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Tag: small business

Do I really need a blog, twitter & facebook? Is a website not enough?

Do I really need a blog, twitter & facebook? Is a website not enough?

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I run web design courses in various shapes and sizes, using mostly Joomla and WordPress as the underlying framework. Students often ask me why they need to go the extra mile. Is a basic website not all they need?

My answer to this question often depends on the sophistication of the audience.

Before I answer this one let me clarify something quickly. I operate in George,  which is in the Garden Route, where the typical web design student is a small business owner that sells to real people within the local area, and not to online customers.

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Web design requires a decent hat stand

Web design requires a decent hat stand

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hatssAs someone who builds websites on an almost daily basis I often find myself in a situation where I need to wear multiple hats.

What follows is a simply breakdown of the many hats worn day to day:

The audience listens to the client, sometimes the message is clear, concise and to the point, other times it is passionate but vague, other times it is simply dreary. Everyone needs to have there say, as truly great clients can come out of small beginnings.

The assessor then needs to read the viability of the task at hand, and decide the way forward.  Knowing what it takes to please the customer is a skill the assessor cannot do without.  Sometimes it is better to walk away from a seemingly lucrative deal when the client needs are simply above what is practical or realistic. Trying to please everyone never works.

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eBox, a home network solution par none

eBox, a home network solution par none

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eb
eBox Platform is a unified network server that offers easy and efficient computer network administration for SMBs. It can act as a Gateway, an Infrastructure Manager, a Unified Threat Manager, an Office Server, a Unified Communication Server or a combination of them. These functionalities are tightly integrated, automating most tasks, avoiding mistakes and saving time for system administrators.

I have a fairly complicated home network, which includes several desktops , a linux server, laptops, media centre, x-box, nintendo, wifi access point, wifi phones, etc. All of these gadgets connect to the internet for email and other connectivity based stuff.

To make matters worse, we also run a B&B on the same property, so have guest access into our home network via the Wifi access point (via WPA2 encryption).

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Small Business Rescue Service

Small Business Rescue Service

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Office Reliance introduces a service aimed at entrepreneurs wanting to ride out the current recession without seeing their businesses closing down.

edfaDesperately seeking a way to save your business? Make use of the admin and office services supplied by Office Reliance and cut your overheads to the bone.

In these taxing economic times, turnover and profits are taking a nose dive and business owners must do everything in their power to keep expenses to a minimum.

Salaries, administration and office space are three areas that tap your business and can easily suck dry the diminished cash flow still generated when times are tough.

George Tourism in crisis

George Tourism in crisis

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George and surrounds is arguably the heart of the Garden Route, and as such is a major tourism destination. For years now the local Tourism office has worked tirelessly to benefit the locals, market the area and attract tourists to the region. They have won numerous awards, including best Tourism Bureau, best Tourism stand, International Star Award for Quality, etc. This is all about to change…..
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Dynamic salesforce – appointing part time reps

Dynamic salesforce – appointing part time reps

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This is part 5 of a series of posts for a local newspaper.

Generating sales is the key to a successful business. Often companies offering mediocre products and services are successful simply because they are good at converting leads into sales.

Investing in your sales force is one of the most important aspects of any business, and could well be the difference between a good and a successful company.

This is not always easy for a small or struggling business, as sales staff can be expensive the long term commitment associated with employing staff may well not be the right strategic solution for the company. Employing part time or contract sales staff may well be a viable alternative, but beware, it is not that straight forward….

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Products without borders

Products without borders

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This is part 4 of a series of posts for a local newspaper.

Having a product or service offering is one thing. Getting it out to distant consumers is quite another.

Products without borders are those items that have universal appeal and could be sold almost anywhere.

A common evolutionary step for small businesses is to expand  their marketing channel to include distance customers, either by way of web, mail order catalog or door to door selling.  Easier said than done I hear you say. Correct, but if you following some basic principles it is not only possible, but also relatively painless.

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Getting the fundamentals right so the rest falls in place a little easier

Getting the fundamentals right so the rest falls in place a little easier

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This is part 3 of a series of posts for a local newspaper.

Often new (or even experienced) entrepreneurs would come up with a brilliant concept or product, wondering why no-one has ever thought of it before. Chances are (and more often than not) than many others have thought of the same thing, but has discounted it due to the lack of some of the essential ingredients.

Just like a good recipe, a business idea also needs the right mix of components in order to be a success.

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Become a big fish in a small pond in no time at all

Become a big fish in a small pond in no time at all

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This is part 2 of a series of posts for a local newspaper.

How often have you paged through the newspaper or yellow pages looking for a company offering a specific product, only to become suspicious when you see only a cell phone number or P.O. Box address?

Unfortunately the reality is that for many small businesses having a land line and office address is a luxury they cannot afford. It does not just cost money having a land line, it also needs to be manned, from 8am to 5pm every day.

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Syndication, here we come

Syndication, here we come

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I have been asked to write a weekly column in the local paper, the George News. In order to hit two birds with one stone I will be publishing the articles here as well. Here goes the first round:

Tough times call for creative solutions

With the economy now in a negative cycle it is clear to all small business owners that it is time to take care of the basics.

This includes clamping down on any non-essential expenses and focusing on key strengths. It is not the time to introduce new products or innovations to the market. Well, is there any obvious ways left to shave off excess costs? Yes, there are, but you need to think a bit laterally.

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