What Would Google Do?

I have just read a fantastic book by Jeff Jarvis entitled "What Would Google Do?" Without involving Google, Jeff has written a book in which he tries to analyse the phenomenal success of Google and break this down into principles. These principles and concepts include such maxims as "Do what you do best and then link to the rest". This is the idea that because there is so much useful content on the web, there is no point reinventing the wheel but focus on what you do and write about best and then create links to the other areas. By creating links this increases your "Googlejuice" which is the term for how strong your rating is on the Google search engines and so how high you will appear on the search results.

Other concepts include think niche, think distributed. Your worst customer is your best friend and your best customer is your partner. This gives advice on how to deal with negative copy on the web whether by comments on a blog, a separate blog or website.

Jeff then applies these Google laws and applies them to various businesses and industries such as book publishing, newspapers, banking, venture capitalism, health, politics and retail.

I would strongly recommend getting hold of a copy of this book. It is the sort of book that makes you re-think your whole attitude to doing business. It makes you think in a global way and helps you understand the new business landscape that is opening in the wake of the post-credit crunch crisis. It explains the whole concept of the free economy and gives concrete advice on how to make money in the new Google era. It really is the sort of book that urgently needs to be read to avoid falling victim to the companies who understand the web and its power.

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Solicitors protest against "Tesco Law"

You may have seen in the news a group of solicitors protesting outside of the Royal Courts of Justice about the prospect of supermarkets banks and other non-legal firms offering legal services. They handed out cans of baked beans labelled "Legal Services by Supermarkets is as ridiculous as lawyers selling beans".

Isn't this typical of the legal profession. Opposing competition, 19 months after the passing of the Legal Services Act 2007. Lawyers will not be able to wind the clock back. Pandora is out her box. Solicitors have lost their monopoly.

It would have been far better for solicitors to think how they are going to improve their service rather than expect sympathy from the public by protesting outside the Law Courts. For years solicitors have dispensed diabolical service, with scant disregard for commercial realities and the client's objectives. It is high time the profession had a shake up.

I for one welcome the competition. Tescos and other big legal providers are unlikely to have large in-house legal departments. They will create panels of solicitors who will have to adhere to strict Service Level Agreements which if breached will result in termination of their contracts. They will initially pitch fees at an attractive level for solicitors to build up good quality panels but like the dairy farmers and poultry producers they will then be squeezed and in the end it will only be the law firms who run their operation on industrial factory farming principles who will be able to make a profit.

Will clients benefit from this factory model? Well it will certainly be fixed fees and cheaper than your current high street conveyancer. However, the nature of the operation will mean you are unlikely to be dealing with a qualified solicitor. This may not matter because most people just need to know where they are in the transaction which is mainly an information-giving process.

What should solicitors do? Well, they are still (remarkably) trusted by the vast majority of the public. I believe that providing outstanding levels of personal customised service is the key to the "Tesco Law" alternative. Check out our Client Service Commitments on our web site for an idea of the level of service which law firms will need in order to compete in the new legal market.

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Top 11 Tips for Commercial Landlords in a Recession

Landlords are having a tough time at the moment with Tenants going to the wall each week. How can Landlords protect themselves from this climate of fear?

Here are our top 11 tips for landlords of commercial properties:

1. Keep a close eye on rent payment delays-this is an early warning of Tenants having difficulties

2. Check your lease terms for break options for both Landlord and Tenant. You don't want your Tenant disappearing unexpectedly. Equally if the tenant is a persistent late payer, you could be better off with a more finacially stable tenant. A Landlord's break option could be a blessing.

3. Is a rent deposit held for the tenant? Check the amount of the rent deposit and its terms for release and withdrawal.

4. Check for personal guarantees from the existing tenant/previous guarantors or guarantors under an Authorised Guarantee Agreement. You might need to tap into these resources at short notice. Be prepared.

5. Put Tenant's information on your computer with parties under the lease, guarantors names and addresses and contact details, rent payment dates, rent review dates, break dates and notice periods. This will enable you to respond at a moment's notice if there is a problem. A simple Microsoft or Google spreadsheet would be more than sufficient for the purpose.

6. Check the dilipidations situation and if necessary commission an interim schedule of dilapidations and serve a Section 146 Notice and Schedule on the Tenant and its advisers. This is usually the biggest shock for any tenant. It may be that the Landlord has to tap into a rent deposit and guarantors if the premises has been allowed to deteriorate.

7. Charge interest if Tenant is frequently late in paying rent. Many Landlords forget to this and though the interest rates are not usually high, it adds up if a Landlord has a large portfolio.

8. Beat the receiver/adminstrator/liquidator. If an adminstration or liquidation order is made then there will be moratorium on the Landlord exercising its usual remedies in the event of tenant default.

9. Discuss with the Tenant ways of alleviating pressure eg. monthly rent payments, rent holidays, rent decreases

10. Distrain for rent arrears either by seizing the Tenant's goods or by taking walking possession. This ancient remedy may disappear in the future and see Point 8 in an insolvency scenario.

11. Speak to your legal adviser about other possible solutions. There are often things which a lawyer can spot which the Landlord hasn't spotted. Send a copy of the Lease to your adviser as quickly as possible. It might save you some money.

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Welcome to the Beeton Edwards Blog

Welcome to the new firm of Beeton Edwards LLP, a niche property practice based in Southampton.

We specialise in developing innovative solutions for clients to speed up the legal process. We will provide legendary client service to all of our clients.

We will provide exceptional value to you and your business by giving you the advice and ideas that will make your business profitable and successful in these challenging economic times.

Check out our blogs and email newsletters if you are not already subscribers which we will be launching in June. They are packed full of useful advice to help your businesses.

Contact us today to experience a different type of law firm. We think you will be delighted.

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