Small Business

  • Most Topular Stories

  • How To Make The Most Of Your Too-Short Work Break

    Fast Company
    Kevin Purdy
    16 May 2012 | 12:17 pm
    If you’re not the type who can sit on a park bench and contemplate nothing, and the conversation around the Keurig machine bores you, what can you do with 15 minutes that isn’t really work but pays off in productivity?After 90 minutes of meeting, working, thinking, and pushing emails, your glucose is in a bad place. That’s what project management consultant Tony Wong tells his clients. And everyone from NASA to the Berlin Academy of Music have run tests that prove you truly need the equivalent of a smoke break, a shift change, whatever you want to call it. But let’s say you’re…

  • Expand your comfort zone, expand your market

    Escape From Cubicle Nation
    Pamela
    14 May 2012 | 4:04 pm
    Isn’t it wonderful to get to a place in your business or career where you don’t have to work very hard to make a happy, healthy living? Jim Collins calls it the “sweet spot” and Martha Beck calls it “The Promise Land” in her four-square model of change. Before you get to this spot, you long for it. You work hard to make it happen. And then when you reach it, and hang out there for awhile, a funny thing happens: you get itchy to get to a new place. You start to yearn to grow, and to leverage the success you have had to date in new and interesting areas. My…

  • Top Franchise Questions To Ask Current Franchisees: Question 10

    The Franchise King
    The Franchise King®
    3 May 2012 | 2:56 pm
    In my continuing series of The Top 40 Questions To Ask Current And Former Franchisees, I’m giving you detailed information on every important question that you need to ask franchisees of the concepts that you’re interested in. Here’s #10 “Can you describe a typical workday from start to finish?” Let’s go…   Attention would-be franchise owners! Don’t assume. Here’s why; You don’t want to become an ex-franchisee, do you? Let me explain…   A Perfect Example   In a recent article I wrote for Virginia’s Cox…

  • The Winner Of The One Woman One Franchise Contest Is. . .

    The Franchise King
    The Franchise King®
    16 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    Nora Peterson, of Cedaredge, Colorado! Congratulations!    Now, in case you didn’t hear about this franchise contest, here’s the original announcement, including the hashtag that’s being used on Twitter, and information on what Nora just won.   Here’s Nora’s winning entry; “I want to become a franchise owner in order to assist my family with financial security, while bettering the lives of others. In our area there is a need for good paying careers and the franchises that I am looking at are in the human services field and can provide for me, my employees, and our…

  • The Indescribable Anger

    Starting Your Own Business with Successful Entrepreneur Erica Douglass
    Erica Douglass
    14 May 2012 | 6:30 pm
    Today I want to talk about something I haven’t mentioned on this blog. In fact, I rarely mention this in real life, either. But I have a feeling I’m not the only one with this problem–and I think it will do some good to finally speak about it openly. Years ago, I started noticing I was in significant physical pain when I used the computer for more than a few hours at a time. I used to spend 10+ hours a day in front of a computer. Figuring it was probably just time I invested in some better chairs, I bought myself an Aeron chair (and later, a better desk.) Except the pain…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    OPEN Forum Articles

  • Special Feature: A Winning Company Culture

    16 May 2012 | 9:15 am
    From Erik Rhey: Culture affects so many aspects of your business, including profitability, turnover, employee satisfaction and your own happiness. That's why we are tackling the big issue of company culture in our May Special Feature. In Part 1 of this series, our experts show you how to define “company culture” and its impact on your business. Management and culture expert Bruna Martinuzzi explores the four kinds of cultures that exist and tells you how to determine which model fits you. And our Culture Beat columnist, Alexandra Levit, will give you tips on building a strong…

  • Fostering a Strong Company Culture

    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    From Alexandra Levit: Greg Smith, formerly of Goldman Sachs, recently wrote an op-ed in The New York Times about why he was leaving the company. The piece is an eloquent testament to how a strong culture affects organizations. Goldman would probably prefer to block out this PR nightmare, but Smith put it out there: "Culture was always a vital part of Goldman Sachs’s success. It revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. The culture was the secret sauce that made this place great and allowed us to earn our clients’ trust for…

  • What Culture Is Right for Your Business?

    16 May 2012 | 8:45 am
    From Bruna Martinuzzi: “If you do not manage culture," says Edgar Schein, a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, "it manages you. And you may not even be aware of the extent to which this is happening.” Culture has a significant impact on a company's long-term economic well-being: A 2000 study published in the Harvard Business Review found that company culture can account for nearly a third of financial performance. This is too high an impact to ignore. An encrusted culture can sometimes impede a company's adaptability and prevent it from changing course in order to…

  • Chef Thomas Keller on Building a Supply Community

    16 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    From Donna Fenn: There are plenty of entrepreneurs who will tell you that corporate culture informs every facet of how they manage their companies.  But those who walk that walk are rare. And those who extend that philosophy to their suppliers and business partners are even rarer. Count Thomas Keller among them. Keller, the owner of two Michelin three-star restaurants–The French Laundry in Yountville, Calif., and Per Se in New York–knows that the fishermen, foragers, gardeners, and farmers who supply his restaurants with the freshest ingredients are an integral part of the…

  • Chef Keller's Kitchen: A Collaborative Environment

    16 May 2012 | 8:15 am
    From Donna Fenn: Don’t call Thomas Keller a “celebrity chef.” He bristles at the term. “You wouldn’t call Tom Cruise a celebrity actor, would you?” he asks. “I’m just a chef.” Well, not exactly. Chef Keller sits at the helm of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, which includes two Michelin three-star restaurants: The French Laundry, a Napa Valley gem; and Manhattan-based Per Se, where I recently chatted with Keller about his journey as an entrepreneurial chef. “I think I've always been an entrepreneur,” he says. “I have…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Verizon Small Biz Blog articles

  • Honoring Small Biz Moms Everywhere

    Ellen_Yu
    13 May 2012 | 9:13 pm
    This post is by the Verizon Small Business team.   To the many “mompreneurs” who visit our blog, we hope you are still enjoying your weekend.  We mulled around on what to say to honor you and fortunately, one of us stumbled upon a website called Cafemom.  A contributor to the site, Kim Conte, posted three funny poems honoring moms and we thought it’s perfect: some funnies!   To all of the moms out there—and especially those of you who just happen to be small business owners too—we salute your enthusiasm, your drive and how you juggle a family…

  • Weekly Roundup - Know your Competition, Leverage Social Media Reviews and Hire a “Bot”

    jarryd_gonzales
    11 May 2012 | 3:17 pm
    Friday is here. And so are the following articles to help you run your small business better.  

  • Jetsetter? Is your business international? Think of the Global Jetpack!

    Kathy_Johnson
    10 May 2012 | 7:33 am
    Whether you are already traveling globally for business or considering growing your business in new countries, international business travel can be stressful.  The big and little things all add up.  Whether it is obtaining a Visa, meeting planning, airport security and other – yet surely – unexpected events, you need to have the appropriate technology that will keep your business running across many borders.   According to a recent article I found on isnare.com on “The Do’s and Don’ts of International Business Travel”, planning is key to…

  • 3 Ways Small Businesses Can Use Twitter

    Ellen_Yu
    9 May 2012 | 11:02 pm
    This post is from members of Verizon’s small business team.   Whether it’s your friends sharing pictures on Facebook or watching that new viral hit on YouTube, it seems like you can’t go a day without hearing about some sort of social media. As a small business owner, you probably wonder how you can utilize these sites to improve your business. Fortunately, Twitter has become an extremely beneficial tool for small business owners. Businesses like The Coffee Groundz in Houston saw their sales double after three months of strong user engagement on Twitter. Even with all…

  • Weekly Roundup – Partner with Big Brands, How to Raise Prices and 7 Website Tips

    jarryd_gonzales
    4 May 2012 | 2:05 pm
    Happy Friday! So you don’t have to, we found the following articles to help you run your small business better.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Fast Company

  • How To Make The Most Of Your Too-Short Work Break

    Kevin Purdy
    16 May 2012 | 12:17 pm
    If you’re not the type who can sit on a park bench and contemplate nothing, and the conversation around the Keurig machine bores you, what can you do with 15 minutes that isn’t really work but pays off in productivity?After 90 minutes of meeting, working, thinking, and pushing emails, your glucose is in a bad place. That’s what project management consultant Tony Wong tells his clients. And everyone from NASA to the Berlin Academy of Music have run tests that prove you truly need the equivalent of a smoke break, a shift change, whatever you want to call it. But let’s say you’re…

  • 5 Ways Process Is Killing Your Productivity

    Lisa Bodell
    16 May 2012 | 11:51 am
    If your team spends its days asking for permission before executing, taking an hour to complete expense reports or time sheets, attending redundant meetings, or answering irrelevant emails, you’ve got a problem.Processes are supposed to help organizations scale up, improve efficiency for new hires and existing employees, and so on--but they can quickly get out of control. In a study of U.S. and European companies, The Boston Consulting Group found that “over the past fifteen years, the amount of procedures, vertical layers, interface structures, coordination bodies, and decision approvals…

  • Fab.com: Ready, Set, Reset!

    Adam L. Penenberg
    16 May 2012 | 10:34 am
    How Fab.com pivoted from a failed social network for gays to a retailing powerhouse valued at $200 million in less than 6 months. The third in our Pivot series. Bradford Shellhammer and Jason Goldberg realized it just wasn't working. Their gay social network, Fabulis, a mashup of Facebook, Yelp, Trip Advisor, and Foursquare, wasn't exactly failing but it was exhibiting the telltale signs of mediocrity. Like most entrepreneurs, they started out thinking they had a winner when they launched in April 2010, a clear niche they could serve. While there was Grindr and plenty of porn, there was no…

  • Social Ad Spending To Reach $10B Soon, But How Much For Facebook?

    Kit Eaton
    16 May 2012 | 9:32 am
    News updates all day from your Fast Company editors.A new survey from BIA/Kelsey has looked at the trends in advertising on social media and concluded that by 2016 it'll be a market topping $10 billion per annum, mainly as display ads. For context, some $3.8 billion was spent on these ads in 2011, so phenomenal growth is predicted. In the very week Facebook IPOs this sounds like great news, except for different data coming from Wordstream that suggests Facebook's adverts have less reach and are less effective in generating click-throughs than traditional web ads served up by Google. Meanwhile…

  • Will Fab Get Social Shopping Right?

    E.B. Boyd
    16 May 2012 | 9:28 am
    Facebook's Beacon was a bomb. Will this e-commerce site figure out the right way to let friends see what friends are buying?Four and a half years ago, Facebook launched Beacon, a feature that showed users what their friends were buying. The social network thought the idea would be a hit, but it backfired (and quickly folded) after users felt like their privacy was being violated.Today design e-commerce site Fab is launching a similar feature, but it thinks it's actually going to get the idea right. "Beacon was a good idea horribly implemented," CEO Jason Goldberg tells Fast Company.Starting…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Escape From Cubicle Nation

  • Announcing … Fantastic lineup of Spring classes from Power Teaching students

    ssanders
    16 May 2012 | 12:56 pm
    In April, I ran another session of my Power Teaching class. Another extremely smart and enthusiastic group joined in intensive study of effective training design and development, and worked on real, live classes that they are launching this Spring. I love teaching this class for three reasons: It is exceptionally energizing to share my passion for teaching with completely open and eager participants They really worked their hearts out to apply great design to their classes, ensuring a superior learning experience for their students They were extremely generous with each other, sharing ideas…

  • Expand your comfort zone, expand your market

    Pamela
    14 May 2012 | 4:04 pm
    Isn’t it wonderful to get to a place in your business or career where you don’t have to work very hard to make a happy, healthy living? Jim Collins calls it the “sweet spot” and Martha Beck calls it “The Promise Land” in her four-square model of change. Before you get to this spot, you long for it. You work hard to make it happen. And then when you reach it, and hang out there for awhile, a funny thing happens: you get itchy to get to a new place. You start to yearn to grow, and to leverage the success you have had to date in new and interesting areas. My…

  • How blogging changed my life

    Pamela
    27 Apr 2012 | 1:14 pm
    Once upon a time, I was sitting in my home office in Mesa, Arizona with a tiny baby boy in my arms, and a big idea in my head. “What if I could help all those people I met in my years consulting in large corporations who wanted to start a business?” It felt like crazy talk. I imagined disguising myself and going into the cafeterias of Silicon Valley companies and handing out flyers. I had no idea where to begin. Thankfully, through Andrea Lee, I met Suzanne Falter-Barns. Her course about building an online presence had an assignment to start a thing called a blog. I didn’t…

  • Small Town Rules That Can Help Your Business, No Matter the Size

    Pamela
    26 Apr 2012 | 6:04 pm
    Becky McCray and Barry Moltz have just released their new book Small Town Rules: How Big Brands and Small Businesses Can Prosper in a Connected Economy. It is a fascinating resource with genuinely new insights for everyone in business. In my 20-minute interview with Becky McCray, we discuss: Common misconceptions people have about small, local businesses What large corporations can learn about branding from small business The formula for instant social media success (I am only sort of kidding – the way that Becky explained it made so much sense!) Download the podcast here:…

  • Calling on your inner badass to step up to the plate

    Pamela
    24 Apr 2012 | 1:52 pm
    Dine’ (Navajo) Chief Manuelito In the seven years that I have been parenting, I have had a few less than proud moments. Like the potato chip for dinner situation. And the losing the birthday invitation that my 4-year old had been looking forward to all week, resulting in a missed party. And, well, I don’t want to make this too long of a blog post. You get the idea. But sometimes I have what could be construed as a not-so-proud moment with one of my kids that turns into something that is actually quite profound. The potty mouth badass recognizing moment The other day, I was driving…
 
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    VISANOW

  • UK Immigration Rules Revised – Again!

    VISANOW
    10 May 2012 | 10:38 am
    by Dominic Hewitt, Global Immigration Manager Changes to the UK immigration rules have become an annual event. The government has made no secret of its pledge to reduce net immigration figures down to the ‘tens of thousands’ over the next … Continue reading →

  • Economic Growth and Immigration

    VISANOW
    1 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    When I think of the great entrepreneurial center of the United States for the last decade, my mind goes immediately to Silicon Valley.  Essential to growth are new ideas and new companies paving the way forward and teaching us how … Continue reading →

  • USCIS Initiative: “Entrepreneurs in Residence”

    VISANOW
    20 Apr 2012 | 4:36 pm
    Our current immigration laws are specifically tailored to suit the traditional business model. However, with the increasing advancements in technology, the face of a “traditional” business looks much different than it did twenty, even ten years ago. Non-traditional businesses are … Continue reading →

  • H-1B Season at VISANOW!

    VISANOW
    17 Apr 2012 | 10:27 am
    Our April blog would not complete without an update on the H-1B cap for fiscal 2013. The period leading up to the opening of the cap is the busiest time of the year for VISANOW’s legal department, and we know … Continue reading →

  • Did You Know? FY2013 H-1Bs are going fast – apply soon!

    VISANOW
    13 Apr 2012 | 1:27 pm
    Get your new H-1B petitions filed quickly! As many of you may know, the annual cap on the H-1B category of visa opened on April 2, 2012. As of April 9th, 2012, the USCIS reports that petitions for cap-subject H-1Bs … Continue reading →
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Labs

  • Super Temps to the Rescue

    Steve
    16 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    Excellent article in the Harvard Business Review on The Rise of the SuperTemp. According to the article: "Supertemps are top managers and professionals—from lawyers to CFOs to consultants—who’ve been trained at top schools and companies and choose to pursue project-based careers independent of any major firm." The article goes to say: Most supertemps are refugees from big corporations and law and consulting firms who value the autonomy and flexibility of temporary or project-based work and find that the compensation is comparable to what they earned in full-time…

  • Grim Job Market Continues for Young Americans

    Steve
    15 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    Although the overall labor market continues to improve, there isn't a lot of good job news for young Americans.  The Economic Policy Institute's The Class of 2012 lays out how the job situation is for those 25 and younger. The key data is the current unemployment rate for workers under the age of 25 is 16.4%.  A couple of other data points of interest are: For high school grads under 25 the unemployment rate is 31% For college grads under 25 the unemployment rate is 9.4% Useful data for parents trying to show the value of a college education to their kids.  But even…

  • Cleveland's Startup Accelerator Program

    Steve
    14 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    Shaker LaunchHouse is a 23,000 square foot startup accelerator located in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland. They are sponsoring a 12 week residential accelerator program that will provide $25,000 in funding, classes on entrepreneurship, mentoring and networking for 10 startup teams.  The program begins on September 3rd and is held at LaunchHouse (bring your long johns, winter starts early in Cleveland). You need to apply by July 1st.   Their press release provides the following program description: The LaunchHouse Accelerator program aims to help entrepreneurs take their…

  • Offices Going to the Dogs

    Steve
    11 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    For the 2nd week in a row, we have story on dogs.  Workforce's Pet Projects (registration required) covers the growing trend of employers letting employees bring pets to work, especially dogs.   The article says pets in the office reduce stress and increase employee loyalty.   As proof, the article cites a study showing that "pets in the workplace reduce stress, absenteeism and turnover and improve morale." In addition to allowing pets in their offices, companies are starting to offer pet benefits. Examples from the article include:  - Home…

  • Is the Venture Capital Industry Broken?

    Steve
    9 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    According to the Kauffman Foundation, the VC industry is very broken. Their report "We Have Met the Enemy ... And He Is Us" is a damning analysis of Venture Capital as an asset class and the Venture Capital industry in general. The news here isn't that the VC industry is broken.  This has been actively discussed for years.   The news is who's saying it's broken.   The Kauffman Foundation has long been a close friend of the VC industry.  In addition to investing many millions of dollars with VCs, Kauffman's mission of supporting…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Planning Startup Stories

  • Some Suggestions for Family Business

    Tim Berry
    15 May 2012 | 10:49 am
    I’ve done business with my wife, daughter, son-in-law, and various mixtures of those. Of course the classic advice on this is not to mix business with family.  But people do. I read somewhere that 62 percent of the gross national product of the Western world is produced by family businesses.  Furthermore, I don’t believe (much) in general rules or best practices.  But here are some suggestions that might help you manage the mix between family and business relationships. Beware of the crossover. The cause of most family business problems is the crossover between different…

  • Is Venture Capital Gone Forever

    Tim Berry
    14 May 2012 | 10:35 am
    I completely agree with Steve King of Small Business Labs, in Is the Venture Capital Industry Broken? He says: The news here isn’t that the VC industry is broken. This has been actively discussed for years. The news is who’s saying it’s broken. Which is, in the flap this month, the Kauffman Foundation. The Kauffman Foundation has long been a close friend of the VC industry.  In addition to investing many millions of dollars with VCs, Kauffman’s mission of supporting entrepreneurs and high growth companies has resulted in them closely collaborating with the VC…

  • 3 Essential Truths About Startups and Investment

    Tim Berry
    11 May 2012 | 10:45 am
    Today I’m answering, with this post, a lot of similar questions I get often in email, where somebody is asking me how to get connected to or hooked up with or recommended properly for angel investment. Here are some unpleasant and unpopular facts about startups and investment. Only friends and family believe in you and invest in you because you’re you. And that’s if your friends and family do believe in you; that’s not true for everybody. Outside investors, in sharp contrast to friends and family, either believe in your business prospects, your market, and your team, or they…

  • The Mac vs. Windows Rivalry is Dead. Apple Won.

    Tim Berry
    10 May 2012 | 10:32 am
    Whoops. It suddenly occurred to me: the old Mac-Windows rivalry is dead. There goes a bit of industry history.  It used to be fun, back in the old days, when it mattered. If you’re old enough you’ll remember the famous 1984 Macintosh ad. I was generally forgiven by the Mac zealots for my weakness for Windows, but only because I also used Macs and recognized their superiority. My Mac friends treated my sympathy for Windows systems as a forgivable flaw in my character.  I used to tell this modified version of an old joke:  Somebody dies and goes to heaven. On arrival, St. Peter…

  • Will Success Spoil Ted.com?

    Tim Berry
    9 May 2012 | 10:50 am
    I’ve watched dozens of TED talks online and never seen a bad one. TED stands for Technology, Education, and Design. It started in 1984. Since 1990 it was located in a conference center outside of Monterrey CA. Since 2001 it’s been curated mainly by Chris Anderson. Most TED conferences were amazing. I’ve never been, but what I’ve seen is a collection of excellent presentations about compelling ideas and information delivered by the best and the brightest in the world. If you’ve been reading this blog you’ve seen TED talks off and on. Since I first…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Inc.com

  • 6 Tips to Boost Your Web Presence

    Jeff Haden
    16 May 2012 | 12:45 pm
    If these tactics worked for LanceArmstrong.com, they can work for your business.If you built your website a few years ago it's time for an update, if for no other reason than the fact that usage patterns have changed dramatically: The number of mobile Internet users is expected to surpass the number of desktop users in the next two to three years.That means your website is unlikely to be as effective a marketing tool as it once was, especially if your site doesn't automatically resize and rearrange content for all possible devices. (Go ahead: Check out a few sites on your mobile phone. Find…

  • Facebook Predictions: 6 Things to Know Now

    Michael Mothner
    16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Back in early 2011, I predicted Facebook's $100 billion valuation. Here's what I think is coming next.In January 2011, I wrote what was at the time an outlandish prediction: that Facebook Will Be the Next $100 Billion Company. While I was right about the outcome, I was wrong about was how it would get there; it turned out to be pure user growth—riding investor enthusiasm and pent-up Wall Street demand.Trouble is, that's not a good recipe for Facebook out of the gates of its IPO; I expect rough waters ahead.Here are my predictions for Facebook after this week's IPO, as a public…

  • Creativity for Entrepreneurs: 4 Tips

    Kimberly Weisul
    16 May 2012 | 10:53 am
    We spoke to Jonah Lehrer, author of the bestselling Imagine: How Creativity Works, to learn how entrepreneurs can be more innovative.For some entrepreneurs, a great “aha” moment is the spark that leads to the formation of their company. But just one ‘aha’ isn’t going to do it. Once you’re up and running, you may need new products, a better way to deal with your hotheaded marketing chief, or a knotty production issue you can’t seem to solve. So how do you get more everyday creativity into your company – and enhance the odds that when you need a…

  • Leaders: Are You Trustworthy?

    Brian Evje
    16 May 2012 | 9:50 am
    It's not fair to expect others to trust you if you can't trust yourself. But how do you know if you're trustworthy? It's more complicated than it might seem.You can’t expect others to trust you if you can’t trust yourself. Your first reaction to that statement may be, “Of course I can trust myself.” But it’s a bit more complicated than that. We can take a cue from a saying that connects philosophy, track and field, and leadership: “The run determines the jump.”Think about the long jump. Poor speed and technique in the run inevitably lead to a poor…

  • Facebook IPO Got You Eyeing Entrepreneurship?

    Michael Alter
    16 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    Some guidelines to help you decide if this is the time to jumpstart your new venture.Facebook's IPO will likely spawn a new generation of entrepreneurs. A number of Facebook alums have already invested in their own start-ups, but there are millions more young people who will now look to create the next big thing.It's an exciting time to be a young entrepreneur, given how easy technology can make running a business. But first you have to ask yourself: Do I have what it takes? Do I really want to start a business? Is now the right time? Is it too risky?No one can tell you the answer. There's no…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Copyblogger

  • What Does it Take to Write a Billion-Dollar Marketing Story?

    Amy Harrison
    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    In 1984, two artists used a simple process to create a story that captivated an audience for years and generated billions of dollars in revenue. That same process is being used today by a master copywriter to attract hundreds of thousands of paying subscribers. With companies creating millions of web pages of content marketing, finding an untold story or a new angle can feel like an impossible task. Especially when you want to avoid creating a story so unique nobody understands it … or wants to pay for it. So how do you create a story that cuts through the noise and strikes at the heart…

  • How to be a World-Changing Writer

    Pace Smith and Sonia Simone
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    As a copywriter, you know that words have power. You know words can influence, inform, and inspire. They can persuade your fellow humans to do some amazing things (or to do the wrong things, but we won’t go there today). What you may not realize is that your words can change the world. Here’s something else that’s really cool that you might not have realized … The keys to world-changing writing are also the keys to damn good copywriting. But as you know, good writing doesn’t happen all by itself. So let’s talk about what it takes to be damned good ……

  • WordPress Hosting That Means Business

    Brian Clark
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Did you know Copyblogger Media has a WordPress hosting division? Many people don’t, because it’s been a bit under-the-radar. The whole thing started with our frustration with web hosting in general. Specifically, the fact that a lot of “WordPress hosting” amounts to generic one-click installation of the CMS on a standardly-configured box — which simply doesn’t cut it for optimal performance and security. So, last year we decided to manage our high-traffic network of content and product sites ourselves. We did this by bringing into the family a team of people who themselves…

  • The Truth About Making Money While You Sleep

    Jonathan Morrow
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Want to hear about the day in the life of a so-called “successful entrepreneur?” Yesterday, I stayed in bed until about 2 PM. I watched the last few episodes of Mad Men. Around sunset, I took a leisurely stroll down the beach. When I got back, I hung out with a friend for a couple of hours, ate dinner, and went to bed. In other words … I goofed off. And while I was goofing off, my business generated a pretty decent chunk of revenue. You want to know the coolest part? I did absolutely nothing to “earn” it. I didn’t check my email. I didn’t talk to…

  • 7 Instructive Content Marketing Links

    Robert Bruce
    12 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    This week on The Lede … Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams Nightmares? An Email Marketing Autoresponder Schedule that Sells 3 Quick Tips To Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking Does Your Domain Say “Trust Me?” Why “Freemium” Fails for Startups: 3 Business Lessons from the Band New Order 5 Basic SEO Truths We Can Learn from Star Wars Peter Shankman on the Value of an Audience If you want to grab more useful links (than the seven we highlight here) every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter. Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    crowdSPRING Blog

  • Small Business Pinterest Starter Guide

    Ross
    16 May 2012 | 9:46 am
    Are you wondering how you can leverage Pinterest for your small business? Pinterest is currently one of the hotest websites. For some businesses, Pinterest is delivering more user trafic than Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn combined. For those of you who haven’t heard of Pinterest, here’s a brief summary: Pinterest is a free social sharing site launched in 2009. Pinterest invites people to “pin” images and videos from all over the web, to pinboards directly on Pinterest. You can, for example, pin images of your favorite wedding dresses if you’re preparing for a…

  • Small Business Spotlight of the Week: AppMonsta

    Amanda
    16 May 2012 | 12:05 am
    I was recently blessed with an iPhone and have fallen into the world of apps.  Lord knows all of us here at the cS offices love our apps.  Just last week Ross insisted all of us download SayHi Translate and speak to him in Swedish.  This is a true story, I encourage all of you to tweet at him for the details. This week, my app honoree is AppMonsta.  If you and/or your company are in the process of developing a mobile app, look no further than this company.  AppMonsta is truly a one stop shop when it comes to brainstorming, researching, and developing.  Businesses are able to identify…

  • Dear Mentee

    Mike
    15 May 2012 | 12:05 am
    Hi. I’m Mike. Yesterday Amanda posted an article in which she talked about the experience of professional life for a young person just starting out in her career. Well, as of tomorrow Amanda has been working at crowdSPRING for one year (note to self: get cake for Amanda); for the first few months she was an unpaid marketing and PR intern but was ultimately promoted to the position of underpaid marketing and PR intern. She and I have worked closely together during this time and have gotten to know one another well, developing an appreciation for the other’s sense of humor and…

  • Dear Mentor

    Amanda
    14 May 2012 | 12:05 am
    Hi.  I’m Amanda. I know you’ve seen me in and out of these parts for a little over a year now, but here’s a formal introduction: I’m 22-years-old and I just graduated from college.  I’ve been fortunate to have three internships during my undergrad years.  My tenure at crowdSPRING has included working on PR, marketing, and mastering our co-founder Mike’s filing system.   This is the first of two blog posts reflecting on the mentor-mentee relationship and how both sides can gain insight and experience success.   Dear Mentor, First of all, thank you so much for…

  • Twitter Link Roundup #130 – Small Business, Social Media, Design, Copywriting, Marketing And More

    Ross
    11 May 2012 | 9:52 am
    Every day on the crowdSPRING Twitter account and on my own Twitter account, I post links to posts or videos I enjoyed reading or viewing. These posts and videos are about logo design, web design, startups, entrepreneurship, small business, leadership, social media, marketing, and more! Here are some of the links that I’ve liked and shared this past week! The image above is an ad created by TBWA for Moustaches Make A Difference – a campaign to raise support for prostate cancer research. More interesting ads in the Social Media and Marketing section below. Growing Your Small Business…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Franchise King

  • The Winner Of The One Woman One Franchise Contest Is. . .

    The Franchise King®
    16 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    Nora Peterson, of Cedaredge, Colorado! Congratulations!    Now, in case you didn’t hear about this franchise contest, here’s the original announcement, including the hashtag that’s being used on Twitter, and information on what Nora just won.   Here’s Nora’s winning entry; “I want to become a franchise owner in order to assist my family with financial security, while bettering the lives of others. In our area there is a need for good paying careers and the franchises that I am looking at are in the human services field and can provide for me, my employees, and our…

  • How McDonald’s is McScrewing Their Franchise Up

    The Franchise King®
    12 May 2012 | 10:56 pm
    Do you remember when you could drive up to your nearest McDonald’s franchise, order your food, and get in and out in less than 5 minutes? I do; it was last century… Something that used to be really important at McDonald’s all of a sudden isn’t; convenience. A Warning  If the suits at corporate headquarters don’t get it together, and soon, their customer base will start spending their money elsewhere. From what I’ve seen first-hand, elsewhere is Burger King.  I’ll explain… From Fast Food To Slow Food I consider the McDonald’s franchise…

  • Could You Make it As A Franchise Owner In Australia?

    The Franchise King®
    10 May 2012 | 7:14 am
    First off, why would you even want to become a franchise owner in Australia? Why not just do it here in the US? We could use the business. Just think of all the people in your local community that you would impact? C’mon; please? (Courtesy of Arianne’s photostream-Flickr.) Just think; you could be in business fast. Other Advantages If you have what it takes to become a franchisee in the US, you have a real shot at achieving your dreams. (Or, at least some of them.) There are several great things about franchise business ownership, and if you’ve been following along here…

  • How Food Franchises Can Make More Money

    The Franchise King®
    7 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    If you’re the CEO of a food franchise, and you’d like to increase unit revenue, read on… I know that you want your franchisees to be fat and happy. (With profits)  I also know that your cost of doing business keeps increasing, which is really frustrating. But, you’re the leader, and you’re in charge of solutions. Use Geofencing   What is Geofencing?   It may be the answer you’ve been looking for. It’s tied to a huge trend; the increasing use of mobile devices for everyday activities. Like eating.  I’ll explain… Let’s say…

  • Top Franchise Questions To Ask Current Franchisees: Question 10

    The Franchise King®
    3 May 2012 | 2:56 pm
    In my continuing series of The Top 40 Questions To Ask Current And Former Franchisees, I’m giving you detailed information on every important question that you need to ask franchisees of the concepts that you’re interested in. Here’s #10 “Can you describe a typical workday from start to finish?” Let’s go…   Attention would-be franchise owners! Don’t assume. Here’s why; You don’t want to become an ex-franchisee, do you? Let me explain…   A Perfect Example   In a recent article I wrote for Virginia’s Cox…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    800 CEO Read

  • Jack Covert Selects – The Good Food Revolution

    800-CEO-READ
    10 May 2012 | 5:49 pm
    Tweet The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities by Will Allen, Gotham Books, 272 pages, $26.00, Hardcover, May 2012, ISBN 9781592407101 For an average-sized book, there is a lot within this one. From the title, one might expect sociological research on trends in organic food, or an analysis of a health food business and how they became successful. While it certainly has traces of those things, it is so much more. This book is by and about a man named Will Allen, who grew up around farming, played professional basketball, managed a chain of restaurants, was an…

  • Jack Covert Selects – The Reinventors

    800-CEO-READ
    10 May 2012 | 5:43 pm
    Tweet The Reinventors: How Extraordinary Companies Pursue Radical Continuous Change by Jason Jennings, Portfolio, 256page, $26.95, May 2012, ISBN 9781591844235 The once vital Main Streets of America are all but out of business, boarded up or filled with antique stores shopping the delights and detritus of another era. Jason Jennings visits the main street of his own abandoned hometown at the beginning of The Reinventors to use it as a metaphor for “what will happen to you, your job, and your business unless you become a reinventor completely committed to constant radical change and…

  • Jack Covert Selects – How Will You Measure Your Life?

    800-CEO-READ
    10 May 2012 | 5:38 pm
    Tweet How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen, James Allworth & Karen Dillon, Harper Business, 240 pages, $25.99, Hardcover, May 2012, ISBN 9780062102416 Clayton Christensen is a business theorist who, in 1997, wrote the renowned Innovator’s Dilemma which introduced the idea that most well-established companies are overtaken not by behemoth competitors but by “disruptive” innovations that rise up and cut down giants in part because the giants were oblivious to the threat, and/or unable to invest in new emerging technologies. Christensen is also a dedicated professor…

  • LeaveSmarter: Stephen Shapiro

    Jon
    10 May 2012 | 4:09 pm
    TweetYesterday, Stephen Shapiro was in town for our private LeaveSmarter event, sponsored by BMO Harris/M&I Bank and Whyte Hirschboek Dudek. His talked focused on ideas from his recent book, and 800-CEO-READ Business Book Award winner for 2011, Best Practices Are Stupid: 40 Ways to Out-Innovate the Competition. According to Shapiro, the main problems we have with being innovative, is how we think about things, the kind of questions we ask, and what we already know about the challenges we face. Here’s a clip from his talk that gives examples of this:   Following this, Shapiro…

  • ChangeThis: Issue 94

    dylan
    9 May 2012 | 4:43 pm
    Tweet Unleashing the Creative Reservoir: The Rise of the Creative Class, Revisited by Richard Florida “A new social compact—a Creative Compact—can turn our Creative Economy into a just and Creative Society, in which prosperity is widely shared. While driven and shaped by economic logic, the key institutions and initiatives of the future will be shaped, as they always have, by human agency.” Build This: Your Culturematic Laboratory by Grant McCracken “Ruled by pragmatism and play, your laboratory is fast becoming the place you come to look out into the future. This the bridge from…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Technology

  • The Phenomenon of Email Overload: What You Can Do to Control The Damage

    Miguel Leiva-Gomez
    16 May 2012 | 1:00 pm
    Email was a wonderful invention, perhaps more so in the 1990s than it is today. Today, even the average Joe finds himself troubled by having to respond to emails. The average business owner is hit the hardest, though, with an average of 112 emails sent and received per day. If you’re one of those people that keeps getting flooded by emails, aside from the occasional spam, you’re in for a tough awakening, starting with one question: How many hours per day do you spend actually reading and replying to emails you receive? If you take the time to think about it, the number can be…

  • 5 Things Windows 8 Consumer Preview Already Says About Its Benefits

    Miguel Leiva-Gomez
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    OK, so Microsoft recently released a consumer preview to its new operating system – Windows 8. While this doesn’t depict what we’re expecting to see in the Enterprise Edition, we’re sure that the business version of the OS will have at least most of the features and capabilities that the Enterprise Edition has. Assuming that all this is correct, it would mean that you probably wouldn’t have to use Enterprise for a small business environment. Usually, most businesses can get along just fine with Windows 7 Professional today. This brings forth an important…

  • What We’ve Learned from Small Businesses: Insight From NY Times Writers

    Carolyn Crummey
    15 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    The 7th Annual Small Business Summit (http://www.smallbiztechsummit.com) may be over but the insight and wisdom is still here!  Check out all of our videos on the Summit video page at http://www.smallbiztechsummit.com/2012_videos.php . In the session, ‘What We’ve Learned from Small Business’, the Summit was given insight to highlights of best practices and challenges as seen by NY Times writers covering small business. Speakers of this session included:   Loren Feldman, New York  Times       Gene Marks, Marks Group and NY Times Writer     A big…

  • How Does Having Your Own Cloud-Based Phone System Sound?

    Miguel Leiva-Gomez
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    If you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete all of the work you have to do, you’re not alone. One of the biggest problems the majority of business owners have is managing their time while playing multiple separate roles. In recent years, Cloud technology has become more accessible to SMBs, but not quite as much at the level that it should be. There are companies that are trying to change this, and as they do, the amount of time juggling you have to do goes down significantly. According to eVoice, a company that provides Cloud-based mobile business phone…

  • Listening to Customers and Hiring Smarter: A Lesson in Success

    Carolyn Crummey
    14 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    The 7th Annual Small Business Summit (http://www.smallbiztechsummit.com) may be over but the insight and wisdom is still here!  Check out all of our videos on the Summit video page at http://www.smallbiztechsummit.com/2012_videos.php . In the session, ‘Listening to Customers and Hiring Smarter:  A Lesson in Success’, the Summit learned some great secrets from a successful entrepreneur…one of which is humility! Speakers of this session included:   Scott Hintz, TripIt     A big thanks to Dell for being a major sponsor of the Summit.  For more information on how…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business News, Tips, Advice - Small Business Trends

  • Does Flextime Benefit You More Than Your Employees?

    Rieva Lesonsky
    16 May 2012 | 1:30 pm
    Are you resisting offering employees at your small business flexible working hours because you think it’ll give them an excuse to slack off? Well, some new research should convince you otherwise. It seems flextime may actually be less flexible than a regular schedule. The 2012 National Study of Employers, released by the Families and Work Institute (FWI) andthe Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), found that U.S. employers are offering employees more options for managing when and where they work. The tradeoff for the employees, however, is that employers offering more flexibility…

  • Navigating the Recruiting Maze

    Raj Sheth
    16 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    For a lot of hiring managers and small business leaders, hiring remains the most crucial pain point. If you magically get the right people, stuff just gets executed. However, we never make the perfect hiring decisions all the time. Sometimes we are in a hurry to fill the role, and the options available seem more attractive than the list of skills and qualities we carefully created. Of course, every manager has a different outlook – some of us “hire fast, learn fast and fail fast,” whereas some of us passively look at many resumes and only make an addition to the team when it feels…

  • New Bulk Listing Management Tool From Google Places

    Lisa Barone
    16 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Businesses with multiple locations should be breathing a heavy sigh of relief now that Google has introduced a new and improved bulk listing management tool designed to make the whole process easier and faster for business owners. Google revealed several new changes last week which have been implemented to help SMBs and enable the follow actions: Edit one or more of your listings’ data at once Search through your listings, filtering by specific information or for listings with errors Upload new listings using a data file or by adding them individually within the interface Tell us how we can…

  • All Eyes Are on Facebook With Multibillion-Dollar IPO

    Small Business News
    16 May 2012 | 4:30 am
    Facebook is a big deal these days, not just because of its multibillion IPO, but also because of the impact the social networking giant has on the 900 million who use its tools. Some of those are small business owners who depend upon FaceBook to provide services they cannot do without. That’s why today all eyes are on Facebook. Facebook in the News Facebook raises its IPO range to meet demand. The price range on the social network’s public offering rises from $34 to $38 per share, targeting a valuation exceeding $100 billion. As big as it has become, Facebook started from humble…

  • Judgment Marketplace: Turning Uncollected Judgments Into Cash

    Anita Campbell
    15 May 2012 | 10:23 pm
    Has your business ever gotten a judgment in a court, only to find it was worthless because you didn’t have the time or the know-how to collect it? Judgment Marketplace aims to solve that problem for you. JudgmentMarketplace.com is a website for selling and buying judgments. Small business owners, corporations and consumers who have won a court judgment against another party can list the judgment for sale. Collection agencies and law firms that specialize in skip tracing debtors and collecting on judgments, can negotiate to buy your judgment or, just like on eBay, can “buy it…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Seth's Blog

  • Digital analogs are no longer sufficient

    Seth Godin
    16 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    The parking meter was rebooting. I guess we're supposed to walk to the other end of the garage and find one that's working. We're seeing digital awareness coming to just about everything. In this case, it was the parking meter near the library. Of course, it's not really a parking meter, it's a centralized fee collection system that saves the town a lot of money. It's easier to collect from, certainly, it doesn't waste the time of meter readers (who get alerted as to what spaces aren't paid for, as opposed to checking them all) plus it doesn't let a new parker enjoy a few minutes of the last…

  • Hard work on the right things

    Seth Godin
    15 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    I don't think winners beat the competition because they work harder. And it's not even clear that they win because they have more creativity. The secret, I think, is in understanding what matters. It's not obvious, and it changes. It changes by culture, by buyer, by product and even by the day of the week. But those that manage to capture the imagination, make sales and grow are doing it by perfecting the things that matter and ignoring the rest. Both parts are difficult, particularly when you are surrounded by people who insist on fretting about and working on the stuff that makes no…

  • Worldliness

    Seth Godin
    14 May 2012 | 4:41 am
    Intelligence is the combination of knowing a lot about a little while you also know a little about a lot. Deep domain understanding helps you create analyses. Your ability to understand how a particular system (no matter how small) works allows you apply a confident analysis to new systems you encounter. Once you know everything there is to know about nuclear physics, soccer or the praying mantis, it makes it easier to understand new systems. At the same time, it's impossible to be smart without also being aware of the wider world. That's because it's the random interactions and the…

  • The reason the customer is always right...

    Seth Godin
    14 May 2012 | 4:08 am
    If you insist that they are wrong, they stop being your customer* (if given half a chance). People spend their time and attention and money in places that make them feel valued. *There's nothing wrong with asking customers who are wrong to leave. Just be sure you do it on purpose.

  • Dedicating the merit

    Seth Godin
    13 May 2012 | 4:02 am
    For an author, one of the nicest parts of the traditional book is the dedication page. The dedication is far more than an acknowledgement to someone who helped you write the book, it's a permanent signpost, a capstone to the work of a year or more. Even if the person you've dedicated the book to can't read it, the writer benefits from the knowledge that a connection was made and that a memory was preserved. Here's the thing: you can dedicate just about anything. A project, a meeting, a tweet. You don't have to tell anyone but yourself. This blog post, like all the posts before it, has a…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Bill Taylor on HarvardBusiness.org

  • Your Company's "Obituary" Can Shape Its Future

    Bill Taylor
    15 May 2012 | 1:26 pm
    If you've spent any amount of time in executive retreats or leadership off-sites, you've probably been asked to participate in a familiar evaluation of your career and impact. "Take twenty minutes," a facilitator will say, "and write your professional obituary. What legacy did you leave? What contribution did you make? What might colleagues remember about you?" At one level, it's a strange (and slightly morbid) exercise. At another level, it serves a worthwhile purpose — encouraging leaders to see themselves the way their colleagues see them, to evaluate their long-term impact from the…

  • To Win Big, It Helps to Be a Little "Nuts"

    Bill Taylor
    18 Apr 2012 | 1:33 pm
    Here's a simple question for all you students of business success and stock-market returns: What has been the best-performing stock in the United States since the "Black Monday" crash of 1987? If you said Apple or Microsoft or Walmart or Berkshire Hathaway, you'd get credit for a reasonable answer. But you'd be wrong. The best-performing stock in the United States over the last 25 years is a company that most of you, I'd be willing to guess, have never heard of — a company called Fastenal, based in the quiet town of Winona, Minnesota (population: 28,000), located on the banks of the…

  • It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Believe

    Bill Taylor
    4 Apr 2012 | 8:14 am
    Adam Lashinsky's new book Inside Apple offers lots of intriguing material about Steve Jobs and the strategic choices, design principles, and business tactics that created the most valuable company on earth. But for all of Lashinsky's behind-the-scenes material about Apple's legendary leader, it was a public story about Apple's new leader, CEO Tim Cook, that captured my attention — and offered a powerful insight for leaders everywhere looking to create value in their organizations. The story goes back to January 21, 2009, during Cook's inaugural conference call with investors after Jobs…

  • On Valentine's Day, an Ode to Leadership and Love

    Bill Taylor
    14 Feb 2012 | 8:18 am
    Here it is Valentine's Day, nine days after my beloved New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI, and there are two things about the game I still can't shake. One is my general sense of euphoria, especially since I made the case in a pretty high-profile forum for why "Eli Manning Is a Better Leader than Tom Brady." That was two days before Super Bowl Sunday — phew! The second thing that sticks with me is the speech that Tom Coughlin, the gruff disciplinarian who coaches the Giants, made the night before the game. It was an unapologetically emotional…

  • Are You Learning as Fast as the World Is Changing?

    Bill Taylor
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 am
    Tom Kelly, general manager of IDEO, the world-renowned design firm, likes to quote French novelist Marcel Proust, who famously said, "The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes." What goes for novelists goes for leaders searching to craft a novel strategy for their company, a new product for their customers, or a better way to organize their employees. In a world that never stops changing, great leaders never stop learning. Today, the challenge for leaders at every level is no longer just to out-hustle, out-muscle, and out-maneuver the competition.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Scott Anthony

  • The Secrets to Clay Christensen's Success

    Scott Anthony
    15 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    This week marks the release of Clayton Christensen's highly-anticipated book, How Will You Measure Your Life (with co-authors James Allworth and Karen Dillon). The book expands on Christensen's McKinsey-award-winning HBR article, drawing life lessons from the models that form the basis of his business-oriented writing. I first heard the germs of those ideas in late 2000. At the time I was one of Christensen's students at HBS. Like all professors, Christensen used his final class lecture to share broader observations and reflections. The speech resonated with me, so while serving as his lead…

  • In Praise of Irrational Innovators

    Scott Anthony
    4 May 2012 | 10:42 am
    I love my three young children immensely. So it's hard for me to be fully rational about them. Of course they are the smartest, the best looking, and the most athletic. I'm not alone — all parents are irrational. We lose sleep worrying about things we can't control and take pride in ridiculously small achievements we had nothing to do with. A similar type of irrationality affects innovators. Talk to an entrepreneur or a scientist about the idea they are working on — it's just like talking to a parent of young children. They feel unduly proud when their team does something without…

  • Go Innovate on the Periphery

    Scott Anthony
    26 Apr 2012 | 9:43 am
    One of the challenges facing market leaders is that transformational trends are only obvious when it's too late. Typically, transformation starts in seemingly disconnected industries, or as innocent offerings targeting completely different customer segments. To spot these trends early, companies need to heed the advice of Wharton Professor George Day and long-time thought leader (and current Innosight Board member) Richard Foster by heading to the periphery. First, start with peripheral customers. MIT Professor Eric von Hippel has long advocated spending time with what he calls lead users.

  • The Four Worst Innovation Assassins

    Scott Anthony
    18 Apr 2012 | 11:08 am
    Is there a corporate leader who doesn't extol the virtues of innovation these days? Yet if innovation is so important, why do so many companies have so much trouble with it? The reflexive response is that it is a human capital problem — that is, that most people just don't have what it takes to successfully innovate. I reject that view. Academic research in fact shows that almost anyone can become a competent innovator (with sufficient practice). I've seen countless examples of ordinary individuals displaying the creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance of the world's great innovators.

  • The Dangers of the Minimal Viable Product

    Scott Anthony
    9 Apr 2012 | 12:33 pm
    A movement originating from the United States' West Coast has sought to transform the creation of new businesses from an art to a science. The intellectual leader of the movement is Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur who now teaches at Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley. One of Blank's disciples, Eric Ries, turned his wildly popular Startup Lessons Learned blog into The Lean Startup, one of 2011's best business books. I'm a huge fan of this work and suggest that all innovators study the movement closely. One area that deserves particular attention is the notion of the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    cool global BIZ

  • Mexican Writer Carlos Fuentes Dies at 83: "If You Do Not Name, No One Will Name"

    Edward Iwata
    16 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    ROLE MODELS IN literature and journalism were scarce for me when I was growing up. Even through my 20s, as a young reporter out of college, few writers who reflected my reality were published widely in U.S. mainstream fiction and non-fiction. At first I read John Cheever and John Updike, as far from the 'hood in L.A. as I was from soirees in the Hamptons. Homeboy, Run. Then I read global writers based in other countries for inspiration. Strong, bold voices such as Salman Rushdie, Yukio Mishima, the late James Baldwin. One of those writers, Carlos Fuentes, the renowned Mexican novelist and…

  • Need More Media & Business Role Models Like "The Voice" Winner Jermaine Paul

    Edward Iwata
    9 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    Singer Jermaine Paul wins "The Voice" reality show competition. Winner announced at 6:00 minutes. Video courtesy of NBC. HEY, SOMETIMES THE good guys win. Jermaine Paul, a former backup singer for Alicia Keys, was chosen by America as winner of NBC's "The Voice "on Tuesday night. The man goes for broke, taking his last shot as a solo artist in the big time. He played the grace card, looking to the heavens after each song, but he did it humbly. It didn't hurt that Paul's pretty wife looked like a preacher's wife, and his cute kids looked like preacher's kids. I'm sure many of the show's 15…

  • Bellissimo! Christina Aguilera and Chris Mann Belt Out "The Prayer" on NBC's "The Voice"

    Edward Iwata
    8 May 2012 | 5:00 pm
    Christina Aguilera and Chris Mann perform "The Prayer" on NBC's "The Voice." Video courtesy of NBC, on YouTube. AMAZING PERFORMANCE OF "The Prayer" by Christina Aguilera and Chris Mann on NBC's "The Voice" Monday night. One striking note rarely heard on non-PBS, primetime TV: half of the moving lyrics (by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster) were in Italian. I feared that the song might be sung all in English, given the way that networks water down everything for the masses. More, please. More genre-bending, culture-clashing, Gaga-busting, Glee-defying, Yo-Yo Ma-ing, cross-pollination. Even…

  • Chinese Visual Artist Bo Wang Looks at Cultural Clash of Tradition, Modernity

    Edward Iwata
    8 May 2012 | 2:01 pm
    INTERESTING PIECE IN the Asia Society blog on Bo Wang, a Chinese visual artist with a photography project ("Heteroscapes") on his hometown of Chongqing, China. The megacity illustrates the clash of traditional culture and Western-style modernity, writes Dan Washburn of the Asia Society. Wang has called the 2,000-year-old city of 31 million "a battlefield of transition," and the same clash likely is surfacing in every transcultural city in the world's emerging economies. The question of the 21st century will be the question of the culture line. (If you Google Bo Wang and Heteroscapes under an…

  • Go Grandma, Go Grandma: 56-Year-Old Tries Out for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

    Edward Iwata
    8 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    "Texas Granny a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?" Fitness instructor Sharon Simmons auditions for the world-famous cheerleading squad. News video courtesy of ABC News. OY, THE BIGGEST trending news on Yahoo! is not on world politics or global business, but on a 56-year-old grandma auditioning to be a Dallas Cowboys football cheerleader. Sharon Simmons, a fitness instructor in better shape than 99% of 20-year-olds, has auditioned for the world-famous cheerleading squad, and I'll bet she makes it. The global publicity and positive message for the Cowboys and the beleaguered National Football League…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing

  • 5 Reasons Why Landing Pages Are a Must

    John Jantsch
    16 May 2012 | 7:25 am
    Online marketers have used the term “landing page” for many years to describe a sales tactic focused on getting people to take one, specific action. Today, landing pages have simply become a required element in the marketing toolbox for every imaginable business, including local brick and mortar types. Example of a personalized lead capture landing page A landing page is just the page people land on because an ad or email directed them to that specific page as opposed to your site’s homepage. Effective landing pages make it very clear what a visitor is going to get from a page and how…

  • 13 Questions That Will Lead You To Your Perfect Marketing Strategy

    John Jantsch
    15 May 2012 | 7:54 am
    Plenty of startups try to determine the perfect business model to take to market only to find that the market doesn’t need, want or understand what they are presenting. The fact is most books or courses on business models take this into consideration by suggesting trial and error scenarios and market hypothesizes prior to launch. Any business model, or plan for that matter, is little more than a guess and I believe that your best chance for getting that guess right is to build your business model based on a marketing strategy. This assumes the role a fully developed marketing strategy…

  • 5 Non Spammy Ways To Get a Blogger’s Attention

    John Jantsch
    14 May 2012 | 7:28 am
    Everyone, from PR firms to individuals with a product to sell, pitches bloggers these days. Getting coverage or exposure for your business by way of a number of highly read blogs should be a foundational element of your PR approach. So, I thought I would share of few of my thoughts on the most effective ways to get a blogger’s attention and stand out in a way that gives your pitch a far better chance of garnering coverage. Sadly, it would much easier to write a post on what not to do, but I like to stay on the positive side here. Whether your goal is to land a guest post, get a review of…

  • Weekend Favs May Twelve

    John Jantsch
    12 May 2012 | 7:39 am
    My weekend blog post routine includes posting links to a handful of tools or great content I ran across during the week. I don’t go into depth about the finds, but encourage you check them out if they sound interesting. The photo in the post is a favorite for the week from Flickr or one that I took out there on the road. New Duct Tape Marketing t-shirt design via Hugh MacLeod Gapingvoid Good stuff I found this week: Ming.ly – A personal relationship manager that aggregates your contacts from Gmail, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter into a searchable merged address book that allows…

  • Engaging Your Macro Metric As a True Measure of Success

    John Jantsch
    11 May 2012 | 7:59 am
    Business owners and marketers are told to measure and quantify everything. The problem is this practice alone can lead to false assumptions and a fixation on things that simply don’t matter that much. lollipolluza via FlickrAre website visits, Facebook Likes, newsletter signups or even revenue the true measure of success for your business? Perhaps, but how so? When we simply create a list of what we might call key performance indicators without the proper focus with which to weight them, it all simply becomes an exercise in collecting. It’s a lot like having a bunch of puzzle pieces…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Andy Sernovitz | Damn, I Wish I\'d Thought of That!

  • A name with a bug, part 2

    Andy Sernovitz
    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Last week we had an amazing conference called the Word of Mouth Crash Course. It was a fantastic day, the third in a series. But it wasn’t as big as we expected, and we discovered a critical reason why: We changed the name of the event — it used to be called Word of Mouth Supergenius — without any testing. Here’s what happened — people thought that it was an online course instead of a live conference. The word course implied online training to many people. We also failed to use certain trigger words that indicate that something is a live event: Summit, Expo,…

  • A name with a bug, part 1

    Andy Sernovitz
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    We were going to launch a site called WordofMouthMarketing.org. During the few months we were planning it, everyone kept saying WordofMouth.org — they kept dropping the word marketing. Even employees and contractors who were working on the project. That was a problem. If our own team couldn’t get the name right, how would our customers find the site? So we killed the project until we could get ownership of WordofMouth.org. It was incredibly lucky that we caught the problem before we launched. We would have sent all of our confused customers to someone else’s site. Lesson:…

  • Give them an experience they’ll never stop talking about — and a reminder to re-start the talk

    Andy Sernovitz
    14 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    The Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, TX invites school and scout groups to spend the night camping in the zoo. It’s an amazing behind-the-scenes experience. More that just the camping, which is remarkable, you also get to feed a giraffe, pet a rhino, and hold a giant cockroach. Just as important: Every kid gets a free shirt with the Zoo Snooze logo on it. And everyone other kid in school finds out about the Zoo every time the shirt is worn. (And because it was a Cub Scout trip, dozens of kids in the same grade all have the shirt.) Lesson: Don’t just think about the experience. Think…

  • What’s the simplest thing you can do to create a remarkable experience?

    Andy Sernovitz
    13 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Subway gave us a kids meal in this nice reusable bag. We talked about it, we told people, we kept it, and we tell more people when our daughter carries it around. Probably cost them 30 cents — which is about 10 cents more than a throw-away box. But the conversations it starts are priceless word of mouth advertising moments.

  • 35 ways to improve sales

    Andy Sernovitz
    12 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Classic advice from e-commerce master Sam Decker, now CEO of Mass Relevance, originally published in 2004 and still relevant: Can I find that item I’m looking for? Tune your internal search engine to match top search terms to product pages. Put top sellers on home page. People buy on impulse or recommendation. Match the landing page to the marketing campaign. Use vanity urls for offline advertising. Test your categories, naming and navigation with customers. They’re less intuitive than you think. Can I find something that interests me? Put top sellers on home page. Add related items to a…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Get Smart Blog

  • Facebook Offers a Sweet Deal Sucker Punch

    Bridget Ayers
    9 May 2012 | 9:36 pm
    Facebook recently launched their newest deal portal, Facebook Offer, and as usual they are letting Facebook users and businesses frustratingly work out the kinks for them. Please don’t get me wrong, I think it is great that Facebook is allowing businesses to share “Offers” on Facebook  and it is smart for Facebook to try and get some of that LivingSocal/Groupon pie, but as usual they have given no warning to the users and no direction to the businesses. The results – pure pandemonium. In a recent post from The Next Web about a little Irish hotel, Roe Park Resort,…

  • Merge, Rename, and Clean Up Facebook Pages

    Bridget Ayers
    6 Mar 2012 | 10:18 pm
    Facebook Timeline for Facebook Business Pages is fast approaching, in this shift we will see lots of changes: Large cover image (850 x 315px) with no sales or promotional material Small thumbnail profile image No more sidebar No more landing tabs – instead we will have the option to showcase two tabs with icons (111 x 74px) under the cover image Larger custom tabs at  810px wide Fans can message admins and admins can message back (you cannot message a fan if they did not message first) Pin a post to the top of the page Feature a post – star it and make it larger so it stands…

  • Holiday Tech Stocking Stuffers

    hannasmolan
    19 Dec 2011 | 12:48 pm
    For the gadget lovers on your shopping list, here are some of the newest tech products… just in time for the holidays! The Grid It Organizer stores all of your cords, chargers, thumb drives, and storage devices. Easy to pack & unpack, and helps to keep track of everything you bring with you on trips. Fits easily into your suitcase on your way out the door! The Beverage Warmer ensures that your coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or cappuccino stays hot for you to enjoy at your own pace. This device works like a heated coaster & doesn’t require any special glass or mug. Perfect for…

  • #OCCUPYSOCIALMEDIA Anywhere, Anytime!

    Nate Anton
    31 Oct 2011 | 12:48 am
    The Occupy movement has taken both social media and activism to a new level. Social media can be utilized differently by various users, but always has the potential to be a tool of great power. An occupation traditionally involves activists coming together to occupy a specific, symbolic site. However, in our current technological state, anyone can be an activist anywhere at anytime. There’s a social media network applicable to everyone today. There are major networks such as Facebook and Twitter, but there are also numerous specialized networks for music lovers, bakers, photographers,…

  • 4 Basic Steps to Starting a Global Revolution

    Nate Anton
    20 Oct 2011 | 7:56 pm
    Protesting and activism have been apparent throughout the world for centuries, but we are now entering an era of new possibilities with the advancement of technology and social media. Causing a global uprising isn’t easy by any means, but with the proper tools and vision, anything is possible. While only four steps may appear insane for an entire global movement, it’s the idea and structure behind each step that will ultimately lead to change. 1. Establish a Cause Establishing a cause for a global revolution is the first and most important action. To spread and grow across the world, you…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Uncover the missing formula in your web design and marketing | exceler8 the web

  • LocalNa8ion is moving Home to Exceler8.com

    julian@localna8ion.com (Julian Seery Gude)
    3 May 2012 | 6:47 pm
    We’re moving LocalNa8ion.com back home to our mother ship at exceler8.com in the next 48 hours. You’ll be able to view all of our LocalNa8ion.com content at exceler8.com. We plan on continuing and expanding our local Internet marketing services and web design business – just under our original exceler8 shingle. exceler8.com will feature our consolidated content from LocalNa8ion.com and Exceler8ion.com We’re getting back to routine publishing. We need one voice to do that with as busy as we are. Not three. Expect to see a range of written and video content ranging from…

  • exceler8ion.com moving home to exceler8

    julian@localna8ion.com (Julian Seery Gude)
    3 May 2012 | 1:24 pm
    All our original content on exceler8ion.com is moving to exceler8.com (don’t bother going there now, nothing to see yet). You’ll still be able to read any exceler8ion post by selecting it as a category on the new site (once exceler8.com is setup in a couple of days). Thanks for the learning, the sharing and the great memories! First Overall Post Shannon Seery Gude December 16, 2005 Title “Google Base, Optimized Job Postings and the Candidate Experience” Julian Seery Gude’s First Post: December 16, 2005 Title: “The MySpace Generation |…

  • How to find traffic-generating topics to blog about for your small business

    julian@localna8ion.com (Julian Seery Gude)
    22 Mar 2012 | 8:16 am
    Two great ideas from a blogging master on how you can write compelling blog posts that generate traffic Two great tips to generate popular blog posts straight from the lips of a blogging master. Like you I run a small business. We share several things in common. no extra time almost all our actions must be tied directly back to revenue goals we’re probably the ones responsible for writing our own blog posts and posting social media updates Here are two great ideas from Chris Brogan that I heard on CopyBlogger’s podcast called Internet Marketing for Smart People: Chris…

  • iPad 2 – Get One For Recognizing a Recruiter – Ends Monday

    julian@localna8ion.com (Julian Seery Gude)
    10 Sep 2011 | 10:58 am
    Headline: Submit a nomination to RecruitingAwards.com and you earn a chance to win an iPad 2. And you make the person you nominated feel great. How’s that for a worthwhile weekend chore? In the spirit of actually rewarding the act of recognition, The inaugural Recruiting Awards from TalentHQ.com is giving you a chance to nominate a recruiter or Talent Managent Pro and be entered in a drawing to win the illustrious iPad 2. You can even nominate an entire recruiting team or organization. You don’t have to dance or sell your soul. But feel free to do either, especially dancing.

  • DigMyData Business Dashboard Beta (freebie today)

    julian@localna8ion.com (Julian Seery Gude)
    6 Sep 2011 | 6:23 pm
    Note: The beta is free until the end of 2011 if you sign up today September 6, 2011.  Are you interested in the stories people tell? How about the stories data tell?  You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘lies, damned lies and statistics!’ and a chief reason for that is that it’s easy to miss the real story behind the numbers. While truth in statistics for politics aren’t likely to improve, the same can’t be said for Business Intelligence Dashboards. Business intelligence (in business speak “B.I.”) may well be two of the most important keywords…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    ChangeThis Newsletter

  • 94.01

    changethis@gmail.com (ChangeThis)
    10 May 2012 | 11:21 am
    Unleashing the Creative Reservoir: The Rise of the Creative Class, Revisited by Richard Florida “A new social compact—a Creative Compact—can turn our Creative Economy into a just and Creative Society, in which prosperity is widely shared. While driven and shaped by economic logic, the key institutions and initiatives of the future will be shaped, as they always have, by human agency.”

  • 94.02

    changethis@gmail.com (ChangeThis)
    10 May 2012 | 11:18 am
    Build This: Your Culturematic Laboratory by Grant McCracken “Ruled by pragmatism and play, your laboratory is fast becoming the place you come to look out into the future. This the bridge from which you can look at your possible outcomes, examine your range of options, think about how to think the future.”

  • 94.03

    changethis@gmail.com (ChangeThis)
    10 May 2012 | 11:09 am
    The Shattering: How We Get From Where We Are to What and Who We Need to Be—A Non-Illustrated Guide to Becoming Honest by Erika Napoletano “The Shattering is the moment where everything familiar slips away. Our protective facades of familiarity spontaneously combust and we shun faith, deny comfort. We’re left voiceless regardless of our need to scream. We tread water in an ocean filled with every brilliant memory of what was only moments ago.”

  • 94.04

    changethis@gmail.com (ChangeThis)
    10 May 2012 | 11:05 am
    Let’s Make Leadership Real Again by Mike Figliuolo “What has happened to leadership? With all the crises and challenges we face and the increasingly risk-averse environment in which we operate, leadership has become generic, ephemeral, and bland. We have devolved from leaders into managers. Admiral Grace Murray Hopper said it best—you manage things, but you lead people. The problem is we’re no longer leading.”

  • 94.05

    changethis@gmail.com (ChangeThis)
    10 May 2012 | 11:03 am
    The Face-to-Face Manifesto: Back to the Future by Ed Keller & Brad Fay “The fact is that online social networking is no substitute for the power and impact of face-to-face communications. Real world conversations—most of which take place face-to-face—are still the dominant mode of communication, and they are the most trusted and persuasive.”
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Opportunities Weblog

  • Smallest Robot Hopes To Join Indian Army

    Angela Shupe
    16 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    A young man in India has created a robot that’s already made its way into record books. How he hopes to enlist it in the army, reports Bangalore Mirror. Shirur, who completed his engineering from Basaveshwara Engineering College, Bagalkot, has developed a 61mm x 54mm x 51mm robot that is so tiny that it’s bound to go unnoticed by enemies. It is meant for surveillance and destruction of the enemy through remote control. Shirur, who was at Sahyadri College of Engineering to participate in Srishti 2012, a state-level project exhibition and competition, told Bangalore Mirror: “Cameras…

  • The Man Who Created Nachos

    Angela Shupe
    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    The Huffington Post: During World War II, wives of American military officers who lived at the Eagle Pass. Texas. base would often venture over the Rio Grande River to the nearby Mexican town of Piedras Negras. On one of these excursions, a group of women stopped at the Victory Club, a popular restaurant, for a bite to eat. And while happy to receive business, the maitre d’ who greeted the women, Ignacio Anaya, found himself in a bit of a predicament: He couldn’t locate the cook. Not wanting to turn away the patrons, he put on his chef’s hat. He looked around the kitchen and threw…

  • Presenting Like Steve Jobs

    Angela Shupe
    16 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    If you need a lesson on presenting, there is no better man to emulate than Steve Jobs. Entrepreneur has pulled together a list of his qualities you should consider. 1. Know the one critical point in your presentation — then make it clear. 2. Acknowledge why people are listening to you. 3. Make an immediate, personal connection. 4. Keep the audience focused on you the speaker, not your presentation. 5. Know your story. Photo by segagman

  • How They Almost Deleted Toy Story 2

    Dane Carlson
    15 May 2012 | 5:20 pm
    Ever forgot to back something up? If so, you’ll appreciate this video from Pixar, about how they almost erased Toy Story 2. I use Dropbox for my backups. What do you recommend?

  • Smarter Parking Meters

    Dane Carlson
    15 May 2012 | 5:16 pm
    Photo by Ian Sane. The Atlantic Cities: “This week, the on-street parking meters in Santa Monica, California, have evolved to the next state of sentient existence. Now, whenever a car leaves a spot, the meter will reset itself, even if there’s still time left on the meter. The tiny, measured-in-minutes lottery prize of the urban driver is no more.”
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Donna Maria's Indie Business Blog

  • Video: Second Test of Indie Business LiveCast

    Donna Maria
    16 May 2012 | 11:50 am
    Today, we recorded our second test of Indie Business LiveCast. Our show today is sponsored by Maggie Ghanam and her Team at Formulator Sample Shop. I invite you to watch now, and again, you will see a quick commercial first. This will not happen when we launch the real show, but since we were testing …. Watch now! I am learning so much as we go, and as always, I want to share what I learn with you in case you want to follow my model and create a show of your own. Here are a few things I have learned so far: - Lydia’s picture looks better and the audio is less delayed when she uses…

  • Video: First Test of Indie Business LiveCast

    Donna Maria
    14 May 2012 | 2:29 pm
    Today, we recorded our first test of Indie Business LiveCast. We’ve had fun in the past with live video (here and here), and now, we’re making plans to launch a weekly LiveCast to showcase IBN member successes and keep you informed of the latest news for handmade business owners. We’ll have some fun too, as you can see from our test broadcast today. I invite you to watch now, and note, you will see a quick commercial first. This will not happen when we launch the real show, but since we were testing …. Watch now! As you can see, it’s a little choppy for the first…

  • Joyful Bath Co. and Shea Radiance: Whole Foods Market Local Producers

    Donna Maria
    14 May 2012 | 12:33 pm
    Check out the lovely Indies! Rochel Roland of Joyful Bath Co. (left) and Funlayo Alabi of Shea Radiance joined forces Saturday at Whole Foods Market in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Funlayo and Rochel are part of Whole Foods’s Local Producer program which supports local products and the people who supply them. Says Funlayo: I had a great time talking to customers. My goal is to expose my brand to as many customers as possible and be a strong regional brand in the DC metro area. There is so much I could share, but one thing among many that I learned early from IBN was to have a strong brand…

  • My First #Etsy Treasury

    Donna Maria
    12 May 2012 | 3:35 pm
    Today, I curated my first Etsy Treasury. This was a fun Saturday morning project. Have a look: Here are sellers featured in my first Treasury, starting upper left: Chocolat Tea Shea Butter Soap. Erin Pikor, Naiad Soap Arts, California. Buy. Orange Cranberry Soap. Jamie Sabot, Batty’s Bath, Canada. Buy. On The Go Gift Set. Valerie Rice, Piper Tate, California. Buy. Gluten Free Facial Cleanser. Kelly Green, Anatomy Naturals, Pennsylvania. Buy. Coconut Oil. Sarah Zahn, Sugared Beauty, Pennsylvania. Buy. Amber Gold Teardrop Crystal Earrings. Charlene Sevier Jewelry, Virginia. Buy. Olive Oil…

  • 14 Information Products For Handmade Entrepreneurs

    Donna Maria
    8 May 2012 | 10:11 pm
    One of the best things about owning a business of your own is that there is no limit to what you can do or how much money you can make. Once you reach a certain level of success in a core area, you can increase your income by offering different types of products that complement your core. Handmade entrepreneurs have a distinct advantage in this area. Selling the products you make organically paves the way for you to offer all kinds of information products. As you grow (whatever “grow” means to you) your handmade business, you will eventually become an expert at two things: making…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Signal vs. Noise

  • We're hiring: Help us significantly improve conversion and retention

    Jason F.
    14 May 2012 | 12:18 pm
    We’re looking for another teammate. This time we’re looking for someone who is completely focused on improving conversion and retention. You love moving the needle, one small step at a time. This job is all about seeing untapped potential. Conversion could be financial (get more people to start a trial or complete it – what we consider a “sale”), or outcome-based (inspire people to create more Basecamp projects by showing them creative ways to use Basecamp they never thought of before). Or something else. Retention could be reducing cancellations, or reducing…

  • Taking the Pain Out of MySQL Schema Changes

    John
    14 May 2012 | 8:53 am
    A common obstacle we face when releasing new features is making production schema changes in MySQL. Many new features require additional columns or indexes. Running an “ALTER TABLE” in MySQL to add the needed columns and indexes locks the table, hanging the application. We need a better solution. Option 1: Schema Change in Downtime This is the simplest option. Put the application into downtime and perform the schema change. It requires us to have the application down for the duration of the “ALTER TABLE”. We’ve successfully used this option for smaller tables…

  • Basecamp in Antarctica

    Shaun
    10 May 2012 | 9:39 am
    We have customers around the world doing extraordinary things with our software, but Ben Saunders is taking it to a whole new level. Ben and his team are using Basecamp to organize an expedition to the South Pole and back, unsupported and on foot. This is the same journey Captain Robert Scott died trying to achieve 100 years ago, and no one has attempted it since. Ben has been a professional polar explorer for more than 10 years and is one of only three people to complete a solo journey to the North Pole. He will be joined by Alastair Humphreys, who has cycled 46,000 miles around the world,…

  • Sortfolio: Going once, going twice...

    Jason F.
    7 May 2012 | 5:19 pm
    A year ago we put Sortfolio up for sale. We entertained a variety of offers, met with a few potential suitors in person, and negotiated numbers. Ultimately nothing came together. Then we shelved the process so we could focus all of our efforts on designing and building the new Basecamp. Sortfolio continued to run itself for another year, generating over $200,000 in profit for us during that time. Our paying customer count continues to hover consistently in the 170s, each paying $99/month to be listed as a premium member. The price We’ve put Sortfolio on the clock: We either sell it by…

  • VIDEO: Keynote by David from RailsConf 2012 on progress…

    David
    1 May 2012 | 2:05 pm
    Keynote by David from RailsConf 2012 on progress, curiosity, fear, and the danger of easy-bake ovens.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Biz Survival

  • A local lending partnership you can copy

    Becky McCray
    16 May 2012 | 11:40 am
    A local credit union partnered with community organizations to facilitate loans for small businesses with needs not met through traditional lending. Leslie Ackerman of Alternatives Federal Credit Union is using this model and presented on it at the BALLE Business Conference. The community organization brings the mission and raises the money. The local investors and community contribute the capital. The local lending institution manages the lending program. The funds are deposited as a loan loss (collateral on the loans). The community organization sets the lending policies. The local people…

  • Building a local business alliance

    Becky McCray
    16 May 2012 | 10:46 am
    BALLE is the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. It’s all about local businesses working together to make their local economy prosper, with a focus on locally-owned businesses, sustainability, green jobs, and thinking local first. There is a national organization, and local networks have formed in many cities, towns and regions. I'm reporting today from the BALLE Business Conference. A local BALLE network is different from the local chamber of commerce. The chamber must support all local business development. A local business network can focus on local ownership and sustainable…

  • Why you should start varnishing your customers

    Becky McCray
    14 May 2012 | 9:09 pm
    Have you ever varnished something, the old-fashioned way, with a brush? Did you try hurrying the job by slathering on a thick coat? It makes a sticky mess, and doesn't make for a good finish. Instead, the pros do lots of thin layers, maybe dozens. And the results are much better, shiny and smooth. First coat of varnish, photo (CC) by Dawn Peterson. So, think of selling like varnishing. You get better results with lots of thin layers instead of one thick coat. In selling, layering is the process of giving info in small chunks. Rather than overwhelm a prospect with the whole story and every…

  • a from the field Brag Basket

    Becky McCray
    11 May 2012 | 9:44 am
    I'm in the field today, so let's do brag basket without the explanations. What's the good news from your field this week? New here? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Subscribe.

  • Chris Brogan, Joe Sorge and I have a Kitchen Table Talk (VIDEO)

    Becky McCray
    9 May 2012 | 11:39 am
    Yesterday, I sat down with Chris Brogan and Joe Sorge for their series on small business, Kitchen Table Talks. We talk about my many businesses, SOBCon, Small Town Rules, failures, and customer complaints. If you don't see the video, click through to the page on Kitchen Table Talks. There is no proof that Chris and I were headbanging to the out music. No proof at all. (Joe Sorge is disqualified from headbanging for having a shaved head.) New here? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Subscribe.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Superinnovator

  • Leader Speak -- Advocacy vs Inquiry

    Bill Burnett
    9 May 2012 | 7:38 am
    In my previous blog I talked about replacing statements that start with “I think...” with questions that start with “How do we...”.  In his new book “Advantage” Patrick Lencioni refers to Chris Argyris, a Harvard Professor, who distinguishes between Advocacy and Inquiry as the two critical ways that members of effective teams must communicate. Advocacy is about stating your case, and usually begins with “I think...”.  Inquiry happens when people ask question to seek clarity.  Unfortunately the examples in the book around Inquiry are examples of poorly…

  • Leader Speak: "I think..." / "How do we..."

    Bill Burnett
    7 May 2012 | 11:50 am
    In my previous blog I talked about roadblock statements managers make in failing at their role as leader in an enterprise.  What leaders say, and how they listen determines the level of engagement, problem solving, innovation, and joy that others enjoy in the enterprise.  Here is a very specific example of what not to say, and what to say. When the boss opens his or her mouth, do you know what the two most counterproductive words are?  They’re “I think.”  By starting your statement with “I think...”, you immediately tell your subordinates what they should be…

  • Leader Speak: Ignore the Roadblocks

    Bill Burnett
    5 May 2012 | 6:12 am
    I recently read Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs.  In Chapter 41 President Obama visits Silicon Valley and meets with a group of several CEOs including Jobs.  A supporter of Obama, Steve Jobs found himself dismayed that President Obama kept explaining to him why things can't get done. Robert Sutton at Stanford express similar dismay in a blog about ‘No We Can’t’  mindsets: “I sometimes believe that the core competence of GM managers and executives is explaining why they are powerless to make sensible changes...  And, unfortunately, when people believe…

  • 1 May 2012 | 8:02 pm

    Bill Burnett
    1 May 2012 | 8:02 pm
    In a meeting someone raved about Simon Sinek’s Ted Video “Start with Why...”.  This is what Simon discovered “People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”  He uses Apple as an example.   Hence, according to Sinek the reason I own a MAC is because “Apple believes in challenging the status quo. Apple believes in thinking differently.”   This was news to me. Actually, Sinek’s assertion is nonsense.  The only ‘Why’ that matters here, is my ‘why’ for buying the MAC, and it has nothing to do with ‘challenging the status quo’,(I’m…

  • Dealing with Procrastination in Business

    Bill Burnett
    14 Mar 2012 | 10:29 pm
    We have a client who will have their annual internal review meeting next week and we have every expectation that the delivery rate on their quarterly deliverables will be about 60%.  60% is a failing grade and disappointing for all. All of our clients work on 90 delivery cycles.  Within the 90 day cycle are two kinds of deliverables.  The first kind consists of weekly deliverables which include items on the weekly scorecard and items on the list of to-dos that emerge from resolving issues.  The second kind of deliverable is the quarterly deliverable.  The quarterly…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Marketing Practice

  • Marketing Funda : Indian Ingredient Brands

    Harish B
    13 May 2012 | 2:23 pm
    Marketing Guru Kevin Lane Keller defines Ingredient Branding as a special case of co-branding which involves creating brand equity for materials component or parts that are necessarily contained in other branded products. Prof. John Quelch  of Harvard defines ingredient branding as putting the brand of an ingredient out of the product to increase its appeal. Ingredient branding concept started as a co-branding where the brand owners of ingredient and product brands are different. In my opinion, the strategy has evolved where firms have started branding their own ingredients in order…

  • Brand Update : Does Limca Really Needs Kareena ?

    Harish B
    7 May 2012 | 12:48 pm
    The summer of 2012 belongs to lemon based beverages. Marketers are all out to woo consumers through high decibel promotions for lemon based beverage brands. These brands ( once neglected) started to be considered as high growth brands. In BCG metrics terms,Question Marks suddenly became Stars ! The reason is the late realization that Indians have a soft-corner for lemon flavor which was long neglected by maverick marketers who wanted the Cola to rule the market.Now lemon flavored segment is growing at 17-20% annually compared to single digit growth for the Cola brands.The new Star of the…

  • Chaze Mobiles : Ye Hui na Baat

    Harish B
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:24 pm
    Brand : ChazeCompany : Chaze MobilesBrand Analysis Count : 510Some marketers will do anything to get their brand eyeballs. Chaze Mobile, which is yet to launch their products recently got  million dollar worth exposure in most of the media through one celebrity endorsement announcement. The brand  roped in the " upcoming " bollywood actress Sunny Leone as the brand ambassador.huh !

  • Out of Action

    Harish B
    25 Apr 2012 | 12:04 pm
    Dear Readers,I had a severe relapse of Inter vertebral disc  prolapse and was out of action for last two weeks. I am on the recovery path and will be back soon.LoveHarish

  • Herbs & Berries : Branding Ayurveda

    Harish B
    3 Apr 2012 | 2:08 am
    Brand : Herbs & BerriesCompany : Hindustan Lifecare LtdBrand Analysis Count : # 509Herbs & Berries is Hindustan Lifecare Ltd ( makers of Moods Condoms) foray into the Ayurvedic OTC market in India. Indian OTC market is huge worth around Rs 15,000 crore ( including both ayurvedic and allopathic drugs). Ayurvedic OTC products are growing at around 15-20% per annum. But the market is highly  competitive. Since the regulatory framework for herbal and ayurvedic products are less stringent compared to modern medicine, there is a huge rush of local players into this segment. A…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Blogs

  • 86 Common Sense Marketing Ideas for Startups

    Wendy Kenney
    11 May 2012 | 8:10 pm
    When starting a business, marketing is (or should be) the business owner’s biggest priority. Yet many startups have no clue about marketing.  With that in mind,  I thought who better to learn what works in marketing than from those who have gone before? I reached out to established business owners across all industries to see what marketing ideas would come up.  I got so  many incredible tips; I decided to use them all! Of course they may or may not all apply to your business, but there are some great ideas and some common themes.  Add yours to the list in the comments! 86 common…

  • Conference Survival Tactics

    Rachel Blaufeld
    9 May 2012 | 10:16 am
    I just returned home from a few days away at a conference.  As always, getting back in the groove is difficult when returning from being away whether for pleasure or business.  That is not what I am going to write about though.  Rather, I am going to address the leaving for a trip instead. When I first started my business, every conference that I attended dropped me into an environment of all new people because business was a brand new field for me.  Getting on a plane or in a car to attend a conference near or far with several hundred people that I never met before has made me a bit of a…

  • Spring into SEO Action!

    Melanie Rembrandt
    8 May 2012 | 6:24 pm
    Spring is here, and it’s time to take action before the “slow days of summer” arrive (when you’d rather be outside than behind your desk). With this in mind, what actions are you going to take right away to make things happen with your PR and search engine optimization (SEO) activities? Here are 3 ideas to help you get going: 1.    Send out a press release optimized for the search engines. Make sure it provides valuable information to your customers and the media. 2.    Write an original article or blog and see if a media venue would like to post the content. If not, post it on…

  • Want a “Happiness Problem”?

    Melanie Rembrandt
    2 May 2012 | 9:23 am
    Your phone rings off the hook. Your Inbox is flooded with requests. Your schedule is packed. When you can’t take on any more clients and you can set whatever fees you want because you are booked solid with work, this is called a “happiness problem.” And while it can be wonderful to have all this new work and money rolling in, it can also be a problem in that you now need to deal with an overload of business accordingly to keep customers happy and the referrals coming in to grow your business. Now, most of you are probably dreaming about this scenario. You would love to have a…

  • 5 Reasons You Should Not Write a Blog

    Melanie Rembrandt
    25 Apr 2012 | 2:08 pm
    As a small business owner, you’ve heard all about the benefits of having a blog for search engine optimization (SEO) and getting noticed online. But just because everyone else has a blog doesn’t necessarily mean you should write one too. Here are… The Top 5 Reasons You Should Not Write a Blog. 1.  You are a horrible writer. If you are a terrible writer and hate to write, please do not write a blog. Not only will you provide a bad impression, but most people will not even read your entries because they are so badly written. 2.  You have nothing to say. What are you going to write…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Mobile Marketing Watch

  • Was The iPhone a Smart Move for Sprint?

    Michael
    16 May 2012 | 12:57 pm
    As the most recent major U.S. carrier to get the iPhone on its network, one would expect the globe’s most popular smartphone to instantly make a splash – and some big bucks – for the third largest mobile operator in the United States. But given the huge subsidy Apple charges its carrier partners for access to the device, it can take some time for the iPhone to bring in the green. A long time. In fact, just this week, All Things D published comments from Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, who says it could take another three years for the iPhone to become profitable for his company.

  • Zumobi Creating Mobile Buzz in Partnership with Starbucks

    Michael
    16 May 2012 | 12:02 pm
    With coffee in one hand and a mobile device in the other, this is how millions of Americans start their day every day. And that’s exactly why Zumobi has partnered with java giant Starbucks for a more sophisticated mobile endeavor. Zumobi today announced an extension to its partnership with Ology Inc., a social discovery and networking company, launching the site’s first app for Android devices. And Starbucks is coming along for the ride. Through a partnership with Starbucks, Ology has released their new app on the Zumobi Brand Integration (ZBi) platform. Now users can skim through…

  • Mobile Marketing Association Touts Launch of MMA Mexico

    Michael
    16 May 2012 | 11:38 am
    With Latin America becoming an even more important part of the mobile landscape with each passing year, today the Mobile Marketing Association announced the launch of MMA Mexico. This is the newest of the 20 local MMA Councils that have been rolled out worldwide. The organization says that MMA Mexico was created in direct response to the palpable need for industry support and guidance to create mobile success in Mexico. “With the opening of operations in Mexico, we are following through on our 2012 plan to build councils throughout the region, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and…

  • Nielsen Says Smartphone App Possession Is Up 28% in 2012

    Michael
    16 May 2012 | 11:27 am
    On Wednesday, venerable market research firm Nielsen reported on the state of smartphone app ownership in the United States. And the findings are particularly telling when it comes to how much smartphone owners love their myriad, must-have apps. “Roughly a year ago when we summarized the state of smartphones at the Appnation conference,” reads the Nielsen Blog, “less than 40 percent of mobile subscribers in the U.S. had smartphones. Today, one in two mobile subscribers has a smartphone and that figure is moving steadily upwards.” Without question, the mobile app has…

  • Just How Effective is Mobile Marketing?

    Justin
    16 May 2012 | 10:36 am
    The following is a guest post from Jason Wells, CEO at ContactPoint. Mobile marketing produces more results more quickly than any other marketing channel in the history of the world. I think mobile marketing is the most effective marketing channel ever (and it is not even close). Here’s why: 1. Speedy Conversions -  A stunning 70% of all mobile searches result in action within one hour (Source: Borrell Association, 2011) By way of comparison, 70% of online searches lead to action within one month. This statistic alone surprised me. Think, for a moment, about the implications of this…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Branding Strategy Insider

  • Measuring Advertising Effectiveness

    Derrick Daye, The Blake Project
    14 May 2012 | 11:10 pm
    Show me the Money! This memorable line from the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire might just as well be coming from today’s CEO’s and CFO’s: a growing and vocal demand for accountability from the Marketing function. Big Data Coming – For Better or Worse Everywhere you go these days, you hear about “big data:” the coming golden age where all problems will be solved by crunching massive amounts of data from the web and every other imaginable source. You would think that the CMO’s ability to, indeed, show them the money, would never be better. But according to a recent IBM study, “From…

  • Brand Marketers Must Create Wow Moments

    Derrick Daye, The Blake Project
    13 May 2012 | 11:10 pm
    The brain remembers the emotional components of an experience better than any other aspect. —John Medina When Steve Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, the world didn’t just lose one of its great visionaries, but it also lost an astonishing corporate storyteller. His presentations, “Steve-notes” as they were fondly called, had all the elements of a Broadway production, including a cast, drama, heroes, villains, and props. Most brand marketers use presentations to deliver information, often dryly. Steve Jobs gave presentations that informed, educated, and entertained. The most…

  • Brand Marketing's New Currency

    Derrick Daye, The Blake Project
    12 May 2012 | 11:10 pm
    In the late 1980s and early 1990s, neuroscientists at the University of Parma discovered mirror neurons in our premotor cortex that fire when we perform an action and also when we observe others performing the same action. For example, the neurons that fire when we grasp a cup also fire when we see others grasp a cup. By mirroring the activities of others in this way, mirror neurons endow us with a built-in leaning toward empathy, social interaction and altruism. We don’t always behave well in social settings, but because we are predisposed to social engagement, the rocketing rise of social…

  • Brand Strategy: Repositioning Commodities

    Jack Trout
    10 May 2012 | 11:10 pm
    Even producers in the commodity world of meats and produce have found ways to reposition themselves and thus create a unique selling proposition. Their successful strategies can be summed up in five ways. 1. Identify. Ordinary bananas became better bananas when a small Chiquita label was added to the fruit. Dole did the same for pineapple with the Dole label, as did the lettuce people by putting each head into a clear Foxy lettuce package. Of course, you then have to communicate why people should look for these labels. 2. Personify. The Green Giant character became the difference in a…

  • Brand Strategy For Startups

    Thomson Dawson, The Blake Project
    9 May 2012 | 11:10 pm
    A startup business faces many difficult challenges getting off the ground. For many early stage CEO’s assessing their priorities, product development and the seed money to grow are their primary concerns. Few if any are thinking much about brand building–mainly because they believe it to be sophisticated marketing they simply can’t afford. For startup CEOs, brand building needs to be as important to early success as product development and raising money. You can have the most innovative, groundbreaking product ever conceived, but if you can’t create a strong foundation for…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Men with Pens

  • How to Get Your Blog Back On Track

    James
    14 May 2012 | 9:05 am
    Let’s talk about your blog. I know. It’s a painful topic for many of you. You don’t know what to write, you don’t feel confident about what you DO write, and frankly, you’d rather not be blogging at all. It’s nerve-wracking, stressful and not as much fun as you thought it would be when you started it. You’re behind on your blogging schedule… and it’s been a while since you’ve written a post. It’s been even longer since you’ve actually ENJOYED writing a post. It doesn’t have to be that way. Writing a blog post…

  • Your Sneak Peek Behind the Writing Course Doors

    James
    9 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Damn Fine Words is the writing course that changes businesses – and even lives. Students who’ve taken the course rave about how it’s opened up a whole new world of opportunities for them and how their perspective on writing for their business has brought them all sorts of fantastic results. Now, that all sounds nice, but if you’ve never taken the course, you might be curious: what’s inside? What will you learn? What’s waiting for you? Here’s your sneak peek inside Damn Fine Words. You’ll learn the power of writing using just three sentences. There’s a secret content-creation…

  • Announcing the DFW Writing Contest Winners

    James
    7 May 2012 | 2:42 pm
    It’s time to announce the winners of the Damn Fine Words writing course contest… and boy, was it EVER tough to choose just two names from the 20+ submissions we received. Entrants fought hard to get into the Damn Fine Words writing course. Some posts were straightforward. Some were thoughtful. Some touched our hearts. It wasn’t an easy choice, and we wished we could offer everyone a place in the course. After great deliberation, several shortlists, and many discussions, the judges and I narrowed it down to two lucky winners. Congratulations to: Scott Lesovic of Magic Bash Mary…

  • Damn Fine Words Writing Course Open for Registration

    James
    7 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Every single business owner, no matter what their industry, needs to be able to write well to be successful. And if your business has a website, a blog, or operates online, then writing skills are crucial. If you’re completely confident that your writing has never, ever lost you a client, then you don’t need to worry. But if you know you’re not sure what to write in emails to clients, if you’ve ever thought your website copy might not be very great, if you’ve ever noticed your blog doesn’t get many comments or that your newsletters never really get opened much… You’re missing…

  • How to Get the Most Out of an Online Course or Info-Product

    Agent X
    4 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Did you know that roughly 20% of people might pay for a course and NEVER sign in? That’s what happened to Jon Morrow with his Guest Blogging course. Roughly 2 out of 10 students paid $500 for his course and then flushed the money down the toilet by never showing up to it. If you’re going to spend that kind of money, you should do everything you can to get the most value possible. So to help you dramatically increase the value you get from an online course, here are several best practice suggestions: 1. Go Through ALL the Course Content It never ceases to amaze me at how many people…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    All You Need Is A Good Idea!

  • Eat Your Heart Out

    Jay H. Heyman
    14 May 2012 | 10:02 am
    This is such a good idea, I am consumed with envy, jealousy—there is a difference—and awe. And though it is physically difficult to applaud and cheer while eating your heart out, I couldn’t wait to share it. To quote from Design Taxi’s piece, where I discovered this promotion, to help Land Rover owners stay alive if they ever get stuck in the desert, Land Rover worked with ad agency Young & Rubicam Dubai to create an edible survival guide. Along with tips on surviving the harshness of the dessert, the survival guide teaches you things how to build shelters, and signal for help.

  • We Don’t Want Your (Discounted) Business.

    Jay H. Heyman
    10 May 2012 | 10:06 am
    Customer services (Photo credit: gordon2208) Along with discussing good marketing ideas, I find myself blogging more and more about customer service. That’s because no matter what the good idea was that had gotten your customer to the point of making the purchase, nothing has the potential of undermining your marketing than the moment of truth; the moment when your potential customer, ready and eager to buy your service or product, online or in person, faces your website or sales person. What happens at that moment can make or break your sale, and eventually, and inevitably, your image.So…

  • Post Some Bills

    Jay H. Heyman
    7 May 2012 | 10:11 am
    Ever notice that the signs on construction fences don’t say, “Post a few bills,” or Post several bills.”? And that’s a good idea for all of us. The more specific you can be, the more effective and persuasive your message. Don’t try to cram every factoid into your copy, because it will inevitably end up making it sound more general and less focused than you want. Along the same lines, avoid the cowardly cop-outs such as, “Only for men. Perfect for men. Created for men. Designed for men.” And then add, for fear of losing any part of a possible target, “Good for ladies too.”…

  • “Imagination.” 3M. Einstein. All finally together in one blog.

    Jay H. Heyman
    3 May 2012 | 11:45 am
    A while back I mentioned a review of a book titled “Imagination.” Well, now I have read the book, and I suggest you do the same. (Yes it is on Amazon. No, I don’t get a penny.) Assuming you will read it, I just wanted to mention two things in particular I found fascinating. (Don’t consider this a spoiler; rather, it is meant to be an amuse-gueule to whet your appetite.) Here’s one quote that resonated with me, by Yo-Yo Ma. “If you are only worried about not making a mistake, you will communicate nothing. You will have missed the point about making music, which is to make people…

  • Watch this video

    Jay H. Heyman
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:23 am
    Push Button (Photo credit: drip&ju) The client: Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe. Specifically, Turner Benelux.The background: ‘To launch the high quality TV channel TNT in Belgium we placed a big red push button on an average Flemish square of an average Flemish town. A sign with the text "Push to add drama" invited people to use the button. And then we waited... “ The video: The point: Was the promotion worth what was obviously a considerable effort? 30 million views so far, not even counting you. Plus those, like me, who are going to watch it again. So yeah, indeed…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    p2w2 blog

  • How to Import a Sheet from one File to Another File?

    Vani
    23 Apr 2012 | 11:00 pm
    This article helps you to make an exact copy of your worksheet including all formatting into another file. Let us take two files, ‘File1’ and ‘File2’ for example. Now I will explain how to import a sheet from ‘File1’ to ‘File2. Select the sheet tab you want to import from ‘File1’ to ‘File2’ and right click on it as shown in the picture below: Choose “Move or copy” from the window. At the top, choose the workbook you want to make a copy to, (example: File2.xls). At the bottom of the window check the “Create a copy” box then select ‘OK’. Now you…

  • How to Avoid Screen Updating in Excel VBA?

    Vani
    19 Apr 2012 | 11:00 pm
    This article helps to handle the screen updates using macro. We can speed up our macro by turning off the screen updating while the macro runs, by adding the below line of code to the macro: Sub Macro () Application.ScreenUpdating = False Write the necessary code Here ——————- ——————- Application.ScreenUpdating = True End Sub. The prior versions of excel 2000, it was not required to turn ScreenUpdating back to true. When the macro is finished, Excel would revert back to turning the screen updating to true. But now whether…

  • How to do a Two-Way Lookup in Excel?

    Vani
    26 Mar 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Excel spreadsheets support lookup functions that return a value from a table by looking up another value in the table. The vlookup and hlookup functions in Excel work as one-way lookups. This article helps you to perform a two way lookup. The Picture below shows a simple example: The first table shows products, Price of the product and discount on number of products purchased. The second table shows name of the person, product purchased, number of products purchased and discount applicable. A formula is used in column E of second table to get the discount percentage from the first table as…

  • How to get a “Print PDF” Button in Excel?

    Vani
    15 Nov 2011 | 10:00 pm
    One of the features in Excel is the ability to convert Excel files to PDF format. In this article we explain how to create a button in the excel worksheet, which when clicked generates a PDF file of that sheet. Let us take the picture below as example to take a PDF and save it in current folder. Below are the steps to get a button, which converts the excel file to a PDF file: Select Developer, select Insert from Control group and select Button from Form Controls Drag the control on the spreadsheet, a window appears. Enter the name of the macro in the tab provided for Macro name and click OK…

  • How to Sort in Excel?

    Vani
    28 Oct 2011 | 11:00 pm
    Sorting is used to reorder our data in excel. We can easily reorder the data based on the type of sorting that we choose. We have two methods to sort the data. Method 1: Below are the steps to sort the given data in Excel: Select a single cell anywhere in the range that you want to sort. Note: If there are merged cells in your data, unmerge the cells before applying the Sort operation. Select Data menu and select Sort from Sort & Filter group. In the Sort by list, select the first column on which you want to sort. (You can click on Add Level to include additional number of columns to…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Starting Your Own Business with Successful Entrepreneur Erica Douglass

  • The Indescribable Anger

    Erica Douglass
    14 May 2012 | 6:30 pm
    Today I want to talk about something I haven’t mentioned on this blog. In fact, I rarely mention this in real life, either. But I have a feeling I’m not the only one with this problem–and I think it will do some good to finally speak about it openly. Years ago, I started noticing I was in significant physical pain when I used the computer for more than a few hours at a time. I used to spend 10+ hours a day in front of a computer. Figuring it was probably just time I invested in some better chairs, I bought myself an Aeron chair (and later, a better desk.) Except the pain…

  • Why You Should Talk To Investors (Even If You’re Not Raising Money)

    Erica Douglass
    8 May 2012 | 12:41 pm
    As the owner of a startup, should you raise money for your business? There are arguments both ways. In the software industry, developers are expensive, and it may take 12-24 months to come up with a viable product. Also, software companies are typically popular with acquirers, as the perception is that there is less work involved and they are more “scalable” than a service-oriented business. (Instagram had just 13 employees and was acquired for $1 billion.) The flip side is that you can give up a lot of your company (and, perhaps more importantly, control of your company) to…

  • Austin, TX vs. Silicon Valley: Can You Really Build A Successful Company “Outside the Bubble”?

    Erica Douglass
    25 Apr 2012 | 2:34 pm
    After 10 years in the Bay Area, and two years after that in San Diego, I’ve finally ended up in Austin, TX. I know you’ve been clamoring for a post on what I think about the startup climate (and the general “scene” here in Austin); this is that post. I’ll also outline when I think you should head to the Bay Area vs. another city like Austin. My Unique Perspective I actually haven’t met many people who have spent significant time in the Bay Area, absorbed in the startup/tech culture there, and then moved to Austin. I expect they’re out there, but since…

  • The Nastiest Habit (That We All Have)

    Erica Douglass
    8 Mar 2012 | 11:40 am
    On Facebook, everyone’s lives look happy. Including mine! I just went on a cruise–I have an amazing fiance. Whoosh Traffic just had its best day ever and it’s looking like we might hit a million-dollar revenue run rate by the end of the year. I have an awesome team–and yes, I just bought my first house! So what is there to be sad about? I don’t know, but I find I get sad anyway sometimes. There doesn’t seem to be a reason for it–it just happens. (Well–I can tell you that it happens more often when I eat bad food and spend too much time at the…

  • How Self Made Millionaires Succeed–Are You Making One of These Mistakes?

    brian
    30 Jan 2012 | 4:42 pm
    Erica’s note: This is a guest post from Jaime Tardy, who blogs at EventualMillionaire.com. I thought it would be interesting to get some perspectives from other people who have had success, both online and off, so I invited Jaime to post this based on her huge archive of interviews. Links to the full interviews are included where it is possible. Jaime writes: I’ve interviewed over 50 millionaires in the past year, and three big mistakes keep coming up. Here’s how successful millionaires found out how to get through them: Mistake #1: “But I don’t have any…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Up and Running

  • The Rule of 10 for Product Design

    David Schroeder
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    In product design, mistakes are costly, and the longer it takes to discover a problem, the more costly it becomes. I came across an article written by Dr. David M. Anderson about Design for Manufacturability where he talks about “The Rule of 10“.  He claims that it costs 10 times more to find and repair a defect at the next stage of assembly, and then it costs 10 times more at each subsequent stage of assembly. So following his rule of 10 it goes something like this… Level of Completion Cost to find & Repair Defect the part itself X at sub-assembly 10 X at final…

  • Building Trust with Quality Website Content

    Tara Hornor
    14 May 2012 | 9:40 am
      When asked what’s the most important thing to a website owner for building their site, often the response revolves around ad revenues or social media management tools. But both of these answers ignore the most fundamental part of ensuring long-term growth: trust between the site and the visitors. Without trust, why should readers return? Why would they give you an email address or open an email from you? Trust is critical, and the best way to earn it is with quality website content that readers or customers can rely on. Bear in mind that building trust with quality website…

  • Does Your Company Meet Just to Meet?

    Dave Thomas
    11 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    All companies have their own way of going about meetings. In some cases, businesses have the employees in their different departments meet on a regular basis in order to make sure everything is in order, people are handling their individual responsibilities, and any and all questions can be asked and hopefully answered. In other instances, companies will rarely bring their employees together to meet, leaving lots of unanswered questions, and an atmosphere of uncertainty. So, which road should your business take to best position itself for success? In looking at the pros and cons of meetings,…

  • Tim Berry to be Featured on BusinessMakers Radio Show

    Jay Snider
    10 May 2012 | 5:30 pm
    The BusinessMakers Show will broadcast an interview with Palo Alto Software founder and president, Tim Berry, on Saturday, May 12. Tim will share his experiences and expertise on business planning as well as his personal experiences as an entrepreneur. The discussion will also look at the importance of succession planning, recounting Tim’s transfer of management of Palo Alto Software to his daughter and current CEO, Sabrina Parsons. The BusinessMakers Show will follow up with an interview with Ms. Parsons that will broadcast on May 19. Starting this Saturday, you can listen to the…

  • The leap from employee to entrepreneur – Small Business Spotlight

    Jay Snider
    10 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    It’s never easy to leave a stable job to launch a startup. But sometimes circumstances align and a budding entrepreneur just knows that the time is right to make the leap. Ben Lamson and Sulaiman Sanni, WeDidIt cofounders Sulaiman Sanni and his partner Ben Lamson were both working  for Meltwater Group, a large, well known Software as a Service company, Su as a social media consultant and Ben as a sales manager. As Su says “We were both in good positions. We were doing well and we liked working there.” But at the same time, crowdsourcing and crowdfunding were getting…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    GMSV

  • ‘Big’ mobile: Bigger iPhone? Plus huge Android changes reported and steep stock drops for Samsung, HTC

    Levi Sumagaysay
    16 May 2012 | 12:03 pm
    We’re talking “big” mobile news: • Asian companies Samsung and HTC got some big, bad Apple-related news Wednesday. A 6 percent dive in Samsung’s share price shaved $10 billion off the South Korean company’s market value after a report that Apple placed big orders with...

  • Quoted: on Itanium as ‘closely guarded’ HP secret

    Levi Sumagaysay
    16 May 2012 | 9:41 am
    “The Itanium situation is one of our most closely guarded secrets.” — Martin Fink, head of HP’s high-end server business, in an email to another executive.  That email and other communications made public as part of a court fight between Hewlett-Packard and Oracle over the Intel chip...

  • Off topic: Phones, shoes through the years; magnets vs. sharks; Burma-Shave phrases; three-point landings

    Levi Sumagaysay
    16 May 2012 | 6:15 am
    Visual histories: of the phone, and of shoes — be sure to check out the pedestal, a predecessor to today’s high heels. Do magnets repel sharks? I’m too young to have seen these along the highways, but have heard plenty about them: Burma-Shave phrases. And a supercut of three-point...

  • Social-butterfly news: Facebook pre-IPO, Google+

    Levi Sumagaysay
    15 May 2012 | 1:19 pm
    • As Facebook prepares for what could be a record-setting IPO this week, a new poll finds that half of Americans think the world’s largest social network — which says it has more than 900 million users worldwide — is a fad. The Associated Press-CNBC survey, conducted earlier this month in a...

  • Quoted: on Yahoo and rising investor activism

    Levi Sumagaysay
    15 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    “The least effective way to do activism these days is to come in with a big club.” — Chris Cernich of Institutional Shareholder Services, on investor activism, which is on the rise. Eighteen activist campaigns have been started this year so far against companies with market caps of more...
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    YoungEntrepreneur.com

  • Online Education for Young Entrepreneurs: Worth Your Time?

    Lambeth Hochwald
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    For busy entrepreneurs, an online degree may be a just-right option. But definitely weigh your options carefully. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Shaping Crowdfunding 2.0

    Catherine Clifford
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    As the crowdfunding industry braces for a massive shift, its players are seeking rules that will serve both to protect investors and entrepreneurs. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Entrepreneurship as a Career Choice for New Grads Gets Some Respect

    Diana Ransom
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    While the number of employed young people remains desperately low, some experts suggest entrepreneurship as an increasingly worthy option. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • A Young Entrepreneur’s Best Friend is His. . . Mom?

    Adam Toren
    13 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    A helping hand from mom -- or dad -- can be vital for newbie entrepreneurs. Here are six ways to make your career in entrepreneurship more palatable to them. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • A Young Fitness Business Inspired by Mom

    Dinah Wisenberg Brin
    12 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Giving thanks on Mother's Day -- and every other day -- is capitol for one young trep who looked to his mom for inspiration. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Owners

  • Soak product on BNN The Pitch actually WORKS!

    8 May 2012 | 2:29 pm
    Dry cleaners seem to have the whole cleaning business wrapped up - that is until I met SOAK on BNN The Pitch.Jacqueline Save is the quirky entrepreneur running this washing product which just requires you to fill a sink, mix in some SOAK and then add your garment. I tried it on my cashmere blanket which was looking quite shabby. Shazaam - the dirt floated off and after drying, the blanket had recovered its early sharp colours and soft texture.My picky mother then tried it on her white scarf and the brilliance of the white was impressive. I then did my winter coat which was looking mucky and…

  • Andrew Bell says Your Cell Phone is Totemic

    8 May 2012 | 11:44 am
    The word of the day on the TV stage for BNN was "Totemic" - "the emblem of a clan or family and sometimes revered". It was Andrew Bell, the amiable host for BNN The Pitch, who commented that Smart Casing had an exciting product concept that was totemic. Branding the cell phone case is attractive as the phone is important to the user. Think about having the Maple Leafs on the back of your cell phone, or for the big banks, they could get more branding by having employee phones come in their corporate colours. (Although, TD green might not look too chic.) Pranav Sood got ribbed about…

  • My Experience Mentoring TheNext36, They Can Pivot

    3 May 2012 | 8:26 am
    Mentoring TheNext36 team yesterday was a free flow of big ideas. You do have to plant many flags to get a business going and the team triumf discussed a range of ways to focus their start up technology business. The two enthusiastic entrepreneurs, Paul Lee and Ethan Baron, had all the characteristics needed to succeed, particularly the ability to listen and add in their views. Having listening skill means they will be highly likely to be able to pivot the focus of their business as they get it running.It reminded me of YouTube that began as a dating site and Twitter which…

  • Govt. Loan given to Innovative Auto Technology Made in Markham

    11 Apr 2012 | 4:41 pm
    Novo Plastics Inc. is advancing the development and production of its innovative plastic muffler system for local and international markets, thanks to a federal investment of up to $975,000 announced today by Paul Calandra, Member of Parliament for Oak Ridges-Markham, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).“Our government is proud to invest in helping this made-in-Ontario technology reach global markets,” said MP Calandra. “Novo…

  • Exempt market dealers struggling with compliance obligations

    22 Mar 2012 | 1:46 pm
    As the exempt market continues to come under regulatory scrutiny, dealers are being urged to ensure their suitability, marketing and other compliance practices are up to standard.At the Strategy Institute's Registrant Regulation Compliance Strategies Summit in Toronto on Wednesday, regulators said they're heavily focused on ensuring exempt market players are familiar with, and complying with, the applicable regulations."We're trying to understand our exempt market. We're also trying to bring into registration those who should be registered," said Mark French, manager of regulation and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Big Marketing For Small Business

  • 4 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Content Marketing

    Guest Author
    16 May 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Content marketing has changed drastically over the last few years. In the early days of content marketing, you could get away with creating off-the-cuff content. Today, there’s a lot of competition and it’s important that your content stands out. Here are four simple ways to supercharge your content marketing efforts. 1. Develop a Comprehensive Strategy for Long-term Success Without a comprehensive plan your content marketing efforts are doomed to failure. Beyond doing the necessary keyword research it’s important to think about the style and tone of your content. Will it be serious…

  • SEO 101: The Do’s and Don’ts of Search Engine Optimization

    Guest Author
    11 May 2012 | 2:41 pm
    Search engine optimization, also known as SEO is a volatile industry. Google changes can come at any moment and some are worse than others. It doesn’t help they name their updates after cute animals like pandas and penguins (honestly who doesn’t like to see a cute panda?). Anyway, I digress, SEO might be a roller coaster, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t do’s and don’ts you can live by. Do—Stay Current on Industry News No matter if you have been doing SEO since the beginning of it’s inception, or just started today, you have to stay current on new trends. Google is fickle, and…

  • 7 Free Ways to Market a New Small Business

    Guest Author
    9 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    For obvious reasons, all new small businesses need to do what they can to market themselves. Not every owner can afford to utilize the best marketing and advertising tactics though. These services and strategies can cost quite a lot of money to employ in the long run. Too many businesses overstretch their budget trying to roll out a huge campaign and wind up suffering financially. With that in mind, there are various free methods that can be employed at any time. 1. Harnessing the Power of Social Media Perhaps the best option is starting a few social media accounts on sites like Twitter and…

  • Common Small Business Mistakes Made Online

    Guest Author
    9 Apr 2012 | 3:39 pm
    In the online world, it is far too easy to make a mistake and have it available for countless eyes to see. While most businesses might think accidentally sending an email to the wrong recipient or posting something questionable on a social network are going to be the biggest faults to avoid, there are other mistakes businesses make online that make them look unprofessional, or even foolish. The following are some examples of mistakes businesses, especially new business owners, make online and how to avoid them. Email Addresses Not on the Company’s Domain If you have a website up and…

  • Remarketing Increases Paid Advertising Conversion

    Guest Author
    2 Apr 2012 | 1:04 pm
    When small firms think about paid advertising online, 99.9% of them think about one thing: Google AdWords. Not to speak negatively of this venerable platform, but AdWords isn’t always (or even often) the answer: It takes a substantial monthly ad budget to generate enough conversions to move the dial. In some niches, keywords are too expensive for small firms to compete. In other niches, search volume is too low to generate ROI. If you’re looking for an advertising model with a higher probability of success, look to one of the best-kept secrets in Internet marketing: Remarketing. How…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small business news - CNNMoney.com

  • Businesses are recovering, but Washington didn't help

    16 May 2012 | 4:30 am
    It's a question that could determine if President Obama gets to serve another term: Are you better off than you were four years ago?

  • The real costs of starting a business

    15 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    How can you beat the odds if you want to join the boomerpreneur boom and start your own company after 50? MONEY put that question to small-business experts and dozens of fiftysomething entrepreneurs for their best advice.

  • A former children's publisher goes back to school

    14 May 2012 | 10:42 am
    Before Deborah Kenny quit her job in 2001 to start a school for underprivileged youth in Harlem, her friends staged an intervention. They listed their concerns: She would run out of money, she'd lose her house, and, worst of all, as a new widow she wouldn't be able to adequately provide for her three young children. Kenny did not budge. "I felt like I would die if I didn't start this school," she says. Kenny found herself sketching out the plans for her new education program during meetings, the way others might doodle.

  • Creating jobs on both sides of the border

    11 May 2012 | 4:40 pm
    Hector Correa came to the United States seeking opportunities, and he's made it his personal mission to create them himself -- both here and back in Mexico.

  • Starting a company from scratch

    11 May 2012 | 2:01 pm
    How can you beat the odds if you want to join the boomerpreneur boom and start your own company after 50? MONEY put that question to small-business experts and dozens of fiftysomething entrepreneurs for their best advice.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Chief Home Officer Home Office, Home-Based Business, Remote Work, Telework & Cloud Computing

  • The Cloud Cometh: Benefits & Dangers for Telework. Home Office and Consumers

    Jeff Zbar
    1 May 2012 | 11:38 am
    “The cloud” has become as ever-present as cumulus clouds gathering on the horizon outside my home office window. Google’s Drive. Drop Box. Sky Drive. Even consumer electronics maker LG has announced its own cloud for customers’ photos, videos and music Cloud-based storage is taking the tech community by storm, says Brian Chamberlain, VP Marketing and Sales for iTwin. As more business owners consider using Internet-based services to store their files. But what are the dangers, and are there safer alternatives? Cloud storage providers store your documents on the…

  • Home Office or Virtual Space – Master Managing Remote Employees and Contractors

    Jeff Zbar
    15 Apr 2012 | 12:13 pm
    Once upon a time, small business owners gathered their staff in one location from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They would dial all 10 digits on landline telephones and get charged a hefty price, await the latest batch of tasks once the mail arrived, and sometimes even meet at an actual watercooler to chat. Remember those old days—you know, the early 1990s? Today, technology has made it easier than ever to run a small business and manage employees from afar. Inexpensive Web tools, like Skype, GotoMeeting, and FaceTime have broken down the barriers in face-to-face contact, making even a virtual office…

  • A Remote View of the Home, the Home Office, Your Life

    Jeff Zbar
    1 Apr 2012 | 11:50 am
    “ZyXEL’s new cloud-enabled, HD IP cameras for home office and small business surveillance deliver instant video access to PCs and mobile devices.” The statement in the press release came to my home office a week too late. We had just dropped $2000 on a four-camera video surveillance apparatus in a relative’s home – where four of these Zyxel badboys (from about $100-$200 each) would have done the same thing. ZyXEL Communications’ secure broadband networking, Internet connectivity and routing products feature CloudEnabled web cameras. The company calls them…

  • If You Died Tomorrow, Would Your Kin Curse You For All Eternity? Or Have You Made ‘Moving On’ Simple?

    Jeff Zbar
    7 Mar 2012 | 12:36 pm
    Imagine you died tomorrow. Sitting at your home office desk. Running your daily five miles. Commuting to your telework touchdown site. Wherever. Whenever. Whatever the cause. The point is, you’re gone. Could your family get along? Yeah, one day, they’ll emotionally move on. But what about financially? Do they know how to tap into your life insurance, the 401(k), the 529, your investments, the online bank log-ins and all the financial grist you’ve been accumulating through the years – Just In Case? If “Just In Case” happened tomorrow, are you ready to help…

  • In a Home Office, a Telework Touchdown Site, or a Corporate Tower, Maximize Your Day

    Jeff Zbar
    7 Mar 2012 | 11:44 am
    Whether you work from a home office, telework and drop into the corporate office for meetings, or are a full-time corporate denizen, sometimes we feel like we’ve barely skimmed the surface of what we should have accomplished on a given work day. Jason Womack has a secret for you. He says that when we learn to “know when we’re done” with projects, tasks, and everything the work day throws at us, we’ll free up a lot more time to focus on those things that truly matter. This piece, promoting Womack’s latest book, Your Best Just Got Better. To find the time you can use to focus…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Biz Daily

  • Here Comes My Baby

    Maria Valdez Haubrich
    16 May 2012 | 8:44 am
    Expectant mothers have a lot to think about, from what kind of crib to buy to whether to use cloth or disposable diapers. With so much on their minds, more and more moms are turning to baby planners to help them prepare for baby’s arrival. The Los Angeles Times reports that baby planners, also called baby concierges or maternity consultants, are doing booming business. Baby planners help parents weed through the options for everything from what kind of delivery to have to how to breastfeed. They also handle the myriad details involved with baby’s arrival, such as registering for…

  • Hello, Sunshine

    Rieva Lesonsky
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    By Rieva Lesonsky How are you feeling about your business and our economy? Well, if the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index is an accurate measure, the answer is “pretty darn good.” According to the latest study, U.S. small business owners’ feelings about the current state of their companies, as well as their future prospects, are the most optimistic they have been since the July 2008 Wells Fargo/Gallup study, conducted just when the Great Recession took hold. Small business owners in the Wells Fargo/Gallup survey felt pretty good about their current situation, but where…

  • The Land of Entrepreneurs

    Maria Valdez Haubrich
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    What kind of business are you planning on starting? Check out this infographic from Kauffman and Visual.ly to learn the 10 fastest growing industries and more. Browse more infographics.

  • Data Recovery Tips for Small Business Owners

    Karen Axelton
    10 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    As a small business owner, you have a million projects on your mind at any given moment, often leaving your data recovery plan at the bottom of the to-do list. In fact, a recent study by Symantec found that 57 percent of SMBs have no disaster recovery plan. Yet SMBs experience an average of six outages a year, with the top reasons being cyberattacks, power failures and natural disasters. Planning ahead for a data catastrophe may seem like a tedious task, but with the right knowledge and a solid action plan, you can prevent a complete data loss that could mean the end of your business So where…

  • Marketing to Customers in a Post-Recession Economy

    Rieva Lesonsky
    10 May 2012 | 4:07 pm
    The Great Recession officially ended in 2009, but it sure didn’t feel that way for most consumers (or businesses). Now, however, the economy finally is on an upward trajectory, with consumer sentiment, business hiring plans and employment data all looking up. Whether your company targets consumers or businesses, here’s what to keep in mind to successfully market to customers as their spirits rise and their wallets start to open again.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Lip-Sticking

  • Mom's Reflections on Graduation Day 2012

    Donna DeClemente
    16 May 2012 | 7:12 am
    By Guest Blogger, Donna DeClemente, Donna's Promo Talk Today my oldest daugher, Kelsey, is graduating from college. When I post this we should be in route to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to attend the graduation ceremony of the 2012 Class of New York University. The school has so many students that it needs to be held in a stadium this huge. Of course they can’t call each student by name. Instead they call them by the school. Kelsey is graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and majored in Drama. Tisch will be having their ceremony on Friday at Radio City Music Hall. So my husband,…

  • Comfortable or Sloppy?

    Mary Schmidt
    14 May 2012 | 10:18 am
    By Guest Blogger, Mary Schmidt, Marketing Troubleshooter  Following on Yvonne's post last week, The Power of A Woman's Face  I admit - I look at "stars without makeup" photos on occasion. Most of whom look like normal, pretty people on their day off. And, I'd certainly hate to have people taking shots of me shuffling out - in my bathrobe, flip-flops and Clark Kent glasses - to get the paper off the driveway every morning.  Like Yvonne, as I've gotten older I've gotten more comfortable. At one time, I would never, ever have left the house without my full make-up.  These days, my daily…

  • What Men Don't Get About Women's Purses

    Chloe Spencer
    13 May 2012 | 9:14 am
      Article by Chloe Spencer A woman's purse is her most treasured belonging, she never goes anywhere without it, and to lose it basically means losing her life. Right ladies?! Everything is in your purse! Your wallet, credit card, driver's license, keys, cellphone, makeup, to-do lists, perfume, the list goes on. It's pretty much like Mary Poppin's magic bag where you can fit a whole lamp in there and passers-by would never know. I can fit a surprising amount of stuff in my purse, as much as I can get into it. Men may think we're crazy, but the more we have in our purse, the more comfortable…

  • Was/Am I A 'Bad' Mother?

    Yvonne
    11 May 2012 | 8:53 am
    Guest blog by Blog Manager Robbi Hess I recently took a 2,400 mile cross country road trip and because of that I had a lot of time alone in the car with talk radio. I imagine it was in response to Mother's Day, but most of the talk show hosts seemed focused on how we mothers have "failed our daughters" or have "forced Hollywood standards" upon them. That got me to thinking about my own daughter. Had I failed her? Let's review.  Let's see, when my daughter was born, I did not breast feed. I know that in light of the recent Times Magazine cover and article I apparently did her a disservice.

  • The Key to Getting Your Team on Track—Give them All D’s

    Yvonne
    11 May 2012 | 8:36 am
    Guest blog by AmyK Hutchens, AmyK International, Inc. Imagine if you could get your team on board to work in concert and change the future of your company for the better. What if, in the process, you were also able to give them a greater sense of worth and to inspire them to work toward new goals as a team? Which enhancements to our product or service will make the biggest difference?  How can we cut costs?  Do things better, faster? Stand out from the competition? Every day you are faced with a myriad of challenges in making important decisions, creating innovative plans and taking action!
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    OnStartups

  • Building It Is Not Enough: 5 Practical Tips On User Acquisition

    Dharmesh Shah
    2 May 2012 | 1:25 pm
    The following is a guest post by Brian Balfour, Co-Founder and CMO of Boundless. You can read more of his writing on his blog at BrianBalfour.com. Stories about the growth of "hot" startups such as Facebook, Instagram, AirBNB, and others have created a belief that if you build the right product, customer acquisition will be easy. Don't be fooled. These stories are the exception, not the rule, and don't tell the entire story of the immense effort it took to grow their customer bases. Finding scalable acquisition channels is a time consuming and strategic effort. If you build it, they may not…

  • Startup Founders: Don't Freak Out

    Dharmesh Shah
    26 Apr 2012 | 2:57 pm
    When I was working on building my first startup, Really Bad Things(TM) happened on an alarmingly regular basis. I was in my early 20s and living in Birmingham, Alabama (where there was no startup ecosystem at the time). So, when something happened that we thought would quite possibly kill the company, one of us (I had a co-founder) would freak out. Sometimes, both of us would freak out. Sometimes, we would freak each other out. Then, we would ultimately decide to take the Scarlett O'Hara (Gone With The Wind) approach — “I'll think about that tomorrow” and get back to work.

  • Don't Make Raising Angel Funding Your Plan B

    Dharmesh Shah
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:20 am
    The following is a guest post by Chris Sheehan. Chris is a seed stage VC and angel investor at CommonAngels. You can follow him on Twitter at @c_sheehan and his blog Early Stage Adventures. I wear two hats one as a general partner of a couple of seed stage VC funds, the other as an occasional angel investor. Wearing my angel-investing hat, I wanted to highlight an issue that I encourage founders to be careful about when pitching. There are variations on the theme, but essentially it's a line that goes something like: “…we've talked to some VCs who are really interested, but they…

  • Fall In Love With Your Business, Not Your Business Plan

    Dharmesh Shah
    30 Mar 2012 | 10:40 am
    That business plan, that business plan, I do not like that business plan. I do not like the writing part, I do not even like to start. I do not like them at a bar, I do not like them from afar. ~Dharmesh (with h/t to Dr. Seuss, who I read every day to my son) My feelings on business plans varies: from extreme dislike to just mild irritation. I don't think business plans are completely useless, just mostly so. And sometimes, they're even dangerous. Here's why… 1. Business plans are energy-depleting exercises. When I went to MIT Sloan for business school, I took what was (and is) one of…

  • Avoiding Founder Failure: 26 Quick Tips and Real Data

    Dharmesh Shah
    26 Mar 2012 | 8:20 am
    Several years ago, I met with Noam Wasserman who had recently joined Harvard Business School as a professor.  I initially came across Noam because he was doing some fascinating research on startups -- particularly in the arena of founder relationships.  When I met him for lunch, he brought up some of the toughest issues I've ever encountered in my entrepreneurial career: Should you start a company with a close friend or family-member?  Is it wise to divide equity in the startup equally among the founders?  If you had to pick, do you want the cash (get rich) or the control…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Content Marketing Revolution

  • An Essential Resource for Building and Managing an Online Community [NEW BOOK]

    Joe Pulizzi
    14 May 2012 | 7:49 pm
    I have always believed that a focus on truly unique and incredibly relevant content, shared in the right channels with the right customers and prospects, was the core to most corporate content marketing strategies. I’ve never focused (as much as I have needed to) on how important building and managing an online community is to an overall content marketing strategy. Two events have opened my eyes to the idea that online communities can take your content marketing and put it on steroids. First, I spoke with Todd Wheatland, VP of Thought Leadership for Kelly Services. Todd showed me how…

  • 10 Ways to Optimize Your Enewsletter Landing Page

    Joe Pulizzi
    9 May 2012 | 9:19 pm
    I had the pleasure of presenting at the Enewsletter World workshop this week with Jeanne Jennings and Ryan Dorhn (two amazing, first-class media experts). In one of our breakout sessions, Jeanne broke down 10 specific ways to optimize an enewsletter landing page. In our new social media world, email assets are more important than ever before. As content marketers, it is critical that we develop our audiences and build our channels, with a primary emphasis on email in conjunction with social channels like Facebook and Twitter. Why? Theoretically (and legally) the customer names that sign up to…

  • 3 Ways to Extract Brand Stories from Inside the Company

    Joe Pulizzi
    30 Apr 2012 | 2:43 pm
    You’ve done it.  You’ve developed why you need the content, created and vetted the buyer personas, and  identified the buying stages where this essential content will have impact on the business.  As you start to dig into your content marketing channel and workflow strategy, you realize that you simply don’t have enough brand stories to meet the demands of the content marketing initiative. In many content marketing programs, the core brand stories have to deal with transforming an employee’s, customer’s or stakeholder’s passion and expertise into one or…

  • 6 Amazing Retail Content Marketing Examples

    Joe Pulizzi
    26 Apr 2012 | 1:18 pm
    In doing some research for a retail-oriented content marketing workshop, I learned one thing: retail content marketing case studies and examples are hard to find.  That said, I was able to find a number of print and digital content marketing examples that impressed me.  Here are six of them. …and, if you have some you’d like to share, please add them to the comments below. Lifetime Fitness – Experience Life Experience Life is the lifestyle print and online magazine developed by Lifetime Fitness, the billion dollar health and fitness company with over 100 centers around the…

  • Optimizing Social, Search and Content: A Q&A with Lee Odden

    Joe Pulizzi
    18 Apr 2012 | 8:18 am
    I’ve had the distinct pleasure of knowing Lee Odden for more than four years now.  I first started following his blog back in 2007/2008 when we launched the Junta42 Top Content Marketing blogs.  During the 11 times we released the top content marketing blogs from around the world, Lee’s blog ranked #1 three times.  Quite an accomplishment and a testament to Lee’s expertise around content marketing. Better yet, I’ve had the opportunity to run into Lee at dozens of events around the country (Lee will also be speaking at Content Marketing World).  He is truly one of…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Mario Sanchez Carrion

  • Mistakes

    26 Apr 2012 | 10:53 pm
    There's this trick that jugglers play sometimes: when performing their most difficult routine, they may drop a ball or two on purpose just to "sell" the audience on the difficulty of the task. Then, they try again and it comes out perfect. Applause. In business we don't need to fake mistakes, because even if we aim for perfection mistakes will happen (they come with the territory when we're trying to do something worthwhile). Fortunately, mistakes are also great opportunities. While perfection may be taken for granted or go unnoticed, people pay attention to (and remember us for) the way we…

  • Experts

    4 Apr 2012 | 8:05 pm
    Americans have a fascination with experts. In part, I think, this is due to our quest for convenience and instant gratification. It's also a way to deflect responsibility: if something goes wrong "it's not my fault: the expert said it!" It's perfectly OK to know our limitations and to ask for help when we feel stuck. That doesn't mean, though, that we can abdicate our responsibility to think and do our homework. We don't need to know all the answers, but we must at least be able to ask a few good questions. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

  • The Limo

    3 Apr 2012 | 8:19 pm
    A few days ago I was on my way to JFK riding on one of those comfortable Lincoln Town Cars, popular with car services in the city. Trying to make small talk with the driver I asked him how many cars did the car service own. "A lot, more than seventy", he said. Then he paused for a moment and said something that bothered me: "We (meaning the drivers) are making them rich." Hearing the driver badmouth his employer was uncomfortable, but what bothered me more was his implication that running a business is easy and performing a job is hard, when more often than not it's the other way around.

  • Amateurs Sell. Professionals Sort

    28 Feb 2012 | 5:11 pm
    When it comes to marketing, what do you usually do? Do you spend your time trying to convince people to buy (selling) or finding people who want to buy (sorting)? Big difference... Amateurs sell. Professionals sort. Trying to convince people to stop buying brand A (the competition) and start buying brand B (yours) by bombarding them with facts, features and benefits sounds reasonable, but it doesn't work. If people don't have (or don't think they have) a problem with what they're currently using, they won't even listen to you. Marketing is not the business of changing peoples' minds. It is…

  • Doing Less With Less

    26 Feb 2012 | 9:50 am
    The phrase "you have to do more with less" has become the rallying cry during tough economic times. I don't particularly like it, though, because I think it's misleading. It sounds as if we're being asked to work harder, when what we're really expected to do is work smarter. Rather than doing "more with less" we need to become experts at doing "less with less". Less low-impact work, less busywork, less mindless we've-always-done-it kind of work, so we can focus only on high value, high return activities. If you have less, do less. Just make sure they're the right things. Permalink | Leave a…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Fresh Sales Strategies Blog

  • Don't do what this guy did at a sales meeting

    14 May 2012 | 5:27 am
    I am mortified by what I'm overhearing at the table next to me ... I don't mean to be eavesdropping. But I couldn't help but listen in when the guy next to me in the coffee shop started selling his consulting services to another businessman. In the past 30 minutes, he's asked maybe two questions. Aargh! That in itself drives me crazy. Here's just a snippet of what I'm hearing, as well as my commentary on the mistakes he's making. Establishing Credentials: "I've been president of a company which we took nationwide. I'm also doing lots of consulting and now I'm coaching entrepreneurs just like…

  • [Video] Ask prospects these questions to pique their curiosity

    10 May 2012 | 5:27 am
    Why is it important to pique your prospect's curiosity? The answer is simple. It creates an opening for you to establish a relationship at the same time it positions you as an invaluable resource. So how do you do it? Here are a couple ways: You can make a statement about the results other companies have realized from working with you. For example, I might say this to the VP of Sales: "One of my recent clients was able to set up meetings with 87% of its targeted national accounts within 2 months." I can assure you that the VP is immediately thinking, "How did she do that? I need to learn…

  • [Video] Why You Must Be a Visible Irritant When Prospecting

    3 May 2012 | 5:31 am
    Whenever I do a sales workshop, I get asked, "How often should I contact my prospects?" Salespeople want to know if once a week is too much -- or if they should wait longer before reaching out again. If this is something you're struggling with, here's a fresh perspective for you. VIDEO TEXT: If you're like most sellers, you worry about being a pest. You hate bugging a prospect over-and-over again. But I'm here to tell you something very different today. It's your responsibility to keep bugging them -- especially if your prospect told you that they're interested and really do want to…

  • Are You Catching These Prospect Warning Signs?

    30 Apr 2012 | 5:52 am
    "Yikes," I exclaimed as a godawful screeching noise filled the car. We were driving downhill on a narrow twisting road in Escalante National Park enjoying the surreal landscape. It was the first day of our long drive home. "It's the brakes," my husband said calmly. Instantaneously, my eyes widened and my palms started sweating. I looked at the canyonlands far below and immediately realized there were no guardrails on the side of the road. "It's just a warning sign that they need replacing," he continued. "We'll need to change them when we get back to Minnesota." I breathed a huge sigh of…

  • [Video] Don't Ruin a Prospect Callback by Doing This!

    26 Apr 2012 | 6:32 am
    Getting a prospect to return your phone calls these days is a real achievement. When that happens, you need to be at the top of your game, ready to quickly engage them in a relevant conversation. But what happens when you have no idea who's calling? VIDEO TEXT: After making a bunch of prospecting calls, have you ever had someone call you back and say, "Hi. This is Mike & I'm returning your call." And you think, Mike? Mike? Mike who? Your mind goes totally blank. You fumble for words and before you know it, you start sounding like a babbling idiot. It's happened to me too. That's why I had…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    B2B Lead Blog

  • Lead Qualification: Stop generating leads and start generating revenue

    Brian Carroll
    13 May 2012 | 10:01 pm
    TweetB2B marketers, stop focusing on generating leads. You’re wasting your time and your sales team’s time. Now that I have your attention, here’s what you should focus on instead: helping salespeople sell. How do you do that? By sending them only qualified leads. Most leads aren’t qualified Leads are only qualified when they fit your universal lead definition (ULD).  Don’t have a ULD? Before you do any more lead generation, make developing one your highest priority. Start by reading this: Universal Lead Definition: Why 61% of B2B marketers are wasting resources and how…

  • Communicating Value Helps Double Inbound Leads and Increase Revenue, Site Traffic and More

    Andrea Johnson
    6 May 2012 | 10:01 pm
    TweetTo successfully ride the winds of change, emphasize the positive: Look at what your customers value most about you, and make that the focus of your marketing communications. This approach enabled Celarity, a marketing and creative services staffing and recruiting firm, to double the number of candidates it places and increase revenue by more than 35% over the past two years. This is especially impressive considering it was during a period that has been tumultuous for the “hypercyclical” staffing industry. John Arnold, Celarity’s Marketing and Operations Manager, shares a simple…

  • Lead Generation: Phone calls turn first-time webinar into million-dollar leads

    Andrea Johnson
    29 Apr 2012 | 10:01 pm
    TweetWhat’s a marketer to do when leadership dismisses marketing and insists that a superior product will sell itself? Follow the lead of Jeremy Scully and take a high-stakes gamble: Put your reputation on the line to prove marketing’s value. Scully, the Business Development Manager for Planisware, a leading provider of project and portfolio management solutions, told his top brass that the best way to use leftover credit with a leading analyst was to feature her in a webinar. Leadership was reticent. The competition had been hosting webinars for years with hundreds of attendees. If…

  • Teleprospecting: When cutting response time is a priority (and when it’s not)

    Nicolette Dease
    22 Apr 2012 | 10:01 pm
    TweetWhen you’re converting inquiries into qualified leads, it’s widely believed that time is of the essence. Even research published in the Harvard Business Review says you’re almost seven times more likely to qualify a lead if you respond by phone within five minutes than if you respond an hour later. That’s why, when one of our Research Partners, a B2B telecommunications company, wanted to convert more inbound leads into sales-ready ones, we cut our response time. The results were surprising, as you’ll see in a moment. We typically phoned people who submitted a Web…

  • Universal Lead Definition: Why 61% of B2B marketers are wasting resources and how they can stop

    Brian Carroll
    15 Apr 2012 | 10:01 pm
    TweetConfession: I wish I could flash this across every marketer’s computer screen the moment it powered up: A universal lead definition (ULD) clarifies what a lead is to everyone in your organization. It also: Fits the profile of your ideal customer Has been qualified as sales-ready Spells out the responsibilities and accountabilities of Sales and Marketing Makes Marketing and Sales more efficient Still, most of the companies I meet with do not have a ULD. An astounding 61% of B2B marketers admit to sending “leads” directly to Sales without qualification, according to the…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    HomeBiz Resource

  • How to Become a Superstar Blogger!

    GOBs972
    6 May 2012 | 5:16 am
    To become a world-renowned blogger takes some pretty serious skills to get to the top. Having said that, the good news is that it is possible for just about anyone to learn these skills.  Let’s review some of them. Popular bloggers are usually quite outrageous The top bloggers of the world are risk takers. Their content is risky, often controversial. As a writer, it’s your job to stop people dead in their tracks to a point that they need to second glance the headline giving them no choice but to find out more – so they have to keep reading. You need to constantly push the…

  • Leveraging Social Media in Your Business

    myblogguest
    1 May 2012 | 5:04 pm
    It seems like every day, I’m learning about a new social media platform. Remember when it was pretty much just MySpace? Well, it seems as though MySpace has taken a backseat to the big players these days, like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn, Tumblr and Pinterest. If you’re trying to convince yourself that social media isn’t right for your business, then I’m here to tell you that you’re missing the boat. All of the websites that I mentioned above currently rank in the top 50 most visited websites in the world today (with the exception of Myspace which holds…

  • How You Can Hide Your Status With Full Profile In All Your Facebook Accounts

    GOBs972
    1 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Hiding updates and status on Facebook accounts With a lot of updates and versions available on the Facebook social media website, users often are interested in hiding the status and profile. It is not always essential to show your updates, comments and recently posted news to everyone in the community. People are getting more concerned about their privacy considerations and Facebook is an ultimate platform which offers you all the settings to hide your current status. Even if you have not befriended anyone on the Facebook, you will be capable of hiding your recent updates and profile status.

  • Coming Up With Article Topics

    GOBs972
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:17 am
    Any webmaster knows that ‘content is king’. The idea quite simply is that the most valuable commodity if you want to make a successful site is writing. The reason for this is that people use the website mainly in two different ways: as a tool for communication, and as a resource. Both of these rely entirely on the written word, and while people will also use the internet for entertainment and media this is both more expensive to generate and less easy to market (and people ultimately spend more time reading and discussing than they do watching films). Most people find websites by…

  • Google’s Semantic Search, Why Only Now?

    GOBs972
    24 Apr 2012 | 6:26 am
    Lately the term “semantic search” peaked again in Google Trends. The last time that it was massively searched was in 2009 – the year it was announced. It was almost never searched for in the past 2 years – until recently, when it was announced that Google will incorporate it to their keyword-based search engine technology. What is semantic search? According to the Wall Street Journal, it refers to the process of understanding the actual meaning of words. Basically, it can also differentiate between different meanings of a word. A classic example is Jaguar (the brand) and jaguar (the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Conversations on the Network Solutions Blog

  • Live story from #sobcon: “Tim Sanders at #SOBCon” Using Storify

    Shashi Bellamkonda
    4 May 2012 | 10:01 am
    I am attending a conference in Chicago – SOBCON ( http://sobevent.com) which has great interaction and inspirational ideas. If you follow the hashtag #sobcon you can see twitter posts from attendees. Here is a collection of the tweets using a tool called Storify. Than you to all the contributors to this post.[View the story "Tim [...]

  • How Are Small Businesses Using Mobile Marketing?

    Sara Toole
    2 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    The latest prediction for mobile use is that more people will access the Internet using their mobile phones than their computers by 2015. Nearly 1 billion smartphones will be in use by that same year — according to the global marketing intelligence firm, the IDC. What exactly does this mean for small businesses? It is [...]

  • 5 on Friday: Being Social and Socially Conscious

    Debra Braschel
    27 Apr 2012 | 2:16 pm
    Whether you’re looking for social media success or socially conscious consumers, this week’s 5 on Friday helps you make smart choices to grow your business. From honing your listening skills to selecting the right advertising channel, our featured experts share tips and tactics that can help. Plus, you’ll get the scoop on a social media [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Lifestyle Entrepreneur and Online Marketing Success Blog - Internet Riches - e-Riches 2.0 by Scott Fox

  • How to Become a YouTube Rock Star - Interview Podcast

    Scott Fox, Click Millionaires
    15 May 2012 | 11:07 am
    YouTube Star Dave "RC Super" Powers is a former personal trainer who has struck it big on YouTube. Believe it or not, Dave has built one of YouTube's biggest niche hobby channels online by uploading videos about remote-controlled airplanes to YouTube. His thriving Internet lifestyle business is based on the surprising fact that fun, funny, informative, or helpful YouTube videos clips can make you big money online, especially if they serve niche market needs. Listen to this exclusive new podcast episode of the Click Millionaires Radio Show to hear the exciting success story…

  • More free Click Millionaires copies (free contest)

    Scott Fox, Click Millionaires
    15 May 2012 | 6:37 am
    It turns out that my publisher, the fine folks at AMACOM Books, had more galleys of my new book, Click Millionaires, back at the office! If you'd like to win one of 10 free advance copies of my new guide to lifestyle design and Internet entrepreneurship, visit the GoodReads.com Click Millionaires contest here. (But hurry - the contest ends May 23!)   Goodreads Book Giveaway Click Millionaires by Scott Fox Giveaway ends May 23, 2012. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

  • 1st "Official" Review of Click Millionaires

    Scott Fox, Click Millionaires
    14 May 2012 | 5:20 am
    The first official review of my new book, Click Millionaires, is in… I'm thrilled to report that the leading book industry publication, Publishers Weekly, loves the book! The juiciest bits of the book review were these: "For fans of The 4-Hour Workweek…  Fox presents a solid plan for those looking to shed the shackles of corporate life…" Read the rest of PW's favorable review take on my "virtual sequel" to the now classic 4 Hour Work Week here:  http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8144-3191-7 More about my new guide to lifestyle entrepreneurship…

  • Win advance autographed "Galley" Copies of Click Millionaires!

    Scott Fox, Click Millionaires
    10 May 2012 | 10:59 am
    Click Millionaires will hit bookstores nationwide on June 1.  Would you like to win a free copy even before it's published? If you're excited about the new book,I'd like to give you an exclusive, personally autographed, galley copy! A "galley" is a specially printed pre-release edition of a new book.  A publisher prints them to send to influential newspapers and magazines hoping for reviews of a new book.  WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO FOR MORE DETAILS! Normally only available to publishing industry insiders, most galleys are plain black and white bound…

  • How I upgraded 4 Facebook Timeline Covers for $5 (or less)

    Scott Fox, Click Millionaires
    10 May 2012 | 10:38 am
    Facebook recently forced everyone to redesign their Facebook pages. Have you upgraded yours yet? For many folks this "upgrade" left an ugly gap of grey emptiness at the top of their Facebook pages. Does this sound like your page?  Here are 4 easy examples of how I upgraded my Facebook pages for $5 or less! I'm not a designer, but I do have plenty of photos and logos, plus the art from my book covers.  So I did not want to pay top dollar for a professional graphics expert to create new timeline covers for my Facebook pages.  So here's what I did for 4 of my pages. …
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    FreelanceFolder

  • Why You Can’t Afford to Be an Undercover Freelancer

    Laura Spencer
    14 May 2012 | 10:09 am
    I love detective movies. I really do. There’s nothing more thrilling than when the detective goes undercover by blending in with the bad guys. You spend the rest of the movie holding your breathe to see whether the hero gets caught or catches the bad guys. Going undercover makes for great entertainment. Unfortunately, going undercover isn’t so great if you’re a freelancer. You see, as a freelancer, the absolute last thing you want to do is blend in with everybody else. You can’t hide your talent and succeed. In this post, I’ll discuss the importance of standing…

  • How Delegating Routine Tasks Can Raise Your Freelance Income

    Laura Spencer
    11 May 2012 | 12:25 pm
    Could you use a little more income? If you’re like most of us, you probably answered “yes” to that question. Which of us wouldn’t want a little more coming in each month? In this post, I’ll share a surprising technique to help you earn more freelance income–delegating your routine tasks. When to Delegate We freelancers are an independent breed. We like to “do it ourselves.” That’s probably one of the reasons many of us struck out on our own in the first place. However, sometimes doing it yourself just doesn’t make sense. It may seem…

  • How Much Money Can You Earn as a Freelancer?

    Laura Spencer
    9 May 2012 | 11:58 am
    “How much can you earn as a freelancer?” I’m probably asked this question more than any other question when people hear what I do for a living. It’s also a question I dread because there’s no set answer and there are certainly no guarantees. When I worked in a corporate job, I could easily give a salary range for what I did. I could even state my exact salary if I wanted to. As a freelancer, it’s not quite so simple. In this post, I’ll take a closer look at some of the very real issues behind the question of “how much can you earn as a…

  • Don’t Overlook these 5 Great Free Resources at Your Local Library

    Laura Spencer
    7 May 2012 | 9:09 am
    Freelancers often overlook the resources available to them at their local library. This is a shame, because most library resources are free to library cardholders. You may remember the library as the place where you did research for your school assignments, but there’s a lot more to most libraries these days. In this post, I share a few free resources from the library that freelancers will find helpful. Most (but not all) local libraries offer these resources to local residents and/or library cardholders. Resource #1: Books and Publications It may seem obvious, but the library is a…

  • How to Freelance with Kids

    Laura Spencer
    3 May 2012 | 10:32 am
    Many people are drawn to freelancing because they feel the flexible lifestyle will give them more time to spend with their kids. With summer just around the corner, many schools are about to end their school year and freelancers with school age kids will once again find their kids at home. While it’s true that freelancing work can be flexible, it can also be challenging to get work done while the kids are home. Just how challenging depends on the kids and the freelancer… But there are ways to make freelancing with kids easier. In this post, I’ll provide some easy tips for…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Global Small Business Blog

  • As a Global Small Business Owner, Are You Tapping Into Employee Creativity?

    16 May 2012 | 8:17 am
    Rumor (and a little research) has it that businesses in South Africa might be missing out on one of the greatest opportunities to increase its bottom line: its staff.According to the 2011 Global Entrepreneurs Monitor (GEM) report, it shows that many established businesses in South Africa are missing the boat when it comes to tapping into their employees’ commercial (e.g., entrepreneurial) creativity.Learn more here.

  • To Contract Manufacture Or Not To Contract Manufacture, That Is the Question

    15 May 2012 | 7:13 am
    The article below provides the ins and outs to contract manufacturing overseas. If you have experience with contract manufacturing overseas, please comment - thanks!Contract Manufacturing

  • Lab For the World: Developing Countries

    14 May 2012 | 3:12 am
    How do you recognize great ideas from developing countries - and bring them home?  We imagine innovation as a trickle-down process. Companies in places such as the United States, Europe, and Japan deploy sophisticated technology to produce premium products for developed markets. Then they strip out some features, maybe substitute cheaper materials and eliminate most options, and ship their diminished creations to presumably less-demanding customers in Africa, Asia, and South America.But the days of rich countries' hegemony over innovation may be numbered.Authors Vijay Govindarajan and…

  • Moms Rule the World: Happy Day!

    13 May 2012 | 12:01 am
    "Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries."  ~ T. DeWitt TalmagePhoto courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2012, "Woman and Child Adventure." 

  • Think An Overseas Assignment Moves You Up in the Corporate World?

    11 May 2012 | 6:19 am
    International assignments are good but what you really need is broad international experience -- the more the better!As the process of bringing products to market involves an increasingly global web of commerce, managers gunning for the C-suite should be ready to complete multiple stints abroad. Such double- and triple-dipping workers are in high demand, because time spent overseas develops their ability to manage complex, interconnected operations—skills that just can't be developed back at headquarters or in one brief foreign assignment, recruiters and human-resources executives say.Read…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Custom Software

  • Entrance: BBB Business Technology Pinnacle Award Winner 2012!

    Software Expert
    2 May 2012 | 8:12 am
    Share We received the Pinnacle Award  in the Business Technology category from the BBB for surpassing the standards put forth by the Better Business Bureau. We distinguished ourselves by showing dedication to exceeding client expectations, recruiting and retaining the best talent, answering ethical challenges in the industry and bettering our community.  Here are some areas highlighted by answers from our winning application.  Client Satisfaction:  “It is extremely important to us to build a valuable working relationship with our customers where we find a place…

  • Engineering Intelligence for Pipeline Safety

    Software Expert
    26 Apr 2012 | 5:37 am
    Share At a recent industry breakfast, a panel of speakers from Embridge, TerraFina, Plains All American, and the Bauer College of Business discussed their perspectives on both the boom and the coming challenges for the midstream sector. With the introduction of fracking and horizontal drilling, production has increased beyond the transportation infrastructure’s ability to move those hydrocarbons to factories and the market. And with the market flooded with natural gas, both Plains All American and Terrafina are pushing to export. All of this remains good news for the Midstream, because…

  • Risk mitigation through strategic technology

    Software Expert
    13 Apr 2012 | 4:12 am
    Share Risks are a part of daily life in the oil and gas industry. And because they are many, varied and unpredictable, software product companies cannot keep up with industry needs. We specialize in creating custom business solutions that respond to changes impacting the Oil and Gas industry long before anyone else comes to the table. We believe that preparation, visibility, and communication are vital to mitigating risk – and are all aspects that can be improved with good data. Early warning through Notifications Are you prepared? Rosetta is! When faced with regulatory changes and…

  • Oil and Gas Spotlight - Geology and Geophysics (G&G) Software

    Software Expert
    7 Apr 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Share Custom Software and SharePoint Consulting for Oil and Gas Software is an unsung hero when it comes to the Energy Market and the Oil and Gas Industry. Custom software plays a key role at crucial moments throughout industry decision making. Here at Entrance, industry insight drives the custom solutions we develop. We have over a decade of experience tailoring our software to solve complex problems, whether they are broad in scope like helping smooth out large mergers or deep in detail like processing sensor data.  We have industry experience from upstream geology and geophysics all…

  • Nate Richards on Technology Debt and Custom Software Modernization

    Software Expert
    5 Apr 2012 | 3:57 am
    Share "As we’re getting to know them and talking about building new applications or modernizing old applications, clients are surprised at how much this will cost. For years they’ve had one or two support or freelance developers, or even specialized engineers coding on the side. And it’s just worked for the last ten years. The question is 'Why, all of a sudden, do we need to change everything and rewrite? Why have we reached the end of the road?' And the answer to that is that while they’ve been designing and building the application only looking at what…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Art Biz Blog

  • Is Over-Planning Killing Your Art Business?

    Alyson Stanfield
    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    If you are a regular reader, you probably think that I’m a big planner and that I have my whole life and business mapped out for me. Not so. I love planning! But like many creative entrepreneurs, I find planning can be confining. At a workshop 4 years ago. Maybe the strange look on my face was one of concern because the artist was over-planning?? Photo by Kimberly Lennox. A Time for Planning Planning has its place in any business. I believe in strategizing an income plan. I believe in planning my months, weeks, and days based on my income plan and big-picture ideas. But there is no such…

  • Curating a Library of Art Business Books

    Alyson Stanfield
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Lindsey Harnish of the Ferndale Public Library in Michigan inquires: I just won a grant for my library, specifically to purchase art business books. While I’ve got a long list of titles on my wish list, are there particular books that you strongly recommend? Well, Lindsey, since you used the word strongly, I pored over my titles and came up with this curated list for you. Career Guidance Jackie Battenfield, The Artist’s Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love Battenfield’s book is quickly becoming the standard for artist career development. It’s especially good…

  • When to Show Prices of Your Art [Updated]

    Alyson Stanfield
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    If you want to sell your art, show your prices. Back in 2006, I wrote a post about when to post your prices. Times have changed and I want to make sure that you have my current view on this topic. If You’re Looking for Galleries Installation at Ice Cube Gallery in Denver featuring work by Jane Guthridge. Artwork ©Jane Guthridge. Many people will tell you not to post your prices if you’re looking for galleries to represent your art. Their reasoning is that galleries won’t want to see you trying to sell your work on your own. I believe this is old thinking. A good gallery…

  • The Moment of Flailing Panic

    Alyson Stanfield
    10 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    In the creation of any work of art, there is some point, no matter how much training and experience is brought to bear on the work at hand, when the artist is taken with a feeling of both exhilaration and terror, the Oh shit. What the hell have I gotten myself into! moment of flailing panic, akin to the feeling of falling from a great height. from the book Sacré Bleu by Christopher Moore Deep Thought Thursday In your art-making or art business, what makes you ask, “Oh shit. What the hell have I gotten myself into”?

  • 28 Questions for When Your Art Isn’t Selling

    Alyson Stanfield
    9 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    When your work sold well in the past and is no longer selling or selling at a slower pace, it’s time to evaluate. A single move in the wrong direction might be the reason for slow sales. Here are some questions to help you evaluate the downturn and get back on your feet. I came across this sign that pointed to a dark, narrow alley. I hope there was a more appealing route to this gallery! Hard-to find venues could be a reason for low sales. The Work Itself How has the work changed? Are you using a different medium or style? Have you modified your palette? Have you changed the framing,…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Meryl's Notes Blog at meryl.net by Writer Meryl K. Evans

  • Are You Memorable?

    meryl
    2 May 2012 | 7:40 am
    Ask anyone between the ages of 13 and 30 who knew my dad to share something they remember about him. Most will reply with “talking like Donald Duck.” Walk in to the office in my mother’s house and Donald Duck greets you from every direction beginning with the large bright yellow latch-hook picture of Donald Duck on the wall. I don’t know how Dad started this Donald Duck talk business, but it’s one of those things many people remember about him. His wife, three kids, and friends showered him with Donald Duck gifts for years. Accidentally Memorable I also have one…

  • Connect with Clients and Prospects with a Well-Designed Email Newsletter

    meryl
    24 Apr 2012 | 3:38 pm
    Image from sxc.hu user mmagallan A 2011 MerchantCircle.com survey of over 8,000 US local business owners found email marketing cited by 35.8% as a “Top three most effective marketing or advertising method.” Likewise, the 9th Annual Merchant Survey (2010) conducted by The E-tailing Group asked merchants to list which initiatives they would be using to improve website performance. 79% chose “send more targeted email” as the top answer. No other marketing tool gives you direct interaction with clients in a platform that incorporates graphic design, valuable content, web…

  • Chynna’s Top Ten Writing Tips

    meryl
    19 Apr 2012 | 9:38 am
    Welcome to meryl’s notes blog (this here place you’re lookin’ at) in Plano, Texas. We’re honored to be a stop in Chynna Laird’s WOW! Women On Writing Blog tour. About Chynna Laird: She’s a psychology major, freelance writer and multi award-winning author living in Edmonton, Alberta with her partner, Steve, and their four children. Her passion is helping children and families living with Sensory Processing Disorder and other special needs. Laird has authored an award-winning children’s book (I’m Not Weird, I Have SPD), two memoirs (the multi…

  • Research Redefined

    meryl
    3 Apr 2012 | 8:56 am
    You may have heard that Encyclopædia Britannica no longer sells a print edition. It now only offers a paid subscription to its online edition. Why pay a few bucks a month for information that’s available free? Ah, yes, Encyclopædia Britannica entices prospects by saying, “There’s no such thing as a bad question–but there are bad answers.” Wikipedia vs. Encyclopædia Britannica Resources like Wikipedia and infographics have been known to produce incorrect information. Besides, even if Wikipedia managed to produce perfect entries — it still has a human…

  • The Secret to Writing about a Popular Topic

    meryl
    27 Mar 2012 | 10:21 am
    Image from sxc.hu user rhythms Before reading Margie Clayman’s Avoid the temptation to write something popular, I saw articles on how to get ideas for blogging and how to write a bunch of blog posts quickly. These tired topics introduce nothing new. Same outfit, different color and style. Blog there, done that. I’d rather not blog than rehash something that others have said many times, many ways. Like Green Eggs and Ham — these articles have been delivered so many ways possible … on a boat, with a goat, in the rain, on a train. Is there any hope for writing about…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Biz Crusader

  • The Great Shaving Rip-Off — HORROR IN THE AISLES

    John Park
    19 Apr 2012 | 7:11 pm
    I have to share this with my readers.  This video was shot for one of my clients.  Total budget?  It was about $25 including Starbucks and the googly eyes.  The questionable acting shown on the video are my fellow team members.  Enjoy!    

  • Embracing Change After 244 Years

    John Park
    14 Mar 2012 | 10:28 am
        Encyclopedia Britannica announced today that they will no longer publish the printed edition.   About a month ago, my Mother asked me “What should I do with the encyclopedia set?  Should I send them to you so your kids can use it?”   The books were precious to her because she had purchased them for me when I was in high school.  It was quite an investment at the time.   I recall answering “No, that’s okay.  Just leave them there.  My kids will never use them.”   First published in 1768, the title of their early advertisements read “All…

  • Top 10 Tips To Avoid A Valentine’s Day Disaster – Advice For Men… From Women

    John Park
    9 Feb 2012 | 10:15 am
      A little Valentine’s Day humor for everyone.  See if you can relate to any of her numbers. The video was produced for one of our agency clients. If you can’t see the video in your email feed, here is the direct YouTube link. Enjoy! http://youtu.be/gC5bac9HMqs  

  • Why Do So Many Americans Hate Their Leaders?

    John Park
    3 Feb 2012 | 9:44 am
      If you pay attention to the national polls this election season, you probably have a pretty good idea of what Americans think of their leaders.  The approval rating for Congress is at an all time low of 11% (Gallup).  And there isn’t much better news for President Obama or the potential nominee for the Republicans.   Why is this?  Why is the election theme “throw the bums out” or “change” the prevalent outcry every time we hold an election?  In essence, why do so many Americans hate their leaders?   I don’t have the million dollar answer but I…

  • Focus on what you can control in 2012.

    John Park
    2 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pm
    Movie ticket sales hit a 16-year low in 2011. The theater industry attributes higher prices and the prevalence of new platforms to view movies.   I certainly believe this is true and I am certain that these factors played a key role.   However, I was surprised to learn that the industry did not mention what role customer service may have played in this outcome. To be specific, I am referring to the lack of or declining customer service in movie theaters. Civilized decorum and the almost cliche concept of “Silence is Golden” has become increasingly absent in the theaters.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    dmiracle

  • In Troubled Economic Times, Be Smart & Be Bold

    Dawud Miracle
    1 May 2012 | 6:22 am
    Let’s face it, our economy here in the U.S. is in trouble. As a nation, and as individuals, we’ve out-spent our means and overextended our lives while saving less than ever before in history. And after decades of being inflated, it appears our economy is entering a readjustment period. This isn’t, necessarily, a bad thing. Yes, people will lose jobs, companies will go under and house will foreclose. Yet if you run a small, independent business, the economy has far less impact on your business than you think. So you’re likely not facing the doomsday that’s being…

  • Small Business Productivity Tips for Monday Morning

    Dawud Miracle
    5 Mar 2012 | 5:45 am
    What do you do with your Monday mornings? So many people I know sit down at their desks and mess around for an hour or two – reading news or catching up on email. Others grab a cup of joe and jump right into the project they left on Friday. If you’re in business for yourself, mornings are often crucial to your workday. A well-spent morning can often mean the difference between a productive workday and not. But what about Mondays? Over the years I’ve tried lots of ways to get the most out of Mondays. I’ve tried to do first things first or focused on getting done that…

  • 15 Reasons to Move Your Coaching Website to WordPress Today!!

    Dawud Miracle
    8 Feb 2012 | 4:25 pm
    There are so many ways that coaches and holistic healers can get a website today. You can go the ‘old fashioned’ route and have a website designer build a pages in HTML. You can use some of the pre-made services you’ll find on any number of hosts (though most of the designs look like they’re 10 years old). Or you can have your website created on one of the myriad of publishing platforms available today. Of course my favorite publishing platform for coaches, healers and the other service providers I work with is WordPress. There’s others, of course. But having use…

  • The Single, Most Important Question You Can Answer About Your Business

    Dawud Miracle
    28 Jan 2012 | 9:20 am
    Why? Really, that’s it. Why? It’s the most important question to ask yourself about your business. It’s also the most important question to answer. Why? Simple – you have to know the reasons…the motivations…the rationelle for everything you do. Nothing you do, say, create, experience, generate, design, produce, promote, develop or decide upon should go without you asking, “why! So…why are you in business? Why do you market to the people you do? Why is your business not as successful as you want? And…the next most important question……

  • Why You Want Your Business To Forever Be Unfinished

    Dawud Miracle
    17 Jan 2012 | 7:38 am
    I want to share a business secret with you. It’s a secret that you may know already – a least mentally. Yet it’s a secret that often separates highly successful businesses from the less successful ones. Are you ready? Okay… No matter how well developed your business is; no matter how many years you’ve been doing it, how many customers you’ve served, how much money you’re making – your business will forever be a work in progress. I heard this years ago from a colleague and fluffed it off with the usual, “yeah, of course!” But I was…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Virtual Assistant - THE Blog About Our Industry

  • Speaking of working at home…

    Kathie Thomas
    16 May 2012 | 7:05 am
    A couple of days ago I shared how much I love working at home and that I don’t miss the traffic out there at all.  However, there are days (very occasional) when working at home can prove to be a challenge. Today was one of them. We got a letter a week ago to say the power would be off between 8.30am and 3.30pm for one day and we needed to ensure that all electrical appliances were switched off and unplugged, especially computers.  What was I going to do? I started to put out feelers to see whose place I could go to, along with my laptop and my mobile phone (with the land-line…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Infused Web | Print | Design

  • Cover Art for John Taglieri Lucky #9 Digital Music Release Designed by Infused Web

    admin
    20 Apr 2012 | 2:13 pm
    The new music release Lucky #9 from John Taglieri just made its debut this week, breaking in at #2 on Hot New Releases and #20 on Adult Alternative Amazon.com charts. This is John’s 9th CD release of his music career. He had a really good feeling about its release, which hints as to why it is entitled Lucky #9.  If the Amazon chart debut is any indication of its success, he was right on target! The cover art for the release was designed by Joe Duhamel, Co-Owner & Art Director of Infused Web. Joe has extensive experience in graphic design (22 years), including 20 years as a design…

  • #KeepItCountry with Joe Bachman

    admin
    21 Mar 2012 | 12:22 pm
    If you’ve been following us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+, you may have noticed that we’ve recently partnered with emerging Modern Country/Pop Music Artist, Joe Bachman.  Joe takes his performance to stages up and down the East Coast  (from Joe’s 2nd home, Key West, FL to Killington VT)… as well as in Chicago, Ohio, San Francisco, the Bahamas and beyond! Averaging an astounding 200-250 shows per year throughout his amazing career, Joe’s high-energy live show captivates audiences from ages 7 thru 70 wherever he performs. With the recent release of his debut album…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business of Software Blog

  • Something is going to change.

    Mark Littlewood
    30 Apr 2012 | 2:44 pm
    Can you guess what...?

  • What do Business of Software attendees want to talk about?

    Mark Littlewood
    3 Apr 2012 | 12:15 pm
    Want do Business of Software attendees want us to talk to them about this year? These are the most common words used by Business of Software delegates this year when asked, 'Talk to me about' to be put on their badges. Here is a 'Wordle' of the first 150 responses... In other words, tea is a more popular subject than VC. I guess it is in Boston. We will have ourselves a tea party. #BoS2012 takes place over 2 and a half days 1st-3rd October, 2012, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Boston. We advise booking accommodation early, whether you stay at the…

  • BoS 2012 Speaker updates & Early Bird Extension to midnight PST April 3rd

    Mark Littlewood
    2 Apr 2012 | 6:57 pm
    I want to apologize to you if you tried to register for Business of Software 2012 over the weekend to take advantage of our first Early Bird offer. Our event registration system was down for routine maintenance on Saturday and we have received a number of emails from people who were unable to register. Given the circumstances, it seems fair that we extend the deadline for registration and have done so to midnight PST on Tuesday April 3rd. We also have some brilliant new speakers who have confirmed their participation at Business of Software 2012...  Joel…

  • BoS 2011 Lightning Talks: Corey Reid, Freshbooks; Karl Treier, Prospect Stream; Justin Goeres, JKI; Patrick Foley, Microsoft; Tyler Rooney, 4ormat.

    Rachel Salmon
    30 Mar 2012 | 11:48 am
    Below are the lightning talk videos from five speakers at the Business of Software conference 2011, starting with the winning talk by Justin Goeres of JKI. Lightning Talks are terrifying and very hard to pull off - each speaker was allowed 15 slides with 30 seconds for each slide. That's 7 minutes and 30 seconds in total. Done.  Don't forget, registration for BoS 2012 is open now. We hope to see you in Boston October 1st-3rd 2012 and the first EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT tickets run out on March 30th. Save $900 on full registration. Confirmed speakers this year include…

  • We believe in sharing, we don't necessarily believe in paper

    Mark Littlewood
    30 Mar 2012 | 11:10 am
    Nice to see some proof that sharing some of the BoS love brings more cool people to the physical event. Just got this note... "Just ordered my ticket, and am really looking forward to it. I attended live stream from my living room couch last year. It was great, but felt like I was missing out on the networking and interaction. One question. It says the ticket should be printed. Will it be possible to show the ticket on my iPhone instead? Thanks,KR" Look forward to seeing you there and, 'Yes', you can bring the paper ticket with you if you wish but as long as your phone has a…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The AppGap

  • State of CRM Customer Data Integration in 2012

    Bill Ives
    11 May 2012 | 3:57 am
    In February 2012, Scribe Software surveyed 300 business leaders and channel partners to uncover opportunities and challenges associated with customer data integration. “The State of Customer Data Integration in 2012” report contains input from C-level executives, business analysts and IT engineers, and systems integrators and consultants who design and implement data integration for their enterprise clients. In summary, Customer data integration can play a critical role in addressing operational challenges in sales, marketing and customer service. It increases CRM systems’ adoption and…

  • TIBCO Enhances tibbr with GEO and Other New Capabilities

    Bill Ives
    7 May 2012 | 3:03 am
    I have reviewed TIBCO before (see: TIBCO Spotfire Brings Self-Service Data Analysis to the Enterprise with a Social Twist). Recently I spoke with Ram Menon, TIBCO President of Social Computing about their upgraded social business offering. TIBCO has been a leader in making the digital world connect for quite some time.  So when they turned to social business software connectivity was naturally a sweet spot for them. It is also essential for social business to work as I have written several times (see for example, Maybe Enterprise 2.0 Is About the Technology). So Ram and I were of the same…

  • Convo Moves to the Web and Enhances Features

    Bill Ives
    2 May 2012 | 3:43 am
    I have written about Convo before under its old name (see – Convofy Enables Comprehensive Collaboration Through Enterprise Social Networking) and am also a user at both Darwin Ecosystems and the Merced Group. Convo builds on the activity stream but adds additional features to enable more comprehensive collaboration. I recently spoke with Tad Staley about their latest moves. One of these is to simplify the brand name from Convofy to Convo and that I certainly applaud. It was simply a matter of securing the Convo domain. Convo has also upgraded it user interface to both simplify it and…

  • eXo Offers Cloud Workspaces Enabing Flexible Social Intranets

    Bill Ives
    25 Apr 2012 | 3:15 am
    I have covered eXo before (see Benjamin Mestrallet, eXo CEO, Looks at the Social Enterprise). Recently, I had a chance to speak with Benjamin again about their latest offering. He said that the goal with eXo Cloud Workspaces is to provide an easy-to-use social intranet so work teams can start to collaborate in a fully functional space.  He feels that there is a gap between simple activity stream-based tools and the full-function enterprise collaboration platforms, including their own eXo Platform 3.5. So they are now offering eXo Cloud Workspaces to fill this gap. Here is a sample home page…

  • Badgeville Provides Cloud-based Gamification Behavior Platform™ and Expertise

    Bill Ives
    20 Apr 2012 | 3:20 am
    Badgeville provides the Behavior Platform™ a cloud-based gamification platform that allows organizations to build custom gamification programs for their employees, business partners, and customers. I recently spoke with Kevin Akeroryd, SVP Field Operations of Badgeville, about their offering. My first question was why there is so much buzz today over a concept that has been around for decades. Like many others I was involved in creating incentive programs for employee participation in learning efforts in the 80s and knowledge management programs in the 90s. Kevin said that he sees four main…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Rise of the Innerpreneur

  • Doing Serious Things Badly

    Tara Joyce
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:26 pm
    THIS IS SERIOUS, my ego screams. She wants my work to be great. For her, it isn’t enough to create, it’s only worth while if I create something great. For her, it isn’t about quantity, only quality. She is not content with letting me practice and discover my process. She wants serious results, and she wants them now. She, my ego, has begun her screaming, and quickly my previously delightful project becomes a source of anxiety. Doubt has set up shop and I find I’m no longer working for the sake of it. I’m no longer happy just being on the field, suddenly I need to…

  • Asking My Mentor About… Sharing What I Do

    Tara Joyce
    24 Apr 2012 | 1:16 pm
    Christine Dionese and I are Peer-to-Peer Mentoring each other. Here’s what we’ve been asking each other about lately… Christine’s Question “Generally I’m the one handing out relationship advice, but looks like I need a fresh take on this one! I have always had great success working with friends. I’m in the beginning stages of a new project with a friend and I’m already thinking I may need to dissolve the business side of it. I move fast and work fast… and they don’t. I can appreciate every effort a snail makes, but not in this case.

  • Marney Makridakis: April 2012 Innerpreneur Spotlight

    Tara Joyce
    19 Apr 2012 | 2:53 pm
    Marney Makridakis Author of Creating Time & Founding Flower Child of ArtellaLand.com Artella Land On Facebook I am: The founding flower child of ArtellaLand.com, creator of the ARTbundance™ approach of self-discovery through creativity, author of Creating Time, and mom to a wise and wildly colorful three-year-old boy. My passion is for: Switching on creative light bulbs within people, so that we all may light up the world with our own unique spark. My business helps you: Catalyze unawakened inklings and inspirations to come alive and passionately thrive. The Creative Isles of Artella…

  • Don’t Take My Advice

    Tara Joyce
    9 Apr 2012 | 6:39 pm
    In business and in life. I can’t possibly know what is best for you more than you do. You are your own best adviser. You have all the answers you’ll ever need inside of you. There is no one you will ever meet that you will learn more from than your Self. You may need support in asking the questions that will move you in the direction of your answers, but ultimately, what is right for you is a question only you have the answer to. Do you trust that the guide inside you knows what’s best? All the things you don’t know. I have moments where the idea that I might actually know…

  • The Power of Our Wildest Dreams

    Tara Joyce
    30 Mar 2012 | 5:46 pm
    Perhaps you’re like me and you find yourself yearning for the completion of your dreams. I dream of the day when my current “struggles” are behind me. I dream of the day when my first book is written and published, and my second is hot in pursuit. I dream of visiting space. The word ‘dream’ can have a pie-in-the-sky quality to it that makes me uncomfortable though. It’s not that I think dreams are unrealistic to have. I truly believe that our dreams can come true. But we have to be realistic about achieving them. My dreams can only come true when I am true to them. Only…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    WordPress.com News

  • Stay In The Conversation

    Beau Lebens
    15 May 2012 | 6:01 pm
    It’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment…

  • Look at These Gorgeous Blogs

    Sheri
    15 May 2012 | 1:05 pm
    We’ve added a user showcase where you can view stunning customizations made by people just like you. From complete redesigns with CSS to adding pizzazz with Custom Fonts to clever use of options like background and header, this showcase will spark your imagination and inspire creativity. Discover details about what each showcase blog is doing with WordPress.com themes and customizations by clicking a thumbnail to see a colophon-style list of credits on the left. We’ve also updated footer links so blog owners can show off the types of customizations they’ve made and visitors can…

  • Photo Blogging 101, Part 1

    Erica V.
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Spring is in the air. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get started on a photo blog. Creating a photo blog is a wonderful introduction to blogging on WordPress.com or an opportunity to refresh your current site. Ready to get started? You can sign up for a new blog right over here. Getting started Photo blogs, sometimes called phlogs, use pictures instead of words. While many photo bloggers choose a type of photo that they want to focus on, such as portraits, others use their photo blog to document their life’s events. Photo blogs come in a variety of styles, including…

  • New Themes: Just Desserts and Oxygen

    Michelle Langston
    10 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    Happy Thursday! We’ve added some exciting new themes to our ever-growing collection, and we’re happy to tell you all about them. First out of the oven is…Just Desserts. Yep, that’s a theme! Designed by Andy Rutledge, Just Desserts is a deliciously stylish premium theme that’s perfect for blogs centered on food. With its responsive, single-column layout and unique presentation of images and posts on the front page, Just Desserts gives you a delectable canvas on which your mouthwatering photos and text can really shine — even when viewed on smaller mobile devices…

  • Find Friends Who Use WordPress

    Nick Momrik
    1 May 2012 | 2:32 pm
    Are you curious to see how your friends are using WordPress? Give the new and improved Friend Finder a try to connect with your Twitter, Facebook, and Google contacts who have WordPress sites! After authorizing WordPress.com to use your Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to find your friends (don’t worry — none of this account information is saved!) you’ll see a list of people you know who have WordPress sites. Click Follow and each time your friend publishes a new post it will show up in your Reader under Blogs I Follow. If you have multiple blogs, make sure to set the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Dr. Jeff Cornwall

  • Finding a Small Business Friendly Bank

    Jeff
    15 May 2012 | 8:23 am
    “There is a bank on every corner.  If you don’t like the answer you get from one, go to the one across the street.” That is the advice my late father gave me a long time ago about finding a small business friendly bank. Now there is a new tool to help make this process easier for small business owners. “One of the biggest challenges that small businesses face is access to capital,” says Ami Kassar, CEO of MultiFunding, a small business financial advisory firm.  “We decided to give small businesses a gift this year and help them find local banks that are friends of…

  • We are all gnats

    Jeff
    14 May 2012 | 7:56 am
    “You are gnats! You are like annoying little gnats flying around in the face of consumers.” This is a message that I consistently tell aspiring first-time entrepreneurs. Why the harsh words? Most first-time entrepreneurs have so much enthusiasm that they can become blinded to the reality of the challenges that every new business faces. I tell them to think about the last few hours. How many small businesses did you go past without even really noticing them? What about all of the products in the convenience store where you got gas this morning? How many of the service businesses that had…

  • Then Comes Generation Z

    Jeff
    9 May 2012 | 7:34 am
    USA Today ran a story by Rebecca Walker on the entrepreneurial nature of Generation Y.  They have three interesting profiles on Gen Y entrepreneurs. Here are my thoughts that I shared with the author for this story, which regular readers have heard me say many times: Generation Y is the most entrepreneurial generation ever. Parents raised their children to be independent. This generation feels a general sense of distrust for large organizations and government. What will be really interesting to watch over the next decade or so is the next generation coming along — Generation Z. These…

  • Small Businesses Still not Hiring

    Jeff
    1 May 2012 | 5:56 am
    It is getting to be a broken record — we need small businesses to lead us into a real recovery that is based on job growth, but small businesses are just not ready to increase their workforces. Two job indexes released this week show mixed results. SurePayroll Scorecard data shows that month-over-month, hiring is down -0.1% and average paychecks are down 0.3%.  Looking at this year compared to 2011 at the same time, hiring is down 1.3% and paychecks are down 1.3%. The same survey showed a drop in optimism among small business owners to 65%, down from last month’s 70% finding. Like…

  • Muddled Structure can Block Growth

    Jeff
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:30 am
    The organizational structure of the typical small business evolves from a series of specific decisions to help manage the challenges presented by growth. When there becomes too much else to do, the entrepreneur finally decides to stop doing the books and hires a bookkeeper. As demand increases and more sales opportunities arise, a salesperson is hired to help. When more and more workers get hired, a supervisor is named to manage day-to-day operations. And when a new location is opened, a manager is brought in to help run it. With each of these decisions the entrepreneur starts to create an…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Small Business Watchdog

  • Proposed Changes to Size and Eligibility for Small Business Innovation and Research Program

    rlkrafft
    16 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to amend its regulations governing size and eligibility for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs.    The proposed rule addresses ownership, control and affiliation for participants in the SBIR and STTR Programs. This includes participants that are majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, private equity firms or hedge funds.  Comments are due by July 16, 2012. Proposed Rule from the Federal Register Submit Comments electronically Advocacy contact:…

  • NOAA Proposes Rules Requiring Shrimp Boats to use Turtle Excluder Devices

    rlkrafft
    15 May 2012 | 12:20 pm
    On May 10, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed rules to withdraw the alternative tow time restriction and require all skimmer trawls, pusher-head trawls, and wing nets (butterfly trawls) rigged for fishing to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in their nets. The intent of this proposed rule is to reduce incidental bycatch and mortality of sea turtles in the southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries, and to aid in the protection and recovery of listed sea turtle populations.  Public hearings on the proposed rule will be held in May and June 2012. See the Federal Register…

  • Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes 4(d) Special Rule for the Polar Bear

    rlkrafft
    14 May 2012 | 10:59 am
    On April 19, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a special rule under authority of section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act with respect to the conservation of the polar bear. This proposed 4(d) special rule, in most instances, synchronizes the management of the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act with management provisions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.  Comments are due on or before June 18, 2012.  Notice of Proposed Rule from the Federal Register   Submit Comments to…

  • The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Think Biology 101

    rlkrafft
    11 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    An “entrepreneurial ecosystem” is more than a buzzword, it’s the coordination of like-minded entities, individuals, or institutions to form a network to help create, grow, and sustain business development. Understanding and sustaining the ecosystem is critical for the long-term viability of both businesses and the broader community. “An entrepreneurial ecosystem? Reminds me of biology class,” one my colleagues commented. Well, yes, that’s a great comparison. And like biology, we should not isolate individual parts, but consider how the individual components relate to the broader…

  • Would Reforming Export Controls Affect Your Business?

    rlkrafft
    10 May 2012 | 1:34 pm
    The President’s Export Council, Subcommittee on Export Administration (PECSEA) has developed a survey on the impact of export controls and priorities for export reform. This is an opportunity for small firms to make their voices heard on the important issue of export controls and reform.  The survey is designed to take only 15 minutes to complete.  The council intends to provide recommendations related to export reform and the impact that export controls have on U.S. exporters. The council states that the survey tool is anonymous and providing contact information in the survey response…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Young Go Getter

  • Manage Your Business by Managing Your Time

    Justin
    7 May 2012 | 10:38 pm
    As a small business operator, you are first and foremost a manager. You manage a budget. You manage processes. You manage people. But your most important management task is one that often slips under the radar. You need to know [...]

  • Preparing For Your Startup’s Elevator Pitch

    Justin
    1 May 2012 | 10:04 pm
    As an entrepreneur, you naturally need to possess a wide range of traits and skills. You need to have an idea, a passion, and a willingness to take risks. You need to have strong business sense but an eye for [...]

  • How to be a Student and an Entrepreneur at the Same Time

    Justin
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:48 pm
    Does the idea of living a life of both, a student, and an entrepreneur, at the same time entice you? Are you passionate enough to take your first step in the world of entrepreneurship, setting up your very own business, [...]

  • Making Social Media Work for You

    Justin
    27 Apr 2012 | 4:30 pm
    You’re on the homestretch of your education, learning a lot and so close to graduation that you can hear Pomp and Circumstance playing as you envision your proud walk across the stage to get your diploma. You’re excited about displaying [...]

  • Strategies For Internet Entrepreneurs

    Justin
    26 Apr 2012 | 4:17 pm
    The online universe is growing exponentially and so is the revenue being derived from it. Entrepreneurs are spilling from the woodworks with ways to monetize the net. If you want to get in on this 21st century gold rush, you [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    AllisonNazarian.com

  • I Get You

    Allison Nazarian
    15 May 2012 | 6:59 am
    I get you. I know more about you than you think. I know about some of your relationships. I know about your stories. Your excuses. Your “never agains”  Your “what ifs” and your “maybe just one more times.” I know what it is like to wonder “Is it me?” or “Why do I keep making the same mistake?” I know what you worry about. I know why you are frustrated. I get what not knowing how much more you can take feels like. I know that sometimes you feel you just can’t go on. I believe you mean it when you say you are only giving one…

  • Why Traditions Matter To Me

    Allison Nazarian
    11 May 2012 | 7:34 am
    A guest post by Erica Kaplan, aka my sister.   A few days ago my 5-year-old daughter Lily asked me why we still had our “Happy Halloween” banner hung in the corner of our kitchen. She’s right to ask, it’s strange that we still have it up from last October’s pre-Halloween get together. Every year we have people over with all of their kids, wearing their crazy costumes, and we have pizza and apple juice (and wine and beer for the grown-ups) and quick, chaotic photo sessions before we all trek outside to trick-or-treat. I explained to Lily that since we have the party every year…

  • Bravery

    Allison Nazarian
    10 May 2012 | 10:41 am
    This is for those of you who think you are not brave. You know what?  You are the bravest there is. Yes, YOU. You who are… …doing it all yourself …terrified whether you will pay all the bills this month …ready to walk away from “so so” to find your “fucking awesome” …questioning whether you should have done it …doing it the “right way” when everyone else seems to be taking short cuts …thinking you may never do it …feeling more alone than ever …asking if this is all really worth it …wondering why…

  • How Are You Really?

    Allison Nazarian
    1 May 2012 | 8:10 am
    Today, what if, when someone asked “How are you,?” you actually gave a real answer? What if, instead of chirping a happy answer like “Great!” or “Awesome, how about you?” you were a little more honest than that? “I’m having trouble paying my bills.” “My kids are on my last nerve.” “My relationship is feeling a little boring.” “I’m still trying to figure out what my true purpose in life is.” “I spend too much time on Facebook.” “I’m worried I’m in way over my head in…

  • Back To Basics

    Allison Nazarian
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:31 am
    The answer is always simpler than you thought it would be. That in and of itself may seem a bit complicated, as our maneuvering, our questioning, our ruminating, our never-ending mental ping pong always tells us it must be really, really complicated. But it isn’t. It is simple. And, yet, our egos and their henchmen seek out the complicated. But, well, no. The answer, the meaning you seek? It is already there. You don’t need to go nuts looking for it. Don’t devote all of your mental energy to imagining all of the various and complicated ways things can happen. That old…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Way of the Accidental Entrepreneur Blog

  • What loving your cat has to do with making a living

    Molly
    23 Apr 2012 | 12:39 am
    I was seized by a moment of pure, unadulterated love this morning while waiting on Bolivia the Wonder Cat. As I'm loving Bolivia, a part of me is wondering what it means to love a cat. Which got me to thinking that love is a choice supported by action and nourished by receptivity. When engaged in those things deliberately, and repeatedly, we practice love. Which brings us to making a living When you love your work but don't love the business part, sustaining the effort it takes to make it pay can be difficult. Learning business practices can feel like a burden. You can feel like there is a…

  • How to Stop the Money Tug-of-War

    Molly
    16 Apr 2012 | 12:00 am
    Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy. And with death as his greatest source of anxiety. ~John Kenneth Galbraith When your self-concept is at odds with how you feel about wealth, it's hard to imagine yourself building authentic wealth. It can feel like you can either be true to yourself or be wealthy. No matter what you choose, you lose. Even when you know intellectually that a person can be both authentic and wealthy, you may still feel somehow alienated from the experience of wealth. All the affirmations in the world won't change that. What does…

  • How do you rewrite an unconscious story?

    Molly
    9 Apr 2012 | 12:51 am
    Many of you know from a previous email that my mom passed away on April 2nd. I sat with her for the 20 hours immediately preceding her death. She passed, silently and without struggle, in the one moment when I turned my attention from her breathing to my triple latte. At first I felt guilty about not being fully present for her. Now I think that that moment was her opportunity to leave without feeling obliged by my touch to remain alive. Am I making that up? Of course. But I think that's the wrong question. I think it is better to ask, "What story am I telling?" and "What becomes possible…

  • Are You Looking for Prosperity in All the Wrong Places?

    Molly
    2 Apr 2012 | 9:58 pm
    Have you ever had a friend who always seemed to date the wrong people? It happens a lot when values and standards are out of synch. For example, your values around a great relationship may focus on intelligence, compassion, stability. You may also have standards for a great date that emphasize looks, a sense of adventure, and sex appeal. Nothing wrong with that, so long as your values are the foundation. When you meet someone who aligns with those values, then you can apply your standards. But get that backwards, and you can end up on one disastrous relationship after another. When your…

  • Are you suffering from financial anorexia? Bring mixed money motives out of the closet

    Molly
    25 Mar 2012 | 11:45 pm
    A few years back, when I began sending newsletter subscribers occasional messages offering a class, book, or program, a few readers complained. One asked if it were possible to receive the newsletters but not the offers. As I read that, my heart sped up, the bubble machine in my chest began to blow bubbles of free-floating anxiety, and my mind raced in self-defense, justification, and fear. In principle, I know that any feedback is valuable and that when someone takes the time to write they are giving me a gift. So why did I go on red alert? Because I was coming out of the closet and it was…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    PaySimple Blog

  • Is Your Website a Penguin Victim?

    Lisa Hephner
    14 May 2012 | 10:40 am
    On April 24, 2012 Google released a new update to their search ranking algorithm dubbed “Penguin.” The goal of the update, according to Google, was to combat the effect of “webspam” in its rankings. Google’s post on the release claims that the algorithmic adjustments were made to counteract keyword stuffing, link stuffing and other “techniques that don’t benefit users, where the intent is to look for shortcuts or loopholes that would rank pages higher than they deserve to be ranked.” If your website saw a drop in position or page rank over the past few weeks, it may be because…

  • Friday Small Business Funnies: If technology was like history and fashion…

    Sarah Jordan
    11 May 2012 | 10:15 am
    Comic by Matt Rushing.  Illustration by Kristi Siedow-Thompson.

  • PaySimple at Finovate

    Sarah Jordan
    8 May 2012 | 4:59 pm
    I normally don’t like to blog about our accomplishments — at least not on the company blog — but I was especially excited about our presentation at Finovate in San Francisco this morning, where our CEO – Eric Remer – and VP of Product Development – Jenae Wiegert, showcased our latest technology platform. Finovate, deemed to be the showcase of the future of financial and banking technology, handpicks companies to present, in 7 minutes or less (no slides allowed), what makes their technology a needle-mover. Our team gave an awesome presentation and showed to the…

  • Try Controlled Location Sharing with this Free App

    Lisa Hephner
    7 May 2012 | 10:18 am
    In the old days, a telephone conversation typically began with “hello” and progressed from there. Today, with the mobile phone ubiquitous, the “hello” is generally followed by “where are you?” This is particularly true if you’re en-route to a meeting, out of the office, or otherwise on the go. Location sharing mobile apps have tried to address this issue by enabling you to let others track you based on your cell phone GPS. But they have the downside of letting people track you constantly, so that they always know where you are. That’s a bit unsettling. After all, you might…

  • How debit card processing fees have changed since the Durbin amendment

    Sarah Jordan
    4 May 2012 | 12:29 pm
    Small credit unions can rest assured with the recent study posted by the Federal Reserve on the effects the Durbin amendment has had on debit card processing. The data reveals that, as was intended, credit unions with less than $10 billion in revenue (who were exempt), have been barely effected. Why all the fear and speculation, even with the exemption? With almost double the average interchange fee of a larger bank, credit unions feared that merchants and consumers would start preferring debit cards with lower fees—making credit unions unable to compete with large banks. However, it seems…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Shoeboxed Blog : Inside the Box

  • Shoeboxed #SpringCleaning Sweepstakes

    rolf
    14 May 2012 | 9:17 am
    It’s official: Spring is in the air! For some, that means it’s time to refill the allergy medications, but this time of the year most everyone seems to have a little extra skip in their step. For most of us, springtime is also the perfect time of year to de-clutter, re-organize, and attempt to be more productive. That’s right; it’s time for spring cleaning. This week, from Monday, May 14 through Friday, May 18, we’ve decided we should give everyone some extra motivation. In fact, one lucky winner will receive a handy ScanSnap S1300 scanner along with 6 months of Shoeboxed Classic to…

  • Announcing the Shoeboxed Shop Local Badge!

    Emily Farrar
    8 May 2012 | 1:12 pm
    Hey Shoeboxers! We know you love supporting local business as much as we do. Now you can show your support publicly with the new Shoeboxed Shop Local badge! The Shoeboxed Shop Local badge is the easy, verified way to tell friends, family, and co-workers that you shop at businesses in your local community. With a unique algorithm we’ve determined who is making a clear commitment to shop locally, and we wanted to give those top percentage of users a way to share this news with the world and encourage others to shop locally too. To learn more, or to see if you’re eligible,…

  • Prevent Post-Tax Day Hangovers with Outright and Shoeboxed

    rolf
    8 May 2012 | 11:19 am
    It’s happened to all of us. You squint awake in the bright morning sunshine, wondering “What happened last night?” A zillion tiny hammers pound inside your skull while your shaking hands reach reflexively for the aspirin. Your next thought is a solemn promise to yourself to never, ever, ever let that happen again. Sure, it was fun to push it to the limit, but the morning after is so not worth it. Yes, almost all of us have woken up with that post-Tax Day hangover. Did you look like this the morning after tax day? During the year, it’s easy to put off tracking your business income and…

  • Version 2.0 of Shoeboxed for Google Apps Now Live!

    Jake Brereton
    8 May 2012 | 8:50 am
    Great news for all of you Google Apps Shoeboxers: Version 2.0 of our Google Apps Marketplace listing is live! Now accessing your Shoeboxed account directly from Gmail or any other Google App is a breeze. With our new and improved Google Apps listing, you and everyone in your organization can navigate directly to Shoeboxed in seconds anytime you’re logged into your Google Apps account.           Our new Google Apps listing is loaded with timesaving features, including a streamlined sign-in process, seamless Google Contacts integration and brand new co-branded…

  • Meet the New Face of Shoeboxed Mobile: Sandra Miller

    Emily Farrar
    8 May 2012 | 8:43 am
    Mobile is the new Web 2.0, is the new World Wide Web… or so we hear. In any case, we are happy to welcome the newest addition to our developer team, Sandra Miller. Sandra will be focusing on making our mobile apps the best they can be, for iOS, Android and maybe even Windows, Blackberry and other outliers. Sandra originally hails from Indiana, but she has been a Triangle resident for many years, so she didn’t have to come far to join the Shoe Crew. As part of her Shoeboxed welcome package, we made her answer a quick questionnaire about herself, which we have edited for appropriateness…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Understanding Marketing

  • Search Engine Optimization for Small Business

    Chrisanne Sternal
    18 Apr 2012 | 4:51 pm
    Search Engine Optimization or SEO isn’t a one time thing. Many companies hire someone to design a website for their business and then have the site added to the search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. Some may even make sure to be listed with directories, like DMOZ. Possibly they’ll create a profile on Google Places, to describe their business for people in their area. Then they stop. If this sounds like what you have done, then you are probably wondering where is all the traffic? Why didn’t it work. Just having your information included within the search engines or…

  • Market Your Business By Getting Free Press

    admin
    15 Apr 2012 | 10:39 am
    Free press can help your business stand out. Following is a guest post by Samantha Peters Entrepreneurs these days often try to freely market their business by focusing on social media and SEO. They set up accounts on Facebook and Twitter, look to maximize their site’s search engine reputation management, and create a system of backlinks and content to boost traffic and exposure. These approaches can certainly work for the modern-day small business, but this single-minded focus on virtual marketing avenues causes many entrepreneurs to forget a different, traditional, and effective one: free…

  • How Small Business PR Handles PR Crisis

    John Sternal
    2 Apr 2012 | 9:07 pm
    Photo credit: Food Enthusiasts Unite Disclaimer: the author has no relationship whatsoever with the beef council, nor any group opposing the beef council in the current “pink slime” PR crisis. By now there is a good chance most everyone has a thought and emotion that runs through their head when they hear the phrase, “pink slime.” But what can small business PR learn from the pink slime fiasco? What lessons are to be learned in understanding what has taken place, how did the pink slime crisis get out of control and how is the beef industry handling the PR crisis? For…

  • Visual Marketing Tips For Small Business

    John Sternal
    28 Mar 2012 | 9:24 pm
    Visual Marketing Tips For Small Business How do you tell your story visually? How do you use images and design to market your small business? There is a new book out now that answers all your questions on this topic, and shows you through wonderful, eye-opening examples. By authors David Langton and Anita Campbell (of Small Business Trends), the new book is “Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways For Small Businesses To Market With Images And Design.” The book offers brilliant examples of visual marketing tips for small business that are easy to digest for any entrepreneur that needs…

  • How To Write A Press Release Subject Line

    John Sternal
    27 Mar 2012 | 7:42 pm
    How to Write A Press Release Subject Line Part 2 of the How To Write A Press Release series – the subject line and headline. Here is the second of a five-part comprehensive series on how to write a press release. Part one of the series discussed how to write a press release strategy. From knowing your audience to thinking about your goals and objectives, the strategy is a critical element of every press release. In the second part, we will focus on the subject line and the headline. You may ask why a subject line is part of a press release. After all, subject lines are for emails.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Pundit

  • 5 of the Biggest Lottery Scandals

    Gerri
    11 May 2012 | 2:04 pm
    Share Playing the lottery is a bleak and hopeless abyss of wasted money and discarded scratch offs. Regardless, people can’t seem to stay away from it. There are two types of lottery players: the addicted and the entrepreneurs. While some richer folk prefer to purchase lottery tickets in bulk (thus beating the odds out with all their money), others take the low route by scamming and scheming their way into heaps and heaps of gold bullion. It works the other way around, as well — no one wants to dole out millions of dollars to some random ticket holder, and businesses have been…

  • Book Review: Paid, Owned, Earned

    Drea
    7 May 2012 | 9:39 pm
    From TV spots to social media, the tools of modern advertising have become diffuse. With so many channels available, where do you start? Should you sacrifice old media for Twitter? How do you get something to go viral? The truth, according to “Paid, Owned, Earned: Maximizing Marketing Returns in a Socially Connected World,” is that new media hasn’t replaced old media. Rather, advertisers are operating in a new digital ecosystem, one based around networks, behaviors and people. The idea is to build a media system that optimizes your brand’s presence. There are three main components at…

  • 10 Best Business Conference Hotels

    David
    5 May 2012 | 5:01 am
    Whether you want to teach a seminar, maximize your profits, reach out to investors, introduce new products, or host your most valued employees for a week-long retreat, the properties on this list have everything you need. These top 10 hotels offer the best locations, accommodations, spaces, facilities, meals and high-tech amenities. 1. Seaport Hotel. Boston, MA A luxury hotel only 10 minutes from Logan Airport. Seaport offers more than 40 flexible meeting and event spaces, it offers some of the most varied options in the city, from intimate boardrooms overlooking the waterfront to a large…

  • The Evolution of Business Cards [infographic]

    David
    5 May 2012 | 4:24 am
    Since the 1500 hundreds in China, to the 21st century Business Cards have evolved in a world where technology has advanced business cards are still very common. Moo has put together a great infographic that details the rise, and continued use of the business card.

  • Running A Startup

    David
    5 May 2012 | 1:20 am
    Running A Startup is a humorous tumblr someone has setup that takes everyday moments in the life of a startup, and turns it on it’s head and makes them comedic. Trust me humor is the best way to deal with the rigors of running an online business, or starting your own business. This should keep you laughing this weekend!
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Biz Bee

  • Virtual Velocity

    smallbizbee
    16 May 2012 | 12:43 pm
    Entrepreneurs have it rough. Whoever said business owners are living the dream obviously didn’t witness the constant wrangling to create a profitable entity. First, there’s ideation followed by market research, raising capital, and then hopefully, execution. Oh, and did I mention actual operation? Within each of these stages, there are multiple tasks that must be accomplished. At nearly every step of the process, things can go painfully awry. For example, when marketing to one’s target audience, activities might include building a website, posting on forums to gain credibility,…

  • How to choose a financial planner?

    smallbizbee
    14 May 2012 | 11:41 am
    A financial planner is a professional who would put together a financial plan for you to help you achieve your financial goals. Before considering a financial planner, it would be good to examine if you really need a financial planner. As you grow older and your income increases and your list of goals become bigger, it would be prudent to engage the services of a financial planner. Even if you know the basics, it would be worthwhile to have sound advice from a professional. While the fee may appear steep, it becomes sensible when you look at the purpose for which the money is being spent.

  • 5 Most Effective Strategies to Expand Your Network

    smallbizbee
    14 May 2012 | 11:07 am
    By nature I’m a crummy networker. I know this might strike you as odd, coming from someone who teaches how to attract business, but this is a fact. I’m a crummy social networker, I’m a crummy Happy Hour go-er, I’m a crummy Chamber of Commerce attendee, and in general I’m a crummy schmoozer.  When given a choice I’d rather go to the small dinner party rather than to the bar, would rather be one to one coaching a client friend than stand in front of a crowd and speak; no one would ever mistake me for the “life of the party”. That would have been my ex husbands job. And I was…

  • Take Control of Your SEO Success in 5 Easy Steps

    smallbizbee
    14 May 2012 | 10:59 am
    As you go through your business week, and if you’re present on the internet, you’ve undoubtedly received lots of promotions by SEO (search engine optimization) specialists who guarantee to shift you up the search engine ranks if not get you to the top of the first page on Bing. Some are good, some terrible, and the fees for this product run from a few hundred bucks to thousands each month. If you’re a businessman or business owner with a restricted budget for specious results, at least, before hiring anybody there are several steps you can do on your own that are the first…

  • 10 Different Ways to Grow Your Small Business

    smallbizbee
    9 May 2012 | 3:45 pm
    When it comes to ensuring the growth and development of a small or midsize business, the best way to keep the proverbial goose and golden eggs on your front is by executing certain efficacious strategies. So, whether you own a small business or just manage a department, here are ten effective strategies to ensure a long term business growth. Take a look. 1. Be goal oriented The growth and development of any small business begins with focusing on the quality and targeted goals. A goal oriented strategy will also take you and your employees off the superfluous misalignment and goof-ups. 2. Ask…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit

  • The Avon Lady Comes to Mozambique, Hawking Cookstoves

    Jen Boynton
    16 May 2012 | 4:22 am
    CleanStar invests in, builds, and scales triple-bottom-line business models in emerging markets around the world. CleanStar Mozambique, their latest and fastest growing project, was founded to tackle the cook stove problem with a bilateral solution: new clean-burning stoves and an ethanol processing facility to fuel them. But how do they gain traction in a saturated market?

  • Interview: Matt Bannick, Managing Partner, Omidyar Network

    Nick Aster
    16 May 2012 | 4:15 am
    TriplePundit's Nick Aster sits down with with Matt Bannick, Managing Partner for Omidyar Network to look for some perspective.

  • Chevron’s 2011 CSR Report Provides a (Too) Rosy Picture of the Company

    Raz Godelnik
    16 May 2012 | 4:14 am
    Few years ago a CSR report released by an oil company sounded like an oxymoron. Even later on when these reports have become more common, it still looked to many people as a greenwashing attempt. After all, can a company really show it cares about the environment and stakeholders when its core business is oil production? I was hoping Chevron’s 2011 CSR report would prove this assumption to be wrong and that the “bad guys try to be better.” Is it too much to ask in 2012? Apparently yes, although to be honest, there is no simple answer of Yes or No to this question. While it does look…

  • Patagonia Maps Out Its Supply Chain For Even More Transparency

    Leon Kaye
    16 May 2012 | 4:13 am
    Patagonia has released its Footprint Chronicles, one tool to help customers and stakeholders learn more about the the company’s global operations and suppliers.

  • Largest U.S. Mutual Funds Not Passing Climate Change Resolutions

    Gina-Marie Cheeseman
    16 May 2012 | 4:12 am
    Although the three largest mutual fund companies in the U.S. (American Funds, Fidelity and Vanguard) voted on a number of shareholder resolutions related to climate change, none of the resolutions passed.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Zero-G Creative

  • 5 Easy Ways to Tell if You’re Hiring the WRONG Search Engine Marketer

    Erik Wolf
    15 May 2012 | 10:52 am
    Finding a good Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM) partner is difficult, especially for a small business. The right partner will hold your hand, help you set goals and shepherd your business through a well-conceived campaign capable of building sustainable ROI on your budget. The wrong partner will distract you with jargon, mismanage your expectations and happily take your money to deliver a service they know is unlikely to bring you any return at all. So as a small business owner with little to no experience with search engine marketing, how can you tell the…

  • 3 Ways to Successfully Outsource to a Managed Live Chat Provider

    Erik Wolf
    4 May 2012 | 7:25 pm
    Hiring a managed live chat provider is one of the easiest ways a business can take advantage of the benefits of an online chat campaign — like more web leads and better quality leads. But effectively outsourcing this function to a group of outsiders who know next to nothing about your business can be another matter entirely. For all the fantastic results that a well-run managed live chat solution can help generate, hiring the wrong vendor or mismanaging your vendor can seriously damage your brand. But don’t worry, I have three easy ways you can collaborate with your managed chat…

  • Is Blogging < Facebook? Where Small and Mid-Size Businesses Need to Spend Their Time

    Erik Wolf
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:44 am
    Over the last few days, several folks have sent me this article from USA Today which discusses how blogging is being replaced by Facebook in business marketing strategies. But let’s consider WHY businesses may be changing their minds about blogging — and note that in the article, “ineffectiveness” is not once given as a reason that businesses stop updating their blogs . In the small business marketplace, blog abandonment has always been an issue primarily because blogging is difficult, time-consuming and requires a lot of regular attention. Those of us who are parents…

  • Small Business Marketing Automation: Myths vs. Reality

    Erik Wolf
    16 Apr 2012 | 7:01 am
    Marketing automation is a loaded term and one that is often misinterpreted. Often when a small business person thinks about marketing automation, they are envisioning a magical process by which they get to sit back and marketing just appears like a bag of chips from a vending machine. Yes, it sounds terrific but this scenario really doesn’t reflect reality. As a business owner, I am by definition a subject matter expert on the products/services that my firm provides. I can’t outsource my expertise, nor can I build a machine capable of recreating it. There are, however, mechanical…

  • 5 Steps to DIY Search Engine Optimization Success

    Erik Wolf
    29 Mar 2012 | 7:32 am
    There’s no question that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most confusing terms in the lexicon of online marketing. And, with the good SEO vendors charging $1000-$2000 per month for their services, there’s also no question as to why many business owners wish they could do some level of competent SEO on their own. Here are five recommendations that I make to my clients: 1. Avoid complicated website templates and “software as a service” site-builders. These services can make content management really burdensome and Search Engine Optimization is all about…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    SoloSavvy Blog for Solo Entrepreneurs

  • Extend Your Range of Products to Keep Your Clients Engaged Longer

    Fabienne Fredrickson
    16 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    The Client Attraction System came out of the need for my clients to fill their pipelines and build a full business. This worked great for a while and as you know I still sell the Client Attraction System. However, as my own business grew and time passed, my clients wanted more. Their needs changed as their businesses developed and grew beyond the first stages. Clients needed time management skills and help with passive and leveraged income. While there are plenty of other coaches out there who teach this, my clients wanted this from me, Fabienne. If I were to ignore this area and not provide…

  • How to Maximize Your Facebook Business Timeline

    Michele A Scism
    15 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    Did you know that Facebook has created a new resource center with lots of great hints and tips for getting the most marketing oomph out of Facebook.  The Facebook Marketing Center is a treasure trove of information on getting the most from Facebook and has videos, white papers and articles, and social media blueprints covering how to maximize your reach on your timeline, how to use Facebook insights and other tracking features, and how to incorporate Facebook’s new premium features into your marketing plan.   I was very impressed with all the material and resources available to you. To…

  • Mommy, I Want to be a Monkeytologist

    Michelle Shaeffer
    14 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    At 7 years old, my daughter has decided her life path. She will become a “monkeytologist” and live with monkeys in the African forest. What did you want to be when you were 7? I wanted to be an astronaut. And yes, the 7 year old in me is very anxiously awaiting the success of Virgin Galactic’s space travel. Then I wanted to be lawyer, a college teacher, and get into politics. Not quite the path I ended up taking. But remember how much fun it was to dream as a kid? At some point, many of us stop dreaming. We accept that life is what it is and we’ll get a job, go to work every day, and…

  • 5 Ways to Get More Out of the New Timeline Pages

    Michelle Shaeffer
    13 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    Are you trying to figure out what to do with that new “timeline” layout that’s taken over your Facebook page? Never fear! Here are 5 easy actions you can take to leverage the new features we’ve been given by the Facebook overlords. 1. Use a Great Cover Photo Make your cover photo attention grabbing and interesting. Consider changing it occassionally to keep it fresh. Just touch the image with your mouse and a “Change Cover” option will show up in the bottom right corner.  Click that and choose your new image.  Dimensions are 851px by 315px. What can you…

  • No Opt-In = Lost Opportunities

    Marty Marsh
    12 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    If you don’t have an opt-in form on your site, you will have no opportunity to communicate with the vast majority of your visitors ever again. Most visitors to your site will likely only visit you once and if they don’t buy on that first visit — and it is highly likely that they won’t — you must have some way of continuing to communicate with them so they’ll think of you when they are ready to buy. You must have an opt-in form on your site situated prominently so site visitors will join your list. The usual place for it, and this is where folks have been trained to look for it, is…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    SoftwareCEO - Latest Forum Threads

  • Motorola MT917 ---------------- $ 380.00Motorola XT928

    16 May 2012 | 8:59 am
    ---------- MAZLEY LTD® ------------------WHY BUY FROM US?-------Lowest Prices Checked,Huge Product Range, 24/7Online Support, Fast Shipping Guaranteed, Safetyand Security Assured. MAZLEY LTD® is a leading provider of GSM phones, accessories and more electronics.Our business is founded on the ethos of creating customer satisfaction not by just providing the most competitive prices around but by also providing a level of service second to none. Order from us today and save 10% or more on all your order ------ MAZLEY LTD® -----------100% *OFFICIAL* AUTHORIZED DEALER100% Brand New in…

  • she felt the cheeks burning fever

    12 May 2012 | 12:25 am
    occasions so embarrassed, she felt the cheeks burning fever. Near all the young men went to Chen Nantou eyes to kill some people have begun to move here. Chen Nan channel: "Little Devil Do not forget to trapped God refers to the force of your body is only able to resolve, you look out for themselves." He looked at college students gathered around, and those who take the test brush down the youth, put on a polite look and said: "Phoenix Miss another day and then accompany you to walk, I have something to go to the trouble after you cheap nfl jerseys take care of my sister, sister, do not think…

  • Tips To Purchasing fashion lids Online.

    7 May 2012 | 9:55 pm
    The actual urban clothes scene isn't complete without an accumulation of fitted less difficult. Fitted hats also called a "fitted" tend to be baseball caps that have no sizing adjustment. Knit Hats They match snuggly on your own head and still have a much better appearance as you'll find no straps in the back. These hats are incredibly popular among the young masses and within urban fashion. They come in hundreds associated with styles as well as colors. Many downtown outfits are not considered complete minus the wearing of an fitted. Tall men and women, unfavorable don tall canister cap, cap…

  • Lead generation

    7 May 2012 | 9:38 am
    Hi Can anyone tell me the process for lead generation for IT Services company Thanks and regards, Satishkumar.M satishmuth@gmail.com 9840932454[Read more]

  • How to Start a Non Voice/inbound call centre?

    2 May 2012 | 1:42 am
    I want to start a Non voice/inbound call centre in my home town and Data entry work also. My question is how will start?what will be my first step and how I'll get project? Thank you[Read more]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Strategic Growth Concepts for Start-up, Small and Mid-size Businesses

  • SBA Offers Free Town Hall, Forums on Social Media, Exporting, and Contracting During National Small Business Week

    StrategicGrowth
    12 May 2012 | 9:30 pm
    WASHINGTON – Small business owners looking for ways to grow and develop their businesses are invited to take part in National Small Business Week’s free networking and educational forums and dialogue with leading business experts during National Small Business Week, May 20-22 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Small Business Administration and its private sector partners are holding key business forums, and are encouraging small business owners and entrepreneurs to sign up, register and spread the word to other small businesses interested in attending. The free forums include a town hall with…

  • Michigan Makes Venture Matching Funds Available

    StrategicGrowth
    3 Apr 2012 | 11:42 pm
    The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), through the Pure Michigan Venture Match Fund (PMVM Fund), is soliciting applications from for-profit Michigan-based companies that have received an equity investment commitment from a qualified venture fund for commercialization and growth purposes to provide a match of the investment as follows: Qualified venture led investments from $700,000 to $1,000,000 will be matched by a 50% ($350,000 to $500,000) investment from the PMVM Fund. Qualified venture led investments from $1,000,000.01 to $3,000,000 will be matched by a $500,000 investment from the PMVM…

  • SBA Kicks Off Young Entrepreneur Series

    StrategicGrowth
    3 Nov 2011 | 10:54 pm
    The White House and the U.S. Small Business Administration announced today the launch of the Young Entrepreneur Series (YES), which will connect young and aspiring entrepreneurs with SBA officials, local business advisors and resources to help them start or grow their own small business.  “For our economy to thrive in the 21st century, we must set about creating the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns.  “Young Americans need to know that starting a business is a viable alternative to going to work for somebody else.  There is a clear and…

  • Statement from SBA Administrator Mills on new Federal ‘QuickPay’ program

    StrategicGrowth
    15 Sep 2011 | 11:18 pm
    WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Mills statement on the President’s “QuickPay” announcement today to cut in half – from 30 days to 15 days – the amount of time it takes federal agencies to pay small businesses for the products and services they deliver to the federal government:  “The thousands of small businesses that provide great products and services to the federal government have a big reason to cheer the President’s ‘QuickPay’ announcement today.  When small contractors get their money in 15 days instead of 30, it results in a permanent infusion of cash flow into…

  • Leveling the Federal Contracting Playing Field – The New SBA Woman-Owned Small Business Program Explained

    StrategicGrowth
    31 Aug 2011 | 10:00 am
    by Caron Beesley, Moderator Congress has set goals to help woman-owned small businesses (WOSBs) gain their share of the federal contracting market. However, without a specific set-aside contract program for WOSBs, such as those in place for small disadvantaged businesses (e.g., the 8(a) program), service-disabled veterans and historically underutilized business zones (HUBZone), WOSBs only received 4% of the $400+ billion contracts awarded annually well shy of the 5% statutory goal. In an effort to address this shortfall and create a more level contracting playing field for women-owned small…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business News Headlines - Yahoo! News

  • Dollar continues to rally on fears about Greece

    16 May 2012 | 1:17 pm
    Worries that Greece will drop out of the euro currency union continued to push the dollar higher against most other currencies Wednesday.

  • Dutch lawmaker to try to nix bailout fund in court

    16 May 2012 | 1:17 pm
    Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders says he will file a lawsuit to block the Netherlands from ratifying the permanent European bailout fund.

  • Anger, drama at Ratko Mladic's genocide trial

    16 May 2012 | 1:15 pm
    Ratko Mladic was a shadow of the swaggering general who once "held Sarajevo in the palm of his hand" during Bosnia's 1992-95 war as his long-awaited genocide trial opened Wednesday. Yet he still managed to inflame Bosnia's festering war wounds with the flick of his hand.

  • Fed: Several members could support further easing

    16 May 2012 | 1:02 pm
    Federal Reserve policymakers are open to further efforts to stimulate the U.S. economy if growth falters or threats escalate.

  • Fears over Greece's political and financial crisis

    16 May 2012 | 12:59 pm
    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell in a volatile session on Wednesday as news that the European Central Bank had stopped providing liquidity to some Greek banks unnerved investors ahead of the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve later in the day. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 4.35 points, or 0.03 percent, to 12,627.65. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 2.07 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,328.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 13.53 points, or 0.47 percent, to 2,880.23. (Reporting By Edward Krudy, editing by Dave Zimmerman)
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Blog

  • Good marketing or highway robbery?

    19 Apr 2012 | 11:18 am
    How far will gas stations go to try to benefit from the current high price of gasoline? One gas station on Long Island has lowered its price on regular gas to $3.59, but only for cash customers.. Look at the unbelievably large surcharge credit card customers have to pay....

  • SBA Nationwide Impact Investment Fund

    8 Mar 2012 | 10:44 am
    Looking for funding to grow your business? If your business is a high-growth company in the clean tech or technology fields, you''ll want to look into SJF Ventures III, LP.SJF Ventures is the first nationally-focused Impact Investment Fund licensed by the SBA under Startup America Initiative.

  • New Keyword Tool From Microsoft

    1 Mar 2012 | 9:42 am
    There's a new tool from Bing for doing keyword research. It's gives you a peak at the what Bing searchers look for, but while it's still in beta, you might get some suprising and humorous results.

  • Update Copyright Notice

    5 Jan 2012 | 12:47 pm
    Is the copyright notice on your website up-to-date? Don't let an outdated copyright date make your site look outdated or abandoned.

  • Resolutions That Will Never See the Light of Day

    22 Dec 2011 | 11:27 am
    Resolutions are nothing more than a wish list (or maybe a laundry list) of bad habits and shortcomings we'd like to change. But everyone knows that most resolutions are forgotten faster than they are made. So, instead of making resolutions of our own, here are a few resolutions we'd like to see others make.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    retaildoc.com

  • Selling Tip: How To Sell To Difficult Customers

    Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor
    15 May 2012 | 8:37 am
    If you’ve been in retail sales at all, you’ve had an experience selling to a difficult customer. It’s like this… You’re going along in a sale and somehow, somewhere a light bulb goes off and you realize you just aren’t clicking with your customer. They’re difficult. Maybe while selling a luxury watch you are emphasizing a feature and your customer finds a flaw in your thinking and challenges your conclusion. Or…maybe while you’re trying to “close” the sale on a purple plaid outfit, your customer turns away and starts looking around the store, picking up…

  • Retail Training To Sell The More Expensive Item

    Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor
    8 May 2012 | 7:36 am
    The retail world is upside down. And I don’t mean because of Amazon… Once upon a time merchants purchased the cheapest items to draw people in and then because they held high regard for their retail sales training, upsold what was the best answer for their customers. In today’s topsy-turvy world, retailers are now showing the cheapest thing as the ANSWER. How this happened When sales are down, businesses cut employees. Next is training. What this has done The lack of retail sales training leads employees to sell cheap as the answer… and that’s expensive for your business.

  • Small Business Marketing: Webinar May 10 8PM

    Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:54 am
    On Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 8pm EST, join Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor and bestselling author of The Retail Doctor’s Guide to Growing Your Business for a live webinar, “What’s So Great About You”? Phibbs reveals 18 ways to ramp up your small business marketing to getting more customers in your door via your website, email list and social media including Facebook advertising strategies. He’ll also share two of his favorite ways to cut down your time and save your sanity. The quality of the online experiences you deliver to your prospects and customers (from…

  • 25 Ways Independent Retailers Hobble Their Own Success

    Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor
    26 Apr 2012 | 7:52 am
    Independent retailers are the heart and soul of retail in America. The National Retail Federation says retail is responsible for one out of nearly every four jobs in the US. From the local florist to the hardware store to the funky boutique started by a Project Runway wannabe, retail remains the heart of the American economy. Anyone is welcome to open a shop if they have the money. But what keeps so many independent retail business owners unable to pay themselves a decent wage can be traced back to one or more of these crucial issues. See how many you recognize… 25 Ways Independent…

  • Marketing: Creating Buzz for your Small Business [Case Study]

    Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor
    23 Apr 2012 | 7:35 am
    A lot has been written about all the ways you can get buzz for your business – from putting discounts on your Facebook fan page, to reaching out to mommy bloggers, to offering Groupons. You don’t get buzz by being Santa Claus with your marketing dollars. The way you get buzz, buzz that is sustainable and leads to higher profits, is to be a business worthy of buzz. That means you have to earn it. When I am asked by consultants what it takes to create a successful practice, I always tell them they need to “hit it out of the park” because that is what happened to me when I worked with…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Mogul Mom

  • The 3 Rules of Target Markets

    Dawn Martinello
    15 May 2012 | 3:40 pm
    Every month I give a seminar on target markets to budding young (and old) entrepreneurs at the Self Employment Business Program. And every month they hustle in the door expecting some boring speech on determining the basics behind your target market complete with charts, graphs, and who knows what else. At the end of the two hours, I have a sky-high stack of evaluations with remarks like “ooh, who knew target marketing could be fun!” and “holy crow, I can’t believe I didn’t think about this before”. So it got me thinking – there are probably a few…

  • The Best Places for Mom Entrepreneurs to Work It

    Holly Hanna
    13 May 2012 | 12:20 pm
    Being a home-based mom entrepreneur has many benefits; a casual dress code, lots of flexibility, a travel-free commute to your office, and most importantly, getting to do something that you truly love each and every day. But no matter how happy you are working from home, there will come a time that being cooped up at home isn’t working. Whether it’s distractions, isolation, or having to meet a client, there are going to be days when working at your kitchen table just isn’t going to cut it. So when these times happen, use some of the suggestions below to keep yourself productive, sane…

  • Are You Going To Start Cheating the Day After Mother’s Day?

    Guest
    10 May 2012 | 2:28 pm
    On the day after Mother’s Day, there’s a spike in registration of married women to infidelity-matchmaking services. Kind of amazing, but the day after mothers are supposed to be celebrated, appreciated and fêted for doing all that they do, they are actively seeking appreciation and adoration from someone else – someone who’s not their spouse! Clearly, something is amiss with Mother’s Day. But is it really just about Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day carries big expectations of wanting to really be acknowledged for all the zillions of things we do as mothers. And when we don’t…

  • Could This Be You? 4 Real Life B-School Success Stories

    Heather Allard
    8 May 2012 | 11:02 pm
    You know me. I love the “real life” kinda stuff, especially when it comes to real life business success stories. So I am totally digging this new video from Marie Forleo with not one, not two, not three…but FOUR real life B-School success stories. In this video, you’ll hear incredible stories from four women who’ve made major increases in income and impact in their business with the mad marketing skills they learned in B-School. You’ll meet: A PR Coach who made an additional $150,000 A professional astrologer whose income grew by 600% A jewelry designer…

  • Can You Start A Business With $100? Chris Guillebeau Thinks So.

    Heather Allard
    7 May 2012 | 6:08 pm
    Like most of the “original gangstas” I followed online, I can’t remember exactly when I discovered Chris Guillebeau. What I do remember is how struck I was by his post, The Case for the $100 Business, written back in 2009.  So much so, that I was inspired to write a post of my own called 5 Ways to Start a Business for Under $1000 about a week later. Mine and Chris’s posts got 105 and 63 comments respectively, proof that starting a business on a shoestring budget is a hot topic. I had the great pleasure of meeting Chris, a gentleman, world traveler and entrepreneur,…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Insider

  • Davey Johnson Awkwardly Tries To Explain What Happened To His Star Pitcher

    Cork Gaines
    16 May 2012 | 1:57 pm
    Washington Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg had a rough outing yesterday. And according to his manager, at least part of the problem was some stray "hot stuff" in a very sensitive area. Johnson would not reveal exactly what happened to Strasburg, but according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, it would seem that Strasburg accidentally applied some ointment to a sensitive part of his body. You know, down there. That led to this post-game press conference in which Johnson tries his best to explain what happened without explaining what happened (via MASNSports.com)...  …

  • Google Should Be Terrified Of These 11 Startups (GOOG)

    Matt Lynley
    16 May 2012 | 1:56 pm
    Google is in a pretty good position right now. It's by a very wide margin the best search engine on the market, and it's charging into other spaces like payments and music. But those sectors are ripe for disruption, and all it takes is a good idea from a startup to knock Google — which can't move as quickly as a nimble startup — off its pedestal. We asked a bunch of investors and industry sources where they think Google is at risk for disruption. It turns out Google is much more vulnerable than we thought.  Even search isn't sacred any more, with some startups going after…

  • These Skyscrapers Would Protect Japan From Tsunamis, And Be An Awesome Place To Live

    ArchDaily
    16 May 2012 | 1:56 pm
    The design for the Citadel Skyscraper by Victor Kopeikin and Pavlo Zabotin is a symbiosis of a skyscraper and a residential tank creating a defensive shield to protect the Japan from the inside against external natural and anthropogenic influences.  The project provides carrying the residential functions of cities in the land out to self-supporting residential units located in the sea (residential skyscrapers, citadels). These citadels interact with each other on the shoreline, forming a single closed defensive chain that operates both on the surface and underground.

  • INSTANT MBA: Know What Your Game Is, And Play It Tight

    Kim Bhasin
    16 May 2012 | 1:52 pm
    Today's advice comes from our interview with Sara Bordo, founder of NowLive: "Absolutely know what your game is, and play your game as tight and as focused as you can," says Bordo. "Really be extraordinarily specific about what the company goal is." When Bordo started her entertainment production and streaming company, she saw her competitors losing focus. They would wander off to start all kinds of different ancillary businesses, and it left her space to do one thing and do it right. It's about staying true to that one thing, says Bordo. You have to grow into it, and climb the ladder to…

  • Facebook's IPO Expected To Blow Google's Out Of The Water - Will Be The Largest VC Backed IPO Ever By 4X

    Alyson Shontell
    16 May 2012 | 1:50 pm
    Dow Jones says Facebook is expected to smash three IPO records when it goes public. Google holds the current record for the largest IPO by a venture backed company which was valued at $24.6 billion in 2004. Facebook is expected to exceed that by about four times. Thanks in part to Instagram, Facebook is also the "most active acquirer pre-IPO," says Dow Jones.  It has purchased 13 VC-backed companies while private. Twitter is in a close second with 11 VC-backed acquisitions. Facebook has also raised more money than any other VC-backed company to go public. It has raised $2.2 billion in…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    HBR.org

  • The Inexperience Advantage

    Daniel Gulati
    16 May 2012 | 10:53 am
    Ever been shut down by someone who supposedly knows more than you? It happens to me daily. I get denied by people that are more senior, more polished, and more knowledgeable than me. I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed professional rejection, but I try my best to dust myself off and move forward, reminding myself that that a series of controlled failures are necessary for eventual success. Not surprisingly, I'm not the only one getting ignored because of my inexperience, and the rejections can be downright vicious. Just last week, Kate called me in tears after attending a media conference with…

  • Are Women Held Back by Colleagues' Wives?

    Lauren Stiller Rikleen
    16 May 2012 | 10:33 am
    The new millennium has not brought much progress for women seeking top leadership roles in the workplace. Although female graduates continue to pour out of colleges and professional schools, the percentages of women running large companies, or serving as managing partners of their law firms, or sitting on corporate boards have barely budged in the past decade. Why has progress stalled? A recent study suggests the unlikeliest of reasons: the marriage structure of men in the workplace. A group of researchers from several universities recently published a report on the attitudes and beliefs of…

  • Great Businesses Don't Start With a Plan

    Anthony K. Tjan
    16 May 2012 | 10:29 am
    You want to start a business. So you need a plan, right? No. Not really. As part of the research for a book I'm co-authoring — Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck, due out in August from HBR Press — my colleagues and I interviewed and surveyed hundreds of successful entrepreneurs around the globe to better understand what it takes to be an entrepreneur and build a really great business. One of our most striking findings was that of the entrepreneurs we surveyed who had a successful exit (that is, an IPO or sale to another firm), about 70% did NOT start with a business plan. Instead,…

  • The Myths That Prevent Change

    Roberto Verganti
    16 May 2012 | 10:14 am
    You probably think that the barriers to innovation are negative elements of your organization — that is, the wrong people, behaviors, and processes. But the most subtle and pernicious barriers to innovation may be the seemingly positive myths about what has made your organization successful. Every organization has myths about who are the great leaders, what are the behaviors to admire and imitate, what business you are in, what customers want, what are the best skills to run a process. Whenever someone proposes an idea, it is explicitly or implicitly screened with the myths.

  • You Are Not A Computer (Try As You May)

    Tony Schwartz
    16 May 2012 | 7:32 am
    Technology is meant to serve us. Instead it increasingly runs us — and runs us down. Where we put our focus shapes our agenda and defines our experience in every moment. More and more, we're turning over this precious resource to our digital technology, allowing it to define the depth and span of our attention, and to seduce us into operating at such high speeds that we don't notice the insidious toll that's taking. I see it in myself, as I fight to stay focused on what's most important, and to resist the urgent, addictive, Pavlovian pull of my digital devices. At times, I feel like a…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Big Marketing For Small Business

  • 4 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Content Marketing

    Guest Author
    16 May 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Content marketing has changed drastically over the last few years. In the early days of content marketing, you could get away with creating off-the-cuff content. Today, there’s a lot of competition and it’s important that your content stands out. Here are four simple ways to supercharge your content marketing efforts. 1. Develop a Comprehensive Strategy for Long-term Success Without a comprehensive plan your content marketing efforts are doomed to failure. Beyond doing the necessary keyword research it’s important to think about the style and tone of your content. Will it be serious…

  • SEO 101: The Do’s and Don’ts of Search Engine Optimization

    Guest Author
    11 May 2012 | 2:41 pm
    Search engine optimization, also known as SEO is a volatile industry. Google changes can come at any moment and some are worse than others. It doesn’t help they name their updates after cute animals like pandas and penguins (honestly who doesn’t like to see a cute panda?). Anyway, I digress, SEO might be a roller coaster, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t do’s and don’ts you can live by. Do—Stay Current on Industry News No matter if you have been doing SEO since the beginning of it’s inception, or just started today, you have to stay current on new trends. Google is fickle, and…

  • 7 Free Ways to Market a New Small Business

    Guest Author
    9 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    For obvious reasons, all new small businesses need to do what they can to market themselves. Not every owner can afford to utilize the best marketing and advertising tactics though. These services and strategies can cost quite a lot of money to employ in the long run. Too many businesses overstretch their budget trying to roll out a huge campaign and wind up suffering financially. With that in mind, there are various free methods that can be employed at any time. 1. Harnessing the Power of Social Media Perhaps the best option is starting a few social media accounts on sites like Twitter and…

  • Common Small Business Mistakes Made Online

    Guest Author
    9 Apr 2012 | 3:39 pm
    In the online world, it is far too easy to make a mistake and have it available for countless eyes to see. While most businesses might think accidentally sending an email to the wrong recipient or posting something questionable on a social network are going to be the biggest faults to avoid, there are other mistakes businesses make online that make them look unprofessional, or even foolish. The following are some examples of mistakes businesses, especially new business owners, make online and how to avoid them. Email Addresses Not on the Company’s Domain If you have a website up and…

  • Remarketing Increases Paid Advertising Conversion

    Guest Author
    2 Apr 2012 | 1:04 pm
    When small firms think about paid advertising online, 99.9% of them think about one thing: Google AdWords. Not to speak negatively of this venerable platform, but AdWords isn’t always (or even often) the answer: It takes a substantial monthly ad budget to generate enough conversions to move the dial. In some niches, keywords are too expensive for small firms to compete. In other niches, search volume is too low to generate ROI. If you’re looking for an advertising model with a higher probability of success, look to one of the best-kept secrets in Internet marketing: Remarketing. How…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Free Small & Medium Business Magazines and Downloads from alltop.tradepub.com

  • Cloud for Dummies, IBM Midsize Company Limited Edition

    10 May 2012 | 4:50 pm
    This eBook gives mid-sized companies insights on what it means to create flexible pools of computing resources that break down silos in your company so you can perform in a smarter & proactive manner.Request Free!

  • Express Tape Storage Solutions from IBM. Solving Midsize Business Backup and Archive Challenges

    10 May 2012 | 4:50 pm
    This solution brief discusses the backup and archive challenges that SMBs face and how tape storage solutions from IBM help companies cost-effectively ensure continuous operations, solve backup and archive problems, and address regulatory compliance.Request Free!

  • Virtualization Reduces Costs and Complexity for Mid-sized Businesses

    10 May 2012 | 4:50 pm
    This paper explains virtualization, its benefits for mid-sized business and how IBM's virtualization strategy can help these companies reduce costs, improve services and simplify management.Request Free!

  • Entrepreneur Equation--Free 34 Page Chapter

    19 Apr 2012 | 2:00 am
    In The Entrepreneur Equation, Carol Roth helps you learn how to stack the odds of success in your favor and ultimately decide if business ownership is the best possible path for you, now or ever. Carol helps you understand what it takes to build a valuable business as well as how to assess the risks and rewards of business ownership based on your personal circumstances. As a result, you'll be able to do the math before you set down the entrepreneurial path so that you not only answer “Could I be an entrepreneur?” but also “Should I be an entrepreneur?”Request Free!

  • Business Intelligence for the Small to Medium Sized Business

    18 Apr 2012 | 3:50 pm
    The analytical capability that was once reserved for large enterprises has now permeated the world of Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs) and provided a solid foundation of visibility into what really matters to these companies. Aberdeen's research shows a marked uptake in the use of Business Intelligence (BI) solutions in the SMB market over the past year. Based on feedback from almost 650 end-user organizations, this report serves as a roadmap for SMBs looking to improve their analytical capability and achieve Best-in-Class performance through the deployment of BI.Request Free!
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    NASE Staff Blog

  • Business Meals [Ask The Experts Q & A]

    15 May 2012 | 11:01 am
    Question: Our small business consists of myself and my wife, doing copyediting and proofreading.  As such we don't really have much occasion to "entertain" customers, as nearly all our work consists of receiveing electronic files or hard copy and doing what we do and sending it off, often to other states.  But if we go out to dinner once a month and discuss business, such as planning, projects, office organization, etc, can we deduct that as a business meal? Answer: The easy answer to your question is absolutely YES, those business meals will be deductible.  The key point is…

  • Call For Tax Reform Grows Louder

    11 May 2012 | 1:36 pm
    Posted by Katie Vlietstra - Calls by advocates and organizations for Congress to begin work on comprehensive tax reform, individual and corporate, have been tempered thus far; however, in the last two weeks a growing number of groups have voiced alarm that neither the Senate or House have indicated when they will begin work on what could be the largest piece of legislation in the second session of the 112th.   On April 24th, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenues Measures held a hearing on tax cuts that either expired in 2011 or will expire 2012; unfortunately, the…

  • Congress: Here We Go Again

    25 Apr 2012 | 12:53 pm
    Posted by Katie Vlietstra - The continued back and forth between the Senate and House on legislation aimed and helping the self-employed and small business community has resulted in possible bipartisan collaborations. In addition, recent statements in the press have indicated interest in moving a large package that would group together several bipartisan pieces of legislation, including tax credits for reinvestment and hiring of employees in advance of the November election.  The NASE believes this would be a natural vehicle to attach the Small Business Tax Extenders bill to,…

  • Last Minute Tax Tips

    13 Apr 2012 | 1:57 pm

  • Does Your Tax Planning End On New Years?

    10 Apr 2012 | 2:17 pm
    Posted by Keith Hall (NASE National Tax Advisor) - For most of us tax time is not the most rewarding time of the year and is typically ranked right up there with visiting the dentist. Statistics would indicate that our commitment to flossing is only evident in the few weeks right before that dentist appointment. And likewise our commitment to tax planning is most likely limited to the few weeks right before the return is due. Unfortunately, in both cases, by that time it is already too late to make any real difference.    Most tax planning strategies end with the New Year’s…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global

  • How Women Around the World Access Small Loans to Start or GROW a Business

    Laurel Delaney
    14 May 2012 | 8:18 pm
    In the article below, this question was posed to Jane Wurwand, founder of Dermalogica, a multi-million dollar business with offices in over 50 countries around the world: If you were counseling a young entrepreneur just starting their business today, what is the most important thing you would tell them? The most important element is to ask yourself if this is something that you really want. You have to really, really want it. You have to be willing to endure opposition, rejection and failure. This opposition only sharpens your love, if it really is the real thing. You have to be in it for the…

  • Lessons Learned From Three Visionary Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide

    Laurel Delaney
    7 May 2012 | 8:11 pm
    Three women share their keys to global success: Georgette Moschbacher, CEO and president of Borghese, a worldwide cosmetic company. Linda Rottenberg, CEO and co-founder of Endeavor, pioneering the field of high-impact entrepreneurship, the global phenomenon of using high-growth business to transform economies. Leila Valez, co-founder and CEO of Beleza Natural, a chain of Brazilian beauty institutes and provider of hair-care products which is taking Brazil by storm. Learn their lessons here. Illustration credit:  Borghese Posted by:  Laurel Delaney Filed under: Education, Enlighten Me!,…

  • Inspire Children To Learn About the World

    Laurel Delaney
    29 Apr 2012 | 8:17 pm
    Little Passports makes educational toys and electronic games that inspire children to learn about other countries and cultures. At the same time, you can build your own business by introducing Little Passports to your community. Discover here. Posted by:  Laurel Delaney Filed under: Education, Enlighten Me! Tagged: global adventure, inspire your child, Laurel Delaney, learn about the world, Little Passports

  • ALEAP: Totally Devoted to Women Entrepreneurs

    Laurel Delaney
    22 Apr 2012 | 2:41 pm
    ALEAP, the Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh (ALEAP) was established with an aim to bring women entrepreneurs trying to help each other and work in collaboration for welfare maximization. It was established in December 1993 and today holds the recognition of being one of India’s premier institutions of women entrepreneurs totally devoted to the development of entrepreneurship among women. Learn more about ALEAP here. Logo credit here. Posted by: Laurel Delaney Filed under: Country specific, Economic growth, Education, Enlighten Me!, global women entrepreneurs Tagged:…

  • Happiness Through Individual Global Initiative

    Laurel Delaney
    16 Apr 2012 | 6:23 pm
    Happiness through individual initiative — better known as entrepreneurship — is something the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton is very familiar with.  After all, did you know: When Kate was five, her mother, like many aspiring entrepreneurs, saw a niche that could be filled to help others in her situation. As described on the website of the family business, PartyPieces.co.uk, “Carole Middleton founded Party Pieces in 1987 after finding it difficult to source fun, simple party products for her children’s parties.” Read the entire article:  The…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Forbes - Entrepreneurs

  • Qualtrics: Tech's Hidden Gem In Utah

    Victoria Barret
    16 May 2012 | 1:26 pm
    How a family in Provo built one of the fastest-growing, most profitable software firms no one has ever heard of apart from its fanatic customers.

  • Gimme, Gimme, Gimme -- Millennials in the Workplace

    Ty Kiisel
    16 May 2012 | 1:25 pm
    According to Dan Schawbel there are about 80 million millennials and 79 million boomers in the U.S. today with about half of the younger generation in the workforce. "All in all, it’s a pretty bad time to be a young worker (or aspiring young worker) in America," write Schawbel. "Unemployment and

  • Google And Bing Search Engines Get Smarter, More Social

    TJ McCue
    16 May 2012 | 1:22 pm
    As Google and Microsoft plan to make the search experience better for consumers, small business will benefit. Some call it a search engine war. It is more like a search engine extravaganza. Read on. Google calls its new work the “Knowledge Graph” perhaps similar to Facebook’s Social Graph, but Google wants to inventory the 3.5 billion connections between the millions of “things” on the web and in the real world. Microsoft’s Bing rolled out its Social Search on May 15.

  • How to Turn a Financial Crisis into a Business Opportunity

    Dan Simon
    16 May 2012 | 1:20 pm
    Believe it or not, when we founded our US business seven years ago, banks were thought of as boring, ‘the 1%’ referred to low-fat milk, and Wall Street was a place young graduates lined up to work, not occupy.

  • In praise of Legal Aid lawyers (by a white collar criminal defense practitioner)

    Lawrence Bader
    16 May 2012 | 1:12 pm
    Who are some of society’s most under-appreciated members?  Teachers always seem to be at the top of the list, and with good reason.  We put our cherished children in their capable hands and pay them a fraction of what “professionals” like lawyers and doctors make.  Teachers, however, have the pleasure of helping children learn, which can be among the most rewarding feelings imaginable.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Big Red Tomato Company

  • 7 Business lessons from Caine’s Arcade

    Matthew Needham
    2 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Just a few days ago one of my Facebook friends posted a link to the story of 9 year old entrepreneur Caine Monroy who built an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad’s auto part store. With the words: “This. Story. Is. Awesome! If you haven’t heard of Caine’s arcade, you’ve got to check this out. [URL] Go Caine!” So I thought I’d take a look. And you know what? It was awesome. But when I came to show the video to my wife,  I couldn’t remember the URL, so I went to Google and typed in “Caine’s Arcade” and I was stunned at…

  • Branson backs loans for student business plans

    Matthew Needham
    16 Mar 2012 | 12:00 am
    Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, has this week backed a plan for school leavers who opt not to go to university but start a business instead. Branson’s plan, which is currently under review by the UK Government ahead of the Budget, is being quoted by Branson as “a great way of kick-starting thousands of new businesses”. Branson’s idea, which is supported by a host of entrepreneurs, including Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones, Members of Parliament and backed by business groups and charities such as the Prince’s…

  • When to kill a project

    Matthew Needham
    5 Mar 2012 | 11:00 pm
    When running a project and it’s running behind plan when should you quit and when should you carry on? Here’s a technique you can apply to the projects you’re working on to decide when to quit and when to carry on. Earned value analysis One way of using numbers to help support decision making is borrowing a technique from project management called earned value analysis. Basically it works on the principle that the project spend should be aligned to the value delivered by the project. If the amount of spend exceeds the amount of value created at each of the milestones, then…

  • Why the best plan is to have no plan at all

    Matthew Needham
    26 Feb 2012 | 11:00 pm
    In this post we look at why a great idea or a good business plan is no substitute for taking action.   “Too much talk, too little do” Tom Peters, In Search of Excellence In 1982, Tom Peters along with Bob Waterman wrote the business classic In Search Of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies. In that book they identified 8 themes which they argued were the foundations of success of the companies  in the study. The first theme was a bias for action – active decision making – “getting on with it”.  At the time Peters and Waterman…

  • Weekend Round up January 28

    Matthew Needham
    28 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am
    Welcome to Weekend Roundup. This is a collection of some great posts that I’ve come across over the previous week. I don’t go into major depth on each one, but encourage you to check them out if they sound interesting: Make sure your tweets are being seen  with business owners trying to get their message out, how can you be sure they are being seen? Here’s some tips to make sure your tweets get read. What’s in a business name? 20 considerations for getting it right When you start in business, you may have decided what you’re going to sell or what you’re…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Rise to the Top

  • The Dos and Don’ts of Hiring a Business Coach: A Conversation with Justin Lukasavige

    David Siteman Garland
    15 May 2012 | 8:25 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: I know I said we were wrapping up the “learn how to do cool stuff” series (which we are) and getting back to awesome interviews with successful peeps, but this was a topic I couldn’t pass up because it is SO valuable. Hiring a coach. There are amazing success stories and disaster stories. How do you do it right? Justin Lukasavige, President of Lukas Coaching, is in the house today for a discussion on what to do and what not to do. Enjoy! I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click…

  • Rise to Success: The Amazing Story of Zach Even-Esh

    David Siteman Garland
    10 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: Welcome, my friends, to the new Rise To Success series on the show – by your popular request. Zach Even-Esh is here today to share his incredible story of entrepreneurial success in the most unlikely of industries (I’m not even going to spoil it right here, you just have to tune in below and watch). Get ready to be JOLTED into action and filled with ideas. Trust me. Enjoy. I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click here to download the audio file. Become a RISE VIP for Free. Enter Your…

  • How He Did It: 200 Videos, 200 Days, Half a Million Views with a Budget of 2K

    David Siteman Garland
    8 May 2012 | 8:02 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: Wow, what a series it has been! The “Learn How To Do Cool Stuff” series is wrapping up on The Rise To The Top and you know darn well we are going to go out with a big one. Enter today’s guest, creator of Real Men Real Style Antonio Centeno, who is here to teach us how he created 200 quality videos in 200 days and scored over 1/2 a million views on a budget of 2K…and how you can do it too. Enjoy! I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click here to download the audio file.

  • Rise to Success Story: In Depth with the Billion Dollar Host Forbes Riley

    David Siteman Garland
    3 May 2012 | 9:17 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: Ready for a ball of energy? If you’re like me, you love learning from stories of success…in every industry. Today is a 360-degree-in-depth conversation with fitness entrepreneur and billion dollar host Forbes Riley. We discuss so many big topics, including the art of pitching, launching a product even when everyone says you are crazy, branding yourself, and so much more. And…a special tour at the end of the show. Get ready to get fired up. I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player:…

  • How to Cold Email ANYONE: 9 Steps to Get Any Meeting

    David Siteman Garland
    1 May 2012 | 8:29 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: OK, so you need to reach someone big. How do you cold email them? Is there some kind of magic process? Enter today’s guest, Bryan Kreuzberger, creator of Breakthrough Email, who has solved this through incredible testing (I mean THOUSANDS of emails) and results that have equated into thousands of dollars income as a result of his cold emails/getting meetings with influencers. Enjoy his secrets today on The Rise To The Top! I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click here to download the audio…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Mimiran: Killer proposals made easy.

  • I sell services, how the %*$& should I sell? (part 4– reducing risk)

    webmin
    16 May 2012 | 10:41 am
    In Part 1 (“what do I sell?”), we looked at what most service businesses sell, and why selling hours can be a bad idea. In Part 2 (“what do customers buy?”) we looked at why customers buy outcomes, not hours. In Part 3 (“what should I sell?”), we looked at why you should sell outcomes. Now, in Part 4, we’ll look at ways to mitigate risk for both parties. The Outcome-Based Proposal & Risk Reduction The big problem for outcome-based projects (or “fixed bid”, as they are more commonly called) is that while the fee is fixed, the scope…

  • I sell services, what the %*$& should I sell? (part 3)

    webmin
    10 May 2012 | 9:01 am
    In Part 1, we looked at what most service businesses sell, and why selling hours can be a bad idea. In Part 2 we looked at why customers buy outcomes, not hours. Outcome-based Selling If the customer is willing to pay $100,000 for a certain outcome or deliverable, you can then decide if you can or want to deliver it for that price. In many cases, the customer will compare the price with quotes from more traditional firms who are billing based on time and materials. If you’re competing with someone overseas who is charging $30/hour, you don’t want to have to justify why you are…

  • I sell services, what the %*$& does the customer buy? (part 2)

    webmin
    2 May 2012 | 9:58 am
    In Part 1, we looked at what most service businesses sell, and why selling hours can be a bad idea. Now let’s look at the whole situation from the customer’s perspective. The Customer’s Perspective The interesting question in sales (and in pricing), is not “what am I selling?” It’s “what are you buying?” As the saying goes, no one buys drill bits, they buy holes. And they need holes to do something else. Customers buy services for the same reason they buy drill bits. Perhaps they even want to buy the holes, letting you drill them. Human nature…

  • I sell services. What the %$&! do I sell?

    webmin
    26 Apr 2012 | 4:53 pm
    What do service businesses sell? If you looked at invoices from consultants, lawyers, gardeners, and others, you would assume these businesses sell hours. And maybe they do. But is that what customers buy? I get this question a lot, both from consulting clients who want to figure out how to optimize their pricing, and from Mimiran application users who want to automate not just proposals but quoting, and suddenly realize they don’t know what to enter under “Products”, let alone pricing. In this post, let’s look at how most services businesses answer this question, and…

  • A Simple Pricing Calculator for Proposals

    webmin
    11 Apr 2012 | 9:22 pm
    Sometimes it’s hard to understand the leverage that good pricing provides. (Or that bad pricing takes away.) I created this simple pricing calculator to show how small changes in price, volume, and costs, can have a huge impact on your bottom line. Use this to help figure out how to set list prices and adjust pricing once you start negotiating your proposal. The spreadsheet has 2 sets of inputs for price, volume, variable cost, and fixed costs. I suggest putting your current data in the first scenario, then using the second scenario to explore possibilities. (If you don’t have…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    What Works for Business - Business.com

  • How Many Times a Day Do You Use a VoIP Line?

    Dave Thomas
    16 May 2012 | 9:31 am
    Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is an internet-based telecommunications method that first hit the mass market starting around 2004. VoIP uses existing broadband internet access and allows users to make and receive calls over the internet in much the same way as they would with their phone. In 2012, VoIP business phone systems have become mainstream, and every day you may be participating in VoIP calls without even realizing it. Phone Facts and Statistics On average, a person makes or answers eight phone calls a day, so with 300 million cell phones in use in the United States, around…

  • How to Start a Magazine

    Dave Thomas
    15 May 2012 | 9:27 am
    Though the print magazine industry as a whole has been a mixed bag in terms of successes and challenges since the recent recession, starting an online magazine or a digital edition magazine is an incredibly population option for entrepreneurs who want to start a business that involves distributing useful, interesting, and entertaining content. Starting a magazine can also be lucrative if you manage to keep overhead costs low and tailor your content to a growing reader segment. Create a Concept Decide what type of magazine you want to publish. And we’re not talking about the subject…

  • Is There a Business Phone System Customized for Small Businesses?

    Dave Thomas
    14 May 2012 | 9:21 am
    Small businesses need the same features in their business phone systems as big businesses do, and in many cases they need more flexibility in order to provide optimal customer service. The good news is that the evolution of phone services in the past few years has made business phone systems far more flexible and scalable than older systems, so that small business owners don’t have to give up features for the sake of affordability. VoIP Services and Scalability Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems have been nothing short of revolutionary in offering small businesses phone…

  • 4 of the Best Cities to Start a Business

    Dave Thomas
    10 May 2012 | 10:10 am
    Thinking of starting a small business, but you’re not tied to any particular geographic location? Can you see yourself packing up and moving to one of the country’s best cities to start a business? Depending on your industry and target customer, you might consider relocating, since the location you are in can have a significant impact on your company’s success. Last month, On Numbers issued its annual small business ratings, a list that names the best cities in the United States in which to run a small business. These rankings are based on factors like population growth, employment…

  • How to Start a Hotel

    Dave Thomas
    9 May 2012 | 10:01 am
    We’ve all had that one unfortunate hotel experience. Whether you were traveling for work or with family, you found yourself thinking, “Seriously? I’m paying how much for THIS?” The customer service was lacking, their sense of hospitality was underwhelming or the overall quality of your stay was simply not good. “I can do better than this,” you think. If you want to start a business, have a strong customer service frame of mind, are skilled at sales or marketing, and can adhere to professionalism through difficult or stressful situations, you should learn how to start a hotel.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    MyWifeQuitHerJob.com

  • Perhaps the Most Important Step to Creating a Thriving and Profitable Business

    Steve
    15 May 2012 | 9:02 am
    Let’s say you’ve just opened a little boutique store on a side street. Whilst your rent may be low, the footfall past your premises is extremely light. You have done a great job of fitting out your store, and you have some interesting and unique products for sale. But if no one is even looking through the window, your hard work will be for naught. So what do you do? Well, perhaps you try to add more stock, or change the type and quality of products that you have on offer, in the hope that it will boost your sales. And even though you already spent a great deal of time making your…

  • Random Roundup Friday – Entrepreneurship

    Steve
    11 May 2012 | 9:50 am
    In order to come up with topics to write about on my blog, I read a lot. Here are some authors and blog owners that I wanted to a give a shout out to this week by highlighting their articles. Entrepreneurship Qualifications – Chris Guillebeau provides a truly inspirational story about how he started with entrepreneurship and why qualifications don’t matter. This is an older article but a must read! Caines Arcade – A heart felt video about how a little boy created an arcade out of card board boxes. Just watch it! How To Change Yourself And/or Your Life – Justine reveals…

  • How To Prevent Yourself From Becoming Obsolete And The Reason Why I Haven’t Quit My Job

    Steve
    9 May 2012 | 8:58 am
    It’s still early on in the year, but our online store is poised for yet another 30%-40% increase in year over year profit. And believe it or not, our little online wedding linens store has now shown 4 consecutive years of double digit growth. At this point, the shop easily makes more than double my day job income and the business still seems to be growing every year despite my skepticism and disbelief. My blog, MyWifeQuitHerJob.com, is also seeing similar growth, setting record traffic and income numbers that continue to grow exponentially. The affiliate and ad revenue for my blog has…

  • How To Organize Your Mobile Website To Maximize Usability And Sales

    Steve
    2 May 2012 | 8:43 am
    This article is part 4 of a multi-part series on how to design a mobile optimized website for ecommerce. In case you missed them, here are the links to the previous 3 articles. How We Doubled Our Mobile Sales By Designing A Mobile Version Of Our Website How To Design A Killer Mobile Ecommerce Website That Will Boost Sales 3 Ways To Design A Mobile Optimized Ecommerce Website And The Tradeoffs You Must Make In today’s article, I’m going to discuss the most important elements of mobile website design. One of the hardest parts of designing a mobile optimized website is that the…

  • 3 Ways To Design A Mobile Optimized Ecommerce Website And The Tradeoffs That You Must Make

    Steve
    25 Apr 2012 | 9:17 am
    This article is part 3 of a multi-part series on how to design a mobile optimized website for ecommerce. In part 1, I demonstrated how big of an impact a mobile optimized website can have on the conversion rate of your store. In this article, I used actual numbers from our online store Bumblebee Linens to show how optimizing for mobile can effectively double your conversion rate. In part 2, I went over some basic design principles that are essential to optimizing your site for mobile. Specifically, I showed you what you need to do in order to design a killer mobile ecommerce website that will…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    flyte blog: small business web marketing blog

  • How I Increased Our Conversion Rate 50% In 30 Days

    Rich Brooks
    7 May 2012 | 1:57 pm
    One simple change led to a significant, measurable increase in our conversion rates. For years, at the bottom of every single web page on our web design & internet marketing site was a call to action. Each one of those calls to action was a unique link that led to our contact form. “Contact us today for a free consultation.” “Learn how search engine optimization can bring new prospects to your site.” “Move your static website to a content management system.” It was fairly effective, but I wondered if there was a way to remove a step and increase our…

  • Change Isn’t Coming…It’s Here

    Rich Brooks
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:49 pm
    The most important channels today are search, social & mobile. Here’s a conference with all three. If you’ve been following this blog for a while you know that for the past few years I’ve been running a conference called Social Media FTW with a couple of friends. We retired that brand after three successful years but I wasn’t quite done. So this year I started a new conference that would focus on the three most important channels for businesses and organization today: search, social & mobile. These are the Agents of Change. Earlier today we launched the…

  • The Bicycle Coalition of Maine Launches New Website

    Rich Brooks
    9 Apr 2012 | 7:15 am
    Looking for a biking adventure in Maine? Check out the new Bike Maine site. Whether you live in the Great State of Maine or are “from away”, biking in Maine is a beautiful, rewarding activity.  The new website from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine is here to support you, no matter what you’re looking to do. Here’s just a sampling of what’s going on there: Events: Bike Maine puts on a number of great events like the Maine Lobster Ride, the Maine Women’s Ride, and the Great Maine Bike Swap (which I’m looking forward to this year as I’m badly in…

  • Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Professional Copywriter

    Rich Brooks
    4 Apr 2012 | 8:14 pm
    Some people hate Brussels sprouts, others hate stringing words together. That’s what writers are for. But everyone’s a writer, right? With all the slapdash content on the Web, it would appear to be the prevailing opinion. But even if the blank page doesn’t send you screaming into the night, you’re better off hiring a professional. Writers wrestle with words for a living. They’re good at keeping content clean and concise. They’re also good at alliteration. Your website has the potential to do a lot more for you than look pretty in cyber space. So go be brilliant at the business…

  • Northern New England Poison Center is Ready to Help

    Rich Brooks
    3 Apr 2012 | 10:29 am
    Northern New England Poison Center gets a WordPress Makeover. Recently flyte launched a website for the Northern New England Poison Center on WordPress. Visitors to the site can quickly get information on poisons from A to Z or watch presentations from a growing library of recorded webinars, like this one on bath salts. There’s also a poison blog for both the public and health professionals. The site also offers multiple ways to contact the poison center, from email to live chat.  NNEPC also wanted to add e-commerce to their new site. While they’re not (currently) selling any…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Internet Marketing Sydney

  • Something to shake up traditional media agencies

    Matt Freedman
    19 Apr 2012 | 9:46 am
    Google Proposes New Metrics for Online Advertising Google on Wednesday introduced a new way to measure online advertising effectiveness that is set to become industry standard. Brand Activate, is designed to “reimagine online measurement for brand marketers,” according to a blog post from the company. The idea is that with better metrics, marketers will allocate more of [...]

  • Where do good ideas come from

    Matt Freedman
    16 Feb 2012 | 6:20 am
    Author Steven Berlin Johnson offers a theory of where great ideas come from. Steven is the best-selling author of six books on the intersection of science, technology and personal experience. Here is Steven talking about Slow Hunch at TED. And here is his YouTube video that really spells it out.

  • Small Business Internet Marketing, Why Do I Need the Internet?

    Matt Freedman
    23 Jan 2012 | 8:47 pm
    WHY DO I NEED THE INTERNET?I'm sure I don't need to tell you how obsolete directories like the Yellow Pages have now become. When was the last time you looked for the phone number for anything in the yellow pages? Even the online yellow pages and other local business directories don't get the same use [...]

  • Mobile Search Marketing – Get A Head Start On Your Competitors.

    Matt Freedman
    22 Jan 2012 | 1:44 pm
    The mobile search market is still in its infancy and many advertisers are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach. This lack of competition in the mobile search space surely presents an opportunity for businesses to get a head start on their competitors. While most advertisers are reluctant to commit, it is relatively straightforward to get [...]

  • Should internal links use rel=”nofollow”?

    Matt Freedman
    27 Nov 2011 | 11:09 pm
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    CurrentMom

  • Where Working Moms Live . . .

    Stacy Feuer
    16 May 2012 | 9:29 am
    Work Wednesday For many years, if you asked me where I live, I would say, "Oh, just outside of Washington, D.C." I would simply omit the name of the suburb where I live in favor of the Capitol City. Even...

  • My Mommy Double-Standard

    Melody Bakeeff
    15 May 2012 | 11:05 am
    (Un) Tech Tuesday A few weeks ago my daughter's school had a festival on Saturday. Since she is in Kindergarten and I haven't been terribly involved other than chaperoning one field trip, this was it. My first time to get...

  • Colorful Caprese: The Taste of Summer

    Emily
    14 May 2012 | 1:00 pm
    Meal Monday I know it's trite, overdone and proffered at every pretentious corner trattoria, but I don't care. Nothing says summer to me like an insalata caprese. I am, of course, something of a snob about the five simple ingredients...

  • A Mother's Day Ode to My Daughter's Other Moms

    Karen Paul-Stern
    10 May 2012 | 5:56 am
    Truth Thursday My just-about teenage daughter has the great fortune, at a young age, to have the benefits of other “moms” in her life who offer comfort, companionship, and safe and comfortable places to land when she’s feeling a bit...

  • Mothers Day and Cheating Dads

    Julie Bindeman, Psy-D
    8 May 2012 | 5:31 am
    Therapy Tuesday Photo by: www.chromoz.com via Flickr Cheating isn't anything groundbreaking. Maybe it's not exactly the topic that a woman wants to think about, especially the week leading up to Mother's Day. So it's interesting timing that AshleyMadison.com is "reporting"...
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Diamond Website Conversion » Blog

  • Competitive Intelligence, Instagram for Small Business & Net Promoter Score

    Marty
    9 May 2012 | 3:38 am
    The Conversionator V3 N19 – Weekly Insights and Ideas This week’s edition includes forgotten content marketing assets, Net Promoter Score insights, tips for Google-proofing small business SEM and for conducting competitive intelligence assessments, and seeing Instagram in a new way: - Most businesses are sitting on a treasure trove of entertaining and relevant content that their prospects and customers would love. 5 Content Marketing Assets You Forgot You Had from Convince & Convert suggests five places to look for interesting content to share   - Increasingly, companies are…

  • Spring Cleaning your Website

    Donna Roberts
    2 May 2012 | 3:53 am
    Weekly insights and ideas  -  The Conversionator V3 N18 This week’s edition includes insights into how website design can impact the bottom line, ideas for handling ‘expired content’, ways to earn your landing page visitor’s trust, the importance of aesthetics and style on your website, and using post scripts in your email marketing: - Does Website Design Impact The Bottom Line? from KISSmetrics explores professional research that can potentially offer insights into what priorities a business should have on its web design, addresses the common questions that many website owners…

  • Putting the Action into your Calls to Action

    Marty
    27 Apr 2012 | 10:00 am
    Long calls to action, short calls to action, just about anything you can dream up can be turned into a call to action on a lead generation website. So how do you construct an effective call to action for a lead generation website? Despite being one of the most important elements of your website, we see many calls to action with weak persuasion, misleading wording, or just plain boring wording. The key ingredient is missing – words that compel your visitor to take the next step and move forward. If you could make one change to your call to action buttons that would instantly increase your…

  • The Conversionator V3 N17: Email Reconversion

    Donna Roberts
    25 Apr 2012 | 10:00 am
     Content Recycling, and Ecommerce Optimization This week’s edition includes things to consider before starting a social media marketing program, potentially missed opportunities for reconversion in welcome emails, tips to getting started with a content recycling program, insights into the types of prospects you meet online, and mistakes to avoid on ecommerce sites: - Crowdshifter shares the five most important things to consider before going forward with a social media marketing program in 5 Things Every SMB Should Know about Social Media - According to Skyline Technologies, welcome emails…

  • 3 Ways Video Can Improve your Conversion Rate

    Donnie Bryant
    24 Apr 2012 | 10:00 am
     Video is becoming an increasingly popular marketing tool for the online businesses. Many experts say that conversion rates for video sales letters are often double those of standard text sales pages. There are three main factors that cause such dramatic improvements in conversion: Ease of Consumption These days, many people simply don’t want to read long-form sales copy. The sad truth is that many can’t. Nearly 50% of American adults cannot read at the 8th grade level, and 20% read at or below 5th grade level. This combination of impatience and inability make video extremely appealing…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    CityVoter

  • FashionLike Merges Social Media and Retail

    Sarah Haydu
    9 May 2012 | 2:48 pm
    What would you do if hangers provided feedback on the item that it was holding? Would it change the way that you shopped? C&A, a fashion retailer in Brazil, has come up with a way for consumers to get feedback on a clothing item in terms of the amount of “Likes” on Facebook. This new marketing tactic is called FashionLike and displays likes from the company Facebook page in real time on the hangers of the in-store merchandise. Will this change the way that you shop? This kind of real-time technology has many different potential implications. It could be especially helpful for those…

  • What Voters Love: Burritos

    Nathan Papazian
    4 May 2012 | 11:49 am
    Anyone that considers themself a burrito connoisseur, will tell you that burritos are serious business. For many, a burrito is simply lunch. But for others, a burrito is more: breakfast burritos provide a hearty morning meal, lunch wouldn’t be the same without a burrito, and of course who could live without burritos for dinner. Scores of blogs and minisites are dedicated to the fine art of ordering, eating and even making burritos. So when we looked at the voting results for BEST Burrito across the country last year, it was hardly a surprise that the results were just a little more…

  • Winners Announcements

    Sarah Haydu
    27 Apr 2012 | 3:08 pm
    This year marks the first KSL Local Salt Lake County AList contest. It saw great success throughout the 10 week competition with almost 31,500 votes! The Hair Salon and Wedding Cakes categories garnered the most votes and the American Bistro category was a very close race. Louisville A-List received over 21,500 votes this year. There were 96 winners crowned out of more than 2,300 nominees so a big congratulations is in order for all of the winners! The WISN Spring Fever and King5 Best of Northwest Escapes are fun contests with spring/summertime attractions and activities. Get in the mood for…

  • Three Steps to Maximize Your Voter Deal

    Sarah Haydu
    19 Apr 2012 | 1:43 pm
    Each year, more and more businesses run voter deals during the contests, but not everyone understands how best to use them as a marketing tool. They are a great way to thank your customers for voting for you and provide extra incentive for your customers to vote! Here are three steps on how to make the most of your deal to benefit both your business and your customers. Create an enticing deal. With the voter deals, everything is customizable and you are able to offer as much or as little discount that you like. Just remember, the greater the discount the more likely a voter will purchase your…

  • Insights from Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar: A Bay Area A-List Winner

    Sarah Haydu
    18 Apr 2012 | 12:18 pm
    It can be difficult for local businesses to find the right ingredients for success, but Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar makes it all look easy. Andrea noticed a niche market for fun, whimsical cupcakes in the wine country while planning her wedding, and from that Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar was born. They are a four time winner on the A-List including this year’s BEST Cupcake award on the ABC7 Bay Area A-List. So what is their biggest success tip? Focus on customers! They have always been their number one priority at Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar. They want their customers to…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Blog@PixelCrayons™

  • 5 Popular Video Apps Bloggers Must Use

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 2:19 am
    Blogs have become one of the most popular things on the Internet. From individuals to businesses, blogs offer a perfect platform for one to share his/her thoughts in an informal way. The huge popularity of blogging has also scaled up the competition among bloggers who look for newer ways to promote their blogs and gather [...]

  • Drupal Website Improvement: Tips to Improve SEO and Traffic of Website

    admin
    10 May 2012 | 12:43 am
    In recent years, Drupal developers have achieved a great height and Drupal has quickly become one of the most renowned and respected Content Management System. These days, lots of companies are switching over to it in order to get a great deal of customization as well as widely enhanced functionality. SEO friendly CMS of Drupal is [...]

  • Where to Search Open Source Tools and how to Evaluate Them?

    admin
    2 May 2012 | 12:17 am
    We all know, there are millions of open source software, tools and directories available on web but to find out suitable open source tools and directories and to evaluate them is definitely a tough task. Let’s consider a scenario – How would you find a suitable email clients for your organization? How would you initiate the [...]

  • Top 5 SEO Tips you Must Know about Drupal

    admin
    25 Apr 2012 | 11:15 pm
    Drupal, being the most preferred free content management system, it holds very important place in website design and planning its outlook. It is perfect for building personal web pages to the corporate websites. The drupal development process can make your website look what you actually want it to look like as it helps you in [...]

  • Is Open Source Ecommerce the Right Choice for Online Store Development?

    admin
    10 Apr 2012 | 12:24 am
    This is the age of technology and technology has made inroads in almost every aspect of our lives. Technological advancements have certainly made our lives much simpler. When it comes to shopping, we have tons of ecommerce stores to help us buy any product without leaving our homes. In today’s time, it has become mandatory [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Work at Home Woman

  • Don’t Be Part of the 80%

    Holly - The Work at Home Woman
    16 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Did you know that 80% of mom owned businesses will fail before they reach their 3rd year? It is not because they do not have great ideas, are not smart marketers or do not have enough money. It is because mom entrepreneurs are trying to do it all themselves, because they do not have a [...]

  • 4 Tips on Blogging Your Way to Your Ideal Clients

    Holly - The Work at Home Woman
    16 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    By Martine de Luna Blogging can be an effective way to market your business skills and expertise, specifically by appealing to those within your niche market or your target/ideal audience. The art of finding that connection between you and your ideal clients using your blog, requires a certain type of marketing skills. At the same [...]

  • 9 Simple Tips to Get a Standing Ovation

    Holly - The Work at Home Woman
    15 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    By Donna L. Johnson Some things are learned by theory. Others are learned by doing. When it comes to being a great public speaker, the latter is the only way you’ll get there. Here’s the reality: the first time you give a talk, it won’t be great. More than likely because you’ve spent too much [...]

  • Interview with Debra Cohen, Owner & Founder of the Homeowner Referral Network

    Holly - The Work at Home Woman
    14 May 2012 | 7:03 am
    What did you do before launching your own business? Before I launched Home Remedies®, I was the VP of a Spanish language aviation magazine in NYC.  It was a very glamorous career, but I lost my passion for it after my first daughter was born.  I couldn’t bear to leave her to go to work [...]

  • Get Your Business Exposure Without Spending A Fortune On PR

    Holly - The Work at Home Woman
    12 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    By Susan Osborne You’ve launched your business, printed business cards and put up a website. Now what? How do you get potential customers to take notice? This is often the biggest challenge women entrepreneurs face when starting a new business. Thankfully, with the ever-growing world of social media, it’s getting easier to generate buzz quickly [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Leader Networks blog

  • Strategy First, Platform Second ... Please!

    1 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    I don't know how many times I've had to shift a conversation into reverse when an initial business discussion about online communities begins with "We're thinking about starting an online community. What's your opinion of Platform X?" Too many companies decide they want to invest in an online community -- be it internal or externally-facing -- and then move right to making the community platform acquisition decision without EVER considering the mission, vision and goals for the community. It's like starting a business negotiation with "I want to buy something. What have you got to sell?"…

  • Time For You To Shine Online!

    23 Apr 2012 | 8:58 am
      Photo Credit: bjorn.watland As more and more individuals become involved in professional online communities, understanding how to engage online becomes increasingly important. While most professionals develop good skills at in-person networking and idea-sharing, when they start looking to use an online group or forum to collaborate with peers the keyboard can sometimes get in the way of effective communication. Here are a few guidelines to help new members of professional communities get the most out their participation in online peer groups. Find the right online community Identifying…

  • A Small Organization Creates a Big Community Success Case Study: ASCA's SCENE for School Counselors

    10 Apr 2012 | 9:02 am
     When you're searching high and low for the next big thing, or scanning the edge for the next new thing, you can miss real success stories. So here's one to contemplate: a free, private online community serving a crucial constituency, aligned with but outside of an existing non-profit organization. And this is one of the most engaged, most active and fastest-growing communities I've seen in awhile. In preparation for a talk I am doing at the DigitalNow conference to a group of association executives, I came across this online community. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA)…

  • Are You Ready For A Discussion Or Do You Want To Have A Monologue?

    7 Mar 2012 | 8:30 am
    Recently, I blogged about measuring engagement in online communities. The post and accompanying framework were focused on measuring engagement within private online communities - primarily B2B. But there is a wider need for organizations to build engagement with community stakeholders wherever they are on the social channel. For the moment, marketing and "influence relations" professionals are the primary voices of the company. These professionals measure and define success by their ability to get a corporate message out to the world. Social media can be a fast and effective way to accomplish…

  • How Do You Measure Member Engagement?

    27 Feb 2012 | 7:05 am
    Member engagement is a popular term these days, applied to everything from customer loyalty programs to Facebook games to political campaigns.  There are tools that purport to track every “like” or tweet as evidence that your members, or customers, or just visitors, are listening and “engaged”.  I’m skeptical. I think this very useful and important term is being misused, applied to a wide range of online activities in today’s engagement-obsessed social media world. Too often, a moment of fleeting attention is classified as an engagement event. In our online…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Biz Daily

  • Here Comes My Baby

    Maria Valdez Haubrich
    16 May 2012 | 8:44 am
    Expectant mothers have a lot to think about, from what kind of crib to buy to whether to use cloth or disposable diapers. With so much on their minds, more and more moms are turning to baby planners to help them prepare for baby’s arrival. The Los Angeles Times reports that baby planners, also called baby concierges or maternity consultants, are doing booming business. Baby planners help parents weed through the options for everything from what kind of delivery to have to how to breastfeed. They also handle the myriad details involved with baby’s arrival, such as registering for…

  • Hello, Sunshine

    Rieva Lesonsky
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    By Rieva Lesonsky How are you feeling about your business and our economy? Well, if the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index is an accurate measure, the answer is “pretty darn good.” According to the latest study, U.S. small business owners’ feelings about the current state of their companies, as well as their future prospects, are the most optimistic they have been since the July 2008 Wells Fargo/Gallup study, conducted just when the Great Recession took hold. Small business owners in the Wells Fargo/Gallup survey felt pretty good about their current situation, but where…

  • The Land of Entrepreneurs

    Maria Valdez Haubrich
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    What kind of business are you planning on starting? Check out this infographic from Kauffman and Visual.ly to learn the 10 fastest growing industries and more. Browse more infographics.

  • Data Recovery Tips for Small Business Owners

    Karen Axelton
    10 May 2012 | 10:00 pm
    As a small business owner, you have a million projects on your mind at any given moment, often leaving your data recovery plan at the bottom of the to-do list. In fact, a recent study by Symantec found that 57 percent of SMBs have no disaster recovery plan. Yet SMBs experience an average of six outages a year, with the top reasons being cyberattacks, power failures and natural disasters. Planning ahead for a data catastrophe may seem like a tedious task, but with the right knowledge and a solid action plan, you can prevent a complete data loss that could mean the end of your business So where…

  • Marketing to Customers in a Post-Recession Economy

    Rieva Lesonsky
    10 May 2012 | 4:07 pm
    The Great Recession officially ended in 2009, but it sure didn’t feel that way for most consumers (or businesses). Now, however, the economy finally is on an upward trajectory, with consumer sentiment, business hiring plans and employment data all looking up. Whether your company targets consumers or businesses, here’s what to keep in mind to successfully market to customers as their spirits rise and their wallets start to open again.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    MLM Blog - Network Marketing Blog

  • How Long Should I Make My MLM Marketing Video?

    ty@tribble.org (Ty Tribble)
    15 May 2012 | 4:46 pm
    After a lot of research from my video host, Wistia, they came to the conclusion that length matters...at least as far as video's go. Check out this short video that I made on the subject of video length:   -

  • MonaVie Moves Joe Licciardi Leg After He Leaves For Momentis?

    ty@tribble.org (Ty Tribble)
    15 May 2012 | 1:34 pm
    There is an interesting story over on the BusinessForHome.org site that shows a video (proof?) of former MonaVie Black Diamond, Joe Licciardi's business being moved under someone else once he left the company. The story itself is interesting, but in today's world of instant news via blogging and social media, The Preseident of MonaVie has already responded along with another Black Diamond and Joe Licciardi himself. Here's a few snips: Original BusinessForHome Article: The entire USA downline of former Black Diamond Joe Licciardi who left the company last month, is moved down the Genealogy and…

  • 6 Step Blueprint For Marketing Your MLM On The Internet

    ty@tribble.org (Ty Tribble)
    11 May 2012 | 11:55 am
    I recorded a video for the Members of The Factory and thought it might be fun to share it here at the MLM Blog.  I don't usually post MLM Training type stuff on here but if the feedback is good, I will look to do more of that in the future. Let me know what you think in the comments...

  • Nature’s Pearl Slapped By FDA

    ty@tribble.org (Ty Tribble)
    9 May 2012 | 6:31 pm
    MLM company, Nature's Pearl has been slapped by the FDA about claims made on their web site.  This is a big red flag because usually it's the reps running around making crazy claims, but in this case, it is the company itself. Here is a copy of the letter: Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration Atlanta District Office 60 Eighth Street N.E, Atlanta, GA 30309 Telephone: 404-253-1161 April 19, 2012 VIA UNITED PARCEL SERVICE WARNING LETTER (12-ATL-11) Jerry W Smith, CEO Nature's Pearl Corporation 3134 Cornatzer Road Advance, NC 27006 Dear Mr. Smith: This is to advise you that the…

  • Arbonne Launches New Products – What Do You Think?

    ty@tribble.org (Ty Tribble)
    1 May 2012 | 2:37 pm
    Arbonne has launched 5 new products and the feedback I seem to be getting is mixed.  What do you think about the new product lines? Press Release: Arbonne International, LLC (Arbonne) today introduced five new products to its growing line of personal care and wellness products. Inspired by nature, botanically-based and vegan-certified, the new Arbonne® products preserve and enhance the skin, body and mind for a comprehensive approach to beauty. Arbonne’s latest products include a new anti-aging ultra-hydrating day crème, fruit and chocolate nutrition bars, an Omega-3 vegan…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Everything Small Business Journal

  • Signs Your Computer May Need a Memory Upgrade

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Some experts say that it may be possible to improve a person’s memory through an improved diet and exercise. Fortunately, when it comes to improving computer memory, the process is much easier and the results are immediate. For anyone who relies on a computer—be it for work or entertainment—few things can be more frustrating than waiting on a machine that has become slow and unresponsive. If your computer is sluggish and not as snappy as it was when it was new, it may be the result of too little memory. The good news is that in most cases this is an easy fix. Here are some tips on how…

  • 9 Alarming Statistics About Identity Theft

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    9 Alarming Statistics About Identity Theft (via Identity Theft 911 blog)

  • Click Millionaires: A Roadmap for Today’s Entrepreneurs

    admin
    10 May 2012 | 3:54 pm
    The internet has changed the way that business startups are launched — and Scott Fox’s new book, Click Millionaires, offers a helpful roadmap to help you navigate the terrain, and find success as a lifestyle business owner. We’ve all heard of the big name “gurus” that pontificate exploiting search engine vulnerabilities, “gaming the system” in social media, and similar tactics — and you won’t find anything even remotely similar in this book. In fact, as Scott so astutely points out, by the time most of these gurus get around to sharing…

  • Mobile Privacy Risks: Who Should Alert End Users?

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 12:14 pm
    Mobile privacy risks: Who should alert end users? (via GCN)

  • Self-Assessment: Are You Ready for a Career Change?

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    Deciding whether you are ready for a career change may be as easy as asking yourself five simple questions: Do I feel satisfied or challenged in my current job? What kind of future do I have at my current job? Do I like the way my company does business? Do I feel stressed when it’s time to go back to work? Am I satisfied with what I am making? If your answers don’t satisfy you, you may want to consider a career change. A down economy may not seem like a great time to look for a new job, but there are satisfying, financially rewarding jobs out there. According to USNews.com, “Job seekers…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Toilet Paper Entrepreneur » Blog

  • How To Get Into Training Events For Free

    Mike Michalowicz
    16 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Mike Michalowicz, host of On A Roll, shares a unique strategy that you can use to get into educational events and training conferences for free by simply volunteering... Another video by Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur

  • How To Find Qualified Leads

    Mike Michalowicz
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Compiled by Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur

  • How Much To Pay Yourself

    Mike Michalowicz
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Every entrepreneur stumbles sooner or later with the question of what they should be paying themselves. It is a fair question and one that you shouldn’t ask without doing a little fact checking about your business. Once you do that, you will be ready to determine a salary that your business will, most likely, be able to sustain. Believe it or not, choosing what salary to pay yourself is actually must easier than you may think! The problem with determining what salary to pay yourself is that most entrepreneurs pick a number and say, “I want to make X number of dollars this…

  • The Best Email Marketing Systems

    Mike Michalowicz
    10 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Compiled by Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur

  • Why You Should “Cross-Train” Your Employees

    Mike Michalowicz
    9 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Pumpkin Plan, shows you how to follow the "law of success"... Another video by Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Springwise

  • Dating service matches cash-strapped travelers with those willing to accompany and pay

    Springwise
    16 May 2012 | 4:34 am
    We have already seen Shoe Dating on our virtual pages — a service matching women to potential partners who share their taste in shoes and are willing to pay part of the bill for the footwear. Taking this concept to the extreme, Miss Travel is offering a service enabling “attractive” people to get their travel dreams paid for by moneyed users who will accompany them on their trip. With the slogan ‘Who needs money, beautiful people travel free!’, the site pairs up men with money and women with looks as a new twist on online dating. Founded by Brandon Wade, who has…

  • Speaking robot vacuum cleaner has its own personality

    Springwise
    16 May 2012 | 4:19 am
    Robotic vacuum cleaners which clean the home with minimal human interaction seem impressive enough and we have even seen the technology transferred to lawn mowers with Sweden’s Husqvarna device. Japanese appliance manufacturer Sharp, however, believes that there are still improvements to be made on the indoor variety and is set to launch the COCOROBO, which is the first robot of its kind to have a personality, as well as the ability to respond to homeowners’ spoken prompts. Due onto the Japanese market in early June, the COCOROBO is an automatic household vacuum cleaner in the…

  • Job-hunting app matches candidates’ personalities with vacancies

    Springwise
    16 May 2012 | 3:45 am
    This post is sponsored by Skype. It’s time to say more and stay human. It’s time for Skype. Job hunting can be a daunting prospect – with the modern job market offering a variety of careers that can leave prospective applicants bewildered by the diverse choice on offer. In the past we’ve come across systems that simplify the process for employers, with sites such as Unrabble, and now we’ve come across something similar to help those looking for work. Apply App.ly makes job seeking less daunting by narrowing down the choice and matching candidates with vacancies,…

  • Vibrating telepresence robot baby is designed for hugging during phone conversations

    Springwise
    15 May 2012 | 11:10 am
    Telepresence robots have already appeared on our virtual pages on several occasions before, but typically they’ve focused on commercial and industrial purposes. The Hugvie, on the other hand, is an uncharacteristically soft, cuddly creation that’s designed to give consumers a more complex feeling of interaction with those they speak to by phone. The brainchild of Japan’s Osaka University and Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), the Hugvie is designed with a minimalistic, child-sized human form that could be associated with either gender.

  • Bone-marrow registry kits included inside packets of bandages

    Springwise
    15 May 2012 | 8:57 am
    Some 10,000 people in the US alone need bone marrow transplants each year, yet fewer than half receive them. Aiming to minimize the barriers that prevent healthy individuals from registering as potential donors, New York-based pharmaceuticals firm Help Remedies has come up with a solution: Include registry kits inside its packages of bandages, so consumers can simply swab a small sample of blood from a cut that’s already made before bandaging it up. Launched in February, Help’s new bandage brand is entitled, “Help, I’ve cut myself and I want to save a life.” Accordingly,…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Meylah

  • How to Effectively Imitate And Not Steal

    15 May 2012 | 11:34 pm
    There has been a ton of talk on the interwebs lately about the “stealing” of work & ideas...at least in the entrepreneurial circle. I think it’s really important that the conversation around this topic opens up, especially for you creative entrepreneurs who design your own products.Firstly, I’d like to see if we agree on two statements:1. There are really no new ideas.2. The greatest thing about being a creative is that we can draw inspiration from anyone & anything.Let’s just take the first, because I can definitely see how that could raise a few eyebrows.  I honestly believe that…

  • Common Financial Terms for Online Craft Sellers: Defined!

    12 May 2012 | 9:09 am
    A seller who’s brand new to the biz or even an old pro in the crafting world will occasionally run into a financial term they don’t know. It’s nothing to be ashamed of; there are so many and we don’t all have accounting degrees! Here’s a quick list of some of the more common financial terms you may encounter during your time as a craft seller.Revenue: This is all the money you earn before taking anything else into account. This money can come from sales of your stuff, investments, or even donations to your company.Expenses: That $30 for yarn? The shipping costs that seemed to go up…

  • 4 Tips For Increasing Your SEO & Getting More Visitors

    10 May 2012 | 10:13 pm
    Want more visitors to your online store?  Of course you do...we all do!  So, how do you get them...the answer is increasing your search ranking or search engine optimization (SEO) so people searching Google will find you.Here are 4 tips to increase your SEO and drive more traffic to your online store:Tip #1: Name the product image files that you upload into your product listings with a specific and relevant file name related to your product as it will help you in search rankings.  Files with titles from camera default like "IMG050426.jpg" do nothing for you and it might be better to rename…

  • 10 Creative Ways To Market Your Online Store

    8 May 2012 | 6:17 pm
    It’s never been a better time to sell handmade products! Thanks to sites like Meylah, you can create an online store and sell your products all over the world.  But, you still have to get those customers to find your online store...so how do you do it?Marketing can be expensive and is often a gamble until you figure out which tactics work for you. Before spending your hard earned money on marketing, try this mix of 10 very affordable and easy ways to attract new customers:1. Create a NewsletterKeep your shop in the minds of your customers by landing in their inbox. Don’t just sell -…

  • Lessons from a Life Coach: The Benefits of Using Total Choice

    7 May 2012 | 8:32 am
    What is total choice? Total choice is not something you have to earn or go looking for...just as you are right now you have total choice in your life and business. Being aware of this remarkable thing means having that awareness for options that can create the business of your dreams.Living with total choice means knowing you are responsible for the great things you brought to your life and for the circumstances that just seem to “happen to you.” Granted, there are scenarios in our life we simply don’t plan, BUT you have the choice to either react without believing you have options, or…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    i-netpreneur

  • 5 Social Networks to Promote Photo Sites

    cyrus
    4 May 2012 | 9:18 pm
    In the age of social media, promoting your photos and images is much easier. Being active on Facebook and Twitter can help. But there are plenty of other social networks you need to be involved in. Here are 5 social networks you can take advantage of to promote your photo sites: Pinterest: a fast rising social network to promote photos, infographics, and other types of visual content with. It is a social e-board which can drive a considerable amount of traffic to your site. Google+: not a site just for photo sharing, this amazing social network can help you improve your site’s ranking…

  • Turn your Smartphone or Tablet into a Scanner: 4 Apps

    cyrus
    27 Apr 2012 | 10:01 pm
    We all digitize some of our most important documents at work. Unfortunately, scanners are not always portable or easy to carry around. There are portable scanners available on the market but you will have to pay a considerable amount of money to get your hands on a quality model. These 4 apps let you use your iPhone, iPad, or Android device as a scanner: Scanner Pro: one of the best scanner apps on the market for iOS devices. It scans your documents and processes images smartly. You can protect your documents with passwords and send them to your Mac or PC easily. The app supports Dropbox,…

  • 5 Must Try Google+ Plugins for WordPress

    cyrus
    20 Apr 2012 | 8:08 pm
    Unlike some so-called gurus have claimed, Google+ is not a ghost town. It is a growing community with millions of members. As a business, you can’t afford not to be involved on the site. Google has already integrated Google+ in many of its services. That will only continue in the upcoming months and years. Most bloggers use WordPress to run their websites. The good part about that is you won’t have to struggle to find plugins that could add necessary capabilities to your site. These 5 Google+ plugins for WordPress help you better take advantage of this community: Floating Social…

  • 5 Cool Image Optimization Tools for the Web

    cyrus
    13 Apr 2012 | 9:01 pm
    As a webmaster, your goal should be to provide your visitors with the best content possible. Their experience on your site matters too. If your site is slow, it could turn them off. There are plenty of ways to speed up your website. The easiest way to do so is by reducing the average size of images used on it. These 5 image optimizers help you do that fast: Smush It: a brilliant tool by Yahoo! that reduces the size of each image you provide it with. It is a lossless tool so your images won’t show a dramatic drop in quality. Kraken: a user-friendly tool to optimize your GIF, PNG, and…

  • 4 Awesome AdSense Apps for iOS and Android

    cyrus
    6 Apr 2012 | 9:54 pm
    Creating websites and making money from them only from AdSense is not exactly a bulletproof business model. But many online marketers rely on AdSense to keep their businesses afloat. Google already has a sophisticated reporting system for the AdSense program. These 4 iOS and Android apps allow you to check your AdSense earnings on the go: QuickAdSense: uses OAuth to authenticate with AdSense and show your revenue reports. It has an elegant interface too. myRevenue AdSense App: shows your account statistics on your iPhone. It works in portrait and landscape modes. It is pretty fast too.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Jeff Korhan

  • Want to Be Luckier, Smarter, and Happier? Connect the Dots

    Jeff Korhan
    13 May 2012 | 5:55 am
    What could happen if you made a commitment to reconnecting with just a few of your former prospects or customers every day? If your experience is anything like mine, you will get luckier, smarter, and happier. I’ve recently been building a daily habit of reaching out to at least 3 prospects or customers – all randomly chosen. What I’m discovering is simple. When you start connecting (or reconnecting) the dots of your relationships, the past, present, and future magically merge together into one productive ecosystem.  And it is one that readily gets everything in your…

  • Say Hi in 15 Languages

    Jeff Korhan
    7 May 2012 | 10:52 pm
    Once in a while a mobile app comes along that really delivers, and that is the reason for this recomendation about SayHi – a remarkably accurate translation app that I recently discovered. Having studied several different dialects of the Spanish language as a green industry professional, I can attest that SayHi does an excellent job of translating Spanish into traditional Castilian (textbook) Spanish. In other words, for the majority of Spanish speakers the translations with SayHi are spot on. I shared this app with my colleague in Quebec, who in turn shared it with her friends. The…

  • Auspicious Occasions

    Jeff Korhan
    6 May 2012 | 8:42 pm
    When you celebrate any occasion you feed it, giving it your full attention - and thereby capturing its most essential value. This weekend I attended the commencement ceremony for the 2012 Class of Indiana University, of which my daughter is a proud member. The commencement speaker, IU alumnus, and honorary doctorate recipient was Booker T. Jones, a four time Grammy winner and founder of the soul band Booker T and the MG’s, which recorded a hit while Booker T was still in high school. Despite his commercially successful track record as a young musician, Booker T made the decision to…

  • The Crowded Bar Test

    Jeff Korhan
    3 May 2012 | 8:37 pm
    The crowded bar test is a simple method for determining the best words or phrasing to communicate an essential message – especially in distracting environments or circumstances where attention spans are short, which of course is most of the time in our fast-paced business environment. Memorable is More Important Than Meaning Whether you are launching a new venture or repositioning your business for changing market conditions, you may be wondering how to choose the right domain name for your new website. Believe it or not, the meaning attributed to your domain is less relevant than it…

  • Specific Solutions are Better

    Jeff Korhan
    26 Apr 2012 | 9:50 pm
    Has your company lost business to one whose solutions are inferior to yours? We have all experienced this frustration, and the truth is it is our own fault. The only reason anyone settles for a lesser solution is because they are not aware of what is better. When this happens, the problem is usually the result of your failed marketing efforts. Everyone wants the best, or at least better. Your job is to ensure your success by clearly and consistently communicating those qualities that differentiate your offerings from those that appear to be similar. And that means focusing on specifics that…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Hudsonhorizons.com RSS Feed

  • Yahoo CEO Steps Down After Resume Scandal; Should He Have Been Fired?

    14 May 2012 | 11:51 am
    Picture this: You're on the board of a multi-billion dollar company. As an internet company, you're facing heavy competition from other industry giants and no matter what strategies you employ, you still seem to get left behind. You come to the conclusion that it's time for a change - starting with your company's CEO. She seemed like the perfect person to lead the company when you hired her three years ago, but she hasn't really done much to improve the company's status. As you face heavy pressure from investors about shaking things up, a public poll suggests that your CEO is the…

  • What Would Hudson Horizons Do with $100 Billion?

    11 May 2012 | 4:30 pm
    In case you haven't heard yet, Facebook is taking over the World! Ok, not really, but the world's most popular social network has recently filed to go public. Mark Zuckerberg's company is set to trade publicly on May 18, and with shares ranging from $28-35 each, investing isn't exactly for those without big bucks. With pricey shares, the valuation of Facebook is expected to be an average of $100 billion. But why invest in Facebook? That's a question the network itself is trying to make a solid case for. While stock experts advise potential investors to tread carefully, others seem to believe…

  • Dogs Can Be Social Too

    7 May 2012 | 2:43 pm
    Who says you need to be human to use social networking? Michael Chiang decided that this shouldn't be the case so he created a social network for dogs. That's right, a social media presence online for our four-legged furry friends. The initial idea behind, MatchPuppy.com, was to help dog owners find their dog a suitable partner for breeding. The focus of the New York startup has since changed to staying on a friendly basis. MatchPuppy now allows dog owners seek out other dogs for play dates, because dogs get lonely too. Matches may be made by neighborhood, breed, or age. You can read the full…

  • Friday’s Social Media Mayhem

    4 May 2012 | 9:37 am
    Social media and the last day of the work week are a match made in heaven. Coincidence? I think not. It is no surprise that Friday is the most active day of the week in terms of social media interaction. The magic that ensues with the eager anticipation of the weekend, some call it freedom, others claim a time to relax, is so special it puts Disney World to shame. It's almost an oxymoron to hear that social media is extra social in cyberspace for the excitement of meeting up with friends on a personal level, face-to-face. Wait. Did I just say meet up with "FACE-TO-FACE?" Sometimes, especially…

  • 3 Rules for Successful Content

    30 Apr 2012 | 3:06 pm
    For many, it seems that the Internet is a black hole for content that never gets the attention it deserves. The web is so large that your content is similar to a grain of sand on the beach, so what can be done to get attention to what you are posting online? Following a few simple rules can get content to gain more traction than simply posting and hoping for the best. Be on a Schedule Follow a routine when publishing content online. No matter if you decide to post twice a day or once a week, be sure to stick to it. This will help your audience be able to know when new and fresh posts will…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Money and Risk

  • The Planning Process For Choosing A Scholarship Recipient – A Case Study

    Kim Luu
    25 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am
    Here is how we went about laying the ground work to set the qualifications for a scholarship.Related posts:How One Man Changed The World With $200 A YearBusiness Spending Process – An IPad JustifiedSocial Innovation Fund Award To see the rest of the story, please click on the headline.

  • How to Get Your Small Business On Pinterest in 5 Minutes

    Jim Doane
    22 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    Here are the basics to get started on Pinterest.When you create your Pinterest account, make sure to include your business' name in either the profile name or the profile description. Create a profile that describes you and your business, make sure you include your contact information.Related posts:A Review of PinReach – The Leading... To see the rest of the story, please click on the headline.

  • Carnival of Financial Simplicity – The Journey

    Kim Luu
    22 Apr 2012 | 7:30 am
    We're honored to host this week's Carnival of Financial Simplicity. Achieving financial security is a journey that takes a lifetime. There is no one right course to take. The destination for you is not the same as that for someone else.The most important thing is to take that first step and then to keep walking.Related posts:How Women Can... To see the rest of the story, please click on the headline.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Web Design | Indianapolis | Social Media | Marketing Strategy

  • The Hand Drawn Approach

    Jenna
    16 May 2012 | 5:34 am
    Usually I consider myself pretty good at talking with clients and finding a happy medium between what they say they want, and what they actually need. But every now and then I find myself at a standstill on a project. This was one of those projects. West Winds Nursery was ready for a much-needed redesign of their hand drawn logo. In general they liked the layout of their logo, the tree imagery and hand-drawn look.  They were hoping we could transform this into a more polished logo for their firm. I sent the client  two rounds of logo designs I had created in Illustrator which included…

  • First Day at Roundpeg

    Intern
    15 May 2012 | 1:08 pm
    Meet the other half our our Intern Team.  After you read his post, be sure to say hi when you see him on Twitter. My name is Drew Willis and I will be Roundpeg’s marketing intern this summer. I’m from Muncie, Indiana and I will be a junior at Indiana University in Bloomington, where I am studying sociology and marketing. This past school year, I was a student consultant for the first American chapter of 180 Degrees Consulting, the world’s largest international student consulting group. There, I worked on a team of six to come up with innovative, practical solutions to…

  • Put a Search Box On It

    Peter
    15 May 2012 | 5:26 am
    Lately our web design clients are asking for search boxes. And our clients are smart. Lightning fast web search services on Google, Facebook and YouTube are a part of every-day life. A search-friendly web design with it’s own search box helps your business’ website please demanding visitors who are comfortable using the search function to find things on Google. Visit Craigslist.com and take note of the multi-column layout on the homepage. Like old-fashioned classified ads, you’re supposed to scan down a dense list of information and select something. Like the gaping maw of a…

  • MTFW: What’s New at the ISBDC?

    Lorraine
    14 May 2012 | 1:00 pm
    This week, we’ll have a conversation with Jacob Schpok, the state director for the Indiana Small Business Development Center Network (ISBDC). As state director, Schpok leads Indiana’s efforts to provide management counseling and educational services to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Do you have any comments or questions? Call in during the show at (805) 285 -9865 or drop us a comment on Twitter. Direct the comment to @roundpeg or use the hashtag #MTFW so we are sure to see your remarks. The call will be live from 10:30 – 11:00 tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15. You will be…

  • Talking to Myself

    Lorraine
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    If you pull up next to me at a traffic light, you are going to see something a little unusual. It is going to appear as if I am talking to myself. I want you to know I am not really as crazy as I look. Please note,  I didn’t say I wasn’t crazy just not that crazy. So why am I talking to myself? You see, my primary learning style is auditory. That means I process information better if I hear it. So years ago I learned to work on my presentations in my car. I never write my speeches down; I simply work through sections out loud, testing phrases and pacing until I find something…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Thriving Small Business

  • 11 Common Mistakes Small Business Owners Make

    Patricia
    15 May 2012 | 9:18 am
    Running a small business or nonprofit requires wearing many hats and being many things to lots of people.  When an entrepreneur embarks on the journey of creating and growing a business they are susceptible to making mistakes.  Mistakes are part of the learning process but when it comes to owning or running a small business some mistakes, made at the wrong time, could threaten the long term viability of the organization.  Because of this, it is important to identify those things that should never be overlooked or neglected. 11 Mistakes business owners make: 1.  Don’t have a defined…

  • Social Networking For Business

    Patricia
    19 Mar 2012 | 9:08 am
    Businesses today are being increasingly pressured to use social media to promote and grow their business.  I have to admit I’ve been a bit of a laggard in this area because quite honestly keeping up with all of the social media options – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ and who knows what else is in the works has been a challenge for me. I feel like I have Twitter down pretty good because I have my blog set up so tweets go out automatically when I write a post and it’s pretty easy to just pass along an interesting link if I’m out and find an article that might add…

  • Family Operated Business – 6 Tips For Family Business Management

    Patricia
    8 Mar 2012 | 11:53 am
    Most businesses are birthed out of an idea someone had who possessed the drive and determination to make it a reality.  As a business begins to gain a bit of momentum and success there becomes a need to recruit others to help with the business endeavors.  This creates the challenge of identifying someone who has the passion for the business and who is trustworthy in the fragile phase of a business start-up.  This is when an entrepreneur might recruit a family member to help.  Of course they can trust family and of course family will work as hard as them and be as committed to the cause of…

  • 3 Reasons to Pursue BBB Accreditation

    Patricia
    1 Mar 2012 | 8:23 am
    We have all heard the horror stories, and even the news documentaries, about businesses that scam the public or fail to follow through on promises made to customers.  The Better Business Bureau is a a great resource for those of us who want to find out if other consumers have had issues with an organization and how those issues were resolved.  Anyone who deals with customers understands that issues will arise from time-to-time but successful businesses put systems and processes in place to deal with customer concerns.  This not only makes for a happy customer but potentially saves the…

  • 5 Things Employers Can do to Manage Grief in the Workplace

    Patricia
    22 Feb 2012 | 7:44 am
    My daughter recently called to let me know that a co-worker of hers – a young husband and father of two small children was the victim of a violent murder.  My daughter was very upset and overwhelmed with concern for her friend.  Her emotions were those of grief, anger, empathy and care for the young family he left behind. She has a very verbal personality so she was able to talk through this broad range of emotions that she was dealing with while figuring out how to manage the workplace grief. This incident reminded me of the handful of times throughout my career that I had to…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Think Traffic

  • Why “Follow Your Passion” is Flawed Advice – and What to Do Instead

    Corbett Barr
    15 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    Last month we asked you “what is the most tired or cliched advice online?” One phrase came up over and over again: “follow your passion.” People are tired of hearing “follow your passion.” You’ve heard it. You know you should to do what you love. The real question is: now what? How can you follow your passion AND earn a living? How can you know if your “passion” is worth following? How can you know if it will make a good business or career idea? What if you want to don’t want to risk ruining your passion by turning it into a business…

  • How to Get Your Site Featured on the Biggest Blogs on the Web (83 Times in One Year)

    Corbett Barr
    10 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    Imagine if your site was featured regularly on some of the biggest sites on the web related directly to your site’s topic. What might that do for your profile and your traffic? What if you were featured 83 times in less than a year on huge sites like CopyBlogger, Freelance Switch, ProBlogger, Get Rich Slowly, Smashing Magazine, DIYThemes, Stepcase Lifehack, Daily Blog Tips, KISS Metrics and even little old Think Traffic? That’s exactly what happened to Danny Iny in 2011. Actually, I shouldn’t say “it happened to” Danny, because all of this was very planned and…

  • Think Traffic Monthly Report – April 2012 (Compound Revenue and The 4 Points of Leverage)

    Corbett Barr
    8 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    Welcome to another Think Traffic monthly report! April was a fantastic month. We had record revenue in April owing mostly to the launch of Traffic School. This was the third time we have offered the program, and it was the third time it has sold out (in record time this launch, just 32 hours). I’ve realized something over the past year about growing revenue for a business like we run at Insanely Useful Media (the “umbrella” business name that includes Think Traffic and our other sites). In order to grow an online business beyond a modest income, on the level of what you…

  • The Real Truth About Blog Comments (When They Matter and When They Don’t)

    Corbett Barr
    1 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    If you’re a blogger who doesn’t receive many comments on your blog posts, you might be feeling inadequate. Your favorite big blogs have heaps of comments, so you should too, right? Not exactly. In this post, I’m going to tell you why it’s crazy for some kinds of blogs to care much about the number of comments they receive. And if you run one of these kind of blogs that naturally doesn’t receive many comments, I’ll show you what else you should be doing instead of worrying about comment numbers. First, The Problem With Vanity Metrics Let’s talk about…

  • How Backlash Beer is Redefining “Social Drinking” with Social Media

    Caleb Wojcik
    24 Apr 2012 | 7:45 am
    A couple months ago, Steve Kamb from Nerd Fitness told us about his friend in Boston who successfully launched a beer company through social media. Now that’s unique. Helder Pimentel built the brand and demand of Backlash Beer purely through social media. And they sell out of each batch to bars and liquor stores within days. One of which sold out in just 4 days. We just had to hear this story first hand from Helder, so keep reading to find out how he has carved out a piece of the highly competitive beer market in New England by using Twitter and Facebook. Caleb Wojcik: What made you…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Tips, News, Issues at Montreal Financial

  • Top 6 Best Television Accountants

    Ronika
    1 May 2012 | 11:34 pm
    Accountants often get a bad rap when portrayed in movies and television.  They tend to be boring, devoid of personality, weird or just socially awkward. Alternatively they are scheming and manipulative, and are often the  device by which the rich are pushed into penury.  They are almost always unsatisfied with their jobs and have secret dreams of pursuing something a little more exciting.  This of course is unfair  as being an accountant can be both fulfilling and exciting, depending on what you do with it.  It also provides some measure of financial stability…

  • Tax Advice for Last Minute Filers and Procrastinators

    Ronika
    20 Apr 2012 | 12:05 am
    If you have filed your tax return, you are entitled to thumb your nose at those of us who are still trying to get it together.  Given that the deadline to file your tax return is imminent, you should probably drop what you are doing right now and make it happen.  For the majority of taxpayers, the stress of having to file your taxes far outweighs the actual complexity of completing the tax return itself, particularly when software is available for even the most “numbers challenged” individuals.  And for those who really don’t want to do it themselves, there…

  • What Happened to Quebec Property Tax Refund?

    Ronika
    12 Apr 2012 | 11:33 pm
    For Quebec taxpayers who have been trying to locate their RL-4 slips, the slip that your landlord usually provides, or the part on the tax forms or software where you would enter your property taxes (Schedule B), be advised that as of 2011, that this is no longer a specific tax credit.  Prior to 2011, both property owners and renters could claim a portion of property taxes paid.  This reduced income taxes payable for taxpayers whose total family income was under approximately $50k However, per Revenue Quebec:  The property tax refund was replaced by the housing component of…

  • 6 Strategies to Maintain your Sanity during Busy Season

    Ronika
    5 Apr 2012 | 9:48 pm
    Accountants across the world right now are mired in tax preparation madness, as they try to deal with the myriad of work that needs to be done before tax filing deadlines.  The period between January and April is universally referred to as busy season, a term which inspires dread and tests the mettle of even the most ambitious and hardworking accountants.  Of course busy season is not specific to accountants.  Retailers experience it during the lead up to Christmas while the hospitality industry tends to be busiest in June and July (Montreal’s grand prix weekend is both a…

  • What is the Hiring Credit for Small Business?

    Ronika
    20 Mar 2012 | 11:00 am
    Recently, a client received a notice from the CRA indicating that he had received a credit of $265.  The explanation was simply that it was a hiring credit.  Upon further research, we determined that the credit was a result of the provision in the 2011 budget that gave a credit to small business for hiring additional employees. To be eligible for the credit, small businesses are not required to prepare any additional reporting.  The small business hiring credit is simply calculated based on the increase in employment insurance (EI) premiums paid in 2011 over 2010.  The…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Sales Lion by Marcus Sheridan

  • Mad Marketing Podcast #3: Blog Copycats, Guest Post Policies, and More

    Marcus Sheridan
    15 May 2012 | 7:18 am
    Before I talk about your GREAT questions discussed in today’s podcast, I want to make a special note that Gini Dietrich and Geoff Livingston have just launched their new book, Marketing in the Round, which discusses how to break down the silos within organizations to achieve maximum marketing success. Many of you know Gini from her wonderful blog Spin Sucks and have been reading her valuable insights for years, so make sure you get the book because it’s well worth the read and can truly have a huge impact on your organization! (***Note:  These are not affiliate links, I’m…

  • The Problem that is Social Guilt

    Marcus Sheridan
    11 May 2012 | 12:13 pm
    As I sat with Stanford Smith of Pushing Social two weeks ago during Social Slam my mind was piqued as he made one very simple yet profound statement: “We’ve got to stop with all this social guilt.” I had never heard the phrase “social guilt” before, but boy did it make sense and perfectly encapsulate a HUGE problem happening all over the globe today—the “need” businesses have to be all things social media to everyone. And when I say “all things social media,” what I’m referring to are those businesses and persons that are practically killing themselves to be active on…

  • What Does the Face of the Blogger of Tomorrow Truly Look Like?

    Marcus Sheridan
    8 May 2012 | 1:23 pm
    What does a sales force turned "blogging force" look like? Here's your answer. I’ve said it before but I’m going to say it again—the blogger of tomorrow looks nothing like the blogger of today. Why? Because right now, for the vast majority of companies around the world, the perception of what makes for a good blogger or content marketer is nowhere close to what it should be. And if I may be frank, it’s my goal to change this perception. I’m tired of hearing business owners say they don’t have time to blog. I’m tired of marketers saying they don’t know what to…

  • The 3 Essential Qualities of a TRUE Social Media Expert

    Marcus Sheridan
    3 May 2012 | 11:45 am
    No, really, I'm awesome with this social media stuff... Right now, there are literally thousands of businesses out there in the world looking for social media help, advice, and guidance. And like any other industry, the social media realm is full of “legit experts,” “not-so-legit experts,” and “please-call-me-a-guru-even-though-I’m-not experts.” Personally, over the last 3 years, I’ve seen many “experts” in this industry come and go. I’ve also seen many companies hire smart people and get huge results while at the same time there have been handfuls of others hire…

  • I Confess, Every Blog Post I’ve Ever Written is Link-Bait

    Marcus Sheridan
    30 Apr 2012 | 7:58 am
    As I sat to have dinner with a wonderful group of social media and marketing bloggers at Social Slam last week, we found ourselves discussing, and debating, the subject of “link-baiting.” And as were most of our discussions there in Knoxville, the banter was lively, and it seemed we all had something to say. At one point, Gini Dietrich of the great Spin Sucks blog said that just last week she had been accused of link-baiting, which just goes to show how some folks—the “Internet Police” we’ll call them, have nothing better to do with their time than judge the actions and intentions…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Ventureneer - Small Business

  • Lowering Barriers for Women Entrepreneurs Seeking Equity Investment

    Geri Stengel
    9 May 2012 | 11:20 pm
    Gender matters. It impacts the type of businesses entrepreneurs start, their aspirations for growing the business, and how they the fund it. read more

  • What Everybody Needs to Know About Online Marketing

    Geri Stengel
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:20 pm
    What you don’t know can hurt you, especially if what you don’t know leaves your business back in the 20th century while your customers are well on their way into the 21st. In that case, you are losing opportunities to grow, to reduce costs, and to build customer loyalty. read more

  • Necessity Births a Company That Relieves Menopause

    Geri Stengel
    25 Apr 2012 | 11:20 pm
    That old adage, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” certainly applies to end-user entrepreneurs, that is, those people who face a problem, solve the problem, then market the solution. read more

  • Businesses Bloom from the Seeds of Discontent

    Geri Stengel
    23 Apr 2012 | 11:20 pm
    Disturbed by the wasted money and ecological irresponsibility of buying toys, then throwing them away after a month? Want organic clothes for your baby? Can’t find the learning tools your special needs child needs? How about being able to sample high-end beauty products without cruising the counters of department stores? Or you “never have anything to wear” when an important occasion comes up? And, oh, those hot flashes! read more

  • New Options Require New Definitions for Entrepreneurs

    Geri Stengel
    18 Apr 2012 | 11:20 pm
    “Tech-enabled business,” like “stay-at-home” Mom, are terms that have taken on new meanings for entrepreneurs. read more
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Matt About Business

  • Where to Sell Your Products and Services Online – and How

    Matt Mansfield
    4 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    NOTE: the Weekly Link Roundup is beneath this post. Whether a client sells products, services or both, one of the questions I am most often asked is where to sell online. The answer that that used to pop into my head was, “Your website, of course!” These days however, the answer is not that straightforward. There are now A LOT of places where you can sell both products and services online. That’s because there are now A LOT of places where you can sell both products and services online and, given that many of my clients are smaller businesses, these…

  • How to Launch a New Website

    Matt Mansfield
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:00 pm
    NOTE: the Weekly Link Roundup is beneath this post. Once you spend the time and money build your new website, the next step is to focus on launching that puppy to the world. The web is full of ambitious sites that never received a measurable bit of traffic. What’s that? You’re not sure how to launch a new website? If so, you are not alone. In fact, the web is full of ambitious sites that never received a measurable bit of traffic. Why is that? Because, even though those sites were built with passion, hopes and dreams, they did not succeed in attracting their target audience. Yes,…

  • Does Your Site Achieve the 3 Main Marketing Goals of a Website?

    Matt Mansfield
    13 Apr 2012 | 11:30 am
    NOTE: the Weekly Link Roundup is beneath this post. It may seem straightforward, but nothing trips up business folks more than the question, “What are the goals of a website?” You see, these days, building a website for your business is one of those “necessary” steps. Most folks agree you need one and most businesses build them because they feel they should. Unfortunately, building a website without considering why you’re building it often leads to a situation where the site becomes a constant drain on your time, attention and money. Without goals your site is…

  • The Top 4 Ways to Use the Internet for Small Business

    Matt Mansfield
    6 Apr 2012 | 10:10 am
    NOTE: the Weekly Link Roundup is beneath this post. It’s easy to get lost when trying to figure out how to use the internet for small business. That’s because, as with most highly effective and powerful tools, there are just so many different ways to use the web that choosing the among the best solutions and approaches can be pretty overwhelming. So in this post, I’m gonna’ focus on giving you the big picture. That’s right, we’re going to soar up to 50,000 feet and take a look at the top 4 ways to use the internet for small business. Sometimes it really…

  • How to Use Pay Per Click Search Marketing to Promote Your Small Business

    Matt Mansfield
    23 Mar 2012 | 12:10 am
    NOTE: the Weekly Link Roundup is beneath this post. In last week’s post, I presented an overview of pay per click search marketing. This week, I wanted to provide you with the resources you need to get started with using pay for click ads to promote your own business. That’s why I’ve gathered links to a bunch of posts, infographics, sites and solutions, all of which contain useful and actionable information that will help get you on your way. So enjoy and remember, pay per click search marketing can seem overwhelming at first, but you can easily limit the amount of time and…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Shoeboxed Blog : Inside the Box

  • Shoeboxed #SpringCleaning Sweepstakes

    rolf
    14 May 2012 | 9:17 am
    It’s official: Spring is in the air! For some, that means it’s time to refill the allergy medications, but this time of the year most everyone seems to have a little extra skip in their step. For most of us, springtime is also the perfect time of year to de-clutter, re-organize, and attempt to be more productive. That’s right; it’s time for spring cleaning. This week, from Monday, May 14 through Friday, May 18, we’ve decided we should give everyone some extra motivation. In fact, one lucky winner will receive a handy ScanSnap S1300 scanner along with 6 months of Shoeboxed Classic to…

  • Announcing the Shoeboxed Shop Local Badge!

    Emily Farrar
    8 May 2012 | 1:12 pm
    Hey Shoeboxers! We know you love supporting local business as much as we do. Now you can show your support publicly with the new Shoeboxed Shop Local badge! The Shoeboxed Shop Local badge is the easy, verified way to tell friends, family, and co-workers that you shop at businesses in your local community. With a unique algorithm we’ve determined who is making a clear commitment to shop locally, and we wanted to give those top percentage of users a way to share this news with the world and encourage others to shop locally too. To learn more, or to see if you’re eligible,…

  • Prevent Post-Tax Day Hangovers with Outright and Shoeboxed

    rolf
    8 May 2012 | 11:19 am
    It’s happened to all of us. You squint awake in the bright morning sunshine, wondering “What happened last night?” A zillion tiny hammers pound inside your skull while your shaking hands reach reflexively for the aspirin. Your next thought is a solemn promise to yourself to never, ever, ever let that happen again. Sure, it was fun to push it to the limit, but the morning after is so not worth it. Yes, almost all of us have woken up with that post-Tax Day hangover. Did you look like this the morning after tax day? During the year, it’s easy to put off tracking your business income and…

  • Version 2.0 of Shoeboxed for Google Apps Now Live!

    Jake Brereton
    8 May 2012 | 8:50 am
    Great news for all of you Google Apps Shoeboxers: Version 2.0 of our Google Apps Marketplace listing is live! Now accessing your Shoeboxed account directly from Gmail or any other Google App is a breeze. With our new and improved Google Apps listing, you and everyone in your organization can navigate directly to Shoeboxed in seconds anytime you’re logged into your Google Apps account.           Our new Google Apps listing is loaded with timesaving features, including a streamlined sign-in process, seamless Google Contacts integration and brand new co-branded…

  • Meet the New Face of Shoeboxed Mobile: Sandra Miller

    Emily Farrar
    8 May 2012 | 8:43 am
    Mobile is the new Web 2.0, is the new World Wide Web… or so we hear. In any case, we are happy to welcome the newest addition to our developer team, Sandra Miller. Sandra will be focusing on making our mobile apps the best they can be, for iOS, Android and maybe even Windows, Blackberry and other outliers. Sandra originally hails from Indiana, but she has been a Triangle resident for many years, so she didn’t have to come far to join the Shoe Crew. As part of her Shoeboxed welcome package, we made her answer a quick questionnaire about herself, which we have edited for appropriateness…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Improve My Business

  • and now… the REST of the story

    Mary
    15 May 2012 | 5:17 pm
    If you’re old enough to remember the Paul Harvey radio show, the title of this post may be familiar… I wanted to update you on the many ‘dangling chads’ from my previous blog posts, and give you the good, the bad, and the ugly (another old reference) - seems to be my day for them (and [...]

  • Process Variation - does conformity stifle creativity?

    Mary
    1 May 2012 | 10:05 am
    As a process improvement professional, I work with companies to standardize and streamline their processes.  We usually consider having everyone doing the same thing, the same way, to be a good thing.  But as this Muppet video shows, the ‘cost’ of that may be stifling the creative soloist in the group, in the interest of [...]

  • Thoughts from the UK, part 3 - should I complain, and be thought of as the “ugly American”?

    Mary
    24 Apr 2012 | 8:21 am
    For our trip to Scotland, we stayed in a variety of hotels while there - some in a big city, some near a university, one night at the airport, etc.  The night before the interview at the university, we stayed about 30 minutes away (the closest we could find since it was a weekend and [...]

  • Thoughts from the UK part 2 - quickly adapting to change

    Mary
    18 Apr 2012 | 1:16 pm
    While traveling in Scotland, we rented a manual car.  It’s not our first time in the UK, so I’m somewhat familiar with driving on the ‘other’ side of the road, and we drive a standard / manual at home, but still… I have to be able to quickly adapt in a different situation.   Shifting [...]

  • Thoughts from the UK Part 1 - ease for the company, or the customer?

    Mary
    12 Apr 2012 | 9:51 am
    While traveling in Scotland recently, I had the opportunity to observe how different cultures and norms of English-speaking companies affect the way they do business.  I was fascinated to observe that, although we were all speaking “english” that we still had some troubles communicating (other than the obvious your-word-means-something-different-than-my-word mixups, which I won’t bother to [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    smallbusinessfinanceforum.com

  • Outsourcing to Upsize Your Small Business Profits

    Nicole Fende
    25 Apr 2012 | 9:08 am
    If you’ve ever eaten at McD’s (I blush to admit I love their fries), you know they’ll ask if you want to super size your meal. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could go into the Small Biz Store and super size your profits? While it may seem counter intuitive at first, paying someone else to do certain things can actually improve your bottom line. The trick is to know when and what to outsource. Now our villainous Number Muncher would love for you to think all outsourcing is bad, or convince you to to outsource the wrong things. Luckily I’m on to his villainous plot,…

  • Put Your Time Where Their Money Is (Get Paid To Do Your Market Research)

    Nicole Fende
    28 Mar 2012 | 9:00 am
    Are you sick of developing products only to see dismal sales? Do you feel like you’re playing Russian Roulette when you develop a new service? Do you wish you could afford to do market research? Good news – I can help. Learn how to research your target market, and get paid to do it! Market research isn’t out of your reach. In fact, any business, even a new business, can research their market and make money doing it! Market Research that Pays You: The Concept When you want to create a new product or service you start with an idea. Whether the idea is to offer an eBook on how…

  • Getting a Monster in the Mail: Achieving My Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)

    Nicole Fende
    21 Mar 2012 | 3:54 pm
    Today was a first, I received a monster in the mail. AND I was excited about it! As you can see, Fluffy was pretty excited too. The monster’s name is BHAG, which stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goal, and she is the Official Word Chef Mascot for Tea Silvestre. Watch the video below, and find out why Tea Silvestre sent me BHAG. What’s in this video? BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) visits The Numbers Whisperer (TM). BHAG was created by Tea Silvestre, The Word Chef, to honor successfully tackling a monumental goal. Nicole (that’s me!) received it in honor of her book, How to be a…

  • Take the Boring out of Small Business Planning – Interview with Jennifer Lee

    Nicole Fende
    2 Mar 2012 | 10:29 am
    Do you face your business planning with a sense of dread? Is creating a plan something you only did because you needed it for funding? Do you have a business plan, but it’s primarily used as a coaster for your coffee mug? Multiple studies show that entrepreneurs who use some type of formal planning are more likely to succeed. So like medicine, why can’t there be a spoonful of sugar to make it go down? (FYI that will probably be the only time I ever quote Mary Poppins). Good news, there is! In fact, it’s better than a spoonful of sugar. It’s more like a double chocolate…

  • Unusual Assets – Taking Stock of the Past Year

    Nicole Fende
    29 Feb 2012 | 8:08 am
    What is your most valuable asset? Do you think it’s the equipment you use to create your product? Perhaps you feel it’s your stellar ____________ skills, or your track record as a _____________. One year ago I would have answered my finance skills and track record as an actuary, CFO and Investment Banker. Boy was I wrong. Join me in taking stock of the past year and discover your undervalued assets . Almost one year ago to the day I had the wonderful privilege of attending Jennifer Lee’s Right Brain Business Plan™ Video Summit. Jennifer was a successful corporate…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Ian Sanders Blog

  • ‘Steal Like An Artist’: a bunch of ideas, well communicated

    11 May 2012 | 12:35 am
    I’m in the ideas-communication business and one thing I learnt early on is a great idea is not good enough; it’s how good you are at communicating it that counts.  Austin Kleon’s new book ‘Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told Me About the Creative Life’ reminded me of this. Like many non-fiction books I buy, I knew what was in Austin’s book before I opened it. I’d watched a video of him speak, I follow him on Twitter and I’d seen and shared the blog post that gave birth to the book so I was familiar with the content. So why did I like it  if I already knew…

  • What I learned from a knifemaker, a writer and a venture capitalist. 3 Lessons From The Do Lectures

    3 May 2012 | 8:14 am
    I spent last Friday and Saturday in a big tent in the middle of the Welsh countryside. I was at fforest farm for the spring Do Lectures, an event  ‘that started out in a quiet corner of West Wales that inspires you to go and do amazing things’. There was some great content from thirty speakers, from a range of disciplines including not just entrepreneurs but also a fell walker and a baker. Here are three lessons that stood out in my - obligatory - moleskine notebook:“If the work is great then people will come” Joel Bukiewicz, Knifemaker Cut Brooklyn. We hear many…

  • A Q&A with me on IdeaMensch

    10 Apr 2012 | 8:05 am
    IdeaMensch, the online community for people with ideas, has just published a Q&A interview with me. You can check it out here.

  • “What do I do? I just do ME!” Baratunde Thurston on mashing-up digital, storytelling and comedy

    21 Mar 2012 | 8:38 am
    As our work lives go plural, with our work and passions blending together, we can’t be defined by a job title anymore. Whether we work for ourselves or for an organisation, many of us have carved out roles that reflect our broader talents, adding new strings to our bow and new side projects as we spot opportunities or choose to scratch a new itch.  This is a subject I explore in my new book ‘Mash-up!: How to Use Your Multiple Skills to Give You the Edge, Earn More Money and be Happier’. Carving out a mashed-up life is not only about reflecting multi-dimensional talents and desires.

  • Why Sometimes It’s Okay to Not Know Where You’ re Going

    14 Mar 2012 | 11:39 am
    Having left the venue of Saturday’s TEDxObserver conference, my wife and I climbed on a pair of Boris bikes and set off through the streets of Clerkenwell. “Where are we headed?” my wife asked me. “I have no idea, let’s take some side streets and see where we end up.”It’s important to explore your curiosity and go on a journey without a destination in mind. That’s why we attended TEDx: to consume multiple voices, stories and ideas. Who knew what the next twenty minutes would bring, what action it might spark?The 2012 TEDxObserver conference featured a neuroscientist, a…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Home Based Business Ideas

  • What You Must Find out to Profit on the Internet

    DanielNBrown
    15 May 2012 | 12:17 pm
    Do you have an utmost deal to make online money? Are you constantly looking for new and effective means to earn money on the Internet? If this seems like something that you would like to do, then there are others like you. Every day thousands of individuals get online to find an “easy” means to [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Wilkins Consulting Blog

  • SMB security – network vulnerability scanning

    Trey
    1 May 2012 | 2:08 pm
    I mentioned the need to perform a routine vulnerabilty scan of your network and firewall in my 5 Step Data Security Plan for Small Businesses article.  You should scan your network and firewall on a quarterly or biannual basis to check for any vulnerabilities, ensure you have the latest security patches, and fix any issues.  Here is a list of several network vulnerability scanning tools you should consider using in-house, or if you use a network vendor, you can bring to their attention.  OpenVAS - On the upside OpenVAS is free, and it is a very thorough tool.  On the downside support is…

  • Blogging Tips

    Trey
    18 Apr 2012 | 1:46 pm
    I have always recommended blogging as a key part of a small business online marketing strategy.  Blogging allows you to interact with potential clients on your website, is a good way to allow visitors to promote your content, helps with your SEO strategy, and is a good way to provide timely and helpful information to your clients.  So with that introduction in mind, here are some blogging tips to help you take your small business blog to the next level. Pick a good blogging platform.  I prefer and use WordPress, but there are several good platforms out there.  See this blog post…

  • Small business security – Physical security

    Trey
    6 Apr 2012 | 8:45 am
    The majority of small business do not require extreme physcial security measures such as biometric access controls, mantraps, 24/7 physical presence monitoring, etc., but there are some relatively inexpensive physical security measures you can put in place to protect your small business assets.  Please note the physical security measures discussed in this blog post to do not pertain to a retail setting. Physical Access Whether you are in office building or a standalone office, the physical access considerations are generally the same.  Unless you have a receptionist constantly monitoring…

  • Small business security – Business Continuity Plan

    Trey
    21 Mar 2012 | 12:31 pm
    One of the most important aspects of a small business Information Security Policy is the Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Plan (BCP).  The BCP basically covers what your small business should do in the event of anything from losing your network server to losing complete access to your office space.  It is your plan to ensure that you can continue to offer your products and/or services to your client base in the event of any business operation downtime…essentially keeping your business up and running and your data secure. I covered some basic steps in my 5 Step Data Security Plan…

  • Promote your social media network via your website

    Trey
    9 Mar 2012 | 12:50 pm
    Promoting your social media networking via your website is an important step in marketing your small business.  There are several benefits to doing this. Allows your customers to more easily interact with you Makes it easier for your customers to promote you through their social networks Helps from a search engine optimization (SEO) standpoint – fresh content, link promotion via social networks, etc. Here are some tips on how to do it. 1.  Use social media buttons to link to your main social network websites.  Place the images in the top or bottom navigation bar.  See number 1 in…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    ReachLocal Blog: Online Marketing to Reach Local Customers

  • Ask the Expert: Email Marketing Best Practices

    15 May 2012 | 3:04 pm
    Despite the rapid growth of social media as a popular communications channel, emails are still an effective way for businesses to connect with and distribute information to consumers. In the U.S., nearly 92% of online adults use the Internet to read and send emails. And with the growing number of smartphones in the U.S., many consumers have constant access to email. In fact, almost 90 million Americans read emails on a mobile device. So to get a local expert’s point-of-view, we recently sat down with Ashley Ayan, Online Marketing Manager at ReachLocal, to discuss email best practices…

  • Display Advertising Lifts Search Advertising Conversions by 59% [Infographic]

    11 May 2012 | 4:34 pm
    At ReachLocal, we’ve always believed that display advertising and search advertising are closely related. And, using display ads in tandem with your search engine advertising campaign can actually boost your online marketing results.  New research from Pretarget and Yahoo illustrates the relationship between search advertising and display advertising. Though the two techniques are often seen as two distinct online marketing channels with different outcomes, this study indicates that display advertising can increase both search traffic and conversions when running alongside a search…

  • How To: Increase Web Conversions with Live Chat

    10 May 2012 | 10:49 am
    As many local businesses know, online advertising tactics like search engine advertising, display advertising, and social media marketing are effective ways to drive local prospects to your website – but how do you keep them there? And an even more challenging task, how do you get those visitors to convert into customers? One small business website best practice is to include multiple ways for visitors to contact you on your website to increase leads. In addition to offering only a contact form or phone number, you can also add live chat technology to drive more— and better…

  • Spring Cleaning: A Guide to Digital Organization for Your Small Business

    3 May 2012 | 11:29 am
    Springtime. It’s often associated with warmer temperatures, blossoming flowers, and the widely known, yet often unpopular task – spring cleaning. But homes and gardens aren’t the only places you should consider tidying. As a business owner, setting aside some time to clean and organize your digital life can not only help clear up some computer space, but it can also set you up to run your business, and your personal life, much more efficiently. Try out some of the following tips to get digitally organized this spring. Clean out your email inbox. Is your email inbox filled…

  • Search Advertising: What Is Quality Score and Why Does it Matter?

    1 May 2012 | 10:10 am
    If you’re running a search engine advertising (pay per click) campaign, chances are you’ve heard the phrase “quality score”. But like many small business owners, you may be wondering what quality score is, and what exactly it means to your search engine advertising campaign.  Quality score is an important factor that affects your search advertising, so here are a few things you need to know about it. What is Quality Score? Quality score is a rank of how relevant and useful a search engine thinks your business is to someone searching for your products and services…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Women Unlimited

  • Marketing: Getting back to basics

    Deborah Rowe
    16 May 2012 | 3:22 am
    Amongst other more lengthy descriptions, the Chartered Institute of Marketing defines marketing as “The management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably”.  It’s all about getting the right product or service, to the right people, at the right time, in a way that suits them and is at a mutually beneficial price. Without proper marketing it’s difficult for a business to get close to its customers and give them what they want. The good news is that many small businesses are already applying the basic marketing principles…

  • Finish What You Start: 3 Ways to Stop Quitting

    Guest post
    15 May 2012 | 3:04 am
    Every one of us has started something that we just didn’t finish. It’s frustrating to see that pile of unfinished projects just sitting on the floor it’s like a pile of regrets that keeps on growing. I know in my own life I’ve had to deal with that on more than one occasion. The violin I started playing in middle school, the Spanish lessons that I started and stopped, the video series that I stopped mid-stream, the books that I read until I got about halfway through, the business ideas that I just let go of and there are plenty more I could add. There is a strong case…

  • Spring Clean Your Website

    Guest post
    14 May 2012 | 3:09 am
    Is your website delivering? Whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter it is a good time to dust off your website and give it a spring clean. Carry out regular audits, every six months or so, to work out if your website is meeting your objectives. If not, do something about it – your site could be losing you money. Below is a checklist of what you should be thinking about to make sure your website is fit-for-purpose. Do you even need a website? If your target market has access to the internet and is likely to go online to find information on your company or what you do then yes, you…

  • So you want to be a billion dollar brand?

    Carole Bozkurt
    11 May 2012 | 3:01 am
    Do you dream of being the biggest name in your industry? Let’s be honest, don’t we all? But creating a successfulbrand takes time and hard dollar investment and you have to be able to back it up with a great product or service. When you look at successful brands like Apple, how excited do you get about buying the latest iPad or iPhone? How sure are you that the next time you drink Coca-Cola it will taste exactly the same as it did before?  Are you certain, every single time you shop at John Lewis that you’re “Never Knowingly Undersold”? Most of us are pretty sure about how we feel…

  • Not enough time? That can be good for your productivity!

    Grace Marshall
    9 May 2012 | 3:09 am
    When you run your own business, there is always so much to do. It seems like as entrepreneurs, our work is never done. There’s not enough time to do all that we need to, want to and feel we ought to do. Not enough time to market to new clients while serving existing ones. Not enough time to keep on top of all the admin and accounts as well as getting products out of the door. Time for social media, to stay on top of current trends and ahead of competitors. Time to work on the business as well as in it. Not to mention time out of your business – with family, home life, social life and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    BizBest

  • 7 Keys to Becoming a Business Superstar

    Daniel Kehrer
    3 May 2012 | 6:56 pm
    Some businesses – and business owners – just seem irresistible.  They’re the ones earning the highest fees who rarely seem to go searching for clients and customers because clients come to them. How does this happen?It’s not an isolated phenomenon. These kinds of “bankable” businesses exist in almost every industry, says Andrew Sobel, co-author along with Jerold Panas of “Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business and Influence Others” (Wiley, 2012).  But business superstars aren’t born, they’re usually self-made. Here are seven keys that can unlock the…

  • 6 Surprising Truths About Business Growth

    Daniel Kehrer
    3 May 2012 | 6:48 pm
    All growth is good. Bigger is better. All businesses must either grow or die.Most business owners accept those business axioms. Unfortunately, they’re wrong. “At best those beliefs are half-truths and at worst they’re pure fiction,” says Ed Hess, a business professor at the University of Virginia and author of the new book Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Entrepreneurial Businesses (Stanford University Press, 2012). “Growth can be good and growth can be bad.”Basically, Hess argues that everything you know about growth is probably wrong. Yikes! So how can you tell the difference…

  • 6 Strategy Secrets for Small Business

    Daniel Kehrer
    13 Apr 2012 | 5:41 pm
    Strategy is strange. It’s one of the most talked-about concepts in business – yet one of the least understood.  Corporate titans tout “strategies” of infinite variety every day; never mind that most are not strategies at all. At best, many are simply sets of goals. At worst, they are recipes for disaster or perpetuated mediocrity.The good news is this: Strategy is an area where small firms and startup entrepreneurs have  an opportunity to out-think their big business cousins. And it starts by simply grasping what strategy really is – and is not.While there’s no official…

  • 10 Ways to Tap Twitter for Leads

    Daniel Kehrer
    12 Apr 2012 | 10:31 am
    Slowly but surely, many business owners are realizing that Twitter is a terrific (and free) tool for a variety of business purposes, including marketing, customer service, branding and PR and generating leads. Those who use it effectively are generating traffic for their websites, building networks and getting closer to their customers.Using Twitter specifically to generate leads is something that works differently for different types of businesses.  You should try out different approaches and see what works best for you. Then go with that.Here are 10 things you can do on Twitter to attract…

  • 3 Deadly QR Code Miscues and How to Fix Them

    Daniel Kehrer
    23 Mar 2012 | 6:15 pm
    Quick Response (QR) codes are turning up more frequently in small business advertising and marketing materials, including posters, business cards, packaging, drink coasters and you name it. But unless local businesses use them properly, QR codes are wasting your time.  But few businesses are using QR codes in a way that lets them track their marketing campaigns effectively, says Scott Wilson, founder and CEO of RankHigher.ca, a Canadian internet marketing and SEO firm.“QR codes used the right way can be a fantastic marketing tool,” says Wilson. “Wouldn’t it be great to track your web…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Firefly Coaching

  • Secrets to Getting People to Spread the Word

    Stephanie Ward
    4 May 2012 | 3:34 am
    As a business owner you’ve got something you want the world to know about. Maybe it’s your new book, an upcoming workshop, or a special course. And you know that getting people in your network to tell others about it is a great way to increase the reach about your offer and make sure more people know about it. But in order for people to be willing to help you spread the word about your cool new thing, you must do two things: 1. Make it easy for them to do it 2. Give them many options to choose from 1. Make It Easy You know how busy people are these days; even if they do want to help if…

  • 3 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

    Stephanie Ward
    20 Apr 2012 | 2:22 am
    Are you making any of these marketing mistakes? Find out if you are and what you can do about it, watch this short video. Click here to view the embedded video. If you don’t already have a valuable free give away, read this: Do You Have a Valuable Free Giveaway? And if you have a valuable free giveaway and want to find out how to leverage it read this: Convert Your Free Valuable Giveaway and Reach More People. To read about even more business mistakes you might be making be sure to read: 8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Business. Share your thoughts on this topic below in the comments…

  • Pinterest for Small Business Owners

    Stephanie Ward
    6 Apr 2012 | 5:44 am
        What is Pinterest? Well in case you haven’t heard all the buzz lately, it’s a fast growing new social network. According to Hubspot, “In December 2011, Pinterest made Hitwise’s list of the top ten social networks, sitting at #5 and beating out big names like LinkedIn and Google+.” I know, I can hear you saying “I don’t have time for yet another social networking site.” But if it could help you grow your business would you be interested? Well it can, more on that in a minute. First let me tell you a bit about Pinterest. If you’re a visual person like me,…

  • 6 Ways to Succeed with Social Media by Pretending You’re a Small Town Business

    Stephanie Ward
    31 Mar 2012 | 4:25 am
        Taking on the world of social media marketing can seem daunting. Sitting in front of your computer, or holding your smartphone, you can be at a loss for words, or unsure of your direction. One way to get past that lost feeling is to pretend you are the owner of a small town store. Now, this is easy for me because I own a retail store in a small town, but you can imagine it, too. 1. Build Connections Small town business owners spend a lot of their time talking one on one with customers, building connections. This is the opposite of the usual approach of broadcasting a message to…

  • What Social Media Naysayers Are Missing Out On

    Stephanie Ward
    1 Mar 2012 | 2:22 pm
    If you’re not using social media to grow your business, you’re missing out on a free and effective way to gain exposure, make connections, and attract new clients. Social media isn’t about doing something that different than what you’re already doing. It’s simply an extension of what you’re already doing. Speaking as a marketing strategy is the same concept as creating videos. Writing compares to blogging. And if you are into networking; Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are just additional ways to network. When I talk about Social Media I’m referring specifically to these…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Smart Simple Marketing - Practical Strategies for Creating a Highly Successful Service Business

  • How to Find Clients You LOVE!

    Sydni Craig-Hart
    11 May 2012 | 8:10 am
    AAARRRGGHHH!! Do you scream after working with a particular client? It is not the end of the world when you find yourself in a working relationship that is well, NOT working. I would really love to help you avoid (or get out of) a bad client situation. How can you do it? Know what you HATE To help me stay focused on only working with ideal clients (meaning those folks with whom I can do my BEST work and create the BEST possible results), I've developed a simple system that you too can model. Prospects are not allowed into my door if they don’t meet certain criteria. This is in the best…

  • Follow These Tips to Make Sure Your Website Doesn’t Get Hijacked!

    Sydni Craig-Hart
    10 May 2012 | 10:25 am
    Your website is the MOST important online collateral you have. Watch this video to learn how to keep your online presence safe and reflective of the image you want to portray of your business? Here are the resources I mentioned in the video: Domain Registration - GoDaddy Web Hosting - HostGator Web Hosting - BlueHost Content Management - WordPress.org If you have other resources you'd like to share, feel free to do so by posting a comment below! Email this to a friend? Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Share this on LinkedIn Subscribe to the comments for this post? Clip this to Evernote…

  • A Marketing Recipe That Is Guaranteed to Succeed (SSMS Episode 82)

    Sydni Craig-Hart
    9 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    A lot of folks marketing "strategy" is throwing stuff out into the world and seeing what sticks. Some jump from idea to idea, concept to concept and never make any progress. To me, marketing is like cooking (which I LOVE) and to create real success in your business you need to follow a recipe. One that is customized to your personality, your business and your goals. In this week's episode I teach you how you easily find your recipe and "cook up" delicious success in your business! Email this to a friend? Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Share this on LinkedIn Subscribe to the comments for…

  • What You Need to Know About Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Capitol Hill

    Sydni Craig-Hart
    8 May 2012 | 10:13 am
    Last week I was in Washington, DC to host a client for a VIP Profit Strategy Session. Also, I had a few meetings with the President of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), as I was recently appointed to their Member Council. (By the way, this is an organization, I highly, highly recommend you become a member of. The benefits are amazing and they really do have your back!) I had the opportunity to attend a briefing on Capitol Hill regarding taxes issues and health care reform as it relates to small business owners. This is what I learned: I know it's easy to get caught up in…

  • Best Apps for Optimizing Your Facebook Fan Page

    Sydni Craig-Hart
    7 May 2012 | 10:18 am
    If you're using Facebook Business Pages to drive traffic to your website (which should be the goal of the page), you're likely quite interested in keeping up with the latest and greatest applications to help you get the most of out of this tool. My friend Kristine Maveus-Evenson, President of Capture Hits, shared this great list of recommended apps that I want to pass along to you:     Static HTML (tabs 1-12) -- She likes this one because you can simply drop/insert HTML JotForm -- No coding needed. Easiest way to add a capture form, though you won't get email list management. Pinterest tab…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Subscribe to the Success Center!

  • 10 Steps to Success with E-Book Publishing

    rod@rodkirby.com (Rod Kirby)
    1 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    What is an E-Book? An e-book is a book published in an electronic file format. I created mine with Microsoft Word and published the final version in Adobe .PDF file format. This is for easy downloading, sharing, and distributing of the file (plus, no one can alter it once it’s published). Think of an e-book as an extended blog post or detailed report. They typically range anywhere from 10-100 pages but are mostly kept short and to the point. What are the Benefits to E-Book Marketing? Quickly establish your expertise Gain new business leads Drive traffic to your website or blog Easy way…

  • Poll: What’s Your Business Exit Strategy?

    rod@rodkirby.com (Rod Kirby)
    25 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    Photo Courtesy of Eric Leech.com We typically talk about starting a business or launching your dreams around here, but we never talk about getting out of business. The exit strategy is an important part of any business plan and you should have an idea of how to exit a market once you’re ready. Back in 2005 I was a freelance graphic and website designer (I still worked a full-time job as well). Toward the end of 2006, my needs and focus changed. I just didn’t have the same desire to continue in graphic design. I decided to shut down my business and move on to wherever God would…

  • The Power of Belief for Your Success!

    rod@rodkirby.com (Rod Kirby)
    23 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    What do You Believe? To believe means to trust something as real or true. Knowing what you believe and why is important. You cannot trust something unless you know it. Those of us who follow Christ say we believe but we have to ask ourselves if our belief includes the level of trust needed to really succeed. Some important questions must be asked in order to get to  the meat of your belief about how you operate your business. What does your belief compel you to do? Does it cause you to serve your market with passion so that you bring them the best of what you have to offer? Does it cause…

  • Ready to Quit Your Job and Take Your Business Full-Time? Try This!

    rod@rodkirby.com (Rod Kirby)
    18 Apr 2012 | 10:55 am
    Are you working a full-time job and running a business at the same time? Ready to quit and take your business full-time? In today’s economy you may have to work a “day job,” but God desires for you to prosper and live your dreams! As of March 2012, the U.S. unemployment rate is around 8.2 percent, according to tradingeconomics.com. That means that a lot of people are more focused on finding a steady gig than launching a business. And rightfully so, in today’s economy Banks are tightening their grip on business loans, consumers are more price conscious, and it’s…

  • Don’t Be Afraid to Be Who God Called You to Be! [Video]

    rod@rodkirby.com (Rod Kirby)
    11 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    This guest post is from Amos Johnson, Jr. Amos is the host of The Christian Entrepreneur, the #1 online talk show with Christian Entrepreneurs discussing business success. Subscribe Today & Receive Free Updates in Your Inbox! You Like Free Stuff Don’t You? Enter your email address: Disclaimer: We will never share your email address with anyone, period.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Perfect Balance Marketing

  • Get in the mood for attending a business fair

    Lucy Thornton
    11 May 2012 | 4:57 am
    Events are a big part of Perfect Balance Marketing’s marketing strategy. They are a chance to ask potential customers what they want from a social media agency.  We get to test out our promotional materials. They are great for networking.  And they also give us the opportunity to learn something new from other businesses exhibiting. [...]

  • Four ways to add the WOW factor to your LinkedIn

    Lucy Thornton
    4 May 2012 | 3:29 am
    Are you on LinkedIn?  How’s it working for you?  I’d bet my Bank Holiday Monday that it’s not working as well as it is for these people: James Filbird, owner of JMF International Trade Group, gets three quarters of all his business through LinkedIn.  He finds people who fit his niche, researches them, then contacts [...]

  • Three essential parts of a social media plan

    Lucy Thornton
    18 Mar 2012 | 3:27 pm
    To fail to plan is to plan to fail. Heard that before?  Never was it more true than with social media for business. Social networks are so simple to set-up and use that it’s tempting to just get started with a page, with absolutely no idea what you’re trying to achieve or how you’re going [...]

  • The Johnny Cowling guide to social media

    Lucy Thornton
    9 Feb 2012 | 3:42 am
    Last night I went to see Cornish comedian Johnny Cowling perform at a hotel in Falmouth. He’s known locally for his Cornish jokes, risque humour and singing, and he’s best known “up north” (ahem) in London for warming up the audiences for Dancing on Ice and Take Me Out on ITV. As well as being [...]

  • Social media how to

    Lucy Thornton
    27 Dec 2011 | 2:26 pm
    I got an email yesterday – on Boxing Day – who sends emails on Boxing Day?   It was from a potential new client – a pretty big client if he decides to work with me, so I took time out of eating cold turkey and playing with my new phone, and focused on answering [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Women Entrepreneurs - The Secrets of Success blog

  • Lynn Steinberg on Women Entrepreneurs Radio™

    15 May 2012 | 10:55 pm
    For Lynn Steinberg, food is the center of her family celebrations. As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, half-sister, grand-daughter, cousin, sister-in-law, daughter-in law, aunt, friend and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Writing a Headline: 7 Proven Headline Formula Strategies That Sell

    13 May 2012 | 10:55 pm
    by Donna Gunter Writing a headline seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? Just give your piece a title that tells what the story is about and you’re done.  However, if you want a headline that... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Happy Mother's Day

    13 May 2012 | 5:52 am
    Julia Ward Howe was the first to proclaim Mother's Day in 1870. Her Mother's Day Proclamation was a pacifist reaction to the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. The modern holiday of... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • "It's Just Business:" Tips on Balancing Business and Love

    10 May 2012 | 10:50 pm
    by Danielle Tousignant "Nothing personal" and "no offense" seem to be the way I begin my sentences these days. I recently launched the web startup, WorkoutSpots.com, an app to help streamline the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Clare Eluka on Women Entrepreneurs Radio™

    9 May 2012 | 5:26 am
    Ethical beauty entrepreneur and formulator and multi-allergen sufferer, Clare Eluka, is a pioneering force in the contemporary health and well-being industry. After working 10 years in the beauty... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Image Design Blog

  • 'Secret Garden' Versailles by Dior - Video

    John Simoudis
    5 May 2012 | 10:11 am
    A new video by Dior. I love the music and the cinematography. Visit me at: www.simoudis.com Twitter: @simoudis Facebook: Simoudis Photography

  • Highlights from the NY Botanical Garden Antique Furniture Show

    John Simoudis
    4 May 2012 | 8:24 am
    The NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx hosted its annual Antique Garden Furniture Show. Dealers from all over the Northeast showed some pretty extraordinary garden furniture - pretty expensive too. If you're into exterior design, it's worth taking a look. Both photos: Ani Ancient Stone Balsamo Antiquities, Pine Plains, NY Judith and James Milne, New York, NY Barbara Israel, Katonah, NY Brennan and Mouilleseaux Antiques, Northfield, CT French Country Living Antiques, London, UK Linda and Howard Stein, Solebury, PA Balsamo Antiquities, Pine Plains, NY Visit me at: www.simoudis.com Twitter:…

  • How to transfer your SMS messages to a new iPhone.

    John Simoudis
    12 Apr 2012 | 7:38 am
    Despite Apple's claims that upgrading to a new iPhone is as easy as backing up the old one and connecting the new one to iTunes, I still find the process somewhat lacking. I tinkered with the iTunes settings and over time I have lost and retrieved music, photos and ebooks from my iPhone and iPad but it always took a little time and often a new download to make sure that everything transferred correctly. Recently I had to get a new iPhone 4S. After I synced all my contacts, etc., I realized that my SMS messages hadn't transferred. My old iPhone contained about 30 rather important conversations…

  • Models and fire - Music Video

    John Simoudis
    23 Mar 2012 | 8:07 am
    THE DAY THE WORLD WENT AWAY is a video by Brussels-based director Pierre Debusschere. It captures models and projects fiery imagery for some stunning effects. Visit me at: www.simoudis.com Twitter: @simoudis Facebook: Simoudis Photography

  • Stella Artois - The Apartomatic Commercial Video

    John Simoudis
    12 Mar 2012 | 11:22 am
    This is a fantastic spot for Stella Artois directed by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola. The set design is fantastic if you are into mid-century modern. Visit me at: www.simoudis.com Twitter: @simoudis Facebook: Simoudis Photography
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Grind & Thrive

  • Why “Be Honest With Yourself” Led Eric Roberson To A Major Breakthrough In His Career

    Torrey
    24 Apr 2012 | 10:14 am
    It was a frustrating time for singer Eric Roberson. Although many in the music business recognized his talent, he experienced being released from Warner Bros. Records. After performing for more labels and top-level music executives, Eric still found himself without a record deal. Watch as Eric reveals how being honest with himself allowed him to move through the discouragement and helped hime begin to pave his own road as an independent artist. Click if you can't see video Watch the full 30 minute conversation with Eric.

  • Bryan-Michael Cox: A Humble And Hustle-Filled Journey To Music Hitmaker Status

    Torrey
    19 Apr 2012 | 11:20 am
    Bryan-Michael Cox is one of the dopest and successful songwriters/producers in the game, having won 8 Grammys and selling more than 100 million records in his career. He's the man being award-winning albums like Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough, Usher's Confessions and so many more. Bryan takes us inside his rise to fame and reveals what he learned about himself and success in the process. B. Cox shares the lessons he has learned throughout his life, from following your passion to being humble and hungry to the value of relationships. And he's still using those lessons to…

  • Noel Gourdin Speaks On Success In Music, Battling Depression and Bouncing Back

    Torrey
    5 Apr 2012 | 3:44 pm
    If there was a theme for this interview, it would be this quote: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill ; Today's guest is singer/songwriter Noel Gourdin. Noel is the man behind the 2008 smash hit The River, from his debut album ;After My Time. ;Noel followed the critically-acclaimed album with the 2011 release, ;Fresh: The Definition. Noel joins me to chat about tons of stuff, including: His background and introduction to music How a passion for music led him to perform in clubs while underage The story of…

  • From Major Record Label Disappointment to Independent Soul Music Royalty – with Eric Roberson

    Torrey
    2 Mar 2012 | 10:44 am
    How do you go from the disappointment of being released from a major record label deal to being referred to as the "king of the independent soul music movement?" Eric Roberson is a Grammy nominated singer/songwriter that has independently released eight albums since 2001 on his label, Blue Erro Soul. He's been a role model paving the way for other artists to share their art without the support of a major record label.  I wanted to know how and why he did it. When and where his passion for music originated from. How he's been able to build such a passionate community…

  • How Dwele Went From Working at AAA to Critically Acclaimed Singer

    Torrey
    9 Feb 2012 | 7:12 am
    Dwele, one of today's most talented R&B singers, takes us along for the ride as he shares the lessons he learned throughout his rise to success and reflects on the road he's traveled. In this conversation, Dwele and I chat about: How he got started in music Why he dropped out of college after two semesters (and why he kinda regrets it) Why working a full-time job wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be for Dwele How he hustled making his demo at night while working full time Why making music wasn’t to get a record deal (and the reason he made music) and lots more!!! Enjoy…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small-Business

  • How to Succeed in Living the Entrepreneur Lifestyle

    mzwilling
    6 May 2012 | 7:31 am
    As we recover from some tough economic times, more and more people seem to be turning to entrepreneurship as an alternative to traditional employment. I applaud this trend, but caution all of you thinking this direction to approach entrepreneurship with your eyes wide open. It is not for everyone, as the entrepreneur’s path is fraught with challenges. Many experts have tried to clearly lay out the criteria for success in a way that allows you to judge your own situation and your own temperament, and make a rational decision before starting down this path. One of the best summaries I have…

  • #180 Jennifer Warawa, Joe Nicassio and Alan Masarek – May 04,2012

    bmoltz
    4 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Scheduled Guests: Jennifer Warawa talks about how small business owners can effectively use their accountants (and not just at tax time). Joe Nicassio talks about renewing Americas entrepreneurial spirit. Alan Maserk discusses the “New App economy”. Sponsored by Dell and Sage North America. Jennifer Warawa | Dell | Sage | Alan Masarek | Joe Nicasso Read Original Post

  • How to Remove Negative Reviews on Yelp

    awise
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:37 pm
    Have some negative reviews on your restaurant making your Yelp rating drop? There’s a way to get rid of these negative reviews without any sort of tricks or gimmicks. Let me explain .. I’m going to my 5 year anniversary dinner tonight at the Bridge Cafe and was checking out Yelp for reviews that highlighted the best meals on the menu and I cam across an interesting review.. How to Get Rid of Negative Yelp Reviews A Yelper had posted a 1 star review, but 1 month later posted a 5 star review and retracted their original review. How’d Bridge Cafe pull this off? Bribery?

  • Susan Solovic Keynotes at New York Business XPO Sponsored by AT&T: Attend for FREE!

    ssolovic
    25 Apr 2012 | 1:56 pm
    http://www.susansolovic.com/2012/04/susan-solovic-keynotes-at-new-york-business-xpo-sponsored-by-att-attend-for-free/ Some business experts say flat is the new growth. NO WAY — says award-winning entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author, Susan Solovic. Learn how you can ramp up your revenue and fast-track your business growth even in today’s economy. Growth frequently eludes businesses of all sizes because their leaders or founders overlook basic principles that underpin growth strategies. Growth occurs when there is a match between external and internal business…

  • 8 Angel Investors That Entrepreneurs Should Avoid

    mzwilling
    22 Apr 2012 | 6:45 am
    A few angel investors have slipped or fallen from their lofty perch, so entrepreneurs must take great care to validate the character and reputation of every prospective investor. The entrepreneur’s tendency to be in a huge hurry to obtain the funding can end up being disastrous, and play into the hands of these less scrupulous investors. Many entrepreneurs believe all money is created equal. As long as somebody recognizes their million dollar idea and writes them a check, the source really doesn’t matter. In fact, most angels are pure, but there are some exceptions that may cost you…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Micro Business Perspectives

  • No Cafeteria, No Problem

    Jason Keith
    14 May 2012 | 3:11 pm
    While many micro business owners don’t have the luxury of heading to the corporate cafeteria for lunch, here are some tips for cheap, quick and easy lunch time options. Use cash when purchasing your lunch, it will make you more aware of what you are spending. Ten dollars on Monday and eight dollars on Wednesday [...]

  • MBR: Sucker punches, marketing shifts and best states for #SMB owners

    Jason Keith
    11 May 2012 | 9:55 am
    Hey everyone! Hope you had a great week. Up in New England we started the week with some showers, but closed out with some lovely spring weather. Earlier in the week the company also announced some major changes to our business cards (click here to read more) that we’re sure our customers will love. Hope [...]

  • 9 Tips for Creating a Postive Work/Life Balance

    Jason Keith
    10 May 2012 | 2:32 pm
    Earlier in the week, we asked the Vistaprint Facebook community how they run a small business AND a family. We received such great advice, we wanted to feature a few of our favorite responses here: Deidrea Haysel It’s a delicate dance…but you have to make sure you are being present with your children as much [...]

  • Vistaprint upgrades paper stock, changes iconic message on free business cards

    jasonvistaprint
    9 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Critics have said that business cards are a thing of the past, but Vistaprint believes as long as entrepreneurs continue to pursue their passion there will always be a need to network and connect.  Business cards have long been at the “inception” of a new business, giving legitimacy and meaning to any new venture, and [...]

  • Must-have Business Tools

    Jason Keith
    7 May 2012 | 4:53 pm
    Earlier today, we asked our Facebook community what business tool was a must-have. Originally, we thought we might see a lot of technology-related mentions, but our community threw us for a loop going with more meta items, such as “pens” and “business cards” (Vistaprint also came out on top!)  Check out our word cloud, based [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Constant Contact Blogs

  • How to Use YouTube, Email, and Facebook to Make $10,000

    Blaise Lucey
    16 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    Have you ever wanted to see a trumpet thrown off the back of a car going sixty miles an hour? What about a trumpet holding up an entire car? Well, you can. More specifically, you can see just how well Torpedo Bags protect trumpets from this kind of trauma. That’s the whole point of the [...]

  • Want to Reach Your Next Great Customer? Let’s Get Down to Business!

    Dave Charest
    16 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    In honor of Small Business Week, Constant Contact is hosting a series of free events in 50 cities to help small businesses reach their next great customer. Meet and mingle with other small businesses and local influencers while you learn from the industry’s top experts in email and social media marketing. Here are some of [...]

  • Event Therapy Session 6: Reflecting on the Experience

    Mary Crogan
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    In session six of our light-hearted look at real-world event issues our “customers” reflect on their event experiences. How did their events go? Did they save any time and energy? Were they able to pull off their events without pulling out their hair? Chris Litster, vice president and general manager of the Event Marketing team [...]

  • Control Your Image With Our New SaveLocal Feature

    TiAn Vetter
    15 May 2012 | 1:30 pm
    Let’s face it, in today’s society, image is everything. That’s why here at Constant Contact, we’ve made a fantastic upgrade to our SaveLocal product, enabling you to use your own images as part of your deal template! When you choose a template for your SaveLocal deal, you have a choice of layouts that offer a [...]

  • How a #Hashtag Can Help You Graduate to More Social Events

    Ryan Pinkham
    15 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    First, I would like to congratulate my fellow members of the Class of 2012. Second, I would like to congratulate Northeastern University. After 110 years, the school finally solved a problem that has challenged institutions of higher learning for generations: how to make commencement ceremonies less boring. And they did it by incorporating a hashtag [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    UBC - a place of mind

  • Three new B.C. business leader videos now online

    16 May 2012 | 11:48 am
    Learn why Yuri Fulmer, CEO of FDC Capital, Anita Huberman, CEO Surrey Board of Trade, and Tamara Vrooman, CEO of Vancity Credit Union, are concerned about work life conflict among parents with young children. The latest New Deal videos outline why businesses need to pay attention to the new realities of families and why they should support government policies that support families with young children. These themes are central in Paul Kershaw's research concerning family policy and his New Deal for Families policy recommendations. Visit Dr. Kershaw’s A New Deal for Canadian Families blog…

  • April 2012 ECD citation list

    16 May 2012 | 11:41 am
    HELP’s April 2012 ECD citation list is now available. The citation list includes Early Child Development academic research publications for April 2012 and pre-prints for May and beyond.  The monthly citation list has been posted to the HELP Publications page of our website. This page offers direct links to key HELP researcher publications as well as links to monthly ECD citation lists (from as far back as June 2011).  The April PDF is located on the right hand side menu under the heading “ECD References”.

  • Managing e-Health Change – A Pan-Canadian Collaborative Approach

    16 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Ian Hodder, & Cassie Frazer. (2012). Managing e-Health Change – A Pan-Canadian Collaborative Approach. Electronic Healthcare, 10(4), e12–21. Retrieved from: http://www.longwoods.com/content/22837 “Following a Clinical Adoption workshop held in November 2009, Canadian change management (CM) practitioners came together to develop a common approach for addressing gaps in e-Health CM practices. Through collaborative dialogue, the group, collectively [...]

  • Update on 2012 Election: Results of Recent Polls

    16 May 2012 | 7:03 am
    A compilation of survey results regarding the upcoming parliamentary election in Mongolia. Continue reading →

  • fdjkafjldskfj. ahewqiuleqeqkgeba. wkrhqklhrtkl.

    16 May 2012 | 12:56 am
    adkjfhka, kjahwekhtaihtilu, ierhhjrhwilhreilwh! akjdfhkljsgha askjdfh fdt retwk vjhsi qweiowtju  slkjfhtkgjhkijsh, wiorqnmcvidfj xcoikjre weohcd qoehroqkj wqhruh. jhkehr eqohoqehtkj oiwjhtwj. RTJH WLJHEH OGIJHOCIHNK EUJHKET RHOHOWNT GJH!!! In other words, regrets T_T. Haha but it’s okay I’ll have fun next year in science, … Continue reading → Continue reading →
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Pajama Productivity

  • I Got What You Need: Outsourcing a Biz Need Increases Biz Productivity

    Annie
    24 Apr 2012 | 3:16 pm
    Yeah, RIGHT, that costs a dollar. What’s a Word Carnival? You’re soaking in one! Check out our Word Carnivals site for more on the fabulously awesome Carnies bringing you small-business magic on the digital fairgrounds today! I am about to do something I never thought I’d do: Admit that law school was helpful. Don’t get excited – it’s a relatively minor thing. Here it is … It was in law school that I learned about the concept of a “needs” contract. What the What, Now? Yeah, so, a “needs” contract is simply an agreement whereby one…

  • Like Ripples in a Pond: Masterminding Your Success

    Annie
    28 Feb 2012 | 5:27 pm
    What’s a Word Carnival? You’re soaking in one! Check out our Word Carnivals site for more on the fabulously awesome Carnies bringing you small-business magic on the digital fairgrounds today! Earlier this week, I wrote about the subject of small group promotions and mastermind process in a different context over at my other biz blog, Stage Presence. But over here, today, I want to talk about mastermind groups as a productivity tool, and as the single biggest lesson I learned in 2011. The bottom line: a small (3 to 5 member) group of fellow couch warriors can and should be your…

  • Use the Power of Productivity to Grow Your Profits

    Annie
    20 Feb 2012 | 11:37 am
    Check out this great guest post from PJP buddy Nicole Fende, aka “The Numbers Whisperer”! You know productivity is good for your business.  Just like you know vegetables are good for your health. Do you eat your vegetables every day?  Actually I’m not concerned about your veggie intake.  My real question is do you manage your productivity on a daily basis? Let’s try one more question.  Do you breathe every day?  Of course you do!  You breathe every minute, many times a minute.  It’s essential for living. Productivity is as essential to your profits as breathing is to…

  • Ruthless Email: Cleaning Up the Clutter of Spam & Marketing Emails

    Annie
    8 Feb 2012 | 10:33 am
    Mmmm. SPAM. Quick question: how many junk emails do you get a day?  Ten? Twenty? A hundred or more? It’s not uncommon, and it’s way too easy to fall into this trap. Email marketing is a powerful and effective way to get your marketing message out to prospects. I use it myself, as do most folks. Let me be clear: email marketing is not evil, in and of itself. Don’t hate the marketer. Don’t viciously mark it as “spam” when you signed up for it. Don’t allow yourself to get infuriated over its mere presence in your inbox. Instead, calmly and…

  • The Ruthless Email Revolution Begins Today

    Annie
    1 Feb 2012 | 7:20 am
    (UPDATE: Specific instructions on turning off mobile phone notifications kindly provided by Jared Goralnick of AwayFind.com) Today, we’re beginning the month-long series on productive email habits. We’re not just going to get better at email. We’re going to be ruthless about it. Hence: the Ruthless Email Revolution. Before we dive into the nuts and bolts, though, let’s start with some basic philosophy and background. Email is routinely cited in studies and polls as the number-one (or close to it) productivity killer by workers and entrepreneurs. When you think about how long it takes…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Connected Life

  • What Is Your Relationship Management Objective? (Why is it important and how can you define one?)

    Patrick Ewers
    23 Apr 2012 | 10:00 am
    Did you know you are a social processing engine? Our brain has tripled in size over the last 2.6 million years. Did you also know that almost all of this growth is attributed to our ability to process interpersonal dynamics? This consists of such things as working in a team, coordinating complex tasks with peers, and feeling empathy. It’s all about things like being good at hunting together, building a village as a group, or even raising kids. Those that did this best survived – as a result you have their genes. Interpersonal management requires tremendous processing power – the…

  • Connected Acquired by LinkedIn!

    Sachin Rekhi
    5 Oct 2011 | 3:21 pm
    We started Connected in 2010 to help professionals build, maintain, and leverage their most important relationships. Since our public launch in February 2011, we’ve seen tremendous growth and engagement from our users, with over 11 million contacts under management. These users share our passion for a better way to manage their professional network through a fully automated real-time address book and an intelligent system that proactively helps them stay in touch. The feedback from our community has been invaluable in helping us iterate on our service and make it a more useful part of…

  • Connected Integrates with AWeber for Smarter Email Marketing

    Ada Chen Rekhi
    22 Sep 2011 | 8:00 am
    We’re delighted to announce a new Connected integration for email marketing with AWeber. If you’re not familiar with them, AWeber is a fantastic email marketing service which allows you to send email newsletters out to mailing lists. With this integration, you can now track both your personal conversation history and email marketing newsletters in one place. How It Works [VIDEO] Watch a short video to see how Connected integrates with AWeber. Connected + AWeber Overview In a nutshell, this integration makes it easy for you to view all of your communications with your contacts in…

  • Improve Your Productivity by Scheduling Distraction-Free Time

    Ada Chen Rekhi
    16 Sep 2011 | 7:13 pm
    Having quality time without distractions goes hand in hand with maximizing your productivity. One method which I love is the idea of scheduling in distraction-free time. Photo credit: mag3737 The idea is to have scheduled blocks of the day which are allocated to getting away from distractions. This is similar to the pomodoro technique but less structured and with potentially larger chunks of time depending on the project. This is distraction free period of time focused on working, free of all the distractions. For example, I had a friend who regularly scheduled in “Talk to the…

  • 8 Tips for Making Meetings More Efficient

    Ada Chen Rekhi
    1 Sep 2011 | 7:00 am
    Meetings can be one of the biggest productivity drains for both you and your business. According to the National Statistics Council, every day approximately 11 million meetings are held in the US which is the equivalent to 37% of employee time. Moreover, out of meeting attendees surveyed, 91% admit to daydreaming during meetings, while 39% have admitted to dozing off. Rather than blaming the meetings, however, here are seven great tips on how you, as the meeting organizer, can run a more efficient meeting. 8 Tips for Making Meetings More Efficient Image source: bade_md 1. Set and communicate…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Cash Protection Agency Ltd

  • Tighter business lending renews need for credit control

    Bob Bardsley
    8 May 2012 | 4:45 am
    Credit control is particularly important during periods when financing is hard to come by from other sources – meaning a recession naturally places pressure on companies to do all they can to guarantee that their clients continue to pay on time. However, new figures published by the Bank of England demonstrate why, as the recession continues, the need for effective credit control measures to be put in place could be increasing, while other sources of funding are diminishing. The latest BoE figures on lending by banks to businesses show a reduction across the board in the amount of money…

  • Credit control is an essential form of business support, says FPB

    Bob Bardsley
    25 Apr 2012 | 10:15 am
    The Forum of Private Business has stressed the importance of effective credit control and payments management services for companies across the UK, after publishing a report showing that many small firms have little to no formal arrangements in place to ensure their clients pay them on time. In its survey, the FPB found 51% of the 500 small-business respondents believe late payment of invoices by trade clients to be a problem, 23% consider it a ‘serious’ problem, and 16% – that’s almost a sixth of all the companies surveyed – have nearly gone out of business…

  • East Midlands payment delays grow in Q4 2011

    Bob Bardsley
    6 Mar 2012 | 6:50 am
    The fourth quarter of 2011 saw delayed payments by East Midlands debtors take more time to resolve, at 25.85 days longer than agreed, compared with a full-year average of 25.76 days. While this is still better than the national average of 25.97 days, the Experian report still indicates that many firms are not paying invoices within the requested timeframe – putting their creditors’ cash flow in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the national picture is of improving promptness on payments, as the fourth-quarter figure compares favourably with the average of 26.17 days overdue for business…

  • Half of Britons’ debts rise, but many take no action

    Bob Bardsley
    1 Mar 2012 | 6:51 am
    Figures from the Co-operative Banking Group reveal that 70% of Britons now have debt problems, and 50% of UK residents have seen their debts worsen over the past year. However, many people are doing little to improve their situation: 12% have borrowed more to meet repayments 22% do not feel they can make their own financial decisions 29% are not prepared to confront their debt problems on average, nobody takes action until they owe £1,247 Understandably, this is not helping to alleviate the debt problems faced by many UK citizens, and over a fifth (22%) have now been in debt for five years…

  • Recommend us to a Friend – Incentive

    admin
    30 Aug 2011 | 5:19 am
    We’re always keen to grow our business and we’d like to encourage you to be on the look-out for anyone who may need our services. If you can recommend a friend or a business acquaintance to us, we will send you a £5 Marks & Spencer gift card for every new client that uses our services. We are happy to help clients with the following services: Collecting outstanding debts Managing credit control Tracing debtors that have disappeared Running credit checks on businesses to ensure you can deal with them with confidence We enjoy helping businesses and would like to help as many as…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Health Care for Small to Medium Businesses

  • Improve engagement and productivity through employee flexible working

    10 May 2012 | 8:08 am
    Employers have agreed that flexible working conditions have helped to boost employee productivity and engagement.  It was stated that flexible working has the added benefit of combating absence levels as well as boosting employee motivation.  The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) released a report this week that indicated that 96% of employers now provide some form of flexible working conditions for at least some of their workforce.  Of that group, 70% believe that these working conditions help support employee retention, engagement and employee…

  • Companies Aim to Slim Down for Profit

    9 May 2012 | 5:35 am
    Obesity Campaign Poster (Photo credit: Pressbound)   The weight management industry is massive.  In America alone it is worth approximately $11 billion in retail sales alone and as obesity rates are surging across the planet will only become a more profitable to companies capitalising on it.  Companies are always trying to come up with new ways in which to help people who are trying to lose the pounds. Currently on the market are a powder which, when sprinkled onto food, sends signals to the brain you are full; a glucose spray which when taken orally will curb cravings and…

  • The Benefit of Cash Plan Treatments

    30 Apr 2012 | 5:54 am
        Complementary medicines are often seen as the ‘alternative’ to medical practice and always thought to be not quite as effective.  But it has been found that they can make a real impact on the number of absences in a working environment.  Many health cash plan provider offer many alternative therapies such as acupuncture, osteopathy and homeopathy and according to a recent survey carried out, is viewed as one of the most important aspects of their plans. There is insurmountable evidence supporting the fact that complementary medicines work, and to great…

  • Small business and The Apprentice

    26 Apr 2012 | 8:59 am
    Have you been watching The Apprentice? It's maybe not required viewing for small businesses but it certainly provides some business insights. Sometimes while watching the programme it can be difficult not to wish that there was a running commentary by a business expert saying what was and wasn't a good idea among the things the candidates do each week. Luckily, Personnel today magazine has the next best thing - with its column entitled "The Apprentice analysed". It's an engaging business overview of the show with a write up for each episode by an industry expert, giving their views on the…

  • Charities to Get Britain Walking

    24 Apr 2012 | 9:48 am
    Pedestrian charity, Living Streets has released new figures that show two-thirds of people walking less than an hour per week.  The vast majority of people blaming the fact they get too hot and sweaty en route to wherever they are going or even blaming a lack of the correct footwear for not walking places.  Those willing to shun such excuses, and not surprisingly, is the 55-64 age bracket and are more likely to walk more than two hours per day. The charity is looking to have more people participate in the Great British Walking Challenge which is taking place in May and is looking to…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Bliss

  • Why I’m not on Pinterest, but maybe you should be

    Martina
    2 May 2012 | 11:46 am
    Chances are, you’ve heard of Pinterest, right? Well, it has been absolutely everywhere, praises being lauded left, right and centre. Haven’t heard of it? It’s the latest social media channel to really take off. It essentially involves users pinning images, graphics, videos and online content to boards around specific topics. It’s a beautiful, highly creative platform that lets you organize online content and images in a new way. It’s really fun to check out the unique ways that people are categorizing their pins. From what I’ve heard, it’s highly addictive!! What’s so great…

  • Social media complaints: turn negatives to positives

    Martina
    17 Apr 2012 | 7:23 pm
    Let’s face it, no matter how absolutely rockin’ your biz is, nothing is perfect all the time.   Social media has opened up new doors for how customers complain.  What was once a phone call or a letter has turned into a Facebook post or a tweet. The scary thing about this for business owners is that everyone can see it! This is probably the biggest fear that small businesses have about getting on social media in the first place. But avoiding social media doesn’t mean that you will reduce your exposure to bad feedback – the word will spread online whether you are…

  • Enrich yourself to reap benefits for your biz

    Martina
    9 Apr 2012 | 3:49 pm
    Siesta Key Beach Just returned from a wonderful holiday down in Sarasota, Florida. I actually went for a wellness workshop – meditation, developing personal power, gratitude, love and all that other good stuff. Absolutely nothing to do with business. Or marketing. As small business owners, we can tend to get rather over invested in our businesses, can’t we? Where every little thing becomes about the biz. We’ve already talked about how that mind frame can cause problems, forcing us to keep our nose to the grindstone, even in those situations where it’s time for a break  . The same…

  • Facebook cover photos – inspiration small biz style

    Martina
    29 Mar 2012 | 2:16 pm
    Well, we are just a couple of days away from the official roll-out of the new Facebook design. The biggest change by far is how pages will look and this all revolves around the piece de resistance – the Facebook cover photo. If you’re feeling really overwhelmed at the idea of a cover photo, don’t sweat it. The easiest option is simply to put up an image. An image is worth a thousand words and for many small businesses is a perfectly acceptable (and lovely!) option. Don’t be afraid to give yourself the time to think it through a bit more. Notice what other pages are doing and…

  • Having a bad day? Why business as usual just won’t cut it

    Martina
    19 Mar 2012 | 11:05 am
    It happens to the best of us. You come down with a killer flu. You had a big fight with your partner. You got a scathing complaint from a customer. You woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Whatever is going on, the bottom line is that you’re having a crap day. So should you just buzz along, business as usual? Definitely not. The important first step is recognizing that you’re not in the best head space and completely accepting that. Then it’s time to make the best of it. Here are some of my favourite coping strategies for when the ick comes on… Take the day off Clearly, when you’re…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Success Tips in a Blog

  • Four Warm Weather Guerrilla Marketing Ideas for Small Business

    ask@michaelhartzell.com (Michael Hartzell)
    15 May 2012 | 4:53 pm
    Summer is fast approaching, and small business owners may be trying to come up with creative guerrilla marketing to promote their business.  WePrintQuick.com wants to share some relatively inexpensive ideas that you can use to promote your business and attract customer loyalty. For Contractors and Home Service Businesses: As the weather warms, options such as door hangers and printed flyers become a way to reach potential customers.  These methods work great for warm weather businesses such as: Landscapers Heating and cooling repair Pool service and repair Childcare providers. …

  • A Great List of 13 Online Scheduling Software Programs

    ask@michaelhartzell.com (Michael Hartzell)
    14 May 2012 | 8:38 pm
    Before you receive the complete list of online scheduling software for making appointments online, i must say that TimeTrade thus far is my favorite.  TimeTrade offers an apportunity for you to control your calendar based on your needs.  The price is right at $49/year and with the option to make as many pages as needed is a big plus.  Since TimeTrade integrates with both Outlook and Google Calender, it lets me know immediately when someone has made an appointment.  The time slot is then blocked automatically so that there are no overbookings.  In fact if you get…

  • TOP 250 Internet Retailers On Social Media

    ask@michaelhartzell.com (Michael Hartzell)
    12 May 2012 | 11:49 pm
    As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you will review the social media data about the top 250 Internet retailers seen in the infographic below and you may begin to feel inadequate and small.  While it is true that social media tools give you more opportunity to connect, engage and serve your customers; comparing your data to the big Internet retailers is like comparing apples and oranges. You have a special niche or geography where you move at lightning speed and personalize the experience far beyond what the big retailers can do.  Their attempt to use social media tools to…

  • What is Biznik? Matt Lawrence gives the answer

    ask@michaelhartzell.com (Michael Hartzell)
    11 May 2012 | 12:36 pm
    Is Biznik another social media platform?  There is such a buzz about social media that you may be too busy clicking each day with the hope that a click will make new magical relationships to stop and look elsewhere.  You may want to pause and ponder about your marketing plan if you are relying on clicks alone.  Expand beyond clicks and consider Biznik. What is Biznik?  Biznik is NOT social media though you will find the online activities on the website may have a similar look and feel. In essence Biznik is a community for independent business owners.  Biznik allows…

  • Australia Betters United States with Internet Penetration Rate [chart]

    ask@michaelhartzell.com (Michael Hartzell)
    8 May 2012 | 4:51 pm
    Is the Internet still in infant stage?  If you are looking at the Iceland, the 97.8% penetration rate for the small population is an indication that the Interent is a way of life.  Australia's Internet penetration rate of 89.8% shows that the long history of "behind the US" in trends no longer applies as the USA statistics show a 78.3% rate. Look deeper into the data and the average penetration rate for the rest of the users in the world is at 25%.  If you wonder if there will be growth on the Internet, the answer is an obvious 'yes' since the overall total Internet penetration…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Finance and Business

  • British Gas Business is Putting Customers Back in the Driving Seat.

    suwandi
    10 May 2012 | 8:03 am
    There are few things that business owners in the UK can actually say they have complete control over. With legislation changing regularly and prices rising almost as frequently it is hard to pinpoint who really is in charge! British Gas Business wants to give control back to business owners by ensuring that they are in the driving seat when it comes to managing their gas and electricity accounts. All businesses can sign up to fixed price contracts and these usually run for a term of one, two or three years subject to agreements.  During the time that the contract is in place the business…

  • Main Factors to Get Cheap Auto Allowance

    suwandi
    4 May 2012 | 9:01 am
    Main Factors to Get Cheap Auto Allowance Cheap auto allowance is the blow affair in the auto apple and about all car owners adopt this advantage for accepting the assurance of their cars, and some car owners are absolutely authoritative it a reality. And why not? Finding the best accord for a bargain amount would be the antecedence for best of us. In fact, the cardinal of cars and after the cardinal of drivers has badly risen from a accomplished few years thus, inflating the appeal for bargain auto allowance to a greater height. As a domino effect, individuals’ claimed requirements…

  • Penny Stock Online-Information For Beginners

    suwandi
    29 Apr 2012 | 7:25 pm
                      Penny Stock Online-Information For Beginners Individuals recently been stocks trading on-line considering that the extremely start in the net, and also today it is just a basic make a difference for everyone who chooses they wish to join up to start out on-line buying and selling. But there are numerous anyone should know just before choosing to start out stocks trading, certainly not the very least that is that it is actually a chance, and also this can be applied irrespective of your knowledge or perhaps knowledge. You might…

  • 3 Things To Analyzed In An Car Loan Firm Online

    suwandi
    6 Apr 2012 | 12:27 am
                3 Things To Analyzed In An Car Loan Firm Online Until you do have a wide range of personal savings inside standard bank, you will probably should access some dough if you get a brand-new auto. Automobile loans can be purchased by way of various solutions, including finance institutions, credit history unions along with vehicle vendor loans. There are also a terrific car loans by way of a car loan Firm online, when you seek out these kind of about three issues: A good rate Considering that you happen to be applying for via a car loan Firm online, your…

  • Civil Wisdom on The Credit Profile

    suwandi
    4 Apr 2012 | 7:46 pm
                Civil Wisdom on The Credit Profile If you go to a civil wisdom on the credit profile it implies which a collector features sued anyone pertaining to settlement of an debts. It is just a authorized experiencing which gives your debt collectors’ a prolonged time frame to recover your debt. A new wisdom increases the debts collectors’ approximately 2 decades to recover with a debts. This can be outside of your 7 calendar year bronze sculpture involving constraints that will refers to nearly all debt. Generally decision are generally naturally…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Surefire Social

  • 6 Things You Need to Know About LinkedIn Recommendations | Mashable

    sarah
    16 May 2012 | 1:11 pm
    mashable.com5/16/12 As you work on LinkedIn recommendations there are a few things to consider. Here are some guidelines about what to do and what not to do. …read more

  • New Google+ Study Reveals Minimal Social Activity, Weak User Engagement | Fast Company

    Alyssa Gagen
    15 May 2012 | 4:03 pm
    www.fastcompany.com5/15/2012 Larry Page recently called Google+ the company’s “social spine.” If that’s the case, then Google’s backbone might be much weaker than Page has been letting on, at least according to a new report from RJ Metrics. …read more

  • 18-24 Year Olds Spend Twice as Much Time on Social Media Compared to 35-44 Year Olds

    Chris Marentis
    11 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    In a recent post by MarketingProfs, Age, Not Gender Drives Most Social Media, some interesting statistics were shared about social media usage and certain demographics. The post shares that Facebook’s popularity across all demographics is not the norm when compared to other social media sites, such as Twitter and YouTube. Sites such as these have a much stronger usage among a younger demographic (age 18-34 ) compared to the older demographic (age 35+). Wikipedia is also used more among the younger adult population, and the younger demographic spends more time online in general. When looking…

  • Consider These 5 Advertising Tools for Your Local Business

    Chris Marentis
    9 May 2012 | 10:44 am
    As a local business owner, we need to advertise to get the word out. When it comes to online advertising, it’s important to identify the best advertising options so you can choose the right fit(s) for your local business. We’ve provided some powerful tools for your consideration below.   Google AdWords – As with most products from the world of Google-dom, Google AdWords is very useful for local business and comes with great customer support.   Facebook Ads – With more than 8 million active users on Facebook worldwide, Facebook Ads give you the capability to use various…

  • CTRs on Facebook ads increase 50% in the past 12 months | Econsultancy

    sarah
    9 May 2012 | 10:31 am
    econsultancy.com5/9/2012 Click-through rates on Facebook ads have increased 50% over the past 12 months, according to data from Marin Software. It also found that the cost-per-click of social ads increased by 26%, while the CPC of marketplace ads decreased by 26%. Marin said the improvement in CTRs is thanks to Facebook’s new social ads, such as Sponsored Stories. … read more
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Letter Samples

  • Accepting a Social Event Letter

    Admin
    14 May 2012 | 11:02 pm
    May 15, 2012 Jeane Grey Watson 123 Springfield Street Dear Mrs. Watson Good day! Thank you for sending me an invitation to be the guest speaker at the Illinois High School 23rd Commencement Exercise on May 30, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. II would like to inform you that I will need  one and a half hour to speak for the guests and graduates at the said event. It is a privilege to share my experiences on the school I graduated at. There are experiences that taught me what I have today and I need to share it with your graduates to give them inspiration. I will be seeing many familiar faces on the said…

  • Sample Farewell Letter

    Admin
    11 May 2012 | 8:17 am
    Alabama Avenue, California 4208 Dear Mr. Carmel Schwaltz, I am writing this letter to announce my formal retirement as a receptionist in Crystal Spring Resort. My retirement will be effective on May 15, 2012. I am very thankful for all the blessings and experiences you had given me as an employee of Crystal Spring Resort. It is always a pleasure to work and learn expertise in the HRM profession through my co-employees and workers within the resort. I would like to thank you for all the opportunities you have given me for the past twelve years of my life. Now, I am ready to move on to the next…

  • Sample Appreciation Letter

    Admin
    10 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    Christopher Grant 112 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Philippines, 442-222-222 christophergrant@yahoo.com May 23, 2012 Jean Garcia ABDC Company Villa Allen’s Subd. Makati City, Philippines I appreciate your time to talk with me today. I am thankful that you exerted effort to help me and give me pointers to start my own travel agency. Your advice will be very helpful and it gave me a new perspective for our upcoming agency. The strategies that you taught me will be very effective in attracting clients. I also appreciate the offer to connect us with other clients in your network. I will be sending…

  • Sample Letter of Claim

    Admin
    1 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    Ester V. Douglas 112 Alabama St., Union Square, FL 22021 Dear Ester, A pleasant day Sir. It has come to our attention that your installed software for our inventory system has some miscalculations. If you will remember our agreement on February 19, 2012, the day you were hired, any malware will be eventually informed to you and you need to fix it the day you received the claim. Recently, there are costumers that are unhappy because of the miscalculated price of our products. We believe that the trouble has something to do with the software you installed in our computers. However, if you have…

  • Sample Social Event Acceptance Letter

    Admin
    23 Apr 2012 | 10:59 pm
    April 24, 2012 Greene Watson 114 Alabama Street Dear Greene, We are thankful that my family have been invited to the commencement ceremony of your son. It is a great pleasure to join your son and your family to this very memorable event. I can feel how happy you are on this achievement. As one of your closest friend, I thank you for letting me to be a part of your life and for all the success that your family achieves. Thank you for the invitation and I am very eager to be with you in your son’s commencement exercise. Sincerely, (Signed) Kristoff Mark
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Bottom Line

  • Outright Announces New and Improved Amazon Integration!

    Laura Messerschmitt
    16 May 2012 | 12:27 pm
    In our ongoing mission to make running your small business simpler, we are delighted to announce that Outright.com now integrates directly with Checkout by Amazon! We have also improved integrations for Pro Merchant sellers, so that you can connect your Outright and Amazon accounts with just a few clicks. Now Outright will pull in all of your Amazon financial data so can forget data entry and get back to doing what you do best – running your business! To connect Outright with Amazon Seller Central right now: 1.) Login to your Outright account. (Or make a new one. It’s free &…

  • How to Handle Sales Tax When Selling at Craft Fairs

    Justine Smith
    16 May 2012 | 11:55 am
    If you are used to selling your craft projects to family and friends, the idea of charging sales tax may have never come to mind. When you start a business though, you have to think about sales tax for every transaction. As a salesperson, you are responsible for collecting tax on behalf of your state and reporting it every month. This extensive guide goes over how to handle sales tax when selling at craft fairs so you can be prepared for your next sale. Determining If You Need Sales Tax Most states in the U.S. require sales tax, but there are a few exceptions. Businesses in Alaska, Delaware,…

  • Guide to Incorporating New Tools Into Your Business

    Thursday Bram
    15 May 2012 | 7:19 am
    We’re living in a golden age of tools for small businesses: every day there’s a new app that makes it easier to market a company or a website that tracks some small detail of a business’ operation. But every time a business owner looks at one of these tools, she’s investing some time into it. If you decide to start using a new tool regularly, you’re spending more time on things like training and converting old data into new formats than if you just stick what you’re currently running your company on. This investment of time isn’t a bad thing, provided you’re picking up a tool…

  • Getting Started in Your Etsy Business: What You Need to Know about Taxes

    Justine Smith
    14 May 2012 | 9:17 am
    Psst! Sell on other platforms or even from your own website? Check out our handy downloadable Online Seller’s Guide to Filing Taxes! When it comes to running a small business on Etsy, most people think about the products they want to sell and the customers they want to attract. The idea of paying taxes on their sales never comes to mind. No matter how small your business transactions may be on Etsy, you will need to pay taxes on the money you make. The question then becomes: How much money will you owe in taxes, and how will you file your tax returns in the coming year? The guide below…

  • Top 5 Ways to Save Time When Listing on eBay

    Danni Ackerman
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Time… It’s that one element we can never seem to find enough of.  I don’t think I have ever heard any ecommerce seller say, “Gosh I have so much extra time I just don’t know what to do with it all.”  Time is one of those things not only is there never enough of, but once it’s gone we can never gain it back. So with this in mind it’s important we utilize time to the fullest because as you also know time is money.  Every minute it takes to write up that next listing is pulling money off your bottom line.   Personally, I sell many different…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Online Marketing at Kutenda

  • “The Facebook” circa 1990

    Jeb
    10 May 2012 | 3:25 pm
    If Facebook had been invented in the 1990s, it would’ve look something like this. Just watch. If Facebook were invented in the 90s… | YouTube

  • Messaging tip: keep it simple

    Jeb
    8 May 2012 | 11:55 am
    Inc. magazine’s Tom Searcy reminds businesses to simplify their messaging, because data suggest that the average buyer will retain only one thing a week after a meeting. What a 9-Year-Old Can Teach You About Selling | Inc.com See also: How kids in NYC sell lemonade (hilarious)

  • Happy Star Wars Day!

    Jeb
    4 May 2012 | 2:48 pm
    Image from Buzzfeed

  • Good free training on secrets of high-performing entrepreneurs

    Mike Cooch
    4 May 2012 | 1:02 pm
    As part of his book launch, Brendon Burchard (author of The Millionaire Messenger and Life’s Golden Ticket) is offering up three free video segments on what it takes to be a high-performance entrepreneur, executive, athlete … or just person in general. Brendon does a great job of communicating important concepts in easy-to-understand frameworks. I’ve bought some of his courses before and felt they were some of the best investments I’ve made. I think it’s great, motivating stuff that everyone should watch. Watch them here!

  • What we’re reading/watching

    Jeb
    30 Apr 2012 | 12:54 pm
    Has the internet run out of ideas already? | The Observer Yikes: “We look like being the first civilisation in history that invented a golden goose – and then strangled it.” Scheduled sending and email reminders | Boomerang for Gmail Do you use Gmail or Google Apps? This free plugin-thingamabob is pretty cool. General purpose technologies: The revolution to come | The Economist We’ve adopted mobile phones faster than any other household technology. And we’re just getting started. Seven Personality Traits of Top Salespeople | Harvard Business Review There are a…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    StepByStepMarketing.com

  • How to Get More Email Subscriptions from Your Home Page

    Diana Pohly
    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    There are so many ways to get new email subscribers today that it can be easy to forget the importance of getting subscribers to opt in from a sign-up form that you put on your home page. But what should go into that form and what should happen after customers opt in? I recently found some smart answers to those questions in “How to Grow Your Opt-In List: The Ultimate Guide,” a post on the Lyris HQ marketing blog: Keep your sign-up form short and simple. The Lyris blog recommends using only four fields, which ask for the subscriber’s email address, first name, last name, and…

  • “If We Mess Up, We Fess Up”: Secrets of Minnesota Life’s Top B2B Customer Service

    Diana Pohly
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Kristi Fox, Second Vice President of Group Client Relationships at Minnesota Life, recently shared her views on top customer service in an interview for the Dave Stein blog. “We’re good, but we’re also human,” she said. “If we mess up, we fess up. We tell you what happened, what we’re doing to make it right, and what processes we are putting in place to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Usually, these situations result in a stronger relationship with the client, and improved solutions to apply across our business.” To get the latest secrets and…

  • Customer Profiling Case Study: Sephora Embraces Its Tech-Loving Shoppers

    Diana Pohly
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    You expect to see iPads in the hands of sales associates when you enter an Apple computer store. Now you will see salespeople using them when you visit a Sephora store to buy makeup and other beauty products. Act now to download your free copy of 10 Secrets for Successful Customer Relationship Marketing without cost or obligation. Why? It’s because the marketers at Sephora know that their customers have already made iPads part of their daily lives. Therefore, including the devices in the shopping experience at Sephora is a natural fit. Here is what you will see soon in Sephora stores,…

  • Free Online Tools to Survey Your Customers

    Diana Pohly
    10 May 2012 | 6:09 am
    Do you need to design a customer survey? The good news is, you don’t need to start from scratch. Here are five companies that offer free survey templates online. You’ll find survey forms to evaluate overall satisfaction with your company, rate a product or service, give feedback on technical support, and more: Act now to download your free copy of 10 Secrets for Successful Customer Relationship Marketing without cost or obligation. Esurveyspro.com offers a good variety of templates and a free survey plan that includes unlimited surveys and tabulation of responses. Popsurvey.com…

  • Five Customer Service Tips from Top Airlines

    Diana Pohly
    9 May 2012 | 6:06 am
    When you boil it all down, airlines are really selling something pretty simple. They are there to transport people from one place to another. That could be why airlines have always had to rely on customer-service extras to differentiate themselves from competitors. To get the latest secrets and strategies for providing great customer service, download your free copy of a new tip sheet from StepByStepMarketing.com, Customer Service Tips:6 Ideas that Boost Satisfaction and Profits, without cost or obligation. Here are some of the latest tweaks, as described in “Secrets of the…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Marketing Without A Net

  • Are Facebook Contests Worth It?

    Ilana Rabinowitz
    14 May 2012 | 3:42 pm
    I’ve always wondered whether it makes sense to get people to Like your Facebook page by bribing them with an incentive.  How valuable are those “Likes?”  They seem more  like the people who come to an event to get the free Hors doerves or the kids who hang out at a friend’s house because the friend has a pool or the guy who gets dates because he has a cool car.  By definition,  the people who Like your page because of a contest have an ulterior motive.   I’ve been that person.  I’ve actually Liked a page to vote for a charity when I really…

  • The Wrong Way To Use A Social Media Agency

    Ilana Rabinowitz
    24 Apr 2012 | 9:18 am
    Several times during the history of our digital marketing efforts  at Lion Brand, we hired agencies to help us launch new efforts. We worked with Stephanie Schwab and Paull Young (who at that time were) at Converseon when we first started using social media.  What they brought to the table was expertise in podcasting and blogging that we could never have learned on our own.  Not only did they teach us the principles, tactics and legal aspects of the media we were entering but they helped us win awards and gave us the opportunity to share our case study with others. When we set up our…

  • Social Media Is Not A Given

    Ilana Rabinowitz
    18 Apr 2012 | 9:04 am
    For those of us immersed in social media—from the endless tweets to the blog posts, news stories and conversations in the echo chamber—it seems like social media has saturated not only our lives but businesses as well. If that’s how you feel, you are living in a bubble. Estimates vary, but a recent study by BIA Kelsey,  of over 1 million small to medium businesses found that  only 19.5 percent of SMB sites link to their Facebook page, and an even small percentage link to Twitter and other sites. From my own personal conversations with people in small to medium businesses as well, the…

  • When Everyone Knows Where To Get It Cheaper

    Ilana Rabinowitz
    11 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    What are the two scariest words in the world for brands and retailers? Price transparency.  And for retailers, the result is showrooming. You used to be able to count on the fact that people didn’t have enough information to know where to get the best price for your products.  But it’s becoming clearer and clearer to more and more people that it’s right at their fingertips.  Whether it’s a Google search that delivers price comparison engines or apps like Amazon’s Price Check or Red Laser, pricing at virtually every place you can purchase a product is becoming crystal clear. So…

  • What The Instagram Sale Teaches Us About Success

    Ilana Rabinowitz
    10 Apr 2012 | 7:24 am
    When I read about the Instragram sale to Facebook for $1 billion, I Googled the CEO, Kevin Systrom with the question, “Who IS this guy” in my head. What I saw was this About Us page on Instragram.  Rather unassuming. About 25% of what a strong LinkedIn profile would say. But what does it have to say about how a guy who graduated in 2006 made the headlines of every paper yesterday. O.K. so he went to Stanford. But just having just finished the book Imagine by Jonah Lehrer, it seems there is something to that.  Lehrer points out that breakthrough work grows up in an environment where…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Dawn's Work at Home Blog

  • Wednesday's Online Business Mistake - Keep Your Business Real

    16 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Happy Wednesday! It is time for another Wednesday's Online Business Mistake.  Today i would like to talk about keeping your business real.  This can be for any business whether you work at home or run an offline business.  I thought of this one after a recent wake-up call from my ex wireless phone carrier.  Yes, I just made the switch from Verizon! I was with them for 10 years and realized that I had enough.  They do not treat their customers like they value them.  They act more like they are the biggest phone carrier and you will deal with them.  That is…

  • Wednesday's Online Business Mistake - Disclosure on Site

    9 May 2012 | 3:44 pm
    Happy Wednesday! Time for another Wednesday's Online Business Mistake.  Today I am going to keep it real simple.  It is not a mistake that I made, but many people who work at home as an affiliate are making.  This is something that can get people in legal trouble and this is adding a disclosure. In 2009, the government started to require an affiliate disclosure in all emails promoting stuff and or websites that are promoting anything.  It doesn't matter if the product is work at home related, if you are an affiliate of any product you need to have a disclosure.  I had…

  • Wednesday's Online Business Mistake - Taking Advice

    2 May 2012 | 3:25 pm
    Happy Wednesday! Time for another Wednesday's Online Business Mistake.  Today I would like to talk about taking advice.  When you work at home, you will see so much information about working at home from so many people.  Yeah I know you have to be careful not to buy every "guru's" book, I don't encourage you to run out and buy everything that will supposedly make you money online.  I also do not think you should run out and buy everything that says it will make your business grow.  So please do not think that is what I am going to tell you here. Much of the best…

  • Work at Home Writing for iWriter

    1 May 2012 | 7:57 am
    I have been on iWriter.com for a while now as a test to see how well it works.  iWriter.com is a website where you work at home writing articles for clients and after they accept your articles, you get paid for it.  There has been a lot of people saying that you won't make much money at this site, so I had to test it out.  Can you really make money with them? The answer is yes you can make money with iWriter.  When you first start out, you will not be making as much as you will be a standard writer and the pay is quite low for standard articles.  You will be able to…

  • Wednesday's Online Business Mistake-Customer and Reader Feedback

    25 Apr 2012 | 1:36 pm
    Happy Wednesday! Hope everybody is having a wonderful week.  I have a simple topic this week for our Wednesday's Online Business Mistake.  I would like to talk about feedback.  Yes this is very important and I know I took feedback the wrong way when I first started.  This can be for business, blogging, working online or just about anybody. Feedback is when the customer or reader leaves you their opinions.  I get a lot of people leaving me their opinions.  Many people leave nice opinions, some people leave their opinions that do not agree with me, and some people…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Blog

  • Telemarketing Campaigns - Combined Results & Performance Metrics To Date For All Outbound Telephone Sales Efforts

    4 May 2012 | 6:36 am
    Telemarketing Campaigns - Combined Results & Performance Metrics To Date For All Outbound Telephone Sales Efforts In in this article I review the results of the telemarketing campaigns that I and the contractors that work for me have been working on for my clients. After almost two years of data there is some very interesting information. In this article I also share some of the things I have learned from doing the calling as well as things I have learned from going through the process of compiling and reviewing this information.

  • Small Business Owner Tips - Should You Be On Social Media?

    14 Apr 2012 | 6:30 am
    Small Business Owner Tips - Should You Be On Social Media? This article from Imogen Reed, writing on behalf of money.co.uk, which is a site that compares household expense items like insurance, utilities etc, list consumers deals and provide personal finance tips and advice. I was initially not going to let Imogen post an article on my blog but once I saw the website he was writing for I changed my mind as it is website that is very helpful and similar to a business idea I had prior to starting Profitworks. The website is very well designed and is very easy to use. I am actually a little…

  • How To Get To The Purchase Decision Maker When Making A Sale

    23 Mar 2012 | 11:03 pm
    How To Get To The Purchase Decision Maker When Making A Sale Recently it has occurred to me that the fact that I am not always getting to the purchase decision maker is having a negative impact on my closing rate when trying to make sales for my clients. I am thinking in particular of my client Kingston Data and Credit. Just the other day I was phoning law offices on their behalf and I talked to probably about 5 receptionists that told me they were not interested or had no use for Kingston Data and Credit's services. Kingston Data and Credit provides 3rd party collection services. Now I…

  • Dale Carnegie Principles - Principle #11

    10 Mar 2012 | 5:01 pm
    Dale Carnegie Principles - Principle #11 The Dale Carnegie principles are great principles. In my project of practicing these 30 principles one at a time I continue to see how powerful they are. In the review of this principle I reflect on a time when I did not the opposite of the principle number 11....it was not a pretty result. Watch the video below to learn more.

  • How To Increase Your Sales Closing Rate - A Look At Why People Don't Buy And What You Can Do About It

    3 Mar 2012 | 3:03 pm
    How To Increase Your Sales Closing Rate - A Look At Why People Don't Buy And What You Can Do About It After reviewing for the work I am doing for one of my clients, The Defacto Group, I realized I probably have a great opportunity to increase my closing rate and that of my clients. For that particular client I have had a very poor closing rate for that last 7 months of only 9%, which is the worst of all my clients. I think I should be at a minimum at the industry benchmark of 40% if not higher. So I determined I was going to do some further research on how to increase sales closing rates. I…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Networking Blog

  • Business Networking and The Dunbar Number

    Dave Clarke
    10 May 2012 | 7:08 am
    Success in developing business through networking is dependent on building and maintaining a number of relationships. You need to be realistic about the number of these relationships and I have been talking about the effect of the Dunbar Number on this in the current series of NRG Word of Mouth Workshops. According to research from the British Anthropologist Robin Dunbar the number of people with whom one can maintain stable social relationships is about 150. These are relationships in which an individual knows who each person is, and how each person relates to every other person. …

  • Do you have enough real conversation?

    Dave Clarke
    2 May 2012 | 8:04 am
    We have been having a good discussion in the NRG Group on Linkedin recently on combining offline and online networking. I find online networks a great way to keep in touch with my real life connections in between the times we meet. They help to strengthen these relationships, to follow up and generally to support my offline networking. Sometimes, though, the online can get in the way of our real life interactions. Have you ever been in a situation where someone is not paying real attention to a conversation, because they are checking their messages at the same time? Sometimes I have to make a…

  • Do You Have The Attention of The Right People?

    Dave Clarke
    17 Apr 2012 | 11:19 am
    The internet means that most information is available free. If you are providing information or services at the commodity level then you are competing with this freely available resource. Whatever problem someone has they can find a solution online if they search hard enough. The good news is that very often they still need help and are prepared and motivated to pay.   This will often be when they have a problem that needs solving right now and they have neither the time nor resource to apply the solution themselves. At that point they need to find you, but that may be another problem.

  • Networking and The Psychology of Persuasion

    Dave Clarke
    29 Mar 2012 | 12:51 pm
    Advice on successful networking for building business through word of mouth has tended to be anecdotal and based on the opinion of people sharing what works for them. This was one of the reasons for the research we did into efective networking some years ago. We wanted to find the science behind it and that led to us developing the NRG Advocacy Model. The model is all about building your influence within your business network by developing trusted relationships with others who will be motivated to help you.   A basic understanding of how people are influenced is useful when applying this…

  • The Real Reason You Need to Meet in Person

    Dave Clarke
    20 Mar 2012 | 1:50 pm
    I read a good article recently on the importance of meeting offline from René Siegel. It was featured on Inc.Com and headlined '5 Reasons You Need to Meet in Person'. She highlighted the kinds of things you learn from an in person meeting that you can’t from a virtual or online one.   When you meet in person your communication involves much more than the words exchanged. Your eyes and body language reveal much more than words on a screen. The real reason to meet in person is because this is so important in building trust.   Most Word of Mouth influence takes place…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Word Chef | Tea Silvestre - Marketing Consultant, Writer

  • Return on Influence: The Revolutionary Power of Klout, Social Scoring and More (an Interview with the Author)

    Tea (the Chef)
    7 May 2012 | 6:47 am
    Mark Schaefer stopped in at the Word Café last week and we had a chance to talk recently about his new book, Return on Influence. Here are the highlights: Q: How did you decide to write this book? I have to be honest…I’ve been watching this whole Klout thing from the sidelines and haven’t really been that enamored with it. But your book really gave me pause. It’s one of the most thought-provoking marketing books I’ve read in a while.  A: Your reaction to Klout is pretty typical.  I got interested in it about a year and a half ago when I wrote a blog post…

  • Passion and Purpose: Why They’re Both Crucial to Your Brand

    Tea (the Chef)
    4 May 2012 | 4:05 am
    What Kind of Passion Fuels Your Brand? We branding folk talk a lot about passion and purpose. In fact they’re two key elements you must figure out if you want to make sure your business has a fighting chance for success. Why? Because Passion is what gets your motor running. It sparks and fuels your take off when you’re in launch mode. And if it’s a deep lifelong passion, it will keep you interested long after the initial high-energy euphoria transitions to a slow simmer. Purpose, on the other hand, is the other side of the coin. It’s your solid ground. It’s what…

  • Kimberly LoSavio, Gypsy Rose Treasures

    Tea (the Chef)
    3 May 2012 | 4:59 am
    Kimberly LoSavio of Gypsy Rose Treasures Kimberly is Pure Enthusiasm and Light. Oh, and a mom, entrepreneur x 3, and creative powerhouse. (Not sure how her husband keeps up!) It hasn’t been very long since we connected, but she’s been generously sharing Word Chef content and interacting like mad since Day 1. Plus, I just love her goal: “To inspire others to follow their dreams and beliefs by sharing what I am, what I do and what I know.” Q: How long have you been in business? and What inspired you to start this business? A: Wow, that ‘s a great question! Gypsy Rose…

  • Are You Smokin’ a Joint (Venture)? Why Collaboration MUST Come First

    Tea (the Chef)
    1 May 2012 | 4:08 am
    No. Not THAT kind of joint. I’ve been doing a lot of hanging out with freakishly cool kids over the last year. (Have you noticed?) First came the Word Carnival carnies. (An ever-growing close-knit tribe of bloggers who write for the small biz crowd.) We’ve been together for almost nine months now. Then came the Blog Posse. (We’re a special crew — aka “mastermind” — and we support each other through thick and thin and everything in between.) These two groups are my month-in and month-out mainstays. We’re an awesome network of peeps whose…

  • Author Marketing Club: An Interview with the Founder

    Tea (the Chef)
    28 Apr 2012 | 4:47 pm
    Jim Kukral, author and founder of the Author Marketing Club Jim Kukral, the founder of the Author Marketing Club (a great resource I found while marketing my new book) was my guest recently at the Word Café. I’ve pulled the highlights together for you here. Q: What’s the Author Marketing Club about? And why did you start it? A: AuthorMarketingClub.com is a free resource for authors who want to learn how to market their books better.  When I first got into publishing, I realized quickly that most authors really have no idea how to market their books. I’m an internet…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    DScottAngle.com

  • In-Flight Mobile Data Soon to be Available on Virgin Airlines [video]

    D. Scott Angle
    16 May 2012 | 8:24 am
    As part of a $106 million upgrade, Richard Branson’s Virgin Airlines will offer in-flight mobile data access on its new Airbus A330. The first flight to receive the service will travel between London and New York.Virgin Airlines to Offer In-Flight Mobile Data on UK Flights

  • 3 Steps to Increase Your Business – by Increasing Word-of-Mouth

    D. Scott Angle
    15 May 2012 | 8:34 am
    In the days before social media and the Internet, it wasn’t as easy to listen in on your customers’ conversations about your company. Nor could you easily encourage people to spread the good word about your business through word-of-mouth.When you connect with your customers online, you stop speaking to them and start talking with them. And wonderful things begin to happen. Those golden word-of-mouth moments that happen naturally offline at parties or networking events suddenly begin happening online right in front of your eyes on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and review sites.On social…

  • Menu Mondays: Baked Cod with Tomatoes & Home-made Chips

    D. Scott Angle
    14 May 2012 | 4:30 am
    The baked cod with tomatoes was a surprise winner last week. It’s quick to prepare, fairly simple and tasty. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong about the potato, cauliflower and chickpea korma. That was definitely not what we use to introduce curry to the kids. It was absolutely foul and we will never be having it again. In fact it has been stricken from the menu/recipe records, never to be seen again… Long live the cod! On to this week: The Nasi Goreng, Tuesday’s meal, is a long-time family favourite. It’s basically a rice dish, but with a lovely…

  • Sometimes it’s better to ease into the weekend [video]

    D. Scott Angle
    11 May 2012 | 12:14 pm
    Be TouchedBe InspiredBe Confident, Optimistic, and love what you’ve gotBut most of all, have a great weekend!!!

  • 5 Tactics for Tackling Nutrition Labels

    D. Scott Angle
    9 May 2012 | 10:16 am
    It’s estimated that around 60% of food shoppers now read the nutrition facts table on packaging. Unfortunately, they don’t make it very easy to use that information effectively. Here are five helpful tips to help you cut through the mumbo-jumbo and make the healthiest choices for you and your family.Pay attention to the SERVING SIZE:Most displayed nutrition information is based on the single serving size. Unfortunately, we quite often pick up something, considering it to be one portion, but the manufacturers have it labelled as two or three. Basically, check the serving size…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Alexandru Bleau - Training, Social Media, Networking

  • Conferinta pe tema comunicarii nonviolente in educatie la Timisoara 3-5 Mai

    bleau
    30 Apr 2012 | 10:24 am
    Babel Center aduce la finalul saptamanii in Timisoara pe Trainerii CNVED (Comunicare Non Violenta in Educatie) si conferinta organizata de acestia pe aceasta tema. Evenimentul este o ocazie inedita de dezvoltare si schimb de experienta pentru profesori, traineri si educatori. Conferinta are loc in perioada 3-5 mai cu tema “Dialogul ca sursă de motivație în educație” si va cuprinde o serie de ateliere si prezentari care ilustreaza impactul pe care comunicarea nonviolenta o are in calitatea invatarii. Printre speakerii prezenti la conferinta din Anglia, Slovenia,…

  • [Cursuri in Timisoara] Despre cursul de germana de la Berlitz

    bleau
    27 Mar 2012 | 12:00 am
    Din luna martie am inceput primul modul de germana la Berlitz(incepatori bata, ca sa fie clar). In prezent am trecut de jumatatea acestui modul si ma declar mai mult decat multumit. Ce pot sa va spun despre curs si metoda Berlitz pana acum: Imi place foarte mult formatul de 6 persoane. In acest format avem fiecare destul timp cu profesoara dar si destul timp sa interactionam unul cu celalalt Metoda de predare. Berlitz merge foarte mult pe conversatie, pe folosirea limbii inca din prima sedinta(chiar daca nu stii strop de germana). Cu toate ca nu stiam pic de germana, tot am reusit sa ne…

  • In Cehia si probabil si in alte tari poti folosi magazinele ca bancomate

    bleau
    26 Mar 2012 | 10:14 am
    In Cehia, daca trebuie sa scoti bani de pe card, nu trebuie sa mergi la bancomat. La ei, poti sa mergi la majoritatea magazinelor si sa faci o “retragere”. Nu este bineinteles o retragere. In schimb, dupa ce cumperi un produs, poti cere sa iti incarce cardul cu o suma mai mare si sa iti dea diferenta cash. Pam, pam. Automat orice magazin devine bancomat. La noi se poate face asa ceva? Te-ar putea interesa si: [ Timisoara ] Doua initiative frumoase din randul firmelor cu care lucrez/colaborez KEEP CALM AND BLAME BLEAU #Bleauedevina De ce sa nu iti cumperi iPad 2 cu optiunea 3G…

  • [Training] Cum sa obtii un raspuns de la participanti atunci cand pui intrebari

    bleau
    26 Mar 2012 | 9:35 am
    Cand vine vorba de traininguri, iubesc intrebarile ca si instrumente in transmiterea informatiei. Ele imi permit sa interactionez cu cei prezenti sau doar cu anumite persoane. Pot sa le folosesc pentru a trage o concluzie ulterioara bazata pe raspunsurile primite. Sunt foarte utile pentru a stimula sala sa se concentreze si sa se gandeasca la ce prezint sau ce explic. De multe ori insa intrebarea poate deveni o sabie cu doua taisuri. Iti prezint cateva lectii pe care le-am invatat “the hard way” despre folosirea intrebarilor ca instrument in training: Asteapta un raspuns. Din…

  • [Social Media] Programeaza postarile pe #Pinterest cu Pinerly

    bleau
    23 Mar 2012 | 3:51 am
    Cand am scris despre Pinterest spuneam ca astept o aplicatie sau un serviciu care sa imi permita sa planific in timp postarile pentru aceasta retea. Desi multi utilizatori se bazeaza doar pe like si repin, e nevoie de acest feature. Uite ca a aparut un prim “raspuns” la cererea mea si se numeste Pinerly. Momentan inca nu este disponibil pentru public, dar va puteti inscrie pentru a primi invitatie. Te-ar putea interesa si: Dupa o saptamana de Pinterest.com De ce merita sa iti faci cont pe Pinterest #tweetmeet_tm [Training] Cum sa obtii un raspuns de la participanti atunci cand pui…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    awovi - coaching | consulting | accounting for SMEs

  • High 5: Top businesses using Twitter to increase sales

    Griselda K Togobo
    7 May 2012 | 12:26 pm
    Is twitter a waste of time? Is there any evidence supporting the claim that small businesses can increase sales from being on twitter? From personal experience, twitter is a great platform for promoting your business. When used correctly, you can get clients from twitter. I’ve clients who first heard about me on twitter, but don’t [...]

  • Entrepreneurial success without the tears: My turn in the hot seat and what I learnt from the experience

    Griselda K Togobo
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:09 am
    Ever so often I am taught a lesson or have an experience that reminds me never to get complacent in pursuing excellence in my personal and business ventures. I had the most interesting experience attending a taster session of a peer group membership club. Full membership to this peer group offered CEO’s a supportive and [...]

  • 10 ways to encourage loyalty, repeat sales & increase the lifetime value of each customer

    Griselda K Togobo
    19 Apr 2012 | 6:45 am
    “Lifetime value is the total value of a customer’s business over the lifetime of their relationship with your company. The more a customer purchases from you and the longer they stay with your, the more valuable that customer is to your business” – Josh Kauffman the personal MBA That is how you turn a £100 [...]

  • Entrepreneurial success without the tears: Using your back story to differentiate your business

    Griselda K Togobo
    10 Apr 2012 | 4:59 am
    How to differentiate you and your business even in a highly competitive and crowded market. One of the reasons (excuses) I hear a lot from business owners when queried about their performance is usually about competition. It always goes something like this: Griselda, you don’t understand! My industry is too crowded so I can’t stand out. [...]

  • Going for growth:5 relationships that top entrepreneurs invest in

    Griselda K Togobo
    29 Mar 2012 | 4:21 pm
    Why is the business owner with a seemingly simple idea making it big? With your really innovative idea and great technical expertise why are you not doing as well as you should? Why are you struggling to grow your business when just down the road your neighbour seems to be doing really well with some seemingly [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    DollarVersity

  • Does Cash Really Keep You From Overspending?

    Eric J. Nisall
    16 May 2012 | 5:26 am
    People out there think that by only using cash, shunning credit cards in the process, they will put themselves in a better position to stay out of debt and control their spending.  They think that simply because cash is a finite resource, they can only spend what they have available and no more.  They also believe that the only form of debt is overextending themselves with credit and credit cards.  Unfortunately for all of these people, that line of reasoning cannot be further from the truth.   There are a couple of misconceptions when it comes to cash and debt.  Both, if taken too…

  • There Is Being Frugal And Then There Is Being CHEAP

    Eric J. Nisall
    14 May 2012 | 5:32 am
    As a financial professional, it’s my responsibility to be able to help people come up with ways to save money, whether it be on their taxes or on day-to-day expenses.  As someone who has financial responsibilities of his own, I read a lot  on the subject for my own benefit as well.  And even though I don’t view myself as being frugal I do read quite a bit on the subject.  What I have found in my research sometimes shocks me: the extent that some people go to in order to save money, even in very small increments, just blows my mind.  I have no problem doing comparison…

  • What You Thought You Knew About MPG Ratings Is Probably Wrong

    Eric J. Nisall
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    This post was featured in Carnival of Personal Finance: The Color Wheel Edition     Do you remember me telling you that advertisements lie, how the marketing people (as well as the product manufacturers themselves) think you’re a sucker and how their goal is to target gullible people who believe everything they see and hear? Well, it’s still true, and nothing is going to change that.  This time, my ire wasn’t drawn to companies claiming to be the “best” or “highest quality” or any other subjective claim.  No, lately I’ve been more…

  • The Pros and Cons of Paperless Billing

    Eric J. Nisall
    23 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    This is a special guest post from David Bakke, who writes about small business, careers, and money management skills on Money Crashers Personal Finance. If your email inbox is anything like mine, it is probably chock-full of offers to go paperless from a lot of the companies that you do business with.  Some of them may appeal to you out of concern for the environment, while others are appealing from a financial standpoint.  While it may seem like a no-brainer to go paperless, there are some things to keep in mind before making that leap.  Here are the pros and cons of paperless billing.

  • Done With Tax Returns And Giving Away $100

    Eric J. Nisall
    18 Apr 2012 | 7:58 am
    Today marks the first day that I do not have to think about preparing peoples’ tax returns.  This was a particularly difficult tax season as one of the partners in the firm had a brain tumor removed in December and didn’t play a large part, essentially leaving the bulk of the work to myself and the other partner (plus a temp for a couple weeks, but he really sucked and we had to redo most of his work anyway).  It’s a pretty nice feeling to have taxes behind me for a little while, and I have to admit that the day does seem a little brighter, although this is South Florida…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Deluxe Small Business Blog

  • Social media is the top tool for sharing content

    dsbiz
    15 May 2012 | 4:33 pm
    Fostering discussion is key to successful social media campaigns, so it makes sense that content marketing initiatives would also take advantage of this channel. According to a new report from Curata, the majority of small businesses owners leverage social media for both discovering original content and disseminating their own.

  • Moms get down with social media

    dsbiz
    13 May 2012 | 10:56 pm
    When you think of social media, who do you think of? If you said young Millennials between the ages of 20 and 30, equipped with smartphones and other cutting-edge pieces of technology, you probably aren't far off the mark. However, as a new study from Performics notes, other demographics are spending more time on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, a fact companies need to recognize during their promotional efforts on social media.

  • Keep it simple on Facebook

    dsbiz
    10 May 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Small businesses using Facebook to reach and engage new and existing customers have heard the term "engage" repeated to them over and over again, often with the advice of "as much as possible."

  • Mobilizing tech trends and avoiding the most common implementation pitfall

    dsbiz
    9 May 2012 | 5:03 pm
    Mobile devices are the latest marketing channels through which businesses and organizations can access consumers and integrate their products and services into their lives.

  • Small business marketing that won’t break the bank

    dsbiz
    4 May 2012 | 5:04 pm
    The state of the national economy is no secret - employment is down and as a result, consumers are growing stingier with their cash. On top of that, the price of basic commodities such as gas and food are rising, which means the average American has less disposable income to spend on goods and services.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Entrepreneur Blog

  • What YOU should never discuss with Co-workers or Employees. The smart way to use voice mail. – Bob Parsons

    VolkerSchaefer
    13 May 2012 | 10:46 pm
    Bob Parsons Checklist to get you there   Realize that certain things are out of your control. Make it your goal to be in the here and now. Realize you will always have problems. Think about your problems only when you need to. Take time to do things that are fun for you. Hold your head up high and smile as often as you can.   More information about how to do this – just click the video below:    

  • How to Handle Negative Online Reviews of Your Business

    VolkerSchaefer
    14 Apr 2012 | 11:04 am
      Today there are many websites where customers review your products and services like Yelp, Angie´s List or TripAvisor.   What can you do if your business appears on these sites with negative reviews.   Here is a short but powerful roadmap to your success: http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/223268

  • I need money for my small business

    VolkerSchaefer
    6 Jan 2012 | 12:57 pm
    It´s the first and most important thing we need for our small business: money!   As an entrepreneur you can get some from your family and friends but after it you need some good sources for fresh money.   This week I found an excellent article about this topic on Entrepreneur.com   The list is not complete, there are some missing but it gives you a good list of ideas if you are a new entrepreneur or need money the first time.   So here is the article: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/222540?cm_mmc=Newsletters-_-BOTW-_-010612-_-TopSourcesofSmallBusinessFinancingin2012…

  • Why MOST Entrepreneurs FAIL. 6 minutes to learn how to AVOID these traps. Not taught in Business School.

    VolkerSchaefer
    17 Oct 2011 | 11:19 am
    Bob Parsons made a new episode on his video blog and again it is really great.   I found some traps that I got caught with my first company.   But watch it and learn for free:   Incoming search terms:bob parsons video blogpowered by wordpress intitle : earn moneyemkay seo

  • Four Alternatives to PowerPoint for Your Next Presentation

    VolkerSchaefer
    1 Oct 2011 | 2:11 pm
    Another excellent article on Entrepreneur.com!   I am personally using Google Docs presentations more and more but I never heard the other tools before:   SlideRocket   Prezi   Slideboom   Read this article: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220317   To your massive success   Volker Schaefer
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Loftis Consulting Business Blog

  • Finance Toolkit: How to Calculate Break-Even for Your Business

    Loftis Consulting
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    As a business owner, there are many decisions that need to be made every day. Some decisions will have a financial impact and some will not. In the case of financial impacting decisions, there needs to be some type of underlying analysis to understand the magnitude of the impact. Break-even analysis is one of the tools that can aid a business owner or manager to assess their financial situation. What Is Break-Even? Break-even is the point where your business costs equal business expenses.  In other words, the business is not making money but is not losing money either.  Of course, no…

  • How to Easily Manage Tip Payments for Better Cash Flow

    Loftis Consulting
    23 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Managing payroll for businesses where tips are a major component of employee earnings such as restaurants, spas and salons can be a huge burden when you add in the impact of tip collection, reporting and payment.  Running a consumer-oriented business is tough enough but if you want to keep happy employees, tips must be managed properly.  I constantly get asked by clients the best way to manage tips for their employees.  Here are my suggestions:   THE DO’S OF TIP MANAGEMENT Do process credit card tips through the payroll system with regular payroll runs.  This way you are only…

  • How Your Start-up Can Learn From Groupon’s Accounting Issues

    Loftis Consulting
    16 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Groupon has been in the news again regarding how it records its revenue. To account for the likelihood that its customers will get refunds, Groupon books an estimated offset (e.g. reserve) against sales revenue. This estimated offset in effect reduces the total earnings reported in its financial statements. The accounting problem that Groupon had is that it kept its reserve too low, which resulted in an understatement of its estimate of customer refunds. As a result, Groupon had to restate and lower its actual earnings. A required restatement means something significant has occurred that…

  • Tips to Create A Financial Forecast for Businesses Like No Other

    Loftis Consulting
    9 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    In earlier posts I have given tips on building credible financial models that in essence communicate to potential investors the business vision in numeric format. However, I have been getting a lot of questions about how to create an accurate forecast for those businesses that have no similar competitors. For start-ups, the financial forecast is an educated guess on what you think will happen with the key drivers of your business. For example: Company:                                 Social media game software development company Key Business…

  • Angel Investments Up 40% in 2011

    Loftis Consulting
    2 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    For those who did not already know, the Midwest is becoming a hotbed for start-ups. The recent Halo Report, by Silicon Valley Bank, supports this finding through its analysis of a sample of 2011 angel investor funded deals. Even though California remains first in total funded (28%) and number of deals (21%), the Great Lakes region ranked third in total funded (11%) but second in total number of deals (16%). According to the Halo Report, the most funded industry segments for the Great Lakes were as follows: Healthcare 31% Internet 28% Industrial 12% The Great Lakes region had the greatest…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    NewBizBlogger

  • 5 Reasons a Logo Is More Important to an Online Business

    Dylan
    4 May 2012 | 10:18 am
    Creating a recognizable brand image for your online business has been one of the most significant movements in the past five years – elevating the position of an online store from an alternative option to a preferable choice among many consumers. As with any storefront, your brand image serves as the face of your business, exactly the same as a physical sign or banner hanging outside a brick and mortar location. Despite the rise in popularity among those who shop online, online business still operate from a slight disadvantage. But with a quality business logo you can easily combat the…

  • [Training] How to Creating a Free Client Hub Using WordPress

    Michele
    2 May 2012 | 9:06 am
    One of the challenges with working with one-on-one clients (and even a small group) is how to effectively communicate using the internet,especially when working with those clients that much of your communication is done over email. Every had the issue of keeping track of conversations with your clients? Inundated with emails going back and forth and oftentimes something getting missed in the process? Looking at client consoles that are charging anywhere from $67plus/month to use their systems? Let me just put it out there, if you have a regular stream of clients that pay you handsomely then…

  • Surviving a Failed Business- 4 Tips to Get Back Up and Start Again

    Katheryn
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:33 am
    Any entrepreneur is taking a huge leap of faith when starting a new business. First of all, it takes capital (often after convincing others of your business idea’s worth), a huge amount of energy, and partners and employees to help make it happen. So, any time a start-up fails, it not only feels like a business loss, it can often feel like a personal loss, similar to losing a loved one. When you stake your dreams on one big idea for numerous years, it can be a huge blow to see those dreams die out. Fortunately, what every business owner needs to remember is that not everyone is brave enough…

  • A Broad Perspective on Web Hosting Options

    Jane
    23 Apr 2012 | 12:34 pm
    There are a number of web hosting companies in the world. Web presence is required both for small and large scale businesses. Of late, it has become a means of identity. Web platform is not only a convenient means to dispel information but also a cost effective method. Necessity In the offline world, normal business hours will be from 9 AM to 5 PM. If a customer wants to place an order after 5 PM, it is not possible. Here comes the website with its unique advantage that it can process orders on 24 x 7 basis. Everything is automated. While you sleep, the website still functions conveying some…

  • Interview by Kalen Smith on the Online Business Head Start Club

    Michele
    19 Apr 2012 | 10:13 am
    Several months ago I created the Online Business Head Start Club. One of it’s members, Kalen Smith from Online Rookies recently began interviewing successful Internet entrepreneurs and sharing their wisdom and reached out to me about creating a writeup for OBHS. In the interim, he had sent me the below questions. I was so impressed by the quality of the questions and how much I enjoyed answering them, that we agreed to share the interview on this platform. Michele, what inspired you to start Online Business Head Start? OBHS was a program that was lingering in my head for some time. I…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Capterra Blog - A blog about business software

  • Ten Awesome Examples of Software Social Media Channels

    Katie
    7 May 2012 | 10:59 am
    If you’re a B2B marketer, especially in the software industry, you’ve likely been told, “I’m not sure social media is really right for our business.” Fortunately, it’s been a few years since the social media craze first took off, and that general sentiment is changing day-by-day. That said, you might still get internal push-back about whether your company should be present on the latest and greatest social networks (i.e. “We don’t really have any pictures to pin as an accounting software company”). And, truthfully, not all companies need to be on EVERY social media site……

  • 2012 CRM Madness Sportscast

    Besa
    24 Apr 2012 | 11:29 am
    Move over SportsCenter! You can now relive the excitement of Capterra’s 2012 CRM Madness tournament with this news clip. Congratulations to SugarCRM!

  • 5 Things Ayn Rand Can Teach You About Online Marketing

    J.P.
    23 Apr 2012 | 1:14 pm
    Ayn Rand’s epic philosophical novel, Atlas Shrugged, tells the story of a group of hyper-capitalist individuals who seek to resist an increasingly intrusive federal government.  The book has enjoyed a surge in popularity with the recent economic crisis (and the government’s heavy-handed reaction) and, in fact, a movie version was released on April 15th of last year. From what healthcare we have, to how much energy we can consume, how much salt and trans-fat we are allowed to eat, and what types of cigarettes we are allowed to buy, the government is extending its reach into hitherto…

  • 10 Tweaks to Perfect Your Website Recipe

    Besa
    9 Apr 2012 | 1:23 pm
    My mom makes the best lasagna (just ask my daughter, who has it smeared all over her face).  It’s so simple and delicious that most people wouldn’t want to mess with it, but for some reason she does—all the time. Every time she makes lasagna there’s a new twist. Sometimes it’s a different kind of meat or cheese; sometimes it’s the temperature in the oven. Occasionally, the new and “improved” lasagna is a bust. And by that I mean it’s good but not the best I’ve ever had. And other times, my mom actually manages to improve on what we all thought was perfection. You’re…

  • SugarCRM Named the 2012 CRM Madness Champions

    Katie
    9 Apr 2012 | 11:18 am
    After a month of intense face-offs amongst the 64 contenders in Capterra’s CRM Madness Tournament, it came down to just two remaining customer relationship management (CRM) solutions…. Sugar CRM vs. Pegasystems Both “teams” had just three days, from April 2-4, to encourage users, friends, employees, and fans to vote for their CRM in order to take home the 2012 championship title. Having both won their previous 5 matchups and defeating top seeded solutions such as Salesforce.com and Microsoft Dynamics, both CRMs were well poised to win it all. Entering the final round, Pegasystems had…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Simply Business Coaching

  • If You Want to UpLevel Your Business, You’re Going to Need a Strategy

    Louise
    16 May 2012 | 2:11 am
    While many small businesses seem to be perpetually in survival mode, others are ready to move up to the next level. Even with this economy. I’m currently working with the owners of two businesses who are in this situation, although their circumstances are very different. One has been surprised by the growing number of orders,...

  • Social Networking – Great Marketing Tool or Complete Waste of Time?

    Louise
    9 May 2012 | 2:47 am
    Social Networking is a great way to connect with people without leaving the comfort of your office. But if you don’t have a clear strategy to follow, it’s very easy to spend a great deal of time for little or no return. In today’s post I’ll go through how to design a social networking strategy...

  • Lead With Your Best Stuff If You Want To Attract New Clients

    Louise
    2 May 2012 | 2:15 am
    How can we get our messages heard above all the virtual noise? I read recently that we receive more information in a day than our grandparents did in their entire lifetime! You already know that most people are in a state of information overload these days, especially the electronic kind. It’s no wonder we feel...

  • The Day I Refused to Guarantee Results!

    Louise
    24 Apr 2012 | 10:41 pm
    “If I hire you as my business coach, will you guarantee to make me a millionaire?” was the eager question. Oh dear, my heart sank as I thought about how best to answer. You see - Coaching is not a quick fix Unfortunately some business owners leave things until they become desperate before looking for...

  • The 5 Business Mistakes You May Not Know You’re Making

    Louise
    18 Apr 2012 | 12:13 am
    I have yet to meet a business owner who doesn’t admit to making at least one or two mistakes at some point over the years, and I’m certainly no exception! Being an entrepreneur or simply trying to keep up with the everyday running of a small business can be full of potential potholes to swerve...
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    RizzoTees Blog

  • What is Wrong With This Picture?

    Chris Reimer
    8 May 2012 | 10:10 am
    This is an email I received from Martha Stewart’s company. If you can’t read it, you can click the picture to make it larger. 1. The email’s subject line portends serious problems ahead. Interruption of online access! 2. BUT…. we have some exciting news to share! Huh? 3. Martha Stewart is now posting for stock photography shots. 4. Oh, and by the way, Mother’s Day is coming up, but we’re taking all of our sites down for maintenance during this most crucial time of year, so don’t try to access your info on the sites. We know Mother’s Day is…

  • Great TV Commercial from The Guardian – The Three Little Pigs

    Chris Reimer
    8 May 2012 | 8:52 am
    I like this TV ad because it tries to capture the full range of communication outlets that now contribute to the development, dissemination and reach of information.

  • What’s Going On With Rizzo Tees? An Update

    Chris Reimer
    1 May 2012 | 4:38 pm
    I started Rizzo Tees back in 2007 with the entrepreneurial dream of growing it out of control. I wanted to build a big, strong, healthy business, and of course I wanted to leave my CPA/Accounting life behind. While Rizzo Tees remains small today, I was able to escape the accounting world over two years ago. I’ve mentioned this several times (here and here), but I can say it once more: you have no idea what this career change has truly meant to me. What of Rizzo Tees now? I’ve had a few people tell me they’ve noticed a change in my content output over the last year. They say…

  • I Only Want Positive Comments on my Blog

    Chris Reimer
    25 Apr 2012 | 2:44 pm
    The grisly details (before they delete the post). Thanks to Scott Stratten for bringing this to our attention.

  • Pinterest – My Appearance on Fox 2 TV

    Chris Reimer
    21 Apr 2012 | 8:02 pm
    Thanks again to Angela Hutti and Fox 2 TV for having me in. This time we discussed the social media phenomenon known as Pinterest. A link to the story on Fox 2′s site is here, and you can follow me on Pinterest here.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    SBALoans-123.com

  • Debt Management Plans for Businesses and the Self-Employed

    Guest Author
    30 Apr 2012 | 12:48 pm
    Businesses tend to keep all their money in one bank, whilst another will be the home of their debt. However, due to the recession and the current state of the global economy, banks are no longer offering enticing savings rates; instead they are increasing their interest rates, ultimately portraying a false economy and causing many businesses to lose out. Whilst it must be extremely tempting for company directors and CEO’s to spend almost every penny they have on repaying loans and attempting to get slowly back into the black, in practise this can be harmful and leave the business in a worse…

  • 5 Ways To Set Your Small Business Apart From The Rest

    cherrell
    25 Apr 2012 | 11:53 am
    A couple of decades after World War II, business people everywhere woke up to a sobering realization: competition had gotten out of hand. The days of being the sole storefront on the block, or being one of just a handful of business listed in the Yellow Pages or an online directory are long over. In today’s fast-paced business world, competition among small businesses is not just hectic; it is often cutthroat. Reaching out to customers has turned into in an exercise in creativity and business moxie. Getting prospects, customers and clients to notice you amidst a sea of competitors calls for…

  • Sales Tax Requirements for Your E-Business

    cherrell
    22 Apr 2012 | 10:40 am
    Whether your operations are in one location or multiple states, sales taxes are something you are dealing with already on some level. However, if you are also selling online you may not realize the scope of responsibilities your company already has in this regard – or those it may be taking on in the near future. How Nexus is Determined If you are selling within the state in which you are licensed (this is your nexus), then you already have a sales tax identification and are collecting, reporting and remitting taxes collected from your customers.  You will want to update any changes in…

  • What Is A Good Business Credit Score?

    Guest Author
    6 Apr 2012 | 8:05 am
    It’s hard to imagine that just a couple of decades ago, most people couldn’t tell you the first thing about credit scores. Of course in the years since then, we’ve been bombarded with ads for scoring services practically everywhere we look. As a result of the increased awareness, most consumers knows what a good credit score range is nowadays. But what about business credit scores? Because they’re rarely talked about, the vast majority of people have absolutely no clue what a good business credit score is. Here’s what you need to know about them. Numerical Range Unlike a consumer…

  • Why The Chamber Of Commerce Is Integral To Your Marketing Strategy

    cherrell
    5 Apr 2012 | 8:19 pm
    Small business owners these days are besieged by multiple offers of innovative marketing strategies, from social media to viral marketing and everything in between. While there is a lot of value in following modern online marketing trends, the Chamber of Commerce organizations around the country are often left out of the mix. Every small business owner should be affiliated with at least one Chamber of Commerce. Membership in your local Chamber of Commerce comes with lots of benefits; this article will only focus on why active membership is integral to an effective marketing strategy. …
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Blue Kite Marketing» blog

  • Three Important Business Lessons I Learned from my Mom

    Laura
    13 May 2012 | 7:10 pm
    My Mom is an incredible woman. Not only did she raise four amazing girls (if I do say so myself), but she also helped my Dad on the farm and ran her own business. For much of my childhood, my Mom created cornhusk dolls and floral arrangements and sold them all over the country. When we would come home from school, we would often find her in her workroom putting together her latest creations. I credit her for every creative bone I have in my body. And, I’m pretty certain I get my marketing chops from her. But, besides all of that, she has taught me invaluable skills that have helped me in…

  • Should You Automate Your Social Media Efforts?

    Laura
    9 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Automation is one of the most hotly contested topics in social media. Bring it up online and you’re sure to find yourself amidst a passionate debate. In fact, that happened yesterday when I shared an article on Twitter about a Chrome extension that allows you to schedule updates on Google Plus. I thought that was pretty nifty. But, some people will tell you that all forms of scheduling and automation for social media is wrong. That it removes the “social” aspect of the platform. Or, that it turns you into a robot. I disagree. Scheduling or automating social media is not inherently…

  • Which Social Network is Right for Your Business?

    Laura
    8 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    One of the questions I get asked most is about which social networks should a business use. With all of the options available, how do you know which ones to choose? As you might suspect, there is no one right answer. It all depends on your social media strategy and what you want to accomplish via the social web (i.e. provide customer service, find new business, drive traffic to your site, etc.). Once you’ve taken the time to determine your goals and how you want to use social media, you can look at the various options and determine the right network one for your business. While this…

  • 5 Must-Read Social Media Articles

    Laura
    4 May 2012 | 8:28 am
    Last week, I attended Social Slam in Knoxville, a fantastic one-day social media conference. I learned a lot and enjoyed spending time with some really smart people in the industry. If you weren’t able to attend, here are my top takeaways from the event. I also thought you’d enjoy reading what some other folks got out of it too:  Thoughts After Social Slam 2012 – Jayme Soulati 9 Quick Takeaways from Social Slam – Jenn Whinnem at Connecticut Health Foundation 50+ Huge Ideas from #SoSlam – Courtney Seiter at Raven Tools Let me know if there are some other good ones I missed. In…

  • Is Your Business Ready for Social Media?

    Laura
    2 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    A couple of weeks ago, I began blogging about social media for the Nashville Business Journal as part of their Social Madness promotion. I’m excited to be one of several talented guest bloggers. You can check out all of the posts here. Below is my first article for the NBJ and I wanted to share it with you here also because I think it’s important for businesses to ask these questions before diving into social media. You can see the original article here or read on below. Enjoy! It’s no secret that social media continues to grow in popularity. In fact, latest research shows…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Barry Moltz

  • Episode #181 Susan Cain, Gini Dietrich, IV, Jason Selk – May 11,2012

    Business Insanity Talk Radio | Blog Talk Radio Feed
    11 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Scheduled Guests: Ingrid Vandergeldt, Dells Entrepreneur in Residence, Susan Cain talks about the power of business introverts, Gini Dietrich discusses her new book, "Marketing in The Round", and Dr. Jason Selk shows how to achieve high performance. Sponsored by Dell and Sage Solutions.Ingrid Vandergeldt | Susan Cain | Dell | Sage | Gini Dietrich

  • #180 Jennifer Warawa, Joe Nicassio and Alan Masarek – May 04,2012

    Business Insanity Talk Radio | Blog Talk Radio Feed
    4 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Scheduled Guests: Jennifer Warawa talks about how small business owners can effectively use their accountants (and not just at tax time). Joe Nicassio talks about renewing Americas entrepreneurial spirit. Alan Maserk discusses the "New App economy". Sponsored by Dell and Sage North America.Jennifer Warawa | Dell | Sage | Alan Masarek | Joe Nicasso

  • Managing Your Reputation is the New Key to Customer Service

    barry
    2 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    For most of the last century, consumers believed what a company said in its advertisements. A business might hire an advertising agency on Madison Avenue (ala “Mad Men”) to come up with a slick slogan delivered by a celebrity in order to influence what the customer would buy. The Internet has allowed society to move from this one way medium to a more conversational one. It is not surprising that 97% of customers review products online before buying. But, what may be a surprise is the exact information they are researching. Consumers are not only looking at the latest features, prices and…

  • #179 Carl Timm, Dan Janal, Nancy Michaels, Amy Pietsch – Apr 27,2012

    Business Insanity Talk Radio | Blog Talk Radio Feed
    27 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Schedule Guests: Carl Timm from Microsoft joins us. Dan Janal shows small business owners how to use PR. Nancy Michaels is a consultant to big business about small business owners.. Amy Pietsch discusses the keys to a successful startup. Sponsored by Dell and Sage Software Solutions.Dell | Sage Software Solutions | Microsoft | Dan Janal | Nancy Michaels

  • Episode #178 Jon Gordon and Paul Edwards – Apr 20,2012

    Business Insanity Talk Radio | Blog Talk Radio Feed
    20 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Scheduled Guests: Jon Gordon shows us how to hop on the Energy Bus. Paul Edwards shows us the best techniques to working from home. Sponsored by: Dell and Sage Solutions. Paul Edwards | Jon Gordon | Entrepreneur | Small Business | Work at Home
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    NGAP

  • The FHA Modernization Bill, What It Means To You

    vanko
    16 May 2012 | 3:16 am
    Are you currently thinking about a reverse mortgage? Have you been told that with your property value, you really might be better off going with a jumbo or proprietary reverse mortgage, but you really wanted to get the government insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. Have you looked at the proprietary products and thought that you [...]

  • 3 Tactics Affiliate Marketers Can Use to Make More Money Online

    vanko
    15 May 2012 | 3:09 pm
    As an affiliate marketer, it is sometimes much easier to make money online. After all, you don’t have to focus on product creation or customer service. Once you build your affiliate website, or sites, then you can simply focus on marketing those sites and then collecting the paychecks. Although there are many tactics you can [...]

  • Correct Misperceptions That Drive Away Potential Customers and Beneficiaries

    vanko
    15 May 2012 | 3:09 am
    Most people imagine that customers and beneficiaries are always eager to improve their situations. A close look at those who need the most help reveals how untrue such imaginings are. Social workers anywhere in the world will tell you that they spend most of their time trying to persuade those who need help to seek [...]

  • Barriers to Reaching Ignorant Potential Customers

    vanko
    14 May 2012 | 3:02 pm
    Looking for choices can put a customer in an information traffic jam. Notice how the Internet makes the problem of overcoming ignorance both better and worse. If you search for a new supplier, you will probably find more choices than you want. Chances are that you won’t look past the first page of your search [...]

  • Identify and Eliminate Customer Complacency That Costs You Profitabale Growth

    vanko
    14 May 2012 | 3:02 am
    I have always found that the world pretty neatly divides itself into those who understand and act on optimizing performance of almost everything they come into contact with . . . and those who ignore optimization. Maintaining automobile and motorcycle tire pressures is a good example. Keep your tires at the right pressure and you [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Free Enterprise

  • Could CA's Foie Gras Ban Go National?

    Edward Tan, JD
    16 May 2012 | 8:02 am
    Some famous California chefs have taken to the street, or rather the kitchen, to fight the state's upcoming foie gras ban. Several high-profile chefs have held foie gras events at their restaurants, CBS Los Angeles reports. They showcased special menus featuring the soon-to-be-outlawed ingredient. However, animal rights activists haven't found their actions amusing. Many have fought back by protesting outside some of the restaurants. The law banning foie gras goes into effect on July 1 in California. But could it also be the spark needed to set off a national trend? It might be. Though…

  • Stay Legal, Don't Make Ad Fine Print Too Small

    Stephanie Rabiner, Esq.
    16 May 2012 | 7:04 am
    It's no secret that business owners like to bury important terms and details in fine print and obscure locations. They do it in print ads, on television and on the Internet. It's a common practice. But in some situations, using fine print is deceptive advertising. Federal Trade Commission rules require all significant conditions and limitations to be clearly and conspicuously presented.Densely packed lines of fine print, footnotes, and fast-scrolling disclosures often don't meet this obligation.  The agency has luckily provided a little bit more guidance on the issue of fine print and…

  • Church Sues Ex-Members for Defamation on Blog

    Andrew Chow, JD
    15 May 2012 | 10:39 am
    Thou shall not post bad reviews of your church online -- unless you want to face the wrath of a vengeful lawsuit. That's what an Oregon pastor seems to be saying, as he's filed a $500,000 defamation lawsuit against four former church members who badmouthed his church on a blog, Portland's KGW-TV reports. But the accused defamers are fighting back against Pastor Charles O'Neal's lawsuit, with a special kind of legal action that asserts free speech under the First Amendment. Small businesses and nonprofits may want to take note of their strategy. A lawyer for the ex-church members being sued…

  • Boss Can Limit Employee's Pieces of Flair: 2nd Cir. Rules

    Stephanie Rabiner, Esq.
    15 May 2012 | 7:56 am
    No, you haven't stepped into the world of Office Space. But we are going to talk employee flair. A few years back, employees at a Manhattan Starbucks filed a complaint against the company with the National Labor Relations Board over its flair policy. Employees, who were trying to unionize, were only permitted to wear one pro-union button less than 1-inch in diameter while on the clock. The NLRB deemed this an unfair labor practice, but now the Second Circuit has reversed. Starbucks instituted the limited flair policy after employees covered themselves in pro-union badges, according to the…

  • What Are Your Investors' Legal Rights?

    Stephanie Rabiner, Esq.
    14 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    It's par for the course these days for entrepreneurs to seek outside funding for a small business or start-up. Some draw the attention of venture capitalists, while others head to crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter. Though these investors are technically contributing to your business, they're not doing so without expecting something in return. As much as entrepreneurs would like to take the money and run, the reality is that investors have rights. And if you fail to respect those rights, you could find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit. Litigation is actually not all that uncommon when…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    BuzzBooster Marketing Advisors: Shahar and Nash

  • New features on Google docs

    buzz@buzzbooster.com (Buzz Booster)
    15 May 2012 | 8:25 pm
    Here is a good blog post on the new features on Google Docs that can help your business. Google docs

  • Replay for Extreme Income Explosion Summit

    buzz@buzzbooster.com (Buzz Booster)
    10 May 2012 | 4:36 pm
    There is still time for you to see the recordings for the Extreme Income Explosion Summit. The summit was a great success with speakers Lee Phillips. Caterina Rando, Bob the teacher Jenkins, Diane Conklin, Jill Lublin, Michele Scism, BuzzBoosters and Chris Makell. The recording from our simulcast are still available for you to watch. Watch EIES right now!It is free!

  • BuzzBooster TV, Cool Pinterest tool

    buzz@buzzbooster.com (Buzz Booster)
    4 May 2012 | 12:21 pm
    This week on BuzzBooster Tv we talk about increasing the level of trust in business, some updates in the online arena and a cool tool for you to use with Pinterest Watch BuzzBooster TV now. Don’t forget you can watch the show using Itunes, or download our Buzzbooster App to your phone (Iphone or Android), or on your tv if you use Roku box

  • EIES Starts this Thursday

    buzz@buzzbooster.com (Buzz Booster)
    2 May 2012 | 12:17 pm
    We start this 3 day live event today. If you have a ticket, here some info just in case: Registration on May 3rd will go from 7 to 8:30 am We start exactly at 8:30. We have lots of things reserved for you and I don’t want you to miss anything. So plan to arrive early. Looks like we are going to have great weather. all days around 70 with just a few clouds. The event will take place at: Salt Lake City Marriott University Park 480 Wakara Way · Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 USA If you can’t come, watch live from your couch:Extreme Income Explosion Summit live simulcast

  • Attend EIES from your couch

    buzz@buzzbooster.com (Buzz Booster)
    1 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    I hope you are among the lucky folks that will attend the Extreme Income Explosion Summit in person. But if you are not, there is another solution for you not to miss this amazing opportunity: We will be broadcasting the event live. So you can watch the whole event with our star speakers from your couch. All you need to do is go here to reserve your spot: http://www.extremeincomeexplosionsummit.com/attend-from-home/ Below are a few questions people have asked us: Q: I am totally booked May 3-5. Does that mean that I should forget about participating? A: Of course not… Obviously, it is…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    BJ Strawter

  • Tesst

    Billy Strawter Jr
    27 Apr 2012 | 12:41 pm
    Tweetblah blah blah blah

  • Tools for Tracking and Managing Volunteer Hours

    Billy Strawter Jr
    27 Mar 2012 | 8:06 am
    Tweet We were recently tasked with finding a solution for tracking volunteer hours for a  private Christian School in Macomb County Michigan.  They were using a Constant Contact form to allow volunteers to submit their hours. The problem? They had to then manually enter the hours in a spreadsheet, which took up valuable paid hours. Since they weren't using a database, at the end of the year they had to manually add up the hours. Ugh. The scope of the project required: A simple solution that anyone could use The ability to track and tabulate volunteer hours Needs to integrate with existing…

  • Is Your Social Strategy Out of Wack?

    Billy Strawter Jr
    16 Nov 2011 | 1:48 pm
    Tweet You know who you are. You’re the one posting to friends and family to “like” your client’s Facebook page. Creating private groups on Facebook to push up your Klout and get “likes” for your client. While this may work in the short-term, it’s hardly the long-term strategy your client needs. What do you do when you’ve exhausted friends and family? There is a better way. Really. Here are a few simple ways you get your social strategy on track: 1. Go Where The Money Is Figure out who your target market is, find out where they spend their time…

  • How does your small biz use social media?

    Billy Strawter Jr
    16 Nov 2011 | 10:32 am
    Tweet Do you ever wonder how everyone else does it?  There’s a great poll lurking around the interewebz on LinkedIn that asks “How do you use social media to help your business?” The results so far have been interesting, as have the comments. Overwhelmingly “brand awareness” has won out over making sales and customer engagement. The following is a comment I made on LinkedIn: I’d argue to say that it’s a combination of all of the above. Interesting to see the poll results lean so much towards brand awareness. It depends on what type of…

  • We all need a cheerleader

    Billy Strawter Jr
    15 Nov 2011 | 2:21 pm
    Tweet During half time of my daughters recent basketball game the cheerleaders came out.  They cheered their little hearts out.  Watching the whole thing play out brought a smile to my face.  It made me think how much we all need cheerleaders in our lives. Sometimes we need them to be vocal, jumping up and down, arms waving, telling us we can do it. Other times we may need them to just come alongside us in silent understanding. One thing is for certain. We were never intended to go it alone.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    » | Swipely’s Small Business Marketing Blog

  • 5 Quick Tips for Collecting More Emails at the Counter

    Amanda MacArthur, Managing Editor, Swipely
    16 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetThe rise of today’s e-tailers is not without a great email marketing strategy. Customers see new products and sales in their inbox every morning and are enticed to keep visiting the website. This is not unlike local email marketing at your brick and mortar store or restaurant, where a good email marketing list can keep customers coming back into the store, or at least keep them paying attention. Here are a few quick tips on how to collect email addresses by getting customers to put pen to paper at your counter and give up their most sacred digital key – the one that goes to…

  • How To Treat Customers Like VIPs Every Day

    Elizabeth Ducoff, PR & Marketing, Swipely
    15 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetSending out discounts and incentives is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to rewarding loyal customers. There’s a world of rewards that don’t have anything to do with price that you can add to your marketing repertoire. At the Table Yesterday’s way is to rely on customers to ask for a particular table when they’re celebrating an occasion. Today’s way is to flip this request on its head and invite a different guest to dine at a special table every night (without them having to request “the chef’s table”). The real estate is already…

  • Klout Brand Pages: Should Small Businesses Care?

    SwipelyWorks Editors
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetA while back, we discussed how Klout’s classification of social sharing “personality” types is perhaps more interesting than the scores, for small businesses. Klout is in the news again and launching what they are calling “Brand Squads” – a new kind of page allowing businesses to connect with “influencers” who can earn perks by being public advocates of a brand across their social networks. Currently, the Brand Squad pages are in beta and the only business using it is Red Bull. With Klout’s big announcement, a recent Hubspot article by Anum Hussein astutely…

  • [5/7-11] This Week in Small Business News

    Amanda MacArthur, Managing Editor, Swipely
    11 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetThis week in small business news, mobile marketing is getting more press, a Brazilian retailer gets creative with Facebook, small business growth is at an all-time low, and debit card fees just got a little more bearable. 1. Small Businesses That Use Mobile Marketing See Their Sales Soar, Survey Shows Rieva Lesonsky reports on the Small Business Mobile Survey, which says that only 26% of small business owners have a mobile-friendly website, though 69% consider mobile marketing crucial to their growth and plan to spend more on it. Out of that last group, 38% say that it’s a…

  • The ROI of Social Media for Small Businesses

    SwipelyWorks Editors
    10 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Tweet How do you really know that managing your social media profiles and strategizing a marketing campaign around them is increasing your revenue? Is it possible to measure how the time and energy you spend building a network of loyal followers online is worth it for your business? What’s your “return on investment” or ROI? A great blog post by Dion Hinchcliffe on the Dachis Group website this month delves into identifying the value of making your business more social. Although he’s not talking specifically about small businesses here, a couple of points in his article…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Jackie Purnell - Respectfully Disobedient

  • Is Blogging Sucking The Life Out Of You?

    Jackie
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 pm
    Ever had one of those days, weeks…even months when you really wonder if this blogging game is worth the effort. You get up in the morning, punch the keys and it feels meaningless. That spark that excited you has long been overshadowed by the constant need to crank out content. After all that’s what we’re supposed to do right? The fact that your backspace key is completely devoid of its identifying features is testimony to your complete lack of faith in your words. Your art. Your commitment. Could it be you’ve become trapped by the boundaries of your blogging schedule?

  • Does Online Terminology Leave You Scratching Your Head?

    Jackie
    7 May 2012 | 6:00 pm
    You may have heard me say in the past…”business is business, there’s nothing magical or mythical that happens online”. While this may be true, every new environment usually gives birth new processes or technical applications, which in turn gives rise to new terminology. Terminology that can be confusing and overwhelming to understand. So if you’re convinced that cookies are just something you eat, or that spiders are just 8 legged beasties that find their way into your house, then stand by for your quick reference to deciphering online terminology. Lets kick off…

  • Do You Really Need That Mentor?

    Jackie
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:00 pm
    There are times when you need help. It might be skills or strategy. It may be breaking through some existing boundaries by challenging your existing thought processes. With so many people offering their services via coaching, consulting and or mentoring, how do you know which one to choose….do you even need someone at all? Nobody can magically impart their skill and wisdom to create change in your life or business without your application of the principals being taught. Each genre has thier style. Make sure you’re getting the right match up for your requirements. Coaches tend to…

  • Please, Let The Day Come When Most “Online Selling Rules” Die

    Guest Post
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:00 pm
    A little change of pace on Respectfully Disobedient this week with a special guest post from Karol K, who’s not holding back on his views on some less than savory online selling practices (Warning. Rant inside … Oh yea.) Enjoy!   Some sales attempts I see on the Internet make me both cry and laugh. And I’m also amazed at the same time, because apparently, the techniques are working to some degree…otherwise no one would be using them. Of course, it all depends on your definition of “working” … if it’s “I’m pissing 98% of people off,…

  • Blog Security – Are You At Risk?

    Jackie
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:00 pm
    It all started over a simple yet sinister comment. “Approve my comment…otherwise I’m gonna hack your blog” Far from being the shy retiring type, my immediate thoughts were, “WTF…who the hell are you…you jumped up little twerp” I know, I know…very misguided of me. After all the “little twerp” is probably spamming this message across hundreds of sites as we speak. But it was enough to pull me up and address my complacency on blog security. Hacking Monkeys (as I like to call them) have always been around, and I don’t know if…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Marketing Ideas | UPrinting.com Small Business Blog

  • Guest Post: 4 Reasons Your Business Plan Sucks – And How You Can Make It Better!

    Guest
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Unless otherwise noted, UPrinting® does not endorse any company or product that may be linked to or appear in this article. Thousands of fantastic business ideas fall through every day because they never find investors or lenders. But you’re not one of them right? So you figure you’ll throw a business plan together over night and then magically get that million dollar investment deal? Wrong. Simple mistakes that are made in business plans can cost entrepreneurs the investments or loans they need to get things started. Sure, banks and investors aren’t always looking for the most well…

  • Guest Post: 4 Clever Space Saving (and Money Saving) Ideas for your Business

    Guest
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    We all know an organised workspace can make us more efficient, but did you know that the way we harness our space could actually help us make money too? Here are our top tips to make the most of every square inch: 1. Rent Out unused Office Space In the current economic climate, shared offices are becoming much more popular. To take advantage of the ‘rent a desk’ movement, look at unused or poorly used space in your business premises and remove the extra furniture, re-structure, and lease out the space to a small company or freelancer to keep your overheads down (this is an…

  • Hold That Thought (It May Be Worth Something)! – Tips On Starting a New Business While Still Employed

    Arthur
    10 May 2012 | 6:59 am
    A lot of really successful entrepreneurs didn’t walk the straight and narrow. Sometimes you might feel that things aren’t so clear-cut and sometimes you feel you need to get your hands a little dirty. Here are two guys who did just that: Source: The Technology Cafe That’s Paul Allen and Bill Gates. They probably need no further introduction. As precocious and relatively well-connected kids, they hacked into their school’s rented mainframe to get free computer time. They got booted out, but continued to hack into private computing systems well into their Harvard years.

  • There Is No Excuse For Bad Business Cards – An Online Printer’s Insights on Terrible Business Card Design

    Arthur
    9 May 2012 | 7:44 am
    We make print materials, so this whole thing might seem purely self-serving (Ed note: it is) but this is pretty frustrating for me at a fundamental level. Personally, I think harmony in design -good aesthetics- is non-negotiable (and before you say anything, we’re working on a new design for this blog).  Appearances matter- and perhaps this holds a lot truer for new businesses. But frankly, it’s surprising- not to mention a bit depressing- how little thought a lot of new (and old!) entrepreneurs put into their business cards. Source: verydandy.wordpress.com Big Al’s might be…

  • Where Are All The Failure Stories? – How The Serially Successful See Setbacks

    Arthur
    7 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Everybody loves a winner. Perhaps more importantly, everybody wants to be one. Conventional wisdom dictates that if you want to succeed, it helps to learn how successful people did things. Stories about the disgustingly successful make you think anything’s possible. And it’s true… up to a point. Source: Nintendo Pro Wrestling (NES) Recent estimates of small business failure rates lie anywhere from 33%-85% after the first year, depending on the state, and depending on who you ask. Does everything seem so possible now? The truth is probably impossible to pin down in…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Cool Radio

  • Use These Tips To Become Skilled At Organic Gardening

    28 Apr 2012 | 11:13 pm
    Most people in our community know about the pros of eating natural, or seen natural products in the grocery store. It is straightforward to spot natural products. They are packaged differently and often are designated up considerably. This article can help you cut costs by growing natural produce correct in your garden. As soon as you are performing in your garden, you should have all of the tools within a convenient place. Don’t spend 30 minutes looking for a tool. Get all of the tools together just before go into your garden, then place them within a safe spot if you find yourself…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    DigitalSherpa

  • Newsroom Layoffs Lead Journalists to Online Media

    Jordan Barkin
    15 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    Decreasing ad revenue and circulation led many newspapers to reduce their staffs over the past 12 months. In June, the Wall Street Journal reported that Gannett planned to lay off about 700 employees, many of them newsroom staff. In October, The New York Times planned to eliminate 20 newsroom jobs through voluntary buyouts, according to Adweek. Media titans including CNN and The Associated Press also laid off many experienced journalists, as did San Francisco’s Bay Area News Group and The San Francisco Examiner. It may be assumed that a decrease in journalists results in fewer of…

  • Business Blogging In A Human Way

    Chris Vaughn
    14 May 2012 | 11:10 am
    Think of your favorite teacher, the best you ever had. What was it about him or her? Each of us encounter dozens as we progress through the grades and disciplines, and each of us surely has that one person that left an indelible mark on our lives. For me it was a Philosophy professor I had at Oglethorpe University, Dr. Wirth. (Does yours go back further? Elementary school anyone?) I’d be willing to bet Dr. Wirth was my favorite for many of the same reasons you’ve chosen yours. It’s because when he taught, it felt like someone was talking with me, and not at me. Chris Brogan…

  • The Ten Commandments of Online Content Marketing

    Chris Vaughn
    11 May 2012 | 8:14 am
    This is a guest post by Jordan Barkin, an Online Content Manager at DigitalSherpa. Online content marketing, the practice of creating and sharing content in order to engage a target demographic, is a new frontier. And, like any new frontier, it requires a code to keep it from becoming the Wild West. As a guide, here are the Ten Commandments of Online Content Marketing: 1. Have accurate and original content. Credibility is priceless. 2. Avoid content that could be interpreted as negative, slanderous, or libelous. 3. Be timely and relevant. Always address the rhetorical question, “Who…

  • Using Pinterest To Supercharge Your Content Marketing

    Melissa O'Keefe
    10 May 2012 | 10:12 am
    There’s been a lot of hype about Pinterest lately from online marketers which is no doubt well deserved.  Pinterest is the newest and hottest social networking tool out there now and you don’t want to be left wondering how you missed the Pinterest train. While you can get results just by blogging useful content to your viewers, by marketing your content on the web in places where your viewers live you can supercharge your content marketing program.  The Internet is full lurkers, with 90% of all viewers on the web falling into the “Lurker” category.  The trick is how…

  • Business Guidelines for Twitter

    Adam Japko
    9 May 2012 | 9:48 am
    There was an interesting post at Mashable yesterday summarizing the latest social web ranking data.  The author, Curt Finch, went on to offer a few tips for business success on Twitter.  While the usage data is not surprising, it needs to be put in perspective. Furthermore, it is worth sharing some additional thoughts, not included in the Mashable post, that might make sense to business operators interested not only in “etiquette”, as Finch couches it, but also in successful business outcomes. Putting Twitter User Community In Perspective According to Highbeam Resarch,…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Mary & Dean Unleashed

  • MLM Sponsoring Secrets Exposed Weekly Webinar 5-10-12

    Dean R Black
    11 May 2012 | 6:53 am
    WELCOME TO MARY AND DEAN UNLEASHED’S WEEKLY TRAINING Join us each week as we do LIVE training teaching network marketers how to grow their businesses. This week on Thursday at 8:00pm Eastern Time we talked about: MLM Sponsoring Secrets Exposed The cornerstone of any successful network marketing business is sponsoring. Getting people to join your primary business must always be at the center of your efforts. Here I’ll share with you 3 simple but effective MLM sponsoring secrets that if  you adopt as your approach to recruiting will absolutely revolutionize the way you do…

  • Does Your MLM Sponsor Have a Proven Plan for Your Success?

    Dean R Black
    10 May 2012 | 5:43 am
    Having an MLM sponsor who has a proven plan for your success is absolutely critical if you want to make money in this industry. The statistics say there’s a 97% failure rate for new network marketers. What this statistic doesn’t tell you is why most of these aspiring entrepreneurs will give up and quite within their first 90 days: they don’t get the support and training they need from their upline sponsor. Reasons Your MLM Sponsor May Not Be Helping You There are a lot of reasons your sponsor might give for not helping you. For the most part, they go something like this:…

  • How to Choose Between Different New MLM Companies

    Dean R Black
    9 May 2012 | 6:17 am
    If you’re new to the MLM industry or even if you’ve been around for a while but are thinking about making a change, it can be very challenging to make a choice between all the new MLM companies that are available to you. So how do you pick the one that’s right for you? There are some things you can do, some questions you can ask yourself to help you make a better decision. Here, I’m going to share some really quick and easy ones with you, plus I’ll add some of my own suggestions for getting the most out of your research. New MLM Companies are Popping Up…

  • Should You Join a New MLM Company?

    Dean R Black
    8 May 2012 | 6:18 am
    Are you trying to decide if you should join a new MLM? If so, there are some really important questions you need to ask yourself first. Today I’ll share with you the 5 most critical questions to ask before making your final desision. Reasons You Should NOT Join a New MLM First, let’s get some of the biggest myths out of the way about how to choose a new MLM. 1) You absolutely love the products or services. While this is a great reason to become a customer, it’s actually a really bad reason to start a business. 2) You absolutely love the compensation plan. OK, I’m not…

  • What Do ALL MLM Leaders Have In Common Weekly Webinar 5-3-12

    Dean R Black
    4 May 2012 | 6:31 am
    WELCOME TO MARY AND DEAN UNLEASHED’S WEEKLY TRAINING Join us each week as we do LIVE training teaching network marketers how to grow their businesses. This week on Thursday at 8:00pm Eastern Time we talked about: What Do ALL MLM Leaders Have In Common?  MLM leaders all have this one thing in common no matter what the story of their rise to prominence might have been. Watch the recording below as we go into what all these leaders have in common. CLICK HERE for your FREE Presentation! This short presentation has the power to drastically increase your bank account over the next couple…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    JeffDrummer.com

  • Stressed Enough For Surgery?

    Jeff
    13 May 2012 | 11:43 pm
    I knew I was tense, but surgery?  I never imagined it was possible to be so stressed that it would one day bring me to surgery.  As a full-time drummer, I play drums more than just the weekend warrior.  I play for more than the enjoyment of the instrument, I play to pay my bills.  My story of stress is impossible to document medically, but from a logical standpoint, I am justified in making these claims.  I remember like it was yesterday laying on the flour before a concert in Indiana thinking my left arm hurt more than usual and there was a numbness in my fingers that wasn’t there…

  • What’s Your Potential?

    Jeff
    9 May 2012 | 6:20 pm
    I live with a consistent sense of guilt.  Am I the only one out there?  I doubt it!  It’s not a guilt for something I have done, but rather a guilt for things I have not done.  I am a true optimist.  I believe life can truly be great.  I believe I possess the tools and skills to make it great.  This is not a post that denies the power of God in your life to bring about great things, rather a post about following through with what God has entrusted you with. As a small business owner and consummate entrepreneur, I know what it means to have dreams.  Sometimes I feel my whole life…

  • Why Persistence Works?

    Jeff
    8 May 2012 | 2:26 pm
    It’s very simple.  Statistics! Afterall, how many doors can be shut in your face?  Eventually you will get the sale, make the deal, secure the contract, etc… Persistence is the key! You may have heard the saying, “Hit the pavement.”  Well, trust me, it works.  I did exactly that last month when I was in Las Vegas with my band Big Daddy Weave playing a concert.  I didn’t have to be back at the venue until around 4pm, so I hit the pavement.  I wanted to get some more clients for Custom Stix and I figured there wasn’t a better place than Vegas. …

  • Want to Know the Secret to Business Success?

    Jeff
    3 May 2012 | 12:22 pm
    After being an entrepreneur for several years, a traveling musician, recent author and aspiring public speaker, I have learned the secret to success.  Here it is: DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ________________________________________ The greatest obstacle to anything I want to do in life is myself.  I know I can do just about anything I want to do in life if I will only DO IT.  The problem is often I am too comfortable in my current situation to do anything about it. Recently I proved this to myself by over-coming my addiction to soda.  I used to drink an average of 4-5 sodas per day.  I…

  • Self-employed with a JOB

    Jeff
    29 Dec 2011 | 2:00 am
    This morning I found myself sitting at the computer around 7:30 am and worked until around 11:00 am.  All of this for drumsticks?  Yes!  Things are growing, but I still have to do a lot of the detailed task myself.  For a moment I thought about what I was doing and found it to look similar to what anyone else might be doing sitting in a cubicle working for “the man”.  The main difference is I get to experience a direct impact in my paycheck based on what I do.  If I don’t do the work, I don’t get paid. If I stay this way for too long, I will get burned out and…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Big Brand System

  • Is Creative Avoidance Sinking Your Business?

    Pamela Wilson
    16 May 2012 | 5:10 am
    Creative Avoidance = A Good Way to Stay Busy Getting Nothing DoneCreative avoidance happens to all of us, and if I hadn’t experienced it myself, I wouldn’t be able to write about it!It’s that limbo-land where you get stuck trying to figure out what colors or fonts to use, or what your new business name should be. It seems like important work, and it is — but if you are paralyzed by these decisions and don’t move forward, your business will suffer.What’s Really Driving Creative Avoidance?Creative avoidance is driven by fear. It’s fear of three things:Fear…

  • Are Your Brand Colors Scannable?

    Pamela Wilson
    9 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Color communicates without saying a word, and it does so in a split second. Are you sure your colors are saying what you want them to say?Making your colors scannable helps make them memorable. To do this, you’ve got to follow a few rules. I’ll outline them here, and give you lots of resources so you can explore further.Don’t worry: we’re not going to talk about analogous and complimentary, and I won’t overload you with a lot of technical terms.We’re going to talk about how to wield color to make it do what you want, so you can make your business color…

  • Sow the Seeds of Your Successful Business: Think Like a Farmer

    Pamela Wilson
    2 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When you talk about marketing, the conversation inevitably turns to “conversion.”There’s something about that word that bugs me.When people talk about converting prospects to customers, I get the impression they think it’s like flipping a switch.You know, one minute someone knows nothing about your business and then click, suddenly they’re a customer!They make conversion sound like an instantaneous event. In reality, conversion is a lot more like farming. It’s a nurturing process that leads people from:hearing about your business to …a first transaction to …doing…

  • How to Draw Attention with Images: No Artistic Skill Required

    Pamela Wilson
    25 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    What if I told you that adding one simple image to your web page or printed piece could increase the time and attention people pay to your marketing?You’re already spending time writing your web pages, brochures and emails. Why spend time on images?They’re important because:Combining an attention-grabbing headline and an arresting image stops web surfers in their tracksSocial media speaks in images: between the oversized Facebook timeline cover image, to image-centric Pinterest, social media runs on images.Eye-catching images are shared more often, meaning your web page, blog post…

  • The $49,594 Small Business Branding Solution

    Pamela Wilson
    18 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    Step into my time machine.I’m going to turn the clock back twenty years, and give you some advice for building your very own big brand for your business. Ready?First, Let’s Create an Ad CampaignWe’ll need to create a “brand awareness” campaign for your company. We’re going to start with a perfect vehicle for advertising: your local newspaper.Here’s your budget:$4500 for the “creative,” which includes copywriting, artwork and a photo shoot (this is 1992, so prices are cheap compared to today)$7500 for the ad buy. We’ll be running a quarter page ad in your local…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Bulldog Drummond - Uncommon Sense

  • What Customers Can’t Tell Us : An Article by Guest Blogger Andrea Kates

    admin
    15 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    PrevNext PrevNext PrevNext PrevNext Three steps to discovering new ideas The secret to staying ahead of our customers is learning to discover what they want, even when they haven’t envisioned it yet. Like imagining an iPod in the days of the Sony Walkman. State Farm has recently designed a pilot experiment called “Next Door” that is designed to do exactly that: Next Door attempts to offer a new generation of customers an insurance brand they can relate to. Their approach demonstrates the three basic steps for discovering new ideas that will strengthen our brands and build customer…

  • What If We Put A School Atop Every Building In Manhattan?

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 11:03 am
    PrevNext PrevNext PrevNext PrevNext Changing the way we think about traditional educational buildings, a team of conceptual designers Ana Luisa Soares, Filipe Magalhães, and André Vergueiro created “Schools in the Sky” as as part of a competition to repurpose roofs. Their idea is to put a school on top of every applicable building in New York City and paint them bright, yellow, to communicate the value and importance of education.

  • Malcolm Gladwell Explains Why Human Potential Is Being Squandered

    admin
    10 May 2012 | 11:13 am

  • Why Every Monday Matters

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 11:32 am
    How one man changed his life, and impacted thousands of others from being down on his knees. If I’ve learned anything over the past ten years, it’s been that the old saying of “It’s far more rewarding to give than it is to receive” is very powerful. I was recently invited to mentor a group of emerging social entrepreneurs, all whom are focused on business models geared towards improving the lives of others, at an intimate conference called Praxis. While I was going there to help and guide others, I left with the gift of being inspired, challenged and full of hope.

  • A Public Toilet With A Shimmering Facade

    admin
    4 May 2012 | 11:21 am
    PrevNext PrevNext PrevNext PrevNext PrevNext Revolutionizing the public restroom, architects Gramazio & Kohler, have created fascinating works of art throughout the city park in Uster Switzerland. These beautifully designed public restrooms are made from of 295 bright green, laser-cut, aluminum strips, folded and designed to create a shimmering facade that changes depending on sun angle and the observers’ perspective. These innovative lavs add an element of urban design to the common public restroom.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    EpicLaunch

  • Assemble! Rackspace and Redapt Link Up

    lindsey
    14 May 2012 | 12:43 pm
    There is a raging debate over the use of private cloud vs. public cloud computing solutions. Since the cloud is not a one-size-fits-all solution for enterprise data management, it’s likely that most businesses can benefit from a hybrid approach. Still, for many businesses dealing with massive sets of data requiring extra layers of security, migrating to a private solution not only makes perfect sense but is an essential element of efficient business practice. Rackspace, perhaps the most widely used private solutions provider, fully understands the pain that is internal cloud installation.

  • MySocialCloud Makes Your (Online) Life Easier

    Stephen
    13 May 2012 | 1:03 pm
    I am very interested in internet startups and technology in general. And what they means for me is that I am always signing up for different services and websites just so I can try them out. On top of that, I have about 5 different emails that I have to check, a Facebook, a Twitter, a Google account, a Pinterest, etc. The list of sites that I have an account with goes on and on. But with all of these accounts comes a huge problem: Remembering usernames and passwords. It seems as if each different website has it’s own view on how long your password should be or how many letter vs numbers…

  • An Interview with Max Borges, Founder of Max Borges Agency

    Ben Lang
    13 May 2012 | 10:04 am
    Today we’re talking with Max Borges, founder of Max Borges Agency, one of the top consumer tech PR agency’s for clients with innovative products & services. How and where did you get the idea for your company? I wish I could say I always had the idea of starting a PR agency but the truth is, 10 years ago I was flat broke, looking for a job and I couldn’t get anyone to hire me. One company gave me some part-time marketing consulting work. That’s where it all started. I just kept signing more clients and hiring people. All the while trying to figure out what the business was…

  • 3 Ways To Stay Motivated On the End Goal

    lindsey
    10 May 2012 | 7:50 pm
    When people engage in goal setting and begin a new endeavor, they commonly are filled with excitement and motivation. As time passes, however, enthusiasm can wane and the individual working toward the desirable end can lose sight of the goal completely. When goal-setters lose their motivation, they run the risk of getting completely off track. It’s vital to fight through and bring the end goals back into sight, since without a set plan these objectives will almost certainly not be achieved. Regardless of the nature of the goal, be it completing a rigorous online MBA program or trying to…

  • How to Motivate the Crowd With a Motivation Wheel

    Stephen
    9 May 2012 | 3:49 pm
    The following infographic explains how a differing factor among various projects and organizations is what motivates them. It was sent to us by the Founder of IdeasWatch.com, Michal Hudeček and we are happy to have it here on EpicLaunch to hopefully help you make your own motivation wheel. Let’s us know what you think about it in the comments below. Created and designed by Michal Hudeček.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Web Marketing Therapy » Blog

  • Is Instagram Right for Your Brand?

    Nicki Gauthier
    15 May 2012 | 6:22 pm
    Instagram is a “fast, beautiful and fun way to share your photos with friends, family (AND your target market). Snap a picture, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post to Instagram. Share to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr too – it’s as easy as pie. It’s photo sharing, reinvented.” This is a recent insta pic by me! @nickiraeg Before you embrace any social network, there are some questions that you will want to ask before you invest the time and money to expand the reach of your brand. Let’s use Instagram as an example: Is Instagram right for…

  • Funny (and Inspirational) Friday

    Jennie Jacobs
    11 May 2012 | 2:44 pm
    Happy Friday my friends! For today’s Friday Funny I wanted to share with you a fun concept developed by my colleague Lorrie Thomas Ross and myself, playing on the famous book Eat, Pray, Love! Tweet, Play, Like: One Woman’s Search for Why We Can’t Stop Searching the Social Web Across, Twitter, Blogs and Facebook is purely a fun concept at this junction, but we have high hopes for a book and movie deal (wink, wink). We’ve even been given a suggestion for the sequel Tumbl, Digg, Pin (Thanks for the suggestion Keir DuBois!). But the big question is, who will play Lorrie…

  • Wordless Wednesday – Old Technology, New Generation

    Lorrie Thomas
    9 May 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Web Marketing Related Posts:Wordless Wednesday Wordless Wednesday – Marketing Art Therapy Wordless Wednesday – Personal Branding

  • Social Media Writing Tips from an Unlikely Content Creator

    virtualwordspecialist
    8 May 2012 | 3:27 pm
    I am living proof that learning web marketing is not only doable, it’s fun! Only a short while ago, I had a strong sales and marketing resume, but lacked social media marketing skills. After reading the book Groundswell, I understood the need to embrace it or become a dinosaur, so I dug in and learned all I could about social media. I read books, took online courses and webinars, and gorged myself. Soon, I was creating search friendly content for Web Marketing Therapy having a blast and happy to say, getting positive results! Social Media Logos Strong social media campaigns begin with great…

  • Monday Music Motivation – Move on Up!

    Darla Bea Smith
    7 May 2012 | 6:43 pm
    Shake your money maker and get marketing motivated with this classic soul hit by Curtis Mayfield. Don’t let a case of the Mondays get you down. Move on UP! Follow me @darlabea and let me know what songs motivate you – I’m taking requests! Virtual High-Fives, Darla Bea, Public Relations Specialist Web Marketing Related Posts:Monday Marketing Music – Around the Wild Web! Monday Marketing Motivation Monday Music Motivation to Get Your Marketing Pumping
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    n0elle.com | Communication and Business Thoughts for Creative Entrepreneurs

  • Some Contagiious (and Me) News

    Marie Noelle Marineau
    16 May 2012 | 7:31 am
    I’m not dead but I know I look like I am. I’m not tweeting, I’m not blogging, I’m busy. Elliott isn’t a baby anymore. He likes to play with me, so I play with him! I’m trying to lose my “baby weight” by getting back into shape. The Contagiious project is still in progress but we won’t launch in May… Probably in June… or July. We really want to offer the best design ever. Something you can’t buy from someplace else! We’ll launch with 10-12 unique T-shirt design and we’ll add new ones after a few months.

  • How To Turn Your Writing Into Box Office Gold

    Marie Noelle Marineau
    27 Mar 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Many of you, creative entrepreneurs, have a website and a blog. However, we’re not all writers! Some great resources can help you (us) improving your (our) writing skills! Maybe, some day, one of your post will turn into a film, who knows? Before looking at my list or leaving this post (you were about to do one or the other), I’ll tell you why you should improve your writing skills (Click to Tweet) as a creative entrepreneurs: You’ll rock at product description or sales page; You’ll attract blog readers (and possibly, they’ll turn into a customer); Your About…

  • 6 Tips for Starting Your Business While Working Full Time

    Marie Noelle Marineau
    25 Mar 2012 | 11:00 pm
    This is a guest post by Daniela Baker. According to US Small Business Administration, 52% of small businesses are home-based and employ half of all private sector employees. Small businesses truly are the backbone of the American economy, even during difficult times like these. If you have a fantastic idea and want to jump into that pool of small businesses, you can start your own side business, even while working full time. Whether you want to start a business that brings in a little extra income indefinitely or to start building a business that will eventually be a full-time gig, these six…

  • The Mad Men Guide to Social Networks

    Marie Noelle Marineau
    20 Mar 2012 | 11:00 pm
    What if the Madison Avenue crew was working in 2012? They would have conference calls with Skype, tweeting all the time, facebooking via their iPhone. They would create online marketing campaign for their clients using new communication technologies. Everything would be so different! Maybe we wouldn’t like them as much as we do now but still, based on some  of the character personality, we can easily think of a successful way to use social networks. The Don Draper’s style Don’t talk all the time about your personal life if you represent a business and don’t share…

  • The Pros And Cons of Pinterest: An Online Discussion via Storify

    Marie Noelle Marineau
    20 Mar 2012 | 7:00 am
    For many months, Pinterest was the best site ever according to pretty much everyone in the craft and art industry. Now that everyone is on Pinterest, some people are questioning the lack of ethic of some users and, by extension, are questioning if they should keep their account… (If you’re reading this by email or RSS, click here) [View the story "The Pros and Cons of Pinterest: An Online Discussion" on Storify] What’s your opinion on Pinterest? Pro or Con? (Click to Tweet) Are you on Storify? I discovered the site last week and I enjoy it so far!
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Rise to the Top

  • The Dos and Don’ts of Hiring a Business Coach: A Conversation with Justin Lukasavige

    David Siteman Garland
    15 May 2012 | 8:25 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: I know I said we were wrapping up the “learn how to do cool stuff” series (which we are) and getting back to awesome interviews with successful peeps, but this was a topic I couldn’t pass up because it is SO valuable. Hiring a coach. There are amazing success stories and disaster stories. How do you do it right? Justin Lukasavige, President of Lukas Coaching, is in the house today for a discussion on what to do and what not to do. Enjoy! I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click…

  • Rise to Success: The Amazing Story of Zach Even-Esh

    David Siteman Garland
    10 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: Welcome, my friends, to the new Rise To Success series on the show – by your popular request. Zach Even-Esh is here today to share his incredible story of entrepreneurial success in the most unlikely of industries (I’m not even going to spoil it right here, you just have to tune in below and watch). Get ready to be JOLTED into action and filled with ideas. Trust me. Enjoy. I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click here to download the audio file. Become a RISE VIP for Free. Enter Your…

  • How He Did It: 200 Videos, 200 Days, Half a Million Views with a Budget of 2K

    David Siteman Garland
    8 May 2012 | 8:02 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: Wow, what a series it has been! The “Learn How To Do Cool Stuff” series is wrapping up on The Rise To The Top and you know darn well we are going to go out with a big one. Enter today’s guest, creator of Real Men Real Style Antonio Centeno, who is here to teach us how he created 200 quality videos in 200 days and scored over 1/2 a million views on a budget of 2K…and how you can do it too. Enjoy! I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click here to download the audio file.

  • Rise to Success Story: In Depth with the Billion Dollar Host Forbes Riley

    David Siteman Garland
    3 May 2012 | 9:17 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: Ready for a ball of energy? If you’re like me, you love learning from stories of success…in every industry. Today is a 360-degree-in-depth conversation with fitness entrepreneur and billion dollar host Forbes Riley. We discuss so many big topics, including the art of pitching, launching a product even when everyone says you are crazy, branding yourself, and so much more. And…a special tour at the end of the show. Get ready to get fired up. I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player:…

  • How to Cold Email ANYONE: 9 Steps to Get Any Meeting

    David Siteman Garland
    1 May 2012 | 8:29 am
    Today on The Rise To The Top: OK, so you need to reach someone big. How do you cold email them? Is there some kind of magic process? Enter today’s guest, Bryan Kreuzberger, creator of Breakthrough Email, who has solved this through incredible testing (I mean THOUSANDS of emails) and results that have equated into thousands of dollars income as a result of his cold emails/getting meetings with influencers. Enjoy his secrets today on The Rise To The Top! I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out. Audio Only Player: Click here to download the audio…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Front Office Box

  • Sales Strategies and Tactics Explained in Stories

    stevensreeves
    14 May 2012 | 12:46 pm
    Understanding sales strategies and tactics can be difficult, especially when you aren’t all that experienced in the world’s second oldest profession. So many of the concepts are counter-intuitive, the opposite of what you might expect. And there’s so much other contradictory comment published on what’s good practice, and what’s not. It’s all very confusing. That’s why real sales coaches – sales managers, sales trainers, sales mentors, and even the heavy hitting sales veterans – use stories to explain what they’ve learned from front…

  • Don’t Let Them Stop You Selling

    stevensreeves
    12 May 2012 | 2:00 pm
    Sales people’s biggest challenge is the way everybody else tries to make them fail. Anybody with a couple of weeks in the job will recognise the paradox.  There are so many people who try to stop them selling. It doesn’t make sense of course. Surely, everybody wants sales people to succeed?  Well at least everybody on their side of the fence – management, bean counters, suppliers, customer service, trainers, coaches, consultants.  They all more or less depend on the sales guys for their job – need them to be successful. The same is sort of true for the other side of…

  • You Don’t Have To Like Them

    stevensreeves
    12 May 2012 | 1:40 pm
    There’s no rule saying you have to like the people you sell to, but it helps a lot if they think you do. This sales story from the front line illustrates the point. A major oil company wanted to move from mainframe based accounting software to a package which could run on the cheaper, Unix hardware. The difference in cost of hardware and software combined between the alternatives could be measured in millions of $s each year. Across the 27 countries in the planned deployment that added up to a lot of money. Perhaps $50 million, per year. But the big question was whether the relational…

  • Is There Stratagem in Your Sales Strategy

    stevensreeves
    4 May 2012 | 1:29 pm
    The Sontaran Stratagem (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Is there a role for stratagem in your sales strategy?  There is, but probably not the one you might automatically consider.  The objective of stratagem in this concept isn’t laying a trap for your prospect.  It’s laying a trap for your competition. One of the Principles of Professional Selling is Never Mislead a Customer.  Fooling a prospect may, or may not, be easy but it’s always bad news.  Duped prospects turn into sour customers, and sour customers are very bad for business.  So there is no room in a professional…

  • What’s Your Sales Model

    stevensreeves
    4 May 2012 | 12:03 pm
    Business Model Triangle (Photo credit: Alex Osterwalder) What do we mean by Sales Model and why is it important?  And isn’t this all a little too intellectual?  Why are we wasting time talking about theory while, out there, people are spending money with somebody else? These are all good questions.  If you are the sort of sales professional who can sell anything to anybody, make top dollar on every deal, do it differently every-time and still over achieve against your goals?  Please tell us your secret before you leave to do it again. if you’re not one of those guys, stay with…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Entrepreneurs Unpluggd

  • Tickets Are On Sale For June’s Event About Turning Passion Into Real Business

    Tim Jahn
    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    (photo credit) We’re excited to announce that early bird tickets are now on sale for our June Chicago event entitled “Make Your Passion Your Next Startup“.  Join us the evening of June 19 at the Chopin Theatre in Chicago to hear 3 amazing entrepreneurs share stories about how they turned their passions into real businesses. Click here to buy your early bird tickets now and save 33% off the door price! Join us for an intimate evening of networking, quality Q+A, and real stories from real experiences.  You’ll learn actionable lessons and get great advice from: Jake…

  • Starting Up? Avoid These 3 Common Mistakes

    Tim Jahn
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    (photo credit) This is a guest post from Abbie Steinbacher, who is CEO and founder of the kids wellness company, My First Yoga. My First Yoga provides kids yoga outreach to schools and has a growing line of kids yoga products. Abbie and MyFirstYoga have been recognized in outlets such as The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Parenting Magazine, Parents Magazine, Yoga Journal and The Boston Globe. Abbie has a degree in Psychology from Harvard, and is a certified adult and children’s yoga instructor. The opposing forces of the economy tanking and technological advances soaring have created a…

  • Code Academy Week 5: Embracing Vulnerability to Grow

    Stella Fayman
    14 May 2012 | 3:07 pm
    (photo credit) A few weeks ago, I watched a TED talk that won’t escape my mind. It was about embracing vulnerability, something seemingly simple, but actually extraordinarily difficult. See people have a hard time dealing with emotion and expectations. They are much more likely to put something they can’t deal with in an emotional jar rather than confronting it. For example, people thrive on connection. Yet they are afraid to make connections (like go out and join a club) because they are afraid of rejection. If they can overcome the fear of rejection, they can embrace…

  • 3 Cool New Working Spots in Chicago

    Stella Fayman
    11 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Enerspace I’m always on the prowl for a new spot to plug in, get my caffeine, and work. Luckily, three new Chicago spots have recently opened that offer an alternative to Starbucks. 1) Topics- Nestled on Halsted Street between name brand shops, Topics is the work of a real estate broker turned entrepreneur when he became frustrated that traditional coffeeshops lacked necessary business tools like copy machines. “I wanted to create a place that had the casual feel of a coffeeshop with the practical tools an office would have,” said Lou Vidaillet, owner of Topics. While art…

  • 3 Pieces Of Startup Advice That Stuck With Me

    Tim Jahn
    10 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    (photo credit) This is a guest post from Shama Kabani, the award winning CEO of The Marketing Zen Group, a full service online marketing firm in Dallas. She is also the author of the bestseller, The Zen of Social Media Marketing (2nd edition, 2012) and an international speaker. Being an entrepreneur is similar to being a newlywed: everyone has a piece of advice to “gift” you with. Some are helpful—hire people who have a proven track record; some aren’t—don’t be an entrepreneur, you’ll never have a life! Some advice will be just plain weird—spray your…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Grow Your Business

  • Important Federal Tax Dates for May 2012

    John A. Lizotte
    20 Apr 2012 | 9:10 am
    Wed 2 Deposit payroll tax for payments on Apr 25-27 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Fri 4 Deposit payroll tax for payments on Apr 28 – May 1 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Wed 9 Deposit payroll tax for payments on May 2-4 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Thu 10 Employers: Employees are required to report to you tips of $20 or more earned during April. Thu 10 File Form 941 for the first quarter of 2012 if you timely deposited all required payments. Fri 11 Deposit payroll tax for payments on May 5-8 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Tue 15 Deposit payroll tax…

  • SBA Announces a New Partnership to Connect Small Businesses with Corporate Supply Chains

    John A. Lizotte
    22 Mar 2012 | 2:31 pm
    WASHINGTON – A new private-public collaboration will help small businesses strengthen their revenue streams by gaining access to more than $300 billion in combined supply chain spending by a consortium of 15 of America’s largest corporations, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced today. Supplier Connection, created by the IBM Foundation, is part of the Obama Administration’s American Supplier Initiative and is designed to help bridge the gap between small, nimble businesses looking for new opportunities and large corporations looking for innovative new ideas and diversity in…

  • SBA Hosts 14-City Matchmaker Conferences for Federal Contract Opportunities

    John A. Lizotte
    21 Mar 2012 | 6:50 pm
    WASHINGTON–The U.S. Small Business Administration will host the fourth of its free Mentor-Protégé Matchmaking Conference series in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 21.  The program gives small disadvantaged businesses access to guidance on federal contracting, face-to-face meetings and opportunities to team with larger businesses and graduates of the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program. During the forums, small businesses will learn how to market themselves to the federal government and go after government contracting opportunities.  They will also get an overview of the SBA’s…

  • Important Federal Tax Dates for April 2012

    John A. Lizotte
    20 Mar 2012 | 9:08 am
    Mon 2 Electronically file Forms W-2, W-2G, 1098, 1099, and 8027. Wed 4 Deposit payroll tax for payments on Mar 28-30 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Fri 6 Deposit payroll tax for payments on Mar 31 – Apr 3 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Tue 10 Employers: Employees are required to report to you tips of $20 or more earned during March. Wed 11 Deposit payroll tax for payments on Apr 4-6 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Fri 13 Deposit payroll tax for payments on Apr 7-10 if the semiweekly deposit rule applies. Tue 17 Household Employers: File Sch. H with Form 1040 if…

  • SBA’s March Web Chat Offers Tips and Advice for Women-Owned Small Businesses

    John A. Lizotte
    15 Mar 2012 | 6:22 am
    WASHINGTON – In recognition of National Women’s History Month, SBA’s March web chat will feature an open forum on Women’s Business Ownership.  The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership helps to promote growth of women-owned businesses through SBA programs offering business training and counseling, access to credit and capital, and business and networking opportunities.  It also administers a nationwide network of Women’s Business Centers that provide training and counseling to entrepreneurs. WHO:  Ana Harvey, assistant administrator of…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Metropreneur Columbus

  • Jersey Watch gives youth sports orgs robust web presence

    Melanie McIntyre
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    A former Ohio University football player has channeled his passion for athletics into a new online network designed to give youth sports organizations a web presence, and engage players’ parents and fans. David Carter knew the downturn in the economy had placed a tremendous strain on an already financially-challenged youth sports industry. “Budgets are tight [...]

  • At Work: Cement Marketing’s new space on Gay Street

    Anne Evans
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    It’s been just a little over a year since we spoke to Alaina Shearer and toured Cement Marketing’s space. Now, the company has found a new home on the second floor of 15 E. Gay St. and its staff couldn’t be happier. (To the right is a picture for the postcard project the company did [...]

  • Thurber Center class offers tips for marketing writing through social media

    Melanie McIntyre
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    A Thurber House master class taught by Geben Communication President Heather Whaling will offer attendees tips on how to use social media to promote their writing. The one-day class, titled “Marketing Your Writing Through Social Media,” will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Thurber Center, located at 91 Jefferson Ave. in [...]

  • Kristen Easterday of the Columbus Chamber: Your Questions Answered

    Melanie McIntyre
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    The Columbus Chamber has reaffirmed its commitment to public policy and cultivating local relationships in order to stay on top of legislative issues affecting its members. In fact, that commitment lead the Chamber to hire Kristen Easterday earlier this year as director of local government relations. Herewith, Easterday, an Ohio University graduate and former executive [...]

  • Spacejunk Media acquires Los Angeles based studio

    Melanie McIntyre
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Columbus-based Spacejunk has acquired Los Angeles-based Nylon in an attempt to enhance both studios’ creative reach. Spacejunk −a live action, motion design and animation studio founded by managing directors Robb Dierken and Mike Blosel in 2006− produces broadcast, digital/web, documentary, long format, event, and brand videos for agency and direct clients. Spacejunk and Nylon −founded in [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Blogtrepreneur | Entrepreneur Blog

  • Get Leadership Right from the Start

    Guest Post
    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    As a child I can still remember the musical strains of Broadway plays wafting through our home. My mother seemed to believe that all children should be continuously exposed to such music. To this day it amazes me that little pieces of those songs still march their way across the screen in my mind. Why is that important? Because the foundation, or the start, of an entrepreneurial venture is forever tied to the initial vision of the prospective enterprise. And much like the old refrain “let’s start at the beginning, a very good place to start,” you only get one shot to create the first…

  • Thinking of Buying or Selling Your Website? 7 Important Criteria to Consider!

    Adam Toren
    14 May 2012 | 2:56 pm
    My brother, Matthew, and I have been internet entrepreneurs for over 12 years now. In that time, we’ve learned a lot about what works and doesn’t work for making money online. We’ve also learned that what worked yesterday might not work today. But one area that has remained fairly consistent is buying and selling internet properties. We’ve found that, as when buying any business, you must complete your due diligence and consider several key factors when looking at a website for purchase. Most people who want to sell a website are honest, but to avoid the others, and to really…

  • Good Business Practices – You have to be More than a Geek

    Matthew Toren
    11 May 2012 | 9:54 am
    A friend of mine was looking at online guitar lessons for her husband’s birthday. Janine is a serious geek with a career in computers that involves over a decade and budgets in the millions. She is also a serious shopper, having learned hand-in-hand with her mother as they ran from store to store. She told me about the process she took to select the right online option, and I realized that it was a powerful learning lesson for any entrepreneur with an online portal. There were three options that looked promising. Janine decided to evaluate their knowledge of technical issues and their…

  • Scribendi: Helping you Write the Right Words Right

    Adam Toren
    9 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    An interview with Chandra Clarke, founder of Scribendi, an editing company that recently started a plug-in editing program on WordPress. It’s not just what you have to say but how you say it that matters. Even in this age of fast communication, incorrect grammar or typos still damage your credibility. Husband and wife team Chandra K. Clarke and Terence W. Johnson started Scribendi to help writers get it right, and their blogger’s services are now available as a plug-in on WordPress. We talked with Chandra recently about the business and their approach to entrepreneurship. Blogtrepreneur:…

  • 4 Tips for Getting Back Up when Life Knocks You Down

    Matthew Toren
    7 May 2012 | 8:34 am
    When life happens, entrepreneurs don’t have the option to call in sick or ask for some time off.  Whether you’re sick, have suffered a business setback, or just having a really bad day, an entrepreneur can’t usually just walk away for a period of time without damaging their business.  But just because you’re self-employed doesn’t mean that you don’t still need some mental breaks. If you ignore problems and push through, it will eventually catch up with you. Here are 4 simple tips for entrepreneurs to get that well deserved break we all need from time to time. 1. Small Steps…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    suemcdonald-online.com

  • The Importance of Your Domain Name

    Sue
    3 May 2012 | 12:05 am
    What is a domain name? A domain name in simple terms is your address of your website. Domain names are essential as they enable people to be able to find you. Having a domain name is a much easier to remember than if you had some type of code or numerals. We do however have a series of numbers and these numbers are known as your IP address (Internet Protocol address). The IP address series of numbers is not always easy to remember while your domain name usually reflects your business in some way. Now as you are investing a lot of time in your business you want people to be able to find you…

  • Tips for Success

    Sue
    22 Apr 2012 | 4:40 pm
    I want to give you some advice on how you can enjoy your time working in your internet marketing business.  This is how to best employ your time and we all know that time management is important. The first thing is that you treat it as a business and this will help you a great deal. This is the place where you eventually want to make your living. You maybe only working there part time at the moment but you are looking at eventually giving up your day “job” in favor of working full time online. Always be positive – associate with positive people. If something does go wrong, fix it up…

  • Google Changes More

    Sue
    15 Apr 2012 | 5:12 pm
    Google are still making changes and some people have not even noticed the changes. There are a series of videos now on Google that have appeared on YouTube. This video gives an overall view of Google and show you how to share with your friends. If you want more on this go to http://google.com/+/learnmore This video shows how to edit your profile and add a photo of yourself. If you want more on this go to http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/profile/ If you want more on this go to http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/sharing/ If you want to learn more http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/sharing/ If…

  • Google Glasses

    Sue
    8 Apr 2012 | 6:58 pm
    No they are not ready for sale yet but Google have really branched out now. Can you imaging the time that you will save but it could also be very annoying. I think it would take time to get used to wearing them. I think it could also be a distraction – let me know what you think.

  • Google and Bing Changes

    Sue
    1 Apr 2012 | 3:24 pm
    There have been changes that are really causing a lot of trouble for some web site owners and I do not want you to be one of them. If you are an internet marketer take some time to listen to this recording. Goggle has been de-indexing sites over the last few weeks both private and public networks. Some that have been hit very hard are SEO Link Vine, HighPrSociety, Baclinkmonster and several others. These are site that were providing backlinks. If you have been using sites like these to create your backlinks, then you could also be in trouble but if you have only used them sparingly – you…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Barbara’s Blog

  • Post Office Predicament and Your Business

    Barbara Weltman
    10 May 2012 | 3:30 am
    The U.S. Post Office had announced that it would close about 3,700 of its rural locations starting the week of May 13. Now it has backed off from this action, for now. Instead, it has said it will make other cuts, such as reducing hours in its offices and offering early retirement to postmasters — starting in September 2014. The move is designed to help the fiscally-troubled agency continue to operate as usual (albeit with these changes). In the meantime, Congress is considering various moves to bailout the agency that has growing financial problems due to escalating obligations to retirees…

  • How much should you pay yourself?

    Barbara Weltman
    3 May 2012 | 3:30 am
    If your business is incorporated, you can take a salary for the work that you do. Obviously, your company’s revenues are a big part of the decision on how much you can afford to take out of its coffers as compensation. Taxes are another important factor. C or S? Which type of corporation you run affects the decision on compensation. As a general rule (and by no means your guiding factor): C corporations want to optimize compensation to an owner to create as large a tax deduction as possible. S corporations want to minimize compensation to keep employment taxes low. Owners will pay income…

  • Crowdfunding Fun Facts

    Barbara Weltman
    26 Apr 2012 | 3:00 am
    With passage of the Jumpstart Our Small Businesses (JOBS) Act on April 5, small businesses will now have the opportunity to raise equity through crowdfunding. Crowdfunder.com shares these factoids: Small businesses currently receive only 17% of business financing (bank loans, venture capital, angel investors). If 1% of the $30 trillion held by Americans in long-term investments were to be shifted to small businesses, it would amount to more than 10 times the venture capital invested in 2011. Access to equity crowdfunding won’t begin until the SEC issues rules, which are required within 270…

  • Tax Uncertainty an Impediment to Business Growth

    Barbara Weltman
    19 Apr 2012 | 3:00 am
    Taxes may already be a fond memory for you if you’ve filed your 2011 tax returns, but unfortunately there’s no time to rest. The clock keeps ticking as tax obligations continue unabated for this year and beyond. According to a recent NFIB survey, tax uncertainty continues to plague small business. Here are some of the survey’s findings: 20% of small business cited taxes as the single most important problem facing them today. 22% said it is the single most important external impediment to growth. Small businesses spend on average $74 per hour to comply with the federal tax code, which is…

  • Making 2012 Estimated Tax Payments

    Barbara Weltman
    12 Apr 2012 | 3:00 am
    The first installment of 2012 estimated taxes is due on April 17, 2012. (The second will be due on June 15, 2012, the third on September 15, 2012, and the fourth on January 15, 2013.) Figuring the right amount of estimated tax is more challenging than ever. The reason: We don’t yet know many of the tax rules for 2012. Expired tax rules More than 50 tax rules affecting individuals and businesses expired at the end 2011. Most of the rules are noncontroversial; both sides of the aisle in Congress favor an extension. But when will an extension be enacted? House Speaker Boehner (R-OH) said an…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Firmology | Small Business Innovation

  • United States of Entrepreneurs: 550,000 New Businesses Created Each Month in the USA

    Philip Nowak
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Recession?  What recession?  The poor economic conditions might have beat us down to a pulp for the past 4 years, but you can’t keep the American Dream and spirit down for long. 543,000 new business are created each month in the United States, according to the 2012 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. That means over 6,516,000 businesses were created in 2011!  Amazing! Cities across the U.S., like Chicago, are finally acknowledging that regulations are killing the small business owner and are taking progressive pro-business steps toward eliminating government bureaucracy like…

  • How to Use Social Media to Keep Your Email Subscribers Engaged

    Philip Nowak
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Crystal Gouldey is an Education Marketing Associate at AWeber, the leading email service provider for small-to-medium businesses.  Crystal’s spent the past three years teaching email marketers how to optimize their campaigns.  She writes for the AWeber blog, which you can visit for more tips on marketing with email. “Is email dying?”  That’s a question that comes up often and is usually followed by some statistics showing that email is going nowhere due to social media changing the way we interact.  While it’s true that social media is quickly making two-way…

  • Here’s Why Your Small Business Should Buy Mobile Search Ads Right Now

    Philip Nowak
    11 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Why should your small business invest in mobile search ads? They’re cheaper than traditional search ads!  At least for the moment. According to the Quarter 1 2012 U.S. Online Advertising Report published by Marin Software, a leading provider of online advertising management solutions, the cost per click for ads appearing on smartphones is $0.53 and $0.60 on tablets versus $0.76 for ads appearing on computers. That may not seem like a lot much of a difference, but it all adds up depending on how large your advertising budget is.  Also, keep in mind that your actual cost per click could…

  • LinkedIn 4X Better than Twitter & 7X Better than Facebook for B2B Customer Leads [STUDY]

    Philip Nowak
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    HubSpot, the all-in-one inbound marketing software company, came out with a new study that shows that LinkedIn is seven times better than Facebook and four times better than Twitter at driving business-to-business (B2B) customer leads. The study, of more than 3,000 B2B HubSpot customers, shows that LinkedIn generated the highest visitor-to-lead conversion rate at 2.6%, compared to Facebook at .39% and Twitter at .67%. The information presented in the study (inspired by David Meerman Scott and conducted by Rebecca Corliss) was a B2B data subset of all of HubSpot customers’ social…

  • Google Launches Google+ Share Button

    Philip Nowak
    27 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    After a redesign of the +1 button in March, Google has introduced a Google+ Share button. The new Google+ Share button works exactly like the Facebook or LinkedIn Share buttons. When a visitor first sees the Google+ share button on your small business site or blog, it looks like this: After clicking on the button, visitors can add a comment and choose who to share it with: Finally, once shared, the button turns red, but your visitor can click the button again to share it again It may not seem like much, but it gives small business owners another tool to add to their website or blog social…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Company Founder

  • The Importance Of Precision And Practice: The Formula One Pitstop Example

    Paul Morin
    15 May 2012 | 9:49 am
    The Importance Of Precision And Practice:  The Formula One Pitstop Example I was watching a Formula One race this weekend, waiting for an English Premiership game to come on, and it reminded me of the importance of precision and practice. It has been a long time since I watched Formula One racing and I was completely amazed by everything I saw, from the onboard cameras that make you feel like you have the point of view of the driver, to the incredible concentration of the drivers and their ability to make split-second adjustments based on the actions of other drivers and the performance of…

  • The Most Important Thing To Do Before Launching A New Product Or Service

    Paul Morin
    9 May 2012 | 10:37 pm
    Before Launching A New Product Or Service Before launching a new product or service, or even a new business, what do you think is the most important thing you must do?  Is it to read a bunch of market research reports?  Is it to look at what your competitors are doing?  Is it to calculate the gross profit you will make on each unit you will sell?  While these are all important, in fact, the most important and most overlooked step is to ask your customers what they need! Not everyone agrees on this point.  In fact, many prominent and amazing entrepreneurs have made statements to the…

  • What’s Your Why?

    Paul Morin
    5 May 2012 | 9:57 am
    What’s Your Why? In recent years, I’ve heard the expression “What’s Your Why” quite a bit.  In fact, I’ve heard it (and variations thereof) so much that it became almost cliché – you know, the expressions you hear all the time that tend to have little impact on you, as they’re overused. Recently, as I’ve been working on mapping out my life and what I’d like to accomplish, a process I like to go through on a regular basis,  I found that question ringing in my ears:  What’s Your Why?  Why is it that you want to put so much effort into these particular tasks and…

  • We, Not Me, Will Take You A Lot Further. Share The Credit.

    Paul Morin
    2 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    We, Not Me, Will Take You A Lot Further.  Share The Credit. In the realm of entrepreneurship, as in most endeavors that require a team effort to undertake successfully, a focus on “we,” not “me” will take you much further.  Share the credit.  Share the limelight. Recently I was reminded of an entrepreneur with whom I used to work, who found it very difficult to use the words “we” and “us” and “our”.  His preferred vocabulary included “I,” “me,” and “my”.  I suppose that would have been OK, but for the fact that he needed the input, cooperation and…

  • Want Extraordinary Results? Push Beyond.

    Paul Morin
    26 Apr 2012 | 4:43 pm
    Want Extraordinary Results?  Push Beyond. Achieving extraordinary results is not the domain of those who are not willing to leave their comfort zone; it is the territory of those who are willing to push beyond. This means that just at the moment you feel like you cannot take any more, you need to reach deep inside and push beyond the pain you are feeling, assuming you can do so without causing any permanent damage.  Let me emphasize that qualification:  assuming you can do so without causing any permanent damage. What does this mean in practicality?  Well, I do a lot of consulting and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Internet Marketing Strategy | FixCourse

  • Why Most Small Businesses Shouldn’t Waste their Time with Pinterest

    Brad Smith
    8 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Courtesy of ShardsOfBlue “Journalists” drive me nuts. If you want to understand someone’s motivation, then look at how they’re compensated. Journalists are in the business of getting more pageviews. That’s how they get paid by advertisers. The only metric traditional publishers care about online is pageviews. I’ve experienced this first-hand by working directly with a multi-million dollar media company. So journalists specifically choose topics that will drive more visits and increase pageviews. And when a topic becomes “trendy” or…

  • How to Create Attention-Grabbing Content for a “Boring” Industry

    Brad Smith
    1 May 2012 | 8:15 am
    Is your industry more boring than a hardware and appliance store? Content marketing is the backbone of improving your marketing ROI. And a blog writer can get more traffic, leads and customers than advertising. But what if you’re in a “boring” industry. You know, the type where no one reads or shares anything. Is content marketing still important? And if so, how do you create content that will actually bring in business? Why Every Business is in the Media Business No matter what industry you’re in, if you’re interested in digital marketing, then you have to…

  • The Oprah Guide to Using Social Media to Build Her Business

    Brad Smith
    23 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    Image courtesy of adria.richards Oprah has one of the biggest audiences of any TV personality. And it’s not by accident. She’s worked tirelessly for years on building a platform for her engaged followers. Some of her methods have been analyzed through a marketing lens in Chris Brogan and Julien Smith’s Trust Agents. But on her new show, Lifeclass, she’s taken her social media use to the next level. And her lessons can provide brands and businesses of all shapes and sizes, new insights into using social media to build their businesses. Here’s how Oprah is taking…

  • How to Launch a New Website and Start Getting Traffic Immediately

    Brad Smith
    17 Apr 2012 | 8:14 am
    Image courtesy of DVIDSHUB Website traffic doesn’t just fall from the sky. That makes getting a new website off the ground extremely difficult. You’re desperate for traffic, so you start picking up the latest tactics you keep reading about like Pinterest. But here’s the thing most people miss. Not all traffic is created equal. So who cares if you did actually get 10,000 visitors one day from StumbleUpon or Pinterest. Because this type of traffic bounces immediately and never returns. Instead you need to build consistent, loyal traffic if you want people to join your mailing…

  • 3 Things American Express Can Teach You About Social Media

    Brad Smith
    11 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    Image courtesy of Clemson Traditional newspapers and magazines only serve one purpose: to grab and hold your attention. That’s exactly how content marketing and social media work. Your goal when using these techniques is to get people’s attention and gain their trust. American Express understands this perfectly. For years, they’ve been at the leading edge of making digitally savvy moves. And a recent Mashable article has highlighted some specific strategies that drive their success. Here are 3 things American Express can teach you about social media. 1. Always Start with…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Entrep Blog

  • Tips on becoming a better online seller

    Jeff Cua
    7 May 2012 | 10:15 pm
                                What makes a good online business? There are different components that go with it. These are your products, your site, your activity, and your credibility.Products.  Products are what you sell and what people buy. Ask yourself this question. Is there a demand for my product or do I have to build it up? Another thing you have to consider is the cost for acquiring the product, of course, the lower the cost the better because you can be flexible with the price.Site. Site is your place, this is…

  • The 10 Misconceptions about entrepreneurship

    Jeff Cua
    4 May 2012 | 9:30 am
                            There are a lot of misconceptions written about entrepreneurship. Theses misconceptions are responsible for giving entrepreneurs that mysterious fog around them. Entrepreneurs are not superheroes, they are a bunch of people dedicated to making things better no matter what it takes and that no matter what it takes is the creative process that makes the entrepreneurial approach different. Entrepreneurs are risk takers. You better think again. Entrepreneurs are not risk takers, they love to be challenged, and…

  • Passion in general

    Jeff Cua
    3 May 2012 | 9:38 am
     Passion is a very romantic word which is used often by successful people to describe their secret to success. In music you have Beatles. In basketball, you have Michael Jordan. In technology, you have Steve Jobs. In investing, you have Warren Buffet. They all had their fair share of failures but succeeded because of passion. Passion is a very vague word that is very hard to describe but it is easier to understand when taken from the definition of what passion is not. Passion is not something you feel like doing when you feel like doing. Passion is not about profit. Passion is not…

  • How to start a business?

    Jeff Cua
    16 Nov 2011 | 9:01 pm
    The question has always been "how to start a business?" If you have an opportunity in mind start by making a study, if you do not have an opportunity in mind start by finding an opportunity.Now, this is what I think. The question instead of asking how to start? should be what to start the business? and then where to start?If we try to drill it down deeper this is how it will look  like:What to start answers the business idea to pursue (The one with the market)Where to start answers the question on target market. It answer the who is the target market and where they areHow to start answer…

  • What business grows fast?

    Jeff Cua
    2 Nov 2011 | 4:26 am
    In a radio interview for ITpreneurship Academy, I was asked by a caller about the kind of business that grows fast. Well, Growth is relative and so is fast. It depends on the person's view on what is growth and what is fast.Big companies like Mc Donalds was not an over night success. It started in 40's by 2 brothers who wanted to do fast service, which White Castle was already doing 2 decades earlier. It was only 15 years after that Mc Donald's grew big time.Facebook is also another story. It did not take Mark Zuckerberg a day or 2 to become a billionaire. It took him years of revisions…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Time To Startup!

  • SCORE for Your Business

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 9:28 am
    SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses annually. SCORE also helps launch 58,000 new businesses and create 71,000 jobs each year. In fact, the group’s helped more than 9 million aspiring entrepreneurs since it formed in 1964.

  • Curious About Crowdfunding?

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 9:18 am
    Crowdfunding collects money online from multiple donors to support your business or a specific project. Sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo have raised millions for entrepreneurs and are becoming an increasingly popular way to fund projects.

  • ABCs of VC: Basics of Venture Capital

    BizFilings Team
    11 May 2012 | 9:08 am
    Venture capital is often the key ingredient to turn a start-up with enormous growth potential into a market-leading company. VC basics include how to acquire it and whether it's realistic for your business.

  • When to Consider a C Corp

    admin
    9 May 2012 | 8:43 am
    To determine if a C Corporation is the right business type for you, consider your needs for flexibility, your financial structure and the future of your business.

  • Dos and Don’ts for an Effective Investor Pitch

    BizFilings Team
    7 May 2012 | 8:57 am
    For entrepreneurs new to the game, there are a few fundamental dos and don'ts that can help shape a winning pitch - and even seasoned business owners can benefit by reviewing the basics.
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Communications Advice For Small Business From Pitney Bowes

  • The Three D’s of Social Media Marketing

    Melinda Emerson
    16 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    My Smallbizlady brand has a global reach of over 200,000 people across my blog, email list, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. One of the most popular questions I am asked is, “How did you build one of the fastest growing small business brands on the Internet?” The short answer is that I worked extremely hard to position myself as a valuable resource to my target customer. I created a social media platform where people who wanted to start or reinvent a small business found me. When I started out, my goal was to make sure my first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, was a big…

  • Undecided About Getting into Mobile Marketing? Domino’s Pizza Makes a Compelling Case

    Rohan Gandhi
    15 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    With any new or emerging communications channel, there are always questions about when it is going to “take off”, and to what extent.  For small-business owners planning their marketing programs, the result is often a wait-and-see approach. For some, mobile marketing and commerce fall into this category. Despite the growing list of success stories, many small businesses still aren’t sure if the time is right to get into mobile. For anyone still on the fence, Domino’s Pizza recently announced some astonishing first-quarter results  that make a compelling case to finally get into…

  • What Zappos.com Can Teach You About Building Customer Loyalty

    Justin Amendola
    14 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    Small businesses have a big advantage over their super-sized competitors when it comes to building customer loyalty – the ability to have more one-on-one interactions with customers.  Many small businesses try to differentiate themselves based on this personal service and how well they know their customers. However, these businesses still need to prove that they provide a great experience to attract customers and keep them coming back. One way to do this is by taking the time to personally thank customers – preferably right after they make a purchase or have a good experience. An example…

  • VIDEO: The Small Business Customer Communications Makeover – NavigatorMD

    Rohan Gandhi
    10 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    This week’s installment of videos from our Small Business Makeover Contest features NavigatorMD, based in Knoxville, TN. The company develops software that helps companies analyze health claims data and lower healthcare costs. Along with our expert contributors — Melinda Emerson, Jane Applegate, and Phil Simon — we visited the NavigatorMD team and learned about the challenges they face when communicating with prospects and customers. Our experts then gave some great advice on, amongst other topics, narrowing and communicating with a target market. View the videos below.    …

  • 3 Ideas to Improve Your TiME™ Strategies

    Allyson Lewis
    9 May 2012 | 1:00 am
    For years we heard a collective cry, “If only I had better time management skills.”  If you are a small business owner, sales person, business executive, educator, or mompreneur, you likely feel the constant pressure and stress of trying to squeeze in just one more thing into your already busy schedule. We believe time management is a myth.  You can’t manage time.  The only things you can manage are the choices you make regarding how you will spend your time.  What you need are better TiME™ Strategies.  You need a new way of thinking about the minutes, hours, days, weeks, and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Adrian Swinscoe

  • Connecting the dots of word of mouth, customer loyalty and customer service

    Adrian
    14 May 2012 | 3:51 am
    A recent piece of research from Clickfox got me to thinking about word of mouth, customer loyalty and customer service and if we should be thinking about ‘connecting the dots’ between them. In many cases and in many companies these three things can exist in isolation of each other. However, the Clickfox research found that [...]

  • Focusing on customer loyalty has allowed us to fundamentally change our business model

    Adrian
    8 May 2012 | 4:47 am
    This is the fifth of a series of interviews with CEOs that were included in a book I wrote in late 2010 called RARE Business. It was a collection of thoughts, ideas and strategies to help businesses ‘build better relationships with their customers and their people’. You can pick up an electronic copy of the [...]

  • The Twelve Absolutes of Leadership: Interview with Gary Burnison, CEO of Korn/Ferry International

    Adrian
    4 May 2012 | 2:59 am
    Following on from my recent interview, The emotional component of customer experience: the next competitive battleground – Interview with Qaalfa Dibeehi of Beyond Philosophy, today I am privileged to share with you an interview I recently conducted with Gary Burnison, Chief Executive Officer of Korn/Ferry International, the worldwide leader in executive recruitment and a premier [...]

  • Customer Experience: Is it time that you gave your law firm a caffeine shot in the arm?

    Adrian
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:21 am
    In a recent post (Change is happening in the legal sector, law firms need to pay heed and deliver a better client experience if they are to prosper) I referenced a report from CXINLAW. This a follow up guest post from Carl White one of their partners.. Wednesday is my girlfriend’s favourite day of the [...]

  • The Big Talk and Little Talk of Word of Mouth Marketing Strategy

    Adrian
    26 Apr 2012 | 12:30 pm
    Word of mouth marketing is a powerful weapon in any growth strategy. However, many people struggle to generate good word of mouth as hard as they may try. Andy Sernovitz, the author of Word of Mouth Marketing, is an expert on the subject and suggests that when thinking about this and working up a plan [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    EnMast

  • Productivity tips for business owners

    Brad
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    “Time is the darkest Angel” ~ Chicago street art As a business owner, your job is never “done”. There is always more to do. I don’t like to work all the time. I like spending time with my family and friends. So it’s imperative that I get as much done in the hours I choose to work in as I can. Here are my best “tricks for getting more done every day. Time Blocks. Interruptions are productivity killers. When I know I have a deliverable that I need to get done, I set aside a block of time to work on it. I put it on my calendar and treat it like a client meeting. Then when I am in…

  • Writing content that hits close to home for your readers

    Bridget
    11 May 2012 | 5:29 am
      I’m a somewhat new dog owner – about a year. So, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to taking care of a dog. For instance, when I took Thea (my Blue Tick Beagle) for her annual checkup a few weeks ago, I was astonished to learn that one milkbone to her is the equivalent of a candy bar to a human! On the conservative side, I was giving her about 10 in a day – not to mention all the table scraps that I, along with the five other people in my house, give her. Needless to say, now she needs to lose about 15 pounds! Of course I felt ridiculous that I didn’t know about the…

  • Use an iPad for business? I say yes

    Brad
    7 May 2012 | 6:37 am
      Pre-iPad Post-iPad I got an iPad for Christmas, and despite the many pundits who told me that it wasn’t a business tool, I was determined to make it work. I’m a small business consultant, so most of my “work” is done in my client’s offices. I spend 60% – 80% of my time each week away from my office. Pre-iPad, I had been carrying my laptop, along with 2 – 4 client files (bulky files I might add), with me to each appointment. When I first got the iPad, I bought a bluetooth keyboard to see if I could use the iPad as a laptop replacement. It took me less than a week…

  • Where is YOUR small business headed?

    EnMast
    5 Apr 2012 | 4:06 pm
      We’re taking a look at technological, social, industrial and economic factors and how they will affect businesses in 2012 and beyond. We want to see what strategies small-business owners will choose in order to adapt to these external and internal factors impacting their business. To do this, we’ve put together a quick 5 minute survey that we’d love if you and your colleagues would fill out. We’ll give you first dibs on the data as soon as it comes out!    

  • Strategic planning: Getting back to why you started your business in the first place

    Brad
    2 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
      http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2011/12/29/how-photographers-actually-spend-their-time/ You may not be a photographer, but I bet that when you started your business, you imagined your life would be like the chart on the left. But now it has gotten to look more and more like the one on the right. In fact, many of you are looking wistfully at the chart on the right and thinking, “When was the last time I spent 12% of my day doing the thing that I love doing, the thing got me into this business in the first place?” Seth Godin had a different reaction. He pointed out that you have a…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Small Business Blog

  • It's an image heavy world, just ask Instagram

    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    With the advent of social networks and sharing at the click of a mouse, imagery is quickly becoming a must have for business and marketing success. Facebook just bought Instagram for $1 billion, and that's nothing but a network of people taking, altering and sharing photos they took. Infographics, videos, quirky signs with one liners, motivational posters and amazingly looking food being pinned to Pinterest are all examples of image specific content that's being shared, consumed and ultimately acted upon in some way. People are looking for it, are more aware of it and are more likely to…

  • Why "Hammock Day" is a marketing opportunity for small retailers

    9 May 2012 | 10:56 am
    Mothers Day is upon us, which means if you haven't already gotten something for your wife or mother, you need to act fast. Chances are you've seen at least one marketing campaign or advertisment for a Mother's Day gift, offer, discount or product that you absolutely have to take advantage of. So if really have forgotten, shame on you! All of the major retailers take advantage of "holidays" in order to sell products and services. And when that holiday involves the mom or wife, wow, that could mean a windfall in terms of revenue.

  • Need to know Friday: Small businesses using videos effectively

    4 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Small business week is right around the corner. As the focus starts to pivot to small businesses at the end of May, topics like social media, marketing, investing, funding, credit, hiring, growth and jobs will also be put under a microscope. Each and every facet of the "small business life" will be examined as everyone takes a week to appreciate the small business owners in our lives. A few of those topics crept up this week, including where small business hiring and revenues stand, how they are potentially using video to market their business and how they can better manage their finances.

  • Small businesses misrepresented? Need to know Friday

    20 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Because this is an election year, it seems that small businesses are being talked about more and more. Small businesses as a whole are a very easy, convenient and simple group for campaigning politicians to talk about. For the most part, doing something to help the group is bipartisan, and likely to be embraced by everyone. No one wants to see their local small businesses fail, after all. They're the lifeblood of any local community. This week's roundup focuses on the new tax cut aimed at the small business market, but more importantly, whether or not it's likely going to affect ACTUAL small…

  • Twitter 101 for small biz: Need to Know Friday

    13 Apr 2012 | 12:07 pm
    If you've been following the small business news this week, you know that at least one report cited that confidence was down among the group. As I've stated in the past, I'm not sure how much confidence levels actually matter when it comes to the overall success of small businesses, but despite that, the results are interesting. I've also included two stories below that I thought were extremely insightful, one around the basics of Twitter and another around how "tax friendly" states fare in attracting small businesses.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Clockbuilder Media

  • How Safe Is Your Business From Failure?

    Clockbuilder Media
    18 Apr 2012 | 9:08 pm
    Sometimes you’ll fail more than you succeed, but you still need to get up, do it, and keep moving forward. If you permit failure to be your guide, you’ll eventually STOP. There’s no glory in failure when you encourage it. If you make learning your guide, every step along the way brings you one step closer to succeeding. Take enough of those steps, and you’ll be on the path you imagined and then some. When businesses or even individuals try something new, many have a tendency to expect overnight success. Or maybe a billion dollars in 18 months. The reality is, that a…

  • Is The New Facebook Page Your Shiny New Thing?

    Clockbuilder Media
    18 Mar 2012 | 2:44 pm
    I don’t care about the new Facebook Page, nor should you. Here’s why: People have a tendency to like the shiniest new things. That desire fuels our consumer driven economy to the extent that a significant number of “everyone” thinks they “must have__________”, or else they can’t function. Most kids incessantly  think they must have the latest phone, sweatshirt, or pair of boots. Not necessarily because of any indoctrination they receive from home, but because they are surrounded by messages that cause them to believe these things are critical to…

  • 13 Little Known Factors That Could Affect Your Social Media Success

    Clockbuilder Media
    27 Feb 2012 | 9:38 pm
    “What would you recommend I do, and what would you recommend that I don’t do when first getting my business started with social media?” It’s one of the questions that I get most often. But before you even get this far you should be asking: “Why do you want your business to dive into social media in the first place?”  If you don’t ask that question, it’s akin to diving into a swimming pool without looking first. If your answer is “because everyone else is doing it”, that’s generally the WRONG answer. But if you’ve done…

  • End the Rush Hour Traffic that Stifles your Buinsess

    Clockbuilder Media
    3 Feb 2012 | 11:10 pm
    A few years ago, I took a new job with a truly crummy commute. Over 120 miles roundtrip. A small fortune in tolls. Hours on some of the worst roads in the metro area. I generally assumed I’d be spending 4 hours a day in my car. Some days it was a little less. Others it was mostly more. My best time ever for the ride in one direction was an hour and a half. The worst? I exited the Cross Bronx Expressway at some point and headed home. Six hours (yes, you read that correctly) door to door. Home to Home. I suppose I should mention that on that particular day, I was driving a rental car, I…

  • The Shocking Truth About Diving Into Social Media

    Clockbuilder Media
    11 Jan 2012 | 7:17 pm
    “Just do it” is àpropos. Unfortunately, that’s only 50% of the battle. The shocking truth about diving into social media is that it takes a lot of effort. Claiming your real estate on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Goggle +, will give you brownie points for being able to say “we’re hip because we’re there too”, and it’s pretty darn simple  and you should certainly do it. But if you take the “presto we’re done” route, you’ve missed out on the real opportunity to leverage your presence by failing to do the hard work at…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    De Young Media | Strategic Marketing

  • The Power of Photos To Your Facebook Marketing

    Adam
    1 May 2012 | 9:28 am
    I’ve talked about using photos on Facebook before, but I think it’s a lesson that can be driven home more then once. Finding photos for Facebook can be very challenging, in fact I struggle with it on a daily basis. I always set myself a goal of finding at least ...

  • What The NBA Taught Me About Strategic Marketing

    Adam
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:10 pm
    I am a huge Boston Celtics fan. I have been ever since my dad and I would sit on the floor and watch Larry Bird mop the floor with the Lakers (at least that’s how I remember it.) I don’t get all of the Celtics regular season games ...

  • 5 Strategic Marketing Lessons From The NFL Draft

    Adam
    26 Apr 2012 | 7:10 pm
    War rooms across the country are buzzing tonight as teams are ready for their names to show up on the big NFL draft boards. With papers strewn across their desks and highlights flying by on their wide screen LCD tvs, coaches, managers and owners are looking at all of ...
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Saleschase Blog | Small Business Trends, Advice & Strategy

  • What It Takes to Get Customers to ‘Like’ and Subscribe [Infographic]

    Dave Bui
    16 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    In the world of social media, it’s important that your clients “like” you. So, what makes them like you? Today’s infographic by Chadwick Martin Bailey has some answers. According to the infographic, promotions and discounts, exclusive content, and continued support are the primary reasons for customers “liking” you on Facebook or subscribing to your e-newsletters.

  • 5 Common Mistakes Made by New Entrepreneurs

    Dave Bui
    16 May 2012 | 7:30 am
    Mistakes are bound to happen. And entrepreneurs are no more immune to committing mistakes than other mortals. The impact of an entrepreneur’s mistakes can range from mild to serious; sometimes serious enough to cripple a business. Hence conscious attempts must be made by new entrepreneurs to avoid making mistakes as far as possible. Here are

  • 5 Aspects of Website Testing That Every E-tailer Should Know [Infographic]

    Dave Bui
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Website testing is not just about changing the color of your site’s background. It allows you to deliver an engaging experience to your visitors. Today’s infographic by Monetate discusses all aspects of website testing. So, what should you be testing? Mostly everything. Successful e-tailers spend a lot of time and resources on testing. According to

  • Ad of the Day: Volkswagen Jetta – A Trip to the Beach [Photo]

    Dave Bui
    16 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    Photo Credit. Getting there is just as fun. Jetta. Volkswagen Jetta – A Trip to the Beach. For more daily dosage of catchy and insanely funny ads, follow us on twitter @saleschase or facebook.com/saleschase

  • 8 Proven Resume Design Tips in the Post-Yahoo Resumegate Era [Infographic]

    Dave Bui
    15 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    A prospective employer will know about you and your worth through your resume. So, crafting the perfect resume is the most important activity when you are hunting or hopping jobs. Today’s infographic by Colorado Technical University provides all the tips you’ll need to design the perfect modern resume. Your resume’s text should be much more
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Deimar | Business Tips, Strategies & Quotes for Entrepreneurs

  • 4 steps for Boosting Your Negotiation Skills

    30 Apr 2012 | 3:39 pm
    The main reason why negotiations fail is the lack of preparation. Diving into a negotiation without a clear goal, not knowing what you're looking for, what is your position in the negotiation and your alternatives, keeps you from making the best decision or agreement, for you, your business or your family. These 4 steps that will boost your negotiation skills: 1. Understand why you want to negotiate “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” As Jimmy Dean, during negotiations, as long as you know, which is your goal, you can…

  • Time Management Tips

    17 Apr 2012 | 10:02 am
     Our time is not something over which we have absolute control; it is not recyclable and is limited. Therefore, we must learn how to use it, so make the most of every second at our disposal. In order to not only be more productive and effective at work, but also be able to enjoy our lives.  The common man is not concerned about the passage of time, the man of talent is driven by it. - Shoppenhauer  The secret of achieving more in less time, relies primarily on being capable of prioritizing and setting goals. There is always enough time for the important things, if it is…

  • Coping with stress at Work

    12 Apr 2012 | 5:48 am
     The pressure generated at the workplace has a major impact on the mental and physical health of employees. Likewise, it is costly for companies due to increased absenteeism, employee turnover, diminished productivity, workers' compensation payments, and medical, legal and insurance expenses. Stress has many causes and affects everyone differently. However, there are many ways we can all cope with it.  3 out of four Americans say work is stressful, according to a study from Gallup. Inline with another study from The Work Force Institute which found out that the most common reason,…

  • Why you must encounter your "Enemy" before & strategic meeting?

    4 Apr 2012 | 2:19 pm
     Sometimes during a strategic meeting, our projects are deferred or delayed to another session, because we cannot get enough support. Regardless of the colossal work behind your presentation, solid arguments supported by evidence, and powerful charts, your adversary or opponent remains stuck to his or her guns, making it necessary to postpone the decision and the start of your project.  What can you do? Should you be mad? Perhaps, but it won't solve anything. You must understand that you could have foreseen this situation and how important it is for you to meet your adversaries or…

  • Mastering Email Overload

    28 Mar 2012 | 7:58 am
      Although the email was intended to make our lives easier, it is likely that when managing your emails, you might feel overloaded. The large amount of emails we receive every day at work not only impacts our levels of stress, but our productivity. These tips will make your life easier: 1. Clean Up Your Mailbox   Your goal is to ensure that the end of the day your mailbox should be as empty as possible. For that you can use the CAD rule, Classify, Act, Delete. Classify your emails in order of importance. Try to sorting in the following way: What is essential and urgent, What is not…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Small Business Bonfire

  • 5 Reasons Your Small Business Must Be Extending Net Terms

    Meredith Wood
    16 May 2012 | 3:48 am
    When you provide a customer with your service or product and hope that they will pay you back at the later, specified date, it’s a little bit unsettling. A hotly debated question is whether or not extending net terms is sound practice for small businesses. Is it worth the risk? Why SHOULD small businesses expose themselves if they don’t have to? The truth is, there are immense benefits that come with opening your business up to extending payment terms. It’s simple: operating on net terms is an opportunity not to be missed by your small business, and here’s why. 1. Financial Health…

  • Four Reasons You Should Be Using Signs for Your Retail Business

    Alyssa Gregory
    14 May 2012 | 1:36 pm
    Sidewalk signs can be one of the most effective ways to increase sales if you have a brick-and-mortar business. Think of your own shopping experiences — what grabs your attention and makes you slow down, take a second look, and maybe even enter the store to shop? I know I’m often drawn to interesting and eye-catching signs. Signs can be a powerful tool for retail businesses. FedEx Office just released a survey that measures the attraction power of signage and its impact, and the results are very telling. Look at some of these numbers and the undeniable reasons why good signs are…

  • Four Free Downloads That Will Help Your Small Business Now

    Alyssa Gregory
    11 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    At the Bonfire, we’re pretty big on providing useful tools that help readers not only get the information they need, but actually do something with that information. Don’t get me wrong, information is key, but sometimes the leap from knowing what you need to do and being able to execute it is enormous. So we often create downloads that make the implementation process a little bit easier. Here are four free downloads we currently have on the blog. There is no opt-in or verification process in place. You can just click the download links on each page to start using the files…

  • Outsourcing Advice from Freelancer.com’s Matt Barrie

    Emily Suess
    9 May 2012 | 3:53 am
    On the Small Business Bonfire social network, members have been chatting about their experiences with crowdsourcing and outsourcing work. The general consensus is that handing over work to someone else will either be a really good or a really bad experience — but rarely do small business owners feel indifferent about their experiences. So the goal for entrepreneurs is to figure out what shapes the collaborative experience and use that knowledge to increase the odds that the crowdsourcing experience will be overwhelmingly positive for both parties. To help us figure it all out Matt…

  • Is Having a Plan B the Kiss of Death?

    Alyssa Gregory
    8 May 2012 | 3:40 am
    I was talking with a colleague the other day about starting a business and all of the moving parts that are involved in the process. Somehow, our discussion moved to the idea of having a contingency plan in case the business didn’t work out — boy, did we disagree on that topic! My colleague was adamantly against the idea of creating a Plan B, while I argued the value of having a fall-back plan. Here is an overview of our perspectives. Weigh in with your own at the end. Go Big or Go Home My colleague’s perspective is this: If you are not committed enough to do whatever it…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Lloyd Chapman

  • Congress Needs to Decide How Big a "Small" Business Is

    Lloyd Chapman
    25 Apr 2012 | 4:04 pm
    Today, under various federal laws, the term "small business" can define a range of companies, from businesses with less than 50 employees, to publicly traded corporations as large as Lockheed Martin -- the federal government's largest prime contractor. This question of how big a "small business" is, is of critical importance to our national economy. For example, when the House approved the Republican-sponsored "Small Business Tax Cut Act (H.R.9)" last week, legislators neglected to mention that under the bill many hedge funds, investment firms, C-corporations and pass-throughs worth billions…

  • Fraud, Abuse in Small Business Contracting Programs Needs to End Now

    Lloyd Chapman
    18 Apr 2012 | 2:52 pm
    One of the most important problems raised by recent news of the General Services Administration's (GSA) trip to Las Vegas on the taxpayer's dime is the abuse of federal small business contracting programs. The GSA Inspector General's (IG) report on over $800,000 of taxpayer money that was spent on a GSA Las Vegas "conference" in 2010 found that the GSA was guilty of "awarding a $58,000 contract to a large business in violation of small-business set-asides." Current federal law states that 23 percent of all federal contracts must be awarded to small businesses. This is extremely important for…

  • GSA Scandal Is a Window to the Way Washington Really Works

    Lloyd Chapman
    9 Apr 2012 | 3:16 pm
    The latest government scandal resulting in the resignation of the head of the General Services Administration (GSA) is just a small sample of the way our government really works. It's just like when a doctor takes a sample of your blood to check the condition of the rest of your body. The GSA inspector general report released last week calling spending at a Las Vegas team building conference "excessive and wasteful" is just a window into what's happening all over Capitol Hill. These types of investigations are released all the time, though they rarely receive any publicity. Maybe it was the…

  • Do You Really Think Your Vote Counts?

    Lloyd Chapman
    2 Apr 2012 | 10:46 am
    President Eisenhower was clearly correct in his 1961 Presidential exit speech when he warned America of the growing power of the 'military-industrial complex'. "We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex," Eisenhower told the nation as the power of the defense and aerospace industry was in its infancy. "The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for…

  • Anti-Small Business Corporate Giants Want the Small Business Administration Closed

    Lloyd Chapman
    25 Mar 2012 | 12:13 pm
    This week the Wall Street Journal asked whether or not the Small Business Administration should be abolished. The WSJ then allowed Koch brothers mouthpiece, Veronique de Rugy, to comment. It's fascinating the way these snakes go after one of the smallest agencies in Washington -- with a budget that is less than 1 percent of the Pentagon budget. But I'll tell you why the Kochs, Ms. de Rugy and every other big-business advocate wants to close the SBA. It's because large businesses want every last penny the government spends. These people are poison to our economy. The corporate giants that rule…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    PrintRunner Blog

  • Public Relations – Creating a Brand Identity for Small Businesses

    Elmor
    15 May 2012 | 7:48 pm
    This is the first out of our three-part series to be published about public relations. There is a misconception that creating a brand identity should only be done by large companies that actively need to maintain an image. This is why most marketing efforts of small businesses are diverted to advertising and below-the-line marketing. Your business [...]

  • How to Design Business Cards Using Our Online Design Tool

    Roxanne
    11 May 2012 | 6:57 pm
    People who want to learn how to design business cards but have little or no experience with a graphics editing program will get caught up with creating flashy and eye-catching cards to hand out. If you’re one of these people, we at PrintRunner give you an opportunity to come up with attention-grabbing business card designs through [...]

  • 4 Business Card Printing Questions You Need to Ask Yourself

    Roxanne
    9 May 2012 | 7:43 pm
    When you are at the stage of business card printing, you need to be sure that the cards are conceived and designed correctly for them to become effective marketing tools to connect with people. With that said, are you really sure that your business cards are conceived and designed correctly? To ensure that your business [...]

  • 15 Heartwarming Mother’s Day Card Ideas

    Christopher Jan Benitez
    8 May 2012 | 7:23 pm
    Thinking of Mother’s Day card ideas for your mom is the least you could do for her. Whereas she does the dishes and laundry, cook the meal, tuck you in before going to sleep, and remind you to not let the bugs bite, a simple token of appreciation such as a personalized card would mean [...]

  • Memorial Day Sale – Up to 40% Off Your Favorite Products

    Elmor
    4 May 2012 | 9:40 pm
    Memorial Day, originally called Decorations Day, is the time of the year when we honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our nation. For small business owners, this is an opportunity to not only commemorate our fellow Americans, but also capitalize on the upcoming holiday by holding special promos and events [...]
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    The Small Business Playbook

  • Small Business Toolbox – May Thirteen

    Gary Shouldis
    13 May 2012 | 5:40 am
    Each week I like to post useful tools and resources that you may be able to use for your business.  The resources I post here are either free or available at a low cost. I don’t go into much detail here, so feel free to check them out yourself and let me know what you think.  If you know of any great tools and services that will help small business owners, please share them in the comments below. Moo – Create great looking business cards on paper with a quality unlike business cards you’ve seen in the past.  The standout for this service is the ability to create a different…

  • Why it Pays to Use Google+ as a Business Tool

    Guest Post
    9 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    This is a guest post by Sharon Shapiro of Cloud Sherpas In the current age of social everything, the number of social networks available to use as business tools can be daunting.  Questions like how many networks to use and which ones to choose seem to be everywhere.  But it pays to take a look at how Google+ can be used as an effective tool for your business. Although Google+ is a relatively new social network – it was introduced in summer 2011 and made available through Google Apps a few months later in November – it has a number of features that are rapidly putting it among…

  • The 7 Best Places To Advertise Your Business Online

    Gary Shouldis
    7 May 2012 | 10:06 am
    As a small business owner, do you feel like you’re constantly wasting your marketing dollars? Join the club. Although print advertising, direct mail, tv and radio still have some relevance for some industries, for many, it’s a giant waste of time and money.  Consumer attention span is getting shorter, coupled with an ever increasing amount of advertising, you can see why people go about their day with blinders on. One area of marketing that is growing though is online advertising.  According to a study by Zenith Optimedia, the current global display advertising market is…

  • Small Business Toolbox – May Fifth

    Gary Shouldis
    5 May 2012 | 9:21 am
    Each week I like to post useful tools and resources that you may be able to use for your business.  The resources I post here are either free or available at a low cost. I don’t go into much detail here, so feel free to check them out yourself and let me know what you think.  If you know of any great tools and services that will help small business owners, please share them in the comments below Twylah - A free Twitter tool that organizes your tweets in an organized and visually appealing way.  Create a tweets page and host it on the Twylah page or host it yourself on your own domain.

  • How To Get Your Business Website Found Online

    Gary Shouldis
    1 May 2012 | 9:03 am
    Having a website for your local business is a given in this day and age.  It should look visually appealing, be easy to read and should be able to explain your business’s value proposition.  But the questions is…..you have a great looking website, but can anyone find it? Unfortunately, many business owners don’t know the answer to that question because they lack the understanding of what’s involved in getting their website found online.  Whether you created a DIY website from a low cost or free website builder or paid ten thousand bucks for a great looking website,…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    You, Inc. - CorporationCentre.ca Small Business Blog

  • CorporationCentre.ca Client Testimonials

    CorporationCentre.ca
    16 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    It always feels great when a customer calls or emails us about the excellent service they've received from our hard working staff! Check out what other former clients had to say about Corporation Centre in our video! XFVFB8SX9UH8

  • 5 Startup Lessons I Wish I'd Known

    CorporationCentre.ca
    15 May 2012 | 1:51 pm
    If someone can develop an app that provides “hindsight” they would truly make a fortune. Sadly, most startup businesses stumble out of the gate only to embrace valuable lessons too late in the game. Can you benefit from any of these lessons learned from startup entrepreneurs? 1.      Line Up Early InvestorsOperating capital is essential in any business whether it’s just starting or has been around for generations. For the new business, it is important to have working capital on hand to not only cover the day-to-day operations but also as a “cushion” for any…

  • 5 Great Female Entrepreneurs

    CorporationCentre.ca
    10 May 2012 | 2:04 pm
    Successful entrepreneurs come in all stripes. Each story is an inspiration for other small business owners who hope to reach those same pinnacles of success. For women who are involved in starting their own companies, there are certainly prominent role models to learn from. Here are 5 great women entrepreneurs who succeeded against all the odds. Anita RoddickAs the founder of The Body Shop, Anita Roddick has turned a passion for environmentally safe cosmetics into a global phenomenon. Roddick created her first line up of products from ingredients she had in her home. There were only 15…

  • How to deal with stress when starting your small business

    CorporationCentre.ca
    9 May 2012 | 11:16 am
    Congratulations! You’ve just got your brand new small business up and running. It took a lot of hard work and planning but you can finally see your dreams coming true. Does this mean that all the stress associated with your start-up is now over? Sadly, not likely. As you settle into the routine of operating your small business you’ll be introduced to a whole new set of potentially stressful situations. Number one is family-related stress - the concern that you’re spending too much time at your business and not enough time with your family. Finding a way to strike that balance might be…

  • Top 5 Ways Email Marketing Can Help Small Businesses

    CorporationCentre.ca
    3 May 2012 | 11:44 am
    The success of any business is built on the strength of its customer relationships. While loyal return buyers are always a goal, a business can’t thrive unless they continue to expand their customer base. Using an email marketing campaign is a direct and cost effective way to accomplish both of those goals. The following are the top five ways that an email marketing campaign can help a small business.1.      Direct SalesIn the world of e-commerce, the mailing list is gold. Before email came along, direct mail campaigns were used to entice customers. Businesses were…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    SBA 504 Loan Blog

  • Joshie’s Adventure – The Photos

    admin
    15 May 2012 | 3:15 pm
    I’ve gotten tremendous feedback on the story I shared on Wednesday about the above-and-beyond customer service I received from the staff at the Ritz-Carlton when my son lost his Joshie. Lots of the people asked me to post the pictures I received of Joshie living it up at the Ritz-Carlton. Apparently they were a little hard to make out on the video. Well, I’m all too happy to oblige… Click on the photos below to see the full-size image.   A big thank you to all who commented, shared, and retweeted my original blog post about this. We’re also currently working with the…

  • Joshie at the Ritz-Carlton: An Extraordinary Customer Experience…

    admin
    8 May 2012 | 2:34 pm
    Lately, I’ve been doing a little more traveling that I would like to. When I was younger, it wasn’t as big a deal…but now I’d much rather be home to spend time with my family. I was in Los Angeles about six weeks ago on one of these recent business trips, and it happened to coincide with my kids’ Spring Break. I wished I could have spent the time with them, but I suggested that my wife use some of my Marriott points I’ve been accumulating and take the kids to stay at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, which is about two hours or so from Orlando. Well, they had a great time at the…

  • My First Huffington Post Blog Publication…

    admin
    1 May 2012 | 1:03 pm
    Have you read my first blog post on The Huffington Post? In my very first Huffington Post blog late last week, I wrote about several “fixes” to SBA loan programs that will tremendously help out America’s small business owners. Specifically, there are two programs that are set to expire this coming September which, if extended another year (at a minimum) will provide capital to thousands of small business owners so they can grow, create jobs, and help our economy fully recover. You can read the full blog post/article on The Huffington Post here. If you happened to read or watch my…

  • Your Luckiest Friday the 13th Ever…

    Chris
    13 Apr 2012 | 10:01 am
    I’m not one for superstitions (unless it has to do with sports, primarily soccer) so I don’t buy all the hullabaloo about Friday the 13th being “unlucky.” The whole idea of luck is something I try to stay away from. Sure, some happenstances seem downright serendipitous, but I think we make our own opportunities by working hard and staying sharp. I guess that’s just how American I am. If you’re stuck on the unluckiness of today, I have something to change your mind — a surprise that’s been a long time coming. Way back in November, I announced that we would be launching our very…

  • Video of My Recent Senate Testimony…

    Chris
    11 Apr 2012 | 11:12 am
    It took a little longer than expected, but we finally have the video of my testimony before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on March 29th. Believe it or not, I’ve taken a lot of heat for what I said at this Senate Hearing two weeks ago. Some of my comments have been taken out of context, and some folks have fabricated things I never said (or even implied). So, before I’m bombarded with any more criticism for what I said (or didn’t say), I invite you to watch the video for yourself and see what really happened: As I mentioned in my last blog post, since I was…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Pipeline

  • 2012 Small Business Expo Exhibitor Podcast

    Jacqueline Edwards
    13 May 2012 | 1:13 pm
    These podcasts are short interviews with exhibitors from 2012 Small Business Expo, make sure to read the event review. I recommend that you listen to all of these podcasts so you don’t miss the... This is some of the content posted on BusinessPipeline.com visit our site for more content. Thank you for visiting.

  • 2012 Small Business Expo Review

    Jacqueline Edwards
    13 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    The 2012 Small Business Expo was held May 10th at Penn Plaza Pavilion in New York. This event is geared toward small businesses and they worked really hard not to miss a beat. It was free to attend... This is some of the content posted on BusinessPipeline.com visit our site for more content. Thank you for visiting.

  • 2nd Annual Baltimore Urban Book Festival Review

    Jacqueline Edwards
    7 May 2012 | 8:21 pm
    Sunday, May 6th  launched the Baltimore Urban Book Festival (BUBF) at The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park in Baltimore, MD. It is the only book festival focusing on African America... This is some of the content posted on BusinessPipeline.com visit our site for more content. Thank you for visiting.

  • NYXPO Exhibitor Podcast Interviews

    Jacqueline Edwards
    7 May 2012 | 2:58 pm
    These podcasts are short interviews with exhibitors from 7th Annual NYXPO for Business, make sure to read the event review. I recommend that you listen to all of these podcasts so you don’t... This is some of the content posted on BusinessPipeline.com visit our site for more content. Thank you for visiting.

  • 3 Keys to Maximize Clients with Minimum Effort

    Jacqueline Edwards
    4 May 2012 | 1:22 pm
    This is a name of one of NYXPO seminar sessions. The full title was: “Lead Generation Leverage: 3 Keys to Maximum Clients with Minimum Effort“. Worth the mouth full, let’s see.... This is some of the content posted on BusinessPipeline.com visit our site for more content. Thank you for visiting.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Talking Small Biz

  • TSB Small Biz Weekly Roundup 5-11-12

    Marshall
    11 May 2012 | 1:00 pm
    Below is a sampling of articles that I have been reading this past week and wanted to share them with you. These articles include why you don’t have to be 21 to start a business, as well as how to gracefully excuse yourself from a conversation with that creepy guy/gal who came up to you at a networking event.

  • TSB Small Biz Weekly Roundup 5-3-12

    Marshall
    4 May 2012 | 9:09 am
    This weeks articles, blog posts, and news items include a warning about why you shouldn’t willy-nilly open up an email attachment (duh!), and a story about why you should think twice before running an office contest to give away an unclaimed food item.

  • TSB Small Biz Weekly Roundup 4-27-12

    Marshall
    27 Apr 2012 | 9:43 am
    Articles, blog posts and news items pertaining to being an entrepreneur that we found interesting and think that you might, too. Our favorite of the week might just be that 15 percent of small business owners take advice from those they meet in a bar. Um, OK...

  • 6 Small Business Lessons from Instagram

    Marshall
    17 Apr 2012 | 10:34 am
    Instagram was recently purchased by Facebook for a rather large sum of money, making it a perfect case study in what to do right in business. Guest author Roger Collings tells us 6 lessons entrepreneurs can learn from the sale of Instagram.

  • Talking Small Biz with Fran Reisner

    Marshall
    20 Mar 2012 | 11:09 am
    Imagine selling your house and most of your personal possessions, buying a motorhome, and hitting the road to see where life will lead you. Professional photographer Fran Reisner doesn't have to imagine this as it is exactly what she did.
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Run Apptivo

  • Time for Job Placement Agencies to Adopt Online Human Resource Software

    Maya Pillai
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Is your staff drowning in resumes? Are you finding it difficult to streamline the hiring process to meet the demands of your client? Have you given a thought to cloud-computing recruitment solutions that will help you identify the best and top candidates within seconds? There exists several recruitment management software that will make the entire process of hiring a little easier and free up paperwork. Online human resource/staffing software have numerous benefits, unlike the conventional methods of recruitment. We have put together a few points on why job placement agencies/staffing firms…

  • Why Convince Your Project Manager to Start Using Online Software

    Maya Pillai
    10 May 2012 | 11:56 am
    In recent years, we have seen a lot of advancement in Internet technologies. Though cloud computing and online software are fast becoming popular, there are many businesses that are still reluctant to accept the change and take advantage of online software. Most online software’s are free or they charge a very nominal fee.One of the most important online software tools any upcoming or established small business could use is project management. An efficient project manager would understand the purpose of project management software is to make the project more cost effective, coordinate the…

  • Tips for Improving Your Leadership Skills

    Maya Pillai
    23 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am
    Your small business is similar to a ship. If it has to move forward quickly as smoothly as possible, it needs an efficient captain. Similarly, if your enterprise has to grow quickly and steadily, you need to be a good business leader. As a leader, you need to make things happen to set a good example, motivating and guiding your employees during the good and bad times. You cannot simply give instructions and passively wait for others to accomplish tasks. When such things occur, you are no more of a leader but a director or a boss. Your actions and decision making techniques should instill…

  • Rock the Business World with Your Business Plan

    Maya Pillai
    17 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am
    If you are planning to start a business, you should have a realistic business plan. It is a document which describes your business, its objectives, strategies, target audience and financial forecast. It also contains your vision and mission for your business. You should have a rock solid business plan if are applying for business loans, grants, attracting external investors, potential partners and also anyone who is interested in buying your business in the future. Above all, when you have a good business plan in place, you will know what your goals are, the growth process of your business…

  • Business Spring Cleaning

    Maya Pillai
    13 Apr 2012 | 3:14 pm
    Spring cleaning is not for your home alone. You have to spring clean your business every year. Business spring cleaning is not about removing the clutter that has accumulated over the past few months. Here we are discussing how to clear away the cobwebs of a recession and revisit the business goals. Now is the best time to start dusting off your accounts and start looking at what your expenditures are and how to implement effective cost cutting techniques to reduce your expenses. If you are not sure where to start, don’t worry, we have put together some of the easiest ways to spring…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Best Small Biz Help

  • Small Business Tips: How Do You Leverage Existing Customers?

    Dawn Fotopulos
    26 Apr 2012 | 4:38 pm
    Meet my buddy Mike Zumchak. He teaches Easy Excel Classes and he’s a genius at it.  Business is booming, but it didn’t start out that way. Why? In the middle of a recession, most people are learning new skills to make them more valuable in the marketplace. When I first met Mike four years ago, [...]

  • Instagram: How to Build a Billion Dollar Business

    Dawn Fotopulos
    25 Apr 2012 | 3:38 pm
    Unless you’ve been living on Saturn, you’ve probably heard that Instagram received a whopping price of $1 BILLION from Facebook recently. It begs the question, how did this yearling upstart with thirteen people command such a crazy price tag? Let’s understand how an online asset like a website actually builds value other business owners want [...]

  • Skate to Where the Puck is Going Not Where It’s Been; Read “Aftershock”

    Dawn Fotopulos
    23 Apr 2012 | 1:09 pm
    The title of this post is actually a famous quote attributed to the great ice hockey star, Wayne Gretzky. But the truth is, it was advice given to him by Wayne’s father Walter. It’s great advice for hockey players and small business owners. We can’t change the past, we can only look forward. Here’s how to… [...]

  • Financial Literacy Month!

    Dawn Fotopulos
    19 Apr 2012 | 9:12 pm
    Did you know that April is financial literacy month? What is financial literacy? It’s the ability to interpret numbers and is the best defense against losing money. Reuters put together a little five question quiz to see if you know more than a high school senior about financial literacy. Go ahead. Test your knowledge. It’s [...]

  • United States Economy; What is Rich?

    Dawn Fotopulos
    13 Apr 2012 | 5:42 pm
    The volume continues to rise on the rhetoric: “Tax the rich!” If the scene feels familiar, it may be because it recalls another, this time from Beauty and the Beast. Remember the scene? Gaston whips the townspeople into a frenzy, convincing them that the beast is a threat, and out come the torches. And you’ve [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Donna Amos

  • What is Search Engine Optimization? SEO

    Donna
    16 May 2012 | 8:15 am
    Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to techniques that help your website rank higher in organic (or “natural”) search results, making your website more visible to people who are looking for your product or service via search engines. A long time ago the majority of a local company’s marketing budget went to yellow pages, newspaper, and [...]

  • Creating Compelling Content that Attracts an Audience

    Donna
    14 May 2012 | 8:04 am
    I believe the rules are always changing, how we attract a following and build our businesses is a constant moving ball. I have often heard that “content is king” I don’t know if I buy that. I believe it is the quality of that content. I find it difficult to create constant content for myself [...]

  • Encouragement and Inspiration

    Donna
    24 Apr 2012 | 7:59 am
    This was today’s ‘Inspiration to Start Your Day” “There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I don’t care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause.”  ~ George M. Adams ~ Don’t allow [...]

  • 1,000 Words – Copyblogger

    Donna
    18 Mar 2012 | 10:01 am
    Like this graphic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

  • Tips for Solopreneurs: How to Use Google+ in Business

    Donna
    25 Feb 2012 | 10:01 am
    One of the biggest challenges for any business is navigating the process from lead to contact to first-time customer to regular customer. The challenge is even greater for solopreneurs. Having to deal with every aspect of the business can sometimes distract and overwhelm anyone. And even more so when trying to build a business online. [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    MBS Bookkeeping Blog

  • New and Existing QuickBooks Users: Update to QuickBooks Accountant 2012

    Marks Bookkeeping Services
    15 May 2012 | 12:13 pm
    If you are using QuickBooks 2009 or older, many of your QuickBooks services are about to expire. As of May 31, 2012, some of the key services from the 2009 edition will no longer be available, as part of the QuickBooks Discontinuation Policy. These services include: Online banking Technical support Billing Solution Merchant services Payroll services Mark's Bookkeeping Services wants to be able to provide you with the support and services to help you work more efficiently. Intuit regularly improves and evolves their software, and while they support the current version and two versions back,…

  • How to Handle Use Taxes

    Marks Bookkeeping Services
    9 May 2012 | 9:27 am
    Use taxes are taxes applied to any services or items used, consumed, or stored in a particular state where no sales tax was paid. Almost every kind of taxpayer must pay the use tax, whether they’re wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers, corporations, partnerships, or even individuals. It’s an important detail to keep track of, especially if you’re a small business owner, but it can get confusing. Hopefully, we can provide some information to help. Many purchases from out-of-state or foreign vendors don’t include sales tax. While items purchased as part of an inventory for resale in…

  • How To Get The Best Car Lease Deals

    Marks Bookkeeping Services
    7 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    To get a good leasing deal, focus on the following three figures:         Capitalized cost (price). In some cases, the price is adjusted for extras, such as extended service contracts and registration fees.         Residual value (estimated cost at lease end). Negotiate to minimize the spread, i.e., the difference, between the capitalized cost and the residual value. This difference is the amount of depreciation your company will be financing through the lease.         Interest…

  • (VIDEO) 4 Ways to Reduce Student Loan Debt

    Greg
    4 May 2012 | 11:38 am
    Student loan debt affects millions in the U.S. Here are 4 helpful tips to pay off those loans.

  • (VIDEO) 6 Steps On How To Be A Millionaire

    Greg
    27 Apr 2012 | 11:07 am
    Todd Bates discusses his new book and his steps on how to make a seven figure income
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    He Says, She Says - By USFSB.com

  • At Home in Arizona

    He Said, She Said
    16 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    SHE SAYS: Every day that we’ve been in our Arizona house, it feels more and more like home.  Last year, I talked about our first winter in Arizona in “Home is Where the Heart is”.  This year, we arrived in Arizona in late January and did not leave until May 1st. In October, when we traveled through Israel, we purchased an original painting from a local artist and a handmade copper platter, both of which are now displayed in our Arizona home.  This is something we have done with other items over the years.  When we travel to foreign countries, we always like to bring back something…

  • Let Me Get The Door For You

    He Said, She Said
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    HE SAYS: I have already described my anxieties and concerns about flying in “Enjoy Your Flight”.    In some of my more recent flights, I have sought out and was happy to secure a seat in one of the emergency exit rows for two very important reasons, more leg room and to avoid the possibility of the passenger in front of me reclining onto my lap for the entire flight. I usually find myself cynically snickering under my breath, as the flight attendant calmly and reassuringly describes the duties of the people sitting in these seats including the process of opening the emergency door…

  • Respect Is Hard To Come By These Days

    He Said, She Said
    9 May 2012 | 10:08 am
    HE SAYS: Annemarie and I attended the Presidential Inauguration for President George W. Bush’s second term in January, 2005.  I understood that there would be protests in and around Washington, DC; however, I did not expect to see the extremely virulent, vile, abusive, and totally disrespectful display of protest signs, including suggestions of violence as well as explicit and profane epithets directed personally at the President.    It is not that I was surprised that the mob of unruly protesters was capable of such rude, obnoxious, and distasteful behavior but that they did not have…

  • One Good Turn Should Deserve Another

    He Said, She Said
    7 May 2012 | 10:15 am
    HE SAYS: I have always believed in the proposition that you should treat people as you would want them to treat you.   I try to live up to that belief in both my personal and business life. In my personal life this will manifest itself in many ways.  I will give my friends the benefit of the doubt and will take the position that they deserve my loyalty unless and until they show me otherwise.  I also will not judge my friends based on what other people say about them.  I will try to base my opinion about my friends on how they have treated me and not on how they may have behaved with…

  • Debt Can Be Deadly

    He Said, She Said
    2 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    HE SAYS: Unmanageable debt can bring a small business to its knees.   All efforts should be made to operate your business from cash flow without the need to incur any debts; however, when it is absolutely necessary to borrow money it should be done wisely. If you dream of starting your own business, it is better to wait until you have put enough start-up money aside to open your doors without the use of borrowed money.   Once started, you should do everything you can to avoid having to borrow money for your business.   Invest your time and hard work, do not buy anything that the…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Business Development & Business Analysis

  • Linked Influence Review

    fasterprofits
    15 May 2012 | 10:44 pm
    Here is an honest linked influence review. This course is for businesses considering or currently using linked in as a sales and networking tool and personally, to market skills to find your dream job. I bought this massive package a couple of days ago. I am still going through all the information and the bonuses [...]

  • How To Use Pinterest For Business

    fasterprofits
    12 May 2012 | 12:11 am
    FREE webinar > Did you know that Pinterest is the newest and greatest tool for sharing pictures on the web. With Pinterest you create your own account (by invitation only) that lets you share your favourite images with others. This means you can share products you have for sale on your website. To find out [...]

  • Business Strategy Course

    fasterprofits
    11 May 2012 | 10:51 pm
    Wealthification is a new course created by one of Australia’s leading internet marketing business owners. Although this course is not an internet marketing course, it is a business strategy course for business owners looking for ideas for success, ideas to help them move their business to the next level. This NEW successful business strategy program [...]

  • Top 20 Social Media Marketing Tips To Sell A Home

    fasterprofits
    8 Mar 2012 | 11:11 pm
    Recently, a smart, savvy man named Kurt, a social media expert, decided he was going to sell his house. Not really knowing that it was going to go way above reserve, but using youtube, twitter and other media to connect with people that may just be in his target market. It was a brilliant strategy, [...]

  • How Setting up Google Alerts Helps You to Find Customers

    fasterprofits
    30 Jan 2012 | 1:36 am
    Find potential customers with Google Alerts Did you know that you can setup a Google Alert for your chosen keywords in your Gmail and/or iGoogle account that will help you find potential customers? You can use those alerts to receive blog posts, news articles, yahoo &  forum questions, and more into your inbox. Then you [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Head Exposed

  • Doing Business with the Military: The Steps

    mian
    16 May 2012 | 1:22 am
    The Armed Forces defend America and the American people. But they don’t serve the country solely by fighting in war zones. They also provide projects that help small business owners like you to move forward with your biz. Every year, they provide hundreds and even thousands of open opportunities for small businesses that match their ...

  • Mother’s Day Special Discounts from Head Exposed: 20% Off on All Products

    mian
    10 May 2012 | 11:02 pm
    Because we love mothers, Head Exposed offers 20% discount on ALL of its products from May 12 to 13. Catch the best of the best business development and procurement e-books – all on SALE! Click here to receive your very own business tools at lower prices! (Promo exclusively from May 12 – 13). ** IMPORTANT ...

  • Agencies That Help in State Business Opportunities

    mian
    9 May 2012 | 12:55 am
    State business opportunities can be very lucrative for stable small businesses, indeed. It is no secret that the US government sets aside about 23% of the annual budget to procure from small companies. But oftentimes, small businesses find it intimidating to look for state business opportunities. This is probably because there are so many regulations ...

  • 10% Discount on All Digital Products: Head Exposed Celebrates Cinco de Mayo

    mian
    3 May 2012 | 7:02 am
    Head Exposed commemorates Cinco de Mayo with a blast! We are giving a 10% DISCOUNT on all our digital products from May 9 to May 10, 2012! This is definitely the best deal that you could ever get your hands on! For the entrepreneurs who admire the passion, pride, courage, and resilience of the Mexicans, ...

  • Government Contracts Regulations

    mian
    1 May 2012 | 8:01 am
    Government contracts are seen as the ultimate means for small businesses to succeed in their chosen field. As you know, the federal government becomes your client when you win government contracts, and that essentially assures your company of financial stability. But even if the benefits are tempting, winning government contracts can also be challenging since ...
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Funding Gates Community

  • Small Businesses: What’s All the Fuss About?

    meredithawood
    16 May 2012 | 8:54 am
    Anyone and everyone is talking about small businesses. They’ve been in the news as of late, thanks to Capitol Hill, with the recent JOBS act, talks of tax cuts and what plans the presidential candidates have to help small businesses. Obviously, creating an environment where small businesses can flourish has become top priority. This attention has been awarded due to the economic impact small businesses have. But just what kind of impact are we talking about? Small Businesses: What’s All the Fuss About? We know that small businesses mean a lot to our economy. How much? The folks…

  • Commercial Collections Drop: What Does This 3.7% Mean?

    meredithawood
    15 May 2012 | 9:37 am
    According to the Sacramento Business Journal, the first quarter of 2012 showed some hope for businesses: apparently, the number of new accounts sent to commercial collections is down by 3.7% in comparison to the first quarter of 2011. However, when you compare the fourth quarter of 2011 and this first quarter of 2012, there is whopping 17.8% leap in new accounts in the B2B collections space. The Commercial Collection Agency Association says this is typical of first quarter activity. In a way, the CCAA is telling us, despite the increase from 2011 to 2012, the decrease of this year’s…

  • How to Get Paid Faster [INFOGRAPHIC]

    meredithawood
    14 May 2012 | 8:56 am
    Having trouble with late paying customers? You’re not alone. Small businesses are struggling with late paying customers at an alarming rate. So what is to be done? Collecting is never easy, but a few simple strategy alterations can make a huge difference. How to Get Paid Faster  

  • Why Optimism Pays: The Psychology Behind Small Business Confidence

    meredithawood
    11 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    The Small Business Confidence index is looking good, up the highest it’s been since December 2007. However, this gain was the same as in February 2011, proving a year with no real gains. Small business owners are feeling better about the future but are having trouble committing to this ideal wholeheartedly. This makes sense, as the economy is showing mixed signals for growth. However, looking past the numbers behind small business optimism, it still appears that small business owners are the ones really taking the lead in having hope for our economy. Exploring the psychology that…

  • How Obama vs. Romney’s Plans Will Affect Small Businesses

    annapcalinawan
    10 May 2012 | 11:02 am
    Small business owners have a lot to consider when casting their votes this upcoming election season. The last year alone has seen a wide range of political actions that could significantly affect small businesses: tax cuts, the Affordable Care Act, the JOBS Act and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As small businesses look toward the future, perhaps the foremost consideration is the state of the economy. Which of these candidates has what it takes to lead small businesses out of the recession? For small businesses sick and tired of the economist’s mixed…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    antheadsystem.com

  • Taking Ownership

    adgrogan
    23 Apr 2012 | 4:42 am
     Don’t forget to Tweet and Share Here’s Why Employees Won’t Take Ownership of Your Projects or Your Business   We don’t like you!!! Okay, relax. That’s not the reason. And, what do you care, anyway? Right? Although you may deny it, multiple psychological studies on self-efficacy and self-esteem say deep down inside, you do care. Of [...]

  • A Sad Slow Death

    adgrogan
    21 Mar 2012 | 11:06 am
    Don’t forget to share with business friends. Failing The Top of Mind Test Could Mean A Sad Slow Death For Your Business   If you ordered a pizza during the March Madness basketball tournament, my guess is it came from Pizza Hut, Domino’s, or Papa John’s. No, I’m not peeping through your bedroom window. My teenage [...]

  • Analytical Thinking or Synthetical Thinking

    adgrogan
    29 Feb 2012 | 7:21 am
     As you expand your knowledge base, bring your friends along. Don’t forget to Tweet and Share.   Someone in the Warehouse is Stealing.  Do We Catch Them with Analytical Thinking or Synthetical Thinking?   What is the difference?  And why does it matter? First, let’s define both. In the simplest of terms, analytical thinking is [...]

  • Am I Too Late?

    adgrogan
    14 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am
     As you expand your knowledge base, bring your friends along. Don’t forget to Tweet and Share.   Am I Too Late? It’s A Dumb Question That Will Save You Lots of Money   When is it it too late to enter a market? The answer begins with the use of polarity management, that is, a [...]

  • A New Year / A New Approach

    adgrogan
    12 Jan 2012 | 11:57 am
    Don’t forget to Tweet and Share A New Year Does Not Necessarily Dictate A New Approach New, fresh, different, innovative … these words are frequently thrown around at the beginning of each year to set the tone for strategic change. In a fast-moving, ever competitive marketplace, it seems counterintuitive, maybe even downright sinful, to advocate [...]
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    :: Biz Sociable ::

  • Social Media – You Didn’t Really Think It Was Free, Did You?

    AmberK
    15 May 2012 | 4:23 pm
    Okay, fine, we confess – when social media marketing first established itself as a formidable advertorial force, we too ardently jumped onto the proverbial bandwagon of enthusiasts believing that this online promotional resource was, well, free. How wrong we were. Make no mistake, social media can truly represent a marketing masterpiece of sorts; a powerful weapon in our advertorial arsenal that can help businesses in every industry and of every size level the playing field. Executing a campaign of Facebook status updates, LinkedIn networking connections and strategically timed Tweets…

  • Photos Make Facebook Timeline Pages Pop

    bizsociable
    11 Mar 2012 | 12:43 pm
    Facebook is going to Timeline for pages on March 30th. That's common knowledge. You can debate the "pros" and "cons" all you would like, but there is one thing for sure, Facebook wants to make sure that photos and other visually based media get top priority. Let's show you how to use photos to make your new Timeline "pops". Well, if you believe that a picture really is worth 1,000 words, then you are going to like the Facebook Timeline for pages.  We would also love you to join our closed Facebook group, 7-hour social media. It's free and…

  • Pinterest: Time to add it to the golf bag?

    bizsociable
    24 Feb 2012 | 9:07 pm
    Let’s answer some questions about the latest social media network going viral: What is Pinterest and should you care? Well, if you haven’t heard, it is now the #5 social network in the world just behind Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Yahoo Answers. Before you get too excited though, realize that Facebook and YouTube own 83% of the market and to be #5 you only need to control about 1%. Still, compared to the 1000+ sites trying to get any traction at all, it looks like they are blowing up: What does Pinterest do and why is it different? Think of an everyday bulletin board. You…

  • 12 content ideas you can use today

    bizsociable
    10 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am
    When talking to small business owners, I often hear “I don’t want to get on social media because I don’t have anything to say.”  But this could not be further from the truth!  And in this post, I give you a list of 12 things you can tweet about today. With social media, you don’t have to hit a home run with every piece of content.  In fact, your business will have a lot more personality if you DON’T try to impress with cutting edge industry news every time you tweet.  This is not like traditional marketing where the norm is to bang home your sales pitch…

  • The Complete Guide to Starting a TweetChat – Final Chapter

    bizsociable
    27 Jan 2012 | 9:56 pm
    Free eBook – The Complete Guide to Starting  a TweetChat Several months ago BizSociable wrote a series of blog posts on the subject of TweetChats. We had been participating in a few from time-to-time and found them to be a lot of fun, very informative and a great way to make new professional friends on Twitter. The response to our posts was overwhelming. In addition to generating a lot of traffic, we had many great comments and suggestions that improved upon the advice we had been giving. We then decided that the best way to get the “collective” word back out was to write…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    On Our Bikes

  • Doing far too much not well enough

    Jon Stow
    15 May 2012 | 4:44 am
      Photo courtesy of "OneArmedMan" via Wikipaedia Riding for a fall My wife and I have been away recently, which has meant eating in restaurants rather more than we usually do. I love restaurant watching. So often one can see in a very short time the very best business practices and some of the worst. We ate in a hotel several times. The first time the food and service was really quite good. The second and third times were really less than successful. After the second, maybe we shouldn’t have dined there a third time, but circumstances rather meant that we had to.

  • No thanks to me!

    Jon Stow
    11 May 2012 | 5:55 am
    Connections Having been at the networking game both on-line and off-line for nearly a decade, I know a lot of people, some of them really quite well. Because it is how this networking thing works, I connect my friends and acquaintances to people they need to speak to, depending on their needs. I expect you do too? Help! I need somebody Now and again I have people come to me with an urgent need for advice which is not tax or business advice within my own expertise. It might be concerning an investment or finance requirements or whether I know someone who could advise on the latest news in a…

  • Being too sure of yourself

    Jon Stow
    3 May 2012 | 4:52 am
    Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The Seven Deadly Sins or the Seven Vices - Pride (Photo credit: Wikipedia) We have worked hard to be where we are. We have tried to learn all the demands of the business we are in. We keep ourselves up to date with every bit of news in our industry, every change in the law which may affect us or our customers and every social media tip to advance our business and help those customers. We might think we know it all, and (warning, cliché alert) we have got the tee-shirt. But we don’t know it all. It is all to easy to tell our customers and clients what to do to…

  • Do you offer a service or a process?

    Jon Stow
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:47 am
      Do your figures add up? Old chestnut I have been involved in an on-line debate covering the old chestnut of price versus value. This is a very important issue in most service businesses and particularly for smaller businesses., because we all need to think what market we are in and what our business model is. I come from an accounting background, but I see the same issues and problems arising in many different service industries. However, let us talk about accountants in particular, because it will illustrate the wrong-headed notions persisting in other sectors too. Most accountants…

  • Forgetting why we work

    Jon Stow
    26 Apr 2012 | 6:11 am
    Get off the treadmill... It’s no secret that I believe in taking breaks from work because it helps me relax and be more efficient. Enjoying ourselves and having a bit of fun is good for us. What I find really frightening is when I see people so buried in fighting their business issues that they end up working all hours, sometimes seven days a week. Often they are not making money, and that is when they seriously need help from someone like me. However, some people are making a lot of money, but they have lost sight of why they are doing it. Making a pile of money is all very well, and…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Finder411's blog

  • Pleasant Green Grass

    Finder411
    2 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    bigLogo[1].jpg Finder411 is pleased to welcome Pleasant Green Grass in Durham, North Carolina. Pleasant Green Grass offers organic lawn care that is customized for your lawn! They offer weed control, fertilizers, soil amendments, aeration, overseeding, soil analysis, compost tea spray, compost top dressing, organic garden installation, bush/ tree trimming, glutengreen organic pre-emergent and fertilizer, humate soil conditioner, mulching, mosquito and tick control. Contact them at (919) 357-8245. You can see reviews and more information on their profile…

  • Submit a Review for a chance to win Cash!

    Finder411
    13 Apr 2012 | 3:06 pm
    Finder411 is looking for your input! We want to be the definitive free website for business reviews - and we’d like your help.  We are looking for consumers who have had either good or unsatisfactory experiences with local contractors and businesses. We welcome you to submit an informative review of the services you received on our site, http://finder411.com/. As a reward, we will be offering a $50 prize to one random reviewer for every 200 reviews we receive. You can leave an informative review on multiple companies’ profiles to increase your chances up to 5 times.

  • Johnson Pressure Washing in Garner, NC

    Finder411
    31 Jan 2012 | 10:09 am
    fall_new_final_99sm.jpg Finder411 is pleased to welcome Johnson Pressure Washing in Garner, North Carolina. Johnson Pressure Washing provides professional, timely, and affordable pressure wash service to customers in the Triangle area.  They have over a decade of experience and are dedicated to providing you with quality service and building a trusting partnership with each customer that contracts with Johnson Pressure Washing. In addition to pressure washing, they also provide painting and commercial cleaning service.  They provide both residential and commercial service.

  • NewStone Guide Leaps Forward as Finder411!

    Finder411
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:22 pm
    NewStone Guide is becoming Finder411 to increase consumer reach and expand as a business network site. While Finder411 holds firm to its mission—providing top-notch advertising, high visibility and hassle-free communication for local businesses and consumers—it has strengthened its strategy and brand.   The goal of Finder411 is to help Vendors achieve the best web exposure. Local consumers will find both Finder411 and its additional category-specific affiliate sites on Google®. Finder411 works with Premium Vendors to make their Profile highly ranked for relevant…

  • D & T Auto Repair, serving Sumter-Myrtle Beach-Columbia-Florence, SC

    Finder411
    11 Jan 2012 | 3:41 pm
    unnamed180.jpg Finder411 is pleased to welcome D & T Auto Repair in Sumter, South Carolina at 40 Bridge Ct. No matter the size of the job or the make & model of your vehicle, D & T Auto Repair is there to handle your automotive service needs.  With over 7 years of professional experience in the automotive industry, owner, Robert King is sure to provide you with top quality work. Services include everything from smaller jobs such as oil changes, tune ups, and check engine light help to large jobs, such as transmissions and engine work.  D & T Auto Repair…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    Jumpstart Your Business

  • Financing Tutorial – Getting Capital For Your Small Business

    Jim Smith
    14 May 2012 | 7:56 am
    Without capital, it is virtually impossible to start up your small business and to keep it running successfully.  You need funds to defray the one-time expenses so that you can open your doors and also to pay the ongoing expenses in the first months when you still are not generating enough revenue to pay for your expenses. photo: Tax Credits Later on you’ll need capital for a myriad of reasons, including but not limited to  getting better equipment, expanding the business, building up your inventory and introducing new products. This tutorial is broken up into 15 lessons on the basics of…

  • Yelp And Your Small Business

    Jim Smith
    7 May 2012 | 7:28 am
    Yelp has become a wildly popular online social media site where real people leave real reviews on local businesses. Yelp’s purpose is to assist people in finding great local businesses. In Q4 2011, they had an average of approximately 66 million unique views in each month. Users have written over 25 million reviews on local businesses on Yelp. With just these few numbers provided, you can see how Yelp can be beneficial for your small business. photo: ewen and donabel Set up your business account It’s simple to set up a business account on Yelp. The accounts are free and allow you to…

  • StumbleUpon And Your Small Business

    Jim Smith
    1 May 2012 | 7:15 am
    For many small businesses, reaching the widest customer base possible is generally  a priority.  Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are useful but sometimes they do not offer the broad promotion that your business needs simply because they are based on the extent of your network.  There are alternative methods to gaining a broad audience that will get people talking and more importantly, drive sales.  Using social bookmarking sites, such as StumbleUpon, can significantly increase the amount of random hits on your website.  StumbleUpon has been credited with being far…

  • Making Pinterest Work For Your Small Business

    Jim Smith
    25 Apr 2012 | 7:11 am
    If you haven’t heard by now, Pinterest is making waves through the Internet. It is now the third most popular social media site and anyone who enjoys sharing photos can register with Pinterest and share their interests through the art of pictures. Photographers, photojournalists and hobbyists alike gain a wealth of opportunity by signing up with this website. But not only these groups of individuals, but small business owners, as well can leverage this resource. While an online pinboard might seem like a strange place to grow a small business, it is very possible and makes a lot of sense.

  • LinkedIn And Your Small Business

    Jim Smith
    17 Apr 2012 | 7:36 am
    LinkedIn is a social media resource that many people overlook. In the past, it was used mainly for finding a job or connecting with colleagues. But it has made changes since to allow companies to be more involved with their pages by being able to share company updates, connect with other companies, etc. It can be a powerful resource if used properly. Let’s take a look at the basics of setting up a LinkedIn Company page and see the best way to get the most out of LinkedIn. photo: Adriano Gasparri Set up a Profile Setting up a LinkedIn Company Page is fairly easy. All you need to do is enter…
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    » | Swipely’s Small Business Marketing Blog

  • 5 Quick Tips for Collecting More Emails at the Counter

    Amanda MacArthur, Managing Editor, Swipely
    16 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetThe rise of today’s e-tailers is not without a great email marketing strategy. Customers see new products and sales in their inbox every morning and are enticed to keep visiting the website. This is not unlike local email marketing at your brick and mortar store or restaurant, where a good email marketing list can keep customers coming back into the store, or at least keep them paying attention. Here are a few quick tips on how to collect email addresses by getting customers to put pen to paper at your counter and give up their most sacred digital key – the one that goes to…

  • How To Treat Customers Like VIPs Every Day

    Elizabeth Ducoff, PR & Marketing, Swipely
    15 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetSending out discounts and incentives is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to rewarding loyal customers. There’s a world of rewards that don’t have anything to do with price that you can add to your marketing repertoire. At the Table Yesterday’s way is to rely on customers to ask for a particular table when they’re celebrating an occasion. Today’s way is to flip this request on its head and invite a different guest to dine at a special table every night (without them having to request “the chef’s table”). The real estate is already…

  • Klout Brand Pages: Should Small Businesses Care?

    SwipelyWorks Editors
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetA while back, we discussed how Klout’s classification of social sharing “personality” types is perhaps more interesting than the scores, for small businesses. Klout is in the news again and launching what they are calling “Brand Squads” – a new kind of page allowing businesses to connect with “influencers” who can earn perks by being public advocates of a brand across their social networks. Currently, the Brand Squad pages are in beta and the only business using it is Red Bull. With Klout’s big announcement, a recent Hubspot article by Anum Hussein astutely…

  • [5/7-11] This Week in Small Business News

    Amanda MacArthur, Managing Editor, Swipely
    11 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    TweetThis week in small business news, mobile marketing is getting more press, a Brazilian retailer gets creative with Facebook, small business growth is at an all-time low, and debit card fees just got a little more bearable. 1. Small Businesses That Use Mobile Marketing See Their Sales Soar, Survey Shows Rieva Lesonsky reports on the Small Business Mobile Survey, which says that only 26% of small business owners have a mobile-friendly website, though 69% consider mobile marketing crucial to their growth and plan to spend more on it. Out of that last group, 38% say that it’s a…

  • The ROI of Social Media for Small Businesses

    SwipelyWorks Editors
    10 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Tweet How do you really know that managing your social media profiles and strategizing a marketing campaign around them is increasing your revenue? Is it possible to measure how the time and energy you spend building a network of loyal followers online is worth it for your business? What’s your “return on investment” or ROI? A great blog post by Dion Hinchcliffe on the Dachis Group website this month delves into identifying the value of making your business more social. Although he’s not talking specifically about small businesses here, a couple of points in his article…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    New York Phone Numbers

  • Chicago Phone Numbers

    newyorkphonenumbers
    15 May 2012 | 6:20 am
    Chicago Phone Numbers are Key to Local Advertising Consumers judge businesses based on several factors, often before they even make contact with the company. Technology has made it easy for individuals to research companies before they do business, so competition is fierce. W7ZJRBYCB2WCOne easy way to catch a customers’ attention is very simple, you just need an effective phone number. Whether they are searching on the internet or flipping through a phone book, one of the first things potential clients notice about a business is the phone number. One thing a phone number reveals to customer…

  • New York Phone Numbers

    newyorkphonenumbers
    14 May 2012 | 6:12 am
    Many businesses strive to use strategic marketing, advertising, design, and service to build a strong reputation and increase business. What they may not realize is that their business is being judged by another unexpected factor, their phone number. The right phone number can tell consumers several things about a company. A company number ending in easy to remember digits, like 0404 or 4444, suggests that they have the funds to obtain a sought after number that is convenient and catchy for their customers. Likewise, a business that has a number that cannot easily be distinguished from other…

  • New York Phone Numbers

    newyorkphonenumbers
    9 Feb 2012 | 6:03 am
    There are over 8 million residents within New York City. Add to that number the millions more people living in the suburbs and surrounding cities and you have an incredible market of potential customers. So how can you tap into that amazing potential? Some businesses pack up their stores and move to the city and struggle to make ends meet. They realize that rents are too high and the competition too tough to survive. However, what would your reaction be if you were to realize that New York phone numbers are one of the most powerful tools business owners can use to become successful in this…
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

    10 Bellevue - 10 Bellevue's Company Blog

  • 8 Core Beliefs of Extraordinary Bosses

    10 May 2012 | 6:22 pm
    Written by: Geoffrey James, www.inc.comA few years back, I interviewed some of the most successful CEOs in the world in order to discover their management secrets. I learned that the “best of the best” tend to share the following eight core beliefs. 1. Business is an ecosystem, not a battlefield.Average bosses see business as a conflict between companies, departments and groups. They build huge armies of “troops” to order about, demonize competitors as “enemies,” and treat customers as “territory” to be conquered.Extraordinary bosses see business as a symbiosis…

  • 10 Differences Between a Winner and a Loser

    3 May 2012 | 9:05 pm
    1.  A winner makes mistakes and says, “I was wrong.” A loser says, “It wasn’t my fault.”2.  A winner credits his good luck for winning even though it wasn’t luck.  A loser credits his bad luck for losing, but it wasn’t luck.3.  A winner works harder than a loser and has more time.  A loser is always ‘too busy,’ too busy staying a failure.4.  A winner goes through a problem and a loser goes around it.5.  A winner shows he’s sorry by making up for it.  A loser says he’s sorry but he does the same thing next time.6.  A winner…

  • Sharpening the Saw

    20 Apr 2012 | 11:03 am
    Habit #7 in Steve Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is called “Sharpen the Saw.” Covey uses the common analogy of a woodcutter who is sawing for several days straight and is becoming less and less productive. The process of cutting dulls the blade. So the solution is to periodically sharpen the saw.I’ve found that in practice, however, most people fail to understand what sharpening the saw really means. If you’re overworking yourself and your productivity begins to fall off, common wisdom says to take a break, maybe even go on vacation. However, that isn’t…

  • Inspire Personal Accountability

    10 Apr 2012 | 5:12 pm
    As a leader, deciding to make changes is the easy part. Getting your people on board is much more difficult. Why is that? Quite simply, change is an emotional process. We are all creatures of habit who usually resist it, and welcome routine. Unchartered waters are scary!In the long run, however, sameness is the fast tract to mediocrity. And, mediocre companies won't survive. Tuli Kupferberg said it best... "When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge." And, that is your challenge...to convince your team that the new world you are trying to create is better than the one you're in. Is it easy?

  • What Every Entrepreneur Can Learn From The Movie 'Limitless'

    22 Mar 2012 | 5:56 pm
    February 22, 2012 | Posted by Joel in Success AdvicesThe premise of this film is based on a fictional drug called NZT which magically transformed down-and-out loser Eddie Morra into one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his time. Aside from Bradley Cooper’sbrilliant performance as Eddie, one of the most intriguing aspects of the story was the drug itself. In many ways, NZT represented power.Throughout the story, one could see the effects it had on the various characters in the film and the lengths they were willing to go to just to have it.
 
Log in