Small Business News

Small business news from Catch22 Marketing is for small businesses, entrepreneurs and webaholics. Includes "Video of the Week", website launches, latest products, a daily Guardian Business news feed and anything we think that's of value to small businesses. Enjoy!

Video of the Month!

Every week we will be featuring the most interesting, thought provoking or helpful videos right here. So bookmark this page and check back every week!

This Month: Fun Theory! Without being trite - Life and business can be very serious affairs, but sometimes in the quest for brand awareness a company can actually do something good. Just look at how happy the the people become in this video. Inspiring...

Quick thanks to product design consultancy - Realise Design for sending it to us.

May 2009 Internet World Show Review. I went with 3 specific goals in mind; to find an affordable content management system for a client, to find a Google Adwords management tool for a friend's company and to see what the competition are up to in the world of seo web design. The result was a resounding failure - and at the same time gave me massive encouragement.

The reason for the negative outcome comes down to the fact that these shows aren't about supporting business they are simply a revenue vehicle. The subject is almost irrelevent. The only companies that can afford to attend are the big boys, who are only looking to do business with the big boys. No use to the hundreds and thousands of brilliant small businesses looking for useful tools and services to make their ideas easier to achieve. As an example the Content Management Systems I could find had an entry level of £20,000 or "Fifteen at a push" one sales rep informed me. I thought of saying "Great, can I pay cash?" Add on web design, development, SEO, and other costs...and it immediately rules out a LOT of business owners.

It became clear that even the excellent looking seminar roster was merely included as a feature to increase attendance rates - again to justify the high cost of stand space. It's worth noting the quality of information and services on offer was actually very, very good - some of the systems and business technology was incredibly impressive - it just came with a massive price tag. This wasn't a show room for people wanting to invest in a good quality first car this was for executives wanting to upgrade their BMWs.

It all gave me massive encouragement as I believe cost shouldn't be such a massive barrier to the best information on developing a website, search engine optimisation, Google Adwords and online marketing. I think there is plenty of space for small businesses to help small businesses get off the ground, grow and be successful.

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As Featured in The Evening Standard!

Catch22 Marketing gets to be featured among London's most inspired, helpful and innovative companies offering services for time-poor Londoners (see article). Our experience certainly reflects the article - people more than ever need extra help in achieving their to do list - especially if that's starting a business. We can put business ideas into perspective very quickly, revealing true online potential, time scales and the all important costs. See web design services

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Peter Jones Business Builder
Peter Jones has launched an online business support tool. As a lot of the businesses we help are start-ups I'm happy to refer people towards it as it looks like a genuinely excellent service, even if I have just helped Peter get a little bit richer! Peter Jones Business Builder

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Google Loves Catch22 Marketing!
Trying to rank for seo and web design related search terms is borderline crazy - as you're effectively going up against every other seo expert, specialist and agency in the world. So it brings a great amount of pride as well as just a little kudos when you hit the top of Google. People have currently been finding us on Google for "website start up guide", "seo services london", "seo web design", "ppc company london". The proof is in the pudding as they say and the time we've spent baking has started to pay off!

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"Sure it looks nice, but...."
Maybe we did it for good karma or for a sense of altruism? Cynics might suggest it's just a way for people to realise they need a website redesign. Make up your own mind by checking out our free website tester

Checkout Google Checkout!
We recently integrated the new Google Checkout system for london driving courses and customers love it! As one of the very first companies to integrate it we were delighted to see the system being used from day 1. Proof (if ever needed) people trust the Google brand.

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If In Doubt Buy Bricks or Should You?
We've teamed up with Infinite Mortgages to launch a new site for people looking for a remortgage quote. With the market more volatile than ever a website where you can compare mortgages and providers from a qualified advisor is more important than ever. We certainly hope so. As the economy starts to wobble there may be more and more looking for bad credit remortgages ...

Is it time to Blackle Instead of Google?
Blackle is a custom (slightly cut down) version of Google developed by Aussie company Heap Media. Their claim is that a black screen takes slightly less energy to power than a white one, and as so many people around the world use Google as their homepage - if everybody converted to a black Google we could save a massive amount of energy! See what you think. Check out www.Blackle.com

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