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How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

Business rates: "a levy that hurts small firms"

31 August 2021

The Federation of Small Businesses is calling on the government to support small businesses by significantly reforming business rates - which it has described as "regressive and outdated".

Small firms should not be penalised with a higher business rates bill for greening their premises or improving staff wellbeing with new amenities, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has told ministers.

In a letter to the government ahead of the autumn review of the business rates system, FSB national chair Mike Cherry said: "This is a levy that hurts small firms trying to do the right thing: if you put solar panels on the roof to aid your transition to net zero, or install ventilation to support the wellbeing of your staff, the Valuation Office Agency will advise your local authority that you should be paying more in business rates.

"As we look to aid the small business community's transition to net zero, and employee safety and wellbeing as we come out from the pandemic, this simply cannot be the right approach to taxation."

The FSB is urging policymakers to:

  • Stop penalising investments aimed at improving sustainability, such as solar panels, insulation, ventilation, recycling facilities and bike sheds - improvements that typically increase property values and raise rates bills;
  • Support high street recovery by increasing the threshold for 100% small business rates relief to £25,000;
  • Exempt all childcare providers from business rates to bring support across England in line with that provided in Wales and Scotland;
  • Remove a quirk in the system that means that firms operating across two premises are charged rates even if its total valuation should see it qualify for relief.

Mike Cherry said: "The government is absolutely right to overhaul a business rates system which often lets online retailers operating from remote warehouses off the hook whilst punishing small businesses that serve as community hubs" and he said that "we should be aiming to take more small firms out of the system altogether".

Cherry added: "Renewed efforts to ensure that rates bills are based on fair valuations are welcome and much needed - the more we can move to rolling up-to-date valuations, the more we can ensure this is a fair system fit for the digital age."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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