Being a successful entrepreneur Austin wanted to expand his business portfolio to ensure he was generating multiple revenue streams. Austin specialises in SEO and online marketing and decided it was the perfect time to expand into online advertising.

He now successfully runs Activ Bridgend and enjoys working on a site so integral to his local community. Austin reveals “When you run a town site you have a lot to offer the local community and you become very well known through the work you do. I have made numerous contacts and have to admit I do enjoy the prestige that comes with the job”

Becoming fully involved within the local community was not the only advantage to running a local Activ site. Austin also enjoyed the flexibility that the opportunity could give him.

“You don’t have to dedicate certain times in the day to your work. Working on an online venture means you are not restricted to an office, a house or the standard 9-5 hours. I decide my times as and when I see fit”

Austin now regularly communicates with the Activ head office support team as well as both Directors Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin. Austin adds “Simon and Dillon work hard to move the company forwards at all times and I enjoy regular contact with them and have been very happy with how things are proceeding”.

As well as keeping in constant sync with head office Austin also benefits from regular networking opportunities within the Activ network where he is able to mind like-minded ambitious entrepreneurs.

Director Dillon Boivin adds “At Activ we make a point of rewarding entrepreneurial successes which is why Austin received a prize at the 2009 Activ Annual Conference for performance within the Activ UK network. We look forward to continue working with Austin and together we will ensure the brand will go from strength to strength”.

Peter Slegg operates an Activ Web Design Franchise which is one of Dillon’s companies!

Peter has been running this business for about a year and a half and through our advice, guidance and support is achieving fantastic success!!!

Read his story below.

Running an Activ Web Design franchise can be very rewarding – and not just financially.

Since taking on an Activ franchise in the Colchester area 20 months ago, Peter Slegg has helped nearly 50 small owner managed companies in his area gain a valuable online presence.

And, says Peter, assisting small businesses and sole traders by enabling them to market and promote their goods and services on the internet is extremely satisfying.

Peter, who is 36, previously worked in the insurance industry for 13 years handling claims.

However, he came to the conclusion that he did not want to work for someone else for the rest of his life and looked into the possibility of buying a franchise.

He said: “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but did some research on the net to see what options were available. Activ ticked all the boxes so I decided to invest.

“Within a matter of weeks I had recouped my initial investment and 20 months on my earning are around 75 per cent higher than they would have been had I stayed in the insurance sector.”

But, says Peter, it’s not just the opportunity to make a better living and be his own boss which have made taking on an Activ franchise the right decision for him.

He said: “I love working with people and helping them achieve their goals.

“Most of us prefer to work with people we like and trust, so the personal element of the service Activ offers is just as important as the technical and creative aspects.

“In the past few months I’ve built websites for a vast range of businesses including architects, a gardening business, bouncy castle provider, children’s nursery, a plumber, an electrician, and a football club, a powder coating company, a local politician and a wedding planner.

“In fact, there’s even a former rock star on my books. I cover virtually every sector and find that everyone’s needs are different.

“Some want an e-commerce site; others just want a standard website, while quite a lot want their sites to be regularly updated.

“I am now at the stage where much of my business comes from referrals so I don’t need to advertise although networking, through groups such as BNI, has certainly helped me win new clients.”

Although Peter is happy to work weekends and evenings to meet clients’ requirements, he does value being able to take time off when he chooses and often works out at the gym when there’s a window in his diary.

He added: “My work requires concentration so staying in shape mentally and physically helps me stay focused.

“If I do have a problem or an issue though I know I can always speak to Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin at Activ’s head office whose help and support is second to none!

As you can see Peter loves running his Activ Web Design business. If you are interested in finding out more visit the franchise section of our website.

Activ UK suits young business manager wanting part-time enterprise

Paul Hanlon operates our Activ Oxford website and tells the story of his success and how Dillon has helped him to develop his own fantastic part-time business.

NHS business manager Paul Hanlon loves his day job but was looking for a second revenue stream which would not only boost his income but would offer a new challenge.

Thanks to Activ UK– the unique business opportunity which allows licensees to earn every time someone clicks on their Activ UK local area website – he found just what he wanted.

Paul, who is from Leicestershire and has a Masters degree in business management, bought the Activ Oxford business a year ago and has seen the site’s traffic increase steadily.

He said: “It has trebled month on month for the past three months and is on target to do so again this month.”

The brainchild of Activ owners Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin,  Activ UK is  now the largest network of local area websites in the UK and partners with some of the world’s leading internet brands including Yahoo UK, EBay and Yell.com

Launched in late 2008 it provides local people in  towns and villages across Britain with an online guide to everything in their area including local news, homes for sale, cars for sale, and activities taking place in their communities. There is even a section on how to save money by using local businesses

And Paul, who  is 26 and has no plans to give up his full time job in the NHS,  believes  this opportunity represents  an excellent opportunity for people like himself looking for an alternative business venture they can run themselves.

Thanks to ongoing assistance from  Activ director Dillon Boivin and his team, Paul has found he has plenty of time to concentrate on his career and take time out to pursue his other interests – including travelling to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United.

He said: “One of Activ UK’s main advantages is its flexibility. I can work on my business whenever time allows, whether it’s for an hour in the morning before I leave for the office or for a few hours in the evening. “It’s great to see how the site’s usage is increasing as more people find out about it. “Activ UK suits my lifestyle and my friends, family and partner have been most supportive of the idea. I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new challenge and a novel way of making some extra money but who is perhaps not at the stage of wanting to commit to a franchise full-time.”

Dillon Boivin said that the popularity of Activ UK meant that  areas are being signed up fast, with people across the country keen to take on an opportunity which was  low risk, simple to understand, easy to run and offered good earnings potential.

He added: “There are so many advantages to taking on an Activ UK area, as Paul has discovered, and we are keen to hear from other prospective  entrepreneurs who may be interested in taking on another local area in Activ UK’s  expanding network.

To find out more about Activ UK visit our website.

Networking works!

One of the big things I tell all entrepreneurs is to NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.

Networking is a key fundamental to achieving success with any fledling business, be it a new start-up or a franchise like Activ Web Design

Jackie Ogle, one of our successful Activ franchisees, talks about her experiences below:

As a former computer programmer working for merchant banks, Jackie Ogle was keen to find a franchise opportunity which complemented her existing IT skills before committing to franchising.

Mark Rouvray, one of our Activ Web Design entrepreneurs, has followed our proven business model, training and advice and is achieving business success in no time at all!

It is not quite a year since former British Airways human resources senior manager Mark Rouvray bought an Activ Web Design franchise but in that relatively short space of time business has really taken off.

Mark, who spent 14 years in management with BA – and, before that, 10 years with British Gas – has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge during his long career with major plcs.

But, when the opportunity came to take voluntary redundancy, he decided to change direction and invest in an Activ franchise.

Mark, who is 46 and holds an MBA in IT management as well as a BSc Hons degree in operational research, wanted a franchise which had an IT element – but more importantly, put him in contact with growing small businesses.

And after speaking with Simon Rickett, co-director of Activ, he realised that an Activ franchise presented him with the perfect opportunity.

He said: “Much of what I did while at BA related to computers and I also managed a team developing website content for the company intranet.

“Although always interested in IT, I realised I would like to play a more creative part in the end product. What also appealed to me about Activ was the technical support and expertise which exists within Activ’s head office.

“Knowing that Simon Rickett, Dillon Boivin and their team can provide this means I can be confident of assisting clients should their IT needs be of a more bespoke nature and go beyond  that of a standard website package.”
Mark, whose impressive  client portfolio features almost every trade from builder to electrician,  has also created websites for a diverse range of retailers including a jeweller, high street butcher and  home accessories business.

And, in addition to offering websites, Mark, also enjoys being able to speak with small businesses on a one to one  basis – passing  on experience he has gained while working in senior positions for household name employers over many years.

He said: “Some of the franchising opportunities I looked at before buying Activ primarily involved the franchisee becoming a salesperson.

“I wanted something which offered more than merely selling and ultimately I would like my Activ franchise to focus not only on websites but also business consultancy for smaller companies looking for guidance and advice.

“I am now at the stage where I am receiving recommendations and am confident of winning more work as smaller businesses acknowledge that a website should be high on their list of priorities.”

“I’ve now completed about 20 websites and after a relatively slow start in the first couple of months am at the point where I’m building at least one website a week.”

And Mark, whose former role at Heathrow involved a two hour a day round commute, also appreciates the flexibility his major career change has provided.

He added: “Making the move has changed my life/work balance for the better and I very much look forward to continuing to grow my business.”

To find out how Activ Web Design can give you a profitable business visit our franchise information page.

Worries about long term job security and the growing number of people opting for voluntary redundancy post-recession is making self employment an increasingly attractive choice for people of all ages.

Rising unemployment – coupled with the realisation that few jobs are ‘for life’ any more – is encouraging thousands to consider giving up the ‘nine to five’ in favour  of becoming their own bosses.

And, as many successful entrepreneurs will testify, becoming the master – or mistress – of your own destiny can be the best move you will ever make.

However, starting out completely by yourself – especially if you’ve been used to working in a conventional employment setting for many years – can be daunting.

This says Dillon Boivin, director of growing franchise Activ Web Design, is where becoming a franchisee may be a better option.

He said: “In many instances people have the right skills se, contacts and business acumen to take the entrepreneurial route but are often put off because they’ve been used to the support structure conventional employment provides.

“If you’re used to having colleagues and managers to discuss work  issues with, then the notion of going it alone can seem quite overwhelming.

“With a franchise like Activ though, people can still fulfil their entrepreneurial aims and ambitions while operating within a supportive environment.

“Although they can essentially be their own boss, they can draw confidence and inspiration from knowing that other Activ franchisees are following the same business model and working towards the same goals.”Dillon

Dillon, and his fellow director Simon Rickett, firmly believe that their business’s strength lies with finding like minded franchisees who like themselves, are committed to making Activ a success.

Dillon Boivin added added: “It is one of the many reasons we provide our franchisees with round the clock access to help and advice so they should  they encounter a problem or simply wish to discuss their personal objectives, guidance is just a phone call or email away.

“Many franchises don’t provide such a service and once a franchisee has invested in his or her franchise opportunity, they are simply left to get on with it.

“As an ambitious young business which has already been shortlisted for a Nectar Business Award, we are growing and evolving along with our franchisees, and as we see it, are in this together.

“The feedback we are receiving from our franchisees certainly suggests that our commitment to training and support  is welcomed and appreciated by our franchisees – especially in the first few months of trading when they are getting to grips with running their post code areas, generating new leads and expanding their territories.

“Just knowing advice is on hand – should it be about an IT issue, a business idea or feedback on their progress to date can all help to boost confidence.

“Self employment has much to recommend it. However for those people who want the backing of a knowledgeable team and the opportunity to share experiences with people in a similar position, then becoming an Activ franchisee is an ideal way of combining the best of both worlds.

A long career in sales coupled with years of experience in the construction industry is proving invaluable to one of Dillon’s Activ Web Design franchisees, John Elwell.

John, who has run the franchise on the Isle of Wight since July last year – and acquired an Activ UK franchise in February –, is discovering that both ventures have vast potential.

Working with wife Judith, who has a background in IT, the couple have seen their two franchises flourish and believe Activ offers some of the best franchising opportunities on the market.

John, who is 53, said: “With regard to Activ Web Design, I am finding that following  the recession  many businesses are at last waking up to the benefits of  on-line marketing and now view having  their own site as an investment rather than a cost.

“In fact in recent months I’ve developed more e-commerce websites than standard ones as small retailers look at alternative ways to sell their goods and become more competitive.”

So far John has either completed or is in the process of developing sites for 30 businesses, with clients ranging from an art gallery and emporium to a building firm and fashion boutique.

And his knowledge and understanding of the island’s construction industry – acquired while running his own small building firm for several years – has definitely assisted him in growing the business.

He said: “I knew of suppliers who were well regarded in the local building trade but didn’t have a website, so they’ve been among my first customers. I’m now at the point where at least two customers a month come via a referral.”

And when it comes to recommendations, John cannot recommend the service and support he’s received from Dillon Boivin and the Activ team highly enough.

He said:  “When I decided to leave the building trade and take on a new venture, I didn’t particularly want the hassle of starting my own business from scratch or working for anyone else, so Activ suited me perfectly.”

“I’m the sort of person who tells it how it is and I can honestly say Activ are brilliant.

“I looked at several other web development related franchises before I invested in them but nothing impressed me.

“With Activ there are no hidden costs and its franchisees are not obliged to give a percentage of their earnings for each site developed to the franchise owners as is the case with other web development franchises.

“Also, some franchises operate an unrealistically high cost structure. In some instances they are charging customers as much as £1000 for a standard website package – rising to £3000 for an e-commerce site, which is just too expensive for smaller businesses.”

John is also impressed by the long term prospects offered by Activ UK – the online guide to local services established by Activ directors Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin.

He added: “I think Activ UK is a fantastic opportunity and as well as running it as a pay per click site I’m now boosting its potential by selling advertising space on my page, which  serves the Isle of Wight.

To find out more about Dillon’s franchise companies visit Activ’s main website.

Taking on an Activ Web Design franchise (one of the fastest-growing web design companies in the UK, of which Dillon is a Director) has enabled a husband and wife team to realise a long-held ambition of working together in their own IT-based business.

Cecilia and John Holden, who have between them more than 45 years’ experience in IT, acquired their franchise in July 2008 and now operate seven post code areas across Bedfordshire.
And for Cecilia, who used to work for a large international investment bank in the City, the decision has improved her life beyond all recognition.

She said: “My job used to entail a three and a half hour commute as well as travelling backwards and forwards to New York every few weeks. This may sound glamorous but the novelty soon wears off and despite being well paid in my old job, I am a million times happier since I decided to give it up and take on the Activ franchise with John.”

With help and guidance from Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin at Activ, the couple have now secured post code areas SG 15, 16, 17 and 19 as well as MK 40, 42 and 44 and are working hard to generate more business, primarily through networking.

Cecilia added: “I am among the core founders of a new BNI chapter in our region and have found networking an excellent way to promote Activ’s services and capabilities.

“The decision to buy the franchise has been a great move for John too, who had been running his own golf ball business but had been looking for an alternative to that.”

And, like other Activ franchisees across the country Cecilia values highly the help and technical support offered by Dillon Boivin and the Activ team.

She added: “Although we are essentially running our own businesses, when an issue arises such as a server problem, we really appreciate being able to contact Activ.”

In the course of her work as an Activ web designer Cecilia has helped a diverse range of businesses not only to gain an online presence but to update their existing web pages and address problems with their sites.

She added: “One customer, who had moved premises and wanted to update his contact details, couldn’t track down the people who had originally built it in 2000 and was being asked for £50 just to change his address.

“We managed to resolve his IT issues efficiently and cost-effectively as well as providing him with a better site.”

As someone who has worked in big business where huge budgets are often the norm, Cecilia relishes working with small concerns that are operating within much tighter cost controls.

She added: “In the past I’ve been used to working with organisation with annual budgets of £13 million but am now dealing with companies whose budgets are measured in units of £500.

“It’s fascinating to see how businesses can make £500 work for them and to play our part in helping  smaller companies to achieve higher sales,  profit and inquiry levels a result of us building them a  good website.”

THIS IS ONE OF THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MASSIVELY INCREASE YOUR WEBSITE TRAFFIC.

So what is an INBOUND LINK?

An inbound link is a link from another website to yours.

A link has 2 purposes, 1 is to get people to click on the link to visit your website and the other is to get search engines to take notice of your website.

It is getting the search engines to take notice that is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of getting links to your website.

A link to your site gives it credibility in the eyes of the search engines, they see a link as a ‘vote’ for your website and this MASSIVELY HELPS your search positions as well as your website traffic.

More great advice tomorrow

DillonAlthough this is day 5 of my success guide I am now going to explain about getting INBOUND LINKS to your website.

THIS IS ONE OF THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MASSIVELY INCREASE YOUR WEBSITE TRAFFIC.

So what is an INBOUND LINK?

An inbound link is a link from another website to yours.

A link has 2 purposes, 1 is to get people to click on the link to visit your website and the other is to get search engines to take notice of your website.

It is getting the search engines to take notice that is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of getting links to your website.

A link to your site gives it credibility in the eyes of the search engines, they see a link as a ‘vote’ for your website and this MASSIVELY HELPS your search positions as well as your website traffic.

More great advice tomorrow

DillonAlthough this is day 5 of my success guide I am now going to explain about getting INBOUND LINKS to your website.

THIS IS ONE OF THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MASSIVELY INCREASE YOUR WEBSITE TRAFFIC.

So what is an INBOUND LINK?

An inbound link is a link from another website to yours.

A link has 2 purposes, 1 is to get people to click on the link to visit your website and the other is to get search engines to take notice of your website.

It is getting the search engines to take notice that is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of getting links to your website.

A link to your site gives it credibility in the eyes of the search engines, they see a link as a ‘vote’ for your website and this MASSIVELY HELPS your search positions as well as your website traffic.

More great advice tomorrow

Dillon