Archive for October, 2008
Early Voting States & the Absentee Ballot
November 4 is nearing. So, in the brink of the upcoming presidential election, we are taking a brief intermission from discussing small business topics to encourage everyone to vote.
Have you cleared a small fraction of your schedule to allow time for a trip to the polls next Tuesday? Remember, every state has different poll hours, and these hours are not always the same state-wide. Poll hours sometimes vary depending on the size of the jurisdiction. For that reason, you should always find out your polling place’s hours prior to Election Day.
Early Voting States
You have a little more flexibility if you are a resident of an early voting state. Early voting states allow their residents to begin voting before the official Election Day – no excuses necessary. If you reside in an early voting state, then voting has already begun. Simple go to your election official’s office or one of the satellite voting locations designated by your county or state. In most cases, early voting ends on the Friday or Saturday immediately before November 4.
Early voting states include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Caroline, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
If your state is not an early voting state and you would like to cast your vote before November 4, you should ask about absentee voting. Some states do not require absentee voters to explain why they cannot vote on November 4, while others grant absentee ballots only to voters who meet their predefined criteria. Furthermore, some states require notary signatures on absentee ballots. Absentee voting usually ends prior to or on Election Day. However, a few states allow residents to cast their votes several days after Election Day.
No matter what party you are leaning toward, make sure you vote. Contrary to some arguments, every vote counts!
Add comment October 28, 2008
How to Use the Internet to Benefit Your Business
Network Solutions® has teamed up with ooVoo®, a popular online video chat and conference network, to present:
Solutions Stars Video Conference
October 29, 2008
1 p.m., EST to approximately 3:30 p.m., EST
This video conference will educate small business owners on how to effectively use the Internet to improve their business performance and boost their business’s overall visibility. The conference will include the following topics:
- Building Web Presence
- The Social Opportunity
- Start with Listening
- Strategy Drives Outreach
- You Need Social Networks
- To Blog or Not to Blog
- Visibility Through Search
- Rising Above the Noise
- Time Demands
Participants can choose to watch the entire conference or view only the videos that interest them.
For additional information about this free event, please go to: http://www.solutionsstarsvideo.com/
Add comment October 22, 2008
U.S. Retail Sales Drop
The recent economic shift has been hard to miss. Several industries, particularly the auto industry, have experienced fallen retail sales numbers. The Wall Street Journal article below outlines September results:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122407325937336063.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Add comment October 15, 2008
Why Incorporating Printable Coupons Is a Good Idea
Your Web site is more than just an informative resource about your business. It is an incredible marketing tool – a vehicle through which you can communicate with your target market. You should treat your Web site like an online billboard and maintain fresh content that will grab consumer attention.
Incorporating printable coupons is an incredible way to draw in new customers and expand your client base. Through periodically publishing limited-time discounts or specials, you will be able to encourage people to try out your services or buy your products, and return to your site.
Printable coupons can also be used as part of your loyalty program. By rewarding repeat customers with printable coupons, you will be able to show them your appreciation for their business and give them an incentive to continue their relationship with you.
Printable coupons are just one of many ways you can use your Web site as a promotional tool. To learn about other methods for enhancing your business through the use of your Web site, go to www.MySolutionSpot.com.
Add comment October 13, 2008
Does Your Home Page Appropriately Represent Your Business?
So you’ve built a Web site, and it’s been live for a while now. So why hasn’t your business experienced any boost in sales? There are several factors that can contribute to unsatisfactory results. One of these factors is the quality of your home page.
Have you looked at your home page lately? Not as the owner of the site, but as a potential customer. If you haven’t, it’s time to take a look.
The following questions will help you evaluate your content:
- Does your home page clearly demonstrate what product or service you offer?
- Does your home page look clean and uncluttered?
- Does your home page display the important information about your business without requiring your visitors to scroll down?
- Does your home page display a well-organized menu to help your visitors smoothly navigate through your site?
- Does your home page display your logo?
If you’ve answered yes to all of the above, then you’re on a good path. Some experts also suggest putting a navigation menu and/or your business address and phone number in the footer of each page, including on your home page.
Remember, your home page is the first thing people will see on your Web site, so it will define their first impression of your business. Therefore, make sure you take the time to create a professional page that will appropriately represent your business.
To find more tips on getting the most out of your business Web site, go to www.MySolutionSpot.com.
Add comment October 10, 2008
Looking for Work? Here are Tips on How to ‘Snag a Job.’
The present state of our economy has stirred increasing concerns for financial and job security. While many businesses are moving into cost-cutting mode and changing their business strategies, some of their employees have found themselves longing for greener pastures.
Although some companies have frozen their hiring process in preparation for difficult times, there are still numerous promising prospects out there. A number of businesses are actually ramping up their hiring and trying to capitalize on the opportunities created for them by the companies that are cutting back.
So, if you are looking to try something new, here are a few tips that you can follow to help you snag your dream job.
- Post your resume on job sites like Monster.com® and CareerBuilder.com®.
- Get on MySolutionSpot™ and fill out your professional profile.
- Get on LinkedIn® and take full advantage of creating an in-depth profile.
- Use social media sites like Facebook® and Twitter® to post additional profile information and updates about your interests and skills. These sites can boost your online visibility.
- Create your own Web site or blog and update it frequently. Be sure to publish your resume and other pertinent information that can benefit your job search.
- Work with recruiters. You can contact them directly. Or, if you follow some of the advice above, it is likely that they will come to you.
Overall, if you are looking to snag a job the most important strategy to follow is to increase the visibility of your professional information. The higher the level of visibility you have for your name and skill set, the better your chances of getting a new job.
Add comment October 9, 2008
Why Don’t All Small Businesses Have Web Sites?
Hundreds of millions of Americans regularly use the Internet. A large percentage of this population uses the Internet to research businesses and perform transactions online. So why is it that less than half of small businesses have Web sites?
According to a Warrillow study cited in a recent Small Business Lab posting, 59% of small businesses do not have business Web sites. Most likely, these small businesses will claim that their lack of money, time or knowledge hinders their ability to create a site for their business. What some small businesses have failed to recognize is that times have changed. Several specialty companies now offer affordable and speedy Web design services, as well as inexpensive or even complimentary site maintenance services. Simple-to-use Web design templates are also available for purchase. These do-it-yourself Web site packages require little or no Web design experience.
A business Web site is an incredible investment. It has the power to enhance a business’s visibility, as well as its accessibility. It provides a vehicle through which a business can communicate with consumers – letting them know what services or products it sells, where its facility is located and what advantage it has over its competitors.
Small businesses need to acknowledge the ubiquity of the Internet and take action. Their future depends on it.
1 comment October 2, 2008
Hiring Virtual Assistants
It is common for small businesses owners, especially home-based business owners, to reach a point where they can no longer efficiently handle their administrative tasks on their own. In the past, they had no other choice but to expand their facilities and add to their current staff, but today, they have another option – to hire virtual assistants.
Virtual assistants are highly-skilled independent contractors who provide a variety of administrative services, such as typing, editing, data entry, dispatching, bookkeeping, faxing and answering emails, but from a remote location. The roles of virtual assistants vary by industry. Some specialized assistants are also able to fulfill customer support roles, marketing tasks, website maintenance, legal assistance and travel management roles. Furthermore, many virtual assistants cater to their clients’ personal lives by carrying out a wide range of duties, like making doctor’s appointments, picking up dry-cleaning and pet-sitting.
Hiring a virtual assistant can cost you more than $40 an hour. However, most virtual assistants are very advanced, with past experiences in customer service, office management or executive assistance.
Virtual assistance is a great option if you need to lighten your workload. Be sure to carefully evaluate each candidate. Because virtual assistants work on their own premises, you will not be able to monitor their productivity; therefore, you will want to make sure the assistant you hire is extremely reliable.
Add comment October 2, 2008
