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<title>A Small Business Blog and Small Business Tips Related to Growing, Marketing and Managing a Small Business.</title>
<description>Small business blog for small business owners, includes resources for businesses, small business grants, business plans, business letters, daily business tips, online marketing advice and information. Learn ideas for your small business.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net</link>
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<title>What You Need to Know About Employee Retention Credits</title>
<description>With the tax filing deadline approaching, make sure your company is getting all the assistance available from government programs. For instance, that means checking that you've fully utilized the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), the refundable tax credit designed to make it easier for businesses to keep employees on the payroll.<br />
<br />
The credit is getting extended as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion relief package just signed by President Biden. Originally scheduled to end on June 30, ERC will continue through year end, giving business owners access to as much as $33,000 per employee in incentives. <br />
<br />
How the credit works, depending on the time frame<br />
First half of 2021:<br />
<br />
Eligible employers can claim a refundable credit against the employer share of Social Security tax equal to 70 percent of a full-time employee's qualified wages paid--including certain health plan expenses--from January 1 through June 30, 2021. The maximum ERC amount available is $7,000 per employee per quarter or $14,000 for eligible wages paid in the first half of 2021.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2340</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 4 May 2021 15:37:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Are Not Struggling Small Businesses Taking More PPP?</title>
<description>Millions of businesses across the country are struggling, yet many are not taking the latest version of government aid: a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. This is not happening because businesses are better off than they were last year; it is because the PPP still contains structural blockers that are stopping businesses from obtaining the aid they urgently need. <br />
<br />
A recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank found that 30% of U.S. small businesses — totaling 9 million — fear they will not make it through 2021 without more government assistance. And yet, many are not applying for aid. The Small Business Administration (SBA) reports that seven weeks after round two of PPP began, nearly half the funds remain, and only 31% of 2020 PPP loans have been forgiven to date.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2339</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2021 15:35:37 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Big Business Practices for Small Business Brands</title>
<description>Every business was considered <i>small</i> at some point in its history. Some go big, but some stay small and do quite well. The size of a business in common measurements (revenue, employees, locations) is less relevant than the size of your customer base and the corresponding loyalty of customers.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2338</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:34:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Administration extends deferment for all COVID disaster loans until 2022</title>
<description>The Small Business Administration has extended deferment periods for all of l its disaster loans made either in 2020 or 2021, the agency announced on Monday.<br />
<br />
The extended deferment includes the SBAs Economic Injury Disaster Loan – or EIDL – program, which many businesses that did not qualify for Paycheck Protection Program loans or other funding used to bridge the losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
<br />
All SBA disaster loans made in 2020 will have the first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note, the agency said. Disaster loans made in 2021 will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 18-months from the date of the note.<br />
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2337</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2021 15:32:44 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How just a few days cost some small businesses thousands on their PPP forgivable loans</title>
<description>For some of the smallest businesses that applied for forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, waiting just a few days or weeks would’ve gotten them thousands of dollars more.<br />
<br />
But they had no way of knowing what was coming.<br />
<br />
The Biden administration in late February announced a slew of changes to the loan program, which offered forgivable loans in return for keeping employees on a company’s payroll, after it reopened in January with $284 billion in funding. Those amendments included an adjusted loan formula that would mean larger amounts for sole proprietors as well as expanded eligibility for small business owners with certain criminal records, were delinquent on student loan debt or were non-citizens.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2336</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2021 15:31:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Number of small businesses in distress triple pre-Covid level</title>
<description>This month almost 135,000 businesses are showing strain, as the impact of a year of Covid-19 restrictions reverberates.Businesses in the services and retail sectors accounted for almost three-fifths of those showing distress, said Mazars. Sectors allowed to reopen were faring better, with construction and manufacturing businesses making up 7.9 per cent and 6.7 per cent of those in distress respectively.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2335</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:06:26 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>12 Resources and Communities Entrepreneurs Should Follow for Industry Insight and Tips</title>
<description>Staying tuned in to the pulse of your industry is key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Public groups, online forums and the like are among the most valuable resources for gathering and contributing industry information. But if someone is looking for in-depth insight into their business niche, locating the right groups where this discussion occurs is the first step. T</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2334</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:05:32 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Content Curation</title>
<description>With content marketing, small businesses use content in various formats to build stronger relationships with their customers, capture attention, improve engagement, and improve brand recognition. For small businesses, content marketing is a particularly cost effective marketing alternative that does not require a sizeable budget to run. In addition, content marketing delivers some of the highest overall Return on Investment (ROI) for every marketing dollar spent. And it is an integral part of a solid marketing strategy. This is because it helps to increase leads, generate more leads, get higher SEO rankings, and drive more traffic to your site.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2333</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 8 Apr 2021 15:03:24 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Will COVID Stimulus Help or Hurt Small Business?</title>
<description>The data on business startups and closing show a mixed bag across the United States. Some states have seen an increase in new business applications over the past year (February to February) and some states have shown a decline. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are among the weakest regions, with Virginia showing a 3.5% decline in year-over-year applications.<br />
<br />
Business closings are harder to track month to month because small business operators do not always file documents when they shutter their doors, and it is hard to distinguish between permanent and temporary closings. Closings do show up eventually in tax filings and articles of incorporation.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2332</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 6 Apr 2021 15:00:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Google Is Scrapping Cookies This Year, And Other Small Business Tech News</title>
<description>Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?<br />
<br />
1 — Google plans to scrap third-party cookies by 2022.<br />
<br />
Google announced this past week that it plans to stop the use of tracking cookies on Chrome by next year and— instead— will replace cookies with a profiling system<br />
<br />
2 —Recruiting startup SeekOut raised $65M to take on LinkedIn and other talent acquisition companies.<br />
<br />
3 —Small business owners adopted new software in 2020 and increased tech budgets in 2021.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2331</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 1 Apr 2021 14:59:29 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Selective Survey Finds Majority Of Small Businesses Lack Cyber Insurance Coverage</title>
<description> A survey of small businesses conducted by Appalachian State University in coordination with Selective found that cybersecurity and technology issues were growing concerns for 44% of survey respondents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, only 20% of survey respondents have cyber insurance coverage.<br />
<br />
The findings highlight an awareness gap among small businesses about the risks they face from cybercrime. Twenty-eight percent of data breaches impact small businesses, and phishing attacks account for over 30% of breaches, making them the biggest cyber threat for small organizations.1 Cyber coverage from Selective can help small businesses manage and mitigate risks with comprehensive coverage options and cyber threat education.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2330</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:57:16 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>An Entrepreneurs Quick Guide to Invoice Financing for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Invoice financing is a type of business funding wherein the business sells its outstanding invoices or account receivables (A/R) to financing companies to get an immediate cash flow boost. The financing company takes over the invoices, and sometimes be in charge of collecting customer payments (as in invoice factoring).<br />
<br />
Invoice financing is a popular financing option for businesses that have to wait 30,60, or 90 days to get their clients payments. </description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2329</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:55:24 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Small Business Funding</title>
<description>Specific PPP provisions of the new law include:<br />
<br />
Appropriates an additional $7.25 billion to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the PPP program<br />
<br />
Expands PPP eligibility to include:<br />
<br />
~ Additional tax-exempt nonprofits, such as 501(c)(5) labor and agricultural organizations and community locations of larger nonprofits, whose lobbying activities do not comprise more than 15 percent of its activities<br />
~ Internet publishing organizations assigned a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code of 519130 and engaged in the collection and distribution of local or regional and national news and information<br />
~ Adds COBRA premium assistance as an allowable payroll cost under the PPP program.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2328</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:36:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>With Shopify, Small Businesses Strike Back at Amazon</title>
<description>In a world in which e-commerce has become a necessity for nearly every retailer, it can seem they have only two options: list their goods on marketplaces run by giant companies, or sell to consumers directly, hoping they will make more on each transaction despite fewer sales. In other words, either join a dominant marketplace like eBay , Walmart or Amazon —which by itself represents 38% of U.S. online sales, according to Digital Commerce 360—or hope they can find customers through advertising and word of mouth.<br />
<br />
For many small- and medium-size sellers, a third option has emerged, embodied by the rising star of e-commerce, Shopify . This approach gives merchants access to cloud-based third-party services such as payments and fulfillment, but lets them maintain more control of their branding and customer relationships than the biggest marketplaces offer. Shoppers might not even know they’re buying something from a Shopify-powered retailer, and that’s the point.<br />
<br />
In addition to making goods available on sellers’ own sites, these software companies—which also include BigCommerce and Magento—can perform the laborious task of listing merchandise on the giants marketplaces. By becoming hubs for managing sales through multiple channels, including social-media platforms, they represent real competition for Amazon and its ilk, potentially giving merchants more leverage when dealing with those entrenched giants.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2327</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:36:22 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How Smart Phones Have Changed the World</title>
<description>With the ongoing move of smart phones towards near-ubiquity, much of society has come to take these do-all devices for granted. In overcoming the novelty of smart phones, many of us have lost our one-time sense of awe at this technology, and have ceased marveling at the effect it has had on the world around us. However, it is undeniable that smart phones have exerted a huge and multi-faceted impact on society, and continue to do so to this day.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-smart-phones-have-changed-the-world.htm" target="_blank" >How Smart Phones Have Changed the World</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2326</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2021 09:28:30 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How Covid-19 Is Transforming the Business World, According to Scott Galloway</title>
<description>The pandemic is accelerating existing trends. <br />
<br />
Covid-19 has initiated some trends and altered the direction of others, but its most enduring impact will be as an accelerant. Take any trend--social, business, or personal--and fast-forward 10 years. Even if your company isn't living in the year 2030 yet, the pandemic has spurred changes in consumer behavior and markets. This is clear in the rapid increase in online shopping, in the shift toward remote delivery of health care, and in the spectacular increase in valuation among the biggest tech firms.<br />
<br />
The more disruptive the crisis, the greater the opportunities--and the risks.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2325</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:22:20 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Why Student Debt Is Crippling Entrepreneurship</title>
<description>After the pandemic knocked the wind out of our economy, recovery plans focused mainly on saving existing small businesses rather than breathing life into new ones. Yet entrepreneurship is critical to emerging from the Covid-induced recession. Startups drive almost all net new-job creation. They contribute disproportionately to innovation, breaking new ground while also spurring midsize and large companies to follow suit. And perhaps most important in the current climate, startups are well-positioned to respond to drastic changes in consumer and business behavior, recognizing and acting on opportunities born of adversity.<br />
<br />
For aspiring entrepreneurs, student debt reduces the amount of cash available for startups and affects their credit score, making business loans tough to secure. It also renders more daunting the prospect of failure, which increases risk aversion.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2324</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2021 09:19:29 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Business Development Center breaks down how raising minimum wage may affect small businesses</title>
<description>Minimum wage is a complex issue for small businesses, says the Small Business Development Center in Binghamton.<br />
<br />
The SBDC adds that, typically, small businesses have a close relationship with their employees and if they could pay them more originally, they would.<br />
<br />
They add that they believe some business owners may have to pick up the slack in order to keep costs low.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2323</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2021 09:15:18 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Three Learnings Small Businesses Should Take From 2020 Into 2021</title>
<description>The United States has seen an increase in new businesses formed this year. According to the United State Census Bureau, in week 50, there were over 86,000 new business applications nationwide — representing a 38% increase over filings during the same week in 2019. The challenges small businesses have experienced in 2020 have led to some core lessons that those in the business community need to apply — whether they own an established small business or a newly formed one.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2322</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2021 09:02:31 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Your Small Business Can Take Down Goliath</title>
<description>The accelerated churn rate of the S&P 500 indicates that at least half of todays top U.S. companies will get replaced by someone new over the next decade. That is a mind-boggling market value of $13.5 trillion up for grabs. And the craziest part is who replaces the old market leaders: It is often companies that, just a few years before, were considered scrappy little startups.<br />
<br />
To unseat a champion, a smaller company has to play by a completely different set of rules.<br />
<br />
1. Change the basis of competition.<br />
2. Exploit taboos.<br />
3. Optimize for power.<br />
4. Dramatic simplification.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2321</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:00:06 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>A business owner who spent nearly $46 million on Facebook advertising says he has been booted from the platform without explanation</title>
<description>A business owner who spent nearly $46 million over the years on Facebook ads said he got booted from the platform without warning.<br />
<br />
Jordan Nabigon, the CEO of the Ottawa, Ontario, content-curation site Shared, said Facebook deleted his companys main Facebook page without warning in October, and without providing an explanation. He shared a Medium post detailing his experience, which has received more than 400 <i>claps</i> from readers.<br />
<br />
Nabigon spent $45,870,181 on Facebook advertising between 2006 and 2020 for Shared and his other company Freebies, according to expense reports reviewed by Business Insider. Shared employees three people full-time and 12 contract writers, Nabigon said.<br />
<br />
Facebook increased its use of artificial intelligence to oversee advertising and other content during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Nabigon is among hundreds of business owners who said they suffered from Facebook's crackdown on ad policies.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2320</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 9 Feb 2021 08:57:32 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why Small Business Owners Need to Reconnect With Their Mission</title>
<description>Pivoting has become one of those hot topics in mainstream business media. When an economic crisis arises, countless think pieces are written about how to pivot your business to respond to the external environment. But pivoting is a huge gamble, requiring deep resources and the ability to fail with minimal consequences (hence why the term is often associated with venture-backed startups). And, one must ask oneself if there’s even a solid reason to pivot.<br />
<br />
As a small business owner, while you might feel pressure to look anywhere and everywhere to increase your top line, resist the urge to pivot. Instead, focus on your mission.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Define your mission<br />
In the college admissions space, disruption is something we are used to. While high-profile <i>recruiting</i> scandals and a renewed focus on racial inequities have dominated headlines recently, a larger cultural shift was quietly occurring.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2319</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 5 Feb 2021 18:16:47 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>5 Hiring Hacks for Small Businesses That Need to Stretch Their Budgets</title>
<description>Finding and keeping the best talent has never been easy. It became the top concern for HR professionals this past year, with more than two-thirds reporting struggles with their recruitment and retention efforts. While the reasons for those struggles run the gamut, they often relate to attracting qualified candidates (49%), retaining star employees (49%) and issues with the talent-culture fit (42%).<br />
<br />
For small and midsize businesses (SMBs), any difficulties with finding talented hires end up wasting precious resources. Worse yet, the cost of a bad hire is equal to 30% of the hires first-year salary – without factoring in the potential losses in revenue and time associated with onboarding the wrong person for a job.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2318</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 3 Feb 2021 18:13:41 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>How To Bring Employees Back To Your Small Business</title>
<description>The Covid-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented financial ripple effect in nearly every industry but hit the small businesses that define America the hardest. Throughout the first six months of the pandemic, more than 60 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance. That’s 23 million more than the 37 million who filed claims during the 18-month Great Recession. <br />
<br />
By now, many small-business owners who made the difficult decision to shrink or temporarily pause are rebuilding. As they have already learned, though, rebuilding your business is not as easy as flipping a switch and watching your business rebound to its pre-Covid-19 state. As a small-business owner, your plan to rebuild should focus on rehiring employees who can fulfill your immediate needs while simultaneously paving the groundwork for growth in the new norm.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2317</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 1 Feb 2021 18:12:50 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>7 Ways Inbound Marketing Can Build Relationships and Grow Your Business</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[For small businesses,traditional marketing can be expensive and difficult to maintain. Inbound marketing can level the playing field and give even the smallest business a chance to stand out and grow.<br />
<br />
Why use inbound marketing? <br />
<br />
1. It is cost effective<br />
2. It helps build customers trust.<br />
3. It increases brand awareness and boosts your online presence.<br />
4. It can improve your marketing decision making<br />
5. You can craft customer-focused content.<br />
6. Inbound marketing provides two-way communication.<br />
7. It helps bring in organic traffic to your website<br />]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2316</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2021 18:09:05 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small business ideas: 5 steps on how to go digital with your business</title>
<description>Arguably the most critical aspect of digital transformation, digital payments ensure that small merchants or kiranas can continue to accept or send money and preserve cash flow in an increasingly contactless world.<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2315</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2021 18:07:15 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>7 Strategies for Running a Successful Small Business</title>
<description>1. Organize your business documents<br />
2. Have a scalable technology plan ready<br />
3. Plan to spend money to earn money<br />
4. Prepare to outsource tasks<br />
5. Create a blueprint for business continuity<br />
6. Develop a strategy for balancing work and life<br />
7. Build your team</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2314</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2021 18:05:37 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Three Learnings Small Businesses Should Take From 2020 Into 2021</title>
<description>1. Have an adaptable business model<br />
2. Diversify supply chain operations<br />
3. Create an omnichannel customer experience<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2313</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:58:41 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>The True Failure Rate of Small Businesses</title>
<description>Have you heard that 90 percent of new businesses fail? Or that 50 percent of new businesses fail? Stick around in the entrepreneurial community long enough and you’ll likely hear a wide spectrum of claims, mostly falling between these two extremes.<br />
<br />
But what is the true failure rate of small businesses? And should it influence your decisions as an entrepreneur?<br />
<br />
What we know about the failure rate of small businesses<br />
<br />
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported by Fundera, approximately 20 percent of small businesses fail within the first year. By the end of the second year, 30 percent of businesses will have failed. By the end of the fifth year, about half will have failed. And by the end of the decade, only 30 percent of businesses will remain — a 70 percent failure rate.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2312</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:56:03 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Nine Resolutions To Start Your Small Business Year Off Strong</title>
<description>1. Be clear in your direction.<br />
2. Know who your customer is.<br />
3. Focus on the channels that matter. <br />
4. Only talk about what matters.<br />
5. Remember what makes you special. <br />
6. Find your niche.<br />
7. Learn something new.<br />
8. Plan well to save time.<br />
9. Engage with your customers more.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2311</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:54:57 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How to Dispose of Old Cell Phones; Protect Your Data and Privacy</title>
<description>Whether your cell phone has a broken screen, is no longer the latest technology, or you are simply itching for the latest cell phone model, it is important that you take appropriate care in disposing of your old cell phone.<br />
<br />
Retain and Protect Your Data<br />
Cell phones are a treasure trove of information; think of the panic that strikes each time you mistakenly misplace your cell phone. The information contained in our cell phones is meaningful and it is important that you backup any data on the phone that you wish to retain. The data you backup would include: any music, photos, messages etc...&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are moving to a new cell phone you can often transfer the data you wish to retain to the new cell device.<br />
<br />
Protect Your Personal Information<br />
Cell phones often contain sensitive personal data, including passwords, bank information, payment methods, messages, contacts, videos, account numbers and much more. After transferring the data to a new device, information is still retained on your original cell phone.&nbsp;&nbsp;Providing this type of sensitive information to strangers could put you at risk for identity theft, other other types of fraud, or simply leave you very uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-to-dispose-of-old-cell-phones.htm" target="_blank" >How to Dispose of Old Cell Phones; Protect Your Data and Privacy</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2310</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2310</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:33:51 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to Stop Robocalls on Cell Phones</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[There is little more frustrating than annoying and unsolicitied phone calls to your cell phone. In many cases these calls are also illegal. How do you stop and prevent these unsolicited phone calls and robocalls to your cell phone?<br />
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There are a wide array of tools and options that you can deploy to diminish the number of robocalls you receive.<br />
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Register Do Not Call Registry<br />
Cell phones can be registered in the FTCs Do Not Call Registry. You can also call 1-888-382-1222 from any phone to add it to the do not call registry. The Do Not Call list takes you off the for-profit business call lists, but it isn't immediate. Telemarketers update their listings only periodically, so it can take up to 31 days to see results.<br />
donotcall.gov<br />
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3rd Party Applications<br />
There are a whole host of third party applications that strive to end robocalls and telemarketing calls. You can download applications like NoMoreRobo, RoboKiller or Spam Block. <br />
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Block Specific Phone Numbers<br />
If you are receiving a large number of unsolicited phone calls from the same number you can block that specific cell phone number on your phone.<br />
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<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-to-stop-robocalls-on-cell-phones.htm" target="_blank">How to Stop Robocalls on Cell Phones</a>]]>
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<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2309</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2021 15:14:54 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Struggle While New Businesses Surge: A Paradox?</title>
<description>This week the Wall Street Journal reported that nearly 300 companies that had received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program had filed for bankruptcy. The very next day, the Journal highlighted Americans using the Covid-19 pandemic to take their first steps on the entrepreneurial journey.<br />
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Existing small businesses continue to struggle. New entrepreneurs are seeking opportunities. That is what the data appears to be saying about the state of small business and entrepreneurship amidst the third Covid-19 wave.<br />
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Small Businesses Suffering, See Rough Road Ahead<br />
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In early November, Goldman Sachs surveyed nearly 900 small businesses. They found that four in 10 had laid off employees or cut compensation. If further government relief were not forthcoming, another 38% said they would need to do the same. Half of small business owners had stopped paying themselves.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2308</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2021 15:14:22 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How Long Do Cell Phone Batteries Last</title>
<description>The length of time that a cell phone battery lasts depends on a variety of things. Battery life can be influenced by the type of the cell phone, the type battery, the age of the battery, the applications being used on the phone, even the temperature where the phone is stored and used can impact battery life. <br />
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<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-long-do-cell-phone-batteries-last.htm" target="_blank" >How Long Do Cell Phone Batteries Last?</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2307</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 8 Jan 2021 15:07:14 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>IRS plans a 50% ramp-up in small-biz audits next year</title>
<description>The Internal Revenue Service is planning to ramp up audits of smaller businesses and their investors by about 50 percent next year, following years of persistently low examination rates, an agency official said Tuesday.<br />
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The result could be a surge in audits of companies ranging from mom-and-pop retail stores and technology startups to investment funds that have historically faced only infrequent checks thanks to the time and effort required at the IRS.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2306</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 6 Jan 2021 15:05:01 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Googles new Small Business Advisors program aims to help SMBs grow</title>
<description>Google has beta-launched a program for small businesses (SMBs) to help them become better marketers on Google. Called Small Business Advisors (SBA), the program offers 50-minute individualized consulting sessions on a range of products from Google My Business to Ads and Analytics to YouTube.<br />
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No enterprises or agencies. Google told me in an email that the program is <i>is open to small businesses in the United States with an active Google account.&nbsp;&nbsp;Large businesses, marketing and SEO agencies are not eligible to participate.</i> The cost is $39.99 per session. There’s no fee through the end of 2020.<br />
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Small business does not appear to be defined, so theoretically companies with up to 100 employees or even 499 employees (the U.S. Small Business Administration definition). As a practical matter, the program will likely be utilized by very small businesses with relatively few employees. Suspended accounts are not eligible to book an appointment and must get reinstated before gaining access to the program.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2305</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 4 Jan 2021 15:04:14 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>That lovely Instagram shoutout could save a small business from shuttering this yearX</title>
<description>Kudos matter now more than ever. On average, social media endorsements of small businesses generate 23% of revenues, according to data from Amex.<br />
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Few things put more smiles on the faces of small-business owners than social media recommendations about their products or services, but now, new research proves that those online shoutouts also put cash in their bank accounts.<br />
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On average, social media endorsements of small businesses generate 23% of revenues—or approximately $197 billion—new data from American Express finds.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2304</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 1 Jan 2021 15:01:56 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Best Brain-Training Wearables of 2020</title>
<description>Your brain is just like any other muscle in your body; just as you lift weights and train your body to make it stronger, your brain needs just as much attention as those biceps.<br />
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And with the state of things these days, we should spend even more time training our brains to be more focused, relaxed and creative in order to maintain our emotional control and build our resilience to stress. Only then can we truly thrive in uncertain times and become unstoppable.<br />
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So how do you train your brain? You can read and practice-problem solving of course, but there are a plethora of new and exciting devices available to help you level up your training and target specific areas of your brain that need it.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2303</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 30 Dec 2020 15:00:32 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Clean Cell Phone Screens?</title>
<description>With the Corona virus not far from everyone's minds and the precautions that individuals took to protect their health. It is not a far stretch to consider the possible germs and bacteria that have potentially taken up residence on our cell phones. Mobile devices are never far from most individuals. They are constantly being touched, placed down, picked up and placed near the face. A study published in 2017 found that cell phone screens were host to multiple viruses and bacteria including: E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus.&nbsp;&nbsp;Depending on the temperature and relative humidity, cold and flu viruses can survive from a few hours to up to 9 days.<br />
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You should make an effort to keep their cell phones clean, germ-free and "safe". You do not need harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubs to properly clean your cell phone. Prior to beginning the cleaning regiment be sure to turn the cell phone off. If you are using a 3rd party protective case or housing, remove the case from the phone and clean it separately.<br />
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In order to clean the surface of a touchscreen, use a soft lint free or micro fiber cloth, similar to those used to clean eyeglasses or camera lenses. A micro fiber cloth will remove the oil from fingers and smudges from the screen. Do not attempt to use any type of abrasive or patterned cloth or towel, as they could potentially scratch the cell phone's screen. Most cell phones have an oleophobic coating on the surface of the screen that repels the oils from hands. The effectiveness of the coating will degrade and lessen over time, using harsh chemicals or abrasive chemicals will hasten the degradation of the oleophobic coating.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
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Be sure to never apply sprays or cleaners directly to the cell phone or touchscreen.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cotton swabs are fantastic for reaching corners and crevices. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-to-clean-cell-phone-screens.htm" target="_blank" >How to Clean Cell Phone Screens?</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2302</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 28 Dec 2020 14:57:04 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>A Covid-19 Vaccine Looks Promising. Can You Require Employees to Take It?</title>
<description>News of the vaccine also raises questions for business owners: Can you require employees to be vaccinated, and if so, how do you go about it?<br />
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Employment lawyers and HR professionals say that policies regarding the flu vaccine are a good place to start. Many states mandate that hospital workers and other health care professionals, as well as school children and preschoolers in daycare, get flu shots and other vaccines. But it's not required for most professions. Generally, employers can require a flu vaccination, but an employee may be entitled to an exemption if he or she has a particular disability that needs to be accommodated, or a sincerely-held religious objection to taking the vaccine, says Michael Schmidt, a New York-based employment lawyer for Cozen O'Connor. <br />
<br />
In both cases, the employer may have to pay for the vaccine or reasonable accommodation. If you refuse to make accommodations for an anti-vaxxer, it's possible to face a claim for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Civil Rights Act, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's whistleblower protection program. Most of the time, Schmidt says, the advice is for employers to encourage employees to get a flu shot rather than try to create a policy that demands it. However, he notes, many would argue that the Covid-19 situation is far more threatening than the flu is at this point, meaning a vaccine may be more crucial to the overall health of a workplace.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2301</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2020 14:53:34 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What President Joe Biden Means for You</title>
<description>The former vice president won the top job, but undoing Trumps discordant legacy will not be easy.<br />
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Many of the elements of Trumps biggest legislative achievement--the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017--are set to expire in the next few years. To name two: the research and development tax credit, which in 2022 requires businesses to amortize expenses over five years rather than doing so immediately, as is the current case. And full expensing for short-term business investments will begin phasing out in 2023.<br />
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<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2300</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2020 14:50:34 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Alternate Power Sources for Cell Phones</title>
<description>During a crisis or emergency situation it is important that a cell phone has battery life. Many people only think of plugging a charger into the wall. But what happens when the power is out for an extended period of time during a crisis?<br />
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Replacement Cell Phone Battery<br />
Some cell phones have the option of replacing the battery. There are both options for original manufacturer replacement batteries as well as batteries manufactured by third parties. If your phone is critical consider carrying a charged backup/replacement battery for your cell phone.<br />
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Tube Battery Cell Phone Charger<br />
A number of manufacturers have created all-in-one portable charger, that is essentially a "tube" battery chargers. The chargers will charge cell phones or other wireless devices provided that you have the appropriate cables and connections. Tube battery chargers are compact and light weight, making them quite portable, and a great backup power option.<br />
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<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/alternate-power-sources-for-cell-phones.htm" target="_blank" >Alternate Power Sources for Cell Phones</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2299</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:49:38 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What the Work-From-Home Boom Means for Your Future</title>
<description>While major corporations furloughing workers and declaring bankruptcy tends to get the biggest headlines, our culture's dramatic shift to working from home is the true breakout business story from this pandemic. The transition has certainly had its share of ups and downs, but rapidly growing acceptance indicates this is a trend that is almost certainly going to shape the future of work. <br />
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The transition began before 2020<br />
While Covid-19 restrictions caused an abrupt shift, working from home was already accelerating. Research from FlexJobs found that the number of people in the United States who worked from home grew by an astounding 159 percent between 2005 and 2017.<br />
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Much of this growth can be attributed to freelancing. Upworks Freelancing in America 2019 survey found that the number of Americans who did freelance work grew from 53 million to 57 million between 2014 and 2019. Younger generations were especially likely to participate, with 40 percent of millennials and 53 percent of Generation Z contributing to the gig economy.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2298</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:25:14 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What You Can Do Right Now to Make 2021 Your Best Tax Year Ever</title>
<description>Traditional tax planning is transactional and, honestly, not nearly as beneficial as one might think. You ask your taxes preparer questions and figure out what to do in the spur of the moment. Creating a long-term plan of action for your taxes is how to create real savings, but it takes months to create an effective plan. Now is the time for business owners and investors to be planning to reap the rewards for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.<br />
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Analyze income<br />
Many accountants suggest pushing income to a later year. There are a few different factors to consider when deciding whether to do this. First, is your income so low you lose deductions? Many personal deductions don’t carry over to the next year. Rather than taking deductions now, you may want to accelerate your income to make use of all your deductions. Another factor to consider is the next year’s tax rates. There’s a real chance that income tax rates could increase in 2021, so the best plan would be to accelerate your income into 2020 to avoid paying at a higher rate.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2297</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:22:43 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Dispose of Old Cell Phones</title>
<description>Whether your cell phone has a broken screen, is no longer the latest technology, or you are simply itching for the latest cell phone model, it is important that you take appropriate care in disposing of your old cell phone.<br />
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Retain and Protect Your Data<br />
Cell phones are a treasure trove of information; think of the panic that strikes each time you mistakenly misplace your cell phone. The information contained in our cell phones is meaningful and it is important that you backup any data on the phone that you wish to retain. The data you backup would include: any music, photos, messages etc...&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are moving to a new cell phone you can often transfer the data you wish to retain to the new cell device.<br />
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<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-to-dispose-of-old-cell-phones.htm" target="_blank" >How to Dispose of Old Cell Phones</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2296</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 8 Dec 2020 16:21:22 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Interview Questions for Any Prospective Employee</title>
<description>1. A question that delves into past experiences within working cultures and extrapolates where future environments may/may not align. For example: Creating the right culture is important for our company. Can you share details on a time you were in a toxic work environment, and how did management handle the situation? Describe when you were in a wonderful work environment and what management did correctly.<br />
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2. Deciphering how the candidates prefer to be managed as a key to ensuring management-style alignment. For example: Taking guidance from leaders is a critical part of any working arrangement. Describe how you like to be managed and how would you describe the ideal leader for your personality style?<br />
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3. Understanding motivations and expectations for long-term engagement. For example: We believe in long-term retention, and so we are cautious on the type of candidate we onboard. If you were going to commit to helping build this company long-term, what would it take for you to be happy and motivated?<br />
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4. Perspectives on their self-awareness of personal growth objectives and needs. For example: We all have challenges we are working to overcome. If you had to assess your challenges, where would be areas that you would focus to develop and look for support to improve?<br />
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5. Communication competence and tolerance for different interaction styles. For example: We all have different communication and coordination styles. What is the method you most effectively consolidate new information to inform your work, and what is your preferred communication style to align with your leadership and stakeholders?</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2295</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 1 Dec 2020 16:19:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Is Your Social Media Content Attracting Leads? 4 Ways to Bolster Your Strategy</title>
<description>Digital marketers often identify social media as one of the best forms of content marketing, but it can often feel like we’re just going through the motions. If the social media content isn’t attracting leads, what good is it? It’s likely you just need a quick boost in strategy to make sure your content is appealing to your target audience and getting inbound requests and messages. <br />
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In fact, 90 percent of social media users have used the platform to communicate directly with a business before. So if none of your customers or followers are reaching out to you, it’s a telltale sign that something should be changed. Ideally, you’ll post a picture or video with a robust caption that offers value and the floodgates will open: direct messages, likes, comments and queries should start coming (or even just trickling at first) in, proving that your content struck a chord and inspired action. Not there yet? Here are four ways to bolster your strategy to attract those leads.<br />
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1. Focus your content on interesting stories <br />
2. Do a poll asking what type of content people want most <br />
3. Host a Q & A on Facebook or Instagram Live <br />
4. Make sure you have a call to action in every post</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2294</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:16:37 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Improve Cell Phone Signal</title>
<description>While telecom carriers are continuing to expand coverage areas and add cellular towers, most cell phone users still experience dropped calls and spotty coverage at times.<br />
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Many external factors and things out of your control can inhibit cell phone reception. Fully understanding the variety of factors that can cause poor cell signal may assist you in knowing how to improve a poor cell phone signal.<br />
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The following can all impact the strength of a cell signal:<br />
<a href="https://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-to-improve-cell-phone-signal.htm" target="_blank" >How to Improve Cell Phone Signal</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2293</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:15:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How small business can thrive for the holidays</title>
<description>The end of the year is a critical time for businesses especially for small businesses that are looking to make the most out of holiday shopping. 23ABC spoke with two business consultants on how small businesses can adapt to make the most out of this final stretch of 2020.<br />
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Starting with investing in your community.<br />
Their second piece of advice is to build an honest and transparent relationship with your customers and business neighbors.<br />
As times have slowed down, they are encouraging business owners to take a good look at who their ideal client is and reshape their marketing for them.<br />
Lastly, being collaborative and creative.<br />
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<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2292</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:13:27 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 tips to help your business survive the coronavirus pandemic from beauty icon Bobbi Brown</title>
<description>1. Focus on the positive<br />
2. Hit the reset button<br />
3. Never give up<br />
4. Network</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2291</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 3 Nov 2020 16:10:52 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>H&R Block Study Reveals Majority of Small Business Owners Need Personal Advice to Recover from Pandemic</title>
<description>Recovery is slow: In fact, more than half (56%) have experienced a slower recovery than expected after shelter-in-place orders began to expire, with nearly half of small business owners fearing they may need to shutter their business within six months if pandemic restrictions are not lifted or if shelter-in-place orders resume in the near-term.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
Survival requires adaptability: Yet despite fear of survival, owners are demonstrating resiliency and adaptability, with about a third (30%) creating products/services to meet new needs and half (50%) of those with an online presence increasing their digital footprint to meet the moment. And, they’re looking for help in making those changes – nearly 70 percent of female and 60 percent of male small business owners say they need one-to-one small business advice.<br />
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They depend on their community: While small businesses continue to be important facets of communities, many small business owners have noted changes in their customers and worry that people will not be able to afford doing business with them. However, half of small business owners believe that there seems to be a renewed interest in <i>shopping locally </i>in their area.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2290</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:09:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Promising Industries for Starting a Business Right Now</title>
<description>Entrepreneurs have seized the opportunity to start new companies in a wide variety of industries during the Covid-19 pandemic. While not all of these ventures will be successful, businesses that help alleviate some of the new challenges created by the pandemic are poised for long-term growth. Here are three industries that hold promising opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to start new businesses. <br />
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1. Contactless Tech<br />
2. Telehealth<br />
3. Education Tech</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2289</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:50:59 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why small businesses are seizing the moment during the pandemic to sell online</title>
<description>Here is something good that has come out of the pandemic. Because people have had fewer buying opportunities, the countrys personal savings rate is the highest it’s been in 30 years. Retail sales have continued to grow and consumer confidence is at a six-month high.<br />
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But the biggest impact on the sales of smaller retailers has been online. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, online sales have increased more than 44% compared with the previous year and, as more shutdowns, quarantines and other disruptions potentially loom, many expect this trend to continue. Small retailers in this area know this, and many have been investing heavily in e-commerce to succeed this holiday season.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2288</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2020 15:40:22 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Ways to Come Back From the Pandemic With a Stronger Team</title>
<description>Working from home has accelerated innovative team-building trends. How to make traits like agility, collaboration, and candor a permanent part of our management process.<br />
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The future of work arrived out of nowhere, on the back of a once-in-a-century pandemic. Team dynamics got challenged as members dealt with illness, trauma, and crisis. We've all been forced to rapidly and radically adapt to new working norms. The Ferrazzi Greenlight Research Institute has spent more than 15 years studying high-performing teams, but I've never seen entrepreneurs rise to the occasion as they have this year. When the crisis subsides, the temptation will be to turn back that progress and retreat into old behaviors.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2287</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 5 Oct 2020 16:48:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Office Is Not Dead Yet. And Now is the Time to Get a Sweet Deal</title>
<description>Businesses now can negotiate for perks and concessions that were unheard of in the commercial real estate market just a few months ago.<br />
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Asking rent prices have yet to fall, which is typical in a down cycle as landlords try to hold out as long as possible, says CBRE chief economist Richard Barkham. At the same time, Barkham says, landlords are eager to fill space, so they're willing to offer a bevy of concessions to the right tenants, including rent-free periods, build-out expenses, and flexible lease terms.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2286</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2020 16:48:03 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How To Make Zoom Meetings Actually Enjoyable</title>
<description>Practice Your On-Camera Speaking Skills<br />
Nothing is worse than having a boring presenter be it in person or on camera. Just like public speaking, presenting on camera is a learned skill anyone can achieve if they have the right guidance. Here are 10 tips to speaking on camera<br />
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Dress to Impress<br />
Even though no one can see what you are wearing below the computer desk, you want to suit up.<br />
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Use the 8% Rule<br />
As Michael, the CEO of Teambuilding explains <i>Any Zoom meeting should have at least 8% of its time dedicated to non-meetings activities.</i></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2285</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2020 16:45:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Pandemic is Motivating 96% of New Entrepreneurs in 2020</title>
<description>Ninety-six percent of new entrepreneurs say the pandemic is motivating or giving them the motivation they needed to start their own business. This positive statistic comes from Azlo, a banking platform for small business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.<br />
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In mid-March 2020, Azlo witnessed an uptick in new accounts opening. Wanting to understand the reasons behind the boost in business, Azlo conducted a survey. ‘The COVID Economy’ report interviewed 1,000 of Azlos newest customers across the United States.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2284</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:44:51 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Behind the Wild and Sometimes Wacky Facemask Economy</title>
<description>The face-covering business went from zero to crazy money in five months, with manufacturers pivoting production lines and brands seizing the moment to advertise.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2283</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:53:10 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What Is The Best Small Business CRM For Gmail?</title>
<description>There are three types of CRMs that work with Gmail. Some - like Zoho , Sugar, Insightly and GoldMine - have their own, built-in email clients that can connect to Gmails server to send and receive messages. Others - such as Salesforce - will just quickly integrate with Gmail right out of the box via a plug-in and then synchronize messages back and forth. And then there are a few – like Copper and Streak - that work right inside of Gmail.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2282</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:50:26 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>This Company Is Paying for Unemployed Americans to Train as Health Care Workers</title>
<description>Ankur Jains investment firm, Kairos, is funding training sessions and job placement for 10,000 workers.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2281</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2020 15:49:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Franchise – and How to Avoid Them</title>
<description>The food and beverage industry is a tough game. Sixty percent of restaurants don’t make it past their first year, and 80 percent go out of business within five years. Those are hard odds.<br />
<br />
Franchising takes some of the risks out of the equation by giving you a proven model to work with. But being a franchisor with a proven model under your arm does not mean you’re suddenly bulletproof or immune to the laws of economics. If you start making unforced errors, you are going to fail.<br />
<br />
Here are the five reasons most people fail as the owner of a franchise. Avoid these deadly sins at all costs:<br />
<br />
Sin 1: Financial complacency<br />
Sin 2: Operational obtuseness<br />
Sin 3: Poor hiring choices<br />
Sin 4: Myopic risk management<br />
Sin 5: Mediocre offerings</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2280</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:25:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways to Help Your Business Win in Times of Crisis</title>
<description>March 11, 2020 is a day destined for the history books: <i>WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak a Pandemic.</i> It was that day that, all around the world, leaders began scrambling, ripping through the pages of their crisis playbooks (or quickly creating them), searching for their pandemic play-by-play. Shortly after came the day the markets crashed on March 16, turning the crisis to both a health and economic calamity.<br />
<br />
Though etched in our minds with great infamy, it’s days like these that I believe make true leaders. Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. wouldn’t be the leaders we remember if it were not for the fiery trials that forged their legacies. This is true not only for politicians and activists, but also for business leaders. As president of The UPS Store, a business deemed essential throughout the pandemic, I’ve seen what works (and what does not) when leading through a crisis, and how leaders can turn even a global pandemic into an opportunity.<br />
<br />
Take a step back<br />
The lightning pace and innovation of technology in todays world has trained us to think that speedy decisions are good decisions.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2279</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2020 15:24:48 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Small Businesses Can Preserve Company Culture During Dramatic Change</title>
<description>One of the primary appeals of the contemporary small business, in my opinion, is the family-centric culture that comes from a close-knit team. While in modern America, many may feel swallowed by corporations, the notoriety of the small business proves that people still find value in the intimate workplace.<br />
<br />
Every industry across the globe has felt the staggering impacts of Covid-19, but small businesses were put under specific strain. Based on what I've seen, however, they have proved their undeniable resilience.<br />
<br />
As a proud member of a small business myself, I have felt the social deprivation of working from home firsthand. Similar to my own experience, members of thousands of other small businesses who have worked alongside each other for lifetimes have had to adjust to maintaining an office culture from the comfort (or discomfort) of their home. While online interactions can never compare to the in-person experience, many small businesses, like my own, found that being apart actually meant working closer together than ever before.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2278</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2278</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Sep 2020 15:21:49 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Small Businesses Can Prioritize Network Security In The Remote Work Era</title>
<description>Remote work was already on the rise before Covid-19 forced many employees to transition to working from home. Today, as many organizations continue to operate remotely due to the pandemic, how can business leaders address the array of security challenges their companies face?<br />
<br />
Network security should be top of mind for businesses of all sizes across a variety of industries. While the list of companies experiencing major security breaches in recent years includes some well-known enterprises, addressing security threats is an especially hefty challenge for small businesses—particularly if those businesses lack the resources to implement strong controls and educate staff.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2277</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 7 Sep 2020 15:19:25 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How SCORE Is Helping Small Businesses Through Their Resilience Hub</title>
<description>One of the most important organizations that has always helped small businesses is SCORE with its 300 chapters and over 10,000 volunteers. They are there to offer help when entrepreneurs want it. Now during the pandemic, their free assistance is needed more than ever.<br />
<br />
SCORE has established a special Resilience Hub to let small business owners connect with a mentor and help them navigate to specific COVID resources, discounts, grants, training materials and guides for industries. This site includes how to access a network where people can learn from each other.<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2276</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 4 Sep 2020 15:18:22 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Craft An Elevator Pitch That Gives People Chills in Under 20 Seconds</title>
<description>How people usually do elevator pitches<br />
Among those who put thought into their elevator pitches, there tends to be two basic formulas:<br />
<br />
Formula A: Introduce oneself and the name of the company, then describe the product or service in the context of the customer or industry’s pain point. Then, at the end, make the ask.<br />
<br />
Formula B: Identify the pain point before introducing oneself and the name of the company. Then describe the product or service, followed by the ask.<br />
<br />
While I am adamant that the only hard and fast rule of communication is that there are no hard and fast rules, I favor Formula B. People are most likely to embrace a solution when it is provided within the context of a problem they care about solving. By starting with a pain point, the entrepreneur is speaking to what an uninformed audience cares about right away thus making sure that the first thing their audience hears has intrinsic value to them. This helps the audience become immediately invested in solving the problem, which helps the entrepreneur to build some momentum.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2275</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 2 Sep 2020 15:12:56 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>When Covid Upends Your Small Business</title>
<description>On March 16, Lisa Eskenazi Boyer was working up a sweat with her students one last time at her bustling Queens, New York, fitness studio. Covid-19 lockdown orders were about to take effect, and Simply Fit Astoria — along with all other local gyms — would have to close its doors later that night. She never expected it to be for good.....</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2274</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2020 15:07:53 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>15 Steps to start a business from scratch with (almost) no money</title>
<description>Coming up with a business idea and starting a business can seem overwhelming and complicated. There are so many things you have to consider from coming up with an excellent idea to registering a company, all the way to business planning, fundraising and much more.<br />
<br />
That is why we have put together this in-depth guide to take you by step by step through how you can start a business. <br />
<br />
More info - https://entrepreneurhandbook.co.uk/starting-a-business/</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2273</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2020 14:39:06 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>When School Goes Virtual, Startups Step Into the Breach</title>
<description>With a chaotic and largely unsuccessful spring semester behind it, the country is getting ready for a school year unlike any other--and teachers, staff, and parents will need all the help they can get.<br />
<br />
Education technology companies are well positioned to capitalize on the shift to remote learning.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2272</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:37:01 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Wear A Mask to Save Small Businesses</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[There is no easy way to say this: America’s small businesses are dying. Small businesses in some industries – retail, restaurant, travel, hospitality – can now be considered endangered species.<br />
<br />
If you want to help them survive – if you want your own small business to survive – the most important thing you can do is simple: Wear a mask.<br />
<br />
Wear a mask. It is not a political statement. It’s a way to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus, get this country reopened and save lives and businesses, especially small businesses.<br />
<br />
Consider just a few statistics:<br />
<br />
• Yelp reported 71,500 businesses that were listed on their site have closed for good since March 1.<br />
<br />
• 80% of independent restaurants aren’t sure they’ll survive the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
<br />]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2271</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2271</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2020 14:33:13 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why School Openings Matter to Your Small Business</title>
<description>Unless Congress extends FFCRA past its December 31 deadline or increases the number of weeks past 12, many parents have used up this time anyway. You can not run your business without employees, and employees will find it very difficult to work without schools. And if they extend FFCRA leave, it may help your employees, but your business needs people to run.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2270</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2270</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2020 14:31:20 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 tips for starting a business during coronavirus</title>
<description>The coronavirus pandemic has placed tremendous stress on the American economy. More than 55 million Americans have filed for unemployment, and more than 100,000 small businesses have been permanently shuttered, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.<br />
<br />
Though the news seems dire, these changing times could present an opportunity if you are a hopeful entrepreneur.<br />
<br />
Whether you have been planning to start a business for years, you have been laid off and are looking for new opportunities or you are moving your existing business in a new direction, now might be the time to figure out how to start a business.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2269</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2269</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2020 14:10:42 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook Execs Face Congress: 9 Big Takeaways</title>
<description>The CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook faced the House Judiciary Committee virtually today, where they fielded questions about whether their respective tech companies take advantage of their dominant positions in the market to enhance their bottom lines. <br />
<br />
Spoiler: They all said they do not.<br />
<br />
Rep. Cicilline said House Judiciary will publish a report on the Antitrust Subcommittees finding, which will propose solutions. but <i>his hearing has made one fact clear to me: These companies as they exist today have monopoly power. Some need to be broken up. All need to be properly regulated and held accountable, </i>he concluded.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2268</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2020 14:08:32 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business SEO: Seven Tips To Rank Your Website On Google</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[1. Develop a professional mobile-friendly business website.<br />
<br />
Your website must be professional and should provide a rich experience and the feel of your brand to users. Here are a few tips to make your website professional and SEO-friendly:<br />
<br />
• Use your business logo and branding on your website.<br />
<br />
• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly (more than half of local searches are mobile searches)<br />
<br />
• Your website should load in less than three seconds.<br />
<br />
• Use a clean, minimal design, and avoid fancy styles.<br />
<br />
• Your website must be well structured and easy to use.<br />
<br />
Many business owners waste too much money creating a professional small business website. But there is no need to waste too much money on a business website. You can create a professional website for less than $500. So do not waste more money on website design, but invest that extra money in SEO.<br />
<br />
2. Identify profitable keywords.<br />
<br />
The success of an SEO campaign depends on the targeted keywords. Thats why you need to choose the right and profitable keywords for your small business. All keywords are not equal; some keywords could have high search volume but not profitability, while some could be profitable but have small volumes. <br />
<br />
Also, focus on long-tail keywords because they are easy to rank and more profitable than short keywords. The profitability of a keyword depends on the nature of the keyword. For that, you need to understand the intent behind that keyword — why a user is searching that.<br />
<br />
For example, when a person searches <i>ice cream</i> on Google, they want to know about ice cream, which means it has informational intent. But when a person searches for <i>best choco-milk ice cream near me,</i> the person wants to eat ice cream. This will be a profitable keyword for you to target.<br />
<br />
3. Create a separate page for each product.<br />
<br />
I found that many small businesses list all their products on one page like the homepage, but this is not a good practice. If you want to get more profit from your local SEO efforts, then you should create specific pages for each product. That way you can rank higher for each product page for multiple keywords. <br />
<br />
For example, if you have a clothing store website, then you need to create separate pages for each product, such as one page for jeans and another for shirts. Also, you can create further subpages, such as jeans> men jeans> blue jeans. This can boost your rankings and revenue and reduce your efforts. <br />
<br />
4. Use schema.<br />
<br />
Structured data is helping Google better understand webpages. That’s why it can help you rank higher and get the advantage of other SERP features like featured snippets, knowledge graphs, etc. Product schema, local business, FAQ and others are must-use schema types for every business.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2267</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 6 Aug 2020 14:05:31 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Technology Enables Small Business</title>
<description>Small businesses are a cornerstone of the American economy, contributing $6 trillion in economic output and employing 85 million Americans. Unfortunately, small businesses are also heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with one in five closed either temporarily or permanently. With social distancing restrictions in place, small-business owners more than ever count on technology to reach consumers, market their products, and grow their business. Tech has been a critical lifeline for small businesses and consumers alike during the COVID-19 crisis.<br />
<br />
Examining the use of digital platforms as a whole in the United States before the pandemic, the national small business survey finds that the use of digital platforms by small enterprises is ubiquitous:<br />
<br />
84% of small enterprises are using at least one major digital platform to provide information to customers;<br />
80% are using at least one major platform to show products and services, as well as to advertise;<br />
79% are using digital tools to communicate with customers and suppliers; and<br />
75% are using tech platforms for sales.<br />
<br />
Now, during the pandemic, everything from the way consumers find and purchase products and services to the way small businesses market and ship their wares is enabled by technologies. As a McKinsey study found, the most effective way for small businesses to meet new hygiene and safety expectations is to design effective contactless experiences through adopting new technologies. For example, restaurants and retailers that have turned to digital capabilities and investments in technology fared far better since the pandemic began. In an SBE Council survey, around 76% of small businesses say that cloud services have been critical to the survival and operation of their business during COVID-19.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2266</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 3 Aug 2020 14:04:20 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Ins And Outs Of The New Small Business Bankruptcy Option</title>
<description>You might have missed it amid all the goings-on since then, but in August 2019, a new law was passed that gives small businesses (and individuals/married couples) a new and simplified way to go through bankruptcy without needing to sell off their assets.<br />
<br />
In other words, you can keep operating your business while going through and emerging from bankruptcy. And you can do it faster and cheaper than before.<br />
<br />
The Small Business Reorganization Act added a new section to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Subchapter V lets entities with debts below a threshold amount go through a streamlined court process, establishing and approving new repayment plans that creditors are required to accept (creditors get input, too, but this is limited and more streamlined as well). You don't have to sell off your assets as in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and you can keep operating without needing to meet the strict Chapter 13 requirements or suffering the prohibitive expense of a standard Chapter 11 process.<br />
<br />
Your business might be in dire straits, but weathering this rough patch might mean a return to profitability.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2265</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2265</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2020 14:02:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Pricing Strategies for a Strong Bottom Line</title>
<description>A price strategy is every bit as important as what you have got to sell. After all, they dictate what you will charge for the goods and services you have on the market. In the end, getting these pricing strategies right is a bit of a balancing act. You will need to find that sweet spot between market demand and maximum profits.<br />
<br />
1. Competition Based Pricing Strategy<br />
If you are selling things that are similar, this is the pricing strategy your small business should be looking at. Here’s how competitive pricing works. First off, this works best for products rather than services. It works when the price for those products has reached a balancing point between your business and others.<br />
<br />
This pricing strategy starts out using the going market rate to set a price.<br />
<br />
2. Value-Based Pricing<br />
Basically this is pricing based on what customers are willing to pay.<br />
<br />
There are several steps to this pricing model. You need to do a bit of detective work here to find a competitive product. Next, you will need to list all the ways your product is different. Stress the financial value on these differences. This is a reasonable way to defend your pricing strategy.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2264</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 7 Jul 2020 12:52:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Smart Small-Business Moves to Make During COVID-19</title>
<description>1. Apply for a line of credit<br />
2. Have cash on hand<br />
3. Negotiate with your vendors<br />
4. Be as adaptable as possible<br />
5. Invest in safety</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2263</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2263</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Jul 2020 12:49:22 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Administration will not name PPP borrowers</title>
<description>A small, overlooked federal agency is shouldering a massive relief effort for the nation's small businesses and their workers left reeling by the novel coronavirus. The U.S. Small Business Administration has committed to auditing every sizable emergency loan it approves, yet nearly two months since the $660 billion Paycheck Protection Program was launched, the agency has yet to make public the recipients of taxpayer aid.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2262</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 1 Jul 2020 12:47:42 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Cybersecurity Must-Haves for Your Business</title>
<description>In the current environment, cybersecurity is essential for businesses of all sizes. Many small or medium-sized businesses find themselves without adequate cybersecurity, either as a result of believing that they don’t need it or simply overlooking it among the many demands that come with running a business. <br />
<br />
1. Use protection against ransomware<br />
2. Invest in employee security training<br />
3. Adopt multifactor authentication<br />
4. Use a Security Information and Event Management system<br />
5. Implement effective systems for protecting and monitoring data <br />
6. Have a plan for mobile device security</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2261</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2020 12:26:27 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>75% of Consumers Plan to Support Small Businesses More Often</title>
<description>The survey shows that consumers have already been going out of their way to support small businesses. 86% of those surveyed say they have continued to support locally owned businesses during quarantine.<br />
<br />
The research uncovers how consumers have been supporting local businesses during lockdown. For example, 77% said they have been participating in a virtual experience offered by a local business. 60% of consumers said they have been ordering more takeaways and deliveries from local restaurants.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2260</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2020 12:24:35 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small-Biz Wish List: 5 Ways the PPP Could Change for the Better</title>
<description>Small businesses could soon see a rollback of several universally loathed measures attached to the original Paycheck Protection Program, the $669 billion loan and grant initiative aimed at helping small businesses keep employees on the payroll.<br />
<br />
When the House convenes next Wednesday, it is expected to vote on the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, a standalone bill that would, among other things, lengthen the time businesses may spend the funds from their PPP loans. The bill would also eliminate the requirement that 75 percent of a loan's proceeds must be spent on employee pay and benefits. The measure was originally proposed on May 15 in the House by representatives Dean Phillips (D., Minn.) and Chip Roy (R., Texas).&nbsp;&nbsp;</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2259</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2020 12:22:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How answering questions helps promote your business</title>
<description>The opportunities to answer questions for potential publication can come from various sources. Help a Reporter, known as HARO, matches journalists with sources for their stories. Quora allows users to answer any question posed by their community. And professional membership organizations offer business leaders the opportunity to share their insights in industry publications.<br />
<br />
The opportunities to add your own insights are out there. But why would you, as a business owner, devote your time to answering these questions? What are the benefits?<br />
<br />
Here are five ways that answering questions online can help promote your business.<br />
<br />
Connections<br />
Search engine optimization (SEO)<br />
Brand<br />
Website traffic <br />
PR opportunities</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2258</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2020 12:20:48 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Guide to Video Marketing</title>
<description>The current global forecast estimates the average person will watch 100 minutes of online video each day in 2021. In fact, a survey of marketers reveals 88% of them say video marketing provides them with a positive Return on Investments (ROI). Furthermore, 92% of marketers say video is an important part of a marketing strategy. With 75 million Americans watching online videos every day, video marketing offers enticing opportunities for marketers to capitalize on the rise in popularity of online videos.<br />
<br />
The good news is you don’t need much to get started. With a good camera or a decent smartphone, you too can make great videos for your business. Your marketing video can be used for your website or social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram; the sky is literally the limit.&nbsp;&nbsp;A caveat here is making a marketing video requires a bit of a learning curve. First, you will need to have the right amount of knowledge and tools to make a meaningful impact from your video marketing effort.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2257</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:18:21 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare for the Post-Coronavirus Business World</title>
<description>Social distancing. Telemedicine. Self-quarantine. These are all words that at the start of 2020 weren't part of our vocabulary, but several months into the new decade we are all hearing and using them daily. There is no denying that the coronavirus outbreak has dramatically changed just about every facet of just about every person’s life around the world.<br />
<br />
From a business perspective, the stock market saw its largest one day loss and largest one day gain in history. The U.S. saw the largest job-loss report ever. We are in uncharted waters, and how long we will remain in them remains uncertain. However, there is one thing that we all know, and that is that this outbreak will change the lives of everyone for years or decades to come. Nearly 20 years after 9-11, enhanced airport security, no-fly lists and counterterrorism efforts are still the norm. The same will be true of the COVID-19 aftermath. Is your business ready for the five largest macro trends we are about to see?<br />
<br />
1. The rise of enhanced websites and digital tools <br />
2. Cybersecurity concerns take center stage<br />
3. An increase in virtual meetings<br />
4. Increased control in expenses<br />
5. Even more remote employees<br />
<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2256</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2020 12:17:02 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Marketers Can Help Restore Consumer Confidence</title>
<description>Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, consumer confidence has declined in all 50 states, according to ongoing research from Morning Consult. And we all know that consumer confidence is a critical component of economic growth. As businesses begin to reopen across America, they need to work hard to restore this critical sentiment. To that end, consumer confidence may well be the only marketing message that matters for some time to come.<br />
<br />
As consumers weigh the pros and cons of carefully reemerging from quarantine, many marketers will need to make a point of reassuring them in their messaging. Here are four smart marketing approaches to consider as you seek to restore consumer confidence.<br />
<br />
1. Reframe social distancing.<br />
2. Acknowledge the struggle.<br />
3. Build consumer trust.<br />
4. Emphasize safety.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2255</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2255</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2020 12:14:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Did This 17-Year-Old Turn Down $8 Million for His Coronavirus-Tracking Website?</title>
<description>Seventeen-year-old Avi Schiffmann is an entrepreneur. But he is a different kind of entrepreneur. He’s not in it for the profits, fame and continued growth opportunities. At least, not right now.<br />
<br />
Schiffmann, a high school teenager who lives in Washington State, has attracted worldwide attention through his amazing Survival Rate Calculator website, which tracks critical information related to the coronavirus outbreak. Since launching the site during the early stages of the pandemic, Schiffmann's web crawlers have been configured to pull in, parse and process real time data from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and other governmental websites and convert that data to show infections, deaths, recoveries and rates of change for all countries around the world. The site breaks down infections on user-friendly maps, provides health information and also attempts to calculate a survival rate of someone who contracts COVID-19, based on user-submitted health data of age, gender and other health factors.<br />
<br />
Is the site popular? You bet. According to a profile of Schiffmann on Business Insider, the site attracts about 30 million visitors a day and 700 million total so far.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2254</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2254</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2020 12:12:53 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>These Companies Found a New Niche in Coronavirus Disinfection</title>
<description>The pandemic is revealing to small businesses just how versatile they are. So: A home-decor company, a skirt designer, and a business that makes boots for horses all realize they can craft face masks. A manufacturer of pet supplements and a hot sauce company join myriad craft distilleries in production of hand sanitizers. <br />
<br />
The task of disinfecting workplaces tainted by or vulnerable to coronavirus also has attracted a variety of unexpected entrants. At AK Wet Works, the partners set out at once to reengineer their dustless blasters to produce a cold vapor fog that can sterilize 20,000 square feet an hour. In 100 hours, they produced a working model and began converting all 10 of their machines.<br />
<br />
Seeking validation for their plan, the founders reached out to FQE, a local chemical company with an EPA-approved coronavirus disinfectant, to create a blend for them. Thinking their idea might have legs outside the Houston-area market, they next approached MMLJ, the original blaster manufacturer, which agreed to mass-produce the modified parts and market them to its large client base. MMLJ is paying a royalty to AK Wet Works, Bland says.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2253</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2020 12:08:12 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Verizon Business Survey Finds 68% of Small Businesses Believe They Can Recoup COVID-19 Related Losses</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Verizon Business today released findings from a recent survey, <b><i>Small Business Response to COVID-19 </i></b>to better understand the impact small business owners and decision makers feel COVID-19 has had on their businesses. The survey, conducted by Morning Consult, focused on 500 small and medium businesses that are currently open or plan to reopen. One of the survey’s key results is that small businesses have renewed confidence, with 68% believing they can recoup COVID-19 related losses.<br />
<br />
Key Survey Findings:<br />
<br />
As businesses grapple with the economic impact of COVID-19, these responses highlight the assistance small businesses feel they need, the communities they feel most supported by, and the changes they have made to adjust to the new normal.<br />
<br />
1. A Renewed Confidence<br />
The small businesses that have weathered this pandemic to date express an overall optimism and the financial wherewithal to eventually reopen.<br />
<br />
68% of small businesses believe they can recoup COVID-19 related losses<br />
46% (nearly half) of small businesses that remain open say their businesses will be able to stay open for more than six months if the pandemic continues in the same way<br />
48% of small businesses say it’s unlikely they will need to resume operations with a smaller staff<br />
While 78% of small businesses indicate declining sales, less than a quarter (24%) say that they have missed or withheld any payments of bills (rent, utilities, etc.).]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2252</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 8 Jun 2020 11:24:24 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>60% of Small Businesses Do Not Have a Cybersecurity Policy: Survey</title>
<description>Social distancing amid COVID-19 has forced millions of businesses to set up remote workstations that rely solely on Web applications and services (SaaS) to conduct business operations.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to a new survey by the Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI), the virtual workplace has increased cybersecurity concerns for small business owners, as most of them have not implemented remote working policies to address cybersecurity threats.<br />
<br />
The survey, which included 412 small business owners, revealed that while most small business owners are concerned about cyberattacks, many&nbsp;&nbsp;lack the resources to invest in necessary security measures – and&nbsp;&nbsp;half of them are worried that remote work will lead to more cyberattacks. It revealed that only 40% of small businesses have implemented a cybersecurity policy. Around 40% of businesses stated that economic uncertainty prevents them from making security investments. While 46% have offered training to help their employees stay secure while working remotely.<br />
<br />
Nearly 51% of business owners surveyed said they provided employees with technologies to improve cybersecurity for remote work. And 55% of them said they believe federal and state governments should provide funding for cybersecurity products and services.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2251</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 5 Jun 2020 07:11:42 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Your Cybersecurity Spring-Cleaning Checklist</title>
<description>For small business owners, tidying up your digital space means conducting a virtual sweep of your website and organizations security practices. I recommend that small business owners use the following cybersecurity spring cleaning checklist to ensure they don't miss any important items. <br />
<br />
Spring Clean Your Website<br />
The first step of cybersecurity spring cleaning is to deep clean your business website. By clearing out what you do not need, you can improve the overall health of your site.<br />
<br />
Start with decluttering plugins and software. You should only keep the ones you're using and delete the rest to reduce your sites cybersecurity risk.<br />
<br />
After you remove any plugins and software you are not using, make sure the ones you keep are updated. In addition, continue to proactively monitor your plugins and software on a regular basis and check for security updates.<br />
<br />
It's also the perfect time to take a closer look at the data you're gathering from customers. Ask yourself if you are collecting information that truly benefits your business, such as information that drives value for marketing, sales, and services. If the type of information you collect has changed over time, delete any data and applications you're no longer using such as analytics code, remarketing snippets, affiliate tracking, and CRM tracking.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2250</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2250</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 3 Jun 2020 07:10:22 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Web.com Offers SEO Solution for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Search engine optimization is an effective tool to build awareness and increase sales. If you’re thinking about using search engine optimization (SEO) to grow your business, then the latest offering from Web.com will excite you.<br />
The Company recently announced the launch of an innovative SEO marketing solution, Simple SEO, to help businesses improve their search engine rankings.<br />
<br />
It goes without saying that people search online before buying any product or availing any service. According to the search engine giant, Google, 83% of shoppers used online search before visiting a physical store.<br />
<br />
So, being found on search results when potential customers type relevant phrases can improve awareness for your business, increasing sales eventually. And implementing the right search engine optimization techniques can boost the visibility for your business on search results.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2249</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2249</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 1 Jun 2020 07:07:51 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Branding Matters Now More Than Ever</title>
<description>As the Covid-19 outbreak wreaks havoc on the retail industry, some are asking a curious question, namely: will companies boost their spending on branding in the aftermath the crisis?<br />
<br />
What I find strange about this question is the assumption that branding is something you turn on and off, like a light switch; that it is somehow a conscious decision or undertaking that brands embark on as necessary or when it best serves them. I suspect this is because we’ve long confused the concepts of branding and advertising. They are not the same.<br />
<br />
Advertising is what a brand says about itself to consumers. Advertising is a conscious effort on the part of a brand to promote itself, its products and its services. Advertising can be bought and sold. Advertising is transactional.<br />
<br />
Branding, on the other hand, is a very different thing. Branding is what others think and say about you. And it’s informed by a wide range of inputs, far beyond what a brand says about itself. More critical is what a brand actually does or doesn’t do. Branding reflects the sum total of every organisational action, set against the backdrop of culture, all of which reveals the true character of a company. Branding cannot be bought or sold. Branding is transformational.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2248</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2020 07:06:26 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Evolutionary Branding: Know The Jungle</title>
<description>The law of the jungle states, in evolutionary terms, that only the fittest survive. Before you can effectively brand an organization, you need to understand its clients/customers/donors/community and its competitors. In the marketing world, this is called a landscape analysis.<br />
<br />
Often, companies — especially startups and nonprofits — will say they do not have competitors. Let me get this out right away: Everyone has competitors. Even nonprofits. If you think you do not have competitors, that means you don’t understand what a competitor is. A competitor is any person or organization taking business away from you.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2247</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2247</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2020 07:04:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Tips For Digital Marketing During a Pandemic</title>
<description>Understand the Challenges Your Customers Are Facing<br />
Before you can market during any period, you need to be able to solve a problem for your customers. During a pandemic, the problem you are solving may change. So you have to be able to communicate that. Part of this is just understanding the current climate. It is probably safe to say that many small business customers are hurting financially. Some may also be in a hurry to receive specific types of items. By understanding your market and staying up-to-date on news in your industry, you should be well versed on the basic challenges that might impact your strategy or talking points. However, Perkin also recommends surveying customers however possible so you can quantify how many of them are struggling in specific areas. Once you know the problems your customers are facing, you can work backward to create your marketing communication strategy.<br />
<br />
Learn How to Communicate with New Customers<br />
In fact, you may need to pivot all or part of your business strategy in order to stay afloat during the pandemic. For example, Marran pointed out a UPS client that previously sold pet costumes, but has recently shifted into manufacturing face masks and PPE. This is likely to be a temporary change. But they still need to shift their marketing and communication strategy toward hospitals and B2B customers, rather than focusing on the consumers they normally serve.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2246</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2246</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2020 07:02:59 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Marketing Hacks On The Cheap To Grow Your Business During a Pandemic</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[For small businesses, resources can be tight. Especially right now.<br />
Limited budgets can present challenges for how businesses raise awareness, acquire customers, and generate revenue.<br />
<br />
In fact, 39% of small business owners agree that a limited budget is a major roadblock in growing their businesses.<br />
<br />
However, there are plenty of low-cost, high-yielding marketing hacks that can help you reach your customers.<br />
Get featured in press by responding to journalists and podcasters<br />
Personalize cold outreach campaigns<br />
Correct Existing Mentions of Your Brand<br />
Add videos to your landing page<br />
Repurpose old blog content<br />]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2245</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2020 07:01:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Must-Have Content Marketing Tools For Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Customers go through a journey before they commit to a purchase. As a small business owner, it is your duty to engage and interact with them until they do so. And when they do, you continue to nurture them so they become your brand’s advocates.<br />
<br />
With content marketing, you can convert random online searchers to website visitors, make them a part of your tribe and drive more sales by consistently providing them with valuable information.<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2244</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2020 07:00:26 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Market Your Business During Covid</title>
<description>Make communication a priority<br />
In response to the restrictions temporarily in place, companies large and small have made changes to the way they do business. Restaurants are offering curbside pickup. Many retailers have closed their brick-and-mortar stores but are ramping up e-commerce with free delivery and 24-hour customer support. Grocery stores have introduced new cleaning protocols and special senior shopping hours.<br />
<br />
No matter your industry, be proactive in sharing this information with customers and keeping them updated. In this digital-first era, all types of businesses are much better equipped to reach customers, both existing and prospective. By using multiple platforms — posting on social media, sending mobile messages, and updating your website and directory listings such as Google My Business — your business has the ability to connect with customers quickly and easily.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Be transparent<br />
We are living through a period of uncertainty in which nearly every American is affected by this pandemic in some way. It’s important to acknowledge that publicly. Practicing sensitivity and transparency in light of our current economic climate is not only appropriate — it’s necessary. Soften the tone in your messaging and infuse empathy in recognition of what’s happening all around us.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2243</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2020 06:59:23 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Email Marketing Statistics You Need to Know in 2020</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Email marketing continues to be one of the most powerful tools for growing your business. (Need proof? Check out stat #1 below.)<br />
<br />
And although email marketing has been around for decades, it’s everchanging.<br />
<br />
New email marketing tools — like AMP for Email — pop up all of the time. Marketers are taking innovative approaches to email marketing. And email marketing benchmarks change every year.<br />
<br />
Want to see how your own email marketing strategy compares and what other businesses are doing to innovate?<br />
<br />
Check out this ultimate list of email marketing statistics to find out how you stack up and see email marketing benchmarks to compare your results.<br />
<br />
General email marketing statistics and usage<br />
79% of small businesses say email marketing is important to their business strategy. [AWeber]<br />
<br />
60% of small businesses say their email marketing strategy is effective or very effective. [AWeber]<br />
<br />
64% of B2B marketers use a dedicated email marketing platform. [Content Marketing Institute]<br />
<br />
40% of B2B marketers claim that email newsletters are the most important tactic in their content marketing strategy. [Content Marketing Institute]<br />
<br />
43% of small businesses have 500 or less email subscribers. [AWeber]<br />
<br />
42% of small businesses with over 500 subscribers have effective or very effective email marketing strategies. [AWeber]<br />
<br />
46% of emails are opened on mobile devices. [Litmus]<br />
<br />
61% of consumers prefer to be contacted by brands through email. [Statista]<br />
<br />
On average, consumers spend 2.5 hours checking email on a typical weekday. [Adobe]]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2242</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2020 06:57:01 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Thank You, Small Business</title>
<description>It is hard to believe that six weeks ago we were all living life as we previously knew it and making plans for the life we thought was ahead.<br />
<br />
It has been an exhausting six weeks. It has been a frustrating and angering six weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;It has been a scary and anxiety-inducing six weeks. It has been a life- and business-altering six weeks. <br />
<br />
And yet, every day — over and over and over again — I have seen small-business owners around the world step up, persist and display the type of character that I am inspired by. <br />
<br />
I saw an amazing quote last week. It reminded that character is not built during crisis, but that character is revealed during crisis. How true is that? I look around and I see people who have been revealed as power hungry and self-centered, but I have also seen people who are kind, generous and committed to the greater good. And so many small business owners fit into that category.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2241</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2020 06:56:32 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Mobility Is Helping Three Small Businesses Stay In Business</title>
<description>When it comes to turning business challenges into opportunities, small business owners are quick, nimble, and creative. With state governments around the country shuttering all non-essential businesses to combat COVID-19 still in full swing, this is truer than ever.<br />
<br />
But, unlike years past, where such an unprecedented closure would have put many small businesses out of business permanently, today they’re turning to mobility and connectivity in large numbers to keep their doors open—if only virtually.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2240</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2020 06:55:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Small Business Trends to Pay Attention to in 2020</title>
<description>As an entrepreneur, you've likely had to embrace change lately so you not only continue to succeed, but you also find ways to dominate during unprecedented times. One of the best ways to gain a competitive edge is to stay on top of trends so you can create new opportunities and stay ahead of your competitors.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, here are five trends all small business owners should embrace in 2020 and beyond. <br />
<br />
1. Employee health and wellness must become a priority. <br />
2. AI will continue to change the business world.<br />
3. Mobile marketing will be used more creatively. <br />
4. Younger consumers will declare World War Z.<br />
5. It is time to go cashless. <br />
<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2239</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 8 May 2020 06:53:11 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Your Sleep Habits Need a Spring Reset. Try These 5 Tips Tonight</title>
<description>Chances are good, few habits need more of an overhaul right now than your sleep routine. You probably picked up a few bad sleep habits during the cold, dark winter and any additional stress you're facing is helping the situation, says Brown University associate professor and medical doctor Katherine Sharkey.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/cameron-albert-deitch/spring-clean-sleep-habits-expert-tips-productivity.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2238</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 6 May 2020 12:53:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The top 10 Prospecting Tools for Your Small Business Sales</title>
<description>The customer acquisition process is a long journey. As any salesperson knows, there are many phases to this journey, and while the close might get all the glory, the most important part of the process may be all the way at the beginning: prospecting.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/small-business/the-top-10-prospecting-tools-for-your-small-business-sales/ar-BB125NEz" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2237</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 4 May 2020 12:50:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Essential Business Survival Guide for the Covid-19 Crisis</title>
<description>Expert advice on handling panicked customers, interrupted supply chains, webinars, Zoom meetings, hyper kids, and a work environment that changes by the hour.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/business-continuity-cash-flow-coronavirus-crisis.html?icid=hmside3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2236</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 1 May 2020 12:47:52 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Best Sales Tactics for Your Small Business</title>
<description>There are no magic formulas or secret sales tips for boosting your sales metrics and performance. Sales are dependent on a myriad of factors lining up in your favor, and many of them are out of the numbers on your sales dashboard. The best you can do is do your best putting in the work.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/small-business/the-best-sales-tactics-for-your-small-business/ar-BB1262Kc" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2235</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2020 12:41:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 Ways Business Owners Can Take Advantage of the Federal Stimulus Package</title>
<description>There is a strategy to maximizing all the benefits of Congress recent $2 trillion stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not just applying for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or tapping into your 401k. In fact, there are actually eight key pieces to the legislation that can assist business owners in one form or another.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/348710" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2234</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2020 12:40:43 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>One Way to Start a Lucrative Career From Home That Could Pay $50,000 in a Day</title>
<description>We are in the midst of a difficult time in history. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a health crisis, and both the economy and jobs are suffering as a result.<br />
<br />
While many of us can work from home, others cannot. But if a silver lining exists, perhaps it’s this: Now is the perfect time to learn a skill or launch a new career. Affiliate marketing gives you that opportunity.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/348330" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2233</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2020 12:17:55 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Half of Small Businesses May Close Within 2 Weeks</title>
<description>Fifty-four percent of U.S. small businesses have either closed or expect to close temporarily over the next 14 days, according to a new Chamber of Commerce survey.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/cameron-albert-deitch/coronavirus-small-business-closures-layoffs-survey.html?icid=hmside1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2232</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2232</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2020 12:17:25 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What it is like to lose your small business to coronavirus</title>
<description>We had to terminate all of our employees. We talked about different options, like furloughing employees, which is a temporary termination. We talked to tons of other business founders and really leaned on legal advice to the extent that we could. In the end, we had to terminate all of our employees, which we thought was the best for them, because they could file for unemployment very quickly. When the seven-day wait period for filing for unemployment was waived, we felt that was the best way forward.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/what-it-s-like-to-lose-your-small-business-to-coronavirus/ar-BB122AgO" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2231</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2231</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2020 12:14:59 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>7 Ways to Train Your Brain to Make Better Decisions</title>
<description>Every day brings a tidal wave of choices, from hiring to product features to marketing plans. As the founder and CEO of JotForm, I know that decision-making is one of the toughest parts of my job. Technology and markets evolve at lightning speed, and there’s endless data to weigh with every choice.<br />
<br />
On the bright side, learning to make smart decisions can help you work more productively, manage stress, dodge burnout and feel more satisfied in your business and your life.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/347215" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2230</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2230</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2020 12:13:10 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>FinTechs Must Be Involved In Paycheck Protection Program Lending For Small Business</title>
<description>Small businesses drive the economy and create the lions share of jobs in the private sector economy. However, right now they are struggling mightily. Although it is recommended that companies have at least six months’ worth of revenue in the bank to weather economic disruptions such as the coronavirus, the reality is that most small companies don’t have enough cash to operate more than a couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
For the service industry: restaurants, nail salons, haircutters, landscapers, athletic trainers, and others, the loss of weekly revenue is devastating for the owners and staff of small businesses. Most service workers live paycheck to paycheck and cannot go very long without being paid. We have already seen an enormous spike in unemployment claims, ending an era when the economy has basically been at full employment. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rohitarora/2020/04/02/fintechs-must-be-involved-in-the-paycheck-protection-program-lending-for-small-business/#2f866f25c184" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2229</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2229</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2020 08:02:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Banking industry has concerns about the small business bailout program</title>
<description>Many small businesses have shut their doors but the bills are still piling up. The Small Business Administration is launching a program to assist, but many lenders are voicing concerns about it, calling the S.B.A.s expectations unrealistic. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/04/03/banking-industry-concerns-small-business-bailout-squawk-box.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2228</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2228</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 8 Apr 2020 07:59:59 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to get aid for a small business hit by coronavirus crisis</title>
<description>Millions of small business owners will be turning to the government, seeking help for an individual and nationwide cataclysm, the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus outbreak.<br />
<br />
The government says it will begin disbursing loan money to company owners and freelancers Friday under the Paycheck Protection Program, part of the $2 trillion relief package signed into law last week. For many companies, it may be the quickest way to rebuild the lifeblood of any business: the cash flow that enables a company to pay its bills.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/how-to-get-aid-for-a-small-business-hit-by-coronavirus-crisis/ar-BB1252sU" target="_blank" >complete article</a><br />
<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2227</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2227</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 6 Apr 2020 07:59:08 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Is Launching A Startup Different From Starting A Small Business</title>
<description>Facebook and Walmart had one thing in common, they both built a product people loved. But their journey was different. Understanding how and why building startups is different from small businesses will help you make wiser business decisions. Here are the most important differences you need to know.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/abdoriani/2020/02/19/how-is-launching-a-startup-different-from-starting-a-small-business/#64c01ea05620" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2226</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2226</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Apr 2020 14:20:43 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Starting a Business</title>
<description>One of the great things about being in business these days – whether it is having a side hustle or a retail store or an online business – is that there is just so much free help available.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/usaandmain/2020/02/19/small-business-small-budget-free-help/4799594002/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2225</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 1 Apr 2020 14:18:54 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small business confidence rises, signaling a more positive outlook for the US economy</title>
<description>Small business sentiment is on the rise to kick off 2020, with confidence nearing all-time highs, according to data from CNBC and SurveyMonkey. The CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Confidence Index climbed two points in the first quarter, from 59 to 61, as concerns over trade policy impacts lessened, thanks to a trade deal with China and the signing of the USMCA. This is a sharp turnaround from the lows seen last summer as trade turmoil weighed on Main Street’s outlook.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/19/small-business-confidence-uptick-signals-positive-outlook-for-economy.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2224</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2224</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:17:30 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why Trade Shows Are Important For Your Small Business</title>
<description>In our hyperconnected digital world, trade shows can be seen as a bit of a relic, an outmoded business building tool that entrepreneurs shouldn’t waste their time on. Nothing could be further from the truth.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2020/02/20/why-trade-shows-are-important-for-your-small-business/#74906521aad7" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2223</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2223</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 14:15:52 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Best Practices for Small Business Owner Taxes in 2020</title>
<description>Spring may be just around the corner, but for accountants and tax professionals, this is crunch time. Here are five ways you can help smooth out the filing process for your small business clients (and, consequently, yourself) this tax season.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.accountingweb.com/practice/clients/5-best-practices-for-small-business-owner-taxes-in-2020" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2222</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2222</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:14:40 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Grapples with Uncertainty</title>
<description>Small business challenges for 2020 will not be easy as more than eight of ten owners indicate attracting new customers is their biggest problem, and nearly six out of ten report hiring or trying to hire qualified applicants has become frustrating. Overall, small business optimism during 2019 was a roller coaster ride for many, as potential threats, such as the on-again off-again trade war with China, potential trade wars with India and Europe, has made it nearly impossible to set long-term plans. Compounding the frustration is the potential impact of the upcoming national elections.<br />
<br />
While the Republicans have loosened regulations for small businesses, the consequences of the ill advised 2017 corporate and wealthy tax cuts are beginning to bite, thus producing a walk back in 2020.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://cardtrak.com/2020/02/19/small-business/small-business-grapples/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2221</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2221</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2020 14:12:52 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Owners to Big Brands: You Do Not Get It</title>
<description>Insiders say the ability to appeal to the emotional side of the SBO will become more important, as so-called Millennials – those born between the years 1980-2000 – are the fastest-growing segment of SBOs and may be more inclined to own a small business than members of older age groups. A study released in 2017 found, among other favorable statistics, that Millennials have more experience with small business and greater desire to start businesses than previous generations.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/small-business-owners-big-brands-130000776.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2220</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2220</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2020 14:11:21 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Bad Habits Small Business Owners Should Avoid</title>
<description>As you take the helm and begin guiding your business into the future, you would be well-advised to listen to suggestions from people who have already made the mistakes they can help you avoid. By the way, you are going to make mistakes. If you can accept that and learn from your mistakes, it will all amount to nothing more than an on-the-job education.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.business2community.com/small-business/7-bad-habits-small-business-owners-should-avoid-02277485" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2219</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2219</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:09:50 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>This Is The Secret Ingredient For Small Business Success</title>
<description>The research shows that the majority of small businesses believe their revenue growth underperforms their peers. Specifically, 60% of respondents ranked their revenue growth below the 50th percentile of similarly sized companies. Yet, when comparing their actual cash flow and revenue data with the analysis drawn from the Kabbage Small Business Revenue Index, the information indicates that the vast majority of respondents have healthy revenue performance. The question is, why are these business owners feeling pessimistic about their company's performance, and how is it impacting their decision making?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2020/02/18/this-is-the-secret-ingredient-for-small-business-success/#fdfcc58bfd82" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2218</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2218</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2020 14:07:58 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>This Company Says It Is the Airbnb of Boats</title>
<description>GetMyBoat, is a startup that calls itself the <i>Airbnb of Boats</i>. This app lets interested people rent boats in many different countries. Small Business Trends contacted Val Streif, marketing manager for GetMyBoat, to find out what makes this enterprise successful.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/02/airbnb-of-boats-getmyboat.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2217</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2217</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:03:44 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Data Cleaning Steps for Small Businesses</title>
<description>While small businesses make a huge impact when put together, individually they are often operating on small budgets. Which means small business owners need to be aware of every penny.<br />
<br />
If you look at the worldwide cost of bad data, it is overwhelming. $3.1 trillion. If you operate a small business, you might just brush that huge number off. But the reality is, when studies put the cost of bad data at $100 per data record, it can add up quickly. Even if you only have 100 contacts—because 20% of your database is likely bad.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.business2community.com/small-business/data-cleaning-steps-for-small-businesses-02279331" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2216</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2216</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Mar 2020 14:01:42 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Big Marketing Trends Impacting Small Business</title>
<description>What are the big marketing trends impacting small business? I turned to industry experts for insight. Below are seven trends that small businesses in particular should pay attention to.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimberlywhitler/2020/02/01/7-big-marketing-trends-impacting-small-business/#79a43a817ae0" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2215</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2215</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Mar 2020 14:00:21 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>2020 Tax Season Attacks Already Targeting Small Businesses</title>
<description>The deadline for filing taxes in the United States is eight weeks away, but new research has shown that small businesses are already being hit by tax season–related cyber-attacks.<br />
<br />
Research conducted by Proofpoint indicates that attackers are <i>aggressively jumping into tax season,</i> with the deployment of two main attack strategies. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/2020-tax-season-attacks-small/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2214</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2214</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 2 Mar 2020 13:52:46 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Deductions Small Business Owners Do Not Take Advantage Of</title>
<description>A lot of small businesses appear to be doing just that though. In fact, the National Federation of Independent Businesses found that tax compliance costs are 67 percent higher for small businesses than larger ones.&nbsp;&nbsp;They add up to $18-$19 billion per year across the U.S small business environment.<br />
<br />
With the complexity of filing taxes quickly each year, many small business owners miss deductions that can help lower their tax burden. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/5-deductions-small-business-owners-dont-take-advantage-of/ss-BB105J6P" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2213</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2213</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:51:14 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Survey: 60 Percent of Small-Business Owners Think Their Revenue Growth Is Below Average</title>
<description>According to a new survey, the results of which were first published by Inc. on Tuesday, odds are good that you identify more with option A, even if option B is your reality. In a poll of 620 U.S. small-business owners, conducted by online lender and small-business cash-flow platform Kabbage, 60 percent of respondents believed their revenue growth underperformed that of their peers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/cameron-albert-deitch/kabbage-survey-revenue-growth-confidence-competition.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2212</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2212</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:49:45 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Five effective small-business trends every business leader needs to check out</title>
<description>Small businesses are often on the cutting edge because they have to be. With smaller foundations and limited budgets, small-business owners have to think on their feet every day, developing strategies that boost productivity and the bottom line. Because a small business can not afford to embrace strategies that do not provide quick, measurable results, the trends that spring up among them are likely to make a positive difference in any company.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2020/02/18/five-effective-small-business-trends-every-business-leader-needs-to-check-out.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2211</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2211</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:47:38 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 steps to starting a small business on a shoestring budget</title>
<description>One of the great things about being in business these days – whether it is having a side hustle or a retail store or an online business – is that there is just so much free help available. <br />
<br />
To wit: Last week, I held my most popular webinar ever (almost 4,000 people registered!) for SCORE, called 7 Steps to Starting on a Shoestring. SCORE is an amazing organization; more than 10,000 business volunteers who can help and mentor you (physically or virtually) on almost any aspect of your business – marketing, sales, taxes, whatever. And, like my webinar, many of SCOREs offerings are free.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/smallbusiness/7-steps-to-starting-a-small-business-on-a-shoestring-budget/ar-BB109W4R" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2210</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2210</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Feb 2020 13:46:07 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Small Business Trends to Leverage in 2020</title>
<description>If you have a small business, it is essential to keep up with the latest trends in technology, marketing, customer service and other areas that affect your business. Each business is unique, so every trend doesn't necessarily impact you equally. However, all major trends do influence your customers' expectations, so it is good to be up to date.<br />
<br />
Here are some of the most significant trends I'm currently seeing that will impact small businesses in 2020 and beyond. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/5-small-business-trends-to-leverage-in-2020.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2209</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2209</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2020 19:34:50 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Cybersecurity for small business</title>
<description>While cyberattacks facing large corporations and government entities may dominate headlines, small businesses are victim to the majority of cybersecurity breaches. In fact, nearly half of small businesses in the United States suffered a cyberattack in 2017, according to a recent study.<br />
<br />
Cybersecurity attacks are constantly evolving to accommodate the latest technologies. Small businesses contend with several existing and emerging internet-related threats, including malware, ransomware, phishing and botnet infections.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.grbj.com/blogs/4-technology/post/95072-cybersecurity-for-small-business" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2208</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2208</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2020 19:32:12 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Get Motivated Going Into the New Year With These Top Small Business Stories</title>
<description>The first weekly roundup of 2020 starts with some motivational quotes to get you up and running for the new year.<br />
<br />
Once you are all pumped up, an article about the economy should also get you excited. The report says all 50 states have improved their GDP since the 2016 election. And if the rally of the stock market on January 2, 2020 is an indicator of things to come you can expect even better numbers.<br />
<br />
The optimism for the coming year is also being shared by business leaders. Over two thirds or 76% of them say they see similar or more profits in 2020. The data comes as part of a survey that polled 940 business owners in this article.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/01/get-motivated-new-year-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2207</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2207</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2020 19:31:19 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Power That Small Businesses Wield</title>
<description>Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy and account for 99.7% of all employers.<br />
Small businesses work with large enterprises as vendors, customers, competitors or partners.<br />
Large businesses can learn from small business ingenuity, innovation, agile management, customer service, workplace culture and diversity. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15359-importance-of-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2206</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2206</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jan 2020 19:30:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Resolutions and Improvements for Your Small Business to Consider in 2020</title>
<description>The start of a new year provides the perfect opportunity for business owners to set new goals and find unique ways to improve their operations. There are plenty of different options for your 2020 resolutions, from shoring up your finances to organizing your online presence. Here are some suggestions and tips from members of the online small business community.<br />
<br />
Grow Your Savings with Money New Mindset<br />
If one of your resolutions for 2020 is to save more money for your business, you may need to shift your mindset. So how can you look at things a bit differently in the new year? Jamie T. Wiseman of Miss Millennia Magazine explores a handful of mindset shifts in this post.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/01/10-resolutions-and-improvements-for-your-small-business-to-consider-in-2020.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2205</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2205</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2020 19:28:14 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>2020 brings higher labor costs for small businesses</title>
<description>As of Jan. 1, there are higher minimum wages in a quarter of the states, and new federal overtime rules. The IRS has new W-4 forms owners will need to get used to. Plastic bags are on their way out at stores and other businesses in a growing number of places around the country. And California has new laws on freelancers and consumer privacy that can affect out-of-state companies.<br />
<br />
A look at a handful of the 2020 changes in federal, state and local laws and regulations:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.eastoregonian.com/news/business/brings-higher-labor-costs-for-small-businesses/article_658daa46-9f4d-5c9d-80c6-b52920079421.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2204</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2204</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:27:17 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small business pay checks are growing at a fast pace as job gains slow</title>
<description>Small business pay checks are growing at a fast pace as job gains slow<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/01/small-business-pay-checks-are-growing-at-a-fast-pace-as-job-gains-slow.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2203</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2203</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jan 2020 19:24:37 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>2020s new taxes, regulations to clobber small businesses</title>
<description>Small business owners have plenty of changes to deal with as 2020 begins — higher labor costs for many companies and some owners will discover that they have to comply with new laws that aren’t on the books in their own states.<br />
<br />
As of Jan. 1, there are higher minimum wages in a quarter of the states and new federal overtime rules. The IRS has new W-4 forms owners will need to get used to. Plastic bags are on their way out at stores and other businesses in a growing number of places around the country. And California has new laws on freelancers and consumer privacy that can affect out-of-state companies.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2020s-new-taxes-regulations-to-clobber-small-businesses" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2202</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2202</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:22:10 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Company Emerges to Help Small Businesses Compete with Amazons Same-Day Delivery—But With Green Cred</title>
<description>As companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Target begin to dazzle us with the growing possibility of same-day delivery, it’s becoming harder for small businesses to compete in ways that provide the same speedy delivery without relying on high-emission forms of commercial storage or transportation options like renting space in large warehouses and air delivery.<br />
<br />
That is all now changing thanks to an organization called Ohi—a US-based warehousing and delivery service that allows small businesses to offer speedy, sustainable delivery options.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ohi-helps-small-businesses-compete-with-amazons-same-day-delivery/" target="_blank" >Complete Article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2201</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2201</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 8 Jan 2020 19:20:46 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>These Shark Tank entrepreneurs turned a class project into a profitable small business</title>
<description>The loyalty to the series clearly inspired a smart pitch, because it didn't take long for the Sharks to warm up to the idea. Plus, offering cold beers in customized Kanga coolers didn't hurt.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/02/these-entrepreneurs-turned-a-class-project-into-a-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2200</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2200</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 6 Jan 2020 19:19:44 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Tips for Making Major Changes in Your Small Business</title>
<description>If you run a small business for a long time, you will probably need to navigate through a lot of major changes. Members of the online small business community are very familiar with these shifts. From getting started to deciding when to retire, here are some valuable insights for making big changes in your business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/10/10-tips-for-making-major-changes-in-your-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2199</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2199</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2019 19:28:35 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Must Take Advantage of the Democratization of Data</title>
<description>Learn how the easy availability of big data can help SMBs compete with big businesses.<br />
<br />
- Data is now easier to collect and cheaper to host, making it accessible to nearly every business.<br />
- The availability of data helps small businesses compete against big corporations, but they may still struggle to use that data in practical ways.<br />
- Three ways small businesses can use big data to grow include checking on credit data about your business, monitoring supply chain data, and keeping an eye on artificial intelligence and automation innovations.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.business.com/articles/small-business-and-big-data/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2198</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2198</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Nov 2019 19:26:29 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>16 Creative Ways to Get Press Coverage for Your Small Business</title>
<description>In other words, press coverage is priceless, but where do you start? To find out more, we asked 16 marketing experts and entrepreneurs to share interesting and cost-effective ways to get media coverage.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.allbusiness.com/press-coverage-small-business-122556-1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2197</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2197</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2019 19:19:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>If You Say Yes to Any of These 6 Questions, Your Emotional Intelligence May Be Higher Than Most People</title>
<description>The World Economic Forum recently uncovered something that would not have registered on the radar screen of most HR leaders even ten years ago.<br />
<br />
One of the top 10 job skills required for workers to thrive--a skill projected to trend in the year 2022--is emotional intelligence. <br />
<br />
Emotional intelligence (EQ) has embedded itself in the business lexicon as a force to be reckoned with; it is by far one of the most desired qualities for personal and professional development. <br />
<br />
Managers are hiring workers with more right-brained skills like EQ because they know these people contribute to the workplace on a relational and interpersonal level that is unmatched.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/if-you-say-yes-to-any-of-these-6-questions-your-emotional-intelligence-may-be-higher-than-most-people.html?cid=landermore" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2196</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2196</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2019 19:17:20 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Cyberattacks now cost small companies $200,000 on average, putting many out of business</title>
<description>- Forty-three percent of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves, according to Accenture.<br />
- These incidents now cost small businesses $200,000 on average, reveals insurance carrier Hiscox, with 60% of them going out of business within six months of being victimized.<br />
- More than half of all small businesses suffered a breach within the last year.<br />
- Today it’s critical for small businesses to adopt strategies for fighting cyberthreats.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/13/cyberattacks-cost-small-companies-200k-putting-many-out-of-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2195</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2195</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:15:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Keep These 4 Things in Mind Before Selling Your Small Business</title>
<description>Selling a small business for the maximum value to the right purchasers on the right terms can be a tremendous challenge, even for experienced business owners. Buying and selling an existing company is a complex process, but one that should be demystified. At its most basic level, the process is straightforward, just like the purchase of a single item. The small-business owner sells the object (in this case, their own business) to a potential buyer for an agreed-upon price and mutually acceptable terms. Yet, as always, the devil is in the details -- in this case how the deal is structured.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/339514" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2194</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2194</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2019 19:13:38 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A New Small Business Tech Ecosystem is Emerging</title>
<description>Embedded Financial Services is the Future<br />
<br />
Another group of companies to watch are those that focus on one particular vertical. They can build out capabilities unique to a particular industry and while they will not have broad data sets they can go very deep within a vertical. Shopify is a good example of this as they become the go to platform for ecommerce companies. They have functionality they call Shopify Manage which is billed as <i>the mission control for your business, wherever you go</i> available on desktop or mobile. They also have Shopify Capital for lending and Shopify Payments.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.lendacademy.com/a-new-small-business-tech-ecosystem-is-emerging/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2193</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 8 Nov 2019 19:10:29 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>This Design Platform Is Great for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Graphic design is an essential aspect of any marketing campaign or emerging business. You can't brand a business without design tools. When you are starting a business, contracting designers for a website, marketing materials, flyers, a logo, and countless other business expenses can add up fast. At some point, you have to be willing to take on some of the creative challenges yourself. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/340792" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2192</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2192</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 Nov 2019 19:08:40 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Attract, Hire, and Retain Unicorn-Level Talent</title>
<description>How do you hire, onboard, and retain a great team?<br />
<br />
You start by viewing your company through the EQ lens to discover your organizational obstacles―the elephants standing in the way of your company's success.<br />
<br />
Attend this webinar, How to Attract, Hire, and Retain Unicorn-Level Talent, as headhunter and executive coach Caroline Stokes delivers a blend of recruiting and emotional intelligence strategies essential to helping you identify and tackle your elephants and acquire and retain key hires―those unicorns―that will help your company stand out, stay resilient, and drive growth.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/events/event/154" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2191</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2191</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Nov 2019 16:57:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A New Tool Aimed At Small Business Allows For Real-Time Analytics</title>
<description>A new free analytics tool introduced on Sept. 10 by the Atlanta-based lending platform Kabbage analyzes the live data of more than 200,000 companies in an effort to give small business owners a way to assess how their businesses are performing in real time. It’s daring to meet the demands of the ever-changing world of small business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/briannegarrett/2019/09/10/a-new-tool-aimed-at-small-business-allows-for-real-time-analytics/#1327cd3e419a" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2190</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2190</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 1 Nov 2019 16:56:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Can Too Much Cybersecurity Be Bad for Your Small Business?</title>
<description>If you run a small business, security is probably near the top of your priority list—and if it’s not, it should be. Businesses are the most common targets for cyberattacks, and the consequences of having data stolen can be huge ever since the passage, implementation, and consequences of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.allbusiness.com/cybersecurity-small-business-122566-1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2189</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2189</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:54:52 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 100 Women Building Americas Most Innovative and Ambitious Businesses</title>
<description>The entrepreneurs on Inc.s second annual Female Founders 100 list have transformed every major industry in America. Meet the boundless dreamers making the biggest difference in 2019.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/most-innovative-women-2019.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2188</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2188</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2019 16:52:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Collecting on Your Invoices Does Not Need to Be a Nightmare: 3 Tips for Getting Paid</title>
<description>Eleni Gianopulos spent more than 15 years selling her handmade sugar cookies to a famous gourmet grocery chain. Then Dean & DeLuca stopped paying its bills. By January 2018, Gianopulos, founder and owner of New York City-based bakery Elenis Cookies, realized that she might never be paid for $86,000 worth of 2017 custom holiday orders. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/magazine/201910/jeanine-skowronski/collect-receivables-owed-overdue-clients-small-claims-cash-flow.html?cid=hmsub2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2187</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2187</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Oct 2019 16:50:10 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Googles Youngest-Ever Hire Launched an AI Company Backed by Mark Cuban</title>
<description>The daughter of two entrepreneurs who immigrated to the U.S. during the Iranian Revolution, Falon Fatemi became known as Google's youngest-ever hire at the age of 19. After leaving Google, she founded her own AI company, Node — and secured famed investor Mark Cuban as a backer. Node aims to use deep learning to analyze relationships between people and companies, then pinpoint how clients can leverage those relationships into sales, marketing and recruiting opportunities. In this episode of How Success Happens, Fatemi spoke with Entrepreneur about landing a job in big tech, AI and data policies and how to give a top-quality pitch. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/340024" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2186</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2186</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:48:06 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Todays Best Business Leaders Look to Stoicism</title>
<description>Ask entrepreneurs to name their biggest challenge, and you’ll hear plenty of answers: decision-making, prioritizing, staying positive, maintaining momentum. The list goes on. As you may already know, starting and running a business is not for the faint of heart. Now ask those same entrepreneurs whether they have a framework for managing these challenges, and they might have a tougher time answering.<br />
<br />
But what if I told you that there is a school of philosophy dating back to ancient Greece that can help you handle all of these obstacles on a daily basis and, as a bonus, may even enrich your quality of life? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/338735" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2185</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2185</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:46:59 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Ways a Small Business Can Meet Its Holiday Help Needs</title>
<description>A lack of available workers will make the holiday season a challenge for companies of all sizes. Some of the bigger retailers have already begun ramping up their seasonal hiring efforts. That puts more pressure on small business owners to figure out how to meet their holiday season employee needs sooner rather than later.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/09/25/3-ways-a-small-business-can-meet-its-holiday-help.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2184</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2184</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:45:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Purpose-Driven Ways to Increase Your Companys Productivity</title>
<description>Adaptability, hustle and momentum are everything, especially in todays competitive, ever-changing technological environment. If only your employees would spend fewer hours on social media and more time perfecting their individual crafts, your business would easily outpace less efficient competitors, allowing you to live the entrepreneurial dream you’ve always wanted. <br />
<br />
But how can you instill a greater sense of urgency without making everyone miserable at work? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/338654" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2183</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2183</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2019 16:43:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Create an Amazing Company Culture</title>
<description>By now, you have probably heard of 23andMe, the biotech juggernaut that is revolutionized the DNA-testing industry. Though the company has its fair share of critics, one thing is for sure: 23andMe has experienced tremendous growth, claiming more than 10 million worldwide customers as of this writing.&nbsp;&nbsp;A lesser-known fact is how much its employees love working there. In fact, it was named among Glassdoors Best Places to Work for 2019. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/339321" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2182</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2182</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2019 16:41:43 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tips for Starting a Small Business</title>
<description>As is common in many aspects of life, there are lessons we learn that we wish we’d known sooner. When it comes to being a small business owner there are insights you can only gain from gathering years of experience. That is why it’s important to surround yourself with people that know things you don’t.<br />
<br />
Here are a few tips from successful small business owners.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thriveglobal.com/stories/tips-for-starting-a-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2181</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2181</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Oct 2019 16:40:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>50 Motivational Quotes From Inspiring Women Leaders</title>
<description>The climb to the top can be tough going for anyone. But as women, there are particular hurdles that can make the journey upward toward positions of power and influence -- in myriad spheres -- especially challenging. <br />
<br />
Here, in 50 inspiring quotes, businesswomen, role models, activists, entertainers, authors and politicians share their thoughts on leadership and success -- and what exactly those words mean to them. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/300288" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2180</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2180</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Oct 2019 16:39:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Small Business Mistakes to Avoid</title>
<description>To say the United States has many small businesses would be an understatement — according to JP Morgan Chase & Co., more than 99% of Americas businesses are included in this category. Collectively, they contribute $5.9 trillion dollars to the economy every year.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbevis/2019/09/26/3-small-business-mistakes-to-avoid/#4cd95a8e5139" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2179</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2179</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 7 Oct 2019 16:35:20 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Guide to Small Business Retirement Plans</title>
<description>Running a small business or being self-employed can offer flexibility, freedom and control over your earning potential. While the perks are plentiful, there’s one thing thats usually missing when you own a small business: an employer-sponsored retirement plan.<br />
<br />
Self-employed people do not have 401(k)s, and small business owners tend not offer them, citing the time and cost to set up and administer them. The good news is there are several other retirement plan options available to small business owners. If you have yet to begin saving for retirement as an entrepreneur, here is how you can change that.<br />
<br />
Small Business Retirement Plan Basics<br />
<br />
<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/guide-small-business-retirement-plans-134953178.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2178</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 4 Oct 2019 16:32:43 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How These Female Founders Are Using Instagram to Mentor the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs</title>
<description>High-profile entrepreneurs like Stitch Fixs Katrina Lake and The Riveter's Amy Stern Nelson are using Stories to answer questions about everything from managing cash flow to storing breast milk during business trips.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/christine-lagorio-chafkin/instagram-mentoring-female-founders.html?cid=hmside3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2177</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2177</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Oct 2019 16:31:10 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Powerful Women in Tech Share Their Best Advice for Managing a Team</title>
<description>How does a leader manage to harness the talents of a group without letting things descend into chaos? How does a leader give firm direction without stifling creativity and individuality?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/339677" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2176</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2176</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:28:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Accessibility Can Make (or Break) Your Small-Business Website</title>
<description>Web accessibility may not be the first thing you think of when designing a website for your small business, but in the long run, few things could prove more important. Just like how a brick-and-mortar store must comply with ADA guidelines to ensure that all individuals can access their facilities regardless of whether they have a disability, business owners, as well as web design and digital agencies, must also ensure that those with disabilities have equal access to web content. Failure to make web accessibility a priority when designing your website could have significant long-term consequences.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/339555" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2175</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2175</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:26:31 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Amazon: Small Business Friend or Foe?</title>
<description>Since its inception in 1994, Amazon.com has grown from a small online bookseller to an online retail juggernaut. In the second quarter of 2019, Amazon facilitated $63.4 billion in sales of everything from telescopes to toothpaste. It’s a ubiquitous part of the American business landscape, and that can either work for or against a small business owner.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brockblake/2019/09/23/amazon-friend-or-foe/#15f1f8273673" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2174</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2174</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2019 16:25:32 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Cyber Security Concerns Persist</title>
<description>Online security was a big topic in the past week.<br />
<br />
Of course, news broke mid-week about the big Capital One data breach. And we talked about how you can deal with that as a small business owner and entrepreneur. There’s a good chance your data was compromised in the attack in some way so be sure to do a little digging to find out how you should respond but not overreact.<br />
<br />
And that brings us to another bit of news we learned this week, and that’s how small business owners feel about their own cyber security.<br />
<br />
In the 2019 SMB Cyberthreat Study from Keeper Security, we learned that nearly 2/3 of small business owners do not feel threatened by a cyber attack. However, that same survey found that 2/3 of small business owners have been victims of a cyber attack in some way.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/08/in-the-news-small-business-cyber-security-concerns-persist.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2173</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2173</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Aug 2019 13:34:03 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Facebook Just Revealed It Is Doing the 1 Thing a Brand Should Absolutely Never Do</title>
<description>One thing brands should never do.<br />
<br />
But it leads to something no brand should ever do: You should never assume that your customers feel the same way about your brand that you do. Your brand is how other people feel about your company, not how you feel about it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/facebook-just-revealed-its-doing-1-thing-a-brand-should-absolutely-never-do.html?cid=hmsub1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2172</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 23 Aug 2019 13:30:05 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>11 Networking Tips When You Are Crunched for Time</title>
<description>Regardless of your industry, if you want to thrive, then you need to network. Although you already know the catch: How can an entrepreneur or founder possibly fit networking into their already hectic schedules? Here are 11 tips to resolve the networking issue when you're crunched for time.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Make networking a habit.</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/337404" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2171</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 21 Aug 2019 13:28:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>7 Powerful Cash Flow Management Technologies to Keep Your Business Humming</title>
<description>Several customers owe you money, but you have no idea when those payments will arrive. Meanwhile, your vendors and contractors are contacting you daily to pay your own invoices. For small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs), this is an all-too-common cash-flow conundrum.<br />
<br />
A recent Kabbage survey of 500 successful entrepreneurs showed cash-flow issues are front of mind for SMB owners. Of the respondents surveyed, 63 percent said they are regularly stressed or have anxiety due to cash-flow concerns. Yet, respondents have run successful companies for an average of 10.5 years.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/kabbage/7-powerful-cash-flow-management-technologies-to-keep-your-business-humming.html?cid=landerhighlights_kabbage">complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2170</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 19 Aug 2019 13:26:06 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Harvard Study Found That 27 Top-Performing CEOs Use These 6 Strategies to Manage Their Time</title>
<description>Time is said to be spent or invested. But without time management, it can also be squandered.<br />
<br />
Is your to-do list constantly growing? Do you feel like there are not enough hours in the day to meet your family, work and social obligations? <br />
<br />
For a business leader, time management is especially problematic given their magnitude of responsibilities and limited hours in the day. Lost time is not only never found again, but not managing it strategically harms the executive's well-being, effectiveness and organizational performance.<br />
<br />
My team and I had the opportunity to lead coaching sessions for executives of public and private companies worth billions. And one thing is clear-- how you manage your time leads to success or failure.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/tanya-prive/a-harvard-study-found-that-27-top-performing-ceos-use-these-6-strategies-to-manage-their-time.html?cid=hmside4" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2169</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2169</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Aug 2019 13:17:40 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>SBA raises revenue limits for small business certifications</title>
<description>Effective Aug. 19, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is raising its monetary-based small business size standards for inflation by an average of 8.4%, an adjustment that the administration expects will allow 90,000 additional companies to participate in its loan and contracting programs. The SBA said that this increase could result in $750 million more total contracts awarded to small businesses and as much as $65 million more in small business loans.<br />
<br />
In order to be considered a small business under current SBA guidelines, most general, heavy and civil construction companies cannot have more than $36.5 million of average annual sales receipts.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.constructiondive.com/news/sba-raises-revenue-limits-for-small-business-certifications/560188/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2168</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2168</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Aug 2019 13:15:29 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>7 Signs It is Time to Quit Your Business</title>
<description>If time is the only resource that we cannot acquire, then spending your days trying to run a business you no longer love -- or that does not serve your needs -- is one of the biggest ways to squander our lives. With that in mind, here are the seven signals and truths that indicate it might be time for you to find something else to do with your precious life span:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Your dreams have stopped.</b><br />
Remember back when you were so excited about your business? You went to bed thinking about it. Brainstorms popped into your head at the dinner table. You told everyone who would hold still to listen. Maybe you dreamed you would take over or revolutionize your industry or imagined the lifestyle this little baby company of yours would grow up to afford you. If now it is&nbsp;&nbsp;just about making it through the day -- or even more stressful, making it through payroll -- it could be time to consider doing something else.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/337401" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2167</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2167</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2019 13:13:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business 401(k)s: How to Take Advantage of the New DOL Rule</title>
<description>If you own or are employed by a small business—and are among the approximately 38 million people in the U.S. with no access to a retirement plan at work—you may be interested in a new U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule set to take effect Sept. 30, 2019. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/small-business-401-k-s-how-to-take-advantage-of-the-new-dol-rules-4707606" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2166</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2166</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 9 Aug 2019 13:12:04 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Optimize Your Small Business Website For Voice Search</title>
<description>If you want to ensure new customers are able to find your business, then you need to know how to optimize your business for voice search, which is becoming one of the most popular ways of searching.<br />
<br />
Voice search is not quite taking over the search world yet—but it is getting closer. Last year, more than half (58%) of consumers used voice search to find local business information, according to BrightLocal’s Voice Search for Local Business Study 2018. Almost half (46%) of voice search users searched for a local business daily; 28% used voice search to search for a local business about once a week.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2019/08/05/optimize-your-small-business-website-for-voice-search/#2631e6862c10" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2165</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2165</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 7 Aug 2019 13:10:54 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Connection Between Goals and Self-Confidence</title>
<description>One of the main conclusions Brian Tracy has come to from his years of study is that self-confidence is key to what you can accomplish. <br />
<br />
If you have a good amount of self-confidence you will be more likely to try more things. If you are constantly trying more things, that means you're likelier to accomplish more things, since success is often just a measurement of odds. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/337625" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2164</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2164</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 5 Aug 2019 13:06:35 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Simple Steps for Getting Things Done at Your Small Business</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Your 6-Step Guide to Successful Project Management<br />
<br />
<b>1. Define your goal and get buy-in from all project team members.</b><br />
<br />
As you do this, you will want to determine each team member’s role and responsibilities. In this step, also consider how the project will affect your company and how you’ll measure the projects impact.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Determine the project deliverables.</b><br />
<br />
What key tasks do team members need to accomplish to move the project along the path to completion? You will also need to identify which deliverables depend on other deliverables, so you can establish a timeline that puts tasks in a logical order.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.butlercountytimesgazette.com/news/20190616/6-simple-steps-for-getting-things-done-at-your-small-business" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2163</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 5 Jul 2019 16:10:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Protect Your Small Business from Malware</title>
<description>When running a small business, there are a lot of things to focus on. Making sales, finding new customers and motivating your employees are among them; however, keeping your business secure from cyberattacks might take precedent over of all of them.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.business.com/articles/malware-small-business-prevention/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2162</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2162</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 3 Jul 2019 16:05:59 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Seven Ways To Save Time With Small Business Automation</title>
<description>Running a small business may not seem too challenging from a distance. After all, it is a small business, so how much operational and management work could there be? But since I started my own agency, I’ve realized that running a small business or firm is not as easy as it looks.<br />
<br />
The good news is that there are plenty of best practices small businesses can follow to save time and manage their tasks more efficiently with the help of automation. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/06/14/seven-ways-to-save-time-with-small-business-automation/#7df35bf34952" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2161</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2161</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 1 Jul 2019 16:03:52 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What is a Micro Influencer and How Can They Benefit Your Small Business?</title>
<description>Micro influencers are social media personalities with anywhere from 2,000-50,000 followers. The numbers vary depending on the source, but their importance is universal. They are a great cost efficient way to provide targeted advertising for small businesses with limited budgets<br />
<br />
Here is what you need to know about how these people can benefit your small business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/06/micro-influencers.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2160</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2160</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 2019 16:01:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>More Than 150,000 U.S. Small-Business Websites Could Be Infected With Malware at Any Given Moment</title>
<description>Small-business owners were victims in 43 percent of data breaches tracked between Nov. 1, 2017, and Oct. 31, 2018, according to a 2019 Verizon report. The report tracked security incidents across all industries, but the most vulnerable sectors this year were retail, accommodation and healthcare.<br />
<br />
What does the issue look like on a national scale? If we take the sample size of infected sites SiteLock said they found in 2018 -- approximately 47,244 out of 6,056,969 checked -- and apply that percentage to the country’s estimated 30.2 million small-businesses websites, minus the estimated 36 percent that do not have one, then we can loosely estimate the amount of infected small-business websites to be around 150,757.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/335195" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2159</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2159</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:58:57 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Cisco Router Bug Has Massive Implications for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Secure-computing engineers generally view these schemes as sound in theory and productive to deploy. But in practice, it can be dangerous to rely on a sole element to act as the check on the whole system. Undermining that safeguard—which has proven possible in many companies implementations—strips a device of critical protections. Worse still, manipulating the enclave can make it appear that everything is fine, even when it's very much not.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/cisco-router-bug-secure-boot-trust-anchor/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2158</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2158</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 2019 14:03:06 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>13 Must-Have Words to Include In Your Resume</title>
<description>Diction or word choice is important when it comes to drafting your resume, not just to ensure that your resume is reviewed positively by software, but also because you want to wow recruiters with your skills, competencies and relevant credentials.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/334012" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2157</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2157</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2019 13:49:35 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Study of 3,526 Companies Shows 1 Decision Makes Startups More Successful. Most Founders Do the Opposite</title>
<description>Surprising new research from NYU and the Wharton School shows that entrepreneurs who start a business on their own are likelier to succeed than those who do so with one or more partners.<br />
<br />
That's pretty much the opposite of what most aspiring founders would guess. After all, you can't be good at everything. You might be a marketing expert but not know how to manage cash flow. Or you might good at building great products but bad at setting prices for them. So you team up with someone who's strong in the areas where you're weak, and you start the business together.<br />
<br />
This reasoning seems logical, and it is how most people--even experts--see entrepreneurship. In fact, it is such an ingrained belief that VCs and other investors routinely choose to fund companies founded by teams rather than those with a solo founder. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/solo-founders-entrepreneurs-success-nyu-wharton-research.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2156</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2156</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jul 2019 13:47:13 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>12 Small Business Podcasts That Will Help You Sell More</title>
<description>Running a business is often about setting goals and putting in the long hours and hard work to achieve them. Regardless of what type of business you run, it’s likely that <i>selling more</i> has a frequent, if not long-term, place on your to-do list. It’s a goal that requires staying up to date on new techniques, honing strategies, and being in touch with the latest industry news.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.allbusiness.com/small-business-podcasts-sales-advice-121636-1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2155</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2155</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2019 13:43:20 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Improve Your Small Business Cybersecurity in an Hour</title>
<description>Statistics show that cybersecurity is a legitimate threat to small businesses, but small businesses don't always act on that knowledge. According to the 2018 Small Business Cybersecurity Report, 47% of small businesses experienced an attack in the past 12 months. Cybersecurity is a serious concern, yet the report shows only 52% of businesses have a cybersecurity strategy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15046-quick-cybersecurity-tips.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2154</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2154</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2019 13:41:56 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 things you should know before starting a small business</title>
<description>There are dozens of small things to keep in mind before calling yourself an entrepreneur: Have you found a good accountant? What's your niche? Who are you bringing onto your project?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-you-should-know-before-starting-a-small-business-2019-5" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2153</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2153</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jul 2019 13:40:14 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Still Living Paycheck to Paycheck Despite Having a Successful Business?</title>
<description>Many small business owners show skill earning money. But still fall short when it comes to managing it. Sure, they may have built a successful company. But too many still live paycheck to paycheck.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/05/stop-living-paycheck-to-paycheck.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2152</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2152</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jul 2019 13:37:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How To Start Your Small Business On The Right Financial Foot</title>
<description>Every year, more than 400,000 entrepreneurs launch small businesses in the United States, many driven by the desire for ownership and independence. Local mom-and-pop shops, online services, food trucks — the skys the limit.<br />
<br />
But taking on a new business is a lot of work and risk. According to the Small Business Association, over 20% of new small businesses fail during the first year of operation.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/05/24/how-to-start-your-small-business-on-the-right-financial-foot/#f3d348167516" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2151</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2151</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 8 Jul 2019 13:35:56 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Secrets of Building a Small Business Website Revealed</title>
<description>About one third of small business owners still do not have a website. Some might not want to invest in the cost. Others might think they can get by with just a Facebook page or Google My Business Profile. And a few may even feel like a website is not relevant for their business if they do not sell anything online.<br />
<br />
But a website can benefit nearly any small business. Even if you do not sell products or services online, it can help to direct people to your location, get your business in front of more potential customers through search and provide some credibility for your brand.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/05/how-to-set-up-a-website-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2150</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2150</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 5 Jul 2019 13:34:39 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Things to Know Before You Start a Small Business</title>
<description>Many people dream of owning a small business. Owning a company is ideal for people who are naturally creative, are visionaries, and want freedom from the daily toil of a corporate job. However, launching a small business is not solely about having enough capital or a great idea. A would-be entrepreneur should also have the courage to take risks, a great imagination to be innovative, and the self-discipline to sustain the work needed to attain set goals. Here are some important considerations to think about before launching a small business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blackenterprise.com/6-things-to-know-before-launching-a-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2149</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2149</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 3 Jul 2019 13:33:01 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Key Steps To Building A Great Small Business Website</title>
<description>Whether you are a freelance photographer, own a hardware store, or have another type of small business, a great website is essential for your companys success. As a webmaster who has worked on building or marketing over 100 small business websites, I know what it takes to create great and engaging business websites.<br />
<br />
If you are looking to build a new startup website or make your current site more effective, here are 10 key steps to getting started and helping your small business website compete effectively in the online marketplace.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2019/05/25/small-business-website-tips/#4bd7669b21ad" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2148</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2148</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 1 Jul 2019 13:30:27 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Reasons Your Small Business Needs Insurance</title>
<description>Being a small business owner puts you in control of your destiny, but there are major costs that go along with being the boss. With licences, office rent, and staff payroll to deal with already, some aspiring entrepreneurs shrug off the idea of purchasing business insurance in the start-up phase. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-reasons-your-small-business-needs-insurance-130000015.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2147</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2147</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:26:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Escape From the Prison of Negative Thinking</title>
<description>If you want to change your circumstances, you need to change the way you think. You have to stop believing that you are stuck in your situation and passively accepting that you’re incapable of doing anything about it.<br />
<br />
Many people allow themselves to be caged by their fear and anxiety. For these people, an inner critic always seems to be whispering in their ears, keeping them from succeeding. The truth is, negative thinking will shackle you to a life that’s both mediocre and unfulfilling. If you want to stretch yourself to your fullest potential, you need to escape your self-imposed prison of negative thinking.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/333296" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2146</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2146</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 2019 13:25:39 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Make Your Small Business Website Really, Really Effective</title>
<description>Most small business owners today know that they need a website. But what many fail to realize is that their websites need to be more effective.<br />
<br />
A website is meant to attract consumers to your business. But what do those consumers do once they land on your website? Maybe they give you a call or pop into your bricks-and-mortar location some time. And, sure, that’s all fine and dandy. But even better than that, your website itself can actually generate leads and sales for you with just a few simple tweaks.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/331930" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2145</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2145</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jun 2019 17:22:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Is The Small-Business Mindset Holding Back Your Marketing?</title>
<description>I started my first business out of my university dorm room, and like most startup business owners, I had to be resourceful and use whatever tools I could afford. Thus, I taught myself how to use Photoshop and I designed my own business cards, my own logo and all of my own marketing materials — and they looked bad. Unfortunately, friends, family and everyone who I marketed my startup entertainment business to knew that my branding materials looked bad — except for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/04/16/is-the-small-business-mindset-holding-back-your-marketing/#7ebf5f2345ca" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2144</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2144</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:19:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Ways Your Small Business Can Reach New Customers</title>
<description>Grow or die.<br />
<br />
It sounds like the title of a rap song, but its actually the business idea that if your company does not grow, it is probably not going to make it. The reality is that you don't need to get bigger. What you need is a stream of customers to replace the ones that move, buy from you a little less, or have other life circumstances that change the level of business they do with you.<br />
<br />
Yes, it is nice to add business and grow.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/04/17/3-ways-your-small-business-can-reach-new-customers.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2143</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2143</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:16:29 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Should Your Small Business Consider a Coworking Space?</title>
<description>As your small business grows, it will eventually become too big to run out of your home. With steady clients coming in or an expanding workforce of people you have hired, you probably don't want to keep conducting business in your basement or at your kitchen table.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/04/19/should-your-small-business-consider-a-coworking-sp.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2142</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2142</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:15:56 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Google Spent 2 Years Researching What Makes a Great Remote Team. It Came Up With These 3 Things</title>
<description>There can come days, however, when it all feels the same and very old.<br />
<br />
That is when we steel ourselves and insist on being creative.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/this-small-business-was-just-trying-to-be-creative-now-its-having-to-apologize-it-shouldnt.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2141</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2141</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2019 17:13:04 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Guide to Chatbots & Facebook Messenger Marketing</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Chatbots are all the business buzz – and for good reason.<br />
<br />
They give customers of any-size business critical answers to pressing questions quickly.<br />
<br />
They can:<br />
<br />
Boost your average order value.<br />
Accelerate the buyers’ journey.<br />
Reduce your customer service costs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/chatbots-facebook-messenger-marketing-small-business-guide/301481/" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2140</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2140</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2019 12:41:14 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>59% of Small Businesses Use Video for Advertising, Survey Finds</title>
<description>A new report finds that a good number of small businesses (29%) are spending somewhere in the sweet spot of&nbsp;&nbsp;($750-$2499) monthly to get the data needed for good online advertising results.<br />
<br />
WordStreams Online Advertising Landscape in 2019 report also found that only 10% of the respondents had a monthly advertising budget less than the low end plateau for effectiveness of $750 monthly. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/04/small-business-advertising-statistics.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2139</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2139</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 7 Jun 2019 12:35:57 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Reasons Why Your Small Business Should Borrow Now</title>
<description>People have a lot of opinions when it comes to debt and borrowing. At one extreme, some believe that all debt should be avoided and there’s no room for argument on the subject. Others perhaps borrow a little too freely, taking out new financing with little thought about whether doing so will be a benefit or a hindrance in the long term.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.nav.com/blog/5-reasons-why-your-small-business-should-borrow-now-36812/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2138</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2138</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 5 Jun 2019 12:34:27 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Cyber Attacks Cost Small Businesses $53,987 on Average, Survey Claims</title>
<description>Cybersecurity remains one of the most challenging issues for small business owners. And the problem leads small business owners to seek out managed service providers to present them with solutions.<br />
<br />
But a new report from Continuum says the state of cybersecurity among small businesses in 2019 still needs to improve. The data suggests great opportunities for service providers who offer cyber security as part of their package.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/04/managed-service-security-providers.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2137</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2137</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 3 Jun 2019 12:33:13 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How a small budget and small business can be planned?</title>
<description>It is hard to start a profitable business in a competitive landscape. No doubt, business starts with a primary goal of making profits. Getting these profits from the phase of no client to multiple clients is a period of learning, falling, getting through and finally managing to sustain.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/331559" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2136</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2136</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2019 19:06:05 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Five Pro Small Business SEO Tips from a CEO</title>
<description>Ranking a business website higher enhances its chances of gaining a lead that could ultimately turn into a new business sale. To rank, a website higher needs quite a few steps and does not happen overnight. Let’s figure out the five most common and impactful professional SEO tips that a CEO insists upon.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.martechadvisor.com/articles/seo/five-pro-small-business-seo-tips-from-a-ceo/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2135</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2135</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2019 19:03:32 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Take Advantage of Excel Templates for Business, See These 15 Areas They Could Help</title>
<description>Spreadsheets have long been an important tool for businesses. You can use them for just about anything. This includes budgeting and planning out important marketing campaigns.<br />
<br />
No tool seems more synonymous with spreadsheets than Excel. Microsofts tool allows you to easily fill in spaces and create tables. But it also takes advantage of some more advanced features. However, starting from scratch will not give you a productive business.<br />
<br />
You may want to take advantage of all that Excel has to offer. But maybe you don’t know exactly how to get started. So templates become a great option. Check out some sources for Excel business templates that can help you in 15 different areas of business operations.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/04/excel-templates-for-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2134</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2134</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 May 2019 18:59:57 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Many Credit Cards Should A Small Business Owner Utilize?</title>
<description>As any entrepreneur will tell you, owning a business comes with a lot of demands, pressure and hard work, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Thanks to an impactful conversation with an old friend and fellow business owner several years ago, I realized that I was wasting a lot of money by just having one credit card to pay business expenses.<br />
<br />
Multiple credit cards can provide big bonuses.<br />
<br />
Credit card companies are fighting a turf war, and they all have enticing offers to get us to sign up with them. My rationale is, why be exclusive to one bank? Why choose only one credit card? Why not enjoy the benefits from multiple banks?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/03/29/how-many-credit-cards-should-a-small-business-owner-utilize/#a4d24b73d430" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2133</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2133</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2019 18:56:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why you should hire your kids for your small business</title>
<description>Owners of small businesses should consider hiring their children.<br />
<br />
A young person whos claimed as a dependent on their parents return can still have $12,000 of wages in 2019 and pay no income tax. The Standard Deduction offsets the wages.<br />
<br />
The parents probably provided more than 50 percent of the basic support of the child (housing, food, clothing, medical and transportation expenses). The parents can still claim the exemption for the child, but dependent exemptions are no longer done (allowed). If the child is younger than age 17, the parents do get a Child Tax Credit of $2,000. That credit directly offsets income tax of the parents.<br />
<br />
If the business is a sole owner business, a single member LLC or a partnership owned only by the childs parents, there are no payroll taxes for the child or the employer to pay on the wages.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.nnbusinessview.com/news/why-you-should-hire-your-kids-for-your-small-business-opinion/#" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2132</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2132</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2019 18:53:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to stay sane as a small business owner</title>
<description>As a (new) small business owner myself, I am very much talking from experience with these <i>stay sane</i> tips. You will find that you can never prevent work from piling up but you can lay down some strategies that will help you manage the work.<br />
<br />
You need to consider your own state of mind and do what is best for you. Whatever your goal is in a business, your dream will eventually turn into an illusion when you become overwhelmed. There are a few secrets to staying sane by breaking up stress. Here are a few tips to get you started.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-stay-sane-as-a-small-business-owner/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2131</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2131</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2019 15:33:11 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 ways a PEO can help small business owners</title>
<description>Owning and operating a small business is challenging in today’s market. And common issues that small business leaders often must handle on their own are the countless HR tasks and responsibilities that take a significant amount of time and energy to properly manage.<br />
<br />
The frustration and stress involved with modern HR has resulted in an increase in the use of outsourcing solutions. But one in particular can prove to be valuable to small employers: professional employer organizations (PEO).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.benefitspro.com/2019/04/01/6-ways-a-peo-can-help-small-business-owners/?slreturn=20190301152721" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2130</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2130</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2019 21:30:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Is Suffering A Squeeze</title>
<description>A <i>Small Business</i> can be identified as a being a privately-owned corporation, partnership, or sole proprietor that have fewer staff and less annual revenue than a regular-sized corporation. The European Union (EU) defines a small business as one with under 50 employees.<br />
<br />
Small business or as they are sometimes known, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute 47% of revenue to the U.K. economy. They have a key role in boosting productivity but need support to expand activities and increase their economic impact.<br />
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<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenpope/2019/04/01/small-business-is-suffering-a-squeeze/#7efedc1f3cce" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2129</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2019 21:28:38 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Tips to Help You Create a Smart Business</title>
<description>Smart companies are not just those that have intelligent leaders. They also have systems, tools and proper planning in place that allow every department or function to run together seamlessly. To become a smart company, you need to integrate smart ideas into every facet of your business. Here are some tips from members of the online small business community.<br />
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Manage Your Website Effectively<br />
Your website is one of the most important tools your small business has. To manage it effectively, you need access to the right tools. In this WP Buffs post, Brenda Barron provides a full explanation and walk-through of GoDaddy Pro, so you can see if it may be helpful for your business.<br />
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<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/03/10-tips-to-help-you-create-a-smart-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2128</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2019 11:05:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>15 Expert Tips for Scaling Your Small Business</title>
<description>SBDC Centers offer free consulting and free or low-cost training. (Find yours here.) Their results speak for themselves: SBDC clients grow sales by an average 18.1%, which is 4.3 times the national average. March 20th is SBDC Day, and to celebrate, we assembled some tips from their experts.<br />
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<a href="https://www.nav.com/blog/15-expert-tips-for-scaling-your-small-business-34262/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2127</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2019 11:04:23 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Steps Small Businesses Can Improve Cyber Security</title>
<description>Small businesses can be more vulnerable to cyberattacks than larger companies because they often do not have sophisticated and comprehensive systems to protect themselves from hackers, viruses, malware and whats called ransomware. And owners who are focused on customers and employees may not ensure that their defenses are up to date.<br />
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But there are things small businesses can do to improve cybersecurity.<br />
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<a href="https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/mar/17/six-steps-small-business-owners-can-take-to-improve-cybersecurity/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2126</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 8 May 2019 11:02:20 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>50 Best Places to Start a Business</title>
<description>Whether you are an entrepreneur plotting to launch a startup or a CEO strategizing where to put another office, knowing where the next hot city is would be a game changer. Should you expand to Raleigh? Would you attract better talent in Austin or Atlanta? With the new Surge Cities Index, Inc. and innovation policy company Startup Genome crunched the data to score and rank the top 50 metro areas in the U.S. on seven key indicators--from early-stage funding metrics to job creation. Finally, here’s the smartest way to answer the age-old question: Where should you go next?<br />
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<a href="https://www.inc.com/surge-cities/best-places-start-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2125</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 6 May 2019 10:58:40 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>25 Best Habits to Have in Life</title>
<description>We are creatures of habit. Everything we think, say and do is a result of deep-seated habits etched into our minds through years and years of repitious behavior. Those very same habits either help to propel us forward or to hinder our progress in life. In fact, the state and quality of our lives right now is a direct reflection of our daily habits. <br />
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Habits are an undeniably powerful part of life.<br />
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<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299317" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2124</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 3 May 2019 10:56:49 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 reasons you should work for a small business</title>
<description>Big companies often have big perks. That is especially true in the technology Opens a New Window.&nbsp;&nbsp;space, where free meals, gyms, and even day care are quite common. Even more traditional large companies that do not offer those kinds of benefits still have things that smaller businesses Opens a New Window. do not -- there are more opportunities for advancement, more training opportunities, and maybe even the option of transferring to another location.<br />
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<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/small-business/4-reasons-you-should-work-for-a-small-business" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2123</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 1 May 2019 10:55:16 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>39% of Small Business Hires This Year Will Be Sales and Marketing Staff</title>
<description>The latest report from Clutch says 39% of small businesses will add sales and marketing employees.<br />
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This data point underscores the importance of sales and marketing in today’s digital commerce. You must optimize websites, social media channels and eCommerce sites to make it happen. And you need sales and marketing employees to do&nbsp;&nbsp;the heavy lifting.<br />
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Some small businesses have already created a digital presence. And the job of sales and marketing generally goes to in-house staff. This job often goes to employees with the necessary skill sets or to someone learning on the job. But remember how important these positions figure in the company’s growth.<br />
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<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/03/2019-recruiting-trends-small-business.html">complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2122</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2019 10:53:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>25 Payment Tools for Small Businesses, Freelancers and Startups</title>
<description>Billing your customers is, of course, vital -- but even more critical is getting paid for those bills. Thanks to the ongoing evolution in the payments industry, there are more payment tools and platforms to choose from to help find the perfect option for your business based on how many payments you receive, the type of business you have and your budget. <br />
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<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/300214" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2121</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:44:59 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>These Are the 10 Best TED Talks of the Year, According to the Guy Who Runs TED</title>
<description>Ever wonder how people get chosen to speak at TED? Well, it is curator Chris Andersons job to weed through the thousands upon thousands of possibilities and choose who will appear on the events prestigious main stage. Clearly, the guy is amazing at separating the wheat from the intellectual chaff.<br />
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Which is why TED fans (or anyone looking to make themselves smarter and more aware in easily digestible 20-minute chunks) should pay attention to Andersons picks for the 10 best TED talks of 2018. Touching on topics ranging from astronomy to social justice to artificial intelligence, they are guaranteed to change how you think about the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
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<a href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-10-best-ted-talks-of-2018-according-to-guy-who-runs-ted.html?cid=landermore" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2120</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2019 09:41:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Lucrative Careers You Can Move Into Without Getting Another Degree</title>
<description>Switching careers can feel intimidating, but you have got to make some moves if you’re spinning your wheels at your current job. Tech industry jobs are hot right now, and you can make great money once you’ve got the know-how to compete with other tech candidates. Here’s a breakdown of the fields with the best opportunities.<br />
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<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/329907" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2119</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2019 13:52:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Which Small Business Retirement Plan Is Best?</title>
<description>What is the best retirement plan for a self-employed person? Which is the best retirement plan for a small business owner? More importantly, which is the right retirement plan for you – as a business owner and / or a self-employed individual? Choosing the best retirement plan for you and your personal financial goals will depend on a few factors. Those include how much you can save into a retirement plan, whether or not you have employees and when you are setting up the retirement plan. Is it during the tax year or when filing taxes? To name a few.<br />
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<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2019/02/08/small-business-retirement/#711c7957c6f9" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2118</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2019 18:39:23 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>15 Examples of Great Integrated Marketing Campaigns</title>
<description>Here are 15 examples of great integrated marketing campaigns that work by combining content, digital and website marketing, with traditional marketing methods like PR.<br />
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<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/02/integrated-marketing-campaign-examples.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2117</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2019 09:37:41 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Three Small Business Trends That Many Businesses Just Do Not Need</title>
<description>Here are three popular things that are actually not mandatory for all small businesses:<br />
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<b>1. Aggressive Marketing</b><br />
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It is easy to go overboard with marketing. With so many tools available, your gut instinct is to try anything with the slightest potential. Even if you stand to lose money, you want the assurance of knowing you are doing everything you can to gain the interest of your target audience. And it is difficult to ignore a marketing tool that has worked marvelously for other small businesses. If they had to do it all over again, these businesses would likely spend 10% of their time developing their products or services and 90% marketing them.<br />
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<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2019/02/14/three-small-business-trends-that-many-businesses-just-dont-need/#6509927d1bc8" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2116</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2019 09:35:47 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>This Is What Separates Those Who Dream of Becoming Entrepreneurs From Those Who Actually Take the Leap, According to MIT Research</title>
<description>So what sets those who actually take the plunge from those who only dream? What pushes a keen hobbyist or excellent amateur into actually becoming a business owner? A recent study of more than 400,000 people out of MIT came to decisive answer, and it is not the one you are probably expecting.<br />
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<a href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/supportive-family-friends-turn-hobbyists-into-entrepreneurs-mit-research-finds.html?cid=hmside1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2115</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:32:49 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>9 Tips for Starting a Business in a Crowded Digital Marketplace</title>
<description>Many successful entrepreneurs were inspired to start their businesses after noticing a hole in the marketplace that needed to be filled, whether it was Bill Gates creating an operating system for home computers, Pierre Omidyar starting an online auction site, or Elon Musk building a reliable electric car.<br />
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But what happens when you want to jump feet first into a marketplace thats already crowded? We spoke to the entrepreneurs behind a wide-ranging group of successful companies in some of the most competitive digital spaces -- from butchers to home brands to eco-friendly cleaning products -- to get their insights into what makes a business that lasts.<br />
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<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/327844" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2114</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:30:41 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Need a Business Idea? Here Are 55</title>
<description>Today, tens of thousands of people are considering starting their own business, and for good reasons. On average, people can expect to have two and three careers during their work life. Those leaving one career often think about their second or third career move being one they can run out of their own home. The good news: Starting a home-based business is within the reach of almost anyone who wants to take a risk and work hard, as are a plethora of other low-cost ideas.<br />
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<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/201588" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2113</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 8 Apr 2019 09:28:22 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Reasons To Start Your Own Company in Your 20s</title>
<description>Now, I do not want to burst any happy bubbles for those of you who are already treading the traditional pathway, but that traditional narrative no longer makes much sense, because over the past two decades, big corporations, big academia, and big corporatist government have rigged the business world so that the longer you wait to start your own company, the less likely you are to be successful. <br />
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Because of this, young entrepreneurs (Mil<br />
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<a href="https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/7-reasons-to-start-your-own-company-in-your-20s.html?cid=hmside2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2112</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 6 Apr 2019 09:25:51 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The top 10 tax changes affecting small business owners</title>
<description>The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) included a bevy of changes that will affect the 2018 federal income tax returns of many small and medium-sized businesses and their owners. As tax return time approaches, here are the 10 changes that are most likely to affect your business or you as an owner.<br />
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<b>1. New flat 21% tax rate for corporations</b><br />
Before the TCJA, C corporations paid graduated federal income tax rates of 15%, 25%, 34%, and 35%. Personal service corporations (PSCs) paid a flat 35% rate. For tax years beginning in 2018 and beyond, the TCJA establishes a flat 21% corporate rate, and that beneficial rate applies to PSCs too. So the tax cost of doing business as a profitable C corporation is greatly reduced, and this favorable development will show up on 2018 corporate returns. Enjoy.<br />
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<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-top-10-tax-changes-affecting-small-business-owners-2019-02-11" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2111</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 4 Apr 2019 09:24:16 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Write a Tagline for Your Business</title>
<description>When done correctly, a tagline can become synonymous with a brand. A good tagline should communicate your companys message quickly and effectively, helping your target customers understand how you can help them in a way that’s easy to remember.<br />
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Since it is something that will likely appear in all of your companys marketing materials and may stick with you for years, your team should put a lot of care and consideration into crafting your tagline.<br />
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<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/02/how-to-write-a-tagline.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2110</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 2 Apr 2018 09:10:15 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Business Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide</title>
<description>A business plan is a written description of your business future, a document that tells what you plan to do and how you plan to do it. If you jot down a paragraph on the back of an envelope describing your business strategy, you have written a plan, or at least the germ of one.<br />
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Business plans are inherently strategic. You start here, today, with certain resources and abilities. <br />
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<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247574" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2109</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2019 09:06:26 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Is Your Small Business Achieving Profitable Growth?</title>
<description>Very few entrepreneurs have an accounting or finance background. Here are four tips to ensure your small business is achieving profitable growth.<br />
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Most small business owners start their own business because they have a passion for something, a new idea, want to be their own boss or are seeking more financial stability and/or earning potential. However, very few entrepreneurs have an accounting or finance background.<br />
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<a href="https://www.business.com/articles/small-business-profitable-growth/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2108</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2019 09:03:05 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Three Small Business Trends That Many Businesses Just Do Not Need</title>
<description>The standards for small business success have unquestionably gone up. Todays small businesses must do a lot more to stay competitive than their predecessors. Myriad businesses, however, take this notion a bit too far. Once they discover yet another resource or strategy with the potential to elevate their success, they jump all over it. This is partially due to the many online articles urging business leaders to devote more effort to virtually every element of their businesses. <br />
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<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2019/02/14/three-small-business-trends-that-many-businesses-just-dont-need/#6509927d1bc8" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2107</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2019 09:58:32 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Reasons Not to Grow Your Small Business</title>
<description>Many small businesses start out with a single location or product offering and grow over time. Expanding your business is a good way to increase your long-term profitability and reach a wider audience.<br />
<br />
But while growing your venture might be something you'd like to do eventually, now might not be the ideal time to dive in. Here are four reasons you might choose not to grow your business, and instead stick with the status quo.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thesouthern.com/business/investment/personal-finance/reasons-not-to-grow-your-small-business/article_09a1e231-2f90-5f24-b584-9220d21b10c7.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2106</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2019 09:11:58 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 tips to make your small business an Instagram star</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Get out your pink paint. Or your coral, or yellow or teal. By the time you finish reading this column, you’re going to be painting one wall of your small business a color that will <i>pop</i> on Instagram.<br />
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Why? Because Instagram is today’s powerhouse social media site for consumer businesses. And if you give customers an inviting way to post to Instagram, they'll advertise your business for free.<br />
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A few years ago, if you wanted to reach retail consumers, the social media site of choice was Facebook. While it may still work for reaching certain demographics, many consumers – especially female Millennials – love Instagram. <br />
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<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/usaandmain/2019/01/17/small-business/2594812002/" target="_blank">complete article</a><br />]]>
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<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2105</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2019 09:09:09 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>41% of New Hires Found their Positions at an Online Jobs Board</title>
<description>A new report is saying that almost half of people recently hired (41%) used an online job board to find work and 61% flagged automatic job alerts as helpful. What is more, a full 14% found their present job using social media. The findings from How Do People Find Jobs? published by the B2B research firm, Clutch, highlights how today’s candidates are connecting with small businesses and vice versa.<br />
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<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/01/how-do-people-find-jobs.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2104</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2019 09:07:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>CEO Insights: 5 Essential Bits of Advice for Every Entrepreneur</title>
<description>How did life lead you to entrepreneurship?<br />
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I have been in the technology industry for 25 years. I am a business-facing technologist, which basically means I have a background in finance and business. However, I stumbled into being a software engineer early on in my career. This resulted in a passion for data and solution creativity.After hitting the 20-year mark of working for enterprise-size organizations, I decided I needed a change. I experienced some life-threatening health challenges--all while taking care of my two sons with their own unique needs. A culmination of it all really made me stop and reflect on what I really wanted to do on a daily basis and the people I do it with.<br />
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<a href="https://www.inc.com/salesforce/ceo-insights-five-essential-bits-of-advice-for-every-entrepreneur.html?cid=landerhighlights_salesforce" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2103</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:03:36 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Use This 5-Step Process to Set and Achieve Your Sales Goals</title>
<description>Step 1: Set meaningful goals.<br />
People do nott achieve goals unless the goals are meaningful to them. Sure, every seller has a quota for this year, but so what? If you want to maximize your motivation to achieve the goals, you must know why achieving it is important to you. To do that, go beyond your one-year quota-focused goal.<br />
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<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/326453" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2102</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2019 09:02:35 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Successfully Shake Up Your Small Business</title>
<description>Are you making big changes to your small business?<br />
<br />
Whether you're entering a new market, eliminating services that your clients love but no longer work for you, or changing the structure of your business entirely, follow these three tips to shake up your small business without losing revenue or hurting your reputation.<br />
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<a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/11233-shake-up-your-smb.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2101</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2019 09:59:18 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Tips to Create a Retirement Plan for Entrepreneurs</title>
<description>Most working class Americans are employed by companies that either require or offer retirement savings options in the form of a 401(k), 403b), or pension plan. Because these contributions are automatically deducted from the employee’s paycheck, saving for retirement tends to be a rather painless process. Over time, the cumulative effect of regular monthly contributions leads to a nice sized nest egg that can be used in the retirement years.<br />
<br />
But for entrepreneurs, the story is a little different. With no steady paycheck or employer-sponsored plans, many of these hardworking individuals forgo retirement contributions.&nbsp;&nbsp;And though it may not seem like a big deal in the early years, this misstep can prove to be dangerous and irresponsible as entrepreneurs age.<br />
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<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/01/retirement-planning-for-business-owners.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2100</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 8 Mar 2019 09:57:54 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Types of Crowdfunding for your Small Business</title>
<description>Crowdfunding has become a viable form for funding a venture, project, cause, event and much more. For small businesses looking to bypass traditional sources of financing such as bank loans, angel investing or venture capital, it is now a great option.<br />
<br />
If you have been thinking about starting a campaign, it is important to note there are different types of crowdfunding. And this does not mean the platform or portal such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo and others.<br />
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The confusion stems from clumping crowdfunding under one umbrella, when in reality there are different types or models. Depending on your project, choosing the right model for your small business is critically important to ensure the success of your campaign.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/01/types-of-crowdfunding-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2099</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 6 Mar 2019 09:56:21 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>17 Powerfully Inspiring (and Funny) Quotes for Every Leader</title>
<description>Being a leader can be a difficult, and sometimes thankless, job. You work long hours, make tough decisions, and try your best to make your employees and your customers happy. But things don't always work out the way you hope.<br />
<br />
Every leader can use a bit of inspiration and humor every once in a while. Adding some fun to your day can make it all come together and, at the same time, perhaps even put a smile on your face.<br />
<br />
The next time you feel down, here are 17 funny leadership quotes to perk you up.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/17-powerfully-inspiring-and-funny-quotes-for-every-leader.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2098</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2098</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Mar 2019 09:54:39 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Beat Procrastination As You Grow Your Business</title>
<description>Procrastination is an odd compulsion. Everyone has experienced it, but the underlying reasons can be tough to pin down.<br />
<br />
After all, procrastination delays the very activities that bring people closer to their goals -- whether that is building a thriving business or stronger triceps. So why do not humans just sprint toward that brighter, fitter future?<br />
<br />
The science.<br />
Scientific studies of procrastination have spiked over the past 20 years. Researchers once considered the issue a basic time-management problem, but they now view it as a complex and highly individual phenomena.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/325164" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2097</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2097</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 1 Mar 2019 09:53:01 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Small Steps You Can Take to Make a Big Impact on Your Business in 2019</title>
<description>Not every step you take to move your business forward will be a big one. But sometimes, even small steps can make a large impact on your future. Here are some recent tips and insights from members of the online small business community about big and small steps you can take to really make an impact on your business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2019/01/10-small-steps-you-can-take-to-make-a-big-impact-on-your-business-in-2019.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2096</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2096</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2019 09:51:19 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Air Force to Host First Small Business Pitch Day with $40 Million Up For Grabs</title>
<description>Like departments and agencies throughout government, the Air Force is tuning its acquisition methods to get closer the speed of technology, and will be holding its first live pitch day in March, with an available funding pool of $40 million.<br />
<br />
The Air Forces Small Business Innovation Research program has issued a call to start-ups and small businesses—those with fewer than 500 employees—to offer pitches on innovative technologies for secure communications, down-range battlefield operations and digital technologies.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2019/01/air-force-host-first-small-business-pitch-day-40-million-grabs/154114/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2095</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2095</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:50:29 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why Small Business Owners Need To Disconnect</title>
<description>I am pleased to bring you my top five tricks for disconnecting – and at least temporarily escaping the job stress.<br />
<br />
1. Make the business case.<br />
<br />
Taking time to recharge is not just good for your mental and physical health -- it is the smart thing to do for your business. Studies have shown that increased stress leads to reduced productivity, while decreased stress levels lead to increased productivity.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/01/11/why-small-business-owners-need-to-disconnect/#39c460bf382b" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2094</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2094</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Feb 2019 17:48:33 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small-business Retirement Plan Limits Increased in 2019.</title>
<description>The benefit of working for a large company is gaining access to an employer-sponsored 401(k) – a critical tool that helps millions of workers save for retirement.<br />
<br />
But if you are a small-business owner, you should know that you have several tax-advantaged savings plans at your disposal that allow you to sock away substantial funds for your golden years.<br />
<br />
Better yet, the annual contribution limits for all of these plans increased in 2019, so now's a better time than ever to start funding one.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2019/01/10/small-business-retirement-plans-what-you-need-know/38859253/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2093</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2093</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2019 17:43:02 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Overcome these 4 Small Business Hurdles this Year</title>
<description><br />
The beginning of the year is a great time to make resolutions for your small business. Whether you’re launching a new product or implementing a new technology, you are setting goals and working hard to achieve them. The New Year could also be the perfect time to fix internal issues that are holding you back from success. Below is a list of common business hurdles that arise in small business and how you can overcome them.<br />
<br />
Hurdle #1: Trying to do everything yourself<br />
<br />
There are a lot of tedious tasks involved in keeping a small business running smoothly – like running payroll, approving time off requests, and so on.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://azbigmedia.com/how-to-overcome-these-4-small-business-hurdles-this-year/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2092</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2092</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:31:18 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Get Your Small Business Out of Debt in 2019</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Rising interest rates and high levels of corporate debt have lots of investors concerned. Should small businesses be worried?<br />
<br />
The majority of small businesses (in most industries) are able to pay their bills on time. According to Experian/Moodys Analytics Main Street Report, overall delinquencies for businesses with fewer than 100 employees were slightly down in the third quarter of 2018. Credit utilization rates were also down slightly.<br />
<br />
At the same time, that same research has found that rates for delinquencies of 31 to 90 days rose slightly. While it is not yet a cause for concern, the report points out that <i>the period of consistent declines in delinquency rates for small businesses may be near its end.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="https://www.nav.com/blog/how-to-get-your-small-business-out-of-debt-in-2019-33351/" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2091</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2091</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:29:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>3 Huge Mistakes That Can Sink a Small Business</title>
<description>Owning or running a small business comes with a special set of challenges that larger companies do not face. Major national brands have a lot of advantages, with the biggest one being that a single misstep probably won't derail a business.<br />
<br />
That is not always true for owners of small businesses, where the distance between success and failure can be precarious. Sometimes seemingly small decisions can send a smaller company on a course that can't be corrected.<br />
<br />
In some cases, however, it is possible to plan ahead to avoid certain pitfalls. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/01/10/3-huge-mistakes-that-can-sink-a-small-business.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2090</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2090</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2019 09:27:54 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Top Five Small Business Trends To Monitor In 2019</title>
<description>As we welcome 2019, attention is shifting to what’s on the horizon for small businesses in the year ahead. The reality is that the nature of work is evolving. During my more than 25-year career, I have held a number of leadership positions. Early in my time in the health insurance industry, compensation reigned supreme among my employees, while health and wellness were perceived as a <i>nice-to-have</i> benefit.<br />
<br />
Now, workplace norms are beginning to align more with employee wants and needs and new rules about conducting business are being established — particularly when it comes to employee health and wellness. I believe this shift, which I have witnessed within my own team, will continue to dominate work environments across the nation in the new year.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeslacouncil/2019/01/09/the-top-five-small-business-trends-to-monitor-in-2019/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2089</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2089</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:24:42 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>9 social media tips to boost small business brands</title>
<description>Establishing a strong social media presence can mean big business for your small business. But if you don’t have dedicated resources to devote to it, or you don’t have much time to spare, you might find it tough to gain traction. Use these nine social media tips to boost business and grow your brand.<br />
<br />
Set Clear Goals<br />
<br />
No matter how eager you are to start using social media for your business, take the time to set clear goals before you begin. Try setting SMART goals — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely — to guide your social media strategy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://azbigmedia.com/9-social-media-tips-to-boost-small-business-brands/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2088</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2088</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 8 Feb 2019 09:19:41 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Business Trends That Will Continue to Rise in 2019</title>
<description>On one hand, year-on-year improvements are what makes companies great; on the other, firms can’t control many of the factors that dictate whether, say, revenue rises or not.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/323660" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2087</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2087</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 Feb 2019 09:18:10 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Proven Small Things That Can Deliver Big Results in 2019 for Small Businesses</title>
<description>When Mandy Bass speaks to business leaders and professionals who want to improve sales, productivity, teamwork, customer satisfaction and profitability she consistently finds that they are working way too hard to achieve the results they seek. With that in mind, for the New Year she has compiled a list of seven small or low-cost things that could get small business owners, solopreneurs and sales professionals big results in 2019.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/7-proven-small-things-that-can-deliver-big-results-in-2019-for-small-businesses-300770820.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2086</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2086</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Feb 2019 01:16:45 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>More Than 50 Percent of Record-Setting Amazon Holiday Sales Made By SMBs</title>
<description>The 2018 holiday season is in the books, and small to medium-size businesses (SMBs) sold big on Amazon. In fact, SMBs had their best holiday shopping season ever.<br />
<br />
The e-tail giant itself had a record-setting holiday season as well: More items were ordered worldwide on Amazon than ever before.<br />
<br />
But it was not just corporations like LEGO that benefitted from all this shopping. More than 50 percent of all items sold came from small and medium-sized businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/11202-record-holiday-small-medium-business-sales-on-amazon.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2085</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2085</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 1 Feb 2019 09:14:43 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Surprising Challenge Small Business Owners Are Facing Today</title>
<description>A healthy economy means many small businesses are thriving -- but they're also having a hard time hanging onto employees. A good 24% of small businesses lost at least one employee in 2018, while 11% of small businesses lost 10% of their workforce, according to Bank of America. Not only that, but 58% of businesses had trouble finding qualified candidates for open roles, and 25% said it took more time to fill open positions in 2018 than it did in 2017.<br />
<br />
And there lies the problem with a strong job market: When employment is plentiful, workers have more options to choose from, so getting them to join or stay with your team becomes more challenging for companies across the board, but particularly for small businesses with limited resources. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/careers/2018/12/25/the-surprising-challenge-small-business-owners-are.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2084</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2084</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:13:14 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Top 30 2018 Facebook Trends for Small Business</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Here are the statistics and headlines that you should be aware of.<br />
<br />
Facebook Popularity<br />
Facebook has more than 2.2 billion active members around the world.<br />
More than 1.6 billion people around the world have used Facebook to connect with a small business.<br />
More than 80 million businesses use Facebook to connect with customers.<br />
But it’s not all about growth. 42 percent of U.S. adults have taken a break from Facebook for a few weeks or more.<br />
44 percent of younger users have deleted the Facebook app from their phones in the past year.<br />
But only 12 percent of older users have done so.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/12/2018-facebook-trends.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2083</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2083</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2019 18:10:09 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>For Most Small Businesses, 2018 Was a Good Year</title>
<description>While December has been a lousy month for the stock market, 2018 has generally been a good year for small-business owners. Over half (55%) of owners or decision makers at small businesses in the United States said that their business is better off today than it was a year ago, according to a new survey from Fundera.<br />
<br />
Another 33% said their business has remained steady, leaving only 12% that saw their fortunes decline in 2018. Those are very strong and encouraging numbers, but that does not mean it should be assumed the good times will continue to roll.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/12/25/for-most-small-businesses-2018-was-a-good-year.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2082</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2082</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2019 09:09:37 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>3 Lessons Learned from Helping a Small Business Invest</title>
<description>As a Texas real estate broker, one of the things I do at my company, Goodwin Commercial, is educate our clients on the commercial investment process. We offer a step-by-step process evaluation to protect our clients when making the decision to go from leasing to purchasing a property for their business. That process often includes making recommendations about how they might leverage a good situation or opportunity into a great one, often via strategic financing and purchasing decisions. In this case, the couple initially tried to go the SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) route but were turned down by the first national bank they approached. They were definitely discouraged!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://thinkrealty.com/3-lessons-learned-from-helping-a-small-business-invest/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2081</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2081</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 2019 09:05:59 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Top 5 Small Business Marketing Automation Trends of 2019</title>
<description>2019 Marketing Automation Trends<br />
<br />
If you want to use marketing automation to help your business succeed in 2019, your approach to automation will predetermine much of your success. To start out strong, consider bringing the following marketing automation trends into your strategy for the year ahead:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/12/2019-marketing-automation-trends.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2080</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2080</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jan 2019 09:58:03 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Workplace Trends Every Small Business Should Know About for 2019</title>
<description>Many of us are wondering, for example, how the U.S. economy will impact business. Will hiring finally ease up? How will younger generations change our workforce?<br />
<br />
Without a crystal ball, it's tough to answer every question. But, given trends we saw this year, it is possible to make a few educated predictions about what small businesses should prepare for as 2019 approaches. Here are my top four predictions:<br />
<br />
2019 is the beginning of the Gen Z takeover.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/323994" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2079</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2079</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:54:51 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Four Small Business New Year's Resolutions For Success In 2019</title>
<description>The end of the calendar year is a natural time to reassess how your business did in the previous 12 months and then devise a plan for improving. By almost every measure, 2018 was a good year for the economy. Small business optimism is high, holiday sales were the strongest in years, unemployment is low, and consumer confidence hit an 18-year high in September before tempering a bit in November.<br />
<br />
It would be hard to duplicate the atmosphere that prevailed in 2018. The impact of President Trump’s tax cuts will lessen, interest rates have risen again, and the Dow Jones dropped from 25,862.43 on December 3 to 21,792.20 on Christmas Eve, a sign that the economy may be slowing.<br />
<br />
Small business owners need to take all of these factors into account.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rohitarora/2018/12/27/four-small-business-new-years-resolutions-for-successful-in-2019/#5d0c390423ed" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2077</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2077</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jan 2019 09:52:26 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Handle Late Paying Clients with Ease Using These Tips</title>
<description>The holidays puts everyone in a celebratory mood — or almost everyone. For small business owners, the celebration may be tempered by stress over unpaid invoices. My business is lucky: Lots of our clients are scrambling to issue payments before year-end to finish off their fiscal years. But for other small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs in the B2B world, getting paid this time of year is an ongoing struggle.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/12/get-paid-on-time.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2076</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2076</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2019 09:50:01 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Americas Love Affair With Small Business Rekindled</title>
<description>Bloom Brewery is the kind of Main Street business that shut its doors a generation ago when shopping malls lured customers to their mega-buildings with well-lit parking lots, extended hours and everything imaginable under one roof.<br />
<br />
The brewery, which offers 24 artisanal beers on tap, sits near the Great Allegheny Passage, a 335-mile bike trail that has connected Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh since 2013. And with it, a new kind of customer is being drawn through its doors, seeking comfort and community instead of big-box discount deals.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://townhall.com/columnists/salenazito/2018/12/25/americas-love-affair-with-small-business-rekindleddennis-prager-is-off-the-following-is-a-column-by-salena-zito-n2538023" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2075</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2075</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jan 2019 09:47:38 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways Small Business Owners Can Start Preparing For Retirement</title>
<description>Small business owners are often so involved with the day-to-day operations of their business, many feel they don’t have the time to look down the road and plan for retirement.<br />
<br />
And as a result, some entrepreneurs may never be ready to retire. According to a survey by Manta, one-third of business owners don’t have any retirement plan, and 75% of respondents to a BMO Wealth survey said they had “$100,000 or less” saved for retirement.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredhecht/2018/11/27/5-ways-small-business-owners-can-start-preparing-for-retirement/#5a80dd806342" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2074</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2074</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:42:17 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How Much Does Building a Website Cost?</title>
<description>Estimating the cost to build a website is like asking how much it costs to construct a building. The obvious answer is, <i>It depends on what you want to do with the building.</i><br />
<br />
For small businesses, the answer depends on the main purpose of your website: Is your website solely for marketing purposes? Or do you plan to sell goods and services on it? While one site can certainly do both, its main purpose should guide your selection as to which hosting platform and design software are best suited for your business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/11199-website-building-costs.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2073</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2073</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 2019 09:40:40 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>15 Examples of Augmented Reality to Inspire Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Incorporating augmented reality (AR), whereby an interactive experience of a real-world environment is created by computer-generated perceptual information, into business operations, marketing and functions, is not confined to big businesses with big budgets to play around with.<br />
<br />
On the contrary, many small businesses are jumping on the burgeoning AR bandwagon, as a means of attracting new customers, retaining existing ones, and ultimately becoming more competitive and profitable.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/12/augmented-reality-examples-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2072</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2072</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 6 Jan 2019 09:38:53 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Top Small Business Manufacturing Trends in 2018</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[The global manufacturing market has experienced a myriad of changes in recent years. Particularly in the U.S., automation, offshoring and technology have made a major impact on manufacturing businesses of all sizes.<br />
<br />
Manufacturing Trends<br />
Here are some facts and statistics that illustrate these prominent industry trends.<br />
<br />
Manufacturing Market Size<br />
The median annual revenue for manufacturing companies is between $50 and $100 million per year.<br />
About 7 percent of manufacturing companies have annual revenues under $1 million.<br />
In the U.S., manufacturing makes up 12 percent of the national output.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/12/manufacturing-trends-small-business.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2071</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2071</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 4 Jan 2019 09:38:02 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Innovation is Hot, Hot, Hot! Expect More of It in the Small Business Sector in 2019.</title>
<description>This past year, 2018, has been a very good one for innovation. We've seen the blockchain boom, the increase in low-code and no-code app development, the start of the rollout of 5G technology and AI and AR: All came into their own with countless programs and applications for both business and consumer life.<br />
<br />
On the coattails of such a year, I believe that 2019 has the opportunity to show even more promise. Here are the trends I predict we will see in small businesses and across the industry as a whole:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/325180" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2070</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2070</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Jan 2019 09:35:14 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Boost Post-Holiday Sales</title>
<description>For businesses large and small, the annual holiday season really is the <i>most wonderful time of the year, </i>to quote the classic tune. Customers looking to spread a little cheer among their loved ones come out in droves to get the newest toys, try out the latest services and end the year spending more money than they did the previous year.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/11195-boost-post-holiday-sales.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2069</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2069</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Jan 2019 09:33:08 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Biggest Reason Why the U.S. Needs Small Businesses to Thrive Has Nothing to Do With Taxes or the Economy</title>
<description>Despite recent stock market turmoil, everywhere you looked this year someone was heralding the strength of the economy, which grew at 3.5 percent in the third quarter. However, not all economic growth favors small businesses, and some even detracts from it. The Inc. Entrepreneurship Index, which measures the quarterly health of the U.S. startup economy, currently sits at 83 out of 100 for the third quarter of 2018. This is down two points from the second quarter and a full nine points from the first quarter of 2017, when our Index peaked. Our indicator sees one factor in particular still dragging like an anchor on the startup economy: job growth.<br />
<br />
Even though overall economic conditions have been largely favorable, small businesses have hit a growth ceiling as larger companies--bolstered by generally strong market conditions, favorable tax policies, support from local governments, and easing federal regulations--have been gobbling up talent. This is why, for the past year, the Index has shown a startup economy that is strong but slowing. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/arnobio-morelix/inc-entrepreneurship-index-2018-q3.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2068</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 31 Dec 2018 09:28:15 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Clock Is Ticking: Small Business Tax Strategies to Do This Year</title>
<description>Tax season can be stressful for anyone, but given a number of changes made in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), as well as ongoing legislative changes, the 2018 tax year stands to be especially difficult for small business owners to navigate. However, by making a few smart moves now and being mindful of strategies that will allow you to to capitalize on existing tax benefits, you can close out the year with the peace of mind that you made the best tax moves for your business.<br />
<br />
In order to set yourself and your business up for success, know the current tax law and take advantage of what changes are coming and going.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/the-clock-is-ticking-small-business-tax-strategies-to-do-this-year-14810450" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2067</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2067</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Dec 2018 09:27:35 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Lose $80K on Average to Cybercrime Annually, Better Business Bureau Says</title>
<description>The growth of cybercrime will cost the global economy more than $2 trillion by 2019, according to the Better Business Bureau’s 2017 State of Cybersecurity Among Small Businesses in North America report.<br />
<br />
Cost of a Cyber Attack<br />
When it comes to small businesses, the report said the overall annual loss was estimated at almost $80K or $79,841 on average. And as more small businesses become equal parts digital and brick-and-mortar, securing both aspects of their company is more important than ever.<br />
The risks small business owners face in the digital world has increased their awareness of the dangers of this ecosystem. A survey conducted by GetApp in 2017 revealed security concerns ranked second as the challenges small businesses were facing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/12/cost-of-a-cyber-attack-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2066</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2066</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Dec 2018 17:25:11 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small business holiday marketing tips for 2018</title>
<description>The holiday season is already in full swing. And, I believe, you would have already pushed all the right buttons, at all fronts, be it your website pages, social media pages, marketing emailers and all, before things might get too hot to handle for you.<br />
<br />
However, a checklist will always come handy, I believe. It will not only keep you on your toes but will remind you of the pending activities that might need your attention, now or later on.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/marketing/small-business-holiday-marketing-tips-for-2018/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2065</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2065</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2018 09:33:39 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Reasons To Support Small Companies On Small Business Saturday® And Beyond</title>
<description>Whether you are a small business owner, a consumer, or the CEO of a big corporation, you likely know that small companies are a pretty big part of the economy. This year, show your support for small enterprises by participating in Small Business Saturday® (SBS).<br />
<br />
My accounting and payroll software company, Patriot Software, is an advocate of Small Business Saturday. And personally, I am a major supporter of small businesses. I know how much time, dedication, money, and hard work entrepreneurs pour into their small companies.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikekappel/2018/10/31/4-reasons-to-support-small-companies-on-small-business-saturday-and-beyond/#1a600af87bdd" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2064</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2064</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2018 09:28:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Profile: DejaVu Designs</title>
<description><a href="https://dejavudesigns.com/store/" target="_blank" >Custom handmade surf tumbled sea glass and tumbled stone designs, jewelry, hair clips and ornaments.</a> #seaglass #tumbledstones #jewelry #handmade #homemade #dejavudesigns #smallbusiness #smallbiz #stonejewelry #seaglassjewelry <br />
<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2063</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2063</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2018 09:24:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Wealth Management Tips For Small Business Owners</title>
<description>As a small business owner, it can be a point of pride to watch your dreams translate into equitable profits. However, the road to success has many potholes to avoid and expressways to take — if you recognize them in time.<br />
<br />
With the vast array of personal finance knowledge out there, it can be tricky to figure out which advice is the best fit for small business owners. Ten members of Forbes Finance Council weighed in with their own personal wealth management tips to help you keep your personal and professional finances in good shape.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2018/10/03/10-wealth-management-tips-for-small-business-owners/#829c02a5b272" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2062</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2062</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 2018 16:23:08 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Ways Small Businesses Can Internally Prepare for Holiday Shopper</title>
<description>Savvy small businesses are already looking ahead to the holiday shopping season, including Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Here are four things you can do to prepare your business for the holidays.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.business.com/articles/holiday-sales-small-business-prep/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2061</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2061</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2018 16:20:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Struggling to Get Motivated? Don't Ask for Advice--Give It</title>
<description>There's a lot of advice out there for the lazy and unmotivated: Take baby steps! Set a timer! Enlist an accountability partner! But what if the best way to tackle lack of motivation is not to give any sort of advice at all, but to ask for it instead?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/a-new-study-suggests-a-surprising-way-to-motivate-unmotivated.html?cid=landermore" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2060</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2060</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:19:19 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Social Media Mistakes All Small Business Owners Should Avoid</title>
<description>Social media is a crucial component of any small business' marketing efforts. When done well, a strong social strategy helps you connect directly with your customers, and can even create some free publicity along the way.<br />
<br />
For all of social media's advantages, there are pitfalls as well. The internet can look like a cavalier place when it comes to copyright rules, but there are plenty of no-nos that you need to follow if you want to stay out of legal trouble.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jared-hecht/6-social-media-mistakes-that-could-land-you-in-legal-trouble.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2059</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2059</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 9 Nov 2018 16:18:11 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Seven Accounting Staples To Analyze As A Small-Business Leader</title>
<description>Your role as CEO, president or founder is critical to your small and growing company — you need to focus on products, customers and strategies. One of the last things you want to do is babysit your bookkeeper. Yet I can think of dozens of horror stories born of a lack of accounting oversight in the early stages of startup growth.<br />
<br />
What should you track? Here are seven items I have found are key to request from your bookkeeper and how to review them. Asking for these items is good accounting hygiene: It informs your bookkeeper that you are inspecting their work and allows you to quickly identify and minimize potential problems. And, in my experience, it should not take you more than an hour a month.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2018/10/31/seven-accounting-staples-to-analyze-as-a-small-business-leader/#62a8ac667a4b" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2058</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2058</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 7 Nov 2018 16:16:04 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>This Is What a Great Book Does to Your Brain</title>
<description>Books can make us smarter, more informed, even more intellectually humble. But one of the most powerful benefits of regular reading is greater empathy. Through words you are transported to another's perspective. You look through their eyes. You understand their pain and their joy.<br />
<br />
That can relieve loneliness and make life a whole lot more pleasant, but it's also good for business. Understanding customers and collaborators helps you get more done and be more creative.<br />
<br />
So how exactly do books accomplish this magic trick? On Lit Hub recently Tufts University professor of child development and reading expert Maryanne Wolf explained the fascinating neuroscience of exactly what immersion in a good book does to your brain.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/this-is-what-a-great-book-does-to-your-brain.html?cid=landermore" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2057</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2057</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 5 Nov 2018 16:12:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Steps to Recharge Yourself and Your Business</title>
<description>Running a business often means you have your hands in every aspect of the company. You are managing day-to-day tasks and making crucial business decisions all at the same time. It's no wonder small-business owners can often lose sight of the forest for the trees and get mired in the task of simply getting through each day.<br />
<br />
Taking a step back gives you a tremendous amount of insight that not only reenergizes you to keep going, but can lead to crucial business decisions that transform and grow your business. Finding a way to build that inspiration into your life is not just a luxury—it is a necessity if you want to maintain a thriving business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/314255?WT.mc_id=BB18_Display_0010" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2056</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2056</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Nov 2018 09:09:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 Time-Management Hacks to Optimize Your Life In and Outside Work</title>
<description>To really manage and maximize your time — to squeeze every opportunity out of it — you have to appreciate how much you have. Take control of your time, and don’t allow others to. Get family, friends, colleagues, and employees to agree on the most important priorities. Otherwise, they will pull you in multiple directions. When I do this, I'm able to control my time better.<br />
<br />
I typically wake up before the sun and stay busy all day. Time is either invested or wasted, so I do not like white space on my calendar. I make time for myself, my family and my business, to do things like writing my goals, working out, taking a walk with my kids, and leading calls and meetings. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/322152" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2055</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2055</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:08:12 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Critical SEO Considerations When Optimizing News Websites</title>
<description>A few rules of SEO, like publishing great content and providing a good user experience, are universal.<br />
<br />
But not all websites thrive by using the exact same set of SEO guidelines.<br />
<br />
News websites, in particular, place greater emphasis on certain elements than other types of sites.<br />
<br />
Here are five best practices you should keep in mind to optimize your news site for search.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-for-news-websites/270065/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2054</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2054</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Oct 2018 10:59:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>SEO Basics for Newbies</title>
<description>In the modern business world, companies make use of SEO basics to secure a digital footprint. SEO is everywhere. What is more, the Internet is constantly changing. In order for businesses to keep up with demand, they have to cater to an audience that lives and breathes the Internet.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://newsok.com/article/feed/6096639/seo-basics-a-primer-written-especially-for-newbies" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2053</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2053</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2018 10:59:13 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Over half of consumers want businesses to text them back</title>
<description>It is easy to see why text messaging is the most-used data service across the world. We send and receive five times as many texts compared with the number of phone calls each day, according to mobile intelligence firm Informate.<br />
<br />
A huge 90 percent of the time, a text is read within the first three minutes of receiving. Customers who receive texts from businesses tend to have a 40 percent higher conversion rate than those who do not. Small businesses could benefit from this consumer behaviour.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/over-half-of-consumers-want-businesses-to-text-them-back/ar-AAAGI5x?srcref=rss" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2052</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2052</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:53:16 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>To Create Truly Compelling Content Marketing, Make It a Team Activity</title>
<description>These days, content marketing is considered a crucial aspect of any company's advertising efforts. Yet, for a new startup with a limited budget, trying to find a way to craft compelling blogs, social media posts or infographics can seem overwhelming.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/320109" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2051</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2051</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Oct 2018 09:33:21 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Want to Become a Self-Made Millionaire? Do This for 30 Minutes Every Day</title>
<description>Entrepreneurs start their own businesses or side hustles--which you can do in just a few hours--for a variety of reasons. Some want to be their own boss. Others want to make their living by doing something they love. Others seek the opportunity to make a bigger difference in the lives of others.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/want-to-become-a-self-made-millionaire-do-this-for-30-minutes-every-day.html?cid=landermore" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2050</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2050</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2018 09:30:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Most Innovative Companies of the 2018 Inc. 5000</title>
<description>There are a lot of ways to build fast-growth companies. Just consider this year's Inc. 5000 list. The annual ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America includes everything from canned wine producers and freight movers to kayak makers and truck bumper manufacturers.<br />
<br />
The six companies below, though, take the cake when it comes to innovative business models. Whether it's reinventing hospital garb or hosting mind-blowing vacations, these startups all have one thing in common: They have tapped into something their customers really&nbsp;&nbsp;wanted. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/kevin-j-ryan/2018-inc5000-most-innovative-business-models.html?cid=hmsub1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2049</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2049</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 8 Oct 2018 09:29:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Create a User-Intent SEO Strategy</title>
<description>Behind every Google search, there is an intention. People are looking for something in particular when they are searching the web -- the answers to their problems, information about the services available to them or sources for the product they want. If you want your business to be discovered by users on the web, your content needs to be optimized for user intent.<br />
<br />
Since Google can recognize user intent, it displays pages in search results that are most relevant to what the user is looking for. Because of this, understanding user intent and creating content with the user's intent in mind is essential to improving the relevance of your website pages and improving SEO.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/320539" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2048</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2048</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 5 Oct 2018 09:26:50 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>9 Reasons CEOs Should Hire Introverts, Not Extroverts</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Well, it turns out that, according to decades of academic research, introverts are more likely than extroverts to have those characteristics:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Introverts are generally more creative.</b><br />
Introverts are famously more creative than extroverts. According to the journal Perceptual and Motor Skills, <i>Creativity is a problem-solving response by intelligent, very active, highly emotional, and extremely introverted persons.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/9-reasons-ceos-should-hire-introverts-not-extraverts.html?cid=landermore" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2047</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2047</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 3 Oct 2018 09:25:06 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Tips to Consider When Designing (or Redesigning) Your Organizational Structure</title>
<description>It is not a one-time undertaking but an ongoing process that must be revisited throughout the life of any business. In fact, nearly half of all CEOs launch a company reorganization during their first two years on the job.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/320801" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2046</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2046</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 1 Oct 2018 09:21:21 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Deliver Bad News When It's Not Your Fault</title>
<description>Have you ever shared bad news with coworkers, employees or partners? As much as we don't want to shoot the messenger, sometimes we associate negative feelings with the person who tells us bad news.<br />
<br />
Work is hard enough as is. You do not need a negative halo effect associated with you, especially if a situation was out of your control. For example, maybe you and a partner organization submitted a proposal and were waiting to hear back from a Fortune 1000 client. The client tells you that another company out-bid you with a lower quote.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/319842" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2045</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2045</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2018 10:19:20 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Organize Your Small-Business Finances With These 7 Steps</title>
<description>Going into business for yourself is a big deal. There is always a long to-do list and you will find yourself wearing many different hats from time to time. Your business is more of a hobby if you are not making money. Properly managing and organizing your small-business finances can contribute to the success of your business and make sure you’re hitting your profit goals. Like personal finance, there are plenty of ways to organize your small-business finances depending on what your goals are.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/320391" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2044</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2044</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Sep 2018 01:16:44 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tax And Regulatory Cuts Solve A Long-Running Problem For Small Business</title>
<description>Then, as the recovery progressed, taxes and regulations reemerged.&nbsp;&nbsp; But over the last year, those two concerns have been displaced by the availability of qualified labor.&nbsp;&nbsp;Finding qualified employees is always a concern in a growing economy and has certainly grown in importance in this expansion, even more prominent than in 2000, when the ratio of employment to the population hit a record high.<br />
<br />
Assisting its rise to number one has been the decline in the concerns about taxes and the cost of regulatory compliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;The sharp decline in concerns about taxes and regulatory compliance are most likely due to the policies of this administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;Record levels of proposed regulations peaked in the last two years of the last administration but dropped to practically nothing early in this term.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since then, many existing regulations and rules have been eliminated or scaled back.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamdunkelberg/2018/09/25/tax-and-regulatory-cuts-solve-a-long-running-problem-for-small-business/#29801e294176" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2043</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2043</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2018 10:15:03 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Amazon Makes a Move Into Small Business</title>
<description>The company has launched a new store focused on smaller U.S. companies.<br />
<br />
For many businesses, Amazon operates as both a competitor and a partner. The online giant offers a platform for companies to sell their goods while it also competes with the same companies it works with.<br />
<br />
Now, the digital retailer has launched Amazon Storefronts, a new store that exclusively sells products from small and medium-sized businesses from the United States. It offers more than 1 million products curated by Amazon from 20,000 small and mid-sized businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/09/27/amazon-makes-a-move-into-small-business.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2042</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2042</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:52:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Nine Simple Ways Small Businesses Can Give Back</title>
<description>It is often assumed that giving back is something that only big corporations can do. After all, larger businesses often have more profits and can easily give away money to notable causes. But it doesn't mean that smaller businesses can't do the same. Often times, small businesses can also have a significant impact on organizations that can use their help.<br />
<br />
We asked members of the Forbes Business Development Council for ideas on how small businesses can give back to their communities. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2018/09/27/nine-simple-ways-small-businesses-can-give-back/#619916111224" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2041</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2041</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2018 09:11:44 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A basic SEO audit for small businesses</title>
<description>Most small businesses can perform a simple audit and improve their SEO considerably without involving an agency. Ten steps you can take to get started.<br />
<br />
I am a big fan of getting the basics precisely dialed in for small business search engine optimization (SEO). Ensuring you lay a solid SEO foundation will typically deliver around 80 percent of the results, for only 20 percent of the effort, for small local businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://searchengineland.com/a-basic-seo-audit-for-small-businesses-305896" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2040</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2040</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 2018 09:09:51 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 things to remember when growing your small business</title>
<description>Small business optimism is at a record high. In this year’s Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, business owners consistently reported positive attitudes about their current situation and their future.<br />
<br />
Part of that optimism is due to the high availability of financing and access to credit that many small businesses need in order to grow. Indeed, many small business owners are taking the opportunity to use these and other cash flow management tools to expand their business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/wells-fargo/2018/09/27/5-things-remember-when-growing-your-small-business/1433712002/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2039</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2039</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 7 Sep 2018 18:58:32 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Social Media and Government: What Are the New Rules of Engagement?</title>
<description>Social media, email, text messaging and other communication technologies are transforming government into a more efficient, effective and dynamic process. Whether it’s an elected official using Twitter to address constituents or a city using a Facebook page to make public announcements, government entities and elected officials are becoming more accessible and connected to constituents. And therein lie today’s nuanced First Amendment related challenges<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.law.com/therecorder/2018/09/27/social-media-and-government-what-are-the-new-rules-of-engagement/?slreturn=20180828160721" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2038</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 5 Sep 2018 01:56:32 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Seven Reasons Your Small Business Is Not Generating Sales</title>
<description>Here are seven reasons why your business is not generating sales:<br />
<br />
1. You are marketing, not selling.<br />
<br />
Reaching out to a networking contact is a sales call when that contact has expressed a need and interest for what you are selling, and you actually discuss your offer, your pricing, next steps and or other ways to move forward. If your networking meeting is to introduce what you offer or to reconnect in general, that is a marketing call. Many small business owners are busy on social media, tweaking their website, writing blogs, and catching up over coffee – all of which is great for marketing and may lead to sales eventually -- but these activities are not directly generating sales.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecenizalevine/2018/07/21/seven-reasons-your-small-business-is-not-generating-sales/#4b11edc939a2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2037</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2037</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 3 Sep 2018 14:36:16 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Secrets to Getting More Traffic for Your Small Business Website Revealed</title>
<description>How to Get Traffic to Your Website<br />
<br />
In building this strategy, it can help to get input from the experts who have been there before. Here are some tips and tricks ranging from content creation to SEO to social media from digital marketing experts around the web.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/07/how-to-get-traffic-to-your-website.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2036</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2036</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:34:49 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Small-Business Guide to Instagram Stories</title>
<description>Instagram is a great source to build your brand’s identity, engage new followers and expand your reach. However, if you’re simply posting images to your business Instagram page, you’re missing out on a major opportunity on the platform: Instagram Stories. With Stories, you can show a behind-the-scenes look at your brand while developing its personality and building authentic relationships with your followers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/317105" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2035</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2035</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:33:12 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Google Spent a Decade Researching What Makes a Great Boss. They Came Up With These 10 Things</title>
<description>Those are the types of questions Google set out to answer. In 2008, they began research into what makes a good manager, code-named Project Oxygen. They originally identified eight behaviors that were common among their highest performing managers, and began training all managers to develop those behaviors. Over time, Google saw a marked improvement in key metrics such as employee turnover, satisfaction, and performance.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/google-spent-a-decade-researching-what-makes-a-great-boss-they-came-up-with-these-10-things.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2034</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2034</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2018 14:31:02 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Looking for Tips and Resources for Small Business Success?</title>
<description>Business owners need to constantly learn in order to be successful. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned entrepreneur, resources like business experts, books, tools and exercises can help you shape your strategies and cultivate sustained success. Here are some suggestions from members of the online small business community for resources and tips that can help you build a successful business and life.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/07/looking-for-tips-and-resources-for-small-business-success-10-experts-share-it-all.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2033</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2033</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:29:11 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Escape the Tyranny of the To-Do List</title>
<description>Overwhelmed leaders cringe at multiplying demands, such as identifying and recruiting talent, envisioning the next iteration of their product, or developing their public-speaking skills. <i>There are only 24 hours in a day, </i>they plead.<br />
<br />
True. But there are 168 hours in a week, 730 hours in a month, and 8,760 hours in a year. View time in that way and many of the larger-picture, often open-ended tasks that are crowded out by in-the-moment demands appear more feasible.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/leigh-buchanan/how-to-escape-the-tyranny-of-the-to-do-list.html?cid=hmside2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2032</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2032</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 14:27:39 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>#MeToo Means You Too Need Small Business Coverage</title>
<description>The #MeToo movement is making a major impact across industries, small businesses included. From reviewing internal policies to getting the right kind of insurance, these steps can help small business owners protect their companies and employees.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.business.com/articles/metoo-small-business-coverage/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2031</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2031</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Aug 2018 14:25:24 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Ways a Small Business Can Give Back</title>
<description>As a small business owner or manager, sometimes the sheer volume of things that need to be done makes it hard to remember to think about others. It's important, however, to give back to your community. In fact, if you own a small business that draws on local customers, it's important to do things that strengthen your bonds with your community.<br />
<br />
Not all of these apply to every type of small business. A retail store can do things that a small service-based business can not, but at least one of these should apply to your business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://journaltimes.com/business/investment/personal-finance/ways-a-small-business-can-give-back/article_bdc8235c-b86e-5ee7-90b9-cc3b856491b1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2030</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2030</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Aug 2018 14:23:45 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Keys to Building an Influential Personal Brand</title>
<description>There is something incredibly important in life that I do not hear enough people talking about. It is called your personal brand and it goes far beyond your career.<br />
<br />
I started learning about personal branding over 10 years ago when I got into the entrepreneurial world. I noticed a big difference between some peoples brands and others. So I started taking notes.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/317525" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2029</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2029</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Aug 2018 09:21:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Launch Your First Email Marketing Campaign and Get the Results You Want</title>
<description>Email is not going anywhere. There are 3.7 billion global email users, and that number is expected to grow to 4.1 billion by 2021. What is more, this communication channel is supremely popular: People check their emails multiple times a day, and when you're trying to market your company, you can get your name into thousands of inboxes just by launching an email marketing campaign.<br />
<br />
The cost? Email marketing is also super-affordable, which makes it great for small businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/317331" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2028</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2028</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 2018 09:17:02 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Share Their Best Marketing Moves</title>
<description>Every business has to find the right marketing tools to engage its desired audience, and there doesn’t appear to be one magic widget that works for every company every time.<br />
<br />
Some find amazing results with social media, SEO and influencer strategies, often combined with compelling online content, some with old-fashioned direct mail, as in messages on paper delivered by a human postal carrier.<br />
<br />
Several small businesses recently shared their best marketing moves, which cover a broad range of approaches and media. Here are a few of their ideas in this first in a series of articles on the topic.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dinahwisenberg/2018/07/27/small-businesses-share-their-best-marketing-moves/#5f4fcff773fa" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2027</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2027</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:15:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>11 secrets of small business success</title>
<description>No. 1: First, have a pretty good idea of what you are getting into before you start. Running a company is not a 9-to-5 occupation. And much, if not most, of running a business has little to do with the quality of the product or service you sell. You have to work long, hard and smart. And learn new things. Fifty percent of new businesses close (not fail) during the first five years, often because their owners didn’t realize how much time, expense and uncertainty would be involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/usaandmain/2018/07/25/small-business-11-secrets-success/829896002/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2026</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2026</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 8 Aug 2018 09:10:55 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Amazon Report Cites More Than 1 Million Small Business Sellers On Platform</title>
<description>Amazon is often blamed for the demise of the Mom and Pop store and other local and cultural icons of Main Street USA. There may be some truth to this, but it is also just as important to say that the company has helped many small and midsize businesses to grow and thrive.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2018/07/24/amazon-report-cites-more-than-1-million-small-business-sellers-on-platform/#5f811c503e83" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2025</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2025</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 6 Aug 2018 09:09:42 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Elon Musks Erratic Twitter Behavior Teaches 3 Brutal Leadership Lessons--And What Not to Do</title>
<description>If you do not have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.<br />
<br />
Remember this one, from, like, kindergarten? Apologies are one thing, but better to just avoid the whole thing altogether. Note: this is not the same thing as ignoring criticism. There are constructive ways of responding, though, that will not send your companys stocks plummeting. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/tom-popomaronis/elon-musks-erratic-twitter-behavior-teaches-3-brutal-leadership-lessons-and-what-not-to-do.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2024</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2024</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Aug 2018 09:06:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Smart, sensitive policies can help small businesses avoid a #MeToo moment</title>
<description>Harvey Weinstein. Bill Cosby. Kevin Spacey.<br />
<br />
No, there apparently is no shortage of accused sexual predators roaming Hollywood. And, while there are have been stories galore over the years about the creeps and their casting couches, it wasn’t until the #MeToo movement that women really were able to get the word out about the seriousness of the issue and, if not put an end to it, at least shine a light on it.<br />
<br />
And that begs the question: Will there be a #MeToo moment for small business?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/usaandmain/2018/07/27/strauss-column-metoo-policies/831417002/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2023</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2023</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 1 Aug 2018 09:03:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Google Has A Secret Way To Protect You From Hackers...</title>
<description>Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?<br />
<br />
1 — Googles secret to protect its employees from hacking is physical keys.<br />
<br />
Google has announced a robust solution for phishing cyberattacks against its employees. The company says the adoption of physical Security Keys has stopped the attacks. Security Keys are small USB stick devices made by companies like YubiKey that function similar to two-factor authentication (2FA) methods its employees may already be using.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2018/07/29/google-has-a-secret-way-to-protect-you-from-hackers-and-other-small-business-tech-news-this-week/#7e0e2ef972b3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2022</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2022</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jul 2018 09:02:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Tech Tools That Can Have a Big Impact on Your Small Business</title>
<description>Technology has started to feel like a four-letter word these days—especially in the business world. Stand by the water cooler and you might hear chatter among employees about what programs, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, will mean for the future of jobs.<br />
<br />
As this technology comes to life, many people fear for their professional future. They worry that robots will soon sit at their desks while they’re out on the street struggling to find work.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.allbusiness.com/tech-tools-small-business-impact-117353-1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2021</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2021</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jul 2018 09:34:57 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Is Email marketing good for small businesses in 2018?</title>
<description>Marketing has evolved significantly in last few years. Now is the era of demand-driven social marketing which makes email marketing a core part of successful small business marketing strategies. Technological advancements have given marketers no shortage of channels to leverage. Email marketing can be a powerful way for small business to market their brand and their website. It provides them with the flexibility to reach current customers, find new leads, and convert those leads into customers without making a big hole in their pocket. Email marketing can help small business to reach their subscribers and prospects as quickly as possible.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://customerthink.com/is-email-marketing-good-for-small-businesses-in-2018/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2020</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2020</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:33:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Email Marketing Tips to Grow Your Small Business</title>
<description>Are you looking for ways to use email marketing to grow your business? Then you will want to take a look at these five email marketing tips to help boost your sales.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.business.com/articles/email-marketing-grow-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2019</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2019</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jul 2018 09:29:49 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How To Ensure Your Small Business Is Not A Failure Statistic This Year</title>
<description>While two-thirds of Americans dream of opening their own small business, recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that approximately 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, and about 50% of small businesses fail in their fifth year.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2018/06/19/how-to-ensure-your-small-business-isnt-a-failure-statistic-this-year/#1b8a52b273eb" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2018</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2018</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:26:04 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small-Business Owners Name The Best Tools And Resources They Have Invested In</title>
<description>Making the right investment in your small business can mean the difference between growth and stagnation. What that right investment is – marketing, training, technology, labor, personal development – will vary from business to business and owner to owner, depending on a variety of factors.<br />
<br />
Several entrepreneurs recently shared their best business investment from the past year, or top planned investment for this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dinahwisenberg/2018/06/15/founders-name-their-best-small-business-investment/#4791d2974b0b" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2017</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2017</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jul 2018 09:24:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 5 Most Important Negotiation Skills You Must Master</title>
<description>Intimidated by negotiations? Focus on these five simple negotiation skills first and get much better.<br />
<br />
Think of all the times in your business week you negotiate:&nbsp;&nbsp;with new hires and existing employees; with sales prospects and long-term clients; with vendors and suppliers. If you're a business owner or leader, you need to know how to negotiate. This is non-negotiable.<br />
<br />
Here are the five most important negotiation skills you should focus on first. Each of these skills has proved to be worth millions to my clients and to me over the past 25 years. This all recently came to a head when I had 35 of my top business coaching clients join me for a day-and-a-half program on negotiation in my hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. These were 35 of the most successful entrepreneurs and business owners in the United States.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/david-finkel/which-of-these-5-negotiation-rules-are-you-breaking-every-day-hint-its-costing-your-thousands-of-dollars.html?cid=landermore" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2016</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2016</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jul 2018 09:23:27 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Dos And Don'ts Of Growing Your Small Business</title>
<description>Growing your business is an exciting task. It means customers are receiving your business well and you are bringing in a profit.<br />
<br />
But, growing your business can be intimidating. Many things have the potential to go wrong. That’s why you need a plan. When you know what to do and what to avoid, you can avoid stumbling.<br />
<br />
Use the following seven dos and do nots to successfully grow your business.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikekappel/2018/06/20/the-dos-and-donts-of-growing-your-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2015</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2015</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:22:04 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Never-Ending Struggle to Sustain a Small Business</title>
<description>Delissa Reynolds, an actress, ran a popular local bar for years, until the neighborhood changed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/06/exit-interview-delissa-reynolds/561242/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2014</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2014</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jul 2018 09:19:56 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Retirement Income Source 42% of Small-Business Owners Are Relying On -- and Why It is a Mistake</title>
<description>For most of us, that means establishing a nest egg in the form of an IRA, 401(k), or both. But a large number of small-business owners have a different sort of backup plan for covering the bills in retirement: their businesses.<br />
<br />
An estimated 42% of small-business owners say that their businesses will serve as their personal pensions, so to speak, according to data from New York Life. But that's a dangerous proposition in several regards.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/retirement/2018/06/23/the-retirement-income-source-42-of-small-business.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2013</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2013</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Jul 2018 09:18:35 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The internet sales tax is going to pummel small businesses</title>
<description>On Thursday, the Supreme Court overturned decades of law and precedent by allowing states to levy sales taxes on internet purchases. Like many things in life, the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision is a mixed bag. On the whole it was probably the right call, cleaning up an enormously incoherent and unfair tax regime that's only gotten worse as online retail has expanded.<br />
<br />
But it will also hit many small businesses hard.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://theweek.com/articles/780427/internet-sales-tax-going-pummel-small-businesses" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2012</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2012</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jul 2018 09:47:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways to Improve Your To-Do Lists</title>
<description>To-do lists should be an invaluable part of any small business owner's day-to-day productivity strategy. They do not just help you monitor your tasks, they help keep you motivated and on track. And they seem self-explanatory: Write down a task. Then do it. But, a to-do list can too easily take a wrong turn and become exhaustive and exhausting. Here are five quick tips to help you get the most from your to-do lists.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/thehartford/improve-your-to-do-lists.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2011</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2011</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Jul 2018 09:46:02 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Start a Small Business by Monetizing Something You Are Already Doing</title>
<description>This transformation from hobby to business creates entrepreneurial avenues for people who might not otherwise have chosen this path. There are several types of activities that can be successfully monetized.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/315149" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2010</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2010</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 2 Jul 2018 09:44:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 7 Deadly Sins of Small Business Marketing</title>
<description>Everybody makes mistakes, but some mistakes are worse than others. Some mistakes are almost deadly—to your marketing, at least.<br />
<br />
The following seven mistakes are dire enough to make your marketing fail. But the good news is once you know how to spot them and avoid them, your marketing has a dramatically better chance of success.<br />
<br />
So keep reading, apply what you learn here, and carry on. You’ve got a business to promote<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.allbusiness.com/small-business-marketing-7-deadly-sins-117534-1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2009</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2009</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2018 09:40:35 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Supreme Court decision to allow more online sales tax worries small business groups</title>
<description>Small business advocates largely grumbled after the nation's highest court overturned a decades-old decision on online sales tax.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that states now have the power to force online retailers to collect sales tax in states where they do not have a physical presence, reversing a ruling from 1992 in a 5-4 decision. The move also revives a 2016 South Dakota law that required large, out-of-state e-commerce companies to collect sales tax, one that big e-commerce players fought. Some online retailers, such as Amazon.com, currently collect state sales tax on products they directly sell but do not collect taxes from many of the independent sellers on the site.<br />
<br />
The decision removes the sales-tax savings that consumers could reap by making purchases online instead of buying from local brick-and-mortar shops. Although the move does help to level the playing field for physical small businesses, it also places new burdens on small online retailers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/21/supreme-court-decision-to-allow-more-online-sales-tax-worries-main-street.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2008</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2008</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2018 09:38:43 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Your Employees Will Love the 90-10 Rule--and So Will You</title>
<description>Leaders of movements--entrepreneurial businesses included--incite followers to believe in a vision, in one another, and in themselves. To amass the power of many, they address the needs and dreams of individuals.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/leigh-buchanan/four-fantastic-exercises-to-motivate-your-team.html?cid=hmsub1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2007</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2007</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2018 09:35:18 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Supreme Courts internet sales tax ruling may be a nightmare for small businesses</title>
<description>In the wake of yesterdays Supreme Court ruling, e-commerce companies are understandably both concerned and uncertain of their future. The 5-4 verdict overruled a 1992 precedent set by the case Quill v. North Dakota that only addressed mail-order businesses at the time, but it became a powerful legal bedrock for the e-commerce industry. It let companies without a robust physical infrastructure thrive during and after the dot-com boom by exempting purchases from sales tax, so long as the seller did not have a physical operation in the state where the customer resided. Now, following the court’s decision, states can start charging sales tax on internet purchases even when a retailer has no physical presence in that state.<br />
<br />
A number of retailers, from Amazon to Etsy to Overstock.com, may be impacted. It is not necessarily because those corporations have been skirting sales tax collection, but some enable thousands of third-party sellers to do so, largely thanks to Quill v. North Dakota. In fact, Amazon, which last year started collecting sales tax in all 45 states that require it by law, may have a substantial amount of work to do to help its Amazon Marketplace sellers stay compliant. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/22/17493298/supreme-court-internet-sales-tax-congress-amazon-etsy-ebay" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2006</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2006</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 Jun 2018 08:33:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What is PCI Compliance and Why MUST Small Business Owners Be Concerned?</title>
<description>The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards, designed to ensure businesses which accept and process credit and debit card information, do so in a safe and secure environment.<br />
<br />
No matter what industry you operate in or what size business you have, if you accept card payments and process, transmit and store cardholder data, you must host your data securely with a hosting provider that is PCI compliant.<br />
<br />
The PCI security Standards Council was formed in 2006 by the five major credit card brands — American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Japanese Credit Bureau (JCB) and Discover. While each credit card brand has its own compliance programs, the PCI standards are the foundation for all of them.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/05/what-is-pci-compliance-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2005</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2005</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 8 Jun 2018 09:20:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>More U.S. businesses are becoming worker co-ops: Here is why</title>
<description>According to the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI), a nonprofit that supports the development of worker co-ops, employee-owned small businesses see an average of 4% to 5% higher productivity levels and more stability and potential for growth. In contrast to traditional businesses, worker co-ops see much lower rates of employee turnover and business closure. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40572926/more-u-s-businesses-are-becoming-worker-co-ops-heres-why" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2004</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2004</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 Jun 2018 09:18:51 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 Money Management Tips For Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Recently, American Management Services started working with the owner of a restaurant chain, made up of six locations spread across the Northeast. Since the first day they opened their doors, they approached paying vendors with a sense of loyalty by cutting checks the day the invoice was received. While being loved by their vendors, our client was receiving no discounts, and put themselves financially at risk by not safe-guarding their cash!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/louismosca/2018/05/15/8-money-management-tips-for-small-business-owners/#4846d43627f6" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2003</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2003</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Jun 2018 09:17:10 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>15 Reasons You Should Start Your Own Small Business Today</title>
<description>Want to get really, really rich? Starting your own business is the best way. Want your upside to be unlimited? Starting your own business is the best way. Want to be free to chart your own course, to make your own decisions, to make your own mistakes -- to let the sky be the limit not just financially but also, and more important, personally?<br />
<br />
Starting your own business is the best way.<br />
<br />
Still not convinced? Here are 15 more reasons why you should start your own small business today:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/15-reasons-you-shoiuld-start-your-own-small-business-today.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2002</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2002</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 1 Jun 2018 09:15:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How small businesses can navigate rising interest rates</title>
<description>The Federal Reserve says that the economy is doing well, so it has raised its key rates recently and is expected to do so again in the near future. The strong economy is great for most businesses, but higher rates will likely increase what it costs for them to borrow.<br />
<br />
So what's a small business owner to do? Understand how the system operates and consider the ways they can manage.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.postandcourier.com/business/how-small-businesses-can-navigate-rising-interest-rates/article_3cf03ab2-584e-11e8-a5e7-5bca8acaa714.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2001</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2001</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2018 09:12:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Is Amazon good or bad for small business?</title>
<description>This week is Small Business Week, and on Thursday Amazon released its first Small Business Impact Report. Its position? Amazon has been good for small businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2018/05/04/is-amazon-good-or-bad-for-small-business/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.90f76c4298f0" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#2000</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">2000</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2018 09:10:08 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>More Than Half of Small Businesses Foresee Revenue Growth in 2018</title>
<description>Optimism appears to be rising among small business owners (SBOs): 53% of the SBOs who participated in TD Banks 2018 Small Business Survey said they expect their revenues will grow in 2018. That is an improvement over the 46% of respondents who said the same in 2017.<br />
<br />
In addition, the number of small businesses -- defined for purposes of the survey as those with $5 million or less in annual revenues -- that plan to hire this year more than doubled. In 2017, only 9% of respondents said they expected to add staff. This year, 22% said they intend to.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/05/15/more-than-half-of-small-businesses-foresee-revenue.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1999</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1999</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2018 09:08:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>May Is For Small Business, Moms, Amazon And Mobile</title>
<description>The month of May begins with a focus on the importance of Small Business followed by the love for Mom. The charts and analysis that follow are from Prospers monthly survey of over 7,500 Americans.<br />
<br />
We asked Deborah Weinswig, Managing Director of Coresight Research, to provide commentary on the data from the most important deciders for the economy… the consumers themselves.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesinsights/2018/05/07/may-is-for-small-business-moms-amazon-and-mobile/#75d6dc196b47" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1998</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1998</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2018 09:03:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The U. S. Department of Energy Announces $34 Million for Small Business Research and Development Grants</title>
<description>U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry today announced that the Department of Energy will award 219 grants totaling $34 million to 183 small businesses in 41 states.&nbsp;&nbsp;Funded through DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, todays selections are for Phase I research and development.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.energy.gov/articles/u-s-department-energy-announces-34-million-small-business-research-and-development-grants" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1997</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1997</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2018 17:02:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 Ways Leaders Waste Valuable Time and Energy</title>
<description>Time is a valuable, nonrenewable resource that is distributed equally to each of us. We all get the same 1,440 minutes every day. Are you using your time successfully, or are you wasting your time and draining your energy?<br />
<br />
In coaching top leaders around the world, I have discovered some patterns in how people waste their time and energy. Here are eight of the most common:<br />
<br />
1. Being distracted. <br />
Leaders who have a lot to do are easily distracted. No one can stay on task 100 percent of the time, but distraction can pose a serious obstacle to getting things done. It eats away at your time and causes unnecessary stress. Limit distraction by being mindful of how you organize your time and work environment and by preparing yourself to accomplish what needs doing. Develop habits and strategies to minimize your access to distraction, keep your focus on the task at hand, and improve your overall ability to concentrate.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/8-ways-leaders-waste-valuable-time-energy.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1996</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1996</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2018 09:10:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Highly Effective Negotiation Tactics Anyone Can Use</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Want to be a better negotiator? Here are some simple tips.<br />
<br />
1. Listen more than you talk.<br />
It is easy to go into a negotiation focused only on what you'll say, especially when you are nervous.<br />
<br />
The goal of a negotiation is not just to get what you want, but also to help the other side get what they want. (Otherwise, how will you ever strike a deal?) To do that, you need to actually know what the other side wants -- which means you have to listen.<br />
<br />
Finding common ground means knowing common ground exists. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/tk-highly-effective-negotiation-tactics-anyone-can-use.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1995</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1995</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2018 09:08:11 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Stop Propping Up Small Business</title>
<description>In our age of political polarization, the right, left and center agree on one thing: Big business is wicked, and small business is noble. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/stop-propping-up-small-business-1523027017" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1994</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1994</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2018 09:06:53 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Digital Marketing For Small Companies Becomes Big Business</title>
<description>Digital marketing for small shops like local bakeries, grocers and regional accountants is growing into big business.<br />
<br />
Those small-and-medium-sized businesses (SMB) are increasingly turning to growing outside firms to handle their digital outreach, according to industry sources. Among their goals is to become more social media-savvy: for instance, drawing a Facebook user on their phone clicking on a business page into a local shop.<br />
<br />
Several digital marketing startups focused on smaller companies are looking to capitalize on the opportunity, and they are hungry for venture capital to fund their efforts.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mergermarket/2018/04/09/digital-marketing-for-small-companies-becomes-big-business/#7533c80c7545" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1993</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1993</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2018 09:05:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Small-Business Guide to Facebook Insights</title>
<description>Facebook is more than just status updates and photo albums -- it's a major marketing tool for businesses. However, if you don't know how to use it properly and take advantage of all it has to offer, you might as well not use it at all.<br />
<br />
From engaging customers to entertaining them, Facebook Insights provides some of the best tips and tools for boosting your business. To start, Facebook Insights will tell you information about your customer base, such as the type of people who follow you, where they are located, how old they are and more. Another important area that Facebook Insights covers is your competition. Using the tool, you can track their posts and engagement in order to get ideas for your own business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/311513" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1992</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1992</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 May 2018 09:04:25 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Want to Be a Great Leader? Become a Great Identifier</title>
<description>Once upon a time I was a member of the most productive crew in the department, which meant we were considered to be the best crew, because numbers were everything. But we didn't need a Jobs or Bezos or Sandberg or (pick your personal epitome of effective leadership) to get us there.<br />
<br />
Steve was our Bobby Hurley (yep, old school college basketball reference): Always pushing, always encouraging, always making assists. Lee was solid: Never made mistakes, helped out the entry level workers, quick to make repairs and get running again. Jeff was our glue, coaxing surprising up-time out of the least reliable machines on the line while also serving as our quality conscience. Doug was easily rattled but his nervous energy helped him catch up when he got behind, and also to help keep the end of line workers straight. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/want-to-be-a-great-leader-become-a-great-identifier.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1991</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1991</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 7 May 2018 09:02:49 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Identifying What to Watch: 14 Key Performance Indicators That Matter</title>
<description>As a CEO, it is your responsibility to pay attention to every detail of the business. From employee satisfaction to growth indicators, you need to be on top of how your company is performing at every turn. While there is an extensive range of KPIs available to you, knowing where to focus your attention when it comes to evaluating your business can make you more effective and make the best use of your time. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/04/key-performance-indicators-examples.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1990</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1990</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 4 May 2018 09:01:26 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Here is how small businesses can benefit from online marketplaces</title>
<description>The majority of small business owners agree that online marketplaces have positively impacted their sales, according to a poll by Manta.<br />
<br />
Nearly 70% of small business owners polled stated that marketplaces like Amazon and eBay have helped them increase sales, while about 30% believe they have had a negative impact. Most small businesses (81%) believe that online sales are critical to their companys success, but most rely on their own websites as an e-commerce channel. Sixty-six percent of small businesses sell products through their own websites, 24% sell on Amazon, and 22% sell on eBay.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-small-businesses-can-benefit-from-online-marketplaces-2018-4" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1989</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1989</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 May 2018 09:52:56 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Employees Are 32 Percent Less Likely to Quit if They Get This 1 Thing From Their Boss</title>
<description>There are a lot of reasons to hate a job: annoying co-workers; bad working conditions; long hours for too little pay; the stress level; and more.<br />
<br />
But one of the worst things -- arguably the worst -- is having a bad boss.<br />
<br />
When you don't feel seen, appreciated, or listened to by your direct manager, it can have a dramatic impact on not only your work performance, but also your sense of self-esteem. Over time, you can begin to feel anxious, worthless, and demoralized.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/employees-are-32-percent-less-likely-to-quit-if-they-get-this-1-thing-from-their-boss.html?cid=hmside2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1988</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1988</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Reasons Social Responsibility Is a Step in the Right Direction for Small Business</title>
<description>The business terrain is one that changes much faster than most -- basically because the way business is done evolves based on cultural changes, changes in technology and even generational changes. It is safe to say that at all times, at least one of these things is changing.<br />
<br />
We are in the era of giving back and social impact. Businesses should face this, and stop using the fact that they are not yet <i>big businesses</i> as an excuse for boycotting charitable involvements or social responsibility. Businesses that do this are missing out on the great benefits hidden on the other side of socially responsible companies.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/309944" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1987</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1987</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How These Four Startups Hacked Raising Money--and How You Can Too</title>
<description>Want to turn every customer or friend into a potential backer of your business? Since regulations changed in 2016, small businesses have been able to raise money from non-accredited individual investors. While equity crowdfunding, as it is now known, can be complicated and expensive, it's also been lucrative for some businesses that have taken the plunge.<br />
<br />
Over the past several months, Inc. followed four founders and CEOs who raised money from big groups of people. What they learned: There's no one right way to crowdfund. You can do this sort of fundraising on your own, or you can rely on third parties; three of the following startups paid a commission to use a new Indiegogo platform, which handled their technical and marketing and investor-relations headaches. You do not even have to stick to selling traditional shares of your business. Indiegogo lets the companies that use its equity platform sell debt or preferred stock or other securities instead. (Several of these companies also thanked their investors by giving them sample products, T-shirts, or other types of the rewards that crowdfunding first became known for.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/magazine/201804/victoria-finkle-kathy-kristof/equity-crowdfunding.html?cid=hmsub2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1986</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1986</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Make Your Company Look Like a $100 Million Brand</title>
<description>Intrepid entrepreneurs find a way to make their own success before they have the money. One way they do this is by acting as if they already have it, or the success that comes with it. While this idea sounds like <i>fake it till you make it,</i> it is actually rooted in fundamental concepts about consumption, perception, and scaling.<br />
<br />
Here are some ways you can appear stronger, more successful and better funded than you might actually be.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/andrew-thomas/how-to-make-your-company-look-like-a-100-million-brand.html?cid=hmside4" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1985</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1985</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2018 09:00:23 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>It is Going to Get Easier to Make Money the Next 5 to 10 Years, and It is Because of These 5 Technologies</title>
<description>As an entrepreneur and an angel investor, I get really excited about the future of personal finance.<br />
<br />
As new technologies develop, from cryptocurrencies to virtual wallets, I see advantages for businesses. I also see opportunities for everyday Americans and our families to make--and keep--more of our own money.<br />
<br />
In meetings with financial technology startups, I am seeing so many incredible new developments on the horizon. Any innovation that improves how we live, shop, and pay sets off alarm bells--of the good kind--in my friendly neighborhood Certified Financial Planner brain.<br />
<br />
Here is a sneak peek of why I think the next five to 10 years are going to make making money easier for all of us. It is thanks to these five emerging technologies:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/alexa-von-tobel/its-going-to-get-easier-to-make-money-next-5-to-10-years-its-because-of-these-5-tech.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1984</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1984</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2018 09:00:21 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>These 5 Barriers Prevent You From Being a Better Leader</title>
<description>I spend a lot of time asking employees about how leaders can be more effective communicators. Just yesterday, in fact, I moderated a focus group with employees at a fast-growing consumer products company.<br />
<br />
The people in the group provided the same feedback I hear time and time again: Leaders are pretty good at sharing information, but they are lousy listeners.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/alison-davis/these-5-barriers-prevent-you-from-being-a-better-leader-heres-what-to-do-differently.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1983</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1983</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2018 09:00:11 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Do Not Ask for a Raise If You Fall Into 1 of These 3 Categories</title>
<description>Below I have outlined three circumstances that should give you pause about the timing of asking for a raise:<br />
<br />
1.You have been out of school for less than a year.<br />
2.Your job has not changed at all.<br />
3.You have not made your company any more money.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/309971" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1982</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1982</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Salesforce small business tools get major refresh</title>
<description>Salesforce may derive a grand majority of its revenue from large customers employing 1,000 or more people. But it reached out this week to the smallest of small businesses -- 20 employees or less -- with the release of Salesforce Essentials.<br />
<br />
The new suite of Salesforce small business cloud tools, which manage both sales and customer service/support, will replace current offerings Desk.com and SalesforceIQ. The company will retire those in 2020.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://searchsalesforce.techtarget.com/news/252437033/Salesforce-small-business-tools-get-major-refresh" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1981</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1981</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Walking Away from Shark Tank Can Make Sense</title>
<description>Landing a coveted spot on Shark Tank is an entrepreneurs dream. They get the opportunity to pitch their business on national television in front of millions of viewers and several rich and prominent investors.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/310364" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1980</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1980</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Apr 2018 09:42:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Places to Get Payroll Services and More for Your Small Business</title>
<description>If your small business has a team of employees, then you need a payroll service to manage all of those payments and details. A good small business payroll service should automatically calculate how much pay each employee earns during every pay period, then process those payments and calculate taxes and reports to help you keep your financial records in order.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/03/payroll-services-for-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1979</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1979</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 17 Mar 2018 17:40:57 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>When Big And Small Business Pay It Forward, Communities Thrive</title>
<description>Koch wanted to give back in the most meaningful and valuable way he and his team could. Ten years ago, the company started the Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream (BTAD) program to mentor and provide funding to food, beverage and hospitality startups. Many of these companies are founded by African American women, including Jessica Spalding of Harlem Chocolate Factory.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the past 20 years, African-American women’s rate of starting businesses was 605% versus 44% for all businesses, according to The 2017 State of Women-Owned Businesses* commissioned by American Express. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/geristengel/2018/03/12/when-big-and-small-business-pay-it-forward-communities-thrive/#30d37ff44843" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1978</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1978</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Apr 2018 09:00:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tax Reform Provides Boost To Small Business Retirement Plans</title>
<description>The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law by President Trump near the end of 2017 and it mostly took effect in 2018. While the TCJA impacts almost every single individual taxpayer to some degree, the changes also significantly impact corporations and small businesses. In some areas, the impact was purposeful and directed. However, in other ways, the TCJA will have both positive and negative secondary effects. One area that could see a secondary or unintended boost due to a new tax deduction (IRC § 199A) for pass through businesses is retirement plans with small business employers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiehopkins/2018/03/12/tax-reform-provides-boost-to-small-business-retirement-plans/#72336b744f32" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1977</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1977</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Apr 2018 09:38:02 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Pro Techniques to Improve Your Business Blogging</title>
<description>Use a Content Scorecard to Publish Better Blog Posts<br />
When it comes to creating blog content for your business, quality is just as important as quantity, if not more so. To make sure all of your posts are up to professional standards, use the content scorecard included in this Social Media Examiner post by Garrett Moon.<br />
<br />
Choose the Right Keywords for Your Blog Niche<br />
If you want readers to be able to organically find our blog content, you need to include some relevant keywords. Choosing those keywords can be a challenge, so check out the recent Abtech Blog post by Abasifreke Etop for some useful tips.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/03/10-ways-step-blog-content-marketing.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1976</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1976</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Apr 2018 09:00:01 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>She Was Told No 100 Times. Now This 30-Year-Old Female Founder Runs a $1 Billion Business.</title>
<description>So much of success is knowing when to stay the course, even when you’re met with rejection after rejection.<br />
<br />
30-year-old Melanie Perkins has been launching creative businesses since she was a teenager. Her first venture, designing and selling handmade scarves to sell in her hometown of Perth, Australia, was launched when she was just 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
At the age of 22, Perkins founded her next company, an online system for schools to design their yearbooks called Fusion Books. Today, Fusion Books is the largest yearbook publisher in Australia and has a presence in France and New Zealand.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310482" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1975</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1975</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 2 Apr 2018 09:00:10 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Seven Factors Lenders Use To Measure Small Business Credit</title>
<description>Why does qualifying for a small business loan have to be such a mystery?<br />
<br />
According to a CB Insights study, cash flow issues are the second most common reason startups fail, accounting for 29% of failures. In many cases, access to capital would make a big difference. Yet the loan application process is notoriously opaque for small business owners. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows the average small business owner spent 26 hours searching and applying for credit, contacted three financial institutions and submitted three credit applications. Despite this time-consuming work, only half of small-business applicants end up being approved for the loan amount they applied for.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2018/03/13/the-seven-factors-lenders-use-to-measure-small-business-credit/#3b0271676ce6" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1974</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1974</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2018 09:00:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Feeling Stuck? Here Are 34 Quotes on Creativity from the Worlds Most Inspirational Leaders.</title>
<description>Every successful leader or entrepreneur has used creativity to help them get to where they are today. In fact, creativity is a core component to anyones success. Take a look at J.K. Rowling -- using creativity and imagination, she created a successful franchise full of witches and wizards. Or how about Steve Jobs? Without creatively thinking about the simplest, sleekest way to create products for consumers, Apple would have never been born.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299419" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1973</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1973</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2018 09:17:29 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Businesses That Need to Be Launched Right Now</title>
<description>Entrepreneurs always need more -- more help, more time, more insight. So we asked: What is the one product you wish someone would create to help your business? Now maybe someone (you?) will make it. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/308424" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1972</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1972</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Survey: 64% of Small Business Owners Believe Trumps Policies Have Helped Their Business</title>
<description>A majority of small business owners, 63.8 percent, believe that President Trump's policies have helped their business, according to a survey from the Job Creators Network.<br />
<br />
More business owners—57.5 percent—believe Republicans do a better job of managing economic issues than do Democrats (14 percent). The survey finds the support is likely due to Trump's ability to roll back regulations and red tape on businesses.<br />
<br />
A majority of businesses also support the tax reform package that was signed into law and believe media coverage of the proposal was biased.<br />
<br />
Sixty-eight percent of small businesses view the legislation favorably or somewhat favorably. Fifty-eight percent said the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will benefit their business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://freebeacon.com/issues/survey-64-small-business-owners-believe-trumps-policies-helped-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1971</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1971</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Mar 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Eight Small Business Technology Trends to Watch in 2018</title>
<description>New-generation information technology continues to offer more efficiencies for small and midsize businesses, and for those ready to take a leap and invest in these fast new tools and services, 2018 promises to be a good year.<br />
<br />
So what exactly are the top technology trends for small businesses? Well, basically anything that a large enterprise needs and uses, midrange-size companies also can put to work. This is not a trickle-down-type process; the midrange enterprise market is the largest in the world, and tech companies continue to come out with new and improved products designed specifically for them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eweek.com/small-business/eight-small-business-technology-trends-to-watch-in-2018" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1970</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1970</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What Are the Elements of a Business Contract?</title>
<description>As a small business owner or self-employed individual, you may need to enter into a business contract. A business contract is a legal agreement between you and another party, and may be used in situations where services are rendered for a fee or specific duties are required to be performed. To be legally valid, a contract must contain several key elements.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.chron.com/elements-business-contract-786.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1969</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1969</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2018 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Five Small Business Marketing Trends to Jump On This Year</title>
<description>Enhance The Customer Experience<br />
<br />
The term user experience or UX is often used in the context of web design, with the idea that features must be designed with the end user in mind. Customer experience or CX includes UX but also encompasses every touchpoint that customers have with your business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2018/01/10/five-small-business-marketing-trends-to-jump-on-this-year/#2d45fb7f7290" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1968</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 5 Mar 2018 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Nearly One in Seven Small Business Owners Not Confident About Retirement</title>
<description>Sixty-nine percent of small business owners have zero to little confidence they will be able to retire comfortably, Paychex found in a survey.<br />
<br />
Thirty percent said they were somewhat confident, 21% said they were not at all confident, and 18% fall between somewhat confident and not at all confidentȒadding up to a total of 69%. Only 20% said they were very confident they will have enough money to retire comfortably.<br />
<br />
Asked what could help improve their situation, 68% said being able to save more. Other ways they would like to receive financial help were assistance in converting a portfolio balance into monthly income, cited by 10%; guidance on investments and the appropriate savings rate, also cited by 10%; and retirement tools to cover a wide range of expenses, including health care, cited by 8%. Fifteen percent said that nothing would help them feel more confident about retirement.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.planadviser.com/nearly-one-seven-small-business-owners-not-confident-retirement/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1967</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 2 Mar 2018 09:57:42 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Seven rules for small-business growth</title>
<description>Like many entrepreneurs, in the beginning of my own business I did not really plan for growth. Instead, I responded to opportunities as they came. In fact, I first went in to business by literally bumping into an opportunity. One day, while walking my dog, I met a man who needed a business plan. He was my first client.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.app.com/story/money/business/2018/01/22/small-business-growth-rhonda-abrams/109408966/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1966</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2018 09:56:54 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Tax-Savings Hacks That Small Business Owners Often Miss</title>
<description>Being a small business owner is expensive as it is -- every penny counts when entrepreneurs are living on razor-thin margins and fighting for market share. But owning and operating a small business is even more expensive when you pay more taxes than you owe.<br />
<br />
In a survey personal finance expert Garrett Gunderson conducted of his small business-owner clients and wrote about for Forbes, approximately 93 percent of them had overpaid over the past dozen years. Now, nobody expects owners to be tax professionals -- you do have businesses to run, after all -- but it's important to know where you can save money in order to invest that money back into your business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/307434" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1965</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1965</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Feb 2018 09:09:31 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Helpful Insights to Help You Make Use of Video and Better Communicate with Customers</title>
<description>Video is a medium that gives your small business lots of different options for communicating and sharing information with customers. But it can be sort of overwhelming for some small businesses. Arielle Kimbarovsky of CrowdSpring offers some suggestions for businesses looking to make the most of video in a recent post.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/01/10-helpful-insights-help-make-use-video-better-communicate-customers.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1964</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1964</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Feb 2018 09:00:08 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>12 Must-Have SaaS Tools For Small Businesses</title>
<description>In fact, some business leaders get so overwhelmed by the din of competing voices from service providers, they sit on the sidelines and fail to take advantage of some productivity and profitability enhancing systems.<br />
<br />
I want to point out several good apps and SaaS tools, but before I get into specifics, I want to create a simple framework in which you should evaluate these tools. Further, keep in mind that one of the biggest advantages these tools give you is the ability to successfully manage virtual teams. However, you will find almost all of them appropriate for local use as well.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2018/01/24/12-must-have-saas-tools-for-small-businesses/#6f07a4a41a55" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1963</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1963</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2018 09:00:44 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Look out for the rise of the robots</title>
<description>Continuing with our annual look at the top trends in small business, this week we get to the Top 5. Apparently, the only thing constant is change.<br />
<br />
5. You will get hacked. In fact, you probably were in the past year, right? The Equifax hack alone exposed the private data of almost 150 million people. Or how about Yahoo? Last year the company divulged that all 3 billion of its accounts were hacked a couple of years ago. Other notable breaches this past year include:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/money/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1962</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 19 Feb 2018 09:45:02 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Ingredients of Small Business Success Online</title>
<description>Building a small business online is scary. Big businesses can easily outspend you with PPC, SEO, SMM and inbound marketing campaigns.<br />
<br />
However, smart startup founders grimly pass around business battles on the blogosphere, charging low prices for quality product, reversing their vision, failing to voice their opinion on their podcasts, showing contempt for our product, and disrespect for our craft.<br />
<br />
And yet, look around at the World Wide Web jungle. It's watered by the services offered by small businesses. The technology to produce product and convert customers exists because we create codes, design services, and write web pages, blog posts, and marketing materials that generate leads and close sales. And every 350-pound gorilla company uses our products or services to thrive.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/306130" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1961</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:43:08 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Marketing 101</title>
<description>Branding, services, promotions, products, pricing, prints, blogs, advertising, research and social media -- all of this is marketing. With all the marketing options out there, it can be difficult for small businesses to know what to do. Marketing is a concentrated effort to do push your brand across a variety of platforms and hope that enough makes it through to your customer. Customers need to hear your message several times, so brand, brand, brand! Here are some simple steps to help you market your small business:<br />
<br />
1. Get organized. Getting an organized plan is the first step in any marketing effort. Make one. Start with brainstorming, create themes and transfer action items to a calendar or to-do list. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2018/01/23/small-business-marketing-101/#737795cf45ff" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1960</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1960</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:00:47 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Tax law makes small businesses rethink ideas</title>
<description>Although there are still many unknowns about the tax law that took effect Jan. 1, some small business owners have already figured out that they stand to gain from some of its changes and are changing their plans to maximize their benefits. Some believe they will get a break on income taxes for sole proprietorships, partners and what are called S corporations. Those who buy new computers, vehicles or other equipment can take a bigger deduction.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2018/01/27/donald-trump-tax-plan-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1959</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1959</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2018 09:09:14 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 small business resolutions for 2018</title>
<description>Personal resolutions can be tough to keep — lose those pounds or quit smoking — but those of the small business variety can be a whole lot easier and bring you greater satisfaction and success by year’s end.<br />
<br />
Seven resolutions to help you succeed in 2018:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/abrams/2018/01/03/7-small-business-resolutions-2018/996372001/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1958</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 9 Feb 2018 09:00:26 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways Small Business Owners Can Spend Their Tax Savings</title>
<description>The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Dec. 22, 2017, and it is being put into action starting with the 2018 tax year.<br />
<br />
On the personal side, the final bill cuts income tax rates in almost every tax bracket, doubles the standard deduction, eliminates personal exemptions, doubles the child tax credit, expands medical expense deductions, repeals the Obamacare tax and doubles the estate tax exemption.<br />
<br />
On the business side of things, the tax bill lowers the corporate tax rate from 35 to 21 percent -- which is the lowest rate since 1939. For pass-through businesses -- which many small businesses are -- the standard deduction gets boosted to 20 percent. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/306680" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1957</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 7 Feb 2018 09:00:56 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Amazon Officially Eliminates Cashiers...And Other Small Business Tech News This Week</title>
<description>Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?<br />
<br />
1 — Amazon Go cashier-less convenience store opens to the public in Seattle.<br />
<br />
This week in Seattle, Amazon opened its cashier-less convenience store to the general public. At Amazon Go, customers scan their smartphone on the way in and are then tracked with cameras and other sensors as they browse. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2018/01/28/amazon-officially-eliminates-cashiers-and-other-small-business-tech-news-this-week/#59c78b3164f2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1956</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1956</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 5 Feb 2018 09:00:32 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 High-Tech Industries (and a Really Low-Tech One) That Are Booming With No End In Sight</title>
<description>The beginning of the new year is when the worlds top investors make their predictions of industries to keep an eye on. Innovative technologies and ways of doing business are creating growth in certain industries. For those looking for something new to invest time or money in, take a look at these five industries that experts predict to have an increase in growth in 2018.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/306930" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1955</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 2 Feb 2018 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Steps for Small Businesses to Achieve Gender-Neutral Salaries</title>
<description>Numbers do not lie, and the statistics are in -- there is a gender gap in salaries. There are varying statistics with different percentages, but the discrepancy is out there. Data from PayScale shows the difference in parity between controlled and uncontrolled pay gaps. The World Economic Forum shows gender gaps is a problem on a global level. But, how do employers structure and communicate salaries without any inequality? <br />
<br />
After leading a small business human resources and operations department for 13 years, I know the answer is simple: Keep your policy simple and communicate it well.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/4-steps-for-small-businesses-to-achieve-gender-neutral-salaries/ar-AAvcwPp" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1954</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1954</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2018 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Brutal Lessons About Entrepreneurship I Learned in My First Year as a Startup Founder</title>
<description>Twelve months later we have a full-time team and a company successful beyond our wildest dreams. Digital Press, named during one of our many coffee-on-an-apartment-balcony conversations, has been our attempt to empower the world's smartest people to share what they know. We work with carefully selected CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, and venture capitalists (primarily at businesses doing $10M to $300M in revenue) to share their hard-earned insight with the internet. None of the atrocious writing most PR firms peddle as acumen. None of the ad-speak or jargon nobody finds helpful. Just the hard lessons learned and the personal stories of how these successful people learned them.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/5-hard-lessons-i-learned-my-first-year-as-a-startup-founder.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1953</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1953</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 2018 09:00:31 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What It Takes To Be A Small Business Owner</title>
<description>The freedom to chase your entrepreneurial dream is one of the great foundations of America. Owning a business is a freedom the U.S. Census Bureau of Labor Statistics records 29.6 million Americans pursue today, supporting local communities with products and services while contributing millions of dollars and jobs to the American economy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2017/12/27/what-it-takes-to-be-a-small-business-owner/#6b4c9261620d" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1952</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1952</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jan 2018 16:51:01 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Start a Sustainable Small Business</title>
<description>Roughly 60 percent of millennials want to increase sustainability efforts in business. Millennials make up the largest group of consumers besides baby boomers, and 72 percent are willing to pay more for products from businesses committed to sustainability.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/product_service_design_innovation/daniel_matthews/how_start_sustainable_small_busines" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1951</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1951</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:50:04 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>To Be Successful, Stop Making Excuses and Face Your Fears</title>
<description>Do you constantly find yourself making excuses? Do you try to ignore the toxic work environment you’re in? Are you in denial about your exercise and health regimen? Whatever it might be, if you want to be successful, you have to identify these things and face challenges head-on.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/306547" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1950</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1950</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:48:19 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Top Recurring Billing and Payment Tools for Small Business</title>
<description>Here’s a list of the top recurring billing and payments tools to transition the process from the ledger to the internet.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/01/recurring-billing-software.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1949</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1949</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:46:34 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Paychex sees small business job growth slowing, but wages rising</title>
<description>Minimum wage increases in states across the country are helping drive up wages, although the rate of job growth at small businesses has slowed down, according to payroll giant Paychex.<br />
<br />
The Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch, which Paychex compiles with the research firm IHS Markit, ended the year with a decline in small business job growth, but with wages higher compared to the previous year. The Small Business Jobs Index slipped to 99.70 in December, down 0.16 percent for the month and 0.78 percent for the year. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/paychex-sees-small-business-job-growth-slowing-but-minimum-wages-rising" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1948</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:42:27 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Reasons Brick-and-Mortars Will Always Succeed</title>
<description>Technology has made it so you can start a new business without even paying for a lease. Simply using your laptop and smartphone, you can create an ecommerce site and have customers buying items from you with minimal expense.<br />
<br />
But technology solutions are not always as helpful and convenient as they’re cracked up to be. A brick-and-mortar store is still a huge plus for many types of businesses, especially if you sell products that people want to try out.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/306101" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1947</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1947</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jan 2018 16:41:24 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What Is Going to Happen in 2018</title>
<description>This is a post that I am struggling to write. I really have no idea what is going to happen in 2018.<br />
<br />
Will the crypto markets continue in their bull cycle? I have no clue.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/fred-wilson/vc-fred-wilson-what-is-going-to-happen-in-2018.html?cid=hmside4" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1946</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 8 Jan 2018 16:39:46 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Small Business Guide To Instagram Growth</title>
<description>In recent years Instagram has risen to become one of the social media giants, with over 800 million monthly active users, it can be a fantastic tool for businesses and brands. Not only is it a great platform to showcase what you have to offer, it’s also a great place to make connections, get involved in influencer marketing and reach new clients and customers. So how can you use the platform to make money? Here are some Instagram tips for small business owners.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.valuewalk.com/2018/01/instagram-tips/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1945</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 5 Jan 2018 16:37:18 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>An Almost Guaranteed Way to Achieve Every Goal You Set This Year</title>
<description>New Years resolutions: We love to make them. And, statistics show, we almost never keep them. (Eighty percent of people who make New Year's resolutions abandon them by the second week of February.)<br />
<br />
Of course you could try using silence to accomplish a goal. Or you could try to sneak up on big goals. Those strategies help, but they are far from foolproof.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/an-almost-guaranteed-way-to-achieve-every-goal-you-set-this-year.html?cid=hmside3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1944</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 3 Jan 2018 13:36:34 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Simple Ways to Grow Your Brand on Instagram</title>
<description>Having a smart mobile marketing strategy is an important part of building your personal brand online. Leveraging your social networks to their fullest potential is also important for visibility.<br />
<br />
Instagram is one of the most widely used networks today that can help build a larger audience and following online, making it a must-engage tool for brands. Posting relevant images, ads and videos that your audience will love is just one part of the success formula.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/303792" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1943</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>These 5 Strategies Will Keep Your Employees Energized</title>
<description>The worlds top companies are starting to manage employee energy like a strategic asset. They know that ever-increasingly pace of change requires more and more human energy. Any entrepreneur will tell you that it take a tonne of energy to grow a business. The key is to manage it; sometimes you have to exert energy, other times you need to conserve it to go the distance, and after a sprint you need to replenish it.<br />
<br />
A group of senior executives from companies like Facebook, Alibaba, IBM and Johnson & Johnson got together to come up with strategies to better manage collective human energy in their companies. Here are their top five hacks to maximise human energy:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/alison-eyring/these-5-strategies-will-keep-your-employees-energized.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1942</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Amazon takeover of Whole Foods may be good for small businesses in natural food industry</title>
<description>For entrepreneurs in the natural food and products industry like Constantine, Whole Foods has served as a launchpad of sorts for companies looking to get on mainstream store shelves. Companies and local farmers often would get into one or two locations and grow from there if their products took off. Like the big supermarkets and food manufacturers who are nervous about Amazon's size and power, many small suppliers can see benefits of the combination, but are also concerned what it could mean for them. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/small-business/2017/10/25/amazon-takeover-whole-foods-may-good-small-businesses-natural-food-industry/796127001/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1941</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Things Smart People Do When They Are Tasked With a New Project (Other Than Panic)</title>
<description>Recently, I was asked to take over an existing project. And, like most people, my first inclination was to feel completely intimidated and overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
This assignment -- along with its longstanding processes and its related team members -- was all brand new to me. And, if that wasn't enough to have me breathing into a paper bag, managing this project also required me to branch out and exercise some skills that I had previously left untapped.<br />
<br />
My chest gets tight at the very thought. Can you relate? Being asked to take on a new work endeavor is a great thing (hey, you must be doing something right!). But, it can also plant plenty of seeds of self-doubt.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, this recent experience opened my eyes to some better, more productive things you can do when you're tasked with a new project -- aside from just panicking.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/kat-boogaard/4-things-smart-people-do-when-theyre-tasked-with-a-new-project-other-than-panic.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1940</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Nov 2017 09:00:02 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Clever Retargeting Persuades Customers Who Looked But Did not Buy</title>
<description>Did you know that nearly 96 percent of your first-time visitors are not ready to purchase from your website right away? That means in most cases, in order to make a sale, you need to encourage your visitors to return more often to your site.<br />
<br />
Retargeting is the best way to target your first-time visitors on different marketing channels and encourage them to return to your site. Since retargeting helps you to target your existing prospects, it will likely boost more engagement than untargeted ads, making your entire campaign cheaper and cost-effective.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302050" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1939</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>21 High-Paying Jobs of the Future</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[When looking for one of the best jobs of the future, two considerations will be crucial: what jobs are well-paying, and what jobs will expand dramatically in the next decade?<br />
<br />
Jobs in healthcare and tech tend to tick both boxes.<br />
<br />
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its biennial projections for job growth across hundreds of occupations between 2016 and 2026.<br />
<br />
We took those projections and combined them with BLS estimates of the 2016 median annual earnings of those jobs -- using the geometric mean of the two numbers -- to come up with a ranking of the best jobs of the next decade.<br />
<br />
To focus on good, high-paying jobs, we restricted our list to those with salaries higher than the 2016 median annual wage of $37,040.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/business-insider/best-jobs-of-the-future-2017.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1938</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Amazon Business Prime Shipping Changes the Game for Small Business Procurement</title>
<description>Amazon Business Prime Shipping is a paid annual membership program, which enables registered multi-user business customers to take advantage of unlimited fast and free shipping. The program is currently available for Amazon Business customers in the United States and Germany.<br />
Small businesses are often faced with the challenge of sharing passwords for authorizing procurement and shipping tasks. With Business Prime Shipping everyone in a business account automatically gets Business Prime Shipping.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/amazon-business-prime-shipping.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1937</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Nov 2017 09:00:26 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How To Get Your Small Business Noticed Online</title>
<description>While there are hundreds of thousands of brands competing online, there are a few e-commerce sites, like Amazon, that top the rest. Amazon is the big box store of years past. At one time, consumers would shop at several small businesses to get what they need, but later, larger stores like Walmart popped up, serving as one-stop shops for every consumer need.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jiawertz/2017/10/26/stiff-competition-how-to-get-your-small-business-noticed-online/#3b94b2ec51ee" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1936</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Holiday Marketing Guide for Small Businesses</title>
<description>We have officially entered the holiday season! October through January is filled with holidays from Halloween to New Years. As a small business, you can take advantage of this joyful time by taking your marketing efforts to the next level. There are many different ways a small business can celebrate (and profit from) the holidays, so let’s jump right into to our extensive guide.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/holiday-marketing-guide-small-businesses-2-01933508#mWSyWVAcJZ6TFvoS.97">complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1935</link>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Nov 2017 09:00:27 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses: How to Network Like a Pro</title>
<description>Networking skills: sometimes it feels like you either have them or you do not. Putting yourself out there at social gatherings comes so naturally to a lot of folks, while others struggle when forced to strike up conversations with strangers.<br />
<br />
Networking can be especially overwhelming for small business teams, who usually do not have a safety net of colleagues at networking events — or a big company name in their back pockets. Yet networking has clear benefits that can help your company and career. Not only does it expand your network of contacts, it introduces you to new opportunities, advice and opinions. Put in a little practice, and networking makes you more visible and even helps boost your self confidence.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/10/network-like-a-pro-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1934</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Square Expands Lending To Reach Small Business</title>
<description>Last summer, Square began offering loans to non-Square merchants with the help of a restaurant software partner called Upserve. Now, the payments and financial services company has created a formal partnership program with the long-term goal of reaching millions more.<br />
Square Capital is launching the partnership platform with BigCommerce, an e-commerce software company that is letting Square make loan offers to its tens of thousands of small business clients.<br />
<br />
Square is also extending loan offers to restaurants that work with its own delivery service, Caviar, but which do not already process payments through Square.<br />
<br />
Taken together, these new partnerships give Jack Dorseys company a way to jumpstart further expansion of its lending program, which has already extended $1.8 billion in funds to more than 140,000 businesses since its launch three-plus years ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://business.newsfactor.com/news/Square-Reaches-for-Small-Businesses/story.xhtml?story_id=130008NZ1LNE" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1933</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 8 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The State Of Small Business Marketing</title>
<description>Marketing is a moving target these days. Technologies evolve and customer behavior seems to change almost every day.<br />
<br />
Small businesses tend to be a little slow with marketing developments. Some are cutting-edge, of course – but most wait until theres proof a tactic works.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansutter/2017/10/21/the-state-of-small-business-marketing/#233f92c8200e" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1932</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 6 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Startup Slump</title>
<description>Economists say big businesses like Amazon, Google, and Facebook are hurting entrepreneurship and creating a startup slump in America, according to a report in The New York Times.<br />
<br />
In 2015, some 414,000 new businesses were created, the Census Bureau reported on Wednesday. While that's a slight increase from the previous year, it's still far less than the 558,000 companies formed in 2006, the year before the recession hit.<br />
<br />
The cause of that downturn may be that big businesses are eliminating their competition.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/emily-canal/why-big-businesses-are-to-blame-for-the-startup-slump.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1931</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 3 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Affordable Franchises You Can Start for Less Than $10,000</title>
<description>Everyone says that starting a business is expensive and risky, but it doesn't have to be. One approach, which some consider safer, is owning a franchise. It has a proven business model, a brand built in and corporate support. And not every franchise will cost you millions. In fact, you can start some franchises for less than five figures -- and not just random, bargain-bin franchises, but companies that made our 2017 Franchise 500 List.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/294793" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1930</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 1 Nov 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How AI Tech Is Changing Small Business Marketing And Customer Service</title>
<description>Whether you realize it or not, artificial intelligence has become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Companies large and small are embracing the opportunity to achieve more and set bigger goals by using AI. Solid proof of this embrace can be seen in CRM giant Salesforce, which embeds AI into its leading CRM platform. Driven by the idea of democratizing AI so companies of all sizes can deliver smarter, more personalized, and predictive customer experiences, Salesforce created Einstein, your personal AI data scientist to guide you through your day.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mnewlands/2017/09/21/how-ai-tech-is-changing-small-business-marketing-and-customer-service/#4395c89b1dc3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1929</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Learn About Social Media Algorithms, Augmented Reality and More Changing Business Trends</title>
<description>The tools, platforms and methods you use to grow your business are constantly changing. So you need to keep up with all the latest updates and trends. Members of the online small business community have some great insights about these changing tools and trends, ranging from social media algorithms to augmented reality. Read on for some helpful tips.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/learn-social-media-algorithms-augmented-reality-changing-business-trends.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1928</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 27 Oct 2017 21:09:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The A-Z of Popular Business Startups: A State by State Guide (Infographic)</title>
<description>So many small businesses start as a dream. But what types of businesses are entrepreneurs currently dreaming about starting? Online equipment marketplace Bid on Equipment recently created an infographic showing the types of businesses that are most popular with prospective entrepreneurs and current business owners. Here’s a rundown of the findings.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/most-popular-profitable-small-businesses.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1927</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:00:37 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Budgeting Tips For Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Every business needs well managed capital to scale. If you’re able to budget properly, then there will always be enough capital for you to grow your business. Every business operates differently which means there is no universal formula to creating a viable budget for your company. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/article/4-budgeting-tips-for-small-business-owners-cm837931" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1926</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 15 Most Profitable Small-Business Industries</title>
<description>Thinking about launching a new business? Here is where to look to for high profit margins.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299068" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1925</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1925</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Oct 2017 09:00:05 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>11 Cyber Security Questions Every Small Business Should Ask</title>
<description>The big question therefore is: are you prepared for a cyber attack? Small business credit provider Headway Capital, has compiled data to help you check yourself.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/08/cyber-security-questions-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1924</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 18 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Ways to Break Your Small Business Out of a Rut</title>
<description>When your small business gets stuck in a rut, you need to find a quick way to snap out of it. This can mean finding a new source of inspiration, following some new trends or even kickstarting your marketing efforts. For more on breaking your small business out of a rut, check out these tips from members of the online small business community.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/08/10-ways-break-small-business-rut.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1923</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1923</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2017 09:00:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>18 Secrets From CEOs Whose Companies Will Not Stop Growing</title>
<description>On the lists 10th anniversary, we asked the founders of 25 of the 142 remarkable companies that have earned a spot on the Inc. 500/5000 list 10 times or more to reveal how they have sustained and managed hypergrowth. What follows is a sampling of their sage advice<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/magazine/201709/kimberly-weisul/2017-inc5000-10-times-winners-roundup.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1922</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>14 Startup Tips From Small Business Pros</title>
<description>Experts from the nations 63 Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are more than happy to share their advice for starting and growing a business successfully. They work with entrepreneurs every day, providing free and low-cost consulting. Collectively, SBDCs help a new business launch every 31 minutes, and provide more than 1.3 million hours of consulting services to entrepreneurs annually.<br />
<br />
To get you started, we’ve asked some of these advisors to share their best tips for new businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.allbusiness.com/14-startup-tips-small-business-pros-113553-1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1921</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 11 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>13 Places to Find Small-Business Grants for 2017 and 2018</title>
<description>There are sources for women or minority entrepreneurs and virtually anyone else.<br />
<br />
The money may not be enough to keep you afloat for several years, but it can make a big difference. Here are 13 places to find small-business grants. And although there is no way to know if LendingTree will repeat its $50,000 small-business grant competition, it still has information on applying for grants and what grant issuers are looking for.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/erik-sherman/13-places-to-find-small-business-grants-for-2017-a.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1920</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1920</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>50 Small Business Ideas for the Homebody</title>
<description>Want to start a business from the comfort of your own home? There are plenty of business opportunities out there for homebodies. So if you are looking for a way to make some money without having to be away from home most days, here are 50 ideas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/stay-at-home-business-ideas.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1919</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1919</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Meet The Future Of Small-Business Health Insurance: Self Funding</title>
<description>A few months before most of the Affordable Care Act provisions that restructured health insurance markets took effect, a broker described the great lengths to which he thought many small businesses might go in order to keep their relatively low insurance premiums. He anticipated that these small companies would start to pay employee health care costs out of their own treasuries — what's called, in the industry, self-funded insurance.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/robbmandelbaum/2017/08/30/meet-the-future-of-small-business-health-insurance-self-funding/#5a4554124714" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1918</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 4 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Tips for Building a Customer Focused Business</title>
<description>For tips on keeping your business customer focused and more, check out this recent content from members of the online small business community.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/09/10-tips-building-customer-focused-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1917</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 2 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Things Smart Employers Look for in a Resume</title>
<description>For the same reasons a resume is never enough to get you the job you really want, no one hires a new employee based on their resume alone. Qualifications, education, experience, it all matters, but most hiring managers quickly scan and sort resumes before moving on to the next step in the hiring process.<br />
<br />
So how can you get better at reviewing resumes to identify the candidates you want to interview? The following is from Simon Wistow, the co-founder and VP of Product Strategy at Fastly, who looks for three key things on every resume.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/3-key-things-smart-employers-look-for-in-a-resume.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1916</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1916</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 Sep 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>To Be Successful, Be Patient With Your Imperfections</title>
<description>Even though I’m learning and growing daily, life is still challenging. The more I learn, grow and become better, new challenges present themselves to me.<br />
<br />
I am learning, over and over again, that being challenged, making mistakes and not knowing what I am doing is part of life. And there is nothing wrong with that.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/298365" target="_blank" >To Be Successful, Be Patient With Your Imperfections</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1915</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2017 13:53:49 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Ways Entrepreneurs Are Making IoT More User-Friendly</title>
<description>The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly evolving technology sector. As the popularity of connected devices increases with consumers, the number of entrants into the market grows. But rapid growth and iteration have had some unintended consequences in the IoT space, especially when it comes to usability.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/292415" target="_blank" >IoT More Friendly</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1914</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1914</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:51:54 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Outstanding Leaders Exhibit More Than Just Emotional Intelligence--They Have These 7 Traits, According to Neuroscience</title>
<description>The topic of emotional intelligence (EQ) continues to dominate leadership conversations. Rightly so. However, in a Harvard Business Review (HBR) article that highlighted research by Daniel Goleman and Richard Boyatzis (experts on the topic), EQ is only the beginning.<br />
<br />
Whereas EQ has an emphasis on individual psychology, there is a more relationship-based version called social intelligence. Social Intelligence, as defined by Goleman and Boyatizis, is a set of interpersonal competencies built on specific neural circuits and responses that inspire others to be effective. In other words, based on neuroscience and biology, there are certain leadership behaviors that elicit positive emotional responses in your team members.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/michael-schneider/outstanding-leaders-exhibit-more-than-just-emotion.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1913</link>
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<pubDate>Sun, 24 Sep 2017 13:49:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Hiring Rises</title>
<description>U.S. small businesses added more workers in July and plan to ramp up hiring in coming months. That is according to the National Federation of Independent Business monthly employment survey, due out later today.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-business-hiring-rises-in-july-1501770668" target="_blank" >Small Business Hiring Rises</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1912</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1912</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Sep 2017 13:48:03 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Build a Following for Your Business with Facebook Watch</title>
<description>A Look at Facebook Watch<br />
<br />
The Facebook Watch platform, which will be accessible on mobile, desktop and in Facebooks TV apps, will focus on shows that have episodes that fit into a theme or storyline. And users can follow their favorites so that they never miss episodes. There will also be features to help users discover new shows that fit with their interests or that their friends are talking about.<br />
<br />
To start, Facebook Watch will only be available to a limited number of publishers while Facebook grows the platform. But the company plans to roll it out slowly to more users in the coming weeks.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/08/facebook-watch.html" target="_blank" >Build a Following for Your Business with Facebook Watch</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1911</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1911</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:46:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Small-Business Owners Should Be Using IoT</title>
<description>By 2020, there will be more than 24 billion connected devices. This wave of connections is already impacting the way we live and work. Of course, for small-business owners, life and work are usually intertwined: Running a business is a 24/7 job.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, the internet of things (IoT) can actually help small-business owners streamline their processes and work more efficiently. Think of those 24 billion devices and services as an opportunity to work smarter, not harder!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/297554" target="_blank" >How Small-Business Owners Should Be Using IoT</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1910</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1910</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:44:05 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Confidence Bounces Back</title>
<description>After five straight months of declining or flat readings in small business optimism, Julys update from the NFIB showed a big turnaround. With economists expecting the headline index to come in at a level of 103.5, the actual reading came in at 105.2. This puts the index back within a point of its cycle high and indicates that despite a lack of progress in DC, small business owners are seeing improved conditions on the ground.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4096724-small-business-confidence-bounces-back" target="_blank" >Small Business Confidence Bounces Back</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1908</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1908</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 17 Sep 2017 13:38:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to choose a retirement plan for your small business</title>
<description>Have you procrastinated about setting up a tax-advantaged retirement plan for your small business? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Even so, this is not a good situation. You are paying extra income taxes every year that you could easily avoid. However, you still have time to set things right and line yourself up for major tax savings for this year and beyond. This column explains the basics about your tax-smart retirement plan options.<br />
<br />
When you cut through all the technical details, you’ll discover that tax-advantaged retirement plans come in two basic varieties:<br />
<br />
Defined-contribution plans, which come in several different flavors.<br />
Defined benefit pension plans.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-choose-a-small-business-retirement-plan-2017-08-08" target="_blank" >How to choose a retirement plan for your small business</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1907</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1907</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2017 13:36:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Today: What Is in a name?</title>
<description>It is common knowledge around the Friedman household that when Emily was born, if she had been a boy instead of a girl, her name would have been Ted. Katie was also going to be named Ted and so was Jenni. When a boy was born to us in 1994, just a few short weeks after we moved to Ankeny, to no one’s surprise, we named him Ted.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/community/2017/08/10/small-business-tom-friedman-ankeny-bank/104464866/" target="_blank" >Small Business Today: What Is in a name?</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1906</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1906</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Sep 2017 13:35:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Never Forget</title>
<description><img alt="" border="0" src="http://small-business-software.net/911.jpg"><br />
#neverforget - September 11th</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1909</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1909</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:40:02 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Things Your Small Business Needs to Spend More Money On</title>
<description>Businesses are incredibly difficult ventures to start. More than half of all businesses fail within five years of starting, according to statistics gathered in 2016. While this is far better than the traditional belief that half fail within a single year of starting, it is still clearly a challenge to start and continue running a small business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/298318" target="_blank" >6 Things Your Small Business Needs to Spend More Money On</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1905</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1905</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 9 Sep 2017 13:28:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Small Business Guide To Selling On Amazon: Be Ready To Compete On Price</title>
<description>Amazon can truly be called a retail innovator, and since its inception as an online bookseller in the 1990s, it has forever changed the way consumers shop for products. Amazons reach is staggering -- nearly 50% of internet users in the US live in a household with a Prime membership and amazon.com receives more than 2 billion visitors every single month.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielshaoolian/2017/08/10/a-beginners-guide-for-deciding-to-sell-on-amazon/#4765a11b7295" target="_blank" >A Small Business Guide To Selling On Amazon: Be Ready To Compete On Price</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1904</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1904</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 7 Sep 2017 13:26:03 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Three Key Success Metrics Every Small Business Owner Should Focus On</title>
<description>Your small business is up and running, and you have a product or service that you are excited about. How do you boost your chances of building a venture that will last for the long term? A government statistic shows roughly 40% of Australian businesses fail within the first four years.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentinnes/2017/08/08/the-three-pillars-of-small-business-success/#29d1be5d9176" target="_blank" >Three Key Success Metrics Every Small Business Owner Should Focus On</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1903</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1903</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 5 Sep 2017 13:17:53 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Fake News Hurts Small Business</title>
<description>Here is a fact: fake news is everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is not a reputable news source out there distributing information with an objective, unbiased voice. It just does not exist anymore.<br />
<br />
Where are the Cronkites, the Huntleys, the Brinkleys? In this frayed political climate, fake news seems to be at the very top of every discussion; it’s almost inescapable<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/louismosca/2017/08/03/fake-news-hurts-small-business/#721366543e16" target="_blank" >Fake News Hurts Small Business</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1902</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1902</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 3 Sep 2017 13:11:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Hot Take: Why Are Small Business Owners So Happy?</title>
<description>In other words, small business optimism is mostly a false front, not anything real about how he is expected to affect the economy. There was sort of a pent-up demand to rebound from the unwarranted fall in optimism during 2015, and when you combine that with a lot of support for Trump, you get a spike in reported optimism. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/08/hot-take-why-are-small-business-owners-so-happy/" target="_blank" >Why Are Small Business Owners So Happy?</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1901</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1901</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 1 Sep 2017 13:09:08 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Classic Small Business Social Media Mistakes</title>
<description>The try-out period for social media is long past. Even tiny businesses – even many who don’t even have their own websites – know they need to be on social.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansutter/2017/08/11/10-classic-small-business-social-media-mistakes/#5e709ea538c3" target="_blank" >10 Classic Small Business Social Media Mistakes</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1900</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1900</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Aug 2017 13:07:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to plan an exit strategy for your small business</title>
<description>However, a business exit strategy not only means having a plan for the unexpected - including financial hardship, injury, disability and even death - it also means having a plan for the succession or transfer of ownership of your business when it comes time to hang up your hat and retire.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/money/2017/08/13/how-plan-exit-strategy-your-small-business/545426001/" target="_blank" >How to plan an exit strategy for your small business</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1899</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1899</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Link From Your Content to Build Leads and Connections</title>
<description>Whenever we create digital content, we reference other web pages, either for further reading or to give a credit. In most cases, we link out in order to create better content and provide the reader with more information on the subject.<br />
<br />
But did you know that links can provide further value for your business? If you approach it strategically, linking out can actually bring leads and business contacts. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/293117" target="_blank" >How to Link From Your Content to Build Leads and Connections</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1898</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1898</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:04:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>34 Things You Need to Give Up to Be Successful</title>
<description><b>1. Wasting five minutes.</b><br />
When you have five minutes of down time, how do you spend that time? Most people use it as an excuse to rest or laze.<br />
<br />
By lazing for five five-minute breaks each day, we waste 25 minutes daily. That's 9,125 minutes per year (25 X 365). Sadly, my guess is we're wasting far more time than that.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.inc.com/benjamin-p-hardy/34-things-you-need-to-give-up-to-be-successful.html?cid=hmside4" target="_blank" >34 Things You Need to Give Up to Be Successful</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1897</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1897</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Aug 2017 12:53:27 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>A Startling Small Business Statistic</title>
<description>Google reports that 60% of small businesses globally don't have a website yet.</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1896</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1896</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Aug 2017 09:00:14 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Amazons Tepid Response to Counterfeiters Frustrates Sellers</title>
<description>On Tuesday, independent tech publisher No Starch Press found out that Amazon was selling counterfeit copies of Python for Kids, one of its popular programming books. A concerned customer alerted Bill Pollock, the founder and publisher of No Starch. He immediately knew what he was up against, because Pollock has dealt with this problem before.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/sonya-mann/amazon-counterfeits-no-starch.html?cid=hmcol1_1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1895</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1895</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How and Why Your Small Business Should Be Recycling Paper</title>
<description>Chances are, your business goes through a fair amount of paper. Even if you have tried to go paperless or cut back on printing hard copies of documents, you likely have some paper products that need to be disposed of.<br />
<br />
But instead of just throwing away all of that paper, your business can recycle it. Recycling paper comes with many potential benefits and is relatively easy. Here are some tips for recycling paper in your small business.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/03/recycling-paper-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1894</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1894</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Digital Marketing Strategies Small Businesses Should Adopt</title>
<description>Digital marketing is a very broad term that includes website design, social media, online advertising, email advertising, SEO and more. This can be extremely confusing to the local business owner simply looking to attract more eyeballs on their site. They are typically too busy running operations to investigate which digital marketing strategies work best for their business.<br />
<br />
In an effort to help local business owners such as restauranteurs, dentists, doctors, lawyers and any other service provider, I have put together the digital marketing strategies that all local businesses should adopt in 2017.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/24/digital-marketing-strategies-small-businesses-should-adopt/#1595db1b13df" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1893</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1893</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Apr 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Top Cities for Millennials Looking for Small Business Jobs</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[It is generally assumed that millennials are seeking jobs in coastal cities — New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles.<br />
<br />
But new data from Indeed.com shows that millennials looking to work for small businesses are actually narrowing their searches toward inland cities.<br />
<br />
<b>Cities Where Millennials Want to Work for Small Businesses</b><br />
In fact, when identifying metro areas where millennials are most often looking for work at small businesses. Oklahoma City topped the job board’s list, not L.A. or New York.<br />
<br />
This is the latest crop of data looking at generational trends among job seekers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/03/cities-where-millennials-want-to-work.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1892</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1892</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Apr 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Small Business Trends That Are Steadily on The Rise</title>
<description>A social media presence is considered a necessity and not a luxury.<br />
<br />
Having a presence on social media has become an absolute must for almost all business ventures.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/4-small-business-trends-steadily-rise-01805151#1JmyRVtbgqhRkCas.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1891</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1891</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Apr 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Small Business Owners Can Avoid Sears Fatal Mistake</title>
<description>Sears built its business dominating catalog sales, fulfilling the pre-smartphone on-demand demands of its clientele. This revolution in direct-to-consumer sales created loyal customers, a nationwide network of stores and decades of profit. Times became more challenging for Sears following the rise in popularity of Walmart, which offered similar goods for cheaper prices, and Amazon, which led the charge on ecommerce, and has spent billions of dollars on capitalizing on fast delivery.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/291022" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1890</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1890</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 8 Apr 2017 09:00:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to make your small business ready for a potential cyber attack</title>
<description>In a technology climate riddled with ransomware and other threats, there’s no room for complacency.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2017/03/24/how-to-make-your-small-business-ready-for-a.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1889</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1889</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 6 Apr 2017 09:00:16 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Create Your Small Business Retirement Succession Plan</title>
<description>When it comes to retirement and succession planning, a recent Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index survey suggests that business owners are not necessarily as prepared as they ought to be. Seventy percent of business owners surveyed say they do not have a formal written plan in place outlining what they will do with their business if they decide to retire or can no longer continue working.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/create-small-business-retirement-succession-140717170.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1888</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1888</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Apr 2017 09:00:05 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Brick-and-Mortar Retail Technology Is One of the Best Industries for Starting a Business in 2017</title>
<description>Tech startups can help optimize retailers' in-store operations and customer experiences, enabling them to keep up with competition from e-commerce companies. This category includes hardware and software such as sensors that track foot traffic, interactive tablets that boost customer engagement, and mobile point-of-sale applications.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/bartie-scott/best-industries-2017-brick-and-mortar-retail-technology.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1887</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1887</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 2 Apr 2017 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Tools You Need to Make 2017 Your Most Profitable Year Ever</title>
<description>Getting there starts with breaking down profit into its components and using six tools to move those pieces in the right direction.<br />
<br />
Profit is revenue minus costs. But to boost profit, it helps to break it down further into gross profit -- price times quantity minus variable costs (e.g., costs that increase with each unit of product you sell) -- minus fixed costs (e.g., salaries, benefits, rent, and utilities).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/peter-cohan/first-90-days-tools-you-need-to-make-2017-your-most-profitable-year-ever.html?cid=hmsub1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1886</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1886</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 31 Mar 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Ways Small Businesses Can Compete Against the Major Competitors</title>
<description>Moving into a new city or job can be daunting, the hassle of finding accommodation, the stress of moving personal items and most especially the people or city accepting someone new might not be pleasing.<br />
<br />
The same applies to small businesses that are launching into an industry ridden with bigger competitors. For an SMB, finding a niche can be time-consuming but rewarding on the long-term.<br />
<br />
In the article below, I will be sharing 4 effective marketing strategies for SMBs against bigger competitors.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/287450" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1885</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1885</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2017 09:00:05 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The 5 Things No One Ever Tells You About Starting a Business</title>
<description>Entrepreneurship is experiencing a romantic renaissance of sorts, a startup spring if you will. Everyone wants to hang a shingle on the back of their budding unicorn. It is culture and it is growth and it is hustle. Starting a business today seems to look really good on a t-shirt. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/justin-gray/the-5-things-no-one-ever-tells-you-about-starting-a-business.html?cid=hmside2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1884</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1884</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Mar 2017 09:00:45 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>3 Reasons Why Small Businesses Crash and Burn Online</title>
<description>The internet is the perfect forum for small businesses to compete with big brands. Audience reach, social sharing and unlimited sales and marketing opportunities have leveled the playing field between big and small companies. Still, a surprising percentage of small businesses have remained on the sidelines. Either they do not have an online marketing strategy, or the one they are using is inadequate, and therefore unsuccessful. So why are some smaller companies not taking full advantage of this potent and indispensable marketing tool?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/282652" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1883</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1883</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Mar 2017 14:38:32 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Avoid Double Taxation with an S Corporation</title>
<description>Paying taxes is unavoidable, yet that does not mean you need to pay more than necessary. You can make smart decisions to minimize your tax burden, without running afoul of the IRS.<br />
<br />
For small businesses and entrepreneurs, business structure impacts how you pay taxes, and potentially how much you pay as well. The biggest difference is whether the business is its own entity responsible for paying taxes or whether the business’ profits are passed along to the owners’ individual taxes.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/02/double-taxation-s-corporation.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1882</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1882</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Mar 2017 14:37:06 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>6 Ways to Think Outside the Box When Marketing Your Small Business</title>
<description>Sometimes budget limits small businesses from executing their marketing ideas, but not every successful strategy requires a lot of money. Here are six outside the box ways to market your small business that are both inexpensive and effective.<br />
<br />
1. Get personal.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/284269" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1881</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1881</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2017 14:24:13 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Watch Out For Fake Fonts! And Other Small Business Tech News This Week</title>
<description>Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?<br />
<br />
1 – A new form of ransomware centers on a fake font update.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2017/02/26/watch-out-for-fake-fonts-and-other-small-business-tech-news-this-week/#44b92c7a3a25" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1880</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1880</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 19 Mar 2017 14:18:02 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Elon Musks Surprising Strategy for Thinking About Everything</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Elon uses the <i>Richard Feynman</i> technique from what I have read about his approach, mixed with <i>first principles.</i><br />
<br />
... which is, basically, in simple terms: do not try to remember, but try to understand; when you understand, you will remember automatically.<br />
<br />
Sounds simple? But yet, so many people do not do it like that. They try to cram loads of info and facts into their brains, especially students, with the result of forgetting a lot of it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/quora/elon-musks-surprising-strategy-for-thinking-about-everything.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1879</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1879</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How Business Intelligence Is Being Disrupted for the Better</title>
<description>More targeted marketing was one of the biggest contributions enterprises welcomed when big data first hit. Big data allowed brands to create elaborate, yet personalized campaigns that evolved to become increasingly effective as salesmen and marketers learned how to actually use all of the data they now had access to. But now, big data has become so broad and complex it has outgrown its ability to provide tangible results without the translation of an IT department.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/287505" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1878</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1878</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:13:57 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Mindset Shifts You Need to Meet Any Goal</title>
<description>Optimism is powerful -- but so is preparation. In a live chat, Todd Herman explained that too much positivity can actually derail your goals. To that end, he shared three essential questions everyone should ask themselves to stay truly grounded. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/288953">complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1877</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1877</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2017 09:09:57 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Want to Have More Creative Breakthroughs? Redesign Your Day According to This Step-by-Step Guide</title>
<description>You stare at a blank screen for what seems like hours, waiting for your brain to come up with a brilliant idea, and it never comes. There has to be a better way to brainstorm, right?<br />
<br />
There is--and it might be as simple as doing the laundry.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/anna-hensel/yes-you-can-train-your-brain-to-have-more-aha-moments-heres-how.html?cid=hmsub1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1876</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1876</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Mar 2017 09:09:23 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Lies People Believe About Success</title>
<description>To understand the truth, we must first understand the lies that make it difficult to grasp.<br />
<br />
1. Success means the same thing to everyone.<br />
<br />
It does not.<br />
<br />
Some people value success in pure cash. Some people value it in the freedom that cash buys. Some people see success in how many lives they impact for the better. And some people judge success by how well they perform any given task at any given moment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/10-lies-people-believe-about-success-that-simply-arent-true.html?cid=hmside3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1875</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1875</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 9 Mar 2017 12:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What Small Business Owners Can Learn From Wegmans</title>
<description>Atop many business award programs sits privately-held and family-run Wegmans grocery stores, from No. 4 on FORBES list of Americas Best Employers. Based in Rochester, NY, the supermarket has an ardent fan base – including Alec Baldwins mother, who refused to move to California and give up her access to the grocery store – and legions of die-hard shoppers.<br />
<br />
And who can blame them? Clean stores, huge inventories, reasonable prices and a seeming dedication to making life easier for its customers, Wegmans offers many lessons small businesses can learn from and apply.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/marciaturner/2017/01/31/what-small-business-owners-can-learn-from-wegmans/#49d910854906" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1874</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1874</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 7 Mar 2017 21:18:11 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Social Media Resolutions for Small Businesses</title>
<description>As 2017 unfolds, small businesses should take a look at what did not work in 2016 and find ways to improve in the upcoming year. While you work to control spending and shed some of the holiday pounds, don’t forget about making social media resolutions for your business.<br />
<br />
Social media in 2017 will really be a defining factor in successful marketing strategies and strong businesses. In 2016, social media boomed for businesses. It was part of marketing strategies in previous years, but new advertising updates for social platforms and business-friendly changes made it easier than ever for organizations to make connections and offer valuable customer service.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.adweek.com/digital/larry-alton-guest-post-4-social-media-resolutions-for-small-businesses/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1873</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1873</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 5 Mar 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What Small Businesses Need to Do to Win in Online Retail</title>
<description>Companies that can figure out how to take advantage of new technologies for digital retail will outsmart and outpace competitors.<br />
<br />
Any company of any size -- whether it is one employee working out of her basement or a multi-national company balancing millions in revenue -- must consider how digitization is affecting business as we know it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/288733" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1872</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1872</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Mar 2017 12:09:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Trends in Website Design That Small Businesses Need to Know</title>
<description>Small businesses are an integral part of our economy. Every business aims to solve a problem and create value in doing so. This is particularly true of small businesses. They provide a service or product that meets local needs and can fulfill requirements for larger businesses.<br />
<br />
The benefits of small businesses are numerous, but often they can have difficulty creating, sharing, and establishing their message. Entrepreneurs, startups, and freelancers watch their budgets carefully, and expenses outside of delivering the product are kept to a minimum. That means marketing budgets get shaved first.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/drew-hendricks/4-trends-in-website-design-that-small-businesses-need-to-know.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1871</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1871</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 1 Mar 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business: How do you become a Social Media Maven?</title>
<description>How do you stay on top of the latest trends in your field?<br />
<br />
<i>I read a lot of blogs. I stay on top of Google Webmaster Central Blog, Search Engine Land and Moz Blog are ones that I read. I network with colleagues in the field to see what they’re doing, what they’re hearing and learn from them. There are a few SEO and social media marketing meet-ups in town that I attend.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://www.charlottefive.com/small-business-series-sbn-marketing-optimizing-keyword-searches/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1870</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1870</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Will Trumps Tax Plan Benefit Small Businesses?</title>
<description>Steven Mnuchin, Trumps candidate to run the Treasury Department, has stated that comprehensive tax reform will be an immediate priority of Trumps administration, and that his focus as Treasury Secretary will be stimulating economic growth and creating jobs through tax reform.<br />
<br />
But how will this affect small businesses and their owners?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/288857" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1869</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1869</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Macro Economics and Small Businesses</title>
<description>Once upon a time, in a land far, far away – in Internet terms that’s about 10 years ago – a small business owner did not have to worry too much about macro-economics. Well, that was a nice trip down Memory Lane.<br />
<br />
Today, Main Street business owners have to operate every day in their micro-economy, while keeping an eye on what is happening at the macro level. Alas, macro-economics is not easy to get your head around when your highest priority on Monday morning is to cover payroll on Friday.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimblasingame/2017/02/10/beware-the-barbell-effect-unless-youre-a-small-business/#33b489c06738" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1868</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1868</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why I Look for Longevity on Résumes</title>
<description>More and more hiring managers no longer view longevity on a résumé as a positive attribute. Some believe it indicates the employee lacks diverse work experience; others that the employee is complacent, or is afraid of change. This could very well be the case, but to me (and I may be coming from an old school of thought), stability on a résumé is something that hiring managers should still value. It can demonstrate loyalty, dependability, expertise and commitment.<br />
<br />
More specifically, here is how I evaluate longevity in a potential employee, in an attempt to see if it should be embraced, rather than dismissed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2017/01/23/top-5-small-business-posts-of-2016-from-the-wsjs-experts-blog-at-a-glance/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1867</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1867</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2017 09:59:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The 5 Pitfalls Of Naming Your Small Business</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Everyone told us that the name <i>Worstofall Design </i>would not work. <i>You can not use negativity in your branding, </i>they said.<br />
<br />
We decided to go with our gut and ignore the <i>rules.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/piasilva/2017/01/23/worstofall-design-and-the-pitfalls-of-naming-your-small-business/#68bc2fe36c70" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1866</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1866</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Power Habits of Great Leaders and Business Icons</title>
<description>Our never-ending quest towards self-improvement is a long journey of small steps. Small habits we repeat day after day, week after week, year after year. Small habits that have turned us into who we are today can also determine who we will become in the future. Below are 7 Power Habits of some of the greatest human beings to ever live.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lifehack.org/523579/7-power-habits-great-leaders-and-business-icons" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1865</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1865</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Top 10 Things that Keep Small Business Owners Up at Night</title>
<description>When it comes to buying and selling, small business owners are pretty good at that – every company is founded, and has been built to do those things. But operating a small business in the 21st century has become more complicated than ever before, which is why people who know small business know the best way to find out what’s really going on is to ask the owner what keeps them up at night.<br />
<br />
One organization that knows how to ask small businesses the right questions is the National Federation of Independent Business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/article/top-10-things-that-keep-small-business-owners-up-at-night-cm736740." target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1864</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1864</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Tips for Building the Small Business of Your Dreams</title>
<description>Being a business owner is a dream of many; but a reality of only a few. Especially when it comes to actually making it in the small business space. It requires persistence, preparation and dedication.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business.com/business-planning/kristen-vanstrom-business-of-your-dreams/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1863</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1863</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 ways Trump can help small-business owners</title>
<description>Optimism among small-business owners has soared as entrepreneurs hope that President-elect Donald Trump will enact policies aimed at helping them.<br />
<br />
Trump has promised to ease regulation. While some on Main Street cheer the goal, changing anything substantial about regulation is easier said than done.<br />
<br />
But there are other ways that a Trump administration can make life easier for small businesses. Consider this five-step plan his first 100 days agenda for Main Street.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/13/5-things-trump-can-do-to-help-small-business-owners.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1862</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1862</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Top 10 Tax Deductions for Small Businesses</title>
<description>These Deductions Can Really Help Your Bottom Line<br />
When you deliver your files, receipts and spreadsheets this year, make sure to schedule some time with your accountant to discuss tax deductions that could save your business vitally important revenue. You may be aware of many of them already, but here’s a refresher course just in case.<br />
<br />
For example, you probably know that while your salary is a non-deductible draw in many cases, you can deduct the salaries and wages you pay your employees. And speaking of wages, you can also deduct the fees you pay to professional service providers such as accountants, lawyers and perhaps even your tax preparer. Yay!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/article/top-10-things-that-keep-small-business-owners-up-at-night-cm736740" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1861</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1861</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 9 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How Donald Trump stands to impact the economy and small businesses</title>
<description>Joe Spencer has seen plenty of booms and busts in his hometown of Detroit over the years running his small business, Louisiana Creole Gumbo since 1983. He watched as the auto industry imploded and housing collapsed, and he grit his teeth through the subsequent recession.<br />
<br />
But these days, things are looking up for his resilient restaurant, famous for its gumbo served five ways. It hit $1.2 million in sales last year, leading him to open a second location.<br />
<br />
Now one thing is on his mind: How Donald Trump stands to impact the economy, and what might that mean for endeavors like his around the country.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/20/how-donald-trump-stands-to-impact-the-economy-and-small-businesses.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1860</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1860</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 7 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Protect Your Small Business from Cyber Attacks</title>
<description>Small business owners might assume that their small size makes them immune to cyber threats. Cyber criminals, in other words, only go after the big, flashy opportunities, like the major cyber attack on Target in 2013, which compromised roughly 40 million credit and debit card accounts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business.com/information-technology/clayton-dean-protect-your-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1859</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1859</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 5 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Top 10 Things That Keep Small Business Owners Up At Night</title>
<description>When it comes to buying and selling, small business owners are pretty good at that – every company is founded, and has been built to do those things. But operating a small business in the 21st century has become more complicated than ever before, which is why people who know small business know the best way to find out what is really going on is to ask the owner what keeps them up at night.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimblasingame/2017/01/21/top-10-things-that-keep-small-business-owners-up-at-night/#9b289fa70c61" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1858</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1858</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>6 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Success When Starting a Business</title>
<description>Are you starting a business for the first time? It can be challenging to step out of your comfort zone and go head to head with competitors, manage customer orders and deliver a desirable product. Putting in the right amount of market research goes without saying. But how do you increase your chances of success when starting a business? Check out these 6 ways here.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://businesswolf.org/6-ways-to-increase-your-chances-of-success-when-starting-a-business-2/">complete article</a><br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1857</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1857</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 1 Feb 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Here is How Businesses Use Technology to Boost Productivity</title>
<description>Interconnectivity is at the core of our digital universe, and with tech advancements, staying on top of trends is critical to career success. With 86 percent of U.S. adults1 18-29 owning a smartphone, most students, recent grads and longtime employees are seasoned in adopting new technologies.<br />
<br />
Preparing for the future of automation and digital security can help jobseekers adapt to the future of tech. As you consider your career goals in todays digital world, there are four things to ask yourself.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/native/n?prx_t=ZIMCAt4ALAXxsPA" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1856</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1856</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why You Need to Redo Your Employee Handbook</title>
<description>In the wake of new rules and new attitudes, HR departments changed the talk about equality in pay, hiring, promotions and retention.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/bartie-scott/hiring-management-lookback-2016.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1855</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1855</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Must-Read Business Books for 2017</title>
<description>Asking for that promotion or finally starting your own business is easier with an inspiring read in your back pocket. Plan to pick up one of these books in 2017 to boost your creativity, or learn leadership lessons from the best.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/video/10-must-read-business-books-for-2017.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1854</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1854</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Small Business Website Errors That Drive Customers Away</title>
<description>Visitors seldom leave a small business website with a neutral impression. For most prospects, your small business is an unknown quantity, so their first impression of your company will either make them more comfortable doing business with you or less comfortable. For this reason, you want their first experience with your website to inspire them to contact you—not your competitor.<br />
<br />
These are the 10 biggest website problems that can drive potential new business away:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2016/12/18/10-small-business-website-errors-that-drive-customers-away/#1f57b8954611" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1853</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1853</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Security Priorities for 2017</title>
<description>A New Year has arrived, along with some big security challenges.<br />
<br />
In 2017 the expected proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices across all types of environments will make it tough to ignore the security ramifications. The continued popularity of the cloud will continue to attract the attention of cyberattackers and ransomware authors will keep the IT security industry on its toes.<br />
<br />
Here are some of the small business security trends to follow going into a brand-new year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/small-business-security-priorities-for-2017.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1852</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1852</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>3 Ways Small Businesses Can Improve Profit Margins</title>
<description>As a small business, you are uniquely positioned to be able to compete for above average margins, and this should be your focus.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/aileron/2016/12/28/3-ways-small-businesses-can-improve-profit-margins/#4543e46b64e6" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1851</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1851</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Can Your Small Business Benefit From Pinterest?</title>
<description>How Can Small Business Owners Build their Online Presence Using Pinterest?<br />
<br />
Pinterest is not just an image sharing site. Small businesses can take advantage of the platform to market their goods and services to over 100 million online visitors. Here is how.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/pinterest/can-small-business-benefit-pinterest-01745431#x0guo3OFBgf78L41.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1850</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1850</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Quick End of Year Legal Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>To make lives easier, Moore offers the following legal tips to help small and medium-sized business owners.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/12/legal-tips-for-small-businesses.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1849</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1849</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2017 09:00:01 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Win Some Regulatory Relief</title>
<description>Christmas has come and gone, but anybody struggling to keep a small business afloat or pondering an entrepreneurial venture might be digging under the desiccated blue spruce (take it out, already) for a missed present or two. The good news is that, as tough as politicians make it to launch your own firm, they've recently gifted us with a bit of relief from their depredations—and more may be on the way.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/01/03/small-businesses-win-some-regulatory-rel" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1848</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1848</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Inspiring Way This Small Business Owner Handled Social Media Backlash</title>
<description>The founder of a multiracial beauty company shares how she coped after her “personal and professional victory” angered many fans.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/?icid=hjx004" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1847</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1847</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Sales, Profitability Are Up For Small Businesses As 2016 Ends</title>
<description>U.S. small businesses are wrapping up 2016 with stronger sales and improved profitability.<br />
<br />
Businesses with less than $10 million in annual revenues have experienced, on average, 7.3 percent annual sales growth during 2016, according to a financial statement analysis by Sageworks, a financial information company. That represents the fifth consecutive year that sales have grown more than 7 percent.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sageworks/2016/12/28/sales-profitability-are-up-for-small-businesses-as-2016-ends/#7fc28faa314b" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1846</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1846</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2017 01:59:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small businesses optimistic about 2017</title>
<description>Donald Trumps election as president has made many small business owners more upbeat about 2017.<br />
<br />
Dean Bingham says he is cautiously optimistic because business picked up at his auto repair shop after the election — people who had put off fixing their cars have decided it’s time to get them serviced.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/Economy/2017/01/04/Small-businesses-optimistic-about-2017.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1845</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1845</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 8 Jan 2017 01:59:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>6 key resolutions for your small business</title>
<description>If you are like most Americans, you’re probably making up a list of new year’s resolutions: lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, be nicer to your in-laws. While those resolutions may be long forgotten by February, I have got a list of resolutions you will want to keep to help you succeed in your small business in 2017.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/abrams/2017/01/04/9-key-resolutions-your-small-business/96122884/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1844</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1844</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Jan 2017 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Here Are the Top Entrepreneurship Trends for 2017</title>
<description>With this tumultuous year behind us, I am fixing my mind on what's to come in 2017. Change is the only constant in life, and with a new administration about to take over--I am truly optimistic about next year since entrepreneurs seem to be looking forward to the potential changes that this new year might bring.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/elizabeth-gore/top-entrepreneurship-trends-for-2017.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1843</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1843</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Jan 2017 16:00:24 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Lessons Small Businesses Can Learn From Tech Startups</title>
<description>Starting a small business in the United States has never been easier and, in fact, small businesses make up the backbone of the American economy. 9 out of every 10 employees works for one of the 28 million small businesses across the country. Each month, a half million new businesses enter the market, of which about 70% will last at least two years and one-third will last longer than 15 years.<br />
<br />
But what does it mean to be a small business? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2016/10/17/7-lessons-small-businesses-can-learn-from-tech-startups/#2075f89824f4" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1842</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1842</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 19 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>68 Percent of Millennial Small Business Owners Rely on Social Media for Brand Promotion</title>
<description>Millennial business owners depend on social media for brand promotion more than any other medium.<br />
<br />
Shocked, right? OK, probably not. But just how much Millennial business owners are using this relatively new media — or how much they don’t use traditional media — may come as a surprise.<br />
<br />
New data (PDF) from Magisto shows that 68 percent of Millennial small business owners and entrepreneurs depend on social media channels for developing awareness of their own brands.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/10/millennial-small-business-owners-rely-on-social-media.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1841</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1841</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:00:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Build Up Your Small Business on Social Media</title>
<description>If you have a small business, you know you want to use social media like Facebook and Twitter to increase sales. Kim Garst has made her living telling businesses how they should use social media to their advantage.<br />
<br />
The one thing all business owners say to her is that they want to use social media to make money. This is possible Garst says, but you have to first build a brand.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://time.com/money/4546896/small-business-social-media-tips-advice-facebook-twitter/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1840</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1840</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Ways to Keep Your Small Business Moving Forward</title>
<description>When you run a business, it’s important to always keep an eye on the future if you want your business to grow and improve. Members of our small business community understand what it takes to keep businesses moving forward. Here are some of their top tips.<br />
<br />
Make Sure Your Small Business is Prepared for the Holidays<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/10/10-ways-keep-small-business-moving-forward.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1839</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1839</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Proven Ways Content Marketing Benefits your Small Business</title>
<description>For small and local businesses, it can be hard to stand out against larger nationwide brands. However, content marketing can help your small business attract attention, and for relevant niches in your industry, too.<br />
<br />
Content marketing is a marketing approach that involves creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to your prospective audience in the hopes of driving a consumer action, and it has numerous benefits for small businesses. It can give you the opportunity to not only expand your company, but also to build your reputation and establish a place as a trusted leader in the industry.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/284136" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1838</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1838</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2016 09:00:08 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Small Business Guide to Virtual Assistants Both Human and Digital</title>
<description>Why Your Business Needs Virtual Assistants<br />
<br />
If you are looking to de-clutter your business life so you can focus on serving your clients and customers, then virtual assistants are the perfect solution. They excel at the everyday tasks that keep your business up and running and can also handle the more complex tasks that you’re ready to hand off to someone else.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/10/virtual-assistants-guide-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1837</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1837</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How To Deal With Stress: Tips For Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Despite the potential for physical, emotional, and mental stress, you can learn to lead a sustainable and healthy lifestyle as an entrepreneur.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/aileron/2016/10/18/how-to-deal-with-stress-tips-for-small-business-owners/#182ae76e1e5c" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1836</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1836</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 7 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>16 Powerful Body Language Tips to Instantly Exude Confidence</title>
<description>Look the part You may be trembling inside, but you want to appear strong and in control. How can you communicate confidence that you may or may not be feeling? Try following these simple tips.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/ss/body-language-tips-that-exude-confidence.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1835</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1835</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 4 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 5 biggest mistakes small business owners make according to Shark Tank stars</title>
<description>Small business owners have a problem with thinking big.<br />
<br />
Thinking big doesn't mean getting a big head.<br />
<br />
Small business owners mistake successful crowdfunding campaigns with success.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/shark-tank-stars-biggest-mistakes-small-business-owners-2016-10?r=UK&IR=T" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1834</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1834</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>50 Business Ideas for Teens</title>
<description>You do not have to be an adult to start your own business. In fact, there are many different business opportunities that teens can use to get their entrepreneurial journeys started. Here are 50 business opportunities for teens.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/10/business-ideas-for-teens.html" target="_blank" >50 Business Ideas for Teens</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1833</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1833</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tips to Identify Your Customers</title>
<description>It is common knowledge that <i>targeting</i> customers will result in a higher sales conversion than non-targeted, random traffic that just happens upon your website. In order to effectively target your customers, you need to know who and where they are. Customers come in all shapes and sizes, so how do you discern which customers are the best to target?<br />
<br />
The following are tips to identify your best customers...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/tips-to-identify-your-customers.htm" target="_blank" >Tips to Identify Your Customers</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1832</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1832</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2016 09:59:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Yahoo Hacked: What It Means for Small Business</title>
<description>Yahoo has confirmed that it was the target of what may be the largest cyberattack of all time. The breach took place back in 2014 and compromised the data of an unprecedented 500 million users.&nbsp;&nbsp; - See more at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9435-yahoo-cyberattack.html#sthash.y9TRc8EM.dpuf<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9435-yahoo-cyberattack.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1831</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1831</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>50 small business ideas you can start on your own</title>
<description>If you want to start a small business but you do not have large cash flow, there are still many great opportunities available.<br />
<br />
These jobs can be side businesses to start, but they may eventually replace your entire income.<br />
<br />
A small business on the side was once a novel idea, but it has become more mainstream with the help of the internet and social media.<br />
<br />
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that freelancers and self-employed individuals may make up 20% of the workforce by 2020. The Small Business Association estimated in February 2015 that there are about 28,443,856 small businesses in America. Nearly 23 million of those businesses are single worker operations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businesspundit.com/50-small-business-ideas/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1830</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1830</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2016 19:06:37 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Most Small Businesses Are Barely Saving Any Money, New Study Show</title>
<description>As Federal Reserve officials gathered to issue their monthly assessment of the world's largest economy, a new study lays bare the extent to which many small firms are pressed for cash.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/money/most-small-businesses-are-barely-saving-any-money-new-study-shows/ar-BBwwtJX" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1829</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1829</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Creativity Can Drive Productivity in Your Small Business</title>
<description>As a general rule, true creativity is lauded across the globe. From the iconic Burning Man Festival, which is held annually in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, to ever-diversifying International Women’s Day, there are recurring events that celebrate the innate abilities and the creative potential that exists within us all.<br />
<br />
Conversely, creativity is typically viewed as an inherently disruptive force in the world of business and commerce. After all, the boldness and distracting nature of innovative thinking is often considered to be detrimental to the basic mechanics of business management, while the endless pursuit of productivity often forces entrepreneurs to eschew creativity in favour of something more reliable.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/creativity-can-drive-productivity-small-business-01663317#aVlVGO7jtMS2qV0Q.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1828</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1828</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Businesses Going Green</title>
<description>A business that makes the decision to be environmentally-conscious will often promote goodwill among potential customers, while making the world a better place for future generations. Many businesses hesitate to adopt green practices because they fear it will hurt their bottom line and negatively impact profits. But many eco-conscious businesses discover that they can actually save money and bring in new customers who specifically patronize companies that actively make an effort to be environmentally friendly. Many customers may even be willing to pay a bit more for a product or service from a company that is green.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/businesses-going-green.htm" target="_blank" >Businesses Going Green</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1827</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1827</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2016 13:47:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>This Experts Controversial Tips For Making a Great First Impression May Shock You</title>
<description>Perhaps it is time to embrace some new first principles.<br />
<br />
Making a first impression is not easy. People are just so sensitive these days. Sensitive about themselves, that is.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/this-experts-controversial-tips-for-making-a-great-first-impression-may-shock-yo.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1826</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1826</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2016 13:44:50 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why the Golden Rule Must Be Practiced in Business</title>
<description>One of the most valuable possessions that you have is your reputation -- and it is important to guard it at all costs. Profits can be lost and regained, but rebuilding a damaged reputation -- that is far more difficult.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/281387" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1825</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1825</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:42:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Overlooked Elements of Running a Successful Business</title>
<description>Running a business is complicated, which means there are some factors or tasks that tend to get overlooked. From basic concepts to more involved processes, members of our small business community have plenty of tips for dealing with those sometimes overlooked business tasks. See the full list of tips below.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/09/10-overlooked-elements-running-successful-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1824</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1824</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:41:03 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small businesses put out of business by Internet crooks</title>
<description>Do you own a small business? If so, you are a favorite target of the Internet bad guys. More and more, they are moving away from well-prepared big businesses and stealing from small businesses, who are often unable to cope with even the most basic cyberattacks. Answer the following questions and then think carefully about what the answers mean for you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.normantranscript.com/news/business/small-businesses-put-out-of-business-by-internet-crooks/article_8e0815a6-9b2a-57dd-beb2-2f8c78b9dbf6.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1823</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1823</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 9 Oct 2016 21:00:22 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 Secrets of Great Communicators</title>
<description>Great communication skills are a powerful tool to have in your arsenal. Here are eight proven strategies that will improve yours today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/travis-bradberry/8-secrets-of-great-communicators.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1822</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1822</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 7 Oct 2016 09:59:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Advent of Access: How Smart Phones Have Changed the World</title>
<description>With the ongoing move of smart phones towards near-ubiquity, much of society has come to take these do-all devices for granted. In overcoming the novelty of smart phones, many of us have lost our one-time sense of awe at this technology, and have ceased marveling at the effect it has had on the world around us. However, it is undeniable that smart phones have exerted a huge and multi-faceted impact on society, and continue to do so to this day.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.notepage.net/learning-center/how-smart-phones-have-changed-the-world.htm" target="_blank" >The Advent of Access: How Smart Phones Have Changed the World</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1821</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1821</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 5 Oct 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Innovative Ways to Market</title>
<description>Marketing is a three-syllable word that seems so simple, yet encompasses so much. Marketing is a multi-faceted approach to promoting a product or service. Both traditional and unconventional marketing methods have a place in the small business world. Marketing helps small businesses focus on building their brand and identity.<br />
<br />
There are few limitations to marketing options, and the opportunities listed here are just a few that will generally result in a decent ROI (Return On Investment) for most small businesses. That said, do not be afraid to be creative -- no one knows or understands a small business like its owner, so think outside of the box and don't be afraid to experiment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/ways-to-market.htm" target="_blank" >Innovative Ways to Market</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1820</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1820</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 2 Oct 2016 09:00:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>IoT for Small Business: Effects, Opportunities & Platforms</title>
<description>Business Insiders premium research service, expects that there will be more than 24 billion connected devices on Earth by 2020 — approximately four devices for every human being on the planet.<br />
<br />
And as the IoT expands, it will have a particularly profound effect on businesses, especially small businesses. Several IoT business opportunities will be created in the coming years as we head into an increasingly connected world.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/internet-of-things-small-business-opportunities-platforms-2016-8" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1819</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1819</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2016 11:22:50 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Being a Millionaire Affects Your Happiness</title>
<description>Tai Lopez was born and raised on the wrong side of the tracks but he made choices early on in his adult life to move to the other side.<br />
<br />
Today he lives in a massive Beverly Hills mansion, shares his tips for creating wealth and fulfillment on his super popular social media channels and rubs shoulders with the most successful people in the world.<br />
<br />
So how did this all happen?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/281832" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1818</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1818</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2016 11:20:51 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Top 10 Tips for Data Theft Prevention</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[Is your business protected from a data breach? The largest data theft in history:<br />
<br />
1.2 billion internet user names and passwords compromised<br />
420,000 websites impacted<br />
Well-known national brands and small companies affected.<br />
Here are ten things you can do to protect your business.<br />
<br />
1. Secure sensitive customer, employee or patient data.<br />
<br />
Store paper files and removable storage devices (such as thumb drives and CDs) containing sensitive information in a locked drawer, cabinet, safe or other secure container when not in use.<br />
Restrict access to sensitive data to those who have a need to know. Give employees access to only the information they need to do their jobs - whether it's online or in paper form.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/thehartford/10-data-theft-prevention-tips.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1817</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1817</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:19:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Steps To Creating A Killer Small Business Content Marketing Strategy</title>
<description>Small businesses generally face harsher circumstances when it comes to planning and launching a marketing campaign. They have less revenue and capital, which means they’re more limited in the strategies they can pursue. They have fewer resources, which means their teams are smaller and less experienced. And they generally have less data and first-hand experience with which to strategize in the first place.<br />
<br />
One of the best marketing strategies for small businesses is content marketing, due to its approachability and affordability, but creating a content marketing strategy can still be an intensive and intimidating process.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2016/09/02/3-steps-to-creating-a-killer-small-business-content-marketing-strategy/#63037f0d9ab3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1816</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1816</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:17:51 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Brexit Tips for Small Business</title>
<description>How to Cope with Brexit<br />
For small businesses owners, especially ecommerce merchants already selling (or thinking about selling) to UK consumers, the anxiety lies with unknown costs: what happens when Brexit takes effect? What new regulations or tariffs will be imposed on trade? How will that affect landed costs (taxes + import tariffs + shipping charges) to UK consumers? Will that change a seller's supply chain, and if so, how?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/5-brexit-tips-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1815</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1815</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 17 Sep 2016 11:16:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 SEO Advantages Small Businesses Have Over Major Firms</title>
<description>When small business owners think about getting involved in SEO, they often become intimidated (or frustrated). They see massive corporations and large businesses dominating the search engine world, and it is no secret why they are able to. They have access to tens of thousands of dollars (or more) to spend on online marketing, a highly talented full-time staff to oversee campaign management, and perhaps most importantly, they have been around for years, so they have had time to cement their authority in their respective niches.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/09/seo-for-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1814</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1814</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2016 11:13:16 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Tips for Making Your Customer Service Shine</title>
<description>1. Contribute to your community.<br />
For Chiodo, offering his time and resources to the community is not a chore so much as it is part of his commitment to doing the right thing.<br />
<br />
Last summer, for example, Chiodo and his team installed four new air conditioning units at a local animal shelter where the cooling system was on its last legs. Instead of handing the shelter a hefty bill, Chiodo worked with his distributor to have the equipment donated. He handled the labor for free.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279774" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1813</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1813</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2016 11:11:13 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Ways To Simplify Content Marketing For Your Small</title>
<description>Content marketing is an important part of keeping a small business growing. It can help you to build credibility and authority, win you good positions in search engine results, and develop important relationships with your actual and potential customers.<br />
<br />
The main problem for most small businesses is producing content at a consistent rate. There is so much to do when you’re trying to get a new business off the ground or take a semi-established small company to the next level.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/content-marketing/4-ways-simplify-content-marketing-small-business-01647440#dCP85CExt7BmtxbF.99" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1812</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1812</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2016 11:10:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Mobile App Strategies Boost Revenues for Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Global mobile traffic now represents roughly 60 percent of internet traffic, making mobile apps a must-have for businesses. But consumers today increasingly expect an Amazon-like experience online. Small businesses do not just need to build a mobile app, they need to build a great one.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/09/small-business-mobile-strategies.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1811</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1811</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 9 Sep 2016 11:08:31 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies</title>
<description>These companies are making major strides--and major revenue gains. Check out the fastest growing businesses in the U.S.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/inc-staff/ss/2016-inc5000-fastest-growing-private-companies-united-states.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1810</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1810</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 7 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Explore Prime Locations for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Of all the elements in starting a new business, location is among the most crucial. But it’s more than just finding a good spot. A prospective startup owner may need to look at different cities in order to take advantage of the potential audience, costs and revenue opportunities.<br />
<br />
There is plenty of research out there about what the best cities are for small businesses, and different studies will yield different results, based on their metrics. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://trueviralnews.com/?p=331580" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1809</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1809</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 5 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Does My Small Business Really Need Brand Management?</title>
<description>Brands are often associated with large businesses. However, a brand can be used effectively by small businesses as well to increase their profitability. Branding a new business is just as important as insuring your business and knowing when to hire an employee. Your business will not be maximizing its profitability if you are not building a strong brand.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://aits.org/2016/08/small-business-really-need-brand-management/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1808</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1808</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Sep 2016 09:00:48 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Social Media Donts for Small Businesses</title>
<description>A strong social network can become an asset for any business. Social media offers every business the opportunity to strengthen relationships with their target audience, creating loyal customers and even brand advocates. Exploiting this potential is no easy feat, but can be done if the medium is used well.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/social-media-donts-small-business-01628111#xOjOfPBRg8yVBhxB.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1807</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1807</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 10 Worst Places to Start a Business</title>
<description>More new businesses fail than succeed, according to the Kauffman Foundation. And U.S. Small Business Administration data shows that it is only a matter of time before at least half of all businesses go under: Nearly two-thirds of businesses with employees survive at least two years, but only about 50 percent survive at least five years.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/the-10-worst-places-in-america-to-start-a-business/ss-BBvPdEG" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1806</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1806</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>12 Ways You Can Be Better at Content Marketing for Your Business</title>
<description>Small business owners can now compete on an (almost) level playing field with big brands, all through applying the principles and use of content marketing. Regardless of the size of the business, the goal is the same: to use relevant content to attract qualified customers or clients.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://medium.com/startup-grind/12-ways-you-can-be-better-content-marketing-for-your-business-5c7fff1da6f7#.9wub3gp44" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1805</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1805</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Things You Need For Your Small Business Infrastructure</title>
<description>When you first start a business, you have your work cut out for you. Not only do you have to figure out if you have a viable product that people will actually pay you for, but you have to also find your customers, manage administrative tasks and deal with your staff, if you have one. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/08/small-business-infrastructure.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1804</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1804</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>9 Best Resources to Check Out before Opening a Small Business</title>
<description>There are so many things you need to know about before opening your own business, and it can get pretty overwhelming at times. You need to take advantage of any resources you can find that will help you to get where you need to be, and operate a successful small business, from information on creating business plans to the actual daily operations. Some resources are very helpful, while some are just a waste of time. To help keep you from wasting your time on the not-so-great resources, here are our 9 favorites.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/9-best-resources-check-opening-small-business-01635977#wJ5xDDAiEOPxwq5F.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1803</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1803</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Most Small Business Owners Are Happy Staying Small</title>
<description>What defines a small business owner as successful? You might think the obvious answer is one who grows quickly and expands his or her operations. But a recent report by Emergent Research and Infusionsoft found that <i>becoming a big business</i> doesn't equal success for most small business owners. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9283-small-business-success-definition.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1802</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1802</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Things Your Business Can Learn About Rebranding from Electronics Giant Sharp</title>
<description>When it comes to rebranding, what can your small business learn from a manufacturing giant like Sharp Electronics? Quite a lot, as it turns out.<br />
<br />
After its purchase by Japanese electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision earlier this year, Sharp went through an extensive rebranding process to focus on its home appliance division.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/08/rebranding-example-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1801</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1801</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Facebook Is Giving a Huge Break to Small Businesses in Emerging Markets</title>
<description>Facebook&nbsp;&nbsp;is to let small businesses in emerging markets sell to customers for free directly through their Facebook pages, the social media company said on Wednesday, marking a new effort to build up potential advertisers in its fastest-growing regions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://fortune.com/2016/08/03/facebook-small-business-emerging/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1800</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1800</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Best Tools That Small Business Owners Could Use to Promote Their Business Online</title>
<description>Marketing a business online can be a bit tricky with cost being a concern to most business owners. Some have to work with a low budget with most opting to find a free way to market their trade online.<br />
<br />
There are tons of free tools businesses can turn to when it comes to marketing online. With that in mind, it may all boil down to where to start and which tool is best used first. The tools mentioned range from actual sites to free tools integrated with their marketing plans. Below are some of the tools that companies can consider using.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-froelings/6-best-tools-that-small-b_b_11297070.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1799</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1799</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 8 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Think Like a Brand</title>
<description>When you consider branding from this perspective, you will likely notice that as important as affinity and equity are, the place your brand occupies in one’s mind surrounds the feelings that connect people to it. Be sure to remember this particular fact when you contemplate where your brand is and where you want it to be.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279101" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1798</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1798</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 5 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>11 Ways to Negotiate</title>
<description>Very few people actually like to negotiate. That's why so few people are good at negotiating; it's a task to be avoided or completed as quickly as possible.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, negotiating is a fact of life--especially business life. Fortunately, negotiating has less to do with competition than simply communicating: explaining the logic and benefits of a position, convincing others that an idea or premise makes sense, showing people how a decision will generate a desired return, helping people understand the benefits of change...<br />
<br />
In essence, negotiation skills are communication skills.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/11-ways-to-negotiate-better-with-anyone-even-if-you-don-t-like-to-negotiate.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1797</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1797</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 3 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Your small business marketing sucks — here is how to fix it</title>
<description>The formula for business success is simple but not easy. At the core, once you have your product or service figured out, your marketing plan should be a natural progression.<br />
<br />
In fact, we would challenge the thinking that your business plan and marketing plan are one in the same to a certain extent.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/small-business-marketing-sucks-fix-article-1.2710314" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1796</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1796</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 1 Aug 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Legal Mistakes Every Businesses Should Avoid</title>
<description>Running a business is like running a marathon. You have the law, the government, and the competition all eagerly expecting you to make a mistake. Unlike in the marathon, any mistake you make cannot be forgiven. That being said, many of the mistakes businesses make are usually due to negligence and ignorance. Notwithstanding the intent behind these mistakes, you can be made to pay a huge price for committing them.<br />
<br />
However, nothing can hurt your business as much as running afoul of the law in the process of running your business. Small business owners can pay the hardest for legal mistakes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-morrow/3-legal-mistakes-every-bu_b_11035120.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1795</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1795</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 ways states are luring small business</title>
<description>Georgia is among many states that are working hard to lure businesses of all sizes — and entice them to stay put. There's no one set formula that makes a state business-friendly, say business owners and experts. Rather, it is a mix of ingredients that, when combined, make a state an attractive place to set up shop.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/15/5-ways-states-are-luring-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1794</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1794</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Businesses try to keep calm amid uncertainty of Brexit vote</title>
<description>Britains vote to leave the European Union is already taking a toll on some small U.S. businesses, with canceled tour bookings in New York and U.K. retailers cutting back their orders from American suppliers.<br />
<br />
The plunge in the pound against the U.S. dollar after the vote three weeks ago makes goods and services more expensive for those in the U.K. and means British tourists get less for their money while traveling elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Many of the companies are trying to plot a course without clarity on exactly when or how a split may occur. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.telegram.com/article/20160717/NEWS/160719528" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1793</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1793</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Cheaper software puts small businesses in big leagues</title>
<description>Until recently, small businesses assumed that they could not access the same kinds of technology and opportunities that big corporations can with vastly greater resources. Rapid technology shifts have led many smaller businesses to expect more from technology.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2016/07/17/cheaper-software-puts-small-businesses-big-leagues/87143730/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1792</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1792</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Technologies for Small Business Success</title>
<description>Cloud computing has revolutionized the IT landscape for startups and smaller organizations by leveling the playing field and making advanced software capabilities attainable to businesses with modest technology budgets.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/News/Software/5-technologies-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1791</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1791</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 outsourcing tips for small businesses</title>
<description>As most (if not all) small business owners know, you can’t do or manage everything. And some tasks (HR and accounting spring to mind) are often better left to the experts.<br />
<br />
Of course, not every small or midsized business can afford to outsource functions, though in many cases the benefits outweigh the upfront cost. But whether you are planning to outsource or are just thinking about it, it pays to do your homework and due diligence before giving over part of your business to a third-party. Here are six things to consider before you choose a business right partner.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cio.com/article/3086969/small-business/6-tips-for-small-businesses-considering-outsourcing.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1790</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1790</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>SCORE Infographic: How Can Technology Help My Small Business?</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[SCORE, the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, has gathered statistics on popular small business technology, such as mobile tools and the cloud, while revealing a need for improvement in customer relationship management (CRM) and data security.<br />
<br />
Mobile technology is prevalent:<br />
<br />
80% of small business owners use a mobile device at least once a day<br />
56% use it for communication and scheduling<br />
30% take notes and create to-do lists<br />
29% check social media<br />
24% bank online<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/score-infographic-how-can-technology-help-my-small-business-300288329.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1789</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1789</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Cloud Computing Helps Lift Small Business Valuations</title>
<description>It takes more than a solid business plan and gumption to succeed in business nowadays. Growing your company in a competitive businesses landscape—and attracting interested investors—requires a solid footing in technology.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/News/ITManagement/cloud-computing-helps-lift-small-business-valuations.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1788</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1788</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Startup Checklist: Do Not Overlook These Items</title>
<description>Some people think starting a business will be this great thing to do and then as they move forward with the process quickly learn it is not always rainbows and unicorns.<br />
<br />
Sure, it has it perks - you become your own boss, choose your own hours and the clients you would like to work with along with how much to charge them. Then, theres one of my personal favorites - you choose the dress code! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marisa-sanfilippo/small-business-startup-ch_b_10557160.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1787</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1787</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>13 Best Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses</title>
<description>The first step to marketing is defining your end-game and strategizing your budget. The first question consultants ask those big, bad corporations going through restructuring is, <i>What do you want?</i> This is when you need to decide what is important to you; do you want to extend your reach or maximize local exposure? Are you looking for brand awareness or conversions?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2016/06/23/small-business-strategies" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1786</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1786</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Become A Data Genius: Track Everything In Your Small Business</title>
<description>As someone that has worked for small technology-based businesses for years, I have come to learn some of the best habits of small business geniuses. While most business owners are unique and every business is different, there is one very important trait that is shared by the most successful ones: they track everything.<br />
<br />
Tracking is one of the key pillars of a successful business. Without tracking, the business owner simply cannot know what works and what does not. It is also difficult to see where the inefficiencies are and how they can be improved upon.<br />
<br />
The best way to become a data genius is to get into the habit of tracking everything when it comes to your business, and that includes the website, customers, and employees.<br />
<br />
Since my experience mainly covers online and web businesses, most of the tips in this article will be relevant to those types of businesses. However, they can be modified and applied to just about any business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2016/06/20/become-a-data-genius-track-everything-in-your-small-business/#19a8bd1d635d" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1785</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1785</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 1 Jul 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>7 Offbeat Small Business Growth Strategies to Follow</title>
<description>Because small businesses have shoestring budgets, they lack all the privileges large businesses enjoy. Tilting the ground in their favor is incredibly difficult for them. It’s no surprise that 90 percent of startups fail.<br />
<br />
Expert tips can help them lower the cost while keeping the quality of the work high and meeting deadlines. Here are some offbeat growth strategies for startups:<br />
<br />
Working as Outsourcing Partner<br />
Competition with large businesses is futile for a small business. Co-habitation, on the other hand, can drive growth. A small business can cohabit with a large business by becoming the latters outsourcing partner.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/06/small-business-growth-strategies.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1784</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1784</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 things every small business should do</title>
<description>Small businesses are a crucial part of Orlandos economy, but there's no denying that there are challenges in operating one, especially in the first few years.<br />
<br />
In fact, there are more than 28 million small businesses in the United States. According to data from the Small Business Administration, in 2013 about 630,000 small businesses launched, and of those, close to 80 percent still had their doors open in 2014.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/morning_call/2016/06/3-things-every-small-business-should-do.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1783</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1783</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2016 09:09:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Daily Habits That Will Make You Look Smarter and More Powerful</title>
<description>Growing up in a large firm with a strong sense of history and culture, I heard a lot about executive presence--what it was, who had it, and what any aspiring leader would need to do to get it. Here is what I found.<br />
<br />
What is executive presence?<br />
Executive presence is the combination of communication skills, technical competencies, perspective, and temperament that instill a sense of confidence in a leaders viewpoints and decisions. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/robin-camarote/6-essentials-to-looking-smart-and-exuding-executive-presence.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1782</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1782</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>7 Email Marketing Best Practices</title>
<description>The content of your email message is important, but your design is the first element that recipients will see. If you want readers to see your message instead of clicking to the next email, it is essential to please their eyes and pique their curiosity. Here are a few keys to a winning email design:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Make it mobile friendly.</b><br />
Two out of three emails are opened on a mobile device. Make sure that your email design is based on elements that work well in that environment. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/275565" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1781</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1781</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>SCORE Tips - Pick a Niche and Own It</title>
<description>SCORE provides free mentoring to hundreds of business owners in Southern Arizona every year. Many of those business owners are just starting a new business. Here are some of SCOREs tips to consider before you open a new business:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tucson.com/business/local/biz-tip-of-the-week-pick-a-small-niche-market/article_c1c0dd6a-df81-5004-8871-0d615f011a22.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1780</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1780</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 8 Jun 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Automate Social Media and PR for Small Business</title>
<description>It&nbsp;&nbsp;is not easy being a small business competing against the big boys. They have got the budget, the expertise, and the size to push you around. That said, it does not have to be half as hard as some small businesses make it. For example, for many businesses, their social media and PR plans can be a lot easier and communicate far more authority besides.<br />
<br />
To that end, today we’re going to look at how you can automate both to make your efforts both easier and more fluid, using some simple best practice and strategic planning.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/automate-social-media-pr-small-business-01551151#5Og9UxOwSWF2EZKX.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1779</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1779</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 6 Jun 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Small Businesses Can Make the Most of Big Data</title>
<description>Big data and business intelligence (BI) used to be only for enterprise companies. Now, however, thanks to the software as a service (SaaS) revolution, even small businesses can afford to track and tap into a wealth of information.<br />
<br />
However, becoming a data-driven small business is not easy. Because you are dealing with complex troves of records that have multiple sources and are therefore highly unlikely to be structured uniformly, it can be difficult to process it all and interpret it into insights your business can actually use.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/05/business-intelligence-solutions.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1778</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1778</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 4 Jun 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>(Counterintuitive) Tips to Run a Small Business</title>
<description>Being an entrepreneur or business owner is, for a lot of people, choosing to work 80 hours a week for yourself to avoid that 40 hours you’d be working for someone elses corporation. That was absolutely true for us when we first started. In our first few months as entrepreneurs we each got in a minimum of 80 hours per week - that’s a lot of work! We realized pretty quickly that we needed to change something. We were drowning!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michal-koziol/counterintuitive-tips-to-_b_10156992.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1777</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1777</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 May 2016 15:20:52 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>20 Simple Tools Your Small Business Needs Now</title>
<description>Running your own business is no simple task. From hiring and payroll to other day-to-day operations, there are a million different responsibilities needing your attention throughout the work week. With a few of these tools, you can make your business run more efficiently and in turn, take the stress off of your shoulders.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tech.co/20-simple-tools-small-business-needs-now-2016-05" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1776</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1776</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Administration suggests 10 steps before committing to a new business idea</title>
<description>If you think so, or at least want to explore the idea, SCORE and our mentors are ready to assist you confidentially and at no charge. It’s a long, winding road to entrepreneurial success. The more advocates you have, the better chance you have to realize your dream.<br />
<br />
Do not go into business if you know little or nothing about it. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/business/2016/05/15/Small-Business-Administration-suggests-10-steps-before-committing-to-a-new-business-idea.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1775</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1775</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Small Businesses Should Focus on Scaling Their Content Marketing</title>
<description>Having a small online marketing team doesn’t mean your company can not scale content marketing initiatives. It means you must know what the best strategies are and have your team focus on a few they can do well. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/05/scale-content-marketing.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1774</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1774</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Marketing Hacks Small Businesses Tell Me Have Changed Their Lives</title>
<description>I work with a ton of small businesses, and I love it. I love seeing different business models, helping entrepreneurs with limited resources and experience, and getting unique perspectives that you just can not find in bigger, often more <i>cookie-cutter</i> business establishments. One-on-one, we can share information and insights, and build a strategy that is helpful for their business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2016/05/14/5-marketing-hacks-small-businesses-tell-me-have-changed-their-lives/#7b34fa7c52b2" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1773</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1773</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Micro Businesses Love Independence, Worry about Cash Flow [Survey]</title>
<description>Ninety-four percent of independent workers love the control that independence provides, but 67 percent say their top concern has to do with inconsistent income in their micro businesses.<br />
<br />
This is according to a recent survey of more than 600 independent workers conducted by the folks behind Invoice2go, an invoice app that allows small businesses to create and send professional invoices from any device.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/05/support-for-micro-businesses.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1772</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1772</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 small businesses to start after 50</title>
<description>The passion that spurs someone to dream of starting a business is not reserved for the techie Millennial in the torn jeans and hoodie. Even the person in the relaxed-fit khakis and reading glasses can feel the zeal.<br />
<br />
Research shows Baby Boomers may have a greater passion for entrepreneurship than younger generations. One report showed that, in 2014, those ages 55 to 64 had a higher rate of new entrepreneurial activity than the stereotypical risk-taking 20 to 34 age group.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/small%20business/2016/05/04/5-small-businesses-start-after-age-50/83897232/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1771</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1771</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 21 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Free Tools Your Small Business Should Be Using Today</title>
<description>Although your small business needs a healthy amount of software to conduct operations, it's not necessary for you to spend a fortune on web-based products. In our comprehensive testing of business and consumer software, we have come across dozens of incredible and free solutions that can help you get the job done. We've tested free tools in almost all facets of business—from email marketing to endpoint protection to project management.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article/344148/10-free-tools-your-small-business-will-love" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1770</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1770</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Ways to Boost Ranking For Your Own Branded Terms</title>
<description>You may have a list of specific keywords and phrases you're targeting, or you may be more in the <i>add amazing content and see what happens</i>, camp.<br />
<br />
However, the idea of optimizing for branded keywords may not have crossed your radar. Branded terms are words or phrases that are specific to your company. They often include your business name, but also may include certain trademarked product names or your website name. For Apple, some examples of branded terms might be:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/272791" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1769</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1769</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2016 09:59:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Tools for Entrepreneurs</title>
<description>Starting your own business is exciting, hectic, and frightening all at once. You are laying it all on the line, and your to-do list stretches seemingly for miles. Whether you are still in the planning stage, writing up a business plan, or ready to open for business and hit the ground running, it’s tough to do everything by yourself.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/small-business-tools-for-entrepreneurs.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1768</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1768</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>50 Thoughts That Can Motivate You to Do Anything</title>
<description>Motivation can be hard to come by, especially in the face of challenges or difficult work. When you are thinking about implementing that new idea, or starting that new company or beginning that new regimen -- this is the new year, after all -- it is easy to talk yourself into procrastinating. Or worse, avoiding your goal altogether.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/253105" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1767</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1767</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to name your small business: Keep it short and sweet</title>
<description>Deciding what to call your company is probably one of the most fun and exciting aspects of&nbsp;&nbsp;starting a small business. You might have launched this venture by scribbling business name ideas on a bar napkin while hanging out with friends.<br />
<br />
But naming your small business is also serious business. Your decision could affect your ability to reach a broader audience and grow. And making the wrong choice could even get you in legal trouble.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/small%20business/2016/05/06/how-name-small-business/84014042/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1766</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1766</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Ways To Cure Your Mobile Phone Bill</title>
<description>Cell phones are ubiquitous, and tend to be important if not necessary to own. Yet sometimes the cost of owning and using a mobile phone can get out of hand. And the prevalence of daunting cell phone bills only grows as more and more apps and functions that use data come into popular use.<br />
<br />
The high cost of mobile data is a familiar problem for many; too many of us have run up against exorbitant bills after underestimating just how much data we have been using. And, for those with restricted monthly data allowances, exhausting the monthly supply of data can be irritating or even crippling for those who often depend on data.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.notepage.net/learning-center/10-ways-to-cure-your-mobile-bill.htm" target="_blank" >10 Ways to Cure Your Mobile Phone Bill</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1765</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1765</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Tips Every Small Business Owner Needs To Know</title>
<description><b>1. Have a point of view and unique product offering</b><br />
<br />
Commodity businesses such as books and electronics were the first to see e-commerce really squeeze out mom and pop stores. The product offering is uniform and easily comparable.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/danreich/2016/04/08/5-tips-every-small-business-owner-needs-to-know/#447190771cd7" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1764</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1764</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 7 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Principles for Small Business Automation</title>
<description>Entrepreneurs and small business managers are hands-on folks. They are often involved in nearly every aspect of the business — from marketing to fulfillment to accounting to website design. At some point, however, all of that special attention may actually inhibit growth, so that the business leaders need to step back and let some processes happen automatically.<br />
<br />
The term business automation is broad. For some businesses, it might mean automating physical processes like product assembly. For others, it might mean setting up automated emails to occur when a customer takes some action.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/121600-6-Principles-for-Small-Business-Automation" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1763</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1763</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 5 May 2016 09:00:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Finance Tips</title>
<description>There is no way to get around some of the challenges that come with being a small business owner. But the proper tools and support can help you navigate the world of debits and credits more smoothly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here are a few financial challenges you may face and some small business finance tips for managing them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/04/small-business-finance-tips.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1762</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1762</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What Your Small Business Should Do To Look Like A Social Media Pro</title>
<description>As social media use continues to grow, so does the number of marketing opportunities for small businesses. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults now use social networking sites, according to Pew Research, up from just 7 percent in 2005.<br />
<br />
Learning how to use a wider range of social media tools can help small businesses target prospective and existing customers on these platforms. Here are four tips to consider:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2016/04/14/what-your-small-business-should-do-to-look-like-a-social-media-pro/#25cbec4142cd" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1761</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1761</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 1 May 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>SCORE</title>
<description>You know what they say about free advice: Sometimes, it is not worth the price.<br />
<br />
But that does not apply to the folks at SCORE, who provide advice to startups and established businesses. Their advice is free and it often results in businesses that get off the ground and grow.<br />
<br />
SCORE was originally known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives, a nonprofit organization partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration and created in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson.<br />
<br />
Now, it is just known as SCORE.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fosters.com/article/20160403/NEWS/160409931/-1/FOSNIE" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1760</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1760</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Hacking Leads to Precautions for Small Business Data</title>
<description>According to a December survey of owners by the National Small Business Association, cybercriminals raked in an average of $32,000 from small business accounts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://newsok.com/article/feed/992426" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1759</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1759</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Disrupt With These Ideas</title>
<description>There are 28 million small businesses in the country, and they provide most of Americas jobs and sales. According to the Small Business Administration, large companies have cut four million jobs since 1990, while small businesses have created eight million. Most small businesses want to become big businesses, so a new dog-walking service is probably not going to turn into the next Uber (though you never know! Dream big!). <br />
<br />
Here are some of the top, best, most promising industries you might want to consider where businesses are growing. They are also ripe for disruption.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/01/want-to-start-a-business-disrupt-these-industries.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1758</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1758</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tailor Your Small Business for Success</title>
<description>For any business to succeed, achieving product/market fit is a primary goal. But verifying that your product or service meets a strong market need and can stand up to competitors is certainly not an exact science, nor does it typically happen overnight. Building momentum in a market requires patience and comes with no guarantees as customers’ needs, regulatory landscapes, and competitive pressures change over time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dcourier.com/news/2016/apr/03/score-tailor-your-small-business-success/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1757</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1757</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Configure a Small Business Facebook Page</title>
<description>Things to Know About Your Brand New Facebook Page<br />
<br />
It blinks, it cries, it drinks from a bottle. That is right, kids, your new Facebook Page can do everything other little dollies can, and even more.<br />
<br />
Lets take the beginning of this song and do it nice. And easy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-media/configure-small-business-facebook-page-01495003#QlCxG6T3H8SLZpiG.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1756</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1756</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>U.S. Government Hits Goal for Women Owned Small Businesses</title>
<description>After almost two decades, the federal government for the first time has been able to meet its goal of awarding five percent (worth $17.8 billion) of all contracts to women-owned small businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/03/us-government-goal-women-owned-small-businesses.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1755</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1755</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Three Small Business IT Security Solutions You May Not Have Considered</title>
<description>Everyone by now is well aware that IT networks are subject to various cyber threats, and small and medium size businesses (SMBs) must protect against them just as larger enterprises do. But these threats are not limited to the online world. SMBs also have to protect the IT equipment itself from physical dangers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/3045975/servers/three-small-business-it-security-solutions-you-may-not-have-considered.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1754</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1754</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Top 20 Reasons Startups Fail</title>
<description>Over 51% of businesses will fail in their first five years (U.S. Census data), and even 25-30% of venture-backed businesses fail.<br />
<br />
If you want to innovate and put yourself out there, you have to accept that every entrepreneurial venture is a risk.<br />
<br />
But how can you reduce that risk of failure for your next startup?<br />
<br />
Often, it helps to turn to the experience of others, to learn what lessons we can from their failures, and cut the learning curve for ourselves. Even if you feel like you are reaching (or surpassing) your prime, it is never too late! Jeffrey Brotman, founder of Costco, didn't launch that successful company until he was into his forties.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/larry-kim/top-20-reasons-startups-fail-infographic.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1753</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1753</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Examples of Instagram Ads and the Lessons They Can Teach</title>
<description>Without further ado, then, here are some of my favorite Instagram ads, as well as some that I would have handled differently, and the lessons you can learn from them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/270971" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1752</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1752</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Top 15 Small Business Loan Mistakes You Can Make</title>
<description>Small businesses have traditionally had a hard time accessing extra capital — i.e. through small business loans — from banks, big and small. And economic realities and forecasts dictate, generally, just how generous these institutions are at any given time.<br />
<br />
Still, small businesses aren’t exactly being choked off entirely from getting approved. And the market has been improving for small businesses seeking loans. But in order to get a lender to take a flyer on your small business, it is best not to make a rookie mistake on your way to getting that loan approval.<br />
<br />
Below are some of the top small business loan mistakes you can make.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/03/top-small-business-loan-mistakes.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1751</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1751</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Want To Escape The Cubicle? Here is How To Be Your Own Boss</title>
<description>Many people who work a regular job dream of walking out of their cubicle and starting their own business. And every year, about 800,000 Americans do just that.<br />
<br />
Dave Selden is one of them. His business grew out of his passion for beer — glass after glass of it. That is immediately clear when you take a look at a video on his website.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/03/18/470118606/want-to-escape-the-cubicle-heres-how-to-be-your-own-boss" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1750</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1750</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 8 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Top Small Business Blogs</title>
<description>Do you like to read good content online? I sure do. One of the key secrets to being successful in business is to be a voracious reader. I learn a great deal by reading individual and corporate blogs online. If you're like me, I bet you want to to know who provides the most valuable content at every stage of business ownership. I put together a list of 10 top small business blogs to follow to help you improve skills for running your small business. Remember, you must grow yourself to lead your business effectively.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melinda-emerson/10-top-small-business-blo_b_9417450.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1749</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways to Cut Small Business Expenses with Tech</title>
<description>For initial, up-front investment or a low-cost monthly subscription fee, there are great tech products and services that can save you money in the long run on common business expenses. Here are a few tips for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/5-ways-to-cut-small-business-expenses-with-tech/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1748</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1748</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Apr 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Brands Small Business Owners Recommend and Some They Do Not</title>
<description>To trust or not to trust. That is a question small and medium-sized business owners often find themselves asking when it comes to relying on certain brands for day to day business operations and other needs.<br />
Keeping their interests in mind, Alignable, a Boston-based platform for local businesses, has launched the SMB Trust Index. It measures companies based on an assigned Net Promoter Score, submitted by contributors on the Alignable platform.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/03/recommended-brands-smb-trust-index.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1747</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1747</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 2 Apr 2016 09:09:45 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Women-Owned Businesses Grow, Yet Gender Gap In Small Business Finance Remains</title>
<description>Much has changed since 1994 when the U.S. government implemented an initiative to spend at least 5% of its contracting dollars on women-owned businesses. Today, women-owned businesses in the U.S. account for approximately 9.4 million companies and generate more than $1.5 trillion in revenue nationwide. Although it has taken more than two decades to reach its goal, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that small businesses&nbsp;&nbsp;that are majority owned by women earned $17.8 billion in federal contracting dollars, which amounts to about 5% of the $400 billion budget for federal contracts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/rohitarora/2016/03/05/women-owned-businesses-grow-yet-gender-gap-in-small-business-finance-remains/#3b5b94c5b444" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1746</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1746</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2016 09:00:50 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Social Media Tools For Small Businesses To Manage Their Social Presence</title>
<description>With the positive effects of social media marketing becoming more and more apparent, most small businesses have started working on a social media marketing strategy.<br />
<br />
One of the main aims of social media marketing is to stay relevant to your audience. This might be harder for small businesses as they have more to juggle, in terms of handling tasks. Social media tools and apps can help reduce the stress of multi-tasking and keep your social media activities consistent. Below are social media tools for small business to help make your life as a social media marketer easier.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/03/social-media-tools-for-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1745</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1745</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2016 09:00:15 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why Tax Planning is Key for Small Business Owners</title>
<description>The 2015 tax season is here. Tax planning is a critical part of a small business owners financial plan. The majority of small business owners ignore tax planning; yet good tax advice is a very valuable for a successful business. There are many tax planning strategies available to small business owners. Below are a just a few:<br />
<br />
Lowering your tax rate to reduce the amount of taxable income<br />
Taking advantage of available tax credits<br />
Controlling the effects of the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax)<br />
<br />
I encourage business owners to work with a competent accountant or CPA on at least a quarterly basis to take full advantage of all the tax provisions that are available.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paladinregistrycom/why-tax-planning-is-key-f_b_9421254.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1744</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1744</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>National Small Business Association Reports Uptick in Small Business Growth</title>
<description>A full half of small business owners see growth opportunities in the next six months, while 17 percent say they are already seeing that growth.<br />
<br />
Only 33 percent say they see no immediately growth opportunities ahead. That’s according to the most recent survey by the National Small Business Association.<br />
<br />
According to the National Small Business Associations 2015 economic report (PDF), nearly 75 percent of small business owners surveyed are confident in their businesses — the highest percentage recorded in the last four years. However, there was a relatively less positive outlook among the small business owners on the overall economy than even six months ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/03/nsba-economic-report-small-business-growth.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1743</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1743</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>On Page Search Engine Optimization</title>
<description>Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become a fine science. Tweaking, changing, and measuring is all part of the ongoing optimization process. SEO truly is a process that requires constant monitoring and attention. In order for a website to perform well, its managers and webmasters must adapt their SEO techniques as the search engine algorithms change.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/on-page-seo-optimization.htm" target="_blank" >On Page Search Engine Optimization</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1742</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1742</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Need a Business Idea? Here are 55</title>
<description>Today, tens of thousands of people are considering starting a home based business, and for good reasons. On average, people can expect to have two and three careers during their work life. Those leaving one career often think about their second or third career move being to their own home. People who have been part of the traditional nine-to-five work force and are on the verge of retiring from that life are thinking of what to do next. The good news: Starting a homebased business is within the reach of almost anyone who wants to take a risk and work hard.<br />
<br />
$1,500 or less to start up<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/201588" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1741</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1741</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Be Highly Successful: 9 Body Language Secrets of Exceptional People</title>
<description>Your body language is a fundamental part of who you are; chances are you do not even think about how you stand, sit, and move. You should, of course, because other people instinctively pick up the nonverbal signals you send.<br />
<br />
Oddly enough, you also pick up on your own nonverbal signals. Gestures and postures make a dramatic impact on how you think, feel, and perform.<br />
<br />
Want to use body language to be an even better you? Here are ten simple ways:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/be-highly-successful-9-body-language-secrets-of-exceptional-people.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1740</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1740</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>10 Ways to Become a Millionaire in Your 20s</title>
<description>Imagine if you could become a millionaire. How great would it be to have the money you need to live the lifestyle you have always wanted? Now imagine if you could do this in your 20s?<br />
<br />
Even if you think it sounds like a stretch, it is possible to become a millionaire at a young age. I became a millionaire by age 21. My second millionaire student who followed my program became a millionaire by the age of 23. The most impressive part? He did it all by trading penny stocks. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/270253" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1739</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1739</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>3 Big Ways Google Has Changed Small Business</title>
<description>Today, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, announces its fourth quarter 2015 earnings. But it is also going to do something different. The company plans to separately break out the results of its core businesses from its <i>other bets</i>. By doing this, the company opens itself up to some criticism about the investments that it makes in unproven, risky technologies – from driverless cars to Glass. But without those investments, Google would never be the kind of company that it is today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2016/02/01/3-big-ways-google-has-changed-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1738</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1738</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Things NOT to Do When Running a Small Business…One Business Owner Tells All</title>
<description>Years of experience have taught me that running a small business is a challenge, especially when you are providing a service. Your expectations for success may not match your results, because simply providing excellent service within your field is not always enough. When I first started running my business, I naively assumed that because I was a master at my profession, my business would flourish. I failed to realize that my business skills were equally important and some of those lessons took hard tolls on me before I fully understood them.<br />
<br />
Luckily, many of the lessons that I learned were due to mistakes that are actually quite easy to avoid. While learning these lessons won’t make you a business genius overnight, they will help you avoid rough spots that many small business owners encounter.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/5-things-not-running-small-businessone-business-owner-tells-01441248#GpDDLq5m6QdGSRTz.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1737</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1737</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How Using a Credit Card Can Boost Your Small Business</title>
<description>As with personal credit cards, business cards can be dangerous if you do not use them responsibly. High interest rates and fees can add up. But if your business needs a little leverage and you do not have more favorable options, a small-business credit card can be a valuable tool both to get your business up and running and to streamline your handling of operating expenses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/using-credit-card-to-boost-your-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1736</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1736</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Top 500 Franchise List</title>
<description><br />
Check out the <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500" target="_blank" >top 500 Franchise List</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1735</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1735</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 7 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>3 Rules About Cash Flow That First-Time Business Owners Need to Know</title>
<description>For many businesses, getting paid is not the problem – it’s when. Lumpy cash flow is a stressful experience for business owners because the consequences can include delayed paychecks to employees, missed bill payments or stalled growth due to an inability to take on new clients. So, how can business owners avoid putting themselves at the mercy of clients and when those clients mail their checks?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/269484" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1734</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1734</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 4 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>71 Percent of Small Businesses Expect Growth, Report Says</title>
<description>Small businesses are hopeful about growth this year according to the new State of Small Business Report by software solutions provider, Wasp Barcode Technologies.<br />
<br />
The study says 71 percent of small businesses expect revenue growth, although 50 percent of small business owners said hiring new employees would be the key challenge facing them this year. And 45 percent said that challenge would be increasing profit.<br />
<br />
An earlier survey conducted by Yelp had similarly found small business owners optimistic about growth in 2016. According to that survey, the percentage of American small business owners expecting to see revenues grow, however, is higher (85 percent).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2016/02/state-of-small-business-report-2016.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1733</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1733</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 3 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Ways Small Businesses Can Leverage Third-Party Apps for Local Search & Marketing</title>
<description>Apps consume the majority of mobile media time, but local business apps struggle to compete for attention. Columnist Wesley Young looks at how SMBs can instead use space on the most popular apps to get in front of customers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://searchengineland.com/7-ways-small-businesses-can-leverage-third-party-apps-local-search-marketing-240990" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1732</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1732</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 1 Mar 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>8 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid When Starting A Small Business</title>
<description>Enthusiasm—it can be both a blessing and a curse for new entrepreneurs. Passion for your business can fuel your success, but it can also drive you to operational and financial ruin if you do not take the time to think decisions through.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2016/01/28/8-rookie-mistakes-to-avoid-when-starting-a-small-business/#7c1d6275e91a" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1731</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1731</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 28 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Ideas for Women Looking to Start a Small Business</title>
<description>Brainstorming ideas for a small business can be a fun yet frustrating experience. It requires a serious analysis of areas of expertise and interests, and consideration of where those areas intersect in such a way that can make a business viable.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/ideas-women-looking-start-small-business-01437432#0McuXhh7RB7PiHrw.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1730</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1730</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Is the Honeymoon Over? 6 Ways to Fall in Love Again With Your Small Business</title>
<description>Starting a business is a bit like falling in love for the first time: it is exciting, exhilarating, and new. You want to savor each moment and be your very best every minute of every day.<br />
<br />
After the adrenaline rush subsides, however, reality sets in and you may discover that not everything about running a business is so wonderful. There will be tasks you don’t like to do, activities you find stale and boring, technical difficulties to test your patience, and clients and vendors who might challenge you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.allbusiness.com/6-ways-to-fall-in-love-again-with-your-small-business-103406-1.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1729</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1729</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why Small Businesses Are Getting LinkedIn Wrong</title>
<description>How can a small company make the most of LinkedIn?<br />
<br />
The social network is an inescapable part of online life for working professionals. But much of the advice on how to leverage it is targeted at big names. Over and over, I see small businesses making mistakes on LinkedIn because they are patterning their strategies after approaches that work for larger companies with huge budgets, lots of brand awareness and extensive social-media systems.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, here are tips on how small businesses can use LinkedIn.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-small-businesses-are-getting-linkedin-wrong-1453690978" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1728</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1728</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 things small businesses need to know about Windows 10</title>
<description>Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that more than 200 million devices (PCs, phones and tablets) were now running Windows 10. Many of those 200 million devices belong to business users, who upgraded to Windows 10 (in many cases for free). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cio.com/article/3027496/windows/7-things-small-businesses-need-to-know-about-windows-10.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1727</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1727</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Insane Website Updates That Will Grow Your Sales</title>
<description>Technology can be a powerful driver of business growth. There are seemingly endless areas where you can invest your time and effort.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/larry-kim/7-insane-website-hacks-to-triple-sales-first-90-days.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1726</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1726</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>6 Ways Good Documentation Can Save Your Small Business Money</title>
<description>If you are like most small business owners, you spend a lot of your time researching ways to save money. After all, running a business can quickly break the bank. There are office supplies to buy, employees to pay, and software to purchase and install, among many other things.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/6-ways-good-documentation-can-save-small-business-money-01437873#mSwyeZLme04l05OO.97" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1725</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1725</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2016 09:00:21 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Three Cash Flow Musts That Your Small Business Needs to Make</title>
<description>Cash flow is a common concern among many small business owners, with many business models dependent on incoming cash flow at various, often unpredictable times a year versus a steady flow of income. Sound familiar to you, by chance? If you are among the thousands of businesses that are not sure when your next paycheck will come in, pay attention.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleleinbachreyhle/2016/01/31/three-cash-flow-musts-that-your-small-business-needs-to-make/#40fc386338f8" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1724</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1724</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The 20 Best Entrepreneurial Stories of 2015</title>
<description>These founders embody the reasons so many Americans are drawn to entrepreneurship: passion, purpose, fulfillment, and financial success. This year they all shared with Inc. readers the secrets to how they did it.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/bartie-scott/ss/best-of-inc-2015-entrepreneur-startup-stories-of-the-year.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1723</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1723</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why a $12 Billion Tax Break for Small Businesses Is So Controversial</title>
<description>Generally speaking, it allows small business owners to write off up to $500,000 worth of qualified expenses in the year they are made, up to $2 million, rather than amortizing them over a period of years. In addition to spurring immediate spending, which benefits the economy, the deduction theoretically frees up cash that business owners can use to grow their businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jeremy-quittner/permanent-tax-deduction-may-lack-intended-stimulus.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1722</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1722</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Things Every Small Business Owner Should Know About Taxes</title>
<description>Blood pressures are rising at many small businesses now that tax season is underway.<br />
<br />
Although many owners hire accountants and attorneys to complete their income tax returns, taxes are a hassle. In a survey released last year by the advocacy group National Small Business Association, nearly 60 percent of the owners surveyed said the administrative burdens were the biggest problems posed by federal taxes. And 85 percent of the more than 675 owners said they relied on a professional to prepare their returns.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/things-small-business-owner-taxes-36265352" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1721</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1721</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 8 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Trends In 2016 Mean Greater Cybersecurity</title>
<description>With the economy in a recession, business growth is more necessary than ever in order for businesses to survive. Since most businesses are small businesses, it is important to understand the latest small business trends and then use those trends to grow. The current projections for small business is that they will continue to grow throughout 2016.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/2709769/small-business-trends-in-2016-mean-greater-cybersecurity-and-accounting-grows-up/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1720</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1720</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 6 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>11 Financial Fundamentals Every Small Business CEO Must Know</title>
<description>Regardless of the size of the business, ultimate responsibility for success lies with the CEO. If you’re a small business owner, thats you. And the most critical CEO tasks that result in success or failure lie in the knowledge and practice of financial management fundamentals.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimblasingame/2016/01/15/eleven-financial-fundamentals-every-small-business-ceo-must-know/#2715e4857a0b24596a7939ab" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1719</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1719</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 4 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Rules for Small Business Success</title>
<description>These rules are keys to small business success. Ignore these rules at your peril: I have seen many new entrepreneurs fail because they ignored one or more of these business basics.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/abrams/2016/01/15/strategies-10-rules-small-business-success/78667752/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1718</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1718</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 2 Feb 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Shark Tank!</title>
<description>Lately I have been binge watching Shark Tank. If you are a small business owners you might be surprised what you can learn. The innovation out there is fairly impressive. I have been self-employed since 1989, and I am finding myself learning things....</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1717</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1717</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2016 17:14:45 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Looking for Inspiration</title>
<description>What is your best six word advice? Check out the slideshow below to get inspired. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/252918" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1716</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1716</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Tech Trends</title>
<description>There is no shortage of predictions regarding where technology is headed in this bright and shiny New Year. Not all fortune tellers have the same perspective, however. Take the design and innovation consultancy Fjord (part of Accenture Interactive), for example. It tapped more than 750 of its experts in 19 studios around the world to amass its annual trends compilation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/10-tech-trends-to-expect-in-2016.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1715</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1715</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>17 Resolutions Only the Most Successful People Make</title>
<description>Fortunately, there is a better way. Here are 17 simple things to do sometime in 2016. They are all one-time events (although you can certainly repeat them as many times as you like). And each is a lot easier to accomplish than some hopefully-life-changing-but-in-the-end-never-accomplished New Years resolution.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/17-new-year-s-resolutions-the-most-successful-people-make.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1714</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1714</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Tips for Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Those small business owners who want to take their company to the next level can get some help.<br />
<br />
Peggy Cenova, regional director of the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, says she works with small business owners to help them achieve their goals.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pal-item.com/story/money/2016/01/02/7-tips-small-business-owners/78133914/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1713</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1713</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>New Years Resolution Checklist for Small Businesses</title>
<description>I know, I know. It is hard to start thinking about the New Year when we’re stuck in the middle of the hectic holidays. But with January 1 right around the corner, now is the perfect time to reflect on how to grow your business in 2016.<br />
<br />
As a fellow small business owners and solopreneur, I know first-hand how tricky it can be to even find the time to think about business development. Some days we are so busy juggling our current client demands, big picture goals — publishing great thought leadership articles, going after a dream client — take a back seat to a ringing phone or email deluge. <br />
<br />
<a href="smallbiztrends.com/2015/12/new-years-resolution-checklist-small-businesses.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1712</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1712</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>16 Small Business Resolutions for 2016</title>
<description>Lose weight. Quit smoking. Floss. January’s the traditional time for making new years resolutions. But in addition to your personal goals, what do you want to achieve in 2016 for your small business? I have come up with a list of New Years Resolutions for Small Business, and since its 2016, it seems only natural that I have 16 of them:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/money/2016/01/03/16-small-business-resolutions-2016/78234054/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1711</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1711</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Five Small Business Resolutions</title>
<description>People make resolutions about losing weight, stopping smoking, and other habits that they probably will not give up. Business owners should take advantage of this time-for-future-thinking opportunity to set goals to enhance their businesses. Here are five resolutions to help entrepreneurs have a more profitable 2016.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/five-resolutions-every-small-business-owner-should-make" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1710</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1710</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2016 09:00:41 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Six New Years Resolutions for Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Have a plan, and stick to it<br />
<br />
When you walk into the office every Monday morning, it is crucial that you understand the goals that you need to accomplish that week and then map them out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sbnonline.com/article/six-new-years-resolutions-for-small-business-owners/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1709</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1709</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>8 Social Media Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>For as far back as free markets go, word of mouth has been the primary tool small businesses have used to spread their message and market their brand. Within the last few decades, though, the explosion of media has led to wide array of marketing opportunities and techniques.<br />
<br />
While word of mouth is still important, social media has taken over as one of the most effective avenues for public relations and marketing for even the smallest of firms.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/122515/8-social-media-tips-small-businesses.asp" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1708</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1708</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Social Media Spells Big Business for Small Companies</title>
<description>One thing is for certain in business these days — nothing ever stays the same, and my annual list of the top emerging trends in small business certainly bears this out. This year, while yes, we see some of the same old stalwarts (like social media, but even that is changing, see below) a few new, surprising entries make it onto the list. For instance, the top trend for the upcoming year, while right before our eyes, is a fairly recent phenomenon and we will get to that next week.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/social-media-spells-big-business-for-small-companies" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1707</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1707</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 8 Jan 2016 09:00:23 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The 7 Most Important Hires for Your Small Business</title>
<description>Up to a point, it behooves small business owners to be resourceful and handle the lions share of the work. But before it's too late and their companies lose out on its market timing, entrepreneurs need to hire in order to grow, even if that means taking on more costs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mashable.com/2014/05/07/small-business-hires/#V8R4ypZU4Gqj" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1706</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1706</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What Does It Mean To Be A Small Business Owner?</title>
<description>The Kauffman Foundation recently released their Main Street Entrepreneurship Index. And, according to the Foundation, small business activity is growing in 49 of the 50 states in the US and in 38 of the top 40 largest metropolitan areas. Of course this is great news for small business owners all across the country, but it is also great news for everyone else too.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/tykiisel/2015/12/19/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-small-business-owner/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1705</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1705</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Plan your Brand Strategy for 2016</title>
<description>At this time of year business owners will be reflecting on their 2015 brand strategy to evaluate what worked and what did not, and deciding how to promote their brand in 2016. They may not have huge amounts to spend on conventional advertising and marketing campaigns, but there are other options that are effective.<br />
<br />
Strategic partnerships<br />
When major brands sign up to cross-promotional activities with other brands, the public sits up and takes notice. When smaller companies do it, there may be less public interest but small business tie-ups are by no means less important.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/dec/29/plan-brand-strategy-2016-business-new-year" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1704</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1704</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 1 Jan 2016 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>2016 Social Media Trends Businesses Need to Take Note of</title>
<description>Social media has become a necessary business tool for companies big and small. There are now more than 2 billion active social media users around the world, according to a LinkedIn article about upcoming social media trends. More people are now regularly using social media than the populations of the United States and China combined, and the number is growing at a clip of 25 percent a year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2015/12/28/2016-social-media-trends-businesses-need-to-take.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1703</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1703</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business 2016 New Years Resolutions</title>
<description>Take the time to understand your finances<br />
Understanding the nitty gritty of your finances is crucial to running a successful small business, but this is especially true if you're coming from a place of bad credit. The best way to get a handle on your finances, says Brad Farris, a business advisor with Anchor Advisors, is to sit down once a month and review your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow for the prior month. Use the time to look for changes and trends, as well as to monitor your receivables and inventory.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nerdwallet/small-business-2016-new-y_b_8863878.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1702</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1702</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Dec 2015 15:52:42 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>77 Percent of U.S. Consumers are Planning to Shop Small</title>
<description>As small business owners across the nation gear up for Small Business Saturday, a record number of shoppers are making plans to support their favorite local businesses. According to the fourth-annual Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released by the National Federation of Independent Businesses and American Express, supporting local small businesses continues to be a priority for shoppers nationwide.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151118/submitted/151118945/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1701</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1701</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Ways Small Businesses Can Be Big on Google</title>
<description>Getting found online can be a tough thing to do at times. Lucky for you, I am pretty good at it and really enjoy getting my sites ranked. Traffic can mean the difference in staying in business and not. Over the years I have started several businesses and the ones that succeed are the ones that consistently grow in organic traffic. I have put together a list of things that I would do to get your business ranked in Google.<br />
<br />
Here are 10 ways that small business owners can get their business ranked on Google:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnrampton/2015/11/19/10-ways-small-businesses-can-be-big-on-google/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1700</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1700</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 26 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Holiday Marketing Trends Every Small Business Should Leverage</title>
<description>Small business owners already have a lot on their plates during this time of year, so when it comes to holiday marketing, it can all feel a bit overwhelming. Staples is here to help. Beyond being the one-stop shop for everything small businesses need to make more happen, below are some tips to help small businesses capitalize on this seasons top trends.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mashable.com/2015/11/18/small-business-holiday-marketing-brandspeak/#hJYtcQojFGql" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1699</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1699</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2015 09:00:20 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Email Security for Small Business</title>
<description>How to Improve Email Security<br />
In addition to a strong email security solution, small businesses need to make sure that their employees use best practices when it comes to handling email. Michél Bechard, director of service provider technologies at Comodo, an Internet security company, says that SMBs need to teach employees how to spot and handle malicious email.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/email-security-for-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1698</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1698</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2015 01:00:51 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>A Simple Tool for Small Businesses to Retain Employees</title>
<description>When a key employee quits, it is a gut-wrenching experience for most small-business owners.<br />
<br />
That single loss will likely result in a significant performance drop for the firm because that lost employee might represent an entire function. The drain will last for months because a good replacement takes time to recruit, hire, train and get up to speed. Plus, a significant portion of the manager’s time will be diverted toward recruiting and training a replacement.<br />
<br />
Most small-business managers know little about retention. Their focus is often elsewhere. So they find themselves completely surprised when a key employee quits.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/experts/2015/11/20/a-simple-tool-for-small-businesses-to-retain-employees/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1697</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1697</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2015 09:00:58 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>12 Ways to Make a Difference at Work: CEOs and Strategists Explain</title>
<description>Regardless of your job title, your role can make a difference. It comes down to leadership and understanding how to champion ideas and build trust.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read on for advice from 12 CEOs, founders, presidents and thought leaders to learn how you maximize every opportunity to make an impact at work.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/252047" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1696</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1696</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 19 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>6 Cool Gadgets for 2016</title>
<description>Each year, I gaze into my crystal ball (which is getting a little smudged lately and needs an upgrade itself) to preview what will become available next year in the world of gadgets and technology. Fortunately, these new products are much more likely to make their debut, given the companies behind them have committed to making them happen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/6-tech-debuts-for-2016.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1695</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1695</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Manage People (Without Making Them Hate You)</title>
<description>How to Manage People (Without Making Them Hate You) - video<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-mah/how-to-manage-people-without-making-them-hate-you.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1694</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1694</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways to Maximize Word-of-Mouth Marketing</title>
<description>If word-of-mouth marketing sounds simple, do not be fooled -- it is not. Creating cutting edge buzz-worthy messages that go viral is no easy task.<br />
<br />
While more than half of small business owners anticipate growth for their businesses in 2015, according to a Small Business Report, 56 percent say they are investing less than 3 percent on marketing. When they do invest, most of these business owners are likely thinking about traditional forms of advertising or collecting new customers instead of connecting with them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/251576" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1693</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1693</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>The Essential Guide to Writing a Business Plan</title>
<description>The best sorts of business plans tell a clear story of what the company plans to do and how it will do it. Given the high failure rate of startups in their first year, a business plan is also an ideal opportunity to safely test out the feasibility of a business and spot flaws, set aside unrealistic projections and identify and analyze the competition.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/252275" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1692</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1692</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Are they independent contractors or employees?</title>
<description>The question becomes, what would your customer do when they turn to you and then you hire an independent contractor?<br />
<br />
You are not ready to bring on a fulltime employee yet. But your customer is thinking at this point, why do not I hire the independent contractor and save some money? Does this scenario sound familiar to you?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nrtoday.com/news/18948103-113/small-business-are-they-independent-contractors-or-employees" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1691</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1691</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Is Amazon Killing Small Businesses?</title>
<description>The Perceived Amazon Effect<br />
<br />
As David and I spoke, he echoed some thoughts that many small businesses have also shared with me. Many businesses see customers come into their stores to learn, and then they make their purchases online via Amazon or other online retailers. The online retailers don’t have the overhead of a brick and mortar store. For one of the products, David mentioned that I can purchase it on Amazon for less than he can purchase it. Of course, in his local market, his Yelp reviews show how much his customers love his store and appreciate his value. If he was local to me, I would happily pay a premium for their high level of service and expertise.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ianaltman/2015/10/27/what-amazon-is-doing-to-small-businesses/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1690</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1690</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 7 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business: How to price your product or service</title>
<description>Pricing can be quite difficult to compute.<br />
<br />
There are so many factors to take into account it boggles the mind. The <i>simple </i>way to approach pricing for a product is to create a spread sheet that will calculate it for you.<br />
<br />
For example, when I make a gluten free mix, the Food and Drug Administration requires I report each product based on total grams, converted to ounces and pounds, which is then reported on the box. The ingredient list on the box is reported by heaviest ingredient to the least weight. This is used to calculate the Nutritional Statement by an outside company based on each serving. WHEW!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nrtoday.com/news/18805479-113/small-business-how-to-price-your-product-or" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1689</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1689</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 4 Dec 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Three Baseline IT Security Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Millions of small businesses are vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks that can cost an average of $20,000 per attack. Here is some basic wisdom to help SMBs protect themselves.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.techrepublic.com/article/three-baseline-it-security-tips-for-small-businesses/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1688</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1688</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Dec 2015 09:00:43 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Why Are Not More Small Businesses Using SEO?</title>
<description>For more than a decade, thousands of businesses have enjoyed the benefits of high rankings in Google searches (and searches on competing engines) thanks to their SEO efforts. Larger corporations pour hundreds of thousands of dollars and allocate entire departments to gaining more online visibility, but even small- to mid-sized businesses can use a fraction of that budget to get more traffic and sales.<br />
<br />
However, according to a recent survey by the Small Business Authority (SBA), less than 50 percent of small business owners in the United States think of inbound traffic from search engines as an <i>important</i> source of future business. Another 14 percent declared themselves unsure.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2015/10/28/why-arent-more-small-businesses-using-seo/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1687</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1687</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Credit Card Perks for Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Owners of both new and established small businesses can benefit from a broad range of valuable perks offered with credit cards. Business credit cards not only provide a means for building and establishing business credit, but they can assist in record-keeping, preserving cash flow and separating business and personal finances. Much like consumer credit cards, the right business card can offer a plethora of rewards that you can redeem for flights, hotel stays and cash back on purchases.<br />
<br />
Here are seven significant credit card perks for small business owners.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2015/10/28/7-credit-card-perks-for-small-business-owners" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1686</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1686</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Cast Your Vote for Your Top Small Business Influencer Pick</title>
<description>You nominated them and now it’s time to cast your vote to support your pick. Small Business Trends and Small Biz Technology bring you the Small Business Influencer Awards 2015. Here’s a chance to celebrate the people, businesses, and even apps that have made an impact in the small business market.<br />
<br />
Even if you missed the nominations, you can still jump in and vote for your favorite. But you might want to hurry. There is less than a week left to vote!<br />
<br />
To see a full list or to submit your own event, contest or award listing, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/10/cast-vote-top-small-business-influencer-pick.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1685</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1685</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Guide to Small Business Ideas</title>
<description>You know you want to start a business and give yourself the best shot at success, but perhaps you’re still considering the kind of business you want to pursue. After all, you probably have a number of small-business ideas.<br />
<br />
One thing is for certain: the type of business you start should be well-suited for your expertise and business goals. Successful entrepreneurs bring their varied experiences and skills and allow these assets to inform their business decisions.<br />
<br />
So, assess your priorities and lifestyle and business goals.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/252201" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1684</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1684</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:00:44 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Three Kinds of Logos</title>
<description>Though a diverse range of logos exist, logo designs can ultimately be categorized into three different general styles. Each of these styles tends to suit different aesthetics differently. For this reason, you may find that a certain style of logo seems better suited to your purposes than the others depending on the nature and niche of the brand you intend to build. The three main types of logos are as follows:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/three-kinds-of-logos.htm" target="_blank" >Three Kinds of Logos</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1683</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1683</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>20 Productivity Apps</title>
<description>Apps mainly do two things: They either distract us or keep us on track. If you are a busy entrepreneur or someone who works for one, it is best to stick to the latter kind, at least during working hours, especially if you want to be a productivity powerhouse.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Productivity apps can give you -- and, yes, your boss, too -- a leg up on putting your most organized, efficient professional foot forward.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246940" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1682</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1682</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2015 09:00:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Need a Business Idea? Here are 55</title>
<description>Today, tens of thousands of people are considering starting a home based business, and for good reasons. On average, people can expect to have two and three careers during their work life. Those leaving one career often think about their second or third career move being to their own home. People who have been part of the traditional nine-to-five work force and are on the verge of retiring from that life are thinking of what to do next. The good news: Starting a homebased business is within the reach of almost anyone who wants to take a risk and work hard.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/201588" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1681</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1681</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Online Marketing Trends and Tools</title>
<description>One of the most important events of 2015 was the shift from the amount of desktop traffic compared to the amount of mobile traffic. Google reported that mobile traffic overtook desktop traffic in 10 different countries. The search engine algorithm for Google was changed to give companies who offered mobile optimized versions of their sites higher rankings than sites that were not optimized for mobile. The increase in mobile traffic combined with five times as many cellphones as desktop and laptop computers means that mobile traffic will become a priority.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/2461753/online-marketing-trends-and-tools-that-will-help-small-business-owners-grow-their-businesses-in-2016/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1680</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1680</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Investments Every Smart Small Business Owner Makes</title>
<description>It is easier than ever to start a business from scratch without any overhead costs, which is great news for aspiring business owners who do not have the capital to start anything big. But to grow a business from an idea to something profitable, you do have to put some money into it. Here are five investments you should make to grow your business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2015/10/01/5-investments-every-smart-small-business-owner-makes" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1679</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1679</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2015 21:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What Scares You as a Small Business Owner?</title>
<description>Fear stops the decision-making process because fear is a decision, a decision not to take action, a decision to accept the status quo.<br />
<br />
For some small business owners, fear is seen in their reluctance to speak, to share an emotionally compelling reason why a potential buyer should connect with them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-hoagland-smith-column-st-1005-20151003-story.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1678</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1678</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Nov 2015 09:00:10 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>34% of U.S. Small Businesses Have Been Hit by Disasters - It Pays to Be Prepared</title>
<description>No business owner ever expects it to happen. After closing up for the day or the week, a phone call at 6 a.m. lets you know that the severe storm that passed through town overnight took a punch at your small business, with flood damage, fire, tornado or other damage.<br />
<br />
Or it could have been an earthquake or hurricane. Still, what may have taken years to build is in ruins. How do you begin to recover?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/news/12121357/34-of-us-small-businesses-have-been-hit-by-disasters-it-pays-to-be-prepared" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1677</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1677</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Uberfying: How to Run a Traditional Business in the Digitial Age</title>
<description>Over the last few years, a new generation of digital apps such as Uber and Just Eat have been available to download to our smartphones and tablets. They are designed to make it easier to find a taxi or order a meal, but have received as much criticism as they have praise for the way they have taken control of traditional markets and damaged business models.<br />
<br />
We spoke to two businesses – one in the takeaway industry and the other in the private minicab industry – about the challenges these disruptive companies pose, what they are doing to combat them and how other small businesses can follow suit.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/kia-fleet-partner-zone/2015/oct/05/traditional-business-digital-age-uber-just-eat" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1676</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1676</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 2 Nov 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>SEO 101: 5 Things Small Business Owners Should Know About #SEO Friendly Web Design</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[As a small business owner getting ready to build your first website or redesign your existing one, you might wonder what you should be considering in terms of making your web design search engine friendly.<br />
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There are lots of things to take into account, but here are the five key things that you should know about SEO friendly web design and how it can benefit your visitors, too!<br />
<br />
<b>1. It Needs to be Responsive</b><br />
For small businesses, especially local ones, having great rankings in mobile search is incredibly important. Why? For starters, 50% of consumers who perform a local search on mobile devices visit a store within a day of their search. What’s even more exciting is that 78% of mobile searches for local business lead to offline purchases.<br />
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<a href="http://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-101-5-things-small-business-owners-know-seo-friendly-web-design/140325/" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
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<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1675</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1675</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2015 09:00:18 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Things Your Phone Can Do in Emergency Situations</title>
<description>Owning a cell phone has come to be regarded as a necessity in modern society, and with the great advances that have been made in smart phone technology, most of us rely on our phones to help us in an array of situations. While most smart phone owners are acquainted with the helpfulness of features such as navigation apps and mobile broadband, many people have yet to discover the array of uses they may put their phones to in the event of a true emergency. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.notepage.net/learning-center/10-things-your-phone-can-do-in-emergencies.htm" target="_blank" >10 Things Your Phone Can Do in Emergency Situations</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1674</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1674</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2015 09:00:34 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways Startups Can Beat Big Companies</title>
<description>One of the most intimidating things entrepreneurs face is the fact that some of their competitors are massive multi-billion dollar corporations. Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath; occasionally the underdog wins.&nbsp;&nbsp;But in the real world, the giant wins a lot (if not most) of the time.<br />
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This was a reality I faced when I started GMM Nonstick Coatings in 2007, a manufacturer of nonstick coatings for cookware, bakeware and appliances. We were a true startup: no employees, clients or products.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
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<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250974" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1673</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1673</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2015 09:00:48 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Steps to Build Your Personal Brand</title>
<description>Your personal brand is how you appear to the world. Therefore, it serves to reason that a strong brand is preferable to one that is unpolished and uninteresting.<br />
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Once people know who you are and begin to identify you with a specific area of understanding or expertise, you will be well on your way to becoming the go-to person in your niche or industry.<br />
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<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250924" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1672</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1672</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2015 09:00:06 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Introducing A Small Business Owner Who Discovered Growth Is A Blessing And A Curse</title>
<description>Meet Fred Warmbier, entrepreneur. Warmbier owns a small business, Finishing Technology, located near Cincinnati, Ohio. The company finishes and anodizes metal parts –and is growing rapidly.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyallan/2015/09/26/introducing-a-small-business-owner-who-discovered-growth-is-a-blessing-and-a-curse/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1671</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1671</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2015 09:00:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 5 Worst Cash-Flow Mistakes Small-Business Owners Make</title>
<description>In fact, a prominent study from the financial services company U.S. Bank found that as many as 82 percent of startups and small businesses fail due to poor cash-flow management. So, even if you are a brilliant entrepreneur in every other way, you must stay squarely focused on managing your company’s cash flow to avoid putting your business in imminent danger.<br />
<br />
Here are five of the most common cash-flow problems:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/09/25/5-worst-cash-flow-mistakes-small-business-owners-make/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1670</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1670</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2015 09:00:30 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business: Starting up a Business on a Shoestring</title>
<description>There are many books available on the market to read about starting a business and how to structure a business startup.<br />
<br />
I have many favorites, but my advice to friends and students is one that I came across all the way back in October 1987. My business desires started and I read almost every book that was available in my local Memphis, Tennessee, library at the time. The book has been revised and reprinted many, many times and continues to be a good read to this day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nrtoday.com/news/18324495-113/small-business-starting-up-a-business-on-a" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1669</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1669</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Essential Skills For Successful Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Put a hundred small business owners in a room and you are likely to hear a hundred different stories of how they became successful. You will find people as different as night and day. People from all walks of life and with varying strengths and skills. But look closer and you’ll begin to see commonalities. While their stories will differ, there are also common talents among those who are successful. Take a look and see if you recognize yourself.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/3-essential-skills-for-successful-small-business-owners-01338914" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1668</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1668</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2015 09:00:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>9 Things Managers Do That Make Good Employees Quit</title>
<description>It is pretty incredible how often you hear managers complaining about their best employees leaving, and they really do have something to complain about—few things are as costly and disruptive as good people walking out the door.<br />
<br />
Managers tend to blame their turnover problems on everything under the sun, while ignoring the crux of the matter: people don’t leave jobs; they leave managers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249903" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1667</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1667</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:00:49 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>15 Qualities You Need to Develop Mental Toughness</title>
<description>We all reach critical points in our lives where our mental toughness is tested. It might be because of a toxic friend or colleague, a dead-end job, or a struggling relationship.<br />
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Whatever the challenge, you have to be strong, see things through a new lens, and take decisive action if you want to move through it successfully.<br />
<br />
It sounds easy. We all want good friends, good jobs, and good relationships.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/travis-bradberry/are-you-mentally-strong.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1666</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1666</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 9 Oct 2015 09:26:05 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How These Entrepreneurs Turned $300 Into $60 Million in 2 Years</title>
<description>As entrepreneurs, we are told we should expect to fail at our first, second, or third idea before becoming successful, and that is often true. Coming up with an idea and then profiting from it within the first year is very rare. But after speaking with Caleb Garrett and Alex Moreno of Hawkers Co., a two-year-old D2C eyewear brand poised to hit $60 million this year, I'm beginning to believe they have somehow cracked the code that so many product-focused, bootstrapped startups have been looking for. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/aj-agrawal/how-these-entrepreneurs-turned-300-into-60-000-000-in-two-years.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1665</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1665</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 7 Oct 2015 09:00:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>7 Questions to Ask Before Designing a Logo</title>
<description>Attempting to be creative when it will not come to you naturally can be an excercise in futility. Traditional means of conjuring those creative impulses, like taking a walk in the park, can often spur creativity, but getting a better idea of what a business needs can be an even more effective way to divine logo inspiration. When working with a business, it is important to gain a sense of what the business is about and what role the logo will play in the clients business and marketing plans. To make this process simpler, we have compiled 7 questions to consider asking a client before commencing logo design:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/7-questions-to-ask-before-desiging-logo.htm" target="_blank" >7 Questions to Ask Before Designing a Logo</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1664</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1664</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 5 Oct 2015 13:52:47 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Things Small Business Owners Should Invest In</title>
<description>Being a savvy spender is crucial for small business owners. These entrepreneurs have to watch every dollar to manage cash flow, make payroll, and generally stay in business. But being cash conscious shouldn't mean spending as little as possible on everything.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sc/small-business-investments-2015-9" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1663</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1663</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Oct 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Most Small Businesses Would Do It Again</title>
<description>More than eight in 10 U.S. small-business owners say they would still become a small-business owner if they had it to do over again. This sentiment has changed little over the past 11 years, which suggests that the difficulties many small businesses experienced during the Great Recession did not cause owners to regret their decision to start a business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/169592/small-business-owners-again.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1662</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1662</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 1 Oct 2015 09:00:42 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 7 Most Important Hires for Your Small Business</title>
<description>Up to a point, it behooves small business owners to be resourceful and handle the lion's share of the work. But before it's too late and their companies lose out on its market timing, entrepreneurs need to hire in order to grow, even if that means taking on more costs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mashable.com/2014/05/07/small-business-hires/#sG1umtfQ1Gk_" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1661</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1661</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Basics of How I Built a Seven-Figure Business Without Employees</title>
<description>There is a lot to be said for those rare few that possess the ability to create huge companies with hundreds or thousands of employees that are all just ecstatic to be at work. It is exceptionally difficult and equally as impressive, which is why they end up taking up space on the front page of a major magazine or journal.<br />
<br />
Although it appears flashy and glamorous, particularly with the amount of celebrity that todays super entrepreneurs wield, there is a tremendous amount of flexibility that is lost, almost by default, once you pass a certain size. Now, not only am I not one of those few, but I really do not want to be.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249868" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1660</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Twitter Inc. Turns to Small Businesses to Grow International Revenue</title>
<description>During Twitters analyst day in November, the company announced that it had 60,000 advertisers on its platform. Earlier this month, the company announced that it had grown its active advertiser base to 100,000 and laid plans to reach thousands more. The company is expanding its self-serve ad platform from 33 countries to the rest of the world, counting businesses in some 200 countries and territories eligible to send sponsored tweets.<br />
<br />
International revenue accounted for just 36% of Twitter's total sales last quarter, but 79% of its users are based outside the United States. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/11/twitter-inc-turns-to-small-businesses-to-grow-inte.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1659</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Boosting Veterans in Small Business</title>
<description>The battlefields of Iraq are a world away from Merrimack, New Hampshire, and its new microbrewery, Able Ebenezer Brewing Co. But for this companys owners, the can-do attitude they lived by as combat officers has contributed powerfully to their success as entrepreneurs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/best-for-vets/2015/09/11/commentary-boosting-veterans-small-business-able-ebenezer-brewing-company-merrimack/72031094/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1658</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>9 Things Managers Do That Make Good Employees Quit</title>
<description>Managers tend to blame their turnover problems on everything under the sun, while ignoring the crux of the matter: people do not leave jobs; they leave managers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249903" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1657</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Five Ways Small Businesses Can Make the Most of Facebook</title>
<description>Why devote 10 minutes a day to Facebook? There are many reasons why, but most importantly Facebook can help strengthen your relationships with your customers. The smaller your business, the more important these connections can be to help keep your company thriving.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-honigman/facebook-small-business-marketing_b_1987293.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1656</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2015 09:00:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Entrepreneur or Small Business Owner: Which One Are You?</title>
<description>You run your own business. How do you describe yourself to others when talking about what you do? Are you a small business owner? An entrepreneur? Or something else? And more importantly, is there really a difference between these terms? <br />
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<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8327-business-owner-versus-entrepreneur.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1655</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 6 Types of Buyers for Your Business</title>
<description>There is a reason it’s called exit planning -- the steps involved in determining how to ultimately leave the company you have built require careful thought, deliberate consideration, and plenty of time.<br />
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There are many directions you can take in the sale of a company, and considering who you’ll eventually find at the other side of the negotiation table is one of the most important things to understand as you get started down the path to an exit.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248670" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1654</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2015 09:00:33 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Labor Day: Why small business works for America</title>
<description>Labor Day is a holiday to honor hard working Americans, and small business owners are among the hardest workers around. They are often the first ones in and the last ones out. They toil and sweat beside their employees on the same job site, under the same tough conditions, behind the same counter or in the same office.<br />
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The National Federation of Independent Business represents more small businesses than any other organization. In fact, 60 percent of our 350,000 members employ between one and five workers<br />
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<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/09/07/labor-day-why-small-business-works-for-america.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1653</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2015 09:00:53 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What Goes In Your IRA? None of Your Small Business!</title>
<description>Can you operate your own small business inside your IRA? From 1974 to 2013 that question was in a gray area--the answer was a definite <i>maybe.</i> But the multiple shades of gray have recently turned to black and white. <br />
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<a href="http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=714317" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1652</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Things Millionaires Do That Most People Do Not</title>
<description>Who wants to be a millionaire? A popular game show has asked its audience that question for years. Truthfully, the vast majority of the population would jump at the opportunity to join the elite ranks of the millionaires in this country. <br />
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<a href="http://www.inc.com/rhett-power/5-things-millionaires-do-that-most-people-don-t.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1651</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2015 12:55:12 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Startup And Survival Guide</title>
<description>In 1938, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard began working part-time in a Palo Alto garage. With $538 just in working capital, the pair developed an audio oscillator: it would become the first product for the fledgling Hewlett-Packard HPQ +0.00% partnership. Today, Hewlett-Packard sits at #35 on Forbes’ list of most valuable brands, with an estimated worth of $57.9 billion.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/08/19/small-biz-startup-and-survival-guide/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1650</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 2 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 Ways for Your Small Business to Get Paid Faster</title>
<description>You built a stellar reputation for your business. You sold your heart out bringing in a new client. You gave that client your best work. And months later, you are still waiting to see the money in the bank.<br />
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And waiting. And waiting.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jared-hecht/8-ways-for-your-small-bus_b_7998948.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1649</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What the Internet of Thing Means for Small Businesses</title>
<description>The Internet of Things includes, among many other items, sensors for monitoring business and home security.<br />
<br />
How IoT Can Help Small Business Compete<br />
Here are two examples of small businesses that have figured out to compete against Goliath by finding low-cost ways to incorporate IoT into their operations:&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
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<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/News/Networking/what-the-internet-of-things-means-for-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1648</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What Makes Texas The Most Small Business-Friendly State, And Rhode Island The Least</title>
<description>For the fourth year running, California and Rhode Island earned an <i>F </i>in a massive survey of small business owners rating state and local governments’ friendliness to small business. At the other end of the spectrum, also for the fourth year in a row, Texas and Utah earned an <i>A+</i> from entrepreneurs.<br />
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What matters to small business owners? Nearly 18,000 entrepreneurs surveyed by Thumbtack.com said: Chamber of Commerce-style training and networking; regulatory and licensing simplicity, helpful government websites to cut red tape, and taxes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckdevore/2015/08/18/less-regulation-taxes-unionization-make-texas-most-small-business-friendly-rhode-island-least/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1647</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Tips for Selling Over Seas</title>
<description>Across the U.S., U.K., Germany, Brazil, China, and Australia, international ecommerce is predicted to triple by 2018, reaching $307 billion. The number of international shoppers will grow to 130 million, with 72 million of them using mobile devices to make cross-border purchases. Buying foreign goods online today is so easy that you no longer need to wait to take a vacation to purchase international items.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Small business owners who want to participate in this massive global market can do several things now to start growing their sales across borders.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/how-to-sell-overseas-5-tips-for-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1646</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How and Why Small Businesses Must Adapt to Social Media</title>
<description>Among the countless factors a small business owner must consider when running his or her business, social media is quickly becoming one of the most important.<br />
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<a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2015/07/30/business-age-social-media/30886859/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1645</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1645</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Stages of a Small Business</title>
<description>As a small business develops, it moves through five growth stages, each with its own distinctive characteristics. Small businesses vary widely in size, industry focus, management styles and capacity for growth.<br />
<br />
While each enterprise is unique in many ways, all experience common problems arising at similar stages in their development. For owners, understanding what can be expected in each stage of development will aid in assessing challenges and smooth the transition for business growth.<br />
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<a href="http://www.argusobserver.com/business/small-business-lifecycle-stages/article_b4e13666-3885-11e5-9898-fb28cdd45399.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1644</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1644</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>20 best apps for small-business owners</title>
<description>Between handling customer complaints, keeping track of employee work schedules and monitoring expenses, running a small business is hard work. If you’re looking to increase productivity and organization — or just make your life as an entrepreneur a little easier — a good app might be just what you need.<br />
<br />
To help you navigate the seemingly endless sea of apps out there, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites. These 20 apps can help you stay organized and on top of your small-business to-do list.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/hub/ct-nerdwallet-20-apps-small-business-owners-bsi-hub-20150730-story.html#page=1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1643</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1643</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Is It So Hard To Serve Small Business? Blame The 90% Challenge</title>
<description>There is a convenient narrative about small business that we have all heard a million times.&nbsp;&nbsp;Small business represents a huge, underserved, and highly lucrative market for finance-oriented entrepreneurs and large organizations alike. The prevailing wisdom is that these businesses run on Intuits QuickBooks, which enables them to have organized, accurate, and timely financial information at their fingertips. By all accounts, the small business market should be an easy one to serve. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Organizations big and small have struggled to serve the small business market in an efficient and effective matter, and it is all due to what we call the 90% challenge.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers/2015/08/02/why-is-it-so-hard-to-serve-small-business-blame-the-90-challenge/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1642</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Lies They Teach in Business School</title>
<description>Connections. Community. Mentorship. Immersion in management theory, market strategy and financial forecasting. A big, fat résumé boost. <br />
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The benefits of getting a business degree are multifold. But as many MBAs and their undergrad counterparts can attest, so are the falsehoods imparted.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
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<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244552" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1641</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Ways The Cloud Can Transform Your Small Business</title>
<description>Cloud-based services such as Spotify and OneDrive have irrevocably changed the way we consume, store and share content in our personal lives.<br />
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Similarly, many large organizations have become well accustomed to the cloud, having years ago turned to hosted storage and remote disaster recovery to boost productivity, reduce costs and preserve business continuity.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/centurylink/2015/07/23/5-ways-the-cloud-can-transform-your-small-business-2/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1640</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Wearables to Get You Going at Work</title>
<description>Does your back hurt from slouching over your keyboard all day? Having trouble focusing after lunchtime? Do you remember that great idea you had the other day? Whatever is holding you back from doing your best work, there is probably a wearable claiming to solve the problem.<br />
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<a href="http://www.inc.com/tess-townsend/5-wearables-to-get-you-going-at-work.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1639</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 7 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>100 Brilliant Companies</title>
<description>If there is one clear trend that has emerged as we compiled the 2015 Brilliant 100, it is that everyone—especially young adults—wants to keep tabs on everything. <br />
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<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245890" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1638</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 5 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small-Business Owners Reveal Their Biggest Mistakes</title>
<description>From struggling with a business plan to hiring the wrong talent, there are a lot of opportunities for small-business owners to make mistakes, especially when starting out.<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2015/07/24/small-business-owners-reveal-their-biggest-mistakes/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1637</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 3 Aug 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Cybersecurity Best Practices for Small Businesses</title>
<description>With every passing week comes a story about some technological snafu at big companies—and even in the government. But small businesses are very vulnerable to cybersecurity issues, both because they lack the resources of big enterprises and because their lack of resources means that an attack can be even more devastating.<br />
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Here are some best practices that small businesses can put into place to make sure that they are secure. <br />
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<a href="http://www.newsmax.com/Finance/CarolRoth/Cybersecurity-Best-Practices-Small-Businesses-Cyber-Security/2015/07/25/id/658906/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1636</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Cloud Security Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Thorough research and strong internal security practices can help small businesses secure their data and IT infrastructure in the cloud.<br />
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<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/cloud-security-tips-for-small-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1635</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How To Quickly Master Social Media Marketing For Small Business</title>
<description>According to a new study, one in six marriages that began in the last three years has resulted from an interaction that started online. At the same time, Nielsen also reports that four out of every five corporations in America are now leveraging social media to help expand their client base and build relationships with customers.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sujanpatel/2015/07/09/how-to-quickly-master-social-media-marketing-for-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1634</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How You Can Streamline Your Small Business</title>
<description>Chances are that you have already gone paperless. The Cloud has largely replaced reams of paperwork, stuffed file cabinets, and onsite data storage, making it easy to keep and maintain all the information you need. In fact, in the next five years the number of small businesses using the Cloud is expected to double to 78 percent. <br />
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<a href="http://tech.co/streamline-small-business-2015-07" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1633</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Fed Data Show How Tiny Most Small Businesses Really Are</title>
<description>How small is small? New federal data shows that most small businesses are very small. By definition, a small business could have up to 499 employees. The average American small business has about 8!<br />
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<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/07/fed-data-show-tiny-small-businesses-really.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1632</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Tips on Financing a Small Business Franchise</title>
<description>Imagine this:&nbsp;&nbsp;You have found the perfect business idea, one that seems to add up from every angle and could not be better for you and your future plans.&nbsp;&nbsp;The only problem is that you do not have the capital to open the doors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, unfortunately this is a rather significant problem for a small business startup ... particularly in todays lending environment. <br />
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<a href="http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/news/12087738/5-tips-on-financing-a-small-business-franchise" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1631</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Things To Know Before Starting A Small Business</title>
<description>After seeing the dreams of so many wonderful people end with a closed store sign, we were determined to find out how to help so we enlisted the aid of several resources for business owners to come up with a list of what they need to know. <br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/financialfinesse/2015/06/19/5-things-to-know-before-starting-a-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1630</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Shark Tanks Biggest Money-Raising Ideas</title>
<description>Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec stunned viewers in May by making a handshake deal to invest $5 million in Zero Pollution Motors, maker of a $10,000 plastic minicar that runs on compressed air. The deal would have doubled the previous record for the largest Shark Tank investment ever, but ultimately fell apart during the due diligence process. Still, a handful of entrepreneurs have successfully attracted million-dollar investments from the Sharks. Here are the five largest deals made on Shark Tank in which money actually wound up exchanging hands.<br />
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<a href="http://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/shark-tanks-biggest-money-raising-ideas.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1629</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 8 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Social Media Rules for Time-Strapped Small Businesses</title>
<description>Social media may be the last thing on your mind after a long day of managing employees, interacting with customers, ordering inventory and keeping an eye on your finances. But it is an important tool that can help you market your business and engage with customers.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/5-social-media-rules-timestrapped-small-businesses/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1628</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 6 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The 10 Fastest-Growing Industries In Small Business</title>
<description>Trucking companies and building contractors dominate the fastest-growing industries for small businesses, according to new data from Sageworks, a financial information company.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sageworks/2015/06/14/the-10-fastest-growing-industries-in-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1627</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 3 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>9 Small Business Surprises</title>
<description>But some lessons you can not learn until you are actually at the helm of your company. Here are nine surprises you might run into by owning a small business:<br />
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<a href="http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/money/2015/06/27/surprises-get-running-small-business/29352737/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1626</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 1 Jul 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Need an Amazing Mentor?</title>
<description>Recounting the few short years I knew Jimmy made me think deeply about what it means to have a mentor and how that relationship can profoundly change you. Many people wonder how you find a good mentor and how you continue to nurture that relationship. Finding a mentor is difficult, especially for young people, because you are requesting valuable time of someone. There is no clear answer: Nobody can dial up 1-800-Mentor-Me. These friendships tend to grow organically as mine did with Jimmy. But here are a few ways you can turn a chance meeting into a deeper relationship:<br />
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<a href="http://www.inc.com/betty-liu/need-an-amazing-mentor-here-s-what-you-do.html">complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1625</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Name a Small Business: Keep it Short and Sweet</title>
<description>Deciding what to call your company is probably one of the most fun and exciting aspects of starting a small business. You might have launched this venture by scribbling business name ideas on a bar napkin while hanging out with friends.<br />
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But naming your small business is also serious business. Your decision could affect your ability to reach a broader audience and grow. And making the wrong choice could even get you in legal trouble.<br />
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<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/hub/chi-nerdwallet-how-to-name-a-small-business-bsi-hub-20150602-story.html#page=1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1624</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How Small Businesses Can Leverage Big Data for Success</title>
<description>Big&nbsp;&nbsp;Data seems to be the phrase on everybody’s lips these days, and without a doubt, it has revolutionized the business world. Companies are getting valuable insights reading into mountains of data collected from all kinds of sources. Using Big Data simply makes sense, but the very prospect can be intimidating, particularly when it comes to small businesses and startups. One recent survey shows that 35 percent of startups are not even considering the possibility of leveraging Big Data or taking into account how much data is being generated every year – such a decision could be disastrous for the future success of a company.<br />
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Small businesses may feel that the ability to leverage Big Data is simply outside of their grasp, but Big Data solutions have become much more affordable in recent years. In addition, they are easier to use and oftentimes automated. In other words, small businesses have every reason to get into the Big Data game now as long as they know how best to use it. Here are just a few ways small companies can truly make Big Data work toward further success.<br />
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<a href="http://tech.co/small-businesses-leverage-big-data-2015-06" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1623</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Big Data: How To Boost Your Marketing With Analytics</title>
<description>Is big data just for big business? For several years, larger corporations have been gathering informative insights from this next-generation approach to data analysis. But now small businesses are finding ways to leverage this comprehensive data analysis for marketing insights.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ramcommercial/2015/06/05/small-business-big-data-how-to-boost-your-marketing-with-analytics/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1622</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Reasons Small Businesses Fail in Their First Year</title>
<description>Starting a small business is tough, but growing one — or just keeping it afloat — is even harder.<br />
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Even though more than 500,000 small businesses are created each year in the U.S., only half of them survive past their fifth year, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.<br />
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<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/hub/chi-nerdwallet-5-reasons-small-businesses-fail-bsi-hub-20150604-story.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1621</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 8 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Best and Small Citities for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Last month, Forbes reported on the best cities for starting a business this year, and much attention is frequently given to the locations working the hardest to attract founders who will create coveted jobs. But which cities are the most hospitable to those who hold those positions?<br />
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<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2015/05/12/the-best-and-worst-cities-for-small-business-employees/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1620</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 3 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Myths That Keep Women From Starting a Small Business</title>
<description>Women playing a bigger role in small businesses is no longer big news, of course. In 2014, there were roughly 9 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., employing nearly 8 million workers and recording nearly $1.4 trillion in sales that year, according to data from the National Association of Women Business Owners.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/5-myths-women-starting-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1619</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 1 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Essential Basics of a Small Business Domain Name Strategy</title>
<description>What is a Domain Name Strategy?<br />
The purpose of a domain name strategy is to proactively protect your brand online by reducing the chance for others to use your brand name in their online activities, specifically, in their website URLs.<br />
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<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/05/domain-name-strategy.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1618</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Innovation Can Lead to Business Success</title>
<description>Innovation is usually used to describe ways of adding value to things that already exist. Invention is the creation of something that never existed before. And then there is creativity.<br />
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<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2015/0524/Simple-steps-to-a-financially-sound-small-business" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1617</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Simple Steps to a Financially Sound Business</title>
<description>From making a financial plan to creating an exit strategy, here are some helpful tips for establishing and running your small business. <br />
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<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2015/0524/Simple-steps-to-a-financially-sound-small-business" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1616</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2015 09:03:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Protect Small Business from Health Care Rules</title>
<description>Walk around any town in Indiana and you can see it: Small businesses are the lifeblood of our state and the engine of our economy. And yet, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is set to implement a rule that would harm Hoosier small businesses.<br />
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<a href="http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/05/23/protect-small-businesses-health-care-rules/27872617/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1615</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Travel With Your Cell Phone Without Breaking the Bank</title>
<description>All major wireless operators available in the U.S. offer some international roam, but the volume varies by network. To get an understanding of how your network will fare abroad, or to understand which carrier to choose if you are a regular traveler, you should first understand the two basic major technologies that wireless operators use.<br />
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<a href="http://www.notepage.net/learning-center/my-big-fat-phone-bill.htm" target="_blank" >How to Travel With Your Cell Phone Without Breaking the Bank</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1614</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Ins and Outs of Sales Tax</title>
<description>Do all small business owners need to pay sales taxes? Yes, the majority of businesses that are sales oriented are required to pay taxes to the home state or other locations where they do business. There are only a handful of states that do not require taxes from businesses - Oregon, Alaska, New Hampshire, Delaware, Hawaii and Montana, for the rest of us, sales taxes are something worth paying close attention to.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melinda-emerson/do-all-small-business-own_b_7181364.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1613</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Customer Retention No Small Accident</title>
<description>Loyal customers are precious. Identifying the details and creating a system to make sure they are taken care of is key.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245312" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1612</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 8 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Marketing Moves Small Businesses Can Borrow From Big Companies</title>
<description>Established businesses have one obvious advantage over their younger counterparts: Deep pockets.<br />
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Fortunately, what todays small business lacks in budget can be made up for with strategy and a few carefully chosen tools. Here are six smart marketing ideas gleaned from my experience running a company that teaches small firms how to compete with big ones.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2015/04/28/6-marketing-moves-small-businesses-can-borrow-from-big-companies/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1611</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 5 Jun 2015 09:00:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Tech Report</title>
<description>Entrepreneurs are born idea people, with a seemingly endless supply of light bulbs flashing over their heads. But it takes more than good ideas to find your market niche and to build a successful business. It is even harder to do if you are not familiar with the market thats drawn your interest. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/the-small-business-tech-report.html" target="_blank" >Small Business Tech Report</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1610</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 3 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Exporting</title>
<description>A report commissioned by eBay finds that more than 190,000—or 90 percent—of its small and medium-sized businesses used its platform to export in 2014. (Tweet This) To compare, in 2009, fewer than 30,000 were exporting. The findings come from eBay's Public Policy Lab in its 2015 U.S. Small Business Growth Report.<br />
<br />
Despite that growth, less than 5 percent of U.S. small businesses overall are exporting, according to estimates from the International Trade Administration. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/102622099" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1609</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 1 Jun 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Essentials of Blogging for Small Business</title>
<description>Why you should you blog?<br />
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Through posting simple things such as helpful tips, special discounts or the latest industry news you can effectively maintain your customer relationships and give people a reason to visit to your website.<br />
<br />
More recently blogging and content marketing has been widely used to enhance SEO strategy. Writing articles around the keywords that you are targeting will help to improve rankings in search engines. Furthermore, if you write unique and valuable articles, other websites will link to your content and as a result; this will increase your website's back-links.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bianca-rothschild/the-essentials-of-bloggin_b_7186242.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1608</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Rise of the Small Business Cloud</title>
<description>By 2020, most small businesses in the U.S. will be powered by the cloud, according to Intuit. Is your business ready?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/the-rise-of-the-small-business-cloud.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1607</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2015 09:00:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Business Resolutions</title>
<description>What do you want to achieve in 2015 for your small business? The beginning of January is the time for New Year's resolutions, so here are my top 10 resolutions for small business owners and entrepreneurs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/small%20business/2015/01/02/small-business-columnist-strategies-resolutions/21024583/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1606</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Steps to Project your Business’ Sales</title>
<description>Every business owner should be forecasting sales. You may use actual numbers if you have historical financial records. But what do you do if you have nothing to refer back to? You will need to determine how many potential customers are there and how many of these potential customers are likely to buy from you, decide the average sale per customer, and then project this out for the year. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/money/business/2015/04/25/steps-project-business-sales/26341839/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1605</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Best States for Business Taxes</title>
<description>If you are thinking about starting a new business in one of the states in the US, then this list of 10 best states for business taxes could be very useful to you. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-states-for-business-taxes-343948/" target="_blank" >complete article</a><br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1604</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Google Mobile Friendly Algorithm Gives Small Businesses The Advantage</title>
<description>Despite the warning, a number of extremely well known brands are still scrabbling to minimise the impact of Google’s mobile algorithm update, leaving smaller businesses with the advantage as long as they do not panic according to leading UK and US Search experts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnrampton/2015/04/25/google-mobile-friendly-algorithm-gives-small-businesses-the-advantage/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1603</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Financial Tips for Startups</title>
<description>Small business startups may fuel the economy, but that does not mean that they always succeed. In fact, according to a study published by Bloomberg, 80 percent of businesses fail within the first year and a half, which is a pretty dismal outlook for aspiring entrepreneurs.<br />
<br />
The reason that so many businesses fail, in large part, is due to poor financial planning. In order to beat the odds and to get your business moving on the right track, consider the following financial advice.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/5-financial-tips-for-small-business-startups.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1602</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2015 12:42:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Avoid These 5 Small-Business HR Mistakes</title>
<description>Not heeding these warnings can lead to costly mistakes, such as litigation and employee turnover.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245008" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1601</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2015 12:39:40 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>To Succeed With Your Small Business Avoid These 5 Mistakes</title>
<description>At one time or another, virtually everyone thinks about starting a business. The allure of being your own boss can be strong, but it is important to remember that launching a new business is risky: According to a recent SBA report, [about 50% of all small businesses will fail within just five years.<br />
<br />
Managing a startup can be a minefield, especially when the pull of entrepreneurship clouds your decision-making – and when you go it alone with no business experience.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245081" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1600</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2015 09:37:24 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>More Women Owning Small Businesses</title>
<description>Owning your own business is often touted as the ultimate coup in the working world. You set your own hours, pursue projects you are interested in, and maybe work in your pajamas. Obvious challenges aside, it sounds like a pretty nice gig. Such jobs are largely enjoyed by men, who make up an estimated 71 percent of business owners in the U.S. But that might slowly be changing.<br />
<br />
A report from the Institute of Womens Policy Research shows that women are steadily increasing their presence in the world of small-business ownership. About 29 percent of Americas business owners are women, that is up from 26 percent in 1997. The number of women-owned firms has grown 68 percent since 2007, compared with 47 percent for all businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/04/women-are-owning-more-and-more-small-businesses/390642/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1599</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 8 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Tips for Bringing Out the Best in New Hires</title>
<description>The skills gap is widening and workers are feeling it. In fact, Lynda.com recently conducted an online survey of nearly 10,000 respondents, and found that about half of them lacked confidence in their job skills.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244244" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1598</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 6 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Industries Without a Dominant Market Leader</title>
<description>When launching a startup, it always helps if the industry you're breaking into does not have a juggernaut with the power to crush the competition.<br />
<br />
While almost every sector has incumbent market leaders and new rising stars, certain industries are fragmented to the point where no single player has a major stranglehold.<br />
<br />
As a part of Inc.s annual look at the best industries for starting a business, we decided to highlight the niche sectors that are projected to grow during the next few years and that do not have an industry leader dominating the market. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/5-industries-without-a-clear-market-leader.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1597</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1597</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 May 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Most Obnoxious And Overused Startup Jargon</title>
<description>From Silicon Valley to Silicon Alley, mind-numbing startup jargon is stopping for no one. It winds up in TED Talks, pitch meetings and every tech journalist’s inbox in between. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/emilyinverso/2015/03/16/the-most-obnoxious-and-overused-startup-jargon/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1596</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1596</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Using Visual Media Effectively</title>
<description>Interesting visuals can make a huge impact on your website and online marketing efforts, whether they be photos, videos or other forms of media. Social platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and even Meerkat have made these visual forms of media even more prominent.<br />
<br />
Members of our small business community have some tips for using each of these visual platforms and for including visual elements on business websites. Read on for the full list of tips in this week’s Small Business Trends community roundup.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/04/10-tips-using-visual-media-improve-business.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1595</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2015 09:00:05 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Your Performance Reviews are Failing</title>
<description>McMahon explained his companys performance review process -- and how he thinks it should be done -- in five steps.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.benefitspro.com/2015/03/31/why-your-performance-review-process-is-all-wrong" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1594</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1594</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Media Training Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Most reporters write on a different topic every day. Unless they are a beat reporter covering your industry, the reporter does not know more than you. If you have been in the business five or 10 years, be confident in your knowledge of industry trends and current events.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/business/small-business/20150404-the-five-media-training-tips-for-small-businesses.ece" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1593</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Conflict Resolution</title>
<description>Conflict is when two or more individuals have opinions, morals or perspectives that do not concur. By being ready for conflict and seeing it as a positive movement toward reaching goals, conflict can be seen as progress or change for the better. The most difficult situation with conflict is the emotions that get in the way. By getting past the emotions of the conflict, real progress can be made and conflict resolution can begin. There are five steps for conflict resolution: collecting data, identifying the issue, approaching the other person, defining the problem together and brainstorming possible solutions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nrtoday.com/news/15723254-113/small-business-conflict-resolution" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1592</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2015 09:00:41 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Ways to Market Your Small Business for Less Than $100</title>
<description>For large brands with big marketing and advertising budgets, one or even several hundred dollars is just a drop in the monthly marketing budget. But for entrepreneurs and small business owners, every dollar counts – and investments need to pay off in real and immediate marketing ROI.<br />
<br />
But could a marketing strategy be executed with as little as $100? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244527" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1591</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Scaling a Company</title>
<description>More mature companies are expected to benefit, while smaller companies--in particular startups, which typically seek far less money--may not see as many gains, because they usually do not need to raise $20 million. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jeremy-quittner/JOBS-act-rule-changes-ease-the-way-for-bigger-fundraising.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1590</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Strange Hobbies of Top Entrepeneurs</title>
<description>Successful entrepreneurs naturally have plenty of money to spend and, not surprisingly, they often spend it indulging their personal interests.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/top-10-weird-hobbies-of-famous-entrepreneurs.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1589</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1589</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Google Small Business Program</title>
<description>The tech giant today announced a major new small business initiative called Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map. The aim is to help every business in every city in America get discovered across its services.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244322" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1588</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1588</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Cost of Failing Small Business</title>
<description>Filing for bankruptcy protection to save a small business often costs at least $100,000 to $300,000—and sometimes twice as much in cases where creditors are contentious, lawyers say.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-high-cost-of-saving-a-failing-small-business-1427327055" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1587</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1587</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>6 Ways to Grow Your Small Business in the Digital Age</title>
<description>Website, social media, blog. If you are a small business owner, chances are you've already checked off those must have boxes. If you have not, get those launched and then circle back to continue reading.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashley-wren-collins/6-ways-to-grow-your-small_b_6935680.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1586</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1586</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 8 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How IT is Changing Small Businesses</title>
<description>Todays business environment is moving at a faster pace than ever before. It’s imperative that organizations of all sizes be nimble enough to respond and pivot according to business and market demands at a moment’s notice, or risk falling behind their competition.<br />
<br />
To this point, many small businesses often struggle when it comes to effectively scaling their operations. This process entails making hefty IT investments, and while necessary for continued growth, many entrepreneurs just can not afford to do so. <br />
<br />
<a href="The ability to invest in IT organically allows an organization to scale at pace, keeping them competitive in the market without breaking the bank.XXXGoogle+ Pages do not support hiding thumbnails.X&nbsp;&nbsp; Send NowX 118&nbsp;&nbsp;1924X X XMayaLocke (Twitter) http://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-ways-innovation-changing-game-223000690.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1585</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1585</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 6 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Finding a Balance</title>
<description>Technology makes getting quality work done on the go easier than ever. You can take an active role in meetings from anywhere, collaborate in real-time from different locations, and track everything from inventory to security from your couch. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-swanciger/blend-is-the-new-balance-_b_6949148.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1584</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1584</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Small Business Means Big Business for Facebook</title>
<description>Last years efforts to woo small businesses should pay off in a big way for the social media king this year. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/03/15/why-small-business-means-big-business-for-facebook.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1583</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1583</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 1 Apr 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Incorporating Your Small Business</title>
<description>A corporation is a business structure that is owned entirely by the shareholders. Shareholders are individuals, companies or other institutions that own at least one share of the corporations stock. One of the major benefits to the corporation business structure is that the business itself and not the shareholders are held legally responsible for any actions and the debts incurred by the business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/news-opinion_columns/152605599/Incorporating-your-small-business" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1582</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Boot Camp: How to Identify Your Target Market and Create Customer Personas</title>
<description>Having a clear vision of your expected customer base will increase your business chances of success. Clearly defining your target audience — whether it is senior citizens, busy moms or millennials in California — can help answer a lot of questions and overcome obstacles that may be plaguing you as you kick-start your online store. Some of the business questions you will be addressing include:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/strategy/small-business-boot-camp-identify-target-market-create-customer-personas-01175167" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1581</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1581</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Effective Business Tools for Entrepreneurs</title>
<description>I think many of the tools on this list have the potential to become invaluable assets for both small businesses, and individuals alike. Jump over to the bottom of the post to see these tools in action as I have gathered up a slideshow to give you a better idea of what to expect.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-ivanovs/10-effective-business-too_b_6829584.html">complete article</a><br />
<br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1580</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1580</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Word of Mouth</title>
<description>By far the most common way customers learn about a business is from word of mouth, according to the small businesses in the survey.&nbsp;&nbsp;Eighty-five percent of the small businesses surveyed said customers learn about them through word of mouth.&nbsp;&nbsp;The chart above shows all the responses.&nbsp;&nbsp;As you can see, no other type of marketing or advertising even comes close.&nbsp;&nbsp;Search engines come in a distant second at 59%.&nbsp;&nbsp;Everything else is far behind.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/06/small-businesses-get-customers-through-word-of-mouth.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1579</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1579</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>85% of Small Businesses Get Customers Through Word of Mouth</title>
<description>85% of small businesses get customers through word of mouth. Here are steps you should do to generate word of mouth from customers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/06/small-businesses-get-customers-through-word-of-mouth.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1578</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1578</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Overcoming Small Business Challenges</title>
<description>The future can look bleak when starting a small business. According to the U.K. Office for National Statistics, six out of ten businesses starting in the U.K. today will not make it to 2020. In the United States things are only marginally better with Small Business Administration research showing two-thirds of new businesses close their doors within the first two years and only about half survive the first five years. This may sound like a depressing number for a small business owner, but you can avoid becoming just another statistic by being aware of the most common small business challenges—and how to handle them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://experts.allbusiness.com/overcoming-small-business-challenges/20965/#.VP2MinzF94I" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1577</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1577</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>This is a checklist for small business owners who do not have a business degree. Other business professionals might fall out of their seat reading this because it might imply that starting a business is as simple as a checklist. This list merely skims the surface of a bottomless ocean. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogher.com/tips-new-business-owners?crumb%3D10" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1576</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1576</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Confidence</title>
<description>Small-business owners in the US are feeling pretty positive, as 72% polled in January 2015 by the National Small Business Association - NSBA said they were somewhat or very confident in the financial future of their companies. They intended to turn to advertising and marketing 51%, digital and ecommerce expansion 34% and strategic alliances 31% the most to fuel growth over the coming year. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Small-Businesses-Expect-Big-Success-2015/1012178#sthash.1yDDzcXR.dpuf" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1575</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1575</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Are Franchises Individual Business or One Large Company?</title>
<description>Are franchises small, independent businesses or should they be considered part of a much larger company?<br />
<br />
The question is at the heart of two upcoming legal cases. The outcomes could affect profits and change how franchisees hire, fire, manage and pay workers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/ap/business/are-franchises-individual-business-or-one-large-company-upcoming-legal/article_5915e709-1bc4-5c04-bf19-df7d4e87374c.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1574</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1574</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Behaviors You Never See in Successful People</title>
<description>How you act defines you as a leader. That is why there are so few real leaders nowadays.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242644" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1573</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1573</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>9 Ideas to Make a Side Income While Growing Your Business</title>
<description>Being an entrepreneur is synonymous with being financially unstable at times. While you are growing your company, it is important to be focused. But what if you could get a side hustle that would help bring in a healthy secondary income to alleviate some of that financial stress? And, best case, what if this side hustle could also help you grow your core business?<br />
<br />
The good news is that there are a lot of companies that create opportunities for entrepreneurs that do not require full-time work and can become a great companion to the work you are doing. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241861" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1572</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 9 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>A Former FBI Agent Reveals the Secrets of Persuasion</title>
<description><i>I found that persuasion plays a critical role in personal relationships and business relationships. Whenever two or more people get together to complete a task, whether it be a social actively like picking a restaurant or being part of team, there is always the possibility of an argument instead of agreement, which is where the power of persuasion comes in. With persuasion, there are no winners or losers. Persuasion is the art of convincing others to do what you want them to do because they want to, not because they are forced to. And it can be tapped using these simple techniques.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jack-schafer/5-ways-to-get-to-yes-using-persuasion.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1571</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1571</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Dos and Do Nots of Small Business</title>
<description>For those just beginning, knowing what steps to take first can be hard to figure out. It can be even harder to tell which steps you should not take.<br />
<br />
While a business might be a complex thing to fathom sometimes, Dr. Rebecca Reuber, professor of strategic management at the University of Toronto, believes that all of them need to share a simple start: An idea you believe in.<br />
<br />
Once you get that, though, it gets more complicated. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/1839460/how-to-open-a-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1570</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1570</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 5 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Tips for Starting an International Small Business</title>
<description>When a good business plan pays off at home, it’s natural to want to take the show on the road. Introducing your small business to an international market has the potential to pay off in a big way, especially when it opens the door for your company to expand and grow like never before, not to mention the opportunity for higher sales in a new market.<br />
<br />
Of course, new territory means new challenges. Most people do their homework before they visit a country, so you can imagine how much research is involved when deciding to take a company global. Are you prepared?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cnafinance.com/4-tips-starting-international-small-business/896" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1569</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1569</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Media Training 101: Top 10 Small Business Interviewing Tips</title>
<description>A media interview provides a great opportunity to generate buzz surrounding your small business. Knowing how to give a great media interview – and get the most out of it for your brand – is key to helping your business build deeper long-term relationships with new and existing customers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/media-training-101-top-10-small-business-interviewing-tips-300038799.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1568</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1568</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Mar 2015 09:09:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How Small Businesses Can Nail Social Marketing</title>
<description>For many independent business owners, embarking on a full-blown social media program can seem like a daunting journey into unknown territory. Thankfully, the payoff is worth the effort. When done right, there is massive potential for SMBs to directly connect and communicate with targeted, local audiences.<br />
<br />
In fact, recent research has shown that 91% of small business owners rely on social media as a means of driving increased sales. So what is the secret? Where do you start, and what are some of the most important things to keep in mind as you look to boost your bottom line?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://streetfightmag.com/2015/02/20/how-small-businesses-can-nail-social-marketing/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1567</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1567</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 2 Mar 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Prepare Your Small Business for Tax Time</title>
<description>Whether you decide to outsource your tax tasks or perform them in-house it is important to arm yourself with the relevant knowledge to make sure your business not only complies but also saves time and money wherever possible. Here are a few resources to get you started:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://experts.allbusiness.com/prepare-small-business-tax-time/20919/#.VOdj-ObF94I" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1566</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1566</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2015 09:00:57 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Ways To Get Ahead In The Hyper-Competitive Small Business World</title>
<description>Between working all the time and being high energy in all circumstances, establishing a small business is more exhausting than ever. Here is how one entrepreneur does it. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/7-ways-get-ahead-hyper-competitive-small-business-world-01154485#qCYMLCGDdvlR55mS.99" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1565</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1565</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Is Bitcoin a Good Fit for Your Small Business?</title>
<description>Online electronics store Adafruit began accepting bitcoin as a payment method in November 2013. Just over a week later, sales surged.<br />
<br />
The DIY electronics merchant raked in tens of thousands of dollars that month alone, boosted by the annual shopping surge known as Bitcoin Black Friday. While sales have been up and down since, site founder Limor Fried says that, as a small business owner, she loves the cryptocurrency despite its potential pitfalls.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/bitcoin-good-fit-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1564</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1564</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>7 Smart Ways for Your Small Business to Reduce Costs</title>
<description>As a small-business owner, you are always on the lookout for ways to boost cash flow. Although increasing sales is one way to make that happen, cutting costs can be a faster way to increase cash. Here are seven of the most effective ways to reduce expenses without compromising quality.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business-finances/small-business-reduce-expenses-boost-cash-flow/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1563</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1563</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How Social Media can Make your Small Business go Gangbusters</title>
<description>Like professional marketers, successful small business owners target their social media activities for maximum impact. While their competitors are adrift in a sea of tweets and blog posts, savvy strategists focus and fine tune their social-media plays. Consider three social media campaigns that generated big results through careful targeting:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://theweek.com/articles/536005/social-media-make-small-business-gangbusters" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1562</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1562</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>A Survival Guide to Small Business Taxes</title>
<description>The more things change…the harder it becomes to do your small business taxes. Between the Affordable Care Act coming into full effect, on-again off-again on-again tax credits gurgling out of Washington, and even a shakeup of the venerable TurboTax product line, this year—more than ever—small business owners need guidance and support as April 15 approaches.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/a-survival-guide-to-small-business-taxes.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1561</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1561</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How the Small Business Staged Its Comeback</title>
<description>One of the most popular case studies used to decry the rise of the corporation is the apparent downfall of local bookstores. With Borders now just a fond memory and Barnes & Noble living on borrowed time, it’s clearer than ever that Americans have spoken and Amazon has won—or has it?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/williamcraig/2015/01/30/how-the-small-business-staged-its-comeback/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1560</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1560</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Taxes 2015: Everything You Need to Know</title>
<description>Following the most wonderful time of the year is a season that strikes fear in the hearts of many small business owners: tax time. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7720-small-business-taxes.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1559</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1559</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Buy an Sell Agreements for Small Businesses</title>
<description>The transfer of ownership interests in a small business should take into account all of the considerations that make each business, and especially a family-owned business, unique. The vehicle for accomplishing the transfer is usually called a buy-sell agreement. Its name barely begins to describe the buy-sell agreements various purposes. With professional advice, the agreement can be tailored to meet the objectives of each small business, whether the business is in the form of a close corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or some other structure.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.itemonline.com/news/legal-corner-buy-sell-agreements-for-small-business/article_31790292-a9c7-11e4-ba9b-07abcbdd8e8d.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1558</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1558</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>12 Online Marketing Blogs Every Small Business Owner Needs to Read</title>
<description>Online marketing is an industry that is constantly changing. The search engines are constantly rolling out updates and data refreshes, pay per click advertising platforms are always revealing new features and social media marketing is always evolving.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-long/12-online-marketing-blogs_b_6510124.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1557</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1557</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Feb 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>9 Terrible Reasons To Start A Small Business</title>
<description>There are a lot of articles out there telling you to go forth and start a business! But the truth is, not everyone should start a business. If more of the 80 percent of small businesses that fail had but hesitated and considered why they were getting into business, we would probably have fewer businesses and more successes in those that did exist.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2015/01/21/9-terrible-reasons-to-start-a-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1556</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1556</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Feb 2015 09:21:53 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Small Business Ecommerce Trends</title>
<description>Small business ecommerce operators may be in for good news in the New Year. We spoke with a couple of ecommerce experts to get their perspective on how the ecommerce industry will shape up in 2015, and which trends are likely to affect small business etailers.<br />
<br />
Top Small Business Ecommerce Trends for 2015<br />
1. More consumers shop with mobile devices<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/News/Marketing/looking-ahead-4-small-business-ecommerce-trends.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1555</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1555</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 2 Feb 2015 13:16:58 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Goals Every Small-Business Owner Should Set in 2015</title>
<description>As we settle into 2015, it is the perfect time for small-business owners to reevalute old processes and implement new ideas for a happier and more productive year ahead. Here are four goals that every small business owner should set this year:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241505" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1554</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1554</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Secrets of Success for Small Business</title>
<description>What do you want to achieve in 2015 for your small business? The beginning of January is the time for New Year's resolutions, so here are my top 10 resolutions for small-business owners and entrepreneurs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.app.com/story/money/business/main-street/2015/01/12/small-business-success/21331303/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1553</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1553</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Deliver Exceptional Customer Service</title>
<description>4 Pillars of Outstanding Customer Service<br />
1. The Perfect Product<br />
2. Caring Delivery<br />
3. Timeliness<br />
4. Build an Effective Problem-resolution Process<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/how-to-deliver-exceptional-customer-service.html">complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1552</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1552</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 College Degrees that Help with Business</title>
<description>Think you need an MBA in order to be a successful entrepreneur? Think again. There are many aspects to founding a successful business, and a foundation based on <i>business </i>(which is highly subjective) is just one of them. In fact, almost any degree you can imagine can bolster small business success if you look at it from the right angle.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://fortune.com/2015/01/16/5-college-degrees-that-prepare-you-for-small-business-success/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1551</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1551</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>How to Develop Your 2015 Small Business Goals</title>
<description>Developing goals for the new year is always something good to do.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, there are plenty of people out there who believe it is not a productive use of time. It is probably because they do not develop smart goals that they can actually accomplish. Below are a few helpful tips for you to consider for picking, and more importantly, achieving your 2015 small business goals!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melinda-emerson/how-to-develop-your-2015_b_6401568.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1550</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1550</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>50 Big Ideas, Predictions and Trends for Small Business in 2015</title>
<description>From the ever-changing technology sphere to ideas about the economy and business growth, here are 50 big ideas, predictions and trends to look out for in the small business world in 2015.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7608-2015-small-business-predictions.html" target="_blank" >complete aricle</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1549</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1549</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Top 10 small business resolutions for 2015</title>
<description>What do you want to achieve in 2015 for your small business? The beginning of January is the time for New Year's resolutions, so here are my top 10 resolutions for small business owners and entrepreneurs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/small%20business/2015/01/02/small-business-columnist-strategies-resolutions/21024583/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1548</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1548</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 Tips to Grow Your Small Business</title>
<description>If you are a small business that is weighing the advantages of advertising versus public relations, there are some compelling reasons for making PR a cornerstone of your organization's strategy of growth. This might even include shifting some of your advertising resources to your PR efforts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miranda-marquit/5-tips-for-using-pr-to-grow-your-business_b_6382312.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1547</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1547</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2015 09:00:31 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>These Are The 16 Hottest Startups That Launched In 2014</title>
<description>2014 was a great year for consumer tech, so we decided to take a look at the best startups that launched this year.<br />
<br />
When looking at the best startups, we took into account factors like funding, revenue, growth, and investor interest<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-16-best-startups-that-launched-in-2014-2014-12?op=1" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1546</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1546</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Trends that will Impact Small Businesses in 2015</title>
<description>Here are 10 trends to keep an eye on as you develop your marketing plan.<br />
<br />
1. Social media will continue to propel consumer spending. In 2014, both Twitter and Facebook began testing a new feature that will make it easy for users to buy products and services in just a few clicks.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/biz-monday/article4324659.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a><br /></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1545</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1545</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 9 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Predictions For 2015</title>
<description>A community of small business owners was polled to find out what they thought the top industries would be for next year. Technology, at 42%, is predicted to be the most successful industry in 2015, followed by health care 28%, retail 14%, and finance 14%.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/small-business-predictions-for-2015/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1544</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1544</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 7 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Takeaways from Sony Hack</title>
<description>Small businesses may not be the prime target for a hack on the scale of the recent attack on Sony Pictures, but that does not mean it can’t happen. A data breach can happen to any-sized company, and for the small ones it can be catastrophic.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2014/12/26/5-small-business-takeaways-from-sonys-hack/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1543</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1543</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>5 ways to Reduce Small Business Fraud</title>
<description>According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the median loss in small business fraud cases is $154,000. Can your clients absorb a loss like that?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2014/12/19/5-ways-to-reduce-small-business-fraud" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1542</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1542</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 5 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 New Years Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>To ensure success in the new year, most small businesses don't realize that the process begins long before January 1. Instead, a lot of work goes into setting your business up for a running start when the clock strikes 12. Do not wait; start now with this list of 10 New Year Tips For Your Small Business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melinda-emerson/10-new-year-tips-for-your_b_6347166.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1541</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1541</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Owners Face New Challenges in 2015</title>
<description>The turkey has been carved, the gifts have been purchased and business owners are ready to celebrate the holiday season reflecting on a successful 2014. While small business owners may be thinking about holiday traditions, they are also beginning to focus on priorities and potential challenges ahead. Changes in technology, growing cybersecurity concerns, and shifts in the political landscape are all top of mind as small business owners enter 2015.<br />
<br />
As the clock strikes midnight and the champagne bottles pop to ring in the New Year, three topics will be top of mind for entrepreneurs in 2015.<br />
<br />
New Year, New Tools<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-swanciger/small-business-owners-fac_b_6374676.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1540</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1540</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 1 Jan 2015 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>6 Small Business Trends To Watch Out For In 2015</title>
<description>Small businesses are driving the U.S. job recovery, according to a recent blog post by Maria Contreras-Sweet, the administrator of the Small Business Administration. In her post she points out that about 7 million of the 10.9 million jobs added since the Great Recession were created by startups and small enterprises.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccabagley/2014/12/19/6-small-business-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2015/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1539</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1539</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What Small-Business Owners Should Do Between Now and New Years</title>
<description>With Christmas finally in the rearview mirror and New Years Day coming up fast, millions of Americans have some time to reflect on their year and look forward to the next one.<br />
<br />
Sharon Goldman, a New Jersey small-business consultant who runs the website BloomGrowThrive, says entrepreneurs would do well to have an end-of-the-year <i>talk</i> with themselves.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mainstreet.com/article/what-small-business-owners-should-do-between-now-and-new-years" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1538</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1538</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2014 09:06:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>2015 Small Business Ideas</title>
<description>What worked in 2014 may not necessarily work in 2015.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dubaichronicle.com/2014/12/16/small-business-ideas/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1537</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1537</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses and Interns</title>
<description>Internships provide many benefits. They help you meet your immediate work needs and you get to test-drive potential future employees. They boost your brand and demonstrate that you give back to the community and its students.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tucson.com/business/local/essentials-for-using-interns-in-a-small-business/article_a8784c91-53eb-513c-9aba-954b05810469.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1536</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1536</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Fewer Small Business Owners Perceive Themselves as Successful</title>
<description>Fewer small business owners perceive themselves as successful now than did at the start of the economic recovery, a Wells Fargo-Gallup survey of a representative sample of 601 small business owners reveals. In 2009, 43 percent of small business owners reported feeling <i>extremely </i>or <i>very successful as a small-business owner</i>. By 2014 that fraction had eroded to 37 percent.<br />
The results are perplexing. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/11/fewer-small-business-owners-perceiving-successful.html?tr=sm" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1535</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1535</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Are At Higher Risk For Fraud And Cyber Crime</title>
<description>Although major companies like Staples and Home Depot have dominated news headlines lately, they are not the only companies at risk for cyber crime and hacking. Small businesses are far more susceptible to hackers than their larger counterparts, according to information from the National Cyber Security Alliance <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gaebler.com/News/Small-Business-Technology/Small-Businesses-are-at-Higher-Risk-for-Fraud-and-Cyber-Crime-900000738.htm" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1534</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1534</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Avoid These Common Small Business IT Mistakes</title>
<description>When one component goes out on an older PC, there’s a good chance more failures are coming soon. Newer software and peripherals also may not work with older hardware. If you just want to boost performance or storage capacity, adding RAM or a new hard drive will do the trick. However, if something serious like the processor, or the motherboard itself dies, it makes more sense to look at a whole new computer rather than hobbling along with expensive repairs.<br />
<br />
Eventually a time will come that you need to get rid of old smartphone, computers, or other technology your company no longer needs. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2840920/avoid-these-3-common-small-business-it-growing-pains.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1533</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1533</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Helping Your Small Business Go Social</title>
<description>Here are four ways to start making your company a truly social organization:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Recruit the best and brightest -- the smart way.</b><br />
<br />
For companies of all sizes, hiring top talent is a cornerstone of success, but for smaller companies, finding the right fit for your team is downright critical.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-vaccarello/helping-your-small-busine_b_6068692.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1532</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>SEO Basics For Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Every small business should have a basic knowledge of search engine optimization. In fact, you should almost be exhausted by the term&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>SEO </i>at this point, as you have been undoubtedly told time and time again just how important it is. But unlike many trending industry buzzwords, SEO is here to stay. Why? In our web-facing world, the (already) dominant search engines are becoming the cornerstone of the internet. Standard procedure for individuals looking for information is to search first.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/thesba/2014/10/30/seo-basics-for-small-business-owners/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1531</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1531</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Quick Guide to Small Business Health Insurance in 2015</title>
<description>A major trend this year among small employers is to drop group health insurance coverage to help their employees pay for individual health insurance policies. By switching their employees to the individual health insurance marketplace, the small employers are ensuring that their employees get to choose the coverage that is best for their families. In addition, by not offering a group health insurance policy, the employers are making sure their employees have access to premium tax credits to assist them with the cost of their premiums.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.zanebenefits.com/blog/quick-guide-to-small-biz-health-insurance-2015" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1530</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1530</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>3 Reasons Small Business Websites Fail</title>
<description>A website is now a mandatory component of a business regardless of its size. But the road to every business’ online journey is rife with costly traps that have long-lasting effects. This can be very detrimental to small businesses with limited budget for a website build.<br />
<br />
Here are common mistakes that small businesses often make when going online:<br />
<br />
<a href="3 Reasons Why Small Business Websites FailXRead more at http://www.business2community.com/small-business/3-reasons-small-business-websites-fail-01051498#ukqwzxPXH0jMhTMh.99" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1529</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1529</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 7 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>What it is Like to Start a Small Business</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[<i>Officially a month into my new business venture, I have fully immersed myself in my company. While each day is an incredible learning experience, I have certainly felt a vast range of emotions over the past few weeks (and I am sure there is more to come).</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i>So, what is it like giving up a steady paycheck and benefits to start your own endeavor?</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gillian-small/what-it-is-like-to-start-_b_6068206.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1528</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1528</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 5 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Assess Their Apple Pay Options</title>
<description>With the introduction of Apple Pay, many small-business owners are weighing whether they should take the necessary steps to accept the new form of payment.<br />
<br />
So far, most of the merchants that have signed up to accept Apple Pay are large ones, like Macys, McDonalds, Subway and Whole Foods. To use Apple Pay, businesses must have an N.F.C. reader, which is also called a contactless reader and refers to near field communications. Right now, less than 10 percent of American retailers do, according to Mark Hung, an analyst with Gartner, an information technology research firm.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/small-businesses-assess-their-apple-pay-options/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1527</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1527</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses Prepare for the Holiday Season</title>
<description>While children are making their holiday wish-list, families are preparing to go out of town and big businesses are expecting long lines of shoppers, there is one group of people who will be working extra hard this holiday season: Small business owners.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/small%20business/2014/11/02/small-businesses-prepare-for-the-holiday-season/17579251/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1526</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1526</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 3 Nov 2014 09:09:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Internet Marketing: A Small Business Guide</title>
<description>One of the easiest, fastest and cheapest ways for businesses to reach consumers today is via the Internet.<br />
<br />
Digital marketing, also known as Internet or online marketing, is quickly replacing print, television and radio advertisement as the marketing approach of choice for businesses of all sizes. Recent research revealed that 1 in 4 of every business-advertising dollar is dedicated to Internet marketing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7235-internet-marketing-a-buyer-s-guide.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1525</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1525</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Dreaming Big: The Fuel for Small Business Ambitions</title>
<description>There is nothing wrong with having high hopes for your small business. Fulfilling a dream usually is what brings us to starting a business, and we get to decide how far and wide that dream will go.<br />
<br />
Dreaming big is not for every small business, but it is something that many small businesses aim to grow.<br />
<br />
With your head in the clouds…<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/dreaming-big-fuel-small-business-ambitions-01026268" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1524</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1524</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2014 09:00:46 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Design Tips for Building a Website for a Small Business</title>
<description>Many small businesses will turn to local developers when it comes to building their first business website, while others will rely on agencies, or even step up and take on the challenge themselves. Today, we want to help those who're brave enough to be building their own website.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-ivanovs/3-design-tips-for-buildin_b_5937738.html" target="_blank" >complete aritcle</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1523</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1523</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 9 Oct 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Nominate a Small Business</title>
<description>It is time to nominate your favorite small-business owner for the U.S. Small Business Administrations 2015 Small Business Awards Week, which is in May.<br />
<br />
The SBA is looking for owners and companies that have made <i>contributions in their local communities, and to our nations economy.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/10/06/4212632/nominate-a-small-business-owner.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1522</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1522</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 7 Oct 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Boost Your Small Business Intelligence</title>
<description>So much goes on in the world of small business, that it is impossible for one outlet to cover it all. That's why each week we look comb the Web in search of interesting small business tips, guidance, and trends that can help you increase productivity, cut costs, engage customers, and grow your small business empire.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/boost-your-small-business-intelligence.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1521</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1521</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 2 Oct 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Common Mistakes Small Business Owners Make</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[For many Americans, starting a small business is an exciting experience, and potentially financially rewarding. However, when opening a new company, owners are understandably so focused on getting off the ground that they often overlook some basic considerations that can have a major impact on the company's value down the road. Below are the five most common mistakes that small business owners make, as seen by individuals who value or appraise businesses.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1) Short-term is short-sighted</b><br />
<br />
Although it can be tempting to make decisions that will save money in the short term, it is important for business owners to consider the long-term growth of their companies. Rather than saving a few dollars today, owners need to think about how to sustain growth and drive value tomorrow. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-s-bunton/5-common-mistakes-small-b_b_5870428.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1520</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1520</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Entrepreneur Vs. Small Business Owner</title>
<description>An Entrepreneur is an individual who starts and runs a business with limited resources and planning, taking account of all the risks and rewards of his or her business venture. The business idea is usually a new innovation, product or service, rather than an existing business model.<br />
<br />
Such entrepreneurial ventures target high-returns, with high level of uncertainty. The entrepreneur is willing to put his or her financial security and career at stake to take risks on an idea, spending time as well as capital on an uncertain venture. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/092514/entrepreneur-vs-small-business-owner-defined.asp" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1519</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1519</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>3 Reasons Websites Are Vital for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Running your own business is no easy task, and your to-do-list is guaranteed to never end. This said, you should not use this as an excuse to take short cuts when it comes to having online visibility. Beginning with your website, its vital to position yourself online with a strong, professional destination that gives customers the impression you mean business and the motivation to want to engage more with your business. With this in mind, consider these five reasons why having a strong website is important.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleleinbachreyhle/2014/09/29/websites-for-small-businesses/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1518</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1518</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:39:37 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Advanced Google+ Tips For Your Business</title>
<description>Track Influencers<br />
<br />
<i>A key principle to inbound marketing is to leverage industry influencers to help promote your content. This can be done a number of ways, but ultimately requires a holistic approach to network and relationship development. One of the highly useful features of Google+ lies in its audience management capabilities. Specifically, the ability to bucket users into group segments, otherwise known as circles. This is valuable to businesses because it means they can track the activity of industry influencers, who can have an impact on their reach, Marc explained.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2014/09/12/advanced-google-tips-for-your-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1517</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1517</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Twitter Tricks to Boost Engagement</title>
<description>Twitter helps businesses engage in conversations and reach consumers in a casual environment. Engaging with your audience is more than fun; it increases brand awareness, positive reputation, and sales. Still, you might spend time cultivating an audience, only to find your followers giving you the social media cold shoulder. To maximize the platform, ensure that you’re keeping these techniques in mind.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Be interesting.</b><br />
Developing an effective Twitter presence is all about knowing your audience and executing a well-crafted strategy. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237136">complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1516</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1516</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>In Business, the Cameras Are Always Rolling</title>
<description><b>1. Be prepared.</b><br />
Are leaders ready if an unexpected crisis hits the organization? It’s up to managers to respond in the appropriate way. Not only are employees looking for the manager to lead them through a crisis should one arise but so are customers. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237375" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1515</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1515</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>10 Business Development Techniques to Grow Sales Fast</title>
<description>Time to crank up sales. Thankfully, the economy is starting to heat up, and as such, it may be an ideal time to learn how to crank up your sales.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/drew-greenblatt/fast-growth-ten-business-development-techniques-to-grow-sales-fast.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1514</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1514</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Secrets Of Successful Small Business Owners</title>
<description>Here are five lessons we learned from this unique and experienced group of successful small business owners:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Start With a Clear Purpose</b><br />
<br />
All the entrepreneurs articulated a clear and powerful purpose for starting their business — and none mentioned money as a major driver. Rather, they started their companies to do what they love, solve a problem, provide awesome service, live in a more desirable location, create jobs and give back to their community.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2014/09/10/secrets-of-successful-small-business-owners/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1513</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1513</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Omaha - Top Tech Startup City... Really?</title>
<description>In a recent study by the financial advice tech company SmartAsset, it turns out Omaha is the top pick. The biggest reason? The cost of living in Omaha is almost half that of San Francisco about 58 percent and less than half that of New York 40 percent. That means renting office space is going to be quite a bit cheaper, not to mention buying a home and paying expenses.<br />
<br />
Other surprises include the fact that seven of the 10 top cities are all in the Midwest. Places like Columbus, Ohio, and Springfield, Illinois, rank higher than Chicago and Minneapolis. Iowa scored two cities in the list, Cedar Rapids and Dubuque.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/the-top-city-to-start-a-tech-company-is-nowhere-near-silicon-valley.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1512</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1512</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Personal Relationships Influence Small Business Owners Most</title>
<description>Small business owners can get pretty personal. At least, they are influenced by personal relationships more than anything else, according to a new report by the National Association of Women Business Owners ( and credit card company Ink from Chase.<br />
<br />
In fact, at 89 percent, a vast majority of small business owners said that their personal relationships have an impact on the way they run their business, and 67 percent said their peers influence them. Fifty-three percent reported that other small business owners influence them as well.<br />
<br />
So what influences small business owners the least? Surprisingly, mentorship — only 51 percent of business owners admitted to being influenced by mentors in their field.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/entrepreneurs/2014/09/12/personal-relationships-influence-small-business-owners-most/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1511</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1511</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Small Business Success Secrets That Work For Big Business</title>
<description><i>We usually learn more from our work for smaller clients and that’s counterintuitive, is not it? When I was very young, I thought that knowledge and business experience flowed downhill from the lofty heights of executive boardrooms to home offices. I have since learned that just as often, the knowledge flow is uphill from the small to the huge. I should have known that, anyway.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/loisgeller/2014/09/11/5-small-business-success-secrets-that-work-for-big-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1510</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1510</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How the Cloud Will Transform Business by 2020</title>
<description>The cloud can save you time and money, but it also has the potential to change the way you do business.<br />
<br />
The percentage of U.S. small businesses using cloud computing is expected to more than double during the next six years, from 37 percent to nearly 80 percent, according to a study from consulting firm Emergent Research and financial software company Intuit.<br />
<br />
While use of the cloud today is generally associated with the ability to reduce costs and improve efficiency, widespread adoption of this technology is projected to have a transformative effect on small businesses, but also on large companies and government organizations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/why-the-cloud-will-transform-small-business-by-2020.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1509</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1509</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Facebook Advertising</title>
<description>When it comes to advertising on Facebook FB -0.15%&nbsp;&nbsp;these days, small-business owners are competing for more limited ad space—and paying more for ads even if they do not result in sales.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/facebook-ads-become-costlier-choice-for-small-businesses-1407341983" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1508</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1508</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2014 21:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Pope Francis is So Effective Tips for Leaders</title>
<description>Pope Francis has approval ratings any leader could envy: 88 percent of American Catholics think he's doing a good job, and nearly three quarters of Americans in general view him with favor. What is he doing right?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/why-pope-francis-is-so-effective-8-lessons-for-every-leader.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1507</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1507</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 8 Aug 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Preparing Small Business Owners for Retirement</title>
<description>Small-business owners often are so busy working that they do not take time to plan for their retirements.<br />
<br />
But that is clearly a mistake, financial advisers say.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/preparing-small-business-owners-for-retirement-1406640922?mod=outsidein" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1506</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1506</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 Aug 2014 09:00:16 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Facebook for Business</title>
<description>Perhaps you have a Facebook page to keep up with your college friends, cousins and golf buddies. But do you need Facebook for your small business?<br />
<br />
Well, here is a fact to help you decide: 20 percent of all time spent on mobile devices – smartphones and tablets – is spent on Facebook, according to market research firm comScore.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.delawareonline.com/story/money/business/2014/08/02/facebook-effective-small-businesses/13463349/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1505</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1505</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Aug 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why Over Sharing Might Be Hurting You</title>
<description>We all know someone who divulges a little too much information on the Internet. Whether it is the friend who Instagrams every meal or the relative who constantly posts updates on how Fidos doing, this phenomenon seems well on its way to pervading all the social media we use. Maybe you have even caught yourself posting a bit too much. While something that everyone seems to be doing may appear harmless enough, oversharing can have some negative consequences of which all social media users should take note.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/why-oversharing-might-be-hurting-you.htm" target="_blank" >Why Over Sharing Might Be Hurting You</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1504</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1504</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Why You May Be Hiring for All the Wrong Things</title>
<description>Sadly, the resume is often full of fluff that really does not tell you very much. Do you really care where the candidate went to school, or how many years he or she spent at the last job? Do those qualities really help you predict this candidate's potential to succeed at your company? Or do they only tell you whether or not this person was capable of warming a seat in relatively inoffensive fashion for the past 5 years?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/logan-chierotti/why-you-may-be-hiring-for-all-the-wrong-things.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1503</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1503</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Social Media and Your Small Business</title>
<description>Facebook. Pinterest. Google+. Instagram. Twitter. LinkedIn. YouTube. So many social networks, and so little time!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/infographics/social-media-small-business-0947533#!biHQv3" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1502</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1502</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Business Plan Tools for Startups and Small Businesses</title>
<description>Have a killer business idea? A killer business plan can help you turn it into a successful business. Creating a well-crafted business plan is no easy task, however. You will need to not only flesh out your idea, but also have a deep understanding of the different aspects of running a business — before you even start one. Figuring out how to do this correctly is hard enough, but there are several tools available to make this arduous task a little bit easier for would-be entrepreneurs. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6818-business-plan-tools.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1501</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1501</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tips for Performance Reviews</title>
<description>Whether your business is just getting off the ground or you are a well-established small and growing company, managing employee performance is a key ingredient to a productive and happy workforce.<br />
<br />
Managing Employee Performance<br />
And yet without a formal human resources department, many small business owners lack a formalized way to manage employee performance. The good news is there are simple practices a small business owner can start to successfully manage employee performance.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.zanebenefits.com/blog/small-business-101-managing-employee-performance" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1500</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1500</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Is it Time to Update Your Business Card</title>
<description>To succeed in todays world, one must adapt to todays developments, including the ever-expanding implementation of technology. One small way to do this is to modernize your business card; because the means by which businesses communicate have expanded, you may want to rethink what is included on your business cards. By doing this, you can unite your offline marketing with your online marketing efforts. Below are a number of tips for updating your card.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/is-it-time-to-update-your-business-card.htm" target="_blank" >Is it Time to Update You Business Card</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1499</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1499</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:00:55 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>5 Tax Planning Tips for Your Small Business</title>
<description>Here are some tips to discuss with your tax pro to improve your tax situation and hopefully keep working capital in your bank account rather than in Uncle Sams pocket:<br />
<br />
Start a retirement plan. If you are finally a few bucks ahead and don’t have a retirement fund, now is the time to start one. Here is the bonus: it is deductible!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/finance-accounting/2014/07/11/5-tax-planning-tips-for-your-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1498</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1498</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:37:51 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Addressing Productivity Issues</title>
<description>Ever look up and see one of your employees texting or chatting on his cellphone when he should be working?<br />
<br />
If the answers yes, you are certainly not alone.<br />
<br />
One in five workers admitted that during a typical workday he or she spends at least an hour on personal calls, emails or texts, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey on the top productivity killers at work.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.newsday.com/business/columnists/jamie-herzlich/small-business-addressing-productivity-killers-1.8715021" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1497</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1497</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:35:14 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Over Come Your Fears to Start a Small Business</title>
<description>Many of us dream of starting a small business. Whether it s the romantic ideal of being your own boss, or the desire to build something from nothing, having a dream is different than actualizing it. Often, it is the fear of failure or the daunting amount of work that keeps us from being bold enough to launch that next brilliant startup.<br />
<br />
START SMALL<br />
<br />
An effective way to build confidence and remove the fear of failure is to break down the basics of starting a small business into smaller tasks. By completing these tasks one at a time, you may soon find you’re well on your way to laying a solid foundation for your bold, lean startup to thrive.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/art-of-the-startup/starting-small-business-begins-overcoming-your-fears-n155681" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1496</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1496</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:33:07 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Marketing Tips from Big Brands</title>
<description>Forget about David vs. Goliath. Marketing mavens say small companies can and do learn valuable lessons from their muscular, deep-pocketed rivals. In conversations with Mashable, several executives pointed to experiential marketing, real-time marketing, brand building, storytelling and social sharing as tactics that startups are cribbing successfully from the big guys. Those that aren’t yet mimicking the A-list marketers like Apple, Nike, Starbucks and Mercedes might want to take note of some best, most adaptable practices.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mashable.com/2014/07/14/marketing-small-business-big-brands/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1495</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1495</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:30:58 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>20 Reasons to Start Your Own Business</title>
<description>Need a reason to start your own business? Here are 20 of them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/234916" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1494</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1494</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>8 Steps to Wildly Productive Mornings</title>
<description><b>1. Manage your energy, not your time.</b><br />
If you take a moment to think about it, you will probably realize that you are better at doing certain tasks at certain times. For example, my creative energy is highest in the morning, so that is when I do my writing each day.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230240" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1493</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1493</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>When Entrepreneurs Micromanage: A Startup Sickness</title>
<description>Even experienced managers can suffer from this tendency, so don't beat yourself up if this is your first time managing people and you find yourself slipping into these bad habits. Just like anything else, the first step is recognizing that you have a problem.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/when-entrepreneurs-micromanage-a-startup-sickness.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1492</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1492</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Identify Passionate Employees</title>
<description>Life Is Good CEO Bert Jacobs reveals the most effective interview questions he uses to select ideal candidates for his company.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/bert-jacobs/playbook-hiring-passionate-employees.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1491</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1491</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship</title>
<description>In July 1776, our founding fathers joined together and signed this countrys Declaration of Independence, declaring every American citizens access to certain inalienable rights. The document was adopted by the Continental Congress on the fourth.<br />
<br />
The spirit of that message and the rights to which we are all entitled seem particularly embodied by entrepreneurship. While the landscape of America has changed in ways those men could never have imagined, they still had at their core the same principles that mark the entrepreneur of today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235253" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1490</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1490</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>4 Tips for Growing a Small Business</title>
<description>• Embrace Perspective: No matter how much you love your company, there will be days when balancing the books creates anxiety. Remind yourself what fueled you to launch your business.<br />
<br />
• Find Balance: Sometimes it might seem impossible to relax, but devoting even 60 minutes weekly to non-business related activities will help you recharge.<br />
<br />
• Become Resourceful: Find ways to save money, time and energy. Try multitasking, such as purchasing business supplies while waiting for a prescription to be filled or patronizing retailers with special early shopping hours for business owners. Consider streamlining home expenses by eliminating cable or cooking more at home.<br />
<br />
• Make Changes: Stay motivated by experimenting with new methods and tools. Attending trainings or online webinars about your industry can help re-ignite your creativity and even lead to business growth.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2014/07/05/business/4-tips-for-growing-a-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1489</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1489</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 8 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Not-So-Small Business Administration</title>
<description>Under the new guidelines, for instance, a travel agency with annual revenues of $20.5 million qualifies as a small business, and so does a family clothing store that brings in $38.5 million a year. In some industries, a business is still considered small if it employs as many as 1,500 people. Companies classified as small businesses can compete for government contracts, and can access SBA loans, which are often cheaper than private alternatives.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/jeff-stibel-the-not-so-small-business-administration-1404342187" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1488</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1488</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 7 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How To Find Great Keywords</title>
<description>Have you ever used a technique for years, only to find out that it blows people away? For SEO purposes I use a very quick and simple system to find the right keywords, that factors in how popular a keyword is with the level of competition. It only takes a few minutes and helps you tap into the gold that lies buried&nbsp;&nbsp;in the rubble that Google give you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.softwarepromotions.com/news/how-to-find-unbelievably-effective-keywords/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1487</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1487</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Even Small Business Owners Can Use These Tax Breaks</title>
<description>Two recent news clips caught my attention. One involved a company trying to avoid the IRS. The other involved the IRS trying to avoid trouble. Taken together, I can see how a small business owner might cynically ask if a small business has a fighting chance as far as taxes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/steveparrish/2014/06/24/even-small-business-owners-can-use-these-tax-breaks/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1486</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1486</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 1 Jul 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>SBA Changes Definition of Small Business: What Does It Mean?</title>
<description>What is a small business?<br />
<br />
It is getting harder and harder to tell. Last week, the SBA adjusted its size standards that determine if a company is a small business. The definition varies by industry and is derived by annual revenue or by number of employees.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/entrepreneurs/2014/06/25/sba-changes-definition-small-business-what-does-it-mean/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1485</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1485</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tax Implications for an LLC</title>
<description>If you are launching a new business, you may want to consider forming a separate entity such as a corporation or LLC, to protect your personal financial life.<br />
<br />
The legal form of your business brings different tax implications. When forming an LLC, you receive the benefits of creating a separate entity and thus protecting your personal assets.<br />
<br />
When it comes to taxes, however, the IRS has no tax return for an LLC per se. You may treat the LLC as a C or S corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship and file accordingly. Your state taxing agency may have a special set of LLC tax forms for your entity to file.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/finance-accounting/2014/06/13/tax-implications-for-forming-llc/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1484</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1484</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2014 10:21:04 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Paypal Passport</title>
<description>PayPal is looking to help small businesses expand their boundaries with PayPal Passport.<br />
<br />
Launched this week, the PassPort website is intended to help small businesses grow international sales by educating business owners on cultural customs, international holidays, taxes and currency-related issues.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/marketing-sales/2014/06/13/paypal-passport-to-help-small-businesses-go-global/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1484</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1484</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2014 10:19:29 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>States Rated for Small Business Friendliness</title>
<description>All else being equal, would-be entrepreneurs should consider moving to Idaho, Texas, Utah, or Virginia, and fleeing California, Illinois, and Rhode Island. The first four states received A+ grades for small-business <i>friendliness</i> in a study published this week by local services startup Thumbtack and the Kauffman Foundation. The last three states got Fs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-12/grading-states-on-small-business-friendliness" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1483</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1483</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2014 10:17:52 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Tax Break for Small Businesses</title>
<description>The House voted Thursday to make permanent a tax break allowing small businesses to write off up to $500,000 in new equipment purchases.<br />
<br />
While the move adds to momentum for congressional efforts to extend a range of now-temporary tax breaks, it also sharpens a conflict between the House and Senate over whether to extend the breaks permanently or temporarily.<br />
<br />
Thursdays vote was 272-144, with several dozen Democrats joining Republicans to support the measure.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/house-approves-permanent-small-business-tax-break-1402590965" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1482</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1482</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:16:21 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Should You Hire Friends?</title>
<description>One persons perspective on whether you should hire a friend! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/entrepreneurs/2014/06/05/small-business-101-should-hire-friends/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1481</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1481</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:36:17 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Mobile Technology Reshaping Small Businesses</title>
<description>A recent report conducted by AT&T and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship&nbsp;&nbsp;Council, a nonprofit group that promotes entrepreneurship and small business, small business owners have netted $67.5 billion a year from implementing smart phones and tablets in their day to day business activities.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/mobile-technology-reshaping-small-business-0905768#!VuLii" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1480</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1480</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2014 12:34:48 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Business Loan Tips</title>
<description>Obtaining a small business loan is not as easy as you might think. Small business owners looking for capital to take their business to the next level can face issues with eligibility, and the process of both applying for and receiving a loan is lengthy and time-consuming.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6545-small-business-loan-tips.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1479</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1479</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jun 2014 12:31:40 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>The Future of Hiring</title>
<description>As human resources budgets have decreased, the number of job interviews that take place through video calls has increased. With that comes a whole new set of standards for interview etiquette. For instance, though it might not feel natural, it's important to maintain eye contact as well as lean forward toward your camera in order to make your candidate feel that you're interested in them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/laura-montini/infographic/the-future-of-hiring-online-job-interviews.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1478</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1478</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Your Brain in 2050</title>
<description>Much will be about the same. Only with Wifi-enabled neural dust. And probably the blind will be able to see.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/christine-lagorio/your-brain-in-2050-according-to-neuroscience.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1477</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1477</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 5 Jun 2014 09:50:28 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Facebook Mission</title>
<description>Facebook is on a mission to get Americas 25 million small businesses -- from plumbers to pizza parlors to boutiques -- to actively invest in Facebook ads. Modeling its efforts on how it is already courting big brands -- the Cokes, GEs, and Toyotas of the world -- Facebook aims to teach small businesses how to promote their products and services on its platform.<br />
<br />
However, this plan could backfire if Facebook does not do one thing first: Teach small businesses how to define and develop their brand. This is true for small businesses as well as for large businesses, and it presents both an opportunity and a risk for Facebook. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/facebook-s-plan-small-businesses-backfire/293401/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1476</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1476</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 4 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>What Are the Joys of Owning a Small Business?</title>
<description>Like anything in life, being an entrepreneur has its ups and downs, it has good and bad points. I happen to think the good far outweighs the bad, but not a few people disagree or learn about the bad the hard way.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/strauss/2014/06/01/steve-strauss-the-ups-and-downs-of-being-a-small-business-owners/9840303/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1475</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1475</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 2 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Personal Credit Impacts Small Business Loans</title>
<description>Unlike the CEOs of major public companies, whose personal financial situation has little effect on their companies borrowing, if you are a small business owner, your personal credit is a major factor influencing your companys access to capital. The power of personal credit scores to predict small business loan repayment, the legal structure of many small businesses, and small business owners’ use of personal guarantees and personal borrowing to finance business operations, all link small business owners personal credit to their companies’ access to capital.<br />
<br />
Many, if not most, lenders will look at your personal credit score if you are a small business owner seeking a loan for your company. A 2006 report written for the U.S. Small Business Administration found that 71 percent of banks used small business owner credit scores when underwriting small business loans.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/05/personal-credit-affects-small-business-borrowing.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1474</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1474</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Big Mistakes in Small Business</title>
<description>The successes and failures of others, can provide extremely valuable information to guide you on your path. So from my own experience and from the common stories I hear from being involved with over 4000 small business clients, I have compiled what I see as the five biggest mistakes people make when running a small businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-mills/the-5-biggest-mistakes-in_b_5377027.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1473</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1473</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Have a Clear Termination Policy</title>
<description>Firing an employee is often a manager's most dreaded task.<br />
<br />
It is not only uncomfortable, but if not handled right it could lead to more than just hard feelings if an employee decides to take legal action.<br />
<br />
Having a solid termination policy in place and following a few careful steps could help stave off potential problems.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.newsday.com/business/columnists/jamie-herzlich/small-business-have-a-clear-termination-policy-for-employees-1.8179443" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1472</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1472</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Small Businesses On The Go</title>
<description>Smartphones have become vital for on-the-go entrepreneurs. Apps aimed at small business owners allow them to pay bills, update websites, market their companies, reach out to customers and keep in touch with employees from anywhere. Some owners say their smartphones makes it easier for them to build a side business while keeping a full-time job or step away from the company when needed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/05/25/small-business-smartphone-apps/9445917/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1471</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1471</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>How to Rewire Your Brain for Success</title>
<description>The latest neuroscience suggests you can literally edit your memory. Here is what this big breakthrough means for you.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/use-neuroscience-to-make-you-successful.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1470</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1470</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Consumer Education</title>
<description>Consumer education is something many small software companies tend to overlook. While the benefits of consumer education may not always be obvious, the fact of the matter is that educated customers are good customers, and happier customers. A customer who does not understand an applications capabilities or features is more likely to experience frustration with it, making them less satisfied with your product and also potentially draining your support time. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/consumer-education.htm" target="_blank" >Consumer Education</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1469</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1469</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>20 Tools to Outfit Your Small Business</title>
<description>Small businesses need to consider their tech purchases just as carefully as enterprises do. A single doctor medical practice must comply with the same stringent patient-privacy regulations as the largest hospital. Run a two-person bakery or a small auto repair shop? In addition to tending to bread and brakes, you still need a solution for managing your finances and customer information, just like a major retail chain does. Moonlight as a club DJ? You need to know the best tech for storing your jams, and what service will help you quickly recover your data if your storage hardware gets hosed, just like a Fortune 500 company does.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2457826,00.asp" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1468</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1468</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Financial Advice for Small Business Owners</title>
<description>But there are some smart things that small business owners should consider doing now. Here’s my top 3 tips:<br />
<br />
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;Access Capital Now<br />
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;Engage Rather Than Employ<br />
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;Have a Lean Start-Up<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2014/05/06/best-financial-advice-small-business-owners-now/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1467</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1467</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>50th Anniversary of Small Business Administration</title>
<description>The Small Business Administration or SBA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary!</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1466</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1466</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2014 09:09:57 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Outstanding Leadership Traits</title>
<description>While great leaders do a tremendous amount of thinking, that thinking happens behind the scenes. In the moment, in the trenches, when people look to them and need them most, they act: swiftly, decisively, and confidently.<br />
<br />
Want to become a truly outstanding leader? Work hard to do these eight things naturally, automatically, and instinctively.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/8-things-truly-outstanding-leaders-do-without-thinking.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1465</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1465</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2014 09:35:36 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>15 Ways to Find More Time To Think</title>
<description>Most of us are not that talented. We could use a little <i>white space</i> in our lives that we can fill with new ideas.<br />
<br />
Lets talk about the 15 ways you could carve out more time to think, ideas suggested to me by some of the most successful entrepreneurs I know.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/paul-brown/15-ways-to-find-more-time-to-think.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1464</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1464</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Discounting Tips</title>
<description>Discounting is a tried and true way to attract business, both satisfying your customers and increasing your profits. However, there is more of a science to discounting than one might initially think. Understanding this art is critical to offering the most successful discounts and obtaining optimal results.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/discounting-tips.htm" target="_blank" >Discounting Tips</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1463</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1463</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 8 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Tips for Branding</title>
<description>Years of experience helping small businesses develop and market engaging brands have taught me some valuable lessons about which strategies are most successful. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-mills/branding-your-small-business_b_5202809.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1462</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1462</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 7 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Small Business Awards and Events</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[<i>Want to continue building your skills and those of your team? What about networking with colleagues, peers and potential customers?</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i>Alright, we know you want to get involved and not stay stagnant. So we have created this handpicked list of upcoming small business events online and also in the real world as well as relevant awards programs. </i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/05/event-post-may-3rd.html" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1461</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1461</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 May 2014 09:00:12 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Avoid These Five Common Small Business Accounting Mistakes</title>
<description>Keeping the books is one of the more challenging aspects of running a company. It is also one of the most important. Accounting errors can be damaging even fatal to businesses, but mistakes are surprisingly common. Here is how to avoid five of the most common accounting mistakes that plague small businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sage/2014/04/28/avoid-these-five-common-small-business-accounting-mistakes/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1460</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1460</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 5 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Simple, Elegant and Brilliant Product Designs</title>
<description>Check out these simple but brilliant product designs!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inc.com/audacious-companies/issie-lapowsky/most-audacious-products.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1459</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1459</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 2 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>3 Ways to Stay on Top of Small Business Technology</title>
<description>Small business owners know that rapidly changing technologies offer great potential for profit. But with countless technology offerings and few clear ways to weed out gems from the fads, it is easy to get overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2014/04/25/3-ways-to-stay-on-top-small-business-technology/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1458</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1458</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Business Dashboards</title>
<description>Learn why every small business needs a dashboard, and how it can transform your success.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/davelavinsky/2014/04/23/small-business-dashboards-how-theyll-help-your-business-grow/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1457</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1457</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Should Your Small Business Offer a 401k Plan?</title>
<description>If your business has only a few employees, you may think you are too small to offer a 401k plan. But even entrepreneurs have to retire someday, and there's no time like the present to start planning for the future.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/finance-accounting/2014/04/25/should-your-small-business-offer-401k-plan/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1456</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1456</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>3 Tips for a Small Business Strategy</title>
<description>But Pubsoft Director of Marketing Heather Wied says small businesses should not spread themselves thin trying to master every social network under the sun. Pubsoft, which helps businesses publish online content, integrates social networking to help customers spread the word about their businesses.<br />
<br />
<i>The best social network for you is dependent on your target market, </i>says Wied.<br />
<br />
To maximize your time on social media – without losing your mind – check out Wieds three best tips:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/marketing-sales/2014/04/10/3-tips-for-crafting-effective-social-media-strategy/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1455</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1455</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2014 09:00:54 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Facebook Small Business Advertisers</title>
<description>After years of courting the nations biggest advertisers, Facebook is going after the 99%.<br />
<br />
That figure represents the long tail of advertisers; the plumbers and dentists, restaurants and political candidates, app developers and direct-response advertisers. These small and mid-sized businesses do not have Facebook account reps and are left to figure out Facebook advertising for themselves.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://adage.com/article/digital/facebook-turn-small-businesses-advertisers/292495/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1454</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1454</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Apr 2014 12:42:19 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How To Choose The Right Apps To Manage Your Small Business</title>
<description>At Sage, we meet with small business owners regularly to get a complete picture of how their businesses run. We have had countless discussions about the tools these business owners use and why they chose them. These are businesses of all types, sizes and ages; but do you know what is common among them?<br />
<br />
To some degree, they all use a mix of tools that are either the wrong fit or not connected with each other…or both. One conversation that comes to mind was with a consultant who was using desktop accounting software that she described as <i>too much</i> for her needs. This business owner used three separate applications to track time, organize tasks, and collect online payments, none of which were connected to each other. She struggled with sharing pertinent information with her business partner who was in another city. The result was frustration and wasted time as she tried to make it all work, and she is not alone.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sage/2014/03/31/how-to-choose-the-right-apps-to-manage-your-small-business/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1453</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1453</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Business Tax Paperwork</title>
<description>Owners now say the administrative burdens of tax season pose a bigger burden than their actual tax bill.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/small-business-owners-lose-more-than-a-week-every-year-to-tax-preparation-paperwork/2014/04/10/87d7c9dc-c0b8-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1452</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1452</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:37:48 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Clean Up Your Small Business Tech</title>
<description>After a winter most of us would like to forget, spring is here. But with the good, comes the bad it is time for a little spring cleaning, or to spruce up your small business technology. Considering how fast business is evolving, this is going to take more than the traditional broom and dustpan.<br />
<br />
If you, like many small business owners, have been reluctant to invest in new business technology dues to the after-effects of the Great Recession, this is the time to finally get moving and create and implement digital priorities. Here are some tasks you need to put on your&nbsp;&nbsp;spring cleaning checklist:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2014/03/26/spring-clean-your-small-business-technology/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1451</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1451</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>5 Money Saving Tips for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Owning your own company can be a dream from making your own hours and choosing your own staff, to even doing something you love. However, owning a small business can also be really exhausting, difficult, and time consuming. If you are still looking into self-employment, doing your research first will help. However, if you already own a small business, your next task might be determining how you can save time and money on that business. There are many easy ways for small business owners to save time, including choosing the appropriate staff, picking deadlines, and using programs that are designed to help business owners save time, like Zirtual assistant. Many of the tools that save time also save money, and Zirtual’s assistants are a great example of this. Read on to learn five ways you can save money for your small business, and hopefully, save some time too.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://wallstcheatsheet.com/personal-finance/5-money-saving-tips-for-small-business-owners.html/?a=viewall" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1450</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1450</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>5 Great Things Managers Do</title>
<description>Despite the importance of putting the right people in charge, companies fail to choose the managerial candidate with the right talent for the job 82 percent of the time, according to new research from Gallup. The research revealed that, overall, just 1 in 10 people possess the talent needed to manage others.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/legal-hr/2014/03/27/5-things-all-great-managers-do/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1449</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1449</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 7 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Simple Lessons for Entrepreneurial Success</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[1. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.<br />
2. Commit yourself.<br />
3. Really understand your clients/customers/target audience.<br />
4. Get connected. <br />
5. Prioritize. <br />
6. Team up. <br />
7. Find your balance. <br />
8. Say what you mean and mean what you say.<br />
9. Make it fun! Starting<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/entrepreneurs/2014/03/27/simple-lessons-for-entrepreneurial-success/" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1448</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1448</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 4 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Three Questions To Ask Your Lawyer Before Starting A Small Business</title>
<description>Gaining customers. Producing a quality product. Finding new markets. These are the things that small business owners focus on when starting their latest venture. But while entrepreneurs are busy planning for the future, many fail to prepare for the worst.<br />
<br />
Businesses large and small are loaded with risk. Liability is—or should be—a chief concern. Too many entrepreneurs, however, overlook the need to plan for and manage risk when launching their businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sage/2014/03/26/three-questions-to-ask-your-lawyer-before-starting-a-small-business-2/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1447</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1447</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 2 Apr 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Run Your Small Business Like an Enterprise</title>
<description>Just because you are small does not mean you have to act small. With a few smart adjustments and a solid NAS setup, you can give your company the capabilities of the big guys in a package that will not break the budget.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2109957/run-your-small-business-or-home-office-like-an-enterprise.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1446</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1446</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Tell Your Business Story</title>
<description><i>Drawing from that experience, he has learned a number of lessons about how to and how not to convey a the backstory behind any given company, and he shared several tips this week with entrepreneurs, filmmakers and music producers, and one journalist at a small gathering in Austin during South by Southwest.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/small-business-advice-how-to-tell-your-companys-story-tips-from-sxsw/2014/03/13/705676dc-a628-11e3-84d4-e59b1709222c_story.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1445</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1445</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Mar 2014 09:59:09 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Businesses Hurt By Change to Overtime Laws</title>
<description>
<![CDATA[President Obama told the Labor Department to come up with new overtime rules that would make more workers eligible for time and a half pay for their extra hours of work.<br />
<br />
The rules are aimed at salaried workers who make more than $455 a week and are ineligible for overtime because they hold a manager or supervisor position.<br />
<br />
Ty Spatta started his own painting business 20 years ago. He enjoys being a small business owner, but gets frustrated when he hears the government wants to step in and make businesses pay employees more.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://wishtv.com/2014/03/13/business-owners-concerned-by-obamas-overtime-plan/" target="_blank">complete article</a><br />
<br />
The AFL-CIO is applauding the anticipated move, saying the proposal could help raise wages and create jobs. Business groups, however, say it would be a job killer.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/entrepreneurs/2014/03/12/business-groups-overtime-expansion-means-fewer-jobs/" target="_blank">complete article</a>]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1444</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1444</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Business 101, Get Started</title>
<description>Take a good look at that store on the corner. There is a 10 percent to 12 percent chance it will not be there next year, according to the Office of Advocacy for the Small Business Administration.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/business/smallbusiness/01websb101.html?_r=0" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1443</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1443</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Businesses Grow in Clusters</title>
<description>Tradition has it that where big businesses are rooted, vibrant small business communities follow. It happened in Harrison, N.Y., when Mastercard and PepsiCo set up shop. It happened in Redmond, Wash. after Microsoft moved in. It is happening in Greenville, S.C., where BMW built an SUV manufacturing plant.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/tompost/2014/03/13/why-small-business-communities-grow-in-clusters/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1442</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1442</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2014 01:59:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Businesses Staying Small</title>
<description>A survey of business owners finds small businesses may remain small to avoid employee health coverage required by the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare.<br />
<br />
Oklahoma City-based staffing firm Express Employment Professionals surveyed business owners, hiring managers and human resource professionals on the ACA and its impact on hiring decisions.<br />
<br />
The survey found that 70 percent of survey respondents whose companies have 45 - 49 employees said they would try to remain under 50 employees. Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees do not face a penalty for not offering health coverage under Obamacare.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.news9.com/story/24769669/survey-finds-small-businesses-may-remain-small-under-obamacare" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1441</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1441</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Why Growth Can Destroy a Small Business</title>
<description>Small Businesses have a desire to grow – grow their sales, customer numbers and enter new markets. However unless you have adequate resources and a clearly defined strategy, then growth can lead to the demise of your small business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/growth-can-destroy-small-business-0788928#!wSoZQ" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1440</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1440</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>11 Tax Solutions for Small Businesses</title>
<description>Small business owners shouldn't have to do their taxes on their own. Tax solutions provide a do-it-yourself way to easily prepare and file taxes — without all the guesswork. If you don't have an accountant, or tax services are way out of your budget, there are several tax apps, software and other tools specifically created with small business tax needs in mind. Here are 10 tax solutions to get you started.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5942-tax-solutions-small-businesses.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1439</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1439</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Small Business Ideas for Cities</title>
<description>Small towns and cities seem to be gaining popularity as locations for startups, but a metropolis like New York or Los Angeles is still great place to own a small business. With a large population as your potential customer base, there are plenty of opportunities to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true. Here are seven small business ideas for big cities.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5965-business-ideas-big-cities.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1438</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1438</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>What I Learned About Business Shoveling Snow</title>
<description>While shoveling 8 to 10 inches of snow out of my driveway during our fourth Northeastern storm, I started thinking about running my small business. The decision process I used to clear my driveway is similar to the decisions you need to make to run a small business.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2014/02/what-i-learned-about-small-business-shoveling-snow.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1437</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1437</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Entrepenurial Nightmares</title>
<description>What is affecting me, my clients and other small-business owners today?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/today-in-small-business-entrepreneurial-nightmares/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1436</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1436</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>How to Prepare for a Data Breach</title>
<description>That is the crux of the problem facing Americas small businesses and consumers: they may not think they’ll be targets of hackers looking for big scores… but all of them probably will be. It is just too easy and too lucrative for hackers to gather and utilize people’s personal information for anyone to be safe – including small enterprises with databases that seem at first blush to be of limited utility.<br />
<br />
Reality check: hackers will always go after the weakest link. If they determine that the big guys have toughened up, they’re just going to go after easier targets, like small businesses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamlevin/2014/02/13/how-to-prepare-your-small-business-for-an-inevitable-data-breach/" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1435</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1435</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Plan for Small Business Success</title>
<description>Unfortunately, the first step that most business owners take involves sitting at their PCs and plugging away at outdated or unsuitable software technologies; and they make little progress. How can you avoid such a fate?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/plan-for-small-business-success.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1434</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1434</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>4 Social Media Mistakes Small Businesses Make</title>
<description>Social media presents a useful and viable tool for a business to build their brand and increase their visibility. In fact, it is getting to the point where you are probably going to be at a disadvantage if you do not have at least some form of an online presence through these mediums.<br />
<br />
While online marketing spans a wide range of topics, social media has quickly become the primary vehicle through which businesses and their websites increase traffic, reach potential clients and develop their brand. When done right, it is quite possibly the single-most useful tool at the disposal of todays website admin and or small business owner.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/4-dangerous-social-media-mistakes-small-businesses-making-220930796.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1433</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1433</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Feb 2014 09:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>10 Things Your Phone Can Do in Emergency Situations</title>
<description>Owning a cell phone has come to be regarded as a necessity in modern society, and with the great advances that have been made in smart phone technology, most of us rely on our phones to help us in an array of situations. While most smart phone owners are acquainted with the helpfulness of features such as navigation apps and mobile broadband, many people have yet to discover the array of uses they may put their phones to in the event of a true emergency.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.notepage.net/learning-center/10-things-your-phone-can-do-in-emergencies.htm" target="_blank" >10 Things Your Phone Can Do in Emergency Situations</a></description>
<link>http://www.small-business-software.net/#1432</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1432</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:43:00 -0500</pubDate>
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