SmallBizResource Blog -- SmallBizResource

Intuit Launches 'Love A Local Business' Sweepstakes

Posted by Gayle Kesten 10:34 PM ET | Jul 21, 2009

One week after I had my teeth cleaned by a dentist recommended to me by a friend, she received a $25 Starbucks gift card from the office thanking her for the referral. I also received a thank-you note for my patronage, along with an offer for a free dental visit for a family member. That visit, too, was followed with a letter of appreciation.

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How To Find People To Follow On Twitter

Posted by Gayle Kesten 12:37 PM ET | Jun 26, 2009

Of my 271 followers on Twitter, *maybe* 10% are people I actually know. The rest is a group joined together based on common interests -- small businesses, entrepreneurs, tech tools, and the like.

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Internet | Marketing | SmallBizResource | Startups

How To Protect Your Small Business From Identity Theft

Posted by Gayle Kesten 03:28 PM ET | Jun 23, 2009

With friends, family, and co-workers like these…In the spirit of opening your eyes but not inducing paranoia, when small businesses fall victim to identity theft, someone they know is more often than not the guilty party whose tampering has a direct impact on their credit standing.

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13 Twitter-Speak Translations

Posted by Gayle Kesten 01:56 PM ET | Jun 22, 2009

"What the heck IS this Twitter thing?" The frequency with which small-business owners and entrepreneurs continue to ask me that question -- as recently as two hours ago by one of the dads at an end-of-the-year school function, and last week during two interviews for profile pieces -- signals to me that, a) word is truly getting out beyond those of us who live in this social media cocoon, and, b) people assume way more is involved with Twitter than is actually the case.

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SBA Launches Loans For Vulnerable Small Businesses

Posted by Gayle Kesten 02:31 PM ET | Jun 16, 2009

"America's entrepreneurs and small businesses will be the ones to lead us out of the recession if we give them the tools they need to succeed."

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Economy | Government | SmallBizResource

Know-How For Hire: Top 100 Web Skills

Posted by Gayle Kesten 09:00 AM ET | Jun 15, 2009

While the economic recession continues to roll on, Elance's June jobs report provides an unprescribed dose of optimism -- providing you have the right skill set.

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Economy | Internet | SmallBizResource | Startups

Concerns Among Small Businesses, According To Two Companies That Serve 'Em

Posted by Gayle Kesten 11:48 AM ET | Jun 12, 2009

Does it make sense to take out a business loan if you're struggling to attract customers?

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Economy | Internet | Marketing | SmallBizResource | Startups

System Mechanic Speeds Startup Of Slowpoke PCs

Posted by Gayle Kesten 01:11 PM ET | Jun 5, 2009

Make coffee. Pack lunch. Wake son. Those are just a few of the tasks I can cross off of my to-do list during the time it takes to get my laptop started each morning.

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SBR Quickie: Small-Biz Owner Shows Compassion To Robber

Posted by Gayle Kesten 02:55 PM ET | Jun 4, 2009

Here's a great story about a sympathetic small-business owner who took pity on a wannabe-robber.

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Office Depot Launches Small Business Self-Bailout Plan

Posted by Janet Attard, Courtesy of Business Know-How 08:24 AM ET | Jun 4, 2009

Looking for ideas to get through the recession? Or have you found some clever ways to get ahead despite the recession?

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Business Know-How | Economy | SmallBizResource

Beyond Google Alerts: Free Tools That Track What's Being Said About You Online

Posted by Gayle Kesten 10:35 AM ET | Jun 2, 2009

What are your customers and competitors saying about you and your business/brand online? Could an employee be intentionally/unintentionally divulging private details about your company? Are you on top of the latest industry news, research, and trends that would influence decisions you make about your business?

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Customer Service | Internet | Marketing | Security | SmallBizResource | Startups

Freebie Friday: 6 Contests & Giveaways Galore

Posted by Gayle Kesten 10:30 AM ET | May 29, 2009

When you're a small business, a little recognition can go a long way. Add in cash prizes, free hardware and software, and one-on-one expert advice, and the time it'll take to apply for the following half-dozen contests could prove an undeniably sweet ROI.

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Cross-Channel Shoppers: Are ROBO Shoppers Faking Out Your PPC Conversion Rate?

Courtesy of Business Know-How 11:19 AM ET | May 28, 2009

We've heard it for years. Heck, I've said it myself countless times before: "Click-throughs are great, but it's conversions that really matter." However, consumer research during the past several years has shown a growing trend that most emarketers believed would have eased by now.

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Business Know-How | Internet | Research | SmallBizResource

Lenovo Refreshes Notebooks, Preps Netbook

Posted by Gayle Kesten 11:18 AM ET | May 26, 2009

While the rest of us were flipping burgers on the grill, Lenovo has served up a laptop lineup with price points sure to make many a small-business owner's mouth water.

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Hardware | Mobility | Productivity | SmallBizResource

bMighty/SBR Heads To National Small Business Week Conference

Posted by Gayle Kesten 01:27 PM ET | May 15, 2009

A little recognition can go a long way. And on a national level -- not to mention amid the economic recession -- that's exactly the kind of boost entrepreneurs across the country can use and expect when National Small Business Week kicks off on Sunday in our nation's capitol.

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How To Spot Counterfeit Cashier Checks

Courtesy of Business Know-How 12:00 PM ET | May 14, 2009

I love dumb criminal stories.

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5 Free Tools That Find Your Deleted Data

Posted by Gayle Kesten 08:00 AM ET | May 11, 2009

You know that burning feeling deep in your belly when you realize you've misfired an inappropriate or scathing email (statement, not question). It's the same one that strikes when you realize some important data has gone missing from your computer.

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Productivity | Security | SmallBizResource | Software

Small Biz Abuzz About Tuesday Twitter Chats

Posted by Gayle Kesten 02:05 PM ET | May 8, 2009

When you need small-business advice -- which blogging tool to choose, how to market on a shoestring budget, or where to get the best deal on the latest laptop -- who better to reach out to than someone who has already walked the walk?

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BillFLO Takes The Tedium Out Of Invoice Entry

Posted by Gayle Kesten 01:54 PM ET | May 4, 2009

So many tasks, so little time. Aiming to automate one that small-business owners know all too well, a startup in San Francisco has introduced a hosted service that eliminates the need to manually enter invoices into your accounting system.

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Freelancing | Internet | Productivity | SmallBizResource | Software | Startups

Employer Uses Facebook To Snag 'Sick' Worker

Posted by Gayle Kesten 11:00 AM ET | Apr 28, 2009

I realize I'm preaching to the choir when I say social networks represent an easy, cost-effective way to market your small business and connect with current and potential customers,
colleagues, partners, etc.

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Internet | Marketing | SmallBizResource

House Small Business Committee Hearing Discusses Future Of Small-Biz Research Funding

Posted by Gayle Kesten 05:08 PM ET | Apr 23, 2009

Encouraging technological innovation among small businesses requires more than just lip service. It requires money -- particularly during a recession when, paradoxically, budgets have been shred at a rate that in my analogy-driven mind evokes scenes from Edward Scissorhands.

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Economy | Government | SmallBizResource | Startups

5 Tips For Maintaining Your Integrity When Competing For Contracts

Posted by Gayle Kesten 11:36 AM ET | Apr 10, 2009

Quite possibly you've experienced some panicky moments pondering your business' future. Hopefully it didn't take long to get a grip, but no one can fault you for bravely staring reality (PDF) in the face either.

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Economy | SmallBizResource | Startups

Q&A With Franchise King Joel Libava

Posted by Gayle Kesten 09:00 AM ET | Apr 7, 2009

You know the saying, "If the shoe fits, wear it"? Well, make it a crown, and Joel Libava wears it well.

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Is Green Tech Worth The Investment?

Posted by Gayle Kesten 01:07 PM ET | Apr 6, 2009

Purchasing green technology -- certainly the right thing to do for our planet -- doesn't necessarily come cheap. What's a small-business owner to do?

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Economy | Green | Hardware | SmallBizResource | Software | Startups

Guy Kawasaki's 10 Twitter Tips

Posted by Janet Attard, Courtesy of Business Know-How 09:40 AM ET | Mar 26, 2009

If you ever go to a conference at which Guy Kawasaki is speaking, make sure you arrive early enough to get a good seat.

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Business Know-How | Marketing | Productivity | SmallBizResource | Startups