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1. | What's Your Company's Email Policy?
Does your company have an email policy? Did you even know there was such a thing? Well, there is, and if your company doesn't have one you are not only risking the professional image of your firm, but also risking potential liability issues that may arise ...
[Added: 29 Oct 2005 Hits: 59 Words: 723]
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2. | 8 Things You Must Know To Build A Great Website
Last week we talked about how a bad website can do your business more harm than good. That column brought several emails asking what is the key to building an effective business website. I replied with the same answer ...
[Added: 01 Oct 2005 Hits: 64 Words: 1136]
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3. | When It Comes To Ebay, Don't Follow The Herd
Q: I want to start an online business. Since I don't know anything about ecommerce and building websites and such, I'm thinking about starting out selling products on eBay, then pay someone to build a website for me once the money ...
[Added: 13 Sep 2005 Hits: 46 Words: 1105]
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4. | Is Your Website Credit Card Friendly?
In my last column I discussed the process of credit card enabling your brick-and-mortar business. I pointed out that research has shown that accepting credit cards can help increase revenue and enhance cash flow. I also pointed out ...
[Added: 13 Sep 2005 Hits: 56 Words: 1264]
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5. | How To Handle Customer Billing Snafus
Q: I just discovered that for the past six months I have been billing a client half of what I should have been. Should I just include the total of the past due balance on his next bill or ...
[Added: 13 Sep 2005 Hits: 39 Words: 896]
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6. | What's The Customer Service Buzz About Your Business?
If you're a regular reader of this column you know that my number one pet peeve is bad customer service. Nothing chaps my backside more than paying hard-earned money for a product or service only to ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 93 Words: 348]
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7. | The Joy And Hazards Of Finding Your First Office
Q: I have outgrown my home office and need to find office space for me and two part time employees. I am really excited about opening my first official office, but never having rented commercial space before I don't know ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 39 Words: 1103]
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8. | Perceived Value Is In The Eye Of The Beholder
Q: My partner and I are having a hard time coming up with what we feel is the perfect price for our new product. We know what competing products sell for, but we don't know if it's better to price our ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 39 Words: 826]
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9. | Does Your Website Induce Seizures?
Q: We promote our web site in all our ad campaigns, but according to my website statistics program, we are getting very few visitors who click past the first page. The site has a cool ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 48 Words: 972]
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10. | The Secrets Of Starting A Successful Ebay Business
Q: I hear so much about people who started selling on eBay and eventually turned it into their full time business. Is it really possible to build a profitable business just selling junk on eBay?
-- Alex K.
A: If ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 61 Words: 1095]
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11. | Teaching Large Companies To Think Like The Little Guys
Q: I am an executive at a large company and in our industry we are seeing a trend wherein smaller companies are gaining market share at an alarming rate. Our CEO believes the reason for this is that smaller companies are more prone to innovation ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 38 Words: 1097]
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12. | Turnkey Dropship Websites Save You Time, Trouble And Money
Q: I would like to start an online dropshipping business, but I have no idea how to get started. I would like to specialize in giftware and accessories. Where do I find products and how do I get set up a website ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 57 Words: 350]
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13. | SBA's 8(a) Program Can Help Some Companies Compete
Q: A friend told me that as a woman of Native American descent I might be eligible for a special SBA program that will help me start a small business. He said I could compete for government contracts through this ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 44 Words: 745]
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14. | Investing In Son's Business Could Cause A Real Family Feud
Q: My youngest son wants to borrow $5,000 to start his own business. My wife is afraid to tell him no. She thinks we should just give him the money and not expect anything in return. I disagree. He ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 41 Words: 685]
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15. | Franchises Offer Shortcuts, But Not Control
Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60 and intend to fulfill my lifelong dream of owning my own business. I'm too old to start from scratch, so I'm looking at several franchise opportunities, including fast food, auto parts, and an ...
[Added: 08 Sep 2005 Hits: 117 Words: 820]
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16. | The Bad Guys Are Phishing For Your Personal Information
Do you know what "phishing" is?
No, it doesn't mean you grab a pole and head to the late to catch some phish.
The official Webopedia definition of "phishing" is as follows:
The act of sending an e-mail to ...
[Added: 01 Sep 2005 Hits: 50 Words: 837]
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17. | Dropship Your Way To Ebay Success
Dropshipping is a topic that I first addressed in my column way back in April, 2003, which is decades ago in Internet years. But with the continuing growth of eBay and it's positioning of itself as a viable way for anyone looking to launch an ebusiness, ...
[Added: 31 Aug 2005 Hits: 82 Words: 1058]
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18. | The "e" In eBusiness Does Not Mean Exempt
I've gotten quite a few emails recently from ebusiness owners who seem to think that just because their business is conducted online or from the comfort of home that the rules and regulations that govern brick and mortar businesses do not apply to them.
...
[Added: 19 Aug 2005 Hits: 51 Words: 697]
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19. | Veteran Entrepreneurs Are Growing In Ranks
When I’m not running my own business, writing articles about business, speaking to groups and organizations about business, or consulting with companies who want my advice about the running of their business, I teach a weekly class on the subject of (care to guess?) ...
[Added: 13 Aug 2005 Hits: 93 Words: 1030]
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20. | Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur?
Q: I am interested in starting my own business. I have a business degree and lots of experience in my chosen field, but I don't know if I have the necessary skills to really make it on my own. Any advice?
Marie C.
A: You've hit the nail on ...
[Added: 13 Aug 2005 Hits: 92 Words: 829]
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21. | Cut Start-Up Costs By Using A Dropshipper
Q: I'm starting an online specialty shop that sells gifts and home accessories. I want to be able to have items dropshipped to customers through my site. I already have a Web site and a domain reserved, ...
[Added: 13 Aug 2005 Hits: 46 Words: 727]
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22. | Choosing A Business That's Right For You
Q: I really want to start my own business, but I have no idea what business would be best suited for me. I'm also eager to get started, but I don't want to pick the wrong business just because I'm impatient. How should ...
[Added: 13 Aug 2005 Hits: 38 Words: 1221]
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23. | Build A High Profit Business With Online Affiliate Programs
Q: I am considering starting an ebusiness using affiliate programs, but there is so much hype out there I can't figure out which programs would work best for me. Everybody claims their program is best. I'd really appreciate some guidance ...
[Added: 13 Aug 2005 Hits: 54 Words: 566]
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24. | Business Is No Guarantee Of Riches
Q: I'm thinking about starting a business since that seems to be how most rich people get rich. I don't have any business experience or much money, but I'm a fast learner and have lots of energy. Any free advice?
Peter J.
A: ...
[Added: 09 Aug 2005 Hits: 41 Words: 977]
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25. | Credit Cards, Merchant Accounts, And Your Bottomline
Q: I'm opening a gift shop and want to be able to accept credit cards. I talked to the branch manager at my bank, but he didn't seem to know much about how it all ...
[Added: 03 Aug 2005 Hits: 43 Words: 1220]
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26. | What Makes A Good Leader? Ask Uncle Sam
What do the major generals who are leading the war efforts in Iraq have in common with executives and entrepreneurs who are conducting business back home? When it comes to leadership, the answer is probably a lot more than you think. ...
[Added: 03 Aug 2005 Hits: 44 Words: 819]
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27. | How To Boost Your Bottom Line With Just Two Little Words
I hate to sound like one of those cheesy get-rich-quick commercials, but this week I am going to let you in on a little secret that is so powerful that it will immediately change the way you do business.
In fact, this ...
[Added: 23 Jul 2005 Hits: 35 Words: 904]
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28. | For Entrepreneurs A Simple IRA May Be Best
Q: I own a small decorating business and I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know anything about taxes or retirement plans. I’d like to set up a 401(k) or an IRA or some other kind of retirement plan for me and my three employees. What are ...
[Added: 21 Jul 2005 Hits: 89 Words: 1093]
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29. | Writing The Book On Great Customer Service
Q: One of the big chain bookstores recently opened up near my small book store. Already I can see my business starting to decline. Is there anything I can do to compete with the bigger store or should I just accept the inevitable?
-- Peter Q.
A: A ...
[Added: 21 Jul 2005 Hits: 96 Words: 1007]
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30. | Beware Of Spam Withdrawals
Q: I am so sick of all the spam that is sent to my business email address. I spend an hour every morning just trying to sort out the good email from the bad. I know I could ...
[Added: 19 Jul 2005 Hits: 44 Words: 1138]
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31. | There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!
Q: I'm curious. What is the dumbest business question you've ever been asked?
-- Norris W.
A: Shame on you, Norris. There is no such thing as a dumb business question. OK, that's not exactly true. There are dumb business questions and I do get quite a few of ...
[Added: 19 Jul 2005 Hits: 46 Words: 848]
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32. | Achievements Outweigh Education And Experience
Q: When it comes to succeeding in business, which do you think is more important: education or experience?
-- Regina M.
A: Regina, have you seen the television show, Fear Factor? If you haven't seen it you've probably heard about it. Fear Factor is ...
[Added: 12 Jul 2005 Hits: 49 Words: 895]
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33. | SWOT Analysis Is No Magic 8 Ball
Q: A key investor in my business has suggested that I hire a consultant to do a SWOT Analysis to help plan for the future. I try not to argue with my investors, but I'm not so sure I need to have ...
[Added: 12 Jul 2005 Hits: 47 Words: 1186]
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34. | Business Lessons Learned At The Mall
Normally I dispense highly-intelligent small business advice in response to thought-provoking questions submitted by future and fellow entrepreneurs. This week, however, I have a couple of questions for myself, one of which makes me wonder how truly intelligent I really am.
...
[Added: 12 Jul 2005 Hits: 38 Words: 1155]
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35. | The Business Autopsy: A Fact Of Life
Last time we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy on a dead business. No, I haven't been watching too many of those wonderfully graphic, TV forensic investigation shows. The reason I recommend you do a business autopsy is to uncover the exact reasons why the business died. ...
[Added: 08 Jul 2005 Hits: 41 Words: 1005]
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36. | The Business Failed, But Did You?
Q: After years of dreaming about starting my own business, I finally took the plunge a little over a year ago. To say the least, my dream quickly became a nightmare. The business didn't do nearly as well as I had hoped. I ran out of money ...
[Added: 07 Jul 2005 Hits: 57 Words: 1050]
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37. | An Entrepreneur And A Life To Be Remembered
I was reminded of my own mortality today. I guess you can say I had a near death experience, though the death I experienced was not my own.
No, I was never in any danger, nor was my life ever ...
[Added: 07 Jun 2005 Hits: 87 Words: 1140]
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