Business Generation

A security firm which handles immigration detainees received more than 700 complaints last year, according to official figures released under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.

The most common complaints against G4S related to lost property and poor communication, but there were 48 complaints of assault, three of which were upheld.

More than half of the complaints related to Brook House, near Gatwick Airport, which holds convicted foreign criminals awaiting deportation.

Figures show there were 773 complaints against the private company from immigration detainees in 2010, of which 130 were found to be fully or partially substantiated. About 640 were unsubstantiated. Read more…

Are you managing a social media account or research for your business? The fact is, social media can be useful for lots of things beyond just marketing. Want a closer look? No matter what purpose you might use social media for in your SMB, you will need some way to manage the results. Here’s how.

Basic Techniques

Using analytics to measure your results. The same kinds of tools used to examine a click through or SEO campaign can now be directed to examine the effectiveness of social media. If you want to know whether your social media campaign is working effectively, get your hands on one of these tools and have look for yourself.

Hunting for customers on Twitter. If you think Twitter is just for spreading the word about your business, think again. It is also a great tool for making connections. In particular, you can use Twitter to search for those who might be future customers and follow them. B

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Are you an entrepreneur? If you’re reading this post or found it in a Google search, perhaps the answer should be obvious. Whether the business you plan to start or get into is large, small, or somewhere in between, the skills you will use to evaluate the market, competition and risks of the venture are, in part, skills belonging to an entrepreneur. If you fit into this category, you’ve come to the right place. So sit back and enjoy the links below.

Entrepreneurship Basics

Differences between big and small business? Is there a real difference between building a big versus small business? Maybe not, according to Liz Strauss who had the opportunity to visit with billionaire Clay Mathile and hear the story of his life as an entrepreneur. Check out some of Liz’s takeaways and ask yourself, is this any different than the way you would build your business?

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PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has created a website for the state’s financial information, ranging from budget reports to Division of Taxation reports.

The state’s “Investor Relations Portal” was launched on Thursday ahead of two upcoming bond offerings and can be accessed through the Treasury site.

In addition to the website, the state also completed a review of its bond disclosure practices, and improved the information statement and related bond disclosure information that will accompany all future bond offerings, the General Treasurer’s office said in a statement.

“Transparency is paramount when it comes to public finances,” said General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo. “Building and m

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A retail giant is creating 250 jobs as it opens one of its biggest stores in the country in Sussex.

The Next store will open in the former Homebase store in Holmbush Farm, Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham.

The posts, which have already been filled, include managers, supervisors, and assistants.

The vacancies were recruited locally with a few senior staff coming from other stores.

The 56,000sq ft flagship store, which is the chain’s third largest in the country, will open in August and will be the only Next outlet nationwide selling DIY and garden products.

It will also offer the full range of Next goods and products including womenswear, menswear, children’s clothing and home collections.

Next has installed a mezzanine floor and will introduce a new home and garden store, complete with a café, to the site.

A one-to-one free design service will be available. Cust Read more…

There’s a lot of talk in the marketing blogosphere about the importance of setting yourself apart from your competition–about how to be taken seriously, you must establish yourself as an expert in your field. And while that’s all well and good, no one ever really tells you how you’re supposed to establish yourself as an expert. What goes into becoming an “expert” and how do you know if you’re doing it right or you’re just spinning your wheels and getting no brand karma?

What should small business owners do to help brand themselves as authorities that users will trust?

Below are five tips:

1. Start Small: I’m sure there are a number of things you want to brand yourself and your company as being an expert on. However, start by picking one and building your empire from there. What is the one t

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