Jump in... Your FREE Local Newsletter Let’s Start a Review Coup I promise this is not another article about why you should collect reviews. I’m hoping that I have banged that drum so many times you now dream about it! Companies that actively and consistently collect reviews get more business, fact! However, I do know, some businesses struggle to get them. Not because they don’t have any happy customers, but because they haven’t been able to get a process in place that works for them. The truth is, it generally doesn’t cross people’s minds to leave a review unless they’re asked. It’s not because they don’t think you’re great at what you do, it’s just they have other things to think about. If You Don’t Ask You Don’t Get If you know your customer is happy with what you’ve done for them and you don’t ask for a review, they probably won’t give you one, fact! A simple ‘Would you mind giving us a review?’ is often all you need to do. Make it Easy We’re all busy, we all have priorities. Leaving a review is probably not one of them so make it as easy as possible for them. Give them a card with the url of your thebestof feature or your website on, attach an e card to their invoice, or even put the e card on Facebook with the link underneath. It makes it simple for both getting reviews and ensuring they’re verified. Display Your Reviews Offline Having framed thank you cards and reviews on your walls not only proves to new customers what a great company you are, it also shows how important feedback is to you. People follow people. They are more likely to want to leave a review if other people already have. Have a Reviews Widget on Your Homepage Reviews widgets are a brilliant way to collect reviews. At thebestof, we have one you can hang on your home page (top right is the best place as that’s where the eye falls) that not only displays the reviews you’ve collected on both our site and yours, but people can add a review directly into it. Simples! Train and Incentivise your Staff You may be utterly focused on feedback, but if you haven’t trained your staff to be, plenty of potential reviews are walking out the door. If you need any help with collecting reviews just give us a call. You’ll soon have a bank of glowing reviews to help all those potential customers choose you. The People Behind the Businesses Our New Achievers Club Dates for your Diary Pg.2 Pg.3 Pg.7 The Voice Of Sudbury Mar 2015 Bringing trusted busines se s and the com munity together
Transcript
Jump in...Your FREE Local Newsletter
Let’s Start a Review CoupI promise this is not another article about why you should collect reviews. I’m hoping that I have banged that drum so many times you now dream about it! Companies that actively and consistently collect reviews get more business, fact!
However, I do know, some businesses struggle to get them. Not because they don’t have any happy customers, but because they haven’t been able to get a process in place that works for them.
The truth is, it generally doesn’t cross people’s minds to leave a review unless they’re asked. It’s not because they don’t think you’re great at what you do, it’s just they have other things to think about.
If You Don’t Ask You Don’t GetIf you know your customer is happy with what you’ve done for them and you don’t ask for a review, they probably won’t give you one, fact! A simple ‘Would you mind giving us a review?’ is often all you need to do.
Make it EasyWe’re all busy, we all have priorities. Leaving a review is probably not one of them so make it as easy as possible for them. Give them a card with the url of your thebestof feature or your website on, attach an e card
to their invoice, or even put the e card on Facebook with the link underneath. It makes it simple for both getting reviews and ensuring they’re verified.
Display Your Reviews OfflineHaving framed thank you cards and reviews on your walls not only proves to new customers what a great company you are, it also shows how important feedback is to you. People follow people. They are more likely to want to leave a review if other people already have.
Have a Reviews Widget on Your HomepageReviews widgets are a brilliant way to collect reviews. At thebestof, we have one you can hang on your home page (top right is the best place as that’s where the eye falls) that not only displays the reviews you’ve collected on both our site and yours, but people can add a review directly into it. Simples!
Train and Incentivise your StaffYou may be utterly focused on feedback, but if you haven’t trained your staff to be, plenty of potential reviews are walking out the door.If you need any help with collecting reviews just give us a call. You’ll soon have a bank of glowing reviews to help all those potential customers choose you.
2 | The Voice of Sudbury - Mar 2015 | thebestof.co.uk/sudbury
ThePeople
Behind theBusiness
The People Behind the Business Meet Matthew Wilkinson from Moore Green Chartered Accountants
Q: What initially brought you to Sudbury, and why did you decide to setup business here?
A: My wife’s first role after University was in Suffolk and so we moved from London out here, I was still able to commute in to London to complete my Articles and when those were finished we decided to stay in Suffolk/North Essex. I think with hindsight we were just very lucky to end up here, there was no plan, we just followed work. Now we find we have the best of both worlds, living in the countryside but with the city a short train ride or car journey away.Q: How can an accountancy firm like yours differentiate itself from the competition and build a strong reputation?
By treating customers like people. We realise that we are providing a service and whilst we provide a technically excellent service we realise that it is important that it is done in the way our
customers want and appreciate that service. That means listening to their requirements, their hopes and fears and tailoring our services to meet those needs on the customers terms and in ways they understand. Really our work is as much about communication, with the client, with tax authorities and government agencies as much as it is about adding and processing numbers.Q: Why do you think local businesses should partner with independent local firms such as yours, rather than big brand national companies?
A: That is easy to answer – it is because we can offer all the technical expertise necessary but can deliver it in a much more customer oriented and cost effective way. We have local expertise and understanding and all our customers are important to us, big and small. I hear people regularly complaining that they do not have a consistent contact point or are not treated as an important or “big enough” customer by a national organisation.Can a good accountant really help a small business grow?
Of course, if you do not know what the numbers are telling you then how can you possibly hope to succeed?
How do you spend your own spare time locally?
I spend most of my spare time with my family; going to football practice or matches with my son, my daughter is very interested in acting and theatre so we try and get to some shows each year with her. We try to go swimming as a family once a week and I have recently started cycling. Any professional or personal ambitions for 2015?
As an accountant you are constantly staying up to date with current accountancy and tax law and developing and growing your expertise so on the professional side most of my ambitions are in this area. On the personal side, there are a few jobs that need doing around the house that I have been putting off for a while. It would be nice to get some of them finally finished!
Have you made great progress with thebestof? We’d love to hear about your success and share your story here
thebestof.co.uk/sudbury | The Voice of Sudbury - Mar 2015 | 3
of the monthCall now for 10% off wholesale price tyresNo matter what sort of tyre you
Our New Achievers ClubAwarding outstanding businesses locally…
Daisy Chain CaterersIt’s coming up to Cally Marsh’s first year in business, launching Daisy Chain Catering in February 2015 and Cally has reason to feel very proud. In under a year Daisy Chain Caterers has had to move premises to accommodate the extra business the company has brought in. The extra space her Yorley barns kitchen has given her has allowed Cally to concentrate on her wedding catering business, as well as branching out to corporate lunches and special occasions.
If you would like to discuss the catering of a special event with Cally, please give her a call on 07930 726270
Trevor Burch Photography
Trevor Burch has been passionate about photography for as long as he can remember and now he’s turning that passion and creative talent into a professional career. Shortly before Christmas, Trevor was commissioned by Wiles Contractors to photograph their wide range of vehicles The experience was an exciting one for Trevor, who fortunately doesn’t have a fear of heights, as he needed to be 20 foot off the ground, on a crane to take the photos.
If you’re looking for a professional photographer with creative flair to take photos of your products, large or small, please get in touch with Trevor on 07880 726964
ACHIEVERS
4 | The Voice of Sudbury - Mar 2015 | thebestof.co.uk/sudbury
Working Well
We are looking for...
Want to shine in our next newsletter? Share your successes and let us know what bits of thebestof are working for you!
Suffolk Market Events Since Suffolk Market Events took Lavenham Farmers’ Market over in 2008 it has transformed from a dying rural market into the ‘Best Market in Suffolk’ and finalist in the ‘Countryside Alliance Awards’. Just three years ago Sudbury Farmers’ Market was losing money and about to close, but today it has queues of loyal customers filling their baskets. These success stories have also been joined by Nayland Farmers’ Market since its re-launch last November.
This proud local enterprise provides shopping experiences unrivalled by supermarkets, with food provenance guaranteed. From field-to-fork you can be certain where your food comes from if you shop at Suffolk Market Events. Nothing travels more than 30 miles to Sudbury, Lavenham or Nayland, and all goods are guaranteed to be produced by the person selling them. It’s credentials like these that have helped Suffolk Market Events gain hard-earned recognition and a reputation for excellence.
The fantastic range of produce includes: locally grown vegetables; free range meats from local, award-winning farmers; homemade jams and chutneys; fresh game shot
in season in the Stour Valley; apple juice from family orchards in Essex; homemade pâtés, terrines and chocolate cakes; honey from Suffolk hives; Sutton Hoo chicken; award-winning cordials from local fruit; real ale brewed on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border; and locally foraged mushrooms, samphire and crayfish.
In rural areas there are fewer employment opportunities, so Farmers’ Markets provide small scale producers with low-cost platforms from which their businesses will grow. Pitch fees are minimal and great pride is taken in the development of start-up ventures from market stalls to national or international businesses.
Suffolk Market Events founder Justine Paul says: “I have a passion for local food, local producers and for supporting my community. However, working alone can be quite isolating so sometimes you really need to bounce ideas around and hear fresh angles. That’s why being a member of the Best of Sudbury has proven so helpful.
“Penny Wilby has natural zest for life; she is a ball of energy and a kaleidoscope of ideas. She’s been instrumental in collecting and uploading reviews from one hundred happy customers of our Farmers’ Markets. Reviews are vital for any aspiring business, but sometimes these priceless scribbles get lost in translation. Thanks to the Best of Sudbury every review is uploaded and publicised. For Suffolk Market Events this means we’re now top of the leader board in the Loved & Local Awards!
“Best of Sudbury is also a fantastic ‘PR department in the background’. As the owner of a small business I just don’t have the time to do all the things I need to do. But Penny will turn a Facebook entry into a blog post, upload market details onto her website, and ensure that our news gets Tweeted and slapped on every social media corkboard within her grasp.
“This background PR work by ‘the bestof’ really brings my small business into the foreground.”
At thebestof Sudbury we are on the lookout for other great members. This month we are looking for...
If you know a business that fits the bill, please contact the team:
• Estate Agents • Beauty Salons • Indian Restaurants
thebestof.co.uk/sudbury | The Voice of Sudbury - Mar 2015 | 5
Out of Office, Not Out of BusinessYou’re finally taking that well earned break. You’ve completed everything on your list and as you prepare to leave work for the last time before you’re off to warmer climes, you’ll probably put on your ‘Out of Office’ autoreply.It will probably say something like this:
I will be out of the office from (Starting date) until (End date). If you need immediate assistance please contact (Contact Person).
Great! Now you can leave work, safe in the knowledge your customers and potential customers will be looked after. Or will they?
Email is a wonderful thing. It’s so convenient! If we suddenly think about something we need at midnight, we can fire an email off and know it will be dealt with the next working day. Except of course, if we get an ‘Out of Office’.
I want assistance, not immediate assistance
Let’s face it, if we’ve sent an email at midnight, immediate assistance is not what we want or need.What we want is for someone to come back to us with answers. Well, if that email is sitting in your inbox for a week while you’re finally getting the chance to relax, assistance is not what we’re going to get. And if we’re a potential customer, likely as not, by the time you’re back, we’ve taken our business elsewhere.
As business owners, we all invest a lot of time and money in gaining new customers. It’s awful to think
that after all that effort; a simple email message can undo all that hard work.
One Simple Rule – ‘Copy to…’
All the email providers I have ever come across have lots of bells and whistles to help us organise our inbox.Whether it filters specific email addresses into files, or colour codes them according to who they’ve come from, we can set up our inbox exactly how we want it. What you may not know is that it can also send a copy of every email you receive to another email address.
Just setting up that one simple rule, copying each email that comes in to someone who can deal with enquiries, ensures that you don’t miss out on any potential business.
So, next time you manage to squeeze in a little time off, before you put on your out of office, make sure you’re copying all emails received to someone who can deal with the enquiries. Your potential customers will be wowed at the service and your bank balance and sanity will thank you for it!
Out ofOffice
6 | The Voice of Sudbury - Mar 2015 | thebestof.co.uk/sudbury
Meet The Members We’re consistently uncovering hidden gems. Say a big hello to our local heroes.
Give them a call and say hello!
Wardale WilliamsSudbury’s longest established independent opticians, providing a full range of optometric services, including full eye examinations, the latest retinal examination technology, plus a comprehensive contact lens care plan and fitting service. A wide selection of frames are always in stock to suit all tastes and budgets. With complete spectacles starting at £39 with an NHS Voucher
t: 01787 372492
TaxAssist Accountants in Sudbury & ColchesterTaxAssist Accountants provide a wide range of services to individuals, start-ups, entrepreneurs, limited companies, partnerships, contractors and landlords. The extensive breadth of services available includes: bookkeeping, tax returns, year-end accounts, VAT returns, payroll, cash flow projections, tax investigations, business plans, employment law, debt recovery, pensions advice and much more.
t: 01787 699 141
Shear GeniusShear Genius is an exciting contemporary hairdressing salon in the heart Sudbury. Its dynamic team of expert stylists believe that hair is an asset, expressing style and beauty ranging from classic cuts to the very latest trends. Affordable luxury
t: 01787 311477
Want to be featured on our Meet The Members page? Call us on 01787 211 100 and let us know!
Polyspiral Grahic DesignPolyspiral Graphic Design is a full-service professional graphic design company with 15 years of experience. Who specialise in professional logo design, custom websites and a wide range of printed graphic design services. Efficient and tenatious, Abbie Thoms goes that extra mile for her clients, ensuring their corporate design compliments their company’s brand.
t: 020 8133 5872
thebestof.co.uk/sudbury | The Voice of Sudbury - Mar 2015 | 7
Community Partners For people who go out of their way for the community.
Dates For Your Diary Some important dates coming up in the calendar!
LeeStock is scouting for local festival supporters!LeeStock Music Festival is a vibrant local charity event that has been run for the last eight years to raise money for the Willow Foundation.
Now a pivotal event on the local calendar, LeeStock was established in memory of Sudbury man Lee Dunford who, before he died aged just 21, was helped by Willow to
visit London and record an album with his band. Willow is a national charity that provides special days for seriously ill young adults between the ages of 16 and 40.
The festival originally started in local Glemsford Village Hall, but due to its growth it moved first to a pub car park and then to the grounds of AFC Sudbury, before settling in its permanent home at Melford Hall; a Tudor National Trust property.
LeeStock’s line-up has always featured local bands playing alongside chart-topping acts - like Wheatus, Dodgy, Toploader and the Lightning Seeds. The event is also opened each year by the winner of a ‘Battle of the Bands’ held at the Sudbury Ormiston Academy.
This year LeeStock will be held on 23 - 24 May at Melford Hall, starring Scouting For Girls as the main Saturday headliner. Famous for such hits as ‘She’s So Lovely’, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’ and ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, this ever-popular band is set to draw a record crowd to the festival. The arena will again host a bar, food stalls and a family area offering face painting, stories, bouncy castles and more.
The festival is organised by six friends including three brothers from Long Melford. Together they organise the event in their spare time and take no money from the festival. All profits go to Willow and local organisations. Most years the festival line-up features Lee’s ex-band mates. Lee’s parents Rob and Rose Dunford are also involved every year, and help organise peripheral events held to support the festival, including race nights, a football match and a ball. The annual football match sees LeeStock United (Lee’s mates and festival friends) compete against Melford Razors (a now defunct Sunday team reunited for the game) for the Lee Dunford Memorial Cup. In past years it has welcomed ex-pros including Ruel Fox and Perry Groves. This year’s match kicks off at 3pm on 16 May at Cornard United’s ground.
LeeStock has a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere with picnic blankets and fold-up chairs welcome and encouraged. Attendees range from small children to grandparents. Tickets are realistically priced from just £12 (plus booking fee) and are on sale now from the White Horse Sudbury, Stag and Doe jewellers or online from www.leestock.org.
Every area at LeeStock, including main stage and programme, offers excellent sponsorship opportunities for local companies, providing a terrific chance to support a growing local charity event while putting your brand in front of an eclectic family audience that actively supports local ventures.
To date LeeStock has raised over £50,000 for the Willow Foundation.
A Vintage Affair:Hedingham Castle. Juniper Flowers presents a family day out filled with all the glamour of a vintage era; Big Band music, fashion and hair, vintage cars and lots lots more.
Did you know...That thebestof Sudbury hosts regular monthly networking evenings at The Quay Theatre, Sudbury on the second Monday of the month. The meeting starts at 5.30pm and runs for a couple of hours.Please email: [email protected]
if you’re interested in attending
At thebestof Sudbury, I’m always on the look out for the best local businesses recommended by local people and local businesses.
If you know a great local company, from your local restaurant to your favourite gym, I would love to know, so that I can help raise their profile and give them the recognition they deserve.
Bringing trusted businesses and the community together
/thebestofsudbury
Call 01787 211 100www.thebestof.co.uk/sudbury
@bestofsudbury
At a glanceAt thebestof we go out of our way to provide our members with all the marketing tools that will help them grow locally.
We pride ourselves on being committed and dedicated in working with only thebest local businesses that are recommended by local people.
Focussing on 4 key areas, thebestof has a proven track record of ensuring our members get;
Local Exposure Connections Marketing support Brand Building
We do this through 17 core elements including our reviews facility, our consumer app, our dedicated feature pages for each member and through social media, not forgetting direct email campaigns to our ever growing local database - plus much much more!
Everything we do is about bespoke, results driven marketing, ensuring that our members get what they need, at the right time for them and the good news is that we can tailor everything we do, to your local budget.
We really do what we say we will do;
Bringing trusted businesses and the community together
