Federal Budget 2012: Swan and O’Connor Maintain Faith with Small Business Advisory Services

Australia’s peak body for small business says a modest cut to funding for the Small Business Advisory Service (SBAS) in the 2012 Federal Budget should be seen as a diligent and measured decision when viewed in the context of global economic conditions and pressure to make savings on the road to surplus, says Business Enterprise Centres Australia (BECA) chairman Jack Hughes.

Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and Small Business Minister, Brendan O’Connor, have decided to extend the SBAS for another four years, just weeks before it was to end on June 30.

“Everyone who understands small business knows the SBAS is a lifeline, particularly to new businesses, in providing free advice to help small business people make sound decisions as they navigate the challenges of the marketplace and labour market,” said Mr Hughes.

“It is clear the Gillard Government has made a tough decision in the national interest, by ensuring BECs can continue nurturing the small business sector through the SBAS, such a crucial act for ensuring any new recoveries do not stall.

“Admittedly, it will be painful bearing a cut in funding from $40 million over four years down to $27.5 million, but to be frank, with all the pressures on the budget there was a real likelihood of getting zero,” said Mr Hughes.

“The remaining challenge now is ensuring the government can run the tender process quickly enough so that funding is available by July 1 to ensure continuity,” he warned.

“It would be counterproductive if a gap of weeks or months meant the existing network lost funding temporarily and suffered the loss of premises and experienced personnel who are so crucial to SBAS success.

“Business owners, families, clients and the Australian economy, all hope that when the AusIndustry Small Business Team says ‘the first round will be launched in the near future’, that enough time is left for funding to flow by July 1,” he said.

ENDS

CONTACT: Jack Hughes, national chairman, BEC Australia on 0408 837 032 or jack@becnt.com.au

BACKGROUND BEC AUSTRALIA INFORMATION FROM www.becaustralia.org.au

Business Enterprise Centres operate throughout all states and territories in Australia endeavouring to work with and on behalf of the micro and small business sectors.

BEC Australia Charter: -

BEC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation whose primary role is to support and grow the national network of Business Enterprise Centres and provide representation on behalf of its members to key stakeholders.

BEC Australia Vision:-

A nationwide network of Business Enterprise Centres that are recognised as the first and best point of contact for small business operators seeking quality business information, advice and guidance.

1. Supply Good Relevant Content

• Content that is relevant. Not random
• Quantity AND Quality
• Written to a level a 5th or 6th grade child can understand.
• Should be good enough to share (and easy to)
• Should be regular, and up to date.
• Should be right, truthful and accurate.
• Should be well presented and marked up.

2. Optimise for your front page, because more than 50% of clients visiting your website, never click on any sublinks within your domain.

3. Target the best keyword or phrase using Google Keyword Tool: https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

4. Build Good, Reputable Links with other businesses, coming in and going out.

5. Make it Easy for People to Share your Content

• Write “shareable” content
• Use Social Media Honestly
• Have a Conversation
• Consider Google+

6. Use Real (ie Copyable) Text

7. Use Google’s Free Tools

• Google Places for Business http://google.com/placesforbusiness
• Google Analytics
  http://google.com/analytics
• Google Webmaster Tools (inc Rich Snippets)
  http://google.com/webmaster/tools
  http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/richsnippets
• Google Page Speed https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights
• Google “Go Mo”  
  http://www.howtogomo.com
• Google Website Optimiser
  http://google.com/websiteoptimiser
• Google Market Share Data via Hitwise : http://www.experian.com.au/hitwise/data-centre.html

 Section 2. Conversion Rate Optimization

• Understand the Savannah principle (the use of Horizons as a means of familiarity)
• Understand the effect and use of Eyes and People imagery. Direct eye contact   conveys more emotions than words can say.
• Aim for an overall symmetry (not mirror image, but balanced)
• Organise your key content with respect to Foveal view. Organize activity evoking content close to people.
• Don’t make key content look like an ad, or boxed
• Consider the Fold, but remember that people will scroll
• Consider your use of colours and contrast
• Be careful with how you use RED
• Use the concept of “scarcity” to your advantage
• Use “Social Proof” eg Reviews, social network comments, etc.
• Use Data to Convince the HiPPO of your organisation (HiPPO = Highest Paid Person in the Organisation or yourself)
• Always put your objective (contact form?) on the front or all pages

 Other topics covered in the workshop were: SEM = Search Engine Marketing and Analytics

Speaker – Dylan O’Donnell (M.IT, B.IT CSU)
dylan@dnadigital.com.au
www.dnadigital.com.au
1300 798 901

The Darren Flanagan Story

BREAKFAST WITH DARREN FLANAGAN

When - Thursday 3rd of May, 7am – 9am

Where - Lismore Workers Club, Keen St Lismore

Cost - $30 + GST

Register - www.norbec.com.au/pages/events by Tues 1st of May.

The first step to creating winning and profitable relationships

Business is a people game… and the relationships you have with other business owners are a vital, both knowledge-wise and financially. Here are a few tips on how you can capitalize on this at your next Networking Event:

The keyword in all relationships is TRUST!

If you trust that another person will act in your own best interest, you are happy to work with them or recommend them to others. When you network, try to focus on creating trust instead of more customers – this will go a much longer way for you!

Gain trust by serving new contacts before asking for something from them.

Find ways to serve people in a genuine way.

Listening is so important. Ask questions, such as:

     What do you enjoy most about your profession?

     What one thing would you do with your business if you knew you could not fail?

     What significant changes have you seen take place in your profession over the years?

     What have you found is the best way to promote your business?

     What one statement would you like people to use in describing the way you do business?

Goal oriented Networking:

Before you attend the next Networking Event, think about what you want to achieve. All goals below create trust.

     Significant conversation with at least three new people

     Meet speaker and see if you can serve her

     Introduce at least two people to one another

     Strengthen two existing relationship to move them further along the categories outlined above…

Following up: The highest levels of relationships you can build out of networking are those involving teaching and based on trust.

Reconnect by thanking people who have contributed to your success. Be strategic about whom you want to meet and how you want to stay in contact with them.

 Where do you want to be in 12 months time? Or 5 years time? Use the timeframe that works best for you.

 Instead of looking at how to get there from where you are now, work backwards. Look at the overall goal – what is the step immediately before attaining this goal? What is the step before that? Write a list. Continue this process until you’re back to where you are right now. The very first goal should be setting aside time to go through this process.

 Set realistic deadlines

 Take each of these ‘mini goals’ and set a realistic deadline for each. When will you complete it by? When will you follow up (if required)?

 Stay on track

 Write each of these deadlines in your diary. Then write a reminder in your diary one week before each of them. Then write a reminder one month before each of them. Give someone else a copy of your deadline if necessary, someone supportive who will hold you accountable.

 Reward yourself

 Decide which of these goals are ‘milestone’ goals and reward yourself when you’ve made the deadline for them – take a long weekend, or celebrate in a way that rewards your hard work.

Review

 If you miss a deadline, or multiple deadlines, don’t just let it go. Readjust the deadlines and keep on striving to meet them. Look at why you missed them – Were your deadlines too close together? Do you need a better system to remind yourself? Are you making the goals a priority?

If you want to be kept up to date with events and business opportunities, and stay connected with the team here at the BEC, be sure to FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK and FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

1. Reflect & Recognise change

• The market environment is constantly changing and offers new threats as well as new opportunities.

• Look at changes in the business landscape (e.g. internet, changes in your competition) as well as new products and services that address the same customer needs.

• Look for changes within your business and your personal life.

• How will it affect your business and how will you address the threats and opportunities identified above?

2. Learning from experience & consider change

• What has been very successful and why? What hasn’t worked and why?

• You can save a lot of money by determining unprofitable, time consuming and inefficient activities and internal processes. What are they? What can you do differently to be more efficient?

3. Realism and realization

• Planning assists in a view of the future which is supported by facts. Your roadmap may show you hurdles that require the support and assistance of outside sources.

4. Balancing Growth

• By planning for growth you will identify capital needs and be able to ensure that funds are available when you need them.

5. Result $$

• Achieve your goals by making them concise and realistic e.g I will grow “$x” in the” y” part of my business until “z” time.

• Try to review your pathway at least quarterly and monitor your results to do a practical analysis and identify the reasons for variance.

1. Recognising Change

The market environment is constantly changing and offers new opportunities as well as threats. Look at changes in the business landscape (eg. Internet), changes in your competition as well as new products and services that satisfy the same customer needs. Look at changes within your business and your personal life. How will it affect your business and how will you address the opportunities and threats identified above?

2. Learning from experience

What has been very successful and why? The reverse also needs to be addressed. You can save a lot of money by determining unprofitable, time consuming and inefficient activities and internal processes. What can you do differently to be more efficient?

 3. Realism and realization

Planning assists in the prevention of a view of the future which is not supported by facts. Your roadmap will show you hurdles that require the support of outside sources and assistance.

 4. Balancing Growth

By planning for growth you will identify capital needs and be able to ensure that funds are available when you need them.

 5. Result orientation

Achieve your goals by making them concise and realistic. “I will grow x much in the y part of my business until the time z” is a good example. Review your pathway at least quarterly and monitor your results to do a practical analysis and identify the reasons for variance.

 Speak to our BEC advisors about working smarter in your business this year. Book your advisory session by filling in your details in the form on the right.

The old expression “a sale is never made until you’ve collected the cash” is as true today as it ever was.

Here are some ways you might hedge against commonly used reasons for non-payment:

Only extend credit if you need to 
These days, with credit and debit cards readily available, there is much less need to extend credit. So think carefully before you do. 

Faulty Product or Service

• Have a clearly defined and simple warranty program on your invoices and relevant paperwork.
• Clearly state on your invoice and delivery paperwork that the customer must confirm claims to you in writing within a reasonable period (e.g. 7 days)

Timely Invoicing

• Produce and send your invoices as soon as possible, preferably with the goods or services delivered
• Send invoices by email with a read receipt, or by facsimile

Purchase Order Number
Make sure you get this with the order confirmation, don’t send goods or deliver services without it.

Credit Application
Make sure you have a Credit Application form prepared and signed off by your customer prior to trading

• State your trading terms and conditions, including payment period (7, 14, 30 days from date of invoice, not end of month), default provisions e.g. interest rate payable on outstanding accounts in your Credit Application form and invoices/statements
• Talk with your local collection service regarding appropriate wording that the customer is liable for all and any fees and charges associated with retrieval of your money
• State the goods remain your property until final payment is made, and that you have the right to reasonable access to retrieve the goods should they remain unpaid for

 
To seek professional advice on the above before you incorporate these recommendations. For relevant contacts email: accounts@norbec.com.au or phone 02 6622 1933.