Smart Blogs


Boss Lady

Time to get aggressive
Amanda Gome News imageThe next six months are a crucial time to be aggressively attacking the marketplace. You need to start now to get those order books filled up for 2009/10.

The Futurist

Go the extra mile for your customers
Colin Benjamin News imageExpect to be asked for smaller orders, delayed orders, faster response times and requests to carry more costs to end customers.

Get Out Of My Way

10 Questions to test your scruples
Naomi Simson News imageHere are 10 questions to test how scrupulous you are or if there are grey areas.

Entrepreneur Watch

The fall of Tom Hedley
James Thomson News imageCarins-based pub and property baron Tom Hedley was a classic rags-to-riches story, but like so many property entrepreneurs he was caught out with too much debt when the market turned....

Gen-Y Millionaire

Are you creating the magic?
Kirsty Dunphey News imageWhat are you doing to create the magic in your life and business?

Internet secrets

Is iPhone ringing the death knell for Yellow Pages?
Craig Reardon News imageWhich new era marketing combination is right for your business?

The Digital Bottom Line

Words from the wise
Brendan Lewis News imageWrite down quotes and pieces of advice that resonate for running a business.

Cultural leadership

Leadership ethics
Michel Hogan News imageA downloadable simulator gives modern scenarios of how ethics can be shaped in your business.

Ask the Experts


Online sales

Why has my site’s Google rank dropped from 1st to 2nd ?
Chris Thomas News imageBy checking a competitor's back-link strategy you'll soon get an idea if they are using any dirty SEO tricks.

Executive Coach

Should a manager go into the personal issues of an employee?
Tim Sharp News imageBosses can learn to diplomatically and compassionately broach personal issues, ensuring staff get help when needed.

Teams

How do I change from team member to team leader?
Pollyanna Lenkic News imageWorking relationships need to be redesigned as the team dynamics will inevitably change with your promotion.

Tax advice

Have I spent enough to get the 50% tax allowance?
Greg Hayes News imageWhen buying more than one computer you can group them under another provision.

Profitable growth

How do we make sure we learn the lessons of 2008-09?
Julia Bickerstaff News imageUsing the GFC to justify results for FY09 won’t help build a brilliant FY10.

Entrepreneurship

How do I deal with the elephant in the room?
Marcia Griffin News imageResolving an unspoken issue lurking in the business frees you up to focus on more important tasks.

Money

What else do I need to know about pitching?
Gail Geronimos News imageTrust is imperative with investors, but choose the right time to reveal any skeletons.

Selling

How do I get prospects to talk to me?
Sue Barrett News imageProspecting calls need to be efficient, clear and delivered in ways that attracts the customer to what you are selling.

Cashflow advice

What do you do with customers that say their payment terms are 45 days?
Christine Christian News imageSetting and signing clear policies at the start makes all the difference.
The Futurist

This blog is the crystal ball of SmartCompany. Deciphering the future is lead writer Dr. Colin Benjamin, chairman of independent Melbourne think-tank Marshall Place Associates and director general of Life: ‘Be in it’ International. Colin has a professional doctorate in business administration at the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship and is widely known in marketing circles as the author of the Roy Morgan Values Segments.

 

 

Go the extra mile for your customers

Author: Colin Benjamin on
The new financial year begins with falling stock markets at half the levels of the previous year, rising levels of unemployment, massive ponzi schemes, liquidation of MIS companies, huge mergers and acquisitions of failing companies and extended demands for forward planning by lenders.

Rising tide

Author: Colin Benjamin on
There is every reason to believe that smart companies are going to expand their business base next financial year if they focus on three key steps.

Economy’s traffic lights turn yellow

Author: Colin Benjamin on
For all those who have been stuck on the red light, it really is time to hire some good sales staff, focus your inventory and talk to your advertising agency because the market has just shifted to yellow.

Get a move on

Author: Colin Benjamin on

Surviving a technical recession might be good for the ute-driving PM, but smart companies need to get moving on business development if they are to make the most of the short window of economic opportunity provided by the Treasurer.


Optomists at the ready

Author: Colin Benjamin on

Speaking to many of the wide variety of smart company owners and managers this week at the May Money Expo in Melbourne and Sydney, held by the Finance and Treasury Association, revealed a range of responses to emerging market trends.


Lift off time, so get on board

Author: Colin Benjamin on

Smart companies should now prepare for a lift in customer inquiries, but expect pressure from clients and customers to make special deals, extended terms of trade, and requests for supply agreements.


What the stress tests mean for smart companies

Author: Colin Benjamin on

OK, the big banks in the US have survived the visit from 35 bank regulators and only have to top up their capital in case the worst is yet to come.  


Now is the time to act

Author: Colin Benjamin on

Shell shocked by the walloping tail of recession? Well it's time to spring into action. And guess who you should see first? Your accountant. Now. Before they get busy with the new financial year stuff.


You can do better than reading tea leaves

Author: Colin Benjamin on

Planning for 2009-10? The confusion means it's a bit like trying to read your tea leaves at the bottom of your cup.

But here are some ideas.


Now is the winter....

Author: Colin Benjamin on

Sharemarkets are up, there are some signs of confidence creeping back... so what to make of all the different signs in the global financial turmoil?


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