8 reasons we’re proud to be based in Yorkshire
This week, everyone has been talking about #YorkshireDay
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Making the leap from SME owner to business tycoon: 6 steps for success
Alan Sugar didn’t start pointing the finger at terrified suited professionals overnight, and Richard Branson didn’t become the go-to name in everything from home media to air travel within his first week on the job.
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National Freelancers Day 2016: Why We Think Freelancers Are Fantastic
Freelancers, the unsung heroes of Britain’s business landscape and economy, are to be celebrated and recognised next week as part of National Freelancers Day.
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Online Branding: Do you need a Website?
Did you know that in 2015, consumers were set to spend an average £1,174 shopping online, a 9.6 percent rise on 2014? A study conducted by RetailMeNot, the parent company of Vouchercodes.co.uk, observed that British online retailers will experience a 16.2 percent year-on-year sales spike in 2015 to reach a staggering £52.3 billion. With more and more of us reaching to the geographically boundary-free world of the internet to do our shopping, read reviews, read the news, book flights, watch television, download music, chat to friends, conduct business, and the myriad of other tasks you can carry out conveniently and leisurely online, it stands to reason that every business needs a website, right? Not necessarily.
In the final part of this series we will ask do you even need a website? It sounds controversial but in our last article about consistency across the web we listed a host of channels that any business seeking success is likely to need setting up and populating. That takes time – a lot more time that you think. So before you rush to add your website to the to do list it’s good to take a moment and ask do you really need one?
It sounds shocking doesn’t it? and depending on your industry it might be a non-starter, but more and more often I’m sitting down with SME’s, who think their websites are doing well and bringing in new business, but when I look at the analytics it tells a different story.
‘What? you mean they are not reading the lengthy pages of copy and images that I have painstakingly prepared’ No, sorry.
5 apps you desperately need to boost productivity
There is no better, more appealing word for someone in a business venture – from a large organisation to a sole trader – than productivity. With employees spending just 45% of their working day on primary job duties, many issues plague the productivity of a business, and some are more avoidable than others.
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Why you need office space – when you thought you didn’t
Rolling out of bed at 8.50am. Blearily making yourself a coffee and starting work at 9.00am still in your pyjamas! Sounds heavenly doesn’t it? But is the lure of homeworking as productive, convenient and appealing as it seems? Let us answer the question: Do I need office Space?
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Spring Reset: Declutter, upgrade and optimise your business
This is a holistic guide for business owners to better balance business strategy with employee well-being and workspace organisation. This optimistic time of year when new life emerges and the sun finally begins to shine can be a great time, not only to spring clean your home, but to spring clean your business.
From trading dusty accounting books with a more sophisticated system to rearranging filing cabinets in a more coherent manner, now’s the time to organise your workspace and enhance employee happiness, well-being and motivation by implementing to following office spring cleaning tips.
Revitalising business operations
Evaluating your marketing strategy
Are your current marketing practices cost-effective? Are they bringing you the Return On Investment you are aspiring? Or perhaps you stand guilty of lamely neglecting marketing and need to start from scratch? Whatever your marketing qualms are, now is the time to rethink a more comprehensive, cost-effective and powerful marketing approach.
For example, do you currently have a content marketing regime in place? According to the Content Marketing Institute, nine out of 10 B-to-B marketers are actively engaged in content marketing, regardless of their type and size of business. Presenting engaging content and repurposing existing content across new platforms can be a cost-effective way to reach out to multiple-selling environments, such as websites, social media, press releases, and company brochures.
Battling on in the dark won’t heighten your brand’s identity – Get your message out there through valuable and engaging content.
Upgrading your accounting and finance systems
It is not uncommon for small businesses to waste valuable time battling with accounting systems that are not capable of dealing with information and data efficiently.
With the new tax year around the corner, it could prove provident to update the business’s accounting processes. You might want to consider moving your accounts into the cloud. As Tech Radar advises, moving accounts away from traditional desktop software to cloud solutions can give small business owners greater flexibility to deal with invoices and keep on top of cash flow.
Updating software and cybersecurity
If you’ve not already got an adequate firewall in place to help protect company data and cloud servers, now might be a good time to install data protection software to ensure company data remains protected and out of the hands of cybercriminals.
Decluttering your workspace and energising the office atmosphere
Decluttering, organising and filing
A cluttered desk with paperwork scattered between half-drank coffee cups does not do your mental well-being at work any favours. In fact, one study shows that physical clutter negatively affects our ability to focus and process information.
By contrast, a clear and uncluttered desk creates feelings of calm, making us feel more driven and motivated to take on the tasks that lie ahead. One of the quickest and most effective ways to spring clean the office for workplace motivation is to simply declutter your desk.
Having a clean office, an orderly filing system and neat and tidy drawers and cupboards is likely to boost staff morale, not to mention your own sanity!
Brightening the office
An office that’s airy and bright, with swathes of natural daylight filtering into the room, which boasts a contemporary design infused by stylish and comfortable furniture and fittings, a vibrant colour scheme and plenty of visual stimulation, will go a long way in augmenting employee motivation.
Alternatively, it might be easier to move into office space that already ticks the motivational-boosting checklist, that’s stylish, bright and airy with plenty of ‘third places’ and an open-plan design, which encourages collaboration and banter. If that’s the case, WorkWell’s serviced offices in Leeds and Harrogate
Father’s day gift ideas for the dad-preneur
Some dads can be notoriously difficult to shop for – they either have everything they could possibly want or need, or they have niche interests for which equipment
How to Sell flexible office space to a Sceptic
Whilst more and more employers are beginning to recognise the multitude of benefits that go hand in hand with flexible office space and flexible working arrangements, there is always going to be a few flexible working sceptics.
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