped them manage multiple projects and create successful businesses.

Yes, knowing how to manage multiple projects in business requires a certain mind-set; getting stressed or overwhelmed when things are difficult will not get the job done! Managing multiple projects is a handy skill to have when running a business, so being super organised and having a to-do list set in stone each day can really help you tackle multiple projects effectively, even manage multiple businesses!

Keeping things simple and organised has personally helped me to create and develop the different ideas and brands in my life. It is too easy to over complicate tasks and sometimes talk yourself out of new business ideas because of risk or lack of time available… I say make time; managing multiple projects and being super busy is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you enjoy what you do, keep healthy and support family and friends along the way!

These are just a few ideas / tips on how you can manage multiple projects more effectively in life and business.

If you already have the ability to get through to-do lists quickly and effectively then you should be able to manage multiple projects without re-inventing the wheel. For me running a business and managing multiple tasks is all about committing to the task at hand, if a project has to be done by X then get it done!

I hope you have found this short blog post on how to manage multiple projects of some help, if you have a unique way to tackle and execute multiple projects in life or business then please tell us about it below.