member

The internet has become a large part of our lives these days, but where are the majority of people spending their time? We’ll examine people’s online habits and look at the latest big trends and how people use and interact with sites on the Internet.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past two decades or more, you’re probably aware of how much impact the internet has had on our lives. Internet usage in the UK has grown from just over 20% of the adult population in the year 2000 to more than 90% of the adult population in the current years. These figures show just how common access to the internet has become and more aspects of our lives are becoming dependant on the service it provides. In recent years, online shopping, social media and digital media are just a few examples of ways in which the Internet is used by consumers in the UK. Although the Internet remains more popular with younger people, older demographics are also starting to use internet-based services to improve their quality of life. Internet usage amongst those in the UK aged 75 and above has risen from 20% in 2011 to 44% in 2018.

So where are the majority of Internet users spending their time? Well, usage habits are changing all the time but there are a few constant areas which always see a lot of Internet traffic:

Online Shopping

Shopping online is one of the UK’s favourite online activities. Most Internet users who were asked ranked the ease and convenience of online stores as their biggest reason for choosing to shop online over traditional shopping. Being able to instantly compare prices from other stores is also a big reason for the popularity of shopping. For now, clothing is the most popular thing to purchase online in the UK. Obviously, the lack of options to try clothes on isn’t enough to dissuade UK shoppers from finding the best deals on clothing. Making payments when buying clothes online is simpler than ever thanks to payment methods such as PayPal and Credit and Debit cards making online payments fast and easy.

Social Media

The UK now has around 45 million active users on different social media networks. That’s an impressive 67% of the population! Facebook ranks as the most popular social media site for users and this isn’t likely to change anytime soon as they have over 30 million users. Social media habits are often linked to buying habits and close to half of 18-34-year-oldshave admitted to buying something after seeing a comment or post from a friend or someone they follow on social media.

Online Gambling

Gambling is big business in the UK and recent years have seen an explosion on the number of different online gambling sites available to UK users. You can find anything from online poker, sports betting sites, bingo and full online casinos. A survey from 2019 found that more than half of adults in the UK have gambled recently.

Part of the reason for the increase in the number of people gambling online is the ease of access to gambling apps. Users can instantly access all of the latest games and make easy payments using their smartphones. There are now loads of different payment methods supported by most major gambling sites including casinos and sports betting sites. Payments can be made instantly through the use of e-Wallets and most payment methods include security to protect against fraud.

Present, Future and Past

With a rapidly evolving marketplace comes challenges and opportunities. Going into 2020 we are positive, optimistic and full of gratitude for the people that allow Chatsbrook to grow year on year. With an amazing 2019 behind us, we’re not stopping there! For the past few months, we have been busy aligning ourselves to the prospective industry changes and trends. Maintaining our competitive edge is very important to us as it means that our clients continue to benefit from our services.

In an interview with Adrian Brooks, director of Chatsbrook, he discusses how Chatsbrook stays ahead of the game by integrating provisions that are based on industry reports and predictions…

“Across varying industries, each marketplace is prone to fluctuations as well as new advancements- but that is not something to shy away from. At Chatsbrook, our priority is to accommodate the client, which is why our development is crucial.”

“Since the initial launch of the business, we have streamlined our panel of lenders to ensure a stronger blend of funders which meet with our clients’ credit and asset requirements. During 2019 our repeat business was running at 73%, highlighting customer satisfaction, the continued support our clients provide and the strong relationships we are building. In addition, we have built an outstanding mix of Commercial Loan lenders and are now able to offer a range of different products to suit each client. We also recognise the need for additional cashflow facilities that are not always tied to asset purchases. Recently, we have supported a client with a commercial loan where a second charge against a property was required, with new products, we are able to extend our capabilities in order to support customers with new acquisitions.”

“In 2020 we are excited to launch our Contract Hire division where clients can place an order for any make of car or light commercial vehicle (LCV) directly through Chatsbrook financed through a contract hire facility.”  

“We are thrilled to launch our “Partnership Programme”! The prospect of further consolidating relationships with businesses who share our values and who are looking to extend their customer experience using funding solutions facilitated by Chatsbrook is exciting!!” – For further details on how this service could benefit your business please contact Adrian Brooks on 01603 733500.

Chatsbrook have committed financial Investment in automated technology in order to streamline our clients’ experience whilst opening various channels of communication. Watch this space to find out more!

“As a business who enters their third year we briefly reflect on our past – In January 2017 Chatsbrook commenced trading as an unknown entity with the core objective to deliver client’s openness, honesty and transparency within the financial sector. The business has been built through self-promotion, prospecting and our extensive network of supporters – Investment was made to enable business expansion raising our commercial profile year on year which has resulted in attracting new customers through recommendations along with new team members. We are excited to be employing soon!”

“Having digested the info@chatsbrook.co.uk

Funding a new business venture can be tricky, but also essential to help you kickstart the business. Some businesses for instance require stock or certain tools to begin, in which case funding is very important and it is useful to check your options and make sure that there no serious financial risks or implications involved.

Using your savings

Using your own personal savings is often the most sensible and low risk way to fund a new business. Many people will have a set figure in mind such as £10,000 or £20,000 or have a buffer of 6 months of savings so that they can invest in the business but still pay their household bills.

When using your own savings, you are not bound by any debt or have anyone to respond to. In which case, it is a healthy and low-risk way to invest money into a business initially. 

It is also a good test of character and belief in your business, because you are able to ‘put your money where your mouth is’ by using your own money and nobody elses.

Friends and family

Many successful companies have been started thanks to the funds of family and close friends. The likes of Apple and Amazon were started by loans from parents and today, it is not uncommon to crowdfund from people that you know. 

Especially for set up costs, such as setting up a practice, restaurant or shop, it is not unusual to receive funding from parents. 

Of course, this comes with risks and money can get between family and friends and it can be a grey area. If so, it is recommended to have very clear guidelines in terms of the amount of money, equity, interest (if any) and repayment expectations, just to ensure that everyone knows what is involved.

For big scale startups – VC and crowdfunding

For those high risk and high reward startups, you may seek funding from venture capital and crowdfunding platforms. In doing so, you will usually typically give equity away in your business, but it can be an effective way to raise large sums of £500,000 or more.

Getting funding through VC requires quite a lot of due diligence and you will need to present a business plan, go through the motions and report back on a regular basis to your new investors and shareholders – which can be welcomed or add quite a lot of pressure to the daily running of your business.

Business loans, personal loans or credit 

Many people seek a form of loan or credit to start or grow a business. The traditional process of going to your bank manager is very old school and people are more likely to apply online and your eligibility is based on the plans for your business, turnover, security and credit status. 

You can use a business loan from 8%-50% APR, personal loans from 3%-50% APR or use credit cards which are free provided that you pay them off on time. See these loan providers for more information. You will often be given an overdraft facility but be careful with this since the charges and fees can add up pretty quickly. 

You can also consider invoice factoring if you have received a big order in writing and signed for things like purchasing units, orders (common in catering, production, fashion and retail) and you will often be given up to 80% of the invoice value upfront and then you can clear the loan when your merchant has paid.

This year is already gearing up to be an exciting one for businesses in Norfolk and the chances are that many organisations are already giving serious thought to how they can develop their offerings and enjoy new levels of success across the months ahead. One topic which will no doubt be on the agenda of many companies will be how they can leverage technology in new and innovative ways, including whether it is time for some firms to finally embrace the benefits of going mobile.

Making a difference

There have been plenty of intriguing news stories across Norfolk in recent months regarding how mobile technology is making a difference to many lives. The fact that 58 per cent of First Eastern Counties bus users now purchase mTickets, which are bought via a mobile app and scanned on the public transport services. Furthermore, there was also news of the University of East Anglia-backed Safepoint launching a lone worker safety app, which allows people to log key information about their jobs on a central system. If they do not then mark a task as completed, an alert is triggered for an employer to check on the individual.

These are both great examples of the benefits of mobile technology and, whether you’re a local business wanting to raise your profile or an entrepreneur with grand plans to build a venture with international reach, there is plenty of evidence that the right app could prove very beneficial.

A big part of our lives

A new report released by mobile market data provider App Annie has put a spotlight on the huge role that smartphones and tablets now play in many of our lives, with the study estimating that the average person spent 3.7 hours on mobile devices in 2019. The research also found that consumers downloaded around 204 billion apps across the year, spending around $120 billion on them in the process.

But which apps are proving particularly popular with consumers? Gaming is one area which has thrived on mobile in recent years, with so many different experiences now available at the touch of a button. Not only are strategy games like Supercell’s Clash of Clans easily accessible on mobile but has also developed in-game news sections to support players and keep interest high. Meanwhile, online casinos have also embraced gaming on the move, for example Betway offer an optimised mobile portal and an app to customers featuring everything from slot games to the likes of roulette and blackjack. The App Annie report stated that mobile gaming is now the most popular form of the pastime and pointed to the fact that major franchises like Call of Duty and Mario Kart had moved into the area as evidence of its continued success. Such findings could prove interesting reading for local software developers, as well as brands considering the idea of using a casual game to promote their services.

The App Annie study also suggested consumers are migrating more financial activities to mobile, while apps are also used for research when they are undertaking shopping too. It also suggested that this year could be the biggest year for mobile yet, particularly with new innovations like 5G set to push the capabilities of such devices to a whole new level.

Small business benefits

All of the findings from that report suggest that consumers are using mobile apps now for a range of different activities. However, while larger organisations may be in a stronger position to develop such pieces of software, should smaller firms be spending valuable time and resources on going mobile too?

According to a study undertaken by Clutch at the start of 2018, the answer is yes. The research found that more than 40 per cent of small businesses have a mobile app, while another 30 per cent intend to build one in the future. Examining the key benefits that such firms get from embracing apps, the research found that 26 per cent regard the option of mobile payment as the most valuable feature offered by their software. Other key features included the possibility to communicate directly with customers and the ability to create a customer loyalty program. The latter point perhaps raises a fundamental point which could be worth bearing in mind if you are looking to develop a mobile app – it is generally best to target existing customers. While the Clutch research found that 28 per cent of small businesses create mobile apps to attract new customers, the organisation warned that this was not good reasoning for an app as drawing people to it would require a significant level of marketing. Instead, a better approach would be to consider how an app could support communication with those you already have a relationship with, which is why loyalty schemes may well be a good idea to explore.

A chance for real success

Businesses of all sizes across Norfolk will be looking at so many different areas as they seek out new ways to develop their services across the rest of 2020. However, with research showing how so many of us are spending more and more time on mobile devices, firms should be thinking about how they can get involved in that area. The businesses that find the right idea and approach when developing mobile apps could go on to have significant success in the future.

There are several areas to consider when choosing to work with a call answering company.

It’s not only cost.  Although that’s always going to be a consideration.

If you understand what it is what you want to achieve, then it will make the choice easier.  I will run through a few different options below for you to consider.

Basic message taking Even with basic message taking there are things to consider.

If a lot of background noise isn’t a problem for you, then a large call centre may work for you.

Calls will be scripted and even if one of your friends calls and says, ‘they know me’, they may still be asked for their full name as the scripting system won’t allow any flexibility.

It will be one of possibly over 100 people answering your call.  They will have very little knowledge of your business.

It will be basic.  Name, telephone number and brief message.  Possibly an email address too.

Large call centres base their business model on high volume.  Calls will be hurried and without any of the niceties and small talk.  The call will probably be under a minute.

The lowest price we’ve seen is 77p a call.  Generally, this type of operation will charge between £1 – £1.50 per call plus VAT.  If an SMS is included, it would normally be at an additional rate.

Some companies will have a monthly standing fee in addition to the per call fee.

Bespoke call answering Bespoke call answering companies are generally either smaller, or a larger company split into smaller groups.

The people answering the calls will understand you and your callers and will have more time to spend on a call.  It will be very customer focussed.

There will be time for the ‘niceties’.  Asking about their health if they’ve been poorly.  Interest in the caller.

They will be able to deal with much more complex calls.  For example, booking appointments into a podiatry clinic and have a basic knowledge of the service.  Sending out additional documentation such as consent forms.  Booking blood tests at a laboratory.  Making a hotel or restaurant reservation.

This service will be priced individually to suit specific needs.  It’s unlikely to be scripted and the company will have high training standards.

Calls are likely to be considerably longer, and the price will reflect that.

It may be a per call rate of £3 – £5, or a per minute rate from £1.50 a minute.

Pricing This is a complex area.  The headline price may not be what you will pay.

All call answering companies work on a similar model – time.  The more complex the call, the more time it will take which attracts a higher rate.

There may be a fixed monthly fee on top of the call rate.  A one-off set-up fee added to the first bill.

Additional fees for sending an SMS, setting up an out of hours voicemail.  Another fee for Saturdays and evenings. 

Every company is different.

Let’s face it, the ideal job for many is one that means you can work from home. You get more flexibility in your hours, can wear whatever you like and don’t have to do a lengthy commute in all weathers of the year. There are many jobs out there that allow you to work from home, it’s up to you to think about your skills and what you can do to earn the cash from the comfort of your own living room.

You need to think about where your talents lie – whether you are a natural writer, crafter or have great customer service and people skills. You could try reading up and researching what skills certain roles need and hone in on these before applying for jobs. You will also need to be prepared that work from home office jobs can require long and sometimes unsocial work hours, so you need to think of the role that is right for you. Here are some of our top ideas for home office jobs to get the ball rolling…

Online support agent

One stay at home office job you could do is to be an online support agent such as for bingo or sports betting sites. One of the most important roles in online gaming is this customer service role. You’d need to be quick to reply, knowledgeable and quick to learn and friendly too. You would be responsible for acting as a liaison for customers who come to the site and assist with different aspects such as complaints, questions, errors, signing up, cancellations, billing and any other queries they might have.

Freelance writer

A freelance writer is another great office job you can do from home. You can start with a few low-level jobs before building up to bigger ones. There are many sites you can use to get these jobs, such as People Per Hour, Fiverr and more. You can use many different resources such as Linkedin or Facebook to get advice and tips, and, of course, read the many blogs and sites out there with top tips to earn money from your writing. To be a freelance writer you need to be able to turn content round within a good time frame and have good research skills for when topics need more in-depth information.

A virtual assistant

A virtual assistant provides administrative support to either an individual or a team while working remotely. Your tasks will normally include a range of administrative tasks such as answering emails, scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements and any other tasks they put your way. It’s important to have strong communication and a good internet connection for this. Most keep in touch via instant messaging such as Skype or Slack. This is a role that will require you to be organized and efficient so you can stay on top of the different tasks assigned to you. We suggest ensuring you have a good filing and recording system to keep track of everything.

An online tutor

Another way you can put your skills to use and have an at-home office job is to become an online tutor. An online tutor may work with anyone from young children to teens and adult learners. All you need is a computer, a strong internet connection and a quiet spot where you can interact with the student and help them with their learning. For many tutoring jobs, you will need a degree, however, some will accept or require an educational background in a specific subject or additional qualifications. You will normally either interact through Skype or a similar program so it’s important you have a webcam and a good microphone to communicate with.

Sell home-made craft items

If you are a bit crafty and creative on the site, you could set up your own online store. People work from home selling all sorts of things they make, including jewelry, greeting cards, trinket boxes and much more. It’s a great way to make some extra money on the side while also doing something you love every day. You could have your own website selling your items or piggy-back on sites such as eBay, Amazon, and Etsy.