Author: admHonWpAdm

Forex strategy and payments provider AFEX today last week partnered with the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) to host its first Australian charity trading day. The successful event raised funds for the Rugby Union Foundation charity, Hearts in Union, to assist ex-players who are living with severe spinal injuries.

The event was an opportunity for AFEX’s small business clients to mingle with some of Australia’s rugby greats, as well as get to know the AFEX account executives that manage their payments and currency risk exposure face-to-face.

Former Wallaby Pat McCabe and current Warratahs Paddy Ryan and Benn Robinson enthusiastically manned the phones alongside AFEX’s expert staff. But the boys’ enthusiasm was trumped by the youthful spirit of Charlotte Caslick and Dominique Du Toit of the Women’s Sevens team. The stellar efforts of all the players ensured that a steady flow of trades was booked, each of which contributed to the donation to Hearts in Union.

Commenting on the event, RUPA CEO Ross Xeno said “Rugby is an inclusive game underpinned by a strong sense of mateship and integrity across the globe. Unfortunately, like all collision sports, there is always the risk of severe injury for players.  We’re therefore proud to join AFEX today to support Hearts in Union in recognising and raising funds for players who have suffered catastrophic injuries.”

As Honner rubbed shoulders and shared a drink with eminent players, past and present, and AFEX’s most hospitable staff, this spirit of mateship among players and across organisations was very apparent.

The communications landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years with the changing ‘traditional’ media landscape coupled with the proliferation of ‘new’ digital and social media leading to the end of “mass” media; a fragmentation of the audience; and a change in what, where and how we get our news.

Last week, Honner presented at the AIST Marketing Ideas Exchange in Melbourne, discussing what this new world of communications means for superannuation funds.

Information overload, infobesity, infoxication, regardless of what you call it, it is a phenomenon that has certainly forever changed the role of PR professionals.

However, despite everything that has changed there remains one consistent – content. Compelling, engaging content remains at the heart of any communications program. The difference is that today it may not just be written content (or a media release) – but it could be infographics, GIFs, videos, memes or any format that works for the chosen platform and engages your audience.

Take a look at this recent example on BuzzFeed, sponsored by the ATO that uses images of dogs to encourage you to consolidate your super. If the ATO are on board then you know it must be time to get up to speed.

Media remains an important stakeholder and there are many reasons and ways to proactively engage media. But as the title of the presentation to AIST Marketing Ideas Exchange suggests, the role of PR is more than just a media release.

Effective PR includes building a strategy that aligns to the business goals; considers social part of the broader communication strategy and builds content that is engaging and sharable; uses data to better tailor communication so we reach the right person at the right time; and demonstrates effectiveness through evaluation.

See our presentation where we discuss all these elements here.

Or read coverage on the presentation as reported today in Investment Magazine.

Disruptive US lender OnDeck has revealed that its online SME loans platform will be up and running in Australia before the end of the year.

OnDeck aims to answer a key challenge facing Australia’s 2 million small businesses- the ability to access working capital quickly and easily, so business owners can spend their time growing their business instead of trying to find financing.

OnDeck’s streamlined online application process has been tried and tested in North America over the last 8 years and has originated more than $2 billion (USD) in loans to small businesses in more than 700 industries across the US and Canada.

An important point of difference to traditional credit providers is that OnDeck does not rely solely on the small business owner’s personal credit history, but looks at the overall health of a business. Its advanced analytics evaluate over 2,000 data points – from cash flow to public records to social data to its own extensive internal historical performance data – to more accurately assess business viability. This allows OnDeck to evaluate, approve and fund small business loans within days, providing all important cash flow.

Having closely followed OnDeck’s success in the US, MYOB is supporting the launch of OnDeck Australia as a strategic investor and distribution partner in the local market. As just one OnDeck’s distribution channels, it will work with MYOB to deliver online financing solutions to its approximately one million business users across Australia.

OnDeck’s impact on the small business financing landscape in North America has been transformational and it promises to be similar in the Australian market.