Data from the ADP Employment Report, a monthly measure of employment at U.S. businesses that use Advanced Data Processing’s payroll services, shows that small companies lost a lesser fraction of their workforce than big businesses during the Great Recession.
While large companies have yet to show much of a trend back to pre-recession employment levels, ADP’s figures show that small companies have begun to add back workers. The smallest businesses – those with one to 49 employees — lost the smallest proportion of workers, but medium sized companies — those with 50 to 499 workers — have shown a slightly faster pace of recovery in jobs.
The chart below shows the number of people employed each month in businesses with 1-49 employees, 50-499 employees and more than 499 employees (as a percentage of the number employed in November 2007, the month before the recession started).
GroupHigh: An Easy Way to Research Bloggers
Blogger outreach is something my marketing firm is passionate about. After all, bloggers are the voice for many brands (for better or worse) these days. With a positive brand review, your brand can receive a nice boost in Web traffic and sales.
Until now, my company has been manually visiting blogs and logging contact info for the blogger, traffic details, etcetera. It’s a lot of work. But then I discovered GroupHigh. GroupHigh is an online research tool that puts together all the information you could need for millions of the most active blogs online.
The information you can gather includes:
GroupHigh is similar to related services for journalists like MyMediaInfo, but hopefully without the high price tag. The product is still in private beta (although you can get your own free trial right now), and will announce pricing in a month or so.
Until now, my company has been manually visiting blogs and logging contact info for the blogger, traffic details, etcetera. It’s a lot of work. But then I discovered GroupHigh. GroupHigh is an online research tool that puts together all the information you could need for millions of the most active blogs online.
- Blog URL
- Contact
- Twitter and Facebook contact link
- Blog traffic
- Page Rank
- Number of comments
- Most recent post date
GroupHigh is similar to related services for journalists like MyMediaInfo, but hopefully without the high price tag. The product is still in private beta (although you can get your own free trial right now), and will announce pricing in a month or so.
You Have to Play to Your Strengths
A few weeks ago I met Janice Hamilton (pictured left), the president and CEO of JMH Education, based in New York. I caught up with Janice at the Give Me 5 luncheon to highlight the Women Owned Small Business rule adopted by the SBA effective February 2011. (See Karen-Michelle Mirko’s account of this historic event, and my Facebook photo album from the lunch.) JMH Education is in the business of education marketing. They help corporations, associations and government agencies “reach and teach” — meaning, they make important messages easy to understand by large numbers of the public. They also help organizations “market” their messages to the public.
Even though JMH Education is a relatively small company of 12 people, the company has been involved in several high-profile public education campaigns. For instance, one of their projects is Smokey the Bear (about forest fire safety).
JMH is a poster child of a woman-owned small business that has seen success from getting on the GSA schedule, and delivering on government contracts.
In the following interview, Janice shares her insights on being a small business and what it takes to successfully get U.S. government contracts.
How did you get into government contracting?
Janice Hamilton: We got into government contracting by doing a really good job with a client that was a public-private consortium, getting the food safety message out. One of the people from the public sector saw the work we did and liked it and wanted to use us. But we weren’t on the GSA Schedule. They encouraged us to get on the GSA Schedule. We didn’t know what we were getting into [laughs]. Yet, it’s been terrific over the last 12 years.
How do you decide which government opportunities to go after?
Janice Hamilton: We work to our strengths. We identify those agencies that fit the strengths of our company. We play to our strengths of health and wellness, environment, and financial literacy – and then it’s a natural. We don’t go off and try to get contracts in areas that don’t fit our capabilities, that don’t fit our strengths, because you’re just spinning your wheels on proposals. There are a gazillion others out there that might fit.
What’s the secret of your success in government contracting?
Janice Hamilton: We got in a little easy, because we were asked. But you know, it isn’t that easy to stay in government contracting. You have to work at it … make those relationships … keep those relationships on an ongoing basis … and make sure your work is stellar. By doing that, we’ve had one agency recommend us to another. And then another group will see what we’ve done. We’ve now done work with FDA,USDA, CDC and NIH — and it continues to grow.
Relationships, relationships, relationships. That’s so important. Relationships with the contracting officer. Relationships with the program managers. Relationships with the ombudsmen.
Build those relationships. People like to do business with people they know, people they like.
But it’s also really important to get a good portfolio of past performance to show you can deliver what you say.
How large is your company?
Janice Hamilton: Our company is relatively small – we have 12 people. We’re small but we’re mighty! So you don’t have to be a big company. But one thing we do is, when we see business that is partially in our space, we work with a strategic partner that can help fill out those needs. That’s how we’ve gotten some of our big contracts. We couldn’t have done it alone. The teaming, the strategic partnerships – they’re very important.
Has government contracting helped your business grow?
Janice Hamilton: We’ve certainly grown through government contracting. But one of the most important things is that it has allowed us to continue being a viable company through the economic downturn. We were able to continue doing government work when the corporate and association work was slim. Having that mix was extraordinarily important to us.
You mentioned that you stick to your company’s core competencies. Was that a tough lesson to learn? Did you have a hard time at first saying “no”?
Janice Hamilton: Yes! Very definitely. We would see business in other agencies that we knew we could do. But they weren’t looking at the competence we had in taking an intricate message and breaking it down to be easily understood by a large group. Instead, the government agency wanted us to have done something previously in the particular field or content area, for instance, in oceanography. We had a great concept, and great strategic partners. But that wasn’t enough. We learned to stick to what we know. And just in the FDA and USDA alone there are so many agencies we can work with, and we have good past performance, so … [opportunities are plentiful].
You recently won an award – tell us about that:
Janice Hamilton: We were nominated by WIPP for the American Express OPEN Victory In Procurement award. We were named the “Government Contractor of the Year.” It was just awesome and very exciting and such a great tribute to the dedication of my team, who want to do great work.
One thing about the small business market is that employees in small businesses tend to identify more personally with customers. They are closer to customers, than perhaps in a large corporation where they may never deal with customers. So does the award mean a great deal to your team?
Janice Hamilton: Oh, yes, that award meant a great deal to them. To be nominated to begin with – it feels like the Academy Awards. And then to be recognized by two stellar organizations such as American Express OPEN and WIPP! You know, it’s to say “hey, we worked hard and, by gosh, it pays off.” And the team also does what they do because they really love it. They feel like they are making a difference in people’s lives.
Thank you, Janice Hamilton, for sharing your insights into growing your business through government contracts.
From Small Business Trends
Even though JMH Education is a relatively small company of 12 people, the company has been involved in several high-profile public education campaigns. For instance, one of their projects is Smokey the Bear (about forest fire safety).
JMH is a poster child of a woman-owned small business that has seen success from getting on the GSA schedule, and delivering on government contracts.
In the following interview, Janice shares her insights on being a small business and what it takes to successfully get U.S. government contracts.
How did you get into government contracting?
Janice Hamilton: We got into government contracting by doing a really good job with a client that was a public-private consortium, getting the food safety message out. One of the people from the public sector saw the work we did and liked it and wanted to use us. But we weren’t on the GSA Schedule. They encouraged us to get on the GSA Schedule. We didn’t know what we were getting into [laughs]. Yet, it’s been terrific over the last 12 years.
How do you decide which government opportunities to go after?
Janice Hamilton: We work to our strengths. We identify those agencies that fit the strengths of our company. We play to our strengths of health and wellness, environment, and financial literacy – and then it’s a natural. We don’t go off and try to get contracts in areas that don’t fit our capabilities, that don’t fit our strengths, because you’re just spinning your wheels on proposals. There are a gazillion others out there that might fit.
What’s the secret of your success in government contracting?
Janice Hamilton: We got in a little easy, because we were asked. But you know, it isn’t that easy to stay in government contracting. You have to work at it … make those relationships … keep those relationships on an ongoing basis … and make sure your work is stellar. By doing that, we’ve had one agency recommend us to another. And then another group will see what we’ve done. We’ve now done work with FDA,USDA, CDC and NIH — and it continues to grow.
Relationships, relationships, relationships. That’s so important. Relationships with the contracting officer. Relationships with the program managers. Relationships with the ombudsmen.
Build those relationships. People like to do business with people they know, people they like.
But it’s also really important to get a good portfolio of past performance to show you can deliver what you say.
How large is your company?
Janice Hamilton: Our company is relatively small – we have 12 people. We’re small but we’re mighty! So you don’t have to be a big company. But one thing we do is, when we see business that is partially in our space, we work with a strategic partner that can help fill out those needs. That’s how we’ve gotten some of our big contracts. We couldn’t have done it alone. The teaming, the strategic partnerships – they’re very important.
Has government contracting helped your business grow?
Janice Hamilton: We’ve certainly grown through government contracting. But one of the most important things is that it has allowed us to continue being a viable company through the economic downturn. We were able to continue doing government work when the corporate and association work was slim. Having that mix was extraordinarily important to us.
You mentioned that you stick to your company’s core competencies. Was that a tough lesson to learn? Did you have a hard time at first saying “no”?
Janice Hamilton: Yes! Very definitely. We would see business in other agencies that we knew we could do. But they weren’t looking at the competence we had in taking an intricate message and breaking it down to be easily understood by a large group. Instead, the government agency wanted us to have done something previously in the particular field or content area, for instance, in oceanography. We had a great concept, and great strategic partners. But that wasn’t enough. We learned to stick to what we know. And just in the FDA and USDA alone there are so many agencies we can work with, and we have good past performance, so … [opportunities are plentiful].
You recently won an award – tell us about that:
Janice Hamilton: We were nominated by WIPP for the American Express OPEN Victory In Procurement award. We were named the “Government Contractor of the Year.” It was just awesome and very exciting and such a great tribute to the dedication of my team, who want to do great work.
One thing about the small business market is that employees in small businesses tend to identify more personally with customers. They are closer to customers, than perhaps in a large corporation where they may never deal with customers. So does the award mean a great deal to your team?
Janice Hamilton: Oh, yes, that award meant a great deal to them. To be nominated to begin with – it feels like the Academy Awards. And then to be recognized by two stellar organizations such as American Express OPEN and WIPP! You know, it’s to say “hey, we worked hard and, by gosh, it pays off.” And the team also does what they do because they really love it. They feel like they are making a difference in people’s lives.
Thank you, Janice Hamilton, for sharing your insights into growing your business through government contracts.
From Small Business Trends
10 Things Groupon Won't Tell You
1) "50% off? Not really."
Steep discounts are the cornerstone of the pitch for daily deal web sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial , which promise 50% off or better at a local restaurant, spa, fitness center or other shop – if enough people sign up (and pre-pay) before the limited-time offer expires. But the discount may be much less once you factor in taxes, tip and any un-covered portion of the bill.
Because businesses recoup so little -- often just 25% of the voucher price after fees -- they have incentive to price deals so you're forced to spend more, like offering a $30 voucher to a $50-per-plate restaurant or a photo package with just two prints. "We're starting to see some price manipulation going on, so the discount doesn't hurt their margins as much," says Greg Sterling, a senior analyst with Opus Research. For example, more than 3,000 Groupon users paid $10 for a $20 FTD voucher before Valentine's Day, only to find prices at the special voucher-redemption page $5 to $10 more expensive than what other visitors to the site saw. Groupon spokeswoman Julie Mossler says the price discrepancy was unintentional, and that customers got refunds.
Read more: 10 Things Groupon Won't Tell You
Steep discounts are the cornerstone of the pitch for daily deal web sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial , which promise 50% off or better at a local restaurant, spa, fitness center or other shop – if enough people sign up (and pre-pay) before the limited-time offer expires. But the discount may be much less once you factor in taxes, tip and any un-covered portion of the bill.
Because businesses recoup so little -- often just 25% of the voucher price after fees -- they have incentive to price deals so you're forced to spend more, like offering a $30 voucher to a $50-per-plate restaurant or a photo package with just two prints. "We're starting to see some price manipulation going on, so the discount doesn't hurt their margins as much," says Greg Sterling, a senior analyst with Opus Research. For example, more than 3,000 Groupon users paid $10 for a $20 FTD voucher before Valentine's Day, only to find prices at the special voucher-redemption page $5 to $10 more expensive than what other visitors to the site saw. Groupon spokeswoman Julie Mossler says the price discrepancy was unintentional, and that customers got refunds.
Read more: 10 Things Groupon Won't Tell You
EBay to buy GSI for $1.96-billion
EBay Inc. plans to buy e-commerce company GSI Commerce for $1.96-billion in cash in a bid to draw more buyers and sellers to its online marketplaces.
EBay said Monday it offered GSI shareholders $29.25 per share, a 50.9-per-cent premium over its closing price on Friday. Shares rose by the same amount in Monday’s Nasdaq trading. EBay shares were down 3 per cent.
GSI owns Web businesses such as Rue La La, which offers one-day-only deals to its members, and ShopRunner, a members-only online shopping service that offers free shipping. GSI also provides technology, payment processing and customer care services for e-commerce sites.
In a statement, EBay chief executive officer John Donahoe said the deal would help the company connect more buyers and sellers.
EBay said the acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter of 2011, would have little effect on its fiscal 2011 adjusted earnings forecast, and would add to 2012 earnings. EBay said the deal would hurt 2011 profit by 30 cents to 34 cents per share.
As part of the deal, EBay will sell off GSI’s licensed sports merchandise business and 70 per cent of ShopRunner and Rue La La, which will all become part of a new holding company run by GSI’s founder and chief executive Michael Rubin.
EBay will lend Mr. Rubin’s new company $467-million. Including the loan, eBay said the deal was worth $2.4-billion.
EBay said those business were not important to its long term growth strategy but it will keep a 30-per-cent stake in both Rue La La and Shop Runner.
GSI has until May 6 to solicit bids from other parties during the so-called "go shop" period.
EBay has pointed to its PayPal payments processing unit as its prime growth driver in recent years.
But it is also trying to spark growth at its more familiar marketplaces unit, a high-margin business that connects online buyers and sellers.
Here is a more detailed report from Reuters
EBay said Monday it offered GSI shareholders $29.25 per share, a 50.9-per-cent premium over its closing price on Friday. Shares rose by the same amount in Monday’s Nasdaq trading. EBay shares were down 3 per cent.
GSI owns Web businesses such as Rue La La, which offers one-day-only deals to its members, and ShopRunner, a members-only online shopping service that offers free shipping. GSI also provides technology, payment processing and customer care services for e-commerce sites.
In a statement, EBay chief executive officer John Donahoe said the deal would help the company connect more buyers and sellers.
EBay said the acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter of 2011, would have little effect on its fiscal 2011 adjusted earnings forecast, and would add to 2012 earnings. EBay said the deal would hurt 2011 profit by 30 cents to 34 cents per share.
As part of the deal, EBay will sell off GSI’s licensed sports merchandise business and 70 per cent of ShopRunner and Rue La La, which will all become part of a new holding company run by GSI’s founder and chief executive Michael Rubin.
EBay will lend Mr. Rubin’s new company $467-million. Including the loan, eBay said the deal was worth $2.4-billion.
EBay said those business were not important to its long term growth strategy but it will keep a 30-per-cent stake in both Rue La La and Shop Runner.
GSI has until May 6 to solicit bids from other parties during the so-called "go shop" period.
EBay has pointed to its PayPal payments processing unit as its prime growth driver in recent years.
But it is also trying to spark growth at its more familiar marketplaces unit, a high-margin business that connects online buyers and sellers.
Here is a more detailed report from Reuters
Best Children’s Books on the iPad
Once upon a time (five years ago), e-books for children came on shiny CD-ROMs that cost $40, plus a few dollars for sales tax. Today’s children’s e-books cost just that sales tax. All you need is a $500 iPad.
Just a fad, you say? Perhaps, but recent e-books for Apple’s iPad indicate that the professionals have arrived in the app stores. These e-books can sound out difficult words and move you with illustrations that change based on the tilt of the screen. Today’s children can actually blow the little pig’s house down, by way of the iPad’s microphone.
As in any emerging medium, quality varies — in this case, widely. There are thousands of e-books to wade through, and some are not much more than scanned pages. Here are 10 noteworthy exceptions, ranked by age, with some honorable mentions.
Go, Clifford, Go! ($5) is one of Scholastic’s first e-books, which, along with I Love You Through and Through (also $5) lets you tilt the screen to make cars move, trees sway, waves roll. Ages 2-up.
Finding Nemo: My Puzzle Book ($1) is one of a series of movie-inspired e-books that mix jigsaw puzzles with a scavenger hunt, plus the ability to record your own narration. 3-up.
Here is a complete list of interesting books
Just a fad, you say? Perhaps, but recent e-books for Apple’s iPad indicate that the professionals have arrived in the app stores. These e-books can sound out difficult words and move you with illustrations that change based on the tilt of the screen. Today’s children can actually blow the little pig’s house down, by way of the iPad’s microphone.
As in any emerging medium, quality varies — in this case, widely. There are thousands of e-books to wade through, and some are not much more than scanned pages. Here are 10 noteworthy exceptions, ranked by age, with some honorable mentions.
Go, Clifford, Go! ($5) is one of Scholastic’s first e-books, which, along with I Love You Through and Through (also $5) lets you tilt the screen to make cars move, trees sway, waves roll. Ages 2-up.
Finding Nemo: My Puzzle Book ($1) is one of a series of movie-inspired e-books that mix jigsaw puzzles with a scavenger hunt, plus the ability to record your own narration. 3-up.
Here is a complete list of interesting books
How to Become a Millionaire in 3 Easy Steps
An interesting article from CNNMoney I thought would come useful for Moneyhacker readers. This article describe three easy steps that anyone can follow and save lots of money. Of course, if follow in a good manner, this would even make you millionaires. Read this interesting article that certainly help you to change your thoughts and inject good habits to become next millionaire!
Use our calculator to pinpoint when you're likely to become a millionaire based on your current situation and investing returns.
Read the article here
Use our calculator to pinpoint when you're likely to become a millionaire based on your current situation and investing returns.
Read the article here
Amazon Appstore for Android - A Place to Fulfill Apps Need
Amazon released its long-awaited Appstore for Android. Fundamentally it's very similar to Google's first-party Android Market or the third-party AppBrain, but it has a few Amazonian differences that could set it apart from the competition very quickly.
First and foremost, Amazon is promising to give away one paid app for free every day. Today it's Angry Birds Rio, and it only retails for 99 cents, but that doesn't really matter: people love free stuff. People will download stuff simply because it's free, even if they don't want it! The best bit (or worst bit) is that developers still get 20% of the usual retail price, which will paid out of Amazon's pockets.
The next defining feature is Amazon Appstore exclusives. Angry Birds Rio, CoD:MW:Force Recon and other apps will be available only from Amazon. As we know from the console wars, exclusive titles aren't always a good thing, but who cares? Amazon simply wants unique selling points, and exclusive titles are definitely that.
To Read a Review: Click Here
Visit: Amazon Appstore for Android
First and foremost, Amazon is promising to give away one paid app for free every day. Today it's Angry Birds Rio, and it only retails for 99 cents, but that doesn't really matter: people love free stuff. People will download stuff simply because it's free, even if they don't want it! The best bit (or worst bit) is that developers still get 20% of the usual retail price, which will paid out of Amazon's pockets.
The next defining feature is Amazon Appstore exclusives. Angry Birds Rio, CoD:MW:Force Recon and other apps will be available only from Amazon. As we know from the console wars, exclusive titles aren't always a good thing, but who cares? Amazon simply wants unique selling points, and exclusive titles are definitely that.
To Read a Review: Click Here
Visit: Amazon Appstore for Android
8 Unusual Things I Learned from Warren Buffett
A superbly written article by James Altucher the author of 'Trade Like Warren Buffett", in forbes about the eight unusual things he learned from Warren Buffett. Begins with his visit to Omaha to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, James Altucher talk about the Dicipline of Warren, his worst investment mistake - Sinclair gas station he bought in 1951 with a friend of his with whihc he lost he lost $2000, when his savings was about $9600 at the time - another interesting fact he learned about Buffett that he once have rejected from Harward Business School to admit as a student.
Buffett was a victim of reverse anti-Semitism. Becuase he was not Jewish, his teacher Graham once rejected his interest to work for him. Another point, Altucher describes the will power of Warren Buffett and the apetitie of achieving goals. A real story explains this in a better way. Again, a little known truth about Buffett in picture, The SEC investigated Buffett in 1974-1976 for manipulating penny stocks.
At the 7th point, James revealing some of Buffett's habits. He never own a desktop in this table. Don't have a cell phone and plays bridge 12 hours in a week.finally, he found how buffet evaluate success from his own words: "“I measure success by how many people love me. And the best way to be loved is to be loveable.”
This is of course an interesting article from a famous writer. Read here
Buffett was a victim of reverse anti-Semitism. Becuase he was not Jewish, his teacher Graham once rejected his interest to work for him. Another point, Altucher describes the will power of Warren Buffett and the apetitie of achieving goals. A real story explains this in a better way. Again, a little known truth about Buffett in picture, The SEC investigated Buffett in 1974-1976 for manipulating penny stocks.
At the 7th point, James revealing some of Buffett's habits. He never own a desktop in this table. Don't have a cell phone and plays bridge 12 hours in a week.finally, he found how buffet evaluate success from his own words: "“I measure success by how many people love me. And the best way to be loved is to be loveable.”
This is of course an interesting article from a famous writer. Read here
Amazon Cloud Drive - Brand New Online Service to Store Files
Amazon.com Inc said it has unveiled an online service that would enable its customers to securely store and access music through their smartphones and computers.
Amazon Cloud Drive is your hard-drive in the cloud. Securely store your music, videos, photos, and documents online and access them from anywhere.
All you need is a web browser to upload, download and access your files from any computer. Back up your files to ensure that your music, photos and personal documents are available to you wherever you go.
The Amazon Cloud drive offers 5 GB of free online storage that you can access from any computer. If you need more storage space, paid plans are available for storage up to 1,000 GB.
However, just purchase an album from the Amazon MP3 Store to get 20 GB of storage free of charge for one year from the date of your purchase. That's enough space to store up to 4000 songs. You can keep your 20 GB storage plan after the year is up or do nothing and we'll drop you down to our free 5 GB plan.
Need more than 5 GB of space? Amazon offer paid storage plans with up to 1000 GB of space. These plans are billed annually and renew automatically for your convenience.
Upload Files
- To upload files to your Cloud Drive, click on the "Upload Files" button on the top left corner of the page.
- Click on "Your Cloud Drive" to select a destination folder for your files. If you do not select a folder at this time, your files will be uploaded into the "Your Cloud Drive" root folder. You will be able to move or copy your files into a different folder once your upload is complete.
- Next, click on "Select files to upload." Select one or more files from your computer to upload.
- Confirm your selection to begin uploading your files.
Download Files
- Check the box next to the file you wish to download.
- Click on the "Download" button
- Your browser will present you with a dialog with download options.
Organize Your Files
Creating folders
Amazon has already created some top level folders for you including "Documents," "Music," "Pictures," and "Videos." You can create more folders to organize your Cloud Drive files as you wish.
To create a new top level folder, select the "Your Cloud Drive" folder in the Folders area on the left hand side of the Cloud Drive page. To create a new sub-folder, select the existing folder where you want to create your subfolder.
- Click on the "New Folder" button.
- Enter the name of the new folder you want to create and click "Save Folder" button.
You can navigate through your folders by clicking on a folder in the "Folders" area on the left hand side of the Cloud Drive page. The folder structure can be expanded or collapsed by clicking on the "+" or "-" buttons next to each folder name.
Moving files and folders
- Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to move.
- Click on the "More Actions" button.
- Select the option to move your item(s).
- Select the folder you wish to move your item(s) to.
- Click on the "Move Items" button to move your item.
Copying files and folders
- Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to copy.
- Click on the "More Actions" button.
- Select the option to copy your item(s).
- Select the folder you wish to copy your item(s) to.
- Click on the "Copy Items" button to copy your items.
Renaming files and folders
- Check the box next to the item you wish to rename.
- Click on the "More Actions" button.
- Select the "Rename" option.
- Type in the new name for your file or folder and then click "Rename".
Deleting files
When you delete files in Cloud Drive they are placed in your "Deleted Items" list. You can access this list by clicking the "Deleted Items" link in the Lists box located in the upper left of the page. Deleted files are not removed from your account and you can restore them if necessary. Deleted files continue to take up space in your account until you permanently delete them.
- Check the box next to the file(s) you wish to delete.
- Click on the Delete button
Your files will be moved to the "Deleted Items" list, where they can be recovered if necessary or permanently deleted later to free up storage space.
Recovering deleted files
- Click on the "Deleted Items" list on the top left corner of the Cloud Drive page.
- Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to recover.
- Click on the "Restore To Folder" button to restore the selected items to the same folders from which they were deleted. Or, click the "More Actions" button and select the "Move" option to move the items to a different location.
Amazon Cloud Drive is your hard-drive in the cloud. Securely store your music, videos, photos, and documents online and access them from anywhere.
All you need is a web browser to upload, download and access your files from any computer. Back up your files to ensure that your music, photos and personal documents are available to you wherever you go.
The Amazon Cloud drive offers 5 GB of free online storage that you can access from any computer. If you need more storage space, paid plans are available for storage up to 1,000 GB.
However, just purchase an album from the Amazon MP3 Store to get 20 GB of storage free of charge for one year from the date of your purchase. That's enough space to store up to 4000 songs. You can keep your 20 GB storage plan after the year is up or do nothing and we'll drop you down to our free 5 GB plan.
Need more than 5 GB of space? Amazon offer paid storage plans with up to 1000 GB of space. These plans are billed annually and renew automatically for your convenience.
Upload Files
- To upload files to your Cloud Drive, click on the "Upload Files" button on the top left corner of the page.
- Click on "Your Cloud Drive" to select a destination folder for your files. If you do not select a folder at this time, your files will be uploaded into the "Your Cloud Drive" root folder. You will be able to move or copy your files into a different folder once your upload is complete.
- Next, click on "Select files to upload." Select one or more files from your computer to upload.
- Confirm your selection to begin uploading your files.
Download Files
- Check the box next to the file you wish to download.
- Click on the "Download" button
- Your browser will present you with a dialog with download options.
Organize Your Files
Creating folders
Amazon has already created some top level folders for you including "Documents," "Music," "Pictures," and "Videos." You can create more folders to organize your Cloud Drive files as you wish.
To create a new top level folder, select the "Your Cloud Drive" folder in the Folders area on the left hand side of the Cloud Drive page. To create a new sub-folder, select the existing folder where you want to create your subfolder.
- Click on the "New Folder" button.
- Enter the name of the new folder you want to create and click "Save Folder" button.
You can navigate through your folders by clicking on a folder in the "Folders" area on the left hand side of the Cloud Drive page. The folder structure can be expanded or collapsed by clicking on the "+" or "-" buttons next to each folder name.
Moving files and folders
- Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to move.
- Click on the "More Actions" button.
- Select the option to move your item(s).
- Select the folder you wish to move your item(s) to.
- Click on the "Move Items" button to move your item.
Copying files and folders
- Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to copy.
- Click on the "More Actions" button.
- Select the option to copy your item(s).
- Select the folder you wish to copy your item(s) to.
- Click on the "Copy Items" button to copy your items.
Renaming files and folders
- Check the box next to the item you wish to rename.
- Click on the "More Actions" button.
- Select the "Rename" option.
- Type in the new name for your file or folder and then click "Rename".
Deleting files
When you delete files in Cloud Drive they are placed in your "Deleted Items" list. You can access this list by clicking the "Deleted Items" link in the Lists box located in the upper left of the page. Deleted files are not removed from your account and you can restore them if necessary. Deleted files continue to take up space in your account until you permanently delete them.
- Check the box next to the file(s) you wish to delete.
- Click on the Delete button
Your files will be moved to the "Deleted Items" list, where they can be recovered if necessary or permanently deleted later to free up storage space.
Recovering deleted files
- Click on the "Deleted Items" list on the top left corner of the Cloud Drive page.
- Check the box next to the item(s) you wish to recover.
- Click on the "Restore To Folder" button to restore the selected items to the same folders from which they were deleted. Or, click the "More Actions" button and select the "Move" option to move the items to a different location.
Tata Steel Hikes Stake in Riversdale Amid Rio Bid
Indian steel major Tata Steel confirmed that it hiked stakes on Australia's Riversdale Mining by another 2.9 per cent to 27.1 per cent, making it harder for competitors, mainly for miner Rio Tinto to seal its $3.9 billion bid for the Mozambique-focused coal miner. Sources said.
Tata Steel, already Riversdale's biggest shareholder, spent more than A$100 million ($101 million) upping its stake in Riversdale to 27.1 percent from 24.2 percent, according to a shareholder notice, confirming what sources had told Reuters.
Riversdale's second-largest shareholder, top Brazilian steelmaker CSN (CSNA3.SA), also recently increased its stake in the Australia-listed company to 19.9 percent.
Tata Steel, the world's No. 7 steelmaker, and CSN now own 47 percent of Riversdale, making it extremely difficult for Rio (RIO.L) to secure the 50.1 percent acceptances it wants before going ahead with the deal.
Rio now needs almost 100 percent acceptances from minority shareholders and has so far won over just 17 percent of the company.
"Rio seems to be in extreme difficulty," said Gregory Lafitte, Asia merger arbitrage trader at LCM in Hong Kong.
"It’s possible to see Rio Tinto reduce the 50 percent acceptance condition or reach a strategic agreement with Tata and CSN," he said.
Rio Tinto declined to comment on the status of its talks with Riversdale’s shareholders.
Read Full Story Directly from Source
Tata Steel, already Riversdale's biggest shareholder, spent more than A$100 million ($101 million) upping its stake in Riversdale to 27.1 percent from 24.2 percent, according to a shareholder notice, confirming what sources had told Reuters.
Riversdale's second-largest shareholder, top Brazilian steelmaker CSN (CSNA3.SA), also recently increased its stake in the Australia-listed company to 19.9 percent.
Tata Steel, the world's No. 7 steelmaker, and CSN now own 47 percent of Riversdale, making it extremely difficult for Rio (RIO.L) to secure the 50.1 percent acceptances it wants before going ahead with the deal.
Rio now needs almost 100 percent acceptances from minority shareholders and has so far won over just 17 percent of the company.
"Rio seems to be in extreme difficulty," said Gregory Lafitte, Asia merger arbitrage trader at LCM in Hong Kong.
"It’s possible to see Rio Tinto reduce the 50 percent acceptance condition or reach a strategic agreement with Tata and CSN," he said.
Rio Tinto declined to comment on the status of its talks with Riversdale’s shareholders.
Read Full Story Directly from Source
World's Best 30 CEOs
Barron's magazine have published the list of best 30 CEO's in the latest edition as the part of their annual roster of the top corporate leaders from around the world. Published along with the profile of each CEO, Barron done a great job for readers and subscribers to understand the background of each one included in their list.
The eight new members of the roster are already making good money in Asia and appear well-positioned for the years ahead. Other newcomers to the list are making a mark on China with everything from cold beer and grilled chicken to luxury automobiles and high-end corporate computing gear.
Notable returnees in the list includes Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, Apple's Steve Jobs, JP Morgan Chase's Jamie Dimon, IBM's Sam Palmisano and Costco Wholesale's Jim Sinegal.
Selection of the 30 top CEOs isn't based on a statistical formula. It's based on the collective knowledge of the Barron's staff, plus recent interviews with investors, analysts and executives. The idea, as in past years, was to identify corporate leaders who have made a difference to their companies and delivered for investors. Only included the the CEO's who has been on the job for at least three years, and preferred companies with market values of at least $5 billion.
Here is the Barron's Top 30 CEO's:
Read More: 30 Best CEOs
Profiles of the World's Best CEO's
The eight new members of the roster are already making good money in Asia and appear well-positioned for the years ahead. Other newcomers to the list are making a mark on China with everything from cold beer and grilled chicken to luxury automobiles and high-end corporate computing gear.
Notable returnees in the list includes Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, Apple's Steve Jobs, JP Morgan Chase's Jamie Dimon, IBM's Sam Palmisano and Costco Wholesale's Jim Sinegal.
Selection of the 30 top CEOs isn't based on a statistical formula. It's based on the collective knowledge of the Barron's staff, plus recent interviews with investors, analysts and executives. The idea, as in past years, was to identify corporate leaders who have made a difference to their companies and delivered for investors. Only included the the CEO's who has been on the job for at least three years, and preferred companies with market values of at least $5 billion.
Here is the Barron's Top 30 CEO's:
Read More: 30 Best CEOs
Profiles of the World's Best CEO's
The Pre and Post Retirement Planning and Ideas
Millions of Americans fear retirement. They never knew an early, well advanced planning and disciplined approach would help them to retire peacefully for the later years. Most of the people who think about retirement plan not at all aware where they do start the planning. This article intended to help those to prepare a better retirement plan by calculating the required and plan accordingly.
When it comes to retirement, people think about money. Most of them start thinking about retirement plan very late and that would later put them to unnecessary panic. Start early with a clear plan and discipline to enjoy your golden years without worries.
This two article from well known financial experts would help people to plan, achieve and enjoy their retirement life without much pain. take a look:
Retirement 101: How to Figure Out What You'll Need
If you're totally baffled, try these six simple steps. It's not a plan. But it's something anyone can do in 10 minutes or less, and it will give you a much better idea where you stand—and what you need to do.
How to Cash Out in Retirement - A look at four strategies that could help make a retiree's savings last a lifetime
Explain various strategies for spending down retirement savings. The key to developing a successful strategy is flexibility. Given all the variables in retirement spending, investors regularly revisit their approach rather than religiously following a preset path. Those who are willing to make small adjustments along the way will run the smoothest course through retirement
When it comes to retirement, people think about money. Most of them start thinking about retirement plan very late and that would later put them to unnecessary panic. Start early with a clear plan and discipline to enjoy your golden years without worries.
This two article from well known financial experts would help people to plan, achieve and enjoy their retirement life without much pain. take a look:
Retirement 101: How to Figure Out What You'll Need
If you're totally baffled, try these six simple steps. It's not a plan. But it's something anyone can do in 10 minutes or less, and it will give you a much better idea where you stand—and what you need to do.
How to Cash Out in Retirement - A look at four strategies that could help make a retiree's savings last a lifetime
Explain various strategies for spending down retirement savings. The key to developing a successful strategy is flexibility. Given all the variables in retirement spending, investors regularly revisit their approach rather than religiously following a preset path. Those who are willing to make small adjustments along the way will run the smoothest course through retirement
Money Through the Ages
Money Through the Ages is a guide to the financial challenges and goals at different ages, from late teens to the retirement years.This special section presents 10 stories of individuals and families trying to conquer the challenges that their financial lives present.
For each stage of life, this section provides a look at how individuals are coping with their own circumstances, and offers the counsel of contemporaries who are financial advisers and have been through similar experiences.
The articles and audio interviews are a collaboration between the Your Money staff of The New York Times and Marketplace Money, from American Public Media.
The Teens: Balancing Debt Against College Choice
The 20s: Out of College, Not on Her Own
The 30s: Too Busy for Finances, but a Baby Changes That
The 40s: Setting Up a Plan to Get Back on Track
The 50s: Repairing a Long-Neglected Nest Egg
The 60s: Pondering Risks in Retirement
The 60s: Navigating the Benefits Maze
The 70s: Finances That C.E.O.’s May Not Be Watching: Their Own
And for your own planning, an interactive checklist helps navigate the ways you can prepare and secure your financial future.
For each stage of life, this section provides a look at how individuals are coping with their own circumstances, and offers the counsel of contemporaries who are financial advisers and have been through similar experiences.
The articles and audio interviews are a collaboration between the Your Money staff of The New York Times and Marketplace Money, from American Public Media.
The Teens: Balancing Debt Against College Choice
The 20s: Out of College, Not on Her Own
The 30s: Too Busy for Finances, but a Baby Changes That
The 40s: Setting Up a Plan to Get Back on Track
The 50s: Repairing a Long-Neglected Nest Egg
The 60s: Pondering Risks in Retirement
The 60s: Navigating the Benefits Maze
The 70s: Finances That C.E.O.’s May Not Be Watching: Their Own
And for your own planning, an interactive checklist helps navigate the ways you can prepare and secure your financial future.
Facebook Investor DST Joins Funding Round for 360buy.com
Digital Sky Technologies,the Russian internet investment group that backed Facebook, has joined a group of investors committing hundreds of millions of dollars to 360buy.com, China’s largest online retailer.
The Financial Times said the interest in 360buy underlines the vast opportunity for online commerce in China, one of the largest and fastest-growing internet markets.
360buy has been described as the Amazon.com of China, was founded in 2004 by Qiangdong Liu, who remains its chief executive
DST already owns large stakes in some of the most successful US internet companies, including Facebook, Groupon and Zynga.
Read full story
The Financial Times said the interest in 360buy underlines the vast opportunity for online commerce in China, one of the largest and fastest-growing internet markets.
360buy has been described as the Amazon.com of China, was founded in 2004 by Qiangdong Liu, who remains its chief executive
DST already owns large stakes in some of the most successful US internet companies, including Facebook, Groupon and Zynga.
Read full story
The Importance of Having a Rainy Day Fund
I once knew a young man who was busy saving money for his wedding, hoping that once he hit a certain dollar amount he would ask his longtime girlfriend to marry him. Midway into his saving endeavor, the transmission blew on his truck and suddenly he had to pay $2,000 to get it fixed. The young man didn't have a rainy day fund in place to cover unexpected expenses and sadly had to use some of the money he had been saving for a fancy wedding on something as routine as a transmission.
While it was good that he didn't have to put this sudden expense on a credit card or ask his parents for money, the young man's situation reminded me of why it's important to have a rainy day fund. A rainy day fund is an emergency savings account that helps cushion the blow if something unexpected happens, like losing your job or having your car break down.
There are hundreds of little things that could crop up that are outside of a carefully planned budget. You could break a bone or get appendicitis and suddenly have a mountain of hospital bills. Your dog could get in a fight with another dog and need expensive veterinary care. Your refrigerator could stop working and suddenly you have to buy a new one. Or an uninsured family member could pass away, and you are called upon to help with funeral expenses.
So how much money should you put into a rainy day fund? A good place to begin is to save three months' worth of living expenses. If you already have a firm budget in place, then it should be fairly easy to calculate how much you spend on bills and necessities like food in an average month. If you don't have a budget in place, you will need to sit down and determine how much you spend each month on bills like rent/mortgage payments, car payment, insurance, electricity, cell phones, etc. Then look back at your bank ledger and add up how much you spend on groceries. Add all of your routine expenses to determine how much money goes out from your account each month. Multiply this by three and you have determined an estimated three months' worth of living expenses.
The reason it is recommended to save three months' worth of living expenses is that three months is about how long it would take to find a new job if you were to suddenly become unemployed, especially in a sour economy where companies are doing less hiring. Some people even choose to save up six months' worth of living expenses just in case a job hunt would take them even longer.
Once you've hit your goal on your rainy day fund, you can stop adding money to the account and focus your finances on other goals, like paying off any debt, saving for retirement, or investing. Finally, any time you have to use your rainy day fund for an emergency, be sure to replenish your savings as soon as you can.
About the Author: Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.
While it was good that he didn't have to put this sudden expense on a credit card or ask his parents for money, the young man's situation reminded me of why it's important to have a rainy day fund. A rainy day fund is an emergency savings account that helps cushion the blow if something unexpected happens, like losing your job or having your car break down.
There are hundreds of little things that could crop up that are outside of a carefully planned budget. You could break a bone or get appendicitis and suddenly have a mountain of hospital bills. Your dog could get in a fight with another dog and need expensive veterinary care. Your refrigerator could stop working and suddenly you have to buy a new one. Or an uninsured family member could pass away, and you are called upon to help with funeral expenses.
So how much money should you put into a rainy day fund? A good place to begin is to save three months' worth of living expenses. If you already have a firm budget in place, then it should be fairly easy to calculate how much you spend on bills and necessities like food in an average month. If you don't have a budget in place, you will need to sit down and determine how much you spend each month on bills like rent/mortgage payments, car payment, insurance, electricity, cell phones, etc. Then look back at your bank ledger and add up how much you spend on groceries. Add all of your routine expenses to determine how much money goes out from your account each month. Multiply this by three and you have determined an estimated three months' worth of living expenses.
The reason it is recommended to save three months' worth of living expenses is that three months is about how long it would take to find a new job if you were to suddenly become unemployed, especially in a sour economy where companies are doing less hiring. Some people even choose to save up six months' worth of living expenses just in case a job hunt would take them even longer.
Once you've hit your goal on your rainy day fund, you can stop adding money to the account and focus your finances on other goals, like paying off any debt, saving for retirement, or investing. Finally, any time you have to use your rainy day fund for an emergency, be sure to replenish your savings as soon as you can.
About the Author: Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.
Small Business News: Social Media Brand
What is your social media brand? Do you have one? Sure, many small business owners and entrepreneurs are coming around to the enormous importance of social media as a marketing, customer service, and, yes, even sales tool. But if you haven’t thought about how social media can define your brand, you are probably missing a HUGE part of what social media tools can do for your business. Here’s more…
Creating a great brand with these blog tools. Tools that improve the look and functionality of your blog also improve your brand. A well-maintained small business blog is one of the most obvious and least expensive branding tools at the entrepreneur’s disposal even more so than social media channels like Facebook and Twitter because of how a blog can be customized to fit your needs and personality. This list of tools is a great way to start. EpicLaunch
What Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi can teach you about social media. One of the stars of the hit reality show “Jersey Shore”, “Snooki” is a perfect example of personal brand, but social media entrepreneurs could also learn much about building their own online presence from Snooki. Being yourself and using a simple, short tag to indelibly brand your identity are also great techniques in social media. One site is already trying to apply the starlets techniques in the social media space. Brand-Yourself
Tito Philips doesn’t want your comments on his blog! At least, not if they’re the wrong kind. And the wrong kind would be comments left for no other purpose than to get the blogger and his/her readers to visit your blog and perhaps comment on it in return. Why is comment trading bad? Don’t get Tito started! There are many ways to engage in social media marketing. Be sure you understand and respect some of the attitudes you may face. Blogging Bookshelf
Even churches use social media marketing! In this article on the growing market for tech services among religious organizations, we learn that many churches have also already entered into the social media space. As houses of worship, particularly huge mega-churches, expand and build congregations, it’s easy to see how social media can work as a marketing tool here as well. Is your religious organization using social media for branding? WSJ
Valuable lessons in social media. Gary Vaynerchuk, author of The Thank You Economy and a successful social media entrepreneur in his own right, has many insights to share with small business leaders seeking a new way to define their brands in an age of social communications. Read some of the takeaways Vaynerchuk shares with those trying to define their businesses with social media. E-Marketing Associates
Increase exposure with niche social media. Blogger Mavis Nong talks about the importance of niche social media sites including social bookmarking sites as a key method of creating exposure for your online business. Mavis talks about her experience with our sister site BizSugar.com (thanks for the shout out! ) and explains how smaller more focused social sites can sometimes have a surprising impact even larger than the big guys. Attraction Marketing Online
Tools & Techniques
Creating a great brand with these blog tools. Tools that improve the look and functionality of your blog also improve your brand. A well-maintained small business blog is one of the most obvious and least expensive branding tools at the entrepreneur’s disposal even more so than social media channels like Facebook and Twitter because of how a blog can be customized to fit your needs and personality. This list of tools is a great way to start. EpicLaunch
What Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi can teach you about social media. One of the stars of the hit reality show “Jersey Shore”, “Snooki” is a perfect example of personal brand, but social media entrepreneurs could also learn much about building their own online presence from Snooki. Being yourself and using a simple, short tag to indelibly brand your identity are also great techniques in social media. One site is already trying to apply the starlets techniques in the social media space. Brand-Yourself
Tito Philips doesn’t want your comments on his blog! At least, not if they’re the wrong kind. And the wrong kind would be comments left for no other purpose than to get the blogger and his/her readers to visit your blog and perhaps comment on it in return. Why is comment trading bad? Don’t get Tito started! There are many ways to engage in social media marketing. Be sure you understand and respect some of the attitudes you may face. Blogging Bookshelf
News & Trends
The best of the best. Want to get a look at arguably the 20 best Facebook fan pages for business on the planet? By now you should know the value of a Facebook fan page to your branding efforts. What’s also true, however, is that not all Facebook sites are created equal. If you want to take your social media marketing to the next level, have a look at this list of cream of the crop sites. Inc.comEven churches use social media marketing! In this article on the growing market for tech services among religious organizations, we learn that many churches have also already entered into the social media space. As houses of worship, particularly huge mega-churches, expand and build congregations, it’s easy to see how social media can work as a marketing tool here as well. Is your religious organization using social media for branding? WSJ
Tips & Tricks
20 tips that will make you a Twitter star. Among the tools popular in the new digital space is Twitter. The microblogging platform can be used for business or non-business purposes and it can be the key to your small business’s success. Learn how to use Twitter like a pro and you may be surprised at the benefits your small business gains as a result. Global CopywritingValuable lessons in social media. Gary Vaynerchuk, author of The Thank You Economy and a successful social media entrepreneur in his own right, has many insights to share with small business leaders seeking a new way to define their brands in an age of social communications. Read some of the takeaways Vaynerchuk shares with those trying to define their businesses with social media. E-Marketing Associates
Success Stories
Doubt the power of FB to create brand for almost anyone? You won’t after you read the story of Princeton English Professor Jeff Nunokawa and “Jeffbook”, a collection of 3,221 brief literary essays on Facebook, that have created an incredible cult status for Nunokawa in the process. His motivation? Not too different from those of most marketers. Nunokawa simply started sharing where he knew his audience already spent lots of their time. The results speak for themselves. Fast CompanyIncrease exposure with niche social media. Blogger Mavis Nong talks about the importance of niche social media sites including social bookmarking sites as a key method of creating exposure for your online business. Mavis talks about her experience with our sister site BizSugar.com (thanks for the shout out! ) and explains how smaller more focused social sites can sometimes have a surprising impact even larger than the big guys. Attraction Marketing Online
Opportunities
Sponsors wanted for new SugarTone Sweet Business Blogging Contest. Put the power of social media to work for your brand. We’re looking for sponsors to help with a brand new blogging contest involving two of the fastest growing small business communities on the Web, BizSugar.com and Bloggertone.com. Learn more about the contest by reading the full announcement and get in touch today!New Survey Offers Glimpse of SMB Ad Outlook
Earlier this month local advertising firm Borrell Associates released its annual Outlook survey for 2011, which attempts to gauge where small and medium-sized businesses fall with investing in online advertising. This year’s study was particularly interesting, noting that SMBs actually make up for 95 percent of all local advertising online. They may not spend much on average (the average SMB spends less than $12,000 on all advertising; of that, $2,300 goes to online advertising), but their sheer numbers make them a demographic that everyone is trying to reach, which may help explain why Google has become increasingly aggressive in marketing to SMBs over the past year.
Overall, the numbers are promising and demonstrate a clear shift from offline advertising to online.
According to the survey, 29 percent of SMBs said they will increase their online ad spending in 2011, using that money for creating or maintaining their own websites, building email marketing campaigns and getting involved in social media. Creating a Web presence via a company website appears to be the SMB owner’s preferred way of online advertising. The survey estimated that 86 percent of SMBs had their own website in 2010 and that the number will grow to 91 percent in 2011. (Personally, I have a very difficult time swallowing those numbers. Either the audience surveyed in the report is majorly tech-skewed or we’re being very loose with the definition of “website.” As much as I’d love to believe that nearly EVERY small business owner has taken the initiative to market themselves online, I simply don’t think we’re there yet. Not even close.)
Building on that, the survey also reported that two-thirds of SMBs who have a website also say they’re participating in social media, which is promising. It makes sense that a SMB that has taken the initial step of putting their brand online would complement it via other avenues. Of the 14 percent of SMBs that still don’t have a site of their own (get one!), more than a third say they’re maintaining some type of social media presence, likely a Facebook page or Twitter account.
Perhaps not surprisingly, as small business owners invest more in the Web and social media to market their businesses and aid in lead generation, they’re not upping their traditional budgets to the same degree. Whereas SMBs say they plan to increase their online advertising budgets 29 percent in 2011, they’ll only up their print Yellow Pages and direct mail buys by 4.5 percent.
Perhaps they’re simply upping their online budgets to match what they’re spending offline, but I imagine that instead, SMBs are looking at the Web to do the bulk of their advertising for them. With the arrival of Google Places, Twitter, Yelp, Facebook, etc., SMBs have much more effective tools for reaching out and communicating with customers.
While I don’t necessarily think the audience surveyed by Borrell Associates represents the average small business owner, I do believe it’s indicative of the direction in which marketing budgets are headed over the next year. As business owners become more familiar with the tools available to them online (creating company websites, social media, email marketing, etc.), they’re investing fewer dollars in traditional areas like local directories, local magazines and local newspapers.
What do you think of the report? Does it fall in line with your own budget? What do you think of the claim that 91 percent of SMBs now have a website?
Overall, the numbers are promising and demonstrate a clear shift from offline advertising to online.
Building on that, the survey also reported that two-thirds of SMBs who have a website also say they’re participating in social media, which is promising. It makes sense that a SMB that has taken the initial step of putting their brand online would complement it via other avenues. Of the 14 percent of SMBs that still don’t have a site of their own (get one!), more than a third say they’re maintaining some type of social media presence, likely a Facebook page or Twitter account.
Perhaps not surprisingly, as small business owners invest more in the Web and social media to market their businesses and aid in lead generation, they’re not upping their traditional budgets to the same degree. Whereas SMBs say they plan to increase their online advertising budgets 29 percent in 2011, they’ll only up their print Yellow Pages and direct mail buys by 4.5 percent.
Perhaps they’re simply upping their online budgets to match what they’re spending offline, but I imagine that instead, SMBs are looking at the Web to do the bulk of their advertising for them. With the arrival of Google Places, Twitter, Yelp, Facebook, etc., SMBs have much more effective tools for reaching out and communicating with customers.
While I don’t necessarily think the audience surveyed by Borrell Associates represents the average small business owner, I do believe it’s indicative of the direction in which marketing budgets are headed over the next year. As business owners become more familiar with the tools available to them online (creating company websites, social media, email marketing, etc.), they’re investing fewer dollars in traditional areas like local directories, local magazines and local newspapers.
What do you think of the report? Does it fall in line with your own budget? What do you think of the claim that 91 percent of SMBs now have a website?
Women Entrepreneur Role Models: Who Would You Name?
In a recent study, blur Group surveyed more than 1000 national and international entrepreneurs about the top business people that inspire them the most. Almost 10% of those surveyed were women. But when it came time to cast a ballot for the top entrepreneurs, women didn’t even receive 3% of the vote.
Richard Branson, British entrepreneur and Chairman of the Virgin Group, received 27.5% and topped the list for his creative ideas and ongoing innovation of new products. And I agree, he is inspiring. But what about the ladies? Is it an issue of out of sight, out of mind?
Maybe we just a need a little reminder. So, here are 10 leading ladies to consider – including the two that made the list, Oprah and Roddick, and the tweet-able mention, Hashemi (she was “tweet-in” after the fact).
MEDIA INSPIRATION
Richard Branson, British entrepreneur and Chairman of the Virgin Group, received 27.5% and topped the list for his creative ideas and ongoing innovation of new products. And I agree, he is inspiring. But what about the ladies? Is it an issue of out of sight, out of mind?
Maybe we just a need a little reminder. So, here are 10 leading ladies to consider – including the two that made the list, Oprah and Roddick, and the tweet-able mention, Hashemi (she was “tweet-in” after the fact).
MEDIA INSPIRATION
- Oprah Winfrey, has been at the top of the television talk show industry since she aired 25 years ago. With the production company, the magazine, the television network, the dreams that she launches for other professionals, and her philanthropy, entrepreneurship and inspiration is a lifestyle.
- Arianna Huffington, Founder of the The Huffington Post, is one of Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women. This author and syndicated columnist recently sold her online empire to AOL for $315 million, making her the Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group.
- Tina Brown, considered to be as resilient as Donald Trump (according to author and onetime billionaire, Felix Dennis) is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beast. Brown is also the author of The Diana Chronicles, Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek, and host of CNBC’s Topic A with Tina Brown.
- Suze Orman, personal finance expert, author and television host, has built an empire around plain talk about money issues. Orman is also one of the Time 100 World’s Most Influential People.
- The late Anita Roddick was a British businesswoman and Founder of the cosmetics company, The Body Shop. Mixing her convictions with business, her cosmetic company was one of the first to block the use of ingredients tested on animals. Serving more than 77 million customers in 51 different markets, she referred to “entrepreneurship as survival” and that it “nurtures creative thinking.”
- Diane von Furstenberg, businesswoman and designer, introduced the wrap dress more than 30 years ago and has built and expanded a fashion house around it. She is also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
- Sahar Hashemi, Co-Founder of the British coffee bar and deli franchise, Coffee Republic is a lawyer turned entrepreneur and author of “Anyone Can Do It — Building Coffee Republic.”
- Maxine Clark, referred to as the Chief Executive Bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop, left a corporate career to start her own business. Three hundred stores and $437 million later she has taken a child’s shopping experience to the next level.
- Caterina Fake is Co-Founder of Flickr – the photo-sharing site that Yahoo! purchased for 8 figures in 2005. Fake (that is her real name) is one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People.
- Gina Trapani is the founding Editor of Lifehacker.com (mega-blog and home of smart and savvy solutions for life and technology) and one of the Fast Company Most Influential Women in Technology.
Hiring The Best People For Your Business
Paychex and Intuit surveys say that hiring is increasing in the small business industry. This is all well and good but the main concern for business owners should be whether they are hiring the best person for the job.
There are a lot of people looking for jobs but even though you are operating a small business that does not mean that you should just be contented with average performers. Small businesses have as much chance to hire terrific people as larger businesses do.
Once you have chosen the best candidate, there are some final steps you need to do before making a job offer. Background checks, character or reference checks are all too important in whatever line of business you are in.
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There are a lot of people looking for jobs but even though you are operating a small business that does not mean that you should just be contented with average performers. Small businesses have as much chance to hire terrific people as larger businesses do.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Evaluate what particular skills are required for the job and its responsibilities. Knowing what you want and what you need from a prospective employee would save you time and money. As a business owner, you have to know what qualifies a person for the position you are planning to fill. You have to know which qualifications you need to prioritize in order for an easier pick.
- Consider your current employees for the position, if (and only if) they are suitable for the position. You have to remember though that there may be untapped potential with your current employees. Give them a chance to prove that they would be able to not only do the job but to excel in it before giving them the position or before posting a “help wanted” ad.
- Encourage recommendations from employees. There’s a high chance that your current employees know someone who would be ideal for the position you are looking to fill. Instead of directly advertising and employment agencies, you could start a “Refer-a-Friend” program wherein you can give small incentives to the employees once their referral passes the final stage of the recruitment process.
- Immediately sort the resumes of your candidates. Check their qualifications vis-à-vis the qualifications you need. You can have categories ranging from the best down to the completely unqualified. Sorting out their resumes would also make your search more efficient and less time-consuming. Look for red warning flags in your candidates’ resume. I’m talking about the general presentation of information, work history, length of employment and the like.
- Conduct a phone interview for the first screening. This method is cheaper and ultimately, if you don’t like their answers, you could go on to the next candidate.
- When interviewing a candidate, I find that an ideal prospect is one who makes good eye contact, very articulate and does not need prodding to further explain their answers. Of course, you should prompt them with questions but they should be the one who talks majority of the time. After all, they’re the ones being interviewed, not you.
- You should also give bonus points to candidates who know at least the background of your business. It would give you an idea how well-prepared your candidate is and it is also indicative that this person did not just happen to pass by, this is an applicant who is serious about working for you and knows what he/she is entering into.
Once you have chosen the best candidate, there are some final steps you need to do before making a job offer. Background checks, character or reference checks are all too important in whatever line of business you are in.
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