We all know about the rise of TikTok in recent years and the proliferation of video content across social media platforms. It is now quick and easy for users to create and edit short videos on their mobile devices and upload them for all the world to see – or the few dozen followers they have. The introduction of Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts is a reaction from Meta and Google to take advantage of this trend, and many of us have fallen victim to the endless scrolling through content of an evening when we really should be getting on…
Author: sme-admin
A STUDY has revealed that despite widespread concern over costs to businesses and record-high utility bills, 95% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are overlooking obvious cost savings, with the most neglected being water bills. The independent survey of over 500 UK SMEs by National water retailer Wave, revealed that just 5% of respondents are cutting down on water usage to address rising overheads, despite 87% responding that water is a vital part of daily operations. With a backdrop of rising cost-of-living and soaring energy prices, water usage has slipped to the bottom of the pile when it comes to operational…
Digital advertising is not only hugely complex but fast changing, especially for B2B marketers. Is Google Search still a good option despite soaring call-per-click costs? Does the explosion in bot traffic (estimated at 95% of clicks) make it near impossible to get your ads to the right user base on the Google display network? Is LinkedIn’s enhanced job title targeting worth the extra cost? Such conversations, while important, are a dangerous distraction. Generating clicks is just the start. What a business needs to know is what happens next. How many people click through – at great cost, only to bounce straight off?…
When you become an entrepreneur you are embarking on two journeys. One to build and grow your business, and another to the edge of what you think you are capable of. All entrepreneurs are aware of and excited about the first journey, but very few are prepared, or even aware, of the second one. But it is this second journey that will define whether you succeed or not, because prioritising personal growth is how you keep ahead of the increasing demands your business will place on you. It also guarantees the only ‘exit’ you can count on in the end,…
Bupa UK Insurance has announced the launch of a new free service for its SME customers, Growth+, which, for the first time, offers an all-in-one HR, health and wellbeing support service expertly tailored to the needs of small businesses. Growth+ has been designed to support small business owners and entrepreneurs so they can navigate their business’ health and wellbeing responsibilities and unlock the business growth opportunities from investing in private healthcare. Growth+ helps small business owners and entrepreneurs take care of their own health and their employees through: A new team of health and wellbeing experts trained to understand the…
James Higgins, Founder of luxury, ethical bedding brand, Ethical Bedding, took part in the latest series of Dragons Den. On the popular BBC One series, James showcased the properties and potential of the eucalyptus-based, sustainable bedding, gaining the attention of Touker Suleyman, who offered a 50% stake in the business. However, James boldly declined the offer, favouring his belief in purpose over profit. Here, James provides insight into the story behind Ethical Bedding, the importance of purpose over profit, his experience on Dragons Den and the next steps for the business: What was the inspiration behind creating Ethical Bedding? ‘After working in…
To put it politely, the UK’s economy could be described as being in the toilet. First, the pandemic brought the country to a near standstill, causing thousands of businesses to go under, never to be seen again. Then, just as the situation with COVID was beginning to look a little brighter, Putin decided to invade Ukraine, placing the UK’s food and energy supplies under serious threat, and causing prices to soar. Now, the nation is in the throes of a crippling cost-of-living crisis, which is inflicting untold pain on households and organisations from Lands’ End to John o’ Groats. It…
The working world is fast-paced and driven by technology. Such rapid change can make it hard for young people to know where to start when it comes to addressing the digital skills most coveted by employers, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group provides SMEToday readers some guidance. It’s tempting to assume, in an increasingly digital world, that digital literacy is not an issue; that we can all interact intuitively with the apps and devices that now permeate our lives. Many young people feel tech-savvy, and confident using social media channels. However, in reality, the UK faces…
As technology continues to evolve, so does the world of digital marketing. Google Analytics has been a staple tool for marketers since its launch in 2005, and it has undergone significant changes over the years. In October 2020, Google introduced its latest version, Google Analytics 4 (G4), which replaces the previous version, Universal Analytics. In this article, marketing experts Protean Inbound explore the differences between the two and why it’s essential for marketers to upgrade to G4. What is Google Analytics 4? Google Analytics G4 is the latest version of Google Analytics that provides businesses with valuable insights into their…
Office architecture has been changing for three years. Meetings have become Zoom calls, a quick phone call an email, and an email an instant message. As the office landline becomes replaced with internet-based alternatives like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), some businesses are questioning — is it secure? To help stave off concerns of cyber-attacks, Ross Slogrove, UK country manager at VoIP phone system provider Ringover, analyses the security credentials of VoIP. In 2022, statistics from cyber security company Surfshark showed that there were 4,783 victims of cybercrime for every one million users in Britain. That translates to a 40…