e-newsletter: March 2008
March Madness Advertiser Offer
We've got some great offers for businesses that upgrade to a Full Business Web Page.
Call Jo on 01502 566005 to hear all about them!
The management team here at GAG has accumulated many years of experience and knowledge in a wide range of 'disability and access' related issues. These include access auditing, disability awareness training, online marketing, accessible travel and tourism management and accessible website design. Until now these businesses have 'traded' under a number of brand names and companies. But we’ve now made a strategic decision to bring all of these activities within the Good Access Guide umbrella.
We feel that this will have a critical benefit for the company and for our customers – namely, strong brand recognition. Our aim is to make GAG the number one in its chosen fields by delivering effective management, online marketing and training solutions to businesses and organisations who seek to enrich their customers lives through the provision of genuinely accessible goods and services.
To breathe life into our ambitions and make them a reality we have brought on board some new faces with well established skills and talents, and we will be presenting them to you over the coming months in our 'Who's who' gallery.
Ian Carter - Editor
What stays the same goes backwards, so we are constantly improving and developing the front and back end of our websites. During 2008 you will see exciting enhancements to the look and usability of the Good Access Guide website, making your advertiser pages even more attractive to potential customers.
Of course the current site offers you the chance to amend and edit your adverts at any time, ensuring that your latest offering is always out there and visible. But for those preferring to hand that task over to us…no problem, just let us know what changes you need and we'll get them live within hours – sometimes minutes!
And for our regular visitors we've revamped our Holidays and Travel section - you can now book accessible holidays, around the World.
Visit the Good Access Guide website »
We would like to say a big hello to some of our newest advertisers on the Good Access Guide
Don't forget… If you run a business and you've adapted your premises or the way you provide a service to help disabled people, get yourself noticed on the Good Access Guide.
We have free listings and full business web pages.
If you would like to know more about our advertising opportunities e-mail Jo Forster at jo@goodaccessguide.co.uk or call her on 01502 566005.
It's a big hello to Jo Forster who is now spearheading our Sales Team. We've known Jo for quite awhile but the time was right now for her to join the Good Access Guide setup.
Before starting her family, Jo worked for one of the big four High Street banks. She became one of their 'ambassadors' and often represented the bank at large corporate events. Jo is lively and a go-getter - not something you see that much in your local bank!
Anyway, Jo's with us now and many of you will already have spoken to her on the phone. And you'll know that there's no hard sell from Jo. After all, we want to build a relationship with you, not get your backs up every time we contact you! So with that in mind, Jo fits in just nicely to our tight-knit bunch at GAG HQ.
And if Jo has any spare time she likes nothing better than to slap the old stage makeup on and appear in musicals with The Lowestoft Players.
Welcome aboard Jo…
In its first year Beyond Boundaries inspired, motivated and empowered its visitors. Due to the phenomenal success of the event Beyond Boundaries 2008 will return bigger and better than before. The event has moved to the prestigious Kent Showground, providing more indoor space and a fabulous outdoor space too.
In its second year Beyond Boundaries 2008 will be pushing the limits even further by providing even more exciting products, services and challenging, interactive activities, including:
Beyond Boundaries 2008 will be hosting a range of talks in our Inspirational Seminar Theatre. Including Olympian Ade Adepitan and X–factor finalist Kerry McGregor. As well as amputee Leanne Grose who promotes a 'reach for the stars and at least hit the sky' attitude and 11 times Paralympics gold medal winner Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, who will be talking about her fantastic achievements. Beyond Boundaries is also working with leading associations providing a ground breaking healthcare conference.
It's an event not to be missed!
For more information and to order tickets visit: www.beyondboundarieslive.co.uk
Or telephone: 0208 971 8286
The DDA – still here and acquiring teeth!
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has been here in all its glory for a couple of years now, but many service providers remain exposed to potential litigation from disabled customers, who are becoming increasingly aware of their rights.
The main reason for such exposure is lack of awareness amongst staff (most discrimination will come from what people say rather than what they do). The training of employees and front line personnel is, in our view, the minimum an employer should be doing in order to address their DDA obligations. Of course, releasing staff for training can be quite a challenge, but there are solutions for all businesses – large or small and we’re here to help. So, if you feel that you can be better protected and improve your service to ALL customers, then contact our training department on 01502 566005, or email training@goodaccessguide.co.uk and we will work with you to find the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions for you.
We like to think that we're a nice bunch—our Mum's think so!
Anyway, we'd like to give you 2500 Feature Advert views on our website—free of charge. Make the most of it—our accountants hate the word 'free'.
All we ask in return is a link back from your website to the Good Access Guide—there are more details at www.goodaccessguide.co.uk/feature
A Feature Advert appears on the home page of the website and all the main section pages—they are those little yellow boxes over to the right…
Please note: This offer is only open to existing advertisers as the Feature Adverts link through to your full business web page.
There are 10 million people in the UK with some form of disability (source - Disability Rights Commission) - that's about one in seven of the population. If your website isn't accessible you could be turning away potential customers as well as falling foul of the law.
We think it makes sense to have an accessible website. This means that internet users who have visual or motor impairments can also experience the pleasures and benefits of the worldwide web.
With a combined disposable income of around £50 billion a year it would be crazy to turn this business away.
We have been making accessible websites for over five years including the Good Access Guide website. When we are adding businesses to the Good Access Guide we can quickly see which websites are accessible and those that really do need some attention. It would be great if every business that appears on the Good Access Guide had an accessible website as well as accessible bedrooms, bathrooms or whatever. To get you started why not get a FREE one page statement of the accessibility of your website. And that's it. No catches. No strings. We will be honest with you - if your website has great accessibility we'll tell you. Equally, if it requires some TLC we'll tell you!
To get your FREE one page accessibility report, please go our request page on the Good Access Guide website and we will send your accessibility statement as soon as possible.
If you need something more in-depth to give to your web designers, we do offer our Accessibility SnapShot. The 20+ page report highlights accessibility issues, explains why they are important and then shows ways to rectify the problem. This normally retails at £149+VAT. However, for a limited period, we have reduced the price to just £99+VAT.
Order your Accessibility SnapShot™ now »
That’s it for this issue of our newsletter. We look forward to bringing your more from the UK’s leading online guide to life, leisure and mobility in the next Good Access Guide Newsletter.