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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. How do I get a branded YouTube channel?

With more ‘searches' conducted at YouTube than on Yahoo and MSN, it's obvious that Youtube is a major force in the online space. The fact there were six billion videos viewed in May is simply astounding. If your business doesn't have a presence or channel at YouTube, it's probably time it did. Remember, when you si...

3. SmartCompany Web Awards 2011

4. 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...

5. The reluctant entrepreneur

Simon Wright is the 28-year-old founder of the very successful website Whirlpool.net.au. Whirlpool makes almost no revenue, has no employees and isn't even a company, Wright says. Instead it will remain his hobby.  He explains to Amanda Gome how he built the ...

6. Hot 30 under 30

They're smart, they're young, they're tech savvy - and they're not afraid of the downturn. Meet SmartCompany's Hot 30 under 30 - a group of 30 entrepreneurs aged 30 years and under who are on their way to becoming Australia's next generation of business leaders.  

7. 10 ways to make your website Google friendly: Tips from Goog

Making your business Google friendly so it gets picked up by Google’s search engines is “pretty easy actually”, according to Google’s chief technology advocate Michael Jones. Jones was previously chief technologist of Google Maps, Earth, and Local Search, the teams responsible for providing location intelligence an...

8. 2012's Hot 30 Under 30

They are young, smart and hungry for success. Meet SmartCompany's Hot 30 Under 30 class of 2012 – a group of entrepreneurs aged 30 years and younger, drawn from 30 of Australia's fastest-growing SMEs. These 30 young people are well on their way to becoming Australia’s next generation of top entrepreneurs.

9. The next 10 online trends

It’s never been harder to keep up with the latest web trends - with the expansion onto mobile platforms, the growth of social media and the need for start ups to be aware of new SEO techniques. As a result, we’ve assembled a team of web experts to help you and your business keep on top of the most important trends on the web. Constructing a mobile website, creating social media campaigns and selling online are just some of the challenges businesses will face during 2010.

10. Pinkberry craze next franchise hit?... Australia's cities ge

Next hot franchise trend?A tart-yet-sweet swirled yoghurt called Pinkberry is being touted as the next new hot franchise trend. Launched in Los Angeles two years ago, the 20th store just opened in Beverley Hills. And there are plans for 50 in Los Angeles and New York by the end of the year.The brand has been linked with celebrity names Salma Hayek, Jerry Seinfield and Paris Hilton. The foun...

11. 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 ...

12. Small Business Software and Tools

Starting a business is always difficult, and trying to start one in the middle of an economic crisis be even harder. To add to the problem, many small businesses are unaware of the internet's power when it comes to free business advice. So we've compiled a list of simple small business software applications and tools to help small business managers setup and grow their businesses for little or no...

13. I’m a small Real Estate Agent. How do I get my listings on

So you've probably all heard that Google's moving into property listings, potentially trying to out-muscle realestate.com.au and domain.com.au. Already this week they've also announced a new computer operating system to take on the might of Microsoft and Apple. Be afraid. Pretty soon Google will be everywhere. But let's talk property and have a look under the hood of this new property listing system for real estate agents, buyers and renters.This is such a boon for those ...

14. 10 marketing tips that won’t cost the earth

Businesses all over Australia are trying to do more with less as marketing budgets are slashed in these tougher economic times. But with a nose for a bargain and a little know-how from the experts, it is possible to extract good value from a shrinking budget. Looking beyond traditional mediums like television and radio may surprise you.

15. I've had enough and I want to sell my business. Help!

Dear Aunty B. I want to sell my online business. And badly. The business has been up just over a year. During that time, despite the 80-odd hours I've worked each week, it's grown at a snail's pace. At the moment I'm coming in at about $100 a month in income - if I'm lucky. This is despite the fact that (1) it is a better- developed online business than the competitors (2) it uses social media (both Facebook...

16. The rise of location-based marketing

Web-savvy businesses have been obsessed with making sure their website is at the top of Google search pages for ages but during the past two years a new platform has been added to the mix – location marketing. In addition to websites businesses are now using a variety of apps and portals to reach out to customers who are literally walking right past them.

17. 2011's Hot 30 Under 30

Meet SmartCompany's Hot 30 Under 30 class of 2011 – a group of entrepreneurs aged up to 30 years, drawn from 30 of Australia's fastest-growing SMEs. While many of the entrepreneurs here have leveraged technology to grow their businesses, this group of business owners prove that IT isn't the only avenue to q...

18. 10 ways to prepare your website for Christmas

It's that time of the year again - with just 77 sleeps until Christmas, it's time for online retailers to start panicking about their key selling period. While normal bricks and mortar retailers have the luxury of shutting up shop every night, the internet is open 24/7 and online retailers know their shopfronts require constant att...

19. 10 ways to make your business appear bigger than it actually

Every small business owner knows how hard it is to score your first few clients. Just being a small business is enough for some prospective partners to automatically dismiss you, and getting your foot in the door isn't an easy task. But even though your company might be classified as a small busine...

20. Businesses warned to register Facebook profiles before someo

Businesses should register Facebook profile page names before another company or individual registers the same name in a method known as ‘cyber-squatting', social media experts warn. The warnings come after the social networking giant last week allowed users to pick individual profile names; a feature already seen on rival sites such as Twitter and MySpace. Over three million Facebook users have registered individual profile names, with 500,000 registered in the first 15 minute...

21. 10 web trends to watch in 2011

Think your website is ready for 2011? Think again. Just as you’ve mastered the latest web trends, suddenly major changes in SEO, web design and eCommerce appear from nowhere - and your business had better be prepared. Expanding your use of video, adapting to the growing use of smartphones and using your website to become ...

22. How do I get more people to watch my YouTube videos?

A little known fact is that YouTube is the world's second biggest search engine behind Google itself. More searches are performed at YouTube than at Yahoo.com, or live.com! Businesses who leverage YouTube often use videos for product demonstrations, how something is manufactured, "how to do xyz" or indeed industry commentary. By the way, our keyword research shows that there are a LOT of p...

23. I need a good feedback tool. Help!

Following on from last time, here's another website feedback tool for you to consider. It's called Kampyle and it's useful because people are able to rate your site and tell you what they really think... (Scary huh!...

24. Survey reveals most expensive Google AdWords, but experts sa

Companies in the insurance, mortgage broking and legal industries are paying the most for Google Adwords, according to a new survey from SEO firm WordStream, which lists the financial and legal categories as some of the most expensive online advertising. But local experts say SMEs are able to navigate their way around such high charges by creating longer keywords, and targeting specific locations rather than general, less-specific words. "As a business owner you need to know what...

25. Google changes SEO game once again with home page screenshot

Online businesses are being warned to prepare to change their SEO strategies yet again, with Google launching another update for its search results page which allows users to view a quick preview screenshot of every listed site. Experts warn this change could actually alter how businesses approach online search rankings, but also impacts design. The feature comes after Google has introduced both the Instant and Google Places updates in an attempt to pack in as much information as possibl...

26. SEO and legal experts point to Google Analytics privacy issu

SEO and privacy experts have raised questions about a feature in Google's Analytics Dashboard that allows website operators to find information on individuals who have linked to their site through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The Google Analytics tool, highlighted by SEO expert and SmartCompany blogger Chris Thomas in his blog today, allows websites to track who has linked back to their site. ...

27. Top 10 search-and-sale tools and how to get on top of them

The web is constantly changing. CHRIS THOMAS runs through the top 10 new search tools to help you get found and sell moreBy Chris ThomasThe web is constantly changing, and business ow...

28. Stark realisation: I no longer depend on Google to find stuf

Today I had a stark realisation: I no longer depend on Google to find stuff. I still use it to locate things, eg. "find me the Wikipedia page on Ted Kennedy's aquatic activities". But I rarely - if ever - use it to find businesses, places to visit, interesting blogs, etc. The difference between finding something and locating something might seem mere semantics, but it is essential to this discussion. When you're trying to find something you don't know exactly what you're looking f...

29. Where should SMEs advertise in 2011?

Advertisers with multi-million dollar budgets can take their pick of expensive mediums to spruik their wares. But SMEs with limited budgets have to be a little more creative about how, where and when they spend their marketing dollars. Constant scrutiny of advertising costs and the associated gains is commonpla...

30. Which shopping cart should I use?

OK, this is a question and a topic which I've avoided answering for years, simply because it's an absolute minefield! There are so many carts available with various levels of functionality that critiquing them all will simply take a lifetime. Add to the fact that every business has different requirements means that unless you spend big on a custom cart solution, no single package will cover off every perceived or future requirement you may have. Obviously I haven't used or b...

31. Big bang marketing without the big bucks

SMEs on a shoestring could learn something from one of Australia’s most respected marketing gurus, Kidspot chief executive Katie May. She reveals her secrets for big impact marketing to EMILY ROSS.By Emily Ross

32. Facebook and Google social media group buying platforms comi

The head of an Australian SEO firm accredited by Google as only one of 15 authorised AdWords resellers worldwide predicts the newest group buying offers from both Google and Facebook may be here within the next three months. Ben Bradshaw, who is chief executive of the SEO firm SponsoredLinX and appeared on the SmartCompany Hot 30 Under 30, also says the new Google Wallet technology will be available sooner than people realise. "I can't go into detail on many things but ...

33. The real tools of a veteran internet marketer

Marketing is war. It’s either, kill your competitor, or be killed. Only one person gets the sale. To get a superior advantage in the war you need the following basic thing. Know thy enemy: If you keep tabs on what your enemy is doing you can spot things that you can repeat and re...

34. Online marketing: the latest tips and trends

It's the great downturn dilemma - as times get tough and cash gets tight, the temptation to cut back on your online marketing efforts gets bigger every day. Stop right there. As we've said many times at SmartCompany, this is ...

35. The next 15 trends in social networking

This article first appeared July 14, 2009. 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. A recent report from analyst firm IDC shows the market for enter...

36. Top 10 search marketing predicitions for 2011

Last year was another frenetic year of change in the world of search marketing. A series of rapidfire changes introduced by Google – most notably its Instant Preview function – left search experts in a daze, while the continued rise of Bing and mobile search were also important trends. And 2011 promises ...

37. Business blogs: The rules and rewards

In a time when many business owners are struggling to keep up with the ever-changing social media landscape – Google+, anyone? – writing a blog might seem decidedly old-school. But think again. The last few years have seen a sharp rise in the number of blogs in Australia, with many written by bu...

38. 12 tips for generating leads in a downturn

The secret to surviving and thriving in a downturn is continuing to pick up new business - so that reduced orders, failed clients and slow payers do less damage to the business.    It is little wonder that lead gen...

39. Ten lessons for SMEs from Australia's web usage boom

Small businesses can no longer ignore the signs pushing them towards operating online, with new figures from the Australian Media and Communications Authority showing even the most infrequent surfers are spending at least one hour a day, every day on the internet. The figures underline calls that businesses must start operating in multiple channels, including on mobiles, as customers begin to access the internet from home, work and while on the move. ACMA chairman Chris Chapman ...

40. Keeping up with Google: SEO experts talk

Google has done it again. Just as businesses think they've got their eye on the SEO ball, the rules suddenly change again. Last year it was Google Instant and Places. This time, it's Google Panda, +1 and predictive text that are causing headaches, and experts warn it's more important than ever to keep up. They also agree on...

41. 20 of the best Australian business blogs

There are too many terrible blogs. What businesses don’t seem to understand about blogging is that you actually have to add some sort of value to the internet. If you’re not providing useful information to your audience, whoever that might be, then why are you even trying? Thankfully, there are plenty of Australian bloggers in b...

42. How to stay ahead in Google's brave new SEO world

Six short weeks. That's all it took for Google to completely change the SEO landscape for Australian SMEs. And it's not just entrepreneurs that are struggling to keep up. Right across the country, SEO experts are being forced to review client strat...

43. ROI.com.au

Ewan Watts Start Up Rank

44. Google Instant launches in Australia - here's what you need

Google Instant is now available in Australia and small businesses need to start thinking seriously about how they can optimise their sites for the new feature, SEO experts have warned. The new feature, which displays constantly changing search results as users type, has also been a hit according to Google. The company wrote on its Google Australia blog post yesterday the company has seen an increa...

45. Nick Holmes à Court

Nick Holmes à Court is the chief executive of BuzzNumbers, a social media monitoring agency that specialises in helping clients analyse how their brand is being discussed on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Holmes à Court, who shares o...

46. Fred Schebesta

Fred Schebesta is well known to SmartCompany readers as an online traffic guru and the former owner of digital agency Freestyle Media. He sold that business in 2007 for $1.3 million and remained working there until October 2009 when his earn out clause ended and he went back into business for himself with a suite of financial product comparison sites inclu...

47. Team traditional with digital

You often hear some digital salespeople challenging clients/agencies/marketers to pull money out of TV and invest it into digital channels. The rationale is generally around an assumption that digital is the only "accountable" media... which in all honesty is a half truth, as many get confused when talking about accountability and measurability. Personally I think TV is still a very powerful and relevant medium, and I question whether it is going to become less so in the shor...

48. How your business should be using Facebook

Is your business ignoring one of the biggest markets on the planet? That is the question confronting Australian businesses who have failed to establish a strong presence on the world's most dominant social networking site, Facebook. While SMEs have poured thousands of dollars and hours into establishing their Google pr...

49. Why Pinterest isn’t just another social network

“I’m still trying to understand the whole thing but there must be something to it. It’s really popular!” That’s my sister-in-law writing on Facebook in late January about Pinterest – one of the real up-and-comers in the world of social media. In case you haven’t succumbed, Pinterest is a virtual pin...

50. How I improved my SEO by scrapping AdWords

Joshua Kamil started Ready Steady Print to cater for what he believes is a lack of quality services for businesses and individuals. By combining traditional printing services with online features like the ability to customise as much of the product as possible, the company has carved out a solid niche.   ...