Some more advice/assistance for those who may be trying to plough through the digital marketing landscape unaided and with little or no budget:
As we see less and less inclination for Google to rank a site with little value, or no brand loyalty, and presumably pushing you toward spending money on Adwords – Google made £3.2 billion on Adwords revenue in the UK in 2013 alone!. You may like to look at how you place your content. There are some social bookmarking sites you may not be aware of, but ones which can assist you including:
instructables.com storify.com Pearltrees – free web-based social media app LiveJournal
All will allow you to post content and to link back to your website, which in turn will give it a boost.
Because of the popularity of these sites in our profession, it may take Google a while to see this once posted, but it will happen, and it will improve your search engine standing.
At the Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced the formation of an industry-led taskforce to explore how to develop non-bank lending. Views have been gathered to contribute to the taskforce from 100+ respondents to the review’s call for evidence and from seven regional and technical workshops the taskforce has held with businesses and market participants. This covered information on, and experiences of, the barriers to non-bank lending, and a range of ideas and insights into how they might be tackled.
Thetaskforce’s report recommends areas where industry can act to stimulate andexpand alternative finance markets and where there are actions for Government totake. The Government agreed with the analysis set out in the report, welcomes thecommitment shown by those named in the report in taking forward therecommendations, and commits to work with businesses and the broader financecommunity to address these important objectives.
Parts of Britain could soon become a Minority Report-style reality with Ocean Outdoor UK, one of the country’s largest digital advertising firms personalising outdoor digital billboards to those commuters passing by.
From next month, commuters at Birmingham’s largest train station, New Street, will become guinea pigs for state-of-the-art digital screens that will be shaped like eyes and beam adverts tailored specifically to those looking at them.
If New Street takes off, it could become the start of a move towards advertising seen in the blockbuster filmMinority Report, starringTom Cruise, which depicted a world in which billboards can identify people.
Such use of digital advertising has also been growing sufficiently in the far east and Germany. Earlier this year a local German brewerAstra Bierused facial recognition techniques to target female drinkers in Hamburg with video advertising.
Paul Robinson Partnership (UK) LLP, leading Norfolk based Architectural and Surveying Practice, are strong supporters of the apprenticeship scheme and have seen first-hand the benefits which the scheme has had on the their business. The Practice have welcomed two new apprentices to their experienced team this past year and have been delighted to see them both flourish, exceed expectations in all respects and become valued assets to the team. Simon Nicholas, Partner at Paul Robinson Partnership, said that it is “important to invest in young people and provide opportunities for those wanting to gain experience in a particular industry”, and added that the “apprenticeship scheme is a fantastic way to harness new talent for any business”.
Kori Moore, one of the Practice’s apprentices, has recently completed his apprenticeship and the Practice were delighted to welcome him as a full time employee of Paul Robinson Partnership. The practice have been impressed with Kori’s progress and have enjoyed watching him develop and improve his employability, describing his technical design expertise as above and beyond what would be expected. When asked whether Kori had enjoyed his apprenticeship and what he saw the major benefits of the apprenticeship scheme being, Kori stated that his apprenticeship had “given him the opportunity to pursue his dream of a career in architecture in a supportive and creative environment”, he further added that “it has been great to learn on the job, gain experience in the work place and build up knowledge by learning from the more experienced members of the team”.
The Practice wishes to continue to develop home grown talent, providing opportunities for young people, with a passion for architecture.
Recession no longer stifles potential employees from aiming for the stars. It’s still too early to declare post-recession status, however, the economic climate in the UK is far better now than it was during the late 2000’s. According to BBC News, the British economy “has grown in every quarter since the start of 2013.”
So what does this mean for recruitment agencies? Well, the candidate market is no longer primarily focused on job security. In the late 2000’s, there was a surplus of candidates but, now that we are in “clear” economic waters, candidates are looking to prioritise salary, status and responsibility.
With the applicant pool churning out more and more specialised candidates, it’s more important now, than ever, for recruitment agencies to be pro-active. At HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment, we are very aware of how the fluctuating candidate market affects our client’s needs. Most recruitment agencies will look to fill a vacancy as soon as possible, however, speed is not always in the client’s best interests. At HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment, we specialise in headhunting, which means we will seek to find both active and passive contenders. Our experienced consultants will narrow down the search, presenting our clients with the very best candidates. Whether we are in an economic boom or bust HEAD|HUNTED will always prioritise our clients and their needs.
At HUNTED;
We use the latest tools, technology and expertise to narrow the candidate pool
Each organisation is designated an experienced headhunter who will gain an in-depth understanding of the client’s business and hiring requirements
Each potential employee will be fully registered and briefed by one of our experienced headhunters and only the very best will be shortlisted to our clients.
If you would like to ensure a proactive and thorough hiring process where your needs are fully understood, please contact HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment today – 01603 858024.
Developing a range of channels that encourage, value and reward engagement will pay dividends for your business.
Sending customers to a location based QR code has many rewards. You have the power to alert them to their favourite range of products, gear your messaging to their particular preferences, or give them an immediate offer to whet their appetite!
Remember – your consumer is already highly distracted when they’re on their mobile. You are not the centre of their world, so any graphics you use need to have high impact to get their attention.
If you’re thinking of a QR code for your promotions, go one step further and opt for a custom, colour one. Why?
Many people are sceptical about scanning black and white codes as they come with no branding and there’s rarely any indication from the retailer of the destination, prior to scan.
A custom colour one brands you beautifully. You can change the destination when you choose, and so change your mind on how you use it.
You’ve a great advantage here over black and white as the colour is already associated with your brand and designing a QR code around your logo really cements the idea of your brand and QR code as one integral marketing message.
Your thoughtfulness won’t be lost on your prospective customer. They’ll be more inclined to scan as they know they’re going somewhere you recommend – and as they already trust you as a source of permission marketing, your custom colour QR will have greater results.
QR Codes will be out and about this summer during the GoGoGorillas trail. You’ll see black and white ones unlocking codes within the trail app and a few custom colour ones – destination sponsor’s web pages.
Which ones have the higher returns? That depends on their purpose and placement.
Look out for them and consider how you could use them in your marketing.
This season, we have some beautiful fabrics in store at Norwich Sunblinds. Favourite fabrics include canvas and linen textured finishes from the iLiv range, which make any room look warm and plush.
The Clarke and Clarke Richmond range of embroidered materials also look absolutely stunning up at the window and are particularly good for living rooms and dining rooms. The Voyage range even includes threads in silvers, golds and beads. Neutral colours are also popular at the moment.
These fabrics all make perfect curtains or roman blinds.
If you are looking for sun control or privacy take a look at the innovative Vision blinds.
These blinds are unique in that they have two layers of material. One is a mesh and one is a solid material. You can control the blind so that you still see out, but it’s also giving you privacy or you can have it completely blocked in. Add in the choice to pull the blind completely up or completely down and you have lots of options for sun control.
There is a lovely range of fabrics to choose from. These stylish fabrics gently filter and soften daylight, which means that you control the light while maintaining the view.
Blackout blinds are also popular at the moment, and are particularly good for children’s bedrooms.
The range of fabrics is fantastic – plains, patterns, textures, lovely children’s designs and we also have a wide range of adult designs such as chenilles and shot silks, for that luxurious boutique hotel effect.
You can even choose a motorised option for your blind.
If you’re interested in blinds or curtains, why not pop in to see us at our shop in St Benedicts Street, or we’ll bring the blinds and samples along to you so that you can match them to your room and make sure that you have the perfect fit.
Digital tech businesses are at the heart of the UK economy and are playing an important role in driving growth. Norwich has some amazing organisations doing great things and as part of the latest report, Norwich is on the map again as a top Tech City.
Although this is great news, Norwich and Norfolk still has a lot of work to do as a region.
Weaknesses for the region (from the report) include low sector awareness, weak digital infrastructure and limited access to finance.
Benefits include access to commercial property, local networks and talent education.
There may still be the perception of a lack of internet connectivity, slow connection links to the rest of the UK, etc, but we as businesses need to change this perception. Norwich has received great PR as a great place to work (recent Guardian article) but as businesses, it’s time to make it a great place to do business too.
If your business is large enough to have employees, treasure them. With the right people in the right places, your employees are the most important asset your business has.
To get the best out of your staff, they need to know you value them. But with the day to day focus on operational needs, it’s all too easy to let staff motivation fall down your list of priorities.
However, taking care of employee engagement should form a key part of your strategic planning, not be an afterthought.To keep your staff motivated you need to identify what makes them tick and provide the right environment to nurture them. This is particularly important during times of business change where people can be pushed into situations they’re not comfortable with.
Key to success is ensuring that all staff have a clear understanding of a future that they see as secure and sustainable, so they have the willingness to change with you. Poorly motivated staff results in high staff turnover and a direct impact on the bottom line.
A big part of what I do is working directly with the employees to ensure any transitions are smooth and that the workforce feels valued.Listening to your employees is as important as listening to your customers. When I go into an organisation, I need to get employees to open up and discuss any problems with me. I can then come up with a strategy to resolve any issues. Communication is key.
Education is another vital part of staff motivation. A motivated employee is confident that they have the support and the skills they need to complete their job. And the other important ingredient?
Recognition. A big motivator for staff is having their hard work recognised. A simple ‘thank you’ when someone achieves an agreed goal can go a long way, but is all too often forgotten!
Ican help identify and nurture talent through coaching and mentoring. These foundations might not seem tangible, but you will feel the positive change within your organisation and see your business grow.Feel free toget in touch to find out more.
Christmas is a special time of year. Even so, it doesn’t stop health and safety being – wrongly – cited as a reason for preventing pretty harmless activities from going ahead.
Not only does this needlessly ruin the festive spirit but it also trivialises the true purpose of health and safety: protecting people from real risks at, or connected with, work
There are more than a few old chestnuts in this list, which has been compiled by HSE from media reports and correspondence received.
1. Children being banned from having snowball fights 2. Office workers told they can’t put decorations up 3. Panto performers ordered not to throw sweets into the audience 4. Being sued for clearing snow from outside your business or home 5. Preventing people from putting coins in traditional Christmas puddings 6. Seats being removed from shops – despite weary Christmas shoppers wanting to rest their feet 7. Traditional shopping centre Christmas trees being scaled back or replaced by artificial alternatives 8. Christmas lights needing electrical (portable appliance testing) PAT tests every year 9. Santa being ordered to buckle up on his sleigh 10. Carol singers being classed as a health and safety risk (well i guess this one depends on how good the singing is)
With everything it is about risk management- putting sensible controls in place! Unfortunately common sense is not all that common– and in these festive times we can forget simple precautions
If you are unsure about any Health and Safety Legislation contact us on www.redcat.gb.com We are a team of ex- enforcement officers that live & breathe Health and Safety- we can give you sound sensible & pragmatic advice & guidance
If your business is looking to recruit new talent or develop a database of candidates, the smartphone may be the answer. In recent years, the smartphone has taken over as the number one device we use for our Internet activity. We use smartphones to browse social media, watch videos and now we can apply for jobs. According to techradar.com, “twenty-eight percent of job seekers said they searched for jobs on mobile devices.” So what does this mean for you- a business owner or employer? Well, if your business has an online presence, you need to ensure that it is also mobile optimised. Simply, this means that your website translates well to smartphones and is easy to navigate. According to Career Builder, 65% of workers who search for jobs via mobile devices will leave a website if it isn’t mobile optimised. So it is in your best interests to make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
Social media is also a great way of gaining applicants. A lot of businesses already make use of LinkedIn to feature jobs, but Facebook and Twitter are also effective ways of making people aware of job openings straight away. Social media is a fantastic way to advertise jobs as most of us have an online presence on at least one form of social media, which we access via our smartphones.
To some, the experience of applying for a job on a mobile device will seem strange. Understandably, it’s hard to imagine someone answering a series of questions and submitting a CV on an iPhone. However, you should ensure that a mobile application will take no longer than fifteen minutes. Apps like Dropbox and Google Drive allow people to submit a CV and cover letter online. So ensure that your mobile application form asks for a CV, an email, and a few personal details.
Things to keep in mind:
-Ensure that your company has an online presence, which spans at least two social media websites.
-Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
-Mobile application forms should only take a potential candidate 15mins to complete
Small Business Saturday 2016 will be the fifth year of the campaign, which saw £623m spent with small firms throughout the nation during Small Business Saturday 2015 – an increase of £119m on the previous year.
The campaign trended at number one in the UK on Twitter throughout the day last year, with over 100,000 campaign-related tweets sent by small business owners and customers alike.
More than three-quarters of local councils backed the campaign in 2015, providing considerable national reach for local communities.
Michelle Ovens MBE, director, Small Business Saturday UK, said: “Last year, small business owners, local authorities, a wide range of other organisations and members of the public embraced Small Business Saturday more than ever before.
“The British public has a great affection for small businesses and tapping into that continues to be important. The small businesses themselves really make the campaign as they effectively deliver it on the ground and collectively show the depth and breadth that exists within the sector.
“This year we aim to reach more people, get more engagement, and encourage more people to support small businesses.
“We will be talking a lot about community because whether they are selling to consumers online or in a particular location or B2B businesses working together and doing business together, our small businesses are a community that benefits both our local and national economies.”
This year’s campaign will feature events in the lead up to and on Small Business Saturday 2016 itself, including the nationwide bus tour. It will also feature the Small Biz 100: a feature that profiles 100 small businesses in the 100 days leading up to December 3rd.
The campaign will again be running Inspire: a nationwide series of free workshops led by experts and entrepreneurs for existing and aspiring small business owners.
New for Small Business Saturday 2016 is a podcast, packed with information about the campaign along with features of general interest to small business owners.
The first edition is already live; discussing this year’s campaign, the flourishing UK pet sector and why the Northern Irish capital of Belfast is now a hotbed for small businesses.