Why The Picnik Photo Editing Site Is Shutting Down, And Alternatives |  |
- Why The Picnik Photo Editing Site Is Shutting Down, And Alternatives
- Neat! Small Business Awards and Contests
- Become “The Strategist” Your Business Needs
| Why The Picnik Photo Editing Site Is Shutting Down, And Alternatives Posted: 24 Mar 2012 01:00 PM PDT Picnik, the free photo editing site used by many entrepreneurs and small businesses, is closing. It’s last day will be April 16, 2012. It’s being rolled into Google+. Picnik is an online service known for being intuitive and easy to use. Instead of buying photo editing software (such as Photoshop, which is pricey for occasional use), or using a free program like Irfanview (which is feature-rich but can be diabolically confusing), you could go online to Picnik. You upload a photo and using the online controls, you crop it, re-size it, adjust colors or touch it up. But the best part of Picnik is the personalization. You create fun special effects such as superimposing flowers or mustaches over your image. Or you make your images look elegant by adding drop shadows, artistic effects, and unique frames.
It’s a handy service. But if it’s so handy you may be wondering why it’s going away. The answer is simple: Google is getting behind Google+ in a big way. The social network started by Google that is already dominating search results for some searches, is gobbling up Picnik. The photo editing and special effects capabilities will be incorporated into Google+, in a feature called “Creative Kit.” PicNik Got Caught Up in The Bigger PicturePicnik was acquired by Google in 2010. A frequent topic of online conversation these days is how Google is showing favoritism with Google+. Picnik is just one small part of Google’s march to draw people into using Google+. Google has long since evolved into more than a search engine. These days Google offers services and products — everything from your website traffic analytics software, to your email program, to a service that helps you pick credit cards. Picnik customers are up in arms over the closure of their service, as the 1823 comments on this blog post on the Picnik site demonstrate. You could hardly expect comments to be positive — but even so, there’s a distinct flavor that people feel like they are being pushed into Google+ unwillingly. For example, a customer named “Kate” wrote:
Picnik and Google point out that many features will be available in the Creative Kit of Google +. Others note that it’s not the same thing. Google+ is a challenge to log into if you use several GMail or Google Apps accounts in your work. It’s not nearly as streamlined as using a simple stand alone site like Picnik, critics say. And some people just resist being forced to use another service. Google Announced it The Right WayWhile entrepreneurs and small business personnel may bemoan the loss of Picnik, you can’t argue with the way Google made the announcement. It was classy all the way. They notified users months in advance that the service would be shutting down (see image above of the notice on the home page). They also made all premium features free, “as a parting gift” they said (and refunded premium payments paid in advance). This is a far better way to announce the closure of your service, than to bury the notice in support forums while you continue to accept new paying customers. One company did that not long ago, leading to rude surprises. Google also created an export feature called Takeout to allow you to grab your files at Picnik and save them. Picnik AlternativesWe small business leaders are nothing if not pragmatic. Picnik shuts down, but the show must go on. What can you use instead to replace Picnik, if you don’t want to use Google+? For alternatives to Picnik, here are 8 to check out: PicMonkey, BeFunky, FotoFlexer, iPiccy, WebFetti’s Photo Editor, Pixlr, LunaPic and Phixr. If you know of other alternatives, please leave a suggestion in the comments below. From Small Business Trends |
| Neat! Small Business Awards and Contests Posted: 24 Mar 2012 10:30 AM PDT Are you ready to win an honor for your company? Make your employees proud? One of the best ways to instill pride and set your business apart in customer minds is to display the awards you have won. But you can’t win an award by sitting by passively. You have to get out there and apply for awards and enter competitions. They probably won’t happen out of the blue. Check out the awards and competitions below, brought to you 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. -
Today, there are more than 2.2 million .biz domain registrations and Neustar is taking part in celebrating SMBs that dared to stand out in a crowd. Businesses can visit http://www.my.biz/10year/ and share how they used .biz to increase the reach of their brand image. Once SMBs have shared their stories, visitors will cast their votes. Winners will receive awards and a Best of .Biz seal to recognize their website.
The 2012 SCORE Award categories include Outstanding Veteran-Owned Small Business, Outstanding Minority-Owned Small Business and Outstanding Green Small Business. The SCORE Awards gala will be held in August and will honor successful and innovative entrepreneurs and the small business advocates who support entrepreneurship in America. See website for nomination FAQs and entry details.
The folks at BizSugar would like to hear your coaching tips. What tips or advice can you provide to other small business owners that will enable them to successfully coach new employees, existing employees or potential employees or business associates in a positive and effective manner? And then ask yourself this question, "How Coachable Am I?" How do you receive feedback and coaching? Are you open to it? What techniques do you respond to? Taking a look at how you receive it may enable you to better deliver it. Post your coaching tip (and your Twitter username) by the end of day on April 5, 2012, in the comments section on the blog for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.
Grow America Springboard events allow entrepreneurs to compete for cash awards and business services to help them create new jobs and lift local economies. Grow America will provide $1,000,000 in cash awards and resources over the course of three events in 2012 and a Utah state championship in January 2013. See website for details and entry rules.
One Woman, One Franchise- #OWOF The One Woman One Franchise contest (#OWOF on Twitter) is for a woman who is interested in purchasing a franchise, but is looking for guidance and support. One winner will receive franchise ownership advice from Joel Libava, the Franchise King, as well as a package of services to get you up and running with a franchise — including incorporation filing from Corpnet, a press release, a 6-month subscription to LivePlan, a franchise disclosure agreement review consultation by attorney Rush Nigut, online consulting from Matt About Business, and free books by Nicole Fende and Carol Roth. to qualify, you fill out the contest form here indicating in 200 words or less why you want to become a franchise owner.
Everybody knows one. Like a super hero, she balances running a family with the heroics of running her own business. We're talking about moms in business, of course. And now, StartupNation is conducting its third annual ranking of these astonishing entrepreneurs and the businesses they run. Over the next few months, it'll be your daily votes that determine the top 200 Leading Moms in Business. In addition the judges will determine special awards and accolades for moms within the top 200 who deserve special recognition.
There are nearly 7 million private, employee-based firms in America. Only the very best are awarded the distinction of being named to the Inc.500 | 5000, the gold standard of entrepreneurial success. You’ll be listed with other leading companies at Inc.com, and your company may be featured in the September 2012 issue. If you are proud of your company’s growth over the past three years, you owe it to yourself — and to your employees — to apply for the Inc.500 | 5000.
The contest is open to small businesses headquartered in Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island or Vermont. The winning business will receive exposure of their business, improved business practices and professional advice. The contest is free to enter and will provide a learning experience for business owner(s) and employees. BBB will provide up to $5,000 in support and material funds. See website for rules and entry details.
Are you an existing or aspiring retailer or entrepreneur? The winner of Race for the Space will win free rent for one year in a prime retail or office space, a one year advertising package in the Ithaca Times, design services for storefront layout and signage and more. The package is worth over $40,000. See website for details and entry rules.
Informational Teleconference April 5, 2012: (712) 451-6175, PIN-1095742# WEDC is once again offering the Lanza Enterprise Awards Program (LEAP) to help women entrepreneurs boost their businesses to the next level. Five $5,000 equity awards will be presented to WEDC 15-Week Program graduates or participants who have completed comprehensive business plans and who meet the award criteria. This program is a collaboration among the Lanza Family Foundation, the Women’s Research and Education Fund (WREF) and the Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC). It is designed to help women who are owners of microenterprises (businesses with five or fewer employees) achieve greater business success.
The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards is the annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000+ small businesses throughout the tri-state area. The Small Business Awards will recognize 5 small businesses for their best practices and 3 businesses under the “Best of the Year Awards” categories. A panel of experts in the related fields will judge all award packages. Awards will be presented to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages, revenue profits and/or long-term value. Please note the criteria and requirements listed on the awards website.
Submit your pitch on video, telling about your product or service, your marketing plans, your customer base. Tell what makes your business different — why it is one to watch? Do you need capital? If so, how much and what for? Most important, how are you going to make money? All video pitches that meet the submission guidelines will be featured on The New York Times small-business Facebook page and selected pitches will be featured on the New York Times You’re the Boss Blog.
To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit our Small Business Events Calendar. 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. From Small Business Trends |
| Become “The Strategist” Your Business Needs Posted: 24 Mar 2012 05:30 AM PDT
But as your business grows, you may be tempted to fall into the trap of thinking that you don't know as much as the MBA next door and this might lead you to outsource your strategic thinking and planning. Cynthia Montgomery, the author of The Strategist: Be the Leader Your Business Needs, and a professor at the Harvard Business School says "Don't DO IT!" I received an early review copy of Cynthia Montgomery's book The Strategist: Be the Leader Your Business Needs recently and wanted to give you an early heads-up about the book which is scheduled for release April 24, 2012. About Cynthia Montgomery So who is Cynthia Montgomery, and what can she tell small businesses about strategy that will help them grow? Cynthia Montgomery is the Timken Professor of Business Administration and past head of the Strategy Unit at the Harvard Business School. Not only that, but she's led the school's Owner, President, Manager Program that is attended by leaders of mid-sized companies from around the world. In fact, it's this experience with executives that inspired the writing of this book. You can just imagine the real-life experiences and stories that she's had to deal with over her 20 years of leading this program. And it's this experience that makes this book worth reading. The Strategist is an Academic Read with Critical Lessons for Small Business While The Strategist is not a long book (my review copy has just over 163 pages) it is packed with brain busting information. This is not a feel-good or entertaining read. This is serious stuff. Think about it – it's written by a Harvard Business School professor who teaches executives strategy and leadership. It's heavy duty stuff. Don't let my preceding paragraph scare you. My intention is to tell you that Montgomery is sharing big and important information for businesses. In this book, she seeks to communicate an important message to business owners – you CANNOT delegate strategy – to an MBA, to a consultant, to ANYONE. As the business owner, this is your baby. Analyticals and Data Hounds Will LOVE The Strategist If you are a numbers-driven person with strong analytical skills, you will eat this book up with a spoon. It's loaded with charts and graphs that show you exactly how to look at strategy and make strategic decisions. Don't worry all you people-centered data-haters (yes, I put myself in this category) , you'll get it too. I actually had to take a little extra time with these sections because numbers don't come naturally for me and I really wanted to "get it". The Strategist is a Harvard Business School Strategy Course in a Book Can't afford to pay for Harvard Business School or don't have the time to take away from your business? Don't worry. Get this book instead. It's the course and all it's lessons in a short book. It's not exactly easy or fun to read. I like to say that this isn't a "snuggly" book. It's a serious book that you will want to consume a chapter at a time, take notes and maybe collect some additional information. Strategy is something not to be taken lightly and that is the overarching lesson that Montogomery communicates between the covers of this brilliant book. Pick up your copy of The Strategist and start taking on the leadership role in defining where your business will go and how you're going to get there. From Small Business Trends |
Enter by April 6, 2012
Who has been responsible for the overall strategy of your business? As small business owners who wear many hats, by definition, it's been YOU!| You are subscribed to email updates from Small Business News, Tips, Advice - Small Business Trends To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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