WA

What is SEO and why it is indispensable to your business?

March 9, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Search Engine Optimisation, popularly known SEO, has become quite a buzzword in business today. You might be wondering what SEO is and why it is becoming an essential driver for online businesses these days. Companies these days are consulting SEO experts to help them improve their search engine rankings. SEO helps in increasing your visibility and making your website more searchable. So, let’s look at few reasons why SEO is important for your business.

SEO helps in organic searches

Organic search is a crucial part of any buying funnel. The guidelines defined by search engines such as Google and Yahoo must be followed by your brand. SEO services Adelaide help you comply with these guidelines so that you can rank well. This helps by showing your website in the relevant search results to generate more traffic.

Building trust and credibility

It is crucial for you to connect with your users as a brand. They will be interested in your products and services only when they can trust. You can build this trust via search engine optimisation. Your website will essentially establish authority if it has quality back-links, optimised content, and machine-learning signals. It should be noted that building authority is a time-taking process and you would have to be patient for getting results. SEO helps in achieving this so that your brand gets the recognition that it deserves. Customers are more likely to buy your services or products if they are convinced that you are reliable and trustworthy. Thus, SEO helps you in making your profile credible in the digital space.

Improving user experience

Very few people understand that the visibility and ranking of your website highly depend on the user experience. Search engine optimisation Adelaide helps you improve your website. It should be noted that Google considers a user-friendly website to be a really important aspect. Quality SEO works in favour of your brand. Your chances of ranking high are increased if you put high-quality content on your website. The information you provide should be relevant and precise to engage the audience.

Role of Local SEO

Local SEO has become crucial for small scale businesses and enterprises. How you rank in the target location decides how well your business will fare. Local optimisation is when your marketing efforts are focused on a particular town, region, state or city. This ensures that you communicate your brand and connect with the local audiences. SEO professionals optimise your website and make it relevant to the location and your business sector.

Cost-effective alternative

We are not saying that SEO is free. But it is certainly cheaper than traditional marketing like banners, hoardings, printed ads etc that only reach a few people. With the paradigm shift of digital marketing, your business must have an online presence. A little investment in SEO is going to help you a long way.

SEO activities are measurable

You can measure almost all SEO activities with analytics and tracking. A digital marketing team would show you exactly what results you have achieved after putting in the efforts. This is measurable in terms of leads generated, number of likes and follows and overall reaches of your company.

Final Take

Thus, it is apparent that SEO is indispensable for your business. Implementing SEO on the website of your brand is sure to bring in favourable results. You can expect improved visibility, better traffic, and more leads. As a result of this, you can also generate more revenue. Moreover, you can always check if your efforts are getting paid off as it is quantifiable. So what are you waiting for? Avail SEO in Adelaide today to boost your business online.

Opening a Physiotherapy Practice – Where to Start

February 24, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The need for physiotherapy is only expected to increase with contemporary demographic changes. As such, opening your own practice has potentially never been more opportune or potentially lucrative. However, knowing where to begin the process of taking such a leap can be difficult and it’s important to take some time to understand exactly what is involved in opening your own physiotherapy practice.

Starting from scratch opening a physiotherapy practice can be difficult. There are many points to check off that it can quickly become an overwhelming task. However, with the right guidance, support, determination and patience, you can make your dream a reality. With every stage of the process, you need to do what you can to ensure that things go smoothly.

Let’s take a look a closer look at some of the key elements of opening a physiotherapy practice, from building plans to practice management software and everything in between.

Read on to learn more!

Some First Steps

To open your own practice, it is important to understand the requisite legal specifications you must check off before you open. Understand what the industry standards are. This includes officially registering as a physiotherapist which must be done with an application to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This organization requires both an initial and annual registration fee.

In addition, you must apply for a Medicare Provider number and (often) also apply for registration with the Australian Physiotherapist Association.

If you will require financing, it is useful to write a proper business plan. This should incorporate your knowledge of the physiotherapy market as well as details regarding projections for your own practice.

Structuring Your Practice

In terms of the organisation of your practice as a business, it is useful to think about how you will structure it. Usually, following a company structure is most sensible. This will establish your practice as a distinct legal entity. This can reduce your personal liability in case of potential accidents. Choosing your structure will also depend on whether you are opening the practice as a sole individual or whether you are entering into a partnership with other physiotherapists.

In any case, it is also vital to register your business in Australia to get it legally up and running. You will need to acquire an Australian Business Number and a Tax File Number to ensure that your practice is in good stead with the government.

Laying The Foundations

Unless you own some real-estate which can serve as the physical location of your practice, you will likely be renting or leasing a space. In any case, choosing a prime location is paramount. If you do choose to lease, know the rights and obligations of your retail or commercial lease. It is critical that you make sure you know what you can use the space for and whether you will have the option to extend the lease. Procuring equipment for your practice can easily be done online.

Once your location is set, it is important to hire a team of employees that can serve you well. Depending on the specifics of your practice plans, you may be hiring additional physiotherapists or staff to assist with administrative tasks. Vet candidates on how well they can fit in with the work culture of your practice. Be sure to follow existing hiring laws and make sure to set up the proper tax filing information for each new employee.

Setting up medical practice management software can also streamline the day-to-day operations in your practice. These programs can be used to help integrate electronic medical records with operational administrative and financial matters (appointment scheduling and insurance claims, for example). They can also provide performance indicators to let you know how efficiently your practice is operating.

Grand Opening

Taking the time to fully understand how to open your new physiotherapy practice is the first step in getting your new business up and running. Owning and operating your own business is a huge commitment but when managed correctly, it can be a very rewarding and satisfying experience. With the right preparation, you will be on course to a successful future from the very beginning and will be able to establish your new physiotherapy practice in your local community in no time at all.

Contemporary Comforts – Key Inclusions to Modernising Your Home

January 11, 2019 by Reporter Leave a Comment

It’s easy to give your home an overhaul without breaking the bank and getting the builders in, and with the turn of the New Year there’s no better time than now to modernise your home. As such, follow these handy tips to taking a step towards a more modern home with a completely updated feel.

Window Coverings

If you get this wrong it can send your room back decades and with such a wide range of modern options available you can’t go wrong when it comes window coverings. Plantation shutters have made a big comeback as they give your room an open and airy feel whilst sheltering the room from the sun and keeping it nice and cool. There’s also an option to pick roman shades and wooden blinds that will give the same desired effect. As long as you stay away from the old heavy curtains and dark patterned fabrics you can’t go wrong.

Lighting

Carefully considered lighting can bring any room to life. You can convert dark and cramped rooms into open and airy spaces that are welcoming and desirable simply by purchasing some new lighting. Whether it’s a few strategically placed floor lamps to brighten a corner of the room or a some lamps on the side to create that cozy feel it’s a great way to easily change the vibe of any room and create that modern look. You could even take it one step further and replace the ceiling fixtures, there’s a huge range of modern masterpieces on the market for you to choose from that create a new interesting focal point for the room.

Outdoor Rooms

Who said rooms have to be inside? People often have outdoor space that can easily be transformed into an extra “room” even if it’s not a large space. You can add some outdoor furniture with some cushions for extra comfort along with some fairy lights to add that cozy feel. If you’re feeling slightly more adventurous why not add a pergola for a bit of privacy. That way you can sit back and relax with a glass of wine and the bbq on without a care in the world.

Repaint

Nothing instantly modernises your room more than a fresh coat of paint. Whether you repaint with the same colour to sharpen up your room or choose to be daring with a new bolder colour you’re sure to overhaul the look of your room and create that modern feel. When painting it’s vital to prep- you don’t want unsightly drips and smudges that will make you regret ever deciding to repaint in the first place. If you’re unsure about whether the colour will match the rest of your soft furnishings always do a test patch first, let it dry and then check you’re happy with it before painting the rest of the walls.

Update your Bathroom

I’m sure everybody will agree that bathrooms get dingy and outdated very quickly. But even if a whole new bathroom suite is not an option there are ways you can modernise your bathroom at a fraction of the price. Changing Faucets and door knobs instantly give you an updated look. Changing from a scratched old gold tap fittings to new shiny chrome ones will have a huge impact. You could also change the shower curtain and scrub the grout in between the tiles- an easy and affordable way to instantly modernise your bathroom.

Summary

All in all, making small changes to your home can have dramatic improvements to the look and feel of your interior. By following these handy tips and dedicating a few weekends to a good cause you can overhaul your home and give it a fresh modern look without breaking the bank.

The Logic of Layouts – A Guide to In-Store Displays

October 17, 2018 by Reporter Leave a Comment

_{Image: http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2010/07/baby/teens-shopping-clothes.jpg}

When customers arrive at your store, it’s crucial that you present whatever you are selling in a way that will make it appealing to them and make them want to buy. Take a moment to put yourself in their shoes and consider how you can best display the product to highlight its features, show-off its unique selling point and make the consumer see why they need to make the purchase.

With in-store merchandising, you have the opportunity to do just this. You can design a display to present your products to the consumer, to offer information about the product and show how it can add value for the consumer. Effective in-store displays allow your customers to visualise themselves using the product, wearing the clothes or engaging with whatever it is that you are selling. It’s one of the most important marketing assets for any store owner to use and a very powerful tool but it’s important to take some time to make sure that you do it right.

Let’s take a look at just some of the ways you can make visual merchandising and product placement work to your advantage in-store.

Target Audience

In order for your in-store display to deliver, you need to ensure that you are designing your display for the right people. It’s not enough to target your customers based on age, income level, or education level, you need to go deeper into their behaviours as well as their psychological attributes. To get an in-depth sense of who your customers are, try sending surveys to repeat customers to get a true sense of what it is they want and expect from a store like yours.

Keep up with market trends to find out what’s working in your niche and visit some of your competitor’s stores to see what they are doing to successfully reach your same target audience. Armed with this information, you can create a display for your products that will entice and draw in your customers.

Focus On The Senses

Your customers experience your in-store displays, not just through seeing them but through other sensory stimuli, too. Visual merchandising tends to focus on the eye of the customer, as it is the easiest way to communicate with your audience. However, you can make a large number of sales for your product if you focus on the other senses as well.

For example, the music you are playing in the background of your store can be an influencing factor and useful marketing tool. You can slow customers down by playing softer, more deliberate, lighter music. If your product is for the younger generation, make sure to crank up the music and play upbeat dance sounds or hip-hop tunes to get the audience to browse in the store longer. You can accomplish the same effect with the other senses as well such as using different textures for touch and having different air fresheners and other smells in the air to have a positive influence on the customer.

Group Similar Items Together

When you have a product that is selling well, you can use it to your benefit by placing similar items in displays near your successful product. However, it’s important to keep similar products together as you need to ensure that your display still makes sense. Pair similar items together that will complement each other or are related in some way.

For example, if you have an electric store and one of your microwaves is doing great, trying to pair a TV with it on a display would not be a good idea. However, pairing a TV with a popular surround sound system would be a great pairing and will likely increase the number of sales for both items.

Create Ambience With Light

A great in-store display will be lifted by the overall ambience you create. It’s important that you try to put your customers in the right mindset to encourage them to buy and to give your display more life. For example, mood lighting and soft music could be a hit when trying to sell high-quality lingerie, while bright lights and energetic music can create a “game day” atmosphere in a sports shop. Lighting can make a real difference in your displays so be sure to pay special attention to different types of soft and harsh lighting and experiment with different coloured lights to best highlight your products.

Use The Right Approach

Creating effective in-store displays to highlight your products is as much a science as it is an art. For positive results, it’s crucial that you take the time to understand your target audience so that you can take the right approach to garner their interest and appeal to that particular market. Experiment with different layouts, music choices, colours and textures until you find a design that works for you and your store. With the right display in place, you can be sure that your sales will increase, your customers will be more interested in what you are offering and you will be on track to a successful future.

Coworking Cross-Pollination – How to Give Your Business a Buzz with coworking

August 23, 2018 by Reporter Leave a Comment

_{Image: https://e27.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/shutterstock_267584456.png}

Globally, coworking offices have surpassed the 10,000 mark with many businesses finding this office solution very cost-effective. In Australia, the coworking scene has become extremely popular with tech and start-up companies initiating the revolution that has redefined office space. As office rents rise in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and even Canberra, businesses and professionals are taking advantage of this new office format that appears to do more than just provide Australian professionals with a place to work.

One of the most central functions of the coworking space is related to the ability of professionals to effectively network. By virtue of the office’s typical organisation, professionals are almost forced to engage each other in conversation. In fact, by placing an emphasis on networking, professionals lay the groundwork for business growth. Please click on the following link at http://www.servcorp.com.au/en/coworking/ to view how many coworking spaces function.

Continue reading to learn more about how you can leverage networking to your advantage in the coworking space.

Use Proximity To Your Advantage

One way to use networking to your advantage is to take the initiative by starting conversations among your coworking mates. Australians, by nature, are social creatures at work, but the coworking space places you right in the proximity of others who might or might not be in your same industry. Start conversations about your work or any industry topics as a whole. Talk up the kind projects and people you work with in a way that promotes your business in a positive light.

Conversely, listen to the conversations around you. You might be surprised a lot of information is exchanged in even the most minor conversations involving small talk. These light informal conversations build the foundation of more relevant networking opportunities by providing participants with the chance to get to know each other before engaging with each other more formally.

Engaged Community

The coworking craze in Australia started with start-ups needing affordable office space near business districts that were often too pricey. Today, these office arrangements have grown into hubs that are microcosms of the Australian business community. Moreover, these communities offer professionals and businesses alike opportunities to engage the coworking community as a whole.

Savvy professionals can offer to help assist with coworking community events. They can even host their own events where they present some facet of their business to the coworking community. Some might even engage the community by starting an online newsletter or social website dedicated for people to meet online. The point is to use the community to your advantage by becoming an active participant.

Find Collaborators

Use the networking established by connecting with your workmates by participating in the community as an opportunity to collaborate with other businesses within the coworking space. Some of the most successful innovations have come out of the coworking space, and many of these innovations have been founded in the collaboration. Plus, teaming up with others in the coworking community will give you the benefit of learning about other industries as well.

Branch Out

Finally, by networking in the community and developing all of these connections, you can branch out and meet others in the greater business community. These connections can lead you to branch out in other areas in the city and in Australia, in addition to other opportunities. All of this networking, ultimately, will help you in expanding and growing your business.

Using Networking To Your Advantage

The co-working space’s organisation lays the groundwork for much networking. More significantly, the greatest benefit to the modern day co-worker is that the social factor allows people to network while working. Furthermore, in a climate that already is primed for social interaction, Australians might find that doing most of the footwork where networking is concerned is effortless.

Top 10 Tips For First Home Buyers

July 29, 2018 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Buying your first home in any of Australia’s major cities is a difficult task. From getting your finance approval, finding a home that will suit your needs, competing with other buyers and investors at auction and most importantly not paying too much for a property.

For an inexperienced buyer, it is normal for the buying process to take up to six months to a year. We look at the top ten tips to shortening your time on market and getting your weekends back, to save you money.

Tip 1. Finance Pre Approval.
Having your finances in check empowers the buyer to not spend time looking at the wrong area in the wrong price range. It also gives you a negotiating ceiling so you know when to walk away if things get too heated.

Tip 2. Do Your Research.

Understanding what a similar property sells for in a similar area is vital to knowing the market value. When you see something you like, check a similar spec property that has sold in the last three months. This will help you spend your time wisely, on the right property.

Tip 3. Building Inspection.
Once you have successfully completed step 1 & 2 and you have found a house you like. It is important to do a building and pest inspection to make sure your not buying a maintenance nightmare. A typical building inspection can cost anywhere between $550 to $850. It is a worthwhile investment and will help reduce the chance of buyer’s remorse once the property negotiating is done.

Tip 4. Seek assistance in negotiating.

Real estate agents are negotiating pros. An average agent will sell one property each week where an average buyer might only purchase a house once every ten years. Different negotiating tactics apply to different real estate markets.
Buyer’s agents (https://wiserealestateadvice.com.au/home-buyers-agent/) are real estate agents for hire, they serve only the buyer and are employed to get you the best price and selling terms. To save a few dollars, find a buyer’s agent that offers a negotiating-only plan rather than a fully serviced plan. This should save you thousands.

Tip 5. Compromise your criteria for success.

If you keep losing auctions, it is better to adjust your criteria to give you more buying power. For instance, choose a property that may need a light renovation, a three bedroom property instead of a four bedroom property, smaller land allotment or peg back a suburb away from the CBD.

Tip 6. Government Grants.

First homeowner’s grants are a great help to minimizing some of the overheads when it comes to buying a property. To check if you are eligible, visit the state revenue office website for more information.

Tip 7. Conveyancers
You will need to hire a conveyancer to complete your sale. They will ensure all the conditions in a contract are fulfilled and make sure everything is legally signed over into your name. Normally they cost around $1000 per property purchase.
It is wise to get the contract of sale read over by your conveyancer prior to signing any contact of sale. A good conveyancer will provide this service free of charge and warn you of any risky conditions.

Tip 8. Add Clauses To Your Written Offer.
When submitting an offer on a property, every buyer has the right to add protection clauses to reduce their risk when buying. For instance, a ‘subject to finance’ clause or a ‘building-inspection clause’. These clauses can be like a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card if something goes wrong.

Tip 9. Don’t give agents verbal offers.
Always negotiate in writing using a Contact of Sale and Section 32’s. This process makes sure the vendor / seller visually sees your offer and responds back in writing using a counter-offer tactic rather than trusting the real estate agent’s story.

Tip 10. Never disclose your budget.
Keeping this secret is your key to saving money on a property negotiation https://wiserealestateadvice.com.au/negotiating-property-price/

Real estate agents highly skilled with negotiating strategies and know how to increase an offer if they know how far they can go. If the agent is kept in the dark they are less likely to empty an unsuspecting buyer’s pockets.

Tighten Your Belt – 5 Secrets to Creating a Stable Financial Future

July 15, 2018 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Photo by Vitaly Taranov on Unsplash

It can sometimes seem impossible for low-income households to get ahead in today’s economy. Financial pressures can have a debilitating impact on your life. Too many families are familiar with the pattern of purchasing only the bare necessities, putting off replacing broken appliances, and spending all their time commuting to and from jobs that pay too little and ask too much. The economic hamster wheel leaves little opportunity for saving, or to enjoy your daily existence. The following are a few creative, yet simple ideas to help you get a handle on your financial stress and get back to loving life.

Wiggle Room

Unfortunately, lower-income families can find it nigh impossible to access credit with mainstream lenders. Locked out of the market, many turn to high-interest options such as payday loans for a lifeline that ends up being a deadweight around their necks. Fortunately, a growing number of government agencies and not for profits are offering interest-free loans for people on low incomes, to spend on necessities, like home appliances, or car insurance. Sometimes that wiggle room is all you need to ease yourself of some of that stress.

Master Chef

The ease of ordering takeaway in our modern society means a lot of money can quickly disappear on food. Yet it’s cheaper and healthier to cook your meals at home. All you need to do is change your perspective on meals preparation. Instead of a chore, transform it into a fun-filled activity. Numerous celebrity chefs that have a wealth of cheap, easy recipes that turn into delicious meals. So, get a quick recipe online, put on some music, and turn it into a joyful ritual. Get your family involved, and make preparing the meal just as enjoyable the meal itself.

Saving Grace

It’s hard to think that a small amount of money set aside every day can make a significant difference in the long run. However, with a bit of discipline and patience, you will be amazed at how much it can add up to over time. Even as little as 50 cents a day, or 10 dollars a week squirreled away into a dedicated savings account you don’t regularly check, your long-term savings can really start to grow. If you can’t get yourself into the habit of putting the money aside, there are apps that can do it for you, all at a rate you’re comfortable with.

Free Entertainment

Just because the budget is tight doesn’t mean you have to skimp out on cultural activities. You can spend hours wandering around free museums, markets, and historic buildings. Your local backyard is someone else’s tourist daydream. Check out the tourism travel page for your local city and see what they recommend is a must do for free. There are always plenty of ways to entertain the family without having to fork out hundreds.

Au Naturale

Whatever the weather, whether you feel like lazing around or getting active nature has you covered. Plan a trip to the beach, and spend the day lazing on the sand. Alternatively, plan a trip to the hills and go for a hike. Getting out of your four walls and enjoying nature has many mental health benefits, and it doesn’t cost a cent. Even if you end up doing precisely what you were planning on doing inside, such as relaxing with a book, or tapping away on your computer, if you do it outside, you’ll feel much better for it.

Having money problems doesn’t have to take the joy out of life. Cheap activities are still fun activities, and clearing your head of stress can help set you up for a financially stable future.

Guidelines to Choose the Right Phone System for Your Business

October 16, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Image: https://pixabay.com/en/phone-home-telephone-numbers-2127/

Choosing a business phone system is a very important decision. A decision that requires a lot of research and consideration. Different businesses have different needs, especially when it comes to a phone system. A small coffee shop could probably get by on a personal landline and mobile phone combo. On the other hand, a city centre hostel with 100 plus beds will need a business phone system, such as a virtual PBX, to handle multiple incoming calls, facilitate call transferring and be ever reliable with no downtime. If you need a business solution there are plenty of options out there for you. Read on for 3 of the most popular business phone systems along with pros and cons of each.

Traditional Landline

When you think of a traditional landline we think of our home phone line. They are slightly different when talked about in a business sense. Business landlines are typically supported by a phone company. These are analog systems that run on the phone companies existing technology. This technology is usually traditional copper wiring.

To run a traditional landline, you need local PBX hardware. This hardware is what enables you to use business phone system features such as call transferring etc. They enable the use of multiple phone extensions.

Some business landline systems run as a hybrid with VoIP systems (more on them so). The traditional phone line comes into your business and then connects to your data network. The data network is then responsible for connecting the multiple business phones to the central line.

Many landline systems are now being phased out by most system providers.

Pro: Landline systems have been around for ages so are reliable and time-tested. A lot of companies like what they know, which is the traditional landline.

Con: With the prevalence of the cloud most providers are moving away from landlines. This means they are more difficult to purchase and, more importantly, repair should something break.

VOIP Systems

Where landlines use copper wires to get you connected, VoIP systems use the internet. They tap into your companies existing connection to enable your phone system. VoIP systems provide great business features such as automated attendants, call queues and computer integration. Some of the highlights include allowing voicemails left over the phone to be sent to email inboxes and computers to be turned into "softphones."

VoIP systems give remote employees and users access to the business VoIP phone system from their mobile device so they can work on the go without the hassle.

Pro: VoIP systems provide the complete business phone package. These VoIP systems are easily set up and configured, and are a lot more cost effective than landline systems.

Con: The downside, however, is that these systems rely on your internet connection. So, if you’re in a community with spotty internet service, this type of phone system wouldn’t work for you.

Virtual PBX

Virtual PBX phone systems are the next step in the evolution of business phone systems. The Virtual PBX phone systems differentiate themselves by being hosted in the cloud instead of being on-premise. And that eliminates many of the challenges associated with traditional systems and provides all the benefits of the cloud technology it is based on.

A virtual PBX phone system is securely stored in the cloud on a server that is accessible and configurable via a web interface. Virtual PBX phone systems uses internet protocol or IP communications, allowing businesses to make calls over the internet. The difference is mostly invisible to the average user. The only change you’ll see is that instead of plugging your phone handset into the wall socket, your plug your IP phone directly into your modem.

Pros: Cloud-based systems like virtual PBX mean no local hardware to purchase and maintain. Your provider takes care of that for you. You can set up and configure the system for your business, all from your computer.

Cons: Not having your own hardware means that if there are any problems it is out of your control and up to your provider to get them fixed

Think about the services we’ve talked about here and align them with your business needs. Choosing the right system for your business will help it thrive while avoiding headaches down the track. If you need some more advice ask the team over at https://www.cloudtelecom.com.au/ what would be best for you. The right phone system for your business is right around the corner.

Things To Do At 7 Capital Cities In Australia

August 20, 2017 by Reporter Leave a Comment

There’s a reason why Australia is at the top of the list for most vacationers around the world. Its bustling beaches, lush jungles and luscious rainforests packed to the brim with every kind of exotic greenery you can come up with.

Without doubt, Australia is where you should be spending some quality time with your spouse or better half. We advise the reader to spend their hard-earned frequent flyer points and catch a free ride, or better yet spend free time in luxurious hotels in Australia. To get started, this is the best place for you to redeem your virgin points.

Australia is behemoth of a continent; therefore, we prepared a list of capital cities that you should be visiting and places of interest that you should definitely be keeping on the top of your to-do list.

1. Adelaide
While the city itself is laced with world class art rooms, hidden bars and restaurants, what you should be watching out for is the Kangaroo Island, Australia’s most popular destination to explore wildlife, witness the fur seals, echidnas and beautiful koalas in their natural habitats. You can get to the island by hitching a ferry ride.

2. Canberra
If you’re a food enthusiast, then Canberra must definitely be given a mandatory visit, dine in at popular restaurants such as Aubergine, Capitol Barr and Monster Kitchen and Bar. Or simply marvel at the miniature trees – also known as bonsai – in the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. Visit the iconic Nishi Gallery located inside Nishi Building where artists from all walks of life showcase their creativity.

3. Darwin
Located in Darwin’s busiest business district is the Mindal Beach which attracts thousands of tourists year round – it is a common sight to spot visitors eating at one of the dozens of food stalls located in Mindal Market while watching the Sun setting down casting an orange hue onto the sparkling sea.

4. Brisbane
The most populous city of Australia is also home to one of the most important landmarks of the country. For example, the City Botanic Gardens—which houses the Bamboo Grove – is home to a collection of some 23 bamboo species, where innumerable bamboo sprouts tower over the entire landscape, and the sun illuminates a magnificent aura to the bamboo peaks, lending a luscious contrast between green and orange.

5. Melbourne
The best place by far to spot penguins in their natural habitat is Phillip Island; located south-east of Melbourne. It is packed to the brim with pristine beaches where you can set up camp and watch exotic animals unperturbed by visitors gawking at them. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Cape Woolamai to catch a glimpse of numerous pink granite forms in Westernport Bay.

6. Sydney

While Sydney is home to hundreds of attractive tourist locations, we can’t help but point you towards the most photographed swimming pool in the world at the Bondi Icebergs club. You can also become a member of the oldest winter swimming pool in Australia, something that you can brag about to your friends.

7. Hobart

No trip to Australia is complete without paying a visit Mount Wellington, the place is also easier to reach by vehicle, there’s a range of activities to partake in, from mountain bike riding to sightseeing from a plethora of vantage points scattered around the mountain.

3 Problems Plaguing the Australian Construction Industry (And How to Overcome Them)

November 17, 2016 by Reporter Leave a Comment

_{Image Source: http://i2.wp.com/www.bownegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/iStock-surveyconstruction1.jpg}

The construction industry can be a harsh place for businesses. It requires a huge investment in potential profits. Until a customer has paid for a project or contract in full, there is no guarantee that this investment will be worthwhile. It means that cash flow is very important and any delays to payments or problems with receivables can become big obstacles very quickly.

In Australia, the construction sector is very healthy and diverse, but it has its challenges, just like construction sectors all over the world. For instance, the rising cost of raw materials is a constant pressure and contractors have to find ever more innovative ways to meet them, while also keeping their rates competitive.

This guide to the construction sector in Australia will discuss some of its biggest problems and how your business can overcome them.

Slow Invoicing and Payment Cycles

Many contractors (small businesses especially) find it hard to regulate cash flow because they don’t put suitable invoicing systems in place. By using aprogress payment schedule you can easily outline what is expected of your contractors at different phases of the project. It’s important to be crystal clear on what is required for a phase of the project to be considered ‘complete’ and for a progress payment to be issued so that there is no confusion or disagreements as the project progresses. Expect contractors to request a progress payment approximately every two weeks, depending on the scope of the project.

Without regular progress payments, it can be very challenging to keep your current construction project on track. Furthermore, it will be virtually impossible to begin another project as you will have too much of your financial resources tied up in the current job. Agree on a progress payment schedule that works for all parties and the job should run smoothly from start to finish.

Rising Cost of Raw Materials

As already mentioned, the price of commodities like oil and metal continues to rise alongside interest rates and the strength of the Australian currency. In some ways, this is good news for contractors, because it means that they can justify raising their own rates. However, if rates climb too high, customers look elsewhere for their construction work and deals are lost.

It is a tricky problem and one that has no easy solution. Nevertheless, businesses can try to cut costs in other areas. For example,learning how to streamline operations with the use of technology can be an effective way to minimise waste. Digital invoicing apps and record keeping software are tools which boost profits by helping companies keep track of payments and close out on projects faster.

Lack of Safety Training

One recurring problem for the Australian construction industry is safety. As demand grows, so too does the need for qualified contractors and construction experts. This can encourage some companies to cut corners and try to maximise profits by reducing their investment in things like safety training and risk management procedures.

Unfortunately, this is nothing but a fast track to serious injury and, in many cases, subsequent litigation. So,investing in high-quality safety training is not just a way to keep employees safe, it also protects the business. Technology can be a great tool in this area as well because apps and mobile devices mean that training doesn’t have to be limited to formal meetings.

Why Technology Is the Future of the Construction Industry

It is often said that technology represents the future of all industries, no matter what their objectives. While this might sound a little far-fetched, the reality is that digital resources can transform everything from project planning to managing supplies, tracking deliveries, and processing invoices. It is particularly valuable for regulating cash flow, as automating payments eliminates errors and increases visibility right the way along invoicing channels.

WA

What is SEO and why it is indispensable to your business?