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Why Small Businesses Should Look Towards SEO
SEO, also known as search engine 
optimization, has quickly become a household term but there are still many businesses that are not aware of the positive benefits. Although SEO is becoming more popular, there are insufficient materials to explain how this form of advertising is done and how helpful it can be.
There is debate between experts as to what SEO actually entails but the essential intention is to have a better position in the long list of search results. It is easy to explain what SEO can help businesses achieve but the process itself can be fairly complicated.
How Will China Growth Downgrade Affect SA Commodities?
China has downgraded its growth 
targets for 2012 to just 7.5%. This represents an eight-year low for the country. Because of this slowed growth, some have speculated that China will import fewer commodities.
China’s slowdown, coupled with a poor economic outlook for South Africa’s economy, could put SA in a tough position. First, many South African state-owned enterprises are continuing to borrow money but are not making good use of the funds.
Economist Mike Schussler argues that:
Options for Struggling Businesses
With the global economy on its 
knees there’s little wonder businesses are struggling to survive. With debt piling up and banks no longer willing to lend, many companies up and down the country are closing their doors for the last time. In some cases bankruptcy is unavoidable, however, many fail to seek financial and insolvency advice, instead opting to bury their troubles in the hope that they will disappear.
Whilst cost cutting incentives are a great place to start, long term agreements between debtors and creditors are ideal. Changing suppliers, premises and self-recruiting are all ways to reduce costs while keeping employees happy. Redundancies and unpaid voluntary leave should be the last port of call.
Broadband Internet is a Deal Maker for Business Professionals
Many business professionals don’t 
think about it, but broadband Internet is perhaps the most essential tool in their arsenal. Without it, professionals would lose out on a lot of benefits that are basically considered necessities now. If you are unaware of just how much broadband has improved the world of business and business communications, then read on and find out.
Organized Offices
Most offices and businesses have a network of computers and servers that carries the business’s work on its back. Formerly, business networks were largely connected and established through the use of routers and cables. A small network can easily get by with some routers and cables, but this becomes a real mess as the business grows.
Tax efficient ethical investments – ISAs vs. pension schemes
Every investor shares the twin 
objectives of wanting to maximise their returns while minimising, or even completely eliminating, the tax on those returns.
The socially responsible investor has a third objective: that of supporting or encouraging change for good. They seek to play a part in improving the environment and society through their financial influence.
Two of the most tax efficient investment options available are pension schemes and ISAs. Both are specifically designed to encourage you to put money away for the long-term. Both protect growth from income tax and capital gains tax. And both can allow you a high level of control over exactly where you put your money.
Top 5 Small Business Ideas for 2012
Small businesses are the most important part of a 
country’s economic growth, and 2011 was a rocky year for many small business owners. With the current economic dip it is hard for entrepreneurs to make business predictions and decisions. Economic uncertainty will remain a big issue for all small business owners, but if you have flexible long- and short-term plans then you can stay ahead of the changes and shift gears when necessary.
Woolies Australia to sell Dick Smith
As the supermarket war between 
Woolworths and Coles heats up in Australia, Woolies is being forced to sell the underperforming Dick Smith computer franchise. This is due to disappointing sales and a large number of stores underperforming.
The announcement came shortly after Coles announced that it will cut the price of fruit and vegetables by 50%.
The decision has left entrepreneur Dick Smith very worried that Woolworths might sell the franchise to a foreign-owned company. “I’ll rubbish them the whole time. They wouldn’t want to pay much.”
Another dreary year for real estate agents
2011 was an extremely hard year 
for real estate agents due to economic strains and a lack of house price growth. Fewer sales, flat prices, and a lack of buyers meant that estate agents were spending more money with less return, and there will probably be very little change in 2012.
Smaller agencies that did not have enough resources to survive the year suffered and there was a large drop in the number of estate agents. Around 60% of estate agents have had to leave their jobs in the past couple of years, most of whom were part of a small estate agency.
Will Europe Recover?
As some Eurozone countries fall 
deeper into the possibility of a sovereign default, fears are growing among citizens and investors alike. Greece is on the brink of a default, but is finding ways to deal with debt, and Ireland, Portugal and England are in similarly bad positions.
Billionaire investor George Soros has compared the climate to that of The Great Depression. He fears that if the Eurozone were to collapse, it would result in mass riots across Europe and America.
Greece:
How the mighty have fallen …
Sol Kerzner, South Africa’s 
mightiest hotel magnate, is struggling under huge amounts of debt. He will shortly be stepping down as the CEO of Kerzner International, but will stay on as chairman of the company. The main reason for all these problems is that he funded all his equities through debt. Doing that is like jumping blindfolded off a bridge and hoping there is a big soft marshmallow at the bottom to break your fall, and there isn’t.