Getting Paid for Exports

For any business, getting paid is a prime consideration. But what can you do to ensure that an overseas buyer pays you on time?

Before you enter into a transaction, it’s worth speaking to an international trade banking specialist, who will provide you with the background you need about the market you are entering.

At the very least, it’s worth doing a few checks to ensure that your buyer is creditworthy – make some checks and follow up any trade references, and ask yourself if you have a sufficiently secure method of payment. It’s also a good idea to see if credit insurance would be beneficial.

Cyber Security: A Growing Threat

Not a day goes by without a story concerning cyber security, from phishing attacks against individuals and corporations to hacks of accounts and networks. This is a situation unlikely to change in the near future.

And the cost is not just measured in monetary terms. The theft of data or just the knowledge a system has been breached can cause tremendous reputational damage for the organisation concerned, which may outweigh the value of the theft at the time.

Defending against an attack is not simple and no one measure taken in isolation will ward off determined criminals. It is not just the infrastructure, network and apps that pose a risk, although they take most of the focus and seem easiest to control and secure.

Keeping Your Workforce’s Devices Secure

Have you opened an email on your phone today? Or have you opened a document on your laptop when you have been out of the office? With cloud computing our workforces are becoming more and more mobile with company data sitting in their pockets. The problem with this is that no matter how secure the software that provides this mobility and productivity is, you still cannot ensure that the end user will be as security conscious.

Cyber Security, what’s the big deal?

I won’t answer that question just yet, I thought I’d share a few considerations with you first.

Over the last few months “Cyber” has been all over the news with cases such as the data breach at Talk Talk and most people will say, ‘What’s that got to do with me?’, ‘It won’t happen to me, I haven’t got anything of value’. Let me stop you there, it’s not necessarily something of “value” that the criminal is after and it’s all about what you perceive as value.

Black Country Exports: Understanding Routes to Market

There are exciting opportunities to pursue overseas if you are looking to grow export sales. If there is sufficient demand for your product, and it meets all regulatory market requirements, the next step is to understand the dynamics of the market and how best to supply to the final customer.

There are myriad options for your route to market, which include selling direct, using an agent or a distributor, licence, undertaking a joint venture, incorporating or even acquiring an entity overseas.

Business Update: General Data Protection Regulation

GDPR or General Data Protection Regulation, if you’re like most businesses it’s something you won’t have heard much about; but it is something that will have a far reaching impact on your business, and the impact can be as positive as you make it.

Any company of any size that conducts business in Europe will be impacted by the change, and you will need to understand your responsibilities in complying with the regulations.  Procedures and systems will need to be put in place to ensure European citizen data resides in the country of record and you will need to validate how any personal data is collected, stored, processed and shared.

Marketing in 2016: What’s Causing a Stir?

In a rapidly evolving worldwide landscape, marketing needs to continually adapt. ZenithOptimedia published research last year which indicated that by 2017 the web will be the largest advertising medium in 12 key markets, representing 28% of global advertising spend.

Using Photos On Twitter for Business

So you’ve got your business on Twitter and you’ve got a grasp of posting tweets on your account, but haven’t been posting any photos. If this sounds like you then you’re missing out on a great opportunity on Twitter.

The Power of Testimonials for Your Business

There is arguably nothing more powerful than a testimonial from a customer. Their word against yours is often infinitely more impactful.

If your website does not have any testimonials, then you’re missing out on an opportunity to bring more authority to your brand and business.

What Makes A Killer Facebook Cover Image?

Getting your Facebook Page right is as much an art as it is a science. The cover image for your page could make the difference between getting interactions with fans and getting nothing.

So, before we begin let’s look at what a cover image is for a Facebook Page.

The cover image for a Facebook Page is a large image that goes at the top of your page.