Bzone Opens For Business

XTRA AND YELLOW PAGES® LAUNCH A NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS WEB SITE

Xtra and YELLOW PAGES® today announced the launch of bzone.co.nz – a Web site designed specially for the small to medium New Zealand business community.

The new site, a joint initiative between Xtra and YELLOW PAGES®, contains a comprehensive offering of business news, advice and product and service information.

General Manager for Xtra Business, Ralph Brayham, says there is a demand from SME’s (small to medium businesses) for a site specifically designed to meet their needs.

“We have been observing trends in the small to medium business market for more than a year to make sure the business Web site we developed was relevant and easy to use,” he said.

“New Zealand businesses use the Internet to find business news and information that is applicable to them. So far most of that online information has come from overseas or from specific companies promoting their own wares,” said Mr Brayham.

The independent bzone brings together information, advice and business tips across the following 12 channels: Accounting, Venture Capital, Employment, Technology, Start-Up, Marketing, Training, Trade, Business Growth, Legal, Knowledge Zone and Your Community.

bzone content providers include the likes of small business guru Glen Senior of The Small Business Company Ltd, Her Business magazine, Waikato University, Reuters, Web Design and Development Company and edigital.

bzone will continue to develop to meet the expected growth in the demand for a more complex offering. The bzone team are already working on the next stages which will include offerings such as hosted software applications. Hosting options will allow users to pay per use for essential business tools such as payroll and GST systems, rather than being required to purchase software.

Another upcoming development is the establishment of membership databases. In essence this offering will be an extranet hosted on bzone. It will allow users to have a secure and private environment with remote administration giving the functionality of a membership database, but without having to pay for the capital expenditure.

Sales & Marketing Manager for YELLOW PAGES®, Lester Smith, said bzone builds on the relationship that Xtra and the YELLOW PAGES® already have with the small to medium business community in New Zealand.

“We’re very aware of the needs of New Zealand business and the increasingly important role the Internet is playing in their operations. These businesses are not only recognising the benefits of an Internet presence but that the Internet can be a highly effective medium for helping them in their day to day operations.”

“We have designed bzone to be the first port of call for these businesses. Our user testing indicates they will embrace bzone.co.nz and make it part of their everyday business activities ” he said.

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH BZONE – a channel break down:

Accounting: This channel features Australian and New Zealand tax information and accounting advice from a wide range of sources. It provides basic templates for accrual and paper accounting, General, Customer, Vendor and other ledgers. There’s also guidelines on how to source documents and a chart of accounts.

Venture Capital: a comprehensive look at money; with answers to questions as basic as What is Venture Capital? to as complex as Are you thinking internationally?

Employment: This channel covers information on legal matters, training, recruitment and managing employees.

Technology: Computers, eBusiness solutions and detailed information for getting a business online is covered in this channel.

Start up: Information on funding, administration and advice on how to set up in business. Provides admin forms and essential ‘Need to know’ advice.

Marketing: This channel gives advice on marketing a business, both offline and online. There’s information on market research, a marketing manual, and advice on promotion and sales.

Training: A guide to education providers and the computer, and business training available.

Trade: provides a trade directory and calendar of trade events.

Business Growth: Covers how to set up a business plan, advice on how to manage a business and success stories from those who share their winning formula.

Legal: At the Legal Channel visitors can get information on legal agreements, employment, company and intellectual property law and ways to go about collecting money.

Knowldge zone: A place for businesses to share key learnings.

Your community: Has links to Chamber of Commerce directory and a sub-channel devoted to Women’s Business.

ENDS

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