The AeroDesigns Web Design Blog » Business News http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog Latest news and tips for website and business owners Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:06:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Online Communities & Networking On the Up! http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog/2010/03/online-networking-websites-on-the-up/ http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog/2010/03/online-networking-websites-on-the-up/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:06:48 +0000 Chris Pangburn http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog/?p=89 From internet forums to blogs to Twitter the range of online communication methods has never been greater. The Oxford Internet Survey (OxIs) Report 2009 found that 33% of UK Internet users now take part in online communities or post on discussion forums. This has increased from 16% in 2007, and is bound to continue increasing in the near future. Consequently business and website owners should look to embrace the possibilities that these new communication mediums provide.

Specialist discussion forums can not only provide a wealth of information and advice from a variety of viewpoints, but can also be a medium-term online marketing strategy. By responding to questions you can demonstrate your expertise in your field of business, and as you become part of the community you may start to receive requests for business and referrals. Most forums also allow you to add a ‘signature’ to your posts, which in some cases can benefit your search engine marketing strategy.

Participating in forums should be both ‘give’ and ‘take’ – you put effort into helping others, and hopefully in the process you will also be promoting your website and business.

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]]> http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog/2010/03/online-networking-websites-on-the-up/feed/ 0 UPS Small Business Contest – Win $25,000! http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog/2007/05/ups-small-business-contest-win-25000/ http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog/2007/05/ups-small-business-contest-win-25000/#comments Thu, 10 May 2007 15:15:14 +0000 Chris Pangburn http://www.aerodesigns.co.uk/blog/2007/05/ups-small-business-contest-win-25000/ Is your business innovative and creative, delivering great customer service? If so then why not think about entering a new contest launched by UPS and IBM. As a celebration of UPS’ centennial anniversary, they are offering three prizes of up to $25,000 in cash to small buisnesses that have displayed the most innovation. The contest, named “Out of the Box”, also has a tagline “Does your small business think big?”, which ties into one of yesterday’s posts here that small businesses are the key drivers of innovation.

One of the previous winners, “Money Savvy Generation”, aimed at teaching children the importance of money. Their first product was a ‘Money Savvy Pig’, and now they offer educational material for elementary school students.

You’ve still got until September 2007 to get your entry in so why not give it a go?!

Unfortunately the competition is only open to small businesses who are located in the US, Canada, Singapore, China, the Philippines and Mexico. Shame it’s not open to UK businesses as well! Your business must also have a 2006 turnover of between $250,000 and $10m in order to qualify for entry.

See the UPS website for more details..

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