Social media likes and comments make us feel good. We already know that social media can be addictive. However even if we’re not addicted, it can be distracting and have us focusing on the wrong things, particularly in the early years of business.
The World Indigenous Business Forum is an international gathering of Indigenous business owners, stakeholders and researchers. Established in 2011 and conceived by the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute in Canada, this annual event is hosted in a different nation each year.
It’s amazing what can happen when just a few people say ‘let’s do this’. For the 4th year in a row, we are celebrating Indigenous Business Month this October.
What do I need to start a small business?
Are you someone who is keen to start your own small business? Or have you been considering how to make your hobby or side hustle a full-time gig? One of the questions we get asked the most is “What do I need to start a small business”?
In 2013 I wrote a post titled Indigenous Issues + Graphic Design. I was responding to a question I’d been asked by someone about if it was okay if they (a non-Indigenous graphic designer) would be allowed to do ‘Aboriginal style’ illustrations for an educational company.
tl;dr: No, it’s not okay. This afternoon I saw my first “we’re a rugby team, submit a design and we’ll choose the best one for our jersey” post of 2018, and again (for probably the fourth year in a row) I’m cranky. Why?
Strong business requires strong foundations.
Just as you require a strong business model, financial processes, a clear sense of what you’re selling and who you’re selling it to, you also require strong IT practices.
A few years ago I had this idea to have a weekly Indigenous business networking event – free and informal but value driven by the serendipity of new and unexpected faces.
I’m an avid Facebook user and an interested watcher of what’s happening in the Indigenous Business world. I spend a lot of time being asked for recommendations and ideas. And the only way I can do that is to keep up with what’s happening.
Prompted by this month’s Pepsi and United backlash on social media, I read a rant today about how companies should plan social media defence strategies before they even think about launching a social media campaign. He further quoted some ‘guru’ saying that with social media you never need to pay for advertising. I could write this post by arguing that United wouldn’t be where they are had their staff not be physically violent with their customers. I’d hardly blame social media for United’s problems at this point. But it’s this final point I want to focus on.
All business owners approach starting a business in different ways. Some talk about their ideas for years and eventually start, while others will just start trading with barely a word.
As a volunteer organisation, we on the committee of the South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce find it easier to make quick updates and events on our Facebook page.
It is well known that Indigenous businesses are more likely to employee Indigenous people. Thus supporting the growth of Indigenous businesses is an important strategy in community development.
We’re excited and proud to again be supporting Indigenous Business Month. Indigenous Business Month came out of discussions we’d had as the Murra Indigenous Business Masterclass of 2015.
In 2016 most event planners are using social media to publicise events before events, as well as the wrap-up afterwards. There are an increasing number of events however that are using the event itself as an opportunity to share content through live-tweeting.
In addition to checking your fire alarms, we’re declaring the 1st of April to be the (unofficial) Digital Profiles Update (DPU) Day. Why? Because things change – are you still working at the job? have you just finished a deadly project? do you still look like that? have you just completed a course? is that description still the best way to describe your business? It’s easy to forget to update all your
For many people new to business, it can take a while to realise there is no license to start. There is no official form, course or program. Some of you may require licenses for specific industry, eg. a taxi license, or council permits for food, but for many, you decide to go into business (you register a business name or maybe not if you’re just a sole trader) and you’re off and away. You don’t need
In meeting with new business owners, many of who are resource scarce, a common question is Why should I pay lots of money for a logo or graphic design? What’s wrong with just making a logo on Paint? Especially now, with the proliferation of DIY websites and design software, why should someone pay for something they can get for free. Here are a couple of responses that should
I admit I thought a capability statement was more or less a generic document, one that I could write up, throw up on my website and attach it to applications as I sent them off. However, this week I, along with twenty other Indigenous business owners in South East Queensland, found
A few years ago, we were all saying how email was dead, long live social! Well I think we’re all eating those words a little. Social, eg. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, is still very important, it’s just that email lists can be just as relevant and for many, an even more marketing and communication tool.
In the scheme of things, a ‘proper’ email address is inexpensive (Microsoft Hosted Exchange is $5.60 per month – August 2015), however for some of our organisations and small businesses this is an extra expense that just can’t be met in the start-up phase. If you’re just starting out there are things you can do until you’re able to afford an email set up that is more professional (and secure and