Hot Tips
Both start-ups and growing businesses in the process of restructuring need to know that different types of businesses have different legal and tax rights and obligations. Make sure you do your homework as to which laws apply to yours. The most common types of businesses in Australia are: Sole trader: wholly liable, pays tax as […]
If you’ve built your brand and its domain name, you should consider buying collateral domain names to capture missed web traffic. Collateral domain names are those that may have different suffixes, for example ‘.net.au’ or ‘.biz’ instead of ‘.com.au’ or names similar to, or misspellings of, your domain name. Make sure you’re not infringing on […]
Business awards are designed to recognise and reward companies who show particular achievement in a given area. Types of awards include accolades within an industry, awards for general business excellence, recognition for an outstanding entrepreneur or business owner, and best practice judgements in areas such as corporate social responsibility. Entering awards can be a rewarding […]
Once established, plenty of businesses choose to grow their brand through word-of-mouth-via a company spokesperson, that is. If you or any of your senior staff are confident speakers or competent wordsmiths, you can position a personality within your business as an expert in your business’ sector or to represent business in general. Without spruiking your […]
When you step up from being a sole trader to being a small business, hiring one or more employees can be a daunting task. Here are some tips: Write a full job description of the role and an expected title Have a salary in mind but allow yourself some leeway for negotiation As most small […]
Online social networking has emerged as a new tool for businesses to infiltrate the internet. When used in the right way, online social networking can: Help businesses find new talent; Create buzz around the business; Assist business relationships by initiating interaction on a social level; Project a positive business image; Attract employees who want to […]
While marketing is about selling products, public relations is about selling the brand of your business to the general public, which requires a different take. Because PR is broader, you’ll need to try to diversify the ways in which you communicate about your business, both in form and content. This may mean targeting different types […]
Statistics are abound on the failure rate of small businesses but ‘failed’ business owners often forget they can learn a lot by taking feedback from failure. If something doesn’t work, take stock of why it didn’t work by analysing the parts of the process that led to the outcome. If there were factors beyond your […]
Unless you’re in the entertainment business, website distractions, such as ‘splash’ pages (the landing page of your site with a graphic or animation that acts as an introduction) and videos or music that start automatically, may turn people away from your site. The bells and whistles may be impressive, but they’re more likely to discourage […]
Using Flash animations is eye-catching and a must – but only if you’re selling Flash design as a service. For most businesses, having a website run on Flash is a waste. Although it looks good, there are plenty of visitors who are unable or unwilling to download the Flash program to view it, losing you […]
Managers are often told to conduct staff performance reviews but many don’t know how to maximise the feedback this process can provide. You should provide staff with: An objective, that is, what both parties should receive from the meeting; Questions to think about: how they see their role, themselves and interaction with others; Opportunity to […]
Many businesses jump on the bandwagon when it comes to trends without knowing what it entails, and blogging is one area that can turn web visitors off your site. If you don’t have the time, dedication or talent to maintain a blog, then it’s best that you don’t start one just because everyone else is. […]
Education and training is one employee retention strategy that could also add value to your business. Staff who have received educational investment from a business are more loyal to their employer because they feel valued and are thus more likely to stay with the business for longer. There are also added benefits to the business: […]
Ensure you have the most efficient administration systems in place by following these tips: Learn to use management software properly to optimise your use of them. Set aside a block of time to tackle difficult activities instead of approaching tasks in fragments. Ask staff for an activity template if you find you’re doing repeat tasks. […]
Unless you have developed a product or service to meet a niche directly, it can be hard to understand why consumers buy your product. The first step is to understand what benefits they may want from your product or service. Many businesses do not do this; they simply tout the specifications of the product or […]
Most businesses have password-protected networks but will this prevent people from viewing sensitive material? If you network holds soft copies of documents containing private information on your employees and/or customers or clients, you are legally obliged to make them inaccessible to everyone except approved personnel. Make sure the material is protected by permissions, so that […]
One of the best things about having an online presence is that information on it can be updated instantly. However, many businesses don’t take advantage of this benefit and often leave their website stagnant. Make sure you have access to a system that allows you to keep content updated, whether it’s a newsfeed, a blog […]
Debt recovery can come at a significant cost, but before you jump into legal action you should start with a letter of demand. Most debtors will respond to a letter of demand and, should you need to turn to legal action, a letter will have laid the groundwork for your claim. The letter should contain: […]
Many business owners worry about the days their employees have off when they’re not sick, but they should actually worry about the days employees come to work sick. In an environment where work comes first at any cost, staff feel obliged to come in when they’re ill, risking a loss of productivity on an individual […]
Did you know that 10 percent of an average company’s travel spend is wasted on unused tickets? And it’s not uncommon for travel coordinators to spend up to an hour a day on a simple point-to-point domestic booking which would have taken five minutes through an experienced travel manager. If you don’t already have a […]
