It is very challenging to stay up to date with office technology given how quickly things change these days, but some companies struggle more than others to keep up. Do you want to be the middle manager who dictates a memo so your secretary can type it up on her word processor before faxing it to a client? Or would you rather be the technology guru who conceptualizes an infographic that demonstrates your company's process cycle before uploading it to your wiki via the cloud? Let's meet the future halfway and look at five office technologies that are dead as a doornail and should be discarded at the earliest opportunity.
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Why Every Entrepreneur Needs an Exit Strategy, and Know How to Develop One
Securing a loan from the SBA – What Small Business Owners Need to Know
The legend of companies like Apple and Microsoft starting in garages may have inspired generations of entrepreneurs to market the Next Big Idea, but venture capital money, technological resources and business opportunities aren't limited to Silicon Valley anymore. With the advancement of office technology, more diversity in office operations, and a stronger opinion among employees as to the importance of lifestyle, other pockets are opening up in the U.S. where startup companies are thriving. Here are snapshots of seven communities where entrepreneurship is thriving.
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Create a Unique Small Business Plan to Attract More Investors
For most design work, you probably want to engage a professional graphic designer—no one wants to see an annual report or other vital documents look like they were cobbled together on a shoestring. But whether you are whipping up small items to use on your company's social media pages or simply want to express your intentions more clearly, it is a very good idea to invest some time in learning the basics of Adobe Photoshop. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.
Read More >You joined Facebook to catch up with friends, Twitter to follow celebrities, LinkedIn to get a job, and YouTube to watch funny videos. Guess what? All of your customers are out there doing the same thing. Social media has become a hugely popular marketing tool, but does your small business really need to be on all of them? The answer lies in identifying what kind of company you really are. Successful approaches to marketing between a brick-and-mortar, community-oriented business, an online-only ecommerce site, and a business-to-business service provider are likely to direct you towards one or two specific social platforms, and that's without even considering your target market. Here are a few observations about the most popular sites.
Read More >There have been a few dust-ups in the political scene in the last year where critics of current economic policies have claimed that nine out of ten businesses close within a year. This is a myth. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, about half of all new establishments survive five years or more and about one third of new businesses survive a decade or more. In fact, the probability of survival increased with a firm's age, as one would expect. So the numbers aren't against you. Yet while starting a business can be a fun and thrilling ride, you still want it to be a success. Here are some of the key factors that might be holding you back.
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Earth Day is an annual event that brings people together on each April 22nd to demonstrate support for eco-activism and show that they care for the environment. The event was first celebrated in 1970 and since its humble origins it has spread to nearly 150 countries around the globe. Here are some easy but powerful ways for your company to show the community that you care for our communal environment on Wednesday, April 22nd.
Believe it or not, Spring is coming, so it's a great time for you and your team to refresh yourselves, think about your business approach, and clear out the cobwebs, either real or virtual. Here are a few tips to help you with your “spring cleaning" for your team and your small business.
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Best Small Business Conventions for Grassroots Marketing