July 2010
98 posts
Finding the first customer requires a business... →
The checklist for opening a small business is long. Owners must obtain financial support, a location and a talented staff. Yet finding the first customer is a prerequisite for success.
Finding a…
Harnessing ego can be good for business →
Starting a small business takes a certain amount of ego – entrepreneurs must be prepared to go it alone and assume all the risk. However, at a certain point, ego can become a business liability.
…
Hunting for Database Hotspots, Part 2 →
NOTE: iContact Labs articles are written specifically for Designers, Software Developers and Engineers, and may contain industry terms not typically used outside of the industry. If…
Routers can also be an additional web filtering... →
When most small business owners think of filtering the company’s internet service to prevent access to inappropriate material, the technology options they may think of most are firewalls and…
When bootstrappers meet banks →
Most entrepreneurs start their companies by using their own money – called “bootstrapping” – to help get them off the ground. But Entrepreneur magazine blogger Tim Berry says as the company grows,…
A small business can grow by finding its niche →
For small business owners, running a marketing campaign that competes with much larger competition can be difficult. But one way small businesses can make marketing gains is by focusing on a niche,…
RT @LeadBuyer: LeadCritic: QuinStreet Snatches Up Insurance.com: It was mentioned on Domain Name Wire that the website and domain… htt …
Making a business card that stands out →
Business cards are one of the most basic marketing tools for small business owners. But as Resource Nation contributor Shannon Suetos suggests, not every business card has to follow the traditional…
RT @returnpath: American Marketing Association webinar on Email Engagement in 10 mins. #AMAReturnPath. Join us now. http://ow.ly/2ip6U
Ask the Marketing Team – “Why is my open rate so... →
Written By:
Christina Jaromin, iContact Trade Show Manager
iContact’s Marketing Team includes designers, writers, media buyers, product marketers, search marketers, communications…
iContact Product Corner – Support That WOWs →
Written By:
Daniel Smith, iContact Product Marketing Manager
The iContact Product Corner highlights features and improvements to the iContact application, tips and best practices for…
Common mistakes companies make with cloud... →
The use of cloud computing by small businesses’ has quickly grown since the technology was made readily available. But not every cloud project works out perfectly. Datamation’s Jeff Vance says many…
Successful businesses use mentoring programs to... →
Part of succeeding in business requires employers to attract top talent, but that’s not enough. Small business owners must work to retain valued employees and prepare them for future leadership…
Minimizing small business taxes →
One of the most difficult parts of running a small business is dealing with the company’s taxes. Not only because of the paperwork involved, but because the process can take money that could be used…
Virtual working could save small businesses time... →
The U.S. economy may be recovering, but small business owners are continuing to look for ways to cut costs and keep payments low while stimulating revenue growth.
Employee productivity is a central…
Ways to resolve a cash flow issue →
It’s not uncommon for a small business to run into a cash flow problem at one point or another – whether it’s just a slow time or a customer is behind on payments. But the Wall Street Journal…
Do You Have a Road Map for Your Design Process? →
Written By:
Matthew Barton, iContact Interactive Designer
I am a direct online marketing designer; I have focused on this aspect of design for more than 4 years. I developed this…
Business incubators offer advice and help to... →
While the economy may be slowly finding its feet, small businesses are still struggling to pay bills. However, a recent trend could help firms save money and find success.
Across the country, small…
Websites help small business owners determine... →
Part of managing a small business includes maintaining good relationships with employees, and a fair salary can go a long way in ensuring workers are happy and productive.
Many small business…
Dealing with lying employees →
At this point in life, most people have realized the simple fact that lying occurs in all kinds of situations. But when a small business owner suspects that employees are lying at work, Entrepreneur…
Landing Page Makeover Clinic #28: IntelligentEditing.com http://bit.ly/9t5ZHz
Before establishing social network presence,... →
Every grandmother, young student and organization is jumping into the social networking craze, and small businesses are no different. However, companies should look before they leap.
Social…
Young entrepreneurs need to embrace opportunities... →
Many recent college graduates are quitting their day jobs to become young entrepreneurs. However, with limited experience, they can face a tough battle.
The first thing young entrepreneurs need to…
Prototypes don’t have to be professional →
When an entrepreneur comes up with a new invention idea, the next step is to create a prototype – which for many can seem like a big undertaking. But as the Wall Street Journal reports, this version…
Which News Sites Are the Most Shared? / Flowtown social media for email marketing (@flowtown) http://bit.ly/9Ffm0z
RT @620thebuzz: Mark Thomas asked UNC head coach Butch Davis: how does a player react to telling his teammates when the player… http:/ …
Video Planning 101 (with Bonus Tips!) →
Written By:
David Curtis, iContact Multimedia Producer
So you just came up with a great online video idea for your business or organization, but you have no idea how to turn that…
iContact for Salesforce Reporting for Email Marketing http://bit.ly/bVAFHX #EmailMarketing #EmailBlog
Tar Heels Football - ACC Football Kickoff Live... →
Sunday, July 25 - Player Interviews - Order of appearance
Click here to watch Live beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday
Georgia Tech Maryland Duke Clemson Boston College Florida State Virginia Tech Wake Forest NC State North Carolina Miami Virginia
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“Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to...”
– Phil Jackson
Small business owners need to prepare in case of... →
Every year when hurricane season gears up, it brings the threat of significant power outages along with it. But the Wall Street Journal reports that many small business owners don’t properly prepare…
Customer appreciation can be a catalyst for growth →
For a small business owner, one of the keys for consistent growth is creating loyal customers. To do that, marketing author and MetroWest Daily News contributor Bob Martel says that an effective…
Preventing data leaks means educating employees →
Protecting secure data from outside threats is the reason encryption and password protections exist. But for many small business owners, the biggest threat to data security may be their own…
Potential entrepreneurs utilize online tools to... →
Ambitious entrepreneurs don’t need to attend business school to get their ideas off the ground. Dozens of new tools and programs offer the support that individuals need to get their businesses…
Small businesses need to focus on improving credit →
With the recession easing, it is more important than ever for small business owners to improve their credit.
Whether a small business has good credit or not, there are a number of ways that a score…
3 tags
“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you...”
– Lou Holtz
RT @TRUSTe: Apple Working on Fix for Browser Privacy Flaw http://ht.ly/2fMCA
I am a big fan of Google Analytics, but adobe omniture’s sitecatalyst + test and target is night and day for data correlation to success
RT @thesearchagents: Yahoo! revenue reports fall short of analysts’ expectations http://bit.ly/aEEGVO
RT @TRUSTe: CNET poll: Are you worried about geolocation privacy? http://ht.ly/2fMDT
RT @TaylorBarr: The best lesson people could learn? When and when not to use the carbon copy email function.
RT @Marvel: Catch a glimpse into the Iron Man 2 Blu-ray at the Marvel Booth at SDCC 2010. Going on right now! http://is.gd/dDC3J
RT @IncMagazine: Ryan Allis and Aaron Houghton founded @iContact to help small businesses manage email marketing: http://ow.ly/2fGwR
RT @tomblue: @M00RE iContact was just named one of the Southeast’s Hottest Companies http://www.lead411.com/southeast-companies.html
Majority of Social Media Fans or Followers Also... →
Written By:
Chuck Hester, iContact Communications Director
As Facebook crosses the 500 million user mark and Twitter becomes the darling of late night media, the subject of how…
Trade Show Swag →
Written By:
Christina M. Jaromin, iContact Trade Show Manager
We’ve all been to an event where someone is standing at a booth, giving something away. Perhaps it was a pen with a…
How Are Email, Facebook and Twitter Audiences Different? - eMarketer http://bit.ly/dyutKW
Benefits and drawbacks of an open office design →
Many companies are shifting away from a traditional office design to an more open layout, where workers aren’t separated by cubicle walls and doors. But while the design has various strengths, it…
How to run a corporate blog →
Starting a blog can be a very useful tool for attracting customers to a company’s website, but it’s not a marketing tool small business owners should rush into. Mashable contributor Erica Swallow…
An easy shortcut to spot detail-oriented... →
When a small business owner is trying to sort through dozens of resumes for an open position, finding the right employee among all of them can seem a very tall task. But entrepreneur and Wall Street…