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Rising energy prices are certainly topical at the moment and heightened consumer concerns over bills provides a seemingly ideal opportunity for a website that compares prices of the different suppliers.<\/p>\n
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The problem is that it has already been done. The likes of Energy Watch, GoSwitch, SwitchPower, Make It Cheaper and SwitchWise, to name a few, have all sprung up in recent years.<\/p>\n
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Next year\u2019s carbon tax may provide the perfect storm to assist those looking for a cheaper deal, but you will be up against some well-entrenched competition if you feel that price comparison is a basis of a viable start-up.<\/p>\n
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The general recruitment market has long been saturated by generalist firms, prompting many to seek niches in areas such as IT or education.<\/p>\n
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While this has proved fruitful for some, judging by our recent awards submissions, there still appears to be plenty of start-ups willing to wade into the recruitment sector by promising to be something different, but not exactly defining what that difference is.<\/p>\n
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Another thing to bear in mind is competition. Not only do recruitment start-ups have to battle against large competitors with long-held clients, they have to convince smaller-scale employers why they should spend money on an agency when online tools such as Twitter and LinkedIn can provide a quick, and free, solution to vacancies.<\/p>\n
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The demise of email has been predicted for years. It\u2019s easy to see why \u2013 while social media and peer-to-peer sites such as Twitter and Skype have pushed the boundaries of communication, email has plodded along in much the same guise as when it first emerged.<\/p>\n
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Some have attempted to kill or radically modify it \u2013 just look at the disastrous example of Google Wave. An Australian-based entrepreneur, Bart Jellema, is the latest to try to move the email model along<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Improvements to email certainly aren\u2019t impossible, but it\u2019s clear that it\u2019s very hard for any kind of business to get users to kick the habit entirely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Call yourself a social media expert\/guru\/consultant and you risk derision in some quarters. The role has been parodied endlessly as being a pointless and expensive waste of time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n9. Social media consultancies<\/h2>\n