week included recovery from a surprise emergency eye operation and not a lot else!!

Use of video on your web site

Have you started using video on your web site as a way of introducing your business or utilising for strong video testimonials?Research has shown that video keeps your web site visitor longer and reduces the bounce rate.As a couple of examples, you can see our own web site www.a1-group.co.uk on how we use video to introduce our services on a number of pages. Or for an example of a great video testimonial please see www.planetinteriors.co.uk. We always use Concept Filiming. Great service, price and quality.

Your LinkedIn profile

Does your web sites listing just say Company Website or Personal Website?
If so, why not change it to something more meaningful like your 'ABC Ltd web site'.
To do this, click on Edit next to the web site name, choose the drop down box where it says Company website and select other. You can then type your chosen description.

Whilst you are there just check you have 100% completeness of your profile.

Management accounts really make a difference

Obviously we are advocats of management accounts and work with a number of our clients to provide such information. We recommend regular management accounts so that you have the financial information to make informed business decisions in a timely manner.We were recently working with a client and identified that an expense line had increased against the previous year period by £5000. When we drilled into the information, we found an employee had accepted a price increase on a service provider. This was identified quickly enough for the owner to take action and save himself considerable cash and profits during this existing financial year.If he had waited until the production of his year end accounts, he would be out of pocket and perhaps too late to take the action?

week included First Aid Training, New Bookkeeping client, Didcot Chamber representation, great lunch with a past client

A1 owner invited to speak at ICB national conference

We are delighted to announce that Mike Foster has been asked to speak at the annual conference of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers on the subject of Strategic & Tactical Marketing.Mike Said "it is an honour to be asked by one of our governing bodies about the subject of Marketing. Locally in Oxfordshire we have run marketing sessions for the local ICB bookkeepers and we are delighted this was recommended by those members"

Week included The Pathfinder club, DVD developments, Bookkeeping, A1 Financials Franchise Discovery event online,

Systemise your business growth

Can you make small transformations in different areas of your business to contribute to your business growth? It is really just a systemised approach that is required. Can you:

1. Increase the number of leads you generate - marketing


2. Convert more prospects into customers - sales


3. Get paid more - pricing strategy


4. Sell more to each customer - cross sales


5. Encourage customers to buy more often - sales and service


6. Increase the lifetime of each client - Retention policy

However be sure about your direction. Who do you want as a customer? Who is your ideal customer (eg sector, size, age, personaility, fee level, terms, trading position etc). Then understand what THEY really want.So if your strategy is similar to these 6 steps, then are they customers that will be easier to convert because of your focus, willing to pay or buy more and be loyal to you?

week included bookkeeping, first aid course delivered, Chipper promotion at the Treehouse play centre, a golf day and holiday

The Pathfinder club - 'Lighting the way'

Hopefully you have seen the news about our new Pathfinder club www.pathfinderclub.co.uk, a partnership between A1 and SMI UK. To find out more about how the club can help you develop your business as well as your personal life (and I speak from experience) then please see the club's web site or call Mike on 01865 378559