Webinars – the New Tool for Doing (Small) Business

The Australian Businesswomen’s Network has presented webinars (web-based) seminars since 2006. Today, more and more small businesses are finding that web-based meetings are a great way to connect with clients, to hold meetings and to do business. The Sydney Morning Herald’s recent article profiled our use of webinars for training and mentoring.

Not only does the ABN use webinars for its monthly web-based learning programs, but also for the platform to deliver much of the training and development in its MentorNet Mentoring program.

Why most companies get it wrong with Twitter

Unless you’ve been under a rock you know that the world is a-buzz with the sound of tweets. The early adopters are wondering what all the fuss is about (and possibly that everyone would just quit acting as though they discovered sliced bread) … but for those who are newbies there is still a big question about why/if they should join the Twitter Army and if so, how does it all work?

On a regular basis business owners ask me if they should join Twitter and if I can tell them how to use it to grow their business.

In this article in BRW magazine I tell why I think most business owners get it wrong when it comes to Twitter.

And, next month I’ll be teaching a class for our members on how to use this technology and communications marvel to grow their business. Details will be on our website from 1 June.

Hold the date: The webinar – Twitter for Business will be on 17 June at 10.30am AEST.

What do you most want to know about Twitter?

How will Twitter help my business? How do I get started with Twitter?

The world is a-flutter with news of microblogging site Twitter.  The early adopters are wondering what all the fuss is about (and possibly that everyone would just quit acting as though they discovered sliced bread) … but for the newbies there is still a big question about why/if they should join the movement and if so, how does it all work?

After many requests from members, the Australian Businesswomen’s Network will present a webinar on why and how to use Twitter to grow your business.

To help us tailor the message to your needs tell us what you’d like to know with this quick one-question poll.

How to Use Twitter to Grow Your Business

Date: Wednesday 17 June
Time: 10.15am for 10.30am – 11.30am AEST (Check your local time here.)
Place: The comfort of your own home/office
Investment: ABN Members – Free, Non Members – A$39

Bookings open 1 June. Email us today to reserve your place.

Australia surviving GFC best – international poll

Last month, serviced office provider Servcorp asked 7,500 international businesspeople from more than 24 nations to identity which countries they believe are surviving the crisis best.

Both international and Australian businesspeople voted Australia first, followed by China and Singapore.

The top concerns of Australian businesspeople during the economic downturn were reported as being low morale in the media, followed by the Australian Government’s response to the crisis.

The full results can be obtained from ServCorp.

What makes your business perform at its best?

Many of us have been lucky enough (or have had enough experience) to know that the implementation of a process of system that makes some part of our business turn-key, saves time, money and resources.

Sometimes it’s the ‘boring bits’ that make a big difference to our business performance – the things that we know that, if we do them, improve our business performance.

For instance, while planning marketing may come easily to me – doing budgets is no thrill BUT it gives me a solid plan against which to measure my business performance. So, I do them.

I’m currently compiling the next issue of our newsletter [which is about the Boring Bits that Make a Difference] and would like to include YOUR answers to the question: .

What business processes/systems you have introduced to improve the performance of your business?

Tell us here.

Are you asking killer sales questions?

One of the greatest obstacles to sales is engaging your prospective buyer. For many years I was a reluctant sales person but quickly figured out:  No sales. No business!

The words you use with a prospect make a big difference. So, what do you ask to clarify if your product and service is what your prospect wants?

Ask killer sales questions that get results
In a recent Know-How Now! webinar, Australian Businesswomen’s Network Advisory Board Member Leanne Griffiths suggested these killer, open ended, questions. (Leanne describes the search to find what it is that is really important to your prospect that your product/service will help them have/achieve/experience as ‘Digging for Gold’.)

Killer questions begin with:

• What…
• How…
• Why…
• What exactly did you mean by…

Each of these (and you can probably think of more) opens up the conversation and allows you to learn more about the buyer.

Other examples (that are not questions) include:

• Tell me about…
• Explain to me…
• Give me an example of…
• I’d like to understand more about when you said… or…

I have tried these questions/statements and they have effectively provided me with a better understanding of the other person and a better relationship with them.

What’s important to me about a sales situation is  ‘real’ conversations, openness and honesty and value in an exchange of time and energy, whether it results in a sale or not.

Try using one of these today and let me know what happens.

Easy to use time and wages templates for employers

If you employ staff, it makes sense to understand your obligations. Last week, while in a coffee shop, I picked up a postcard promoting www.wo.gov.au - the site for the Australian Workplace Ombudsman. The site has free templates to help employers manage time and wages records and pay slips, as well as employee details. You can also download fact sheets about key workplace relations issues.

The MentorNet process helped guide me to find more balance

I was sick last year and so I had to re-evaluate the way I wanted to run my business and to find more balance. The MentorNet process really helped to guide me to do that.  And through the business planning process, I put some specific steps in that I wanted to take, things I wanted to achieve, and I did a review of that and found that I had pretty much either achieved or made a great deal of progress in every one of the things that I’d put in that plan.

It was quite satisfying seeing the planning process documented as much as actually doing it. I think it’s good to give yourselves a pat on the back, see that you are actually making progress rather than keeping it all in your head and not necessarily feeling like you’re making progress.  So that was a big win for me.

Between the technology and the facilitating of each meeting, MentorNet was run really smoothly and, again, really time-effectively because we could do it (obviously) from anywhere and from the comfort of our home.  I am most grateful for the fact that I have received a verbal approval on a partnership on one on my projects and that’s really taken a load off because it’s quite a big initiative and something I couldn’t do on my own.  So that’s taken a bit of pressure off and also allowed me to focus more in the areas that I specialise in.

Simone Novello
Novello Vantage Point

I am very grateful for having a new lease on my business and on life

My biggest achievement from participating in MentorNet I think for me was surviving the rollercoaster ride of what it is to have a business and the personal journey has been quite significant.  Having the support of my Pod and my mentor has been outstanding and something that I could never have had without MentorNet.  I have a new lease on my business, a new lease on life, a new perspective.  I’m moving forward.

Sarah Ladyman
Relish This

New Public Consultation Paper – deadline this Friday.

herVoice has just been advised by our friends in Canberra that the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Chris Bowen,  released a public consultation paper last week entitled The Australian Consumer Law – Consultation on draft provisions on unfair contract terms

Interested parties are invited to comment on the draft provisions.

Closing date is this Friday, 22 May.

As  a political advocate from way back, herVoice does wonder why the timeframe is so tight…could there be any precious nuggets in there that the Govt or financial services industry are hoping to gloss over?

Moving on, if you’re interested in the subject and would like to comment,  please click on the link above, which will take you to the relevant page on Treasury’s website.

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