Published: Monday, November 17, 2008
Strategies for entrepreneurs are found online
In a previous column we gave you recommendations for books and online Web sites we especially liked as resources for launching or growing your entrepreneurial business ventures.
In this column, we've accumulated some additional online resources for that purpose or to assist you during these difficult economic times.
New York Times Online -- Small Business Section: www.nytimes.com/pages/business/smallbusiness.
The New York Times does an outstanding job covering a wide range of issues related to small businesses. The site frequently includes feature articles about successful and not-so-successful small businesses from across the country. This small-business section also features several weekly columnists. We especially like the "Tool Kit" column by Paul Brown and the "In the Hunt" column by Brent Bowers.
Business Week Magazine Online -- Innovation section: www.businessweek.com/ innovate.
Business Week is at the forefront of the business magazines covering innovation. This section of the online magazine has insightful articles on how companies are developing creative ideas and the company culture to support them. We also recommend the blog, "Nussbaum on Design." The author, Bruce Nussbaum, "takes you into the latest thinking about innovation and design with daily scoops, provocative perspectives and case studies."
Alltop.com -- Top Small Business News: smallbusiness.alltop.com.
This is one of our most recent finds. Alltop calls itself an "online magazine rack of popular topics." The site organizes by topic (for example: sports, food, politics, etc.) all the top Web sites for that topic. The small- business "topic" has more than 100 different sites, including small-business-related news and stories, and opinions and blogs. You can have the best on small business on the Web all on one page.
AllBusiness.com: www.allbusiness.com.
The name fits this site. This site has tons of resource information for any size small business owner from general business advice and sample forms and agreements to the top stories of the day. We especially like the Ask the Expert podcasts and the featured videos on a range of topics.
The Entrepreneurial Mind Blog: www.drjeffcornwall.com.
Jeff Cornwell, an entrepreneurship professor at Belmont University (ranked in the top 25 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the county) in Nashville, Tenn., authors this blog. Cornwell writes daily on small business issues and trends, often providing his own commentary on current articles in the popular business press. We especially like his passion for supporting entrepreneurial activity among young people.
How to Change the World Blog: blog.guykawasaki.com.
This blog is written by Guy Kawasaki. He worked at Apple Computer during the early years and is a high-profile consultant, writer, speaker and entrepreneur. His book, "The Art of the Start," about launching a small business, is one of our favorites. His blog postings often connect business and technology. He is a vocal advocate for creating a business around your passion. Just his ideas on the rules for creating a memorable PowerPoint presentation make a trip to his site worth your time.
Duct Tape Marketing: www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog.
This blog is written by John Jantsch, the author of the popular book on marketing, "Duct Tape Marketing -- The World's Most Practical Small Business Media Guide." He encourages small business owners to follow his simple small business marketing systems, strategies and ideas. He believes that small business marketing is a system; not an event, and that most business owners fall prey to the "marketing idea of the week." The site has lots of great coaching, workshops and resources along with links to free marketing plans and other documents and business resources.
The Small Business Watchdog: weblog.sba.gov/blog-advo/.
This is the official blog of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. As the voice of small business in government, this blog invites you to post your thoughts and comments as a forum for the small business community. Overall the topics posted were relevant and articulate. The site is well attended by professionals who have expert advice and resources to offer the participants.
The Happiness Project Blog: www.happiness-project.com.
As the title suggests, this blog doesn't provide any small business advice. But we highlight this site, because in these stressful times, every small business owner could benefit from taking some time to look at the big picture. The author, Gretchen Rubin, offers practical advice for enjoying life more fully each day. We especially enjoy the happiness tips she posts each Wednesday.
For a future column, we are interested in speaking with small businesses that are using social media to help grow their business, such as a Facebook page, e-marketing or blogging. Please send us an e-mail at entrepreneurship@everettcc.edu if you are interested in sharing your success stories.
Pat Sisneros is the associate vice president of Administrative Services at Everett Community College. Lynne Munoz is director for the School of Business Design.
In this column, we've accumulated some additional online resources for that purpose or to assist you during these difficult economic times.
New York Times Online -- Small Business Section: www.nytimes.com/pages/business/smallbusiness.
The New York Times does an outstanding job covering a wide range of issues related to small businesses. The site frequently includes feature articles about successful and not-so-successful small businesses from across the country. This small-business section also features several weekly columnists. We especially like the "Tool Kit" column by Paul Brown and the "In the Hunt" column by Brent Bowers.
Business Week Magazine Online -- Innovation section: www.businessweek.com/ innovate.
Business Week is at the forefront of the business magazines covering innovation. This section of the online magazine has insightful articles on how companies are developing creative ideas and the company culture to support them. We also recommend the blog, "Nussbaum on Design." The author, Bruce Nussbaum, "takes you into the latest thinking about innovation and design with daily scoops, provocative perspectives and case studies."
Alltop.com -- Top Small Business News: smallbusiness.alltop.com.
This is one of our most recent finds. Alltop calls itself an "online magazine rack of popular topics." The site organizes by topic (for example: sports, food, politics, etc.) all the top Web sites for that topic. The small- business "topic" has more than 100 different sites, including small-business-related news and stories, and opinions and blogs. You can have the best on small business on the Web all on one page.
AllBusiness.com: www.allbusiness.com.
The name fits this site. This site has tons of resource information for any size small business owner from general business advice and sample forms and agreements to the top stories of the day. We especially like the Ask the Expert podcasts and the featured videos on a range of topics.
The Entrepreneurial Mind Blog: www.drjeffcornwall.com.
Jeff Cornwell, an entrepreneurship professor at Belmont University (ranked in the top 25 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the county) in Nashville, Tenn., authors this blog. Cornwell writes daily on small business issues and trends, often providing his own commentary on current articles in the popular business press. We especially like his passion for supporting entrepreneurial activity among young people.
How to Change the World Blog: blog.guykawasaki.com.
This blog is written by Guy Kawasaki. He worked at Apple Computer during the early years and is a high-profile consultant, writer, speaker and entrepreneur. His book, "The Art of the Start," about launching a small business, is one of our favorites. His blog postings often connect business and technology. He is a vocal advocate for creating a business around your passion. Just his ideas on the rules for creating a memorable PowerPoint presentation make a trip to his site worth your time.
Duct Tape Marketing: www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog.
This blog is written by John Jantsch, the author of the popular book on marketing, "Duct Tape Marketing -- The World's Most Practical Small Business Media Guide." He encourages small business owners to follow his simple small business marketing systems, strategies and ideas. He believes that small business marketing is a system; not an event, and that most business owners fall prey to the "marketing idea of the week." The site has lots of great coaching, workshops and resources along with links to free marketing plans and other documents and business resources.
The Small Business Watchdog: weblog.sba.gov/blog-advo/.
This is the official blog of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. As the voice of small business in government, this blog invites you to post your thoughts and comments as a forum for the small business community. Overall the topics posted were relevant and articulate. The site is well attended by professionals who have expert advice and resources to offer the participants.
The Happiness Project Blog: www.happiness-project.com.
As the title suggests, this blog doesn't provide any small business advice. But we highlight this site, because in these stressful times, every small business owner could benefit from taking some time to look at the big picture. The author, Gretchen Rubin, offers practical advice for enjoying life more fully each day. We especially enjoy the happiness tips she posts each Wednesday.
For a future column, we are interested in speaking with small businesses that are using social media to help grow their business, such as a Facebook page, e-marketing or blogging. Please send us an e-mail at entrepreneurship@everettcc.edu if you are interested in sharing your success stories.
Pat Sisneros is the associate vice president of Administrative Services at Everett Community College. Lynne Munoz is director for the School of Business Design.
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