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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. Australia’s best super funds

Is your super fund underperforming? It could be time to change. Here are 18 tips to help you chose the best superannuation fund in uncertain times. By MICHAEL LAURENCEBy Michael Laurence

3. 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...

4. What is the best iPad data plan?

With just one night to go until the Apple iPad launch, users are still debating what data plan to choose with four of the country's major telcos offering subscriptions for the gadget. But users may have to think fast. While Apple has confirmed it will sell both the WiFi and 3G iPads at official retail stores tomorrow, and through certain resellers, it is suspected only a limited amount of tablets will be on offer. Demand is also likely to be high, with new data from Experian Hit...

5. 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  

6. Australia’s biggest 10 companies

For the fourth year in a row, BHP Billiton is Australia’s largest company by revenue, according to the BRW Top 1000, compiled by IBISWorld. The top 10 – with the exception of Coles, NAB and Telstra –enjoyed strong revenue growth thanks to the mining boom and the strong economic conditions of the past year.Currently, the top 10 looks like this:

7. Australia’s best super funds

Choose the best super fund for you, and protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund, by following SmartCompany’s guide to finding Australia’s top super fund. By MICHAEL LAURENCE.By Michael Laurence Choose the best super fund for you, and protect your interests if rolling your super into a new fund, by following SmartCompany’s guide to finding Australia’s top super fund.  

8. 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...

9. Australia's 45 fastest growing telcos

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Telco Industry Growth List shows which companies are booming thanks to growing demand for online content, faster internet speeds, VOIP, and new consumer trends. By MIKE PRESTON By Mike Preston

10. Our top 10 online retailers

The battle for the title of Australia's top online retailer has come down to a fight between the two heavyweights of the local e-tail sector. Both sell discount goods, both are growing rapidly – and both claim they hold the top position. In SmartCompany's second annual list of the country's biggest online retailers, department store...

11. Australia’s best super funds for 2010

The task of trying to select the best super funds is filled with traps for uninformed consumers. Take the potential minefield for anyone who focuses solely on trying to hunt down the best performance or extremely low fees but fails to compare premiums for fund-provided insurance. "The differential between the highest price insura...

12. Australia’s best super funds for 2011

An almost certain way to become highly depressed is to look at the returns of the big super funds' balanced portfolios over the five years to September. Almost all of the annual returns – even of the top 10 performers – failed to match inflation. The median annual return of the hundreds of funds surveyed by s...

13. The best of the best iPhone apps

It's almost impossible to think of a faster growing industry than the mobile application sector. In just 12 months the market has been transformed from virtually non-existent to a sector worth billions of dollars.   The undisputed leader of the sector is Apple. In the last 12 months, its App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch has recorde...

14. Should you buy an iPad?

After months of delays, speculation and countless reviews, Apple Australia is finally taking pre-orders for the much-vaunted iPad. But despite high demand, a fierce debate still rages – should you hand over up to $1,000 for a device that can't do many of the things a basic laptop can? Apple's long-awaited debut in tablet computing has certainly been a financi...

15. 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 ...

16. How to make a profit – it’s easier than you think

Bevan Slattery and Stephen Baxter started telco infrastructure company PIPE Networks on a limited budget, but have been solidly profitable from day one. AMANDA GOME details the PIPE profit plan.

17. Telstra 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone in the pipeline

Telstra will introduce a 4G LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone, according to reports. According to Ausdroid, a Telstra spokesperson has confirmed that the telco is interested in bringing a 4G version of the smartphone to the marketplace, but doesn’t expect it to be introduced for several months. The news comes after several Australian mobile carriers rele...

18. Australia's eCommerce superstars

Australia's bricks and mortar retailers have been doing it tough of late. But then, it is getting hard to remember a time when they weren't. But while news reports are filled with stories of companies such as Borders, Blockbuster and Premier Retail closing stores, many of Australia's online retailers are going from strength to st...

19. 10 things that should be on your marketing plan for 2011-12

If you're like most business owners you are facing a new financial year with big intentions of getting around to a more solid approach to marketing. But plans can fall by the wayside quickly as the stresses of running a business take hold, so make a resolution to stick to your guns this year and watch your business grow.

20. 10 Questions to test your scruples

We all want to be doing business with people we trust. This sort of sounds obvious doesn't it? We like doing business, or working with people that we know we can count on. Does it really matter? Do you find yourself trying to get away with a few small things that just make you feel a bit ashamed?RedBalloon is a company of values - as I talked about in my last blog. And the first value is simply to: Do what you say you're going to do - that is to honour your word, to be a...

21. The hottest gadgets for 2010

There's nothing better than a hot new gadget, and 2009 had plenty of them. A plethora of smartphones, laptops, netbooks and software have given technology fans enough to keep them satisfied over the past year. With new features and services released every month, it's becoming harder and harder to keep up with the industry's innovation.

22. Australia’s highest-paid CEOs

The chief executives of the 300 largest Australian sharemarket-listed companies raked in an average of 28% more in salary and bonuses in 2006-07 compared to the previous year, according to the Australian Financial Review’s latest study of executive pay packets.The average earnings of Top 300 chief executives were up significantly, from $1.99 million to $2.56 million in 2006-07. This equates to $49,231 a week – close to average yearly earnings for the wider workforce a...

23. 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 ...

24. 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...

25. 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...

26. Australia’s best super funds: 2009

Low fees plus exposure to less volatile unlisted assets have cushioned industry super funds from the worst of the global financial crisis and helped secure their near dominance of the short list for super fund of the year, to be announced next month by SuperRatings. Eight of the 10 finalists for the award are public-offer industry funds with...

27. 10 big rich mistakes

Believe it or not, our richest entrepreneurs have actually made some mistakes on their way to fame and fortune – and some of them are dooseys. Here are the top 10. By JAMES BENNETT.By James BennettLast month SmartCompany bought you 10 secrets of the stinking rich. Now it’s time to take a look at the other side of the coin. Believe it not, occasional...

28. The 12 most influential people in Australian ICT

The information and communication technology industries underpin almost every facet of our working lives, and increasingly our personal lives too. For many of Australians, it is only when we sleep that we are not "connected" via a mobile phone, PC, notebook or tablet. But who wields power in this increasingly importa...

29. Telstra and Optus release iPhone 4 prices

The latest battle in the iPhone war is on. The first plans for the new iPhone 4 were announced last night, and while market heavyweight Telstra is attempting to showcase its reliability to gain new customers, rival Optus is continuing with its strategy of delivering cheap prices and higher broadband quotas. However, both companies have increased their mobile data limits in a move Telsyte research director Foad Fadaghi says is evidence the market is shifting towards an American-style...

30. Inside the new Fair Work bill

It was always expected that Labor would change the IR landscape, and aspects of its workplace changes have been previewed – but there are still some surprises, and every employer will need to know them. By PETER VITALEBy Peter Vitale

31. The 15 most influential people in Australian IT

They are the titans of Australia's tech sector – the regulators, executives and entrepreneurs who decide the shape of our tech sector. For the second year running, SmartCompany set out to find the 15 most influential people in Australian IT, judging them on criteria such as their involvement across t...

32. Your sector-by-sector guide to 2012

The only certainty is uncertainty: chances are the Australian economy is headed for another topsy-turvy year. But for the nation's small- and medium-sized enterprises, there are good sectors to operate in, and not so good. We've taken the pulse of 15 key industries. Here's SmartCompany's guide to 2012, ...

33. Billabong is Australia’s hardest working brand

Global surfwear giant Billabong has beaten the likes of Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion Nathan in a new ranking of corporate Australia’s most valuable brands as a share of total enterprise value. With a brand worth just over $1.6 billion, 41% of the company’s value, Billabong works its brand harder than any other company in the nation, according to research by analyst and adviser firm Brand Finance.That puts it ahead of Coca-Cola in terms of brand worth...

34. Australia’s top 10 mobile moguls

Following the launch of the iPhone, the mobile industry has become hot property. But this is not a new sector. As BRAD HOWARTH reveals, a group of industry pioneers have been slowly building Australia’s mobile industry for more than a decade.By Brad Howarth

35. Clever ways to future-proof your business

As the old adage goes, you don't know what you don't know. But for small businesses, not knowing what the future might hold can cost them dearly. While small businesses are often great at what they do, they're not so great at planning for the future, the executive director of small business customer unit at Telstra, Charles...

36. Three releases iPhone 3GS pricing - so who's got the best iP

After a long wait for Apple iPhone fans, Three finally released pricing details for the new iPhone 3GS device late last night, with plans ranging from as low as $39 per month to over $100 for 500 text messages and 3GB of data. The carrier also surprised the industry by allowing existing Three customers to upgrade to the iPhone without having to change their rate plan or break their existing contract. The announcement now means five brands will offer the phone in Australi...

37. Australia's most trusted brands

The Salvation Army has toppled Google to become the most trusted brand in Australia, the latest 'Eye on Australia' report by Grey and Sweeney Research has found. The 129-year old charity topped a list of 92 local and overseas brands and companies. "What's happened over the past 12 months and with the global financial crisis is that people have shifted in what's most important to them," demographer Bernard Salt told SmartCompany. "We now see the place for credibilit...

38. The 10 next trends in mobile

As the world's technology companies brace for the toughest year since the dot-com crash, there is one bright spot on the horizon - mobile phones. The release of Apple's 3G iPhone had sparked a wave of product innovation in the sector, from handsets and operating sy...

39. iPhone 4 on sale in Australia July 30 with free case to fix

Apple's iPhone 4 will hit Australian shelves next Friday, July 30, but the high-end handset will come with a free case in order to fix the faulty antenna issue that has plagued the company for the past month. The free hand-out was announced by chief executive Steve Jobs on Saturday at a hastily-convened press conference on the weekend, at which he said all iPhone 4 owners are entitled to a free case until September 30, or a refund if they choose. The decision comes after the comp...

40. 998 business ideas, yours for the taking

Just to prove that you really can find anything on the internet if you just know the right place to look: Have a look here, for instance.    998 different business ideas contributed from nine young business minds (well Seth Godin thought so), and heaps more in the comments, and while...

41. Booming in the bust

We all know how ugly it's getting out there. Corporate collapses, widespread job cuts, entrepreneurs going bankrupt – the bad news shows no signs of ending.   Well, it's time to get a bit more op...

42. The top 10 gadgets for 2011 – and 10 more for next year

There’s nothing better than a well-designed, useful gadget. And there’s more than ever before. With more manufacturers jumping on board with smartphones, advanced televisions and a boom in consumer electronics, gadget lovers have a smorgasbord of goodies to keep their technical habit going.

43. Should you buy the new iPad - the pros and cons

There’s just one more day until Apple’s new iPad hits the shelves and the question remains: is it worth the purchase? It’s been two years now since Apple released the iPad, and while millions of eager buyers snapped up the first version, others waited to see what future upgrades would bring. That time has arrived, but it’s a trickier decision. ...

44. Brendan McKeegan

I love Skype and it's not just the cost. It gives you a real business advantage. Why I love SkypeInstead of making business simpler and cheaper, some new technologies have a tendency to add further complication...

45. 10 big strategic mistakes – and how to fix them

The key to business success is to look carefully at your mistakes – and stop repeating them. But extraordinarily, some companies never seem to learn. They pay too much for acquisitions or pursue strategies that have been overtaken by the market. Many business owners have no exit strategy. Some start out in a niche and the...

46. How Twitter will change your business

Ever wondered how to advertise, communicate directly with customers and keep abreast of your competition, all at the same time? Social networking website Twitter could be the answer. PATRICK STAFFORD reveals the tips and traps of this hot new online tool.By Patrick Stafford

47. 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

48. What iPhone 4S plan is best for you?

Telstra has finally released the pricing for its iPhone 4S packages, and with the device coming in just two days, customers are eagerly judging all the major telcos on how they can get the most bang for their buck. With all three major telcos now having released their plans, it’s a good time to see how they all stack up side by side and determine what deal will be the best for you. Whether you’re a data-heavy user, or just want something cheap, there’s a plan to suit all needs...

49. BlackBerry’s Bold challenge for smartphone supremacy

A battle royale for the custom of smartphone users across the country will begin today when the new BlackBerry Bold is launched to Australian customers.A battle royale for the custom of smartphone users across the cou...

50. How to get customer feedback

Business owners can be extremely protective of their business, which is why so many are lost for words when customers complain. But handling complaints just as efficiently as you would handle positive feedback is paramount if you want to try and salvage the relationship with the upset customer. In fact, the experts sugge...