GDPR, Leeds, RedRite

GDPR – My Thoughts

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GDPR.

Its 4 letters that have started to put the fear of life in business owners, and with its implementation in May not too far away many business owners are stressing over whether they are compliant or not.

STOP STRESSING!

GDPR is all about being upfront, honest and very clear in what you do – which as business owners we should be anyway. The biggest change that has affected me and my clients is that of email marketing and data handling, something very simple to become compliant in. So here are my top tips to becoming GDPR Compliant based upon research, and multiple seminars.

Data

So what do they mean when they say Data?

They mean any data you hold on your PC, mobile, latop etc Data includes details such as name, address, contact number and email. The usual details you need t conduct business.

There is a secondary level of data which is classed as sensitive data and must be treated even more delicately. Data that falls under this category is things such as medical information, religious information and financial information. It is best to get a compliant officer/lawyer to help you understand how to handle this data.

So now we know what Data is, what’s next?

Whether you use the data for contractual purposes, marketing or for profiling to understand your audience it all needs to be clearly put out there for those that the data belongs to, to understand. Therefore you need to update your privacy policy.

You also need to make sure you have explicit consent to hold and process their data.

Update your Privacy Policy

If you have a website with Google Analytics installed, cookies or a contact form then you need to update your Privacy Policy to include what details they use, and how. For example, my Privacy Policy states exactly what data I will obtain when you visit my website, how I obtain that information as well as how I use it and with what software – Google Analytics.

The Privacy policy is relevant for website visitors and clients as it also advises clients what information I will need from them and the systems I will use to process that data. Agreeing to my services creates an understanding of contractual performance for me to process that data in order to provide the services – without it I can not perform the tasks required.

Consent

So I have mentioned Contractual performance, which is quite clear in regards to consent given. But what other forms of consent are there, and how do you prove it?

This is where Email marketing comes in!

Firstly, that list of emails you have for your newsletter – you need to be able to prove you had consent from them all to send the emails you send. The easiest way is double opt-ins for new subscribers. All though not required it does assure you that the person signing up is in complete agreement by completing the secondary sign up step. The data you can download from your email marketing platform will keep a track of when they signed up and when they signed the confirmation email – this is your evidence!

For current subscribers, you can send them an email with a sign up link to a new list asking for confirmation they would like to remain on your mailing list. This is a good time to let them know what do with their data, and the types of emails you will be sending them to make it VERY clear how the data is being processed – as require by GDPR.

If someone contacts you via a contact form, or generally via email you can not just add them to your list! This is not consent. You need to direct them to your sign-up form and get them to sign up themselves.

There is also an issue with freebies – although I do not have all the details – but there is a grey area because people are signing up for the freebie, not to receive marketing emails (although we all expect them). To continue offering a freebie you need to make it VERY clear that not only are they signing up for the freebie but also for the marketing emails – without this you will be in hot water.

Other forms of Consent

If you have employees – then by law you are required to process their data for things such as HMRC. Therefore agreeing to work for you is giving consent for that data to be processed. There are a few legal obligations that also require businesses to process consumer data such as The Enterprise Act 2002.

The final relevant form of Consent is that of Legitimate interest. Now this is a very flexible lawful basis but can not be used as an excuse for every processing task you take part in. According to GDPR you can se this as a lawful basis if –

‘you can show that how you use people’s data is proportionate, has a minimal privacy impact, and people would not be surprised or likely to object – but only if you don’t need consent under PECR’.

You can hold data for suppliers, and 3rd parties as these details are required in order to provide services to your clients, therefore falls under legitimate interest.

Right to be forgotten

So this another area I know a few fellow business owners are having issues wrapping their heads around. So let’s break it down as simple as possible.

Individuals now have the right to request any data you hold is removed from their databases – every single one of them!

Once an individual has made a request to be forgotten a business has just 1 month to follow through – unless legal obligations require otherwise. And this is where it gets fuzzy for people.

The main reason to not comply is where the data is needed to provide agreed services, and without it the agreed contract cannot be fulfilled. There are also other reasons, the ICO states:

‘The right to erasure does not apply if processing is necessary for one of the following reasons:

  • to exercise the right of freedom of expression and information;
  • to comply with a legal obligation;
  • for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority;
  • for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific research historical research or statistical purposes where erasure is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of that processing; or
  • for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.’

So for example, take employee records. They are required to be held for a set amount of time, even after the employee leaves, and it is during this time that the data can be held even if the employee requests to have it erased. The reasons being for HMRC record keeping and if required for legal claims – i.e unfair dismissal.

If you have clients who come back say once a year for projects – like branding help – then you can hold their data with the intent that it is kept for future projects. Just make sure you let them know you will hold it for that length of time!

Security

This is a biggie.

The data you do hold, and process needs to be kept secure, preferably encrypted. GDPR requires us to hold the information in a way that prevents unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or theft using appropriate technical measures.

If someone gets access to your database then you are required to inform everyone you hold data for ASAP.

Such ways to protect the data is to ensure you have firewalls in place, the data is held on an external hard drive unplugged from your laptop when not in use, or if using a 3rd party to process and hold the data they are complaint with GDPR and under Article 32 of GDPR.

GDPR is not as scary as people first thought and although for some it might mean more paperwork and process changes while they get use to the new requirements, it will soon become easy to comply.

I am still learning, and still finding out all that I can to help people with GDPR. I have compiled the main points I feel are most relevant to sole traders/small businesses but if you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch and I will go through my research to find the answer for you.

 

 

Put a spring in your Business, RedRite, Leeds

Put a spring in your online presence with these simple steps

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As Spring makes it’s presence even more known, we look at spring cleaning your online presence. Part two of our Spring Clean Series.

In my last blog post we looked at running a business audit in order to spring clean your business. I would love to hear your feedback on that, because now we are going to look at spring cleaning your online presence.

I have recently looked at the importance of being online (Visit the blog post here) but this time we will be looking at how to be consistent online with your brand, and the benefits.

There are 3.773 billion internet users, and 2.789 billion of those users are active on social media in 2016 and out of those internet users 1.61 billion sales were made online in 2016. Accessing this audience, and becoming recognisable is important to start making those sales and achieving your financial goals.

So how can you be consistent online?

1.       Imagery

Apply your logo to any imagery you use. It does not have to be big and bold, as long as it is clear and recognisable. Software such as Canva, or Photoshop, can assist you in placing your logo on any imagery you use. You can have variations of your logo such as a vertical logo, square logo without writing, or a horizontal logo to fit within the different marketing materials, as long as the logo is the same content.

If you haven’t already, select a collection of colours that ties in with your brand and use them on your website, in your logo and even in your imagery. For example for RedRite, red is the prominent colour which I try to use in my logo, and in the floral images I use by selecting red/pink flowers.

Talking about images, make sure the ones you use relate to your business. If you sell clothing, and use images of individuals wearing the clothes, or clothes flat lays, then keep it consistent and use the same type of images on social media and adverts.

 

2.       Content and tone

Different social media platforms do require different approaches on tone, such as professional on LinkedIn and chatty on Facebook. However, you can still keep the message of your business consistent. Think of a singer, whether they are singing a ballad or something more upbeat their voice is recognisable by their audience – this is what you want. Keep the language the same, just apply small tweaks to the tone in order to match your business. If you brand is happy go lucky yet using LinkedIn as a platform, you can keep your posts light-hearted while still being professional.

Keep your business name the same – seems silly but I don’t just mean your actual business name but also the usernames you use. When setting up a social media account check that the username you use on other profiles is the same. If it is not available do not pick something off topic, just insert a ‘_’ instead or ‘-‘. This keeps it as consistent as possible.

Content is not just the words you use but also the font you use for those words. On social media you are of course limited to the fonts of the platform. However, for your website and marketing materials, eve your logo, it is possible to mix up the fonts you use. Select 2-3 font families that you can use throughout all platforms. If you use a decorative font in your logo then, select third less decorative font that compliments it for use in written content.

A big question I see a lot online is whether or not to have the same posts posted to different platforms at the same time. The answers are always mixed, my opinion is that to be consistent you need to share the same content throughout all your platforms, not necessarily allposted at the same time in the same way but yes you need to post the same things. Use the same imagery but change the tone of the message to match the platform, such as Twitter – make it sharp and witty but to match the same message you have expanded on in Facebook.

 

So what now?

If your imagery and content is not on brand then start to make the changes to match them up. If needed hire a designer to create your perfect logo in various formats so it can be used in all the ways you need.

 

Create your brand colour board, with related image themes you wish to use, add the font families you want to the board as well. Then keep this file somewhere safe so you can relate back to it whenever you feel you are losing focus.

 

The benefits won’t be noticed overnight but the longer you stick with consistency the more your audience will start to recognise your brand and therefore take notice when they see you online.

 

If you need help taking these first steps I offer a 1 hour free consultation where we can go over what you currently have in place and how to change it. Email me to day to book in your consultation.  

Spring clean your business with RedRite Business support Services

Spring clean your Business today with these first steps

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Spring is in the air, the sunshine is slowly starting to make an appearance and people are considering spring cleaning their homes.

But what about their businesses?

 

Spring brings to mind the thought of renewal and clearing away the old for new growth, and with the first quarter of the year nearly behind us now is the best time to start taking a look at your business, and consider what needs cleaning. In this blog post I will walk you through the different aspects of your business that you may have left unattended for some time without realising it.

Let’s take a look at what you currently have going on through an audit. Not a financial audit, which is the first thing many people think of when hearing the word, but a business audit. Looking at what is and isn’t working for your business. It requires the use of spreadsheets and some time to sift through everything but the end results is an organized, on brand business.

Run a business audit

In order to start cleansing your business you need to understand where it currently stands. Start with your most public representation – YOUR BRAND. Your brand raises awareness, credibility and touches every aspect of your business. If one aspect is out of sync it could be costing you clients every month.

Start with a list of all the areas your brand is seen. Not just social media and your website, but directories, Google, and your business materials.

With this list check each avenue for consistency. Your brand needs to be consistent to be recognised, including colours, typography, imagery and even the language in which you write. Ask yourself the following to check:

  • Is your logo/profile image consistent throughout all avenues?
  • If you have a different logo for printed materials, is it still relatable to your online presence?
  • Are the headers and other imagery consistent across profiles and your website?
  • Does your bios, descriptions, and business stories match? Is there any details you could now add?
  • Is the content written to match the personality of the platform while still allowing your personality to shine through?
  • Do you really need all those newsletters, and sales emails coming through? Consider when was the last time you opened them.
  • Does your email signature let people know what they need about you?

Once you answer these questions you can start looking at what needs changing. If you have answered ‘No’ to majority of these questions, then it is time to consider what is working for you and what needs updating.

Take a look at your insights from social media, email marketing and Google analytics. Assess how often you are posting to each platform, and the results you have achieved from this.

  • Engagement
  • Number of followers
  • Where the traffic has come from
  • Number of posts in a month

Pay close attention to which type of content is resonating with your audience more, this will be an area of focus when making improvements.Keep a list of everything you have audited for future reference.

Sign up to my newsletter below and receive a free audit checklist to get you started.

Keep a list for future reference, business tips RedRite Leeds

Does it resonate with your goals and brand?

Once you have your audit in place you can compare it to what you want for your brand, and your overall business goal – including your desired audience.

You set a goal of being a fun loving, family brand that helps other families with their services/products Can your audience see this and feel this through your content?

Once you know whether you are achieving your goal, and on target with your branding you can tighten your focus, make creating plans easier and organise your brand easier. Providing a professional and organised front to your audience. Even if in reality, your office looks like it has been hit by a tornado!

Join us next time to see what to do now you have audited your business as we work through each aspect and start improving your consistency and organization.

Email Marketing made legal, RedRite, Leeds

Email Marketing – Staying Legal

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Make sure your email marketing does not cost you thousands in legal fees.

There are a lot of questions about email marketing in forums and groups, with people not fully understanding the need for some information that is necessary on any email marketing materials that go out. I have combined a few facts on why such requirements are in place and how to stay legal when using email marketing campaign services such as MailChimp or Convertkit.

Recipients must know your address.

The biggest bug bear in all business owners is the need to have their address on emails. Small business owners who work from home are not always comfortable providing their home address to the subscriber list. However, it is a legal requirement to provide your address, and clearly identify your company name. If you do not wish to use your address it may be possible to use a PO Box (check with your email marketing campaign provider) as long as that address can receive physical post.

Recipients must have given consent

Majority of recipients will have opted in through a subscription form on your website, and social media platforms. These are subscribers that have given consent. There is also a soft opt in approach where those that have purchased your products and services can be added to the subscriber lists also, this needs to be made clear to them at the time. You cannot buy marketing lists as many of these are compiled without the recipients consent and can cost your business if pursued. In the UK there is fines up to £5,000 for holding an individual’s details who did not give you permission and using it to market. In the US this can be up to $16,000 worth of fines – it is also illegal in the US to purchase mailing lists.

Recipients must be able to opt out

Even if a recipient requested to join your mailing list, they may later change their mind and therefore need a way in which they can opt out. Past customer may no longer be interested in your products/services and will also want to opt out. Many email marketing service providers will make it a requirement that at the bottom of every email is a small print providing a link to unsubscribe. If you do not use a provider then you need to provide a way for subscribers to opt out, either through replying with a request or a link. These subscribers need to be removed as quickly as possible (many companies suggest a 48 hour turn around) to comply with the law. If a subscriber cannot opt out or has not been removed from a list your company can be in legal hot water.

Do not give false header information

The information provided in the header – items such as originating domain name, recipient and sender names and emails need to be correct – is necessary. Providing false information can mislead readers and if it is not clear who is sending the emails you may receive a large amount of opt outs. Email campaign providers may suspend your accounts if you have a large number of opt outs, this is to investigate the way in which you obtained the emails addresses.

Do not use deceptive subject lines

If you are selling something in your email, then you need to tell the recipients. Catchy subject lines to grab reader’s attention is all well and good but it is necessary to make sure that the subject line accurately reflects what is within the email. Even if it is a discount code to use on your website, this needs to be made clear.

Not all Email Marketing Providers allow selling in the emails.

If you want to send an email out with lists of items with buy links be very careful. Some email marketing providers will now block such accounts as they are more at risk of producing high level opt outs which reflects badly on the provider. Most businesses affected by this is MLMs, however I have discussed with some providers ways around this and more than happy to advise people who are interested. Just pop me a message across.

All the email marketing providers will automatically input a lot of the required information in your emails, it is your responsibility to check they are accurate and up to date, as well as the honesty of your content. Email marketing campaigns can be a great addition to any marketing strategy and when done right the results are well worth the effort.

For Anti-Spam laws within the US visit the FTC

For Anti-Spam laws within the UK visit the ICO

Be seen online, RedRite, Leeds

Why an online presence is important to your Small Business

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An online presence is brilliant for any business, but why?

Every small business owner is advised to get an online presence – website, social media platform, Google My Business and a blog – but it is not always explained why. Other than it is great for your business, why else would an online presence help you?

Let’s look at some statistics (as of 2016) and reasons why.

  • Out of the 7.395 billion people 3.419 billion are online
  • 2.307 billion of them have an active social media account

Think of the amount of people you could be getting your business in front of. Even as a local business these statistics but you in front of more people than a newspaper ad or leaflet through the post box. Unlike traditional marketing methods having an online presence costs you nothing but time. Just an hour a day to interact with followers and schedule new content is cheaper than printing leaflets to reach the same amount of people.

  • 41 percent of Americans and 40 per cent of UK citizens say it is important that a business they interact with has an online presence
  • Of UK citizens that have a social media account 34 per cent and 28 per cent of Americans say they prefer to interact with a business who an online presence than visit a physical location.

Why? Because lives are getting busier, people are spending more time rushing from one place to another they don’t have time to pop in to a physical shop as much. Not only that but when they discover a problem and require a need they want answers straight away, rather than putting it on a back burner and forgetting about it till later. People want answers NOW and being online gives you a far better chance to be in front of those customers when they need you.

Facebook & Twitter Stats

Facebook Twitter
  • Every month 2.5 billion comments are made on Facebook business pages
  • 42 per cent of Twitter users learn more about products and service online, while 49 per cent of users a month follow a brand or company on Twitter (Twitter has 310 billion active users)

Staggering numbers of users who are interacting with businesses online. These users are always looking for new and better companies to make purchases from, for both services and products. Taking advantage of having an online presence will put you in front of these users and using eye catching, relevant content will show them why they should use your business instead of others.

Pinterest & Instagram Stats

Pinterest Instagram
  • In November 2015, a user survey discovered that 60 per cent of users say they have found new brands through Instagram.
  • 75 per cent of saved pins on Pinterest come from businesses. People referred from Pinterest are 10 per cent more likely to make a purchase and an ASTOUNDING 90 per cent of users use Pinterest to plan or make a purchase

Those figures alone have me looking in to using Pinterest for my own business. I use Pinterest to look for ideas for my kids birthday parties, and decorating the home. It is therefore understandable why having your business links on there will garner you more interest. I have seen many businesses comment in groups on Facebook about using Pinterest and getting the graphics correct but by the looks of it, the efforts are worth it.

LinkedIn Stats

LinkedIn

  • More than half of LinkedIn users are more likely to buy from a business after interacting with them on LinkedIn
  • LinkedIn drives more than half of all social traffic to B2B blogs and sites

LinkedIn is primarily for business to business (B2B) interactions and hiring opportunities. These statistics do back up the primary purpose, and create a whole world for B2B businesses to grow their business, market their services and provide a platform to show off their expertise.

Blogging Stats

Blogging

  • 80 per cent of online US Consumers trust information and advice from blogs
  • Companies that blog have 97% more inbound links – important for SEO
  • B2B marketers who blog generate 67% more leads
  • 61% of online US consumers have made a purchase after a suggestion from a blog
  • Small Businesses who blog receive 126 per cent more lead growth

126 per cent more lead growth!! Although the source for these statistics suggests that blogging around 20 times a month will create that large increase in lead growth, a blog a week can start making a difference. Blog posts can include product reviews, how to posts, industry knowledge, and the occasional personal posts. Avoid posting ‘adverts’ selling your products over and over again, this will turn readers off and can be detrimental to your online presence.

Google

Just being on social media platforms and blogging can then get you noticed more in Google. They love active businesses who provide fresh content relevant to the keywords associated with their industry. Getting registered on Google My Business literally puts you on the map. If anyone is searching for businesses in your local area you will pop up on Google Maps, if they look for your industry in your area, you will pop up as a business listed on the maps. If they actually search for you, then your page, website and all your information then pops up on the side (as seen for RedRite in the image below).

Google RedRite listing Leeds

Google Listing RedRite Leeds

 

So there you have it, a few simple facts about why being online can have a huge impact on your business. Still unsure? Then give me a call, let me know what your business is and I can show you how being online will make a difference. Technology is always advancing and with new changes it can be hard to keep up with it all but as I mentioned earlier the effort is well worth it.

(Source information: Hootsuite & Writtent)

Time Management, Virtual Assistant, RedRite, Leeds

Time – The one thing your business needs!

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The top tip you can learn for your business comes from a single drop of water!

Have you ever been caving? I have and get totally transfixed every time too think that something as gentle as water can create such large caverns under the ground. Our tour guide when we went to Ingleborough Cave, Skipton explained to us (me and my eldest daughter) how it can take thousands of years for the water to slowly but persistently work its way through the cracks in the rock levels before the pressure causes the layers to break up enough to create the caverns people explore through today. It also takes thousands of years for the drops of water and calcium to create the stalactites and stalagmites formations that add to the views inside these caverns. The beauty left behind can be breath taking and humbling at the same time, to see something so basic yet beautifully made by nature. We were lucky enough to be in a cave with so much documented history and could see exactly how the cave had changed in just 100 years, which was not much even though water still flows through and occasionally floods.

You are probably wondering why I am talking about caving and what it has to do with business but you will see. When the guide explained the time it takes for a small drop of water to wiggle its way down in order for more water to follow and great this amazing caverns it got me thinking. Many people are trying to make millions in weeks and expect it all to just happen instantly when they click the start button, however it is not true.

Just like that little drop of water it takes time for small actions in your business to build in to bigger and better things. Those minutes you sit putting together posts for social media and blogs, those graphics you created and stressed over just to advertise a new product, even all those emails you sent time after time with no replies. They are those drops of water slowly edging their way in to the cracks of the business world. Right now they seem small and insignificant to your business, mostly when they seem to bring very little return for the time and effort put in. Nevertheless, each tiny step you take in your business is pushing your business one small drop at a time to the biggest cavern of success you could ever imagine.

‘Many businesses are known to fail within the first 3 years’ and not always because they are not a viable business but because the owners suffer burnout over the small steps. So do not let those small steps burn out your passion for your business. Do not give up those little steps, take even more of them and celebrate each time you come across a large crack in the ‘limestone’ that is the fight to success. Celebrating each small step makes the step even more significant and therefore can increase your motivation to continue taking those small steps.

Things will take time but they will happen.

Facebook Etiquette, RedRite, Leeds, Virtual Assistant

Top tips of Facebook Etiquette of Business

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Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms with 1.71 billion active users as of the second quarter of 2016. That is 1.71 billion people who have logged in within the past 30 days and who could potentially see your business. But how do you use Facebook correctly for business and avoid Facebook jail?

Let’s first look at how to get your business on Facebook. The best, and safest way, to place your business on Facebook is either through a Page or a Group.

Pages

Facebook dislikes people using their personal profiles to advertise business, so creating a Page linked to your personal profile is specifically created for that reason. On a Page you can choose a category as well as up to 3 sub-categories in which to advertise your Page, the sub categories are determined by the main category so make sure you choose the most relevant to your business. If you add your business address you can also place a map in the sidebar so that others can locate you as well as if there is any parking available on site, perfect for location based businesses. Other details such as opening hours, price range and contact details are also added so consumers know all they need to about you.

A Page can then be used just like a personal profile, the difference being the Page is public and used for business posts rather than what you had for dinner. The occasional personal post can allow consumers to see the person they are buying, just make sure you use details you are willing to go public.

Groups

If you want to limit what the audience sees or maybe want to create a small community around your business, then Groups could be for you. Groups can be publicly available to all, closed – public can only see members or secret – were public cannot see anything but the Group name and type. Members can be free to add other members, however if you want to limit your audience you can control who is actually allowed to join once members refer a friend. Choosing the relevant type of group – such as Club, Support, Study group, Team or travel to name just a few – can help identify to potential audiences what your Group is about. There is also a Buy and Sell type which adds the option to list things for sale within the Group, many local communities start up Groups like this for locals to sell second hand items. If you wish for only certain posts to be allowed, or limit the days in which certain posts can be posted, such as Promo Thursdays, then you can adjust settings to require post approval required.

I have found some of the best groups are those that offer support and networking, with numerous members posting issues they are having with their business and other members offering their support and advice.

What are some etiquette points for interacting on Facebook for business

People buy from people and if they see you being rude, offensive, even just plain ignorant to those posting on your wall or commenting in your Group then it can put them off actually purchasing from you. Although many users are not on Facebook to buy, through the correct and polite methods you can slowly build up a relationship with your audience. This relationship can encourage people to return to your business for their purchasing needs, either a product or a service you may offer.

The biggest NO NO of all time is spamming. Posting adverts for your business within groups is perfectly fine (as long as it doesn’t break the Group rules) as long as it is done tastefully. Respect that there is not just you in the Group and spread your posts out over a period of time. Some groups, such as my networking group, only allow business advertising posts once every 48 hours. While others only allow promotional posts on specific days and posts such as a Promo Thursday post. Abiding by these rules put you in people’s good graces, ignoring the rules and you will find yourself blocked from the Group as well as seen in bad light by others within the Group. Be polite, friendly, chatty and respectful of other group members or those on your Page.

The same goes for replying to comments and messages, sometimes even just a simple thank you can make the difference for your business. Facebook places a little icon on your Page for those that are fast to respond to messages including the length of time it can take you to reply to messages. Ignoring messages altogether can have you coming across rude and consumers will go look elsewhere for their purchasing needs.

Keep your content fresh, if you use a Page for your business it is necessary to post regularly to a degree. If you post once every few weeks, make sure the content is valuable! Consumers like to see what a business is up to and the more you post, the more you will be seen in their newsfeed. If you do not post, you do not get seen.

Sticking to these basic rules of Facebook for business and you will avoid ending up in Facebook Jail and can successfully grow your business.

Business Networking, Leeds, RedRite, Virtual Assistant

Business Networking and the Benefits

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I previously wrote about the benefits of networking using the social platform, Twitter. However, this time I want to expand on that and discuss the benefit of networking as a whole.

What is networking?

Wikipedia classes business networking as – “Networking is a socioeconomic business activity by which business people and entrepreneurs meet to form business relationships and to recognize, create, or act upon business opportunities, share information and seek potential partners for ventures.”

Many think of business network marketing as Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) companies, such as Juice plus, Forever Living and Arbonne, however network marketing works for everyone. It is the process in which you use networking situations to market your business and can be beneficial particularly to business to business (B2B) companies who are looking for other business owners to market to.

What is the benefit of networking for a business?

Being a business owner can sometimes be a lonely experience. Yes, you have staff and yes you family but to the staff you are the boss and not all family are interested in talking about business. So who do you turn to when you want to chat about business without being formal? That is where the benefit of networking comes in to play, whether it is face to face networking or even just a member of a Facebook/LinkedIn group. Having access to people in similar position as you to talk to when needed eases the responsibilities of being a business owner as well as open avenues of business you might not have considered.

Through networking you can create a close knit network of individuals that you can go to for advice, do skill swaps with in order to complete projects on a budget or to attend conferences with. The connections made through networking can also provide collaboration possibilities. Regularly meeting and communicating with other owners about your business it can effortlessly spread the word about what you have to offer, without the expense of a marketing campaign or keeping track of what posts went in to which Facebook group. In this way it is one of the cheapest ways of building your audience, keeping people aware of your business and, when giving advice, it is also a way to show your expertise in your industry.

Top Tip: Always carry business cards with you to networking meets, every person you come in contact with is a potential new customer and providing them with a business card means they can find you again after the meeting.

My experience with Networking.

I personally am a member of several groups and run two of my own face to face networking groups. Through these groups I have met so many new people and even obtained several new clients, clients I would not have met any other way. A plus to these groups is when I want to vent about a situation, or dying for advice I can turn to them, provide a little detail and receive feedback that clears up the situation for me.

These networking groups and those on Facebook also offer me an audience to provide market research and it’s a guarantee they are the correct market to help me. I have offered to complete market research for other individuals as well as provide advice in regards to what actions a person should take, particularly in a situation they may not have experienced before. Answering questions put to the groups has helped my show that I do know what I am talking about, I can do what I advertise and in turn has built my client list. I have created a level of authority in my industry by a simple comment on a post.

Is Networking suitable for my business?

Yes! Networking is perfect for any business, whether you sell a physical product or provide virtual services. Finding a group of individuals that can offer you support and open more avenues for sales is one of the easiest and most effective techniques to running a business.

How do I find a local face to face group?

Local business networking groups are everywhere, some of the best ways to find a local group is to post in local Facebook groups or search on local ad pages such as Craigslist or Gumtree. Websites such as Meetups.com or Eventbrite.co.uk are specific sites created to advertise networking events, simply enter in your postcode and choose a search area. If you know another local business owner why not attend together if you are nervous about attending.

If you are local to North Leeds and want to know more about networking groups pop us an email across and I can share my local groups. I also have a list of some networking groups in the West Yorkshire area, just send me a message and I will share a copy.

Time block, time management, Leeds, RedRite, Virtual Assistant

Time block your way to a work/life balance

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Time block can be an effective business practice that helps obtain that work/life balance we are all searching for.

Recently on my Facebook page  I talked about the benefits of time blocking. This is the system of setting up a calendar where certain periods of time are ‘blocked’ so that for those particular periods you are doing nothing but what you have scheduled in. This allows you to organise your time better, schedule in some ‘me time’ and provide a clearer picture of available time in which you can take on new clients or spend more time on producing products. The spare hours could also be used to catch up work that is due or start something new.

Why time block?

The thought that provoked this post was that over the weekend I set up 1 hour blocks to complete some studying, watch a seminar, get social media planning done and get housework done as my to do list was overflowing. By 9am Monday morning I was caught up on everything and feeling positive about starting the week. By continuing this throughout the week I have got ahead with studying and my seminars, caught up on all the housework and still had time for myself to enjoy a good book without letting my clients down. Usually weekends involved a little work and lots of sofa surfing but this particular weekend I found myself energized and full of motivation to get things done, which in turn helped me focus better and stick to the time block schedule.

Do you ever find yourself waking up one morning with more energy and determination than other mornings? Then you need to sit down to time block your day and get the ball rolling! This focus plan can help keep the ball moving through the following days and with a schedule in place showing your down time you can give yourself something to look forward to. Book in a massage, or organise a get together with your mates at the pub, knowing that nothing will intrude on that time as its been scheduled in just for you. If you have clients getting in touch you know exactly what time you have available to offer them without taking on too much leading to stress and loss of passion for your business.

What if something unexpected happens?

Sometimes unexpected events happen that can throw off your time blocks – i.e a child is off sick when you are scheduled to attend meetings or a system malfunction. A positive is you can re-arrange your time blocks or use your spare time blocks to catch up without affecting the rest of your week.

How do you get started?

Simple… Write down all the tasks you do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis both for business and personal – make sure to go through your emails for this as well, sometimes it can help you remember tasks forgotten. Then using a spreadsheet note them all down with approximate time length for each task. Once you know this you can determine when you are most productive (find out why this is important in my other blog post , and work out the most effective time for certain blocks. If you have clients who require work done on a certain day/time, then you can use this information to schedule a block of time that works well for this deadline. You can fiddle with the timeline until you find a perfect balance of work and life.

Add a little colour, highlight high priority sections then print and stick it above your workspace, the fridge or somewhere you can see it daily. Now you have a plan and it’s in writing, in a place you will see therefore there is no reason to forget it. Family members can also see it so they know what you are doing and when, which can make planning family time a little easier too.

Still too much to do and not enough time?

Then maybe it is time to consider outsourcing those tasks that are taking up too much time. Those tasks that you dread having to do, and start slimming down your time blocks till your time equals your to do list.

Personal note from RedRite, Leeds

On a Personal Note This Month…

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How have you been this month? Can you believe it is nearly Easter?

Where has the month gone? After our last post I have just not stopped, with so much going on in the business and personal life it seems the month has gone in a blink of the eye and suddenly Easter is peaking over the hill.

The end of February saw me preparing for some time off and checking the record keeping of many clients and friends who were unsure whether they were safe from the changes of Working Tax Credits. The beginning of March saw me take a few days off to have surgery – a small procedure on my knee to help relieve some persistent pain I have been suffering with for some months now – then diving head first in to a large data project for one of our most exotic clients so far, a lovely fashion house in Malaysia. This month has also seen the introduction of several other businesses to our network including an accountants firm based in Wakefield, AFor Accountants, I am starting to focus more on businesses who want and need a little extra help getting themselves organised for the next financial year. Making sure record keeping is straight forward, simple and exactly what each business needs to keep them running smoothly no matter the industry or their budget.

Not just a busy month in business but on a personal front too. With 3 kids in a dance show and needing costumes, several school projects that all required time to create, my surgery and university assignments to improve the skill set I can offer my clients I do not think I have sat still for long at all this month.

It would be lovely to hear what you have all been up to. So please comment below or contact us on our Facebook page