Business121 Small Business Newsletter #78

In this week's Business121:

1. Broadband brings opportunity and danger
2. Cold-calling strategies for success
3. Spotting and tackling stress in the workplace
4. How to produce a competitive analysis
5. Building an online business from the ground up – Website Builder Tools
6. An annual cull improves staff
7. Small businesses adopting blogging, RSS and search marketing
8. Broadband brings better work-life balance to small business owners
9. Overseas tax 'amnesty' not what it seems
10. UK businesses say employee rights gone too far

Broadband brings opportunity and danger

According to research from BT Business released this week, 82% of the UK’s small business owners with broadband report a better work-life balance thanks to their internet connection.

At the same time, another of this week's surveys found that 98% of British small business owners and managers feel stressed at work, with more than a quarter feeling under pressure for between 75% and 100% of the time.

These two, seemingly contradictory, pieces of research however may well be linked. There is no doubt that the growth of broadband has enabled a huge number of small business owners to create a more flexible working environment. However, with the opportunity to work 'more flexibly' comes the opportunity to simply work 'more'.

And when given the chance to spend more time on their business, many entrepreneurs do so. But, if you're not careful you can find yourself putting in more hours than you really need to. Just because you CAN work, doesn't mean you SHOULD work.

For many business owners, it can be harder to switch off than it is to switch on. But it's something we all need to learn to do in this age of flexible working.

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Cold-calling strategies for success
In the business-to-business world, a well-executed cold call can be one of the fastest and most cost-effective routes to new business - yet most people never learn to do it properly. Here are some strategies to help you succeed.

Spotting and tackling stress in the workplace
With stress in the workplace a growing problem here are some tips to enable owners and managers to spot and tackle the tell tale signs of stress before it terrorises the office.

How to produce a competitive analysis
A good competitive analysis varies according to what industry you're in and your specific marketing plan and situation. Here's a guide to how to produce a competitive analysis for your business.

Building an online business from the ground up – Website Builder Tools
Many startups with technical knowledge build their own websites, but this can mean that the money being saved on web development is now being lost in labour time. So what’s the alternative?

An annual cull improves staff
Executives believe that changing 5% of the workforce is healthy but few have the courage to do it. Microsoft and GE are two American giants that make no secret of their willingness to cull staff and recruit afresh each year. Many other companies do it without making a fuss writes Roger Eglin for The Times.

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PCG is the not-for-profit association for freelance consultants and contractors. Members get advice, support and practical help with all aspects of running their business. As a member, you can be part of a professional network, with insurances to give you peace of mind, and expert help and advice about setting up, taxation, running your business, securing work, marketing, credit control and more.

Valuable membership benefits include tax investigation insurance, contract templates, expert guides, online forums and other options, like jury service cover and our innovative ISO9001 scheme for small consulting businesses. See http://snipurl.com/The_PCG for details.
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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
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Small businesses adopting blogging, RSS and search marketing
UK small businesses with a website are starting to blog and adopt DIY-style RSS and search engine marketing tools at an impressive rate.

Broadband brings better work-life balance to small business owners
82% of the UK’s small business owners with broadband report a better work-life balance thanks to their internet connection, according to research from BT Business.

Overseas tax 'amnesty' not what it seems
HMRC's decision to offer an 'Offshore Disclosure Facility' rather than an 'overseas tax amnesty' will ring warning bells for those business owners with money held overseas.

UK businesses say employee rights gone too far
New research by entrepreneur think tank The Tenon Forum reveals that 70% of UK entrepreneurs feel that the balance of power has been shifted too far in favour of the employee.

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

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