let's talk business
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Tips and Articles for Small & Medium BusinessTRANSCRIPT
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 1
NAB NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT
24 – 25 JULY IN BRISBANE
All interested parties are invited to
become involved in the 2013 NAB
National Small Business Summit in
Brisbane on Wednesday, 24 and
Thursday 25 July 2013.
This will be the 11th NAB Small
Business Summit and will be
attended by luminaries such as the
Federal Minister for Small Business,
The Hon Gary Gray MP, and the
Shadow Federal Minister for Small
Business, The Hon Bruce Billson
MP.
Also speaking will be the 2012
COSBOA Small Business
Champion Ondina Gregoric, who
will outline the secret of her success
and the importance of giving back to
the sector.
Small business owners employ over
4.5 million people and are a major
part of the economy, as well as
contributing members of our local
communities. Small business people
provide our society with the
capability to innovate and to deal
with adversity much more quickly
than big business.
The Council of Small Business of
Australia, COSBOA, welcomed this
important focus on small business,
Let’s Talk Business MARKETING MEANS BUSINESS - Solutions for Small Business
Issue 04 May 2013
which highlighted the evident fact
that small business is too big to
ignore.
Talking about the campaign
#2big2ignore Peter Strong, Executive
Director for COSBOA commented,
‘The reality is that small business has
been ignored for two decades and the
more campaigns that focus on us, as
people, the better it is for our
economy and communities.
We fully support this and any
campaign to emphasise people in
small businesses.’
‘This is recognition indeed of the
need for leaders of industry bodies,
senior politicians and bureaucrats to
attend the NAB National Small
Business Summit.’
‘In the lead up to the election, this is
one of the final opportunities for all
parties to highlight their policies for
small businesses, make changes and
influence the votes of 2.5 million
small business owners in Australia,’
stated Mr Strong.
A key focus of the Summit is to look
at how small business and big
business are different, yet how they
The Facts Are Evident: Small
Business is too big to ignore
Talking about the campaign #2big2ignore Peter Strong, Executive Director for COSBOA commented:
“The reality is that small business has been ignored for two decades and the more campaigns that focus on us, as people, the better it is for our economy and communities. We fully support this and any campaign to emphasise people in small businesses.”
can work together in unison, learning
from the unique challenges faced by
each to better move forward in the
changing climate.
‘We would like to take this
opportunity to invite key supporters
of small business to attend the NAB
National Small Business Summit
which will address a number of key
areas including policy, partnerships
and people,’ extended Mr Strong.
The NAB National Small Business
Summit will be held on 24-25 July
2013 at the Brisbane Convention &
Exhibition Centre with registrations
open from mid-April.
For more information about the
Summit visit:
www.nationalsmallbusinesssummit.co
m.au
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 2
Your Customer can be Your Lifeline or Your Executioner
Dennis Chiron MarketingMeans Business
0451 184 599 [email protected]
Skype: dennis.chiron2
PROFILE OF AN
UNHAPPY CUSTOMER
There are some facts on unhappy
customers that both you and your
staff should be aware of.
Think about yourself and your
business. If you fit some of these
profiles it should also confirm to
you that others feel the same.
Did you know that:
That the average business
never hears from 96% of its
unhappy customers.
That for every complaint
received, a business will have
26 others that are unreported,
six of which are serious.
That those “non-complaint”
customers do complain to
nine or ten other people.
That customers whose
complaints are effectively
resolved will tell an average
of five other people.
Everyone knows the benefits of a
satisfied customer, but few
business owners stop to consider
the potential value of the not-so-
happy.
In an article in “My Business”
Tom Dickerson explains how you
can use unhappy customers to
better your business http://
Keep Your
Custom-
Sixty eight percent of
customers who leave do so
because they feel
unappreciated, unimportant,
and taken for granted.
www.mybusiness.com.au/experts/how-
unhappy-customers-can-improve-your-
business
Unfortunately, unhappy customers are
an inevitable consequence of doing
business and you will run into them no
matter how committed you are to
seeing them all happy.
There will be times when that customer
is justified in being upset while there
will be others where the situation was
entirely out of your control. Strategies
do exist where you can diffuse a
situation and help a customer feel better
and perhaps even turn them into a
repeat buyer.
In the beginning, every business owner
is certain that they must retain every
single customer they can but this is not
an excuse to allow the business to
become the proverbial “doormat” for
customers to kick around when they
feel like it.
Sooner or later you're going to have to
deal with an upset customer. A product
breaks, their goods don’t arrive when
promised, an employee has a bad day,
these things happen! The question is,
how are you going to deal with your
unhappy customer, especially
considering that these days it's very
easy to vent ones spleen using social
media.
Almost with one foul swoop, a
frustrated customer, through Facebook
or Twitter, can literally destroy your
business.
Everyone claims they give excellent
customer service. While that might
be true for some, it is far from true
for others.
If every company gives excellent
service, there would be no need for
customer complaints lines,
consumer watch dogs, or even
companies liquidating.
Customers care about how they’re
treated. With the recent rise of social
media, consumers are able to voice
their dissent — or support —
immediately to the masses.
Businesses have to manage
relationships with their customers
more carefully than ever, whether
online or offline.
People will buy from you for many
reasons, but the experience they
have determines whether they come
back or not. So from the beginning
you need to focus on helping the
customer, because that’s what builds
repeat business.
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 3
COMPLAINTS ARE A GREAT
WAY FOR YOU TO IMPROVE
YOUR BUSINESS Dennis Chiron
MarketingMeans Business 0451 184 599
[email protected] Skype: dennis.chiron2
It is estimated that only 1.5% of all
customers will try to take advantage of
a company through exaggerated claims.
So, chances are, your customer’s
complaint is legitimate and realistic.
A customer’s complaint is usually a
clear message on how you can improve
your services or products. If you are
able to identify and meet customer
wants and needs, you will undoubtedly
improve your business performance
and increase your customer base.
A satisfied customer usually means
repeat business. In most cases, the
information that you can obtain through
a customer’s complaint is impossible to
get through any other means. You are
being presented with a real opportunity
to prove your commitment to your
customer by addressing these
concerns, even when the complaint
may seem minor or trivial.
Complaints that customers bring
directly to you are the most efficient
and least costly way of obtaining
information and under-standing
customer expectations.
When a customer has a genuine
complaint, thank them for raising the
matter with you. Treat them with
genuine empathy, courtesy, patience,
honesty and fairness.
Try to respond to the complaint
quickly. Tell the customer how you
will handle it and when to expect a
response.
Speak to the customer in person. Do
not rely on written complaints or
records of conversations.
When choosing your approach for
communicating with a customer,
think about how you would like
to be treated if you were making
a complaint to a business.
Model the type of conversation you
want to have with customers who
are making a complaint. This may
include making it clear to the
customer that you are eager to listen
and treating them with courtesy and
consideration.
There are a number of common
complaints that customers make
relating to products and services.
Having procedures in place that find
solutions to common complaints
will help you resolve issues quickly
and efficiently.
Always seek outcomes that will
satisfy your customers, and make
sure these are feasible and
affordable for your business.
Remember that the cost of a short-
term concession is worth preserving
a long-term relationship.
Firstly, a good business tries
to minimise customer
complaints through excellent
customer service, and address
customer complaints about the
business, or a product or
service quickly and fairly.
Customers can become difficult
for a variety of reasons. Some
might have an annoying
personality; others like to find
faults, while some think they
know it all. Customers like
these can become impatient,
intimidating and demanding.
Angry customers are the most
difficult to handle as they are
usually upset and emotional, as
they are not happy about the
product or the service.
You need to see your
customer’s complaint through
their eyes. Imagine that
whatever the customer is
complaining about has also
happened to you.
What would you be thinking
and feeling? How would you
react? How would you expect
to be treated? What would it
take to satisfy you? What
response would be necessary
for you to walk away feeling
good about your complaint and
the company?
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 4
Here's some more images I’ve collected
from thechive.com and some of them are
a little scary.
What’s wrong in these pictures?
It's mind boggling looking at these images and hard to believe that the people involved didn't think twice or stop for a minute to realise their actions could be fatal.
These examples showcase a complete
disregard and ignorance for safety, not
to mention their own lives and that of
others.
Hopefully, after we've all had a laugh,
no-one was seriously injured.
These images are great to post up on
workplace billboards as humourous
reminders of what not to do.
Some Weird Accident Facts These funny facts from the United
Kingdom prove that Christmas isn't
always full of cheer and goodwill.
Another thought, if these are just facts
from Christmas alone, then how does it
compare with other times of the year?
1) Hospitals reported 4 broken arms last
year after cracker pulling accidents.
2) Three people die each year testing if
a 9v battery works on their tongue.
3) Five people were injured last year in
accidents involving out of control
Scalextric cars.
4) Eight people cracked their skull in
2009 after falling asleep while throwing
up into the toilet.
5) Eighteen people had serious burns in
2011 trying on a new jumper with a lit
cigarette in their mouth.
6) Fifty eight people are injured each
year by using sharp knives instead of
screwdrivers.
Ad in
the
Atlanta
Daily
SINGLE
BLACK
FEMALE Seeks male
companionship, ethnicity
unimportant. I'm a very good
looking girl who LOVES to
play. I love long walks in the
woods, riding in your pickup
truck, hunting, camping and
fishing trips, cosy winter nights
lying by the fire. Candlelight
dinners will have me eating out
of your hand. Rub me the right
way and watch me respond. I'll
be at the front door when you get
home from work, wearing only
what nature gave me. Kiss me
and I'm yours. Call (404) 875-
6420 and ask for Daisy.
Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society about an 8-week old black Labrador retriever.
FIRE DRILL
A voice on the office loudspeaker announced: "We will be testing the speaker
system to make sure it will work properly in case of emergency." Employees’ confidence in this safety precaution faded when the voice added:
"If you are unable to hear this announcement, please contact us as soon as possible"
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 5
How Balanced is Your Business? When it comes to business, it’s all
about balance. There’s no point in
having a business where one part is a
world beater and another is third world.
It’s my philosophy that every business
has the same components and it doesn’t
matter if you’re the pie cart down the
corner or BHP, the principles are the
same. You see all businesses consist of
the same functions, and when it comes
down to it, it’s how well they work
individually and together that will
determine your business success and
satisfaction.
Firstly, there is Marketing: This is
anything you do in your business to
elicit an enquiry. No matter how
sophisticated or technical we get, at
some point a potential customer needs
to approach your business and ask you
to tell them more about your product or
service. The art of enticing a
prospective client to do this is detailed
and evolving, but the principle remains
the same.
Second is Sales: This is the process
within your business to convert that
enquiry into an order or a job. This
will be different for each business but
in the end there needs to be a structured
process to maximise the chance of
turning that enquiry into a sale.
Next is Production or Operations: I
know it sounds blunt but the ultimate
purpose of production is to create
financial inflows and outflows
(Hopefully the inflows will greatly
exceed the outflows). We may love
what we do and have a genuine wish
to provide the best for our clients, but
if we don’t provide both profit and
cash flow, we won’t be in business for
long.
Then there is Financial Control:
This is all about managing the money
and producing profitable cash flows
that will not only provide a living but
also fund growth. Statistics show that
nearly 90% of business failure results
from faulty management, and more
particularly poor financial
management.
Central to all these processes is
Administration: This is often the
most overlooked part of the business
as it’s not seen as that important and
is just perceived as a cost. In truth
administration, which includes
Information Technology (ICT) is the
communication conduit that allows
each of the other parts of the business
to talk to each other.
Underpinning each of these areas is
Human Resources or People: If you
take the people out of your business
chances are all you will have left is a
pile of depreciating assets. You and
your team are one of the very few
assets in your business that has the
ability to appreciate if you treat them
well. Yet we don’t always do so.
We get that shiny new piece of
equipment or car and we treat it
like a baby. We service it
faithfully and polish it until it
gleams, but no matter what we do
it still depreciates in value. Then
we get that new, enthusiastic
member of staff and chances are
we’ve managed to kick the
enthusiasm out of the within the
first six months. It really just
doesn’t make sense!!
So what now? Firstly, it’s
important to make sure that each of
these functional areas of your
business are working well. Then
it’s important to see how well they
are working together.
You see your business will only
work as well as the worst
performing area. You may have a
new Ferrari capable of going
300Kph, but if the tyres aren’t up
to the job you won’t be able to take
advantage of that capability.
Similarly if your Ferrari only has a
Micra engine, it’s not likely to
perform as well either.
It’s my experience in working with
businesses that they nearly all do
one thing really well, but they
never reach their potential until
they get some balance in these
areas. Look for balance. I
guarantee it will improve your
outcomes!
Geoff Butler FAIM AP, MAITD MACE
Principal/Business Improvement &
Implementation Specialist
Business Optimizers
Mobile: 0414 943072
Fax: 3036 6131
Email: [email protected]
Skype: business.optimizers1
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Now if you have never heard of the
term ‘Kaizen’ then you might infer
from the modification of the original ‘If
you can measure it, you can manage it’
that it is a type of management tool.
Bingo!
Although Kaizen is a management tool
and it means that you are managing
something it has a much more subtle
and effective result in practice. Kaizen
( 改善 ) is a Continuous Improvement
tool (CI) purportedly invented by
Toyota (not true) but nevertheless
heavily used during the Japanese
manufacturing spring to become world
leaders in quality and profitability.
Wow, wouldn’t it be marvellous to
apply those words to our own
businesses, “world leaders in quality
and profitability”. Customers would
flock to us. We would barely need to
advertise as word of mouth referrals
would sustain our growth. It’s not as
unobtainable as some would argue and
I believe that you can apply it to your
business without missing a step. It
has already been applied to such
diverse industries as motor vehicle
manufacturing, healthcare,
psychotherapy, life-coaching, banking
and even some governments use it.
Kaizen is easy to research and
implement and once understood can
help anyone apply the system to ANY
part of their business. There are plenty
of books and consultants that will
specialize in this but having used
Kaizen in an FMCG manufacturing
environment I can tell you the key
factors to success. The big dos and
donts. Firstly a big “don’t”. It is very
easy to oversimplify Kaizen and thus
lose some of its power. Once you learn
to Kaizen, you need to kaizen the
kaizen.
There is plenty to read about CI
however most CI systems rely on
measuring the effectiveness of a
manufacturing process or operational
process, comparing it to an expected
outcome and then taking measures to
correct that defect. You will use the
word ‘defect’ a lot when dealing with
CI. It basically just means that it is a
deviation for an expected outcome and
most importantly, costs money. A
good example of this is waste!
Kaizen starts being different right from
its name. Kaizen literally translated
means “Break”+ ” Good”. So we go
one step further than a typical CI tool
such as a PDCA cycle ( plan do check
act ).
Sometimes you need to look beyond
what you expect. If you are meeting
your expected outcomes, then it is the
expected outcomes that need to be
broken and reinvented.
A central principle in Kaizen is that it is
inclusive and asks everyone in the
organization to participate. To do this
properly, even bad ideas must be
welcomed. We all know that employee
with the crazy ideas, the trouble maker
who seems to ‘not like the rules’. The
ones who want to change things for the
sake of change, or even just to take it a
bit easier at work are just as nuisance
with those that won’t change because
that’s the way we’ve always done it . I
call this “untapped genius” and nurture
these behaviours. This is the
toughest habit for most workplaces
to break. It is all too easy to shoot
down other people’s ideas whether
they come from management or
workers, top down or bottom up.
The only real way to encourage the
one idea that might work is to
entertain and respectfully examine
all of the other ones that won’t,
even if it is obvious to you. A
cultural shift is needed to kick this
off. Let’s go one step further.
Let’s praise bad ideas, and then
scientifically test them just in case.
Teach staff how to do this
themselves and set ground rules on
how to bring improved processes
into the business. Kaizen works
best in small workgroups that get
direct benefits from its results. We
need the crazy ones to be part of
that group.
“Here's to the crazy ones, the
misfits, the rebels, the
troublemakers, the round pegs in
the square holes... the ones who
see things differently -- they're not
fond of rules... You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify
or vilify them, but the only thing
you can't do is ignore them
because they change things... they
push the human race forward, and
while some may see them as the
crazy ones, we see genius, because
the ones who are crazy enough to
think that they can change the
world, are the ones who do.” Steve
Jobs US computer engineer &
industrialist (1955 - 2011 )
Cheers! Peter
Peter Athey
Specialized Management Services
0405 318 449
www.specializedmanagement.com.au
If You Can Measure it - You Can ‘Kaizaen It!!
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 7
Mike is a great car mechanic. One
of the best! His business is good at
what it does, has been around for
many years and has hundreds of
long-time repeat customers that
trust him with their vehicles. But
an important part of Mike’s
business is completely broken. Let
me explain …
Often Mike is asked by his
customers, “Hey Mike, who would
you recommend for x, y, z”? Mike
picks up one of the many business
cards on his counter, passes it over
without another thought and in that
one action commits three of the
most common, wasteful and
business stagnating sins there are.
Let’s break them down …
1. Gave up Control of the
Referral: Mike will probably
never know if that customer
actually used the services of
the person he recommended.
2. Missed out on Credit: How
will the referred business know
that Mike referred them? If
they don’t know about the
support they’re getting its
likely sending people back to
Mike is not at the top of their
mind.
3. A Bad Referral: Every time we
refer another person’s products
or services we’re taking a
HUGE risk. If his customer
doesn’t get what he’s after that
could reflect badly on Mike.
But the biggest thing Mike is losing
out on is something that successful
business owners spend their waking
hours pondering almost non-stop.
“What is a great win-win opportunity
for me to help my customers and at the
same time get introduced to other
prospective ideal customer’s?”
What if Mike compiled the business
cards of the people he recommends the
products and services for into a
booklet? It could be called “Mike the
Mechanic’s Guide to Local Tried &
Tested Vehicle Industry
Professionals”.
It could have $10,000 of value if all
the people in the booklet had a special
offer each (40 people with offers
valued at $250 each = $10,000). A
local map pointing out where everyone
was located and more!
Now, what if Mike didn’t just stack
the booklets up on his counter and let
‘anyone’ grab one? He could bring it
out when listening to what the
customer wants before the work even
starts. Mike explains to his customer
that at some stage they might need
tires, bull-bars, body work, car
detailing, windshields and more. Now
Mike has become a ‘portal’, or a
central hub of anything to do with the
automotive world in his area. A force
to be reckoned with!
But Mike could be even savvier than
that. He could say “Mrs Jones, you’re
in need of an auto-electrician. I’ll
email Rob at Rob’s Auto Electrics
with your details, your vehicle’s
details and the work we have
discussed that you need done. That
way you don’t have to remember
everything yourself. Would that be
helpful for you?” Notice how many
boxes this one easy process ticks and
everyone wins!
Then, at the end of this unique service
from Mike the mechanic and Rob the
auto-electrician, Mrs Jones gets a
‘Thank You’ letter in the mail
personalised by Mike. Within the
folds of the letter slips out a free car
wash voucher from Mary’s Local
Mobile Car Detailing company
valued at $60.
Now ask yourself … if you were a
customer of Mike’s, would you tell
your friends about this extraordinary
experience? Of course you would!
It’s not hard or expensive, but it does
take a little bit of guidance and know
how.
If you would like to experience
a complimentary review of your
business that takes less than an
hour, call Dan at Profit Mechanics
on 0414 567 188. An easy to
understand business performance
questionnaire will be rushed to you
so you can see where profit may be
leaking from your business and
how to fix it.
Dan Buzer
Dan Buzer
Profit Mechanics
0414 567 188
www.profitmechanics.net/
“ … Every Customer You Want, Is Already Somebody Else’s Customer! …”
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This month let’s look at the use of fork lifts in the workplace. Forklifts are a major cause of serious
injury in Australian workplaces. They
are powerful, heavy and inherently
unstable pieces of equipment. They
pose risks to both drivers and people
walking in areas they are used in.
In recent years, WorkSafe Australia has
run a number of campaigns in an effort
to improve health and safety at
workplaces with forklifts in use.
Thankfully, fewer people are now
being killed as a result of forklift
incidents.
However, on average, over 1,000
people are still seriously injured by
them every year in Australian
workplaces. And there are many more
‘near misses’.
There are two important points to
remember about forklifts:
Forklifts and people don’t mix. A
traffic management plan
incorporating physical separation
of forklifts and people is essential.
Falling loads are responsible for
many deaths and injuries. Make
sure all loads are secure before
moving. Developing a Traffic Management Plan will provide you with some basic information on how to separate forklifts
from pedestrians. Reducing and minimising the risks provides more in-depth guidance to help you increase your knowledge about safe forklift operation and how to reduce the risks.
Your Legal Duties
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 sets out the key principles, duties and rights in relation to workplace health and safety. In addition, new regulations for occupational health and safety came into effect on 1 July 2007, which outline obligations regarding specific hazards.
CHECKLIST … Purpose: Use this checklist to provide an easy method to review your procedure for Forklift Trucks to ascertain if legislative and specific requirements have been fulfilled.
The definition of prescribed
occupations?
The definition of a forklift
truck?
Other definitions as
identified?
The obligations of the
operators of plant?
The obligations of
supervisors of plant?
Reference relevant
Australian Standards?
Indicate maintenance and
repair processes?
Indicate placing an ‘Out of
Service’ tag on faulty or
damaged forklift trucks?
Indicate competencies and
training?
Indicate pre-start checks?
Indicate inspections of
forklifts?
Indicate designing specific
inspection checklists for
various items of plant?
An ‘Inspection Matrix’ is
established?
Indicate a quiz or
competency test to ascertain
if staff understands the
procedure?
Indicate safe working
conditions
Indicate safe working limits
Indicate load movement
guidelines
Indicate safe use of lifting
accessories
Indicate safe stacking
guidelines
Indicate refuelling safety
Indicate battery safety
You can get information about
your OH&S obligations and
other valuable OH&S resources
both in hard copy and online
from their websites.
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au
Always seek independent legal
advice on what is applicable to
your situation.
Ron Court AMC Dip (Funerals) MQJA JP (Qual)
OH&S Advisor
0419679619
WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY
Fork Lifts at Work
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 9
Motor vehicle sales have boomed over
the past 12 months. Over a million
vehicles have been sold and here are a
few statistics from the latest Deloitte
Motor industry report:
80% of these new vehicles have been
financed in some way
80% of us had already narrowed the
search online before going to a
dealership.
Car dealers made 40% more income
as a group on their finance and
insurance.
Some car dealers are reporting 90%
of profits now come from finance
and insurance.
Many would have seen car leasing rates
as low as 0%, 0.5% or 0.9% or 1.9%. If
the RB cash rate is 3% how can you get
finance at 1.9%? Surely they are losing
money? Let’s look a little deeper into
this.
Firstly, leasing and chattel mortgages
are commercial products which are not
covered by Consumer Credit Protection
legislation (NCCP) so there is less
responsibility to disclose commissions
and potentially conflicted
remuneration.
Secondly, these deals are on the
advertised model only. You MUST pay
the advertised price – no negotiation or
discount.
Next, you will find the very same
vehicle considerably cheaper by
shopping around. For example you
can buy a popular European sedan
for around $76,000 but if you take
the low interest deal you might find
the lease price at $88,000 – a
difference of some $12,000. Clearly
the price has been inflated by this
amount but you have no choice, if
you want that low interest rate, you
pay that price!
Subvention
This difference is then paid to the
finance company to make up the
shortfall created by the low interest
rate AND, of course, you still pay
interest on the subvented amount.
You may also see monthly payments
as low as $299 per week and you
think ‘Wow’. I could be driving an
XYZ for $299pw! Look closer
because it might not include
mandatory dealer and government
charges and there may be yet
another sting in the tail.
You have probably heard of ‘balloon
payment’ or ‘residual’ which is the
lump sum at the end of the lease
term. It is often set at around 20 to
30% of the purchase price. It means
that you can trade the vehicle or sell
it and have no money owing.
The ‘Mates Rates’ with ‘low
payment’ deals often have a high
Paul GILLMORE DFS
Founder and Director
Southern Cross Financial Services
07 5429 5561
0402 685 032
Mate’s Rates … or … Bait Rates
residual around 45% of the
INFLATED PRICE. This can lead
to negative equity or simply owing
more than it’s worth at the end of
the term.
Ask yourself, how many vehicles
are still worth 45% of the inflated
value after 5 years?
Further, the lower the interest rate,
the more restrictive the terms. If
the timeframe for the special deal is
short, the dealer could be under
pressure to move stock to make
way for new models.
If so, you should see significant
differences between the ‘deal’ price
and the price you could achieve
through negotiation; often up to
20%! Therefore, paying 20% more
for the vehicle isn’t always going
to be improved by obtaining a
cheap rate.
Tips
1. Shop around and negotiate for
the best price BEFORE you
discuss finance. Try asking for
the best cash price first.
2. Ignore the advertised deal but
compare payments and residuals
for the final deal. Simply
compare apples with apples.
3. Don’t be pressured to sign on the
spot! Please research the price
and then finance
4. Car dealers usually charge the
maximum brokerage which
makes it easy for your own
broker to beat them PLUS
arrange finance to best fit your
circumstances.
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 10
Time to review what could be one
of the most important aspects of
your website; your homepage.
Your homepage is an introduction
to customers, so you want to ensure
it captures the essence of your
business.
Customers (existing and
prospective) can be a judgemental
bunch.
We all want the best for ourselves
and our business. If you expect
visitors to your website to place
their trust in your business you need
to illustrate to them instantly why
they should.
First impressions really do count.
When you search for a product or
service online and check out the list
of websites that come up in the
search engine, which do you
immediately dismiss? Could it be
the visually boring, outdated and
unprofessional ones?
Perhaps it is the websites that make
it hard for you to contact them and
find the information you are looking
for or don't excite you with an offer.
Do you know that many of those
who come across your site will
spend less than 30 seconds viewing
it before leaving to find something
that attracts them more?
What can you do to keep them
longer, to get them to explore your
aite, to actually click on the button
you want them to. It may be a buy
now or a contact us or a download
button—you need to have some
“call to action” on the homepage.
Why You Need to Change Your Homepage
Miriam Battersby, dip
MultiMedia, International
Webmaster Certification.
MIMBEE MULTIMEDIA
(est 2002)
Online Business Website
Consultants
Woorim , Bribie island
ph 34101071
Search engines like to see that
your content is changing often. It
shows them that you are serious
about your business and they will
rank you higher for it.
When it comes to choosing
business products and services, we
are naturally drawn to aesthetics
and content that demonstrate
expertise, passion and reliability.
Trending design features include
large photos, slider (transitioning
images, fancy fonts, and
responsive design—designing for
good display on all sized devices.
Even some minor tweaks to your
homepage can lead to a much
more customised website that
captures customers.
Investing time, energy and/or
money in your business website is
a smart way to lead your industry
in our now online world.
Is your homepage due
for a transformation?
We'd be happy to
give you a
FREE Website Analysis and Review
to help point you in the right direction.
No obligations.
Just a friendly chat!
Marketing Means Business 0451 184 599 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marketingmeansbusiness.net.au 11
KEEP IT LOCAL
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