Business

I also write a lot of b2b articles and b2c sales copy. Below are some examples of recent work in this field.

Why Does a Growing Business Need a Strategic Plan?
A strategic plan in business is an easy to follow guide that highlights step by step what is expected of the company, its ambitions and future profits. It is a clearly defined map that shows the company’s goals and how they are going to be achieved, concentrating on a clear target market and how the company will serve all clients consistently and perfectly every time. This gives everyone in the company a clear plan to follow and makes sure they know what is expected of them. Most strategic business plans cover a five year period, from where the business is now to where it aspires to be. It is an invaluable tool to use to add more products and services to your business. The plan concentrates on how this vision will be attained.
The reasons for having a strategic plan are:
1) To improve the company’s efficiency and effectiveness
With a clearly defined plan the full company are in no doubt as to the goal they are all working towards together. This sets timelines, deadlines and points as to what should be achieved and when. A good management team will try to beat these targets which will overall improve every aspect of the business.
2) To uncover new opportunities and eliminate threats
Through the process of constructing your strategic business plan, your company will hold meetings fof brainstorming and creative thinking. This will uncover previously unthought-of opportunities and sources at the company’s disposal. At the same time through thorough research potential threats will be unveiled and the strategic business plan will help in showing clear strategies of how to eliminate this competition.
3) To expand in geographical locations
A good business plan will highlight where the specific target markets are based, research will show the best areas either locally, nationally or internationally where to target the brand and will also encourage investors who realise you are serious about the company’s future by having such a clear plan in place. You will be able to show potential investors your plan for repaying any loan you may take or what return they may expect from their investment in the future giving you the money injection the business needs to expand.
4) To grow in size
Employees and management are more likely to want to work for a company if they see how it is going to expand over the coming years.
It is never too late to execute a strategic business plan for your business, however, for it to work to your best possible advantage it is optimal that one is put in place in the planning stages. For small companies that are experiencing growth, a business plan would be ideal so as best to highlight the strategy and document targets. When a company needs to change due to the economical climate or for other reasons, it is a good idea to formulate a new business plan adapting it to the changing needs of the company. Also companies that anticipate succession find that a strategic business plan at this stage is crucial.
************************
How to Make Facebook and Twitter Work for Your Business
Unless your business has been suffering from some out of dated belief that the internet doesn’t exist, you’ve heard all about the benefits of social networking for business.
No longer are Facebook and twitter just for old school friends who want to catch up, savvy business owners have found that these platforms have the potential to reach thousands of new customers every day. Better still, it’s relatively free, yet, there’s more to social networking than just setting up a page and hoping for the best.
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your business public profiles:

Keep Your Pages Updated:
Not with personal information though, your customers don’t need to know about your family gatherings or your weekend away. They do, however, want to know about any special offers you may have on, new products, reviews of your services, and links to your website.
Fill with Information:
Just like you would your website, Facebook is a great tool for uploading your blogs, newsletters or articles. These don’t have to be recent, once a customer shows an interest in your services, they will be keen to learn more about the company’s history, so bring all your copy out of the archive.
Keep Your Profile Business-like:
If you have a fan page on Facebook, your profile page should hold all the information that your website does. Its great if your social networking site encourages customers to your website, but greater still is if they have all the information they need to hand right away. Make sure you have an address, telephone number, and website URL on your profile.
Secure a Good Facebook/Twitter URL:
By securing a Facebook URL early, you will optimize the amount of customers you will reach. People don’t want to have to remember facebook.com/your14579235business, instead if possible, try to keep it to your business name. With an original business name you should be in with a chance of this URL being available.
Keep Tweets Short and Sweet
There is a character limit on tweets, so be wary of linking your Facebook page to your twitter account. Posts on Facebook will show up as links on your twitter account, giving just a list of garbled numbers for a customer to click on. Instead use variety. Use twitter to advertise special promotions, short and sweet such as, “Sale On Now – Here!” Or amusing rich content then use Facebook to be a little more in depth when you have the space to do so. Most twitter account owners hold a Facebook account too.

*********************
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Accountant.
Finding the right accountant for your business isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth the effort.Asking these ten questions will ensure you find the accountant that is right for your business. Question 1: What are your credentials?
Unfortunately there are people that practice accountancy and book keeping that have no formal education or licence in accountancy. To avoid falling fowl to one of these bogus practitioners it is important that you ask to see your accountant’s credentials. A verified accountant is more likely to benefit your business in the best possible way.

 “At {business name} we are proud that our service is of an exceptional standard and that we are members of {membership}.”

Question 2: Can you provide me with at least 5 references from clients that have been using your services for more than 10 years?
Checking an accountant’s references is one of the important steps in the selection process. Whilst it may be rare, professionals have been known to misrepresent their backgrounds and credentials.
 “At {business name} we know how important getting your accounting and bookkeeping right is and our accuracy of 99% shows just how serious we take this matter. References are available upon request, who will be more than happy to share with you how dedicated we are to providing the highest level of quality and customer service.”

Question 3: Do you understand not only my business type, but also the industry I am in?
For the generalist accountant it can be difficult to offer a bespoke service. It is important to establish how well they understand your business in order for you to determine if you’re comfortable with them as your accountant. Make sure that you have clear goals for your business and that your prospective accountant understands them.
“At {business name} we specialise in understanding that niche markets are where the majority of our clients operate, we place huge value in continually learning and refining our understanding of our clients businesses and marketplaces.”

Question 4: How can you consider my specialist needs?
If you are anticipating some unusual accounting problems in your business, you should find an accountant with specialised training or experience.
“At {business name} we invest the time necessary to learn about our clients and their businesses so we can help mitigate problems and uncover potential pitfalls before they become a risk.”

Question 5: Can you give problem solving advice?
It is essential to determine whether your accountant will be able to give problem solving advice and/or have access to proven resources to solve any problems. Without this you will not be getting the support you could with a good accountant. For instance, look for an accountant who understands the difference between strategic planning and business planning and who has access to business development tools, tax mitigation strategies and can help you to drive your business forward.
“At {business name} we provide a complete problem solving solution suite of services which have a direct positive impact on profits.”

Question 6: How often do your existing clients get audited?
By asking the accountant this question, you will reveal how knowledgable your accountant is. Another point to raise is if they are conservative when it comes to claims or if they push as much as legally possible for their clients.
“At {business name}, our clients enjoy peace of mind that less than 1% of our clients get audited, and that we provide an affordable insurance policy to mitigate any costs.”

Question 7: What experience do you have?
Find out how long the accountant has been in business. Is the firm up to date with the latest rules and regulations? Ask for references and make an effort to call those references.
“At {business name} we’ve been providing an accounting service for {No. of Years Trading} and are always happy to provide references.”

Question 8: What will your service cost?
By clarifying the cost of services from the outset, you can avoid hidden charges. Ask the accountant what you can expect in regards to fees, as some firms will round up to the nearest hour whether you’ve spoken to them for five or fifty five minutes.At the same time be careful to consider the quality of service asthe cheapest price is not always the best option, especially when you are considering the financial affairs of your business. A good accountant will be able to demonstrate their worth by detailing exactly how they will make and save you money in the long run.
“At {business name} we offer a transparent accounting service which exceeds what most other accountants are capable of. Accounting and Bookkeeping are just part of our total service and our key focus is using our services to help your business excel.
Question 9: How do you communicate with your clients?
In any working relationship communication is key to its success, the role of accountant and client is no different. Accountants can be unreliable communicators, so if you want to keep your finger on the pulse and know exactly what your accountant is doing for you on a day to day basis, you need to set some ground rules regarding communication.Ask if you should take the lead regarding meetings to discuss reviews and planning sessions. Can you trust your accountant to act independently on your behalf for the best of your business? Do they have a newsletter you can see? Do they supply guides and information packs relevant to you?“At {business name} , we make communication No.1, we’ve not only developed a comprehensive range of guides and information packs, we’ve listened to our clients and have developed services and products to meet their needs. Go to {website}/services.html to find out what sets us apart from the competition and how we can deliver exception solutions.”
Question 10: Can you deal with my Personal Taxes and how much can you potentially mitigate?
Be careful of accountants who only offer basic tax advice and processing. Whilst there are many advantages of having your accountant file your business taxes and your personal taxes, ensure that your accountant is able to file both and knows of all the available strategies to mitigate your tax where possible.
“At {business name} we only work with the leading UK Tax advisors and Barristers to offer our clients a comprehensive tax mitigation service. Using our services you can legally mitigate a huge proportion of your tax bill. Find out more at {website}/services.html”
 
Finding the right accountant for your business could take a lot of effort, time and error, but if you seriously want an accountant who can confidently answer these 10 questions then let {business name} reveal your best solution. To arrange your risk free complementary financial review, simply call us on {phone number}, e-mail us at {email address} or request yours at {website}/financialreview.html.
There is absolutely no obligation.