13 Jun 2012

Western Australia’s best businesses embracing social media

The overwhelming majority of the State’s leading businesses named as finalists for the 2012 Telstra Western Australian Business Awards have adopted social media as a key element in their marketing activity.

Analysis of the 23 finalists for this year’s Awards – which for the first time includes a specialist category for small business start-ups – shows that about 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:

• All 23 of the finalists have their own website;
• Almost three quarters of those with a business website updated it at least monthly, while 43 per cent updated their site at least fortnightly;
• Many invested in Search Engine Optimisation with all of the finalists having their website appearing on the first page, with 57 per cent in the top three results; and
• Almost 75 per cent 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 two out of three Western Australian 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 Western Australian Business Awards, they are experiencing a strong level of customer satisfaction, with an average of 89 per cent of their customer base satisfied.

The 2012 finalists include a specialist consultancy combining engineering, financial and management skills, a sustainable food production company that combines aquaculture with hydroponics and a registered training organisation that provides education in pre-hospital care for future medics and paramedics.

THE FINALISTS FOR THE 2012 TELSTRA WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS AWARDS ARE:

HTC Start Up Award

News Limited Micro Business Award

MYOB Small Business Award

Commonwealth Bank Medium Business Award

Telstra Regional Award

Five Western Australian businesses will also vie for the 1300Australia / Telstra Phonewords People’s Choice Award with winners chosen by public vote. The finalists are Billet Engineering from Kalgoorlie, Chilli Couture, Houndstooth Studio, Silver Trowel Trade Training of Cannington and Squid Productions.

Winners of the Telstra Western Australian Business Awards will be announced at the Hyatt Regency Perth, on 17 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.

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