Author: sme-admin

In a perfect world, it would be enough for your business to set up a quality digital marketing strategy. But even the best of plans can sometimes fail. The good news is that, by identifying the key reasons why your digital marketing strategy isn’t working, you can fix those problems and find new ways to improve your results. That said, if your digital marketing strategy hasn’t been improving your company’s bottom line like you had planned, here are six potential reasons why your strategy isn’t working and what you can do instead. You Don’t Know Your Audience You may have…

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Rising costs forced young people to use buy now, pay later (BNPL) to afford Christmas this year as a quarter (23%) of young people* admitted they were planning on buying their Christmas dinner this year using BNPL, according to new research from responsible lender, Creditspring. Many were also reliant on BNPL – an unregulated form of borrowing – to buy gifts for loved ones, with three in ten (28%) 18-34 year olds saying they will use BNPL to buy their Christmas presents this year. The data comes in the wake of research** from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which shows that…

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Paul Day, technical director of specialist document management company Filestream, is an expert in GDPR and supports his document management clients around cyber-security and keeping their data safe. Filestream works with companies including Anglia Farmers, University of Hull, Kingsley Health Care, Carnival UK, Scania and BNP Paribas. In this article Paul gives cyber security tips for the New Year.  As 2024 arrives, the threat around cyber attacks, ransomware and hackers grows ever greater. Understanding the risks and legal responsibilities around personal data will become even more important.  It’s predicted that there will be increasing threats in 2024 around the increased use…

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Entrepreneur & property developer Mandy St John Davey has been awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to Working Women  Award-winning businesswoman, landlord and property developer Mandy St John Davey has been awarded an MBE for Services to Working Women, Mandy who lives in Aberdare in South Wales, is a well-known property developer and champion of women in business, particularly in property and construction. She said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award and humbled that I have received it for supporting working women.    “Throughout my own career I have worked in mainly male…

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The Employee Ownership Conference, which took place at the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) in Liverpool recently, revealed why employee-ownership is the future for increasing numbers of businesses to ensure their customers are satisfied about the ethical practices of the companies they choose to patronise. The conference, which was spread over two days, brought together more than 700 delegates from the employee-owned (EO) sector, including business leaders, employee owners and professional advisors. It showcased keynote talks and panel discussions from EO experts, provided networking opportunities, and hosted the Employee Ownership Awards at a celebration dinner. Chris Maslin, who is an…

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Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit endures according to new research, which today revealed two thirds (66%) of small business founders are confident their businesses will be in a stronger financial position in six months’ time – but to get there, the government needs to step up. Nearly a quarter (24%) of the more than 450 new business founders polled* said government policy hasn’t created an environment for their businesses to thrive. The bi-annual Founder Barometer by Virgin StartUp also revealed a strong sense of inequality, with fewer than one in five (18%) male founders saying that government policy hasn’t created an environment where their business…

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In a world full of technology and the pursuit of increased productivity, making smart tech decisions is key. It’s not just about meeting current challenges but paving the way for a smarter future. Marco Costa, CEO at Exclaimer provides SMEToday’s readers with some guidance on how to future-proof your business by embracing technology for long-term growth One step at a time Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great promise and is often seen as a solution to simplify our lives and enhance our jobs. But businesses relying on personal connections and human touchpoints should approach with caution. Don’t consider AI as a…

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A new study has revealed the most impactful Christmas advertisements of the 21st Century – with John Lewis’ 2013 ad “The Bear and the Hare” crowned number one.   Christmas advertising is a staple of the holiday season, with many brands vying to create the most effective and memorable ad possible. They are an effective marketing tool and have become increasingly elaborate over the years in response to the buzz they generate.  QR code generator and marketing experts at QRFY.com analyzed the total number of YouTube views and, where applicable, the total number of Spotify plays, before calculating an average number…

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Richard Blundel, Director of the Centre for Social and Sustainable Enterprise, at The Open University, discusses what SMEs of all kinds can do to develop their ESG skills and use them to move their organisations forward. ESG (standing for ‘Environmental, Social and Governance’) may not be the catchiest of business terms, but it has become a hot topic in corporate boardrooms around the world. The British Business Bank has described ESG as, ‘a set of standards measuring a business’s impact on society, the environment, and how transparent and accountable it is.’  Sceptics see it as ‘woke’ and naïve, while supporters…

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UK Businesses Optimistic as Inflation Falls to 3.9%, Eliciting Calls for Policy Adjustments In response to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures revealing a drop to 3.9% in the year to November 2023 – the lowest in two years – business leaders express relief and optimism for the economic landscape. , National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “The decrease in inflation is a whisper of relief to small firms as we end the year. The reduction marks a significant shift from the staggering 10 per cent figure this time last year at the peak of…

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