Text Messaging your customers is a highly effective way of increasing sales for small, medium & large businesses

Building & maintaining relationships with customers is a vital strategy for all businesses no matter what their size. Businesses may use many forms of communication to keep customers advised of their services and special offers, however very few use Text Messaging which is probably one of the most effective sources of communication.

We are talking about text messaging only customers that have done business with you or have shown an interest in your products or services, we would not recommend or encourage “cold text messaging” our own research has shown that this is not effective, whilst we have seen tangible results and sales achieved by messaging customers with whom we have or are developing a relationship.

Text messaging is highly cost effective when compared to other means of marketing by post, newsletter, phone etc.

We provide you with a full and comprehensive service, we will assist you in developing your message and preparing the words to maximise the impact and level of response. We will build you a dedicated web page to sell your message, product or service  and provide you with comprehensive reporting detailing who has read your message and what actions they have taken.

For more information and to learn how Text Messaging can help your business call us on 0116 3260017.

Packages start from just £35 per month. 

Why use text marketing with Winfields Business Consulting?

1. Instant messaging – The average time for a text to send is less than 7 seconds.  With this, 97.5% of all text messages are read within 5 seconds of receiving them.  So within a matter of seconds your customers have seen your marketing.

2. High Open Rate – 98% of all texts are read.

3. High Conversion Rates – The average response rate to direct mail is 2.6% and to text messages it is 28%.  Of those who respond to a text campaign almost half go on to buy.

4. Reliable – No spam filters, most likely method to get to your customers.

5. Cool factor – Having text marketing shows your customers you keep up to date with technology, and gives you a head start on marketing to younger generations.

6. Effortless – Just tell us what you want to send and who to and we will do all the hard work!  We can even set up messages to be sent automatically to remind your clients of their appointments!

7. Effective – Full report to show who opens your text and who looks at your links, to make sure your marketing is effective.

    Prices

Simon Winfield

Red Monkey Play Ltd Early Years & Nursery Range

Consultants – Can they help your business?

There is a perception that Business consultants are over-priced and they do not actually do anything of real value for companies.  Well, I think you may be shocked to know that according to statistics, in 2008, every £1 spent on consultants saw a £6 return in value to their business.

Being a Business Consultant myself, I take great pride in my work. When taking on work I want to see results and see that the processes I implement in businesses are effective and deliver results.  Business Consultants are the same as any other profession, they want job satisfaction, they want to be able to see that they have done a good job and they have actually added real value to a business.

Business Consultants may not be specialists in your industry; however they are specialists in business. They know how businesses operate and the processes that should be in place to make any firm more efficient. By introducing tried and tested systems and working with you to understand the value you will see income & profits grow. With these sorts of values installed into your business it provides a solid foundation for firms to grow and see their profits soar.

Beyond this Business Consultants have seen almost everything; they have a vast amount of business experience and there is little that they cannot help you with. Business Consultants have a great network, so no matter what work you need doing, the chances of them knowing someone that can help is very high.

If you want to make a difference to your business and see performance & profits grow whilst making your life more manageable then contact a leading Leicestershire Based Business Consultant.

Winfields Business Consulting has established a strong reputation in helping their clients and have worked with various businesses including Oadby & Wigston Borough Council. Call them today on 0116 3260017 or email simon@sbmids.co.uk

98% of Text Messages are read & 97.5% of text Messages are opened within the first 5 seconds

What sort of marketing do you use? Ever thought of marketing via a text message?

Just ask yourself when was the last time you ignored a text message?  Taking my own experiences into account I really cannot remember the last time I just deleted a text message without reading it! The statistics behind text marketing seem to agree with me: 98% of all text messages are read.  This is why text marketing is so effective.

Statistics show that 97.5% of all text messages are read within the first 5 seconds of being received.  So you can make a real difference to your business within a matter of seconds.  If takings are low for a week, just send out a promotion via a text message and see your takings soar!

Just to show you how text marketing works here is an example of text marketing working effectively:

A Pizza Company started using text marketing and sent a promotion out.  With one simple text message they saw their revenue rise by 33%.

Not only does text marketing provide extra sales it also provides an opportunity to wow the client and to leave a lasting impression with them aiding the potential of future sales.  With really good service their sales can grow much further and leave a lasting impression on the customer.

This just goes to show that Text Marketing is a very effective way of marketing to your existing clients. (It costs 7 times more to sell to new customers than existing customers).  So using text marketing you can make sure you sell to your existing database.

All the statistics show that text marketing is a cheap and effective way to market to your clients:

• Average response rate to direct mail is 2.6% – Text Marketing it is 28%.
• Almost 50% of people who respond to a text message campaign end up buying from you.

With more and more people using mobile phones, text marketing is an essential marketing tool, to help your business thrive.

To find out how using Text Messaging to communicate with your customers can help your business call Winfields Business Consulting on 0116 3260017 we offer a range of packages and services to meet the needs of all different businesses.

Reliable and affordable you will not find anyone else more experienced to support your business.

Watch our Business Help Video on Text Messaging by clicking on the following link http://youtu.be/xtal0nbWQXs

Winfields Business Consulting has had the biggest influence on me and my business in the last 10 years – Chris Smith Electrician

With so many people using the likes of Facebook and other social media, can you afford to not use it to its full potential to help your business.

The average Facebook user spends more than 11 hours per month on Facebook . With so much time being spent on sites like this, there is huge potential for digital marketing.

It is very easy to set up a page on Facebook for your business or other social media sites, the challenging part is to make sure that you keep your Facebook page updated and relevant to ensure that it appeals to your target audience.

Firstly, you need to market to your existing customers, letting them know that you are on Facebook and other social media sites. I recommend you put it at the end your email signature, newsletter and correspondence with a link to your page or make sure you tell them when you see them. However you may do it, just make sure that they know!

Secondly, build a relationship with the people who have taken an interest in your business.  They have liked your page for a reason.  It’s because they want to be kept informed, they don’t want a load of advertising and marketing!  This can be done by making it more relaxed and light hearted.  On social media sites people want to see the human side of your business.  Perhaps, from time to time, put down some interesting facts about your employees or market.

WARNING: DO NOT OVERDO IT.  There is a fine line between the point where your audience is interested in your status and where they believe you spam their Facebook homepage.  There is no science behind social media, but I would suggest posting between 1-2 times a day.  But make sure you post when your target audience are most likely to go on Facebook.

Do not worry if you do not have many likes, as long as the likes you do have are from people who are really interested in your business there is nothing to worry about.  If you don’t think this is the case, you need to consider if you have informed your customers that you’re on Facebook and social media.  Maybe on the next newsletter remind your customers that you’re on Facebook and attach a link.  Also think about what they get for liking your page; maybe have a Facebook exclusive offer!

Hopefully you can take this away and see success from Facebook and other social media sites.

At Winfields Business Consulting we can support and assist you with your Business social Media needs, these range from training and coaching through to full social Media Management for your Company or Business.

For more information please call 0116 3260017 or email us at Socialmedia@sbmids.co.uk

As a Buiness consultant working with a wide range of businesses I have considerable experience on the impact of clients experiencing late payment and  having to chase payments from customers and even worse finding that you may never get payment.

Any business will be impacted by late payment or non payment and small businesses even more so, it will have a considerable impact on cash flow and the ability to make payment to your suppliers and staff. Cash flow problems are one of the main reasons for the failure of a business. Many businesses are profitable however late or non payment can mean that they are no longer able to trade. By following the Tips and implementing a simple process you can reduce the problems of late payment and secure your business.

1. Get to know your customers. Undertaking a credit check on all of your customers is a must! It is not difficult and there are a number of Companies who provide the service at a relatively low cost, a simple search on an internet search engine for “How do I credit check a Company” will provide results and you can obtain a full credit check for £2. You should credit check all new customer and then undertake regular checks thereafter, I would suggest every 6 months or more regularly if you suspect that a customer is having problems in making payments. I have an example of a Company, who when credit checked were rated “red” the lowest level and a recommended credit limit of just £250, however suppliers continued to provide supplies in some cases for in excess of £10000. They clearly did not have credit control systems or processes in place! The result? The company involved went into liquidation and the suppliers likely to lose substantial funds. If you only take 1 action make sure you credit check all of your customers and diarise to check regularly.
2. Make your payment terms clear - By ensuring your customers know your payment terms you will reduce the potential of late payment and improve your cash flow.  Ensure that your payment terms are included on every invoice you send and keep them consistent. Also explain your payment terms to your customers verbally and be clear about time frames and acceptable methods of payment.
3. Take a Deposit - Consider revising your payment terms, have you considered taking a deposit before the work starts? Many businesses now ask for a deposit of up to 50% on receipt of the order with the final payment on satisfactory delivery or completion. This will improve your cash flow substantially and you should not be embarrassed to ask. If you already take a deposit then consider increasing the amount you take.
4. Start chasing payment as soon as it is due - Effective credit control is vital, do not delay in chasing payment, as soon as it becomes overdue contact your customer, it is best no to allow any leeway as the longer you leave it, the longer payment will take and your customer may prioritise other payments other than yours, this only impacts on you and your cash flow, so know when payments are due and make your call the following day.
5. Take immediate action - If you have not received payment within the agreed timescale then STOP supplying your customer immediately. There is likely to be a reason why you have not received payment and that could be because they do not have the funds. Continuing to supply is not good business sense. Yes it is difficult yes you may feel guilty and you may feel you will lose business, however remember if you are not getting paid it is having a massive impact on your cash flow!
6. Consider outsourcing your credit control - For Small and Medium sized businesses credit control can be difficult to implement, also if you know the customer and you are chasing the debt then it may make you feel uncomfortable and therefore your credit control is not prioritised. Who could chase your payments? Do you have a bookkeeper that you can task with chasing payment? Alternatively there are a large number of companies that provide a service again an internet search will let you know the ones local to you.
7. Use a debt collection agency - If you are experiencing late payment and you have chased payment and still not received the funds then take action quickly, using a debt recovery agency is fast, efficient and relatively inexpensive, they will work on your behalf to recover the payment and your customer will be in no doubt that you are sticking to your terms. A solicitors letter will normally achieve the result that you require very quickly.

This is not an exhaustive list of tips, however looks at the key ones relevant to small and medium sized business. As a SME in the current economic climate you cannot afford to experience late payment as the impact on your cash flow can be potentially massive and place your own business at severe risk.

At Winfields, we can provide a range of services to help you with your credit control including reviewing your current processes, aiding you implementing processes that work as well as undertaking your credit control and chasing payments when they become due. For more information contact us by calling 0116 3260017 or email info@sbmids.co.uk

Running your own business is not simple and it is not straightforward there are many challenges that you will face, thousands if not millions have set up their own business and found its not for them, it is much harder than they thought or they simply did not have the skills to make it a success.

You! - The first aspect is to look at yourself and ask some clear questions and be totally honest to yourself with your replies:

• Are you positive? Do you have the drive and enthusiasm to success? Is this really what you want to do? Or is it just an easier option?
• Are you able to make things happen? So many business people wait for things to happen, they expect business and customers to come to them – this just does not happen in reality. Do you have the confidence and personality to get out and speak with people? Can you sell yourself and explain why people should do business with you?
• Do you know what you want to achieve? Have you established clear goals of what you want to achieve? What are your business goals? Do these match your personal goals? Do you have the determination to make them happen or do you get bored and tire easily?
• How hard are you prepared to work? Your own business will occupy your life and your time – you are not employed! the total success falls on your shoulders, that can mean long hours and working 7 days a week to make it a success are you prepared to work hard to make your new business viable?
• Are you good at spotting opportunities and reacting quickly? Business is about grasping opportunities when they arise and moving your business forward before your competitors do. You need to see the opportunities in the market and develop your products and services to match them. Lots of businesses that have been long established have failed due to not keeping up with the marketplace
• Are you self driven and motivated? When you set up your new business you are on your own, there is no one else to congratulate you, no one else to motivate you and no one else to give you “a kick” when it is required, you need to be capable of doing this yourself, you therefore need to be driven and be able to motivate yourself.

Consequences on your life

Moving from employment and research to starting and running your own business will have an impact on other areas of your life and what you are used to:

• Finances – your personal and where appropriate family finances will see a big change. The monthly salary paid into your account on the same day each month will no longer happen you will be reliant on the monies that your business is generating. The security you have had in the past is no longer and if you are not making money in your business this will invariably impact upon you personally and your family. There will be times when you are short of cash and times when hopefully you will have plenty of cash, however it is likely to be erratic. Therefore sit down with your family and ensure that everyone understands and are able to deal with this.
• Relationships – Your desire to make your new start-up business a success will invariably place different pressure on your relationships. It is highly likely you will be working different hours, longer hours and be more engrossed in what you are doing. This can mean you do not have the same time and energy at the outset for your family and your relationships. Be prepared for this, discuss the situation with those close to you and ensure that everyone understands and can cope with the challenges this will bring.
• Social time – Your life will be changing, hopefully for the better, however the extra hours, the extra commitment and your focus on your new start-up business will effect the time you have to socialise, if you have the time you may not have the energy and if you have the energy you may not have the inclination. Involve your friends as well as your family let them know what you are doing and that the fact you are not socialising so much is not a reflection on your friendship.

If you can deal with all of these then you should be in a great position to move forward and know that you can really make a go of your new business, becoming an effective and successful business owner. We wish you all the luck and success…..however before you make that final decision why not get in touch with us...we will give you an objective and impartial opinion, we can help you to understand your market place and provide you with help and advice that could literally save you thousands of pounds. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! we provide a free service to potential start up businesses so contact us now on 0116 3260017 or email startup@sbmids.co.uk.

Winfields Business Consulting have considerable experience in working with start-up and small businesses, they have built a deserved reputation for quality advice and support and have helped many businesses to not only get started they have also added to them becoming established and successful. Visit our website for more details and names of some of the businesses that they have supported. Contact Winfields Business Consulting on 0116 3260017 today.

With the Post Office announcing an increase in the price of a Second Class stamp to 50p and First Class to 60p it is going to make it more difficult and costly for businesses to make the decision to mail their customers and prospective customers. The average cost of sending a letter, brochure or flyer will cost close to £1 per item when production and printing is taken into account. With additional costs in staff time preparing the item, placing it in an envelope and dispatching to the Post Office each item will cost between £1.10 to £1.50.

Once dispatched you will never know what has happened to your costly communication, has the right person received it? Has it been read or then in the bin? Has your “investment” proved to be a costly expense.

There is a viable alternative for your Business!

Email Marketing! – email marketing will be a considerably cheaper option for your business, it is quicker, there are no expensive flyers to print, saving time and money! There are no stamps to buy! There are no trips to the post office to despatch your letters! Your costs are now considerably reduced saving your business money.

Other great advantages to email marketing are :

• you can send as many communications as you wish
• Send different versions to different people
• Test your communication on your customers and make changes to improve impact

Possibly one of the greatest benefits is that you will know whether it has been read by the intended recipient, which areas they found of interest and what they did with your communication. You can then use this information for targeted follow ups increasing the power and results of your letter.

The cost is considerably cheaper with up to 2000 emails costing less than 10p each. At Winfields Business Consulting we design and prepare your communication ensuring we get across your message in an effective marketing style that delivers results that we can measure and report to you.

As well as your own email addresses we can also source other appropriate email addresses for you to make your message have even greater impact!

Our email packages start from just £99 to reach up to 500 existing and prospective customers, that’s just 20p for each email including design, preparation and your text.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Contact us now to discuss how we can prepare your next marketing campaign and deliver measurable results for your business! Call us on 0116 3260017 or email us at marketing@sbmids.co.uk

When you run a business with others whether a small or medium sized business it is absolutely vital that you communicate with your business partners, be open, be clear and understand the business.

If you really want to be successful, grow your business and make good money you need to ensure your communication is at the top of your priorities. As a business consultant I work with many businesses with more than one owner and one of the biggest frustrations for me and often them is their inability to communicate between themselves or in some cases actually deciding not to share information.

Why if you are in business that delivers your only income would you want to not be open, honest and communicate with your partners and other business owners? Your actions could be in clear detriment to your own success, your own future and that of your family and the close to you.

So my advice as a consultant to many small businesses is to prioritise your COMMUNICATION be clear be fair and be honest it seriously will make a difference to your future success.

“UK businesses clearly understand the importance of social media. It is an effective and cost-effective tool, and its increased popularity comes at a time of increased pressures on marketing. The challenge for firms will be to maximise their investments beyond 2012.”
John Dixon, Head of Technology, Media and Telecoms from Royal Bank of Scotland

Why should Small and Medium sized Businesses consider using Social Media in their business?

Social Media benefits include:

• Low cost - Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media platforms are free to set up
• They allow you to communicate with your customers and potential customers quickly and effectively
• You can drive additional traffic to your website or retail outlet effectively
• Building Relationships with your existing customers
• Improving your Customer Service offering

If you are in business and either not using Social Media or are using it, however want to be more effective then we can help you. We will explain and show how to best establish and set up your accounts, how to effectively post news items and interesting articles and how to monitor their effectiveness.

Contact us by calling us on 0116 3260017 or visit our website www.smallbusinesseastmidlands.co.uk for more information.

Winfields Business Consulting provide advice, support, consulting and mentoring to Small and Medium sized businesses, they are based in Leicester in the East Midlands, however they provide their services across the Uk. They have developed a strong reputation delivering tangible results to their clients.

The full article from RBS on Social Media can be read by clicking here