Best Practice for Website Design

Best Practice for Website Design

The importance of a website for a business doesn’t need too much reinforcement. The best ones can be a digital equivalent of an introduction, business card and referral. Using a professional web design company is very important, but what are the practical and tangible things you can do as a business owner to make your website the best it can be?

We’ve got those tips and strategies right here. Let us dive in.

Simple Plus Useful Wins

This might sound like a cliché, but simple is always better when it comes to websites. When we say ‘simple’ here, we don’t mean having just two colours or very little text (though you can use those techniques).

Simple here refers to the answer to the question: ‘How easy is it for a website user to find what they are looking for?’ So, for a restaurant, a person might be most interested in seeing the menu, how to make a reservation and the opening hours.

For a local healthcare provider, a person might be most interested in the clinic staff, their experience, and maybe even whether they look friendly!

Answering the question ‘What are people most likely to be looking for?’ and then answering it is the best way to improve your website.

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Managed Funds Versus Investment Property - Which Is Best For A Business Owner's Retirement Strategy?

Managed Funds Versus Investment Property – Which Is Best For A Business Owner’s Retirement Strategy?

For anyone who owns a business the day will come when they wish to retire and the sooner they make plans for that the better. By plans, we are talking about financial plans and that is why speaking to financial advisors to discuss investment planning should be arranged. Investment planning and creating an investment portfolio is a surefire way of ensuring that when you retire and hand over the reins of your business to someone else, you are financially secure.

Your discussions with your financial advisors will include them explaining to you the many choices you have for investing. Investing planning is not just about how much you are going to invest, but the diversity of those investments, which asset classes you are going to invest in, and which individual investment opportunities you are going to select.

Two of the investment options which are most discussed and compared are property and managed funds. Property investment is investing in either residential or commercial properties or both. Financial benefits accrue from either rental income or the increase in property values, or both. Managed fund investment sees multiple investors pooling resources, and the value of their individual investments, determine what their share of the total return is.

Both property investments and managed funds investments have their pros and cons, which we are sure your financial advisors will discuss with you when you are assessing which investments will ultimately fund your retirement. To give you a heads-up, we have highlighted their main pros and cons below.

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A Guide to Maximizing Cleanliness and Efficiency in Commercial Cleaning

A Guide to Maximizing Cleanliness and Efficiency in Commercial Cleaning

Successful commercial cleaning requires a combination of efficiency and cleanliness. A job well done is one that not only leaves the premises sparkling and free from germs, but also ensures the job is completed in a timely manner.

This blog post is intended to provide a practical guide to maximizing cleanliness and efficiency in office cleaners. Here, readers can find tips on how to plan and execute their cleaning tasks, as well as how to maximize their cleaning products and tools to achieve the best results with the least amount of effort.

The blog post will also provide advice on how to best schedule and manage staff, in order to ensure that the job is completed in a timely manner and with the highest standard of cleanliness. Finally, readers will be given advice on how to use the latest technologies and innovations to get the most out of their commercial cleaning operation.

The goal is to provide readers with the information and advice they need to create a successful and efficient commercial cleaning.

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How To Use Audio Recordings Effectively For Workplace Interviews

How To Use Audio Recordings Effectively For Workplace Interviews

One of the less pleasant matters you may need to deal with if you own or run a business is a complaint about inappropriate behaviour or conduct, and should the matter be deemed extremely serious, you may need to consult with your commercial lawyers. One element of their advice will be that you conduct a workplace investigation including interviewing the person making the claim, the person against whom the claim has been made, and any relevant witnesses.

In the past these kinds of interviews would have included someone taking copious notes, and whilst notetaking is still recommended, modern technology now allows workplace interviews to be recorded on audio equipment. Using audio equipment to record workplace interviews has several advantages over traditional written notetaking. These advantages include:

Seriousness Of The Matter Is Clear To All Interviewees: The fact that an employee knows that what they say when being interviewed is being recorded word for word tells them that this matter is being taken seriously by their employers. Perhaps the fact that police interviews are recorded drives home for them that any statements they make can be replayed and assessed in full.

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10 Reasons Why Using Only Professional Office Removalists Is A No-Brainer

10 Reasons Why Using Only Professional Office Removalists Is A No-Brainer

Of all the options you have relating to your office relocation, there is one that is a no brainer, and that is to use a professional office removalists company to assist you with your move. Anything less than that, such as using cheap amateurs or trying to do it yourself with the help of friends or employees, is leaving you wide open to experiencing a highly stressful and problematic move. If those reasons were not enough to convince you, perhaps the ten that follow will.

Experience: Office removalists undertake this kind of work every day and will have likely come across every issue imaginable. For that reason, they will have extensive experience and can apply that to your office relocation so that it goes as smoothly and as problem-free as you could wish for.

Planning: Presumably, you do not move offices every week and thus you might be somewhat overwhelmed by all that needs to be arranged. Thankfully, a professional removalist company will be on hand to answer any queries and questions you have. They can also provide you with advice and tips on how to best plan for your move.

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3 Critical Fire Safety Actions You Should Take When Your Sprinkler System Is Offline

3 Critical Fire Safety Actions You Should Take When Your Sprinkler System Is Offline

One of the core products that fire protection services companies install and maintain is fire sprinkler systems, and over many years they have undoubtedly saved thousands of lives by helping to extinguish fires before they had a chance to become fatal. As with any equipment or system that is fire-related they require servicing, maintenance, and on occasion, repairs, and when these take place there is usually the need for the fire sprinkler system to be switched off.

Depending on the size of the building, the activities within that building, and the number of people who likely to be inside it, switching off a fire sprinkler system is something that should not simply be the case of pressing the off button. Given the part that it plays in ensuring fire safety within the building, there needs to be other actions that take place before and during the period any fire sprinkler system is offline.

Below, we have outlined three of these with regards to making sure fire safety is not unduly compromised during the time which your fire sprinkler system will be off. If you are unsure about how to implement any of them then it should be the case that you speak to your fire protection services company who will be more than happy to advise you.

Action #1: Let Professional Fire Protection Experts Take Charge

Although you will always have the ultimate responsibility for fire safety if you are the owner or manager within a location where people work, that does not mean that you have to do everything yourself. In other words, you are still fulfilling your obligations if you delegate any tasks, and what that can mean when it comes to fire sprinklers, is employing experts to ensure its safe turning and off and on again.

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Five Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence After Workplace Bullying

Issues like workplace bullying and discrimination can severely impact your self-confidence and, if not treated, lead to a range of mental illnesses and disorders. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that plagues thousands of Australians, but that doesn’t mean that it’s right.

If you feel like you’re a victim of bullying in the workplace, it’s important to deal with it as soon as you can. Begin by approaching the bully or harasser and talking with them. If they don’t respond, take your concerns to your employer or HR manager. Failing intervention from them, you will need to seek legal aid.

However, your self-confidence can still suffer, even if you get on top of the problems quickly. Because of this, we’ve put together the following list of five ways to boost your self-confidence following workplace bullying.

  1. Seek Emotional Support

Bullying of any type can wreak havoc with your emotions, and it’s important to have support during the difficult times. If you’re a victim of bullying, seeking emotional support can help you overcome problems without sacrificing your long-term health.

For starters, look for people who are being treated similarly in your workplace. By connecting with them, you will find a ready-built support network that you can lean on. Similarly, find a friend or close family member who you can talk through things with. The simple fact of verbalising your concerns can make a huge difference.

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How To Select The Correct Commercial Lawyer For Your Business

How To Select The Correct Commercial Lawyer For Your Business

Regardless of the size of your business, there are going to be a number of elements within it that require you needing legal guidance to ensure that you are operating within the law. This will obviously involve you seeking out the services of an experienced commercial lawyer.

This is something you may have already done, but if you haven’t, given the importance of your commercial lawyer to your business’s welfare, it is crucial that you select the correct one. To help you achieve this here are a few basic guidance as to how you should proceed in order to choose the correct commercial lawyer for your business.

#1 Assess Your Needs

Every business is going to be different in terms of its size, the business sector it is in, and also how likely it might be that it will face any legal challenges. These will need to be considered when choosing a lawyer for your business.

The second thing to consider with regards to your needs is whether you wish to have a general commercial lawyer who is retained on a permanent and ongoing basis, or whether you plan to hire a specialist for each specific legal area. For example, will you need a trademark specialist and a lawyer whose specialisation is contract law, or are you going to pass all your legal work to a single lawyer?

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What Makes a Brand Memorable Ways to Increase Your Brand Power

What Makes a Brand Memorable? Ways to Increase Your Brand Power

If you want to attract new customers, and retain existing ones, a clear way to do it is to have a memorable brand. That applies to almost any industry from professional services to household trades. This can be illustrated in a simple way: a ‘generic’ company that does not have a memorable brand will be known as ‘the accountant’ or ‘that lawyer we used that time.’

In contrast, a company that has a memorable brand will be referred to by its specific name or using a more familiar term showing trust and partnership like ‘my landscaping guy’ or ‘our marketing agency’.

So how do you go from generic to memorable? Here are some of the best ways to do it.

Real World

What do you remember better: a Facebook ad or the last party you went to? Another strategy to be truly memorable is to have ‘real world’ reminders for your customers. For this kind of thing, events are hard to beat. It could be putting together a local Christmas party for residents or businesses or hosting a monthly or quarterly networking meet up. Events plus solid branding can go a long way to making you and your business memorable.

Make sure you have at least one big, noticeable sign with your business name or logo if you have a physical store or office. A clear, well-placed sign helps people find your business easily and makes your brand more visible. Sign installation makes it easier for customers to spot you and remember your name, which can help bring more people through your door.

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Why You Need To Measure The Value of Social Media

Why You Need To Measure The Value of Social Media

There is debate on whether businesses can measure the value of social media. On one side are those who argue that social media is an intangible and while it brings benefits to business, there is just no way to measure them.

I sit firmly on the opposite side of that debate – having worked in online marketing, SEO and all things digital for most of the last 15 years, measuring the results of activity is expected and an inherent part of all marketing activities online. For me, it is natural to look for a way to measure the effectiveness of any activity and to be skeptical about anything that isn’t measured.

It is in this vein that I’ve spoken about the need to measure the value and effectiveness of social media and looked for methods to inform any social media strategies or plans.

A recent presentation at Social Media Women in Sydney outlines these views on Measuring the Value of Social Media in further detail.

As with any online marketing activity, the business objectives should drive the activity and define the goals and measures of effectiveness. Define what success looks like and measure whether social media is contributing to achieving it.

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How Successful Australian Brands Use Facebook

How Successful Australian Brands Use Facebook

In a recent report – How The Largest Australian Organisation Use Social Media – we studied 500 of Australia’s largest organisations. One of our key findings was that Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform when measured by number of followers. The organisations we studied had a total of 4.4 million followers, more than three times the following of Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube combined.

When we looked further into the details of the large following on Facebook we discovered that a very small number of companies account for almost half of these followers, in fact 2% of the companies studied account for 49% of the following.

Our analysis found a number of similarities in the companies with the largest numbers of followers, some specific uses of Facebook were found to be the biggest difference between the companies with the largest following and the remaining organisations. These methods can be used by any business that wants to use Facebook effectively.

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Christmas Email Campaign Tips

Christmas Email Campaign Tips

With Christmas fast approaching, if you haven’t finished planning your upcoming Christmas campaigns, here are some pointers for getting the most out of the next few weeks.

Think about the customer’s context:

While in many circumstances, past behaviour is a good predictor of future behaviour, when it comes to Christmas shopping, consumer behaviour can be less easy to plan for. As email recipients are likely to be looking for gifts, their buying patterns and what is likely to trigger them to react, is likely to be different to what would motivate them to purchase goods for themselves.

In this example, Just Jeans has provided a quick route for shoppers to find gifts based on age, gender and price range, in addition to the usual navigation bar that appears at the top of all their regular emails.

If you have behavioural data from last Christmas season, use this to inform the personalisation if at all possible. In absence of this data, it is a great time to test what will work for your list recipients at this time of year.

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