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The Challenges of Internationalising A Start Up

ABC Staff
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The Challenges of Internationalising A Start Up

Any recently established company has the opportunity to expand globally, if they play their cards right. However, it has to be done properly or you could hurt your chances of being successful. Here are some of the main challenges of expanding globally, and how to overcome them.

Cultural differences

The biggest problem the company may come across is that of cultural differences. You can fail for not taking into account an issue that wouldn’t affect you in your home country but is a big deal in your target market. Ensure you do your research before you expand, and make sure you’re not relying on outdated or stereotypical information.

Expanding for the wrong reason

Expanding your business just because you can is a bad reason to try and do so. So is expanding because there’s little market growth in the country you’re looking at. There needs to be a good reason to try and expand, and a good chance of success. Do your research before you even think about expanding.

Expanding too late

This is understandable, to a degree. You want to be secure in your own business at home before you even think about taking risks abroad. However, leave it too late and you may have missed your chance. The best way to stop this happening is to have a globalization strategy in place right from the start. The more prepared you are, the easier the process will be.

Trying to go it alone

You may have built your business from the ground up on your own, but there are some things you just can’t do alone. If you want to go global, you’re going to need to hire an expert. This is money well spent, as you’ll avoid the pitfalls others have to find.

Risky ventures

Every successful company should analyze the risks it may have in the future and trying to overcome them. Internationalizing your business in the country where already huge companies established their business is a huge risk itself. You have to manage every possible risk you may take.

Tips to make the process smoother

– Research the market: It is the first thing which company has to do before making a decision to expand its business. Learning the target audience, analyzing investments, macroeconomic factors, competitors, risks and making a business plan is necessary for every business company. Also, analyzing how much advertising campaign will cost for your business, SEO consultation and other business costs in the foreign company is crucial.

– Hire foreign language writers for content and advertising: If you’re expanding overseas, you’re going to need content and advertising in the language of the countries you’re expanding into. To do this well, you’re not able to use your advertising campaign for the target audience from the different culture. Companies can hire good advertising agency and a copywriter who can create that content, press releases, make video and image advertising and do it well.

– Keep up on the content marketing scene: No matter what language you’re marketing in, you need to know what’s happening in content marketing, and what the trends are. If you want to improve your skills, try to read some information and check the competitors of your niche in particular country. It’ll help you with the basics, as well as some of the more advanced skills you’ll need.

– Adapt your website and associated text: You’ll need to adapt all the text and design on your current website, for any country you’re hoping to expand to. That means you’ll have to translate it or adapt it to fit their cultures or ideals.

Now you know the challenges, you have the tools in place to deal with them. Get your name out there and expand your business!

Brenda Berg is a professional with over 15 years experience in business management, marketing and entrepreneurship. Consultant and tutor for college students and entrepreneurs at oxessays.com/custom-essay. Self-motivated results driven individual who is encouraged to travel and share gained experience.

 

How to retain the best talent

ABC Staff
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How to retain the best talent

Recruiting employees is just the beginning when it comes to building a quality workforce. For the long term health of your business, it is crucial that employers consider how to retain the key members of the team. STL give a roundup of their 8 top tips on how to avoid losing meaningful staff and keep the assets of the team.

  1. Nurture an employee’s talent and invest in enhancing their current skillset.

Training is arguably the greatest investment that an employer can make in order to show their staff that they are valued within the business. Boosting morale and increasing performance levels, it is proven that workplaces that encourage the development of staff hold a lower employee turnover. Demotivation is a common reason why untrained employees choose to leave a business, often moving on to enhance their skills and stay up to date with the latest happenings of their chosen industry.

  1. Recognise and Reward

It may seem like a no brainer, but employees appreciate being recognised and rewarded for good performances and key achievements. A simple ‘thank you’ can make a world of difference to an employee who may feel that they are not valued.

Unsurprisingly, pay rises can play an instrumental role in retaining staff. A simple bonus scheme that is easily understandable can really work to motivate staff and give a reason for them to strive to meet targets.

  1. Ensure that employees know exactly what their role entails

Employees often hold a wide range of responsibilities, and they can be unsure of the tasks that they have to perform on a daily basis. It is crucial that employees are aware of exactly what is expected of them. If they are unsure of their role within the business it can be impossible for them to perform to the set standard. This will have a major effect on morale and demotivate a team, causing them to seek another position.

  1. Listen up!

Employees often stay within a company for years if they feel that their voice is being heard. Providing a setting and atmosphere where people feel comfortable enough to voice their opinions, positive or negative, not only makes them feel valued but gives the employer the opportunity to continually improve.

  1. Promote from within

Giving employees a clear path to career progression ensures that they see a future within your business and stay loyal. From an employer’s perspective, it is also a cost effective approach and holds the benefit of not having to train a person that has been appointed externally.

  1. Ask Questions

It is common practice to conduct exit interviews however, it is also important to gain insight into why long standing employees have chosen to stay within the businesses. Asking questions such as, ‘what are your non negotiables?’, ‘what would you alter?’ and ‘why have you chosen to stay’? can give you a really good idea of what you need to do more of and even your USPs as an employer.

  1. Create a work/life balance

It is great that employees are committed and willing to work that little bit extra. However, burn out can cause an incredible amount of stress and even cause employees to underperform in the long run. Whilst it may not be practicable for employees to work from home on a regular basis, it may be worth offering those that tend to voluntarily work longer hours’ flexi-time, giving them the opportunity to catch up on their personal errands and attend work in the best frame of mind.

  1. Share the Vision

People like to know that they are making a difference to their team and are considered an asset. Sharing your company’s overall vision and objectives gives the opportunity for them to see exactly where they fit in and the difference that they are making.

How Hollywood Could Be a Part of Your Financial Future

ABC Staff
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How Hollywood Could Be a Part of Your Financial Future

Many people spend a lot of time thinking about how they could turn their savings into money that will go to work for them and come back with interest. You can play the markets, invest in property, or just try to live very frugally in the hope that what you do without now will make the future more comfortable. These traditional methods are tried and tested if you follow sound financial advice and keep it safe, but they hardly get the pulse racing. So what if there was another more exciting way to see your money grow?

 

There is, and the answer could lie in the Hollywood hills. The UK film industry is one route that investors can try to tap into in order to reach the bright lights of big returns. This is an industry which weathered the recession of 2008-9 by gaining 3.5% and it continues to generate big returns today. And the global numbers are absolutely monstrous with filmed entertainment revenue predicted to reach $104.6bn by 2019. There is clearly a lot of money out there and smart investors could get in on the action.

 

How it Works

 

The first thing to understand is that this an investment opportunity that will take a while for your initial outlay to bear any fruit. The production of a film can take around 5 years so you’ll have to be patient and this is definitely not the route to take if you are looking for a quick return on your investment.

 

One slightly faster option may be to invest in a television series. The production process is generally faster and with a new wave of excellent TV shows from all over the world going on to have success in many different markets, this option could also be profitable

 

In both cases the minimum threshold for investment will be around £10,000.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Investing in Film/TV Production

 

The biggest potential advantage is that you are going to make a lot of money if you invest in a production that goes on to have a lot of success. This is particularly true if you opt for an independent production where overheads are generally lower. What independent productions will lack, however,  is the marketing budget of bigger productions. The returns may be greater, but so will the potential for failure.

 

Another potential advantage is that your film may not necessarily need to be a box office hit to make money. DVD sales, television rights, and merchandise tie-ins are all a potential source of income from the film.

 

Another big advantage is that investors benefit from a number of tax breaks on their investment. For example, they can claim 30% tax relief and pay no capital gains tax on any profits.

 

For those who like to see their names up in lights, an advantage that will stoke your ego is that you could well see your name as part of the credits and you may even get to go to the premiere to see this for the first time.

 

Disadvantages are the slow return on investment as already mentioned. The very real possibility that your film might not be a box office smash. Not to mention the scenario where the film never gets released at all.

 

Is this Really an Accessible Market?

 

Investing in film or TV production is an avenue that investors are taking more and more thanks to the various brokers and programs available.

 

“It’s not as complicated as you would think” said Charlie Wood of Warrior Film Promotions – one of the UK’s leading Motion Picture Investment Brokers. “We work with leading film and production studios to raise funds in a similar way to a mutual fund. We pool smaller investments from a range of investors, to essentially create an investment fund that the studios can use to finance their projects.”

 

 

As with all investments, there is undoubtedly an element of risk in film production, but this has definitely got to be one of the most intriguing ways to go about building up a nice little nest egg.

Beware of this Council Tax Refund Email Scam

Sam Allcock
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0
Beware of this Council Tax Refund Email Scam

With the digital age being susceptible to many scams, it can be difficult to know which emails that you receive are genuine.

There has recently been a new string of scam emails that are being circulated and if you fall victim to it, it could lead to you losing your life savings.

The scam comes as hackers are attempting to find smarter ways to trick people out of their money. They’re posing as HMRC and encouraging people to fill in their financial details online after saying that they’re eligible for a council tax refund. However, the email isn’t sent by an official HMRC email address and in most cases, the people aren’t eligible for refunds.

Victims are told that they’ve been entered into the wrong tax bracket when paying their contributions and that they’re entitled to a payment of around £7,000. Scammers then retrieve the banking details after the unaware customer is lead to believe that they need to enter their banking information in order to receive the money. In fact, their bank accounts are open to being drained and it could cost them thousands.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) are urging customers to check the address in which the emails are sent from claiming to be your local council. This can be done by using this tool on the Government website.

If in doubt about the emails that you receive, this tool is able to highlight the email addresses used by local councils. Remember that HMRC will never send you an email or text in order to issue a tax rebate; you will always receive a letter through the post.

Often, these emails contain links to what you may think is a page on the Government or HMRC website. However, opening these links means that your information could be hacked through unwillingly downloading malicious software and you may be redirected to a replica of the official website.

If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud, notify your bank immediately in order to block future withdrawals. You should then report the details of the email or fraudulent phone call to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk in order for them to investigate.

PRINCE2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK – THEN AND NOW

ABC Staff
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PRINCE2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK – THEN AND NOW

PRINCE2 project management framework is recognised throughout the world for its ability to help deliver many successful projects. 2017 marks the year of the first major update to this framework since 2009. A lot is going to change, and we’re interested to find out how much has changed not just from the 2009 update, but since PRINCE2 was born in 1996.

The Origins Of PRINCE2
While PRINCE2 itself wasn’t released until 1996, its origins date back to 1975. The British government called for some sort of framework to help with project management, as they weren’t having a lot of success. Along came something called PROMPT, which was designed to make computer projects more manageable. Further along the line, in 1989, a variation of PROMPT was born, called PRINCE. It was then released for public use in 1990.

Fast forward to 1996, and the first version of PRINCE2 came about. A committee of project managers got together and decided on what was best practices for project management were. They used this, and the existing framework of PRINCE, to form PRINCE2.

PRINCE2 1996
When PRINCE2 first came around it was designed to be a project management framework for use across multiple industries. The idea was to make this framework suitable for every single project, regardless of size. It moved on from being a framework solely focused on IT projects, which is what PRINCE originally was.

PRINCE2 2009
In 2009, PRINCE2 underwent its first proper update. The main focus of this update was to simplify the framework and make it easier for people to customise it to their own project needs. It also birthed the seven core principles of PRINCE2. This update made the framework so much lighter than it had originally been.

Between the 2009 update and the upcoming 2017 update, PRINCE2’s ownership changed hands. In 2013, it became the property of AXELOS Ltd.

Now, this new update is coming along to make significant changes to the framework. The focus is firmly on scalability and the ability to be more flexible. This update looks to make the framework easier for people to use for any project they’re managing. There’s also far more emphasis on tailoring and project managers are encouraged to use things that work for them, and neglect things that won’t. It’s brought more guidance to the framework, with tips and hints on how to apply the principles and themes to your product. Along with this, it’s also changing two examinations for PRINCE2 certificates; Foundation and Practitioner.

The Evolution Of PRINCE2
Having looked at the history of PRINCE2, you can see how much it has evolved. The first ever version was designed solely for use with IT projects. It was a very large framework that needed to be adapted by project managers for their chosen industries. Then, the original became PRINCE2, and there’s been a focus on scaling things down and making the framework easier to use for everyone ever since.

Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl – The World’s Most Expensive Records

ABC Staff
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Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl – The World’s Most Expensive Records

Are you a Beatles aficionado or a Sex Pistols maniac? Do you have old Bowie vinyls and Classical recordings tucked away? If you do, you’re probably not inclined to part with your collection – but you might change your mind when you see the prices they go for.

A new infographic from MrGamez shows the most expensive record prices on the market today.

The top five include: The Sex Pistols, The Beatles and Paul McCartney.

1. God Save The Queen – The Sex Pistols – £8,600.00

2. Please Please Me – The Beatles – £6,766.67

3. Introducing… The Beatles – £6,157.13

4. Bach / Mozart : Violin Concertos – Gioconda De Vito / Rafael Kubelik – £4,999.00

5. Ram – Paul McCartney – £4,104.75.

There are a further 20 records listed on the infographic below.

If you have a stash of records up in the loft, then why not pay it a visit. It may just pay for your next holiday or a conservatory on your house.

How to Get the Best Loan for Your Needs

ABC Staff
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How to Get the Best Loan for Your Needs

The US economy may well be entering a period of monetary tightening and increased dollar strength. However, what happens on Wall Street does not necessarily filter to down to Main Street. The unemployment rate is currently 4.7%, and inflation is rapidly rising towards the 2% objective set by the Fed. Other US economic indicators paint a picture of an economy moving towards a recovery and higher interest rates. Nonetheless, jobs remain scarce and opportunities for investment require a little digging. For many people, the only way to build an asset portfolio is through credit facilities.

Tips for Applying for Personal Loans

A recent report was published stating that most American households do not have $500 in cash available for an emergency. This means that most American households are using credit cards to pay for their exigencies. Credit card debt is one of the biggest drivers of personal debt, and it often creates a situation where people find it difficult to turn things around. Fortunately, personal loans are a viable solution for this dilemma. These personal loans do not typically require upfront collateral, and this means that the lender has no guarantee that the loan will be repaid. This typically results in a higher interest rate than mortgages or auto loans. Regardless, personal loans are extremely popular in the US and elsewhere, and here are some tips on how to go about being approved for one.

  • What type of loan is required?

A loan is a loan right? Wrong. Personal loans vary from secured to unsecured. A secured loan will use your fixed assets, vehicles, or machinery as collateral. This means that if you default on the loan, your possessions can be requisitioned. A more popular option for personal loans are unsecured loans. No collateral is required for these loans, and it presents a greater risk to the lender, not to the borrower. The downside for the borrower is that it comes at a higher interest rate, and nonpayment can result in judgments, and a negative impact on the user’s credit score.

  • What do you qualify for?

The loan approval process is contingent upon many factors, a person’s credit score being the most critical. However, there are many other factors that come into play. These include your employment history, criminal background check, length of tenancy at current residence, court judgments, liens and other factors and so forth. It’s entirely possible to receive a personal loan with a credit score of 640+ or less than that. But, the lower the credit score, the worse the terms vis-à-vis interest repayments.

  • What lenders should you go to?

There are bad credit loan lenders, banks, financial institutions, and various other potential lenders out there in the market. Your credit score is a useful determinant of what you qualify for, and who is most likely to approve your loan.

  • What documents do you need to apply for a personal loan?

Once the necessary research has been conducted, the paperwork needs to be gathered. The paperwork typically includes paychecks/pay stubs, rental agreement or title deed, letters from creditors or employers etc. Bank statements are also a good idea as they show your debits and credits over time. The loan application form needs to be correctly filled out. Incomplete applications are summarily rejected, and will not reflect positively on the borrower. The most important T & C for personal loans is associated with the interest rates and repayment conditions. Flexible lenders, low interest rates and tailored solutions are best.

 

The Clear Link Between Career Choice and TV Shows

ABC Staff
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The Clear Link Between Career Choice and TV Shows

Who doesn’t want to spend a quiet weekend at home, curled up in front of the tube catching up on an episode (or entire season) of a favourite show? It’s a pastime we all engage in, for better or worse, but a recent study reveals it has an impact on far more than how we spend a few hours each week. Fletchers Solicitors, a leading law firm in the UK, published Careers on the Box, which highlighted a growing trend of making career decisions based on the job ambitions of beloved television characters.

The report found that one in five Brits let the leading characters on television shows influence career decisions. Among younger viewers – those who fall into the Millennial category – that statistic nearly doubles to 39%. Making a choice to attend law school, pursue a medical degree, or focus efforts in the field of journalism and writing can be clearly linked back to the most loved shows like Law and Order and Judge Rinder, Grey’s Anatomy, and Sex and the City. Part of the draw to these programs goes beyond the career itself, as characters are often found in deeply personal relationships and emotional conflicts of which millions of viewers can easily relate.

CEO of Fletchers Solicitors, Ed Fletcher, believes that the connection between career ambitions and television shows is closely tied to the work that the characters do for the greater good in each and every episode. It is easy to fall in love with leading roles like Jack McCoy of Law and Order or Rachel Zane of Suits because of their equally high profile lives and human struggles. These relatable characters are seen as part of the rise in law university applications and attendance throughout the UK in recent years.

The television industry is a booming business, with millions of viewers tuning in each day as a way to relax, connect, or simply escape the stressful world around them. In the years to come, it will be interesting to see how the leading roles in popular shows shift to meet the evolving needs of a widely diverse population. Show creators who understand the impact their programs have on the career choices of younger viewers may include an array of occupations in future shows, like engineers or entrepreneurs. As it stands now, the draw to legal, medical, and journalism careers remains strong based on what we watch.

 

Featured image: Aaron Escobar [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

New £1 Coin Set to Bring Parking Chaos in Britain

Sam Allcock
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New £1 Coin Set to Bring Parking Chaos in Britain

On Tuesday, the new £1 coin is set to enter circulation in the UK and whilst it’s an exciting moment for many currency collectors, it’s set to induce chaos when it comes to Britain’s parking meters.

The coin is set to replace the traditional “round pound” that has been used for the past 30 years and there’s been a huge overhaul in the design. The new £1 coin has been released in an attempt to combat the counterfeit coins. The Royal Mint have said that approximately one in 30 of the current coins are counterfeit, and that they’re easy to replicate. The new coin has been dubbed as the “most secure in the world”.

Instead of the circular shape, the new £1 coin will have 12 edges – something that many parking meters, vending machines and other pay machine won’t accept.

Around a quarter of the nation’s pay and display machines are not expected to be ready for the introduction on March 28th, and drivers are being warned to carry the old pound coin as a back-up. The existing £1 coin will be accepted until 15 October this year.

The British Parking Association explained that parking spots in rural areas are the most unprepared for the change as many machines are too old to be modified. It’s estimated that the cost of modifying the machines could be as much as £50 million.

The Automatic Vending Association (AVA) said: “In 2011, the new 5p and 10p coins were introduced at a cost to the industry of £28.9 million and it is estimated that the upgrades required for the new £1 coin will cost approximately £32 million.”

The new coin change also means that millions of supermarket trolleys will need to be changed in order to accept the new shape, although many big-name brands have already completed this.

Slot machines and laundrette facilities will also need updating in order to accept the new £1 coin, proving that it’s causing chaos all over Britain.

National Living Wage Rises to £7.50 from £7.20

Sam Allcock
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National Living Wage Rises to £7.50 from £7.20

Millions of people are set to receive an annual pay rise of £585 once the new National Living Wage comes into play this April.

The news was announced last year in the chancellor’s Autumn statement, as well as the Budget that happened earlier this month. The raise is in place in a bid to reach George Osborne’s vision of reaching the minimum wage to £9 by 2020 and give a huge boost to the economy.

However, the raise in national living wages is only going to benefit those over the age of 25. The wages for people beneath this age are as follows (commencing on 1 April 2017):

  • Apprentice: £3.50
  • Under 18: £4.05
  • 18-20: £5.60
  • 21-24: £7.05
  • 25+: £7.50

This means that if you should be expecting to see a small rise in your monthly wages when the changes are put into place next month. Even just a 35p pay rise from £7.20 to £7.50 per hour will bag you an extra £585 per year!

Whilst these changes are ready to be rolled out next month, there’s a possibility that the minimum living wage could rise even further. Many experts have expressed that they do not find the current payouts to be satisfactory, and some argue that the minimum wage should be at least £2 higher in areas in and around London.

Director of the Living Wage Foundation, Katherine Smith, commented:

“”The reality, however, is that a fifth of UK workers aren’t paid enough to live on. There’s still a gap between the government minimum and our real Living Wage of £8.45 in the UK and £9.75 in London, which is based on what families need to earn to meet everyday costs.”

On the start date of the wage rises, employers will need to ensure that they’re paying staff the correct rates. As an employee, you should check that you’re receiving the minimum wage for your age group by checking your payslip at the end of April.

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