Improving brand loyalty : what you can do to keep your customers
CONNECTING BUSINESSES ACROSS THE UK
Anna
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July / Aug 2022 Issue 7
Why is customer feedback so crucial for your business?
Beat the traffic on the road to success
5 cost of living scams to watch out for right now
In this edition:
Using TikTok for business : Tips and Tricks
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Contents
Page 6 5 Cost of Living Scams to Watch Out For Right Now Page 9 Improving Brand Loyalty: What you Can Do to Keep your Customers Page 12 Effects of the Pandemic on Industry Page 15 Bringing your Side Hustle to Life at the Local Market Page 17 TATA Chemicals Europe opens UK Largest Carbon Capture Plant in North West England Page 18 Social Media and Direct Mail - The Crossover Page 20 Save Over 3k a Year Swapping Driving for Cycling Page 22 I Just Want to Talk to Someone : New Survey Shows the UK Regions that are Most Resistant to Communications Technology Page 23 When Hayfever Packs a Punch Page 25 Beyonce's New Hit is a Great Resignation Anthem Page 26 Broken Crayons Still Colour: How PTSD UK is Helping People Understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Through Art Page 28 Housing Crisis Forces Young People to take on Additional Jobs to Make Ends Meet Page 31 1 in 5 Workplaces Do Not Have Any Policies to Support LGBT Staff - TUC Poll Finds Page 33 Benefits of the Four-Day Working week Page 36 Using TikTok for Business: Tips and tricks Page 40 Why is Customer Feedback So Crucial for Your Business?
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July / Aug 2022 Paramount Media
With energy bills, fuel prices, and the cost of food all rising at a seemingly unstoppable rate, scammers have been cashing in. They’re using the cost of living crisis to their advantage as they prey on those who are most vulnerable. Being caught out by one of these scams could be hugely damaging to those who are already struggling financially. Holly Andrews, Managing Director atKIS Finance and personal finance expert talks about five scams that consumers need to be aware of right now. Fake energy bills The chaos surrounding energy bills and price caps has made easy work for scammers as they try to trick people into paying for energy bills that don’t exist. According to Action Fraud, the first quarter of 2022 has seen a 10% increase (year on year) in scam reports that mention energy suppliers such as British Gas, EDF, Eon, and Scottish Power. January alone saw a 27% increase is these scams when compared to January 2021. Scammers are posing as well-known energy providers, like British Gas and EDF, telling victims that they have an overdue energy bill that needs to be paid immediately otherwise their energy will be cut off. The links provided within phishing emails take the victims to a malicious website where they are prompted to enter their personal details and pay the bill. How to avoid this scam: If you receive an email and you are concerned that you haven’t paid your energy bill correctly, then make sure you ignore any link in the email and go directly to your energy provider through your search engine. Logging in to your account or giving them a call will confirm whether you have any overdue bills. Shopping vouchers and discounts Shoppers are always on the hunt for discounts, but the cost of living crisis has seen some of the poorest families having to choose between heating their homes and buying food. Unfortunately, scammers have seen this as a big opportunity. These scams often come through phishing emails as they offer victims a chance to get discount vouchers or refunds on your shopping for well-known supermarkets. The links take you to a survey which asks for personal information and your bank details so you can receive your shopping refund or be sent supermarket discount codes and vouchers. Recently, scammers have been crafting emails that appear to have come from supermarket giant Tesco and offering £500 gift cards. They lead you to a website which asks for your personal information and PayPal log in details. The refund and/or vouchers will never materialise but the scammers will use your information to steal money and sometimes even sell on to other criminals who will use your details. How to avoid this scam: Phishing emails are one of the most common types of scam. You should never click on a link that you have received via email or text unless you know the sender and it’s something that are you specifically expecting. If you see a discount or voucher offer for a well-known supermarket, note it down and ask in the supermarket next time you go. They will be able to give you the details if it’s a genuine offer. Fake jobs Scammers have been capitalising on people who are looking for extra ways to earn money. They pose as marketing companies and post adverts online which promote easy ways to earn money in your spare time. This could be jobs as simple as taking surveys, liking posts, or watching videos online. While there are genuine companies who provide money earning opportunities for these sorts of jobs, these scam companies will ask you to pay a deposit to be assigned tasks. They will claim that you will make that money back plus hundreds of pounds more within just a matter of days or weeks. Sometimes they will ask you to download an app to work from; one of which was made to look exactly like the Pinterest app. After making several deposits and completing the assigned tasks, users have been unable to log back in to the app to withdraw earnings, meaning the deposits are also being stolen. How to avoid this scam: Stay away from any job offer that requires you to pay them money first. Genuine companies would never ask someone to do this. You should also be wary of any jobs that promise huge returns for very little effort. There are genuine companies that offer payment taking surveys and watching videos, but the return is small so you need to build it up for a long time. Make sure you do your research of different companies first and check genuine reviews websites to find other people’s experiences. Lottery scams With bills mounting, fuel costs increasing, and day to day living getting more expensive, many of us dream of a windfall to make all our financial worries melt away. Again, scammers are using this to their advantage. The scammers contact you via email, message, or phone call to say that you’ve won a lottery or prize draw. They will tell you that you need to pay a small fee to them in order to verify your bank details before you can receive your prize. Obviously the prize never comes and the scammers steal your money and information. How to avoid this scam: It’s impossible to win a prize draw or lottery that you haven’t entered, so make sure you don’t get carried away by the excitement of thinking that you have won. You should only ever enter lotteries and prize draws through well-known legitimate organisations like The National Lottery or The Postcode Lottery. Investment scams Investment scams are an ongoing, year-round danger, however they seem to have been particularly rife over the last few months. Fake investment opportunities are posted via social media adverts or sent out to victims in emails. Cryptocurrencies are a common topic as scammers can promote high returns in a short amount of time, which seems more believable than something like stocks, shares, or gold. Victims are urged to make an investment with their company but the returns never come and the scammers will disappear with the money and never make contact again. How to avoid this scam: Never invest money with a company that you haven’t thoroughly researched and certainly not one that’s promoting their services through unsolicited emails. If you’re contacted by a company and you are interested in making an investment, you can check the FCA Register to find out whether they’re authorised and regulated. You can also check the FCA’s Warning List for companies that are known as being suspicious. If you invest money with a firm that isn’t authorised and regulated by the FCA then you won’t be protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service if things go wrong.
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Improving Brand Loyalty: What You Can Do to Keep your Customers
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Customer loyalty is crucial, we know that very well. In our eyes, loyal clients are vital for a business. This said, they are sadly not always easy to keep hold of. Some may believe that customer satisfaction equates to loyalty. However, that is not necessarily the case. Often, a client will walk out of your shop with a big smile on their face, happy with both the service and the purchased product. However, that doesn’t mean they will be knocking on the door in the near future too. More often than not, clients are on the hunt for quality products at an affordable price. Chances are that if your competitor is offering a similar item at a lower rate, customers will give them a go instead. What is more, retaining existing customers is good for your finances. Indeed, focusing on keeping current clients is less costly than trying to attract new ones. Moreover, leveraging loyalty will help you both learn more about your consumers and understand what marketing strategies you should adopt. Ultimately, clients are constantly on the look for a brand that they can truly trust. A3C Interactive research found that 64% of companies have registered a rise in loyalty memberships. Hence, we explore how to bridge the gap between business and consumers by outlining the strongest customer loyalty trends. Trends in customer loyalty marketing There are loads of possibilities that you may want to consider when trying to enhance your brand awareness. If you want to be on everybody’s lips, it is wise to be on top of the latest B2C marketing trends. Let us take a look at some of the best strategies out there. Use direct mail There is simply no hiding that direct mail marketing offers an array of benefits. When sending out marketing emails, there is a possibility that your messages will end up going straight to the spam folder, never to be seen by your potential customer. Digital printing and direct mail marketing, instead, will reliably get to your audience’s front door. Once it has slid in, it is estimated that your direct mail will stay in the house for about 17 days. With new features such as QR codes and incorporated landing pages, you can provide customers with exciting virtual experiences too. Personalise Let’s get straight to the point: if you are not personalising your B2C marketing and addressing your customer by name, you need to start doing so immediately. With a mailing list at your disposal, there is really no excuse. Why not buy industry-led data to entice your consumers and enhance their loyalty? Studies, in fact, suggest that more and more people are happy to share their data to benefit from personalised items and direct mail. After all, there are several reports showing that many consumers have signed up to loyal membership programs, generally incentivised by hyper-personalised advertising. Set up exclusive loyalty programs Who doesn’t like receiving exclusive treatment? Loyalty memberships are the perfect opportunity to pamper your faithful customers. If you want, you could also add a special bonus to spoil your long-term clients even more. As for the younger generations, over 75% of millennials would be more than happy to pay a joining fee in return for exclusive content from their favourite brands. This suggests, ultimately, that customers are willing to spend a little more to benefit from closer interaction with the companies they like. So why not make space for loyalty memberships in your future B2C marketing strategies? Give AI a go Do you want your brand to be in step with the times? Augmented reality and chatbots are viewed as the future of marketing, and can boost your image in the eyes of your customers. As already mentioned, direct mailing featuring QR codes is a good start. When scanned, they provide consumers with virtual adventures that will leave your audience both surprised and fascinated. Not only that, but it gives you a stronger chance to grab their attention. People are more likely to be intrigued by these compared to display ads. Think about the environment With consumers being increasingly aware of our planet’s environmental troubles, people will stick to brands that they deem to be socially and environmentally responsible. Therefore, it is no surprise that big businesses are now all striving to offer eco-friendly products. By showing interest in the wellbeing of our environment, not only will you have a positive impact on your surroundings, but you will also improve your consumer loyalty through marketing. How to improve consumer loyalty The list of things you can do to improve consumer loyalty is endless. But one of the fundamental aspects of B2C marketing is transparency for your clients. What else can you do? Reliability Reliability is an effective way to keep hold of your existing customers. Don’t make promises if you will struggle to keep them. For instance, do not state on your direct mail that you are available 24/7 if that is not the case. Instead, promote services you can actually carry out – consumers will appreciate it and keep coming back for more. Attention to detail Make sure that your direct mail copy and design always look the best that they can. Misaligned text, spelling mistakes, or out-of-focus images will have a huge impact on your brand – and certainly not a positive one. Therefore, ensure to double-check every detail before sending out mail to your customers. Rewards for clients Why not reward your customers from time to time? We all appreciate a small discount or surprise every so often. With a discount voucher in their hand, people are more likely to pay your business another visit. But rewards are not only limited to coupons. You can build on your relationship with clients by sending out ‘thank you’ cards too. A simple but sweet gesture, these are tokens that people are bound to remember. Human touch Yes, digital marketing can reach a wider audience. But physical mail is more memorable. By delivering mail with your name and signature at the end, customers will be reminded that there is a real person behind the brand. Knowing this, they’ll have an increased interest and there may even be the chance of a response. At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide how you want to retain those loyal customers that love your products and services. We hope, however, that these loyalty marketing trends will give you an idea of how to strengthen your relationship with your clients.
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Effects of the pandemic on industry
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Credit to source schoolofmarketing.co
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New research has revealed how much every industry has been affected after the Covid-19 pandemic. A study by marketing training hub School of Marketing analysed the latest ONS and government data on the number of businesses that were born and died in the last eight business quarters after the pandemic (from Q2 of 2020 to Q1 of 2022) and compared this with the eight quarters before the pandemic (from Q2 of 2018 to Q1 of 2020) to see how each industry has been affected in the last two years. The information and communication industry was the worst affected industry by the pandemic. Pre-pandemic, for every 100 businesses born in the industry, 91.51 businesses died. This number had increased by 89% post-pandemic with 173.24 business deaths for 100 new ones. A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers suggests struggles during and after the pandemic in the industry could be caused by decreased overseas consumption and reduced supply of outsourcing due to worldwide restrictions. It was found that finance and insurance was the industry second-worst affected by the pandemic. Pre-covid, there were roughly 48.01 business deaths for every 100 births. Post-pandemic, this number had increased by 50%, with an average of 71.95 deaths for every 100 business births in the industry. The wholesale industry prospered post-pandemic when compared with the others studied. Pre-pandemic, for every 100 wholesale businesses born, 101.5 businesses died. This result decreased by 20% post-pandemic, where in the last eight business quarters, only 81.44 businesses have died for every 100 wholesale businesses born. Businesses in retail were found to be the next most successful after the impact of the pandemic. Pre-pandemic there were on average 79.75 business deaths for every 100 business births, and this number has dropped 12% post-pandemic with roughly 69.94 businesses dying for every 100 births since the second quarter of 2020. It was also found that in the eight business quarters from April 2018 up to March 2020, the UK average was that 86.58 businesses died for every 100 that were born. Post-pandemic this number had increased by 16%, with current figures showing that for every 100 new businesses, roughly 100.67 have died, making the average number of business births and deaths almost equal since the pandemic began. Commenting on the findings, Ritchie Mehta, CEO of School of Marketing said: “This data shows how much more difficult it has become to survive as a business since the pandemic [...] now the numbers of company births and deaths are basically equal. As entrepreneurs look to protect themselves against a harsher business environment, the value of skilled employees has never been higher. Therefore SMEs can take advantage of initiatives such as the Apprenticeship Levy scheme to bring in new staff or train current ones in digital and data-led programmes, with the vast majority of the training cost covered by the levy.” The study was conducted by the School of Marketing, which offers leading digital and data marketing apprenticeships.
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Local markets are quickly becoming a staple Sunday activity for young and old folk alike, following their reinvention with miscellaneous gifts, ethical products, and authentic food and drink. In fact, their popularity has enjoyed huge rise in the last ten years, peaking in 2015. While suffering during the pandemic, their recovery is now back on track for continued growth. In 2022, Google searches for ‘Sunday markets’ in the UK were 13% higher than its 19-year average. With its growth and wide customer base, the local market could be one of the best places to launch your business. Here, we explore why you should take your side hustle to market and find success in your own home-built stall. Success stories Some of the best-known brands started life as small, accessible market stalls. Clothing retailer, Marks & Spencer began as a penny bazaar on Kirkgate Market in Leeds. Meanwhile, Fentimans was sold on the back of a horse and cart, beginning with a botanically brewed ginger beer in 1905. Both have since become established and well-loved brands. The recipe for their success was simple. Laying their foundations among locals, establishing trust and quality, and expanding while sticking to their values. Perfect for food and drink Local markets have a renewed focus on food and drink. Street food is consumed by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide each day, and its popularity is continuing to grow. So far, 2022 has been the most in-demand year for ‘street food’, according to Google searches in the UK. Average search popularity in 2022 is already 121% higher than the average per year since 2004. The approaching summer months will likely take this lead even higher. Local markets are an opportunity to show off international cuisines and new food types that people may not have experienced before. For those setting up a food or drink business with something different to offer, the local market may be the best place to do it. A new type of shopper Your business’ success will be determined by its audience. And as local markets continue to grow in popularity among Gen Z and Millennial shoppers, aligning your values with theirs will help your brand grow. 34% of Gen Z consumers would be willing to pay 20% or more for an ethical product in the United Kingdom. Ethical products can range from recycled materials to fair products and local produce. Products that help the planet or local community are often considered ethical. Local markets provide you with the opportunity to show off your values easily.. Getting your product in front of more people is easier with this generation of shoppers. User-generated content that is spread on social media is key for business growth, and local markets provide these tech-savvy shoppers with an aesthetic that is widely shareable. Hashtags such as #SundayMarket and #LocalMarket have over 260,000 and 362,000 posts on Instagram respectively. The most credible form of advertising comes straight from the people we know and trust. Consumers are more likely to share products from local markets on social media than they would from an ordinary brick-and-mortar store or online catalogue, meaning your product is being posted on digital shelves for more people to enjoy. As local markets recover from the pandemic and continue to grow, it may be the best place to take your side hustle and turn it into the next big brand. Whether your produce food, drink, art, or other unique products, there’s an audience and a stall with your name on it.
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The £20 million investment has been completed by Northwich-based Tata Chemicals Europe, one of Europe's leading producers of sodium carbonate, salt and sodium bicarbonate. The plant captures 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year - the equivalent to taking over 20,000 cars off the roads and reduces TCE’s carbon emissions by more than 10%. The project will help unlock the future of carbon capture in the UK as it demonstrates the viability of the technology to remove carbon dioxide from power plant emissions. In a world-first, carbon dioxide captured from energy generation emissions is being purified to food and pharmaceutical grade and used as a raw material in the manufacture of sodium bicarbonate which will be known as Ecokarb®. This unique and innovative process is patented in the UK with further patents pending in key territories around the world. Ecokarb® will be exported to over 60 countries around the world, generating tens of millions of export revenue every year. Much of the sodium bicarbonate exported will be used in haemodialysis to treat people living with kidney disease. The carbon capture plant, which was supported with a £4.2m grant through the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (“BEIS”) Energy Innovation Programme, marks a major step towards sustainable manufacturing which will see TCEmake net zero sodium bicarbonate and one of the lowest carbon footprint sodium carbonate products in the world. The manufacturer is the only business in the UK to make these products which are used to make essential items in everyday life, from glass, washing detergents and pharmaceuticals to food, animal feed and water purification. Martin Ashcroft, Managing Director of Tata Chemicals Europe, said: “The completion of the carbon capture and utilisation (“CCU”) demonstration plant enables us to reduce our carbon emissions, whilst securing our supply of high purity carbon dioxide, a critical raw material, helping us to grow the export of our pharmaceutical grade products across the world. “Since 2000 we’ve reduced our carbon intensity by 50% and have a clear road-map to reduce this by 80% by 2030. This project is a great example of business and Government together rising to the challenge of decarbonising energy intensive industrial manufacturing. The innovation to create this unique process is a major step forwards in the green industrial revolution and has been recognised by the award of a UK patent and patents pending in key territories across the world for the process.” Speaking at the opening of the plant, Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale said: “Manufacturing has been key to this area for over 150 years so it’s great to be part of such an historic moment. Even though, today, there are many competing agendas, sustainability is still crucial and we must continue working towards Net Zero. “The investment made by Tata Chemicals Europe in this leading-edge carbon capture plant will also pave the way for others to use this technology. Tata Chemicals Europe helps support over 1000 jobs so this type of sustainable investment will help secure chemical manufacturing in Cheshire for future generations.”
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Traditionally, social media advertising and mail marketing were paths that never crossed. However, opposites do attract. New industry reports demonstrate the benefits of pairing the advertising methods, with a combined lift of 118% in response rates when using both digital advertising and direct mail marketing. Traditional Direct Mail In 2018, direct mail marketing has experienced a surge in popularity. The buzz for mail marketing has been so impressive, the DMA (Data & Marketing Association) has recorded their highest response rate for mailing campaigns ever. As the increase in open rates continues to hit the news, more companies are turning to direct mail services. To put it in perspective, they are recording open rates of 5%, with an average return on investment of 129%. While social media advertising rules the roost, direct mail marketing is one of the best practices of reaching your audience. We can attribute the statistics to many factors. One of the most notable, however, is its tangibility – the ability to physically touch direct mail. Touch is one of the five senses that dictates how we see and navigate the world, and brands that truly understand marketing have mastered the art of touch. For example, touch can affect how we perceive a brand, with the ability to provide a deeper level of engagement than seeing an ad on the screen. Several studies showcased that communication with physical and tangible advertising helps when recalling the company message. Similarly, even the paper used for your mail marketing can significantly improve the ability to remember information. Social Media Advertising As a mailing house, we understand the benefits of using direct mail marketing, but we cannot disregard social media marketing. According to recent surveys, the number of social media users is a staggering 3.196 billion, increasing by 13% each year. Likewise, the number of internet users has reached a massive 4.021 billion, up 7% year-on-year. These figures are nothing short of astonishing and demonstrate the future of advertising. However, be sure not to disregard all other forms of communication. Facebook is losing teen users to the likes of Snapchat and is turning to direct mail services to appeal to their audience. Google also use print and mail services as part of their marketing strategy. Today, brands face Herculean challenges. You must be everywhere, available at every moment – even that’s not enough. You must have an active social media, but you must also deliver experiences through traditional media channels. You should never ignore chunks of your audience when looking to expand your reach. Recently, we have seen more companies looking into the possibility of advertising mail – particularly with the over-saturation of email marketing. There’s always the possibility your marketing email could be ignored, or deleted, but it’s harder to overlook mail delivered through your door. This is where direct mail advertising will always succeed and, when paired with digital, becomes a force to be reckoned with. Programmatic Mail: Rise of the Machines Programmatic mail is a revolution transforming advertising. We’ve discussed how social media advertising has proved priceless for brands and the ability to speak to consumers without delay. However, with the rise of the machines, we have lost the ability to ‘touch’ marketing. We know direct mail stays in the house of your consumer for an average 17 days, and brands are becoming savvy to this knowledge. Programmatic mail is a method of combining modern and old. For example, a consumer may be browsing your website and select a product for their cart, yet not complete the transaction. Typically, the company would gently remind the consumer about their abandoned cart through email. However, programmatic marketing enables you to send personalised direct mail to their door, regarding their cart.Paperplanes, a UK tech start-up, incorporated this strategy into their marketing campaign and reported a 14% basket recovery uplift. Increase in Ad Spend To put the popularity of print and mail services in perspective, direct mail ad spending has experienced a boost during 2017. Advertising mail ad spends increased by 5.9% compared to that of 2017, showcasing a record high for the marketing method. Collectively, UK advertising spend has improved, with the total set to hit £22.7 billion at the end of 2018. The increase in ad spend highlights the changes in our media channels, and how businesses must adapt to survive. The Future of Direct Mail As we move further into the digital age, the face of direct mail marketing will change. We have already seen the movement in the form of programmatic mail, but the likes of augmented reality are coming into the fold (literally). AR is already touted as the ‘next big thing’ and can be included in your mail marketing through the use of QR codes and specific URLs. Similarly, with the improvements in collecting accurate consumer data – ahead of the GDPR legislation – you can produce hyper- personalised direct mail, tailored to the needs of your audience. Ultimately, social media advertising and advertising mail can significantly boost your brand profile and, subsequently, revenue.
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Social Media and Direct Mail - The Crossover
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Save over £3,000 a year by swapping driving for cycling
Figures show that the average price of a litre of unleaded petrol at UK forecourts are a record 190p this week (as of 27th of June) according to the Government’s weekly fuel prices tracker. That means it now costs over £100 to fill a typical 55-litre family car. As crude oil prices continue to skyrocket, it is predicted that it will not be long before people are paying over £2 per litre. When combining the cost of fuel, insurance, tax, breakdown cover, all fixed costs and maintenance, people could save over £3,000 by switching to cycling. Understandably, the increase in fuel prices is causing sales to shrink as drivers cut back on the number of journeys they make. In fact, research by the RAC has found that 30% of drivers are now driving less often and 21% are deliberately driving more efficiently to save fuel. “Everyone needs to travel places on a daily basis, whether that’s running errands or commuting to work” says Lindsay-Jane Vines, President of Thane UK and North America. “And those journeys are costing more than ever”. The TV home shopping retailer Thane UK has looked into alternative ways to travel to help people save money with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Swap four wheels for two! Research carried out by YouGov on behalf of Cycling UK found that 81% of respondents are expecting their transport costs to increase over the next six months. While more people are open to cycling, survey respondents highlighted that workplaces need to improve their facilities such as bike storage and lockers. They also felt that they would be more likely to cycle to work if their employer offered financial help to buy a bike, or if their workplace offered a cycle to work scheme. In terms of storage, if a workplace does not provide somewhere suitable, the Bike Nook is the brilliant new way to quickly and easily store your bike. “Unlike other bike storage systems, Bike Nook requires no drilling. It’s easy to assemble and completely portable. Plus, it’s fully adjustable so you can fit any size bike any size tyre” explains Vines.
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As hay fever season continues, nutritional therapist Caroline Peyton shares tips on how to deal with hay fever now and more effectively in the future. Caroline runs her business Peyton Principles online with clinics in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds.
‘I Just Want to Talk to Someone!’ – New Survey Shows the UK Regions That are Most Resistant to Communications Technology.
Nutritional therapist Caroline Peyton shares some tips about hay fever which affects one in four people, around 16 million people in the UK. Hay fever, or seasonal rhinitis, is a common allergic reaction to tree and grass pollen. It can cause immense discomfort and irritation due to typical symptoms like itchy eyes, throat, sneezing, blocked, runny nose, watery eyes, blocked sinuses or headaches. At this time of year grass pollen is an issue, tree pollen is prevalent between February to June and finally weed pollen between June and September. Caroline who runs clinics in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds, said: "Most people only think to take action to relieve current symptoms, but a longer-term preparatory approach well ahead of the season is recommended as it can help reduce the body's response to pollen in the future. "Hay fever is an immune response, where cells in the respiratory tract release a compound called histamine in response to IgE antibodies. This causes the mucus membranes that line the inside of the airway to react, affecting the nose, eyes, throat and ears. The body does this as a protective mechanism." Here are some easy was to help find relief through the current season: Add grated or ground ginger and turmeric to your meals as they help to inhibit the inflammatory compounds that cause the respiratory airways to swell. Eat citrus fruits, peppers, berries and kiwi fruit. These foods are rich in vitamin C which helps to break down and excrete histamine circulating in the body. Vitamin C also protects respiratory cells from the excess inflammatory damage that is created. Have two to three portions of oily fish every week . Research has shown it helps to reduce the narrowing of airways, most likely due to the anti-inflammatory properties in the fats. Eat more onions, cooked or raw. Onions contain a plant compound called quercetin which has been found to act as a natural anti-histamine. Drink nettle tea. It is rich in vitamin C and can help lower histamine. Rather than wait for the hay fever season to begin, the best approach, according to Caroline, is to support your body well before the start of the season. "Seventy per cent of the body's immunity starts in the gut and the gut bacteria (the microbiome) play a significant part in supporting and regulating the immune system," Caroline said. "Not all of the trillions of gut bacteria are healthy. Pathogenic ones can start to multiply and upset the delicate balance. So having a healthy balanced gut really helps in minimising symptoms." The following can help create a healthy balanced gut: Eat fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut or dink kombucha. These naturally bacteria rich foods and drinks help to keep the gut bacteria in healthy balance. Minimise processed foods, saturated fats and sugars in your diet. These feed pathogenic bacteria which we need to keep in check. Eat unsweetened stewed apple. Apple is rich in a soluble fibre called pectin which acts as a prebiotic which feeds beneficial gut bacteria. It also has an anti-inflammatory action in the gut too. Eat foods rich in polyphenols like raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranate, flaxseeds, olives and green tea. These not only support the growth of beneficial bacteria but help lower pathogenic strains. They also support a healthy gut barrier.
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When Hay Fever Packs a Punch...
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Despite great strides being made by companies using a range of digital technology to handle customer communications, a new survey shows that people in certain regions of the UK are more reluctant to engage with it than others. The survey*, conducted among more than 1,000 consumers across the UK, by global communications company Moneypenny, showed that 36% of those surveyed across the nation are satisfied with their experience of using chatbots, forums and FAQs to handle their queries, while 28% had neutral feelings towards it, and 22% were dissatisfied. The survey also showed that older generations are more resistant to using digital communications than younger ones, with the following dissatisfaction levels shown: 57 to 66 year olds 29% 25 to 44 year olds 18% 16 to 24 year olds 13% Live Chat has been around for some time and continues to grow steadily. In fact during the pandemic Moneypenny reported the usage of Live Chat conversations doubled. Across the country, those in Greater London, Northern Ireland and Scotland are most happy with Live Chat (40%, 48% and 47% respectively), compared with only 29% happy to use itin the South West. Younger people are much happier using Live Chat than are older people: 54% of 25 to 40 year olds are happy with Live Chat, compared to 30% of over 66 year olds and 35% of 57 to 66 year olds. Despite variations in satisfaction with different tech communication channels, there is general agreement that great customer service is an important business differentiator: 72% of those surveyed agreed with this, whereas only 12% disagreed. There seem to be strong feelings in the power of customer service in Scotland, where 86% agreed that it is a great differentiator, compared to 63% in the South East. The survey also showed older people believe most strongly in the power of great service: more than 81% of all those over 44 said it was a differentiator, compared to 64% of 16 to 24 year olds. Joanna Swash Group CEO from Moneypenny commented on the survey results: “While it’s interesting that our survey showed people are becoming more accepting of newer forms of communications, it’s clear that the human touch is so important, and our live chat services manned by our people are certainly very popular. At Moneypenny we pride ourselves in providing highly efficient communications channels through cutting edge tech, which work in tandem with our fantastic PAs.” Joanna continued, “Clearly companies need to provide a range of communication channels to suit everyone, but they would do well to remember that whichever channels used, the key is in delivering excellent customer service.”Annabel Hillary on behalf of Moneypenny.
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Within 24 hours of Beyonce’s new song release, the search query “how to resign” has jumped by 350% and "great resignation" skyrocketed by 1,550%. But what does this mean for employeers? Elliott Smith, co-founder of Love Your Employees, the UK’s first employee benefit and wellbeing marketplace, has commented: “Beyoncé has been a cultural icon for several years, so it’s no surprise that her long-anticipated return has had such an effect on so much more than popular culture. “'Break my Soul' encourages listeners to release their job, release the stress, and forget the rest, which has led to renewed vigour for the great resignation. But with the rising cost of living and added pressures of everyday life, is this the right time to be leaving our jobs? “The people who should be taking note of Beyoncé are the CEOs and those in charge, by supporting staff who are struggling with rising fuel, shopping costs or even additional well-being support. So before handing in your resignation, take steps to ask your employer what more they can do to support you. As Beyoncé once said: 'When times get hard, I need someone to help me out (Bills, Bills, Bills)'."
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‘Broken crayons still colour : How PTSD UK is helping people understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through art
27th June marked International PTSD Awareness Day and to honour this, PTSD UK launched their first art book to help people understand more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – a condition which is estimated to affect over 2,600,000 people in the UK at any one time. Broken Crayons Still Colour: Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through Art is a collection of almost 200 unique artwork pieces (including poetry, illustrations, digital design, glasswork, sculpture and quilting) which express the experiences of people affected by PTSD and C-PTSD and were kindly submitted to PTSD UK as part of an art competition they ran. PTSD UK is the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness of PTSD –a condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a trauma. A trauma is defined as an event or events which provoke fear, helplessness, or horror in response to the threat of injury or death and therefore can affect anyone. Examples of traumatic events include assault, road traffic incident, natural disasters, domestic abuse, child abuse, war, acts of terrorism and traumatic childbirth. The majority of people exposed to traumatic events experience some short-term distress, but eventually, their trauma fades to a memory – painful, but not destructive. However, around 20% of people who experience a trauma go on to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD or C-PTSD). In the UK, that’s around 6,665,000 people, yet it is still an incredibly misunderstood, often misdiagnosed and stigmatised condition – and so the mission of PTSD UK is to raise awareness of PTSD and help support everyone affected by the condition, no matter the trauma that caused it. CEO and Founder of PTSD UK, Jacqui Suttie said, “I know first-hand that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can make you feel helpless, alone and isolated from those around you – but having a book, filled with beautiful imagery and insightful words which lets you see that you’re not alone, is something that we felt would be so valuable in moments of despair when you’re looking for comfort from PTSD or C-PTSD. Just knowing that other people have those same thoughts, feel the same overwhelming fear and dread that you have and physically experience their trauma time and time again like you do at night, along with messages of hope and resilience can provide reassurance, comfort and ultimately feelings of empowerment and control to help people work towards recovery when they’re ready. Additionally, art therapy has increasingly shown significant and sustained benefits as a complementary and integrative therapy option for people with PTSD and C-PTSD. Trauma affects both the verbal and non-verbal aspects of memory and art therapy can allow the brain to open up in a different way to other therapies, enabling complex feelings to be expressed. It can provide a safe environment for authentic expression, an opportunity to ‘verbalise’ inner emotions without having to talk, can help contain overwhelming emotions and help reconcile feelings of guilt. This is why this book has been created.” The A4 hardback book contains over 250 pages of incredibly powerful artwork with some explicit content and themes from people affected by PTSD and C-PTSD including those with the condition themselves and also their loved ones affected in their own way too. The book also hopes to inspire people to make their own art and so contains several pages at the back to write, doodle or scribble thoughts and feelings. The book is priced at £30, and all profits from this book will be donated to PTSD UK – the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (both PTSD and Complex PTSD) and the causes, symptoms & the treatments available, no matter the trauma that caused it. You can order a copy directly from PTSD UK on their website (for pre-orders, books will be shipped to arrive on the 27th June).
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A survey by KIS Finance has found that over 22% of 18 to 35 year olds have been forced to take on an additional job as the cost of living crisis deepens, making home ownership out of reach for an increasing number of people. The Government’s recent announcement of a range of steps to try to help more people onto the property ladder will be good news for those who currently can’t see themselves ever owning their own home. Key statistics from KIS Finance’s survey found: · 22% of those aged 18 to 35 have taken on an additional job to help them afford basic items such as rent, heating and food · 57% reported they are already struggling financially and expect things to get significantly worse in the near future · The Southeast has been hardest hit, with 18% of the workforce forced to take on additional employment to make ends meet, with this rising to 20% in London Young people may benefit from an extension of the Right to Buy Scheme The proposal to extend the existing Right to Buy Scheme to include housing association properties could help large numbers onto the property ladder, who thought that home ownership was beyond their reach. This amendment to the original scheme, which was introduced by Thatcher in 1980 and allowed people to buy their council house at a discounted rate, could see up to 3 million low paid workers buy their own home. With the current average age of first-time buyers having risen since the pandemic to 34, any plans to support young people to take that first step will be welcome. However, unless the proposals include definite plans to replace the existing stock of housing association properties the benefits will be short lived. This could prove a challenge as Housing Associations are likely to struggle to develop new homes from the profits raised by selling off their current stock, which could in turn actually make the housing crisis worse in the long term. Housing Benefits to support mortgage payments Currently housing benefits are only paid towards rent, but the Government’s plans to allow payments to go towards a mortgage could open up home ownership to a whole new section of the population. With currently around 3 million people claiming housing benefits, any changes to the system could have a significant effect on the property market. Holly Andrews, MD at KIS Finance has commented: “Whilst the announcement today of measures to help first time buyers onto the housing ladder will be welcomed, it remains to be seen how the proposals will work in practice. Accepting housing benefit payments towards a mortgage will be a significant change for mortgage providers and it may take some time for the details to be worked through. However, any steps to help support young people to escape from the trap of rented accommodation will be positive and the industry needs to be ready to adapt to support the proposed changes”.
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*Only 1 in 8 employers monitor their LGBT pay gap *And only 1 in 3 companies who have LGBT policies have updated them in the last 12 months One in five (21%) workplaces told the TUC they do not have any policies in place to support their lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) staff at work, according to a new poll published today (Thursday). The poll of around 1,000 HR managers – run for the TUC by YouGov and published today on the first day of the TUC’s annual LGBT+ conference – also found: *Bullying and harassment: Only half (51%) of managers surveyed told the TUC they have a policy prohibiting discrimination, bullying and harassment against LGBT workers in their workplace. Less than half (47%) said they have a clear reporting route for workers to raise concerns about discrimination, bullying and harassment against LGBT workers – even though one in seven (15%) managers have responded to bullying, harassment or discrimination against one or more LGBT workers. *Trans workers: Just one in four (25%) managers said that they have a policy setting out support for trans (including non-binary) workers who wish to transition to live as another gender. *Family-friendly working: Less than half (47%) of HR managers told the TUC that they have family policies (such as adoption, maternity, paternity and shared parental leave policies) that apply equally to LGBT workers. Of those HR managers whose workplaces that have LGBT policies in place, only around one in three (34%) have reviewed those policies in the last 12 months. More than one in four (28%) can’t remember when they last looked at them. LGBT pay gap The most recent research suggests there is a 16% LGBT pay gap, meaning LGBT workers are effectively paid £6,703 less per year. But the new poll revealed that only one in eight (13%) of the workplaces the TUC spoke to currently monitor the pay gap between LGBT workers' pay and non-LGBT workers’ pay. So, the TUC says it is unsurprising that only one in five (20%) managers said that they have a LGBT action plan to address inequalities identified through monitoring exercises. TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Lesbian, gay, bi and trans people deserve to feel safe and to be respected at work. “But it’s shocking so many workplaces don’t have specific policies in place to support their LGBT staff. “Without these policies, too many LGBT workers experience bullying, harassment and discrimination at work. “A step change is long overdue. Ministers must introduce a new duty on employers to protect all workers from harassment by customers and clients. “And government should also introduce a statutory requirement for large employers to report on their LGBT pay gaps – in the same way they do their gender pay gaps – with action plans detailing how bosses will address these inequalities.” Government action needed The TUC is calling on the government to introduce a range of measures to support LGBT people at work, including: 1.LGBT pay gap reporting: Ministers should introduce a statutory requirement for large employers to report their LGBT pay gaps and employment rates – with regular monitoring and action plans detailing how employers will address these inequalities. Polling suggests that the LGBT pay gap is around 16%. 2.Protection from workplace bullying and harassment: The government must consult with unions on a strategy to make sure workplaces are safe for all LGBT people. As a minimum, the government should introduce a new duty on employers to protect workers from harassment by customers and clients.
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1 in 5 workplaces do not have any policies to support LGBT staff – TUC poll
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Benefits of the 4 day working week
Rozz Cottrell
Business Blog
At the start of June, 70 companies across the UK began taking part of a trial of the four-day week. Here at Paramount Media, we are already champions of the four-day work week, so will be following this trial and its findings closely. History of the Working Week: The 5-day work week is an idea from the 19th Century. The USA chose to adopt a five-day work week because of the employment caused by the Great Depression (BBC). This was an adaptation of at least 6 days of working – so, a movement to a different system of working, two centuries later, is not as revolutionary and new as one may presume. Especially considering the effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on the workplace, with many workers adapting by using technologies such as Zoom and Teams to communicate with each other while they work from home. Discussions surrounding flexible working environments and the 4-day week are now increasingly commonplace, compared to before COVID-19 when these ideas were largely perceived as unattainable for most businesses. As technology and society changes and global mindsets adapt, so does the workplace. But what are the benefits of the 4-day week? 1.Work-life balance. Let’s say you had the choice between a three-day weekend and a two-day weekend. A lot of people would choose an extra day. This extra day can improve your work-life balance. You can attend appointments, spend more time with family and friends, or simply kick back and relax. The point is: that extra day is yours. 2.An increase in productivity. Think about it, employees with a better work-life balance, freedom, and fulfillment, are more likely to be focused on their tasks in the workplace. 3.Savings. This applies to managers and employees alike – a day less of travel can save you money on petrol or bus tickets, in addition to reducing your carbon footprint. 4.It gives businesses a one-up. It has been noted that currently, there are more job listings than people to fill them. If employees had a choice between a flexible workplace, or a traditional one, which one would they choose? This may depend on the individual, but having flexibility, and/or a 4-day week, can make you look appealing as an employer. Whatever you think of the four-day week, it certainly represents a change from traditional ways of working, especially considering the effect COVID-19 has had on the workplace. We recognise you cannot apply this to all workplaces and all industries, but this template may work for office workers. Employee happiness must be a priority (and should always have been) going forward: if nothing else, COVID-19 has shown the world what we can all do in the face of dire circumstances.
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There is a growing concern among the UK public about the state of the world’s oceans, accompanied by a rise in those saying their buying habits can make a difference to this threat, according to new findings released today by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). 91% of respondents from the UK were worried about the state of the oceans, with 64% saying they are more worried than they were two years ago, the research found. The independent survey of attitudes to seafood and ocean health – carried out by GlobeScan in 23 countries and involving 25,000 people – is the largest of its kind in the world. To coincide with World Ocean Day, the MSC has released a series of short films on sustainable fishing, showcasing the innovations undertaken by fisheries to help safeguard the ocean. Top of concerns about the ocean for UK consumers were pollution (64%), overfishing (48%), and climate change (38%). With over a third of the world’s fish stocks overfished and climate change changing marine ecosystems, the survey – released on the UN’s World Ocean Day – shows UK consumers are more aware than ever of the impact their choices have on the oceans. Amongst the key findings, there has been an increase (9%) from two years ago in seafood consumers in the UK who believe their choices can make a difference to the health of the oceans. Almost three-quarters (70%) of UK consumers surveyed believe their choices can make a difference to the state of the oceans. While 77% of people from the UK surveyed believe people should eat seafood from sustainable sources, an increase of 5% from two years ago. Buying sustainable seafood is the most common action that seafood consumers globally say they have taken to protect the oceans. Two in five UK seafood consumers are willing to buy more sustainable seafood, with one in five saying they have already made this change in the last year. Globally, the top reasons for protecting the oceans were that healthy oceans are necessary for the future health of the planet, (63%), to prevent ocean wildlife from going extinct (60%) while 51% said they wanted their children and grandchildren to have healthy oceans. Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of MSC, said: “There is deep concern about the future of the oceans, but the clear message from this global survey is that more people than ever are recognising that their choices can help change that. It is essential that we act now to safeguard the ocean’s biodiversity, food supplies and the livelihoods that depend upon them. Consumers and markets are a powerful force for change, rewarding fishers who are fishing our oceans sustainably. However, given the scale of the challenge, it is essential that governments play their part, to ensure that fisheries around the world are managed sustainably.”
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You’ve probably heard of TikTok, the social media application with over 1 billion active users and counting. Although it is true that some of TikTok’s content includes silly dances, comedy and challenges, there’s potential for TikTok to become a vital part of your marketing strategy. If your target audience is the younger generation, you’re in luck. Around 43% of TikTok’s global audience is aged between 18 and 24, so it is an important tool for targeting those age groups. The other 32% are users aged between 25 and 34, and that is not including the TikTok’s that are reposted on other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where the audience differs. This video creation tool therefore ought to be part of your marketing strategy, even if it is not a large part. Why use TikTok to market your business? It is likely important for your business to have a ‘face’, for audiences to be aware of your brand. TikTok offers the opportunity to expand your audience, reaching many kinds of people, making them aware and informed. You can run ads, join in trends, work with influential figures, and use stickers and hashtags to ensure you are seen. TikTok has this canny ability to suggest that something is not actually being marketed: it is just content to be enjoyed. This mechanism means you can promote your products or people in a way that doesn’t appear forced or demanding, generating trust and authenticity. It suggests your business is active and may even generate a community of people interested in your content, possibly even generating another source of income (if you build up a large enough following, for example, TikTok has a creator fund). Tips and Tricks on how to use TikTok for your business: Like any marketing strategy, the methodology behind using a platform must be formed before throwing yourself into it. So how can you use TikTok for your business? Create intentional and relevant content. This means focusing your efforts on catering to your target audience, whilst maintaining brand authenticity. Make use of effects, music, and hashtags. Use of sound on TikTok has seen songs rise in the UK charts when people rally around to use and spread the same clip of a song again and again. Making note of popular sounds on TikTok will ensure your content ends in the right places. Try your hand at editing videos in the TikTok app. There are so many tools available on the app if you don’t want to or can’t create the video on a different program. Some include the timer, flash, templates, text, effects, and video length. Setting aside some time to learn how to use the app will help. Keep it simple. The videos that perform well are generally timely (15-30 seconds) and don’t necessarily have a professional set up, of course, setting can be important, but you don’t have to go over the top to do well. Create a ‘human’ feel. Featuring employees, the office dog, your work setting, witty comments about being tired at your desk. This sort of content is human and relatable. Utilise analytics As in other areas of your marketing strategy, knowledge of the best times to post will enhance your chances of engagement. Make use of TikTok’s analytics (which you can do on a business account for free) and spot what content is performing well. TikTok is undeniably a fast-growing technology, only predicted to further expand. Getting your brand established on TikTok will ensure you are aware of latest trends and topics of interest, ultimately increasing brand awareness and possibly even creating a viral moment.
By Rozz Cottrell Digital Marketing Executive Paramount Media
Using TikTok for Business : Tips & Tricks
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As a business owner, customer feedback is essential to the survival of your business. Not only does the feedback guide and inform your decision-making, it can also influence innovations and changes to your product or services. Tim Morris, the Managing Director of Cymphony, a communications provider, believes all businesses should encourage customers to leave reviews to improve their business. In this article, he explains why customer feedback is so important and advises how to encourage feedback to help promote your business. Listening to your customers is one of the cornerstones of long-term business growth and should be a key part of your business strategy. Customer feedback contains a lot of valuable information that can help drive business growth so it is vital that you gather and analyse the data to find out which aspects of your business are working well or need improvement. You can then use those insights to align your product, service or brand with your customers’ needs. Here are five reasons why customer feedback is vital to the success of your business. 1. Improve your products and services Before introducing a new product or service to your business, the likelihood is you will have conducted market research to give you an idea of whether potential customers would be willing to buy it. However, only after a customer uses your product or service will you learn about all the advantages, flaws and their actual experience. Consumer expectations and demands are constantly evolving, which is why customer feedback is vital and will enable your business to offer the very best products and services. As a business owner, your professional knowledge will never be more valuable to business performance than customer insights. 2. Measure your customer satisfaction A good level of customer satisfaction often leads to increased business. It will be no surprise that happy and loyal customers are crucial factors in determining your business's future financial performance and will help you to attract new clients through recommendations. The best way to determine if you meet a customer's expectation is by asking their opinions. For the best results, I recommend asking rating-based questions so you can easily estimate the level of satisfaction and consequently predict your company’s financial condition in the future. One easy way to measure, manage and improve customer satisfaction is to send out an online survey with questions using a point rating scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing extremely negative and 10 representing extremely positive. This way, you can easily monitor customer satisfaction at the click of a button. 3. Collecting customer feedback shows you value their opinions When you ask a customer for feedback, you are communicating that their opinion is important to you. You are showing them how much you value them. This develops a strong relationship and shows customers that your primary business goal is to fulfill their needs and solve any problems, not to get their money. Collecting customer feedback is also the best way to gain valuable brand ambassadors who will spread positive word of mouth for you. This is the most effective and cheapest way to acquire new customers and become more trustworthy in the eyes of your current and potential clients. In fact, 72% of customers will share a positive experience with six or more people. It really is a win-win. 4. Create the best customer experience Naturally, the most effective way to give a fantastic customer experience is by asking them what they like about your product or service and what should be improved. A satisfied customer will stay with you. An unhappy customer will eventually find a better alternative to your business and leave. So, customer feedback benefits are significant. By asking for opinions regularly and constantly monitoring feedback, it will help keep your finger on the pulse of your customers. For example, when providing an online service of product I recommend providing the best customer experience at every touchpoint of the sales process to allow clients easy access to giving feedback. You can do this by outsourcing this function on a pay-per-minute basis to a ready-made team of experienced experts and for a fraction of the price of having a full-time, in-house team. This way, your customers can give you feedback at every step of their journey with you, which keeps them happy and helps you better understand your customers’ needs. 5. Collect data that helps you make business decisions Businesses continually look to adjust their products and services to fit customer needs. Customer insights help you understand clients and their needs and focus on where you should allocate your money to get the highest return on investment. As you can see, customer feedback is a valued business asset that all businesses should utilise to maintain their competitive advantage. However, gathering it can be easier said than done. Your customer wants everything to be made as easy as possible, especially when giving you customer feedback. If you are collecting feedback in a physical store, display signage in prominent locations to demonstrate to customers how much the business places on customer feedback, and provide instant and low-effort opportunities to give feedback. Other customer feedback methods include offering incentives for leaving a review, such as a chance to win a big prize or guarantee a small reward, or using your business's online community to collect feedback through feedback boxes on a website, surveys, and social media sites like Facebook. For all businesses, live customer support teams can play a pivotal role in fielding these front-line client concerns and allow buyers to give feedback online or over the phone. Remember that getting customer feedback is only half the story. Acting on it is what will keep your business ahead of the curve.
Tim Morris MD of Cymphony