Viruses, spyware and other malicious software is a real and growing problem - and just as your business PCs should be protected, so should your home computers. Microsoft Security Essentials offers comprehensive malware protection and automatic updates, and best of all, it’s free.

Your PC must be running genuine Windows to install Microsoft Security Essentials - if you’re not sure, go to the Genuine Microsoft Software site and check by clicking on the ‘Validate Windows’ button.

Download it now - http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Source: Microsoft Small Business

New on our small business website are a couple of great articles on SEO and upgrading to Windows 7; plus, we’ve had a bit of tidy up and introduced a couple of new pages to help you navigate our resources.

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  Why upgrade to Windows 7?  - Dan Simpson, Client Services Manager, P1 Technology Partners, answers the question that’s on everybody’s lips as we near the release of Windows 7 on 22 October.


• Top Five… Ways to increase traffic to your website for free.  Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) - yes you can do it and no, it’s not difficult.


• Business Tools - find the information you need more quickly


• Software Tips & Training - improve your expertise and knowledge


• Guides and downloads - strengthen business insights

Source: Microsoft Small Business

Just come across this story from the FT, published earlier this month. Apparently plans are afoot to establish a retail bank specifically for small and medium-sized businesses struggling to obtain funds.

“The group intends to set up a business based around traditional banking methods, drawing in deposits to cover its lending, rather than relying on more risky funding methods, and maintaining a conservative balance sheet.

The bank plans to attract deposits from customers prepared to save relatively large sums in return for attractive interest rates, with minimum deposits set above £20,000.

It would use the capital to lend to businesses that have been unable to secure funds because of the credit crunch.

Small to medium-sized groups have been hit hard by tightening loan criteria, in spite of government efforts to encourage lending to this sector. The launch also chimes with a government desire to encourage competition in the banking sector.”

It’s likely to take a up to a year before the bank is launched as discussions are still at an early stage – interesting, though. You can read the full story here: New UK bank to focus on smaller businesses.

Source: Microsoft Small Business

Guest post from Emma Jones, Founder of Enterprise Nation and author of ‘Spare Room Start Up - how to start a business from home’.

Last week Enterprise Nation, the home business website, went on a roadtrip. Starting in Scotland, the touring team travelled south to meet and film home-based businesses in what will become a mini-documentary charting the rise in this modern way of working. Whilst out and about, the crew picked up on a few clear trends.

From Scotland to Shropshire

Packing everything into a single week meant we were able to get a very quick overview of what’s happening in the home business sector across the UK. This is what we found:

Now is a great time to start - the mood throughout the week was incredibly upbeat. One moment that will stick in the mind is when Patrick Elliott (CEO of Business Link in London) opened an event with a question to the audience of ‘Do you think this is a good time to start a business?’ - a ripple of 200 voices came from behind and it was a resounding ‘yes’ - throughout the week we met people who are starting up whilst holding down the day job and others who have come out of redundancy to realise their business ambitions. We met a wide cross-section of businesses and there was nothing but positive chat from them all.

Technology means trade - all of the businesses we filmed are making the most of technology, whether it be Stuart Mills www.useyourlocal.com who is applying the web to the pub world, or Malcolm Gallagher www.bizvision.biz who is communicating his business message through online videos; produced cost-effectively from a home studio. Many of the craft businesses are using sites such as Etsy.com and MyEhive.com to sell their products to a national - and international - audience. Technology is clearly broadening the trade and partnering horizons of many a small business.   

Freedom & control - we stopped counting the number of times these words were used in interviews. Having started up, home business owners are finding freedom and flexibility in their working lives and are relishing being in control of their creativity, working environment and earnings.

Ethical - this is a slightly difficult one to put in to words. Every business owner we interviewed is doing something ‘good’ by being in business; whether it be Clare Nicolson www.clarenicolson.com who believes in giving work to the people in her neighbourhood, Emma Henderson www.showpony.co.uk who sources fair trade fabrics from India or Emma Warren www.portfoliodirectors.com who offers time and business experience to a charity. They would not refer to themselves as ‘ethical entrepreneurs’ as such but these business owners are having an impact in many a varied way.

Growth through outsourcing - the adage of ‘do what you do best and outsource the rest’ is being taken seriously by the home businesses we met. Companies are partnering up and work is being outsourced to professionals. In the case of BodieandFou, Karine Kong outsourced the design and build of her website to an expert she’s yet to meet! Technology tools such as Skype, email and project management software means there’s no need to be in the same place but for others, physical networks are important as a place to meet business partners .. but also just to have a social chat!

It was a crammed and fascinating week that shone a light on what is a bright and vibrant business sector. The documentary will be aired for the first time on Home Enterprise Day (Friday 20^th November) when home business owners will be travelling to us!

The home business roadtrip took place during the week commencing 14 September 2009 and was sponsored by Orange.

Source: Microsoft Small Business

Best Website, Combating Worklessness, Customer Focus, Innovation and Unsung Hero were among the awards announced by the NFEA (National Enterprise Network) earlier this week. Winners were chosen by an external judging panel, including Ann Carter Gray, Strategic Partnerships, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and Alex McWhirter, Assistant Director, Business at Yorkshire Forward.

The Best Website award recognises sites that have demonstrated excellence in design, technology and usability; reaching specific target markets and highlighting the effective and attractive use of the web. The award was won by Enterprise First in the South East for http://www.enterprisefirst.co.uk/- which gives visitors a clear view of available services, excellent links to a wide range of support and also displays glowing client references.

The Combating Worklessness award was won by Furness Enterprise, based in Barrow in Furness, whose comprehensive, community-based programme was designed to address specific problems arising out of area-based industrial decline.

Enterprise agency Northern Pinetree Trust, located in Chester Le Street, was presented with the National Enterprise Award for Customer Focus, a category that was looking for examples of good practice in designing, delivering and communicating products and services, to address the distinct requirements of particular customer groups.

You’ll find more details of the winners in each category on the NFEA website.

Source: Microsoft Small Business

Guest post from Cedric Chambaz, Marketing Manager, Microsoft Advertising  

Back in June, Microsoft announced the launch of its new search engine, Bing, and its intention to localise this global experience to the UK consumer needs.

After only three months, the London-based engineers of the Search Technology Center have made great progress, and they are ready to share with marketers the extent of their work. So if you are interested to learn more about Bing and the advertising opportunities available to Small and Medium Businesses, simply come and visit our stand at ad:tech in London Olympia on the 22 and 23 September.  We will be on stand 293, by the entrance.

Here are just a few insights about what to expect from Microsoft at this event:

• Jordi Ribas, General Manager of the European Search technology Centers, will share the Bing vision and provide an update on the progresses made by his London-based engineers to tailor the Bing search experience to the UK market.


• James Grant, video product specialist, will host a workshop on the solutions available to brands which are willing to capitalise on the growing online video consumption. It will also be the opportunity to learn more about the pilot launched by MSN UK to offer free long-form video to British viewers.


• Our stand will also gather a great array of innovative technologies and advertising solutions. You have dreamt of playing around with Surface? One will be waiting there for you. Wanted to explore in-game or mobile advertising, to learn about behavioral targeting or simply to have a refresher on performance networks and search advertising? Our team will be all yours, helping you explore the possibilities of digital marketing.

To access the trade show and a great number of free seminars, simply register for free here: http://www.ad-tech.com/london/adtech_london_pre_reg.aspx?MKT=HOM

Looking forward to seeing you in London Olympia.

Cedric

Source: Microsoft Small Business

Guest post from Emma Jones, Founder of Enterprise Nation and author of ‘Spare Room Start Up - how to start a business from home’.

Home businesses from a range of sectors have reported an increase in turnover and profit as holidaymakers choose the UK as their destination of choice. With the staycation trend set to continue, businesses are preparing to maintain new customers and ensure the sunny times of increased turnover continue.

Results of higher turnover for home businesses came from an Enterprise Nation poll, supported by Business Link. Over 70% of the 230 respondents said their turnover had increased on account of more people holidaying in the UK. The majority (57.1%) also saw an increase in profit, with one in four reporting gains of up to 50%.

Home businesses are benefiting from a staycation trend that looks set to keep on running. According to YouGov* 54% of people plan to take their main holiday at home in 2010, more than double the 26% who said they were doing so this summer. With staycationing set to be more than a one-year wonder, home businesses are preparing for the new opportunities this presents.

Alison Vaughan is considering a new colour in her line of Muksaks; her own invention and a product that allows dog-owners to carry dog waste safely and securely. “With the increase in people holidaying in the UK and taking pets with them, I’ve seen orders rise this summer” says Alison “I’m working on plans for new colours in the range so as well as serving a practical purpose, the Muksak can also be a holidaying fashion item!”

Business Link advises other ways to attract new staycationing customers through incentives and promotions in the form of loyalty cards and competitions, and offering discounts as an effective tool in keeping customer coming back.

Patrick Elliott, Chief Executive of Business Link in London, said:

“Entrepreneurs can take themselves to the next level, setting themselves apart from their competitors by developing tactics to retain new customers. Keeping in touch through e-shots and using creative ways to interact with customers by making the most of social networking tools such as Twitter will all help in making the most of what is a new and growing customer base.”

Businesses are taking note. Over half the home businesses polled are planning on improving their marketing strategies (44%) and 38% said they will be customising their products or services.

The general message seems to be, let’s make hay whilst the sun still shines!

*YouGov poll carried out for The Sunday Times, August 2009

Source: Microsoft Small Business

Recognising that business needs to do all it can to help people during this recession, Microsoft UK has launched a campaign to help 500,000 people into work by 2012.  Through a combination of a new national apprenticeship scheme, targeted skills and employability training and a new job matching service, Microsoft will work with its partners, NGOs and local government to deliver this ambitious target.

Supported by the Work Foundation, spearheaded by Lord Digby Jones and backed by all of the main political parties, the programme will initially offer a range of initiatives focussed around skills and training. Today also marks the national launch of the IT apprenticeship scheme for smaller businesses. Successfully trialled in the Black Country, the aim is to have more than 700 IT apprentices by September 2010 and more than 3,000 over the three year campaign.

Richard Lambert, CBI Director General said: “Britain Works is a great initiative from Microsoft. Digital skills are vital in today’s jobs market and the prospect of helping 500,000 people find their way back into the world of work is to be warmly welcomed”.

People looking to make a change in their lives find out more at www.microsoft.com/uk/britainworks or call the Britain Works Helpline on 0800 111 4341.

Source: Microsoft Small Business

My colleague over in Office Online has just posted a great blog I thought worth sharing with all small businesses working from home and juggling children.

You’ve just got the kids back to school and have a couple of weeks of relative peace and calm before it all kicks off again – homework, GSCE choices, lost PE kits etc etc. So how can Office help you -and- and the other family members - run a smoother, calmer household? Well, for starters, Office templates can make children’s homework a lot easier and more fun, and you can download and customise school year calendars.  Take a look at Office at home: Back to school… the calm before the storm?? for more useful hints on this subject and the think about adding the Office at Work blog is to your favourites list – it really is useful!

Source: Microsoft Small Business

MSN Money is claiming we can all save potentially thousands of pounds if we carry out a few changes in the way we live and work. The first one, which will probably cause a few groans, is to switch our electricity and gas supplier. Although it can be a bit of a pain it’s certainly a lot easier than it was a few years ago – we just need to overcome the inertia factor. Households using the most expensive standard plan in the market are now paying £300 a year more for their energy than those on the cheapest online plan, according to uSwitch. Follow the three golden rules for cheaper energy: move to dual fuel, pay by direct debit and sign up to an online plan.

A second tactic is to stop buying sandwiches, crisps and drinks etc and take a packed lunch instead. Not only is it generally healthier, but you can make significant savings.

For the other 8 tips on saving take a look at the article 10 ways to save thousands of pounds.

Source: Microsoft Small Business