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Why Small Businesses Love Cloud Services

Nov 8th

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Business Trends

If anything’s beating out the skyrocketing growth of the mobile app market, I’d put my money on cloud services. These days, you can do everything in the cloud except your dry cleaning (or can you?). Here’s a look at some of the industries and companies that are moving into the cloud computing services arena for small businesses.

Storage and Sharing

Remember hard drives–those clunky things that sat on your desk that you never remembered to use for backup? Well you can use yours as a doorstop now, thanks to cloud services that offer virtual storage. With these services, small businesses can back up data, share files online and designate a place for everyone to collaborate on project documents.

Dropbox allows for digitally storing documents and photos, with sharing capabilities for your team. Also has a mobile version.
Google Docs makes sharing a spreadsheet or word processing document easy, and you don’t have to keep track of emailed versions of documents.
Jungle Disk offers both personal and business desktop and server backup at a reasonable price.

Communication

We’re also moving away from hard-wired phone lines, thanks to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) computer cloud services. Whether you use a traditional style VoIP phone, your computer or a mobile phone, using the Internet to stream calls can save small businesses a bundle.

Skype is well-known for its audio and video calls, and also has a mobile version.
Panasonic recently released its Cloud Business Phone System for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. It includes hardware (cordless phones at that) with VoIP.
Google Voice gives you one number for multiple phones, as well as virtual voicemail. Its Talk product lets you chat through your computer for free.

Other Business Cloud Computing Services

The list goes on and on. You can balance your business books with QuickBooks Online. Send faxes without a machine with BizCom’s cloud-based fax solution. Teach and take online courses at Udemy. If it’s not imperative that you do the task in-person, there’s probably a cloud version for it.

Going cloud-based for your small business can realize savings (compare paying a few dollars a month to back up your data versus buying a physical server that needs updating), give more of your employees access to important documents, and help you communicate no matter where you are.

Are There Thunder Clouds As Well?

While, yes, I’m all Suzy Sunshine about cloud computing services, be aware that by using them, you lose control of who manages your data. If you’re outsourcing, say, your backup to a third party, as CNN Technology notes, they may not take the extreme measures you would to encrypt data to prevent breaches. Could a jilted ex-employee of that cloud company take out his anger on your data? Could happen. Servers crash, even for larger companies like Sony, as CNet reports.

There’s no surefire way to prevent problems in the cloud, but here are a few ways to minimize your risk:

Have data backed up on multiple sources–your office computers, as well as one or two cloud backup services.
Discuss risk mitigation with your service provider. How do they protect your data?
For cloud-based communication, have a backup in case your Internet goes down in the middle of a sales call.

From Small Business Trends

Why Small Businesses Love Cloud Services

View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends

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J J J Investing Services

Jul 31st

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Home Biz Opportunities

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New investing book shows easy way to buy low, sell high, and make money with stocks and long-term options (LEAPs). You will easily average 50% a year!! System takes very little time and free newsltr. 50% commission for resellers – = $10 per book sold.
J J J Investing Services

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Custom Web Design & Marketing Services

Jun 29th

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Graphic Design

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Professional mini site & graphic design. XsitePro, Wordpresss Design. Priced to sell, high commission, excellent support! Experience the power of repeat sales! Run your own graphic design shop today. Custom support for our affiliates.
Custom Web Design & Marketing Services

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Blast4Traffic.com Marketing Services

Jun 23rd

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Marketing Tips

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Products & Services for Internet Marketers. Your ad will be seen!
Blast4Traffic.com Marketing Services

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Race Advisor Pro Members Services

Apr 29th

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Business Trends

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The Race Advisor Pro Members Services provides a variety of horse racing and betting services.
Race Advisor Pro Members Services

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33 Logo Design Services You Can Use Today

Mar 8th

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Business Trends

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As you build your company and website, you probably want to present something unique, something that is memorable about your company image. Many companies choose to create a logo to identify their brand and company. But often, creating an original logo when you are first starting out is too expensive.

So here are 33 logo creation applications or services that range in price from free to affordable. This list of free and paid services should help you find the best tools. One word of warning: Several of the “free” sites are free only for the creation process. Always read the fine print.

If you want to download the logo you’ve created and have unlimited use, there is a charge, and I tried to note when that occurs. To be totally realistic, you could do some of this work yourself in Powerpoint or a decent drawing program, but there are small companies starting today that don’t have those software programs, and these mostly Web-based tools might appeal.

Free (or Mostly Free)

Supalogo is one of my favorites for creating a super-fast font-based logo. You type in your text, pick some options and hit download. You can even look at samples and click edit and start from there. Nicely done.

Logo Victory is a completely free logo design tool that lets you download a jpeg image. If you want other file formats, they have a small upgrade charge. They also offer paid services starting at $49. This was one of the only sites that offered a no-strings free logo.

Marketsplash is a completely free (with registration) logo design service. I was impressed with it. It is built and run by HP, which I mention in other places, but this tool lets you download a few different versions of your logo with a simple registration.

The Logo Creator is free logo creation software. No trial, no demo, fully free in return for a tweet. Yes, a tweet on Twitter and you can have their software for free. From the logos showcased on the site, it looks like a fairly robust application. The offer was tested and worked at the time of publishing this post.

CoolText lets you type out your company name and then choose different ways to stylize the font itself. Handy, fast and free if all you want is your name with a bit of energy to it.

Logo Ease offers a fully free logo creation tool. You have to register, but they let you create and download (they send you the link) the logo that you spent time creating. When you get your download link, it comes with instructions to include a link back to their site. They also offer paid services.

LogoCraft lets you select an icon from predefined categories, then add text and effects. Once it is ready, save the logo or download it for future use. You can access the logos you created anytime and edit them further. Very easy to use. They also offer a custom design service starting at $49.

Flaming Text is similar to CoolText, but I liked a few of their different options. I could see using sites like these for a young company, a nonprofit or a project. For some companies, this is all they might ever need.

Real World Graphics offers a few Web apps to help you create icons or favicons (those tiny little symbols you often see on websites and in social networks).

Sherv.net offers Icon Maker, which can be ideal for those who are building a company around their personal name and identity. It will let you take your photo into a cartoon-like drawing. It might work well for those building a Facebook page, too. Admittedly, this one is more of a fun creation tool and not a serious branding option.

Logo Snap is another service that appears to be mostly free, but they do ask for a donation. They run a fee-based service called Logo Design Guru with packages starting at $149.

LogoYes has one of the more sophisticated tools for building a logo on your own. Their logo file package is $69. Creation of the logo is free and they let you keep changing it until you’re satisfied, then go through the registration process.

LogoBlog is a free logo creator similar to CoolText and Flaming Text. No registration, just download your completed font logo in a few different formats.

GRSites offers logo creation, text box creation (such as for a sidebar or additional column area on your blog or site), and other design features like textures. They do ask for a link back to their site, but offer some nifty tools.

VistaPrint, the well known print company, has a free logo creation service when you use it on one of their products, such as a business card. However, it is only $24.99 (at full retail, often discounted) and you get four versions of it: color, black and white, vertical and horizontal.

Tweak offers a completely free logo creator for a low-resolution JPEG image file. If you want a higher resolution JPEG or an EPS file for a high quality print job, you can purchase them for $9.95 and $29.95, respectively. Fast and easy to create, focused on font specific layouts, and you have to register to get to the download page.

Paid

LogoWorks is a service of HP (yes, the computer giant). They spell out a very detailed process, which inspires confidence. Plus, they have customer feedback and ratings right alongside each package choice. They have designed over 45,000 logos; packages start at $299. HP also offers LogoMaker, a free logo creation service with an upgrade plan of $49. It is not the same as the custom effort you get with Logoworks, however. Info available here on LogoMaker.

AAA Logo is software you can purchase and run on your desktop. You can start with a free trial or purchase for $49. Good examples page to give you ideas about what’s possible.

Free Logo Services states that your logo is free to create, but for unlimited use the cost is $39. I wasn’t sure how this would work, so I tested it. I didn’t get far because the terms and conditions state: “You may use this Site to generate a Logo that you may review and edit at no cost. You will then be offered the opportunity, for a fee, to purchase a package (the “Logo Package”) which includes the right to copy and use the Logo for your business…” The tools may be worth it for you to try out. Logos start at $39. It shows BBB reliability and 100,000+ satisfied customers.

LogoDesign Studio offers a designer-centric approach; you click on each designer’s portfolio to get an idea of their style. Packages start at $69.97.

LogoSmartz is a desktop logo creator that lets you build a logo from scratch or from hundreds of pre-built templates. There is a free trial, then it costs $39.95. They also offer a custom design logo service starting at $99.

Macware LogoDesign Studio is a desktop logo design software for the Mac. The basic edition starts at $34.99.

MyLogoMaker from Avanquest has 2,100 logo templates, 9,100+ shapes and objects, and comes with a business card software as a bonus feature. It has a free download trial, sells for $29.95, and has a 90-day money back guarantee.

Logo Design Guarantee does what their name states. They give you a 90-day, 100 percentmoney back guarantee and they provide six different logo design concepts for a $49 starter package. The site shows the “offer” expires at the time of this post; however, it appears that changes daily.

Logo Mojo (a division of Deluxe) has a starter package at $195 which includes six concepts, two rounds of changes, and a three-day turnaround. They offer other artwork services, too, including Twitter backgrounds and Facebook profile images.

Logo Design Team stands on its in-house design team, as opposed to a freelance team of people spread around the globe. They offer a $149 start price. I found it interesting that they have a “logo repair” service where they will update your existing logo, refreshing it to something modern and hip.

Infinity Logo Design does a good job of explaining how the logo design process works and what you can expect. Their packages start at $99 and include unlimited revisions on the two concepts they provide you. There is a 100 percent guarantee.

Logoinn has a super budget category for startups: only $45 for one logo concept, but only one revision. Of course, they have a 100 percent guarantee, so you’re safe in giving it a try. The little asterisk next to this package shows you get your money back within 21 days, not instantly.

99 Designs has a unique approach to logo design. They create a contest. You describe your requirements, and dozens of designers submit logo design concepts for you to review. You provide feedback (which I presume creates revisions), and then you choose and pay for the one you like the best. Starts at $295.

Business Logo stood out because they have a brief questionnaire after you select a paid package (starts at $99) so that they can understand your business and vision. While several others asked for you to share details this way, theirs was quick and focused.

Keep us posted on which tools and apps you use by sharing them in the comments.

From Small Business Trends

33 Logo Design Services You Can Use Today

View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends

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5 Ways the Government Is Using Dynamic Web Services to Better Serve Small Business

Dec 22nd

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Business Trends

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In the past, dealing with the U.S. government often meant dealing with paperwork, paper trails and a system of constituent outreach that might not have been the most customer-centric in its approach.

That was then; this is now. From the campaign trail to Capitol Hill, the government has upped the ante in how it communicates with and delivers services to citizens and business owners.

More specifically, the government’s adoption of Web services as a tool for supporting the incubation, startup and growth of small businesses is making public sector resources and information more accessible and actionable than ever before.

Here’s a list of five government agencies and government-sponsored programs that are embracing Web technology and social media to make it easier for business owners to get the information and support they need to start, operate and grow businesses.

1. Small Business Administration (SBA): Undergoing a Dramatic Transformation Online (and Offline)

Yesterday the SBA unveiled a new SBA.gov Web site that includes a host of user-friendly bells and whistles designed specifically to help small business owners find what they need quickly and dynamically. Using an interface aptly titled SBA Direct, visitors to the site are asked a few questions about their business profile (e.g. ,women-owned, home-based business, etc.), location and needs. The tool then delivers relevant and targeted information on all aspects of running a business such as the steps involved in getting started, business growth strategies, and how to stay compliant with laws.

SBA Direct also provides information on the available SBA programs that can help businesses succeed, such as financial assistance, guidance and training.

The new website is a critical part of SBA’s mission of transforming itself into “a proactive, responsive and “customer-centric” organization that better serves the needs of the nation’s more than 29 million small businesses,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills in yesterday’s press release from the agency.

The redesigned site also includes location-based maps to help small businesses find resources in their communities, improved navigation, and in 20011 will evolve to include a Lender Tool that will allow lenders to process online loan applications – speeding up the time it takes for SMBs to get the capital they need.

SBA has also been upping its social media presence, building on its YouTube channel to include a significant Facebook and Twitter following.

2. Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Tools to Shout Out About

Once just the domain of downloadable tax forms, the IRS.gov Web site has undergone a low-key, yet shout-out worthy, transformation in recent years – and this is good news for small business.

The IRS web site (www.irs.gov) is now the home of numerous online tools designed to help small businesses and the self-employed better understand their tax obligations as well as help them improve their overall financial literacy. These include the IRS Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop online training tool and a Retirement Plans Navigator that helps small employers find, compare and manage a variety of retirement plan options.

This new customer-centric approach is all about using the speed, ease and accessibility of the Web to reduce the administrative burden that can weigh so many entrepreneurs down. Read more from Business.gov in this article: IRS.gov Undergoes a Quiet Evolution – Revealing Invaluable Online Tax Tools for Small Business.

3. HealthCare.gov: Making Sense of It All

In the shadow of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, finding the right health-care plan for yourself and your employees can be quite an undertaking. If you are shopping for self-employed or employee health insurance plans, Healthcare.gov is truly a “first-of-its-kind” site in that it brings together data from more than 1,000 insurance carriers and 5,561 open products (3,531 in the small employer health insurance market) to help you understand your options and make more informed decisions about health-care coverage.

In addition to providing clarification about the Affordable Care Act (what it means in practice and the timeline of changes), the site also aims to make comparison shopping for health insurance a whole lot easier using basic personalization features that help you determine consumer or employer plan options (and, in some instances, pricing information) and potential eligibility.

4. Export.gov: Helping Your Business Trade Overseas

Did you know the government can help target and facilitate meetings with potential partners and buyers overseas? Or that Uncle Sam provides U.S. exporters with international marketing and promotion opportunities?

Meet Export.gov.

Operated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a collaborative effort with 19 other agencies, Export.gov is a goldmine of information, toolsand programs for anyone looking to navigate the exporting business and succeed in the global marketplace. These include webinars, exporting information, help in building partnerships and advice on marketing overseas. Explore more in 8 Reasons why Export.gov Might Just Be Your New Best Friend, and follow Export.gov on Twitter and Facebook.

Last, but not least …

5. Business.gov: Award-Winning One-Stop Portal and Interactive Forum for Small Business

Business.gov began life in May 2004 as part of a Presidential E-Government Initiative, with oversight by the SBA, in partnership with 21 other federal agencies. Business.gov was intended to act as a one-stop Web portal targeted at helping small and medium-sized businesses find, understand and comply with government regulation. The goal was to lessen time small business owners spent searching for information across multiple agency sites.

Since then the site has evolved into a content-rich, interactive online media hub. In 2009, the Business.gov Community was launched as a forum for business owners to interact with government, industry experts and each other through discussion boards, idea exchanges and blog articles. The Community was the first government-sponsored online community for small businesses and later that year was featured on the White House Innovation Gallery as an example of open government at work.

Today, the Community has over 15,000 members and includes renowned guest bloggers including Anita Campbell, Rieva Lesonsky and Joel Libava, among others.

Many of the resource-based small business guides on Business.gov can now be found on the new SBA.gov Web site. And, come January 2011, the Business.gov site, its discussion boards and blogs will be fully integrated into SBA.gov – creating a one-stop portal for small business owners to find all the answers they need, at one URL.

Additional Resources

Other notable government and government-sponsored websites that support the needs of small business include: