Nifnex April 2013 Edition by Nifnex

Business and Telecommunications

By Collette Winchester ��Pg 15

www.nifnex.com.au

Referrals & RecommendationS

Small Business Expo

By Ron Gibson �� Pg 13

By SBC SEM �� Pg 4

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April 2013

UNLOCK YOUR ENTERPRISE POTENTIAL

VISIT THE EXPO 30TH April 2013 10-2:30

Business Foundations Fremantle Prison

NEIS Expo Feature Inside Pg 8-9

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Message from the CEO On behalf of my team, I welcome you to the April 2013 edition. A lot has happened in the past month or so. We celebrated our 2nd birthday, which was closely aligned with the small business expo organised by the Small Business Centre; South East Metro (Pictures on Page 4). Kim Charles and her team did such a fabulous job organising the expo which also saw the launch of the Australian Small Business Magazine; a glossy addition to the Nifnex Publishing arm. We have grown our internal team and have also grown our Nifnex family by commencing our Nifnex Writers’ Club. The Writers’ Club is made up of 40 small business owners in Perth who run their own successful businesses and are an authority in their field. You will see their articles being published on our website and on our social media channels. Nifnex App is now officially on Apple’s App Store as well as on the Android GooglePlay. This App will help you read the articles we publish easily with a click of a button on your smart phones and tablets. Many great features are being released shortly but stay tuned as we launch the full version on the 24th of May 2013 at our very first Small Business Expo. Sponsorship and exhibitor enquiries are welcomed. Call us on 1300643639 or email Nifnex@nifnex.com.au If you are looking at attending, please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates. Your well wishes and feedback have propelled us to where we are today. Please keep them coming! Enjoy reading this edition.

Zeeshan Pasha Connect via Linkedin: http://au.linkedin.com/in/zeeshanpasha Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeeshanpasha

Zeeshan Pasha CEO Nifnex

Admin Dianne Purdy Mona H. Sharief

Nifnex Team Editor In Chief Zeeshan Pasha Business Operation Sharmini Pasha

Content Strategy Saran Sithambaram Creative Team Amy Clark Jessica Brims Benjamin Penkin

Printers Rural Press Mandurah, WA Advertising Enquiries and Media Relations Email: nifnex@nifnex.com.au Tel: 1300 643 639 Address: 45 St Georges Tce Perth WA 6000

ART OF CHARISMATIC PRESENTATION An Evening With Gary Rodriguez | A NIFNEX Writers Club Event Gary De Rodriguez, CEO of PeopleRICH imparted his valuable tips to enhance an individual’s power to influence. The event, first in a series of Nifnex Writers Club brought together 30 entrepreneurs who were keen to learn and develop. The event with Jarrad Brown as the MC was held at SpaceCubed; 45 St George Tce and served its purpose as entrepreneurs learnt, shared opinions and networked. You can read more articles written by Gary on the Nifnex website under the Writ ers’ Club section and also find out about Gary’s 2-day bootcamp in June. The Next Writers Club Speaker will be Alicia Menkveld on 2 May 2013, followed by Richard Boyd. Visit website for registrations and future events by Nifnex.

Postal Address: PO Box 1186 Technology Park, Bentley DC, WA 6983 Disclaimer:

All articles, advertising, contributions and material supplied to Nifnex are opinions of the advertiser, contributor and author of the article/material. No responsibility is taken by Nifnex. Opinions published are not necessarily those of editor

Index: Art of Charismatic Presentation

Entrepreneur Interview From the WA Small Business Comissioner’s Desk 3 Coffee As a Life Philosophy

Small Business Expo Small Business Expo and Australian Small Business Magazine Launch

Money Matters Look Ahead and Be Prepared ...

What could murder your business?

Entrepreneurship Entrepreneur & Innovator Awards 2013

Perth Entrepreneur needs community support 6

Writers’ Club Articles Bad Apples

Common receivables mistakes SMEs make and how to avoid them

Unlock your Enterprise Potential NEIS Success Stories

Social Media West Australian Fashion Awards

Forget Facebook: Why Gen Y should be taking LinkedIn More Seriously to Get Ahead.

Insurance & Business Preparing for an Unknown Future

Start with Why

Self Development Door To Happiness

Self Development & NetworkinG Stop Waiting. Give Yourself Permission

It’s not about your first degree connections

IT & T Generate unlimited Leads for free !

Create effective web presence

Virtualise your work life

Business and Telecommunications – a love / hate relationship? 15

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Entrepreneur Interview

From the WA Small Business Comissioner’s Desk

Coffee As a Life Philosophy

According to the latest Sensis Small Business Index, Western Australia has recorded an 11 per cent improvement in business confidence levels in the first quarter of 2013. Interestingly, regional businesses in WA have reported the strongest confidence levels compared to any other location across the nation.

Caffissimo is an exceptional and Western Australian based Café franchise that is unique in the way it roasts its own award-winning coffee beans daily. Alida Cubbage, the franchise owner of the West End Village on Colin Street in West Perth, has divulged some of her own experiences and secrets of the hospitality industry which she has cherished for over twenty years. The result was this interview that allows an insight into the mind of someone whose passion for customers, adaptability and drive for success in the coffee industry not only informs but inspires.

Alida Cubbage shares with Nifnex A First Hand View of a Passionate Coffee Roaster by Amy Clark

David Eaton

The Small Business Commissioner, David Eaton says the small business is a major contributor to Western Australia’s economic success. “Because of the massive contribution small business makes to the economy and the employment opportunities it offers, it is important that the achievements of the sector are recognized, and that impediments to business growth are reduced,” Mr Eaton said. The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) is at the forefront in providing advice and guidance to the small businesses and supports 25 small business centres around the State. “In the past three months, the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) has responded to more than 4000 client enquiries. Of those, 14 per cent concerned commercial tenancy issues and 22 per cent required information and advice on starting a business.” In the past twelve months, the SBDC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service has also assisted many small business owners with businessto-business and business-to-government disputes. “Disputes can ruin a business,” Mr Eaton said. “We aim to help businesses come to an agreement quickly and inexpensively, so they can get back to work, with business relationships intact. “The ADR service has been particularly successful in settling landlord/tenant disputes and in March, we conducted our first video-link dispute between a government agency in Sydney and a small business in Perth.” I want to ensure that small business owners, regardless of the location of their business or the type of business they run, have access to all the information they need to operate their businesses confidently, efficiently and successfully. As the CEO of the Small Business Centre Stirling I am lucky to source a great deal of valuable information to assist with business decision making. Our role in the centre is to filter and distribute this knowledge to you the aspiring business owner. I encourage you to visit us at www.stirlingbec. com to access that information. Look out for our next big event with Rick Hart and Sue Daubney plus more in an inspiring panel function Friday May17th 2013.

Evan McRae, The cost of not having access to up-to-date indus- CEO try information is high but the cost of searching Small Business for and finding the wrong industry information is Centre; Stirling even higher – “IBISWorld”

Amy: What is your personal philosophy on what should be done in a successful café? Alida: First of all, you have to make sure you surround yourself with good staff, and make sure they feel valued. As a cafe owner, you have to be willing to be a leader and set by example, and be clear about who and what and where and when you would like to achieve. The “buck” stops with you as the owner. So in a successful cafe, I think it is about having a strong team with a strong leader. This would form the basis of owning a cafe. Be clear with your staff about your vision, and make sure they share the same value and visions. If not, do not be afraid to let them go. Employ someone who aligns with your views, vision and values. Happy staff emit the energy of a happy working place and customers will feel this. Form relationships with your customers. Get to know their names and the things they like about your cafe. When birthdays come along, give them a treat, make them feel special. The rewards are threefold. Amy: How has the way you viewed Hospitality changed over the course of your café work and experiences? Alida: I am not as naive and have more business sense. When I used to work in Hospitality, it was easier because I had no responsibilities. Just come to work do your job and go home. I thought running a cafe would be relatively easy and thinking that since I had worked in Hospitality on and off for 20 years, I would know a lot. It turned out I knew very little. Hospitality is a fickle industry which can be rewarding or soul destroying. You are literally at the mercy of your customers, in that you are always judged and watched in what you do. People are more knowledgeable and therefore more critical in their choices. As a cafe owner you are expected to know more, and I have learned that people have an enormous curiosity about owning a coffee shop. I have always loved the hospitality industry; I think it can be a curse or a blessing. I love what I do and I am

Alida and Michael Cubbage very grateful that I am able to fulfill my dream to own a cafe, The way I view Hospitality is like anything; you learn from your mistakes and you grow wiser with the years. Amy: What do you think other people find most challenging in running a cafe? How would you suggest they overcome those challenges? Alida: Staff, Staff, Staff! Your own expectations and desires not matching with your customers. Putting into place what you like and forgetting it is not about you but what the customer wants. To always present happy. Having good listening skills and understanding customers’ needs. The long hours. First of all the magic crystal ball would be great. The thing about running a cafe is that you never work it out. When you think you have it, it changes there and then. Overcome those challenges by accepting things for what they are, being open to feedback good and bad, being a good listener (really it’s not personal, it is about the experience your customer is having.). Have a good solid foundation or friend to lend an ear and trust yourself. Amy: How has your nursing education and experience prepared you for working in a cafe environment, if at all? Are there any similarities between the two jobs? Alida: Nursing is busy and changeable, particularly working in remote and critical areas. You have to make decisions on the spot, standing on your feet. The hours are long and you deal with all types of people. Nursing is about people and so is Hospitality. Task delegation, Time management, People skills and Management. My postgraduate studies in mental health helped me understand the psyche of people more. I am currently finishing a Master in Counseling and again this helps me with working in the cafe, understanding people better.

Collette, your local telecommunication specialist Always there to take the call Always Happy to visit your business Always able to find your telecommunication solution for your business Call her today to find out more 0451982227 or 62627998 Collette Winchester

Optus Business Centre Perth Mobile: 0451 982 227 Email: collette@optusbcperth.com.au

Small Business Expo

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Small Business Expo

and Australian Small

Business Magazine Launch MLC -former Minister for Small Business, followed by Mr David Eaton – former Western Australian Small Business Commissioner and keynote speaker, Hon Dr Mal Bryce AO. A fashion parade exhibiting the designs of Tierra Ecologia and Skankihoo Designs was shown during an hour long break in the day. Following the expo, Small Business Centre South East Metro has continued to receive positive feedback and interest in next year’s event and is hoping to host business expos in the Canning and Armadale area.

Photo Credits: Adrian Tan | Square Hippo Photography www.squarehippo.com.au

Business Expo South East Metro, held on 22 February 2013, was a very successful event. This was an opportunity for the Small Business Centre South East Metro to gain contacts and exposure and assist small businesses and organisations by updating them on current trends and resources. This event surpassed anticipated numbers with final attendance averaging 330 people including 38 exhibitors. The expo featured the official welcome and opening from Hon Simon O’Brien

Kim Charles Manager – Small Business Centre; South East Metro

Sponsorship & Exhibitor Stall Enquiries Now Welcome 24th May 2013

Small Business Expo Under The Big Top State Tennis Centre Burswood

 Keynote Speakers

Contact Zeeshan Pasha 0412291206 zeeshan.pasha@nifnex.com.au

Free Entry  Exhibitors

Saran 0451654642 saran@nifnex.com.au

 Business Networking

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Look Ahead and Be Prepared ... Over the last few years, everything seems to have worked in our favour. The U.S. recession, despite Dr. Jason Park its world-wide impact and devasPhD Finance tating consequences, has helped Lecturer, Curtin the Australian dollar stronger, University which allowed us to enjoy cheaper imports, and every time we hear about the Eurozone crisis, our stock market seems to climb up. Although not entirely good for the economy, we reached parity with the US dollar for the first time in late 2010 since 1980, signalling that our economy is in a good shape compared to the rest of the world. Although, in the meanwhile, our economy became more dependent on the growth of Chinese economy, lucky enough, we have seen it growing at a steady pace. Having enjoyed the strong Australian dollar for years, the RBA has started to recognize it as a threat to the economy because it might discourage exports and build up, or have already built up, bubbles in our financial markets. To counter the effects of the strong Australian dollar, the RBA has been cutting the interest rate from late 2011, and has indicated a possibility of further cuts recently as well. It seems that the interest rate cuts have been quite effective and the RBA has still more room to accommodate further cuts, but if this policy eventually fails to curb the strong Australian dollar (as we all know, the interest rate is not the only determinant of the value of a currency), we might experience a sudden downturn of the economy let alone the financial markets. Especially, in Western Australia, considering that the mining and housing boom has been fuelled largely by foreign money, we may be more vulnerable to this potential threat than other Australian states.

Money Matters

What could murder your business? The day to day demands of running a business would forgive us for not finding time to step back to both reflect and analyse the business from a different perspective. If you can take one hour out every month to simply ask yourself the below questions, it may save you some setbacks or a whole lot of grief down the track. How is your business positioned to take on new opportunities as they arise? What size project are you able to tender for? What in your business would limit the uptake of that new opportunity? Do you have sufficient cash flow presently? How will this new project affect your future cash flow? When was the last time you had your accountant complete your financials? Will the tender process require a financial audit? Are your financials in a state to present them to a financier? Alternatively, how is your business positioned if you had a sudden drop in sales? What would happen if you lost 1 or 2 clients? Which larger clients would leave your business exposed if they ceased to trade with you? Would you have sufficient cash flow to trade in the interim until you regained that client level? Some of these questions may frighten us, however they will direct much needed thought to the areas of our business where we may be exposed. Reap justice on the murderer in your business!

To receive a free 1 hour Cash Flow Funding diagnostic, please email ‘cash flow’ to brendan.lee@fifocapital. com

Brendan Lee at Fifo Capital is helping small and medium sized businesses across Victoria and Western Australia overcome cash flow obstacles. This is aiding the delivery of business expansion and operational efficiency across numerous sectors. To receive a free soft copy briefing please email Brendan Lee at brendan.lee@fifocapital.com or call on 0415 769 062. Disclaimer - before acting on any information, we recommend you consult with your financial advisor.

Although not highly likely or immediately to occur, there can be at least a mild halt to the growing curve that we saw in the last few years. Since everything comes to an end eventually, it is better to be prepared than to be caught off guard

Disclaimer: Jason expresses his opinion as an expert in the Field of Finance and Banking. His views here are 202939b BCM Ad.pdf 28/08/12 4:21 PM NOT on behalf of Curtin1 University.

Do you need help with Debt Collection? Nothing cripples a business quicker than unpaid accounts. Blitz Credit Management specialises in debt collection and credit information services throughout Australia. You can depend on complete transparency in every phase of the collection process. Best of all, you don’t pay a cent if we don’t collect for you.

Phone: 1300 887 232 www.blitzcredit.com.au info@blitzcredit.com.au

Visit our website

or call us for help with: Debt Recovery Demand Notices Debtor Location

Default Listing Credit Checks Credit Documentation

Entrepreneurship

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Entrepreneur & Innovator Awards 2013 Hosted by WAtoday.com.au and Via Appia Networking WA

Jason Jordan, Phil Delich

Derek Gerrard, Rebecca Cole, Richard Thorning

Rick Hart and Zeeshan Pasha, CEO, Nifnex

Albert Ferraloro, Julisa Dryburgh, Nicole Ashby, Sue Pember, Matt Pember, Justine Smetham

Panel: Michael Malone, founder of iiNet, Patricia Jafferies, co-founder of Dome Coffees, Dale Alcock of Dale Alcock Homes, and Rick Hart, founder of Rick Hart.

Credits Photography by: www.TheShedStudios.com.au • E: ContactUs@TheShedStudios.com.au • M: 0449 286 505 | 0424 286 098 | 0421 286 200

Perth Entrepreneur Needs community support Do empty sugar sachets in cafes ‘blow’ you insane? With a customer usage rate of 95%, Litterbug is the solution to the problem of used single serve sugar sachets cluttering the table tops in your venue.

Litterbug, a Perth based product, is an attractive, cost effective timber multifunctional unit that holds single serve sugar sachets and also provides a litter compartment to discard them once used. Litterbug came about after going to many coffee shops and seeing people either let their empty sugar sachets blow off the table and down the street, on to the floor for the waitress to have to pick up or just left soggy and wet on the table once again for the waitress to have to clean up once the customer had left! “It became an all too common occurrence, as I saw this happen time after time, so I thought there must be a way to try stopping this happening, let’s face it, if you are like me, there is nothing more annoying than having to man

handle you empty sachets the whole time you are trying to relax and enjoy your coffee.” Says the Brian Parsons, founder of Litterbug “ …After some genetic modifications the Litterbug was hatched and it has been eating up litter from tables ever since” adds Brian. If you own a Café/Coffee shop, use single serve sugar sachets, care about our Environment and don’t have Litterbugs then you should treat yourself and get them! Help Litterbug by asking your local Coffee Shop to support Litterbugs! Dimensions: 90mm x 90mm x 65mm (high) Can be custom branded with company logo (bulk orders only)

Supported and endorsed by the KEEP AUSTRALIA BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION and ECO NEWS Contact Litterbug Phone Brian: 0478949822 Email: sales@litterbug.com.au Web: www.litterbug.com.au

T20: Special Offer

“ I support Litterbug and the environment”

20 Litterbugs on a convenient Carry Tray. $145.00

Please tear and hand this to the Café owner / staff if you support Litter Bug

Redeem this coupon to receive T20 for $99 Contact Litterbug Do the World a Favour! ...”Let the ’bug Loose”

Dear Café owner, Please Call me for a sample or to purchase 20 Litterbugs on a tray for only $99. Contact Litterbug - Do the World a Favour! ...”Let the ’bug Loose”

Phone Brian: 0478949822 Web: www.litterbug.com.au

Email: sales@litterbug.com.au

Only Valid until 10th May 2013

Phone Brian: 0478949822 Web: www.litterbug.com.au

Email: sales@litterbug.com.au

Only Valid until 10th May 2013.

Writers’ Club Articles

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BAD APPLES :

The New Economy Lessons of Applebee’s Social Media Implosion A 3 Part Series by Richard Boyd Many businesses have been successful in the Old Economy in maintaining their projected brand values in the hearts and minds of the community. They have often built their brands using effective branding and marketing strategies that were based on “inside out “thinking”.

This form of command and control is the traditional way of attempting to create perception from the “inside” and then to control and evoke the sentiment and goodwill of the consumers “out there.” In the past any poor decision making within a business was not always so transparently revealed to outsiders.

What is not apparent to many businesses is how far and how quickly the pendulum has swung in terms of the “inside out” approach to business being hijacked by the enabling of an “outside in” campaign through the internet and normally via social media. This new dynamic is controlled and executed by outsiders who tend to ignore and even amplify their critical feedback when a business attempts to regain the agenda through command and control techniques. Applebee is a dominant American café chain which has about 2,000 outlets employing some 28,000 people across the United States. They have a prominent brand whose brand value has been carefully built up over time as they expanded.

They have a replicated or targeted a form of a “customer experience” in a general sense that underpins their brand experience. The advent of online and mobile technologies allow for the average person to report on their own personal day to day experiences in a way not previously possible. The advent of social media sites has brought collective audiences into an arena where the “little people” stories carry resonance, empathy and meaning for others. A business who would participate in the local digital community as part of its brand promotion and marketing must understand what is the online etiquette and the transparency by which it will be examined by others. If a company lacks values, behaves badly, or tries to manipulate consumers through its social media presence then it is at risk of being “outed” and shamed, and may suffer considerable reputation and brand damage as a result. Pick up the Next Edition of Nifnex Review to Read the next part of the series, Bad Apples: What Happened in St Louis? Image Courtesy of commons.wikimedia. org Richard Boyd is CEO and Founder of Conscious Business Australia which offers an innovative and thought leading consulting service for new entrepreneurs, existing business in decline or those who are seeking to update, re-engineer or deal with systemic problems within systems, processes, people or products. Mob 0407577793 email: richard@cbau.com.au www.cbau.com.au

Common receivables mistakes SMEs make and how to avoid them By Natalie Walker, Blitz Credit Management

1 Don’t wait too long before sending to collection. Businesses often wait too long before they take further action to recover the debt. The longer you wait the less chance you have of getting paid. If your customers are still giving you excuses and not meeting arrangements, send a final demand notice giving them seven days to make payment in full and then refer to a debt collection agency for further action. Set up a policy in your business to follow up outstanding accounts and refer anything over 60 days to a debt collection agency. Often, involving a third party collection agency is all that it takes for you to get paid.

2 Don’t discount if you don’t need to. Occasionally a debtor will offer a smaller amount to settle an outstanding debt. It can be tempting to accept the lower amount and just clear a debt. However, if you’ve provided quality work at a good price, why accept lower than what you’ve quoted? An experienced debt collection

agency can negotiate on your behalf and ensure you get what’s owed to you for the work you’ve done.

3 Credit check your customers. Many small businesses don’t do simple business or credit checks when taking on new clients. Before you extend credit to a new customer, identify the customer and type of entity you’re dealing with. It will save you a lot of problems down the track if things go wrong. A simple way is to perform an ABN lookup or ASIC Connect search to determine who you’re dealing with. If you’re extending credit, conduct a credit reference check on your customer to ensure they don’t have a history of defaulting elsewhere.

4 “It’s the principle!!” We hear it all the time – “I don’t care how much it costs – it’s the principle! They owe me!”. Whilst it’s never good to not get paid for work you’ve done, sometimes you need to let go of a debt. If the amount is small, the debtor has no money and you have pursued all the options, often it can be too expensive to continue recovering the debt through the legal system. Consider it a lesson – don’t deal with this customer again and improve your credit checking and accounts receivables processes to prevent it from reoccurring. A professional debt collection agency will be able to give you your options to help you make the best decision on recovering the debt.

About Blitz Credit Management Blitz Credit Management is an innovative and technology driven debt collection agency. Formed in 2010, the company has grown rapidly to become one of Australia’s leading debt collection agencies. Blitz Credit Management provides commercial and consumer debt collection and credit management services to businesses across Australia. For more information, visit www.blitzcredit.com. au or call Natalie Walker, Managing Director, on (08) 6140 2584.

Unlock your Enterprise Potential Message from Small Business Minsiter As the newly appointed Minister for Small Busi ness, it is my great plea sure to take part in the 2013 New Enterprise Expo. Having been a small business owner for

Hon Liza Harvey MLA

Message from Executive Director The clients who partici pate in our New Enter prise Incentive Scheme program of training Phil Kemp and mentoring describe the experience as “lifechanging” — and it is. We have been privileged to work with hundreds of people who started with nothing more than a business idea and a desire to change their circumMessage from NEIS Trainer The New Enterprise Expo will be a day to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements Natalie Buddof some of our New Doyle Enterprise clients and promote the overall success of the NEIS programme. I am so proud of our graduates and the many obstacles they have faced and overcome to make their dreams of owning their own business a reality.

many years now, I am acutely aware of the challenges facing small businesses in WA and I look forward to representing their interests at State Government level. I am also conscious of the important contribution micro businesses make to the Western Australian economy and believe new enterprise businesses have a critical role to play in local economic development. stances for the better. Our NEIS Expo is a celebration of those people who took the leap and started a business from scratch. It is an opportunity to meet ordinary people who have done something extraordinary. Starting a business is never easy but our NEIS clients are examples of what is possible with hard work and determination and a little bit of help from us. We hope you join us at the Expo where you can see for yourself that the spirit of enterprise is alive and well in Western Australia. The 5-week training programme the clients undertake allows them to gain the knowledge and skills they need to operate a small business, from marketing and operations to finance. It is also an opportunity for them to clarify their long-term business goals and objectives and develop a roadmap for their business. I get to share in and help shape our client’s business journey and as a trainer & mentor I find this extremely rewarding.

Speakers Tim Milsom

Paula Smith (CSP)

CEO – Fremantle Chamber of Commerce

Speaker, Author, Trainer, Coach, MC

Tim Milsom started his own company at the age of 21 and still owns the company 29 years on. He invented a number of products including a compound for mass transit seals and a spray suppressant called the “Cats Whisker”. He was a millionaire at the age of 27 and a multi millionaire by the age of 30. Tim now heads the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce as the CEO. He is passionate about giving something back to the community and sees his role within the Chamber as an ideal way of achieving this goal.

Don’t miss this Expo 30th April 2013 10am-2:30pm Fremantle Prison

FREE ENTRY

NEIS Success Stories “The family that works together stays together” WASTECO – Shane Mailey & Danielle Harris

When it comes to a successful business, it’s all about family for Danielle Harris and Shane Mailey of Wasteco, a liquid waste removal business. They’ve got the whole family involved, including their son Joseph who drives for dad and daughters Zoey who helps with lifting and answering phones, and Kiara who is studying business so that she can help Danielle run the office. “I’m the brawn, and Danielle is the brains of the operation,” Shane proudly says. Although Shane was in the industry for many years, he had to make one of the hardest decisions of his life; he decided to leave his job, and become his own boss. Shane and Danielle realised very early on that they didn’t know anything about running their own business, and started to look for business start up assistance.

“Danielle and I looked around for business advice services and was lucky enough to come across the Business Foundations, and the NEIS programme,” Shane said.

Leanne Hollis’ NEIS journey started after she had a health scare and decided she needed to take control of her life and start building a future for herself and her two children. Born in Queensland, Leanne spent most of her life in Essex, England. It was there that she affectionately received her nickname Skippy which is where the inspiration for the name Skippy’s Cleaning Services came from.

Only in its second year of trading, Wasteco turned over nearly half a million dollars last year, but it did not come without a lot of hard work and determination.

In only her second year in business, Leanne has managed to build up a regular client base, specialising in domestic cleaning and real estate vacates.

“The biggest obstacle for us starting out, was getting finance,” said Shane.

“The NEIS programme provided me with the knowledge and skills I needed to start my own business, Leanne said”.

It is clear by the excitement in Shane’s voice, just how passionate he is about his business, and how far he and his family have come on this journey together. “If anyone is thinking of going into business, my advice is, know what you are getting yourself into, do the research and work hard to get what you want,” Shane said. Although Danielle will say that she is not a woman of many words, what she does say, has a lot of depth and is said with pride and sincerity. “This is the best thing that we’ve ever done for ourselves and our family,” Danielle said.

Author of the book Speaking in the Shower- Presentation Skills Exposed, and the developer of Australia’s first and only Presentation Skills Diploma qualification Paula is a leading authority on standing up and speaking out and specialises in developing exceptional trainers and presenters.

Who should attend this Expo? • Entrepreneurs looking to set up a new enterprise • Graduates wanting to maximise their qualification through self-employment • Unemployed persons seeking an alternative to employment • Local small business owners seeking networking opportunities • Local community wanting to support new local enterprise • Small business providing services and products looking for new clients • Employment and recruitment agencies seeking potential employers for their clients Top 10 reasons why they should:

“Without the training and support from the Business Foundations, we probably wouldn’t be here today. The NEIS business training taught us the hands on practical skills we needed to get started straight away.”

“We built our first truck ourselves, and the business was self-funded. We now have two trucks and hope to have another truck operating in the next two years.”

Paula is a dynamic, Infectious, Inspiring and Passionate trainer and presenter who has 25 years of experience in the industry.

“From developing my business plan to marketing and finance, the programme gave me the confidence I needed to make the dream of owning my own business a reality”. “I enjoy the freedom the business gives me to work around being a full-time single mum of two children said Leanne”. “My vision for the future is to grow the business to a point where I can eventually franchise and build Skippy’s into a reputable brand”. “I am looking to employ staff, and help others to create their own financial freedom, said Leanne”. “I would recommend the NEIS programme to anyone wanting to start and manage their own enterprise. If I can do it anyone can, Leanne said”.

• Meet potential clients and potential suppliers • Meet new contacts and build networks • Gain exposure and promote your own business • Access free information on how to start a new enterprise • Hear what other successful entrepreneurs have to say • Get free advice through workshops from government agencies and small business professionals • Support the local small business community • Meet the Minister for Small Business, Hon. Liza Harvey MLA, Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettitt and several other VIP Guests. • Join in the fun and entertainment • Great giveaways and 7 x major prize draws What to expect at the expo: • Official welcome and opening – Hon. Liza Harvey MLA Minister for Small Business • Meet and greet prison tour with the Minister • Guest speakers • Welcome bags packed with information and special deals from new enterprises • 40+ exhibitors and sponsors from all sectors and industry • Art and Design Exhibition • The Mayor of Fremantle and his team will be there • Expert advice on starting up a small business • Ongoing workshops throughout the day • Prize draws and entertainment throughout the day

Summary of the Expo – Details

Date: Tuesday, 30th April 2013

Time: 10am – 2.30pm

Venue: The Old Fremantle Prison 1 Knutsford Street, Fremantle

Social Media

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West

Australian

Fashion Awards WA Fashion Awards co-hosts Magdalena Roze and Ted Snell - On the Red Carpet

Boys just wanna have fun - After Party @ Print Hall

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi & City of Perth Most Innovative Designer Ae’lkemi (Alvin Fernandez) 2013

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Forget Facebook: Why Gen Y should be taking LinkedIn More Seriously to Get Ahead. professional membership of 4 million people. Whether gen Y’s are in the process of completing their degrees or are in the early stages of their career, LinkedIn provides a sophisticated platform that enables them to showcase experience, research, network, enhance relationships, and the list goes on.

LinkedIn is more than just a loading site for resumes. If used wisely, it can help gen Y get ahead of their peers in unlocking career opportunities. LinkedIn is a professional networking site having recently tipped an Australian

The benefits of LinkedIn include: - Ability to showcase your experience on-

line (like a resume) which includes; work history, volunteer experience, committee and organizational experience, skills and expertise, languages you speak, honours and awards, publications, showcase projects and much more - Allows for you to connect with lecturers, alumni, peers, employers, team leaders and other people you have met along the way. This helps you to start to build a database of your professional network - Provides a ‘cushion’ for you to follow up with people after you’ve met them at a networking event or something similar - Enables you to network with other professionals through introductions from your existing network (or even recruiters if you need help to find a job) - Enables you to join industry groups or other groups where you could learn more about your industry or network with lead-

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ers in your field (great potential to find a mentor or even network with potential employers) - Ability to research follow companies you would like to work for and find job opportunities - Help to build your credibility and position yourself as a leader by sharing your thoughts, blogs in appropriate topics - Facilitates the avenue for you to enhance your relationships overtime - Allows you to ask for recommendations and endorsements for the work you have done People like to deal with people they know, like and trust and this is why planting your seed on LinkedIn will put you ahead of the pack. The best thing about LinkedIn is that by small investments of your time and consistent action, you will find that opportunities that you never would have thought of would naturally come ‘knocking at your door’. Linda Le is a Social Media Ghost at gen Y advantage. She specializes in training and coaching Business Owners, Managers, Directors, and C-Level Executives about using LinkedIn to manage relationships, and to generate real business referrals, leads and sales. Find more tips at: www.genYadvantage. com.au or contact Linda on LinkedIn via: www.linkedin.com/in/profilelinda

Insurance & Business

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Preparing for an UnkNown Future Many people go through life believing serious illness or injury cannot happen to them.

lump sum payment when an illness or condition specified in the policy is diagnosed.

But in reality, the chances of a trauma event are quite high. For instance, one in three Australian men and one in four Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer before they reach 75.

The money, which is tax-free, is typically paid after the insured person has survived for 14 days from the time a medical specialist confirms the diagnosis. Once the claim has been approved, the lump sum payment is made and the funds can be used to pay medical costs, upgrade treatments or to pay for private nursing, therapy or childcare assistance.

The Lifewise/NATSEM study shows that one in five families will be affected by a parent’s death, or a serious accident or illness that will leave one parent unable to work. Not only the victim suffers when a critical illness occurs; such a situation has serious repercussions for the entire family. Thanks to advances in medical science, survival rates from a serious critical illness continue to increase, but the direct medical costs and associated financial impact are significant.

Lump sum payment Trauma insurance, also known as critical illness insurance, provides a one-off

Some people use the money to pay off their mortgage or other debts to help ease financial stress during their recovery. The lump sum payment can allow a person some much-needed financial breathing space to take stock of their life.

What is covered? Most policies cover upwards of 50 prescribed illnesses or injuries, including cancer, heart attack, stroke and paraplegia as well as other serious illnesses and injuries such as major burns and kidney failure.

In contrast to trauma insurance, total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance requires you to be unable to work for a minimum of six months, and then it must be independently determined you are unable to ‘permanently’ return to your ‘own’ or ‘any’ occupation ever again1. Most trauma policies offer child cover alongside adult cover. While it may be difficult to consider one of your children being seriously ill or injured, sadly it can happen. A lump sum payment may allow parents to choose the best medical care inside or outside of Australia or give them the ability to take time off work to focus on family without worrying about the financial implications.

Know your policies It is important not to confuse trauma insurance with income protection insurance. Instead of a lump sum, income protection insurance provides an income stream in the event you cannot work as a result of illness or injury. It provides an income while you are unable to work, replacing part of your wage or salary. For complete financial protection, both a trauma policy and an income protection policy should be considered.

Susie’s story Taking out trauma insurance proved a wise decision for Susie and her husband, Paul. Susie was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 43 with a young family. She had surgery and then needed time to recover and to have ongoing treatment. Her husband Paul had plenty to worry about – Susie’s illness, the children and

Start with Why

Having recently returned from Sydney on Conference, and investing the past weekend at Rotary President training, I am feeling a strong sense of Purpose and a realisation that Every Day Matters. If you don’t feel like that, then do this exercise. 1. Multiply your age x 365 2. Subtract that number from 27,375 (number of days to make it 75 years) 3. The number you have left is the days you have left! Now how do you feel? With Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Warren Buffet leading the way in philanthropy, how can each of us do our bit? First we must make our own business successful. Believing that what we do and knowing how we do it are

two very important aspects of developing and growing a successful business. However how do we differentiate ourselves from the next business in the same industry, providing virtually the same product or service? That’s where our WHY comes in. When you are clear on Why you are doing something, be

it business, family, health, self-development and relationships (to name but a few areas of our life), then we can move from being motivating to being Inspiring.

Clarity, Discipline and Consistency are the Keys • Having clarity of Why • Being disciplined and accountable to your own values and guiding principles • Being consistent is all you say and do There are many ways to motivate people in your team to perform and your clients to buy, but team and customer loyalty comes from the ability to inspire people. Only when the Why is clear and when people believe what you believe, can a true loyal relationship develop. And at that point wages and price are not the primary key to staying with a company or for buying a product or service. The goal of business is changing for being all things to all people to having Niches. Successful business owners are able to focus on attracting team, suppliers and clients that believe what they be-

his own work responsibilities. Fortunately Paul and Susie had each taken out trauma insurance, providing them with a $200,000 lump sum. With this money Paul could organise care for the children, ensure Susie received the best medical help available and take time off work to spend with his wife. The Cancer Council estimates that a cancer diagnosis can on average cost a family more than $47,000 in lost productivity and out-of-pocket expenses. Life can be full of unexpected events, both good and bad. Having the right insurance in place can reduce the financial consequences of a traumatic event. We can help you determine whether your existing insurance cover will allow you to meet the challenges of an unknown future. 1. This depends on the definition of TPD in your policy. With nothing mo re certain than the continual change in the world of finance, partnering with Conrad and the team at Inspired Money will ensure peace of mind for you and your family for any financial decisions now and in the future, we will inspire you to take action! Inspired Money ABN 98 354 038 802 is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Charter Financial Planning Limited Australian Financial Services Licensee, Licence Number 234665 www.inspiredmoney.com.au 08 9301 2631

lieve; having the same values that they have and developing trust. So if your business needs an overhaul. Start with Why? Its not easy but it is Simple, and having a coach or mentor to help ask you can make all the difference. Michele is an avid reader and if you want to find out more about the importance of why, you may like to read Start with Why by Simon Sinek. Michele Alexander is a compelling, compassionate, and extremely dedicated Business Coach. She has encountered her fair share of challenges in life and has used her coaching skills and positive mental attitude to rise above them all. With lessons to be learned and shared, and applied to any business, Michele believes that you CAN achieve the success you want, especially with the right coach by your side! www.localbusinesscoach.com.au

Self Development

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Door To Happiness

Are you happy ? Are you really happy ? This is the quintessential question.

What answer do you get ? At the end of the day, when all is said and done, all that really matters is if you are happy. When we say happy, it could mean many different things, some of which are joy, bliss, peace of mind, a certain all pervading calmness, pleasantness inside and outside of you. How many of us can truly say that we are indeed happy, not just happy for a fleeting moment or even for an hour or even for a couple of hours but happy throughout the day, every day. The kind of happiness that is all encom-

passing. The kind of happiness that exists irrespective of what we are doing, thinking or being. Is this utopia ? Can we really have this.

The answer is a resounding yes. Dale Carnegie said it best when he said “Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude”. Most people look for happiness externally and they find it occasionally but they can never hold onto it. The secret to true happiness is to look inside of you. The Door to Happiness opens inward.

Sunil Kumar is the Founder and CEO of The Inspiration Academy, a perth based training and coaching organisation that is dedicated to helping people discover the life skills that are required to lead a happy, peaceful and fulfilled life. He can be contacted on sunil.kumar@theinspirationacademy. com.au or 0421 119 191

This is a very profound statement and what it really means is that as long as you chase happiness externally it will always slip out of your grasp. However if you were to look for happiness inside of yourself you will find that you can have it whenever you want and it will stay with you forever. In fact happiness exists inside all us. All that we need to do is to look inward, search and find this happiness. The truth is that we cannot control the external circumstances, situations or people. We have no power to influence them long term.

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

Chasing happiness outside is like chasing the mist. You will never be able to grasp it. This is why it is foolishness to look for happiness outside of yourself. All that you will end up with is a life full of frustration and struggle. The key is, to find that happiness that resides inside of you and hold onto it. What then happens is that you become immune to external circumstances. It does not matter what happens to you externally, you can still choose to be happy and this now becomes a choice that you can make and hence you have control of your state of happiness. This is the secret to life long happiness. This is the “ Door To Happiness “.

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Self Development & NetworkinG

Stop Waiting. Give Yourself Permission 4 Tips To Help You Succeed

How often do you tell yourself that `one day’ you’ll start that project, launch that initiative, write that book or create that product, only to wonder why it never actually happens?

Remember, nothing extraordinary is ever achieved through ordinary means. Get radical in your approach and throw yourself into your dreams with all your energy and determination. Are you taking action or are you just reading about it?

Ask: “Is this my dream or is it what someone else wants?” There is a part of us that longs for approval and begs for permission but if it’s your dream, declare it and share it. Be accountable and start small, but start today. Don’t let perfection becomes procrastination.

Progress is the game. Once you made the commitment to go for what’s most important to you in business and life, you’ll find a way and you’ll figure it out. Giving yourself permission to succeed comes down to four simple things: 1. Recognise that the fears or beliefs holding you back are possibly not your own The beliefs handed down to us since childhood can end up running our lives for years; rearing its ugly head as doubt, fear and feelings of inadequacy every time you try to take a step forward. As entrepreneurs, moving through fear is not an option, it’s a requirement.

Saying YES to your dream is a daily practice that creates incredible momentum. Want to double or triple your business, work half the time you do, treat yourself to a two week vacation or land a book deal this year? Start by giving yourself permission to take on that crazy, scary thing you’ve been holding back on.

Have you ever thought it might be because you’re waiting for permission? You are waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect outcome or the green light that says `go for it’.

Say: “This is who I am. This is what I’m going to do and I give myself permission to succeed.”

Are you giving yourself permission to succeed or are you still waiting for it?

The next time you feel doubt, fear or the little voice saying: “I can’t”, stop and examine the idea from a place of curiosity. Decide if it’s truly your belief and if it serves your goals. If not, release it and move on. 2. Surround yourself with raving fans Move forward faster by surrounding yourself with people who will see you for who you really are. A solid support network will help to magnify your potential and help you find the brilliance within you, that you can’t yet see for yourself. They will cheer you on and hold you accountable to you greatness when the going gets tough. It’s your responsibility to find them 3. Create boundaries Many people seek approval from friends, family and colleagues before

pushing the ‘go’ button. Be very selective about who you decide to listen to. Are they positive and supportive or dream-crushers? It doesn’t mean giving up on family and friends, but you have to take back your power and set clear boundaries with people who can drag you down. Choose the media you listen to carefully, limit negative news and self-talk. Be strong, it will pay off. 4. Put yourself in the game Without the clutter of doubt, fear and negativity, which opportunities can you say YES to? Put yourself out there. Go to that event. Reach out to a potential partner. Get a mentor. Throw the rulebook out the window and be yourself. Say what you mean and mean what you say. When you’re feeling shaky, reach out to your support system.

“Your life is yours and yours alone. Rise up and live it.” – Terry Goodkind Alicia Menkveld is the founder of Radical Consulting, an advisory for small and medium businesses. She specialises in helping time-poor business owners getting clear about their identity, goals and key messages to implement effective client attraction strategies which will help their business grow. Contact Alicia on 0425 177 897 or 08 9279 8769 alicia@radicalconsulting.com.au www.radicalconsulting.com.au

It’s not about your first degree connections The real power of your network is not in who you know, but in who THEY know – your second degree connections. The idea is to develop relationships with people who will then refer you, introduce you, recommend you and talk about you to others, rather than seeing each person you meet as a potential client or customer. You see the majority of new business you will get in the future will not come directly from the people you meet when you’re out and about. It will come indirectly as a result of these people talking

about your products and services to their contacts and recommending you – good old word-of-mouth referrals.

Referrals and recommendations are the most effective drivers of new business. Are you keeping in touch with the people who can recommend you and refer business your way? For many people, there is a paradigm shift that needs to take place when they’re

meeting other people for the first time. That shift is to move from seeing people as potential clients and customers to seeing them as potential advocates. So it’s not the person you meet at an industry event or networking soiree that has the greatest potential to give business to you, but it’s the people s/he knows – it’s the referrals they might give you, the introductions they might make for you, the doors they can open for you. If you understand that the real power of your connections is in the second degree, you can have a very different (and more enjoyable) kind of conversation when you’re meeting new people. You can take the time to get to know each other better and explore ways to help each other. How many people do you meet that you think, I’ll never do business with this person, they don’t need what I sell, I don’t want to talk to this person anymore, I only want to talk to people who can buy from me? But you just never know who THEY know. If you make the time to have a longer conversation, get to know them a little, ask them “How can I help you?” and share who you are, what you’re looking to do and who you want to meet, you might

be very pleasantly surprised with what develops. When you approach networking this way, you won’t be trying to “sell” to the other person you are talking to and that will make the conversation more comfortable for you – and for them. As a result, you’ll make more friends, you’ll build more advocates and, ultimately, you’ll get a lot more business.

Referred to as “That Networking Guy” by many organizations, Ron Gibson provides in-depth net working training and coaching, focusing on business growth and development. Get Ron to speak at your next conference or sales meeting about how to bring in more business, more consistently and more often. Call Ron on 0413 420 538 or email gonetworking@iinet.net.au

AS E

IT & T

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Stop and think before you post any photos or financial information online.

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Report or talk to someone if you feel uncomfortable or threatened online – download the Government’s Cybersafety Help Button.

National Cyber Security Awareness Week is an annual Australian Government initiative (20-24 May 2013), aiming to help Australians understand the simple steps they can take to protect their personal and financial information online.

Generate unlimited Leads for free ! Imagine you open up your email inbox and find a pile of new busi ness sales/leads and enquiries delivered to your desktop every day. Now imagine they are FREE and all that you have to do is quote the jobs and convert them into sales.

recommended by others customers. The concept behind the website is to bring these two world together so that customers have a trusted place to shop and request quotes while businesses have a steady flow of warm leads that helps them grow their businesses and save on other wasted initiatives.”

Now while that sounds like a pretty cool imaginary world, now you no longer need to imagine it, with a new online quoting di rectory www.costcompare.com.au getting ready to launch soon.

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While it sounds too good to be true, believe me, it is true and while they are in pre-launch mode you can get in on the action. CostCompare. com.au will be ready to conduct an official launch where businesses can not only list their business on the site but they can sell, trade and

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IT & T

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CREATE EFFECTIVE WEB PRESENCE

10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE Whether you want to increase your readership, interact more effectively with your customers, build a web presence, or make more sales online, there are certain key attributes that your website should possess. Below is a list of features that we think are the most essential for a successful website:

ment of your audience. Be sure to test out your site all browsers.

1. Eye-Catching Images and Design The attention span of web users is getting shorter. Images that are eye-catching and a layout that is aesthetically pleasing are vital.

5. Visible Contact Information Providing your contact details on your site is a great way to increase your credibility, to obtain leads/prospects, and to ensure proper customer service.

4. Mobile-Friendly Mobile Internet usage is expanding and therefore, you can’t afford to not have a mobile-friendly website.

2. Regular, Fresh, and Engaging Content The main purpose of adding content to your site should be to interact with your readership and to brand yourself as an expert.

6. Convenient Navigation No one likes visiting a website that is confusing or difficult to navigate - and visitors will leave if they can’t find their way around easily.

3. Compatibility with Multiple Browsers If your website is not compatible with certain browsers, you risk alienating a seg-

7. A llows You to Track Important Metrics Continually monitor your visitor stats in order to work out your site’s strengths

Virtualise your work life I am sure that by now you have heard about a multitude of new technologies in the realm if IT, cloud computing, virtualisation, and many an acronym. Server virtualisation has been around for a while now, but have you heard anything about virtualised desktops?

I was recently looking at a proposal for a group of companies which is looking at setting up stores across the country, The question in a scenario of this nature that comes to mind is how to make the system as easy as possible to operate as well as how to look after it after it has been installed. Now we don’t have the workforce to have a staff member in every nook and cranny around Australia, however we can still provide a service to the client. Once the domain of large enterprises, virtualising individual computers is now becoming easier for small to medium business to do. There are many benefits, including being able to access your desktop from virtually any computing device that is connected to the internet. Imagine being able to access your work applications on your smartphone. Having a standard operating environment has never been easier. Desktop virtualisation has given us the opportunity to specify a system that allows us to centrally control every desktop computer within the organisation, wherever it is located. It allows us to upgrade systems and applications seamlessly in the background, without affecting currently logged in users — they will get the new system the next time they log on. Setting up a new system, or replacing a broken terminal is as simple as plugging in a power cable.

and weaknesses as well as opportunities to expand your readership and to improve conversions.

A CMS (content management system) allows you to publish and edit content with ease, greatly increasing efficiency. It keeps you, as the business owner, in control. 9. Effective On-Page and Off-Page SEO Being able to get on the front page of Google for a specific search term as a result of good SEO practices can generate an avalanche of traffic to your website. 10. Social Media Integration The explosion of Social Media means that all businesses should be taking advantage of their viral nature. It can help your business interact with customers, enhance communication, and increase creditability and transparency.

Christian Mueller is the proprietor of a small to medium business IT services provider Civitas and has been working in the ICT industry for 15 years. He lectures part time for the School of Information Systems at Curtin University, and is an avid Dragon Boater with the Perth Pirates. www.civitas.com.au 08 6102 0060

Gary Hanley has grown up with IT and was at the forefront of the Internet age. He found his strength in helping solve website problems for other people and marketing their businesses online. He leads his team with a methodical and clear approach, keeping his clients ahead of the game. It’s about m@king life easier through technology. T: (08) 9277 3338 | Email: nikki@websiterescuers.com.au Web: www.websiterescuers.com.au

Business and Telecommunications – a love / hate relationship?

To you as a business owner, the mobile phone is a necessary evil, yet has to be embraced to capitalise on today’s real time opportunities.

Cost wise it is on par with a classic client-server based environment to set up, however ongoing costs will be lower, maintenance will be cheaper, and future rollouts, and upgrades will be more seamless, quicker and easier. If more speed is required, it will be as simple as allocating more resources to systems, and potentially buying some more processing power.

Conclusion These are the ten features that we think every successful website should have. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but if you can implement all of these key characteristics you will be on your way to building a strong and profitable web presence.

8. Can be Updated Through a CMS

In 2013 there are over 6 billion mobile phones being used in the world. Growth is being driven by population ages increases and a rise in the number of people using two or more mobile subscriptions – one for personal use and one for business use. Australian operators now have more than 29 million mobile subscribers as more continue to migrate to a mobile only environment.

In case of a virus attack, most of the time it is simply a matter of rebooting the virtual desktop, all the users settings and personalisations will still be there, but the desktop will be rebuilt from the central image.

How many times to clients tell you they couldn’t contact you…not many I bet because they have already moved on to find someone more accessible. There is so much more that consumers are judging you on now. The image which is important is not just a shop front, or a tidy clean office. It’s not a listing in Yellow Pages, or White Pages, or a snappy advertisement in your local newspaper. It’s not just having presentable staff with a pleasing manner. It’s not, because there are so many more things to consider, if you want to look like a business that is embracing technological advances, and wants to be considered at every opportunity. What are they looking for? 1) The first thing any consumer or client will do, 8/10 is look for your website. You will need a website which is clear, simple, and tells the message you want people to see. What are you? Who are you? How do I find you and contact you. Colours should be complimentary to your business brand. 2) The client or consumer is very demanding. If you are not contactable, be it for the office to find out information only you know to complete a transaction, or for the owner and they feel you are the only person they trust to manage their account. You need to be available. If you don’t have a mobile phone, the repercussions are big.If you want to protect intellectual property such as data bases, providing a mobile phone to staff is absolutely necessary. When they leave, the phone stays, and so does your data base.

3) These days there are many ways to obtain specific phone numbers for your business. This is popular with any business which would have a vehicle, and a contact number. For example 1800 car clean. It’s easy to remember. 4) When a client calls you, what do you do in order to remember the last conversation which was had, who spoke to the client? Whose client is it? What stage is the transaction? How are you retaining information? 5) There are NEC phone systems now which are linked directly to the software which you are storing your customer data base. It will provide you with all the information relating to this customer, as soon as the call comes through. This product is streaming through businesses all over the world at a very fast pace. It’s transcending the customer experience to a whole new level. Never seen before. Imagine how appreciative your customers will be when they don’t have to repeat themselves if the person they normally deal with is not available. It’s protecting your business on more levels than you or anyone in your business can. In conclusion, yes there are many considerations in business, and telecommunications is not the highlight of the business day. However, let me pose this question to you, where would you be without it? It is a love hate relationship, but it’s an empowering relationship if you embrace it with intelligence. Collette Winchester Collette has an extensive understanding of providing business solutions in the area of Telecommunications. As a Business Development Manager for the Optus Business Centre of Perth, Collette takes pride in assisting businesses with customized telecommunication solution. 0862627998; 0451982227 http://optusbcperth.com.au/

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COMPARE ALTERNATIVES AT THE SOFTWARE EXPO The Business Knowledge and FREE Software Expo offers an EVENT unparalleled ability to see and compare the software that progressive businesses, both large and small, are investing in. Best of all, you can talk directly and receive advice from the experts who install the systems!

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