Microfinance Ireland was set-up by the Irish Government in 2012 under the Action Plan for Jobs. The purpose of the initiative is to support both new and existing small businesses that may be having difficulty in accessing funding through their bank. While a bank may turn down an application due to a promoter’s poor credit history, Microfinance Ireland is willing to assess the application once the credit issues are being dealt with in some form.
First, we have to make something clear- what business headshot is not.
A business headshot is not another passport photo that you can make in two minutes in a photobooth.
or just a cropped photo from, let’s say – your sister’s wedding or a selfie made in worst case scenario in our kitchen.
It won’t capture you in the best light, at the best angle, and it certainly won’t capture that perfect expression which exudes your personality.
If your headshot isn’t professional, it doesn’t help people warm up to you, it doesn’t inspire confidence in you, it doesn’t help people trust you.
A business headshot is our digital identity packaging – and packaging is the key word when we think about that. We wouldn’t buy a badly packaged product, would we?
We care about “packaging” ourselves in the best possible way – We buy expensive branded suits or dresses or cars to create an impression.
But at the same time, people often present themselves for instance on Linkedin using Facebook photos from a weddings, restaurants or with pets. Do not get me wrong I do not have anything against dogs or cats but profile picture on LinkedIn with pets is probably only appropriate for vets or animal rights activists.
So, in a nutshell, a Business headshot is our message to the world, it shows us in proper lighting at the right angle and, most importantly, a good business portrait should also consist of an emotional layer obviously, a natural, sincere smile works the best.
And this is my role as a photographer. It’s much more than me using expensive equipment to create quality images. You pay a photographer for their expertise in the way they position you, the things they can say to you in a conversation to evoke those warm, spontaneous expressions which make you look approachable, friendly, and professional.
Our business headshot is also our logo which will appear on LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, email header and finally more and more often on business cards.
We all know the saying that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression
Your headshot is often the first contact people have with you, especially now that we’re all so active on social media.
I think we should regard also business headshot as our personal brand logo.
It’s important that you change it everywhere, that means every online account you have, Twitter, Google+, Linked In, your Blog avatar, Forum profiles, email account profile photographs, everywhere you have a presence online, your professional headshot should be there to build your personal brand recognition and create that positive first impression!
For more details contact: http://photocatchthemoment.com
The first step to establishing your online presence is to choose the online address – the domain name – for your website. Effectively this acts as the sign above your online presence so it’s important to get it right. For some businesses, the choice will obviously be driven by their registered business name. For others choosing a domain name can be a slightly more complicated process.
To register a .ie domain name you need to prove a connection with Ireland and a claim to the domain name. For most businesses, these criteria are met simply by providing their business address and their registered business number. Below are some tips to consider when choosing your .ie domain name.
1. Put your business first – Your domain name should be reflective of your business or what your goals are for the website. A domain name that matches your brand name is very important and will serve as the foundation for your online presence.
2. Keep it simple – The majority of .ie domains are between 10 and 12 characters in total length. It is important that your domain name is easily remembered and can be easily shared, even by word of mouth. Try saying it out loud so that you can hear how it sounds and make sure it is easily pronounceable.
3. Register it as soon as possible – .ie domains are registered on a first come first served basis (provided that a claim for the name and a connection with Ireland have been verified). Don’t delay with registering your domain name as a competitor could snap it up. You can check if your chosen domain name is available at www.iedr.ie.
4. Seek advice – sometimes it can help to run your preferred domain name choices past colleagues and friends as they can provide alternative suggestions, tweaks or improvements that you may not have considered. Two heads can be better than one!
5. Characterisation – it is important to remember that spaces and symbols are not allowed to be used in domain names. Also, your domain name will always appear in lowercase in all browsers. Hyphens are permitted but can sometimes be forgotten by people trying to visit the website – so avoid them where possible.
6. Commit – Once you’ve chosen the right name, you’re going to want to keep it. .ie domains can be registered for up to 10 years at a time, ensuring that you’ll retain possession of your new name well into the future.
7. Register similar names – domain names are relatively cheap to purchase so when you have chosen your domain name it is recommended to consider registering some similar names or variations on your theme. This can prevent others from taking advantage of your success.
8. Choose .ie for Irish business – .ie is Ireland’s official Internet address, it tells the global community that you are Irish, and it tells the Irish community that you are local.
For more information on choosing a domain name that’s right for your business, please visit www.iedr.ie. To register your domain name please contact one of our Accredited Registrars.
· A .ie domain name allows you to put your website online or set up a personalised email address
· .ie is the official Internet address for Ireland and the only domain name that is guaranteed Irish. All .ie websites have proven that they have a connection to Ireland and a valid claim to the domain name
· Confidence comes through traceability and a .ie can help to ensure that anybody who interacts with you online will know exactly who they are dealing with
· .ie domains are consistently ranked in the top five safest domains worldwide by online security experts McAfee
· .ie tells the global community that you are Irish and tells the Irish community that you are local
Every .ie domain name is verified to ensure that the people behind it are who they say they are. This means that .ie are one of the safest domains in the world, secure from potential threats such as cybercrime and fraud. Let your customers trust you, get a .ie.
Let your customers find you online with .ie
Due to the geo-targeting and the prioritisation of local search results .ie domains automatically receive higher rankings in Irish based search engines like Google.ie than .com addresses. If you are doing business in Ireland it makes sense to let your customers find you easily and quickly.
Registering a .ie domain can also help to protect your brand. Once you have proven your claim to the domain name and connection with Ireland your .ie domain name will be registered to you and only you. This is unlike.com where anybody can register any domain and chances are that your name has already been registered. .ie domains are readily available and can only be registered by people with a legitimate claim to the name.
Registration is simple and straightforward – just follow the 4 simple steps at: www.iedr.ie/register-a-domain
1. Check if the name you want is available (www.iedr.ie)
2. Choose an Accredited .ie Registrar* (www.iedr.ie/registrars)
3. Complete the Registrar’s application form
4. Send your Registrar any supporting information they need
Your application will be checked by the IEDR and once your domain is registered you can start to build your online presence. Many of our Registrars also provide additional services such as website development and hosting which will help you get online.
*Accredited Registrars are companies who have displayed consistent expertise in domain registration and they will be able to assist you with your registration queries.
Registering a .ie domain for your business has never been easier – if you are a business located in Ireland you simply need to submit your Registered Business Number (RBN) or your VAT number with your application. Alternatively, if you are not yet registered as a business you can register a personal domain using valid identification such as a drivers license or passport and proof of address such as a current utility bill.
The IEDR is an independent not-for-profit organisation that manages the .ie country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) namespace (i.e. all domain names ending in ‘.ie’) in the public interest of the Irish and global Internet communities. The IE Domain Registry Limited is not a governing or regulatory body but provides a public service for the .ie namespace on behalf of the local and international Internet communities.
A .ie web address offers consumers, businesses and government agencies the benefits of a secure e-business platform. .ie provides not only an Irish identity on the Internet but also offers you the freedom to build the strongest online presence possible for you, your brand, your company or whatever information you want to share with the world.
For more information please visit www.iedr.ie
