Small Business Newspaper
A REVOLUTIONARY WAY TO REDUCE STRESS 6 TIPS TO OPERATING A SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL OFFICE HOW TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF RAVING FANS ON FACEBOOK
BEWARE THE BUSY PERSON
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Zeeshan Pasha - CEO, Nifnex contact via : Linkedin: http://au.linkedin.com/in/zeeshanpasha Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeeshanpasha
C O N TA C T
16 OCT – 15 NOV
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Technology – The magic word that has transformed the world and how we conduct business these days. This edition has been put together with that magic word as a theme and our Writers' Club have written about how you can leverage your business embracing technology that is available to us. With technology being widely adopted by businesses, postal cards have evolved to e-cards and e-cards have now evolved to social media posts. As a consequence, human contact seems to have decreased as the years went by and we now rely heavily on social media and email to
Address: 45 St Georges Tce, Perth WA 6000 Postal Address: PO Box 1186, Technology Park Bentley DC, WA 6983
communicate. So, as we enter this festive season, let's take the opportunity to have more face-to -face social interactions at parties, luncheons & events that are bound to increase as we get closer to Christmas. Congratulations to Carolena Boyd, who won the last Hoyts La Premier Movie Tickets promo we ran. Recommended events over the next 4 weeks are Suncorp Expo at the Arena on 31st Oct and Canning Technology Expo on 1st Nov. I hope you enjoy this edition as much as you have enjoyed the previous ones.
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 the editor.
Distribution: Monthly editions are distributed to 150 locations around Perth business suburbs. Cafes, Business Centres, Office Lobbies, business associations etc. Online: This edition is also emailed to the entire database and available on social media. Estimated Online and print Readership of over 44,000.
16 OCT – 15 NOV
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1st November 2013 Venue: City of Canning, 1317 Albany Hwy, Cannington Introducing MC Rodger Cunningham (Director of Kanohi Productions) 10:00am Opening Welcome Commissioner Linton Reynolds, CEO Lyn Russell (City of Canning) and Chair David Duncanson (Small Business Centre South East Metro) 10:30am Speaker: iiNet - Hosting and Domains manager Kevin Clark and his team is responsible for managing over 30,000 business websites nationally across the iiNet Group. Kevin’s product portfolio consists of web hosting, ecommerce hosting, domain name services, cloud computing services and the recently launched Hosted Exchange email service. iiNet Hosting under Kevin’s stewardship has won 3 consecutive awards for Excellence in Hosting and Communication services for 2011, 2012 and 2013 at the Parallels International Annual Partner Awards. Speaker: Community News - Sales Director Christine Sutherland 11:00am Guest Celebrity Speaker – Danny Green Four time world champion discusses online presence and how important digital media is for his business profile “The Green Machine” 12:00pm Fashion Show – local designer Hide n Seek 1:00pm Open for Networking
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BOUNCING BACK
RESILIENCE TRAINING
confidence in the face of adversity - Be your best when it matters the most - Revitalise your relationships at work and at home - Be inspired and energised - Effectively manage your stress - Become the most effective person you can be 1 day course I Time: 9:30am Wednesday 30th October 2013 I Cost: $100 Place: Gosnells Health and Wellness Services/ conference room 1st Floor Agonis Centre, Albany Highway, Gosnells Call Renew U Support today to register your interest for this workshop or for future workshops.
1:15pm Your chance to ask a Panel of Experts questions about everything online (Q&A) Jo Saunders, Zeeshan Pasha, Alicia Menkveld, Rajab Karume
For more information about Individual Consultations and Corporate Packages please contact Pippa Spibey pspibey@renewusupport.com.au 0419 040 350
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16 OCT – 15 NOV
Tip 3. Define goals, performance standards and rules Not everyone can perform well in a virtual office environment. All virtual team members should have clear and defined individual goals so they know what they have to accomplish each day and can work independently. Along with having defined goals, defined measures for success should be set for the individuals in a way to keep them motivated. Given that people have varying assumptions on what to expect from each other, to avoid build-ups of misunderstandings in a virtual organisation, it is critical to replace those implicit assumptions with clear rules and protocols that everyone understands and agrees upon.
Virtual office, which offers the optimal compromise between an entirely home-based operation and renting full-time office space, is rapidly becoming the preferred office type by most businesses and organisations. “With off-site live communication and business address, virtual office is an ideal alternative solution for businesses who seek to run their operation or to test a market without setting up a physical presence.” said Stephen Chatham, International Director of The Executive Centre. But the question is: how to build a virtual office that helps accomplish business goals more effectively? “Every business demands different types of skills and requirements. To run a successful virtual office, you need the right strategies, effective tools and efficacious virtual practices.” Stephen said, offering some advice. Tip 1. Build a professional corporate image Running an effective virtual office requires a professional corporate image which allows your business to get ahead of the competition while meeting the compliance demands from creditors, suppliers and lenders. A prestigious business address in Grade A CBD location, a designated business phone line and a dedicated receptionist to answer your phone calls can well project a professional corporate image for your business, and these services could be provided by a serviced office provider. Tip 2. Keep all virtual team members in close communication Effective communication is the key to being productive, and yet a challenge to virtual teams which are usually geographically dispersed and located in different time zones. Instead of using the full spectrum and dynamics of in-office face-to-face exchange, virtual teams should leverage designated communication channels enabled by modern technologies, namely emails, phone calls, teleconferences, virtual meetings, and alike. To keep all virtual team members in close communication, establishing communication guidelines, clarifying which medium to use for regular communication, response time requirements, and criteria for prioritising issues are the ways towards effective team communication.
Tip 4. Build trust among virtual teams A virtual office is just like a physical office that everyone must get along in order to accomplish missions and goals. To achieve operation efficiency, building and maintaining trust between virtual team members is of vital importance. Trust is critical for unblocking communication between members and sustaining motivation of each person involved. Organising team-building events is one of the best ways to strengthen the bond between team mates, thus, making them more productive especially in business projects requiring excellent teamwork. Tip 5. Establish effective client communication Client communication through face-to-face meetings is essential for business success. Ideally, important client meetings should be organised to take place at a meeting venue in a professional office or meeting room environment. Otherwise, time-saving video conferencing tools, such as telepresence or traditional video conferencing can allow businesses to link up with external clients across the world in 'real-time'. Tip 6. Tap into cloud technology Cloud computing, a remote information technology service, entails some key qualities which empower virtual workforce to work smarter, faster and more efficiently. Instead of building individual servers, databases, email system and surrounding infrastructure, a cloud-based service provider hosts all of your needs at an off-site data centre. Thus, computing on the cloud can save your business money, provide latest technology, flexibility in terms of scalability with how your business grows, and provide data access for virtual team members from anywhere at any time.
Stephen Chatham
ABOUT TEC: Founded in 1994, TEC provides serviced and virtual offices, business concierge services, meeting rooms and video conferencing services to businesses in central locations across the Asia Pacific. With 51 offices across 19 major cities, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, TEC has a strong Asia-Pacific presence. TEC believes in working smarter, not harder and is devoted to achieving flexible and dynamic workplace solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Are you a Baby Boomer Business Owner, set in your ways, with beliefs limiting you from really taking your business to the next level? Or are you able to escape the day-to-day running and working in your business? Ten years ago, it was all about having a website and a presence on the World Wide Web (an online brochure). Today, whilst this is still important (even if just for credibility within your market/ industry and for savvy Prospects to do their research before buying), it's now more about interaction with Prospects and using the technology to really work for your business. There is so much technology around us, but do we optimize our use of it? Or does it rule us? Does it overwhelm us or do we even know what is out there? Today, a lot of small business owners underestimate the importance of technology because they're often busy working in their business and making excuses not to find the time to learn about all this “new stuff”. The Internet is more than websites for research or online games. It is the world's greatest library. I'm still evaluating the benefits of social media. However, I know that I get great value from connecting with other businesses on Facebook and LinkedIn. It has become an accepted norm as part of business, for most types of business – especially as we move to tablets which are carried with us 24/7 to access information, research products and services AND buy things anytime of the day or night!
leverage time and money. By targeting niche markets with a message specifically for them, it's possible to build a relationship, develop credibility as an export and gain clients. So get yourself educated on technology! Be clear on how it can work for your business. And always measure your results to be sure that it's really working for you.
With time still being our most valuable asset, technology is the way forward for most businesses to gain back more hours in the day. 3 Tools that are worth investing in:1. Skype for face-to-face meetings is very effective, both in saving on travel time and also keeping on agenda. I find that focus during a Skype call is better, with fewer distractions. And that more actually gets achieved! 2. Webinars for education and learning are a great time-saver and keep overheads to a minimum (no meeting room required, and all the other costs involved). This kind of workshop is fantastic for both the organiser and the participants – everyone wins! 3. Email Marketing to keep in contact with clients and prospects is a very effective way to
Michele Alexander
Bio: Michele Alexander is a compelling, companionate, 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 learnt, shared, and applied to any business, Michele believes that you CAN achieve the success you want, especially with the right coach by your side! M 0403 824 261 E michele@localbusinesscoach.com.au www.localbusinesscoach.com.au Facebook: To get inspired, motivated and educated, please like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/yourlocalbusinesscoach
16 OCT – 15 NOV
Using technology to streamline the way we get things done in organizations is fascinating. Since entering the IT industry 28 years ago, I've witnessed the introduction of the internet from its very beginnings to the huge impact it has on everyone's lives today. I have examined how technology has enhanced and grown organizations to the point where they far outstrip their current capacity. The pace of technology has been phenomenal and the benefits to organizations are staggering. However, not every fairy tale has a happy ending. Despite having access to amazing technologies, I constantly see organizations fail to utilise even a fraction of the benefits. Frequently, organizations end up being a slave to the tools they implement or even worse, they fail entirely. As an implementer of technology, it's disappointing when the introduction of new systems doesn't create the growth and expansion expected but rather causes an additional layer of complexity. Justifying teething problems with the implementation of any new technology as being part of the learning curve is one thing, but when it does more harm than good, that's another issue entirely.
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A wise man once said, “More businesses fail from indigestion than starvation.” The explosion of email, social media and other internet technologies has created an exponential growth of how organizations receive data, but the processing of that data is often not addressed. Many organizations fail to adapt to the way they run to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology. Bottlenecks, bureaucracy and single points of failure cause so much congestion that it's amazing anything is processed, let alone progressed. Staff are constantly held back with rules and regulations or paralysed with the lack of clear decision-making authority, they can't be blamed for their inability to respond effectively to new technology. The response to this is frightening… ranging from business owners being unaware of what's really going on within their businesses to complete anarchy. Some even opt for the alternative of decreasing the use of technology, which can ultimately lead to their competitors gaining the advantage of utilising new technologies to a greater potential. Organizations need to change the way they get work done if they are going to be able to benefit from the amazing array of technology available. The effective distribution of power in
organizations can greatly contribute to the growth and adapting to the changing technological environment. Accountability and transparency needs to be completely baked into the organization's DNA. Of course, technology can assist in providing clarity and transparency, but it won't work alone. Afterall, it's humans who energize businesses. If you're a business owner interested in knowing how to unleash the full potential locked up in your organization, please go to www.teluspartners.com or contact me directly on stephan.jenner@teluspartners.com.
Stephan Jenner
Bio: Stephan is a devoted husband and doting father, who loves food and travel. A successful business owner with 28 years' experience as an entrepreneur in the IT industry, he is an Implementer, Consultant and Trainer in new Organizational Operating Systems. An avid follower of Holacracy, 7 Habits and Getting Things Done, Stephan owns and works at IT services firm, Future Logic and Organization Consulting and Training company, Telus Partners by day, and barbeques his heart out by night. Stephan has ambitions of owning his own tropical guest house, running food tours, business retreats and BBQ Breaks. Enquiries 08 9471 6500 I support@teluspartners.com.au I www.teluspartners.com.au
If you fear technology, it will likely overpower you and can limit you in ways you may not expect. Your success can be impacted negatively, things will feel harder and you may miss out on opportunities because your fear becomes so overwhelming, it stagnates you - stopping you from being able to take positive action that makes the most of the technology you have at your fingertips. 2. Adopt A Positive Attitude To see technology in a positive light, it's important to consider the way you think about it. You may have previous negative experiences with technology. Are you willing to let those experiences stop you from discovering the many benefits that exist?
There is no denying that technology impacts your life as an individual and a business owner. There have been times when I have felt completely overwhelmed by the increasing number of technology-driven opportunities that exist as I try to navigate my role as a leader in my life and business. How do you work out what is an advantage, an opportunity and possibility and what has the potential to be detrimental to your success? In today's article, I want to share with you my thoughts on how you can embrace technology and make it work for you, no matter your age, your business or your experience, using gadgets, programs and solutions that are generally designed to make your life easier. Sometimes, it might not feel easier but it can be, depending on how you think about technology. I don't profess to be a technology expert, but I know I have managed to create a positive and rewarding relationship with technology.
The way you think about things has a significant impact on the way you experience the world. Renowned thought leader, Bob Proctor said “Your thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.”. Become conscious of how you think about technology and choose to adopt a mindset, or attitude that is open and positive. 3. Choose To Make Technology Your Friend As a passionate advocate for something I call personal leadership, I believe everyone has the ability to be a leader and that leadership starts from within. At the core of personal leadership are two important components. Your personal effectiveness is directly impacted by these same two components. Personal leadership and your personal effectiveness is the result of the committed choices you make and the committed actions you take. As I see it, you have a choice about everything. If you want to make the most of technology, choose to do so and take action. As the leader, you know you have the potential to be; to show yourself that technology is, in fact, your friend.
I made a decision some time ago to find out how to make it work for me. With that decision and regular supportive action, I found myself experiencing repeated benefits that I can attribute to the positive opportunities that technology presents to us all, if we choose to view them as possibilities and not limitations. Today's 3-step process can help you to maximise those possibilities in both your life and business. 1. Turn Fear Into Opportunity Many of the small business owners I coach have expressed their fear of technology. I find that many of the solutions I share with them to accelerate their personal effectiveness and maximise their success, have some component driven by 'technology'.
Shannon Bush
BIO: Shannon Bush is an international best-selling author and one of Australia's leading authorities on Personal Leadership. Shannon teaches individuals, business owners and teams how to harness their archetypal core strengths to actively boost their personal effectiveness, to make a bigger positive impact in their lives and businesses, offering a refreshing way to truly lead your life and business. www.creativepossibility.com.au
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Daniel Stamp Research by Bruch and Ghoshal, published in the Harvard Business Review, found that only 10% of managers could be moving a company forward. The rest may look busy - but they're probably just spinning their wheels. I often refer to this group as 'Busyness Managers'. However, that special 10% - your purposeful managers - make the seemingly impossible happen. Purposeful managers embody two elements essential for driving meaningful change: FOCUS - zeroing in on goals and seeing them to completion, weighing options before acting, and concentrating on key projects, and; ENERGY - vigour fuelled by intense personal commitment and the capacity to tackle heavy workloads to meet tight deadlines. One element without the other isn't enough. It's possible - even likely - that 90% of managers could lack one - or both. Here's how to identify a company's purposeful manager - and help everyone else join their ranks. Purposeful Managers Why are purposeful managers so productive? With their focus and energy, they carefully orchestrate their time - e.g. building "think time" into their schedule, answering emails during specified periods of the day, etc. They are also crystal clear about their intentions, demonstrate
unrelenting willpower, pick their battles carefully, and feel personally responsible for their company's fate. Most important, they refuse to let others (bosses, peers) or organizational constraints (job descriptions, salaries) limit their agendas. Instead, they define their goals, and then control their environment to meet their objectives - cultivate influential relationships, independently accessing resources, etc. Managers short on focus and/or energy can have damaging consequences for a company. They fall into three groups: The Procrastinators (Low focus, low energy) dutifully perform routine tasks but fail to take initiative, raise performance levels, or engage with strategy. The Disengaged (High focus, low energy) are exhausted and unable to commit to tasks that hold little meaning for them. They approach their work half-heartedly, deny a problem exists, or refuse to act even when it's critical. The Distracted (low focus, high energy) comprise most managers. Short-sighted and over-committed, they feel a desperate need to do something - anything - when pressure mounts. But short on reflection, they have trouble developing strategies and adjusting their behaviour to new realities. Creating Purposeful Managers How do you boost your managers' energy and focus? Give them
Bio: Alicia Menkveld is the founder of Radical Consulting, an advisory for small and medium businesses. Radical Consulting recently joined forces with online technology and business automation exper ts Designer Life Technologies to provide a one-stop-shop for marketing strategies and technologies that will help businesses thrive in this new world.
Alicia Menkveld
Contact Alicia on 0425 177 897 or alicia@radicalconsulting.com.au www.radicalconsulting.com.au
Marketing isn't what it used to be. Today, we have mobile apps and vending machines that use facial recognition to give people product samples for interacting. In London, Unilever's “Share Happy” vending machine gave out 52,000 ice cream bars in two days to everyone who smiled at it. This happened without any media support or advertising and that's just the beginning. We have evolved from broadcasting messages to engaging customers. Perth's only Infusionsoft-Certified Consultant says, “There's definitely a renaissance of marketing technology where the Internet and the digital revolution provide fascinating new ways of connecting brands with customers.”. Here are 3 must-have technologies that will impact your marketing and grow your business quickly.
Being a professional platform, we only share info that is relevant and supportive when building our LinkedIn Profile but we may want to limit some info to our connections. Connections are those people who have passed the bouncer and entered the party. We set our own rules for connecting and sharing our data. Having a clear connection strategy determines who can enter the party and if they get a preview before entering. So how do we manage the technical side of LinkedIn? We head over to our Account Privacy and Settings. Access the dashboard via the drop down menu when you click on your Profile icon to the top right of LinkedIn. The top section gives information about your account, features and upgrade info and the bottom section is made up of 4 vertical tabs, covering
Talking Point : Last month, Priority Management asked "What is the number 1 perk in your workplace?". These were the responses: Total Votes: 1,503 1. Flexible work week - 38% 2. Choice of vacation time - 32% 3. Bonuses for performance - 19% 4. Great training and development - 11% 5. On-site daycare - 1% meaningful challenges, and then let them decide how to meet them. Empower them to turn compelling visions into reality. Stress how essential their contributions are. Priority helps develop purposeful people across an organization. Contact Andy to find out more about their purpose-driven programs.
Andy is the Sales Director for Priority Management WA, part of a global training organisation. With over 40 years' experience in all areas of Sales and Customer Service, Andy's passion still revolves around connecting people and building relationships. So let's do coffee some time and discuss win-win opportunities. P 08 9315 1044
Andy Buchanan-Hughes
1. Cloudy, with a Good Chance of Success According to research, 52% of small businesses have leveraged cloud computing solutions by the end of 2012. No large financial outlay is required and it's accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Solutions include a wide variety of services from accounting software (Xero) to email marketing (MailChimp, Aweber), online shopping car ts (1ShoppingCart) and customer referral programs. It comes down to having a plan that connects your business model to the technologies right for your business. 2. Databases, are you keeping track? Businesses can unearth profitable insights from their email opens, transaction logs and social media activity feeds. Yet, only 18% of small businesses have implemented a business intelligence solution in the past 24 months. The trick is to find a simple-to-use online customer relationship management (CRM) system or database that seamlessly integrates with your existing business
privacy and settings of your Profile, Communication options, Group, Company and Application options, and general account settings. The Profile tab is where we control what we share. 1. Determine how much of your Profile the public see. Towards the bottom of the second column, select Edit Public Profile. Here you can determine what parts of your Profile are available to the public. 2. Determine who can see your activity. Your activity feed is any action made by you that is shared, which includes profile updates, status updates, action from others such as recommendations and this is available to anyone who views your Profile as a default. You may want to make this info only available to those connected to you. To do this, in the left hand column, select the second option “Select who can see your activity feed” and change the option.
http://www.prioritymanagem ent.com/perth/index.php
applications. Are you keeping track of your customers and their behaviour, to sell more? An all-in-one system like Infusionsoft allows you to store customer data and online purchase history, tracks where leads came from, emails customers automatically, reminds you when to follow up and helps you to build a strong word-of-mouth referral system. 3. Mobile is a Must Checking email or visiting websites on the run is on the rise, as more people own a smartphone or tablet. Up to 65% of all emails being opened are on mobile devices, depending on the industry and product. (eMailMonday 2013) People tend to open special offers, vouchers and realtime tracking (Domino's Pizza) most often and 70% of people will move on immediately if an email or website doesn't display correctly (BlueHornet 2012). Is your website optimised for mobile devices and doing the best job it can, to capture leads for your business? Do you know if your emails are displaying correctly?
3. Turn on and off your updates. Another useful setting to turn on and off is the first option in the list “Turn on/off your activity broadcasts'. You have decided who can see them in the above option, but here you can turn the update on and off. This is useful if you are doing a big update of your Profile or you want to quietly make a few changes without notifying your network. The best way to learn about LinkedIn settings is to test and try. If you make a change and don't like it, change it. If you want to learn more, attend a workshop or check out my blog.
Jo Saunders
Jo Saunders is the Director of Wildfire Social Marketing, a marketing consultancy specializing in online marketing strategy, LinkedIn training and Profile creation. She works with small to medium business owners as a marketing partner and provides consulting, coaching, training and support. Jo has a background in events and marketing in the corporate sector and has always had a passion to help people connect and position themselves. If you are overwhelmed and unsure how to leverage the online revolution, contact Jo. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josaunders www.wildfiresocialmarketing.com
16 OCT – 15 NOV
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Technology has had a tremendous impact on the way we operate and conduct our businesses. We have the powerful capabilities to link information systems and have access to various software programs that help us in many aspects of business - from accounting programs, customer relationship management tools, inventory tracking, marketing, project management and many more. So the question to ask is not 'What can you do with this technology?' but rather, 'What can this technology do for you?'. Understanding how to embrace and use this technology will prevent you from falling behind your competitors.
Here are some ideas that you could incorporate: • Ensure your website is viewable on a smart phone or tablet. You can achieve this with a responsive website design.
Businesses are using technology to advertise, provide information, sell products and reach new customers. We can sell online, network online and market online. Having a website in today's economic climate is paramount, otherwise you risk missing out on a large chunk of the market. With the increasing use of smart phones, consumers are going online to research and purchase. Without an online presence, your potential clients are heading to your competitors. "Bill Gates said that by the end of 2002, there will be only two kinds of businesses: those with an Internet presence, and those with no business at all." With the rapid growth and changes in technology, websites can turn from world class to obsolete in as little as 2 - 3 years. When was your website last rebuilt?
• Use a good CRM (Customer Relationship Management) program to keep in touch with your clients. • Advertise on the internet with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Google Adwords etc • Provide downloadable information on your website. • Make use of a signup page or opt-in page to capture leads. • Monitor the performance of your website using Google Webmaster's Tools and Google Analytics. • Increase your exposure by the use of blogging and social media. • Develop a Mobile App for your business. • Write an e-book to position yourself as an expert in your field. • Use Google Maps and other location-based services. Particularly good for when people are viewing your website on a mobile device. Whilst technology may seem a little daunting for some, it is important that we adopt technology into our businesses. The most successful businesses are those that leverage technology the right way.
Let's reflect for a moment..... • Can people find your site easily when searching on Google? • Does your website appear in the top of the search pages for the key words your target-market is using? This is crucial - with 80% of traffic coming from search engines. • Does your website explain clearly what it is that you do? • Is it easy for clients to contact you (email, SMS, phone) from your website? This is especially important when your website is viewed on a mobile device. • Are your product descriptions informative and attractive, using great photos? • Is the buying process simple and seamless?
Gary Hanley
Australia has a reputation of being one of the most underinsured countries in the developed world. Less than one third of Australians insure their ability to earn an income and yet 83 per cent don't think twice about having car insurance. Conrad Francis With nothing more 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 Char ter Financial Planning Limited Australian Financial Services Licensee, Licence Number 234665 www.inspiredmoney.com.au Ph: 08 9301 2631
Many believe the automatic income protection cover they may have in their superannuation is sufficient but it is estimated that almost half of Australians are underinsured to the tune of $1,000 a month. A vital safety net
Gary Hanley - Managing Director of Website Rescuers With highly effective websites and various online marketing strategies, Website Rescuers are the superheroes you've been waiting for. Gary leads his team with a methodical and clear approach, keeping his clients ahead of the game. Having a website that can perform for you, generate leads, and deliver results will build your brand and help grow your business. T: 1300 WEB SOS E: sos@websiterescuers.com.au W: www.websiterescuers.com.au
The younger, the better The sooner you take out income protection cover, the lower the premiums because they are determined by age. Making the right choice on the type of premium can also reduce the cost. Basically there are stepped or level premiums. With stepped premiums, you start off low, but the premiums increase over time. This may seem appealing when money is tight but, over the long term, level premiums often work out significantly cheaper.
While level premiums usually prove best, it depends on your circumstances and your cash flow situation. For example, if you require insurance for less than seven years or your level of insurance required reduces over time, say as debt is paid off, it may work out better with stepped. The most important thing is to have the coverage — and whichever you choose, income protection premiums are generally tax deductible.
Choosing the right insurance cover is a Level premiums largely remain the same unless personal matter and really needs sound Income protection insurance can provide up to you increase your benefit, the insurer adjusts professional advice. Taking a long-term view 75 per cent of your income, should you be for inflation, or base premium rates are can make a big difference financially. unable to work. The argument against having adjusted. Key considerations cover is often that it is too expensive. This was Long term thinking pays the reason 81 per cent of respondents gave, in a - Don't be fooled by the lower initial premiums 2008 survey by OnePath Life and yet, 61 per Ironically, with stepped premiums, the bigger cent of them overestimated the cost. Little payments start to bite in your mid-40s, often - Make sure your cover is sufficient throughout your life wonder underinsurance is an issue with so just when you need the cover the most and much misinformation. The unfortunate reality when your financial commitments are at their - Read the fine print on how much premiums is one third of women and a quarter of men will peak. And by your 50s, they tend to jump again. will rise. suffer cancer at some stage, which could If you stop paying premiums, you will automatically lose your cover. drastically reduce their capacity to earn.
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Are you one of those people who don't like change and want things to be done the same way – because “It has always been done this way”? But what if change also meant you could save money in the process – would you consider it then?
Sonja has been called the “stress reliever” by many as she reduces the small to medium business owner's stress by providing bookkeeping and accounting services as Asset Financial Accounting. She is a Chartered Accountant with over two decades of experience in auditing, accounting and bookkeeping, risk management and compliance in a wide range of industries.
if you didn't have to wonder which backup you sent to the accountant and to figure out which entries to put through to make sure your accounts agreed to your external accountant's version. Imagine submitting your payment summaries directly to the ATO from your accounting software. Imagine giving each employee access to their own pay advices and never having to print it out because they have misplaced it. All these are possible with internetbased accounting software. These are some of the benefits and there are many more!
Many business owners are in this situation – stuck in always doing their books the same way, as it was always done this way. “This way” might not always be the most efficient way of maintaining their books and records. Some are still keeping manual books – i.e. no computers, or are doing the “double entry” bookkeeping where they first maintain a manual system and then capture it all again into their accounting software. Not quite what was intended with a double entry system.
Many business owners, bookkeepers and accountants are embracing cloud accounting not only for the benefits already mentioned but it is also more efficient than many of the standard stand-alone software options. There is little risk of losing data due to hardware failures. Another fantastic feature is the bank feeds. This is a great time-saving tool and is automated. Many bookkeepers and accountants have said that they have never been more up-to-date since changing to cloud-based accounting. They have instant access to the clients' books, can advise them on issues and overall, add more value as less time is spent on the data capture and more time can be spent on analysing the data
Imagine how wonderful it would be if you could access your books and records anywhere, any time and on any device (provided of course that you had an internet connection). This is possible with internet-based accounting software packages, also called cloud accounting. Imagine never having to pay for a software or compliance upgrade again! Imagine how great it would be to always have the latest version of the software. Imagine how wonderful it would be
Sonja Pilkington
Email:sonja@assetfinancial accounting.com.au
and preparing useful reports. Business owners who have made the change to cloud software enjoy the ability to invoice on-site (without having to complete paperwork), email it directly to the client while they are there, check on outstanding balances etc. Is the “old way” still the most appropriate for your business or will you also be considering embracing cloud software?
In this month's article, I want to answer one of the most common questions that I get asked. We all know Facebook is the world's largest social network but how do you create a Facebook community of raving fans that absolutely love what your business has to offer? How do these raving fans then become your brand ambassadors? The answer lies in two words - relationships and engagement. By developing and forming a strong relationship with your Facebook fans and engaging with them, they will then carry your brand around with them.
Douglas Lim
Douglas Lim is a social media marketing and search engine optimisation evangelist. He is the director and cofounder of a digital agency called Alyka that provides clients with services such as online marketing and web design. You may find him living on the following social media channels and websites: Alyka:http://www.alyka.com.auDoug’s marketing blog: http://www.douglaslim.org Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/10963251 6913184988570/ YouTube http://www.youtube.com/duggil Twitter https://twitter.com/duggielLinke In http://www.linkedin.com/in/douglaslim
The first thing is to realise that the fundamentals of building relationships will never change whether you are meeting someone face to face or connecting with them via Facebook. That is, people don't like to be sold to, so make sure you never focus all of your Facebook posts around what services and products you have to offer. Instead use a soft-sell approach by posting engaging and high value content and then mixing it in with a product or service post. For example, if you own a wine shop, high value content includes posting content on how to choose what wines go with what foods, the history of French wine and upcoming festivals and events. An engaging post may be asking your fans what their favourite wine is. This then opens the door for further engagement. Next, people like to know that they are being heard. So if someone messages your fan page or writes on your timeline, reply within 24 to 48 hours and address them by their name. When someone writes a comment on my fan page, I always thank him or her and like his or her comment. Another tip to engage with your fans is to show the personal side of your business. Examples of this include posting pictures of staff members with a short bio, the managing director playing golf in a charity event, your business being involved in the local community etc. This allows your fans to connect with you on a more personal level. Finally, another tip is to reward fans that engage with your fan page the most. There is a Facebook app called Booshaka that you can add as a tab to your fan page. This allows you to showcase the fan of the month to acknowledge who has engaged with your fan page the most via likes, comments and posts. There you have it! A couple of tips that will help your business create raving fans on Facebook. If you have any other tips or thoughts, I would love to hear about them through my Facebook fan page at https://www.facebook.com/TheDouglasLim
Having taken out a number of awards in WA, Humaan will now contest the below categories in the Australian Web Awards in Sydney on Thursday, October 24. eCommerce : Mainpeak http://www.mainpeak.com.au/
I Highs and Lows http://www.highsandlows.net.au/
Mobile : Budii - iinet http://www.budii.humaan.com.au/
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Lions Australia http://www.lionsclubs.org.au/
Innovation : Budii - iinet http://www.budii.humaan.com.au/ Commercial : Bonfire http://www.bonfire.com.au/
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Aphrodite Gold http://www.aphroditegold.com.au/ For more information: http://www.webawards.com.au/
Airflite http://www.airflite.com.au/
16 OCT – 15 NOV
Your succession plan is the key to your business legacy. It is the road you must travel if your business is to continue to thrive under new owners and it is the road you must travel to ensure that you get the financial rewards you deserve for your years of hard work. A great succession plan is often years in the making and the time to start the process is sooner, rather than later. So many small and medium business owners make hasty decisions regarding their exit. This often results in the business not surviving after the sale and even worse, not reaping the financial rewards that are possible with the help of succession planning. A succession plan can ensure: - Your business is placed in the hands of the right new owners - The financial outcome is the best one possible for everyone involved - The transition period is seamless A succession plan is a multi-faceted strategy and must take into account the traffic at the proverbial doorway. As you are exiting your business, new owners are entering it and a successful plan will cater to the needs of both parties while ensuring the business continues to run as usual with no downtime or revenuedamaging transition periods. A well-executed succession plan simultaneously secures your future and your legacy. Selling your business in accordance with your strategy There are a number of ways to sell your business. The traditional method is the most familiar whereby you advertise with the goal of getting the highest price and the interested party tries to get the lowest price. This method oftentimes lends itself to short sightedness with little forethought regarding transition times and business longevity after the sale. There are other ways to sell your business that are not contaminated with the friction inherent in traditional sales. Other options include: - Trade sales - Mergers - Management buyouts
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Management buyouts have a host of benefits for small to medium businesses. These include: - Offering both parties a level of security regarding the future of the business. - The luxury of identifying potential new owners from within the business - this removes the uncertainty of the unknown and allows you to choose someone with the same ideals, morals and vision as you. - A long transition time is possible ensuring that the new owners know the business inside and out when they take over. Particular importance should be placed on making sure new owners understand the financial and accounting side of the business. - An inherent understanding of company culture. This will allow the business to continue as usual without creating disruption, uncertainty or confusion amongst employees. - Staff loyalty and productivity often increases with positive and well-communicated change. Staff may begin to think like business owners rather than like employees. Your business legacy will be in the hands of those who succeed you. You can position your business to follow the path you imagine by passing the torch to the right person. Get the right advice An effective succession plan requires the advice and skills of professionals who understand your business and have a thorough knowledge of your exit goals. Your professional team must step you through the process to ensure: - You get the tax benefits that you are entitled to. Taxation is complex and you need to enlist an accountant early on to allow them the time required to get you every benefit possible. - A gradual ownership changeover will need an equity matrix that suits both parties. New owners need to be free from financial stress and outgoing owners need to see the benefits from the fruits of their labour. Your succession accountant will develop a matrix
Imagine living in a world where everybody is a cloned version of yourself. Where everyone looks like you, behaves like you and agrees with you.
Wayne Mandic
Wayne Mandic is an Accredited Business Consultant who finds it truly rewarding to advise business owners on how to increase profits, cash flow, efficiency and valuation - all while freeing up their time to live happier personal and professional lives. Wayne has a passion for shaping the growth and development of the business community and is a regular presenter and speaker at seminars and business forums. P: 1300 665473 68 South Tce; South Perth WA 6151 W: successionplus.com.au
that allows both parties to 'win' at every stage. - Securing funding for the sale is not just the responsibility of the new owners. If you have chosen your successor, they may need your help to secure funds. There are a number of ways to help your chosen candidate: 1. Commercial funding through a financial institution 2. Use your overdraft option to fund the purchase 3. Borrow money to fund share purchases for the new owners 4. Offer new owners the opportunity to lower their salary and use the difference to fund the purchase At first glance, the above funding options may seem counter-intuitive. However, if you have found the right successor, the fact that they do not have the money on hand should not stop the desired business outcome. Key components of your succession plan Your exit plan is a strategic communication system that will allow you to get maximum returns and also allow your business to continue to succeed after you leave. The best succession plan will address: - The best strategic approach to your exit - How to maximize the value of your business - Consider who is best suited to take over the business and how to help them fund the purchase if necessary - An equity matrix to ensure that each party is financially rewarded appropriately - Taxation issues and how to get the best outcomes - A smooth transition that minimizes any skill gaps between the outgoing owners and the incoming owners. This includes effective communication with employees and any other stakeholders. Your blood, sweat and tears are all ingrained in the business you have built. Years of hard work can be seen in your success. When it is time to hang your hat and enjoy your new adventure – be it retirement or simply a change, it is your succession plan that will determine your financial outcome and your legacy. Choose your future by design, not by chance. Plan your succession.
That's why wild animals are kept in compounds at the zoo and mild animals are accessible to pat. And because we understand their nature, we act accordingly. We'll pat puppies and lambs, but we'll keep our distance from lions and snakes.
Would you want to live in such a world? No! No-one would. Yet, every time we suffer disappointment, it's because we expect others to behave according to what we think is right.
But when it comes to humans, we don't understand their nature and therefore we expect things that we shouldn't.
Think about it. When was the last time you were disappointed in someone else's behaviour? When was the last time you thought, “How could he?”? What was the cause of your disappointment? Was it because you expected him to behave differently?
There are lions, snakes, puppies and lambs among humans as well. So the next time they pounce, scratch or bite, if we have understood their character correctly, then we won't be shocked or surprised, and we won't suffer disappointment and stress.
Even if you are right, to expect others to fit into your mental pattern is a fail-safe way of becoming stressed and unhappy.
When we accept things as they are, and not as we would like them to be, then we find ourselves in a powerful position to be able to handle people and situations in a calm, dignified and effective manner.
To avoid this from happening in the future, try to see people and things as they are, not as you would like them to be. Failure to do so Further tips will be revealed at 'Revolutionary Ways to Reduce will lead to unreasonable expectations, disappointment and stress. Stress,' 6th November at Spacecubed: howtoreducestress.eventbrite.com.au What's interesting is we already do this with respect to animals. We understand the different natures of lions, snakes, puppies and For more information, phone Meredith on 0414 321 877 or lambs. visit: www.clearthinking.org.au
Meredith Forder Meredith Forder is a Philosopher, Stress Management Consultant and the Founder and CEO of Clear Thinking. With more than two decades of study and research, backing 15 years teaching experience, Meredith inspires people to live their best life. She delivers profound and precise knowledge on the life-threatening epidemics plaguing our modern world—stress, anxiety and depression—and offers a refreshing perspective on how to overcome them.
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16 OCT – 15 NOV
Read online www.nifnexreview.com.au
It's better to be the best connected than the most connected. What good is a long list of people you don't know and who don't/hardly know you? How will that help you to achieve/accelerate your success? It won't! The idea is to develop a strong network of advocates — people who will refer you, recommend you and open doors for you. This means building “know you”, “like you”, “trust you” relationships with your network contacts. How? You've got to make the time and effort to get to know what business problems your contacts solve and how they go about doing that so you can start referring them, introducing them and opening doors for them. Spend some of your time selling your contacts' products and services — it's the ultimate way to assist in business networking. Share information that will help them to grow THEIR business. Find other ways to help your contacts to achieve their goals and objectives. And do small personal favours for them. Again, this takes work. But it's worthwhile if you're willing to make the effort. As David Maister puts it, “there is no better way to build a relationship than to find a way to be helpful or useful to the other person”.
Augmented Reality is emerging to be the next big trend in marketing and businesses are linking physical products with apps using this interesting marketing tool. Founder of The Lemon Tree Book Company, Tracey Regan said that keeping up with technology trends is so important in today's world and helps to keep kids entertained. “The app, available now for iPad and iPad mini is a simple e-reader for kids from three to six years old, where they can enter their name and the names of their friends, so they are the main character in the story,” said Ms. Regan “We have included some basic Augmented Reality technology in our App to help kids engage with our story characters,” she said. “Augmented Reality is a view of the 'real-world' where some of the elements you see are augmented by a computer, with either graphics, video or sound. So in 'normal speak', you can use your device as a camera and you will see something that isn't 'really' there.” “AR technology requires a 'trigger' that can be printed from the website,
Referred to as “That Networking Guy” by many organizations, Ron Gibson provides in - depth networking training and coaching, focusing on business growth and development. Get Ron to speak at your next c on fe r e n c e or sale s meeting about how to bring in more business, more consistently and more often. Call Ron on 0413420 5 3 8 o r e m a i l gonetworking@iinet.net.au
Ron Gibson
http://lemontreebookco.com/ and when you point the camera of your device to the trigger, a 3D image appears.” “It's pretty basic at the moment, but we hope to keep improving on our technology to link the trigger to our physical books and increase the number of our 'AR' characters.” The Lemon Tree Book Company also produce book packs where kids can actually create a book where they are the main character in the story, by using basic craft and a simple introduction to the Internet. Ms. Regan developed the idea after learning from first-hand experience, how much kids love to be featured in a story. “The look on their faces when they first realize that they are part of a 'book' is priceless,” she said. App available for iPad and iPad mini available from the Appstore. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/lemon-tree-interactive-books/id585288841?mt=8 Book packs are available from the website www.lemontreebookco.com
16 OCT – 15 NOV
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Read online www.nifnexreview.com.au
Adrian Kougianos has been Clockwork's Marketing Manager since 2009. Together with Clockwork's reliable print production team, Adrian has regularly produced unique, novel and most importantly, effective direct mail & large format campaigns and a huge array of marketing collateral that has helped Clockwork grow its business. You can rely on Adrian to provide answers to your print, scan, copy or design questions and to provide a unique perspective on how digital print technology can help you squeeze more out of your next marketing project. Website: http://www.clockworkprint.com.au
Adrian Kougianos Printing is one of the oldest and most transformative technologies that society has ever produced. Technology for reproducing and duplicating images goes right back to 3000BC and since those very early days, the one constant theme has been the relentless pace of technological change. Some of the latest trends are evolutionary and others promise to revolutionize the way we print and produce products in the future. This article covers three new and interesting print technologies including waterfall inkjet, latex printing and 3D printing. Waterfall Inkjet – It's Inkjet, But Not As You Know It This year, the first waterfall production inkjet machine was released in the large format printing market by Fuji Xerox. Inkjet printing is familiar to most home printing users as it makes up the bulk of all home printer purchases. Up until now, regular inkjet has been relatively slow to produce copies. Enter waterfall inkjet technology - With waterfall technology, the small print head, carriage and belt of a traditional printer has been replaced with a single row of overlapping print heads that spans the entire width of the
paper path. As paper passes through the printer, a 'waterfall' of ink is applied directly to the paper via the long strip of stationary print heads with remarkable speed. Waterfall inkjet prints are produced up to 14 times faster than current inkjet printers. The speed is truly something to behold! Latex Printing – A Printer that Paints Latex printing is one of the newer technologies to hit the market. Hewlett Packard released the technology commercially in 2010. Latex printers use water-based paints to print an image on a broad range of substrates. The ink technology is similar to the water-based paint you buy in tins at a hardware store. To get technical, it's a stable emulsion of polymer micro-particles in water. The latex paint is applied to surfaces by a print head and then passes through a special drying area in the printer that evaporates the water, leaving the flexible polymer paint behind. Just like regular paint, latex printing is very durable, UV stable and suitable for outdoor use. Being a water-based ink, it is also better for the environment than other methods.
3D Printing – But is it Printing? The term '3D printing' is a misnomer as it's not printing in the common sense. More accurate names for it are 'additive manufacturing' or 'rapid prototyping', so it's less of a print technology and more of a manufacturing process. These devices use a print head and a moving platform that lays down successive layers of a material to form a 3 dimensional shape. This material is most commonly ABS plastic or wax but there are many novel materials in the works. A personal favourite is the 3D chocolate printer! The 3D printing space is still in its development phase, but it is definitely a space to watch. All three of these technologies have already impacted the print industry, but given the industry's ability to innovate, what's around the corner is really anyone's guess! Reliable people combined with state-of-the-art equipment are the two things that make Clockwork an unbeatable print partner. If you'd like more information on anything you've read here, please contact Adrian on 08 9321 0877. Happy printing!
LEGAL FORUM FOR SMALL BUSINESS Read business articles online www.nifnexreview.com.au
Lorraine Garvie Business Reboot
Nifnex and LawyerSelect have joined hands to bring you a fabulous informative networking event where small business owners can learn from 3 expert lawyers. Three short presentations followed by Q&A in an open forum setting.
Charles Ryder White Chalk Road
Alicia Menkveld Radical Consulting
Shannon Bush Author
Michele Alexander Action Coach
Sonja PilkingtonChartered Accountant
Andy Buchanan-Hughes Sales Director
Rajab Karume Needlenhay Digital
Dale Carter GTP iCommerce
Conrad Francis Inspired Money
Wayne Mandic Succession Plus
Rueben Taylor Action Coach
Stephan Jenner Future Logic
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Debt recovery and security options for small business
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How divorce/separation can affect small businesses
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Intellectual property issues facing small business
DOMINIQUE ENGELTER
SIMON CREEK
NICK STAMATIOU
Senior Associate Williams+ Hughes
MD & Special Counsel
Senior Associate Griffith Hack
DEBT RECOVERY AND SECURITY OPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS
HOW DIVORCE/SEPARATION CAN AFFECT SMALL BUSINESSES
(family Law)
HHG Legal Group
Where: HLB Mann Judd, Level 4, 130 Stirling St Perth
Date: 7th November Time: 5:30 Registration 6PM Start I 7:30 Finish Cost: $25 RSVP: Jo Saunders Director of Wildfire Social Marketing
Gary Hanley Managing Director of Website Rescuers
Adrian Kougianos Clockwork
Douglas Lim Evangelist
http://legalforumperth.eventbrite.com.au/
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUES FACING SMALL BUSINESS
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If you get your marketing right, then sales become easier. Invest more time in this area and the dividends pay off well into the future. You see, not all marketing is created equal so it's best to start with the types of strategies that lead to a better quality of prospect (and don't cost a lot). So here are three low cost strategies that every business can use to market their business… 1) Pro-active Referrals Many businesses I meet get word-of-mouth referrals from happy customers. This is great because it means they must be doing a number of things right. So instead of just waiting for these referrals to come in, the question is how do we speed this up? There are many ways you can ask for referrals - from scripts, competitions, referral cards, referral pricing, feedback forms, surveys or a formal rewards system. The key here is consistency – how often and how consistently are you asking? Set referral targets in your business and educate your customers on the types of clients that you are after. Imagine if every one of your customers referred just one person to you in the next 12 months… that one strategy would double your business alone.
Natalie Walker
16 OCT – 15 NOV
Read online www.nifnexreview.com.au
2) Strategic Alliances This is another low cost, high impact strategy that leverages off the trust you have built in your network. What other noncompeting businesses do you know that are dealing with the same target market as you? For example, a landscaper client of mine has aligned with a pool company and an outdoor furniture company. The key is to ensure there is an alignment of values, you both want the same level of service for customers and there is fair exchange. To get started, create what I call an alliance wheel. Draw a circle on a piece of paper with your business in the middle. Now around the circle, list out all the types of businesses who are dealing with the same target market as you. You should be able to come up with 10-12. Now the game is to fill each of those positions over the next 12 months. Set time aside for 1-2 coffees each week and start connecting with people in your network or could-be alliance partners. When you meet, brainstorm ways you could work together from running events together, writing for each other's newsletters, promoting each other to your database or doing other combined marketing. 3) Market to Your Database
B li t z C r edi t Man ag em en t provides 'no collection, no commission' debt collection and credit management services to businesses throughout Australia. Blitz Credit Management stands out from its competitors because of its focus on service and investment in t e c h n o l o g y. F o r m o r e information, visit www.blitzcredit.com.au or call Natalie Walker, Managing Director on 1300 887 232.
It sounds simple, right? Pick up the phone, ring your customer and let them know you're expecting them to settle their overdue account. Unfortunately, it's not always easy. If you haven't prepared, the call can quickly take a wrong turn. Or, an emotional reaction from the recipient can easily throw you off your game. Here are a few tips for making a successful debt collection call. Prior to the call First and foremost, familiarize yourself with the Rules of Conduct for people attempting to collect a debt. In Australia, the ACCC/ASIC defines the guidelines for debt collection. Before you punch in the number, get prepared for the call. Find a quiet place where you can take notes. If possible, have a script with questions in front of you to ensure you don't forget to ask anything. Make sure you have all the information about the debt on your I recently exploded at one of my staff because he wasn't inputting information into the CRM in a timely manner. I'm not very proud of it but I was under pressure and after asking nicely once and again for staff to use it, I was still met with resistance. The result - I tore strips of the poor unfortunate staff member. For me, running a business with 8-10 staff, I cannot check-in with everyone to find out what's going on daily, so I rely on the staff-entered records in the CRM to get an overview of what work is being done and issues faced by clients. I've come across many small business owners in the same situation. CRM adoption by staff is the number one problem we faced since installing our first CRM program 5 years ago. I found in the first 3 years that I was spending $6000 a year for a fantastic system that only I was using. Staff found the CRM an unnecessary distraction and because there were so many holes in the client data, it was generally not very useful to them either, in resolving client issues. Hence, CRM resistance. My view is that CRM entry is part of their job. Despite training sessions, video tutorials, incentives and praise for when it is used, the result was continued poor entry of useful client information and I found that the cost of paying for a solution that was not being used properly was too excessive. I eventually shut that solution down. At that time, staff completed electronic time sheets on a daily basis and I suppose entering the information again into the CRM seemed like an additional and unnecessary chore. The
desk. - How much is owed - What were the terms of the sale - What was actually purchased - When was the invoice supposed to be paid - How many other invoices are outstanding, even if they're not overdue · Payment history of the debtor During the call Remain confident and project a pleasant but firm tone. There's absolutely no need to sound threatening. Use a lower register in your speaking voice to instil a sense of calm. Sometimes, a highpitched voice can sound shrill, which indicates stress. Speak clearly. Introduce yourself and your company and explain the purpose of the call. Ask the debtor when you can expect full payment of the debt. Use open, neutral questions that encourage the debtor to give you information. For example, “How do you intend to pay this debt?” is an open, neutral question and can elicit any number of responses. “Can you pay with cash?” is a closed question and allows the caller to simply say 'yes' or 'no' – even if it's not true. Listen carefully and take notes. Occasional short silences may persuade the debtor to continue talking and give you more information in the process. Allow a few gaps in the conversation and see what happens. Before you hang up
solution we came up with was to build our own CRM where the time sheet records were entered into directly. That meant that staff pays were reliant on them entering their work information in the system. That solved the CRM compliance issue. No time-entry, no pay. The next issue was timeliness. Some staff would wait a few days to enter time records as they felt they were too busy to do it immediately. Unfortunately, the longer the delay in entering the time, the more they would forget, and many billable activities and important information was getting lost. After trying for months to be patient in improving timeliness with verbal, sms and email reminders (some automated), I found that the only thing that would work was getting angry with the resistant staff. Three things could happen. 1. The staff member quits and goes to another work place where they have to enter a time sheet and a CRM or 2. They comply (That's what worked in my situation) or 3. You can decide to sack them for not doing their job after repeated written warnings. I found that CRM compliance can be improved by making the CRM easily available from multiple locations including home and on the road. That's why cloud based CRM solutions have exceeded local server-based solutions. We found that by tying wages to time sheets tied to Client activities, we automatically collected client data from all our staff. I also found that using a big stick is sometimes necessary to get compliance when being nice over a period of time has failed to produce results.
Rueben Taylor
For the last 12 years, Rueben Taylor has been helping Perth business owners grow their business sustainably creating strong cashflow and getting it to a stage where it can run smoothly without them being there. He is the recipient of 9 Global and 15 Asia Pacific Franchise Awards and the average bottom line of his clients increased by 120% over the last 12 months. www.ruebentaylor.com.au
This is an untapped goldmine for many businesses. Think of all the customers you have dealt with over the past few years – how many are still dealing with you? You need to be in regular contact with your customer base or they are not your customer! This could be anything from a newsletter, monthly offer, gift cheque towards purchase, informing them of your full program range, planning future purchases… the key is to stay in touch. For older customers, try reactivating them with an offer to remind them you are still here. So take action today. Remember your actions today will shape your results tomorrow.
Do not get distracted by another activity or go on 'auto-pilot'. This is not the time to multi-task. Ask for payment. If the debtor is insistent they can't pay, try to negotiate a payment plan. Summarize the results of the call before you hang up, to ensure both parties are in agreement on the terms. Keep in mind The person on the other end of the line could be experiencing a fair degree of stress due to the call. Ensure you maintain a professional attitude throughout the call. Be prepared for emotional outbursts and have a strategy for staying calm and keeping the conversation on track. While it probably isn't the most pleasant task, taking decisive action against overdue invoices as soon as possible is the best strategy for recovering your debt. Maintain a confident, professional tone and don't allow the debtor to control the conversation. Be polite and firm and ensure you summarize the call with the debtor before you hang up. If collecting debts is something you'd rather not have to do, give Blitz Credit Management a call. We provide expert service and let you get back to managing your core business. Formed in 2010, Blitz Credit Management has grown rapidly to become one of Australia's leading debt collection agencies. For more information, visit www.blitzcredit.com.au or call Natalie Walker, Managing Director, on (08) 6140 2584.
Dale Carter
Dale Car ter is a web development veteran of 17 years and has been involved in over 1000 web development projects. His dream is to build an affordable and totally integrated, cloud-based, business management sof tware solution that streamlines business operations for hardworking entrepreneurs. His journey can be discovered at gtphub.com
And yes, if a staff member won't use the CRM and you need them to, then maybe you should sack them.
16 OCT – 15 NOV
Read online www.nifnexreview.com.au
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Canning Vale is one of Perth's Largest Suburbs – people often ask me why it is so popular. My usual response is: New & Price. New because there's still a lot of new or near new homes available in Canning Vale. I have found that for say an extra 10 km's out of the city, most people are happy to go to a home that is new to 5-10 years old, as opposed to a 20+ year old house that is probably due for renovation. There are also almost 10,000 homes in Canning Vale, which ensures Canning Vale is usually in the top of the figures for number of houses sold each week for the suburb. Last week for example, 12 houses were sold in Canning Vale. This was in the top 5 for the Southern Suburbs. However, there are 171 houses available on the market in Canning Vale today. I sell a lot of homes in the area – I mainly see first home buyers and investors. Interestingly, there tends to be a lot of people living in Canning Vale that are looking and buying in Canning Vale. People that live and work close by certainly enjoy the suburb. Residential prices in Canning Vale have had good growth in the last 12 months – I would suggest the average home has increased in value by 7.5%, outstripping the CPI that is currently at 2.3%. Canning Vale gets its name from Canning River and those a lot older than me may remember it as North Jandakot. Originally an area of market gardens and dairy farms, it has become a city of two distinct parts – new residential developments and industrial/retail buildings. The Industrial area includes the markets, offices, large storage and distribution centres. Currently, there are over 50 Industrial properties listed on the major real estate websites for sale and over 100 available for lease. The main styles of properties available are – office, office/warehouse combined or industrial warehouse. Investors who are interested in Commercial property certainly look to Canning Vale to provide them with steady returns on their investment and quality tenants that tend in the most part, to make Canning Vale their home base for many years. Transport: The population of Canning Vale are extremely car dependent – approximately 70% of people use cars to get to work & shops. The main public transport is the bus system which links to the train
Peter Taliangis
Peter Taliangis is the owner of Professionals; Ultimate Real Estate Services. Peter can be contacted on 0431 417 345 or peter@professionalsultimate.com.au Peter's aim is to “Using my years of real estate & marketing experience to allow my customers to feel the joy of realising their property dreams.”. Ask Peter about his generous referral scheme!
station at Murdoch. Canning Vale has a number of good local schools: Caladenia P.S., Canning Vale P.S., Campbell P.S., Canning Vale Catholic P.S., Canning Vale Ed Support Centre, Ranford P.S., Canning Vale College, Carey Baptist College, Excelsior P.S., Saint Emilie's Catholic Primary School; St Jude's Catholic School (Langford) , Sacred Heart Primary School (Thornlie) The major retail shopping areas are the Livingston Market Place Shopping Centre & Waratah Village. Many people also come from outside the suburb to buy fresh from the markets as well. Canning Vale is a great suburb that many people and businesses call home. Consider Canning Vale for your next investment or lifestyle opportunity.
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Read online www.nifnexreview.com.au
16 OCT – 15 NOV
On the 4th October, from 6.30pm to 10pm, at the Mounts Bay Sailing Club, Memoir Connect hosted Curious and Curiouser, an Alice-in-Wonderland inspired charity fashion event, connecting local emerging and established fashion designers to raise support for YMCA Perth's Big Brothers Big Sisters. Guests were treated to an amazing display of fashion and accessories from designers, Petra Vanessie, The Butcher and The Crow, S&S, Evador, Wilai, Samantha Abbott, Ann Le, Estelle Groenewald, Arina Khoo, Audrey Kim, Seth Cray, and A Story Of; wondrous magic from Jon Madd; and beautiful music performed by Nez Erok. Darren Wirth Photography - www.dwirthimages.com
16 OCT – 15 NOV
Read online www.nifnexreview.com.au
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One of the advantages of trading within a
Restaurant receiving services provided by the other members, each
business-to-business exchange (typically
individual member can also be receiving services from all the others.
known as barter trading) combined with
In other words, the collaboration within a business-to-business
cash world trading, is that both can co-exist
trading exchange community is characteristically one of “many-to-
happily together as well as complement
many” collaborative trading.
each other in one’s business activity. Below is a case study as to how collaboration really works in a business-tobusiness trading exchange: La Casetta
Furthermore, the collaboration within the business-to-business trading exchange community also minimizes competition by the fact that members can tap into other members’ services using the common denomination of their trade dollars with each other.
Restaurant (an Italian Restaurant) invites BBX members to dine at the restaurant over the non-peak periods of opening hours, thus optimising additional/new sales opportunities generated from the BBX community of trading partners (members). With revenue derived from these BBX members patronising the restaurant, they are now able to use the services of Nifnex (for advertising), Social Ekho (for social media marketing), Business Breakthrough (for Mobile Apps), Chatsfield Premium Wines (for wine supplies), Bob Litchfield Photography (for product and commercial photography), MBE Perth CBD (for their brochures, flyers and printing needs), Buildsmart (for renovation and building maintenance) and GW Capital Group (for accounting services). With the collaboration of all the parties illustrated in the diagram above, one can also easily see that besides La Casetta
Pauline Song Pauline Song is the CEO of BBX Central Perth, a Franchisee of BBX in WA. Harvesting from an eminent meltdown of world monetary system and the unstoppable evolution of technology for online transactions, Pauline Song envisions a strong return and emergence of both localized and global multilateral bartering as an effective strategy to combat trading deficits and propel economic activities. Be part of the B2B collaboration and receive Interest Free Credit Line of up to T$50,000 for Nifnex readers. Visit www.bbxcentralperth.com/nifnex