May 21, 2012

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Remember the importance of data protection in business

September 23, 2011 By

Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of business, or you’re an established veteran, you need to pay close attention to the importance of data protection.

It’s absolutely crucial for you and your company to do everything possible to look after any personal information and confidential details you hold on record from your clients and customers.

In the UK, the Data Protection Act stipulates that companies have a legal obligation to protect the information of others. If they are found not to be doing this, they can be subjected to a fine, which can be especially damaging to your business if you are just starting out.

When handling data in paper format, you can reduce the risk of theft and loss by using a shredder. Paper shredders are very useful in the workplace, as they will help you to dispose of valuable and confidential information in a safe manner. You’ll also be able to recycle the paper you’ve shredded, playing your part in the fight to save the environment.

As well as protecting the data of others by shredding it, you’ll be helping your own business. None of your competitors will be able to access any of your confidential information if you shred it, which is particularly good to know if you’re just starting out in the business world.

This is the best way to protect your valuable information offline, but you should also be trying to do as much as possible to look after it online too.

Your data could be exposed to hackers on the internet if you do not have adequate protection in place in the shape of anti-virus software and encryption. Having these things in place could really boost your data protection, making it more difficult to lose any confidential information relating to your own business, as well as your customers and clients.

Filed Under: Tips for Business Women Tagged With: , ,

How to make a student property more appealing

September 12, 2011 By

If you’ve chosen to invest in property to rent for students, you’ll be looking to make the house you own as appealing as possible, to guarantee there are renters every year.

So bearing this in mind, it’s worth spending some time and money updating the rooms around the house and the bedrooms are a great place to start. Some students will live with people they do not know very well and even if they get on like a house on fire with their housemates, they will still value their private space too. This makes the bedrooms very important to students, so it’s a good place to begin when doing some refurbishments.

It makes sense to go for white and cream paint or wallpaper in all of the rooms. This is not only neutral, it’s also easier for students to put their own stamp on, through putting up posters and things around the room. Cheap furniture for the bedroom is fairly easy to find nowadays and this is definitely the way to go with student homes, as it may well get broken, so it’s best not to have invested too much money in the first place.

Make sure you put double beds in all the rooms if they are big enough, as this is bound to increase the appeal of the property to potential renters. As well as this, try and choose comfortable mattresses for them to sleep on, as this could also prove to be a big selling point.

However you decide to decorate the rooms, it really will be worth it in the end. With so many students out there and so many properties for them to choose from, it’s vital to make sure your investment really stands out, so bear that in mind when you’re forking out for refurbishments.

Filed Under: Tips for Business Women Tagged With: , ,

Why not set up your own catering firm?

September 12, 2011 By

If you’re a bit of a foodie and you enjoy nothing better than going out for a slap-up meal every weekend, why not turn your love into a great business idea? With the effects of the recession slowly easing off, it’s a fantastic time to set up a new business with an innovative idea or concept.

You could turn your passion for food into creating a high-quality and locally sourced catering company. People are increasingly looking for quality food for their parties and weddings which doesn’t cost the Earth, but is nice and tasty. Bearing this in mind, you and a group of friends could perhaps put your fitted kitchens to good use. To start off with, think small, as you don’t know how much money you’ll be able to get your good-quality produce for and you don’t want it to fall down as an idea at an early stage.

But once you’ve got a firm idea in place – think about the type of cuisine you’re going to offer – you should then try out some concepts and creations in order to see which ones work best. After you’ve decided on the best menu you can offer, try and make the dishes on a small scale, finding good local suppliers and making the meals as economical as possible. Once you’ve tried these things out in people’s kitchens, you’ll be able to test it on a larger scale, perhaps offering tasting experiences to your friends and family to get some much-needed feedback at an early stage.

Marketing your business should be fairly straightforward and not too expensive, since you should be able to harness the power of social media, setting up a fan page on Facebook and promoting your new catering enterprise through Twitter as well.

Set up a website and get ready to receive a barrage of emails and requests about catering events around your local area!

Filed Under: Tips for Business Women Tagged With: , ,

Women and Work/Life Balance

September 9, 2011 By

Work/life balance is the Holy Grail for many people and particularly working women if they also take on the majority of family commitments such as school runs and housework. One of the ways to approach this elusive concept is to consider working for yourself and managing your own hours around your children.

If you are working at a senior level and trying to look for a part-time alternative to the 80 hours you are currently doing then you will be well aware of the lack of employed options. Unless you can negotiate a scaled-back version of your position or arrange a job share then it is almost always impossible to find what you are looking for without compromising the level you are currently at. A depressing thought, and one some recruitment genius out there should really apply themselves to…

The alternative – working for yourself – can be a daunting prospect, but something that more and more women are considering in order to take charge of their own lives. Make sure your business ideas are sound and that there is a viable market for what you are offering. Consider webhosting reviews, set yourself up with a shop front online and away you go! It’s also vital that you have your antivirus software installed and up to date, because if you are sending files back and forth with clients, you can’t afford to take the risk. Kaspersky antivirus offers free trials, so you don’t have to spend a fortune on expensive software unless you are convinced of the benefits of the product. If you stick to what you know well then with the experience and the contacts you have you will find that the transition from employee to employer is easier than you anticipate.

Don’t forget to check out the competition as well – what are they up to online? Who is buying their goods or services and who is running their sites technically? Check out their web hosting reviews to find out more. You may well find that saying goodbye to corporate hell and setting up on your dining table is the best decision you ever made. Go on, you won’t regret it!

Filed Under: Tips for Business Women

Eating healthy at work

September 1, 2011 By

If you’re trying to lose weight it is well worth giving thought to what you are going to have for lunch the following day. Many of us have to leave home at some ungodly hour to get to work and, unless you are an early riser, it is often difficult to make the time in the morning to pack a healthy lunch so do it the night before.

Sandwiches made at home can often be pretty boring compared with the ones sold in shops. With a bit of thought and with some ideas from innovative online recipes, though, you can make your own sandwiches every bit as tasty and far healthier than a shop bought one, to say nothing of the money you can save. Forget the sliced white bread. Opt for an interesting (and healthy) granary bread, a wrap or pitta bread. Instead of using butter choose a low fat spread or low fat mayo. If you want to use salad in your sandwich it is better to take that to work separately. No-one wants a sandwich that has turned into a soggy mess thanks to the tomato or cucumber. If you are bored with salad then supplement your sandwich with some raw carrot sticks, chopped pepper and celery sticks; these are also handy to nibble on if you are hungry mid-morning. If lunch just isn’t lunch without a bag of crisps to go with your sandwich then look for a low fat version.

If you’re lucky enough to have a microwave and fridge at work then the sky’s the limit. Why not make an extra portion of your favourite healthy low fat dinner recipe and heat it up at lunch time?

In the winter months what about substituting a lovely bowl of soup for your usual sandwich? All you need is a blender and some good vegetarian recipes – pretty much any kind of vegetables can go into your soup. All you need is a good vacuum flask to keep the soup piping hot, if you don’t have access to cooking facilities.

If you need a pud with your lunch then fruit salad can be made the night before although bananas are notorious for discolouring.

Filed Under: Tips for Business Women

Tips for Setting Up a Website

August 31, 2011 By

Setting up a website is a walk in the park for some people, but for us mere mortals the very thought of trying to do it is daunting. Having just been through the process myself the best advice I can offer you is to take one step at a time and if it all gets too much then engage an expert to do it for you. The latter can be a costly option however so why not have a go yourself first, and look for assistance if you get stuck.

Hosting reviews are a good place to start as every website needs to be hosted by a provider. Things to consider are what you need the site to do, what functionality is required and whether you are likely to expand in the future. Take your time reading about several different options before you make any decisions.

Webhosting reviews are not the only thing to look at of course. It is also advisable to review all your competitor’s sites and see what they are doing well and where you could improve on what is on offer. Also, find some websites for unrelated products or services which you think are particularly good and try to analyse why you like them so much. Maybe it’s the interesting content, the welcoming home page, the visual feel or the navigation process. Whatever attracts you could be something which can be incorporated into your site too.

However you go about setting up a website to support your business, it will be something which you will be pleased you have faced up to. When your online profile is raised it becomes more important than ever to have up to date antivirus software.  Don’t delay this – there are plenty of free antivirus applications available.

The interest in your company which is generated can only be a good thing and you will be glad you made the effort. Go on – you know you can do it if you put your mind to it!

Filed Under: Tips for Business Women Tagged With: ,

Refurbishment For Your Business Premises

August 31, 2011 By

Owning your own business in a difficult financial climate can be a real challenge. The experience is always hard work but can also be incredibly rewarding, and one of the most exciting times is when you move to new premises or are looking to expand or refurbish your current establishment.

Getting the environment right for your customers is crucial, and it is really important that you create a welcoming space which will put them in a buying mood! Professional assistance in doing this can often make the difference so make sure you get expert input right from the start. Consider who your target market are and study what your competitors are doing. Think about your ideas and make a note of any questions to discuss with them before they arrive – you will get more from your consultation this way and be nearer to a clear idea of the costs involved.

Don’t forget about your staff when you make your plans. Loyalty from the people who represent your business is something to treasure, so make sure the staff areas are as well appointed as the customer facing ones. Fit a kitchen in the staff room for drinks and meals, and make sure there is somewhere comfortable to sit and rest during breaks. Ask the people who work for you for their input on colour schemes or decoration for the staff areas and make them feel really involved.

Kitchens might be the last thing on your mind unless you own a restaurant or café, but rest assured it will be one of the first things your employees want to know about! We all like to be looked after and made to feel valued so get this right and you will be glad you did. If you get professional help they should be with you every step of the way to make sure your refurbishment is a success and so is your business.

Filed Under: Tips for Business Women Tagged With: , ,

Why not boost the value of your home with some tiling?

August 30, 2011 By

Properties are taking a while to sell nowadays, so it’s well worth investing in something which will give your house that little je ne sais quoi when it’s on the market.

Adding a feminine touch to a few of the rooms in your house could do just that, making sure your property stands out from all the others.

The right tiles, in the right places around your house, could really to boost its value.

Mosaics have always been hugely popular and they look ornate and expensive if they’re done right, so consider taking on a project which will see you turning an ordinary work surface into something extra special with some tiling.

This is bound to take a fair amount of time and effort to achieve, as it’ll require you to use a tile cutter to create tiny square-shaped pieces which then need to be shaped and styled to create a design you’re proud of, but it’ll really be worth it in the end, especially if it ends up being a huge selling point of your property.

Perhaps it’s also worth looking at a DIY article to get some other ideas for tiling. You might find it recommends going for tiles in the obvious places around your home – such as bathroom – or it might advise trying to put them somewhere a little bit different.

For example, you could add some class and colour to your kitchen by putting some tiles on the walls. Maybe attach them above a neutral-coloured stove and oven to make the room a little bit more interesting to prospective buyers.

With the right eye, the project could prove a huge success – just look for plenty of complementary hues when creating your design to ensure it exudes style and glamour to all who see it.

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Rental market decorating tips for a first time landlord

August 30, 2011 By

When you ask around it is amazing how many people have a second property which they rent out planning to keep the investment as a future pension provider. The situation quite often arises when couples who own a home each get together and decide to live in one and rent the other – a sensible plan in its own right to see how well you co-habit, never mind the financial implications! However the situation arises many people are entering into the world of being a landlord and are renovating their properties accordingly.

Doing up a house or flat for the rental market is not the same as working on somewhere for yourself. Consideration needs to be given to the type of fittings you install and decorating you go for, not just from an aesthetic point of view but practically as well. Kitchen worktops made of solid wood for example look lovely but are harder to care for than a cheaper version and are more likely to get scratched and marked. Likewise, an expensive bathroom suite might fall foul of damage by careless tenants and will be more difficult to replace or repair.

When choosing the paint and carpets for the house it is ideal to go for a neutral colour scheme but avoid everything being white. High gloss white kitchen cabinets will show every finger mark and if they get chipped it will be very visible. Go for creams and beiges instead and ideally a speckled or textured finish rather than a flat colour. Keep in mind the market you are aiming at as well: is your property going to be let by a family or a young couple or even students? The type of most likely occupant will always influence the DIY projects you do on the property. Get it right and you will rent the place easily – who knows it may even develop into a business!

Filed Under: Beginner Business Women, Tips for Business Women Tagged With: , ,
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