SmallBizResource Blog -- Startups

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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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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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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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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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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10 Business Plan Gaffes You Don't Want To Make

Posted by Benjamin Tomkins 10:23 AM ET | May 19, 2009

Done right business plans aren't something you use to lure investors and then stick in the bottom of your desk drawer. Rather, they become living documents that guide your business, keep you on course, and -- yes -- adapt as your businesses changes. But too often, business plans are rife with problems -- expert Tim Berry breaks down the top 10.

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Startups

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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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

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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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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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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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

Thursday: Free Online Discussion About What Stimulus Plan Means For Your Small Business

Posted by Gayle Kesten 01:48 PM ET | Mar 3, 2009

OK, listen up all you small business owners who told MerchantCircle they didn't know enough about President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to have an opinion about it (read yesterday's SBR post).

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Small Businesses Weigh In On Stimulus Package

Posted by Gayle Kesten 11:18 AM ET | Mar 2, 2009

What do microbusinesses really think about President Obama's stimulus package?

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House Small Business Committee Meets To Discuss Entrepreneurial Development Programs

Posted by Gayle Kesten 12:59 PM ET | Feb 12, 2009

A magic pill to cure the ailing economy has yet to be invented, but entrepreneurial development programs are a serious step in a healthy direction.

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Google PowerMeter Might Be Worth Your Energy

Posted by Gayle Kesten 03:36 PM ET | Feb 10, 2009

A home-office-based friend of mine is fanatical about unplugging all of the outlets in his house when they're not in use. No doubt he's cutting down on his electric bill, but his family is, let's say, a little less gung-ho, especially when, TV remote in hand, they sink into the couch and find it doesn't work because the power strip is turned off. On the other side of the room.

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What's Lurking Beneath The Entrepreneurial Surface May Scare You

Posted by Gayle Kesten 04:08 PM ET | Jan 13, 2009

Before you lament about today's batch of juvenile delinquents, take heart: They just may become tomorrow's entrepreneurs.

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Startups

Contest For The Internationally Minded

Posted by Gayle Kesten 03:51 PM ET | Dec 16, 2008

If your start-up aspirations include our friends across the pond, then here's one "wale" of a contest.

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12 Ways to Build Your E-Mail List

Posted by Janet Attard, Courtesy of Business Know-How 01:23 PM ET | Dec 4, 2008

Building an e-mail mailing list -- and mailing to it regularly -- is one of the most effective strategies for boosting Web site traffic and sales.

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A Small-Business Lobster Tale

Posted by Gayle Kesten 11:51 AM ET | Jul 7, 2008

Running your own business requires a thick skin. Or, if you're John Ready, a crustacean-hard shell.

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Found on the Fourth

Posted by Gayle Kesten 04:16 PM ET | Jul 4, 2008

In my search for a relevant post for Independence Day, I happened upon three items I thought worthy of passing along.

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Hitting Up Family & Friends To Finance Your Biz? Read This First

Posted by Gayle Kesten 11:40 AM ET | Mar 17, 2008

Many moons ago, my dad did a plumbing job for a longtime family friend. He billed her only for the parts, despite giving up half his weekend to help her out. (My dad's that kind of guy.) Unfortunately, said friend never paid him, the relationship became strained and ties were eventually severed.

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Startups