There are some things that, no matter how hard you knock them down, they just keep coming back, again and again and again. Social media platform bebo is one. Sixteen years after it originally launched, it’s making a comeback in February, and this time it means business…
In case you have no clue what we’re on about, here’s a history lesson: Bebo was the brainchild of husband and wife Michael and Xochi Birch, who sprang it on an unsuspecting internet public in January 2005. The snappy little name was an acronym for “blog early, blog often” and it was soon a smash in the UK and Ireland.
As it reached around 80 million users in 2008, the Birch’s sold it to AOL for a cool $850 million (did they get it in tens and twenties, we wonder?) and scampered off into the sunset, a pair of happy bunnies.
Unfortunately, AOL’s timing was a bit rubbish, as their purchase coincided with the spectacular rise of a then-rather insignificant firm called Facebook… While the story of that platform is history, Bebo’s was still being written.
AOL flogged it to Criterion Capital Partners for a paltry $10 million, and in 2013, Bebo filed for bankruptcy. Cue the Birches, riding in like shining knights, snapped up their damsel-in-distress company for a single dollar (a bargain if ever we saw one) and launched it again under the snappy tagline: “Probably Not for Boring People”.
But, Bebo still couldn’t make the grade against the likes of Facebook and Twitter, so it turned to streaming software and then to esports tournaments, before being bought by Amazon’s Twitch in 2019 for $25 million and was switched off not long after.
But now it’s back in private beta and safely in the hands of the Birches – though if you do have an old account and you manage to get an invitation to take a snoop around, there’s no point looking for it, as everything’s been deleted.
Understandably, the online world was abuzz at the news, and it will be interesting to see how this version of Bebo fares in the growing social media pond that’s already packed some with big fish… We’ll keep an eye on it and let you know.
We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the 42 Club, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. We help companies who are all fingers and thumbs with their social media grow their business and brand. Book your free strategy call here.
For many it can be a daunting step to take in starting your cyber security journey when the realisation comes that you need to do more to protect your business, teams and customers from the ever growing risks associated with cyber-attacks. And herein lies an ongoing challenge; many businesses know they need to do something so will often focus on ensuring they have some technical solutions in place such as firewalls, anti-virus software and multi-factor authentication, however this is far from the whole story when it comes to protecting any business.
Quoting directly from the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021 published by the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport “this…survey continues to show that cyber security breaches are a serious threat to all types of businesses and charities”, going on to say “a sizeable number of organisations that identify breaches report a specific negative outcome or impact. On average, for those that do, the costs are substantial”.
Once a business becomes aware that it needs to take action to strengthen its cyber security there may be an initial panic regarding how to go about doing this, but with a pragmatic risk based approach you will feel less overwhelmed and more in control of what you need to do. Starting your cyber security journey doesn’t need to be something you do in isolation. When businesses work with CyberScale they will typically, within the first year, go through a journey that will encompass much if not all of the following work:
Cyber Security Assessment & Roadmap – looking at where you are today, and what the steps will look like for your business to get you where you both want and need to be, the assessment process will lead in to the development of the Roadmap which will take in to account the risk profile of your business and will enable you to prioritise and plan all required actions.
Cyber Security Strategy – following on from the initial assessment and putting in place a clear roadmap, ensuring that you have a Cyber Security Strategy developed and embedded in to your business is the next step. Within your strategy not only will there be a clear plan on delivering the Roadmap, we will also be looking at your security Policies, your approach to Incident Response Planning and how you are engaging your staff with Training and Awareness activities.
Implementing your plan is a process unique to your business and will often require some oversight and assistance from our team, which is when clients tend to engage with our vCISO service. Delivering the strategy and ensuring that all elements are embedded within the business cannot be where all your hard work so far falls down.
At this point in your journey it may feel like you have achieved all you need to, and you will have indeed achieved a lot, but the fight isn’t over. Cyber threats are constantly changing, with new challenges for even the most security-conscious organisations being realised daily.
By acknowledging that standing still is not an option and that Security is an iterative process, you will always be reviewing, changing and learning your approach to cybersecurity. At this point in your journey we can continue to work with you to ensure you have a process of continuous improvement in place and are always working towards embedding a culture of security throughout your business, working together to guide your Cyber Security Strategy in conjunction with Leadership teams to take the business forward, securely.
What underpins our approach is our belief that effective cyber and information security requires a strategy built around your individual business going beyond technical solutions, you can hear more of our thoughts on this in some other articles on the need for a strategy and guidance for business owners.
CyberScale are a Cyber Security Consultancy based in Norwich. If you would like to talk to us about your security position and requirements then please do contact us at info@cyberscale.co.uk or call us on 01603 339550.
Planting trees to offset your brand’s carbon footprint is all the rage right now. And while trees are undoubtedly successful at removing carbon from the atmosphere – does ‘offsetting’ your carbon footprint really make you carbon neutral as quickly as the planet needs it?
Through burning fossil fuels, the commercial production of beef and lamb and deforestation (amongst plenty of other contributors), the world emits around 43 billion tonnes of carbon every year.
If we don’t do something to tackle the carbon crisis, by 2100 sea levels will have risen by 1.8ft resulting in an 170% increase in flood risk, the arctic will be ice-free every summer and 18% of insects and 16% of plants will have lost their natural habitat.
Many brands – including BuxtonThreeTwo – try to tackle their carbon output in some form. From offsetting your team’s carbon footprint to planting a tree for every sale, thousands of organisations across the globe are working hard to create a better world. We should all be tackling the climate crisis however we can.
However, we need to be transparent in how we are tackling climate change. Many companies claim to be ‘carbon neutral’ or ‘carbon negative’. While these brands are working hard to slow down the effects of climate change, the measures they’re putting in place to offset carbon emissions aren’t fast acting and do not reduce the amount of carbon that is emitted directly into the atmosphere, today and tomorrow.
With a mature tree taking 20 years to grow, brands who claim that planting trees makes them ‘carbon negative’ aren’t necessarily telling it straight – as it’ll take two decades to reach carbon neutrality, let alone carbon negativity.
As such, claiming to be ‘carbon negative’ while continuing to emit carbon into the atmosphere lulls customers into a false sense of security – where their expectations for a company’s environmentalist policy doesn’t align with their real-world practice.
Researchers have explained that ‘natural climate solutions’ are more beneficial to the planet than the creation of man-made forests. Restoring wetlands, minimising emissions from farmland and protecting existing forests and reforesting degraded areas could have a much greater impact on the reduction of carbon – to the tune of 23.8 billion tonnes of carbon per year.
We need to try and act now with preventative methods, rather than attempting to mask over our existing negative impact.
So what else can businesses do moving forward to reduce their carbon footprint?
Build brands with the environment at the heart from day one.
Start with green intentions – and keep them at the core of everything you do. Instead of being reactive to the climate crisis, act proactively. Brands shouldn’t think ‘what can I do to offset the carbon I emit?’, but instead ‘how can I prevent our business from emitting carbon in the first place?’.
Retrospectively alter your model to be more climate-conscious.
There are plenty of ways to introduce environmentalist policy into your already successful business, too. It’s never too late to switch to recyclable packaging, invest in green manufacturing methods or transfer to local suppliers. Try introducing a cycle to work scheme, or continue to offer flexible remote working hours to your team.
Be transparent.
To strive for a positive outcome is to have positive intentions. Any brand that is working to fight the climate crisis is influencing others, leading the way and having a positive impact. But it is important to be cautious around the terms we use when discussing a company’s environmental policy, and to remain transparent in our endeavours to build a better future.
Everyday, society grows more climate conscious. And as such, the environmental expectations consumers hold of brands increases with it. While planting trees is a great way to reduce our carbon levels in the long term, this one action is not enough to claim climate neutrality or negativity, as it’s results aren’t seen quick enough.
Be honest with your consumers. No one is expecting any one company to be perfectly green – so don’t claim to be.
Sharing your company’s environmental pitfalls alongside the successes may even help you connect with someone who can offer a solution – we can combat the climate crisis, together.
You will often hear “don’t sweat the small stuff”. When it’s about getting things done, small is the way to go! So, let’s look at nine, simple methods you can implement in 2022 to be more productive.
1. Notifications Are Not Your Friend
Notifications. The biggest ‘time thief, of all.
How many times have you found yourself distracted by the ‘ping’ from Facebook, Instagram, WhatApp or email?
Notifications stop you from being more productive by interrupting your thought process and concentration. And, importantly, it will take you at least 15-miuntes to get your brain back to where it was before the interruption.
The worst impact is when you get distracted by a post or an email and, somehow, emerge 20-minutes or a half-hour later with no understanding of where the time has gone.
There is a very simple solution.
Turn them off!
I turned the sound off on my phone three years ago. I have had no distracting sounds and in that time and I haven’t missed out on anything important or lost business.
It may not be the solution for everyone; you may have children or other caring responsibilities, which mean you can’t do a blanket ‘switch off’. However, you can switch off when you need to get your head down and concentrate.
2. Do a Time and Motion Study
What do you REALLY do every day?
When it comes to assessing what we do each day and how much we have achieved. we are our own worst enemy.
We ‘think’ we have been working really hard, concentrating, getting on with things but …
Do a time and motion study.
For the next two weeks – with no edits or judgements made – note down what you are doing in 15-minute intervals. At the end of the two weeks, take a look.
How did you spend your time?
Did that five-minute task actually take 30-minutes?
How much time did you spend searching for files and documents you ‘know’ are somewhere, but you’re not sure where (more later)
How often did you get side-tracked by a WhatsApp or Messenger massage?
Did you spend far too much time creating social media content because you’re really not sure what you should be saying / doing?
This process will provide clarity. It will show you exactly what you do with your time, what you ‘time thieves’ are and, probably, highlight the things you should be outsourcing!
Once you know exactly how much time tasks really take, and how much time you really have, you can create a much more realistic To-Do list.
More below.
3. Have a Daily, ACHIEVEABLE To-Do List
Following on from getting to grips with how we really spend our time, comes the need to use that knowledge to our best advantage.
What do I mean by that?
Don’t be over ambitious
Once you have completed your Time and Motion study you will have a much clearer picture of how much time things really take to achieve. You should also have learned to break tasks down into smaller, bit-sized, achievable chunks.
Plan for want needs to be done and put it in your diary
Not a To-Do list; a diary. Preferably a diary that has sections broken down hour by hour. If your one doesn’t, write them in. This way you will see how the tasks you have to complete each day will actually fit in and around other commitments.
For example, if I know Friday is all about writing and publishing my blog and preparing my weekly email for the following week, these would be the tasks:
Write the content
Create a SEO-friendly title
Assign a keyword / key-phrase
Find an image
Write the metadata
Proof read
Publish
Prepare and schedule the weekly email
But Friday isn’t just about blog writing, that’s just one task. I also have my one-to-one business coaching and mentoring sessions with my clients.
So, my diary will look something like this:
08.30 – 09.00 : Deal with email inbox
09.00 – 09.45 : Rough draft blog content including keyword / keyphrase, headings and main content ideas
09.45 – 10.00 : Prep for client (tea)
10.00 – 11.00 : Client session
11.00 – 11.15 : Notes from client session (tea)
11.15 – 11.45 : Tidy up rough draft into first draft
11.45 – 12.00 : Prep for client (tea)
12.00 – 13.00 : Client session
13.00 – 13.15 : Notes from client session
13.15 – 13.45 : Lunch
13.45 – 15.00 Prep for client session (tea)
14.00 – 15.00 : Client Session
15.00 – 15.15 : Notes from client session (tea)
15.15 – 15.30 : Source blog image
15.30 – 15.45 : Write the blog metadata
15.45 – 16.00 : Create the SEO-friendly blog title (tea)
16.00 – 16.30 : Final draft, proof read and publish
16.00 – 17.00 : Create my weekly email and schedule
17.00 – 17.30 : Plan my diary for following week (tea)
17.30 – 18.00 : Deal with email inbox
I would not get this clarity from a To-Do list!
Yes, and my day would include all those cups of tea (herbal, of course). Why? They keep my hydrated (along with a litre of water each day too) and they aid my concentration.
Final point. Look at the last item on my planner and remember this mantra
Getting found online, finding more customers and increasing sales is the Holy Grail of modern marketing. And, because everyone is doing it, there is masses of competition and jostling for position.
There are also myths and legends being shared about the ‘one thing’ you should be doing to create a six-figure income.
If you want to know how to OWN THE INTERNET and make it work for you – rather than it owning you by creating endless amounts of work with no real return – it will take more than ‘one thing’.
It will take seven.
1. Get Found for What Your Do
I bet you thinmk I’m talking about social media, or maybe your website?
You would be wrong.
I’m talking about the most overlooked places – listing sites and business directories.
87% of of purchase decisions begin with research carried out online.
Consumers are looking for everything from a plumber to a hairdresser, a yoga teacher to a business mentor and coach. And what does the internet offer up to them? Places it trusts to list businesses that sell ‘that thing’.
There are hundreds of listing sites and business directories. Some of the biggest are:
You could also include the listing you have on websites that represent your trade or profession, organisations that you are a member of, affiliate organisations and local business organisations such as Chambers of Commerce.
You could be losing revenue to your competitors if your online listings are inaccurate – or don’t exist at all!
Tip: Check out which listing sites and business directories are suitable for your business get your business signed up. Let potential customers find you without you even trying.
2. Take Control of Your Reputation
When was the last time you visited a new restaurant without looking at the reviews to see what others have said about it? Or maybe you’re looking for an electrician and aren’t sure who to choose.
Yes, you’ll ask friends and family for a recommendation, but you will also check them (and others) out online before you make a decision.
88% of consumers make purchase decisions based on the reviews they read. Why? Because they trust them as much as a personal recommendation.
Glowing reviews is the aim.
No reviews is a no-no.
One negative review – that remains unanswered – can ruin all your hard work!
You can’t afford to miss a review, so you need to monitor the internet continuously.
Tip: Google will rank your business above others if you regularly receive reviews.
3. Build and Engage Your Audience
So now we get to social media.
Social media – for business – is a marketing and promotion tool to be used to engage and convert your target customers.
That means it needs to be part of your overall marketing strategy; not just something you do if you have time and can think of something to write.
So, as much as you like (or loath) social media, you have a job to do.
Tip: Don’t let social media become an ‘if I have time’ activity. Make sure it is part of your overall marketing strategy (Don’t have one? We need to talk!)
4. Make Your Website Work for You
Your website has got one job to do.
It has to convert your website visitors into leads or customers.
So, whatever stage you are at with your website, you can’t afford to leave things to chance.
These are some key aspects of your website to concentrate on if you want to be able to compete with your competitors:
Clear and easy to navigate menu
Strong calls to action
No large blocks of text
Images
Easy to find contact details
An engaging ‘About’ page
Responsive. 54% of all web traffic happens on a mobile device
Tip: Don’t think of your website as a nuisance or an expense. It is the only online space you have complete control over. Make it work for you.
5. Sell More Online
Do you sell online?
Selling can include anything from a full-on, e-commerce shop to selling courses, programmes, small-scale products or books.
Customers see an online store as a sign of a reputable, established business.
So, even if you are not a retail business, you can still sell online. I describe this a ‘productising’ your business.
If you want to know more about productising I talk about it in this blog.
Tip: If you have an e-commerce shop, make sure people know it exists. If you’re a service-based business identify what you can do to create a product out of what you know – and sell it.
6. Get in Front of New Customers
Online advertising is daunting and can be expensive.
64% of the online ads marketing in the UK is controlled by Facebook and Google.
This means your potential customers are within your reach. We know they are searching Google and scrolling through Facebook. So, with digital advertising, you can put your business in the spotlight so that those people consider you before your competitors.
The benefits of using paid advertising are huge:
Your ads get in front of your ideal client because you can control who you want to see it – demographics, locations, interests
You control exactly how much you spend
There is even the ability to control how often people see your ad, on what devices, at what time of day
Social media posts alone will never give you the reach and impact that paid-for advertising will.
Tip: Set aside a budget for paid advertising; it will reach the parts social media posts won’t. If you start with Facebook you can keep your costs really low.
7. Improve Your SEO Rankings
Your website is one part of the equation; SEO is another!
With a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) enabled website, you can boost your visibility in search engine search results so that people find you for what you are selling.
Every business owner should have a rudimentary understanding of SEO – what it is, what it does, how it works. But you don’t have to be an expert.
You can start small by having a SEO plugin on your website – Yoast and SEOPress are two I really like. Both take you through a process, using a red, amber, green traffic-light system to let you know if your page or blog post meets SEO ‘standards’.
Another alternative is to use a SEO expert to carry out research and implement a strategy for you. This isn’t a cheap option but it can be really effective.
Tip: Get to grips with the basics of SEO. See what you can achieve yourself but, if you find it difficult ask an expert.
Next Steps?
Join me for an eight-week programme that will show you how to increase customers and sales across the internet via websites, social media, reviews, e-commerce, paid advertising and SEO
Congrats! You’ve managed to get your side- hustle on the go, and business is looking good. You’re delighted your business is growing, but you’re finding it increasingly difficult to balance your 9 to 5 with your side-hustle.
Add to that life, travel, family, cleaning, shopping, caring responsibilities etc…. It can feel so overwhelming; like something’s got to give!
But, don’t worry, I have a few tips to help you on your way.
First things first…
Focus on Getting Your Systems in Order
With a finite amount of time in the day, you must use tools and processes to bring organisation to what can feel like utter chaos!
Whether it’s an upcoming event you’re organising, keeping tabs on orders or multiple clients – project management tools can help you stay ahead of the game.
Online world not yet your forté? Then you can’t go wrong with a tried-and-tested diary. Just make sure to stick to one diary to avoid overcomplicating things and losing track of key dates.
Whichever way you prefer, you’ll be able to have all your tasks and projects in one place and make sure you stay on top of everything. After all, better organisation means higher productivity, saving you crucial time in the long run.
Ask for HELP
That’s right; you don’t have to manage everything on your own!
Yes, you started a successful side-hustle on your own, but you certainly don’t get any points for running yourself into the ground.
As your business continues to grow, the amount of work needed to maintain that growth will also unavoidably go up.
Help could look like hiring a virtual assistant to deal with the necessary but time-consuming administrative tasks.
Or, if you struggle with navigating the online world and growing your presence, you could think about outsourcing your social media management.
Doing so will allow you to conserve finite time by capitalising on what makes your business unique – you and your strengths.
Talk to Your Employer
The global pandemic saw many people switch to working from home, saving valuable time by eliminating previously long commutes.
Working from home is now a norm, but did you know your employer might have other flexible working policies? For example, many employers are open to working with employees to make adaptations and make sure they can perform their best.
Flexible working could mean starting work earlier or later, depending on your preferences. Or you could even work compressed hours and get an extra day off! [That was my route out of the 9 to 5!]
It can be challenging to have to switch between employee and entrepreneur mode. However, by taking advantage of your employer’s flexible working policy, it’ll be easier for you to block out time to focus solely on your growing business! I’m also here to help!
Congrats! You’ve managed to get your side- hustle on the go, and business is looking good. You’re delighted your business is growing, but you’re finding it increasingly difficult to balance your 9 to 5 with your side-hustle.
Add to that life, travel, family, cleaning, shopping, caring responsibilities etc…. It can feel so overwhelming; like something’s got to give!
But, don’t worry, I have a few tips to help you on your way.
First things first…
Focus on Getting Your Systems in Order
With a finite amount of time in the day, you must use tools and processes to bring organisation to what can feel like utter chaos!
Whether it’s an upcoming event you’re organising, keeping tabs on orders or multiple clients – project management tools can help you stay ahead of the game.
Online world not yet your forté? Then you can’t go wrong with a tried-and-tested diary. Just make sure to stick to one diary to avoid overcomplicating things and losing track of key dates.
Whichever way you prefer, you’ll be able to have all your tasks and projects in one place and make sure you stay on top of everything. After all, better organisation means higher productivity, saving you crucial time in the long run.
Ask for HELP
That’s right; you don’t have to manage everything on your own!
Yes, you started a successful side-hustle on your own, but you certainly don’t get any points for running yourself into the ground.
As your business continues to grow, the amount of work needed to maintain that growth will also unavoidably go up.
Help could look like hiring a virtual assistant to deal with the necessary but time-consuming administrative tasks.
Or, if you struggle with navigating the online world and growing your presence, you could think about outsourcing your social media management.
Doing so will allow you to conserve finite time by capitalising on what makes your business unique – you and your strengths.
Talk to Your Employer
The global pandemic saw many people switch to working from home, saving valuable time by eliminating previously long commutes.
Working from home is now a norm, but did you know your employer might have other flexible working policies? For example, many employers are open to working with employees to make adaptations and make sure they can perform their best.
Flexible working could mean starting work earlier or later, depending on your preferences. Or you could even work compressed hours and get an extra day off! [That was my route out of the 9 to 5!]
It can be challenging to have to switch between employee and entrepreneur mode. However, by taking advantage of your employer’s flexible working policy, it’ll be easier for you to block out time to focus solely on your growing business! I’m also here to help!
You will often hear “don’t sweat the small stuff”. When it’s about getting things done, small is the way to go! So, let’s look at nine, simple methods you can implement in 2022 to be more productive.
1. Notifications Are Not Your Friend
Notifications. The biggest ‘time thief, of all.
How many times have you found yourself distracted by the ‘ping’ from Facebook, Instagram, WhatApp or email?
Notifications stop you from being more productive by interrupting your thought process and concentration. And, importantly, it will take you at least 15-miuntes to get your brain back to where it was before the interruption.
The worst impact is when you get distracted by a post or an email and, somehow, emerge 20-minutes or a half-hour later with no understanding of where the time has gone.
There is a very simple solution.
Turn them off!
I turned the sound off on my phone three years ago. I have had no distracting sounds and in that time and I haven’t missed out on anything important or lost business.
It may not be the solution for everyone; you may have children or other caring responsibilities, which mean you can’t do a blanket ‘switch off’. However, you can switch off when you need to get your head down and concentrate.
2. Do a Time and Motion Study
What do you REALLY do every day?
When it comes to assessing what we do each day and how much we have achieved. we are our own worst enemy.
We ‘think’ we have been working really hard, concentrating, getting on with things but …
Do a time and motion study.
For the next two weeks – with no edits or judgements made – note down what you are doing in 15-minute intervals. At the end of the two weeks, take a look.
How did you spend your time?
Did that five-minute task actually take 30-minutes?
How much time did you spend searching for files and documents you ‘know’ are somewhere, but you’re not sure where (more later)
How often did you get side-tracked by a WhatsApp or Messenger massage?
Did you spend far too much time creating social media content because you’re really not sure what you should be saying / doing?
This process will provide clarity. It will show you exactly what you do with your time, what you ‘time thieves’ are and, probably, highlight the things you should be outsourcing!
Once you know exactly how much time tasks really take, and how much time you really have, you can create a much more realistic To-Do list.
More below.
3. Have a Daily, ACHIEVEABLE To-Do List
Following on from getting to grips with how we really spend our time, comes the need to use that knowledge to our best advantage.
What do I mean by that?
Don’t be over ambitious
Once you have completed your Time and Motion study you will have a much clearer picture of how much time things really take to achieve. You should also have learned to break tasks down into smaller, bit-sized, achievable chunks.
Plan for want needs to be done and put it in your diary
Not a To-Do list; a diary. Preferably a diary that has sections broken down hour by hour. If your one doesn’t, write them in. This way you will see how the tasks you have to complete each day will actually fit in and around other commitments.
For example, if I know Friday is all about writing and publishing my blog and preparing my weekly email for the following week, these would be the tasks:
Write the content
Create a SEO-friendly title
Assign a keyword / key-phrase
Find an image
Write the metadata
Proof read
Publish
Prepare and schedule the weekly email
But Friday isn’t just about blog writing, that’s just one task. I also have my one-to-one business coaching and mentoring sessions with my clients.
So, my diary will look something like this:
08.30 – 09.00 : Deal with email inbox
09.00 – 09.45 : Rough draft blog content including keyword / keyphrase, headings and main content ideas
09.45 – 10.00 : Prep for client (tea)
10.00 – 11.00 : Client session
11.00 – 11.15 : Notes from client session (tea)
11.15 – 11.45 : Tidy up rough draft into first draft
11.45 – 12.00 : Prep for client (tea)
12.00 – 13.00 : Client session
13.00 – 13.15 : Notes from client session
13.15 – 13.45 : Lunch
13.45 – 15.00 Prep for client session (tea)
14.00 – 15.00 : Client Session
15.00 – 15.15 : Notes from client session (tea)
15.15 – 15.30 : Source blog image
15.30 – 15.45 : Write the blog metadata
15.45 – 16.00 : Create the SEO-friendly blog title (tea)
16.00 – 16.30 : Final draft, proof read and publish
16.00 – 17.00 : Create my weekly email and schedule
17.00 – 17.30 : Plan my diary for following week (tea)
17.30 – 18.00 : Deal with email inbox
I would not get this clarity from a To-Do list!
Yes, and my day would include all those cups of tea (herbal, of course). Why? They keep my hydrated (along with a litre of water each day too) and they aid my concentration.
Final point. Look at the last item on my planner and remember this mantra
Getting found online, finding more customers and increasing sales is the Holy Grail of modern marketing. And, because everyone is doing it, there is masses of competition and jostling for position.
There are also myths and legends being shared about the ‘one thing’ you should be doing to create a six-figure income.
If you want to know how to OWN THE INTERNET and make it work for you – rather than it owning you by creating endless amounts of work with no real return – it will take more than ‘one thing’.
It will take seven.
1. Get Found for What Your Do
I bet you thinmk I’m talking about social media, or maybe your website?
You would be wrong.
I’m talking about the most overlooked places – listing sites and business directories.
87% of of purchase decisions begin with research carried out online.
Consumers are looking for everything from a plumber to a hairdresser, a yoga teacher to a business mentor and coach. And what does the internet offer up to them? Places it trusts to list businesses that sell ‘that thing’.
There are hundreds of listing sites and business directories. Some of the biggest are:
You could also include the listing you have on websites that represent your trade or profession, organisations that you are a member of, affiliate organisations and local business organisations such as Chambers of Commerce.
You could be losing revenue to your competitors if your online listings are inaccurate – or don’t exist at all!
Tip: Check out which listing sites and business directories are suitable for your business get your business signed up. Let potential customers find you without you even trying.
2. Take Control of Your Reputation
When was the last time you visited a new restaurant without looking at the reviews to see what others have said about it? Or maybe you’re looking for an electrician and aren’t sure who to choose.
Yes, you’ll ask friends and family for a recommendation, but you will also check them (and others) out online before you make a decision.
88% of consumers make purchase decisions based on the reviews they read. Why? Because they trust them as much as a personal recommendation.
Glowing reviews is the aim.
No reviews is a no-no.
One negative review – that remains unanswered – can ruin all your hard work!
You can’t afford to miss a review, so you need to monitor the internet continuously.
Tip: Google will rank your business above others if you regularly receive reviews.
3. Build and Engage Your Audience
So now we get to social media.
Social media – for business – is a marketing and promotion tool to be used to engage and convert your target customers.
That means it needs to be part of your overall marketing strategy; not just something you do if you have time and can think of something to write.
So, as much as you like (or loath) social media, you have a job to do.
Tip: Don’t let social media become an ‘if I have time’ activity. Make sure it is part of your overall marketing strategy (Don’t have one? We need to talk!)
4. Make Your Website Work for You
Your website has got one job to do.
It has to convert your website visitors into leads or customers.
So, whatever stage you are at with your website, you can’t afford to leave things to chance.
These are some key aspects of your website to concentrate on if you want to be able to compete with your competitors:
Clear and easy to navigate menu
Strong calls to action
No large blocks of text
Images
Easy to find contact details
An engaging ‘About’ page
Responsive. 54% of all web traffic happens on a mobile device
Tip: Don’t think of your website as a nuisance or an expense. It is the only online space you have complete control over. Make it work for you.
5. Sell More Online
Do you sell online?
Selling can include anything from a full-on, e-commerce shop to selling courses, programmes, small-scale products or books.
Customers see an online store as a sign of a reputable, established business.
So, even if you are not a retail business, you can still sell online. I describe this a ‘productising’ your business.
If you want to know more about productising I talk about it in this blog.
Tip: If you have an e-commerce shop, make sure people know it exists. If you’re a service-based business identify what you can do to create a product out of what you know – and sell it.
6. Get in Front of New Customers
Online advertising is daunting and can be expensive.
64% of the online ads marketing in the UK is controlled by Facebook and Google.
This means your potential customers are within your reach. We know they are searching Google and scrolling through Facebook. So, with digital advertising, you can put your business in the spotlight so that those people consider you before your competitors.
The benefits of using paid advertising are huge:
Your ads get in front of your ideal client because you can control who you want to see it – demographics, locations, interests
You control exactly how much you spend
There is even the ability to control how often people see your ad, on what devices, at what time of day
Social media posts alone will never give you the reach and impact that paid-for advertising will.
Tip: Set aside a budget for paid advertising; it will reach the parts social media posts won’t. If you start with Facebook you can keep your costs really low.
7. Improve Your SEO Rankings
Your website is one part of the equation; SEO is another!
With a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) enabled website, you can boost your visibility in search engine search results so that people find you for what you are selling.
Every business owner should have a rudimentary understanding of SEO – what it is, what it does, how it works. But you don’t have to be an expert.
You can start small by having a SEO plugin on your website – Yoast and SEOPress are two I really like. Both take you through a process, using a red, amber, green traffic-light system to let you know if your page or blog post meets SEO ‘standards’.
Another alternative is to use a SEO expert to carry out research and implement a strategy for you. This isn’t a cheap option but it can be really effective.
Tip: Get to grips with the basics of SEO. See what you can achieve yourself but, if you find it difficult ask an expert.
Next Steps?
Join me for an eight-week programme that will show you how to increase customers and sales across the internet via websites, social media, reviews, e-commerce, paid advertising and SEO
Are you fed up with your day job but struggling to find a route out of it? I know how frustrating it can be to have that dissatisfaction and not know how to solve it. So think about taking that first step of turning your passion into a lucrative side-hustle.
Many people have found success with the following low-risk, easy side hustle ideas. The great thing is they’re tried-and-tested, and you can start them alongside your nine-to-five.
If you’re craving more flexibility and freedom, think about going freelance or working as a contractor.
It’s one of the easiest businesses to start as you’re using your existing skill-set and qualifications with no start-up costs. It could be incredibly lucrative with a niche area of expertise with knowledgeable coaches and mentors in great demand!
Working as a freelancer will allow you to keep your day job and balance your responsibilities while building up your client base and getting your name out there.
Tutoring or Teaching English Online
Starting a tutoring business from home is as easy as 1-2-3!
If you already work in the education system, tutoring is a great way to bring in more cash.
You could be making more money within minutes by signing up to online platforms such as MyTutor and Tutorful. The demand for tutors has never been higher, given the pandemic’s toll on the education system.
Same with teaching English. You could soon be helping eager learners brush up on their English language skills online through Education First or Italki.
A particularly great option if you like meeting new people all over the world.
The best thing is you don’t even have to leave your house – all it requires is a good internet connection and an engaging approach!
Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Services
People will always need sitters and walkers for their pets, so you’ll never be short of clients.
This is an incredibly easy side-hustle idea.
Becoming a pet sitter or dog walker requires little start-up cost and low risk.
Because of this, you can use these side hustles to test the waters of entrepreneurship and see if you’re ready to make the jump and become self-employed.
You’ll have complete control over when you work, so they’re great side hustles to pair with a full-time job. Remote working also means the possibility of working while also being paid to pet sit.
Think Locally and Reach Out to People in Your Community
Remember to think locally and consider collaborating and offering up your services in your community.
Whether you’re a savvy freelance marketer, offer pet sitting or tutoring services, an easy way to find clients is to reach out to friends and neighbours where you live.
You never know what people are after, so do not underestimate the power of word of mouth! If you let people know of your services, you could have a diary full of clients before you know it.
It entirely depends on what type of website you want or need and how you choose to build it.
The quick answer is that you can set up a professional looking website yourself for free, with hosting plans starting from as little a few pounds a month. Or, if you want a unique website, made to your specification, you can spend anywhere from a few thousand pounds to literally hundreds of thousands in build and design costs.
So how much should you budget for your business website?
What type of website do you need?
We’ll take you through the different elements that determine how much a website costs appropriate for your business needs and the type of websites available. There are many options to suit different budgets, and numerous ways to create a website, dependent on what you want to achieve and your website objectives.
Show off your services and generate leads with a brochure website.
Brochure website
Brochure websites are mainly utilised by small to medium businesses. They are often used to advertise services, demonstrate expertise, and display contact information with just a few pages. An example would be a plumbing company who want an online presence so that customers can find them.
The sort of content that a brochure site might include is:
A homepage with contact information
An “about us” page describing the company
Some customers testimonials / reviews
Product / service listing
News or case studies
These things provide the basics for a company website so they can promote themselves.
A basic brochure website is ideal for DIY web builders using platforms such as Wix, where you can choose from a range of pre-existing themes and templates, and then add your details. This is by far the cheapest website design and build option.
Custom build website
A custom-build website is created from scratch, with a bespoke design, built and coded to your business requirements. There is no template that will limit your wants, and can be linked with CRMs, social media or indeed any custom integration between your website and backend systems.
The benefit of custom build sites is that your website will be unique and designed to your requirements. They are also easy to scale up, giving added flexibility to grow your website as your business grows online.
This type of website does cost more and is dependent on the skill of the designer and the developer, which means choosing the right person or web design agency is vital.
Ecommerce website
One of the biggest factors in determining how much a website will cost is whether you want to sell online. An ecommerce website will significantly increase the costs when working with a web designer. Although it’s essential to understand that the additional costs of adding an ecommerce functionality to your website should be covered by the potential revenue from the increased online sales.
Shopify, WooCommerce and Magento are ecommerce specific website platforms, with advanced sales features for organisations of all sizes, from small businesses up to large online retailers.
Sell online with an ecommerce website.
Who should build your website?
A considerable factor affecting the design and build costs of a site, will depend on who creates it. There are pros and cons to taking the DIY route, hiring a freelance web designer or engaging a web design agency.
DIY build
For a quick and easy way to get online, a DIY template website builder is an affordable option to get your small business website up and running.
You can start with a basic plan, and add to this if needed, however, these platforms do have limitations. If you’re not particularly tech savvy, don’t have the time or right skills, you can risk ending up with an unprofessional looking website that can damage your business and brand.
Freelance web designer
If you have a bigger budget and a vision for your website, working with a freelance web designer is worth investing in. Basically, you’re paying for the time and expertise of a professional to build a unique website. Hiring a freelancer is typically cheaper than going through an agency, as you’re only hiring a single professional to do all the work.
A good freelance web designer understands all the factors needed for a website, such as the design, usability and functionality. They combine programming skills with design creativity to build websites.
Always ask to see previous examples of their work and speak to their existing customers. And you can find that you get what you pay for when it comes to freelance web design services, so be wary of suspiciously low prices.
Web design agency
Working with a web design agency, ensures you will get a website to match your exact needs and specifications. They can do pretty much whatever you want, but it takes time and money.
When you hire a web design agency, you are paying for a whole team of experts, but this has the advantage of drawing on their vast experience and increased skill set. Specialists within an agency will include copywriters, graphic designers, developers, marketing experts and SEO experts.
However, you should assess agencies on their work and testimonials, and how closely they align with your intentions for your own website. The end result should be a professional website and an investment that will pay dividends in the long run.
Choose a web design agency to get exactly what you want.
Ongoing support
You also need to consider what ongoing service and support you might need for your website.
What if there are issues with the website you cannot fix yourself?
How quickly and easy will it be for your freelance web designer or agency to make changes to your website?
If your website is vital to the success of your business, you need to make sure you have reliable support.
What you need to know
It has never been more important to invest in your online presence, no matter how much you are able to spend having a website will help your business prosper.
Having a plan and an understanding about the process of website design is essential if you are taking the first steps toward a website. If you already have a site, understanding the design process can offer you a wealth of useful information to help guide your choices about your new and improved website.
A website design brief helps to focus your thinking on what you really need from your web design, so you do not waste time and resources later on. A brief will also help your web designer understand what you want, resolve any questions, and give you an accurate cost.
If the purpose of your website is to generate leads, then you’ll need to design your website to be a superstar lead generator.
Read on for some of the best, proven lead generation tactics you can use on your website.
Firstly, what is a website lead?
A lead from your website could be several things. Here are some examples.
A phone call
A form submission for an enquiry, appointment, or quote request.
An email
Data capture through newsletter signups and downloads
Start off by identifying all the different ways people can contact you from your website. Think about your typical customers and how they like to engage with your company. Some people just like to call, but don’t forget the ones who may want to contact you out of hours.
How are you going to track your website leads?
It’s essential you track how many leads your website is generating and it’s not difficult to do with a tool like Google Analytics.
In Google Analytics you can set up ‘conversions’. Each conversion would be a type of lead, such as an enquiry form submission. You can then measure how many leads you are generating, what the best lead generation channels are, and your websites conversion rate. Examples of lead generation channels are organic search, paid ads and social media.
What is a website conversion rate?
Your conversion rate is the percentage of your website visitors who convert into a lead. For example, if you have 5,000 website visitors and 60 of them convert into a lead then your conversion rate is (60 ÷ 5000) x 100 = 1.2%.
What is a good website conversion rate?
This depends on your industry; how competitive it is and other factors such as your offer. Unbounce did a study of landing pages and found that a 12% conversion rate is deemed good. Generally, if your website conversion rate is below 1% then you have work to do.
Identify your best lead generation pages
Before you get started on improving your websites lead generation, use Google Analytics to see what pages are currently producing leads. These are typically your product pages, but check other pages like home or contact pages.
Find out which pages are your main landing pages. Landing pages are the first page that someone visits; either directly from typing in your website address, from search, or from a link on another website or social media. It’s normal for the most popular landing page to be your home page, however you might find that product / services pages and possibly your contact page also do well.
These are the pages you need to be optimising for lead generation.
How to generate more leads from your website.
Ok, let’s get started on how to improve your website to get those valuable leads in.
Design is not just what it looks like. Design is how it works.
– Steve Jobs
1. Provide a great user experience
If your customers struggle to find the content they want, you’ll lose them.
Your customer research will identify what content visitors want from your website, this needs to be the focus of your website content plan.
Design customer journeys for your website so visitors can quickly find the content they want. For example, make sure your products and services are the main focus on your home page and menu, as this is what your visitors want to find out about.
Add good navigation tools such as breadcrumb trails, links between internal pages, and easy-to-use menus.
Break up content with headings, bullet points, images, and videos to make your content easier for people to digest.
The key message is to keep it simple. People don’t like to learn new things so keep navigation and page layouts easy to use for good conversion rates.
User-friendly navigation is essential for lead generation.
2. Improve your website copy
Website copy is as important as design and often overlooked. Make sure your copy focuses on the key benefits of your product in a language that your customers will understand. Does your website copy appeal, persuade and convert? If not, then re-write it in a voice that fits your brand and speaks to your customers.
Top tips for writing powerful website copy:
Write for your audience. Use the right style, language and tone of voice that appeals to your customers.
Keep it simple. Don’t write too much text, don’t use complicated words or industry jargon.
Write for “scanners”. Most website visitors are searching for information and are scanning pages quickly. Headings, bullet points and images make it easier to read a page quickly.
Website copy needs to communicate real benefits. What is it that your customers really buy from you?
Search engine friendly. Include your main keywords in titles and website copy, but remember to write for people not search engines.
If you want your website to be effective, design for your target audience. Your website isn’t meant to please the marketing directors brother-in-law or look good on the bosses wall, it’s there to convert your visitors into sales and leads.
Website design essentials include :
Branding in line with your company logo, colours, visual style, and tone of voice.
Using high quality images and video that presents your products, services and team in the best light.
Position your company correctly – if you have a premium product make sure your website looks premium, not like a discount brand.
Key messages and slogans throughout the design.
First impressions count and if your website has poor images and looks unprofessional its unlikely you will get many quality leads from your site.
4. Add effective calls to action
A call to action (often shortened to CTA) is what you want your website visitors to do.
Every website needs to have calls to action to guide people. To create good CTAs think about what you want your customers to do and, very importantly, what they want to do.
Remember that everyone is different, some people like to pick up the phone, others prefer a more cautious enquiry form.
Website Calls To Action examples include:
Call us for a quote
Book an appointment
Sign up for free trial
Call me back
Download our brochure
Buy online now
Take a tour
Each CTA needs to stand out through size, colour and style – buttons are a great way to present them. They also need to be prominent to attract attention and increase conversions. Link your CTA’s to your Google Analytics to track their performance so you know what’s working and what isn’t.
5. Capture visitor data
Many of your website visitors may not convert on their first visit. Capturing their data is a good way to stay in touch so you can remind them of your services and products in future through email marketing or direct mail.
Unless your product is highly desirable, just asking for an email address is unlikely to persuade them to part with their precious data. Try tempting your visitors by offering them something for free such as money off vouchers, ebooks, or useful resources.
You can also capture email addresses when people fill in a form on your website. If you do this, remember that under GDPR you must get consent for ongoing marketing by adding an “I agree to….” tick box, and an explanation of how you will use their data.
6. Establish credibility
A potential customer is always asking themselves “Why should I buy from this company?” when they land on your website. They will be looking for signs that you are a professional company who will deliver on service and solve any problems.
What makes a website credible?
A professional design
Customer testimonials
Lists of clients
Case studies
Trade associations and membership logos
Guarantees and warranties
Any relevant policies such as terms and conditions, delivery and returns, customer charters.
Address and telephone number of your business
7. Make sure your website works
If your website doesn’t is slow, has forms that don’t send, has broken links, or is in some way broken then you’re losing conversions.
What percentage of your website traffic is from mobile? Chances are, it’s very high. Use Google Analytics to find out and check your website on smartphones and tablets to see how the customer experience is.
Make sure your website is “responsive” i.e., mobile friendly. For many businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and estate agents, mobile traffic is becoming the biggest source of website visitors.
Does your website work in all the major browsers? Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox are the main browsers people use. Make sure you don’t lose sales because your website doesn’t work in a specific browser.
Is your website accessible? Accessibility has a huge crossover with user experience, and a good website is easy to use for everyone.
8. Add a telephone number
Make sure your telephone number is visible at the top of every page. If you have more than one number, show a “contact us” call to action instead, and link it to a page with your phone numbers. Many people still prefer calling, even in a digital age. Not showing a telephone number can reduce people’s trust in your company.
9. Keep forms short
All your forms need to be short and only capture essential information you need to follow up the lead. Remember, your aim is to get leads at this stage, not to ask for every possible piece of information, you can find that out later.
Shorter forms = higher conversion rate.
10. Add video
Video is a great lead generation tactic if used properly. Use video to answer people’s questions about your product. These may be videos explaining how your product works, testimonial videos from satisfied customers, or a video that shows the benefits of your service. Don’t bore people with long videos about the 500 year history of your company – keep them short and relevant.
11. Engage with live chat
Adding live chat to your website is a great way of talking to potential customers. Many people like using live chat to ask questions about your product while they do other things like work, cook, or hoover the dog. It’s not just a good lead generation tool it’s also great for existing customers who want more info or support from you.
Services such as Tawk.to are free and easy to implement. If you don’t have the resources to run live chat, then chatbots and managed chat services are also avaiable.
Don’t stop testing
Lead generation is a constantly evolving task. Your goal is to keep increasing leads, so test everything. Use tools such as Analytics and Heatmaps to how people are using your website. Try different calls to action, design and copy variations, button colours and wording, see if they make a difference. If you’re feeling fancy, you can run A/B tests to directly measure these variations.
