UK/Ireland Small Business News Round-up - 29/02/2008

Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from the United Kingdom and Ireland:PM calls for end to “burden”of European regulation: Prime minister Gordon Brown has said less European regulation on small firms would help protect the growth of [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Spirit of the Entrepreneur

These 5 characteristics will take you far as you start your business.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Product Inventors: The Important Questions You Forgot to Answer

There are several questions you must answer before moving ahead with a great idea. You’re excited because you’ve conceived a product that is new and fresh. But originality and “new-ness” aren't synonymous with necessity, and don't always equal success.

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]

India Small Business News Round-up - 28/02/2008

Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from India:Canadian company to supply parts for Tata Nano: Samco Machinery Ltd, a Canada-based roll forming system manufacturer, will supply auto parts for world’s cheapest car Tata Nano, unveiled by the [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Differentiating Your Business

7 tips for creating a unique selling proposition that helps cut through the competitive clutter to drive sales

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Australia/New Zeland Small Business News Round-up - 27/02/2008

Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from the Australia and New Zealand:The Kitchen Table Millionaire: Setting up a home business is exciting and liberating. You are freeing yourself from the shackles of employment and becoming your own [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Casual Games Get Serious

The $2.25 billion casual gaming industry is on the brink of explosive success. How can you join the game?

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Friends & Family are a Common Source of Business Financing

I wrote a few blog entries recently about how difficult it can be to raise startup capital, or raise money to make a business acquisition. Although fraught with obvious drawbacks, the friends & family network is often employed to raise money.

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]

Sites That Will Make Your Day

Over the last few years the microISV industry has started seeing a new way to sell their software - deal of the day sites. These sites work basically the same: entice impulse shoppers with a hefty discount on one or two products a day.

But do these sites work? Are customers okay with one day sales? And should you as a microISV associate with a software discounter?

Judging by the first-hand reports posted by microISV founders at the Business of Software forum, the answers are yes, yes and yes!

More on Sites That Will Make Your Day

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Marketing Your Home Based Biz

Even if it's the only thing you do to promote your home based business, e-mail marketing will get you repeat business and referrals without breaking the bank.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

The Danger Zone

Learn about the daily dangers faced by these risk-taking entrepreneurs.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Marketing With the Pros

There's plenty of help available when it comes to marketing. The key is choosing the right kind to help grow your business.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

The New Rules of E-Branding

Revamp your online brand and increase site traffic with these 6 guidelines.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Web Design Elements

Web Design Elements is designed specifically for small businesses, each CD contains a themed collection of web templates, layouts, images, logos, and photographs all related to a central theme. CDs are perfect for small businesses, needing to create a website, or promotional materials. CD collections include:

Flower Themes for florists, gardeners or landscapers.
Equestrian Themes for riding stables, horse shows, and barns.
Dating Themes for online dating or other matchmaking services.
Nature Collection for nature lovers, or scenic personal websites.
Nautical Theme for fishing companies, charter services or marinas.
Sunrise and Sunset Themes for travel companies.


Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Canada Small Business News Round-up - 26/02/2008

Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from Canada:Blowing the Whistle on Whistleblowers: It turns out the best detectives of corporate fraud aren’t the paid ones.Seven-Minute Marketing: A critical plan.Ecommerce - The New Must-Have: “Once the domain of [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

What is Your Websites Sale Purpose

When designing a website, it is important that webmasters ask some general questions before they begin the design process...

Website Sales Purpose

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

The 2 % Business Turn-Off

Recently I ordered services and was very happy to have found a supplier. We had agreed prices, scope and timescale of the project. Later I received the contract by email and started reading it. Everything seemed to be as agreed, until I got to the payment terms. There I found an unusual insertion:We will charge [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Is Your Employee Newsletter Doing Its Job?

If you think a newsletter is written to inform, you may be getting only a small part of the picture.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

US Small Business News Round-up - 23/02/2008

Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from the United States: The Future of Customer Service - Mobile technology is changing the way consumers search for answers. The New Rules Of Moneymaking - America’s [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Getting Customers to Buy More

Want to increase profits? Try this smart upselling technique and watch sales soar.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Cost of Red Tape is 66bn in the UK.

The British Camber of Commerce - BCC reports a £10bn rise in the cost of red-tape to £66bn in the last 12 month.In a time when our economy is in a slow down cycle, this figure is staggering. The government policies are fiscal policies are failing on a grand scale while it is spending tax-payers [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

11 Internet Myths Debunked

Think creating a website for your biz is too complicated? Avoid the myths and find out the simple truth.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Quality Photos on Drop Ship Websites

If your planned home-based business revolves around a drop ship web site, what will you do for photos? Without good photos, you can expect trouble selling the products.

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]

Web Log Analysis

Everyone who understands Internet Marketing will tell you to analyze your web logs... but what does that really mean? What particular things should you pay attention to when analyzing your web logs?

Web Log Analysis

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Web Design Elements

Web Design Elements is designed specifically for small businesses, each CD contains a themed collection of web templates, layouts, images, logos, and photographs all related to a central theme. CDs are perfect for small businesses, needing to create a website, or promotional materials. CD collections include:

Flower Themes for florists, gardeners or landscapers.
Equestrian Themes for riding stables, horse shows, and barns.
Dating Themes for online dating or other matchmaking services.
Nature Collection for nature lovers, or scenic personal websites.
Nautical Theme for fishing companies, charter services or marinas.
Sunrise and Sunset Themes for travel companies.


Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

The Future of Entrepreneurship

The Silicon-Valley based Institute for the Future is telling us what small business or micros business is going to look like within a decade, older, younger, more feminine and above all far more global. What I have been proclaiming as Globalization 3.0, has received validation in this new report out in the last few weeks.The [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Is Teleworking only for Big Business?

More and more of the work-force in large corporations work from home, or have a “hot-desk”, they share with others while they are in the office. This trend is driven by the ever present need to feed the profit hungry shareholders of these often public companies. But is this trend only some thing big business [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Small Business Startup Idea: Copy Writing

Not only I, but others are always looking looking for cleverly written copy, for their ads and other marketing material. Should you have these skills, you are in demand, especially if you have experience in this area too.Skills needed: Excellent writing skills, past experience in advertising, copy writing or related.Business Environment and Set-up Cost: You [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Taking a Green Initiative

These 3 entrepreneurs are taking advantage of green marketing tactics the right way.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

The Benefits of Pregnancy

These pregnant entrepreneurs show that being a human baby carriage has its advantages.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

UK/Ireland Small Business News Round-up - 22/02/2008

Credit crisis turmoil - Losses resulting from the credit market turmoil - until now largely limited to the world's biggest investment banks - are starting to be felt much more widely, by wealthy individuals, local government and even sports teams, presaging a new and potentially litigious phase in the crisis....FSB urges integrity of Camden Market re-development - With up to three hundred small businesses having suffered in last weekend’s catastrophic fire at London’s famous Camden Lock Market the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is warning that the subsequent re-development needs to retain integrity and loyalty to the small business owners affected.

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Be a Millionaire Franchisee

How to build your franchise into a big business

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Franchising - What should be in the contract?

Many of you seem to be looking at franchising to get into business, while this can be a relatively painless start to your own small business, caution is essential. I thought I write down some pointers of what you should have in any franchise contract, this is not a nice to have list, but the [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Northern Rock nationalised! or Is Darling out of control?

Chancellor Alistair Darling said he made the decision because the two private takeover offers on the table, did not offer the taxpayer “sufficient value for money”!The problem for the chancellor, the same statement would be true if one looked his performance, he makes decisions and the taxpayer suffers - to the tune of £55bn, to [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Slashing Student Costs

BookRenter.com's young CEO is changing the way students get their textbooks.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Doing Business in London Town!

Currently the UK is a hostile place for micro business and small business, there is the government which seems to be hell bend on making it more and more difficult for small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Dont Sell. Solve a Problem.

A few days ago I wrote a post about listening to your customers before you sell your product or service. You may be able to make someone buy your product/service once, but for your customers to come back for more you need to do more.No matter how good your are at selling, no matter how [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

LinkedIn Frauster or have I been fired?

Today I got an invitation from someone to link up with him via LinkedIn, the social network for professionals. So I signed in and accepted the invitation. Scanning through my LinkedIn homepage, I noticed that a “colleague” from WinWeb had signed up. Once I clicked on the link I was shocked to read that someone [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

WinWebs OnlineOffice even more affordable for micro businesses.

I’m happy to announce that WinWeb’s OnlineOffice has become even more affordable for small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader and virtual assistants from today.From today the monthly subscription will be £ 9.95 / US$ 19.95 / € [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Founding Presidents

These U.S. presidents didn't just run the country; they founded and operated businesses.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Tax Breaks A Boon For Small Business?

Talk to your financial services providers to take advantage of the economic stimulus package.

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]

Economic News Hits Computer Hardware but Not Software

With fears of a U.S. recession bearing down on technology companies, the sectors safest bets appear to be in business software, while makers of computers and consumer gadgets look vulnerable.

complete article

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Increase Productivity

Direct Access is a powerful speed typing software to create global text templates, available in any application, and define your abbreviation list only once. You just type the abbreviation and Direct Access automatically expands it into the full phrase for you. With Direct Access, any piece of information is always available just by typing a few keystrokes.

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Good Customer Service :- Turn up on time!

While we are talking about customer service and relations, differentiating yourself from your competition, here is an easy one:TURN UP ON TIME! GUARANTEED!The fact of the matter is, that most of us have been ad home waiting for the service man/woman to turn up, only to be disappointed in one way or another. They did [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Small Business Success By Being Different!

In my last post I talked about bucking the trend and doing things different than the competition. One of the easiest ways to micro business success is better customer service or just a better customer experience. You know your business better than your customers do, so ask yourself what you would be worried about, if [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Avoid These Common Web Mistakes

Webmasters need to avoid making these common web design mistakes. Website visitors who have a pleasant experience on a website are more likely to trust the website, and as such they are more likely to purchase products from that website. Use the following guide to avoid some of the more common web design mistakes...

Avoid These Common Web Mistakes

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Automate Your Online Business

These 4 easy steps will save you time, make you money and free you up to run your business from anywhere in the world.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Learn to Market More Creatively

Knowledge of your industry can bring originality to your business.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Green solutions that make sense for business

On a daily basis the environment is the top story. The challenge for many businesses is finding solutions that are both good for the environment and good for your business.

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]

Introducing:- The After The Launch Blog

As I mentioned last month, I want to share some other blogs with you, blogs I read on a regular basis. I like Shama’s - After The Launch Blog because of its no-nonsense advice and her obvious knowledge when it comes to marketing for your micro business and small business.I have asked her to introduce [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Dont charge by the hour!

It always amazes me to see how many businesses still charge by the hour - it is a business killer. How do you like it if someone comes to quote for a job and then tells you he/she is charging you by the hour. You will have all or at least some of the following [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Stop Blaming Your Network

Not getting the referrals you want? Stop pointing fingers and start taking charge of your company's success.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Ask and listen, then sell.

Selling and making money is one of the most important parts of running a business, obviously. It is astonishing how bad some “sales” people are, especially in small business this can have a detrimental effect on the whole business.I read somewhere not so long ago that that in sales you should remember that you have [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

The Future of Customer Service

Mobile technology is changing the way consumers search for answers.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Order Flowers and Get Software for Free!

Here is an interesting business marketing idea. Send flowers from FTD and get a full, free license to your preferred software.
Order Flowers and Get Software for Free

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Tip #10 How To Build Better Rapport With Your Customers

I'm sure that every one of the 100 Best Companies To Work For will tell you that happy employees create happy customers. One way to keep your employees happy is to encourage them to be active in their communities. Do this also puts your company's name out there in front of your customers and people who can become your customers.If you're looking for ways to involve your employees in their communities, let me suggest the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. Think combination county fair ...

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]

Increase Productivity

Direct Access is a powerful speed typing software to create global text templates, available in any application, and define your abbreviation list only once. You just type the abbreviation and Direct Access automatically expands it into the full phrase for you. With Direct Access, any piece of information is always available just by typing a few keystrokes.

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Granting Geniuses

These entrepreneurs don't just run businesses; they do good works. And they've been recognized with $500K MacArthur Fellowships for their accomplishments.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

New Ways to Pay

Want to close more sales without doing more work? Give customers more ways to pay with alternative billing methods.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

ROMM - The Basics of Search Engine Optimization

The formula for webmasters looking for success with the search engines is ROMM (Research, Optimize, Monitor, and Maintain). Here are some helpful tips and details about each portion of the ROMM concept...

ROMM - The Basics of SEO

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

The trouble with banks in an economic down-turn or a recession!

We all have read about the current crisis in the mortgage markets, especially in the US and here in the UK. This is based on the reckless behavior of many banks, driven by greed and not good business sense to lend money to house buyers who could not afford the mortgage. Needless to say small [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

Women Owned Businesses

Women start their own business at twice the rate of men. It shows initiative, creativity, courage and intelligence for these women venturing out on their own away from corporate America. One very startling statistic about women business owners - 3% of all women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more compared with 6% of men-owned firms according to the Center for Womens Business Research that means that women are starting their own business at twice the rate of men yet twice as many men owned business reach a million dollars in revenue.

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Ready, Set, Launch!

Air Cannons, Inc. has been whipping crowds into a frenzy for the past 12 years with their innovative T-shirt launchers. Find out how they stay ahead of the game.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Politically Speaking

Can business and politics go hand-in-hand? Find out about the risks--and rewards--of publicly endorsing a political candidate.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Introducing: The Small Business Bookshop

No matter what small business you run, you like me will be interested how other people solve certain problems or have mastered challenges. One way of doing this is to go to a bookshop and find a good book to get some inspiration from. If like me you are feed up with walking into bookstores [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

30+ Online Marketing Tactics for Small Business in 2008

What are some of the successful online marketing tactics being implemented now and into 2008? Below is a list of 35 such tactics that may be meaningful for both BtoB or BtoC marketers.

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]

Automation Software

Macro Scheduler Software discounted 45% for only 24 hours.


Create scripts and record macros to automate and control your Windows applications, automate software processes and assign tasks to schedules, desktop shortcuts or hotkeys. Perform complex tasks with a single mouse click, or schedule your computer to perform tasks while you are away.

The powerful Macro Recorder makes it easy to create macros even if you have no programming experience. If you can do it, Macro Scheduler can automate it.

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Web Design Questions and Answers

How much do you know about web design? Take this web design quiz to find out how much you know about web design...

Web Design Questions and Answers

Read More...

[Source: A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.]

Graphic Designer and Creative Writer needed.

This is a little note for ourselves - here at WinWeb - we are currently looking to outsource work in the following two areas:1.) Graphic Design - for our ongoing web-site development we are looking to outsource some graphic design work;2.) Creative Writing - for our newly formed WinWeb Studios Devision we are looking for [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

How much money do you really need to start your micro business?

Starting from home and using bootstrapping techniques will save you money and help your small business to stay afloat. But you will need some money - the question is, how much capital will you really need.To work this out you should do a cash-flow forecast, planning your income and expenditure for the next six to [...]

Read More...

[Source: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG]

6 Technology Rules to Thrive

This year, consider implementing these rules that can give your business a boost.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Maximum Customer Reach in 2008

Follow these tips for getting top visibility and increased business growth online this year.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Online Storage Options

As more startups and established companies enter the market for online storage, users can reap the numerous free benefits.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

10 HR Resolutions for 2008

This year, make it your goal to become a better manager. Here's how.

Read More...

[Source: Entrepreneur.com: Latest Articles]

Taking Classes Offers a Great Networking Opportunity to the Business Owner

Taking college classes offers the business owner a great opportunity for networking and expanding business skills.

Read More...

[Source: AllBusiness.com - The Small Business Blog]