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It's easy to get overwhelmed when shopping for business gadgets. When everything's marked as a must-have productivity booster, how are you supposed to know what to buy? Look no further--here's a list of the five pieces of technology every small business should have:

1. A mobile computing device: Smartphones, laptops and tablet PCs are all great tools for the busy small-business owner on the go. With one of these tools, you can stay tapped into the office even if you're not there. Look for a Smartphone--a cell phone with built-in computer functions, including e-mail, Web surfing, scheduling and contact management--if you're looking to stay connected while out of the office without the added weight and bulk of a laptop. If you spend a lot of time away from the office--and you do more than just e-mail--a good laptop is an essential business tool. Tablet PCs are generally more expensive than laptops computers, but can offer greater mobility and functionality, letting you “write” on the screen with a stylus.

2. External hard drive: Backing up your data is one of the most important tasks you can do regularly to safeguard your business. And thanks to the advancements to external hard drives, backing up no longer has to take up a lot of space on your desktop or a lot of your time. The newest ones can store in excess of two terabytes--the equivalent of 2,000 gigabytes.

3. USB flash drive: Forget CDs, the best way to carry your files with you is on a USB flash drive. Available in many shapes and sizes--Imation even makes a USB flash drive wristband--these storage devices can make transporting files a cinch. Just plug it in, add your files, and you can access them on any other computer with a USB port. Storage capacities run from 128 MB to more than 4GB, and prices range from $10 to $100, depending on the size and the security features.

4. Digital camera: Even if your business doesn't sell products, a digital camera can serve many uses. You can use it to jazz up your Web site, a brochure or even a presentation with pictures of your office and employees. Also boost morale by taking photos at company events and posting them to a photo-sharing Web site. On a more serious note, a digital camera is a great tool to have on hand if you have to document property loss after a flood or fire. A decent digital camera--which has at least five megapixels--should cost around $200. For a few more features and megapixels, you shouldn't have to pay more than $400.

5. Webcam: Would you rather not make yet another trip to meet with your client who lives across the country? Don't despair. With a Webcam, you can have a face-to-face meeting without leaving the office. Like with most things, Webcam technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and a sophisticated set-up can run as low as $100. A Webcam can also be useful to reconnect with your remote employees.

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Women don't click with Internet videos

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Women prefer the remote over the mouse when it comes to watching videos even though they outnumber men in cyberspace.

About 97 million women in the United States will use the Internet this year compared with 91 million men, according to a study by eMarketer.

But the report also says only 66 percent of those women are watching videos online compared to 78 percent of men.

"Men are more visual than women, who tend to communicate in writing and or in words," said Debra Aho Williamson, senior analyst with eMarketer and the author of the report.

She said at first she was shocked at the disparity between the sexes because women tend to watch more television. But she argues men are generally ahead of the technology trend.

"Women are more likely to use the Internet to get things done, to accomplish tasks, to check something off of a checklist that they need to do," Williamson said.

"Men are more likely to use the Internet to have fun. And a lot of what you see on youtube.com is silly, time-saving kinds of things that maybe women don't feel they have the time for, or don't want to have the time for."

Williamson said that despite the growth of youtube.com, women have not been part of the site's traffic spike.

"You really do see youtube.com continuing to be more of a male-dominated video site," Williamson said.

The study suggests women will not lag behind for long. By 2011, 84.6 percent of women will be Internet video viewers, right behind men at 88.8 percent.

"The gap is going to close pretty quickly as the content becomes available that women are interested in and they become more comfortable with it," Williamson said.

Today's generation of teenage girls will also make a difference because they are used to viewing video online as much as their male counterparts, she said.

Williamson said that women may eventually prefer online video because it is more flexible for their busy schedules at work and home.

"We see a really huge opportunity for TV networks to really enhance their online video offerings and provide more video that's aimed at women."

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Direct Selling: Dreams And Reality

What Makes Prospects Buy?

Direct selling of products such as cosmetics and cookware may not be the easy path to riches. But the flexible hours have made this the work of choice for some 14.1 million Americans, most of them women.

Though there are those who earn six-figure incomes from selling person-to-person or through the home parties that characterize this business, that is more the exception than the rule. More typical of the $30.5 billion industry, which includes names such as Avon, Tupperware, Amway and the Pampered Chef, is part-time or occasional involvement in distributing the products to friends, family and acquaintances. For many, it's a way to earn a bit of extra money during the holiday season or when households are pressed for cash.

How much can you make? The earnings of a distributor, sales associate or independent consultant -- as those in the field are variously known -- average around $13,000 or $14,000 a year, according to the Direct Selling Association, an industry trade group. But that number may be skewed by some hard-driving consultants who choose to make a full-time career of direct selling.

Median Earnings: $2,400

The median income, the point at which half of the work force falls above and half below, is more like $2,400, or $200 a month, says a spokeswoman for the trade group. Only 13% of the participants devoted themselves to their business more than 30 hours a week in 2005, the group notes. The majority of the part-timers work less than 10 hours a week.

To set up their businesses, consultants often purchase a line of products to demonstrate their use, spending an amount that is typically under $100, according to Joe Mariano, executive vice president of the Direct Selling Association. Start-up costs higher than $500, or inventory that can't be sold back to the company when an associate wants to fold up his or her business, should raise a red flag about the character of a venture.

Consultants earn a commission on their sales, and, in many cases, a percentage of the sales of any distributors they recruit to the business, in what's known as multilevel marketing. In larger organizations, the parent company pays additional compensation or incentives based on sales performance. For instance, Herbalife, the nutrition and weight-loss company, says 25% of its distributors sell enough goods to entitle them to an average of $2,200 in additional annual compensation from the firm.

Some people may be taken in by promises of easy money once the multilevel marketing aspect of the business kicks in, but the reality is that the people who have made a fortune in this business have clocked the hours and sharpened their selling skills to succeed.

The Federal Trade Commission is considering a rule that would require direct-marketing firms to give new recruits a week to think over whether they want to sign on, and would require greater disclosure about typical earnings, including how many people aren't able to earn back start-up costs.

It's Not Just the Pay

The appeal of direct selling can go beyond the money. For Mary Lord, a 43-year-old mother of three young children in Chatham, N.J., selling Mary Kay Cosmetics is an "opportunity to have more intelligent conversations" and reconnect with her friends on the computer, to say nothing of the $1,000 a month she earns.

Some people turn to direct selling as a second job. Menina Givens, a 36-year-old Los Angeles resident, started selling Mary Kay products as a sideline 12 years ago, to help chip away at her $20,000 of credit-card debt and $15,000 of student loans.

About a year later, when her Mary Kay income started to top her $50,000-a-year salary as a pharmaceutical sales rep, she quit the day job to concentrate on Mary Kay sales. Today, Ms. Givens has 110 people under her and says she earned more than $100,000 last year.

But success of that magnitude doesn't come easy. Instead, the direct-sales business is known for high turnover. An untold number of people give up after wearying of having to continually buttonhole friends and family to sell them products they may not want or need.

Before You Sign On

If you think you want to give direct selling a try, go with a well-known, reputable company. Don't sign on to any business that bases earnings on the number of people recruited. Beware of companies that require only that you recruit consultants, but don't have any products or services to sell.

The Direct Selling Association advises potential recruits to talk to other people who have had experiences with the company. Verify information about costs, commissions, average earnings of distributors and return policies with the company, not just the recruiter.

Finally, consult the Better Business Bureau or your state attorney general's office to see whether any significant complaints have been filed against the company.

After all, you want to be the one doing the selling, not the one being sold a bill of goods.

[Via - StartupJournal.Com]

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Raising “Patient Capital” for Your Business

11-year-old entrepreneur Brook Bignell has projects cooking

If you've been complaining to friends and relations (and anyone who'll listen) that entrepreneurs just can't get access to capital, stop! There are more options for startup financing than ever before. From debt financing in the form of in-your-mailbox credit card offers to equity financing from business angels, the saavy entrepreneur is faced with numerous options.

What's not available, however, is “patient capital”--funding from people who don’t expect immediate returns on their investment. Let me explain why this type of funding is so critical and where to find this form of investment to make your business a success.

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Encouraging Positive Change

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Change is in the air. I see it everywhere and in every person I seem to be bumping into or meeting with these days. New year, new chapter, new beginnings, perhaps. Or maybe we're turning into a culture of innovation and reinvention by design or necessity. As Charles Darwin said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

Every year, I've tried to add something new to the mix with my business to keep it fresh and exciting for me and interesting for my colleagues and clients. I’ve joined new organizations and boards; focused on writing some years, speaking engagements, others; traveled more; traveled less; read more; read less; added experts in new categories; cut back in other verticals. This year, despite having agreed to be the entrepreneur-in-residence with a leading academic institution, I'm going to try a less-is-more approach, which isn't that easy for me. I tend to be a more-is-more person in many respects.

It's not that I have trouble saying no; it's just that there are so many things I want to say yes to. And the older I get, the more things I find myself interested in. The problem is that I do my best thinking when I have down time and am not overscheduled. But unless I'm incredibly disciplined, it's hard for me to leave open spaces on my calendar. My tendency is to fill them, so I'll need some willpower to combat what comes most naturally to me.

It's said that your thoughts become words, your words become actions, your actions become habit, your habits become character, and your character is your destiny. Fearing that I'm becoming my calendar, I decided last weekend, when a friend called to play hooky, I was going to join her and enjoy the spontaneity of the moment even though I had a ton of work to do. It was the weekend after all, I work too much as it is, and spending time with her always energizes me and creates more capacity for ideas and inspiration.

I was scheduled to give two talks in the coming week and had other writing and speaking commitments planned for later in the month as well, none of which I felt fully prepared for. I was blocked on a few things I'd been thinking about and needed to get out of my rut. Was I overcommitted? Do I have unrealistic expectations for my time? What I realized after walking, talking and eating with my friend is that I should create more time for fun in my life when I cut out the people and things that drain me of my energy and enthusiasm. Easier said than done, I know, but here are some effective tips I've found that should help create positive change in your business and your life:

• Allow yourself to sleep enough. It's amazing how much you can accomplish when you're rested and feeling fresh.
  
• Exercise, and get the blood flowing to all parts of your body. We lead sedentary lives today, spending too much time in front of our computers or behind the wheels of our cars. Get up and move, walk more, and do something aerobic every day. (OK, in the spirit of full disclosure: Do as I say, not as I do here!)
  
• Eat well and regularly; food is the fuel for your mind and body. Sit down and have a civilized meal, ideally with an interesting person or something great to read. It'll open your mind, expand your capacity, and create energy for your day.
  
• Leave room for serendipity in your life. When you have white space on your calendar to think, write, call an old friend or colleague to catch up, or just breathe. Some days I find the most productive thing you can do is actually play hooky.
  
• Don’t be scared to hit the pause button sometimes. There's no rewind in life, but so much of our time seems to be living in fast forward these days that when you feel like you need a break, you should listen to your gut and reflect on what's going on around you. There are times to sprint, times to recover and days that are just a marathon. Each serves an important purpose.
  
• Expand your network. There are a lot of interesting people out there. Go to events or talks you typically don’t attend. Join and organization tangentially related to your area of specialty or linked to a long lost hobby you used to love. There are wine groups, film clubs, weekend ski trips, online organizations and groups for every interest you can imagine. Chances are, you'll meet some great people along the way.
  
• Try new things. Reach beyond your comfort zone so you continue to stretch and grow. You may just stumble into some activities you really enjoy and find out you have some hidden talents and skills you never realized. Keep those synapses firing--it may even help stave off Alzheimer’s, so break those routines and shake things up a bit. Cruise control is for cars, not entrepreneurs.
  
• Make this the year you deal with that issue that's been looming over your head--you know, the one you've avoided tackling. What do you have to lose? You may just solve it if you put it on the top of your to-do list and face it square on. Worst case, you’ll try a few things that won't work, but you may just have that breakthrough you were hoping for after all.

Even if you don't end up making major changes in your business, making some of the small changes I mentioned will help you be more rested, relaxed and healthier, which sounds like a recipe for success to me.

---

Paige Arnof-Fenn is the founder and CEO of Mavens & Moguls, a strategic-marketing consulting firm whose clients include Fortune 500 companies as well as early stage and emerging businesses.

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How To Make A Million Dollars With Deal-A-Day Type Site

Dave Chappelle-Fifteen(stand up comedy)

Deal-a-day sites--websites that sell one deeply discounted product each day--are sprouting up all over. They sell pretty much everything, from jewelry to electronics, in limited quantities at up to 90 percent off retail prices. These sites resemble blogs in that they're updated frequently and usually provide catalog summaries of previous deals shoppers can browse.

Deal-a-day sites were pioneered in 2004 by Woot.com in Carrollton, Texas. Founded by electronics wholesaler Matt Rutledge, Woot's product selection emphasizes computer components and electronic gadgetry--all at closeout prices.

Today, nearly 100 deal-a-day sites can be found on the web, many started by e-tailers looking to expand. One such entrepreneur is Ellen Craw, general manager and co-founder of Bits du Jour, which started in 2006. It sells downloadable software discounted 40 percent to 50 percent on average. Craw is also general manager and co-founder of sister site Ilium Software. She co-founded both companies with CEO Ken Morse, 48, and CTO Dan Amstutz, 50. The sites log combined annual sales of nearly $1 million. "I was a big fan of Woot," says Craw, 54. "I checked their site every day to see what they had and because it was so much fun."

[Via Entrepreneur Magazine]

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Local entrepreneur delivers much-needed service to Downtown residents

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Grocery shopping for Rene Lopez became magical after he moved Downtown.

Lopez merely has to make up a shopping list, and the next day, his groceries are waiting at home for him after work, with the perishables in the fridge and freezer.

"I'm working all the time, and I'm just too busy. When I get home, I just want to be home and relax," said Lopez, 26, who lives in Washington Plaza, near Mellon Arena.

Lopez's magical secret is Michelle Harvey.

Harvey, 48, formed the Pittsburgh Town Shopper delivery service in September and works almost exclusively as a personal shopper and courier for Downtown residents who don't yet have a neighborhood grocery store.

"There's nothing here," said Lopez, who moved here from Los Angeles last summer. "At one point, I didn't even have a car, so that (Pittsburgh Town Shopper) was extremely convenient for me. I didn't have to find a way to go out and get food or order from Dominos."

Pittsburgh Town Shopper is hardly the first Web-based grocery delivery service, but there are few, if any, in the Pittsburgh area. New Wilmington's Groceries to You Web site says it is no longer in business. One of the more well-known national delivery services, Peapod.com, doesn't deliver here. Amazon.com's pantry will deliver anywhere, but only nonperishable items.

"I think I have a niche," said Harvey, who declined to disclose sales figures or the number of customers she has. She said her services, which cost $39 for an average delivery, are in demand and she hopes business will grow to the point where she has employees to shop as well.

Some see it as a signal of growth in the neighborhood.

"I think it's wonderful to have this service Downtown, and it also shows that Downtown living is on the rise, that entrepreneurs are starting these types of services and think they can profit from them," said Patricia Burk, vice president of housing and economic development for Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. "Maybe it will prove to some grocers that there's a market here."

More than 3,000 people live Downtown, according to the Partnership, and there are plans to put a grocery store on the main floor of the new Piatt Place. But Harvey isn't worried that grocery stores Downtown will steal away potential business.

"That doesn't hinder me at all. What we offer to folks is so reasonable," she said, adding that some people simply don't like the hassle of shopping and then lugging canned goods and heavy items home.

Vanessa Shrager is one such person. Although Harvey mostly limits her services to Downtown, she delivers to a few people in the South Hills, like Shrager, 33, of Bethel Park.

"This is the kind of service we've been looking for. I have twins. It's a nightmare to go to the store with them," Shrager said. "I never understood why the stores didn't deliver. Then we found (Harvey), and that was exciting."

"The grocery shopping is something I definitely just don't like," she said. "It takes forever. Then you have to wait in line, and they have all those self-checkout lines, which takes forever because inevitably one or two things don't scan."

The mother of 3-year-old twins has used Harvey's service about once a week since "discovering" it about a month ago.

"She pretty much is the grocery shopper. I'm so glad not to have to go to the store," Shrager said.

Rochelle Hentges can be reached at rhentges@tribweb.com or 412-380-5670.

[via pittsburghlive.com]

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Why You DO NOT Need A Great Ideas To Start A Great Business

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How important is it to have a great idea for starting a new business? I think that the idea is not really important at all. I often hear from people around me about what great ideas I have for business. It might seem like it when looking at one of my existing businesses that it was great idea, but it wasn’t at the start.

I started many of my businesses by accident. When I look back on how I came up with the ideas I can say there was no major thought process behind any of my business venture. I didn’t even have any substantial experience in those businesses when I started.

I knew I would be moving to Nevada and I tried to think of what I could do there. I knew Nevada was a very popular state for incorporation because of the very friendly business climate. So I figured it might be worthwhile to try an incorporation service. I also started another business in real estate, but I will talk about that later. Let’s go back to the incorporation business.

First, I went to Google trying to find other companies offering an incorporation service. I was trying to figure out how they worked, what was their pricing, if a person needed a lawyer to incorporate a business or if I could do it myself, what were the state fees, what forms must be used, etc.

The next step was to start it. This is the most important step in any venture. Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen around me, most people never do this step! I decided to offer just one service: Nevada corporation. I didn’t want to start by offering all kinds of company structures and additional services. Honestly, it was too much information at that time so I wanted to keep it as simple as possible so I could handle it. So one service was complicated enough at the time.

After that I decided to create a website. I forgot to tell you that I was really cheap (“didn’t have too much money to spend”) so I designed the site myself. I am not a webmaster or graphic designer. I know very basic HTML so I could do basic table designs or forms which people could fill out and send to my email. That was all that I needed for making my first website. You can see it here in the Internet Archive:

At the start I even used free web hosting. Later, when I received my first order I paid the cheapest hosting company I could find at $25 per year. That didn’t work well so I upgraded to $50 per year when the money started flowing in. The most important lesson was that I tried to do it the simplest way possible. Do you see some genius idea behind this business? Being realistic, these were very amateur web pages done by an amateur who tried to start something.

This beginning led to a business which is processing over 500 orders every month and is one of the top five incorporators in the state of Nevada with sales of two million dollars per year. I added step by step small improvements over time. Today, we have a very unique business with great ideas our competition doesn’t have. But most of the suggestions came from our customers or from what I learned along the way in terms of what needed to be improved.

So if someone tells me that they want to start a new business and the only thing they are missing is a great idea, I just have to say that it is nonsense. No great ideas are necessary. I think the most important thing is to find a way how to start very simply and improve on that way. Instead of writing business plans or doing market research just do what I did. Find a way how to start very simply and don’t invest too much money. You are not risking almost anything just a little bit of your time, but the reward can be great.

[Via To-Done!]

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Creating Loyal Employees

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In today's business world, loyalty is a very powerful concept. Decades ago, most younger employees would stay on a job for several years at a time. Older employees would stay longer, especially if they were concerned about building a career with that employer. But times have changed, and many employees, especially those in their 20s and 30s, don't consider loyalty to an employer to be as important as it once was.

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