Smarter Business Ideas

How to fight back when operating costs rise

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:46:42

When operating costs start to rise, increasing your revenue stream becomes even more important. Here’s what I learned from the guy who mows my lawn about upselling to potentially double your income opportunities.

6 must-know tips and tricks for the HTC One

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:16:21

The HTC One is a great smartphone that pairs excellent hardware design with some serious horsepower under the hood.

2013 Telstra VIC Business Awards finalists announced

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:23:14

A surf tour company, a party supplies business and a fundraising social network, are among the cream of the crop of this year's Telstra VIC Business Awards. Get to know the finalists and their stories here.

Get more customers by being kid-friendly

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:04:06

Quality products and services will always be the quickest way to win your customers’ hearts, but catering to the little people in their lives can be a simple way to give your business added appeal.

What to do when the clones attack

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:57:43

3 ways to handle competitors, copycats and rivals.

2013 Telstra ACT Business Awards finalists announced

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:32:30

A specialist training firm, a fruit and vegetable market and a video production company, get to know the finalists of the Telstra ACT Business Awards.

2013 Telstra Tasmanian Business Awards finalists announced

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:29:57

Tourism operators and food producers lead the way in Tassie. Here’s the first of the state and territory finalist announcements.

Top 5 Apple announcements at WWDC

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:44:17

Landing today and coming soon, the latest Apple innovations and updates as announced at the WWDC 2013 Keynote presentation: A new operating system, software upgrades, music streaming service and more.

Dams, dogs and crocs: The Blue Wheelers’ Overland Office diary

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:09:18

Our pair of Peaches and their big blue van continue their journey, leaving Katherine and making a stopover in crocodile country before continuing on to the bright lights of Darwin.

New partnership aims to grow Indigenous business

Fri, 7 Jun 2013 14:15:27

Launch of a new scholarship means big business for Indigenous business owners and communities.

6 time-saving tips & tricks for the Samsung Galaxy S4

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 09:56:35

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is one of the hottest new smartphones on the market. The phone comes with a huge number of software features, some of which are much more useful than others. Krishan Sharma shows you some of its best tricks.

5 ways to take the pain out of business travel

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 12:43:58

We asked frequent flyer Dr. Tony Gherardin, National Medical Advisor of the Travel Doctor TMVC Group, for his tips on coping with the long haul.

Dell merges goods deeds with good business sense

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 15:36:03

New campaign aims to educate and support one million female entrepreneurs by 2015.

YouTube: Do you need it? How to do it right

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 11:15:04

3 great business YouTube channels and what we can learn from them.

The world’s most valuable Australian brands revealed

Fri, 31 May 2013 12:59:36

New report names four Australian business giants as among the highest ranking brands worldwide.

TELSTRA CASE STUDY: Thomas Foods International

Thu, 30 May 2013 10:24:00

Planning for growth with NEC’s SV8100.

Why you should embrace e-commerce

Wed, 29 May 2013 12:05:42

New research shows Australian businesses are quick to recognise online retail business growth opportunities but are still reluctant to enter the market.

How resilient is your business?

Tue, 28 May 2013 09:49:20

If 2012 was the year of business sustainability, Forbes says resilience is the word for 2013. Learn the key attributes of a resilient business plus tips for developing your resiliency plan.

Recycle your old phones, save the planet

Mon, 27 May 2013 16:29:19

World Environment Day is next Tuesday, as it approaches, we get gloved up and ready to recycle.

Twitter hashtags: The good, the bad, the embarrassing

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:04:17

3 examples of what not to do (and 3 ways you can make sure you never do them).

Adelaide's co-working boom

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:40

One of the most affordable cities to set-up business is seeing creative co-working spaces sprout up for its entrepreneurial community.

How safe is your customers’ data?

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:08:51

Marking the middle of National Cyber Security Awareness week, we look at why a customer’s clean digital footprint is essential for your online business.

5 business trends we predict will go full-time

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:19:10

JWT have peered into the future again. Here are the business ideas that are taking off.

What I've learned: Sean Garlick, Garlo’s Pies

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:33:17

Twelve years ago, ex-NRL footballer, Sean Garlick together with his family, kicked-off Garlo's Pies. The pies are now eaten at stadiums around Australia and available to purchase from major supermarkets, but this launch to the big league wasn't without plenty of learning curves. Garlick shares his story.

Smartphone Battle: HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:24:58

Forget the iPhone 5 – it’s old news. The hottest smartphones on the market right now are the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, both of which are packed with all of the latest and greatest mobile technologies on offer.

What's In The 2013 Budget For Small Business?

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:15:16

The 2013 Budget was formally announced by the Government this week, but what does it mean for you? We round up some of the most important SME data in a handy infographic.

Finally, a light in a dark room

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:00:00

Not so long ago, uttering the word 'showrooming' was enough to evoke a shudder of fear and loathing in a room full of retailers. The word raised the image of iphone-toting mercenaries going through stores, picking over the merchandise, running price checks on every item to see where it was cheaper somewhere else, then hot-footing it over to the lowest-price competitor to make the purchase.

How Do I Sell... Australia's Oldest Charity?

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:09:42

How do you make Australia’s oldest charity a subject of hot conversation? Well, partnering with Sydney’s hottest winter festival might help. MIMI NIGHTINGALE investigates what small businesses can learn about marketing from a nationally respected non-for-profit organisation.

Mountains from molehills; how to create a franchise success

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:27:12

Dream of seeing your stores popping up all over the country? MEL HEARSE talks to Daniel Vacic, senior consultant at DC Strategy Australia’s only multidisciplinary franchise consultancy and legal firm, about deciding if your business is right for franchising - and if so, how do you get from go to whoa?

Smarter Weekend Reads

Thu, 9 May 2013 14:21:14

You've been working too hard, and it's pretty much the weekend. Kick back and get some inspiration for the weekend with Smarter's curated collection of business reads from around the web.

Five inspirational mothers in business

Wed, 8 May 2013 09:00:00

Meet five of Australia’s most inspirational mothers in business – they are smart, focused and the thought leaders of today, who are most certainly not ‘working for the man’. As families around the country celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, MIMI NIGHTINGALE explores how and why these inspirational mothers evolve their businesses and dominate the business world – with children.

MYOB's End Of Financial Year Checklist

Tue, 7 May 2013 11:02:31

The end of financial year is not as far away as you think! To get yourselves prepared, MYOB's Tim Reed has these handy tips to stay on top of your books.

5 Small Businesses That Flourish In Any Weather

Mon, 6 May 2013 13:57:01

Australia is currently experiencing its second hottest start to the year on record, with the mercury staying in the twenties way after summer has ended.

Smarter News Friday

Fri, 3 May 2013 15:04:51

DHL increases delivery services to Oz, NAB National Small Business Summit update and more…

The Smartest Business Ideas From Around the Web This Week

Thu, 2 May 2013 13:15:15

Stuck for inspiration on a Thursday? Kick back and take in some of the wackiest and wonderful small business ideas from around the world, curated by yours truly.

Content Marketing 101

Wed, 1 May 2013 09:00:00

Forget the banner ads and leaflets – you can promote your business far more effectively using a technique known as content marketing.

Is Selling Vinyl A Smart Business Idea in 2013?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:57:18

Vinyl. It’s nearly a hundred years old but there’s still a market for it. And that market is on the increase again, with piles of fans lining up outside boutique record stores across the country a few weeks ago to celebrate International Record Store Day. Why do they do it? And why do stores still stock the most ancient recorded medium of the modern world? MIMI NIGHTINGALE takes a spin to find out.

Don't Lose Your Cool; Why You Should Be Like A Swan In The Workplace

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:15:38

Losing your cool in front of staff and customers can have a dramatic impact on your business and should be avoided at all costs. But as PETE GIANNAKIS discovers, we can take some tips from the king of the lake.

Smarter Weekend Reads

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:48:50

You've been working too hard, and it's pretty much the weekend. Kick back and get some inspiration for the weekend with Smarter's curated collection of business reads from around the web.

What's next in social media?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:00:00

Facebook might not be around in the next five years. Are you future-proofing your business for the next wave of social? today we look at Pheed, Medium and Chirpify.

Seven Things You Should Know About BitCoin

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:00:00

Virtual currency BitCoin is generating intense debate regarding its validity, safety and utility - bankers want you to fear it and tech geeks really don't want you to know about it. Here are seven things about BitCoin that all small business owners should know…

The business gospel according to Anthony Robbins

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:06:04

Some may call him a motivational master, others an opportunist. We attended a recent seminar with self-help guru and momumental ego that is Anthony Robbins to see what the hype is about and whether or not there are benefits for your business.

Talk Is Cheap; Why You Should Consider CBT In The Workplace

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:00:00

Got employees driving you up a wall, customers that make you see red, or just a general sense of the workplace blahs? MEL HEARSE talks to author and psychologist Gill Garratt about the benefits of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

What I've Learned; Anthony Kaplan, Serial Beachside Restaurateur

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:40:57

Anthony 'Kappa' Kaplan has opened three successful hybrid small bar eateries in the iconic suburb of Bondi in the last decade. But as he tells Smarter, it hasn't been without its challenges.

Why you shouldn't stop your staff from having a giggle

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:27:41

Laughing and having fun in the workplace can really have a positive effect on the way your staff think, interact and work, says our Smarter Top Blogger winner PETE GIANNAKIS.

How To Get Bigger Without The Growing Pains

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:14:46

Can your small business really grow big (and keep its soul)?Stuart Ridley talks to business owners in the food industry who found it often takes a big deal to grow up.

Why An International Start-Up Chose Australia As Their Home Market

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:38:19

What began as a fascination with the science of behaviour change became an 18-month journey of discovery for two Aussie entrepreneurs, leading them to a prestigious health-focused incubator, based in the US. This week, they officially launch their company, and they’ve chosen home turf as their first market.

Me And My Mentor: Working Out The Next Goal

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:15:37

Personal trainer Simon Anderson is helping entrepreneur Dean Haritos realise his fitness goals, but the advice and support is a two-way street.

24 hours with...Bridget Heinemann, PR Self-Starter

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:14:29

What time do you get to work? How many coffees have you had by 3pm? Welcome to '24 hours', where you'll learn how successful you can be if you listen to classic rock in the workplace and whether the boss cooks their own dinner.

HP Envy Touchsmart 4

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:25:31

The Envy Touchsmart 4 is a standard Ultrabook with the added bonus of a 14-inch touchscreen.