All You Need to Know To Dominate Social Media

Social media

Are you looking to improve your marketing with social media? Here is an overview of the key strategies you should embrace as soon as possible.

Yes, you can boost your marketing result by building up a reputation online. But to get the best returns, you shouldn’t ask “How does social media help?” but rather “What can my brand offer to its followers?”

Establish authority

If you seriously want to improve on your marketing with social media, your core strategy must be to establish authority in your field or niche. All your interactions across all of your social media channels should be geared towards this end.

You want to make your readers feel like you’re the most reliable, dynamic and interesting source of information out there. Once you follow this road, you will be surprised at how much better you will sell. If there’s a secret to online sales, it’s to give on trying to push sales and just focus on teaching what you know.

Read: 4 Benefits of Social Media Marketing For Small Businesses

Telegraphic posting

Writing for social media is unlike writing for a blog or traditional media. Here, most of your readers will be people skimming their feed looking for something interesting. Every time you write a post, you must think of ways to make it magnetic on a glance.

To achieve this, you will have to hone the art of telegraphic writing, to break through the short attention spans of your potential audience. Do not assume people will bother to read a highly inspired but extensive piece of writing you pull out of the blue – they likely won’t. But if you publish that content in your blog and tease virtual passers-by into reading it… that’s another story.

Pictures and Videos

While it’s wise to mix up your posts and publish text only updates mixed with image only, videos, gifs and every combination in between – you should know that images have a huge potential to draw attention.

For this reason, you should put a lot of effort into sourcing compelling pictures related to your niche, as these have higher potential for attracting attention than plain text. Usually, you will get best results by combining a compelling few sentence with an alluring image.

Analyse performance

So you want to boost your marketing result? Then you must get in the habit of continually scrutinizing your past efforts. Facebook and other social media websites avail a powerful suite of analytics tools that give you detailed information regarding everything you have posted in the past and how people responded to each post.

By continually reviewing this information, you will get access to powerful insights that will help you fine tune your campaigns and keep posting more of what your readers like.

Keep conversation going

If you’re still not sure how does social media help your business, then you’re either not doing it or you’re not doing it right. You should think of your social media channels not as an opportunity to sell, but as an opportunity to keep a conversation going with your audience while building up prospects who are interested in your message. To achieve this kind of positioning, no comment should go unanswered, even if it’s something as simple as “thanks for chiming in!”.

Understand social media rankings

Many business owners still get a little confused over the elusive meaning of “going viral”, when it’s actually a straightforward process. When a piece of information has “gone viral”, it simply means that it proved to be highly engaging from the moment it was published: most people who saw that post commented on it, liked it and shared it. This signals the social network that post in particular must be interesting, so the algorithms automatically spread it further.

Now, you can’t possibly expect all your posts to go viral. But by understanding how the process works, you can implement strategies to boost how far your content goes. In simple terms, it’s all about getting your content interacted with. The higher the rate of interactions over the number of views, the more a piece of content will spread. So anything you can do to get people to write comments, hit the “like”buttons or share a piece of content, the better your prospects of social media success.

This is a guest post from Livety - a young startup whose purpose is to help students from all around the world find the best and most suitable accommodation in the UK.

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7 Things To Remember When Shipping Heavy Or Large Items

Tips For Shipping Heavy & Large Items

Are you in need of a courier to ship a large or heavy item?

At NI Parcels, we specialise in shipping parcels of all shapes and sizes, but we are particularly competitive when it comes to shipping larger or heavier items over 5kg. So (not to toot our own horn or anything) we just happen to know a thing or two about shipping large and heavy items all across the globe.

Whether you're a small business or an individual, if you need to send an item that is larger or bulkier than normal, there are a few things you need to consider to ensure that your item arrives at its destination quickly and safely.

7 Things To Remember When Shipping Large Or Heavy Items

1. Be accurate.

Sending larger and heavier items will be inevitably more costly, so the last thing you want is to face any unpleasant extra charges. That's why it's so important to be as accurate as possible when booking your large parcel deliver with the courier. If the item is even slightly over-sized or overweight than what you originally described, you may face these charges or the courier could return the package back to the sender.

2. Secure packaging.

As with an item of any size, it's important to consider the many stages of transit that the item will go through on its journey to the destination. The reality is that the item will be sorted by machines, before being transported alongside dozens of other packages.

At NI Parcels, we always urge our customers to package their items in strong, double-walled cardboard boxes - this is particularly important for large or heavy items. A double-walled cardboard box is sturdy and durable, and much less likely to collapse, tear or open under pressure.

3. Compensation cover.

Whether your item is big or small, it's always a good idea to ensure it is protected from damage or loss. Otherwise, you may not be eligible for a refund or be able to claim anything back at all. Compensation cover should always be considered when shipping large or heavy items.

Although damage is a rare occurrence when you choose to ship your item with a reputable courier, many couriers will offer compensation cover for that extra peace of mind. At NI Parcels, we offer £50 free compensation cover on every single shipment, which you can increase up to the value of £500 for a small additional fee during the booking process.

Before taking out compensation cover, always be sure to read through the courier's list of prohibited and no-compensation items to ensure that your parcel contents will be protected.

4. Online tracking.

Having full access to online tracking will allow you to monitor the progress of your shipment as it makes its way to its destination - so it's always a good idea to send your large parcel with a reputable courier that provides this feature.

At NI Parcels, we provide full online parcel tracking on every single one of our shipments. If you notice any red flags that give a cause for concern, our dedicated customer service team is always ready and willing to help.

5. Courier restrictions.

Whether or not you can send a large or heavy item will of course depend on the courier that you choose. Some couriers may have size and weight restrictions set in place for particular services, so it's highly important to do some research on this to be sure you're booking your shipment correctly.

6. Courier comparison.

Be sure to keep an open mind when shopping around for your chosen courier. Do some research and find out which company offers the lowest price and best value for the size of item you are sending.

At NI Parcels, we do all of the hard work for you. We provide a courier comparison service which allows you to view a list of the lowest prices and fastest delivery times from our network of reliable couriers. Booking through a courier comparison website such as NI Parcels can be up to 80% cheaper than booking with the courier directly!

7. Door to door services.

When shipping a large or heavy parcel, the very last thing you're going to want to do is have to try and shift it anywhere. Avoid the hassle by using a door to door service than can collect the parcel directly from you and deliver it straight to its destination.

Using our network of reliable couriers, we at NI Parcels offer a door to door service to ensure our customers receive the best convenience.

So those are our expert tips for sending large and heavy items. If you have any questions about sending parcels with NI Parcels, give us a shout or find out more below!

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14 Amazing Health Food Brands Based In Northern Ireland

Top NI Health Food Brands

Summer is well and truly here...

Which means the impending pressure of having a rock hard beach body is upon us.

But let's face it - no one can bare the thought of going for a run, munching carrot sticks and chugging coconut water in this weather. We'd much rather be enjoying a big old poke in the sun (with a chocolate flake and sprinkles, please and thanks).

So to help motivate you to get in shape for your holidays abroad, or your next trip to Portrush strand, we thought it would be a great idea to take a look at some of Northern Ireland's top health food brands, that aren't just good for you, but taste amazing too.

Get some of these names on your shopping list and you'll have abs in no time without even trying. We promise.*

*This is not an actual promise.

1. Forest Feast

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Based in Portadown, Co. Armagh, Forest Feast are a supplier of healthy fruit and nut snacks that you've probably seen on the shelves of your local supermarket or corner shops. Their Street Food nut packs are a great substitute for a naughty bag of Tayto and their Sour Mango (a firm favourite among the NI Parcels gang) tastes just like Haribo!

Find them at Forestfeast.com.

2. Suki Tea

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There is nothing better than a nice hot cup of tea (milk and two sugars if you're offering), but if you're gulping down multiple cups a day, you could be unwittingly adding a significant amount of calories to your daily intake. For instance, of you like your tea milky and sweet, each cup will contain around 50 calories!

Suki Tea, however, is a much healthier and more delicious alternative. Based in Belfast, they produce an enormous variety of ethically sourced loose leaf teas in an abundance of flavours.

Find them at Suki-tea.com

3. Linwoods Health Foods

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Linwoods, based in County Armagh, produce these incredible varieties of super seed packs which are incredibly good for you. Put them in your porridge, on your cereal, in your yoghurt, use them to bake break or pour the packet directly into your gub if you want - they are jam packed with nutrients to fuel your body.

Find them at Linwoodshealthfoods.com

4. Abernethy Butter

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In 2005, Will and Allison Abernethy decided to take their buttermaking skills, learned from previous generations, and turn it into a family business. Now based in Dromara, County Down, and sold in the likes of Fortnum and Mason (grocer to the Queen, don't you know), Abernethy is a well respected brand with many fans. Not only is it the most delicious, luxurious butter ever, but it is handmade and additive free and comes from grass-fed cows which is known to protect against colon cancer.

Find them at Abernethybuttercompany.com.

5. Keen Nut Butter

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Bangor based brand Keen Nut Butter will be favourite among any peanut butter addicts out there. We swear, when you buy this stuff, you'll be tying your hands behind your back just to stop yourself devouring the whole thing with a spoon. Founder Aimee Beimers is a nutritionist and sought out to replace traditional sugar laden nut butters and spreads with something much healthier and tastier. And, by God, she achieved it.

Find them at Keannutbutter.com.

6. Skinny Malinkys

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Skinny Malinky's are NI's premier raw cold pressed juice providers. And if you're in need of a bit of a detox or cleanse, this is the answer. The juices are full of yummy nutritious goodness to fuel your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs. Based near Titanic Quarter in Belfast, owner Paula uses NI Parcels to ship bottles daily to her hundreds of happy customers across the UK and Ireland.

Find them at Skinnymalinkys.com

7. That Protein

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Created by Northern Irish nutritionist Darlene McCormick, That Protein gives you premium organic plant protein powders and superfoods in one product, completely natural and organic, cold pressed and pure. They are free from sugars, sweeters, GMO and anything artificial. That Protein have some irresistible recipes on their blog too, which will make you want to buy the whole range and try everything at once.

Find them at Thatprotein.com

8. Flavour First

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We're all for convenience here at NI Parcels, so Flavour First's delivered fresh fruit and veg boxes are a godsend! Order your selection online from products grown on the family run businesses' Donaghadee farm. Your box will then be delivered to your home or work address. It costs from as little as £9 and delivery is free!

Find them at Flavourfirst.com.

9. Free'ist

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We could probably all do with cutting some sugar out of our diets but stepping away from the biscuits and snacks to go cold turkey is a terrifying prospect. Thankfully, local brand Free'ist have created a range of yummy sugar free snacks to satisfy even the sweetest tooth. This means you can have your daily dose of chocolate, cookies or popcorn and not feel even the slightest bit guilty about it.

Find them at Freeist.co.uk

10. Oh So Lean

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Oh So Lean are a Northern Irish company which provides premium low fat products including beef, chicken, turkey and pork as well as soups and sauces and easy cook meals. They also have a gluten free range to serve those with more specific dietary requirements.

You can find them at Ohsolean.co.uk.

11. Moditions

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Moditions gluten free baked goods started out as a bit of a passion project when founder Christine wanted to create some delicious food for her coeliac husband. As interest in her food grew, a business was born and now her amazing baked creations are stocked in Tescos stores as part of their Local Choice options.

You can find them at Moditions.com

12. Heavenly Tasty Organics

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Shauna McCarney-Blair started Heavenly Tasty Organics shortly after weaning her first child. She wanted to feed her baby the best, most nutritious and fresh allergy sensitive food but as there was nothing on the market, she decided to create her own. Heavenly Tasty Organics then became her newest baby and her delicious healthy foods for kids are now available nationwide.

Find them at Heavenlytasty.com

13. Mash Direct

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Ah the humble spud - you can't beat 'em! If you're a fan of a good creamy mash, you'll love Mash Direct. Launched back in 2004 they are the market leader when it comes to convenient vegetable and potato dishes. If you're in a rush and on the verge of stepping foot into the takeaway for a portion of chips, Mash Direct could be the healthier alternative you need. Their products are made fresh on their County Down farm and are free from artificial preservatives and low in salt.

Find them at Mashdirect.com

14. Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil

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Here's a fact for you - Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil was actually created by accident. When Leona Kane and her husband Richard were preparing dinner one night, they ran out of olive oil for the salad dressing. So, Richard brought up some unfiltered cold pressed rapeseed oil to use instead. They were immediately hooked to its gorgeous nutty flavour and developed the idea to create a healthy all-rounder oil for cooking, frying or making dressings. The company have gone onto win numerous awards and have a long line of fans, including Obama!

You can find them at Broightergold.co.uk

 

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12 Really Weird Customs Regulations That Make No Sense

Bizarre Customs Regulations

We're going to admit something here...

Even though we're in the business of delivery (some would call us experts), when it comes to customs, there are a lot of rules and regulations that leave us scratching our heads.

Most of the time, it's common sense - don't send guns or weapons, drugs or perishable foods etc. But in other instances, the laws are really and truly bizarre.

So we thought we'd take you through some of our favourite weird customs regulations from around the world.

1. If The Shoe Fits...

Weirdly, it is forbidden to import matching shoes to South Africa, Mexico or India. This is in order to maintain control of their own shoe market and applies manly to shoe manufacturers - so don't worry about having to wear odd sandals on your upcoming Mexican holiday; personal shoes are fine.

shoes lol humor circle rotation

2. Pencil It In

For some reason, pencils are banned in Tunisia.

3. Something To Chew On

You can not send chewing gum to Singapore, nor are you even allowed to buy it or consume it there. This is due to a 1992 ban in order to promote civic cleanliness.

gum bubblegum movie grease stockard channing

4. Sink Your Teeth Into This One

The country of Algeria has put a ban on the import of toothpaste and all dental products. This is down to the use of fluoride, which is regarded as poisonous by many nations.

5. An Unholy Rule

Pilgrims of Fiji can not bring back more than one pint of Holy Water after a pilgrimage. If  your amount of Holy Water exceeds one pint, you will require a certificate to say that it is disease free. This is in order to prevent the spreading of water borne diseases.

6. Milking It

Milk powder and baby formula can only be imported to China as personal effects and you can only bring around 5kg (or about 6 cans) with you.

milk piglets baby pigs

7. Wheely, Wheely Weird

Thinking of sending a wheelbarrow to Nigeria? Eh, you might want to rethink that as they are strictly forbidden in an attempt to strengthen the country's own manufacturing industry.

8. Feeling Horny

Saudi Arabia has many restrictions on noise and loud items, such as car horns, have therefore been banned from entering the country.

9. An Eggcellent Law

The beloved (overpriced) Kinder Egg that children beg their parents for, is unfortunately banned in America, as the yellow plastic part is considered to be a choking hazard. The American Federal Government take the ban so seriously that a Canadian family was once fined $12,000 for trying to take ten of these chocolate eggs into the US.

chocolate food easter kinder egg

10. Not In The Mood

We're not exactly sure why, but Malawian authorities have completely banned the import of any and all aphrodisiac products. Sorry lovers...

11. Quit Clowning Around

If you're travelling to the lovely village of Vendargues in the south of France, don't take your clown costume with you. Due to a wave of panic, caused by pranksters in clown costumes, they are now banned. These incidents have lead to a wide-spread anti-clown vigilante movement across the whole of France, which may soon see the costumes banned throughout the country.

12. Eye Can't Believe It

Imports containing eyeglasses and foreign spectacles are completely banned from entering Uruguay.

cat frustrated glasses

 

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6 Tips To Ensure Your Parcel Arrives Safely

Ensuring Your ParcelArrives Safely

Without question, ensuring your parcel arrives safely at its destination is the priority when shipping items.

Whether you're a small business needing to ship and distribute products throughout the world, or if you're an individual sending a gift to a loved one - you want to make sure that the parcel arrives safe and sound. As the sender, it's your responsibility to complete all of these necessary checks before handing your item over to a courier.

At NI Parcels, we know a thing or two about shipping packages all across the globe. So we're here to shed a light on how you can do all that you can to ensure your parcel arrives safely.

6 Tips To Ensure Your Parcel Arrives Safely

1. Secure packaging.

Securely packaging your parcel for transit is absolutely vital. It's important to take into consideration the many stages of transit that your item will go through on its journey - it will be sorted by machines and loaded on to a van for delivery alongside dozens of other items, big and small.

Although damage to your item is extremely unlikely when you choose to send it with a reputable courier (like our providers) it's still a good idea to take extra precaution, for that extra peace of mind.

We always advise our customers to send items in strong, double-walled cardboard boxes as these are sturdy and less likely to collapse, tear or open under pressure. You can read more of our tips on how to properly package your parcel on our blog: How To Properly Package A Parcel - 8 Expert Tips.

2. Attach labels securely.

Once you've got your item all packaged up, it's important to make sure that your shipping labels are securely fastened on to the item. You don't want to risk these labels coming off, as this could cause problems during transit and may result in the item being severely delayed or even lost. Place the labels inside a poly-pocket and secure them with packaging tape.

3. Do not send prohibited items.

One very important factor in shipping parcels is ensuring that your items can be carried on the service. Particularly when you are sending items overseas, as every country has different rules and regulations about what can and cannot be imported. Sending items that are restricted or prohibited can cause all sorts of problems with your shipment, and may result in packages being refused at the point of collection, returned to the sender, or even destroyed.

Most couriers will have a list of these items that are easy to view. If you need to take a look at our list, you can find it on the NI Parcels website here.

4. Take compensation cover.

Following on from that, if your courier provides a form of compensation cover (most do), be sure to take it to make that extra step in protecting your parcel against damage or loss.

Again, before booking your compensation cover, it's so important to read through that list of prohibited and no-compensation items to ensure the items you are sending will be covered.

At NI Parcels, we provide £50 free compensation cover on every single shipment. This value can be increased right up to £1,000 for a small additional fee during the booking process.

4. Correct address details.

Although it sounds fairly straight-forward to ensure that all of your address details are correct, mistakes can be easily made. Surprisingly, incorrect delivery addresses cause the majority of courier issues. To prevent this, always be sure to double check the address details you are providing.

The format of addresses will vary depending on each country, so if you're feeling even a little bit unsure, always check with the recipient or try researching the address yourself to make sure it's absolutely correct before handing it over to the courier.

4. Book with a reputable courier.

Before selecting your courier, do some research to make sure that you're getting the very best value for your money. Taking the time to find a reputable courier means you have that extra peace of mind knowing that your items will be handled with the utmost of care and will be in safe hands during transit.

At NI Parcels, we work with only the best couriers in the industry to ensure our customers receive the highest quality delivery services. You can see a list of the couriers that we work with here.

5. Online parcel tracking.

It's always a good idea to send parcels with a reputable courier service that provides online tracking. That way, you'll be able to monitor the progress of your shipment as it makes its way to its destination and so will be able to see any potential issues for yourself. You'll also be notified when your item is out for delivery, so you'll know exactly when to wait in for it.

If you spot any red flags, contact your courier provider immediately and they will be able to offer guidance and help resolve the problem.

At NI Parcels, we provide full online parcel tracking on all of our shipments. And if you happen to have any questions or concerns at any time, we have a dedicated customer support team who can help via phone, email and live chat.

6. Fill in customs documents.

This will apply if you are sending items outside the EU. In this case, you will be legally required to complete customs documents in order to declare the contents and value of the items contained in your parcel. Taking the time and effort to accurately fill in these documents will ensure a smooth process as your item travels through customs clearance. If you do not include these documents or do not fill them in correctly, this can cause serious issues with the shipment and may severely delay the parcel.

At NI Parcels, we will provide you with customs documents if you are sending an item outside of the EU. However, it is always the sender's responsibility to complete and attach these documents to the item being sent.

So that's our expert advise on ensuring your parcel arrives safely at its destination. If you still have any questions after reading, please get in touch with us and we'll always be very happy to help!

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How To Save Money On Courier Costs - 10 Creative Tips

Save Money (1)

How To Save Money On Courier Costs - 10 Creative Tips

Sending parcels isn't cheap.

No matter whether you're posting a birthday present to a relative abroad one a year, or perhaps a small business owner shipping products daily - courier costs are ones we could really do without.

With that in mind, we at NI Parcels thought it would be a good idea to write an informative post with our tops tips for saving money on courier costs.

We understand that, as well as being an expensive task, sending parcels is often a boring, frustrating and stressful one too. Few people have time or motivation to sit down and research how to spend less on their deliveries.

So as it is our area of expertise, let us do the work for you and take a read of our Top Ten Tips For Saving Money On Courier Costs.

1. Be organised

Being well organised with your parcel deliveries can help you save some cash. We always recommend booking your deliveries as far in advance as you can and selecting the courier's Economy service instead of Express when possible, as it is considerably cheaper and in most cases, there is just one day difference in terms of delivery times.

2. Size matters

When booking a delivery with a courier, the price of your parcel will often be based on its size. For that reason, it's a good idea to package your item in as small a box as possible to keep the costs to a minimum. Just ensure that the box is not too small and can withstand the weight of the item it's carrying.

3. Weight matters too

Likewise, weight will affect the price, so remove any unneccessary items which may make your parcel heavier. For example, package your item with lightweight materials like bubble wrap or packing peanuts what will not add to the kilos.

4. Be accurate

You will need to be as accurate as possible when booking your parcel delivery with the courier. If your parcel is even just the slightest bit larger or heavier than you originally described, you could face unpleasant oversize charges or worse - the courier may refuse to collect your parcel altogether. We've seen this happen with parcels that are just 1kg heavier than they were claimed to be.

We recommend purchasing a set of shipping scales if you frequently send parcels as these are more accurate than other kinds of scales.

5. Buy packaging in bulk

Buying a single box every time you have a parcel to send can add up and contribute a significant amount to the overall cost of your deliveries. Buying packaging in bulk works out much cheaper if you do send items fairly frequently.

And, if you purchase quality packaging, you can reuse your boxes and save even more money in the long run.

6. Claim your VAT back

Taxable businesses should always remember to claim VAT back on deliveries at the end of the tax year. Just make sure to keep all your receipts!

7.  Mind the excess charges

Always make sure that the price you are originally quote by the courier, is the final price you pay. Some couriers may add in fees for compensation, VAT maybe excluded from the end total or there may be an NI surcharge. Do your research to avoid nasty surprises on the checkout page.

8. Take out compensation

Speaking of compensation - always take it out to ensure your items are protected from damage or loss. If not, you may not be eligible for a refund or be able to claim anything back, forcing you to lose money overall.

Many couriers will offer a level of free compensation. For example, at NI Parcels, we offer £50 free compensation cover per item, which you can increase up to the value of £500 for a small additional fee, if you wish. Before choosing your level of cover, always check out the courier's list of prohibited items to ensure that your parcel contents are protected against damage or loss.

9.  Stop driving to the Post Office!

It's not just the postage costs that put a dent in your wallet, when sending parcels, the fuel it takes to drive to the post office/depot and the time out of your day are also added expenses.

Avoid wasting time and fuel by using a door to door service that can collect the parcel directly from you.

1o. Use a courier comparison website

When we make a purchase of any kind, we tend to shop around (usually online) to find the best deals. Booking a courier is no different.

Never book with the first courier you come across -  see which company offers the lowest price and the best value for money. The great news is that there are websites out there who do the shopping around for you - like NI Parcels!

We provide a courier comparison service which allows you to enter the details of your parcel and view a list of reduced rate quotes from top providers like Parcelforce, DPD and City Air Express. Booking with a courier comparison website like NI Parcels can be up to 80% cheaper than booking directly with the courier.

 

We hope this money saving advice piece helps you cut back on your delivery costs and if you have any questions, please get in touch with us and we'll be happy to help.

Got a parcel to send? Get a quote quote from us now to see how much you could save.

nips quote

 

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5 Things To Remember When Shipping Parcels Internationally

 Stockholm

When it comes to shipping parcels internationally, we know a thing or two here at NI Parcels.

There are so many factors to consider when sending a parcel abroad - whether you're a small business exporting internationally or simply an individual sending a gift to a loved one across the globe - whatever your reason may be, doing your homework is super important.

Sending items overseas can be a little bit daunting, whether it be the cost, the shipping times or mind-boggling country specific regulations - it can be quite a lot to get your head around.

Thankfully, we're experts at this kind of thing and we're here to shed some light on sending parcels internationally to ease your worries.

Here are 5 things to remember when shipping parcels internationally.

1. Researching country specific restrictions and regulations is so important.

One of the most important factors of shipping items internationally is doing your homework on country specific restrictions and regulations. For example, you're not allowed to send a pair of matching shoes to South Africa, Mexico or India. That's crazy, right? But these are the kinds of things that you should make yourself aware of before sending any parcels.

If you're sending a parcel outside of the EU, it's absolutely essential to complete and attach a customs declaration to the package - and it's just as important to fill in the declaration correctly. Not doing so could cause major problems for your shipment.

2. Understand international shipping costs so you don't pay more than you have to.

One of the most off-putting factors about sending parcels internationally is the cost - but would you be surprised if we told you that you shouldn't be so scared?

You absolutely do not have to break the bank when sending items overseas. Courier comparison services (such as NI Parcels!) is a guaranteed way to save money on international deliveries - no matter who you are or what your reason for shipping may be.

We work alongside some of the best couriers in the industry such as DPD and Parcelforce. We have negotiated fantastic low cost deals with these couriers, so that means you get the same high quality service for a fraction of the price! In fact, you can save up to 80% on your international courier costs, by booking with NI Parcels.

You can get a quote for your international parcel delivery any time from NI Parcels!

3. Secure packaging is absolutely essential.

It's a no brainer that you want your parcel to arrive at its destination safe and sound. If you're using a reliable courier renowned for their high quality services, the chances of damage to your parcel during transit is incredibly low - and most would offer some sort of compensation cover in the unlikely event that it would happen. At NI Parcels, we provide £50 free compensation cover on every single shipment, which can be increased during book if you feel it necessary.

However, for peace of mind, always remember to select appropriate packaging that best suits the contents of your packet. Hard, double-walled cardboard boxes are usually the best option if you're shipping items in a box, as they're sturdy and are less likely to come undone during transit. Consider the items inside too, ensure that they are fastened securely and enclosed from damage.

4. Don't forget a return address.

In the occurrence that your item can't be delivered and needs to be returned to you as the sender, it's vital to include a return address on the parcel. This way, it'll be returned to you free of charge and you will avoid any kind of hassle.

5. Research restricted/prohibited goods.

Relating back to the first point about country specific restrictions and regulations - when sending a parcel anywhere in the world, ensure that you're not sending any prohibited goods. Not every item can be carried on every service - and all countries have their own individual rules and restrictions. For example, a general rule is that liquids and perishable items cannot be sent abroad - so be sure to check your chosen courier's list of prohibited items before booking your shipment.

Need to send a parcel overseas? Get a quick quote from NI Parcels today!

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Why Start A Blog For Your Small Business?

Why Start A Blog For Your Small Business?

Starting a blog on your small business website is a no brainer, really.

Blogging is an extremely low-cost form of marketing that many are far too quick to dismiss. It's just one more thing to add to your never ending list of things to do, you don't have time, along with a whole plethora of excuses that might be stopping you, right? However you would be surprised to learn that simply devoting some time and effort per week into creating fresh and exciting content on a blog on your website can do wonders for your traffic and your brand as a whole.

There are numerous reasons why small businesses should consider starting a blog on their business website, and it all starts with creating consistent, helpful and exciting content. This content brings with it an abundance of brand new traffic, creating new leads for your business which can potentially result in future sales. Regularly publishing new, quality content can keep your customers coming back for more, and you'll have a world of content to publish to your other social media networks, too. Writing a blog on your business website gives your brand another dimension - it portrays personality and opinion for the brand which is ultimately what people love to see in today's digital world.

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Not to mention there is an endless list of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) advantages to writing a blog on your business website - you can evolve what may just be a standard article into a goldmine for keywords. Well-placed keywords will make your website Google friendly and you will see long-term results of this effort as your articles begin to rank in search engines and new customers start discovering your business through organic search.

With time and effort, your blog can become an industry resource if you really want it to - the possibilities are endless. Regardless of how far you want to go with it, you can be sure that a blog will bring increased traffic to your website, heightened awareness of your brand and an inevitable increase in sales if it is well executed.


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3 Tips For Small Businesses Collaborating With Bloggers

3 Tips For Small Businesses Collaborating With Bloggers

Bloggers nowadays are hugely influential individuals who have the potential to take a brand's reputation to soaring new heights.

The opportunities found in the world of blogging are endless. What started as merely a popular hobby has become a lucrative career for many. Bloggers are now viewed as a majorly reliable source of information, vastly out-shining many traditional forms of advertising. And so, many brands have seized this opportunity with both hands and managed to harness the power of bloggers to better their brand.

However, if you are new to the world of blogging, it can be difficult to figure out exactly how to get bloggers on board with your brand. So if you're feeling like you don't know where to start, here are our top 3 tips for small businesses collaborating with bloggers.

1. Offer a mutually beneficial, lasting relationship.

Quite possibly the most important point of all. Working with bloggers can be highly cost-effective for your small business - however it can't be forgotten that blogging is a career for many and therefore a source of income - not to mention something that takes a lot of time and effort. It is a huge turn-off for a blogger if a company expects them to work for free, so be clear on what the gain will be for them. It's absolutely vital to have a mutually beneficial working relationship with a blogger. Partner with them on multiple campaigns and start to develop a true relationship, which in turn allows that blogger to develop a true passion for the brand and become your strongest brand advocates.

2. Take the time to craft personalised pitches.

If you're a company that sells insurance, there's really no point sending a pitch email to a fashion blogger. Your email will likely be ignored, and so you have wasted your own time and the blogger's time. When reaching out to bloggers, it's so important to make sure that the idea you're pitching to them is relevant to the content and tone of their blog. Read through their blog and get a feel for whether it's right for both your brand and for them. Furthermore, there is nothing more off-putting for a blogger than receiving an email that looks like a template - so take that extra bit of time to craft each email for the specific person and it will be worth it in the long-run. And for goodness sake, don't forget to address them by their (correct) name!

3. Be specific, yet flexible.

Chances are, the bloggers you are reaching out to receive numerous pitches from different companies on a weekly basis. It's important to be as specific as possible in your pitch, otherwise you'll be wasting time on both sides. Be clear on what exactly your brand is, the specific campaign you have in mind and what you would like the blogger to do, and identify their gain in return. At the same time, leave room for the blogger to add their own creative flair.

 

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3 Common Shipping Mistakes Small Businesses Should Avoid

3 common shipping mistakes small businesses should avoid

It's no surprise that the two most important things small businesses consider when shipping their products to their customers are 1) the quality of the product and 2) the customer's satisfaction.

However, there are an entire array of factors controlling how quickly, carefully or cost-effectively products travel from point A to point B - these factors can ultimately impact the customer's satisfaction, regardless of the quality of the product.

In small business, logistics and shipping mistakes are inevitable. However, when considering these carefully, they're often easy to spot and even easier to prevent for the future. Here at NI Parcels, we've got your back. Here are 3 of the most common shipping mistakes to help you look out for them and do everything to avoid in the running of your small business.

1. Inaccurate Product Specification.

It's absolutely essential that dimensions and weights of items being sent are correct. If you input them incorrectly into booking systems, you run the risk of it leading to unwanted surcharges and increased shipping costs. Taking that extra bit of time and care to measure items accurately can save an enormous amount of time and money.

2. Poor Packaging.

This may well be one of the most overlooked steps when it comes to small business shipping. It can't be emphasized enough how important it is to ensure your goods are packaged properly. If they are not, you run the risk of returns and very disappointed customers when the items arrive damaged on their doorstep. Ultimately, trying to save money by sending items in boxes that are too small, too weak or without good internal packaging could end up costing you much more.

3. Shipping Internationally Without Doing The Research.

Particularly for small businesses, international sales are super exciting. However doing the research is key. If you haven't prepared and don't know what to expect from each country's tax code and regulations, it may result in a very awkward experience on your customer's doorstep - and ultimately, that isn't going to have a particularly great reflection on your business. Taking the time to research international shipping carefully and properly informing your customers will be wholly worth it in the long run.

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