03/29/2013
There are a number of things that you can do to monitor your online brand, as well as monitoring the brand of a competitor. Being aware of what is said, and when it is being said, will allow you to react in a timely fashion. It is often a companies reaction to negative media that leaves the biggest impression. In order to turn a negative into a positive, you must first be aware that a conversation is taking place. Fortunately, there are a number of free tools that can assist companies with brand monitoring...

Free Tools to Monitor Your Brand

03/28/2013
Small business may be the most popular institution in America. According to a 2012 poll conducted on behalf of the Public Affairs Council, 88 percent of Americans view small business favorably. In fact, 68 percent of us would rather pay more to do business with a small business than a big one. Could Americas love of small business help broker a deal between Republicans and Democrats in Congress?

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03/27/2013
Although every audience is different, there are a few very general guidelines to help you start to consider what social-media networks to use for your small business. Here are the Big Five along with some business characteristics I typically look for to determine where and if we should spending time and resources:

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03/26/2013
According to research by Pew Internet, 55% of U.S. adult cell phone owners use their mobile phones to access the internet, nearly double the rate from three years ago. This means that more than half of your prospective customers may interact with your business while they’re on the go. Mobile users are also becoming more engaged: a study by digital ad management company Marin Software revealed that its clients saw Google paid-search clicks on mobile devices rise from 14.2% to 23.4% over the course of 2012.

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03/25/2013
The simple act of writing down your idea and outlining how the business will operate can be helpful to ensure that you communicate your vision and that everyone is on the same page.

It also helps you benchmark and check your progress as the company grows.

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03/21/2013
Many small businesses in America are lean operations where people wear many hats and have little room for error. And unfortunately, that frequently means small businesses are on their own when tax time comes around.

Things are especially difficult for new business owners who don't have the experience pushing paperwork to the Internal Revenue Service, and often don't know which tax breaks they may be eligible for.

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03/19/2013
Businesses are using mobile in many ways, including: mobile websites, apps, loyalty programs and contests, mobile coupons, text messaging campaigns, location-based marketing e.g. Foursquare, QR codes two-dimensional bar codes that can be read by a mobile device, surveys, appointment scheduling and mobile commerce.
Developing a mobile strategy does not mean having to adopt all of these.

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03/18/2013

It Works for Divorce!

03/15/2013
Creating an interesting and colorful color palette can be a chore, even for the most experienced designers. We have compiled a list of color design tools that can be very useful for web artisans...

Design Tools

03/14/2013
A few months ago, I was invited to speak with a reporter working on an article for an international magazine on this very topic.  The reporter asked me, What should business people think about taking with them on business trips that they might not normally think about? As I began forming the list, I found myself adding more and more things that are vital to ensure a successful business trip.

And here are some of the less obvious things you don’t want to forget when heading out of town on business.

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03/13/2013
It is safe to say the men and women on Forbes list of billionaires know how to run a company straight into profits.

But that does not mean that the road to success has always been smooth; in many cases, it took some of the lists entrepreneurs years of serious struggle to achieve success, says Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur and professor of entrepreneurship at Stanford University.

What can you learn from the world’s wealthiest players and their paths to success?

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03/12/2013
Whether you think large corporations are going far enough in revealing cyber attacks, small businesses are probably far less forthcoming, at least according to a study released today by Ponemon Institute, a security research firm in Traverse City, Mich. Not that only small businesses are reluctant to talk about their security concerns.

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03/11/2013
10 Facebook pages for businesses that are well done.

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03/10/2013

Funny Cartoon! Most parents can relate to.

03/08/2013
If you are a small business owner running an e-business, you must have heard the terms SEO or Search Engine Optimization before. You might even have had your website optimized for better search engine rankings. But are you truly aware of how search engines could help you increase your clientele? If you do, then we really give you a thumbs up, as you are moving ahead with the technology. But if you have any sorts of doubts regarding search engine optimization, then we are here to help. So read on…

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03/07/2013
Twitter is a popular microblogging platform where users share short status updates including links to webpages, photos and articles. Twitter is a great way for smaller businesses to build a following, announce news or promotions and respond to customer questions, or even complaints. Being succinct in your tweeting is absolutely essential on this platform. Say what you need to say in as few words and characters as possible.

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03/06/2013
Companies have traditionally approached hiring in cut-and-dry, inflexible ways. But it may be time to shake up the traditional recruitment model to help small businesses land more efficient hires.

Businesses tend to approach the hiring process similarly: By hiring a recruiter, picking a job board to post their open positions, and tracking candidates. Eventually, they get to interviewing and finally, hiring.

This approach to the hiring process can work for some, but the changing dynamics of todays workplaces and the impact of digital technology means most employers, especially smaller companies, need to be more nimble and direct. Small businesses typically have very specific needs, and they require very specific individuals to fill them. By asking a series of carefully-chosen questions in interviews, companies can determine if an individual is a good candidate, rather than going through the mishmash of hiring tiers that don't actually result in the best hires.

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03/05/2013
It seems to be that large data breaches or denial-of-service attacks at large corporations get the most media coverage.

The costs of investigating and responding to these losses, and the resulting lawsuits and regulatory fines, can be staggering. The Ponemon Institute has estimated that response costs can be as high as $200 for each compromised record. It is not difficult to understand how total costs for a wide breach can quickly escalate well into the millions of dollars.

But smaller companies also face such losses. When these losses arise, the best friend a small company can have is a well-crafted cyber liability insurance policy. And, cyber liability insurance is often more appropriate for smaller businesses.

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03/04/2013
Managing time is a major struggle for many of us. Lack of productivity and procrastination are usually the result of poor time management. Make the most of your time by taking advantage of these helpful tips...

1. Make Lists

Lists help keep you focused and on task. Create a list of tasks in advance for the upcoming day. When you find yourself distracted or unsure of what to do next, refer to the list, which will help put yourself back on track. When you complete a task, cross that item off the list -- this will give you a sense of accomplishment, and will also help motivate you to tackle the next item on the list.

10 Tips for Improved Time Management

02/28/2013
All of us start the day with every intention of completing a variety of tasks, but unfortunately many of us become distracted as the day moves on. Or even worse, we are tasked with crisis management, and at the end of the day we find that we have made little progress in whittling down the day's planned tasks. As well intentioned as you may be, it seems to become a routine, and one that far too many of us fall into.

Tips to Get Things Accomplished

02/26/2013
Market research might sound like a big-business luxury, especially if you service a limited local area. However, market research is a valuable growth tool for businesses of every size.

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