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6 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs

When you’re an entrepreneur, you know you can’t do things alone. While you may have the big ideas and the willingness to put everything on the line for them, you need some help if you really want to succeed and grow your business. And when you’re just starting out, you know how invaluable good mentors and connections are. For these reasons, social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn just won’t cut it for you as an entrepreneur. When you’re looking for a place to connect with other entrepreneurs, try one of these six social networks that are specifically for you.

PartnerUp.com
PartnerUp is an excellent community for entrepreneurs. It does exactly what the name implies – helps you find people to partner with to grow your business. It also does much more. If you’re looking to get involved with a small business already in progress, you can find listings for opportunities. You can also find commercial real estate for sale, and find vendors and service providers that you may need. It’s a great place to network with other entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Biznik.com
Biznik is a social network for independent business people. It focuses on helping you make connections with other independent business people like yourself. With Biznik, you can locate people and businesses in your area and beyond that can help support you and assist you in growing your business. Biznik is a great place to converse with like-minded people and score some great advice.

Entrepreneur Connect (EConnect.Entrepreneur.com)
Entrepreneur Connect is another place to meet other entrepreneurs like you. Membership is free, and the best way to use Entrepreneur Connect is by joining some of the rich and diverse groups. In groups, you can discuss anything with other businesspeople in your niche. You can ask and answer questions, form beneficial relationships, and learn more about your industry. There is also a Marketplace with listings for everything from legal services to logo design to real estate.

Ryze.com
Ryze is a growing social network that appeals to many different types of users. From CEOs of large companies to hopeful small business entrepreneurs, you can meet a wide range of people and professionals. Ryze focuses on allowing you to grow your contact base and meet new people. There are event listings and classifieds to explore, too.

PerfectBusiness.com
PerfectBusiness allows you to connect with others, but it also offers a lot more. There is a wealth of resources, including articles, videos, and software, that will help you with the entire entrepreneurial process. When you’re just starting out, this website is a great place to begin learning about everything from writing a business plan to finding investors. And you can form some valuable relationships that will help you along the way.

TheFunded.com
TheFunded is a growing community that focuses on the financial side of entrepreneurship. It’s a place where you can connect with other entrepreneurs to discuss things like financing and investing. It also helps you learn about venture capitalists (VCs) that can help you, and members rate their experiences with different VCs and funds.

Venture Capitalist M.P. Brown loves the thrill of the start up and the challenges of running his own business. For finding new business opportunities, he stays actively involved in business networks.

Tips for Creating a Great Business Card

Creating a business card is easy. Creating a great business card requires a little more attention to detail.

Whatever the nature of your work, a business card is a great tool for networking, advertising and reminding potential customers that you’re there for them. Thanks to the rise of digital printing, it has never been easier – or cheaper – to have a set of cards run off. However, this increase in popularity has meant that many printing companies have ended up competing on price alone – something that has led to a ‘race to the bottom’ in terms of quality. And, as you’ll discover, penny pinching on your business cards is one compromise you should not make.

quality business card design

Branding 101

One of the mistakes a lot of people make with their business cards is thinking that they are simply a way of leaving their contact details with a prospective client. Whilst they certainly serve this purpose, they are far more than this. Like any piece of marketing – your website, flyers, posters and other promotional material – your business card makes a statement about you, your company, and the quality of your work. Your card gives a customer an impression about your business: perhaps their only impression. A low-quality, dog-eared, badly-designed card will not inspire confidence. A clean, sharp and professional-looking card communicates a very different impression.

For this reason, it’s worth spending a little more time and money on your cards than many others do. You don’t have to pay a fortune, as there are still plenty of digital print companies who will do good work cheaply, but you shouldn’t assume that your customers will treat all business cards the same. If you’re proud of your work, that should come across in the card you hand them.

What makes for a quality card?

One of the biggest factors is the weight of the card. Thin cards are flimsy and easily damaged; heavier cards feel more substantial and impressive, and are less likely to be thrown away. Typical printer paper is 80 gsm (grams per square metre). Postcards generally come in at around 300 gsm. A good quality business card will usually be upwards of 350 gsm. 400 is a good starting point, and plenty are heavier still.

Print quality is another major factor. This will differ markedly across companies due to the variations in printers used. Ask for samples, look at reviews and do your research. You want any logos and images to come out at photo quality, and text to be clean and crisp. Cheaper cards (you can sometimes even get freebies) tend to have low-quality print that fades quickly and looks awful.

Finally, the card’s finish will make a big difference. Although you can leave it as plain card, better business cards will have a layer of varnish on to make them more durable, help keep them clean and bring out any images. This comes in a variety of forms (matte, gloss, silk), each of which will suit different designs and feels of card. A spot-UV finish gives a brighter shine to specific images or words.

The bottom line?

All customers have to be bought in one way or another, and you get what you pay for. Clients will recognise when you’ve made an effort to reach out to them, and when you’ve cut corners.

About the Author: This article was supplied by printed.com, a supplier of quality leaflet printing and an accredited member of the Direct Marketing Association.

Image: _overanalyzer / Flickr

Instant Payday Loans Can Get You Out Of A Money Crunch

It is not unusual to be short on cash when an unexpected expense arises. In fact, there can be a number of reasons why you might not have the cash you need at certain times. Whatever the reason may be, what do you do if payday is a week away and you need cash now? Instant payday loans may present a solution to your problem.

payday loans

Sudden Need for Cash

If you have just paid all of your bills and your paycheck is now depleted, it can be quite a hassle to have a sudden need for cash when the money is not available. If you cannot wait until your next paycheck, you may find that by obtaining an instant payday loan, you can quickly get the cash you need and pay back your loan when your next paycheck arrives.

Many individuals who may need cash in a hurry are afraid that they will not be able to obtain the necessary funds due to bad credit. There are a number of lenders who do not require excellent credit in order to issue a payday loan. If you have bad credit or even no credit at all, you can still obtain a loan that will tide you over until you get paid again as no credit check will be necessary. It can bring such peace of mind knowing that your sudden need for funds can be handled even if you are dealing with credit issues.

Short Term Loans are Easy

Since the loan is for a short period of time and will be paid back when you next receive your paycheck, you can obtain the cash you need just by meeting a few criteria. You will be required to have a steady source of income, be at least 18 years of age or older, reside in the United States and have a checking account. With a payday loan, you can receive your cash almost instantly, which can help you out of a financial jam.

Instant payday loans can be obtained through a neighborhood lender or online. It only takes a few minutes to fill out an application. With instant approval, you will find yourself with cash in hand in no time at all. If you establish a good working relationship with your lender, you will have somewhere to turn when tough times come along and you need a sudden influx of cash.

Use it Only for Emergency

Depending on the lender, you may be able to obtain up to $1,500 for sudden expenses. Whether your emergency is a medical bill, a car repair or some other issue, you will have the funds you need to pay your bill and get on with your life. You will repay the loan, plus any applicable interest fees, when you receive your next paycheck. If there is a problem with paying back the loan at the designated time, you may request an extension from your lender.

Instant payday loans can be a way to get out from under a financial burden when you are faced with sudden unexpected expenses.

Tips for Internet Startups

While there is a lower threshold these days for starting a business online, it still isn’t as easy as the movies make it out to be. It’s still a business – you’re going to need to consider overhead costs, who to hire, what kind of profit margin you’re looking for – and if these are all things that are over your head – if you’re an “ideas man” (or woman) you’re going to have to find someone you can work with that can translate your vague goals and ideas into actionable metrics and concrete, well-articulated goals.

If you’re just venturing into the world of e-business, what follows is a primer of those things that you are probably going to encounter and have to consider when starting up your internet start-up.

Think Big

There are a few different facets to this concept when applied to internet start-ups. The first angle of interpretation for “thinking big” comes with branding. Branding is an integral part of your long-term strategy and can determine what markets a company eventually enters into, and succeeds, in. Branding is not the red-headed stepchild – it’s not something that you can neglect until after your first product has launched, in fact, having the proper branding and image to project to angel investors or venture capitalists can make or break the success of your first product.

And then there is the “think big” side of the product itself. I mean, look at Google – do you think they would be as successful as they are today if they set out to “organize the information of the United States”? Nope. Their mission is nothing smaller than organizing the worlds information.

Always Innovate

Internet companies never stop innovating, never stop changing or expanding. Google is constantly innovating, adding new product lines (and cutting them out if they fail). And just in the nature of the internet, there is always a greater user base, and more features that you are able to add as you proactively respond to the customer. Look at Twitter – their offering is pretty straightforward – 140 character social status updates, but what their interface encompasses keeps expanding – from picture and video integration to new profile layouts – they always strive for a better product.

When you’re starting an internet company, be wary of the lures of monetization and hubris. A product is never the best that it can be, and while you don’t want to fall the other direction and not release a product until it’s absolutely perfect, you never want to stop making a product better, either.

Be Social

Funny we talked about Twitter in the previous section, because probably one of the most important things that a start-up can do is get the word out – and in the internet, “word of mouth” is the social sphere – Twitter, Facebook, Google+, oh my!

While these can be a time suck, getting involved can be quite key for getting the word out about your product, and creating a loyal base of early-adopter users (and actually listening to what they have to say).

Don’t Forget There is a World Outside of Google

While you may be an internet start-up, don’t forget about traditional marketing either! While it may be less relevant for you if you don’t also have a brick-and-mortar store, neglecting other forms of advertisements is probably just as silly. GoDaddy just had a Superbowl advertisement, and they don’t have a brick-and-mortar store – they exist entirely in the cyber sphere.

You are going to want to analyze your business model and your competition and see what arenas could be most profitable for you in terms of reach. At this point in your business life cycle it may not be practical to move beyond your internet sphere, but don’t neglect traditional marketing, either.

Stay Organized

You may be the “ideas man” with grand plans, but how are you going to execute them? Do you have some sort of integrated software, or a bunch of different software programs that will help you keep your ducks (and your money) in line? Are you always late to meetings? If you really are dedicated to making your business work, that’s going to have to change – or you’re going to have to hire someone to stay organized for you, manage all your invoices and paperwork, time clocks and facilities (even if it’s just your home office).

Sarah Stevens is a writer who works most often with a company that makes sure that your company is kept running smoothly with asset management software – and she hope that if this article inspires you to create the next big thing you’ll offer her a finder’s fee!

4 Perks Every Small Business Owner should Steal from Google

For three consecutive years Google has been ranked as one of the top companies to work for. While pay is good, the perks the tech company offers its employees is what most say really keeps employees happy and eager to produce constant good work – headquarters are equipped with a rock climbing wall, gourmet chefs, free laundry services, and even allow employees to bring their pet to work just to name a few. While you’re a small business owner and can’t afford to hire a sushi chef for example, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use Google as a model and put your own twist on some of the amenities they offer. To learn some perks that will earn you the best boss award and can keep the employees you have satisfied, continue reading below.

1. Provide Cheap Beverages and Snacks. Ok, so you don’t have the funds to buy a fancy espresso or cappuccino maker, but you can buy a traditional coffee maker and some flavored creamers so that your employees can have a free pick-me-up in the mornings or afternoons. Stocking the company fridge with at least 3 different flavors of soda or tea and some filtered water is also a great, simple idea. Can sodas are inexpensive (especially if you purchase in bulk using a discount Sam’s Club or CostCo card) and it’ll keep your employees hydrated (which is needed to activate brains) as well as give your employee’s bragging rights – most companies do not provide free snacks. To ease up on your wallet, only restock snacks once a month.

2. Keep Social Media Sites Active. Most corporate companies choose to make social media sites like Facebook and Twitter inaccessible at work because they believe it will only distract their employees from completing the tasks at hand. But blocking popular sites like Facebook can make some employees feel like their employer is a control freak and may actually end up resenting their boss a little bit. Besides, some studies say that allowing employees to take small breaks to check social networking sites and surf the web can actually boost productivity rates.

3. Casual Everyday. Some corporate offices give their employees permission to indulge in a “casual Friday.” Google, on the other hand, allows their staff to wear jeans every day of the week – of course there are limits; it’s more of a “business casual” than “casual-casual” but it’s a great way to promote productivity. That’s because some experts claim that formal business attire, such as suits, heels, and pencil skirts, can be really constraining, causing people who have to sit or stand for 8 hours a day to be extremely uncomfortable which prompts them to do less work. However business casual attire removes the stress of having to get ready each morning and let’s your employees breathe while at work. While causal everyday may not work for every small business (if they don’t have to engage with clients or investors on a normal basis) it may be a good idea to at least give them one or two days a week of casual dress. Of course there can be restrictions – no flip flops etc.

4. Set up a Game Room. Lastly, like mentioned before, in addition to a rock climbing wall, Google has a myriad of other fun games to boost office moral and motivate its team to work harder for breaks such as a foosball table. Creating an area where your employees can get together and unwind for a few minutes doing something fun is a fantastic amenity to add. With careful research you can find some inexpensive foosball tables or something similar like a ping pong table. Investing in an office gaming system (Wii’s are about $80 now) and getting some group-involved games like Mario Kart is also great activity to have in the workplace.

About the Author: This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for accredited online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.