Newsletter #145 - The £350 Million small business insult, 10 steps to increase your website sales, Turn the credit crunch into a powerful sales tool, Why we fear selling and how you can overcome it, Guide to new flexible working laws for small companies

In this week's Business121:

1. The £350 Million small business insult
2. 10 steps to increase your website sales
3. Turn the credit crunch into a powerful sales tool
4. Why we fear selling and how you can overcome it
5. How to stay ahead during times of economic instability
6. Guide to new flexible working laws for small companies

Small Business News

7. Small businesses urged to credit check customers
8. Who are the best mobile broadband providers?
9. Entrepreneurs need more pro-business Government action
10. Why now is a good time for starting a business
11. Start-Up Stars Awards 2008 - Finalists announced
12. Government pledges £350m to help small companies - but is it enough?

The £350 Million small business insult

So the Government have announced a £350 Million fund to help small businesses.

It makes a great headline for Downing Street but when you look at it more closely, it's immediately apparent that the whole scheme is a sham.

Firstly, the supposed £350 Million isn't new money, it was already earmarked for the same purpose. But more importantly, how does the Government intend to use this money to help small businesses?

Wait for it... this is good...

They are going to give us subsidised training to help us to become more productive!

Yes that's right! They think the answer to the problems that small businesses are currently facing is some state-sponsored courses, telling us how to increase our PRODUCTIVITY.

That is an insult to every small business in the country. Productivity isn't a problem. It might be in the public sector, but it certainly isn't for small businesses.

If the Government really wants small businesses to be more productive all they have to do is to stop the constant barrage of new legislation that means we waste valuable time dealing with red tape. And, what's more they would save £350 Million to boot.

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10 steps to increase your website sales
So you've got your website up and running and it's looking fantastic. To be successful with online retail, you need to attract a lot of website traffic, and then you need to convert these visitors into buyers. Here are 10 tips to help you increase your website sales

Turn the credit crunch into a powerful sales tool
If you believed everything you read in the media, you'd think this was a terrible time to be in business. But if you can work out how to make a profit during the credit crunch, then you have a fantastic business that should really blossom when the good times return.

Why we fear selling and how you can overcome it
The fear of selling is something that many first time business owners suffer from. Selling is not something we are taught in school or shown by our parents (unless you are immersed in business from an earlier age!) and so the whole process is alien to us. In this article we look at exactly what issues lie behind a fear of selling and what can be done to overcome it.

How to stay ahead during times of economic instability
In the past few weeks we have witnessed a period of unprecedented economic turbulence and instability. Years of consistent economic growth have given way to rising unemployment, increased costs, reduced disposable income and a greater number of risks. This article outlines some courses of action you can take to help you get to grips with the current economic situation.

Guide to new flexible working laws for small companies
The right to request flexible working will be extended to parents of children aged between six and 16 from 1 April 2009. The legislation already covers parents with children aged six and under, or children under 18 with a disability, as well as carers of adults and the extension means an extra 4.5 million parents will gain the right to request flexible working. Here's what you need to know about and how to prepare for this change.

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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

Small businesses urged to credit check customers
The ICAEW is urging small companies to credit check their customers in the current economic climate, to help protect themselves against potential bad debts and late payers.

Who are the best mobile broadband providers?
As more and more people and businesses "go mobile", a comparison site has quizzed thousands of its visitors to find out which companies provide the best mobile broadband coverage and service in the country.

Entrepreneurs need more pro-business Government action
According to an entrepreneur think tank, business owners need the government to adopt more business-friendly policies to help them remain competitive In a sign if increasing frustration with the UK government, 26% of those polled are considering setting up shop overseas.

Why now is a good time for starting a business
A successful entrepreneur is convinced that this is the perfect time to start up in business. To prove the point, he's inviting 500 would-be entrepreneurs to a free start-up show in London on Sunday 23rd November.

Start-Up Stars Awards 2008 - Finalists announced
Ten start-up companies have beaten off stiff opposition to compete for the record £50,000 prize in the HSBC Start-Up Awards in London next week.

Government pledges £350m to help small companies - but is it enough?
Skills Secretary John Denham has pledged £350m to help small companies put staff on short courses aimed at increasing productivity.

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

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