PUBLISHED BY: headred
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28 September 2015
How to Get More Clients as a Local Tradesman

How to Get More Clients as a Local Tradesman

Business on the rise in 2015With the economy still stabilising and foreign businesses threatening to hustle British jobs, it’s more important than ever for local tradespeople to win over as many clients as possible. Of course, it’s not quite as simple as setting up shop and watching the work roll in. Building up a steady client base requires time, dedication and a whole lot of effort. If you’re willing to commit, it’s 100% possible! So how can you drum up more clients as a local tradesman? Read on for our top tips that are guaranteed to get business booming, whether you specialise in roofing, plumbing, electrics or any other profession.

Advertise locally

Want to attract local business? Advertise locally! If you’re a small scale business big scale advertising ploys simply aren’t going to be worth your while. Instead look at purchasing advertising space in the local community newspaper, tacking up flyers on supermarket billboards, handing out business cards and doing door to door leaflet drops.

Provide excellent service

Repeat custom and word of mouth promotion are two of the most valuable business strategies a tradie can employ. And the best thing about them is that they’re both dead easy – as long as you provide excellent service that makes your customers want to return or recommend you to family and friends.

Join database sites

By signing up with database websites such as Trust a Trader you’ll be ensuring that you expand your target customer base as much as possible. Plus you’ll be visible to the plethora of Brits that now use the internet to track down goods and services.

Offer special deals

Brits love a good deal, especially when it’s advertised as a ‘locals only’ special. Make your fellow city, town or borough dwellers feel as VIP as possible by offering them discounts.

Play on the ‘Buy British’ card

The ‘Buy British’ trend is hugely popular and by shouting out about the fact that you’re 100% UK owned and operated, you’ll appeal to the hordes of Brits who want to support local businesses.

Cover your business with insurance

By covering your business with a comprehensive trades insurance policy you’ll be able to offer your customers the total peace of mind that their order is 100% protected. Don’t forget to advertise the fact that you’re insured so new customers choose you over the competition.

Ready to get business rolling in? Follow these tips and you’ll soon notice a huge difference.

 

 

PUBLISHED BY: headred
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25 September 2015
Could a New App Cut Your Car Insurance Premium?

Could a New App Cut Your Car Insurance Premium?

Across the UK Brits rely on motor vehicles to get them from A to B. However unfortunately for motorist bank accounts, petrol and car maintenance aren’t the only costs associated with owning a vehicle. Car insurance is an absolute must though it definitely doesn’t come cheap. What’s more, responsible drivers are often forced to pay the same premiums as their reckless counterparts… until now.

Thanks to the launch of a brand new smartphone app that actively monitors driving behaviour, motorists could now enjoy the opportunity to lower their premiums if they receive a high enough score.

Technology takes to the roads

Developed by Octo Telematics, Octo U uses GPS technology to build a driver risk profile based on a handful of factors. Acceleration, braking and cornering are all taken into account to generate a score which can be used to convince insurers a driver is eligible for a low risk policy. Not measuring up? No worries! The app continuously updates profiles and when a high enough score is achieved drivers can seek out a personalised discounted motor insurance quote.

Safer roads for all

For the UK as a whole the app is a fantastic opportunity to transform the reckless driving behaviours that are responsible for so many accidents, injuries and fatalities. Road safety charity Brake is an avid supporter of the app and maintains that technology such as Octo U is the key to making British roads as safe as possible.

Dr Tom Fisher of Brake explains, “Changing driver behaviour is crucial in reducing collisions and helping all road users to make safer choices at the wheel; in-vehicle technology is an invaluable tool in informing and improving driver behaviour.”

Fabio Sbianchi, CEO of Octo Telematics also stresses that the app is a great opportunity for insurers to cash in on data regarding their policy holders. “By downloading the app, motorists are buying into the concept of telematics at an entry-level. This doesn’t replace black box technology, but opens the door for insurers to introduce a wider range of policies and services based on a clearer picture of the type of driver they are,” he says.

Want in on the action? Octo U is available to download for free from the Apple App Store for iPhone and the Google Play and Amazon Kindle stores for Android devices.

PUBLISHED BY: headred
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21 September 2015
Most Common Reasons of a Breakdown

Most Common Reasons of a Breakdown

Picture the scene: you’re on the road heading to a friend’s wedding, a daughter’s birthday, a crucial business meeting or some other must-not-miss event. Suddenly, your engine begins to splutter and before you know it, you’ve pulled up at the side of the road with a car that won’t start and a party, meeting or other event that you’re definitely going to miss.

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PUBLISHED BY: headred
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18 September 2015
Do I Need PI Insurance?

Do I Need PI Insurance?

When founding your own start-up, you’ll have a thousand things to think about, from cementing a business plan to building your first website. But one of the most important things to carefully research at this time is PI insurance – or professional indemnity insurance, as it’s known. This type of insurance can protect professionals from crippling compensation claims, and can even be the difference between success and failure in the formative years of any start-up.

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PUBLISHED BY: headred
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14 September 2015
Only 15% of Pet Owners Have Insurance

Only 15% of Pet Owners Have Insurance

The Pet Food Manufacturers Association’s renowned ‘Pet Population’ report has found that in 2014, around 13 million, or 46% of UK households had a pet – whether it’s a fish, a lizard or a conventional cat or dog. The current pet population of the UK stands at around 65million – with dogs and cats making up 16.9million of the grand total.

But worryingly, just 25% of dogs and 15% of cats have pet insurance policies to protect them. These crucial policies cover vet’s fees and bills if your furry friend ever gets sick, but millions of animal-loving households are without these policies.

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PUBLISHED BY: headred
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11 September 2015
Cosmetic Surgery Nightmare for 47 Year Old Mother

Cosmetic Surgery Nightmare for 47 Year Old Mother

Tales of medical negligence in the cosmetic surgery industry are not hard to come by – but here at Peacock Insurance we recently heard of a stand-out case that has dramatically decreased a woman’s quality of life and left her without the ability to claim compensation.

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PUBLISHED BY: headred
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7 September 2015
Tax Hike Set to Push up Car Insurance Premiums

Tax Hike Set to Push up Car Insurance Premiums

Car insurance premiums are set to rise over the next few months, after the Chancellor George Osborne announced an increase in Insurance Premium Tax (IPT). The tax hike will see IPT go from 6% to 9.5% in November, and it applies to pet, mobile, contents, building and car insurance – with 19.6 million people affected by the motor insurance increase in particular.

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PUBLISHED BY: headred
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4 September 2015
Landlords Prepare for Influx of Students

Landlords Prepare for Influx of Students

A-level results were announced just a few weeks ago, and by now thousands of students all over the country will have confirmed where they’re going to university come September.

For landlords in student-dominated towns all over the country, that means the traditional yearly changeover, with a new intake of student tenants that have been let loose from mum and dad and are living alone for the first time. How can landlords make sure their properties are prepare for the influx of students, and what steps can they take to ensure a successful tenancy all-round?

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PUBLISHED BY: headred
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31 August 2015
Landlords to Help Crackdown on Illegal Immigration

Landlords to Help Crackdown on Illegal Immigration

New measures to crack down on illegal immigration in the UK could mean that landlords will be expected to evict tenants that fail asylum applications or lose the right to live in the UK.

Landlords will be given the right to end tenancies without having to worry about obtaining a court order, but only when a tenant has lost the right to live in the UK. Landlords also face having to check a migrant’s status before they agree to a lease – those who don’t, or those who knowingly let properties to illegal immigrants, could face up to five years in prison.

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PUBLISHED BY: headred
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28 August 2015
The Car Insurance Age Debate

The Car Insurance Age Debate

A debate has once more been ignited in the world of car insurance, after actress Sheila Hancock contested an insurance premium price hike that she claimed was prejudiced against older drivers.

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