Category: Business

Sales Presentations can be Powerful and Fun

For a particular age group, the mention of Powerpoint presentations throws up memories of GCSE IT classes; of those occasions spent, aged fifteen or sixteen, completing simple and apparently mundane tasks on software barely comprehended by the teachers. This generation likely recalls making sales presentations for imagined companies for whom posters and other marketing material were also produced using programs such as Corel Draw and Publisher. Market research, on the other hand, was recorded using Access. In sum, these sorts of information technology classes felt like jumping through a number of hoops. Powerpoint design often seemed twee and useless in those days and pupils soon tired of its simple visual effects consisting of dissolves, fade-in and out and of various styles and sizes of font.

This same generation is now discovering that Powerpoint presentations do actually have a wider use. Outside of the classroom they can have a genuine impact in the workplace. In fact, some employees’ career progression is dependent upon their ability to communicate ideas to audiences large and small and Powerpoint design skills greatly aid such communication. Particularly in areas such as sales, marketing, banking and advertising but also in public sector jobs such as the police, the NHS and teaching, conducting a meeting with the assistance of Powerpoint will often mean conducting a successful meeting. When we speak of the success of a presentation we mean one that instantly captures the imagination of the audience. A top presentation should succeed in boiling its content down to the most simple of formulations, whether they are visually or textually based. It should also expand on its points in a memorable way that sustains the attention won at the start.

This may sound easy, but it depends on having a good technical understanding of how Powerpoint works. This means gaining an awareness of how to make a presentation in the first place – from deciding what material must be stressed, what tone should be adopted, whether to use picture, texts, graphs or a combination of these – as well as an awareness of how a presentation will be received. Employees using Powerpoint presentations will feel empowered when they have mastered the art of giving a good presentation. Powerpoint design does not need artistic or technological genius, but rather a clear-headed approach to communication. Indeed, the most effective sales presentations often demand little in the way of creative expertise: anyone can get ahead using Powerpoint provided they put themselves in the shoes of their audience and turn basic skills to their advantage.

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Shops to Rent in North London: Location is Key

Since the crash of 2007-08, commercial property London has undergone not one but two dramatic reversals of fortune. Prices were down some 40 percent – 50 percent in some areas – and have since bounced back due to a bottleneck of new development. Meanwhile yields have adjusted accordingly, and the ebb and flow of empty space has had its own effects on rents. The result is that if you are looking for shops to rent in north london, vs a shop for sale in London, there are many different opportunities available and your decision will rest on a number of factors – not least what your long-term goals are.

The complexity of the situation means that it is advisable to talk to a trusted independent financial adviser or accountant, as well as a good estate agent. Now may be a good time to buy in certain locations; however, if you do not have the money to do so then you will need to look at other alternatives. The comparative weakness of the pound not so long ago has meant that foreign money (much of it from the Middle East) has been pouring in and prices have risen.

Obviously location is key to the success of your business if you occupy certain sectors such as retail. In other instances you might afford to be off the beaten path a little. Another factor is if you intend to turn landlord yourself. If you are letting or subletting part of your own premises then this adds an extra dimension to your business plan and the potential viability of your accounts. Indeed, in the short-term this might be a good way to make ends meet while you wait for the market and business in general to pick up.

When it comes to commercial property, London has a vast range of choice in every sector – and, of course, you are spoilt for choice for location. But shops to rent in north london are a very different prospect to industrial property, office space or residential in other parts of the capital. Thus if you are looking for a shop for sale in London, or to rent, or another form of commercial property, this only underscores the importance of a strong business plan. Economic constraints mean that this will, in any case, be a vital strand of any loan application. However, whereas in the past you may have managed without one, it is now extremely unwise to skimp in this respect.

Please visit https://www.claridges-commercial.co.uk for further information about this topic.

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Researching the Best Shops to Let in North London

Shops to let in North London come in many forms, and even slight differences in size, location or other variables can make a big difference to you company’s profitability. If you’re after a shop for sale in London, the stakes are higher – since you won’t be able to move on at the end of the agreed rental period if things go wrong. The good news is that commercial property London is still increasing in value. There are persistent warnings that a bubble is forming, but if you judge your timing and area well there should still be the opportunity to sell if you purchase somewhere that turns out to be wrong for whatever reason.

As part of your business plan you will no doubt have estimated how many customers you need to turn a profit. That will depend on location – and a small distance can have a big impact. A side street just a stone’s throw from a major thoroughfare can be significantly quieter. It can also be a lot cheaper, but those are two things you are going to have to balance. Sometimes, the higher price can be off-putting. However, the cheaper shop in a quieter area can be a false economy. If your business model depends on customer volume, you’ve got to make that as easy as possible for yourself. Attracting new customers by encouraging them off their beaten path is costly, and it takes time to build a reputation as a niche destination. No matter how good your business proposition, then, if you’re in the wrong place – perhaps just by a few yards – it could mean the difference between success and failure.

Researching shops to let in North London, you must take this into account. A shop for sale in London might appear to offer a real investment, but whether it’s for your own company or to let out to someone else, without the right marketing and conditions it can be a millstone. Having said that, the commercial property London market is healthy at present (even ‘frothy’, as some analysts have warned) and so there is potentially scope for selling if needs be. All the same, that has to be a backup plan if your original strategy fails. To make sure you stand the best possible chance of succeeding, hammer out a strong business plan with an adviser and consult with a commercial property expert to gain the best deal.

Please visit https://www.claridges-commercial.co.uk for further information about this topic.

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Commercial Property in North London: Because Physical Presence Matters…

One of the major challenges in our ongoing climate of austerity is getting people to spend and simultaneously condone responsible levels of expenditure in line with the individual’s income. Encouraging spending is one way in which the government hope to improve the UK economy, yet as unemployment rises and things like transport, higher education and healthcare become more expensive, the average earner will often feel unable to afford the shopping trips and little luxuries that improved the daily grind just a few years ago. Of course, there are some things we simply cannot do without, so those businesses dealing with essential commodities need to seize this moment to take the lead. While many products can now be bought on the internet, we still prefer the real-life shop experience for buying things such as groceries and clothes. This is why businesspeople should be focusing on the great retail experience that shops to rent in north London or shops for sale in London could provide. There is nothing like being greeted and feeling valued as a shopper so entrepreneurs should invest in commercial property london that affords time and space to customer service.

In fact, it is not simply groceries and clothing we’d prefer to buy in person than online: statistical assessments show that the average worker is willing to make savings in most areas but is still reluctant to cut back on spending in cafés and restaurants. And cafés and restaurants obviously need physical floor space that only commercial property in north london can provide. Not only do they need space, they also need attention to detail because they should be social hubs delivering warmth, a friendly atmosphere and above all excellent food and drink. Businesses seeking to cater to this market should not see themselves as privileged islands, however; they might best succeed in the long term if they make the effort to join forces, or at least to support, their neighbouring retailers. Because a friendly, supportive high street will really boost the mood and the economy locally and, by extension, nationally.

Now is the moment to look seriously into a shop for sale in London then. Or, if you want to sample the waters, why not opt for a shorter term goal in shops to rent in north London? Camden, Islington and Stoke Newington are indeed great places to invest in commercial property in north london as their ideal combination of older and younger residents mean that spending power and a will to socialise are at healthy levels in the community.

Please visit https://www.claridges-commercial.co.uk

Recovery Audit Software -catch accounting errors before they start to hurt

Research has proved that duplicate payments can account for between 0.05 and 0.1 percent of financial transfers. This means that up to one in every thousand payments will be unnecessary. Not only that, but this is just one of many different forms of accounting error – which may be caused by human error or intentional fraud. A small to medium-sized business can easily be spending thousands of pounds every year by paying money they don’t need to – or not seeing cash that is due to them. An accounts payable audit will identify where the problems are occurring. This can be an eye-opening experience. Many people assume that duplicates and other accounting glitches are not a problem for their organisation. The immediate reason for this is that they are typically unseen, and it is therefore very easy to underestimate their impact. If you go through several years of accounts, the money wasted can easily run into five or six figures – recovery audit software can help you to get that back: no mean gift in the current economic climate.

Duplicate payments and other problems arise for a wide range of reasons. There are some fifty regular accounting errors, so there is huge scope for overpayments. The average invoice has something like twelve fields, and if these are filled in manually then mistakes can quickly multiply. That’s before you factor in deliberate fraud, where suppliers have submitted unwarranted claims, knowing that they will likely slip under your radar. The problem is that typical accounting software isn’t set up to catch these sorts of issues; it is designed to do a specific job, keeping track of your incomings and outgoings. Although it might do this very well, you need another package if you want to stop the overpayments than can cripple your business.

recovery audit software is the solution that can all but halt duplicate payments and other accounting errors. Although their total elimination is virtually impossible, you can cut them down to far more reasonable levels – with immediate benefits to your cash flow. An accounts payable audit will highlight the extent of the problem and enable you to avoid it in the future. This is essential when money is tight. Additionally, speed is important, since if you have overpaid then it is possible to reclaim the money – assuming the suppliers are still in business. As time passes more and more will cease trading, making it impossible to settle their debts to you.

Please visit http://www.fiscaltec.com/us for further info.

Duplicate Payments and Recovery Audit Software

Accounts payable audit are necessary for any corporation which worries it may be at risk of making duplicate payments, invoice payment mistakes or other financial hiccups – which can have a far-reaching and long-lasting effect on a company with a extensive accounts payable department. If a business is working with many different contractors and service providers, in can be easy to lose track of just how accurate its payments are. In the case of a company operating with out-of-date or ineffective systems, these payments can spiral until they represent significant losses.

That’s why most accounts payable departments commonly use a recovery audit, to see just where they’re missing money. However, recovery audits can be costly in themselves, and cumbersome, if the appropriate technologies are not in place. Increasingly, accounts payable audit are at their most effective when paired with recovery audit software that automatically sees errors in accounting and invoicing systems. This includes the identification of inaccurate or duplicate payments, overpayments, missed discounts, currency conversion errors, unclaimed cheques, inaccurate tax adjustments and even attempted fraud.

Due to the expense and complexity of good-quality recovery audit software, most firms use services that provide them with built-in tools. Because these tools are the main operation of an accounts payable software company, rather than a sideline, the company can invest a lot more in keeping them up to date and at maximum productivity – essentially, hundreds of clients will share the cost of one software system, and have the hassle taken off their backs.

Generally, recovery audit software is accessed online, with clients able to check in on the process and see results in an accessible format whenever they want to. No more waiting for office staff to write up reports or worrying about what they might have mistaken – the software is kept backed up and up to date by the company supplying and operating the software. Much of this software includes prevention tools that make recovery audit a constant process, rather than a regular mammoth task: and make sure that mistakes, frauds and overpayments are stopped at once. For some large companies, this represents a saving of millions of dollars, even before they factor in the work time and office resources that have been freed up by relying on a software system. Many systems will even automate historical claims to debtors or contractors, so that the lost revenue is back in the company’s account as speedily as possible.

In the department of accounts payable audit, this software can be an indispensable tool. Human error is all but eliminated, and employees can breathe easily, sure that they’re not throwing away money through mistakes that get lost in the net.

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Bacs payments: what you want to know

Bacs is a not-for-profit member organisation which has been an essential part of automated payments and electronic transfers in the UK, US and Europe for decades. An industry body owned by 16 highly-respected banks and building societies, it uses Direct Debit and Bacs Direct Credit to carry out transactions, and is the hidden spine of the UK’s automated payments system “Bacs software” is a phrase used to refer to a software solution which automates Bacs payments.Â

Although many people haven’t heard of the group, they will almost undoubtedly have used its services. During 2013, 5.67 billion separatedifferent payments were made by UK employers, employees, traders or customers. Three quarters of the adult UK population now have at least one Direct Debit set up (for subscription services, to pay utilities, phone or internet bills or to donate to charity) while Direct Credit payments are used by organisations distributing benefits, wages or salaries.

However, you shouldn’t just trust any organisation claiming to offer Bacs software for automated payments. The body very tightly controls which software suppliers are licenced to use their two software offerings, Bacstel-IP and Secure-IP for Faster Payments. Solution suppliers must show that they can offer the highest level of security for their Bacs payments, and are tested by the body through a sequence of processes before they can legally advertise themselves as using ‘approved software’. Look for the Software Service Logo, or simply look up the company you’re considering on the body’s own online register of approved organisations.Â

A good approved payment system should offer direct integration with your office and accounts system to automate your files, invoices and bills into the template necessary to carry out a Bacs payment: Faster Payments, Direct Credits or Direct Debits. All stages in the software should be password-controlled, and the software should control all requirements for you in order to make and receive payments within three days.Â

Bacs software is used by many different organisations across many different areas. It can be used by employers to make sure that weekly wages, monthly salaries, or employees’ mortgages and pension contributions are always on time, secure and accurate. It can also be used to process Direct Debit and other subscription payments, without the accountant having to do anything manually. It’s essential to make sure that you’re using a reliable automated payments provider – but when a programme is Bacs approved, you know that it’s safe and reliable thanks to their exhaustive testing for licensees.Â

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Document management -€“ implications for your IT performance

A document management system allows you to store all of your office documents, physical and electronic, on the same network. Physical documents are converted to electronic ones via a set of document processing technologies, which can take a number of different forms. (Invoice processing simply applies these technologies to your accounts department.) The resulting files may be Word documents, if you have more advanced software such as optical character recognition, or they may be JPEGs, TIFFs and PDFs if they are regular scans.

The advantages of document processing are significant. Businesses can literally become paperless, since everything can be uploaded and kept centrally, allowing anyone with permission to access it as they need it. However, it’s not a panacea, and used unwisely there are some problems. One of the reasons you’ll want to consider using such a system is because it is more environmentally friendly, since it doesn’t waste paper. Another is that documents can be found and shared quickly.

However, there are knock-on effects to other areas of your business. Your IT infrastructure will need to be up-to-date and future-proofed to prevent issues. A major problem to head off is storage space.Â

Document processing turns physical papers into electronic outputs. The software involved does this in a range of ways and with a variety of outputs. Some outputs (file types) are more suitable than others. So, for example, a simple scan programme might output a TIFF or PDF. These images can be optimised – or they can contain a huge amount of redundant information. Where files are larger than they need to be (and they can run to many tens of megabytes) your storage space will fill up fast. Sooner or later you will have to do something about it to keep your system running. That might be adding further storage (which is relatively cheap but can come with the complications of restructuring), moving to the cloud (costly) or carrying out a complex de-dup.

The solution is to think long-term when you are moving to a paperless system. Document processing technology should be selected on your future needs, not just current ones or simple price level. Otherwise, your document management system will become overloaded and you will end up paying more for extra storage. Invoice processing, too, could become over-complicated, with customer and supplier goodwill eroded as a result. Since this is something you probably wanted to address and streamline with invoice processing, it’s as well to ensure it doesn’t become a problem further down the line when the new system has been implemented.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Sales presentations can glow, or be lacklustre

Powerpoint presentations are very simple to throw together, but outstanding Powerpoint design is extremely hard. Pushed for time, most of us will put together a bunch of slides based on our talk, perhaps illustrating some major points. The versatility of Powerpoint makes this easy – too easy. Thanks to the user-friendliness of the product, you can very quickly build up slides with text, images, audio and video, transitioning to each other with a variety of special effects. But that’s not enough. Good sales presentations are more than window-dressing, and if you don’t know what you’re doing your audience will find out pretty fast.

Bad Powerpoint design just repeats what the audience hears in your spoken presentation. Good design has a narrative: a story that continues through the presentation and that is communicated with brevity and clarity. The visuals matter, but only in enabling this primary aim. People take in information in different ways, so don’t presume that the slides are an optional extra to the talk you deliver. In many cases these snapshots will be most or all of what a viewer/listener takes away.

This isn’t something that just anyone can do – at least not without training. If you work in an organisation of any size, you’ll already understand that. Although you can create your own copy, it’s far more effective to hire a copywriter to do it for you. Anyone can write; not everyone can copywrite (although in smaller organisations they may try). Powerpoint is the same. The problem is that the ease of using the software means there are a lot of beginners out there, with unfortunate results. Creating a really brilliant slideshow is actually quite an art; it’s just that creating a mediocre slideshow is within anyone’s reach – just as writing a lacklustre sales pitch or website landing page is something anyone can do.

If your Powerpoint design is letting you down, there are experts who can either do it for you or train someone within your organisation so that they can put together high-quality sales presentations. Great Powerpoint presentations don’t just happen by themselves; they are crafted, just like any other worthwhile product – copy, artwork, software, a website. As in anything like this, the proof of the pudding should be in the eating, and very quickly. Return on investment is the only worthwhile measure of success when hiring a service like this, and you should see it almost straight away in the form of successful bids and convincing presentations.

Please visit http://www.eyefulpresentations.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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Bacs software is a must for modern organisations

It wasn’t so long ago that book-keeping was carried out manually – it actually was book keeping – and payments were made by cash or cheque. This was time-consuming and laborious, and vulnerable to errors that could cost you and your organisation a significant amount of money. Not only that, but dealing with cash or cheques could be insecure and slow. Fortunately, with the advent and popularity of bacs, this is no longer the case. Bacs payments are fast and secure, and bacs software can be integrated with most accounting software – meaning that all of your book-keeping practices can be neatly brought together so that there is no ambiguity and no surprises.

Bacs, or bankers automated clearing system, has been around for decades now but has only relatively recently been adopted on a large scale. Until a few years ago it was normal for employers – particularly smaller ones – to pay workers in cash or by cheque. In the 21st century there is no call for this, or for the problems it brings. Bacs payments mean that you do not have to keep large quantities of cash on the premises. Neither do you have to wait to have cheques countersigned, or have to wait for them to clear. Bacs is not instant, but it is predictable. (In fact, in many cases bacs payments will go through in just minutes, rather than the three-day standard. In any case, if you need quicker payments then the SWIFT system is available for an additional fee.)

You may be able to manage, just about, on your own without bacs. However, issues typically happen when you try to mix old with new – when you are paid by cash or cheque but your accounts are automated with bacs software, or when you don’t use bacs payments but clients and suppliers do. In these cases it is easy for payments to be overlooked, perhaps because one or other of you isn’t used to dealing with cash or paying in cheques, or else isn’t able to check accounts online and keep track of their cash-flow electronically. Since bacs has become the standard and most businesses and other organisations now use it, it makes sense to switch to this system. The savings of time and money it brings should soon pay for any one-off costs to your accounts department and will future-proof your organisation.

Please visit http://www.bottomline.co.uk/ for further information about this topic.

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