Archive by Author
Article #1
Posted on12. Sep, 2011 by larspk.
SEO or Paid Traffic? |
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By Lars Knutsen
In my experience it pays to optimise your website enough to be found in the search engines. Although, if you are just getting started online, or are still struggling to make a decent income from the Internet, you should highly consider paid traffic as a way to turbo charge your business.
The choice is yours; either spend time and money waiting for your business to naturally receive lots of traffic, or spend time and money to instantly receive lots of traffic.
Option #1 – the organic traffic method. This is the worlds best known source of traffic. This model requires you to spend your resources to build a network of links pointing to your website / business. You would then optimize the content on your web pages to include common keywords your target customer is searching for online. After you have optimised your website for the search engines you will begin to receive “free” traffic to your website. At this point you will be able to see if your business is something your target market is interested in. If you were right about everything up to this point you will begin to make money online. If you were wrong about your market or optimisation characteristics it is possible to easily waste a lot of precious time and resources.
This is why I vote for option #2 – the paid traffic method. It is always better to quickly drive traffic to your website, especially if it is new. This allows you to quickly test offers, ads, and ideas to see what works for your business.
Success Tip: Offers, ads, and ideas usually need tweaking for optimum efficiency. Always track clicks and conversions. Your checking account will thank you for it.
After you have a proven business model and know who is interested in your product, where those customers can be found, and how to sell them the product, you can start to invest time and money into SEO type practices if you are so inclined. I have found that my time is best spent driving paid traffic to my businesses through text and banner ads placed in publications as well as on targeted websites.
One of the resources I use on a daily basis is The Directory of E-zines. Charlie Page has put together the Internets largest collection of niche publications that accept advertising. The rates vary, but one thing is for sure; Ezine advertising is a very low cost way to reach your target audience and can be extremely effective for of advertising for most small to medium sized businesses.
Lars Knutsen
Chief Editor / Owner
More Clicks = More MoneyWhen placing an advertisement it is important to get the consumer to perform a specific action cooresponding to a specific goal. Common goals are filling out a purchase form, requesting more information, or downloading a free whitepaper.
Whatever your goal is, it is important to follow this simple 4 step process.
Step #1- Attention. Step #2- Interest. Step #3- Desire. Step#4- Action
Attention – First off, get the consumers attention! Say something shocking, ask them a question, use bold text, and connect on an emotional level.
Interest – Now that you have their attention it is time to obtain the consumers interest by showing how your product can solve their problem quicker, better, cheaper.
Desire – Prove to your Audience that your product is legit. Make sure to include lots of testimonials of satisfied clients, before after photos / videos, etc. It is extremely important that the consumer trusts your business and believes your product will deliver on all promises.
Action - Now that your lead understands what you can do for them and trusts your business you may now ask for some sort of action on their part. In most cases you will either ask for permission to send them something via email, or you will ask them to purchase your product / services. Always include a bonus! People love free stuff, and if you include a free bonus in your offer you will typically receive better results.
Optimise Your Squeeze PageA secret of many marketers is to use a squeeze page to collect the names and email address of consumers interested in a product offering. The idea is to exchange what ever it is that you are offering for permission to send more information on the back end. This could be a series of messages relating to the first offer, or it could be information on different offers in the same niche.
Success Tip: Consumers do not easily give away their contact information so it is important to offer something of immense value. This could range from a free video course to a free consultation.
Once you have the name and email address of your lead you may follow up with marketing messages keeping “top of mind awareness.” This will put your brand in front of the competition when the customer is ready to purchase goods and services related to your niche.
Many of the top marketers I know use use a template called Optimise Press to create their squeeze pages. It is simple to use and has proved to be extremely effective.
Direct Response SecretsDirect Response legend Bob Bly continues to amaze me. In a recent course he describes in detail how to combine online and offline advertising to create a “double threat integrated marketing campaign.” Click the link below and profit from dozens of proven techniques and strategies – ideas that have sold millions of dollars worth of goods and services — to thousands of direct marketing buyers worldwide…
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Podcast Directory
Posted on04. Aug, 2010 by larspk.
Podcast Directory
Podcasting is a great way to communicate your message to vast amounts of busy people. Podcasting allows users to download an mp3 or video file to either a computer or portable device. This allows the end user the ability to consume information whenever they please. Podcasting has become very popular in recent years. The most common way to create a podcast is to host a blog and link the rss feed to podcast directory. Below are the Internets most popular podcast directories.
Podcast Directories
http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/ http://www.mevio.com/ http://www.podcastalley.com/ http://www.podcast.com/ http://www.podomatic.com/ http://www.podfeed.net/ http://www.odeo.com/
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Website Templates
Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Website Design Templates
Check out the websites listed below for a host of pre-made website templates. Using a good template can make things a heck of a lot easier if you are not a web programmer or graphic designer. Simply select a template you would like to use. Upload it to your server. Then Modify the template as you see fit. There is not much more too it. I have found that learning website stuff can take a little time at first; but once you get the hang of it you can use those skills forever.
Resources for Recommended Website Design Templates
http://www.templatemonster.com/ http://www.i3dthemes.com/ http://www.rockettheme.com/ http://www.themeforest.net/ http://www.ithemes.com/ http://www.dreamtemplate.com/ http://www.templateworld.com/
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Sales Letters & Squeeze Pages
Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Graphic Design for Sales Letters and Squeeze Pages
Sales letters and squeeze pages are extremely important for online success. Squeeze pages generate leads and sales pages………well, generate sales. The longer entrepreneurs do business online the more they realise sales letters and squeeze pages truly are the bread and butter when it comes to making money online
Recommended resources for sales letters and squeeze pages
http://www.minisitegraphics.com/ http://www.ecoverdesign.com/ http://www.minisitefrog.com/ http://www.designgururyan.com/ http://www.ecoverbee.com/ http://www.killercovers.com/ http://www.crystalprocovers.com/
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Outsource Web Design
Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Outsource Web Design
Outsource your web design and development to somebody who can get the job done quickly and easily. The websites listed below help connect entrepreneurs with designers from around the globe. Be careful to anylize the quality of the designers work and never strictly shop by price.
Outsource Web Design and Development
http://www.scriptlance.com/ http://www.vworker.com/ http://www.guru.com/ http://www.elance.com/ http://www.craigslist.org/ http://www.thinkbigsites.com/
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Online Radio Resources
Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Guru Recommended Online Radio Resources
Online Radio Resources
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ http://www.voiceamerica.com/ http://www.radioguestlist.com/ http://www.talkzone.com/ http://www.wsradio.com/ http://www.alltalkradio.net/
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Video Sharing Sites
Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Video Sharing Sites
Video will strengthen any marketing campaign. Video can optimise blogs, landing pages, and websites. Entertaining & useful videos have the ability to go “viral” in a short amount of time when added to a video sharing website. Below is a list of video sharing sites you can use to generate views, extra traffic, and valuable back-links to your website. Pay special attention to the automated video distribution websites, they are a real time-saver.
Automated video distribution
http://www.tubemogul.com/ http://www.trafficgeyser.com/
Video Sharing Sites
http://www.youtube.com/ http://www.blip.tv/ http://www.dailymotion.com/ http://www.video.google.com/ http://www.metacafe.com/ http://www.vimeo.com/ http://www.oneminuteu.com/ http://www.veoh.com/ http://www.vids.myspace.com/ http://www.pandora.tv/ http://www.revver.com/ http://www.viddler.com/ http://www.video.yahoo.com/
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Top Twitter Tools
Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Top Twitter Tools
Maximise the power of Twitter by using the top twitter tools to your advantage. Savvy entrepreneurs use these tools daily to efficiently communicate their message to the masses…..you should too.
Guru Recommended Top Twitter Tools
http://www.twitterfeed.com/ http://www.socialoomph.com/ http://www.twellow.com/ http://www.tweetbeep.com/
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Viral PDF Rebrander
Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Viral PDF Re-brander
Generate loads of free traffic to your website by distributing an informative PDF with “re-sell rights” included. Using a PDF re-brander allows anybody the ability to take your PDF (with links back to your website) and with a click of the mouse brand it with their own company name and affiliate links. The entrepreneur who “re-branded” the PDF now has a great incentive to pass it along to as many people as possible; doing so will position them as an expert on the topic presented and allow them get paid when consumers use the embedded affiliate links.
Viral PDF Rebrander Recommendations
http://www.viralpdf.com/ http://www.viralpdfgenerator.com/
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Discount Media Buying Agencies
Posted on21. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Discount Media Buying Agencies
If you are going to advertise with T.V. commercials, radio soundbites, and magazine advertisements you should never pay pay the retail pricing on the “rate card.” Prices are always negotiable. Entrepreneurs who would like to get the best discount with the least hassle should use a discount media buying agency. Below are tried and true discount media buying agencies used by top industry gurus as well as mega corporations.
Recommended Discount Media Buying Agencies
http://manhmedia.com/ http://www.novusmediainc.com/ http://www.mercurymedia.com/ http://www.revshare.com/ http://www.marketingarchitects.com/ http://www.radiodirect.com/
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Order Taking Call Center
Posted on21. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Order Taking Call Center
Call centers can easily be used as order takers. Ultimately, call centers will free your time so it can be better used performing more profitable tasks. There are two distinct types of order taking call centers; call centers that simply take the customers order on a take it or leave it basis, or call centers that strive to close the sale for you. The resources below have proven track records and are used by top direct response gurus. Find the order taking call center right for you. We only support order taking call centers recommended by to direct response gurus.
Order Taking Call Center
http://www.west.com/ http://www.liveops.com/ http://www.convergys.com/
Close the Sale Call Center
http://www.west.com/direct_response.asp http://www.protocolglobalsolutions.com/ http://www.tritontechnology.com/
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Telephone Services
Posted on21. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Best Telephone Services
Get a 1-800 number for your business and have the call routed to your phone. 1-800 numbers are convenient for your customers and easy to use. They come with a variety of features such as call forwarding, call screening, and voicemail; some even come with their own personal receptionist!
Recommended Telephone Services
http://www.onebox.com/ http://www.angel.com/ http://www.ringcentral.com/
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A/B Split Testing
Posted on21. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
A/B Split Testing
Testing your website for maximum effectiveness is made easy with A/B split testing software. Randomly use different headlines, pictures, and text on your website to discover which combination converts the most traffic into sales. Just plug in the variables and let the software do the math for you! A must for any serious Internet marketer.
A/B Split Testing Software
http://www.omniture.com/testandtarget http://www.vertster.com/ http://www.optimost.com/
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Stock Photos
Posted on18. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Stock Photos
Use Stock photos to make your website interesting to look at and fun to be a part of. Stock photos are easy to use and typically inexpensive to purchase. IStockPhoto is my favorite for regular use; however, GettyImages is worth checking out too.
Best Stock Photo websites
http://www.freestockphotos.com/ http://www.istockphoto.com/ http://www.shutterstock.com/ http://www.sxc.hu/ http://www.bigstockphoto.com/ http://www.gettyimages.com/
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Becoming an expert
Posted on17. Jul, 2010 by larspk.
Becoming an Expert
Help journalists help you. By joining a leads service you will get the opportunity to receive emails from anxious reporters that are hungry for your expert advise. If you can spin your message to the right journalist you may get interviewed and end up in a major publication.
Leads Services
http://www.prleads.com/ http://www.helpareporter.com/ http://www.expertclick.com/ https://www.profnet.prnewswire.com/
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Duplication Services /Fulfillment House
Posted on24. Mar, 2010 by larspk.
Duplication Services /Fulfillment House
The service providers listed below could be very helpful to entrepreneurs who need DVD’s and CD’s duplicated on a grand scale. The following companies provide fast, dependable services on a professional level. A few duplication companies actually double as fulfillment houses that would pack and ship your products direct from their facilities.
Less time packing and shipping creates more time to market and sell!! If a fulfillment house sounds like something you could use, I have listed some great options below.
Popular Duplication Services
http://www.avccorp.com/ http://www.sfvideo.com/ http://www.kunaki.com/ http://www.discmakers.com/ http://www.ioproducts.com/ http://www.mediasupply.com/ http://www.cdduplicationcenter.com/ http://www.disk.com/ http://www.proactionmedia.com/ http://www.mcmannisduplication.com/
Fulfillment House Companies
http://www.mfpsinc.com/ http://www.moultonfulfillment.com/ http://www.wefulfillit.com/ http://www.webgistix.com/ http://www.directtomarketsolutions.com/ http://www.vervante.com/ http://www.expressfulfillment.com/ http://www.spexpress.com/ http://www.disk.com/ http://www.speakerfulfillmentservices.com/
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Audio and Video Resources
Posted on24. Mar, 2010 by larspk.
Audio / Video Resources
Attract attention and better communicate your message by adding audio and video to your website. Adding audio and video is a good idea if you are truly interested in communicating with your target audience. On any given day a consumer may prefer to either read text, hear a message, or watch a video; this makes it very important to provide information in different formats to your customer base. Audio may be used for testimonials, podcasts, background music, and sound effects. Video can be distributed on YouTube, embedded on a website, used in video blogs, or offered as a bonus…….the options are virtually unlimited!
It is important to produce quality audio and video. It is my advice to use good microphones, quality editing software, and a high def camcorder. Below are some great resources to get you headed in the right direction.
Recording Phone Interviews
Audio Editing
http://www.audacity.sourceforge.net/
Audio Content
http://www.findsounds.com/ http://www.smartsound.com/ http://www.digitaljuice.com/
Audio Services
http://instantaudio.com/ http://www.iprotalk.com/ http://www.amazingvoice.com/ http://www.voice123.com/
Audio Software
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/ http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/ http://www.totalwebaudio.com/ http://www.audioacrobat.com/ http://www.mp3streamingaudio.com/ http://www.acoustica.com/
Audio File Conversion
http://www.coolutils.com/ http://www.zamzar.com/ http://www.erightsoft.com/
Audio Equipment
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/
On Screen Video Capture
http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia
Video Editing Software
http://www.adobe.com/ http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/ http://www.corel.com http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ http://www.cyberlink.com/ http://www.magix.com/
Video Content / Royalty Free
http://www.footagefirm.com/ http://www.revostock.com/ http://www.digitaljuice.com/ http://www.artbeats.com/ http://www.videocopilot.net/ http://www.motionloops.com/ http://www.pond5.com/ http://www.thoughtequity.com/
Video Distribution Services
http://tubemogul.com/ http://trafficgeyser.com/ http://www.heyspread.com/
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Traditional Advertising
Posted on18. Mar, 2010 by larspk.
Traditional Advertising
Entrepreneurs should advertise in places were it is possible to capture the target markets attention. Traditionally, advertising has been placed on television, the radio, magazines, newspapers, and classified ads. Yes, with new technology there are many other ways to advertise your products and services; but traditional advertising should not be forgotten. Even if your return on investment yields 10%, that is money in your pocket! Take the ten percent, work on those headlines, tweak the body copy of your ad, and increase your profits.
Below are traditional advertising resources for your marketing campaign.
Newspaper / Print Advertising
http://www.usnewspapers.com/ http://www.gothamdirectinc.com/ http://www.mediabids.com/
Radio Advertising
http://www.bid4spots.com/ http://www.directresponsepros.com/ http://www.strategicmediainc.com/ http://www.universalmediasyndicate.com/
TV Advertising
http://www.cheap-tv-spots.com/
Classified Advertising
http://www.craigslist.org/ http://www.pennysaverusa.com/ http://www.recycler.com/ http://www.tnol.com/
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Direct Mail Marketing
Posted on17. Mar, 2010 by larspk.
Direct Mail Marketing
Successful entrepreneurs use many marketing methods to achieve their goals. The combination of different marketing methods within the same marketing campaign is know as the marketing mix. Vehicles within the marketing mix should work in unison to create a positive outcome…..in most cases the sale of goods or services. Direct mail is an efficient, scalable way to market your offerings.
Below is a list of direct mail resources that can and should be used in your marketing mix.
Promo Items
http://www.epromos.com/ http://www.promopeddler.com/ http://www.branders.com/ http://www.rushimprint.com/ http://www.gopromos.com/ http://www.gimmees.com/ http://www.motivators.com/ http://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/ https://www.sendaball.com/ http://www.greatbigstuff.com/ http://www.orientaltrading.com/ http://www.homepokerchips.com/ http://www.getupandgo.com/ http://www.sunrisepremiums.net/
Direct Mail Postcard Services
https://www.expresscopy.com/ http://www.amazingmail.com/ http://www.postcardpower.com/ http://www.sonicprint.com/ http://www.48hrprint.com/ http://www.fishdirectmail.com/ http://www.click2mail.com/ http://www.zairmail.com/ http://www.fedex.com/
Direct Mail Services
http://www.admsi.com/ http://www.zipmailusa.com/ http://www.gfxinc.com/ http://www.handymailing.com/
Mail Lists
http://www.srds.com/ http://www.oxbridge.com/ https://fedexkinkoslistservices.com/
Photo Stamps
http://www.zazzle.com/ http://www.stamps.com/
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Find Wholesale Goods
Posted on13. Mar, 2010 by larspk.
Find Wholesale Goods
If you are going to sell products online it is important to buy low and sell high. The following websites are good places to find wholesale goods at rock bottom prices. In many cases it is required to buy items in bulk; either by the pallet or even truck load! Thats ok, in the world of online merchandising it is essencial to go big or go home. Just make sure you go in with a game plan.
Find Wholesale Goods
http://www.liquidation.com/ http://www.dollardays.com/ http://www.gowholesale.com http://www.wholesalehub.com/ http://www.overstock.com/
Drop Shipping
http://www.doba.com/ http://www.worldwidebrands.com/ http://www.dropshipdesign.com/ http://www.simplx.com/ http://www.shopster.com/ http://www.ingrambook.com/ http://www.techdata.com/
Importers
http://www.americanimporters.org/ http://www.importers.ca/ http://www.exportimportcompanies.com/
Factory Direct
http://www.alibaba.com/ http://www.asianproducts.com/ http://www.globalsources.com/ http://www.indiamart.com/ http://www.thomasnet.com/ http://www.webstersonline.com/ http://www.housewares.org/ http://www.nationalhardwareshow.com/
Manufacturer’s Agents
Vitamins and other Consumables
http://www.expoeast.com/ http://www.expowest.com/
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Mind Mapping Software
Posted on03. Mar, 2010 by larspk.
Best Mind Mapping Software
Mind mapping software allows entrepreneurs to visually organize their thoughts and relate them to one another. Mind mapping software is commonly used while brainstorming, designing business models, and solving problems. If you are like me you write your ideas on paper; but if you use mind mapping software the content may easily be updated as you go.
Mind Mapping Software
https://www.mindjet.com/ http://www.avizsoft.com/ http://www.neuralmatters.com/ http://www.conceptdraw.com/ http://www.dropmind.com/ http://www.eminec.com/ http://www.loanedgenius.com/ http://www.thinkbuzan.com/ http://www.inspiration.com/ http://www.mindapp.com/ http://www.mindpad.com/ http://www.mindgenius.com/ http://www.mindmapper.com/ http://www.novamind.com/ http://www.matchware.com/ http://www.thebrain.com/ http://www.thinkgraph.com/ http://www.visualmind.com/ http://www.xmind.net/
Web Based Mind Mapping Tools
http://www.bubbl.us/ http://www.comapping.com/ http://www.dropmind.com/ http://www.mapul.com/ http://www.meadmap.com/ http://www.mind42.com/ http://www.mindmeister.com/ http://www.mindomo.com/
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Business Plan Software
Posted on03. Mar, 2010 by larspk.
Best Business Plan Software 
Entrepreneurs who create a business plan are much more likely to succeed than those who don’t. Business plan software will help you plan the development of your business, which includes important things like marketing, growth, operations, as well as a proper exit strategy. Business plan software forces entrepreneurs to take a good look at the market and analyze the competition. This software will help you organize ideas, easily calculate financials, and give you plenty of examples to get you started.
Success should not be a surprise. Plan for success and use the best business plan software listed below.
Business plan Software
http://www.businessplanpro.com
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Ad Tracking Analytics
Posted on27. Jan, 2010 by larspk.
Ad Tracking Analytics
Entrepreneurs who analyze their website traffic are able to tell if their marketing efforts are worth the effort or if they are wasting valuable time and money in the wrong places. Web stats will show where traffic originates, where people go, and how long customers “stick” around. It is also possible to track advertisement efforts by tracking clicks linked from a particular ad. Successful entrepreneurs should always measure the effectiveness of their advertisements. Careful tracking will show when to abandon a losing campaign so you can use those resources to strengthen a profitable one.
Information gained through the use of analytics software can be used to raise conversions, maximize profits, and retain customers. If you are currently not using tracking software with advertisements, and on your website it is time to start. Check out the links below and grow your business!
Popular Ad Tracking Software
http://www.adtrackz.com/ http://www.adwatcher.com/ http://www.prolinkz.com/ http://www.visitorville.com/ http://www.hypertracker.com/
Website Analytics
http://www.google.com/analytics/ http://www.clicktracks.com/ http://www.webtrends.com/
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SEO Software
Posted on27. Jan, 2010 by larspk.
SEO Software
The only SEO software I feel comfortable recommending is SeoElite and Link-Assistant. Both products are absolutely exceptional. Use of this software will help your website skyrocket towards the top of Google in record time. These products come with all the tips, tricks, and tactics you need to implement a world class SEO campaign.
Top SEO Software Recommendations
http://www.seoelite.com/ http://www.link-assistant.com/
Free SEO Tools
SEO Information
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Keyword Optimization Tools
Posted on27. Jan, 2010 by larspk.
Keyword optimization Tools
Keyword research and careful keyword selection are essential for any successful entrepreneur looking to create traffic online. It is extremely important to use keyword phrases throughout your website that are commonly searched for through search engines. Publishing popular keyword phrases on specific web pages will help those pages rank well on search engines. Usually a higher ranking will correlate to increased traffic and higher sales.
Keyword optimization tools allow entrepreneurs to easily discover effective keywords to use on their website. Most keyword opimization tools show a variety of statistics and recommendations such as; estimated clicks, ad competition, and overall popularity. Premium tools will allow entrepreneurs to take a peek at the competition revealing valuable information which may be used to fine tune keyword selection.
Bottom line……Be smart and use a keyword optimization tool. The best keyword tools are conveniently listed below.
Best keyword optimization tools
http://www.wordtracker.com/ https://www.adwords.google.com/ http://www.keywordelite.com/ http://www.digitalpoint.com/ http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/
Spy on the Competition
http://www.spyfu.com/ http://www.alexa.com/
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Webinar Solutions
Posted on04. Jan, 2010 by larspk.
Webinar Solutions
Webinar solutions allow interested prospects to watch and listen to your presentation live through the use of a personal computer. Webinars are extremely powerful as they engage viewers visually and emotionally taking communications to a level never seen before. Webinar solutions allow entrepreneurs to portray expert status and build the confidence needed to succeed in todays marketplace.
Choose from the popular webinar solutions listed below and separate your business from the pack…..Be Amazing!
Popular Webinar Solutions
http://www.megameeting.com/ http://www.voxwire.com/ http://www.webex.com/ http://www.on24.com/ http://www.fuzemeeting.com/ http://www.dimdim.com/ http://www.nextiva.com/
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Ezine Advertising
Posted on03. Jan, 2010 by larspk.
Ezine Advertising
Ezine advertising provides a cost effective way to promote products and services to literally thousands of interested viewers. It is easy to locate your target market through specific ezines catered to specific audiences. Furthermore, viewers who subscribe to ezines are anxiouse to open the email and read what is inside; that makes for perfect add placement! If you have not yet used ezine advertising as a marketing weapon I suggest you give it a try. The right add in the right ezine for the right product will make huge money.
Popular Ezine Advertising Services
http://www.edithroman.com/ http://www.yesmail.com/ http://www.ezinead.net/ http://www.ezineadvertising.com/ http://www.listcity.com/ http://www.ientry.com/ http://www.directoryofezines.com/ http://www.partenon.com/ http://www.demc.com/ http://www.ezineclassifiedads.com/ http://www.emarketingservices.com http://www.ezineking.com/ http://www.hbads.com/ http://www.arcamax.com/
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RSS Directories
Posted on31. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
RSS Directories
Easily locate RSS feeds of interest and submit your RSS feed to RSS directories. Google will love you for it. RSS directories make it easy for entrepreneurs to find and be found. Successful entrepreneurs should post thier feed with as many RSS directories as possible.
Popular RSS Directories
http://www.syndic8.com/ http://www.feedplex.com/ http://www.feedshark.com/ http://www.rssmountain.com/ http://www.magportal.com/
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Blog Submission Sites
Posted on29. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Blog Submission Sites
Market your blog and find new blogs of interest through the use of quality blog submission sites. Blog submission sites function much like the yellow pages only promote blogs instead of local services. Any entrepreneur with a blog might as well index it with top blog submission sites. It is a win-win situation for a parties involved. Below is a list of the best blog submission sites available. We strongly encourage you to use these resources and grow your business to new heights.
Popular Blog Submission Sites
http://www.technorati.com/ http://www.getblogs.com/ http://www.bloglisting.net http://www.blogbunch.com/ http://www.blogcatalog.com/ http://www.blogsearch.com/ http://www.blogrankings.com/ http://www.bloghub.com/
Click here for Popular blog software and services
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RSS Reader
Posted on21. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
RSS Reader Software
RSS Readers provide the convenience of getting all your headlines in one place. No need to surf the web looking for news. Simply subscribe to your rss feed of choice and let the news come to you. RSS Readers are quickly becoming the newspaper of the 21st century. Subscribers receiving news through rss feeds are widely considered to be key influencer’s and early adopters; precisely the audience savvy entrepreneurs should be focusing most of their marketing efforts on.
Premium RSS Readers will include more features then free options; however, there are many free RSS Readers that work just fine for most situations. Below is a list of the best RSS Readers currently available. Check them out and choose the best RSS Reader for you.
Hosted RSS Readers
http://reader.google.com/ http://www.bloglines.com/ http://www.pageflakes.com/ http://www.netvibes.com/
RSS Reader Software
http://www.newsgator.com/ http://www.feedreader.com/ http://www.rssreader.com/ http://www.sharpreader.net/ http://www.disobey.com/ http://www.mozilla.com/
Podcast Readers
http://www.apple.com/ http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/ http://www.dopplerradio.net/ http://www.odeo.com/
Feed RSS onto a webpage
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Blogs
Posted on20. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Blogs
Blogs are great for SEO and easy to use. It is no wander so many entrepreneurs are using them. Blogs can be hosted online or on your own server. Online services come with the advantage of a large blog network full of enthusiastic readers anxious to find new content. Self hosted blogs can be customized giving you the ability to “tweak” your blog until you see fit. Either way you go, blogs make it easy for publishers to add pictures, update content, and maintain customers interest.
Most blogs come pre-loaded with rss (really simple syndication) feeds. When rss feeds are streamed headlines will appear in the viewers rss reader letting them know a new article has been posted. This makes content distribution a breeze. People who prefer to use rss feeds are thought to be innovators and early adopters; precisely the type of people you should be marketing your message too. There is no need to cut people out of the loop; if your customer would like to get news through rss feeds then you better have a feed ready for them to subscribe too.
Popular Blog Software
http://www.wordpress.org/ http://www.movabletype.org/ http://www.drupal.org/ http://docs.joomla.org/
Popular Blog Services
https://www.blogger.com/ http://www.wordpress.com/ http://www.bloglines.com/ http://www.typepad.com/ http://www.peopleconnection.aol.com/
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E-Book Development
Posted on19. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
E-Book Development
Popular E-Book Development tools
http://www.ebookgold.com/ http://www.ebookcompiler.com/ http://www.ebook.generatorsoftware.com/ http://www.desktopauthor.com/ http://www.ebookpro.com/ http://www.neosoftware.com/ http://www.x2net.com/ http://www.webexe.com/ http://www.ebookedit.com/ http://www.dnaml.com/
List your E-Book with Amazon.com
Send an email to edoc-inquiry@amazon.com for instructions.
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Discussion Board Software
Posted on14. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Discussion Board Software 
Discussion boards were all the rage in the early days of online communities. Ultimately, discussion boards provide a place for people of similar interests to exchange ideas and interact with each other as a group. Entrepreneurs who incorporate a discussion board into their website may easily ask questions, get valuable feedback, and uncover new customer needs. A popular discussion board with frequently changing content will also help search engine placement. So, if you would like to create a community feel and automatically generate fresh content, check out the discussion board software below and select the discussion board software right’s for you.
Popular Discussion Board Software
http://www.vbulletin.org/ http://simplepressforum.com/ http://www.awsd.com/ http://simplemachines.org/ http://www.phpbb.com/ http://www.phorum.org/ http://www.yabbforum.com/ http://www.bbpress.org/
Hosted Discussion Board Services
http://www.activeboard.com/ http://www.proboards.com/ http://www.bravenet.com/
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Tell a Friend Script
Posted on10. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Tell a Friend Script
As an entrepreneur, generating word of mouth advertising should be a top priority. Word of mouth advertising is the most effective form of advertising known to man. Creating good word of mouth does not have to be expensive when quality Tell a Friend Script is used. Tell a Friend Script will allow any entrepreneur with a website to add a form that allows users to email a link with the click of a button. The act of referring a friend to a specific website is simple and effective. A good Tell a Friend campaign has the potential to create a snowball effect bringing loads of customers your way. If you have made it this far you must be smart enough to know that EntrepreneurFreak.com provides the best entrepreneur resources around. Now use your intelligence and select a Tell a Friend Script that best fits with your business.
Popular Tell a Friend Script
https://www.viralinviter.com/ http://www.tellafriendking.com/ https://www.viralfriendgenerator.com/
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SBDC
Posted on09. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
SBDC (Small Business Development Center)
Entrepreneurs interested in starting their own business should consult with the SBDC for helpful guidance. The SBDC will help move things along through the many stages of business. Even the most seasoned entrepreneurs should utilize the many valuable years of experience the SBDC can bring to the table. Members of the SBDC are generally very wise and anxious to help. The SBDC has been very kind to EntrepreneurFreak.com and has proven to be an invaluable resource.
SBDC List By State
Alabama SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA – Birmingham
1500 1st Avenue North, R118 Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: 205-307-6510
Fax: 205-307-6511
E-Mail: williamc@uab.edu
Website: http://www.asbdc.org/
Alaska SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA – ANCHORAGE
430 West Seventh Avenue, Suite 110
Anchorage, AK 99501-3550
Phone: 907-274 -7232
Fax: 907-272-0565
E-Mail: anjad2@uaa.alaska.edu
Website: http://www.aksbdc.org
American Samoa SBDC
AMERICAN SAMOA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
P.O. Box 2609
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
Phone: 011-684-699-4830
Fax: 011-684-699-6132
E-Mail: htalex@worldet.att.net
Website: http://www.as-sbdc.org/
Arizona SBDC
ARIZONA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER NETWORK
Maricopa County Community College
2411 West 14th Street, Suite 114
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: (480)731-8722
Fax: (480)731-8729
E-Mail: janice.washington@domail.maricopa.edu
Website: https://www.azsbdc.net/
Arkansas SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS at Little Rock
2801 South University Avenue, Rm 260
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: 501-683-7700
Fax: 501-683-7720
E-Mail: jmroderick@ualr.edu
Website: http://asbdc.ualr.edu
California – Santa Ana SBDC
Tri-County Lead SBDC
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY – FULLERTON
800 North State College Boulevard, LH640
Fullerton, CA 92834
Phone: 714-278-2719
Fax: 714-278-7858
E-Mail: vpham@fullerton.edu
Website: http://www.leadsbdc.org
California – San Diego SBDC
SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
900 Otay Lakes Road, Bldg. 1681
Chula Vista, CA 91910-7299
Phone: 619-482-6388
Fax: 619-482-6402
E-Mail: dtrujillo@swc.cc.ca.us
Website: http://www.sbditc.org/
California – Fresno SBDC
UC Merced Lead Center
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – MERCED
550 East Shaw, Suite 100
Fresno, CA 93710-7702
Phone: 559-241-6590
Fax: 559-241-7422
E-Mail: lwright3@ucmerced.edu
Website: http://sbdc.ucmerced.edu
California – Sacramento SBDC
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY – CHICO
35 Main Street, Room 203
Chico, CA 95929-0765
Phone: 530-898-4598
Fax: 530-898-4734
E-Mail: dripke@csuchico.edu
Website: http://www.necsbdc.org/
California – San Francisco SBDC
Northern California SBDC Lead Center
HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY
Office of Economic Development
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA, 95521
Phone: 707-826-3920
E-Mail: kristin.johnson@humboldt.edu
Website: http://www.norcalsbdc.org
California – Los Angeles Region SBDC
LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
3950 Paramount Boulevard, Ste 101
Lakewood, CA 90712
Phone: 562-938-5004
Fax: 562-938-5030
E-Mail: ssloan@lbcc.edu
Website: http://lasbdcnet.lbcc.edu/lead.html
Colorado SBDC
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1625 Broadway, Suite 2700
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-892-3864
Fax: 303-892-3848
E-Mail: Kelly.Manning@state.co.us
Website: http://www.coloradosbdc.org/
Connecticut SBDC
University of Central Connecticut 185 Main Street
New Britain, CT 06051
Phone: 860-827-7104
Fax: 860-827-7112
E-Mail: gilmoregin@ccsu.edu
Website: http://www.ccsu.edu/sbdc/
Delaware SBDC
DELAWARE TECHNOLOGY PARK
1 Innovation Way, Suite 301
Newark, DE 19711
Phone: 302-831-1555
Fax: 302-831-1423
E-Mail: tymesc@udel.edu
Website: http://www.delawaresbdc.org
District of Columbia SBDC
HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
2600 6th Street, NW Room 128
Washington, DC 20059
Phone: 202-806-1550
Fax: 202-806-1777
E-Mail: hturner@howard.edu
Website: http://www.dcsbdc.com/
Florida SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA
401 East Chase Street, Suite 100
Pensacola, FL 32502-6160
Phone: 850-473-7800
Fax: 850-473-7813
E-Mail: jcartwright@uwf.edu
Website: http://www.floridasbdc.com
Georgia SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
1180 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
Phone: 706-542-2762
Fax: 706-542-7935
E-mail: aadams@georgiasbdc.org
Website: http://www.georgiasbdc.org/
Hawaii SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII – HILO
308 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite 201
Hilo, HI 96720-2960
Phone: 808-974-7515
Fax: 808-974-7683
E-Mail: darryl.mleynek@hawaii-sbdc.org
Website: http://www.hawaii-sbdc.org/
Idaho SBDC
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1655
Phone: 208-426-3799
Fax: 208-426-3877
E-mail: jhogge@boisestate.edu
Website: http://www.idahosbdc.org
Illinois SBDC
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
620 East Adams Streer, 4th Floor
Springfield, IL 62701-1615
Phone: 217-524-5700
Fax: 217-524-0171
E-mail: mark.petrilli@Illinois.gov
Website: http://www.ildceo.net
Indiana SBDC
INDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
One North Capitol, Suite 900
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2043
Phone: 317-234-2086
Fax: 317-232-8872
E-mail: jheinzmann@ilsbdc.org
Website: http://www.isbdc.org
Iowa SBDC
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
340 Gerdin Business Bldg.
Ames, IA 50011-1350
Phone: 515-294-2030
Fax: 515-294-6522
E-mail: jimh@iastate.edu
Website: http://www.iowasbdc.org/
Kansas SBDC
FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY
214 SW Sixth Street, Suite 301
Topeka, KS 66603-3719
Phone: 785-296-6514
Fax: 785-291-3261
E-mail: ksbdc.wkearns@fhsu.edu
Website: http://www.kansas.gov/ksbdc/
Kentucky SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
225 Gatton College of Business Economics Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0034
Phone: 859-257-7668
Fax: 859-323-1907
E-mail: lrnaug0@uky.edu
Website: http://www.ksbdc.org
Louisiana SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA – MONROE
College of Business Administration
700 University Avenue
Monroe, LA 71209-6435
Phone: 318-342-5506
Fax: 318-342-5510
E-mail: mlwillkerson@lsbdc.org
Website: http://www.lsbdc.org/
Maine SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE
96 Falmouth Street P.O. Box 9300
Portland, ME 04103-9300
Phone: 207-780-4857
Fax: 207-780-4810
E-mail: mark.delisle@maine.edu
Website: http://www.mainesbdc.org
Maryland SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
7100 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 401
College Park, MD 20740-3640
Phone: 301-403-8300 x 15
Fax: 301-403-8303
E-mail: rsprow@mdsbdc.umd.edu
Website: http://www.mdsbdc.umd.edu
Massachusetts SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
227 Isenberg School of Management
121 President’s Drive
Amherst, MA 01003-9310
Phone: 413-545-6301
Fax: 413-545-1273
E-mail: gep@msbdc.umass.edu
Website: http://www.msbdc.org/
Michigan SBTDC
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
510 West Fulton Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Phone: 616-331-7480
Fax: 616-331-7385
E-mail: sbtdchg@gvsu.edu
Website: http://www.gvsu.edu
Minnesota SBDC
MINNESOTA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
1st National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite E200
St. Paul, MN 55101-1351
Phone: 651-297-5770
Fax: 651-296-5287
E-mail: michael.myhre@state.mn.us
Website: http://www.mnsbdc.com
Mississippi SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
B-19 Jeanette Phillips Drive
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677-1848
Phone: 662-915-5001
Fax: 662-915-5650
E-mail: wgurley@olemiss.edu
Website: http://www.mssbdc.org
Missouri SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
410 S. Sixth St.
200 Engineering North
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-0344
Fax: 573-884-4297
E-mail: summersm@missouri.edu
Website: http://www.missouribusiness.net
Montana SBDC
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
301 South Park Avenue, Room 116 / P.O. Box 200505
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-841-27468
Fax: 406-841-2728
E-mail: adesch@mt.gov
Website: http://sbdc.mt.gov/
Nebraska SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA – OMAHA
415 Roskens Hall
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68182 – 0248
Phone: 402-554-2521
Fax: 402-554-3473
E-mail: rbernier@unomaha.edu
Website: http://nbdc.unomaha.edu
Nevada SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA – RENO
Reno College of Business
Nazir Ansari Bldg. 032, Rm 4
Reno, NV 89557-0100
Phone: 775-784-1717
Fax: 775-784-4337
E-mail: males@unr.edu
Website: http://www.nsbdc.org
New Hampshire SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Mittemore School of Business and Economics, UNH
110 McConnell Hall
Durham, NH 03824-3593
Phone: 603-862-2200
Fax: 603-862-4876
E-mail: Mary.Collins@unh.edu
Website: http://www.nhsbdc.org
New Jersey SBDC
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
49 Bleeker Street
Newark, NJ 07102-1993
Phone: 973-353-1927
Fax: 973-353-1110
E-mail: bhopper@njsbdc.com
Website: http://www.njsbdc.com/
New Mexico SBDC
SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
6401 Richards Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87508-4887
Phone: 505-428-1362
Fax: 505-428-1469
E-mail: rmiller@sfccnm.edu
Website: http://www.nmsbdc.org/
New York SBDC
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Corporate Woods, 3rd Floor
Albany, NY 12246-0001
Phone: 518-443-5398
Fax: 518-443-5275
E-mail: j.king@nyssbdc.org
Website: http://www.nyssbdc.org/
North Carolina SBDTC
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
5 West Hargett Street, Suite 600
Raleigh, NC 27601-1348
Phone: 919-715-7272
Fax: 919-715-7777
E-mail: sdaugherty@sbtdc.org
Website: http://www.sbtdc.org/
North Dakota SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
1600 E. Century Avenue, Suite 2
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone: 701-328-5375
Fax: 701-328-5381
E-mail: bon@ndsbdc.org
Website: http://www.ndsbdc.org
Ohio SBDC
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT
128th Floor
P.O. Box 1001
Columbus, OH 43216-1001
Phone: 614-466-2711
Fax: 614-466-0829
E-mail: mabraham@odod.state.oh.us
Website: entrepreneurohio.org
Oklahoma SBDC
SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
1405 N 4th Avenue, PMB 2584
Durant, OK 74701-0609
Phone: 580-745-2877 x 2955
Fax: 580-745-7471
E-mail: gpennington@sosu.edu
Website: http://www.osbdc.org
Oregon SBDC
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
99 West Tenth Avenue, Suite 390
Eugene, OR 97401-3015
Phone: 541-463-5250
Fax: 541-345-6006
E-mail: carterb@lanecc.edu
Website: http://www.bizcenter.org
Guam Small Business Development Center
UNIVERSITY OF GUAM
Pacific Islands SBDC
P.O. Box 5014 – U.O.G. Station Mangilao
Mangilao, GU 96923
Phone: 671-735-2590
Fax: 671-734-2002
E-mail: casey@pacificsbdc.com
Website: http://www.pacificsbdc.com
* For Guam time, add 15 hours to EST
Pennsylvania SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
The Wharton School
3733 Spruce Street, Vance Hall, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6374
Phone: 215-898-1219
Fax: 215-573-2135
E-mail: ghiggins@wharton.upenn.edu
Website: http://pasbdc.org
Puerto Rico SBDC
INTER-AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
Union Plaza Building, Suite 1000
416 Ponce de Leon Avenue, 10th Floor
Hato Rey, PR 00918
Phone: 787-763-6811
Fax: 787-763-6875
E-mail: cmarti@prsbdc.org
Website: http://www.prsbdc.org
Rhode Island SBDC
JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY
270 Weybosset Street, 4th Floor
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-598-2704
Fax: 401-598-2722
E-mail: john.cronin@jwu.edu
Website: http://www.risbdc.org
South Carolina SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Darlamoore School of Business
1710 College Street, Hipp Building
Columbia, SC 29208 – 9980
Phone: 803-777-4907
Fax: 803-777-4403
E-mail: lenti@darla.moore.sc.edu
Website: http://www.moore.sc.edu/
South Dakota SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
Beacom School of Business
414 East Clark Street, Patterson Hall
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5287Fax: 605-677-5427
E-mail: jshemmin@usd.edu
Website: http://www.sdsbdc.org/
Tennessee SBDC
MIDDLE TENNESEE STATE UNIVERSITY
615 Memorial Boulevard
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Phone: 615-849-9999
Fax: 615-217-8548
E-mail: pgeho@mail.tsbdc.org
Website: http://www.tsbdc.org
Texas-Houston SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
2302 Fannin, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-752-8444
Fax: 713-756-1500
E-mail: fyoung@uh.edu
Website: http://sbdcnetwork.uh.edu
Texas-North SBDC
DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1402 Corinth Street, Suite 2111
Dallas, TX 75215
Phone: 214-860-5835
Fax: 214-860-5813
E-mail: emk9402@dcccd.edu
Website: http://www.ntsbdc.org
Texas-NW SBDC
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
2579 South Loop 289, Suite 114
Lubbock, TX 79423-1637
Phone: 806-745-3973
Fax: 806-745-6207
E-mail: c.bean@nwtsbdc.org
Website: http://www.nwtsbdc.org
Texas-South-West Texas Border SBDC Network
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – SAN ANTONIO
501 West Durango Boulevard
San Antonio, TX 78207-4415
Phone: 210-458-2450
Fax: 210-458-2425
E-mail: ied@utsa.edu
Website: http://www.txsbdc.org
Utah SBDC
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
9750 South 300 West – LHM
Salt Lake City, UT 84070
Phone: 801-957-3481
E-mail: Greg.Panichello@slcc.edu
Website: http://www.utahsbdc.org/
VERMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE
PO Box 188, 1 Main Street
Randolph Center, VT 05061-0188
Phone: 802-728-9101
Fax: 802-728-3026
E-mail: lquillen@vtsbdc.org
Website: http://www.vtsbdc.org
Virgin Islands SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
8000 Nisky Center, Suite 720
Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas, VI 00802-5804
Phone: 340-776-3206
Fax: 340-775-3756
E-mail: ldottin@uvi.edu
Website: http://sbdcvi.org/
Virginia SBDC
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Mason Enterprise Center
4031 University Drive, Suite 200
Fairfax, VA 22030-3409
Phone: 703-277-7727
Fax: 703-352-8518
E-mail: jkeenan@gmu.edu
Website: http://www.virginiasbdc.org
Washington SBDC
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
534 E. Spokane Falls Blvd.
P.O. Box 1495
Spokane, WA 99210-1495
Phone: 509-358-7765
Fax: 509-358-7764
E-mail: barogers@wsu.edu
Website: http://www.wsbdc.org
West Virginia SBDC
WEST VIRGINIA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: 304-558-2960
Fax: 304-558-0127
E-mail: mgamble@wvsbdc.org
Website: http://www.sbdcwv.org/
Wisconsin SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
432 North Lake Street, Room 423
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-7794
Fax: 608-263-7830
E-mail: debra.malewicki@uwex.edu
Website: http://www.wisconsinsbdc.org
Wyoming SBDC
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E. University, Dept. 3922
Laramie, WY 82979
Phone: 307-766-3505
Fax: 307-766-3406
E-mail: DDW@uwyo.edu
Website: http://www.uwyo.edu/sbdc
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Ezine Directories
Posted on03. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Ezine Directories
Kickstart your newsletter and add your Ezine to the best Ezine directories on the web! Ezine directories are a great place to gain more subscribers, sell more products, and get more publicity. Submit your Ezine to the following directories and grow your mailing list today.
Popular Ezine Directories
http://www.bestezines.com/ http://www.ezinehub.com/ http://www.ezinefinder.com/ http://www.thelistoflists.com/ http://www.newlist.com/ http://www.ezinedir.com/ http://www.ezinearticledirectory.com/ http://www.goezines.com/ http://www.ezinesarticle.com/ http://www.amazines.com/
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Article Network
Posted on03. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Article Network
Posting a useful article to an article network can have a whirlwind effect on website traffic and search engine ranking. Article networks allow entrepreneurs to post articles for others to use free of charge so long as they keep the article in its original form including the “resource box” at the bottom. The resource box is your place to include a live link pointing to your website. When people use your article in their newsletter or on their website not only will you get extra traffic from the links in the resource box, you will also get valuable back-links improving your search engine ranking.
Using an article network is a win-win situation for all involved. Just remember to always use quality content and plenty of relevant keywords. When writing an article for an article network it is best to use a two-step approach as an incentive for the reader to click the provided link. Don’t give them all the information at once, make them click through to your website to find the goodies. As you can see article networks can be a great resource for entrepreneurs and should be used on a regular basis.
Popular Article Networks
http://www.goarticles.com/ http://www.ezinearticles.com/ http://www.isnare.com/ http://www.articletrader.com/ http://www.submityourarticle.com/ http://www.earticles.com/ http://www.searchwarp.com/ http://www.articlealley.com/ http://www.knol.google.com/ http://www.tumblr.com/ http://www.associatedcontent.com/ http://www.articlesbase.com/ http://www.ideamarketers.com/ http://www.buzzle.com/ http://www.articledashboard.com/
Article Spinners
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Press Release Distribution Services
Posted on02. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Press Release Distribution Services
Syndicate your press release to thousands of journalists with the push of a button. Press release distribution services make it possible to spread the word very quickly, allowing you to keep society up to date on recent company developments. Press release distribution services create an opportunity to get picked up by some of the countries most influential personalities which could create mass exposure and heavy demand for your product or service. Even if your press release does not bring your company national coverage, you will still enjoy the search engine optimization benefits of added backlinks which should help your website rank higher on Google.
Remember; grab the readers attention, feed their interest, and create a desire to act. Explain who, what, when, where, why. Add pictures, and make sure you use proper keywords.
Popular Press Release Distribution Services
http://www.prweb.com/ http://www.prnewswire.com/ http://www.businesswire.com/ http://www.marketwire.com/ http://massmediadistribution.com/ http://www.pressrelease365.com/ http://www.xpresspress.com/ http://www.pressflash.com/ http://www.247pressrelease.com/ http://www.emailwire.com/
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Affiliate Program Directory
Posted on02. Dec, 2009 by larspk.
Affiliate Program Directory
Affiliate program directories are a great place to announce new affiliate programs, promote existing programs, or find new affiliate programs to promote. Essentially, an affiliate program directory categorizes and rates affiliate programs making it easy for entrepreneurs to find and select an affiliate program that works within their scope of business. Affiliate program directories include all affiliate networks and self hosted programs alike. Check out the affiliate program directories below and make some money!
Popular Affiliate Program Directories
http://www.affiliatescout.com/ http://www.affiliateprograms.com/ http://www.affiliateseeking.com/ http://www.associateprograms.com/ http://www.jamaffiliates.com/ http://www.affiliateranker.com/ http://www.affiliatebase.com/ http://www.revboard.com/
Affiliate Program Announcement
http://www.affiliateannouncement.com/
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Website Autoresponder
Posted on30. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Website Autoresponder 
Using a website autoresponder is a “new school” method of direct marketing where potential customers “opt in” to a mailing list usually consisting of a newsletter, e-zine, special offers, etc. Website autoresponders provide an easy way to keep in touch with customers; simply program your follow up emails to be delivered at specific intervals and let the website autoresponder do the rest. Periodic emails will allow your brand to be recognized as a top choice throughout the customer purchase decision process.
Experts agree that implementing a website autoresponder is an essential task for any entrepreneur interested in making money online. Customers who “opt in” to your mailing list are anxious to hear from you and more likely to open your email and perform the desired action.
Use a hosted service – Protect against being labeled as spam. Offer an incentive – Free e-book, membership, raffle, etc. Useful content – Newsletters/articles must be useful and entertaining.
Popular Website Autoresponders
http://www.awebber.com http://www.icontact.com http://www.verticalresponse.com/ http://www.infusionsoft.com http://www.ratepoint.com/ http://www.lyris.com http://www.instantservice.com
Large File Transportation
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Affiliate Program Software
Posted on28. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Best Affiliate Program Software
If you would like to host your own affiliate program without the added expense of processing fees, affiliate program software is for you. To track sales made by affiliates, affiliate program software must be installed on your server. There are no pre-requisites to use affiliate program software as opposed to many affiliate networks that require certain levels of traffic and sales to participate. Affiliate program software has the potential to generate huge revenues for your company, allowing a quality product to make literally thousands over night.
Once the affiliate program software is up and running it is up to you to maintain the program; you will implement links campaigns, promotions, bonus incentives, take care of customer service issues, and pay affiliates in a timely manner for there profit/lead generating efforts.
Popular Affiliate Program Software
http://www.affiliatesoftware.net/ http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/
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Affiliate Networks
Posted on25. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Best Affiliate Networks![iStock_000005417487XSmall[1]](http://entrepreneurfreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/iStock_000005417487XSmall1-300x199.jpg "iStock_000005417487XSmall[1]")
Affiliate networks host affiliate programs designed to allow affiliates the opportunity to promote third party goods and services. Affiliates are paid per-sale, per-click, or per-lead. Affiliate networks offer many affiliate programs and make operations easy for vendors and publishers alike. The advantage of affiliate networks from a publishers perspective is the certainty of payment and the vast assortment of affiliate programs to choose from. Publishers sign onto their favorite affiliate network, scroll through the many available options, and simply click on the affiliate program right for them. Vendors enjoy the affiliate networks large base of publishers and hassle free services.
Popular Affiliate Networks
https://www.cj.com/ http://www.clickbank.com/ http://www.shareasale.com/ http://www.linkshare.com/ http://www.chitika.com/ http://www.affiliatefuel.com/ http://www.paydotcom.net/ http://www.plimus.com http://www.pepperjamnetwork.com/
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Link Portal
Posted on24. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Best Link Portals
Link portals are easy to use, intuitive, and make a good choice for websites that are composed of many links. Savvy entrepreneurs use link portals to streamline affiliate programs and create useful directories. If link portals interest you; check out the link portals listed below and choose the best link portal for your business.
Popular link portals
http://dynaportal.com/ http://gonafish.com/
As an alternative you could easily use a Content Management System
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Graphic Design Software/Services
Posted on22. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Graphic Design Software/Services
Add sizzle to your site with professional quality images, logos, and style. Use graphic design software/services and position your company as a “brand to trust.” Touch your customers inner feelings and develop a “sticky” website that is equally as fun to visit as it is to look at. There are many graphic design software/services to choose from. Below are the most popular choices currently available.
Popular Graphic Design Software/Services
http://www.serif.com http://www.logomaker.com http://www.logoworks.com http://www.xara.com/us/ http://www.gimp.org/ http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/ http://www.adobe.com/ http://www.aaalogo.com/ http://www.logoyes.com/
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Membership Website Software
Posted on21. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Membership Website Software
Adding membership website software to your website creates an easy way to monetize your business. Companies using membership website software usually ask their members to pay a monthly or annual fee to access special content, limited offers, and features not typically available to the public. Membership site software can be used with many business models; including but not limited to, news/broadcast companies, communities, and download sites like Napster. In addition to its revenue generating qualities, membership website software also provides an effective way of gathering email addresses for lucrative back end sales.
Popular Membership Website Software
http://www.optimizepress.com/ http://www.amember.com/ http://www.easymemberpro.com/ http://www.memberstar.com/ http://www.mcp4.com/ http://www.interlogy.com/ http://www.membergate.com/
Also many of the Best Content Management Systems contain membership website software.
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Social Network Software
Posted on21. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Social Network Software
Building a social network on your website adds customer value, the ability to easily and effectively reach your target market, and provides a unique atmosphere for like minded individuals to meet and interact. Social network software allows this phenomenon to take place. Social networks have the ability to grow very rapidly as users encourage others to become members of the community. Social networks create a “sticky,” entertaining place to be, and should be a top consideration of any entrepreneur designing a website or developing a brand.
Popular Social Network Software
http://www.ning.com/ http://www.neetz.com/ http://www.kickapps.com/ http://www.onesite.com/ http://www.groupsite.com/
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Website Script
Posted on14. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Website Script
Useful applications and dynamic content run on special website script that is installed to your server. Forums, shopping carts, analytics, and rate and review software are all examples of popular website script used to make average websites amazing. You can code it yourself or purchase the website script you need to bring that extra sizzle to your site.
PHP and Perl are the most common programming languages for Unix/Linux servers. Active server pages, otherwise known as ASP are most popular for those using a windows server. Either way you go, adding website script will enhance your visitors experience, allowing them to interact on a deeper level bringing more value to your website.
Useful Website Script Resources
http://www.hotscripts.com/ http://www.bignosebird.com/ http://www.scriptsearch.com/ http://www.cgiconnection.com/ http://cgi.resourceindex.com/
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Best CMS
Posted on12. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Choose the right CMS for you!
Entrepreneurs who would like to control the content of their website but lack the skills necessary to design and load pages using an HTML editor can opt to use a content management system, otherwise known as CMS. Content Management Systems have a front end for website viewers and a back end for administrative purposes/changes. Content Management Systems are capable of handling large amounts of information without the need to hire a programmer to operate it. Most entrepreneurs willing to take the time necessary to learn the operations of a CMS will be able to be up and running in no time. Content Management Systems work well for portals, blogs, and news sites were content changes frequently.
Best Content Management Systems
http://www.mamboserver.com/ http://www.joomla.org/ http://www.xoops.org/ http://www.typolight.org/ http://drupal.org/
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Best Shopping Cart Products
Posted on12. Nov, 2009 by larspk.
Shopping Cart Products
Entrepreneurs looking to open an online retail business will need a good shopping cart product to collect orders for checkout. There are a variety of shopping cart products to choose from depending on your particular business needs. All shopping cart products are a little different; so take your time and choose the best shopping cart product for you. Many of the best website hosting companies offer free shopping carts. EntrepreneurFreak.com uses LunarPages.com as our preferred hosting company.
Find the Best shopping Cart Products
http://www.bigcommerce.com/ http://www.networksolutions.com/ http://www.godaddy.com/ http://www.lunarpages.com/ http://www.zencart.com/ http://www.oscommerce.com/ http://www.fishcart.org/ http://www.1shoppingcart.com/
Complete Website Solutions with Payment Processing
http://www.smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ http://www.pages.ebay.com/storefronts/
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Best Website Hosting
Posted on31. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
Best Website Hosting
Choosing the best website hosting company is a difficult yet essential task successful entrepreneurs encounter. With so many options, and so much competition, where is one to start? Below is a list of important features your web host should include in their hosting package. I have also noted additional things to consider when choosing the best website hosting company for your business.
Essential features found in the best website hosting packages
No less than 10 GB monthly transfer - 50 MB of server space – SSI support - Front page extentions- Compatible with HTML editing software - Unlimited accounts and email forwarding - Site wide statistics - FTP access to server - Easy to use c-panel.
Important attributes found in the best website hosting packages
99.9% uptime - Customer Support - Fast connections - Protected servers - Shopping cart software - CGI bin for dynamic scripts - No limit on daily trasfers - Scalable as needed - Free upgrades - Free setup.
EntrepreneurFreak.com Approved Hosting Companies
http://www.order.1and1.com/ http://www.lunarpages.com/ http://www.fatcow.com/ http://www.networksolutions.com/ http://www.godaddy.com/ http://www.justhost.com/ http://www.dotster.com/ http://www.simplyhost.com/ http://www.rackspace.com/
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Website Domain Name
Posted on22. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
Website Domain Name 
Choosing a website domain name is a very important task for all entrepreneurs and should take special consideration. Your website domain name will represent your company and should be placed on virtually all promotions and literature regarding your business. While drafting a website domain name consider your target market, the industry, and how you would like to present your brand. Whatever you do, don’t compromise on a name that you don’t believe in. Be proud of your yourself, your company, and your new website domain name.
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Short website domain names are usually best. The less a customer has to remember to arrive at your website the better. Long, hyphenated names are too confusing for much of the general public and prove inefficient when spread by word of mouth.
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Standard spelling is the best way to go. If it’s hard to read, it is even harder to remember. You would be wise to not use funky spelling when drafting your new website domain name. If the domain you really want is already taken, choose a different name or add a descriptive ending to make it your own. The last thing you want to do is send prospective customers to your competition.
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Be descriptive. Give web surfers an idea of what your site is about. Entrepreneurfreak.com is better than ef.com. Furthermore, use keywords in your website domain name. It is not proven that this will help your search rankings, but it sure can’t hurt.
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Separate yourself from your competition and be unique. Think outside of the box and come up with something spectacular! This way customers will not mistake another website for yours and your brand will be easily remembered. You can combine words together or come up with new words by using special tones and parts of speech that stimulate feeling. Just remember, never compromise on what you believe in and don’t stop thinking until you have found just the right website domain name for your business.
After you have decided on a website domain name perform a trademark search at http://www.uspto.gov/ to make sure it is available for use. domain name.
Popular Website Domain Name Services
http://www.godaddy.com/ http://www.networksolutions.com/ http://www.dotster.com/
Expired Domain Names
http://www.pool.com/ http://www.snapnames.com/ http://www.deleteddomains.com/
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Merchant Account Services
Posted on22. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
Merchant Account Services 
Merchant account services provide a link between your website and your bank account. Merchant account services are necessary for modern entrepreneurs as most purchases are made with a credit or debit card. Sense you are most likely not in the business of turning down money; it is important to do your homework. Take a hard look at the merchant account services listed below, and choose the merchant account right for you.
EntrepreneurFreak.com has worked very hard to select the top merchant account service providers available. All merchant account providers mentioned have a proven track record and provide excellent customer service including technical support. All companies listed are of great value and will help streamline your profit generating efforts.
Trusted Merchant Account Providers
Free merchant accounts Merchant Account Express provides nationwide credit card acceptance, and offers a large selection of terminals and software for processing.
Since 1998, Merchant Warehouse® has maintained a distinguished reputation as one of the largest, most reputable merchant service providers in the payment card industry. Merchant Warehouse has enabled over 50,000 businesses nationwide to accept electronic card payments by offering the best deals on merchant processing solutions and by providing unrivaled service and support.
Merchant Warehouse is Your One-Stop-Shop for:
- Discounted Credit Card Processing Services & Equipment
- Customized Business Processing Solutions
- Competitive Merchant Account Pricing & Value-Added Programs
- Reliable, Accessible, & Knowledgeable Support Teams
Easy Payment Processing
https://www.paypal.com/ http://www.checkout.google.com/
More Recommendations for Payment Processing
http://www.transfirst.com/ http://www.chasepaymentech.com/
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New Business Grants
Posted on22. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
New Business Grants
New business grants are available to entrepreneurs who are able to use the grant money for the intended purpose. Grants are an incentive to encourage entrepreneurs to engage in specific types of business. Typically, new business grants are offered for research and environmental purposes. In other words, if your business does not make the world a better place from a hippies perspective the chances are you will not be getting grant money anytime soon. Although this may be true, it is always best to check for new business grants anyway. If you find a grant that ties into your primary business you should consider applying for the grant. A lot of other entrepreneurs will be applying for the same grant so make sure you take the time to make your application to stand out from the crowd.
Once you receive your new business grant stay true to your promise and use the money the way it was intended. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain. Get started today and apply for your new business grant!
Find Grant opportunities, Search for Grant Opportunities , Apply for Grants @ www.grants.gov
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Copyright Protection
Posted on21. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
Copyright Protection 
“Leverage Your Creativity”
Copyright protection allows the original works of an author/entrepreneur to be protected from unauthorized use. Interestingly enough, the word copyright means, the “right to copy.” Accordingly, copyright protection grants the author/entrepreneur of original works the exclusive right to use such works and the exclusive right to authorize permission to use material currently under copyright protection.
Common law copyright protection is automatically assigned to both published and unpublished original works. This means new creative works do not technically have to be registered with the federal government to have copyright protection. For this reason it is safe to say virtually all new literary works, music, pictures, drawings, movies, sculptors, architecture , and graphics have copyright protection in place and may not be used without the authors consent. This also means, as an entrepreneur, all your fresh content is instantly copyright protected!
Entrepreneurs looking to run a successful business will go the extra mile and secure registered copyright protection by registering with the federal government. This will ensure that your work is protected by the furthest extent possible and doubles as a great deterrent to scammers, con artists, competitors, and other would-be bad fellows looking to cash in on your hard work.
Benefits of registering for copyright protection:
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Constructive notice to the public of the registrants claim of copyright.
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Registration is necessary before an infringement suit may be filed in the court of law.
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If registration occurs within 3 months from publication, or before an infringement, statutory damages and attorney fees will be paid to the rightful owner of the copyright in question. Furthermore, infringement is a criminal offence and carries additional penalties.
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Registered copyright protection grants the owner the opportunity to file with the United States Customs and Border Protection in efforts to stop any infringing copies from entering the nation.
Here are two more reasons to register your copyright:
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Copyright protection is cheap
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Copyright protection is easy
Steps to register your copyright
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Go to http://www.loc.gov/
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Click “Publications.”
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Click “Copyright Office.”
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Click “Forms.”
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Read the provided tutorials
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Click the button labeled Electronic Copyright Office
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Complete the application
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Upload a copy of your work
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Pay the low filing fee
Need Help? Visit LegalZoom.com Legal Documents at Lawyer-Free Pricing
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Online Census
Posted on20. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
How to use the online census
The online census is a wonderful place for entrepreneurs to round up valuable statistics to improve their existing business and recognize new business opportunities. Common uses of the online census include; industry study, market analysis, investment evaluation, and public demographic examination. The online census can help determine who your target market is and where to find your target customer. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to use the free, powerful, and effective tools the online census has to offer. Doing so will give your company the advantage it needs to become an industry leader.
Online Census Uses
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Analyze your competition
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Gauge market share
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Detect business markets
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Establish distribution channels
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Determine proper site location
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Set territories and sales quotas
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Support business proposals and presentations
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Assess fresh business opportunities
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Research cause and effect relationships
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Examine local business needs
Vist the Online Census at http://www.census.gov/ and use the Data Tools to your advantage!
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Business Structure
Posted on20. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
Business Structure 
All entrepreneurs earning a taxable income must select a business structure and register their business and with the state. Registering your business is mandatory; however, entrepreneurs have a few options when it comes to the organizational structure of which the business operates. Choosing the right business structure is a very important decision that can have a large impact on how much money a company retains, how much risk owners are personally liable for, and how the business operates on a day to day basis. Take a moment and analyze your company. Are you looking to raise capitol from investors, have total control of management, limit personal liability, or share profits? Are you forming this business structure with a tight budget? Then, determine what it is going to take to launch your new business, how your business will be run, and where you see your business headed in years to come. Review the options below and choose a business structure that is best for you.
Sole Proprietor
The most common form of business and the easiest to operate. A sole proprietor business structure is fully owned by one individual or married couple. The sole proprietor has complete control over all management issues and all other business decisions. Sole Proprietorships are not taxed as a separate entity; all taxes are passed to the individual. A sole proprietor is responsible for all debts made by the company and personally liable for anything that may occur.
General Partnership
General partnerships consist of 2 or more people who agree to donate their time, money, or skills for ownership in the business. This business structure is relatively easy to set up; all terms of management, operations, and profit sharing are covered in the partnership agreement. Partners usually have an equal stake in profits and losses as well as unlimited personal liability for all debts of the company. A general partnership is not taxed, all taxes flow through to the individual. Losses may be deducted against other sources of incomes.
LLC Companies
LLC Companies have become very popular in recent years due to their unique business structure. LLC Companies are formed by having members fill out the articles of organization and filing with the state. Members of an llc company can consist of one persons including entities. All members have management rights unless otherwise stated in the articles of organization. Members of an llc company enjoy the benefit of limited personal liability for company debts. Taxes are passed through to the individual unless the llc decides to be taxed as a corporation. This business structure takes a bit more effort to set up then a sole proprietor or partnership but is well worth it. Example, if somebody walked into your restaurant; slipped, tripped, and died (or seriously injured), you may have a heavy lawsuit on your hands. If you owned an llc company the most you could loose is the amount invested within your company. You get to keep your house, boat, planes……..well you get the picture. Limited liability is a good thing.
C Corporation
The C Corporation is most suitable for large companies with high revenues. This business structure is appealing for investors and banks; please consider this if you are looking for outside money. Shareholders have limited personal liability up to the amount of money they have invested with the company. A C Corporation is taxed initially as a separate entity then again as dividends are paid to the shareholders. This is known as double taxation. Double taxation is an expensive option for an entrepreneur on a shoe string budget who routinely pays out salaries and dividends to pay for things like their mortgage. However, a matured company with high revenues can retain money within the company and save on taxes. Retained earnings are taxed at a lower rate then if they were directly passed through to the individual or subject to double taxation. This business structure is subject to many operational requirements, procedures, and hierarchies. It is essential that companies follow the operational guidelines of a C Corporation to be legally viewed as one.
Need help filing your business? LegalZoom provides quality legal documents online!
Incorporate or Form an LLC – Establish credibility with prospects, customers, vendors, and lenders
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Registered Trademark vs. TM
Posted on19. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
Registered Trademark vs. Trademark
“Protect Your Brand”
Smart entrepreneurs use a federally registered trademark to protect their brand identity from unauthorized use. A registered trademark offers maximum protection on a national scale and serves as a cornerstone for building brand equity. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design, or any combination thereof that clearly identifies and distinguishes the source of one parties goods from other competing parties goods. A service mark is another type of mark distinguishing one parties services from other competing parties services. A registered trademark encompasses both goods and services.
Entrepreneurs have the option of registering a character mark or a special form mark. Character marks can only be composed of words, letters and numbers and offer the greatest depth of protection for your brand name. A special form mark, commonly called a design plus words mark, should be used for any stylized piece you are wishing to protect such as a logo. Be aware that special form marks protect only the exact mark that is registered. Any deviation from the original registered trademark will loose its enforceability. This is why it is commonly recommended that entrepreneurs register a character mark for words and a special form mark for design related components; this way your brand name is always protected under law.
Reasons to apply for a registered trademark:
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Owning a registered trademark is the only way for an entrepreneur to gain the exclusive right to use their mark in all states and should be an essential task for any serious entrepreneur dealing in intrastate commerce.
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Registered trademarks provide notice to the public regarding ownership so there is no confusion as to what marks are registered and what marks may still be available for use in commerce.
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Sinse this is the case; federal courts rule in favor of the owner of a registered trademark.
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After a registered trademark is issued the owner can then file with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to put an end to fraudulent importation of knock off goods.
Steps to successfully register a trademark:
Research
1. Define the product class you wish to trademark.
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You can find this info @ http://www.uspto.gov
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Perform a basic search for similar marks Using TESS.
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Alternately use a service like http://www.mrtrademark.com/
2. Submit proposed mark
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Look for similar marks in the same class
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If there are no confusingly similar marks within the same class you have passed the first hurdle; you may proceed to step 3.
3. Check for state registered filings with each Secretary of State Office.
Click here for links to each Secretary of State.
- If there are no confusingly similar marks within the same class you have passed the second hurdle; you may proceed to step 4.
4. Search for “common law” use of proposed trademark.
- There is no exact science to this step, but you want to be as thorough as possible.
- Search trade directories, search engines, newspapers , magazines, etc.
- If no similar marks have shown up so far it should be safe to use in commerce.
Claim your mark
5. Use the TM or SM symbol next to your mark to acquire common law trademark rights
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TM for products
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SM for services
6. Use mark with trademark symbol in ordinary course of trade.
- This is referred to as “first use.”
7. Use mark in ordinary course of trade resulting in federally regulated commerce.
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This is referred to as “first use in commerce.
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Marks must be used in commerce to apply for a registered trademark.
Apply for a registered trademark
8. Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office and apply for a registered trademark.
- Go to http://uspto.gov/
- Click trademarks – File on line forms
- Under Forms read TEAS Tutorial & Electronic filing tips
- Under Forms click “File new application”
- Choose “Trademark/Servicemark application, Principal Register”
- Unless you are an attorney choose the “TEAS Form” (it is easier to use)
- Follow directions and enter correct information.
- If the proposed mark is consists of words only a character mark will give the broadest protection. For instance registering your brand name as a character mark allows you the flexibility to use your mark in different designs without loosing trademark protection.
- If the proposed mark is a logo, has a specific design, or uses color it is required to submit a drawing along with the application for a registered trademark.
9. Submit application with proper payment, cross your figures, and wait patiently.
10. Once you receive your Certificate of Registration you may now use the “R” symbol.
Congratulations!
You now have a registered trademark.
Now get out there and make some money!
Need Help? Visit LegalZoom.com File Your Trademark Online in 3 Easy Steps
Get a full trademark search for $99 at http://www.mrtrademark.com/
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What is a Patent / How to Patent
Posted on19. Oct, 2009 by larspk.
What is a Patent / How to Patent![iStock_000009758147XSmall[1]](http://entrepreneurfreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/iStock_000009758147XSmall11.jpg "iStock_000009758147XSmall[1]")
Before I explain how to patent your next word changing, money making invention it is important to understand what a patent is, what types of patents are available, and what things to consider before applying for a patent.
What is a Patent?
A patent is a property right given to the originator of a new invention, process, or design. New patents are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Patent ownership grants the exclusive right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention in the United States. Hence, inventors often seek patent ownership to prevent others from stealing what they have worked so hard to produce. Patents promote, among other things; research and development, advanced technology, health care, and a better way of living. It is up to the owner of a patent to watch for infringement. Civil suits may be filed to award the owner damages related to the infringement.
Types of Patents
The USPTO offers three patents:
- Utility Patent – Available to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or compositions of matters, or any new useful improvement thereof. Utility patents last 20 years form the date of filing.
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Design Patent – May be granted to anyone who invents a new original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. Design patents last 20 years from the date of filing.
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Plant Patent – May be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant. Plant patents last 14 years from the date of filing.
Questions to ask yourself
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Do I have enough money to obtain a patent?
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An average patent will cost between $10,000 and $30,000.
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Am I willing to take the time necessary to obtain a patent?
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Patents are not issued very fast, the approval process can take 1 to 2 years from the original application filing date.
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Is my invention feasible?
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Determine if the marketplace has a need for your new invention, how much it will cost, and forecast earnings from this information.
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Should I consider a Provisional Patent?
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Provisional patents are a cheap and easy way to temporarily protect your invention for a period of 12 months. Generally people apply for a provisional patent to test the marketplace before going through the burden of a formal patent application. Provisional Patents cost $220.
How to patent your invention
If your business model is feasible and you have both the time and money to finish the application process it is now time to take the next step and patent your invention!
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Patent search – Before you apply for a patent it is a good idea to conduct a thorough patent search. Performing a patent search will uncover any existing patents so you do not infringe upon them. Visit www.uspto.govand perform a broad search in multiple categories slowly narrowing your description. If you find there are no pre-existing patents filed you have successfully finished the first step. At this point it is highly recommended that you hire an attorney to perform a professional patent search this costs about $600 and will assure you that indeed nobody has filed a patent that you would otherwise be infringing upon.
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Description – A written description must be submitted. The description should describe in detail how proposed invention was made and how it will be used.
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Drawing – An accurate drawing must be submitted in the application. A detailed description of the features in the drawing are also required.
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Claims – A formal claim as to exactly what it is that you are patenting is essential. Be very careful what you are claiming. Claim the wrong thing and your patent may be unenforceable. Again, it is highly recommended that you consult with a lawyer.
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File – Submit your fees and file your application.
Need Help? Visit LegalZoom.com File Your Provisional Patent in 3 Easy Steps
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