Introduction
Welcome back to Biz Tips. Since our last issue we've had snow, bank officials in the 'dock' (so to speak) and a new president across the pond.

Closer to home (Cheam that is) we have now launched our first (of many) online support tools for small business owners, The Impact Strategic Business Plan. At a recession busting £39.99+VAT it's a must to plan your business to success.

Biztips is completely complimentary and I hope you find the content here both useful and informative. If you haven't already done so then please subscribe and feel free to send it to a business colleague, friend, client or even supplier, by using the link here or in the right hand margin

---

Biz Tips

Employment Rights - Increase in limits
Fintan and our good colleagues at HR Dept can tell you all about increased award limits for amounts payable under employment legislation. If you have staff – are you covered? Speak to Fintan for some ideas.

Statutory Payment Changes
Again from HR Department – some statutory payments have changed for the forthcoming tax year.
Sick, maternity, paternity and adoption pay are amongst those payments that are changing, so if your business is affected, click this link to go to HR Department.

Increased fines at Companies House
Fines now (from 1/2/09) kick in at just 6 months if you fail to keep your Companies House submissions up to date as follows:

• Less than 1 month late: £150
• More than 1 month but less than 3 months: £375
• More than 3 months but less than 6 months: £750
• More than 6 months: £1,500

Ledger Sparks can help keep you up to date, visit their website here

---

Feature: A 'Recession'- So What Now?

Ok, so we are in a recession… Hopefully at the early stages of a recession you have seen the writing on the wall and started to plan some different strategies to ensure your survival (not to mention success!). Many business (even the banks!) certainly this time around, never saw this coming.

Of course having said that, it’s never too late to start planning and recreating. I myself have done so and amongst other strategies, internet trading and introducing our products and services to overseas markets, are just two we have adopted. There is always something else you can be doing to move forward. Some would argue that in business, you either move forward or fall back and never actually stand still.

As many of you know I place mind set as a key ingredient towards either business success or indeed failure. One major area of business risk as we go forward into coping with a significant economic downturn, is the formation of what we label a 'limiting belief’.

" So what’s a limiting belief?" I hear you cry.

When presented with enough sustained evidence the mind will eventually accept these ideas as being true, which is when a belief is formed:

e.g. "you can’t make a profit in the market."

e.g. "my business success is now out of my control, it’s all about the market."

Let me tell you, once a belief is embedded into the subconscious business mind it is very difficult to shift!

Now having had the concept explained, you might recognise a few LB’s lurking in the background that pre-date the recession, the credit crunch or even this Government.

If this is the case for you and it is holding back your business, then it's time for a reframe of your perspective. Give the office a call and arrange a ‘Business Breakthrough Session’ to get you back on the path to success.
The inoculation from future limiting beliefs, the business equivalent of the flu jab, is redoubling your efforts on your strategies to success. A quick look back at your business plan should get you refocused and rearmed with some specific timed actions.

What, no business plan..? No Strategy!

Click here for your immediate recession inoculation.

Tune in next month for more on getting back to success.

---

Customer Service - I Don't Think So!
So thinking I would be creative at Christmas, knowing how much Lisa (my better half!) loves ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, I felt tickets to the tour at the O2 would be spot on.

Unfortunately, I took some things for granted - for instance:

That my Sat Nav would get me to the venue no problem – after all the car is only 6 months old – I was wrong

That the venue would be well sign posted once in that ‘neck of the woods'– Wrong again

That the address of London’s biggest venue would actually be on the ticket – No

That a phone number for the venue would be on the ticket – No

That their agent’s number (which was on the ticket) would be answered promptly – No again

That we would be allowed to leave the venue and grab some fresh air in the interval – Not a chance

Nightmare! I’ll definitely have to do better next Christmas.

Now, a great sign of customer service, is an online questionnaire within 2 days after the event. This was duly received from the O2 and of course, I was (brutally) honest in my evaluation of our first experience of the venue.
Also, another great sign of customer service would have been a reply to the questionnaire response. They might have said that they had taken the feedback on board, even relating to my disappointment. Had they done so, I may have returned for a future event – but nothing! So that’s the end of my relationship with the O2 as far as I’m concerned. So I am wondering…

How do you follow up with your customers?

How do gauge your delivery standards in order to improve them?

How do you find out and correct a customer’s disappointing experience?

If you are struggling for the answers, consider an online survey, (for those clients of yours which have provided email addresses and if not why not - you need them!). The good news is we can deliver a great value, customised and branded survey for your business for exactly this purpose. Only £50+VAT will help get you a full report with all the information you want from your most prized asset – your customers. What you then do with that information may well transform your business.

---

Business Reviews

As usual we are offering our Business Review (a two to three hour review session with one of our consultants entirely at our expense) to the first three businesses who reply to this edition. Give us a call at the offices on 0845 257 4975 now to reserve yours.

---

Thanks for reading, I hope you are finding our tips and information useful and stay focused on your strategies for success. Please visit us again in March.

 

Phil Wells
Business Success Coach
www.impact-corporate.co.uk

I will only bring you items and information that I believe will benefit your business.

 

---