Proposed change
If passed, the change will mean that you won’t need to provide a claim to register your dot ie domain name. This means that anybody with a connection to Ireland will be able register any dot ie domain name they want. This is a big change to how dot ie registrations work. The IE Domain Registry currently checks every dot ie domain registration to ensure that the applicant has a valid claim to the domain name and a connection to the island of Ireland. With this policy change it effectively means that any dot ie domain name is available on a first come, first served basis, to anybody with a connection to the island of Ireland.
What’s not changing?
.ie domains will still be:

• Reserved only for people and businesses with a connection to Ireland
  
• As safe as ever
  
• Checked to verify that the people registering them are who they say they are
  
• Checked to ensure that the people registering them have a connection to Ireland
  

More information at https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2cafd21f7358b2f55baec825a/files/325a1f0a-2371-4312-b0c1-7618cd5ac892/Claim_Proposal_Public_Consultation_Flyer_August_2017.pdfgallery.mailchimp.com/2cafd21f7358b2f55baec825a/files/325a1f0a-2371-4312-b0c1-7618cd5ac892/Claim_Proposal_Public_Consultation_Flyer_August_2017.pdf

Irish Times writes: Social media use by Irish businesses crept higher in 2016, outstripping the EU average as 67 per cent of Irish enterprises embraced Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.  ​The EU average currently stands at 45 per cent, with Ireland coming in second in the 28 states behind Malta at 71 per cent. Poland brings up the rear, at 25 per cent.  Read more: ​http://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/irish-firms-embrace-social-media-to-connect-with-customers-1.2912936

Some interesting tips for using social media effectively by small to medium businesses. One tip...keep social media social! - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/social-media-guide-for-smes/

Interesting report on the use of social media by small businesses by B2B ratings and review firm Clutch. The report - Social Media for Small Business - highlights three key reasons why small businesses need social media: its cost effectiveness, growing popularity, and ability to target customers.

Some background information relating to Google’s announcement that HTTPS is a ranking signal and failure to switch could mean your ranking will take a hit.

• Google related article: https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html
• HTTP vs. HTTPS: What's the Difference and Why Should You Care? Entrepreneur. September 15, 2016

A study by Forrester found that one social network absolutely blew the others away when it came to delivering engagement: Instagram. Their study found that top brands’ Instagram posts generated a per-follower engagement rate of 4.21%. That means Instagram delivered these brands 58 times more engagement per follower than Facebook, and 120 times more engagement per follower than Twitter....so get clicking!
Read more: http://blogs.forrester.com/nate_elliott/14-04-29-instagram_is_the_king_of_social_engagement

A good article in the Huffington Post on the importance of style guides whether using print or online platforms:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-standen/brand-style-guide_b_3761743.html

Two interesting articles with helpful tips:

1. How to take better product photos: http://www.weebly.com/inspiration/increase-sales-with-better-product-photos​ _
2. Getting your business card working with your website: http://www.weebly.com/inspiration/get-your-business-card-working-with-your-website

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Useful tips on crafting the perfect online shopper experience.
http://www.hubba.com/10-simple-tips-improving-brand-online-presence

Clodagh M. Read, a classical acupuncturist based in New York has launched her new Website at http://www.clodaghreadacupuncture.com