DDU Newsletter for July 2009: Issue 69
Monthly news and events from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's Digital Development Unit...
Included in this edition:
Free event to help you market your website in a recession
Government backed Innovation awards announced, endorsed by a 'Dragon'
Another online lesson in Search Engine Optimisation from leading expert Jan Klin
Help your Business to Thrive Online in a Recession
You are invited to a FREE breakfast event covering the best way to market your business on-line through a recession. With the credit crunch hitting every industry sector, effective marketing of your business has never been more important. This event will arm you with the essential knowledge you need to ensure your business continues to thrive.
Discover why some websites generate sales and leads and why some don’t. You will gain a thorough understanding of Integrated Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Pay per Click Advertising (PPC) and Web Design all explained in laymans terms.
Date: Thursday 30th July 8:30am for 9:00am start, buffet breakfast provided
Venue: Blackburn Enterprise Centre, Furthergate, Blackburn BB1 3HQ
Government backed Innovation Awards
iawards are awards that will recognise and celebrate the best British achievements in science, technology and innovation. They are the first awards of their kind to be backed by the British government, working in partnership with leading entrepreneur James Caan.
There are 13 categories. Businesses and organisations can nominate themselves for an iaward. Entries must specify the British involvement in any innovation - demonstrating that innovative thinking and development came from a British organisation or team, even if commercialisation took place elsewhere.
The closing date for entries is 16 September 2009.
Search Engine Optimisation - Free online lessons
We at the DDU have always emphasised the importance of Search Engine Optimisation in order to have a successful online business. We are delighted to have the opportunity to offer you free valuable SEO information from one of the leaders in this field. Jan Klin has presented a number of our popular events and has kindly agreed to release his online lessons to us each month for us to distribute to you.
"Here’s lesson 3 for the SEO of your site. Probably the most important part of SEO is the keyphrase analysis. Get this right and you will attract the right sorts of visitors to give you more business. It's not about quantity of visitors, it's about quality. It's about ensuring when your potential customers search at Google they end up on your website. Your task is to understand what these keyphrases are and optimise your site to capture them. This lesson will ensure you get it right." Jan Klin, Jan Klin & Associates www.janklin.com
Lesson 3 - Keyphrase Analysis 1
Here's lesson 1 and 2 if you missed them:
Lesson 1 - Essential Pre-requisites >>
Lesson 2 - Google Webmaster central >>
Government's trade credit insurance top-up scheme
Since 1 May 2009, companies who have had their credit insurance cover reduced have been able to purchase six months top-up cover under the £5bn Government Scheme.
In response to requests from business, eligibility for the scheme will be backdated to include suppliers who had their cover reduced since 1 October last year. Previously, the scheme was available to companies who had cover reduced since April this year.
To apply or for further information companies should contact their trade credit insurer.
You can visit the business links website for further details.
Transitional Venture Capital Loan Fund (TVCLF)
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has announced a £15m transitional venture capital & loan fund for businesses in the region, at the Business Finance 09 seminar in Manchester on the 29th June.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA revealed the details in his speech, saying: “I am pleased to be able to announce £15m of new TVCLF funding today to help improve the finance options available to businesses in our region."
Local News for July 2009
Football Directory Scores Online
90 Minutes Ltd has been operating in Blackburn for 5 years as a sports book publishing and internet business which includes Sports Global. The Sport Global business has some 30,000 club and sports trade contacts and recognised that the printed directory is out of date after publication in October each year.
With the support of the Digital Development Unit, 90 minutes Ltd have taken advantage of its unique position by developing an interactive web based directory, initially aimed at the football industry. The new business is branded as footballtradedirectory.com.
Response Trading responds to change
Response Trading Limited was formed in 2003 by Mr Patel, who has many years experience in the design and manufacture of ladies fashion wear. The company sell their products direct to retail and their customers include well known high street retailers Acardia, Alexon, Willis, Anne Harvey and TJ Hughes.
The company was under pressure from the bank to reduce its overdraft facilities and Mr Patel had been examining ways of cutting costs and improving cash collection performance. The company approached the DDU for advice and assistance on ways to streamline their manufacturing process and reduce costs.
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