HP Accessory Lets You Print from Mobile Devices To Older Printers |  |
- HP Accessory Lets You Print from Mobile Devices To Older Printers
- The Tale of Two Self-Employed Freelancers and Obamacare
- How to Get Started Using the Review Extension with AdWords
- IRS Fast Tracks Audits for Small Businesses, Self-Employed
- 35 LinkedIn Tools for Business, Plus a Few Extras
- Amsterdam Company Designs Clothes for Your Office Chair
| HP Accessory Lets You Print from Mobile Devices To Older Printers Posted: 20 Nov 2013 04:00 PM PST
Don’t have a new mobile-supported printer? You can still get the ability to print wirelessly directly from your mobile device to some older or standard HP printers, with a new accessory from HP. HP’s newer wireless direct printers enable printing directly from mobile devices, but standard HP printers don’t. This new device changes that. Forty million printers manufactured by HP from 2008 or later can now be adapted to interact with mobile devices, even if the printer was not originally designed that way. The 1200w Mobile Print Accessory priced at $69.99 was one of the new products rolled out at HP Print Tech Day 2013 on its campus in Boise, Idaho. And Small Business Trends’ Chief Technology Officer Leland McFarland was on hand. “The technology in that accessory is going to be added into all future HP models so you won’t need to purchase it separately in the future,” McFarland said. But for some older printers it’s now possible to “go mobile” without having to buy new printers. Basically, McFarland explained, the device allows your smartphone to connect with the router in a standard HP printer through wireless direct connections. In the alternative, the accessory allows Near Field Communication (NFC) between mobile device and printer – called touch-to-print capability. That means the two devices are able to connect simply by being in very close proximity — usually physically touching each other. Touching a printer with your mobile device establishes a connection. You must have an NFC-enabled smartphone, of course, to use the NFC capabilities. “If you’re in a big office with multiple printers, you walk up to one of them and say, ‘I want to print on you’,” he noted. Touch your mobile device to the printer to start printing the images or documents you have in queue. That might be useful if you’re on site at a client’s office and need to print something.
What It Means to Your BusinessSo what can an accessory like this (see PDF fact sheet) do for your business? Well, if you’ve already got an HP printer that happens to be a 2008 model or newer, but aren’t ready to buy a new printer, you’re in luck. HP’s Mobile Accessory converts your printers to the ability to print directly from your mobile devices, without a costly investment. And making your office more mobile will help make you more efficient allowing you to work not just from your laptop and desktop but from your smartphone or tablet, too. Images: HP The post HP Accessory Lets You Print from Mobile Devices To Older Printers appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| The Tale of Two Self-Employed Freelancers and Obamacare Posted: 20 Nov 2013 01:30 PM PST
First it was the website troubles. Healthcare.gov has crashed repeatedly — or perhaps “continuously” is a better word. The site seems to be unavailable more often than it is available to Americans trying to research coverage options, let alone sign up. According to a government report dated November 13, 2013, just 26, 794 individuals had selected a plan through the Federal website as of last week. Another 79,000 had selected plans via state healthcare exchange websites. Then other news rocked the American public: nearly 5 million Americans have had their healthcare coverage cancelled, by one estimate. Millions more are expected to get cancellation notices over the coming year. Policies are being cancelled because plans don’t meet requirements for certain mandated coverage. Let’s say you’re past childbearing age – you may still be required to have a policy with maternity benefits. Or you have a high deductible policy, and you’re OK with it because you’re relatively healthy. It doesn’t matter. Insurance companies are required to cancel policies that don’t meet certain requirements. The cancellation news started as a trickle and soon became a flash flood. There’s at least one site set up where Americans are sharing their health insurance cancellation notices at MyCancellation.com. Self-Employed Business Owners are ImpactedDespite the delay in the employer mandate until 2015, small businesses are being impacted by Obamacare right now. The individual mandate is still in place. Self-employed business owners and freelancers are among the very people likely to have health coverage under individual plans — or no coverage. Two examples from the ranks of the self-employed demonstrate the situation some small business owners now find themselves in. Bruce Barcott, a freelance writer, was notified that his insurance premium would go up by 94%. Even though he and his wife would have preferred to stay with their high-deductible plan, they couldn’t. But when he went to his state’s healthcare exchange website, he was met with few good options and many unanswered questions. The result: frustration. He writes that he found himself, “seething at a President I helped elect.” He’s still an Obamacare supporter. His point is that he expected clarity and competence. And remember Jessica Sanford, the self-employed court reporter touted by President Obama as being an Obamacare success story? Turns out she isn’t. If you recall, she was the woman who penned a thank-you letter to President Obama when she thought she would be qualifying for a healthcare credit and inexpensive insurance. In October, she was present standing behind President Obama during a Rose Garden speech (she’s in red, in the above image). After that she was notified that the Washington state exchange she used made a series of complex errors. Now she says she won’t be getting low-cost health insurance coverage after all. She will instead pay the $95 penalty, she is quoted in a CNN story:
She says she’s still an Obama fan, though. No Easy FixMeanwhile, President Obama has proposed a fix for the cancellations, involving allowing people to opt to keep their cancelled policies for one year. However, the situation is not going to be easy or quick to fix because it involves state insurance regulators and the entire health insurance industry — not just politicians in Washington. Some self-employed business owners are asking the question: will my family and I be better off under the Affordable Care Act in 2014? The answer as of this moment for some seems to be either “no” or “I just don’t know.” The post The Tale of Two Self-Employed Freelancers and Obamacare appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| How to Get Started Using the Review Extension with AdWords Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:00 AM PST
Although in beta for quite some time, Google has finally given AdWords users the option to place third party reviews, ratings or awards into an AdWords listing. Above is a screenshot of how the Review Extension works, which was provided by Google when they made the announcement. The idea here is that users can get a good feel for what authoritative sources are saying about a company right there on the SERP (search engine results page). It can help your company stand out and find that edge. However, there are a few rules to keep in mind when setting up your review. How Google Review Extensions WorkAccording to Google, they have:
In other words, it has already proven effective and is surely something to consider. Below are a few of the details regarding the new feature:
Of course, it's also worth mentioning that you must have permission to use the quote before you include it in your listing. If you can't find the source to get permission then you can't use the review. How to Use Google Adwords Review ExtensionsSubmitting and managing a review is actually quite easy following the steps below:
Google explained that you can always visit the AdWords Help center if you need help getting started. Below is a screenshot they provided that shows the setup described above:
So How Do You Know a Review is Real?Whenever you're talking about reviews, it's a question that needs to be asked. The review that a company puts into the ad must be from a third-party source (not an individual user) and a link to that source must be included next to the review. If someone clicks this link, there is no charge to you or the source. Google will use both a manual as well as automated system to review every review extension to make sure it is legitimate. What This Means to a Company's ReputationReputation is essentially the moral of the story. Reviews are becoming more important than ever, plain and simple. Whether you choose to add a review into your advertisement or not, it's clear that Google is trying to move toward a Web full of reviews and meaningful interactions. This is the perfect way to show to users your reputation with real people and not just with the Google bots. Google, of course, wants the Web to include the realist picture of its listings, and choosing something that represents a company's reputation seems like the perfect fit. Urging your customers to leave reviews on your Google page, as well as other outlets like Yelp and social media, is a good way to start ramping up your number and creating the full picture of your company. Who knows, maybe something will jump out at you and you'll have to include it in your AdWords campaign. The post How to Get Started Using the Review Extension with AdWords appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| IRS Fast Tracks Audits for Small Businesses, Self-Employed Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST
The Internal Revenue Service says it is rolling out a new program to help small businesses and self-employed tax payers resolve disputes arising from an audit in record time. The IRS says its new Fast Track Settlement program, is modeled on one currently available to large or midsized businesses with assets of $10 million or more. In an official announcement detailing the program on the official IRS website, the federal agency explains:
The IRS says the program should, in most cases, allow resolution of issues related to an audit within 60 days rather than months or years if the issue goes to appeals and eventually litigation. The Fast Track Settlement program uses an arbitration process to resolve disputes between the IRS and small businesses under audit. The agency also says businesses taking advantage of the program retain their rights to appeal should the arbitration be unsuccessful. Appealing for Fast Track SettlementApplication for the IRS Fast Track Settlement program requires filing of Form 14017 along with a brief response to the IRS position on the tax return under audit. The fast track process is no guarantee of a positive resolution with the IRS. The agency says mediation will generally be handled by an IRS appeals officer who serves as a “neutral party.” However, the process could help bypass a time-consuming and potentially costly appeals process which can sometimes end in court. The IRS initially launched a pilot version of the program in 2006. An expanded program was announced in 2008. The IRS says the recent roll out streamlines those earlier programs and makes the option available to all small businesses meeting eligibility requirements. The reality is that the Fast Track Settlement program may not yield a better result than going through the traditional appeal process. But it could considerably reduce a potentially very unpleasant process that could effect your business long term. Image: Wiki The post IRS Fast Tracks Audits for Small Businesses, Self-Employed appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 35 LinkedIn Tools for Business, Plus a Few Extras Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST
LinkedIn is a great way to network with other business owners. You most likely already know that. But are you using it to its full potential? The following is a list of LinkedIn tools for business to help increase your LinkedIn effectiveness. Whether you need something to help you follow posts on the go or are just looking for something to help improve your profile visibility, you can find the LinkedIn tools for business you need here. LinkedIn Tools for BusinessLinkedIn for AndroidThe two main smartphone operating systems each have their own app, naturally. LinkedIn for Android is here. You can grow your network, connect with others, and access engaging and meaningful content while waiting in the elevator or for your next appointment. If you need to update your profile, view recommended jobs, or even upgrade your account, this LinkedIn app will do it. LinkedIn for iOSIf you’re an iPhone or iPad user, here's the iOS app in the iTunes app store. LinkedIn for Windows and BlackberryThere's also LinkedIn for Windows phones and LinkedIn for Blackberry. These two have more limited LinkedIn features compared to the Android and Apple apps. OFunnelOFunnel is a cool new tool that alerts you when someone in your network connects with someone new. This feature exists in LinkedIn, but you have to log in to see it. This tool forwards changes to you automatically. Think of it as Google Alerts for relationships, as the site says, in this era of social sales. LinkedIn BadgesRather than post a resumé on your website, you could show one of these LinkedIn badges that allow people to click through to your profile. Of course, that means you need to keep your profile up to date. There are several styles from which to choose. SlideShare
LinkedIn owns SlideShare. This is one of my favorite services for sharing expertise. It allows you to embed YouTube videos, create a webinar, share presentations/documents, and upload PDFs, sales/marketing presentations, conference talks, or portfolios directly onto your LinkedIn profile. You can even use it to sync LinkedIn and Facebook. Share on LinkedInWhen you are surfing the Web, do you come across webpages you would like to share on your LinkedIn profile? Add Share on LinkedIn to your browser toolbar. Then just click to share. As noted elsewhere, you can also do this with extensions via most browsers and phone apps, too. Pulse
If you are tired of clicking from page to page to get updates, Pulse for iPhone sends you news, social network updates, RSS, magazine, and blog feeds to the comfort of your phone. Pulse for Android will do the same thing on your Android based mobile device. LinkedIn ContactsLinkedIn Contacts is an iPhone app that combines your contacts and notifies you for birthdays and job changes in your network. Sync.MEUse Sync.ME to update your contact list in one smooth step. This app syncs with your LinkedIn and Facebook contacts and ensures that you have the most up to date information about them. You can view your contacts full screen pictures when they call, and you can choose how you appear in their phones, which gives you a mobile business card. Outlook Social ConnectorTo view the latest activity on LinkedIn in your inbox, try Outlook Social Connector. This app allows you to email your connections directly and allows you to use your Outlook email to send connect invitations. Follow Company PluginPlacing the Follow Company Plugin on your website will allow those who visit to follow your LinkedIn company page on each follower's homepage. Member Profile PluginUse the Member Profile Plugin to create a neat business card sized picture of your LinkedIn member profile right on your webpage. Sign in with LinkedInWant to learn more about the people who are using your website? Sign in with LinkedIn will allow the users of your website to sign in with their LinkedIn account. This lets you capture and store their LinkedIn ID, which gives you access their profile information. Of course, most people are probably not going to do this unless you have a community offering where it makes sense, but you may have a reason to check this out. Company Insider PluginCompany Insider will let you profile company employees on your website and personalize what users see about them. If your visitor is connected to someone in that company, they will see that in the plugin. It also provides links, so your website users can follow the featured companies. It doesn’t have to be your company, either. Company Profile PluginThe Company Profile plugin shows more details about the company itself and simply lists connections your visitor has at that company. The Insider one above focuses on the people first. Full Member ProfileIf you want to feature only individuals on your website, you can bring their LinkedIn profiles to the front with Full Member Profile. In my opinion, this full member info is best used when you want to display your employees via their LinkedIn profile rather than create a traditional “About Us” page. Apply with LinkedIn PluginLooking to find top talent to hire through your website? Apply with LinkedIn is a customizable plugin that will allow website visitors on your career page to use their LinkedIn profiles to apply for jobs. Recommend ButtonHelp people pass along information about your products and services using the Recommend Button. When you install this on your website, users can recommend your specific products or services they like on LinkedIn. Export LinkedIn ConnectionsUse Export LinkedIn Connections to backup and save your LinkedIn contacts to a spreadsheet which you can then import into most other Web based and desktop email programs, including: Yahoo! Address Book, Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, and Mac OS Address Book. Jobs PluginThe Jobs Plugin allows you to post jobs you have listed on LinkedIn to your website. Or you can list other LinkedIn jobs available to boost engagement with your site, or as a way to help your community of readers or visitors. OktopostIf you are looking to organize your social media into one targeted marketing approach, consider the free trial of Oktopost. This app helps you manage social campaigns, track metrics, review and reply to all comments across social networks from one interface, capture leads, and integrate their data into CRM and marketing automation platforms. After two weeks, the cost is $29-$79 per month depending on your social media presence. Chat for LinkedInChat for LinkedIn is an Android app that allows you to chat with your contacts in real time on LinkedIn or instant message those who are not online. Buffer
It is difficult to post to social media at a time when people will read it. Sometimes your posts can get lost in the masses. Buffer allows you to fill your buffer once a day and it then releases the posts to your social media websites when it determines the most opportune times. CardmuchAre you tired of trying to keep track of business cards? Turn them into LinkedIn contacts by snapping a picture of them with Cardmunch. Only bummer — no Android app, only iOS. HootsuiteMost of us are familiar with Hootsuite, a powerful social media management tool that manages multiple social networks, tracks brand mentions and schedules updates, among other tasks. There is a free plan for five social networks or less and two advanced plans that run $8.99 and up per month. SproutsocialAnother social media manager is Sproutsocial with plans ranging from $39 for up to 10 profiles to $99 for up to 50 profiles. With this one, the higher the cost of the plan, the more bells and whistles you get. LinkedIn’s WordPressSeveral WordPress apps allow you to publish posts or links for posts to multiple social media websites at the same time. LinkedIn's WordPress syncs your WordPress blog to your LinkedIn profile. Leenk.meTo coordinate publication of your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and FriendFeed account updates, try leenk.me. NextScriptsTo publish WordPress blog posts automatically to your social media network (including LinkedIn and more than 17 others) you can use NextScripts. YoonoYoono is an iPad/iPhone app that combines LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Flicker feeds on your iOS and allows you to update your status on all of them at once. I tried using it on an Android-powered phone via just a browser and it didn’t work. But you easily can use it on a desktop computer. FB LinkedIn ResumeTo publish parts (or all) of your LinkedIn profile on your WordPress blog, try FB LinkedIn Resume. WordPress LinkedIn PluginIf you would rather have your full profile and a scroll of your recommendations, use this WP LinkedIn Plugin. LinkedIn MapsThese two are mostly for fun. They worked intermittently for me. If you are looking to “see” your connections in a visual format, try LinkedIn Maps. First, let me say that this app is intense. You get a very busy connect-the-dots-type visual and as it fully loads you can click in and see various people. This app will give you a visual representation of your connections and help you understand your relationships. Connection TimelineOn the other hand, if you are looking to reconnect with people you knew in your previous business life or looking to reconnect with the past, check out Connection Timeline. It pops up people as you scroll across the dates of your LinkedIn years. TripItIf you are planning a business trip or a working vacation, make it more effective by connecting with others who are going to be in the same city. The TripIt app will let you know where your professional network is traveling and even display your own travel information. This link should take you to your own application settings where you can authorize the app. But if not, you can get to it via settings when you are in your LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is one of my favorite ways to stay in touch with business friends and allies. I regularly use it, along with many of these apps, to keep up with what people are creating, doing, and learning. You can dial up your networking approach with some of these LinkedIn tools for business and it may help you land a new profitable customer or project. Keep us posted on any LinkedIn tools for business that you love and use. LinkedIn Concept Photo via Shutterstock The post 35 LinkedIn Tools for Business, Plus a Few Extras appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Amsterdam Company Designs Clothes for Your Office Chair Posted: 20 Nov 2013 02:30 AM PST
Okay. We know this one sounds crazy, but bear with us. An Amsterdam design company has taken a new approach to refurbishing chairs, including the ones in your office. If they’re still in good shape but you just can’t stand the site of them any more, don’t toss them. Just dress them up with a new set of…err, clothes. Introducing Chair Wear: Fashion for Your FurnitureBernotat & Co. has introduced its new line of furniture fashion christening it Chair Wear. Different coverings have colorful names like Pique-Pocket, Knit-Net, and Big Baggy. A few have pockets like your favorite shirt or pair of baggy jeans.
One makes it look as though your chair has been packaged for shipment across the country. Another might make hoodie-wearing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg proud, but probably very few others. Fast Company associate editor Margaret Rhodes observes:
Sometimes You Must Be BoldNo matter what you think of this new product line, you must admit it’s attention grabbing. Sometimes, perhaps we play it a bit too safe with product development and marketing. Getting attention for your product is often half the battle. Whatever customers may think of the new Chair Wear line from Bernotat & Co. – they certainly won’t ignore it. The post Amsterdam Company Designs Clothes for Your Office Chair appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Small Business Trends To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment