You’ve probably heard the term “Internet of Things”. From controlling thermostats with our smartphones to factories maximising their efficiency, the Internet of Things (IoT) is spreading at speed.

It’s hard to argue against the positives of this advance. Users get a better, remote-controlled service (whether that’s for their alarm system, fridge or car). Meanwhile companies can learn more than ever about their customers and how products are used. The IoT gives us a wealth of data with ease – and this can be simultaneously a good and bad thing.

Task management is not as simple as it may sound. The true test of a manager lies in his ability to manage his team tasks and keep them motivated. Communicating with the team effectively and creating the right environment for them, helps in improvement in productivity and reduction of errors. Taking the right steps helps you manage the team well and grow as a manager. Here are some easy ways to define the top 10 tasks every day:

As a business owner, you need to address the issue of texting in your SOPs.

Some companies want employees to send out up-to-the-minute texts about the company on social media during the workday. Other company execs feel that texting is either unnecessary or distracts their employees from concentrating on work.

During the Industrial Revolution, Frederick Winslow Taylor used time and motion studies to find the “one best way” to do tasks, leading to the assembly line. Companies found they could ramp up efficiency and growth by breaking down production into simple tasks.

Today, businesses still carry this efficiency-centered mindset, but even Taylor would be shocked at the lengths managers go to measure and monitor work. Rather than focus on workers’ results, the advent of technology brought systems to measure, track, analyze, and even shame workers’ activity. And this focus on monitoring activity can cause people to lose focus of their true goals and work to influence the data.

Businesses thrive in the online marketing department, which is why there is no better way to use the Internet than to offer various discounts or other convenient deals to your loyal customers. While it is said with absolute certainty that your discounts will be far more recognized across the digital spectrum, you still need to approach it in a way that will guarantee stable earnings and loyal customers.

As a business owner, it can be hard to admit that you need help. When it comes to the world of the law, though, only a fool works alone. Below are just a few reasons why a smart business owner knows that he or she needs professional help when it comes to business law.

You Depend On Experts

The 16^th Small Business Grant campaign is going very strong. Now we are in the semi-finalist voting round and its end is fast approaching. The voting has been opened for almost a month now, and the votes are still pouring in.

Since the voting closes this Thursday (June 11^th), I wanted to draw your attention to this important countdown. Only 10 semi-finalists will make it to the second voting round and these 3 remaining days can determine the finalists. So this is your last chance to support your favorite business idea and help them advance to the final round of the grant campaign.

Proper business promotion will consist of ups and downs and you will have to experiment to perfect your marketing approach which will guarantee success. Keep in mind that your target audience will shift from time to time, and it will take time to make sure that you appeal to their needs and wishes. However, you should also focus on current trends and events, which could ultimately help you in creating a marketing scheme that will make your business skyrocket and pick up with almost everyone. Nevertheless, careful planning is key to making your promotional efforts fruitful.

In general, all Australian websites should have a Privacy Policy statement. While there are a few that can 'squeak by' without one, Australian Consumer Law now requires that you post one in the event you collect any information from your visitors or customers. This includes their email addresses, phone numbers, physical address, credit card numbers, or the like. Simply having a 'Contact Us' form on your site means you must post a Privacy Policy.   

If you've been denied a personal loan for your small business, don't worry.

There are a number of alternate routes you can take when it comes to finding funding.

With financial assistance options in mind, here are a few ways you can fund your small business after your initial loan is denied: