Tech

Small business take note: these are the brands that Aussies were Googling in 2012. What can you learn from the businesses that appear in this list?

Julie and Greg Dodge of Dandelyon Gifts in Queensland had their dreams set on opening an online store. But once they’d created it, they found they weren’t getting the traffic they desired.

The NSW Government has announced a new initiative to drive economic growth in the SME sector.

One way to get attention directed at your business is through a viral marketing campaign. But what makes a successful one? We take you through some of the biggest viral video and online campaigns over the last ten years.

You’ve got a smartphone but you’re not sure how best to use it? Try installing some of these apps that will help you organise, learn about and run your business in the new year.

Social media research can be very useful buy it is not perfect. The best way to use it is as just one tool in your market research toolbox.

Mobile is slowly overtaking desktop computers as the primary technology used to access the internet. This can be a cause of concern for the majority of Australian businesses, including franchises, which do not have a mobile ready website.

Social media and online shopping is transforming retail. SAP retail industry lead Merjin Helle outlines the strategies retail leaders can adopt to take advantage of engaged customers.

If you don’t have the money for paid advertising or pay-per-click, getting people to your site can seem like an uphill task.

Social business refers to this new paradox that we are all facing as small business owners. The way we do business has changed. Our customers want to connect with us in their preferred channels – not ours.

For retailers, online marketing may seem like the evil empire stealing their customers and hard won dollars… not so. Many customers research online before buying in-store.

Just when you think you’ve got your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tactics sorted, Google announce an algorithm change and you’re back to square one. So how can you stay on top?

Visual imagery can make or break your business in the social media age. Introducing your staff online is one way to better connect with customers.

Social networks are a forum for business leaders to demonstrate that they are leaders – using their expertise to help the community with advice and guidance.

Australia’s digital economy exploded in 2012 with online shopping, social networking and a near doubling of smartphone ownership driving the boom. There are now 11.36 million Facebook users in Australia, while 49 percent of us now own a smartphone.

In October, I was fortunate enough to attend the International Search Summit conference in New York. For those who have not yet attended an ISS, make sure you put it as your New Year’s resolution for 2013.

Customers have become more in control of how they interact with us but we are yet to make the leap of mapping our goals to that of the customer needs and concerns with the solutions our products or services provide.

Sick of having the phone slammed down? Here are some tips for successfully following up with media agencies.

Need a new pair of running shoes? Broke your water bottle? You can now order these items – and many, many more – online thanks to Matt Brodie and Andrew Kidd.

We’re more accessible to each other in the digital realm than we’ve ever been in the physical realm, and there’s no denying it – we’re living in an age where online connectivity is a major means of communication.