This We Know | Australian Business Guide

Settlement Agreements

July 19, 2018July 24, 2018Legal Advice

All good lawyers, specifically good commercial lawyers will tell you it’s a fact most cases settle before they ever come to court. This is both a necessity and the logical outcome of the judicial process. It is a necessity because if every case were to continue through trial and a decision by a jury or judge, the judicial system would quickly be overwhelmed. It’s a logical outcome because the very nature of the legal process is designed to illuminate strengths and weaknesses of each party’s case and give them incentives to settle.

Furthermore, settlement allows parties to exercise more control over the terms of the settlement and have access to remedies that might not be available from a trial court.

But what kind of settlement ought to be achieve? And what type of process should govern settlement negotiations. Here are some tips:

(These 6 tips are based on the Ethical Guidelines for Settlement Negotiations produced by the American Bar Association)

Purpose: The purpose of settlement agreements is to satisfactorily resolve any disputes the client may face. The attorney represents the client both legally and financially and must always be acting in the client’s best interest.

Honesty: A lawyer’s conduct in negotiating a settlement should be characterized by honor and fair dealing.

Communication: Good lawyers must consider and discuss with the client promptly any and all alternatives to resolving the dispute outside of litigation. Without assistance from lawyers, clients often are not aware of potential alternative methods for dispute resolution. A lawyers desire to convince the client of the lawyer’s support for the client’s position ordinarily will not justify delaying efforts to discuss early settlement. As negotiations progress the attorney owes an obligation to constantly communicate the status of the discussions as well as the subject matter of the negotiations to the client.

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How Can An Accountant Save Me Money?

May 19, 2018July 14, 2018Business Advice

When it comes to running a business, forking out the money to hire an accountant can actually save you a lot of money in the long run. Although many small businesses can’t afford to hire someone full-time, even hiring a bookkeeper for just a couple of hours per week can make huge differences.

There are numerous ways that an accountant or bookkeeper can save you money. They can make your business run more efficiently, they will help you minimise your tax bill as much as possible, and they will be able to identify potential problems in your business model before they become major. Some of the main ways that accountants can help you save money include:

Via tax deductions or offsets:

Although you may not realise it, you may be missing out on a lot of potential tax deductions or offsets by doing your tax return on your own. Employing an accountant to both manage your books and complete your tax return can help you minimise these losses.

However, it is important to make sure that you use a seasoned professional who knows what they are doing. Try and find someone with experience relevant to your business, and don’t be afraid to pay a little more for someone who knows the rules inside and out.

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Why Your Business Needs a Commercial Lawyer

April 27, 2018May 29, 2018Legal Advice

Many Australian business entrepreneurs hire lawyers only when a problem crops up. It’s much wiser to seek the services of commercial lawyers as they can identify potential problems before they occur. It’s natural to be extremely busy with financing, loans, hiring staff, marketing etc as you launch your new business. In our minds, these issues often take precedence over legal problems which don’t seem to be of immediate concern. However, the truth of the matter is that smart business planning involves preventing problems before they occur and this includes working with a business lawyer right from the start.

Even if your business is a small one, many legal problems could crop up in the early years and interfere with successful operation. In general, commercial law is complex and so is the language that is used with it. A reliable business lawyer can help you understand your options and select the ones that correspond to your business requirement. Dealing with legal issues can be frustrating, exhausting and demoralising. Your lawyer will be on your side from the time of inception of the business and will help you create partnership agreements in case of multiple owners. Lawyers can also help with drafting employer, contractors and other business agreements. While these may seem like extra work during the early days, the contracts become very important as the business becomes valuable. Even if you are an efficient problem solver, it always pays to forestall legal issues before they turn into problems. Business owners cannot be expected to be familiar with every facet of Australian commercial law.

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Setting Up A WordPress Email Campaign With OptinMonster

March 5, 2018March 20, 2018Marketing

Setting up an email list is one of the most important steps on the road to website success. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realise just how important it is, and therefore fail to do so for a long time after creating their WordPress website.

Current statistics say that over 70% of people who visit your website won’t ever come back unless you can get them to subscribe to your emailing list. Once someone is subscribed to your list there is a fair chance of them returning sometime in the future and who knows – they might even become a regular visitor!

There are a number of very good options when it comes to setting up an email list that is directly linked to your WordPress website. Our favourite is definitely OptinMonster. Although it isn’t free, and can be somewhat difficult to get your head around to begin with, it is an extremely useful tool for all web developers once it is mastered.

What is OptinMonster?

The best thing about OptinMonster is its extreme versatility and the sheer number of features that it offers. Sure, you might have to pay for some of these features, but it will be worth every cent – I promise!

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Who Is Responsible For Fire Safety In Your Workplace?

January 15, 2018July 24, 2018Business Advice

Fire safety is a huge concern in workplaces throughout Australia, especially in the hotter, drier parts of the country. While fire protection equipment like fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems can help protect your workplace, effective fire safety is about more than just installing the right protective gear.

Ultimately, you can have the best fire safety equipment in the world, but if no one knows how to use it, it will be pretty ineffective. It is therefore extremely important to make sure that you understand who is responsible for fire safety in your workplace, and to make sure that they understand what their responsibilities are.

So, Who Is Responsible?

Under Australian occupational health and safety laws, the management of any business or company has the responsibility to make sure that all health and safety risks – such as fire – are minimised. If a fire does occur, there must be someone on site who knows where fire safety equipment is kept, how it is operated and what sort of fire safety gear is appropriate for different types of fires.

However, it is also the responsibility of employees to cooperate with a workplace’s fire management policies and procedures. In a lot of workplaces, these will include some sort of safety induction at the start of a job or when you enter a new workplace. This will often include an identification of where fire safety equipment is kept, and a brief explanation of how it is used. It is your responsibility, as an employee, to make sure that you take note of any safety information provided by your employer.

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Developing Eye-Catching Email Copy

October 15, 2017July 24, 2018Marketing

Email marketing is a major part of any large marketing campaign. It lets you connect directly with anyone who is interested in your business, your products, or what you do. Sending an email is a great way to deliver information directly to a lot of people, especially if you are finding that your website’s visitor numbers are dropping.

If done right, a marketing email sent out to your email audience can have extremely positive effects. The first (and arguably, most important) part of a marketing email is the words themselves. You need to develop email copy which is eye-catching, engaging, and which will encourage the reader to choose your email over all the others in their inbox.

Get the subject line right:

The first thing that anyone sees when they open their email inbox is all of their new messages. Each of these messages is accompanied by a subject line which, ultimately, helps them choose whether or not the email is worth reading.

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7 Ways To Keep Your Social Media Followers Engaged

August 13, 2017July 24, 2018Getting Online, Marketing

There are lots of social media sites with each having different formats, visuals, and means of communicating with followers. To explain how to keep your social media followers engaged on each individual site would be impossible, but here are 7 ways that should cover most of them, especially the most popular ones.

#1 Post Regularly With News and Comments

Failing to do this means your followers will think you are disinterested in them, and they will soon go elsewhere. An active social media presence with updates appearing regularly will have followers checking your pages or profile every time they log in. More importantly it will encourage them to share your posts which can increase your follower numbers significantly.

#2 Mix It Up

On sites which enable you to use content other than text, take advantage of this. Posting videos, graphics, memes and audio are great ways to keep your followers interested in your posts and keen to share them with their friends.

#3 Answer Questions Quickly

This is a very good way of letting your followers see you are active and more importantly interested in helping them. Often a question will be answered by you which could turn a potential customer into an actual one.

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How to Create a More Comfortable Office Environment

June 21, 2017June 22, 2017Business Advice

If you conduct your business from your home or from a small complex that includes an outdoor area, it’s a great idea to provide alfresco furniture for staff to relax on during their coffee or lunch break. Being outside for just five minutes is so refreshing that they will come back to work full of energy, not to mention much healthier for having been in the fresh air and sunshine.

The idea of creating comfort in the office may seem at odds with that of getting staff to work in a brisk, efficient manner. But if employees are uncomfortable at their desks, they will take a lot more breaks simply to ease the aches and pains they feel. In addition, it is much harder to focus 100% on any task if you are feeling physically uncomfortable.

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Where’s Your Office Now?

May 26, 2017May 26, 2017Getting Online

These days luxury yachts are not just about having a great lifestyle of relaxation and pleasure. You’ll see many such yachts are also equipped with an office. That is so the owners can sit in comfort and entertain their guests, while still keeping an eye on their investments and other business dealings when necessary.

Nomad, a luxury yacht designed by Sam Sorgiovanni and built by Australian ship builder Oceanfast is one of the most luxurious yachts you could hope to see and has many wonderful amenities; she also has an office. So the owners can take off for overseas locations at any time without losing track of what’s happening with their business. They can have fun and enjoy their friends in such beautiful surroundings without losing sleep worrying about what’s happening at their business.

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Why Your Website Needs Terms of Use

March 10, 2017August 13, 2017Legal Advice

If you are in the middle of setting up a website to conduct an online business, you may not have thought of the Terms of Use that are needed. Commercial lawyers like Lawyers Perth would tell you that these are needed to protect you as well as to inform users of your website what to expect when using your website. Any visitors to your website become potential customers or clients and so need to have everything made clear to them about what you offer and what they should expect.

Without this important document, you leave yourself open to being sued if the customer finds that your goods are faulty or if the instructions on your website are followed and they don’t get the result they expected. For the best result, the Terms of Use document should really be drafted by a lawyer so that it is specific to your business.

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12 Aspects of Business a Financial Planner Looks at

February 23, 2017August 7, 2017Finance Advice

According to experts Andep, correct financial planning is an essential part of conducting business successfully. If you are considering purchasing a business or starting up one from scratch, having a financial advisor will be a great help and can save you a lot of money. If you are new to business, you might be wondering exactly what role a financial planner would play in your business.

Here are some of the aspects of business a financial expert would look at to help you: –

Income protection
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How to Make the Most of Your Business Prospects

January 16, 2017April 18, 2017Marketing

Many people start off with high hopes of climbing the corporate ladder only to find as the years go by they didn’t get as far as they expected. There could be many reasons for this and appearance is one of them. You might think that there is no need to worry about your appearance when you have great business skills, but when you have wrinkles that age you prematurely it does matter. Some women even choose to have Botox treatment in order to remain looking younger.

The trouble is that most companies tend to look for younger employees who can be trained and stay with them for many years. This saves them the cost of constantly training new staff. They also want to present the image of a company with a workforce that is young enough to be up with all the latest technology. If, in your work you have to deal with the public a lot, looking older may work against you.

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Dividing Finances Equitably After Divorce

December 15, 2016December 8, 2017Legal Advice

Before you can get a divorce you need to have been separated for 12 months. Family lawyers will tell you that this does not have to be in different accommodation; you can be separated while still living in the same home if moving would cause financial difficulties. However, one way to prove to the court that you are separated is to have separate bank accounts.

So on the day you separate, you should set up an account in a bank or other financial institution in your name only. Even if you have no money, you can often simply set up the account with a zero deposit or a low deposit of one dollar. After that, if you are on a government pension or benefit, you can to go to Centrelink and have them pay the money into your new account.

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Content Strategies To Boost Your Site’s Ranking

September 19, 2016July 24, 2018Getting Online

None of these are “sneaky” in the sense of being gray-hat SEO or even immoral – they’re perfectly square strategies to become recognized as an expert on your topic. But they’re all strategies beyond “blog and hope” and link-mining, too. Consider what each of these content ideas can do for your ranking:

Interview a famous expert in your field – can’t get the Google Juice away from your competitor? Why not invite them to speak on your dime? Do a podcast interview with a leading expert in the field of your site’s focus. Many experts in small fields seek greater publicity, and there’s nothing like an interview invitation to boost somebody’s ego. Now Famous Competitor is linked to your site inextricably!

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eBooks and iRecords – Director’s Duties in the Cloud

April 14, 2016December 15, 2016Legal Advice

Cloud storage, cloud accounting packages and similar applications for communication and recording of information have changed the face of business forever. Before you run off to your lawyers in a panic, please read some of the following information.

While these advances have been beneficial to company directors who can discharge their duties at greater speed and from almost any location, we should pause for thought about whether or not these advances can potentially place directors in breach of their duties to the company.

Financial Information

Good commercial lawyers in Perth can explain and advise on Section 286 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“Corporations Act”) requires the company to maintain records of financial information that accurately reflect the financial position of the company. The records can be kept electronically on the proviso that the electronic records can be converted into paper records within a reasonable time after a request is made (s288).

Pursuant to s289 the company can decide where to keep its financial records, however if they are kept outside of Australia the company is required to keep sufficient information to allow preparation of accurate financial information inside Australia; and notify ASIC of the place where the records are kept.

The cloud implications of this are clearly the location of the records. More often than not, the cloud server on which your data is stored will be located in a low-cost jurisdiction, generally not inside Australia. Financial information, pursuant as defined in s9 Corporations Act includes all source documents, statements, entries and adjustments in books of account.

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How Web Design Techniques Affect Search Engine Rankings?

December 15, 2015July 24, 2018Getting Online, Marketing

Captivating web designs always have a competitive edge over any other website design. It is essential for a website to be listed high in search engine rankings so that it can be easily found by the searchers.

Higher the ranks, easy the search

A nicely built website designed by web design professionals entwined with artistic designs and precise yet detailed information is the one desired for exploration. Imagine, who would want to mark his presence on a website that has incomplete information and a dull composition? The searchers need a reason to visit the website. Each website must have certain design structures in order to rank high in a SEO campaign.

Let us have a look on few of the web designing tips required to accelerate the search engine rank through search engine optimisation.

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Importance Of Online Presence For Your Brand

December 8, 2015September 19, 2016Getting Online, Starting Out

The traditional means of marketing have become quite dull to grab audiences’ attention. Digital marketing methods on the other hand are very impressive in bringing the audience close to any brand. Therefore, every brand that is part of the online world needs to ensure that they have maintained an appealing image in the eyes of the audience. Without a solid and easily recognizable online image, brands will be unable to attract customers and succeed.

Greater Business Opportunities

The world of internet is overflowing with opportunities for businesses to grow. A brand can easily reach out to its target audience through online platforms and even interact with their customers to build good relationships as part of its overall online reputation management. These opportunities cannot be utilized by traditional means, which is the reason a sound online presence is important for every brand.

Furthermore, due to the popularity of internet, consumers now prefer researching about a company online then go out and make the purchase immediately. If someone is looking for a good dine in place, they will first look for restaurants online. This provides business a great chance to entice customers with their appealing online image. Similarly, bad reviews on your brand can really mean losing business.

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How to Reduce Overhead Costs of eCommerce Business?

October 29, 2015September 18, 2017eCommerce

eCommerce is one of the best and most effective ways to earn windfall returns on investment. The online platform offers the perfect tool to attract great number of qualified leads. The digital arena is full of online marketing tools that can be harnessed to generate large number of online leads. Social media advertising, search engine optimization, online forums, press release sites, and business directories are just some of the few online tools that can be used to funnel maximum number of visitors to the site.

One of the greatest benefits of starting up an ecommerce store in Australia is that it does not require investing large amount of capital. With just a few hundred dollars, individuals can set-up an online store offering goods and services to the consumers. Moreover, the overhead costs are little as compared to running a brick-and-mortar physical store. And the best part is that there are various ways that entrepreneurs can cut online eCommerce costs thereby boosting online revenues.

Below we have listed 5 effective measures that eCommerce businesses can implement to cut overhead costs.

1. Streamline Supply Chain Distribution Process

Streamlining supply chain and distribution process is one of the best ways to cut online costs. Incorporating supply chain management measures such Just in Time Inventory (stocking just the required products), integrated supply chain methods, vendor managed inventory are some of the ways online companies can streamline their supply chain process and earn above average return on investment.

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The Fundamentals of Trademark Law

October 18, 2015October 21, 2015Starting Out

Customers Puzzled by Business Names:

“Trademark”- in simple terms, a brand indicator that lets customers know the basis of a good or bad service. Thus, a central role of concern in trademark lawsuit cases is played by the fact whether a customer is puzzled by the origin of a product or service.

The court came out with 7 factors in order to find out if customers were puzzled (or were expected to be puzzled) by the businesses’ names. The court carried out a balancing test to conclude if score was in support or in opposition to consumer confusion.

The 7 factors that they weighed which you might wish to think about when naming your business:

The Mark Strength

A mark is a business’s trademark (the name word, design or symbol that classifies the business, product or service) in trademark law. Marks could range from quite low and weak to very strong: generic, descriptive, suggestive and arbitrary. The more the mark is strong, the higher the protection it gets under trademark law.

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3 Common Challenges Faced by eCommerce Start-ups in Australia

October 18, 2015January 21, 2016eCommerce

With estimated online sales totalling $40.83 billion for the year 2014 and more projected in 2015, the eCommerce industry in Australia is becoming more attractive each passing year. Online businesses have revolutionized the way retail sales are conducted in Australia. And it is projected that online sales will continue to grow in popularity in the coming years presenting significant opportunity for eCommerce businesses.

Online selling can be conducted 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This presents a great opportunity for online businesses to earn windfall returns on investment. Thanks to the ease of setting up a business online, budding entrepreneurs can easily create a start-up business without investing huge amount of money. However, there are certain challenges and roadblocks that business owners have to face when setting up an online business. Here we will take a look at three main challenges faced by fledgling online businesses and the tactics that can be employed to overcome them without much difficulty.

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Electronic Signatures, How Valid Are They?

October 14, 2015October 23, 2015Legal Advice

There is no escaping the rapid advance of technology. People are interacting in ways that would have been completely alien to businesses and their employees just decades ago. Keeping in step with technological innovation, people are always seeking easier and faster ways to carry out their business. Doing business with people all over the country leaves little room for physical documents, or the signatures that are commonly used on them.

The electronic signature is commonplace now, but there is still concern about just how valid they are. Would they be legally binding in court, for example? According the the law in Australia, electronic signatures are in fact considered valid for signing agreements. Trouble arises when it becomes difficult to identify who actually signed a contract, or whether they were aware of the implications of signing. There are special tools that can identify the parties, and these can help to reduce the risk of a signature being declared invalid in court.

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Ecommerce Business Trends in Australia – What the Industry Has To Say

October 10, 2015October 28, 2015eCommerce

The ecommerce industry says that the amount people spend online is heading in just one direction and that is upwards. If you own an ecommerce business in Australia, it is time to ask yourself if your business is going the way you had planned. If it isn’t, then it means that you are not following the top ecommerce business trends in Australia.

The fact is that the retail industry has gone through several changes, and is on the verge of a new ecommerce era. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the net income from internet sales between 2011 and 2012 was approximately $237 billion, which is a big achievement. As an increasing number of people are choosing online retail stores to shop for their goods, competition between various players in the industry continues to grow. Therefore, your best shot is to follow the latest trends and lead the market.

Here’s a list of the latest ecommerce business trends to follow in Australia, based on the behaviours of the ecommerce customers in the country.

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Why You Should List Your Business on Local Search Directories

October 9, 2015September 11, 2017Getting Online, Starting Out

In online marketing, the greater the visibility of your business is, the greater the chances of conversions will be. As of today, nearly every business wants to leverage on getting qualified leads more quickly and efficiently than their competitors. Other than online marketing campaigns and advertisements, business listings on local search directories is an effective way to get more exposure, and affordable too.

In fact, Bright Local states that 31% of SEM activities are focused on building local SEO strategies. Despite that, some businesses may fail to understand the ability of local search directories, even through 8 out of 10 people would look up in those places when finding products and especially services such as electricians and plumbers. If you’re still not sure about local search directories, here are five reasons why you should list your business today!

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Things You Need to do to Qualify for a Business Loan

October 7, 2015October 21, 2015Starting Out

Applying for a business loan is Australia requires you to follow a standard set of guidelines as issued by the local government. One of the preliminary requirements for a business loan is to have a detailed business plan and contingency plan prepared that informs the potential lender(s) about your venture.

While a contingency plan is not really necessary like the business plan, it can help increase your chances of being awarded a business loan. Let’s take a look at some of the things you need to consider in order to qualify for a business loan in Australia.

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The Significance of Getting your Business Online

September 23, 2015September 19, 2016Getting Online

It’s a prerequisite that any start up or established business today must have an online presence, regardless of whether it’s an active one or just for referrals. In fact, one of the key drivers of success for an Australian business today is having an engaging and reliable online presence.

While tracking ROI on online investment can be difficult, there is no denying that a good online marketing and branding strategy can turn around the fortunes of your business. If you’re still thinking about whether or not you should take your business online, consider these factors that will change your mind!

Virtually Limitless Marketing Opportunities

Just think about this for a moment – almost 90% of the population in Australia has access to the Internet, which means there are more than 21 million Internet users in the country. However, only 52% of the people use it for business and work purposes. In other words, there’s a huge market and potential for your business on the Internet that you are wasting by not going online.

Getting your business online enables potential customers to know more about what you offer, something which they didn’t have access to, with traditional marketing strategies. Online marketing gives your business the opportunity to reach out to a large number of customers that would otherwise spend their money on your competitors.

For instance, if you are opening a new sushi bar in Melbourne, you will be able to get more customers by creating an online presence and through marketing, than with traditional flyers, brochures, and newspaper advertisements. While we are not asking you to give up on traditional marketing because human interaction can never be replaced, online marketing helps you do much more for less!

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How to Setup Your Online Ecommerce Business

September 15, 2015July 24, 2018eCommerce

Do you plan to set up your very own ecommerce business? Have you planned out each detail and see great potential in your new enterprise for business success? Then what are you waiting for? Get started!

But before you set out to begin your business, make sure you know the steps to setup an ecommerce business and run it successfully in the industry without any problems.

To get started in ecommerce, you need to be aware of all the details and trends in the industry. Know the dynamics which govern the market and be aware of what you can do to make the conditions beneficial for you.

Be mindful of the following things before you setup your online business.

Know About the Work Involved In Your Online Business

To start an online store, you will need to have a clear idea of the competition in the industry, the prevalent trends and the essential factors needed to initiate a successful start-up.

Make sure that you know how to manage needs of online customers and their orders, and have a team to constantly update and add new content on the online store site. Employ the best people for managing the different marketing and social media channels and give your business the exposure and boost it deserves in the initial phase.

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Marketing with style through WordPress

September 2, 2015July 24, 2018Marketing

WordPress acts as a catalyst to promote businesses, big or small, digitally. In this global world, people opt for products that are more popular and trending. Therefore, to increase the views on your business content you must make the presentation alluring.

WordPress is not only used as a blogging website or plugin, but it also facilitates in marketing your products in which you can use features such as themes that goes with the industry you are doing business in. Themes give your product a more professional outlook and are custom-built which has necessary features essential to run a business online. These themes consist of functional designs and unique varieties that you can choose from.

There are two types of themes that can be used on WordPress:

Paid themes
Free themes

You can choose from thousands of themes from a WordPress Themes List or you can invest in premium (paid) themes. Premium themes offer support and are dependable and that’s the advantage of paying for it. Some of the paid themes offer you the preference of customizing the design and page layout.

Following are some of the themes you could utilize while using WordPress:

Sparkling

This theme adds classiness to you website and is absolutely free. Bootstrap technology is used to create this contemporary and even theme. It is also consists of a number of amazing features which are available in the paid themes of WordPress. It appears exceptional on smartphones because of its sharp design and flowing arrangement. The full-screen glider feature brings attention to the images present on the website. The plug-ins it supports includes: Contact Form 7, Gravity Forms, W3 Total Cache, and many others.

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Listing Your Business Online

August 18, 2015September 19, 2016Getting Online

Yellow Pages are no longer the primary directory for businesses. In fact, in only five years, Yellow Pages have declined by more than 50% in use. More people today prefer online directories when they are looking up for businesses. If your business is based in Australia and has yet to be listed on online directories, here are the top 10 places your business needs to have an online presence on!

Google

We’ll start off with the most obvious inclusion since more than 6 billion searches are carried out on Google. Getting a business listing on Google is free, and with a great online marketing strategy, there is no telling how great Google can be for your business. Google works cohesively with other Google products to help you dominate your geographic market.

Bing

Bing is a search engine by Microsoft that lets you add multiple locations for your business easily. You can upload photos, videos, and other business content on Bing listings and can also increase geospatial marketing prospects. It’s the second most active search engine so there is reason why you should list your business on Bing.

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What You Will Need to Start Up Your Entrepreneurial Project

August 12, 2015October 23, 2015Starting Out

An entrepreneur seeking to make it big in the industry needs to know that there are some things that he needs to keep in mind before he makes an entry into the industry. There is a lot to see, do and organize, before you can actually think of taking a step forward and setting up your own company in the competitive Australian market.

As a young, energetic and ambitious entrepreneur, there are some important things you need to keep in mind before you start your own venture. Following is a list of some important things you will need and have to do, to have a successful entrepreneurial start-up.

A Concrete and Thorough Business Plan

The first thing that you will need is a thorough business plan which has all the details of how you aim to run the company operations, secure the finances and design a plan for future growth. Remember, a well constructed business plan is the first step in the long line of processes which are necessary for a successful business enterprise. Without a good business plan, you can say goodbye to all your dreams of setting up a new venture, and getting any investment from financial experts or institutions. Writing a good business plan

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Online Marketing Trends

August 2, 2015October 23, 2015Marketing

3 Online Marketing Trends Dominating 2015

Online businesses achieve commercial success in leaps and bounds for a reason in this era. Since information is literally available at our fingertips through smart devices and cloud technology, consumers are way more informed and practice caution when it comes to making purchases. So, it stands to reason that today’s marketing tactics must be tweaked accordingly as well. The following are some of the major online marketing trends that have taken 2015 by storm.

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Misleading Product Promotion

July 18, 2015July 24, 2018Legal Advice

Misleading Product Promotion Leads Federal Court to Order Significant Fines

According to www.lawyerslist.com.au it pays for businesses to get advice from lawyers and be careful with the way they promote their goods and services. In the case of ACCC versus Reebok Australia in 2015, the Federal Court gave Reebok Australia a fine of $350,000. They were found as having falsely advertised their footwear in Australia. In addition to these fines, there were also restraining orders issued, an order to correct the advertising, and $45,000 in legal costs. This was paid to the ACCC. Of particular interest is the fact that Reebok’s parent company, Reebok International, had already been dealt with for similar conduct in the United States.

The Federal Trade Commission, which fills a similar role to the ACCC in Australia, investigated the issue of false advertising and dealt with it accordingly. Reebok Australia was fully aware of the problem with false advertising, but did nothing to bring the practice to a stop, as far as the Federal Court viewed the matter.

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Steps To Set Up Your New Business

July 12, 2015September 26, 2015Starting Out

So, are you thinking of setting up your own business in the market? Have you planned out all the details and are ready to make an impact by making your entrepreneurial debut in the field of your choice?

No matter which segment of the industry you plan to enter, there are some very important steps you need to follow if you want your business enterprise to be legal and not have to face any problems in the future.

So, what are these critical steps you need to follow on all accounts in order to setup a successful business in the land of opportunity, Australia? Here they are detailed below. Make sure you don’t miss out on any one of them.

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Top 4 Benefits of Using Linux Website Hosting

July 2, 2015September 18, 2017Getting Online

Affordable and reliable web hosting services may be hard to find, but every web hosting service worth his salt knows that Linux and Windows are staples. However, it is the former that has the bigger piece of the pie when it comes to satisfying the needs of online entrepreneurs and publishers. Here are some of the top reasons why it is favoured:

Easy Modification and Experienced Developers

Since Linux is an open source platform, programmers can easily teak, distribute and improve it through different stages of development. Plus, the industry is filled with quite experienced developers who are constantly working to improve its functionality and fix issues as they crop up. Since they are not part of a corporate culture per se, most Linux developers are extremely disciplined, experienced and motivated. In other words, when you opt for a webhosting service that offers Linux, you can rest assured your website is in good hands. Continue reading “Top 4 Benefits of Using Linux Website Hosting”

Top 5 Tricks to Reduce Web Page Load Times

June 21, 2015September 19, 2016Getting Online

Fast loading websites hook users. On the other hand, slow websites repel visitors. Hence, to grab your webpage visitors, reducing webpage loading time is a must! Moreover, websites that load quickly are also ranked better on the search engines.

Here are 5 ways you can lessen web page loading time:

Existing Website Speed Analysis

To decrease your webpage loading time the first prior step is to check the current time taken by your webpage to load. After you find out the loading time of your website, you will be able to estimate the improvement is required. You will also know whether the tricks applied are working to lessen your web page loading time.

Three free tools that can be used to analyse web page loading time are-Pingdom, Web Page Test and Page Speed.

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Court Fees Deter Average Australians from Seeking Litigation

April 20, 2015October 23, 2015Legal Advice

Australian citizens often do not appreciate having access to a fair legal system. Being able to have a hearing is something that should be available to everyone. However, the costs associated with legal trials is often a deterrent to people who do not earn high incomes. Steep increases in litigation costs are one factor that is making it harder for “average” Australians to seek their own justice. And then there are the alternatives for dispute resolution, which seemingly work to encourage people to forgo litigation.

A problem arises because there is a risk that people who have enough money, including government bodies and large corporations, have access to litigation. If they cannot use mediation to get what they want, this is a viable option for these groups. On the other hand, people without the monetary means are left accepting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) decisions. Even when your average person wants to pursue a matter with litigation, they often just do not have the money to do so.

It does save a lot of time and money, when people are encouraged to seek mediation to solve their disputes. It can also save people the hassle of entering a courtroom, and dealing with a full-blown trial. Using the high costs as a way to drive people toward ADR could be creating a two-class system in regards to the law. Read more on Alternative dispute resolution

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Do You Think Your Lawyer Has Overcharged You?

April 19, 2015December 8, 2017Legal Advice

While the majority of workers in the legal industry will deal with clients in an ethical manner, there are those who might take advantage of their clients. The average person relies heavily on the expertise and skill of their lawyers, to make sure that they do not wind up in serious legal trouble. They also depend on their lawyers to disclose costs, and deal with them fairly regarding fees. Since the costs for legal matters can become exceedingly high, there are laws in place to protect clients.

These laws are intended to allow sanctions against any lawyers who charge overly high fees. Costs are also able to be reviewed by independent bodies. Under some circumstances, agreements regarding costs can even be set aside.

Overview of Costs Disclosure Requirements

When starting a professional relationship with a legal representative, it is best to get the retainer in writing. This serves as the work contract, but it is not a prerequisite. However, ensuring that you do get it in writing is a smart idea. This will allow future costs to be compared to what the lawyers claimed they would be in the beginning.

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The Important SEO Tips for Small Businesses in Australia

February 23, 2015July 24, 2018Getting Online, Marketing

Do you want to improve your business visibility online? Ever wondered why everyone prompts you to improve your SEO marketing techniques? It is because this technique is the foolproof way for you to tap into an ever wider customer market, knowing no geographical boundaries or limits.

Search engine optimisation techniques are the magic formula which let you attract, draw in and ensure customer conversions, and make a success of your business in a unique way. As the popularity and impact of SEO techniques are gaining momentum and fame, it is fast becoming the foolproof way to reach out to and penetrate a large potential market, and enjoy business and success for your company.

To compete in a highly aggressive Australian market, it is essential that you play all your cards right. Remember, even if your business has a good website and a social presence, but lacks the search engine optimization techniques to boost its business, then you will have no chance to gain any visibility in the market.

Want to know great tips on how to build up, develop and improve on your search engine optimisation techniques? Then read on…

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Have a Unique Product, Want to Sell Online?

February 22, 2015October 15, 2017eCommerce, Getting Online

Have a Unique Product, Want to Sell Online? Are Your Prepared?

Congratulations!!! After months of rattling your mind you have decided on a lucrative online business opportunity and have accumulated capital to launch it. However, without a professional digital agency, starting an online business would not be easy as it appears, there are roadblocks before you can achieve a break-even in terms of profit. So, here is a 5-step checklist to guide and steer you toward success.

Did You Actually Get a Feedback on Your Product Before Launching?

If you thought your family and friends found your business idea or product highly useful, think again! Feedback obtained from people who are emotionally close to you would appreciate every business idea that emerges from your mind. Seeking a nod from them is a disaster for your launch. To validate if your product/service is unique and sell-able, you must conduct a market survey. Connect with potential customers on the social networks such as Twitter, What’s App, Pinterest, Google+, and FaceBook to gauge their interest in your product or use customer insight survey tools, such as Client Heartbeat and Qualaroo.

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Australian Man Files 50 Lawsuits, Prohibited from Filing More

February 20, 2015January 21, 2016Legal Advice

The average person might only file a handful of lawsuits in their lifetime. Many will never file a single one. Over a period of 10 years, an Australian man filed an astounding 50 lawsuits. The result is that he is now somewhat prohibited from filing any more. The man’s name is Mr Rahman, a science teacher who is a resident in Sydney. Justice Michael Adams made the ruling, stating that the man had been using using the legal system to “harass” and “annoy” people, among other things. He is only the 12th person to be put on the register for vexatious litigation.

While Mr Rahman is still allowed to start a litigation proceeding, he must get permission from the courts first. And since he has proven himself to be such a nuisance in their eyes, that is not expected to be forthcoming. Some of his offences include attempting to re-litigate matters where a decision had already been made. In addition to that, he also sued his very own legal representatives. The result of that lawsuit was that Mr Rahman was ordered to pay them more than he had already owed.

Rahman has spent more than $500,000 in the process of filing all of these lawsuits. He is also said to be in danger of losing two houses that he owns. However, even after being placed on Sydney’s vexatious litigant register, he is still not giving up his fight. He claims that the ruling is a “crime against humanity”, and that he will go to the International Criminal Court if necessary.

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Main Issues to Consider In a Commercial Lease in Australia

January 21, 2015January 21, 2016Legal Advice, Starting Out

If you are thinking of setting up a business, then either you have your eye set on a property or are scouring the market for the suitable commercial setup. If you don’t have the finances to buy the property at once, then you must surely be looking through different leasing options on offer. Commercial leasing in Australia for small businesses is quite common, and that is why there are many options available to accommodate the needs of different businesses in the segment.

While commercial leasing is a good option for anyone trying to setup a new business, there are also some important issues and regulations linked with the process. If you want to make sure that there are no legal irregularities, then you need to pay close attention to meeting all the requirements without error.

Some of the important issues related to commercial leasing for small businesses in Australia, include the following,

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Death Caused by Dementia in the Elderly and Testamentary Capacity in Creating Wills

January 20, 2015January 21, 2016Legal Advice

With the number of elderly citizens increasing in Australia, more people are dying as a result dementia, as well as other similar disorders. Since people are continuing to live longer on average, they are also able to build up greater amounts of wealth. This can often lead to some difficult litigation, by people claiming that wills were made by those without the capacity to make proper decisions.

The appropriate court is the only entity with the jurisdiction required to decide on these matters. They will generally use a specific test, which includes the following requirements:

The person making the will needs to understand the legal significance related to creating the will.
They must be at least generally aware of the extent, nature, and value of their assets.
They must understand who might be able to claim their accumulated wealth, as well as why and how such people can make claims.
They must be able to decide the validity of people who make claims for the aforementioned wealth. No “disorder of the mind” should be able to skew their decisions.

In these types of circumstances, it is sometimes too easy for disgruntled beneficiaries to appear, and start litigation to overturn a will. Without proof as to the mental well-being of the deceased, these cases can be particularly trying. Even if your will is upheld in the end, the legal costs might have taken a toll on your intended beneficiaries.

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Leaving a Charitable Gift in Your Will

December 19, 2014January 21, 2016Legal Advice

People often think about those who are closest to them, when making a will. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing that, many Australians are starting to leave money to charities in their wills. When doing so, it is essential that legal requirements are all fulfilled, to ensure that the gift is going to actually get to your charity of choice. Simply writing down the name of a charity that you remember is not a good idea. There are more things to consider.

Things to Consider

When naming a charity in your will, it is important to consider the following:

The charity’s name must be included, or the name of the association.
You must indicate if it is actually a charity, or some other body.
Your charitable bequest needs to be made in the form preferred by the charity, if there is one.
You must find out whether you need to account for any taxes or estate regulations that might be imposed upon your gift.

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