Business121 Small Business Newsletter #21

In this week's Business121:

1. Dedicated sales training for small business owners
2. Give Your Business An Oscar Moment
3. What is pay per click fraud and how do you fight it?
4. Pensions A-Day - Revenue may decide who your friends are!
5. Starting a business - 10 tips to consider before taking the plunge
6. Incoming Links - 12 Powerful Link Building Strategies
7. Red tape costs business over £50 billion
8. DTI attacks CBI's Business Link report
9. EEDA to contract single Business Link provider

Dedicated sales training for small business owners

Articles giving sales tips and advice are always very popular with readers of Business121. The art of selling underpins so many aspects of running a successful small business, none of us can afford to ignore it.

As business owners, we're all eager to improve our skills, particularly those skills that can make a disproportionate difference to our business. Just a few small changes in the way that we approach sales can give our bottom-line an enormous boost.

In recent weeks, I've had several emails from readers asking me whether I know of any sales courses that are designed specifically for small business owners. I don't know of any, but maybe you do? If you've been on a sales course that you can recommend to other small business owners, please drop me an email; emyr@Business121.co.uk

It also strikes me that there may be an opportunity here. If there isn't a suitable sales training course for small business owners, then maybe there's a gap in the market and we should develop one?

What will help you to make more sales?

If you were to go on a sales course, what particular areas of sales techniques or skills would you like to learn about? Maybe you'd like to develop your ability to cold-call, improve your presentation skills or learn techniques to close deals? Whatever aspect it is just email me to let me know; emyr@Business121.co.uk

If we do go ahead, and put together a sales training course designed specifically for small business owners, then everybody who provides feedback will be entitled to a discount.

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

2 YEARS FREE BUSINESS BANKING FOR NEW BUSINESSES
.................................................................
Alliance & Leicester's new Free Business Builder Current Account
now gives start-ups 2 years free banking. Benefits include;

- 2 years FREE banking
- No transaction charges
- FREE online business guidance service
- Banking by internet, fax, phone or at any of 14,500 Post Offices

For more information, and to download an application pack, visit
http://snipurl.com/_2years_Free_Banking

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

Give Your Business An Oscar Moment

Just as an Oscar nomination is the pinnacle of an actor's career, the same can be true when your business is nominated or wins an industry award. Learn why your business should be entering awards, how to go about winning that prestigious title and how to make the most out the exposure it can give you.
http://snipurl.com/_Award_Winning

What is pay per click fraud and how do you fight it?

Pay per click advertising is a valuable marketing tool for many small businesses. But with click fraud presently believed to represent 5 to 15 percent of all PPC clicks how do you know whether your business is suffering.

Find out what the two main types of PPC fraud are and how to spot whether you're a victim.
http://snipurl.com/_pay_per_click_fraud

Pensions A-Day - Revenue may decide who your friends are!

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has produced draft internal guidelines encouraging tax inspectors to establish whether or not an employee is a 'close friend' of the controlling director of a firm before allowing tax relief for pensions contributions made in respect of an employee.

For accounting periods ending after 5 April 2006, this expense will only be deducted if the business can demonstrate that it is incurred "wholly and exclusively" for a business purpose such as attracting and retaining valued employees.
http://snipurl.com/_A_Day_Pensions

Starting a business - 10 tips to consider before taking the plunge

The key things to bear in mind before setting up a new business, including tips on funding, employing people and the biggest causes of failure for startups.
http://snipurl.com/_Starting_Up

Incoming Links - 12 Powerful Link Building Strategies

Incoming links to your website means more visitors to your site. They also boost your link popularity, and therefore help you to climb the search engine results.

Here are 12 tips to help you develop a successful link strategy for your small business website.
http://snipurl.com/_Link_Building_Tips

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

TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS WITH PRACTICAL, PROVEN IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS
.................................................................
The March issue of Better Business magazine is packed with tips,
ideas, inspiration and motivation for every small business owner.

Find out how Lawrence Jones turned a near-death experience into
the catalyst he needed to turn his business into a rapid-growth
and award-winning venture. You'll also learn how to get your
products on the shelves of a store like Waitrose, how to turn
your business into a top brand and much, much more.

Business121 and Bytestart readers can save 33% with this link:
http://snipurl.com/_Better_Business

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

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

Red tape costs business over £50 billion

Anybody trying to run a business will know that the burden of dealing with the flood of new legislation is growing. Incessant diktats, from a Government that's oblivious to the realities of running a small business, are piling extra costs on to every UK business and stifling enterprise.

According to new figures released by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the cost to business of major regulations introduced since 1998 has now risen to over £50 billion.
http://snipurl.com/_cost_of_red_tape

DTI attacks CBI's Business Link report

The DTI has hit back at a recent CBI report that criticised the performance of Business Link.
http://snipurl.com/_DTI_CBI_spat

EEDA to contract single Business Link provider

East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has confirmed its plans to contract a single regional Business Link provider, to deliver Business Link services in its area. The change means that the six existing Business Links in the area, such as Business Link Suffolk and Business Link Norfolk will cease to exist from April 2007.
http://snipurl.com/_EEDA_Business_Link

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

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

LEARN HOW TO GET MORE CUSTOMERS - OR YOUR MONEY BACK!
.................................................................
A marketing course that will grow your profits - guaranteed.
Book this week & get £50 OFF the next course. Call 0845 337 0451
http://snipurl.com/Marketing_Essentials

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

THINKING OF GETTING A NEW WEBSITE in 2006?
.................................................................
Then don't go ahead without speaking with us first. At Blue-Egg
eCommerce we're dedicated to producing websites specifically
for small businesses. And we're happy give a 10% discount to
Business121 readers. Visit: http://snipurl.com/Blue_Egg

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