http://www.bloomtools.com/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:45:06 Bloomtools Articles http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22837 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22837 Want to kick start your business in 2012? Join Tracey Voyce, expert business advisor and Internet professional, as she takes you through her five simple strategies that are helping businesses, like yours, get better results from their online presence allowing them to save money on marketing, streamline their business, get more customers, and get their existing customers to buy more, more frequently and refer others. ... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22689 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22689 I’m going to cut to the chase, you want a Shopping Cart that works. Your Shopping Cart should be the perfect sales person - easy to follow, friendly, helpful, trustworthy, converts well and working for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just like a human sales person, you need to put a little energy into the initial “training” of your Shopping Cart, so today, I’m going to give you seven tips for... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22685 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22685 If you’re like 61% of the Australian population, you’ve purchased goods or services online. You have become part of an industry that is worth almost $35 Billion and rising. However, if you are also like a majority of Australian businesses, you are not selling your goods and products online. Why is this? By denying that Online Shopping will work for your business, you are allowing your competitors to tap into... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22269 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=22269 Bloomtools South Brisbane, which is owned by Emma Rolley, was awarded the Most Improved Franchisee at this year’s annual Bloomtools Franchisee Conference. The award recognises the Bloomtools Franchisee that has shown a marked improvement in sales, customer service, knowledge, and client satisfaction in the past twelve months and is a highly contended for prize. “I am so delighted to have won this... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21777 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21777 This week, the award winning website design and Database Marketing franchise Bloomtools opened their second location in Sydney. Managed by experienced IT services and marketing experts Mark Ilott and Natalie Granger, the franchise is preparing to improve the online presences of SMEs (small to medium enterprises) in the Sydney Central area through Search Engine Optimisation, Website Design, Database Marketing and a Customer... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21701 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21701 In business we all face these common challenges that, if left unaddressed, could massively affect our business. The good news is that there is a solution, and it comes packaged in a great little product called Database Marketing. Today, we’ll look at the three common business dilemmas we all face, and how some simple strategies can solve them for you. 79% of customers will leave because they think you don’t... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21225 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21225 It was recently announced by Google that they have made changes to their algorithm that will affect 35% of Google searches. For businesses with websites, these changes - along with the extra competition for keywords online - means that you need to get even smarter with your Search Engine Optimisation techniques and ensure that you’re keeping on top of them. So, here’s what you can do to ensure that Google’s... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21053 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=21053 Everyone is saying the market is slowing down, so most businesses are not carrying out any new strategies to generate revenue over the Christmas New Year holiday period. Well, guess what?  With less businesses marketing, the ones who are will get results!  So here are some quick suggestions for our clients to get ahead with their Database Marketing, Social Media, SMS before Christmas.   Christmas... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=20505 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=20505 This week, Lee Anne Bartlett from Bloomtools Gold Coast Central celebrated the launch of her 200th website, a massive achievement for a company that only began in 2008. Lee Anne was the first Bloomtools franchisee to come on board and services the local area with websites, Database Marketing products and Search Engine Optimisation for the small to medium enterprise industry. “I have worked in this industry for a... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=14585 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=14585 Social Media is one of the newest and most effective ways of getting your business name out there. But are you making the most of your Social Media accounts? In this webinar, you'll learn how to optimise your Social Media accounts for use with your Bloomtools website including: How to use RSS feeds and why they are so great Posting all your new articles and blogs directly to Twitter from your website login ... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12945 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12945 Any successful website owner will tell you one of their greatest strategies for success is in appearing high in search engines. After a recent webinar on driving traffic to your website, many of you asked for more information and guidance on SEO. We listened, and have created a dedicated workshop for you to learn the secrets that will potentially make a massive difference to the results your website gets. Some of you do your own SEO,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12415 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12415 Are you using Google Tools yet? Do you know how to get Google Tools to work for you? Google Tools are a great way to get your online presence working harder for you, and this short webinar will give you an introduction to the best tools available including Google Analytics, Google Maps, Webmaster tools and many more. James - Director of Bloomtools and experienced Google Tools user - will teach you the basics of these tools, as well... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12414 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12414 swfobject.registerObject("csSWF", "9.0.115", "expressInstall.swf"); Ever wondered how to get an overwhelming number of people to come to your website? What would it mean for your business? John had an online business selling health remedies, which is a highly competitive industry. With some smart thinking, and by utilising viral Internet tools, his business quadrupled in turnover. Sheds.com.au was advised by... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12413 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12413 Database Marketing. What is it, why is it essential for businesses, and what are the strategies businesses are applying to get results? You'll find all the answers in this video.   The Camtasia Studio video content presented here requires JavaScript to be enabled and the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player. If you are using a browser with JavaScript disabled please enable it now.... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11821 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11821 We (Exhibitek Display) are a Queensland based, Australian owned portable display  business, servicing clients Australia wide. Whether you are going to a trade show or exhibition, shopping centre promotion, conducting seminars, requiring in-house or foyer displays we have the experience and the products to meet your needs. We specialise in providing Quick & Easy? retractable banners, Rolltek? scrolling banners, portable... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12416 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12416 With many years of research and experience under our belt, we have development The Winning Formula to get the best results online. In this webinar, you'll find all the answers you need to improve your web presence and get the most out of the Internet. So grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable - when you press play, the video will start in 30 seconds. If you are having trouble viewing this video player, download Microsoft... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11748 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11748 Bloomtools new 4.0 Database Marketing system will be released on the 9th of August. The new Database Marketing system is built to be faster, smarter and more easier to use than ever. Bloomtools began in 2004 as a boutique software development company for businesses on the Gold Coast, Australia. They are passionate about how the Internet could be used as a tool to level the playing field between small and big businesses, so they began... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11297 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11297 The Internet is an integral part of business today – we reach our customers through our websites, research other companies online and stay in contact with business associates using email. 86% of people use the internet to search for a business, product or service before they purchase. However most businesses are yet to tap into the real Internet goldmine – Database Marketing. Bloomtools Database Marketing System,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11292 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11292 Research indicates that almost 80% of Internet users scan the content of a web page rather than read each word. So, instead of taking a few minutes to read your page word for word, they will quickly run their eyes over the page from left to right, looking for something that is relevant to them. If they find a headline, a list or a sentence that interests them, they will stop and read that section, then continue scanning the rest of... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11338 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11338 Liquid Infusion is Melbourne’s most established mobile bar service and is highly regarded as a leader in this new industry. This unique business model and their passion for the industry quickly drove the company to new heights. With thousands of events now catered over the years across Victoria, Liquid Infusion has built a reputation for innovation, success and overcoming all challenges with outstanding results. 90% of... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11293 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11293 Keywords are the words that your target market are typing in when using search engines like Google, to find out about services or products they are looking into. You need to figure out what these key words or phrases are, then strategically place them throughout your website so you appear when someone conducts a search using those words. Step 1 – Keyword Research Your choice of keywords can mean the difference between... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3088 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3088 What is an online community? A great way to encourage and facilitate feedback and knowledge about your products/ services / business from customers and prospects is to get involved in online community groups. An online or virtual group is a group of people that primarily interact via an online presence, making individual contributions by knowledge sharing. By getting involved in online communities it will also help to strengthen... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11151 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11151 Google has launched a new, upgraded version of its search engine. Google promises that the new search tool (called 'Caffeine') will improve the speed, accuracy, size and comprehensiveness of Google search. Caffeine provides 50 percent fresher results for web searches than their last search index and it is apparently the largest collection of web content that Google have offered. So whether it is a news story, a blog or a... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11098 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11098 Pave World is a family run, father and son business that was established in 1994 out of a shared vision to set up a business that covered all your landscaping and building requirements as well as installation services - all in the one location. Over the years as Pave World grew they expanded their business to Campbellfield, Greensborough and Mordialloc. Pave World did have a website, however it was not easy to update and didn't... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11068 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11068 Niche Marketing This has been a big thing for a while and is an essential strategy for business. Past marketing was about defining your target market as one group.  Niche Marketing is about finding subsets within that group to concentrate your marketing on to find you golden baskets. The scatter gun approach of marketing no longer works, as the media options have grown - so it is essential for business survival now to find your... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11060 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11060 1. Sign up for Google Analytics Within your current website, you have some basic statistics showing in the 'thewebconsole.com' (the back end to your website).  To really test and measure to get the best results from your online presence you need to go the next step.  And that is with Google Analytics -  a FREE traffic monitoring and analysis service, this is an awesome tool that enables you to... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11057 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11057 This cosmetic retailer was relatively unknown in her local area and was struggling to stand out in a her competitive industry. She wanted to build her clientèle and increase her sales. Challenges: Sales – The cosmetic retailer wanted to access a new group of potential customers, so she needed to encourage and facilitate her current customers to spread the word about her business to their friends and colleagues.... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11056 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11056 This small business, a weight loss organisation wanted to establish a wide base of clients that they could build strong relationships with. To do this they needed a website that would compliment all their marketing activities and demonstrate clearly their uniqueness over their competitors.  Their online presence also needed to help them interact with their clients and to build a sense community around their brand. ... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10990 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10990 A common question we get asked by potential clients is about the pros and cons with using Open Source Content Management Systems vs Proprietary Software, and contrary to what most people believe, the open source label does not imply no cost. Developers can and do charge for open source software. Open source actually refers to the availability of the source code for software. There are several varieties of open source software and as user... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10951 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10951 Being in business is very competitive and we are all looking at ways we can make our business stand out above our competitors, keep our existing clients longer, increase our average dollar etc all to increase our profitability. Print, Marketing, Web, Business Consultancy companies and more are adding online solutions to their product mix to achieve these results. We have all seen the statistics and even felt and seen the change in the... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10900 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10900 We have all seen the statistics and even felt the change in the market place ourselves, knowing that Australians are using the internet as a daily source of information, communication and commerce. Yet many businesses have been slow to ensure they are capitalising on this extremely popular medium. They may have a simple website, but that is not enough these days – you need to stand out, have the right tools to interact and grab... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10865 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10865 The Internet has changed the way people shop – they buy online whenever possible because it is convenient and simple. In Australia alone over 40% of all Australians bought a product or service online in the last 12 months, spending over $23 billion*.  Consumers are now comfortable buying online, it's a growing market.  Sadly though a trend that is growing here in Australia, is that many Australians are buying... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10857 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10857 We have all seen the statistics and even felt the change in the market place ourselves, knowing that Australians are using the internet as a daily source of information, communication and commerce. Yet many businesses have been slow to ensure they are capitalising on this extremely popular medium. They may have a simple website, but that is not enough these days – you need to stand out, have the right tools to interact and... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10840 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10840 Facebook created quite a splash with its announcements on its new social plugins — including the Like button at the f8 developer conference last week. The most interesting fact is that more than 50,000 websites have already implemented the “Like” button in just one week after release. The sites leading this implementation includes Bloomtools who has already implemented the "Like" button within... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10681 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10681 This article looks at the top 10 tools you can use to get more out of a simple Google search. These tools will help you to cut down on search time and help define your searches. 1. Use Google as a calculator. Google has a built-in calculator — try entering a calculation like 110 * (654/8 + 3). Yes, your computer also has a calculator, but if you spend most of your day inside a browser, typing your calculation into... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10652 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10652 Apple's iPad, is a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds- thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10619 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10619 Midnight Fashions was established in Stones Corner in 1999 and quickly became a fixture in the Stones Corner fashion precinct. From slinky dresses for school formals, to cute cocktail dresses for the races, to renowned bridal gowns, Midnight Fashions has the dress for you.  Specialised and trained staff are always in store to assist in fittings and  are available for styling consultations. Winners of the 2009 Quest... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10615 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10615 Case Study 1 - Surveys to introduce a new idea / gain insight into consumer thoughts A retail business wanted to know if their customers would be interested in buying their products online. It was going to involve a investment to create an retail / wholesale e-commerce site. Was it worth the risk and expense? While everyone agreed that it seemed like it would be well worth the cost and effort, the real opinions that mattered were those... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10614 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10614 Gaining your clients or your target markets opinion or evaluation, is essential in business. It enables you to take away the guesswork on what needs to improve, gives you insight into your markets thoughts, and provides you some good benchmarks to measure your business. Customer feedback is an important part of any business. Without it, businesses often wouldn’t’ know when they need to make changes, add new products or... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10341 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10341 With the popularity of Facebook and Twitter these days, it's highly likely your team members are using social networking websites.  You probably are too! But do you have any rules in place for how your team uses social networking?  There is a lot of potential for damage to your business if social media is not managed properly, so you need to have a social media policy in place.  Your policy should... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10327 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=10327 You've no doubt heard of Twitter, and probably even heard the masses of articles telling you to get your business on Twitter, but are you on it yet? If not, this article is ideal for you. We will cover everything you need to know about setting up an account and immersing yourself in the Twitter-verse! So, what is Twitter? Twitter is a micro-blogging website where people post 140 character messages known as tweets.... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9901 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9901 Several large companies have recently been hacked due to lax security when it comes to passwords - Google, Adobe and many more.  To ensure this doesn't happen to your business, our team have put together some tips for creating strong passwords and keeping them safe: Do... Use numbers and symbols - you can boost the security of your passwords by adding numbers and symbols to it, for example joebloggs12* is more secure than... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9764 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9764 Bloomtools has already reached its first milestone for 2010 - our 700th website! This week, we are building our 700th website since our business began in 2004 - wow, we've been busy! We are very proud to have achieved this and look forward to building many more online solutions in 2010 and beyond. Our lucky 700th client is Studio Qi, an acupuncture and Chinese medicine centre on the Gold Coast. Currently in the design stage, the Studio Qi... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9500 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9500 2011 is the year the year that your business is going to start getting amazing results from email marketing! Why? Because you are going to follow the 'Bloomtools Email Marketing Resolutions' checklist... Over the last few years, email marketing has evolved to being the most cost effective medium to increase loyalty, referrals, repeat customers and revenue in a business.  And if you are like most... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9485 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9485 Ever wondered what topics other people are interested in?  Thanks to our friends at Google, we have a great list of the most searched terms online in 2009.  From breaking news to weird topics, Australians have searched for it all... The fastest rising searches of 2009 One HD twitter.com Masterchef Melbourne Cup 2009 Grooveshark New Moon Movie Facebook search Trading Post Auto Smartkiddies Currency converter... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9484 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9484 Google is set to become even more of a one-stop-shop on the internet, as they have just announced plans to integrate real-time feeds from Twitter, Facebook and Myspace into their search results. Social media has become so popular now that the demand for this real-time content is huge - users want up-to-the-minute conversations, not outdated websites. Now your search results will include the lateset fresh content from the top socia media... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9083 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9083 In a physical store or business, a secure and comfortable environment is created by the visually appealing layout and tangible products, plus the helpful sales people and informative signs/brochures/banners etc.  You can quickly and easily find out anything you need to know before you buy and there is always someone there to answer your questions. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work like that on the internet.  The online... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9078 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=9078 If your business sells to Generation Y consumers, it's essential that you understand how they shop.  Here are some recent statistics from Hitwise Intelligence to give you some hints: Bricks and mortar searches much more dominant than online brands. 18-24 year old females and males were both more likely to search for bricks and mortar brands, accounting for 73% and 70% of searches respectively. 18-24 year old females are more... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8873 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8873 Here's some reasons your website needs to be Google friendly: There are more than 300 million searches performed online every day, with around 90% of Australasian searches on Google 86% of your customers search online when looking for a business, service or product Businesses that are maximising Google are getting more than 65% of their traffic from search engines As you can see, it's important that your website is... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8500 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8500 Wellington businesses will now have access to world-leading online solutions to help them get results from the internet, as website development and internet marketing company Bloomtools opens an office in Wellington. Owner of the new Bloomtools office, local businesswoman Wendy Page, is aiming to help local businesses get online presence up to scratch and take advantage of the many business opportunities the internet provides. "The... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8336 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8336 Bloomtools has just launched its Real Estate Website Design service for real estate agents, a complete online software package for marketing properties for sale and rent. The tool will save agents considerable time and money with their property promotions, offering more functionality than any other system available in the market. The Real Estate Module enables agents to showcase their properties on their website in a professional,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8304 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8304 Bloomtools Announces It Will Resell Google Apps Bloomtools today announced it has become an authorized reseller of the Google Apps suite of communication and collaboration tools. James Greig, Director of Bloomtools, is excited about adding Google Apps to the range of business web tools his company already provides. "We are all about giving small and medium businesses complete online solutions, and Google Apps fit perfectly into... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8219 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8219 One of the most popular sites on the web, Twitter, was  hit by a hacker last week and had sensitive documents about their board meetings, business deals and future plans published on popular technology blog, TechCrunch. TechCrunch decided to publish some of the documents after receiving them from the hacker, who noted that it was surprisingly easy to access Twitter executives private information. Some of the highlights include: ... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8214 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8214 Google announced this week that it is planning to spread it's dominance of the technological world even further by building it's own operating system to rival Windows. An operating system is the underlying software that operates the basic functions of a computer and currently 95% of computers use Windows as their OS, with most of the remainder using the Apple Mac OS or Linux. Google's Chrome OS will be focused on the internet - with it's... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8134 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8134 For most businesses, the main purpose of their website is generating sales - whether that is direct online sales or just getting the potential customer to call them or go into their business. To achieve sales through your website, you need to define exactly what the goal is (eg. buy from the online shopping cart, submit a quote request /inquiry form or fill out a contact form), then create a sales funnel to drive them to that goal. Every... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7755 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7755 One of the many great features Google offers businesses is the Local Business Centre, which gives you the opportunity to list your business for free on Google Maps and when someone searches for your keyword and location, your listing on the map appears in the search results. It looks like this: Have you taken advantage of this great opportunity to promote your business and drive traffic to your website?  It's a very valuable... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7754 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7754 Microsoft has recently launched a new search engine in an attempt to challenge search engine giant Google. Microsoft's Bing (www.bing.com) has evolved from Microsoft's other search engines Live Search, Windows Live Search and MSN Search and offers a similar service to Google - general web search, image and multimedia search, news search, maps and paid search advertising like Google AdWords. Bing does have some functionality that is... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7922 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7922 In the Government's recent budget, they announced a plan to help small businesses take advantage of the internet - "And to enable small businesses to take full advantage of the National Broadband Network, a further $10.0 million will be provided over two years to establish a Small Business Online program. The program will equip small businesses to go online, improve their web facilities and engage in e-business." This is... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7918 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7918 Back in the early days of the internet, a business could get a website design made and then just forget about it - it would do its job of generating sales without any involvement from them. Well the internet has changed a lot over the last few years and it's now essential for businesses to invest some time and effort in their website. These days, content is king on the internet. If you're website is not fresh and up to date, chances are... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7870 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7870 Without traffic, a website is a billboard in a desert - seen by no one and a complete waste of money.  To make your website a worthwhile investment for your business, you need to put some effort into promoting it. The good news is that there are many free ways to generate traffic to your website - all they will cost is some of your time.  Here are the top 6 strategies that businesses are using today to boost their... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7691 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7691 Refusing to be drawn into the doom and gloom surrounding the economy, web development franchise Bloomtools and its franchisees are still achieving great success. With franchises operating across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, Bloomtools is making its national presence felt and is quickly building up a large base of clients achieving great results with their world-class tools.  This, combined with its streamlined... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7509 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7509 Your business should be using a multi-level database marketing strategy to attract new customers and maximise existing ones.  We've put together a training whitepaper to help you create a database marketing plan for your business that includes a variety of different strategies to ensure you are getting the most from your database. Download it here (PDF) This plan is formulated around the Bloomtools Ezy Communicator... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7508 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7508 If you are serious about getting results from your online presence, you should have an expert (like Bloomtools) working on search engine optimisation for your site.  But, if you want to do some of it yourself,  there are some free things you can do to help get your site up higher in search results. The most important thing is keywords - these are the words that describe your business that you think people will by typing... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7507 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7507 Want to be really internet savvy?  Then you need to check out Hitwise.  This company publishes research and statistics about the internet in Australia on a weekly basis.  Their stats include everything from most popular websites, to top searches and they regularly do reports on specific industries or sectors.  There are some really interesting statistics in there and you might even find something that... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7482 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7482 So some expert has told you that it's not worth your while to do a newsletter because every man and his dog has a newsletter and people are sick of having their inboxes filled up with junk? That expert does have some valid points - lots of companies send newsletters and people are sick of spam - but that doesn't mean you should can your email newsletter altogether.   Instead of getting rid of your newsletter, you need to... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7153 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7153 Bloomtools' Content Management System  has been named one of Australia’s 100 most innovative products, according to 1,600 maven judges, in one of the largest and most audacious innovation awards of its kind in Australia – the ‘SMART 100’ Index. Leading business magazine Australian Anthill and market research leader Colmar Brunton joined forces to create the ‘Smart... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7084 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7084 The paradox of our current economic climate is that customers are demanding more value, at the same time that businesses are looking for more cost-effective ways to deliver service.  Consumers are being much more careful with how they spend their money so they want to make sure they are getting the most for the least.  This can present a big challenge for your business - how do you meet their needs when you are trying to... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7081 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7081 The verdict is in and it’s essential for all law firms to have a professional, functional website that generates real bottom line results.  Does yours?  Lawyer turned web consultant Emma Rolley from Bloomtools South Brisbane explains the amazing things you can achieve online to get more clients and save money for your business. Being a lawyer myself, I know you will appreciate these statistics – at any... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7076 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7076 Struggling to keep up to date with the latest tech tools and wacky websites out there?  There are so many new products and ideas being launched every day that it's near impossible for anyone to know and use them all.  So to save you the time, we've asked some of the web nerds at Bloomtools HQ to share their top 5 time-saving tools with you: del.icio.us - Delicious is a free social... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7048 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7048 Bloomtools Gold Coast Central won the 'Workplace of the Day' competition on Gold Coast radio station 102.9 Hot Tomato this week. Lee Anne and her team got to choose 3 songs to play on the radio and tell listeners about Bloomtools and what we do. "It was great fun - we got to meet the radio team, do an interview and it was just a huge laugh the whole time!  It was a really good way to promote Bloomtools to local businesses... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6858 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6858 In it's recently released Christmas Retail Review, internet intelligence company Hitwise states that in 2009 "the online channel will be more important than ever in winning business and competing against both bricks and mortar and online retailers." The report compared the performance of various retail channels over the Christmas 2008 retail period and concluded that 'bricks and mortar businesses are winning the online... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6857 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6857 SOCIAL networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are now more popular than personal email with Australians spending one in every 10 minutes online inside their "virtual homes", research shows. And it is not just young internet users who are behind the trend.  The biggest surge in social networking was among 35 to 49-year-olds, while almost a quarter of Facebook users were over the age of 50. Nielsen Online's... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6855 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6855 Interested in becoming a Bloomtools franchisee?  Read about how it all started and how you can own your own web empire... The most successful franchise businesses are often determined not only by the strength of their marketing and products, but also by their inner business strengths. The driving team behind the franchisor needs to have strong values and an immovable vision for the success of the business and its franchisees.... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6485 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6485 Three local business owners have joined together to bring the latest website development technology to the Sunshine Coast because they think it’s about time local businesses got up to date with the internet. Dan Fox, Wade Grundon and Philip Ciniglio are the proud owners of website development and internet marketing franchise Bloomtools Sunshine Coast, and according to Dan, many local businesses have been missing out on the full... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6369 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6369 Bloomtools began offering a Search Engine Optimisation Program to its clients in October 2008, after a year of testing and perfecting the technology.  Getting results from search engine optimisation takes a while, especially for new websites, but all the clients that have signed on for this program are doing well already.  Here are some of the success stories. Broadbeach Alliance With so many people using the internet to... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6363 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6363 So you’ve got a website?  That’s great – every business needs one.  But are you taking full advantage of all the technology that the internet now offers the everyday business owner?  There are lots of tools out there that can help you get more from your internet presence.  And surprisingly, a lot of it’s free.  Here are the must-haves for 2009: A... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6198 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6198 THE average Australian will head into Christmas close to $700 a month better off than they were six months ago. THE average Australian will head into Christmas close to $700 a month better off than they were six months ago, defying the common belief that bleak economic conditions are hurting families. Economists yesterday told The Daily Telegraph the cost of living in Australia was at a five-year low thanks to plummeting interest rates,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6189 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6189 The Federal Government’s internet content filtering plan, designed to protect internet users from child pornography, is coming under fire. Telstra – the nation’s largest internet service provider – now says it will not take part in trials of the filter, while the second largest ISP, Optus, says it will only participate in a scaled-back version. The filter has also come under political opposition,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6188 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6188 Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said new research released today in the Deloitte ARA Christmas Retail Survey showed almost 68% of consumers are planning to spend the same or more during the Christmas season compared to last year. ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said consumers who had limited discretionary spend earlier in the year now have money in their pockets as they look forward to responsibly... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6187 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6187 The founder of Good Onya Australia and Director of Bloomtools, Tracey Voyce, was on Sunrise this morning to launch the Good Onya Australia positive news website.  She talked about the importance of spreading positive news and facts and Kochie and Nat thought Good Onya Australia was a great idea,  encouraging all Australians to get behind the cause.  Click here to watch the video on the Sunrise website. http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6186 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6186 So what can we expect the internet in 2009?  And how will at affect your business?  While none of us are getting around in flying cars yet, technology is definitely advancing rapidly.  Exhibit A – the internet.  It seems like every day something new is invented for the web – podcasts, YouTube, blogs, content management systems – and it’s become an integral part of... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5830 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5830 Online shopping is on the increase in Australia and for small Gold Coast watch retailer, Just Watches, an online shop has been a very successful addition to their business. The bricks and mortar retailer began selling watches through their website in May this year to reach more customers and have been blown away by the results they’ve achieved already. “I’ve always been a believer in the power of the... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5521 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5521 Times are changing - consumers don't always go in to stores to buy things any more.  Now more than ever, they are buying online.  In fact, 54% of Australian internet users say that they have purchased a product online in the last three months, according to a report released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) last week. So how are you tapping in to this lucrative market? Even if you... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5520 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5520 The growth of the internet continues, as a new report released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) shows that Australians use the internet more than any other medium. As of June this year, 73% of Australian households are online and as a result, they have significantly cut the amount of time and money they spend on traditional mediums like television and newspapers. In the survey, more than a quarter of respondents... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5152 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5152 Question: I understand how important it is for my website to be on search engines but how do I go about choosing the right keywords? Answer: All your search engine optimisation efforts are dependant on the keywords you choose for your website so it's very important that you choose the right ones.  Keywords are the words and phrases you think best define what your business is about.  They should always be based on what... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5151 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5151 Bloomtools is excited to announce the launch of its search engine optimisation services for business websites. Here's a statistic to think about - 61% of internet users use search engines to find what they are looking for.  If you don't have a presence on the first 2 pages of Google and the other search engines, then you will miss out on your share of these customers.  Search engine optimisation is all about... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5125 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5125 Australia's corporate watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, has conducted a sweep of Australian websites this week looking for sites that make fraudulent and deceptive claims. As part of a global operation under the banner of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, the ACCC has checked hundreds of websites for dodgy claims, scams and misleading messages in an attempt to ensure online traders... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5115 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5115 This week Google has launched a new system to track fuel prices and keep consumers up to date with the cheapest prices in their area.  The Petrol Price Tracker Gadget was launched after the search engine noted an increase in the number of searches for fuel prices.  The system finds the price of unleaded, diesel, LPG and other fuel types at service stations based on the location or postcode supplied by the user. ... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5099 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5099 Question: I'd really like to put some Flash on my website to make it look nice but I have heard that it is bad and that I should avoid it.  Is this true? Answer:  Flash is an animation software that is used to create movies and interactive websites.  If your website developer doesn't know what they are doing, Flash can negatively impact on your website in several ways, but if done correctly, it can enhance your... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5023 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5023 Businesses in the Newcastle area now have an expert internet partner to help them get great results online, with Bloomtools Newcastle opening recently. Local businessman Glenn Cooper could see the need in his area for a reliable website development company, so he partnered with national franchise brand Bloomtools to bring this to Newcastle. “I’ve worked in marketing for many years, so I’d heard the... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4570 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4570 When it comes to your website, it’s not just what’s on the outside that counts.  The public front end of your website is your shopfront, so you’ve probably spent a lot of time getting that up to scratch and working effectively.  But have you thought about adding more functionality to your site, that only a chosen few can see, that will take your website's value and your... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4419 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4419 Everyone is talking about social media – websites like Myspace and Facebook have millions of members and big businesses everywhere are using online communities and interactive content to attract customers and build their brand loyalty. But social media isn’t just for corporate giants or catching up with old friends.  The internet has now matured to a level where websites are highly-functional and very... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4172 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4172 We all know that the popularity of the internet is sky-rocketing, but what are the actual numbers?  Here are some of the most recent statistics about Internet usage in Australian households: Australia has 11.3 million Internet users 64% of Australian households have Internet access Australians spend more time online than watching TV – 22 hours per week for the web compared to 14 hours for TV In NSW,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4142 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4142 Businesses on the Gold Coast can now find a world-class website developer in their own backyard, with Bloomtools Gold Coast Central now open for business. Gold Coast Central is the first Bloomtools franchise to launch in Australia and the proud owner, Lee Anne Bartlett, is excited to be part of such an innovative, supportive company. “Being the first Bloomtools franchisee is such an honour – I’ve been... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4085 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4085 The internet has only been around for about a decade, but it has already advanced dramatically in that short time. It is now at a maturity level where it can be used for much more than just marketing in a business – it is a fully functional business tool that can provide real bottom-line results for businesses. One area we have seen massive growth in is the web being used to increase efficiency and save time and money for... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3866 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3866 Statistics like "51% of all Australians research online before making a purchase" highlights the importance of getting your site high in the organic (free listings) results of search engines when a person searches for a word/s related to your business.  The process of making adjustments to your site so it displays high for keywords your target audience are using is called Search Engine Optimisation... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4049 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4049 Bloomtools Managing Director James Greig is the latest entrepreneur to featured on the HatchThat blog.  HatchThat is a weekly blog that profiles up-and-coming business people and gets them to share their wisdom about the business world. James is interviewed by HatchThat about how and why he started Bloomtools and he gives some very practical advice to business owners looking to get a website and young entrepreneurs just starting... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3684 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3684 Customer feedback is an important part of any business.  Without it, businesses often wouldn’t know when they need to make changes, add new products or improve their services.  Thanks to the Internet and email, there is now a fast and simple way to get feedback from your customers – online surveys. An online survey is the same as a normal survey – a series of questions that the respondent... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3634 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3634 Welcome to Part 2 of the Bloomtools internet plan - giving you 6 more great strategies you can use in your own business to get more customers, make more money and save more time. July – Start an Adwords campaign You’ve probably noticed that when you conduct a search in Google, there are some businesses that get their site listed at the very top of the page or down the side.  These ads stand out from the rest... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3421 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3421 The start of a new year is always exciting – there are so many opportunities and adventures ahead.  When it comes to business, many of these opportunities are now online.  So why not make 2008 the year that you really take advantage of what the Internet has to offer your business?   Using the internet in your business can be daunting, because there are so many different things you can do.  So,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3306 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3306 Once you have written all the content within your email marketing, it’s all done and ready to be sent out, right? Wrong! You’ve forgotten the subject line, one of the most crucial factors in email marketing success. The subject line is what appears alongside your name (the sender) in your recipient’s email inbox and identifies what your email is about. If your subject lines don’t identify your... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3107 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3107 Bloomtools, Australia’s leading developer of online business solutions, today announced plans to launch their web design franchise around the country. The successful website development and Internet marketing company is franchising in order to give the small to medium business market what it desperately needs – a complete online solution that actually works. James Greig, Bloomtools Managing Director, believes... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=20109 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=20109 Your website is one of your most important reflections of your company. In the same way that your business brochures and even yourself with your car, clothes and image needs a revamp every few years to remain fresh and look up to date, so too does your website. This is also a good time to take your website to the next level, increasing its value to your business by maximising on the Internet's full potential. In this article,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=19841 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=19841 If you run a chamber, networking group, gym or any other association that requires membership, then this is an essential webinar for you. Learn how technology can make your life easier, save you money and make your membership more effective and efficient. The key word for this webinar is STREAMLINE where leverage, automation and technology work their magic to really make a massive difference to your membership management,... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=18665 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=18665 To blog or not to blog...well, it’s not really a question anymore. The truth is the research is proving that blogs are helping businesses in many, many ways. From driving traffic to your website, to helping you get new clients, blogs are now a very effective way of promoting yourself to the customers you want to reach. In this article we’ll discuss the key ways in which a blog can help to boost your business and its... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=18345 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=18345 These days, Google is a powerhouse for Internet technologies. If they’re not building brilliant search engines, they’re recreating email programs or reinventing the Social Media experience. Today, I’m going to take you through the 7 Google Tools that we use here at Bloomtools which are: Google Alerts Google Keyword Tool Google Places Google Docs / Apps Google Analytics ... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=17841 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=17841 "How can I use the Internet to generate more revenue and get my existing customers to buy more, more frequently and refer others?" It's a question we hear a lot at Bloomtools, so this month we've recruited our Internet Marketing expert and Director, Tracey Voyce, who will take you through the winning strategies that our clients are getting great results from. What's more, 90% of the... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13945 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13945 With the way technology speeds along these days it can be a real mission trying to keep up. Sure, we don’t all need the latest smart phone, the top of the range computer or the fanciest gaming console. But when it comes to your web browser, it certainly pays to be up-to-date with the latest advances. Here’s why: Security Older web browsers have much less security than that newest. Because of this... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13749 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13749 Creating a Facebook Fan Page is really simple and it’s also a great way to complement your Bloomtools website. Use the great range of available apps to feed your blogs into your page, sync your Twitter account with Facebook and promote your business AND your website. Here’s how to create and customize a Fan Page for your business and have it interact with your Bloomtools website or, alternatively, check out our new... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12745 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12745 We’ve all had it, and just like its namesake, it’s very unpleasant. I’m talking about Spam of course - the digital kind - and as an email marketer it’s important that you understand what is (and isn’t) considered spam in Australia. So, to help you out, I’ve gone through the Spam Act 2003 and rewritten the bits that are relevant for you in plain English. Please remember, this is... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12557 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12557 No, I’m not talking about leaving your freshly emptied Woolworth’s shopping cart in the parking lot instead of the trolley bay. (Although, that’s a fad I’m also keen on combating!) I’m talking about the 70% of online shoppers that abandon your shopping cart before they make their purchase. “70% of online shopping carts get abandoned? Did I read that correctly?” ... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12527 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=12527 After speaking at a recent Women’s Network Australia event in Brisbane, and watching everyone take lots of notes, I decided to put some of my talk down into a paper. There is a lot to cover in this sphere, so here are some points to help people utilise social media more effectively. (Watch out for Part 2 next week) No doubt, you’ve heard the buzz around social media and its role in business. The supporters believe... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11829 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11829 At Small Business Works, we provide financial planning advice to a wide range of clients from business owners to wage earners and young families as well as those nearing or already retired. With our Accounting practice working side by side with our Financial Planning practice we are able to assist clients with more complex financial needs and structures. Challenges Not only was our old website a very ugly design it also represented... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11675 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=11675 This Law firm wanted to refresh and update their old website as it was out of date and they were not attracting many leads or sales through their website. They also wanted to make their new website more credible, clearly demonstrating their strengths, and areas of speciality. And to utilise the power of the online tools to educate their clients to help improve repeat business and facilitate referrals. Challenges: Lead Generation:... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5427 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5427 Spam is a huge issue on the internet these days and unfortunately, it has impacted on businesses that send legitimate bulk emails using database marketing tools.  It means that we have to work alot harder to get our emails to our reader's inboxes.  All email programs (from Hotmail to Outlook) have in-built spam filters that scan incoming emails to determine if they are spam.  One of the things it... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5309 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5309 These days most businesses realise they really need to have a website in order to be competitve, including bricks and mortar businesses.  Sadly, many of them have no idea what they need to have on their website in order to improve their business and increase their sales.  So to help these businesses out, we've created this simple guide to the top things that have been winners for our clients online.  When you're... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5308 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5308 Lots of people visit your website, including current customers, past customers, prospective customers, shareholders, suppliers and maybe even members of the press. When these people arrive on your website, they are usually seeking some specific information about your business. They may want to find out about:  What products and services you sell Your prices How to use your products The vision and mission of your... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5306 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5306 It is a widely-known fact in business that people love buying, but hate being sold to. So how do you overcome this as a business that has products and services to sell to customers? You need to be the doctor – the expert that listens to their problems, diagnoses them and then tells them what they need to do to fix it. People will be far more receptive to your messages if they think that you genuinely care about them and want to... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3713 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3713 These days most businesses realise they really need to have a website in order to be competitve, including bricks and mortar businesses.  Sadly, many of them have no idea what they need to have on their website in order to improve their business and increase their sales.  So to help these businesses out, we've created this simple guide to the top things that have been winners for our clients online.  When you're... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3205 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3205 Australians spent $22 billion over the Christmas period in 2006, and this figure is expected to rise this holiday season.  What is your business doing to secure its share of these profits? Email marketing is a great way to remind your customers of your business and strengthen your relationships to encourage them to spend some of their Christmas cash with you. Creating a simple email and sending it out to your database of... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3102 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3102 Most successful businesses have a large database of contacts, including clients, past clients, prospects, alliances and suppliers, which they keep up-to-date and fully utilise. This is why your contact list is a goldmine for your business. The number and variety of strategies (eg.  email marketing, ecards, value adding, referrals, events etc.) you can utilise with it are limitless, as are the results you can achieve from it.... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3101 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3101 Online communities are a great way to get your customers and prospects interacting with your business. Establishing a community group on your website is also an effective way to boost your site traffic and generate leads. For more information on these groups and the people that participate in them, read my other article. To build a group around your business on your own site, you can use a blog or an online forum. A blog is a page on your... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3099 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3099 All businesses need to be spending some time and money on generating leads, because new leads mean more sales and greater profits. The key to lead generation is using a variety of strategies at the one time. Just advertising your business in a local newspaper probably won’t generate a large number of leads for you to turn into customers – you need to be utilising a wide variety of marketing tools simultaneously to really... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3097 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3097 The copy is probably the most important aspect of your website design because it communicates important information about your business to your customers and prospects. Writing for the web is a lot different to everyday writing. Web users read the content of websites very differently to the way they would read a newspaper or book, and you need to be aware of this when you are copywriting for your website.  You need to take... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3096 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3096 Producing a newsletter used to be a hard, complex and costly project, not only in writing the material, but also in producing the newsletter and getting it out to contacts. Thankfully that era is now changing, with email marketing making it so much easier, faster and more economical to send out newsletters. As a business, what do you really get from producing a newsletter? There are a lot of great business benefits from email... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3095 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3095 Most businesses spend a large percentage of their profits on promoting their business online and offline to their customers. However, many of these businesses are missing out on the full benefit of their marketing activities because they are not integrating the offline activities with their online presence. Integration is very important because you will be missing out on many potential customers if the online and offline aren’t... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3094 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3094 Getting your customers to stay on your site longer will help you build a relationship with them and get them to purchase from you again. Most visitors don't spend more than a couple of minutes on your site, so they aren't exposed to your brand or your products for very long. However, if you can offer something to your visitors on your website that will keep them there, they will be in contact with your brand for a lot longer. This will, at... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3093 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3093 To get great results from sales, seminars, whitepapers or other promotions your business is running, you will need to advertise them online. Online advertising is a relatively cost-effective method for attracting your target audience to your promotions and getting conversions. The different types of online advertising include Pay-Per-Click advertising on search engines, links or images on other websites or newsletters and links or images... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3092 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3092 The internet has advanced so much in the last few years that websites are no longer just brochures that your customers browse before calling you or visiting your store. Websites now have the ability to facilitate businesses – they can generate leads, customers can purchase your products online and you can use your website to engage in regular communication with your contacts. Most businesses want to visitors to their websites to... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3091 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3091 Lots of people visit your website, including current customers, past customers, prospective customers, shareholders, suppliers and maybe even members of the press. When these people arrive on your website, they are usually seeking some specific information about your business. They may want to find out about:  What products and services you sell Your prices How to use your products The vision and mission of your... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3090 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3090 Email marketing has become a popular way for businesses to engage in regular communication with their prospects and customers, because it is simple to use and highly cost-effective. However, as the popularity of email marketing has grown, so has the amount of spam we receive in our email inboxes on a daily basis. In order to combat the increase of spam and keep it out of inboxes, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and email programs have... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3089 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3089 In today’s internet age, having an online presence is essential for most businesses. A website can be a valuable business tool for conducting sales, contacting current and potential customers, promoting products and building brand loyalty. But getting your business online isn’t a quick process and there are a lot of important considerations when setting up a website. This guide will outline the seven stages of building... http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3085 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3085 It is a widely-known fact in business that people love buying, but hate being sold to. So how do you overcome this as a business that has products and services to sell to customers? You need to be the doctor – the expert that listens to their problems, diagnoses them and then tells them what they need to do to fix it. People will be far more receptive to your messages if they think that you genuinely care about them and want to...