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Isolation Innovation – 5 Tips for Small Business Owners Working from Home

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Across the world, business owners and employees are being urged to work from home. For some, it’s an effortless process, and one they may have already been doing to some degree. For others, it’s foreign territory that can take a while to navigate and explore. Here are a few different things that can help make that adjustment period a bit more comfortable:

Keep Your Professional Support Contacts

Working from home may mean you’re working in a different setting, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t going to face the same challenges as you would in your office. Don’t cut contact with those other businesses that keep yours going. Stay in touch with your small business IT support guru and remember to keep your accountant informed with business operations.

Everyone you needed to run your business at the office will still be required while you work from home.

Don’t Change Your Routine

Working from an office has always promoted a sense of routine. You rise at the same time every day, get in the car or jump on public transport, then spend the working week doing the same things. While your morning commute is now from the bedroom to the dining room, that doesn’t mean your work routine must change.

Wake up at the same time, have a shower, get dressed in tidy attire, and start the working day at the same time. The sameness of your routine can ensure you achieve the same level of work as you would if you were in your office.

Educate Your Family

Your spouses and kids know that when you’re at the office, you’re not available to make them lunch, help with chores, and answer the door when there’s a knock. After all, how can you do those things when you’re not home?

Once you’re working from home, though, it can be easy to forget that you’re in work mode. When the working week kicks off, offer a gentle reminder that interruptions can be disruptive to how much work you achieve. Of course, spend time with your family, but set aside a few hours of your day just for you and your regular work routine.

Be Comfortable

Most people have their work station set up ergonomically at their place of business. Once you get home, though, you’re more likely to learn over a laptop in bed or stare down your phone with your neck at a crooked angle. Working at home should mean the same ergonomic principles apply.

Use a comfortable chair and desk, keep your monitor an arm’s length away, and adjust your chair height, so your hips and knees are level with each other. The more comfortable you are, the more you can achieve.

Use Apps

Working from home can mean you go without some of the creature comforts of the office. You may not have the same conferencing software, dedicated room for meetings, or microphones and camera equipment. Things are different, but there are some apps online that can make your working-from-home experience better.

Try apps like Skype, Slack, Trello, and Calmly. Whether you need fewer distractions or a working platform for you and your team, you’ll find plenty of options online.

Working from home may not be something you are familiar with, but that doesn’t mean it has to impact how much work you get done. Stick with your routine, talk to your family, and keep your same professional contacts so that your business operates like a well-oiled machine. You’d be surprised at how convenient and effortless working from home can be.

World’s Best Boss – 5 Tips For Keeping Employee Morale Up During The Coronavirus Pandemic

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As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the world’s economy, many people are worried about their current and future state of employment. While workers deemed “essential” are still fortifying the work front, many laid-off workers wonder if and when they will return to their jobs.

Although times are uncertain right now, employers can do a lot to boost morale and ease the minds of their employees. If you’re an employer, take a look at the suggestions below to keep your workers’ spirits up as this worldwide crisis continues.

1. Give the Gift of Appreciation

COVID-19 has separated and isolated the public at large. As such, workers may feel disconnected at home and taken for granted in the workplace. As an employer, you can help your workers, both at home and in-office, feel connected and valued by giving corporate gifts of appreciation.

You’d be surprised at how much small gifts can help during this trying time. It will remind your employees that they are part of a larger group and that they are still valued as a member of the team.

2. Keep the Lines of Communication Open

Because times are uncertain right now, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. Whether your employees are working from home, working in-person, or laid off during this time, you must keep them apprised of any and all changes taking place. By adopting an “open-door” policy, your employees still feel connected and able to discuss their concerns about work, family, and health with you.

3. Embrace Virtual Technology

As the coronavirus spreads, many people are forced to work from home. Aside from the traditional phone call or email, employers should adopt other forms of virtual tech to help employees feel less disconnected. Facetime, Skype, Zoom, and other online technologies make it possible to conduct one-on-one video calls as well as group video conferences over a wi-fi signal. As an employer, you should use as many virtual enhancements as possible to help your workers feel as if it’s business as usual, even if they’re quarantined at home.

4. Give Working Parents a Break

The rapid spread of the coronavirus has led to the mandatory closing of schools as well as some childcare centers. This leaves working parents struggling to balance their jobs with childcare. As the boss, it’s up to you to recognize this struggle and give your working parents a break when you can.

If their job isn’t one that needs to be done during normal business hours, you can allow them to work when it’s convenient for them. Alternately, you could relax project deadlines to give them more time to complete their work.

5. Make Sure Your Network Can Handle Remote Work

Despite the many reasons to be feeling down about COVID-19, many people are still motivated to do their jobs well. As such, your company’s network must be able to handle the influx of remote work that’s taking place. If it can’t, your workers may begin to feel dejected with an attitude of “why bother?”

If you notice that your IT infrastructure isn’t keeping up with the demand, you should get the expert help it takes to get things running smoothly for your employees. If you don’t have the funds for in-house IT workers, small business IT support services can save you in these difficult times.

No one knows just how long the coronavirus is going to continue to wreak havoc on the world. Until it’s all over, though, employers can help boost the morale of their employees by adopting some or all the suggestions listed above.

Small Loans – Getting Financial Help When You Need it Most

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Staying safe and helping each other through COVID has become a focus for us all right now, and safety means our well being – physically, mentally, and financially.

small loans

We all need to focus on what matters in our lives and keep things as simple as possible – as there has been a lot of change for us all to get used to.

One of the most important things for us to do though is keep those necessities going – the little things in our lives that we see as essential to our well being.

That’s where a small loan can help, and with social distancing, and the temporary closure of many face-to-face businesses, it’s helpful to know that the application can be completed 100% online.

Unlike large loans say for houses or cars, a small loan is designed to help with life’s necessities. For some of us, those necessities are yoga classes which we can do online, and for others of us, it might mean purchasing a breadmaker so we can make gluten-free baked goods and be self-sufficient at home.

Whatever your situation, we are all in this together, and we all need to focus on what matters most to us and the people we care about.

Whether it’s realising that you now need to purchase a laptop or a tablet so the kids can keep learning from home, or being able to pay a higher than usual utility bill because you are housebound, a small loan may help relieve the pressures we are experiencing right now.

Rates have been officially frozen in Australia by the RBA, so there are no more increases to come while we take measures to look after our health, and plan for life during and after COVID.

If you are looking for a small loan to help, here are a few tips on what to look for online:

1. Is the process simple?

When situations are stressful, and we are all experiencing a lot of change both socially and financially with COVID, you want to keep any processes simple. Look for a small loan online that is straightforward, and that is easy for you to complete. Expect to answer a few simple questions, so look for online applications that can be completed in a relatively short time frame (less than an hour).

2. Are the repayment terms clear?

You want to make sure that you can manage your repayment cycle, and that there are no hidden fees with any small loan. Look for how you access the money, what the interest rate is, and whether you have a short repayment term like three months, or a long repayment term. It can be easy to understand repayment amounts if the loan company has an online tool.

3. Does it fit with your pay cycle?

Be sure that you can fit the repayment with your pay cycle. This can make it easier for you to manage, as you will know when the money will come out of your account.

4. Can you speak to a customer service team easily?

You want to be able to contact a customer service representative of the company when you need them. Check for their operating hours, and whether you will be able to speak with them, email them or phone them.

5. What are other customers saying about the small loans?

Look at what other customers are saying. This will help verify that the online application is as easy as the loan company says it is.

If you are looking for a small loans, remember that simplicity is key.

Look for a small loan that can help you cover the essentials for your family when finances are a little stretched in the short term. It might just be the positive difference you all need in your life to keep you focused on what matters most – the health and safety of your family.

Taste in Tech: How Modern Technology Has Changed the Hospitality Industry

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In the last decade or so, technology has truly changed how we live. From our daily lives to our jobs, technology plays a huge role in how our society functions. One of the industries that has benefited the most from technology is hospitality. The hospitality industry is a dynamic environment that evolves and changes at a rapid pace. With the aid of new technologies, the last decade has witnessed the industry advancing at a remarkable pace. In today’s article, we have a look at how modern technology has changed the hospitality industry, so read on to find out more.

  1. Contactless Payments

The truth is, as a society, we are rapidly shifting towards a cash-free lifestyle. Thanks to advances in technology, the hospitality industry has been able to greatly reduce cash transactions. Gone are the days where time had to be wasted calculating change or handling stacks of cash. Almost every restaurant, hotel or bar now offers various payment methods through their POS systems in Sydney. This allows customers to pay in a variety of ways, ranging from debit or credit cards to digital wallets that pay the bill in an instant with a simple tap of one’s smartphone.

  1. Online Bookings and Reservations

Did you know that based on surveys that have been conducted, most people would rather not have to call a restaurant or hotel up if there was an option for them to book a table or room online? Thanks to advances in technology, almost every single restaurant, bar or hotel now allows for customers to make a booking or reservation online. Not only does this save your customers time and hassle, it also reduces the workload on your service staff as it won’t be necessary for them to tend to bookings on the phone all day long.

  1. Social Media Presence

Social media rules the world and has completely changed the way hospitality businesses interact with their customers. Businesses are now able to advertise their services on their social media platforms without having to spend a single dollar. For businesses looking to go the extra mile, there are various sponsored ads and promotions that many platforms such as Facebook and Instagram offer. These sponsored ads allow you to reach thousands of people online that may have otherwise never heard of your business. Social media is also a fantastic tool to engage with your customers and ensure that they are happy with your services. Showing that you care on a personal level is what differentiates a good business from a great one.

  1. Remote Check-In & Check Out

Think about how much time is wasted when guests at a hotel queue at the front desk to check in and out of their hotel rooms. Thanks to good ol’ technology, most hotels allow for guests to virtually check in and out of their hotel rooms via a mobile application. By enabling guests to handle the check-in and check-out process on their own, hotel managers are effectively freeing up staff hours that could otherwise be spent on more pressing tasks. This could even reduce the need for a large number of staff members, thus eliminating unnecessary costs for the business. Mobile apps can also help hotels and businesses further understand their customers needs and provide them with a more personalised experience.

  1. Online Reputation Management

Before the days of Yelp! And Facebook, people had to rely on word of mouth. Thanks to so many online platforms that have popped in up the last few years, hospitality businesses are able to keep track of their online reputation with ease. Online reviews and comments offer businesses direct insight into what customers think of their services, ways they can improve and things that may need to change. By using this feedback, businesses are able to improve their standards and offer a better guest experience for all. The fact that this information is public also serves as a motivation for staff members to ensure that they provide the best possible customer service experience.

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With the help of technology, the hospitality industry has seen unprecedented growth in the last decade that is only predicted to continue for years to come. We hope that this article has given you some valuable insight into how modern technology has changed the hospitality industry for the better.

Financial Framework – Four Tips That Can Help You Get Out Of Debt On Any Income

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finance lawyer news agency australia

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

If creditors have been hounding you for payment, you may be wondering how in the world you’ll ever get out of debt. Many people fear they will never get out of their financial strife because what they owe is more than what they can afford to pay back in the foreseeable future.

The good news is that even if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, there’s light at the end of that stifling tunnel. You can get out of debt sooner rather than later by following the tips listed below.

1. Create a Budget that Works for You

Every person’s debt profile is different. This means you may have to explore multiple solutions to get out of debt before you find one that works for you.

Before you panic or throw your hands up in despair at the mountains of debt you owe, take a minute to look closely at how much you have coming in and going out. Evaluate the things that are necessary and not and find ways to cut expenses where you can. When you create a budget like this and stick with it, your eyes are opened to how much you really spend (get ready for a shock), and you often find funds you didn’t even know you had.

2. Make a Plan for Repayment

Most creditors are willing to work with you as long as you let them know about your situation. It’s when you ignore their repeated attempts to contact you that they begin to get nasty. If you’re experiencing financial hardship or can’t afford to pay as much as they’re asking each month, just contact the creditor and work out a payment plan. Keeping them in the loop makes them much more understanding and willing to work with you.

3. Get a Lower Interest Rate

There are a few different options for obtaining a lower interest rate on your lines of credit. First, you can simply call the creditor and ask for a lower interest rate. If you have a history of on-time payments, the creditor may be more inclined to grant you the more reasonable rate you seek.

Second, you could transfer high-interest balances to a lower-interest bearing credit card. Some of these cards have introductory periods with no interest for a specified amount of time. If you plan to pay the balance off during that time, you could save a ton in interest.

Having said that, if you don’t pay off the balance during that introductory period, you could end up owing more than you originally started with once the interest rate kicks in.

The last of these options to consider is a debt consolidation loan that allows you to combine all your high-interest loans into one lower-rate loan. Alternatively, you could also work with a debt management service who will advocate on your behalf to your creditors for lower monthly payments.

4. Stop Using Credit Cards

Credit card use seems to be what drives the economy these days, but if you’ve over-extended yourself (it’s easy to do), credit cards can be a nightmare to pay off. The easiest way to pay off debt is to stop adding to it with more credit card spending. Cut your cards up, put them in the freezer – whatever you have to do to keep yourself from using them.

Facing excess debt is never fun, but regardless of your income level, you can pay it down and achieve financial freedom. If you find yourself feeling hopeless about the financial hole you’ve gotten into, use the tips above to pull yourself out.

How to buy stocks in the Australian stock market

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stock market crash with covid and stock picks recovery

The current stock market is in turmoil with a lot of volatility in share prices here in Australia, however there is a growing number of people who think getting in now could be profitable for them in the long term. So how do you get into the stock market ? How do you buy shares to take advantage of the current stock market tumble.

There are two different ways that you can get into the stock market  and buy and sell shares

1. Sign up with bank share trading account that allows you to buy and sells shares

2. Sign up with a stock broker that specifically allows you to buy and sell shares.

There are other ways to buy shares like buying a bunch of blue-chip stocks or buying an ETF (which is also buying a bunch of shares) – but we will come to that later.

Banks as a stock trading buy and sell platform

Most big banks allow you to sign up with them for a stock trading account so that you can buy and sell shares. If you are already signed up with one of them, just enquire with them. Here is a list of banks that facilitate stock trading

1. Commonwealth bank ( Comsec – their share trading platform)

comsec trading australia

2. National Australia Bank ( Nabtrade – their share trading platform)

nabtrade

Below we give you further details about brokerage fees these bank charge and also prices for some popular dedicated share trading platforms.

How much money do I need to start trading the stock market?

Technically, there’s no minimum amount of money needed to start investing in stocks. But you probably need at least $500 — $2,000 to really get started right.

How do I make money in the stock market?

There are many ways to make money in the stock market, however the most simple method to understand this is when you buy a share today that cost you $500 , but its worth tomorrow is $600 and so you sold it – then you just made $100

To break that into much more realistic detail and give you an example

Eg. Say you got $500 to invest

Westpac bank shares are $15 each today, so you bought 32 Westpac shares

32 Westpac shares X $15= $480 + (add $10 bank fees for buying)

Total cost is $490 to buy the shares

Three days later (or six months later), there is a bit of recovery and Westpac share price rises and is $20 each share.

You had bought $32 shares earlier; you sell it today for $20 (that’s a $5 increase in the share price)

32 shares x $20 =$640 – $10 bank fees

You have $630 from your sell

Sell price $630 – Bought price $490 = Your profit $140

The bank does not charge you anything for holding the shares, but charge you for each buy and sell, which bring us to our next point -broker fees.

Now say if that investment was $5000 instead of $500 your profit could be $740 in one trade

How much does it cost me to buy and sell shares?

stocks to check

Every broker and every bank have different set of prices for buying and selling shares. It really comes down to ease of use, broker fees and availability of stocks to trade on each platform. Here is short comparison of some top bank and broker fees

Share trading fees – Banks

Commonwealth Bank – Comsec Fees:

For shares under $1000 in value – $10 each transaction

For trades between $1,000 and $10,000 – $19.95 each transaction

This is called the brokerage fee

Website https://www.commsec.com.au/support/rates-and-fees.html

National Australia Bank – Nabtrade Fees:

Up to and including $5,000 – $14.95 each transaction

From trades between $5,000.01 – $20,000 – $19.95 each transaction

Website https://www.nabtrade.com.au/investor/pricing

Share trading fees – Brokers

Two popular brokers apart from Banks are Self wealth and Ig markets. They both allow trading in Australian stocks as well as international stocks and CFD.

Self-wealth trading fees:

Brokerage fee for every trade, regardless of size – flat $9.50 (Only Australian Shares)

self wealth trading

Website https://www.selfwealth.com.au/online-trading/


IG markets Trading fees:

Trading Australian shares – $8 per trade or 0.1% whichever is higher

For US markets – US$10, or 2 cents per share

ig markets australia

Website:https://www.ig.com/au/charges

With IG markets you can do Australian and US stock market trading and also trade in CFD’s for which you have to sign up separately with them.

Other share trading platforms worth mentioning are ANZ share trading, Bell Direct and CMC markets.

Most banks and stock trading brokers provide additional data and tools for company and stock analysis, creating watchlists, setting price alerts, creating specific set price buys and more. Features offered can differ from platform to platform.

With Comsec and Self wealth – All trades are CHESS sponsored

There are two ways for shares to be held:

CHESS Sponsored Shares – Shares that are registered with a stock broker (CommSec or another broker). CHESS Sponsored Shares are allocated a Holder Identification Number (HIN) by the broker.

Issuer Sponsored Shares – Shares that are managed by the issuer of those shares via the issuer’s Share Registry. Issuer Sponsored Shares can be traded through any broker, providing conditions set out by that broker are met. Issuer Sponsored Shares are allocated a Security Reference Number (SRN).

In reality it does not make much difference to your trading profit, if it is chess sponsored or issuer sponsored.

Risky Stock Trading with penny stocks

There is a difference between big companies and small companies (smallcaps) and with small companies come more risk in comparison with blue chip stocks like BHP, Westpac.

Some traders can get lucky and pick a small company stock that can become a winner.

Take for example FMG – Fortescue Metals Group (iron ore miner)

This stock was once trading for between $2 and $3 – Today the price is $10

Say you dropped $5000 when it was $2, so you got 2500 shares of FMG

You sold it when it reached $10 today x 2500 shares=$25,000

You just made $25,000 from $5,000, however this is very rare- though people have gotten lucky with their stock picks and made money.

FMG was once a small cap with lot of debt and considered risky, but now they have paid up their debts and are considered much safer than they were before.

ETF’s

Another popular method of buying into shares right now is called ETF’s . With buying an ETF you have options like buying into a group of shares  where you can also invest by putting money in a regular basis  as low as $50 a month/week. Some providers/brokers also allow you to invest  in ASX 50 or a lumpsum into a group of blue chip stocks.

ETF’s are available through bank trading platforms

Learning how to trade the stock markets is essential, before you decide to have a punt on your hard-earned money.

The stock market can make you money, but it can also take your money and put you at a loss. Doing dummy trading, joining stock trading groups and researching companies for three to six months is a good idea before jumping right in. Good luck!

Article written by Jeff – I blog about stock trading – Check my stock market blog over here

Tax Talk: How to Handle Taxation as an Australian Business Owne

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tax time australia

Taxation is one of those things that most of us dread. Let’s face it – it’s not the most fun of activities and requires a great deal of accuracy. If you are a new business owner, sorting your taxes out for the first time can be an incredibly daunting experience. Thankfully, today we’re here to guide you through all the steps you need to take as a small business owner when it comes to handling your taxes. Read on to find out more!

  1.    Do Your Research

The best thing you could do for your business taxes is to do your research. Do you know other business owners? Why not ask them for tips or guidance on how you can go about sorting your business taxes in the easiest and most efficient and compliant way possible. We also highly recommend looking up various Australian tax invoice templates to get a rough idea on how you should go about organising and preparing your small business taxes.

  1.    Ensure You Are STP Compliant

As of 2019, all businesses in Australia are required to be STP compliant. STP, or Single Touch Payroll, is a system that was introduced by the ATO in 2018. STP requires business owners to send employee payroll information including wages, salary, superannuation and PAYG withholding to the ATO on a payment-to-payment basis. Previously, employers only needed to do this on an annual basis. Ensuring that you are STP compliant is incredibly important in order to not land your business in hot water or accrue fines from the ATO.

  1.    Keep Strong Records

Keeping strong records is always recommended to any business owner as this allows for ease of filing taxes at the end of the financial year. It is never too early to start keeping records, and we highly recommend utilising various software such as payroll software, invoicing software and so on to ensure that your data is as accurate as possible. Most software can now integrate with one another (including automated STP software), ensuring that your processes are automated and kept complaint at all times.

  1.    Get On Those Deductions

It is always recommended that small business owners claim as many appropriate deductions as they can. This can include costs for utilities, rent, legal services and repairs for your business. It is also recommended by experts that business owners pre-pay for these expenses if possible, in order to bring forward as many expense deductions prior to the July 1st deadline. Always remember that anything deducted has to be directly related to earning your business income and that you have full and in-depth data on how you have calculated these costs.

  1.    Get Superannuation In On Time

The golden rule is to always get your superannuation in on time and before the 30th of June. Failing to do so will result in the loss of your opportunity for a deduction. Always remember that superannuation needs to be paid to your staff 28 days after the end of each yearly quarter. Failing to meet these guidelines will result in you losing your eligibility for tax deduction.

  1.    Utilise Income Tax Offset

The income tax offset can see you shaving up to $1000 off your taxes if you earn a revenue of under 5 million dollars annually. At this moment in time, the offset is set at 8% of tax payable, but it is estimated that this figure will grow up to as much as 16% over the next decade or so. This offset applies to sole traders and micro-business owners and is an incredibly helpful resource and tool for new business owners.

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Handling your taxation as an Australian business owner needn’t be a stressful or miserable task. We hope that the tips we have brought to you today have assisted you in further understanding the process of sorting out your business taxes.

Listing of The Top 10 Australian Technology Blogs

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Today I was looking to put together a listing of the Top Ten technology websites in Australia, but I ended up researching much more than I should and so got more than 10 for you. I went surfing ( the internet off course) and top websites that know what ranks in Australia like Alexa.com , Googletrends.com, and similarweb.com and a few others

Data from – Best Tech Ranking Websites 2017 to 2020

There was an interesting mix on top go to websites by Australians – I was surprised at finding vic.gov.au the government website ranking at #43 on alexa, not so surprised at livejasmin.com #35 and pornhub.com #24 rankings. I really don’t know how diply.com was on that top list.

How alexa.com ranks websites

Alexa ranks websites based on a combined measure of page views and unique site users, and creates a list of most popular websites based on this ranking time-averaged over three-month periods. Only the site’s highest-level domain is recorded, aggregating any subdomains.

Here is what similarweb found for the top news and media websites in Australia.

ratings

Similarweb collects data like which website gets how much traffic from which country comes to a website and more similar data, so they got a pulse and where people are going on the internet.

What similar webs gave me on technology niche

Well similarweb did not have a technology category, so I browsed computers and electronics and got office.com, apple.com and xero.com – so I browsed onto their other category internet and telecom and got facebook.com and google.com.au with top ranks.

Not satisfied I surfed onto Arts and entertainment category and got websites like “Netflix.com” “youtube.com” and imdb.com as top ranking websites in Australia.

I, just did not rely on google.com , but also looked into popularity on Facebook.com where people spend a lot of time browsing content nowadays and has its own popularity ranking within the facebook world.

You’d be surprised to know – Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has overtaken Shakira to become the most followed person on Facebook according to BBC. The 30-year-old star now has 107,096,356 likes compared to 107,087,100 for the Colombian singer.

Some top tech pages on facebook

There is not much information on top ranking Facebook pages in technology, but if we look at news and media in Australia , these websites (sbs, abc and 7news) are definitely doing well with a large fanbase on facebook. Nine.com.au and yahoo7 is also doing well with their fanbases on facebook.

roy morgan ratings stats

According to roymorgan.com.au – Three million Australians (14+) visited one or more of these Top 10 tech-focused websites in an average four weeks in the year to March 2016—up 34% since the year to March 2013.

So I collected all the information from these top ranking categories from these different websites and came up with these top ranking technology websites and came up with my own little refined algorithm for “Top Tech Websites in Australia for 2017” and here it is listed below.

The data is collected from these freely available top data collecting websites (alexa,similarweb etc) , including social media platforms facebook.com and more and web search engines including bing.com and yahoo.com apart from google.com.au.

The top 10 Best Technology  Blogs for Australia

Gizmodo Australia – Official Site

https://www.gizmodo.com.au

Technology and consumer electronics news, reviews and deals. Gizmodo covers computers, software, mobile phones, TVs, MP3 players, games, vehicles and peripherals

reddit website

Reddit.com – Official Site

https://www.reddit.com

life hacker au

Lifehacker Australia – Official Site

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/

If you want  to get the most out of technology and work smarter then Lifehacker Australia’s productivity tips, downloads, shortcuts and website recommendations will help you with it.

netflix australia

Netflix.com.au – Official Site

https://www.netflix.com/au/

This mainly  tv series  streaming website  has a Flat monthly fee streaming TV and movies service at an affordable price and has managed  to take a huge chunk from foxtel’s monopoly.

ebay.com.au

Ebay.com.au – Official Site

http://www.ebay.com.au/

Ebay is one of the biggest online buy and sell websites  that started with suction style listings and now  has big commercial companies regularly selling on their platform as well.

imgur

imgur.com – Official Site

http://imgur.com/

Imgur is the Internet’s visual storytelling community .Its a viral website that has interesting content mostly in pictures.

cnet tech website

CNET.COM – Official Site

http://www.cnet.com/

Among top few technology sites, this one is the best tech news website to get the info about gadgets, technology, reviews on smartphones, tech videos and information covering latest topics like smart home devices and electronic accessories.

lad bible

Ladbible.com – Official Site

http://www.ladbible.com/

Ladbible is the home of entertainment, viral video, trending content and the latest news. They are the biggest community in the world for a generation of social media viral content.

annoying cookie guy next web

THENEXTWEB.COM – Official Site

https://thenextweb.com

The NextWeb founded in 2006 is now the world’s largest online publisher that delivers latest information for internet technology, gadgets , new devices & info related to tech companies.  They do a great job on promoting their content on social media platforms like Facebook in a viral news kind of way.

slashdot

Slashdot.org – Official Site

https://slashdot.org/

Its  News for nerds, stuff that matters. Timely news source for technology related news with a heavy slant towards Linux and Open Source

gumtree

Gumtree Australia – Official Site

https://www.gumtree.com.au/

Gumtree is the #1 classifieds site in the UK,Australia, South Africa, and Singapore.

buzzfeed

Buzzfeed – Official Site

https://www.buzzfeed.com/

BuzzFeed is a buzzing independent digital media company delivering news and entertainment to hundreds of millions of people around the world in a social and viral environment kind of way.

mashable.com.au

MASHABLE.COM

http://www.mashable.com/

Mashable.com, founded in 2005 by Pete cashmoore covers topics related to latest technology, gadget reviews, social media tips. They also cover new startups related to technology and innovation.

ars technica
ARSTECHNICA.COM

http://www.arstechnica.com/

Arstechnica, founded in 1998, one of the oldest tech news magazine. It has been regarded as a trusted source for latest scientific advancements, tech policy analysis, hardware performance analysis, game reviews. They also created ars in 2001, it’s first type of IT publication covering gaming and tech related news.

2017 – Quantcast MOZ and Wikipedia Rankings

While this listing above is one of the top listing I have compiled for top technology blogs in Australia, there are still many more websites with many more rankings in similar or related niches. I was not so much surprised to see linked.in and wordpress.org ranking at no .5 and no.6 at the https://moz.com/top500 ranking list.

Another top listing website like Quantcast.com listed amazon.com and Wikipedia.org at no#4 and no#5 for world listing which confirms their popularity online. This website surprisingly gave buzzfeed.com and wikia.com as top popular websites for Australia.

Wikipedia.org has its own list amalgamated from similarweb and alexa, among the usual suspects for top world websites, I noticed Chinese websites like “baidu.com” – (the equivalent to the Chinese Google search engine), qq.com (tencent) , and Aliexpress.com as popular Chinese websites in world listing.

Start- ups on the Australian scene

Start-ups haven’t been doing too bad as well on the Australian scene, here are some start-ups with promise with some already having proved themselves.

Top startup tech companies in Australia

1. Atlassian

2. Xero

3. Envato

4. Campaign Monitor

5. Canva

Deloitte Australia has its own listing of top start-ups in Australia that are growing at a rapid pace.

You can also find out more about Australian online surfing habits reading this article on abc about top visited websites by Australians.

I started out with the top 10 tech blogs but ended up listing much more than that (currently at 14), if you have any more websites worthy of adding to this list, do  get in touch with  me at my blog over here.

Reasons Why Skipping a Degree Course May Be a Good Idea

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university for study europe

University used to be the step you take after high school. There was hardly any way to wiggle out of it.

Not so anymore.

Indeed some of the opportunities that were previously reserved for University graduates are now available to non-graduates.

If you have been wondering why more and more people are skipping university, here are some of the reasons behind this trend.

1. There are other Equivalents

While a university degree is not the end-all, be-all, higher education is still unquestionably important.

Luckily, there are varied options today.

It gives one a broader perspective on things as well as the tools to adapt to an ever-changing world.

Alternatives such as apprenticeships and TAFE qualifications can still lead to high-paying jobs.

2. It’s Expensive

Australia attracts scholars from all over the world, thanks to its revered education standards and school systems. The downside, however, is that these institutions are expensive.

For most students, this means taking out student loans to be repaid once one gets to a certain level of income in the future.

While student loans are a great solution to help one get into college, you graduate with the thought of an unpaid loan hanging above your head.

To avoid this, young people are opting to take online courses and other forms of higher education that are significantly more affordable.

Instead of working to repay expensive loans, later on, tuition funds can be put towards purchasing a home or other large ticket items.

3. It’s Not for Everyone

There are specific career paths that absolutely require a University degree to succeed in. Some do not.

This means that for some people, going to college is not as instrumental as it would be to others. For these reasons, skipping university and getting a head start in their goals makes more sense.

For example, someone with a passion for baking and would love to go into entrepreneurship would rather much forego university and spend those 3-4 years perfecting their skills, opening their business, and learning the ropes.

 

4. You Can Still Land Great Jobs

Many blue-chip corporations are increasingly looking to hire for skill.

There are fields in which an apprenticeship or vocation training is deemed more highly than a University Degree.

Apprenticeships and vocational training aim at teaching practical skills to be used to solve everyday problems in the business world. And indeed, employers are looking to hire people who can create solutions.

In this regard, people can forego university, take up other training models, and still get similar opportunities to jobs with high pay.

5. Networking is Much Easier

Another plus for going to university used to be the socializing and networking potential.

Here, students would create and build long term networks that would support them in both their personal and career lives.

The internet has changed this.

Online courses have come a long way from what we had in the past where students would get course files, and that would end at that.

Today, an online course also provides avenues for learners to work collaboratively in group assignments, class discussions, and so on.

These classroom relationships can easily morph into personal friendships that provide the same support and networking potential that people that went to university form with their peers.

University: Yes or No?

Unfortunately, this is not a simple yes or no question as several factors must come into play when deciding to attend or forego university.

However, not getting a university degree is no longer handicaps your career or future as it once did.

Explore your options, network put in some hard work, and you will enjoy the life you always dreamt of.

The crucial role of technological input in modern business

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property lease

When it comes to running a successful business, there is no getting around the fact that it is a job that demands constant attention to detail and intricate involvement on every level possible. These days, modern businesses are functioning and thriving at an all-time high, and a massive part of the reason why that is comes down to the fact that technological innovation has well and truly impacted the modern business landscape for the better. Of course, the goal of technological influence is always to improve an aspect of life as we know it, but the simple truth is that sometimes certain technological innovations have more of a profoundly positive impact across the board than others.

Today, the landscape of business is one of the most tremendously impressive landscapes in the world. There is an incredible amount of determination and hard work that goes into bringing these landscapes to vibrant life. There is something to be said about the businesses that are willing and able to take their approach to the next level by introducing and embracing modern marvels like technological influence. More than ever, technology is present in business in fresh and exciting ways that are challenging, if not near impossible, to come to terms with otherwise.

Respecting the balancing act of entrepreneurship

The art of entrepreneurship is one that is well and truly involved in a tremendously impressive inclination towards the ongoing evolution and improvement of a business model. Being an entrepreneur is never an easy job, and it is so incredibly important that all entrepreneurs, no matter their background, are entirely dedicated towards the cause. It is a balancing act that never seems to come to an end, and it is a balancing act that is significantly important when it comes to successful and long-lived business in this modern era.

Introducing technological input into a business

The key to longevity and success for modern businesses is to work with technological innovations (among other aspects and points, of course). This was mentioned earlier, but the importance of including and embracing technological influence in a modern business cannot be overstated. The rest of the world is moving increasingly in the direction of a digital future. What that means for businesses specifically, is that they are now in a position of essentially having to transform the way they approach growth, by means of technological advancement.

Consistently thriving and elevating the business

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Thriving and consistently elevating a business takes a lot of determination and hard work. This much is glaringly obvious, and it is also incredibly important to not that the influence of technological power in modern businesses is making this task easier than ever. Whether it is incorporating an automated novated lease calculator for company vehicle utilisation, or expanding a business by creating and building upon an online presence, the point is always, and without exception, the same: success in business these days is at least partially hinged on the business in question’s willingness and capability to embrace technological innovation.