The Advantages of SEO for Small Businesses

For small businesses who want to be competitive but have a limited budget, SEO can be extremely beneficial. By optimising your website so that it's easily indexed by Google and other search engines, you can drive a large volume of organic traffic to it. As a result, this often makes it possible for a small business to compete with much larger ones with bigger budgets. With that being said, let's discuss how search engine optimisation can affect your small business and how it can help your progress.

Perhaps the biggest advantage is the minimal costs involved with optimising a website. For example, if you hired an expert to take care of things like keyword selection, keyword density and backlinking strategies, it would require a relatively low upfront cost. However, you would be winning in the long run because your website would most likely receive plenty of organic traffic for years to come. When compared with other online marketing mediums like pay per click advertising, search engine optimisation is extremely inexpensive. This inevitably helps to level the playing field between you and other large businesses in your industry.

Another benefit is the amount of exposure you can bring to your small business by implementing SEO. For example, when you rank highly on search engines for a particular keyword, it inevitably results in a steady stream of traffic. Not only can you be found by people in your region, you can be found by a global audience. It also helps your business achieve a level of professionalism and authority when you rank highly because customers tend to give preference to high ranking websites. As a result, this should help you establish rapport and a sense of trust with potential customers who are unsure about making a purchase.

Along with this, you can be sure that the traffic you receive is highly targeted and the majority of visitors are pre-qualified to buy your products or services. Since search engine optimisation is tailored toward your target audience, it helps to minimize the chances of uninterested individuals finding your website. This is beneficial because it filters out the masses and concentrates on potential customers that are ready to buy. Consequently, this should maximize both your conversion rates and overall marketing efforts.

In addition, search engine optimisation is an excellent way to increase the odds of your business becoming a long term success. This is primarily due to the opportunity to raise brand awareness and establish yourself as a leader in your niche. When used in a combination of social media for backlinking, this marketing technique becomes even more powerful. Accordingly, search engine optimisation is an effective way to distinguish your business from competitors and gain worldwide recognition. 

Complete information on small business loan in Australia

Are you a small business owner looking for loan in Australia? Then you need not worry as you can get complete information where you can obtain loan in Australia. A small business loan can help to develop your business, promote or buy raw materials for your business. This article can help you to know about the eligibility criteria to obtain a loan.

Advantages of small business loan in Australia:

If you take out a small business loan then it can be beneficial for you in several ways. Once you get access to capital then it can be help for business development or use for promotional purposes. The loan amount can help you hire employees when you initially start your business. The loan helps your new business to grow without any financial constraints. And remember the interest on the small business loan is also tax deductible so it will be beneficial for the owner.

How can you be eligible for small business loan in Australia?

When you plan to take out a loan you need to know whether you are eligible to apply for the loan. Your credit score might drop if you undergo frequent credit check and inquires by the lenders. If you have low credit score then you might not be eligible to apply for loan in Australia.

Make sure that you have good credit report before you apply for a loan otherwise you might face problems obtaining a loan. You can take out free credit report from anyone of the online credit reporting agencies. Try to take out a copy of your credit report from anyone of the agencies to check your credit rating. Try to make your payment on time without a single default otherwise you might not get approval for loan. Generally, the small business lenders shall approve your loan application on the basis of your credit report. The borrowers are not required collateral against the loan when you apply for small business loan. You can approach the lenders situated in Australia regarding the eligibility criteria for getting approval on loan application.

How to find small business lender in Australia?

Look for lenders who offers loan on affordable internet rate to make it affordable to pay off. You can browse through the internet to look for lenders as well as find the interest rate offered by each lender. You might find online information about qualification criteria on the loan program.

Therefore, these are a few things that you need to keep in mind before looking loan for small business loan in Australia.

About The Author: Ms Sanders is a contributory writer for MortgageFit Community. She is also a financial advisor and guest author for acclaimed blogs. She has been writing for more than five years and helping people to get wise with their money. Her interests include attending financial seminars, writing columns related to debt settlement, Mortgage, home loan modification and visiting personal finance blogs.

Tasmania receives $8 million of government grants to boost economy

More jobs are being created across Tasmania due to a new $8 million funding released by the Australian Government Grants department. The Tasmanian Innovation and Investment Fund (TIIF) will be delivering long-term sustainable employment opportunities and promote regional economic diversification. The TIIF forms part of Stream 3 of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement, which recognises the broad impacts of the restructuring of the forestry sector.

The TIIF will work with companies to provide support for new investments across a wide range of industries. The funding will provide an exciting opportunity for innovative small businesses to generate new jobs while broadening the Tasmanian economy.

The Australian Government Grants division has demonstrated leadership with TIIF which will facilitate company capacity building and creating employment opportunities across the State of Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government is working hard to help traditional industries like forestry transition to a sustainable footing while helping other emerging industries to innovate, grow and create new jobs.

The TIIF will conduct a rigorous, merit-based assessment process. Recommendations for funding will be made by an Assessment Panel comprising a representative from the Australian Government Grants division, the Tasmanian Government Grants dept and an independent member of the small business community.

The TIIF will provide minimum government grants of $50,000. Successful applicants must fund at least a 50 per cent contribution to their project’s costs. Government Grants will be awarded through a competitive, merit-based approach to ensure that funded projects are commercially robust and viable.

The program is expected to expire by the 2013-14 financial year.

Presented by: Government Grants Australia - GGAus Pty Ltd

Funding for Regional Landcare cut by Australian Government

The Gillard Government has cut business funding for rural community landcare programs in its latest round of Caring for Our Country national environmental grants.


Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig announced 116 business grants worth $31.3million for landcare, sustainable agriculture and feral pest and weed management. But more than 50 per cent of the funds will go to state government departments, government agencies, statutory authorities and federal and state government grants administration partnerships.

An analysis by The Canberra Times reveals less than 25 per cent - about $8million - has been allocated to independent community landcare groups, and $4.8million will go to farm industry and aquaculture projects.
These include a $441,000 grant to the Cotton Catchments Cooperative Research Centre to help farmers replant native vegetation.

The NSW rural research centre was told last week its renewed bid for federal science funding under the CRC program was unsuccessful. As a result, it will cease operating next year.

Australian Greens rural affairs spokeswoman Rachel Siewert has accused the Government of cost-shifting and ''dumbing down'' the national grants program.

''Caring for Our Country is a misguided, badly constructed grants program that is not delivering. It is taking us back to the bad old days of piecemeal conservation management, '' Senator Siewert said.

Volunteers with ''decades of involvement'' in local landcare programs were quitting because the federal grants program offered little opportunity or encouragement for engagement in community conservation work, she said.

The controversial $2.5billion grants program, which replaced the Howard government's $3billion Natural Heritage Trust, was the subject of an 18-month Senate rural and regional affairs committee inquiry.
During public hearings, the inquiry heard more than 2000 rural jobs were lost as a result of the new grants program, and landcare projects worth more than $70million were shut down.

The committee's report, tabled last year, called for a comprehensive overhaul of the program, warning it was in danger of undermining rural landcare efforts across Australia.

Announcing the latest round of grants, Senator Ludwig said they would ''ensure the survival of our agricultural industries and protect our natural resources for future generations.''

Grants include $357,000 for Dairy Australia to develop nutrient efficiency guidelines and $300,000 to improve sustainable farming practices in the Northern Territory.


Meanwhile, a recent survey by Landcare Australia shows retirees are carrying the nation's community conservation efforts, with younger Australians claiming they are ''too busy'' to be environmental volunteers.
The survey found 75 per cent of volunteers were over 40, and more than half of the Australian Landcare groups surveyed said the average age of their volunteers was over 50. More than 68 per cent of members were retirees.
Landcare Australia chief executive Heather Campbell said the survey showed the organisation needed to recruit ''a next generation'' of dedicated volunteers''.

Human Rights Grants Scheme(HRGS 2012) - Open for Applications

The Australian High Commission has been dedicated to cooperating with entities in Solomon Islands to promote human rights. Solomon Islands organisations have managed to successfully create awareness about the matter of human rights utilising support in the form of grants and funding from the High Commission of Australia.

Solomon Islands and the Australian Government are committed to realising the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The HRGS (Human Rights Grant Scheme) is targeted to allocating funding to build the groups that promote and protect human rights in direct and tangible ways.

Funding Eligibility:

Inorder to qualify for the funding, the applicants must be a resident in Solomon Islands and working to promote and protect human rights. One grant of between SBD 156,000 and 780,000 depending on project requirements, will be awarded to the successful organisation.

However, before submitting an application, organisations are advised to contact Kereta Sanga at the Australian High Commission (21561) to discuss proposed activities. Applications close on 14 October 2011.

Guidelines and forms can be accessed online at www.ausaid.gov.au or collected from the Australian High Commission.


Presented by: Government Grants Australia

Funding for Indigenous Students in NSW Australia

GGAus Pty Ltd- Two schools on the New South Wales far south coast have received funding as part of a national program for Indigenous children.

The $30m program is aimed at improving attendance, literacy and numeracy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Federal MP Mike Kelly has announced that the Batemans Bay and Bermagui Public Schools will receive a total of more than $800 000.

The Principal at Batemans Bay, Tom Purcell, says he welcomes the news.

“I think the funding is very exciting,” he said.

“It gives us the opportunity to continue on with many of the programs we are trying to introduce, to help close the educational gap for Aboriginal children, and to provide quality programs for all the children in our school.”

Mr Purcell says the program is essential.

“The results show that across the state there’s a need for improvement, there is definitely a gap in all of these,” he said.

“So if we can use this money to get out in the community and help encourage the kids to come to school every day and to be involved in quality literacy and numeracy, then we will start to make some good inroads.”

Presented by: Government Grants Australia

NSW Premier encourages public to apply funding and grant for community development immediately

GGAus Pty Ltd - NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced the 2011 Community Building Partnership program open to applications, and local residents are encouraged to apply for a slice of the funding.

Mr O’Farrell said he was delighted to fulfil another election commitment delivering vital infrastructure funding to communities throughout the state.

“This is about helping communities move essential projects forward and improve the provision of local services with much required grants and funding,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“My Government is allocating $35 million to this initiative which means $300,000 is available in the form of grants and funding for each electoral district.

“With 93 districts across NSW this is a program that aims to support a diversity of community needs.”

The Member for Monaro, John Barilaro has welcomed the announcement as a vital means of improving community facilities in the region.

“Local jobs and community participation will also flow from projects considered eligible for funding,” Mr Barilaro said.

“I encourage community organisations and local councils to consider their eligibility for the program.

“The successful projects in Monaro will be announced by the Premier in March 2012.”

The 2011 CBP is open for applications for seven weeks and will close on Monday, October 31.

Projects must be ready to commence by mid-2012 and be completed by the end of June 2013.


Presented by: Government Grants Australia