member

Website speed and responsiveness are factors which are increasingly important for all websites across the world. There are many reasons why it is important to have a site that functions and responds properly and according to users’ needs and requirements. Whether your website sells clothes, payroll software or simply a service such as consultancy, engaging users and search engine ‘spiders,’ which crawl [read and analyse] all websites is fundamental to your online and sometimes even offline success.

There are various factors to consider with regards to the speed of your website and understanding this could be the difference between your business ‘breaking even’ and potentially thriving and becoming an unrivalled success.

Speeding Things Up

How you address site speed issues will very much depend on which content management system (CMS) your website uses, who, how and where your website is hosted and whether or not you have the knowledge and knowhow to implement the various actions needed to speed things up.

Content Management System (CMS) – Different CMS’ allow for different permissions for everyday users when it comes to sitespeed. For example, WordPress allows you to do more than Wix or SquareSpace, but with the right development input, Drupal can thrive too. Consider speaking to a website developer before choosing your CMS

Hosting – Your website needs to ‘live’ somewhere and where it lives will be a strong factor for how it performs. Many websites find themselves hosted on huge and commercial platforms which work well for very small sites such as personal blogs but which are not suitable for businesses’ needs and websites. Consider researching dedicated server space which could help propel your website’s speed to new heights. Not having to share server space with other websites will mean that your site can make use of all of the server space it needs for things like images, videos and content.

Page Loading and Rendering – As well as where the site loads from (in the case of hosting), how and the precise nature of how individual pages on your site load is an equally important factor. Many websites retain render blocking on their sites which often slow things down. Render blocking is only really needed for sites that do not have much server space. this blocking of page rendering means that pages will loan slower and in layers to allow for the server to respond in cases of slower hosting. However, removing this script [code] makes for a much faster page loading experience

Error Pages – All websites will, at one time or another play host to 404 response pages. These are pages which are effectively dead ends; links point to their URL, but there is no page existing with the URL label in question. Easily fixed using 301 redirects and implemented via your website’s htacess file, consider redirecting the broken links [URLs] to their closest equivalent page. By pages not being flagged as ‘broken,’ users will enjoy a much better experience on your site and will be able to naturally follow a user journey, rather than reaching unfortunate ‘dead ends’

Pensions are the main way most people will pay for themselves once they’ve retired from the working world. You save for decades to build up a nice pot of money to keep you going. 

Now, imagine the money you accumulated during all those years of saving disappears. How will you support yourself as a retiree? 

Pension scams are on the rise in the UK. Fraudsters are scamming victims out of tens of thousands of pounds of their hard-earned savings. 

How to know if you are being scammed

Scammers are now creating convincing websites and an online presence which means it might not be immediately obvious that they are up to no good. There are, however, a number of signs that you can look out for to keep you safe from the scammers. 

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself if you are suspicious:

1 – Is the company regulated by the FCA? 

The easiest way to tell if you are in contact with a genuine financial company or a scammer is to check whether the caller is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). These companies are regulated so are able to offer sound, professional financial advice. You can find a list of all registered companies on the FCA website. This should always be the first place you check. 

Most pensions companies will not directly contact you about your pension without your permission. The best thing to do if you get a cold call about your pension is hang up. If you get emailed or texted, ignore the messages. 

The government is currently working on a scheme that will ban pension cold calls. So soon it should be easier to spot when someone is attempting to scam you.

2 – Are you under the age of 55? 

Be wary of people encouraging you to release cash from your pension before the age of 55. This can be called ‘pension liberation’ or a ‘pension loan’. 

Should you take money from your pension pot before the age of 55 you could face a large tax bill of 55%, plus other charges, on what you withdraw. This is definitely not in your best interests!

3 – Do you feel pressured or is it a limited time only offer?

A reputable pension adviser will never pressure you into making a big decision there and then. So, if you are feeling under pressure to commit to an offer you should just walk away. 

4 – Does it sound too good to be true? 

If the answer is yes, then it usually is! Be suspicious of anyone who is offering high/guaranteed investment returns or ways of avoiding paying tax.  

Once you have transferred your money across to the scammer it is unlikely that you will get it back. If you use a firm who is not FCA registered you will not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service or Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FCSC).

If you think you have a scammer on your hands, check the FCA’s Scamsmart website where you’ll find information on any known scams and firms on their warning list. Always report a scam if you come across one. Help others avoid becoming a victim. 

It is always recommended to get independent advice when you are considering doing anything with your pension. Get that advice from a reputable, FCA authorised company and you will be in safe hands. 

Put simply, hard coatings are specially formulated materials which are applied to plastic substrates in liquid form and cured usually using heat or UV energy. They can be applied using many different methods such as spray, flow, roll or dip coating.

Hard coatings offer plastic materials greater abrasion resistance, giving very strong and versatile material such as Polycarbonate a harder surface, enabling the material to be used in a wider variety of applications.

Such coatings also offer increased chemical resistance to plastic materials, which generally are easily damaged by harsh chemicals.

Other properties can be included within hard coatings such as UV resistance, Anti-Microbial properties and Anti-Glare.

The level of abrasion and chemical resistance can vary depending on the hard coatings formulation. Some coatings offer a lower abrasion resistance but in doing so offer an extended life under external weathering conditions.

Hard coatings can be applied to many substrates such as Polycarbonate, PMMA, PET, PVC and PETg in sheet form or mouldings.

Hard coatings can also be applied to some printed (digital and screen) or painted surfaces.

At Peerless we use UV technology to cure our coatings.

Our brand is Peeraguard and we currently offer the below coatings:

·        Peeraguard Clear Coating – Our most popular coating, high abrasion/chemical resistance, with a high gloss finish.

·        Peeraguard Optical Coating – All of the properties offered by Peeraguard Clear but with superior optical quality.

·        Peeraguard Anti-Glare Coating – A matt hard coating, perfect for light diffusion.

·        Microguard™ Coating – An Anti-Microbial coating that has been developed and formulated to give protection against bugs such as MRSA and E-coli.

·        https://www.peerless-coatings.co.uk/coatings-for-plastic/ or call 01842 750333

5 Benefits of Face-to-Face Networking

Whilst we digitise more of our everyday communications, the idea of face to face networking can be daunting. As technology becomes ever smarter and efficient at ensuring we’re connected all the time, it’s odd that actually making a real connection with a real person strikes fear into the heart of many. Not that there is anything wrong with connecting online, in fact such digital connections have impressive power to nurture and grow businesses (the irony of this being posted online is not lost on us). However,ahead of our attendance at the  Norfolk Chamber of Commerce B2B event, we reflect on the benefits of unplugging how we connect once in a while. So here are our ‘5 Benefits to Face to Face Networking’…

1)      Being Human

As with so many things, sometimes it’s not what you do, but how you do it…or in this case, say it. All too often messages shared online can be lost in translation. Unless you are a real Hemmingway of the web, messages shared in person tend to incorporate voice, body language, facial expressions and add much greater depth to what is being said. In turn this depth is communicated in your brand and how your business is perceived by others as more interesting, more genuine…and more human.

2)      Escape the Online Vacuum

Digital marketing and the use of social media have been transformative tools in business interaction. However for most of us, business does not only exist in a vast online universe, it has to come back down to earth, with physical interactions important to get right. By networking face to face you are able to show off your personality that could otherwise struggle to breathe in the online vacuum and develop the communication skills key to business growth. As a result, face to face networking goes hand in hand with a joined up online & offline approach to networking, marketing and even general communications.

3)      No Time Like the Present

During a conversation, you can tailor your message to an individual or group and receive feedback immediately. What you say to one person or group, may be very different to how you engage with another. Often within digital marketing, such as emails and social media, the same message can go out to everyone, whereas when you are face to face with potential clients and collaborators, you can tailor your message. You are able to respond to the feedback, be it verbal or indeed non-verbal in real-time. Not only does this make discussions faster, but often results in those involved feeling more valued too.

4)      Real Becomes Digital

Once you have used the character of face to face networking to your advantage by showing off your glowing personality, communicating a deeper brand identity and perhaps shovelling warm pastries and coffee into your face…get digital. You’ve broken the ice and made a connection or two, and can add to your online profiles to continue the conversation online. There is the added benefit of bringing together the greater intimacy achieved in a face to face introductions with the ease of further communication online, nurturing your new contact even if you do not see them again in person.

5)      Concrete Connections

Like. Retweet. Share. Repeat.

Sound familiar? Often this can be the level at which online engagement remains, and it can be handy. However people we meet and form bonds with in person will reliably yield working relationships with greater longevity and robustness to stand the test of time. It can also be hard to hear a genuine voice in an online sea of likes, thumbs up and tags that would drown out even the most booming voice. Why only fight for a quantity of attention online, when you can have the quality face to face attention that could put you ahead of competition who don’t unplug from time to time?

So there you have it our ‘5 Benefits of Face to Face Networking’, we hoped you enjoyed reading & we will see you at B2B! 

In today’s workplace, the transactional employee/employer relationship is – rightly – becoming a thing of the past. Companies are recognising that they cannot expect motivation and satisfaction through financial incentives alone. People need to feel engaged, connected, empowered – and in doing so, be motivated to deliver – more, often, – for an employer.

To increase motivation and satisfaction, employers need to develop and deliver targeted and relevant activities that engage and thus motivate and satisfy, including at key employment points, such as during recruitment, onboarding, and development. These engagement activities are absolutely essential for companies to deliver their business objectives – it is through involved and satisfied people that organisations will thrive.

And as well as employee engagement, companies also have an opportunity to connect with potential and past employees – and bring business benefits in doing so.

There is huge scope for employers to connect with potential employees through their external communications and engagement activities – and this may be long before a potential employee even considers a role with the organisation. The way that companies present themselves, through their external communications activities, through their charitable and community support, will have a significant impact on how they are perceived. As well as considering what external engagement activities they should deliver – be it media relations, social media, sponsorship, for example – companies also need to be mindful of the key messages they are sharing across their communications. Employers need to put their very ethos, their purpose, and above all, their values at the heart of their communications and engagement activities in an open and consistent way. Because these messages are what people will connect with – and which will ultimately attract applicants who share similar beliefs.

It is these activities – combined with the advocacy of existing motivated and satisfied employees who are benefiting from positive and proactive internal engagement and communications – which will help a company to become an employer of choice. And which will create that pull to a company which is perceived as a ‘great place to work.’

There is also opportunity to engage those who have left the organisation positively. The way that companies manage the ‘ending’ with those who are moving on is vital because these ex-employees also become advocates – or otherwise –  for the organisation. And so, companies need to make an employee feel valued throughout the leaving process – with recognition and appreciation, and engagement through, for example, truly effective and two-way exit interviews (the name of which, in itself, is rather disengaging). How a resigning or retiring employee is treated at this key time is crucial as it can colour their whole view of the organisation – and how they speak about the employer afterwards.

And once an individual is no longer an employee, a company can still keep them engaged through an ‘alumni’ scheme. This could include keeping them updated on progress through sharing the company newsletter, or through an annual Christmas or birthday card. This approach will help an ex-employee to feel valued for the contribution that they made, and still feel connected to the company – ‘part of the family’. A company which takes this approach will benefit from hugely powerful advocates within the community who will be in a position to influence others to want to work for that organisation. And, it may also encourage the ex-employee to return should an appropriate opportunity arise.

Employee engagement is crucial to business success as it is through people that objectives and performance are delivered. And more far-reaching engagement can also bring enormous benefits, not least around who wants to work with and for an organisation. A company which looks at these wider engagement activities can truly become an employer of choice.

​To discover more about engagement, engage with us hello@engaging-people.co.uk

Today is Time to Talk day, a day which aims to get people talking about mental health. And employers have a crucial role to play in destigmatising mental health issues.

But they can only do this by creating workplaces, where it is ‘safe’ to talk. Where it’s ok to not be ok.

There are some fundamental building blocks needed to create this environment and perhaps first of all is leadership. Leaders set the tone for an organisation so they need to be talking about mental health and setting the standards for the organisation. They need to normalise mental health through their leadership and provide the strategic direction for the delivery of activities to support mental wellbeing.

The manager is key too and I have written about the role of managers in supporting mental health in the workplace. Managers are in a great position to be able to identify signs and offer support but to do this, they need to have clarity about their role in supporting mental health in the workplace, understand the signs and symptoms to look out for, and feel confident to have conversations about mental health.

Communications are vital too and the employer needs to proactively share what is available and use language which normalises mental health. This, however, can be undermined by the dialogue which is taking place in the workplace – whilst a company may offer counselling, an individual’s willingness to access such support will be minimised if derogatory language is tolerated in the working environment. This needs to be challenged, but also, employees need to have access to mental health awareness training which gives them the insight and understanding needed.

Employers also need to consider their policies and procedures – are they giving opportunity for conversation or are they too directive? By having HR processes – such as 121s – which give equal opportunity for manager and employee to speak will help to build an ongoing conversation.

The organisation can also demonstrate that this is a safe place to talk by making commitments – to Mindful Employer, or to Time to Change, or indeed through their own organisational values. This is a loud and clear sign that the employer supports its people talking about their mental health.

And companies also need to think about what else they can offer – where they can signpost and guide an employee for support, to occupational health or talking therapies, for example. Because once an employee starts to talk, an employer needs to be ready.

People need to feel empowered to talk about their mental health. And employers have a great opportunity to support them to do this.

The answer we were all waiting for? Raspberry Ripple.

Maybe it was the tempting twist of colour, perhaps the combination of flavours, we’re not sure…but the number one flavour of Norfolk B2B 2018 was indeed, raspberry ripple. Visitors ate up our quirky take on the flavours of Image Display and Graphics. Creative design, events, project management and exhibition build all featured on the menu as we used a vibrant custom light-box, floor graphics and bespoke counter to serve up our key services. That’s not all that exhibitors and visitors had a taste for, with a definitive air of creativity & diversity across the event. Attracting over 100 exhibitors, with opportunities to network, learn new skills and forge meaningful connections, Norfolk B2B serves as a great introduction to the benefits of live events.

Speaking with Mark Shields of the EDP, we highlighted the impressive creativity on show, with Iain Cosham, managing director of Image Display & Graphics sharing that ‘this year we’ve helped more people to be a bit more interactive – just because it’s a B2B event doesn’t mean it can’t be fun and entertaining’. Attending the B2B exhibition since the early 1990s, we have certainly seen an evolution in how businesses approach their events, even on a more intimate scale. From VR to themed putting greens, more businesses are considering how to create an experience that immerses visitors and position that all-important ‘interesting angle’ that sets them apart from the crowd.

It’s exciting to see the local business community buying into the value of events, beginning to cultivate their own strategies, experiences and aspirations. Nova Fairbank, public affairs manager at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce also spoke with Mark Shields of the EDP. Sharing a wider theme shared across events success stories like Norfolk B2B, Ms Fairbank said the next event will be ‘even bigger and better’. Exhibitions and live events continue to grow as one of the most successful marketing platforms in the world, with local iterations like Norfolk B2B the ideal entrée. If you and your business have developed a taste for events there is a whole buffet of opportunities out there, you just need to let us know – what’s your flavour?

 Interested in developing your use of event marketing, check our more exclusive content here.