Shifting Domains – The Benefits Of Hosting Your Website In Australia

Web hosting is an essential part of establishing your business website.

It can seem basic enough at first – just choose a provider that is cheap and efficient to get your website up and running. However, the location of the server that hosts your site can actually have a big impact on both your website and your business performance.

Business owners often make the mistake of choosing based entirely on price when a hosting provider located overseas This can either be because they’re lured by cheaper deals or because they’re unaware that the affordable “local” company they have chosen actually houses their servers elsewhere.

When you choose to host your website without considering the finer details, it can cause difficulties for you and your customers from security risks to poor site performance. In contrast, web hosting in Australia provides a number of benefits and ensures a more stable site and stable business.

Here are a number of benefits to choosing to host your website in Australia.

The true cost of hosting overseas.

Most people that choose to host their website in areas outside their own do so because the costs are lower, either because the service is simply cheaper in another country or because of an exchange rate that works in their favor. However, as in most cases, you get what you pay for.

While the price you pay to host your website overseas may be lower than the price of hosting in Australia, the issues that arise with overseas hosting may ultimately cost your business money in upkeep and lost sales.

One example of how hosting overseas can cost you is website speed.

When your website is hosted overseas, every interaction you or your customers have with your website has to be bounced back and forth between Australia and wherever the server is located. This causes your website to take longer to load and will negatively impact user experience. People get impatient with slow loading websites and customers will not hesitate to abandon your site in favor of your competitor’s.

Another way that choosing the cheaper option can end up costing you in the long run is security. Different countries have different standards and laws regarding cyber and data security. Keeping your website and your customers’ data safe is essential, and if it should be compromised, it can do monumental damage to your business.

Hosting your website in Australia may cost a little more, but it’s worth paying for a secure a functional website.

Timezone troubles.

The time difference between where your business is located and where your web hosting provider is located can cause headaches when it comes to website maintenance.

On the most basic level, scheduled maintenance is done over night in order to cause as little disturbance as possible during business hours. If your hosting provider is located in a different timezone, their scheduled maintenance could end up occurring during prime shopping hours for your customers.

Local support for your website is crucial for ensuring that your website remains up and running. Time is money and if your website goes down but you can’t get ahold of support because they’re in a different time zone, you risk losing sales and customers. Support needs to be available during the business hours you’re working and during the peak times that customers are visiting your site.

Choosing the right hosting provider sets a solid foundation for your website. Hosting shouldn’t be something you have to worry about, and choosing a local, Australian provider will give you much needed peace of mind.

When you look into hosting providers, make sure to talk to them and ask where their offices are located and where their servers are located so you ensure you’re getting a truly local service.

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8 Things Small Businesses Should Outsource

by Liam Martin, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Time Doctor

As a small business owner, it can often feel like you have 1,001 things to do in the run of a day, and not nearly enough hours to get everything done. You really don’t need to have this kind of stress. Running a business is stressful enough, and it doesn’t have to get any worse when all you have to do is begin outsourcing a lot of the little jobs that are keeping you from doing the much more important jobs.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at eight things that small business owners should outsource:

1. Social Media Management.

These days, social media plays a huge role in just about any business, so it is important to devote a certain amount of time to it daily. But, it can take quite a while to post things, and you could spend that time doing more important things. Find someone else who can take care of all of your social media management for your business. You won’t have to worry about missing posts, and you will know that all of your social media content is always up to date.

2. Administrative Work.

There always seem to be a million little administrative things to take care of, and you don’t always have enough time to do it all. Hire someone else to worry about these things, so you can concentrate on actually running the business. Tasks that can be assigned to someone else include answering calls, handling emails, scheduling tasks, and even taking care of some of the social media work from time to time when necessary. When you look at the pros and cons of outsourcing, you will see that there are plenty of pros and virtually no cons.

3. Website Maintenance.

You can spend a lot of time on website maintenance. In fact, you could spend several hours daily on it, making sure that everything is always updated. Rather than waste your own time on these details (which are important but not as important as others), it is wise to hire a specialist who can take care of all of your website maintenance, design, etc. You will never have to worry that your site is being neglected, and you won’t have to do all of the work yourself.

4. Photography and Videos.

Not everyone is great at taking photographs and making videos. But, these are both things that every business will need at some point, for marketing and advertising purposes. Again, these are things that are best left with professionals who know what they are doing, and who can create amazing images and videos for your business. Plus, they already have the equipment, so it is one less thing that you will have to pay for. If you do it all yourself, you can expect to shell out thousands for gear.

5. Marketing.

Many business owners think that all of the marketing duties are supposed to fall on them. This is actually not the case at all. As long as you hire someone who specializes in marketing, you have someone who can take on all of this work and free you up for other things. This is great for those who don’t have a lot of marketing expertise, but need to have great marketing campaigns for their businesses.

6. Taxes and Legal Work.

If you aren’t an expert with taxes and legal work, let others do the work for you. When it comes to running a small business, there are all kinds of tax laws you may not be aware of, as well as legalities. It is best to hire professionals who are trained to do this sort of work, especially if it isn’t something you are trained in. Taxes and legal stuff are the last things you want to end up making mistakes with. Leave these things to the professionals.

7. Communications.

One of the most important aspects of any business is communications. Unfortunately, it is also something that small business owners don’t always have time for, and they end up missing out on potential clients because they have drafted a document that doesn’t communicate things properly. It is better to hire a PR specialist who can take care of all communications for you, and do it right so you gain customers and clients rather than losing them because of poor communication.

8. Techie Stuff.

In addition to having someone taking care of your website, it is also a good idea to hire an IT person to handle all of your tech stuff. In the beginning, you might be able to do everything with your laptop or mobile phone. But, as you grow you will find that you need more tech that you don’t really know how to use. An IT professional will actually help you save money in the long run by making sure that you have a good system that works for your business.

 

Liam Martin is the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Time Doctor where he focuses on helping businesses build and scale remote teams concentrating on process design and outsourcing. In his spare time Liam takes speaking engagement on how to become a more productive student throughout universities in Canada and the U.S.

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Key Considerations When Setting Up A Business Which Deals With The Public

Setting up any type of business is challenging, but if you’re planning on working with the public there’s a few additional issues you’ll need to address. Most importantly, you’re going to need to understand the legal requirements involved.

Failing to do adequate research prior to starting your business could lead to serious financial and reputational damage in the future. So, if you want your start-up to be a success, here you’ll discover everything you need to know about the legal aspects associated with businesses working with the public:

Establishing whether you need a license.

Before you open the doors to your business, you’ll need to establish whether or not you need a license. If you work within a business in which your actions could affect the safety of members of public, it’s more likely you will need a license of some sort. Examples include working within hospitality or catering industries.

If you’re in any doubt, it’s worth contacting your local council to find out if a license is required and how to go about obtaining one.

Making sure you’re adequately insured.

Insurance is something every business needs, but there’s a lot of different types available. One of the most important types of insurance you’ll need to invest in when dealing with the public is Public Liability Insurance.

If a member of public is injured on your premises, it could result in legal action. You may be required to pay compensation if you’re found to be at fault. The legal fees and cost of the compensation could amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds depending upon the severity of the incident. Is this something you could afford to pay out? As a start-up business funds are likely limited, so Public Liability Insurance is something you’re definitely going to need.

There’s a lot of different companies offering Public Liability Insurance, so it’s worth comparing your options. All policies are different and some may not be as comprehensive as you think. Therefore, you should always read through the terms and conditions of the policy before making a decision. You should also ensure you’re choosing a company with an outstanding reputation such as Trade Direct Insurance Service Ltd.

Understand your health and safety obligations.

Health and safety should be one of your main priorities when dealing with the public. Whilst your Public Liability Insurance should cover any compensation and damages incurred on your premises, ideally, you’ll want to prevent accidents in the first place.

As an employer, you’ll be responsible for assessing any risk to customers and employees. However, you don’t just need to see what risks may be present – you also need to take adequate preventative measures to avoid them.

If you’re found to have ignored potential safety hazards, even good insurance won’t protect you from having your business potentially closed down.

Other things to consider.

As well as the legal implications of dealing with the public in business, you also need to ensure you’re hiring the right employees.

There’s certain skills your staff will need to have in order to offer the best possible customer experience. Patience, positivity and attentiveness are just some of the skills they’ll need to demonstrate. Customer service has become a vital part of every business so if you want to be successful, you’re going to need to ensure you have a strong, efficient customer service team in place.

Overall, setting up a business which deals with the public does pose numerous risks. It’s vital you do as much research as you can into the legal aspects in order to avoid ending up in potentially serious trouble with the law.

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Business Tips You Can Learn From HP And Facebook

Business is no exact science. What proves successful for your business may not yield the same result for mine. I have come to learn that it’s execution and not the idea itself that renders a business successful. While it is novel to stay true to your core beliefs and course it doesn’t hurt to snoop around and learns a thing or two from other successful entrepreneurs.

When I first started building my company, I had nothing but a dream. At the time my bank account was bare as bones. In fact were it not for payday loans I would have been homeless. One thing that really fuelled my resolve to forge on was reading the success stories of multi-billion-dollar start-ups that started from humble beginnings just like mine. In the end, the lessons I garnered from these well-to-do businesses steered my startup in the right direction.

Keep in mind the tips below are not the exact quotes from the founders. They are my extractions after conducting an in-depth research from when they were young startups till they bloomed to full-fledged businesses. Have a read.

Don’t stress over competition – Facebook.

Do you remember the once IT social platform – Myspace?

Up till 2008, they were the leading social media site.

It’s a fact of life, there will always be competition in your industry be it direct or indirect. Most businesses let the competition dictate their moves ultimately stifling their creativity. If you are forever worried about how much market share your competition and consequently tailoring your efforts to counter theirs, you then miss out on the opportunity to outdo them and ultimately be the leader.

Most of the business books in circulation agree that you need something unique to be a multi-million company. But the harsh truth is, nothing successful remains unique for long- patent or not. So the idea that you cannot compete without something totally patentable or unique is tomfoolery.

However, that’s not to say unique selling points won’t give you an edge up. It only means it’s not a must for the ultimate basis of your business model to be utterly matchless. Had Mark Zuckerberg given up after witnessing how Myspace completely dominated the social media scene, then he wouldn’t be the billionaire we know of today.

Innovate, Innovate, Innovate! – HP.

HP value innovation and that’s why they invest a whopping $3.6 billion in research and development every year. As such a big chunk of their sales is thanks to new products

In other words, if HP failed to constantly innovate and spend a pretty penny on R&D then their business would go to the crapper very easily. HP understood the consumer’s fascination with the latest gadgets and how badly they want to keep abreast with the fast changing times and used it to their advantage. Even if your field is not as fast-changing as that of the tech world, innovation still remains a key ingredient for success and growth of your startup.

Could be you have bought into the “evergreen product phenomenon” that asserts you should focus most of your efforts on products that will forever be in demand, season notwithstanding. Correct me if I’m wrong but every product has a shelf life. Take oil for instance. One can say it’s been the lifeblood of the world Economy yet renewable sources like solar hydro and wind pose a major threat to it.

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Essential Networking Tips For Young Entrepreneurs

Being an entrepreneur today is an exciting concept as you will really be able to push towards making waves if you go about your business venture the right way. Some of the most successful and wealthy individuals have all started as entrepreneurs and have worked hard to achieve the success that they are experiencing today. One of the best forms of advice that any entrepreneur will tend to offer those who are starting up their business is the positive impact of networking and how it can offer personal and business success as a result.

If you are unsure of how to get networking, then we have collected some great tips to allow you to build your confidence and kick-start your career:

Believe in your business.

If you are committed to your business then you will most certainly be on your way to not be taken as naïve and young when it comes to building up a strong contact base. Whether you are looking to sell printed cotton bags or your expertise as a social media expert, having the ability to converse openly and confidently about your area of expertise will really help you to be more successful.

Have a professional portfolio.

A part of networking is being able to allow other people to find you easily and this can be done with the use of a professional portfolio or blog and means that people are able to view your achievements and will entice them to connect to you.

Follow up.

Once you have met with someone and exchange business cards or connected on LinkedIn etc., something that is vital in order to keep the momentum going and ensure that a successful relationship is forged is by following up. Multiple interactions are the key to building successful links.

Use social media.

The power of social media should not be undermined when it comes to becoming a successful entrepreneur. You can just as easily get in touch with people through the likes of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and get conversations flowing. Putting yourself out there in this way will allow you to stay up to date with what people who you look up to are going, which is a great resource in itself.

Go to conferences.

If you find it tricky to know how to make that first step towards networking on a personal level, then you should consider going to networking events and conferences. This will offer the chance to meet many likeminded individuals in one space, which makes it far easier to get to know the people you want to get to know.

Cut those who do not push you.

Simply put, it’s important to hold on and nurture the relationships around that are going to have the greatest impact on you. Rather than holding on to connections that are weighing you down, make a point to cut loose those who are not helping you grow.

Connect the pieces.

Networking and getting to know people is like assembling puzzle pieces, as every connection you make will help to build up a picture of your career. Find ways to bring your connections together and you will be able to combine all of the information you are learning to build one big picture that allows you to flourish.

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4 Reasons Gen Z Will Rule The Tech World By 2020

by Nate Vickery, editor-in-chief of Bizzmarkblog.com

The new generation is coming of age and marketers turn their gaze to the new consumer focus group. Generation Z is making its way into the market and its starting to reshape the tech world with their views and preferences. Generation Z, much like their parents, Generation X, still doesn’t have an appropriate “name” like Millennials or Baby Boomers. But, that doesn’t change the fact that they are making an impact on the world.

Unlike Millennials who were no longer children when technology started to make its progress, Generation Z was born into the technological advancements and innovations. Millennials are still considered the tech-savvy generation that molded the technological improvements, but the young Gen Z has grown with a potential to surpass their predecessors. Nevertheless, Gen Z has started and will continue to reshape the tech world.

Here are a few reasons why Gen Z will change the technology world by 2020:

Social media evolution.

While their parents were struggling to survive the effects of the “Great Recession”, Gen Z grew up on social media and they were molded by the technology. Surprisingly, 42% of Gen Z claims that social media directly influences how they feel about themselves and how they see the world. With such a strong connection to social media, tech marketers will start to focus their campaigns on social networks more than they do now.

Moreover, social networks will evolve in accordance with Gen Z’s preference since they now outnumber Millennials, making them the largest consumer-based focus group. However, Gen Z prefers more personal social media channels such as Snapchat, rather than documenting their lives and activities on Facebook. Social networks will once again have to adapt to the preferences of the new leading generation.

Going mobile.

The generation that focuses on mobile technology such as smartphones, tablets and laptops is definitely Gen Z. In addition, 35.5% of Gen Z spends an average of 6 to 10 hours on their smartphones, while 14 % use their phones for more than 12 hours per day. Also, 13% of Gen Z checks their phones every second. With that in mind, we can expect manufacturers of mobile technology to improve the design, software and hardware of mobile devices and meet the expectations of their newest and largest consumers.

However, it’s not only the devices themselves that might go through a change, but the mobile payment services as well. 63% of Gen Z has trust issues and are concerned with security while making payments using credit or debit cards. On the other hand, only 54% of Gen Z shares those concerns when it comes to mobile payment solutions and apps. Mobile payment methods and apps will become an even bigger trend with the new Gen Z and their consumers.

New age of apps.

Older generations grew up learning how to fix a car or how to build a chair from their parents. Then again, Gen Z grew up learning how to build and design apps. Nowadays, most of the Gen Z has basic IT skills, as well as knowledge about developing mobile applications. However, advanced knowledge is easily available to Gen Z and they always have an opportunity to learn more about software development process or application design. The access to knowledge in combination with their love for mobile devices will produce the new age of apps and mobile features. The app market is going to change with the influx of new designers and developers from Gen Z. Furthermore, Gen Z will surely bring innovations and creative ideas in software and smartphone application development.

The growth of on-demand economy.

Gen Z prefers on-demand online solutions to visiting a retail store and talking to the salesperson face-to-face, for example. Moreover, they prefer products and services that are available right away and in steady supply such as Netflix for entertainment or Uber for transportation.

In fact, 40% of Gen Z is willing to abandon the traditional method of acquiring TV service for online solutions. On-demand economy is rising in popularity with Gen Z and we can expect to see more shared economy platforms in the future. This habit will force businesses to step up their game and develop solutions which will meet the demand for the constant supply of services and products.

Gen Z was born in the age of technology and they will change the tech world as we know it. When the era of Generation Z begins, everyone but them will have to adapt to the new ways of using technology.

 

Nate Vickery is a business technology consultant mostly engaged in management and marketing for SMB and startups. Nate is also the editor-in-chief at a business oriented blog Bizzmarkblog.com.

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7 Tips For Creating Your First Office Space

by Jessica Thiefels, owner of Honest Body Fitness

Wow, your first office — that’s exciting! Now comes the work of buying what you need, setting up the space, and deciding what you need and what you can get away with adding later on.

As you navigate the world of being a business owner with an office space, keep these tips in mind – they’ll help you save money, boost security, prepare for your first few employees and more:

Assess the Cost.

While you’ve likely already done some budget work to determine what you can afford for your monthly rent, you should also consider the price of heating, air and utilities, a cleaning service and your Internet Service Provider.

According to a survey from Priceonomics, the median price of office space among startups is $6,100. Remember, however, that the location can influence the price. While you may have always dreamed of having an office overlooking the water, this type of office space will be much more expensive than one without the ocean or lake view. “You may have to make some compromises here, taking into consideration that you will probably be competing with other employers in the area” according to Lucy Wayment of startups.co. “An ideal situation is to find a central location that’s easy to commute to.”

Determine the Essentials.

Setting up your own space is exciting, you get to call the shots and decide what goes where. As a result, it’s easy to overspend on furniture and office supplies. To avoid spending too much, make a list of the essential items you need. This should include space for employees (desk and chairs), computers, software, printers, a phone system, mailing materials, and basic office supplies like stationery, staplers, etc.

You may want to hang artwork or outfit your office with colorful furniture, but are these really must-have items, right now? You can always add more to boost your office aesthetic, but be smart and start with the essentials.

Check for Deals on Tech.

Technology items like computers, printers and phone systems can be costly. While these are necessary items to run your business, they don’t need to be purchased at full price. If you plan ahead and do your research, you can shop around for deals instead of settling for the first price you see. Here are a few ways to find savings:

• Check online for promo codes and coupons: “Online discounts are most valuable in the technology sector, with larger discounts available the higher the price tag. The best coupon savings can be made on laptops and PC’s; with a small amount of research you can save around 10% on the original price,” advises marco Piu, General Manager of com.

• Wholesale: When buying bulk, wholesale is always a good way to go. You can often get a much better per-unit price that leads to significant cost savings.

• Used: Many computer repair shops and tech store sell used products at a steep discount. There are many online retailers that sell used tech products as well as some major chains, like Amazon and Best Buy. Always double check that the products you want to buy are Certified Pre-Owned to ensure you’re getting a high-quality product.

Choose Your Floor Plan.

The size of your space will influence your floor plan, and the way you setup your office can have a significant impact on how your team performs. First, remember to determine your floor plan before you buy furniture so you will know exactly what you need. Fit Small Business suggests three different floor plan types:

• An Open Plan makes the most of space, but at the expense of privacy and personal storage.

• A Closed Plan offers more personal space, but is less collaborative and won’t fit as many seats.

• A Modular Workstation Plan (or Cluster Workstation) is a compromise between these two setups. With desks grouped in small clusters, employees get more privacy, yet can still collaborate amongst their group.

Don’t Pinch Pennies for IT.

While most of these tips have been about saving money, one place where you don’t want to cut corners is with your Internet and IT services. You need a safe, secure network to run your business and interact with clients and customers and you need to protect your customers’ information as well.

“Smaller companies are attractive because they tend to have weaker online security,” according to John Brandon from Inc. “They’re also doing more business than ever online via cloud services that don’t use strong encryption technology. To a hacker, that translates into reams of sensitive data behind a door with an easy lock to pick.”

Take the guesswork out and hire an IT company. They can make sure everything is up and running properly and you will be able to contact them if anything goes wrong.

Install a Security System.

Now that we’ve talked about online security, don’t forget about office security. You need to take appropriate measures to protect your office space and employees. Install a wireless security system, if there’s not already one included with your office space.

Wireless systems are inexpensive and you can customize them to your needs. “Providing the same security as a professional alarm setup for a fraction of the price, a wireless alarm system can be added to as you see fit,” according to experts from The Home Security Superstore. “Mix and match components allow you to secure the doors, windows, gates, and entryways you’re most concerned about and to change your system when you need.”

With a wireless system, you don’t need to pay for installation or monthly service fees. It’s a great way to increase security in your office and protect your investment.

Don’t Forget About the Extras.

Now that you’ve taken care of the essentials, don’t forget about the extra items you need to make sure your employees are comfortable. Does your office space have a kitchen? If so, you’ll need a fridge, microwave and water cooler. Do you need a coffee pot? You may also want to stock your cabinets with some snacks. Again, these items aren’t essential, but they may come in handy when you’re putting in long hours at the office. Make sure you factor these in when you calculate your costs and budget.

Setting up an office space is exciting but it can also be overwhelming. If you make a plan, focus on the essentials and stick to your budget, you can reduce stress and create a successful space. Remember, you can always update your layout and add items; set your priorities and focus on the most important things, first.

 

Jessica Thiefels, owner of Honest Body Fitness, has been writing and editing for more than 10 years and spent the last six years in marketing. She recently stepped down from a senior marketing position to focus on growing her own startup and consulting for small businesses. She’s worked for businesses both big and small, including a 12-person education startup and well-known organizations like Business.com and Active.com. 

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