Category Archives: business

business, development, work

Number Crunching for the Business Plan

For example the recruitment market in the Isle of Man breaks down like this:
80,000 People living in the Isle of Man

41,000 Actively working

13 Recruitment companies

70 People employed in recruitment

– 10,000 Employed in local government – no recruitment allowed for Goverment.

310 People per each consultant working in recruitment

1820 + Jobs advertised locally in the press per year

26 Jobs per each consultant

Estimated success rate of placing candidates 10 %

What do these figures mean? Number crunching is always handy in order to calculate a market.

business, Marketing, sales, Websites, work connexions

Generation X & Y the Internet Consumers

When we started this business, we made a strategic decision to concentrate on the Isle of Man. The very fact that it is an Island led us to the thought that e-commerce for its residents would be important. As the islanders here have 41 miles of sea in front of them the market is limited. To anybody wanting to increase their business e-commerce would seem to be a very logical way forward. Additionally the Isle of Man government is pushing e-commerce as one of its development strategies.

The reality is quite different. Many small businesses only depend upon the Island for making a living. Being that the community is quite small everybody knows what everybody else is doing. We have spent quite a bit of time and money on informing people on the changing use of the web. I am quite certain that within the next 18 months web 2.0 is going to play a more central role for all businesses. If I was to sum it up in a few words. It would be like this. If you want to reach generation X and before (under 35’s) then you have got to be thinking internet and web 2.0. If your market is above that generation then more traditional forms of advertising would apply. What do we have to do to increase our market? Inform the generation above X.

business, development, sales, work

Doing Business, Who Has The Advantage

I have never been a great armchair sports fan, as I always enjoyed sport more being a player in the game. I can understand why so many people like watching sport, two teams, or players battling it out on the same course. What makes it exciting is that it is a fair match, as teams usually battle teams of similar level. For the spectator it must be thrilling as only one team can win, a fact of the game is that the playing field is level. A truly buoyant economy is an exciting economy where everyone can benefit. But it is important that monopolies official or unofficial are kept in check or are introduced to sufficient competition. This same philosophy is the basis of democratic society. Every person who is born into society by law has the same chance in life. When the playing field is sloping towards one side we have a problem.

business, development, sales

If You Want A Different Result Then Try Something Different

“If you want a different result then do something different”

I am sure this is an age old motto. Unfortunately, I cannot recall where I first heard it. For example, if you are trying to launch a new product, recruit or increase sales, there are several ways to do this. They can be divided into two categories. Processes that you have tried, and those that you have not. Fundamentally doing what you have done before is not a guarantee for the same results the next time. It would appear that a new idea often has a certain sparkle. Quite often people ask me; why would I advertise in the Work Connexions magazine? What would be the result? If magazine publishers could answer this question, maybe our lives would be perfect. The best one can do, in my opinion, is due diligence and make sure that it does what its says on the packet. One tip, people read something because it is interesting.

If you find it interesting than you are halfway there.

business, development, work, work connexions

What the kids are doing?

It is no secret that younger generations lead the way with new trends. But the question is, how much? I was amazed this week, when my son came home asking to install software for school which would enable him to do his homework,stay in touch with classmates and swap ideas( sounds a bit web 2.0). They use a software called First Class. As the website explains:

 

FirstClass Learning Platform http://www.intl.firstclass.com/

FirstClass is a learning platform for online learning communities, that enables personalised learning activities. It provides ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ access to the learning environment from the classroom, library and home, while it enables parents to become more involved in the educational development of their child.

 

I have no doubt that the current generation of school children are running rings around the a large part of the current workforce. Already my son has produced his own cartoon DVD, something that would have been impossible for anyone 10 years ago. How bright is the future? Well it depends on how we are able to integrate with this generation.

brand, business, development, E-Commerce, sales, Websites, work

E-mail Signatures and stamps

Quite often I get asked where do I come from. It is one of those conversation starters. Especially nowadays, as we can do business with everyone in the world, or least have the potential to.

All too often I wonder where does this person live? We might know that they are based in America, but where? There over 50 states, each one at least 3 times bigger than the UK….. The outcome of such thoughts is that I have taken to adding a signature to the bottom of my email. Stating that we are a Manx company. A bit like James Brown really “say it loud I am black and I am proud”. Seriously I do have a slight nostalgia for post marks. I could always tell from the postmark if it was a letter from a loved one and more importantly where they were. On the other hand I am glad that we do not have to pay postage for each email that we send. I am averaging over 20 emails a day at current rates that would be £5.60 and quite a few trips to the post office. 

Put a Post Mark on your email and say where you are sending it from……