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Feb27
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Okay, web surfers, here's another spot for you to check out all sorts of news and articles about small- and home-based businesses: SmallBusinessBrief.com. Editor Linda Riley is pulling in articles and info from all over the place and putting it in an interesting newspaper-type format for you to skim. With an idea forum, software and tools directories, an e-newsletter and reprints of articles, she's got plenty to offer.
Since none of us can be everywhere at once, resources like this always come in handy. Recent entries at the CWAHM blog and links to other small business blogs are handy too. Pop on by and see what Linda has to offer...don't forget to tell her Mel sent you from SmallBizMentor.com!
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Feb25
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Are you still waiting and wavering when it comes to starting your own business? You may get some inspiration to climb further out on the business limb once you flip through the new issue of Country Living magazine. As I...
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Have you been over to Workerette.com lately? I've got a great opportunity for you to get some free publicity and share the story of your small- or home-based business here at SmallBizMentor. It's time to gather 'round the virtual watercooler...
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Feb23
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What do you think of my new look? I'm so happy with the fantastic folks on the Know More Media web team. Two new looks in one week. (Two? Yes...pop by and see my new glow over at Workerette.com too.) ...
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Feb22
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Ready to do some more surfing for resources? Take a few minutes to check out the information and news for entrepreneurs and small businesses at Forbes.com. You can, of course, subscribe to the print publication there, but you can also glean lots...
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Feb21
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If you've been coming over to SmallBizMentor because you're still in the "considering" stages of becoming an entrepreneur, you can learn (and laugh) quite a bit over at the "How to Start a Two-Bit Operation" blog. These folks are sharing...
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Whether you decide to raise your rates due to increased overhead expenses, a hike in price from your wholesaler, or to create a better profit margin, it's important to do it in a professional and methodical way. As you examine...
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The second pricing option you have is to price your products or services at almost the same rate as your competitors, but reduce your overhead as much as possible, thus raising your profit margin. If your competition is based in...
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One of the issues I've run into time and again with my family's business and those of some of the friends I chat with is pricing. While it's somewhat easier to define a retail price for products sold in a...
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Looking for a book that will give you some basic insight into why some folks become pack rats or don't fall under the "Perfect Polly" of organizing when it comes to their offices and homes? Need some inspiration and a...
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Feb18
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As you've probably already figured out, I'm fairly interested in the concepts of "greening" both business and family. It's not just about recycling your shredded documents, and as we've discussed here before, owning your own small- or home-based business offers...
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Now here's an interesting twist on the fleet building topic: tax breaks for small business owners buying SUVs! According to this AP article on Yahoo! News, small business owners who buy vehicles weighing more than 3 tons (such as a...
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If you're still in the "dreaming" stages, it would be worth your while to sit down with a guide like Kick Start Your Dream Business by Romanus Wolter (Ten Speed Press, 2001). While the tone is occasionally a little to...
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Feb17
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If your small business focuses on delivery of products or services outside of your office (carpet cleaning, floral industry, etc), you probably use at least one vehicle for business purposes, if not an entire fleet. If you're just starting to...
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Alright, most of us are accustomed to using computers and software for building our small- or home-based businesses. (Obvious, isn't it, since we're online now!) Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, Microsoft has a ton of resources you'll probably...
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Feb15
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Like Rome, no successful business was built in a single day. Creating a thriving business takes an investment of time, energy and money, not necessarily in that order. How do you know, though, that you're getting the largest return on...
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Feb14
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Ever wonder if you'll be able to truly enjoy the "perks" of being a small- or home-based business owner? Or are you just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey and trying to figure out if there are any pros left,...
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Feb13
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My colleague Marta Wells recently introduced me to her visitors over at WorkFromHomeMomma.com and in her post mentioned that I am a homeschooling parent. (She also asked how I do it all...my answer to that will come when I get more...
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Feb10
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Looking for some suggestions and insight when it comes to building your online business or just going it alone? You might want to pop by and visit Yaro Starak at Entrepreneur's Journey or Small Business Branding. He just posted today about...
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What else was in this issue of SmallBiz? Personally I found the article titled "Get 'Em In Gear" (about making a sales force more productive) and "A Perfect Match" (about choosing a retirment plan) to be more interesting and helpful...
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One of the publications I like to glean information from is BusinessWeek's SmallBiz. I recently purchased the Winter 2005 edition (to be on stands until March 2006) and was able to do a good read-thru of it this week. The...
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Feb 9
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Talk about viral marketing! Yesterday I received an email from Barnes & Noble offering me a sneak peek at their business book sale. I took a quick glance, but had to run off and handle other business (no pun intended)...
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Feb 8
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Did you know that your local community college can be an excellent place to continue your education, build your business and establish yourself as an expert in your field? While those seeking a degree are accustomed to wading through course...
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Ready to do some surfing to find more resources for building your small- or home-based business? Check out some of these...but don't come crying to me when your clicking finger is worn out because you got hooked for the night...
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Feb 6
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One of the nice things about operating a small- or home-based business in certain industries is mobility. Depending on your field, you could probably use today's technology to operate out of your vehicle and no one would even know! As...
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Trying to figure out how to plan for retirement, or how to help the employees of your small business do so? You might want to pop over and check out Sharebuilder 401(K). I spotted this site on the Resources page...
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According to this article, unemployment rates for January 2006 are at a 4 1/2 year low. That's a good thing, yes? Apparently "the economy" created enough jobs that the unemployment dropped to 4.7 percent, the lowest rate since July 2001....
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Feb 3
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I think I shall borrow a page (blog entry?) from Jason Boog over at ThePublishingSpot.com and share some news and insight from the KMM crew for your reading pleasure. First of all, have you met Noelle Wong yet? To piggyback...
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One of the hot topics on my mind this week is branding. No, not cattle...businesses. (Although a cattle brand might make a mighty fine logo, depending on your field. I like it. Hmmm... I digress!) Anywho, when it comes to...
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As you think through your business and marketing plans, it's vital that you consider what you want to say to others. This includes coming up with a 30 second sound bite (some folks refer to this as the "elevator spiel")...
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If you're looking for publicity for your business, it's important to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Whether this is repairing jackhammers or creating balloon bouquets, there's probably something you know that someone else doesn't. This is especially...
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Writers, take note! Amazon is now offering authors their very own blog network. According to an article over at MediaPost, the announcement was made this week and over a thousand authors have already signed up for their blogs. Upon first reading,...
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Feb 2
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I bought a copy of the February 2006 issue of Entrepreneur recently and finally got a chance to read it last night. I found several items that I found interesting and enlightening. Those of you who are looking for ways...
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As you've seen, there are plenty of reasons to create an e-zine or e-newsletter to market your business and even the most "non-traditional" field probably has a market out there for the content you can provide. After all, if your...
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You may be convinced that an e-newsletter or e-zine is handy for other business owners, and you may glean a lot of ideas from them yourself. But are you having trouble coming up with reasons to create your own? Personally,...
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Yes, e-zines and e-newsletters can be a fantastic tool for branding, marketing, and building your business. There are pitfalls, of course. Anissa DeGrasse touches on a few of them in her "Ezine Publishing 101" blog entry. In addition to taking...
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As some business owners are already proving, e-zines and e-newsletters can be an incredible business builders. Certain Internet marketers are even creating a market for themselves just because they offer tips and tricks of the trade of marketing through such...
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Feb 1
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Here we are, beginning February. The W-2s and 1099s should have gone out in the mail yesterday to employees and independent contractors, and everyone is gathering (or has gathered) their important financial documents to start pulling together the 2005 tax...
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