Introduction
Welcome back to Biz Tips and more useful information tips and anecdotes for the world of small business.

The economic slow down continues despite further interest rate cuts and this month's offering further focuses us on more marketing, more effort with some new ideas on creating the success you are hopefully planning for.

In fact these were all highlights from my key note speech for Lloyds TSB at Epsom Downs last Friday - thanks for listening if you attended!

Your feedback is valued and if there are items or subjects that you would like more information on please call and let us know.

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

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TipBitz
There are changes due in April, make sure you are aware that:

• The second phase of the rise in statutory minimum holiday entitlement will result in an increase from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks from 1 April 2009 as a result of the Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007.
• The right to request flexible working is to be extended to parents of children up to the age of 16 from 6 April 2009. Amended flexible working regulations are expected to be published shortly.
• The right to time off work for public duties is to be extended to employees in a wider range of civic roles from 6 April 2009.
• The statutory dispute resolution procedures are being abolished from 6 April 2009.

Thanks to Fintan at The HR Dept for the above update (logo/lnk to the right) and for more information on what else you need to know about what affects your business, call Impact today. Know what you need to know, now!

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Feature: Marketing hard in a recession
How effectively are you marketing throughout this recession? You have to believe that there are plenty of people or companies out there who want and need your products and services - it’s just a case of working harder to find them.

Perhaps you could, if you don’t already, consider employing some (or all!) the following strategies to bring in sufficient new clients to satisfy your turnover requirements:

Website:Optimised
Direct Marketing:Letters
Direct Marketing:Email
Direct Marketing: Cold Calling
Surveys: Email
Brochure
Flyers
Adverts: Press News
Adverts: Radio
Adverts: TV
Multimedia: Streaming Video
Newsletters: Printed
Newsletters: E-Zine
Research: White Paper
Full PR: Advertorials
Full PR: Editorials Corporate: Gifts
Networking

The above are extraction from The Impact Strategic Business Plan
I imagine that most small businesses won’t be using more than a few strategies and if you need any advice on implementation, just call us at the office.

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A Visit to the Dentist
Last Friday, I was invited to present a few ideas at a Lloyds TSB road show event in Epsom. With the 200 plus business owners who were in attendance, I was reviewing potential metaphors to get a few important messages across in my short time on stage. Just the day before I found myself in my dentist’s chair undergoing some fairly major treatment: “an opportunity!” I thought!

As the dentist was busy drilling away, I thought about what had led to the decision of this preventative action.

You see, my dentist takes an X-Ray as a matter of course every two years and upon a close examination of the images, some interesting results were shown: a line getting steadily darker meant that at some time soon my tooth would suffer. Clearly, it was time to take some action!

Then I thought about what opportunities exist to replicate this same level of diligence in business…

Taking a close look at your accounts or income lines over the last few years and creating some trends analysis sheets may allow you to spot any fault lines that may be developing. Decide to take some positive actions to offset any negative patterns. Spotting the positive trends also helps by leveraging the actions that are already working to deliver even more.

Give it a go and see what you can discover before the future is upon you!

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Surrounding Yourself With Strength
The economic environment in which we exist can be tough, and at the moment in particular there is a sense of struggle to survive.

Generally speaking, if there is an issue with a business (especially a small business) it generally stems from the owners and management.

If you analyse this, most often the issue itself is a reflection of a lack of skills or discomfort with a particular area of business. It could also be a direct reflection of a limiting belief of the mind behind the business. Rarely will you find a major problem with a business that sits within the ‘comfort zone’ of the person(s) involved. Working smart doesn’t always equate necessarily to up skilling the people within a business.

If you adopt this approach you may fall foul of becoming a compulsive learner. Now, hear me correctly – there is nothing wrong with continuous development yet it is very important to utilize that development in a constructive, positive way.

It’s not often a small business can afford the time for continuous learning when it affects delivery or marketing - the two major focuses for success along with strategic planning.

Using your customer’s fees to pay for a business coach, accountant, a financial adviser, PC expert etc, is a justified, sometimes necessary, sound business investment.

Also, building a great team of individuals utilises expertise, and the collective intelligence to propel your business towards success.

Infact, behind every great corporate organisation there exists a strategic Board of Executives and even they outsource specialist roles. Such resources as these are available through The Impact Network.

Our Clients include major financial institutions worldwide, and just as we have contributed positively to their organisations, we could do so for yours.

So, surround yourself with strength now and start creating your winning team - call Impact today and find out how to accelerate your business growth.

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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.

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Thanks for reading, I hope you found this month's offerings useful and please consider the questions in this month's feature carefully. I urge you towards unprecedented success!

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.

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