Your LinkedIn Settings

Have you checked your LinkedIn account settings recently? LinkedIn have recently introduced some settings with opt in for everyone, plus some settings perhaps share more than you thought. We recommend that you review your settings on a regular basis so that you are aware of who you are sharing your data with.To view your settings, select the drop down choice beneath your name in the top right. We suggest a look at all the settings but especially:

Profile - who are you sharing your connections with? Are people linking with you just because they want to meet one of your contacts? Or vice versa, do you want people to know you have viewed their profile?

Groups, companies etc - Are you sharing with 3rd party applications?

Account - Social advertising! Are you allowing use of your name & photo to advertise to you?

Developing your business and work / life balance

A1 Director, Mike Foster said: "Working with SMI and undertaking their personal and business development programmes over the last 2 years is quite simply the best investment I have made for my business and my family. Those that know me well, will think back and say how did that already busy fool manage to also start up a childrens play centre, whilst also starting a new family. Well it is simply down to the SMI knowledge and tools. The differentiation with the SMI programmes, is that it is not just about the theory. They provide tools to implement the knowledge that makes a real immediate impact. I am happy to tell people I invested several thousand pounds with SMI programmes and believe it was worth every penny. It reshaped my business approach and changed my personal life for the better"Following Mike's experience with SMI UK, A1 Group have joined forces to set up the Pathfinder Club. The concept is to give business owners access to the knowledge and tools only available previously on a one to one basis. Mike added "I spoke to John Harris about how the SMI programmes could work in a peer group environment. It is a great option for business owners, as the cost is less that 1:1 coaching, but also they network with like minded people which is so powerful for creating the right mindset".To find out more for yourself or perhaps a contact, then please see the pathfinder web pages, speak to Mike direct about his experience or why not attend a meeting (1st or 3rd Tuesday of each month in South Oxfordshire) to see the club in practice.

Treehouse play centre shortlisted for award

The Treehouse indoor soft play centre in Didcot has been shortlised by the Play Providers association as the Best New Site in 2011. Read more here

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