One powerful source of help in developing your business is often forgotten, your existing customers.
I said recently that you should understand what influencing them, i.e their market trends, how their needs are changing, how they feel about you as a supplier and what makes them tick.
I have lost count of the number of times I have seen businesses that take their best and biggest customers for granted. The first time they know that the clients needs have changed or are disenchanted with them as a supplier is when they stop doing business with them.
Help is at hand, there is a powerful tool that allows any business that has internet access to carry out electronic surveys.
Check out Survey Monkey http://www.surveymonkey.com which is a user friendly website that has interactive tools to help design produce and manage online surveys.
The good news is there is no initial charge to sign up. If you only want to produce simple surveys and will only receive up to a maximum 100 responses per survey then the cost is zero.
Even if you upgrade to the next level allowing more functionality and up to 1000 responses per survey the cost is only $19.95 per month.
The top grade option with all the optional extras and unlimited responses is only $200 per year (less than £100).
Just think about all that information and customer knowledge and what you can do with it, for a start you will be ahead of your competitors.
Unless they read this blog of course………
Happy surveying!
For more information about how simple techniques could help your business e-mail me today!
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Friday, 18 January 2008
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Free Help for Businesses!
I knew that would get your attention!
As a business owner you are probably as suspicious as me when you see something for free but sometimes there isn't a catch or you just need to go in with you eyes open.
One of my clients showed me a letter from a Local newspaper group inviting her to a free workshop about getting the best out of advertising. Of course we know that the aim is to get you to book advertising with their publications. But hey you don't have to place any business with them if you don't want to.
This is an example of the sort of help that can supplement other advice or training.
Other sources like the free research that I mentioned that other day can be really valuable.
But don't forget to use the other advice and tips from Web-Blogs like the one you are reading now. I will be shortly launching some more services on line much of which will be free so watch this space.
I would also like to recommend two other Websites/Web-blogs that I visit on a daily basis.
Check out Ed Rivis website http://www.edrivis.com .
Also the other person who has a great blog is Jim Sansi, http://www.thekaizenbusiness.com .
Remember 'Knowledge is Power' and this what will give you the edge over your competition.
For more information about how simple techniques could help your business e-mail me today!
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
As a business owner you are probably as suspicious as me when you see something for free but sometimes there isn't a catch or you just need to go in with you eyes open.
One of my clients showed me a letter from a Local newspaper group inviting her to a free workshop about getting the best out of advertising. Of course we know that the aim is to get you to book advertising with their publications. But hey you don't have to place any business with them if you don't want to.
This is an example of the sort of help that can supplement other advice or training.
Other sources like the free research that I mentioned that other day can be really valuable.
But don't forget to use the other advice and tips from Web-Blogs like the one you are reading now. I will be shortly launching some more services on line much of which will be free so watch this space.
I would also like to recommend two other Websites/Web-blogs that I visit on a daily basis.
Check out Ed Rivis website http://www.edrivis.com .
Also the other person who has a great blog is Jim Sansi, http://www.thekaizenbusiness.com .
Remember 'Knowledge is Power' and this what will give you the edge over your competition.
For more information about how simple techniques could help your business e-mail me today!
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
2008 Downturn or Not
In the last few couple of weeks I have been working with clients and helping them to make sense of the scare stories in the UK press about the impact of the sub-prime crisis and what some pundits are saying about the prospects for economy.
I have just issued an article to a number of newspapers and business publications and the media. If you would like a copy of the full article, click here. Here is a taster of what I have written.
Of course I have already said that I don’t believe what some panicking journalists are implying ie crashes, recession etc.
But you should as a sensible business owner, take account of what’s happening and plan accordingly.
Here are the actions that you should take now!
Firstly plan your sales and growth realistically
Do a thorough review of your costs and overheads, (not a quick ‘back of the cigarette packet’ estimate).
Save costs and overheads but not at the cost of business, for example in a downturn a lot of businesses first reaction is to slash marketing dramatically but that can be counterproductive.
Manage your finances using good Cashflow and Profit & Loss forecasts and credit management records.
This business maxim is still true today, ‘Turnover is vanity, Profit is sanity, and Cash is reality’. Think Profit and Cash not turnover.
Do you have a big overdraft? Reduce this by converting the proportion of it that is constant to a commercial loan, it can save lots of money.
Are you reliant on one or two big customers? If so, could you tie them into a longer term contract or if you are a service business, into a maintenance contract.
What are you spending money on, are you getting the best deal?
Get three quotes for everything, ask for fixed price quotes from your service suppliers that includes your accountant etc.
For more information about how simple techniques could help your business e-mail me today!
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
I have just issued an article to a number of newspapers and business publications and the media. If you would like a copy of the full article, click here. Here is a taster of what I have written.
Of course I have already said that I don’t believe what some panicking journalists are implying ie crashes, recession etc.
But you should as a sensible business owner, take account of what’s happening and plan accordingly.
Here are the actions that you should take now!
Firstly plan your sales and growth realistically
Do a thorough review of your costs and overheads, (not a quick ‘back of the cigarette packet’ estimate).
Save costs and overheads but not at the cost of business, for example in a downturn a lot of businesses first reaction is to slash marketing dramatically but that can be counterproductive.
Manage your finances using good Cashflow and Profit & Loss forecasts and credit management records.
This business maxim is still true today, ‘Turnover is vanity, Profit is sanity, and Cash is reality’. Think Profit and Cash not turnover.
Do you have a big overdraft? Reduce this by converting the proportion of it that is constant to a commercial loan, it can save lots of money.
Are you reliant on one or two big customers? If so, could you tie them into a longer term contract or if you are a service business, into a maintenance contract.
What are you spending money on, are you getting the best deal?
Get three quotes for everything, ask for fixed price quotes from your service suppliers that includes your accountant etc.
For more information about how simple techniques could help your business e-mail me today!
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Website Tips 3
Once you have designed your website you should check out how it is viewed by Google (the most used search engine) and compare it with the best competitors in your industry.
Using the search, site:www.yourwebsite.com/co.uk in Google, how many pages does Google know that exist on your website?
How many pages do your competitors have listed?
Using the search, link:www.yourwebsite.com/co.uk in Google, how many pages does Google know that link on your website?
How many links do your competitors have listed?
If you require more individual help in growing your business contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Using the search, site:www.yourwebsite.com/co.uk in Google, how many pages does Google know that exist on your website?
How many pages do your competitors have listed?
Using the search, link:www.yourwebsite.com/co.uk in Google, how many pages does Google know that link on your website?
How many links do your competitors have listed?
If you require more individual help in growing your business contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Monday, 14 January 2008
More Website Tips
Following on from my last post here are a few more tips to help ensure that you start your website off on the right track.
Good practice is to have the menu down the left hand side.
Do not have too many levels of information for each heading on your menu i.e. any element should be only 3 clicks of the mouse in.
Use lots of white space on the page too busy and it won’t get read.
As for page content, the page should have at least 120 words of content on it
Use bullet points and summaries.
More to come in later posts.
If you require more individual help in growing your business contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Good practice is to have the menu down the left hand side.
Do not have too many levels of information for each heading on your menu i.e. any element should be only 3 clicks of the mouse in.
Use lots of white space on the page too busy and it won’t get read.
As for page content, the page should have at least 120 words of content on it
Use bullet points and summaries.
More to come in later posts.
If you require more individual help in growing your business contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
More Website Tips
Following on from my last post here are a few more tips to help ensure that you start your website off on the right track.
Good practice is to have the menu down the left hand side.
Do not have too many levels of information for each heading on your menu i.e. any element should be only 3 clicks of the mouse in.
Use lots of white space on the page too busy and it won’t get read.
As for page content, the page should have at least 120 words of content on it
Use bullet points and summaries.
More to come in later posts.
If you require more individual help in growing your business contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Good practice is to have the menu down the left hand side.
Do not have too many levels of information for each heading on your menu i.e. any element should be only 3 clicks of the mouse in.
Use lots of white space on the page too busy and it won’t get read.
As for page content, the page should have at least 120 words of content on it
Use bullet points and summaries.
More to come in later posts.
If you require more individual help in growing your business contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Websites Some Basic Steps Before You Start
A lot of businesses that I help have a website but in many cases they have spent money before asking themselves some basic questions. This preparation ensures that the website does what it should ie attract visitors and gain business.
So here are some questions to get you started:
Why do you have/want a website?
What is your websites call to action?
Who are your potential website visitors?
Who might buy your products or services or be interested in your website information?
Now having established the basics how do you arrive at the right keywords for the search engines to find your website? They can then form part of the copy in your pages.
Which search terms (phrases) do you think are important to your target market?
Now put them in priority order.
Use the overture tool to see how often those terms were searched under.
http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/
You can also check using the Google Keyword Tool
https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=64886&hl=en_GB
You should now be on the right track to see what words will be effective.
More website tips to come.
If you require more individual help in growing your business check out my website or contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
So here are some questions to get you started:
Why do you have/want a website?
What is your websites call to action?
Who are your potential website visitors?
Who might buy your products or services or be interested in your website information?
Now having established the basics how do you arrive at the right keywords for the search engines to find your website? They can then form part of the copy in your pages.
Which search terms (phrases) do you think are important to your target market?
Now put them in priority order.
Use the overture tool to see how often those terms were searched under.
http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/
You can also check using the Google Keyword Tool
https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=64886&hl=en_GB
You should now be on the right track to see what words will be effective.
More website tips to come.
If you require more individual help in growing your business check out my website or contact me via email or telephone
Alan Briggs
Dynamic Business Strategies Ltd
Tel: 07917 446068
E-Mail: info@dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
Website: www.dynamicbusinessstrategies.co.uk
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