Skip to main content
Guiding you to a better future

Search

How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

Working from home increases cyber threat

15 September 2020

A new study has found that many employers are failing to give their staff adequate information on ways to avoid cyber-attacks while they are working from home.

Research conducted by insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh Commercial has found that over a third of UK employees could inadvertently be putting their employers at risk of a cyber-attack.

Its survey of 2,500 UK employees across ten industries found that 38% have received no information from their employers on cyber security risks. Those in the marketing (63%) and legal (50%) sectors were found to be particularly vulnerable.

Employees surveyed in finance and HR were the best informed about online safety practices, with around three-quarters saying that they had been provided with "sufficient" information from their employers. However, while most employees in IT were adequately informed, nearly one-third said that they had not received any cyber security-related communications at all.

Most employers also failed to conduct any kind of specific risk assessment when lockdown forced many people to work from home. The findings show that the percentage of firms (by sector) that failed to assess risk are: marketing (63%), legal (58%), administration (56%) and sales (55%).

Despite some of these figures, most UK employees are satisfied with their employers in terms of regular and constructive engagement while they are working from home. Four-fifths (81%) feel that they have been "supported enough" by their employer during lockdown, with 35% feeling "very supported". The education sector was highest in this category with 91% having saying they have been "supported enough", followed by those in HR (86%).

Fiona Barker, account director at Marsh Commercial, said: "Given the turbulence over the last few months and the new pressures on businesses to enable home working where possible, it is encouraging that the majority of UK employees feel supported by their employers.

"However, data security measures and supporting a healthy workforce warrant effective risk management solutions to help businesses stay better protected and avoid any costly mistakes down the line. Organisations need to keep their staff up-to-date on the latest cyber security best practice to mitigate the potential for damaging breaches."

Written by Rachel Miller.

Stay up-to-date with business advice and news

Sign up to this lively and colourful newsletter for new and more established small businesses.

Contact us

Make an enquiry