Nicki Cawood, Author at CURLY AND CANDID

Passing your driving test is quite a thrill. It offers the chance to enjoy the ability to go wherever you want, whenever you want. Driving represents freedom for many, and it is for that reason that buying your first car is an exciting, and meaningful moment in anyone’s life. As I’m writing this I’m very well aware that my first-born baby can apply for his provisional driving licence in three short years. That is nuts!

Getting the wrong car could turn out to be a costly mistake. There are lots of different things that can go wrong with a car. Some cars are riddled with maintenance issues and end up being in the garage more than on the road. Some cars can be money pits that you constantly need to keep throwing cash at. Then, of course, there is the aspect of road safety that comes along with certain maintenance issues.

Getting the right vehicle for you means doing your due diligence into the vehicle itself and making a considered decision about which car to go for.

New Vs. Used and Dealer Vs. Private Seller

Before you buy a car, you should decide how you plan on buying it. You could buy a brand new car straight off the forecourt of a Vauxhall dealer, or you could opt to buy a model that is a few years old from a used car dealer. Alternatively, you could also buy a used car directly from a private seller.

New cars come with warranties which mean that certain issues should not be a concern for you. They have financing options that could mean that you get to drive a much nicer car for less. However, new cars are obviously the most expensive route in the long-run.

Used cars from a dealer will often have had some work to present them in a more favourable light. You may still be able to get financing for the vehicle. However, the prices may be more than an equivalent car would be with a private seller.

With a private seller, you are buying from an unknown. You can expect to buy a car for a lower price than anywhere else, however, you do need to have your wits about you and check the car over fully before you buy it.

Buying Your First Car: Insurance Costs

Before you decide on the car that you will be buying, check out the insurance costs and road tax for the vehicle. Shop around for quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible and work out exactly what you will be looking at in terms of your regular running costs. Make sure you don’t buy a car that you cannot afford to keep.

Road Test The Car

When buying a car, be sure and road test it before you agree to take it. A lot can be revealed on a ten-minute drive. Make sure you test the car at a mixture of speeds and performing different manoeuvres. Listen for knocking sounds and pay attention to the car pulling to one side. These warning signs are an indication of problems that you may encounter once you own the car.

If at all possible, get a trusted mechanic to check out the car for you, especially if you are buying secondhand.

It’s All In The Planning

That old saying ‘fail to plan and you plan to fail’ is never more true than when it comes to organising a corporate event, whether it’s a little gathering for a few delegates or a large-scale conference. Your event plan is the bible and should be put together thoughtfully and treated with respect. Start by asking yourself not what you want to talk about, but what the audience is going to get. What value add are you offering in exchange for their time? Then consider your own objectives too. How will you measure ROI? What specific goals are you aiming for? How will you retain your edge? The next step is to consider how these two things meet. How can you serve the needs of the people you’re inviting and also achieve your own aims? If you can find this point, then you have the basic ingredients for a great event.

Planning a Successful Corporate Event: Think About Killer Content

An event is just so much fluff without some killer content at its heart. Whether it’s insightful videos, useful presentations or entertainment that enhances your message, putting together a programme that offers your guests something new is the other part of your success. Have a look at event industry trends to get some inspiration for what you’re planning. Staging something with the novelty factor is always attractive, but remember not to do it just for the sake of it. Really connecting with people is all about being authentic, so things have to be true to who you are as a business, and align with your vision and values to be truly successful.

Planning a Successful Corporate Event: Market Your Event Successfully

Any event is only as successful as the people that you can manage to draw to it. So a good event marketing plan also needs to be a part of your strategy. Spread the word using your social media channels to give a taster of what is to come. Design some marketing collateral that can be used by business partners and employees. Using an email as a channel to advertise events is still highly effective and can be relied upon to draw sign ups, so design an event email that is exciting and informs – preferably with a button for people to add it to their calendars directly from the email. Then design a series of follow-up communications designed to keep up interest and get a buzz going. Soon you’ll be all set for a brilliant event.