http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/forum/interesting-news-events-and-resources-form-around-the-web The community space of the UK's leading provider of business training for entrepreneurs en-US Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:55:45 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/search.php http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/free-market-research-reports#post-147 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:29:45 +0000 marketest 147@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Marketest has recently launched its entrepreneurship network which provides enterprise organisations and business advisers free access to all our market research reports.</p> <p>Through this network, members can also attain other benefits like special discounts for yourself or the entrepreneur(s) you support on our tailored market research service.<br /> You can access more information about it here: <a href="http://www.marketest.co.uk/index.php?menu=network" rel="nofollow">http://www.marketest.co.uk/index.php?menu=network</a></p> <p>Register your details here to become a member of the network:<br /> <a href="http://www.marketest.co.uk/index.php?menu=register_network" rel="nofollow">http://www.marketest.co.uk/index.php?menu=register_network</a></p> <p>Feel free to tell other business professionals about this portal and the incentives it provides. If you are not a professional tell your business adviser to register for you. </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/website-reviews#post-138 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:53:10 +0000 myshopsigns 138@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I run a website called <a href="http://www.myshopsigns.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.myshopsigns.com</a>.</p> <p>Its aim is to provide small retailers / small business with free printable sales posters and other materials for all their sales promotions.</p> <p>If you get a chance I would appreciate your feedback on ease of use and content, particularly from those of you that own a small retail business.</p> <p>Thanks<br /> Craig </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/website-reviews#post-136 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:55:20 +0000 michaelord 136@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>hi, </p> <p>we are in final stages of beta of a sheffield based start up called <a href="http://www.frooly.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.frooly.com</a> </p> <p>frooly helps you buy and get rewards from the best of the local area. Like an 'Amazon' but exclusively for local and independent businesses.</p> <p>After 18 months and £1m we are just about ready! its all very exciting. </p> <p>I have copied a bit of info below, and any coverage would be massively appreciated!</p> <p>thanks</p> <p>Michael<br /> <a href="mailto:michaelord@frooly.com">michaelord@frooly.com</a><br /> @michael_ord</p> <p>Who are we?</p> <p>We are frooly. We provide a powerful free website, a 'no hassle' online shop and marketing tools to help independent businesses sell more online. </p> <p>One of the biggest issues a small business has is getting found online - what is the point of having a website if no-one sees or buys from it. With frooly, we have built in, and automated many SEO features and we also provide free Creative Workshops to help site owners sell more - see events <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/org/531612419?s=1924394" rel="nofollow">http://www.eventbrite.com/org/531612419?s=1924394</a></p> <p>We are looking for partners to help/work with over the next 18 months. Our target is to help 10,000 independent business within that time frame. The system has oodles of B2C / social features that are yet to be released from testing.</p> <p>Product and Pricing</p> <p>With frooly free</p> <p>Easy website - Unlimited pages, pictures, video and no hosting fees!<br /> Get found online - automated SEO<br /> Customer database &amp; email address<br /> Free training &amp; mentoring support<br /> With frooly plus </p> <p>All frooly free features plus...</p> <p>"No hassle" online shop<br /> Full site customisation<br /> Use your own "businessname.com" web address<br /> Send bulk text message (SMS) vouchers<br /> Business "Add Ons" - i.e. Logo design<br /> Just £4.99 per month. Pay as you go.</p> <p>frooly Community Marketplace</p> <p>All individual shop products also feature in the frooly community marketplace - which is exclusively for independent businesses - like Amazon but, using social purchase decision principles to encourage people to shop local. From this Monday, we will be investing in Google PPC to promote the shop products and will share in the upside by taking sales commissions, only if a product is sold.</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.frooly.com/marketplace" rel="nofollow">http://www.frooly.com/marketplace</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/website-reviews#post-124 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:44:26 +0000 whatsgood 124@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>I run a new website called <a href="http://www.whatsgoodontheweb.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.whatsgoodontheweb.co.uk</a> and I am happy to receive news on new online business launches. Please visit the site for our contact details. </p> <p>All reviews will include links to your site and if you have any specific pages you want linking to please let me know. </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/digital-assets-how-to-quickly-and-easily-protect-your-brand#post-32 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:37:57 +0000 TomC 32@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Hi, </p> <p>What a great time I had meeting Doug for the first time today at Hull University.</p> <p>I was suprised and delighted that he was completely available to answer questions for the whole 6 and a half hours!</p> <p>By way of a give-back, here is a handy resource you can use to protect your brand and secure your Digital Assets</p> <p><a href="http://namechk.com/" rel="nofollow">http://namechk.com/</a></p> <p>As we saw yesterday, if you don't secure your assets, someone else will!</p> <p>HTH</p> <p>TomC </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/the-three-types-of-knowledge-important-for-business-owners#post-28 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:18:31 +0000 Nancy Fulton Mazur 28@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>This article discusses one of the most important ideas a business owner can master. </p> <p>Believing you know something that you don't<br /> Or not knowing that you need to know something<br /> is what harms you and your business most.</p> <p><a href="http://jangosteve.com/post/380926251/no-one-knows-what-theyre-doing" rel="nofollow">http://jangosteve.com/post/380926251/no-one-knows-what-theyre-doing</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/some-_great_-guerilla-ads#post-26 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:07:08 +0000 Nancy Fulton Mazur 26@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>More clever ads :)<br /> <a href="http://www.penn-olson.com/2009/07/30/8-mind-blowing-videos-guerilla-marketing/" rel="nofollow">http://www.penn-olson.com/2009/07/30/8-mind-blowing-videos-guerilla-marketing/</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/some-_great_-guerilla-ads#post-25 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:01:25 +0000 Nancy Fulton Mazur 25@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Follow the link to see some great guerrilla ads. It is interesting to note just how cost effective good marketing can be :) Do you have any examples of things that have worked well for your business? Post them here :) Its free marketing after all :)</p> <p><a href="http://www.penn-olson.com/2009/09/06/25-creative-guerrilla-ads/" rel="nofollow">http://www.penn-olson.com/2009/09/06/25-creative-guerrilla-ads/</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/newsweek-overreliance-on-downsizing-is-killing-workers-the-economy#post-24 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:43:35 +0000 Nancy Fulton Mazur 24@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/233131/output/print" rel="nofollow">http://www.newsweek.com/id/233131/output/print</a></p> <p>Excerpt</p> <p>That research paints a fairly consistent picture: layoffs don't work. And for good reason. In Responsible Restructuring, University of Colorado professor Wayne Cascio lists the direct and indirect costs of layoffs: severance pay; paying out accrued vacation and sick pay; outplacement costs; higher unemployment-insurance taxes; the cost of rehiring employees when business improves; low morale and risk-averse survivors; potential lawsuits, sabotage, or even workplace violence from aggrieved employees or former employees; loss of institutional memory and knowledge; diminished trust in management; and reduced productivity.</p> <p>There are a number of myths that have taken hold to justify managers' urge to downsize. Many of them aren't true. For instance, contrary to popular belief, companies that announce layoffs do not enjoy higher stock prices than peers—either immediately or over time. A study of 141 layoff announcements between 1979 and 1997 found negative stock returns to companies announcing layoffs, with larger and permanent layoffs leading to greater negative effects. An examination of 1,445 downsizing announcements between 1990 and 1998 also reported that downsizing had a negative effect on stock-market returns, and the negative effects were larger the greater the extent of the downsizing. Yet another study comparing 300 layoff announcements in the United States and 73 in Japan found that in both countries, there were negative abnormal shareholder returns following the announcement.</p> <p>Layoffs don't increase individual company productivity, either. A study of productivity changes between 1977 and 1987 in more than 140,000 U.S. companies using Census of Manufacturers data found that companies that enjoyed the greatest increases in productivity were just as likely to have added workers as they were to have downsized. The study concluded that the growth in productivity during the 1980s could not be attributed to firms becoming "lean and mean." Wharton professor Peter Cappelli found that labor costs per employee decreased under downsizing, but sales per employee fell, too. </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/support-the-princes-trust-in-charity-auction-supported-by-start-ups#post-23 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:14:01 +0000 FishBowl 23@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Prizes to be Auctioned for Prince's Trust THIS FRIDAY!</p> <p>The climax of The Great Trade Aid Challenge is coming quickly to an end and we would like to finish on a real high. Having managed some fantastic trades/donations, we now really need your help with raising as much money as possible for the Prince's Trust.</p> <p>Matt, Marcela and Owain and Dominic of reality style website <a href="http://www.inafishbowl.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.inafishbowl.com</a> have each donated a prize to be auctioned off on Friday 5th February, giving you the chance to experience the businesses first hand and meet the entrepreneurs.</p> <p>The three items up for grabs are:</p> <p> * 7" Limited Edition vinyl of 'Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys'. The debut single by Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys, released on 30 May 2005, is one of only 2000 vinyl copies and as such are a highly sought after collector's item.<br /> Provided by Matt Stockman of Sharabang Music (Fishbowl One).</p> <p> * 3 course dinner for 8 cooked at your house for you and your guests by Mexican chef Marcela Flores Newburn with plenty of authentic Margaritas! Marcela's Rico Mexican Salsas are currently stocked by Harrods and Selfridges.<br /> Provided by Marcela Flores Newburn of Rico Mexican Kitchen (Fishbowl Two).</p> <p> * Bespoke tailored suit in the style of your choosing from either classic cut or the collection from up and coming designer Charlotte Robson at online tailor Head &amp; Griffiths. The prize also includes personal measurement and fitting sessions with business founders Owain Griffiths and Dominic Shaw.<br /> Provided by specialist bespoke on line tailor Head &amp; Griffiths (Fishbowl Three). </p> <p>To get your hands on any one of these fantastic Fishbowl prizes, contact Carl Swansbury on 0115 948 9419 or email <a href="mailto:carl.swansbury@rsmtenon.com">carl.swansbury@rsmtenon.com</a>. Tickets are priced at £2 a ticket or £10 a strip.</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.rsmtenon.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.rsmtenon.com</a> for more details. </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/getting-your-site-linked#post-19 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:34:23 +0000 Nancy Fulton Mazur 19@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Wow :) That's wicked. Thank you so much.</p> <p>Also, I mention that we actively encourage people to put links to their websites at the bottom of their posts under their signoffs. It is not a requirement, but we like to think people in business who come to our community to hang out shouldn't have to choose between helping others and some basics of good marketing. </p> <p>Example:</p> <p>Nancy<br /> <a href="http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/getting-your-site-linked#post-17 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:27:22 +0000 waxwonderful 17@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Just as a follow up to the Facebook and Twitter section above...this is a short but quite helpful video describing how Google rates links from Facebook and Twitter when deciding ranking of sites in its organic search.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2010/01/14/how-google-rates-links-from-facebook-and-twitter" rel="nofollow">http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2010/01/14/how-google-rates-links-from-facebook-and-twitter</a></p> <p>Kind regards</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/edresonate" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/edresonate</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/getting-your-site-linked#post-16 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:22:55 +0000 Nancy Fulton Mazur 16@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>Thanks for the great ideas :) I hope you checked out our article on SEO Marketing through press releases. I think this technique might accelerate your sales even more:</p> <p><a href="http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/2009/09/03/the-secret-of-press-releases/" rel="nofollow">http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/2009/09/03/the-secret-of-press-releases/</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/getting-your-site-linked#post-15 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:12:33 +0000 waxwonderful 15@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p>I have recently started an online business (<a href="http://www.waxwonderful.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.waxwonderful.com</a>) which specialises in selling unusual candles and gifts. I thought I would share some of the experiences and tips that I have picked up so far with regards to appearing on search engines. This is not meant to be an in-depth Search Engine Optimisation article, it just explains a few simple tips.</p> <p>1) Get listed on Google &amp; Yahoo and veryify with Symantec</p> <p>You should verify your ownership of your site with Google and Yahoo (the two search engines with the biggest market share).</p> <p>You should provide a site map to Google.</p> <p>You should verify your site with Symantec (creators of Norton Anti Virus). Once verified, and as long as there are no perceived "e-threats" from your site you get a nice green tick next to you site name if you are a Norton user. This may encourage users to click on a site which has been tested to be safe.</p> <p>2) Get links to your site</p> <p>As part of the quest to gain visibility with the search engines, it helps to gain as many links a possible pointing to your site. This is particularly so where you are using competitive key words. While some sites linking you are more valuable than others, from the people I have spoken with, it seems that the more links you can get the better. While some sites will charge you for reviewing or linking your site, there are a number of free review sites / link directories out there. I copy below some examples:</p> <p><a href="http://blogrectory.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://blogrectory.co.uk/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.dmoz.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dmoz.org/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.viesearch.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.viesearch.com/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.whenweseo.com/web_directories/free_directories.jsp" rel="nofollow">http://www.whenweseo.com/web_directories/free_directories.jsp</a></p> <p>3) Contribute</p> <p>A number of sites will let you link back to your site if you publish an article. Here is an example:</p> <p><a href="http://www.weddingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9819" rel="nofollow">http://www.weddingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9819</a></p> <p>4) Facebook and Twitter</p> <p>Make a profile for your business and collect as many friends / followers as you can. Of course, if they share an interest in your product then that is an advantage.</p> <p>I will have a think about some further tips I can suggest. I hope these basic ones are helpful for now.</p> <p>Kind regards</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/edresonate" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/edresonate</a> </p> http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/topic/great-essays#post-14 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:52:52 +0000 Tom Walker 14@http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/community/ <p><a href="http://paulgraham.com/articles.html" rel="nofollow">http://paulgraham.com/articles.html</a> </p>