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HitTail - Keyword Reporting
"HitTail basically just analyzes your entire long tail keyword list and pulls out the ones where it thinks you can make the most ground in the least amount of time. In other words, take a suggestion, write about it in a blog post or optimized page, and go from X-pages in (which you were previously) to the first page or two. Keep that up over time, and you will grow a considerable amount of qualified natural search traffic."

Metrics - Is The Page View Dying As An Important Measure?
"Given today's use of RSS feeds and readers and the proliferation of blogs, is the Page View, the grande dame of metrics, going the way of the dodo? I personally think No, but we may need to redefine the value we place on it."

Help! Slogan Needed
"...I still haven't been able to come up with a slogan for the company. Every time I come up with an idea it seems kind of dry. We sell seats in training seminars at the last minute for a deep discount. ...If anyone would like to give me any suggestions for a slogan I would appreciate it."

HitTail - Keyword Reporting
"HitTail basically just analyzes your entire long tail keyword list and pulls out the ones where it thinks you can make the most ground in the least amount of time. In other words, take a suggestion, write about it in a blog post or optimized page, and go from X-pages in (which you were previously) to the first page or two. Keep that up over time, and you will grow a considerable amount of qualified natural search traffic."

Metrics - Is The Page View Dying As An Important Measure?
"Given today's use of RSS feeds and readers and the proliferation of blogs, is the Page View, the grande dame of metrics, going the way of the dodo? I personally think No, but we may need to redefine the value we place on it."

Help! Slogan Needed
"...I still haven't been able to come up with a slogan for the company. Every time I come up with an idea it seems kind of dry. We sell seats in training seminars at the last minute for a deep discount. ...If anyone would like to give me any suggestions for a slogan I would appreciate it."

Affiliates - Are You Using These Tactics?
devshed.com - There are some tactics every affiliate marketer should be using on most, if not all of their websites.These tactics may help you to improve your sales.

When an Employee Blogs About Work
businessweek.com - If it flies under the company radar, a blog can present significant legal risks. It can also benefit marketing and sales efforts. So what should you do?

The Right Stuff
oracle.com - Small businesses can compete on a big scale if they have enterprise-caliber software.

Failure to Launch?
entrepreneur.com - Debunking the myth that most startups crash and burn.

A Portfolio of Young Business Owners
inc.com - Meet six students who have already taken the entrepreneurial leap.

MyAdvice
mybusinessmag.com - There are many resources available to your business, but the tools you need from them won't always be provided to you on a platter.

Insuring Your Small Business
fool.com - Once you've created a successful small business, you'll want to ensure that your business is protected from various kinds of risk.

Don't Discard Your Privacy Along With Old Drives
pcworld.com - When disposing of old drives and discs, be sure to destroy the data they hold.

Don't Ignore Legal Obligations of The CAN-SPAM Act
smallbusinessbrief.com - Most small business owners are not aware that they or an employee may be breaking the law regarding spam. The advice that follows is intended to help you avoid any financial or legal consequences.

Writing An Auction Page That Sells
smallbusinessbrief.com - Writing a successful auction page on any Online Auction site is the key to getting more bids and higher profits. Whatever you sell, you will need to make sure your items' ads are the best they can be.

What's Your Website's Hook?
smallbusinessbrief.com - If your website doesn't have a hook, you're losing business - more importantly, you're losing valuable repeat business; because an effective hook will not only reel visitors in the first time around - it will also cause them to return to your website over and over and over again.

Are You displaying The "Right" Business Image To Attract Customers?
smallbusinessbrief.com - Consider the following items to put your best image forward to attract and retain your customers.

Lower Speed=Faster Chips?
pcmag.com - Why are processor speeds getting lower? I have a 3.0-GHz Intel Pentium D PC, but the newer version of this system has a 2.13-GHz dual-core Intel processor. I can't even find a 3.0- or 3.2-GHz anymore.

Shop owner escapes rat race in the Attic
bizjournals.com - So two years ago, Strader walked away from the spa business, as well as its accompanying six-figure income. "I was burnt out," Strader said. "I have two little kids, and I was constantly running the rat race." Shortly after leaving that business, Strader and her husband, Joey Strader, bought consignment shop Annie's Attic for an undisclosed price.

eBay Has Technical Problems with 'Markdown Manager'
auctionbytes.com - Sellers welcomed eBay's new Markdown Manager feature that allows them to put items on sale, but technical glitches are putting a damper on their enthusiasm. eBay notified developers of the problems, though it did not put an announcement on the Systems Announcement Board.

Dare to Do Mighty E-mail Things
clickz.com - My advice to those who are truly interested in success in the years ahead is to heed these parameters.

eBay Listings That Draw New and Repeat Customers
msnbc.msn.com - Customer service isn't just what happens after the sale. Start by making a good impression with your listing, and take it from there.

How to restructure and reorganise your business
bytestart.co.uk - The principal reason for restructuring or reorganising your business is to make sure it is in the best position to achieve its objectives. As a business grows, it will face a number of influencing factors such as new markets, changes in demand, or the need to improve working practices and processes internally.

Sole Proprietors Are Focus of Tax-Gap Debate
startupjournal.com - As Democrats and Republicans wrangle over how to pull in the estimated $300 billion in uncollected income taxes each year, one group is being thrust into the spotlight: sole proprietors.

HP Designs Inkjets and All-In-Ones for SMBs
smallbusinesscomputing.com - Whether you need to print a single hard copy to give a rough draft a closer read, collate 50 copies of a client proposal or create full-color marketing materials to pitch your services, the printer is the workhorse you rely on time and time again. And according to the results of our 2007 Small Business Computing Excellence in Technology Awards, HP is the printer company you turn to more than any other.

Bling Your Business Cards
entrepreneur.com - First impressions count, so give your business cards some style.

Blogs: Bust or Boon? Calculating Blog ROI
ecommerce-guide.com - How do you know if blogging is boosting the bottom line? Measuring the return-on-investment for blogs is tricky since the value can't be measured precisely, but Forrester Research analysts tackled this difficult task by issuing two studies, a case study on General Motors and a report outlining how to calculate blog ROI.

How To Create Profits Using Viral Marketing Techniques
devshed.com - The Difference Among Viral, Buzz, and Word-of-Mouth... There are certain words, jargon that stands in for theory, that starts with marketing industry insiders and before you know it becomes the 'in' subject of books, blogs, articles, and MBA dissertations. But as jargon filters down to the less sophisticated, the meaning and ideas behind these words becomes lost. Such is the case with the current state of thinking on Buzz, Viral, and Word-of-Mouth marketing.

Blogging: Effective Marketing
devshed.com - Today blogging is used for personal as well as business applications. In the domain of business blogging (B-Blogging) many businesses are seeing the value of a b-blog and are allowing key personnel to blog on company time. The reasons are varied, but a b-blog is useful in presenting the face behind the brand.

Learn How to Save with the Right Office Equipment
morebusiness.com - As a small business owner your time is spent managing and growing your business. Saving time, money and energy is essential. A small investment in the right type of office equipment can make a big difference.

Top 10 Tips For A Successful Network Marketing Presentation
smallbusinessbrief.com - As network marketers, we often have important information to impart and our role in doing so is a major one. Many, many times I have had the pleasure of having people approach me to say how hearing me speak literally changed their lives due to the powerful message and the persuasiveness of the delivery.

A Quiz: Test Your Podcasting Knowledge
smallbusinessbrief.com - How much do you know about podcasting? Take the podcast quiz and test your knowledge.

A Confirmation E-mail Is a Terrible Thing to Waste
clickz.com - As we've discussed in past columns, confirmation e-mail messages get tremendous open rates. According to fellow columnist Jeanniey Mullen, 74 percent of the general population will open and read service or confirmation e-mail within an hour of receipt.

Stop "Winging it" and Start Preparing
bytestart.co.uk - We don’t tolerate lack of preparation from others, so it stands to reason that we certainly wouldn’t tolerate lack of preparation from ourselves, right? Wrong. Every day there are herds of people who make sales calls unprepared. Lack of preparation is a potential precursor to disaster whether you’re a lawyer, a pilot, a surgeon or a salesperson.

You are your most important appointment
usatoday.com - Over the years I have learned to use the word "holistic" more than the word "balance." Many mistakenly think that balance means to divide your time into equal parts for the various aspects of your life. It is impossible to do that.

The Fundamentals Of Running A Restaurant
forbes.com - It seems like everyone and her third cousin is running a restaurant these days. In the U.S., 935,000 eateries serve more than 70 billion meals and snacks per year, according to the National Restaurant Association. You know something about food and wine. You like people. You could be a restaurateur, right?

New Tax Breaks for 2007
inc.com - Tax code changes made before the congressional break give small-business owners more ways of keeping tax bills down.

The Power of a Postcard
businessknowhow.com - Electronic newsletters. Automated e-mail. Interactive web sites. With so many "high-tech" marketing weapons available to business owners today, why would anyone consider using the lowly postcard? Quite simply... because it works.

Tips for Adding Video To a Business Web Site
startupjournal.com - Want to make your small-business Web site sticky? Try adding video to your marketing mix.

Stop Spam Before It Stops You
smallbusinesscomputing.com - While nearly every e-mail program and Internet Service Provider (ISP) now has a spam filter, some do a better job than others. To truly win the war on spam, you most likely need a standalone anti-spam product. Fortunately, there are many good, low-cost anti-spam solutions out there.

10 Tips for Working With Family Members
entrepreneur.com - Our employee management expert offers advice on what to do to keep it professional.

Happy Landing (Pages)
smartbiz.com - So you’ve dutifully set up your pay-per-click (PPC) accounts and the campaigns are up and running. Maybe your results haven’t been quite what you hoped for, or perhaps you haven’t seen a difference at all. What happened? While there could be a number of answers to that question, you might want to start by taking a look at your landing pages.

Cyberslang: Does it Have a Place in Your Small-Business Correspondence?
nfib.com - There are some basic tips to keep in mind when e-mailing a client, customer or anyone who may one day be a business contact of yours.

Homestead Sites for eBay Sellers
auctionbytes.com - Homestead.com has offered website hosting since 1998. As an online seller, you can choose between two main offerings. Homestead's web-hosting service allows you to add a PayPal shopping cart if you want to sell items. And Storefronts is a full-featured ecommerce service that uses eBay's ProStores technology (formerly Kurant) and integrates with eBay and PayPal.

Modern scams and how to beat them
msnbc.msn.com - From prepayment to overpayment, it's easy for small businesses to fall prey.

Collection Letter Secrets to Getting Paid
about.com - Hate collecting your money? Join the crowd. Recent OPEN Small Business Network Polls from American Express shows accounts receivables is the top cash flow concern of small business owners. Learn the secrets of collection letters and other mastery tips to ensure your customers pay.

The Web of Tomorrow
sitepronews.com - By looking at the trends of today we can begin to develop a image of what the Web of the future will look like. I believe the Web will improve and grow in a way that will dwarf its present existence and will improve and enrich everyone's lives way beyond what we can imagine today.

Employees' friends, relatives can be great hires
usatoday.com - "I can't find good help." One of the greatest complaints small employers have is how difficult it is to find good employees. But there's one place they often fail to search for new job applicants — the families and friends of their best employees.

Internet Marketing: Is Pay-Per-Click Advertising Still Profitable?
devshed.com - This is a million-dollar question that many Internet marketing professionals are still asking.One main stumbling block is the financial risk of this option. After all, this is pay-per-click, where you will have to pay for every visitor who click through to your site. Even then, there is no guarantee that these visitors will be converted into paying customers. So is it all doom and gloom? Not exactly.

To Patent or Not to Patent?
businessweek.com - First, evaluate whether or not you need one. Then check for existing patent landmines during the early stages of product development

The Tables Turn
entrepreneur.com - Tired of looking for growth capital for your company? Focus on five fundamentals, and investors may come looking for you.

Five Things to Learn from Your eBay Competition (Vendor Monday)
auctionbytes.com - Buyers perform a side-by-side comparison of your product listings to those offered by other eBay sellers. Subtle differences in sales technique make a big difference in a buyer's decision.

7 Ways of getting your customers to say "Wow!"
bytestart.co.uk - Just imagine. You have walked out of a shop or put down the phone after purchasing something and your immediate reaction is “Wow!” How do you feel? Excited; satisfied; fulfilled … eager to return and buy again? Wouldn’t it be great if you could get your customers to feel the same way about dealing with you?

What's in a name? Maybe a lot, if you've got an address, too
usatoday.com - While I have no personal experience with direct mail, I know a few small business owners who swear by it, and one colleague of mine has created a multi-million dollar business by doing nothing but direct mail. And they are not unique, so yes — mailing the right offer to the right person can have a dramatic effect on your business.

How To Get Members Interesteded In Your Autoresponder Message
devshed.com - If you are using your autoresponder to sell a product or service, you must be very careful as to how you approach your potential customer.Few people like a hard sale, and marketers have known for years that in most cases, a prospect must hear your message an average of seven times before they will make a purchase. How do you accomplish this with autoresponders?

Keep Your Friends Close. Keep Your Enemies Closer
inc.com - Befriending the competition can help grow your business. Really.

Learn How to Save with the Right Office Equipment
morebusiness.com - As a small business owner your time is spent managing and growing your business. Saving time, money and energy is essential. A small investment in the right type of office equipment can make a big difference.

Online Branding Strategies
morebusiness.com - When making purchases online, most people prefer to opt for brand names. It must be appreciated that branding enables marketers to raise the price of their products and continue to increase sales volumes, alongside. This is the precise reason why Internet marketing success depends so much on the consumer's 'brand awareness'.

Tunnel Vision Marketing: What You Don't Know About Your Prospects Could Cost You Your Business
businessknowhow.com - Tired of investing time or money marketing your business and going nowhere fast? Frustrated by how "hit or miss" your marketing efforts turn out? Want to know the secret to multiplying your marketing results with greater precision and velocity? The solution is simpler than you think.

Analytics: Deciphering the Data
ecommerce-guide.com - Web site analytics provide valuable information about who is coming to your site and what they do once they get there. At the simplest level, a counter that displays the number of visitors to a page is a source of Web analytics, but analytics when interpreted properly, is much more than that.

Opening a Small Retail Shop
businessweek.com - Yes, it's notoriously difficult to start and run one successfully. Here are the key steps to take to ensure you get off on the right foot.

How to Track Ad Results
entrepreneur.com - 3 strategies for determining if you're spending your advertising dollars wisely.

eBay Watch: Mastering Markdowns
ecommerce-guide.com - This week eBay Stores released a new feature called Markdown Manager. It is a free tool that's being made available to Store subscribers. Markdown Manager enables you to offer discounted pricing to buyers by putting your Fixed Price and Store Inventory items "on sale."