TAS Finalists Announced

7 Jun 2012 Download Press Release

Tasmania’s best businesses embracing social media

The overwhelming majority of the State’s leading businesses named as finalists for the 2012 Telstra Tasmanian Business Awards have adopted social media for marketing.

Analysis of the 19 finalists for this year’s Awards – which for the first time includes a specialist category for small business start-ups – shows that almost 95 per cent have adopted social media, with the top platform being Facebook®, followed by LinkedIn and YouTube®.

Telstra Business Group Managing Director and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador, Will Irving, said it was clear that the best small businesses had taken to the internet and were using it to gain a business advantage.

The analysis also showed:

  • About 85 per cent of finalists have their own website;
  • Three quarters of those with a business website updated it at least monthly, while more than a third updated their site at least once a week;
  • Many invested in Search Engine Optimisation with more than 80 per cent of finalists having their website appearing on the first page, more than a third in the top three results; and
  • Almost two thirds of businesses with a social media presence had a structured system to monitor their site.

Mr Irving said: “It is also interesting to see that half of the Tasmanian finalists are using the internet as a way to better connect with their customers.

“They have embraced technology such as online surveys and social media platforms to broaden the reach of their business and communicate with their customers in new ways and to find out about potential suppliers too.

“All businesses understand customer service is a key to success and it is great to see these leading businesses investing to better communicate with and serve customers in our increasingly competitive world.”

According to the finalists of the 2012 Telstra Tasmanian Business Awards, they are experiencing a strong level of customer satisfaction, with an average of 86 per cent of their customer base satisfied.

The 2012 finalists include Australia’s only grower of wasabi, a tour company targeting the young backpacker market, a leading IVF clinic and a food science company which helps farmers and manufacturers improve the quality of their products.

The finalists for the 2012 Telstra Tasmanian Business Awards are:

HTC Start Up Award

Ink Slave Tattoos Berriedale
MacTavish West Pty Ltd South Hobart
Tiny Tackers Children’s Centre    Glenorchy
waxed ...beauty therapy Sorrell

News Ltd Micro Business Award

Jump Tours Mornington
Shima Wasabi Perth
Leumas Accounting Pty Ltd Howrah
Clydesdale Manor Sandy Bay
Singleton Consulting & Training    North Hobart

MYOB Small Business Award

Bargain Car Rentals Australia Hobart
Collins SBA, Complete Wealth Specialists    Hobart
Elephant Property Launceston
Eumarrah Hobart
Leishman Associates Hobart
TasIVF Pty Ltd Hobart

Commonwealth Bank Medium Business Award

Comstar Systems Hobart
Novaris Pty Ltd Kingston
Roadside Products Pty Ltd Launceston
W A Cromarty & Co Pty Ltd    South Launceston

Regional Award

Elephant Property Launceston
Roadside Products Pty Ltd    Launceston
Shima Wasabi Perth
waxed ...beauty therapy Sorrell

Five Tasmanian businesses will also vie for the 1300Australia People’s Choice Award with winners chosen by public vote. The finalists are Collins SBA Complete Wealth Specialists, The Grange Meeting & Function Centre from Campbell Town, Ink Slave Tattoos, Leishman Associates and Tiny Tackers Children's Centre.

Winners of the Telstra Tasmanian Business Awards will be announced at the Wrest Point Hotel, Hobart, on 5 July 2012. They will receive a share of the $500,000 in cash and prizes, become part of an exclusive national business alumni, and proceed to the national Awards in Sydney on 29 August, 2012.

Tickets to the even can be purchased by visiting telstrabusinessawards.com or call the Telstra Business Awards Team on 1800AWARDS between 9am and 7pm AEST Monday to Friday.

Media contact: Peter Habib | 0417 100 191 | Telstra
Media contact: Marcela Balart | 0422 483 371 | Lighthouse Communications Group
www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/
Reference: 139/2012

Facebook is a registered trade mark of Facebook, Inc. YouTube is a trade mark of Google Inc. ™ and ® are trademarks and registered trademarks of Telstra Corporation Limited ABN 33 051 775 556.

 

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