LinkedIn: Check Out Who’s Emailing You on iPhone |  |
- LinkedIn: Check Out Who’s Emailing You on iPhone
- Twitter IPO Arrives, Google Glass Leads to Citation and More
- Ads Are Everywhere and Now They’re on Instagram Too
- Non Compete Agreements that Work for You
- Parag Jhaveri: Using Kickstarter to Raise $20,000 from Pre-Customers
- Combating Stage Fright With Imagination
| LinkedIn: Check Out Who’s Emailing You on iPhone Posted: 08 Nov 2013 06:00 PM PST
Imagine you get an email from someone you’ve never met before. It’s about an attractive business proposition, but is it legit? Ordinarily you might spend some time hunting around online to learn more about the sender. But now, LinkedIn says its new app LinkedIn Intro can do all that for you…and more. Figure Out Who You’re Talking ToFirst, you can immediately put a name to a face. LinkedIn Intro places the name, photo and brief information from a sender’s LinkedIn profile near the top of the email. It will even tell you where they work. This allows you to quickly distinguish between emails. You can see at a glance whether this is a legitimate contact from a likely business connection or spam to be discarded. Second, tapping the bar at the top of the email quickly gives you even more information about the sender. You’ll see his or her past and present occupations, education and mutual connections, for example. It’s everything you’ll need to craft a more informed response, and make a better impression. Here’s a quick video overview: Rahul Vohra, co-founder of Rapportive, an email company LinkedIn acquired last year, says his team built the new app after coming to work at the professional networking site. In a recent post on the Official LinkedIn Blog, Vohra explains the motivation for creating the app:
AvailabilityThe LinkedIn Intro app is available in English to users all over the world as a free download. You’ll need to enter your phone number at the LinkedIn Intro page. LinkedIn says the app will support Gmail, Google Apps, Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail and iCloud. But so far, it’s only available in the Apple Mail app for iPhone. Basically, if you want to find out who’s emailing you on your iPhone, LinkedIn Intro looks like a good tool. Image: LinkedIn The post LinkedIn: Check Out Who’s Emailing You on iPhone appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Twitter IPO Arrives, Google Glass Leads to Citation and More Posted: 08 Nov 2013 04:00 PM PST
If keeping up with the news relevant to your small business is more than you can handle, relax. We’re here to help. Here’s the Small Business Trends editorial team’s curated news stories for the week just for you Enjoy. Technology in the NewsTwitter starts trading on the stock exchange. The company went public on Thursday. Here’s what the change in Twitter’s status might mean to users, including businesses like yours. Woman ticketed for wearing Google Glass. In retrospect, it was probably only a matter of time. Cecilia Abadie was certainly driving well above the speed limit. But she says the officer specifically noted her wearable technology in the citation. Trends and StudiesCommutes can kill. If ever you were looking for an excuse to work from home, this could be it! Just make sure, even working from your kitchen table, that you get plenty of exercise, eat right and get to bed on time. Private companies make better innovators. This study looks only at a very specific industry, but the implications are clear. Too many investors may put a damper on your efforts to try something new. Social media are driving revenue. Twitter and Pinterest have the fastest growing rates of revenue per visitor, but Facebook is also in the running. Take a look. Utilities and ServicesAT&T abandons voice minutes. The company is following other major carriers here, but with good reason. Verizon, T-Mobile and the rest aren’t trying to give customers a break. They’ve finally figured out how to profit from smartphones. Hangout app lets you share where you are. Wouldn’t it be great if, after a Google Hangout, you could tell potential customers and clients exactly where to find you. Now you can. Learn more. Share a ride with Uber. You can share a ride with others, cut your costs and lower fuel emissions. Oh yeah, and, of course, you’ll be helping other small business owners too. Social MediaInstagram gets ads. Just as Facebook, Twitter and so many social media communities before it, Instagram now has ads. The question is whether it will change the Instagram experience. It could, of course, also be an opportunity for smaller brands somewhere down the road. And Facebook gets new buttons. Facebook, the company that owns Instagram, also has some changes to announce (even if they’re a bit more subtle.) The “Like” and “Share” buttons have been redesigned. Have a look! Get your personalized URL at Google Plus. If you haven’t done this yet, look around your account for the notice of approval. Here are some of the benefits the new status gives you. More TechAmazon helps out app developers. The retail giant wants those making apps for Amazon’s store to follow certain guidelines. The company is offering major rewards to those who do so, including help with promotion. TaxesState tax could hurt local liquor stores. There are many opinions about what’s really wrong with the Washington law that was supposed to get rid of the state liquor monopoly. But taxes and fees are definitely part of the problem. TravelTake a rest in a nap pod. They are springing up in airports around the world. They offer a place to rest between flights without being stuck with a big hotel bill. Bet you would feel refreshed after an hour or two in one of these! Reading Photo via Shutterstock The post Twitter IPO Arrives, Google Glass Leads to Citation and More appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Ads Are Everywhere and Now They’re on Instagram Too Posted: 08 Nov 2013 01:30 PM PST Instagram recently introduced Instagram ads to its users’ feeds joining the ranks of Facebook, Twitter and others. The first ad posted was from U.S. fashion label Michael Kors. Instagram first told users about plans to monetize the site through ads or sponsored posts about a month ago on the official Instagram Blog:
However, in a recent question and answer section on its official page introducing the new photo and video ad feature, Instagram also attempted to reassure users:
Those brands will include Adidas, Ben & Jerry’s, Burberry, General Electric, Lexus, Levi’s, Macy’s, Michael Kors, PayPal and Starwood, Instagram says. Simon Mansell, CEO and founder of marketing firm TBG Digital, recently told Bloomberg TV he expects Instagram to be extremely selective in picking early advertisers that will fit the service’s current user experience. He also said continued proliferation of advertising on more and more social media channels will make brands more willing to spend money on creating and promoting social media content. But some users worry the coming of ads to Instagram might eventually mean everyone, including small businesses, will need to pay for visibility.
As this tweet suggests, a similar situation has already happened on Facebook. Of course, advertising on Instagram may eventually also offer opportunities for small businesses to reach this social network’s 150 million users with their own marketing messages too. The post Ads Are Everywhere and Now They’re on Instagram Too appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Non Compete Agreements that Work for You Posted: 08 Nov 2013 11:00 AM PST
Today, many companies possess sensitive information that they need to protect. This information can take many forms, including software code, designs, customer or vendor lists, unique business practices and secret formulas. If you run a company that possesses this kind of information, you need to know how to protect it. This is where non compete agreements come in. Non Compete AgreementsFor many companies, non compete agreements have long been a trusted tool. Of late, however, they have been overused and abused, and now courts are pushing back. You can get into trouble if you blindly rely on traditional non compete agreements, since a court might refuse to enforce it. The growing unpopularity of non compete agreements has been documented by the Wall Street Street Journal. And an article from Inc. suggests that non compete agreements are just bad for business. Several courts across the country have rejected non compete agreements that would have previously been enforced. Massachusetts is considering legislation that would restrict a company’s ability to restrain employees. Change is coming. So what should businesses do? Use Non Compete Agreements Sparingly or Not at AllLet's first accept that non compete agreements have been overused. Today, they are almost standard issue in many employment contracts. Your building's janitor may even have one. In the past, non competes were properly used. Before the current hysteria, only high level executives or employees with access to company secrets were subject to non compete agreements. For example, all Coca-Cola employees with access to the soft drink's secret formula would sign a non compete agreement to prevent them from running off to Pepsi. But since there are no secrets involved in shipping soda, Coca-Cola would not (and would have no good reason to) have its Vice President of Shipping sign a non compete agreement. Previously, non compete agreements were limited to those who had access to genuinely sensitive information. The smart move is to return to this framework not just because it makes sense, but because judges are more likely to enforce such agreements. Identify Your Secrets and Who Knows About ThemIn order to monitor and protect your sensitive commercial information, it's important to first organize it in one place. Once this has been done, make a list of who needs to have access to the information and who knows it exists. The employees on this list – but only those on the list – should be subject to non compete agreements. Companies that do not possess truly sensitive information should not use non compete agreements at all. Limit the Scope of the Non Compete AgreementToday, the best non compete agreements are narrowly tailored to cover only the sensitive information and the relevant market. Take, for example, Blue Ridge Bakery in Bramwell, West Virginia, which uses Betty-Lou’s secret family recipes to bake its bread. The non compete agreements for the company's bakers (those with access to the secret recipes) must be limited to preventing them from working at other bakeries that might compete in its market, and should cover only one year. Long time periods are frowned upon by courts, especially in fast moving technology sectors where even a year can be considered too long. If the non compete agreement is too broad, a court might reject the agreement as an unreasonable restraint on trade. Provide Extra Value to Those Who Sign Non Compete AgreementsBecause non compete agreements are extra burdens on employees, some courts now require that employees receive additional compensation in order to enforce the agreement. To be safe, it is wise to offer extra value, such as equity, extra compensation or benefits to employees who are required to sign non compete agreements. When you offer these extras, however, make sure it is clear that they are being provided in exchange for the non compete agreement. Use the Right AgreementIf you are worried about a former employee poaching clients or employees when they leave, don’t use a non compete agreement. Instead, use a non solicitation agreement. Know the Law of Your StateThe laws vary among states. California, for example, refuses to enforce non compete agreements because they view them as restraints on trade. Most states, however, will enforce agreements that are reasonable in time, geographic reach and that seek to protect legitimate interests. How to Economically Create a Non Compete AgreementServices like Nolo or RocketLawyer let you create legal agreements online for free or at nominal cost ($34.99 at Nolo). One problem with using these services, however, is that enforceability turns on the descriptions that you provide. If you make a mistake, your agreement might not be enforceable. Therefore, the best approach is to work with an employment lawyer using a flat fee agreement so you know the cost upfront. The cost should not be high because the lawyer's task is not that complex. They only need to understand your business and draft appropriate descriptions and terms. Lock Knowledge Photo via Shutterstock The post Non Compete Agreements that Work for You appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Parag Jhaveri: Using Kickstarter to Raise $20,000 from Pre-Customers Posted: 08 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST When starting a clothing business a few years ago, you would have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to produce clothes you weren't sure anyone would actually buy. Or try to figure out the right mix of sizes and colors you'd need to produce out of the gate. And you still stood a good chance of either making too many, or not enough to meet the demand. Either way you could be costing yourself big money before knowing if you can really be successful. Our guest this week is Parag Jhaveri, Co-Founder of premium shirt manufacturer, Hucklebury. Parag shares with us how he and his partner were able to start the company by using Kickstarter to raise $20,000 from backers/"pre-customers" before having to manufacture a single shirt. * * * * *
Parag: I have a bachelor’s in engineering, and masters in engineering. I’m also pursuing my MBA at the moment. I spent most of my childhood seeing my business-minded mother operate two garment factories of 75 people, to design, manufacture and export scarves, chiffons, shorts and shirts to brands like Marks and Spencer, Calvin Klein and a lot of other major brands all around the world. She did that entire business the traditional way, 15 years ago. I’m trying to take it to the online world and use technology and data. That’s how I got started with Hucklebury, trying to solve two major problems. One is, men like to wear clothes that fit and are affordable, but can’t find them easily. Second is bringing back manufacturing to the U.S. Small Business Trends: Can you explain how you’re going about redefining it, and how crowdsourcing plays a role? Parag: The business model that we are using is quite innovative and unique in this sense. We are crowdsourcing fashion. So, let’s say you are a brand that wants to launch a shoe company and you’re a great designer. But you have no idea how many shoes to design and what color. Our platform will help you launch your clothing brand, or your shoe brand, and take pre-orders. After pre-orders are taken, where customers are committing to pay beforehand, it will go into production and be manufactured. So you don’t make them and realize you’ve made too many or too little and then they are discounted, or you’re scrambling to make more . We’re trying to solve this inventory issue of supply and demand. That’s how the crowdsourcing model will work. Small Business Trends: Can you tell us how you’re using Kickstarter to do that? Parag: Right now on Kickstarter, what we are doing is launching our own brand, Hucklebury, on their platform to launch shirts. We are trying to make better-fitting shirts, using premium-quality fabrics used by brands like Armani and Versace, that typically costs $200 and upwards, sometimes even $500. What we’re trying to do is use the same fabric, supplied by the same mills to these brands, but make it in the U.S. We offer 365-day guarantee for quality and workmanship, and offer it at a one-third price than these brands are. So it’s much more accessible to the average consumer than some of these brands would be. Small Business Trends: How have things like Kickstarter changed the way you view creating a business? Parag: Kickstarter is a great platform where your business is applicable, because they do have certain categories where you cannot list your product. It is a great platform to take on a test drive, whether your product or idea is in demand, or not. Not only can you get customer validation, but in order to have a successful campaign, you do have to do a lot of marketing and PR. Either by yourself, or if you have the money, hire somebody. Small Business Trends: Can you talk about the promotional aspects of a business model like this? Parag: Let’s say you were launching on Kickstarter, two or three weeks out from now. What you should do is start marketing about your platform two or three weeks before you are about to launch. If you’re launching a toy product, figure out all the writers in the U.S. that have written about toy products and make an Excel spreadsheet. Then check out who you know personally. LinkedIn is a great way to find out if you know anybody personally, or you’re closely connected. Seek to get introductions. Introductions take a lot of time, so the earlier you can, the better off you are. Because not everyone responds promptly. Get your story right. That is the key ingredient in order for you to be written or your company to be written about anywhere. Getting your story pitch right, before even you reach out, is really important. Have a clear message on what you’re trying to do, how you’re trying to solve it, and why you’re solution is better. Those are the steps for news outlets. There are bloggers who write about toy products, so reaching out to them or even giving some samples of your products early on can help. Do YouTube videos if your product is applicable to that. Doing all this in a systematic manner helps. The most important thing is you need some feeders initially. So make sure to tell your friends and family before-hand what you’re up to, and ask for their help to initially feed it. If your campaign is not successful in the first few days, or it’s not being well-pledged, the community may consider it dead-in-the-water. It follows a herd-mentality. If your campaign is successful, others follow. If it’s not, then others may not follow. Small Business Trends: So do they want an American-made product? Parag: We believe manufacturing in the U.S. is of high quality. In the past few years, manufacturing has moved overseas, but we think it’s time to bring it back to U.S. We want to play a small role in that. The way we are trying to do that is to source all of our materials within the U.S., rather than going overseas using domestic suppliers that may have been affected by the economy. Our products are made out of a clothes store near Washington D.C. This particular factory makes clothes for brands like Nordstrom's, Sacks Fifth Avenue and major retailers. But they had been affected by the economy. Where they were working five days a week and had around 40, 50 employees, they’ve had to cut back to four days a week and almost half of their employees. We want to help the community by bringing them back to full capacity. The way we are doing it is, we are able to sell around 1,000 shirts and create employment for one person. That’s really important for us, bringing back manufacturing to U.S. and supporting the community, at large. Small Business Trends: You had set a target for $20,000 on the Kickstarter campaign that you guys have. If you weren’t able to hit that number, what would that have cost you? From a business perspective compared to traditional manufacturing? Parag: If weren’t able to hit the goal after the campaign was completed, it would be a few thousand dollars. Shooting for the video can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000 or $4,000, depending upon who you hire. Taking pictures has its own costs as well. The content and everything, we put together ourselves. Getting samples made also can cost you a few hundred dollars. All in all, it can be anywhere from $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000. Obviously, we try to keep our costs as low as we can. But these are the basic costs you have to keep in mind. Small Business Trends: So you’re spending a fraction of normal costs to see if this idea works. If it doesn’t, you’re freed up and you have more resources to try other ideas. Parag: Absolutely. This is a fraction of the cost compared to traditional business, which is definitely labor-intensive as well as resource-intensive. Small Business Trends: Where can people learn more about Hucklebury and get shirts? Parag: Right now, we are taking orders on our Hucklebury Kickstarter page. You can see our video or learn about our story and back us. We are offering a $200 shirt for one-third the price that is made in the U.S. and we are backing it with a 365-day guarantee, like no one else in the industry. This interview on using Kickstarter to raise money is part of the One on One interview series with thought-provoking entrepreneurs, authors and experts in business today. This transcript has been edited for publication. To hear audio of the full interview, click on the player above. The post Parag Jhaveri: Using Kickstarter to Raise $20,000 from Pre-Customers appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Combating Stage Fright With Imagination Posted: 08 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST
Sometimes you write a cartoon and you don’t realize that you’ve just made your own job really really hard. This stage fright cartoon is a good example: Hot dog to another with stage fright “Just imagine them without their buns.” A pretty standard takeoff on the old “imagine them in their underwear” public speaking advice. But once you start drawing it you realize you don’t really know what a backstage area looks like. And you’re going to have to draw an audience. And, oh yes, everyone is an anthropomorphic hot dog. I’m happy with the way it turned out, but, note to self, no more hot dog cartoons for a while. The post Combating Stage Fright With Imagination appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
Small Business Trends: Can you tell us a bit about your personal background, and Hucklebury?
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