The Lost Ring » Small

5 Major Small Business Trends in 2011 and How Virtual Services Will Help

furai86 — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:18:26 +0000

5 Major Small Business Trends in 2011 and How Virtual Services Will Help

Small Business Labs recently released its list of Top 10 Small Business Trends for 2011 and it points out some of the trends that might benefit from virtual services. Here is our take on the five trends where virtual solutions would enable cost minimization and optimization of business processes.

This payment model brings along a marked change in the way services can be availed. With this model expertise will look much cheaper and affordable, and businesses will start looking at options to choose services from. Pay-as-you-go model is highly practical, smart and more importantly, accountable in relation to the service offered. With businesses coming out of recession and running on tight financial schedules, more small businesses, service providers, virtual assistants are now offering this variable cost payment model to create an overall financial and growth nurturing environment.

The internet and online systems are helping small businesses to easily find, sell and support customers. New companies are letting go of the idea of setting up “brick and mortar” offices and stores and are rather excited to launch themselves on the “click and order” internet. And with more customers finding it easier to get things done online, even more existing small businesses are putting up their online face. Recent surveys suggest that small businesses’ budget for 2011 is up by 20% to 25% for e-commerce based website development. And if you are not online yet, there are virtual assistants who can help you launch online and join the league of vendors with online ordering points.

What started as a platform for online social interactions has emerged as a major marketing platform for most businesses. Facebook is ranking no.1 in website visits and add to it other giants like Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Small businesses are reaping rich dividends by investing in social media marketing and the trend is only set to outgrow regular marketing budgets in 2011. According to a survey by StrongMail across the globe, two-thirds of the surveyed companies will increase their spending on email marketing, and 57% will put more dollars toward social media marketing. The trick here is to get the best techniques and technology for social media marketing; and if you are not up to it, you may be left behind. But do not bother, with social media marketing services made available by virtual marketing assistants your social media marketing is in for a real kick start.

Freelancers are turning more professional and are setting up virtual businesses on a larger scale. Even big business houses are relying more on freelance based services apart from engaging other business groups. Though this is a good sign for freelancers, it comes with the burden to act professionally and work efficiently for sustaining the business. By Q3 of 2011 whichlance.com expects quarterly billings of freelancers to be in the region of 0m across all the major marketplaces. This makes freelancers more inclined and focused on delivering their expertise and also take ample care of other important business activities like marketing, phone answering, customer service, accounting, back office administration, and so on. This is where these freelancers can make excellent use of virtual assistants by diverting much of their non-core tasks to them.

Computing is ever changing and 2011 will be no different. Cloud, mobile computing is gaining steam and the benefits it brings is really worth taking. It cuts down the software cost and at the same time gives you access to the best software services. With online services like Google Apps, Basecamp, Amazon Web Services among others, more and more content is being created and maintained online in the cloud. It also removes the hassles of conventional software procurements and maintenance which is proving costly for small businesses. And with virtual assistants offering these kinds of services at competitive prices, it has become a profitable proposition for most small businesses.

Dig Deep for Small Business Ideas in India – Indian Based Small Business – Home Based Small Business in India

rach3l — Sun, 29 May 2011 15:19:08 +0000

Dig Deep for Small Business Ideas in India – Indian Based Small Business – Home Based Small Business in India

If you’re serious something like not up to standard to start a concern, the primarily fixation you feel like to get something done is take the epoch to understand pardon? Really makes you tick. Where get something done you induce your drive? What gets you in a “zone?”

However, there’s a fortune more to figuring prohibited the BEST concern scheme with the purpose of will manufacture you more money and provide you more self-determination to have more sensation in your life.

And sensation to you could be numerous than sensation to someone in addition. It could not be all something like money on all. It could not be something like judgment something you are completely passionate something like. It could not be something like having a “cool” concern — the most recent vogue or a unique niche.

Success is how you delimit it.

Finding the correctly scheme to bring you with the purpose of sensation takes a motivation to be serene, helpful timing, and a fortune of look into.

And there’s nothing injustice with taking your epoch, being shrewd tiresome to cost prohibited which small concern ideas are finest.

If you rush this process, you’re bound to draw closer up with a concern with the purpose of doesn’t excite you on all.

You’ll be bored.

You won’t make contact with goals and it will turn out to be more like a job … Maybe even harder!

You’ll feel like you would working intended for someone in addition. (You don’t feel like with the purpose of again, get something done you?)

First, Figure Out What You Really Want

Starting rotten, you really come up with to force manually to relax. I know pardon? It’s like being very, very forlorn on a job. And I can tell you from first-hand experience with the purpose of walking away from a well-paying job and jumping into your own concern is stressful.

But if you carefully intend your “escape,” it will manufacture it with the purpose of much better!

Set Your Short-Term Goals

Maybe you feel like to manufacture a ton of money and drive around in a BMW.

Or maybe you right feel like the self-determination to have your household or associates. Or perhaps it’s right a subject of being in control of your life — being able to get something done whatever you feel like, at any time you feel like.

Whatever your long-term goals are, primarily you come up with to concentrate on the shorter span goals rather than you can launch to predict with the purpose of “big picture.”

It’s up to you.

But understand with the purpose of the type of concern you start will joke about a roll in whether or not you rally your goals — both brusque and long-term.

If you’re tiresome to startup a part-time venture while working full-time intended for someone in addition, you’re on offer to come up with to regular on a daily basis goals to try and squeeze in a hardly any hours of creation all era, often rather than and taking into consideration creation! (I used to induce up on 4:30 in the morning, become to my full-time job on 8:30, draw closer domicile on 5 or 6 and induce correctly back to creation on my pristine concern … And I loved it!)

But if it’s a small concern scheme you came up with on the ride domicile and it doesn’t really “drive” you, it’ll manufacture success your brusque span goals — often the difficult part — a heck of a fortune more arduous.

What are Your Long-Term Plans?

That significant picture includes, more than everything, something you can predict manually burden all era. Something with the purpose of — even on weekends — you love to get something done.

And even though it is something you love to get something done, manufacture definitely it will feed your long-term intend. And you won’t know with the purpose of until you know pardon? Your long span intend really is!

For command, if your intend is indeed to manufacture a fortune of money and retire on a juvenile age, you’ll observably come up with to look on small concern ideas with the purpose of are highly profitable.

This would include mostly business-to-business models. There is typically more profit advertising to businesses (a creation or service) save you manufacture it significant in the consumer bazaar.

Why would the business-to-business bazaar be more profitable? Because a concern would be more willing to invest in a creation or service (that could even be a write-off) versus the consumer bazaar which is more “luxury” driven. Meaning, consumers build a fortune of their business decisions on feel like in its place of needs.

It’s too a monetary emerge.

A superior concern can reimburse a 0 invoice not including thinking something like it where a consumer getting a 0 bill could sweat a little more.

This is right an paradigm of understanding your long-term goals so you can look closer on a predetermined integer of concern ideas to induce you closer to somewhere you feel like to be.

And if you become in the future and hang your “open intended for business” sign and therefore realize, “Oh, I can’t manufacture with the purpose of much money burden this!”, you’ll barely be taking individual step brazen and two steps back.

Grab a Pad … Ideas determination Come and Go

Because — like all entrepreneurs — you’re a intellectual, you’ve for ever and a day got ideas popping into your head. Probably more than you can deal with (the brain barely has so much scope, correctly?).

That’s why you be supposed to for ever and a day keep a notebook by your trait.

Sure, roughly of the finest ideas induce printed on a cocktail napkin. But you’re better rotten tiresome to provide these ideas more immovability. And having a notebook dyed-in-the-wool to your small concern ideas will provide you a growing and buildable “diary” to benefit from at what time you’re helpful and likely to to become intended for it!

And on one occasion you start putting your ideas in marks, you’ll uncover manually getting into the addiction of using your notebook more and more. It’s like everything in addition with the purpose of takes practice.

The more you get something done it, the better you induce on judgment the finest small concern ideas. And each one scheme will help you grow more fact or “niche” ideas.

Become a Private Investigator!

What you feel like to get something done is really understand how to look into. You’ve got to dig — and dig deep — to determine pardon? Concern really might creation finest intended for your sensation.

Not barely get something done you come up with to know who you are and what’s on offer to drive your personality the nearly all, but you too need to think something like pardon? Sells.

What type of concern can be profitable?

Too many relations manufacture the blooper of looking on barely individual aspect of opening a small concern. If you love parakeets and you’re passionate something like them, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to unguarded up a hoard in your town not including knowing if somebody in addition likes them!

In the function of a trait log, opening an internet concern allows you a greater opportunity to build a concern around something you’re passionate something like. If it’s parakeets you love, you’ll uncover more relations on the internet with your same passion than you would in your own backyard. For roughly significant in turn something like judgment your passion on the internet, click at this juncture

You look into be supposed to include looking on pardon? Other businesses are burden (successfully and not so successfully) in your city or town.

Look on small businesses and even pardon? The “big guys” are burden.

Maybe you might create a minor concern with a not public bit with the purpose of the “big guys” are typically missing prohibited on (no subject how difficult they try.)

Figure prohibited more something like pardon? Makes you tick …

What kind of hobbies get something done you come up with, if whichever?

What kind of magazines get something done you have?

What get something done you like to get something done nearly all in your “free” epoch?

What was the finest job you increasingly held? Even if it’s individual you had at what time you were a child, you could uncover a concern in something you know and love — but don’t even realize it yet!

Business Ideas Are Everywhere

Start to think something like needs in your town or city. Is in attendance something missing? Is in attendance a need or a creation or roughly type of service relations would benefit from with the purpose of they “want?”

What is the majority age population in your city or town? Is it mostly seniors? (a giant bazaar as they are more involved and living longer than increasingly.) Or is your neighborhood made up of younger families?

Check prohibited the resident sections in your paper. Read the Lifestyle and Arts section. (I for ever and a day uncover articles something like resident concern relations who come up with in progress businesses.)

Look on resident and state businesses. Look on consumer trends and pardon? Relations “want.”

Is in attendance something other businesses in your area need? Don’t be anxious to become around and ask!

Think something like concerns we all come up with in the earth now.

There are so many opportunities prohibited in attendance, waiting intended for like you to step up and induce in progress with a pristine concern!

Don’t be anxious to ask!

This is somewhere your associates, household and neighbors draw closer in. Ask them to provide you their number-one need. A creation or service that’s “hard-to-find.” A complaint something like what’s missing from their lives.

How many period come up with you looked intended for something — a creation or service — and had to travel a long distance to induce it?

Answering questions will provide you a lot to think something like and roughly helpful material intended for your notebook.

And if you’re interested in the business-to-business bazaar, you might for ever and a day lay unruffled a survey and mail it prohibited to resident businesses. Give them an incentive (a low-cost, prominent help gift) and uncover prohibited pardon? They really need to help them upgrade their concern.

You could uncover with the purpose of all of the resident businesses in your area need someone to take heed of resident deliveries. Or someone to help them type or benefit from their laptop more effectively..

Just remember, opening a small concern is a process and it takes epoch. The more planning and look into you get something done up front, the better unintended you’ll come up with to sensation and come up with a little fragment of fun, too.

Small Business Online Marketing YouTube Strategies is it relevant

Chris — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 09:46:05 +0000

www.smallbusinessonlinemarketing.tk Small Business Online Marketing is the nucleus of Online Success for companies and Businesses Online. In order for you to get a mass amount of Traffic to chase you into your business you need to position yourself as an Expert in your niche and specialist area. Small Business Internet Marketing covers many areas such as Social Networking, Article Marketing, Video Marketing, Social Media, Podcast Marketing and PPC. Marketing for Small Business is the driving force of your conversion and sales online if you have not been getting the best results it may because you are not attracting the right clients and customers through relationship and attraction marketing. At Capital-Visions our Small Business Marketing shows you how to become Successfully the HUNTED instead of the HUNTER. Small Business Internet Marketing from Nathan Salmon has helped many businesses to dominate and position their content in the Eye of the Storm. Internet Marketing for Small Business professionals is your best option for becoming successful online. Small Business Marketing covers a range of techniques and strategies however you need to become the Master of one art before you try to enter new markets. Online small business marketing is one of the most lucrative avenues as appose to leveraging the offline old school advertising and marketing techniques like Magazines, Direct Mail, Newspapers, Yellow Pages bill boards you can now create a greater long lasting impact with …
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Small Business Inspiration – This Is Not A Suggestion Box!

furai86 — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:18:55 +0000

Small Business Inspiration – This Is Not A Suggestion Box!

This article is Part 2 in the Design & Innovation series. Please also read Part 1 “Design & Innovation – Turn Knowledge Into Money!”.

Design and innovation are a fundamental part of the strategy, in fact they are the lifeblood of any company that wishes to create and sustain a competitive position in the current difficult market place we all find ourselves in.

But design and innovation can no longer be left solely to your marketing company, it is now required at all levels, throughout your company.

Innovation can be split into 3 key areas:

cultural innovation, this is about managing a diverse, flexible, fully involved workforce process innovation, this focuses on constantly and consistently reviewing and improving, if not reinventing, all of your business processes technology innovation, this means taking full advantage of the available technology to support and drive through your innovations in the other areas i.e. culture and process.

Design and innovation are driven by creativity, but creativity with a specific purpose attached.

Are you being is innovative as you need to be?

Creativity cannot be demanded of your staff, some may have it, others may not, you need to work with the right external company to bring out the best of what you have within.

You can help to improve the creativity of you and your staff, by understanding a little more about it and introducing an environment where it can develop.

It’s not a case of changing everything you do, or making expensive special arrangements, it’s more a case of being open, open to new ideas, open to the process of it.

We all begin life with an active and imaginative right brain but as we grow older, we lose or suppress some of this as our education becomes more focused on control, logic, reason, sensibility and rules.

However, it may not be gone forever!

When we leave our education behind and start working for a living, most of us expect, to a greater or lesser degree, to be told what to do, how to do it and when to do it.

And you wonder why people are not as creative and full of ideas as they could be!

You are probably far too busy to even think about it! Most people have ideas, but are either reluctant to say anything or don’t even realize that they should or can share these ideas.

So what can you do?

Create a focus for creativity Ask for ideas Create the space for new ideas, be open Act on suggestions Set some targets Show you appreciation Acknowledge the person with the idea Keep the process going

Expanding a little on the 8 key areas:

Create a focus for creativity, get all you staff together for a quick chat, a coffee in the café, don’t make it a formal meeting, then just say what you are trying to do.

Ask for ideas, ask them to jot down their ideas and then compile a list so everyone can see and be involved in the process.

This creates the space for people to be involved in the new ideas, get their opinions on the list, make sure everyone is involved in the decision making process at some level, not all will agree with the short list or chosen idea, but no one can say, “it’s nothing to do with me!”.

Act on and implement the agreed on idea, don’t file all this valuable stuff away for later, later never arrives.

Set targets for the process and stages of implementation.

Show you appreciation, acknowledging whose idea it was is a huge boost for moral, whether its staff, supplier or customer, everyone likes to be thanked.

Keep going; don’t stop now the best is yet to come.

Finally Just think about what you could do with all these free ideas from your staff, customers and suppliers, don’t limit your horizons and keep your “creative ideas arena” hidden away somewhere, be proactive and ask for ideas from everyone – you will be amazed at what comes up!

This is not a “suggestion box” with walls and a narrow focus; this is a wide open space, open to all, so make the most of this valuable resource and start mining for the diamonds within your company, NOW!

Have you also read Part 1 of this Design & Innovation Series?

Water $aving$ For Your Small Business

Chris — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:16:23 +0000

Water $ aving$ For Your Small Business

Can I get a show of hands? Who wants to save some money for your small business AND save the environment at the same time?

Even if you are just a SOHO (small office/home office) you can go green and save money by saving water.

Here are three simple ideas for water savings AND money savings. And each and every company on Earth can pursue these – even those folks working from home!

1) Use less, conserve more

- Install low flow faucet

- Install low flow / dual flush / waterless toilets

- limit water evaporation by watering outdoors early mornings

2) Greywater

Recycle your water and use it for watering your outdoor trees and plants. Focus on conservation first.

There is no high infrastructure cost with simple systems attached to a shower or washing machine.

3) Rainwater

Rainwater tanks or barrels capture water runoff from roofs or gutters. The water is used for irrigation, flushing toilets, washing cars, and even drinking water.

To purchase a dirt cheap container for rainwater just look on www.craigslist.org for used food barrels!

Are You Ready?

For starters look for the “low hanging fruit” i.e. the best investments with the best return. This will depend on your particular business.

Need help determining where you get the highest savings? Get a water audit! The money you spend on the audit can pay off in just one or two years. Use a green plumber such as Rogers Remodel in Novato, CA.

Not only will you save water AND money, but by conserving and recyling water you will reduce your carbon footprint (the amount of waste output).

Alex Kahl

Kahl Consultants

http://www.kahl.net

Twitter Link Roundup #60 – Small Business, Social Media, Design, Copywriting, Marketing And More

furai86 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:15:47 +0000

Every day on the crowdSPRING Twitter account and on my own Twitter account, I post links to posts or videos I enjoyed reading or viewing. These posts and videos are about logo design, web design, startups, entrepreneurship, small business, leadership, social media, marketing, and more! Here are some of the links that I’ve liked and shared this past week!

The image above shows the label for Buttface Amber Ale – one of a number of ridiculous beer names in the marketplace (see full post in the Random Fun section below) from huffingtonpost.com

Half of Small Businesses Don’t Have a Website – http://ow.ly/34JrP

Why some small businesses have pulled back from social media – http://bit.ly/9H1WX6

Getting Your Startup Started With Payments – http://bit.ly/9k3tvX

Business plans for entrepreneurs: the three ‘Rs’ – Part I – http://bit.ly/aksdiY

“.. nobody wins if you go out of business” – On Pricing – http://bit.ly/bzaEcp

Don’t Take the Wrong Decision Shortcuts – http://bit.ly/atyYdI

Understanding How The Innovator’s Dilemma Affects You – http://bit.ly/cquJlj

Business plans for entrepreneurs: the three ‘Rs’ – Part I – http://bit.ly/aksdiY

Important insight – Harsh Realities From 500 Startups Founders – http://bit.ly/cxhd9R

The great RockMelt social disintermediation – http://tinyurl.com/2g3yqmf

What I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Company – http://bit.ly/c91bYf

Getting Your Startup Started With Payments – http://bit.ly/9k3tvX

How to Fail Fast: 5 Signs That It’s Time To Move On – http://ow.ly/37005

Don’t Take the Wrong Decision Shortcuts – http://bit.ly/atyYdI

Startup Mixology Play-By-Play – http://bit.ly/dDmFi1

“.. nobody wins if you go out of business” On Pricing – http://bit.ly/bzaEcp

Brian Chesky of AirBnB (from Startup School) – http://www.justin.tv/startupschool/b/272180383?

Lessons Learned From Helping Over 150 Startups With Marketing Part 1 – http://bit.ly/bnit1R

Employee Equity: Restricted Stock and RSUs on #mbamondays – http://bit.ly/atqltR

Useful comparison of Amazon vs. Rackspace clouds & why Mixpanel is moving to EC2 – http://bit.ly/9xzlC6

Lean Startups aren’t Cheap Startups – http://flo.tw/TTX

There is no “big break” Not in comedy, and not in startups – http://bit.ly/b9mQIR

Your Worst Enemy Is Yourself – http://bit.ly/9KGUN5

Understanding How The Innovator’s Dilemma Affects You – http://bit.ly/cquJlj

Marketing Sense Versus Common Sense – http://ow.ly/34aax

All of us are better than one of us: thoughts on collaboration – http://bit.ly/bZCSTP

Who’s on first? Key problems today with location-based services – http://tinyurl.com/2bgdyao

Excellent talk (video) by @jtwinsor on crowdsourcing & the evolution of the ad/design industry – http://bit.ly/9paURP

Location Services Have Not Caught On, Report Says – http://nyti.ms/cGSlpL

A few will always complain – http://bit.ly/ca68FD

Facebook grabs bigger slice of display ad pie – http://reut.rs/9zIZ1D

An in-depth look at misunderstanding gamification – http://slidesha.re/8X9x3b

9 in 10 young adults trust advertising (aieee!) – http://ow.ly/36lUY

Do agencies need labs? – http://bit.ly/deDw6M

The next legal frontier: courts can demand access to your social content, even if marked private – http://bit.ly/abZuMb

45 Amazing Car Print Ads Around The World – http://bit.ly/dl2Ist

50 Creative and Hilarious Print Ads for Inspiration – http://bit.ly/9NaXeN

40 Extremely Shocking Advertisements – http://bit.ly/9vDMSa

100 Creative Modern Advertisements – http://bit.ly/9CrEBz

Does Branding Still Matter? – http://bit.ly/apk01w

15 Cool, Crazy & Controversial Advertisements – http://bit.ly/drLA7A

Altimeter Report: Social Commerce, How Brands Are Generating Revenue in Social Media – http://bit.ly/bS6zme

Why I really, really hate Instagram – http://bit.ly/b6Ylem

Quick Guide to Typography: Learn and Be Inspired – http://bit.ly/bZmskL

Best FREE Photoshop Brushes – http://bit.ly/dwLnnp

Fast Company asks: “Is “Undesigned” the Next Great Web Trend?” – http://bit.ly/9XkDQb

Great Examples of Typographic Humor – http://fuel.bz/sT0

100 Creative Modern Advertisements – http://bit.ly/9CrEBz

50 New Free High Quality Icons Sets – http://bit.ly/dbSfrO

The Art of Currency: Unique Notes From Around the World – http://bit.ly/aWqLTo

200+ High Quality Textures For Designers – http://bit.ly/dA2oKL

10 Design Lessons From HTML Email Templates That Actually Sell – http://bit.ly/9WZItU

45 Useful New Photoshop Tutorials For The PS Addicts – http://bit.ly/9oICpc

20 of The Best Photoshop Tutorial Websites – http://bit.ly/ddzhPD

45 Useful Tutorials Of “How To Create Astonishing Text Effect” On Photoshop – http://bit.ly/a8mGsC

30+ Fresh New Illustrator tutorials – http://bit.ly/bRA2iZ

Pointers and Guidelines For Freelance Graphic Designers – http://bit.ly/bYGIu4

400+ of Outstanding Textures For Vintage Style Designs – http://bit.ly/a7t6aR

Huge Collection of Free User Interface Icons – http://bit.ly/c2DtnR

45 Creative Poster Designs – http://bit.ly/9Doabl

15 Cool, Crazy & Controversial Advertisements – http://bit.ly/drLA7A

90 Beautiful Book Cover Design in Different Style – http://bit.ly/dfrcdE

The Classification of Fonts – http://bit.ly/96yPTz

40 Extremely Shocking Advertisements – http://bit.ly/9vDMSa

50 Creative and Hilarious Print Ads for Inspiration – http://bit.ly/9NaXeN

Best Practices of Combining Typefaces – http://bit.ly/biQvrT

15 UI Design Patterns Web Designers Should Keep Handy – http://bit.ly/9Uxeww

45 Amazing Car Print Ads Around The World – http://bit.ly/dl2Ist

100 Great Free Fonts for Designers – http://bit.ly/bimDYF

50 Great Typography Artworks in Print Ads – http://bit.ly/dzEOs8

28 Beautiful Button and Icon Sets to Improve Your Designs – http://bit.ly/aEpDQV

Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template tco use today) – http://bit.ly/1ySfi

Legal Contracts for Graphic Designers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – http://bit.ly/XTLkS

Quick Guide to Typography: Learn and Be Inspired – http://bit.ly/bZmskL

100 Great Free Fonts for Designers – http://bit.ly/bimDYF

Readability: the Optimal Line Length – http://bit.ly/bHx3nY

Eye Movement Patterns in Web Design – http://bit.ly/cTAg6a

15 Must-Have Free Image Optimization Tools for Designers – http://bit.ly/cdLaYm

Fashionable Web Forms: Traps and Tips – http://bit.ly/csYjwA

Fast Company asks: “Is “Undesigned” the Next Great Web Trend?” – http://bit.ly/9XkDQb

20 Useful CSS3 Button Resources and Tutorials – http://bit.ly/bpTFtH

Inspiring Clothing Apparel Store Showcase – http://bit.ly/9rAdYx

10 Design Lessons From HTML Email Templates That Actually Sell – http://bit.ly/9WZItU

40 Essential CSS Templates, Resources and Downloads – http://bit.ly/dfuXQ0

Wireframing: Tips, Tools, and Techniques (Pt 2) – http://bit.ly/987sht

Everything you need to know about mascots in web design – http://ow.ly/34HWC

Huge Collection of Free User Interface Icons – http://bit.ly/c2DtnR

28 Beautiful Button and Icon Sets to Improve Your Designs – http://bit.ly/aEpDQV

Wireframe Tools and Tutorials To Speed Up Your Web Design Process – http://bit.ly/9lDY2e

100 Great Free Fonts for Designers – http://bit.ly/bimDYF

Designing Objectively (UX Magazine) – http://bit.ly/bLzCB9

Innovative Product Design #3 – http://bit.ly/clwIBq

Unusual and Artistic Designs of a Computer Mouse – http://bit.ly/cH76cw

The Mad Men Guide to Changing the World with Words – http://bit.ly/99IfSc

Little Known Ways to Write Fascinating Bullet Points – http://bit.ly/cuFjkP

Latest issue of crowdSPRING’s small biz newsletter – marketing, entrepreneurship, strategy & more – http://bit.ly/aSB46h

40 People Who Changed The Internet – http://bit.ly/bcOvRJ

Amazon Nukes Diapers.com In Price War — http://read.bi/9l9fay

Mike Samson, Co-Founder of @crowdSPRING on Community Building & NO!SPEC Campaign http://bit.ly/awmI5M

The 4G forgery – T-Mobile does not have a 4G network – http://j.mp/b9JCxo

Google’s “10 Things” – http://3.ly/tv8Q

Way to go San Francisco! No more toys in unhealthy meals – http://bit.ly/bxNTGA

How To Lose Weight, Quit Coffee, and Stop Wearing Glasses (Part 2) – http://bit.ly/doqu2k

Google Maps triggers military dispute between Costa Rica & Nicaragua – http://selnd.com/aHbvmp

Never Adopt The Rhetoric Of Your Enemies – http://bit.ly/bNLT7a

Newspaper economics 101: Of paywalls & newsletters…incredibly cogent analysis – http://bit.ly/c0PP2V

UK copyright laws to be relaxed. – http://bbc.in/aCPira

Technology expected in homes in 10 years – Scientists unveil moving 3D holograms – http://bit.ly/bLwBpD

Geologists And Tech Industry Leaders Fear Mineral Trade Wars Imminent – http://tcrn.ch/cDDJW3

By 2015 ebooks will triple to $3 billion industry – http://bit.ly/at1DTB

Amazon Allows Kindle Magazine And Newspaper Publishers To Take 70 Percent Of Revenue http://tcrn.ch/blF3h0

US News & World Report cancels magazine http://bit.ly/anZ0yw

Facebook Backlash Inundates Food Magazine Over Content Theft – http://bit.ly/98mKmd

How to Watch Free, Live Broadcast TV on Your iPad, Right Now – http://bit.ly/cwq3Em

iPhone/iPad have 51% developer mkt share. State of App Industry 2010 (Report) – http://rww.to/bIPUQT

This is pretty darn funny if you need a 2 min diversion this evening – http://bit.ly/b85tKt

Yes, bacon-flavored soda. For the holidays! via… http://sto.ly/digX46

Lucky for you, I’ve found the mother of all things here on Earth. You have to watch to understand – http://youtu.be/vJB2Woe5zeQ

Totally Look Alikes – http://bit.ly/bm7ZVh

The Most Ridiculous Beer Names Of All Time – http://huff.to/aTrbnr

I hope you enjoy these links! Please leave a comment and let me know what you liked/didn’t like.

View full post on crowdSPRING BlogTweet

Small Business Marketing: Google Boost

furai86 — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:14:46 +0000

Google has released a new tool – Google Boost – that allows small businesses to connect with potential customers via Google Adwords. The program is still in beta and available to select local businesses in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago.

Boost allows local businesses to create online search ads right from their Google Places account (In an earlier post, I discussed several free resources from Google available to small businesses, including Google Places – Free resources for small business from Google). The advantage for small businesses is that once the ad is created, no ongoing management is needed (unlike Adwords, where ongoing management is important). There is no bidding and no keyword research. Google experimented with a similar program in 2009.

Once you provide some basic information about your business (you can, for example, include star ratings from customers and number of reviews received) and a monthly budget, Google automatically sets up the ad campaign by determining the relevant keywords that will trigger the ad to appear when potential customers search on Google (see image on the left) and Google Maps. Your account is debited – just like with Adwords – only when people click on the ad – and not merely when the ad is shown.

Why should small businesses be interested in Boost? Recent studies reveal that most consumers research online before shopping locally. This trend is increasing – a few years ago, fewer consumers researched products online before buying locally.

If you want Google to let you know when Boost is available in your area, you can complete a short online form.

View full post on crowdSPRING BlogTweet

3 Essentials to Measure The Minimum That Matters in Small Business

furai86 — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:42:49 +0000

Most business owners and entrepreneurs are “bright idea” junkies, and they see measuring and tracking as boring, tedious, and never urgent. So they don’t get around to doing it, despite all the wasted time and money and effort they could have avoided (and could still avoid) by learning much sooner which bright ideas work and which don’t.

So how can you make measuring in your small business a minimal affair, so you can get beyond the boring bits and start getting excited about how it launches your business must sooner to higher heights?

1. Measure as little as possible.

Just because you can measure it, just because ‘they’ measure it, or just because someone said you should measure it, doesn’t mean you should measure it! Get a taste of the excitement of seeing your results shifting and taking off, by focusing on just 2 or 3 measures, and use those measures to keep you focused on excelling in those results. Start measuring the one thing that wakes you up at 3am, or that you find you’re spending the most time thinking about.

2. Document and delegate the routine for measuring.

If you have to fumble around looking for data, setting up a spreadsheet and trying to remember which report to pull your sales figures or cash flow numbers from, it’s going to be all hassle and no hustle. Write down the steps in a checklist or flowchart and delegate them to your assistant. They’ll love it and you’ll love the gorgeous report they give you each week, which will refocus you on what really matters for your business success!

3. Establish the Weekly ‘Track Test & Tune’ habit.

You’ll get super fast and super efficient at measuring and tracking – but only with regular practice. Spend just 15 or 30 minutes a week looking over that lovely report your assistant puts together for you, and make one decision from the insights you get from the data. Then act on that decision immediately. Forming this weekly habit will grow your business much faster than randomly jumping on the latest fads.

TAKE ACTION:
Are you measuring and tracking what matters in your small business, regularly? If not, which of the above essentials will make the difference for you? Take action today.

Twitter Link Roundup #57 – Small Business, Social Media, Design, Copywriting, Marketing And More

furai86 — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:14:52 +0000

image credit: articotropical

The image on the left shows Urucum seeds. Native Indians of Brazil use urucum seeds to make red pigment.

Tips for small business: 7 biases that can effect your decision making – http://bit.ly/bA5KEF

Startup and Small Business Marketing: Website Optimization Mistakes – http://bit.ly/9Aw8Vh

Product or Service Features Are Rarely A Competitive Advantage – http://bit.ly/alHH1q

Negotiation Tips For Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Freelancers – http://bit.ly/9yioyH

A/B Testing: Usability From A to B – http://bit.ly/bRoXX7

The Five W’s of Marketing – http://bit.ly/bhGTPm

Startup and Small Business Marketing: Website Optimization Mistakes – http://bit.ly/9Aw8Vh

The New Funding Landscape – http://bit.ly/aj9fbP

A Compilation of the Web’s Best Advice for Entrepreneurs – http://kiss.ly/coPSt8

Are You A Visionary Entrepreneur? – http://vh.co/ammqGb

Generating buzz for your startup: 43 bits of free advice from entrepreneurs – http://ow.ly/2Wf0F

If you have to tell someone you’re influential, then you’re not – http://bit.ly/94aQUE

Negotiation Tips For Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Freelancers – http://bit.ly/9yioyH

My 9 Favorite Startup Lessons From Startup School – http://bit.ly/dc6cha

Skate Where the Puck is Going – http://bit.ly/dzHq41

Startup Failures: Five Ways To Crash Your Startup, Which Will You Pick? – http://bit.ly/8inbaT

Why You Should Start Marketing the Day You Start Coding – http://bit.ly/9Pm6Fn

From Prototype to Community: Forrst Founder Kyle Bragger Shares His Startup Journey – http://bit.ly/9TR4Zi

Don’t Give Cash Performance Bonuses in a Loss-Making Company – http://bit.ly/a8S2xJ

How Much Are You Worth? – http://bit.ly/9UzSBJ

10 web start-ups (all mine) … and why they failed – http://bit.ly/bYqkPk

12 Point Elevator Pitch Strategy – http://bit.ly/9fbpVD

Product or Service Features Are Rarely A Competitive Advantage – http://bit.ly/alHH1q

Don’t be a conference ho – http://bit.ly/bRF244

The Five W’s of Marketing – http://bit.ly/bhGTPm

Social Media Insights From The Big Lebowski – http://bit.ly/bWl8jM

Why You’re a Social Media Douche – http://bit.ly/bVkAms

Considering crowd-sourcing? Better have a plan – http://bit.ly/bksGkf

59 Interesting Print Ads From 22 Companies – http://bit.ly/c8sB6H

Where’s @oldspice on Twitter these days, asks @edwardboches – http://bit.ly/ch4M3t

If you have to tell someone you’re influential, then you’re not – http://bit.ly/94aQUE

Power of Social Cloud – http://s.hbr.org/bsuUdb

Traffic Bait Doesn’t Bring Ad Clicks – http://nyti.ms/9KEel7

Absolutely Stunning Promotional Poster and Flyer Designs – http://bit.ly/aPWb9Q

Optimizing Conversion Rates with 5 Quantitative & Qualitative Tests (Part 2) – http://bit.ly/aWEbLG

Crowdsourcing Your Marketing Activities – http://slidesha.re/dBYH61

Why marketer misuse of metrics may be an addressable cultural issue – http://j.mp/cCujU1

Fast Company’s “Influence Project” – So Lame, Fast Company Ignored Its Own Results – http://bit.ly/cyNgRV

Generating buzz for your startup: 43 bits of free advice from entrepreneurs – http://ow.ly/2Wf0F

A/B Testing: Usability From A to B – http://bit.ly/bRoXX7

Good comparison of new media brand vs. old – http://nyr.kr/9Zswdc

The Five W’s of Marketing – http://bit.ly/bhGTPm

30 Best Free Web Icons for All Kind of Projects – http://bit.ly/dzvu2z

Negotiation Tips For Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Freelancers – http://bit.ly/9yioyH

Tutorials On Creating Photo Realistic Mock-Ups – http://bit.ly/ce2iyD

Full Set Of Credit Card Icons By Graphicpeel – http://bit.ly/azWNUS

28 Very Useful Font and Typography Tools for Designers – http://bit.ly/b9zZjr

59 Interesting Print Ads From 22 Companies – http://bit.ly/c8sB6H

Absolutely Stunning Promotional Poster and Flyer Designs – http://bit.ly/aPWb9Q

Top 10 Icon Design Tutorials in Photoshop – http://bit.ly/9U1JSq

Book Covers: 75+ Awesome Designed Books – http://bit.ly/9SYSvc

Font Collection: 10 Free Humanist Sans Serif Fonts – http://bit.ly/9pSexD

65 Creative Pumpkin Carving Designs – http://bit.ly/bLzdqK

Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template tco use today) – http://bit.ly/1ySfi

Legal Contracts for Graphic Designers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – http://bit.ly/XTLkS

Font Collection: 10 Free Humanist Sans Serif Fonts – http://bit.ly/9pSexD

30 Web Design Galleries for Your Inspiration – http://bit.ly/bzIQ5J

Organization Tips For Web Designers – http://bit.ly/biJRpY

40 Brilliant Examples of Sketched UI Wireframes and Mock-Ups – http://ow.ly/2NLDe

All About jQuery: Plugins, Tutorials and Resources – http://bit.ly/cANOMq

50 Powerful Time-Savers For Web Designers – http://bit.ly/as5CS0

Showcase: Funky And Experimental Websites – http://bit.ly/c06OrT

Understanding Visual Hierarchy in Web Design – http://bit.ly/ck8lb5

Font Collection: 10 Free Humanist Sans Serif Fonts – http://bit.ly/9pSexD

7 Useful Design Strategies for a Successful Pricing Page – http://ow.ly/2UOyl

Killing Sign Up Forms – http://bit.ly/95Dnn3

30+ Fresh Icon Sets for Web Designers and Developers – http://bit.ly/bz8vNO

UI Guidelines for mobile and tablet web app design – http://bit.ly/aRHh1G

25 Pink Web Designs to Inspire You – http://bit.ly/9wT9bx

The Square Grid – New CSS-Grid – http://bit.ly/clzWys

Full Set Of Credit Card Icons By Graphicpeel – http://bit.ly/azWNUS

10 Useful Free WYSIWYG HTML Editors For Web-Based Application – http://bit.ly/cMqzEB

4 Concepts for Simplistic Web Design – http://bit.ly/aT8bDd

30 Best Free Web Icons for All Kind of Projects – http://bit.ly/dzvu2z

4 Game-Changing Trends in Web App Design – http://bit.ly/aCRtFD

Nice behind-the-scenes on how google does user testing – http://bit.ly/asdo4i

Information Architecture 101: Techniques and Best Practices – http://bit.ly/9OAkY5

UI Guidelines for mobile and tablet web app design – http://bit.ly/aRHh1G

Killing Sign Up Forms – http://bit.ly/95Dnn3

IPad’s Natural User Interface at Work – http://bit.ly/bOWEz2

35 of the most incredible and creative bookshelves ever – http://bit.ly/bcakWN

80 Colorful Package Designs – http://bit.ly/cyByt2

Some very good screenwriting insights – http://bit.ly/bMRe1o

A Complete Guide to Effective Writing – http://bit.ly/d0srOf

Five Ways to Write Magnificent Copy – http://bit.ly/90Xr7o

Put Crowdsourcing to Work for You – http://bit.ly/cS85uh

Amazon’s Approach to Product Development – http://ow.ly/2US0O

How We Collaborate is More Important Than Who Collaborates – http://bit.ly/dhMoyM

What Are You Willing To Do For The Rest of Your Life? – http://ow.ly/2VwGJ

The Myth of Predatory Crowdsourcing – http://bit.ly/d2YzFC

Optimizing Conversion Rates with 5 Quantitative & Qualitative Tests (Part 2) – http://bit.ly/aWEbLG

New research shows shortcomings of visualization – http://bit.ly/c8BjUU

Music “fan funding” platform Sellaband scores its first chart success – http://bit.ly/bBpXVh

How Much Are You Worth? – http://bit.ly/9UzSBJ

Why change is so hard: self-control is exhaustible – http://bit.ly/akNxqH

Nice writeup w/ photos of @37signals new office – http://bit.ly/bgNlCs

FEDTALKS: How To Improve Government With Technology – http://bit.ly/bdsT5M

40+ Amazing Examples of Bokeh Photography – http://bit.ly/cCY1hk

Google continues to print money (nice new lines of business, too) – http://nyti.ms/cIyzIv

Why change is so hard: self-control is exhaustible – http://bit.ly/akNxqH

How To Lose Weight, Quit Coffee, and Stop Wearing Glasses (Part 1) – http://bit.ly/bLzeLC

Today’s issue of crowdSPRING’s smallbiz newsletter (marketing, strategy, 2011 outlook) – http://bit.ly/cfTMoT

25 Funniest Airline Crew Members Lines – http://j.mp/bnvj06

Attn Google: The Rest of My Sci-Fi Wish List – http://tcrn.ch/bpJoCh

The Best Parent Fails – http://bit.ly/aEdZxi

I hope you enjoy these links! Please leave a comment and let me know what you liked/didn’t like.

View full post on crowdSPRING BlogTweet

Twitter Link Roundup #56 – Small Business, Social Media, Design, Copywriting, Marketing And More

furai86 — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:14:57 +0000

image credit: papalars

The image on the left is “The Bean” in Chicago – photographed in HDR.

Not Everything That Can Be Counted Counts – http://bit.ly/c5dPUv

crowdSPRING’s Small Business Spotlight of the Week: Penn Brewery – http://bit.ly/aneDfT

Small Innovations Are a Big Deal – http://bit.ly/90T9PM

Strategy is Not a To Do List – http://kiss.ly/buz41c

Tips, Tricks and Inspiration for Creating Great Screencasts – http://bit.ly/bBvlA7

Not Everything That Can Be Counted Counts – http://bit.ly/c5dPUv

The VC Market: An Adaptive System – http://bit.ly/d2T6Jr

Strategy is Not a To Do List – http://kiss.ly/buz41c

Beware the Nile perch – http://bit.ly/bAEm4Y

Lean Startup 101 for Developers – http://ow.ly/2Qa8p

Silicon Valley’s Disruption Deficit Disorder – http://bit.ly/b5Ix3y

Steve Jobs’s Strategy? “Get Rid of the Crappy Stuff” – http://bit.ly/b5pYkc

Men and Women Entrepreneurs: Not That Different – http://tcrn.ch/cz3lfF

Startup Sales – Why Hiring Seasoned Sales Reps May Not Work – http://bit.ly/cas02p

Future M Start-Up Marketing Boot Camp Recap – http://bit.ly/bZTXrK

“Some of the smartest people you work with don’t think like you at all.” – http://vh.co/97DgSM

Acquisitions: Pulling Back the Covers – http://bit.ly/cFBQee

What Startups Can Learn From Watching “The Social Network” – http://bit.ly/bzsEOd

Small Innovations Are a Big Deal – http://bit.ly/90T9PM

Tips, Tricks and Inspiration for Creating Great Screencasts – http://bit.ly/bBvlA7

What is holding back social media investment? – http://bit.ly/cJNG6k

Social media critics keep getting it wrong – http://bit.ly/9vAaU1

12 Creative Design Ideas That Went Viral (And The Lessons You Can Learn) – http://bit.ly/cKStxh

40 Creative Advertisement for Inspiration – http://bit.ly/aG7Tq6

Lessons to be learnt from the Gap logo debacle – http://bbc.in/dq7PnA

Internet Advertising Hits New Revenue Record – http://bit.ly/aNgQXL

What Can You Learn from 7 Awesome Corporate Blogs? – http://bit.ly/d5Qfi7

Crowdsourcing Effective Advertising – http://s.hbr.org/dnwtVj

Online sharing leading to more sharing offline – http://rww.to/azzgPM

Keynote Speech Scott Klososky Social Technologies 12 Step Process – http://bit.ly/9pdJG6

Not Everything That Can Be Counted Counts – http://bit.ly/c5dPUv

Inspiration: Vintage Packaging & Labels – http://bit.ly/c5zgNA

Payments, Contracts, & Invoices – How to get clients to pay – http://bit.ly/c7c83Q

50+ Easy to Follow Photoshop Poster Tutorials – http://bit.ly/cSJwyC

Clothing Hang Tag Design: 12 Trendy Examples – http://bit.ly/cjNvHh

Comprehensive Guides For Understanding The Basic Fundamentals Of Illustrator – http://bit.ly/9lxlc6

A Handy Guide to Image Resolutions in Print Design – http://ow.ly/2NLI6

40 Creative Advertisement for Inspiration – http://bit.ly/aG7Tq6

Super Cute Save-the-Date Cards – http://bit.ly/9FIrOo

crowdSPRING’s interview with a designer – 12 Questions: Meet Tin Bačić (Croatia) – http://bit.ly/bnHc0z

25 Excellent Sets of Free Adobe Illustrator Brushes – http://bit.ly/crrYps

60 Exclusive Free Icons: “Childish” – http://bit.ly/8YR1dV

The Science Behind Design Color Theory – http://bit.ly/aIBtUx

Color Blendy: tool that lets you generate & preview transitions between colors – http://bit.ly/dvj1ky

40 Amazing Music Inspired Artworks – http://bit.ly/9RmSLg

More on avoiding risk aversion when designing – http://is.gd/fToTD

12 Creative Design Ideas That Went Viral (And The Lessons You Can Learn) – http://bit.ly/cKStxh

Showcase of Minimalism in Movie Posters From 1967 to 2010 – http://bit.ly/aIOZFr

50+ Really Amazing Digital Art of Mermaids – http://bit.ly/dqhGgL

The Ultimate CSS Gradient Generator Tool – http://ow.ly/2QSRn

Legal Contracts for Software Developers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template tco use today) – http://bit.ly/1ySfi

Legal Contracts for Graphic Designers Who Hate Contracts (w/free contract template to use today) – http://bit.ly/XTLkS

If you love the new GAP logo (are you nuts?), you can get one for your business! – http://bit.ly/9PEU0O

50 Best Designed Logos With Punctuation Marks – http://bit.ly/92Ikm1

50 Clever and Cool Logos – http://bit.ly/cTx7ZM

The Science Behind Design Color Theory – http://bit.ly/aIBtUx

Five Useful Design Techniques and Coding Solutions For Web Designers – http://bit.ly/axMdq3

The Science Behind Design Color Theory – http://bit.ly/aIBtUx

5 Biggest Copyright Pitfalls for Web Designers – http://bit.ly/d5sJHU

Dos and Don’ts of Website Design – http://ow.ly/2PD0e

25+ Web Designs with TyPoGrApHy as a Dominating Design Element – http://bit.ly/cNcUie

50 New Useful CSS Techniques, Tutorials and Tools – http://bit.ly/a9ejuv

40 Must See Cool Short Animation Websites – http://ow.ly/2NLIl

30 Auto Completion Scripts for Better User Experience – http://bit.ly/cDqrYF

60 Exclusive Free Icons: “Childish” – http://bit.ly/8YR1dV

40 Fresh Examples of Minimal Web Design – http://bit.ly/chUQyc

150 best jQuery effects for web designers and developers – http://bit.ly/cS0Qbj

Test Usability By Embracing Other Viewpoints – http://bit.ly/aNt2Gh

The Difference Between UI and UX – http://sto.ly/cp43j9

30 Auto Completion Scripts for Better User Experience – http://bit.ly/cDqrYF

A very useful collection – Usability Resources to Win Arguments – http://bit.ly/bV5V5p

The right way to tell time: http://www.qlocktwo.com

Concept Cars: 60+ Kick-Ass Automobile Designs – http://bit.ly/d2nSwe

7 Tips for an Authentic and Productive Writing Process – http://bit.ly/aXwhSu

20 Awesome WordPress Typography Themes for Writers – http://bit.ly/bdUFAj

Great talk by Jonathan Zittrain: “Minds for Sale” (video) – http://youtu.be/Dw3h-rae3uo

“7 Trends to Watch, In An Age of Info Overload” – http://bit.ly/c9D9BL

Very inspiring to see innovation like this (allowing paralyzed people to walk) – http://bit.ly/97tX3M

16 Interesting Facts About Sleep – http://bit.ly/dcT390

Gap reverting to their old logo – http://bit.ly/9s9ZeC

“Kindle Singles” is exactly the right idea at the right time – http://bit.ly/ay3KZX

Tips, Tricks and Inspiration for Creating Great Screencasts – http://bit.ly/bBvlA7

Motion Graphic Inspiration: Imaginary Forces – http://bit.ly/buRkv2

You Name It: The Biggest [Blanks] in the World! – http://bit.ly/9LKgP0

Scientists say three-course meal in a single stick of gum is now a possibility – http://bit.ly/a7IXu3

Top 10 Largest Photographs in the World – http://bit.ly/biLsT5

A Realization About Japanese and American Superheroes – http://bit.ly/c0eEFN

Best video of all time – http://youtu.be/pc0mxOXbWIU

State of the art of self-driving cars on road today – http://scoble.it/axauXi

I hope you enjoy these links! Please leave a comment and let me know what you liked/didn’t like.

View full post on crowdSPRING BlogTweet