Newsletter - Advisors get involved locally
For some advisors getting involved with local businesses and organisations is an obvious way to make new business contacts, but those of us who travel a lot for work sometime overlook the benefits of local networking. I know that I've often under-estimated the quality and quantity of useful people in my local area. If you're busy, then building local contacts can help you find people to support you and take some of the load. If you're not, then getting involved in local organisations will get you out and about and making new contacts - and you never know when a fellow committee member will turn out to be a potential client!
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Newsletter - Early Bird Bookings
The theme for this year's conference is Personal and Business Growth with a range of speakers and workshops designed to bring out he best in you and your business.
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Newsletter - Advising Small Businesses
Following last week's budget there seem to have been endless announcements about cuts in a whole range of government activities - so you may not have noticed that along with the scrapping of RDAs it appears that regional Business Links will be closed and their contracts wound down. I know that many of you have used Business Link for advice or deliver your own services through this route - which makes this a significant step, although probably not a great surprise. We've written to Mark Prisk, the Minister in charge, essentially pushing for greater use of the independent business advice and consultancy sector to give small businesses tailored advice rather than the current 'one-size-fits-all' approach.
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Newsletter - Are you user-friendly?
I normally try to give only positive advice in this newsletter, but I was asked this week for my thoughts on the top mistakes consultants and freelancers when dealing with new clients. That got me thinking about some of the things that we all sometimes do with the best of intentions but that result in mis-understandings and losing business. You can see my top mistakes, along with other people's contributions here, but I think the positive message we can take from all of the negatives is the need to listen carefully to what your client is saying, however daft it may seem, and try to look at things from their point of view - rather than pitching straight in with our own opinions.
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Newsletter - It Pays to Collaborate
I was starting to wonder if the UK would actually have a new government in time for me to talk about it this newsletter. But they made it in the end, and the question on everyone's mind of course, is what will this new style of government actually do? I know it's very early days but I'd love to know how you think it will affect your business, so I've put together a quick poll - if you can spare a moment please let us know. I'll summarise the results and play them back to you next week.
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