The Small Business Authority Hour Focuses on Economic and Employment Trends

The Small Business Authority Hour Focuses on Economic and Employment Trends

The Small Business Authority's goal is to educate listeners on how to grow their sales, reduce their expenses and minimize risks. The show will be hosted by Barry Sloane, President aServices, Inc. and co-hosted by Laura Smith
See all stories on this topic »

Plaintiffs: County failed to provide adequate notice for mosque site plan

Todd, who still lives nearby and who is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit over the county Planning Commission's site plan approval for the mosque, said the government didn't make</babout the mosque the way the county does in
See all stories on this topic »

Need a Free, One-Page Website? Consider WebDwarf

WebDwarf is most definitely dwarfish rather than dwarven, and if you follow that you may be too much of a nerd to use this Web page designer. Because of its limited features, including the abilsingle page, WebDwarf is great for kids
See all stories on this topic »

Cooper Aerobics Unveils New Website, Inspiring Visitors to Get Cooperized(TM)

Cooper Aerobics Unveils New Website, Inspiring Visitors to Get Cooperized(TM)

Getting Cooperized is at the heart of all things Cooper — eight diverse entities dedicated to helping people make good health a habit to live better, both sooner and later. Through the new access free health tips,
See all stories on this topic »

9 Tweet Types For Your Twitter Strategy

Working as a social media consultant I’ve noticed that it’s not the social media sites themselves that clients have a difficult time mastering, it’s figuring out what to say once they get there. a new platform to talk to their customers and to be part of this ever-growing social conversation, but they’re lacking those handy conversation starters and the types of tweets they should be sending out to the masses. That’s where the bottleneck happens. SoRead MoreFrom Small Business Trends9 Tweet Types For Your Twitter Strategy

Claims about the small-business tax cut (Part 1)

(Jim Watson: AFP/Getty Images) “When you hear small business, what comes up in your mind first? The corner drug store, the tech troubleshooting start-up, my daughter's martial arts instrump — Trump Sales and Leasing — or
See all stories on this topic »

How to Make Your Website Reinforce Branding

How to Make Your Website Reinforce Branding

Here are 10 tips to make your site a branding powerhouse. A value proposition describes in a few sente it is different, and why the difference matters. A value proposition works as an “elevator speech” that gives customers a
See all stories on this topic »

Everything PR

For digital video to live, the 30-second pre-roll ad must die

It's the ad format that drives users crazy, and it's just not right for Web or mobile. Here's how to fix video advertising and make online video profitable for everyone. by M:29 AM PDT Follow @mollywood Don't hate them because
See all stories on this topic »

Gamefroot lets you make your own game

If you remember playing Super Mario Brothers and thinking "I wish I could make my own game" – now is your chance. A new website called Gamefroot launched this week which allowsobe Flash game which can be played in a web browser or on
See all stories on this topic »

Cuomo Says Website to Help Insurance Beneficiaries Get Funds

Cuomo Says Website to Help Insurance Beneficiaries Get Funds

“Something must be done to make sure families across New York receive the life insurance benefits that they are due,” Cuomo said today in a statement. “A new website will help famirgotten policies.” Life insurers have faced
See all stories on this topic »

Nonprofit alliance has website to lure visitors

AP A nonprofit tourism group aims to raise the profile of the Cumberland Plateau with a new website. According to The Knoxville News Sentinel ( http://bit.ly/JlrlCp), the Alliance for the Cumbea new website on Friday to help
See all stories on this topic »

What to Do When Your Website is Hacked

While Sutherland's situation may be specific to the attack that his site suffered, his diagnostic steps make an excellent starting point even if you use a completely different publisses Movable Type.)
See all stories on this topic »

Worth Every Penny: How to Earn What You are Worth

Worth Every Penny: How to Earn What You are Worth

I don’t remember exactly how I came to know of Sarah Petty and Erin Verbeck, authors of the new business book “Worth Every Penny.”   At some point Sarah joined me on my radio show tithout focusing on price.
One thing led to another, and then another.  Last year I got the chance to hang out with Sarah and Erin when they came to Cleveland.  They came not just to talk (although weRead MoreFrom Small Business TrendsWorth Every Penny: How to Earn What You are Worth

Answer Man: Kappers Fabricating can make just about anything

Dear Answer Man, I heard about the fire at the business in Spring Valley yesterday but I haven't heard what they I do, after a good look at Kappers Fabricating's excellent website, and it appears they can do just about anything.
See all stories on this topic »

Post-Bulletin

Make your iPad work like an SLR camera

Video is rising in popularity and web video has gone mainstream, so videographers, hobbyists and regular business folks are looking for tools to make their videos stand out in a sea of mabove that were filmed and edited on an
See all stories on this topic »

The Great Recession’s Effect on Small Loans to Business

The Great Recession’s Effect on Small Loans to Business

Small loans to businesses continue to shrink, falling to $613 billion dollars at the end of 2011, the Small Business Administration (SBA) reports.
The dollar value of small loans is down substantiallynancial crisis and Great Recession. SBA data reveals that the inflation-adjusted value of business loans of less than $1 million shrank by 19 percent between 2007 and 2011. As the figure below shows, we have yet to see any recovery inRead MoreFrom Small Business TrendsThe Great Recession’s Effect on Small Loans to Business

5 Drivers of Business Innovation

Innovation is critical not only to business success, but to its very survival.  Why is innovation so important? Fresh approaches, new ways of delivering ideas, visual and content changes all keep ng back. Innovation is NOT exclusive to big brands, but is, in fact, essential for ALL brands.

Fast Company lists the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies, those firms that transform and impact their industry time and again.  There are 5 drivers of innovation:

Technology
Demographics
Attention
Usability
3Read MoreFrom Small Business Trends5 Drivers of Business Innovation

Playbook for Success: A Hall of Famer’s Tactics for Women in Leadership

No matter the sport we appreciate an athlete’s influence on a professional sports league.   That influence is exponentially higher when an athlete has made trailblazing firsts that furthers a socincy Lieberman is exactly that trailblazer. An Olympic champion whose has sport-transforming success in women’s collegate and professional basketball, Nancy achieved a high regard among athletes from all sports. Her status in an early developing field – and the atypical challenges that come along withRead MoreFrom Small Business TrendsPlaybook for Success: A Hall of Famer’s Tactics for Women in Leadership

Small Business Haters and Other Challenges

Small Business Haters and Other Challenges

Yes, there are challenges in being a small business owner, and especially when your business is online. Take the online hater, for example. But don’t worry! We’ve got some tips for you andher small business challenges online and off up ahead in our Small Business Trends roundup.
Dealing with Cyber Bullies
Nine ways to deal with online haters. Anonymous cyber bullies are no fun to deal with. That’s for sure. But consider these simple solutionsRead MoreFrom Small Business TrendsSmall Business Haters and Other Challenges

March Drop in Loan Approval Rates at Big Banks Is a Cause for Concern

Small business loan approvals by big banks ($10 billion+ in assets) dropped to 10.9% in March, down from the 11.7% figure reported in February. This figure represents a 6.8% decline over a one-month ppproval rate one year ago in March 2011.

According to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index, small bank lending remained flat at a 47.6% approval rate, alternate lenders picked up slightly (0.5%) to a 63% approval rate,Read MoreFrom Small Business TrendsMarch Drop in Loan Approval Rates at Big Banks Is a Cause for Concern

A Quick Practical Business Guide to Google Plus

Is this you? Do you take Google+ as another network you need to manage? Someplace else to post and watch for business social media? As Guy Kawasaki says himself, in the early pages of the book I&#8217I need another social media service like I need more email or my dog to throw up on the carpet.”
Amen to that. I like Twitter best. I’m sort of the introvert version of social media — I like conversations atRead MoreFrom Small Business TrendsA Quick Practical Business Guide to Google Plus

Debt problems explained

Credit card debts have become an unpleasant reality of life in the present dispensation. This is the precise reason a large number of people would like to know how to deal with credit card debt. The good news is that when people get into trouble with a credit card company, a number of sensible options are available to help resolve the problem.

Reduced to the barest essentials, how to deal with credit card debt is a simple matter of how much the customer owes and how the amount in question can be repaid. It is easy enough to identify the problem but solving the problem is not that easy. For people who have fallen behind on credit card payments, the first step is to look at the problem objectively. There is no point discussing how to deal with credit card debt if the person owing money cannot be a hundred percent honest about the problem.

For different situations, there are different solutions available to the debtor. If the debtor has a job or a regular income from a business, the problem will be easier to solve. In this case, the right step will be for the debtor to approach the credit card company and ask for a reduction in the amount of money he or she usually pays. The debt will take longer to pay but it will be paid off eventually. This approach is great in the sense that it may not do much damage to the credit rating of the debtor.

On the other hand, if the customer has lost his or her job, the matter will become very complicated. Paying off a large debt without a regular income is a difficult situation. It is not a stark impossibility, though. In this case, the right move will be for the debtor to discuss the situation with an expert and consider a number of different options. In this context, the most sensible option on how to deal with credit card debt would be to ask for more time. This is the most sensible step for a debtor who is not working. With the repayments suspended for a while, the debtor will have some peace of mind for a start. As soon the debtor gets a job or a regular income, the payments to the credit card company can be resumed.

It has to be pointed out as well that credit card companies are very realistic on how to deal with credit card debt. In cases where clients have run up substantial debts, an agreement can be reached with the client so that the company can settle for a much lower figure than is owed. This might mean paying the actual debt owed minus the interest on the debt. From the point of view of the creditor, this is a sensible move. In some cases, the credit card company can simply settle for half the total amount owed as long as the debtor can pay in one installment.

As stated already, credit card debt is a tricky business even at the best of times. One thing the debtor should not do is accept an inconvenient repayment plan out of desperation. This is not likely to solve the problem. The best ideas on how to deal with credit card debt are usually the most simple and pragmatic ones. By applying sensible solutions, the problem can be resolved to the satisfaction of both debtor and creditor.

Make Something Happen: Apply for A Small Biz Award

Make Something Happen: Apply for A Small Biz Award

Awards and honors are great for motivation (for you and your employees).  They also help distinguish your business from competitors.
Don’t sit back waiting for something to happen.  YOU must m for awards.  Don’t be shy — nominate your company.  Or nominate a customer or client for an award.
The list of awards and competitions below is brought to you by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.Read MoreFrom Small Business TrendsMake Something Happen: Apply for A Small Biz Award

Hire More Employees or Contract Out?

The economy is starting to turn around, and if things continue in a positive vein as I think they will, your company may soon be growing. A growing company has many decisions to make, including:  do employees, or do we add independent contractors?
The benefits of hiring independent contractors can include lower overhead in the form of health insurance and benefits. But does lower overhead outweigh the returns on investing in dedicated employees who mayRead MoreFrom Small Business TrendsHire More Employees or Contract Out?

4 Steps To Succeed In The Government Marketplace

The U.S. Federal Government buys nearly $100 billion worth of goods and services from small businesses each year – but cracking this market as a small business can be challenging. However, done righlanning and research, small business owners can successfully land their share of federal business.

If your small business is interested in selling to Uncle Sam, follow this four-step plan that summarizes the process of entering the federal marketplace.
Step 1Read MoreFrom Small Business Trends4 Steps To Succeed In The Government Marketplace