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Understand your competitors
How to identify your competitors, find out more about them and then use this information to improve your business.
What you need to know about your competitors
Examine how your competitors do business, what they offer and how they treat their customers.
Learn about customers’ needs from competitors
How learning about a customer's current supplier can help you, if you identify why the customer buys from a rival supplier you can work out how to better them.
Understand your customers' needs
Why understanding your customers' needs is crucial to the success of your business, no matter how good your offering is, customers must want it.
10 CSR activity ideas for positive social impact
Examples of meaningful CSR initiatives to help you encourage teamwork, build reputation, and contribute positively to the community.
Create a knowledge management strategy
How to develop a knowledge management strategy, and use it to transfer, share and use knowledge to grow your business.
Sharing knowledge in your business
How to share knowledge effectively and efficiently between different people and areas in your business.
Knowledge management systems
Overview of the systems you can use to manage knowledge in a business - eg data mining, analytical and reporting tools.
Knowledge management and your business (video)
Watch this short video to find out how to implement knowledge management in business to gain a competitive edge.
The eCommerce Directive and the UK
What you need to do now that the eCommerce Directive no longer applies to the UK.
Working with Northern Ireland Trading Standards Service
How Trading Standards can help your business comply with the law when a customer has lodged a complaint about your business or you need general advice.
Slow or stop the growth of your business
Identify when to slow down or stop business growth and how to stop it if you are encountering difficulties
Fair trading for businesses selling goods or services
An overview of the law relating to fair trading and how this may affect your business - including pricing and product description.
Marketing on a tight budget
How to get the most out of a small or limited marketing budget using cost-effective marketing methods such as Public Relations and online marketing.
Review and evaluate your current marketing spend
Factors you should consider when analysing your marketing budget such as last year’s customer spend figures and changes in the market.
How to attract, win and keep your customers
Advice on getting more business from your existing customers and on finding new customers to reach the most profitable groups.
How to stick to your marketing budget
Ideas for marketing objectives you could set for your business, and advice on keeping your aims on track to stay within your budget.
What is affiliate marketing?
What affiliate marketing is and how your business can set it up and benefit from the potential boost to website traffic and brand reach.
Digital marketing on a budget
Cost-effective ways to promote your business using email, social networking or a blog to reach your target audience with marketing messages.
Public relations on a budget
Advice on how to get the best out of public relations (PR) with limited funds by making your business stand out, networking and press releases.