Week included Bookkeeping, Marketing support, First aid Supplies and Didcot Christmas Street Fair

First Aid DVD is now online

For the last two years, A1 First Aid has worked in partnership with Concept Filming on the production and distribution of our First Aid DVD www.firstaiddvd.co.uk

We are now delighted to be able to offer a Cloud based verision of the DVD, thereby allowing business owners to simply share the content between their first aiders. With a personalised hosted service, secured with a log in, the up to date content can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Please see more on our web site about the First Aid Cloud or click here to see our trailer.

Choosing your bookkeeping software

We often get asked at A1 Financials, which bookkeeping software would we recommend. Well, we are a Sage preferred practice and prefer the structure that Sage brings to bookkeeping. It is also a market leading product. However we can understand why people do not like using Sage if they are not used to bookkeeping and like the look of other packages. Some packages like Quickbooks are easier to use for raising invoices etc, whilst others have been created for online / cloud based versions.Primarily we would say, please make sure you choose a tried and tested package, one that you enjoy using and importantly one that your accountant can work with. This last comment is so important as we have seen business owners change packages to save some money, then paid more with their accountant at year end for the information to be converted into a useful format. Lastly if you are choosing a brand, then understand what you want from your bookkeeping and you may not need to pay over the odds for a higher specification.

week included bookkeeping, management accounts, marketing support, filming of our new DVD,

Video on your web site and more

We are advocates of using video on your web site and within your social media strategy. The right video is proven to keep your web visitor longer on your site and build a more personal relationship to your business. Now, with Google purchasing YouTube, you will also start to see video helping your search engine rankings.You can use video for introducing your business, to share your expertise, to give product demonstrations, to show strong visual testimonials and perhaps showcase your ability with historic coverage replicating the traditional case studies. Your video could be part of your web site or your could add snippets as a video podcast. As an example, please take a look at the video testimonial for Planet Interiors that we produced in partnership with Concept Filming.

Google Alerts

Are you using Google Alerts to track web based content and conversations about your business or perhaps the key words relating to your business? Or perhaps even news and views about you and your business?Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Simply type the word or phrase you wish to follow and select how often you want to receive updates and it all happens automatically. To find out more, please see the Google web page

week included bookkeeping, Pathfinderclub meeting, more DVD filming and oxfordbusinessnetwork breakfast meeting

A1 Shortlisted for Bookkeeping Practice of the year

Sorry to start our newsletter talking about us, but we are delighted to announce that the A1 Group has been shortlisted by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers for the award of Bookkeeping Practice of the Year 2011. We are a top 5 shortlist from over 3000 practices across the UK. Mike Foster said "we are delighted to have been shortlisted by the institute for this award. It is recognition from our peers of the hard work, professionalism and quality of my team". We are hopeful of going one better than when we were previously shortlisted in 2009!

Week included marketing support, bookkeeping, Chamber of commerce meetings, Treehouse anniversary and kind hospitality at Oxford Utd

Reviewing your marketing material

How often do you review your marketing material? When was the last time you changed something on your web site or on a printed document?Our experience indicates that many small businesses don't have the time to review their material on a regular basis, so the trend is to leave the content as it is until a major overhaul is required.We would recommend that you are regularly reviewing your online and offline marketing material to ensure the messages are current and are working for you. If you are not tweaking your material, then you are not testing your marketing to see if there is a better way of attracting more business. We suggest that testing and measuring should always be on your marketing agenda. We would also suggest the involvement of a third party in your review. You will know your business better than anyone, you may know what your customers really want, but sometimes the material does not give a clear and concise message to someone outside of your business. The external eye can be invaluable to help put youself in your customers shoes and identify the messages that encourages them to buy.

The Treehouse play centre wins local business awards

The Treehouse play centre, also owned by Mike Foster, has won the Best Customer Service and Community award at Didcot's Business and Community awards (BACA's).

http://www.didcotfirst.org.uk/spage-bacas-2011_awards.html

week included bookkeeping, firstaid elearning, interview by ICBglobal, Pathfinderclub