Archive for October, 2012

(Attrib:Flickr/opensourceway)

Small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy, but taking the step towards going it on your own can be daunting. In this month’s round up of the best content on the Web, we’ve winnowed out the hucksters and quick-fix marketing gurus, to leave you with some solid advice from smart people about how to get started, keep things running smoothly, and get the word out. And, as is our wont, we’ve included some of the cooler art and design related imagery we’ve encountered this month towards the end. We hope you find some actionable insights here. Enjoy!

Getting Going

• The 5 Principles that All Online Bootstrapped Businesses Should Swear By – The Internet offers so many bootstrapping opportunities that it almost seems foolish for the majority of us to try anything else.
• How to keep your small business financially adaptable – Staying adaptable – easy to scale up or down along with your fortunes – makes survival more likely, and at least minimises loss if things don’t work out. Continue reading “The Monthly Miscellany: Small Business Startup and Marketing – Best of October 2012” »

(Source:Big Omaha/Malone & Company)

The economy is still struggling and many people have found themselves without employment over the last few years. Those who have lost their jobs often decide that it’s the perfect time to make a life-change and strike out on their own in business. There’s a great deal of satisfaction to be had from running your own business. It’s incredibly fulfilling to take an idea you developed yourself and turn it into a force in the world that also brings in a great income.

However, starting a new business is not as straightforward as it might be, and there are many pitfalls that, if not avoided, will set the new entrepreneur up for a bumpy journey. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of people who will take advantage of inexperienced business people and sell them advice that is next to worthless. Business owners need information and guidance, but they also need to be very skeptical about whose guidance they take. To that end we’re going to get you started with 10 of the best online resources for small businesses and startups.

Inc.

Inc. is one of the foremost publications offering advice for small businesses. They cover a range of topics from getting started, finance, leadership, and marketing: all with clear, jargon-free language that won’t have you reaching for the dictionary.

National Federation of Small Businesses

The NFIB is an organization that advocates on behalf of small business owners. Its website has a very useful member directory and community groups where business owners can compare notes (requires registration). There are also plenty of articles dealing with a range of issues that are likely to arise for small business owners. Continue reading “10 Essential Online Resources for Small Businesses” »

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the evenings draw in and the leaves begin to turn, one of the best nights of the year for kids is on the horizon. Halloween, which will be here at the end of the month, is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with our children. To that end we’re going to share with you some of our favorite printable activities and projects from around the web. We hope you find them as much fun as we do, and that they’ll help you create a the perfect spooky atmosphere for Halloween fun.

Halloween Cupcakes + Free Cupcake Topper Download!

Not much is quite such fun as a family baking together, and these cupcakes come with the added bonus of a free printable headstone topper.

DIY Ghoulish Halloween Invitation

These quick-to-make invitations, with included free printable templates, set the perfect tone for Halloween parties Continue reading “Top Ten Printable Halloween Projects” »