Uncle Sam wants small business entrepreneurs to lead the nation to economic recovery--and has billions of dollars to make it happen. Small business owners are in line to receive low-interest loans and government contracts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To secure your little corner of the recovery, you'll need to be at the right place with the right … [Read more...]
Five Great Ways to Earn Extra Money in 2010
In today's down economy, many people have suffered job losses, cutbacks in work hours, and underemployment, resulting in significant income cuts. But with a little creativity, you can create income streams to supplement or replace that lost income. Take Inventory of your skills and strengths, and pick an activity that suits you. Here are five things you can do to make some … [Read more...]
Social Networking Cures All
When done right, a good status update or twitter post can make your day or the day of someone you call "friend." Instant karma, instant love, instant attention. This society loves instant gratification and I'm no exception. I've noticed over the months that one small inspiration, witty phrase or cry for help written between the lines of a friend or co-worker never goes … [Read more...]
Why you want to consider a Facebook strategy
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Do you have a Facebook and Twitter strategy? Now is the time to start implementing your plan. Send me a tweet @monicadear if you'd like me to review your Facebook strategy. … [Read more...]
Find Out Who Your “Friends” Are
Country singer Tracy Lawrence has a great song that tells a story of a guy who's been at the top, and when he gets down on his luck he finds out who his friends are. Most of us have friended a friend of a friend (prior to Facebook that sentence would have made no sense what so ever). Then before you know it, you have 502 “friends” in your life. Well, with all the hype about … [Read more...]
How I Use Twitter
I think that Twitter, more than Google, is turning into the best search tool for people in real-time. I use it to find people who are talking about the same things I'm interested in. For example, in my account, I've saved these searches: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=minority+women+business http://search.twitter.com/search?q=green+women+business And I … [Read more...]
Twenty Tips for using Twitter
You've either just started your Twitter account or you're thinking about taking the plunge for your business. You might have been reading about the incredible ability of the Search function on Twitter to find real-time, individual conversations about the keywords that you're passionate about: search.twitter.com. For this tool, along with all others, consider: what are you … [Read more...]
Managing and Protecting your Online Identity
These days your Google search results are your resume (or so some would have you believe). I use Gravatar to add a photo near my comments, and I keep my online profile up-to-date on most of the channels Claimid.com/monicadear. Here are ten steps to managing your online identity and protecting your personal and professional identity, reputation, credit score, and bank … [Read more...]
How Women Can Use Social Media to Advance Their Businesses
Post by Amy Blais, contributing Women On Business writer At the WPEO, we get a lot of questions from WBEs about social media. Mainly, women business owners are asking how to use social media to advance their business. If you haven’t already started engaging in the social media trend, now is the time. Social media sites can be used as a low cost marketing tool to reach … [Read more...]
Real Simple Magazine Wants to Know if Facebook can be Your Friend
A new article from Real Simple magazine asks, "Can Facebook be Your Friend?" As a marketing, branding and social media expert in my day job, I'm constantly writing about the social web, including Facebook, telling my clients they should be using it to build their brands, and citing it in my books and blogs. I constantly view Facebook as a business tool and forget sometimes … [Read more...]