Starting a business Service Central Articles and Advice
On the surface, a business model might seem nothing more than a working specification containing the details on the core operations of a venture. In reality, a business model is the key ingredient to your success, it is something that your venture can use to outwit the competition and continuously expand your revenue. A business model is what’s needed to extract value out of offered products or services. As a future or established business owner, it makes absolute sense to understand what the core constituents of a business model are and eventually formulate a business model that takes into account these ever-crucial components. Read more...
Leave a comment · 07/01/2013 ·
The past year has witnessed an explosive growth in small, medium and large scale businesses of almost all genres. Global startups and local spin-offs have received unsurpassed endorsement in their respective target market segments. Existent favourable conditions have rightfully paved the way for the conception of a multitude of business ideas that are hovering out there in the open waiting to be capitalized upon. These ideas differ in their novelty level - some being new while others being more conventional. What remains strikingly amazing about the contemporary business landscape is the availability of many inexpensive options for the realization of the business ideas. Readily available information technology business products, duly qualified human resource and unsurpassed global outreach are a few important factors that have contributed in making present-day business operations seamlessly simple. Read more...
Leave a comment · 04/01/2013 ·
The advent of the internet and resulting social media paradigm has brought about a revolution in the way businesses and ventures conduct their all important marketing campaigns. Online marketing, in particular, has been the pivotal point that has painted the business promotion landscape the way it looks today. The seamlessness with which present day brand building can be carried out leaves absolutely no rationale for you to ignore it. Owning a business and not having your clients investing in your venture or services, being on the brink of a marketing collapse and charging the customers below the actual worth are core indicative of the fact that your business brand building strategy needs a vital re-design. With all this buzz around venture branding, why is building an authentic brand so significant for your business? The benefits presented below ought to answer that for you - the prospective business owner. Read more...
Leave a comment · 04/01/2013 ·
One of the most intriguing questions that often pops up in the mind of budding founders and aspiring business owners is that should one actually have a business plan? The appropriate response to this remains to be a definite yes. As a passionate new business owner it is quite natural to be in rush to get things done. While this hastiness might be acceptable in other operational streams, a business plan is definitely not the element you would want to approach in haste. Read more...
Leave a comment · 03/01/2013 ·
So, you have taken the inevitable plunge and finally decided to start your own business - congratulations. The next thing you are probably contemplating on is whether or not to have a website for your company. As the owner of a budding venture, it is strongly recommended that you do so and secure a persuasive web presence for your business. For those still dubious whether their business actually does need a website, presented are a good five reasons that should convince you to get your website up and running sooner than later. Read more...
Leave a comment · 03/01/2013 ·
Finding a clear path to work at is quite a hard nut to crack nowadays, especially with the struggling economy. As an aspiring business, there has to be something you can do about it. Here is a handy guide to help you win more work. Read more...
Leave a comment · 11/12/2012 ·
This month Service Central celebrates our 7th birthday. It was way back in July 2005 that Service Central launched into business as “the easy way to find trades and services” with a massive radio campaign on Melbourne’s Gold FM. Never before had the people of Melbourne been able to call a single number (1800 SERVICE) ask for any tradesperson or home service that they so desired and have quality pre-verified and insured businesses calling them back. The result was instant with job requests flooding through from day 1. It was a bold concept that has since shaken up the way that people from all over Australia now go about finding their trades and home services. Read more...
Leave a comment · 02/07/2012
Australia's number 1 business podcast, Small Business Big Marketing, has just released an in depth interview with Service Central Co-Founder, Danial Ahchow. Listen in as Danial talks about where the concept for Service Central came from, and the struggles to turn that idea into reality back in 2005. Its a great interview with plenty of good business and marketing advice for those in business, as well as those looking to start a business. Read more...
Leave a comment · 06/06/2012
So far only a select few businesses have been lucky enough to see Eaco, the new Business Management System. They were given a run through of the system and were blown away by how much easier it is to keep track of their jobs, contacts and leads. How quick and professional creating quotes is, and how keeping track of who did what on each job is now a breeze. Read more...
Leave a comment · 30/04/2012 ·
As a Service Central member you have access to the Jobs Board. This lets you grab any job that hasn't already been picked up by the other service providers. As long as you're appropriately insured and qualified, you can take the job and contact the customer. Read more...
Leave a comment · 20/04/2012 ·
Google's Gmail provides businesses with a great free email service. You can use your own business website name and people will never know that you're using Gmail at all. Its free and its great. Read more...
Leave a comment · 07/03/2012
If you're an advanced user of Gmail and are frustrated with how hard it is to get files in and out of Dropbox from your emails, then Attachments.me have created a great solution. Read more...
Leave a comment · 05/03/2012
Here at Service Central we’ve been using Twitter for a couple of years now. We’ve built up over 4,000 followers across our various Twitter accounts, and have generated some good quality business as a result of our efforts on Twitter. Read more...
Leave a comment · 29/11/2011
A collection of great quotes about customer service from the likes of Bill Gates, Mother Teresa, and many many more. Read more...
Leave a comment · 23/11/2011
Mum of two, Marisa Ahchow, has just launched a new website for people seeking to work from home as Virtual Assistants. We explore how this is a great role for mums, as well as others, and how their new site Shazam.com.au can help you. Read more...
Leave a comment · 28/10/2011
Promoting a business can often be stressful. Not only do promotions take time to set up, but they can often cost quite a bit of money as well. Here are 10 great ways to promote your business without breaking your budget. Read more...
Leave a comment · 12/07/2011
Brian Tracey's guide to achieving your goals. Read more...
Leave a comment · 17/06/2011
Learn more about small business spending with this great infographic. Read more...
Leave a comment · 06/04/2011
Get a thousand new jobs in your pocket - every week! Service Central's brand new mobile website - m.servicecentral.com.au - gives you instant access to 1,000 new jobs every week directly on your phone! Read more ... Read more...
Leave a comment · 07/02/2011
Many businesses often complain that quoting takes hours out of their day without any reward at the end. Here is a guide to providing quotes in a way that is efficient and effective.
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2 comments · 13/12/2010 ·
Service Central passes the 235,000 job mark with over $700 million of jobs posted online. Read more...
Leave a comment · 06/12/2010
It's official. Local Service Central franchises are now available. Read on for the details of how opportunities are now available for local people to own exclusive marketing rights in their area. Read more...
Leave a comment · 25/10/2010
How do you position your business to make as much money out of Service Central as possible? Read more...
Leave a comment · 11/10/2010
Thinking about expanding your business and offering more services? Service Central recommends you have a look at our data first. Read more...
Leave a comment · 05/10/2010
If you have friends or family in the trades industry, you can also let them know that we've launched our blog series for trades businesses. Read more...
Leave a comment · 28/09/2010
Answering the question that many businesses ask before commencing a major project. Read more...
2 comments · 12/08/2010
Businesses are really just a collection of people, and so many of the changes experienced as individuals will be experienced by trades businesses, especially with the extension of the Energy Saver Incentive scheme to small and medium businesses (previously only for households). But there is also a further effect to businesses who work in trades related to the actual delivery of the goals outlined in the white paper. Read more...
Leave a comment · 04/08/2010
Tyre kicking customers are a big time waster for businesses. What can be done to eliminate tyre kickers from your business?
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Leave a comment · 23/07/2010 ·
The process of fitting out a shop can be detailed or simple - and it really depends on the kind of shop and what importance is placed on the design. Step 1 is Design, then Implementation, then Finishings. Read on for detail. Read more...
1 comment · 22/07/2010
Forget storm chasing roofers, what about government subsidy chasers? "When things are for free, every man and his dog gets accreditation and starts installing," says Solar Shop Australia managing director Adrian Ferraretto. And effectively, solar installation is close to free (especially the 1.5 V version). Read more...
3 comments · 14/07/2010