01/24/2012
According to Cassino, social- media marketing offers local businesses an easy way to sidestep expensive local-media advertising channels and deliver their offers directly to potential customers.

In the latest survey of more than 4,000 small firms conducted by Borrell, local business owners on average said they expected to devote about 14 percent of total online-ad spending this year to social media. That is more than double the 6.6 percent social-media allocation by local businesses in 2011.

Put that into dollar terms and it represents a spending increase from about $1.1 billion last year to projected spending on social media this year of over $2.2 billion by local businesses.

complete article

01/23/2012
While recent trends indicate that many of us are opting to use cloud-based and mobile software, businesses rely on software that can reside on a variety of platforms: cloud, mobile, and yes, on-premise.

We have picked 25 small business apps—some of which are clouds services, others for mobile devices and some are standard on-premise software installs. What they all have in common are ways to enhance your business and your business success.

complete article

01/17/2012
Form 1099s are information returns. They make the IRS aware that someone else has received income from you.

Generally speaking, if you paid any one person or entity $600 for services last year, tax law requires you to send them and the IRS a 1099-MISC. That MISC is for miscellaneous income.

Not everyone does that right now, accountants say. Consider the small building contractor who pays his painter, drywaller and other subcontractors in cash. He might not have filled out a 1099 for each. A self-employed consultant who pays a graphic artist $600 for marketing material must file one, too.

This year, for the first time, the IRS is reminding all these taxpayers of their legal obligation directly on tax forms

complete article

01/13/2012
50% Off Business Cards

Great business cards at a discount. Get 50% off of any business cards. Enter the coupon code BIZCARD4LESS at checkout and receive 50% off of business cards.  Checkout the Business Card Store

Offer is valid through January 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM PT.

01/05/2012
No country suffered more than Japan in 2011. Japan was rocked by an 8.9 earthquake, then a tsunami that was created from the quake hit the small island. The tsunami caused significant damage to one of Japans power plants making it impossible to properly cool or shutdown the nuclear reactor. The inability to cool the nuclear plant resulted in a nuclear melt down, and the escape of radiation. When the trifecta hit, the Japanese people earned the world's respect, they managed the tragedy with stoicism and grace. The consequences of this horrible tragedy, and implications of the radiation leaks, into the sea and atmosphere are still unknown. Japan will bear the scars from 2011, for generations to come.

2011 Reflections, 2012 Predictions

01/04/2012
The U.S. Small Business Administration - SBA is seeking nominations for awards honoring the critical economic role small businesses play in federally funded research and development through SBAs Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

01/03/2012
With our economic challenges sure to continue for a while, here are some resolutions to consider for 2012.

Business plan

This is the most fun-damental item needed by any business. You wouldn't drive to Florida without a map; you shouldn't try to start or run a business with a business plan.

Business Resolutions

01/02/2012
Creating a safety net for your social-media activities has never been more important.

When Twitter went down last year for several hours, tweeters believed that it was a service attack with all their personal and business information hacked and lost. Although Twitter denied falling victim to an attack, new hackers and technologies surface daily -- making protecting your social content and contacts all the more vital.

Social SafetyNet

01/01/2012
What is Hot and What is Not in Technology for 2012

Top Winners Predicted for 2012
What is Hot

1. Mushroom Cloud

The virtual cloud is now a mushroom cloud. More and more applications and data is available virtually. Customers are no longer tied to their desktops, data is accessible in the cloud. As long as you have an Internet connection, you have access, regardless of your hardware.

2. Smart Mobility

Mobile phones have become smart devices, they are more than just phones and alarm clocks. By the end of 2012, it will be hard to find a phone that does not run games, support Internet connections and have built in web browser.

3. Multi-Function Devices

I suspect that devices will begin merging, there is no longer a need for so many gadgets. The functionality of the devices from smart phones, kindles, ipads and computers are redundant and there is likely to be device consolidation as the overlap in functionality increases.

What is Hot and What is Not 2012