Branding Strategy Insider: A strong brand is defined and characterized by the following 9 dimensions: 1. A brand drives shareholder value 2. The brand is led by the boardroom and managed by brand marketers with an active buy-in from all stakeholders 3. The brand is a fully integrated part of... More

YourHub.com: Brett Mosley sees value in those old cell phones and music players stashed away and forever forgotten in the bottom of desk drawers – and he says you should, too. Mosley, president and CEO of BuyMyTronics.com, is the brains behind a cash-for-trash concept that purchases used and,... More

Idea Marketers: Whether you’re working from home because you’re a single mom trying to make ends meet or you’re a married mom hoping to use a few spare hours each week to add to the household income, chances are good that you don’t want to spend $100,000 to open a small business.... More

Best Syndication: 1. Make sure you have the skills and experience required for the job. If the employer wants someone who types 80 words per minute, then you need to meet that requirement. Don’t fake it because many jobs will have a test or an interview and you’ll eventually be found out... More

CaymanMama.com: Step 1 – Obtain an Employer Tax ID All businesses, large and small, are required to pay federal and state taxes. In addition, local taxes must be paid depending on the state the business is in. A business owner who is just starting out needs to obtain employer tax identification... More

Business Wire: Prospective entrepreneurs of all kinds who want to participate in Global Entrepreneurship Week have a growing list of diverse, challenging and motivating events to choose from. They can check out www.UnleashingIdeas.org for all the details. The Week, Nov. 17-23, offers a first-ever,... More

U.S. News & World Report: When something gets riskier, you get less of that thing. Just look at how the trend of a decline in venture capital activity has amplified as the economy has worsened. So consider the following claim a blow against the conventional wisdom about small businesses and start-ups: Turns... More

Washington Post Blogs: The U.S. government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services so it’s no wonder that many small businesses aim to fatten their bottom lines by landing a lucrative federal contract. At least 23 percent of federal agencies’ spending must go to small... More

OpenForum: The smartest investment you’ll make in this economy is your investment in your employees. Companies that plan to survive, even thrive, in this economy should increase their investments in their employees. That’s right. Companies should invest more in their employees during this challenging... More

Unusual Business Ideas That Work: Renee Wood says she’s used to weeping at work. She runs an online bereavement-gift outfit, Comfort Co., from suburban Geneva and gets calls all day from people who want to buy something special for someone who has just lost a loved one. Compassion comes naturally... More

Business Edge: Jody Steinhauer’s small business has come a long way since she started it from her apartment with $1,000 two decades ago. The Bargains Group, a Toronto-based discount clothing wholesaler, sells about 5,000 clothing products to retailers, as well as providing branded promotional items... More

Entrepreneur.com: Entrepreneurs often live with the hope that if they build it, customers will come. But in today’s economy, it takes a lot more than hope to get people to purchase your products or services: New business-building practices are a must if you want to expand. Another necessary element... More

PRLog.Org: No matter what type of business product or service you choose to participate in, there is one and only one starting point. The only place to be starting your new home business is, in your mind, more importantly your mindset. It is imperative for you to know the Who, What, Where, When and... 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