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Check Out These Latest Small Business Awards and Contests
Jan 30th
This list of contests, competitions and awards for small businesses is brought to you every other week as a community service by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.
Also, if you’ve entered and won a contest or award listed here, let us know so we can share your news.
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Tibbetts Awards 2012
Enter by January 31, 2012
The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for its Tibbetts Awards, recognizing small-business research and innovation. The awards recognize companies that have taken part in the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Three awards will be given, one for companies that have participated in the SBIR/STTR programs, one for individuals who advocate on behalf of the programs, and a third “Hall of Fame” award recognizing companies that have a track record of success in research, innovation and product commercialization within the SBIR or STTR program.
Small Business Book Awards
Enter by January 31, 2012
Nominations are now open for the 4th Annual Small Business Book Awards. They recognize business books of special interest to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Last year there were 106 books nominated and 41,000 votes cast by the community.
This year, over 100 books have already been nominated with over 2 weeks to go. Books published between November 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 are eligible.
You can nominate one book – or as many books as you like, and anyone can nominate. Authors, you are encouraged to nominate your own book. Publishers and publicists can also nominate books. Book lovers — you can nominate, too!
PA Tech Awards 2012
Enter by February 1, 2012
Nominations for winners in eight categories will be accepted on the event’s new website in a unique, open format. Every submitted nomination in every category can be viewed immediately by visitors to the site and shared to social media channels, delivering increased global visibility for all nominees. The annual gala on March 30, 2012 celebrates and honors the brightest technology leaders and innovators from across the state.
The Next Teen Tycoon Contest
Enter by February 3, 2012
Vertical Response is searching for the country’s most promising teen entrepreneurs with the “Next Teen Tycoon” online video contest.
The contest is open to teens between 13 and 18 years old who have their own business or a viable business idea. The top three contest winners will receive prizes totaling more than $10,000 in worth. They include one grand prize winner, who will receive $4,000 in “seed cash” to help him/her launch or grow the business, and a trip to the 2012 TEDxTeen conference in New York. Two second place winners will win $2,000 in “seed cash” each.
2012 Small Business Strategy Award
Enter by February 10, 2012
If you have been in business at least five years, have annual revenues of less than $5 million and have realized success from a specific strategy you’ve implemented within the past two years, you are encouraged to apply for the coveted 2012 Small Business Strategy Award.
The winner will be announced at the Seventh Annual Small Business Summit in New York City on March 6, 2012.
Fulton County PA Excellence in Small Business Award
Enter by February 17, 2012
The Awards Committee of the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is accepting nominations of local businesses for the 2011 Excellence in Small Business Award. The award will be presented at the Chamber-Tourism’s Award Celebration. The category provides public recognition for the accomplishments of small businesses, those employing ten or fewer full-time employees. This category requires demonstration of growth, overall stability, a positive community image, leadership and civic involvement. Nominees do not have to be a member of the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, but must be a Fulton County business.
Connecticut Innovations TechStart Fund
Apply by February 22, 2012
The TechStart Fund was created to spur technology innovation at its very earliest stage. The fund provides entrepreneurial or student teams with initial capital so they can determine whether a technology concept and business are viable and whether future funding can be obtained to launch a new business. Teams applying for TechStart funding will need to participate in a 10-week program, during which they will be provided with mentors and various professional resources offering strategic guidance in launching a new business. The initial 10-week pilot program will be held at CTech@Science Park at Yale in New Haven and will begin in March 2012.
See website for more details and entry requirements.
Office Depot’s Small Business Makeover Contest
Enter by February 27, 2012
The Small Business Makeover contest is designed to help small business owners augment or adjust their business in order to save time, grow and prosper in 2012 and beyond. The contest will award three small businesses a makeover from Office Depot, which includes a one-on-one financial coaching session with Jean Chatzky, office furniture, and supplies featuring Jean’s line of Mead financial organization products, available exclusively at Office Depot.
Small businesses can enter the contest by visiting Office Depot’s Facebook page and submitting, in 100 words or less, why their small business is in need of a makeover.
The Amazing Entrepreneur
Enter by February 29, 2012
The 2nd Annual Amazing Entrepreneur Business Plan Competition is an initiative by Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to foster new business development in Gwinnett County, GA. The contest is open to individuals who own or manage a small business, which has been in operation less than 36 months, in Gwinnett County.
The Grand Prize winner will receive $2500 cash to be used solely for the business entering the contest, a trip to Sage Software’s Customer Conference in Nashville, TN (airfare, hotel stay, conference fees), one-year membership to Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, one-year participation in the Chamber’s Gwinnett Business Institute program ($180 value), a consultation with an attorney from Arnall Golden Gregory ($2500 value), and research assistance from Chamber’s economic development department
2012 Small Business Online Marketing Contest
Enter by February 29,2012
For the second year, Chicago-area small businesses are being recognized for their marketing success. Constant Contact kicked off the 2012 Small Business Online Marketing Contest today in partnership with the Chicago City Treasurer’s Office. The contest will award more than $12,000 in cash and prizes to businesses submitting winning entries in “Best Business Email Marketing” and “Best Overall Users of Social Media” categories, including “Rookie Awards.”
CoolCalifornia Small Business Award
Enter by February 29, 2012
The CoolCalifornia Small Business Awards recognize California small businesses that reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, promote climate friendly practices and integrate the tools on CoolCalifornia.org into their business operations.
There are two award categories: CoolCalifornia Small Business of the Year Award, and CoolCalifornia Climate Leader Award.
Brother Small Business Grant Program
Enter by March 2, 2012
StartupNation has collaborated with Brother, a leader in small business technology, to bring you
the 2012 Brother Small Business Grant Program.
The grant program will award a total of $25,000 to five small business owners who submit the most original and creative business plan.
Verizon California Small Business Makeover Contest
Enter by March 2, 2012
Verizon wants to hear about Southern California small businesses’ technology challenges and will award a business makeover worth more than $5,000 to the company that best tells its story. Register and submit an essay, of no longer than 500 words, describing the technology challenges facing your business. Small businesses also have the opportunity to win a $500 American Express Gift Card if they view quick, informative videos about Verizon Small Business solutions on the contest website.
A panel of judges will determine the grand-prize winner and four semifinalists. The grand prize consists of $2,000 in cash; an HP Laptop; a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE LG Revolution Smart Phone; the Intuit Website Design Services Package; and Mobile Pay and Google Personal Support for Google Products. The semifinalists will each receive custom business-technology recommendations valued at $125.
Staples Give Your Small Business the Push it Needs Contest
Enter by March 14, 2012
Staples has launched its “Give Your Small Business the Push It Needs” contest, which will offer five small businesses up to $50,000 in free television advertising in their home market.
Small businesses can enter the contest by submitting a 15-second video about their company on Facebook.com/Staples by March 14. Five winners will be chosen to receive 15 seconds of advertising in a 30-second Staples television ad to run in their local market. Winners can have $50,000 in advertising or $40,000 in advertising and $10,000 in cash.
To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit our Small Business Events Calendar.
If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through our Small Business Event and Contests Form (it’s free).
Please note: The descriptions provided here are for convenience only and are NOT the official rules. ALWAYS read official rules carefully at the site holding the competition, contest or award.
Check Out These Latest Small Business Awards and Contests
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
5 Infographics For SMBs to Check Out
Jan 18th
If a picture is worth a thousand words, than an infographic is practically it’s own book! Marketers and brands alike have been turning to infographics pretty heavily over the past 18 months to help them turn their data into a compelling story that they can use to inform and sway consumers. And who can blame them? Sometimes seeing it can help drive home a point far faster than simply writing about it. I thought today we’d change things up a bit and instead of using words and paragraphs to comment on the state of small businesses, we’d take a lot at some popular local search infographics and see what insights they have for us.
Below are a handful of my favorite infographics for small business owners to check out. They share a lot of great data, takeaways, and visualize the data we sometimes have a difficult time trying to wrap our head around.
1. A Brief History Of Google Places
For a service as young as Google Places, it sure has gone through a lot of iterations over the past few months. In fact, David Mihm, the wonder boy of local search, felt like there had been SO many changes since April of 2011 that he wanted to see whether he was losing his mind or if Google really had kicked its Google Places product into overdrive. The result of his wondering is this killer infographic documenting the brief (but busy) history of Google Places. If it was a Places announcement, initiative, interface update or even an algorithmic change, you’ll find it noted in the above graphic. Small business owners will want to give this one a look to remind them of everything that’s happened and even introduce themselves to some updates they may have missed. And if you have missed some, we certainly can’t blame you.
If you want to go really crazy, there’s even an interactive version that lets you toggle things based on feature releases, SERP/interface changes, etc. Check it out!
2. Web Equity: Owning Your Local Search Presence
This infographic was created by local search expert Mike Blumenthal and I think it’s arguably the most useful infographic available for small business owners. It’s an incredible resource and something all of us could benefit from printing out and tacking up next to our computer. Mike’s infographic details the elements that go into really owning your Web presence online, breaks down all the terms, and gives SMBs a clear action plan for how any SMB can own the SERPs. I somehow get a “thank you” in the footer, but this is all Mike’s brilliance.
Web Equity by Mike Blumenthal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.blumenthals.com.
3. Local Search Evolved – MDG Blog
This infographic was created by the folks over at MDG and does a great job showing the evolution of local search and what that means in terms of the actions of local consumers and local search revenue. If you’re looking to build a local search campaign, this infographic offers numbers and behavioral data to help you see not only how lucrative it is to build your search presence, but some of the untapped areas that you may not have thought to optimize for.
Infographic by MDG Advertising
4. The Rise of the SoMoLo Shopper
SoMoLo was identified as one of the hot Internet marketing trends for 2012 and this infographic depicts how current technology trends are creating a new breed of shopper, one that uses different tools, and shows different behaviors and expectations. SoMoLo shoppers know how to use social media and apps to complement their shopping needs. First this infographic created by Commerce in Motion gets you up to date on the trend, and then it provides some tips for how to use it to your advantage.
via 
5. BizSugar Asks: What’s Your Startup Style?
Okay, this one falls a little more squarely on the just-for-fun side of things. 
BizSugar, the business networking sister-site of SmallBizTrends, put together this infographic to help SMBs and entrepreneurs identifying their “start up style”, while also paying homage to the 110 million people who were in the process of starting a business a few years ago. In this one you get to learn a little bit about the people who call themselves “entrepreneurs” and then determine which style matches your own
To learn more about entrepreneur statistics and trends, visit BizSugar.com.
Those are some of my favorite small business-inspired infographics. Has your company made one? Is there one that you always point people to? Drop it in the comments.
5 Infographics For SMBs to Check Out
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Amazon Price Check App: Small Business Threat or Sign of the Times?
Dec 16th
U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe is up in arms against Amazon since the online retailer released its Price-Check app for Android just in time for the 2011 holiday season. Amazon’s iPhone version was released a year ago, so the uproar now seems less about the app itself and more about Amazon’s poorly timed limited promotion of the app. Amazon gave users a $5 credit for inputting prices of items sold in brick and mortar stores, when they bought the same item through Amazon. Snowe said in a statement:
“Small businesses are fighting everyday to compete with giant retailers, such as Amazon, and incentivizing consumers to spy on local shops is a bridge too far.”
The Internet meme machine has been working overtime on this, with some portraying Amazon as the Grinch for launching this during the one season of the year that smaller retailers can get ahead in terms of sales.
For instance, a group on Change.org has a petition to get Amazon to stop price comparison. They believe that Amazon doesn’t pay taxes or contribute to local economies in the way small businesses do, and, they say, doesn’t have the right to this kind of data from small businesses.
But is Amazon really evil for coming out with both the app and the promotion? Secret shoppers and price comparison services have been around for years. Is having a way to digitally compare prices such a sin?
We’re all Price Sensitive
Many complain that people will walk into a small business, look at an item, then leave when they find out they can get it cheaper on Amazon.
To my point: of course you can get it cheaper on Amazon. You knew that already! If you’re a consumer, and shopping based on price alone, that small company never had your business to begin with.
What I’d be more inclined to use the app for is when I’m shopping in a big box store. (‘Is this Spongebob Lego set cheaper at Wal-Mart or Toys R Us than it is at Target?’) In this scenario, small businesses aren’t hurt.
And what about all the small businesses that sell through Amazon? The app isn’t hurting their business.
Market Forces, not Amazon, are to Blame
This app and others like it came out over a year ago (in some cases longer). They haven’t killed off small business yet. While it’s clear that Amazon is competing hard, and could have timed its promotion better in the eyes of some, that hardly proves it’s out to kill American small businesses.
Also, remember that it’s your customers who are buying online — not only because of price but because of convenience and selection. Every year the online sales volume grows. You can’t change this trend by trying to keep customers from getting information.
We’re all small businesses here at Small Business Trends — we’re sympathetic, but realistic too. If you’re worried about Amazon as a retailer, that means you may have to face some unfortunate realities: start selling your product online, or offer the lowest price. Or take a page out of an industry that has had cut-throat competition for years, grocery stores. Shower customers with service. But don’t blame Amazon. They’re not the only ones competing. And much as we may be tempted by the idea, trying to stifle the competition is never a long term solution. If it’s not Amazon today, tomorrow it will be another retailer.
Amazon Price Check App: Small Business Threat or Sign of the Times?
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Check Out These Winter Small Business Events
Dec 11th
Every two weeks we put together a list of key events for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The following Small Business Events Guide contains worthwhile events for those wanting to grow their businesses:
Delivering a Path to Growth
December 13 6:00pm-9:00pm – San Diego, CA
Join Inc., UPS, and a panel of Inc.5000 executives for a session designed to teach you what tactics you need to hire and sustain growth in your business.
Critical Tax Filing Tips in a Changing Environment
December 14, 2011, Online
Learn about critical 2011 W-2 & 1099 regulatory and filing information that you should keep in mind while preparing for this tax season and year-end reporting.
The 2011 New England Venture Summit
December 14, 2011, Dedham, MA
The 6th annual New England Venture Summit, presented by youngStartup Ventures, is the premier industry gathering connecting venture capitalists, corporate VCs, angel investors, technology transfer professionals, senior executives of early stage and emerging growth companies, university researchers, incubators and premier service providers.
Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2012 Growth Conference
January 11, 2012, Long Beach, CA
Coming soon to the Long Beach Convention Center—a full-day of seminars and opportunities to help you achieve your biggest branding, sales and profit goals. Plus, a chance to hear first-hand and learn from the experiences of the Entrepreneur of 2011 winners in a special awards luncheon.
Creating a Sellable Service Business
January 16-17, 2012, Las Vegas
Do you have a service business and want to know how to position it to be A) Sellable and B) Sellable for the maximum amount of money possible?
John Warrillow, who sold his own consulting and services business, and author of the book “Built to Sell,” is offering this intimate, hands-on workshop on building a sellable business. During this workshop, you’ll get the opportunity to put your business under the microscope with Warrillow and a small group of other successful business owners. Together, you’ll uncover the steps to make your business more attractive to potential buyers – whether you’re looking to sell your business in the near future, or want to start ramping up the value of your business in order to sell it down the line.
Most service businesses never sell. They are started by someone with a specific skill. When the time comes to get out, you’re left with nothing. This workshop aims to change that!
This workshop requires a significant commitment – and so it is only for those serious about changing their future. Register now.
Women Entrepreneurs Festival
January 17-18, 2012, New York City
The Women Entrepreneurs Festival takes place January 17-18 in New York City! The goal of the Women Entrepreneurs Festival v.2 is to sow the seeds for a broader community of women entrepreneurs, and to expose women who have not yet taken the entrepreneurial plunge to the women who’ve already taken it. Sponsored by the Tisch School of the Arts’ ITP program, the fest’s stunning lineup of speakers is here. And the one and only Arianna Huffington will be giving the keynote address. The festival is limited to 250 participants.
Time Management for Busy Business Owners
January 18, 2012, Online
Manage your time well and you take back both your personal and professional life. With so many hats to wear, small business owners and entrepreneurs can get buried in by their “to do” lists.
In this online, interactive seminar, you’ll learn to
assess your time management skills, distinguish between what’s important and what’s urgent, apply tools to determine priorities and more.
Social Tech ’12
March 29-30, 2012, Seattle
Social media marketing is no longer an option for B2B—it’s an absolute necessity. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with over 25 of the leading experts who will teach you how to use social media marketing to generate more inbound leads, grow brand awareness, drive conversions, and increase revenue. You’ll meet with industry insiders as well as other B2B marketers to discuss best practices, winning techniques, current roadblocks, and find out what works for your business!
Infusioncon 2012
April 2-4, Phoenix, AZ
Get ready to learn, network and set new ideas in motion! Join hundreds of small businesses from all around the world at InfusionCon 2012, Infusionsoft’s annual user conference, and experience three days of idea sharing and inspiration in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona on April 2-4.
America’s Small Business Summit 2012
May 21-23, 2012, Washington, DC
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual event — America’s Small Business Summit — unites small business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs from across the country to learn, network, and discuss common legislative and management concerns. Past speakers include former President George W. Bush, General Stanley McChrystal, Small Business Editor of the WSJ Colleen DeBaise, and many more. Attendees help influence our nation’s economic and political agenda by advocating for pro-business policies through the Rally on the Hill portion of the program. The event will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., on May 21-23, 2012. For more information and important dates, check the Summit website, www.uschambersummit.com.
8th Annual Kentucky Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference
June 1, 2012, Louisville, KY
The Annual Kentucky Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference (8th KIEC) will bring together distinguished speakers, tech-based economic development practitioners, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, students and postdoctoral fellows. The conference will focus on growing local initiatives powered by science and engineering talent.
2012 Veteran Entrepreneur Training Symposium
June 11-14, 2012, Reno, NV
Designed by Veteran small business owners for Veteran small business owners, VETS2012 brings government agencies, industry leaders and Veteran entrepreneurs together in a small, intimate forum to discuss the questions you need answered.
To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.
If you are putting on a small business event or contest, and want to get the word out, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form (it’s free). Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be included.
Brought to you as a community service by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.
Check Out These Winter Small Business Events
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Wanna Start a Business? Check Out our Pre-Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Dec. 17
Nov 18th
Since I started my business full-time in 2008, achieving a lifelong dream, I’ve had numerous people, most of whom are friends and family, ask me what it takes to become an entrepreneur.
Helping others start the adventure of entrepreneurship is a passion of mine, so I’ve teamed with a couple of veteran entrepreneurs to do the Pre-Entrepreneurship Bootcamp: What You Need to Know and Do Before Starting a Business on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. in Oklahoma City at our nonprofit foundation, The Div.
This event is designed for aspiring or budding entrepreneurs – those who have an idea, itch or passion to run your own business, but need some direction and help getting started.
We want to provide basic training where entrepreneurs find answers, tools and help to start and grow great businesses that change the world.
WHO’S PRESENTING
Here are the people who will be sharing their experience and expertise in entrepreneurship for this event:
* Michael S. Smith — ran Gemini Industries in El Reno for a number of years and took it from $8 million to $35 million in sales before eventually selling the company. He now leads Oxygen for Organizations, mentoring entrepreneurs.
* Christian Brim – is a CPA who founded and runs Core Group, an accounting and financial services firm with locations throughout Oklahoma, and a member of Entrepreneurship Organization.
* Cory Miller – that’s me. I co-founded iThemes in 2008 and since starting our business in my home we now have 23+ team members scattered throughout the world, three primary brands (and more coming), an office in Edmond, Oklahoma, and this summer started The Div, our nonprofit tech foundation where the bootcamp will be held.
* We also have a couple of local attorneys who are going to be on hand to present and be available during the event for those who need direction on how to get legal help for your business.
REGISTRATION
I believe you’ve got to have a deep level of commitment, drive and passion to be an entrepreneur, so we’re asking for a donation of $50 per registrant for this special bootcamp, with all proceeds going to support The Div and our work through this nonprofit foundation, including lunch for the day.
We are also offering an online version of the bootcamp via webinar for those not in Oklahoma. The donation for this will be $40 a person.
If you have any questions about the bootcamp, please contact The Div through our contact form.
SIGNUP FOR PRE-ENTREPRENEURSHIP BOOTCAMP DEC. 17 HERE
SCHEDULE & TOPICS
8a.m. – Registration and Coffee
8:30 — Welcome and Intros
9 a.m. – SESSION 1: IS IT FOR YOU? (Cory Miller) — We’ll weigh the costs and benefits of entrepreneurship, talk about the purpose and role of an entrepreneur and what they do for the world and ask some hard questions.
9:50 a.m. – SESSION 2: MONEY (Cory Miller) – We’ll talk about the role of your personal finances in becoming a full-time entrepreneur, along with the role of money and how to get your financial house in order.
10:30 a.m. — SESSION 3 (Michael Smith): PERSONAL & TEAM ASSET INVENTORY – Taking inventory of your skills, strengths, experiences, expertise will help you on the journey.
11:15 a.m. – SESSION 4: THE COMPELLING VISION (Michael Smith) — Knowing where you want to go will help keep you on the right path.
Noon – Working Lunch (Lunch is provided)
1:00 p.m. – SESSION 5: SUPPORT (Cory Miller) — Getting the right support system in place before you start is key to your continued success. We’ll talk about the key people you need on your team.
1:50 p.m. – SESSION 6: YOUR ONE-PAGE BIZ PLAN (Michael Smith) — you need an initial game plan for your business idea. We’ll talk about the basics of a good plan and how to start one.
2:30 p.m. – SESSION 7: ACCOUNTING (Christian Brim) — Without money, and good accounting practices, your business is dead. Get nuts and bolts tips for vital aspect of running a business.
3:15 p.m. – SESSION 8: LEGAL (TBA) — Things you need to know about getting your business legal and how to find the right help.
4 p.m. — SESSION 9: RECRUITING & RESOURCES (Cory Miller) — How to gather the right resources and recruit the right people to your team.
4:45 p.m. — SESSION 10: WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION (Cory Miller) — The work of an entrepreneur almost never stops. Here are some do’s and don’ts, including personal stories, pitfalls and experiences.
5:30 p.m. – FINAL WORD & CHALLENGE & Q&A
* Please note times will vary. We want to provide practical help for those eager to start their entrepreneurial adventure.
SIGNUP FOR PRE-ENTREPRENEURSHIP BOOTCAMP DEC. 17 HERE
Related posts:
- Do You Have What It Takes to Start a Business?
- On Giving Back – Our New Nonprofit Launched This Week
- My Relentless Business Video Interview
View full post on Cory Miller | Adventures in Entrepreneurship
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Sep 12th
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Aug 5th
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65 Small Business Mobile Applications You Must Check Out
Apr 29th
The response to my article 101 Small Business Web Applications You Must Check Out was overwhelmingly positive! Thank you for all the awesome suggestions and comments.
I decided to write this second article based on all the additional recommendations I received, with the emphasis on mobile applications focused on helping small businesses. Some of these mobile applications are completely free and some of them are freemium (free for basic version, then you pay for an upgraded version). Which mobile apps do you love? What other apps are the real deal that we might have missed? Send us your comments and suggestions!
Here is the list of categories we will cover in this article:
- Sales Management
- Human Resources
- Communications
- Networking
- Web and Social Media
- Mobile Payment
- Productivity
- Information Technology
- Legal
- Presentation
- File Management
- Finance
P.S. You will meet some of these awesome mobile companies at BizTech [Mobile] on May 12, 2011!
Sales Management
Roambi: This allows users to get the latest business intelligence on their phones. Users can import data from an Excel spreadsheet to Salesforce or SAP. Cost: FREE to $99/user/year
Salesforce: Salesforce allows users to view and edit sales information, log sales and service activities, and receive new leads and customer requests. Cost: FREE
Kinito: This allows users to create, read and update sales accounts, contacts, leads, and opportunities. Cost: FREE
Human Resources
OmniFocus: Allows users to track tasks by project, place, person or date. Cost: $19.99/user/year
Daylite Touch: Allows users to combines tasks, calendars, projects, opportunities, and contacts for the team. Cost: FREE
iTimesheet: Allows users to keep track of time spent on projects, clients, and billings. Users can also back up timesheet data to an FTP server, or export to Excel format. Cost: $5.99/user/year
HoursTracker – Time Sheet: This allows users to track time spent on projects and view earnings, including different rates for different tasks. Cost: $2.99/user/year
Communication
Skype: Skype allows user to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype calls and converse via instant messaging. Cost: FREE
Google Translate: This allows user to translate words and phrases in more than 50 languages. Cost: FREE
Fuze Meeting: Allows user participate in online meetings and see real-time screen sharing while talking on the phone. Cost: FREE
Voice Broadcast: Allows users to record audio content to send to multiple users immediately or at a future time. Great for keeping colleagues and team members up to date with quick voice messages. Cost: FREE
Yammer: Yammer allows user to share ideas, get answers and stay connected with colleagues through multiple communication feeds in your company. Cost: FREE
WhatsApp: This allows users to to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. Cost: $0.99/user
HeyTell: Allows users to leave voicemail with friends and coworkers. Cost: FREE
Word Lens: Word Lens allows users to instantly translate Spanish to English using a camera phone. Cost: FREE to $9.99/user
PGI Mobile: Allows users to host and record audio conferences using mobile phone. Users can see who’s talking, lock calls, and adjust or mute audio. Cost: FREE
Networking
WorldCard Mobile: Allows users to scan business cards and export to iPhone or Outlook contacts. Cost: $5.99
Card Munch: Allows users to take a photo and submit your business card. Each business card will be transcribed, edited and reviewed by virtual workers to guarantee accuracy. Cost: FREE
Bump: Allows users to use their phone to bump another phone. If both people confirm that the match is indeed correct, contact information will be exchanged between phones. Cost: FREE
Hashable: Hashable allows users to track their business relationships; record meetings, calls and intros; and exchange business cards. Cost: FREE
Linkedin: Allows users to access their Linkedin professional network and contacts on their phones. Cost: FREE
Web and Social Media
Analytics Apps: Allows users to view and build reports based on Google Analytics data. Cost: $6.99/user
Twitter: Allows users to get instant updates from friends and industry experts and tweet from multiple accounts. Cost: FREE
Facebook: Facebook allows users to update status, browse News Feed and view friends’ Profiles from their phones. Cost: FREE
GoDaddy: Search and buy domains. Cost: FREE
Domainr: Search and buy domains. Cost: FREE
Mobile Payment
iSwipe: Allows users to process major credit cards payment on a mobile phone. Cost: FREE
Square: Allows users to collect credit card payments by plugging a reader into a phone or iPad. Cost: 2.75 percent per transaction
Cimbal: Allows users to pay using a smartphone in the store, online and person-to-person anywhere Cimbal is accepted. Cost: Free between individuals
Venmo: Allows users to pay with iPhone, Android or Blackberry. Cost: FREE
Paypal: Allows users to pay and manage Paypal account using iPhone, Android or Blackberry. Cost: FREE
Productivity
Whiteboard Capture: Allows users to filter pictures of whiteboards to remove undesirable artifacts and get a near-perfect digital image. Cost: $1.99/user
Evernote: Allows users to save ideas and notes in text, voice and photos and access from any device. Cost: $FREE to $5/user/month
Mindjet: Allows users to capture and share ideas on the go, and transfer mind maps to and from Mac or PC. Cost: $7.99/user
iShare: Allows users to connect to Microsoft SharePoint Server, giving them access to their corporate documents, tasks and meetings from anywhere. Cost: FREE
Awesome Note: Allows users to organize notes and to-do lists in folders, create custom lists and schedules, attach photos, and sync with Google Docs or Evernote. Cost: $3.99
SmartTime Pro: Allows users to manage appointments, and fit additional tasks around them. Cost: $4.99
Things: Allows users to manage to-dos, notes, due dates and projects. User can also schedule tasks and manage priorities using custom tags. Cost: $9.99
Bento: Allows users to manage personal or business data by organizing information using templates for contacts, projects, to-do items and customer information. Cost: $4.99
Convert ~ The Unit Calculator: Allows users to convert and calculate units. Cost: $2.99
Information Technology
Jump Desktop: Allows users to remotely access Mac or PC systems. Remote applications can be controlled with simple gestures to zoom, pan, click, scroll and type with ease. Cost: $19.99/user
FTP On The Go: Allows users to view, edit and download files from an FTP server. Cost: $6.99/user
Wyse PocketCloud Pro: Allows users to access their terminal, server or supported PC virtually. Users can view and manage Windows desktop remotely. Cost: $14.99/user
Network Utility Pro: Allows users to check performance and status of the corporate servers using network tools including ping and TCP/IP port scans. Cost: $0.99/user
1Password: Allows users to securely store important passwords and information. Cost: $9.99/user
Tap Forms Database: Allows users to create and edit built-in or custom database forms on the go. Cost: $6.99/user
Legal
Patent Finder: Allows users to search the entire U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database for issued patents and patent applications, and email saved PDFs of search results. Cost: $4.99/user
Right Signature: Allows users to sign contracts, proposals and NDAs from the phone. Cost: FREE
Presentation
Keynote Remote: Allows users to control your Keynote (Apple) slide presentation on your Mac from your iPod touch or iPhone. Cost: $0.99/user
Keypoint: Allows users to build, play, share and export presentations on a mobile phone. Cost: $1.99/user
File Sharing and Management
PDF Reader Pro: Allows users to create and access high-quality PDFs and other files on a mobile phone. Cost: $0.99/user
Box.net: Allows users to access files from anywhere and securely share content. Cost: FREE
Mobile Phax: Allows users to use mobile camera to capture and clean up documents, convert them to multipage PDFs, and email them to others. Cost: $4.99/user
Dropbox: Allows users to sync files between computers and upload photos from a mobile phone. Cost: FREE
FileMagnet: Allows users to transfer files from a desktop computer to mobile. Cost: FREE
Quickoffice® Mobile Office Suite: Allows user to access and edit MS Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and other files for access to remote or local files. Cost: $9.99/user
Documents To Go: Allows user to create and edit business documents; modify, create, or view Microsoft Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations; and access PDF, iWork, RTF and Google documents and graphics files. Cost: $9.99/user
Financial Management
InerTrak: Allows users to manage time spent on projects, hourly rates, and billed/unbilled time and money. Good for contract workers or anyone who works on multiple projects on a hourly basis. Cost: $4.99/user
Minibooks: Allows users to manage client records, record time against projects, generate invoices and track payments. Cost: $14.99/user
Timewerks: Allows users to keep track of billable hours and materials spent on projects, create reports and send invoices. Cost: FREE to $9.99/user
Omni Invoice: Allows users to create sales quotes and customer invoices from anywhere and email them directly to customers. Cost: $4.99
iXpenseIt: Allows users to record and track business and personal expenses, and create expense reports and summaries that include photos of receipts. Cost: $4.99/user
Mobile Receipt: Allows users to take high-quality photos of receipts; automatically adjust for character recognition; and create and email formatted PDF, RTF, or text expense reports. Cost: FREE
Currency: Allows users to get the latest exchange rate information for over 90 currencies and 100 countries. Cost: $4.99/user
Currency Exchange – Currency Converter: Allows users to convert dozens of international currencies using the latest exchange rates. Cost: $0.99/user
65 Small Business Mobile Applications You Must Check Out
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
101 Small Business Web Applications You Must Check Out
Mar 10th
Check out these 101 small business web applications – software in the cloud. The selections reflect the breadth of innovative ideas and new business pursuits at play in the small business technology cloud landscape.
From sales to legal to productivity tools, we can attest that the small business technology is alive, kicking and doing extremely well in 2011.
It’s getting much easier and cheaper to operate a business than ever before. Absolutely great news for small business!
Here is the list of categories we will cover on this post:
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P.S. You will meet some of these companies at BizTech [Small Business] on March 24.
P.P.S. Please feel free to comment if we have missed any awesome small business web applications.
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Business Development
Card Munch allows users to take a photo and submit your business card. Each business card will be transcribed, edited and reviewed by virtual workers to guarantee accuracy.
Cost: FREE
NoteLeaf allows users to schedule meetings on your Google Calendar, then gives you information about who you’re about to meet on your phone.
Cost: FREE
Shoeboxed allows users digitize all your receipt, business card and organize everything neatly electronically.
Cost: FREE to $49.95 per month
Bump allows users to use your phone to bump another phone. If both people confirm that the match is indeed correct will the contact information be sent down to the other person.
Cost: FREE
Hashable allows users to track their business relationships record meetings, calls, intros and exchange business cards.
Cost: FREE
Tungle allows users to invite people to schedule with them, without having to sign up and automatically sync with your existing calendar.
Cost: FREE to $4.99 per month
Email Marketing
Vertical Response allows users to self-service email marketing, online surveys and direct mail service which allows you to create, manage and analyze your own direct marketing campaigns.
Cost: FREE to $240 per month
Infusionsoft captures leads, create beautiful emails and automatically follow up using auto-responders.
Cost: FREE to $999 per month
Constant Contact supports email marketing, online survey and event marketing.
Cost: FREE to $240 per month
MailChimp allows users to manage your email campaigns, share them on social networks, integrate with web services you already use, manage subscribers and track your results.
Cost: FREE to $240 per month
Tiny Letter is a free email newsletter platform which allows you to create beautiful landing page and simple email newsletter.
Cost: FREE
GetResponse allows user to create media-rich email marketing campaign.
Cost: $9.95 to $65 per month
Event Management and Marketing
Eventbrite allows users to manage, promote, and sell event tickets.
Cost: 2.5% + $0.99 per ticket
MogoTix allows users to create and manage event mobile ticket.
Cost: 2.5% + $0.99 per ticket
Eventbee allows users to manage and sell event ticket.
Cost: 2.5% + $0.99 per ticket
Video Marketing
Justin.tv allows users to broadcast live video and chat with viewers.
Cost: FREE
Ustream.tv allows users to broadcast video LIVE to the world from a computer, mobile or iPhone.
Cost: FREE
LiveStream allows users to broadcast and live stream your own channel for events, chats or presentations.
Cost: FREE
Social Media Marketing
Crowdbooster allows Twitter analytics and insights. Social Media Marketing Optimization. Schedule and time your tweets. Twitter reports in Excel and PDF.
Cost: FREE
Wildfire allows users to create marketing campaigns like sweepstakes, contests and give-aways on Facebook and Twitter.
Cost: $5 to $250 per campaign
Flowtown allows users to analyze their customer social media profile using their email contacts.
Cost: Unknown
Postling allows users to manage their social media from a single place and let them post, respond and schedule.
Cost: FREE to $34 per month
Online Sales
Big Commerce allows users to sell on Facebook and Ebay, Phones and email.
Cost: Free – $299.99 per month
zferral allows users to create, track and manage online referrals.
Cost: $49 – $999 per month
Shopify allows users to create, track and manage online referrals.
Cost: $49 – $999 per month
Online Payment
Square allows users to collect credit card payment by plugging a reader into a phone or iPad.
Cost: 2.75% per transaction
Cimbal allows user to pay using your smart phone in the store, online and person-to-person anywhere Cimbal is accepted.
Cost: Free between individual
WePay allows users to collect money from a group and make splitting cost easier. It also makes sharing activity more transparent.
Cost: 3.5% per transaction
Google Checkout allows users to collect payment online using their Google login or any major credit cards.
Cost: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Paypal allows users to collect payment online using their Paypal account or any major credit cards.
Cost: 2.9% + $0.30 USD per transaction
Bill Me later allows users to pay without using a credit card and pay later.
Cost: Unknown
Venmo allows users to pay with your iPhone, Android or Blackberry.
Cost: FREE
Presentation
Slideshare allows users to upload and share your presentation for free.
Cost: FREE
Keynote Remote allows users to control your Keynote (Apple) slide presentation on your Mac from your iPod touch or iPhone.
Cost: $0.99
Prezi allows users to create web based presentation and allows you to zoom in and out to see the big picture and small details.
Cost: FREE to $59
Imageloop allows users to create, save, share slideshow online.
Cost: FREE
280 Slides allows users to create and share presentation online.
Cost: FREE
iCharts allows users to present raw survey data in a attractive visual and interactive format.
Cost: Unknown
Billing and Accounting
Bill.com allows users to save and cost of business bill pyament and invoicing.
Cost: FREE to $24.99 per month
Freshbook helps users to track time, organizer expenses and invoice customers.
Cost: FREE to $39.95 per month
Indinero provides users insight into their business health.
Cost: FREE to $99 per month
Outright allows users to get an instant snapshot of where you stand financially. It keeps track of your profit and loss, income, expenses, etc
Cost: $9.95 per month
Expensify allows users to import expenses and receipts from credit card or bank account ad submits PDF expense reports by email, and reimburses online.
Cost: $9.95 per month
Recurly helps users with recurring billing operations in a secure and cost-effective manner.
Cost: $69 per month and up
Raising Funds
Kickstarter allows users to fund raise for creative projects.
Cost: 5% on the money you raise
Profounder allows users to raise the capital that they need, and the tools to manage all of the associated book-keeping, legals and compliance fillings.
Cost: Varies
Prosper connects users who want to invest money to users to want to borrow money.
Cost: 0.50% to 4.5% on the money you raise
IndieGoGo allows users to create and fund ideas.
Cost: 4% on the money you raise
Hiring and Team Building
Elance allows users to hire, manage and pay your virtual team.
Cost: You name your own price
oDesk allows users to hire, manage, and pay remote freelancers or teams.
Cost: You name your own price
Rent A Coder allows users to get freelance programmers and find freelance jobs.
Cost: You name your own price
99Designs allows users to find freelance designers.
Cost: You name your own price
TaskRabbit allows users to get hire local people to get specific physically tasks done.
Cost: You name your own price
CrowdFlower allows user to takes large, data-heavy projects and breaks them into small tasks, then distribute to an on-demand workforce around the world.
Cost: Varies
Guru allows users to find high quality freelancers online.
Cost: You name your own referral fee
Amazon Mechanical Turk allows users to access to on-demand workforce and performance human intelligence task.
Cost: You name your own referral fee
Redbeacon allows users to get price quotes, compare professionals, and book appointments online for any office need.
Cost: FREE
File Sharing
Dropbox allows users to store and share files and folders with others across the Internet using file synchronization.
Cost: FREE to $19.99 per month
YouSendIt allows users to send, receive and track large files via email.
Cost: FREE to $14.99 per month
Box.net allows user to store documents, media and all of your content online, so you can access, manage and share them from anywhere.
Cost: FREE to $15 per month
Egnyte supports file storage, backup, sharing and collaboration everything on the cloud.
Cost: FREE to $89.99 per month
Legal
Law Pivot allows users to crowd source confidential legal advice.
Cost: Free
Right Signature allows users to sign contracts, NDAs, forms online.
Cost: Free to $249 per month
Docu Sign allows users to sign and send documents and signatures and support full audit trail.
Cost: Free to $22.99 per month
Echo Sign allows users to performance online, fax, biometric and mobile signature.
Cost: Free to $499 per month
Building Websites
Yola allows users to create a professional, ad-free website.
Cost: Free to $8.33 per month
Wix allows users to create flash based website.
Cost: Free to $15.9 per month
Weebly allows users to create free website with no technical skills required.
Cost: Free to $4.58 per month
Webvanta allows users to CMS based website with no technical skills required.
Cost: Free to $99 per month
Intuit allows users to create website based on predesigned websites.
Cost: Free to $4.95 per month
Website Testing
Usertesting.com takes video of a visitor speaking their thoughts describing the problems they encountered while using your site.
Cost: $39 per use
Gazehawk keeps track of where your users look on your website which allows you to test landing pages, registration/checkout flows, homepages, etc.
Cost: $495 and up
ReQtest helps users to do web-based testing and bug reporting on the cloud.
Cost: FREE to $30 per user
Unbounce allows users to create, publish and optimize landing pages for testing purposes.
Cost: $25 to $500 per user
Feedback Army allows users to start simple usability testing for their website.
Cost: $15
Optimizely allows users to improve their website through A/B testing.
Cost: $19 – $399
Market Research
Survey Monkey allows users to create web-based survey.
Cost: Free – $64.99 per month
Wufoo allows user to create contact forms, web surveys, and invitations so they can collect the data, registrations and online payments they need without being technical
Cost: Free – $199.99 per month
Google Forms allows users to create an online form from any spreadsheet.
Cost: Free
Ask Your Target Market allows users to write surveys and send them to their target market segment.
Cost: Free – $119 per month
Survey Gizmo allows users to online surveys.
Cost: Free – $159 per month
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Highrise allows users to to manage contacts, keep track of who said what when, schedule follow-ups, set reminders, and convert leads.
Cost: FREE to $99 per month
Sugar CRM allows users to automate sales force and customer support on the cloud.
Cost: FREE to $600 per user per year
Salesforce allows users to keeps all the contacts, messages, e-mails, files, events and tasks.
Cost: FREE
Heap allows users to broadcast and live stream your own channel for events, chats or presentations.
Cost: FREE to $9 per user
Productivity
Evernote allows users to save ideas, photos and voice note on any computer and mobile device.
Cost: FREE to $5 per month
Meeting Agenda allows users to create online agenda and minutes template that you can share with attendees.
Cost: FREE to $9.95 per month
Workflowy allows users to organize their thoughts.
Cost: FREE
Rescue Time shows users how spend time & provides tools to help them be more productive.
Cost: FREE to $9 per month
Customer Service
Zendesk allows users to do customer support online.
Cost:$9 to $49 per month
Zopim allows users to do livechat with your customers online.
Cost: FREE to $99 per month
Assistly allows users to consolidate all customer service conversations into one screen where service requests are collected, prioritized, and handled by team members.
Cost: FREE to $99 per month
Olark allows users to chat with visitors on your website from desktop, laptop or mobile device.
Cost: $15 to $149 per month
Team Management and Collaboration
Teamly allows users to manage their team by helping them focus on the top 5 priorities for the day, week and month.
Cost: FREE to $8 per month
Huddle allows users to manage projects, files and people in the cloud.
Cost: FREE to $15 per month
Yammer allows users to create their own Twitter and Facebook-like communication environment, but for internal employee only.
Cost: FREE to $5 per month
Voice Communication
Grasshopper allows users to get a toll free or local number, set up voicemail extensions and get other voice features online.
Cost: $9.95 to $199 per month
Ring Central allows users to setup 800 numbers, toll free numbers, virtual pbx, internet fax and virtual phone system.
Cost: FREE to $39.99 per month
Google Voice allows users to create one phone number so it will ring anywhere. It also transcribe the voice messages into email.
Cost: FREE
Online Education
Mindflash allows users to convert existing training materials into online courses.
Cost: FREE to $999 per month
Udemy allows users to create an online course.
Cost: FREE
Learnable allows users to create their own online courses.
Cost: FREE
101 Small Business Web Applications You Must Check Out
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Cashing the check
Jan 17th
A check in your wallet does you very little good. It represents opportunity, sure, but not action.
Most of us are carrying around a check, an opportunity to make an impact, to do the work we’re capapble of, to ship the art that would make a difference.
No, the world isn’t fair, and most people don’t get all the chances they deserve. There are barriers due to income, to race, to social standing and to education, and they are inexcusable and must fall. But the check remains, now more than ever. The opportunity to step up and to fail (and then to fail again, and to fail again) and to continue failing until we succeed is greater now than it has ever been.
As Martin Luther King Junior spoke about a half a lifetime ago,
“We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood — it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, “Too late.”
View full post on Seth’s Blog
