Small Business Psychic Predictions for 2013

Something very few people know about me is that I am a little bit psychic. My family and friends may read

this and think I meant to write psychotic, but no, I do mean psychic. 

Many of my family members were christened in the spiritualist church, my grandfather possessed an amazing ability to read people and reveal their deepest darkest secrets to a room full of unsuspecting individuals (not so great when I was 16!). My great grandmother was a well known psychic but had such a dark manner and reveled in revealing nasty events (hence the reason she was never very well liked but still lived to the ripe old age of 99!).

Although I have never seen any spirits I seem to be able to read people very well and make uncanny predictions for small business owners whom I provide Intuitive Business Consulting Services to. Believe it or not, I am a bit of a sceptic myself, but I simply accept this as something I can do. I thought I would share some of my predictions in this article and also the 2013 business predictions of well known psychics from around the globe. Enjoy.

2013 THE YEAR OF CONNECTION

My prediction is that this year will be the year of connection. Sceptics may read this and say 'duh', however what I mean, is that the age of superficiality via social networks is coming to an end. People will crave the humanity of business and require more of an honest connection. Numbers of fans and followers will cease to matter when choosing a new business service, it will be quality over quantity. I also predict that video will overtake any form of marketing, and the better the quality of video and content, the more your business will stand out. No longer will those that succeed be the ones bragging and taking every opportunity for self promotion. Those proving they have the skills and knowledge will dominate. Introverts rejoice! It will also be the year that many business owners start craving a local community connection, so start networking in your local area and create better relationships with those that surround you. There is a resurgence of local business. June will see a huge movement in materialism. Business owners (not all but many) will start valuing support, connections and sincerity above money. Work that fills the soul will take priority over work that fills the wallet. 2013 is also the year that businesses skating on thin ice for years will be caught out and penalised legally for taking liberties.

Tracey Munn, Small Business Gurus Australia

2013 THE YEAR OF THE NICHE BUSINESS

A lot better for small business owners, especially those targeting niche markets. More business owners will carve out niche business area. 

The business coaching / life coaching businesses will no longer boom. The great coaches will survive, the mediocre will come to the forefront and close. When choosing a coach, choose someone who is an expert in their niche field.

2013 is the year for fresh and new, people need inspiration, the new will inspire the old will tire.

Miki Jacobs, Canada's No.1 Psychic

2013 THE YEAR OF REBIRTH

A tech company will announce in 2013 (or at the latest by summer 2014), a flexible tablet that rolls up or folds up.  While most mobile phone manufacturers are launching larger displays, Apple announces and releases a “mini iPhone” geared toward children and also under-served populations around the world.  Also, with speculation on this for several years, 2013 is the year Apple finally launches a “smart TV.” And the big news is in spite of negative reviews and a shaky launch, WINDOWS 8 sees excellent signs of catching on.

Overall for the world, we are in a two to three year cycle of rebirth, not just economically, but a repairing of the world, so to speak, in many areas of concern for individuals and societies.  Revelations will occur and renovations will begin.

Sidney Friedman, Mentalist to the Starts USA



2013 THE YEAR OF SUSTAINABILITY

2013 is going to be a challenging and exciting time to live if you embrace the changes and don't fight them. As a human population we are going to have to make major decisions about our lifestyles, our politics and even our economy. It really is going to be a confrontational year for corporations and governments who believe if the wheel doesn’t seem to have broken, you don't need to fix it. Unfortunately, what I'm being shown in my 2013 psychic predictions is the wheel hasn't just broken, it is hanging together by a thin thread

Green businesses will begin to expand and there will be new technologies developed to try to manage the ozone deterioration. Serious funding will be directed by private interests to curb the deterioration of our Eco-system. I see a more philanthropic attitude by the world’s wealthy. They are funding worthwhile projects without seeking any public recognition for the work they are doing. The governments of the world are not revealing they have a lot of extra money to spare in 2013 but I am shown a more cooperative approach between nations when it comes to managing the climate.

Vine, Natural Born Medium Melbourne Australia

The Secret to More Clients, Better Profits and Less Stress

An area keeping us busy at Small Business Gurus is business analysis. Along with our own business we offer analysis services to small business.
After 20 years developing, researching and analysing small business, along with qualifications in accounting and psychology, analytics is my passion. I enjoy nothing more (at work that is) than going into a business and defining why they may be under performing and which areas need rapid improvement. 

For unsuccessful or slow performing companies, three things will stick out like a sore thumb; the absence of Process, Planning and Communication. With every struggling business we analyse, they will have at least two of these components missing. There is a secret to business success. The application of these three key areas (Process, Planning and Communication) is the secret and they must be applied to clients, profits and stress levels in order to build a thriving business.

THE ROLE PROCESS PLAYS

More clients

What is your method for getting new clients? Have you created a process for when customers contact you? For example, our process for obtaining more clients is to always respond to an email lead personally and quickly. We do not come on sales heavy and we always follow up with a call asking if information has been received. We follow this process every time without fail.

Better Profits

There are only two ways to better your profits. 

1. Increase your prices
2. Reduce your costs

When you take on a new client or sell a new product/service, are you assessing how much it is costing you to provide that service? 
For example, you sell health products. It costs you $45 to buy the product, $3 per staff member to sell the product, $15 in time to add the product to your online store, $2 in operating costs per product. The cost to actually stock this product is $65 and you sell it for $68. You are only making $3 profit per product which is not even 10% profit. 
Develop a process to improve your profits. Start by calculating exactly how much it costs you to sell/stock your product.

Less Stress

Creating processes reduces stress levels significantly. The element of surprise and last minute tasks can be greatly reduced when processes are in place. If tasks are performed with consistency each time your workflow becomes fluid and easier to manage.

THE ROLE PLANNING PLAYS

More Clients

Do you plan to obtain more clients? What is your plan to ensure client retention? How do you plan to keep your clients away from your competition? Planning to get more clients is one of the best methods for actually building your client base.

Better Profits

Have you planned your budget and finances so you know how much you need to earn in revenue and pay out in expenses? What about a long term finance plan and forecast for your business. How much do you want to earn, what is your ideal profit margin. If you answered no to any of these questions you are planning to fail as you have no idea about your actual profit growth.

Less Stress

Do you have a business plan giving you clear direction? Have you planned your marketing strategy? Are you aware of next months expenses? What about planning for continuing education and keeping updated with changes in your industry? Without planning for your business success the daily grind, changes and stressors will eventually cause you severe burn out. Another vital reason for planning is to ensure your business has a risk strategy to stay afloat should any unforseen circumstances occur.

THE ROLE COMMUNICATION PLAYS

More Clients

Not only is it imperative you communicate with your team, employees or contractors, it is absolutely critical you communicate with your clients and customers. Even if you are half way through a project, a simple email update goes a long way to maintaining customer relationships. Email, call, update, follow up. Send newsletters to inform your clients of your business changes. Apart from creating good customer service, you are ensuring you stay present in your customers minds.

Better Profits

Communication plays an important role toward your bottom line. Especially as a business grows in size, it becomes easy for excess purchasing to take place and unnecessary expenses to be incurred without being picked up. Often no-one bothers to speak up and money leaks easily from company coffers. It is also common for retailers to receive product invoices with increased prices, yet no-one questions the rise.  One common area we see in small business is the failure to pass on costs to the customer. Often business owners will not charge more for fear of turning clients away. Constantly communicating with your team, your contractors and your clients in relation to costs can increase profits by as much as 20% annually.

Less Stress

Encourage open and honest communication among staff. Guessing peoples thoughts is incredibly stressful so try to ensure people feel at ease speaking their mind. Business is a stressful part of life, a large segment of my clients are business counselling clients who communicate with me their stresses and problems, whilst I guide them through the tough times. It is also highly recommended you communicate clearly with your clients. Communicate clear boundaries. Communicate deadlines. Make it your job to ensure your clients communicate their requirements with you. Information is the key, and without communication correct information becomes lost in translation.

The information above is a brief guide, yet one which can be followed to unlock the secret to developing a sustainable, successful business. Processes, Plans and channels for Communication will take time to establish within an organisation, however I guarantee, the effort will hurt a whole lot less than losing your business.

Concise Small Business Guide to Starting Out Online

Once upon a time there was a small business owner. He sold shoes. With money in his bank account he rented a shop, had some lovely signs painted, fitted out his store and purchased stock. After placing an advertisement in the local paper and filling mailboxes with flyers, his business took off and 40 years later he retired a happy man.

This story sounds so pleasant it could be a fairytale. In fact, it is very much how business developed 40 years ago. These days small business not only has an offline target market but must consider a complete online strategy when growing their business. We must have a website, social media profiles, SEO, email marketing. The list never ends and the upkeep is incredibly time consuming.

Many business owners, whilst incredibly experienced in their field, have no idea where to start with online marketing. So here is the Concise Small Business Guide to Online Success to help steer you in the right direction.

CONCISE SMALL BUSINESS GUIDE TO ONLINE SUCCESS

Small Business Website

Must your small business have a website? Yes. Are there any exceptions? No. Every small business must have a website. A website is akin to an online brochure, but so much more. Your business website informs visitors about your business, who you are, what you do. People will locate your business online, searching Google for a product or service your business can provide.

TIP! Do not settle for an inferior website. You do not need to spend a fortune, but you must use a web design company who can provide examples of previous quality work.

Website SEO

Do not build a website without considering your SEO strategy. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) defines how you create strategic content, titles and image text  to ensure your website ranks highly on search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. SEO obviously involves much more than strategic content, there is a real art to successful SEO. However, a great way to start is by heading over to Google Keyword Tool, typing in a keyword phrase relevant to your business, and saving the list of keywords Google provides you with. Use a selection of these keywords in your content throughout your website.

Email Address

I don't know anyone who does not have an email address. However, in relation to small business, if I come across a business using a gmail, hotmail or any other generic email address, my first thought is they must be small and unprofessional. Once you have purchased your domain name and have a website, there is no excuse not to have a customised email address such as support@smallbusinessgurus.com.au. Unsure how, contact your website host. 

Social Media Accounts

Debate still exists as to whether social media works for every small business. It may not work for your business, however without social media you are alienating a growing portion of your potential customer base. Starting out in social media, set up business pages on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. Join other pages on these networks that will help you to market your business and learn about social media marketing. 

Google Places

Do you have a physical business location? Are you a local business? Submit your listing to Google Places to ensure your website ranks in local business searches for your industry.

Online Business Directories

We often hear about poor performing online directories that damage our SEO rankings. However, online business directories are vital. Legitimate online directories are essential marketing sources for any small business. Free listings are available on such sites as Yellow Pages, Start Local, True Local, or check out this list of 50 Ultimate Local Business Directories (global).

Personal Brand

You may be a franchisee. Perhaps you sell a network marketing product. There are business types you are not able to market separately from head office. This does not, however, stop you from promoting your very own personal brand. People will connect with you. Never under estimate the power of the personal brand. To set up you very own personal site, check out aboutme.com

This article is meant to be a brief and simple online guide every small business owner can understand to implement an online success strategy for their organisation. Each of the above areas has multiple branches requiring work, development and education, however this guide offers you the foundation on which a small business can commence their online journey. It is hard to believe any business could not be found online somewhere, however the world still consists of humble business owners reluctant to embrace online technology. Any business owner striving for development and ongoing success must make it their goal to get themselves online today, or risk having no business at all.

10 Small Business Tax Facts You Must Know in 2013

I met with a client the other day and we entered a discussion about small business and GST. With my background in accounting clients often ask me questions about their small business tax issues.

This client was under the assumption that if he purchased goods from a private seller he was entitled to a GST credit; even though he had not paid GST on the goods when he purchased them. In fact, he was about to lodge his BAS and claim a $10,000 GST refund. You cannot claim GST when no GST has been paid on the goods. My greatest concern from this discussion though was that this client seemed to be well aware of a number of GST schemes going on out there in the business world and was willing to participate. 

THE POWER OF THE ATO

There is absolutely nothing wrong with finding ways to minimise your tax. In fact, one of the primary reasons for having an accountant assist you with your small business is to ensure you are successfully minimising your tax. There is, however, a clear boundary between minimising tax and operating outside the law.

In 2012 the ATO introduced new legislation placing far greater responsibility on the shoulders of the company director. No longer can a small business avoid paying PAYG, Superannuation and business tax. Should you avoid paying these liabilities then decide to close your doors due to tax debts you cannot afford to repay , you become personally responsible for these debts.

The ATO have also become far more diligent in collecting debts and will place your business into liquidation to ensure they are paid in full, if necessary. 

NO TAX REFUND IF NO TAX PAID

A common misconception by small business owners is the tax refund. Many small business owners think if they make a loss for the financial year they will receive a refund when they lodge a tax return. Incorrect. No tax paid? No refund received.

THE ATO WILL NOT KNOW IF I PAY MY STAFF IN CASH

Wrong. Not only is this illegal, I have personally seen this come back and bite a business owner in the backside. A number of employees became disgruntled and complained about not receiving payslips. The ATO soon realised wages paid were not on par with the industry average and undertook an audit. The result? Business closed, $2mil owing, director in jail. True story, Gold Coast business January 2013.

RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS FROM HOME

Many small business owners buy a home and start claiming a portion of the interest repayments on tax. Be careful, for if you sell your property for a profit you may need to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT). You can, however, claim a portion of your utilities, phone and internet.

IMMEDIATE $5000 CAR WRITE OFF

Time for you to upgrade your vehicle? The good news is any vehicle purchased for business purposes can claim an immediate $5000 deduction in the 2012-2013 financial year. Why is this relevant? If you make a profit this financial year then it will be reduced by an additional $5000, making a big difference to your tax bill.

IMMEDIATE DEDUCTION ON ASSETS UNDER $6500

If you have purchased assets (printers, computers, technology, furniture, machinery) and the cost less than $6500 each, you can generally claim an immediate deduction, thus reducing your end of year tax bill significantly. 

GST - CASH VERSUS ACCRUALS

A business does not need to register for GST until they turn over $75,000 in a financial year. This means you do not charge GST, and you are not entitled to claim GST on your expenses. 

If your business is registered for GST, you will report on either a Cash or Accruals basis. How do you find out? Look at the top right corner of your BAS where the Document ID is. The statement will say Cash or Accruals. 

Cash means you account for transactions as they happen. You do not pay GST on your invoices until your client pays you, and you do not claim GST on your expenses until you have paid your supplier.

Accruals means you report on sales invoices and supplier invoices at the dated they are issued, not the date they are paid. 

Make sure you are using the method most suited to your business type as this can have a huge impact on your cash flow.

SUPERANNUATION IS RISING

Superannuation is a burden to small business. These additional payments greatly affect cashflow. The bad news is they are on the rise from 9% to 12%. Although incremental over 3 years, this is an expense no business can get away from. 

TIP ! Create a bank account for super, PAYG and GST and religiously contribute to this account weekly.

The financial year ends 30 June 2013, are you prepared? For questions on this topic head to our Facebook page and message us.

The Next Social Media Revolution : Substance

Recently I read an article where the author quoted "the age of social media being superficial is almost over".

I could not agree more.  Social Media has been a little superficial, but for good reason. With the development of the big social networks, superficiality is a natural occurrence when millions of people continue to demand simplicity. In the age of social media we were all learning how to use social networks, first for personal enjoyment, then for business purposes.We needed articles such as 'How to Set Up a Facebook Page for Business', and '5 Tips for Social Media'. We required the basics until we were ready for the next step. Recently we have noticed a huge shift in the social media world, a shift in people calling out for substance and expertise, indicating the world is ready to take that next step.

IN THE BEGINNING

Think back to 2004 when the social media phenomena began taking off. I still recall hearing about the popularity of Facebook among college students in America. I also remember reading an article by Stephen King (yes, THAT Stephen King) around the same time telling us Twitter would be the next big social network. At that time Twitter had around 150,000 users. 

What began as a way to keep in touch and share information with friends and loved ones, quickly attracted the attention of marketers world wide who realised industry could benefit greatly by participating in social media. Marketing tools, apps and analytics were then developed to grow and measure the effectiveness of social media for businesses. Suddenly every business owner wanted a piece of the social media success pie, but we needed instruction, we required those experts, in our infancy, to teach us the basics.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA CLASSROOM

The world soon became a social media classroom. Certain revered experts became the teachers, we became the students soaking up as much information as possible. Without official qualifications, the 'right' way to manage social media is still debated, yet out of this has come certain essential processes for social networks, proven methods that work when creating a social media marketing strategy. These include having a Facebook Business Page, Blogging, Tweeting helpful information, joining Google+ communities and humanising your interaction with fans. Over the past 5 years especially, most of us now understand the fundamentals and are sick of seeing the same old tips and tricks posted all over the place. We want substance, we want to know what we can do better and how to fully utilise the tools and knowledge we have acquired to really make a difference; whether that difference be to our community, business or industry. How can we take what we have learnt and improve.

WHY WE CRAVE SUBSTANCE 
As children our parents get excited at each milestone. For me, I remember clearly my children's first time walking, first words, first day at school. As parents we see personal development through our children. As children grow and learn more they become bored, they crave information with more substance. They seek explanations, simply telling them a fact is not enough, they want to know why it is so. As adults, we are no different.

I, for one, am not seeing the same quality of information on coming from social media. So much of it is repetition, recycled information, just worded differently. I am also sick of seeing so called social media 'experts' tweeting exactly the same message 40 times in one week as traffic building exercises. There will always be a need for the basics, especially when new tools are introduced and updates released, but isn't it time we stepped up and provided meaty content with useful quality information? Social media does not need to be complicated, but we need depth now. Report on case studies of those who have succeeded, give defined steps to growing a business online by measuring data correctly. Research topics, provide new and interesting ways of utilising social media. I am certainly not saying I have all of the answers, but many do.

As people learn more about social media the competition is becoming greater and of better quality. Those still using the basics will be left behind. It won't be long before social media becomes a degree subject at university and those qualified will dominate the industry.

Keep an eye out for those providing new and interesting content. It does not have to be complicated, the best information is simple but new. This will be the key to online success in the future, I hope to be  apart of it and look forward to watching the experts really shine.

You Have the Followers Now What?

Numbers are impressive. Perhaps I am bias. Although I do not practice accounting anymore, I spent many years in the industry and still love a good number (so long as it has a dollar sign in front of it).

Let's be honest though, the world of social media is built on numbers. Experts will tell you social media success is all about engagement, tips, useful links, connecting, and it is, sure.  

However, these people, as much as you, are impressed by the number of followers they (and others) have. When starting out in social media we see accounts with over ten thousand followers and think WOW! When we have become a little more savvy it's the fifty thousand fans that impress us. But let me tell you a little secret. Under 5% of these individuals are making a decent living from their social media efforts. Hours are spent tweeting, posting, blogging, hoping to spark a viral frenzy. It rarely happens. 

DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLES NUMBERS FOOL YOU

To begin making your social media efforts purposeful, stop coveting others and focus on your own efforts.
Seeing the phenomenal success some are having can be distracting. There is nothing wrong with striving for better, however your following will grow naturally ('organically'), if your content is worthwhile. As in business, if the competition steals your attention you will stop being 100% focused on you.
Never judge a book by it's cover (or self hype), some of the numbers are fake paid ones.

CREATE A SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
Why are you spending hours on social media? Is it for brand awareness? Are you wanting to create an impressive business profile through connecting with others? Many of us enter the world of social media hoping to receive a bunch of business leads. A clever social media strategy will contribute to your business success, it will not grow your business for you. If you have been active in social media for more than 3 months and are yet to secure any new customers, it is time to rethink your strategy. This handy infographic by Engage Social Media provides an excellent resource for creating a smart Social Media Strategy.

RESEARCH YOUR FOLLOWERS
Who are your followers? Why are people interested in you and what you have to offer? Don't know your followers? Then make the time to be interested.

Twitter Lists
You can start on Twitter by organising your followers into lists. Once done, look at which categories in your list contain the most followers and start scheduling weekly tweets directed at them.

Facebook Graph Search
On Facebook this can be a little harder, however now with Facebook Graph Search us marketers can delve into fans a whole new way.  For example, my business Facebook Page is Small Business Gurus.

• In Graph Search I type in 'fans of small business gurus' and click on the link that says just that.
• A screen will appear enabling me to refine the search by a range of demographics such as age, sex, location and more
• I can also look at my fans friends, followers, pages they like.

You need to allocate a few hours to build a database of followers interests. Alternatively try taking a Poll, but I personally think we find out a more by actually looking at our fans profiles. Unfortunately their are individuals who use this information unethically. My purpose? To ensure my posts are informative and target the right people.

Linkedin Connections
Over at Linkedin finding the business interests of your connections is easy. Login to Linkedin and hover over Contacts on your toolbar. Click on the sub menu Connections. When the Connections window opens scroll down to Industries in the 'Filter Connections' navigation menu. This will tell you exactly which industries your connections are in. Once again, tailor Linkedin updates to these people.

TAKE IT OUTSIDE 
Have you found that people from your local area have gravitated toward you? It is human nature. Something I studied a lot in Psychology (and that still fascinates me), is human behaviour. In 95% of humans it is natural to seek like minded connections. Age, industry, language, interests and location. If you have connected with people from your region how about suggesting a dinner or coffee afternoon to meet in person. Face to face contact goes a long way to building a working relationship.

USE YOUR TOOLS
Too many business owners do not make use of the tools available on social networks. Okay, so Facebook is the obvious with offers and promos. Facebook does not suit every business type though. There is nothing stopping you creating an industry specific offer, posting it on your website and then promoting it via social media. Check out Antavo.com for apps that enable you to create clever online promotions.

BE CONSISTENT, BE PERSISTENT, BE PRESENT
Building a large following is not really that hard. Keeping those followers and connections interested is not so easy.
If you constantly promote yourself and your services, or retweet the same thing over and over, not only will you lose your following, many will consider this spam.  Think, if you met up with people in a physical location and stood around screaming "buy from me, buy from me" the invites would soon dry up. Social networks are an online tool for building networks, not bombarding people with advertisements.
Keep this in mind when looking for new business leads via social media. What can you contribute that will help someone in your social network? Can you spare 5 minutes of your day posting a tip that could solve a problem for 20 people? Do you receive industry updates before others that you could share? Then think about giving, and do it regularly. This will work two fold. Your brand awareness will increase, as will your engagement opportunities. Not everything you do will reap immediate financial rewards, but the right strategy will create a solid foundation and the leads will come. For this to happen you must remain consistent and show your presence online.

PATIENCE PLEASE
Should your list of followers be building AND you notice more people are commenting and reacting to your  updates, then you are doing something right. Unless your marketing or social media campaign is call to action (ie. call us now, contact us now, offer ends today) , sales leads may trickle in until your website and social media activity gains momentum. This is where patience is a virtue.
Remember, no business owner ever succeeded sitting around waiting for the paint to dry. Be proactive and if new business leads from your followers is not happening for you, change your engagement strategy .

What is a Responsive Wordpress Theme and Why You Must Have One

If you are a business owner with a website you should be well aware of Wordpress. 

WHAT IS WORDPRESS

Wordpress is a software program released in 2003 originally developed to free blogs with ease. 

With it's simplicity and CMS (content management system which enables you to make changes online rather than having to uploading new website files to a server via FTP) Wordpress proved so popular that as of December 2011 it was reported 65 million users had downloaded Wordpress. This popularity only drove Wordpress Developers to improve the program with updates increasing the functionality of the software; so much so Wordpress is the quietly preferred website platform of Google.

WHY IS WORDPRESS SO POPULAR

One of the reasons Wordpress is so popular is that in it's purest form (set up via wordpress.com or.org),  Wordpress is a ready to use program with over 40,000 different template themes available to design yourself a simple yet effective website. 

However, web developers will tell you not to create your site via wordpress.com. The reason? One of the greatest developments for Wordpress is not actually available for installation at wordpress.com. This is the Plugin. Due to the security risks of some plugins, wordpress.com will not allow them to be installed on their server. Therefore you must house your Wordpress website on a host server.

WHAT IS A WORDPRESS PLUGIN

A Plugin is defined as a software component that adds specific ability to a larger program. In other words, a plugin is a software extension you can add to Wordpress that increases the functions available on your website. For example, a plugin we regularly use at Small Business Gurus when developing websites is the 'Disable Comments' plugin. As we do not want our websites to look like a blog (the natural format your wordpress design will resemble), we install the 'Disable Comments' plugin which removes the ability for your visitors to leave comments on your website, hence looking more like a website than a blog.

WHAT IS A WORDPRESS THEME

A Wordpress Theme is simply a template you install to Wordpress that defines the design of your Wordpress website. 

The significance of the wordpress theme is not simply the design, but what you can customise within the theme without having coding knowledge. Many themes will allow you to easily change colours, headers, backgrounds and fonts, others will not so you must find a plugin to assist you (or have the coding ability to make changes).

Each year, in fact each day, brings a new Wordpress Theme with more flexibility. The most recent and now the most necessary of themes, is the Responsive Wordpress Theme. Simply, if you do have a Wordpress website you should consider upgrading to this theme, or if contemplating a new website, insist on the Responsive theme.

THE RESPONSIVE WORDPRESS THEME

Although there are some outstanding wordpress themes available, one of the complaints from web designers has been that the website size does not fit the width of the browser. This can, of course, be fixed with coding changes. However, now with the popularity of Notebooks, iPads, Tablets and Mobile Phones, the browser issue has become one of greater importance.

Business owners have lost visitors in droves, and business leads, having websites that are incompatible with all browser types. What may look great on a desktop monitor (1024 x 768 is now used by a mere 9% of users, most website visitors have larger screens these days), may not convert well to a mobile phone. The Responsive Wordpress Theme changes that.

The Responsive Wordpress Theme enables your website to naturally adapt to the size of the browser it is being viewed on. You may have been told by your web developer your website fits all browsers, I urge you to check this for yourself. Many of our clients have thought this then come to us as when viewed on a small device, sections jump all over the place and links cannot be clicked on successfully. With a Responsive Wordpress Theme this issue is no longer. If your business website matters, the Responsive Wordpress Theme is for you.

___________________________________________________________________________

If your wordpress website is due for an upgrade or you do not have a website, ensure you insist on a Wordpress Website with a Responsive Theme. Cost effective and browser compatible (and I highly recommend you check out Small Business Gurus to build it for you).

Top 5 Results from Our Social Media Study

In 2007 a friend from my days studying Psychology contacted me asking for assistance with a thesis. The topic was the Psychology of Social Media. Knowing I worked in Accounting and Social Media he thought I would be keen to help out.  I found the study enthralling. In fact, it so peaked my interest that I veered off and started our own in house project researching and measuring the Psychology of Social Media for Business. 

We gathered and measured data over 3 years and completed the study in October 2012. And WOW! The results will astound you! The complete study will be documented for our 'Guide to the Psychology of Social Media in Business' to be released in March 2013, however I could not hold on to these TOP 5 results that every business owner and social media manager should be aware of.

TOP Results from our Study of the Psychology of Social Media for Business 

TOP RESULT 1 : Different personalities prefer different social networks.

FACEBOOK users : Looking for engagement and longer term business. Facebook users for business want to create relationships. Trust is built over a time which then encourages new business. Facebook users are likely to be loyal and refer your business on. Facebook users for business want something deeper. Want to engage Facebook users? Interact.

TWITTER users : Love news and updates. Want tips that work quickly. Not loyal. One interesting fact, if your numbers for 'Following' are higher than 'Followers' many people perceive you as a newcomer who simply follows everyone they can in hope of making a connection (not our opinion, results). Want to connect with Twitter followers? Don't brag about yourself, don't Tweet more than 4 times an hour, and stop Tweeting quotes. Tweeps want info, tips and updates FAST!

LINKEDIN users : A realm for intellects. Includes the highest percentage of individuals who enjoy debating. Have you ever heard of the Peacock, Eagle and Dove Theory? A Peacock likes to show off, strut their stuff and let the world know how great they are. An Eagle soars and accomplishes the most. An Eagle does not need the accolades, they are confident in their own abilities and will strive for perfection alone, quietly. A Dove keeps the peace and rolls with the punches. Doves tend to follow the pack and not lead. Linkedin is full of Peacocks.

PINTEREST users : These users would have to be the most creative bunch around. The majority of users on Pinterest love the combination of creativity and purpose.  Want to engage a Pinterest follower? Provide them with high quality infographics with links directly related to the infographic that will provide useful information in laymans terms. Friendly and sociable too!

TOP RESULT 2:  Blog Traffic Higher from Facebook
Although many Bloggers feel their blogs are best announced on Twitter or Linkedin, our study found that over 70% of blog traffic came from Facebook links. Interesting fact : 65% of Facebook users that clicked on a blog link did NOT 'LIKE' the post. Giving the Facebook poster the misleading interpretation that Facebook was ineffective for blog traffic.

TOP RESULT 3: Google+ Users Remain Confused

The Google+ users we surveyed are not as confident about the social network as Facebook and Twitter users. The many changes to the Google+ look and feel, accompanied by the use of terms unfamiliar to users (circles, hangouts), leave Google+ users feeling unclear. Anyone succeeding on Google+ has worked hard to understand and stick with the social network. Those who do get hooked are loyal and love it!

TOP RESULT 4:  Business Owners Assume Too Much

We found in our study too many business owners (and those in charge of social media) assume too much about their target audience. They assume their market will only be using one particular social network, when in fact, no-one can make that assumption. The result is that the business is missing out on potential customers by restricting their social network audience. The net must be cast wider with involvement in at minimum three social networks for a business to have a significant impact online.

TOP RESULT 5 : Heard of Mystery Shopper? Try Mystery Social Networkers!

Possibly the most ALARMING item we uncovered, was the existence of individuals employed by brand names to find social media items about competitors and use these to damage the reputation of the competitor. Social Media Spies spend hours digging for negative comments, posts by disgruntled employees and political based comments. These are then reposted, shared and linked globally. The best psychological defence? Don't engage in political banter as your business identity, block slanderers, do not respond to insults (or if you must, do not be confronting and end with a smile). Remove your emotion as this is your business reputation at stake. 

Note: The research we undertook involved surveying, researching and compiling data from over 20,000 social networkers for business. We understand that many readers will differ in opinion, but can you really afford to refute the evidence......

If you would like to be notified when our 'Guide to the Psychology of Social Media for Business' is released, please register your details by emailing our team.