Menu

Although social media has been around for a decade or more, many businesses – particularly smaller ones – have yet to start using it seriously. Often, it’s because they’re not sure how to do it, don’t know if it’s cost-effective or feel they simply don’t have the time. If this sounds like you, or you’re just undecided if it’s for you, this blog might help make your mind up.

Social media is how people communicate nowadays

The chances are your customers will be on at least one of the big social media platforms, so it makes sense to join them. You can feed them regular information about your business, talk to them about things they’re interested in and even use it for customer service. And it can be quicker (and cheaper) than emailing or calling.

There’s lots of platforms to choose from

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram are probably the platforms that spring to mind when you think about social media. They’re the most popular for sure, but other platforms like YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat are worth considering too. You can tailor your content for each one and the different audiences they bring. Facebook and YouTube, for example, are good for online ads and visual content, while LinkedIn is perfect for something more in-depth and long form.

Just about any type of business can do it

Whatever line of work you’re in, social media can work as a way of marketing. As we mentioned earlier, it’s where lots of your customers will be and they’ll expect you to be there too in some shape or form. They’ll more than likely follow you if they like what you do, so don’t disappoint them even if you think your particular niche doesn’t seem to be an obvious fit for social media.

Its reach is amazingly wide

The online world is a lot smaller than the actual one, so it’s much easier to get your message across to a wider audience than ever before. Create engaging content people want to see and they’ll share it, no matter where they are in the world. Time zones and physical distances mean nothing on social media.

It’s inexpensive too

Most social media platforms are free to set up and use. Some charge for business use and add-ons might cost a little extra, but they’re usually cheaper than other forms of marketing. And with little or no set-up costs, the return on investment will clearly be high too.

It does take time and effort to do properly though

As with most things in business, social media marketing needs hard work and organisation to be effective. The biggest challenge for a busy small business owner is finding the time to post regularly. It’s important to do this though, even if it’s just setting aside some time in the evening to do it. Another option could be to hand this responsibility over to someone else in your business to look after, or even contract an agency or freelancer to do it.

So, now you’ve seen the benefits social media can bring to your business, maybe it’s time to dip your toe in the water and take advantage of them for yourself.

With the lockdown now being officially extended, it’s more important than ever to really focus on your mental health. Being stuck indoors, either on your own or with the same people, for long periods of time, and not being able to physically interact with others if you do venture out, can take its toll.

To help keep your mental health in good shape, here are some things you can do.

Get into a routine

This can be difficult when you’ve got nowhere to go. But getting up and dressed, sticking to set mealtimes and establishing a regular pattern for doing things can help you deal with the situation better. Even moving to a different room to one where you sleep, or going downstairs (if you have them), will make a big difference.

Exercise regularly

Physical activity is as good for the mind as it for the body, so try and get a fitness routine in place. There are loads of yoga and workout sessions available online, many of which are free. You don’t need fancy equipment for most of them, and they’re good way to pass the time, as well as helping your mental health.

Outside space

As well as working out indoors, spending time outdoors will give your mental health a lift too. Running, walking (with or without a dog) and cycling are great ways to do this. Just remember to be considerate of others by social distancing and avoiding places where there’s lot of other people. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, mowing your lawn and doing some weeding are good for the mind too.

Inside space

Wherever you’re spending time in lockdown, you’ll probably have that drawer or cupboard where you store junk. Now’s the perfect opportunity to get it sorted. It could also be a great time to give your home a serious clean and get into the nooks and crannies you might not normally have time to give proper attention to. The good feeling you’ll get will really help your mental wellbeing.

Stay connected

Even though you can’t see friends and family, keeping in touch will help you stay positive. Apps like Houseparty, Zoom and Skype are good for video-calling people, or there’s always the phone, text and social media if you prefer. You can also stay connected in your local community by offering to help deliver essential supplies to elderly or vulnerable neighbours, if you can.

Switch off

It’s important to have some downtime and do something to relax. If you’re at home working, get away from your laptop and do something you enjoy for a bit whenever you can. It’s equally important to do this if you’re not working too – don’t pressure yourself to always be busy. Having a break is okay. Switch off the TV and radio news sometimes too. Unrelenting bad news can cause anxiety to rise.

Be positive

Simply being positive can really look after your mental health. This can be difficult at times of uncertainty like these, but being happy and keeping upbeat can be very beneficial for your mind, as it combats stress, boosts your immune system and makes you more resilient. All of which are important to mental health.

Help is at hand

It’s perfectly okay to feel overwhelmed at what’s happening, and to have days when you don’t feel at your best. Things will get better and the situation will return to normal eventually, so try and keep that in mind when you feel low.

However, if you feel like you need someone to talk to, you might find these organisations useful:

Anxiety UK

anxietyuk.org.uk

Tel 03444 775 774

9.30am-10pm Mon-Fri

10am-8pm Sat and Sun.

Mind

mind.org.uk

Tel: 0300 123 3393

9am-6pm Mon-Fri

Samaritans

samaritans.org

Tel: 116 123

Available 24hrs

 

You might be thinking Artificial Intelligence (AI) is something big companies do, not smaller businesses like yours. You might not even be sure of what AI is, so here’s a quick explanation you might find useful. AI is basically where a machine is introduced to collect or analyse data in a faster and more reliable way.

 

This can be a piece of hardware (computer etc) or software (computer programme or app) specifically designed for a particular purpose. They also learn how to do the thing they’re designed to do better or more efficiently while they do it.

 

AI is used to help businesses reach their target audience, increase brand awareness and generate sales. So, here are some of ways you can use AI to boost the performance of your small business right now:

 

Marketing automation

The data you can get from AI will allow you to make better and more informed decisions, which can lead to increased engagement and revenue. Precise targeting, more personalised communications and efficient spending are three of the instant benefits you’ll get. Marketing automation also enables you to understand your customers’ needs and motivations, so you can service them in a better way.

 

Drive sales

Your potential customers generate data from almost everywhere they interact with you, from your website or eCommerce store to your social platforms. AI is already available that can use this data to give you insights about your leads and help you drive sales.

 

Keep up with competitors

AI can also help you track what your rivals are doing by checking their social media accounts, changes on their websites and any news activity, among other things. Some applications can even point out gaps in markets and the strength and weaknesses of your competitors.

 

Stronger cybersecurity

You’ll know what a worry cyber threats and hacking can be to business owners. The good thing is, AI can help make things more secure. By looking out for unusual patterns and any potential weak spots where you might be vulnerable to attack, AI can be a highly effective tool in the fight against cybercrime.

 

Strengthen customer relationships

As we mentioned earlier with marketing automation, AI can take your relationship with customers up a level through the use of data, so you can engage with them in a way they like about things they’re interested in, such as offers and rewards. Many customer relationship management (CRM) platforms now come with AI as standard, to help you achieve all of this easily.

 

Reduce risk

Some companies are using AI to automate risk processes to reduce human error. Finance companies, in particular, have done this for years when making lending decisions to customers. Machines don’t get tired either, so they can keep doing potentially risky processes for longer.

 

Streamline HR

This is becoming more and more commonplace with businesses now. From weeding out applicants that don’t match the job spec and onboarding new starters to gauging employee satisfaction, AI makes all these processes quicker and simpler.

 

The benefits of AI for your business are almost unlimited. It can help you become more flexible, improve your marketing and customer relationship, look after your data, and make things faster and more straightforward, so you’ve got more time to grow your business.

 

Maybe it’s time to start embracing AI for your small business.

 

 

 

 

If you’re designing and/or building a website or app, the most important thing to consider are the people who’ll be using it. Yet, this is often the thing that gets forgotten about or is seen an afterthought by many companies. But user experience, or UX, as it’s commonly referred to, needs to be right at the front of your thoughts when dealing with anything digital.

So, how do you do this? Start with your own experiences. Have you used an app you really liked because it does what you expect it to? Or have you visited a company website that was easy to navigate and clearly laid out? These are examples of good UX.  Conversely, sites and apps where you have to click lots of times to do things or the journey around them feels unnatural are examples of bad UX.

You’ll probably use the apps and sites with the good UX rather than the bad ones. This is because good UX fulfils its customers’ needs and lets people do what they want to. They’ll stay loyal to these brands and keep using their products rather than look elsewhere.

So, what do customers look for in good UX? This will obviously depend on the product, but simplicity and ease of use are on everybody’s wish list, as is clear navigation. Accessibility for as many people as possible is important too (it’s actually a legal requirement in most instances), so take this into account.

Banking is one area where UX has become really important. Challenger brands, like Monzo and Starling, have developed apps that give users everything they need to manage accounts from their mobile phones. Their apps are packed with useful, convenient features people want and the more traditional players have been forced to catch up or risk losing customers.

That’s not to say design and content aren’t valuable though. Good UX actually depends on them. The key is how it’s organised and positioned, and how meaningful and important it is. Sites that are too complex or cluttered don’t work from a UX perspective.

Keeping things human helps create a connection with users, particularly when they’re doing something not very interesting. Personalisation plays a part as well, where the technology can recommend things for users or help them do something based on what they’ve done before.

Now, onto another crucial point. Today’s consumers want to do things quickly when it suits them, so having a site that loads rapidly is essential. There can be other factors, like an internet connection, that influence this, but making sure your site has a fast load-speed is another vital part of UX.

So, why is UX important for your digital tools? Well, it can help you stand out from your competitors, and help show you understand your customers and appreciate their needs. They want journeys to be frictionless and to be able to do what they need to do and then get on with their lives. Think about this before you start, and you won’t go far wrong.

Tech hub now generating £27m a year for local economy as collaboration takes off

For entrepreneurs it is the Holy Grail: unlocking the secret to making their fortune.  Many spend their careers in search of it, devouring self-help books and the sage words of business gurus.

And yet the answer is remarkably simple, says the team behind thriving technology incubator The Base in Warrington: get on with your neighbours.

Specifically, it is a willingness to collaborate with them on shared opportunities that can propel mutual business growth and success.

And, says Sylvie Morton, the Business Development Manager at the Dallam Lane hub, it’s as easy as bumping into people in the corridor.  The challenge lies in carefully curating the culture and environment of a workspace to encourage it – and she can point to £27m economic impact at The Base last year to prove it works.

“We put huge effort into a programme of events, workshops, guest speakers and advisory sessions to help our tenants get to know one another and unlock their collective potential by working together,” says Mrs Morton of Langtree, which manages the 50,000 sq ft development for Warrington & Co.

“It’s part of The Base’s DNA now and new tenants join us fully expecting to plug into it.  We have developed a thriving eco-system and more than fifty per cent of our tenants collaborate on shared projects.  Last year the economic impact of our tenants’ work was £27m when their supply chain spending was factored in.”

It’s not a one-way street either, says Morton.  “Our tenants are inquisitive by nature so they seek out people who they can work with on problems and opportunities.  We also have a Partners programme, with leading business advisors on hand to help.”

Tenant Pixel Tree is working with neighbour Ixis on a collaborative project to support major digital campaigns for clients and boss James Hamilton says the collaboration has extended both their commercial reach and the scope and scale of work they can deliver for clients.

“Being in a place with people around us that can add breadth and depth to our service offer has proven hugely useful,” says James. “We’re adding great value to our clients and the extra work means we’re recruiting more staff.”

Steve Park, the head of Warrington’s private sector-led economic development agency, Warrington & Co, says The Base is one of a number of sector-specific clusters in the town that have helped it ride out various economic storms.

“Encouraging clusters, as we have in the nuclear sector, technology and advanced manufacturing is key to strengthening Warrington’s economy and infusing it with a dynamism that will ensure it remains adaptable and competitive.

“We have more than 4,500 staff in the nuclear sector, a further 8,500 in advanced manufacturing and around 2,500 in technology and IT, to which The Base is making a significant contribution.  Across all three we see examples of collaboration under-pinning their growth.  We aim to sustain that long into the future.”

A human resource (HR) function is critical for any business, no matter how small. From payroll and benefits to hiring and firing, or making sure you’re following the latest employment laws, having your own HR team can often have benefits that outweigh the costs.

Understandably, in today’s uncertain economy, businesses are under constant pressure to reduce costs while improving profitability. This can be a challenge for any SME, but it’s one that an HR professional can help with.

You also need to think about exactly when to bring HR into your business. If it’s just you and a sole employee, should you do it then or wait until you get bigger? One option is to outsource it (some HR providers offer packages designed for SMEs) and bring it in-house when the time’s right

Whichever way you choose to do it, here are five ways HR can benefit your SME:

1. Streamline your spending – an HR department can cut costs by keeping spending and salaries in check, as well as helping find better-value benefits for employees. It’ll also help you keep up with market conditions and get your recruitment right.
2. Hire, retain and promote people – a business’s ability to attract, hire and retain top talent is critical to reducing costs. HR can help you recruit the right people at the right level of pay. They can also analyse what’s going on in the world of work and help you benefit from understanding what the latest trends and expectations among workers and business owners are.
3. Prioritise learning and mentoring – by training and mentoring employees, you can increase productivity while reducing employee turnover. An effective HR department will help you properly gauge how happy your employees are by using focus groups and staff surveys, so you can really improve satisfaction.
4. Introduce automated processes – there are online HR systems you can use if you’re not ready for a full department just yet. Automating certain HR processes can free up some manual repetitive tasks and increase both accuracy and speed. This eliminates the cost of having to deal with errors and process delays.
5. Stay on track with employment policies – laws and regulations can become out of date quickly, which means handbooks, contracts, policies, and procedures must be updated regularly, so they add value to your business.

There are many different strands to HR, and you might not need all of them. So, whether it’s a full in-house service or individual functions that would suit your needs best, you’ll be able to find the right provider at the right budget.

If you’re one of the millions of people who might be returning to your workplace soon after months of working from home, you might not be sure how to feel about it. There’s thinking about what to wear for work again, and having to travel, getting back to ‘normal’ is something we’ve all been waiting for, but now it’s actually here, you might have mixed feelings about it, as we all have to adjust to a different way of doing things.

 

One thing that is clear though, is that going back to the office or wherever you’re based, could have a positive impact on you, and it really is still something worth getting excited about.

 

A change (of scene) is as good as a rest

After months of sitting in a kitchen, spare bedroom or dining room, going somewhere different can make a refreshing change. You won’t have to look at the same four walls and keep seeing the same people with the same backgrounds on Zoom calls.

 

Better facilities for working

Of course, kitchens, bedrooms and bedrooms aren’t designed to be workplaces – not for the long-term anyway.  Offices have everything you need to be productive and work safely. They also create a clear distinction between home and work, where you know your working day’s over once you leave the building.

 

Return to a regular routine

Having more structured days can only be a good thing. It can be all too easy to let things slide when you’re at home all day, even if you’re working. When you’re at a place of work, you normally have regular start and finish times, take your lunch at a similar time every day, and organise days much more rigidly than you do when working remotely.

 

Improved mental health

For some people, working from home isn’t a positive experience. It can be very lonely if you live on their own, or there can be lots of distractions with a big family, which makes it difficult to concentrate on work. Spending time outside can help anxiety too, so anyone without a garden or outdoor area will probably feel better if they’re back in a work environment where there’s more space and a better working environment.

 

You can mix with other people (safely, of course)

Life in lockdown means you’ve only really seen other members of your household for a considerable chunk of time. Returning to work means you’ll be able to catch up on the office banter and share stories with colleagues, while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

 

Two heads are better than one

Having other people to bounce ideas off and work with is quite difficult when you can’t talk directly to them. That will change once everyone’s back together, so any jobs where teamwork’s required will thrive. You’ll see creativity and collaboration boom too.

 

A feeling of familiarity

Just as you’ve got used to working from home, doing it from your office again will start to feel familiar in no time. It might not be exactly the same it was, as our working lives continue to adjust, but you’ll soon get back into the swing of things.

 

If you are looking for office space or co-working space in Warrington, with social distancing measures in place, contact us today. 

The Base remains open and operational.

Our primary focus is always the health, safety and well-being of our employees and tenants. We are working hard to offer support and assistance to both tenants and business partners during this challenging time.

We have introduced a new set of protocols for tenants who wish to return to the workplace following the prime minister’s announcement on May 10th and his subsequent publication of guidance called ‘Working safely during coronavirus’.

A detailed set of site operating procedures have been finalised following a review of this latest government guidance, which we have shared with our tenants. These procedures will be under constant review and will change, if needed, as further guidance is issued by the government.

We have invested in a wide range of site-appropriate initiatives, from floor markings to help with social distancing measures in communal spaces, to wall-mounted hand sanitiser units and strict one-way policies on staircases.

We’re encouraging tenants to follow best practice and continue to exploit technology to minimise unnecessary contact.  If meetings can continue to be conducted via technology, for example, that will minimise risk for our building staff as well as our tenants.  As the rules evolve, so will our approach.

To limit the impact of COVID-19 on our business and to ensure the day-to-day running remains effective, our colleagues, where possible, are working from home with full access to our database and communications network.

Our building manager is on site each morning and is in continual conversations with our tenants and business partners, sharing updates and information relating to COVID-19, whilst our concierge remains present on site throughout the day.

As expected, we have had to reduce services in some places and focus on the basics of keeping our buildings, employees and tenants safe and secure.

All community events have been suspended until further notice. We are reviewing the situation regularly but are taking direction from the government and Public Health England and following all the necessary steps to keep us and our community safe. We will continue to follow guidance and will reinstate events when it is OK to do so.

While businesses continue to be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, we will share company news as well as any financial support available from the government and other sources. Please find the latest updates and position on UK government support below:

 

• Government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

• Coronavirus Job retention scheme – https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme/

• Coronavirus business interruptions loan scheme (CBILS) – https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme/

• Small Business Grant Funding – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-business-support-grant-funding-guidance-for-businesses

• Support for businesses paying tax – https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/support-for-businesses-paying-tax/

• VAT deferral – https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/vat-deferral/

• Deferral of self-assessment payment – https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/deferral-of-self-assessment-payment/

• R&D tax credits – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/corporation-tax-research-and-development-rd-relief

• Future fund –  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/future-fund

• The Business Exchange by Warrington & Co – https://www.wbex.co.uk/news

We’re living in times when things change incredibly quickly. This is particularly true of technology, where things have progressed so rapidly over the last 25 years or so, it’s led to this period being named ‘Industry 4.0’, or the fourth industrial revolution.

It can sometimes be difficult to stay on top of change when it happens so swiftly. People are scared to blink in case they miss something. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at what some of the big trends will be in 2020.

5G is here – just not everywhere yet.

This will have a huge impact on just about everyone, including businesses. It’ll speed up machine to machine communication and make it much easier to implement. Data production will be faster too, meaning production will be greater as well as efficient. Costs will also come down as less hardware’s needed to run 5G than with 4G.

 Increased use of AI

This one probably won’t surprise you as it’s a subject that pops up regularly. 2020 will continue this trend with AI being used to help with the demand for new products. Machines are now starting to ‘learn’ at a far quicker rate than ever before, which means costs are reduced and the size of projects has increased.

3D printing

Again, this is something that’s been around for a while, but the technology is advancing mind-blowingly quick. 3D printers are now so advanced, companies can build new products almost as soon as they’re ordered, and prototypes of products can be produced extremely quickly. They can also cut down on how much factory space they use, as there’s very little room needed for storage.

 The Internet of Things (IoT)

This is one of the most exciting developments of Industry 4.0, at least in the eyes of consumers anyway. It’s gaining traction for businesses now too, as it means devices and machines involved in complex processes and supply chains can talk to each other and fix their own software issues. This makes everything much more efficient and cost effective.

Cloud computing set to stay

Not only will it stay, it’ll continue to grow and evolve at a fast pace. One upward trend will be that of hybrid cloud systems where organisations adopt a mix-and-match approach and use several different types of cloud-systems to store data. An example would be a private cloud for sensitive information and a public cloud for things that are publicly available. The advantage of doing things this way is that you can adapt to situations very quickly if you need to.

Bang on trend?

There’s no doubt these trends will be what shapes business in 2020. Your business. Like a lot of trends, they’ll soon become the norm. It’s vital you keep up and make sure your business is bang on trend, so it remains strong and competitive.

In business, it doesn’t usually pay to have your head in the clouds. However, there is one time when you really should do it – when you’re storing your data.

Cloud computing isn’t new. It’s been around for a good few years and has shown itself to be more than a simple passing fad. Companies in every industry of all sizes are flocking to embrace cloud-based technology to store their data because of the benefits it offers.

Flexible convenience

One of the handy things about cloud storage is that it can flex to your needs. So, if you hammer your usage one month then take it a bit easier the next, you’ll only pay for what you use. If you prefer paying upfront, so you always know where you stand, like with a broadband or mobile phone contract, you can do that too. It’s up to you.

Maintenance free

If you hold all your data on a regular server, it’s usually up to you to keep it maintained. With a cloud system, it’s the provider that does it all for you. There’ll be no extra costs or interruption to your service, so you can keep your business running smoothly.

Improved connectivity

All you need to access a cloud-based network is an internet connection, the right software (in some cases) and the right security clearance (passwords etc.). That means anyone you want can work from anywhere. All documents, files and secure sites will be available to employees once they’ve logged in to the network no matter where they are.

Greater collaboration

It’s not just your employees who can log in from anywhere, your partners and clients can too. Working together on projects can be done across numerous sites, so collaboration and teamwork becomes much simpler.

Less chance of data loss

Once a traditional server or other device is damaged, it can be impossible to extract data from it. Could your business cope if you lost important data because something broke? It’d probably be very costly. Situations like this are impossible with cloud technology as it’s automatically stored in several places and is regularly backed-up.

More secure

This is the big issue for all business owners. And the one that sometimes puts them off moving data to the cloud. There’s no evidence to support cloud computing is any less safe than any other kind, as long as you stay vigilant. Some experts believe having information stored on the cloud could actually be more secure as you can access it from other devices, and everything can be encrypted as another layer of security.

Is it affordable?

Obviously, this depends on your budget and exactly what you need. As mentioned earlier you can opt for a pay-as-you-go model, which can keep costs down. Less hardware’s needed too, so there’s further savings there, along with the reduced maintenance costs. Productivity often increases as cloud technology is easier to use and more flexible for your employees.

So, if a system that’s adaptable, easy to look after, keeps you connected, safe and reasonably priced sounds like your kind of thing, maybe it’s time to put your head (and your data) in the cloud.