Tag: Business

Reasons Why Fast Website Hosting Is Important For Irish Business Websites

A business website can help you reach a wider market, 24 hours a day; and with it, enhance the success of your entity. However, without the right web host, your online marketing efforts may not materialize into something significant. 

Speed is one of the main factors to consider when choosing the right webhost for your business website. When it comes to the success of your business online, the speed at which your website loads is very important. A website that loads slowly will cause frustration among visitors, and in most cases result in them leaving the site, given how impatient online users tend to be. 

In addition to being capable of handling huge amounts of traffic, you should make sure that the connection provided by your webhost is always fast. 

To find out more about why fist website hosting is important for Irish business websites, continue reading below. 

What Is Webhosting? 

Before looking at why fast webhosting is important, you need to define webhosting first. In the simplest of terms, you will need to have a location to house all the information – including code, text, videos and images among others – on your website, if you own and operate the site yourself. This location which “hosts” your website is in essence a powerful server that belongs to and is operated by a web hosting service provider such as Maxer Web hosting in Dublin, Ireland. 

Whenever an internet user accesses your website the browser on their device links to this server and collects all the information needed to display the website on the user’s smartphone, tablet or computer. In the absence of managed webhosting services, website owners would have to own their own server that would be capable of allowing users to access the site round the clock. In addition to being expensive, this would also be impractical. 

Now that you have an idea of why businesses need webhosting services, read on to find out the importance of choosing a fast web host. 

Importance Of Fast Website Hosting

Higher Rankings In Search Engine Result Pages 

Google normally rewards fast websites with higher rankings on Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs). This is mainly due to the fact that Google aims to provide the best user experience to users to ensure that it continues being popular – considering that your websites visitors are also by extension Google users. Your website must be able to load in no more than 2 to 3 seconds, in order to gain from this system. 

As a business looking to gain the most from their website, it is also important to note that about a third of all visitors to your site will move on after waiting for 3 seconds for it to load; and, about 90 percent of all visitors will move on after waiting for 5 or more seconds. This translates into lost leads or sales. 

While the speed of your web host is not the only determinant of your website’s loading speed, it is among the main determinants. As such, a fast web host may translate into higher Google rankings and more importantly, an enhanced ability to keep visitors on the site for longer. 

Customer Satisfaction 

If you are to achieve any significant online success through your business website, you will need to have a fast website. As mentioned above, customers want to get what they want on your website as quick as possible. Making them wait for longer, just because the site is loading slowly will most likely result in them going to other websites ran/owned by your competitors. Simply put, a fast loading website is going to lead to a positive user experience for your users – especially given today’s fast paced world and people’s busy lifestyles. 

If you don’t want your customers to leave your website before they have found what they came for, or completed the actions you want, be sure to choose fast web hosting. It is also important to note that Facebook also prioritises website loading speed when it comes to displaying posts on the news feed. 

Enhanced Conversion Rates 

A fast business website can result in more conversions – and with it, increased sales. When a website loads quickly, visitors are more likely to stay on for longer, according to studies. This means users can check out more pages on the site, view more products – if it is an online shop – and convert more. 

On the other hand, a slow loading website will not only have a negative impact on the user experience, but will also lead to lost conversions and sales. As such, it is important to make sure that your website is fast by choosing a fast web hosting service. 

What Factors Affect The Speed Of A Website?

A website’s loading speed, as experienced by the user, is affected by a number of factors. These include the user’s browser, the nature of the files on your site, the amount of code on the site and the speed of your webhost. 

In addition to choosing a fast web host for your business website, it is important to optimise your website with respect to the other factors that influence loading speeds. 

For starters, your website should be optimised to support faster loading times on Google Chrome, which is the most popular web browser. 

Additionally, when it comes to the types of files on your business website, you should definitely avoid any large files – large video or rich media files – that would result in slower load times. 

Lastly, your website’s code should be clean and efficient. This way, users can complete all sorts of actions on the site without overburdening the supporting infrastructure. 

Final Thoughts 

From the above, it is clear to see just how advantageous fast website hosting can be. A fast loading website can increase your entity’s online engagement, conversions and sales. Furthermore, a fast website can decrease your marketing expenditure by helping you achieve higher rankings on online search results organically. Overall, all these benefits can have a significant impact on the success of your Irish business. Simply put, there is no excuse for not choosing fast website hosting such as websitehostingireland.ie for your Irish business website.

 

Cybersecurity in the Age of Technology: Protecting Your Business Against Digital Threats

Technology has brought significant advancements in business operations and communication in today’s digital age. With the rise of the internet and the widespread use of electronic devices, businesses now have access to new ways of reaching their customers and conducting transactions. However, this increased connectivity also comes with significant risks, as cyber threats have become more sophisticated and prevalent than ever before. As a business owner or manager, it is essential to understand these threats and take steps to protect your company’s digital assets. This article will discuss some of the most common digital threats facing businesses today and provide tips on mitigating them.

The Importance of Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity refers to the practice of safeguarding electronic devices, networks, and sensitive information from unauthorized access, theft, or damage. Businesses must prioritize cybersecurity to prevent data breaches, financial loss, and damage to their reputation. A successful cyber attack can have devastating consequences, from legal liabilities to loss of customer trust.

In today’s digital age, businesses of all sizes are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Cybercriminals use sophisticated techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in a company’s security systems, gaining access to sensitive data and causing extensive damage. Businesses need to implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect themselves against these threats.

Data breaches and cyber attacks can result in significant financial loss for businesses, including fines, legal fees, and damage to their reputation. These attacks can also result in losing customer trust, which can be challenging to regain. Businesses must invest in cybersecurity measures that can effectively detect and prevent cyber threats.

Common Cyber Threats

  • Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are a type of cyber attack that is prevalent today. They often use email or social media to trick people into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers. Phishing attacks usually come in the form of a fake email that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a social media platform.

  • Ransomware

Ransomware is another type of cyber attack that has become increasingly common. It is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. Ransomware attacks can be devastating, leading to permanent data loss if the victim does not pay the ransom.

  • Malware

Malware is a broad software category designed to harm or exploit computer systems. Common types of malware include viruses, Trojans, and spyware. Malware can be used to steal sensitive information, damage computer systems, or control devices remotely. Cybercriminals use malware to gain access to sensitive information, steal financial information, and cause damage to computer systems.

Phishing attacks, ransomware, and malware are serious threats that individuals and businesses must be aware of. Taking proactive steps to protect sensitive information and prevent cyber attacks is essential to safeguard against the potentially devastating consequences of these attacks. Regularly updating software and antivirus programs, being cautious of suspicious emails or messages, and having a backup system in place are all effective ways to protect against cyber threats.

Cybersecurity Best Practices

  • Implement Strong Password Policies

Implementing strong password policies is one of the most effective ways to prevent cyber attacks. A good case in implementing a strong password policy can be low deposit casino UK who also needs to ensure they have strong security measures to protect your personal and financial information. Encourage employees to use complex passwords and to change them frequently. Consider using two-factor authentication to provide an extra layer of security. In addition to implementing strong password policies, businesses should consider using password managers. Password managers can generate complex passwords and securely store them, reducing the risk of employees using weak passwords or reusing passwords across multiple accounts.

  • Keep Software Up-to-Date

Software vulnerabilities are a common entry point for cyber attacks. Ensure that all software your business uses is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. Regular software updates and security patches can help prevent cyber attacks that exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Implementing automatic updates or using a patch management system can ensure that all software is updated promptly.

  • Backup Your Data Regularly

Regularly backing up your data is essential to prevent permanent data loss during a cyber attack. Make sure that backups are stored in a secure location and that they are tested regularly to ensure that they can be restored if needed. Backups should be performed periodically and stored in a secure offsite location to protect against data loss due to cyber-attacks, natural disasters, or hardware failures. It is also essential to regularly test the backups to ensure they can be restored in a disaster.

  • Train Your Employees

Employees are often the weakest link in a company’s cybersecurity defences. Make sure that all employees receive regular training on how to identify and avoid common cyber threats. Encourage employees to report any suspicious activity immediately. Employee training should be ongoing to keep employees aware of the latest cyber threats and best practices for preventing them. This should include regular phishing awareness training, as phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and challenging to detect.

Businesses should also have an incident response plan in place in case of a cyber attack. The plan should include procedures for identifying and containing the attack, notifying stakeholders, and recovering from the attack. Regular testing and updating of the project can ensure it is effective during an attack.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is essential for businesses of all sizes in today’s digital age. By understanding the most common cyber threats and implementing best practices to prevent them, you can protect your company’s digital assets and reputation. Remember to keep your software up-to-date, back up your data regularly, and train your employees to identify and avoid cyber threats. By taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity, you can reduce the risk of a cyber attack and ensure the long-term success of your business.

What Are the Key Steps to Building a Strong Legal Case?

Are you facing a legal challenge in Australia and need the expertise of legal professionals? Look for a law firm that promises to help you “win your case with our expertise in Australian law“. The legal system is based on the standard law system, with federal and state laws that govern various aspects of daily life. Australian law is complex, and having the right legal representation to navigate the system and achieve your legal goals is essential. 

The key to building a strong legal case is to be prepared and organised. While every case is different, there are some essential steps that you can take to increase your chances of success. Explore these steps to be better prepared for your legal case.

Step 1: Gather and Analyse the Evidence

The first step in building a strong legal case is to gather evidence and analyse it. This may include documents, witness statements, photographs, and other relevant information supporting your case. It is important to be thorough and organised when collecting evidence so you can easily present it in court.

Step 2: Consult with Legal Experts

If you are facing a legal matter—especially traffic-related—you must contact expert attorneys, such as traffic offence lawyers, who emphasise their ability to “win your case with our expertise in Australian law.”

They can provide valuable advice and guidance and help you to understand the legal system and the procedures involved in your case. A competent lawyer can also help you to identify potential legal issues and develop strategies to address them.

Step 3: Develop a Strategy

Based on the evidence you have collected and the advice you have received, you can now develop a strategy for your case. This may involve identifying key arguments, selecting witnesses to testify, and deciding how to present your case in court. A good strategy is essential for a strong legal case.

Step 4: File Your Case

The next step is to file your case in court. This involves completing the necessary paperwork and paying any required fees. It is important to file your case on time, as there may be deadlines that you need to meet. Your lawyer can help you to navigate the filing process.

This step must be done with the utmost attention to detail to avoid any errors that could stall the progress of your case. The process servers from Serve Index LLC cannot stress out enough how critical proper document delivery is to ensuring court acceptance and keeping your case on schedule. Their expertise in meeting legal requirements for service helps clients avoid costly mistakes. By relying on experienced professionals, you can move through the legal process with greater confidence and efficiency.

Step 5: Discovery

Discovery is the process by which both sides in a legal case exchange information and evidence. This is an important step in building a strong legal case, as it allows you to learn more about the other side’s arguments and evidence. Your lawyer can help you navigate the discovery process and ensure you have all the necessary information.

Step 6: Pre-Trial Motions

Before the trial begins, there may be pre-trial motions that need to be filed. These are requests to the court to make certain rulings or decisions. Your lawyer can help you to prepare and file these motions and argue them in court if necessary.

Step 7: Trial

The trial is the most important part of your legal case. This is where you will present your case to the judge or jury and argue your position. Your lawyer will help you to prepare your case, select witnesses to testify, and present your evidence in the most compelling way possible.

Step 8: Verdict

After the trial is over, the judge or jury will issue a verdict. This is the decision that determines the outcome of your case. If you win, you will receive a judgement in your favour. If you lose, you may have the option to appeal the decision.

In conclusion, building a strong legal case in Australia requires a systematic approach, attention to detail, and expertise in Australian law. Boost your chances of success by adhering to these crucial measures and seeking legal advice.

How to Write a Business Proposal [Examples + Template]

Knowing how to write a business proposal is one of the prime and vital steps for any business owner or worker. More than just preparing a business plan is required. So, in order, to you make updated with the most crucial factor of business writing, in this article we will help you get started preparing a business proposal template.  

Business proposals are given such importance as they will help you to reach your potential customers without much hassle. Usually, business owners provide written offers to a potential client or a prospective sponsor. This statement includes the organization’s problems, proposed solutions and total price information. 

In order to make it easier for you, HubSpot provides its users with one of the best templates for business proposals for free. Just check them out. 

We will definitely get into business proposal format but before that let’s have a look on what a business proposal is in actual. 

What is a Business Proposal?

Business Proposal is a business document that is created by a company or an organization to persuade another organization, clients or buyers to buy products or services. 

The template for writing proposal also includes a detailed description or information about running projects of a company or the organization goals that needs to be accomplished. 

A complete business proposal template will enable you to make all the significant decisions like the current marketing and cash flow of the company.

A Business Proposal Example: 

Image Source: TemplateLAB

What to Include in a Business Proposal 

In this section of the blog, we will write down what components needs to be included in a template for a business proposal:

 

  • Communication Details
  • Contact Information of Clients
  • Date of Proposal
  • Number of the Proposal
  • A PO Number
  • Work Scope
  • Timeline
  • Product or Service Breakdown with Quantity
  • Product or Service Breakdown with Price
  • Total Tax of Sales
  • Project’s Total Cost
  • Necessary Dates
  • Rules, Terms and Conditions
  • Summary (Optional)

 

When crafting a business proposal, it’s essential to research and gather information from reputable sources, and websites to write essays can be valuable resources for learning about persuasive writing techniques and effective communication strategies

Types of Business Proposal 

Let’s have a look at the Types of Business Proposal shortly: 

 

    • Formally Solicited Proposal: It is a business proposal format that is created to answer to a request that is official in nature. This business proposal requires more information about the respective buyers. For example: 
  • Informally Solicited Proposal: Informally Solicited Proposal are a kind of proposal that is made when government agencies, private firms or different associations tries to supply product or services to a particular company. Moreover, it is prepared to trace all the incredible achievements. 
  • Unsolicited Proposal: An Unsolicited Proposal is a written form of application that is usually used to submit new idea to an agency and/or company to get a contract from the government. 

How to Write a Proposal Letter for Business

Do you want to know the right way on “How to write a Proposal for Business” If yes, make sure to follow the recommendations presented below: 

1. Make a Title Page and Create a Table of Contents  

The first step to create an informative and complete template for a business proposal is to write the Title of the page. The title will help the reader to have a better idea of the entire topic or agenda. 

Similarly, the table of contents will provide a detailed yet short summary of everything that will be included in the respective proposal letter for business. 

Title will enable clients to have a clear understanding on when to start the reading. Moreover, the table of contents will help you to access information on the basis of interest. 

2. Executive Abridgement 

Executive Abridgement also commonly known as Executive Summary will help the prospective clients to have a clear understanding on all the whys. This section of the proposal will convey your idea or solution in a clear and concise way. 

It concisely highlights all the important elements of a template for business proposal. Executive Abridgement includes all the key points such as strategic planning, operational planning, overall plan with day-to-day work and much more. 

3. Problems and/or Requirements 

Only presenting an Executive summary is like a complete solution but a business has to face many problems while executing a plan or project. In order to solve all the necessary problems, one must try to understand all the requirements and needs. 

In order to solve the problem, the Business owner must have the potential to present a technical solution that can be agreed upon or be understood by the clients. 

Analyzing power, critical thinking and right proportion of research will find all the requirements which will eventually present the solutions to all the problems in a systematic way in a business proposal template. 

4. Present Faultless Solutions

When you have rightly addressed the problems of the clients, it is obvious that you can fortunately find out all the solutions without much hassle. 

Analyze the problem and present the solution that overviews all the solutions. Execution of the solution is the right way to gain the clients trust and confidence for your business. 

Be open to criticism as your client might not like your proposed solution for the business problem. In that case you need to reanalyze and come up with a solution that will be feasible for them. 

5. Show all your Necessary Qualifications

If you want to learn how to write up a business proposal then this step is one of the basic requirements. Gaining the potential business client’s trust is always the most important factor. It’s almost impossible to gain their trust if you don’t show them your business capabilities and qualities along with your qualifications. 

Moreover, be sure that you present all the qualifications that you in a systematic way. Make sure to use this portion of your business proposal template to make him/her understand why you are the right person for this role. 

6. Agreeable Pricing Option

This is a very crucial part of a business proposal template. Make sure that you don’t over or under do your products and services price. Many business enthusiasts have shared their opinion that an optional price table can make the deal gain opportunity better. 

Stick with your price range along with different option of software. This way they can choose the only software or tools that they think are necessary to carry out their business or certain plan. 

7. Wrap Up

Make sure that your Business Proposal template has a conclusion which presents all the necessary pieces of information. Don’t make it lengthy just highlight all the key points without explaining or exaggerating them unnecessarily. 

Make sure that this portion of your proposal services the best choices which cannot be disagreeable by your clients. 

You can get deal so make sure that you are reasonable while making a summary/conclusion. 

8. Throw Light on Terms & Conditions and Signature

This part of a business proposal template presents or outlines the deal’s legal part. Likewise, it will also convey how the products or services will be delivered to the client. 

Before sending the terms and conditions to the client make sure that your legal team communicates about it and agrees on it. 

In the last make sure, that you have a space to take the clients Signature.

9. Make your document secure 

When it comes to sharing the document to the clients, you will need to ensure that your document is secure and protected. For this, first you will need to save the document as PDF. If your document contains any images, you can convert jpg to pdf.

Once the document is converted to PDF, you can create a password on it to make it secure so no third party can get the access to make changes in the document.

Conclusion 

This is the end of our article on “How to Write a Proposal for a Business” If you are reading this article, we are sure that you want to create your own business proposal for some business deal. So, make sure that your proposal includes all the necessary information.

Also, if you have any queries or recommendations, make sure to leave it in the comments section below. 

While there are many online writing services available, it’s important to use only legit essay writing services when seeking assistance with crafting a business proposal to ensure the final product is of high quality and meets the specific needs of your intended audience. Happy Proposal Making and if you are looking for an alternative you can also try free invoice template word.

Over a quarter of organisations in Ireland to be carbon neutral by 2030

Sidero, Ireland’s software, cloud and digital transformation specialist, today announces the results of a new survey which found that over a quarter of organisations in Ireland (27%) have set targets to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The survey of 111 IT decision-makers* across the island of Ireland revealed that environmental considerations play a significant role in business decisions for 44% of respondents, while a third said the same about purchasing decisions. Some 35% of those surveyed have made changes to their supply chain to become a more sustainable organisation.

However, the research found that a significant proportion (19%) of tech leaders do not view sustainability as a priority right now, with 14% saying the road to sustainability is too costly. And, while sustainability is playing an increasing role in business decisions, a significant 42% of those surveyed admitted that they are yet to measure their business’s carbon emissions. An additional 10% have measured their business’s environmental footprint, but haven’t acted on it.

The survey also provided insights into how technology is being viewed as an enabler of more sustainable business practices. Almost a third (31%) of those surveyed will begin, or increase, their usage of sustainable technologies in the next 12 months. These include technologies that are more energy efficient, reduce harmful emissions, or streamline business processes to decrease their strain on resources.

The findings are part of Sidero’s new report Head above the Clouds. Increasingly, organisations are using the cloud as a means to reduce the carbon footprint of their IT strategy. Sidero’s research found that, in the next 12 months, Irish enterprises intend to invest an average of €883,000 in cloud and digital technologies and the majority (80%) expect their business to move more applications or workloads to the cloud. Organisations also plan to begin or increase their usage of digital transformation (67%), automation (47%), cloud native applications (46%), AI (31%), and machine learning (26%).

Despite the mass movement towards the cloud, almost a fifth (19%) of organisations say their cloud strategy is outdated or limiting their business. Nearly half (48%) of IT leaders believe their digital transformation strategy is just adequate or a work in progress, while only 18% feel their organisation’s strategy is enabling business success.

Carmel Owens, CEO, Sidero: “Sustainability is a business imperative. Organisations are facing increasing calls to examine their environmental impact; not only from government and other industry stakeholders, but from their own customers and employees. It’s encouraging to see that a growing number of businesses in Ireland are taking this call seriously by setting carbon neutrality goals and leading by example. However, with a significant one-in-five IT leaders saying sustainability is not a priority for them right now, businesses must work to ensure they have buy-in (and budgets) across the board to ensure success.

“The necessity to become more sustainable comes at a time when businesses are pushing to become increasingly digitalised. These goals do not need to be mutually exclusive and our research shows that technology can support sustainability targets. Cloud, in particular, is now being used by organisations to reduce their emissions as it provides them with greater efficiency than alternative on-site solutions. In addition, it is enabling businesses to quickly scale up and down their operations, expand virtually into new markets and innovate at speed. Given these benefits, there is no doubt that the future of work is in the cloud, and the businesses embracing this will be the ones to succeed in the digital and hybrid workplace.”

Envisage wins Sage Irish Partner of the Year Award

Envisage, Ireland’s largest Sage partner, a division of the Noledge Group, today announces that it has been recognised as ‘Sage Partner of the Year for Ireland’, as revealed at Sage’s 2023 Partner Kickoff event.

Sage – the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses – awarded Envisage the accolade for its success in generating strong revenue and in boosting the industry standard for software implementation.

By implementing Sage accounting and ERP solutions for its customers, Envisage focuses on automating and streamlining processes, reducing time, and making it easier for them to do business. For more than twenty years, the team at Envisage has served customers such as Tour America and Mr. Price, while more recent customer additions include Jump Juice Bars and The Institute of Education.

Ray Ryan, CEO of Envisage, said, “Envisage has had a successful few years, so it’s wonderful to see Sage recognise the effort of our growing team and our dedication to offering the best accounting and ERP solutions and services to our customers. This accolade acknowledges our amazing team, so we are thrilled to receive this prestigious award.

 “From sales and marketing to project execution, development, customer support and accounts, we have a remarkable group of talented individuals. We pride ourselves in delivering quality projects and ongoing services to our customers to make their businesses more profitable.

“Supporting our clients in a friendly and helpful way is at the core of what we do. Our business model depends on establishing sincere, honest connections with our customers and demonstrating that we care. We greatly look forward to the year ahead and the opportunities it may bring.”

Photo – (L-R) Paul Struthers; EVP & Managing Director UK and Ireland, Sage; Steve Boyes, Customer Care Director, Envisage; Amy Hughes, Sales Manager, Envisage; Sinead Galligani, Marketing Director, Envisage; Roger Gribbin, Sales Director, Envisage; and Brian Habanna, Former South African Rugby Player. Envisage received the award at Sage’s 2023 Partner Kickoff event for its success in generating strong revenue and in boosting the industry standard for software implementation.

80% of Irish businesses have no back-up system in place in case of connectivity system failure

80% of businesses around Ireland are failing to acknowledge the criticality of connectivity by not having an appropriate back-up system in place according to new research released today by Magnet+, Ireland’s largest independent connectivity network.

With 270,000 SMES in Ireland currently, (269,708 according to the latest figures from Statista) , the research, which was conducted by Behaviour and Attitudes (B&A) on behalf of Magnet+, indicates that approx. 216,000 businesses are leaving their systems vulnerable to significant loss in the case of a connectivity malfunction or system failure. In response to these startling results, Magnet+ has developed a new service, Magnet Duo, the first of its kind in Ireland guaranteeing internet connection at all times.

Magnet Duo provides customers with two individual active links – instead of one, which is the current standard – powered by Fortinet technology to ensure a secure, seamless and optimised user experience. Each link operates independently which means if one link is interrupted for whatever reason, traffic automatically switches to the other until the first is operating again. Each link is also connected to a different data centre meaning again, if one connection is interrupted, traffic is automatically routed via the other centre. The use of this Fortinet technology is a key element of the Magnet Duo service and its ability to fully guarantee your server won’t ever lose broadband connection which is a guarantee no other provider in Ireland currently offers.

To further demonstrate the meaning of these results and the risk Irish businesses are taking by not engaging in the proper connectivity back-up, Magnet+ has calculated that an average business in the IT sector could lose up to €20,000 per working day due to connectivity failure and having no back-up in place. Recent CSO figures show that the IT sector has an average hourly labour cost of €48.39 meaning an IT related business with a team of 50 could lose productivity worth €2,419.50 per hour – working out at almost €20,000 per average working day (€18,146.25). Similarly, businesses outside of the IT sector with a team of 50 could also be impacted financially if they are without the appropriate connectivity back-up according to these CSO figures, for example:

  • Financial, Insurance and Real Estate – potential loss of €17,145 per day
  • Arts, Entertainment and Recreation – potential loss of almost €8,550 per day
  • Accommodation and Food Services – potential loss at almost €5,520 per day

These figures don’t include the revenue loss for a transactional online operation, as well as the knock-on impact of reputational damage.

John Delves, Managing Director of Magnet+, is calling for the immediate implementation of a new industry standard that requires all telecommunications companies to provide two lines of broadband at all times to guarantee 24/7 connectivity:

“If you don’t have connectivity, you can’t operate as a business – it’s as simple as that. That’s why I’m totally shocked by the figure that 80% of businesses don’t have a back-up system in place. Every day we’re seeing the real-life impact that connectivity failure has on businesses and it’s these failures and the alarming results of our research that led us to develop our new service Magnet Duo, Ireland’s first fully guaranteed internet connection. This means whatever happens – burst pipes, freak weather or broken cables – two lines will keep you connected and working. Guaranteed. It’s a direct, dedicated line to the internet – think of it like a private jet, exclusively owned by your business. So, if your power supply stays on, we guarantee your Magnet Duo connection will too – and you’ll keep working and trading smoothly and seamlessly.

At this stage, you would assume that businesses understand the criticality of connectivity to their business but the figures from our research show that they really don’t. I’d urge every business to do a trial – cut off their connectivity for just five minutes and assess the chaos that unfolds. That should be enough to encourage any business to review their connectivity options and ensure they are protected in the event of an outage

Paul Donegan, Country Manager with Fortinet said:

“Fortinet are delighted to work with Magnet+ on delivery of their intelligent networking and connectivity service Magnet Duo to Irish customers. With connectivity and technology being the key focus point of the engagement Magnet+ have designed a solution powered by Fortinet technology that provides two links routed to individual data centres connecting to the internet at all times in the most reliable way to guarantee 24/7 internet connection. By leveraging the FortiGate platform they can offer their customers a guaranteed connection alongside the assurance that customers can avail of world leading firewall features and other capabilities including IPS, application control, anti-virus, antimalware and web filtering all in a single consolidated platform.”

The research from Magnet+ also revealed the most common issues businesses have with their telecommunications provider as well as the key services that businesses are most interested in receiving. The biggest problem for the majority of businesses (35%) is being left on hold when trying to contact them, while one in five (23%) report the biggest issue with their telecommunications provider is not being able to physically get through to them.

Subsequently, the top two services businesses require from their provider include wanting their calls to always be answered by a person in real life (74%) as opposed to a bot and to always be able to get through via the phone (70%) when contacting their provider. The reoccurring theme from these results relays the message that no matter how far technology advances in the telecommunications sector, the human element is still the top priority for customers.

Other common issues evident from the research include:

  • Broadband being unstable or down is the biggest issue for 30% of businesses
  • Having to get the same problem resolved multiple times is the main issue for almost one third of Irish businesses (27%)
  • Not knowing when a problem will be resolved (27%) or who is in charge of the problem (25%) are main issues for a significant number of Irish businesses
  • Almost 20% of Irish businesses say not being updated on the current status of an issue via phone is the biggest problem they have with their provider

Other services businesses are interested in from their connectivity provider include:

  • Over half of businesses (56%) place significant importance on being able to have a live chat (i.e., instant messaging) with their provider
  • Almost 40% of businesses value being able to track the status of current issues live
  • Over one quarter (26%) would like a dedicated portal to review their account

Surprisingly, just 17% of businesses are interested in the ability to have a video chat with provider.

Commenting on these results, John Delves said:

“At Magnet+, we commit to putting a human touch on every aspect of our business and our customers journey, with a key focus on ‘People Powered Connectivity’. This means guaranteeing that when a customer contacts the company, they will be speaking to a real person and not a ‘bot’. The results from our research highlight the importance of the human element when it comes to customer service which is crucial to know as we manoeuvre through an increasingly more digitised world of work.”

The research is unveiled as part of an ambitious growth plan for Magnet+ to expand, transform and improve its offering to customers. With customers at the core of everything Magnet+ does, no other provider in Ireland is more capable, qualified or trusted to operate and protect any business connectivity network in the country.

Methodology:

The research was carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes (B&A). Fieldwork was conducted in Q4 2022 with a sample of 400 participants.

For more information and regular updates, check out www.magnetplus.ie

Ten Irish SMEs announced as winners of You’re the Business Digital’s Acceleration Initiative

Google, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are today announcing the ten businesses that secured a truly unique, money-can’t-buy prize as part of the You’re The Business campaign launched last year. ‘You’re the Business’ is a programme that aims to accelerate Irish SME growth through digitalisation.

The successful businesses from across the country and a variety of sectors will receive a customised suite of digital supports from Google, expert sector and industry-specific mentoring across a range of technical areas that will help the ten SMEs to further develop their business. The selected businesses will also receive a €1,000 Google ads package each.

From family businesses to new businesses, from service to retail, the ten innovative and inspiring SMEs using digital to grow their businesses are:

  • Babogue (Kildare) – Certified Child Sleep Consultant, Erica Hargaden’s Babogue offers a suite of online video based sleep courses to help parents to manage the rollercoaster that is child sleep.
  • Camerino Bakery (Dublin) – Caryna Camerino runs the award-winning cafe and bakery and recently developed an online catering and cake ordering service.
  • Cullen Nurseries (Carlow) – Cullen Nurseries is a family owned business in Carlow, supplying top-quality native trees and hedging. Their award-winning site helps them offer an efficient online service with nationwide delivery.
  • DR Dogcare (Clare) – Animal lover Deirdre Ryan offers group or one-to-one training for dogs and their owners as well as a dog grooming service which can be booked through the website.
  • Prints of Ireland (Dublin) – Entrepreneurs, Heather and Peter’s online shop commemorates Irish landmarks with quality prints, totes and greeting cards.
  • Ryan Thomas Jewelers (Tipperary) – A family business selling luxury and hand-crafted jewellery in Clonmel for the last 43 years which can now also be purchased through the store’s website.
  • The Crafty Fox (Louth) – An award-winning fabric, crafts, and haberdashery supplies in Drogheda, supplying a large collection of top-quality products, as well as industry-leading workshops and classes which are available to book online.
  • The Cookie Co-op (Kilkenny) – A family business founded by Brian Walsh in 2020. Shoppers can order hand-crafted artisan cookies, muffins and bars online for next day delivery.
  • Velvet Cloud (Mayo) – Velvet Cloud is a range of handmade natural sheep’s milk yogurt and cheese, made on Flanagan’s family farm, and can be bought directly from their website.
  • Wonky Woolins (Galway) – Chloe Gardiner sells her wonky knitted toys from her well-designed website.

Speaking at the announcement of the winners, Caryna Camerino of Camerino Bakery said: “We launched our online shop in January 2020 just prior to Covid-19. Overnight, the website which had originally been designed to be our virtual shop window became our only shop window. Digitising our business meant that we were prepared for what came next and now the sales we make online are equal to the sales we make through the tills. We even grew the business through Covid. With Google’s help, we are now looking to reach new customers via online marketing, newsletters, and email campaigns”.

Research conducted by Google, developed in partnership with Amárach for the launch of You’re The Business last year found that almost half of SMEs believe they could more than double their turnover (40%) and profitability (45%) with an investment in digital skills. But, the research also showed that more than one in every ten SMEs based in Ireland (11%) are not yet using digital technology in their business – almost half (45%) of SMEs do not have their own website.

Alice Mansergh, Director for Small Business at Google, said: “Ireland is home to more than 250,000 small businesses, providing employment and services right across the country. Small businesses are at the heart of towns and communities across Ireland. With over 90% of Irish consumers now active online, businesses of all shapes and sizes stand to gain by ensuring they have their ‘online shop window’ – their website, their online profile – working well. At Google, we’ve been proud to partner with Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices to bring help and support nationwide through ‘You’re The Business’. The program offers free training for all available on the You’re The Business website. We had a tough time picking 10 lucky winners to receive an even more customised prize package, such was the high standard of entries. My huge congratulations to our lucky winners: we’re excited to support their business vision and next chapter of growth online.”

Richard Murphy, Enterprise Ireland said: The You’re the Business initiative has been a significant boost to SMEs across the country.  To be able to open up Google’s expertise in digital and online promotion to all businesses is a huge step forward in helping these companies to maximise their online presence.  Both Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices have been working closely with clients supporting their journey’s to get online and grow online and this will only help those companies further.  To the winners we wish continued success and we look forward to supporting them as they grow both here in Ireland and hopefully internationally in the years to come.”

Padraic McElwee, Local Enterprise Offices said: “The impact of digital for small businesses has never been so keenly felt than over the recent years.  Many companies have had to become more agile, more digitally adept to survive and thrive.  Having helped thousands to get online with our Trading Online Vouchers during the pandemic, this was an opportune time to help these businesses upskill utilising the expertise of Google alongside our partners Enterprise Ireland.  The response to the You’re The Business campaign has been phenomenal up and down the country and to be able to open up these online resources to our clients has had a huge impact this year and will do in years to come.  I want to congratulate all the winners and no doubt they will go from strength to strength on the back of this partnership.”

Launched last year, You’re the Business – a partnership between Google, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices – focuses on supporting Irish SMEs to upskill digitally and enhance their online capabilities. It continues to provide Irish SMEs with access to a series of live and on-demand training sessions, geared towards supporting companies at all stages of their digitalisation journey, including those at early stages right through to those more digitally-sophisticated businesses. The training consists of three modules that will help businesses.

For further information on the winners and the You’re The Business initiative, please visit: g.co/yourethebusiness

.IE Domain Profile Report 2022 reveals reputational strength of .ie domains

Launched today, the .IE Domain Profile Report 2022 reveals there were almost 330,000 .ie domain names in the database by the end of last year with 48,168 new .ie domains registered in 2022. Now in its eighth year, the .IE Domain Profile Report is an annual exploration of the .ie database and is published by .IE, the national registry for .ie domain names. The report also outlines key advantages that can be leveraged by Irish enterprise with a .ie domain.

Cyber attacks

.IE  provides an additional layer of security to owners of a .ie domain name, free of charge. This service provides a constant scanning of .ie sites and involves instant notification to an SME’s hosting provider, who can help them take the corrective action once a scam has been detected. The report revealed over 500 cyber-attacks were taken down in 2022. Two in five were phishing scams and one in four were malware attacks.

Despite a significant increase in cyber-attacks, websites featuring a security certificate were down six percentage points resulting in more websites being vulnerable to attack. This level of security is crucial to safeguard customer’s data.

The report indicated that threats to a .ie domain are lower than other top level domain names such as .com. Only individuals and businesses with a provable connection to Ireland can register a .ie domain. Applications from new customers are manually reviewed to ensure that they meet this requirement. This process keeps the .ie domain largely free from scams and other illegal activities. 91% of .ie domain names are registered on the island of Ireland, with the total number of internationally registered .ie domains under 30,000. Top international registrants are from Great Britain (10,983), United States (5,117) and Germany (2,535).

Speaking at the launch of the report David Curtin, Chief Executive of .IE said; “At .IE it is a priority to proactively tackle abuse in the .ie namespace to protect both SMEs and their customers. The findings of our .IE Domain Profile Report highlight some security vulnerabilities of .ie profiles, but also demonstrates where we provide enhanced supports to help Ireland’s digital economy thrive.

Our .IE Tipping Point Report 2022 also revealed that SMEs who invested in their online services since Covid, 30% (1 in 3) were busier than they were before the pandemic and 36% maintained the same level of business. SMEs are facing a new wave of economic challenges post Covid but with over 50% planning a significant digital investment in the next five years, we want to make sure they are investing in that digitalisation smartly and are aware of the necessary security features to implement.”

The trustworthiness of a .ie domain is also internationally recognised by The SpamHaus Project, an international non-profit organisation that tracks spam and related cyber threats. They collate a Badness Index for top level domains in real-time with .ie currently listed with a perfect rating of 0.0% in comparison with .com with a Badness Index of 2.5%.

Regional Growth

  • The report identified the counties experiencing the largest growth in new .ie domain registrations, a positive ‘forward-indicator’ of increased regional economic activity, with Tyrone recording the largest growth for 2022 v 2019 at 73.4%. Tipperary came in second overall, with 26.5% growth
  • Mayo had the largest had the largest growth (+24.1%) for any county in Connaught, followed by Galway at 8.4% adding 2,303 new domains
  • Wexford came out on top in Leinster with an 18.2% increase. Amongst the border counties, Monaghan had the largest percentage growth (+8.4%)

Post Covid Growth

The report also indicates that the Covid surge of digital mobilisation has tapered off, identifying a drop in new .ie registrations year-on-year (-22.6% v 2021). This is much less significant at 4% (2022 v 2019) when compared to more normal pre-pandemic levels and demonstrates that SMEs continue to use websites as a core part of their business with the benefits far outweighing a social media ‘shop front’.

Speaking at the launch, Pat Kane, Founder of Reuzi.ie commented, “When I founded my business in 2018 my objective was to inform and inspire people across Ireland, making sustainability more accessible, affordable, and fun. In the process of selecting a domain name for my website it was crucial that I had access to something that represented my business as truly Irish. I chose a .ie domain name because we are proud of what that means to my customers and community in Ireland and across the rest of the world – that we are an authentic Irish business doing great work.

Along with added security, trust and higher search optimisation, there is also a wider choice of available .ie domain names compared to .com. One of the longest .ie websites is 46 characters long at residentialroofingandlandscapingspecialistcork.ie with one of the shortest just one character at w.ie.

The .IE Domain Profile Report can be viewed here.