Are You An Online Hero?

October 4, 2016

Are you a regional online hero? If so, the Regional Australia Institute is searching for you …

The RAI is looking for Australia’s most digitally innovative regional business.

Being a regional online hero could mean anything from using online marketing to attract interstate customers, expanding from a traditional bricks-and-mortar store to selling online, or managing a team across borders using shared documents on the cloud.

RAI CEO Jack Archer said the competition was a great opportunity for regional businesses to get advice from leading innovators and small business experts such as Google.

“The internet is transforming the way regional Australia does business and opening up new windows of opportunity. We want to identify businesses that are proving location is no barrier and help them to achieve even greater success,” Mr Archer said.

John Bell, from competition partner Google Australia, said research suggested that “digitally engaged” small businesses were more likely to be growing.

“We know many regional businesses are doing great things online, so we’ve teamed up with the Regional Australia Institute to identify those Regional Online Heroes,” he said.

Ten finalists will be flown from their nearest regional airport to Sydney for a money-can’t-buy masterclass at Google HQ.

The masterclass will include lessons in online marketing, tips on creating a great office culture, and ideas on how to amplify your messages in the media.

Last year’s inaugural competition brought 10 innovative regional online businesses into the spotlight including winner, Alison Shaw, from Tambo Teddies.

“Regional Online Heroes 2015 was an incredibly valuable experience. We never really expected that a small business in a tiny outback town of only 380 people could win!” Alison said.

Entries close at midnight on Friday, October 28.

Any regional small or medium business that uses the internet to grow is eligible.

Finalists will be announced on Monday, November 14.