Member Blog

It’s fair to say that when it comes to search engine optimisation (SEO), there are a number of grey areas. With Google keeping their cards close to their chest, it’s left to SEO specialists to figure out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to improving the ranking of a site.  

Through research and case studies, SEOers ultimately create a series of best practices that other industry experts follow and adapt to get the best results.

Whilst there’s agreement on the general principles of SEO, there are some subjects that seemingly avoid a conclusive answer. One of the most hotly contested arguments in this murky area of SEO is the discussion about how many words should make up a webpage.

You’ve got some respected SEOers insisting that pages should contain more words than your average novel, whilst other similarly respected experts champion the idea of short reads.  

At Nu Image, we think content is all about answering questions that users are asking. This means that sometimes we’re creating long reads and at other times we’re creating content that only requires a quick glance.

Take two of our clients for example. Specializing in coach tours, Grand UK Holidays and Sunrise Direct each produce blogs which describe the itineraries they offer to holidaymakers. In order to do them justice, they tend to feature fairly lengthy articles that go into great detail about the kinds of attractions and activities which take place on the trip.

When Google bots crawl these blogs, they report back to the search engine that the site contains useful information relating to coach tours. This helps them perform better for relevant searches and brings in relevant traffic.

But it’s not only rankings that this type of content helps with, but conversions too. Think about it- would you be more inclined to book a holiday if you knew all the ins and outs of it, or if you just had a snapshot to go off? Obviously, you’d be more confident making a booking if you had a clear idea of what to expect.

Ultimately, longer content allows you to provide value to readers. It’s a great opportunity to properly explain the benefits of your services and products. Naturally, when it comes to sales, this is key. What’s more, Google really likes this and will improve the ranking of any page that it thinks is a better fit for users.

However, not every subject lends itself to an article that stretches over 2,000 words, and Google doesn’t reward waffling. Its bots are sophisticated enough to recognise when you’re yammering on simply to increase the length of a post.

Instead, you should spend some time thinking about the nature of your content and how much detail users will really require. If, for example, you’re creating a checklist for passing a MOT test, you don’t need to produce a novel for it to be handy. In fact, it’s far more likely to be enjoyed and shared around the web if it makes its point in as few words as possible.

On the other hand, if you’re creating a blog dedicated to the history of the Roman empire, you’re probably going to need a few thousand words to give users what they need.

Returning to the question posed at the beginning of this post, it’s clear that appropriate content length is what improves SEO. This makes a whole lot of sense when you think about it- if Google is committed to giving users the most useful information, it’s going to recognise that sometimes brevity is more helpful than length.

In summary, you need to consider the needs of your users when it comes to content creation. If they’ll benefit from a comprehensive guide, write a comprehensive guide. If they just need some information that can be provided in bullet point form, then get to making those bullet points.

Most businesses fail due to financial issues. 42% of companies don’t make it to their fifth birthday. Even though the idea is profitable, many fail because of poor leadership. Lack of planning, poor financial decisions and poor sense of direction creep into such businesses. All these lead to financial problems and subsequently, complete business failure.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

The success of your business is directly linked to its financial health. To maintain healthy finances, you must adopt certain practices and make wise business decisions. It begins with you as an entrepreneur to nurture and cultivate the right models and values. So, how can you maintain healthy finances and subsequently realize success? Let’s look at six ways to do this.

Avoid Excessive Debt

Acquiring funds from lenders is a conventional way of capitalizing a business. However, excessive debt will limit the growth and profitability of your business. Not knowing where to stop with debt has put many businesses in a financially difficult position which they do not recover from most of the time. Some dangers of debt include the following:

No Flexibility: Excessive debt means you are unable to make timely monthly payments on your loans. This makes you liable to pay high-interest rates and late fees. With this record, you’re not flexible to grow your business because lenders and investors cannot look your way.

Bankruptcy: This is the worst possible danger to your business due to heavy indebtedness. It means the demise of your business. It gets worse if the business is linked to your personal finances-personal bankruptcy.

How to Avoid Too Much Debt

Fund Your Business Account – The first and most important rule for keeping clear of excessive debt is regularly setting money aside. Several business owners fund their business accounts with a fixed amount from their income at least once a month. Rather than borrow money, you can use that money for certain business expenses.

Use Appropriate Debt Financing – The popular debt financing methods are small business loans and business credit cards. Each of these tools has pros and cons. They can each work well for you depending on your business and requirements. Small business loans are generally more affordable and can paid in installment up to $2,500 per month, while business credit cards are perfect for certain expenses. If the card has a 0% APR for a year or longer, make your purchase early and pay without interest provided it’s all paid off during that period. They also come with rewards like office supplies, Wi-Fi and others.

Don’t Move Too Fast – Some businesses borrow too much money in the beginning. This is the time to use as little as possible and grow slowly but surely. You can only spend more or borrow more if you have realized a decent return on investment.

Pay off Debt with Small Business Loans – Business owners should consider this option to avoid too much debt. It also ensures that your credit score does not plummet. In case you need a working capital loan in the future, you should have a stellar credit record. A single missed payment can ruin your credit.

Maintain a Low Working Capital – Working capital is important for the daily operations of a business-like salaries, overheads and minor purchases. The best way to improve working capital is to collect receivables as early as possible and delay the payables if possible. Many businesses experience the reverse instead and end up with insufficient cash.

How to Improve and Maintain Working Capital

• Limit Transactions with Debtors
• Don’t provide goods or services to customers who already owe you money or have a track record of non-payment. Take immediate action with debtors and provide incentives to paying customers.
• Payment Monitoring
• Train a collection team to handle debtors and reward those who collect.
• Make Timely Payments
• Automate your systems to make sure debt payments are made in time. Delays will attract penalties.
• Manage Inventory
• Avoid overstocking and ensure that finished products are sold off. Stop any products or services that are not selling.
• Resolve Disagreements with Vendors and Customers on Time
• If you leave disputes to linger, your company could be sued. If you end up in court, sort it out quickly to limit legal expenses.
• Make the Most of Tax Incentives
• They save you lots of money which can eventually be directed into the working capital
• Recurring Invoicing
• Recurring invoices not only streamline your payment process, but they also improve cash flow which keeps the business financially healthy. They automatically charge customers for a specific amount on a monthly basis.
• Benefits of Recurring Invoicing
• Steady Cash Flow

These factors ensure a steady cash flow each month to cover business expenses. Also, you can easily project your cash flow for the months ahead.

Quick Payment

Sending regular invoices motivates your clients to make regular payments. Since it is tied to a customer’s credit card, you are assured of prompt payment.

Save Valuable Time

Instead of wasting time chasing down customers for payment, this works automatically. Also it takes time to create invoices, let alone processing and tracking them. You could spend that time performing other important tasks.

Improves Customer Relations

You no longer have to engage in uncomfortable ‘where’s my check?’ conversations. Also, the customer perceives you as part of them and their budget.

Protect Your Company with Insurance

As a business owner, you are prone to risks the moment you start a business. A single lawsuit or unfortunate event can result in losing thousands of dollars or worse still shutting down your business. Insurance is non-negotiable. Some types of business insurance include:

Liability Insurance – This protects your business from claims of negligence that caused harm because of failure to perform or a mistake. Different industries have unique policies for this.

Property Insurance – Does your business own or lease its space? It doesn’t matter, you still need property insurance. It covers company equipment, inventory and furniture in case they are burnt in a fire, destroyed by a storm or stolen. Massive natural disasters like earthquakes are generally not covered.

Workman’s Compensation – As soon as you employ your first worker, this is a must-have. It covers disability, medical and death in case of injury or death of an employee while carrying out his duties.

Car Insurance – Your company vehicles must be comprehensively insured in case of an accident. You can never foresee what might happen. Car repairs cost a bomb and if there’s another car involved; the company will suffer damages for both.

Product Liability Insurance – Business owners that make their own products must acquire this insurance. No matter how safe you consider your products to be, one single product can cost your business lots of money in a lawsuit.

Get Better Pricing and Discounts from Your Vendors

Review your vendors once or twice a year. Ensure that your contract does not obligate you to renew automatically but allows you to decide. Get better pricing from your vendors by letting them know that you’re reviewing the contract and comparing their prices with their competitors. They don’t want to lose you as a customer. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll get better prices from them. Take your staff through negotiation training on how to obtain massive discounts from vendors. Recognize and incentivize team members who pull this off. This strategy will bring down your business expenses by as much as 10% and save you thousands of dollars.

Have Regular Finance Meetings

Schedule a weekly finance meeting with relevant team members. Checking in on the finances regularly is a good practice and helps you assess how you’re doing. It keeps you organized and up-to-date. It’s easy to get so busy with other tasks that the finances can get out of hand. If you don’t know what’s happening with the finances, things can go wrong quickly. By the time you realize it, there’s a lot of damage that can barely be undone. When you’re up to speed, you can sort any issues out quickly and get back on track. 

No business owner wants their company to end up in a financial bind. It’s not only detrimental to the company but to you as an individual as well. Financial problems in the business can also cause the same in your personal life. We hope that these six steps can help you maintain healthy business finances for ultimate growth and success.

We are delighted to be working with Equity Release Online (https://www.equityreleaseonline.co.uk/) helping them maximise their SEO rankings on Google.

We were approached by the firm after specialising in finance and mortgages (see our case study from Magnet Capital) and here are our main is gain increased visibility on Google for search terms such as equity release, lifetime mortgages and home reversions.

About the product

Equity release has become increasingly popular in the UK and you may have noticed more adverts on TV promoting it. It essentially allows people over 55 to release money from their home. If they have spent years paying their mortgage, they would have built up equity and now they can sell off this equity in exchange for one large cash sum. This can be very useful to pay for lifestyle costs, supplement a pension, home improvements or consolidate debts. Borrowers usually release around £65,000 to £80,000 and they can continue living in their home until they die or go until long term care, and then this is when the lender claims their equity in the home and ideally gains from an increased property value.

What work we are doing for them

Starting fresh with a brand new site, we really needed to bulk up the content and have since created a number of landing pages for the different types of equity release products (lifetime, drawdown only, home reversion) and also a number of very specific guides to tick off a lot of key terms and things that people might be searching for on Google. Ideally, to create a lot of relevance and authority around the brand Equity Release Online. Content titles include:

• How many equity release mortgages per year
• Average loan size
• What is the industry worth
• Is it safe?
• What are the alternatives?

Links, links and more links

Getting links pointing back to the site is essential to build up authority and trust. We have placed a number of links on news sites, to create relevance, and also sites that discuss mortgages, property, finance and business – to show a nice mix and range. We have to be careful in terms of what text we use to link because Equity Release Online is an exact brand match and linking the word equity release too many times could be overkill, so we have incorporated other terms such as click here and read more.

Whilst it is very early days, we are very excited to show some real progress for ERO and expect to see some strong results in 3 to 6 months!

The state of the car industry can be summed up in two words: fiercely competitive. In 2016, 44 automotive brands offered over 400 different model types to UK customers. Keeping up with consumer expectations in a crowded market can be difficult, especially when the industry in question is plagued by long production cycles. A vehicle that looked perfect two years ago might be a market dud once it comes off the production line. Not just that, but the mistake can last years as manufacturers can’t roll back production as other industries can.

Despite this, the automotive industry has enjoyed growth over the decade, and so far remains immune to disruption experienced by other sectors like the hotel industry with Airbnb, or Blockbuster and Netflix. The biggest change however, is the way consumers choose to go about purchasing and using cars.

For example, the growth of online car marketplaces like Autovolo, WeBuyAnyCar and WeWantAnyCar are empowering the consumer by letting them choose and streamline the process of selling cars. The Autovolo website takes you step by step in this process, and offers to pick up your vehicle and take it to their warehouse.

Social media and technology have given the customer more freedom. With just a few taps on their smartphones, customers can get all the information they need from a vehicle. Gone are the days of the salesman knowing what’s best for you, the consumer can now decide what they want, when and how.

More informed customers mean more factors that come into a purchase decision. Aligning product positioning, marketing messages and the needs of the consumer are apparent and visible online. Customers now prefer a relationship with what they’re buying, and with so many competing car companies on the market being informed on a significant choice, like a vehicle, is more crucial than ever.

By 2020, 40% of new car owners will be millennials, 88% of which use the internet to research a car purchase. It’s evident at this point that a robust online presence is necessary to connect with the next generation of buyers. Knowing your buyer beforehand will set up the UK car industry up for success in the next coming years, but it goes beyond being visible during the buyers’ research process.

Monitoring online conversation about the competition will help the industry understand what influences future purchase decisions. Although certain brands have a positive association that makes them stand out from the rest, (Honda is reliable, Volvos are safe, Jaguar and luxury) car manufacturers will need to also be approachable in the years to come.

The biggest threat to the automotive industry remains to be themselves; if they don’t change to the current trends, they could fail and become a thing of the past. Technology-driven trends like self-driving cars, electric cars, and rideshare apps are giving us a glimpse of how the UK car industry will look like. It will be automatic, and it will be fast. Listening to the new generation of consumers will drive the UK car industry into the future.

Yesterday I went on a trip with the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. It was a backstage tour of the Theatre Royal in Norwich. It was absolutely fascinating.

It’s great to see the auditorium and look it out from the stage and see what the actors see. But the most fascinating part of the visit was going backstage.

It was extraordinary how big the theater was behind the scenes. The stage is actually a tiny part of it, and the auditorium is not much bigger. But backstage is absolutely massive. It is a rabbit warren of dressing rooms, star dressing rooms, wardrobe rooms, props rooms, a long line of pulleys that make all the scenery and the curtains work, everything. It was enormous.

This got me thinking about us at LiveLink. We are the backstage of the theater. We’re pulling up the curtains, moving the props, making sure everything is ready for the actors to do their job. Our clients may be the star, they may be working in the clinic, or running their hotel. They are the ones that are showing off at the front. They’re the star. They’re the person in the spotlight. Whereas, we’re the people pulling on the pulleys behind them. Getting all their bits to work so that they can do their job.

We’re answering the telephone calls; we’re speaking to the clients. We’re listening to all their woes and worries and concerns when they’re calling, so that our client can just be this very big smiley person at the front with the big arms open wide, saying “Welcome”.

Everyone needs someone to shift the scenery. Who moves yours?

For a long time prepaid cards had a bad reputation. They were the sign that you weren’t good with money. It doesn’t necessarily reflect the truth. They can actually be a great way to budget, especially for business expenses. You can give these cards to specific employees and use them yourself for certain costs. They are a nice way to know what’s happening as far as spending goes and as a way to avoid overdraft, overspending, and financial negligence. There are many ways to use prepaid cards to your advantage as a business owner, take these ones into account.

Use Specific Cards for Specific Things

Since there are a wide variety of prepaid cards, you should understand the differences between them and how each can be used to your advantage. Using pre-loaded cars with a set amount is good for lower-level employees who you may not yet trust with larger amounts of money. They will be able to use the funds you give them for the things you need, and they won’t be able to go over.

Open-loop cards with a Visa or MasterCard logo are popular for paying wages and spending on expenses that have to do with payment. Some employers deposit wages directly to a prepaid card. Another popular way to use prepaid debit is to utilize them as travel cards. Some of these pre-loaded options have some of the best international rates and allow the user to take out money from ATMs around the world. According to the specialists at MoneyPug, a site used to look for UK prepaid cards, they are available in various currencies, including the Pound, Euro, and US dollar.

Different cards have different fees, after all, and you should be careful to find the ones that are the lowest. Determining what cards are good for your business can be difficult, but it will be worth it in the long-run. Since these cards are not linked to existing accounts, you will usually have to pay to activate them. Sometimes there are insurance, management, transaction, and ATM fees. Figure out which ones apply to which cards and find the one best suited to your business.

Allocate Funds

Prepaid debit cards are also a method for separating funds. If you have complicated expenses and need to know how much money you have for specific things, you can use prepaid cards to keep money sequestered. You can also give them to different people who handle those expenses, all while monitoring the spending, balance, and fees on each one. If you need to delegate certain amounts of money, prepaid cards can help you out.

Expand your Business

Some prepaid cards are designed with scalability. This can help you imagine how the company will grow and what will happen to the expenses when it does. If your business is growing, you can look into cards that will have this feature. You can also use them for remote employees and off-site contractors. Whether or not you need more than ten cards, some options cater to small businesses and are designed with expansion in mind.

Utilise Spending Limits

Normally spending limits on debit and credit cards of all kinds are not preferable, but prepaid cards can actually help you keep spending down. For example, if you are struggling to keep spending low, utilize the spending limits to help employees, the business, and yourself be more careful with funds. Some have daily limits and others have limits every month. There are also limits on withdrawals, which will help managers know how much money people are taking out. With caps on spending, everyone in the business will be more careful how they spend, when they spend, and why.

When you are a business-person, controlling spending and allocating funds is much of the job. Like every business owner, you probably want to expand. You can do so by utilizing spending limits and using the safety features that don’t allow for overdraft, excessive withdrawal, or overspending.

Spending doesn’t have to be a headache. Understand what these prepaid cards offer and you will get to use them to your advantage. Whatever field you are in, prepaid debit can help every business pay for expenses, save for specific needs, and allocate the funds in the right places.

New research, led by the University of East Anglia (‘UEA’), reveals how being the target of workplace bullying can cause victims to behave badly themselves.

The study has confirmed that “the greater the intensity of bullying and the more the exposure to different types of bullying, the higher the likelihood of engaging in counterproductive workplace behaviour”.

In addition, the results show that “health-related symptoms are not always associated with experiences of bullying” and therefore misbehaviour may result from health problems even where bullying has not occurred.

Full investigation

This highlights that employers should always fully investigate apparent conduct or performance issues in the workplace, as it may be that these are a product of the employee’s health and/or the fact that they are experiencing bullying by colleagues.

Whilst employers sometimes decline to follow a formal disciplinary procedure in relation to employees that have less than two years’ service (as the risk of an unfair dismissal claim is much reduced), there are significant benefits in doing so. Not only does it perpetuate a more positive workplace culture, by ‘doing the right thing’, it could enable employers to uncover the real problem in a situation and also reduce the potential for alternative claims arising, such as disability discrimination.

Bullying characterisation

ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) characterises bullying as “offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient”. This can include seemingly trivial behaviour such as eye rolling and sarcasm, to more serious actions such as ostracism. Unfortunately, it is often the case that employees feel that they are being bullied by a colleague in a more senior position, which can prevent the victim from reporting concerns, for fear of reprisals.

Workplace culture

In view of the potentially critical effects that bullying can have on an individual’s own conduct, performance, health and well-being, plus the impact on business from days lost due to absence as a result, it is crucial that employers foster a workplace culture in which any form of bullying is unacceptable and addressed appropriately.

For advice relating to all aspects of Employment Law, contact Solicitor Carla Gowing at [email protected] or call 01603 660 811.

There are a plethora of blogs and articles on the internet about working from home.  Whether that’s occasionally or, from a home office.  Self-employed, employed or consultant.  This is my personal story of employing remote workers.

Some people think having their team working from home is great, others are much more sceptical.  The one thing that comes up time and time again is productivity.  People hand-wringing that their employees won’t be productive as they’ll be lured away by something interesting on the TV, cooking their dinner or even dusting (whatever dusting is!).

My question would be – is the work being done?  If it is, does it matter if they’ve sloped off to watch Homes Under the Hammer (you can see what my guilty pleasure is).  Does it matter when it was done if it was done well and the deadline was met?

I’ve called this the Productivity Myth, as that’s exactly what it is – a myth.  When the right team is working together with the same shared vision, what happens?  Productivity soars.  It doesn’t matter if they are warming the seat in the swanky office or bent over their desk at home. 

If you have a team member that’s going to sit back and not care, they’ll do that in your expensive office too.  All that’s happening is you’re adding to your business cost and your blood pressure is rising to stratospheric levels trying to manage them.

How do I know that lack of productivity is a myth? 

Because I have done both.  Previously, all my team were based in that (expensive) office.  Buses were ‘late’, lots of ‘headaches and tummy pains’ and I was paying for that.  Not just in money, but in time, stress and frustration.

A little over two years ago, I saw the light and hired my first two home workers.  They are still with me today. Today, every member of the team works from their home office.  I keep a small serviced office in Norwich and I’m the only person that uses it.

What have been the pitfalls?

There is one pitfall and it’s probably not what you think it will be.  It’s getting the right person.  Our hiring process is long and in depth.  Applicants think they want to work from home, and it will be great (or easy), but soon find out it’s neither.  Some find the isolation hard. 

What’s great?

Almost everything! 

• Communication is better than when we were office-based.  We have regular scheduled group Skype meetings and other Skype channels, including a water-cooler one and a Whale Done group (Whale Done by Kenneth H Blanchard) which is full of positivity and client praise.
• We have the pick of very experienced people as we’re not limited by geography
• Some of my colleagues are carers/have a chronic illness and are not limited by having to access the traditional office.  They bring incredible knowledge and experience with them and are key to growing LiveLink.
• The obvious, no expensive office costs
• Happy colleagues – no sitting in traffic, no polluting the environment, no commute!

Would I go back to having an office-based team. Never – it wouldn’t enter my head.

One of the biggest problems that many gamblers face is the ability to do business with a casino company for many years. Longevity is not a thing that gambling companies are known for, especially in the age of the online casino. In this environment, however, there are still some innovative and strong companies that have stood up to the test of time, becoming better as they go. Here are some casino companies with great longevity that you can definitely trust if you are a gambler who is looking for a homebase.

There are many other brands like Casumo.com that are showcasing the same properties as these long-standing icons in the industry. Newer brands are also making their way into the online space, so you can expect to see some of the big names in the industry follow suit. However, the new and expanded world of online gambling allows for many new brands to take market share without necessarily stepping on the toes of the big boys. We can probably expect to see many more casino companies with great longevity in the near future, as new technology allows innovative people within those companies to create unique experiences for their clients.

MGM Resorts

Many people know MGM as the movie studio, but it is actually a brand that owns many iconic casinos around the world. Its flagship in Las Vegas is one of the most highly trafficked gambling centers on the planet. Its portfolio also includes the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Mirage in Las Vegas and many other huge performers in Springfield, Macau and other international cities.

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment definitely has longevity. As one of the oldest company brands in the casino industry, gamblers can expect a great time from its more than seven decades of experience. Under the Caesars umbrella resides the Horseshoe and Harrah’s brand of casinos. Its portfolio also includes Caesars Atlantic City, Ballys Atlantic City and many casinos in the international market such as its holdings in Vietnam and Egypt.

Crown Resorts

As the biggest casino company in Australia, Crown Resorts is a huge holder of many brands in the land down under. Australian billionaire James Packer was the fuel in the fire behind this brand for many years, and he was actually the catalyst for the brand launching in many new markets outside of Australia. Crown Resorts recently opened its new building in Macau after it teamed up with Melco International. The brand was actually blocked in Sri Lanka, but it is building in Las Vegas.

SJM Holdings

This company is based in Hong Kong and serves as a holding company for many brands that come out of that area. Stanley Ho, Hong Kong billionaire, is the wind in the sales of this company. Its portfolio includes the Casa Real, Lisboa Casino Hotel and Ponte 16 Resort Macau.

Wynn Resorts

Steve Wynn, billionaire and chairman, is responsible for some of the most luxurious casino properties in the world. This is a brand that has survived many eras of the casino industry. Its portfolio now includes incredible properties in Las Vegas and Macau. They are also building a new location in Boston Harbor.

Galaxy Entertainment

Coming out of Hong Kong, this brand has concentrated itself strictly on the Macau market. However, it will soon begin construction on a location in Boracay of the Philippines in 2019. The family owned company comes out of the Lui family of Hong Kong. Its portfolio includes the Waldo Casino Hotel, the Broadway Macau, the Starworld Casino and Hotel, the Galaxy Macau Casino and the President Casino and Hotel.

Live Chat! The MOST preferred channel for communication – who knew?   Perhaps you haven’t really thought about Live Chat as it’s something else that needs managing.  Or if you think it’s not for you evidence says it’s not the case.  There is a lot of evidence that not having Live Chat enabled on your website is losing you business.  How many times have you messaged Amazon or similar as sometimes, it’s easier than hunting for a phone number on the website and, you don’t always want to have to speak to someone.  Apparently, many people absolutely hate picking up the phone and actually have to speak to someone.   Advantages of having Live Chat on your site  

• It’s quick and convenient for your clients that want their questions answered right now
• Customers are not prepared to wait and will find someone else that does have the answers they’re looking for
• It’s cost effective to run and manage
• Improves customer service and loyalty
• Reduce your costs and increase sales

  If you’re thinking ‘it won’t work in my industry’, then you might need to think again.  I bet there are people in your industry already gaining new customers via Live Chat.  In fact, I would put money on it.   There are many different Apps for Live Chat, some are even free.  It’s quick and simple to pop onto your website.  The one thing that you will need to do though is manage it – either yourself, or get someone else to manage it for you.  It’s probably more damaging to your business if you have the Live Chat open on your website, but when someone asks a question, there’s no one there to answer it.  It’s said people and to some extent, businesses have one chance to make a good impression and leaving the potential customer hanging blows that one chance.  There will be lots of other companies doing what you do that will be open and take their money.   “63% of millennials prefer to have their basic customer support queries answered by live chat, versus traditional channels”

63%!!  That’s an awfully big statistic and a lot of business lost – it’s the rock-star of communication.

If you think this is a great idea for you, call us and we’ll support you all the way 01603 513111 or email me at [email protected]

You may already be involved in philanthropy, even if it’s not something you’ve really thought about in those terms before, as it’s about having a genuine concern for humankind and being motivated to do something to help others. This could be your family, friends, neighbours or the communities you are part of – acting in ways that makes life better for others. Philanthropy and good causes go together, because helping others by giving to charities has a long tradition. Family trusts, foundations and legacy gifts have well-proven traditions in philanthropy and will always have their place, but there are new ways to giving too that can suit some peoples’ needs better. Giving circles bring like-minded people together to boost the impact of their individual gifts and can be a really good starting point for philanthropy too if you are not sure about where to begin. As there are so many ways to give, your independent financial advisor can make sure you are able to do so in the most tax-efficient way to meets your needs and the future plans you have. There are more opportunities now for people to get more closely involved with the causes they choose to support, perhaps by offering their skills and expertise as well as financial help. But it can be daunting to navigate your own way through the more than 160,000 registered charities in the UK – knowing which ones are the most effective, or where your support will make the most difference. And it’s equally difficult for the excellent small, local charities to get their name and work known when they just don’t have the teams of people employed to market and promote themselves in the way that the big national charities can. This is where Norfolk Community Foundation can help. We connect the people who want to make a difference with the causes that matter to them and their families. We know the local charities, their strengths and what they are capable of achieving if they get the support they need – support that you may well be best placed to give. We do all the due diligence to give you the assurance that your gift will hit the mark and pride ourselves on reaching right down into those local communities. You will know that the impact you are making will stay with local people and local places. So, if you want to think about making your giving really impactful, we would be delighted to talk to you about the opportunities that are ready and waiting for you. Contact us on 01603 623958 or [email protected]   *A version of this article originally appeared in SG Wealth Management’s Vision Magazine (Winter 2018 issue)

Whilst employers are continuing to increase the number of benefits they offer in a bid to retain staff, there is no denying that salary is one of the key reasons that many of us go to work every day.

However, money isn’t just about being able to pay your bills; it can also be an indication of how valuable you are to the business. When you work hard, perform well and add value to the business, it’s only natural to want to be paid accordingly.

But that’s not always the case.

In a recent study conducted by CV-Library, a shocking 74.9% of respondents haven’t had a formal pay review in the past 12 months, with only 13.6% of the people surveyed receiving a pay rise, despite not having a formal meeting.

Furthermore, 52.2% of respondents felt like their employer avoided the topic of pay altogether, while almost three quarters (74.9%) believe that they are currently underpaid.

Speaking about the outcome of the study, Lee Biggins, CEO for CV-Library, said: “Feeling like you’re underpaid and aren’t properly financially rewarded for your efforts at work can be demoralising. Pay is a huge motivator for professionals at work, so it is alarming to see so few Brits have been offered a formal pay review meeting in the past year.

“In order to keep on track with inflation, all workers are entitled to a pay rise if they have met their targets and are performing well in the role. If you believe your efforts aren’t being recognised and you deserve an increase in your wage, it’s time to broach the subject with your employer.”

We know that asking for a raise can seem daunting, so here are some top tips to help you prepare to negotiate a pay rise:

• Time since your last pay review: If you’re long overdue a pay review meeting, it’s only natural to want some guidance regarding your salary. However, if you have had a pay rise within the past 12 months, can you justify requesting another one so soon?

• Do your homework: Research the market value for your role so that your expectations are realistic. Are you underpaid, or is your salary average for what you do? Take into consideration the demand and skills required for your position. Would it be difficult for your employer to replace you? If the answer is no, can you demonstrate why you should be paid more?

• Ask for a meeting: Before asking your manager for a pay rise, make sure to send an email in advance detailing the purpose of the meeting. That way your manager can come prepared, and you can both set some time aside free from interruptions.

• Know what you want: If you’re going to ask for a pay rise, make sure you go into the meeting with a clear figure in mind and build up a business case to justify your request. Focus on your achievements and experienced gained to sell yourself, but also be mindful on seeing things from the company’s perspective. Remember to leave some room to negotiate!

• Take your time: Unfortunately, just because you have asked for a pay rise doesn’t always mean you will always get what you asked for. If you are made an offer lower than expected, take your time to consider the reasons and what has been discussed before you decide. You can also work together with your manager to put a plan or targets in place to help you work towards your ideal salary.