Graphite Web Solutions - Blog and Discussions
Use of .org.uk Domain Extension for a Commercial Company
Like buses when you get none and then a few at once, we were surprised in the past week to have come across 2 commercial companies using or planning to use the .org.uk domain extension. We advised them, as we do our customers, that .org.uk and .org are normally used for non-profit organisations such as charities etc and the companies should stick with .co.uk (UK company) or .com (originally US company but now any company). Read More...
Marketing - What's in a Name and Stating the Obvious
We have recently been perplexed by a couple of interactions from companies in the communications field. By communications we mean they portray themselves as communication specialists whether that message be online as in digital communications or even verbally. To us, communication means 2 way, clear, concise content that delivers the message, in both occasions, we felt these 'communication experts' failed to deliver the message. Read More...
Great Intro to Social Media for Small Business
There's no doubt about the impact of Social Media on society these days and most will have heard about Facebook and some will know about Twitter and LinkedIn amongst others. But is it right for you to use Social Media in your business? Well, according to Sage who provide software for business, only 57% of small businesses already use Social Media as part of their business although 81% can see the value of using it as a business tool. So if you are in the 43% of small businesses not using Social Media but you do think it could add value, it's not too late to start! Read More...
When Is It Ok to 'Let a Customer Go'?
Whilst we fully endorse the need to support Customers and perhaps go above and beyond what you would normally expect, there is a time when this approach may not actually be the right one. Your relationship with your customer be it business to business or business to customer goes a long way in determining how far you are prepared to go to help. A great relationship and both sides will be keen to work together to achieve a mutual aim, however when things get one sided and you are doing all the giving then at some point you need to balance the effort you are putting in against the return you get. Read More...
Get Out of the Office - Part 2!
Last month we recommended you get out of your office for a period during the day to get away from the phone, email and computer and get some quiet time so you could concentrate on the bigger picture and how your business is running. This month we continue this theme but this time we recommend getting out of the office to meet fellow business owners. Rather than just turn up, have a look to see if there are any networking groups in your area where like minded people head to meet and network. The idea is not to go hunting for business, it is to go looking to create a relationship with other businesses in your area and perhaps identify where you could help each other either via collaboration or by simply sharing contact and business info that may allow either one of you to provide a referral. Read More...
Get Out of the Office!
Now I wont be the first to mention this and certainly not the last, but as someone who actually does get out of the office on most days, I can personally recommend this! Read More...
Kick Start 2013 - and keep the focus.
January - the first month of a new year and the time to create targets and resolutions - this year let's try to make them work and not end up being ones that are forgotten or have lost focus before week 3! I'm sure the majority of you have been there - "this year is different", "we're gonna focus and get there", "set targets and stick to them". If you are going to start this year as you mean to go on then it is time to get serious and set out your aims. To help, we have produced the following suggestions to help you focus and launch in to 2013! Read More...
Work In Progress - When should you expose it to your customers?
Just yesterday we heard a similar phrase from 2 separate unconnected colleagues about 2 unconnected websites, the gist of which was: Read More...
Google Apps - No longer Free!
Earlier this year we discovered the delights of Google Apps for business and the fact that it was provided for free for businesses up to 10 people. We switched ourselves and some of our customers to it and are all enjoying the facilities, virtual office and document sharing etc. We now have to update the article due to a change in Google Policy - as of 6 December 2012, they will no longer provide the free version for businesses. It will now cost $50 per user per year which is less than $5 (<£4) per user per month which isn't too bad really for providing: Read More...
Sage Business Experts
We use Sage Accounts to manage our accounts and often interact with Sage and partake in their surveys. As a result of our interactions, we were delighted when Sage asked us to become one of their Business Experts! They recently asked their Business Experts what they'd like to see in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement so we provided a couple of suggestions which we are pleased have been published on the Sage Blog! Here is a copy and further explanation from us: Read More...
