LAUNCHED IN February of this year to coincide with Bank of Ireland’s sponsorship of series two of Dragons’ Den, allaboutbusiness.ie is an online resource designed specifically for entrepreneurs and SMEs. It is a resource that businesses can use for information, updates and advice on matters relevant to them and it provides a forum for interaction and networking between businesses across Ireland.

Above all, this is a community site, developed and designed with the entrepreneur and SME in mind, and ultimately shaped by the needs of this community.

“We are continually building content and resources on the site and actively encourage content sharing and user participation,” says Bank of Ireland’s head of small business Michael Lauhoff. “Our intention is to continue to grow the allaboutbusiness.ie community, facilitating even more peer-to-peer conversations and business mentoring opportunities for SMEs across Ireland.”

The focal point of the site, called The Hub, gathers together written content across six key topics of relevance to SMEs: starting up; sales and marketing; management, money and economy; innovation and technology; and personal skills.

Sourced from a panel of experienced contributors knowledgeable in the fields of accountancy, economics, marketing and branding, social media and technology, these sections are regularly updated with new and relevant content. The short, succinct pieces are intended to inform and advise those who have their fingers on the entrepreneurial pulse. In many cases, the contributors are speaking from first-hand experience relaying how they worked through specific issues or opportunities as entrepreneurs themselves.

“The site is very much collaborative in style,” says Lauhoff. “We continually seek to understand how SMEs feel about the various issues or initiatives discussed throughout The Hub section. The business landscape is constantly changing and so, accordingly, we aim to produce timely articles and advisory pieces that resonate with the SME community.”

The site also offers SMEs the opportunity to have their business profiled and promoted to a wider audience. “This is an invaluable opportunity for any Irish SME”, he adds. “Allaboutbusiness.ie’s Featured Business section profiles a variety of different SMEs, finding out about their business and getting their advice. Every featured business can place their logo and contact details on the site free of charge, making this a promotional opportunity to connect with other featured business.”

The site is more than an online directory, however. This area also focuses on where business ideas come from and what motivates and inspires the entrepreneurs and their plans for the future.

Another important section of the site is the Networking and Events area. This contains an up-to-date calendar of business events across the country with details of speakers.

“We constantly monitor business boards, industry bodies and trade organisations to ensure we cover a wide range of events but equally we rely on the allaboutbusiness.ie community members to send us details about events in their local area so that there is something for everyone right throughout the country.”

Got a business idea? Visit allaboutbusiness.ie/ online_pitch/enter to make your pitch.