Small Business- News and reports on Small Business

 
 

 
 

  • Small Business Technology
  • The Importance of Staying Focused On Your Business: Small Business Technology Tour 2011

    The Importance of Staying Focused On Your Business: Small Business Technology Tour 2011
    The Small Business Technology Tour 2011 visited five cities across the nation; Mountain View, Salt Lake City, Boston, Atlanta and Chicago. If you weren’t able to attend last year, we wanted to share a taste of what you missed. Check out this video clip below of Tyler Garns, VP of Marketing at Infusionsoft, from his [...]
  • Tech Thursday (5/17): Improving Economy Isn?t Helping the IT Services Industry; BlackEnterprise.com and Dell Launch ?Small Business University?; Epson PowerLite X15 Projector; BrandMyMail Launches Premium Version; TicketLeap Launches Self-Service Reserved Seating Option

    Tech Thursday (5/17): Improving Economy Isn?t Helping the IT Services Industry; BlackEnterprise.com and Dell Launch ?Small Business University?; Epson PowerLite X15 Projector; BrandMyMail Launches Premium Version; TicketLeap Launches Self-Service Reserved Seating Option
    Improving Economy Isn’t Helping the IT Services Industry   BlackEnterprise.com and Dell Launch ?Small Business University?   Epson PowerLite X15 Projector   BrandMyMail Launches Premium Version   TicketLeap Launches Self-Service, Reserved Seating Option   OnForce Confidence Index Indicates Improving Economy Isn’t Helping the IT Services Industry   - Study Also Reveals Eye-Opening Trends in Preferred Mobile Device [...]
  • 6 Myths About Cloud Backup You Probably Thought Were True

    6 Myths About Cloud Backup You Probably Thought Were True
    The Cloud is a beautiful thing. It serves us with tons of off-site utilities we would otherwise pay barrels of money to have on-site. What would we do without it? That’s an easy answer: We’d still be back in the stone age of business, tipping our hats to the much larger enterprises who overtake us [...]
  • New App Helps Small Businesses Control and Authenticate Customer Reviews

    New App Helps Small Businesses Control and Authenticate Customer Reviews
    According to BusinessWeek, 70% of consumers consult online reviews before making a purchase. In an age where asking a friend or heading to Best Buy to ask the sales guy which laptop to buy has been replaced by Google searches, this is no surprise. What is a surprise is how little moderation review sites provide. [...]
  • Inner Game of Prospecting: How to Overcome Sales Call Reluctance

    Inner Game of Prospecting: How to Overcome Sales Call Reluctance
    The 7th Annual Small Business Summit (http://www.smallbiztechsummit.com) may be over but the insight and wisdom is still here!  Check out all of our videos on the Summit video page at http://www.smallbiztechsummit.com/2012_videos.php . In the session, ?Inner Game of Prospecting: How to Overcome Sales Call Reluctance & Tools for Sales Success?, attendees were told how to sell more [...]
  • The Profit Repairman
  • IT?S FALL-WHERE?S ALL THE GREEN GOING?

    IT?S FALL-WHERE?S ALL THE GREEN GOING?


    No, not the chlorophyll in the leaves, the green in your bottom line.

    If you had a daily metric report in place, you would be able to answer that question.

    What performance metrics do you want to monitor for your business unit on a continuous basis that are the most important and are very volatile for the achievement of operational and sales success? Also ask yourself what kind of precise micromanagement report you want, to whom should this report go to, and when and how often should this report be viewed when determining your businesses function and achievement ability.

    On no more than a couple of 8½x11-inch pieces of paper, have a ?snapshot? of the top five to ten critical statistical metrics that determine your business unit?s success available with comparisons for your daily morning review. If you do not have this report, you cannot be proactive in management. With a daily statistical data sheet/?house count?, you have the ability to spot trends, and thus, small corrections in the operations or sales can be initiated to neutralize the adverse effect of any negative component.

    When you have daily statistical sheets that are simple, to the point, and full of the ?most critical? metrics that you need, you can guide your business unit daily, which will lead to greater achievements of the business unit?s budget and stretch goals. Focus on managing your business unit today, so that today will be tomorrow and tomorrow will be your everything.


    http://theprofitrepairman.com/
  • Are You Targeting The Right Customer For Your Summer Promotion?

    Are You Targeting The Right Customer For Your Summer Promotion?


    Now that?s the Million Dollar question, are you?

    When you set out to run your summer promotion, did you perform your due diligence on which you were first going to target with this promotion, so that you can see if you have the right customer, for the right outcome?

    When you run a general promotion like ?Sizzling Summer Deals?, don?t think that everyone wants/needs it, especially if your message is not directed to any special wants/needs of the demographic that you are promoting.

    Before you commit to any promotion, you need to first ask the question and get answers to: What want/need is this promotion going to fill for a specific client, how are you going to get the message of your product information to them, how are you going to track the success of the promotion to determine the R.O.I., what ways are you going to build into this promotion a sense of urgency to commit to the purchase and finally, have you built in enough top of mind awareness to your targeted prospect, so that you differentiate your promotion from that of your competitive set?

    When you get some sense of the answers to these above questions, a more detailed and directed promotion can evolve, which will result in greater success and R.O.I. to your expenditure. If you can just break your one promotion into 3 different ways in which you are going to target different prospects, you can then start to determine which one of those three promotions where successfully taken by the prospect and by whom. Once you determine this, a greater emphasize can be placed on that promotion and the unsuccessful ones can be modified to once again track and find the ?hook? that will make your ?right customer?, produce the right outcome for your promotion.


    http://theprofitrepairman.com/
  • Stop Your NO?s, Start Your KNOWS!

    Stop Your NO?s, Start Your KNOWS!


    If you say NO to something, ask yourself, ?Why did I just say NO to that??

    Start with knowing why you said no before you actually say NO, because once you say NO, that NO may have far-reaching consequences. When you commit to something by saying NO to it, and then end up finding out that you could have done it, an opportunity for that action is lost forever. Make sure that each decision you make has been well thought out.

    Life has a rippling effect. When you always say NO to someone, soon they will start asking someone else, because they really wanted a yes from you. But, if every answer you give is yes and you cannot follow through with that yes commitment, soon your word will not hold any credibility, negatively impacting your life, career and business.

    Remember, committing to something too fast is also never the answer 100% of the time. Knowing why you say yes or NO to something is the only way to be successful in following through with your commitments.

    Do you know why you are reading this? Because, you said YES to making a difference in your life, career, and increasing the success rate of your small and mid-sized business!


    http://theprofitrepairman.com/
  • Keep IT Simple

    Keep IT Simple


    Your businesses is what is ?IT?, with all of the information and bombardment of calls, e-mails, faxes, twitters, IM?s, texts and people, a business owner can feel overloaded and get misdirected and forget to keep an eye on what really matters to their success, THE BOTTOM LINE!

    What?s the solution?

    On no more than a couple of 8½x11-inch pieces of paper, have a ?snapshot? of the top five to ten critical statistical metrics that determine your business unit?s success available with comparisons for your daily morning review. If you do not have this report, you cannot be proactive in management. With a daily statistical data sheet, you have the ability to spot trends, and thus, small corrections in the operations or sales can be initiated to neutralize the adverse effect of any negative component.

    When you have daily statistical sheets that are simple, to the point, and full of the ?most critical? metrics that you need, you can guide your business unit daily, which will lead to greater achievements of the business unit?s budget and stretch goals. Focus on managing your business unit today, so that today will be tomorrow and tomorrow will be your everything.


    http://theprofitrepairman.com/
  • It?s June 1st, How Are You Pacing On Your Year-End 2009 Goals?

    It?s June 1st, How Are You Pacing On Your Year-End 2009 Goals?


    Your 5/12 or 41.37% completed with the year, do your numbers tell you if you are going to make your 2009 year-end budget numbers today? If you had a twelve month pacing model in place for your business, you would have an accurate reading about this question.

    A pacing model can help your business unit gauge if it is on pace to meet the goals set forth and gives a quick ?YES or NO? to that pacing question throughout your goals? time frame.

    A pacing model is different than a forecasting model, since a pacing model takes your historical numbers to date plus what is pre-sold/reserved and compares that number to where you want to be at the end of your goal, which in turn can inform you if you are on pace to meet those goals in the allocated amount of time, with no variables included in its calculation (seasonality, pricing variations, external demand and supply situations, etc.).

    Think of a pacing model as a macro model that tells you yes or no to the success of finishing your goal in the time allocated. By having a pacing model in place, you can determine if your current sales activity is enough today, to generate the numbers needed to make your year-end goals, even if you are less than 50% completed to that year-end. It is not just good enough to produce your numbers TODAY; you must also look forward and make sure that today?s numbers will match your goals tomorrow. By knowing if you are ?on pace? or not to your year-end goals, management can make decisions TODAY if the marketing and pricing strategies in place now will be adequate to meet those goals, thus implement changes if they are not.

    Stopping and looking forward is the only way a good business person can guarantee that today?s efforts will lead to tomorrow?s goal achievement.

    Do you have some sort of pacing model in place for your business unit? If not, you should, how else can you make sure you will be at the 100% to goal for year-end numbers, even though you still have 58.63% to go?


    http://theprofitrepairman.com/
 
 
  • Work.com Guide of the Day
  • Securely Recycling Computers and Electronics

    Securely Recycling Computers and Electronics
    As consumers we've become accustomed to the annual obsolesces of our favorite gadgets and have been left with a dilemma, what to do with the old when its time to bring in the new?
  • Key Comparisons of Linux vs. Windows Servers

    Key Comparisons of Linux vs. Windows Servers
    For someone who is fairly new to web hosting, choosing the platform you are going to use for your server can be a difficult and even mind-boggling decision.
  • Equipment Leasing Primer

    Equipment Leasing Primer
    Here are some steps every business should consider when applying for equipment leasing or financing.
  • Cutting Costs for Venture Funded Start-Ups

    Cutting Costs for Venture Funded Start-Ups
    Here is a five step action plan for cost cutting and restructuring in a down economy.
  • Getting an FEIN (aka Tax ID) for your business.

    Getting an FEIN (aka Tax ID) for your business.
    What is an FEIN? An FEIN is a Federal Employer Identification Number, sometimes referred to as a Tax ID. In essence, an FEIN performs the same role for a business that a social security number performs for an individual.
  • Business Blogs
  • 86 Common Sense Marketing Ideas for Startups

    86 Common Sense Marketing Ideas for Startups
    When starting a business, marketing is (or should be) the business owner's biggest priority. Here are 86 common sense marketing ideas for startups
  • Conference Survival Tactics

    Conference Survival Tactics
    I just returned home from a few days away at a conference.  As always, getting back in the groove is difficult when returning from being away whether for pleasure or business.  That is not what I am going to write about though.  Rather, I am going to address the leaving for a trip instead. When I [...]
  • Spring into SEO Action!

    Spring into SEO Action!
    Spring is here, and it?s time to take action before the ?slow days of summer? arrive (when you?d rather be outside than behind your desk). With this in mind, what actions are you going to take right away to make things happen with your PR and search engine optimization (SEO) activities? Here are 3 ideas to help [...]
  • Want a ?Happiness Problem??

    Want a ?Happiness Problem??
    Your phone rings off the hook. Your Inbox is flooded with requests. Your schedule is packed. When you can?t take on any more clients and you can set whatever fees you want because you are booked solid with work, this is called a ?happiness problem.? And while it can be wonderful to have all this new work and money [...]
  • 5 Reasons You Should Not Write a Blog

    5 Reasons You Should Not Write a Blog
    As a small business owner, you?ve heard all about the benefits of having a blog for search engine optimization (SEO) and getting noticed online. But just because everyone else has a blog doesn?t necessarily mean you should write one too. Here are? The Top 5 Reasons You Should Not Write a Blog. 1.  You are a horrible [...]
  • Fresh Sales Strategies Blog
  • Don't do what this guy did at a sales meeting

    Don't do what this guy did at a sales meeting

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    I am mortified by what I'm overhearing at the table next to me ...

    I don't mean to be eavesdropping. But I couldn't help but listen in when the guy next to me in the coffee shop started selling his consulting services to another businessman. In the past 30 minutes, he's asked maybe two questions. Aargh! That in itself drives me crazy.

    Here's just a snippet of what I'm hearing, as well as my commentary on the mistakes he's making.

    Establishing Credentials: "I've been president of a company which we took nationwide. I'm also doing lots of consulting and now I'm coaching entrepreneurs just like you. There are so many things people like you don't know."

    (Impressive, right? I love how he unwittingly called his prospect dumb. If I were the prospect, I would have much preferred to learn about the results he's delivered for entrepreneurs who have similar businesses to mine. How do you establish credibility upfront?)

    Developing a Relationship: "Lots of wives don't understand what you're going through. That's why it's so important to have people like me to talk to. I have lots of tools and techniques you can use with the wife - like how to handle the "honey do" list."

    (A botched attempt at bonding! Plus, if it's so important to have people to talk to, why is he doing all the talking?)

    Creating Opportunities: "Do you need some writing done? I'm a good writer, not a great one. I write to the best of my ability. But here's how I get people to help me by using Craig's List."

    (Clearly the guy needs work. What he doesn't realize is how much his fear and desperation is showing through. He started out as an executive coach and now is trying to do writing for the guy. BTW, Lots of sellers go through their laundry list of products/services hoping their prospect will bite on one of them. Ever done that?)

    Building Credibility: "I've read all the great coaches books -- like John Maxwell. I use his strategies. And other people's too. That's my job. To read those books so you don't have to. I read about 3-4 books per month. I've read a lot about blogs and social media. I can advise you on those. The last thing you want to do it go to a web developer. They'll charge your $5000 or more."

    (By mentioning what he's read, he's actually distracting from his own credibility. The best way he can turn himself into a trusted advisor is by asking intelligent, business-oriented questions ... but he never did that. Do you plan your questions?)

    Closing the Sale: "I'd love to work with you. Perhaps we can meet 1/2 hour each month just to get started. I'd just give you advice for free, till you decide you need a regular consultant. I'd be willing to do that for you.

    "If there's anything I can do to help you, just let me know. If you ever want to go through a senior executive planning session, I can help you with that. Tell you what, I'll shoot you an email with all the personal services I can do for you."

    (This guy's closing shows his fears. Lots of salespeople, when they know they've blown it will try to do whatever it takes to ignite the opportunity, hoping something will materialize.

    You know what's the worst thing? This guy is probably a sharp businessperson. But he's had a bad time recently. He's scared. His fears are driving his behavior and making things even worse for him.

    And, he has no idea how he's perceived by his prospects. I see it happen all the time. As sellers, we need to be aware of -- and in control -- of our emotions.

    YOUR TURN:  How do you prevent your emotions from  screwing up a sales meeting?  Comment below!

  • [Video] Ask prospects these questions to pique their curiosity

    [Video] Ask prospects these questions to pique their curiosity

    Why is it important to pique your prospect's curiosity? The answer is simple. It creates an opening for you to establish a relationship at the same time it positions you as an invaluable resource.

    So how do you do it? Here are a couple ways:

    • You can make a statement about the results other companies have realized from working with you. For example, I might say this to the VP of Sales: "One of my recent clients was able to set up meetings with 87% of its targeted national accounts within 2 months." I can assure you that the VP is immediately thinking, "How did she do that? I need to learn more."
    • You can ask questions that actually get people thinking. For example, when I'm talking to the VP of Sales, I might ask: "What percent of your sales force is prepared to sell effectively in today's volatile economy?" Or, "Have you ever considered that your salespeople's inability to close orders might be a symptom of a much deeper problem?"

    These kinds of questions are high value to your prospects. They expand their perspective of their issues and challenges. They stimulate new options and fresh ways of thinking.

    So from now on, I want you to think about leveraging your successes, knowledge & expertise to get your prospect to say, "Mmmm. That's interesting. I need to learn more."

    YOUR TURN: What questions do you ask that get your prospects' attention?  Share with us!

    questions to ask prospects

  • [Video] Why You Must Be a Visible Irritant When Prospecting

    [Video] Why You Must Be a Visible Irritant When Prospecting

    Whenever I do a sales workshop, I get asked, "How often should I contact my prospects?" Salespeople want to know if once a week is too much -- or if they should wait longer before reaching out again. If this is something you're struggling with, here's a fresh perspective for you.


    VIDEO TEXT:

    If you're like most sellers, you worry about being a pest. You hate bugging a prospect over-and-over again. But I'm here to tell you something very different today.

    It's your responsibility to keep bugging them -- especially if your prospect told you that they're interested and really do want to work with you and then disappear into the black hole. The truth is, they've been sidelined by other priorities. They still want to move ahead, but other more urgent matters have popped up. 

    Let me give you an example. I just went to the dentist the other day. They know I want to get my teeth cleaned on a regular basis. But I can think of gazillion other things that take priority over that.

    Fortunately, my dentist's office keeps after me. I get a post card about 3 weeks before I'm supposed to go in again. Then they call, but I don't call them back. Then they call again. Now they're emailing me.

    I keep putting it off -- even though I know I need to go. Then I get a message that it's past due -- and they're only trying to help me keep my dental health -- like I requested. 

    Ultimately, I do what I want to do. But it's only cause they kept after me and focused on why it was important to me.

    They didn't just touch base or check to see if anything had change. They just kept reminding me of my priorities. And finally, I set up the meeting.

    See what I mean. It's okay to be a visible irritant. It actually helps your prospects.

    YOUR TURN: Do you ever feel like a pest when you are prospecting?  How do you overcome that feeling? Share with us!

    sales tips - prospecting

  • Are You Catching These Prospect Warning Signs?

    Are You Catching These Prospect Warning Signs?

    "Yikes," I exclaimed as a godawful screeching noise filled the car. We were driving downhill on a narrow twisting road in Escalante National Park enjoying the surreal landscape. It was the first day of our long drive home.

    "It's the brakes," my husband said calmly. Instantaneously, my eyes widened and my palms started sweating. I looked at the canyonlands far below and immediately realized there were no guardrails on the side of the road.

    Escalante Park road to Bryce Canyon in Utah

    "It's just a warning sign that they need replacing," he continued. "We'll need to change them when we get back to Minnesota."

    I breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was just an alert -- a signal to get our attention that we needed to do something different.

    ...which got me thinking about all the warning signs our prospects give us.

    I'm talking about things like people checking their cell phones during presentations or working on their computer when you're talking to them. Or, even quickly bring up a price objection before they know if you can provide value. These things drive me crazy. They're totally rude.

    But, they are also early indicators that our conversation is not resonating with them.

    When I recognize that, I now have a choice. I can either continue down the same path -- which ultimately leads to sales disaster. Or, I can change things up to hopefully get a different response. For example, I might:

    • Ask a thought-provoking question. It's a great way to reengage a prospect who's mentally checked out.
    • Address the obvious. For the multitasking prospect, I simply say, "You sound really busy right now. Let's reschedule."
    • Remove the pressure. Anyone who throws up obstacles early hates dealing with product-pushing salespeople. So I might say, "I have no idea if this would be a good fit for you."

    These strategies alter the conversation. They provide a jolt. They build trust. And, they're honest responses to the situation.

    Your prospect's warning signs are like the screeching car brakes. Pay attention and you won't have any trouble. But keep going down the same path and disaster lies ahead.

    YOUR TURN:  What are other sales warning signs? And, how do you handle them? Please share!

  • [Video] Don't Ruin a Prospect Callback by Doing This!

    [Video] Don't Ruin a Prospect Callback by Doing This!

    Getting a prospect to return your phone calls these days is a real achievement. When that happens, you need to be at the top of your game, ready to quickly engage them in a relevant conversation.

    But what happens when you have no idea who's calling?

    VIDEO TEXT: After making a bunch of prospecting calls, have you ever had someone call you back and say, "Hi. This is Mike & I'm returning your call."

    And you think, Mike? Mike? Mike who? Your mind goes totally blank. You fumble for words and before you know it, you start sounding like a babbling idiot.

    It's happened to me too. That's why I had to figure out a way to deal with it. So what I suggest you do.

    The minute you feel that panic button hit, say this, "Mike. Thanks so much for calling me. I'm in the middle of a project right now. I'll be done in about 10 minutes. Can you quick give me your phone number and I'll call you right back?"

    In virtually all cases, you'll get the number. Then, you go dig through your files and find all the Mikes you called -- and which one has this particular phone number. At this point, you might want to pop over to his company's website so you can refresh your memory here too.

    Then, take a few minutes to figure out what you'll say when you get back on the phone. Remember, you want to be prepared. It's the only way you can be seen as the credible resource that you are. So remember, just say, "Mike. Thanks for calling. I'm in the middle of a project right now. Can I get your number & I'll call you back in 10." Got it?

    YOUR TURN: How do you handle callbacks from unknown prospects?  Share your story!

    don't ruin a prospect callback

 
 
  • Inc.com
  • Inspire People to Follow: Practice Humility

    Inspire People to Follow: Practice Humility

    Humble leaders are in charge, yet open to asking for help. They're human, but respected.

    Leaders who value humility are the ones other people want to follow.

    This was a lesson I observed while listening to Denes Kemény, president and head coach of the Hungarian national water polo team, speak at a recent leadership conference in Budapest. Under Kemény's leadership, the national team has won three Olympic gold medals. Water polo, as I learned, is Hungary's claim to sports dominance and that makes Kemény a national icon, the equivalent of Duke basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski.

    While Hungary is now a democracy and embraces free market economics, vestiges of autocracy remain prevalent in many organizations. The person at the top is the chief decision-maker; distributive decision-making is not the norm. And in this regard, Hungary is not unique. Such top down leadership is standard practice in most governmental organizations both abroad and here in the United States.

    So when a leader who as revered as Kemény speaks, as he did, of the leader's need to be humble, listeners take notice. He talked movingly about his appointment as a manager of the team, but said he was not the team's leader until he had proven that he was worthy of being trusted and followed. Humility is integral to the development of that earned trust.

    Humility, as I have said many times, is not something taught in business schools but it may be one of the most powerful attributes a leader can utilize. But leaders who do not readily accept it may not always be to blame.

    What is important to understand is that very often leaders fear humility. I find this is especially true in autocracies where a leader is expected to "know it all and do it all." A leader who is not in total command of facts as well as the levers of power may be viewed as one not worthy of respect. So leaders who act with excessive bravado, even when in over their heads, are doing what is expected of them.

    Sadly they view humility as a sign of weakness. They fail to understand that the humble leader is one who can open the door to improved levels of followership. Humility is integral to "Level 5" leadership, a term that Jim Collins uses in his seminal book, Good to Great, to describe those leaders who not only guide but inspire their organizations to achieve superior results.

    Keep in mind, a humble leader is fully in charge. She doesn't back down from challenges or fear adversity. She is the one to whom others defer when tough decisions must be made. She is respected. What distinguishes her is perhaps a sense of openness. She is candid, and self-aware. That is, she knows what she can do, and what she can't. Humble leaders surround themselves with people who are encouraged to speak up, especially when they have alternative points of view. Humble leaders are so self-assured that they are willing to seek help when necessary as well as to step up to big challenges that arise.

    When a leader expresses humility it opens the door for greater levels of understanding and productivity. "Do you wish to rise?" asked St. Augustine. "Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."

    Humble leaders are those that others not only want to follow but enjoy following because of strong leadership as well as strong humanity.



  • Become An Online Personality

    Become An Online Personality

    Cultivate more business by becoming the online face of your company. Tips from Shira Lazar, co-founder of WhatsTrending.com, and Scott Gerber, founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council.



  • Told You So! Early Facebook Doubters Eat Their Words

    Told You So! Early Facebook Doubters Eat Their Words

    Who knew what Facebook would become when Mark Zuckerberg launched it in 2004? Not these guys.

    Hindsight is 20/20. And sometimes, it's just plain funny.

    With Facebook's blockbuster IPO upon us, let's take a look back through the company's eight-year history at some of the people and companies who were doubters, haters, and nay-sayers.

    Sure, in 2004, no one really expected the then-22-year-old Mark Zuckerberg's student-only social networking site to become a multi-billion dollar company with hundreds of millions of users. Or that that fledgeling start-up would someday grow to make a public stock offering bigger than that of Google.

    But in the age of the Internet, it's so easy to say: "Told you so."

    Check out some of the worst offenses.

    1. Saying Facebook is So Last Year

    "For many in the dotcom world, 2007 was dominated by one story: the rise of Facebook. The success of the social networking service has increased optimism about the internet industry. After all, if Microsoft is prepared to buy a 1.6% share for $240m (£121m), there is evidence that good ideas can be worth a lot of money. It is no surprise then that investors are looking for the next big thing--and these are some of the favourites." —The Guardian, 2007


    2. Predicting Facebook Will Become Stagnant

    "The context of Facebook is 'social networking.' It's all the rage right now--the novelty of connecting or reconnecting, of building your network, of watching the torrent of trivia flow to and from your network of peeps. But ultimately we as people--at least most of us-aren't social networking hobbyists....While it is likely that Facebook will find a viable and scalable business model somewhere within the monthly engagement of 200 million people, its future is anything but certain." —Jim Banister, SpectrumDNA CEO and entrepreneurship professor at UCLA, 2009


    3. Listing the Top-10 Reasons Facebook Sucks

    "Facebook is a fad. Yes, a FAD!!! You couldn't give a single legitimate argument to prove otherwise (and don't try to feed me that crap line about social networking being around long enough to no longer be a fad… Facebook, a single company, doesn't equate to 'social networking'). People who waste their time chasing fads (especially in marketing) always get burned, wasting more time than they can justify in the long run." —SocialRealist.com, 2007


    4. Saying Facebook Has Bland Ambition, and Lackluster Growth Numbers

    "Facebook can't afford to screw up. Facebook's U.S. user base grew 56 percent to 22.5 million in April from 14.4 million during the year-ago period, according to Nielsen Online. That was down from a blistering 98 percent growth a year earlier." —Forbes, 2008


    5. Predicting Facebook Wouldn't Even Be Worth $2 Billion

    "Ross Levinsohn, president of Fox Interactive Media, told an investors conference in New York yesterday, 'It's a great site and I know the guys there well. We're certainly not paying $2 billion for Facebook.'" —MarketWatch, 2006




  • Email Doesn't Have to Suck

    Email Doesn't Have to Suck

    There's a better way to manage your inbox--let SaneBox do most of the work for you.

    Email is a pain. There are simply too many messages to handle—and I'm not even talking about spam from marketers (I use a separate address to collect those emails). The headache is the increasing number of legitimate business messages—it's a humongous time-suck that only seems to be getting worse.

    Two years ago I answered nearly every message. A year ago I downgraded to at least trying to read them all. Last winter I started scanning the sender subject fields concentrating on the ones coming from people I knew or looked like they might contain information I needed. And lately, I've been considering closing my account and starting over with a private address reserved for only work colleagues and select sources.

    Until, that is, I tried SaneBox.

    It's like Gmail's Priority Inbox feature in that it looks at your messages and prior history engaging with those senders and decides which emails you're likely to deem most important.

    When you turn on the Priority Inbox feature in Gmail, Google separates your email into three categories: Important and unread, Starred, and Everything Else; all the mail is still in your inbox, but the important messages are up top.

    SaneBox is a bit different in that it removes less important messages from your inbox completely, moving them to an @SaneLater folder that you can peruse whenever you want. If SaneBox puts an important message into that folder you can move it to your inbox and it remembers the action so the next time you receive a message from that person, it will go to your inbox.

    Priority Inbox is trainable in this way, as well; the more you move stuff around, the better it gets at categorization. But I prefer SaneBox.

    SaneBox vs. Gmail's Priority Inbox

    SaneBox gives you a custom dashboard including a timeline that graphs how many important and less important emails you get every day. My current average, according to SaneBox, is 81 a day. If I took a minute to read, digest, and respond to each one of them, that's nearly an hour and a half a day going through email. If you figure there's at least 250 work days in a year, I'm spending 375 hours annually on email. That's not acceptable.

    In addition to the @SaneLater folder that stores non-essential messages, you can also enable folders such as @SaneNews for newsletters and @SaneBlackHole for those messages you want to send straight to your Trash. (Ha! Finally I'm getting revenge on a certain five-letter-titled fitness magazine that has not let me unsubscribe to its newsletters for two full years!)

    Automated nagging!

    And it also has a nifty feature that lets you CC or BCC a message to @SaneBox.com to remind you if someone doesn't respond.

    So let's say you need an answer from your boss about a project and you need it no later than two days from now. In the CC field just include the address 2days@SaneBox.com and in two days SaneBox will put the message back in the top of your inbox if she never replied to it. This way you remember to bug her again.

    SaneBox also creates an @SaneRemindMe folder that lets you keep track of all the messages to which you still need replies. Use oneweek@SaneBox.com, June5@SaneBox.com or 5minutes@SaneBox.com; it doesn't matter, SaneBox will figure out the time frame you need.

    The service is $5 a month and works with email clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, iPhone, and Android and as well most email services like Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo, AOL, and Gmail. The only service it doesn't currently support is Hotmail.



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