About Angus Jones

Angus started his first small business in 1989 and has since gone on to have a successful career in marketing. He realised although there were many websites for small business none was addressing the question of how to. Angus has a passion to articulate benefits that add value to customers/readers.

Customer Wi-Fi network

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Angus Jones

If you own a restaurant or café or have suppliers or customers visiting your premises, you have probably considered offering a customer Wi-Fi network. Is it expensive? How hard is it to do? This guide will explore why you should have a guest Wi-Fi network and how easy it is to offer and ensure you secure all your data from your guests.

A customer or guest Wi-Fi network is a separately named network (or SSID) from your Wi-Fi router. This guest network will provide access to the internet but not to allow connection to any other devises on your network.

WHY should you offer a guest network?

As the price of Mobile data (internet from your mobile phone carrier) continues to fall, you could conclude that your customers could just as easily use their own data.

Reasons to offer a guest network:

Limited smartphone coverage. Customers can still access the internet if there is poor mobile phone reception.
Encourage people to use their laptops. It is potentially easier to connect to a permanent Wi-Fi network than to switch on a Wi-Fi hotspot from their phone. Thus, mobile workers may come to your café to work and spend money on a coffee or lunch.
Customer service. Having a supplier or customer regularly visit you is an advantage. Thus, making it easy for them to work from your premises will facilitate this.
More reliable internet connection. Many factors are at play when using a mobile data connection to the internet. Wi-Fi from a high speed fixed NBN connection can be more reliable.
Means to gather customer data. When logging onto a Guest Wi-Fi network, you can request customer contact data and ask permission to communicate with them. This allows you to build a database of customers to which you can market too.
Customised splash page – When a customer connects to your network, it is possible to display a customised page. Here you can promote your brand, make offers and reassure customers they are on a secure network.
“Free Wi-Fi”. People still feel they are getting something for free.

WHAT do I need to understand about a customer Wi-Fi network?

Each Wi-Fi base station (or effectively an antenna) has a range of between 20 to 40m line of sight. This range will dimmish with each solid item the signal must pass through, like a wall, window, chair, table etc. There is a limit to how many devices Wi-Fi can connect at once based on the number of channels and antenna’s the base station offers. A standard router will support around 30 devices. A device is anything that connects, whether a customer’s smartphone, laptop or your POS cash register.

To add more coverage and more devices, you can add a 2^nd or more base stations. Your first base station must be a Wi-Fi router that acts as a policeman. Each subsequent base station offers a new Wi-Fi signal extending the range and the number of devices supported.

These additional base stations are known as Wi-Fi Extenders. Suppose your guest network extends over more than one base station. In that case, you will have different network names for your customers to connect to the network. This can be overcome with a mesh network that seamlessly roams between base stations using the same network name (SSID). A mesh network will provide a more stable and faster internet speed for users.

A Guest Wi-Fi network is a way to offer your customers easy access to the internet without also giving them access to your LAN, computers, printers, cameras etc. You do not want anyone gaining access to your accounts or using your printer for free. This means your customers will be securely partitioned from your business or home network.

Let us assume you are running a restaurant and 30 of under 16 netball competition turn up for dinner. Your guest network suddenly becomes very popular. Let us also believe that you have a POS ordering system running off Wi-Fi tablets, Wi-Fi printers in the kitchen, A Wi-Fi cloud-based cash register and your children out the back being entertained by a Netflix movie. If everyone can access bandwidth, chances are your staff will have trouble getting internet access to take the food orders.

This can be overcome by restricting the bandwidth on the guest network. Better still, if you could set up different networks (SSID) such as one for customers (guests), one for the staff POS tablets, one for the back office and one for staff’s personal use, this would be ideal. Then having the ability to adjust bandwidth between each network allows you to ensure your business is always running as it should. A home-based Wi-Fi router is unlikely to have more than two SSID’s that you can set up. A business-based router solution will enable you to have multiple SSID’s.

HOW do I choose and set up the right Wi-Fi router?

A simple guide on purchasing and setting up a router can be found here.

Your customers will want free, fast and easy-to-access Wi-Fi, so you should consider this when making your purchase decision and setting up.

Choosing a business Wi-Fi router solution:

When making your decision, you should take the following into account.

Look for an internet Wi-Fi router that is specifically designed for small businesses. This will generally mean it will have the capability to handle more devices than home and offer security features to protect your business.

Wi-Fi 6 is the latest version of the Wi-Fi standard that is available. Although most devices do no support it yet, they will moving forward, so this helps to future proof your network. Wi-Fi 6 brings several new smarts, including speed, stability and security enhancements.

Triband mesh is a technology that allows a third Wi-Fi channel to provide a dedicated backhaul for a router base station and its satellite base station to communicate. This ensures there will be no interferes with the satellite extender getting the internet bandwidth it needs. Mesh technology allows you to have a single network name across your base stations delivering Wi-Fi attached devices a more reliable and quicker connection.

The number of antennas will determine the maximum number of devices that can connect to your Wi-Fi router. The more employees and the larger the number of devices you attach to a router starts to compete for resources.

Most routers will have an App for your smartphone that will allow some control. Most of you will want set and forget functionality. Still, it is useful to have an App that offers a user-friendly interface to assess current conditions. It is also handy to deny access to a device like an ex-employee’s smartphone from your network without resetting passwords. Some routers also allow you to prioritise some devices and restrict others, which is especially useful when you prioritise your POS system for ordering or sales.

Having enough internet bandwidth is important for any business. Although not really a buying decision for your router, you should take it into account. For those businesses with very high-speed requirements such as the transfer of video. You should also ensure your Wi-Fi router can support your internet connection speeds (speeds greater than 1Gbps).

On the rear of a router, you will find several Ethernet ports. These allow cable connection to your modem (internet into your business) and devices only supporting a wired ethernet connection. Devises such a streaming TV, a fixed connection will deliver better results. Consider how many ethernet ports your router has. An ethernet switch can always be purchased to add additional ethernet ports to your setup.

Look for a router that will allow a printer or hard drive to be directly plugged into a USB port. This will give you the option to share a non-network printer and or turn a hard drive into a shared storage devise.

A Wi-Fi router designed for business is normally quite a complicated solution requiring professional setup and selection of components. However, some out-of-the-box solutions are available (we discuss one below) that are easy to set up administer and will meet most small business needs.

Ideally, you want a set and forget network that will not detract from you running your business. Look for a solution that does not require an IT expert to set it up, maintain it, and will send you alerts only when something has gone wrong. Thus you are already fixing an issue before your staff start complaining. E.g. notification that your router has lost internet connection or has been turned off.

The cost of a Wi-Fi router solution will be determined by the quality and the features. Remember that a few extra dollars spent on getting the right product the first time will save you many headaches down the track. A home network Wi-Fi router that supports a guest network can be bought for as little as $200. However, if you expect to professionally support an office or hospitality venue, you should spend $500 to $1500 the first time around.

How to set up a Guest/ customer Wi-Fi network?

Each router will have its specific setup instructions. Once you have connected the Wi-Fi router to the modem and powered up, it will set up a default network. We suggest you make the following adjustments for a business environment that can be completed through a smartphone app or an internet browser on the same network.

Separate employee and customer network names or SSID’s. This allows the quarantining of devices on different networks in your business so customers can never access your business devices, and priority can be given to network and internet resources. E.g. you might want your POS tablets to have unlimited resources but limit your customers to 1 Mbps download speeds.
An ideal situation would be to have a separate network for staff, business and customers.

Passwords. Set up unique passwords for each SSID, ensuring that your customer-facing ones are easy to remember and related to your business

Limit data or time. There is a fine balance between encouraging people into your café with free Wi-Fi and what is called Wi-Fi or Internet squatters. If a customer orders a coffee, that’s great. Still, if that same customer occupies a table for 3 hours with no further purchases, that is not great. A good router should limit guests to a set time (e.g. 1hr) for free Wi-Fi and put a cap on how much data they can download.

Security. To protect your business and your customers, you should ensure that only secure logins are possible. A minimum level of encryption called WPA-2 should be enabled. This will ensure customers will not be able to see other customers network traffic.

HINTS

To improve your internet, see this guide in our sister publication GadgetGuy.

A good quality router will allow you to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN), enabling you to access resources on your network from a remote location. E.g. access files saved on network-attached storage devise at your business from your home.

If everything discussed above is becoming a bit complicated and you feel that this is beyond you? There is a purpose-built out of the box solution that Small Business Answers has tested. The orbi PRO AX6000 from Netgear RRP $1,499 is a simple business solution that will cover up to 550 square metre premises. This latest generation Wi-Fi 6 Mesh triband router can also be expanded with additional base station satellites, all with a dedicated Wi-Fi backhaul channel. The orbi Pro will support 90 concurrent devices across four SSID’s. This means you have four business-grade secure networks for the back office, staff, IoT devices (e.gPOS) and guests. The router and the satellite each have a 1 x 2.5Gbps internet port and 4 GbE ports allowing up to 8 devices connected by ethernet cable. The Orbi Pro supports the latest security protocols, including WPA3, which means people will be safe on your network. As seen in this image, we especially like the ability to control the guest network with a splash entry page, guest SSID bandwidth control, and time limit.

The Orbi PRO uses the NETGEAR insight app to allow easy setup and management of your router. This app will alert you if the router goes offline or the internet is lost. If you are more technical and want further control and management. The orbi PRO comes with a 1-year insight subscription, which will help you manage other network devices if your network goes beyond the orbi.

Also, see our guide on IT support getting help with technology.

SUMMARY – Customer Wi-Fi network

A customer or guest Wi-Fi network is a great way to improve customer or supplier relations. If set up correctly, it will be an easy-to-use and secure internet access solution without impacting your business key network-attached business devices.

Networking a business can be a daunting proposition. Still, out of the box solutions mean the whole process can be painless. Understanding what is involved and how to make minor setting changes will ensure your business gets the most out of this technology.

Epson RapidReceipt to manage receipts

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Angus Jones

New RapidReceipt RR-600W scanner and software solutions help digitise, organise and manage receipts, invoices and documents

To help ease the burden on small businesses, gig workers and consumers, Epson has launched the new RapidReceipt^® RR-600W fast, easy and smart receipt and document scanning solution.

There is no denying how organising and managing financial information can be overwhelming, especially with the sheer amount of receipts, invoices, expenses, and critical paperwork that most small and home offices accumulate. It is very easy for documents to pile up. The arduous task of manually processing each one can be time-consuming and cumbersome. The result is often data-entry errors and the risk of lost data, ultimately costing businesses valuable time and money.

RapidReceipt is the only solution in the market specifically designed to organise and manage receipts and invoices. Perfect for small business owners, office managers, road warriors, field-based workers, consultants and gig economy workers who often wear multiple hats and are short on time and resources. RapidReceipt with receipt and invoice management software is a simple, cost-effective and time-saving financial management solution.

With Epson’s leading technology and success in the scanning market, the company focused its expertise on delivering a unique scanning solution to help alleviate their common pain points. Developed with very small and nimble businesses in mind. The RapidReceipt is the ultimate organised digital filing cabinet that enables easy financial document management of all types of information with incredible efficiency.

Cloud intergration to manage receipts

The RapidReceipt scanner includes Epson ScanSmart^® Accounting Edition software, which converts stacks of unorganised receipts and invoices into actionable digital data. Small business owners and consumers can finally say goodbye to manually entering data because RapidReceipt software accurately extracts and organises data from receipts and invoices and seamlessly integrates into Excel^® spreadsheets or third-party applications such as MYOB^®, XERO^®, and more. Users can also scan directly to cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive™ and OneDrive.

A well-planned organising system can make financial management much easier. So Epson engineered RapidReceipt scanners with speed, image quality, efficiency, and low cost in mind. The RapidReceipt RR-600W wireless desktop scanner is built for productivity, capturing both sides of a document in one pass with blazing speeds as fast as 35 ppm/70 ipm.

It features a robust 100-page Auto Document Feeder accommodating stacks of paper of varying sizes and includes an intuitive 4.3″ touchscreen and convenient USB port so users can scan directly to a USB memory drive without a computer.

Included software

The RR-600W also includes a TWAIN driver for easy integration to most document management software. It includes Kofax^® Power PDF^® for Windows^® and PDF Converter for Mac^® to allow users to simply create searchable and editable PDFs, at no extra cost.

With NewSoft^® Presto! BizCard^® software included with the RapidReceipt RR-600W, users can easily scan business cards and manage contact information.

Epson scanners deliver amazing image quality and intelligent image adjustments with automatic cropping, blank page deletion, background removal, dirt detection, paper skew correction, and staple protection capabilities so users can scan worry-free.

Availability

The Epson RapidReceipt RR-600W desktop scanner is available now for an RRP of $699 from Epson Australia by going to: https://www.epson.com.au/rapidreceipt/ and from all authorised Epson resellers.

Also, see Small business Answers guides on record keeping for small business and expense management.

Sony Professional Displays new range

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Angus Jones

Sony Professional Displays is strengthening its B2B display portfolio by adding the BZ40J series in 100-inch and the BZ30J series in 75-inch, 65-inch, 55-inch, 50-inch, 43-inch and 32-inch. These new additions are designed to accommodate corporate and education environments of varying sizes, from large conference rooms and lecture halls to small meeting rooms and huddle spaces, as well as diverse digital signage applications.

The new BRAVIA Sony Professional Displays incorporate Pro Mode, enabling users to easily customise settings to suit different behaviours based on applications and environments. In contrast, One Step Setting allows for quick optimisation at the touch of a button. IP control allows for easy installation and integration through support from key partners. Additionally, the latest displays’ mirroring capabilities provide exceptional connectivity through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and both Chromecast built-in™ and Apple AirPlay® 2, allowing for a quick and easy connection from a user’s device, allowing them to control, stream and share content simply.

Both new BRAVIA professional series boasts a powerful new System on a Chip (SoC) platform, with a built-in Android™ OS system that offers an upgraded interface for efficient ease of use, fast boot-up and seamless application integration. The new displays are thoughtfully designed with a side logo and installation-friendly terminals to provide flexibility and meet the demands of the B2B market. They also feature the latest 4K HDR processor X1™, which enhances colour, contrast, clarity and motion to produce unrivalled pictures, as well as TRILUMINOS PRO technology to produce realistic imagery with a wide range of vivid colours.

BRAVIA Professional Displays can enhance the quality of presentation materials, communications, photos and videos by conveying textures and amplifying expression through the clarity of 4K resolution and more realistic HDR colour spaces, which accurately reproduce a wide range of colours and provide high-contrast imagery. The full line-up of BRAVIA Professional Displays is available in sizes ranging from 32-inches up to 100-inches.

Pricing and Availability – Sony Professional Displays

Model	Size	AU $SRP	NZ $SRP	Available From
FW-100BZ40J	100 inch	$24,999	$28,999	September 2021
FW-75BZ30J	75 inch	$3,699	$4,399	October 2021
FW-65BZ30J	65 inch	$2,799	$3,199	October 2021
FW-55BZ30J	55 inch	$1,949	$2,299	October 2021
FW-50BZ30J	50 inch	$1,729	$1,999	November 2021*
FW-43BZ30J	43 inch	$1,499	$1,749	November 2021*
FW-32BZ30J	32 inch	$1,329	$1,549	October 2021

*October 2021 for New Zealand

Need to know changes to superannuation

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Angus Jones

Australia has one of the most successful superannuation systems globally, designed to provide much needed financial security to our ageing population.

Since 2014, our superannuation system, including guarantee rates, have remained largely unchanged. However, on 1 July 2021, sweeping changes to our superannuation system came into effect, including an increase in the guaranteed rate and systemic reforms.

While the aim of these changes is to improve Superannuation for all Australians, they may also increase the compliance burden on small businesses, requiring them to adapt their payroll processes and systems.

To help your business navigate these complex requirements, here’s an overview of the changes to Superannuation introduced this year and their impacts:

Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate increase

From 1 July, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate increased from 9.5% to 10%. It will rise 0.5% each year thereafter until it reaches 12% by July 2025.

While some businesses may be able to absorb the rise in costs, others may be faced with difficult decisions around how to make up for the 0.5% increase.

For businesses unable to allocate additional money toward employees’ take-home pay, it’s crucial that you are now aware that salary sacrifice arrangements cannot be used to account for the extra 0.5%.

Penalties for non-compliance

It is more important than ever to ensure your organisation is paying the correct amount of Superannuation to its employees, given the ATO’s severe penalties for non-compliance.

Underpaying an employee’s Superannuation can result in the employer paying 10% interest on the shortfall, in addition to a $20 administration fee per employee, per quarter.

It’s also critical to be aware of the significant implications of missing a superannuation payment.

Changes to superannuation concessional caps

In addition to the SG rate increase, from 1 July 2021, concessional superannuation caps were raised, allowing employees to voluntarily contribute more to their retirement nest egg.

For individuals, the cap on concessional contributions has increased from $25,000 a year to $27,500. At the same time, the cap on non-concessional contributions has also increased from $100,000 to $110,000 a year.

But what does this mean for small business owners?

It’s important for employers to remind their employees that concessional contributions made in excess of this amount may be subject to higher tax rates and an excess contributions charge.

In addition, the Federal Government has also set a maximum limit on paying an employee’s SG contributions. For 2021/22, the limit is $58,920 per quarter, so you only need to pay SG contributions on any amount an employee earns up to $58,920 per quarter for this financial year.

Introduction of Super Stapling

One of the most significant reforms to the superannuation system is the introduction of “Super Stapling.” From 1 November 2021, employers are obligated to make contributions to new employees existing superannuation fund if they have one. The employee will then be “stapled” to that fund, which will follow them from job to job.

The measure is designed to reduce the number of Australians with multiple superannuation accounts; however, it is also likely to place increased pressure on small businesses to keep up with the associated compliance requirements.

The introduction of super stapling means employers will need to update their onboarding process for new hires to ensure the following conditions are met:

If your new hire nominates a preferred fund, you must make superannuation payments into this account.
If your new hire does not nominate a preferred fund, you must contact the ATO to see whether the employee has an existing fund – the ‘stapled fund’ – and you must make superannuation payments into this account; or
If your new hire does not have a stapled fund and does not nominate a fund, you must create a new account with your nominated default super fund.

Phase two of Single Touch Payroll

The first phase of Single Touch Payroll (STP) was launched in 2019 for small businesses (i.e. those with 19 employees or less) as a means of reporting tax and superannuation information correctly to the ATO. From 1 January 2022, the second phase of STP will commence – six months later than initially planned.

As part of the second phase, employers will be required to report additional information through STP on or before each payday. This will extend the reach and scope of STP beyond the ATO to include Services Australia and other government agencies.

For businesses and their software vendors, making the changes necessary to provide the increased level of employee data required by STP Phase 2 will inevitably be a monumental task. To avoid issues, partner with a payroll software vendor you can trust and who can guide you through the process of significant change.

Changes to superannuation – Setting up for success

While the superannuation changes will positively impact Australians’ superannuation balances, small businesses are now faced with additional requirements to ensure payroll compliance. Amidst continuing lockdowns across much of the country and a shaky economic environment, small businesses should be looking at ways to outsource risk and compliance when it comes to their payroll systems. By investing in the right payroll technologies, small businesses should be able to mitigate the impact of the new changes to Superannuation.

Written by Luke Thomas, Product Marketing Manager, People and Payroll, The Access Group

Also, see Small Business Answers guide to Superannuation.

eftpos launching QR code payments

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Angus Jones

eftpos announced it had built its new QR code payments experience infrastructure on schedule, with the first commercial trials to be announced in the coming weeks.

eftpos CEO Stephen Benton said the first stage of QR infrastructure was built in early July and was designed to provide secure and enhanced consumer purchasing and engagement experiences through loyalty, offers, receipts and added security. Testing of the new QR code infrastructure is underway, and end to end testing will be completed when the first merchant is live in August.

“There had been considerable demand to work on various QR solutions with several merchants across different business categories including entertainment, charities, and quick services restaurants, in addition to several FinTech partners, gateways, banks and digital wallet providers,” Mr Benton said.

“It’s exciting to see the build come to life at such pace and experiencing demand beyond initial expectations. It means we can start to bring exciting new commercial applications to market sooner and aim to provide Australians with better, consistent, data-rich, digital payments experiences no matter where they choose to shop – online, on their mobile or at the checkout.”

“There is no doubt that QR codes are now familiar to Australian retailers and consumers because of COVID. We can begin to use that experience and knowledge in new ways that create value through end to end digital wallet payment experiences that are designed here, especially for the local Australian market.”

“The infrastructure itself is focused on building out new experiences beyond payments, addressing some common pain points, including loyalty, redemption, splitting payments and storing digital warranties, and also digital receipts – which is particularly helpful at tax return time,” Mr Benton said.

Using an agile approach, the broader eftpos Group team, leveraging its experience with QR codes in the Australian market, built the eftpos QR infrastructure quickly due to their technical expertise and familiarity with the eftpos network.

Mr Benton said eftpos was looking forward to collaborating with FinTechs and other industry partners to develop uniquely Australian solutions enhancing consumer and retail experiences to flourish in this market and drive greater value to help grow businesses.

While eftpos’ Beem It will be the first integrated QR wallet, eftpos remains wallet and partner agnostic, thus allowing consumers to initiate and transact securely with their preferred digital wallet.

eftpos’ strategy is focused on driving digital competition in Australia and choice for consumers and merchants via an integrated experience. The infrastructure allows merchants to grow their sales with low-cost eftpos QR code acceptance using enriched data and integrated customer loyalty services that can help them upsell in real-time. All by leveraging eftpos’ robust and secure Australian owned network infrastructure.

Also see Small Business Answers guide to eftpos.

City of Sydney Grants & Donations

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Angus Jones

The City will provide $5 million in grants and donations and an additional $7.8 million in estimated revenue foregone each month to provide relief through fee waivers, rent reduction, quick response grants and food security.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City was preparing to revitalise the city through more outdoor dining, live music, events and performances when the health crisis has passed.

“The pandemic has had a severe impact on our community and economy. We are providing support through the crisis and ensuring we’re ready to help breathe life back into the city when lockdowns are lifted,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Funding the provision of food and masks and offering rapid response grants to community organisations and initiatives will help us support our most vulnerable.

“As restrictions ease, we will once again need to revitalise our city and attract workers and visitors back, safely. We are opening an exciting new grants program that will encourage neighbouring businesses and creatives to collaborate on events and activations that will enliven whole city precincts.

“We will continue to work closely with the NSW Government to help businesses reopen, attract patrons and operate in a Covid-safe way when the lockdown lifts.”

The state and the federal government recently announced a joint multi-billion-dollar Covid-19 support package to provide immediate financial relief for businesses across Greater Sydney. In complementing the government’s package, the City’s immediate relief and the post-lockdown package will support Sydney businesses and the economy as part of its overarching community recovery plan goals.

The grants and donations program includes:

· $4 million in grants for businesses and creatives to collaborate on initiatives to support reactivation post-lockdown, including funding for resources to do so.

· $8.9 million cash and value-in-kind through existing City grant programs to support economy, culture and community.

· An additional $250,000 in new Covid-19 community emergency quick response grants to support small-scale initiatives which build the capacity of our communities to respond to the current impacts of the pandemic.

· Donations of $300,000 each for OzHarvest and Foodbank and $100,000 for SecondBite to enable vulnerable communities to access food.

· $50,000 for masks for vulnerable communities and increased communication to connect people with mental health and social connection support services.

· Extension of the successful outdoor dining program and waiving of associated fees across the local government area until 30 June 2022.

· Continuing existing fee waivers for footway dining, venue hire, banners, parking services, childcare and health and compliance activities and work with tenants in City-owned properties on rent rebates for the lockdown period, at an estimated total value of $7.8 million per month.

Donations to vulnerable communities and community emergency quick response grants will be made as soon as possible.

The Lord Mayor said that lockdowns were taking a devastating social, health and economic toll and would require a concerted effort from all levels of government to recover from.

“The need for such drastic action highlights just how serious the situation is. It also highlights just how seriously we have been let down by the Federal Government,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We need an urgent rollout of vaccines, greater health and safety in quarantine for incoming travellers and more support for businesses and people – including the urgent reinstatement of JobKeeper.

“It is the Federal Government’s role to look after people. It is the State Government’s role to look after businesses. It is the City’s role to reinvigorate the CBD and attract workers, visitors and tourists back to support our businesses when the time comes – but we must survive before we can look to recovery.

“We can’t shut the economy down and expect people to stay home without proper support. JobKeeper helped Sydney’s businesses and workers through the worst of the first lockdown. We need it back, now. And we need vaccines and an effective campaign that tells people it’s our duty to get vaccinated – for each of us, our families, our communities, our economy and future.”

The lockdown recovery package builds on the $72.5 million support package released by the City in April 2020 for small businesses, artists and others in the creative and community sectors, and the $20 million CBD revitalisation fund established by the City and NSW government in October 2020 to boost the city centre economy and support businesses over the summer months.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the City has also operated a business concierge service to provide one-on-one advice and support to local businesses and organisations about the support available from the City of Sydney and how to access state and federal packages.

Businesses can contact our concierge service on 02 9265 9333 Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm or email CityConcierge@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For more information, go to https://news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/articles/light-relief-through-lockdown-our-response

Also, see Small Business Answers guide on Grants for Small Business.

D-Link AC1900 Mesh Wi-Fi Extender – Review

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Angus Jones

A Wi-Fi extender will allow you to extend the Wi-Fi coverage within your business or home.

If you are in the market for a Wi-Fi extender, we suggest you read Small Business Answers guide to Wi-Fi extenders first.

The DAP-1900 D-Link AC1900 Mesh Wi-Fi Extender allows you to overcome dead zones by retransmitting the Wi-Fi signal from your existing Wi-Fi router, as shown in the diagram below.

The setup is super easy and can be as simple as powering the extender and pressing the WPS button on your router and the extender. A more complicated setup can be done either via an App or from an internet browser.

A more complicated setup would be if you wanted to connect the extender by ethernet, thus removing the requirement to be in the Wi-Fi range of the router or setting up a non-mesh network with a different Wi-Fi network name.

A Mesh network requires both the router and extender to support mesh and enable a common Wi-Fi network name. This means that you can seamlessly move throughout your wireless network without degradation of internet service quality.

The DAP-1900 supports a wireless AC network (802.11ac) which refers to Wi-Fi technology. Note this is 2^nd latest technology and is fully backwards compatible with all previous versions. The newest version is AX, but it is most likely if you were going to AX that you would be buying a new router as well. Thus The DAP-1900 is excellent for extending your existing Wi-Fi router with speeds up to 1900Mbps. A simple explanation of Wi-Fi versions is the later the version, the faster the network speed. Note it is most likely your NBN connection speed will be your weakest link having the lowest speed.

Why do we like this extender for small businesses!

Simple to set up. You do not need to be an IT whiz to rid your workplace of Wi-Fi dead zones.

Ethernet backhaul. You can extend your wireless network using ethernet. You could have a Wi-Fi network in a back shed or down in the warehouse where today’s Wi-Fi signal does not stretch. You will need to run an ethernet cable which can be bought in long lengths from an office supply store, or an electrician can help you out.

Ethernet ports. Not everything in your office supports a Wi-Fi connection. A printer or network storage device may need an ethernet connection. Where your NBN is terminated, and your router is located may not be a convenient spot for that ethernet printer. The DAP-1900 has 4 ethernet ports on the rear of the unit, giving you lots of flexibility over an extender that may have zero or 1 port. It will provide ethernet connected devices with a more reliable and faster connection when combined with ethernet backhaul.

How to collect first-party data without cookies

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Angus Jones

You’ve probably noticed that a lot of the websites you visit ‘remember’ things about you. The information they store can be anything from your login credentials to items you’ve browsed, articles you’ve liked, and more. To do that, websites use what are called ‘cookies.

In February 2020, to increase consumer privacy, Google announced its plans to remove third-party cookies in the Chrome browser by 2022 – and while the tech giant recently delayed the phase-out until 2023, it’s important small-and-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) start preparing now for this new era of measurement and personalisation.

Central to this is collecting first-party data, which is information collected directly from your audience or customer base. Put simply, businesses need to find ways to earn trust from their customers, so they feel comfortable and safe to opt-in and share their data. The best place to do this is the company website.

Here are a few ways to utilise your website to collect first-party data to ultimately deliver personalised online experiences while ensuring transparency:

Optimise your website

In today’s age, experiences are currency, and audiences expect their digital experiences to be personalised, immediate, and remarkable. All while feeling that their data is being protected and respected. However, the best marketing can’t make up for a malfunctioning website. Before you invest in experimenting with different techniques for first-party data collection, utilise your current website data to ensure your online user experience is fast, easy, and seamless. Having the right technology partner like WP Engine can help drive website visitors, increase performance, and ensure your website uses the latest security updates and upgrades.

Utilise online and offline channels

Depending on your target audience, businesses can collect first-party data from a range of sources, including mobile apps, websites, social media, SMS, email, surveys, customer service interactions, CRM systems, point of purchase, and direct mail (using digital data to inform your offline campaigns). Each channel has a unique set of targeting options, allowing businesses to collect a range of data such as unique visitors and interactions, demographic data, purchase history, interests, time spent on site and more. The more channels you tap into, the more you can learn about your customers.

Reward your customers for opting-in

Businesses must educate their consumers on the benefits and positive experiences they’re going to have in exchange for sharing their data. Loyalty programs are key here. Suppose there’s a strong enough value exchange. In that case, customers will join loyalty programs to not only take advantage of discounts and vouchers but keep up to date with the brand’s new products, trends, product recommendations and other developments. The more you reward your customer, the more likely they will consider using their data for a fair exchange. Importantly, this value exchange must be enduring by protecting and respecting their data and responsibly leveraging the data they have shared.

Experiment with interactive formats

Interactive content types like quizzes, polls, and surveys have been used since the beginning of the web. Still, recently they’ve turned into an efficient marketing tool and can be a great way to learn about your customer. People love interacting with these types of formats. They’re fun, engaging, and informative if done correctly. Experiment with ways you can interact with your customers in a non-intrusive way to not only increase engagement but provide learnings about their interests and needs.

The world of digital commerce is in constant flux. To keep up with this fast-paced market, business owners must understand the importance of data collection, particularly first-party data. Collecting first-party data can be a beast, so businesses must start preparing now by putting a plan in place, optimising their website, tapping into a range of different channels, experimenting with different content formats, and most importantly, delivering a fast, secure, and convenient value exchange with customers.

Written by Helena Softley, SMB Lead at WP Engine, Australia

For more information on Cookies, refer to Small Business Answers guide to the Impact for business post cookie changes.

Maintain a strong remote work culture

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Angus Jones

While many leaders fear that remote work has already somewhat diluted their organisation’s work culture, especially as rituals and ceremonies enacted in the office are inaccessible, the reality is if a business hasn’t made morale a priority, it has likely, unfortunately, slipped.

As a direct consequence of lockdowns, most of Australia’s white-collar workforce have been working remotely or from their home offices since the start of the global pandemic. Back in May 2020, JobAdder surveyed a few of its employees to determine the appetite of returning to the office and found that 90 per cent of employees were experiencing benefits from working from home.

Outside of JobAdder, the sentiment has remained the same for many workplaces. In fact, Employment Hero’s 2021 Remote Report found that remote work was still the most popular option (from 92 per cent in 2020 to 94 per cent in 2021). However, 31 per cent yearned for camaraderie from coworkers.

Under its “Team Anywhere” policy, Australian tech darling Atlassian announced in April this year that its team of over 5,700 staff worldwide would be able to work wherever they wanted. However, the company’s founders have made it their active mission to ensure they were building diverse distributed teams and prioritise bonds of belonging regardless of where they were working.

While the appeal for Zoom calls celebrating Friday night drinks may have faded away after the first few lockdowns, businesses are still making it their priority to ensure that team morale remains strong for remote workers. Whether through complementary therapy sessions, organising catch-ups outside of lockdown periods, or fostering inclusive ways of communications across the board, job satisfaction should remain high.

So how do SMEs bring scaling back onto the agenda when working remotely? The answer lies in the level of transparency they want to provide.

Simply, leaders can’t expect to have a positive and consistent company culture when employees are not informed about all relevant information regarding the company.

Ensuring the wider team is across the scaling plan, even briefly via regular team meetings, allows them to feel like they are part of the process.

When remote workforces, it’s also important that businesses establish a “one team, one dream” type of mindset. This is when everyone is working towards the same business mission and values, no matter their role or location.

Bosses can do this effectively by opening up a line of communication between different employees.

Whether that be through a team-wide Slack channel, regular meetings, or making introductions between employees in different locations. Rather than working in silos, workers should collaborate and compare strategies and how they can be adapted for different audiences and customers.

To ensure all team members get the same experience, remote onboarding should be streamlined and implemented across all regions so that all team members are provided with the same level of attention and information across the business.

At the end of the day, people make a business. Without the right team at the helm and the right processes and lines of communications put in place, a business won’t grow without the right work culture.

By Graham Moody, Chief People Officer at JobAdder

Five Tips To Refresh Your Marketing Budget

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Angus Jones

Setting Your Marketing Budget

As a general rule of thumb, you need to be realistic about matching your budget to your goals for the year ahead. Here, suppose you’re looking to maintain your current business. In that case, you need to set aside 5-7% of total revenue for your marketing budget. To grow your business, you should be looking to spend 7-10% of your marketing budget. To really seek to aggressively gain market share, you would be looking at 10-20% for a dedicated marketing budget.

It is easy to get caught up in the doing – in fulfilment, in the product – but the key is to take a step back and be clear on what you have to play with, and then get to the business of how best to spend it.

Finding Your Audience

Digital advertising and social media ads are the fastest, most targeted and measurable ways to reach your customers. You can focus on spending money on the audiences you want to attract, be it age, location or interests. It also doesn’t require a big budget to get going (unlike a TV ad!), so there is no barrier to starting.

Just remember to be really laser-focused on who you are trying to engage. Go back to your core consumer or new audience segment and think critically about where they live (digitally!), when and what else they consume, and therefore the platforms you should test or prioritise first.

Stand Out From The Competition

Find the space where you can stand out over the next year by knowing what your brand does better or differently from your competitors and make sure this is what people see. And look at offering additional services that will help you differentiate, like free trials, subscriptions, recycling schemes of money-back guarantees. Importantly, hero these unique selling points through your marketing – from video content and photography to the content you use to explain your business online or in-store.

Remember, people don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it. Don’t be afraid to tell your personal story. Connecting with your audience can really set you apart from your competitors.

Optimise Your Real Estate

What spaces does your business have that it can brand? Good windows turn window shoppers into foot traffic. Think of simple messaging that explains your business personality in a few quick glances. If you don’t have a store, do you have a company vehicle you can brand? Or, if you run your business outdoors, try flags, outdoor banners and wearable branding (t-shirts and hoodies).

Build Out The Experience

Think about how you can build the customer experience – from physical interactions to digital engagements. This is a sure-fire way of keeping customers coming back for more. For example, you could use your physical space for a complimentary experience (even for a limited time) or drive great 1:1 service – yoga classes and expert teams in the Lululemon store always entices me in!

Offering e-receipts or a loyalty programme will also give you a chance to capture customer details so that you can start building out your relationship and engaging over time. Email is a really inexpensive marketing channel. Consider setting up automated emails when customers first sign up to connect with them while they’re highly engaged. This could be a simple welcome note or special offers to incentivise spending more. For example, if your average order is $60, why not offer $20 when they spend $100 again this month?

On how and why these tips are fundamental for small business owners, Caroline Swarbrick, Senior Director of Marketing, Sales and Customer Experience, comments: “At Vistaprint, we understand the new financial year is an opportune time for businesses to take a deep breath and set themselves up for success for the next 12 months. Refreshing your marketing strategy is an excellent way to reposition your business and find new pathways to growth in your sector and community.

“There is a myriad of ways to approach your strategy, but the most important thing is to keep it clear and simple to develop a strategy around your own business goals. Our aim at Vistaprint is to not only provide small businesses with high-quality custom products to help execute their strategies but also share advice and help businesses better connect with both physical and digital marketing materials.”

Also, see Small business Answers guide to Marketing to grow your business.