Many businesses fail to even consider the full potential the Internet can offer, and don’t understand that websites can be interactive mediums as well as one-way information-giving sites. There are a variety of technologies and applications out there or that can be installed that would improve the level of interactivity a business website offers. In some cases, certain types of interactivity such as forums or ‘live chat’ would not be appropriate to the impression some businesses intend to convey, however for other businesses, particularly those which require a significant amount of post-sale support or customer interaction, the extra interactivity can convey a collaborative and a “We’re listing to our customers” feel.

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Accepting credit / debit card payments online is generally one of the first steps an online store owner will take. Trying to find the right card processor can sometimes be tricky, as each have different costs, requirements, benefits etc.. Most credit card processors require you to have an Internet Merchant Account (IMA), which again can be expensive and sometimes difficult to obtain.

Paypal offers a slightly alternative service as by definition it is an Online Payments Bureau, meaning that you don’t need to have an IMA as they process the card details for you, using their own acquiring services. Consequently Paypal, which is now called “Paypal Merchant Services” is perfect for SMEs wishing to trade online, as it has low (usually non-existent)  setup fees. This article reviews the pros and cons of the Paypal services for merchants.

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There has been a lot of evidence suggesting that SMEs are the main drivers of innovation – introducing new services, goods, methods of production etc.. Although big businesses usually have the benefit of big budgets with which to undertake research and development, small businesses have the advantage that they can easily change course and adapt new techniques and technology more quickly than some big businesses can. Due to that, small businesses should be especially on the lookout for new opportunities and investigate new technologies / techniques as they arise…

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Many small businesses would think you’re crazy if you asked them whether they turned down business. In the first few years of trading, most small business owners chase or say yes to any business they can find – irrespective of whether they have to vary their operations to accommodate it. It is important to have a ‘core focus’ identified in a business, which encompasses all of your strategy, intended mode of operation and the process you use to get where you want to.

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Due to my workload starting to reach a critical mass in the last few weeks, productivity and increasing my efficiency has been a hot topic for me recently. There are always different aspects in life, whether it be personal or business, that can be optimised to result in more free time if we only did things ‘the most efficient way’. Of course I’m not talking about those creative processes (such as web design) which shouldn’t necessarily be rushed – in many instances creativity will decrease if you worry about getting it done more quickly. The kind of productivity increases I’m talking about are for the day-to-day tasks which you’ve got to get done, such as answering email and ironically surfing the web. Find out 5 productivity enhancing ideas that won’t change the world, but will help you get things done more quickly…

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As with all things ‘Government’, nothing stays certain for long – there have previously been a variety of schemes aimed at encouring small to medium-sized businesses onto the Internet, to establish an eCommerce prescence in particular. In the past a company could apply for a grant for up to 50% of the website development cost of an eCommerce website, up to a maximum of £2,000. Unfortunately the provision of these grants is nowhere near as widespread, however don’t lose all hope straight away, there are still some opportunities to be had…

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Digg is one of the ‘next-generation’ websites that allows a lot more interaction between its users. On a simplistic level, Digg allows you to submit ‘news stories’ which can in fact be anything you think might be useful to other people. Once a story has been submitted to a category it will appear in that category’s “Upcoming” section – which is a quickly revolving display of the most recent news stories. In the brief hour (if you’re lucky) or so that your story will be listed in the ‘upcoming’ section before being superceded by more recent articles, if your title is catchy enough then users will visit your post and if they like it then hopefully they’ll give you a “Digg”, and you know you really shouldn’t have bothered if you get a few “Bury It” ratings. Digg can prove a useful tool for websites looking to gain more exposure and catch more regular readers in the process…

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When getting the “AdSense for Content” code to integrate onto your website, Google presents you with about a dozen choices of size and shape. In order to maximise your click through rate (CTR) and hence eCPM you need to make sure that your choosing that ad format that will bring in the most revenue.

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The choice of business name for your new company is crucial for a variety of reasons. First and foremost they convey your brand image and represent what it is your business stands for. Consequently any name you choose should convey the feel that you’re trying to achieve, and the industry you are in. That doesn’t mean to say that it has to be stereotyped according to what all the other firms in your industry have chosen, however if you can find a catchy edge along a certain theme then this will help with customer brand recognition. Some business names such as Amazon actually bear no relation to the type of industry they’re in, so don’t feel pressured into your name having to ‘conform to the norm’. Once you’ve drafted up a shortlist of say ten or twenty names, the next step is to check that they’re actually available to register…

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From the 1st January 2007, it has become a legal requirement for all registered companies to display certain details both on their website, and in the footers of emails. The change comes in the form of the rather longwinded “First Company Law Amendment Directive”. Prior to this amendment, companies already had to publish company details on letters and other documents, however now the requirements have been extended to websites and emails. Carry on reading to find out what your business should be doing to ensure it is meeting these laws that are now in force…

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