• Let your customers know in advance that you will be away. That way there will be no surprises.
• Build up a relationship with other similar business owners. You will be able to manage each others clients while away on holiday.
• If you need to have contact with clients. Let them know you will be accessible by email, and that you will check it at a certain time.
• Consider using an outsourced call answering service. They are cost effective, and will be able to answer calls from new customers or enquiries.
• Set up an out of office reply on your email informing that you are on holiday.

By following the above tips your customers should be more aware that you are away. You will be surprised that many won’t have any issues until you return. Have a happy holiday!

If you need to find a dog boarding kennel for your pet dog while you are away book in advance. You may have to visit beforehand to see if your pet settles in. For an alternative to kennels valefarmhouse.com is central to Evesham, Pershore, Alcester, Stratford-upon-Avon and Redditch

What is internet marketing?

Internet marketing is broadly divided in to many types including Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Content Marketing, Pay Per Click (PPC), Email Marketing and Search Engine Marketing (SEM). By utilising all these types of internet marketing methods, your business will be able to quickly reach a large audience, gaining new customers, and promote your products and services.

It is important to use a selection of the above internet marketing methods to increase your marketing reach. The more time you invest into internet marketing, the better the results.

Read more about internet marketing and the different methods at www.webmaniamarketing.co.uk

To be compliant with the new HMRC VAT changes:

• You may use the the HMRC VAT online service.
• Contact your accountant or Bookkeeper to file on your behalf.
• Or use an online accounting package like Kashflow, which allows you to file your VAT online with a press of a button.

Remember to register your details and enrol for the VAT online services

Networking can be a mixture of different ways to increase your contacts, from using social media tools like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, or face to face networking at business events or breakfasts. By connecting to other people, and building on the relationship, you are gaining a contact who will represent you and your business to their own colleagues, friends and contacts.

Why Network?

By building on your networking relationship you gradually gain trust with other business owners, and also increase their awareness of your products and services. As the trust increases they will be comfortable in recommending your product and services not only to their friends and family, but also their own clients. This will eventually increase your customers and income.

How do I find a networking event?

Keep an eye in your local paper for local events, plus also on twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Events are often published online, and by searching on Google for “network events” and your local area you should find many events covering most times of the day. Usually events are:

• Breakfast Networking Events
• Networking Lunches
• Networking Dinner and Seminars

Many networking events may have a speaker, where you will have a great chance to learn and understand extra business tips and ideas.

How to increase your network with social media?

As you meet people at events you will often exchange business cards. When you return to your office get into the habit of adding their details to your list of contacts, then invite them to connect on LinkedIn. If they have Twitter, then follow them, and with time they should follow you back.

Networking doesn’t work!

I have heard this many times from people who have attended one or two events. Networking has to be viewed as a long term marketing method. It may take a few months for the relationship to build, and a few more for the opportunities to present themselves. Keep attending events, and the referrals will soon start flowing. Stop attending and you will quickly be forgotten, and someone else will be receiving the referral.

Discover how to take the pain out of your business accounts with Kashflow

One Debt Solution work in a clear and concise stage over the life of your plan with regular contact from your case worker.

One Debt Solution offer help with the following debt solutions:

• Debt Reduction
• Unenforceable Agreements
• Debtor Harassment
• IVAs
• Debt Management
• Bankruptcy
• Charging Orders
• CCJs
• Other Debt Solutions

Visit the One Debt Solution website at www.onedebtsolution.co.uk to discover how we are able help you clear your debt.

One Debt Solution will always recommend the solution that is right for you.

Recycling your used inkjet printer cartridges or laser toner is the green way to help the environment. There are many companies that will pay you for all your old cartridges, therefore it would be a great idea to create a company recycling scheme. Ensure every member of your company is aware, and over time watch the cash savings grow.

Just Google a recycler local to yourself to make your environmental help even greener.

Outsource, Outsource, Outsource………. Oh and Kashflow

Outsourcing needs to be seen as an essential way to grow your business and increase your profits. So many business owners are unable to see outsourcing as just another cost, and will spend many hours, days or even weeks battling with their administration or accounts.

For a small monthly fee you should be able to outsource many of your administration and accounting tasks, which help you by:

• Having more time to complete the real tasks that earn money.
• More time for yourself and family.
• Less stress

With large HMRC penalties for poor bookkeeping amounting to fines of £3000 or more mistakes that you make could cost you dearly

A few of the tasks that have been outsourced by myself include administration, invoicing and payroll which released so much of my time that business has increased twofold.

Many of our customers pay us with a monthly standing order which meant 2 days of each month was spent raising and emailing invoices and receipts. By utilising Kashflow instead of quickbooks saves me those 2 days by automatically creating and emailing the invoices while I sleep. It is also  compatible with online VAT, with many reporting tools to check your profit and loss quickly. Other benefits include not having to purchase an extra license to use it on another computer.

Kashflow offers a free 2 month trial (no card details required) to enable you to try it out. Register here for more information.

A few useful tasks that may be outsourced (with links):

Birmingham Bookkeeper

Business Networking Birmingham

IT Support Birmingham

Virtual PA (administration help)

Event Management

Human Resources

As your business grows, the amount of paperwork and other administration tasks increase also. Finding the time to complete all these administration tasks may be difficult, and often may end up being overlooked while you carry out your everyday business. If you overlook certain tasks you may end up with fines or even lose customers. Finding temporary administration cover may be too costly until you have enough work to keep them busy on a part time or full time basis.

A free admin assistant to help your business.

A new apprentice scheme recently launched in Birmingham provides training and work experience for 14 – 16 year old students who wish to train in business administration. This provides them with the skills and experience of working in a business environment,  plus an NVQ qualification equal to 5 -6 GCSE’s. There is no cost to the business owner, though you will need to go through the ususal health & safety procedures. You also have to interview the student beforehand the same as any normal job role. Once completed you will have a free admin assistant one day a week.

How do you get a free admin assistant and help students in the Birmingham area?

You will need to have a business based in the Birmingham area to qualify, though similar schemes are starting in Walsall and Wolverhampton. Contact Performance through people on 0121 6432653

A quick message from our new admin assistant.

Many of you may realise that I have never written a blog before. I’m only 14 you see. I am currently working for a small but growing IT company, based in their Birmingham office, doing the admin side of things. I am doing an apprentice scheme where at the end of two years I will come out with the equivalent to 5-6 GCSE’s. MAD Computer Solutions provide IT support to the small to medium business sectors in the Midlands and has already provided me with experience including taking minutes, filing documents, answering and taking phone calls using computer systems, email and invoicing. Not forgetting making tea

This is where you come in.

There are still a few 14-15 year olds looking for placements in local Birmingham offices. They work for a full day on Thursday’s doing all the admin tasks that you are too busy to complete. If you are interested on taking some one on for the next two years contact – Performance through People (Birmingham)

Hannah Davies, Admin assistant, MAD Computer Solutions