organised, PA Services Blog

5 Key things we didn’t know before starting a small business

5 June 2017 by Vicky

1. Outsource
Entrepreneurs often feel they need to be able to do everything on their own, but this can lead to you wasting precious time doing mundane tasks that someone else could do better and faster. Look for ways to automate or outsource repetitive jobs, and you’ll have more time for the important things. You’re also only as good as the team you have behind you. Make sure you have the right people in place to deliver the service you want to deliver.

2. You’ll spend a lot of time running your business
So you’ve started your business because you’re passionate about what you do, but as a business owner you’ll spend the majority of your time on administration, marketing, selling, business planning and answering a whole load of emails. To make any money out of your new business these are things you need to get to grips with, even if admin’s not your first passion.

3. The importance of making friends with the media
However fantastic your product or service, you need to tell people about it if your business is to succeed. Local press can often have space to fill and will welcome newsworthy stories about your new business. Editorial will often seem more credible to the general public than advertising, so make friends with your local media and harness the power of free publicity.

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Small Business Owner? Why it Pays to let your Employees Work Flexibly

2 May 2017 by Vicky

Although most small businesses in the UK employ no one but the owner, nearly 25% have employees. If your business is expanding and you are starting to take on staff, it’s worthwhile considering giving them the flexibility to work from home.

A key advantage for small businesses of having employees who can work from anywhere, at any time, and who aren’t tied to their desks means that they can be more responsive – one of the biggest advantages small businesses have over their larger competitors.

Technology such as video conferencing, social media groups and instant messenger can create a ‘virtual office’ to enhance collaboration while obviating the need for employees to be physically present in an office. If the majority of your work happens on the computer and online, the location of the person is no longer important – as long as they have a reliable Internet connection.

Studies have shown that people who work from home are happier and more productive. You may expect people to have more interruptions at home, but for many people office distractions can be a major source of procrastination: it’s often easier to focus on a task at home.

Here are some of the ways it can pay to allow working from home:

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Christmas All Wrapped Up

13 November 2016 by Vicky

We believe that half the excitement of Christmas is that first glimpse of gifts under the tree and if they look like they’ve been wrapped by a five year old, well it’s just not the same! So instead of enlisting the help of Santa’s little helpers, we’re often asked by our busy clients to sprinkle a bit of Pink Spaghetti magic and help them wrap presents for family, friends and work colleagues. shutterstock_84641821-2

For us, this is a wonderfully fulfilling task but we realise that for others it’s simply a chore, so if you need a little bit of help to make your presents look perfect this Christmas, here are some useful hints and tips we’ve picked up along the way!

About to start your Christmas wrapping? We love this short video “how to” from Boots

This video demonstrates some really simple bow techniques for gift wrapping – great to add a little something to your gift wrapping this year.

Think you’re fast at gift wrapping? We could all do with this Man at Christmas!

If you want something very different for your Christmas gifts this year, look at the video on Japanese wrapping – you may need to start early though – it is not fast!

Awkward shaped presents? This video from Boots shows you how to attempt them!

If you want to make a statement on your present this year, this video shows you Pom Pom bows!

For more inspiration on Christmas gift wrapping we also recommend you try Pinterest!

Good luck and we would love to see your creations!

eBay – a Great Tool, with a Little Effort!

29 November 2014 by Vicky

eBay is the perfect tool for money-saving…but time-saving it isn’t! Here’s our guide to making the most of eBay.

It can be a real effort to get all of those items photographed and posted, then there’s all the parcelling up and trips to the Post Office. But if it could be simplified…wouldn’t you appreciate making a little money from your pre-loved stuff?

Do
o Think of how much time you have to commit and what you want to achieve. Do you want to recycle just a few more valuable items to raise a little bit of cash or are you running out of space and need to clear out the garage or spare room?
o List similar items in bundles or at the same time and offer to combine postage. Many people buy more than one item if they can save on postage.
o Your homework – to decide whether it is worth selling an item use the “advanced search” box to the right of the main search bar, click on this and you will have the option to see how much similar items have sold for.
o Download the app if you can: listing an item, including inserting the photograph from the same device, only takes minutes with a little practice.
o Put thought into the title and description, including brand, size, type, colour and condition. The more detailed your title the more likely it is to be found.

Don’t
o Worry too much if somebody doesn’t pay, it happens. If after sending a friendly reminder doesn’t work open the dispute process, get your fees reimbursed and re-list.
o Feel obliged to post an item if you have listed it as “Collection Only”.
o Be afraid to list items for parts, I have sold a number of items that no longer work. As long as you are totally honest in your listing somebody somewhere will be looking for the exact thing that you are selling.

If you’ve stuff to clear that you simply can’t bear to take to the charity shop, eBay is perfect – but if you really can’t find a moment to commit…give us a call. We’re experts at listing, selling and sending…saving you time and making you money!

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