BizOp Blogs

PC World: After just over a year as a coveted, invitation-only beta, Google has officially launched Google Voice as a free service for all. Google Voice adds another component to the suite of tools available from Google providing small and medium businesses with cost-effective tools enabling them to... More

BusinessWeek: Here’s a welcome report for entrepreneurs this new year: President-elect Barack Obama’s massive stimulus plan is expected to include three key tax breaks for small-business owners. Details are still emerging, but the plan could include a longer window for businesses to “carry back”... More

Seattle Post Intelligencer: · Seek more customers. In the spirit of the rig operator, now is the best time to go out and pitch new customers. So what if the sales cycle (the time it takes to solicit and receive a first order) may be longer than in years past. Also, nothing can inspire employee confidence... More

Diversity Inc: Make it a part of your company’s culture When a company creates a culture of inclusion, people pay attention–and everyone benefits. “Our culture is constantly evolving, but some things never change, and the inclusion [of people with disabilities] is something that has... More

Associated Press: Seventeen-year-old Alexis Corocan spends about $5 a month on clothes, accessories and eyes of various shapes and shades for her online persona on IMVU, a popular Internet hangout. For 29 cents, for example, she can buy a set of deep gray eyes framed by dark lashes. Sixty cents gets... More

Small businesses have been reopening in Iraq as violence in many parts of the country has been declining. Many businesses closed in 2006 and 2007 during fierce fighting between Sunnis and Shi’ites. But now with improved security, small business is coming back to life. VOA News: About a year ago,... More

Nextgov: The Veterans Affairs Department wants to put companies owned by veterans at the top of the pecking order for agency contracting opportunities. VA published a proposed rule change on Wednesday in the Federal Register that would establish a set-aside program for veteran-owned and service-disabled... More

Wall Street Journal Blogs: Most small businesses can’t even dream of sponsoring the Olympics. But that doesn’t mean the games can’t be part of their marketing efforts. VerticalResponse, a direct marketing firm, offers some fun ideas on its blog for Olympics-themed promotions and ad campaigns... More

Times Online: Overtime is overdue an overhaul, according to our top Best Companies, who are keen to buck the worrying trend of working extra hours. Did you work overtime last week and is it a regular occurrence? Do you find yourself constantly going into work early and getting home too late to have... More

Times Online: James Caan is the newest dragon on the BBC television show Dragons’ Den. He is chief executive of the private-equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw and has been building and selling businesses since 1985 in various sectors. Today in Britain it is pretty cool to be an entrepreneur. Programmes... More

Earthtimes: Ohio’s supportive businessenvironment and variety of business development programs create an ideal location for small business growth and expansion, according to the Ohio Business Development Coalition, the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment. The recent... More

Entrepreneur Daily: What’s the biggest concern for small businesses these days? According to a national survey released by the National Association for the Self-Employed, it’s access to health care. “The baker, the house painter, and the 20 million other micro-businesses in the U.S. are struggling... More

Forbes.com: While their peers were out making trouble, these young achievers were making bank. Forever in search of the secrets to entrepreneurial success, we peeked into the inspirational lives of five whiz kids who built million-dollar enterprises before the age of 20. They partnered with friends,... More

SEO Igloo Blog: 1. Instant Gratification Sorry, but with the exception of digital downloads, buying off the web means waiting for something to be shipped to you. It also means paying for shipping. There are plenty of things that people want now. Often, shopping contains an element of excitement and... More