Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Monday, 5 October 2009
Business Branding & the Peripheral Frame of Consciousness
Successful business branding is one of the most important aspects of any successful company or business venture, and it is certainly worthwhile considering the possible options available. One of the most crucial aspects of branding that needs to be considered is continuity. Today there are so many different ways to reach out to customers, publicize and promote your business and get your business name known and recognized.
But sometimes it can prove difficult to transfer the brand image from one medium to another. What works well on paper may not work so well on the screen, when translated to web technology. Again, what may work well on a huge billboard may fail when transferred to a business card, and radio may see another possible pitfall waiting to happen. Branding is important, whatever medium is used, and so when embarking on a branding or re-branding project for your company or business, take care to consider all of the possible media which might be used to promote your business in the future, and consider how the brand image will translate across all of them fluidly, consistently and recognizably.
Don't make the same mistakes made by some companies, many of whom are no longer with us. Never try to piggy back your business into the marketplace on the success of a rival company's brand image; it rarely works. It will also be important to plan your branding not for the present, or even the immediate future, but for as long as it is possible to imagine the company continuing. Don't brand your company on the basis of current fashion trends, as such branding could easily date your company.
Today one of the most essential elements in terms of successful branding and choosing a brand image and name which will work in your favour is to consider effective use of keywords. This applies both to the brand name itself and also to the slogan or tagline which will be associated with it.
The reason for considering keywords is that today, in a world driven by internet technology, this is how people are searching for products and information relating to them.
Why else are some of the biggest prices online associated with domain names? These commodities, which in themselves are nothing more than a phone number equivalent, can sometimes be valued at many millions of dollars, simply because they contain, or are, a particular keyword which is highly associated with that industry or product or service.
By considering the keywords which people are tending to use, and there are many tools, including Google's own version, which can enable you to do this, you can start to identify appropriate wordings and terms which can be incorporated into the product brand name or slogan.
Don't ignore the slogan or tagline, as often these can prove to be just as successful at promoting the brand as the brand or product name itself.
Because you can squeeze one or two keywords into these, they actually carry more advertising weight than the product name itself in many cases.
Visual recognition is increasingly important too. With an unbelievable quantity of slogans, brand names, images, adverts and slogans bombarding all of us every day we have grown very used to the same old forms of advertising and promotion. We tend to walk around with a special pair of lenses in our glasses which filter out almost all of the adverts which we see each day.
If you were asked right now to state how many adverts or promotions you saw yesterday, you may well hazard a guess at a dozen or perhaps twenty.
The truth is that almost certainly you were exposed to many hundreds, through a wide variety of media. The fact that we estimate the actual number so low is evidence in itself of the importance not only of brand image but successful marketing of that brand name or slogan, as people will almost certainly filter out anything which falls within their peripheral frame of consciousness.
This peripheral frame of consciousness is the average person's ability to subconsciously deduct what slogans, brand names, images, adverts or promotions might prove worth picking up on and carrying through to our conscious perception, and ultimately to the possibility of us actually taking notice of it. To achieve this takes a good deal of trouble and if you are on the path to launching a new product or service, or perhaps even a new business, then thinking about ways in which you can break out of the traditional mold and offer something which can succeed at getting people to become conscious of your product or brand name will be of tremendous importance.
Since people are actively using keywords to search for products or services it makes good sense to consider branding a product or service which taps in to this active searching, since already you're more likely to break through that peripheral barrier. Well thought out business branding can make all the difference!
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
But sometimes it can prove difficult to transfer the brand image from one medium to another. What works well on paper may not work so well on the screen, when translated to web technology. Again, what may work well on a huge billboard may fail when transferred to a business card, and radio may see another possible pitfall waiting to happen. Branding is important, whatever medium is used, and so when embarking on a branding or re-branding project for your company or business, take care to consider all of the possible media which might be used to promote your business in the future, and consider how the brand image will translate across all of them fluidly, consistently and recognizably.
Don't make the same mistakes made by some companies, many of whom are no longer with us. Never try to piggy back your business into the marketplace on the success of a rival company's brand image; it rarely works. It will also be important to plan your branding not for the present, or even the immediate future, but for as long as it is possible to imagine the company continuing. Don't brand your company on the basis of current fashion trends, as such branding could easily date your company.
Today one of the most essential elements in terms of successful branding and choosing a brand image and name which will work in your favour is to consider effective use of keywords. This applies both to the brand name itself and also to the slogan or tagline which will be associated with it.
The reason for considering keywords is that today, in a world driven by internet technology, this is how people are searching for products and information relating to them.
Why else are some of the biggest prices online associated with domain names? These commodities, which in themselves are nothing more than a phone number equivalent, can sometimes be valued at many millions of dollars, simply because they contain, or are, a particular keyword which is highly associated with that industry or product or service.
By considering the keywords which people are tending to use, and there are many tools, including Google's own version, which can enable you to do this, you can start to identify appropriate wordings and terms which can be incorporated into the product brand name or slogan.
Don't ignore the slogan or tagline, as often these can prove to be just as successful at promoting the brand as the brand or product name itself.
Because you can squeeze one or two keywords into these, they actually carry more advertising weight than the product name itself in many cases.
Visual recognition is increasingly important too. With an unbelievable quantity of slogans, brand names, images, adverts and slogans bombarding all of us every day we have grown very used to the same old forms of advertising and promotion. We tend to walk around with a special pair of lenses in our glasses which filter out almost all of the adverts which we see each day.
If you were asked right now to state how many adverts or promotions you saw yesterday, you may well hazard a guess at a dozen or perhaps twenty.
The truth is that almost certainly you were exposed to many hundreds, through a wide variety of media. The fact that we estimate the actual number so low is evidence in itself of the importance not only of brand image but successful marketing of that brand name or slogan, as people will almost certainly filter out anything which falls within their peripheral frame of consciousness.
This peripheral frame of consciousness is the average person's ability to subconsciously deduct what slogans, brand names, images, adverts or promotions might prove worth picking up on and carrying through to our conscious perception, and ultimately to the possibility of us actually taking notice of it. To achieve this takes a good deal of trouble and if you are on the path to launching a new product or service, or perhaps even a new business, then thinking about ways in which you can break out of the traditional mold and offer something which can succeed at getting people to become conscious of your product or brand name will be of tremendous importance.
Since people are actively using keywords to search for products or services it makes good sense to consider branding a product or service which taps in to this active searching, since already you're more likely to break through that peripheral barrier. Well thought out business branding can make all the difference!
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Marketing Opportunities Others Frequently Miss
Many marketing opportunities are missed by companies relying too much on the internet, and specific keywords, in a blinkered attempt to become involved in the 'new technology'. However, it is very easy to miss out through a lack of knowledge of the limitations of online marketing.
Any business will see marketing as a critical part of making sure that the company is meeting its objectives, and more importantly, meeting with customers' needs and expectations. However, many business owners see marketing as something necessary only at the launch of the business, or when launching new products or services.
Although it does serve a crucial purpose at these times, there can be no doubt that ongoing marketing will prove valuable. It is critical that business owners have a good, solid understanding of how the business is perceived, and how it is managing to meet with customer demand.
There are many ways in which marketing can be employed, and this may well depend on the way in which your company does business. For instance, if you are based entirely online, then you may well use Google analytical data to identify keywords being used to drive customers to your site, discover what people are looking for, what your competitors are pitching their sites on, and how much they're bidding for the important keywords. This will also help you to establish or identify niche markets.
Most people think of marketing as identifying customer satisfaction and need, but in fact it's a great deal more than this, with careful identification and analysis of your rivals an important element. Marketing will also help you to identify who your main customers or clients are, as well as how they reach you. This will help you to identify who you're failing to miss, and what advertising or promotions are working well, allowing you to adapt and develop the business to attract more customers and make more efficient use of your promotional budget.
Today there are more marketing tools than ever before, so many that it can often become rather confusing knowing where to start. With many hundreds of companies and organizations online touting for business as far as offering people like you an inside view of how the marketing world works, it can almost seem an impossible task. Certainly it is true that there are many statistics online, and many ways of interpreting them, statistics don't tell the whole story.
It will be important to use and analyze those statistics, but one of the crucial truths often left out by these companies who are trying to sell you their system of analysis is that these statistics only reveal a small proportion of the truth. Not everyone who is after your business, product or service will use Google, not everyone looking for services you can provide will use the same keywords, not everyone you're trying to reach will even use the internet as their main source of information.
These statistics will reveal a great deal about the markets you may be reaching, and those that you're not, but only within the sum total of those potential markets that use the internet. All too often businesses make the mistake of becoming almost blinkered, and forgetting the real world still exists, and there really are people who search for, and find, information about products and businesses in ways which have proved successful for many, many years.
It's just a case of taking those blinkers off, realizing that there are a whole range of ways in which it is still very possible to reach new audiences and grow your business without resorting to the theoretical keyword warfare which exists online.
To a large extent, your marketing will reveal a great deal more about these hidden legions of potential customers offline than they will online, and once you have identified this gap, you can start to consider ways in which to capitalize on it. These are exciting times, and most people will tell you, but not necessarily because of the internet.
As a result of internet technology becoming the main crutch upon which so many of your rivals will be supporting themselves, through their marketing and analysis, promotions and publicity, it is now more possible than ever before to find niche markets and reach potential customers using novel methods which do not rely on the internet. To a very great extent people are tending to pay more attention to offline advertising than banners adverts, web adverts, emails and such like.
Companies taking the time and trouble to do more than simply hit a few buttons on a keyboard or outsource to a graphics company to draw a pretty, flash banner carry more weight in the minds of the average consumer. Being aware of this and turning part of your marketing strategy towards this could well reveal a great deal of potential for the growth of your business. All you have to do, once the blinkers are off, is decide how you're going to market your product and service in a way which will stand out, be recognized, and reach those clients through real world means.
Naz Daud is the CEO of CityLocal.
Any business will see marketing as a critical part of making sure that the company is meeting its objectives, and more importantly, meeting with customers' needs and expectations. However, many business owners see marketing as something necessary only at the launch of the business, or when launching new products or services.
Although it does serve a crucial purpose at these times, there can be no doubt that ongoing marketing will prove valuable. It is critical that business owners have a good, solid understanding of how the business is perceived, and how it is managing to meet with customer demand.
There are many ways in which marketing can be employed, and this may well depend on the way in which your company does business. For instance, if you are based entirely online, then you may well use Google analytical data to identify keywords being used to drive customers to your site, discover what people are looking for, what your competitors are pitching their sites on, and how much they're bidding for the important keywords. This will also help you to establish or identify niche markets.
Most people think of marketing as identifying customer satisfaction and need, but in fact it's a great deal more than this, with careful identification and analysis of your rivals an important element. Marketing will also help you to identify who your main customers or clients are, as well as how they reach you. This will help you to identify who you're failing to miss, and what advertising or promotions are working well, allowing you to adapt and develop the business to attract more customers and make more efficient use of your promotional budget.
Today there are more marketing tools than ever before, so many that it can often become rather confusing knowing where to start. With many hundreds of companies and organizations online touting for business as far as offering people like you an inside view of how the marketing world works, it can almost seem an impossible task. Certainly it is true that there are many statistics online, and many ways of interpreting them, statistics don't tell the whole story.
It will be important to use and analyze those statistics, but one of the crucial truths often left out by these companies who are trying to sell you their system of analysis is that these statistics only reveal a small proportion of the truth. Not everyone who is after your business, product or service will use Google, not everyone looking for services you can provide will use the same keywords, not everyone you're trying to reach will even use the internet as their main source of information.
These statistics will reveal a great deal about the markets you may be reaching, and those that you're not, but only within the sum total of those potential markets that use the internet. All too often businesses make the mistake of becoming almost blinkered, and forgetting the real world still exists, and there really are people who search for, and find, information about products and businesses in ways which have proved successful for many, many years.
It's just a case of taking those blinkers off, realizing that there are a whole range of ways in which it is still very possible to reach new audiences and grow your business without resorting to the theoretical keyword warfare which exists online.
To a large extent, your marketing will reveal a great deal more about these hidden legions of potential customers offline than they will online, and once you have identified this gap, you can start to consider ways in which to capitalize on it. These are exciting times, and most people will tell you, but not necessarily because of the internet.
As a result of internet technology becoming the main crutch upon which so many of your rivals will be supporting themselves, through their marketing and analysis, promotions and publicity, it is now more possible than ever before to find niche markets and reach potential customers using novel methods which do not rely on the internet. To a very great extent people are tending to pay more attention to offline advertising than banners adverts, web adverts, emails and such like.
Companies taking the time and trouble to do more than simply hit a few buttons on a keyboard or outsource to a graphics company to draw a pretty, flash banner carry more weight in the minds of the average consumer. Being aware of this and turning part of your marketing strategy towards this could well reveal a great deal of potential for the growth of your business. All you have to do, once the blinkers are off, is decide how you're going to market your product and service in a way which will stand out, be recognized, and reach those clients through real world means.
Naz Daud is the CEO of CityLocal.
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Debunking the Myths of Being an Entrepreneur
It is easy to see the concept of entrepreneurialism as something which is left to other people to do, especially the city executives and the rich corporate high fliers. In truth, this couldn't be a more inaccurate picture of the world of the entrepreneur.
The reality is that most entrepreneurs are ordinary people like us, with no extraordinary backing, no massive bank balance and no high flying city background. Perhaps it would be true to suggest that most people in that kind of position wouldn't be prepared to risk their careers and their positions for the apparent gamble of starting their own business. It is often perceived as the case that entrepreneurs are gamblers, taking their own careers and gambling them on a whim.
This is another inaccurate misconception. Entrepreneurs tend to be amongst the most focused, well disciplined, cautious and well planned people in business. When the responsibility for your success lies wholly and entirely with you, the motivation to succeed, to get things right and to know where everything stands is much more tangible. Today there is no such thing as job security, and increasingly people are becoming disenchanted with uncertainty, and the feeling of being undervalued in a giant company which has lost sight of individualism.
It is these people that taste the benefits of entrepreneurialism, following their own personal dreams and ambitions, often with a wealth of planning and preparation, research and assessment. With a growing base of entrepreneurs online helping each other out in forums and discussion boards, for those considering taking the step into such a world, there is much knowledge and experience on offer, and many myths that can be dispelled.
One of the advantages of starting out on your own, running your own business, is that you have an amazing freedom of choice. You can, possibly for the first time in your life, actively pursue your own dreams and ambitions, enjoying spending time doing the things you enjoy, and in which you have a personal interest.
All too often in the normal world of office work and traditional nine to five jobs we enter a field that we may have some interest in, but after a period of time it becomes painfully obvious that it offers little in the way of personal enjoyment, or fulfilment. We lose the excitement and enthusiasm we had to begin with as we realize that we are valued very little, and that perhaps the management don't even know our name, let alone value us for the job we are doing.
In the world of business each person is able to see every day that the work they are doing is not only making a difference to their customers, but also to the business as a whole, and to them personally too. This level of satisfaction often results in the entrepreneur being amongst the happiest individuals on the planet.
This is not to suggest that it is easy, and no one should consider launching their own business idea without a good deal of forethought and research. The beautify of having so much information at our fingertips today is that often this information is easy to access. There are many thousands of people who have already left their day jobs to pursue individual careers; entrepreneurs that are just like you and me. Their experiences and advice will prove invaluable in helping to dispel myths, debunk scams and answer those specific questions or concerns you may have, from how to file your tax returns to how to market your brand or carry out effective market research.
One of the common questions many people have is: what is the difference between someone who starts out working from home, following one of the many schemes or ideas available, and someone who can be said to be an entrepreneur? There is certainly a good deal of overlap between the two, but essentially the difference boils down to the fact that most entrepreneurs are following their own ideas, pursuing their own goals, and establishing their own business idea which fits in to their own unique talents and experience, rather than implementing an out of the box package deal assembled by someone else.
There are many work from home schemes which are sold as entrepreneur packages, but unless you're creating your own image, your own stamp and following your own ambitions, this tends to be more of a franchise than anything else. But this is not to suggest that an entrepreneur has to do everything for him or herself. There are many books, publications, disks and websites with a wealth of information on starting a business to help those interested investigate the likely paths which can be pursued, and not only find answers to the questions that they have right from the start, but helps identify the questions that they hadn't even thought of yet.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
The reality is that most entrepreneurs are ordinary people like us, with no extraordinary backing, no massive bank balance and no high flying city background. Perhaps it would be true to suggest that most people in that kind of position wouldn't be prepared to risk their careers and their positions for the apparent gamble of starting their own business. It is often perceived as the case that entrepreneurs are gamblers, taking their own careers and gambling them on a whim.
This is another inaccurate misconception. Entrepreneurs tend to be amongst the most focused, well disciplined, cautious and well planned people in business. When the responsibility for your success lies wholly and entirely with you, the motivation to succeed, to get things right and to know where everything stands is much more tangible. Today there is no such thing as job security, and increasingly people are becoming disenchanted with uncertainty, and the feeling of being undervalued in a giant company which has lost sight of individualism.
It is these people that taste the benefits of entrepreneurialism, following their own personal dreams and ambitions, often with a wealth of planning and preparation, research and assessment. With a growing base of entrepreneurs online helping each other out in forums and discussion boards, for those considering taking the step into such a world, there is much knowledge and experience on offer, and many myths that can be dispelled.
One of the advantages of starting out on your own, running your own business, is that you have an amazing freedom of choice. You can, possibly for the first time in your life, actively pursue your own dreams and ambitions, enjoying spending time doing the things you enjoy, and in which you have a personal interest.
All too often in the normal world of office work and traditional nine to five jobs we enter a field that we may have some interest in, but after a period of time it becomes painfully obvious that it offers little in the way of personal enjoyment, or fulfilment. We lose the excitement and enthusiasm we had to begin with as we realize that we are valued very little, and that perhaps the management don't even know our name, let alone value us for the job we are doing.
In the world of business each person is able to see every day that the work they are doing is not only making a difference to their customers, but also to the business as a whole, and to them personally too. This level of satisfaction often results in the entrepreneur being amongst the happiest individuals on the planet.
This is not to suggest that it is easy, and no one should consider launching their own business idea without a good deal of forethought and research. The beautify of having so much information at our fingertips today is that often this information is easy to access. There are many thousands of people who have already left their day jobs to pursue individual careers; entrepreneurs that are just like you and me. Their experiences and advice will prove invaluable in helping to dispel myths, debunk scams and answer those specific questions or concerns you may have, from how to file your tax returns to how to market your brand or carry out effective market research.
One of the common questions many people have is: what is the difference between someone who starts out working from home, following one of the many schemes or ideas available, and someone who can be said to be an entrepreneur? There is certainly a good deal of overlap between the two, but essentially the difference boils down to the fact that most entrepreneurs are following their own ideas, pursuing their own goals, and establishing their own business idea which fits in to their own unique talents and experience, rather than implementing an out of the box package deal assembled by someone else.
There are many work from home schemes which are sold as entrepreneur packages, but unless you're creating your own image, your own stamp and following your own ambitions, this tends to be more of a franchise than anything else. But this is not to suggest that an entrepreneur has to do everything for him or herself. There are many books, publications, disks and websites with a wealth of information on starting a business to help those interested investigate the likely paths which can be pursued, and not only find answers to the questions that they have right from the start, but helps identify the questions that they hadn't even thought of yet.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Customer Service and How to Fail in Business
Customer Service and How to Fail in Business
Customer service is an aspect of any business, whether a large corporate organization or small home business run by a single individual. The way a business presents itself to customers, either potential or actual, can make a huge difference in terms of promotion, loyalty and the likelihood of success.
No business succeeds without customers, and in order to attract customers, it is increasingly necessary for businesses to be approachable, contactable, and interested in communicating with customers whenever there are any queries or issues relating to the products or services available.
In the modern world of internet technology, more and more customers today are often beginning to expect that businesses can be contacted at any time, and day, and in a way which is convenient. In the twenty first century we have shed the expectations that we had of only being able to contact a business or company between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
With international time zones, more people working weekends, and working hours no longer traditional, we all expect to be able to pick up the phone, or send an email, and have our queries or concerns dealt with promptly.
If you are seeking to buy in to a franchise or business opportunity, it will be important to understand in advance what the customer service arrangements involve. Will you be responsible for any issues that arise, and need to provide a means by which customers can contact you directly, or is there a customer service center or arrangement already in place? If you will be relying on an outsourced service center, then you may find that giving them a call yourself, alleging to be a potential customer, reveals the level of support which your own customers could face.
Although outsourcing of service centers is increasingly common, primarily as a means to cut costs and long term overheads, it can sometimes cause problems for customers who have difficulties communicating with people who do not speak the same language fluently, or have strong accents, limited knowledge of the product or service, or limited access to relevant information about you and your account.
But the issue of providing support for customers will be something you'll need to approach yourself if the responsibility with a franchise opportunity is left with you and if you are starting out on your own with your business idea as an independent entrepreneur.
If customers are not happy with the level of customer service, such as failing to have queries dealt with, having to wait excessive periods of time to wait for a response, having responses which make little sense, offer little support, express little concern or fail to resolve the issue quickly and effectively, then the chances are high that you will lose that customer.
More than this, by losing a customer, you are highly likely to lose any potential sales you may have acquired through recommendation. With so much choice available and so much variety, increasingly we are relying on personal recommendations, and online reviews, to help make up our mind on whether to commit to a retailer or service provider, especially if it is likely to be for a significant sum or a long term contractual arrangement.
Failing to provide adequate customer service can easily result in losing out on personal recommendations, and could easily result in publically viewable reviews advising against your ompany or service. The internet can easily work in your favour, but similarly it can work against you if you fail to meet expectations.
To a large extent, the importance and intensity of customer service is likely to depend on the nature of the business in which you become involved. If you're seeking to start out as an individual entrepreneur, working from home with little direct contact with customers, then you may consider the importance of customer service to be less of a priority than those entering into a business arrangement which has massive contact with customers and relies heavily on customer loyalty.
This is turn may impact on your decision when it comes to deciding what kind of business to enter into, what kind of franchise opportunity to become involved with, or the nature of any solo business you choose to initiate. Are you a people person? Do you like solving problems and offering a high level of service to customers? If not, then a business model which relies upon this may not be for you, and the issue of outsourcing the service center becomes one to consider.
Ultimately it will be important to think about customer service not from the business point of view alone, taking on board the financing, the time, the means by which issues can be filed, dealt with, followed up and referred back, but also from the point of view of your customers. Happy customers equate to customer loyalty and recommendations, which in turn results in a more profitable and successful business. Get your customer service right and you're more likely to see the business succeeding where other, perhaps larger companies are losing sight of the very blood which made them successful in the first place.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
Customer service is an aspect of any business, whether a large corporate organization or small home business run by a single individual. The way a business presents itself to customers, either potential or actual, can make a huge difference in terms of promotion, loyalty and the likelihood of success.
No business succeeds without customers, and in order to attract customers, it is increasingly necessary for businesses to be approachable, contactable, and interested in communicating with customers whenever there are any queries or issues relating to the products or services available.
In the modern world of internet technology, more and more customers today are often beginning to expect that businesses can be contacted at any time, and day, and in a way which is convenient. In the twenty first century we have shed the expectations that we had of only being able to contact a business or company between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
With international time zones, more people working weekends, and working hours no longer traditional, we all expect to be able to pick up the phone, or send an email, and have our queries or concerns dealt with promptly.
If you are seeking to buy in to a franchise or business opportunity, it will be important to understand in advance what the customer service arrangements involve. Will you be responsible for any issues that arise, and need to provide a means by which customers can contact you directly, or is there a customer service center or arrangement already in place? If you will be relying on an outsourced service center, then you may find that giving them a call yourself, alleging to be a potential customer, reveals the level of support which your own customers could face.
Although outsourcing of service centers is increasingly common, primarily as a means to cut costs and long term overheads, it can sometimes cause problems for customers who have difficulties communicating with people who do not speak the same language fluently, or have strong accents, limited knowledge of the product or service, or limited access to relevant information about you and your account.
But the issue of providing support for customers will be something you'll need to approach yourself if the responsibility with a franchise opportunity is left with you and if you are starting out on your own with your business idea as an independent entrepreneur.
If customers are not happy with the level of customer service, such as failing to have queries dealt with, having to wait excessive periods of time to wait for a response, having responses which make little sense, offer little support, express little concern or fail to resolve the issue quickly and effectively, then the chances are high that you will lose that customer.
More than this, by losing a customer, you are highly likely to lose any potential sales you may have acquired through recommendation. With so much choice available and so much variety, increasingly we are relying on personal recommendations, and online reviews, to help make up our mind on whether to commit to a retailer or service provider, especially if it is likely to be for a significant sum or a long term contractual arrangement.
Failing to provide adequate customer service can easily result in losing out on personal recommendations, and could easily result in publically viewable reviews advising against your ompany or service. The internet can easily work in your favour, but similarly it can work against you if you fail to meet expectations.
To a large extent, the importance and intensity of customer service is likely to depend on the nature of the business in which you become involved. If you're seeking to start out as an individual entrepreneur, working from home with little direct contact with customers, then you may consider the importance of customer service to be less of a priority than those entering into a business arrangement which has massive contact with customers and relies heavily on customer loyalty.
This is turn may impact on your decision when it comes to deciding what kind of business to enter into, what kind of franchise opportunity to become involved with, or the nature of any solo business you choose to initiate. Are you a people person? Do you like solving problems and offering a high level of service to customers? If not, then a business model which relies upon this may not be for you, and the issue of outsourcing the service center becomes one to consider.
Ultimately it will be important to think about customer service not from the business point of view alone, taking on board the financing, the time, the means by which issues can be filed, dealt with, followed up and referred back, but also from the point of view of your customers. Happy customers equate to customer loyalty and recommendations, which in turn results in a more profitable and successful business. Get your customer service right and you're more likely to see the business succeeding where other, perhaps larger companies are losing sight of the very blood which made them successful in the first place.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
Being an Entrepreneur - The Truth About Taking the Plunge
In today's uncertain financial climate, is entrepreneurialism a case of taking unnecessary risks, or securing your future and that of your family, in a more direct way? Certainly there are more and more people today leaving the humdrum of office life, or the hectic and often bureaucratic ways of what is often termed 'normal' life, and forging a new personal future as an entrepreneur.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things noticeable is that the many people we come across taking a personal stake in their work and financial future in this way are perfectly normal people. Often we can visualise entrepreneurs as being high-flyer, city business men and women with more cash in the bank than the bank, and an already secure future.
The truth is that these people are perhaps least likely to leave the well trodden path of security, and that those of us who have taken the step of creating our own business idea, and following it through, are just ordinary individuals; people, in fact, like you and me.
So why are so many normal individuals deciding to leave the security of a traditional job and its reassuring income to become solely dependent upon their own wit and determination? There are many reasons, but perhaps these are the most common:
1. Financial security. This might seem an unlikely reason, given the apparent risk. But the truth is that fewer traditional jobs these days are anywhere near secure. Each time we turn on the news, we see reports of yet another major business or company either going under, or laying off vast numbers of employees. The days of job security are long gone, and increasingly employees are not considered the blood of the company, but expendable assets. Worse still is that very often the last people to hear of any financial instability and likely action are the employees themselves. Often those facing job losses are the last to hear of it. Being reliant on other people above you can be a constant worry, and being able to cut those ties, and be responsible to no one but yourself allows you to relax a little, knowing that you know everything about how the business is doing, and where you stand.
2. Enthusiasm. Relatively few people employed in traditional jobs can claim to be enthusiastic about the work they do. Some people can, but sadly the majority of people find work merely a tedious means to an end, rather than something which excites them, and motivates them. When you wake up in the morning, do you go to work because you have to, or because you want to?
Entrepreneurialism enables people to pursue dreams and personal goals, and when combined with a personal stake and personal responsibility, this can become a powerful motivating force. Needless to say, the more motivated you are, the more likely you are to succeed. Almost exclusively, entrepreneurs enjoy a higher quality of life, and worry less because of the personal feeling of purpose, progress and success.
3. Making a difference. How much of a difference can we really make towards a business' overall success? It can be easy to feel downhearted, watching our hard work filed away for future reference, merely a tick on an agenda distantly glimpsed through a manager's door. Many entrepreneurs want to feel useful, and enjoy knowing that everything they are doing, each working day, is making a difference. That difference affects a great many people, from the person themselves, to their family, and of course those customers who take advantage of the service or product being offered.
Any of these reasons make it clear why this way of living represents a tremendous advantage in terms of the quality of life and attitude to work.
But with all these benefits, there are clearly some issues which will justifiably cause some people concern.
Often people associate being an entrepreneur with being a risk taker or a gambler, having huge financial backing or a team of people to support you.
In fact, none of these things are true or necessary. Very few entrepreneurs would consider themselves gamblers. Perhaps those workers who turn up to work each day in traditional jobs are gambling every bit as much, yet never knowing exactly how the dice is falling until they're made redundant. Those working for themselves tend to have a very good game plan, a good understanding of the way forward, of the product or service, the marketing and how best to approach the dream of running their own business.
It needs planning, certainly, and plenty of preparation. But you don't need any financial backing in many cases, and you don't need a team of people. In terms of starting your own business, what you do need to be able to set out on your own, working for yourself and running your own company, is passion, a dream, and plenty of ambition. With many forums on the web it is easier than ever to share experience and understanding of being an entrepreneur by talking with those who have already taken the plunge.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
Perhaps one of the most surprising things noticeable is that the many people we come across taking a personal stake in their work and financial future in this way are perfectly normal people. Often we can visualise entrepreneurs as being high-flyer, city business men and women with more cash in the bank than the bank, and an already secure future.
The truth is that these people are perhaps least likely to leave the well trodden path of security, and that those of us who have taken the step of creating our own business idea, and following it through, are just ordinary individuals; people, in fact, like you and me.
So why are so many normal individuals deciding to leave the security of a traditional job and its reassuring income to become solely dependent upon their own wit and determination? There are many reasons, but perhaps these are the most common:
1. Financial security. This might seem an unlikely reason, given the apparent risk. But the truth is that fewer traditional jobs these days are anywhere near secure. Each time we turn on the news, we see reports of yet another major business or company either going under, or laying off vast numbers of employees. The days of job security are long gone, and increasingly employees are not considered the blood of the company, but expendable assets. Worse still is that very often the last people to hear of any financial instability and likely action are the employees themselves. Often those facing job losses are the last to hear of it. Being reliant on other people above you can be a constant worry, and being able to cut those ties, and be responsible to no one but yourself allows you to relax a little, knowing that you know everything about how the business is doing, and where you stand.
2. Enthusiasm. Relatively few people employed in traditional jobs can claim to be enthusiastic about the work they do. Some people can, but sadly the majority of people find work merely a tedious means to an end, rather than something which excites them, and motivates them. When you wake up in the morning, do you go to work because you have to, or because you want to?
Entrepreneurialism enables people to pursue dreams and personal goals, and when combined with a personal stake and personal responsibility, this can become a powerful motivating force. Needless to say, the more motivated you are, the more likely you are to succeed. Almost exclusively, entrepreneurs enjoy a higher quality of life, and worry less because of the personal feeling of purpose, progress and success.
3. Making a difference. How much of a difference can we really make towards a business' overall success? It can be easy to feel downhearted, watching our hard work filed away for future reference, merely a tick on an agenda distantly glimpsed through a manager's door. Many entrepreneurs want to feel useful, and enjoy knowing that everything they are doing, each working day, is making a difference. That difference affects a great many people, from the person themselves, to their family, and of course those customers who take advantage of the service or product being offered.
Any of these reasons make it clear why this way of living represents a tremendous advantage in terms of the quality of life and attitude to work.
But with all these benefits, there are clearly some issues which will justifiably cause some people concern.
Often people associate being an entrepreneur with being a risk taker or a gambler, having huge financial backing or a team of people to support you.
In fact, none of these things are true or necessary. Very few entrepreneurs would consider themselves gamblers. Perhaps those workers who turn up to work each day in traditional jobs are gambling every bit as much, yet never knowing exactly how the dice is falling until they're made redundant. Those working for themselves tend to have a very good game plan, a good understanding of the way forward, of the product or service, the marketing and how best to approach the dream of running their own business.
It needs planning, certainly, and plenty of preparation. But you don't need any financial backing in many cases, and you don't need a team of people. In terms of starting your own business, what you do need to be able to set out on your own, working for yourself and running your own company, is passion, a dream, and plenty of ambition. With many forums on the web it is easier than ever to share experience and understanding of being an entrepreneur by talking with those who have already taken the plunge.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Welcome to Clickthat.biz
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Thursday, 13 August 2009
Work From Home - What You Need to Know First
Have you been considering home based business opportunities? If so, you're certainly not alone, as there are an increasing number of people who are considering the idea of working from home very seriously. The trouble is that many people have silly assumptions regarding this method of working.
Many of the really important issues which need to be considered very carefully before making such a life change are often not given much thought until the jump has been made. In this article, let's have a look at some of the common assumptions and those matters overlooked, or not considered seriously enough.
Assumption 1: That you'll need to take a massive pay cut and take weeks, months or even years to earn a decent income. Although this can easily be the case, it needn't be. Those who claim that this happened to them, and perhaps quote it as the reason they gave up working at home, are probably those who underestimated the hard work entailed in leaving traditional jobs and staying at home instead. You wouldn't walk into a standard office job without having trained for it, prepared for it, and made sure that you're ready.
The same is true when considering work from home opportunities. It will be important to plan and prepare well in advance. Some people spend weeks or months working in their own time after work to get things started, and then switch to working part time to allow them to push the home work more, before finally committing to it full time. It's unlikely that you'll be able to walk out of a well-paid job on Friday evening and start heading up a successful and profitable home business opportunity on Monday morning.
Assumption 2: That you'll no longer have any support if things go wrong.
Of course, there's a degree of truth here, but in all honesty, it needn't be the case. If you're considering a work at home business, the chances are you've already started to investigate the possibilities. One thing you may well have noticed is how many forums and discussion boards there are which are maintained by those who have already started working from home, or have been doing so for years.
Make sure you join these, and talk to people. Often they'll be great support, but they'll also help put you in touch with relevant organizations and institutions which could offer a great deal of support and advice, whether it's tax related, sorting out your accounting, or looking at marketing strategies.
Overlooked point 1: Too many people assume that if they give up the day job and start working from home, they'll be able to relax a great deal more, with less pressure and more flexibility with hours. Of course, this can be the case, but only if you plan for it very carefully. A huge mistake made by some people is to start their home business on a Monday morning by sleeping in a few extra hours, taking leisurely time to watch daytime television, and squeeze a bit of work in here and there.
It's only when they start to realize how little work has been completed and how little money they've earned, that the pressure builds. Work from home business arrangements or opportunities require an inordinate amount of self-discipline. It requires that you plan carefully and rigidly, being aware of the work you need to do and planning your time off and breaks very carefully.
If you're not a very self-disciplined person, or would find it too tempting, this needs to be something you consider carefully. But with good planning and sensible use of your time, working from home can really provide the ultimate flexibility, and give you much greater freedom.
Overlooked point 2: Pressure from home. This might seem odd, since you're probably well aware of the pressures of office life, but your home is less stressful, and there's almost no pressure there - which is why you want to work from home in the first place, right? The trouble is that too few people really appreciate the pressure which their family can unwittingly bring to bear on their business plan. Seeing you at home all day, master of your own time, can easily give the impression that your time is now theirs.
Constant pressure to do little jobs around the house, play with the children, taxi them here and there, do some shopping, and a hundred and one other little daily tasks can eat into your concentration, eat into your precious time, and make you feel guilty for locking yourself away to work.
Bear this in mind, and discuss the whole business plan with your family to ensure they understand how you'll need their support.
If you take all of these hindrances to your success into consideration when you work from home, and take steps to ensure that you don't make false assumptions, and that you overlook nothing, than you will have a better than average chance of success with your new home business.
Many of the really important issues which need to be considered very carefully before making such a life change are often not given much thought until the jump has been made. In this article, let's have a look at some of the common assumptions and those matters overlooked, or not considered seriously enough.
Assumption 1: That you'll need to take a massive pay cut and take weeks, months or even years to earn a decent income. Although this can easily be the case, it needn't be. Those who claim that this happened to them, and perhaps quote it as the reason they gave up working at home, are probably those who underestimated the hard work entailed in leaving traditional jobs and staying at home instead. You wouldn't walk into a standard office job without having trained for it, prepared for it, and made sure that you're ready.
The same is true when considering work from home opportunities. It will be important to plan and prepare well in advance. Some people spend weeks or months working in their own time after work to get things started, and then switch to working part time to allow them to push the home work more, before finally committing to it full time. It's unlikely that you'll be able to walk out of a well-paid job on Friday evening and start heading up a successful and profitable home business opportunity on Monday morning.
Assumption 2: That you'll no longer have any support if things go wrong.
Of course, there's a degree of truth here, but in all honesty, it needn't be the case. If you're considering a work at home business, the chances are you've already started to investigate the possibilities. One thing you may well have noticed is how many forums and discussion boards there are which are maintained by those who have already started working from home, or have been doing so for years.
Make sure you join these, and talk to people. Often they'll be great support, but they'll also help put you in touch with relevant organizations and institutions which could offer a great deal of support and advice, whether it's tax related, sorting out your accounting, or looking at marketing strategies.
Overlooked point 1: Too many people assume that if they give up the day job and start working from home, they'll be able to relax a great deal more, with less pressure and more flexibility with hours. Of course, this can be the case, but only if you plan for it very carefully. A huge mistake made by some people is to start their home business on a Monday morning by sleeping in a few extra hours, taking leisurely time to watch daytime television, and squeeze a bit of work in here and there.
It's only when they start to realize how little work has been completed and how little money they've earned, that the pressure builds. Work from home business arrangements or opportunities require an inordinate amount of self-discipline. It requires that you plan carefully and rigidly, being aware of the work you need to do and planning your time off and breaks very carefully.
If you're not a very self-disciplined person, or would find it too tempting, this needs to be something you consider carefully. But with good planning and sensible use of your time, working from home can really provide the ultimate flexibility, and give you much greater freedom.
Overlooked point 2: Pressure from home. This might seem odd, since you're probably well aware of the pressures of office life, but your home is less stressful, and there's almost no pressure there - which is why you want to work from home in the first place, right? The trouble is that too few people really appreciate the pressure which their family can unwittingly bring to bear on their business plan. Seeing you at home all day, master of your own time, can easily give the impression that your time is now theirs.
Constant pressure to do little jobs around the house, play with the children, taxi them here and there, do some shopping, and a hundred and one other little daily tasks can eat into your concentration, eat into your precious time, and make you feel guilty for locking yourself away to work.
Bear this in mind, and discuss the whole business plan with your family to ensure they understand how you'll need their support.
If you take all of these hindrances to your success into consideration when you work from home, and take steps to ensure that you don't make false assumptions, and that you overlook nothing, than you will have a better than average chance of success with your new home business.
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Fatal Branding Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
In launching a new business, branding can often be an aspect given far less attention than it really deserves, and this can cause a number of problems and issues in the future. The brand of a product or service, or the company as a whole, can make a huge difference as far as its success is concerned. Think of the many brands which are clearly in the general public's consciousness, and then ask yourself, how they managed to get there.
In some cases, it is simply as a result of longevity. Naturally, major brands or companies which have been around for many years have become well known, and household names. But there are many new companies, organizations and services available which have not been around for very long at all, and yet they have already achieved a high level of status and recognition.
The most successful companies, including offline and online home businesses, put a great deal of time, effort and attention into their branding, and will include marketing and advertising into the discussion to try to ensure that the product is as successful as possible.
Branding can be everything from the name of the product or company, the logo, and any attributes such as color themes, styles, physical appearances and slogans. These need to work together, without being too complicated.
When it comes to a successful brand, simplicity is often the key.
Sometimes the very complicated graphics, or difficult names, can be forgotten or ignored too easily. The simplest graphics, slogans and names can often become very popular, simply because they are so easy to remember and to recognize.
If you think of logos first of all, which brands jump to mind? Often it is the simple, clear, distinct logos which are most easily remembered, such as Nike, for example. Although there are successful logos which are at the same time quite complex, they tend to be in the minority, and have another aspect to them which is simple, in order to compensate for it. The Coca Cola logo is rather more complex than Nike's tick, yet the colours are limited to red and white, with a distinctive font.
Branding involves a wide range of aspects, the name being one which is of most importance. Remembering a logo, or a slogan, or even a color theme, without being able to remember the actual product or business name, is of no use whatsoever. Any logo or slogan needs to be able to bring the product or business name to mind, otherwise the branding has failed.
But thinking of a clever brand name is fraught with challenges. How do you come up with a name which is memorable, easy to pronounce, even if your customers don't speak the same language as you, and at the same time, encourages associations which are positive and relevant?
When deciding on a good brand name for a product, there are a few golden rules. Firstly, avoid trying to cash in on a rival's success by emulating their brand name, or copying or adapting it in a way which is clearly recognizable. Although this has been done before, and occasionally with a measure of success, it is best to avoid it for a number of reasons.
Associating yourself too closely with a rival could result in people thinking you are the other company, and remembering your advertising, but their product. You might also find yourself beset with legal challenges and infringement of copyright issues. Not only that, but what would you do if there was a scandal, or problem with the company you were trying to piggy back a ride on?
The general public has tired of words such as 'mega', and other related superlatives. The trouble with superlatives is that they can be too frequently abused and, like a medicine or drug, they become accepted, and eventually ignored and unnoticed. If your first product is a 'mega', and then you bring out an improved model, what superlative will you use next?
And after that? Eventually it can become absurd, with products branded as new, and improved, mega super products that begin to sound slightly desperate.
Be aware also that when people are searching the web for products or services such as yours, the name needs to be clearly associated with the type of product or service. Think about the keywords you'll be using. If you're selling web hosting, then try to include the words web, hosting, or other technology related words in the brand name, since most searches will be based on these.
Branding is a tricky area, and needs to be treated with caution and care, and given enough attention, without overworking it to the point of unnecessary complexity.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.
In some cases, it is simply as a result of longevity. Naturally, major brands or companies which have been around for many years have become well known, and household names. But there are many new companies, organizations and services available which have not been around for very long at all, and yet they have already achieved a high level of status and recognition.
The most successful companies, including offline and online home businesses, put a great deal of time, effort and attention into their branding, and will include marketing and advertising into the discussion to try to ensure that the product is as successful as possible.
Branding can be everything from the name of the product or company, the logo, and any attributes such as color themes, styles, physical appearances and slogans. These need to work together, without being too complicated.
When it comes to a successful brand, simplicity is often the key.
Sometimes the very complicated graphics, or difficult names, can be forgotten or ignored too easily. The simplest graphics, slogans and names can often become very popular, simply because they are so easy to remember and to recognize.
If you think of logos first of all, which brands jump to mind? Often it is the simple, clear, distinct logos which are most easily remembered, such as Nike, for example. Although there are successful logos which are at the same time quite complex, they tend to be in the minority, and have another aspect to them which is simple, in order to compensate for it. The Coca Cola logo is rather more complex than Nike's tick, yet the colours are limited to red and white, with a distinctive font.
Branding involves a wide range of aspects, the name being one which is of most importance. Remembering a logo, or a slogan, or even a color theme, without being able to remember the actual product or business name, is of no use whatsoever. Any logo or slogan needs to be able to bring the product or business name to mind, otherwise the branding has failed.
But thinking of a clever brand name is fraught with challenges. How do you come up with a name which is memorable, easy to pronounce, even if your customers don't speak the same language as you, and at the same time, encourages associations which are positive and relevant?
When deciding on a good brand name for a product, there are a few golden rules. Firstly, avoid trying to cash in on a rival's success by emulating their brand name, or copying or adapting it in a way which is clearly recognizable. Although this has been done before, and occasionally with a measure of success, it is best to avoid it for a number of reasons.
Associating yourself too closely with a rival could result in people thinking you are the other company, and remembering your advertising, but their product. You might also find yourself beset with legal challenges and infringement of copyright issues. Not only that, but what would you do if there was a scandal, or problem with the company you were trying to piggy back a ride on?
The general public has tired of words such as 'mega', and other related superlatives. The trouble with superlatives is that they can be too frequently abused and, like a medicine or drug, they become accepted, and eventually ignored and unnoticed. If your first product is a 'mega', and then you bring out an improved model, what superlative will you use next?
And after that? Eventually it can become absurd, with products branded as new, and improved, mega super products that begin to sound slightly desperate.
Be aware also that when people are searching the web for products or services such as yours, the name needs to be clearly associated with the type of product or service. Think about the keywords you'll be using. If you're selling web hosting, then try to include the words web, hosting, or other technology related words in the brand name, since most searches will be based on these.
Branding is a tricky area, and needs to be treated with caution and care, and given enough attention, without overworking it to the point of unnecessary complexity.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.
Monday, 3 August 2009
August Print Offers Of The Month
Why not take up some of our fantastic printing offers of the month - for a full list of August's Printing.com offers please visit our website www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk and click on offers!
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Being an Entrepreneur - The Reality of Following Your Dream
Entrepreneurialism can sound like a frightening word (and that's not just getting the spelling right!) The trouble is that many people assume that entrepreneurs are go-getters of the modern world, the high flying successes with bank balances bursting at the seams, and the Midas touch that turns ideas into gold overnight; they're the people whose bank managers call them up asking for a loan.
The truth is very different. Ask any entrepreneur and they'll gladly put you right, and assure you that nothing could be further from the truth.
Many of the common assumptions people associate with independent business owners, or sole traders, are woefully inaccurate, often gleaned from the media's obsession with personal individual success and the American Dream.
Let's look at what being an entrepreneur really means, and who these people really are.
Most entrepreneurs are ordinary people like you or me. They are very rarely the high flying successes, flung skywards through their success in the city; in fact, those who already have a successful city career, in what one might term a 'traditional' or 'normal' job are the least likely to step from behind the security of their desk, and brave the world alone.
Generally those who do take the initiative are those who are either fed up with the monotony or sheer frustration which can come with many jobs these days, or who have a burning personal desire or passion, a dream they feel compelled to follow.
We all have dreams, hopes and ambitions; entrepreneurs are, in the main, simply those people who have got up from their comfortable office chair with lumbar support and arm rests and stepped outside to do something about those dreams, ambitions and desires. They are, largely speaking, passionate people, with self belief and determination.
But let's consider the next assumption that tends to walk into such a
discussion: risk. Most people, at least, most people who have never tried, will happily tell you that starting out on your own, becoming your own boss, and starting up your own business idea is incredibly risky, and that it is likely to cost you a fortune, and that you'll see very little income for years, and even that is assuming you survive long enough to earn anything.
Most of this scaremongering is meant well, but generally comes from those who could never become entrepreneurs because they have no self belief, no courage, and have packaged away their dreams and ambition in a small cardboard box which has been locked away in a filing cabinet in the basement of the office block in which they have willingly becoming imprisoned until released back into society when they retire.
There is risk in anything, as we can readily see today, with the stock market looking gloomy, traders panicking, businesses crashing, and increasing number of people finding themselves out of work. There is no longer such a thing as job security, or a job for life - in any business.
Entrepreneurialism is a way of protecting yourself, to a certain degree, by taking greater control over your finances, job and future.
You become the boss, aware of all aspects of your business, and able to make sensible decisions both within your business and your personal life, in full knowledge of the situation, and all relevant factors. Who can honestly say that, while working for a company or business, your boss keeps you fully informed of every possible risk and problem occurring which could potentially jeopardize the future of your job, income or even the company?
Very few!
Entrepreneurialism is not risk free - that would be absurd to suggest, but the risks are known, and manageable. You're in control, and that alone can make a world of difference to your peace of mind. Stress is largely down to a feeling that you are not in control; no matter how much needs doing, or whatever the pressure, stress only becomes an issue when we feel over burdened with worries and pressure, and unable to control where we are and what we are expected to do.
If you have a business idea, a hobby you'd like to turn into a home business, a work from home opportunity you'd like to pursue, or a ground breaking product or service you'd like to launch, then running your own business may well be for you, giving you the opportunity to follow your dreams, lower stress, feel in control, and be positive about your future.
All you need is a plan, and a dream and, of course, belief in yourself.
Naz Daud is founder of CityLocal. Naz can help you to make your entrepreneur dreams come true with many different ideas on his website.
The truth is very different. Ask any entrepreneur and they'll gladly put you right, and assure you that nothing could be further from the truth.
Many of the common assumptions people associate with independent business owners, or sole traders, are woefully inaccurate, often gleaned from the media's obsession with personal individual success and the American Dream.
Let's look at what being an entrepreneur really means, and who these people really are.
Most entrepreneurs are ordinary people like you or me. They are very rarely the high flying successes, flung skywards through their success in the city; in fact, those who already have a successful city career, in what one might term a 'traditional' or 'normal' job are the least likely to step from behind the security of their desk, and brave the world alone.
Generally those who do take the initiative are those who are either fed up with the monotony or sheer frustration which can come with many jobs these days, or who have a burning personal desire or passion, a dream they feel compelled to follow.
We all have dreams, hopes and ambitions; entrepreneurs are, in the main, simply those people who have got up from their comfortable office chair with lumbar support and arm rests and stepped outside to do something about those dreams, ambitions and desires. They are, largely speaking, passionate people, with self belief and determination.
But let's consider the next assumption that tends to walk into such a
discussion: risk. Most people, at least, most people who have never tried, will happily tell you that starting out on your own, becoming your own boss, and starting up your own business idea is incredibly risky, and that it is likely to cost you a fortune, and that you'll see very little income for years, and even that is assuming you survive long enough to earn anything.
Most of this scaremongering is meant well, but generally comes from those who could never become entrepreneurs because they have no self belief, no courage, and have packaged away their dreams and ambition in a small cardboard box which has been locked away in a filing cabinet in the basement of the office block in which they have willingly becoming imprisoned until released back into society when they retire.
There is risk in anything, as we can readily see today, with the stock market looking gloomy, traders panicking, businesses crashing, and increasing number of people finding themselves out of work. There is no longer such a thing as job security, or a job for life - in any business.
Entrepreneurialism is a way of protecting yourself, to a certain degree, by taking greater control over your finances, job and future.
You become the boss, aware of all aspects of your business, and able to make sensible decisions both within your business and your personal life, in full knowledge of the situation, and all relevant factors. Who can honestly say that, while working for a company or business, your boss keeps you fully informed of every possible risk and problem occurring which could potentially jeopardize the future of your job, income or even the company?
Very few!
Entrepreneurialism is not risk free - that would be absurd to suggest, but the risks are known, and manageable. You're in control, and that alone can make a world of difference to your peace of mind. Stress is largely down to a feeling that you are not in control; no matter how much needs doing, or whatever the pressure, stress only becomes an issue when we feel over burdened with worries and pressure, and unable to control where we are and what we are expected to do.
If you have a business idea, a hobby you'd like to turn into a home business, a work from home opportunity you'd like to pursue, or a ground breaking product or service you'd like to launch, then running your own business may well be for you, giving you the opportunity to follow your dreams, lower stress, feel in control, and be positive about your future.
All you need is a plan, and a dream and, of course, belief in yourself.
Naz Daud is founder of CityLocal. Naz can help you to make your entrepreneur dreams come true with many different ideas on his website.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Shopping Tricks of the Online Retail Trade
Not that many years ago the words retail and shopping would tend to conjure up images of crowded high streets, busy shops stuffed full of shoppers frantically squeezing past each other towards the sale items at the back, long queues at the checkout and weary staff trying to keep a smile on their faces. Towards Christmas this happy and carefree image could deteriorate into something more like a cattle market when the barbecue has just been uncovered.
Today, retailers are turning to the web and to internet technology more and more, and as those in the retail sector turn increasingly to the internet, so do shoppers and consumers. It's been a hard journey for some shops and companies, whilst others have embraced the online world of shopping. It's a similar story for consumers, with an increasing number turning to websites for their shopping needs rather than the high street.
There are a number of obvious benefits in terms of online shopping, both for the customer and for the retailer; some of these are obvious, but others are less so. Perhaps the most obvious advantage from the point of view of both customers and retailers is that there are no crowds. As a customer I much prefer being able to sit in a comfy chair with a cup of tea, browsing at my leisure. It allows me to compare products easily, without having to rush up and down the high street darting in to half a dozen shops just to compare prices and offers. It also allows me to save and bookmark items or products conveniently, so that I can come back to them a little later, at my complete convenience.
But the world of online shopping isn't as simple as just taking a high street shop, and building a website which closely resembles the business image with which customers are familiar. Those retailers who have taken the simplistic approach are not only likely to be missing out on a significant portion of sales, but are missing a number of tricks.
Take the idea of music, for example. Thankfully retailers haven't seen the need to stream background music through our speakers whilst we browse their website, whereas we are often forced to tolerate such music when in the shops. Most of us are aware that this piped music is designed to make us feel good, to relax us, and to make us want to hang around a little more, possibly buying a little more.
But when it comes to online retailing, this isn't as necessary. Generally consumers are comfortable, and relaxed, perhaps with a drink, or a snack with them. They'll have logged on at a time that is convenient to them, and so as a retailer you have at least a temporarily captive audience. They're already within your domain, and relaxed, so what do you do about that next?
In a high street outlet you're more likely to try to entice customers with the geographical layout of your shop. These are old tricks of course, but ones which invariably still work. Have the sale sign on the front window, but the actual sale items at the back of the shop, encouraging people in, but presenting full price, latest fashion items all the way there and back.
This is a tried and tested way of enticing customers in to your shop, and getting them deeply involved, right to the back, at which point your impressive displays, helpful staff and relaxing music will all help.
But what about your website? Online retail needs to employ tricks as well.
It simply isn't a virtual catalogue, and those companies who do present nothing less than a version of their catalogue in digital form are missing out on many opportunities. So, you've worked hard optimizing your website for the search engines, and promoting the address through offline and online advertising, but what will you do to encourage your customers to explore more deeply into your website - to metaphorically dig all the way to the back?
There's no single right answer to this, but there are plenty of ways in which it can be achieved. Having large banners on the front page advertising sale items, but linking to pages which contain both sale items and full price items is just one, rather basic way in which this can be achieved. Depending on the nature of your business, you'll need to think carefully about what tactics you can use to encourage visitors right to the back of your virtual store. But please, don't start streaming piped music.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.
Today, retailers are turning to the web and to internet technology more and more, and as those in the retail sector turn increasingly to the internet, so do shoppers and consumers. It's been a hard journey for some shops and companies, whilst others have embraced the online world of shopping. It's a similar story for consumers, with an increasing number turning to websites for their shopping needs rather than the high street.
There are a number of obvious benefits in terms of online shopping, both for the customer and for the retailer; some of these are obvious, but others are less so. Perhaps the most obvious advantage from the point of view of both customers and retailers is that there are no crowds. As a customer I much prefer being able to sit in a comfy chair with a cup of tea, browsing at my leisure. It allows me to compare products easily, without having to rush up and down the high street darting in to half a dozen shops just to compare prices and offers. It also allows me to save and bookmark items or products conveniently, so that I can come back to them a little later, at my complete convenience.
But the world of online shopping isn't as simple as just taking a high street shop, and building a website which closely resembles the business image with which customers are familiar. Those retailers who have taken the simplistic approach are not only likely to be missing out on a significant portion of sales, but are missing a number of tricks.
Take the idea of music, for example. Thankfully retailers haven't seen the need to stream background music through our speakers whilst we browse their website, whereas we are often forced to tolerate such music when in the shops. Most of us are aware that this piped music is designed to make us feel good, to relax us, and to make us want to hang around a little more, possibly buying a little more.
But when it comes to online retailing, this isn't as necessary. Generally consumers are comfortable, and relaxed, perhaps with a drink, or a snack with them. They'll have logged on at a time that is convenient to them, and so as a retailer you have at least a temporarily captive audience. They're already within your domain, and relaxed, so what do you do about that next?
In a high street outlet you're more likely to try to entice customers with the geographical layout of your shop. These are old tricks of course, but ones which invariably still work. Have the sale sign on the front window, but the actual sale items at the back of the shop, encouraging people in, but presenting full price, latest fashion items all the way there and back.
This is a tried and tested way of enticing customers in to your shop, and getting them deeply involved, right to the back, at which point your impressive displays, helpful staff and relaxing music will all help.
But what about your website? Online retail needs to employ tricks as well.
It simply isn't a virtual catalogue, and those companies who do present nothing less than a version of their catalogue in digital form are missing out on many opportunities. So, you've worked hard optimizing your website for the search engines, and promoting the address through offline and online advertising, but what will you do to encourage your customers to explore more deeply into your website - to metaphorically dig all the way to the back?
There's no single right answer to this, but there are plenty of ways in which it can be achieved. Having large banners on the front page advertising sale items, but linking to pages which contain both sale items and full price items is just one, rather basic way in which this can be achieved. Depending on the nature of your business, you'll need to think carefully about what tactics you can use to encourage visitors right to the back of your virtual store. But please, don't start streaming piped music.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.
Friday, 3 July 2009
The Apprentice
SDM Productions international joins the government backed apprentice scheme. Managing Director Stuart Mundy said "I am really pleased that SDM has joined the new apprentice scheme, we are delighted to be working closely with Hampshire's Learning Skills Council in finding work placements within our organisation". SDM plan over the course of the next few months bring in 2 new apprentices to join under its graphic design, web & property lettings department.
Indoor Golf City Launches in Canada
SDM Productions International are proud to announce the expansion of Indoor Golf City in Canada - this is an extermly exciting time for indoor Golf City and its planned global expansion.
July Printing Offers Of The Month
Why not take up some of our fantastic printing offers of the month - for a full list of July's Printing.com offers please visit our website www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk and click on offer!
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Indoor Golf City Features in the Media
I am delighted to further announce that Indoor Golf City features in the media again. The Golf Business Development Magazine has produced an excellent editorial on our UK & Ireland Franchise Opportunity. Click on the link below to read the editorial, information on Indoor Golf City's Simulators & Franchise Opportunity.
http://content.yudu.com/Library/A18nnz/GBDJUNEJULY2009/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A//www.yudu.com/item/details/62742/GBD-JUNE-JULY-2009
http://content.yudu.com/Library/A18nnz/GBDJUNEJULY2009/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A//www.yudu.com/item/details/62742/GBD-JUNE-JULY-2009
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Venture Capital
Venture Capital - A Two Way Street
Although the concept of venture capital has been around for well over two hundred years, it is only really in the last twenty or thirty years that companies have specifically sought to boost entrepreneurialism and profit through the development and growth of successful businesses. Many of the venture capital companies trading today were initiated in the eighties or nineties.
Although this idea has proven to be popular and successful for both investors and for those struggling to take their business to the next level, there is widespread concern amongst new entrepreneurs or would be business owners that the current economical climate and general concern with the future economic outlook is liable to put off many would be investors. The concern is that venture capital investors are likely to be less interested in business, especially those with a higher degree of risk attached.
It is argued by many that for this reason it is not advisable to look to develop or found a new business because obtaining financial backing is likely to be almost impossible, stalling the company and preventing you from taking advantage of the markets you perceive to be available.
These concerns and worries are certainly very understandable, but in fact they are quite unfounded. Despite, or even perhaps because of the economical turmoil which the entire world is facing at the moment, there are not only emerging markets and opportunities developing which are there for the taking, but investors are seeking opportunities to ride the storm out on the back of growth which they perceive as being viable businesses.
The point is that in order to secure an investment, either from a venture capital firm, private investor or business angel, or even a venture capital trust, your business has to present itself in a clear, unambiguous way as highly likely to succeed. This has clearly always been the case, but today it is of critical importance to make sure that you do not rush in with the first new business idea you have, but that you take time to work out the business plan, you take time and effort to research the market, and you make the effort to put together a plan that can clearly demonstrate the potential for growth and success.
If you can do this within the current financial situation, then you will almost certainly find yourself gaining interest quicker than ever before.
Right now is perhaps the best time of all to show optimism and determination to succeed. The number of investors hasn't decreased, but the number of businesses has, and the growth of those already trading has not grown as quickly as forecasts would have suggested. With a good business plan, even if it is only a reasonably modest one, most entrepreneurs or small business owners should find themselves achieving more attention than they would have done only a couple of years ago before the markets crashed.
However, it is important not to confuse attention with investment. It might be easier than before to gain attention, but if you have not carried out your research, and have only a sketchy business model, then you can expect to see the potential investors walking away very quickly. It is more important than ever to do your homework, and be fully prepared.
But this shouldn't be seen as bad news at all. It's always been important to be prepared, and the current climate only highlights this need. By highlighting the importance of preparation, research, marketing and understanding, this means that today any business which succeeds in not only gaining venture capital interest, but also succeeds in gaining investment, has a rock solid base and is more likely to succeed and grow to at least expectations than might otherwise have occurred during times when investors may have been happy to take slightly larger risks.
Another aspect of venture capital which can often be forgotten is that it is not all about money - it is very much about getting people with experience and business knowledge to become involved in the business process. This can only be seen as a good thing, and having the right investor on board can do wonders for the growth and success of any business. Focussing entirely on getting the investment can be missing the point.
With an investment from a company or private investor, who will then be represented on the board, it can mean the difference between surviving, and succeeding. Don't opt for the first investor to wave a bundle of notes at your business plan. The investments are there for the taking, so don't assume that in today's climate you should jump in to the first investment option to present itself to you. Venture capital is a two-way street, and if you forget that fact, you could get run over before you've even started.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.
www.citylocal.co.uk
Although the concept of venture capital has been around for well over two hundred years, it is only really in the last twenty or thirty years that companies have specifically sought to boost entrepreneurialism and profit through the development and growth of successful businesses. Many of the venture capital companies trading today were initiated in the eighties or nineties.
Although this idea has proven to be popular and successful for both investors and for those struggling to take their business to the next level, there is widespread concern amongst new entrepreneurs or would be business owners that the current economical climate and general concern with the future economic outlook is liable to put off many would be investors. The concern is that venture capital investors are likely to be less interested in business, especially those with a higher degree of risk attached.
It is argued by many that for this reason it is not advisable to look to develop or found a new business because obtaining financial backing is likely to be almost impossible, stalling the company and preventing you from taking advantage of the markets you perceive to be available.
These concerns and worries are certainly very understandable, but in fact they are quite unfounded. Despite, or even perhaps because of the economical turmoil which the entire world is facing at the moment, there are not only emerging markets and opportunities developing which are there for the taking, but investors are seeking opportunities to ride the storm out on the back of growth which they perceive as being viable businesses.
The point is that in order to secure an investment, either from a venture capital firm, private investor or business angel, or even a venture capital trust, your business has to present itself in a clear, unambiguous way as highly likely to succeed. This has clearly always been the case, but today it is of critical importance to make sure that you do not rush in with the first new business idea you have, but that you take time to work out the business plan, you take time and effort to research the market, and you make the effort to put together a plan that can clearly demonstrate the potential for growth and success.
If you can do this within the current financial situation, then you will almost certainly find yourself gaining interest quicker than ever before.
Right now is perhaps the best time of all to show optimism and determination to succeed. The number of investors hasn't decreased, but the number of businesses has, and the growth of those already trading has not grown as quickly as forecasts would have suggested. With a good business plan, even if it is only a reasonably modest one, most entrepreneurs or small business owners should find themselves achieving more attention than they would have done only a couple of years ago before the markets crashed.
However, it is important not to confuse attention with investment. It might be easier than before to gain attention, but if you have not carried out your research, and have only a sketchy business model, then you can expect to see the potential investors walking away very quickly. It is more important than ever to do your homework, and be fully prepared.
But this shouldn't be seen as bad news at all. It's always been important to be prepared, and the current climate only highlights this need. By highlighting the importance of preparation, research, marketing and understanding, this means that today any business which succeeds in not only gaining venture capital interest, but also succeeds in gaining investment, has a rock solid base and is more likely to succeed and grow to at least expectations than might otherwise have occurred during times when investors may have been happy to take slightly larger risks.
Another aspect of venture capital which can often be forgotten is that it is not all about money - it is very much about getting people with experience and business knowledge to become involved in the business process. This can only be seen as a good thing, and having the right investor on board can do wonders for the growth and success of any business. Focussing entirely on getting the investment can be missing the point.
With an investment from a company or private investor, who will then be represented on the board, it can mean the difference between surviving, and succeeding. Don't opt for the first investor to wave a bundle of notes at your business plan. The investments are there for the taking, so don't assume that in today's climate you should jump in to the first investment option to present itself to you. Venture capital is a two-way street, and if you forget that fact, you could get run over before you've even started.
Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal. This Franchise Opportunity is for people who would like to work from home and be their own boss.
www.citylocal.co.uk
Thursday, 4 June 2009
June - Printing.com Offers
Why not take up some of our fantastic printing offers of the month - for a full list of June's Printing.com offers please visit our website www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Indoor Golf City Features in the Media
I am delighted to announce that Indoor Golf City has featured in the media with Golf Business News - read our story at http://www.golfbusinessnews.com/news/news.asp?storyid=5841§ion=0
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Vacancy
SDM Productions International are on the look out for a new web & graphic designer to join our already expanding team. To apply please send a copy of your CV and covering letter detailing your expected salary to:
Stuart Mundy
Managing Director
Quob Park
Titchfield Lane
Wickham
Hampshire
PO17 5PG
E-mail careers@sdmcorporation.com
Stuart Mundy
Managing Director
Quob Park
Titchfield Lane
Wickham
Hampshire
PO17 5PG
E-mail careers@sdmcorporation.com
Monday, 11 May 2009
May - Printing.com Offers
Why not take up some of our fantastic printing offers of the month - for a full list of May's Printing.com offers please visit our website http://www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk/
Friday, 24 April 2009
Indoor Golf City CNN Video
Indoor Golf City are proud to launch CNN Video
Living Golf a programe made by CNN Interview Rupert Fisher on the Indoor Golf Simulators.
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Indoorcitygolf.com
As managing director, this is a milestone for us as a company. We have been used to building and creating successful business opportunities over the years and I am excited indoorgolfcity.com has become apart of the SDM Family.
We are planning on launching 45 live golf simulators across various locations within the UK during the 2nd half of 2009.
I like to say a huge thank you to Sean Russell our Lead Graphic and Web designer who has designed our new logo and brand video, Sean is currently finishing off the indoorgolfcity.com website and we expect a launch date for May 1st.
Below will give you some further information on the Franchise Opportunity and also our brand video.
"this is the most accurate golf simulator ever produced and the best teaching and training tool for indoor golf" Nick Dougherty, European Tour & PGA Tour Player.
Indoorgolfcity.com provide the worlds most accurate and advanced golf simulators to consumers who want to play indoor golf, but experience real life playing conditions using advanced simulator technology.
Our vision at indoorgolfcity.com is to build a hub of indoor golfing simulators across the globe, which customers can browse and access via the indoorgolfcity.com website.
Our 3 tier franchising packages are tailored to suit which ever investment level franchisees choose. Our indoor golf simulators can either be set-up as a new indoor golf centre, to an arm of an existing entertainment leisure style business, or as an independent mobile business.
Come back to the blog page soon where I will update the progress on indoorgolfcity.com
Friday, 3 April 2009
Print offers you can refuse!
April's Special OfferWe've a great double-dip of offers this April - Buy one, get one FREE on all Business Cards, and Half Price Shaped Flyers.
We have Business Cards to suit every taste and budget, thick 400gsm Regular, uncoated Smoothwove, matt laminated Luxury, gloss laminated Fabu-Gloss, cool shaped Cut-Out and gloss highlighted StarMarque. Buy any two sets of Business Cards this month and we'll knock 50% off the total. Every size. Every style. Every finish. Every quantity.
If it's flyers you're looking for, you could have an unusually shaped, cut-out flyer for half price. Choose from Gloss or Matt Laminated Shaped Flyers or for something extra special, why not try StarMarque Shaped Flyers with shiny spot gloss highlights which really attract attention.
All these Spring Savers end 30th April, so order now!
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Do you have a Strategy!
It may be a cliché but the old saying 'fail to plan, plan to fail' is a true one. With any business, it's vital that you have some sort of formal business strategy in place for how you're going to grow and sustain a profitable business. Too many companies however ignore such advice and some end up paying dearly.
Take time out to evaluate your business and its direction, many of you may face hard and tough decisions to survive but in this current climate keeping you business in a positive state is key.
Take time out to evaluate your business and its direction, many of you may face hard and tough decisions to survive but in this current climate keeping you business in a positive state is key.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Sunday, 1 March 2009
SDM Strike Again
Well done team SDM for another storming month. Employee of the Month Goes to Ricky Whiting and Zoe Cridge.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
CMS - The Way Forward
Tired of not having the freedom and flexibility in your own website, let me introduce you to CMS!
Our content management systems are specifically designed to allow flexibility to meet your exact requirements, whilst at the same time keeping stability and security paramount.
There are many reasons for using a web content management system (CMS).
A content management system allows the end user (you and your staff) to update content on your website without technical skills or extensive know how. It is widely accepted that a web site is often the first exposure a potential customer gets to your company, so it is crucial to have the right up to date content presented in keeping with your branding. It is also a common complaint that web site content is out of date and a costly chore to maintain. Using a content management website ensures that you can keep your web content up to date and keep your customers informed with your news as it happens.
Once logged in to the administration area on your site, you have complete control over content such as images, text, links, files and multimedia. This may include adding new pages, administering site members, and sending e-mail newsletters.
The overall style of your CMS site is pre-defined by SDM Productions International specifically for you, with a custom web site design. This means that if you add new pages or content, it will have the right 'look and feel' by default. We call this the 'template' design, and may create a style guide for you, however we make only custom website designs.
We do this by researching your company's needs and tailor making a web design solution rather than creating generic templates which you choose from. This makes updates to your website simple in terms of style, allowing your company to concentrate on the content rather than getting bogged down by design. You will also be able to have greater input into the design if you choose, with advanced editing features and the ability to add HTML into the CMS.
Seems like magic
The ability to add pages and content to your own website with pre-defined professional styling does seem like magic. It makes it possible for people who cannot write code and HTML to be able to create their own website pages whenever they choose.
However, our system cannot create graphics for you, it cannot write your content for you and it does require time to add content to a website - we call that data entry or 'website population'. On the whole, SDM Productions Intl Ltd. offer ongoing services to our web content management customers, helping with graphic design and website population. Using CMS does make this process far quicker for us than hand building pages.
Web 2.0 Applications
In addition to our CMS websites a wide range of applications can be built into your site. Whether you are looking to introduce user generated content or create a rich user experience, SDM Productions Intl utilizes cutting edge applications and tools to allow you to quickly build community based environments and much more. Contact us to find out what we can do for you.
For further information on CMS websites or a personal quote contact us here http://www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk/quote.html
Our content management systems are specifically designed to allow flexibility to meet your exact requirements, whilst at the same time keeping stability and security paramount.
There are many reasons for using a web content management system (CMS).
A content management system allows the end user (you and your staff) to update content on your website without technical skills or extensive know how. It is widely accepted that a web site is often the first exposure a potential customer gets to your company, so it is crucial to have the right up to date content presented in keeping with your branding. It is also a common complaint that web site content is out of date and a costly chore to maintain. Using a content management website ensures that you can keep your web content up to date and keep your customers informed with your news as it happens.
Once logged in to the administration area on your site, you have complete control over content such as images, text, links, files and multimedia. This may include adding new pages, administering site members, and sending e-mail newsletters.
The overall style of your CMS site is pre-defined by SDM Productions International specifically for you, with a custom web site design. This means that if you add new pages or content, it will have the right 'look and feel' by default. We call this the 'template' design, and may create a style guide for you, however we make only custom website designs.
We do this by researching your company's needs and tailor making a web design solution rather than creating generic templates which you choose from. This makes updates to your website simple in terms of style, allowing your company to concentrate on the content rather than getting bogged down by design. You will also be able to have greater input into the design if you choose, with advanced editing features and the ability to add HTML into the CMS.
Seems like magic
The ability to add pages and content to your own website with pre-defined professional styling does seem like magic. It makes it possible for people who cannot write code and HTML to be able to create their own website pages whenever they choose.
However, our system cannot create graphics for you, it cannot write your content for you and it does require time to add content to a website - we call that data entry or 'website population'. On the whole, SDM Productions Intl Ltd. offer ongoing services to our web content management customers, helping with graphic design and website population. Using CMS does make this process far quicker for us than hand building pages.
Web 2.0 Applications
In addition to our CMS websites a wide range of applications can be built into your site. Whether you are looking to introduce user generated content or create a rich user experience, SDM Productions Intl utilizes cutting edge applications and tools to allow you to quickly build community based environments and much more. Contact us to find out what we can do for you.
For further information on CMS websites or a personal quote contact us here http://www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk/quote.html
Saturday, 14 February 2009
R = Recovery (not recession)
Ok, so its bad out there. Times are tough, there's no doubting that. However, don't you feel like the media are talking us all into a downward spiral? All we hear are bad news stories. There are some good business news stories out there but the simple fact is that good news does not sell newspapers.
Businesses that can ride out the storm will be well positioned when the market recovers. Here are a few on my idea's to help you ride the road to recovery and beat the recession.
Recovery Checklist
Are you in a good position to recover? Ask yourself these questions:
1) When did you last review your marketing material or your website?
2) Does your logo look like its past its sell by date?
3) Is your brand or message that your business portrays strong professional and consistent?
4) Do your customers realise all the services and products you offer?
5) Are you communicating frequently with your customers?
At SDM Productions International we offer a host of services that can support you and your business with your recovery checklist. Visit http://www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk/
Businesses that can ride out the storm will be well positioned when the market recovers. Here are a few on my idea's to help you ride the road to recovery and beat the recession.
Recovery Checklist
Are you in a good position to recover? Ask yourself these questions:
1) When did you last review your marketing material or your website?
2) Does your logo look like its past its sell by date?
3) Is your brand or message that your business portrays strong professional and consistent?
4) Do your customers realise all the services and products you offer?
5) Are you communicating frequently with your customers?
At SDM Productions International we offer a host of services that can support you and your business with your recovery checklist. Visit http://www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk/
7 Ways To Market Your Business Through This Recession
This year's going to be a tough one for most businesses. I'm not saying that to just jump on the dreaded "R" word bandwagon, or try to hype up the doom and gloom unnecessarily.
Those who continue to market their business through the recession are going to find things easier than those who don't. People haven't stopped buying altogether, they've just slowed down, cut back and are thinking much harder about whether to spend money, and if so who to spend it with.
1) Sit down and really think about how you're going to position your business to survive this.
2) Evaluate how effectively your marketing is supporting that message at the moment.
3) Explore as many ways as you can of getting your message out there.
4) Create a plan that you'll commit to for the next six months.
5) Stop wasting money on marketing that won't support your goals.
6) Get on the phone and talk to your customers, about how you can help them at the moment.
7) Invest in a marketing planning session.
By following some or all of these steps you will have a higher chance of surviving the recession.
Those who continue to market their business through the recession are going to find things easier than those who don't. People haven't stopped buying altogether, they've just slowed down, cut back and are thinking much harder about whether to spend money, and if so who to spend it with.
1) Sit down and really think about how you're going to position your business to survive this.
2) Evaluate how effectively your marketing is supporting that message at the moment.
3) Explore as many ways as you can of getting your message out there.
4) Create a plan that you'll commit to for the next six months.
5) Stop wasting money on marketing that won't support your goals.
6) Get on the phone and talk to your customers, about how you can help them at the moment.
7) Invest in a marketing planning session.
By following some or all of these steps you will have a higher chance of surviving the recession.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Snow At The Office..........
As I thought the snow continued throughout the night and caused another mayhem morning for the SDM staff, but we all eventually made it to work.
The photo to the left is the view of the SDM Corporation head office from our window, we might not get to see this view for another year so here's a little reminder!!
Monday, 2 February 2009
What a day at the office!!
The Snow certainly did cause some disruption today at the SDM Head Office - our poor Zoe had a bit of a slide down the hill and had a bump at the bottom, but help was on hand, and all the SDM Staff got Zoe's car out the ditch. But some how backed it back into the fence after!!
Ricky was stranded in Brighton after 7 inches of snow and got his nice Mercedes wedged on the drive at home and couldn't move anywhere - a nice working day at home for the Rickster. Still it was great to see some snow after a few years wait. I'm sure all will be back to normal tomorrow - "or will it".
Ricky was stranded in Brighton after 7 inches of snow and got his nice Mercedes wedged on the drive at home and couldn't move anywhere - a nice working day at home for the Rickster. Still it was great to see some snow after a few years wait. I'm sure all will be back to normal tomorrow - "or will it".
Is your Brand Failing your Business?
Is your brand losing you business? trust me, the quality of your branding can mean the difference between success and failure. No matter what size your business is, branding is essential to differentiate yourself from the competition. It's your personality, and it needn't cost the earth. How you're perceived will depend on the effort you put into your marketing communication.
Your Logo is central to your brand. Compare your logo with your competitors, If its not better or at least as compelling, then you need some logo surgery - SDM Productions can give your logo a complete face lift or you maybe starting out in business and need a brand new identity. At SDM Productions we take care and pride to ensure the logo we design for you fits the purpose to you and you're business. We'll ask you lots of questions to help us understand what you're about and what you're trying to achieve. From this we'll come up with some idea's.
For a logo re-design or for a fresh new look starting at only £49 + VAT visit http://www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk/ or call 0871 666 1928.
Your Logo is central to your brand. Compare your logo with your competitors, If its not better or at least as compelling, then you need some logo surgery - SDM Productions can give your logo a complete face lift or you maybe starting out in business and need a brand new identity. At SDM Productions we take care and pride to ensure the logo we design for you fits the purpose to you and you're business. We'll ask you lots of questions to help us understand what you're about and what you're trying to achieve. From this we'll come up with some idea's.
For a logo re-design or for a fresh new look starting at only £49 + VAT visit http://www.sdmproductionsuk.co.uk/ or call 0871 666 1928.
Well Done SDM
A massive well done to all my team members at SDM for a brilliant performance in January, may this continue into February.
Thanks all
Stuart
Thanks all
Stuart
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Power Words That Sell........
Is your sales team lacking in success and results, do they need motivating..................
Research has shown that certain words have a powerful persuasive effect on motivating people to buy. Use these magic words to improve your sales.
BIG . BARGAIN. NOW . PRACTICAL . FREE . BREAKTHROUGH . MIRACLE . EXCITING. ANNOUNCING . DIRECT . AUTHENTIC . QUALITY . REDUCE . EXCLUSIVE . ABSOLUTELY . QUICKLY . LOVE . COMPLETE . DELIVERED . IMMEDIATLEY . LIMITED . APPROVED . HUGE . HOW . EASILY . ENDORSED . GIFT. SUCCESSFUL . GREATEST . SECRETS . GET . REVOLUTIONARY . BETTER . FAMOUS . YOU . MAGIC . PROFESSIONAL . GUARANTEED . SPECIAL . LARGEST . LIFETIME . DISCOUNT . STRANGE . UNIQUE . PROFITABLE . POWERFUL . NEW . WIN . EXCELLENT . LOWEST . SUPERIOR . AMAZING
Go on try some of these powerful words with your sales team and see if it makes a difference!
Research has shown that certain words have a powerful persuasive effect on motivating people to buy. Use these magic words to improve your sales.
BIG . BARGAIN. NOW . PRACTICAL . FREE . BREAKTHROUGH . MIRACLE . EXCITING. ANNOUNCING . DIRECT . AUTHENTIC . QUALITY . REDUCE . EXCLUSIVE . ABSOLUTELY . QUICKLY . LOVE . COMPLETE . DELIVERED . IMMEDIATLEY . LIMITED . APPROVED . HUGE . HOW . EASILY . ENDORSED . GIFT. SUCCESSFUL . GREATEST . SECRETS . GET . REVOLUTIONARY . BETTER . FAMOUS . YOU . MAGIC . PROFESSIONAL . GUARANTEED . SPECIAL . LARGEST . LIFETIME . DISCOUNT . STRANGE . UNIQUE . PROFITABLE . POWERFUL . NEW . WIN . EXCELLENT . LOWEST . SUPERIOR . AMAZING
Go on try some of these powerful words with your sales team and see if it makes a difference!
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Real Help With Finance
There is help out there!!
Government help
The government has launched a package of financial measures that will help viable businesses with temporary cashflow difficulties. These supplement existing government help already available.
Government guaranteed lending
The government has launched a package of financial measures that will help enable banks to continue or resume lending to viable businesses with temporary cashflow difficulties.
Be prepared to research all possible options, and to negotiate with the lender, to get the best deal for your business. Since these are commercial products, participating lenders will determine individual borrowing eligibility.
Government guaranteed lending through the new Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) is open to businesses with an annual turnover of up to £25million who are currently not easily able to access the finance they need. This will enable businesses to secure loans of between £1,000 and £1million. Note: all lending decisions will be at the discretion of the bank supplying the loan.
To find out more on government help please visit www.berr.gov.uk
Monday, 19 January 2009
Welcome
Welcome to my MD Blog
Stuart Mundy Managing Director - SDM Corporation & SDM Productions International.
My Blog will be updated on a regular basis with news on SDM's Businesses and other business topics that you may find of help and interest.
I have a keen interest in the business world and will write my thoughts and topics on the UK's Business economy, with hints and tips on how to battle through our economic climate.
Stuart Mundy Managing Director - SDM Corporation & SDM Productions International.
My Blog will be updated on a regular basis with news on SDM's Businesses and other business topics that you may find of help and interest.
I have a keen interest in the business world and will write my thoughts and topics on the UK's Business economy, with hints and tips on how to battle through our economic climate.
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