Scoot Blog

It has recently been revealed that Britain’s largest firms are more confident on spending now than at any point since the start of the credit crunch. TouchLocal carried out a poll amongst a sample of UK SMEs registered on our directory to find out if this sentiment is shared by small to medium sized businesses.

The Survey

Apparently, Britain’s largest firms are more confident now about spending and taking on staff than at any time since the start of the credit crunch. As a small business owner, do you share this outlook?

The Results

Yes: 296 (25%)
No: 781 (66%)
Don’t Know: 121 (9%)

*Total responses: 1198

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

Summary

Nearly two-thirds of small business respondents (66%) who took the survey do not share the same optimism as their large firm counterparts. Many give a contradictory outlook and are less confident than ever about spending, envisaging that this year will in fact be the hardest since the start of the credit crunch. A quarter of respondents (25%) share this positive outlook, with some businesses experiencing an upturn in revenue or deeming optimism a necessary trait in the business environment. Others however, are positive only due the belief that things cannot get any worse. 9% of respondents believe that the future is too uncertain to establish any upturn in confidence at this moment in time.
See below a selection of comments received from respondents:

• It’s too early to tell. Government policy looks like focusing on large business or encouraging business start ups, but doing nothing or even abandoning existing SME’s
• No Chance, we are at our lowest turnover now.
• Business has improved over the last six months so it feels right to invest in new products and to support that new staff
• Things can only improve
• I think things are still tight as the uncertain future of the ever arising costs
• Business up by 25% since Nov 10 not taking on staff at this point but trade far better
• I certainly hope that this is the case but as with many things of this nature only time will tell. We need to stay positive however, and remember that things never stay the same for long – better times will soon emerge again.
• This year will be more challenging than the last.
• I feel that things could change at a moment’s notice, and I want to keep things tight to weather any storm. I don’t want to be caught out again.
• Too early to say. We’re not out of the woods yet.
• We are small service company working to small businesses. Cash flow very bad, clients cutting back. Considering staff hour’s reductions.
• I feel it is a bit too early to say for my business. Most people I know are still cautious.
• Too early to say how can absorb VAT rise NI rise fuel rises
• With vat at 20% and the Governments major cut backs this is not the time to try and expand.
• There is absolutely no money out there, people were cutting back in November I can see it continue The VAT increase will have little effect on our business and consumer confidence has grown in our sector. Since the election our sales are 14% up and our bank is fully supporting us, a huge difference on the previous year.
• this is the worst it has been
• And I am seeing a more confident outlook from my clients too.
• We’ve already hired 1 new marketer, and are looking to take on 1 web designer and 1 graphic designer later this year!
• As a freight forwarding company we are finding the export market has certainly picked up, we had a great December, and January has started the same way.
• As a business you can’t put things on hold indefinitely, you still need to work and spending is a part of that
• It is still uncertain times for small business. Outlook is good, but cash flow is difficult
• The only way forward is to be positive and it’s working!!!

Issued: 11am – 11/01/2011
Do you have a question for UK businesses? Email kris.lea@touchlocal.com to submit your suggestion.

Whilst drink driving is an issue throughout the year, during the festive period it is regularly in the headlines as it is one of the most common causes of accidents across the UK. Scotland have proposed measures to lower the drink drive limit at the earliest opportunity, with provisions in the Scotland Bill allowing the Scottish Parliament to change the limit north of the border (without involving Westminster). Given the proposals in Scotland, it will be interesting to see if the rest of the UK follows their lead and proposes similar measures moving forward.

Survey Overview
With Scotland planning to reduce the drink driving limit, TouchLocal conducted a poll amongst a sample of UK businesses to see if SMEs would support a complete ban on drink driving in the UK.

The Survey
Following the recent talk of reducing the drink drive limit in Scotland, do you think that drink driving should be banned altogether on UK roads?

The Results

Yes: 621 (58%)
No: 448 (42%)
*Total responses: 1069

The businesses who took the survey are all listed on Touchlocal.com

Summary
Over half of the respondents (58%) feel that drink driving should be banned altogether on UK roads, with feedback including that we should follow other countries by having a zero tolerance policy. 42% felt that there should not be a complete ban, however many commented on how a lower limit (like the proposal in Scotland) would be welcome. Interestingly, respondents from those for and against a complete ban commented on other factors that they felt were equally (or more) dangerous when behind the wheel, such as driving whilst under the influence of drugs.

Selection of comments and suggestions from respondents
• A reduction would be good, but it wouldn’t need to be banned. Drinking while under the influence of drugs should receive higher sentences than they do
• It’s too confusing saying you can drink X amount, just make it illegal from drinking at all then driving
• I don’t think you should drink anything if you intend on driving
• Current limits serve the purpose
• That would be completely impractical
• It will save many lives
• The present law seems to work fine
• This would criminalize the sensible driver who has limited themselves to a glass of wine with their dinner whilst doing nothing to curb the habitual drunk who risks lives by driving when well over the limit
• People have different tolerance levels. However, limits should be lowered and more random stop checks and call lines should be set up
• As long as there are safeguards for people with small amounts of alcohol in their blood the following morning
• Could cause issues for persons on medication that may have alcohol in it
• It would finish off many rural pubs
• I do think something should be done, but a complete ban would kill the country pub!
• More often than not that it is innocent victims that suffer most from drunken drivers so the limit should be lowered nationwide
• Should this become law there would be no margin for error, so perhaps it would cut down on the people who seldom drink and may save them making an irrational judgment
• I believe that more could be done to educate drivers on drink/driving as I firmly believe that at least half of the drivers prosecuted honestly think that they are under the limit. Breathalyzers in Pubs and Clubs would reduce the numbers of drink/driving offences
• We are too strict on this. More people die from falling off a ladder than drink driving FACT keep it as it is and raise drinking age to 22
• If someone has had any alcohol in previous 24 hours, it will show up on a test. Sensible people stick to below the limit and most will not drink if they are driving. However to deny a person one glass of wine with a meal seems ridiculous, considering that the majority of people are killed in accidents that do not involve alcohol and some of the alcohol related accidents are drunk pedestrians as well. Those who drink and drive will probably not be deterred from doing so, as they already flout the law. Of course Scotland has its own problem with drink which is very severe. They should concentrate more on prosecuting landlords who serve people who are intoxicated and this may well save more lives and prolong others rather than denying the vast majority of responsible citizens who might like to enjoy a glass of wine with a meal
• I think it’s hard to determine when you have had your quota and therefore it would be much simpler just to ban drinking totally
• It is unworkable and immoral to catch people the morning after. However the existing limit should be enforced more rigorously
• We have a respected law in this country, respected by the huge majority who see drink driving as a serious, anti-social crime. There is no need for a lower limit but it is now time to give the police the ability to carry out random tests and more of them. In France 64% of all motorists have been tested for alcohol in the last 3 years, in Holland it is 63%. In the UK it is 9%. Just not good enough
• Other countries, especially those with dark winters (Scandinavia) have lower limits. The UK has a drink problem and making drinking and driving even more difficult may help reduce the problem. Losing your driving license is career threatening
• As a trainer to those who have lost their driving license due to drink & the state I see them in, I am in support of this! Attitudes of drink drivers are dreadful & they seem to take it quite lightly (an excuse to drink themselves stupid once they have lost their license) unless they have killed someone in the process. I have worked in Sweden & everyone is much more thoughtful!
• Having a low sensible limit is manageable. Having a zero limit will encourage people who have only one drink to continue as they will already be over the limit. It will also decimate rural/country pubs where they are reliant on car driving customers
• Rural pubs will go out of business
• Too many people drive after ’1 or 2′ not realizing that they reaction times and ability to drive can still be impaired especially if they are tired or haven’t eaten well. Save lives and stop anyone drinking while driving – there is no need to drink then drive and it might encourage people to help the environment and their local community by taking public transport
• Other countries have a zero tolerance on drink driving so should UK
• Empower people so they can think for themselves

Issued by TouchLocal 14:19 – 08/12/10

Scoot’s parent company TouchLocal are conducting weekly polls to UK SMEs. These polls are undertaken so business owners have a forum where they can share their thoughts on business, economic and general developments that may well have an impact on their operation.

As the ‘Voice of Local SMEs’, TouchLocal will circulate poll results and feedback with appropriate news publishers and websites.

About TouchLocal

TouchLocal are experts in connecting local businesses with local consumers, each and every day. The TouchLocal online business directory, www.touchlocal.com, offers blanket UK coverage and contains over 2 million business listings. It attracts 4 million unique visitors a month who in-turn undertake 6 million searches for local businesses. TouchLocal also enables users to review and rate businesses they have used, so local people can make an informed choice based on the feedback of others.

Reviews can be added to any business on Scoot.co.uk using a Scoot account or Facebook login.

To create a Scoot account simply visit the following link www.scoot.co.uk/register.html

How to add a review

• Search for the business you would like to review using the who/what and where boxes on Scoot.co.uk
• Click on the review tab
• Add your review using the form provided
• Submit your review by entering your Scoot or Facebook email address and password
• Your review will go live immediately

With the Scoot iPhone App and iPad App you can find information about local suppliers of products and services wherever you are.

Scoot iPhone App

Scoot is one of the UK’s leading online directories that gives you all the information you need about local businesses. Now, with the Scoot iPhone App and iPad App that information will always be at your fingertips.

We Have Just Been Voted a Staff Pick by the Staff at Apple

Scoot iPad App in the Apple Staff Picks

Scoot have just launched the all new Scoot iPhone App and the UK`s first iPad Business Finder App. We have listened to the many user requests from our previous iPhone app and have included all of the features that were requested. These include the all new Free Text Search which covers most of the problems people found with the previous versions.

Scoot iPhone App Free Text Search

The Free Text Search allows users to bypass the iPhone and iPad Geo-location and search for anything anywhere. However with the new Apple Software and hardware releases the Geo-Location service is now better than ever so the Find Your Nearest feature is getting better and better.

One other problem some of our users came across was when they wanted to visit the business website or to see the business on a map, they had to leave the Scoot App. In version 1.2 of the iPhone and iPad App this is no longer an issue. We have introduced the In App Browsing feature which allows users to browse a business website see the products and services they need then go straight back to the business listing in the App and view the business on a map or just call them direct from the App (iPhone only).

But it doesn`t stop there

As with all companies who are at the forefront of their field we have add many more fantastic features.

To give our users a more friendly experience we have vastly improved the user interface and have included a Save Your Favourites feature which allows users to find their favourite businesses, special offers or points of interest to a special folder accessible from anywhere in the App. We have also introduced the Recent Searches List which allows users to review thier recent searches, great if you have found a supurb restaurant then search for a taxi to get you there but forget the name of the restaurant. The Points Of Interest feature has brought together a whole range of businesses. These businesses include places to visit such as Parks, Museums and Theme Parks excellent for a day out or even a spontaneous descision to go out and have some fun. Adding an business Icon to the App homepage has been made much easier with the Alphabetical search. if you want to add Mcdonalds just press M, pressing C will get you businesses like Currys, Costa Coffee, Cinemas and Chemists.

Finally we have added two more features that will give our users a more useful App. We have included the Where Am I search which will give the user the up to date geo-location data being used by the Scoot App as provided by the iPhone or iPad. We have also added a new way for people to add a business to our directory. Using the Camera function of the iPhone users can take a photo of the business through the Scoot iPhone App, this get`s sent to Scoot and we will do the rest.

So if you own an iPhone or iPad and are in the UK, even if your just visiting, why not try downloading the Scoot iPhone App or Scoot iPad App.

Scoot, the UK Business Finder, has announced a raft of new ways for their users to find the information they need. Using the popularity of the best social networking platforms Scoot has developed a range of exciting new products and avenues for businesses to advertise their products, services and special offers to a whole new demographic of customers.

These new innovations now allow users throughout the UK to find businesses on a multitude of new websites as well as the already popular buisness directories. It also allows businesses to access other methods of advertising which may have been beyond their know-how or budgets at a reasonable or even free cost. Innovative products such as the new Video Montage will push businesses onto the major video sites such as Youtube and Metacafe. The Special Offer add-on to the in demand listing product will advertise businesses on Twitter.

Scoot also has profiles on many other social networking sites including Facebook and MySpace. For more info and descriptions of the Social Network Advertising products please visit our site Social Network Advertising.

Many people are talking about 2010 being the year of online video advertising.  Indeed, according to industry analyst, comScore, 2009 saw online videos viewed in the UK around 5 billion times, up nearly 47% on the previous year.  Added to that, online advertising overtook TV advertising expenditure for the first time.  Viewing video online is still growing rapidly and 80% of Internet users have watched video adverts.

So why is this so important to small and medium-sized businesses?  For a start, online video advertising levels the playing field.  Where television advertising was only accessible to large corporations, online video advertising is more affordable than ever before, so it’s accessible to businesses of all sizes.

The bottom line is that online video advertising could dramatically increase the amount of business you get via the Internet.  The audio-visual nature of video communicates your message much more effectively than just text or still images alone, building trust with your audience and delivering a strong call to action.  Again, comScore recorded that 52% of people who viewed an online video advert went on to take action by visiting a website, a physical location or purchasing something online.

As well as appealing to prospective customers, search engines like video, too!  Businesses with a greater depth of online content and rich media (which includes video) are more likely to rank well with the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing, and a video attached to your listing will certainly help your business stand out from the competition.  You can also help yourself appear more often in the search engines by ensuring that your video is as widely distributed as possible. Don’t just stop at adding your video to your website: make sure it’s included in the top video websites like YouTube, Yahoo, Myspace and Metacafe, and features within your listings with online business directories.

Getting started with online video advertising, however, can be daunting for the busy proprietor of a small business.  That’s why Scoot, one of the UK’s leading online business directories, has introduced its Online Video Montage product.  Scoot will do it all for you: produce a 30-second video montage with professional voiceover, add it to your listing on scoot.co.uk and distribute it to the top video websites, some of which are mentioned above.  You can also add the video to your own website.  Click here for more details.

With Valentines falling on a Sunday why not make it a Romantic Weekend for your special person. To make the weekend extra special you can treat your partner to a special meal in a fantastic restaurant before
cuddling up in a beautiful hotel.

With quite a lot of hotels offering great deals throughout the Valentines period you can find that perfect romantic getaway, city break or even an international flight of fancy right here on Scoot. You could even add your own touch by ordering flowers, gifts or chocolates from a local business and have them delivered direct to your room.

Give The Gift Of Flowers This Valentines

With Valentines Day sorted why not turn your Saturday into a day to remember. With Scoot you can find something to suit everyone, for those who have a more energetic streak why not try some outdoor pursuits like a parachute jump, a surfing lesson or even a flying lesson. For those who like to relax you could treat them to a spa day, a theatre show or a city tour.

No matter what your loved one likes you can find it on Scoot.co.uk.

Why Not Treat You Loved one to a Teddy Bear Valentines Gift

Earlier this month, US-based SEO authority, David Mihm, posted an interesting article about business categories in online directories.  Trying to match your business to the right category can be a challenge, especially if your activities fall into more than one category.  Check your business listing on Scoot and if your category is incorrect, let us know and we’ll change it for you.  We will also assign more than one category to your company if we believe your business activities justify this. 

Business categories on directories can look a little restrictive at first sight, but often there are a number of synonyms operating behind the scenes that ensure businesses appear in searches for common phrases associated with the category.  Of course, the best way to ensure your business comes up is to buy an enhanced listing on Scoot which will entitle you to a range of keywords that best describe your business!

If your business is listed on Scoot, you can include a link to your Twitter account free of charge.

Add Twitter to your business listing on Scoot

Just search for your business on scoot.co.uk and click the ‘Update this listing’ link at the bottom of your listing.  This will take you to an area of the website where you can amend the details we hold about your business. Go to the ‘Contact’ tab and add your Twitter Username where indicated.  Remember to save your changes before leaving this area of the Scoot website.

Go to the 'Contact' tab and insert your Twitter Username

If you’ve heard a lot about Twitter but are still wondering what on earth it’s all about, there’s a really helpful beginners’ guide on searchenginewatch.com