GrowthBusiness.co.uk: Your gateway to entrepreneurial success
Simon Daniel
Back to the future
Now the recession is apparently over, global companies are back to thinking about the future...
- Leadership & Management
- Marketing & Sales
- Business Expansion
- Human Resources
- Technology in Business
- Legal Advice
Marketing & Sales - Analysis
How to grow your market share
Even when you can't grow your turnover or profits, you can still aim to take a larger slice of a shrinking market. We look at tactics to win business from powerful competitors.
Colouring your brand
The use of colour is a vital element in any branding or rebranding strategy. Roger Rundle, a director at communications agency The Team, analyses what different colour palettes say about the companies that use them.
Securing government contracts
The Glover review contains proposals to make it easier for growing companies to win government contracts. Mark Bailey, partner at law firm Speechly Bircham, asks if it will make a difference.
Local search: get noticed
Most internet users use local search techniques to locate products and services in their area. Steve Barnes, CEO of online search specialist Infoserve, explains how you can get in on the action.
Global market, local customers
For companies interested in reaching global markets, a multilingual strategy can pay dividends. Jacob Laurvigen, MD of search engine optimisation specialist Standoutmedia, explains why.
17 ways to boost your sales
High fives and a sales board will only get you so far when it comes to growing your business.
Brave new worlds: branding and rebranding
If your brand slips, then your premium goes and earnings tumble. Get it right and you can scale your ambition to dizzy heights.
Your sales team in a slowdown
There are a lot of sales people talking about an economic slowdown at the moment, and whether it’s true or not, it can become self-fulfilling.
Redefine your market
Three owner-managers including Richard Haddon, chief executive of AIM-listed facilities management company Fountains (pictured), explain how they grew sales by reaching out to new customers.
Customer intelligence: the facts
An industry has sprung up that takes the old adage of ‘knowing your customer’ that stage further. Customer analytics software promises to help businesses explore patterns within their data, thereby learning more about their customers and hopefully encouraging them to spend more money.
Negotiation: turning up the heat
Sometimes it pays to be nasty. In the early days of commercial television, I worked in a small agency in the media department, which meant I had to do a little of everything while our larger competitors had specialist buying departments, recalls Chris Ingram.
How we doubled revenues in a year
It's every entrepreneur's dream. Three business leaders reveal how they supercharged their sales.
Sales and marketing: building a united team
Sales and marketing departments have historically battled against each other for budgets and recognition. Mark Robson, senior partner at Insight Group, explains how they might be encouraged to work better together.
Finding your market niche
As markets mature and consolidate, two things happen: wily entrepreneurs make their fortunes by selling to big businesses, and up-and-coming entrepreneurs need to figure a way to provide an alternative to those high street giants.
Create killer marketing copy
Too often, marketing campaigns fail to elicit a market response. Don’t let yours be a statistic.
Research
- From video games developers to firms of architects, creative businesses of all kinds struggle to get adequate financing due to a misconception that they cannot be analysed systematically, claims a new report. The study comes from the Centre for Creative Business (CCB), a joint venture between London Business School and University of the Arts London.
Directors' Pay AIM 2009
What should an AIM company pay its CEO or FD?
What should a non-executive director or chairman expect to be paid?
What benchmarks should AIM remuneration committee members be using when
setting pay?
VCT Special Report 2009
This reports principle aim is to provide business owners seeking funding with information about the amount of funds that VCTs have to invest.
Store
AIM Guide 2009/2010
The 2009/2010 AIM Guide contains essential information for anyone interested in the Alternative Investment Market.
Business XL
Business XL is written by leaders for leaders. The magazine is a fountain of inside information and knowledge, which can only be delivered by people who have started, bought and grown their own business.
M&A Magazine
M&A Magazine is the leading mid-market monthly corporate finance publication in the UK.
Videos
Punch above your weight
Jos White, who sold his company MessageLabs for $695 million, on why it's so important to act like a bigger business than you really are.
Meeting menaces: The Waffler
More tips from John Cleese, who reveals how to stop a waffler in full flow.
Reducing energy usage
Ian Cheshire, chairman of B&Q, explains how the store has saved 10,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
FREE one month Virtual Office Trial – No other commitment needed!
Get an image enhancing business address plus call answering & mail handling services as well as access to over 1000 business lounges worldwide with a Regus Virtual Office. It's a great alternative to having a full time office, great for start-up, home based, small and growing businesses. For your one month free trial, call 0843 216 2009 or visit regus.co.uk/small quoting VOTRIA.
Promote your business for FREE with Yellow Pages
You could have your business details listed for FREE in the Yellow Pages directory. Find out more here. Terms and conditions apply
Selecting the right IT strategy in 2010
Owner managers and CEOs of fast-growing companies want IT-applications that accelerate competitive advantage and improve operational efficiency. This free whitepaper helps you plan and choose the right IT strategy for your business in 2010. Download ‘Selecting The Right Software Vendor’.
Save time and money with Outsourcery
Discover how streamlining and automating your sales processes can help ensure a shorter sales cycle and improved customer retention. Microsoft Dynamics CRM business software provides fast access to useful data in the office, at home or out at meetings. Download this free whitepaper to understand the business benefits
Out with the old, in with affordable.
Bring in IBM System x3650 M2 Express servers powered by Intel® Xeon® and dramatically lower IT operating expenses. Use IBM’s online evaluation tool to see ROI in as little as three months. Find out more
Google Business Apps
Google Apps lets your business save time and money by outsourcing email, calendar and office applications to Google. Just tell us a couple key stats about your business, and we'll estimate how much a basic Microsoft Exchange 2007 deployment would cost and what you could save with Google Apps.View Google Business Apps.
Enterprise-class e-commerce for mid-sized businesses
Online shopping has become ubiquitous and has changed customers' expectations. But how can mid-sized companies tackle e-commerce?
View now the ATG webinar with Forrester Research to find out how enterprise-class e-commerce can work for you. Click here to find out more
Compare public liability and business insurance quotes now
Compare quotes in minutes from leading insurers, including
Secure early payment for your unpaid invoices with Simply Business
Simply Business works with a carefully selected panel of the UK's leading factoring and invoice discounting providers. Find out your cash flow options in minutes, you could have 90% of your invoices paid in 24 hours. To find out more click here
Get started with Barclays Business Banking
Choose from 3 great Start-up packages offering a range of business and banking solutions, from cashflow management software (QuickBooks or Sage) to VAT management solution. Plus, up to 2 years FREE banking (conditions apply). Apply online.
Free weekly growth strategies for your business
Growing your business? Read our free impartial, jargon-free guides and tips on IT, marketing, legal issues and HR. Find out more or sign up today.
Bullet-Proof IT Systems?
That might be a fantasy, but finding the right partner to provide services and support needn't be a challenge. Our free service delivers tailored quotes from the best providers. Compare quotes now.
Marketing & Sales
Analysis, quick guides, marketing strategy and business case studies. Profiles of successful marketers and sales projects. Sectors covered include: developing marketing strategies, PR, corporate identity, Internet search, web design, boosting sales and related channels.
