The iPhone 4 has been selling out nationwide as it went on sale in Apple stores, AT&T stores, and select other outlets. But antenna woes have caused controversy. So is Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone ideal for your small business needs?

With millions of iPhone 4s sold since Apple’s newest smartphone was launched June 24, there’s little question that this stylish device is in demand.

Even with its documented reception problems and other issues, iPhone 4 (from $199; apple.com) continues to sell out at Apple and AT&T stores — ensuring it’ll be one of the biggest consumer electronic gadgets this year.

But is Apple’s latest — which combines a mobile phone with a wide-screen iPod with touch controls and Internet connectivity – ideal for your small business needs? Do the new features legitimize the smartphone as a worthy tool for your company? What about the antennae and reception issues?

The skinny on the iPhone 4

At just 9.3 mm thick – about 24 percent thinner than the current line of iPhones — Apple claims this makes the iPhone 4 the thinnest smartphone on the market. The front and back of the iPhone 4 houses reinforced glass, with a stainless steel wrap around the edges.

Along with a better-quality camera that can shoot high-definition video (and a Flash for shooting images in dark environments), the iPhone 4 also sports a front-facing camera for real-time video chats, which opens the door for video conferencing from the road for business people.

The “Retina Display” screen boasts an incredibly high-resolution of 326 dots per inch (dpi), which is four times sharper than past iPhones.

Other features include a better processor, longer-lasting battery, faster Wi-Fi, and integrated gyroscope (along with the accelerometer. The smartphone also runs on the new iOS4 operating system that adds features such as multi-tasking, consolidated e-mail inboxes, and the ability to group apps into categories.

The small business potential

In a recently published report dubbed the “ITIC 2010 Apple Consumer and Enterprise Survey,” 600 respondents from around the world were asked to rate the performance and reliability of Apple products.

“What we found was iPhone users, in particular, were very satisfied with their smartphone,” says Laura DiDio, a principal at Information Technology Intelligence Corp., a research and consulting firm based in the suburban Boston area. “Thirty percent of respondents said their iPhone was ‘excellent,’ a comparable 32 percent said their experience was ‘very good,’ and 13 percent said ‘good’ — so if you add it all up you’ve got about 75 percent who give thumbs up to the iPhone, which is very high.”

By comparison, only 3 percent rated their iPhone experience as “poor” or “unsatisfactory.”

Perhaps it’s no surprise then, DiDio found 58 percent of respondents — or almost 6 out of 10 –  said they might switch to the iPhone for business. About 35 percent said it was a “possibility” and 16 percent said it was “very likely.”

Worth the upgrade?

“The new features of the iPhone 4 are hard to resist,” says DiDio, “such as the better camera, HD recording, and multitasking — all of which could be ideal for insurance adjustors, law enforcement, construction foremen, and so on.”

“While more evolutionary than revolutionary, many of these new features are appealing to many types of businesses,” confirms DiDio.

Tim Bajarin, principal strategist at the Campbell, Calif.-based Creative Strategies research firm, says the iPhone 4 is a good pick for ,small and mid-sized businesses. “If a small business already has an iPhone 2G or 3G, and you’re eligible for the upgrade without penalty, it makes sense to go with the iPhone 4 because of its many new features, tighter security and an enhanced interface,” says Bajarin.

Bajarin says about 40 percent of all iPhones are now sold to businesses.

“The retina display is also significantly better than [the screen] on the past iPhone,” adds Bajarin. “Right there alone, you’ve got better clarity in reading documents, e-mails, viewing photos and video, and so on.”

When asked if the FaceTime video chat feature would appeal to businesses, Bajarin says he thinks it will be adopted quicker by consumers — at least initially. “Businesses have not been big to adopt one-to-one video calling, but we’ll see where this goes for group video conferencing.”

On its initial problems

A few iPhone 4 issues have arisen since its late June launch, particularly when it comes to the placement of the antennae. Lefties, for example, might block the antennae, and thus reduce cellular reception, if they hold the smartphone in a specific way.

“Pioneers are always the first to get arrows in the back,” says DiDio. “They’re the guinea pigs, but early adopters who want to be the first to try something new has to be prepared for pitfalls and consequences.”

“That said, you’d expect more from Apple, where the bar is significantly higher,” adds DiDio. “When the phone is used for business, we’re not as forgiving for things like reception issues and dead zones — do you want dropped calls when you’re talking with your customers, colleagues, or suppliers?”

Problems aside, both DiDio and Bajarin agree the phone’s pros far outweigh its cons. “I’d even say it’s too late for BlackBerry to catch up to iPhone with its current operating system,” adds Bajarin.

Originally posted on: http://technology.inc.com/telecom/articles/201007/iphone4.html

To create a culture of well-being, little changes can make a big difference. Some tips:

• Get in the game. Find new ways to create healthy interaction among employees, says Dan Buettner, author of “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest.”

He suggests creating a jogging club and office softball, basketball and soccer teams.

• Support volunteerism. Employees who help out together, says Buettner, build a shared sense of purpose that can lead to greater teamwork in the office: “Our team of experts at Blue Zones has found that those who volunteer are healthier than those that don’t.”

• Offer healthy alternatives. Don’t stop celebrating birthdays; just cut down on cake by offering options like fruit. If you have group lunches, pick restaurants that offer healthier choices. Buettner suggests providing employees with attractive water bottles to discourage drinking soda. Fill vending machines with healthy snacks, and make access to water coolers easy.

LuAnn Heinen, vice president of the National Business Group on Health, which advises companies from its Washington, D.C., headquarters, suggests making the most healthful offerings at company cafes the most affordable ones. Their low prices can be subsidized, if need be, by increasing prices on the least healthy items.

• Make lunchrooms attractive. By keeping them and their refrigerators clean and bright, you encourage employees to bring healthier food from home rather than go out to convenient but potentially health-busting fast-food restaurants.

• Get executives on board. “Communicate the CFO’s participation in the Maintain Don’t Gain or Biggest Loser competition; encourage leaders to walk the talk by using stairs, gym facilities or walking paths at work,” Heinen said. “In business, managers set the tone.”

• See the big picture. CEOs should grasp that wellness is about more than physical conditioning, says Allison London Brown, vice president of Healthways (HWAY), a well-being improvement company.

“An organization that is on the path to improve well-being acknowledges the combination of emotional, social, spiritual, physical and intellectual factors, which play a powerful role in an employee’s outlook on life, their health and productivity,” Brown said.

• Utilize technology. Companies can direct Internet resources — healthy eating tips, exercise plans and support chats — to employee cell phones, Brown says.

• Ask employees. Find out what would make their health goals achievable. “Simple requests like ‘fewer lunch meetings; they interfere with my workouts’ or ‘less food in the call center; it’s too tempting’ can help point the way to a healthier corporate culture,” Heinen said.

• Be positive. “The group setting that a workplace provides can be a great starting point for creating a supportive community focused on well-being,” Buettner said.

Originally posted on: http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/537938/201006212153/Push-A-Healthy-Business.aspx

After reading this article, you’ll have 10 ideas you can use to increase your website traffic and leads. You may already know some of the ideas but trust me; there will be some you don’t know. So make sure to read through all the ideas and let me know if you’re already using any.

Let’s begin.

1. Create a digital product, write guest posts and offer your product for free in your byline. The product could be an eBook, infographic, themes or any other digital product. Make sure you have your website links in the document. You can also encourage people to share it and put a link back to your site. Tip: A little bird told me that Infographics spread like wildfire .

2. Search Twitter for discussions related to your niche. If there are any questions, answer them with an @ reply and provide a link back to your blog post or any relevant page on your site. This tip doesn’t necessarily grow your traffic but it sure will give you quality leads if done right.

3. Turn your blog posts into slide presentations and upload them to slideshare and scribd. Put your website and social media profile URLs in there so people who view your slides can pay you a visit. This is a cool way of repurposing your blog posts and regaining some value back.

4. Plan a series of Videos and use Tubemogul to post them to the various video sites. Make the videos as interesting as possible. By interesting, I mean enlightening, funny, … something people will remember. At the end of each video, ask people to go to your site and sign up for your newsletter in order to receive new video alerts and other updates from you.

5. Answer relevant questions on Q&A sites like Yahoo Answers, Yedda and Answers.com. Ask people to Google “your business name or any keyword you rank #1 for” and click on the first result. You can post your website URL straight away but do that less often so you’re not seen as a spammy contributor to these sites. One more thing, answer the latest, freshest questions if you want to see any relevant increase in traffic.

6. Post short useful articles on forum sites relevant to your niche and leave a link back to your site.

7. Create an eBook. Take a sample out and make a PDF out of it. Share it on Lulu and Docstoc. At the beginning and end of the sample, provide a link to a page where people can put in their email addresses to receive the full book/report. Encourage people to share it with their friends and colleagues.

8. If you want to rank high for any keyword or phrase, make that phrase your anchor text in your guest post bylines. For example, say you want to rank high for the key phrase, “brand communication”, you use that as your anchor text and put your website link there. The higher the PR of the blog you are posting on, the better your chances of ranking higher. Do this consistently for all guest posts you write and use the same key phrase until you are on page 1 of Google’s search. I am on page 2 of Google right now for the key phrase, “brand communication” and I only used that as my anchor text in just one guest post. When I use it again on a top PR (page rank) blog, I will rank even higher. Try it for yourself. By the way, this is a neat trick I learnt from Brian Clark’s “How to Create Compelling Content That Ranks Well in Search Engines”. Download a copy on this page: SEO Copywriting Made Simple.

9. Answer Questions on LinkedIn. Connect with other professionals. Ask your past customers for recommendations. Jason Falls wrote an article on how to make LinkedIn answers part of your routine so head towards his blog to read about it.

10. Run a survey on your blog, Twitter and Facebook and share the results with other people. Explain the methodology and findings of your survey and publish the results in PDF format and share it on your site and other sites. Send a message @ everybody who participated in the survey on Twitter with a link to the results. You can also contact bloggers in your niche and ask them to share your findings. Tamar Weinberg shows you how to pitch superstar bloggers here: How to Get an Influencer’s Attention.

Phew! That was a short ride . Okay, seriously, you should apply these tips. You don’t have to implement all at once. Bookmark this page, start with 2 or 3 strategies and come back later to try out the other ones. Some may work for you and some may not.

Remember, social media is a lead generation tool and newsletters are your lead collection and sales tools so have your newsletter signup boxes ready to collect email addresses. Prepare some bait for the stubborn ones .

What strategy do you use to build more leads, links and traffic?

Originally posted on: http://sociatic.com/social-media/general-tips/generate-leads-with-social-media/

They’re young, they’re sexy, they’re rolling in glamorous-sounding amounts of “free money” from venture capitalists, and they get to make products that people around the world end up knowing about and using.

Although not all small businesses will have the same characteristics of a tech startup, there are some lessons you can learn and some values you can appropriate into your own company, no matter what your business is about.

Here are five ways to grow your business from observing and emulating web startup culture. If you’ve learned a lesson or two from an admirable startup that you didn’t find on the list, please let us know about it in the comments.

1. Your Company Culture Can Be Fun

One of the most common attributes of the web startup is an almost universal dedication to having a good time. Work hard, play hard is the mantra in this sphere; you’ll see engineers pulling all-nighters to ship a product, but you’ll also see them goofing off together during downtime, pulling shenanigans on their coworkers, or investing in “office equipment” such as ping pong tables and discreet, under-the-kitchen-counter kegs.

While not every small business will have the, um, stamina for Friday night Rock Band competitions, you can make your company culture fun and your workplace a fun place to be. Do you offer employees a place to relax? Is it taboo in your company culture to pull mild pranks or socialize during work hours? Do you ever have spontaneous outings, lunches, or games?

Perhaps one of the best reasons to foster a sense of enjoyment and camaraderie in your office or workplace is that it helps counteract clock-watching; if your staff can “whistle while they work,” so to speak, they might find that work is easier and more enjoyable, leading them to become more productive.

2. Work Can Be Done Anytime, Anywhere

Many web startups are composed of distributed teams. Many more have very loose definitions of “office hours.” Employees might roll in at one in the afternoon; they might stay and work the night away until the wee hours of the morning, too. And a lot of the time, they get to work from home.

Many Gen X and Millennial employees see the ability to work from home as a huge benefit — for some folks we’ve talked to, it counts as much as a pay raise. If you trust that your employees can handle themselves and get their work done on time, consider letting them work from home or adopt more flexible work hours. Your night owls will appreciate the opportunity to work with all pistons firing, and your early birds will love getting home to their loved ones before rush hour traffic starts. And everyone, from CEOs to secretaries, appreciates getting to work in their PJs every now and then.

3. You Don’t Need a Lot of Money to Have a Good Time

“The lean startup” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. What does it really mean?

In the post-dotcom era, “lean” means no chair massages and sushi lunches on the company dime. It means fewer and less lavish company parties or event sponsorships. Extravagance, in the current era, is out. Frugality and long runways are in.

As a small business owner, you’re always focused on your bottom line; so what can you learn from the “lean startup” mentality? Well, even when you’re pinching the last of your pennies, remember to take care of your employees as much as you can — from salaries to benefits to culture (see #1). But also, be aware that being penny-wise doesn’t mean you’re not pound-foolish. Many startup CEOs make less than their employees. And startups also avoid the pitfall of the legacy employee who contributes little but places large demands on company resources.

4. It’s OK to Change Your Mind

Formspring () didn’t start as a Q&A app, but this spin-off of the original product has gone viral and a half and is now the company’s core focus.

Startups often run into a brick wall when developing a product. They find out too late that the market is too competitive, that they don’t have the funding or partnerships they need, or that technology in its current state simply won’t allow them to innovate in the way they’d like.

Do they shutter and go home? Sometimes. But more frequently, a startup will “pivot” — that is, it will turn on its heel and make a shift in it its product strategy, target market, business model, or whatever the missing piece of the puzzle might be. If something is broken beyond repair, simply scrap it and start over.

As entrepreneurs, you’re often married to your own ideas. You can allow them to become too precious, and you can lose sight of more practical matters: Is it an idea other people like? Is it making money? Is it sustainable? If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” don’t be afraid to change your business just enough to get it back on track. Pivoting is OK for startups, and it can be OK for you, too.

5. A Small Risk Can Return a Great Reward

Founding a social network while MySpace () still ruled the web took a lot of cojones. But the risk has paid off in spades for Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and his employees.

Last but most important of all, web startups assume more risk than almost any other kind of small business. Their founders risk their credit, relationships, and years of their lives on something as erratic as the Internet (). They do it out of passion, and for some of them, that passion pays off rather quickly. For others, it takes a lot longer.

You may not want or need to take the same kinds of risks a web entrepreneur would, but you should also keep in mind that simply maintaining a less risk-averse outlook can lead to huge benefits for you and your company’s growth and success. Certainly, there are times when you’ll need security, stability, or a tried-and-true solution. But other times, you might suffer by not taking that small gamble — for example, implementing an unorthodox suggestion from an employee or choosing an unconventional marketing strategy.

Not every risk will pay off, but ultimately, a long-term, pervasive and absolute aversion to risk can keep your business small and your profits minimal. Keep an open mind, and be on the lookout for serendipity and opportunity.

Originally posted on: http://mashable.com/2010/07/19/lessons-web-startups/

While some sources might come and go depending upon the projects I’m working on or the hot topics of the day, there are a few that I keep bookmarked and ready, because I seem to need them on a regular basis.

My top 11 suggestions for online resources that cater to the needs of consultants are listed below. This is just a starter list — add your own suggestions in the comments below.

1. You’re the Boss: Because small business owners oftentimes get very little formal training, The New York Times has started a blog where you can read about what’s keeping entrepreneurs up at night. The topics covered on the blog enhance the lessons you are already learning on the job. A couple of my favorite posts include “Inside a Family Business: Maybe This Isn’t the Best Place for Everyone” and “It’s the Economy, Mr. Bernanke“.

2. Workshifting: Even solopreneurs need a place to turn and the Workshifting blog focuses on independent workers. Their mantra is about making work more productive so people can work from anywhere – home, an airport or your local coffee shop. I enjoyed reading “The Great Debate: Coffee Shop vs. Home Office” and “The Nature of Remoteness.”

3. CNN Travel: I don’t know a consultant out there who doesn’t travel, whether it’s to client sites or conferences. And trends in travel can impact business. CNN Travel does a good job of reporting tips and information on everything from baggage fees and security screenings to situations that might impact your travel plans. You can even access their information on the go via Twitter.

4. LinkedIn: We’ve talked about using it for recruiting, but you can also use LinkedIn as a marketing tool. Be sure to regularly change your status update and share with your connections those projects you’re working on. Also get out there, join some groups and answer questions.

5. MarketingProfs: Every business, regardless of size, needs to market itself. MarketingProfs offers resources in the areas of email marketing, branding, SEO, lead generation and so on. They offer a free membership as well as a pro level with enhanced benefits. I find their data very useful. For some examples, take a look at “Consumers Want Print Magazines, but Also Relevance” and “Average Value of Facebook Fan $136.38.”

6. Help a Reporter Out (HARO): Let’s face it… we all want free PR. But we can’t all afford a public relations firm. HARO connects reporters with sources. Sign up to get their regular queries — it’s not only good from a response perspective, but it gives you some sense of what writers are researching and the hot topics. You can also follow HARO on Twitter for fast breaking stories that need experts.

7. USA.gov: The official website of the U.S. Government provides tons of resources for the self-employed. If you need information about starting a business, being self-employed, small business loans or government contracts, it’s all on the USA.gov site. You can also follow them on Twitter for regular updates.

8. IRS: Speaking of government, the Internal Revenue Service is another site with a seemingly endless amount of information. You can apply for your Employer Identification Number (EIN), download required tax forms and check on the latest mileage rate. The IRS also has a Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center that includes news, events and videos to help you with your tax-related questions.

9. LegalZoom.com: Sometimes there are situations where you need an attorney, but for those times when you just need a form, this is a great option. There are other online legal document companies as well that offer trademark documentation, partnership agreements and other business services. Of course, I don’t need to remind everyone that you have to do your homework about when and how to use a site like this.

10. Evernote: Consultants are always working on multiple things — on one hand you’re working with a client project and in the other you’re running your business. Evernote is a web-based application that allows you to save your ideas and inspiration. You can record a message, write a note, clip an article or take a picture. I really like their blog because it profiles people and companies using Evernote. I’ve discovered many ways to make my work life easier. It integrates with the iPhone and Android, allowing you to capture your best thoughts on the go.

11. Google Docs: Speaking of ways to make life easier, Google Docs and Wave are great collaborative tools as well. And Microsoft is offering free online storage and document sharing via Office Live.

As you can see, there is no shortage of places for consultants and the self-employed to get tips, tricks and resources that help with the everyday running of a business. What websites are on your “go-to” list?

Originally posted on: http://mashable.com/2010/07/18/online-resources-for-consultants/

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

With social media itself an exponentially growing trend that’s here to stay, many companies both small and large are keeping tabs on new social technologies as they emerge. With new sites, services, apps and practices that help businesses connect more directly with customers coming online at a rapid pace, it’s often helpful to zoom out a bit and keep an eye on upcoming trends on the cusp or just over the horizon.

Whether or not particular individual services succeed, the following trends are likely to stick around in the near-term future. Some may not be immediately relevant to your company or industry, but being aware of oncoming movements in the social media landscape can help keep you and your business out ahead of the curve when a new trend holds promise for your organization’s growth.

1. Location, Location, Location

It’s always been true of real estate, but increasingly so it’s true of almost everything online. Sites like Twitter () now allow you to attach location information about where a tweet is sent from, and Facebook () has announced intentions to support location information as well — even if they don’t quite know what that will entail just yet.

In the mobile space, a number of standalone apps exist primarily to let users “check in” and broadcast their current location to their friends. From Foursquare () to Gowalla (), new startups are racing to amass “location mindshare” and be the world’s go-to application for sharing your whereabouts. Established players such as Google () are also getting into the game with services like Google Latitude, which allows your location to be updated automatically if you’re comfortable with that level of privacy setting.

Overall, the focus on location is great news for a lot of small businesses, many of whom have vested interest in catering to a local clientele. Even Yelp (), one of the gold standards of local recommendations, has added a checkin feature similar to what apps such as Foursquare and Gowalla provide.

2. Group Buying

Group buying is a system in which consumers can “gang up” to get deals or discounts on services or products. The focus here too is fairly local, with a number of sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial offering daily deals to users in specific cities. If enough users sign on for that day’s deal, everyone gets to participate; conversely if the minimum number of signups isn’t met, no one gets a chance to take advantage of the deal.

Not too long ago we took a look at the group buying trend through the lens of whether or not small businesses should care yet. Essentially it’s opportunity but not obligation — nevertheless, particularly for local retail establishments it’s probably a great development to keep an eye on. Think of it as an opportunity to both reward your most loyal customers as well as attract new clientele who may discover you through a daily deal.

3. Mobile Ads

Dovetailing with the location trend, advertisers are finally able to take advantage of mobile ad platforms that let them reach consumers at critical junctures, such as the moment just before they make an in-store purchase. Being able to reach a customer on the go or near the point of sale can be a very powerful mechanism for brands looking to connect with potential audiences.

Less than a year ago, Google acquired AdMob, a mobile ad platform large enough to attract scrutiny from the FTC over the deal — which was eventually approved at the end of May. Apple’s new iAd platform brings new swagger to the playing field, with an ambitious goal of improving the mobile ad experience to the end user by avoiding making them leave whatever app experience they are currently in.

With Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone OS (now simply dubbed iOS) two of the most dominant smartphone operating systems in terms of mindshare and increasingly install base, the mobile advertising space is set for a serious jolt in the near future.

4. Mobile Payments

Yet another trend in the naturally social world of mobile is the ability to both make and take payments right from the phone. A startup dubbed Square, a project of one of Twitter’s founders Jack Dorsey, has developed a dongle that attaches to the iPhone’s headphone jack that allows credit card transactions to be processed right on the spot.

Existing major players in the finance space such as Visa are getting into the game too, with stated intentions to continue pushing forward aggressively in the mobile payment arena. PayPal too has a popular mobile payments app for the iPhone, Android () and BlackBerry platforms.

And while all of the above is just starting to trend in the United States, the developing world has been driving rapid adoption of mobile payment services for some time already. Add to all that the ability to make microtransaction purchases within a wide variety of mobile applications beyond specifically payment-oriented apps, and we’ve got an emerging ecosystem small businesses are going to want to pay close attention to.

5. Having a Social Media Policy

As more and more businesses dive head-first into the raging waters of social media, having an official company policy surrounding individual tools and services is becoming increasingly more commonplace. Whether it’s a simple one-page set of guidelines or full-blown documentation regarding what is and is not acceptable employee behavior surrounding social media, that information is something many companies are going to want to provide to existing staff as well as new employees and contractors coming on board.

Official social media policies may vary as widely as company cultures do, but no matter what the nature of your business, it might be good practice to consider if you’re wading into social media waters in any strategic manner. Many of the guidelines might sound like common sense, from “exercise good judgment” to “be responsible,” but those sentiments can still be powerful reminders to staff, along with any more concrete rules about what is acceptable especially when representing the company via social media.

Originally posted: http://mashable.com/2010/07/05/5-social-media-trends/

The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone. We’ve collected a list of Mashable resources, published over the past months, that can help you start, manage, or grow your social networks.

Whether you need an app on the go, are looking for real-world examples, or want to expand your marketing online, this list of resources can help your business needs.

Social Media

If you’ve ever wanted to develop your business strategy on Twitter, manage B2B marketing on Facebook, or finally leverage Foursquare as a useful workplace tool, these resources will be right up your alley.

Check out these posts and then scroll on to see how you can take some of these resources with you on the go.

• 5 Teen Social Media Trends that Can Be Applied to Small Business
  
• HOW TO: Build A Twitter Strategy for Your Business
• 4 Tips for B2B Marketing on Facebook
• 5 Ways Small Businesses Can Leverage LinkedIn’s New Features
• 13 Essential Tips for Landing a Job on LinkedIn
• 4 Ways Foursquare Can Improve Your Workplace
• 10 Dos and Don’ts for Brands on Twitter