United States Charity

Nan Schwarz asked:


Email and document security is no longer just an option for companies, it is a necessity. Couple that with the costly user licensing of most enterprise software solutions and many small business operators can be locked out of taking advantage of Best Practice strategies that ensure the privacy of intellectual property and communication. Setting rights permissions to documents and encrypting email will be essential to future security practices for all businesses.

Common knowledge has been that the less sophisticated small business operates on a pricing sensitivity and is more apt to take advantage of promotions, whereas the more sophisticated make security decisions based on perceived business necessities. Overall, small businesses tend towards waiting to implement internet security measures until after suffering an email breach or informational leak. By this time privacy and accompanying monetary loss may have already done irreparable harm to a company’s intellectual property and reputation. Large enterprise solutions make it necessary to adopt complex IT infrastructures and processes that are usually dependent on an IT staff – a solution that does not fit well into the budgets of most small businesses.

According to published reports in PCWorld.com, there are nearly 70 million small businesses worldwide and over 20 million in the U.S. alone. Small business is a major part of the global economy – that means it’s time to replace a general passivity towards the possible threats from email and document theft with a look towards initiating security measures as a business standard. The increasing level of security risk due to email and intellectual property theft make it imperative for small businesses to raise their level of security knowledge and investment.

Recent studies show that although information security is a high concern for small business owners, lack of actual knowledge and awareness of the economic impact of security incidents is equally high. Imparting an awareness to the small business community of the real threats in regards to security vulnerability should be top priority. Through education in this arena, small businesses can better enable them to not only determine their own level of risk but also choose the necessary email and document security solutions.

The responsibility of raising awareness of security provisions needs to come not only from governing agency reports, but also from security solution vendors. Providers of business tool solutions are better equipped than any other entity to position themselves as leaders in educating businesses on not only the dangers but the appropriate basic security measures to complement a small company infrastructure. Especially here, being informed on which internet security products best suit a company need is important as the needs of small businesses are vastly different than that of enterprise businesses.

Look to numerous market survey and analysis reports that specialize in studies on information security and small business. A little research will show they repeatedly state the same warning to small businesses – they need to change their attitude towards security and begin adopting a security plan.

Taking the time to gather information on creating good internet security practices will lead to a decrease in the future cost of lost productivity, and by educating your workforce you create an even wider prevention of productivity loss

Michael Lemm asked:


re rate of small businesses is painful to see. With a little preplanning and consistent efforts in the right areas …. this doesn’t have to happen.

 

First, I see far too many people who think starting a business means the till is their personal money and owning a business means not having to work. They don’t come into prepared and give up far too easily when they realize people are not beating down their door to do business with them.

 

So what are the biggest reasons behind the high failure rate of small businesses …. and what can YOU do about it?

 

1. early burn out (poor planning)

2. no capital

3. no business plan / expectations / strategy

 

Burn Out:

 

Owners try to be both managers and technicians in the business and it drives them batty. They love doing something, so start a business, but then find that as it grows they have no life. You must be ready to start a business and then step out of the “do” part of it so you can remain energized and expand efficiently.

 

One useful metaphor is to think of your business as if you were going to franchise it. You will need to hire relatively unskilled people to operate the business – you cannot be at 20 locations at once. So you develop operations manuals and specific processes that are easy to train new people on. This lets you step outside the operation and assign it to someone. You can then use your time for strategy, growth, or personal development. You won’t burn out.

 

Capital:

 

You need money to grow a business. The presence of ops manuals and a clear business plan are impressive to those who provide money. Getting capital will be vitally important to your success. Getting yourself set up with a Dunn and Bradstreet number, a business specific credit card, and other credit-building assets is urgently important.

 

Business Plan:

 

You’ve heard this before – no business plan, no success. It doesn’t have to be formal, but it must be well thought out. Get help if you can. There are links in the Recommended Resources at Small Business Resources Cafe which can help with that.

 

Looking from a different view …. many small businesses are actually quite successful, IF, they have a good product or service at the right time and have good luck. Seriously, alot of small business success happens because of timing and luck than skill.

 

The trouble starts when those two run out. It is usually timing that goes first : The economy changes, a better widget comes out after yours, your product/service/industry gets bad press, etc. This is when the business spiral downwards. This is when you have to use your brain and know when to seek outside help.

 

It’s rather easy to make a go of a small busness with luck and timing on your side. It takes a solid plan, discipline and strong problem solving skills when you lose those two attributes.

 

My best advice is to build your business to grow. Then plan that it will dip …. and plan for the dip by reinventing your business with new ideas and thoughts. Often these innovations come from an outsider, such as a consultant who can view your business objectively. Then, your job as the owner is to listen and respond accordingly!

 

Above all though, never forget that business is about making money, and making money is about sales. If you concentrate on sales and manage cash flow, then you should be able to make it out of the start up phase and grow a very healthy business for the long run.

 

Charity. Faith. Hope. asked:


 

HERE ARE DETAILS OF A GREAT WEBSITE. WHERE EVERY TIME YOU CLICK A LINK THEY WILL DONATE MONEY TO AN ANIMAL RESCUE CHARITY SITE.THERE IS A LINK TO THE SITE AT THE FOOT OF THE PAGE.

The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need – providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the U.S. alone because they are abandoned and unwanted.

Each click on the purple “Click Here to Give – it’s FREE” button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need at The Fund for Animals’ renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in Southern California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation, North Shore Animal League, and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood.org foundation.

100% of sponsor advertising fees goes to our charitable partners.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About GreaterGood.org

GreaterGood.org is an independent charitable organization devoted to addressing the health and well-being of people (particularly women and children), animals, and the planet. GreaterGood.org distributes funds generated through the GreaterGood Network of websites to the many charitable organizations responsible for implementing programs named on these sites. 100% of the funds generated through the GreaterGood Network pass through GreaterGood.org to our partner charities. GreaterGood.org has ultimate authority and discretion with regard to the distribution of its funds. All expenditures made are consistent with the exempt purposes of GreaterGood.org.

About the owners of The Animal Rescue Site

The Animal Rescue Site is owned and operated by Tim Kunin and Greg Hesterberg, co-owners of CharityUSA.com (parent company of GreaterGood Network). Long-time friends and activists, they met at the University of Michigan while working on the Michigan Bottle Bill ballot campaign in 1976. In the late 1990s, they recognized that broad consumer-adoption of the Internet offered a new opportunity to raise funds for good causes. As enthusiastic supporters of The Hunger Site, they realized the power of providing busy Internet users with a fast, free and easy way to make a difference and launched EcologyFund.com to give people the means to support wilderness preservation efforts worldwide. They launched The Animal Rescue Site in July 2002.

Tim Kunin is a life-long lover of wilderness, who has canoed and hiked for thousands of miles in the United States, Canada and Patagonia. He started working for environmental causes at the University of Michigan, where he walked 200 miles across the state to publicize the need for recycling. He has a wife, two children and a dog, Scout.

Tim has traveled extensively to visit charity partners and purchase some of the fair-trade products available on our sites. He is convinced that providing a market for products made by rural women artisans is the best method of reducing inter-generational poverty. Travels have taken Tim to Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Sweden, England, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, South Africa, Israel, India, and Afghanistan. Tim has purchased unique products in each of these countries which can in turn be purchased from the web stores here.

Greg Hesterberg was chairman of two statewide consumer and environmental organizations (MaryPIRG and PIRGIM), while in college. After 20 years running a successful publishing firm, Greg enjoys finding innovative ways to make the world a better place. Greg’s two cats for many years, Tony and Junior, have passed on. In November of 2007 Greg adopted two sister kittens, Callie and Chloe. Their younger brother was the last one of the litter who hadn’t been adopted, and Greg couldn’t leave him behind; so now Callie and Chloe spend their days playing with each other, and with their brother Casey as well.

William Acosta asked:


Now the small business owner can get a line of credit with no hassle. Even in today’s economic climate with banks faltering and the stock market declining, smart banks and credit companies are still looking to invest in small business opportunities. Oftentimes, a line of credit can mean the difference between success and failure for a small business.

Lines of credit can be used to purchase inventory, pay utility bills, manage payroll, advertise, or to fund expansion projects. A line of credit can also allow a small business to weather downward trends in sales without having to make painful budget cuts and unpopular layoffs. A line of credit also allows a small business to avoid high interest loans from traditional banking institutions. Lines of credit are also much simpler to manage than typical loans or financial advancements, and securing a line of credit for your small business has never been easier.

While traditional banking institutions offer lines of credit for your small business, there are also other options. Conventional credit card companies are great resources a line of credit. They usually offer introductory low interest rates, flexible payment options, and are usually easier to secure than small business loans from a bank. The Internet is great tool to utilize when searching for an available line of credit for your small business. There are several web sites that offer searchable databases of credit offers. You can limit the search by any number of criteria, making each search specialized to your particular needs. These details can include credit limits, payment options, interest rates, and credit company options. Also, by applying online, many credit card companies offer different and better credit line terms for small businesses. These better terms can mean the difference between success and failure in a competitive business environment.

While credit card companies are a great and easy way to secure lines of credit for your small business, a bank can also be a good place to look for a line of credit. The terms may not be as good initially as a credit line issued from a credit card company (especially from an online application for credit), but banks a generally more trust worthy and the credit line terms are more predictable. When applying online for credit lines, there can be hidden terms or stipulations that are hidden in pages upon pages of small print. It is often difficult to realize all the terms and limitations of an online credit line. Interest rates are a good example. While introductory rates can seem excellent, once those introductory rates expire, the interest rate can skyrocket. This increased interest rate can cost your small business thousands of hard earned dollars, thus straining your business’ bottom line. Credit lines issued from banking institutions are more straightforward, and while their introductory interest rates are not generally as desirable as online credit institutions, the increased rate is generally much lower. When trying to secure a line of credit for your small business all aspects of the credit line are important. While credit lines can help your small business purchase inventory, pay employees, and weather downturns in sales, the wrong terms for your credit line can cost your small business thousands of dollars. 

Jazel Design asked:


Good News for Small Businesses

An exciting new media service has recently launched, Jazel design. This web design company truly is different from the rest as it specialises in web design for small businesses. Their mission is plain and simple; they want to help small businesses grow by getting them online.

With the growing concerns over the credit crunch and the main government attention going to the big players in the world of commerce, it is essential that all small businesses support each other to survive this economic gloom. For those who acknowledge the impact the economic downturn can have Jazel Design may be the answer. They can take your business online and open up new business channels for you.

Traditional web design agencies have catered for all organisations large and small; however this web design agency understands that the requirements of a small business are substantially different from the requirements of a large organisation. With this in mind they provide a tailored service which accounts for small businesses budgets too.

Offering brochure sites at discount prices Jazel Design also offers services such as Flash animations to set your websites apart as well as blogging software for the more ambitious business owner.

If one requires a logo for their new website or offline business, Jazel design can do that too.

Jazel Design  is an expert web design company specialising in effective web design for small businesses. Contact today for your free affordable custom quote.

John Edmond asked:


Most people don’t realize that every small business uses copywriting to sell their product or service.

Those catchy phrases on that brochure are copywriting.

The content of that sales letterare copywriting.

The direct-mail packet you received in the mail with discounts to area businesses- Yep. You got it that’s copywriting.

And while you may appreciate the value in hiring a professional to write an effective sales letter, benefit-laden brochure, or have-to-have-it internet ad, professional copywriting services may be out of the price range of your small business.

It’s impossible to gain the expertise in a short amount of time that a professional copywriter has earned through years of training and experience. That said, there are a number of quick and easy things you can do to make your content stand out – and more importantly, to sell your product or service for immediate revenue.

Headlines

In almost every case, headlines are a quick and effective way to grab your reader’s attention. However exciting the information that follows, it’s not going to do you any good unless you can pull your prospective client in immediately by making them want to read more.

In the age of email, IM-ing and video conferencing, people want information fast. If you bore them they’ll move onto something else, and you’ll lose an opportunity to tell them why your product or service will change their life for the better.

The headline is usually in a larger and/or bolder font than the text directly below it. This enables your promise to stand out more and to get the readers attention. The idea is to make your prospective client want to keep reading.

You may have seen headlines like these

“Lose 20 pounds in Two Weeks – And Eat all You Want!”

“Make $5,000 – with Nothing More than a Computer and 5 hours a Week!”

“Save Thousands on Heating Oil This Winter!” (an ad for a woodstove)

In virtually every business, even those often deemed “professional”, your message will be more urgent and compelling with a headline. Consider the following example for a technology consulting company:

“Finish Your Projects On Time and Under Budget – Without Hiring a Single New Employee!”

See what I mean? Headlines work. Start by defining your company’s promise. Every small business has one – all you have to do is tell your customer what it is.

Bullets and Fonts

Especially with a very technical subject matter, or with a product or service that requires a lot of information, bulleting out the finer points of your small business benefits can break down large blocks of information into an easy-to-read format.

When faced with a page full of text, the eye tends to drift to areas of interest – things that stand out from the rest of the text. For this reason, varying your font style and size just a tiny bit can make a real difference.

If I bold this sentence, you will likely pay special attention to it.

If I use italics to make my point here, it will be the rare individual who doesn’t notice – not the italics, but what’s been written in them.

The key here is not to go overboard. You don’t want to make your letter or brochure look like an advertisement for the circus (well, unless your small business is a circus). Just create enough interest to keep them reading and keep them invested in learning more about your small business.

Do-It-Yourself?

You’d probably prefer to contract out your copywriting services. Hiring someone else means you get a professional and can move onto matters that fall more clearly within your area of expertise.

But the reality is that many small businesses simply do not have money in the budget to hire a professional copywriter – at least not in the beginning.

In this case, try coming up with some material of your own using these tips. Who knows? You might even discover a talent you didn’t know you had.

Jeff Algera asked:


 

Why Your Small Business Needs a Website

It has been estimated by the Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/) that there are over 17 million small businesses in the United States with over 100,000 started every month. Furthermore, it can be safely assumed that most consumers within most developed countries research most purchases and companies from whom they purchase by using the internet. The exception is granted towards those companies which have been established through many generations, but you will find that even these companies unilaterally always have websites. Therefore, just to be a viable player in small business, your company will absolutely need a website for company representation to your existing and potential clients.

Now we have found that the most difficult part about small businesses obtaining a website is the nickle-and-dime scam that occurs from these full-service design companies. Most web design companies bank (literally) that you do not know the complexities of a website and will charge you for this disadvantage. For instance, one company in particular will set your small business up with a web site for one fee, charge for tiered, limited hosting, charge extra for email, for a photo gallery, etc. The list goes on and on. Then by the time you get the site up and running with one of these web design companies (if it ever happens, some businesses feel so inundated that they never get to this point) two things happen: 1) you’re out of money and 2) you’re out of energy to devote to your main business.

This is why JLA Development provides small businesses with one flat-rate fee for company representation on the web. We know exactly what it takes to put you up on the web. JLA Development has an extremely low overhead and offers its clients a standard flat fee for their websites. We despise the tactics of unethical and otherwise dishonest website development companies who charge their customers every step of the way.

Lastly, another mistake we see businesses make is that they attempt to build the website themselves. This is probably a cheaper option in the short term, but a very expensive option in the long. As more consumers search the web for your products and your services, if they encounter an unprofessional, unattractive website, there is no turning back that first impression. Be wary of branding your company with a poor website as it will reflect poorly on your company and its products.

Our advice to you: never give up. If we can do anything to help your small business get a universal presence on the web, we will do it and do it well.

Best Wishes,

JLA Development

http://jladevelopment.com

 

10x Marketing asked:


Small business origination doesn’t have to be a hassle. In our electronic day and age, the Internet has made small business origination loans almost instantaneous. There are several professional and high quality small business loan origination services available now that use the Internet to quickly find affordable financial assistance to beginning small business owners.

 

Why Small Businesses Fail

A novel could be written about the reasons why small businesses fail. One of the major reasons is from miscommunication between owners, or owner and investor. Take a new restaurant for example: A passionate chef and a wary investor will most likely **** heads when it comes to what makes the most financial sense to each one. And there is guaranteed to be some disagreement along with what each believes to be money well spent verses too much.

 

Undercapitalization

According to business researchers, the general rule of thumb for beginning small businesses needing a loan is “to have a sum of money at least equal to the projected revenue for the first year of business in addition to anticipated expenses.” For example, if the restaurant owner believes he or she will make $200,000 in revenue for the first year, with $250,000 in building and starting up expenses, than they should have no less than 350,000 available. Otherwise, the restaurant owner could be faced with huge amounts of debt or bankruptcy.

 

Poor Planning

Without an accountant, advisor or proper funding, small businesses can aim high but end up falling short and blow their opportunity to do it right and become successful. The first step they can take is to get the assistance from a small business origination service that help small business owners reach their financial goals and give them the assistance they need to be successful in all areas of their business.

For small businesses looking for the perfect credit services, there are plenty of professional organizations who specialize in giving small businesses quality, affordable loans.&nbsp