Business121 Small Business Newsletter #20

In this week's Business121:

1. What entrepreneurs think you need to be successful in business
2. How to avoid classic Business Plan mistakes
3. A Glossary of Search Engine Optimisation terms
4. 73% of sole traders unsure of employers liability insurance law
5. Late payment still rife among UK plcs
6. FPB brands TUC work your hours day 'reckless'
7. Are small businesses prepared for the unexpected?

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

ARE YOU INVISIBLE TO POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS?
.................................................................
Every month some 1.7 million people use Touch directories to find
the products and services they are looking for. If you're not
listed, you're invisible to these potential customers.

So, take just a few minutes to add your business details now so
that potential customers can find you. It's easy and won't cost
you a penny. Register for your Free Listing at:
http://snipurl.com/_Touch_Free_Listing

*****************************************************************

What entrepreneurs think you need to be successful in business

I think last week must have been National Survey Week. We always receive a steady stream of press releases touting the latest survey results, but last week we were almost washed away by a torrent of research that left us swimming in a sea of, mainly useless, stats.

Very few of these surveys ever reveal anything of note or value to small business owners but there was one that came up with some findings of interest and use.

The needle in last week's haystack was the RBS Living Business Survey which set out to explore the background of successful business owners.

The results suggest that these entrepreneurs catch the bug early with 84% of them working to earn money while still at school. And for almost half the business owners surveyed the extra-curricular activities seemed to be more stimulating than schoolbooks, as 45% of them left school at 15 or 16.

When questioned about what characteristics they displayed whilst young, 46% said that being competitive at sport was the trait they showed most. So the next time you're at a school sports day it should be easy for you to spot our future entrepreneurs in action!

ENERGY AND DETERMINATION ABOVE ALL

But the real gems of information are revealed when the successful business owners were asked what characteristics they believe are important in making themselves successful. The survey showed that they believed energy and determination were the most important characteristics to contribute to business success. These were followed by communication, sense of humour and vision.

Interestingly, ruthlessness was the least favoured characteristic of successful entrepreneurs. So there's one more myth of business exploded!

Finally, when the entrepreneurs were asked to give one piece of advice to someone thinking of starting their own business, the most popular answer was to be determined and committed and not give up.

This survey gives an interesting insight into the minds of successful business owners, and what characteristics we need to follow in their footsteps. Their message is clear, if you really want to succeed in business, you can.

You can find the full article and results here:
http://snipurl.com/_Entrepreneur_survey

How to avoid classic Business Plan mistakes
------------------------------------
Often you may hear about what a business plan consists of. While including the necessary items is very important, you also want to make sure you don't commit any of the following common business plan mistakes:
http://snipurl.com/_Biz_Plan_mistakes

Search Engine Optimisation - SEO Glossary
------------------------------------
The whole area of search engine optimisation (SEO) can be confusing, even to the most technical-minded business owners. When you add the jargon and techno-speak that the industry seems to revel in, it's easy to get turned-off by the whole SEO thing!

So to help SEO-newcomers we've put together a glossary of commonly used search engine optimisation, web search and site promotion terms to help you get to grips with it.
http://snipurl.com/_SEO_Glossary

73% of sole traders unsure of employers liability insurance law
------------------------------------
One year on from the change in Employers Liability insurance legislation, 73% of UK sole traders admit to not being aware of the update in the law and its implication to sole traders.

Failure to comply can mean a fine of £2,500 per day. If you're not sure whether you need to take out Employers Liability insurance use this checklist to help you to find out.
http://snipurl.com/_EL_insurance_check

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

HOW TO FIND, RE-PACKAGE AND PROFIT FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN WORKS
.................................................................
If you're looking for low-cost ways to boost your business, then
re-packaging and re-publishing books that are in the public
domain could be your answer. By tapping into this underground
industry you can quickly, easily and legally create completely
new products from information that is freely available.

Our special report will show you exactly how to make your own
e-books, guides or reports and how you can use these as free
gifts to boost your sales or to sell for cash. Full details here:
http://snipurl.com/_Public_Domain
*****************************************************************

===================
SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
===================

Late payment still rife among UK plcs
------------------------------------
New league tables show that some firms are failing to honour their payment obligations and are using their size to get away with it.
http://snipurl.com/_Big_cos_pay_late

FPB brands TUC work your hours day 'reckless'
------------------------------------

The Forum of Private Business says that Friday's stunt by the TUC to stage a national 'Work Your Proper Hours' day risks damaging the UK's economic engine room - small firms.
http://snipurl.com/_reckless_TUC

Are small businesses prepared for the unexpected?
------------------------------------

Contingency plans for staff absence and a major IT systems failure was the focus of the latest online survey run by The University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation.
http://snipurl.com/_contingency_plans

** For the latest Small Business News, visit http://snipurl.com/Bytestart_News **

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

DO YOU MAKE THESE WEBSITE MISTAKES?
.................................................................
Find out the top ten small business website mistakes.
Download your free eBook now http://snipurl.com/_Website_Mistakes

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET A BETTER DEAL
.................................................................
Through LogBuy all small businesses can club together to benefit
from lower prices. It costs nothing to join and is simple to use,
it's an effortless way for you and every other small business in
the country to get a better deal. Sign up today to start saving
right away: http://snipurl.com/_LogBuy_Home

WE SPECIALISE IN MORTGAGES FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED .................................................................
FreelancerMoney specialise in arranging mortgages for small
business owners, freelancers and contractors. To learn more
about how we can help you to get the mortgage you want just
click here: http://snipurl.com/_FreelancerMoney

SEE YOUR AD HERE
.................................................................
Business121 is read by over 12,000 small business owners every
week. Advertise in our newsletter from just £45+vat per issue.
Please email Classified@Business121.co.uk for details
.................................................................

(c) Business121.co.uk 2006