How To Set High Work Standards?

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will return.

The goal of any business is to set itself
apart from the competition, keep current
customers, and gain new ones.

Establish high standards for your work,
organization, from day one.

"It isn't that easy." You blurted.

It's true that your first impression is
the most important. You'll never get the
chance to re-live the first impression, in
business or life.

The means of contact you use must
communicate, state, how better, different,
cost effective, your product or service
is. Anticipate questions, and answer them.
Put yourself in the customer's place. What
concerns would you have?

Make it clear about being available for
further questions. No question is too
small, or not worth asking. Naturally,
you provide contact numbers, again, at
the end of the correspondence, contact.

Make sure you're addressing the correct
party. Have his/her contact information?
If not, be sure to ask for it.

"Contact information?" You asked.

Contact information is your correct
mailing address, office telephone
numbers, cellular numbers, web site
link, e-mail addresses, and other
information to make it easier to close
the deal.

Keep in touch with him/her through the
contact information. Send follow-up
letters, calls, and e-mails.

Telephone conversations are professional,
and to the point.

After talking with a person a couple times,
you'll know which form of communication he/
she prefers. Lean toward using that
particular mode.

Set high standards in the world of business
by distinguishing yourself from the
competition. Send the additional letter,
advice, answer the same question twice,
or go the extra step to close the deal.



Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_it_is_important_to_set_high_standards_for_your_work_and_how_to_set_these_standards&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=1

Can You Suggest Some Project Topics On Business Management?

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will return.

Managing people and leadership are
excellent topics to explore.

An effective leader, manager, communicates
well, motivates. He/she stirs together
employee talents for the best fit to
organizational goals. He/she prepares
everyone on how goals are to be reached.

Foster a question friendly atmosphere.
An effective leader is open to suggestions.

Keep an open door policy for questions,
concerns, and problems. Promote a team
environment. Have weekly, monthly, meetings
to let employees know of their progress.

Disagreements happen in any organization.
An effective leader, manager, will calm
disputing parties.

An effective leader, manager, delegates
authority.


Source:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_suggest_some_project_topics_on_business_management&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=1

What Is A Single Business Owner?

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

A single business owner is responsible
for the liabilities, profits belong to
him or her. The success or failure of
a company depends on how well your
business plan was executed.

A business plan determines if a product
or service has a chance at success.
It's the deciding factor that shows
whether or not to continue, or start the
business.

The business plan defines goals.

Who will be suppliers? Who is the target
market? Where, who, are the suppliers?
How will products or services get to the
target market? How will the business
be financed? Expenses? How will day
to day operations be handled.

Designate an advertising budget. Where
will advertising dollars be spent?

Take the competition into consideration.

Carefully go through the business
plan in order to have a successful
business.


Source:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_single_owner_businenss&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=1

How should you respond to the woman boss' obvious favoritism?

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will return.

The primary objective of an employee
is to fulfill the job description,
and well. Also, he/she must aid in
the, short or long term, goals of an
organization.

It is pointless to be concerned
about a boss' favoritism. There
is nothing to be done about it.

Simply, apply your attention to
doing the best job possible.


Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_should_you_respond_to_the_woman_boss%27s_obvious_favoritism&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=1

Skills Needed For A Successful Business?

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will return.

Customers are the life-blood of a
business. It's important to develop
people skills. Learn to handle
problems efficiently, and be
understanding to customers' problems,
needs. It's not always easy to handle
a customer problem, but it's a
part of having a successful business.
This is the time to show
patience, understanding.

It's extremely important to listen.

"What if they get irate?" You asked.

Let a customer vent.

Don't allow yourself to get into a
word battle. You're there to resolve
the customer's problem, and have he/she
spread nice comments about you, your
business. It's called free advertising.
It's a must to communicate well.
Customers and co-workers listen, and
respond to you. The business success
depends on how well you communicate.

Respect and concern for others are two
skills required to have a successful
business.

Always be willing to listen to others,
and share knowledge.


Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_skills_you_need_to_be_sucessful_in_business&src=email

What Skills Are Needed To Be A Team Player?

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will return.

A team player forgets about the
spot-light, and values the opinions
of others. Always, think before
speaking, even, when you are right.

It's a must to understand the team's,
organization's, goal. Your personal
goals become one with the organization's
goal. Work with the team. Talk out
disagreements, and resolve them.

Don't allow a misunderstanding to
interfere with the
team's work.

People have different approaches to
the same problem, be tolerant of others.

Share the successful moments with the
team, and do not claim all the credit.

What are financial decisions?

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

Financial decisions are judgments
one makes about life, and the future.
It determines how well you live.

You have the choice of investing in
stocks, major appliances, house, car,
saving account, or impulse buy.

If you choose to impulse buy, for
example, then there's zero funds to
invest in stocks.

The key is pick an alternative that
creates a better life now, or in the
future.

A business asks: Do we have the funds
to invest in a certain project. What
areas should we direct funds?

Here, too, the business goal is to
improve a business now, and in the
long run.

Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_financial_decisions&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=2

How Did Adidas Get Its Name?

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will return.

Adolf(Adi) Dassler named Adidas.

At 20, in 1920, he made his first pair of shoes.

Dassler's work was in track and field. In 1928,
athletes at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam
wore his shoes.

His goal was to optimize athletic foot-wear.
He developed a shoe for every sport.
Dassler and his brother owned a sport shoe
company. The name of their store was
Gebruder Dassler OHG. Later, the store's
name was known as Adidas.

Source:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_founderd_adidas&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=1

Special Features Of A Business Letter?

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

A business letter is short,
concise. Yet, all the necessary
information is given.

Sentence one answers why the
business letter was written.

The tone is formal. Street jargon
is never used.

Read over the letter several times
before sending it out.

It should be free of grammatical
errors.

The business letter should have
the following.

1. Your business name and address
are detailed.
A. e-mail address
B. fax number
C. cellular number

2. The current date is showed.

3. List the name and address of
the person you are sending the
letter to.
A. person's title is included

4. The greeting is written using the
person's formal name, and a colon
goes after.

5. State the reason for the letter.

6. The body introduces you, and
clarifies the reason you are writing.

7. Close the letter with "Sincerely".

8. Sign your letter.

9. If you're putting documents in
the letter, ENCL(enclosure) is
typed. ENCL is typed after your
name.
A. if copies of letters are being
sent, type: cc.

Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Special_features_of_business_letter&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=2

Can you make a copy of naturalization papers?

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return.

The United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services(USCIS) certifies
as well as make copies of naturalization
papers.

USCIS refers to copies as "Certified
True Copies."

An appointment has to be made with
your local office to obtain "Certified
True Copies."

The USCIS requires your original
naturalization certificate, and a copy.
Also, bring identification such as
a passport, or identification with
your photo on it.

Contact them to ask specific questions.

Write to:

United States Department of State, Authentication Office
518 23rd Street, NW
Sa-1 Columbia Plaza
Washington, DC 20520
202-647-5002

Email / internet: aoprgsmauth@state.gov | http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/

Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_make_a_copy_of_naturalization_papers&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=1

When will silver run out?

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

The world is using more silver,
especially since it's less in price
than some metals.

Silver can be recycled. Some people
will sell their silver back into the
market. This used silver is recycled.

Also, the government has an option
of selling silver.

No one can defiantly say when or if
silver will run out.

Silver deposits can be added to that
in the ground too.

Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_will_silver_run_out&updated=1&waNoAnsSet=1

Michelle Obama Get Her Own Doll

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The First Lady gets an action figure.

The First Lady is the inspiration behind
a new doll. The six-inch doll comes with
three out-fits, and will retail for $12.99.

The dolls are available in three different
out-fits, and bare arms. Bare arms have
become Michelle Obama's signature.

The dresses are sheath. It's said that
sheath have become her signature too.

A doll will wear a purple dress. The
dress represents a day in the life of the
Obamas. A second doll will wear a black/white
floral dress similar to the out-fit she
wore on "The View."

The third doll in red and black attire
represents a dress worn on Election Night.

A toy-maker in New York is responsible for
the manufacturing. The founder of the company
is Jason Feinberg. The company's name is
Jailbreak.

The dolls will be in stores on November 20.

Source: http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/35470.html

Small Business: First Time Owner

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

Hard Economic Times

The recession hit everyone,
and many institutions. Specifically,
banks took a beating.

Realistically, there has always
been hard economic times. It
happens according to history.

New Business Owners

It's particularly unsettling for
first time business owners, or
people thinking about opening
a business.

Banks are not extending credit
lines like they once did.

Still, don't throw-away your dream
of starting a business. Or, listen to
those that say, "Get-out while you
can sell at a profit."

There will always be obstacles,
loss, and gain.

Fill A Need

When starting a business,
make sure you have a product,
service, people need to buy.

If you're in business,
let unprofitable products go.
It's a waste of resources.
Focus your energy, resources,
on products that will show a
return.

Business Plan

Draw-up a business plan. A
business plan explains what
your business is, and how it's
different, special, from what's
already out-here.

The business plan unfolds how
well your product, service, is
going to perform.

A good business plan defines goals.
It answers daily operational methods.
Where will the business be in two years?
Five?

Predict, estimate, what your yearly
revenue will be. Allow for the
unexpected.

How are you going to advertise
your product or service? What
group is your target market?
Teens? Kids? Seniors? Take
competition into consideration.

The above are questions
lenders will ask.

View Your Business From A
Customer's Perspective

Sit down. Look at your business
plan from a customer's point-of-
view.

Why would they purchase your
product or service? How would it
improve their lives? Customers
are about "me-me" when spending
money.

If you're not sure how to answer
those questions, stop. In hard economic
times, people think carefully before
buying a product or service. Your
product or service must address
the needs of your customers, and their
abilities to buy.

A product or service people can
do without will not survive in hard
economic times.

Banks

Loan applications are submitted with
a business plan. Also, institutions
providing grants will want to see a
business plan.

Note: A survey by the Federal
Reserve reports that the recession
is over, and mentions growth.

In my opinion, it takes time
for it to be felt by us.

Do you feel economic conditions
are improving?

In Closing

A small business, first time
owner, can profit in hard
economic times. A plan and
products people need will
give you a winning combination.

Tough Economic Times: Small Business

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

A small business can survive tough
economic times by keeping a positive
attitude, not giving in to fear, and
involving employees in the
organization's decisions.

"I better sell, because gas
prices went up again!" You
blurted.

"Banks still goin' under."
A business partner pointed
out.

If you think the worse will
happen, your actions and
decisions will lead you to
failure. You'll sink deeper
into negative thinking. You'll
stop looking for leads, being
productive, and demanding
the best from employees.

Don't let your dream die
unnaturally. You worked
hard on building, maintaining,
your business. Don't
drop everything when
times are hard.

Besides, some businesses
are profitable in a recession.

You can't control what happens
in the recession, but you can
control how you react to it.

A positive attitude will have
you looking for new
opportunities.

Survive a recession by keeping
your customers happy. Let them
know you're in business. Find out
what their interests are. Would they
like contests? What do they like
about your line? Is a certain product
doing well?

Get rid of products or services
that you're losing profits on. Invest
in those products or services that's
showing a profit margin.

See if investing in a product
or service customers like is
feasible, profitable.

Continue networking. Your
focus is on the factors
you have control over. Meet
your deadlines.

Next, it's not uncommon
to feel fear in tough
economic times. Use the
fear, energy, to work toward
your business goals.

Talk to supportive
friends. People who
see the glass as half full.

The advice of friends or
relatives pressing you to get
rid of a your business should
be weighed against other
factors.

The recession will end, and
business will pick-up. A friend
should say.

Keep fear in its place by placing
a note on your computer, work-place,
mirror, door, bathroom, coffee pot,
and any other place you feel is
necessary.

A possible note: I'll look for
a new lead today. Or, power
networking is the goal today.
Another idea: The recession
will end.

Lastly, keep employees
informed of lay-outs. Allow
them to know information
before the actual down-size.

The work-place atmosphere
should be team oriented. Everyone
works toward the organization's
goals.

Employees will appreciate
it, and become loyal to
you, the business.

Have meetings often.
Let employees give their
advice on how to improve
profits. Allow them to give
recommendations on making
the work-place better, more
productive. What product or
service do they feel would
compliment your existing
product or service?

A small business can
survive tough economic
times by taking a common
sense approach. The above
steps will guide you.

Obama Makes the Case to Small Business for Health Care Reform by John Tozzi

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

This week small business is a big part of the health care narrative the White House is pushing. Over the weekend the White House Council of Economic Advisers released its take on how health care reform will effect small businesses and their employees. President Obama made the case directly to small business owners in his weekly YouTube address below.

And on Wednesday, Christina Romer, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, will answer questions submitted by small business owners during a live chat at 3 p.m. ET. (You can submit questions here or on this LinkedIn discussion thread.)

Separately, Senate Democrats will hold a press conference Wednesday morning in Washington to make the case that health reform benefits small businesses. Members from the committees on Small Business (Mary Landrieu, D-La.); Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.); and Finance (Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.) will be there. The HELP and Finance committees are drafting the two main proposals in the Senate. Politico reports that the Finance committee plan may drop the requirement for all employers to provide insurance. That would go a long way toward appeasing critics of the bill who say it’s too burdensome on business, like the NFIB.

It’s worth noting that in the YouTube address, Obama doesn’t touch on the employer mandate. Here’s how he describes the plan (starting about 2:10):

Under the reform plans in Congress, small businesses will be able to purchase health insurance through an “insurance exchange,” a marketplace where they can compare the price, quality and services of a wide variety of plans, many of which will provide better coverage at lower costs than the plans they have now. They can then pick the one that works best for them and their employees.

Small businesses that choose to insure their employees will also receive a tax credit to help them pay for it. If a small business chooses not to provide coverage, its employees can purchase high quality, affordable coverage through the insurance exchange on their own.

That doesn’t sound like the proposals already out from the Senate HELP committee and the House, which require companies over a certain size (either 25 employees or $250,000 in payroll) to buy insurance or pay penalties. It sounds a lot like a description of the forthcoming Finance bill in today’s Times:

The Senate [Finance] group also seems prepared to drop a requirement, included in other versions of the legislation, that employers offer coverage to their workers. “We don’t mandate employer coverage,” Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine and one of the six, said Monday. Employers that do not offer coverage may instead have to pay the cost of any government subsidies for which their workers qualify.

It sure sounds like Obama’s signaling that he’d sign a bill without an employer mandate, and that would help bring moderate Republicans like Snowe on board. (She’s also the ranking member of the Senate Small Business Committee — Landrieu is the chair.) The question then is how much push back from liberal Dems the plan would face, and that would likely hinge on other factors like whether or not there’s a public insurance option.

But for right now, at least, policy makers are focused on small businesses’ stake in health care reform, and the discussions this week may be crucial in shaping small business provisions in a final bill.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/running_small_business/archives/2009/07/obama_makes_the.html

Also: Don’t miss this excellent graphic from the NY Times on how the proposals would effect different types of workers and business owners.

A checklist for starting a small business by Jamie Downey

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will return.

• Research the product or service you want to sell. Determine who your customers will be and how you will make a profit.

• Create a business plan. For many this is a difficult task. However, it is probably not as difficult as you think. You can search around the web for examples or shoot me an email and I can help you get a sample business plan to work from.

• Create a budget (this may be included in the business plan).

• Determine your capital needs (see your budget) and find the necessary financing to get the business up and running. For many start-up businesses, friends, family, home equity and your own checking account are often a significant source of their financing needs.

• Choose your business name and register it. Consider a trademark if you want to protect the name of your business.

• Open a company checking account. Contact the bank and make sure their requirements simple and their fees are low. I recommend contacting a local bank as they seem to work more closely with small businesses.

• Choose what type of legal entity you want to use; corporation, limited liability company, partnership or sole proprietorship.

• Determine if you need any federal, state or local licenses / permits.

• Obtain an Employer Identification Number. This may not be necessary if you are going to operate as a sole proprietorship and you have no employees.

• Obtain a sales tax number, if needed. This obviously depends on the product or service you plan on selling.

• Set up your record-keeping system. Your business will need to maintain adequate financial books and records. Small businesses often fail to devote the necessary time to this process and it comes back to haunt them in many ways; including on your taxes, payroll tax filings, obtaining credit from banks, etc.

• Choose a location for your business. A home office is very inexpensive to start and you will likely receive some tax benefits.

• Talk to your insurance agent and obtain adequate business coverage. Also consider your health insurance requirements.

• Create a marketing plan.

• Set up professional relationships. May be not at first, but over time you will need an attorney, a Certified Public Accountant, insurance agent and a banker.

• Obtain a business email address.

• Obtain your web domain and set up the website. If you have never set up a website, you might consider WYSIWYG software. It makes creating websites much easier and it only cost $40. Furthermore, you can try for free for 30 days.

• Find a mentor. SCORE is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to educating and assisting entrepreneurs on the growth of small businesses. They will team you up with a mentor to help you facilitate your business.

Hacker jailbreaks the Iphone 3GS by Nick Farrell

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will return.

THE TEEN HACKER who unlocked the original Iphone claims to have created an app that can 'jailbreak' Apple's recently released Iphone 3GS.

George Hotz, 19, wrote a program called "purplera1n" which he says can install third-party software on an Iphone 3GS, even if that software is not approved by Apple.

It didn't take him very long to hack the device, which has only been available since June 19.

This shows that it isn't impossible to bypass Apple's wonderful built-in security features for the Iphone and it makes a mockery of the outfit's autocractic control of users.

It also means that users can run whatever they like on the gizmo rather than only what Steve Jobs says they are allowed.

Hotz released software that works with Windows-based computers and the latest version of Itunes, as well as the Iphone 3GS running Apple's latest Iphone 3.0 software. Over the weekend he released a Mac version, too.

Hotz got his first 15 minutes of fame two years ago when, at the age of 17, he became the first hacker to crack the Iphone's security so it could run unauthorised apps.

Source: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1432758/hacker-jailbreaks-iphone-3gs

Companies recall products linked to milk processor

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will return.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Food distributors across the country announced on Thursday they are recalling nonfat dry milk, cocoa and other products that are linked to a possible salmonella contamination at a Plainview, Minn., milk processor.

The Food and Drug Administration said late last month that Plainview Milk Products Cooperative was recalling instant nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers and food thickening agents that it made over the past two years because they might be contaminated with salmonella.

Salmonella can cause serious infections, especially in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek said on Thursday "there are no illnesses that we are aware of" and the agency is tracking distribution of the products.

The FDA has said none of Plainview's products were sold directly to the public. But the company sold their products to other distributors, who distributed them further, and also to manufacturers, who may have used them in their products, Kwisnek said.

Retailer Meijer Inc. announced on Thursday it was recalling one type of its Meijer Brand Instant Nonfat Dry Milk. The product was sold in Meijer stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

CPI Foods Inc., of Dallas, recalled about 15,000 packets of nonfat dry milk. The company said the packets are parts of CPI Foods shelf-stable meal kits distributed to community service companies in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, West Virginia, North Carolina, Nevada and Kentucky.

Precision Foods Inc., of St. Louis, said it was recalling certain Madagascar Vanilla cocoa. The recalled cocoa product is labeled as Land O Lakes International Drinking Cocoa "Madagascar Vanilla." It was distributed nationally in retail stores and through mail orders, the company said.

Also announced Thursday was a recall by NOW Foods for products containing whey protein concentrate. McClancy Seasoning Co. recalled Alba instant nonfat dry milk products and various Alba snack shake mixes.

On Wednesday, East Coast grocery chains Giant Food and Stop & Shop also issued recalls of some of their dried milk products.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iQJ6l3Y38myc2dnLRiOOWWGOPWYQD996ML202

Be an Expert, and Customers Will Find You by Zack Stern

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

Your medium- or small-business can live or die by its marketing. One of the greatest angles costs you no capital. Establish yourself as an expert in your field by offering advice through websites and magazine trade articles. Readers will migrate to your business, and you can point potential customers back to the articles for an extra marketing push.

To get the best results, find publications and topics that fit. I know a therapist who has written about meditation for spirituality and yoga websites. He uses mindfulness in his practice and has built up a stream of clients who have found him through those articles. Consider these tactics for nearly any other service-based business.

You can get similar results--but it can take more work--building up your own audience. Many, local real-estate blogs, for example, give details about market conditions in a specific area. If the content is good, offering home-buying tips and tutorials, readers will associate that help with the author. If that author leaves a blurb about their day job, readers will seek them out.

In either case, be an expert about your industry, but don't shill for your business. Readers see through any overt selling. The real marketing comes after you help the readers and they seek you out. Make the connection then, and they'll see you as an expert, not a pitch-man.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/17/AR2009061703346.html

Hey, Just a Minute (or Why Google Isn’t Twitter) By Randall Stross

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will return.

Google moves faster than some of its critics think. But even if didn’t, the more important question is this: Do we really want Google’s search engine to swallow Twitter’s output as fast as it comes, without filtering, analyzing and ranking by authority?

“Real-time search begets real-time spam,” writes Danny Sullivan, the editor in chief of the Web site Search Engine Land.

Anyone who signs up to follow a particular Twitterer receives tweets instantaneously, as they are dispatched (when the system is functioning). Filtering is not an issue in such cases: The 1.77 million followers of Britney Spears presumably look forward to receiving every morsel of information broadcast from her account.

But if one wants to search Twitter for tweets about a topic — say, about Ms. Spears, but encompassing anyone’s tweet that happens to mention her — Twitter’s data fill an ocean in which it’s hard to find specific fish.

Twitter’s search page says, “See what’s happening — right now.” But Twitter’s database was not originally designed to be searched like Google’s was. Last year, in fact, Twitter bought another start-up, Summize, to provide it with search functionality.

Even so, search performance on Twitter is sluggish compared with the live tweet stream. Mr. Sullivan notes that Twitter’s search service does not consistently deliver real-time results: 20 or more minutes often pass before a given tweet appears in search results. At Google only hundredths of a second are needed to check its index when a search phrase is submitted. But to prepare, the company re-surveys the wide Web to update that index on a schedule that the company does not divulge. Some Web sites, like those of news organizations, are checked very often. Others await their turn in a rotating schedule of visits by Google’s crawler, the software that collects copies of Web pages.

Peter Norvig, director of research at Google, says that Larry Page, one of Google’s co-founders, has consistently pushed the company’s engineers to index the most active Web pages faster. When the frequency was increased to hourly, Mr. Page insisted that the interval be referred to as “3,600 seconds” to emphasize that it would be reduced further, which it was.

Google checks news feeds constantly but does not so easily pull in tweets. At a press event in London last month, Mr. Page was asked to comment on any plans that Google had to search Twitter in real time. After praising Twitter for doing a “great job” in showing information to users in real time, Mr. Page said he had long been pushing his search teams to index every second. “They sort of laugh at me and go, ‘It’s O.K. if it’s a few minutes’ old,’” he said. “And I’m like, ‘No, no, it needs to be every second.’”

A number of search start-ups have appeared recently that differentiate their offerings from older search engines’ by playing up their specialized focus on the real-time Web. For example, OneRiot, based in Boulder, Colo., covers Twitter among other social media, but it has an intriguing means of reducing Twitter spam: it does not index the text in tweets — it plucks only the links, reasoning that the videos, news stories and blog posts that are being shared are what others will be most interested in.

OneRiot follows the link, checks for spam by comparing the content of the page with the content of the tweet, and then uses its own algorithms to figure out where the link should go in its always-changing index of “hot” items.

Strictly speaking, this is not real-time processing. But checking links before adding them to the index seems to be time well spent.

Tobias Peggs, general manager at OneRiot, said his company could process, check and index a link within 37 seconds. When asked why he bothered to measure the seconds if it took 20 or more minutes just to receive searchable tweets from Twitter, he explained that the delays at Twitter’s search site did not affect his company’s search service, which receives the data stream at the same time Twitter’s own search engine does. Because one venture capital firm, Spark Capital, has invested in both OneRiot and Twitter, OneRiot has “access to Twitter data that other third parties don’t,” Mr. Peggs said.

GOOGLE crawls Twitter’s Web site — the frequency is not disclosed — to collect the same links included in tweets that OneRiot collects, and these may show up in Google’s search results. If Google were to negotiate direct access to the tweet stream that OneRiot enjoys, it presumably could move just as fast and match OneRiot’s lists, like “most shared today” or “today’s hottest videos.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/business/14digi.html

Smart Social Networking For Your Small Business by Frederic Paul

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

Next to mobility and cloud computing,
social networking was the talk of
Interop this year--especially at a
conference session devoted to social
software tools and a portion of the
Unconference, where real SMB users
talked about how to make the most of it.

But perhaps the best thing I learned
about social media came in a meeting
with security vendor ESET. Just as at
a recent Intuit ( INTU - news - people )
town hall where I discovered Social
NOT-working, at Interop, ESET director
of marketing Liz Fraumann shared the
abbreviation for Social Media as "So
Me." Perfect, isn't it?

Anyway, Social Software Tools: A
Critical Evaluation offered useful
insight into the choices SMBs need
to make when moving into social
networking. Tony Byrne, founder of
CMS Watch, started with a useful
breakdown of the complex world of
social networking, beginning with
separating external and internal
applications, depending on whether
the connections occur inside or
outside your company:

External

--Branded community

--Tech support

--Reader interaction

--Partner collaboration

--Professional networking

--Hosted user blogs and blog
comments (you host, but don't
control, user postings)

Internal

--Project collaboration

--Enterprise collaboration

--Enterprise discussion
(especially useful after
a merger or acquisition)

--Information organization/
filtering

--Knowledgebase management
(collaboration)

--Communities of practice

--Enterprise networking (intranets
and/or Facebook groups for
employees); vendors include
Ning and Lithium

Of course, where social networking
takes place is only the first part of
the puzzle. The networking itself
can take many forms:

Social Networking Functions

--Blogs; vendors include Six Apart,
Google's ( GOOG - news - people )
Blogger and Automattic's WordPress

--Microblogs (Twitter)

--Wikis; vendors include MediaWiki
(the foundation of Wikipedia), Atlassian,
MindTouch and Socialtext)

--Project tracking/participation software

--Multimedia (video/audio, internal or
external, including YouTube)

--Information ranking/filtering--voting

--Discussion forums

--Presence/instant messaging (IM)

--Public social networks, including
Facebook, LinkedIn, Xing and MySpace

Each of these functional applications
has its own uses, strengths and
weaknesses.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/05/social-networking-interop-entrepreneurs-technology-bmighty.html

What's The Best Advice In An Economic Downturn?

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

In an economic downturn,
customer satisfaction is
crucial. Actually, it's
important three-hundred-
sixty-five days a year.


People, in general, are
short on time and money.
They are concerned about
how their money is spent,
and on what.

There are numerous ads on
posters, television, at
the market, store fronts,
libraries, and cars are
sporting messages to buy.

Customers have access to
information via the
Internet. They are informed.

They will buy your product
or service if you've answered
the following.

Will your product or service
save me money? Why should I
buy your product or service?
How can your product or service
help me? Will it make me money?
Will my life be improved?

Answer one or more of those
questions before presenting the
sales campaign. The answer(s)
must be stirred in the
advertisement.

"There isn't one thing, but several
to help in an economic downturn."
You stabbed your eyes at the title.

You're right. There are other means
to get customers to return, but one
action on your part is essential.

Yes, new ideas, cutting-edge products
or services, better technology,
and easy payment plans help repeat
business. Also, answering
questions when it's not a good time,
and resolving issues that arise with
customer purchases. These simple
actions bring customers
back.

"What brings 'em back?" You tapped
three fingers on your desk.

The secret to keeping a customer is
consistent behavior. It pulls customers
back faster than anything else. The
principles that landed you their trust
is the glue securing additional
business from them.

Consistency, no matter where, is
relaxing. It's easier, better,
to deal with.

Happy customers advertise for you.
They tell friends, associates, which
means new customers.

Clients, customers, mouth-to-mouth
advertising is more productive than
an ad placed by you. Mouth-to-mouth
ads spread faster. You're likely to see
results with it, first. A big advantage
to you is that it's free.

Let's look at an example.

A customer buys fresh fruits and
vegetables from your place of business.
A play-area sits in front of the store.
The customer leaves her baby there while
shopping. Of course, there's an attendant,
maybe three.

The lady, when finished shopping, takes
her baby home.

The baby is tired from the trip, playing,
and takes a nap.

The mother unpacks groceries, undisturbed.
She does other duties around the house
before the baby wakes up. Perhaps, she
naps too.

The customer is happy with the consistency,
order, and the flow of her day.

What would happen if the play-area
was removed?

It forces the lady to get-up earlier, or
run late for the day.

"Why?" You questioned.

She'll need time to adjust her plans,
routine, before shopping.

She dislikes the time spent to find a
sitter. A sitter for her child is
expensive. Maybe, she can find a
relative to take care of the child.

She has to slice time away to
arrive at the relative's house. Allow
the child to get comfortable before
leaving.

The customer is rushing by the time
she gets to your store, and cranky.
Consistency is removed.

The baby cried on the way to the
relative's house. The baby felt the
mother's frustration.

The customer will look for a store
closer to where the baby-sitter lives.

At your store, she's stressed.

The ripple effect happened because
one factor was removed, and that was
consistency.

Customers will return to consistent
behavior from you, your product, or
service. The secret is using the same
principles that closed the deal on day
one. Customers will word-of-mouth
advertise for you, which brings new
customers. Customers purchase
products or services if they see benefits
in doing so.

The Economic Down-Turn Can Divide A House

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

According to a survey by
Reuters, the economic
down-turn divided
small business owners.

The survey points out
how small business
owners are taking less
money home, and it's
harder to get a loan.

Seventy-three percent
of the people complained
of worsened conditions.
Eight percent were happy,
and saw improvement.

There will always be a small
percentage of people who
thrive during a recession.

The focus of this post is on
how to survive the down-turn
while keeping your house,
business, intact.

First, it's necessary to
eliminate dead weight.

"What do you mean by
dead weight?" Several
asked.


Dead weight refers to the
people who give-up in
your house, business.

"Close the doors." A
partner suggested. "We can't
survive the economic down-
turn."

"Can't beat a recession."
Someone else chimed in.

"I guess, we betta sell while
we can." Another uttered.

It's best to buy-out the
dead weight, or do what is
needed to break-away from it.

Fill your mind with survival
thoughts.

Look at each product or
service you offer. Ask
yourself some questions.

Is it feasible to close a
product or service? Is
it wise to make an item
smaller, but sell it at the
regular price? Will my
customers stop buying
a smaller version? Should
production time be cut?
Should over-time be done
away with? Certain people
have to be laid off?

Ask specific questions
pertaining to your business.

Look at suppliers. Should
you turn to different suppliers?
Less costly suppliers, but maintain
a quality product or service?

The economic down-turn will
force customers to hold-on
to their money, or spend less.

You'll have to make adjustments
to keep the economic down-turn
from dividing your house, business.

Simply, take common sense
measures in an economic
down-turn. Consider the pro
and cons before any money
is sent out of the door.

In closing, careful thought
is mixed in every business
decision to survive an
economic down-turn. Don't
allow your house, business, to
be divided by fear. Get yourself
in survival business mode.

What Can Small Businesses Do To Survive

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

There are steps small businesses
can take to help survive the
economic turn-down.

The time for spending on
advertising without careful
thought is over.

Concentrate your advertising
dollars where customers are
seeing your ads.

"How will I know that?" You
pondered.

Ask them.

Here's a possible scenario.
"Thank you for your order,
Mrs. Smith.

She'll respond.

After she replies, use the
opportunity to question
her.

"May I ask, where did you
see our ad?"

Make a note of it.

Put a code in your ads to
see which publications
are earning their keep.

The code is simple. The
code for Catz Newsletter is
Ctz, or any mixture of
letters you like.

Let's look at the code
using different letters.
Possible combinations
are: Ct, Ca, Cn, Cz,
or Cl.

"How would I put a code
in my ad?" You asked.

Take a look.

M. Glenn's Creative
Services
1234 Any Street
Dept. Cl
Some, State 56789-1011

The morning coffee with
bagels treat takes it place
in your past.

A better idea is to have
employees bring in coffee,
cups, napkins, sugar, and
cream. Or, ask everyone
to share in the purchase
of those items.

The person who is assigned
to buy sugar must keep it
in stock, or available.

It isn't necessary to buy
name brands.

Hold a meeting. Explain
how the economic turn-
down touched your
business. In order for
the business to survive,
everyone is required
to contribute. Unless,
it would cause a hardship.

Never force anyone to
participate. There are those
living pay-check to pay-
check. They couldn't
slice another cent away for
anything else.

The economic turn-down
hit Main Street, Wall Street,
and all streets in between.

Be mindful of the amount
of paper towels, plastic
cups, pens, and other
supplies used.

All businesses must cut-
away employees not
contributing to the
organization.

"Why?" You asked.

The survival of your business
demands it. Perhaps, when
the economic turn-down is
ended, you'll employ them
again.

The same advice is true of
out-lived its usefulness
equipment.

If your equipment is costing
more to fix than its producing,
replace it. Perhaps, a used
version works well.

An option, too, is bartering.
You exchange your services
for used equipment, or as part
payment.

"How would I do that?" You
questioned.

Train a friend's son/daughter
to co-manage, manage, your
business. It will be a learning
experience for him/her.

In return, you'll get updated
equipment, maybe used.

Set your mind into business
survival mode. You must get
beyond the economic turn-
down.

If necessary, tack the words
on your computer, office door,
mirror, desk, or company board.

The words are: cut-back, trim,
costs.

In conclusion, small businesses
can survive an economic turn-
down, and rise stronger. It
takes determination, and common
sense adjustments.

Economic Turn

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

The economic turn down has
hurt main street, your street, and
mine. Still, it has taught us
how to survive it, a crisis.

"It's just been hard." You said.

Let's look at the positive side.

You learned how to prioritize.
There isn't anymore wasteful
spending. The economic turn
down requires you to figure
out how much you have,
where it's needed most,
and then use money wisely.

You learned how to budget.
It means you learned to manage
yourself, life better. The
results are life is less
stressful, and more meaningful.

There are countless ailments
involved with being stressed
out.

Less money to spend stops
you from eating out, or not
as often. Simply, cut-out
spending on anything that
isn't necessary to live
life, or sustain life.

You learned discipline. It
points to the fact that you
learned to say "no" to wasting.

Perhaps, you are sharing living
arrangements due to the economic
turn down. It's possible you're
closer to family, because you
opened your living space to
them. Enjoy time with them
that you couldn't otherwise.

If the arrangement didn't turn
out well, you were willing to
help. Yes, learn from that
too.

"What is there to learn?"
You asked.

Rules are required. Did you
set any? Boundaries have to
be respected.

Look at what happened, and
figure out how to improve
the situation. Or, just give
the person space. The person
could have a change of attitude
after thinking his/her situation
through.

Use your new skill. Teach
others how to use money
wiser.

Start with a friend, neighbor.
Advertise your service by
word-of-mouth.

Word-of-mouth advertising
spreads like wild-fire. It can
provide better coverage than
a paid ad. Later, when funds
allow, place ads.

"How will I teach?" You
questioned.

Explain what you learned
from the economic turn
down. Walk through it
step by step.

Buy an item used often in bulk.
Advise how doing so will save
money, for example. Try the
store brand, and stop using
name brands. Make a list
before shopping. Stick to it.

Give for instances in your
life before you learned from
the economic turn down.

Ask questions, get people
involved with telling about
their habits prior to the
economic turn down.

Everyone will laugh, enjoy
your class.

Ask for feed-back. Feed-back
helps you. You'll learn
what people want to know.

Turn ideas upside down, inside
out, and side-ways. Get as much
use as possible out of it.

You taught a class at home.
Take the focus of the class
to someone's house who didn't,
for whatever reason, attend.
Ask your new client to invite
his/her friends.

It's possible you'll get a bigger
customer base.

In closing, scoop-up what you
have learned from the economic
turn down, and profit from it.

How To Make Money

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

Let's face it, we are in hard
economic times. Still, some
are making money, and
starting their own businesses.
It requires determination,
and thinking out of the
box.

"What do you mean?" You
asked.

You can make money taking
surveys. Link to someone else's
product, and the list goes on.

Is it right for you? Will you
make money? Is it something
that would motivate you to
go the extra mile, even
introduce family to?

If the answer is yes,
great!

If you responded with a no
answer, keep reading.

Are you making cookies at home,
and people are buying them?
Maybe, you write greetings, and
others are interested. You take
care of a child. People are
coming to you for advice, and
want to pay you for listening.
All you're doing is giving your
opinion. You have started a
business.

"I don't understand." You said.

The cookies you are baking can
become a bigger business.
Ask the people who are buying
your product to tell others.
Place flyers at places you
frequent.

Do some research about your
area, and see if it's feasible
to start a bakery.

If not, continue to make
money by selling cookies.

People are asking you to
write greetings in time of
a death, graduation, anniversary,
other occasions. This is the
time to start your business.

Take it further. Check-out the
greeting card section at
stores. What cards are most
like yours? Get names and
addresses. Write the greeting
card company for guidelines.

You take care of a child.
Look into caring for more
children. You have started
your business. Take it to
the next level.

You're making money at
home. It is something you
take pleasure in doing.

Family members can join
you in your business. It
saves money. Although, they
will want to share in the
profits, or get paid.

Put everything in writing.
List what family members
or anyone else contribute,
and is promised in return.

Memories fade. Avoid
confusion by recording
every move made in the
business.

Don't be afraid to go the
extra step with a hobby,
or an activity you're doing
already. In an economic
downturn, make money
at what you like to do, are
doing. In reality, you have
started a business.

Better Business Bureau Issues Acai Berry Warning

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

I've tried it in capsule form.
I didn't see any noticeable
difference. I decided to not
re-purchase.

I didn't use the trial order
method.

The following was reported by
Maria M. Perotin, Star Telegram.

Lose weight! Prevent cancer!
Fight Alzheimer’s disease with
acai berries! It worked for your
favorite celebrity!

Never heard of acai? With just a
quick search on the Internet, you
can read countless pitches for the
dark Brazilian berry.

There’s so much buzz, in fact, that
the Better Business Bureau at Fort
Worth this week issued a warning to
consumers.

Makers of acai supplements have
reeled in thousands of consumers
nationwide with "free" trial offers,
only to follow up with month after
month of unwanted credit card charges,
said John Riggins, chief executive
of the Fort Worth bureau.

One Arlington-based company —
FXSupplements.com — has drawn 139
complaints from consumers since November.

FX offers customers a free trial but
then quickly starts imposing charges
of about $80 a month, sometimes before
consumers have even received their
first bottle of Acai Maxx in the
mail, Riggins said.

"The people getting burned on this
really badly are the ones getting
charged over and over and over,"
Riggins said. "They can’t get the
company to pick up the phone or
answer an e-mail."

On Tuesday, the toll-free phone
number that’s listed on FX’s Web
site was disconnected.

An employee who answered a
separate phone number for Acai
Maxx billing inquiries said the
company wouldn’t comment except
to written questions sent by
mail to its Arlington address.

Riggins also raised concerns about
some acai sellers’ claims about the
products’ benefits and about implied
endorsements from Oprah Winfrey and
other celebrities who haven’t
actually suggested the berry is
a cure-all.

"The actual abilities of the
product are unknown right now,
really," he said. "Some really
far-reaching claims are just
unsubstantiated."

Touted among the latest weight-loss
crazes, acai is available in pills,
powders, fruit smoothies and even
as frozen pulp.

Amy Goodson, a dietitian at Texas
Health Harris Methodist Hospital
Fort Worth, said acai is the latest
in a string of exotic "super fruits"
that are marketed as if they have
unique abilities.

In fact, many fruits — even the humble
banana — are chock-full of many of
the same vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants.

"Do I think that this is a healthy
fruit? Sure," Goodson said. "Is it
going to cure every disease and
keep you from getting a disease?
By no means."

Nicole Chase, a dietitian at Plaza
Medical Center of Fort Worth, said
people can consume all the nutrients
they need by eating a variety of
healthy foods, without adding any
expensive supplements.

Her weight-loss advice: Eat small meals,
with lots of fiber, fruits and
vegetables. Avoid foods that are fried
or smothered in sauces. And get regular
exercise.

Goodson also cautioned against fad diets.

"If it just pops out and it’s on the front
of every magazine, probably be leery of
that," she said. "At the end of the day,
it’s eating well and exercising, which is
not usually what people technically want
to hear."

http://www.star-telegram.com/855/story/1127053.html

How To Survive A Recession

Be fair, attentive, and customers
will return.

The first step to survive a
recession is attitude. The
thought of I will survive
should play-over in your
mind.

Write the words down on paper.
Place them on your night-stand,
computer, clock, and where you
can easily see the words. Look
at them when the recession
knocks on your business door.

Customers are the life-line of
your business. You'd like to
keep all of your customers,
but the survival of your business
stops you.

People who have problems paying,
let them go. They will sink you,
and your business. Don't let a
customer's over-do balance go
anywhere near thirty days. You
can't afford it if your business
is to survive the recession. It
is impossible to have customers
sixty, ninety, days due, and
survive. Your business will be
engulfed by the recession.

Pay attention to your costs. I'm
referring to every cent you are
spending on paper clips, for
example. Paper clips can be used
over and over. Don't throw them
away after one use. Look at the
amount of paper cups, paper
towels, used. Do you need to
buy paper cups? Cut back where
you can. You'll be amazed at how
cutting back adds up to big savings.

There is an aspect of your business
that shouldn't be cut during a
recession.

"You just said cut back." A few
reminded me.

Yes, I did. During a recession,
people buy. In order for them
to know about your product or
service, advertising is a must.
Keep your ad going. Only,
advertise where people are
seeing it.

"How do I know where people are
seeing my ad?"

Ask them.

If possible, advertise more.
Remember, customers are the life-
line of a business, recession or
not. The survival of your business
depends on people, customers.

Keep employees aware of your
business circumstances, their
jobs. They will appreciate it,
and work harder.

In closing, survive a recession
by keeping a positive attitude,
let problem customers go, be
mindful of costs, advertise, and
advise employees of the business
situation, their jobs.