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1. The next 15 trends in social networking

There is no hotter trend in the internet, marketing and media space than social networking. What started out as a way for ‘cool kids’ to talk to each other has now become essential part of every company’s marketing strategy.  ...

2. Taxman opens door on debt relief

Help can come from the most unlikely quarters, and business owners may find that it is the ATO itself that will ease tax debt pain. By TERRY HAYES of Thomson Legal & Regulatory.By Terry Hayes

3. 25 corporate collapses – and the lessons learnt

There have been some high-profile corporate failures over the past year, and the evidence suggests that the bloodbath isn’t over. We take a look at 25 more prominent cases to draw salient lessons for every business. It’s getting ugly out there. Credit agency Dun & Bradstreet believes one in nine compa...

4. Should you buy an iPad 2? The pros and cons

The wait is over. Two weeks after American tech-heads got their hands on Apple's latest device, it's now Australia's turn. The iPad 2 will launch at 5pm this afternoon, at Apple stores and various resellers across the country. By all accounts this launch has gone much more smoothly than last year's, which saw tech fans wait several weeks to get their hands on an iPad after demand in the US outstripped supply. But while the Australian launch has run on schedule, supply is ...

5. First impressions count in retaining SME staff... Servant-CE

First impressions count even more for new SME employees New employees decide to leave an SME in a much shorter time frame compared to those at larger organisations, with more than half deciding in the first month, according to new research by consulting firm Chandler Macleod. In fact, 8% of SME employees decide on the first day of their new job, compared to just 1% of employees from larger organ...

6. Australia’s 25 best business blogs

Did the great corporate blogging revolution ever happen? It seems only a handful of years ago that, inspired by US automaker General Motor’s FastLane blog, nascent social media pundits (and this writer) were predicting that corporations would open up and begin a two-way dialog with customers. But in the ye...

7. Apple cleared in Buzzle collapse, launches iPad-ready versio

Tech giant Apple has finally been cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to the collapse of the Apple reseller group Buzzle, following nearly a decade in legal battles and hearings to determine whether the group acted as a shadow director. The New South Wales Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Apple, and its finance director James Likidis, were not shadow directors of Buzzle, and that there was no basis in the $57 million claim brought against both parties by Buzzle's liquidator. ...

8. Zara to open doors in Australia, but how should local retail

The popular Zara clothing brand will finally open its doors to eager Australian shoppers in 2011, after its Spanish-based parent, retail giant Indetix, announced it will open stores in the local market and South Africa next year. And despite a sluggish retail market, analysts say the company will establish itself well due to its high-quality brand positioning and low prices, but local fashion retailers will need to prepare themselves for the new competition. Pablo Isla, deputy ch...

9. Australia’s top 10 online retailers 2011

The past 12 months have seen a revolution in the online retailing sector.  Emerging players such as DealsDirect, Catch of the Day and OzSale dominate Australia’s top 10 online retailers and the past year has seen Australia’s big retailers finally start to take online selling seriously. Major department stores Myer and David Jones have ...

10. Australia’s best business blogs

Blogging is a great way to engage with your customers, build your brand and stand out on Google. BRAD HOWARTH explains why entrepreneurs often write the best blogs – and lists Australia’s top 15 business blogs. By Brad Howarth  

11. How to build a loyalty program

It’s estimated that there are around 200,000 loyalty programs operating in Australia, which makes it extremely difficult for a business to stand out from the crowd. But there are ways to ensure your program stacks up against the rest – as long as you’re prepared to put in some hard yards during the set-up phase. There’...

12. Australia’s 25 top business blogs

While Facebook and Twitter might hog the social media headlines, the humble blog remains a much-loved communication tool for many Australian business people. Around the country, and throughout many different industries, there are thousands of Australian consultants, contractors and entrepreneurs running lively, informative and at times, very persona...

13. State Government Grants

Free money for growth There are many juicy free money opportunities out there, but before leaping in, business owners need to understand the cost and red tape that comes with the grants process. Here we look at state government grants and examine the costs involved and the obligations you’ll face. SmartCompany’s selection of grants from the state governments Click on the name to link t...

14. Gap to enter Australia, first store in Melbourne by end of J

American retailer Gap has signed an agreement to bring its brand to Australian shores following years of speculation, in the latest sign US companies are flocking to the local market attracted by the strength of the franchising sector. But while there should be enough demand for the company's product, one retail expert wonders whether it will struggle to compete against Australia's fashion-conscious market. It comes as a number of other American retailers, including the NexCen bra...

15. Make-up keeps looking good

Cosmetics and toiletries are based on a solid foundation, and the segment's trend looks set to stay in fashion. By JASON BAKER of IBISWorld. Cosmetics and toiletries are based on a solid foundation, and the segment's trend looks ...

16. 10 must-haves for your marketing plan

As the list of ways to promote your business grows, working out the most effective way to spruik your business can be half the battle. That's why it's vital that small- and medium-sized businesses put a solid marketing strategy in place and make sure they don't deviate from the plan. Here are 10 things your plan mus...

17. Construction firms build on diverse foundations

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the construction sector reveals a fragmented broader industry that has shown strong growth in favoured parts but revenue that is sensitive to wide ranging influences. By MIKE PRESTON By Mike Preston  

18. What are the benefits of a CRM system in your business?

First of all what does CRM stand for? CRM = Customer Relationship Management. The concept of CRM has been around for a long time. The original form of CRM was a manual card system kept by a sales person that usually sat on the sales person's desk or alongside them in the car. These client card sets were very valuable to the sales person as this is where they kept important customer information such customer contact details, key contacts in the company, a running commentary on thei...

19. Advertising Standards Board decision opens potential legal

Businesses have been told to monitor comments left on their Facebook pages, following a decision by the Advertising Standards Board which found a brand's Facebook page was an advertisement. The decision was prompted by a complaint to the ASB – the advertising industry's self-regulatory body – about the official Smirnoff Vodka Facebook page....

20. Australia's sweet tooth resilient

IBISWorld estimates that the chocolate and confectionery manufacturing industry will grow by 1.1% in the five years to 2009-10. This industry has had to endure a recessive economy, falling disposable incomes, volatile commodity prices and increasing import competition. Despite these challenges, the industry has remained resilient, adapting to changing con...

21. 10 secrets of successful B2B selling

Dealing with other businesses requires a different approach to the consumer market. It’s not an easy transition, but MIKE PRESTON has divined the secrets to success from Australia’s experts. By Mike Preston

22. SmartCompany Smart50 Awards 2012

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23. 22 online marketing tips that won't cost you a cent

It's a classic Catch 22 situation - you're desperate to improve your online marketing efforts, but there is precious little money left in this year's marketing budget. Don't despair. Here are 22 things you can do to improve your online marketing right now - and all they will cost you is time.

24. Wealthy power-tool entrepreneurs watch empire collapse

Australian power tool empire Global Machinery Company – better known to those handy around the home as GMC – has been placed in receivership by its main lending banker Westpac Banking Corporation. GMC was owned by Melbourne-based entrepreneurs Peter Hosking and Tony D’Antonio. The pair were valued on this year’s BRW Rich 200 at $270 million and were praised for the way they built their fledging tool company into a worthy rival for global companies such as Black & Decker an...

25. Myer dresses down for a long, bleak winter: Bartholomeusz

Myer's third-quarter sales results, and its earnings downgrade, underscore how much the retail sector needed this month's 50 basis point cut to official interest rates and beg the question of why the Reserve Bank didn't move a little earlier. The faint hope for retailers being ground down by the anxiety of consumers is that the cut – most of which has flowed through to home loan rates despite the retention of some of the 50 basis points by the banks – is that it helps stem the c...

26. Woolworths’ social media success: Five lessons from the bi

Supermarket giant Woolworths is well known for its jingle “Woolworths the fresh food people”, but the line recently became the crux of a social media scandal. On Monday a social media storm erupted as consumers took to Facebook to express their outrage over a Woolworths’ billboard erected on the Warrego Highway near Ipswich which labelled donuts as ‘fresh food’. The complaints started when Facebook user and I...

27. Why online retailing is a dead-end: Gerry Harvey

Harvey Norman is being walloped by the downturn. But billionaire founder Gerry Harvey still refuses to consider online retailing, dismissing it as a dead-end for businesses. He predicts it will not make any money for entrepreneurs and says he will not be Harvey Norman is being walloped by the downturn. But billionaire founder Gerry Harvey still refuses to consider online retailing, dismissing it as a dead-end for businesses. He predicts it will not make any money for entr...

28. Re-inventing a cottage industry

Serial entrepreneur Ryan Trainor, 35, has spent the last year turning a cottage industry into a national, scalable business called Franklyn Scholar.  It has attracted a high profile board and has revenue of $20 million. Amanda Gome talks to Trainor about how ...

29. Cost leadership

Cost leadership isn’t about slashing your pricing; it’s about eliminating waste, encouraging constant innovation and boosting your margins. A couple of weeks ago I talked about Michael Porter’s competitive strategies. You might remember that there were three:

30. Australia's top female entrepreneurs for 2011

There’s a strong argument that the past year has been a landmark one for Australia’s female leaders.  There’s a woman (Julia Gillard) in the Prime Minister’s office. A woman (Gina Rinehart) has become Australia’s richest person. Two women (Kristina Keneally and Lara Giddings) have become State Premiers, a ...

31. Australia's wealthiest recluses

It's been a bad start to the year for Australia's richest entrepreneurs. While 2010 looks like being a big year for our wealthy business people, the $700 million collapse of Ric Stowe's Griffin Coal mining business has started things off on a poor note. The sheer size of the collapse and Griffin Coal's importance to the West Australian economy have ...

32. Australia's top 30 female entrepreneurs 2012

First she took on Australia, then she took on the world. Mining and media magnate Gina Rinehart is already Australia’s richest person, and word is spreading that she will become the world’s wealthiest individual within years. So it’s no surprise that Rinehart tops SmartCompany’s third annual top female entrepreneur list and drags its...

33. The top 10 free online courses

Entrepreneurs are always learning. Whether it’s through reading or watching a mentor work, learning how to do business better is a fundamental part of running a company. So it’s little wonder many courses in the latest trend of free education are aimed squarely at entrepreneurs. While some may still view free, online c...

34. 10 collapses and the lessons learnt

It’s tough out there right now. This year it seems that every week another business goes under, from big companies like trucking firm 1st Fleet to small businesses like the football and athletic shoe importer Azumah. From tourism industry troubles to construction company collapses and the ongoing downturn in ...

35. The 12 sales trends for 2011

It's been another challenging year for Australia's sales professionals. While most sectors have now weathered the storm of the GFC, markets remain tough, buyers remain reluctant to spend and sales people continue to be tested. And while economic conditions are expected to improve in the coming 12 months, 2011 looks set to throw up a new set ...

36. Alcohol industry in better spirits

Australia imports most of the spirits it consumes. Domestic manufacturing represents a relatively small proportion of the estimated $5.2 billion retail value of spirits consumed in Australia. For many products, some degree of transformation occurs domestically, particularly in the case of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. The main spi...

37. Growth by graphic design

  The graphic design sector has enjoyed a strong period thanks to the growth in web design work, but the economic downturn is likely to see marketing and IT budgets slashed. The continued growth in the online sector and Australia's strong economic growth have meant g...

38. Where are we in the property cycle?

Although the Australian property downturn of 2008 came as a shock to many investors, recessions are not a new concept. They are an inevitable part of the economic cycle; intermittent periods of growth and decline that have occurred throughout history. They impact all markets and industries including property. While well-located properties in Australia have doubled in value every eight to 10 years, capital appreciation is obviously not constant each year. Property values tend to rise and...

39. The GM syndrome

Late in October 2008 as the senior executives of one of America's longest established companies mulled over the most recent financial statements it became clear that it was not going to be able to pay its bills going into the New Year.   For years, mounting losses were taken in their stride as one of the costs of being the number one auto maker in the world. The possibility of failu...

40. What the porn industry can teach us

The business of adult entertainment is making serious recession-proof money, and could have business lessons for all of us. BRENDAN LEWIS By Brendan LewisFiona Patten and I were both born in 1964. At ar...

41. The 20 best iPad apps for entrepreneurs

Got a spare $100? That's all you need to transform your iPad from a cool tablet device into one of the most powerful business gadgets on the market – and one that will make you consider ditching the laptop forever. The iPad is a nice piece of hardware, but it's the apps that really unlock the power of the device. Here...

42. Australia's housing market most over-priced in the world –

Housing bubble, affordability crisis, over-inflated markets, growing million dollar medians... the list of less than flattering descriptions for Australia's housing market continues to grow, as both local and overseas media outlets fuel speculation as to the state of our residential real estate sector. Some suggest we are heading for a price crash comparable to that experienced in the US during the GFC, or more recently in Ireland, where the housing bubble caused a monumental collapse in ...

43. Software – hardwired!

Scott Farquhar tells how, with partner Mike Cannon-Brookes, he built the enterprise software house Atlassian to a global operation turning over $22 million. By JACQUI WALKER.

44. Destra placed in administration. What went wrong?

Digital media and marketing firm Destra has been placed in administration after major shareholder Prime Media Group and the company’s bankers withdrew support for the company.Digital media and marketing firm Destra has been placed in administration after major shareholder Prime Media Group and the company’s bankers withdrew support for the company.“Continued adverse trends in the consumer and advertising markets and unprecedentedcapital market volatility have… con...

45. Vodafone launches Google Nexus One in Australia – but can

Vodafone will begin selling the Google Nexus One smartphone today, with a relatively quiet launch despite speculation earlier this year the internet giant's official handset would dominate the sector. But despite early support for the handset, the Nexus One has failed to sell as many units in the US as Google hoped, and Apple's iOS platform still dominates the industry despite Android gaining market share. Vodafone will offer the Nexus One for $0 upfront of the $79 cap 24-month ...

46. Multi-billion dollar industries: Part IV

SmartCompany’s Developing an Entrepreneurial Australia Roundtable came up with 10 multi-billion dollar industries of the future. JAMES THOMSON talks to IBISWorld’s general manager Rob Bryant about the next two sectors that will take off: Tourism and Leisu

47. Simon Baker

Simon Baker is seen as one of Australia's most successful web entrepreneurs. Since leaving realestate.com.au in August 2008, he has established Classified AdVentures, which has an investment arm and a division that is incubating five classifieds-focused businesses. Today he talks about keeping up with 14 different companies, how the...

48. Why median house prices could be well over one million dolla

The latest forecasts from Metropole Property Investment Strategists Research suggest to me that median house prices will be well over $1 million in every capital city at the end of this new decade, and in many cases they will be considerably more. Now, I know this is a bold forecast but a lot can happen in 10 years. Let's look at what happened to property values over the last 10 years:

49. What is down-selling?

Down-selling is the art of narrowing a customer's expectations and matching them more effectively with a solution that best fulfils their needs or desires. Too often I see salespeople praying on their customer's ignorance and up-selling even though there is no extra value being created for the customer. In this instance the salesperson is simply meeting their own agenda and getting the customer to pay for it. Recently my company was in the market for a new office. I dealt with a ...

50. Rich list 2009: A sneak peek

The big day for wealth watchers is almost here. On Thursday, BRW magazine will release its annual Rich 200 edition, which promises to be one of most fascinating in years.   The headline story shouldn't be...