Following the success of our campaign with their sister company, Trovex, we were approached by Focus Washrooms to help them rank better organically online for a range of keywords relating to commercial washrooms and bathrooms in the UK. Whether it is a shopping centre, school, hospital, there is an opportunity for providing a number of hygienic basins, toilets and cubicles for the general public to use.

The result of ranking higher on Google for Focus Washrooms can achieve greater brand awareness, new client acquisition and significant growth for the company, especially for keywords such as commercial washrooms. 

How We Approached The Campaign

Keyword Research

We started by sitting down with the client with the head offices in both Hatfield and Norfolk. We selected around 30 key terms to target on Google, so we can optimise accordingly for when people type these words or phrases in. Some of the words were very technical, including cladding, encapsulated doors and panelling and not something that our team had exposure to previously. 

We took this list of keywords and then integrated them naturally into the website, with some on existing pages and creating specific new landing pages for others. Ideally, to rank a keyword on Google, it needs to be present somewhere, and if mentioned in the meta-title and URL, this is best practice.

Site Clean-Up

In the first month, we carried out a thorough site clean up of all pages on the website. This included meta-titles, meta descriptions, h1 headings, image alt text, internal linking, sitemap optimisation and removing crawl errors and broken links. We accessed this information using tools like Screaming Frog and SEMrush which are both paid for – and they give you analysis of every page on the website and suggestions accordingly.

Link-Building

Still key to the Google search algorithm is having good quality links pointing to your website. This strengthens your domain and shows that you are being recommended by other sources around the web. We have reached out to different news sites and websites relating to health and business to show that Focus Washrooms is relevant in the industry. Over time, we need to ramp this up with more interviews, press releases and useful guides on their site that will naturally acquire good links.

Whilst it is still early days, we are very excited about this campaign and look forward to seeing positive results!

A resolution is a decision to do something differently to bring about positive change. Usually they tend to take more of a personal nature, whether that’s to exercise more or eat healthier (you can view the swan’s own resolutions here), but it can also be important to think about it from a business perspective.

As we plan for the year ahead it’s a good time to reflect on progress, plan how we want to grow our businesses and set goals. Many of us focus on improving efficiency, reducing costs, increasing employee engagement or want to expand our knowledge and skillset (one on the list for Indigo Swan).

In order to help us achieve our targets it’s essential to review our development regularly. As we enter the second month of 2019 many of us will be wanting to make sure we are on track to reach our ‘business resolutions’ and find ways to ensure that by the end of the year we accomplish our objectives.

If improving efficiency or reducing costs feature on your plan, then an energy health check has the potential to benefit your business. Reviewing your utility usage has never been more convenient and there are many simple energy saving solutions which can help you to reduce your energy usage. Let us help you to identify those areas which would be of greatest value to your business.

Philippa Bindley, Head of Customer Experience at Norfolk Chamber:

“We hadn’t looked at our energy spends for some time and we’d heard great things about Indigo Swan, so we asked them to run an energy health check to help us get a better understanding of how rates are calculated. The whole process was very easy and straight forward. We were given a friendly, dedicated account manager who was able to answer our questions quickly and efficiently. Not only did the health check save us money but we were also given some useful insights into how the energy market works. We only rent part of our building so it’s excellent to be able to take control of our spending.”

Do you know if your energy contracts and spends are in good order? Are your contracts coming to an end and you want to make sure you are on the most competitive rates? Or are you fixed into your energy contract until later this year, but still want to make sure you are with the best supplier for your needs when they end?

It won’t cost you a penny and we only need a few details from you to get started. We can then benchmark your consumption against the typical and best in class consumption based on national data giving you an instant idea of potential energy and cost savings.

Our energy health check includes:

• An audit of your current contract terms
• A review your energy consumption
• A review your current energy spends
• Detailed checks to make sure all your relevant agreements are correct and contracted
• A discussion around your company’s long-term energy strategy

We offer lots of tools and knowhow at Indigo Swan to help people make better business decisions about their energy. Get in touch on 01603625522 or email hello@indigoswan.co.uk to find out more about how we could help benefit your business.

For more information on our free energy health check service here.

Exclusive offer for Chamber members

Indigo Swan have been a member of the Norfolk Chamber for years and appreciate the opportunities for networking and collaboration that the membership brings.

As a Chamber member, you can receive £500 of free products to help with your energy management. You can choose from a range of products to suit your business size, and your energy goals

You can find out more about Chamber Energy scheme here.

We can advise you on how to spend the £500, but the choice is yours! Give us a call on 01603625522 or email hello@indigoswan.co.uk if you want to discuss further.

As it has been well publicised in the press, times are tough. Well-established operators are taking the decision to close shops, leaving landlords in potentially tricky positions. In Norwich, high profile operators such as Toys R Us and Jamie’s Italian have taken decisions to close their doors.  With some tenants looking to leave, landlords need to know their rights.

If a tenant wants to vacate their property during their lease term, then this is normally done in one of three ways.  

• Insolvency. This is a big topic and one that I am able to advise on, but so much will depend on the specific details of any case. Unfortunately, the reality is that if a tenant has entered insolvency proceedings there is little a landlord can do.
• Break Clauses. Break Clauses are common in modern commercial leases and enable a tenant to terminate their lease early.  Notice requirements in Break Clauses are important and missing a deadline by even a day can render a Break notice unenforceable. Most Break Clauses are conditional; if these conditions are fulfilled then the tenant may vacate. Note that any ‘pre-break liabilities’ remain and a landlord will still have the right to pursue the tenant for these. The most common conditions are:
  • The tenant having complied with the terms of the lease (such as repairing covenants) 
  • Not less than 6 months’ notice must be given
  • Tenant must be up to date with their rent. 
• Assignment. Most leases contain the right for a tenant to assign (transfer) their lease to a new tenant, but in most cases the landlord’s consent is needed.  A landlord must act reasonably in considering a consent application, which involves carrying out due diligence on the proposed new tenant to make sure that they are of a financial position to comply with the terms of the lease. Leases often contain rights for a landlord to request rent deposits or further guarantees as a condition of the landlord’s consent to assign, albeit there are obligations on the landlords to behave reasonably in considering an application – and reasons must be given if consent is to be withheld.  

As re-letting property has become harder in recent months, it is important that a landlord knows their rights and takes appropriate action.  

What Has 2018 Brought For Chatsbrook?

Since its conception in 2016, Chatsbrook has gone from strength to strength and 2018 has been no exception. Looking back over our year of successes, 2018 has been the year of organic business growth.

Adrian Brooks, Director of Chatsbrook, specified that Chatsbrook’s greatest achievement this year has been “our organic growth through reputation of the business and the service we deliver. Clients have come to us for our reputation, which is evident as some of our clients have used our services numerous times throughout the year!”

At Chatsbrook we are proud to state that we always go the extra mile for our clients. We believe it is important for customers to receive not only the most competitive deal, but the best service too from the outset – Transparency is a key driver to the business.

2018 has also brought an enhancement of our product portfolio. Adrian articulated “Our product portfolio has extended into personal and commercial loans. This enables us to offer alternative finance solutions where security against an asset may not be the preferred choice or required. We can also look to consolidate outstanding agreements with one monthly manageable payment for customers. Furthermore, 2018 has also seen our contract hire offering expanded with new dealer partners for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.”

Our extended product portfolio means that we provide a seamless service for our clientele. Our ability to source, supply and finance vehicles means that our customers only have to use one service.

Catering for diverse markets has subsequently meant that we have financed an array of varying assets. But for Adrian there were two particular assets that stuck in his mind. “A 1980’s Matbro telehandler-which although was over 30 years old we successfully placed the funding for! The other was a stunning Rosso Corsa Ferrari 488 for a local customer.” I believe that highlights the extremities of what we can finance for our clients.

Furthermore, this year we have been able to build up brand awareness. We have attended more shows than ever before, from the likes of The Goodwood Festival of Speed, The Norfolk Show  and the Construction Show in Birmingham. Our presence at these shows have enabled us to conjure more business and build new partnerships. What we enjoy most about these shows is the fact that it allows us to interact with the general public and answer any questions that they may have.

Having had a great year of business and with hopes of expanding Chatsbrook further, we look forward to what 2019 may bring. Having made headway with the technology and classic car industry, one of our priorities this coming year is to build partnerships and generate more business within these sectors.

We pride ourselves on providing an unmatched, excellent customer service and 2019 will be no exception. We would like to say thank you to our clients for recognising this and for being a pleasure to work with. Without the flow of recommendations and reviews we couldn’t have enjoyed this success without you.

The benefits of having a hobby go far beyond personal happiness and well-being, and it’s crucial to recognise because it often goes unnoticed as we sharpen up our skill set without even realising it. These skills will not only serve you well in life but also, in business or your work. In my experience, having a multitude of hobbies has allowed me to develop some incredible skills that have helped me to flourish in the business space. In doing so, you too will hone skills that allow you to become a successful and award-winning business leader.

From making analytical predictions to communicating as a unit and learning how to manage your time and money better, as well as understanding how to rate your performance to achieve wider success, here are the business skills you could hone by taking part in certain pastimes.

Communication Skills

Hobbies exist due to a community gravitating around a shared interest, and while not all activities are especially social and instead, solitary, they do still all involve an extensive amount of communication, as evidenced by the amount of time spent either talking, writing, chatting and debating with like-minded individuals. When talking about hobbies, there is no pressure, but instead, fun and entertainment, which makes communication seem quite easy. It is also critical in some activities. Take football. It’s a team game that many boys and girls begin to play from a young age, but how successful can a team be if their communication is almost non-existent? The same is true of business.

These days, it is more and more commonplace for companies to operate on a remote basis, with a workforce spread out internationally. In this case, there are many instant messaging services that allow communication to carry on unimpacted by not having a shared workspace. That said, most operations are still office-based but are as reliant on communication, so pick a game that requires such a skill. Team games work as excellent communication games that also help develop colleague bonding.

Competition and Competitive Spirit

Most hobbies and pursuits require their participants to have a competitive spirit. Chess is one such complex game that will help to teach you a skill set that translates easily to the business world. Imagine setting up your first business and needing to predict and forecast certain outcomes. But it almost goes without saying that chess requires a serious and strong competitive edge. Because of this, it is vital that players nurture an urge to win and never-say-lose mentality as well as a self-belief that allows them to deliver results under pressure. Playing poker, a game of incomplete information, can also be a teaching tool for business.

After all, making calculated moves are often required despite the lack of knowing what comes next. Likewise, you face the same uncertainty in business where you don’t know the extent of your competitors’ plans or even what your customers will do next. Because of this, you must maximise what you can with the information available. You may even learn to read when your rivals bluff, and when it’s time for you to fold and come up with a new plan of action.

Coping with Losing

In life, as in business, coping with defeat is a much-needed ability. After all, mental toughness is vital and imperative for anyone chasing success. However, in all competitions, it is likely you will taste defeat at some point. In games like tennis and golf or even darts, the chances of correcting a bad result come quickly as the next set, hole or leg is only moments away, allowing for instant resolution so long as you keep your head. The same is almost true of poker, as another hand is usually only minutes from starting, and yet, because of the financial threats of the game, many people suffer from what is known in poker circles as ’tilt’ where they lose their cool and make incorrect and rash moves, which almost always leads to defeat.

As such, many view a game of Texas Hold ’em, a variant of poker in which your aim is to bankrupt your opponents and take their money by lying and being deceitful, as similar to the reading of stocks of shares and making correct predictions. Most hobbies do require some amount of financial management, so a game like Omaha Hi-Lo is better for teaching you how to guard your money, assess profits and generally, work with a budget, all of which will be excellent for your business.

Patience is Key

Let’s face it: learning a new skill takes time, and it is all too easy to get frustrated and give up if things don’t go well immediately. But a good sport is all about persistence, and it’s easy to pick one that you could play and improve your patience skills. Regarding sports, a game like cricket played out over a long time sometimes days even is a perfect patience builder. Or give bridge a try. It’s another strategical card game and an extreme, mental sport, even more in-depth than poker. After all, that is what patience is all about, preparing to invest time and resources for future benefit. Benefit that you should soon feel in the boardroom if you apply your new skills to your work.

Businesses of all sizes can benefit from using social media, but talking about their own company is not always the most thrilling thing to be talking about or posting. Sure, if you work in the food or fashion industry, there are a lot of interesting photos you can add and find different ways to engage with your customers. But for more financial stories and B2B customers, talking about car insurance or plastic machinery can be very uneventful. With this in mind, Tudor Lodge give some tips to jazz up your social media.

Talk about your staff

Staff love to be appreciated – its common sense. Posting work profiles or interesting stories about staff is likely to get engagement. Not just by existing followers who are keen to learn more about your brand, but also their own friends and family who want to show their support. Funny stories, likes and dislikes or even individual interviews can go down well and always be sure to use a strong image of the person.

Talk about your clients

No need to constantly boost about your success, but talk about how you are helping your clients, making their lives easier or what you are sharing together. This not only says who your clients are which can get competitors or new business engaged, but also shows the quality and potential of your work. Again, you must use a strong and engaging photo because people respond well to other people’s faces on social media.

Do charity work

Social media is a great reason to do charity work if there ever was one, because it gives you an opportunity to do good things and share those positive connotations of charity work. This includes being involved in fun runs, donating to children, developing countries or something related to animals. This is a great thing to do with Facebook stories or Instagram stories, as per this guide here on How businesses use Instagram stories.

Competitions and giveaways

In the b2c world, giveaways and competitions are always good ways to encourage new users and customers. Ideally, try get existing customers to invite new ones and reward them too, through points, referral systems or other discounts.

We were delighted to be approached by Landed Houses to assist with their SEO. The company was founded by Edmund Cohen and offers a simple way to find country houses to rent and stay in for hens, stags, weddings and other weekend getaways across the UK. Edmund approached the Tudor Lodge team to assist with the site’s rankings on Google, which were already very positive but would benefit from some further optimisation.

Link Building

Link building remains a key factor in Google’s search algorithm, whereby every link on another website acts as an endorsement or recommendation in Google’s eyes. However, it is essential that links are of a good quality and have genuine authority and are not simply acquired for the sake of it i.e free directories and blogs.

Using Tudor Lodge’s contacts, we were able to acquire a host of links across property, leisure and news – which together successfully strengthen the Landed Houses domains for the immediate and long-term future. 

When choosing which words to link, known as anchor text, it is important that you manage the exact words that you are targetting on Google You need to manage the percentage of how much anchor text you link to and also hyperlink the brand name to make the link look like a genuine recommendation. For instance, linking ‘country houses’ in every article is deemed unnatural, but a variety of brand name, click here, read more and country houses is acceptable.

Site Clean Up

In addition to link building, we proposed a strong clean up of the website from a technical perspective. This ensures that every meta-titles, description, image alt-text, internal link, response code and crawl error is fixed and optimised to ensure a smooth indexing of the website. What Tudor Lodge brings to the table is a host of SEO tools including SEMrush, Screaming Frog and AWR – which allows us to find potential fixes for the site, address them and monitor the change in ranking accordingly.

We are delighted with the progress we have made so far for Landed Houses and looking forward to working with the client and taking their business from strength-to-strength.