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.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Despite that fact that it is 2010 and today’s marketplace being technologically driven, you might be surprised at how just many small-businesses still don’t accept credit card payments. If your small business doesn’t currently take credit/debit cards than you are really missing out on a sizable revenue stream. Due to the many benefits credit cards offer- convenience, security, increase of purchasing power, etc, many of today’s shoppers prefer to use credit cards when paying for items bought online or in-person.

In order to start conduct credit card processing, your business needs to first be set up with a merchant account. Merchant accounts make it possible for small businesses to accept payments made to them via credit and debit cards.
It is important that you have the necessary information lined up before applying for a merchant account as to prevent any possible delays. When applying, lenders typically require that applicants have a running website, voided check, active checking account, and proof of ownership. If you operate within in a high-risk or specialized industry, than additional items like photos, trade references, and recent tax returns may also be requested.

Merchant accounts are available either directly through a vendor or through a third party agent that is partnered with the vendor. Credit card transactions can be processed and verified via electronic authorization in three ways:

• After swipage, the credit cards magnetic strip is verified by the credit card terminal

• The customer’s information is already registered in the credit card terminal and/or website

• A readable computer chip inside of the credit card is processed

For more information on merchant accounts, check out credit-card-processing-review.toptenreviews.com, nabancard.com and Wikipedia as I found all of them to be pretty helpful.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

BBC News:

One of the big issues for ambitious small firms looking to grow is how to attract new customers.

You know you have a great product, or offer a good service, but how do you best make yourself known to would-be buyers?

Here Ganesh Selvarajah, an advisor at Business Link, the government-funded business support service, looks at how to best target your advertising or marketing spend.

Question
Matthew asks: “We are a small road-marking company based in East Anglia.

Our company has been running for approximately two years, purely from word of mouth and recommendations.

We are now looking to increase our revenue and would like some pointers as to the best advertising investments.

We already have a website and are listed on most directory sites, but realise it is an unusual area to market. Thanks in advance for any ideas or advice you can offer.”

Answer
“As the road-marking industry is a very niche market, all your advertising and marketing would need to be targeted at the correct audience to maximise your spend,” says Ganesh Selvarajah of Business Link.

Continue reading…

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Atlantic Online:

To stanch the flow of continued job losses (with 263,000 jobs lost in September, up from 201,000 in August), the White House is weighing new options. Among them are more stimulus-style projects as well as traditionally conservative approaches such as tax cuts for small businesses. As Obama’s economic team pursues new strategies for America’s catastrophic unemployment, economists of all stripes are offering suggestions. Dire times have pushed some pundits to cross party lines looking for solutions. Below, five ideas for tackling unemployment and two warnings about what not to do.

* 1. Send Money to States – The Wall Street Journal’s Gerald Seib notes that states are more vulnerable since many are required to balance their budgets and are also better at pushing out jobs than the federal government. “Getting additional help to states in coming months might well be both the most efficient and the most politically feasible action Washington could take to avoid sinking deeper into the jobs hole,” he writes. “Getting money out to states quickly may have been the single most effective impact of the February stimulus package. That money — which went for construction projects, education and health-care programs — helped financially strapped states avoid even bigger disasters as they put together budgets for the current fiscal year.”

* …But States Must Court Businesses – Jennifer Rubin examines Michigan, a state that has spent and worked extravagantly to promote jobs without success. “For starters, it is one of the more heavily unionized states around. The UAW did its number on the car industry, and any employer coming into the state will have a similar experience with Big Labor. Given the choice between a right-to-work Sun Belt state and a Big Labor–dominated Rust Belt one, most employers will (and do) choose the former,” she writes. “Think for a moment (aside from the political impossibility of it) what would happen if the state passed a right-to-work law allowing employees to refuse to join a union. I’d imagine employers might take another look at Michigan.” Read more.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

BusinessWeek:

1. Keep Selling. Purchasing agents are reporting sharp drops in weekly sales calls across many industries, Rauseo says. That means less competition for your products or services. “It’s easier to get a commission-only sales force going today” with so many individuals looking for jobs, he says. “Give your salespeople the tools they need and have them redouble their efforts.”

2. Evaluate Marketing Effectiveness. Don’t cut your advertising and marketing budgets, but put tight controls in place that allow you to gauge the response and adjust your expenditures on a weekly basis, Rauseo recommends. If something’s not working, make changes sooner rather than later.

3. Anticipate Opportunities. In whatever form it takes, there will likely be a large influx of government money this year as part of President Obama’s economic stimulus plan. “With that much money flooding into the economy, of course there’s going to be an effect,” Rauseo says. “Prepare a strategy for tapping into it and you can take advantage of it.”

4. Create a Rapid Response Team. Set up a recession-busting committee that can anticipate the effects of the downturn and react quickly. “If there’s an item on your menu that no one’s buying, get rid of it. If you’ve got trucks returning from runs empty, schedule a third stop where they can pick up goods and eliminate empty miles,” Rauseo says.

5. Get Creative. Brainstorm innovative solutions to your business problems. “We had a client making hinges for the auto industry and they were going down the tubes. Now they’re making hinges for caskets and they’re recovering,” Rauseo says. “Stop panicking and get on with business.”

More tips here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Financial Post:

The recession has become the consuming priority for small business owners, who don’t have the clout to lobby government for billion-dollar bailouts. But help is out there. Just look at this press release that was received the other day at my friend’s uncle’s cousin’s barber shop. (If only they had included a phone number or return address):

There’s help for recession — weary small businesses! Niagara Falls entrepreneur Columbus D. Pression is launching a trade show to motivate and invigorate Canadian business owners.

“Recessions aren’t just about layoffs, panic and despair,” Mr. Pression says. “There are also opportunities in pharmaceuticals, used cars, collection agencies, counselling services for financial advisors and so much more. It’s all in your attitude. Recession World will persuade worried entrepreneurs that their empty glass is half full.”

Recession World will tour Canada for 10 weeks beginning on Feb. 29, taking place in under-booked arenas, an innovative trade show targeting small business. “This is the last growth market in Canada,” he says. “Look at what this slowdown is doing to General Motors and Magna. Now more than ever, it’s clear that any business can be a small business.” More.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Entrepreneur.com:

1. I will work smarter. Can you identify three things you can do to be more efficient and effective in your current job? Is your staff spending too much time on e-mail, for example? Too much time returning phone calls? Does it interrupt their work too frequently? Sometimes, those job inefficiencies are not very obvious. However, if they can specifically identify them, then those inefficiencies can be eliminated and staff can become more productive. This can increase work satisfaction as well.

2. I will increase my working network in and out of my immediate area and inside and outside my company. Can you encourage your staff to get to know more people? Can you meet more people not just to say hello, but to find out what they do, how they do it and what skills they use to be productive? Let them know about your traits, abilities and interests, too. Ask yourself if you can you interact with them to mutually benefit both your jobs. Can you include them in your circle of contacts so that you can call on them when you need a favor, a contact, or a reference? The reverse should be true as well.

3. I will find three things that I can do to make myself irreplaceable. Why should the company continue to employ you? Why are you good at what you do? Does the company know this? What else should the company know about you? In times of layoffs or terminations, why should the company keep you while dismissing others? If you cannot answer these questions during economic hard times, in particular, your name could easily be included in any “termination group.”

4. I will find ways to get along better with my boss and colleagues. Manage upward. If your boss is not managing you well enough or to your liking, then find positive, non-complaining ways to change this situation so that you are able to share your views with him or her. Do you need more (or less) direction, supervision, freedom, responsibility or authority? What can colleagues be doing more of, less of or doing differently to create a more positive working environment that meets organizational goals? Speak up and make sure your voice is heard.

5. I will join at least one company-wide task force or committee. Do people outside of your immediate group, team or unit know your capabilities, interests and skills? Do you know what is happening in other sectors of our company? Do you know the challenges and opportunities faced by people elsewhere in our organization? By joining committees, you not only gain a broader view of the company’s goals and issues, you also challenge your own skills, abilities, and knowledge and increase your networking impact.

More resolutions here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Thank you readers, supporters and sponsors for your business,
friendship and continued loyalty.

Check our bizops and start 2009 running your own business!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

seattlepi.nwsource:

* Clear, unrelenting focus around purpose and goals.

* Flexibility and openness to new approaches, roles and ways of getting work done.

* A climate of learning, creativity and a proactive approach to finding opportunities to improve (even when stressed).

* Trust, cooperation and open communication.

* Senior leaders open to employees’ input and influence.

In contrast, rigid, bureaucratic organizations with choking politics, “red tape” and a control-oriented leadership mentality will often fail to adapt effectively when faced with hardships. In general, the greater the bureaucracy, the greater the difficulty responding to challenges, like trying to turn the Titanic around to miss the iceberg. Rigid bureaucracy is frequently the biggest impediment to agility. Words like, “It’s always been done this way,” or, “not in my job description” can stop needed responsiveness and innovation in its tracks.

Leadership is key to improving any organization’s resiliency. Though creating a resilient organization won’t happen overnight, here are some guidelines:

* Don’t lose sight of core competencies. Address these questions: What are the business/team “strengths” and strategic advantages? What is working in your favor that you can build on? How can the team leverage the fundamentals that make your team and business strong?

* Examine work processes and the “big picture” to encourage responsiveness in the face of changing conditions. How and where does communication flow (or not)? Are there bottlenecks? What does it take to get a decision? Is there duplication? Are we burdening people with too much information or checkoffs? Focus on simplifying and “clearing the path.”

There’s much more here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

24-7PressRelease:

Small business owners are increasingly pressed to find creative ways to cope with the economic downturn and some are doing so by turning regular store customers into passive income producers. By acquiring a Business Associate license from DubLi.com, the next “eBay”, business owners are able to quickly turn their customers into an army of online shoppers who, through viral expansion, create a substantial recurring revenue stream for the owner.

Store and small business owners aren’t alone. Dentists, doctors, chiropractors and other medical professionals with private practices are also following suit by giving their patients free DubLi shopping credits as a way of thanking patients for their business. When the patient uses the shopping credit he/she becomes the “customer” of the doctor, who then receives a monthly commission on the patients’ online shopping purchases. Thereafter, when the patient tells a friend about DubLi, both the patient and the friend are rewarded with free shopping credits from DubLi, and the friend becomes the customer of the doctor. DubLi’s “tell-a-friend” feature produces a rapid, viral expansion of the licensees’ customer base. Within a year, 100 original DubLi shoppers can easily grow to over 10,000 through the viral expansion process. DubLi online shoppers generate an average income of 75 cents per customer per month for the DubLi licensee.

Since the North American launch of DubLi.com, a popular reverse-auction site first born in Europe, marketers have seen the tremendous potential DubLi creates for residual income and wealth building by allowing individuals to obtain a license to “own” part of DubLi’s online customer base. Based on the recent growth of DubLi Europe, experts have projected that more than 100 Americans will become DubLi millionaires by 2010.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Helping her entrepreneurial father as a youngster paid off later in life for Rochelle Boersma.

“He was a plumber and an inventor,” said Boersma of her dad, who started a business when she was 8. “He invented the stainless steel grate that snaps into a floor drain. He started the company in our basement but continued his day job as a plumber until business took off.”

Boersma and her family “would all work together in our basement putting grates into shipping boxes and sending them out,” she recalled. “During dinner, my dad and my mom would challenge us with ideas, such as how we would make a particular marketing plan work or why people would want to buy our product.”

This experience proved valuable when Boersma landed a job at Cellular One, she said.

“My job was working with our third-party distributors, our entrepreneurial arm, primarily small businesses,” Boersma said. “Because I’d helped my parents with their small business, I had a huge sensitivity as to how policy changes at a large company could impact a small business in ways the company might not have considered.”

Boersma, 51, is vice president of Midwest operations at U.S. Cellular, the Chicago-based wireless carrier. Continue reading.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Search Engine Watch:

Designing a Web site can be a daunting task. Where do you start after your business plan is worked out and you’re secure in what you’re going to place on your Web site?

Whether you plan to hire a designer or figure it out for yourself, there are definitely some best practices you should follow. Use this list to get a good start on finding the best Web site platform and design elements for your businesses audience.

These are general best practices for creating a great site — from design and coding elements to arranging content and calls to action on your page. The goal is to have a site that will please your visitors and the search engines.

1. Install Analytics! Notice how I bolded that one? It’s so important it’s at the top of the list!

2. Create an eye-catching header/logo. This makes an impression on visitors, much like the façade, front door, or foyer of your store.

3. Ensure you have the right balance between text and graphics. Graphics-heavy Web sites with little (or no) text can make it hard for a search engines to determine the relevancy of your site to queries you should rank for. Images and graphics, on the other hand, help tell a story about your products and services.

4. Allow space for a minimum of 250 words of relevant text if possible.

5. Consider how easy the home page and interior pages will be to manage in the future. Can you easily add pages and redirect old pages to new ones?

Read more.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

PowerHomeBiz.com:

Do you have days where you feel like you’re the only one dealing with the business owner issues you face? It might be time to find a support system.

While your family and friends have an idea of the things you’re going through with your new business, they may not have the first hand experience. This will make it hard for them to relate, understand, and make suggestions. You need to find people who have already been there. So where can you look for these peers?

1. The internet – It’s an obvious place to start. Your business is online, your customers are online. Who else would know more about running and online business than a fellow online business owner? They can be a wealth of knowledge, providing you with experiences and sources. They will know of other sites and helpful software. They can lend an ear when you need to vent or just can’t seem to figure out how to solve a problem. Look for message boards and email groups.

2. Community small business groups – While your business is an online venture, it is still a business. Most cities have several groups and resources for their small business owners. Try checking with your local chamber of commerce or looking for a small business newsletter that circulates in your area. You may be able to find small business support groups that meet from time to time to discuss issues facing businesses in the area.

3. Look to your competition for help – This may seem like a silly idea. After all, they are your competitors. However, you may find that if you ae not in direct competition with you, they may be very willing to trade ideas. If their similar business caters to a small local community and they don’t have an internet presence, you would not be competing directly. You may even find yourself able to partner and increase gains for both parties.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.