Member Blog

COVID-19 made some serious changes to how we live and work, and for many businesses, it has meant a complete overhaul of how things are done. Some businesses that were already toying with the idea of allowing staff to work from home were forced to switch to home-working on a full-time basis, while others were already well-accustomed to remote working and found making the switch easy. Some businesses have decided that after everybody has gotten used to working from home over the COVID-19 lockdown period, they are going to make it a permanent feature. So, what do you need to ensure that you can make the switch easily?

Understanding the Benefits of Remote Working

It’s important for businesses to have a grasp on the many benefits that allowing staff to work remotely can provide. Employees who have the option to either work from home or from the office tend to be happier and more satisfied in their roles, more productive, and more loyal to the company. Working from home allows employees a degree of flexibility that cannot be achieved while working solely from the office, along with giving them a greater level of choice and autonomy over their work and how it is done.

Phone Software

As you are probably well aware after having employees work from home over the COVID-19 lockdown period, phone calls are going to be made more often when employees are not in the office to speak to in person. Choosing the right phone software is crucial, as it’s likely that this will tend to be the chosen method of communication. VOIP calling is a popular choice among companies that allow home working since it can be easily used from any device and cheaper with calls being made through the internet. Read some reviews and comparisons of different VOIP phone software programs before choosing the right one for your business. PieSync has some great resources on RingCentral v AirCall; the PieSync blog is an excellent source of information on a wide range of software programs and tools that can help your business make the transition to remote working.

Video Call Software

Video calls have become the new normal with so many people working from home, and you will want to choose a software program for your company that is fast, reliable, and able to keep up with the demands that you put on it. Many VOIP software programs like Skype also offer video calling options, or you could go with a popular choice like Zoom, which everybody seems to be using these days – but bear in mind that you only get so much with the free version. Google Hangouts has been another top choice over the COVID-19 lockdown since it is free, easy to set up for anybody with a Gmail account, and does not require any additional software to be downloaded.

Employee Equipment

Don’t make the mistake of simply allowing your employees to work from home and expecting them to come up with all the equipment that they need. As an employer, you will need to ensure that each remote employee is provided with the adequate equipment needed in order to do their job well. This could mean providing them with hardware like a computer, smartphone, tablet, headphones or design tools, and giving them access to the software programs that your company uses if they are going to be working from their personal device.

Security

Since remote working means that employees will be accessing work systems from personal devices on home Wi-Fi systems, it’s important that high levels of security are taken very seriously. All employees should be provided with access to the anti-virus software of your company’s choosing while working from home, and it’s important to provide training so that they don’t inadvertently end up putting business or even customer data at risk. For example, you will need to ensure that each employee knows how to properly secure their home Wi-Fi network, and if using a personal device, it should be properly password protected. Since coffee shops and other choice places for working are now beginning to reopen, it’s not unusual that some of your employees might choose to work outdoors, so ensure that they have access to a good VPN that they can use to protect themselves if going online via a public Wi-Fi network.

Ground Rules

Chances are, your company already set some ground rules when employees had to quickly make the switch to working from home due to the coronavirus, but if you have decided to make this a permanent feature, it’s worth going over them again and potentially adding some new ones, particularly if you were rushed the first time around. Make sure that all employees who are working from home are fully aware of what is expected from them at all times and what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. This will vary from company to company and even between departments. For example, you may have a team that you can simply leave to get on with their work throughout the day, while employees working on different projects might need to check in with yourself and the rest of the team more often.

Communication

Finally, the key to a successful remote working strategy is strong two-way communication between both parties. Not only should you be clearly communicating needs and requirements to your home-working employees, but you should also be encouraging them to communicate back to you with anything that they are concerned about or need in order to do their job better. Being clear about what is required will ease some of the anxieties that employees might be having about working from home and make it easier for them to perform well. And on the other hand, when employees are able to quickly bring any concerns to you, you can act on them quickly and ensure that remote working is a pleasant and hassle-free experience for everybody involved.

After the COVID-19 crisis, we are seeing many businesses switch to allowing working from home permanently. If remote working went better than you expected and you’d like to continue doing it, make sure that you and your employees have everything you need to make it successful.

There is a huge market out there for business application development, but recently, the trend of developing mobile applications for businesses is also catching on. If it were only a passing trend, wise business leaders know better than to invest in it, but that does not seem to be the situation in this particular case. Every big name out there seems to have at least one, if not multiple mobile apps ready and available on all major mobile platforms, indicating that it’s not a trend, but a profitable venture.

Beyond a Trend: Business Mobile Apps are a Profitable Investment

As is the nature of business, trends are not followed without a set goal. Even if a company’s decisions turn out to be wrong in that regard, it doesn’t take away from the fact that they did have a plan that hinged on certain aspects of the investment which did not work out as planned. However, as we are discussing mobile business apps, it should be well understood that this is not a trend at all, but the next step of evolution in business mobility.

Every business should have customised, relevant apps today in order to improve mobility, accessibility, ease of use, marketability and several related aspects of their trade. While it is an advisable step today for some segments, having a mobile application is going to become the de facto standard for every industry in the very near future. It has become the default standard in multiple industries already of course, as the companies working in those segments (manufacturing, supply chain, public transportation, retail, etc.) are now looking for special features in their apps to give them the competitive edge over others.

For example, Appetiser Apps from Australia is an app development team associated with developing unique apps for the likes of Lego, Europcar and even Samsung. The reasons why international MNCs choose to work with them is because their adoption of agile project management and continuous customer support provides clients with that much-needed edge over the competition.

Identifying the Specific Advantages of Having a Dedicated Business Application

It is somewhat complicated to identify and enlist the various advantages of investing in a mobile business application without being specific towards any particular industry. Therefore, there will be references from time to time towards a few key sectors which stand to benefit the most from business apps, with a general focus on universal advantages of the natural, evolutionary step for business mobility.

Online Retail Businesses Rely Heavily on Mobile Apps for Sales

A large section of the market thought that desktops and laptops are going to become obsolete, only to be overtaken by their mobile counterparts running on Android and iOS. Such predictions from a few years ago, did not turn out to be true as desktops and laptops continue to hold their own positions in certain sectors as irreplaceable devices that must also be taken into account while creating a marketing plan. However, there is also no denying the fact that mobile devices did take over a huge portion of the market from their less mobile counterparts. Due to that, a number of retailers or eCommerce websites do not just find mobile apps to be convenient, they are highly dependent on them for meeting a large section of their total revenue target.

The mobility factor enables eCommerce websites to identify, target and market to the right customer base pretty much all the time. If the customer wants to buy something while he/she is on the move, they do not have to wait but can simply use the retailer’s mobile app to order what they need or want. This enhanced ability to never lose sight of your target customers or lose a sale due to their location has proven to be a tremendous advantage in retail.

Some Businesses Rely Entirely on Mobile Apps

How would Uber or any of the multiple app cabs available today, function without their respective mobile apps? They won’t be able to function for obvious reasons, and that is why all app-based private/public transport facilities are entirely dependent on their respective mobile applications.

Every Business Can Use the Increased Exposure

As far as marketing and branding is concerned, just the presence of an application alone is enough to bolster that, even if the app does not serve any direct purpose in revenue generation. The applications can also collect target customer data, provide them with the right push notifications the right time and help the customers stay in touch with the company via their app.

The features and the specific advantages of having a dedicated business application must be sufficient enough to justify the investment necessary as well. On the flip-side, if the necessary investment feels too high in respect to the expected ROI, then the project will need to be scaled down in order to match an appropriate budget. Cost-efficiency never loses meaning in business and that applies to app development as well.

Throughout the pandemic, business owners have had to be incredibly agile in making quick decisions to maintain business continuity. However, there is a risk that these decisions could, without careful consideration, expose them to costly compensation claims. We spoke to Directors’ and Officers’ insurance specialist, Sam Brown, to find out why now is the time for business owners to make sure they’re covered.

In a nutshell, what is Directors’ and Officers’ insurance?

“Directors’ and Officers’ (D&O) insurance is protection against claims or “wrongful acts” made against directors and management team in steering and managing their business. This includes allegations following regulatory investigations and it can be extended to cover employment issues as well.”

What is a ‘wrongful act’?

“A ‘wrongful act’ is what is needed to trigger a claim. To put it simply, it means an action or decision that is deemed to be wrongful by another party. It can take the form of an allegation made against the company or directors – whether founded or unfounded. Something like an accusation that the director or the company has made the wrong decision, or it could be a breach of regulations such as the Health and Safety Act or environmental regulations. It can come from various stakeholders – employees, shareholders or the regulators themselves, so it’s a very wide definition.”

The policy is called “Directors’ and Officers'” insurance, does that mean it only covers people in a director or officer job role?

“The definition of the policy is very wide generally, and you don’t have to be a formally appointed director or an officer for it to apply. It will cover anyone in a management position, anyone with seniority or a position of authority over someone else. One of the extensions of cover is employment practices liability that will pick up any employment disputes. If a team leader was to incorrectly manage an employee, it would respond to that as well.”

What kind of business should have a directors and officers insurance policy?

“Every business and its directors & officers has an exposure to this risk, so every business should consider having this cover.

“If you manage the company or are a director, you can be held personally liable in certain circumstances. So whilst you might have a private limited company, where the liability is limited to the value of the shares issued, a director’s personal liability is potentially unlimited. Director’s personal assets are therefore at risk if they are personally pursued. By way of an example, amendments to the Privacy and Electronic Regulations which came in to force in December 2018 allows directors to be fined up to £500,000 for breach of the rules on unsolicited direct marketing.”

Is the cover mandatory – do people have to have it?

“No, there’s no obligation or legal requirement told the cover. However, some non-executive directors will insist upon a D&O policy being in place before they’ll join the board, for the very reason they could be held personally liable if something goes wrong.

“Although it’s not mandatory, the unlimited personal liability alone is why all businesses should consider taking out a policy.”

How much cover do businesses need?

“It varies depending on the area or sector of the business. It also comes down to risk appetite and how much potential exposure to risk a business may have. A small SME business with more part time or temporary staff may be more comfortable with a lower limit than that of larger multinational organisation.”

How has directors and officers insurance been affected by the current situation with COVID-19?

“COVID-19 has, and will continue to, have a big impact on insurance cover. Insurers were already seeing increasing claims frequency and severity and the pandemic will only increase this further. Cover is likely to be restricted moving forward which could make it more difficult to get cover.

“The pandemic has brought a new set of challenges for senior management, as well as the usual day-to-day challenges. Regulations are changing all the time, which all increases exposure to directors. So now more than ever, there’s a need to think about what if something went wrong? What if we weren’t up to date with regulations? That’s where a D&O policy could help.

“Redundancy is obviously a big issue at the moment and, if you have the employment practices section of cover under the D&O policy, it would respond if an employee brought a claim of unfair dismissal. Insurers expect to see a lot of those types of claims over the coming months, so they will respond accordingly and potentially cover will become more difficult to obtain.”

What would be your overriding message to anyone who is maybe on the fence about taking out a Directors and Officers Insurance policy?

“Get it now while you can and while it’s affordable. Exposures to these risks are increasing and the policy caters for a lot of different challenges. No-one is perfect and not everyone will be up-to-date on all of the regulatory changes that are coming in fast. It would be easy to fall foul of something and leave yourself open, so make sure you’re not in that position.”

You can find out more about Directors’ and Officers’ insurance here or by calling our team on 01603 21800.

If like many, part of your ‘new normal’ is spending more time working away from the office then you are likely being asked to take more responsibility for keeping your company’s devices and data secure when working remotely. So what can you do to make sure you keep working securely?  Here are some top tips and best practices to help you play your part in keeping you, your colleagues and your company protected.

Your Leadership team and IT department can do so much with technical solutions, but you can play a huge part too;

• Be aware of your surroundings

If you’re working in a public area or even in a shared house, you can never be sure who is watching or listening-use a screen filter to stop “shoulder surfers” and use a headset when on calls. Even when working from home you need to be aware-if using a webcam, what can be seen on your desk or around you?

• Be aware of your desktop

Sharing your desktop is a great way to present or collaborate via video conference calls-but take steps to ensure you don’t accidentally share too much!  Aside from potentially being rather awkward, this could be a huge security risk.  Close applications you’re not using and try to share specific applications rather than your entire desktop where possible to make sure nothing sensitive is exposed.

• Keep Business and Personal separate

If you have a corporate laptop then use it solely for work-similarly keep your personal devices personal.  If you don’t have a dedicated work device try and differentiate your use-use a VPN if  directed to do so to keep business communications private and disconnect when using your device for home use.  If you have a shared device take extra care-don’t store any work documents on the device if you can help it, use separate password-protected accounts for your work and make sure you lock the screen, or log out when not in use.

If you can, keep your Business and Personal devices on different WIFI networks by setting up a separate SSID just for your work kit to prevent access to work resources from personal devices.

• Choose your networks carefully

Be cautious when connecting your business devices-laptops or smart phones -to any WIFI networks.  Whether a home or public network, there’s no way of knowing what other users connected to the same network might be accessing on their devices, or how protected their devices are. Malware on someone else’s device could easily spread to your work device on the same network so choose carefully, but always assume it’s insecure and take appropriate steps to protect your device regardless. Public networks are commonly compromised to enable intercepting network data -make sure you are using your company VPN if on a public network.

• Be aware of company policies

Your company should have made available to you all relevant security policies, and these may be different now as they are when working from the office.  It’s up to you to make sure you understand and comply with all policies-there may be repercussions if you don’t so if you can’t comply with any written policies for whatever reason, speak to your manager and let them know.

• Secure your home network

You should make sure your home WIFI network is encrypted, and also check the password used to access your internet router-if you haven’t changed it then chances are it could be a default or weak password leaving it wide open to attack.  A breach could expose all your devices and all communications in and out of the internet, and a default or weak password is like leaving the key in a locked door.

If you are unsure if or how you should change the password speak to your company IT contact or your Internet Service Provider directly who should be able to assist.

• Install and update anti-virus software

 Anti-virus software is important to have on all of your devices regardless of what you use them for, but if you are using your own device for work then it’s critical. Prevent malware from compromising your own and your employer’s systems by installing Anti-virus software and keeping it up to date.

• Beware Covid-19 related scams

You are probably constantly inundated with phishing emails and other scams, even if you don’t realise it, but cyber criminals are exploiting the current situation with Covid-19 to make their scams seem more realistic. If you get emails with any suspicious links or attachments related to Covid-19, don’t open them or click any links-contact your IT resource to check it out if you’re not sure.

• Make sure your programs and systems are up to date

Programs and operating systems are updated regularly to fix bugs and make them more secure. Make sure your operating system is running the latest version-enable automatic updates to make sure your systems are as safe as possible-and don’t forget your Internet router, this also needs updating with the latest firmware to help keep it secure

As we enter our 30th anniversary year, this year’s Norfolk Business Awards will be dedicated to celebrating the achievements from a range of outstanding local businesses. With the many challenges that the businesses in our region have faced during 2020, it is more important than ever to come together and recognise the sheer resilience, creativity and innovation of our business community.  

Nobody could’ve predicted the impact that the pandemic has had on local businesses across the region and worldwide. However, despite the disruption that Covid-19 has caused, businesses and organisations across Norfolk have gone above and beyond to support our communities and key workers. So, amidst tough times we want to thank those businesses for their efforts and recognise their achievements before, during and after the pandemic.  

Every year the Norfolk Business Awards is a highlight in the business calendar, it offers an exclusive networking opportunity amongst industry leaders and our handpicked judging panels. This year is no different, our nominees reflect the very best of what our industry has to offer – so we will be taking this moment to celebrate the business excellence and emerging talent from across Norfolk.  

With ten categories to choose from, whether you’re a start-up or long-established enterprise, there is a category for everyone – these awards are open to any local business with an inspiring success story worth telling. Once the entry period has closed, all entries are put to a panel of expert judges from the Norfolk business industry. Once the businesses have been shortlisted, judges will select their four deserving finalists per category.  

Alongside our entry categories, all businesses who enter these awards will be put in the running for the non-entry category: Business of the Year award, proudly sponsored by our headline sponsors – Barclays. This accolade will go to a business handpicked by our judges, so it is very important that businesses take time to make their submission stand out.  

As businesses begin to think about entering this year’s awards, they may be wondering why enter? It may seem like a daunting process putting your business forward for a prestigious awards ceremony, but there are many reasons and long-lasting benefits to entering the 2020 Norfolk Business Awards. From raising your business profile by showcasing your work and credentials to industry leaders, to boosting employee morale and motivation by demonstrating that you value their hard work and efforts, to increasing brand exposure and engagement beyond the awards ceremony by differentiating and benchmarking your company against your competition. There are many reasons why businesses should consider entering the 2020 Norfolk Business Awards, read the full list here.  

We hope that Norfolk Businesses will take the time to put their business at centre stage and share their stories with us. Entries must be submitted by Sunday 6th September to be in with the chance of becoming a 2020 Norfolk Business Awards winner.

We look forward to celebrating our nominees and sponsors in November 2020! 

Find out more and enter for free at https://www.norfolkbusinessawards.co.uk/ 

Paolo Aliatis has moved through life at a pace most people will never know. Building up a successful business and property portfolio in the UK, working with entrepreneurs, investors and property tycoons, Paolo Aliatis‘ rise has been as remarkable as it has been hard work. Hearing the story from Aliatis himself is intriguing…

I started young when I ventured into entrepreneurship. I want to tell you my story so you can understand how I ended up in the flat-share industry and how this industry changed my life.

From my youth, I have always found a way to make what I want happen. Most of my business ventures before my 20’s were lifestyle-based and often caught the attention of people in an elite society in which I did not belong. My friends had my back as I had theirs.

“We roll where we control, and we control how we roll”; that was the only rule we followed.

Paolo Aliatis: Brimming With Business

My first bright idea was to try to replicate a successful restaurant model that started in a neighbouring city. However, having little understanding of how to run a restaurant chain, control costs, waste management, maintain standards etc. it ended up a failure. The business barely sold for enough to cover the debts that I had incurred in the process of setting it up. 

I later moved to Barcelona with my then-girlfriend and started a pharmaceutical distribution company which collapsed during the 2008 recession. I then decided to rent the spare rooms in my apartment, which ended up covering the cost of the whole apartment. That meant that I lived rent-free and when I moved in with my girlfriend, where I rented out the entire apartment and was making 600 euros a month.

Paolo Aliatis’ Flat Share Empire

I heard stories of a friend’s cousin who was running flat-shares, once we were introduced a partnership was born and we went from having just a few properties between us, to having 250 across 4 different cities. In 2009, we started to get calls from agents in Barcelona and London offering us their properties, acquiring properties wasn’t the challenge, renting the rooms was. At that grassroots period, I was even agreeing to pick clients up off their trains in the early hours of the morning just to secure a deal.

Portfolios grew and time flew by. Profits multiplied and workforces expanded. My role in the game began to change dramatically. No longer was I preparing and showing rooms to people fresh to London or waking up at all hours to chase tenants withholding rent who had been dodging us during working hours. My challenges then were managing teams, finances, lawyers, accountants, contractors etc. The game changed and a whole fresh ecosystem started to flourish around us.

Eventually, everything fell into the right place, people started doing their jobs, international expansion followed, in-house software was developed and new acquisitions became a priority. 

With every positive or negative experience encountered, our foresight expanded. As time passed, our contracts grew to include every possible eventuality, giving us complete legal coverage against troublesome tenants, landlords and contractors. 

Working with such a diverse type of landlord, from established property tycoons to former gangsters, Jewish to Muslim, those with 1 flat to those with 100 flats in their portfolio, we have been through it all, but most importantly, we have seen and solved it all. 

Moving Up: Paolo Aliatis’ Progression

Now I am no longer involved in the day to day activities of flat-shares, my focus lays on how to take portfolios that are yielding a 5% return, to a 12% return. From time to time I will have a former competitor contact me with properties to take on. It doesn’t take long to see why they are trying to offload with most of them being structurally flawed and unprofitable. Timing and knowhow is everything, especially in the flat-share business.

During the past years, I have made lots of mistakes that have cost me time and money, millions sometimes. Yet I have also realised that most of the mistakes made actually added value to my understanding of business and in the long run, that knowledge will save me 10 times more than any simple loss of profits would.

When we started to run flat-shares, you could barely say the industry actually existed, it was still operating in the shadows. We learnt the hard way, trial and error. The industry was still a grey area where subletters or people running flat-shares were considered crooks whilst conventional estate agencies saw us as amateurs.

I am still surprised by the level of business and industry knowledge that I have managed to acquire, which is especially evident when I am talking with people that previously used to be my idols. I feel a lot of pride in the fact that I am now in a position to often teach them on aspects of our business they were not aware of.

Finding an income stream online is probably easier than it’s ever been, for two overlapping reasons. First, there’s a demand for it! And where there’s demand, resources will follow. Secondly, success begets success. As new people enter the online workforce, the demand for people to support their virtual efforts increases as well. 

That being said, making it work is still a challenge, and you’ll likely need to consider a wide range of avenues before settling on the right approach for you. Let’s see what options are there, shall we?

1. Affiliate Marketing

In the interest of sparking off new ideas, a good starting point to make money online is to get involved in affiliate marketing. Yep, we had to go there! The thing is, affiliate marketing has been generating a lot of buzz in recent years, and there’s no denying that, done right, it’s one of the more scalable and sustainable ways to make money online. 

Here’s a vastly simplified version of how affiliate marketing works: 

Choose the thing you plan to sell – it can be anything really, from cat laxatives to shoelace dongles.

Build a decent, SEO-optimized website around it.

Make money every time your site visitors purchase that thing through your site. 

If you are thinking, surely it can’t be that easy? Well, yeah. You’re right. The concept is simplicity itself. Making it happen is hard, not least of which because you’re competing with millions of other people trying to do exactly the same thing. 

One way some pundits are successfully getting ahead of the curve is through skilling up via a dedicated affiliate marketing community. Wealthy Affiliate is one such resource, and many affiliate marketers swear by it as the easiest place to begin. 

Wealthy Affiliate offers hundreds of hours of training and accompanying resources. That said, you’ll definitely want to go in with your eyes open. 

2. Know Stuff, And Write About It

Making money through writing is one of the first suggestions you’ll likely encounter. Opportunities abound for wordsmiths. While workaday copywriting is always an option, a more potentially lucrative option you might want to consider is to become a subject-matter expert. 

Here’s how it works. 

Build (or harness your existing) knowledge, find marketable angles on that corpus of know-how, pitch it to industry sites. 

If seeking depth and clarity excites you, becoming a subject-matter expert can be intensely satisfying. Moreover, if you find the right market for your work, it can pay surprisingly well!

If this is your path, ditch lesser freelance sites like Upwork. Opt instead for websites specializing in your subject area. Or join an industry side like N-Dash (which is completely pitch-driven) to carve out a name for yourself. 

And remember. Be patient!

3. Help People For A Living

Virtual Assistant work is not sexy. 

It isn’t about boldly carving a new niche, so much as it involves being a reliable, competent, dedicated backstop to someone else. But you know what? Good virtual assistants are incredibly successful, simply because that positive, supportive energy is hard to find in people. 

If being helpful is your buzz, you may well be perfectly positioned to build up a name as a VA. 

Here’s what you’re going to need:

A solid understanding of communication technologies.

An organized noggin with a business slant.’

An upbeat, supportive attitude. 

If that describes you, you’ve got what it takes. The bigger trick is separating yourself from the poseurs who claim to have your skills but actually don’t. I won’t lie, there are many such people. 

But here, time and persistence are your greatest weapons. Based on many conversations with successful EAs, the trick is starting small on a standard freelance site like Upwork, working for reputation points more than money while you’re starting out. 

Once you have those first few successful jobs under your belt, you can begin strutting your stuff on LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed. Your goal is to dazzle a busy C-suite type who desperately needs someone to make their life easier! 

Keep them happy, and you keep making moolah. 

4. Earn Money Through Research

Good researchers are a bit like good virtual assistants – they’re hard to find. 

Perhaps counter-intuitively, Google is a big culprit for the dearth of research nous. These days, many folks assume deep research consists of delving past page three of a Google search.

If you are one of the few people who’ve figured out how to delve deeper, plundering white papers, technical reports, statistics, and peer-reviewed research to deliver unique insights, then you’re in a great position to sell those skills. 

So what kind of research are we talking about?

It can, literally, be anything. A real estate agent may want to know the three biggest factors affecting condo prices in Dallas. A biotech startup may want to know what their competition is doing to attract investors. A pet food company may want to gain an insight into changing pet food trends over the past five years.

The common factor? The data isn’t easy to locate and analyze. 

If this kind of sleuthing sounds like your thing, start by looking for researchers on major recruitment sites like Monster or Indeed. You may also want to look at dedicated research services like Ask Wonder. 

Quality research will always be in demand. 

The Bottom Line

Working online is not an easy path, and you are unlikely to land in green pastures overnight. If anyone tells you working from home is an easy transition, be suspicious, and look for the fine print!

However, if you really want to make it happen, provided you play to your strengths and treat your skills as a business, you stand a very good chance of getting there eventually. 

Giving up your office job may be an incremental process, but we all have to begin somewhere. Good luck!

The advancements in modern technology revolutionized how businesses are run nowadays. More and more businesses see to it that they establish a strong online presence because this paves the way for the growth and longevity of their brand. The reason behind this is that people now turn to the internet in search of any information, product, or service that they need. In line with this, it is then a good idea to delve into SEO and why it matters for your business.

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of improving your site to increase its visibility being one of the top results that search engines deliver. The more visible your site is, the greater your chance of garnering the attention of potential clients and customers. According to Matthew Woodward, a seasoned digital expert, it is best to work with SEO experts to ensure that your strategy will be more effective rather than going about it on your own. This is because they are the ones who are knowledgeable with the latest updates that search engine algorithms use to crawl through different sites.

Search engines such as Google use algorithms to crawl to various web sites, collecting information from those pages. These algorithms then analyze which website needs to appear on the top of the search results based on the information that they have collected. Some of the key factors that these search engine algorithms consider include content quality and keyword research.

What Can Your Business Gain Through SEO? Build the Trust and Credibility of Your Site

One of the primary benefits that your business can gain from an effective SEO strategy is the credibility and trust that you can build for your site. Several factors can help you win this such as quality backlink profiles, positive user behavior, machine learning signals, as well as optimized on-page elements and content. When your site constantly appears on top of the search results as a result of your extra effort in ensuring that these factors are taken into careful consideration, there is a great chance that users will render your site as one of the most credible ones that they can trust when it comes to your niche. Just keep in mind that trust and credibility are not earned overnight, such that you need to have patience in waiting for your efforts to bear fruit.

Improve Your User Experience

Improved user experience is another benefit that your business can reap from an effective SEO strategy. This means that your users will be able to navigate through your site effortlessly because of an intuitive interface that you have optimized for SEO. If you have an e-commerce store, this means that your customers will be able to check the products that pique their interest, add it into their cart, and proceed to payments seamlessly. In this case, your site visitors have been converted into engaging users and paying customers that added to the revenue of your business, all because of an interface that improved their overall user experience.

Quantifiable Metrics

A great SEO technique also provides quantifiable metrics that help you identify areas in your business that you can still further improve. For instance, you may have been implementing a certain SEO technique for quite some time already, but you deem that your sales remain stagnant. In this case, you can review your SEO efforts and analyze where you can improve more based on the SEO reports that are generated based on real data. It can be that the reports indicate that you need to hasten your page loading speed to ensure that your visitors don’t bounce immediately even before they get the chance to view the information on your site.

Cost-Effective and Long-Term Marketing Strategy

In the world of digital marketing, implementing an SEO strategy is one of the most cost-effective and long-term marketing techniques. Like with any other marketing efforts, for sure you need to invest a certain sum to come up with a successful SEO effort. The great news is that the results of a minimal SEO effort are significantly considerable in terms of the benefits that you can reap.

Aside from being cost-effective, your SEO efforts will most likely have a noticeable impact not only in the first year of its implementation, but on several years ahead, which makes this a long-term marketing solution. Even if you don’t get to frequently update your SEO technique drastically, the basic best practices will still have a significant impact on your business.

Brand Awareness

In line with being a cost-effective and long-term marketing strategy, your SEO efforts can also bring forth brand awareness through organic traffic. This is because, with an effective SEO technique, your website will land on the top spot or the first page of the search results when users enter keywords in your niche. In this case, users will most likely click the link on your site because people don’t exert the extra effort to look into the sites that are listed on the succeeding pages.

When people do click the link redirecting them to your website, they will have a good idea of the products and the services that you offer, and whether this is suitable for them or this is what they are looking for. Nonetheless, they are now aware that your brand exists, such that if they don’t need it at the moment, they will have an idea of where to find your brand should they need it in the future.

To wrap things up, if you are running a business, now is the perfect time for you to ensure that you have a strong online presence because this will pave the way for your business growth and longevity. In this case, explore SEO and how you can take advantage of the benefits that it can bring forth to your business such as building the trust and credibility of your site or improving the user experience of your customers to name a few. In the end, you will find that with a successful SEO strategy will ensure that you gain a fair share of the market.

The Planning for the Future White Paper announced this week (6 August) by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick represents a massive change to the planning system.

We find the government’s recognition of the need to boost housing supply, and importance of providing housing opportunities for first-time buyers, extremely encouraging.

The First Homes scheme that will provide newly-built homes at a 30% discount for local people, key workers and first-time buyers is welcomed. The government also intends to replace the current system of developer contributions, including section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy, with a new infrastructure levy.

The new levy would be set at a fixed proportion of the value of the development above a set threshold, with the proceeds used to fund new roads, local facilities and affordable housing.

Whilst it is not known how this new levy would work in practice, we support the continued need to provide contributions towards local infrastructure through the planning process.

The government is also proposing a shift away from reliance on documents throughout the planning process to a ‘digital-first’ approach, particularly for those parts of the process that involve community engagement.

This is an area that we are currently reviewing with our clients, to ensure that where possible, any future consultation and engagement can take place using an online platform, providing a more innovative and streamlined way of engaging with the public.

The policy paper published by the government aims to deliver the high-quality, sustainable homes that communities need, but also includes some major reforms which will require careful consideration before implementing.

We want to reassure communities that as a consultancy we will continue to ensure that high-quality building standards are maintained for affordable housing developments, schools, GP surgeries and hospitals after increased targets to build 300,000 new homes nationally every year by the mid-2020s were also announced.

Whilst cutting red tape is the government’s headline aim, these proposals still require decision making through a more rule-based planning process. Our planning experts will therefore remain just as important to the process in navigating the future rules and ensuring developments address community needs and provide high quality accommodation.

Nicol Perryman, Associate and Planner, said: “We cautiously welcome the landmark proposed reforms that propose to make future changes to planning laws that aim to support a generation of first-time buyers and key workers to finally join the housing ladder, such as the First Homes scheme selling properties directly at a discount rate.

“We will also be working closely with our Housing Association and Local Authority clients over the coming months to understand how these proposals impact social and affordable housing.

“We work with a range of developers from the very start of the planning application to the end of construction work and pledge to continue ensuring high-quality building standards are maintained every step of the way despite the headline rise in housebuilding targets.

“We aim to do this whilst incorporating new green energy initiatives, such as heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points, and ensuring developments respect local surroundings and heritage.

“We believe local experts like planners and architects will become more important in navigating the new planning process – to ensure projects are carefully considered and fit for purpose.

“We look forward to examining the consultation papers in further detail over the coming months and considering their wider and future implications.”  

We do not have to mention separately about the crisis that the entire planet is going through. It was perhaps unfathomable that something so akin to the common cold but far more fatal, could bring the planet at a halt. A mutated strand of the Coronavirus changed our lives, and probably forever. And though we have all begun working and going out in a calibrated manner, it might still be several more years before we could live what we knew to be our normal lives. Nothing is the same as before. And amidst the pandemic, what we need to concern ourselves with is our physical and mental health.

We must take up all the precautions, eat and rest well to boost immunity. We must do everything that we can to ensure our safety from this virus. And speaking of the virus, one of the most important things that we need to look into is health insurance.

No one can guarantee to keep the virus at bay. We can only try, but we must be prepared to deal with it if the unfortunate happens. That said, besides a personal health insurance plan, you must also see to it that your employers offer health insurance. Employee health insurance is now more critical than ever.

And governments of nearly every country have made it mandatory for workplaces to provide employee health insurance. Therefore, we are now going to be looking into the benefits of employee health insurance plans that organizations offer. This can help you stay in the know and make informed decisions when the time calls for it. 

Should I Go for Individual Health Insurance or Rely on Group Insurance for Employees?

Most people wonder if relying solely on corporate health insurance plans is a good idea. Employee health insurance plans come with a myriad of advantages.They cover the medical expenses for you and your family until the time you are associated with the company.

And that is why, they are indispensable. However, is it advisable to put all your eggs in this one basket? This is a trick question that needs a bit more examining. 

Benefits of Group Health Policy

It is essential to look into some important features of a corporate group health insurance policy to reach a conclusion.

  In a Group Insurance, Employees Are Not Required to Pay the Premium

The first advantage that we must enlist is that employees do not have to pay the premium in this policy. And this is what makes the policy so appealing. The responsibility lies with the employer to pick up the tabs on the group health insurance. Therefore, you get the policy for free without anything being taken out on your salary. 

Group Insurance Covers the Employees and their Family

The second most important feature of group insurance is that it covers the family members of the employees as well.

This is a feature that lacks from personal health insurance plans, and is thus, quite lucrative. However, the advantages depend on the rates of the premiums too.

A higher rate might have more benefits, and vice-versa. You can find more information about these insurance plans at Lowered Rates.

  There is No Waiting Period for Group Insurance Policies to Kick In

This means that you can avail the policy right away without having to wait for 20-30 days, as is the norm for a personal health insurance policy. Check-ups, diagnoses and treatment do not have to wait; this is perhaps the most significant advantage of group health insurance. You only need to wait until the approval of the plan, and can then proceed to use the same.

Pre-Existent Ailments Are Also Covered Under this Plan

Another benefit of group health insurance is that it covers you for your pre-existing ailments as well. You can use the policy to cover you if an old affliction rears its head in the present. And this is probably the best feature of employee health insurance. These were some very crucial features of a group insurance plan or corporate health insurance.

And that is why, amidst the pandemic, it has become a mandate for employers to provide the same. However, relying only on a corporate health insurance plan might not be the best idea. There is a catch, and we shall now see what that is.

  Group Health Insurance is Necessary but Not Sufficient:

Though group insurance policies are the need of the hour, there are a few reasons why you must also have a personal health plan.

  The Coverage Amount Might Not Be Enough and Could be Reduced

Group health insurance policies might not have enough coverage amounts for you and your family. Plus, the amount could also be reduced as per the employer’s discretion. And this factor is quite worrisome. Plus, as we mentioned earlier, the benefits of the group health insurance could depend on the rates of the premium.

  Your Insurance Lapses Once You Quit or Retire

The benefits of a group insurance plan lapse instantly after the termination of services with the organization. And in that case, you need a working personal health insurance plan at your disposal. You cannot just depend on the group health insurance policy to come to your rescue. However, besides these two issues, a group insurance plan is quite useful, especially in times as such.

  The Takeaway:

Workplaces must be able to take up the responsibility of the health of their employees. It is the employees that serve as the most crucial resource of an organization.

Therefore, it is mandatory that employers protect the health of the employees at all costs. Getting a group health insurance is a great place to begin with such an endeavour.

Employees must also be smart enough to recognize that a group policy might fail to cover them at all times. And thus, it always bodes well to have a personal health insurance plan too. A personal health insurance plan shall step in when group coverage is not enough.

And that is why, you need a personal health insurance plan too. The wisest decision would be to buy personal insurance without waiting for your employers to offer group insurance.

You can be doubly protected and ensure that you do not have to suffer during an emergency. Be smart enough to gauge the need of the hour, and secure your future accordingly.

Financial management can be tricky, but in 2020, people are facing more money issues than usual. With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc around the world, businesses are closing, and unemployment is rising. Whether you’re on a reduced income or you simply want to take control of your money, these handy tips will give you the confidence you need to improve your financial health.

1. Assess Your Current Financial Situation

When money troubles occur, it’s easy to bury your head in the sand and hope that things will improve. Conversely, when you’re doing well, it’s tempting to treat yourself to some luxuries and lose track of what your bank balance is.

Until you sit down and familiarise yourself with your finances, you won’t be able to take action to improve your financial health. Examine your payslips and/or bank statements to determine exactly what your income and expenditure is. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have all the information you need to take a proactive approach to money management.

2. Cut Your Expenditure

Most people have unnecessary outgoings, even if they don’t realise it. In fact, you could be spending hundreds of pounds a month on things you don’t really need or want. By looking over bank statements from the past twelve months, you’ll see payments that you’d forgotten about. Unused subscriptions or memberships that you no longer use can quickly be cancelled, providing you’re not still tied into a long-term contract.

In addition to this, get in touch with your utilities provider and see whether they can offer you a better deal. A simple comparison search will let you know whether you could be paying cheaper rates elsewhere and, if so, how to go about changing providers.

3. Identify Essential Bills

Your essential bills are the costs that you absolutely must pay every month. These typically include things like your rent or mortgage, utility bills, council tax and food. In reality, you might have other important bills that you consider to be essential.

If you need to pay for public transport in order to get to work, for example, this is going to be a high priority. Similarly, if you can only get your kids to school by car, then petrol, vehicle maintenance, insurance and car tax are going to be important costs for you to cover. List your outgoings in order of importance, so you can easily determine which bills should take precedence over others.

4. Create a Budget

Everyone who practices good money management has a budget. It’s the only way to keep track of your income and outgoings, so it’s well worth taking the time to devise an accurate budget you can stick to.

Start with your essential bills and work your way down the list of your outgoings. This will enable you to factor the most important costs into your budget first. If you realise that your outgoings exceed your income, there’s no need to panic. Taking control of your finances can be daunting at first, but you’ll be relieved once you’ve got a workable budget in place.

5. Check Your Borrowing Power

Even if you don’t want to take out a loan right now, it’s good to know what your options are. Check your borrowing power to determine how much you would be eligible to borrow and on what terms. Remember – don’t stick strictly to high street banks or traditional loan providers.

Many alternative options, such as direct payday loans, offer impressively low interest rates. If you need to access funding from a reputable payday loan company, for example, this provider can help. With low rates and super-fast turnaround times, Payday UK make it easy to access loans when you need to.

6. Boost Your Income

Everyone wants to earn more money, but 2020 might not be the right time to try and insist that your boss gives you a raise. All businesses are under increasing pressure due to the impact of coronavirus and many firms are reducing their workforce and making people redundant. However, this shouldn’t prevent you from boosting your income.

Taking on a second job or starting your own side hustle can be a great way to increase your monthly income. With the right side hustle, you can even choose your own hours and do something you enjoy to bring in some extra cash. Furthermore, having a second source of income gives you more protection if your primary job is in jeopardy. 

7. Have a Contingency Plan

Many people are worried about job security and a significant number of people are likely to experience a drop in income over the coming months. The anxiety this causes is understandable, but having a contingency plan in place can help to ease your mind and calm your nerves.

Take a look at what government support you would be entitled to if your main source of income was no longer available. You might be surprised at how much financial help is available. Alternatively, consider alternative ways to replace lost income. If you own your home, you may want to rent a room to a lodger, for example. Alternatively, if you’re currently renting, you may want to move in with family or friends until you can secure a new job role.

With any luck, your current job will remain secure and you won’t face a significant drop in income. However, having a contingency plan in place will ensure you’re able to cope with whatever financial circumstances you might face.

8. Find Free Hobbies

When you’re on a mission to improve your financial health, you’ll want to avoid spending money unnecessarily. By finding free hobbies and pastimes, you can dramatically reduce the amount you spend on entertainment and leisure.

Instead of going to the gym, for example, why not take up jogging or start working out at home? Many people have reached impressive fitness goals at home during lockdown, so this could be a great way to improve your physical and financial health.

Alternatively, walking, gardening, puzzling, reading, meditation and learning something new are all worthwhile pastimes that don’t require a big investment. In addition to this, volunteering in your local community can be a great way to spend your spare time. As well as increasing your social circle, you’ll be helping people and causes that are in need of support, while saving yourself some money in the process.

9. Seek Professional Advice

If you’re worried about your financial situation or your finances are getting out of hand, it’s important to seek advice from reputable resources. There are a number of charities that provide people with financial advice and assistance, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need to. Banks, building societies and businesses are well aware of the financial pressure people are under this year and many have implemented schemes to help people reduce their monthly payments or reduce interest rates. Get in touch with your creditors to see whether you qualify for any help.

Take Control of Your Finances

No matter what your financial situation is, taking control of your finances will stand you in good stead for the future. With the knowledge and confidence to practice good money management, you can ensure that your financial health continues to improve in 2020 and beyond.

Method Marketing founder Lucy Mowatt gives us the lowdown on a typical day in her life. From email management to tea breaks and TV choices, she explains it all.

6.50 AM: MEDITATE

Since starting my own business two years ago, I’ve meditated every day.

I try to make time first thing because it helps me wake up. It keeps sharp and focused throughout the morning. I normally have a glass of water and lemon on hand during this time, so I start to rehydrate.

7:00 AM: GET READY FOR WORK

Some mornings I work-out first thing, with a 5km jog or a yoga session, but most mornings, I get showered, have some breakfast and take a look at my to-do list.

I have emails switched off on my phone until 7.30, so I don’t start my day too early.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: EMAILS & ADMIN

I try to keep my email use at a sensible level, otherwise it starts taking over my life. I plough through as many as I can first thing, weeding out the junk and flagging the most important.

I then disable my email notifications. If they’re switched on, I get distracted by the pinging sound. When they’re switched off, I regain control of my attention and my inbox.

I also check in on social media to make sure there’s nothing I’ve missed overnight. I’ll comment on posts that I think are relevant and check out the trending topics. It’s important to make sure there’s nothing relevant to Method Marketing or my clients.

9:00 AM: CONTENT & COPYWRITING

I schedule client work for the week on a Sunday evening, so I know who I’m working for when. I tend to put writing tasks at the start of my day because this is when my creative juices are flowing.

I love getting my head down and into a writing project. Even the most mundane topics can be interesting when you find a new, unexplored angle.

10:00 AM: TEA TIME

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a bit of a tea fiend. While I dabble with herbal and green teas, there’s nothing better than a good strong cup of Yorkshire Tea with a splash of milk.

While the kettle boils, I let my mind wander. I often find that this is my best thinking time – I often find solutions to problems or writer’s block while I wait.

10:15 AM – 12:00 PM: WRITING & EDITING

I use the late morning, when I have a caffeine buzz, to finish writing and check my work.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: LUNCH TIME

I’ve found that my lunches are far more healthy when I work from home (especially during lockdown!). I tend to have something balanced. As a pescatarian, I’ll try to have something with plenty of protein, accompanied by lots of veg.

If I’m working from home, I try to take a walk around the block and stretch my legs. The fresh air and time away from the screen give me a boost for the afternoon.

If I have any time left, I’ll take a flick through a magazine. I love the printed page and can’t resist a free magazine. That said, I’m currently reading the latest issue of National Geographic Traveller. It’s bittersweet though because I can’t actually go anywhere right now!

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: EMAILS

If anything pressing has come in over the course of the morning, I take the time to reply immediately after lunch.

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM: MEETINGS

I try to keep meetings and calls to the afternoon in order to protect peak writing time.

I’ll meet with clients, discuss marketing plans and send out proposals to prospects during this time.

4:00 PM: WRAPPING-UP

Towards the end of the day (depending on how the day is going!) I take time to wrap-up.

For several clients, I put together a status update showing what’s been completed and what’s outstanding.

This also allows me to plan for the following day. What still needs to be done? What are the priorities? Do I need to adjust my schedule?

4:30 PM: EMAILS (AGAIN)

I take 30 minutes at the end of the day to read and respond to any messages in my inbox.

Social media gets another look too, just to make sure there’s nothing I’ve missed.

5:00 PM: UNWIND & EAT

My fiancé and I catch up on our days while we prepare dinner. We’re both foodies, so love trying new recipes and cuisines.

At the minute we’re on a bit of Mexican kick, making lots of burritos, guacamole and refried beans.

After we’ve eaten, we tend to go for a walk around our local area. During the coronavirus, we’ve both missed our commutes. We might have only walked for 10 minutes at the end of the day, but it helped us switch off from work.

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: WATCH TV

Time to unwind and watch TV. We’ve got a reputation for being binge-watchers – we’ll stick with one show until we’ve finished the season.

We’re currently rewatching The West Wing. It’s possibly my favourite TV show of all time. I remember watching it back in the 90s with my Dad and it’s really stayed with me. Yes, it can be schmaltzy, but I love it. The scripting is brilliant, the characters are complex and the storylines and confusing. What’s not to like?

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: READING

I’ve always been a big reader – even as a child. As a writer, editor and content marketer, it’s important for me to read as much as I can, as often as I can. It gives me ideas, improves my vocabulary and also helps me to unwind.

I’m currently reading Carlos Ruiz Rafón’s The Labyrinth of the Spirits. It’s the final book in the Cemetry of Forgotten Books series and it’s a real page-turner. I was saddened to hear of the author’s death last month. He had such a beautiful way with words – I can’t believe he won’t write any more novels.

10:00 PM: BEDTIME

I try to turn out the lights at 10 so I get a good night’s sleep. Yes, it’s early, but I really value my 40 winks!

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