Category: Small business

Getting a business off the ground is a huge achievement, but after that exciting period of initial growth you might find that you start to lose momentum. This is normal for a business moving from start-up to stability, so how can you get through it and make sure that your business continues to grow?

The answer could be freelancers. Whether you’re working with individuals or an agency, freelancers, contractors and virtual assistants could be just what you need to build on your achievements and develop your business. Freelancers offer all sorts of advantages to business owners: they can be hired as and when they’re needed, they come with all the required skills, and there are plenty of excellent workers to choose from so you’re bound to find someone who’s a good fit.

Are you interested in finding out more? Here are 5 ways freelancers can help to grow your business.

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Valentine’s Day is big business – in fact, in previous years the UK has spent close to £1 billion on gifts and cards to celebrate this day of romance. So what is your small business doing to take advantage of the mid-February boom?

It might seem like the market is already flooded with big Valentine’s promotions, but there’s still plenty of room for small businesses to get involved. A strong Valentine’s marketing campaign can not only bring you new customers, but also give your regular customers a reason to return. And it’s not just about the loved-up couples – there are lots of exciting ways to market to Valentine’s cynics too!

Whatever your small business, there’s still time to pull together an effective Valentine’s marketing campaign. Ready to get started? Here are 7 of our top ideas.

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Pretty much everybody’s blogging these days, which is a really good thing.

There are many reasons why businesses should blog, from boosting their SEO rankings (because we all know just how much search engines love new content!) to raising brand awareness and positioning themselves as thought leaders.

But here’s the thing…not everybody’s sharing their blogs.

Blog-writing is only half of the equation, the other half involves sharing your posts far and wide. By doing this, businesses can increase the chances of their blogs being read, shared and commented upon.

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Here at Get Ahead VA we are privileged to work with a wide variety of clients, ranging from will writers to window cleaners, financial consultants to fashion designers. All of our clients are motivated and driven business owners with clear plans for business growth. They recognise the value of outsourcing, passing onto others the tasks that either they lack the skills in or that drain their valuable time.

Here’s 60 seconds with one of our clients, Tracey Barney from Guildford HR, who was looking for administrative support to enable her business to take on new clients:

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Creating a Wikipedia page for your company can be extremely useful. According to two website ranking companies, Wikipedia is the fifth most popular website in the world, so carving out a space for your company on this platform can provide a huge boost to your reputation, which can in turn push you up the search results pages and lead to an increase in customers and sales.  

However, getting a company onto Wikipedia is not straightforward. First and foremost Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia, and that means all pages must be factually accurate and reliably sourced. Wikipedia entries can also be edited by anyone, so always remember that your content will need to be approved and could be changed after you have written it.  

If you’re still interested in creating a Wiki page for your company, here are the main things you should do. 

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You’ve probably come across the term ‘Blue Monday’, also known as ‘the most depressing day of the year’. Since 2005, this day, which always falls in January, has been calculated using factors such as stress levels, frequency of travel and time spent sleeping. According to the formula, this year’s Blue Monday will fall on 15th January.

Of course, Blue Monday is just pseudoscience, but it is useful for raising awareness about mental health in the workplace. In recent years this has been talked about more and more, and it’s obvious why: the Mental Health Foundation has found that providing support for employees with mental health issues could save UK businesses up to £8 billion per year.

If you want to foster a supportive environment for mental health in your business, here are some of the best ways to do it.

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For small business owners, working from home can be fantastic, and if all you need is a desk and an internet connection then setting up an office in the spare room is a great way to save both money and time.

However, outside a regular office it can be easy to forget about safety, and this could mean you’re putting your health at risk, as well as the health of any employees or clients who come to your home.

That’s where Home Office Safety and Security Week comes in. From the 8th to the 14th of January, business owners are being encouraged to think about and improve their home office safety. You can use the hashtag #HOSSweek to discuss the topic online, or read on to discover 5 tips to make your home office safer.

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A new year means new beginnings, for both you and your business, and what better way to give your business a fresh start than by finding a professional mentor?

Mentors are particularly useful for new businesses and start-ups, because they can provide advice and connections during those crucial early stages and give your business a better chance of succeeding. Mentors can also be valuable for established businesses wishing to change direction or expand into new markets.

If you’re interested in finding a mentor to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true in 2018, read on to find out more.

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When was the last time you listened to a podcast?

For me, it was two months ago. And it was my first time.

Podcasts have never really been on my radar, until a couple of months ago, when I discovered that they’re really big right now.

According to Rajar, almost 10% of adults in the UK download podcasts each week, which equates to around 4.7 million people. So, why tune into podcasts?

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Between the indulgence of Christmas and the celebration of New Year, there’s a strange week that has been given a number of names – Twixtmas, the Fallow, Romjul (meaning ‘half holy’ in Norwegian) – and it can often feel like limbo.

When it comes to working during this week, different businesses take different approaches. Some close down for the entirety of the festive season, while others expect their employees to be back at work as soon as the Christmas bank holidays are over.

If you’re not sure whether to keep your business open for Twixtmas, here are some of the main pros and cons to help you decide.

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