Posts Tagged ‘how to start a business’
I was lucky enough to get invited to Google HQ in Dublin for a day of training last week. The amount of information Google gave was fantastic. Each session was broke into 30 minute blocks with experts from that area in Google. I will add some short posts on what was covered as it may help people understand exactly what Big Brother Google thinks and how they would like us to build our sites.
We were introduced to teams from organic search, adwords, adsense, webmaster and a number of other experts. They also provide a lot of great free tools to help people get more out of their site. I will link to them in posts too.
Internet Usage in Ireland
52% internet usage (2005)
77% coverage in 2010 (thats 3.5 million people)
15th highest in world for broadband
In 1-2 years we will have higher internet penetration than UK
Time spent online in Ireland
European average is 12.1 hours a week
Irish average is 19.4 hours a week spent online
Next year there will be more people online than watching TV
What do people do online?
(stats from last 3 month in 2009)
Email
Research (86%)
Buying / Shopping (53%)
Social Networking (52%)
Online Banking (51%)
Travel Bookings (50%)
YouTube (48%)
Ireland are the 4th highest in Europe for Online Buying.
We are number 1 for Online Travel Bookings (might have something to do with Ryanair)
YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine in the world.
It is very clear from these stats provided by Google that more and more people are spending time and money online. The fact that people spend so much time online is now common place. Not many people go to the Golden Pages to find a business. They GOOGLE IT. Ireland is usually slow to adopt new technology (mobiles, digital tv, etc), but once we take something onboard we are very loyal and become very big users of products.
Research for a product or service is often forgotten about with businesses. If your customer meets a sales rep or views a product in a shop and don’t buy it who will do the follow up sales with them? With a good website you can answer commonly asked pre & after sales questions. Show your product working and list all it’s benefits. People often think if someone visits their site and does not buy a product that the sale is lost. This is not the case. A lot of people show around online as they do in the real world. The difference is online they can shop around much faster and more efficiently. They may decide to return to your site in a few days and purchase. They may contact your directly to buy instead. This is where a good strategy and analytical tracking of the site comes in play.
For more info on analytics I wrote an earlier post here.
Buying Online is growing every single day. People now have trust in Ireland vendors and are happy to purchase products online. A lot more companies are offering ways for people to pay for services online.
Social Networking has exploded in the last few years with the likes of Facebook, Bebo, Twitter, Blogging, etc. As humans we all want to connect and we are all nosy too. We want to feel part of a group. Facebook has more than 500 MILLION members now. Twitter is so popular that companies such as ASOS ( As Seen on Screen) now offer customer support solely through twitter. ASOS has 50 staff members who handle their twitter customer services channel.
YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine. This is fantastic for companies who may use YouTube to showcase their product demos. You can also embed YouTube videos directly on your site too so you get the best of both worlds. For a very nice example of how to use YouTube to sell your business visit OwenFitzpatrick.com
Blanchardstown Area Partnership – Start your own Business Courses 2010
Business Workshops 2010 Series of Morning Workshops:
Blanchardstown Area Partnership offers in a variety of workshops and seminars to help people gain the knowledge necessary to develop and run a successful business.
All seminars are from 10am to 1pm unless stated
€10 per seminar.
To book your place contact the Enterprise Dept,
Ph: 01- 820 9550 / 824 7819
Email: enterprise@bap.ie
All classes take place at Dillon House (beside Power City), Unit 106, Coolmine Ind Est, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
Click here for directions & map >>
26 February
Bookkeeping
Why it is vital to keep the books straight
Recording data in a systematic manner in the books
Tailoring the record keeping to meet your needs
Bank reconciliation
How to use the information recorded
5 March
VAT
Who must register for VAT and why
How to assemble data for VAT and how to completed the returns
What VAT is allowed and disallowed and why
How imports and exports are treated for VAT purposes
Why VAT is the most lethal of all the various taxes
12 March
How To Market Your Business On-line
The concept of on-line marketing
The new media and on-line platforms
Irish consumers and the internet
On-line advertising objectives
Outline internet marketing plan
Types of on-line marketing
Case studies of best practice on-line marketing
The pros and cons of being on-line.
18 March
A ‘How To Guide’ To Designing & Delivering Effective Promotional Material
Promotional Materials within your business
Importance of effective promotional materials
Types of promotional materials and uses
Logo & Corporate Stationery, Newsletters, Brochures, Website
Price Lists/Quotations
Good design practice –v- poor design practice
Real-life examples of strong, effective design
Real-life examples of poor, ineffective design
How to properly brief a designer
Printing options available to your business
How to ensure that your promotional materials get into the right hands!
Hard-copy Delivery (eg direct marketing / An Post)
Electronic Delivery (via newsletter or e-mail)
Top Tips for getting the most from your designer and/or printer
Measuring effectiveness of promotional materials.
26 March
Getting Your Message Across
Effective Communication, Confidence Building and Assertiveness
Understanding Communications
Challenge your understanding of communications
Introducing you to new communications thinking
Being aware of how you communicate
Being confident in your communications
Having confidence in your own communication
What is your message
Know what you want to say
Choose how you want to say it
Exercises for gaining confidence
Tools for communicating
Know the tools, understand the kitbag
Choosing the right tool for the right task
The media – how to make best use of a very diverse market
Practical preparation
Discuss & Rehearse with partner
Listen to feedback
Reverse roles
Presentation
Building confidence
Group communication
Assertiveness
Feedback
30 March
Idea Generation
What is creativity and idea generation;
Creativity exercises;
Brainstorming;
Idea generation techniques;
How to assess your ideas.
31 March
Principles of Employment Law
Summary of relevant Acts, Equality, Unfair Dismissals etc.
Practical application of Acts for the small business
Contracts of employment
Managing poor performance
Policies & procedures
13 April
Business planning
What is a business plan & why write one
Business plan template (workbook will be provided)
Self assessment, background & experience
Legal structures
Your Product/service
Target market, Market research and marketing strategy
Financial projections, cash flow, profit & loss account
16 April
Guerrilla Marketing
Definition of guerrilla marketing
Online examples
Suggesting and using guerrilla marketing for clients
Building guerrilla marketing into a marketing campaign
Case studies
How to do it yourself – brainstorming
20 April
Taxation For Self Employed
Tax registration – sole trader / partnerships / limited companies
VAT – registration / thresholds / cash v accruals accounting for VAT / filing requirements / Year end reporting / penalties
PAYE – registration / filing requirements / year end reporting / penalties
Income tax – calculation / payment dates / allowable expenses V’s disallowable expenses / capital allowances / penalties
Revenue Audits
ROS
How to save tax.
23 April
E-commerce
Payment packages
Shopping carts
Things to watch out for
What works and why.
28 April
What You Need To Know for Importing / Exporting
Speak the language
Know who you will talk to: customers, customers of your customers
Regulations & customs
Logistics.
7 May
How To Create & Use Social Media
What is Social Media?
Facebook, LinkedIn, twitter, bebo, my space, blogs
How to create and use Social Media to benefit your business
Raising your profile
11 May
Market Research
What is Market Research
Aims of Market Research
Primary and Secondary Sources of Market Research
Conducting Market Research on a Budget
14 May
Copywriting For Online and Offline Media
How to write attention grabbing headline
How to use the words that sell, (and avoid those that don’t)
Headlines, the rules you must obey
Proven and effective openings you can use NOW!
What are copy connectors and how to use them
POWER words
Live workbook exercise
What’s your most wanted response
18 May
Idea Generation
What is creativity and idea generation;
Creativity exercises;
Brainstorming;
Idea generation techniques;
How to assess your ideas.
21 May
Setting Up And Managing AdWords Campaigns Effectively
4 questions you must ask about YOUR OWN website
How to avoid the “Newbie” learning curve
What does Google think of you?
How to get results at no or low cost
Outperform your competition – find out what they’re doing
Banner ads – how to get other people selling for YOU
Split-testing your return-on-investment
How YOU can find the best keywords
3 June
Bookkeeping
Why it is vital to keep the books straight
Recording data in a systematic manner in the books
Tailoring the record keeping to meet your needs
Bank reconciliation
How to use the information recorded
11 June
VAT
Who must register for VAT and why
How to assemble data for VAT and how to completed the returns
What VAT is allowed and disallowed and why
How imports and exports are treated for VAT purposes
Why VAT is the most lethal of all the various taxes
15 June
eBay for Sellers
Introductions, How eBay works
How Feedback works
How to Search, Bid, Buy & Pay (PayPal)
Registering as a Seller
Photos & Descriptions
Listing an Item for Sale – Live Demo
Pop Quiz – revision of learning
Tactics & Pricing Strategy
Moving Beyond the Basics
Cross Border Trade
Top 10 PowerSeller Tips
18 June
A ‘How To Guide’ To Designing & Delivering Effective Promotional Material
Promotional Materials within your business
Importance of effective promotional materials
Types of promotional materials and uses
Logo & Corporate Stationery, Newsletters, Brochures, Website
Price Lists/Quotations
Good design practice –v- poor design practice
Real-life examples of strong, effective design
Real-life examples of poor, ineffective design
How to properly brief a designer
Printing options available to your business
How to ensure that your promotional materials get into the right hands!
Hard-copy Delivery (eg direct marketing / An Post)
Electronic Delivery (via newsletter or e-mail)
Top Tips for getting the most from your designer and/or printer
Measuring effectiveness of promotional materials.
22 June
Idea Generation
What is creativity and idea generation;
Creativity exercises;
Brainstorming;
Idea generation techniques;
How to assess your ideas.
25 June
Credit Management
Principles of Credit Control
Before You Make the Call
The 4 reasons people wont/cant pay
Strategies to achieve payment and maintain
For further details, and to register for any of the above workshops, please contact:
Niall Comber
Enterprise Development Officer
Phone 01 820 9550 / 824 7819
Mobile: 086 354 5210
E-mail ncomber@bap.ie.
All classes will be held at Partnership offices:
Dillon House
Unit 106
Coolmine Industrial Estate
Clonsilla
Dublin 15
