A ‘call to action’ is part of your website where you ask a reader to take some sort of action. It should be easily identifiable and should show your site reader exactly what you want them to do and how they will do it.

Buttons and graphics are usually used to point out clear, identifiable calls to action, and should direct site readers or users to the response you want them to complete.

Typical calls to action include;

• Click Here
• Buy Now
• View Demo
• Take The Test
• Call Today
• Join Here
• Sign Up
• Register Today
• Get It Now
• Get Instant Access
• Get A Free Quote
• Free Trial
• Subscribe
• Donate Here
• Get A Free Sample

Your call to action must be attractive enough and clear enough to encourage the reader to take the desired action.  But it’s not just about words – Clever use of colour and placement will also play a big part in a successful response.

Here are 25 examples of some of the best call-to-actions that are working for companies right now:

1. NCover

In this example, the large call to action button has been set in a dark orange color which creates a beautiful contrast with the surrounding contrasting background  and hence grabs the reader’s attention at the very first sight.

2. Hostgator

Hostgator uses the same contrast technique by setting the color of the three call to action buttons a different light orange with a dark font that enhances readability of the text. The reader can easily follow through to the different plans offered by Hostgator.

3. Firefox

The Firefox call to action button is unique and revolutionary. It is truly unique with its uneven shape and vibrant colors together with the details of what the user will get for responding on the button itself.

4. BlogJet3 – Coding Robots

The neat and clean call to actions buttons in this example show clear direction and ecourage the user to click. They have used a brighter color for the “Free Download” button as opposed to the “Buy Now” button; thus giving a subtle message to the visitor that they should try the product before actually buying it.

5. Go Daddy

In this example from Godaddy, the call to action button grabs the reader’s attention by using a bright green colour that is in stark contrast to the black background and grey accents.

6. Wufoo

Simple call to action buttons placed in the center of the web page against a busy background makes them all the more pleasing to the eye. This example from Wufoo shows good use of colour and placement to engage the user.

7. Hoi Moon Marketing

Hoi Moon Marketing does something unique for its call to action: there is no call-to-action button. They do it by just changing the text color to orange, showing the user what they need to click through. Check out the contrast it creates.

8. Disqus

Here see how Disqus makes a connection between the orange call to action button and a screenshot of their product; a comment system. This connection makes it easy for the visitor to visualize what they will get.

9. Goal Stacker

GoalStacker is another company that has placed a screenshot of its product alongside the call to action. The page is very simple, and the user has two buttons to choose from, encouraging visitors to sign up for their software or to take a tour.

10. codebase

In this example from codebase, the text that follows the call to action button explains that you can sign up for a free trial and that it will last for 15 days. This information clarifies exactly what the user will get when they click the button.

11. Amazon

In this example, Amazon uses a very clever and enticing call to action, using an arrow with the text “Click to Look Inside!”  drawing the visitor’s attention to flip though the book. The arrow coupled with an image of the ebook makes it one of the most compelling and intriguing CTA examples.

12. GoToWebinar

GoToWebinar places hyperlinks below their two call to action buttons to further clarify what visitors will get when they click. This tells the visitor exactly what they will get when they click the Calls to action.

13. Akismet

Akismet provides protection against spam and the CTA perfectly gets that message across to the visitor. By saying “SAY GOODBYE TO COMMENT SPAM”, it reinforces the message that Akismet will rid you of comment spam, and that is exactly what will happen when you click through.

14. FileShare HQ

In this example from Fileshare HQ, see how the big green button stands out against the white background and how the words “Start sending files within minutes…” creates a sense of a quick result for the user when they click through.

15. Elegant Themes

Elegant themes calls to actions are prioritized by creating a noticeable contrast between the buttons against a white background. Notice also the use of italicized text on the buttons to grab attention. 

16. Dropbox

Dropbox does it by cutting out the clutter. Their choice of color is great; everything on the page looks neat and clean, and their minimalistic approach exudes simplicity and ease of use.

17. Tea Round

In this call to action visitors are told that they won’t get any spam emails if they sign up, thus trying to break one barrier to people’s entering their email for fear of spam. Interesting also to note is the green color of the CTA used against the otherwise uneventful background, which makes the button prominent enough to be noticed at first sight.

18. Onehub

Sometimes you just can’t get them to try it for free (because they don’t want to or they don’t know about the product’s features). Onehub knows it and in an effort to not let you go they offer you to view the features before you leave.

19. The Resumator

This is another example of a great Call to action. The CTA button with a warm contrast color coupled with the large “Free Trial” text sits neatly against a calm and less busy background. Notice also the use of “No Credit Card Required” to reinforce the point that it is free.

20. Tao Effect

Here the three call to action buttons are placed in a row and give the users three, simple options; Download, Buy Now or Upgrade. They have been arranged such that the button with the primary preferred action comes first and is in a different color to make it stand out from other two choices. This is a good example of prioritizing by the use of order and color.

21. The Invoice Machine

The Invoice Machine uses CTAs which exactly look  the same with a blue border around both of them. From this we may assume that the company thinks that the act of signing up or taking the tour is equally important, and is an equal chance of visitors wanting to take a tour and those actually wanting to sign up for a free trial.

22. OH! Media

Here, OH! Media uses the position of the button together with the choice of the color, size and the text “See the Case Study” to make it a very clear and effective one.

23. Ballpark

Ballpark’s call to action has probably all the qualities ideal for a good CTA. The size of the CTA button with the blue color combined with the white space around it and explanatory text on and under makes it a great example.

24. Highland Fling 2011

This CTA from Highland Fling 2011 is interesting because it manages to call attention by its unusual shape and the use of an icon. Also, see how they create urgency by the use of the text which specifies the early bird and normal price for the event.

25. Aweber

Aweber’s Call to action is another great example of the use of contrast color set out against a sleek background. Note the use of the word “Just” to stress that the visitor will be paying a very little amount of money for the product.

Summary

In short, a call to action is designed to do the following;

• Engage
• Encourage
• Convince
• Simplify
• Direct
• Reassure

What else do you think is important for a successful call to action?

Image Courtesy of Renjith Krishnan/FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

In our age of ‘no win no fee’ law firms and agencies, it is imperative that you take the time to select the correct business insurance cover for your industry.

Having the correct and comprehensive insurance cover you require is possibly one of the most important aspects you will have to consider.

Having your business insured means that you have your business covered against any disasters or unforeseen circumstances and potentially any lawsuits or claims that may arise in the future.

Business insurance may seem redundant or a waste of money to many people; they may consider not bothering to pay monthly premiums when they start a business, thinking “why pay extra expenses?”

While it may seem a waste of valuable startup capital best spent on other, more profitable aspects of the business, when you really look closely, you can see what an essential part of your business it really is.

Take into consideration all the factors that could have a negative effect on your business.

Consider, for example, if an employee or customer, sues you for injury or loss; who would cover the cost of legal expenses and compensation?

How would you manage the extra expenses incurred and would your business be able to survive the financial impact?

Another scenario: what would you do if, unfortunately, you happened to suffer damage to your business holdings; your office, your shop, your premises, property, or indeed any tools or equipment? How would you manage if damage was caused by a disaster such as fire, earthquake, flood etc?

Could you carry your business on forward in the same way as you were before the disaster?

How long could it take you to recover from the financial loss?

You need a guarantee to rely on so that you can run your business smoothly and without any concern whatsoever of your business coming to a stop in case a disaster strikes.

That’s where the right kind of business insurance for your business is important. In the first place, it presents you as a respectable business that cares for the health and safety of its staff.  It is also a credential that creates a positive image of your company.

While the chances of your business being struck by a disaster such as a fire or a flood may seem too thin, but when you take into consideration the actual disruption they may cause to the flow of your work you can see the importance of risk cover.

It is important to choose the right type of insurer for your business. For example, if you are in the motor trade business – you earn your living by selling, buying, repairing cars or are in some way related to the car business – you need to choose a specialist insurance service provider. An example of a specialist motor trade insurance cover provider in the UK is Much Motor Trade Insurance.
Another example of specialist insurance cover is the manufacturing insurance offered by Northern Counties Insurance. Their expertise in the manufacturing industry insurance cover takes care of the individual needs of businesses from the production line to the transit of products.

Summary

Whatever business you are in, it is essential that you seek professional advice from an insurance agent or broker, who can guide you through the maze of business insurance and will be able to seek a competitive quote.

Make sure you have the right kind of insurance policy and ensure your business is protected against any unforeseen circumstances, specific to your niche or industry.

Looking to get that business idea off the ground? Get your FREE startup business plan download and take your idea to the next level.

Are you really ready to start a business? Do you think you have what it takes and know enough about your idea to start something worthwhile?

You’ll find advice everywhere and people may suggest you;

• write your own business plan
• get a start up business plan template
• use an existing business plan template
• start mapping our business plan ideas.

Free Ultimate Startup Business Plan

So how can you do this? Getting that first ‘something’ down on paper when you are thinking of starting a business is a really daunting task. I have seen so many people with amazing ideas stop before they’ve even begun, becuase they’re not sure how to manage their plan!

Some people will never get their business ideas off the ground, often because they don’t know where to start.

I’ve decided to create this worksheet to help everyone who has a business idea carry out initial research and formulate something from which to test an idea or create a solid business plan from.

The startup business plan worksheet covers questions about;

• Your business budget
• Marketing and advertising
• Your competitors
• Finding your customers
• Hiring Staff
• Defining your skills
• Finding out whether you are really ready to start a business

Creating Your Startup Business Plan

This is not a definitive start up business plan, more a business idea brainstorming worksheet. It is designed to help identify pitfalls and potential issues when you are considering starting up a business for the very first time.

The business plan worksheet will also help you research your idea more thoroughly and will help model your final choices when starting up. The answers you provide will help formulate a solid business plan should you wish to write one in the future.

Download the free startup business plan here

Please like, share and spread the word about the free startup business plan download, so everyone can benefit!

Event management is both a tough and interesting thing to do – whether it is a training day, a corporate meeting or any other occasion. To keep everything running smoothly can be particularly difficult because not only do you have to keep everything for the event contents and agenda organized, but you need to manage the attendees and ensure their experience is both valuable and worthwhile.

I have compiled a list.

Image Courtesy of franky242/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Key things to remember;
1. Define the Outcome
The very first objective when you are going to plan an event is to define a solid goal for your event. What do you want to get from the event? Do you want to earn some money? What do you want the outcome to be for attendees?
Almost the entire plan of your event hinges upon the goal(s) of your event. Also you need to define the structure of the event you want to organize.
2.  Define Your Target Market
Next, you need to define the target market for the event. What kind of people are you targeting? Who will attend the event? Where can you reach potential attendees?
3. Consider Timing
Decide on a time and date for the event. Consider public holidays. Your event timing should not conflict with similar events or popular holiday times. Timing should be set to allow for travel – people need to be able to reach the event in good time and also remember to set a maximum number of people that can participate in the event.
A great resource for checking public holiday dates can be found here.
4. Location, Location, Location
The location of your event is also very important. A great event could be spoiled by the choice of a bad location. A location may not be ideal for a number of reasons: difficult for parking, travel, transport links etc. It could be crowded or noisy at times.
Be sure to visit your chosen location and cover issues that may affect your attendee experience.

5.  Facilities
Work out what facilities are needed to host your event. You will also need to consider the seating capacity and ticket arrangements for the event. If you are creating a ticketed event, be sure to explore how you will manage the tickets, and consider using an event system to manage sales.
6. Get Event Sponsorship
Consider approaching people for sponsorship and partnerships. There are usually companies with a shared interest in your attendees who may help you in the execution of the event and possibly assist with advertising and promotion. Find people in your industry or niche and try to gain support.
7. Set a Budget
Create a budget for your event. Work out how much you have to spend, list all the requirements and then decide how you will allocate your resources to different expenses.
8. Create a Marketing Plan
Develop a marketing plan. Decide how you will promote your event both offline and online. You can build a web page for your event. Promote on social media. Devise different strategies for different social media platforms.
Decide how best to promote your event offline. Print brochures and leaflets. You can advertise in local newspapers if you can afford.

9. Choose Ticketing Methods
Decide how you will sell the tickets. Do you want to sell tickets online or offline or both? You will need to manage the printing and delivery of the tickets, whether you choose online delivery or offline. You will also need to generate a system for managing the tickets and attendees.
You could consider hiring a professional printing service for printing tickets, to keep a professional image. There are many printing services you can choose. Choose a service provider that is fast and cost effective. Kalamazoo’s small event ticket printing service is an excellent service to consider.

By carefully planning and researching before you launch, you will save yourself time, money and really make sure your first business event is a success!

Want to read more related to this? Here is my other article on the same topic:  Events That Could Help Your Business .

Branding your business is a powerful exercise which, in itself can contribute to the success or failure of your start up. Your brand is essentially the voice and the identity of your business or company. If you want to a customer’s top choice you need to build and manage a powerful brand.
Of course, the most successful brands will have access to and employ top branding agencies, but for the majority of today’s lean start-ups, out comes the whiteboard and the notepad and pen for multiple brainstorming sessions! If you can afford to; always allow some budget to enlist the help of a professional who will help you make a seamless transition from a ‘business name’ to a household brand.
When choosing a branding agency to employ, ensure you ask for references and examples of recent work, together with an estimate for their services. If you are unable to afford the complete package, perhaps you could ask them to break down their costs and help with a specific aspect of the branding process.
In any event, you will need to do some homework before you start the branding process or approach a branding company to take on your project.

Essential questions to ask yourself include;

1. Find Out Who Your Company Really Is and What Makes It Unique:Why are you different to others? It is important to delineate what differentiates you from others in your niche and then go on to build your brand by emphasizing that competitive edge that you hold.

2. Identify and Understand Your Competition:
Another key factor is to research and understand the peculiarities of your competitors. Figure out what unique features you need to incorporate into your business to make you stand out from the rest of the crowd. See how you can identify your brand by pointing out the features you need to be unique.
3. Define How your Product Or Service Is Going to Benefit the Customer:
Point out how your product or service will benefit your customers. Make a list and develop it into a tagline. See how uniquely your product will serve your customers.
4. Identify Your Audience:
Find out the exact requirements of your target market how you can cater to their particular needs. Try to predict how they will feel about your product or service and what emotional response they will come up with.
5. Develop a Personality:
Will you be traditional, trendy, quirky, up to the minute, solid, strong, fast, cheap, luxurious? Whichever you choose, you will need to communicate this to the customer. Your product or service must reflect that personality throughout – you have to be consistent.

What to do next
In short your brand can be defined by answering 3 simple questions;
1) Who are you?
2) What do you do?
3) Why does it matter?
Once you have decided the message you want to deliver, you need to develop a name, logo and a tagline for your product or service. These three almost constitute the entirety of your brand. Your name should be unique and smart; your logo should be unique and it should reflect your product or service; your tagline should be easy to remember, offering a quick definition of what your product or service does or conveying its benefits.
In case you decide to seek professional help for building your brand, there are branding agencies that you can hire. Guerilla Communications is a great example of a branding agency to consider; they have vast experience in branding services, their website clearly shows a portfolio of recent clients and recent work. They look friendly and approachable and cover all aspects of branding, so you could select a specific aspect of the branding process as opposed to an entire branding package.

With businesses growing and expanding into more and more complex systems resulting in a wide range of investigative procedures, forensic accounting services are increasingly required to deal with financial and business related issues. Read on to find out exactly what Forensic Accounting is and when you may need it.

Image Courtesy of Pixomar/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What is a Forensic Accountant?
So what is a forensic accountant and what does he actually do? Well, a forensic accountant is someone whose job is to investigate financial fraud and embezzlement – in short, they are financial detectives. They also provide support to law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating financial crimes. They are trained to analyze complex financial issues and present them in a comprehensible manner. They are employed privately as well as by the government agencies.

 
How are Forensic Accountants Important?
Unfortunately, in today’s society moral integrity is becoming more of a secondary matter – the ultimate aim of the majority of the people is to accumulate wealth which is leading to illegal means being blatantly used for financial benefit: accountants in large as well as small businesses are involved in fraudulent financial report; theft of cash and property – physical as well as intellectual is becoming more common; corruption is getting widespread.
Check out an instance of such business fraud here.
This sorry state of affairs necessitate the role of forensic accountants who are trained to prevent financial wrongdoing by working with large companies and managers and by making sure that the internal accounting system is transparent.

When Could a Forensic Accountant Benefit?
With their unique blend of accounting education combined with investigative financial skills they can be relied on in several complex financial situations.
They can be employed in commercial fraud investigations, for example, their opinion can be sought regarding profit dispute, breach of contract, product liability, illegal competition, construction claims and so on.
They can also assist in personal injury claims. They are able to deal with the many issues related with understanding and calculating the losses resulting from road accidents and clinical negligence.
Forensic accountants are also engaged to analyze company accounting records to help settle disputes regarding benefits and compensation among partners and shareholders.
Their role is also of key importance in tracing misappropriation of funds in business, identification of property and its recovery and examination of suspects through interviews etc.
Their assistance is also sought in settling matrimonial issues, for example, the division of assets when people decide to divorce etc.

In short, forensic accountants could be employed in almost all instances of financial fraud and litigation regarding financial and economic litigation and compensation.
Larger accounting practices have an in-house forensic accountant, but there are specialist companies in the UK who can help. When choosing a company to work with, look for a company such as Frenkels Forensics who have a strong track record and experience. Choosing the wrong firm could result in a damaging experience for both you and for your company.

Image courtesy of ddpavumbaFreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Funding your business start up is often something that can stop your business idea in it’s tracks.  Where will you get the money? How much do you need to get your start up going? What can you do to ensure start up loans? All of these questions may not be answered here, but I do have three tips for funding your start up.

#1 Utilise savings for funding your business start up

Personal money saved up for funding your start up is the best option. If you do not have enough then you can look at other options, however it is always recommended that you start saving towards costs as soon as you are sure that you want to set up your own business. The ideal situation would be to have a year of operating costs saved up for your business start up. This amount of money should not be what you need for your mortgage and personal expenses. It should be enough to support the business only; you will need to save separate funds for your personal expenses. Get into the habit early and start separating your personal expenditure with your business accounts. One idea would be to set up a new bank account for business purposes only, ultimately keeping everything separate and manageable.

#2 Decide on whether a business start up loan is suitable

If you find you do not have enough funding for your start up, then you have to make a choice. Do you wait another year until you have the appropriate funds or do you look for start up loans? The US government has been very helpful of late to establish grants and funding options for small and new businesses as a way to combat the recession issues. Banks are still holding tight especially for start up loans. They may make it very difficult by asking that you have at least enough funds for a year or 80% of the start up costs in your savings account. Still, loans can be helpful if you qualify. The downside to loans is that most businesses fail within 5 years and you may still need to pay the start up loans back. Most experts suggest you avoid loans, but if this is not possible be sure to carry out solid research and to prove your business can be a success and profitable.

#3 Seek investment for start up funding

Investors are another option to business start up loans. Investors are quite helpful if you know someone willing to split the company in terms of investment money. You will need to present a strong business model and provide potential investors with a business plan and summary of your company mission. Initially, you will  want to be the majority owner. You definitely want to use as much of your own funding as possible as this helps you retain control of your company. Decide what type of investor you want to attract – sometimes it is preferable to have a silent investor- one that is not going to want to have daily input in your business.

While you may not find a silent investor easily, look for one or consider taking on a partner you know you can work with and has the same vision as you. Partners in a business start up could bring a bit more capital to the table and have an extra employee to help you out. There are pitfalls though, so ensure you think through all the options first.

Your turn! How did you manage finances when you started your business? How are you planning for the costs associated with your start up? Please share your experience below.

Image courtesy of renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you are operating a business with a lack of cash flow, chances are there is money to be found if you know where to look for it. Many SMEs just aren’t aware of all the options available to them when it comes to finance and funding and this is exactly why so many are faced with insolvency. Instead of continuing on your current path, take a few moments to explore ways in which it is possible to obtain that extra influx of cash to meet your day to day expenses. This brief guide to finance and funding for your business in 2013 should help you see that cash flow doesn’t need to be a problem. You simply need to understand what is out there and how to go about cashing in on it.

Factoring and Invoice Discounting

By far the most common method of obtaining funding in today’s economy is factoring and invoice discounting. This is quite popular amongst small businesses because a loan is made to the company based on outstanding accounts receivable. The factor or discounter will take a look at your books to see exactly what is owed to your company and will lend an amount up to 85% of what is outstanding. Bear in mind that these must be B2B accounts (business to business) and not a ledger full of outstanding invoices to the general public. In factoring the lender will take over your accounts and collect payments where is in invoice discounting the business maintains control of their books.

Trade Finance

Although trade finance is not optimal for all businesses, it can be a viable solution for those companies that meet certain criteria. For example, sometimes a trade financier will lend money over a short period of time to a business that has a solid history of meeting orders and the profit margin is relatively high. Perhaps there is not enough money to meet the current order so the lender is willing to make an advance against expected profit once the order is filled. Usually trade finance is sought when there is a lack of more conventional loans because of the current credit crunch where banks are holding tighter reins when lending.

Asset or Equity Finance

When a company is in need of a quick loan, asset or equity finance can be the ideal solution. Sometimes there is a slump in business due to unusual circumstances. Seasonal demand may be low or there could be other reasons why products are not moving at the moment. A lender will sometimes make a loan based on the value of merchandise ready to be sold. It should be noted that this particular type of financing is contingent upon the lender’s ability to see value in your products. This would not be a loan for the service industry as there has to be some tangible (equitable) goods to guarantee or secure the loan.

Business Angels

In recent years, business angels have become prominent in the world of finance. A great number of investors are out there looking for somewhere safer than the markets to place their investment capital. These are usually private individuals looking for a good return on their money who are willing to invest in viable businesses. They can be thought of as a type of silent partner in that they are usually not made directors of the company, but they inject much needed capital to keep the business trading. It will take a solid business model and proof that the company has the potential to show a profit, but there are an astounding number of investors out there willing to take a risk.

Government Grants

Depending on the industry, there are also government grants available which are intended to help stabilise and grow the economy. Certain industries are more apt to qualify for government grants such as construction and building enterprises. A good financial adviser will be able to help struggling businesses research grants available to them and this is money which may or may not need to be repaid. Often there is very low interest on those loans needing repayment so if you qualify this may be worth your time and effort to investigate.

Some Final Thoughts on Finances

Rather than struggling from day to day waiting for that first creditor to petition a winding up order, take the initiative to find finance and/or funding. If there simply seems to be no way to qualify for a loan, talk to an Insolvency Practitioner about keeping creditors at bay with a Company Voluntary Arrangement. No, this is not a loan but it may enable you to pay pennies on the pound towards outstanding debt. It is not the same thing as bringing in a quick influx of cash but it would certainly reduce your monthly repayments which in turn would free up money for day to day expenses. You can survive the current credit crunch so don’t give up just yet.

Image courtesy of Salvatore VuonoFreeDigitalPhotos.net 

How To Protect yourself and your customers – is your business site secure?

Unlike a brick-and-mortar store, an e-commerce site never shuts down. Though this is an excellent advantage for late-night shoppers, it also leaves you more vulnerable to online theft.

Hackers can find virtual “back doors” and access emails, client information and even financial records. Fortunately, it’s easy and relatively inexpensive to secure your business site and protect it from unwanted intruders. Below are three tips and new technologies all ecommerce providers should consider implementing immediately.

Change your password

One of the best ways to keep your information safe is completely free and takes under a minute. Have you changed your password lately? The most popular passwords in 2012 were password, 12345 and 123456. Even if yours isn’t quite that bad, it probably doesn’t have the ideal combination of length, symbols, upper and lower cases, and numbers. Attaching it to a personal interest, hometown or pet’s name is another bad idea—much of that information is easily found on social media. To create an impenetrable password that you won’t have to leave around on a sticky note, create a silly sentence and use the acronym. For example, “Selling four english muffins can bring in lots of money” becomes “S4emcbilo$”. You won’t forget it, and no one will ever guess it.

Consider switching to a VPS

As businesses grow (and space becomes limited), many turn to cloud servers to host and store data. A virtual private server, or VPS, provides a similar service with one key difference — your site is not shared. As a result, it is considered more secure and you can implement unique firewalls and protections. Companies like Rackspace offer isolated cloud networks and charge per data used, making it an affordable switch for businesses of any size.

Protect emails with SSL

Most email providers, even unpaid services, now offer an SSL option. Secure Sockets Layer is a protocol for encrypting information sent online. In layman’s terms, this means that your emails are scrambled to avoid eavesdropping. If your email is associated with your business site (yourname@business.com), then you can contact your web host to work through an SSL instead. Recent problems with the system have prompted businesses to turn to add-ons to verify network connections when visiting new sites. For most people’s purposes, the best way to prepare for that situation is trusting your email to a company with 24/7, easy to contact tech support.

According to a 2005 article by techies at IBM, online security is based on confidentiality, availability, and integrity. Not much has changed in the years since then. Your site needs to be hard for outsiders to access, easy for you and your customers to access, and it needs to maintain its information and look. Sadly, the most common way to determine the areas worth securing are when they cause problems. A compromised email or crashed server gets immediate attention. The three preventative measures above, however, are a good start on a blanket security check that will cover most of the common offenders. From there, you can determine what other steps you’ll need to completely lock down the shop.

Throwing your own event can be daunting, unless you work in event management! But for a lawyer, accountant, copywriter or baker it might seem out of reach. It’s actually easier thank you think with a bit of planning and help, and the benefits can be enormous. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Launch party

If you are just starting out in your own business, then you may consider throwing a launch party. This won’t work for all business types, so really think this through and sound out a few friends first. But if you do decide to go ahead, a launch party can be a great way to kick-start the business. Invite, friends, family and past work colleagues if appropriate. Ask them to bring at least one other person along. Whether you cover the full cost or charge a small ticket fee doesn’t really matter. But pick a good venue such as a bar, café or local park and put on some food, drinks and entertainment whether that is a local band, MC or picture slide show.

The two major benefits of this event: it gets the word out in a very tangible way about your new business, plus it also shows that you are serious and can help generate leads straight away.

Birthday Party

So you’ve been going for a year now, or five? Why not throw a Birthday Party for your business? This type of event follows all the same principles as the launch party above, but this time the focus is on the growth and success of the business rather than the start. You can mention any big wins over the lifespan of the business and thank key contacts that have helped you succeed.

The two major benefits of this event: you can thank people who have really helped you along the way, plus you can get some momentum going in the business again if things have slowed down recently.

BIG WIN Party

This is when you win a major job. So again, it might not be relevant for all business types but if you win a major contract you could consider throwing a party similar to the ones already mention but the focus is on the project win. You can give free publicity to the client (if they agree to me named) and you can show others that you are doing so well as to win this contract.

The two major benefits of this event: You can give free publicity to your client (if they agree) and you can show the world that you mean business!