Business

Traditional Business Practices That Are Still Frequently Used

Even with the rise of technology, there are many business practices that continue to be used every day. As the saying goes, ‘when something ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ – this is very much the truth when it comes to things in the business world. Of course, technology has helped many companies too, and new and old can get along quite well together to deliver the best results.

So if you want to think about your own processes in a little bit more detail, consider some of these traditional business practices and make note of how effective they are. You will likely discover that they are still helping your company to grow each day.

Networking

A lot of people use social networks and engagement platforms these days; Twitter is popular for sharing little snippets of information, and LinkedIn is a place to connect with other people in the industry. Yet people still love to get together to network face-to-face, even with these technological advancements.

You can see the evidence of this at networking breakfasts, break-out areas at conferences, and evening socials where everyone can let their hair down a bit. Swapping business cards is not yet an outdated practice, as people often feel less rude passing someone their details on a card, rather than asking for someone’s name and typing it into a smartphone. Offline networking is very much still a thing.

Phone calls

Everyone loves email technology, as it is possible to send a quick message without needing to have a lengthy conversation. But there is a downside to email communication, and that involves a loss of tone and perhaps sounding too direct. The phrase “email tennis” was coined because some conversations go back and forth so many times when one phone call could have sorted the issue out in the first instance.

Emails can be ideal to keep everything organized – you can create different folders on the network – but the same can actually be done for telecommunications. Have a look at the iComplete VoIP CRM which records the number of calls made to contacts; it can be a very handy tool.

Board meetings

Another popular way to communicate these days is by teleconference, which often incorporates a video function so people can see each other during the discussion. This technology has allowed companies to stay connected when each party is in a different cities, or even country, but some would argue that it still isn’t as effective as getting everyone together in the same room.

Board meetings certainly still take place in many businesses across the UK, as they can be incredibly productive and insightful. It is a place where all of the key team members and stakeholders can come together to hear about successes and failures, and what is forecast for the future. It can be much easier to discuss this if everyone is looking at the same thing in front of them, rather than worrying about being self-conscious on a screen.

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Business

All You Need To Start A Business In London

As the capital city of the UK, London is a thriving centre of business and commerce. Many entrepreneurs try to become part of the city’s thriving economy by starting up a new business. If you are new to starting your own business and wish to turn your idea into a reality, there are several things you are likely to need.

Funding

Most businesses will need some source of initial funds to get off of the ground. Many people fund new businesses from their own savings, but if you cannot afford to do this or do not wish to spend so much of your own money at once, there are several other possible sources of funding you can turn to.

There are a number of organisations offering grants or affordable loans to support new business start-ups. Some of these offer on a national level, others may be local and restricted to the City of London or even to particular areas. Some may also be limited to specific industries. Do some research and see what schemes may be available for your business idea.

Alternatively, the traditional route when seeking funding for a new business is to talk to a bank about a business loan. A range of short and long-term loans are available from most major banks and finance providers.

Premises

All businesses need a place to operate. If your business is very small, you may be able to work from home. This is most commonly useful for a business where you will be a sole trader with no employees. A spare room can be a useful office and garages or sheds can become small-scale workshops.

For businesses that your home cannot house, there is sure to be no shortage of commercial properties in a thriving city like London, and the office space City of London has to offer all over the city can be found in great quantities. Shops, workshops, and industrial premises are also widely available.

Customers and clients

In order for a business to succeed, it will need to obtain customers and clients. To do this, some form of marketing activity will almost always be necessary. Before starting your business, try to identify who your target clients are and what you may be able to offer them that other businesses cannot. This will help you know who to target with your marketing efforts, and how to encourage them to choose you over an alternative business.

It is also important to know how to go about your marketing efforts. Do some research to see which methods are available to you, how much cost and effort will be involved in each, and which tactic your target market is likely to respond best to.

Most (though not all) businesses will find that the modern tactic of marketing online will be a very effective way of gaining custom. Other useful methods include display advertising, distributing brochures or simply networking. The best approach will be different for each business.

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Business

Finding Office Space In SW1

Straddling the very heart of London, SW1 contains the bulk of the city of Westminster: Buckingham Palace, Belgravia, and Oxford and Regent Streets with their world famous retail outlets. To many visitors and tourists, SW1 is London. It is a district with a pedigree and one that many corporations and businesses deem suitable to have their head office in. It is also an area of historical significance. A tourist could quite easily spend a week considering the sights in SW1and still not have enough time to take them all in. Finding office space in SW1comes at a premium, for an obvious reasons; it is one of the addresses to have.

Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence, is a tourist magnet in its own right. The Palace of Westminster, which contains the House of Lords and the House of Commons, is the seat of government in the United Kingdom and is also known as the mother of all parliaments. Other famous buildings include Westminster Abbey, where the Kings of England have been crowned since the time of William the Conqueror. Even the railway stations that lie in SW1 are famous. Think Waterloo, Victoria and Charing Cross, iconic echoes of the great Victorian age of steam and engineering, through whose barriers millions of commuters and visitors to the metropolis still flow.

Less evocatively perhaps, SW1 is also the home of the Westminster Village, the loose; floating cabal of politicians, spin doctors and journalists whose opinions shape the national agenda. A different kind of agenda unfurls daily on Oxford Street, the busiest shopping street in Europe, which runs from Marble Arch to High Holborn and which intersects with other streets whose names are internationally synonymous with shopping, like New Bond Street, Park Lane and Regent Street.

Oxford Street follows the line of the ancient Roman Road, the Via Trinobantina, which once connected Hampshire to Colchester. Baker Street, the home of the world famous fictional consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, stands just off the Oxford Road and tourists still flock there by the thousands. Oxford Street contains the flagship stores of such retail giants as Debenhams, the House of Fraser, John Lewis, Selfridges and Top Shop. Another famous building, Somerset House, stands at the junction of Oxford Street and Park Lane, famous for its hotels and top range car dealers.

Finding the right office space for your business in SW1 needn’t be a daunting prospect. There are two approaches to securing your ideal office space. Either research companies online, securing quotes and checking customer testimonials. Or, employ the services of a specialist firm of surveyors and real estate agents who deal in office requirements in the area. Before committing to a property, ensure you have carefully considered factors such as how long the contract lasts for, any additional charges and above all the company’s reputation in their field.

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