No need to deny, marketing is one of the most important components of the success of any business. But regrettably, small and even medium-sized businesses often act in this direction chaotically, ill-conceived and without any idea of the final result. These are some fragments of other people’s marketing plans and tactics, the thoughtless use of methods and tools without any system. The result is rather pitiable – all the funds expended are lost without bringing any dividends. We propose to return to the beginning and start developing a marketing plan. And that’s why…Continue reading →
For the first time about the funnel sales began talking in the middle of last century, but the universal pattern of customer behavior is relevant to this day. To understand the sales funnel is necessary for everyone who offers the audience their goods and services, whether it is an online socks store, a hairdresser for dogs or a fast food point. We tell how one of the basic algorithms of marketing works, and how to make the sales funnel work for you.Continue reading →
The government is introducing a higher HGV User Levy as part of a wider strategy to improve air quality. The change will begin in February 2019 and could lead to some hauliers facing a 20% increase in what they pay.
Information about the HGV User Levy can be found on the government’s official website. It applies to any HGV of 20 tonnes or more, but the amount paid does vary, depending upon a variety of factors. Levy duration, vehicle weight and axle configuration are just some of the contributing features.
Introduced in 2014, the intention of the levy is to reduce pollution and road damage. The 20% rise will affect UK-registered Euro V lorries. If a 40-44 tonne artic lorry currently pays £1,000 per year, it will increase by £200 to £1,200. Euro VI lorries, which produce up to 80% less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) than Euro V’s, will see a reduction in their levy to about £900 through a 10% levy reduction. The government hopes this will encourage hauliers to switch to newer and more efficient vehicles.
Payments will be collected by the DVLA, at the same time as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is paid. Foreign haulage firms must pay the levy before entering the UK. Online payment is available and can be made by day, week, month or year. Discounts may be available when paying for longer periods.
Both the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Freight Transport Association (FTA) consider the levy increases unfair. They believe that hauliers already face enough difficulty with rising costs, such as HGV insurance. There are Online HGV insurance quotes available at QMT.
RHA feels that the government is more interested in punishing haulage firms than improving air quality. This is especially true when small and medium-sized firms are likely to struggle most with the higher levy. These businesses are already facing difficulties because of attempts to comply with new Clean Air Zones.
Instead, the RHA argues that better incentives could be provided to encourage change. For instance, a more realistic scrappage scheme could support the industry as it transitions to more efficient vehicles. As it is, the resale value of older lorries has been reduced because of these levies, making it harder to afford the switch to Euro VI vehicles.
If you own a business and you are looking for a new supplier, there are a few things you should consider first. After all, there are tens of thousands of suppliers in the UK, but that doesn’t mean they are all good options. If you are going to be working with the supplier on a long-term basis, it is important to find a great one.
Here are four signs that indicate you have found a great supplier.
The Price Is Good
A great supplier will offer high-quality products at an affordable price. Look at a few different suppliers to work out a general market cost, and avoid the suppliers who seem to be overcharging. It is also important that you take the time to look at shipping costs; some companies will charge a lot more than others for shipping, especially if they happen to be far away from your business.
They Are Reliable and Efficient
A good supplier will be reliable and efficient. If they say that they will deliver the products by a certain date, they always do – and the shipment is nearly always correct. You rarely have to deal with wrong orders, and the supplier goes out of their way to fix the problems that do occur.
One sign that a supplier is reliable is that they use technology to automate most processes. Technology makes life easier, but that isn’t all; it is also more accurate as there is no chance for human error. It can be useful to look for a supplier who uses a Contract Management System to organise their deliveries, and it can be just as useful for you to invest in a Contract Management System for your own business, too!
They Will Be Legal And Ethical
You should also consider whether the supplier is legal and ethical, especially if you run an environmentally-friendly business. This may not seem very important, but lots of customers today actively seek out ethical businesses that only work with other ethical businesses.
They Will Be Great Communicators
Finally, a great supplier will know how to communicate effectively. They will always answer the phone if you ring them, and they respond to your emails quickly. This is extremely important, especially if you are relying on one supplier for all of your products.
The first impression is always very important. In fact, people only need a few seconds to form their opinion of others. Whether it is right or wrong, but the initial impressions are very durable. And this applies to all spheres of human existence and activity, including labor activity.Continue reading →
If you are writing content for your website, it is always important to understand search engine optimisation. If you want Google to rank your page well, your content is very important; however, it is not just down to the words you use.
The way the content is structured is also important when thinking about how search engines work. What do you need to think about when you are writing new content for your site?
Important considerations are:
– Keywords or keyword phrases.
– How competitive different terms are.
– Your competitors’ content and their word count.
– User intent – what do your visitors want?
– Any further opportunities for marketing.
Search Engine Watch highlights the importance of keywords, structure and images.
There are lots of companies that can help with your copy; for example, https://www.net9design.com/ is a website design company Gloucester. If you decide to write your own content, as a lot of small businesses do, the following basics of SEO are worth following to ensure you get the best out of your copy.
Google likes to see a word count of somewhere between 300 and 500. If you meet this, you have a better chance of it being preferred by Google. Anything less would not be so favourable.
Headings or titles
Headers on all pages are important, but make sure they are short and descriptive. The header would be within the H1. Numerous trends in SEO have come and gone; however, H1s remain constant and have never lost their significance.
Subheadings
When writing your content, try where possible to include subheadings. Think about how much easier it is to find what you are looking for if you are scanning a page of text and there are obvious subheadings. Aim to have in the region of 250-500 words under each subheading.
Use of images
Wherever you can, try to add images. It is important to include alt text, as this enables search engines to understand what the image is showing. It is important to ensure that the image has been named correctly.
Original content
Google does not like to see content that has been duplicated, so avoid copying anything from other sites. Doing so will not help your rankings at all.
Finding a good certified gas engineer is not always an easy task, especially if it is the first time you have used one. One good rule of thumb is to ask the right questions before deciding on who to hire, so let’s look at some of the questions you should ask in advance.
You should always use an engineer who is Gas Safe registered. This is the body that registers gas engineers for the UK, ensuring that the engineer in question is qualified and has the necessary skills required to install and repair a boiler.
References
Asking for references from an engineer is a good way of gauging their experience and dependability. Follow up the references to see what others think of their work and whether they were satisfied.
Make sure your engineer has insurance and always ask for a hard copy of their policies and bonds in case a major accident occurs. Never deal with an engineer who cannot provide you with provable insurance.
Estimates
Always ask for a written job estimate before hiring an engineer to carry out your boiler installation. Cheltenham boiler installation experts such as http://www.hprservicesltd.com will always let you know what the price will be for a call-out and what any additional costs will be depending on the parts required. You may well also be charged for parking costs and travel expenses. Call a number of different engineers and compare quotes. If there is a large difference between the estimates, you should inquire as to why.
Cost
Costs often depend on the reputation and competency of an engineer in the UK. You normally get what you pay for – if the price is surprisingly low, always be cautious.
Registered number
Make sure that the engineer gives you a registered office address in addition to an official landline number that you can check up on. If they do an improper job and you need to call track them down, it can be difficult if you only have a mobile number, as these can easily be changed.
Explanations
The best engineers will always explain to you what they will do before they do it. Once they have finished, they will show you exactly what they have done and what it is you are paying for.
Maybe you want to vet a job applicant before you hand over the keys to your business. Maybe you just want to make sure that there are no skeletons in the closet of your daughter’s new boyfriend. Whatever the reason for your interest in background checks, here are four tips for getting them done.
1. Check Multiple Databases
Some people are surprised to learn that there isn’t one big database for background checks. You’ll need to search multiple databases from multiple sources to get a truly well-rounded picture of your job applicant. A good rule of thumb is to start locally; look into county records and city registries before moving on to national information systems. You can also check out brands like Intelius to get more information. They can serve as NY White Pages to get you started with your research.
2. Do Your Homework
How many felony convictions were handed out in your state in the last year? If you hire a felon, what kind of legal restrictions will they face? Is there any kind of work that they won’t be allowed to do? Will you receive any special incentives for bringing them on board? Can they get their record sealed so that it won’t reflect badly on your company? These are all questions that you’ll want to ask before you officially put a felon on the payroll.
3. Perform Different Checks
Some employers only bother with a criminal background check to make sure that they aren’t hiring a fugitive. However, there are many other background checks that you can perform. You can look for someone’s employment history and credit history. You can check their driving record. You can check their references. It’s up to you to decide which background checks will help you understand a candidate’s suitability for the job, but make sure that you know all of your options.
4. Look for Specific Transgressions
This is especially important if your work involves sensitive material. If they have a history of cybercrimes, you don’t want to hire them to deal with your online customer accounts. If they’ve been charged with any kind of domestic abuse, they probably shouldn’t be working with children. Don’t be afraid to get specific with your background checks; you’ll want to know without a doubt if an applicant can be trusted with your work.
These are just a few things to keep in mind as you run or prepare for background checks. You’ll need to be thorough with your investigations if you want to be confident with your final results, so take your time. Do it right. Run background checks that give you a full picture of the person in question.
Persistence and focus on the goals are one of the necessary conditions for success in any area, and in entrepreneurship as well. Following our advice in the new year, you can better stick to the planned course and guaranteed to achieve your goals …Continue reading →
We all know how important really good customer service is. In large companies, there are entire departments that deal only with this and nothing else. After all, every business knows that customer satisfaction is the secret to the success of the whole enterprise. It would seem that it can be simpler: polite and sympathetic staff, excellent products and services combined with good service, – what else do you want? In principle, the formula is correct. Except for some nuances. We’ll talk about them today …Continue reading →
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