we are AsOne

Intracom VAT Registry Scam

joelrush — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:05 +0000

Starting a new business?

More and more people are incorporating their own businesses with companies house online when previously it was the role of your accountant. If you register your business at your own address (not your accountant’s as is the usual practice) you might find some interesting scam letters through your door.

If you receive a very convincing letter from Intracom VAT Registry (see link for sample http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/vat-scam.pdf) shred it!

If you would like to help protect other businesses share the information at your business networks and share this post on Facebook, retweet on Tritter or simply write your own.

Intracom VAT Registry Scam

joelrush — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:00:06 +0000

Starting a new business?

If you receive a very convincing letter from Intracom VAT registry (see link for sample http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/vat-scam.pdf) shred it!

If you would like to help protect other businesses share the information at your business networks and share this post on Facebook, retweet on Tritter or simply write your own.

Domain scam from codero.com?

joelrush — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:52:00 +0000

If you receive an email claiming to be an “important notice” regarding your domain name renewal, a domain service notice or a search engine submission notice don’t be fooled. Read the small print at the bottom. It is a solicitation (phishing) email designed to make domain owners panic and sign up to something they don’t need.

Do not reply to them just add them to your junk list.

If you are an AsOne customer and are unsure about any renewal notices you receive for domains, hosting, search engine marketing or anything internet related please ask us. Fill in a support request at www.asone.co.uk/support and we will look into it for you.

Google Search, Plus Your World

asoneben — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:57:36 +0000

Google have now published a new initiative called “Search, Plus Your World”, which aims to bring you more personalised search results. Now, when you search for anything in particular, you have the option to include related data from your Google+ profile as well as those privately shared with you.

The change will also provide auto complete results from your contacts, so if you begin typing their name into a search field, Google will automatically recommend their Google+ profile.

These changes have now come into practice, and you should be able to see two small icons on the top right of your search page that lets you toggle between two types of results – a globe (which offers the standard results) and a human icon – which will display related data form Google+.

But is this a good thing, or a bad thing?

The simple answer is, if you are a Google user then this is fantastic news- bad if you are a direct competitor. If you have a Google+ profile and depending on the various circles you are a part of, you have the chance to gain personal, unrivalled information that can only be beneficial when you make a search. However, if you are a rival to Google, in what is now becoming a social media world, then it’s not so good – just as Twitter found out!

Five Reasons to Use Social Media for Business

asoneben — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:55:16 +0000

Social Media is where you want to be when it comes to helping your business expand, as it is a priceless asset in the marketing world. Social media channels like Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin attract so much continual attention from Internet users, it has become a phenomenal and powerful venue for advertisers to create interest and traffic. Here are five reasons to use social media for business.

Help Increased Search Engine Rankings: Social media profiles frequently rank highly with major search engines. Using brand names and keywords in your profiles can help you to generate traffic for your social media sites and company homepage.
Generate Site Traffic: By updating regularly on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn with posts that link back to your site, you can create additional traffic to your site.
Find New Customers Through a Company Profile: Your company profile is a great opportunity for you to post regular updates on your activities, but also about important news and trends in your industry. It’s critical to post regularly if you want to increase your followers or fans and convert them to potential leads.
Brand Monitoring: Having a social media presence allows you to better understand what current and potential customers are saying about your product or services.
Networking: Through social media you can quickly build a network of core supporters, which is essential for any up and coming business to keep growing and expanding. It is that group of loyal followers that will keep bringing your company business and referring it to others if they are pleased with what they are finding.

Following on from this, here is a little bit of ‘New News’ - Introducing Tokkster, a new type of chat room.

Tokkster is a new type of Internet chat room, which enables users to chat with other people over the same webpage. Pretty Unique.

All you need to do is sign up with a Tokkster account (and yes, it’s free). And that’s it. Once signed up, you browse websites like usual. What you will notice is a Tokkster Status bar in which you are able to see other peoples faces that are browsing the same page at the same time. Of course, if you don’t feel like chatting, either minimize the app (to become invisible) or don’t log in.

Only available in Internet Explorer version 7.0 and above (other version coming out soon).

Revitalise your business for 2012

asoneben — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:39:00 +0000

Assess your website: Websites are a fantastic way in drumming up business, and with the continuous ways of being able to advertise, it’s a great opportunity to obtain customers. But like anything, first impressions count, so make sure your website is impactful and accurately represents your business.It doesn’t matter what product or service you are selling, if someone takes a disliking to it – it will be hard to retrieve them again. There are cost effective services that will design/redesign and help you manage your website throughout the year. Make sure you have a website service that allows you to make edits yourself, like AsOne’s CMS or have someone do it for you. Finally, update your website content throughout the year to keep it current to visitors and also refresh the search engine friendliness. Search engines like new content and come back often if your website is updated frequently. All of these activities will ensure that your business is running efficiently in 2012.

Access Social Media: Social media is a powerful way to gain new visibility by connecting with people that are interested in your products or services. With the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Google+ at your fingertips, you can advertise all about your business. This will not only help get your business recognised, but the more traffic generated through social media, the sooner your website can earn a higher ranking among search engines.

Reward your loyal customers: Long-term customers are customers that keep coming back because they enjoy your product or service. Make sure you take care of these people with discounts and cost savers. You can advertise exclusive specials on your company website or Facebook page, or through email communications like AsOne’s eShot eMail marketing system.

Do you plan on Google+ing?

joelrush — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:33:09 +0000

Google+ (Google Plus), Googles answer to Facebook, may not have the massive membership numbers that Facebook now enjoys, but it has just recorded its strongest-month ever and, according to Experian Hitwise, should reach 400million users by the end of the year.

Hitwise tweeted: “Google+ total US visits reach more than 49 million in Dec-11, biggest month to date & up 55% compared to Nov-11 ow.ly/i/oT3R,”

they further tweeted that Google+ visits have increased in all but one week over the last 5 weeks. As usual figures are base in the US but are a good indicator of the global uptake in english speaking countries.

Analysts expect that Google+ will reach about 400 million users by the end of 2012, thats half the current number of Facebook users but it will have taken Google+ just over a year to reach compared to Facebook taking 4 years to reach 60 million. Of course, Social networking is now in the public conscience and many will try a new network out or simply stamp their mark on it.

Google integrates its Android smartphones with Google+ so it is now even easier for users to access Google+. With sales of Android devices of more than 700,000 per day the numbers should soon increase.

What does this mean for business owners? It is one more place to advertise and engage with potential or existing customers. Have you set up your Google+ Business Page? Talk to AsOne about how you can make steps to leverage the potential of Google+, Facebook and other social networking services.

Merry Christmas & Happy new year from the AsOne team,...

joelrush — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:08:51 +0000

Merry Christmas & Happy new year from the AsOne team, Seasons Tweetings

AsOne Christmas Party

traceyrush — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:24:42 +0000

Look out Birdcage Manchester, we’re off on our works do tonight! Dinner and dancing, just like the good olde days!

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joelrush — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:42:00 +0000

Do you Check-in?

joelrush — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Do you check in on Foursquare, Facebook or another location-based app at least once a week? If so, you’re among just 2% of the adult population, according to a new US report.

Forrester Research surveyed 37,000 people with mobile phones and discovered that 70% no only didn’t regularly use location based check-in apps but didn’t even know what they were. On the bright side thats better than last years 84%. From the 30% this year who are aware of the Geo-Social applications only a tiny 5% are classed as active and only 2% check-in at least once a week.

If “checking-in” is not mainstream, what is the point of using it as a marketing tool?

Forrester found that American adult location-based service app users are twice as likely to share information about products or services they are considering purchasing or have purchased. Its those tiny minority who are the powerful influencers and early adopters who can also start trends and generate hype for brand other will later follow.

Promoting Check-Ins for your business can improve Checkouts!

Selling online for an additional revenue stream

joelrush — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:05:06 +0000

Think, what can you do in your sleep to earn you money?

Well if you have a ‘real world’ shop, if you make something, import something or in any way have items you can pop in the post; you could be selling online while you lie in your bed.

AsOne can build a fully featured eCommerce solution integrated into your existing social network for under £4000? Be up and running in weeks and capitalising on eCommerce instead of struggling on the high street. You can even spread the cost over 10 months interest free.

Ideal if you are already trading in a shop, by mail order or on a market. Expand your customer base by taking your products online.

Contact the innovative award winning web design team at AsOne for more information.

If you don’t know what to do about Social Networking or you need help to market your brand digitally you need to check out AsOne’s exclusive Innovation Club from only £39/month you can have your domains, hosting and regular guidance on your marketing and results.

Commerce brought to you by the letters E, M & S

joelrush — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:40:00 +0000

To complete the Commerce week today is all about the letter ‘S’ as in sCommerce. We have talked about eCommerce (electronic commerce) and mCommerce (mobile commerce, also electronic) and no it is the turn of sCommerce or social commerce.

It is to be expected that sCommerce is becoming more popular as the social media platforms it is driven by gain influence. Bit is sCommerce simply getting your visitors to ‘Like’ your shop? Far from it sCommerce is powered by engagement.

Many businesses are failing to capitalise on this rapidly rising trend. Adding little more than adding a ‘Like’ button or setting up a Twitter feed. This is a great first step and gets you ready for the future but it is not a recipe for long-term success in sCommerce, which is likely to be one of the biggest generators of revenue for retailers over the next few years, but perhaps not just now. Even with the might of Facebook’s 800 million users their commerce project (shall we call it fCommerce?) was not successful. Most online retailers struggle to leverage social activities to increase their turnover.

Where newspaper advertising could be, and sometimes had to be, quite generic in its appeal and broad in its approach social commerce will thrive when retailers engage with their users and learn how to offer specific deals and products to the right people. Review sites are sketchy at the best of times. Who knows if the 1-star review was from a competitor and the 5-star reviews were written by the owner? Connection with people you trust and learning from their buying behaviour and brand choices will help retailers to discover people with influence who can be enticed into their product range and may become evangilists, spreading the word amongst those they influence. This is engagement, not with everyone but with those who can help you achieve your goals.

Unilever, the brand giant, have a clever approach. They invite users of social networks such as Facebook to ‘help them generate ideas and make their product better’. They offer points for engagement and even the chance of winning cash for ideas. This helps to make many feel like they are being heard and will help to generate loyalty. Almost as if they were ‘socialising’ with people who both talk and listen. Who would have thought social networking could mimic the real world! :)

sCommerce is not so much a new way of buying products but rather a way for retailers to market their goods and services and listen to feedback and the needs of their customers in an unobtrusive way, quickly and easily.

Have you got your social engagement started? Can you engage with your customers? Do you activly search out conversation about your brand and show the world you want to improve? If not its time to start, if you have started its time to get better!

AsOne can help setup and manage your social network and with our exclusive Innovation Club we can help to guide you through the ever shifting techniques to capitalise on this exciting medium.

Did you know AsOne can build a fully featured eCommerce solution integrated into your social network for under £4000? Be up and running in weeks and capitalising on eCommerce instead of struggling on the high street. You can even spread the cost over 10 months interest free.

Have you used your phone to get a better deal?

joelrush — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:37:00 +0000

Have you ever used your smartphone to check prices before making a purchase? Its quick and easy and ensures you are getting the best price. Because of this ‘quick check’ mCommerce is becoming big news.

While checking prices it is easy simply complete the purchase on your phone. In the Christmas shopping rush you might even complete the process before you get served. Its part of the ‘try in store - buy online’ culture that is shifting sales from the high street to the internet. And you don’t even have to carry your bags home!

A shift in consumer behaviour is happening, Not only are we more likely to find out what other retailers are charging online and instore using our smartphones and tablets before we go shopping, we are also very likely to use our smartphones and other mobile devices while we are actually in store to check prices of competitor retailers?

Usablenet, the company who power so many US retail sites, states that mobile mobile traffic up 60% with iOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc.) being used by over half of mobile surfers. Statistics confirmed by AsOne’s eMail marketing statistics which also show over 50% of emails sent through our eShot system are opened on Apple devices with a tiny 5% opened on android and other smartphones. Apple users not only use their devices more smartly but are also more likely to purchase making iOS users a vital sector to target for digital marketing.

Shoppers also use their mobiles to read reviews on the products they might buy to help with the decision making process. Shoppers can now be directed to easy purchasing options while in the store of a competitor using GEO location, whats more, the shopper can be directed to other stores on the high street and tempted out of the shop they are in using the same location aware services.

Mobile promotions are an untapped market for many retailers and could be used to encourage more real world footfall. Its not just the ‘daily deal’ sites where you have to tempt in large number with massive discounts. Using services such as Facebook and Foursquare, AsOne can offer simple deals that can be the tipping point for mobile users to take a few more steps to your store when they are out shopping.

Shops should embrues the mobile technology and remind shoppers to ‘check in’ which will advertise to all their friends the are shopping there and reward them with vouchers or other offers.

Have you used your phone to get a better deal?

Online Sales Soar while High Street Suffers

joelrush — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:14:16 +0000

Over the last few weeks the news has been occupied with the downturn in sales for high street stores. The Arcadia Group, which runs many of the well known high street chains such as Topshop, Wallis, BhS, Burtons, Evans and Dorothy Perkins, has announced that it will close 250 to 260 stores over the next few years when their leases expire, mostly on the UK’s high streets.

Retailers are suffering several fronts, with increased operation costs, VAT rises and fuel and energy costs restricting household budgets.

Arcadia owner Philip Green said in a recent interview: “We’ve got 450 or 460 stores where leases expire in the next three years and … we will close more than half of those on lease expiry” He added that most closures would be on the UK’s high streets while it protects its presence on retail parks and shopping centres.

This is not a new concept. The high street was the hub of consumer shopping just like newspapers used to be the place the nation got their news. Shoppers are moving to more convenient locations (often with free parking) just like they are getting their news online or digitally rather than from the printed page. Retailers must follow the crowed to where they are, and a growth sector is online through eCommerce.

Green’s prediction come after Arcadia reported a loss for the year, and like many retailers, said like-for-like sales for the same period last year are down 4.4%, although online sales are up 21%. Online sales are soaring while high street follows printed publishing and suffers constant declines.

If you are thinking of selling your products online, there has never been a better time. AsOne can get you up and running in weeks and you too can begin to see sale increase rather than continue to decline on the high street.

Contact AsOne today on 0161 368 9100 or email here@asone.co.uk.

Ofcom recognises AsOne's Contribution to Radio Website

joelrush — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:32:39 +0000

The following is taken from the Latest Ofcom report for Community radio and reports the positive impact the AsOne designed and built Website and iPhone app has had on the station as well as how it compares favourably to the more wealthy commercial stations.

The launch of the new Tameside Radio website has been instrumental in driving traffic to the site. The site contains news and presenter information but also an events feature where organisers can post their own event onto the website, the site is then a source of information for presenters when constructing local links and community notice guides. Tameside Radio is, according to Google, the second most searched news source for the area on the internet. In conjunction with our website designers we have developed our own Iphone App. It has all the functionality of commercial radio apps but with an added benefit. It allows the user to access the events page of the website to see what local events are taking place and when. - Tameside Radio, Tameside

The full report which features more about Tameside Radio can be found here: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

British Baker's Groupon Mistake

joelrush — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:39:50 +0000

A Reading (UK) cake baker potentially lost up to £25,500 from its profits this year because of a poorly conceived collaboration with a discount voucher website Groupon.

Need a Cake in Woodley is run by Rachel Brown and has made a loss on over 100,000 cupcakes they made to fulfil a Groupon voucher deal. The US based Groupon is a ‘crowd deal’ website offering vouchers to subscribers on anything from restaurant meals to spa treatments. The deals are only available if a minimum number of people sign up. And the minimum number did sign up to buy 12 custom cupcakes for only £6.50, a massive 75% discount on the normal price of £26. The problem was there was no upper limit on how many vouchers could be offered.

8,500 users signed up to buy the cupcakes which meant the bakery lost between £2.50 and £3 on every batch it sold.

The owner had to employ 25 agency staff at a cost of £12,500 to help the 8-stron team with demand and fund the extra distribution costs.

Steve Consalvez, partner and spokesperson for Need a Cake, said: “The business has been going for 25 years and following the Groupon discount offer, the company has realised it isn’t the way to go forward as it has wiped out profits for this year. However, it will be continuing to build on its successes in 2012.”

A stark lesson in the importance of good deal planning and also the power of internet marketing. Perhaps Need a Cake expected like so many to use the offer as a marketing tool and was prepared to sell a few boxes of cupcakes at break even or below cost but the demand was far more then they expected. Its a small business version of the infamous Hoover flights offer from the early ’90s and a warning to other business to look at the business merits of any offers conceived.

For safer, more reliable business marketing advice talk to us at AsOne. With over 10 years experience and over 300 business going from strength to strength AsOne can guide you through the digital marketing minefield.

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asoneben — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:51:17 +0000

"”Money is like muck - not good unless it be spread” well said by Francis Bacon Go on -..."

traceyrush — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:08:06 +0000

“

”Money is like muck - not good unless it be spread” well said by Francis Bacon

Go on - show your support to Children In need http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/donate/

”

Have you thought about having an online Shop?

asoneben — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:19:00 +0000

Contemporary Clutter had that very question when they talked to us here at AsOne Design.

Taking the decision to have an ecommerce website opens up a whole new market place, a great opportunity to increase your reach whatever your product.

We are pleased to announce that newly created Contemporary Clutter’s website has been launched this week enabling customers to start buying their contemporary furniture online.

Contemporary Clutter is an online home ware retailer, aiming to provide some of the most innovative, fun and functional homeware furniture.

In addition to providing online sales of a retail nature Contemporary Clutter offer a group buying platform with frequently posted deals for the group buying experience.

Whether you are looking for designer chairs, an elegant footstool, dining table or sideboard Contemporary Clutter will service your needs, with over 25 years experience selling furniture.

View the Contemporary Clutter website.

http://www.contemporaryclutter.co.uk