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 conduct business like their much larger enterprise counterparts.

Large enterprises have the budget to invest in a robust networking, communication, and productivity infrastructure. Enterprise businesses also have the personnel resources to dedicate the expertise necessary to implement, maintain, and administer the tools. Small and medium businesses? Not so much.

Unfortunately for the small and medium businesses (SMB), though, they still have the same needs and similar business processes. They still need to communicate and collaborate in real-time with peers, partners, and customers.

Fortunately for SMBs, Google provides a diverse portfolio of tools that are free, or at least reasonably cost-effective, which allow them to appear much larger than they are, and compete on a level playing field with much larger competitors.

Read more.

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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” losses; an incentive to invest in machinery, equipment and other capital improvements; and a tax credit for job creation.

Here’s how it might work: If you experienced a downtick last year, you can claim a net operating loss or NOL, which is essentially when expenses exceed revenues. Current tax law allows you to use that NOL to offset the past two years’ income, which could win you an immediate cash refund. Under the Obama stimulus plan, that carry back period would be extended, allowing you to use that NOL to reduce the past five years’ tax bills. That’s “a big deal,” she says. “It allows you to get an immediate cash infusion that you can use to help you survive now.”

If you do get a cash refund, another proposed tax break might spur you to plow that money back into your business. The Section 179 (first-year expensing) deduction for purchases of new equipment or machinery is expected to increase to $250,000.

Currently, the limit for 2009 is $133,000.

Another piece of the Obama stimulus package could be a one-year tax credit for job creation. The president-elect has pledged to create 3 million new jobs to offset 2008’s steep losses. Republican Congressional leaders have indicated they would support tax relief, although size and scope would need to be worked out. The emergency package could be passed within weeks of Obama’s inauguration.

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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 than seeing an owner resist defeat and take positive steps forward. Owners should spend at least one day a week pursuing new customers. All other employees can contribute too.

· Evaluate business weaknesses. Here’s an exercise that can focus business owners and their employees in a productive way. Owners should ask every employee or manager the following question: What sudden single event would be heart-stopping bad news for your department? It could be the loss of the top sales rep to the competition, loss of a big account, loss of a production source, loss of a bank credit line etc.

Once the owner has identified the top areas of vulnerability throughout the company, then the entire staff can work together to come up with action steps to lessen the impact on the business, should any of these events occur. Not only will the business benefit from the proactive steps taken, but employees will feel more productive addressing problems than worrying about them.

· Watch customer payment patterns closely. If commercial banks increase borrowing costs to small-business owners or cut off their credit entirely, then owners can expect a nasty slowdown in bill paying around the country. Owners should also watch out for customer over-ordering with no intention to pay on a timely basis. Near-bankrupt companies are prone to do this to unsuspecting small-business owners.

· Crisis payments. For business owners in extreme cash flow distress, it’s worthwhile to establish bill-paying priorities. Salaries and payroll taxes should always come first. If owners don’t make timely payroll tax payments, interest and penalties can mount up quickly. Plus, owners are personally responsible for these payments even if their business is structured as a corporation or limited liability company. Next, owners should pay obligations that are backed by a personal guarantee, such as credit cards.

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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 never changed,” says DesBiens. “When you look at people with disabilities, in the early days, we were bringing them in for job-training programs. We hired a blind psychologist to look into and hire people with disabilities in the ’40s. Now we’re looking at bringing people in through internship programs so they get a chance to see what the company is like, all the different things you can do in IBM.”

Think globally
Currently, about 10 percent of the total world population, approximately 650 million people, live with a disability, according to World Disability Facts and Statistics. So being aware of what’s needed to accommodate employees with disabilities globally is essential to the success of a company, especially companies that do business in various countries.

“We created global building guidelines so no matter where you go in the world, if you’re an employee or a customer, you would expect certain kinds of building accommodations [in IBM facilities],” says DesBiens.

Making your workplace accessible
“People with disabilities” is a broad term that covers many things. But regardless of your disability, the company you work for should have multiple accessibilities.

“We do a building walk-through that would generally apply to the blind and mobility, but it could apply to deaf and hard of hearing to be sure that in any critical areas that they are going to be, if there’s an emergency, we make sure that we have the proper signals in place for them,” says DesBiens.

Signals may include strobe lights to alert of a fire alarm or backup pagers in case the employee is not at his or her work station and needs to be alerted to an emergency.

“We try to keep everybody whole so if they are at the computer or not at the computer, they have the Blackberry,” says DesBiens. “Of course, we offer interpreters; we offer something called video remote interpreting, which is a setup at their desk where they can see an interpreter at a remote location through a television screen and they can communicate with that person through interpreting. We offer real-time captioning, which … you can see on your computer as long as you have access to the Internet.”

What about those who have limited mobility?

“We have the ramps, the lower water fountains, etc., but I think what sets us apart is this building walk-through that we do because we do things generally for our buildings but we also look at our employees on a case-by-case basis,” she says. “For people with wheelchairs, we would go through the building and go through areas that they would have to frequent and make sure that, for example, the doors open or can be opened remotely. That they can get into the building, move around, [easily] use the restrooms and get to meetings. Then if they need anything at their work station, ergonomically or software-wise, we would provide that as well.”

Support groups
Having other employees understand your experience in the workplace is something that can build confidence and help with recruitment and retention.

“We have a deaf forum so employees who are deaf or hard of hearing can help each other, help mentor each other,” says DesBiens. “We have diversity network groups. We have diversity counsels at the major sites … looking at the different groups and making sure that they feel comfortable and feel welcomed.”

Paying homage to people with disabilities
IBM does its part to celebrate people with disabilities not only because they make up an important part of the work force but also because of how they contribute to the overall makeup of the company.

“Everything I’m talking about, I’d put under what we call ‘natural support,’ and that would be our network groups, our internships, our course recovery, our guidelines, our people-with-disabilities web page,” says DesBiens. “We have brown-bag lunches that we offer, particularly during July or October, the anniversary of the ADA or Disability Month, or even in December on Global Disability Day to educate or inform the rest of our employee population. We create a poster for Disability Awareness Month–again, another way to send a signal that inclusion is important to us. We have a few videos that we offer through department meetings, one on the business case as to why you should hire someone with a disability and the other one … on the ‘natural supports,’ many of the things I mentioned.”

Overall, it’s key to understand that people with disabilities are just as able to be productive in the work force and excel at their chosen career as people without disabilities.

“Often when you talk to people with disabilities, they’re natural problem-solvers,” says DesBiens. “They are solving problems every day, all day long, that you and I don’t have to think about. So they come with a little extra intuitiveness sometimes. That doesn’t mean they have the market over anybody else, because it still goes by skill, but they’re problem-solving from pretty early on.”

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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 her a white tiger. Or for $1.21, she could have an infant named Baby Candy.

Five dollars a month doesn’t sound like much, but through these microtransactions — payments of little as a quarter for a virtual item — IMVU Inc. reaps roughly $1 million in revenue each month.

Micropayments have been one of the Internet’s most-hyped and least-successful ideas — until now, as virtual world creators and video game companies are beginning to expect, and even depend on, players to buy virtual goods in little chunks.

The idea has already taken hold in Asia, where piracy is widespread, making it harder for companies to profit from the traditional model of selling the games themselves. Now some game companies in the U.S. are taking a stab at micropayments as a serious source of revenue.

Instead of charging for each virtual item separately, companies sell chunks of credits — through PayPal, credit card transactions or physical game cards bought in stores like Target — usually for $5 to $25 at a time. Users then spend the credits in small installments, which often amount to just a few cents.

Corocan, of Aurora, Ill., says the money she spends is worth it, but anything more a few dollars a month “is taking it too far.” Read more.

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VOA News:

About a year ago, in the Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliyah, it was too dangerous for this man to work outside on the street. The neighborhood was a battleground for Shi’ite and Sunni militias.

Stores closed and streets were empty except for gunmen and the victims of sectarian killings.

In the past year, U.S. troops, U.S.-backed Iraqi volunteers, and Iraqi soldiers patrolling the streets have helped reduce the violence and stabilize the neighborhood.

The once prosperous area is filled with trash and sewage and lacks electricity. But that has not stopped this restaurant from opening or this barber from re-opening his barber shop.

He says the militias used to attack people but now everything is good. He wishes business was better but says people do not have much money.

Muthana Idan Kabul owns a tiny shop that serves tea in the Karkh area of Baghdad. He says during some of the worst violence in Karkh, insurgents stole his furniture and set his shop on fire. Today, people come here to catch up with friends, and of course, like this Iraqi policeman, to drink tea.

Kabul has received a $2,500 loan from the U.S. government to improve his business. Since 2003, the U.S. has given about $18-million in loans to small Iraqi businesses.

He says business is good and he hopes to open a bigger shop. He wants to buy new tables and chairs.

This small business owner works in Baghdad’s Green Zone, a safer area controlled by the U.S. military. For the past four years, he and his son have been selling souvenirs, mostly to U.S. troops. Read full article.

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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 veteran-owned small businesses.

“Supporting service-disabled veterans who own businesses contributes significantly in restoring their quality of life while enhancing transition from active duty to civilian life,” the rule stated. “Such acquisitions maintain the socioeconomic well-being of the nation and carry out VA’s strategic goals.”

The proposed rule builds off a 2004 executive order issued by President Bush that mandated increased contracting and subcontracting opportunities for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. More.

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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 a business might try. Here are some of its suggestions:

* Offer a 5% discount for every gold medal your country wins, capped at a certain number.

* Tie discounts to the win of your favorite athlete. If, say, Michael Phelps wins a gold, give customers $10 cash back on that day.

* Advertise Olympics specials: 25% off all athletic gear until Aug. 24 (the last day of the games).

* Selling special products or services, such as a special Olympic-themed mixed drink, especially for the Olympics.

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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 dinner with your partner, see the kids or make it to social engagements?

Best Companies research shows that too many people are working far longer than is good for their health or their company’s productivity. Analysis of the overtime put in by employees of all organisations entering the competition over the past four years shows that, although there has been a fall in the number of people working up to 10 more hours than they are contracted to (a third of people do this), there has been a rise in the numbers of staff doing well over that.

The statistics show that more than one in 10 workers are putting in between 10 and 20 hours of overtime a week, while just over 2% of staff do between 20 and 30 hours over their contracted weekly hours. And the numbers putting in more than 30 hours extra has increased to 0.5%.

“Half a per cent may not sound like much but, across all workers in the UK, it would equate to 150,000 people,” says Dr Pete Bradon, head of research at Best Companies Ltd. “This data is very worrying when you consider the effects of overtime on people’s lives.”

Of the top 10 firms whose staff work the least overtime across the Best Companies lists of small, mid-sized and big businesses, several involve employees working in people-focused jobs. When someone feels overworked, their sunny disposition is often the first thing to go. In a job where a lot rests on a smile, overtime has an effect on customer satisfaction. Continue reading.

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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 such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den regularly attract more than 5m viewers. The number of men and women opting to run their own businesses is increasing, and the rewards of following your own vision can be seen in the lifestyles of those who become extremely wealthy through their own endeavours – which in turn inspires the next apparently limitless generation of aspiring entrepreneurs.

Not everyone is programmed to be an entrepreneur, however, and there is certainly more to it than a strong desire to make money.

Whatever your starting point, no businessman or woman is an island capable of building a successful company alone.

Turning your dream into reality inevitably means creating a strong team, engaging them with your vision for the business and developing an environment that fosters the concept of ‘intrepreneurship’ – encouraging a creative approach to problem solving within a company and retaining valuable intellectual property.

Continue reading.

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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 creation of an entrepreneurship and small business division of the Ohio Department of Development further proves the state’s commitment to creating more opportunities for success while allowing executives the opportunity to pursue both their professional and personal aspirations.

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business Division manages a variety of programs and initiatives that assist entrepreneurs and business owners in growing and finding success in Ohio. The Division also hosts the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio program, which provides consulting and training assistance to small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity and improved management.

The Centers are supported through a partnership among the Ohio Department of Development, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and several of Ohio’s chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, and economic development agencies. In 2007, the network of 39 small business development centers across the state served more than 8,500 clients. Carry on reading.

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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 to survive in this economy,” says Kristie Darien, executive director of the legislative office of the NASE. “These businesses could be further threatened if we can’t find a way to make insurance more affordable.”

The survey, which polled about 4,000 micro-businesses, showed that high cost stopped small businesses from offering health insurance and thus put them at a disadvantage to larger businesses. Here are some survey highlights:

* About 67 percent of respondents said they have personal health insurance coverage, a notable increase from the 54.9 percent who reported the same in 2005.

* Of the more than 46 percent of responding businesses offering health insurance, only 18.6 percent offer coverage for full-time employees, compared to 46.2 percent in 2005.

* One in 10 respondents spent 25 percent or more of their gross revenue on health insurance, compared to 10.1 percent in 2005.

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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, siblings and mentors, or did the work on their own. Three are from the U.S., two from the U.K. All started at age 15 or younger–and one before he broke double digits.

Their common thread: preternatural business sense and demon drive to turn ideas into reality.

While four of the five were making a mint on the Internet, Fraser Doherty was doing things the old-fashioned way. In 2002, at the age of 14, Doherty started making jams from his grandmother’s recipes in his parents’ kitchen in Edinburgh, Scotland. Neighbors and church friends loved them. As word spread, Doherty started receiving orders faster than he could produce them at home, so he rented time at a 200-person food-processing factory several days a month.

Go With The Flow… read on.

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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 people want to be gratified with choosing their items and taking them home right now. It doesn’t matter if this is something to eat, wear or hang on the wall. Americans love getting something now and your local business doesn’t require them to wait 3-10 business days to get it. You can make the convenience proposition work in your favor instead of against it.

2. Physical Interaction
Speaking as a woman who stands little over 5 feet tall and weighs about as much as a sack of potatoes, I can tell you that I will never buy pants off the Internet. Sorry, but there is just no way for me to know trousers are going to fit me unless I can try them on and I really don’t consider having to go to the post office to return ill-fitting garments a fun use of my time. With the exception of bulky items like sweaters, I shop locally for clothing and shoes. Most people have difficulty finding clothing that fits them – we are all different shapes and sizes. Trying something on is the only way to be sure a garment fits, and you cannot do this online.

You also can’t count on the colors you see on your monitor. This is especially important to me in all of my craft-oriented pursuits. When I buy fabric, I want to see it and touch it first. House paint is something else that falls under this heading; what looks like tea green on my screen may be screaming neon in the can.

In any situation where a physical action is required to meet the customer’s needs for feeling confident about a product, there is an opportunity for a local business.

I’ve debated adding customer service under this heading. While many people express that they like to do business with people they can see, and I’ve seen everything from banks to bookstores using this as a USP, I’m not sure that this offer has any teeth. I have been distinctly unimpressed with face-to-face customer service in too many local businesses to count. For the most part, I lay the blame for this on an economy that hires the youngest, least-skilled workers possible in order to keep operating costs low. A 17 year old boy is really not going to be able to offer me much genuine help choosing upholstery, in most cases, and I don’t actually enjoy listening to rap music while I’m trying to find a new blouse.

I’ve been tempted to ask to speak to the babysitter in local shops I’ve attempted to patronize after having my questions met with, “uh…uhmm… I dunno.” It’s because of this that I think the selling point of customer service is really only going to appeal to certain kinds of customers and only if the store is going to be able to employ an experienced, trained staff. Yet, where the business owner is knowledgeable and plans to be in the shop most of the time, they can certainly offer a voice of experience that you’re not going to get by tangling with the outsourced live-chat offered by many websites as a ‘replacement’ for live customer service.

3. Local Only Offerings
To me, this is the real heart of the matter and the main purpose of this article. If the business landscape has changed so that most of your neighbors are going online for certain kinds of goods and services and you are thinking of changing your business or opening a new one, you’ve got to define needs that can best be met locally. Here’s a quick brainstorm of businesses that either require the customer coming to the business or the business going to the customer:

Housekeeping
Landscape Consulting and Yard Maintenance
Window Washing
Plastering
Assisted Living
Custom Clothing Alterations
Plumbing/Home Repairs
Carpet Cleaning
Drycleaning
Car Repairs
Child Care
Service business involving legal, medical or other professional consultation
Gas Stations
Hair Cutting
Restaurants

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