November 30 2016 Australian small businesses must innovate to win

Innovation: it’s a buzzword commonly heard in the realm of business, and for good reason. Entrepreneurs are encouraged by their mentors to innovate; the word appears in slogans and taglines across the web. So just what is innovation, and why is it so critical to the success of your small business? What is innovation? Most Read More…

November 24 2016 Five reasons to tap into the freelance economy

Whether you call it the ‘sharing’, ‘gig’, ‘freelance’ or ‘on demand’ economy, the way we work and hire has changed significantly in the past few years. Now, 30% of Australians are undertaking some form of flexible freelance work.  Over in the US, around 35% of the workforce is now considered ‘contingent’, with that number estimated Read More…

November 9 2016 The leadership traits that inhibit innovation

Throughout the world, the pace of digital disruption is increasing by the day.  Business models are being challenged, workplaces altered and career paths brought into question. Change has become the only constant. To survive in this ‘new normal’ world, organisations must constantly strive to innovate. Those that do stand to succeed, while those that don’t Read More…

November 2 2016 Why developing risk awareness within your small to medium business is an absolute must

Businesses must navigate a multitude of risks daily. While large companies tend to have dedicated “risk management” departments, which monitor threats to profitability, among SMBs, risk management often begins and ends with physical risks, including those posed by work health and safety hazards. But what of the risk of competition, market conditions, cyber security breaches and emerging industry disrupters? SMBs can’t afford to take these risks for granted, Read More…

October 25 2016 Smart capital: the case for seeking start-up funding from investors who lend their smarts

By seeking out ‘smart capital’, as distinct from seed funding, early stage SMEs can enhance their business acumen, avoid unnecessary start-up mistakes and increase their appeal to prospective investors, according to Kylie Hammond, founder and CEO of Director Institute. “Smart capital is money from an individual or group of individuals who can, by sitting on an Read More…

October 14 2016 Reinvigorate and boost sales with ‘smarketing’

It’s a tough time for retail sales, with Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showing this key driver of economic growth is stalling. Traditional sales tactics are becoming less effective due to the wealth of information freely available to people today and, thus, the rise of the savvy consumer. Trends globally echo this sentiment, with 57% of retailers agreeing buyers are less Read More…

October 11 2016 Stop Selling Like a Dinosaur!

When I say ‘stop selling like a dinosaur’, I’m referring to the old school approach of promoting your business – think letter box drops, lead boxes, door knocking. This scattergun approach tends to take up at lot of time and result in a low conversion. These days there are many more effective ways for you Read More…

September 29 2016 Five ways to close more deals in your business

As Alec Baldwin famously said in the film Glengarry Glen Ross: ‘Always Be Closing’. And there’s no shortage of people looking to become closers. Amazon has 439,752 book results when you search the word “sales”. From titles like “The Psychology of Selling” to “Secrets of a Master Closer”, all offering advice on how, when, and Read More…

September 23 2016 How to build a team of intrapreneurs 

The fastest way to build a team of intrapreneurs – i.e. entrepreneurial types who operate within an organisation they don’t own – is through a recruitment process that doesn’t involve phoning referees listed on CVs. When you’re recruiting, calling a listed referee on a CV will be a waste of time as they will always give a glowing reference. Employers Read More…

September 22 2016 Small retailers urged to trial not surcharging ahead of next year’s ban on excessive fees

In May, this year, the Reserve Bank of Australia released a new surcharging standard, which introduced a ban on excessive surcharges. The ban, which is being enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), commenced for large retailers this month but all other merchants have until 1 September 2017 to comply with it. Dynamic Read More…

September 14 2016 Domain names: why securing the right online ‘real estate’ can position a business for success

While some domain names cost businesses as little as $19 to register for a two-year period, some are literally selling for tens of thousands of dollars in Australia. As a pure investment, domain names are possibly the greatest ROI opportunity that exists. What’s the value in a domain name? All domain names are not created equal. Read More…

September 13 2016 Deliveroo’s Perth expansion has opened up doors in other states, says country manager

By expanding its on-demand food delivery service into Perth, Deliveroo has created new opportunities for growth in the other Australian capitals where it operates, according to country manager, Levi Aron. Founded in 2013 by William Shu and Greg Orlowski, the London-based company hit it’s 100th city milestone, last Tuesday, when it launched in Perth. Deliveroo’s Read More…

September 12 2016 What roles are suitable for start-ups and small businesses to send offshore?

Hiring skilled staff who are based offshore can transform your small business and position it for growth, but it’s a decision where you must look before they leap. A business with problematic management and poor retention, for example, will not suddenly rid itself of these issues by moving its accounts payable section offshore. Businesses are Read More…

September 9 2016 Why a well-designed IT disaster recovery and business continuity plan is essential

No one wants to think about disasters but they do happen, far more often than expected. IT risks to your business include hardware and software failure, human error, spam, viruses and malicious attacks, as well as natural disasters such as fires, cyclones or floods. According to a survey conducted by the Disaster Recovery Preparedness Council Read More…

September 8 2016 A creative freelancer can be your ‘secret weapon’ if you master the engagement process

The benefits of outsourcing a creative project to a specialist freelancer are endless for business owners. Firstly, you don’t have to delegate the task to a staff member who might not be the most skilled person for the job. You’re also freeing up internal resources to focus on their own role. And outsourcing to a creative freelancer Read More…