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sign up to the borough’s new online market place
ShopAppy provides a single platform for shoppers to browse and buy local products from Enfield businesses.
y Perfect for retail and other goods y Keep your business active during the pandemic y Borough-wide deliveries at no cost to you y Full consumer promotional campaign y FREE for Enfield businesses
For more information visit the ShopAppy section at www.enfield.gov.uk/Covid19Businesses
www.enfield.gov.uk/Covid19Businesses www.sophias-diary.com
SD Biz - May 2020
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Editors’ Letter Who in a million years would have predicted a time where most of the world would shut down?
In addition to losing lives, not seeing loved ones, most establishments closing, it has had a massive impact on business too. Most small businesses are suffering and have greatly changed the way they are working. For some, this will have a long term impact too. Numerous packages, schemes, and support services have been implemented nationally and locally in this crisis. This magazine provides rich and informative content from business professionals, from various sectors. Our aim is to provide readers with additional knowledge, help and advice, about how they can operate now and post lockdown too. Our Columnists have provided their contact details so readers can follow up with any questions and enquiries too. Please remember that there is always support and an alternative action plan. Together, we will get through this and grow our businesses again. From your Editors, Andrea And Natalie Owner and Directors of Sophia’s Diary Media
Contact us:
@ email contact@sophias-diary.com www.sophias-diary.com
/SophiasDiaryCommunityGroup @sophiasDiary9630 | @SDmediaservices www.sophias-diary.com
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This is a challenging time for all businesses. Enfield Council is working to do everything we can to help our local economy during the COVID-19 crisis. Get the latest updates, find support, information and resources to help you and your business during the crisis by visiting www.enfield.gov.uk/Covid19Businesses If you have a specific enquiry you can either fill in the form on the webpage, email business@enfield.gov.uk or call 020 3821 1956 (Lines operational weekdays, 9.30am to 4.30pm.) ................................................................................................ We also have a frequent ‘Information For Local Businesses’ e-newsletter with nearly 10,000 subscribers. Visit www.enfield.gov.uk/enewsletters to sign up. ................................................................................................ Finally, follow us on LinkedIn for regular business related news updates, just search for “Enfield Council” at www.linkedin.com
www.enfield.gov.uk/Covid19Businesses www.sophias-diary.com
Contributors: Copywriting Hollie Bennett Design Natalie Gee Advertise with us Call: 077 3902 6765
INTERVIEW - Suley Gul Fitness During Quarantine
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07 | 08 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 32 |
BANKING DURING LOCKDOWN BY Tracey Ekanem
YOUR OWN PA By Danyel Izzet LEAFLETS DISTRIBUTION BY Bade Trajkovic BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY Group BY Andrea Krase MODERN TELECOMS BY Ryan Ricciardi COVID BUSINESS LOAN SCHEME BY Shrooq Memar REFERRAL MARKETING BY Tim Nicolaou CONTENT WRITING BY Hollie Bennett SMART SEO BY Pazbi Zavatzki LUNCH AT HOME BY Ailsa O’Shea IT SOLUTIONS BY Nick Krase Interview: ASK THE EXPERT with George Theodosiou FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING EXPLAINED BY Alex Chrysostomou DEBT COLLECTION BY Danny Dionissiou CORPORATE TRAVEL By Eda Ayyildiz
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BUSINESS By Natalie Gee www.sophias-diary.com
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CONTENTS
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PAY IT FORWARD Pre-sell your goods and services and generate revenue for free! PAY IT FORWARD offers 100% free fundraising to help businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus secure trade by pre-selling vouchers, goods and services.
This gives your regular customers an opportunity to donate to your business or to purchase a voucher for your products and services which they can redeem once your business is back on its feet. This initiative is being led by the Mayor Of London.
To find out more visit the PAY IT
FORWARD
tab at www.enfield.gov.uk/Covid19Businesses
www.enfield.gov.uk/Covid19Businesses www.sophias-diary.com
As Local Business Manager of our Enfield store, it has been overwhelming to see how our Tracey-Emma Ekanem Local Business Manager community has pulled together to keep each Metro Bank Enfield other safe in these unprecedented circumstances.
A
long with the rest of the country, we are following all government guidance on social distancing, whilst working hard to maintain essential banking services for our communities, at a time when many of our colleagues have also had to self-isolate or fallen ill. To do this, we’ve adjusted our store and call centre opening hours, as we strive to continue to deliver the great customer service we’re known for.
Here are a few things that you can do to help make this happen: • Use our app or online banking
• Call our contact centre if you have an urgent question or problem and for anything else give your relationship manager a call
• Avoid visiting our stores unless it’s absolutely necessary We’re doing everything we can to make sure our customers can still do their banking easily and safely. We understand it’s a particularly difficult time for businesses and appreciate that every situation will be different, so we’ll work together with our customers on an individual basis to find a solution that best meets their financial needs, we are committed to being a patient creditor for those who borrow from us. As an accredited lender with the British Business Bank it is our intention to use the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme as widely as we can to support our SME customers, and we’ve submitted an accreditation
application to participate in the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. We’ve also waived overdraft fees for now and introduced mortgage payment holidays for those who have been impacted financially as a result of coronavirus. As a community bank, we want to be able to support our local residents with more than just banking, which is why we are proud to have volunteered to support Enfield Council in its Enfield Stands Together Initiative and its newly opened community pantry. Our Enfield team have given up their time to go into warehouses to support this incredibly important and vital project.
I want to say thank you to all of our customers for their patience and resilience at this time! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at Tracey-Emma.Ekanem@metrobank.plc.uk.
Thank YOU!
www.sophias-diary.com
SD Biz - May 2020
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Banking During LOCKDOWN
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Talking to...
Suley
GUL
Fitness During Quarantine WITH GYMS CLOSING, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAN STILL KEEP FIT? Gyms closing should not be the end of our active lifestyles. With the development of technology these days, there really is no excuse. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube all have so much available for us to stay active. The best thing about them all is that they cater for all abilities and can be done at a time which suits you. Other forms of daily exercise to stay fit can be lower impact alternatives such as getting www.sophias-diary.com
in those steps by going out for a walk, gardening/household chores or even playing with our children in the garden/park. WHAT WAS YOUR WORK SCHEDULE LIKE BEFORE AND, HAS LOCKDOWN CHANGED THE WAY YOU WORK? My work schedule has changed dramatically since lockdown but I have learned to embrace the change and utilise this extra time to make a huge impact by creating a family community through my Instagram page @SGPT_ where I am now delivering free exercises
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will see the same people day in, day out and naturally make friends who could help motivate/inspire you more than you will ever realise. Other benefits include taking part in the comfort of your home/chosen space, catching up or even doing the workouts more than once if you have really enjoyed a particular session, stopping when you wish, taking advantage of the endless support that is available but also, it is cost effective especially with the amount of free content out there right now. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE? The benefits of exercise are endless but if I were to pick my top 5 I would say, weight control, reduces the risk of disease, great for our social life, improves our mood which in turn can make us more productive in all other aspects of our lives too and finally, boosts our confidence from the inside out where feeling good mentally, will in turn help achieve the aesthetic goals we have physically.
Gyms closing should not be the end of our active lifestyles. With the development of technology these days, there really is no excuse.
Follow Suley on social media: @SGPT_ www.sophias-diary.com
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classes every day (something which was completely new to me), and raising money at the same time for Haven House Childrens Hospice. Before all of this, my week consisted of freelancing out of a gym where I trained clients all day, taught 10 classes across the week from Circuits, Spin and Boxercise, coaching a childrens boxing academy in a local secondary school as well as assessing online fitness courses for adult education. CAN WE STILL WORKOUT EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT ANY EQUIPMENT? 100% YES! Believe it or not we are all lucky enough to have the best piece of equipment which is our own body. No gym needed whatsoever. Like anything, we just need to know how to use it correctly in order to reap the rewards. Bodyweight based exercises are fantastic and can be so much fun too. We can help improve our strength, speed, power, flexibility and balance all through the use of our own body, we just need to be shown how. WHAT ARE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN LIVE WORKOUTS? The thing about LIVE workouts are that they give you a sense of belonging to a community even though you may have never met those who are also doing the workouts with you. Through regular participation and interaction you
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Your own P.A.
I am Danyel, an Enfield-based Virtual Assistant who provides remote administrative support, copywriting and social media management to businesses, freelancers and consultants. I am fortunate enough that my role is fully remote so I am set up to assist those in need right now. I have extensive experience in providing Director-level admin support in a variety of industries, such as Property Management, Recruitment, Education and Entertainment, which means I can help an array of business owners with the majority of their administrative needs. With everyone locked in and some businesses quieter than usual, now is a fantastic time to look at your company’s current administrative processes. With my support, we can put your business in a prime position to come out of this tough period stronger than ever. Did you know that by hiring a Virtual Assistant and outsourcing your administrative tasks, you avoid all the costly overheads of hiring an employee? When working with me, you won’t need to worry about maternity, holiday or sick pay. Or desk space and other resources that come with hiring an in-house team member. You simply pay for the support you need! I regularly support Tradespeople who struggle to find the time to stay on top of email requests, and diary management. I also look
Danyel Izzet | Virtual PA Reign Virtual PA Services @reignvirtualpaservices
after their financial administration by generating and chasing outstanding invoices. With my support, my clients are able keep their focus on the practical side of their businesses. Right now is also a prime time to grow your online presence, which is something I can support with. Being a copywriter means I hold the skills to creatively capture the minds of your potential clients, whilst you focus on generating new leads and growing your business. I can focus on ensuring that your social media platforms and website are clearly getting your brand’s message across. I am currently working with businesses in the Art industry and Beverage industry, and I am thoroughly enjoying giving my clients’ copy a real voice and personality which encourages their potential consumers to engage with the content on a deeper level, and, ultimately, bite on to my clients’ services. I pride myself on my cracking sense of humour, my efficiency and my dedication. If you could do with some support right now, or in the future, please feel free to connect with me!
SPECIALOFFER! OFFER SPECIAL
I am currently offering the first 3 hours of support to new clients at £20 an hour. www.sophias-diary.com
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The benefits of Leaflet Distribution COST Let’s face it — money talks! It doesn’t matter what sector you work in, you need to make sure your advertising campaign is successful, and that can be measured by your profit margins.
Stork Distribution @storkdistribution www.storkdistribution.co.uk
INTERACTION Letters and leaflets have an average lifespan of 17 days. According to research, direct mail is one of the most memorable forms of advertising, with 75% of people saying that they remember a brand after reading a leaflet or letter.
VISUAL Create a leaflet well and you’ll have a visually pleasing form of advertising. Leaflets enable you to create attention-grabbing headlines and use them alongside colourful images to help keep your reader’s attention.
Stork Distribution is one of North London’s leading direct marketing specialists, and have been leading the leafleting field since 2009. We work on the principle that nothing is impossible, and that kind of outlook led us to partnerships with a wide range of organisations to deliver an even wider range of items.
www.sophias-diary.com
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The benefits of being part of a DIRECTORY & COMMUNITY GROUP What have you realised during lockdown as a business? It has given us all time to reflect and re-evaluate, wouldn’t you agree? Something we have realised is that being part of a community means improvement to your business and how you work, having support gives you more motivation and let’s face it beats doing it all on your own. This is the very reason we want to show you all the benefits of being part of a directory & platform like us here at Sophia’s Diary. Firstly, directories are great information resources. They are packed with content, useful to a target audience. Additionally, they help businesses to be discovered. Users will browse and find things that they did not know about before. Directories also help with visibility. They usually have good site traffic, can help with your own SEO and you can connect with new customer’s faster. Many have great social media following too so utilise your membership by advertising
in the community group, tagging their page when you post on your own social media, tagging them on Instagram Stories so they share back too. There are great opportunities to help your business be discovered and trusted. Sophia’s Diary also has a closed business group and newsletter for members so they feel more supported and aware of opportunities too. Their events have 10 – 220 people in attendance so there is a great opportunity to meet and build relationships with other business people too. We are an award winning business that offer so many marketing services, and this provides good value for money for our members.
Come be part of a community, let us show you how to grow your business like you deserve! Please contact Andrea to enquire about joining contact@sophias-diary.com www.sophias-diary.com www.facebook.com/SophiasDiary www.sophias-diary.com
Andrea Krase Sophia’s Diary Director @sophiasdiary9630
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Modern Telecoms
Gazelle Consulting are a voice & data consultancy enabling you to get the best out of your existing telephony infrastructure. As a Ryan Ricciardi consultancy, we review what you currently have Gazelle consulting in place, how much you are paying for your line www.gazelleconsulting.co.uk rentals, call charges, maintenance, and what quality of service you are receiving. We work with strategic partners to enable us to find you the very best solution the market has to offer, without tying you down to just one quote from one company.
Why
NOW?
In 2025, BT will be ending the ISDN Network‌ Although 2025 seems a long time away It now means ISDN is becoming a legacy platform. Which means BT no longer will be supporting the existing network and infrastructure, making it highly likely the ISDN network will be impaired before the 2025 switch off date. Before you start to panic, upgrading your telephone system could not be easier. Gazelle is offering the latest in VoIP and SIP based technology. But what does this mean for me? By 2025, businesses will no longer be able to use any systems that currently runs on the ISDN network. If your current telephony contract is up for renewal within the next few years, now is the time to talk to Gazelle, and let us help you in exploring the benefits and opportunities of VoIP and SIP technologies.
What is VoIP and SIP? Here at Gazelle we do not drown our customers in jargon, so simply put: VoIP allows you to make virtually free, or very low cost telephone calls over the Internet. SIP Trunking or SIP lines are a form of IP telephony and a replacement for ISDN. SIP allows the running of voice calls over an Internet connection (also known as VoIP). There are currently 3.2 million ISDN lines active in the UK today. Any business which is left on a legacy network, will find themselves severely limited in usability, business continuity and service quality. What rates are you on? Local, National, Mobile? Don’t know? You are paying too much; it is as simple as that. Our Service is completely free and no obligation Telecoms is an industry that changes daily, we will inform you of the latest technology available to you on the market today.
WHAT TO DO NEXT? Call one of our friendly team to arrange a free 15 minute consultation on 0844 8793544 or email us a date and time most convenient for you at sam.conway@gazelleconsulting.co.uk www.sophias-diary.com
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What is referral
MARKETING?
From the marketplaces and squares of ancient cities to the hustle bustle of a modern metropolises like London, the consensus has remained the same. The best way of doing business is via personal recommendation.
We have heard it said may a time “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know” What I like to add to that is “It’s what you know…. It’s not who you know……it’s how well you know them” Why? Because you are more likely to recommend someone you have a personal or business relationship
with, someone you know always delivers, someone reliable, someone professional. Your reputation rests in their hands once you have recommended them. Therefore, that type of person, that type of business, is the one we willingly recommend.
How do our business meetings/business groups work? The businesspeople in the group work to a professional code of ethics which enrols everyone to a high standard. They meet weekly and do their upmost to help and support each other by doing two simple things: 1. Recommending each other where possible 2. Sharing contacts where possible. The business meeting has a 20-point agenda which focuses on generating weekly new business for the participants. Business networking weekly and building strong relationships are what generate referrals and new business. In the last calendar year that exceeded £10 million of additional business! www.sophias-diary.com
• Cheapest job doesn’t always win. We have all experienced buying an inferior product or service which cost us more in the long run. A referral may cost more but may save in the long run
• “Bigging” yourself up to be brilliant at what you do, can be looked at as brash and lacking humility. However, someone else singing your praises is the best type of flattery and far more effective
• Quality and Value v Price. If a product and service can provide good value and quality, price isn’t the deciding factor.
• Being referred adds the TRUST factor. If someone you trust says you are trustworthy, you win over any competitor.
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• To be referred says that you are good at what you do, let’s face it no one knowingly refers someone incompetent! Being good at what you do is the foundation of any great business
• What % of business do you turn in to orders when it’s a recommendation? Referred business turns into business. • The icing on the cake. Guess what its free, it’s your cheapest yet most effective form of marketing!
How it can help in Covid? Covid hasn’t stopped business in fact it’s made meeting each other & collaborating easier! How? We currently meet online. We have a philosophy of “Givers Gain” In essence what that means is if I help you, you will want to help me. Sometimes its lonely being a business out there on your own. Having the help and support of other professionals that have got your back is priceless. In times like this more than ever we need each other to listen, help, collaborate, re-invent, diversify. in difficult times a sounding board for business and personal issues is invaluable.
Tim Nicolaou Executive Director BNI tim@bni-lne.com
Finally, a couple of thought-provoking quotes, Deepak Chopra famously said, “The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want” An old Chinese Proverb says “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is NOW. If you are not Networking NOW is great time. To promote your business locally at no cost, drop an email to tim@bni-lne.com for an online invite. www.sophias-diary.com
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The benefits of referral Marketing
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The marvellous world of CONTENT WRITING In a world of smart phones and tablets, we have been given access to the world via a click of a button, whilst we are on the move and at any time we want, so it is no surprise that your digital presence as a business is paramount and should be a key focus in your marketing efforts. One area of digital marketing often overlooked is Blogging and we cannot stress enough this is one area you should take seriously and not ignore. Here we have collated the top 10 reasons to why Blogging as business has huge benefits and how you can utilise this area for the better.
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Educate your potential client – Blog’s are essentially a publishing platform for your business, it allows you to talk directly to you customer about you and what you offer. Please take note that we stress ‘Educate’ as your focus rather than ‘sell’ and the reason being is educating is far more powerful, more trusting and more relevant to any website visitor, this way of thinking has more power to turn interest in to business than traditional selling techniques. Educating a potential client means you have thought about them as a customer, what they need and can anticipate the questions which may arise, by blogging to your visitors it shows you care and understand them. Invest time, educate them, gain their interest and turn that into business. Answer common questions – as a business you will come across key questions on a regular basis, so by blogging with FAQ’s this means you have covered this common discussion and made your customer feel at ease sooner rather than later. You can hyper-focus on a keyword topic and/or long tail keyword which is relevant to you and your business, whilst it being interesting to potential new customers. Gain their attention!
www.sophias-diary.com
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Share your passion – it is your Blog, your business, so open up and share to your customers your passion for what you do, after all passion is contagious, it also differentiates you, shows your human side and at the end of the day we all like to buy/work with humans. Make them feel what you feel, inspire and build a long lasting relationship. Show you can be trusted and dependable – by publishing a new Blog post at least once a week, it shows consistency, it shows you care and that you invest time into your business and at same time your customer.
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Up the traffic anti – by publishing on a Blog page you will gain new organic traffic, this is traffic that is generated by your Blog content being picked up on search engines, so you are investing into your SEO (Search engine optimisation) by Blogging, this is a huge benefit for any website and one you should make the most of.
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Link up – from a practical side of things you can use a Blog post to deep link to another section of your website, you can redirect the reader to something else, this is a soft and easy approach to upsell or trigger further interest.
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Being social – By Blogging on your own site this then gives you legitimate and trustworthy content to share across your Social media platforms, this then increases shares and further traffic to your site. Cross marketing between Blog and Social media networks is a very powerful tool.
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Be present – by consistently Blogging it shows your business is alive, it’s current and constantly innovating, keep yourself a head of your competitor and do not fade into the back ground.
Hollie Bennett Copywriter contact@sophias-diary.com
Here at Sophia’s Diary we could honestly talk all day about the benefits of blogging, so if you would like to discuss this marvellous asset further please do not hesitate to get in touch. We also offer Blog content services as we know finding time as a business can sometimes be strained. We are here to help, guide and support you. www.sophias-diary.com
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Utilise old content – You can use your past Blog content within a EBook or as content for email marketing, this is an easy and effective way to gain new leads and peak interest of potential new customers whilst using content already created.
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SMART SEO DURING LOCKDOWN TO RANK ON THE FIRST PAGE OF
W
ith cities across the world under lockdown and people staying at home, everyone has shifted their focus to online shopping and delivery services. It’s now critical for businesses to employ a strong marketing strategy to remain in the public eye.
S M A R T
By using SEO, you can build your brand awareness and reputation, to gain new customers and grow your business long term beyond this lockdown. To earn a top spot on Google and gain 90% of all the traffic for search terms related to your business, you will need to implement a SMART SEO strategy involving:
Specific targets such as being No.1 for “Tradesman in Enfield” Measuring your website traffic by using analytics Achievable within your marketing budget Results including lead generation, traffic and increased sales Timely deadline to match your business priorities At Some Talented People Ltd, we specialise in building a personalised SEO strategy for you, to work towards your business ranking on the first page of Google. In the shortest possible time, you can make a return on your investment. To get started today and be proactive during this lockdown, call us on 020 3926 4222.
PaZbi Zavatzki | Director @sometalented www.sometalentedpeople.com www.sophias-diary.com
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INSTRUCTIONS
This recipe really quick and easy to make as well as being super healthy and delicious. The kids will love it too! You can use it as a good base for any ramen soup, substitute the chicken breast for a cooked salmon fillet and use veg stock instead of chicken.
INGREDIENTS
2 x Cooked Chicken Breast 400mls Chicken Stock 1 tsp Soy Sauce 1 tsp Ground Ginger 1 garlic clove (crushed) 1 x red pepper 1 x small carrot 1 x small red onion 1 x Bok Choi 300g noodles Handful of Coriander & chilli
Ailsa O’Shea @craftychefs www.craftychefs.co.uk
1. Place the Chicken breast in the oven to heat through while you prepare the soup. I prefer the cooked chicken with skin! 2. Heat the stock in a large pan, add the soy sauce, ginger and crushed garlic. Chop up the stalks of the coriander and add to the stock but save the leaves for garnish. 3. Grate the carrot and finely slice the red pepper and red onion (save some to use as garnish). Add this to the pan and simmer on a medium heat. 4. Slice the bok choi length ways and add to the pan along with the noodles. Bring back to a simmer until vegetables are just cooked (I like a bit of crunch so don’t over cook) 5. Divide the noodles and vegetables into two large deep bowls, once the chicken breast is heated through slice and place on top then ladle the stock over everything. 6. Before you serve, garnish with the raw red pepper & red onion. A few coriander leaves as well as some fresh or dried chilli flakes (or oil), if you like a chilli ramen. Enjoy!
Head over to Crafty Chefs Instagram and Facebook page to see what flavours we’ve been making. Stay home, get cooking and stay healthy! www.sophias-diary.com
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CHICKEN Ramen Soup
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Business I.T solutions and moving with
THE TIMES
The top of our list has to be remote access for offices; this is a huge positive for any business large or small as it improves efficiency massively. Having remote access set up allows you as a company to store company data and desktops in the cloud, this then means owners and their employees can access desktops from any location and from any device, this is a huge plus for productivity as important work can be accessed whenever needed without needing to get into the office. Your data no matter what industry you’re in is essential to you and how your business operates, so it’s imperative to keep such valuable data accessible, secure and updated at all times; you are safe-guarding what is precious to you as a company. We www.sophias-diary.com
now live in a digital world, this is a great world to be in but it also opens the doors for data loss, hacking or simple technology failures and if you are a nonremote access business you are at higher risk of losing your data, this is because you are storing on hard drives, accessible from only one vantage point. Why put your business at risk when there is a solution? Second on the list is migration of your emails & data to Office 365 & the cloud. No we are not talking about those fluffy white things in the sky, we are talking about cloud computing which in the simplest terms means storing and accessing data and programs over the internet instead of via
Last but not least is VOIP (Voice over internet protocol) telephones, making phone calls through the internet rather than through a regular landline or mobile networks. One of the
Nick Krase N.K. Networks @compdoclondon
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biggest advantages of this is cost and decreasing them, every penny saved is a success as a business but that aside accessibility is also a huge advantage, as using VOIP means you give yourself and employees the ability to make calls from anywhere and because your phone number is completely portable this means where ever you are you can still use the same number, so no being stuck behind one desk, you can be at your favourite bakery scoffing jam doughnuts or at home chilling with the Tiger King on Netflix (Bizarre one isn’t it!) and it will be as if you’re in the office! Our modern world has opened so many doors to make business run more efficiently and changing your I.T systems is so important, it may seem confusing sometimes or little scary to try something new but with NK Networks we will guide you through everything and make every change a stress free one. Your business needs to evolve with the times and trust us you will be thanking us later.
NK Networks specialises in I.T solutions for businesses. We always give each client a personal service because each individual’s needs are different. However, there are some areas of I.T that can benefit all businesses for the better, these areas help make your business more productive and that’s something we all need. These are areas we are now focussing on given the current climate. www.sophias-diary.com
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your computer’s hard drive. The cloud is basically a metaphor for the internet. Because the cloud doesn’t have one dedicated network storage system it means you are not restricted and reliant on one hardware system or server in residence. This safe-guards you as a business and your important data as you can access it anytime, anywhere. Moving to cloud also reduces costs and let’s be honest this is something we all want to achieve as a business, it means you do not have to invest in expensive data centres and the constant running costs, why keep spending out when there is a better and more cost effective solution? The cloud also means you do not have to have a backup plan in place in case of disastrous data loss, you can be assured that no matter what your data is always safe in the cloud and you can get to it whenever you need to. No brainer right?
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Ask the expert...
George is a TEDx Speaker sharing his insights on how to build strong connections in life and business. Having experienced someone commit suicide because of money problems in business in July 2006, George has dedicated his life’s work to helping people use world class cashflow processes and systems to build consistency, predictability and profitability in their business. As well as clients around the world, George gets invited to speak at business conferences on his subject matter alongside some of the world’s most sought after speakers. In this interview, George will share what you should be doing right now in your Business during lockdown and how to come out of lockdown with the strongest possible version of your Business! CAN YOU TELL US THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS YOUR CLIENTS ARE COMING TO YOU WITH RIGHT NOW? The problems that people are coming to me with right now are cancelled jobs, worrying cashflow, losing clients, lack of enquiries...
Can you summarise the best support resources in this climate (e.g. seeing a coach, go to website, loans, grants, etc) Absolutely look into what you are eligible for by way of:
• Business rates grants • Coronavirus business interruption loans • Furlough scheme • Universal credits • Self-employment grafts • Bounce back loans In my opinion, every business owner should have an advisor, consultant or coach because simply put, “You cannot see the full picture when you’re in the frame” ~ Les Brown www.sophias-diary.com
Obviously it doesn’t have to be me lol, it’s important you have a connection with your business consultant and that you resonate with their values and admire their achievements. For me, no connection equals we’re not working together. I believe it’s also important to make it easy for people to do business with you and make it a ‘No Brainer’ which is why I offer a money back guarantee on my consultancy BUT you have to be 100% committed and implement everything! Otherwise don’t waste your time. There are lots of online resources, personally I’m a fan of going to the right business conferences and workshops for you specifically and working with someone in a coaching/consultancy capacity and/or in a mastermind group. GEORGE, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME TIPS ABOUT WHAT BUSINESSES SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT SO THEY SURVIVE IN THE CURRENT GLOBAL CRISIS?
Part 1 - You need to keep as much money in your Business as possible right now so you should:
• Get rid of expenses that you don’t need to run your business right now
• Get rid of expenses that don’t bring your results right now • Arrange payment holidays for tax, business rates, vehicle finance etc. Basically, arrange payment freezes with all financial and government institutions • Collect debts in that you’re owed and incentive them to do so.
• Get access to funds where applicable as mentioned above with regards to government grants, loans and support schemes. • Look after your clients like never before! It’s much easier to keep a client than get a new one. • OVERDELIVER like never before!
• People will remember how you made them feel during this time.
• Prepare a 90 day action plan and use a Cashflow Forecast.
• If you’ve never used a 13 week cashflow forecast, it’s more important NOW more than ever! If you want a ready to us template with all the formulas built in contact my office and I’ll get one sent out to you. Part 2 – What preparations can Businesses make now so they are strong coming out of lockdown? 1. Understand the opportunities available and adapt!
Firstly, Make a list of the people/ businesses/industries that have been busier than ever and position yourself, your business, your products and services to add value to them! Secondly, Make a list of the people/
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What should I be doing right now?
businesses and industries that NEED someone like YOU, your business, your products and your services in order to earn money and again position yourself to add value to these people and make it a ‘No Brainer’ to do business with you!
Thirdly, Make a list of the businesses that will be focused on making up for lost income during the lockdown and again position yourself with these guys.
If you feel like you like need some help to complete this exercise email me at kickstart@gfssolutions.co.uk.
2. Generate new enquiries! Obviously this is easier said than done, I get that however you have to establish a system to be able to PROACTIVELY generate leads, enquiries and referrals into your business consistently. You cannot afford to sit back, cross your fingers and hope people will come to you.
3. You have to adapt your Sales process to meet the landscape we’re in. The market has evolved and we need to be more understanding and empathetic! 4. Stay focused on your 12 month business plan! Yes, the last 8 weeks have been crazy in many ways BUT you have to choose the end of the story for you and your business!
YOU HAVE 2 CHOICES You can say: “I didn’t hit my targets because of the coronavirus!”
OR: “I exceeded my targets despite the coronavirus!” George Theodosiou GFS Solutions @GeorgeTheodosiou
No Confusions, Just Solutions! www.sophias-diary.com
SD Biz - May 2020
THE NEW ‘NORMAL’ FOR YOU & YOUR BUSINESS IS AS FOLLOWS IN 2 PARTS
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Finance and Accounting Explained
During these difficult times it is important that you are aware what help is available, particularly if you are running a small business. While the help available for individuals and small businesses evolves over time, it is important that you’re aware of the key elements available.
SELF-EMPLOYED GRANT - HMRC have now opened the self-employed grant system. All you need to do is log into your government gateway account and you can claim your grant, with the money being paid to you within a week. The grant is calculated as an average of your last 3 years’ profits – they will calculate 80% of 3 months’ worth of profits which will be paid to you in one lump sum. FURLOUGHED STAFF/DIRECTORS If you run a business you can continue paying your staff 80% of their average 2019-20 earnings up to October 2020 (up to £2.5k), which will be covered by HMRC. This will help ensure that your staff continue to get paid. It is important to note however that they can’t perform any work duties if they are to qualify for furloughed pay. You can also claim as a director on your employed income, not your dividends, on the basis that your business is not currently running due to the COID-19 crises (although you are allowed to perform statutory duties like working on your accounts). COMPANY ACCOUNTS - There is a 3 month extension on submitting accounts to Companies House, which will help ease the pressure if your accounts are due soon.
BOUNCE BANK LOAN -This has recently been released, where you can qualify for up to £50k loan, which is 100% government backed. There are no repayments in the first 12 months and once the loan kicks in after a year, the interest rate is 2.5% - this is probably the cheapest form of finance that will ever be made available and I would advise to take advantage of it, even if you keep the money in your savings account for a rainy day (at the moment it’s raining heavily so this loan might be critical to some businesses). VAT/SELF-ASSESSMENT DEFERMENT You don’t have to pay your current VAT liability until 31st March 2021 (this covers any VAT liability up to 30th June 2020). In addition, your selfassessment payment on account, which is due by 31st July 2020 is now not due until 31st January 2021. CIS REFUNDS TO PROCESS - If you operate in the construction industry and may have a tax refund due as a result of CIS deductions made, I would advise to file your tax returns as soon as possible so that HMRC can repay you any tax due.
Alex Chrysostomou | Accountant www.alexassociates.co.uk www.sophias-diary.com
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BUT SOLICITORS CAN BE THE FRONT LINE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
It is inevitable that at some stage in business life one will encounter clients who delay in paying invoices and indeed, this has never been the case more so than now.
D
ue to the uncertainty surrounding the current Covid-19 pandemic, people globally are reluctant to part with their money and consequently, this will have an adverse effect on many businesses. If one person/institution in the business-chain fails to pay their debt, it will inevitably have a knock-on effect further down the line - regardless of how long or short that line may be. Currently however, as the lock-down, that has come about as a result of Covid 19, takes its grip, many of us are faced with a moral dilemma. Increasingly, we feel guilty to request, let alone demand, what is rightfully owed to us. We are becoming burdened with the ‘what ifs’ - what if they don’t have the money to pay? What if we ask for our money and they think we are insensitive? The reality of the situation it’s a matter of survival. Cash flow is undoubtedly the life-blood of any
Danny Dionissiou Director www.morelandsolicitors.co.uk
business - when the cash runs out, the business will cease to exist. It’s that simple. Therefore, as a business, it’s important that you get paid what you’re owed by your customers and/ or clients. This will not only assist in the continuity of your business, it will also maintain the buoyancy of the economy. If you are owed money and your debtor is refusing to pay or you are too embarrassed to ask them to pay, you should refer the matter to a debt collection specialist. Many solicitors, who are well versed in debt collection, have the ability to assess each situation on its merits. In turn, they will know when a matter needs to be handled sensitively or indeed, when there’s a need to put the pressure on. Ultimately, your solicitor will take the problem out of your hands and hopefully return to you the life-line it needs.
IF YOU ARE OWED MONEY - DO NOT ALLOW COVID-19 TO KILL YOUR BUSINESS – CONTACT YOUR SOLICITOR NOW! For tailored advice, please contact Danny Dionissiou on 020 8364 3677 or dnd@morelandlaw.co.uk or visit our website – www.morelandsolicitors.co.uk www.sophias-diary.com
SD Biz - May 2020
WE CANNOT CURE COVID-19
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Corporate Travel
Book with
confidence
It’s so important to feel safe and confident when it comes to making future travel plans. As a business that places customer care and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do, this is really important to us too. That’s why, when you book with your personal Travel Counsellor, you can rest assured that you will have a bespoke service that promises peace of mind when looking forward to your break or business trip. FLEXIBILITY
Flexible options - When booking with your own personal Travel Counsellors you will be guided through the most flexible options offered by our travel partners, helping you to minimise any issues should any future changes or cancellations be required. TC Flexible Promise – Furthermore, we are proud to be able to offer our own unique flexible guarantee which means when booking a selected TC package, you can benefit from free amendments up to eight weeks before departure. PROTECTION
TC Trust - When you book your travel package though your personal Travel Counsellor, your money is protected by our unique ATOL-supported financial trust, which safeguards you from the failure of any supplier involved in your booking. Travel Insurance – It’s also important that you are insured for your trip and your Travel Counsellor is on hand to offer advice. For example, checking your current or proposed policy carefully as some providers have updated their policies to exclude disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. www.sophias-diary.com
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SUPPORT
Keeping in touch - With over 1,900 individual Travel Counsellors in seven countries including 24/7 Duty Office support, you have access to a global community of experienced travel experts, and your own personal travel advisor will always be at hand should you need them, whether that be by phone, text, email or via our very own myTC app. Staying informed - We stay abreast of the latest Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice. And whilst the most recent updates currently advise against all but essential travel from the UK, it of course doesn’t mean we will never travel again, and we’re here to keep you updated as we look forward to when the world re-opens once more. INSPIRATION
Tailored to you - Your personal Travel Counsellor is on hand with the expertise and information to inspire your next adventure and can create tailor-made, bespoke itineraries that will make your trip truly personal to you.
Eda Ayyildiz Travel Counsellor @eda_travelcounsellor
As always, we are here to help you plan your next adventure, and ensure that when the time is right, you can enjoy a well-deserved break away, or a trip to do business again, safe in the knowledge that when you book with Travel Counsellors, you can book with confidence. Contact Eda on eda@travelcounsellors.com www.sophias-diary.com
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Social Media for
BUSINESS
It is not enough for a brand to simply ‘be’ on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. It is important to strive to generate engagement on social networks. In the current context, companies must know how to use the two-way communication that the internet provides and create a long-term relationship with the public.
The choice of social media channels where your company will be present is a fundamental point of your content marketing strategy. And to make this choice you must consider the characteristics of these social media channels and the profile of your customers. If you don’t know them, you are wasting the great potential of these social media channels.
But after all, what differentiates these social networks and how to know which ones to choose and what to put in them? That’s what we’re going to talk about now!
Facebook is the most popular social network and, therefore, it is the one where you are most likely to reach a large number of people. It is also the most versatile, as it allows posts in different formats: videos, photos, infographics, gifs, texts and links. Great for diversified, current content with great potential for sharing.
www.sophias-diary.com
Instagram is essential for brands looking to use social media to connect with current and potential customers. With high engagement rates and over 400 million monthly active users, it’s no surprise that gaining new followers on Instagram has become the number 1 priority for any business that uses the platform. Great for pictures and videos.
This is the social media of the videos. Having a channel on YouTube is like having your own “TV channel”. You can create thematic video series, organize your videos into playlists with different themes, make video tutorials, post interviews, show your products and much more. Make interesting videos and always well matched to your content strategy.
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OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKS
Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter… There are several other social networks. Several of them with many users and some even considered the “social networks of the moment”.
But the fact is that new social media channels always appear, like the most recent trending social media app, TIK TOK, and that is precisely why it is impossible to be in all of them. So, before you start creating profiles on all new social media, analyze their characteristics and also their potential to attract new customers.
“I don’t have TIME” Outsource social media services and earn from the experience of those who already do it! We understand that promoting customer interaction with your business is not always an easy task and it is time consuming. Outsourcing this service is an advantageous and time-saving solution. Outsourcing the social media services is the guarantee that your company is in good hands and Your company will enjoy the best tools for management and analysis with monthly feedback on results and improvements. Without a headache, you will only reap the rewards of the strategies carried out!
Natalie Gee Marketing Manager @SDmediaservices
From logo design to a complete creative & marketing strategy, we’ve got your business covered. We’re a Marketing Agency in North London that drives more traffic, generates conversions and increases sales for your business to ensure you have a strong advantage over your competitors. www.sophias-diary.com
SD Biz - May 2020
YOUTUBE
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