http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/rss.xmlhttp://a.btt.markcdn.com.auOptus BizThinkTanken-auThu, 23 Feb 2012 12:45:07 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/532The strategic choices we make every day are determined by the "strategic narratives" we tell ourselves. We face a challenge and we don't ask, "What does Porter's Five Forces tell me to think about?" Growing a BusinessWed, 22 Feb 2012 08:54:56 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/532http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/531As I evaluate Web marketing such as blogs and websites, one thing I look for is evidence of left and right-brain thinking in the creation of the content.Growing a BusinessWed, 22 Feb 2012 08:42:06 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/531http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/530It's time to break apart a 50-year-old business tradition - strategic planning - and think about it in terms of two distinct activities: strategic thinking and execution planning. Growing a BusinessTue, 21 Feb 2012 08:33:34 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/530http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/529Dave Clark, owner of a manufacturer of industrial blinds, had always sold through a network of distribution representatives. However, his son, recently joined the firm, heard from some of their best customers that they would prefer to buy direct. Growing a BusinessTue, 21 Feb 2012 08:28:22 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/529http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/528There's plenty of justification for using social media for business, but for many, the rush overshadows the reason.Starting a BusinessWed, 15 Feb 2012 14:22:00 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/528http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/527There are a lot of reasons why content marketing doesn't work for some companies. This article explores a list of reasons why.Growing a BusinessWed, 15 Feb 2012 09:55:47 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/527http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/526Content arbitrage involves taking advantage of a temporary price difference in two or more markets and is usually executed by simultaneously buying and selling the same security. A pure arbitrage involves nearly zero risk. Growing a BusinessTue, 14 Feb 2012 12:12:29 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/526http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/525It's hard to believe the sheer number of social media tools we use everyday to help grow our businesses. It's amazing the number of social media tools that I continue to use, as well as the many that died over the years from lack of use.Starting a BusinessMon, 13 Feb 2012 09:07:25 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/525http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/470Through research completed with business owners, key learnings suggest that freedom is a key motivation. Cloud computing allows any business, no matter the size, to increase physical and mental freedom.Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:50:05 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/470http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/524While company brand building used to be very much the focus of publicity and public relations efforts, nowadays the trend has moved more towards building a personal identity or personal brand, based entirely around individuals.Growing a BusinessThu, 02 Feb 2012 11:35:54 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/524http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/523We live in a world where high speed access to information is not just a norm, but a necessity. Being 'unavailable' is increasingly a thing of the past, with 93% of Australians now using the internet daily and 71% using Smartphones to do so, on the goStarting a BusinessTue, 31 Jan 2012 11:55:07 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/523http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/469If you're one of the many soloists who look after your own website, this small business website checklist will help make sure it's in good shape.Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:36:51 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/469http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/522This article will help you with getting started on LinkedIn in two simple steps: setting up your profile and making connections.Starting a BusinessTue, 17 Jan 2012 15:27:51 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/522http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/521If your Facebook page is having little impact on your bottom line this step-by-step strategy will help you capture real leads and get more business from Facebook.Starting a BusinessMon, 16 Jan 2012 16:34:55 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/521http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/468In an environment that's overloaded with marketing messages, content marketing could help you stand out from the crowd. So what is it and how might you use it?Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:13:30 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/468http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/520New research - published here for the first time - proves that executives who demand that Social Media ROI be calculated are hypocrites.Growing a BusinessMon, 09 Jan 2012 17:50:45 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/520http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/467ABN is not a large organisation, in fact it is a small business catering for clients all over the country. Because clients are not always available to come to events, ABN had to make their education and training available to them through technology.Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:53:07 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/467http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/466A strong brand story will draw upon your natural competitive advantage, genuinely appeal to your customers and differentiate you from your competitors. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:26:38 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/466http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/519A strong brand story will draw upon your natural competitive advantage, genuinely appeal to your customers and differentiate you from your competitors.Growing a BusinessThu, 22 Dec 2011 08:25:41 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/519http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/518In today's networked economy, having a brilliant, visionary leader alone isn't enough to keep a company growing. You've got to have a well-trained executive and frontline management team to execute the vision.Growing a BusinessWed, 21 Dec 2011 17:47:47 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/518http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/517Google Analytics is a free, simple-to-use web analytics tool that gives you insights about the visitors to your website.Growing a BusinessWed, 21 Dec 2011 17:38:52 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/517http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/464Google Analytics is a free, simple-to-use web analytics tool that gives you insights about the visitors to your website. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:20:03 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/464http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/462Google has announced the launch of Google+ Pages, pages specifically engineered for businesses on Google+. While Google indicated that Google+ Pages wouldn't be immediately accessible to all, it looks like they're actually becoming readily available.Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:49:17 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/462http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/516How much progress has your company made toward a full-potential Net Promoter® system implementation? Answering a set of basic questions can help you identify opportunities to achieve the full benefits of your organization's Net Promoter system.Growing a BusinessTue, 20 Dec 2011 08:32:59 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/516http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/515Gone are the days when customers use the paper Yellow Pages to find your business. Research is now done online, so make sure your business can be found there.Starting a BusinessTue, 20 Dec 2011 08:22:28 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/515http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/463Gone are the days when customers use the paper Yellow Pages to find your business. Research is now done online, so make sure your business can be found there.Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:19:59 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/463http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/514Looking for the perfect holiday gift to keep you and your company from becoming irrelevant? Here are four must-read books that will help you thrive, no matter what the economy throws at you in 2012 and beyond. Growing a BusinessMon, 19 Dec 2011 08:57:52 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/514http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/513Most of today's corporate rewards systems are designed to be reasonable and, therefore, easy to justify to the board of directors or to an outside auditor. But the problem is that loyalty is not generated by reasonable performanceGrowing a BusinessThu, 01 Dec 2011 17:05:09 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/513http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/512Google has announced the launch of Google+ Pages, pages specifically engineered for businesses on Google+. While Google indicated that Google+ Pages wouldn't be immediately accessible to all, it looks like they're actually becoming readily available.Starting a BusinessThu, 01 Dec 2011 08:37:46 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/512http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/511Loyalty can be earned when leaders put the welfare of their customers and partners ahead of their own interests. If it is really about self-sacrifice - that is, about putting principles and relationships ahead of immediate personal financial gain.Growing a BusinessWed, 30 Nov 2011 10:49:35 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/511http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/461Verne Harnish continues to get CEOs and their firms to control the ink in their industry. In this column, Verne pushes leaders to start a blog, create a Squidoo page (as the expert in your industry), launch a column, or start a wiki. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:08:42 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/461http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/510Verne Harnish continues to get CEOs and their firms to control the ink in their industry. In this column, Verne pushes leaders to start a blog, create a Squidoo page (as the expert in your industry), launch a column, or start a wiki.Growing a BusinessTue, 29 Nov 2011 14:08:00 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/510http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/509Investing to earn the loyalty of your customers often requires trade-offs, you must decide which of the many investments will result in the greatest return. A clear understanding of your company's loyalty economics will help you make those decisions.Growing a BusinessWed, 09 Nov 2011 17:16:54 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/509http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/460Investing to earn the loyalty of your customers often requires trade-offs, you must decide which of the many investments will result in the greatest return. A clear understanding of your company's loyalty economics will help you make those decisions.Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:14:04 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/460http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/508Blogs are a terrific way for an organisation to tell its story. They allow you to take content in different directions that will appeal to specific target demographics without negatively impacting the strategy and content of your primary Web site.Growing a BusinessTue, 08 Nov 2011 17:33:25 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/508http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/459Blogs are a terrific way for an organisation to tell its story. They allow you to take content in different directions that will appeal to specific target demographics without negatively impacting the strategy and content of your primary Web site.Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:31:51 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/459http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/507Marketing with Web landing pages is one of the easiest, cost effective ways to get a message read by a target market and a great tool to move prospects through the sales cycle. Done well, they can high response rates with effective calls to action.Growing a BusinessTue, 08 Nov 2011 17:19:48 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/507http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/458Marketing with Web landing pages is one of the easiest, cost effective ways to get a message read by a target market and a great tool to move prospects through the sales cycle. Done well, they can high response rates with effective calls to action.Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:56:41 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/458http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/506Business to Business marketers fall into two camps, Those who believe in email registrations from white papers to drive leads, and those who believe in making content like white papers totally free. Which of these approaches are the best way?Growing a BusinessWed, 02 Nov 2011 10:30:09 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/506http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/505What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But what happens online stays online for a long, long time! Follow these tips to make sure you're not inadvertently killing your social media reputation:Growing a BusinessWed, 02 Nov 2011 09:57:44 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/505http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/504Facebook has over 500 million active users and half of them log on to their accounts in any given day.For those who have not yet jumped on the bandwagon, now is the time for you to jump in. If you don't, you and your business are missing out.Growing a BusinessWed, 02 Nov 2011 09:37:22 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/504http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/457Are you managing most of the tasks in your business? Do you wish you had more than two hands to do all the required work and have more time off? A major solution to this problem is getting a virtual assistant (or VA for short).Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:14:07 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/457http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/456When I wrote my first article and it was published, I was really proud to see my name on it, and then I started to see people grab the article and tweet it, Facebook it, blog it and LinkedIn it! Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:38:53 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/456http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/453So you want to know how to get your website on Google? And why wouldn't you? The latest figures show that Google handles 91.25% of Australia's Internet searches*. That's a lot of people researching products and services on Google...Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:21:47 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/453http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/452Whether you're a global brand or a small business entrepreneur working from your spare room, you have a tremendous opportunity to become a thought leader and recognised expert using social media.Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:10:00 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/452http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/450Website visitors get frustrated if they don't find the information they expect on certain pages. This article outlines nine web pages you should have, and why.Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:58:28 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/450http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/449LinkedIn and other forms of social media can be a useful way to grow your business, but how do you maximise the return on the time you'll need to invest? Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:53:50 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/449http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/448Assuming you have a website, you can be open for business 24/7 - but you'll need to market your site if it's going to be successful. These six tips will help. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:47:39 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/448http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/447Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the single most powerful online marketing tool for an internet business, promising an unlimited stream of free, qualified leads. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:35:20 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/447http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/445If you still think 'Twitter' is a noise made by birds and that a 'Facebook' is some kind of photo album, this beginner's guide to social media is for you.Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:16:16 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/445http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/446The internet changes at a rapid pace, and many features that were once regarded as best practice have now fallen out of favour. Here are some common business website mistakes. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:15:33 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/446http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/441One of the greatest and most common characteristics of sensational small business owners is an ability to recognise their weaknesses and seek outside help or do training to build up their skill set.Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:59:50 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/441http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/503Get rid of your bank lines - Bill Ritchie, CEO of ThinkFun, and his team, focused on cash and reduced what had become a permanent $1.5 million bank line down to zero in 2003.Growing a BusinessTue, 13 Sep 2011 08:22:23 +1000http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/article/503http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/45Why do some leaders drain intelligence and capability from their teams while others leaders amplify it? That question prompted me to spend years researching the two types of bosses I now classify as "diminishers" and "multipliers"Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +1000http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/45http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/44It's imperative for a start-up to get its message out there. You may have a stunningly brilliant range of products or offer clients the best service in town, but if no one knows about it, your personal pride in your firm won't prevent it leakingFri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/44http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/43Female participation on the entrepreneurial playing field has not just stagnated, it has gone backwards. We dissect what is holding women back and outline important and pro-active steps that every woman in business can take to make positive change.Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/43http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/42The recent entry of social network giant Facebook into the geolocation game has sparked a wave of interest in location-based apps, with digital experts the world over predicting the likes of Facebook Places and Foursquare will soon be mainstream.Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/42http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/440Observing many people when I'm out and about attending various business related functions, I'm convinced that so many of them do not realize how powerful it is to make the effort to meet others and network.Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:41:49 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/440http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/438Like it or not, the consumers' use of technology and the web is no mere love affair - it is ingratiated in almost every facet of their lives. Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:54:47 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/438http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/436Matisse Art for Hair is a hair salon located in the residential suburb of Zillmere, Brisbane. Popular among locals, Matisse Art for Hair offers a range of hair and beauty services to its clients including colouring, cuts and styling...Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:44:51 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/436http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/435Being involved in social media is no longer optional for many SMBs. By not engaging online, you may be missing out on business opportunities, particularly if your competitors are already in that space...Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:42:26 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/435http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/429LinkedIn is a business orientated networking site that has over 75 million members in more than 200 countries. As of April 2010, there were over 12 million small-business people on LinkedIn, which is roughly 16 per cent of its total user database. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:06:55 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/429http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/428Although many SMBs are aware of social media sites such as Twitter, they're not necessarily using them for business purposes, according to the 'Optus Social Media Index for SMBs' report. Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:05:28 +1100http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/428http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/426SmartCompany.com.au is a free news, information and resource site for Australia's entrepreneurs, small and medium business owners and business managers, to help keep them ahead of their competition. With writers who have had years of experience reporThu, 30 Sep 2010 10:29:35 +1000http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/online-business-tools/article/426http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/24There are many great benefits behind having a business plan in place for your business. Wendy Fogarty of Important and Imperative Business Solutions outlines top 10 reasons behind why you should make this a priority. Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +1000http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/24http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/23Social Media represents a huge opportunity for business owners but it also takes commitment. Like anything in life - the more you put into it, the more you are going to get out of it! Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +1000http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/23http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/16The last thing you need with your phone system as an SME owner is to have network problems and have to chase your service provider to fix it. So how do you choose the right provider? Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1000http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/16http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/14BizThinkTank brings you the latest Social Media tips, with the Do's and Don'ts for using social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, to promote your business.Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1000http://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/14http://a.btt.markcdn.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://a.btt.markcdn.com.au/news/10