A website is a perfect way to showcase your business online. Whether you are a restaurant, bakery, or landscaper, your small business needs a presence on the web. Your website will be the first thing potential customers see when they search for your services. You need to be where they’re looking – on the internet. There’s no better time than now to get started and make sure that your company has a quality website. [Read Full Article]

Management and Operations Ten Worst Communication Blunders of 2009 From a steady review of major news events, here are the ten worst communication blunders of 2009. BusinessKnowHow.com Management and OperationsProductivity Coach's Corner: Clear the Clutter, Create OpportunityThe following is a specific key to success in lightening the load on your body and mind. This is a practical activity, one you can do to reduce the unnecessary physical and psychological stress you may be carrying around right now. Wouldn't it be worth it to invest less than one half of an hour to regain some confidence and control? M... [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics and the Economy Jobless Claims Rise There was an unexpected jump in first-time unemployment claims even as continuing claims drop. FoxBusiness.com Management and Operations The Most Annoying People to Work With: The Top 13 Irritations Wherever you work, even in your own business, you find people who have turned the merely annoying into high art. Now that art has been classified and here are the top 13 offenders. ManageSmarter.com [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics and the Economy Survey: Poor Sales Lead to Business Closings According to a recent NFIB survey, poor sales are the number-one problem afflicting America's small businesses. Moreover, few small business owners expect consumers to start spending again any time soon. CNNMoney.com Fed to Keep Rates Steady and Slow Bond Purchases The Federal Reserve is holding interest rates steady and intends to "slow the pace" of its emergency bond-buying program. USAToday.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics and the Economy Obama: Small Business Promises Kept and Broken President Obama promised to help Main Street where, but has he kept that promise? Here's a look at where he's followed through -- and where he hasn't. CNNMoney.com Survey Suggests Recession to End This Quarter With recent data suggesting that the recession has bottomed-out, the Blue Chip Economic Indicators survey of private economists showed about 90% of the respondents believe the recession will be declared over this quarter. FoxBusiness.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics and the Economy Small Business Still Struggling Under Obama's Programs President Obama may have kept some of his promises to small business owners, but the credit crunch continues and it still has far too many small companies trapped in a death spiral. CNNMoney.com Romer: Stimulus Working In a recent speech, Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer defended the Obama stimulus package and left the door open to a possible second stimulus. FoxBusiness.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

Government, Politics and the Economy Geithner: US Unemployment May Peak in 2010 According to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, US unemployment may not peak until the second half of 2010, even though the broader economy shows signs of improvement. Bloomberg.com House Approves Food Safety Overhaul The US House of Representatives has approved the biggest overhaul of food safety laws in decades in the wake of major outbreaks of food-borne disease that has left industries fighting to woo back wary consumers. Bloomberg.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

Spam is more than just a processed meat-food product that fed hungry, displaced Europeans during and after World War II, a real Marshal Plan staple. Nor is it merely the subject of one of Monty Python’s more famous and entertaining skits. No, it is unwanted and annoying electronic communication between some company and their target audience.  Email Spam It began as the email equivalent of junk mail and, like junk mail; it is just as impossible to stop. At first it was merely irritating, but as the Web evolved, so did spam. Now, by law, there has to be a way for recipients to opt out of mailings. And as people click on these links and opt out of these mailings, one of two things happens: The spamming company will honor your request and take you off their list. This is what should happen. Then, another spammer appears to take their place.  They use your complaint to simply verify that they have a live email... [Read Full Article]