What can we learn about leading our business from the armed forces

Like the front line battle, our business success can be formed by key defining decisions. So what are the lessons we can translate to the commercial world?

1. Be clear on the mission


2. Plan and prepare


3. Understand your battlefield


4. Lead from the front


5. Stay positive

Simon Buzza, www.newdawnpartners.com

week included first aid training and a short holiday!

Personal branding

Have you considered how you appear to your customers and prospects? Not just your physical appearance, but with social networking sites, the term personal branding is taking a whole new empathsis. Businesses that are checking out your business, are now likely to be checking out the key people. For example, reviewing your profiles on LinkedIn or Twitter and your own web site.But also consider how your employees are positioning themselves. What are they saying to your prospects? So perhaps you need to consider a corporate approach to profile building?

week included First Aid training, marketing seminar, bookkeeping and promotions for the Treehouse play centre

More about the A1 Group of companies

A1 Financials (Oxford) - Bookkeeping and management accounts support for Oxfordshire based business owners.
A1 Financials Ltd - a bookkeeping franchise for people wishing to run their own business
A1 First Aid - First aid training and supplies plus our First Aid DVD, a comprehensive DVD for refresher knowledge
A1 Marketing - hands on marketing support to ensure you deliver your marketing goals and InTouch email marketing / database software
The Oxford Business Network - relationship networking based on 'people buy people'
The Treehouse play centre - indoor childrens soft play centre in Didcot
The Oxford Cupcake company - delicious home made cupcakes for all occasionsOffices now in Kidlington and Didcot.

We would of course be delighted to support your business, so if we can assist in any way then please do not hesitate to contact us on 01865 378559 or 01235 819320.

Stay ahead of the competition

We are a follower of Andy Preston of www.outstanding-results.co.uk, who has recently given his 'seven pillars' advice on how to stay ahead of the competition in 2011 and beyond.

1. Ringfence your existing accounts - review your relationships and do not be complacent as competitors will be active


2. Target your prospecting - The quality of your prospecting is one of the biggest factors on how successful you are.


3. Increase your activity - High level of activity, good quality activity, with the right mindset


4. Become a valued salesperson - earn the position of a valued resource for your customers


5. Plan your attack - Win customers from your compeitors and distract them! Motivational for your team.


6. Manage your own motivation - a compelling reason to make sales


7. Sharpen your sales skiils - techniques are always being tweaked, be up to date, take tips and advice from trusted sources,

week included First Aid Training, Oxford Business Network, Launch of the Pathfinder business development club, A1 bookkeeping franchise

The Power of Newsletters or regular communications

When analysing our marketing activity, we have always found our newsletters be one area that achieves the results we desire.Email newsletters are a powerful tool that can be used to boost your marketing efforts, without draining your marketing budget. They provide a platform to discuss issues happening in your market, your customers’ potential concerns due to economic shifts and new tips, tools or products.They are also a way of keeping in touch with your network on a regular basis, reminding your contacts about your business and how you can help them or their contacts.Offering a newsletter benefits you in multiple ways, including:

Helping to build your email list
Establishing you as an expert in your service or product arena
Providing a great reason to reach out to your list – keeping your company Top Of Mind
Enabling you to establish a strong Loyalty program
Driving traffic to your site

However you should avoid key mistakes such as sending unsolicitated emails or using your newsletter simply as a brag piece or an advertisement. Each communication should have a clear “call to action” and always include contact information and links to your web site.

There are 4 key stages for your communications. Database, delivery success, open success, conversion.Here at A1 we can help you send email communications such as newsletters and promotional messages in the following ways:

DIY - use of the online software tool InTouch. See web site or request a demo
SUPPORT - we can oversee your DIY, to ensure you are delivering communications to your objectives.
INTEGRATED - we can help build your communications, once you have provided the content
FULL SERVICE - we can source the content, design and send the communication, providing valuable feedback

To find out more about these support services, then please call us on 01865 378559

First Aid DVD goes online with E Learning version

E learning version of our First Aid DVD is proving popular since the expo in Birmingham NEC. See www.firstaidtrainingonline.co.uk

week included various first aid training, first aid DVD sales, bookkeeping, The Pathfinder business development club

Social media as a communications tool

We are quite often asked how to best use social media sites, especially LinkedIn and Twitter. There are many ways in which people are successfully using these online mediums and historic uses have shown that you can benefit in many ways. However these types of social media are predominantly communication tools and our advice would be to use them in the way you do your face to face networking:When you go to a networking event, there will be people you have identified you want to speak to or in conversation consider that person to be someone to keep in touch with. You can search and communicate using these tools. In addition, when say 4 people are stood talking, I guess you do not barge in with your promotional material and business cards, but rather listen to the conversation and then contribute with a view or your expertise that makes people listen or recognise you.

Only 6 days until the launch of the new Pathfinder business club. Serious about your business? Then why not join us www.pathfinderclub.co.uk