http://www.bloomtools.com/ Bloomtools Articles 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 business... 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 are a bricks and... 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=4552 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4552 Leading Australian entrepreneur, Bruce Doyle, is the latest business expert to invest in a website empire, opening Bloomtools Melbourne Central this week. Bruce, who has owned more than 20 successful businesses and worked with some of the world’s best entrepreneurs, was so impressed with the Bloomtools system and tools that he started his own Bloomtools franchise in Melbourne and became the master licensee for Victoria. ... 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=4200 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4200 James Greig, Managing Director of Bloomtools, has been named a finalist in Anthill Magazine’s inaugural 30under30 Awards. This competition is designed to discover Australia’s leading entrepreneurial minds under the age of 30, to encourage and promote young entrepreneurship in Australia and create a national alumni of future leaders. James was recognised for his outstanding achievement in the Internet industry with... 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=4086 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=4086 After a hearty weeknight meal that's easy to prepare? Look no further than this tasty variation of a pasta bake. Ingredients (serves 6) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 750g lean beef mince 600ml bottle Italian tomato pasta sauce 625g packet fresh gnocchi 150g Tasmanian Heritage St Claire Swiss-style cheese, grated Method   Preheat oven to... 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=3659 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3659 Tuesday February 26 was Business Clean Up Australia Day, so the Bloomtools team spent the afternoon picking up rubbish at a local lake to show their support for the event and to give back to the community.Bloomtools Managing Director James Greig said, "We decided to go out and physically participate in this event rather than just donate money because we felt it would be more useful"."Our local community has supported us alot, so we... 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=3645 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3645 Gold Coast Internet company Bloomtools is participating in Business Clean Up Australia day this Tuesday and is challenging other businesses to do their bit for the community too. Bloomtools staff will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty by collecting rubbish at Robina Lake to help the environment and give back to the local community that has supported them. Bloomtools Managing Director James Greig believes that it’s... 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=3113 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3113 Bloomtools, developer of leading online business tools, officially launched its franchising system today. After announcing plans to expand into the franchise market in October, Bloomtools will officially launch its new venture today on the Gold Coast. According to Bloomtools Managing Director, James Greig, it's an exciting time for the company. "This is an amazing time for our business - we are... 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 it is... 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 checks out is the... 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 contacts... 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=3088 http://www.bloomtools.com/?process=views/article.php&articleId=3088 What is an online community? A great way to encourage and facilitate feedback from customers and prospects and strengthen your relationships with them is to get involved in online community groups. An online or virtual group is a group of people that primarily interact via a website, making individual contributions by knowledge sharing. There are many different types of online communities, including:  Wikis - A website that... 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...