the a2z Group » In Home Business

The Internet Isn’t Just for Computers Anymore

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:17:45 +0000

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this year, thousands of companies demoed countless devices. Some of them brought 3D into your living room, while others miniaturized the computing experience to the tablet format.

via The Internet Isn’t Just for Computers Anymore : Technology :: American Express OPEN Forum.

10 Email Marketing Strategies to Dramatically Increase Your Sales – Twitterer Social Network

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:02:51 +0000

Consider this: About 99% of your website visitors will leave without buying anything from you on their first visit. But by creating a great opt-in offer you can at least get their contact details — and then use email marketing to follow up, build relationships, and turn them into paying customers.

via 10 Email Marketing Strategies to Dramatically Increase Your Sales – Twitterer Social Network.

Social Media Predictions For 2010

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:16:55 +0000

With the first decade of the new century and new millennium coming to a close, its time to look forward at some of the prognostications that several of today’s visionaries have divined from their social media crystal balls

via Social Media Predictions For 2010.

2010 predictions: Follow the hardware

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:16:14 +0000

It’s easy to scoff at business predictions for the coming year. But the best social media prognosticators (like Shiv Signh in his SmartBrief on Social Media interview) have a leg up on their counterparts in other industries, since they can look to hardware to light the way.

via SmartBlog On Social Media » 2010 predictions: Follow the hardware.

Five Tips for Promoting Your SMB with Twitter and Facebook

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:50:15 +0000

Many companies have Twitter accounts that spit out periodic updates on new products or services, and a few even have a Facebook page. But there’s a big difference between having a social networking account that puts out spam to a followers/friends list that consists of employees and the owners’ immediate family, to being part of an actual online community.

via Five Tips for Promoting Your SMB with Twitter and Facebook : Technology :: American Express OPEN Forum.

The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Franchisings—Entrepreneur.com

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:24:46 +0000

About 15 years ago, an entrepreneur came to me proudly displaying the franchise legal documents that he had prepared, and asked me to critique them. While I’m not an attorney, I said I would be happy to weigh in on the business issues that these documents contained.

via The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Franchising—Franchise Programs—Entrepreneur.com .

Franchise Trends

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:07:32 +0000

Want a peek into the future of franchising? We’ve compiled a list of 10 franchise categories that are poised for growth in 2010. Some, like fitness and senior care, have been going strong for years and show no signs of slowing. Others, like gourmet burgers and party services, are relatively new to the franchising scene and just starting to show their potential. All of them are worth keeping an eye on in the year ahead.

via Franchise Trends – Entrepreneur.com .

When the Little Guy Goes Big

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:06:04 +0000

Like a lot of small-business owners today, Nathan Smith was nervous. For 18 years, he’d built Sure Signs, his Idaho Falls, Idaho, sign shop, and he was sick of running hard for 60 hours a week. Instead of putting his energy into building new business–critical in this economy–he was drained by being the only person who could solve day-to-day problems. And one worry loomed over all the rest:

via When the Little Guy Goes Big – Entrepreneur.com .

10 Web trends to watch in 2010 – CNN.com

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:33:33 +0000

While Web innovation is unpredictable, some clear trends are becoming apparent. Expect the following 10 themes to define the Web next year:

via 10 Web trends to watch in 2010 – CNN.com.

Checklist for Trademark and Copyright Issues on Your Website

admin — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:55:37 +0000

The following is a checklist of issues and questions for protecting your online presence for your business, from the standpoint of trademarks and copyrights. We will be updating this as our tweetchat event (#smbchat) progresses.

via Checklist for Trademark and Copyright Issues on Your Website | Small Business Trends.

What is Web 3.0? Semantic Web & other Web 3.0 Concepts Explained in Plain English

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:59:37 +0000

Web 1.0 – That Geocities & Hotmail era was all about read-only content and static HTML websites. People preferred navigating the web through link directories of Yahoo! and dmo

via What is Web 3.0? Semantic Web & other Web 3.0 Concepts Explained in Plain English.

Review of Twitterville, by author Shel Israel

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 03:32:08 +0000

Twitterville is a book with a collection of anecdotes and stories about businesses using the social media site Twitter.

One of the best things about this book is how the author, Shel Israel, captures the people and companies that make Twitter such an addicting phenomenon.

via Review of Twitterville, by author Shel Israel | Small Business Trends.

5 Tips For Getting More from Facebook

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:34:13 +0000

In continuing with my series of quick social media tips (check out 5 tips for LinkedIn) I’m covering some tips for business use of Facebook here. I’ve actually written about some of these tips in great detail before, but this can act as a quick primer for folks who like their info snack sized like this.

via 5 Tips For Getting More from Facebook .

The War on Social Media

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:33:24 +0000

For those of us old enough to remember the unfinished American “power to the people” cultural revolution of the late 1960s, there are signs that history is about to repeat itself. The drums have been sounding for months now but they are getting louder and closer.

via The War on Social Media .

Social Network Quality vs. Quantity: What’s More Important?

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:32:35 +0000

When I peruse the different Twitter followers and followees I often get Twitter envy when I stumble across some users with a large follower base. Now of course I’m not referring to the Ashton Kutchers of the world, but the common users with marketing or community backgrounds, specifically mid range users with 10k plus followers.

via Social Network Quality vs. Quantity: What’s More Important? .

How many Twitter friends click on your links? As little as 1%

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:30:32 +0000

No matter how much we boast that we have 200 / 2000 / 20,000 etc Twitter followers, how many are realistically tuning into what we say? We might be relegated to the second or third columns on Tweetdeck, we might have a lot of followers that are spambots, and most might not even be on when we tweet.

via How many Twitter friends click on your links? As little as 1% .

YouTube 101 for Small Businesses

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:12:26 +0000

YouTube is the number two most trafficked website on the Web for a reason… and that is that it’s fun and useful, and as you will find out, not just for kids and non business people. But the first thing you have to figure out as a small business person is the possibilities that YouTube can give to you.

via YouTube 101 for Small Businesses | Small Business Trends.

How To Set Up A Google Store In Minutes

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:11:40 +0000

Last week, Google released yet another gadget that may win them friends with small business owners. It’s called the Google Checkout store gadget and it essentially allows you to use Google Checkout and Google Docs to to easily create your own online store in a matter of minutes. What makes the gadget especially interesting is that because it’s tied to a Google Docs spreadsheet, small business owners can keep product inventory without having to use another third-party program like Quickbooks.

via How To Set Up A Google Store In Minutes | Small Business Trends.

Getting The Most Out Of YouTube

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:11:00 +0000

If you haven’t heard, the news regarding online video is good. Our friend Matt McGee informed us yesterday about the Pew Research Center report that found the number of adults watching online video has doubled since 2006. What does that mean? It means that now 2 out of every 3 adults online are spending time watching video. Those are some pretty convincing numbers.

via Getting The Most Out Of YouTube | Small Business Trends.

Mobile Franchise Opportunities | Small Business Trends

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:08:24 +0000

When I first started in the consulting and brokering part of franchising, I was struck by the sheer number of different concepts available to prospective franchise owners. It seemed that there was a franchise for everything.

via Mobile Franchise Opportunities | Small Business Trends.[ad#post]

Using Ning To Create A World For Your SMB | Small Business Trends

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:07:47 +0000

Not content to live in the social networks of others, some small business owners have taken to platforms like Ning to create their very own social communities. Why would someone want to create their own social network when there are plenty of sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace available to jump on

via Using Ning To Create A World For Your SMB | Small Business Trends.[ad#post]

Video: Website pays users for “how to” articles | NBC13.com

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:18:11 +0000

What if you could make money telling people how to do the things you’re really good at? That’s the idea behind a popular Web site that a Dallas mom says she’s cashing in on.

Candace Crockett is a regular contributor on the Web site eHow.com. The stay-at-home mom discovered the Web site when she was researching ways to make money from home.

via Video: Website pays users for “how to” articles | NBC13.com.

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