Australian Business News and Times

Business News ,Reports and Times of Australia

2013

Business security | 5 tips for Small business password security

by Leave a Comment

Losing passwords or getting passwords hacked can be easy  for hackers and bad for business , However lost passwords can be time consuming   to businesses if employees forget passwords  and it needs to be reset

Password security tips for small business

Here are some tips on how to  avoid loss of passwords and work time in your business

reset windows password

1. Use difficult passwords

Know what makes for a weak or bad password.

Because hacking attacks re becoming increasingly more common, you don’t want to use anything in your password that’s personal and easy to guess or remember. Keep in mind the following don’ts:

      • Don’t use only letters or only numbers.
  • Don’t use names of spouses, children, girlfriends/boyfriends or pets ( and if you do mix it up with numbers or something else).
  • Don’t use phone numbers, Social Security numbers or birthdates.
    Don’t use any word that can be found in the dictionary — even foreign words.

 

 

Try and mix up passwords with letters and uppercases and lower cases of possible if case sensitive

[Reset password at http://windowsrecoverpassword.com/ for any forgotten or lost laptop or windows computer password.]

2. Changing passwords at workplaces

To help remember the password at workplaces, use it immediately. Then log in and out several times the first day when you change it .Preferably don’t change your passwords on a Friday or right before leaving for vacation as you can forget it easily, Monday is a good day to change passwords as you will be using it all week , less change of forgetting it later. You could write it out several times on a piece of paper. This helps record it in your mind. Just be sure to shred the paper when done ( but remember to destroy that paper).

3. Use passwords with letters and numbers

Many online password generators are now available online , but also mix it up with some thing that you remember.

The best passwords are at least eight characters in length and use a combination of numbers, keyboard characters and upper- and lower-case letters. The longer your password is, the longer it will take someone or some software to crack it.

4. Change password periodically or on a regular basis

Your network administrator software or company can force your employees to change their password every so often. Microsoft recommends having users change their passwords every 30 to 90 days for added security, but encourages you to go with the smaller number. Some software does not allow you to use the same passwords consecutively

I think 30 days is a reasonable number here. You always want to side with caution when it comes to sensitive information.

 

5. Don’t reuse same passwords for other website

When your employees create weak passwords for their employee accounts and reuse these passwords across other multiple sites, new risks arise for your business.

An employee’s password compromised from another company’s data  or website breach can open up vulnerability on your site and your company.

One option available for higher security is also for Businesses which can look into adopting two-factor authentication whenever possible.

How Small Businesses Can Bring Their Online Marketing Offline

by Leave a Comment

Before there was Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, there was direct mail. It’s not cool, it’s not sexy, but it works and it works very well. If your printer has been sitting in the corner collecting dust for a while, it might be time to pull it out and put it to good use. With pay-per-click platforms becoming increasingly expensive, it might actually be cheaper for you to physically mail something out to your prospects.

where to get Asus EePC 701

Use QR Codes

QR codes aren’t all that difficult to implement. Most printers can print them – even Lexmark products have this nailed down. How you use it is up to you. Many businesses use a QR code to link to their homepage, a "squeeze" page, or to another promotional page on their site. But you’re not limited to hot-linking.

You can also embed your contact information, order info, a special offer, or anything else you want right into the code. When people scan it with their smartphones, the phone will automatically process the code and do what you want it to do.

Advertise Your Company’s Social Media Pages

You’ve got social media pages – why not use them? Advertising is expensive? Use direct mail. That way, you’re not competing with someone else with a bigger bank account. When you use printed materials to advertise your social media presence, it doesn’t have to be low-tech either. Again, you can embed codes into the link you print out so that you can track everything.

In a sense, you’re merging online technology (tracking) with offline reliability and cost-effectiveness. Facebook, LinkedIn, and even a Twitter presence can be boosted with nothing more than fliers and postcards.

Use Augmented Reality

There are a lot of companies out there that use the same technology but Blippar has pretty much perfected the technology. Basically, you aim your smartphone at a piece of specially printed material, and the camera snaps a photo of that image and adds interactivity through the Blippar app.

It’s an interesting and unique way to add a hidden sales message, special offer or gift, or get people to pick up your flier or postcard and interact with it. The more you get people to interact with your message, the higher your odds are of converting them.

Advertise Your Website

Of course, you can use plain old postcards with a link to your website. A simple "www.yoursite.com" in the body of the postcard, direct mail letter, or flier is enough to get the name of your company out there. Of course, your message should actually say something and entice people to get on the Internet and pay you a visit.

This is probably the most low-tech way there is to transition your online efforts back to offline marketing. Once people are on your website, you can track their movement. Most businesses don’t like just throwing their web address out there because they think they can’t track the user once they’re left. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remarketing allows you to continually advertise to everyone who lands on your site – regardless of how they got there.

Michael Holmes is a business marketing consultant. He enjoys passing on his insights to small businesses through blogging.

TECHNOLOGY FOR BUSINESS

by Leave a Comment

Did  you ever wonder, that why  doesn’t somebody create a gadget  that just mirrors everything that you can get on your desktop on to your tv , well Google has just come out with a  gadget chrome cast that does that.

google chromecast australia

Now you can enjoy your favourite online shows and music from YouTube, Netflix, Google Play and Chrome on your High Definition TV

Chrome cast App is an new gadget by google that allows web content to be played on your HDTV hassle free. All it needs is the chrome browser on your pc  which is available for free if you don’t already  have it

The program makes use of a “Chromecast device” and your Wi-Ficonnection to send web media content from your computer to your TV.

The Chromecast App makes for one of the easiest ways to enjoy the online media experience on your TV, playing shows and audio streams from online services  and it also has the ability to broadcast a  tab on to your tv. The Google chrome browser uses tabs to open different windows in your browser.

The requirement for this  to function is

· Chromecast device (The chrome cast  gadget)
· Wi-Fi Network
· Internet Connection

-Chrome browser ( with the chrome cast app available free)

Now this isn’t just  “technology for business”, but technology that can be used for homes as well as business and offices. getting this gadget you can get rid of you projectors  and just get any content on your laptop or pc onto that TV screen. Article by digitalfrog for Cool Gadgets Online

TAGS:
broadcast TV | TV broadcaster | Chromecast client | Chromecast | broadcast | broadcaster

Datsun car by Nissan reborn in India

by Leave a Comment

Most aussies know  “the datsun brand”  an iconic reliable car  that just worked. It has been an aussie favourite for ages  and now its getting released in india.  In the year 1981 in the U.S. it was badged as the DeLorean DMC-12.

Datsun GO Engine and Performance

Nissan has chosen India to introduce the Datsun Go, a super-inexpensive hatchback. (It will cost just  $7,000. putting this car in the budget affordable category in india). The Datsun Go will go on sale in India early next year, followed by sales in Russia, Indonesia, and South Africa. The four-door hatchback has a 1.2-liter engine and a five-speed manual transmission

The Indian price tag is Rs 4.00*lakh

Datsun was the company’s flagship auto brand in the U.S. until it was killed off in favor of the Nissan name in the U.S. in 1984 (and everywhere by 1986)

 

Datsun (DAT-GO), one of the oldest car manufacturing companies in the world was first started almost a century ago in the year 1914. Nissan changed the name to Datson from DAT-GO, which was later changed to Datsun.

good old aussie datsun

Tata, the Indian automaker, flopped badly with its Nano minicar that sold initially for $2,000.

Wondering if private health insurance is a good investment ?

by Leave a Comment

Here’s 5 reasons why Private insurance is necessary!

Spending money on private health insurance can often seem like an unwelcome and unnecessary expense, and many are tempted to rely entirely on Medicare for their healthcare needs. What you might not know is that if you choose your policy wisely, private health insurance can be an excellent investment, offering you value above and beyond the insurance premiums you pay. Here are five reasons why private health insurance is a good investment.

getting private insurance in australia

Better access to quality medical care

While Medicare can cover some of your medical expenses, a private health insurance policy can ensure that you are able to get high quality medical care without having to pay in full the high prices you would be subject to if you did not have private health insurance. “Private health insurance” can enable you to seek treatment at private hospitals, consult the doctors of your choice and enjoy the shorter waiting times associated with private medical care. What you pay in insurance premiums can be regained manifold when you make a claim that enables you to afford great medical care.

Prompt medical attention

Relying on the public health system often means being forced to wait in long queues before you can get the medical attention you need. When it comes to sudden or serious medical conditions, having prompt access to medical care can make all the difference. Private health insurance ensures you can obtain medical care when you need it most urgently without having to wait in long queues at public hospitals. This alone makes private health insurance a valuable investment and one that can prove to be a lifesaver.

Broader coverage

While Medicare attempts to provide very general coverage for basic medical care, many people still get private health insurance because it enables you to obtain coverage for a broader range of treatments and conditions that Medicare cannot provide for. Private health insurance can help to ensure that in addition to what Medicare offers, you have sufficient coverage for a range of treatment options and medical services.

Tax advantages

To make it even more evident that your purchase of a private health insurance policy is a sound financial choice, the government offers tax advantages you might be able to benefit from. Check with your insurer to see if you are eligible for private health insurance offset or rebates that can make private health insurance even more affordable and an even more cost-effective investment.

Psychological benefits

A cost-benefit analysis of “getting private health insurance” often neglects to consider the psychological benefits that are present despite not being easily quantifiable. The peace of mind you and your family get from knowing that you will be provided for if you fall ill or get injured is priceless.

Despite the existence of Medicare, private health insurance is viewed by many as a necessity, and for good reason. Private health insurance not only ensures you have easy access to prompt medical attention for a broad range of conditions and treatment options but can also be a very cost-effective investment in the long run.

Who pays a mortgage broker?

by Leave a Comment

Consumers as well as people who aspire to become a mortgage broker are not sure about who really pays these professionals. While consumers might suspect a mortgage broker to be recommending solutions that earn him more profits, aspiring “mortgage brokers” have little or no idea of how well or how much they can earn in this profession. This article sheds light on this subject!

mortgage australian broker

Much like there are no free lunches, there are no free advices either, much less a financial one. Mortgage brokers are experienced professionals who’re paid for their knowledge and expertise.

There is no way one would spend their time and energy if it were not for the compensation they earn for it. To become a mortgage broker, you have to understand the intricacies of the business. It is downright smart to understand how you would get paid before you venture into becoming one.

Mortgage Brokers earn a commission

It is needless to say brokers are compensated in monetary terms. Mostly, they earn a single-shot commission from the lender. The percentage can be anywhere between 0.5% to about 1.2% depending upon a number of factors like the duration of the mortgage or the lender‘s offering. Say, for instance, a broker is selling a mortgage for 10 years. In this case they would bring home a higher remuneration as compared to a 5 year mortgage for the simple reason that the lender is benefitted from it. In addition, the broker would also be selling one mortgage in a period of 10 years instead of two 5-year mortgages.

The commission earned is the trailer fee in financial terms. It is the lure for the broker to sell the mortgage. The lenders have been paying trailer fees to financial advisors for ages but it has just come into the scene for mortgage brokers. This is actually very important to understand if you want to learn how to become a successful mortgage broker. At the time the mortgage is signed, brokers earn a low percentage but they continue to get an additional percentage every year till the tenure of the deal. This translates into a twin benefit: one it gives them financial sustenance and two it gives them a constant revenue stream over a defined period.

What you, as the broker, have to take note of is this trailer fee. It is what hitches you to sell you the mortgage. Whilst working with a prospective client, you may be able to present a wider variety of offerings as compared to a financial institution as they can only sell certain products their organization has affiliated itself with. This is where the trailer fee kicks in. Combined with a host of other benefits like bonuses dependant on volume of business brokers procure for the lender, trailers can largely influence you in terms of the products being offered as some are more lucrative as compared to others. Bonuses for certain products can mean travel, perks or gifts for you.

Therefore, before you take the road to become a mortgage broker, study the market well as to which products are going to give you the maximum benefits as these will be the ultimate deciding factors in you becoming a successful mortgage broker. Explore the market options and choose the ones that offer you the most perks and bonuses as these are the monetary, or otherwise, gains you are going to derive out of selling a mortgage to a client.

Article by Red Rock Brokers who is an independent mortgage finance company specializing in property finance solutions for investors & borrowers with specialized lending needs.

Making your retirement money work harder

by Leave a Comment

Falling interest rates have hit retirees hard, and according to forecasters even more cuts may be in the pipeline. Particularly for self-funded retirees, it is now more important than ever to make retirement funds work harder.

banking high returns

Making smart choices about personal savings and savings products is vital, according to Greg McAweeney, Executive General Manager of RaboDirect Australia and New Zealand.

“Take the first step by moving excess money from your transaction account into a high interest savings account,” McAweeney says. “Aussies are losing out on billions of lost interest by leaving their money in low interest accounts. Take control of your money by doing the simple things.”

Generating higher returns

Chasing higher returns can be a dangerous game, particularly when you don’t have another 20 to 30 years of working life to cover any losses.

Instead, set an investment strategy with diversified investments while ensuring optimum tax and social security outcomes. A typical portfolio might comprise 50 per cent Australian shares, with the remainder made up of overseas managed funds, property and fixed interest.

Shares

“Blue chips” such as bank stocks have been popular with investors recently due to their high yields and fully franked dividends. According to a recent study by the Australian Securities Exchange, shares outperformed other investments including residential property, fixed interest and cash over the 20 years to December 2011.

Bonds

Gavin Madson, Director of Infrastructure and Fixed Income Research at FIIG Securities, says the latest cut to official interest rates made most short-term rates unattractive.

“Investors should be out of short-term fixed investments, be they bonds or term deposits, which will reflect the drop in rates fully, and instead invest in bonds around the five-year maturity mark, which are offering stronger returns on the higher base rate,” Madson says.

As well as inflation-linked bonds, he suggested indexed annuity bonds that offer an annuity-style payment stream from infrastructure projects at attractive rates.

Property

It is possible to extract wealth from your home using a reverse mortgage. Generally, the older you are the more you can borrow, with a 70-year-old likely able to borrow around 25 to 30 per cent of the property’s value.

The 2013 Federal Budget also introduced an incentive for retirees to downsize. Under the scheme, retirees can invest up to 80 per cent of the profit to a maximum $200,000 in a special account for 10 years and still receive the pension.

Government incentives

Even if ineligible for the pension, the government offers a range of benefits for retirees covering travel and medicine costs. There are also incentives for working past the pension age, including the mature age tax offset and transition to retirement.

Make sure you don’t run out of money in retirement by maintaining a mixture of income and growth assets. By maximising returns, it can be possible to enjoy the lifestyle you deserve.

This article is presented to you by Australian Business Times in conjunction with RaboDirect. For more information about investing in term deposits or utilising self managed super funds, visit RaboDirect.

Get $ 1 Million to solve a maths puzzle

by Leave a Comment

A billionaire Dallas banker will give out  USD 1 million  as prize to anybody who can solve a mathematical problem that has baffled geniuses for years.

theorem prize 1 million

1 million prize for solving Beal conjecture  theorem

The American Mathematical Society (AMS) in Rhode Island has announced that the prize for the solution to the Beal Conjecture, a number theory problem, has been changed AND increased to USD 1 million.

The  Beal conjecture :

http://www.bealconjecture.com/

The conjecture is named for D Andrew ‘Andy’ Beal, (the Dallas banker) who has a strong interest maths and who provided the funds for the Beal Prize and is looking forward  to solution to his number theory.

The prize will be given

For a proof of solution

or a counterexample to, the Beal Conjecture.

An other previous maths  theorem that baffled geniuses “Fermat’s Last Theorem theorem” was proved in the 1990s by Andrew Wiles, together with Richard Taylor.

A  prize (USD 1,00,000.)for a solution to the Beal Conjecture was announced in 1997. To date, no correct solution to the problem has been found.

Andrew Beal Math Problem

The famous  Poincare Conjecture, was solved by Russian mathematician Grigori Perelman in works he made public in 2003 and he went on to turn down the monetary prize.

 

To earn this 1 Million Beal Prize

A  proposed solution must be published in a refereed mathematics publication which is respected and, in the opinion of the prize committee (selected by the AMS), maintains the highest editorial standards.

The importance of building and maintaining a customer-friendly brand

by Leave a Comment

With competition fiercer than ever in our ever-volatile market, it is imperative to not only run a successful business, but to offer a service head and shoulders above the rest. After all, customers are going to want the absolute best.

That is where the importance of building a customer-friendly brand comes in – if a customer can connect and relate with a company, their emotional engagement is sure to return itself in their loyalty. Therefore, how do you keep your customers on side when dealing with your service?

clip_image001

Photo courtesy of SalFalko on Flickr

The new rules of putting the customer first

In 2012, Metro Bank began to expand and said that its fantastic success during a period of recession was due to their dedication to provide good customer service.

Anthony Thomson, the co-founder and chair of Metro Bank said that their unique business model allows them to build their company around their customers’ needs, which differentiates from the more traditional method of banking. For example, the bank sets their staff with customer satisfaction goals rather than sales targets, and opens for 12 hours each day to suit each and every customer.

Profit should not be the reason to go into business, says Thomson. Although it is a pleasant by-product of success, the reason that you want to succeed should be to fulfil the purpose of your business and provide exceptional service to your customers.

This service based mantra has clearly served the company well, as they continue to grow.

However whilst a company can aim for perfection every time, things can go wrong. Often the way that the situation is handled is a testament to the company and how they value their customers, so if things don’t quite go to plan, how do you maintain great customer service?

Facebook throws fuel on the fire

What happens when you’ve been annoyed beyond the realms of acceptable? Often we broadcast it, using social media as a method to vent our frustrations. Imagine this applied to business; the instantaneous nature of networking online means that a molehill can explode into a mountain in just moments.

For example, take the recent case of Virgin Media applying a late payment fee of £10 due to the direct debt being refused on the grounds of the payer having just died. Jim Boyden, the son-in-law of the deceased, posted a picture of the bill on Facebook on the evening of 22nd April, and by 24th April it had been shared by more than 53,000 users.

Virgin Media have since apologised to the family of the customer, but social media experts have said that this example shows how important a role social media plays now in customer service. Dr Lisa Harris, head of the digital marketing master’s programme at the University of Southampton spoke to the BBC on the matter and was said:

“Corporations are very good at promoting themselves; they recognise that everyone needs a Twitter and a Facebook account and they are aware the networks exist but they don’t have the strategies in place to deal with the issues that can arise from those networks”

The head of BT customer services Warren Buckley says that 40% of their complaints now come from social network Twitter, further stressing the importance placed on social media in the service industry.

Therefore to avoid becoming embroiled in similar situations, it is important to maintain an active presence via social media, and reply to those who take the time to get in touch with you. Take for example O2, who regularly respond to individual queries via their Twitter feed to resolve issues quickly.

By learning from the faux pas of some companies and implementing the customer-friendly strategy of others, you too can build a brand that attracts business and begs forgiveness when necessary.

Rosie Percy writes for the business sector and specialises in customer facing areas such as social media, lead generation and customer satisfaction. For more information on lead generation visit http://www.marketmakers.co.uk/lead-generation/. Rosie has previously written for the Guardian as well as lifestyle blogs, and now lives and works in Brighton.

Financial Headaches Facing Small Business Owners

by Leave a Comment

Fierce and uneven competition in the market is often the downfall of small business operations. Unlike large enterprises where cashflow is continuously trickling in enabling the repayment of business expenses, SMEs will frequently struggle to pay off debts if they handle their finances in the same manner. For the small enterprise, generating income and having enough cash at hand to pay for bills and expenses is one of the most important and challenging tasks. So finding the right solution to keep cash levels flowing and the business moving is paramount to ensuring successful business growth.

smallbusiness tax and australia

Keep the cash flowing

Cash flow is perhaps the heaviest issue for the small businessman. A profitable next quarter doesn’t mean anything if your workers won’t get their pay packets this quarter. Business owners must acquire an acute sense of timing and budgeting. Revenues must sustain the outflow of cash and replenish for the succeeding quarters in time before other expenses are due. With accurate calculation, the small business owner must be able to keep credit in check while predicting the times ahead, especially if there is significant seasonal variation in profits. If you do find yourself in some cash flow troubles due to bad debtors, you may wish to seek the aid of a debtor finance specialist to give you some help with unpaid invoices and get quick cash injection.

Expect the unexpected

The first few months in a business’s life can drive the small entrepreneur’s finances close to negative, with slim to none profits in the first few years. Businesses can generally handle the slow start as long as they aren’t hit with any sudden financial burdens. A large proportion of your profits may already be going towards office rent and maintenance but make sure you also have the correct insurance policies as the last thing you want to pay for is a large payout if a customer slips in your storefront.

Other like expenses such as government special charges and taxes on businesses and products even the price increase of supplies can also affect the small businessman’s finances. Keep a part of your income for these unexpected expenses. Better yet, anticipate these and keep into account when they are exactly due and how much they all amount to. Being fully aware of all potential costs will give you a much clearer picture of where the cash goes.

Prepare alternative plans when a disastrous event occurs.

In a huge business, the loss of an executive might not be as devastating as it is to a small company; they might just promote a person among subordinates that were groomed to follow and continue running the business. This is not so in a small business; if a small enterprise loses a key person, especially if he or she holds a number of responsibilities, the loss will affect the entire business—more so if the key person is the entrepreneur himself/herself. The business may temporarily stop for weeks, months or extended periods of time.

Natural disasters are also source of business interruption. If that happens, keep your cash on hand ready for any damages that need to be repaired. Also keep business policies in check to know when you can resume business the earliest time possible.

This guest post is brought to you by Scottish Pacific. For more information on business cash flow solutions and invoice discounting visit Scottish Pacific.