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Digital marketing refers to the type of promotion for your business that is done in the online environment. If you have a website, a blog, a social media account for your business or send emails to your customers, you are already doing digital marketing.

The job is to find out what you are doing and how you are doing it, and then to make some minor (or occasionally major) changes to make your efforts more successful. We have decades of experience in house in the digital marketing field, and specialist knowledge in all areas of online promotion to help you achieve your dreams.

Digital marketing involves:

SEO: Your lovely flashy website is worth nothing to you if people can’t find it. With our SEO services, we can get you to page one of Google for the most relevant search terms for your company, helping more people find you and getting more traffic to your website. Social media: Are you on Facebook? What about Twitter? Should you be using Pinterest, Instagram or LinkedIn? What about Tumblr, Foursquare and Reddit? The number and complexity of social networking platforms can be daunting to say the least. In order to increase the efficiency of your time spent socially marketing your brand, you need input from experts like us.Website design and development: Whether you need a brand new website for a new business or product, or want to revamp your existing web presence, our web designers can help. We offer affordable starter packages for new businesses including hosting, and also have the capabilities to build huge ecommerce websites featuring thousands of products.Email marketing: Email is still one of the most powerful ways to reach out to your customers. Get it right, and you’ll develop brand loyalty, customer referrals and ultimately, more sales. But get it wrong and you could be doomed to the ‘junk’ folder forever. Talk to us about our email marketing to get it right first time, and every time.Branding: From logo designto a complete branding strategy for your business, our professional business consultants can help uncover the colours and images that best represent your brand. Building a brand is so much more than just a logo, so let us help you create something you’ll be proud of forever.

With all of these techniques combined digital marketing can put your business out there in order to sell your product and represent what you stand for businesswise.

You would be forgiven for thinking that we, as office designers, would suggest that every office invests in lavish accessories, bright feature walls and luxurious office furniture to create an inspirational workplace. In reality, inspiration is relative, and how it is achieved depends very much on your line of work. For many, quirks like slides and football tables work well, but creating an exuberant workspace isn’t always practical; science labs and food preparation areas need exacting levels of hygiene and space to work. This could be the complete opposite again to a home worker writing a novel, who may be more concerned with visual stimulation and maximising a small space. The key toplanning youroffice refurbishment or fit-outis to understand how your workspace will work for you, your employees, and your clients or customers.

Once you have created the perfect office for your business, you can reap the rewards of your investment.

Improved Efficiency and more creativity

Inspirational offices are not just for IT based jobs and marketing giants; creating pride in the workplace, in any industry, reinforces pride in the task being undertaken within it. When people are taking care of their surroundings, the quality of their work should see an upturn, meaning less rework and more efficiency. If you work in a creative industry, thought-provoking design and features can aid creativity and reduce down-time.

Reduced Stress Levels

With stress absences so high in the UK, an investment in your office interior can also be an investment in attendance. Whilst we can’t all spend the kind of money that Google does, with Doctors on hand and private masseuses, a little goes a long way. Well-designed break out spaces with hot drink making facilities and a relaxing environment in which to spend breaks and lunches won’t break the bank, but could improve your team’s wellbeing. Don’t forget to create private space too, even if your office is open-plan – some employees may prefer to receive feedback away from prying ears and potentially stress-inducing embarrassment.

Increased Staff Retention

Staff retention is also a great bonus feature of a well-designed office, for similar reasons to the working environment reducing absences. The average employee spends 40+ hours a week at work and if you can create a space that they’re happy to be in, you’re also making it harder for your competitors to attract your most valuable asset.

Increased Customer Perception

Another great benefit of creating the right environment to represent your business is the marketing effect this will have on visiting clients or customers; your inspirational office can do half of the talking for you. If you’re studious and precise in your work, create that environment within your workspace. If you’re fun and daring, make it impossible to ignore within your offices. Whatever your business’ USP, make your workspace shout it from the rooftops!

With such compelling benefits, investing in an inspirational workplace is becoming an essential part of business.

If you’re not sure how you can make your office space work for you and your budget, why not get in touch with the office designers at Bluespace Ltd.

Introduction

First of all, remember the purpose of a curriculum vitae (CV) is to help get you to an interview*. Therefore its contents must be targeted, focussed and error free, and it should not be longer than two pages.

Second, it should be set up in the generally accepted format for CVs unless the firm requires it to be in their own particular format or on a specified template.

Third, if printed, it should be printed on plain, high quality, white paper using a common 12 size font such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. It should preferably not contain any underlining, italic script or odd symbols in the event it might be scanned and therefore confuse the scanning software to your detriment. Bolding is acceptable but should be limited to headings.

* Avoid using the word “résumé” which is used in America.

What your CV should contain

The information that is contained on your CV only needs to be what is required for the reader to quickly make up their mind whether you are worth interviewing or not. Generally speaking, this means your CV should include:

• Your contact details
• Your work experience
• Your education and qualifications (or skills)
• Any further information which supports you as a candidate for interview

It is not necessary for your document to list referees or interests unless you think either will directly contribute to the overall aim of securing you an interview.

Your contact details

Your contact details should be easy to find and include a telephone number and an email address as a minimum. Typically this information is placed at the top of the first page a bit like a business letter header. It should not be on any subsequent pages.

Your “work experience” section

In this section of your CV you should show the month and year, job title and firmof each job you have had in reverse chronological order. It should be in this order because the reader is more likely to base a decision to interview you on what you have been doing recently. If you have had more than 10 years’ experience, you may not need to show much more than the last 10 years (unless it is relevant). Under each job, you only need to include the parts of your work experience that are relevant to the position you are applying for. If the firm/recruitment agent you are applying to has a detailed job advertisement or job description, match your experience to that description where applicable and use of some of the same wording if appropriate. It helps to include any specific facts or figures, if you can, to highlight the overall commercial value of the work that you do. Finally, the judicious use of bullets can help the professional look of this section.

Your “education” section

Your education section should also be in reverse chronological order (because the reader is usually more interested in what you have done recently). You only need to go back as far as necessary; this might mean stating your GCSE and A level grades (or equivalent), or omitting them, depending on the context. Include any awards you might have received if relevant.

“Skills”, “interests” and “other” sections

You have to decide which of these sections you want to include or possibly combine.

What your CV does not need

A large number of candidates, for some reason, take up additional space in their document with irrelevant or generic information. Let’s look at some examples:

Irrelevant information

This includes anything in your document which is not directly contributing to the sole aim of securing you an interview. For example, writing at the top of your document that it is a “curriculum vitae” arguably is obvious. Equally, writing that your referees are “available on request” is not a valuable statement insofar as it is unlikely to sway the reader either way, and therefore should be omitted. If you are applying for a position as a solicitor, you do not need to detail half a page about irrelevant experience that you have had at some point in the past. If you are returning to practice after a career break, you do not need to include vast amounts of detail about what you did during your career break, unless directly relevant. The more irrelevant information you list on your document, the more it detracts from the detail that is contributing to the aim of achieving an interview. The more irrelevant information you have on your CV, the more the reader might be persuaded that you are not capable of communicating relevant information succinctly.

Generic information

Taking up valuable space with generic information is likely to be wasting the reader’s time (if indeed they bother to read it). Examplesof generic information arestating that you are able to “work well both in a team environment and individually” or possessing “the ability to work to tight deadlines” – without providing any examples. Without evidence of how these directly relate to the position you have applied for, they are useless statements which are unlikely to persuade the reader to interview you.

Some other CV errors

The following are some other CV errors we have noticed:

• Not following instructions (if they are given)
• Omission of key information (e.g. contact information) or contents not reflecting essential requirements of the position
• Grammar, spelling, punctuation and typographical errors (these can be red flags to any reviewer)
• Messy, poorly laid out or inconsistent formatting (these reflect poor organisation or professionalism)
• Inclusion or insertion of a photograph (this is not necessary as it does not provide any useful additional information as such)
• Handwritten insertions (not professional looking)

Since it is hard to spot errors yourself, it is best if someone else reviews or checks your CV before you submit it.

Get in touch

For full guidance on your (legal sector) CV and an example, even if you plan to apply directly to a firm rather than using us, get in touch. We will be pleased to look through your document and provide you with any tips which may make the difference between securing an interview and not.

We are contactable on 01603 516261 or 07960 743650. Emailinfo@olsenrecruitment.com. Website:www.olsenrecruitment.com

For the full article go to:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/curriculum-vitae-cv-tips-anna-godfrey?pub…

A website is the face of your business in the virtual world. With the world moving towards a digital age, the internet has gained precedence in all aspects of business. Whether it is selling products online or reaching out to your customers, you are expected to build a personality for your brand that consumers will love to engage with. You could either go the DIY route or opt for professional solution by hiring a website design company. Regardless of what you choose, there is a whole lot to having a successful website than just smooth navigation and fancy interface. Here is a list of things that will help acquaint you with the areas that are essential:

Content Management System: Content management systems make it easy to manage a website without having any coding knowledge. It keeps the control in the hands of the website owner rather than relying on web designers to maintain it. However, it does take a professional service if you wish to make a stunning site. A web designer builds a website that is as easy to navigate and browse for the site owner as it is for the customers. It is easier to add, delete, edit, and upload content with CMS and it offers amazing options for front end development.

eCommerce: If you sell products, considering having an eCommerce site that could result in boom for your business. The internet is increasingly becoming a popular market place. A professional website design company is best equipped to help you make the most of this opportunity. There are a number of eCommerce applications and web solutions available that could be developed into full fledged shopping portals. Choose a service with substantial experience in developing eCommerce sites. It should help you get a piece of the internet shopping pie. Whether you have hundreds of products to sell or just starting out with a few pieces of merchandise, this is surely the way to go.

Search Engine Optimisation: Website design does not end with great looks and ease of use. Search engine optimisation is one of the foundations of getting your site noticed. With millions of websites vying for customer’s attention, SEO is what helps you reach your target audience. Optimising your website to be search friendly and creating a robust strategy for offsite SEO is essential to scale the heights of search rankings. Find a professional service that knows the in and out of SEO strategies and rankings in search engines. From algorithm updates to content marketing, you need a vendor who delivers on all aspects.

The aforementioned services are the foundation of a good web development strategy. These should help you choose the best company offering web design Norwich. The experience, reputation, portfolio, and success rate is what matters when you hire services of any company. Keep this in mind and you will have the better part of the bargain. Do not forget that a dynamic and comprehensive website design is the key to success in the virtual world.

Competition for jobs has never been fiercer, and in some cases you may be up against hundreds of other applicants. Some of these applicants will have better educational qualifications than you, others may have more relevant experience, and some may even know someone “on the inside”.

How do you make sure your application makes you stand out from the crowd? What happens next when you get through the paper sift? How will you leave a lasting impression after interview? What can you expect once you’re in your dream job?

Be like a Unicorn, be captivating, be brave and have a point.

Be Captivating

Recruiters have to read countless, monotonous, repetitive applications and CVs before they find a gem. Try and avoid falling into the trap of being “very enthusiastic”, “an excellent team player who can work independently”, or “highly motivated”. Everyone has these qualities listed on their CV. Stand out and capture the recruiter’s interest by explaining your motivation for applying – “I’ve proven my motivation to be a Deep Sea Diver by obtaining additional formal qualifications, demonstrating my ability and desire for safer and more efficient diving”.

On your CV make sure you have provided interesting and relevant examples of your skills. The more unique, the greater the chances the recruiter will shortlist you.

The 5 Ps

So you have successfully been shortlisted and you’re now going to an interview, congratulations! Now you need to make sure you are prepared. Ask yourself the following questions:

Who is the interviewer? Can you find them on the company website or LinkedIn? Do you know where your interview is? Leave plenty of travel time and have a back-up plan. Has your chosen sector/ company/ employer been in the news recently? Find out as much current information as you can. Can you remember your relevant examples and “soundbites” of interesting information?

Nerves are to be expected, and this kind of good stress pushes you to be the best you can be. By preparing well you will be confident and give an excellent account of yourself.

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

Be Brave

Interview day has come! You’re prepared, you have arrived on time, you look smart. This is your opportunity to sell yourself and demonstrate why you are the perfect fit for the role. It is also your opportunity to interview the interviewer and ensure the company is right for you.

Use your research to express well-informed opinions, participate in a conversation and ask your own questions. Be modest and recognise you still have a lot to learn. Even though you’re nervous, focus those nerves and think positively. A good recruiter shouldn’t let nerves go against you – they’ll be looking for how you express yourself and whether you would “fit” in their company.

A few words from Kirsty von Malaisé

Kirsty is the Headmistress of Norwich High School for Girls, which is where I went to school and she was kind enough to give us a few words of her thoughts on careers from an educational perspective.

“In choosing a career, it is really important that you know yourself: your strengths – what makes you you! – What you are passionate about, and also what kind of work is likely to leave you less excited. Make the most of opportunities at school to explore options, throwing yourself into challenges, as this is a good way to discover those real strengths and passions.

Once you have that knowledge, ask lots of questions from people who have journeyed before you- your school’s alumni networks will help here- and create opportunities yourself where you can. People are usually generous in helping others understand their line of work, so once you know what you would like to gain experience of, make requests!”

The Moment of Truth

You’ve done it! You’ve been offered your dream role and the nerve-wracking first day has arrived. You can never be too overdressed on your first day, so play it safe and be smart.

Demonstrate your willingness to learn, ask questions and be interested in all aspects of the role. Depending on your experience, you may have to carry out some pretty mundane tasks before you’re “let loose”. Try not to let this get you down; you’re being tested to see what you can handle. Carry out each task with your best efforts but don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo.

Just remember – You deserve this.

— Sign up to our Newsletter. Peck Here

Some more advice/assistance for those who may be trying to plough through the digital marketing landscape unaided and with little or no budget:

As we see less and less inclination for Google to rank a site with little value, or no brand loyalty, and presumably pushing you toward spending money on Adwords – Google made £3.2 billion on Adwords revenue in the UK in 2013 alone!. You may like to look at how you place your content. There are some social bookmarking sites you may not be aware of, but ones which can assist you including:

instructables.com storify.com Pearltrees – free web-based social media app LiveJournal

All will allow you to post content and to link back to your website, which in turn will give it a boost.

Because of the popularity of these sites in our profession, it may take Google a while to see this once posted, but it will happen, and it will improve your search engine standing.

Hope that helps.

Google announced in its blog that AMP pages now appear in mobile search results. What is AMP, who uses it and do you have to adjust your web pages?

What is AMP?

The AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) project is an open-source initiative aiming to improve the performance of the mobile web. It was launched by Google last October.

In simplified terms, AMP strips out most of the elements which cause web pages to load slower on mobile devices. For example, JavaScripts, unnecessary navigational elements, and a lot of traditional ads. HTTPS is mandatory for AMP pages.

On February, 24th, Google announced that AMP pages will be displayed in mobile search results:

“Now when you search for a story or topic on Google from a mobile device, webpages created using AMP will appear when relevant in the Top Stories section of the search results page. Any story you choose to read will load amazingly fast-and it’s easy to scroll through the article without it taking forever to load or jumping all around as you read. It’s also easy to quickly flip through the search results just by swiping from one full-page AMP story to the next.

AMP is great for browsing the web on mobile devices, because webpages built with AMP load an average of four times faster and use 10 times less data than equivalent non-AMP pages. In many cases, they’ll load instantly. It’s how reading on the mobile web should be-fast, responsive and fun.”

AMP pages will be highlighted in the mobile search result pages with this marker: AMP marker

Who uses AMP?

At this time, AMP is mainly used by publishing and technology companies. AMP is mostly targeted towards news articles.

Do you have to adjust your web pages?

At this time, AMP is an experiment, albeit a big one. It’s hard to tell whether AMP will be a success or not. Instructions on how to make your web pages AMP ready can be found here. If you use WordPress to create your web pages, this plugin can help you:

https://www.wordpress.org/plugins/amp

AMP is not critical for most web sites. There are many other things that are much more important to make sure that your web pages get high rankings on Google.

Two salesmen go down to Africa in the 1900s. They were sent to find out if there was any opportunity for selling shoes. They both wrote telegrams back to Manchester. One of them wrote, “Situation hopeless. They don’t wear shoes.” And the other one wrote, “Glorious opportunity. They don’t have any shoes yet.”

This is the charismatic opening gambit from Benjamin Zander’s TED talk; it is used as an example of a great way to start a presentation off….with a story.

I sit in the audience encircling John Bates in the dimmed auditorium of the John Innes Centre in Norwich ears pinned, pen ready, eagerly awaiting his dissection of the 20 second TED talk opening clip he’d just played.

John admits to us that the first TED talk he did was a failure but since then he has worked with the likes of IBM, NASA as well as hosting, speaking and training speakers at TED events.

Being Awesome

Last year I attended a talk by John focused on presentation skills, I have put his teachings into my work and the one that has stuck with me the most, although deviously simple, is just a different way to think about going into a presentation.

“I am awesome, and my audience wants me to be awesome.” Sounds a bit trivial, almost stupid to highlight, but I use it all the time. When I first walk in and the nerves start to creep up I just think “I want to be good, they want me to be good so, just do myself, and them a favour, and be good!” why would I want it to happen any other way?

Tips from the man himself

In the break I was lucky enough to catch a few minutes with John. I asked him “What one thing do you think has made the biggest impact for businesses in terms of getting a point/presentation across using storytelling?” He gave me two…

​​Tip 1 – Start in the middle

“It’s a cardinal rule of great, interesting story telling.” John states. “The Ancient Greeks called it “in medias res,” into the middle things. We all live in a world that happens in chronological order. So, what do you think would be the most boring order in which to tell your stories? Right! Chronological order!

So, start in the middle, somewhere exiting! Then, once we’re hooked, go back and explain how we got here and then tell us the wonderful, exciting and good for us, conclusion! By the way, I don’t mean the exact middle! Anything that is not the absolute beginning or the absolute ending counts as the middle! Pick someplace interesting and exciting to begin and then we’ll want to hear the rest!”

Tip 2 – Tell the story in the present tense

John continues “If it happened in the past there’s nothing we can do about it! But, if it’s happening now, well, that’s exciting! And, in the same way that you picture a little purple elephant dancing at your feet when I say, “don’t​picture a little purple elephant dancing at your feet​…” people will experience being there with you if you tell the story in present tense! It’s not for every story, but it’s good if you want to really draw people in. As an opening, as a way to share an ah-ha moment you had, or as a way to give them the experience of something that you experienced very deeply it’s great.”

And, as a little bonus John shared a saying that world famous speaker Les Brown shared with him: “Never tell a story without a point and never make a point without a story! “It’s how human beings brains work,” John retorts, “so just go with it!”

You may have noticed that I have worked on weaving those tips into this article; hopefully this will spark something off so you can weave a vein of gold through your own presentations/stories. As the headline states if you have a good story to tell it’s like giving someone a bit of gold, happy prospecting.

Article originally from the Indigo Swan website:www.indigoswan.co.uk/TED-talker-john-bates-storytelling-tips

— More information about John Bates – Peck Here Benjamin Zander TED Talk – Peck Here Sign up to our Newsletter. Peck Here

Every time snow falls or is forecast we receive calls and emails asking ‘Will I be sued if I clear snow from a path? Or do I have to keep my Car Park clear?’

The simple answer is yes you can, if you do it carefully!

You are unlikely to be sued if you are sensible.

So how to clear snow and ice…..

When you clear snow and ice:

• Do it early in the day – it’s easier to move fresh, loose snow- if you remove the top layer the sun may melt the rest.
• Don’t use water – it might refreeze and turn to black ice & become more dangerous.
• Use salt if possible – it will melt the ice or snow and stop it from refreezing overnight (but don’t use the salt from salting bins as this is used to keep roads clear)NB Do take care not to cover plants in salt.
• You can use ash and sand if you don’t have enough salt – it will provide grip underfoot pay extra attention when clearing steps and steep pathways – using more salt may help.It is best to salt the night before before persons use the path in the morning.
• Take care where you move the snow.When you’re shovelling snow, take care where you put it so it doesn’t block people’s paths or drains. Make sure you make a path down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on. Then shovel the snow from the centre of the path to the sides.
• Be flexible with staff’s and your own traveling plans this will ensure that staff are reducing the risk of accidents by travelling at peak icy times; Consider if you can staff working from home to avoid the need to travel, non urgent meetings can be postponed – Ensure clothing is appropriate, and phones are charged.
• Safety Policy & Risk Assessments; Ensure your safety management system covers work travel and work arrangements for such conditions.
• At Home offer to clear your neighbours’ paths.If your neighbour will have difficulty getting in and out of their home, offer to clear snow and ice around their property as well. Check that any elderly or disabled neighbours are safe in the cold weather.

If you follow the above sensible guidance you are unlikely to be sued when you clear a path, and your staff & visitors will have a reduced risk of slipping or falling in the Ice or Snow.

‘I trust you becauseyour customer service is great.

I trust you becauseyour product is good quality and reliable.

I trust you becauseI know I can get in touch with you if I need to.

I trust you becauseyou clearly value my custom and I feel special.

I trust you becauseI like you.

I trust you becauseyou keep me updated with news and ideas or products.

I trust you becauseyou don’t always want to just ‘sell’ to me.’

………said the happy customer to the customer-centric, modern day business.

If you have many customers who are saying the same thing to you, stop reading. You’re clearly aware of what sort of marketplace we live in in 2016. Otherwise read on!

It doesn’t matter what business you are in, if you have customers, this year you will be prioritising ‘trust’. ‘Trust is earned, not given.’ We know the mantra and we also know its value. And yet many businesses are still operating under the illusion that the customers are out there and that business will arrive at their door, till or webpage as if by magic.

They won’t.

This is the age of the customer. Google the phrase ‘customer-centric’ and you’ll have enough blogs or articles to read until 2017. The customer is in the driving seat. Your customer will know all about you, the good and the bad, and will know all about your competitors. Your customer won’t hesitate to seek out the best deal or offer and will use reviews, social media and referrals to assess your credibility.Your customers’opinionof you will be based on data, whether accurate or not. Your customers’reactionto you will be emotional.

According toForrester Analyst Anjali Laito, “Emotion is often the primary factor influencing customer loyalty and the strongest driver of customer retention, enrichment and advocacy”.

One thing will drive your customer back to you and keep them close – TRUST.

“The most credible advertising comes straight from the people we know and trust. For that reason, it should come as no surprise that more than eight in ten global respondents (83 percent) say they completely or somewhat trust the recommendations of friends and family. But trust isn’t confined only to those in our inner circle, as two-thirds (66 percent) say they trust consumer opinions posted online-the third-most-trusted form of advertising.” -(Nielsen, 2015 report)

If your customer trusts you, they will love you. If trust is there, you will have earned an advocate, a raving fan and a lifetime supporter. Trust is a belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of….; it is an expectation of faith and consistency. That expectation is not granted as a ‘default’.

Judy Randon

Digital tech businesses are at the heart of the UK economy and are playing an important role in driving growth. Norwich has some amazing organisations doing great things and as part of the latest report, Norwich is on the map again as a top Tech City.

Although this is great news, Norwich and Norfolk still has a lot of work to do as a region.

Weaknesses for the region (from the report) include low sector awareness, weak digital infrastructure and limited access to finance.

Benefits include access to commercial property, local networks and talent education.

There may still be the perception of a lack of internet connectivity, slow connection links to the rest of the UK, etc, but we as businesses need to change this perception. Norwich has received great PR as a great place to work (recent Guardian article) but as businesses, it’s time to make it a great place to do business too.

A career in the digital industry might sound exciting but what skills do students need and what opportunities are there in Norwich? Kieran Miles, a local entrepreneur came up with the idea of a digital city walk which takes place next week.

This great concept will give students,parents and teachers the opportunity to step inside the doors of digital businesses in Norwich and show them face to face what skills and opportunitiesthere are locally.

Digital is a growing industry in Norwich and as a Tech Nation cluster citythere are over 14,500 people employed in this growing sector. However,although the digital sector may be growingone of the biggest problems Norwich businesses have is recruitment. Recruiting people with the right set of skills is difficult which is why businesses are keen to start conversations with students to share with them the careers and opportunities they have on their doorstep.

As a career path, digital businesses in Norwich are keen to showcase the local career opportunities, educate and help students from schools, colleges and university. It’seasy for students to thinkthey need to head to London for a great career in digital but we have lots of businesses in Norwich doing great things, including large-scale national and international projects.

To find out more including a list of businesses students, parents and teachers can visit go to https://wearedigitalcity.org/