My Comments

• Accountants in New Jersey - 02/24/2009
  My favorite New Jersey accountant is Susan Schneider in Freehold, NJ (07728). She is serious about helping with taxes, but if you get to know her, she has an amazing sense of humor, which for me is an asset when dealing with tax and money matters! She has a staff of CPA 's, and they have expertise dealing with small businesses, Quickbooks, etc. Check out her Freehold accounting firm or her LinkedIn page.
  Read More
• The Business Value of Twitter - 12/03/2008
  Thanks Maxwell - this is a good summary of how businesses can use Twitter. What's your Twitter name? Cheers, Shara
  Read More
• Comparison Between Nokia N96 and Nokia N95 - 11/18/2008
  Thanks for this guide. Some people recommend the N95, not the N96, as the "citizen journalists" phone - thoughts on that?
  Read More
• Increasing Your Online Visibility Using Work.com - 11/17/2008
  Hi Jodi - we currently assign a category to guides on the backend. What would you like to see in terms of a categorization feature? If you'd like, contact me directly at skarasic@work.com. Cheers, Shara
  Read More
• Marketing Your Business With a Blog - 09/26/2008
  Check out what Eve learned about business blogging at BlogWorld '08.
  Read More
• Increasing Your Online Visibility Using Work.com - 08/19/2008
  Learn and share more ways to increase your online visibility at the Work.com community blog!
  Read More
• Increasing Your Online Visibility Using Work.com - 08/19/2008
  I was just at a Social Media Club event last night and someone came up to me saying they liked my guide to building community. Work.com works!
  Read More
• Doing Business in Nigeria - 08/07/2008
  So many Americans immediately stereotype everyone doing business in Nigeria as fraudulent. That's an unfortunate result of so many advanced fee scams. However, what many Americans might not know is that the majority of business firms in Nigeria are legitimate and reputable, and many U.S. companies have large investments there. Here's a good bnet article on distinguishing between the profitable and questionable in Nigeria.
  Read More
• Creating a Great Business Plan - 07/24/2008
  Thanks for the link JCNorthstar!
  Read More
• Web Poll and Survey Software - 07/17/2008
  Drupal, the free open-source content management system, has polls built into it. Check out Drupal.org for more info.
  Read More
• Getting Hired As A Blogger - 07/14/2008
  Thanks Alyice!
  Read More
• Getting Hired As A Blogger - 07/11/2008
  Thanks for your advice. And what is the best way to find blogging jobs?
  Read More
• Getting Hired As A Blogger - 07/11/2008
  Alyice, thanks for your guide. What is typical pay for blogging?
  Read More
• Successfully Hiring an Employee - 07/07/2008
  Thank you Kathy. This is one of the best descriptions I've read about how to maximize the hiring process. I look forward to more of your insights!
  Read More
• Green Business as Good Business - 07/02/2008
  Hi Shai, I am so glad to hear that your company uses sustainable plantation wood. I have spent a lot of time in Indonesia and I have seen firsthand the damage created by lack of care about the environment in a country blessed with many natural wonders. So thank you!
  Read More
• Creating a Facebook Fan Page For Your Business - 06/10/2008
  Scott, excellent question. We started a Facebook group for Work.com before there were fanpages, and then we started the Work.com fanpage. It has been confusing, with people still signing up for the Work.com group as opposed to the fanpage. In our experience, it's better to start with one central place for your business on Facebook so you don't fracture your supporters. On the other hand, there could be good reasons to set up a separate group - maybe you want a restricted area for power members to meet, etc. Also, I do recommend participating in non-branded Facebook groups that relate to your business - so you can do a little "participant observation" as anthropologists like to say.
  Read More
• Giving Green Father's Day Gifts - 05/28/2008
  Hi Hilary, thanks for this timely advice. I love sending flowers so it's great to know organic options. Based on your experience with Green Business Alliance, I'd love to see another guide from you oriented toward businesses that want to go green.
  Read More
• Web Hosting Services for Small Business - 05/27/2008
  Mary, congratulations - did you see that this guide got linked to from Web Worker Daily recently? Web Worker Daily is a GigaOm blog, and according to Technorati, it's a Top 2K blog with authority 2023.
  Read More
• Naming a New Business or Start Up - 05/27/2008
  Phillip, congratulations - did you see this guide just got a mentioned on the Business Opportunities blog, which is a Top 100 blog according to Technorati? Nice.
  Read More
• Workplace Safety for Industry - 05/13/2008
  Matthew, thanks for this guide - it discusses an important issue and is detailed and thorough. I look forward to more guides from you!
  Read More
• Selecting Mobile Handheld Computers for Field Services - 05/06/2008
  Great info, would like to see the formatting improved - let me know if you need any help with that. Also, looks like some of your content got cut off at the end. This guide was one of the top 5 most popular technology guides in the last 7 days. Bravo!
  Read More
• Mobile Marketing by mobileStorm - 05/01/2008
  This is a really interesting and emerging business topic - I'd love to see this guide more fleshed out.
  Read More
• Promoting your Squidoo Lenses Through your Blog - 04/16/2008
  Look forward to it - by the way, we posted this guide on today's Work.com Twitter feed.
  Read More
• Promoting your Squidoo Lenses Through your Blog - 04/16/2008
  Thanks Kimberly - you give a lot of good ideas on how to increase traffic to a Squidoo lens. What is the main advice you would give to someone who has written a lens but so far hasn't gotten much traffic?
  Read More
• Creating a Facebook Fan Page For Your Business - 04/04/2008
  Check out the film Boomtown Beijing's fan page!
  Read More
• Creating a Facebook Fan Page For Your Business - 04/04/2008
  If you have a Facebook fan page, let us know about it - we'd love to check it out.
  Read More
• Facebook Basics for Your Business - 04/03/2008
  I just wrote a new guide on creating a Facebook fan page for your business. Hope it helps!
  Read More
• Factors to consider when selling to China - 04/03/2008
  Interesting guide, Gordon. How does Alipay work? Also, is it true that Chinese ecommerce buyers need more personal contact with the seller in the form of chat, etc. then Westerners? Which sites do you consider the "eBay" of China?
  Read More
• Twitter for Business - 03/10/2008
  Just read an interesting article on Search Engine Journal about how to set up a Twitterfeed (thanks for mentioning that Deborah), which allows you to take any rss feed and output it to Twitter.
  Read More
• Social Bookmarking - Changing the Face of the Internet - 02/11/2008
  Thanks, Todd, very interesting. Why do some SEO's not think social bookmarking is effective? By the way, here are some additional social bookmarking tips - if you create a really useful page on topic A, and people start to bookmark it to say, del.icio.us, help spur bookmarking by adding a del.icio.us badge to the page (example), and add bookmarkers as friends on del.icio.us so you are connected to people with an interest in your topic, thus ensuring interested people can easily find your bookmarks in the future.
  Read More
• Becoming a Film Editor - 02/04/2008
  I live in LA and recently took a video editing class at Santa Monica Community College. It was a wonderful experience. We shot and edited our own video. We did a parody of the TV show 24, and this being LA, a cameraman from 24 was actually attending the class. It was great to get the big picture of shooting the video as part of the editing process, and I learned so much from watching people with real industry experience. I have realized when learning editing, networking is key, as I found out about so many tips, tricks, resources, plugins, etc. from the teacher and my fellow students. The class is over now, but I am planning on attending a local Final Cut Pro user group to continue to learn editing within a community. Thanks for an inside view on becoming a film editor, Laurie. The only thing I would add is that in my recent class we used After Effects for motion graphics and Photoshop for still graphics, in addition to Final Cut Pro. It seems important for a skilled editor to know those three applications at minimum.
  Read More
• Low-Cost SEO Keyword Research - 01/26/2008
  Thanks for letting us know about www.seodigger.com. I just used it for one of my websites and the results were quite interesting!
  Read More
• Tax Tools and Calculators for Small Business - 01/18/2008
  Kay, congratulations, this guide has been listed as a tax resource for freelancers at the Bootstrapper blog.
  Read More
• Improving your Internal Site Search - 01/18/2008
  Hi Justin, very useful guide and thanks for the blog post about Work.com. I'm glad you're getting decent traffic from Work.com! By the way, I just Twittered this guide (I'm SharaKarasic at Twitter!)
  Read More
• Getting a Book Agent - 01/17/2008
  Laurie and Scott, very interesting insider advice that some of us can use as a gentle nudge to write... ;-)
  Read More
• Getting a Talent Agent - 01/11/2008
  Laurie, my friend was at a Kinko's in Santa Monica and a talent scout invited her 4-year-old son to come to a screen test for Disney Channel. How to know if such an invitation is reputable or not? What's the best way to check the reputation of an agency?
  Read More
• be Famous Malaysian Blogger - 01/09/2008
  Terima kasih banyak untuk ini, Popiah!
  Read More
• Web 2.0 Link Building Tactics - 01/08/2008
  Justin - I like your tip about adding value. I think it's not just about what you contribute to the community, it's about creating real relationships there. I would consider stepping back from thinking too much about tactics, and create value and relationships, and see what that brings. Algorithms change, but social capital reaps long-term benefits.
  Read More
• Using Typefaces - 01/02/2008
  Great guide. I would like to hear more about Georgia and Verdana. Also, I recommend the book Stop Stealing Sheep, which covers how typography can enhance the legibility, meaning, and aesthetics of your work. I never looked at fonts the same after reading that.
  Read More
• 5 Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Design Agency - 12/10/2007
  Good advice, thank you!
  Read More
• Using LinkedIn to Fill Out a Business Trip - 12/06/2007
  Another cool way to hook up with people in different ciities and tell others where in the world you'll be is dopplr.
  Read More
• Using LinkedIn to Fill Out a Business Trip - 12/04/2007
  Interesting way to use Linked In - LinkedIn could also facilitate meeting new people in your industry if you move to a different area - I'm going to do a search for LA online community professionals right now!
  Read More
• Positioning Yourself As an Expert in Social Networking Sites and Discussion Forums - 12/04/2007
  Scott - very well put. I am going to link to this guide from this week's Work.com member email in the Online Visibility Tips section.
  Read More
• Throwing a Great Baby Shower-55538 - 11/28/2007
  Nice info, but maybe it belongs on Babble.com, not Work.com??
  Read More
• Access Control Systems - 11/28/2007
  lockman, we'd love to hear your advice on this topic, either in a comment here or in your own guide.
  Read More
• e-commerce homepage design : 9 golden rules - 11/28/2007
  Paul, how would you improve the Work.com homepage? ;-)
  Read More
• Doing Business in China: Tips & Etiquette - 11/28/2007
  Hi Brenda, I lived in Taiwan for a year, and find this a very fascinating topic. Do you have cross-cultural tips for other countries as well? I could imagine a whole series of guides...
  Read More
• Buying a Computer Monitor - 11/28/2007
  I just bought a 23" Apple Cinema HD monitor to attach to my MacBook Pro laptop, and boy am I happy! I have heard arguments pro and con for getting the Apple one - mostly the con is the price, but I had both an educational discount and a generous birthday gift card, so I decided to splurge. I needed a monitor that would be great for image and video editing. It works great and looks gorgeous.
  Read More
• Using open source CMS solutions to manage your website - 11/27/2007
  Hey Byon, congratulations, did you know that your guide is posted about on the OpenSourceCMS.com site? Great exposure!
  Read More
• Social Media Optimization - 11/21/2007
  Todd - this is a very helpful guide for companies getting started with social media optimization. I think Facebook has a lot of traction now, so would recommend people check out what it offers for businesses.
  Read More
• Using Joomla CMS to Build Your Website - 11/20/2007
  Thanks Byon, for such a useful guide to using Joomla.
  Read More
• Multimedia Authoring Software - 11/19/2007
  Not mentioned are tools for video editing, effects and motion graphics. The professional standards are Final Cut Pro Studio and Adobe After Effects.
  Read More
• Multimedia Authoring Software - 11/19/2007
  A few comments - this is a very, very basic guide, but from a professional standpoint on multimedia authoring software - the lines between Director and Flash have blurred, with people in many cases choosing to use Flash to author online games, etc. There is concern about the future of Director, though that's addressed here by its product manager. Here's a discussion of Director vs. Flash.
  Read More
• Facebook Basics for Your Business - 11/16/2007
  You are all welcome to join my Facebook group, How Businesses Can Increase Online Visibility, where we share ideas on promoting our businesses online. Also, please note that now Facebook has Social Ads, Beacon, Pages, Insights, and more for businesses.
  Read More
• Writing Winning Proposals - 11/16/2007
  Thanks, Eric!
  Read More
• 60+ Free Web Development Tools & Resources for Entrepreneurs - 11/16/2007
  Thank you, glad this list is useful - if you have other useful web development links please add them! Cheers, Shara
  Read More
• Studs - 11/15/2007
  Hmm...interesting guide, though I thought it would be about something else!
  Read More
• Writing Winning Proposals - 11/14/2007
  I'd love to hear from consultants who have written successful (and unsuccessful) proposals. What has worked for you?
  Read More
• Using open source CMS solutions to manage your website - 11/13/2007
  Byon - I would like to try out drupal for my website and it's being hosted by a commercial hosting service. Assuming they support drupal, what are the steps I need to take to get it running on their server? Thank you!
  Read More
• Buying a First Aid Kit - 11/05/2007
  What woud you recommend to include in your kit if you're travelling to an area that has a lot of malaria?
  Read More
• IT Jobs - 11/01/2007
  Another important networking tool are actual geek networking events and conferences: Geek Dinner in LA, Lunch 2.0, BarCamp, etc. etc. In this industry, who you know leads to your next gig/job.
  Read More
• Getting Great Business Cards - 10/30/2007
  I just had the pleasure of selecting a visually appealing card of my choice from a new acquaintance., who fanned out a variety of business cards he created at Moo.com, and printed with his flickr photographs. The fact that I had to choose which card most appealed to me visually created a memorable moment that really will help that person to remain in my memory.
  Read More
• Online Chat Software - 10/30/2007
  I would like to hear more about using chat for live events and moderation. Also, be careful about what your purpose is for using a chat and if there is a genuine user purpose for the chat. You don't want to throw up a chat application and have no structure around it or no visitors.
  Read More
• Website Development - 10/19/2007
  Here's a list of free web development tools. Before hiring a web developer or creating a site yourself, I would recommend creating a content inventory (what you're putting on the site) and a site map (how you will organize your site). Figure out the main goals of your site. Also, do some research: creating an online store requires different building blocks than building an online community does. And don't forget to build SEO into the site's structure and content. Good luck!
  Read More
• Online Project Management - 10/19/2007
  There's also Basecamp.
  Read More
• Web Store Design - 10/18/2007
  Consider using third parties to verify trust for your online store such as Verisign's SSL certificates and Better Business Bureau membership.
  Read More
• Promoting a Local Business Online - 10/16/2007
  I have heard that it's important to have your address listed on your business site so Google can index you for searches in that area.
  Read More
• Learning Search Engine Optimization - 10/08/2007
  Aaron - how did you get your guide to be in the top 5 most popular guides on Work.com?
  Read More
• Airport Clubs - 10/05/2007
  Hi Betty. Actually, later this month I have a 5-hour stopover at SFO - not enough time to leave the airport, but enough time to want to find a comfortable and quiet place to hang out and see friends from the area. I am hoping to find a good place at SFO that I can hang out with visiting friends for a couple of hours. Anyone have recommendations for the best club or other place to do this at SFO (San Francisco Airport)?
  Read More
• Setting Goals that Increase the Value of Your Email Newsletter - 10/03/2007
  Garrett - I was just sitting in a meeting this morning with my laptop, discussing of all things email newsletter goals, and happened to notice that your guide had just been published. I ended up emailing this guide to everyone at the meeting! How very useful. Glad I found your blog linked from your profile, Conversations Monetized, too. I've subscribed to its feed and look forward to hearing more from you.
  Read More
• Become a Female Friendly Car Dealer - 09/26/2007
  Hi Jody, nice mention in the NYTimes article today: Strategies to Succeed Online
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 09/25/2007
  Thanks Zachary! Looks like you have an interesting blog for those interested in Boulder real estate.
  Read More
• Facebook Basics for Your Business - 09/24/2007
  Brian, thanks for such a useful guide. I may be a Facebook addict, but I find Facebook invaluable for keeping up with what's happening in online community, Internet marketing, and the latest business trends. See you on Facebook - I'm going to add you as a friend!
  Read More
• Auto Auctions - 09/24/2007
  Hi Ned, I'm in the market for a new car and I've had a few friends who have gotten fantastic deals at auto auctions. I was just thinking I should check out a car auction, just to see what it's like. Your guide is full of clear, helpful information to get started! Thank you.
  Read More
• Person-to-Person Business Finance - 09/18/2007
  By the way, you can also do some good by lending for no interest on Kiva.org. Help entrepreneurs in developing countries be successful with microloans!
  Read More
• Online Payment Solutions - 09/13/2007
  Sheila - would you recommend Google Checkout?
  Read More
• Finding New Customers Online - 09/10/2007
  Thanks for your insights, Jennifer!
  Read More
• Spider Legs Outside The Web - 09/07/2007
  Carol - please email me directly at skarasic<at>work.com with your feedback on what we can do to improve the guide input process. Thanks, Shara Karasic Community Manager Work.com
  Read More
• Dress Codes for Small Business - 09/07/2007
  I do remember that at one of my former dot-com companies in the Bay Area, there was a request at one point to not wear half-shirts that showed bellybutton rings. Other than that, people pretty much wore what was comfortable...
  Read More
• Finding New Customers Online - 09/07/2007
  I would love to hear your thoughts about the pros and cons of writing articles on Work.com in terms of finding new customers or enhancing reputation and visibility. What would you like to see enhanced to make Work.com a more valuable place to write articles for a business audience?
  Read More
• Person-to-Person Business Finance - 09/07/2007
  Curious, has anyone had success as a lender or borrower on Prosper.com?
  Read More
• Increasing Your Online Visibility Using Work.com - 08/29/2007
  Thank you Anita!
  Read More
• Mannequins - 08/28/2007
  Hi Jeff - thanks for a great guide. I just blogged about your guide on the Work.com blog, where I also list a great flickr group for mannequin photos.
  Read More
• Doing Business in Ghana - 08/27/2007
  Nice Ghana photo! I wish more people would add photos to their guides...here's another Ghana photo below I took in Accra in 2001. Ghana photo
  Read More
• Social Search and Search Engine Optimization for the Internet Marketer - 08/24/2007
  Jon, nice to meet you at SES San Jose! Has writing your guide helped with your social media optimization strategy?
  Read More
• Stock Photography - Using images from the Web for your own Projects - 08/24/2007
  Hi Samuel, I would like to talk to Work.com guide authors about their experience writing and publishing a guide at Work.com with the goal of enhancing the guide writing process as well as learning more about the response authors are getting from their guides. If you are interested, please email me a phone number I can reach you at, as well as some good times to reach you. Cheers, Shara Karasic Community Manager Work.com
  Read More
• Bringing a Product To Market - 08/21/2007
  Very wise advice not to pack too much into a first version of a product - and to let your market help you evolve features.
  Read More
• Improving Fitness And Reducing Health Costs in the Workplace - 08/16/2007
  We had a "biggest loser" competition at work and it was a very effective weight-loss method for many! Getting weighed in by our HR person was surprisingly motivating...
  Read More
• Presentation and Marketing of the Business - 08/15/2007
  Andrew, curious, what is L'Oreal's byline?
  Read More
• Building Relationship Equity - 08/12/2007
  William - I like how you blend success and community values. I always look forward to reading your guides.
  Read More
• Open Innovation - 08/10/2007
  Thanks for your response, Jeff.
  Read More
• Open Innovation - 08/09/2007
  Thanks, Jeff. I am really excited to learn more about open innovation. Can you let us know great products created through open innovation? By the way, speaking of suggestion boxes, feel free to leave suggestions about improving Work.com here or on the Work.com blog ;-).
  Read More
• Using Negative Keywords in Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Marketing - 07/25/2007
  Hi Lindsey, thanks for such a useful guide. I bet a lot of people have never even thought about using negative keywords, but after reading your guide, I see the importance of using them!
  Read More
• 5 Steps to Building a Home-Based Business on the Internet - 07/18/2007
  Thanks for the guide. I like how you inject a sense of realism into the home-based business dream.
  Read More
• Local Advertising on a small budget - 07/12/2007
  You are very welcome, Anita!
  Read More
• Professional Organizing for Productivity and Profitability - 07/12/2007
  Dawn, agree that this a great guide. What do you think about the "GTD" philosophy?
  Read More
• Everything About Buying A Website - 07/12/2007
  Hi Andrew, thanks for this guide. I'd love to hear from people who've bought a website and made it into a successful business.
  Read More
• The Win-Win of Tradeshow Giveaways and Promotions - 07/06/2007
  Really useful guide, Helen! I just blogged about it at the Work.com Community blog.
  Read More
• Buying Buddha Statues online - 06/27/2007
  Here are some stone Buddha statues from Java and Bali imported to Oakland, California.
  Read More
• Proposition 65 and Promotional Products - 06/27/2007
  Thanks for adding the verification info, Bill.
  Read More
• Buying Buddha Statues online - 06/27/2007
  Can you please let us know your affiliation to your company, and also it would be interesting to get more background about Buddha and the making of Buddha statues. Thank you very much!
  Read More
• Proposition 65 and Promotional Products - 06/26/2007
  Is there a way to have products tested by a third party for Proposition 65 compliance?
  Read More
• Web 2.0 - 06/14/2007
  Akwasi, interesting points you bring up. I would always be careful about releasing any personal info on the web, whether on a social media site or anywhere else. As for security holes some sharing sites could create, do you think IT departments are generally aware of those or not?
  Read More
• Generating Publicity & Media Exposure For Products/Businesses - 06/14/2007
  Thanks, Todd!
  Read More
• Generating Publicity & Media Exposure For Products/Businesses - 06/13/2007
  Todd, what do you think about getting PR through social media sites?
  Read More
• Using Yahoo Answers to Market Your Business - 06/11/2007
  Hi Anita, Thanks for a very useful guide! You just inspired me to create a new account (Shara K) to help answer business-related questions. I'll report back about my experience here and at the Work.com blog. One thing that people should know before proceeding at Yahoo Answers: after a question has been answered, you cannot delete the question. So if you are experimenting and are using an account that is linked to your main Yahoo account, be careful about which questions you ask - for example, if you ask a silly test question, it will remain on your profile forever, and may not present the image you want. If you do join and you're a Work.com member, I'd love to be part of your network!
  Read More
• Protective Coatings for Industrial Machinery - 06/05/2007
  You've done a good job at telling me the "why's" of protective coatings. Do you have any case studies about how companies benefited through using protective coatings? That would be interesting.
  Read More
• Auto Wraps, Car Wraps & Vehicle Wraps - 06/05/2007
  Pete, is your business auto wraps? Do you mind telling me more about auto wraps - what are they for, which kinds there are, etc. Is it a good business to sell auto wraps? Thank you!
  Read More
• Using Zillow.com In Your Real Estate Marketing Plan - 06/01/2007
  Hi Sara, Thanks for a useful and detailed guide to Zillow. Do you mind noting your relationship with Zillow? Our policy is that guide authors disclose if they have a relationship to a company they are writing about.
  Read More
• 7 Steps to China Hiring Heaven - 05/30/2007
  Frank, by the way, this guide has been featured on the Work.com Community Blog!
  Read More
• 7 Steps to China Hiring Heaven - 05/29/2007
  Hi Frank, thanks for your insider tips on hiring in China. How long have you been in China and what do you do there? Good point about being careful about a parallel organizational structure. I would think the same caution would be advisable in other countries with strong traditional kin/tribe/village structures.
  Read More
• Purchasing Branded Promotional Items On-line - 05/25/2007
  Tim - good point not to just jump at the cheapest price, but make sure you're dealing with a professional company before placing an order. Thanks for this guide - it's useful. Do you ever recommend just cutting out the middleman and say, flying to Taipei to find a company that will produce promotional products?
  Read More
• Why Social (Business) Networking is the Future - 05/23/2007
  Thanks Rich!
  Read More
• Why Social Bookmarking and Networking will lead to the next Google - 05/22/2007
  You mean, what's next after vertical social bookmarking?
  Read More
• Why Social (Business) Networking is the Future - 05/22/2007
  Hi Rich, what other business social networking sites would you recommend, and how does Fast Pitch compare to them?
  Read More
• Local Advertising on a small budget - 05/22/2007
  Also, do make sure you include your business address on your website - this will be indexed by Google and show up in local searches.
  Read More
• Local Advertising on a small budget - 05/22/2007
  Hi Marc, Thanks for your useful tips - another site I'd add would be Yelp.com, a local reviews site. Get your satisfied customers to write you a review on Yelp! There are other sites too where you can promote yourself locally, such as Judy's Book ("coupons, sales and deals in your neighborhood") or Chowhound if you're a restaurant or specialty market. Also see Greg Brown's guide to online maps for small businesses.
  Read More
• Planning Your Wedding in New Orleans-49360 - 05/14/2007
  Hi Rachel, Thanks for your guide...any particular tips for event planners who would like to plan clients' weddings in New Orleans? Shara
  Read More
• Profit from INDIA - 05/14/2007
  Hi Navin, looks like you've added a lot of great resources to your guide - thanks for all your efforts!
  Read More
• The Right IT Stuff - 05/11/2007
  Ilene, what a thorough, useful guide. You really help walk us through how IT services specifically for small business add value. I hope you are sending your guide to bloggers and linking to it in many places so more small business people can learn IT best practices!
  Read More
• Business Signage Basics - 05/11/2007
  I would put a Flickr badge on here to show examples of what some of the signs look like, but the character count of the badge is more than 1500 characters, so I am unable to.
  Read More
• Business Signage Basics - 05/11/2007
  There are several flickr groups where you can view photos of various signs to get ideas: Faded Signage, SignPaintr, and Neon Signs.
  Read More
• Starting A Gardening Business - 05/04/2007
  Melissa, I think it would be an immensely valuable addition to this guide if you could link to photos of your gardening business' completed gardens - even before and after photos. Maybe you could throw up some photos on flickr and we could link to them in these comments - or even create a flickr badge...just an idea...
  Read More
• Hiring for Internet Jobs - 04/30/2007
  Several more important web roles: front-end coder (HTML/CSS/Javascript talent with a good eye for design), production artist (crank out many graphics and help the designer), creative director (in charge of all creative), information architect (creates the basic structure/taxonomy of the site), illustrator (there's a point where clip art just sucks), instructional designer (specific design for elearning) , interaction designer (focus on design of the interactive elements of a site), user experience designer/UI expert (pays attention to the overall user experience/usability), QA engineer (don't forget testing, testing testing!), usability tester (more testing, testing, testing based around user tasks), and product marketing manager (marketing person in charge of marketing for a specific web product). Sometimes the same person can take on multiple web roles, though as organizations grow, usually roles become more specific.
  Read More
• Hiring for Internet Jobs - 04/30/2007
  Since teams building websites will have to live and breathe and collaborate creatively together just as a movie production crew does, keep in mind that an important factor in hiring is to hire compatible or complementary personalities, and make sure people can bond together well as a team, be responsible, and have fun together. Each person has crucial knowledge and skills that added to others creates the finished product. Don't forget to the post jobs on craigslist also, and I've found that the best Internet jobs these days, besides those you find out about privately, are being posted on LinkedIn networks.
  Read More
• Hiring for Internet Jobs - 04/30/2007
  Note: project manager/producer may be the same role. This guide doesn't mention the role of product manager. The product manager is usually responsible for all aspects of the product's management, lifecycle, and roadmap, and may or may not have project manager duties - often there is a separate project manager/producer who handles more of the scheduling and day-to-day tasks. The product manager creates product requirement documents and usually has a hand in the product marketing as well.
  Read More
• Hiring for Internet Jobs - 04/30/2007
  If you want your site to have an online community or social networking aspect, hire an experienced community manager - here's a list of community experts to get you started. Or try Venture Blogalist's LinkedIn tour of community experts, or try posting a job at the Online Community Report's job page. There are also online community email lists, or web/tech email lists in general, that are good places to post a job.
  Read More
• Social Media Optimization For Your Website. - 04/26/2007
  Hi Rakesh, thanks for discussing such an important topic. I just mentioned this guide in the Work.com Community blog (making sure to tag the post "social media optimization" for Technorati of course ;-) ). I also found a great page on TheNewPRWiki with more social media optimization resources.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 04/26/2007
  Here's an amazing list of corporate blogs: TheNewPRWiki Corporate Blog list
  Read More
• Doing Business in Second Life - 04/19/2007
  Business Week just put out Virtual World Rich List.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 04/17/2007
  Great article I just read: An Argument for Small Business Blogs.
  Read More
• Doing Business in INDIA - 04/16/2007
  Navin - great guide. Thanks for helping us learn how to start doing business in India.
  Read More
• Building a Global Website-47535-47535 - 04/13/2007
  Michael, thanks for an interesting guide. I continue to be fascinated by the topic of internationalization and localization of new media. I am an American who worked in Ghana in 2001 developing websites as a Geekcorps volunteer, and I can definitely say localizing a website is more than just a language issue. Often different cultures have not only different terminology, even when using the same language, but different classification systems and different expectations of information architecture and user interaction, and sometimes a different aesthetic which is considered professional.
  Read More
• Starting A Gardening Business - 04/12/2007
  Melissa, I just found out about a new gardening blog: GardenDesignOnline.
  Read More
• Refrigerated Truck Shipping - 04/12/2007
  Greg - thanks for another useful guide. I haven't really thought much about refrigerated trucks, but they really are important to making our modern societies work, and are so crucial to many businesses.
  Read More
• Starting an Afiiliate Marketing Business - 04/12/2007
  Thanks Alan - do you have any examples of sites successfully making money from the affiliate model?
  Read More
• Finding and Working Foreclosures - 04/12/2007
  Interesting guide - thanks Gary! How much can someone expect to save if they buy a pre-foreclosure or foreclosure home?
  Read More
• Profit from INDIA - 04/12/2007
  Hi Navin, thanks for your guide. I want to know more! What do you see as opportunities for American and other foreign companies with regards to the new Indian middle class? What do I need to consider before expanding my business into India?
  Read More
• Restaurant Sneeze Guards and Food Shields - 04/12/2007
  Wipe food shields often - probably good advice! Jeff, thanks for a clear, concise guide about sneeze guards - I've filled the hole in my knowledge bank!
  Read More
• Second Life Real Estate: Buying and Selling Land in Second Life - 04/10/2007
  I once met an avatar in Second Life who invited me onto her speedboat, which she could board right from her home, which happened to be on a waterway. It was great to speed past on the boat and see all her neighbors' homes. I also have a friend who has a house right on the beach, and she can sit and watch the waves, and throw beach parties. If you want to make money selling land in Second Life, consider buying land near the water!
  Read More
• Air Freight and Cargo for Small Business - 04/10/2007
  Here's an air cargo directory: Air Cargo Communities.
  Read More
• Planning Your Web Site Content - 04/06/2007
  Anyone planning a web site content today has to at least consider users contributing their own content. If your users will contribute, what will motivate them? How are their submissions structured? Also, in my experience I have found that great content management systems (the forms/tools to input content) can play a very strong role in robust, frequently updated content. Ideally, writers should be able to stage content, save content as draft, preview content, retrieve content from a certain date in the past, even control how content wraps around images and how images are located within the content. Other important things to consider: access control regarding who can publish final versions of content, and ability to update content from anywhere.
  Read More
• Maximize your profits online - 04/04/2007
  Ariel, thanks for this very useful guide. Optimization is very important; and also important is user experience. It's an art to balance the two!
  Read More
• Writing Successful PPC Ad Copy - 04/03/2007
  Eve, great guide! Thanks for your insider tips on writing the best ppc ads.
  Read More
• Using Contact Management Software - 04/03/2007
  From someone named Joe who wrote into feedback@work.com: "Salesforce.com is expensive and sucks. Take a look at www.sugarcrm.com. It's an open source CRM that is available as a hosted solution or you can download the code for free and set it up yourself on your own servers."
  Read More
• Transportation and Logistics Companies for Small Business - 03/30/2007
  Jennifer, do you have any case studies of companies with great supply chain management?
  Read More
• Doing Business in Second Life - 03/30/2007
  Deborah, I hear a rumor that you've got a new guide in the works about how companies can market themselves in Second Life...can't wait to read that one!
  Read More
• Wireless Keyboards - 03/30/2007
  Judy - thanks for this guide. I want to get a wireless keyboard for my desktop so I can sit in my Corbusier cowhide lounge chair while I work...
  Read More
• Finding and Selecting Shipping and Packaging Supplies - 03/30/2007
  Interesting that you say an amateur packing job looks bad to consumers. I thought I was the only one who noticed good packing jobs when opening a package!
  Read More
• Commercial Refrigerators, Coolers and Freezers - 03/30/2007
  Sheila - this guide will be very useful for those getting started in the restaurant or floral business - in fact, I'm forwarding it to a friend who is starting a floral business right now!
  Read More
• Personalized Promotional Bags and Totes - 03/30/2007
  I get a new tote bag at every conference I attend...
  Read More
• Warehouse Storage Racking - Uses & Types - 03/30/2007
  The pallet rack identification guide is very interesting, thank you!
  Read More
• Google Conversion Tracking - 03/30/2007
  Thanks Christopher, this is a very useful guide for those involved in online advertising!
  Read More
• Writing search-engine friendly content for top-to-toe of your website - 03/28/2007
  Anuja - perhaps you could improve your rating by offering some of your content tips directly in this guide!
  Read More
• Increasing Your Online Visibility Using Work.com - 03/28/2007
  P.S. I've already added this guide to digg and del.icio.us for starters!
  Read More
• Increasing Your Online Visibility Using Work.com - 03/27/2007
  Thanks, Melissa. I just wanna spread the gospel. I swear great things have been happening since I wrote 7 Work.com guides...
  Read More
• SLR Digital Cameras - 03/27/2007
  I found Digital Photography Review useful when I was looking for a digital SLR. Or try the Best Digital Cameras swicki search. Also reviews on c|net and nytimes.com. I ended up getting the Nikon D50, which I absolutely love. I bought it from B & H Photo in New York. Just knowing I can choose to use my old Nikkor 105 portrait lens from my Nikon FM2 makes me feel wonderful. When I was looking for a digital SLR a while ago, I was considering Nikon and Canon models as well as Lumix. Keep in mind that lens quality is a hugely important factor. Also being able to use your own flash which is further away from the camera than flashes attached to a camera improves lighting quality immensely. Here are some photos of Asbury Park, New Jersey taken with my Nikon D50.
  Read More
• Digital Cameras - 03/27/2007
  I found Digital Photography Review useful when I was looking for a digital camera. Or try the Best Digital Cameras swicki search. Also reviews on c|net and nytimes.com. I ended up getting a digital SLR, the Nikon D50, which I absolutely love. I bought it from B & H Photo in New York.
  Read More
• Web-Based Productivity Tools - 03/27/2007
  I LOVE the idea of the Text Expander. What a great shortcut! I am off to get it!
  Read More
• International Shipping - 03/19/2007
  Matt - your tips & tactics are great insider advice. Thank you for this guide!
  Read More
• Creating a Great Business Plan - 03/16/2007
  Frances - I see this guide is now #1 most popular on the Work.com site - congratulations!
  Read More
• Top 5 Link Building Services - 03/16/2007
  I'd love to see a greater variety of useful linkbuilding resources!
  Read More
• Web 2.0 - 03/14/2007
  Akwasi, thanks for the swivel.com tip. Looks fascinating. I'm off to check it out. Then I'll bookmark it at del.icio.us and add to digg, give it a thumbs-up at stumbleupon, create some goals around it at 43things, design a t-shirt for it at threadless, then add those actions to twitter.com.
  Read More
• Preparing Your First Payroll - 03/14/2007
  Dennis, your guide gives a good overview of how to prepare payroll. Thanks for sharing your expertise with the Work.com community!
  Read More
• What REALLY Matters In Web Design - 03/14/2007
  Mike, this is one of the most enjoyable AND useful guides I've read. I like how you use example, description and humor to make your points about what really matters in web design. You hit on some key points that will help the business owner figure out how to have a decent website. Thanks for sharing your expertise with the Work.com community.
  Read More
• Website Information Architecture Primer - 03/14/2007
  Hi Lisa - this is a very useful guide, thank you. Do you have recommendations for how to evolve information architecture of a site as the site usage evolves, and also how (or whether) to integrate "folksonomy" (user-based categorization) into an interface? What are some of your favorite examples of sites that do a good (or bad) job at this?
  Read More
• Designing a Restaurant - 03/12/2007
  Hi Aaron, great guide. I'd love to hear some examples of various restaurants' designs and how they correspond to the type of food served. I remember eating in a Russian restaurant in NYC and the waiters were dressed like Cossacks...
  Read More
• Writing a Resume Cover Letter - 03/06/2007
  If your cover letter is sent via email, I recommend you pay attention to the subject line, do a test to make sure the formatting is okay on several different email clients but especially Outlook, use any links to previous work strategically, and craft a signature that sells you. Also, when writing a cover letter, different companies may require a different tone. For example, if you are applying for a web job for a site that is flip, irreverent, and fun, I wouldn't write a very dry, somber email. Though trying to be too clever could backfire too. Definitely have several people read your cover letter before you send it. And - good luck!
  Read More
• Doing Business in Second Life - 03/06/2007
  Thanks!
  Read More
• Profiting from a Warehouse Membership Club - 03/06/2007
  I took an SBA import/export seminar, and found out that a lot of people export from the U.S. by buying at warehouse stores like Costco. In fact, Costco even has their own export division. Here is the contact info from the Costco website: "Wholesale customers interested in purchasing large quantities (container loads) of merchandise for export outside the U.S., or to where Costco does not have a physical location, should contact the export sales division: exports@costco.com Costco Export Sales 999 Lake Drive Issaquah, WA 98027"
  Read More
• choosing a tea kettle - 03/05/2007
  Yes, Mary, what advice would you have for someone who wants to sell tea kettles or tea?
  Read More
• Google Apps - 03/05/2007
  Thanks, Eric. Wonder what will happen to Microsoft after this. Have you tried any of these apps yet, and if so, what do you think of them? How do they compare to Microsoft products? By the way, there's no link to the Google App videos.
  Read More
• Marketing Your Business on Craigslist - 03/02/2007
  Matt, your point about getting involved genuinely in the Craigslist community is a good one. And remember that Craigslist, with its unique community culture, does not like spammers, and doesn't want to be ruined by spammers. So make sure Craigslist is really the place for your ad, and like Matt says, pay attention to the community guidelines.
  Read More
• Doing Business in Second Life - 03/01/2007
  Deborah, I'm thinking of getting a new Mac laptop, but I've heard that there are Mac issues with running Second Life - is this true? If there are issues, are they being addressed by Linden Labs? P.S. Have you heard that CBS bought Electric Sheep, a virtual world development company? Seems like they're betting that virtual worlds will play a strong part in the future of the Internet.
  Read More
• Trade-Show Giveaways - 02/26/2007
  If you are looking to order promotional giveaways for a trade show, also see Business.com for a complete list of promotional product vendors.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 02/23/2007
  My pleasure, Vishenda!
  Read More
• Naming a New Business or Start Up - 02/21/2007
  Thanks, Phil for all your tips. I just checked out www.ilovecrabs.com... one other naming tip from my friend is to visit sites like Urban Dictionary to get ideas for new uses of words.
  Read More
• Naming a New Business or Start Up - 02/15/2007
  Phillip, fantastic advice for naming. I just emailed your guide to my friend who is starting a new web business.
  Read More
• Credit Report 'FICO' Scores - 02/09/2007
  One of the best things I did in terms of raising my FICO score is that I joined My Fico and started tracking changes to my score. That really showed me the impact of using my credit cards (and paying back the balance on them). You can even get FICO score alerts to your mobile phone!
  Read More
• Learning Search Engine Optimization - 02/07/2007
  Just came across another great SEO resource called Your SEO Plan, and here's an article specifically about SEO for small business.
  Read More
• Choosing Education - 02/05/2007
  I was happy to discover that my alma mater, Tufts University, also has open courseware! Now, to brush up on my medical genetics...as for my "practical MBA", I'm getting that right here at Work.com!
  Read More
• Choosing a Company to Build Your Software - 01/31/2007
  Hi Rob, I've found the cost of domestic freelance engineers, at least in the Bay Area where I used to work, to be more like $75-150 whether they wrote a book or not.
  Read More
• Online Maps for Small Businesses - 01/29/2007
  I'm 39 and I NEVER use a phone book anymore!
  Read More
• Getting the Most Out of LinkedIn - 01/29/2007
  Greg - this is a fantastic guide, thank you. I like to stick to personal contacts, and even then not any person I've ever worked with. I accept as a contact only people I would recommend. Also, there's a LinkedIn widget that you can add to your blog - if you use Typepad it's easy to add, not sure about other blog providers.
  Read More
• Marketing to African-American Consumers - 01/29/2007
  Hi Matt, Your tip about being aware of differences within the African-American market is an important one. Just as not all white consumers behave alike, different African-American groups such as West African, East African, South African and Caribbean African-Americans may have different needs, desires, and cultures. You could say the same about Ghanaian-Americans vs. Nigerian-Americans, etc. etc. Not only that, but African-Americans, like Italian-Americans or Chinese-Americans, represent all levels of society. Something to think about when considering whether the African-American market is monolithic - would an equivalent guide be written about Marketing to Caucasian-American Consumers?
  Read More
• Filing A Small Claims Against The City of New York - 01/29/2007
  Do you have examples of successful small claims cases filed against NYC?
  Read More
• Internet Blocking and Filtering - 01/29/2007
  I find that at many creative businesses, trusting employees is the best policy. Quickly checking a bank balance online or responding to a personal email or two in the course of a 9 or 10-hour day may keep today's multitasking and fast-moving employee willing to work that much better and harder, knowing that they have taken care of their personal issues. One of my best former bosses was always showing us a funny new Flash game she'd found...even a forwarded YouTube video or two once in awhile can help group cohesion and maintain a sense of play. It's all a balance...
  Read More
• Making Money on CafePress - 01/29/2007
  Lewis - tell us more - do you have a link to your CafePress store?
  Read More
• Sell your handmade goodies to the world - 01/29/2007
  Etsy.com is a marketplace for handmade items...
  Read More
• Building an Online Community - 01/27/2007
  Hi Eric, I see, hear, and feel your point, and it's a very important one. At the heart of any thriving community, online, offline, or both, is the building of relationships between people. The technology and interface should merely seamlessly facilitate those relationships. If you just throw up some forums thinking that makes a thriving online community, that doesn't work. Community requires a great deal of care and nurturing. I talk a lot about "purpose" and what I mean is that there has to be real reasons and need for people to interact or you could spend $50 million dollars and have no community. Or you can send out an email list for very little or no cost and that can be a thriving, useful, and connected place. Community needs to emerge from the people using it.
  Read More
• Smartphones - 01/23/2007
  Thanks Ned!
  Read More
• Online Business Networking - 01/22/2007
  Pamela Slim, who writes the blog Escape from Cubicle Nation, gives a great example of how online business networking can work (after clicking the link, scroll down to the bottom of the post to read the online networking part): "...you can grow your business and establish wonderful business partnerships through the medium of web, blog-based and virtual business."
  Read More
• Smartphones - 01/22/2007
  Ned, what do you think of Apple's new iPhone?
  Read More
• Building an Online Community - 01/22/2007
  Here are some exciting online community conferences that are coming up. On Feb. 9 & 10, 2007, there's Community Next at Stanford. On March 12-14, 2007, there's the Community 2.0 conference, which will specifically address among its topics how businesses can harness online community. (You can hear Craig speak there!)
  Read More
• Building an Online Community - 01/22/2007
  Donna, here are links to get more background in online community history: IRC, MMORPGs, MUDs, MOOs, Compuserve, Usenet, and the Well
  Read More
• Building an Online Community - 01/22/2007
  Greg - some hosted community providers to look into are Akiva (including the open source WebBoard messageboard and ChatSpace chat), Prospero (an integrated solution including social networking, user profiles and ratings & reviews), Jive Software, Lithium Technologies, and Web Crossing. If you are thinking of a hosted solution, I would focus in on the main community applications that you need (i.e. forum, chat, etc.) and then find the company with the best hosted version of that application, great customer support, easy integration, authentication, and customization.
  Read More
• Low-Cost Businesses You Can Start - 01/22/2007
  I just read an article on BusinessWeek.com with ideas for the best low-cost businesses to start in 2007: including pet sitting, debt collection, and garage organizing.
  Read More
• Pay-Per-Click Strategy for Beginners - 01/19/2007
  Thanks Darwin! This is a great intro to pay-per-click strategy. I'm going to save your guide to my favorites.
  Read More
• Resources for African-American Business Owners - 01/19/2007
  Here's an interesting blog for black people in business: Black in Business.
  Read More
• Boosting Website Sales with Google Adwords - 01/18/2007
  Thanks Alvin - this is a very useful guide. You make a complex process easy to understand.
  Read More
• Starting a Service Business - 01/17/2007
  Judy, this is a really useful guide. I know people who make a good living washing windows for businesses. I'd love if people with experience with specific service businesses, such as window washing, cleaning, hair braiding, etc. etc. wrote guides on those topics.
  Read More
• Doing Business in the European Union (EU) - 01/17/2007
  Hi Mitsi, I just found this interesting post about the differences between European and American culture, and what they can learn from each other. What Europeans and Americans Can Learn From Each Other
  Read More
• Doing Business in Second Life - 01/12/2007
  The Communication Overtones blog discusses how iVillage promotes itself through its girls' night out in Second Life, and more about how to promote your business in Second Life.
  Read More
• Using Technorati to Find Blogs About Your Industry - 01/11/2007
  Blogpulse, Google Blogsearch, and Ice Rocket are other good places to search for blogs.
  Read More
• Doing Business in Second Life - 01/11/2007
  Here's a Second Life market research firm I found: Reperes Second Life. And here's an interesting article on marketing within Second Life: Second Life: Take Your Brand Virtually Anywhere.
  Read More
• Doing Business in Second Life - 01/10/2007
  Thanks Deborah for a great guide! There's an interesting take on marketing within Second Life from Digitas' Greg Verdino. Or check out Entrepreneur.com's Starting a Business in Second Life, The Wall Street Journal's Now, Virtual Fashion, the New York Times' A Virtual World, But Real Money, or BusinessWeek's Inside the World of Second Life.
  Read More
• Web 2.0 - 01/08/2007
  New BusinessWeek article about how Web 2.0 is going over big in China...
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 01/08/2007
  Check out MyBlogLog.com, which allows you to join blogger communities, and it also allows your photo to be displayed when you read a blog that's part of MyBlogLog. Your photo links to your profile and your blog, thus driving readership to your blog through your visits to other blogs - a great traffic increaser. TechCrunch, Lifehacker, Small Biz Trends, and the Work.com Community Blog are just some of the blogs that have joined. P.S. Thanks Anita for letting me know about MyBlogLog!
  Read More
• Preparing for Networking Events - 01/08/2007
  Guy Kawasaki's article The Art of Schmoozing also has some interesting insights on the networking topic.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 01/05/2007
  My pleasure, Anita. One of the main points I like people to keep in mind when they're considering blogging for their business is that the point is not to spew marketing gobbledygook or get short-term SEO gains, the point is to develop an interactive, long-term relationship with customers.
  Read More
• Free Web-based and Open Source Business Tools - 01/04/2007
  William, you are quite the guide-writing machine! Thanks for this guide - I am saving it as a great open source resource. Can't wait to see what is coming next...
  Read More
• Preparing for Networking Events - 01/04/2007
  Great guide, Scott! I like your suggestion to listen to a comedy CD or something uplifting on the way to the event. I have been reading studies on emotion that show that putting on a particular facial expression actually creates a feedback loop in your brain that makes you feel the emotion you are expressing - in other words, start smiling before you enter the event and you'll be in a great, positive mood - which will be contagious (in a good way) and attractive.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 12/20/2006
  I just found a great two-part article from Anita Campbell (the Startup community leader), about how to make money from your blog. She focuses on long-term, sustainable, build-a-business solutions, not get-rich-quick schemes. Eight Insider Tips for Turning Your Blog Into a Business - Part I Eight Insider Tips for Turning Your Blog Into a Business - Part II
  Read More
• Writing a Successful Corporate Blog - 5 Steps - 12/20/2006
  HI Barbara, Anita Campbell just let me know about MyBlogLog, which looks like it could be a great way to increase your blog traffic. I am testing it out on the Work.com Community blog. Check out the MyBlogLog widget at the bottom of the right column - it shows thumbnail photos of the most recent readers of my blog who are signed up with MyBlogLog. Exciting to see who is visiting, and it encourages visits because some people want their presence as a reader to be known, as well as a link back to their profile...
  Read More
• Planning an Office Holiday Party - 12/14/2006
  Business.com had a magician at their recent holiday party - very entertaining. Still wondering how he managed to get off those two sets of handcuffs...
  Read More
• Writing a Company History - 12/14/2006
  One of the most memorable company histories, that features a famous garage, is HP's company history.
  Read More
• Marketing for Professionals - 12/13/2006
  Reid, I see your point, but I think it's always great marketing to provide really useful information in an article whether it's published in the traditional way, or it's submitted on an open platform. Here at Work.com's open platform for business how-to guides, we expect that the best and most relevant guides and experts bubble to the top through community rating and visits.
  Read More
• Marketing for Professionals - 12/13/2006
  Reid - I just have to comment that a great place I know about to write an article and establish yourself as an expert is at Work.com ;-).
  Read More
• Marketing for Professionals - 12/13/2006
  Hi Reid, thanks for a great guide. I'm going to save this to my favorites to digest more thoroughly later.
  Read More
• Understanding Guanxi to Maximize Your Business Potential in China - 12/07/2006
  I just read an interesting article, Guanxi and Business in China, by Kippo, a Finn living and doing business in Beijing.
  Read More
• Working While Stuck at the Airport - 12/06/2006
  Thanks Betty!
  Read More
• Writing Effective "About Us" Web Pages - 12/05/2006
  Nice guide, Judy. I think browsers should be rewarded for visiting About Us pages - add a compelling story, insider info, wit, purpose, philosophy, Flickr photos of your cafeteria, etc. Remember that those who click on About Us pages could be press, potential clients, job-seekers. Blatant marketing gobbledy-gook is a turn-off. One of my favorite About Us pages is from the children's clothing website Wooly Wooly.
  Read More
• Working While Stuck at the Airport - 12/05/2006
  Betty, I always seem to need a post office while at the airport - do you happen to know where I can find more info on airport post offices?
  Read More
• Using Linux for Your Desktop - 12/05/2006
  Hi Akwasi, just wondering, why choose Linux as opposed to another flavor of Unix such as FreeBSD?
  Read More
• Business Blogging - 12/04/2006
  Thanks for letting me know about those blogs, Scot!
  Read More
• Offering Daycare and Daycare Subsidies - 12/04/2006
  Thanks for this guide, Greg. For working parents, it is a great asset to work for a company that makes obtaining daycare easier - definitely spurs loyalty and hard work.
  Read More
• Top 3 Tips - Designing the Right Logo - 12/03/2006
  Russell, thanks for a very useful guide. One thing I've experienced as a web consultant is that many companies have pre-existing logos that were created for print, but that don't adapt well to web pages. For those of you creating a new logo, make sure your logo looks good in print *and* on the web. A web logo should look good at the top of your web page, but also at a small size in browser tabs and as a favicon, etc. Even if you're not a designer yourself, you can get ideas for logos by examining other corporate logos (as Russell suggests), but also by looking at design elements from various cultures such as Adinkra symbols, patterns woven into fabric and carved into stone, even modernist photography. It will be helpful to a designer to have examples of designs that resonate with you, and express the feeling you want your business to have.
  Read More
• How to Win a Business Award - 12/01/2006
  The SBA is now accepting applications for annual small business awards. Nominate a small business for an SBA Award.
  Read More
• Business Blogging - 12/01/2006
  Scott, thanks for a great guide on business blogging. I'm curious, what are the business blogs that you follow?
  Read More
• Starting a Post-Retirement Business - 11/30/2006
  Hi Matt, looks like the business blogosphere has picked up your guide - congratulations!
  Read More
• Marketing Your Business With a Blog - 11/29/2006
  Hi Brian, congratulations, I just found a new link to this guide at the Big Marketing for Small Business blog.
  Read More
• Understanding Guanxi to Maximize Your Business Potential in China - 11/27/2006
  Here's an interesting blog post I found about guanxi, written by a foreigner working in Beijing: http://beijingman.blogspot.com/2005/09/chinese-guanxi-your-asset-in-china.html
  Read More
• How to Win a Business Award - 11/21/2006
  Hi, by the way, The Wall Street Journal and not-for-profit Winning Workplaces are seeking nominations of exceptional small organizations -- private, nonprofit or publicly held -- for their first annual ranking of the Top Small Workplaces. Nomination Form -- 2007 Top Small Workplaces http://www.startupjournal.com/about/entryform.html
  Read More
• Web 2.0 - 11/20/2006
  I just found an interesting white paper on Web 2.0 for small business owners that talks about how the web has become a collaboration space and how businesses can best make use of the new web. Check out Web 2.0 For Business Advantage, where Otter Group CEO Kathleen Gilroy explains the business benefits of using Web 2.0 services.
  Read More
• Starting A Gardening Business - 11/16/2006
  Thanks Melissa for a very useful guide to anyone considering starting a gardening business! One thing I'd like to hear about - is running a gardening business fun?
  Read More
• Automotive Dealership Marketing Online - 11/16/2006
  Grant, thanks for your guide. This is very useful information for automotive dealerships.
  Read More
• Counterfeit Currency Detection Equipment - 11/16/2006
  Kelly, thanks for a really useful guide. Have you ever caught any counterfeit bills?
  Read More
• How to Win a Business Award - 11/16/2006
  Anita, what a useful guide. I like your concept of nominating your customer's business, which helps both your customer and you in terms of determining what your business needs to do to win the award.
  Read More
• Getting Internet to Your Business in the Boondocks - 11/16/2006
  Also, there's a recent Information Week article on the topic of rural broadband.
  Read More
• Outsourcing to Foreign Countries - 11/14/2006
  Thanks Greg for a very useful guide. Thomas Friedman's book, The World is Flat, is essential to read if you're even thinking of outsourcing.
  Read More
• Corporate Relocation - 11/14/2006
  Hi Jessica, thanks for a great guide. If you have children, moving costs may include registration fees for new schools. I recently moved from Berkeley, CA to LA, and moving, adjusting to a new place, getting my son adjusted in preschool and starting a new job kept me VERY busy. I found that joining a gym and having a regular exercise program really helped. I would recommend to employers to have an ongoing orientation for newly-moved employees, helping them to connect with old-timers and other newbies. Make sure they know all the good places to go to lunch near your office, and help them get recommendations for doctors, dentists, etc. One of the hardest parts of moving is fixing up a new place. If you're an employer, keep in mind your relocating employees may need time to be home to wait for the cable to be set up, new furniture delivery, etc. Flexibility during the initial period will help cement loyalty!
  Read More
• Getting Internet to Your Business in the Boondocks - 11/14/2006
  The NYTImes just published an article on rural broadband called: With a Dish, Broadband Goes Rural.
  Read More
• Preparing for a Flu Pandemic - 11/14/2006
  Kerry, do you recommend flu shots?
  Read More
• Marketing to Teens - 11/09/2006
  Hi Matt, thanks for the response. I am going to check out Revver. I also need to spend more time in the Second Life teen section...by the way, Danah Boyd has a lot to say about youth and new media.
  Read More
• Marketing to Teens - 11/07/2006
  I guess there's still the mall, but to learn how to market to and understand youth, spend time on the sites that they spend time on and watch the shows they watch (and the shows they watch, and create, including those at YouTube). Also, don't forget LA youth marketing firm Look Look, Anastasia Goodstein's youth culture newsletter/site ypulse, diy/handmade/youth entrepreneurial culture at places like etsy.com and CafePress, sites like NeoPets, Habbo Hotel, gurl.com, teen's own blogs at Xanga, Blogger, etc. etc. By the way, Friendster is not popular now, and kids are looking for an alternative to MySpace. If you want to sell to teens, it's important to have cool products that they will like (have teens help develop your products and do ethnographic research), but if you try to act too cool, and seem fake, you will not get their business.
  Read More
• Saving Money as your Business Grows - 11/07/2006
  Thanks, broadband. This is a very useful guide that will help small businesses save money. But - do you mind explaining PBX and POTS to those who don't know what those are?
  Read More
• Writing a Successful Corporate Blog - 5 Steps - 11/01/2006
  I keep referring to your guide over and over again, Barbara! By the way, I wanted to add that I like to use Stat Counter to measure blog traffic.
  Read More
• Getting Internet to Your Business in the Boondocks - 10/31/2006
  Hi Daniel, did you see the link to your guide in the Web Worker Daily blog article, Broadband in the Boonies? Congratulations for writing a guide that got noticed!
  Read More
• Getting Internet to Your Business in the Boondocks - 10/23/2006
  Thanks Daniel for such a speedy response. I'd love to hear reports from "businesses in the boondocks" who have solved their Internet connectivity issues.
  Read More
• Getting Internet to Your Business in the Boondocks - 10/23/2006
  Daniel, thanks for a very useful guide that enables businesses everywhere to get a robust Internet connection. I like your suggestion to band together with other business and create an ISP. Have you ever set up Internet connection in a developing country? I wonder if your guidelines would still be similar.
  Read More
• Sell your handmade goodies to the world - 10/20/2006
  I am a big fan of Elsewares, which features independent art & design.
  Read More
• Computer Servers for Small Business - 10/19/2006
  I'd love to hear more about the pros and cons of choosing operating systems: Microsoft vs. Linux or FreeBSD.
  Read More
• Creating Balance in Your Working Life - 10/19/2006
  Wonderful guide, Kirsten. Balance is so important in avoiding burnout, and bringing creativity from "non-work" life into work life. Learn more about how to create a home office with minimum distractions, or juggle parenthood and work.
  Read More
• Marketing Your Small Professional Services Business - 10/19/2006
  Hi Kirsten, I like your advice to "just do it" and fight overwhelm by taking a step-by-step approach to marketing. Great guide!
  Read More
• Creating a Web Site - 10/19/2006
  To learn basic principles of usability before creating your business website, visit Jakob Nielson's useit.com. Your design should facilitate the main objectives of your site (you know what those are, right?), and often simpler is better. Try to test your design before you launch - you may be surprised that what's obvious to you isn't to your audience.
  Read More
• Resources for Starting a Business - 10/19/2006
  Per Anita's point about using freelancers - if you are starting a web business, try a site like Rentacoder to find programming help.
  Read More
• Hiring an Outstanding Keynote - 10/17/2006
  Meghan, thanks for a very useful guide. I'd love to hear keynote speaker success stories from the Work.com community.
  Read More
• Office Romance - 10/17/2006
  P.S. We had a lot of late nights before launches. ;-)
  Read More
• Advertising and Marketing to U.S. Hispanics - 10/17/2006
  Amiel, what are key cultural factors to keep in mind when marketing to Hispanics?
  Read More
• Creating a Web Site - 10/17/2006
  Also see the Webby Awards for some good examples of websites. Hoshiar, what kind of website do you need, so I can try to point you to free resources that could help with website creation. Keep in mind that creating a simple site yourself may be possible. Also, there may be NGO's that focus on technology training in Afghanistan that could lend a hand.
  Read More
• Writing a Successful Corporate Blog - 5 Steps - 10/17/2006
  Barbara, thank you for your feedback about use of HTML in the guide and comments. Currently the only HTML we allow is hyperlinks within the "I recommend" section of the action steps and within comments, with an eye to keeping guides consistent. But we are open to members' thoughts on this issue, and will take them into consideration as we go forward. Which HTML tags would you most want to use within the guide and comments?
  Read More
• Writing a Successful Corporate Blog - 5 Steps - 10/16/2006
  Barbara, this is a great guide, engagingly written, for how to (and WHY) write a successful corporate blog.
  Read More
• Outdoor Lighting - 10/15/2006
  Hi Anthony, thanks for educating us about this important topic. It's really making me think about how much I leave on outdoor lights. Where can I get a motion sensor to connect to my lights so they'll only turn on when a person is near? Kudos to you for running a business which helps to improve the environment.
  Read More
• Restaurant Uniforms - 10/15/2006
  I don't work in a restaurant, but I recommend Dansko shoes as a great choice for people who have to be on their feet all day.
  Read More
• Business Publications - 10/15/2006
  Thanks, Constance for a great list of business resources. There are also great small business blogs, such as Small Business Trends. See a complete list on the Guide to Small Business Blogs.
  Read More
• Cutting Your Overhead Costs - 10/15/2006
  Thanks Dan for bringing up ways to cut overhead costs. I just signed up for Vonage ($24.99/month for unlimited calls domestically in the U.S. and to some European countries), and so far, so good.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 10/15/2006
  Thanks, Harish, for your kind words. Have you seen the Work.com blog yet? We believe in Work.com evolving with the needs of its users, so we welcome comments on the blog regarding what you'd like to see at Work.com.
  Read More
• Become a Female Friendly Car Dealer - 10/13/2006
  Jody, I see you updated your guide. Thanks for the added info.
  Read More
• Saving on International Phone Calls - 10/12/2006
  Wandy, thanks for the great tip for calling Taiwan! I would love to hear more from the Work.com community about great deals on international calls to and from particular countries.
  Read More
• Finding Networking Opportunities - 10/12/2006
  Thanks for a great guide, Chuck. Note to readers: if you're interested in business blogging, also check out Guide to Small Business Blogs or Guide to Blogging for Small Business Owners. The Work.com blog also features some great examples of small business blogs in its sidebar - which are great to look at for inspiration for starting your own blog.
  Read More
• Free Business Software for Windows - 10/12/2006
  I just downloaded GIMP (the GIMPshop version) which is a freeware image editing program which can do much of what Photoshop can do, but its price is: FREE! Okay, it's not as elegant, but at least for the simple tasks I have used it for so far, it's worked fine.
  Read More
• Computer Training - 10/12/2006
  I checked out the Intelligent Edu site and it had a bunch of broken links. Didn't give me much useful info.
  Read More
• Computer Schools - 10/12/2006
  This doesn't tell me enough about what kinds of certifications would be useful. I would focus this type of guide in on specifc kinds of certifications. A project manager certification is very different than an MCSE certification.
  Read More
• Choosing a business mobile phone - 10/12/2006
  I feel like I need more unbiased review info re business mobile phones.
  Read More
• Successful Data Recovery - 10/12/2006
  Thanks, Sergey -- I am saving your guide to my profile in case I ever need to make use of your advice!
  Read More
• Starting a Community Art Gallery - 10/12/2006
  Hi Lisa, I was reading your profile and you certainly have an interesting background, including living in Bali. I can see the Balinese influence on the design of your gallery, Desa Arts. It looks great - will the artwork from your gallery be on sale online?
  Read More
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - 10/12/2006
  Fabio, I like the examples you give of how optimizing for the term "pet sitting" could be easy or hard depending on whether a local angle is used. I would like to see a greater diversity of resources linked to.
  Read More
• Become a Female Friendly Car Dealer - 10/12/2006
  How is a female car consumer different? What are the important factors in making women car buyers feel comfortable? I would like more detailed information in this guide.
  Read More
• Buzz Marketing - 10/12/2006
  Hi Ron, how about a general overview of what buzz marketing is, and why a business needs it?
  Read More
• Social Search and Search Engine Optimization for the Internet Marketer - 10/12/2006
  Thanks, Jon. Do you have any case studies of small businesses that benefited greatly from social search?
  Read More
• Start Podcasting for Your Small Business - 10/12/2006
  Hendry, I'd like to know more about what it takes to record high-quality audio on a budget. Also, do you (or others in the Work.com community) have any case studies of businesses that have used podcasts successfully?
  Read More
• Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations - 10/11/2006
  Hi Lenny -- do you ever get nervous when you speak in front of a group? If so, what do *you* do to overcome your nervousness?
  Read More
• Sales Force Development - 10/11/2006
  Dave, useful guide, and very creative to use movie scenes to illustrate recruiting! Do you mind stating on your guide your role vis-a-vis the Objective Management Group? Thanks!
  Read More
• Targeting Consumers With The RIGHT Residential Mailing List - 10/11/2006
  Hi Kyle, can you give a specific eample of who would use an occupant list and who should use a consumer list?
  Read More
• Writing The Best Possible Text Advert - 8 Tips - 10/11/2006
  Hi adquick, how about posting some sample text ads?
  Read More
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - 10/11/2006
  Thanks Rajan for some good SEO tips.
  Read More
• Determining Your Credibility With Your Customers - 10/11/2006
  Hi Jason, thanks for a useful guide. I like your case study about how lack of credibility can hurt a business. Have you heard of the web site My 3 Cents, which posts consumer reviews (and many complaints) about companies who weren't credible?
  Read More
• rank on top of the Search Engines - 10/11/2006
  I would need a lot more information, not just a couple of links, for this to be a useful guide.
  Read More
• How to Shred? - 10/11/2006
  Hi Steven, this a a fascinating guide. I have never thought about shredding options much before, but now if I ever need shredding I will have an idea of my options. It would be interesting to have a few more examples of what kind of material one should shred, and some shredding case studies.
  Read More
• Leasing office space - 10/11/2006
  James, thank you for a very useful guide. You go into insider detail that businesses need to know before leasing an office space, and while you offer your own company's help, you also inform the reader of do-it-yourself options for getting a commercial lease. You seem like someone I could trust to do business with.
  Read More
• Private Equity Firms - 10/11/2006
  Andy, what is the typical process for a company to get funding from a private equity firm?
  Read More
• Electronic Check Processing - 10/11/2006
  Thanks, Lisa, for the useful info. Are there any disadvantages to electronic check processing?
  Read More
• Commercial Mortgage Financing - 10/11/2006
  Michael, it may be useful to hear some case studies about how your company, Broadgate, helped businesses acquire commercial mortgages.
  Read More
• Auto Recurring Billing - 10/11/2006
  Hi Lisa, thanks for mentioning not just PaySimple but also your competitors. It is very useful to get an overall picture of auto-recurring payments, not just hear about one product.
  Read More
• Using ClickBank To Sell Your Information Product - 10/11/2006
  Hi David, you have a lot of useful information here, but I'd like to know more about ClickBank's competitors, and your affiliation to ClickBank. That would help me trust your info. Thank you!
  Read More
• Personally connect employees to work - 10/11/2006
  Roman, I think if you added some case history detail here about what motivates or demotivates employees, that would add to this guide.
  Read More
• Health Savings Account - Qualified Medical Expenses Guide - 10/11/2006
  Tom, why would I sign up for a health savings account? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
  Read More
• Buying Mortgage Leads Online - 10/11/2006
  Mortgage Guy, do you have any affiliation with the services you recommend? Just wondering.
  Read More
• Point of Sale Hardware & Software - 10/11/2006
  Hi, if I am thinking I need point-of-sale components for my business, I need more information than this guide provides. What are the advantages of point-of-sale equipment? What should I be looking for? What are the advantages and disadvantages of different brands?
  Read More
• Be A Great Business Person and A Great Parent - 10/11/2006
  Ha! Donna, imrofl reading your post. As someone with a busy job and a 3-1/2-year-old boy who loves climbing onto my shoulders and leaping off them while I'm typing on the computer, I can relate. Note: one of the first words my son could read was "Google", from hanging on me as I worked at the computer.
  Read More
• Using Voice Broadcasting To Generate Mortgage Leads - 10/11/2006
  Hi Mortgage Guy, Do you have an affiliation with these lead lists? The Work.com editorial policy requires disclosure of affiliations on your guide.
  Read More
• Using Voice Broadcasting To Generate Mortgage Leads - 10/11/2006
  Hi Mortgage Guy, Your first action step has a broken link in it! Please fix it! Thanks, Shara
  Read More
• Giclee - 10/11/2006
  Thanks, Fabio. I saw Geoffrey Agrons' images when I followed your link, and they were of rural southern New Jersey! Gorgeous...and I'm originally a Jersey girl. Good for the world to see the beauty of New Jersey!
  Read More
• Affordable SMB E-mail with Microsoft Exchange - 10/11/2006
  Thanks Inna for a useful guide. How much could a company expect to pay for such a hosted Exchange solution? Do you have particular experience with one of the providers you mention?
  Read More
• Giclee - 10/11/2006
  Fabio, thanks for your useful guide. I learned something new. Where can I see a gallery of giclee images? And how do you pronounce "giclee" anyway?
  Read More
• Understanding Guanxi to Maximize Your Business Potential in China - 10/09/2006
  Eric, I lived in Taiwan for a year (teaching English in Taipei), and I don't think a year was enough to fully understand how guanxi works. I definitely have a lot better understanding of it, but it does take time to figure out the system. I do remember a kind of blank look I'd get at certain requests that I wouldn't actually hear a "no" in response to, which probably meant I didn't have guanxi. ;-) I'd love to hear from Kenneth any signs he can tell us that guanxi has been established (or not).
  Read More
• CafePress Resources for Aspiring Shopkeepers - 10/06/2006
  Nice t-shirts at the Rotem site! How do you get your ideas for designs?
  Read More
• Getting the Most Out of Work.com - 10/04/2006
  Donna, the way to add a hyperlink to a comment is to use standard HTML link tags around the text that you'd like to link.
  Read More
• Bootstrapping a Business Startup - 10/03/2006
  Hi MaryAnn, What a great guide. It's so important to know how to bootstrap. Thanks for sharing with the Work.com community.
  Read More
• Surviving an IRS Audit-33750 - 10/03/2006
  Thanks for your guide, Kreig! I'm sure many members of the Work.com community will find this useful. Nice profile too!
  Read More
• Groupware and Collaboration Software and Sites - 09/29/2006
  I love ta-da list. It seriously changed my life. Just the process of creating the lists, and having them in a place where I could also find them, helped me be more organized. And it's easy to share lists for group collaboration.
  Read More
• Making Your Website User-Friendly - 09/29/2006
  Thanks, Jay, you give good advice. It takes a lot to drive traffic to and maintain a site with user-generated content. Getting a critical mass to visit your site is not always easy.
  Read More
• Using Technorati to Find Blogs About Your Industry - 09/28/2006
  Thanks, Brian, this is a really useful introduction to Technorati.
  Read More
• Buying Traffic for Your Web Site - 09/28/2006
  Thanks for a useful guide, Mike. This is really helpful to get started with search engine marketing.
  Read More
• Multicultural Marketing - 09/28/2006
  I feel like this guide is written a bit from the point of view of an outsider looking in. I would like to hear from some of the groups mentioned in this article, such as an African-American expert in marketing to African-Americans.
  Read More
• Competitive Intelligence (CI) - 09/28/2006
  Jason, thanks for a useful guide.
  Read More
• Finding Store Displays and Fixtures - 09/28/2006
  Deborah, thanks for the useful guide. I had never considered the "butt brush" before. Hey, I really like your image...
  Read More
• Saving Your Business if Your PC Goes Bust - 09/28/2006
  Thanks, Justis. What a useful guide for business owners! So many people don't worry about their data until it's too late.
  Read More
• Connecting to Your Computers from Anywhere - 09/28/2006
  Thanks, Nathan. I should take your advice, so I'm not in the office late at night!
  Read More
• Writing Good Job Descriptions - 09/28/2006
  Thanks for the useful guide, Michelle!
  Read More
• Creating a Media List for Your Press Release - 09/28/2006
  Thanks Eve for a useful guide!
  Read More
• Creating a Web Site - 09/28/2006
  The best way to find a good designer is to see who has created sites that you find visually appealing and user-friendly. Also, ask friends about good designers they know, or even browse designers' resumes on Craig's List and look at their portfolios.
  Read More
• Preparing Basic Financial Statements - 09/28/2006
  Thanks for a useful guide, Agatha!
  Read More
• Office Romance - 09/27/2006
  At one of my former companies, there were 3 marriages between employees, 1 baby so far, and 1 baby on the way.
  Read More
• Great Laptops for Small Business - 09/27/2006
  Thanks Mark for your useful guide. I'd love to hear from others regarding which laptops have worked well for them.
  Read More
• Growing Your Business with Smart Technology - 09/26/2006
  With Typepad's Pro account, you can completely customize the look of your blog, as well as categorize your posts. If you do anything custom, the user interface is a bit complicated, and requires a bit of a learning curve. Blogger's user dashboard is simpler than Typepad's. Wordpress' is pretty elegant as well.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 09/25/2006
  Thanks for sharing such a great gardening blog, Melissa. Cold Climate Gardening is just the kind of blog I love: personal, detailed, informative, well-written. It has a directory of other gardening sites, including some gardening businesses.
  Read More
• Marketing with Promotional Products - 09/25/2006
  We have a new Guide to Making Money on Cafepress by Kimberly Dawn Wells. Enjoy!
  Read More
• Making Your Website User-Friendly - 09/25/2006
  Jay, have you found that there are specific usability advantages or disadvantages to Web 2.0 sites?
  Read More
• Collecting and Using Customer Testimonials - 09/25/2006
  Thanks, Diane. By the way, speaking of testimonials, if anyone has found Work.com a useful tool for getting a business task done, please contact me, either through my profile or at feedback@work.com.
  Read More
• Starting an Online Business - 09/25/2006
  Anita, why are some people against using Paypal?
  Read More
• Making Money on CafePress - 09/25/2006
  I just spoke to a friend who works for a big media company, and even they have created some promotional t-shirts on CafePress! Though if you are ordering volume promotional products, CafePress may not be the place for you. See Maggie Rauch's comment about CafePress.
  Read More
• Managing the Younger Generation - 09/23/2006
  Someone needs to write a guide on managing the older generation. Any takers?
  Read More
• Starting a Pool Hall - 09/23/2006
  Brian, thanks for the great resources. I've always had a fantasy about starting a pool hall. Now I know what to do to get started. I'm going to visit the pool hall database right now! I also enjoy reading your pool hall blog: Kendrick's Billiards Blog.
  Read More
• Product Positioning - 09/23/2006
  Thanks, Deborah. This a really good overview of product positioning. I especially like the example positioning statement.
  Read More
• Creating Invoices That Get Paid - 09/23/2006
  Thanks, Deborah, great guide. It's a good idea to spend some time making sure invoices look professional, and you've given us the tools to make that happen.
  Read More
• Understanding Guanxi to Maximize Your Business Potential in China - 09/23/2006
  Kenneth, what do you think the best way is for a westerner to get to know the "right" Chinese people that he or she can trust? Do particular actions, like giving gifts, help in gaining guanxi?
  Read More
• Online Business Networking - 09/23/2006
  Thanks, Scott, great guide. I once got a completely virtual job offer that started with me doing a search on LinkedIn. By the way, there's also a reference to David Allen in the comments of Guide to Better Managing Your Time.
  Read More
• Better Managing Your Time - 09/23/2006
  I find tadalist very useful for keeping track of tasks. You can share your lists with the world if you want, and subscribe to your lists in RSS. Also, I like to use 30 Boxes, an online calendar.
  Read More
• Opportunities in Unclaimed Property - 09/21/2006
  Interschola.com auctions off school equipment, a lot of which may be useful for business - some great deals at great prices.
  Read More
• RSS for Small Business - 09/20/2006
  Thanks, Lou.
  Read More
• Marketing with Promotional Products - 09/20/2006
  Thanks, Maggie, for your thorough response. I have been wondering if anyone really makes money on CafePress.
  Read More
• Spyware Removal - 09/20/2006
  Mark, thanks for this guide. It's very very useful.
  Read More
• Creating a Great Business Plan - 09/20/2006
  Does anyone have any business plan tips to share from your own experience?
  Read More
• Making More Money on eBay - 09/20/2006
  I would love to hear from people who've made money on eBay: can you share your own tips and strategies?
  Read More
• Using Telecommuting and Teleworkers - 09/20/2006
  Agree about meeting F2F at least once in awhile. I've had very productive work relationships with remote co-workers and employees, but nothing cultivates trust like bonding in person.
  Read More
• Managing the Younger Generation - 09/20/2006
  A great window into young people's thinking: Ypulse.com. I get the newsletter every day, because I feel like youth trends will soon be trends for every age.
  Read More
• Outsourcing - 09/20/2006
  Has anyone gotten any programming help from RentaCoder? You can post projects that coders from around the world will bid on.
  Read More
• Marketing with Promotional Products - 09/20/2006
  Has anyone tried creating promotional products on CafePress?
  Read More
• Best Web Sites for Business Travel - 09/20/2006
  Don't forget when applying for business credit cards to see if you can get a credit card that will grant you air miles.
  Read More
• Keeping Up with Business Technology - 09/20/2006
  I like to check out Engadget, which showcases the latest gadgets with shiny pics.
  Read More
• Making Your Website More Interactive - 09/20/2006
  One beautiful little open-source message board I have been looking at is Vanilla. If you prefer a forum that is hosted for you, check out the Forum & Message Board hosting list at ThinkofIt .
  Read More
• Making Your Website More Interactive - 09/20/2006
  I have used Listserv in the past to send out emails to 45,000 daily subscribers. Definitely has a geeky feel to it, and I remember the documentation was a bit hard to digest, but it's easy to set up both newsletter and discussion type of email lists, and it's very robust in terms of sending out lots of emails.
  Read More
• Small Business Blogs - 09/19/2006
  If you have a great small business blog that I didn't mention in my guide, please let me know about it!
  Read More
• Word-of-Mouth Marketing - 09/19/2006
  I would love to hear from businesses who successfully ran word-of-mouth marketing campaigns. MySpace is a good example of a company that became successful through word-of-mouth.
  Read More
• Cross-Selling and Up-Selling Your Products and Services - 09/19/2006
  I would love to hear from or about businesses who have successfully done cross-selling and up-selling. Starbucks is a great example -- selling CD's in their coffeeshops. Read about how UPS and others cross-sell in The World is Flat.
  Read More
• Doing Business in China - 09/19/2006
  I would love to hear from people who have done business in China -- what was successful? what failed? what did you wish you knew before entering the Chinese market?
  Read More
• International Marketing - 09/19/2006
  Greg, do you know any international marketing email lists?
  Read More
• Business Loans from Family & Friends - 09/19/2006
  If you can't hit up family and friends, try Prosper, where you can borrow money from individual lenders.
  Read More
• Prepaid Cell Phones - 09/19/2006
  In the San Francisco Bay Area, MetroPCS has a flat rate calling plan. You can only make calls from the local area, but it's a good deal if you're on the cellphone a lot. Note: reception varies.
  Read More
• Self-Help Legal Business Forms - 09/19/2006
  Thanks, Frances. These links to business forms are very useful. I also love being able to get any tax forms online on sites such as the IRS.
  Read More
• Coping with Seasonal Sales Swings - 09/19/2006
  Carol, to your point that downtime is a great time to position yourself as an industry expert. Another way to position yourself as an expert is to write web articles and blogs. (hint, hint...;-) )
  Read More
• Avoiding Web Site Mistakes - 09/18/2006
  Thanks, Jenni. I think you're right about how important it is to keep a website simple.
  Read More
• Finding the Latest Sales and Marketing News - 09/18/2006
  Hi Eric, I also like to check out Anita Campbell's Small Biz Trends blog to keep abreast of the latest small business trends, including marketing. And the ClickZ email list at:
  Read More
• Business Logo Design - 09/17/2006
  It's amazing how technology lets us access great designers easily. I remember at a company I worked for, they spent probably around $40,000-50,000 for a logo design from an expensive design bureau, and everyone hated it -- it was unoriginal and uninspired. Finally, we had an in-house design competition, and one of our designers came up with the logo the company ended up using.
  Read More
• Digital Photography for Small Business - 09/17/2006
  I recently bought a Nikon D50 and I love it.
  Read More
• Managing Email Overload - 09/17/2006
  Paul - thanks for inspiring me to go clean out my emailbox(es) now!
  Read More
• Transferring a Domain Name - 09/17/2006
  Pretty sneaky of Network Solutions to put a lock on domain names just to keep customers!
  Read More
• Setting Up a Wireless LAN - 09/17/2006
  Thanks, Mark. This is really useful -- I have to set up wireless, and this is a good primer on how to do it.
  Read More
• Blogging for Small Business Owners - 09/17/2006
  Pajama Market features a "Small Business Blog of the Day." It's a good place to get examples of great small business blogs such as blogs for florists, coffee shops, and pool halls.
  Read More
• RSS for Small Business - 09/17/2006
  Lou, which RSS feed reader do you recommend? I have tried Google, My Yahoo, and Bloglines.
  Read More
• Manufacturing in China - 09/17/2006
  I'd love to hear experiences of U.S. companies that are manufacturing in China.
  Read More