Hello and welcome.

I recently heard that 7 out of 10 small businesses don't have a website. In not having the one business tool that for me, is an essential link to your existing customers, potential customers, and the world, is a lost opportunity.

Having said that, I know many people who've spent thousands of dollars to end up with an online brochure that doesn't bring in business or offer any reason for customers to visit and come back. So, how do you make the Internet work for you?

In this issue our guest authors give you practical tips to get the best out of doing business online. Our featured entrepreneur Karaline Loiterton is even beating the big businesses that are her competition by using online strategies to catapult her service and to innovate within her industry.

We've also included practical articles that will help you get your site ranking better with search engines, and how to make your site work harder for you.

Know-How Now! Your online community for connections
In our list of Upcoming Events you'll see the Know-How Now! series of webinars. Over 1000 tickets have already been sold to this series of web-based workshops that cover small-business subjects that will improve your skills as a businesswoman. Additionally - the online community that we've created for participants of the series is getting comments like this one:

Thank you so much for inviting me onto this forum. It's great. In fact, you should be very proud of what you and your team have created at the ABN. Of all the networking groups I have attended over the last three years, it is by far the best and the most useful. I pulled out the little "dream card" that I received at my first Goals Group meeting the other day, that I keep in my wallet - and I have 80% achieved it!

I look forward to being a part of the ABN for many years to come, and hope to become more involved too. Through the ABN I have gained a great support network and strengthened my belief that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Jeanette Harris - Strategic Minds Communications

These events are free for ABN Members. Not a Member? It costs less than a good cup of coffee each week to connect with other women, to learn new business skills and to expand your business horizons. Join this month and you get over $200 in training.

News from the Global Summit of Women
In early June a group of ABN members and I attended the Global Summit of Women in Hanoi, Vietnam. We joined over 1000 women from 72 countries in three days of workshops, networking and keynote presentations. The Australian Businesswomen's Network was invited to present on its innovative mentoring program, MentorNet and how it's enabling women from all over Australia to network, learn and be mentored. Here's what one ABN member said about the Summit.

I found the summit to be a great experience, to be in the same place as so many amazing women entrepreneurs was fantastic. I made so many valuable contacts and it has inspired me to pursue even harder the business goals that I have set.

Anne Bain - www.ourgenerationtravel.com.au

ABN Meets with Minister for Small Business to Share Member Concerns
Following our initial contact with his office earlier this year, the ABN met with the Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP (Minister for Small Business) and his Chief of Staff on 8 July, to discuss a range of public policy issues identified by our community.

We raised with the Minister the need for more government support for women in small business, particularly in terms of business education and training; and the profiling of entrepreneurship as a career option for young women; the superannuation gap between males and females at retirement age, our members concerns about extensive compliance and regulatory issues for small business, the impact of skills shortages on our members and avenues for ongoing representation to government of our members’ further concerns.