SmallOfficeMedia.com http://www.smallofficemedia.com ... daily coverage of small business from the web Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:31:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 en How to keep your online reputation pristine http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-keep-your-online-reputation-pristine/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-keep-your-online-reputation-pristine/#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:31:26 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-keep-your-online-reputation-pristine/

It’s a well-known customer service maxim that happy clients tell three people about their experience. Unhappy customers tell nine. Factor in searchable online review sites like Yelp, AOL’s Yellow Pages and Angie’s List, and those nine become thousands.

Read the full article at CNN Money …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-keep-your-online-reputation-pristine/feed/ OS Commerce: The True Cost of Free Carts http://www.smallofficemedia.com/os-commerce-the-true-cost-of-free-carts/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/os-commerce-the-true-cost-of-free-carts/#comments Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:30:26 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/os-commerce-the-true-cost-of-free-carts/

A free, open source shopping cart may sound really attractive in these economic times, but how free is free? It’s not a trick question. If you add in the cost of the technical degree required by some free, open source carts, or technical support to get others to work, as well as the value of your own labor and the supporting services needed, your free shopping cart may not really be free at all.

Read the full article at eCommerce-Guide …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/os-commerce-the-true-cost-of-free-carts/feed/ Video Conferencing for Small Businesses http://www.smallofficemedia.com/video-conferencing-for-small-businesses/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/video-conferencing-for-small-businesses/#comments Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:29:09 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/video-conferencing-for-small-businesses/

Communicating through video has finally become a viable option for small businesses. And hey, it only took 44 years.

Videophones were the talk of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Though the videophone never took off, today’s video chat and video conferencing systems are gaining traction with small businesses. Low Webcam prices and more Web-based services aimed at small businesses are two reasons for video conferencing’s growing popularity.

Read the full article at SmallBusinessComputing …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/video-conferencing-for-small-businesses/feed/ How to Reduce Stress in Your Small Business http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-reduce-stress-in-your-small-business/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-reduce-stress-in-your-small-business/#comments Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:27:57 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-reduce-stress-in-your-small-business/

Stress has always been associated with hard work - and when you are involved in the day-to-day running of your small business, you probably end up feeling stressed out by the end of the day.

Read the full article at More Business…

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/how-to-reduce-stress-in-your-small-business/feed/ Running a Company From Home http://www.smallofficemedia.com/running-a-company-from-home/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/running-a-company-from-home/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:26:59 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/running-a-company-from-home/

AS A NEW entrepreneur, you can save a great deal of money by setting up your business at home rather than renting or buying office space. Unless you’re running a retail-type business, most entrepreneurs can feasibly start from home. Then as you grow and your needs change, you’ll be in a better position to secure off-site space.

Read the full article at SmartMoney …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/running-a-company-from-home/feed/ Marketing Your Home Based Biz http://www.smallofficemedia.com/marketing-your-home-based-biz/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/marketing-your-home-based-biz/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:25:46 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/marketing-your-home-based-biz/

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

Read the full article at Entrepreneur.com …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/marketing-your-home-based-biz/feed/ The Apps Small Biz Needs Now http://www.smallofficemedia.com/the-apps-small-biz-needs-now/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/the-apps-small-biz-needs-now/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:24:40 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/the-apps-small-biz-needs-now/

Want to get rich? The company that gives small business owners the tools they need to work smarter and faster will be the next Google…

Read the full article at BusinessWeek …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/the-apps-small-biz-needs-now/feed/ Own Your Niche By Building A Niche Community http://www.smallofficemedia.com/own-your-niche-by-building-a-niche-community/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/own-your-niche-by-building-a-niche-community/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:23:26 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/own-your-niche-by-building-a-niche-community/

In 1997, David Steele was making the transition from a professional therapist to relationship coach. Part of his strategy was to become a center of influence and THE Relationship Coach for his community.

David decided to launch his own virtual community as a weekly “Friday Night Social” singles gathering. After a one-month pilot program and some market research, he designed a community for the singles in his area, unlike any other setting available, that would meet their need to meet other singles in a safe, fun setting.

Read the full article at WorkZ …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/own-your-niche-by-building-a-niche-community/feed/ Think Outside the Box With E-Brochures http://www.smallofficemedia.com/think-outside-the-box-with-e-brochures/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/think-outside-the-box-with-e-brochures/#comments Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:21:34 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/think-outside-the-box-with-e-brochures/

If your company has ever printed a brochure, you know the time and cost involved–as well as the potential waste. I’ve seen many businesses spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a brochure, only to have boxes of them cluttering their closets years later. If this sounds familiar, you’ll certainly appreciate the many benefits of e-brochures.

Read the full article at Entrepreneur.com …

]]> http://www.smallofficemedia.com/think-outside-the-box-with-e-brochures/feed/ Live chat: your new online salesperson http://www.smallofficemedia.com/live-chat-your-new-online-salesperson/ http://www.smallofficemedia.com/live-chat-your-new-online-salesperson/#comments Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:19:59 +0000 Martin http://www.smallofficemedia.com/live-chat-your-new-online-salesperson/

A year or two ago, it looked like instant messaging and other forms of online chat had reached their full potential as a business tool. Millions of people were using IM to interact with corporate colleagues. Live chat had also become a fixture on websites, giving customers a way to inquire about products and receive answers in real time.

Read the full article at CNN Money …

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