Hallmark Cards, the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the U.S., has a hidden lesson for entrepreneurs in their newest line of cards – be compassionate. If you haven’t heard, they recently released a new line of unemployment-related greeting cards due to reportedly high demand. Hallmark has provided a way for even the most socially awkward person to express his or her dismay at the layoffs of their closest friends and family. Sorry you lost the primary source of your income during an unfortunate down cycle of the economy, but here is a three dollar card to remind you that I still have...


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It’s no secret that social media is the best way to attain free or low-cost advertising and market your business. Not only can you get your brand out there but you’re also creating and nurturing a relationship with your customers and supporters. By developing a Facebook fan page, a Twitter handler and a company blog you get rid of the idea that all you are is a rigid corporation - there are indeed people behind the figure-head. With every status update, tweet, and post your business becomes more and more human, and will even start to develop a personality. Once you develop a consistent...


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If you've built a large team or employ a few others, then you've likely heard an obnoxious dog barking ringtone one too many times, observed someone texting on their phone for lengthy periods of time, or had a team member interrupt a conversation to take a personal call. Admittedly, we are all guilty of letting technology rule our lives to some point or another. Some sleep with their blackberry on their pillow, others have a bluetooth connected to their ear every second of the day. Even at work, when we should be focused, cell phones provide an uninhibited and unmonitored escape to our social...


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Mike Butcher, the Editor of TechCrunch Europe and co-founder of TechHub, had it right when he declared blogging to be “a conversation, not a code.” Mike understands that blogging is an essential ingredient for the success of businesses, big and small. It’s also important for up-and-coming journalists, artists, photographers, and virtually all industry newcomers to embrace the medium and carve out a content platform of their own. If you blog you know the rules change constantly. No one is ever truly a blogging expert. Practically every week there’s a blog new to the scene. Companies that...


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As a young, fabulous and self-employed entrepreneur, it's likely that you maintain a company blog. And if you don’t, you should! Blogs are great for increasing traffic to your site, as long as what you write is interesting and not just blatant advertisements posted over and over and over again. However, blogs in general present unique challenges to consistently generate unique and engaging content. It should look good and have visual appeal. Sadly, most blogs are constrained by the design of the site or the software used to produce content. But you can boost your blog from blasé to brilliant...


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Does the thought of standing in front of an intimate crowd of half a dozen people or several hundred turn you cold? When your next meeting is around the corner how do you generally prepare? Possibly you’ll whip up a PowerPoint complete with colorful slides, fun calligraphy, and the ever-nifty slide transitions? Then you think, “This PowerPoint will be different, it will certainly blow minds and knock socks off!” But, once you finish the presentation in retrospect it looks pretty familiar to your last five, doesn’t it?  The same presentation with the same old fumbling through your speech,...


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Ever wondered why some preexisting businesses lack a fundamental web presence? For Gen Y entrepreneurs, social media has never been something to debate over— let’s face it you are simply a product of the movement. Loud, colorful television commercials are no longer the route to go for advertising—we skip those with TIVO anyway.  To have a relevant business you need to take advantage of four essential tools to build a business that engages, inspires and connects. Here are a few checkpoints to get started. The Website Having the option to offer your product or service online is so much...


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