Top 10 gadgets from the CES, Brisbane on flood alert after Toowoomba tragedy, Is Australia’s economy spluttering? Business confidence still strong

home | contact us | advertise Dear SmartCompany reader, Today on SmartCompany we have an update on the tragic flood situation in Queensland, we talk to Netregistry’s Larry Bloch about why he’s backing the campaign to drop the GST exemption on goods purchased from overseas, and we look at the top 10 digital threats faced by SMEs in 2011 (Apple users, be warned!). Plus gadget lovers shouldn’t miss our special report on the top 10 gadgets from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. For all this and more, head to our home page. News Brisbane on flood alert as 72 still missing after Toowoomba tragedy Netregistry founder Larry Bloch tells – why I’ve joined the Retail Coalition against GST exemptions Is Australia’s economy suddenly spluttering? A SmartCompany Q&A Businesses still bullish about rising profits and sale in first quarter of 2011 despite retail woes Cyber criminals hitting Apple products and exploiting location services among top digital threats to SMEs in 2011 Vodafone data breach highlights importance of data protection in SMEs Apple stock rises as rumours fly over iPad 2, Verizon iPhone Pratt family to take on ATO in $220 million tax fight Job ads rise 2% in December: Economy Roundup Resources will drive the sharemarket – but there is little joy elsewhere: Gottliebsen Top Story Top 10 gadgets from CES 2011 The Consumer Electronics Show is gadget heaven for tech boffins. We unveil the top futuristic pieces for 2011. BY PATRICK STAFFORD. Top Story 10 must-haves for your marketing plan It's vital SMEs put a solid marketing strategy in place and make sure they don't deviate from the plan. BY NINA HENDY. Aunty B I am an appalling morning person. Help! You know who I hate? Those highly annoying people who on waking, leap out of bed, a smile on their dial, fresh as a daisy and chirpy and cheerful. Trends Steve Jobs takes compensation of $US1 Microsoft to fix three vulnerabilities today Facebook says rumours of closure greatly exaggerated People Problems Eve Ash That's our policy Is there a less satisfying response as to why something has happened than 'That's our policy'? Entrepreneurship Marcia Griffin The customer is always right! For years now we have been living in a global business world where retailers and now customers are choosing the products they want from around the world. Business Tech Talk Paul Wallbank The real online business battle Could you be the next Gerry Harvey? Brand Matters Michel Hogan Can you hear me now? In the continued disintegration of Vodafone we find a clear case study about the relationship of brand and operations. Entrepreneur Watch James Thomson A flood of despair The daily struggles of entrepreneurs look pretty easy when compared to the tragedy in Toowoomba. Coming Up Top search trends for 2011. Best wishes, Amanda Gome Founder / Publisher SmartCompany.com.au If you can't honestly say your website is relevant and useful to consumers, then you're fighting an uphill battle. But if you have a genuinely useful, high quality site which users find valuable, then you'll rank well, although it might take awhile. Blogging on your site is one good way to achieve this. Mark Baartse, First Rate Click here for more. FOLLOW US OUR PARTNERS UPCOMING EVENTS

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Five sectors set to fly in 2011, Surge in property listings points to house price falls, Privacy watchdog examines Vodafone, Billionaire tax woes

home | contact us | advertise Dear SmartCompany reader, Today on SmartCompany we’ve got a special report from IBISWorld, which has found the five industries set to fly in 2011 and the five sectors you should be steering well clear of. Plus, we’ve got fresh research showing Australia’s housing market is in for a rough start to 2011 and the latest on Vodafone’s alleged security breach. And speaking of Vodafone, as James Thomson argues in Entrepreneur Watch, they are the latest company to prove the corporate maxim that it doesn’t rain PR disasters, it pours with them. For all this and more, head to our home page. News Privacy Commissioner to investigate Vodafone over alleged privacy breach 44% jump in property listings points to price falls in 2011: Expert Smaller retailers join Gerry Harvey and Solomon Lew to fight GST exemption Franchise law reform campaigner Tony Piccolo starts fourth year of push for state-based laws with Facebook appeal CES shows tablets will dominate consumer tech market in 2011 Job advertisements 2.3% drop in December, but expert says labour market still strong Consortium backed by solar entrepreneur Zhengrong Shi, wins approval for commercial solar farm Retail trade up 0.3% in November: Economy Roundup THE BIG PICTURE: Why the Queensland floods shouldn’t slow Australia’s economy Shareholders still don’t understand the pain of Wayne Swan’s banking reforms: Gottliebsen Rich Secrets Tax woes of the wealthy Gerry Harvey and Solomon Lew have been reminded of a very important lesson – the public never likes it when billionaires whinge about tax matters. BY JAMES THOMSON. Top Story Industries to fly and fall in 2011 After a return to positive economic conditions during 2010, we've compiled a list revealing the top sectors set to fly and fall in the year to come. BY ROBERT BRYANT. Aunty B How can I innovate with no money, time or resources? As you know the easiest, cheapest way to expand is to sell more things to the same customers. So what else do they want? Trends Verizon to announce iPhone at press event Amazon expands cloud services platform Greenpeace awards top gadgets Selling Sue Barrett Are your sales people at risk of leaving? Sales people are one of the highest "at risk" groups in terms of turnover. Here's what you can do to minimise the chances of a staff exodus. Authentic Leadership Dennis Roberts Planning in reverse The anecdotal evidence is that 80% of small business owners don't prepare a business plan and certainly don't run their business from a plan. Retail trends Kevin Moore Constant innovation keeps us relevant to shoppers For some reason retailers find it tough to accept the need to keep moving the game on to remain relevant to shoppers and stay competitive. Ms Manners Danielle Di-Masi How do I smile in an email? We should stick to this one major rule when writing emails at work: Try to sound older than 15. Entrepreneur Watch James Thomson When problems snowball Class actions. Alleged security breaches. A privacy investigation. Why are Vodafone's problems coming all at once? Coming Up The hottest 10 gadgets from the CES. Best wishes, Amanda Gome Founder / Publisher SmartCompany.com.au The anecdotal evidence is that 80% of small business owners don't prepare a business plan and certainly don't run their business from a plan. If you haven't prepared a business plan before there is a really simple and obvious place to start – right where you are. Rather than planning how you will manage your business going forward try analysing how you currently manage your business looking backwards. Analysis is a great precursor to planning. Dennis Roberts, executive coach Click here for more. FOLLOW US OUR PARTNERS UPCOMING EVENTS

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