Bytestart Small Business Newsletter #12

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Latest Small Business Updates

1. 10 Easy Steps to a User Friendly Website
2. What Limited Companies need to send to Companies House
3. Guide to Working From Home
4. An introduction to the Open Directory Project
5. Tax Planning tips if you're buying a second property
6. Many small businesses believe e-business is not important
7. Government red tape tops British small business concerns
8. Cost Fears Hold Back UK's 'WANTrepreneurs'
9. Google SMS - Now you can search via your mobile!
10. A mission to stop the spam army
11. Business boom ahead as London wins Olympic bid
12. New site aims to beat online auction cheats

Ten Easy Steps to a User Friendly Website

As a busy search engine optimisation consultant, I don't have a lot of time to manage my website. But recently I learnt the hard way about the fickle nature of website visitors and the damage that having a user- unfriendly site can do to a business.

Now I give my website usability much more priority than ever before.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/22/22_1/10-easy-steps-to-a-user-f.shtml

What Limited Companies need to send to Companies House

When setting up, and running a UK company, company directors and the company secretary are responsible for sending information to Companies House, to ensure that the Registry is up-to-date. This may include changes in company details, or submission of accounts.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/19/19_1/what-limited-companies-ne.shtml

Guide to Working From Home

Some of us have to work at home; others see the idea as the perfect solution to a noisy office, endless interruptions, or a long and expensive commute. But if you are seriously thinking of leaving the office on a permanent basis, there are a number of questions you must first consider.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/24/24_5/guide-to-working-from-hom.shtml

An introduction to the Open Directory Project

The Open Directory Project is a web directory of nearly 4 million Internet sites and resources, not a search engine. The directory is hierarchically arranged by subject – from broad to specific. The ODP is maintained by nearly 60,000 community editors who evaluate sites for inclusion in the directory. All submissions are subject to editor evaluation, so you will need to take care when submitting your site.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/promotion/7_5/an-introduction-to-the-op.shtml

Tax Planning tips if you're buying a second property

Buying a second or holiday home in the sun can prove far more costly than planned if purchasers don't organise their tax affairs properly says PKF accountants and business advisers.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/24/24_6/tax-planning-tips-if-your.shtml

Many small businesses believe e-business is not important

The startling findings of the third annual East Midlands Small Business e-Adoption Survey were revealed last week and showed that over half of businesses in the region do not see e-business as important to their current needs.

Furthermore, over half (51%) of businesses do not appear to be interested in acquiring IT or e-business advice or support.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/many-small-businesses-bel.shtml

Government red tape tops British small business concerns

According to latest research by accounting software supplier, MYOB, Government red tape is the primary concern of small business entrepreneurs in the UK.

In a survey of small businesses, 45% of respondents cited this as their primary business concern with interest rates (25%) and the state of the economy (25%) also featuring strongly. The concern over red tape also increases as the business grows with 56% of businesses with 11 to 20 employees citing it as their primary worry compared to 43% of sole traders.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/government-red-tape-tops-.shtml

Cost Fears Hold Back UK's 'WANTrepreneurs'

Fears of spiralling day-to-day costs are holding back the UK’s budding entrepreneurs, according to a new study by Lexmark.

The independent survey of 1,000 working adults found that despite an incredible 40% saying they would start their own business if they could, over half of those (22%) - dubbed ‘wantrepreneurs’ — are failing to realise their dream due to a variety of fear factors.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/cost-fears-hold-back-uks-.shtml

Google SMS - Now you can search via your mobile!

The Google success story keeps on growing - we have Gmail, Desktop search, the Google Toolbar, and now Google SMS.

This new service enables web users to send queries as text messages from mobile phones or similar devices and easily get precise answers to your questions. No links. No web pages. Just text.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/google-sms-now-you-can-se.shtml

A mission to stop the spam army

According to an anonymous posting on the internet, the US could experience "the world's largest spam fest" this weekend. The message - which appeared on a website dedicated to people who want to discuss IT matters - contained an offer to rent out a series of "hijacked" personal computers to spammers.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/a-mission-to-stop-the-spa.shtml

Business boom ahead as London wins Olympic bid

Following a tough campaign over the past 2 years, London managed to beat its rival, Paris in winning its bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/business-boom-ahead-as-lo.shtml

New site aims to beat online auction cheats

A new web-based service launches this week that aims to combat the growing problem of online auction fraud.

On average some 12.5 million transactions were completed on auction sites worldwide every single day during 2004, of which 250,000 turned out to be fraudulent – with sellers failing to deliver the goods, buyers giving bogus credit card details or people selling stolen or counterfeit goods.

http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/online-auction-cheats.shtml

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All the best,

The Bytestart Team