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Small Business Brief
Weekly Newsletter - Date
Hi All!
Here is this week's edition of our newsletter.
Keep in mind that what you are currently looking at is a template. Although it has the current news up until today's date, my actual opening remarks for this week are only available in the newsletter once it is delivered.
Just let me know if you have questions or comments.
See you next week!
Linda Riley
Editor - Small Business Brief
linda @ smallbusinessbrief.com
Be sure and drop by our Small Business Ideas Forum. It's a friendly community where we share knowledge, find help and encourage one another.
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Recent Conversations In Our Small Business Ideas Forum |
Spoofing bug found in IE 7
zdnet.com - Security experts have found a weakness in Internet Explorer 7 that could help crooks mask phishing scams, the type of attack Microsoft designed the browser to thwart.
Don’t Get Stalled at Startup
msn.com - Here are eight guidelines you’ll want to follow to help you make sure the business you’re starting or buying has a fighting chance to survive--for both the short and long term.
E-mail Marketers Must Get Relevant
clickz.com - The majority of e-mail marketers are failing to use e-mail as a relevant marketing tool, at the same time that consumers are spending less time and attention on e-mail, according to Jupiter Research VP and research director David Daniels.
eBay Expands Categories on eBay Express Marketplace
auctionbytes.com - eBay announced Wednesday it will launch additional categories on its new eBay Express marketplace in the next few weeks, including Collectible Kitchenware, Historical Memorabilia, and Model RR and Trains.
Enduring Images can put them on anything
bizjournals.com - A small company described by its owners as "a well-kept secret in Colorado" is carving out a niche in custom artwork. Its unique technologies permanently imprint art or photos on ceramic or laser-etch on just about anything -- from glass, wood and leather to marble and granite.
Networking 101: Getting Outside Your Friends and Family Circle to Make Business Contacts
nfib.com - Your roommate and your mom may very well always be your most faithful customers; but if you want your business to grow, you can't depend on them to be your only customers. To continue cultivating new business, it might be time to enter the world of networking. Here are a few places to start.
What IM Best Practices Should Small Businesses Use?
IM and other real-time, collaborative applications such as web conferencing, P2P file sharing and VOIP (eg skype) - all represent a tremendous competitive advantage because of their efficiency, cost savings and presence-orientation. However....
Top 10 Article Writing and Submission Mistakes That Stop Sales
smallbusinessbrief.com - Have you submitted articles to the high-traffic web sites and article directories, but had few people come to your site to buy? Do you want your advanced article marketing to work so well, you will realize triple, even quadruple sales at your site? And, never have to go back to expensive, hard work publicity or marketing campaigns?
27 Exhibiting Do's and Don'ts
smallbusinessbrief.com - Some exhibition things to think about.
Don't Fall Prey to Lazy Password Practices
smallbusinesscomputing.com - It’s in your best interest to change your password to one that complies with the established guidelines for strong and secure password creation and then adopt responsible practices for keeping it from falling into unauthorized hands.
Using Internet Coupons To Grow Online and Off
startupjournal.com - Whether your business is online, off or both, Internet coupons can be a simple, low-cost way to draw sales from a wide audience, as entrepreneur Jacques Stambouli has learned.
The 8 Essentials of Corporate Gift Buying
about.com - Buying the perfect corporate gift for your clients has never been easier with the availability of products online and retail. However, with the vast selection of gift ideas comes a dizzying array of choices. Before you set out to find the perfect corporate gift for your clients, know the essentials of corporate gift buying
Five Ways To Kill Your Affiliate Commissions
businesstoolchest.com - If you are one of the 80 percent who are not happy with your affiliate commissions perhaps you are guilty of making one or all of the five most common mistakes.
The good news is that you can change this.
Checkouts And Security: Your Web Host Is Key
devshed.com - From a commercial site owner's perspective, the checkout is the most rewarding of all site pages.It's the reason the site was built - to generate sales. Smooth, hassle-free transactions
Make Your Home Office Look Big
inc.com - Renting an Executive Suite can add polish to your professional appearance and make your business seem bigger than it is.
What if You Get Sued? A Look at Insurance
startupjournal.com - Could you tell me the pluses and minuses of liability insurance for one-person firms?
SiteKreator: Hostess With the Most-est
ecommerce-guide.com - If you want a simple, quick and affordable way to set up a Web store, consider SiteKreator Business Edition — a hosted site-building program that includes wizards, templates and integration with e-commerce must-haves such as PayPal and QuickBooks.
Part Two: How Certain Information Improves Credibility and Retains Web Site Visitors' Interest (So They Won't Click-Off)
smallbusinessbrief.com - Here is part two of the Ecommerce Usability Series - I think building web sites and dating are similar to one another. Both require skills and research. You want to present your best side. A stupid pickup line will not work for the untrusting and experienced person you run into at the bar, dance floor, salad section of the food store, or the homepage of your website. You can try, of course. However, barstool and web page abandonment may hurt until you learn the art of persuasion (and flirting.)
In the Online Conversation, No One Listens to You, Because You’re Not Listening
businesstoolchest.com - Let's start at ground zero: Markets are Conversations. You've probably heard that before -- it's the opening of the popular book The Cluetrain Manifesto. But what does that catchphrase really mean, and how can it affect your business?
BitDefender: Comprehensive PC Protection with a Serious Pedigree
smallbusinesscomputing.com - Not content to tackle security issues from just one vantage point, European software maker SoftWin has come to market in recent months with a trio of products meant to safeguard computers from a range of threats.
How to Get the Most From Online Directories
startupjournal.com - Shoppers who once turned to the yellow pages are increasingly likely to click a mouse when searching for a local product or service. This change in habit makes it important for even a localized small business to have a robust online listing to remain relevant to consumers.
Software Automates Service Calls for Small Biz
ecommercetimes.com - BlueFolder's BlueService product keeps track of service call scheduling, tracking, billing and accounting. It also maintains customer information that becomes part of the service call record.
Gift shop offers one-of-a-kind treats
concordmonitor.com - Among the stained glass, potted plants, soaps and lotions, candles and chocolates, Cindy Gratton had a small hand-painted sign in her tiny gift shop on Route 3 in Boscawen. "Do what you love, love what you do," it said.
Should You License Or Produce Your Invention?
forbes.com - Most inventors follow a typical pattern: They perfect their invention, determine its marketability and take steps to protect it under patent laws. But then comes a difficult decision. How will the inventor make money from it? Should he license the invention to a third party, or should he manufacture and market the invention himself? This decision will affect not only how an inventor earns money, but also how much financing will be needed to proceed.
Retailers Start Holiday Promotions Earlier Than Ever
inc.com - More than a third of consumers say they will begin their shopping by Halloween, according to a new survey.
Sign Up Now for Google Optimizer
ecommerce-guide.com - Google just announced the beta launch of Website Optimizer, a new tool designed to help people using AdWords test different landing pages to determine which ones drive the most conversions — whether sales, sign-ups or downloads.
With Firefox 2, Mozilla touts security and speed
zdnet.com - Mozilla officially released Firefox 2 on Tuesday afternoon, after much buzz over possible early access to a backdoor into the code.
All-Seal expands on plan
bizjournals.com - Home improvement company spruces up business, adding products and stores, beefing up sales
Should You Partner?
morebusiness.com - Partnering can be very good, but it can also cause trouble. Each person in a business brings their own vision for the business, along with their strengths, talents, and assets.
eBay Shipping Enhancements Include Free-Shipping Filter
auctionbytes.com - eBay announced it would roll out MultiOrder Shipping on PayPal next week. With MultiOrder Shipping, sellers will be able to print up to 50 domestic USPS shipping labels at one time, directly from their PayPal accounts.
Oh Soy
entrepreneur.com - This little bean is making a big difference in dozens of industries.
Venture Capital: The Spigot's On
businessweek.com - Startups are finding financing easier.
Motivation and Commitment
smallbusinessbrief.com - Why do people start small businesses? The most frequently cited motivation for business start-ups is to allow the entrepreneur to achieve independence; money is secondary. Is this surprising?
Web 2.0 in eCommerce
smallbusinessbrief.com - If you are planning to start a new online business or upgrade your existing eCommerce site, you should consider using some of the innovative ideas related to Web 2.0 concept.
Working Without a Safety Net
inc.com - What does the average entrepreneur have in common with the main character from "The Matrix"? Both of them embrace the unknown -- and know when to take chances.
What Is Page Rank?
businesstoolchest.com - Page ranks are defined numerically, from 1 through 10 - 10, being the highest. Very few pages have a page rank of 10, and anything above a 6 is considered very good. There are many factors that determine a page's rank, but the main variable seems to be based on how many websites link to your page.
Is It Safe to Store Files on the Internet?
allbusiness.com - Remote backup services don't actually store files on the Internet — it's just a convenient way to move information from your computer to their servers.
Nevertheless, a reputable online backup service is a very safe place to store your files.
eBay Shipping Enhancements Include Free-Shipping Filter
auctionbytes.com - eBay announced it would roll out MultiOrder Shipping on PayPal next week.
Keeping up with Uncle Sam
bizjournals.com - The average small-business owner in the U.S. spends $7,646 per employee just to stay in compliance with government regulations. That's according to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy and it's 45 percent more per employee than what large companies spend.
What's Love Got to Do With it?
entrepreneur.com - Is a passion for your idea enough to base a business on--or is a hot market opportunity a better guarantee of a sure thing?
Before You Ask For A Website Critique - Do's and Don'ts
smallbusinessbrief.com - I know that a lot of people starting out with a brand new website can be unaware of what type of pages convert better than others, so I thought I'd compile a list of "Do's and Don'ts" to clarify.
Ecommerce Usability Series - Part I. The Homepage Interview
smallbusinessbrief.com - While landing pages are helpful in guiding searchers to your site, eventually even these folks will find themselves on your homepage. Everyone has the same basic questions. These questions revolve around Who, Where, What, When, Why and How. Answering them is fun, and not as obvious
Saluting the Squawkers: Complaints Often Key to Improving Sales, Retention and Loyalty
businessknowhow.com - It's said nobody likes a complainer. I beg to differ. In customer service a complainer is doing you a favor. They are the extension of your research, testing and quality assurance departments. Although essentially unpaid, they're providing you with invaluable, often real-time feedback on what isn't working in your business or your relationship with them. Try to put a price tag on that.
Start Your Own Business After a Layoff
about.com - Call it what you like job cuts, corporate restructuring, head count reduction, or layoffs but for hundreds of thousands of people, it's a dramatic life changing event. Being unemployed in a tight job market offers very few opportunities even for talented individuals. One growing alternative for the newly "pink slipped" is to start a business.
Access the Internet Without a Wire
smallbusinesscomputing.com - While many small businesses take broadband Internet connections for granted, for some either their location or the mobile nature of their business has been a deterrent to high-speed access.
If your business falls into one of those categories, you may be interested in learning more about the SonicWall TZ 190.
Setting up a Mobile Marketing Program: A Primer
marketingprofs.com - Quick—is your marketing mobile? Can your message reach your on-the-go audience and can your in-motion customer interact with you wherever they are?
Small Business Loans - An Overview
bytestart.co.uk - Whether you're starting a new business, or have been in business for some time, there may well be occasions when additional funding is required to fund the business. Small Business Loans come in various forms, and are widely available. They can provide a very flexible solution to any type of funding requirement. This article provides a high level overview of the small business loan market.
Boss or leader? Learning to delegate
usatoday.com - Entrepreneurs like to be in charge. You start your company so you can call the shots — not someone else. But if you want to grow your business, you're going to have to learn to give responsibility to others. The question is — how do you become a leader, not just a manager, of others?
SOHO and the Internet
businesstoolchest.com - If you don’t have a ton of upfront money and you really want to work for yourself – no partnership, no franchising, your work from home Internet business can still thrive in many freelance ventures.
Checkouts And Security: Your Web Host Is Key
devshed.com - From a commercial site owner's perspective, the checkout is the most rewarding of all site pages.It's the reason the site was built - to generate sales. Smooth, hassle-free transactions.
EBay's 'Best Match' A Bad One For Small Retailers
forbes.com - Smaller eBay retailers might just have been dealt a swift one-two punch from the auctions giant.
Comerica Bank, Starwood Hotels Launch Credit Cards for Business Owners
inc.com - A weekly look at the latest products and services designed to help you run a better business.
Will Longer Keyphrases Hinder the Effectiveness of Your Copy?
businessknowhow.com - The length of search phrases continues to grow. Back when the Internet was just an upstart, single keywords were the only thing you needed. But in recent years we've seen the number of words used in search phrases triple and quadruple.
Reality Check Before the Business Plan
businessweek.com - Before you launch, get feedback from your target market with a survey to make sure your concept and price range are viable
Building Client Relationships
entrepreneur.com - Cultivating client relationships goes beyond good customer service—if you truly care about your clients, then they’ll care about you.
eBay Watch: Stealth E-Mail, Storefronts, Stratocasters
ecommerce-guide.com - eBay announced that sellers and buyers can now communicate by e-mail using their own mail client but still keep their e-mail addresses private.
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