A BlackBerry Acquisition, Online Fakes and More |  |
- A BlackBerry Acquisition, Online Fakes and More
- Online Signup for Small Biz SHOP Exchanges Under Obamacare Delayed A Month
- New Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets Have Arrived
- How to Use The Linkedin Mentions Feature to Engage and Connect
- Reviewing Pros and Cons: Ready for a Breather?
| A BlackBerry Acquisition, Online Fakes and More Posted: 27 Sep 2013 04:00 PM PDT
If you’ve missed some of the top news stories important to small business owners and entrepreneurs this week, don’t worry. Running a business is a full-time job. We understand. That’s where the Small Business Trends editorial team comes in. We collect the news most important to you all in one place so you won’t miss a thing. Let’s get started. Mobile NewsBlackBerry acquisition worth $4.7 billion. Stock holders won’t be happy if it happens, but for small business owners things might not be bad. If the company goes private, it might mean more focus on business solutions. Microsoft Surface 2 tablets unveiled. After considerable buzz, Microsoft’s second generation of Surface tablets were announced this week. One aspect potential buyers — including small businesses owners — may have trouble with is the cost. McDonald’s offers mobile payments. The fast food chain is testing the service currently in select cities. Is your small business offering a mobile payment option? Here’s where the trends are headed. Nokia to unveil largest Windows phablet. If photos bouncing around the Internet are to be believed, the new Nokia 1520 will have a 6-inch full 1080 p HD display. We’ll see how this one stacks up to the competition. New NVIDIA tablet will cost only $119. The Tegra Note may not be perfect, but it has some features that might be appealing to small business owners. And one of the biggest selling points may be the price. Counterfeits, Online Fakes and ResellersAlibaba takes on counterfeiting. The Chinese website that has become a wholesale marketplace and ecommerce powerhouse is finally working to address counterfeiting among some sellers. What steps can you take to make sure you aren’t a victim? Fake reviews fetch $350,000 in fines. If you’ve ever been tempted to write one of those fake reviews praising your own business on Yelp or elsewhere, don’t do it. This post will show you what can happen. Etsy struggles with reseller issue. The site was founded for artisans and craftspeople creating one-of-a-kind handmade products. For many of these small business people, reselling of mass produced items on the site is a major blow. Products & ServicesWindows 8.1 available. Business owners and other users who don’t yet have Windows 8, will have to pay for the upgrade to Windows 8.1. But it’s still available, if you want it. To get Windows 8.1 for your Windows 7 or other device, here are the costs and other specifics. Pay whatever you want for CRM. Anita Campbell, CEO and founder of Small Business Trends, gives us a look at this new product for keeping track of your contacts. It’s Zoho’s new ContactManager, and the cost for small businesses interested in getting started may surprise you. American Express promotes tech investment. American Express says data shows small businesses are ready to invest in tech. A new offer for Business Gold Card holders gives incentives to do just that. What do you think? Health CareSmall business health insurance keeps rising. In fact, last year it rose faster than inflation, according to the 2013 Kaiser Family Foundation Health Benefits Survey. Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University Scott Shane has more. More delays with Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, delays continue with the U.S. Affordable Care Act. For small businesses who want to sign up to provide coverage for your employees, you’ll have to wait another month to do so online. Read more of the ongoing saga. Other NewsNASE has new leadership. The National Association of the Self-Employed is the voice for America's 23 million self-employed and micro-business owners. Meet the organization’s new president and CEO. Reading Photo via Shutterstock The post A BlackBerry Acquisition, Online Fakes and More appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Online Signup for Small Biz SHOP Exchanges Under Obamacare Delayed A Month Posted: 27 Sep 2013 01:45 PM PDT
Online signup for small business health insurance coverage under the U.S. Affordable Care Act has been delayed by one month. However, paper applications mailed or faxed in, or phone sign-up, will be available by the October 1st deadline, reports the Washington Post. The Small Business Health Option Program (SHOP), through which small businesses with 50 or fewer employees can sign up to provide healthcare coverage options for employees, is expected to open up for enrollment October 1, 2013. The official announcement from the U.S. Department of Health is confusing at best. Government officials have objected to the characterization of the later signup date as a “delay.” One way to look at this online signup date change is that by itself it’s not a huge matter. But some observers say the various sliding dates, even a one-month delay such as this, are a signal that the Affordable Care Act is just not ready for prime time. “Every step in the implementation process has seen delays and setbacks; we are certainly not surprised by this one. But with this latest glitch in the small-business exchanges, the case for a delay of the individual mandate alongside the employer mandate only grows stronger,” said Kevin Kuhlman. Kuhlman is the manager of legislative affairs for the National Federation of Independent Business. “Small-business owners should not be forced to comply with a law that is clearly not ready for prime-time. This is starting to seem like a parody; unfortunately, it is extremely serious,” Kuhlman added. Individuals still will be required to buy health insurance by Jan. 1, 2014 or face fines. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may be able to receive tax credits for providing healthcare that can help cover premiums. Read more information about SHOP exchanges affecting small businesses with 50 or fewer employees – and those who work for them. The post Online Signup for Small Biz SHOP Exchanges Under Obamacare Delayed A Month appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| New Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets Have Arrived Posted: 27 Sep 2013 11:08 AM PDT
There has been plenty of buzz about the new Microsoft 2 Surface tablets. And now the devices have finally been unveiled. But small businesses looking for Windows tablets or tablet desktop hybrids may find both Microsoft devices too pricey. The new Microsoft Surface 2 (pictured above, blue, right) replaces the Surface RT and the new Microsoft Surface Pro 2 (pictured above, purple, left) replaces the Surface Pro. The second device is more like a tablet/desktop hybrid with what Microsoft claims is the power of a full PC. The Microsoft Surface 2 will start at $449. However, an optional touch or type cover keyboard helpful when using software like Microsoft Office will run an extra $120 to $130. Upgrading from the standard 32 GB device to 64 GB pushes the device to $549. Similarly, the Microsoft Surface Pro 2, which is what most business users will likely want, starts at $899 for a 64 GB device. An optional dock which provides added screen support and serves as a charger for the device adds nearly another $199 to the cost. Purchasing 128 GB, 265 GB or 512 GB devices will only further up the cost. A Look At the New Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2Both devices feature a 10.6 inch screen, front and rear cameras and improvements over the first generation Surface devices. For example:
Budget conscious small business owners worried about the price may want to wait. Other offerings from companies like Nokia and even Dell are on the horizon. The new Microsoft Surface devices introduced earlier this week should be available in stores Oct. 22, but you can pre-order your device immediately. Image: Microsoft The post New Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets Have Arrived appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| How to Use The Linkedin Mentions Feature to Engage and Connect Posted: 27 Sep 2013 08:00 AM PDT
As most people know, unless you participate in social networks, you won't get much out of them. The same is true with LinkedIn. One way to engage with others is by posting several Status Updates a day. But sometimes it’s hard to create strong Status Updates. The good news? A feature that LinkedIn began rolling out in April, 2013, is extremely helpful in creating powerful LinkedIn status updates. Still not widely used at this point, it's the LinkedIn Mentions or "@mentions" option. It allows you to "call out" someone, similar to Twitter or Facebook. They get notified that you’ve mentioned them. Note: This feature is only available, at this time, for personal LinkedIn status updates. As of this writing, it is not yet available for company page status updates or group discussions. Use LinkedIn Mentions When Writing a Status Update1. Go to the home page of LinkedIn. Make sure you are logged in. You will see your status updates there. When you want to mention a LinkedIn connection or company, begin by using the "@" sign and then typing the name of a company or connection in the status update box. Example: @BizSugar. 2. A drop down box will appear with your connections. Select your desired LinkedIn connection or company from the list of connections that appear in the drop-down box (you must be a first-level LinkedIn connection to show up in the drop-down box; you don't need to follow a company to include a company name, however). Complete your status update and share it. 3. The mentioned connection or company will receive an instant notification informing them they have been mentioned on LinkedIn. See the image below indicating how simple it is to use LinkedIn @Mentions.
Ways to Use the LinkedIn Mentions FeatureRecommendationsRecommend a product or service, or both, and include the @mention of the person who created it or is selling it. Thanking OthersThank someone for sharing useful information. Instead of just sharing great content, include a comment that mentions a person or company. Congratulating OthersCongratulate a person or business for winning an award or accomplishing an achievement or special milestone of some sort. Why Using the @Mentions Feature is So ImportantAs Dale Carnegie said:
Benefits of Including a Connection or Company NameImmediate NotificationThe person or company you mention is immediately notified of the mention, so you get on their radar screen in a positive way. ReciprocationThis encourages the mentioned person or company to reciprocate in some way, as people naturally feel compelled to "return the favor." This could be by posting something nice about you, sending you a referral, giving you business, etc. A Positive ImpressionBy saying something nice about someone else, you look great to others. Word-of-MouthYou are providing excellent word-of-mouth for the mentioned product, service, person or organization, which in turn helps them get more connections and business. Start creating more powerful LinkedIn Status updates by using the "@mentions" option today. You'll develop stronger connections and create more business opportunities. The post How to Use The Linkedin Mentions Feature to Engage and Connect appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Reviewing Pros and Cons: Ready for a Breather? Posted: 27 Sep 2013 05:00 AM PDT
I was trying to come up with a pros/cons cartoon for about a good week and it just wasn’t coming. I’d written out various lists of possible pros and cons and I knew I was close, but it just wasn’t quite there. Then for some reason I jotted down “You’re Stupid!” as one of the cons and I was off and running. Eventually all of the original pros and cons got replaced with what you see here and the caption sort of ended up writing itself. Looking back it’s surprising how much this cartoon was hiding in plain sight; I just needed that one little outburst to get things going. The post Reviewing Pros and Cons: Ready for a Breather? appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
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