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I Mailed Out 5000 Cards This Week - How Long Till First Sale?
"I know, I am being very impatient. Still, to sooth my nerves could others share the success of their postcard campaigns? In my case I purchased a highly targeted list, created full color 4/4 5" x 8" cards featuring a limited time discount offer and mailed them out to my list this week."

Spam Coming Through My Contact Form
"I guess this is more of an annoyance then anything, but does anyone have any suggestions of something I can do to stop this...?"

Can You Trust A Blogger's Advice?
"Trusting bloggers is like trusting anyone else in the world--trust has to be earned. I know a lot of people are up in arms about paid per blog posting, but if there's a stipulation in the contract that says the review must be 100% honest, even if it's negative, and if the blogger makes it aware at the end of that post, not in a button/link that he/she was paid to review the product. I don't see the harm in it."

I Mailed Out 5000 Cards This Week - How Long Till First Sale?
"I know, I am being very impatient. Still, to sooth my nerves could others share the success of their postcard campaigns? In my case I purchased a highly targeted list, created full color 4/4 5" x 8" cards featuring a limited time discount offer and mailed them out to my list this week."

Spam Coming Through My Contact Form
"I guess this is more of an annoyance then anything, but does anyone have any suggestions of something I can do to stop this...?"

Can You Trust A Blogger's Advice?
"Trusting bloggers is like trusting anyone else in the world--trust has to be earned. I know a lot of people are up in arms about paid per blog posting, but if there's a stipulation in the contract that says the review must be 100% honest, even if it's negative, and if the blogger makes it aware at the end of that post, not in a button/link that he/she was paid to review the product. I don't see the harm in it."

How to Start a Pet-Sitting Business
businessinfoguide.com - Everyday someone asks me, "How do you start a pet-sitting business?" I try to answer their question succinctly. But the truth is, starting a pet-sitting business, or any business is not always a succinct process. Following are 21 tips that I know can lead to pet-care business success in any economy.

How can I sell my business?
money.cnn.com - An owner is ready to retire, but wonders if going through a business broker would mean getting a better price. Plus: good books for entrepreneurs.

Be Fresh: Original Content Converts
ecommerce-guide.com - Your e-commerce store needs to stand out from every other store selling the same products. There are many facets of creating a powerful online business, including a clean design, simple-to-use catalog and shopping cart and competitive pricing, but one major aspect that is sometimes overlooked, however, is the content.

It Takes 2.0 to Tango
entrepreneur.com - You might have heard of Web 2.0, but do you know what this new version of the internet means for your business? Get in step with the more collaborative, more interactive web of the future.

New Rules for Retirement Plans
businessweek.com - What the 2006 Pension Reform Act guidelines, which went into effect on Jan. 1, mean for small-business owners and their employees.

Small Business and Branding: Why and How?
smallbusinessbrief.com - When we speak of branding most of the time people try to relate it to big business house, however, the fact is that every business needs to establish their brand in order to survive the competition.

What is Twitter?
smallbusinessbrief.com - In case you haven't heard, there's a "red hot" new messaging service sweeping the planet called Twitter. What's Twitter?

Work At Home Mom: Get The Right Attitude
smallbusinessbrief.com - The struggle it can be to be a WAHM.

eBay Launches New ProStores Ecommerce Hosting Solution
auctionbytes.com - eBay has launched a new version of ProStores, its ecommerce hosting solution.

Create Passive Income with eBooks and Special Reports
businessinfoguide.com - Information products are a hot commodity in the online marketplace, transforming traditional entrepreneurs into infopreneurs. Ebooks and special reports are two of the most basic forms of info products. They are relatively easy to create and distribute and best of all, these products can generate passive income—money you make while you sleep.

Where to get business advice - free
money.cnn.com - Small Business Development Centers offer information, training and guidance to entrepreneurs, at little or no cost.

P.R. for the masses
bizjournals.com - New franchise aims to bring top-quality public relations tools to small businesses.

Big Results From Big Events
clickz.com - Want to get extra bang from you marketing buck? One great way is to create a promotion around major events that already attract large audiences. They can be high-profile, main stream events, like the Oscars, or smaller scale happenings, such as a local ice sculpture festival or a sports event. The key is to tie into an event your target audience is already excited out.

Google vs Microsoft — It Is Not That Easy
smallbiztrends.com - As soon as Google made the announcement about its enhanced Google Apps offering, the phrase “Microsoft Office killer” started being bandied about.

ProStores 8.0 Debuts
ecommerce-guide.com - An upgraded version of ProStores available today features a revamped interface and store-design module, says Eric Shoup, director of eBay's ProStores. Here are the highlights of version 8.0, according to Shoup's posting at www.ProStores.com.

Wipe, Don't Reformat, Your Old Hard Drives
smallbusinesscomputing.com - A little information can help both recover critical data and prevent it from ending up in the wrong hands. We'll take a look at ways to recover data from a reformatted drive and then at how to properly prepare a PC for donation.

10 Lies VCs Know You're Telling
entrepreneur.com - In the quest for capital, many entrepreneurs stretch the truth. One venture capitalist calls them out.

Another Way to Sell Without Paying Taxes
inc.com - The IRS may be scrambling to close a tax loophole for small-business owners looking to sell, but many others exist. Here's one.

Show Me the Money, Part I
businessweek.com - In the first of a two-part series on funding your startup, our columnist gives the lowdown on loans, equity investment, and grants

The Sales Paradox: Stop Selling to Sell
inc.com - Exceptional sales professionals think like doctors -- they diagnose problems before presenting solutions that could cure what ails their customers.

Getting Past Your Business Launch
entrepreneur.com - 11 tips to act on now that'll help you keep your business going well beyond the startup phase.

E-Mail Marketers Should Look Beyond Outlook
forbes.com - I've been using Microsoft Office 2007 for about a month. Its new Ribbon interface is a major improvement that's part of a worthwhile upgrade. Now, it's rather simple to send a mass mailing to my existing clients and be reasonably assured that my e-mail will render as intended.

Women in poorer nations twice as likely to become entrepreneurs
reuters.com - Women in the world's poorer nations have a higher rate of entrepreneurial activity than those in wealthier nations, according to a new global study.

New startup investment network launched
bytestart.co.uk - E-Synergy has launched a new membership service – 'Angelnet' – to give experienced investors access to start-up and early stage ventures with the potential for high growth.

What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
smallbusinesscomputing.com - Unauthorized wireless devices can expose your organization’s confidential data and critical assets to the outside world. Left connected, these devices create a dangerous vulnerability at best, and at worst, a company disaster.

I Think I Can, I Think I Can...
startupjournal.com - I love that self-confidence. It is deep, unshakeable and frequently self-fulfilling. Yes, it can turn into hubris if people aren't careful. But as I've learned over the years, a fundamental belief in one's ability to earn hefty amounts -- even if it means starting over again a couple times -- is at the heart of almost every great entrepreneur's success story.

Using Web Technology as a Means to Strengthen Competitive Advantage
about.com - Many firms underestimate the value of using their websites to gain significant competitive advantage in their given markets.

Successfully Managing Pay-Per-Click Campaigns
smartbiz.com - Pay-per-click campaigns, like all other marketing campaigns, are perpetual works-in-progress. The following tips will help you successfully manage your PPC campaign, after you launch.

How to Secure Your Home Wireless Network: Part II
smallbizresource.com - You can take three really simple steps to dramatically increase the security of your wireless network. It is not foolproof wireless security, but it will keep you from being an easy target and it will keep most of the riff raff out.

Motivational Speaker--Ten Tips to Hire the Perfect Speaker for Your Next Event
smallbusinessbrief.com - You have the dates scheduled, the conference center reserved, and the agenda outlined; but now you need to book the speakers to make the event a success.

Are You A Commodity?
smallbusinessbrief.com - Do you find yourself competing on price? Do you often talk to a prospect, think you have made the sale and then they decide to shop around and buy based on price?

eBay Watch: Mapping Sales Boosts Bottom Line
ecommerce-guide.com - eBay is tweaking and upgrading features on item listing pages, hoping to make it easier for buyers to find information. One existing feature getting revised is the "Add to Watch List." Using the Add to Watch List is important for sellers because once buyers sign into eBay, they are reminded of their "watched item listing" every time they view their personalized eBay pages.

Online Ad Dollars Stay Hot
internetnews.com - Internet advertising revenue growth is still hot, according to the latest stats about online ad dollars from The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Equipment Finance - Ideal for Start Up Capital
morebusiness.com - Equipment financing is one of several financing options that are available to businesses looking for start up/growth capital. It includes things such as machinery, computers and computer software. Equipment financing does not tie up cash, credit cards, or receivables. In fact, it can reduce the overall amount of cash that a business will need. The best thing about it is that it can be written off for tax purposes.

Harness the Power of Vertical Social Networks
clickz.com - All good marketers know to reach their customers where they live. Great marketers have a finger on the pulse of what's next. The long-tail theory (define) has shown there's sustained life after the big bang of mainstream appeal, and the same applies to social networks.

London man carves out niche in competitive powerlifting market
bizjournals.com - Dave Tate can bench press 610 pounds. He can also grow a business from $300 in sales in the first month of operation to one that generated $3.1 million in sales last year. At least that's what he has done with Elite Fitness Systems Inc. over the last nine years.

Painting a new career path
bizjournals.com - Former project manager's specialized painting firm grows due to service.

How can I sell my business?
money.cnn.com - An owner is ready to retire, but wonders if going through a business broker would mean getting a better price. Plus: good books for entrepreneurs.

Direct Selling: Dreams and Realities
startupjournal.com - Direct selling of products such as cosmetics and cookware may not be the easy path to riches. But the flexible hours have made this the work of choice for some 14.1 million Americans, most of them women. Though there are those who earn six-figure incomes from selling person-to-person or through the home parties that characterize this business, that is more the exception than the rule.

Six Strategies to Becoming a Successful Affiliate
about.com - Affiliate marketing is a low-cost way for merchants to build awareness and showcase their products and services. The model is simple; it works as a commission-based referral system. A partner or affiliate markets a merchant's products for a "piece of the pie."

Website Navigation: 10 Tips to Keep Prospects Clicking
smartbiz.com - They walked in the door, now make them take their coats off. Many companies invest in advertising, marketing and search engine optimization, only to have prospects arrive at a confusing website and abandon their efforts. Here are ten tips that will lead your prospects to the information they seek and increase conversion:

How to Secure Your Home Wireless Network: Part I
smallbizresource.com - Why should I care about wireless network security? Access to a wired network is easy to control because people have to be physically inside your house to plug a computer into the router. With a wireless network, people just have to be in the proximity of your house.

How To Succeed With A Newsletter (err, e-zine)
smallbusinessbrief.com - Owning a website is only half the battle when it comes to online marketing and advertising. Visitors need to see your services and/or products a minimum of seven times before they'll even consider purchasing your time, services, or products. But how do you keep visitors coming back to your website?

Business Branding Basics
morebusiness.com - Branding is all about the image of your business. It is not just about logos, emblems, and style, but includes the image of quality, reliability, or lack of these. What matters is the image of the brand in the eyes and mind of the consumer. The brand distinguishes your products from those of your competitors, and can make an advertising campaign more effective.

Schmidt: 'Just at The Beginning of Targeted Ads'
internetnews.com - Eric Schmidt, CEO of search giant Google, told an investors group that the market for targeted advertising is at a very early stage with lots of innovation still to come.

Are You Ready for the Chargeback Challenge?
ecommerce-guide.com - While it's relatively easy for a customer to get a charge reversed, proving a sale was legitimate can be time-consuming and costly for online merchants. To add to the dilemma, in fraudulent cases, e-tailers bear the liability in most cases, not the card issuers, as is the case in traditional commerce.

A Word of Advice
smallbusinesscomputing.com - Starting this month with Microsoft Word, we begin our series of reviews on the major applications within Microsoft Office 2007. Is it worth the upgrade?

Shopping for the Small Biz Contact Center
ecommercetimes.com - By recruiting and using customer service agents located anywhere in the country, a small business can not only find better agents but also lower costs. However, smoothly and securely integrating virtual or remote agents into the corporate network is no slam dunk. Small businesses should ask what support a contact center offers for this crucial capability.

Companies turn to wellness to reduce health costs
reuters.com - At the urging of their employers, a growing number of U.S. workers are participating in company wellness programs as a way of reducing their health-care costs, according to a new survey.

Get hydrated with a higher power
msnbc.msn.com - Holy H2O; a business card Donald Trump can love; ask Jeeves to wake you.

Last-Minute Tax Know-How For Small Businesses
forbes.com - That painful annual reconciliation of profit and loss known as the federal income tax return is nearly due.

30-second spots that cost $50
money.cnn.com - Los Angeles startup Spot Runner is betting that there are big bucks in helping little guys buy TV commercials on the cheap. Business 2.0 Magazine reports.

One-Stop Shop for Small-Business Jobs
inc.com - Small businesses tend to offer employees more responsibility and a wider range of roles than larger firms. Not to mention all those perks, like flexible work hours or job sharing that smaller firms often provide to distinguish themselves from larger competitors. It's no wonder many job seekers prefer to find a position with a smaller company.

The New Nomads
businessweek.com - Instead of simply working from home, they are running businesses from remote locations across the globe using virtual communities for support

Your Brand’s True Colors
entrepreneur.com - Learn what the colors you use say about your business.