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	<title>Small Business Answers</title>
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	<description>Provides visitors with articles, tips, guides and resources for small business management.</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:35:30 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Marketing your way out of a Recession</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/423025927/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/10/16/marketing-your-way-out-of-a-recession/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:32:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/10/16/marketing-your-way-out-of-a-recession/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Everywhere you turn stock markets are crashing – I even heard a reporter say the worst of ‘it’ was over when Wall Street stabilized earlier this week. I actually burst out laughing. I felt it was a really naive comment that gave people around the world false hope. Only 48 hours later the New York [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="market-your-way-out-of-a-recession.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/market-your-way-out-of-a-recession.jpg" />Everywhere you turn stock markets are crashing – I even heard a reporter say the worst of ‘it’ was over when Wall Street stabilized earlier this week. I actually burst out laughing. I felt it was a really naive comment that gave people around the world false hope. Only 48 hours later the New York market nosedived again. Affecting worldwide markets. World governments are now calling emergency meetings to get the economy going. But this does not need to be a negative for small business. Take a look at what you can do now. Maybe you have already done so because you heard the early warnings.</p>
<p>There are things you can do to increase your marketing strategies to help your small business grow. And, it is a time when you should consider putting in place strategies that complement each other. And, it doesn’t have to cost you much money, especially at a time you can hardly afford it.<a id="more-711"></a></p>
<p><strong>Google AdWords Marketing</strong></p>
<p>Give yourself a budget, just what you can afford and start off small. People surfing the web are always looking for something when your ad pops up on a page. Using Google gives you a broad reach of qualified potential clients. Its search engines filter the information from the user and presents your ads on pages that match their keywords. Google also tends to be the cheapest</p>
<p><strong>Partner your Marketing</strong></p>
<p>Seek partnerships with other businesses to refer customers to each other. An example may be a freelance writer could partner with a graphic artist. Just make sure you mutually benefit.</p>
<p><strong>Negotiate Advertising Rates<br />
</strong><br />
It is always good practice to do your marketing research. The market is very competitive whether it is advertising on the net or in print. Everyone is out to catch the falling dollar and will negotiate and compete for that mighty marketing money.</p>
<p><strong>Links to your Website</strong></p>
<p>Links. Links. And more links. Good quality links. And, all it will cost you is some time. Article marketing is the latest craze for marketing. But it is not just any old information any more. Good content is what is demanded. It is about providing a service to attract potential clients to your small business. Long gone are the days where any old written material will attract the attention of the search engines.</p>
<p><strong>Use Print Marketing<img align="right" alt="update-your-marketing.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/update-your-marketing.jpg" /></strong></p>
<p>Don’t forget your local customers – use print marketing. Design brochures and direct mail them out to promote your business. Printers are very cheap these days. Look online and you will find out just how cheap.</p>
<p><strong>Do not Sacrifice Quality</strong></p>
<p>Do not sacrifice quality. Sure, get a good price but you still want your marketing material to reflect your small business. Think about this – your marketing material is how potential clients will judge you. Good quality branding and printing reflects a good image. The opposite is true for poor quality material. Cheap does not usually turn out cheap; often you need to get the work done again.</p>
<p><strong>Be Grateful</strong></p>
<p>Take care of your clients. Let your loyal clients know how much you appreciate their continued business. If you can afford to make up thank you packages or offer customer rewards or discounts, do so.</p>
<p>Yes, the economic climate is tough and is likely to continue for some time. But we can make the choice to sit back in fear or move forward in confidence. You can grow your business through tough economic times – it takes a positive attitude and some good marketing strategies.
</p>
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		<title>Practical Tips for Surviving the Recession</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/415170546/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/10/08/practical-tips-for-surviving-the-recession/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:50:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>interest rates</category><category>recession survival tips</category><category>subprime mortgage crisis</category><category>survival tip</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/10/08/practical-tips-for-surviving-the-recession/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The subprime mortgage crisis of 2007 has hit the world hard. Rescue packages have been rolled out in numerous countries to help their economy’s’ survive and lessen the recession effects. Australia’s Reserve Bank has dropped that country’s official interest rates by a massive 1% in recent days. I wonder if this foretells what is to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="closed-one-day-a-week-during-the-recession.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/closed-one-day-a-week-during-the-recession.jpg" />The subprime mortgage crisis of 2007 has hit the world hard. Rescue packages have been rolled out in numerous countries to help their economy’s’ survive and lessen the recession effects. Australia’s Reserve Bank has dropped that country’s official interest rates by a massive 1% in recent days. I wonder if this foretells what is to come and how it will affect the communities of the world in the immediate future.</p>
<p>With all this happening in the world arena you must be wondering how you can tighten your belt and help yourself survive what is going to be a difficult financial time. Here are some very simple tips that can help you save money and survive an economic recession.</p>
<p><strong>Become Power Hungry</strong></p>
<p>Cut your power use. You can do this by switching your light bulbs for ones that save energy. You can also save power by turning the thermostat on your heating and cooling system up or down so it is not running all day. Or, adjust the thermostat to automatic so its use fluctuates during the course of the day when it is most needed.<a id="more-708"></a></p>
<p>Make sure all lights and electrical appliances are turned off in rooms that are not being used. By turning off the standby power to all your appliances, you can save yourself quite a bit of money over a year.</p>
<div align="center">Watch this video<br />
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=gwBV9df7KmI">http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=gwBV9df7KmI</a></div>
<p align="left"><strong>Ban the use of Paper</strong></p>
<p>Use your computer instead of paper. There is little use, these days, to print much out when you can use your computer system to send information and as a storage system. You can even burn your information onto DVD or CD discs. You have now eliminated the need for much paper and the need for storage space, filing cabinets thus saving yourself money.<br />
<strong><br />
Cut Back your Opening Hours</strong></p>
<p>Another survival tip during a recession is to shorten your business hours. Take a look at your business and determine which day of the week is your quietest and close on that day. This will save you money in overheads on a day that may not bring in enough money to cover costs. This can work for all sorts of businesses. In many cases staff can work from home a couple of days a week to also help you cut utility costs. If you own a shop you can probably use a day off and it even cuts staff wages for the day.<br />
<strong><br />
Conserve Water<img align="right" alt="stop-your-taps-leaking-to-help-you-survive-a-recession.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/stop-your-taps-leaking-to-help-you-survive-a-recession.jpg" /></strong></p>
<p>Cut your water usage in your business, and at home. Install more efficient appliances to help you conserve water. Also regularly check for any water leaks and have them fixed straight away. You don’t want to waste money on water you don’t use. Do you?</p>
<p><strong>Do Deliveries One Day a Week</strong></p>
<p>If you deliver to your customers cut down to delivering only one day a week (if you can). Plan your delivery routes to cut down on wasted mileage and extra gas costs to help you survive the recession.</p>
<p><strong>Market Online</strong></p>
<p>Use the internet to market your goods and services. Even consider setting up an online store you customers can access to save them traveling costs as well. This can help boost sales and may cut your labor costs. It may even bring you customers that could not access you before.  If you do not sell products but services, then the internet is a must for you as it can open up the world to potential clients from across the world.</p>
<p><strong>Consider Hiring Virtual Assistants</strong></p>
<p>Hiring a virtual assistant is a great way to cut costs. You can a hire a virtual assistant for all sorts of help either on a project basis or on an ongoing basis. Do some research online and you may be surprised at just how affordable a virtual assistant is, especially during times of an economic recession. This can then eliminate the need for permanent staff. Virtual assistants work on a contract basis and all you pay is an agreed rate or price per project.</p>
<p>You may see these recession tips as very basic but, try them for 3 months and see how much money you save. It just may be the difference between surviving the recession or not.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Will your Small Business Survive the Recession?</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/410149878/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/10/03/will-your-small-business-survive-the-recession/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:56:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>financial uncertainty</category><category>recession</category><category>recession proof</category><category>stock markets</category><category>stock market prices</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/10/03/will-your-small-business-survive-the-recession/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the United States financial situation worsens have you wondered how you will survive the recession effects or how it will affect your small business? Is it going to put you into a tail spin where you watch every move on the financial market hoping for a quick recovery? Will your business crash and burn [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="housing-crisis.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/housing-crisis.jpg" />As the United States financial situation worsens have you wondered how you will survive the recession effects or how it will affect your small business? Is it going to put you into a tail spin where you watch every move on the financial market hoping for a quick recovery? Will your business crash and burn thanks to the American housing crisis? Or, do you just need to make small adjustments to help get your business through the tough times ahead.</p>
<p>Now is probably a good time to stop ignoring the recession in America. Be realistic, the stock market prices are falling and everyone is in fear. Already a few major banks have closed their doors in America after depositors panicked in fear of the recession 2008. People rushed to the banks to withdraw their money before the recession worsened.<a id="more-705"></a></p>
<p>While governments may put rescue packages together to help bail out people struck by crisis, it is still every single person’s responsibility to do what they can to avert financial disaster within their own lives.</p>
<p>Take steps to boost your productivity no matter how good or bad the economic situation is.</p>
<div align="center">Watch this video<br />
<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=2EnaU7D80oM">http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=2EnaU7D80oM</a></div>
<p><strong><br />
Seven ways to Recession Proof your Small Business</strong></p>
<p>1.    Build a reputation for excellence. Excellent products, excellent service, and excellent customer service. In today’s climate of fluctuating stock markets and financial uncertainty, your products and services reflect your business and services. Excellent service and products will guarantee your customers will not only come back to you, but talk about you to everyone they know.<br />
2.    Instead of just putting your prices up, add value for money so your customers leave feeling satisfied.<br />
3.    Stand by your products and services. Offer a guarantee that others in your industry may not be able to match. And deliver on your guarantee. This is a sure fire way to get your small business noticed.<br />
4.    Develop good relationships with customers who you enjoy an understanding with, and with whom you share similar beliefs and interests.<br />
5.    In your small business take the attitude of what you can give to your client. Think about how you can truly offer your customers service, rather than thinking about what you get from your customers.<br />
6.    Take time to create what you want for your business. Setup and achieve your own goals rather than what another person may see for your small business. Stay ahead of the fluctuating stock markets rather than relying on someone else to keep you informed or do these things for you.<img align="right" alt="crashed-and-burnt-by-the-stock-market-crash.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/crashed-and-burnt-by-the-stock-market-crash.jpg" /><br />
7.    This is a new year so forget about last year – whether you had a good or bad year it is over. This is a new year with new goals to meet.</p>
<p>You may wonder how these tips will recession proof your small business. Well, it is simple. These tips help to strengthen your business from the inside out. You are completely independent and reliant solely on yourself (and any suppliers) and your own resources to grow your business.</p>
<p>A good attitude and outlook on the world certainly rubs off on the people you meet and they will come back for more if you deliver the services and products that you promise, when you promise – on time.</p>
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		<title>Hire a Virtual Assistant to Help Out</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/403252951/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/09/25/hire-a-virtual-assistant-to-help-out/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:39:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>administrative skills</category><category>computer skills</category><category>virtual assistants</category><category>work from home</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/09/25/hire-a-virtual-assistant-to-help-out/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You started to work from home for yourself and thought you could handle everything yourself. But things are busy and getting busier. This is great but the work piles up and you find you work endless hours. You dream of being able to afford an assistant but all the responsibilities and costs put you off [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="are-you-moving-through-life-to-quickly.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/are-you-moving-through-life-to-quickly.jpg" />You started to work from home for yourself and thought you could handle everything yourself. But things are busy and getting busier. This is great but the work piles up and you find you work endless hours. You dream of being able to afford an assistant but all the responsibilities and costs put you off hiring help.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, you can afford an assistant. A virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are springing up all over the world and they are an affordable option to hiring a permanent member of staff.<a id="more-702"></a></p>
<p>A virtual assistant works online from anywhere in the world and can manage all sorts of tasks for you. It can be on a one off project, full-time or part-time basis. The choice is yours and the arrangements can be made as flexible as you want to meet your needs. Your virtual assistant will work online from home.</p>
<p style="text-align: center">Watch this video<br />
<a rel="nofollow" href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=0E_pN_jSLcA">http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=0E_pN_jSLcA</a></p>
<div align="left">Here are some things that may help you decide whether you need the outside help of a virtual assistant:</div>
<ul>
<li>Are you meeting your clients’ deadlines?</li>
<li>Are you happy at your efficiency levels?</li>
<li>Are your clients satisfied with your services and products?</li>
<li>Are you enjoying your work as much as when you started to work from home?</li>
<li>Are you able to grow your business or are you always bogged down with minor details?</li>
</ul>
<p>If you answered no to two or more of these questions then you need help. And you need it fast to keep you on track and to help you move forward. Consider hiring a virtual assistant who wants to work from home.</p>
<p><strong>What is a Virtual Assistant?</strong></p>
<p>A virtual assistant looks for a work from home opportunity and will offer all sorts of office and administrative skills as well as marketing, writing, graphics and computer skills. There will be someone out there who can meet your needs.</p>
<p>The whole point is you brief them and they perform the tasks for you from a remote destination. It is most likely you will never meet the people who work for you at all.<img align="right" alt="home-office.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/home-office.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>How to find a Virtual Assistant</strong></p>
<p>It is not hard to find people looking for a work from home opportunity. Make sure you use the same criteria that you would to hire an assistant at any time. Check out references and get examples of their work. Check out their skills in relation to the work you need a virtual assistant to do. There is no point hiring a secretary if you need a web designer.</p>
<p>Before you look for a virtual assistant make a list of the tasks you want them to deal with – what you need:</p>
<ul>
<li>Think about how many hours each task will take and prioritize them in order of importance. Work out the total hours for each project.</li>
<li>Look at your budget. What can you afford and what does a virtual assistant cost?</li>
<li>When you first start hiring a virtual assistant start out hiring on a project by project basis and try a few different people out. This can give you a good idea of what works and what does not work.</li>
<li>Rearrange your budget to pay for the initial extra expense. In time this should increase your earning capacity.</li>
</ul>
<p>With the internet opening the world up, more and more we are changing the way we do business with each other. There are many ways to find a virtual assistant and the internet can be one of the most cost-effective ways to find just the right person to help you out. Do your research and check out some of the reputable sites that offer solutions to your employment needs.</p>
<p>Now you know there are simple solutions to your labour hire problems which make it simple to get the help you need, when you need it. And there are no ongoing obligations unless you want them. Alternatively, perhaps you would like to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.virtualbusinesssolution.com/cmd.php?af=847097">start your own virtual assistant business</a>.</p>
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		<title>Use a VoIP System in your Small Business</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/395106436/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/09/17/use-a-voip-system-in-your-small-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:20:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>data security</category><category>international calls</category><category>voice over internet protocol</category><category>VoIP technology</category><category>voip system</category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The latest, greatest growing craze and money saver is VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) for your small business. All you need is a computer – laptop or PC – some software, a VoIP phone and your business is ready to business using your computer as your communications hub.
VoIP systems are a brilliant idea for small [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="right" alt="look your clients in the eye using VoIP systems" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/look-your-customers-in-the-eye-on-voip.jpg" />The latest, greatest growing craze and money saver is VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) for your small business. All you need is a computer – laptop or PC – some software, a VoIP phone and your business is ready to business using your computer as your communications hub.</p>
<p>VoIP systems are a brilliant idea for small business. Cost-effective, often less than your landline telephone company for international calls. VoIP makes it easy for you to look your overseas clients in the eye. A VoIP system is an efficient, sophisticated way to communicate with your customers. You can even transfer images and video files through the VoIP network.<a id="more-699"></a></p>
<p align="center">Watch this video<br />
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=x56j2BRkUME&#038;feature=related">http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=x56j2BRkUME&#038;feature=related</a><br />
<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<div align="left"><strong>Why turn to VoIP Technology</strong></div>
<p>The best reason to use VoIP technology is you can make as many phone local and international calls you like at a low cost. And, you can access your account no matter where you are in the world. Using VoIP technology, you can:</p>
<ul>
<li>fax</li>
<li>email</li>
<li>have your calls answered automatically</li>
<li>voicemail</li>
<li>local and toll free numbers with data security</li>
<li>good quality voice transmission.</li>
</ul>
<p>For businesses, it is a handy, convenient tool to stay in touch with your customers. Some VoIP PBX has an easy click to call feature. This gives your customers more options to get in touch with you. You can put a button on your website for your clients and when they click, they can communicate directly with you.</p>
<p>Other features of VoIP technology include call forwarding, three-way conference calling, free call forwarding and text messaging, and caller ID. This is a great way for small businesses to cover all their communications needs in one simple system.<br />
If you make the move to a VoIP system don’t forget about security. This is a major concern when changing to this technology but if you keep VoIP security in mind you can protect yourself.</p>
<p><strong>How good is your VoIP Security?</strong></p>
<p>We all know how vulnerable our laptops and PCs are to attacks from hackers and, because it is Internet based it is just as vulnerable. You need to keep in mind, when using a VoIP system, you are open to eavesdroppers infiltrating your telephone calls and stealing your data. You must plan ahead to protect your business from attack before you move over to VoIP. Make sure you understand all the security issues surrounding this new technology. The same measures you take for your internet use needs to apply to your VoIP technology.</p>
<p><strong>Protect your Business VoIP </strong></p>
<p>The best advice to protect you is to set up a multilayer security strategy to protect your VoIP business. You can do this by dividing your VoIP network into secure zones, surround them with firewalls, and use techniques to prevent outside intrusion into your VoIP system. Some of the things you can do include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Put in place encrypted coding to check the authentication and access into your VoIP system. Encrypt all the data you send and make sure calls made by employees are tracked by tracking software to keep staff accountable for the information they send.</li>
<li>Take a look at your internal security. Keep in mind your employees communicating with each other using wireless phones it opens your business to potential security risks. Encrypt all your internal VoIP data to protect the company from internal attacks and restrict access to the VoIP system. Also, route all incoming calls througha gateway server.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>To secure your VoIP network is the same as securing your computer from viruses. Use firewalls and virus software to protect your small business. VoIP is as secure as
<div><img align="left" alt="use a VoIP system instead of carrier pigeon" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/use-voip-instead-of-carrier-pigeon.jpg" /></div>
<p>the measures you take.</li>
</ul>
<p>VoIP technology is rapidly taking the way we communicate into a new dimension. We have come a long way from the old days of carrier pigeons carrying our messages. Now, we sit in front of our computers and talk to our clients all over the world. And, if you setup a webcam, you can look them in the eye too.</p>
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		<title>Cultivate your Small Business Culture</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/383657017/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/09/04/cultivate-your-small-business-culture/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:01:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>corporate culture</category><category>corporate social responsibility</category><category>grow your culture for productivity</category><category>grow your culture to improve everyone lives</category><category>organisational culture</category><category>organizational culture</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/09/04/cultivate-your-small-business-culture/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Keep an eye on the culture of your small business from they day you start trading. It does not matter whether you are a sole trader or have employees. Your organisational culture is how people see you, and how your employees interact and treat each other when they work for your business.
Through your corporate ethics, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div align="left"><img align="left" alt="25935_camomilla1.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/25935_camomilla1.jpg" />Keep an eye on the culture of your small business from they day you start trading. It does not matter whether you are a sole trader or have employees. Your organisational culture is how people see you, and how your employees interact and treat each other when they work for your business.</div>
<p>Through your corporate ethics, your clients and employees will learn what you expect from them in they way they do business on your behalf. This is how people learn to trust you and your business. So if you act in an ethical honest way without bullying or discrimination, then your small business will naturally develop a well-balanced organizational culture.<a id="more-697"></a><br />
<strong>Corporate Social Responsibility</strong></p>
<p>No matter who you are, what business you are in, or how many employees work for you – your organisational culture will affect your bottom line. Not to mention your legal obligations as an employer to provide a safe workplace free of harassment and discrimination.</p>
<p align="center">See this video<br />
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=92lg7EvwKBE">http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=92lg7EvwKBE</a></p>
<div align="left">As the business owner or manager, you must look at your organisation’s leadership and see if this is how you want your employees to behave. You want a happy workplace, which is productive, where your staff wants to come to work each day.</div>
<p><strong>Corporate Culture – What it can Cost</strong></p>
<p>While you may not think your organisation’s culture affects your bottom line – you may want to think about that differently. Organisational culture really does affect your profit margin when you think of it in the following terms:</p>
<ul>
<li>Poor organisational culture (e.g. bullying disguised as jokes; a culture where everyone watches the clock and reports others for leaving at what they think may be early) affects your staff’s wellbeing which relates to absenteeism, a down turn in productivity and higher workers compensation claims. Your business may even earn a poor reputation for its organizational culture.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Good organisational culture (e.g. relaxed, happy environment where it is not too much trouble for people to help each other) will see your profit margins grow. People work harder when they are happier, and the organisation earns their loyalty.</li>
</ul>
<p>Always show those who work for you your appreciation. For example, hold a morning tea or lunch to say thank you at the end of a large project or at the end of a busy time. It does not take much to show the people who work for you how much their hard work means to you. And, your organization’s productivity will grow.<img align="right" alt="1061525_in_town_21.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/1061525_in_town_21.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>Change Management to change your Corporate Culture</strong></p>
<p>Be vigilant to what goes on in your workplace. Are there the sounds of happy voices with good productivity at work? Or, have you noticed rising absenteeism and staff disappearing for longer lunches or taking more breaks?</p>
<p>If you need a culture change throughout your organization, make sure you have a written Code of Conduct. Promote it so all your staff understands that it is their responsibility to behave with respect to all at work.</p>
<p>Let your staff know what you see as appropriate behavior and if there are breaches of your Code of Conduct treat them seriously to keep all your workers safe.</p>
<p>Encourage your staff to openly discuss any concerns they may have. And, if there are any complaints, make sure you follow through with an investigation if informal resolutions do not work. For informal resolutions to work, you need to follow up afterwards from time to time to check any inappropriate behaviour has ceased.</p>
<p>If you treat your staff well it should automatically flow on throughout the workplace. Everyone wants a happy, productive workplace. It all comes down to your organisational culture and the behavior you allow in your workplace.</p>
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		<title>Keyword Optimize your Small Business Website</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/379223136/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/08/30/keyword-optimize-your-small-business-website/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:37:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>free keyword tool</category><category>keyword optimization</category><category>keywords</category><category>keyword optimisation</category><category>search engine optimisation</category><category>search engine optimization</category><category>small business</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/08/30/keyword-optimize-your-small-business-website/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is amazing, but it seems that not all small businesses have a website. If they do, then it is often poorly structured and has no search engine optimization. This is a big mistake as how can you expect the search engines to find you.
What are Keywords?
Keywords are one of the ways people find you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="1010953___race__1.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/1010953___race__1.jpg" />This is amazing, but it seems that not all small businesses have a website. If they do, then it is often poorly structured and has no search engine optimization. This is a big mistake as how can you expect the search engines to find you.</p>
<p><strong>What are Keywords?</strong></p>
<p>Keywords are one of the ways people find you on the Internet. We all use search engines (e.g. Google) to find what we are looking for. What we type into the search bar is what become the keywords.</p>
<p>Good keyword optimisation can be the difference between the search engines finding you.<a id="more-693"></a></p>
<p><strong>Use a Keyword Tool to help your Web Marketing</strong></p>
<p>If you want your small business website seen by the masses then one of the things you need to do is optimize your website is good keyword use. The key for small businesses with websites is to anticipate what keywords people will search for when they look for a topic related to your business.</p>
<p>For example, if you have the top spot on Google you are likely to get at least 40% of your visitors clicking on your website when searching for certain keywords. If you want more customers then you need more people coming to your website.</p>
<p align="left" style="text-align: center">Watch this video for a quick SEO tip<br />
<font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><a target="_blank" href="http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5OXnYgMlZTk&#038;feature=related">http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5OXnYgMlZTk&#038;feature=related</a></span></font></p>
<div align="left">What you need to do when choosing your keywords is to find ones that are directly relevant to your business that do not already have too many other web pages competing for the same keyword or keyword phrase.</div>
<p>To help you do this you can use a free keyword tool where you type in a phrase or keyword and it gives you lists of the words and terms that people search for when using a search engine like Google.</p>
<p><strong>How to Select the right Keywords for your Website<img align="right" alt="960645_worker_connecting_data_cables2.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/960645_worker_connecting_data_cables2.jpg" /></strong></p>
<p>If you do not think you can pick the right keywords for your small business website then find someone who can. Talk to your website designer and ask their advice. They are unlikely to know a lot about search engine optimisation but they should be able to point you in the right direction.</p>
<p>If you are going to hire someone to do the keyword optimization then make sure they know what they are talking about. Make sure that whoever you hire understands the difference a single letter can make. For example, which website would you rather own with a number one place on Google – using the keywords ‘freelance writer’ with 1600 hits a day or ‘freelance writers’ with a 100 hits a day?</p>
<p>Some keyword specialists will use keywords that are so common you will never have a chance of beating all the other websites that use the same keywords as you. Others may not understand your small business and may miss refining the search. For example, clients looking for a dog trainer will look for one in their local area rather than for one overseas. So, instead of simply typing in dog training someone in London would type in London dog training. So this is how you need your small business website optimized for the search engines.</p>
<p>Once your writer has done a keyword search and you have decided on the right keywords to use, you are ready to start having your website optimised for the search engines.</p>
<p>Your keywords need to be used strategically throughout your website as well as in the text your visitors read. If you use a keyword too many times then Google could slap you and ban you. Too few uses of keywords and you will just remain invisible. Work with a good writer who knows how to maximize the use of keywords on your website.</p>
<p>Your writer can also write keyword rich articles for submission to article sites that provide one way links back to your website.</p>
<p>If you get your keywords right they become the foundation on which you can base all your other marketing strategies on to drive more customers to your website.</p>
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		<title>Tips to Pull your Business through a Recession</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/372581600/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/08/23/tips-to-pull-your-business-through-a-recession/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:08:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kym</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>business</category><category>recession</category><category>small business</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/08/23/tips-to-pull-your-business-through-a-recession/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is no avoiding the fact the world’s economy is on shaky ground. The housing market crash in the United States and rising interest rates worldwide are a bit like earth tremors sending an early warning.
Everyone starts to run scared and tighten their budgets to keep their business running through what may become a recession. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="1010755_choice_abstract_411.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/1010755_choice_abstract_411.jpg" />There is no avoiding the fact the world’s economy is on shaky ground. The housing market crash in the United States and rising interest rates worldwide are a bit like earth tremors sending an early warning.</p>
<p>Everyone starts to run scared and tighten their budgets to keep their business running through what may become a recession. If there is no recession, it is still good small business practice to run it efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible. After all, you are in business – there is nothing better than making more profit.<a id="more-691"></a></p>
<p>Whatever does happen it pays to be prepared for the worst in the first place. At least put business strategies in place that helps survive the tough times and makes it easy in the good ones.</p>
<div>Recession not depression video</div>
<div style="margin:10px;text-align:center">
<object width="425" height="344">
<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tx1OCuevyLU&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tx1OCuevyLU&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
</div>
<p>Here are some tips that are basically just good sense, and will help your small business survive whether there is a recession or not.</p>
<p><strong>Cut Costs through a Recession?</strong></p>
<p>Don’t make the mistake of automatically cutting your costs or prices if a recession hits. Take the cautious approach. Completely assess the market and the business trends before you make a decision. This could help in the short-term but look at your long-term future.</p>
<p>If you decrease your costs and prices to survive a recession, how will this affect your business later on? Beware – it is very easy to lower your prices but much more difficult to put them back up.</p>
<p><strong>Renegotiate with your Staff for Business Recovery</strong></p>
<p>If you are going through a business recovery after an economic recession, it can be a big business expense to keep on staff. Instead of letting all your staff go talk to them about becoming subcontractors. This can be a fantastic, cost-effective way to keep your staff with the added benefit of them working from home. There are good tools you can download for free that will keep your staff ion touch with each other via video conferencing and voice over the Internet protocols (VOIP).</p>
<p><strong>Advertising as an Investment Strategy</strong></p>
<p>I know it may not make sense but do not cutback on your advertising strategy during a recession. Consider it as an investment in your business survival. Look at what your competitors are doing and look at your market trends. This could be an ideal time to secure more of your market and see slow economic growth.</p>
<p><strong>Plan for Economic Growth</strong></p>
<p>Plan to grow your business over the long-term. Take a lesson from the fable about the tortoise and the hare – the hare outran everyone and got caught up on the way doing frivolous things. The tortoise took it slow and steady, never lost focus and won the race. Keep up your marketing campaign relentlessly – do not promote yourself on an adhoc basis. Make sure you keep your brand name continually visible.<img align="right" alt="1035540_business_buildings_11.jpg" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/1035540_business_buildings_11.jpg" /><br />
<strong><br />
Plan your Business Strategies Carefully</strong></p>
<p>Keep track of how your advertising works for you so you can see what marketing works and what does not work. Work out which marketing strategies pay off for you and get rid of or change the strategies that do not work.</p>
<p><strong>Update your Business Strategies</strong></p>
<p>If your business and marketing strategies are working well then it may be a good time to look at updating the skills of your staff. Look around online and see what courses are available that will add value to them and to your business. Completing online training is cheaper as staff do not have to travel nor do they necessarily need time off work.</p>
<p><strong>Automate your Small Business for Economic Growth</strong></p>
<p>Setup a good computer system that automatically completes tasks for you and your staff. Accounting and stocktaking are two obvious ones. Take a good look around and see what other software is available to help you save time and money in other parts of your small business.</p>
<p><strong>Prioritize what is Important</strong></p>
<p>It does not matter whether there is a recession or not, remember that about 80% of your business comes from around 25% of your customers. So make sure your customer service is excellent to keep your customers returning. Put your energy into attracting customers to your small business; and delivering your services and products.</p>
<p><strong>During a Recession, ‘Make Do’</strong></p>
<p>Don’t buy new equipment just because something breaks or you think you need the latest model. Maybe your computer is driving you crazy because it is too slow. Why not upgrade its memory and store all your files on an external hard drive. So many people just want the latest and greatest gadgets, and it must cost a small business a fortune. Let your equipment and gadgets wear out before buying new ones.</p>
<p>Whether you are facing a recession or not, these are all good ideas to help you run you small business more efficiently, leaving you with time to spend with your family.</p>
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		<title>Starting a Small Business from Scratch</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/320989901/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/06/26/starting-a-small-business-from-scratch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:41:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Administrator</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>consulting business</category><category>small business</category><category>small business plan</category><category>starting a small business</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/06/26/starting-a-small-business-from-scratch/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you always dreamed of starting a small business? You have a great idea and think you can make a living from it? Dream of working for yourself? But do not know where to start?
Whether you are a woman starting a small business, or a male, there is a lot to think about before you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="business-woman-on-the-go-250-x-178.jpg" id="image687" style="width: 162px; height: 115px" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/business-woman-on-the-go-250-x-178.jpg" />Have you always dreamed of starting a small business? You have a great idea and think you can make a living from it? Dream of working for yourself? But do not know where to start?</p>
<p>Whether you are a woman starting a small business, or a male, there is a lot to think about before you go ahead. No small business is built on dreams alone. It takes a lot of hard work, long hours, faith in yourself and your concept; and most importantly, planning.<a id="more-688"></a></p>
<p><strong>Steps to Success</strong></p>
<p>First, you need to rationalize your dream. You are thinking of starting up a small business so put your ideas on paper. Think about these questions and write down the answers:</p>
<p>-    What is your idea? Why?<br />
-    Research your market. Know where your idea fits in.<br />
-    Have you created a small business plan?<br />
-    What do you intend to gain from starting a small business?<br />
-    How are you going to achieve success?<br />
-    How much money do you need to start up?</p>
<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-style: italic">Here&#8217;s a You tube related video</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;margin:10px">
<object width="425" height="344">
<param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/niSP9hOoSAw&#038;hl=en"></param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/niSP9hOoSAw&#038;hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
</div>
<p><strong>What is Your Idea?</strong></p>
<p>Now you have made a few notes conceptualize your vision. The World Wide Web has opened up many possibilities not available before. The choices are even more overwhelming than only 10 years ago. Do not be put off. Do your research. Where do you fit best in the market?</p>
<ul>
<li>Are you thinking of starting a small business online? Do your research there are so many schemes, frauds and ideas to choose from. Beware. Be careful. Do not ever just jump into something before you do all your research and a small business plan.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Maybe you are starting a small consulting business. Think about what unique services you can offer your customers. How are you going to let people know you exist? Can you use online marketing to promote yourself?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Does your local community organisation need to raise funds and your plan is starting a small non-profit business online? Once again, do your research.  What are your aims? A website can be ideal for promoting your organisation, encouraging membership, servicing your current members and raising funds through sponsorship and small online shops.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Research </strong></p>
<p>The steps to starting a small business are complex and daunting whether you have the experience, or not. Anyone can start a small business, but not everyone is successful. Do your research. Read. Ask advice from your local business association or council. Test the market. Gather all the information you can.</p>
<p><img align="left" alt="dragonfly-at-work-267-x-190.jpg" id="image686" style="width: 200px; height: 142px" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/dragonfly-at-work-267-x-190.jpg" /><strong>Business Planning</strong></p>
<p>Now you are convinced your concept is sound it is time to write a business plan.<br />
A business plan maps your future. It sets goals and milestones during your set up phase and, usually, at least the first 2 years.</p>
<p>Putting your idea on paper is the first concrete evidence of making that first step. And make sure you routinely read and update it to reflect your changing needs.</p>
<p><strong>Financing your Dream</strong></p>
<p>If you do not have the money to support your dream and need financial help starting a small business, research your options. Think about what will meet your needs and consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>how to get a grant for starting a small business,</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>loans for starting a small business, and</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>grants for starting a small business.</li>
</ul>
<p>Make sure your financial assessments accurately reflect what your business needs to survive and grow for at least the first 12 months. Calculate the absolute minimum your business must turnover each week for you to survive. Be ruthless and realistic about it.</p>
<p>Starting a small business from scratch is not easy and this is just the starting point. Now you have to make it happen. If you want to, you will! So, with this in mind, lets start with strategies. This down-loadable guide would have to be the most impressive combination of strategic elements I&#8217;ve so far on the internet and it&#8217;s high quality informative content. If you&#8217;re serious and you want to get a sound strategy in place, this information will set you on a success path. It&#8217;s a brand new audio E-Course and it answers all your questions and teaches you exactly how to transform your online home based business into a cash magnet - I was also impressed that it&#8217;s supported by a guarantee. That&#8217;s one of the reasons why I looked into it first before mentioning it. You should read the <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://terrytrial.bstrategy.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=BUSSTRAT">introduction here</a></strong>. The strategies fit every business I can think of.</p>
<p>&#8230;hope this helps you take constructive action,</p>
<p>Bill Darken
</p>
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		<title>The Perils of Small Business Website Design</title>
		<link>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SmallBusinessAnswers/~3/243580661/</link>
		<comments>http://small-business-answers.com/2008/02/29/the-perils-of-small-business-website-design/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:55:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Administrator</dc:creator>
		
		<category>Articles</category>
<category>small business website design</category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://small-business-answers.com/2008/02/29/the-perils-of-small-business-website-design/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Why would anybody hire an outside party for their small business website design? Just think of all the fun you&#8217;re missing by not building the site yourself:
* The joy of having to learn 20 languages and technologies just to build one web page. These days, you have to master HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS, RSS, Javascript, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img align="left" alt="4a.jpg" id="image683" style="width: 248px; height: 147px" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/4a.jpg" />Why would anybody hire an outside party for their small business website design? Just think of all the fun you&#8217;re missing by not building the site yourself:</p>
<p>* The joy of having to learn 20 languages and technologies just to build one web page. These days, you have to master HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS, RSS, Javascript, Java, Flash, AJAX, PHP, and ASP just to barely stay even by the skin on your nose.<a id="more-685"></a></p>
<p>* The fun of making it cross-browser compatible. Look at all these cool web technologies we have! Oh, you want it to look the same in any browser? Then you&#8217;re stuck back in 1992, with six sizes of header and a blink tag. By the way, the various software companies are trying as hard as they can to break compatibility by 1992 standards as well, but it&#8217;s very difficult to make each browser mutually incompatible with every single other browser&#8217;s implementation of every single tag all at the same time. They have research labs working on this problem.</p>
<p>* The thrill of considering cross-system compatibility as well. Did you know that there is a small group of maniacs running loose out there who are still running WebTV? That people expect your page to load on an iPhone and a Sony PlayStation Portable? That somebody out there still uses Netscape 4.x and Internet Explorer 5-point-something? Somebody&#8217;s still using the &#8220;OS/2&#8243; operating system - apparently it can access the Internet?</p>
<p>Oh, no, by all means, do it yourself! Don&#8217;t go through a small business website design company and miss out on the adventure of coding it all yourself.</p>
<p><strong>Resources</strong></p>
<p>After all, you can always pick up some small business website design templates, fresh from somebody&#8217;s copy of Microsoft Frontpage Express 1.0 done on Windows &#8216;95 and just right for making your site look like it got into a tussle with MySpace.com and lost.</p>
<p>Yes, free templates are the first step in affordable website design. Small business web hosting companies offer to hook you right up with some free-bee design templates right off the bat, and will gift your web strategy with a hefty discount. Small business website design has always thrived on these popular templates, which are every bit as current as a Ford Country Squire station wagon with woody side-panels.</p>
<p>Next, go get yourself some animated gifs. Gotta spice up that site with all kinds of moving, bouncing, blinking, scurrying, gyrating graphical goodness, and what better way than a batch of free-to-download gifs that have been hanging around since the days of the Commodore 64? For the truly full service small business website design, don&#8217;t forget an animated background and a music MIDI file that loads without giving you an opt-out!</p>
<p><strong>Usability</strong></p>
<p><img align="left" alt="4b.jpg" id="image684" style="width: 309px; height: 195px" src="http://small-business-answers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/4b.jpg" />Ideally, in order to comply with the standard guidelines for home-made website usability, your site should feature:</p>
<p>* A Flash splash! The Flash file should be at least 100 MBs and be throttled through 10kbps bandwidth. Offer no way to opt out, forcing every visitor to watch the entire movie on every visit.</p>
<p>* Offer no clue as to how to get around the site; links should just be scattered here and there, ideally with just an inscrutable graphic symbol with no text label. Be sure to make every bit of hypertext be different from the defaults - that&#8217;s why there&#8217;s defaults, so you know what to change it from.</p>
<p>* Be impossible to read. We like magenta text on a glaring red background, but other eyeball-melting combinations include electric-blue-on-purple, white-on-urine-yellow, brown-on-ash-black, and moldy-green-on-sky-blue. Bonus points for making everything blink and scroll, even if you have to use java to do it.</p>
<p>* Media, media, media! There should be at least three videos which start playing at top volume the moment every page loads, indifferent to the background MIDI music that&#8217;s already playing. Be sure to throw in some banner ads that talk and yell at the user, too. You don&#8217;t want your visitor to feel lonely, do you?</p>
<p>In the end, it should be obvious that website designs for small business is a piece of cake! Anybody can do it, even if they&#8217;ve never used a computer before. There&#8217;s a whole &#8220;industry&#8221; composed of &#8220;professional&#8221; web designers out there, but what do they know? All they know is how to make boring old sleepy pages that don&#8217;t get any attention. They just want your money, when you can do it yourself for free and end up with a product that looks, acts, and feels like it&#8217;s worth every penny!</p>
<p><strong>A video on small business website design, which unfortunately is missing my wisdoms bad:</strong></p>
<div style="text-align: center">
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<div style="text-align: center;margin-top:20px;" />
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