4 good reasons why copying someone else's web content is a bad idea!

Why reinvent the wheel? The internet's packed to the rafters with exciting, well written content, so why can't you just copy it? It's tempting. But nicking other people's stuff is a very bad idea. Here's why.

• Search engines object to it. Google and co have very strong views on plagiarism. They believe the internet should focus first and foremost on quality. In other words, what's good for visitors is good for search engines. Plagiarism is the opposite of quality. It adds nothing to the visitor experience and [more...]

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Is the place you work neck deep in clutter? Is your desk awash with paperwork?

If so it's time to get down and dirty, wade through all the rubbish and organise yourself. Why? Because a tidy working area is about much more than aesthetics. It's all about power. Clutter is a dead weight. It drags you down. It takes longer to find stuff. There's no room to work freely. It drains your power. You're less efficient, imaginative, creative, inventive and innovative. 

Here's a list of the worst offenders: 

• Groaning filing cabinets and drawers bulging with stuff you [more...]

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Direct Marketing... explained!

Once the poor relative of advertising, direct marketing is enjoying a massive revival as the online community catches on to its potential. So what's direct marketing all about? Kate Naylor, freelance copywriter and direct marketing fan, explains.

Direct Marketing - sometimes called Direct Response or Below the Line marketing - covers anything that elicits a response from the reader or viewer. DM campaigns always include a form to fill in, a number to call, a website or specific landing page to visit or an email address to contact. [more...]

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How should (could) we proceed implementing positive changes to make them permanent in our life?

Over coming weeks we will be sharing some insights about taking some Ridiculously Simple Steps that will positively change your health and therefore your life.When it comes to implementing changes that really last - even one ridiculously simple step can change our health and life. The Japanese call it Kaizen - originally used in factories and production lines. However, by applying it to our everyday lives, over time, we can produce profound results.

If we make and maintain this one commitment to ourselves, by committing [more...]

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When you are starting out try the following methods to help get your website out there...

Registering with the search engines: To help the search engines in finding your new website we recommend that you visit both of these websites and complete their online forms. www.submitexpress.com and also www.google.co.uk/addurl.

This will register your URL with the search engines and hopefully speed up the time it takes for your website to appear in search results [more...]

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What do artists, pigs and Santa have in common?

They are all people I've met networking in that last 2 years....more on the pigs later!

When you start networking there are a few things you can almost guarantee:

• If it's a breakfast meeting the food is likely to be poor and it's generally advisable to avoid the eggs [more...]

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Is it as good or as bad as you've heard?

When you first set up a business and wonder how to get customers, networking is usually one of the first things that gets mentioned. Same for those businesses struggling either due to the recession or maybe flooding of their industry.

Some people love it and thrive on the schmoozing and public speaking about themselves and their companies and some....can't think of anything worse and would rather die than get up in front of a room full of business people to try and get positive exposure. [more...]

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If so, exactly how honest is too honest?

As a business support expert it's part of the challenge to get the balance between honesty and diplomacy right!

My Business MOT is one of my most popular services. My Website Critique is another. Both involve me taking a clear, unbiased, independent view and reporting back honestly and constructively about performance across a number of key indicators. [more...]

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Why did you start a small business? Most people want to spend more time with family, choose their own hours and work less. But in reality too many of us end up working way too hard.

Some of us let things slide because we're really bad at saying 'no' to silly deadlines, worried we'll lose business. Some are workaholics who can't resist the siren call of the nose-to-grindstone approach. Others just get bogged down in administration.  [more...]

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The World Cup delivers small business opportunities for website analysis

August is traditionally a quiet month for many businesses, with everyone on holiday. This year the World Cup is having much the same effect. While some small businesses are run off their feet, others are finding they've hit a go-slow as people stay home to catch the football.

If you've got time to take a breather, this is the ideal opportunity to get your business house in order. Take  your website for a start. [more...]

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If in doubt, ignore the grammar checking tool in Word!

Grammar can be a sticky subject. Unless you're hot on punctuation and the correct use of written English the whole thing can be baffling. But even if you're desperate, steer very clear of Microsoft Word's grammar checker. A recent article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer included some dreadfully bad advice from Word's grammar check facility. [more...]

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Unsolicited email and direct marketing - the legal bit 

We all receive so many emails every day that sometimes you wonder where they got your details from. You know you must have signed up at some point but sometimes there comes a point when you're no longer interested in the information that's being sent or you are fed up with the frequency of the emails.

When you come to do your own email marketing, it's best to be sure the people you are targeting aren't going to get tired of you for the reasons above. [more...]

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If so, where do we draw the line?

Are you one of those people who’s being driven mad by stray Zs creeping into the English language where there used to be a perfectly good S? Does utilize make you cringe? As a UK Virtual Assistant, I’m interested to find out.  

Some Americanisms are inoffensive enough. A truck is much the same as a lorry and a man is interchangeable with a dude, bloke, fella or chap depending on his age and social status. Use any of these and you’ll be fine. [more...]

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Have you heard of ‘mirroring’?

It’s all about body language. When two or more of us get on well, we’ll find ourselves unconsciously mirroring each others’ posture and gestures.

As a business owner you can take advantage of the phenomenon.

Have you ever spent time wondering how to end a letter or email? These days it is perfectly fine to sign off an email with Best wishes, All the best, Cheers, Thanks, Many thanks, Regards, Best regards… I could go on. [more...]

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Because time is precious, reliable online business resources are worth their weight in gold. Have you tried webgrader.com yet?

It’s all too easy to make assumptions about your website’s performance. But as a small business you need genuine insights. Facts. Truths. Grader.com provides a family of tools designed to let you measure your inbound marketing’s effectiveness at a glance. And it’s free! [more...]

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It's no good just talking the talk. To be credible, you've got to be able to walk the walk too.

Which is why I've relaunched my website. And why this is a brand new blog. Because I spend a lot of my time critiquing other people's sites, admin systems, document templates, marketing strategies, communications materials and whatnot, mine has to stand up to scrutiny [more...]

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