Do you have a 1900’s website?

Do you have a 1900’s website?

Website’s weren’t around in the 1900’s, they came much later!

Think about this, films today are so different to those made years ago. Films have continued to develop in the way they are made and produced. If you can understand that then think of your business as a film. Just as films have and continue to develop and adapt, so must you and your business.

One focus could be your website. Paying for a website might be difficult at the start, however, your website is the window by which you showcase you and your business and so investing in it is important.

All those wanting to work with you, connect with you, buy from you or support you need to feel they know you. Business and charity are more to do with people than what the business or charity actually does. You can put your products and services on your website but to those visiting it’s so what? Its the why should they buy from you, who are you, why this business and why this product?

8 Tips for your website:

* Spend what money you can on the best website you can
* Engage a copywriter and/or PR expert to help write the content and try not to use jargon – try using plain
English
* Make your website uncluttered – Home, About, Product and/or services, contact
* Have a video – a silent website is like a silent movie, not interesting and out of date. Make your video
effective or different and make sure that a video is on the correct website page and make the video relevant to
the audience
* Keep your landing page simple and concise – remember the 8 second rule? Visitors have just 8 seconds to decide
about looking further
* Include your branding throughout
* Follow up all messages – as time goes on and you become busier you may engage a virtual assistant or an associate
* Review your website, does it still represent your business/charity and you?

Do you have a 1900’s website? Only you have the answer.

Alison Cross-Jones

Have you heard of the 8 second test?

Have you heard of the 8 second test?

I came across this concept quite a few years ago, although along the way its been referred to as the 5 second test, instant recognition test, amongst others. No matter what it’s called research over the years has shown that you have around 8 seconds (possibly a few seconds longer) to grab the interest of others. This could be those visiting your website – after all, they don’t call it surfing the web for nothing. The same rule applies to those you meet and talk to you at networking events, if they’re not interested in you they will switch off and go on to the next person.

How do you avoid this?

On a website make the first page short, snappy and relevant. It should be clear to the visitor who you are and what you do. Why should those visiting choose to support you, buy from you or connect with you? Tell them what makes you unique!

Recently at an event there were a number of people selling products, some similar, what would make each one different? The person behind the business. As individuals we’re different and so once we realise that, we realise that our businesses and the stories behind those businesses will be too! Have confidence in yourself, be yourself and others will see that you are unique and they’ll be interested.

The ‘8 second test’ also applies to charities who are also businesses. A number of charities helping animals, those with cancer, helping children, etc are all different. They may be helping the same need but the way they achieve their goals and the teams behind the scenes are different.

Your website home page needs a clear layout with just a few pages, a headline that grabs attention that gives the visitor a reason to stay and look at more. Try adding good quality images, video, music, etc

When networking or meeting people be clear about you do and why, give examples of success or if a new starter say something successful about yourself. Conversations between interesting people interested in one another are much better and more productive.

Have you heard of the 8 second test? If you don’t grab attention, then those visiting your website will hit your site, stay for a few seconds… and then they’ll be gone. Usually forever! When you meet people grab their attention by knowing your business and be able to answer any questions. Remember in an ever competitive world you have a small amount of time to gain interest in what you do and why.

Alison Cross-Jones

Business & Charity Consultant

PR – What’s it all about to you?

PR – What’s it all about to you?

Is PR paid advertising? Is PR social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instragram, etc? Is PR being in the press, on the TV and/or radio? Is PR marketing? Is PR your website? Is PR about images or photos?

The truth is PR is ALL of the above and much more!

Think of PR as your personal business/charity book because its your story and each of the above are parts of that book like chapters. Good PR is about providing interesting stories, building interest in you, your brand and what makes you unique. Just as each person is different so is each business and charity, even those doing similar things.

Do you need to pay for good PR? That’s a question I often get asked as a consultant. My response is that some of your PR you can do yourself at no cost but for some having professional PR support is vital. So if you need advice and support go to an expert in that field. However, remember that excellence in one field does not equate to excellence in all fields of PR. Do your research, ask for recommendations and listen, value the support being provided.

I always suggest an annual PR review with an expert. This is a one off session where you and a PR expert can plan for the coming year, where the expert can provide tips for the PR you plan on doing yourself and to plan the PR the expert will do. This gives a complete balance to what you’re doing.

PR – What’s it all about to you? Its about a lot of different aspects all working together for success.

Alison Cross-Jones

Get your ducks in a row before trouble strikes!

Get your ducks in a row before trouble strikes!

Too many people start a great charitable endeavour. A good, much needed idea, however, they move forward before they “get all their ducks in a row.” Too many people start a charity and think its not a business. All charities are businesses and until you realise that, real success will elude you.

What does getting all your ducks in a row really mean?

It’s about making sure that you have a firm foundation to build on, firstly it’s about making sure your idea is needed and it’s about building a core team to help you achieve your goal. Choose those with ability as well as those who share your passion, so other people in business, teachers, solicitors and barristers, those in financial services, etc

Once your team is in place, things like policies and procedures follow. Some examples are: financial, safeguarding (and not just for children), volunteer, health and safety, to name to few and that’s just for starters because the job is much bigger than you’ll think.

Don’t forget risk assessments because every area of what you carries a risk, staff, volunteers, money, activities/projects are just examples the list is endless. Your risk assessments will show possible supporters, grant givers and supporters that you understand all possible risks and how you aim to mitigate these.

N.B: All of your policies, procedures, risk assessments will need to be reviewed to be regularly, at least annually. Consultants can help you complete an organisational audit and while this costs, its worth putting this into your annual budget.

Then you’ll need insurances for example: public liability, employee liability (even if you have volunteers), trustee/director liability to name a few.

Once you’ve got all these in place you’ll need a robust business plan. However, you can’t write this until you’ve sat down with an accountant and worked out annual costs, planned your income and fundraising strategy as well as your PR for the coming year. When all of the above has been completed then you can put together your business plan in the knowledge that you’re ready to face all possible challenges. I always recommend a rolling business plan because this means an annual review and an opportunity to make any changes that are necessary. It also keeps the team focused on the goals and work.

Finally, everything completed your ready to roll out your work to the public.

Many start without building a foundation, they try and do these vital pieces of work after making their work public. To those individuals and those supporting I’d say beware you have failed to get your ducks in a row and trouble will likely strike without expert help.

Alison Cross-Jones
Consultant

When business goes from 0 to 100 and they wonder when it goes wrong?

When business goes from 0 to 100 and they wonder when it goes wrong?

Lots of people have a business idea! What they do next will determine whether they are successful!

There are lots of people who talk about the importance of marketing, networking, putting the wow into your business, etc and while all of that is relevant, all of it has its place and time because there is a time and place for everything.

Imagine you want to build a house? Remember the story of the three little pigs? We all know that the house of straw and the house of sticks fell down and that the house of bricks remained firm. Why is it then that so many people build a business or start a charitable endeavour without a firm foundation? It’s madness!

When you have a business or charity idea, do your research, get the name and the branding but then stop and plan!

Planning is the key to a successful business.

The first year should be about:registering the business, getting the name and brand right, getting expert PR advice and plan the first year’s PR and build your website. Finally, write your business plan. Before you write this you’ll need your income plan (fundraising/income for charities) this might include sales, bookings, etc. Next comes the PR plan which will include, social media, blogs, stories, marketing, etc. Once these are in place, the business plan will follow.

When all this is in place you can concentrate of the ‘frills’ the networking, joining business meetings, booking onto learning workshops, etc because now you’re in a position to know where you are going and how you’re going to get there.

It’s so important to plan without one then you could find that your business will go from 0 to 100 and you could be left wondering when it goes wrong.