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You, Me and Employment

by the Nine2Three Finance Team

Well, we do not recommend you go looking for work in Tasmania. In March, Tasmania recorded the biggest rise in unemployment, increasing to 7.3% (which is much better than Europe where unemployment remains stuck fast at 12% but that’s another story for another day). We are definitely seeing limited hiring and even a shedding of some jobs in construction and manufacturing sectors. Most manufacturers are still doing it tough due to the high Aussie dollar, uneven economic conditions and higher energy costs. But the ‘biggest loser’ is the mining and mining services sector in West Australia. After a dream decade of strong demand and big profits, slowing economic growth in China is causing a big pull back in earnings and jobs, particularly among the coal and iron ore mining companies.

The Reserve Bank believes the substantial interest rate cuts during late 2011 and 2012 are beginning to have an expansionary effect on the domestic economy, with business and household spending slowly increasing. While we are unlikely to see any significant deterioration in the economy and employment we are also unlikely to see any significant improvement until at least mid 2014.

This Article is supplied by the Nine2Three Finance Team.

Important Note: These articles have been prepared for general circulation and are circulated for general informational purposes only; these articles should not be regarded as business or investment advice. The articles represent the views of the writers and are subject to change without notice. Additionally, while every care has been taken in the preparation of the articles no representation or warranty as to accuracy or completeness of any statement is given. An individual or organisation should, before any business or investment decision is made, consider the appropriateness of the information in this document, and seek professional advice, having regard to objectives, situation and needs. This document is solely for the use of the party to whom it is provided.

Sutherland Shire Business For Sale

EVER WANTED TO RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS, WORK IN THE OUTDOORS, PLAY SPORTS THAT YOU LOVE AND WORK WITH KIDS!!!

Kelly Sports Sutherland Shire can give you this opportunity!

When we're talking about Kelly Sports, we're talking about one of Australia's most successful names in children's sport. More than 800,000 Australian kids have participated in Kelly Sports’ sporting clinics and in-school sports programs since the company launched in 1994. With franchises now operating across Australia, New Zealand and the UK, the odds are if there's a sports clinic operating at a school near you, it's through a Kelly Sports franchisee.

The programs are delivered by trained coaches who aim to give children of every ability a lifelong love of all types of sport: Aussie Rules, cricket, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, dance, circus skills, hockey, netball, rugby, oztag, dodgeball, teeball, tug of war, team building games, and fundamental motor skills activities.

Wherever you find kids, you'll find franchisees delivering Kelly Sports programs - at schools, sporting clubs, home, fun days and sports days, at fetes and events, before during and after school, in term time and the holidays. Wherever kids can play, Kelly Sports provides a fun, safe environment for developing life skills in team play, sportsmanship and the rewards of enjoying physical activity.

• Exclusive Territory
• Sports Equipment
• 1 week full time training conducted by the director of Kelly Sports to get you understanding the full potential and running of the business
• Professional training and coaching by current Regional Manager.
• Web Page and Management System
• Kelly Sports Manuals, DVDS, Sports Programs Marketing Material (Kelly Sports magazines, flyer files, membership cards, stickers, posters etc)
• Contact data base
• Kelly Sports Business Plan and ongoing support from the master franchise .

Due to family circumstances we are looking for a quick sale at an incredible price.

So if you are looking for a profitable business that provides you with all the support you need to succeed, makes you your own boss, provides a rapid return of investment, and lets you have a steady income source, then contact Kelly Sports Sutherland Shire today!

For further details, contact Contact Adam on 0415 807 446.

February Economic Update

by the Nine2Three Finance Team

Recently, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced an election for Saturday 14 September 2013, which means we will be having the longest election campaign ever experienced in Australia.

But what does that mean for the economy and your business ? Basically, nothing ! We are highly unlikely to see any further major Government decisions impacting the economy or business until after the election.

In summary, we expect economic conditions in 2013 to be marginally weaker than in 2012 but not largely dissimilar. Business should continue to plan for a stronger economy in mid-2014.

This Article is supplied by the Nine2Three Finance Team.

HAVE YOUR SAY! 

How to write those words that sell

by Rosemary Osborne from The Writing Shed

Can’t afford a professional copywriter, but need a bit more ‘nuts and bolts’ in your business hardcopy marketing material. It’s not that difficult but does need a bit of know-how. Here are a few hints to get you going.

• Find something that is already written (even if it not your product) but it’s not really what you want – it may appear too crowded, message unclear or hard to read. See if you can articulate what you don’t like about it. There, now you know what you don’t want - so make sure you don’t replicate it.
• Find something that you really like (doesn’t have to be your product) and try and work out what it is that makes you feel positive towards it. This is probably what you are after.

Find your word count

• Count its number of words. There, you have your word count.

Find your sentence length

• If your document can be read in 20 seconds, you probably need short sentences of about 10 words or less. You can even use a few very short sentences - ‘Like this sentence’. But don’t do it too often as they can appear abrupt and jerky to your reader.

• If you are preparing some direct mail or brochures, try some sentences with about 15 words. You will need to keep to the point and cut out rambling and unrelated words – if a word doesn’t contribute something, delete it.

• Sentences between 25 and 30 words in a more formal document should get your message across. If you are going over 30 words per sentence and you are not an accomplished writer with refined skills, you most likely are going to create a clumsy and complex sentence with confusing messages. So best to keep you sentences fewer than 30 words.

Find your paragraphs

• Get a red pen and identify your key points. One paragraph-one concept is a safe guide in a short document. A short document might only have one sentence paragraphs. A document a little longer might have two or three sentence paragraphs.

Find your strong headlines

• Be bold with your headlines, after all that is what is going to grab your reader’s attention. Sell the benefit or emotion of your product and not its gritty and boring details. 

• You are speaking directly to your customers so highlight your solution to their problems. It’s all about them. Your headline is raising emotion about your product and encouraging them to find out more.

• Your readers are probably scanning, so get your message in quick. Don’t make your headlines too soapy, cheesy or cute – and lose the jargon.

• If all else fails, do a ‘How to..’—it always works.

• Find your rhythm

• Last but not least, check each word for spelling errors or typos. It does matter. People do notice!

HAVE YOUR SAY! 

Increasing your website traffic needs a helping hand

by Rosemary Osborne from The Writing Shed

Here are a few easy tips for you to think about.

• Link your website with as many local services as possible. You are limited only by your own resourcefulness, even if you have to take membership and pay a little joining cost, the payback will be worth it. Some examples could be:

• Comment on other blogs, websites or wherever you can leave your website address.Get your business reviewed if possible in the local paper, websites like YELP, True Local or Product Review.
• Get your Google+ account, Bing and Yahoo and see what they have to offer.
• Have your blog connected to your website. Write your articles frequently (yes weekly, if not twice weekly) using your keywords and let everyone know you are an expert in your field. If you don’t know you keywords, ask your IT consultant.
• Connect your blog to your twitter account and your Business Facebook page so you lessen your workload.
• Post on your twitter account daily and your business Facebook page a couple of times per week. Don’t mix business with pleasure – keep your social life on your social media pages.
• Make sure your website text is clear, concise and gets your message across. Jargon is out, as is poorly written unprofessional content. Don’t write as you speak. Your readers don’t want repetition and excess words about minute details of your products.
• Readers want to know about the benefits of your product to them. ‘Don’t tell me the technical features of that toothbrush – tell me how it is going to make my teeth clean and bright’.
• Networking is a great help and word of mouth very powerful. Your contacts may even connect with your website by a link if you have useful and fresh information available.
• Put your contact details on each page. Website readers hate navigating too much – they are all time poor.
• Make a video and put it on your website. A basic short one is great and will make that contact with potential u-tube clients
• Evaluate your website through Google analytics, Hot Frog analytics or any other website review process.

HAVE YOUR SAY!