The Scally Waggery in Applethorpe, Queensland, Australia | Business service

The Scally Waggery

Locality: Applethorpe, Queensland, Australia

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25.01.2022 The beautiful food post... and the chaos behind it :)

25.01.2022 Facebook used to be an open market, a free for all where business could smash their audience with sales, product updates and more, reaching heaps of people and wall without paying a cent. Well, that was because Facebook didn't know what they were. Now they have investors, share holders, must abide by laws and have realised they are probably the biggest advertising medium on the planet, there is no getting by for free. We'd like to run a little series of helpful marketing tip...s for small business, specifically relating to Facebook and the changes they've been making this year. It's hard to know what to do and what not to. Small business owners are urged to get on Facebook. "Have you got a Facebook page?" "What's your handle?" "What's your hashtag?" With everything you have to do in your business though, what are you doing with your Facebook page? Our first tip is something to avoid. Avoid promotional posts that include call to actions like 'Call Now' or 'Buy Now'. People surveyed by Facebook have stated that they don't like it. Outbound links to landing pages whether on your own website or not. Facebook doesn't want it's users being drawn away from their site. Look, although the people have spoken and voiced their opinion of ads and blatant sales type posts, Facebook needs to make money. So the ads are staying and the promotional posts are going... well they're going to hurt rather than help you.

24.01.2022 How do you do things? Is it different every time or does it depend who does it? Thinking back to a time when I made coffee, a lot of coffee, and how I was a 'perfectionist', makes me kinda cringe and kinda laugh today. It was crazy! It was my own little espresso bar and I wouldn't let go of that machine. It was a $10k piece of beauty, but that's beside the point. What if I got sick, hit by a bus or simply burnt out? Well, it sort of happened. I won't go into the details, howe...ver when I was packing up the last few bits and pieces, in came a regular customer. We only knew him as '2 flat whites guy in the blue Mercedes'. Turns out, he'd been coming in for a couple of takeaways each morning on his way to his own coffee shop in the city. When he heard what was going on, he bought a few pieces of equipment and gave me a job. This was my first introduction into operations manuals. If you want to run 3 coffee shops without standing behind the machines, you need well documented systems and good training. I have to be honest though, I was not compliant and fought it. Rather than see the big picture and the potential to grow, learn and move up the ranks, I tried desperately to be an indispensable barista. Although circumstances led the company down a totally different path, it was stupid of me to think that with such highly developed systems, I could be indispensable. It wasn't the most refined system, yet in a pinch, I could be fired and another could read the manual, do some hands on training and things would carry on. So what am I getting at? Develop your systems, write them down. They don't have to be pretty, just start doing it. What does this have to do with web design? Well, we also create custom CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems. Fine tuned and highly personalised client portals that can be automated to handle enquiries, invoicing, proposals, contracts, surveys... everything a growing business needs to stay on top of the daily 'to dos'. Oh, and have a nice weekend

23.01.2022 Stop your Google Adwords... Now! Are you running Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising with Google, Bing... even Facebook? So many times we hear of companies spending hundreds, thousands of dollars even per month to get traffic to their site, only to find it doesn't work. 'Doesn't work' could mean any number of things, but if you are spending a lot of money and you are not getting leads, purchases... whatever metric you want to measure success, it is everyone's fault. Yep, everyone...'s to blame. Your campaign manager, your web designer and you... That's why you need to stop your campaigns immediately, stand back and look at the whole picture. Any decent ad campaign management provider should have done their due diligence, looked at your website and pointed out the fact that it's impossible to find a Call To Action (CTA). Note: These are sweeping accusations I'm making, and no I haven't been to YOUR website. I'm just trying to get the point across that it - your website - could be the stumbling block, and that driving more traffic will not improve your ROI . In fact, you'll probably just lose more money. A good provider of CPC campaigns will look at your website first, and make suggestions for how you could improve conversion. If they just want to take your money, increase spend budgets and try more keywords then it's time to walk away . We don't offer CPC / PPC ad management, however hopefully this could save you from making a big mistake. When engaging these services, you'll know at least what one red flag looks like.

23.01.2022 Not a helpful hint today but still Facebook related an interesting read about their renewable energy plans.

21.01.2022 Do you run a small business? Got less than 20 employees? Registered for GST? Based in Queensland? Turnover less than $2M? Answer YES to all those questions? If you have been thinking about launching a website, getting your business online or developing a digital marketing strategy and believe it could help your business to grow through increased productivity or profitability then maybe the latest round of the Queensland Governments Small Business Digital Grants Program is f...or you... The Queensland Government is offering grants of matched funding from $1,000 up to $10,000 (excluding GST), for the purchase of hardware, software or services. We're going to break our own rule of not linking away from Facebook here so we can share the link to the Business Queensland website: http://swwift.me/grant-info As the deadline for applications is 8th October, it's best to get your application going as soon as possible. The grants are very popular! If now isn't the right time, you could still use the information available to be ready for next year. All the best, Scally Waggery

21.01.2022 Your followers are speaking... are you listening? More importantly, are you replying? One of the most important pieces we can take away from the 2018 Facebook algorithm is how it will deal with posts that have little or no reactions. Zuckerberg writes, "Pages making posts that people generally dont react to or comment on could see the biggest decreases in distribution. Pages whose posts prompt conversations between friends will see less of an effect." Obviously the first ste...p here is to create content that warrants engagement, however more importantly is how you get in on the action. Replying to comments is super important. We covered this in an article about Google reviews a couple of weeks ago. Replying to your followers questions, reviews or comments is just good manners. It makes sense from a business point of view, from an SEO point of view and now is a key factor in how your posts are delivered on Facebook. Imagine someone walks in to your bakery and asks, "What rye bread do you have fresh today?" You look past them and call out, "Next!" You wouldn't do it, would you? Now imagine, each time you ignore that person, a piece of butchers paper is taped up in your shop window. That's what is happening on Facebook when you don't engage with the people that are making an effort to reach out to you. Keep posting regular, meaningful and helpful content that will get your audience talking.

21.01.2022 I think it's time to stop sharing so much, and start creating. Sometimes we get the feeling that no one cares what we do... that's true to a certain extent. There are over 7 billion people in the world, and sure, some of them don't care. But you'd be surprised what you have to offer. Remember to avoid the trap of using your Facebook business page to post your sale items. You won't reach many people and the ones you do will probably start getting annoyed. There's only so many times they need to be reminded of this weeks price on swiffer sweepers... Try and connect your industry to real world situations, tell a story, a joke... something that's relative to what's going on in the world (steer clear of politics) and make connections to what you do. Stop selling, start helping...

19.01.2022 Be the mouse and run for your life, not for your food... #scallywaggery #applethorpe #webdesigner #helpfulmarketing #smallbusinesslife #entrepreneurlife

18.01.2022 Is what you're writing worth reading? Too long? Too short? Too aggressive? Too tame? It's hard, I know... coming up with interesting content for your audience, but come on... how many times do they want to see that everything's 20% this Tuesday? Aside from the whole 'Create Helpful Content' theory, why do you need to know these things? Well, they're watching you... not in a creepy way. Time spent on content is and always will be important, according to Facebook. H...ow many times have you paused while scrolling through your News Feed, to read something of interest to you. You might not have 'Liked' it or commented on it, but Facebook has noticed. Whether you like the spying or not, Facebook is trying to make the time you spend on the social network more enjoyable. If you find a post interesting in your feed and spend more time on it, they take note of what it is and who posted it and gear the system to deliver more content like it and more content from that person or page that posted it. Can you see how this works for or against your business page? Keep posting about what you sell, the specials you offer and the wonders of it all and you will be joining the millions of Facebook business page owners wondering why Facebook 'doesn't work' for them. Your followers don't want to be 'that' friend that shares all the discounts and specials... Create content that connects with your fans in a way that makes them want to engage will lead to better reach. Your customers are on Facebook already, so why not find a way to speak to them directly and literally have them do the leg work.

17.01.2022 I don't like using - SEXY - to describe anything other than something that is actually SEXY. But I do wonder what it means to lie in bed, with a smile on your dial and think about a system you've just created in a a euphoric, joyful and wholly satisfying way...

16.01.2022 Is your email address professional? Your email address says a lot about you, whether it's personal or professional. What you do at home is no one else's business, so if you want a gross email address like [email protected] , I and nobody else can stop you. But at work, on your business card, letterhead, social media, professional logins... you should really consider moving away from anything remotely like it. A professional email address is one of the most cost effectiv...e ways you can start marketing your brand - [email protected] or [email protected] ? If you want to setup your own professional email address, just email us [email protected] ... just kidding... we can help though. Just message through Instagram, Facebook or contact us through our website.

15.01.2022 Ready to make some tutorials ...

14.01.2022 Kid, you'll move mountains... Yes you! Just push... do it, now. I'm the worst for looking at the dead line, the finish line, the end point... whatever, and freaking out at the enormity of it all. Baby steps, small tasks, mini milestones is the only way to go. Part of our system is to setup each client with a file in our project management system (before I get a chance to flip), and map it out. The tiniest of tasks;... setup email < create Google business listing < install Yoast < design menu < setup / connect Stripe payment system < Whatever it is, it's in the system. So even if you have a bad day, and you check off ONE, just ONE thing, that's ONE less than before. It's checked off, it's done. And although we can all move mountains, Confucius says it all begins by carrying away small stones.

14.01.2022 Rockin’ Friday Night #reading #expandyourmind #knowledgeispower

13.01.2022 If you can't describe what you're doing as a process, then you don't know what you're doing. - W. Edwards Deming Monday's a crappy day for a lot of things, so why not sit down and write out you processes instead of grinding against them.

12.01.2022 You would have heard of content marketing, but have your heard it referred to as helpful marketing? That's what it's all about. It should be at the core of your entire plan for business, from your Facebook to your website, to the people that answer your phones. DIYers will most likely always be DIYers. Sharing your secrets won't kill your chances of a sale. On the contrary. Becoming the credible source with bite sized chunks of knowledge will find in those 'never to be customers' raving fans, spreading the word.

12.01.2022 As we’ve been locked out of Facebook (due to a hacking issue), it’s a reminder that we really need to think about what is in our control. If you’re running a business and only have a Facebook page, consider the implications should this happen to you...

12.01.2022 Are you taking opportunities when they arise? Do you um and ah forever... then ponder what could have been? Take action today and dont wonder what if tomorrow...

12.01.2022 Depending on the number of FB friends a person has and what pages they and their friends like decides how many stories Facebook has to choose from to deliver during any one session. Can you imagine? It's thousands. Because there are so many stories to choose from, clever filters are used to decide how it delivers. Here's a quick example:... Kelly runs an established cafe and every couple of days she posts to her page; Soup of the day Weekly specials 'Buy One Coffee, Get One Free' Offer Jenny owns a fairly new cafe nearby and her weekly posts include; Recipes with great photos Live videos of the kitchen crew explaining cookery terms Shares of local community stories Simplified sure, but the differences need to be quite obvious to explain. Kelly is going to get a few likes because she is established and has loyal customers, friends and family that like her page. But, she's selling with every post. It's what users have explicitly told Facebook they don't want to see. Jenny on the other hand is smashing it. She's not only delivering meaningful, valuable content to her followers, but to their friends as well. Her posts are getting likes wows hearts and shares and because it's helpful, Jenny's business page is getting liked and followed by more and more people. Facebook sees the trend in her posts and gives them attention. Look, Kelly's cafe is amazing. She's been rocking the block for a decade and her cafe is popular. But like so many of us, she's not quite sure what she should be doing with her Facebook business page. The cold hard truth is that your posts are probably reaching no more than 1-2% of your fans unless you're creating engaging content. Use this shocking stat to improve what you are offering up for those devotees. Consider each post carefully and encourage engagement to widen your reach. If those percentages shock you as much as it did us then why not show us.

11.01.2022 As weve been locked out of Facebook (due to a hacking issue), its a reminder that we really need to think about what is in our control. If youre running a business and only have a Facebook page, consider the implications should this happen to you...

10.01.2022 I wish I could be like her and just turn in the warmth of the sun... time to reflect and see whats next for the Scally Waggery

09.01.2022 With all the easy to use, drag and drop website builders out there, choosing how to take your business online can be soul crushing experience and paralysing the potential to get airborne. The one thing that Ive always found annoying about most What You See Is What You Get type platforms is the lock in. So often you are tied to them, monthly fees, closed code (as opposed to open source - that is they can't be migrated, exported etc...), limited design freedoms, pay for this a...dd on, pay for that add on, and the time it takes. The argument for a 'lite site' is often thrown around by Wix builders and what I gather from this, is that the client just wants a presence. effectively a landing page. But if you just need a landing page, then you don't need to be tied to a proprietary system. One page websites are quite common, especially if you're just aiming for an online business card and brochure. Flatpack is a landing page maker we've come across that's ideal for this. It features a drag and drop system making it perfect for those that like the Wix appeal. Other features include obviously the content editing side like text and of course image editing. Forms creation is a standard feature and adding PayPal forms is fairly easy. So, if youre looking to create a lite site as they say, and Wix can do all these things, then why bother with something like Flatpack? Its US$19 once. Sure, youll need hosting, but an invest of no more than $100 for the year, and you can be online with your business lite site. As your business grows, you can too with this option. Move to a more heavy duty system, like WordPress when youre ready to start pumping out content or have anyone in the world handle your web site creation and management, because you havent locked yourself in somewhere. Just something to think about. You can find Flatpack on the Envato's Themeforest site - http://ow.ly/odwJ30manJt Our How To Guide for landing pages will be available soon

08.01.2022 We do not use Wix, and can't see why we would ever in the future, however can see situations where we would recommend something like Wix over a professional web design service. Ah, "Why are you setting up the gallows for yourself?" You might ask. It's not how we see it, as there is some good that could come from a service like Wix. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll lay the basics down for you. Wix is a visual site builder with DRAG and DROP features tha...t make it super easy to make half decent looking websites. And for a monthly fee, you can be up and running in no time... if youve got time. Starting at just over AU$13 per month (if you don't want Wix ads on your site), you can start building a site. Depending on what you need in a website will decide what plan you need, however the AU$19 pm or AU$25 pm plans are more suited to businesses that want current day standards like contact forms or to start selling. Either way you look at it, it's not a huge outlay, and for a lot of start ups and small businesses it's perfect. There are stacks of templates to choose from, and I mean stacks. Probably too many . Whatever industry you're in, there's probably a template for you. One caveat, and a big one - - Choose carefully because... wait for it... you CANNOT change it. This is a big deal breaker for a lot of people (myself included), plus the inability to export your site to use on a different platform as you grow could be problematic for some. Again, its a great option for a lot of first timers to the web, but be sure to read all the fine print. If you're going to take the reins and build your own site (because as a small business owner you have heaps of spare time), then Wix could be for you. Hey, its what it was designed for. People that want to make their OWN websites. With lots of ticks in the Pros column, be mindful though of the Cons mentioned above when it comes to paying what Wix like to call 'Wix Pros' or Wix Experts' to build a Wix site for you. You have to wonder where the value is in paying to have a site built in a closed system, that can't at a later stage be handed over to another designer for updating (the web moves quickly and tastes change). I don't want to use this post to push our services at all, but to let you know about Wix as one of many options out there that are affordable and give you total control over your website, now and into the future. Don't worry, we're not going to leave you like this. Coming up soon: How to build your own Landing Pages easily for $25

07.01.2022 Weve always been a Post Positive kind of bunch, but sometimes we need to share something negative to get a point across. Now is one of those times, and although I kind of cant believe I need to say it, I will. Baiting isnt cool. It never has been in any sort of business, and Facebook cottoned on some time ago. It was last year they introduced an active campaign to combat it, penalising pages that engaged in the activity. What is engagement bait? Its the practice of gett...ing people to engage to further their reach artificially. An example would be, Like for a chance to win... xyz. Another is to suggest the use of Reactions to specify a favourite. So a display of four different cars might be presented with Choose your favourite to win, with the Wow on sports car, Heart on an SUV, Haha on a convertable and a Like on a sedan... This is on the radar back at Facebook home base and posts like it are being demoted. Whether its from a person or a page, the practice of engagement, react, share, tag, comment and vote bait are just not worth it. If people like what you do, theyll Like what you do.

07.01.2022 Doing things right... #australiansmallwinemakersshow #stanthorpe #granitebelt #wine #perfection

06.01.2022 You can starve to death reading a cookbook. I heard Tom O'Toole, of Beechworth Bakery fame, say this in an inspiring interview once however have read it elsewhere years prior. So whoever you are, thank you...

05.01.2022 We know this is going to sound like a rant, but when children are concerned we feel it needs to be said. There is a lego robotics workshop available here on the Southern Downs, at Warwick, Allora and Stanthorpe for kids over the school holidays run by a Brisbane franchise of a global company. It looks fantastic and was really looking forward to enrolling our child, however would urge anyone interested in sending their kids to contact the company running the event and requesti...ng to register off line without providing most of the data they are asking for. The registration site has the following required fields for your child: - Gender - DOB - Name of school - Grade at school and ties this information to the applicant / parents required data, of; - Address - City - State - Post code etc... The level of required data for a 2 hour workshop here is scary and quite frankly, irresponsible. The site where this registration occurs does not even meet to most basic of security measures. In order for the secure login form to protect you, both the page that displays the login form and the page the form is being submitted to need to be HTTPS. Aside from the fact that they are not protecting the data from a man-in-the-middle attack, the privacy policy is vague to the extent it does not state how they plan to secure your data against further potential security breaches. We operate a stack of websites that have round the clock security and can physically see the number of attempted attacks that occur daily on WordPress sites, which their website is built on. Ask yourself; Why do they need to know my child's gender? Why do they need to know my child's date of birth? Why do they need to know what school my child goes to? Why do they need to know what grade my child is in? And the connecting data; Why do they need to know my address? Just be aware that when you provide information on a site like this, you are not physically handing a form to someone that then locks it in a filing cabinet. It is sitting on multiple servers around world, most likely unprotected.

04.01.2022 Goodness me... a week of social media detox. Enforced of course, but this recent security breach at Facebook has us wondering a lot about how we use various platforms, and the importance of owning your own presence online. I spent the week building a new website dedicated to our clients. Scally Wag U will host a plethora of videos that detail how they can use and edit safely, the websites we've built for them. The great news is that it won't be for our clients only. If you'v...e had a WordPress website built for you, built or building your own, you'll be able to sign up and get access to around 50 videos (to start with) as well as documentation that can make life a whole lot easier. We're not abandoning Facebook, but our week in solitary has given us a lot to think about. Scally Wag U is super cool, and the skills you can learn will take you from changing fonts and titles right up to creating landing pages for that new product you're looking to launch. If you feel it could help you take control of your online presence, we look forward to seeing you there... https://scallywaggery.com/learn-wordpress-with-scally-wag-u/

04.01.2022 We will receive a renewal reminder from ASIC, the actual people you need to deal with regarding business name registrations. These companies prey on those that arent sure, new to business or just busy running their business to realise theyre being conned. 1 year from ASIC - $36, 3 years from ASIC - $84

03.01.2022 Gone are the days you could walk up to the bank teller with a sack full of 'Likes' and exchange them for cash. Ok, so it wasn't that literal. All jokes aside, thumbs are no longer considered good coin by Facebook. No, if you like something, you 'Share' it, but not the easy kind of 'Share'. If you really do like something, you'll share it in Messenger. That's right, Facebook Messenger is pure gold for building endorsement of your solid gold content. How do we get our followe...rs to do that? Well, that comes down to the content you're posting. Keep it helpful, engaging and keep the spammy advertorials for your pay-per-click campaigns. It's as simple as that. Hey, if you know anyone with a small business on Facebook who could benefit from little bite size tips like these, why not 'Share' this post with them directly through Messenger... See what I did there?

03.01.2022 Are you using video to talk to your fans? With over 8 billion videos being watched daily on Facebook, you have to wonder how much is actually being absorbed, so let's look at what can you do to improve your chances. Shoot vertical (or square). Vertical video hogs way more of the screen on mobiles, reducing other distractions. Awesome thumbnails! 3 seconds is about what you have to capture attention as that screen is scrolling past your video so make sure the first thing they... see is amazing. Captions aren't just for watching your favourite French films... a lot of people, a lot, use Facebook without sound. For many, they can't, so adding captions increases your chance of viewership. Most importantly, start doing it. Show your followers how to make the perfect flower in latte foam, how to cut their own bangs, clean the tracks in a sliding window, what F stop to use for the perfect portrait... you get the idea. Whatever you do, some one is interested and video is a great way to show them. Now if you'll excuse me... Lights! Camera!

03.01.2022 Context is a super important part of any marketing piece - dont confuse your audience

03.01.2022 You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes... - Pooh

02.01.2022 There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. - C.S.Lewis #scallywaggery #brightfuture #applethorpe #facebookmarketing #entrepreneurlife #webdesigner #dowhatmakesyouhappy #stopsellingstarthelping

02.01.2022 Do you monitor your online reputation? It can be a bit like high school, but at least when it comes to the web it's all out there for everyone to see. It's not what's being said about you behind your back you need to worry about, but what's being written on the cubicle walls. We sold a business a few years ago that had the #1 spot on Google and the highest number of online reviews in its industry, locally. It was sold for that. No stock or equipment to speak of, just goodwill... built by happy customers we asked to review us. Not gloating, just highlighting one very powerful way you can improve your success online. Reviews. Get them. Now. Even if you're not delivering 5 star service every time, if you're out ranking your competition on numbers, you're probably out ranking them on google. Obviously it would be a whole lot better to have 50 reviews and a 4.5 star average rather than 80 reviews and a 2.5 star average, but the point is still clear. Get reviews. I'm a firm believer in good manners, so would always reply to a review that one of my clients spent the time to write for us. Whether it is good or bad. Poor reviews need some special attention. They are often written in a fit of rage and whether warranted or not, can come across a little 'psycho' sometimes. Although people generally hate conflict, they love a juicy story, and will gravitate to 1 star reviews, just to see the response from the business owner. Be honest, own any genuine mistakes and endeavour to resolve know issues within your organisation. We're all human. Finally, these reviews are your opportunity to boost your Google rank through the use of keywords. Don't just say "Thanks..." Google is like, "pfft" when it sees that. No, get into detail and use your keywords in real conversational content. "Hi Jenny, thank you so much for your amazing five star review of our hair salon. We're so happy you're loving the blow wave we gave you and can't wait to see you again soon!" PS. Facebook is in the middle of a big reviews / recommendations shake up so we'll write about that another time.

02.01.2022 Rockin Friday Night #reading #expandyourmind #knowledgeispower

01.01.2022 You've probably heard that saying, 'You're unique, just like everyone else.' Sure, it's true, but it's awesome. Not just in business, but in everyday life. Can you imagine getting to where we are today without uniqueness? Keep challenging the norm, don't be afraid to try new things, put yourself on the edge of it all and eventually you will create a thing of beauty... because there's nothing more beautiful than difference.