We were approached by Westcountry Estate Planning to help maximise their rankings on Google for a number of key terms relating to later life solutions including estate planning, funeral plans, family trusts and property protection trusts. With a new site built on Wix.com, we were asked to help optimise the site from head-to-toe and ensure that can be found on search engines, specifically in the South-West of England in areas such as Cornwall, Devon, Truro and Plymouth.
Cleaning up the site
Using a popular SEO tool called Screaming Frog, we were able to crawl every page on the website and ensure that everything was optimised to include key terms, specifically in the:
h tags/titles
meta titles
meta descriptions
meta keywords (removed)
internal links
The idea is to have one specific page for every main keyword you want to target and not overlap with several pages. Your homepage is always your strongest page so we used this to focus the keyword ‘estate planning’ and then having separate landing pages for things like will writing, funeral plans, trusts etc
New Steps
Once the site is optimised on a basic level, we then have to look at bulking it up in terms of content and links. Naturally, a site with very good content and a lot of good links is going to outrank a site that does not. Slowly but surely, we are ramping up the content that we are adding to the site in the form of useful guides and typical questions that people would ask relating to later life planning. The links we acquire must come from relevant sources, either in the local area, or relating to senior living – hence we have reached out to news sites in the South-West of England and sites that really talk about senior life, hence we have already approached another partner at Perfect Funeral Plans.
Conversion Optimisation
SEO is a process and it takes time not only to rank on Google (3-6 months) but also time to get everything on board for the client. Ideally, we will need to make some subtle changes to the existing content and make additions to improve conversions. Common techniques include adding a phone number and email address on the top of every page and adding clear contact forms so an enquiry is just one click away.
Combined with good rankings on Google and a good user experience to get conversions, we are on track to making this campaign a real success.
FKGB Accounting was named after its founders, Farley Kaye and Gary Bloch. An accountancy firm originating from London, England, the company has moved to Tel Aviv in Israel to assist individuals and companies who are trading in both countries. With Israel having a fast moving tech, research and development and pharmaceutical industry, there is huge scope for companies to work with FKGB.
We were approached by the client to help their website rank in Israel (google.co.il) for UK accountants in Israel. So if you are an Israeli company and looking for specific accountants with a knowledge and understanding of the UK, FKGB would be the right fit for you. This can relate to companies or individuals too and how it affects their trusts, inheritance and finances too.
Updating their website
FKGB have just launched a new website and when doing this, you need to do a full SEO check to ensure that you do not lose any of your rankings. Several anomalies can occur including missing meta-data, descriptions, crawl errors and broken pages which emerge as a result of new URLs and pages being changes. This was the first priority for the SEO work we did, going through every single page and making sure that it is optimised. We also went through over 100 images on the website and added alt-text which Google looks for to read the image more effectively. Other additions included the generation of a new sitemap, robots txt file and settings on Yoast SEO.
Next steps
As we continue with SEO with FKGB over the next few months, we have to position FKGB as the one-stop shop and the ‘go-to’ place for UK accountants in Israel. This will be achieved through the additional of regular content (one news or article per week) and the acquisition of relevant links from Israeli-based news and finance websites – with relationships already sparked with the likes of Arutz Sheva and The Jerusalem Post.
Elsewhere, we need to ensure that the search results are not just in English but Hebrew too – so we have suggested the addition of landing pages written in Hebrew so that we can cover all our bases.
In the first month, we did not only maintain the strong search results but also lifted them significantly as FKGB ranks number 1 in Israel for ‘British Accountants’ – we will therefore scale our strategy to incorporate other keywords too.
In order to get working on the website of our client Trovex, we had to spend some time getting familiar with the services they offer and the general get to know the general tone of their company so that we could reflect this in their content and meta-data. This is always a vital part of working with any company as we want any content on their site to appeal to their target audience.
Trovex provides superior hygienic surfaces and systems for walls, ceilings, doorsets and washrooms. All the while, their solutions work to enhance the hygiene and functionality in healthcare, leisure, hospitality and commercial environments.
Trovex’s client base was very impressive, including the NHS, and they have many years of experience. As a digital marketing company, some of these terms are very specific so we had to take time to develop an undetstanding of the product and how we could target them effectively on Google. Our keyword research and approach is moving away from very specific projects to more general times such as commercial washrooms, bathroom suppliers and hospital refurbishments.
Meta-Data
In SEO, one of the most important things to get right is the meta-date of a website. This includes meta-descriptions, meta-title and alt-text on images. In these are not all correctly optimised it can seriously damage the websites ranking potential. In fact, good optimisation of keywords in the meta-titles can be the difference between ranking on the first couple of pages and the last few pages.
We ran a standard health check on the Trovex website. From this, it became clear that each page was missing a meta-description and the images present on the site did not feature an alt-text. Therefore, we made it our priority to getting working on writing these up and adding them in across the entire site and all of its 111 pages.
Crawl Errors and Response Codes
If you want a website to rank well on a search engine, then you will need to turn your attention to the health of the websites to identify whether there are any crawl errors or broken response codes which might affect it. These are broken links on the website, broken pages and any links that are redirecting to others – but by cleaning everything up, you enable a much smoother indexing of the website.
The initial results for Trovex in the first month are extremely positive. Once the site has been fully fixed from a health check perspective, we then need to scale our SEO activity through useful content relating to hygience and bathrooms and generating links from strong, trusted resouces in the health and business sector.
Sometimes orthodox finance solutions may not be best suited to you and your needs. At Chatsbrook we ensure that our clients always have the means to grasp every opportunity that presents itself.
Refinance is a finance solution that allows you to release equity from assets you already own or currently finance, so you can conquer every opportunity.
On one particular instance we were approached by a customer who wanted to purchase land for a new business venture. He stated that he wished to quickly fund the purchase over a scale of five years. The most orthodox way of purchasing land would have been through a Land Mortgage, but due to the desired term and speed it did not appeal to the customer.
After speaking to our panel of lenders, we were able to locate a lender without an ‘Aged Asset’ policy and secure equity release from refinancing the client’s agricultural machinery, one 2012 Class Lexon and two 2014 New Holland tractors. Refinancing his existing assets was better suited to his needs as it raised the £140,000 capital he desired for the agreed 60 month timescale against the value of his assets. This was a great example of how Refinancing can provide funding for a business opportunity when the more orthodox route to purchase, in this case a Land Mortgage, is less suited to the customer.
The client was impressed by the quick decision and turn around, and was also happy to have enrolled in a new business project.
As one of the oldest industries, Farming and agriculture has always been integral to our economy. Investing in contemporary equipment is one way to keep up with market fluctuations and improve sustainability. Chatsbrook understand that investing in new machinery is vital to the development of the enterprise culture within the farming and agriculture industry.
If you have capital tied up in assets, then Refinancing or Equity Release may be an option for you. Refinance provides financial stability, as you can restructure existing monthly repayments. Equity Release provides financial flexibility as you are able to raise capital from assets you already own.
At Chatsbrook, the service we provide is dedicated to ensuring your personal and business needs are completely taken care of. We listen to your requirements and advise accordingly, only ever offering the best competitive deal on the market. Ring us today for a free quote 01603 733500 or email info@chatsbrook.co.uk
The weather has turned colder, in fact, this October was the coldest recorded this decade. With this cold weather, rodents start looking for a warm home. The best control, as with all pests, is to do what you can to avoid them becoming a nuisance in the first place. We call this prevention!
Rodents, rats, mice and even squirrels can cause a lot of damage to homes, and businesses. From destroying furniture, chewing through wires and cables to spreading disease.
Spotting the signs of an infestation
Rats and mice are certainly most active at night, therefore it is often easier to spot the signs of an infestation than the actual pests.
You may find their droppings or marks they leave as they travel along their routes, you may hear scratching noises at night, find holes (they dig extensive burrow systems); also watch out for teeth marks (rodents need to gnaw continuously to keep their teeth short). They will use whatever soft material is available to them to make a nest – including loft insulation, cardboard, so keep a lookout for shredded material.
Preventing the problems rodents cause can be easier than trying to control an infestation.
Here are a few tips that could save you from having rodents:
Rodents are attracted to a property if they can detect potential food sources.
Keep foodstuffs in containers with tight-fitting lids.
Don’t throw scraps of food outside and make sure all food waste is securely wrapped and always stored in the appropriate bin.
Repair any small holes in brickwork and holes in outside walls, floorboards or skirting boards. They will find a way to enter your property!
Tidy cupboards and remove any potential nesting material. As we said earlier, rodents will use any soft material such as loft insulation and cardboard.
Keep your home or business tidy. The less clutter there is the fewer places they will have to hide.
Clean up any waste pet food or bird seed debris regularly. Store these items in containers with fitted lids and preferably above ground level.
Keep gardens free from debris and clutter.
Don’t put food waste in your compost bins. This is sure to attract mice and rats.
Do act quickly and call in the professionals to prevent a larger infestation developing.
If you have already spotted signs of rats or mice such as droppings, it may already be too late. Give us a call as soon as you can on freephone 0800 980 9609.
Don’t give the pests a chance to breed and become a major infestation. Only a professional rodent control programme can provide reassuring protection from the risk of rats and mice on your premises. Request a free survey on our website.
Over the last few weeks this column has looked at the various stages of a marketing strategy. It’s gone from building awareness with your prospects to being found at the research or comparison stages through to the actual point of all this marketing effort: the conversion, or sale. We have looked briefly at some really big subjects and mentioned products in passing that really do need explaining more thoroughly. It is true that the devil is in the detail – there truly aren’t shortcuts to success. Marketing a business needs to be a well planned and thought-out affair, and to avoid it also being cripplingly expensive, a business must be able to understand which product might give the needed outcome. It becomes even more tricky when you factor in the chaos that is people. People are active on social media in the evening, looking at purchases on a desktop computer during their lunch hour, and searching on their mobile phone while walking the high street. Getting people (or potential customers) to your business can be like herding cats. Your potential customers are all over the place: gone are the days when ads in the Yellow Pages and local newspapers covered all bases, now your customers can be anywhere and looking for you at any time of day. Advertising success for a business now comes from understanding all of the platforms, methods and routes to your market. Over the next couple of weeks we will look at the individual tools you can use in a little more detail. We will have a look at display and brand building advertising, websites, PPC, SEO and social media in a little more detail. Each week we will take a different group of products and highlight their strengths, the best way to use them and if you are interested we will point you to some useful content on our website for more help. If you want to get started, and build the basis for a good marketing strategy you can start looking at an overview of marketing tools and purchase funnels.
A suppliers route to finance is not always the best avenue to take if you would like to save money. We at Chatsbrook are dedicated to finding our customers the most competitive finance package on the market. In an interview with Adrian Brooks-Director of Chatsbrook- he discussed our business ethos and growth, as well as clients worries and how we can help to overcome them.
From the copious, positive customer testimonials it is clear that Chatsbrook pulls out all the stops for each individual customer. Our ethos, as stated by Adrian is “To provide competitive finance packages from the outset with credible customer service. We have a genuine passion and care about the outcome. It’s not just about doing business once, it is about creating loyal customers that continue to use our services.”
There is a general misconception that suppliers will always offer the best deal. Creating financial agreements with suppliers may seem like the easiest way to purchase an asset, but quite often it doesn’t save you time or money. Adrian advised that “There is always an alternative finance route to customers rather than choosing the suppliers route- it is always worth looking at other options. There are better deals out there.”
In a world of competition, Chatsbrook sets the benchmark for business conducted with integrity and morality. We just “aim to do right by the customer”.
Our finance packages are modified to suit each individual need. Adrian articulated “When we agree a finance package we like to ensure that it fits any persons affordability”. We do not create finance arrangements that could burden you, instead they are streamlined to make sure that they do not effect your quality of life. Finance agreements can also be arranged to help free up your cash flow, which is something that may be desirable if you are in the commercial industry.
There are many benefits to using Chatsbrook. For instance, the speed that we can turn things around, our transparency and genuine care for each outcome. But there is one particular added security benefit that should be noted. Adrian explained “If you have purchased something on finance that goes wrong, there is a third party in the agreement that can make contact with the supplier on behalf of the customer.” In some cases, it can take the weight of an additional company-like Chatsbrook- to put pressure on the supplier to rectify an issue if something happens to an asset.
If you have an asset in mind that you would like to finance, your next step could be to contact us for a free quote on 01603 733500 today. If you have any additional questions then feel free to email now at info@chatsbrook.co.uk
We at Chatsbrook, promise to provide you with an efficient service to save you time AND money.
In the contemporary world, the majority of companies rely on technology to successfully run their business. At Chatsbrook, we understand that technology empowers businesses, so investing in equipment with a flexible finance product is a smart solution. Our client Richard Pike Associates are now benefitting from financing new software and hardware.
Richard Pike Associates are building, design and planning specialists that help clients to achieve their dream home. They work with individuals looking to remodel a conservatory, all the way through to working with some of the largest housebuilders and housing associations in the UK. Much like Chatsbrook, they cater to client’s individual needs which can include organising contractors and providing technical drawings on projects. Their aim is to “to deliver high quality, innovative building and design solutions with outstanding customer service in a supportive work environment to exceed our client’s expectations.”
“We used to primarily use AutoCAD and still do use it sometimes but now the new ArchiCAD software which we funded is far more advanced for Architecture. It allows us to do realistic 3D design as if you were building it with the actual materials on screen, rather than just drawing lines, you use objects such as bricks and insulation. This means more accuracy and less issues when a builder goes to build it. Time wise the new software takes more time to use but less issues and revisions down the line.
The new Hardware financed was the new printer/plotter/scanner. Before we had a 10 year old plotter which would take minutes to print out an A1 drawing. Now the new one will print in around 20 seconds. This obviously saves a lot of time!”
The benefits reaped by contemporary hardware and software financed through Chatsbrook, not only benefits the team of Richard Pike Associates, but their customers too. As they are afforded an efficient and flexible service that can keep up with the changing needs of RPA’s customers- and within budget.
Financing new hardware and software can be beneficial to most businesses, as like info@chatsbrook.co.uk
In the current economic climate, it’s still surprising that more businesses don’t explore all of the tax incentives available to help lighten the burden by either reducing tax payable and or if applicable, securing a tax repayment.
If you are a company where you have people and costs associated with project activities aimed at advancing what you do, then you could be eligible for R&D tax credits.
BACKGROUND
Research and Development Tax Credits were launched back in 2000 and the scheme is administered by HMRC. The principle is very straightforward and is a win-win scenario for both the UK economy and the eligible companies. If the government can make it easier through tax relief for companies to invest in innovation, then it is more likely that these companies will undertake innovative projects to benefit their business growth and contribute to the UK’s future success and standing.
The good news is that since its launch the benefits of the scheme have increased significantly, so there has never been a better time to claim.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
R&D Tax Relief applies to both profit making companies paying Corporation Tax and also loss-making companies who are not, both are able to claim for eligible activities. Relief can be received as lowered corporation tax or in some cases as a payable cash credit. The calculations are many and varied so the simplest way to help you understand what you might get in the form of SME tax relief (dependent on a number of contributing factors of course) is around 26p for every £1 you have spent on eligible activities.
CAN YOU CLAIM?
This is where HMRC’s terminology can create confusion and probably why so many companies failed to recognise that they were eligible for tax relief, even to this day. In the words of HMRC it was created to benefit companies striving to achieve technical and scientific advances through projects that extend the current industry baseline, and where uncertainty in the outcome exists and the methods used to achieve success are not readily deducible. See what we mean? It’s not particularly clear what’s eligible and what’s not.
The simplest way to finding out whether you may be eligible to claim is asking yourself some questions like: Have we developed new tools, products or services using technology? Have we tried to improve our existing products through technical changes? At the start of a project, did we ever think ‘I’m not sure of the best way to do this’?
HOW CAN YOU CLAIM?
The reality is that there are a number of ways that you can claim for R&D tax relief. You can claim yourself, through your accountant or through a specialist service provider. However, it’s important to understand the implications of your choice and the consequences that can be generated.
The accountant route is often assumed to be the logical choice because it is a tax process. However, estimations show that overall accountants are only claiming for approximately 10% of the potential eligible relief for their clients due to understated claims or claims not being made. The reality is that, if the claim is assessed properly the activity is 80% technically focused. There are some things that accountants are best equipped to manage on behalf of their clients and logically these are all things purely accounting based.
The great majority of accountants are not technical and will not understand what you do, how you do it, the context of your projects and known industry alternatives and therefore generally submit conservative claims that are largely under the legitimate entitlement for the client.
PARTNERSHIP IS THE WAY TO GO
The key is to identify as much eligible expenditure as you can; The more you identify, the greater the value of the relief you’ll receive from HMRC. So the ideal partnership to deliver the best results for any client is the combination of a specialist technical R&D tax relief advisory firm such as Jumpstart, who speaks both your language and HMRC’s; and your accountant. In collaboration they can manage the assessment, preparation and submission on your behalf, ensuring you receive the biggest return for the least possible effort.
Jumpstart is a leading R&D tax relief specialist, guidingcompanies through the complexities of submitting claims to HMRC.
Jumpstart’s large team of technical analysts have specific scientific and technical backgrounds and years of industrial experience which have resulted in an extremely high success rate in securing R&D tax relief for their clients. Since inception eight years ago, they have realised almost £80 million benefit for their clients. Right now, they’re submitting an average of 500 claims per year to HMRC.
For a free R&D tax credit consultation and analysis of the potential returns you might expect, contact your local Client Engagement Manager Lee Williams on 07794201990 or email lee.williams@jumpstartuk.co.uk
There’s no doubt that many business owners and managers will have hundreds of questions and concerns about the direct impact of Brexit on organisations. But what about the effects on the end consumer? It’s essential that businesses understand how buying trends and consumer rights may be affected to help you plan ahead.
Through our Brexit Hub, we offer support on a business-to-business basis to ensure you are trading under new rules and regulations. However, below are some areas where your customers could be impacted. These areas are purely predictions and possible scenarios and are not certainties, but hopefully they can provide some clarity for your business.
Consumer rights
Many EU-based consumer rights have been incorporated into UK law so there shouldn’t be much difference whether there is a deal or no-deal. These unaffected rights include refund protection.
As of the 1st of January 2021, if you buy goods from Europe to sell to your customers with a refund policy, it would be a good idea to speak to your supplier about if this will change and update your own policy to reflect any updates. If consumers wish to seek legal action against EU based traders, enforcement from a UK court may be more difficult to achieve.
Tariff increases
Some tariffs could increase – your business may be in a position to absorb some of these costs, or you might have to adjust the prices of your products which could alter your customer’s buying habits.
Product delays
It’s possible we could see logistical delays as we approach the transition date. Especially in the instance of a no-deal, many goods including fresh food imports could be in short supply. It may be worth exploring a strategy on how to manage your customer’s expectations if you are worried about shortages.
Pound to euro
It’s difficult to say whether the pound will rise or fall following the transition date if we get a deal. And it’s possible that with a slight drop in the pound, this won’t have a significant impact on consumer prices. However, a no-deal scenario could amplify this impact considerably and costs could rise if you import certain goods.
With the deadline for the end of the Brexit Transition Period fast approaching and Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning there is a “strong possibility” of no deal, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce wishes to assure its members and the wider Norfolk business community that we are here to provide guidance and support through the potentially troubled waters ahead.
01 January 2021, are you ready?
A question posed across the media and all government departments to the business community throughout 2020.
Whilst there are things you can prepare for, many will ask “Prepared for what?” as they try to disseminate the tangible actions amongst the barrage of information.
We would like to assure you that as soon as further information becomes available, we will strive to cut through the jargon and bring you clear advice.
The EU-UK Joint committee have come to an agreement in principle on the Northern Ireland protocol. Whilst this is a positive step forward, we are awaiting the conversion of this agreement into crystal clear guidance for the business community moving forward.
On 12th September, MIGSOLV again welcomed over 100 business people to The Gatehouse data centre in Norwich as they hosted the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Summer BBQ.
Now in its second year, the event also welcomed members from TechEast and featured a ‘Taste of Norfolk’ theme with locally produced food and drink.
“The weather was sunny and the Norfolk-sourced barbeque proved a big hit!” says David Manning, Managing Director of MIGSOLV. “It was once again a great event for bringing people together to network and celebrate business in the East”
For those unfamiliar with MIGSOLV’s data centre and how it protects business’s IT and data, guided tours were delivered of the world-class facilities. MIGSOLV’s staff and a number of their key partners were also on hand to give help and advice.
In a brief address, the Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Executive Chris Sargisson, David Manning and representatives of MIGSOLV partners PSTG, Blocz IO and Next Connex once again showcased the breadth of innovative technology available to the region’s businesses, including exciting new services available through MIGSOLV’s partnerships.
As champions of business in the East, MIGSOLV chose a barbeque featuring Norfolk reared pork, beef and chicken, including a hog roast. Liquid refreshment was served by the Bubbles & Pips horsebox bar and included wine from Norfolk grapes and Bullard’s award-winning local gin. The menu was topped with a Ronaldo Ices cart serving more than a dozen flavours of Norfolk ice cream.
A charity auction for East Anglian Children’s Hospices (EACH) raised £200 toward their new Nook hospice appeal.
Attracting members of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, the TechEast sector group and local businesses invited by MIGSOLV themselves, the event rounded off a successful summer for the data centre providers. MIGSOLV also took the opportunity to announce their new suite of services aimed at helping businesses take advantage of colocation, cloud storage and improved connectivity.
“This year’s event was even bigger, better and well-received than the inaugural event in 2017” concluded David Manning. “We hope to host the event again in 2019 so we’ll have to start thinking of ways to top it! It’s a great chance to bring everyone together and showcase the roles MIGSOLV, Norfolk Chamber and Tech East are playing in championing technology in the East”