The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round: 3 Universities in One Day

If you want to find out what the best and brightest in Dublin universities have to offer, you now have an opportunity to do so. In one day. Across 3 universities. All you need to do is book a ticket and get on the bus (literally!). Once you book, we will take care of the detail and tailor a tour to your needs and the sectors you are interested in.

Inspiration, information, connections and resources 

You will get opportunities to network over breakfast, lunch and over some drinks when the day is over. But more importantly you will receive the inspiration, information, connections and resources to give your company a boost for the future and an opportunity to
engage and find out what the  universities can do for you.

3 universities in one day

Book now or contact ron@smallbusinesscan.com for more information

First come, first served

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6 Tricks to Design Your Workstation the Creative Way

The environment in which you work often determines how productive and creative you will be. When you work in a workstation that’s dull and colorless, your productivity usually will be inhibited and your creative juices will be less likely to flow.

6 tricks to design your workstation

Your workstation – whether it is at home or an office with other people – says a lot about who you are and how your personality affects the way you do your job. Each particular workstation configuration tells its own story about the person who works there.

Having a workstation that promotes creativity and success is especially important if you have a job in which creative thinking skills are important, such as a graphic designer or web design professional.

Regardless of your job, you are probably going to be spending a lot of your time – if not most of your work week – at your workstation. So it might as well be an environment that is comfortable and puts you in a good mood so you can be more productive.

Trick Number 1 – You’re Going to Need Some Boxes

Get yourself a few simple storage boxes. You are going to need them to organize your office and clear out the clutter. You can purchase plastic or cardboard boxes at any office supply or home improvement store. Or see if you can get some boxes for free from your local grocery store or other retail business you frequent.

These boxes represent your decision to make positive changes in your workspace. They tell the world – and yourself – that you are finally ready to take action to be more productive.

Trick Number 2 – And Away Goes the Clutter

If you don’t have an effective management system in place for your paperwork and other clutter, it can easily get disorganized and impede your creative thinking. Look around your workspace: Are there piles of papers and reports everywhere? What are they? Do you really need them?

The first step is to clean everything off the surface of your desk, other than your computer and telephone. As you are removing each item, ask yourself this question: “Have I touched this particular report/paperwork/other type of clutter in the past week?” If the answer is “yes”, put it into one pile. If the answer is “no”, put it into another.

Most of the items in your “no” pile can be stored away or thrown out. This is especially true if they are printed duplicates of reports or paperwork you already have stored in your computer or can access online.

The majority of the items in your “yes” pile also can be stored or tossed. Unless a particular report or paperwork or other item is something you absolutely need to have access to today, right now, then it has no business being on your desk. And it’s time for it to go bye-bye!

Trick Number 3 – What’s the Deal with Your Lighting?

Lighting is an area that is often overlooked, but actually can have a profound effect on both the appearance and productivity of your workspace.

Take a look at your lighting right now. Are there two separate sources of light in your room? One should come from an overhead lighting fixture or, even better, from a natural light sources such as a window. The second should come from a task light.

Trick Number 4 – Have a Focal Point

Having a focal point in your workspace directs your attention so that you can more easily keep on task. For many people, this is the laptop or PC at your workstation, but it also can be something like a calendar, a to-do list or something else that keeps you on track.

If your computer is your focal point, improve its visual impact by surrounding it with some grouped artwork or installing a screen saver or background that you find especially inspiring. This can be something like a goal you are working toward.

An area rug can also “anchor” a workspace and make you feel more grounded as you work productively.

Trick Number 5 – Colors Matter

Different colors can have a profound psychological effect on the brain, studies have shown. Colors that are “blaah”, such as oatmeal or khaki, do little to inspire creativity. Strong, vibrant colors can be oppressive and can overwhelm the senses.

Decorate your workspace with a neutral shade and a touch of color to inspire your creative side. Yellow is known to stimulate creativity, mental activity and clarity of thought. Red is aggressive and promotes selling or making deals. Blues and greens are soothing. And orange encourages socialization.

Trick Number 6 – Inspire Yourself

Find something that motivates you in your work and use it to keep you inspired. This can include such things as family photos, an inspirational quote, or even freshly cut flowers.

These six tips can help revamp your workspace so that you have a refreshed attitude and are able to take a bold, new approach to your job.

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Growing Team? How To Start Holding Better Team Meetings

Team meetings create the foundation for project planning, goal-setting and team communication. When the team begins expanding, it can be tough to keep everyone on the same page. To improve the productivity of the team meeting, there are a few important methods to use to get the most out of it and hold better team meetings.

Specify the Purpose

Have a specific topic that will be discussed at the meeting. If there are multiple topics, make sure that they are related to the main topic. When too many random things are discussed, things tend to get off track and nothing is accomplished by the end of the meeting. Prepare an agenda that clearly lists the topic(s) to be discussed.

Establish Roles

People want to know why they need to attend a meeting. Clearly defined roles for each person will help to eliminate confusion and the ability to “pass the buck” to the next person. If everyone knows exactly what their role is and what is expected of them, the meeting will progress faster and the job will get done better.

Use The Time to Express Gratitude

All too often, business owners and leaders can come across as “all-business” during a meeting, often discussing what should be improved upon and changes the team has to adapt to. Employees need a morale boost every so often to assure them of their worth to the business and congratulate them on a job well done. Incorporate this into your meeting by taking a moment to discuss what your team is doing well. A specialist from Klosterman Baking Company says the mood of a team meeting can be instantly brightened when those in attendance are provided refreshments. These don’t need to be anything too special—bagels or pastries for breakfast and sandwiches for afternoon meetings are enough to bolster a team and demonstrate gratitude for the work they do.

Be Prepared

Have you ever had people show up to a meeting and have no idea of why they’re there or what it’s about? Explaining the overall purpose and need for the meeting can waste time that can be better spent on other topics. Send an agenda out and any necessary supporting information (handouts, PowerPoint slides, etc.) at least one day prior to the meeting. This gives everyone a chance to review the material and come ready to jump right in.

Specify Action Items

At the end of the meeting, reiterate all of the “take aways”, or action items, and who is responsible for them. Don’t let people walk out of the meeting wondering about anything. Clearly establish the who, what, when, and where of the tasks that need to be addressed, the person handling it, the action item deadline for completion, and when the next meeting will be to provide a status update on those items.

Having a productive team meeting takes work. But these few rules will help to establish a baseline that can be built upon. Staff will be more productive if they know what to expect and what they need to deliver. Leading the meeting with an organized plan of action will motivate employees and can save the company thousands of dollars in lost man-hours. The better the team meeting, the more satisfied the employees (and your clients) will be.

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Businesses Growing: 85% of Firms Stable or Growing Across the Island

The latest InterTradeIreland Business Monitor Report, reflecting the views of more than 750 businesses across the island between October and December 2014, revealed that 85 per cent of firms are either stable or businesses growing. However the number of firms that have stabilised rose from 43 per cent to 48 per cent with a drop in the number of businesses experiencing growth from 45 per cent to 37 per cent. Profitability remained stable this quarter with 58 per cent reporting to have stayed in the black over the last 12 months.

Despite an uncertain international environment it is reassuring that so many businesses across the island find themselves in a position of relative stability or growth.

Exporters and innovators doing better than those who don’t export

The report also showed that cross-border traders, exporters and innovating firms are more likely to be growing, increasing sales and employment. We are particularly encouraged by the results that show the very positive impact that cross-border trading can have on business performance. Half of firms involved in cross-border trade are experiencing growth compared to 33 per cent of businesses not exporting. As well as being more likely to be growing, innovating and creating new jobs, the latest business monitor also shows that cross-border traders are more likely to be investing in their business over the next year, with 87 per cent indicating their intention compared to 63 per cent of those with no export sales.

Firms in Ireland performing better than NI businesses

The Q4 report revealed that firms in Ireland are now faring substantially better than their counterparts in Northern Ireland with 42 per cent of firms in Ireland experiencing growth in Q4 compared to 29 per cent of businesses in NI. Over the last few business monitors, it is evident that the gap between firms in Ireland and Northern Ireland is widening with southern businesses performing better with regards to growth, increasing employment levels and sales performance.

Sector specific performance

Despite the prevalence of stability rather than growth in most sectors in Q4, it seems that the retail and leisure industries enjoyed a strong final quarter of last year, outperforming both manufacturing and business services. The construction sector continues to struggle with the number of firms in the industry that are ‘surviving at all cost’ rising significantly from 3 per cent to 21 per cent in one quarter.

Sales performance dipped slightly in Q4

Sales performance in the last three months of 2014 was not as buoyant as previous quarters, dropping slightly from 44 per cent in Q3 to 39 per cent of firms reporting an increase in sales in Q4. Employment levels also reduced slightly in Q4 from 12 per cent to 10 per cent. However the long-term trend of fewer firms cutting jobs continues to be encouraging.

The biggest challenges for businesses

Figures also indicated a shift in the key challenges faced by businesses with the most significant issues reported to be cashflow and late payments. The cost of energy is now affecting two-thirds fewer businesses than at the start of 2014, most likely reflecting the dip in global energy prices over recent months.

Largest business survey on the island

InterTradeIreland’s quarterly Business Monitor survey is the largest and most comprehensive business survey on the island and is based on the views of more than 750 business managers across Northern Ireland and Ireland. It differs from other surveys in that it is seen to be the ‘voice of local businesses’ feeding directly from telephone interviews conducted with a robust sample of firms of all sizes across a range of sectors to track all-island economic indicators such as sales, employment, business outlook and other specific topical research areas on a quarter by quarter basis.

For more information
We would encourage businesses to ‘Discover What’s Possible’ by availing of the many cross-border trade and innovation supports offered by InterTradeIreland. To find out more, please visit www.intertradeireland.com A copy of the 2014 Q4 InterTradeIreland Business Monitor Executive Summary can be viewed by clicking here.

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SEO is the Most Effective Way of Acquiring New Customers for 85% of Online Retailers

If your social marketing strategy is floundering, here is another solution to your problem

Want to acquire new customers? Rather than focus on promoting the business on social media sites, you could reach more people by focusing upon traditional SEO.

SEO is one of the most familiar tools for website owners, and is often used as a way to increase the prominence of the website. It is a vital practice for increasing the reputation of your brand, and it is often cited as one of the ways to bring new customers into a website. In fact, recent evidence suggests that SEO is the biggest source of new customer acquisition. It delivers better results than affiliate programs and marketplace targeting (through Amazon or eBay for example), according to a review of a number of different strategies used by website owners, including re-marketing, direct mail and social media websites.

Social media vs. SEO

Website owners have been tempted into becoming more active on social media sites, with the hope that this is the key to generating more content for their business. As more business websites promote themselves through social media, they may be wondering whether SEO will still be the best way to bring new customers into the site. Evidence suggests that more than 60% of businesses are intending to invest in Facebook and other social media marketing. However, an analysis of online transactions in 2012 revealed that only 1% originated directly from social media promotions. This means that all of the effort and investment is failing to generate any significant acquisition of new customers, and instead may even be reducing the amount of follow-through from casual visitors looking for information on their industry.

Why you need to keep up your SEO efforts

The figures demonstrate that, despite consumers reporting that they are discovering new brands through social media, Facebook and similar websites are not able to convert those discoveries into purchases or new customers. A study in the following year also showed that organic searches and SEO are the largest drivers of new customer acquisition. If you want to bring new customers to the website, you should consider investing in SEO, rather than trying to promote the product through social media. Of course, each business will be different, and some will find that they get slightly more from their social media sites than others, but regardless of the benefits, it is still not likely to get as good a response as basic SEO tactics that have been used in websites for many years.

How to get your SEO working to the best advantage

SEO is still the key to bringing in new customers and finding returning ones, but you can still do things to improve your keywords, including using long-tail keywords. This focuses upon phrases which might be used during search engine browsing, known as ‘conversational searches’. Evidence suggests that you are more likely to convert customers who find you using these long-tail keywords, and are also likely to be able to target customers more thoroughly than by using common phrases. If you need more assistance with your keywords, a good SEO consultant can help you to improve your search engine ranking using both traditional and more modern methods. Investing in good SEO will benefit you more than promoting your business through social media when it comes to customer acquisition, and may also do more for your company reputation than using Facebook or Twitter as your means of communicating with potential customers.

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Start-up Story: SqueezeIT

It all began about eighteen months ago when in an idle moment I was doodling on the web as one does when I found something which greatly piqued my interest. I was looking at work-at-home stuff which wasn’t going to screw me for money at the time when – don’t ask me how – I found a company based in California which provided software that could turn static websites into mobile ones for smartphones. For obvious reasons I can’t name the company but let’s call it Thebeesknees for now.

Anyhow I signed up – for free – with Thebeesknees as I could experiment with the software on the site and played around with it and it was just amazing!! I could edit, copy and paste, insert extra items, add or delete pictures, add video and produce mock-ups too without compromising the integrity or content of the original static site in any way.

Another thing I was trying to do at the time was to develop an app based on the old board game of Fox and Geese with a couple of friends of mine which side-tracked me for a time.

To be continued…

Written by Aidan Murray. As part of ‘Use SBC as a channel’ initiative, SqueezeIT has an exclusive offer for SBC members: “We will waive the 100 euro deposit for the first five companies that sign up for our service with us and will give a 50% discount for the next five businesses.”

For more information on this business visit Partner Site: emergo-online.com | Email: squeezeit@yandex.com |Phone: 087 261 7576.

 

 

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How Small Businesses Benefit from Mobile Technology

In the past, it was not always possible for a single person or a small business to compete with large businesses or corporations. Limits came in the form of physical restrictions or infrastructure restrictions. Now, however, with the onset of new technology, and specifically mobile technology, the playing field is becoming more even. Three of the aspects of new tech that are making this happen are cloud computing, mobile devices and industrial flexibility. Let’s look at how small businesses benefit from mobile technology…

The Advantage of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a big deal. A huge deal. A shift in business operations that shakes the very core of operations. No longer does a person need physical hardware in a specific location to do computer work. Now, through a network of shared virtual space in the cloud, all of that work can be done through the Internet. In terms of efficiency and adaptability, it is the perfect system for new, small businesses, because they no longer have to invest in prohibitively expensive hardware solutions to things like networking. Basically, small business can rent the space and computing power that they need, and expand later when they have to. Plus, because it’s in the cloud, they can connect to this power wherever there is internet.

The Advantage of Mobile Devices

Big business used to have an advantage because all of their resources were in one place, and all of their employees could get to them. T-Mobile now offers efficient, powerful and long-lasting mobile devices as well as its ‘no reason to get stuck’ option to give small business owners the power to business from anywhere.” Connectivity is exploding in terms of efficiency and data transfer rates, so where the advantage used to come from centralized resources, now the advantage is coming from centralized communication. This is a huge shift, and one that bodes well for creative people who work hard on the go. As mobile devices get better and faster, and networks grow stronger, this is only going to benefit small businesses more.

The Advantage of Industrial Flexibility

Another part of infrastructure that often foiled small business was production and distribution. Now, however, with mobile technology, business orders can be given through third-party production and distribution companies in real-time through the cloud, and order information and navigation data happens immediately. Once again, the advantage big business had of individual factories and shipping facilities is now turning into a disadvantage, because mobile technology is setting business communication free from the shackles of time and space.

Centralizing communication, rather than centralizing resources, is at the heart of mobile development, and this is the primary reason that small business owners can take heart that with a good business plan, the opportunities for success now are much greater than they were in the past. If your idea is good, if your plan is legitimate and logical, and if you have a product or service in mind that has a target audience that is out there waiting for you, then now is the time to make use of mobile technology as its availability expands.

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Brick and Mortar Branding Works Better Than It Ever Has

When it comes to the success of your business, every business owner knows that marketing the business is a necessity. If you don’t market, your clients and customers won’t know you exist, and this will not generate any revenue.

With all the innovations in technology, most companies are starting to only focus on marketing the business on the Internet. Some are also ditching the brick and mortar office altogether and instead opting for the virtual office.

Both virtual offices and Internet marketing have their advantages, but brick and mortar branding also has plenty of advantages. If you still own a brick and mortar office, you will surely be reaping the following benefits when it comes to branding.

Brick and mortar branding proves your existence

While most people use the Internet on a daily basis, it is also home to a variety of scams. Anyone can create a website and make it seem as if they have something great to offer, but sometimes, these “businesses” are just a way for someone to take advantage of others.

With brick and mortar, you prove your company’s existence. How many scammers out there are going to pay rent on a building just to give the façade that they exist? Not many, if any at all. With a brick and mortar store, you prove your existence, and you can brand the outside of your office to prove this. Outdoor signage is a great way to tell the world who you are and what you do. This is great if your company is located near a busy intersection that may get a lot of foot or auto traffic. People will be able to see your signage, put your company’s name in the back of their mind, and then remember this information when it comes time to purchase a good or service you provide.

Brick and mortar branding improves employee morale

When the inside of your office is branded with your company’s logo, tagline, and mission, it will improve your employees’ morale. Every day, your employees will be reminded of where they work and what your company stands for, and these missions, vision, and goals will allow them to better reflect your company in their daily responsibilities. They’ll be more engaged with the company, which in turn will make them more productive and more willing to support your company when not in the office.

Brick and mortar branding markets your company

Obviously, brick and mortar branding is a marketing campaign for your business, and it works in many ways. First, if you have branded the inside of your company, then you are reminding every customer and client who walks into your building about who you are and what you do. This will make a better lasting impression on them rather than a plain office space.

You can also use brick and mortar branding as an extension of your company. For example, sticker printing labels with your company’s logo will give you a way to add your company’s seal of approval on items you either make or give away as swag. This shows your clients and customers that your items are branded and safe. For example, putting a sticker on a pen, water bottle, or even sales folder that you hand out will be an extension of your brand, and it will put your company in the minds of your potential customers and clients.

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Start Your Own Business Without Leaving the House!

Whether you are living in a rented house in the Florida Keys, or own one of the beautiful condos in Montreal, it is possible for anyone to start their own business without even leaving the house.  During the recession, many working age people decided to start a home based business in order to make ends meet, and now they are reaping the benefits of their hard work.  If you think working from home sound like the ideal solution to your financial worries, keep reading for some tips.  This article aims to help you start your own business from the comfort of your own home.

Start Small

It’s tempting to throw a lot of money at a business in order to get it started.  However, it’s a much better idea to start small with low overheads, especially if you won’t necessarily be making a wage for a few months.  A laptop on a kitchen table can be the perfect work desk (at least at first), and your spare room could be the ideal stock room.  Many of the world’s biggest companies started off in the same way: Marks & Spencer’s started off on a market stall, whilst Laura Ashley began on her kitchen table.

Agree Payment Terms

Don’t expect people to pay you on time, as it’s common for companies (especially big businesses) to take their time with payments.  It’s a much better idea to agree payment terms before you begin any work.  If you are building a website for someone, for example, you could ask for 50% of the payment upfront, and the remainder upon delivery of the website.  If you are happy to wait until after you have completed the work, make sure your client’s know when you expect payment to be made, and what the consequences will be for ignoring your payment rules.

Plan Your Finances

No matter what type of business you are running, it’s important to plan everything.  Even if you’re only setting yourself up as a freelancer, you need to have a good idea of how much money you expect to make each month, and how much your outgoings will be.  It can be tough to estimate sales when you’re just starting out, but once you have been working for a month or two, you should have a much better idea of what to expect.  Where possible, try to avoid borrowing money unless you are sure you can pay it back.

Don’t Forget to Market

Marketing can be challenging for home based business owners, so this is one area that is worth investing in.  Marketing is one area where you need to spend money to make money, and you’ll really appreciate the constant workflow that you attract.  Failing to market yourself correctly could lead to huge gaps in your business’ cash flow, especially if you have to spend hours every day looking for new work.  Market your business daily, and you should find that you have a steady stream of custom.

Every home based business requires a significant time investment, but if you have the motivation, you can make it work.  Good luck!

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Why Upgrade Your ERP System

SO, why upgrade your ERP system? ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems are a major investment for any business. After the initial investment, making the decision of when and how to update the existing system can be a daunting task. When assessing the need to make such a sizeable investment, it is important to consider the business implications of such a decision.

What will your company gain? How many more years of working life does the system have? What types of updates are needed? Questions like these can help clarify to size and necessity of the updates. Periodically, though, it is important that companies perform some types of updates on their ERP systems for a variety of reasons, four of which will be outlined in more detail below.

Maximize the lifespan

With a typical lifespan of 15-20 years, ERP systems allow an organization to manage and automate many back office functions related to technology, services and human resources. The benefits of integrating all facets of business operations can be enjoyed for years but, in order to ensure the system continues functioning at a high level, it is important to perform periodic updates over the course of the system’s life. Without such updates, the lifespan can be reduced by as much as half. Considering that the initial investment in a new ERP system is more costly than periodic updates, it is financially more feasible to update the system as needed and maximize the lifespan of the technology.

Meet business objectives

ERP systems are designed and tailored based on the goals of the company. When your company initially invested in the system, it may have had only short-term, only long-term or other types of objectives it wanted to meet. Now, years down the road, it is important to reassess the strategy of the business to ensure that the ERP system continues to align with it and position the company to meet its objectives. If the objectives, or the strategy implemented to meet those objectives, have changed then it is important to upgrade the ERP system accordingly.

Maintain the bottom line

In business, everything comes down to the bottom line. By quantifying the effects of keeping your old system, investing in a brand new one or updating the existing one, you can make a cost-based decision that best aligns with your company’s budget and strategy. The long-term costs of ERP systems can be kept from ballooning out of control by performing updates to the system along the way. Instead of investing in and implementing a brand new software program every few years, focus on the bottom line and reduce your company’s overall investment in the software by updating your existing program.

Assess business opportunities

As mentioned in the previous section, a cost analysis can be critical to making a decision on updating your ERP software. In this process, it is easy to skimp out on a necessary purchase for the sake of saving a few dollars. For this reason, companies should keep in mind other opportunities that can arise from investing in an upgrade of the system. Potential benefits for your business may include increased communication, efficiency, productivity and visibility of day-to-day operations. In this streamlining process, businesses often see reductions in overall costs across the organization that make the upgrade in the ERP system worthwhile.

These are just four of the main reasons companies have cited for upgrading their existing ERP systems. Once they have justified their investment, usually with one of these four reasons, they can begin to consider exactly how they will implement the changes. From consolidating all systems to the same provider to eliminating obsolete reports to including data archives, there are a variety of ways to include upgrades into an existing ERP system.

In the end, a company needs to be clear from the start about exactly what they need from their ERP system. With an ERP strategy in place, it will make it easier for businesses to know the proper timing for an ERP upgrade in the future. Upgrading your systems can be daunting but, by following your company’s strategy and the four justified reasons to upgrade listed above, your business is well positioned to make the best decision possible.

Bio: Deanna Ayres is the SEM Strategist and Community Outreach Supervisor at The Marketing Zen Group. She loves to come up with new content strategies for and with her team and believes that connecting on a personal level is vital to success. Growing up in Europe has allowed her a unique insight into cultural differences in business & marketing. In her spare time she is a photographer, hobby cook with a love for coffee, gamer and geek.

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