Scoot Blog

Can your business be found 24/7?

Over the last few weeks it has been hard to ignore the fact that iPhone fever has swept the country. After the sad news of the passing of innovative Apple CEO Steve Jobs, interest in the new Apple release sky rocketed. Apple fans were rewarded for their persistence, with many camping outside of Apple stores across the world to be one of the first to own the brand new iPhone 4s. Here at Scoot we know exactly how hard it is to try and prise an iPhone out of someone’s hand which is why we have developed the Scoot app for the iPhone and iPad, to ensure that your customers can find your business without having to take their eyes of the screen!
There’s an app for that!

Apps are designed to offer users a quick, efficient and useful service and the Scoot app is no exception. Whether on the move or just too far away from a computer, the app allows people to search for local businesses and lists contact details and a link to the business website. The app also provides users with directions to the business, so whether they are looking for a local taxi service, a great place to grab a meal or the nearest car garage, they don’t need to look too far!

With more and more people turning to the internet to search for local products and services, it is important to make sure that your business is always there to be found. Click for more information on the Scoot iPhone app

Blog your way to a better business

One of the most useful forms of communication for any business is a blog. With over 1 million blog posts written every day, whether you are using your blog to announce new products, keep your customers up-to-date or to just as way to keep in touch, you are definitely not alone! More and more active internet users now read blogs and many businesses now view their blog as their most valuable form of social media. If you have yet to venture in blogging territory why not take a look at our top reasons to start typing.

1. Blogs are now viewed as a mainstream source of communication for businesses and are very search engine friendly! Maintaining a blog is one of the fastest (and cheapest) ways to increase your business’ online exposure.

2. It’s not just customers that you can reach with your blog posts. Research shows that blogs are widely read within the B2B community with even senior management team members visiting company blog sites.

3. More and more companies are replacing monthly email newsletters with regular blog posts as they are easy to create and are instantly interactive. Traditional email newsletters can suffer from low deliverability rates thanks to over cautious spam filters whereas blog posts are easily accessible and sharable!

4. Although blogs don’t tend to draw a large audience, they do attract a highly targeted readership. If your blog contains quality, informative content it will be seen as a valuable resource within your industry.

So what are you waiting for? Start communicating with your business world today!

Effective marketing has always been considered as the growth engine of a business. But do UK SMEs also share the same opinion?

Touch Local carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK small business owners, to find out if they had set a marketing budget for 2011, and what forms of marketing do they consider to be the most effective.

The Survey

Does your business have a set Marketing budget for 2011?

The Results

*Total responses: 852

Summary

More than a third (38%) of business owners who took the survey, confirmed that they have a marketing budget for 2011. Many of them also specified that the budget was limited, due to the fact that they do not have any excess in their capital to dedicate to marketing.
Most of the respondents (62%) stated that they did not have a set marketing budget for 2011.

More information acquired from business owners who have a set marketing budget:

- In the current “challenging” economic climate, it’s not surprising that 65% of UK SMEs have an annual marketing budget of less than £5,000. Only 2% of the respondent stated that they are planning to spend more than £100,000 on marketing activities in 2011.
- Overall, it seems that there is a definite shift towards online advertising:
- 80% of business owners felt that investing in a website had a high priority when allocating their marketing budget
- One in 3 of the respondents placed high importance on advertising in online business directories, versus only 1 in 10 for print directories. What’s more, 60% of small business owners stated that they were not planning to spend any of their marketing budget on print directory advertising
- Nearly half of the survey respondents are placing high priority on search engine marketing and 1 in 3 on email marketing
- When it comes to advertising in newspapers and through leaflets, 23% consider it to be a high priority and 16% are not planning to spend any marketing budget on these in 2011.
- Other type of advertising, such as video, direct mail and telemarketing have predominantly low to medium priority

More information acquired from business owners who do not have a set marketing budget:

- Even though 62% of SMEs have no marketing budget for 2011 most of them could end up squeezing their budgets for marketing or advertising.
- However there is major shift in the approach of advertising with majority of the respondents willing to invest in their company website (61%), followed by SEO (27%), email (23%).
- When it comes to advertising on business directories, 18% of businesses would invest in online business directories compared to only 10% in print directories which is more or less as expected.
- Interestingly, 53% of the respondents will not advertise using Video, reasons being the high production and distribution costs.
- Only 1 in 8 of respondents would advertise through Social Media, citing lack of time and resource as a reason.
- Other types of advertising like direct mail pay per call services and telemarketing was low in priority.

Reviewing the entire survey, we realize that regardless of having a marketing budget or not, SMEs throughout UK share the same outlook and are investing in a more modern channel rather than the traditional method of marketing. They acknowledge that the difficulty to quantify the effectiveness has forced them to the shift away from the more traditional forms of marketing towards web based marketing mediums as it is seen to attain better returns.

Some of the comments from the respondents:

I’m a sole trader and I keep my overheads down to the absolute minimum. Word of mouth has also worked very well for me.

The ‘marketing industry’ has become so large, complex and full of spam that it is now impossible to quantify effects of many of these so-called marketing campaigns.

I have in 40 plus years of running my business & always spent around 3% to 4% of turnover on advertising. I would spend more on good leads that generate profitable business.

SEO has now been made a dominant factor in website success that many of us use our websites to direct our existing customers rather than seek out new ones.

Over the past 5 years of trading we know where we get the better results from our efforts and pursue those. Regular monitoring of incoming trade means we adjust our budgets accordingly.

From experience printed advertising is a dying medium. Our best returns have come from promoting our own website and SEO work.

Due to the current climate, we do not have any excess capital to spend on advertising of any kind.

Making marketing a priority and putting it on our wish list does not necessarily mean that funding will become available whilst high street sales are still struggling.

Due to very poor levels of business we don’t have much money to spare for this at the moment. The recession is still hitting us hard.

Paper advertising hardly works for me anymore, and is too expensive, our website is Key.

Over the years I have found most advertising to be a waste of money. I have tried everything from cards in supermarkets, directories, charity posters, but none even cover the cost of the advertising. Website and word of mouth are the only functional methods for my business.

I find the cost of advertising very high in most publications with little or no reward. I would welcome information on how to use email marketing.

Networking is another valuable marketing avenue. I am a member of a national networking group and I’m hoping this will be useful in 2011.

For more information about Touch Local, please contact anju.palleeri@touchlocal.com or call 020 7840 4313

The Royal Wedding is estimated to have boosted the UK economy by £2bn, but what was its impact on the small business industry? Touch Local carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK small business owners, to find out whether they benefited from the event, or on the contrary, did they actually suffer losses?

The Survey

What kind of an effect do you consider the Royal Wedding to have had on your business?

The Results

*Total responses:            956

Summary

Nearly half (48%) of the small business owners who participated in this survey claimed that the Royal Wedding had no effect on their business. On the whole, they stated to have not noticed any significant change in the output or revenue of their business.

On the other hand, 41% of respondents believe that their businesses have been affected negatively, with many stating that the extra long weekend had a noticeable impact on their revenue.

Only 11% believe the Royal Wedding to have had a positive impact on their business, many of them saying that the boost in customer and employee morale, resulting from the Royal Wedding, has influenced their revenue positively.

Some of the comments from the respondents:

The boost in employee and customer morale is bound to be good.

Courier service disruption has resulted in customer dissatisfaction.

The Prime Minister purchased my Anglesey Books as his personal gift to the Royal Couple and it has resulted in huge exposure and increased sales.

With clients closed for the day, there was no demand for support, which would in turn pay staff costs.

As the government had decided to declare the day to be a bank holiday and our contract terms state that staff are allowed 21 days plus bank holidays, this day cost us a considerable amount of money, which we are unable to recoup.

In the current economic climate, I believe this wedding to be a shameful waste of time and money.

The Royal Wedding and the resulting long weekend has had a significantly negative impact on our revenue.

Friday is normally a very busy day but it was quiet because people thought we were closed.

Delays in receipt of ordered supplies (also due to other holidays at Easter and May day)

It was not just the wedding, but the number of holidays meant that clients weren’t making decisions, starting projects, etc.

The Company had to virtually shut down, as either our employees took additional days holiday, or our customers did.

According to the manufacturer’s organisation the EEF, the availability of finance for small businesses is improving, but at an increasingly prohibitive cost. Touch Local carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK SMEs registered on our directory to find out if small business owners had experienced greater costs when seeking finance.

The Survey

As a small business owner, have you experienced greater costs when seeking finance?

The Results

Yes: 266 (49%)

No: 155 (28%)

Don’t Know: 123 (23%)

Total responses: 544

Summary

Just under half of small business respondents (49%) have experienced greater cost when seeking finance this quarter, with many unable to take our loans as a result. Others felt that bank lending had not improved at all, and were subsequently forced to look elsewhere for financial assistance. Over a quarter of respondents (28%) stated they were not experiencing higher costs when seeking finance. However, it is clear from the comments that several small business owners were looking for help from family and friends, and not professional financiers. 23% of respondents did not know their situation with regards to increasing costs, with the majority of these businesses requiring no financial assistance this quarter.

Some of the comments from the respondents:

I have not seen any improvement in the finance available to small business for us or my fellow SME businesses.

I have found big banks are willing to lend but at ridiculous cost

I am in the fortunate position of not needing to seek finance so this issue has not affected me.

High Street banks are simply not lending, in my experience. One is, therefore, at the mercy of more independent financiers, who charge exorbitant rates of interest. The banks need to make things easier for small business. If there is a good business plan, or an existing business that is clearly working, they should be open to lending. They are not.

I managed to borrow from family instead.

Being self employed, Banks and Lenders do make it difficult to get loans when in actual fact most self employed people are more secure than those employees working for a company.

We’ve had difficulty getting finance but when we have, it’s been at a higher rate of interest.

Do you have a question for UK businesses? Email kris.lea@touchlocal.com to submit your suggestion.

This week the Prime Minister blasted the civil service for loading costs and red tape regulations onto businesses. Touch Local carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK SMEs registered on our directory to find out if small business owners believed that red tape regulations are holding back growth for SME’s.

The Survey

As a small business owner, do you believe red tape regulations are holding back growth for SME’s?

The Results

Yes: 646 (80%)

No: 99 (12%)

Don’t Know: 68 (8%)

Total responses: 811

Summary

More than three quarters of small business respondents (80%) agree with the Prime Minister’s belief that businesses suffering from red tape regulations ‘frankly cannot take it any more’. The majority of these believe that the administrative cost and time spent on red tape is stifling the growth of their business, and fear that under the new Government things will not improve. Only 12% of small business owners do not believe that red tape is affecting the growth of SME’s. Of these, many note other legislations that are having a detrimental effect on small businesses, whilst others indicate that some industries such as banking rely heavily on red tape. 8% of respondents did not know whether red tape is affecting small businesses.

Some of the comments from the respondents:

Certain business sectors such as banking need much more red tape – without sufficient regulation, business will be forced to develop unsustainably and eventually crash.

You deal with more red tape than doing business.

The banks are holding us back by not spending, not the red tape.

I’m too scared to employ anyone – particularly women who may get pregnant. As a woman myself I am horrified by my response, but paying maternity leave could bankrupt my company. And employment law is such that it is practically impossible to get rid of someone who isn’t good enough. That too could destroy my company and I’m not prepared to risk something that has taken me years to build.

Whilst I am unaffected by red tape, I do know of many SME’s who are affected.

It’s not been a problem for me personally so far, but I know it is for many small businesses.

I have stayed self-employed not taken anyone on as there is too much red tape.

All the red tape and lack of assistance is stifling small businesses and growth in this country.

SME’s rarely have the manpower to trawl through legislation

I am a small business owner and I sub-contract all my work. If there was less red tape I would consider employing people directly.

Do you have a question for UK businesses? Email kris.lea@touchlocal.com to submit your suggestion.

This month the Government is publishing its second budget. Touch Local carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK SMEs registered on our directory to find out if small business owners are confident that the Chancellor will set up plans to help the economy grow.

The Survey

As a small business owner do you think the forthcoming budget will set up plans to help the economy grow?

The Results

Yes: 217 (24%)

No: 475 (53%)

Don’t Know: 212 (23%)

Total responses: 904

Summary

More than half of small business respondents (53%) are not confident in the upcoming budget announcement and the Government’s ability to drive the economy forward. Many of these business owners believe that the increase in VAT and the proposed Interest rate rise will harm the spending power of the country and leave people with less money to spend and little room in which to manoeuvre. Others believe that the Government have largely disregarded small businesses, and are not confident that the new budget will propose anything to the contrary. Less than a quarter of respondents (24%) are optimistic in the upcoming budget, with the view that the new Government is making the right strides to reinvigorate the economy. 23% of respondents were unsure whether the forthcoming budget will set up plans to help the economy grow.

Some of the comments from the respondents:

It’s difficult to see such a cut-back focus helping growth in the economy and therefore I’m not optimistic of good news in the budget for small businesses.

With so many cut backs, it is difficult to make the economy grow!

The constant change of tack breeds uncertainty. You are doing nothing to promote growth, investment, confidence and as a government lack the vision and resource to get us out of this.

Not helping small business at all!

You have to believe

Lower taxation and government expenditure

The tax on banks is a joke why not tax them the same amount as they pay in bonuses. Interest rates are at a record low try telling the banks this when trying to get a loan

The rate of interest should remain low and the Government should lobby the Bank of England to ensure that it does. The current factors that are causing the inflation rate to rise are individual items and not a trend.

I believe Osborne knows the importance of small business and the importance of getting rid of red tape and get banks lending. However what he does still depends on big business, the markets and the ‘ruling classes’. The danger is he will make great headline attracting statements, yet noting will come of them. If that happens then the country is sunk.

Do you have a question for UK businesses? Email kris.lea@touchlocal.com to submit your suggestion.

London, February 22th, 2011: Yesterday a member of the Bank of England’s interest rate-setting committee called for a raise in interest rates to help get inflation back to its 2% target. Touch Local carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK SMEs registered on our directory to find out if small business owners shared the notion that interest rates should rise to help curb inflation?

The Survey

As a small business owner, do you think interest rates should rise to help curb inflation?

The Results

Yes: 281 (28%)
No: 642 (63%)
Don’t Know: 98 (9%)

Total responses: 1021

The businesses who took the survey are all listed on http://touchlocal.com

Summary
Two-thirds of small business respondents (63%) opposed the idea of increasing interest rates, with many believing that the raise would result in a far greater cost to their business than any change in inflation. Just under a third of respondents (28%) would welcome a rise in interest rates if it led to greater control over inflation and the UK economy as a whole. A minority of business owners (9%) were unsure if they would support the change, believing that it could be imposed in the future, but no immediate adjustment should be made.

Some of the comments from the respondents:
• No rise at the moment. Inflation is the lesser evil in economics at the moment. Rise in interest rates will mean less money in the economy as people have higher mortgages etc.
• Leave well alone for the moment
• I think there are better ways to reduce inflation, like reducing fuel costs. This Government seems reluctant to do this.
• It is more important at this stage to think of the economy as a whole than to think of small businesses.
• A lot of our visitors to our caravan park are elderly and living of their savings. An interest rate increase would benefit them and subsequently us as our bookings could increase.
• The interest rates must rise!
• Raising interest rates won’t help small businesses,
• It is a way that we can help our country to recover.
• Interest rate rise will further dampen the already weak economy.
• Stability and predictability are key to recovery. Any change creates uncertainty.
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Do you have a question for UK businesses? Email kris.lea@touchlocal.com to submit your suggestion.

If you have not been a victim of identity theft yourself, you have probably heard of cases where fraudsters acquire information about another person obtain credit or other services under a falsely assumed identity. But this problem doesn’t apply only to individuals. In recent years, fraudsters have been stealing entire business identities in a scam known as “company hijacking”.

This type of identity theft currently accounts for £50 million of losses for SMEs a year and can have appalling consequences. For example, fraudsters can change the directors of the company and the “new” directors can open bank accounts, have goods delivered to the “new” address, and effectively ruin the credit rating of the business and leave it with large charges.

As in most cases, prevention is better than cure. That’s why NetTrackz has teamed up with leading online business directories, including The Independent, Scoot and AOL, to provide information, that will help UK SMEs protect their identity.

Our first advice to you is to take ownership of the public record of your company by registering it with Companies House… before somebody else does!

It’s very difficult for Companies House to verify if people who want to change information about a company are actually who they say they are. Therefore, it’s crucial that you are the first person to register your own company. After you’ve done that, any applications from fraudsters will be forwarded to you.

To register your business you can use the Companies House free scheme called PROtected Online Filing (PROOF). Please find more information on the Companies House website:

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/proof.shtml

Important: Your business could also be in danger of your competitors taking control of how it is represented online. Click here to run a free report that can show you how your business details appear on up to 26 online business directories.

The Team at NetTrackz

In association with Scoot and TouchLocal

The Government has recently passed a new proposal under which Mothers and Fathers will have the opportunity to change the way they take parental leave. TouchLocal carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK SMEs registered on our directory to find out if they support this change in legislation.

The Survey

As a small business owner, do you support the new Government legislation (to be introduced in April) that will allow Mothers and Fathers more flexibility in how they take parental leave?

The Results

Yes:                 400 (34%)
No:                  673 (57%)
Don’t Know:    102 (9%)

*Total responses: 1175