http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/11Do you employ staff? The Federal Government, through its Fair Work Australia legislation, has altered the rules of employee engagement and there are fines and penalties for those who don't comply.Do you employ staff? The Federal Government, through iFri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/11http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/10New Year's Day will see the introduction of new National Employment Standards and Modern Awards systems. These two introductions will prompt dramatic changes for industrial relations, and businesses need to be aware - or risk facing legal action.Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/10http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/295Australian companies spend the majority of their time trying to find the best way to convert occasional customers into loyal devotees. And while it sounds like a tall order, changing customer behaviour isn't as difficult as you might think. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:12:42 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/295http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/296Like any medium that captures the public imagination, Twitter brings a myriad of opportunities to strengthen customer relationships and build brands and businesses. But not all tweets are equal - and because Twitter allows users to choose whether to Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:11:11 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/296http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/9Do you trust your employees or would you consider implementing spy software to keep an eye on productivity?Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/9http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/8As part of the Rudd Government's new Fair Work laws, inspectors will visit a number of businesses around Australia to ensure they comply. Have you done the research to see how the laws will affect your business? Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/8http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/6Many business commentators are becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of the changes to the Do Not Call Register. One of the major concerns is that few small businesses believe the Act will apply to them. Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/6http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/294It's important to be organised so that you can keep your business under control. Here are some tips to ensure your business runs smoothly. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:39:58 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/294http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/293As the economy recovers, it's time to get out of the bunker and get on the front foot to win new customers... Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:29:02 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/293http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/5The Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia meets for its first policy meeting for 2010 on the first Tuesday of 2010. Will an interest rate rise be too much, too soon?Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/5http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/292Whether it's cashflow problems, piles of debt or an attack from a competitor, many businesses have a near-death story to tell. Many of these incidents happen during the start-up phase, when SMEs are still finding their feet...Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:09:29 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/292http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/291In the last 12 months, Australian companies such as CommSec, Qantas, Pizza Hut and Officeworks have all released their own applications, while smaller web-based businesses such as Lasoo.com and Catch of the Day have also developed their own apps.Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:00:53 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/291http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/290One of the greatest problems of home-based businesses is often a major issue for all small businesses, and it's called isolation.Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:54:12 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/290http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/289Some business owners ignore the importance of trade marks, and especially in the online world, its crucial that you know the rules.Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:51:02 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/289http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/288It's important to be organised so that you can keep your business under control. Below are some tips to ensure your business runs smoothly.Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:47:40 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/288http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/287It's important to learn as much as you can during a downturn so your business is prepared for the future.Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:44:16 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/287http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/4IBISWorld recently released a report showing where they think jobs are going to be found in 2010 and beyond. So which small businesses benefit from being in the right place at the right time?Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/4http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/286You've got the buyer hook, line and sinker. But how do you close the deal? Most will admit it's the toughest part of the entire sales process. But there are ways to make sure you get the sale over the line. Here are 10 tips to seal the deal.Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:15:42 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/286http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/285It takes time for a brand to develop and become well known among consumers. Satisfying your customer's needs is an important part of this.Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:00:38 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/285http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/284The masters of growing businesses seldom disagree that the starting point for any great business is to begin with a big goal. It should be written down and it should be put in a place where you can see it.Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:55:04 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/284http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/283Getting the right staff is one thing but being able to keep them and keep them trained so they add value is crucial. You have to reward your employees who need to know that they're valued members of your business and contribute to its success. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:26:45 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/283http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/282There are a plethora of web experts available, specialising in topics from social networking to illustration design, so making a solid website should be simple. But how do you figure out which to ignore and which advice to take on board?Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:03:30 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/282http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/128Question: What can I do to make sure that my secrets aren't leaked to my competitors?Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:12:43 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/128http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/3In business, setting yourself apart from the rest is important. You must give your customers a reason to shop from you, and you do this by becoming what Seth Godin describes as being a 'Purple Cow'. Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/3http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/1Reports showing which direction the economy is headed are released almost everyday. Unfortunately nobody can influence whether these results will be negative or positive.Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/1http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/2The RBA increased interest rates for the third consecutive month in December. What does this mean for small business and what are business conditions like at the moment?Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/news/2http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/281It's that time of the year again - with only so many sleeps until Christmas, it's time for online retailers to start panicking about their key selling period. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:44:39 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/281http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/280Are you in business, but often think to yourself that you're not in sales - perhaps you can't stand selling and have decided that you can't sell? If this is the case, then you need to take a good hard look at yourself - because, guess what?Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:41:04 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/280http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/279New businesses often have problems initially, but it's the lateral thinking entrepreneurs who can see the business through.Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:37:31 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/279http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/278At the heart of the truly memorable brands and business has been a unique marketing strategy that makes the operation stand out from the crowd. Seth Godin, the US marketing expert calls it a 'purple cow' strategy. Bing Lee is such a purple cow.Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:31:07 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/278http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/277When John and Ros Moriarty took their hair brain idea to Qantas to paint a plane red with an aboriginal motif they knew they were pushing the envelope. How they pitched it and pulled it off could easily be put under the category of guts marketing.Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:25:53 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/277http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/276Is your business online? If not, these survey results may make you think twice. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:33:47 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/276http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/275Coming up with a great new marketing idea for your business that doesn't cost the earth need not be a pipe dream. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:30:12 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/275http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/274The challenge for all business owners and budding entrepreneurs is, at the risk of sounding like Donald Rumsfeld, they don't know what they don't know. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:26:53 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/274http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/273The Ned Montarello story is one for the small business textbooks where an entrepreneur saw a neglected market, thanks to the hardnosed attitudes of the banks, and then linked it to one of greatest threats to business success -- cash flow. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:22:27 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/273http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/271One of the greatest challenges for business owners in the modern era is Gen Y staff. Right? Wrong. The greatest problem for business owners belly aching about the under 30 worker is their own leadership.Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:08:34 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/271http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/272Entrepreneurs are the hearts that pump enthusiasm into the veins of growing businesses and economies. They provide the goods and services Aussies consume and create jobs and opportunities for so many people.Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:07:53 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/272http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/270When growing your business, it's important to get great people around you who can help take you business from good to great. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:03:12 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/270http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/269A bank predicably playing hardball might have been the kick in the butt that Greg Roebuck had to have. It certainly put him on the road to create a car business that attracted some of the country's best connected equity partners.Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:59:58 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/269http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/45Your service attitude dictates the kind of service your customer receives from your business and your staff. Here, I'll share some questions I get from business owners when it comes to dealing with their customers.Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:06:03 +1100http://www.bizthinktank.com.au/article/45http://www.bizthinktank.com.auOptus BizThinkTanken-auFri, 12 Mar 2010 14:06:00 +1100