#Grow Your Business
Dane McBeth: Not your typical bestselling author
How Dane McBeth has taken on the self-publishing industry and won.
What to consider when expanding your business into a new market
Look before you leap if you are considering expanding into a new market.
QR code mobile coupons: worth it?
QR codes have been widely used as a marketing tool and when used effectively, can add value to the consumer experience. Using the codes for mobile coupons may be one such way.
Facebook: how frequently should I post?
Post infrequently and risk missing out on valuable exposure? Or post incessantly and risk irritating customers? How much is too much?
Old school vs new digital marketing
It wasn’t too long ago that ‘trends’ referred exclusively to what one would see in a fashion catalogue, and ‘hash tag’ was the disused key on a handset phone – is it a case of get-with-the-times, or die?
Expert advice on raising your brand’s profile
Question I’ve just started my own business selling natural horse care products. I manufacture them myself (at the moment) and am wondering what’s the best way to get them out there into the market and raise my brand profile, so I can grow my business? I usually sell them at horse shows and pony clubs […]
Not so super returns this financial year
Superannuation funds are bracing themselves for poor end of financial year results due to the stockmarket volatility of the last seven months. The stockmarket has lost around 20 percent of its value since November 2007, erasing an estimated $50 billion value from super investments. Funds expect returns of between minus two to minus 13 percent. […]
Starting a business becomes the new Australian dream
With property prices on the rise, starting a business has become the new dream for many young Australians. And when it comes to the newbies on the block, franchising is in. Franchising is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Australian economy, contributing 14 percent to GDP and employing more than 600,000 Australians, according to […]
Exporting eco-friendly wine
Protecting the environment is an uphill battle at times, but Andrew Peace Wines is charging in with a rather effective method, or should I say war cry? In a market saturated with options, your wine may find itself ageing a little too well. So how do you stand out from the pack? Andrew Peace, winemaker […]
The benefits of airfreighting for exporters
Transporting products by air is an expensive exercise, but some commodities wouldn't become exports without this method. Here's why some exporters learn to fly. It sounds like a jetsetter's lifestyle. One morning you're enjoying an early paddle in the waters off the coast of sunny Queensland and before you know it, you're at your dinner […]
Managing business assets with global credit insurance
Trade receivables management, protection and financing are becoming ever more complex in the age of mass customisation, intense competition and globalisation. The world of credit risk has many facets and events unfolding around the globe, with the US subprime market and fear of recession spreading, certainly have an impact on the Australian domestic market and […]
An Exporters guide to IP – Intellectual Property
Ideas may be free, but intellectual property should be valued and protected. Here's a guide to what to expect when you're trading in IP around the world. Protecting intellectual property (IP) is hard to get right. In a lot of cases there are businesses that never register trademarks or patent their great invention, only to […]
Exporting to Indonesia
Times are changing in Indonesia, bringing fresh opportunities for trade with a neighbour that's within swimming distance of our northern shoreline. It's time to ignore the negative stereotypes of the past and realise the potential of the Australia–Indonesia relationship. It's hard to avoid the impression that Indonesia and Australia are just like a couple of […]
Funding Export Research
Ian Murray's wishlist includes more money for export research and a comprehensive trade facilitation program. Apart from the issues I raised last month, discussing the review on trade policy and programs, there are two things the Australian government could address to improve the performance of our exporters, in particular those that service the export sector. […]
New Products: June 08
Mighty Mouse Compact and sleek, the Microsoft Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 is ideal for when you're on-the-go. The rechargeable mouse has 1GB of flash memory built into the receiver, so you can store and transfer files without carrying a separate flash drive and using up a USB port. Also, the five-button mouse comes with a […]
Packaged accounting software vs SaaS software
A growing number of businesses are forsaking packaged accounting software in favour of accessing it as a service over the world wide web. We investigate the benefits and improvements worth taking advantage of. When looking for a new accounting software package for his small business, Con Zeritris chose a relative newcomer to the accounting software […]
The benefits of VoIP
On everyone’s lips, VoIP is still a buzz word. But how much do you really know about it? If you’re looking to make the most of your communication processes, then read on. VoIP—what does it actually stand for? Most of us know Voice over Internet Protocol means calls are made over the internet, rather than […]
Changes to SME Finance
The changes to superannuation over the past two years have created an exciting opportunity for SME owners, even those nowhere near retirement age, giving them the ability to use their super to grow their business, control their premises and provide for a comfortable retirement all at the same time. Recent changes relevant to SMEs include […]
Do-it-yourself Superannuation
Small business owners are showing strong interest in managing their own money in saving for retirement and when no longer working full-time. Often, the management of their own self-managed super fund (SMSF) becomes their new ‘small business’ in retirement. Many businesspeople have been hesitant to start an SMSF because they have not known what is […]
Occupational health and safety obligations
Business owners, company directors, managers and supervisors all need to be aware of their occupational, health and safety (OHS) obligations. As the Federal Government begins a review of Australia's OHS legislation, we tell you everything you need to know to keep your staff safe. Under OHS legislation you are obliged to provide: · Safe premises […]
Planning for the new financial year
The start of a new financial year is always a good time to look at plans and activities that will help the business over the next 12 months. This year, planning will be even more important as businesses deal with a challenging economic environment, high interest rates, and low consumer confidence. Commentators and economists have […]
Selecting an accountant
Gavin Dixon says you shouldn't think of your accountant as the dentist, although, like the dentist, you shouldn't leave your visit too late. Your accountant isn't a person who inflicts pain with a calculator instead of a drill and should be avoided until a visit is absolutely necessary. Accountants are an important part of an […]
Selecting an accountant
Gavin Dixon says you shouldn't think of your accountant as the dentist, although, like the dentist, you shouldn't leave your visit too late. Your accountant isn't a person who inflicts pain with a calculator instead of a drill and should be avoided until a visit is absolutely necessary. Accountants are an important part of an […]
Australians unprepared for succession
Bill Hovey asks just how prepared are you for your exit and succession from the business? Each year, linchpin succession management undertakes a proprietary survey as part of a planned longitudinal study. The proprietary research undertaken over the past four years and other industry association research completed in the last 12 months provides some interesting […]