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.

The year ahead – without Job Keeper

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Angus Jones

A new SME Recovery Survey conducted by American Express aims to better understand the current environment for business owners and uncover how they react as business conditions shift in 2021 with the removal of Job Keeper.

The research shows that most Australian SMEs (53 per cent) are optimistic about the year ahead. Despite the ongoing pandemic and the expected end of JobKeeper in March, which according to 55 per cent of respondents, helped or was vital in keeping their business afloat during the health crisis.

However, SMEs’ feelings of optimism are tempered by the knowledge that more than two in five businesses will need to access additional capital in the form of a loan this year. One in four (26 per cent) say as a direct result of JobKeeper ending. On average, those seeking a loan intend to request just under AU$100,000 ($97,225).

According to Martin Seward, Vice President of Global Commercial Services for American Express Australia, “Many businesses are still feeling the full impact of the Covid-19 crisis, while others have rebounded with their sights firmly set on growth. We have taken a transformational step to evolve our business beyond our existing card offering to help support businesses on their journey forward.”

The American Express research reveals that the top business resolution for nearly two in five SME operators this year is to try new ways to grow their business. More than a quarter of that group believe this growth could be more significant with the appropriate amount of capital.

Top 5 reasons for accessing capital in 2021:

To grow/expand their business
Buying equipment
To ensure their business’s survival
Marketing and advertising
To cover essential operational costs

And yet, nearly half of SMEs seeking funds from other lenders during the pandemic said they faced challenges – from finding the process complex to being asked to use personal assets as security.

Of those small businesses that attempted to gain capital for their business from other lenders during the pandemic, top challenges they faced were:

Finding the process complicated and lengthy
Needing to approach several lenders before they were successful
Not receiving the entire amount of funds requested

“We don’t believe SME’s growth should be hindered by red tape or unneeded complexity, and certainly not at the expense of having to put your house or business on the line – something that extraordinarily a third (32 per cent) of SMEs needed to do to raise capital during the pandemic. Our unsecured business loans remove some of the existing complexity that comes with many other loans on the market, with funds deposited into a customer’s account typically within two business days of approval,” concluded Seward.

American Express is partnering with ODX to provide small business with a digital and frictionless experience to tap into financing.

“We are proud to work alongside such an iconic brand in the pursuit of making working capital readily available to businesses in Australia to fuel the recovery” added Brian Geary, President of ODX

About the American Express Business Loans

Unsecured funding from $5,000 to $250,000
Annual interest rates from 10.95% p.a.
Terms of 6,12,18 or 24 months
Quick and simple online application process
No set-up or early repayment fees. A $30 fee for a missed payment
Fast decisions with funds usually delivered within two business days of approval
Loan approval is subject to American Express eligibility criteria

For more information on Business financing read Small Business Answers guide on Loans & Equity Funding

_{About the research: The research was commissioned by American Express and conducted by Lonergan Research per the ISO 20252 standard. Lonergan Research surveyed 1,009 Australian small to medium-sized (up to 199 employees) business leaders. Surveys were distributed throughout Australia, including both capital city and non-capital city areas. The survey was conducted online amongst members of a permission-based panel, between 18 and 28 December 2020. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics as of the 2016 Census.}

Can’t pay my debts – Insolvency Reforms

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Angus Jones

With Australian small business gripped by the effects of COVID-19, many find themselves in a position where they can’t pay their debts. The Australian government has stepped in to help by introducing insolvency reforms.

Insolvency is when you find yourself in a position that you do not have the funds to pay the money you owe to others. As the owner of a small business your business and most likely you personally are responsible for paying your debts.

WHY should I pay my debts

If you don’t pay money that you owe to others, they have the right to recover those funds. If you don’t have the funds, you become insolvent or essentially bankrupt.

Before January 2021 it was illegal for a business to trade if insolvent. The Australian government has introduced reforms that will allow a small business more time to restructure and survive the financial effects of COVID-19.

WHAT do insolvency reforms mean to me?

If you find your self insolvent and your debts are less than $1million, you will be eligible. Note that you must also have paid your employees their entitlements including superannuation and have your taxation lodgements up to date.

The small business reforms package consists of:

• A debt restructuring process providing a quicker and less complicated procedure for financially distressed but viable firms to restructure their debt.

• A liquidation process to allow faster and lower-cost liquidation, maximising returns for employees and creditors.

These reforms have been announced as temporary so at some point they will be removed!

Most importantly, this means that you can keep trading under your control while developing a debt restructuring plan.

HOW do I get help?

Traditionally you would need an administrator who would take control of your business which would be placed in voluntary administration.

Now a small business restructuring practitioner is recruited, which will reduce the complexity involved.

If you are facing financial stress, you should approach a practitioner immediately to discuss your options. There is a flat fee to do this but remember it is the difference between closing your business immediately and trading out of your insolvency.

The practitioner will work with you over up to 20 days to create a plan that your creditors must vote on. If the plan is approved, the practitioner will administer the plan, including making payments on your behalf to creditors as set out in the plan.

HINTS – Small Business Reforms Package

A government fact sheet can be found here

You can find a registered restructuring practitioner h e re. Only a person registered with the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) as a “registered liquidator” can act as a business restructuring practitioner.

SUMMARY – Can’t pay my debts

Key to your business success is good record keeping. Knowing your financial position and understanding if your business has become insolvent means you may be able to trade out of your issues. Alternatively, shut your business down without also destroying any personal assets. The recent government reforms show sympathy and understanding of small business. They are making it easier to get back on your feet.

Website design for subscribers, leads, and sales

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Angus Jones

Website design is critical for your business success. When you open a web page, do you read it or do you scan it? We all want instant gratification to quickly find what we want. A well-designed website will engage readers and help you achieve your goals. This guide will look at why web design is essential and look at what you should consider to get the best result.

Web design can be defined two ways.
1. Referring to the design of the website displayed on the internet and the consumer experience. The experience of viewing the page includes its layout, the content contained and the graphic design.
2. To create and maintain a website using a process of planning, conceptualising and arranging content. Website design uses specialised software and templates combined with human creativity.

WHY should I care about good website design?

The best layouts for sales are deeply influenced by conversion science (study of converting a user’s interest into a sale). This means layouts are critical for marketers who want more subscribers, leads, and sales.

A visitor’s first impression of your website is critical! Layout and design are what influences that first impression.

More than 90% of first-impressions are design-driven. A visitor will form an opinion of your site in less than a second.

A recent study indicates that nearly 50% of all web visitors will decide if your site is worth their time based on design alone.

Colours and graphics contribute to a website’s design. Still, it is the layout that is most important when it comes to user experience and digital conversions.

WHAT makes a good website?

Simple to use – users should not have to work out how to use it
Intuitive – makes information easy to find
Streamline – marketing fluff or clutter is removed
Engagement – convince readers you are worthy of their time
Easy to read – simple text and layout means lazy readers will absorb
Consistency – colours, fonts, and imagery are consistent and on-brand helping visitors connect with you
Responsive – ensures superior experience no matter if consumed on a desktop, tablet or a mobile
Fast – our patience is stretched if a web page takes too long to load

For information on steps to create a website refer to our guide to building a website to boost your brand

HOW do I ensure my website design is effective?

Let’s face it, not all of us are creative, and if we are, we may not then have the skill set to briefly explain a product or service. The net result is web design takes a specific set of skills that may collaborate with several individuals with different abilities.

Web design has become much simpler with the availability of user-friendly software tools and the availability of template-based building tools. You have many options to do it yourself or completely outsource the project to something in the middle, like getting some help with some graphics. See our guide on graphic design.

Some key practical attributes of a good website:

Use lots of white space to highlight the headline and call-to-action
If the visitor wants to learn more, they can scroll down
Simple (cut-down) menu that makes finding what you need simple and intuitive
Show an example of the solution at work
Visitors can understand why they would need the solution, which helps to push the conversion
Have a call to action that is static – it’s always prominent, even as visitors scroll down and continue to read
Keep the menu static, so readers always have access to other content
Ensure the layout is pleasing and easy to read so visitors will be engaged
Use clearly marked headings with simple explanations and links for more info
Have information to learn enough to drive a conversion based on someone skimming
Use words and images that will draw attention
At the bottom of a page list out links that make it easy to navigate the site with minimum clicks and scrolling
Put essential information above the fold requiring little visitor input (landing page info on screen)
Ensure your menu items are simple to understand, and you should have a practical website layout to drive more sales
Video can be an effective way to tell a story quickly. Ensure the video is short and clearly explains a customer benefit
Use pop-ups to collect customer data and consider an exit pop-up to reignite interest in your site

HINTS

Good web design is only part of the equation of having a successful business. If you have a product that no one wants or your pricing is not right, the best website is unlikely to solve this. For more helpful info see our guide on marketing to grow your business.

You need to be credible. The design will get you eyeballs, but you will never see them again unless your content is of high quality and relevant to the reader.

Don’t be afraid to use offers. This offer could relate to price, availability, bonuses etc. There is a reason year after year, retailers use sales to boost sales.

Test your new site. Ask family friends, business associates etc. to look at your new site and give their frank feedback. Don’t accept the answer “Good” ask them specific questions.

SUMMARY – Website to drive sales

Having a website and something to sell is a start, but that website must be engaging to attract a buyer to look further and persuasive to help you close a sale. You can do some simple things with the website layout, content, and graphic design to give your site an unfair advantage over your competitors.

Tips to improve your business cyber health

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Angus Jones

Many small businesses are struggling with taking the first steps to improve their cyber health.

Australian SMEs know cybersecurity is important, regardless of how they rate their understanding of it. However, they face significant barriers when attempting to implement good cybersecurity practices, with 62% of SMEs, revealing they have experienced a cybersecurity incident (ACSC).

Mallika Sathi, Vice President, Cyber Security & Intelligence Solutions & Digital Identity at Mastercard APAC, has shared her top tips for small businesses to improve their cyber health.

Small businesses can also access the Global Cyber Alliance toolkit, which is a free and effective tool business can use today to take immediate action to reduce risk.

Additionally, earlier this year, Mastercard launched the Getting Back to Small Business campaign that gives business peace of mind that as they navigate and adapt to the new normal, their businesses and their consumers are safe and secure.

The Getting Back to Small Business program offers support to businesses ranging from setting up their online retail front and ensuring their cyber health is in check, to securing payments for consumers and enhancing checkout security, and everything in between.

Cyber Health top tips from Mallika:

Use strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for each online account and update them regularly – don’t store passwords on your computer.
Knowledge is power: Know who you are dealing with online. Check that you are dealing with a trusted, reliable business or supplier by confirming their company details and researching online feedback and complaints.
Multi-factor authentication: Small businesses should implement MFA wherever possible. The multiple layers make it much harder for criminals to attack your business. When paying anyone externally, this will ensure the transactions are secure.
Scam awareness: Even large or small businesses can be victims of scams. Protect yourself and your business by being aware of the common scams targeting small businesses. Fraudsters are using very sophisticated phishing emails to steal data or download malware to your computer.
Security Tools: Install security software for your business to minimise fraud and reduce chargebacks costs & customer disputes. Protect against the ever-changing cyber threats and remember to back-up your computer and mobile devices regularly.
Educate yourself: Being prepared for a data breach is a must for businesses of all sizes. Small businesses need to have a data breach response checklist in place to ensure they understand the steps to take.

For more information see our handy guide on Internet Security and protecting from cyber threat.

NBN Technology Choice Program

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Angus Jones

Let me start this by saying the NBN website states for the NBN Technology Choice Program “costs can vary substantially depending on the unique circumstances of each premise.”

Very simply this program lets a user upgrade at their own expense their internet connection to a Fibre connection at your business or residential premises.

Initially, when the NBN was planned, every premises was going to be connected by Fibre. There has been lots of debate since as to whether this should have happened. The argument mainly centres around future-proofing versus the cost of the rollout.

Most small businesses in Australia will be connected by a technology called Fibre to the node (FTN). This is code for a copper cable essentially running from you premisses to a point where from there on a fibre connection takes over.

there alternatives?

In Australia, if you live in the middle of nowhere, they will offer you a satellite connection. Semi-rural a fixed wireless broadband (similar to a 4G phone solution that does not move). Most of suburbia an FTN which will probably use the old Telstra coaxial cable with a bunch of upgrades. If you are fortunate a fibre connection. This is all based on the cost of connection.

Fibre offers the ability to move lots of data quickly. The reality is with technology improving your existing FTN connection to your small business is probably going to meet your every need for some time to come.

If your small business needs faster internet, there are some things you should look at first. For many investing in a new mesh router should solve your problems. Our guide on a computer network for small offices will explain more about this.

If you do need a speed boost, then most likely you will find your existing internet provider will have a higher speed tier with your current technology. See our guide on Internet Plan and provision.

If your business is close to a new 5G mobile tower, this may also provide a cheaper alternative.

If you really want Fibre, you can get a free quote for the NBN Technology Choice Program in a couple of minutes. For my individual circumstances that came in at just under $18,000 so I think I am good for the moment.

Catch how 2 brothers built a billion-$ business from scratch

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Angus Jones

How do two immigrant brothers with no money, limited industry knowledge and amateur technical skills build some of Australia’s most successful digital businesses, with a combined exit valued at more than $1 billion?
It’s a good question. It’s one Gabby, and Hezi Leibovich gets asked every day, which is why they wrote their new book, Catch of the Decade.
You may not have heard of these men! You probably won’t recognise their faces, but you’ll almost certainly know some of the brands they built, sold or merged for more than $1 billion after just 13 years in business.

Here are just a few of them:

Catchoftheday: Australia’s most popular shopping site
EatNow/Menulog: an app that revolutionised the food delivery business
Scoopon: a major disruptor in the services and entertainment sector
Luxury Escapes: a travel deal site that made luxury travel affordable for all.

How did you come up with the idea of Catch?

Gabby: From selling at the market, we graduated to operating little eBay stores out of our garages. We were doing okay, but we were up against the likes of Deals Direct and just didn’t have the budget or resources to compete. We knew we needed a point of difference. We were always reading, watching and listening to everything going on in our industry. So when a friend of ours told us about Woot, a US-based daily deals concept website, we thought maybe we could do the same in Australia.

What was the Woot concept?

Hezi: Woot was a deals site that sold one product every day at midnight. The deal lasted for 24 hours, and then the sale was over. The website was written with a cool style of copywriting that was both arrogant and funny and had an ‘I don’t give a shit’ vibe to it, which we really liked. The prices they offered were so good, the items would sell out within hours, often in minutes! We liked the concept a lot. The best part? No-one in Australia had ever heard of Woot, so the concept was wide open for us to launch in Australia. Our motto had always been ‘better to copy and excel than to be original and mediocre’, and this was no different.

What was one of the biggest challenges you faced when building Catch of the Day?

Gabby: Getting the big, prestigious brands to sell to us. Believe it or not, they’d say, ‘We can’t sell to you because you don’t have bricks and mortar presence.’ In other words, we didn’t have a door! Can you believe how stupid that was! The reality was, they just didn’t understand what online business was. Very few did when we started. We were ahead of the curve.

Was there a moment in your business journey when everything changed?

Gabby: Yes, it was when the computer industry saw sense and decided that they would let us sell their products on our Catch of the Day website.

What did you do to convince them?

Gabby: There was a big supplier expo event being held by Ingram Micro, a powerful industry distributor. We weren’t invited, but I decided to go anyway. I brought with me a hundred A4 fliers about Catch of the Day to hand out to everyone. I wore my suit (I never wear suits, but I had to look the part!), got in, and went to work, handing out my flier to all the suppliers. It worked like magic. The next day we were inundated with calls from big brands like Toshiba, Asus, Canon and others saying, ‘please sell our products’. After that, we never had any difficulty getting quality brands to sell to us.

What did you learn from this experience?

Gabby: That’s there’s always a way. Our dad had a saying: “If the front door and the back door are closed, try another door. There’s always a third door.’

How did the Catch website get started?

Hezi: We hired a programmer we found for $1500 on Odesk who lived in some remote Ukrainian village. It was going well until we were ready to launch: the guy just suddenly disappeared, and we couldn’t get in touch with him for a week. I remember having sleepless nights. I thought he’d run off with all the code and our money and was now sipping piña coladas in some bar in Kiev. Every hour during the night, I would turn on my laptop in bed to see if he had written to explain what had happened, but there was nothing. I started to lose hope. Then, one morning a few days later, I got a message from him, apologising and explaining that his village got flooded. He’d lost all power for a few days, and he couldn’t contact us. Turns out, he was an honest man. A great developer? Not so much. But it got us started.

As the business grew, what did a typical day look like for the founders of Catch?

Hezi: A typical day for us would look something like this: upon waking, we’d check our emails. We’d drive to the office, be at our desks by 8 am, solve the problems from the night before (we were a 24/7 business), attend a supplier meeting at 9 am, juggle a thousand different balls and decisions throughout the morning, eat a hurried lunch at our desk, have more meetings with suppliers in the afternoon, head home at 8 pm, have a quick dinner, kiss the kids, say hello to our wives, hit the desk for another few hours, answer more emails and have team discussions on Messenger, get to bed around 1 am and then get up and do it all again the next day. You could say we ‘bootstrapped’ it.

What advice would you give to people wanting to launch their own websites or their own business?

Gabby: Execute quickly. We have a policy at Catch that has guided our every action: ‘Decide by midnight, execute by midday.’ Don’t wait for perfection, because there’s no such thing, and never forget that the first draft of everything is shit. Looking back, the web page we launched was terrible. It’s embarrassing really, but that’s what got us started. It was super basic: just a simple logo of a fisherman, a counter that counted down from 24 hours, a single product and a product description with a sales spiel that walked the chutzpah line of bold, arrogant and blatant.

Hezi: Take our advice and just focus on the features that make the product work, that distinguish it in the market, and release it quickly to capture the opportunity. All the rest, the ‘nice-to-have’ features, can come later. Put it this way: if you’re happy with your first draft, you’ve launched too late.

5 ways to be a better buyer

While you’ve either got the talent or you ain’t, here are a few strategies from Gabby and Hezi that will make you a better buyer.

Be curious: read sales catalogues, check out the industry journals in your sector, listen to podcasts, or if you’re in retail, just walk through shopping centres and have a look around. Curiosity goes hand in hand with learning; the more you immerse yourself in your niche, the more educated you will become.
Know your category: Knowledge allows you to spot a deal the moment it comes your way. Great entrepreneurial companies and individuals always ask ‘why?’, and that curiosity powers their creativity.
Be honest: Do the right thing. This is the quickest way to build trust. If you’re a jerk, the word will quickly get around. We always believed that honesty (and integrity) are the best policies.
Build a relationship with your seller: Try to get face to face with your customers as often as possible, or Zoom them if you can’t meet in person. Try to get off email as quickly as you can. Everyone prefers to deal with a friend rather than just a faceless executive hiding behind a computer.
Pay your suppliers on time: Even better, pay them ahead of time. They’ll never forget you.

Catch of the Decade is out now. Find out more at www.catchofthedecade.com.au.

If this story has inspired you to start a business yourself find out more with our guide to Start a Small business

Webcam, Mouse and Keyboard for productivity

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Angus Jones

If you are like most people, you will have bought a new PC or laptop and never considered those extra computer peripherals. After all, they probably came with the unit or were built into your laptop. Specifically, we are talking about a webcam, mouse, keyboard or even a headset or separate microphone. In this how-to guide, we will look at why you should consider spending some more money, what you need to understand about peripherals and how to buy the right item.

WebCam: A video camera either integrated or connected to a PC allowing images to be seen normally over the internet.
Mouse: A small handheld peripheral that when moved will cause the cursor on a computer screen to also move.
Keyboard: a set of keys allowing alphanumerical communication on a PC.
Microphone or Speaker: A mechanical device to turn audio sound waves into signals that can be transmitted by your PC or vice versa.

WHY should I buy a Webcam, Mouse and Keyboard?

Your brand-new PC comes with an included mouse and keyboard. Your brand-new laptop comes with a trackpad (mouse), keyboard, webcam and microphone.

However, there are a few reasons why you should consider buying a separate Webcam, Mouse Keyboard, Microphone, Headset, Speakers etc

They did not come in the box
Chances are if you bought a freestanding computer an accessory such as a webcam is not included.
Quality
A PC manufacturer will typically only ship the most essential quality accessories to keep their and your costs down. This would influence the touch and feel or how the product looks. In the case of a microphone or webcam, it will impact how you look and sound.
Ergonomics
This can be considered two ways:
- With a laptop computer, the peripherals are build-in; therefore when you use it remotely it is convenient, but if you are at home, ergonomically a separate keyboard and mouse will allow you to find a much more comfortable position
- The design and shape of a keyboard can reduce the stress and strain placed on your hands, fingers and back. Many people, after years of operating a computer develop an RSI or repetitive strain injury.
Functionality
A third party peripheral may come with extra buttons or features that allow you to become more effective. Examples include scrolling left and right from a mouse, zooming a webcam, and pressing a button on your keyboard to open an app.
Durability
A cheap accessory is built to a price, and its performance may deteriorate quickly with use. Ensure your products will survive a fall and potentially put up with the abuse from working at home.

More and more people are now working from home (COVID has undoubtedly accelerated that) but for most small businesses that was already a reality. However, what has changed is the use of your computer to make video and voice calls. To be seen as a professional, you need to ensure your video image is sharp and your voice is heard clearly.

WHAT do you need to know about computer peripherals?

An essential product we have not covered in this guide is computer monitors. We have a separate guide available here. If you are also in the market for a new computer, be sure to check out our guide on buying a new PC.

No matter what accessory you buy for your PC, they will be connected to your PC in some way and also powered. This is likely to occur in one of two ways.

A wired connection will pass information back and forth and also provide power for the device. The advantage is you don’t have to worry about batteries or to recharge. Still, you do have to worry about an ugly cable. You also need to consider whether your PC has enough USB sockets or buy a hub (same concept as a power board).

The second method is a wireless solution that will typically connect to your PC by Bluetooth and require disposable or rechargeable batteries. The significant advantage here is no cords, especially for a mouse.

HOW to pick the right Webcam, Mouse and Keyboard

Below we have listed the key features you should consider when buying a:

Webcam

Quality of video capture. Measured as resolution and frame rate. Look for HD or Full HD at 30fps.
Field of view. Measured in degrees will determine if you are captured as a wide (> deg sees more of the room) or closeup shot.
Autofocus. Ensures the image of you is clear
Light correction. If you are in a dark or bright room, how well the camera compensates
Quality of lens. Glass is better
Compatibility with Zoom, Teams, Skype etc
Mounting. Does it come with a bracket to attach to a monitor or tripod
Microphone. Determines how you sound and what other noise is picked up. Consider a stereo mike for natural sound with noise cancelling.
Software control. Manual adjustment, video capture, and even changing the background, so people do not see your unmade bed.

Mouse

How you hold the mouse – fingertip grip, palm grip or claw grip. Also consider if it will be small enough to travel with if required.
Feel – comfort, scrolling action and buttons
Cable or wireless
Sensitivity – for precision mouse movements if editing images, video or audio. Measured in Dots Per Inch, look for one with at least 1200 DPI
Will it work on different surfaces?

Keyboard

Cable or wireless – if wireless consider battery life
Compatibility with Windows PC or Apple Mac
Extra function keys – to open apps or perform tasks
Ergonomics of keys – position and feel
Sensitivity and noise – avoid mistypes and disturbing others
Do you want illuminated keys for night use

Headset

Over-ear – on-ear – in-ear. – Personal preference
Sound quality
Comfort including lightness and after long periods
Fashion – How will you look on a video call
Microphone quality and placement
Features including mute, volume or even noise cancelling

Microphone (stand-alone)

More expensive the better you sound
Usage – video calling versus recording a podcast
Size
Does it connect via USB or 3.5mm jack and include software to adjust the sound
Portability if you need to travel

Speakers

More expensive may not mean better but cheap is generally cheap
Do you just need noise or will you also listen to music
Cable or wireless connection
Dedicated volume and possibly base control
How big and how do they look
Other uses such as a smart speaker
How loud they are, measured in wattage
Try to listen before you buy

HINTS

If you are in the market for a new computer accessory, unfortunately, you are unlikely able to test drive it at your local retailer or office supply store. We do recommend you visit our sister site Gadgetguy.com.au for unbiased reviews and comparisons.

The key players in the peripherals market are Microsoft and the key PC makers themselves like HP and Dell. Still, we highly recommend you check out the vast range available from Logitech. The latter specialises in this market and make products to suit many needs.

SUMMARY – Improve your PC productivity

Buying a new Webcam, Mouse ,Keyboard etc for your computer is one of those things that you do not know what you are missing out on until you experience what better looks/feel like. The accessory may seem expensive but remember it is the primary connection for you to connect with your PC and possibly your customers.

When deciding what to buy always consider what you need, how it will help your productivity, improve your impression on others, and be more comfortable for you to use.

PR to grow your business

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Angus Jones

If you want to grow your business, several marketing options can help with that! One of the most cost-effective ways of promoting your business can be by doing public relations activities. In this guide, we will look at PR to grow your business, give you some of the secrets from a PR expert and the steps to get some free promotion potentially.

Public relations or PR is the strategic action of intentionally managing the release and spread of information between an individual or business and the public.

WHY should you use PR to grow your business?

PR to grow your business is one of the best ways to promote your business. Because it goes one step further than advertising by showing your audience the best parts of your business instead of just telling them about it.

It says to your target market: a journalist, publication or influencer chose to support or seek out the advice of this business. Therefore, they must be top of their field.

In short, it drives trust.

WHAT do small businesses need to get started?

An understanding of your value

Businesses should think about what value they can add, especially if that value is unique to them. Ask yourself: how my particular skills, produce or service, and experience help people?

A clear plan

Assign a chunk of focused time to create a PR plan. Start every PR campaign with a period of preparation that includes creating ideas, developing strategies, lists of media angles, and target publications.

A newsworthy pitch

Once you know your value, you’ll need a newsworthy pitch. Make sure your pitch is relevant to the publication, tugs on the right heartstrings, and is backed by credibility and authority. Most importantly, the pitch should have some kind of newsworthy hook that ties into an existing news story, zeitgeist, or cultural shift.

Supporting material

Anticipate what the journalist might need to tell your story, and make sure you give it to them upfront, to make their life easier and save time. Think high-resolution images, b-roll footage, case studies, company backgrounders, and the names and bios of the people available for interview.

The confidence to get started

Just start – you’ll get the hang of it. Don’t wait for big ideas, instead look for consistency in small things done well. The quest for perfection will kill any hopes of PR success dead in their tracks.

HOW do businesses achieve killer media coverage?

Give journalists a great story

If a journalist can tell a story without your help, they will. So if you’re pitch is so generic that any old journalist could write it, they’ll either simply do it themselves without including you in the piece, or write it off completely.

Present them with something that they haven’t thought of before, or that adds more colour to a story. If you happened to come across this story in real life, would you stop what you’re doing and pay attention? If not, then you might want to rethink your idea.

Find out what area each journalist covers (known in the trade as their ‘beat’), and make sure your pitch is tailored very specifically to their requirements.

Make sure you’ve got the right pitch for the right person

Are you offering an advice article when they only do interviews? Are you offering an interview when the bulk of their publication is made up of advice articles? Are you writing something targeted at schools, when this publication is targeted at parents? Are you approaching an editor that only considers stories that come with financial information, video footage, or case studies? Are you pitching a breakfast radio producer an interview with someone who is not available until 11am?

There are so many media-specific standards to consider that it always pays to do your research thoroughly. Suppose you pitch something that’s not relevant. In that case, your idea will likely be ignored, and you risk permanently damaging your relationship with a journalist.

Even within the same publication, different journalists will have different needs. Find out what area each journalist writes about (known in the trade as their ‘beat’). Make sure your pitch is tailored very specifically to their requirements.

Become a credible, reliable source

News outlets need reliable, credible experts that they can call upon at the drop of a hat. Suppose you’re not known to the journalist when you first approach them. In that case, it might take some convincing to persuade them that you’re a credible source of information. It’s your job to show them that you’re trustworthy and that you don’t have an ulterior motive.

The best way to make this happen is to ensure you have something original and unique to say. Suppose you can be more interesting and more engaging than your competitors. In that case, a journalist is far more likely to take the risk.

Maximise your coverage

Once the coverage is achieved, it’s essential to maximise the coverage as much as possible. The first few days after a piece has gone live is the most critical window of opportunity for sharing on social media, but don’t stop there. Even if your coverage is months or even years old, there are still lots of chances to post it. Keep an eye out for new news stories that relate to your own, and use it as an opportunity to add to the conversation. Jump on the ‘flashback’ bandwagon, especially if you’ve got a piece of coverage which is about to celebrate its first birthday.

HINTS

Always avoid clickbait or going in for a hard sell. Be generous and give value, because that is who people want to do business with.

Journalists are incredibly time-poor, so it’s critical to time your pitch perfectly. If you send an email on a Friday afternoon at 4 pm, there’s little hope that your story will ever see the light of day.

Make your pitch as interesting as possible. Present the journalist with something that they haven’t thought of before, or that adds more colour to an existing story.

Make sure your pitch is tailored to their magazine, program, site, newspaper or section – and to the individual journalist’s particular focus or interest.

SUMMARY – PR to grow your business

Just because you know how great your business is, that doesn’t mean anyone else will go out of their way to find it out too. Instead, you need to make it as easy as possible for a potential customer to figure out why you’re the best in the business.

PR is a great way to get your business’s story out there without resorting to overt sales tactics or showy advertisements.

This guide was contributed by Phoebe Netto of Pure Public Relations.

Business Technology for set up

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Angus Jones

As a small business owner, you need to be a jack of all trades. One of the hats you need to have is head of IT or Information technology. In this guide, we will look at what technology you will need to buy to establish a small business.

Information Technology or IT is the use of computers and telecommunications for storing, retrieving, analysing and to share information.

WHY should I invest in business technology?

Technology will allow your business to run efficiently and make your business look more professional.

It will enable you to communicate via a mobile phone and email. You will have the ability to create documents and print them. IT will allow you to control your finances and time. You will be able to safely store and share information and lastly be found and possibly sell on the internet.

So, put simply, what phones and computer stuff do I need to buy then set up to help run my business !

WHAT business technology do I need to buy?

Below is a checklist of technologies you will need to consider for your business and a link to find more information on selecting the right option:

What technology do I need for my business?

Mobile Phone. Features that will help make a difference in running your business.
Mobile Phone Plan. Consider coverage, data inclusion, & value for money.
Computer (PC). Demystifying the jargon to help you buy the right computer.
Computer monitor. Size vs cost vs quality for your business type.
Office Productivity Software. For producing documents, presentations, spreadsheets, databases, charts, and graphs.
Cloud-based software. Solutions to help you run your business, like accounting, payroll, staff scheduling, databases etc.
Internet Plan and Provision. Reliable broadband at a speed and capacity that suits your small business.
Internet security. Take precautions against a cyber threat to your computers.
Network or WiFi. Allows your office to share resources like the internet or a printer.
Storing and sharing files. Collaborate with staff, customers and suppliers.
Backup. Protecting your data if the worst should happen
Printer. The cheapest one may cost you more!
POS System or terminal. If you are in retail, a café or restaurant you will probably need one.
Website domain and email. Creating an identity and allowing you to communicate on the internet.
Build a website. To boost your brand and help you sell.

HOW do I decide what technology to buy

All of the 15 items on the checklist above have their own Small Business Answers Guide to help you make the right decisions on what to buy. Be sure to click on those links.

If the whole process is still too much for you, we suggest you speak with an IT retailer or engage the services of an IT support person or organisation. See our guide on IT Support – help with technology

HINTS

Now I know you want the latest and best smartphone and computer but carefully consider how much all this will cost before you go crazy with the credit card. Also, consider exactly what you need as you don’t have to buy everything on the first day.

If you believe you will expand and hire more staff, you can always pass technology down and invest in an upgrade for yourself.

The reverse of this, be careful of buying something that does not suit the job. For example, a cheap printer that is not up to the volume means you will be back out purchasing a higher specified printer.

Reviews of specific products can be found at our sister website Gadget Guy

SUMMARY – Setting up your office tech

Buying technology can be a very daunting experience, mostly due to the cost associated with it. It will, however, allow you to operate more efficiently and professionally. The 15 step checklist and the associated 15 guides will give you the confidence to make the right decisions.

How to create a Quote to win business

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Angus Jones

If you have not done a quote before or you just want to make yours look a little more professional, then read on. In this guide, we will look at how to create a quote to how to make yours stand out just that little bit more.

A business quote (or quotation) is a document in which you describe the requested products or services and provide your customer with relevant pricing. In most cases, it is written as a response to a request for pricing, when a customer solicits your service or product.

Why should you formally quote a customer?

A quote can be used as a legal document for the price and serves as a contract. This means that in the event of a dispute, you have clear correspondence on what was offered and what should have been provided. If you have quoted verbally or on the “back of an envelope” it is unlikely that will help you in a dispute.

A professional looking quote will also give your business credibility. The customer will have more confidence in you and your ability to deliver.

A quote also enables you to carefully consider your costs of completing a job, so may help you calculate your selling price and more importantly, your profitability.

What do I need to know about quoting?

Quote vs estimate. An estimate is purely that and usually is given when the final cost is unknown due to circumstances that cannot be determined. An estimate is not a formal contract. As long as it is labelled correctly will not have the same legal obligations as a quote. If you issue an estimate, we recommend you also add the words “Pricing is subject to change”.

Always listen carefully for what the customer has asked for and quote accordingly. If you do not, you run the risk of immediately being discarded. Be careful to quote for only those products and services that you understand and can deliver.

Calculating your quote pricing is tricky. Overquote and you will not get the business, underquote and you will lose money.

How to create a quote?

If you frequently deal with quotes, you should create a template with prefilled content that you can use to save you time. Your template should be clean looking! It should demonstrate your brand identity to help differentiate you from other quotes the customer may have received.

How to create a quote?

Quotation header
Reference your company’s name, contacts, ABN number, quotation number and date, payment terms, conditions, and the name of the recipient. The word “Quote” or “Quotation” should be written at the top of the page.
Quotation body
Describe the goods or services you are proposing, any quantities and a breakdown of the costs.
Quotation footer
Include the total amount of all items, including GST amount, and if there is any expiry of the quote. This is where you would also list any preferred payment methods.
Operational section
Optional is a section for a customer to accept the quote which could be as simple as a space for a signature and date.
Work Schedule
If there is a work schedule or a timeline of tasks to be completed, you may wish to include this information.

No matter how hard you try, words may not be sufficient to describe your product. This is especially true if it is unique and uncommon in the market. You should consider including a picture or two or a link to a video of your product.

See our guide on getting graphics done for ways of creating a company logo to improve your image.

Following up a quote with a customer might just close the deal.

Hints

If a customer asks for a proposal, then a more detailed document is required that will explain HOW you plan to achieve the work. You would need to demonstrate a full understanding of the customers’ existing problem and offer a specific solution.

You may wish to offer some call to action on your quote to close the deal sooner or encourage the customer to pay upfront. This might include a discount, a free offer or merely an expiry of this deal (customer feels they may miss out).

Having a reasonable price is only part of winning a quote. Your reputation goes a long way as does customer service. A simple act like reacting faster to customer requests, especially in providing a quote quickly can make all the difference.

Suggested templates can be found here.

Summary – How to create a quote

A written quote is a legal document that can help solve any disputes. It shows you run a professional business and clearly outlines costs to a customer for your goods and services. By putting extra effort into your quotes, you may be able to win additional business and make yourself more profitable.