Newsletter #124 - Faster Payment scheme to benefit businesses, Top tips to publicise your website online for pennies, Guide to VoIP for small businesses, Seven ways to weather the economic storm...

In this week's Business121 Newsletter:

1. Faster Payment scheme to benefit businesses
2. Guide to VoIP (Voice over IP) for small businesses
3. Seven ways to weather the economic storm
4. Top tips to publicise your website online for pennies
5. 8 Essential Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tips

Small Business News

6. Prosecutions set to rise under new Corporate Manslaughter laws
7. PR workshop for small businesses - 12th June, London
8. Faster Payments (FP) scheme set to speed up business banking
9. Small businesses want GPs to help end 'sick note culture' in the UK
10. Government spends £2.5bn advising businesses on how to get advice!

Faster Payment scheme to benefit businesses

It's not often that banks make life easier for small businesses but that is the case this week with the launch of the "Faster Payments" scheme.

Under the new "Faster Payments" system, banks will now process, Phone, Internet and Standing Order payments within hours rather than days.

The introduction of "Faster Payments" will mean that many businesses will no longer have to use CHAPS to make same-day payments and can therefore reduce the charges usually incurred in making instant payments.

To date, 13 banks and building societies - accounting for 97% of all payments - have joined the Faster Payments (FP) scheme which will sit alongside CHAPS and Bacs the existing payment schemes.

Initially, Faster Payments transactions will be limited to £10,000 for immediate payments and £100,000 for standing orders, although some banks may set lower limits.

************************** Advertisement ************************

TURN YOUR UNPAID INVOICES INTO CASH

Is late payment hurting your business cashflow? Are your overdraft limits restricting you?

If so, LLOYDS TSB COMMERCIAL FINANCE can help solve your problems. Our factoring and invoice finance products can give you a 90% cash advance on the invoice value whenever possible, which means you can instantly turn unpaid invoices into cash.

Click here to get and Instant Quote and find out how we can help you to quickly raise cash for your business.
*****************************************************************

Guide to VoIP (Voice over IP) for small businesses
Few small businesses realise the benefits of switching to Voice over IP (VoIP) communications. Despite the impressive features and savings to be made, internet telephony has been tarnished with a reputation for poor call quality and unreliability.

However, now that advancements in technology have ironed out these problems, it is time for the business world to wise up and take advantage of the possibilities. Here's what you need to know about VoIP.

Seven ways to weather the economic storm
With the economy slowing down many a small business owner is re-evaluating budgets and tightening up on spending. The first casualty is often the marketing spend – but this may prove to be a short-sighted approach.

If you want your business to grow, whatever the economic climate, you should focus on these seven key areas. Get these right and your business should not only ride out the economic storm, but actively thrive throughout the turmoil.

Top tips to publicise your website online for pennies
If you are looking to publicise your business website, but don't have a blue-chip budget to promote it online, there are a number of ways to let people know about your new venture with very little cash (if any).

8 Essential Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tips
Some sound advice if you're embarking on a SEO (web marketing) campaign.
Includes useful tips and resources you can use to help your website rank
well on the major search engines.

************************** Advertisement ************************

WHY YOUR BUSINESS IS BETTER OFF INSURED WITH HISCOX

As a leading specialist insurer we provide the most comprehensive business insurance available online.

You can tailor your policy with industry specific professional indemnity cover (£25K up to £2M), 'all-risks' contents and computers cover, portable equipment, public liability, employers' liability, legal expenses, business interruption & buildings.

Why not get a quote now? Only Hiscox allows you to buy online in minutes and download your policy documents immediately. Click here to find out more - http://snipurl.com/_Hiscox_Insurance
*****************************************************************

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

Prosecutions set to rise under new Corporate Manslaughter laws
Legal and corporate responsibility experts have predicted a dramatic increase in the number of firms successfully prosecuted for corporate manslaughter as a result of UK legislation introduced last month.

PR workshop for small businesses - 12th June, London
The Business & IP Centre a the British Library is running its second media workshop on Thursday 12th June, aimed at anyone keen to gain media coverage for their new or growing businesses.

Faster Payments (FP) scheme set to speed up business banking
Small businesses will be happy to hear that the time banks take to process payments is set to become a lot faster from today, with the launch of "Faster Payments". Phone, Internet and Standing Order payments will now be processed within hours rather than days.

Small businesses want GPs to help end 'sick note culture' in the UK
The UK Business Barometer survey reveals that GPs should help to put an end to the 'sick note culture' that is rife in the UK according to small business owners.

Government spends £2.5bn advising businesses on how to get advice!
The Conservative Party has outlined its proposals to fix the Government's business support system, which has been described as both "complex" and "out of control". The Task Force, chaired by Doug Richard of Dragons' Den fame, says that currently there are an unbelievable 3,000 business support schemes being run in the UK at a cost of over £2.5 billion.

** For the latest Small Business News, visit http://www.Bytestart.co.uk **

===========
CLASSIFIEDS
===========

SAVE ON CAR RENTAL WITH BUDGET BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
Uniquely designed for the smaller business, BusinessConnections from Budget Rent-a-Car gives you great value, great quality and great service. Membership is FREE and you'll get 5 x FREE upgrade vouchers if you sign up before May 31st! Click here for more details:
http://snipurl.com/_BusinessConnections

BETTER BUSINESS - THE MAGAZINE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Every issue of BETTER BUSINESS brings you ideas, advice and inspiration to help you to transform your business. Find out more about it and a special offer for Business121 readers here; http://snipurl.com/_Better_Business

SEE YOUR AD HERE
Business121 is read by over 11,000 small business owners every week. Advertise in our newsletter from just £60+vat per issue. Please email Classified@Business121.co.uk for details.

(c) Business121.co.uk 2008