Business Generation

A level of innovation rarely possible before is happening thanks to new tools and a rapidly changing business environment. Read through our Friday roundup and become inspired by the possibilities for your entrepreneurial innovation. These tips could change your business.

Online Elements

Can’t get Twitter followers? It’s not as hard as you may think, but there may be simple things you are doing wrong that are keeping folks from following you on Twitter. Or worse yet, starting to unfollow? Before things get any worse, consider this simple guide. The Torch

It’s all about your content. When

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Look at your brand. . . now back at me.  Now back to your brand. . . now back to me. Sadly, I’m going to tell you what you don’t want to hear about the Old Spice campaign.

Old Spice gave us a campaign that was equal parts entertainment, traditional television advertising and YouTube social media magic. But when the sales numbers started trickling in, something was amiss. Namely, sales. What ensued was a firestorm in the blogosphere with sharply divided camps fighting a holy war of mostly unsupported opinion.

When new data points started emerging, they provided the careful student of business a few nuggets to keep in mind for the future, when we’ll be spending our money and looking for real results. Here’s

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Small business owners have many choices to make when it comes to employees. You not only need to choose the right employees, but also select the best benefits that attract and retain the right employees for the long haul.

What health benefits should you offer? Here is a list of the usual health benefits available to small business owners:

Medical Insurance – This is a must-have for any business. Keeping your employees covered for medical expenses is one of the most basic and essential benefits you can offer. Small business owners have many choices when it comes to group medical plans, including the split between employer/employee premiums, co-pay, and amount of benefits. T

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Thinking of investing in social media but struggling to know where to start?

According to a December 2009 survey by Ad-ology, 46 percent of small business owners said they wish they knew more about social media.

And, while coming up with a social media strategy is one thing (the resources at the end of this article provide pointers on this), it also helps to have a basic understanding of what each of the major social media sites can and can’t do for your small business and its customers.

Here’s a quick 101 on how to best leverage the top three social networking sites — Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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Ah… the joys of summer. That time of the year when people gather for backyard barbecues, children sign up to play in baseball leagues, and families turn their attention to summer vacation plans.

Summer is also a time to reflect on the reasons why you decided to become a small business owner and declare independence from the traditional 9-to-5 workforce.

So, why did you decide to declare independence?

Was it because you wanted more flexibility and freedom in your life? P

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Small business owners must monitor their cash flow to ensure that the business can stay solvent. When cash flow grows tight, tough decisions must be made, and oftentimes, cutting or reducing expenses is a strategic way to keep the cash flow positive.

However, did you know that choosing certain “green” appliances and energy strategies can cut your costs considerably? According to the SBA’s report, “Improving Energy Use and Efficiency for Small Business,” you can save from 10% to 30% on utility and other energy usage costs by making certain eco-friendly choices. Here are a few suggestions:

Light Bulbs

Your light bulb choices have a bright impact on your electric bill. Rather th

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