Archive for the ‘SMEs’ Category

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Where In The UK Are Most SMEs Based?

Microsoft UK recently carried out online research to find out where in Britain most small businesses were being formed and to see if there was any correlation between geographies and the types of vertical sectors that dominated the small business landscape. It also sought to identify how successful small businesses were developing their business and their employees, and where they were investing money to help it succeed further.

Click on the following link to view the highlights of the key findings for each of the UK regions excluding Northern Ireland (regions defined by Government Office) – http://regionalhotspots.co.uk/default.htm (rollover each of the regions to view research findings).

Posted in SMEs |
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Information On Market Trends And Competitor Intelligence

Getting a good understanding of market trends is essential if your business is to make the most of its opportunities and remain competitive. You will need to understand your competitors and keep an eye on what they are doing.
To build competitor intelligence try to get information on the following 8 areas:

1. Demand for your product or service – is it growing or shrinking?
2. General economic and market trends.
3. How customer requirements and buying behaviour could change in the future.
4. What new products are in your competitor’s pipeline – could they make yours look outdated?
5. How competitors are changing – what are their plans?
6. What competitors offer and the prices they charge.
7. How your competitors advertise and promote themselves.
8. Any forthcoming legislation which could affect your market.

B2B International are experts in carrying out market research to answer the questions posed above. If you are interested in how we can help your company please visit our website at www.B2B International.com

Posted in Market Assesment, SMEs |
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Podcast: Making Your Ads Work Harder

This week’s podcast (available at www.themarketresearchpodcast.com – B2B International’s podcast website) discusses the topic of of making your ads work harder. In doing this, it looks at how market research can improve the effectiveness of your advertising.

As well as being able to download the podcast from www.themarketresearchpodcast.com you can also listen to it on this very page. For your convenience we have poasted the mp3 below:

Making Your Ads Work Harder (06:36)
[http://www.themarketresearchpodcast.com/podcasts/b2b_podcast_24.mp3]

Making Your Ads Work Harder (Right Click and Choose Save As – if you wish to download)

Posted in Branding, Market Assesment, Market Research, Podcast Audio, SMEs |
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Podcast: How To Avoid Competing On Price

This week’s podcast (available at www.themarketresearchpodcast.com – B2B International’s podcast website) looks at the issue of differentiation and ‘how to avoid competing on price’.

For your convenience you can listen to this Podcast using the player below or visit our podcasting site.

How To Avoid Competing On Price (24:49)
[http://www.themarketresearchpodcast.com/podcasts/b2b_podcast_19.mp3]

How To Avoid Competing On Price (Right Click and Choose Save As – if you wish to download)

Posted in Market Assesment, Market Research, Pricing Strategy, SMEs |
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Customer Enquiries Are Crucial To Success

We know from all the market research we do for our clients at B2B International that customer service is often the key differentiator. These days product quality and price are often seen as ‘hygiene factors’ and so you wouldn’t be in the game if you weren’t delivering on these areas. We always like to practice what we preach and so let us know if you contact our offices and we are not responsive enough to your needs.

Response to customer enquiries is crucial to success. Get it right and punters are likely to keep coming back to you. Get it wrong and they will go elsewhere. So how do you go about it?

It has been estimated that poor response to customer enquiries loses an average small business in the UK four customers each year – thought to amount to some £16,000 in profit.

Most enquiries are requests for information about products or services. People initially ring up to enquire, not to buy, and your call might be one of several they make to different businesses. How you respond is vital because the caller will compare you to others they contact.

So how can you distinguish yourself from competitors? “A swift response is always impressive, but so is correctly establishing what the caller actually wants, and why. Listen to what they are asking and don’t be afraid to ask them questions.”

Your demeanour on the phone is also important. The caller expects you to be knowledgeable about your product or service but also wants you to be approachable. People appreciate a personal service. Follow up on what you say you’ll do and keep in touch to provide regular updates.

Even at this early stage you should aim to exceed expectation. If possible, improve on the timescale you’ve set. If you’ve said you’ll respond with more information within 24 hours, answer more quickly. When you do, show the caller you’ve understood their needs.

Slow, vague or stock responses to customer enquiries will lose you business. It reflects badly on your business. If you can’t answer questions or don’t get back when you say you will, you’re not showing an eagerness to meet that person’s needs.

Even small firms are in a great position to compete with larger companies on customer service. They usually have the flexibility to go the extra mile to make customers and potential customers feel valued. Make the most of the personal service you can offer and you’ll reap the rewards.

Click here to view the original article.

Posted in Customer Satisfaction, SMEs |
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