Business Essentials

A new public/private partnership — backed by the major banks — has invested more than $50M in growth equity for a selection of Australian SMEs, propelling those businesses to a new level. The Australian Business Growth Fund (ABGF) promises millions of dollars of growth equity to businesses with good prospects in return for a minority share and mentoring. The ABGF’s CEO and Managing Director, forme...

Building brand value, rather than brand awareness, and understanding algorithm requirements, is the secret to success on social media. So says George Hawwa, Growth Director of social media marketing agency, Attention Experts. George says the social media landscape has changed dramatically in the last couple of years, and that “likes” and “shares” are no longer a metric of success. He advocates tel...

Have you noticed an unwelcome spike in the number of rude encounters? It may result from the anxiety of living with COVID these last few years, as well as the uncertainty of income and the threat of catching the virus. That’s according to organisational psychologist and leadership expert, Joe Hart. He explains what you can do if you are confronted by a rude customer or if one or more of your team...

We all have stories to tell – they may reveal our vulnerabilities, our very personal thoughts and feelings, but we shouldn’t be afraid to tell them because those who work around us, or who buy from us, will respond positively. Colin Pearce reminds us that we’re not just business people, we’re human beings too!­ Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 833...

As the inflationary squeeze on small business combines with the effects of COVID on the marketplace, there has never been a better time to look for alternative sources of income. The Founder and CEO of The Launchpad Co, Ruchi Gupta, says businesses in many sectors can draw on help from a broad range of sources, from philanthropy to grants and business accelerator programs. Ruchi describes the most...

With 13 years’ experience as CEO at iconic Australian fashion brands, Sportsgirl and Sussan, Colleen Callander is a leader who walks the talk. She says that leadership is inside all of us – you just need the tools to let it shine. Those tools can be found in her book, ‘Leader by Design: Be empowered to lead with confidence in business and in life’. She shares her lessons from 30 years in the fast-...

Search Engine Optimization — or SEO — is crucial for any business with an online presence, but many business owners find it daunting. The Studio Hawke company specializes in improving ­­­SEO for its clients, and its General Manger, Lawrence Hitches, says there are plenty of things a business can do to rank higher on Goolge Search Results. He advises businesses to look at the structure and efficien...

Jordan Fogarty was just 13 years old when he raised more than $100,000 for domestic violence and women’s refuges. That’s just one example of his life-long entrepreneurial flair, that latest of which is the phenomenal growth of his technology company, Be Media. Launched in 2013, Be Media helps Australian businesses get access to Web3, NFTs and the metaverse. Jordan explains the keys to its success,...

Do you know what you really stand for? Perhaps you’re too busy running your business to ask such deep-seated personal questions. But delve deep you must! says John Di Natale, mentor, keynote speaker and author, because these days it’s more important than ever to consider what you represent. It’s all part of personal branding, he says, it’s important for business, and by the way, it’s not just abou...

The vast majority of people consume reviews before they purchase, particularly big-ticket items. What we now know is that a video testimonial or review will give an even more powerful incentive for people to buy. Ainslie Williams, CEO of Reel. Reviews, says those visual cues, body language, tone and emotion in video provide a more authentic and compelling form of persuasion than a written review....

Colleen Callander is a self-confessed recovering workaholic. Indeed, her hard work, street smarts and passion for retail catapulted her to the heights of CEO of Sportsgirl and Sussan. But, on the way to the top, she had faced burnout by saying yes to everything and not giving herself a moment to stop and recharge. Today she understands the importance of setting boundaries to maintain physical and...

Have you considered offering pay rises to your staff to reflect the rise in inflation? There’s a lot to consider, including whether you can afford it, whether your staff deserves it, and what the right salary is for your industry. HR expert Karen Gately says the discussion you have about pay shouldn’t be done in an ad hoc way – it should be prepared well in advance and discussed with employees at...

Too often we’re fixated on finding new customer leads. It’s what sales guru Tony Gattari calls “lead madness”. First and foremost, he says, you need to be able to accurately measure the different variables in your sales and marketing process: customers, transactions, and average dollar sales. If you increase the variables by 10%, you could potentially increase your profit margin by 61%, without ha...

Have you come across an unethical self-promoter? You know the one: someone who claims to know everything, lies compulsively, talks about him or herself, offers too-good-to-be-true promises, and takes advantage of others. They’re not just salespeople, but sales – for whatever reason – seems to get tarnished by the same brush. Sue Barrett, CEO of Barrett Consulting Group, points out the tell-tale si...

The Reserve Bank of Australia is in the spotlight as its board moves to combat inflation by hiking interest rates — in spite of having promised not to do so. But can the bank have any real effect on inflationary pressures coming from outside Australia? Melbourne University Economics Professor Neville Norman says the RBA needs to take its foot off the brake now or it will risk taking Australia into...

If you want to connect – to truly connect – with the people around you, start telling stories. Because storytelling is a powerful way to reach people at a much deeper emotional level - just ask Colin Pearce. He’s spent a lifetime telling stories and relating their importance in the business setting. It’s scientific, he’ll tell us, as our dopamine, oxytocin and our endorphin levels all start workin...

Many small business owners spend too much time and money outsourcing core tasks like sales and marketing when they should have a handle on them themselves. That’s according to management coach and consultant Leela Cosgrove, who is the Founder and CEO of Strategic Anarchy. Leela says that, if you want to be a good CEO, then sales and marketing are YOUR job, and that to be a good manager, you must g...

Several recent surveys have shown that a huge proportion of Australian SMEs have yet to make the transition to selling online. And of the firms that have tried, many have digital management platforms that are not integrated, leading to some software being neglected or ignored. In an effort to transform the sector, the Federal Government has funded training firm Navii Digital to offer free digital...

The tough road out of mental ill-health is not to harden up and soldier on. Joel Clapham found that out in the saddest of ways when at the age of 35, his father took his own life. Joel was 16 at the time and severely impacted by his dad’s death. His biggest fear was that he would “follow the same script”. Instead, he’s taken a different road and has founded Hearten Up – helping others, and himself...

Economic figures published by the government are leaving small businesses behind, according to the CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, Alexi Boyd. She says that, because data is used to form policy, it is crucial that statisticians start breaking down measurements by sector, and that government should start demanding figures that reflect what small business is actually ex...

Being a coach and umpire at the highest level of elite AFL sport has taught Jeff “the Giesch” Gieschen a thing or two about leadership and the nurturing of star performers. Now he’s transferring those lessons to the business world. Leadership’s tough, he’ll tell us, but fairness, empathy and team spirit are paramount if you want to move from good to great. Business Essentials Daily is produced by:...

Despite the intensity of competition and the power of consumers, it surprises Roy Osing that most businesses are doing very little to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Many resort to the same clap-trap and aspirational statements. If you really want customers to notice you, Roy recommends using the ONLY statement, i.e., “We’re the ONLY ones that…”. Roy Osing is a former company pres...

Who wants a more profitable and stress-free business? We all do, right? Well, Tony Gattari of ActionCOACH has eight ways in which you can build a business with more value, and which allow you to free up more of your time. Not only will it be a better business, but a potential buyer will pay top dollar for it. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333...

An online brand personality helps build an authentic connection with your market. That’s according to Joel Gerschman, CEO of Digital Pilot and The Change Coach, who’s identified 12 personality archetypes to help businesses achieve growth online. Joel outlines the six components to build a successful brand strategy. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882...

Is your business an all-round nice-guy Tom Hanks type, a fun Adam Sandler, or maybe an elegant Cate Blanchett? Business coach and digital marketing guru, Joel Gerschman, reckons that adopting a Hollywood archetype can help you differentiate yourself from the competitive online world. Joel Gerschman is a leading business coach, best-selling author, co-founder of  Digital Autopilot and CEO of  The C...