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.

Jabra Elite 4 – earbuds for both work and play

Jabra, leader in personal sound and hybrid work solutions, is launching the Elite 4, the latest addition to its unique Elite lineup. Following in the footsteps of the entry-level Elite 3, these affordable true wireless earbuds are a step up from its predecessor, ideal for the modern earbud user. At the push of a button, users can escape from a busy day by immersing themselves in media or connecting with colleagues, friends or family. 

The Elite 4 has been tailored to cover earbud essentials, such as comfort, optimal sound and convenience, all at a very reasonable price. For users that need to connect to two different devices simultaneously, the Jabra Elite 4 offers Bluetooth® Multipoint, facilitating smooth and stress-free switching, without skipping a beat. Even the initial pairing of earbuds to a device is simple, with Fast Pair* connecting instantly to a mobile device and Swift Pair* linking straight to a laptop or computer. 

Ready for travelling or commuting, the feedforward Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in these earbuds filters out unwanted sounds, so distractions fade into a thing of the past. It doesn’t end there, as the Elite 4 are engineered for crystal-clear sound with 4-microphone call technology and 6mm speakers, so users can rest assured that they too will be heard loud and clear. For those seeking tailored listening experiences, the Jabra music equalizer and intuitive Sound+ app lets users customize the sound to suit their individual tastes. Personalisation like this is key to creating an earbud experience that feels seamless. 

The Elite 4 last for 5.5 hours of playtime on your chosen device, and 22 hours with the sleek case (28 hours with ANC off) – all while providing all-day wearing comfort with its Danish ergonomic acoustic engineering. The earbuds are made with premium durable materials that offer an IP55 durability rating against dust and water and come in four classic colours: Dark Gray, Navy, Lilac and Light Beige.

Calum MacDougall, SVP at Jabra, said: “The modern earbud user is looking for tech that’s ready for work and play at their fingertips, whilst not compromising on key features. The Elite 4 offers a solution to this and is the perfect all-rounder, designed to help users to concentrate, connect, and call without distractions, and is the ideal companion to balance work and life.”   

Key features of the Elite 4: 

·         Bluetooth® Multipoint means seamless switching between calls and apps

·         Fast Pair and Swift Pair* ensure instant connections to laptops/phones

·         Active Noise Cancellation blocks out background noise

·         Comfortable fit for all-day wearing

·         4-microphone technology for optimised call clarity

·         Up to 22 hours total battery with ANC on (28 hours ANC off)

·         Go solo feature to use either earbud for listening or taking calls while the other charges

·         Spotify Tap playback

·         Qualcomm® aptXä unlike competitors

·         IP55-rated rainproof protectionplus 2-year warranty**

The Jabra Elite 4 is available in selected retailers, MSRP AU$139/NZ$159

Find out more about Jabra Elite 4 here.

Automate review response process

Podium, a leading provider of reputation management solutions for local businesses, has today announced the imminent launch of “Review Response Suggestions”, a feature designed to help Australian local businesses manage their online reputation effectively. The cutting-edge feature, powered by revolutionary tool ChatGPT, utilises the power of AI technology to generate review response suggestions, making it quick, easy and convenient for local businesses to stay on top of their online reviews and respond to customers in a timely and professional manner.

The integration comes not only as businesses continue to investigate tangible ways of building Artificial Intelligence into their operations, but as Google Reviews grow in influence. According to Podium research, 84% of Aussies are influenced by Google Reviews when choosing a business. What’s more, 51% say that a business’ responses to reviews have changed their perspective on the business and 46% are more likely to look at a local business’s Google listing before visiting than pre-Covid. And amongst local businesses, 45% say that online reviews are “very important” to their business’ success.

Podium’s “Review Response Suggestions” feature offers Australian businesses an effective and efficient way to respond to online reviews in context. The feature generates customised response suggestions that businesses can quickly edit and personalise to their satisfaction. It supports Google and will be followed by Facebook reviews, allowing businesses to respond to customer feedback across multiple platforms.

“As a business owner myself, I understand how crucial online reputation management is to local businesses in Australia,” said Eric Rea, CEO of Podium. “That’s why we’re excited to launch our new ‘Review Response Suggestions’ feature, which will make it easier for businesses to manage their online reputation. Online reviews have never been more influential, but as a business owner staying on top of them – good or bad – can be a daunting and time-consuming task. 

“Our integration with ChatGPT is designed to unburden local businesses – from dentists and retailers to tradies and mechanics – enabling them to manage their online reputation more efficiently and spend more time working on meaningful, face-to-face or revenue-generating tasks.”

Podium’s “Review Response Suggestions” feature has been designed to provide high-quality review response recommendations, with a focus on responding in the context of the review. By responding promptly and professionally to reviews – whether positive, negative or neutral – businesses can build trust with their customers, which leads to greater brand loyalty and improved customer retention.

“We’re proud to offer a solution that helps local businesses in Australia manage their online reputation in a simple and useful way,” Rea continued. “Our feature provides businesses with the tools they need to respond to customer reviews with confidence, while saving them valuable time and effort. As technology and the needs of local business evolve, so too must Podium. This is the latest example of our dedication to innovation, R&D and providing the tools our customers need to meet and exceed the needs of their customers.” 

Rebecca Browne, Marketing and Brand Manager, at Phil Gilbert Motor Group, commented: “Since we started using Podium four years ago, we have constantly seen the platform grow and offer us new enhancements which have always been beneficial to our Dealership. The latest one of these developments, the ChatGPT integration with ‘Reviews’, has been one of the most significant. The AI Assistants suggestions are incredible. Given the vast amount of data we’ve generated by using Podium over the years, the tone and language suggested for the review replies are so consistent to what I would write myself, it’s like I am watching my thoughts type before my eyes! I actually feel the quality of the review replies are more diverse and there would be no way for people researching our business online to know that the feedback to our guests was generated by AI.”

Cameron Mackay, Director at Plumbcall Australia, added: “It’s great, it takes the guesswork out of responding to reviews and is far more efficient. Gone are the days of finding the time to respond to all our recent reviews individually, which on average would take us 20 minutes. With this feature it now takes me one minute. It’s a really valuable new feature from Podium.”

Marcus Tomczak, GM of Marketing at car dealership Rex Gorell commented: “Since getting access to the new Review Response Suggestion feature, we’ve been using it almost daily. It’s been fantastic to respond promptly and professionally to our reviews through the power of Chat GPT. We’re extremely pleased with where it’s going and look forward to seeing more exciting releases from Podium in the future.” 

With its cutting-edge AI technology and user-friendly interface, Podium’s “Review Response Suggestions” feature is poised to revolutionise the way local businesses in Australia manage their online reputation.

Podium is used by 4,000 local businesses in Australia and 100,000 globally. 

To learn more, visit: www.podium.com.au

Digital identity pilot, exploring age verification

Mastercard is conducting a pilot with Service NSW and Tipple to allow consumers to verify their age securely and seamlessly in the digital and physical world. The pilot Mastercard’s digital identity service, ID, to verify their age when making an online liquor purchase at Tipple.

This latest pilot follows Mastercard’s accreditation under the Australian Government’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) and builds on previous pilots that explore how ID can securely connect and integrate with services from other identity providers.

Protecting consumers’ information through ID ensures that businesses have a convenient, secure and smart way of minimising security and fraud risk, instilling trust in their customer interactions without adding unnecessary friction or sacrificing a quality user experience. It can also reduce the likelihood of identity crime, which costs Australia upwards of $1.6 billion each year.

When making a purchase at Tipple, participants verify their identity by connecting to the Service NSW app which has been integrated with the Mastercard ID Network. The only information received by Tipple is a verification indicating the consumer is over 18 years of age. Consumers do not need to share their date of birth, identity document numbers, or copies of their documents. This approach ensures that only the minimum amount of information needed to complete their purchase is provided, helping to preserve the consumer’s privacy while streamlining the transaction.

“In today’s landscape, there needs to be a better way to provide quick and easy access to goods and services, without the hassle of sharing physical ID documents. Mastercard is working with the public and private sectors to build a national identity ecosystem where citizens can trust that their personal information is safe and secure. Connecting with trusted, innovative platforms like Service NSW and Tipple extends the value and use of ID to more providers and partner organisations in Mastercard’s network,” said Richard Wormald, Division President, Australasia, Mastercard.

“For digital identity adoption to become mainstream, it is critical that the customer has a seamless experience and the confidence that the information they are sharing with the provider is secure. By partnering with Mastercard for Service NSW, we’re providing our customers with market leading solutions from trusted providers. We are extremely excited and proud to be involved in the pilot,” said Ryan Barrington, Chief Executive Officer, Tipple.

Mastercard’s digital identity service was built with interoperability in mind and can connect existing identity providers with other organisations, like Service NSW, with verification facilitated by Mastercard’s highly secure network.

ID enables customers to create a convenient, safe, and reusable digital identity, allowing them to share verified information quickly and securely. Using data encryption and biometric authentication to protect personal identity information keeps consumers in control of their data and reduces fraud, enabling them to choose what information to provide, to which organisations, and when. Leveraging Mastercard’s global network and data privacy practices, ID offers a highly secure end-to-end solution for digitally creating, managing, and verifying identities.

Mastercard has been scaling ID in Australia since 2019, announcing partnerships with Optus, Samsung, and Microsoft. Mastercard will continue to roll out ID in other industries and verticals across Australia, helping businesses solve real-world problems, including reducing fraud and identity theft, while improving the consumer experience.

Please visit mastercard.com.au/id to learn more about Mastercard’s vision for digital identity.

Safewill is giving away free Wills

Safewill, the online platform modernising Will-writing and Australia’s highest rated Will-writing service, has launched National Free Wills Week, aiming to give away $1 million worth of Wills to everyday Australians and raise $100m for Australian charities and not-for-profits in a single week.

From today until 26th March, anybody can access a Will completely free of charge through Safewill’s website. Safewill is encouraging Australians to donate part of their estate through a charitable gift in their Will, so that they can preserve a piece of their legacy with the causes and charities they care about the most. 

Bequests are crucial for the Australian not-for-profit sector, accounting for over 20% of total national fundraising. 

In this one week, Safewill is aiming to raise a staggering $100 million for over 500 Australian charities. The company is the first online Wills company in Australia to work with Australian charities, with partners including the likes of the Guide Dogs, UNICEF, Fred Hollows Foundation, Cancer Council NSW, Camp Quality, RSPCA, Greyhound Rescue, Equality Australia, Safe Steps and Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

The impact initiative follows the success of last year, where the company’s first ever Free Wills Week initiative gave away over $250,000 in free Wills and saw $50 million raised for Australian charities. In this week alone, over 800 bequests were received and over 200 charities received a charitable gift. Data from Safewill showed the number of charitable gifts increased 59 times in Free Wills Week compared to a normal week*, as more Australians looked to safeguard their life’s work and do good with zero cost. 

Adam Lubofsky, Founder and CEO of Safewill, commented: “Having a positive impact on society is something we’ve always sought to do in building our business, and we’re proud that Free Wills Week is able to deliver on this. We hope this year we give away over $1 million of Wills, but that we generate many multiples of that in charitable gifts to Australia’s most important not-for-profit organisations.”

Online Will-writing has seen major growth in recent years, particularly during COVID when so many Australians were looking for peace of mind but were unable to visit a solicitor’s office. Despite this adoption, there is still a misconception that writing a Will is a complicated and expensive endeavour. Safewill is challenging that, by trying to make estate planning easier and more affordable than ever.

“Our platform is much more than the old school post office Will kits – anyone can pick up their phone and within 20 minutes have a personalised Will, enduring powers of attorney or even access specialist legal advice at the touch of a button. We’ve made the platform as affordable as possible, because Will writing and estate planning shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy.”, commented Adam Lubofsky, Founder and CEO of Safewill. 

Lubofsky set up Safewill in response to the unexpected loss of a friend who hadn’t created a Will, sparking the conversation on their importance. Since launching in 2019, over 80,000 Australians from all across the country have started their end-of-life planning journey with Safewill. Safewill has also seen an estimated $500 million in charitable bequests left on their platform to over 400 not-for-profit organisations in that time, making it one of the largest platforms for charitable fundraising in Australia.  

“There is a major opportunity for charities to build relationships with donors early, secure their commitment and be a meaningful beneficiary of the great wealth transfer that is currently underway. It also provides a modern approach to Wills for donors that can be created and updated at any time, anywhere”, added Lubofsky.

Deborah Thomas, CEO of Camp Quality, commented: “Free Wills Week is a great opportunity for us to give something back to our amazing supporters, as well as raise awareness of the importance of having a valid Will, something so many Australians still don’t have.”

A spokesperson from Greyhound Rescue added: “Most people don’t like to think about leaving gifts in Wills but it truly has a huge impact, especially for charities like ours. Bequests can give us the chance to do some of those bigger projects that we wouldn’t otherwise be in a position to afford, which is an amazing legacy for people to leave.”

The modern approach by Safewill means individuals can start, complete and update their Will anytime anywhere with no lawyer fees, hidden costs or unnecessary appointments. It gives everyday Australians access to legal knowledge with modern technology, changing their current thinking around writing them.

Safewill is Australia’s highest rated Will writing platform and works alongside affiliate law firm, Safewill Legal, who review each and every Will written through the Safewill platform.

Free Wills Week is running from 20th March until 26th of March. People can apply here.

Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition with enhanced security

Samsung Electronics, a global leader in the technology industry, has announced the launch of its new Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition in Australia – a powerful and secure device offering the tools, applications, and support needed for businesses of all sizes to thrive. With many workers continuing to work from home, the Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition offers employees seamless and fast connectivity with enhanced protection to make work effortless, wherever they are[i].

The Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition series is available in S23 Ultra and S23 Base models. It comes integrated with both Microsoft and Google cloud productivity tools, making working from anywhere simple[ii]. The Galaxy S23 Ultra features a large 6.8-inch screen and powerful, 45W Super Fast Charging[iii] and embedded S Pen[iv], making it ideal for multitasking and efficiency. Its 200M Adaptive Pixel sensor enables incredible photography and its sophisticated design makes a statement with an eye-catching glass-metal design.

The device’s enterprise-focused features, such as Samsung DeX, enables users to connect the Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse for a desktop-like experience. The Galaxy S23 Ultra Enterprise Edition provides up to 12GB RAM and 512 GB of storage, allowing users to store more video, files and apps for productivity in any environment.

“Businesses need devices that are not only powerful and secure but also easy to use and manage,” said Garry McGregor, Vice President, Mobile Experience Division, Samsung Electronics Australia.

“The Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition delivers a premium experience that uses our most advanced mobile technology yet. With its sleek design, high-resolution camera, powerful chipset and security solutions powered by Samsung Knox, it offers both value and peace of mind to businesses.”

The Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition also comes equipped with a one-year subscription to Samsung’s Knox Suite, its built-in security platform that helps provide multi-layered protection against malware, hacking, and other cyber threats. Offering end-to-end mobile management tools, the latest S Series iteration streamlines device management for added convenience. Timely software updates and support ensure users receive critical OS updates and patches for up to five years, with options for remote support. A two-year availability assurance post-launch allows businesses’ IT teams to test, use and maintain consistency across teams.

The Galaxy S23 Enterprise Edition is available now and can be purchased through Samsung’s enterprise partners.

Improve your debtor management

As a small business owner, managing your debtor management is crucial to maintaining your financial stability and keeping your business afloat.

You may not have realised your debtor management could do with improvement because you’re likely following the same processes your business has always done. But broader challenges, like the current macro environment, potential staff turnover, or your organisation experiencing a period of rapid growth, can have a significant impact on your cash flow and debtor management. With a few checks in place, you can overcome these challenges, free yourself up from unwanted admin, and create time and space to focus on activities that drive greater value for your business. 

With years of experience guiding customers on how to overcome credit risk, these are six top tips to help you manage your debtors more effectively:

Review your process – ensuring it’s not causing late payments and bad cash flow

Your business should have a well-defined debtor management process that’s easy to follow each month. It should guide your steps at every stage, from sending statements, to making calls, to moving customers through a flow that stops credit and escalates to debt collection when they’re well past their due date. 

Every step in your process should be decided in advance, then codified into your debtor management software so it’s easy to follow. You’ll know you have your process right when anytime you do debtor management it feels logical and effective. You’re simply following the next predefined step in the follow-up process for each overdue account, so there’s less pondering about what to do next. If you’ve got a team, then everyone knows their responsibilities and can be held accountable.

Keep an eye on the time required for debtor management – optimise wherever possible

Unless it’s a core part of your role and you have the right tools and training to complete it, debtor management can be difficult for a lot of people. It may feel like you spend too much time managing debtors, or not enough if other priorities keep getting in the way.

Good debtor management is crucial to protecting your cash flow and delivering a good customer experience. With a proper process in place, including a well-timed reminder workflow, it shouldn’t be a burden on your time. It should run fluidly, with your input only needed when bad debts need to be escalated or if disputes are raised.

 Set clear payment terms with your customers

One of the easiest ways to manage your debtors is to set clear payment terms from the beginning. Be specific about when payment is due and any penalties for late payment. Make sure your customers understand your payment terms and agree to them before doing business with you.

Invoice promptly

It’s important to invoice your customers as soon as possible after providing goods or services. Ensure you have the right payment method and bank account details on every invoice. Practicing both actions will help you get paid faster and avoid delayed payments.

Run a late payments reminder workflow

Don’t chase debtors with an ad-hoc system. Having a predetermined workflow takes the guesswork out of the reminder process. Knowing ahead of time at what stage in the cash flow cycle you’ll send invoice reminders to customers is crucial. Timing should be agreed across the entire team, whether that’s CFO, Finance Manager, Credit Controller, Owner/Operator or across other roles. This will ultimately save you time as you’ll know exactly how to escalate a bad debtor as they move through the workflow.

You can set up workflows and invoice reminders manually. But to really improve your process you can use tools to automate the reminders process. From pre-reminders right through to a debtor dashboard, these tools provide a consolidated view of your debtors. Implementing a specialist tool can also deliver better cash flow management. Automated collections tools employ all the best levers to get customers to pay such as including SMS  messages and scheduling phone calls into your reminder workflows.

Don’t extend credit to bad debtors

Pausing a customer’s account might not always be possible. But if you can do so, then pausing the account before a debt becomes overdue is a good idea. You can set this out in your payment terms, so that it’s clear for the customer from the outset.

Just like there are tools for debtor management, there are tools to help you predict the risk of customers, which can drastically limit the amount of bad debt you have on your books. One of the low-cost tools we offer, for example, helps businesses understand which customers are most likely to default in the next 12 months, so they can consider whether they want to start working with, or continue working with, such a business.

By following these tips, you can manage your debtors more effectively and avoid the financial stress that comes with overdue payments. It’s often said but staying on top of your finances really is key to the long-term success of your small business.

By Matt McFedries, Head of CreditorWatch Collect

40% SMEs will turn away from the big 4 banks if rates hit 8%

With many economists predicting a recession on the horizon in 2023, Australia is relying on successful industries to continue their growth to protect our economy from the two consecutive quarters of negative growth that define a recession. SMEs are the lifeblood of the Australian economy making up 98 per cent of businesses[1], but with their traditionally smaller budgets they generally require finance to enter periods of growth. Now, new research reveals that a quarter (26 per cent) of SMEs won’t take out a loan for business growth if rates hit 7 per cent, which has already been surpassed by a series of major banks. This jumps to 50 per cent of SMEs who will refuse to take out a business loan if rates rise to 10 per cent. In fact, two-thirds of business owners and senior decision-makers (64 per cent) would not obtain a loan at an unfavourable rate, regardless of whether such a decision would stunt their business’s growth.

The findings were derived from an independent survey commissioned by business loan comparison site Small Business Loans Australia seeking to discover whether rate rises will deter Australian businesses from the big four banks: Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, National Australia Bank and ANZ. Respondents were 210 business owners and senior decision-makers across the full SME spectrum: micro (1-10 employees), small (11-50 employees) and medium-sized (51-200 employees), as well as a small percentage of large SMEs (more than 200 employees). The full survey results, including breakdowns across business sizes and states, can be found here: https://smallbusinessloansaustralia.com/sme-big-bank/ 

In 2018-19, 15 per cent of businesses applied for finance, with 31 per cent using the funds for general business growth. Sixty-nine (69) per cent of such businesses borrowed their money from a bank and 33 per cent borrowed from another financial institution.[2]

Small Business Loans Australia asked respondents to consider any loans their business may require over the next two years and asked them to identify what level of interest rates would turn them off obtaining a loan from a bank. More than a quarter (26 per cent) of respondents reported that an interest rate of 7 per cent would deter them from acquiring a loan, while 14 per cent responded that they would avoid borrowing at an interest rate of 8 per cent. Ten (10) per cent of respondents indicated their limit as 10 per cent, while 24 per cent will cease taking out loans when interest rates reach 10 per cent or higher. Interestingly, almost one in 10 (8 per cent) would continue to borrow funds from the big banks, provided the interest rate remains at 15 per cent or under.

More than a third (36 per cent) of micro-businesses indicated that they would cease borrowing when interest rates reach 7 per cent, while 17 per cent of medium-sized and large businesses noted the same. This compares with just 3 per cent of small businesses that would be deterred from acquiring a loan at an interest rate of 7 per cent or higher.

Small Business Loans Australia found that business respondents across all States, would cease borrowing at an interest rate of 7 per cent. A third of respondents from Queensland (33 per cent) would be deterred from obtaining a bank loan at this rate, followed closely by South Australian and Victorian respondents at 32 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, only one in five (20 per cent) of respondents across NSW, Western Australia and the ACT indicated the same.

Would businesses choose between financing and growth?

Small Business Loans Australia asked respondents whether they would still postpone borrowing even if it meant that their business would not grow without it. Almost two-thirds (64 per cent) responded that they would not obtain a loan at an unfavourable rate, regardless of whether such a decision would stunt their business’s growth. Meanwhile, the remaining 36 per cent would continue borrowing to sustain the expansion of their business.  

The survey found that large business are more prepared to continue borrowing at high interest rates to enable their business to grow, with 67 per cent of respondents of large businesses indicating that they would obtain a loan at an unfavourable rate if necessary. On the other hand, micro, small, and medium-sized businesses are less inclined to do the same: more than two-thirds (70 per cent) of micro-businesses contended that they would cease borrowing, while 46 per cent and 39 per cent of small businesses and medium-sized businesses, respectively, noted the same.

Alon Rajic, Founder and Director of Small Business Loans Australia, says: “Australian SMEs are showing promising resilience as interest rates continue to rise.”

“This year could be a period of growth for businesses in many sector, which in many cases will require a business loan. Most SMEs have established a clear cut-off point where interest rates will become too difficult to manage, which is imperative when choosing any loan. However, there is always a variety of differing interest rates available across lenders, and business owners should make sure to shop around and use a comparison service before taking out any new loans.”

The full survey results, including breakdowns across business sizes and States, can be found here.

Australian jobs index shows jobs in demand

 People intelligence company, Compono, has today released its inaugural monthly Australian jobs index. The report includes data from almost 40,000 Australian job ads and applications from February 2023.

Report overview:

  • 38,645 Australian jobs were posted via Compono’s job posting platform in February, a 15.5% increase from January
  • Leisure & sport saw the highest demand for candidates, with four jobs posted for every candidate applying
  • The most competitive industry is hospitality & catering, with around 38 applicants to every open role

Industries:

Following leisure & sports, workers are also in high demand in the electronics, legal, travel and tourism, and medical and nursing industries. This is consistent with the demand across January.

Australian jobs index shows which jobs are in highest demand

Industries where candidates are in highest demand
IndustryCandidate-to-job-post-ratio
Leisure & Sports0.26
Electronics0.41
Legal1.36
Travel & Tourism1.81
Medical & Nursing2.16
Accountancy2.42
Education & Training2.46
Accountancy (Qualified)2.73
Property & Housing2.77
Sales2.78
Social Care3.56
HR & Personnel3.84
Pharmaceuticals4.05
Fashion4.07
Advertising & PR4.10

The most competitive industry for candidates is hospitality and catering, with over 38 applicants for each job posting; a slight increase from January, at around 27 candidates for each posting. 

Top 15 most competitive industries in February
IndustryCandidate-to-job-post-ratio
Hospitality & Catering 38.05
Science & Research 25.63
Energy & Renewables23.68
Banking18.28
Graduate Roles16.67
FMCG16.33
Manufacturing & Production13.23
Building & Construction13.15
Automotive11.64
Telecommunications11.56
Call Centre & Customer Service10.04
Engineering9.51
Admin & Secretarial9.45
IT8.37
Financial Services8.00

Raife Watson, Regional Director APAC, Compono, said, “Our inaugural monthly jobs index shows that while it’s still a candidate’s market, businesses should be happy to see an uptick in the number of candidates applying for positions; particularly businesses in the hospitality and catering sector who have been struggling to find for staff for some time.

“The increasing number of applicants in the hospitality and catering sector is possibly due to decreased seasonal demand, combined with the new academic year providing a slight bump in candidate numbers. 

“2023 has shown consistently high demand for candidates in the sports, electronics, tourism, legal, education and medical sectors. For job seekers looking to break into these industries, now has never been a better time.”

Impact for business post cookie changes

When we think about cookies, most of us equate that to an American term for a sweet biscuit. In the internet and marketing world, cookies have become a billion-dollar business driving advertising and are a way to spy on an individual’s internet habits. Big cookie changes are occurring, and in this guide, we will demystify what is happening and how it might affect you and your business.

Cookies are small text files with pieces of data (for example, a username and password) that will identify you and your computer. Cookies were designed to improve your web browsing experience. When your cookie is exchanged between your computer and the network server on the internet, the server reads the ID and knows what information to specifically serve to you.

WHY should I care about cookie changes?

Internet cookies are built for web browsers to track, personalise, and save information about your browsing. Your browser stores cookies on your PC, tablet or phone, and a web server will send and read cookie information when you visit a website.

Another way of thinking about it is a trail of bread crumbs (or cookie crumbs) left behind and can be followed.

A session cookie is deleted when you leave a website, however, a persistent cookie may remain on your computer forever.

Personal

Websites use cookies to improve your web browsing experiences. For example, cookies save you from logging into a site every time you visit, personalising how a page appears or remembering a shopping cart if you accidentally close a page.

Business

As a business, you can target customers with personalised advertising. This can take the form of sending ads to an individual on other sites after visiting your site, known as retargeting. Alternatively, you might target someone who has seen a competitor’s website or may be interested in your offering based on their internet browsing.

If you run an online store, a cookie will track items users previously viewed, allowing you to suggest other goods or services they might like.

Why are cookies Bad?

Cookies are bad due to their ability to track your browsing history. There are two types of Cookies:

First-Party Cookie created by a website you are directly using. Collects and saves data directly associated with you using only that website. Assuming you are visiting a reputable website, these are considered safe.

Other 3rd party web servers create third-Party Cookies, generally from advertisements appearing on the page you are surfing. 3rd party cookies let advertisers and analytics companies track your long-term browsing history across the internet on any sites that contain their ads. Thus, your personal information is collected and shared even if you did not think you had given permission.

Security vulnerabilities may allow a cookie’s data to be read, allowing unauthorised access to data or the website to which the cookie belongs.

WHAT is changing for cookies?

Put simply; your privacy will increase with the drop of support for 3rd party cookies by the major browsers.

Announcements so far:

  • Browsers Apple Safari and Mozilla Firefox have already blocked 3rd party cookies
  • Google has announced it will restrict 3rd part cookies from the end of 2023
  • Many companies are now asking for permission to use first-party cookies when you first visit their site
  • Apple iOS14 now requires users to opt-in for information to be shared with publishers
  • Apple iOS15, yet to be launched, will hide IP addresses. Users will see how often apps access their personal information, for example, location.
  • Due to these changes, Facebook is asking its users to allow “Facebook” to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites.
  • The Australian Federal Government is currently reviewing the Privacy Act. In addition, the ACCC is taking submissions to its digital advertising services inquiry – due late August 21.

With the removal of this tracking (remove 3rd party cookies), you will no longer see a creepy advertisement for those shoes that you looked at online two weeks ago. Also, with governments worldwide reviewing their citizens’ privacy policies, your data will remain more secure and more private and require a business to jump through more hoops.

HOW will cookie changes affect my business?

The biggest business change will be the ability to target appropriate customers, as the 3rd party data will not be as readily available.

How should I respond:

Build out 1st party data – This is building your own database of your customers and relevant information. When you have this, you don’t have to pay others.

Use First party cookies to improve your customers’ experience on your website and to provide them with a journey that will benefit them and hopefully make you a sale.

Reward customers in some way for providing their data, like discounts or information.

If you don’t have first-party data to communicate with your customers, the targeting advantages of digital marketing versus traditional media will still be available. Companies such as Google and large media players like Nine in Australia will sell you access to their large private databases.

For a small business that is buying some keywords and possibly doing a few Facebook or Google digital advertisements, it is unlikely you will see a great deal of difference. Still, for those more advanced advertisers, how you take your advertising to market will be turned upside down.

As an individual, you will still have advertisements targeted at you. Still, it is likely to happen more anonymously and less creepily.

HINTS

Cookies can be deleted from your browser at any time. If you surf the web incognito, cookies will not be saved. However, remember not all cookies are evil and can actually be helpful.

Apple refers to 3rd party cookies as Apple’s identifiers for advertisers (IDFA).

Also, read Small Business Answers guide to advertising for better sales.

SUMMARY – Cookie removal changes digital advertising

Cookies enable a web browser to keep track of our user data and activities. From 2023, using this data to track our browsing habits and be targeted will be removed to increase privacy. However, consumers will still benefit from first-party data enabling an improved website experience. Still, businesses will need to look to other means than 3rd party cookies to find and target customers with advertising.

Angus Jones, the author of this guide and all guides on Small Business Answers, is a marketing veteran of more than 30 years and is available for consulting projects. I can be contacted at angusojones@optusnet.com.au

58% business risk harm relying on third-party cookies

Adobe has released new research that shows brands aren’t taking the necessary steps to evolve their data strategies, despite serious near and long-term impacts on their businesses after relying on third-party cookies. The global survey of more than 2,600 marketing and consumer experience leaders (including 656 APAC respondents) also explores the marketing investments and strategies that set industry leaders apart from the competition.  

Across APAC, the majority (79%) of brands still rely heavily on third-party cookies, with over half (56%) of leaders expecting the end of third-party cookies will hurt their businesses. The research shows that ambiguity over cookie deprecation is causing confusion and, in some cases, inaction, with one in three (38%) APAC leaders stating they are not changing their marketing strategy out of a perceived lack of urgency, while others plan to change but are delaying cookieless preparation.  

“Companies that aren’t diversifying their strategies are leaving money on the table today, and hurting their chances of gaining competitive advantages in the future,” said Gabbi Stubbs, APAC Product Marketing and Strategy, Adobe. “While a wholesale change in strategy takes commitment and long-term investment, the benefits are undeniable across all currencies that matter—from customer loyalty and satisfaction to a better bottom line.”

Brands rely heavily on third-party cookies

Although deprecation is on the horizon, 52% of APAC leaders still spend at least half of their marketing budgets on cookie-based activations – and 79% actually plan to increase spending on cookie-dependent activations this year. Most (81%) leaders in APAC still rely heavily on third-party cookies because they feel they’re very effective, while a quarter (23%) of respondents surveyed in Australia believe that third-party cookies aren’t going anywhere.  


The majority (86%) of APAC leaders at cookie-dependent companies say that at least 30% of their total potential market is in environments where third-party cookies don’t work, such as social media platforms and on Apple devices, and 59% say that half or more of their potential market is in cookieless environments. Beyond the immediate consequences of being unable to reach 30-50% of potential customers, the impacts of this mistake will only compound with every passing quarter as the cookieless frontier continues to expand.

An overdependence on third-party cookies is about to backfire on brands

Many APAC leaders expect the end of third-party cookies will hurt their businesses, in some cases profoundly: 34% said it would “devastate” their businesses, 21% anticipate significant harm, and 25% predict a moderate negative impact. In some countries, the numbers are more concerning; 54% of leaders surveyed in Australia expect either devastating (31%) or significant (23%) impacts from cookie deprecation. Many heavy third-party cookie users believe they don’t have a choice, with over half (60%) of cookie-using leaders saying they view cookies as a “necessary evil,” even though many realise that continued overreliance is a losing strategy for the long-term. One in three respondents (37%) say they can’t get the resources to evolve their strategies, a number that rises to over half of leaders (56%) in Australia. 

While many companies are now on the path to abandoning cookies, a third (38%) are not. Some say they’re not changing out of a perceived lack of urgency. Others plan to change but are delaying preparations. 

Customer data platforms (CDPs) are helping brands prepare for a cookieless future, and a cookieless now  

 The research found that over half (54%) of APAC leaders who use CDPs say they’ve already gained more direct relationships with customers, a rise in customer loyalty (42%), and an increase in the number and value of completed transactions (41%). CDPs also improve internal workflows, with 46% saying it enabled better and faster work across marketing and IT and more efficient ROI production (35%). Adobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform (Real-Time CDP) now delivers billions of predictive insights a year based on real-time customer profiles. These insights empower teams to engage customers who are likely to buy – or who may be considering switching to a competitor. The platform has become the customer experience engine of choice for leading brands across numerous industries, including Coles, SBS and Suncorp. 

Also read SBA’s article on the business impact of 3rd Party cookie changes.