As with any form of business, even the logo design business, an essential ingredient for success in online business is passion. I am not talking about a passion to make money – no one starts a business wanting to fail. What you need is a passion for the type of business you will be doing. Your online business is you and your computer. If you don’t love your work, it will become a drudgery and highly likely to be unsuccessful. A look at the basic types of online business will help you decide where you want to be.

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Here’s how to use Google for rough market research. If I Google “How to start a business” and I get 281,000 results, I know I am in a hot area. Now, I’m certainly not going to start clicking through 281,000 responses, but, I’ve certainly learned that lots of people have advice, programs, products and services that cater to new businesses. It’s a rough measuring tool, but it’s also fast and free.

You can use Google for rough market research about your new company. Right off the bat, Google the company name you are considering… If you get no results, that’s pretty golden (but still NO guarantee, you must search the USPTO for definitive results!) Google the URL you want. That’s the fastest way to know if it’s available.

eHow is a site I subscribe to, therefore trust and endorse for finding out how to start a business, At eHow, you’ll find a large number of business-related articles. I’ve chosen two samples to give you a taste. One is a laundry list of steps, the other is a good roundup of grassroots marketing tactics.

The point is to explore eHow to find out how to do any number of things that interest you. I subscribe, and find I am often entertained, and frequently educated by the daily delivery.

Because your Website is most often the first point of contact for your customers, it must be professional-looking and search engine friendly. While there are many ways to improve the design of your site, it is important to always monitor the effectiveness of your search engine optimization (SEO) activities.

If you’re just starting your online business and don’t have much money to burn, one of the resources you can use is Website Grader - a free SEO tool designed for entrepreneurs that incorporates things like webite traffic, SEO, social popularity and other technical factors to come up with an overall rating. Moreover, it offers free basic advice to improve your site.

Of course there are many freebies available online like the SEO Company’s 136 free SEO tools and Aarol Wall’s SEO book. Website Grader is quite different because it combines all information in just one place. It may not be as comprehensive as other free tools but it can help you see the big picture easily and the problem areas you need to work on.

You simply need to provide your URL, related keywords describing your site, competitors, and your e-mail address so it can send to you the final report.

Note: This free tool is owned by Hubspot, an inbound marketing system company helping small businesses to get found on the Internet. Naturally, this company will encourage you to avail their services to get comprehensive consultation.

Via Duct Tape Marketing Blog

As the web becomes more and more a part of both our personal and business lives, business people and marketing professionals have turned towards web surveys to do research, plan projects, get feedback and develop new products and services. The emergence of excellent web survey applications, complete with wizards to make creation fast and simple, templates to ensure attractive designs, and full suites of reports and statistical analysis, make this method of interacting with your customers very attractive and extremely cost effective. However, as with all computer applications, the old adage “garbage in, garbage out” applies to surveys as well - if you do not know how to design an effective survey, the results will leave much to be desired.

Introductions, first

Whether on the first page of the survey, or in the cover letter inviting people to respond, it is important that you introduce the theme and purpose of the survey. This establishes in advance what types of questions you will be asking and puts the audience in the right frame of mind for answering the survey. Additionally, it helps to tell them why they were chosen, to establish understanding and trust, and assure that their input will be confidential, and personal information will not be shared.

Organize Yourself

It is important that the questions you ask fit within the theme and purpose set down in the introduction. Create an outline, when you are first planning your survey, and then subgroup the questions into logical categories.

First think about what information you want to know, and develop your questions from that. Experiment with different groupings, until each question flows from the previous, in logical order.

Give careful thought to how much you need each question - the fewer the better, because people generally do not have the time or inclination to answer long questionnaires.

Respect your Respondents

Be careful not to use jargon and buzzwords, but also avoid being too simplistic by knowing your survey audience and finding the appropriate balance. Remember that the respondent is taking time out of busy day to help you. Tell them in the introduction approximately how long it might take to complete, and let them know, as they go, how far along they are.

Carefully Craft Questions

When surveys are delivered by phone, trained surveyors usually conduct them and the respondent can get clarification without being led towards a particular answer. With self-administered surveys on the web, every question must be completely clear and understandable. Keep each question as short as possible, without losing meaning, and avoid jargon unless you are sure your audience understands it.

Be careful to ask only one thing at a time. If you have to ask additional questions on the same topic, do it as separate questions to avoid getting muddled responses. Be aware of inserting your own biases and intentions into the question, and try to keep questions neutral so that a “right answer” is not evident. The idea is to get truthful answers which go straight to the heart of the subject, and the simplest variations in a question can make this happen, or not.

Know Your Type

We are all familiar with the most common types of survey question formats - text, check boxes, yes/no, range responses - but there is a real science to knowing which type to use with which question to get the best results. For example:

* When using multiple choice answers to jog the respondent’s memory, will it create bias towards the available choices? Is that okay?
* It might seem easiest to use a Yes/No or True/False question, but be sure that these two answers are the only ones that a respondent might possibly want to use or they will be forced to choose, diluting the truth of their answer.
* When using ranges, for example “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree,” how many choices are necessary? Five is typical - but is it possible that many users will be “lazy” and chose the middle, and neutral, position?
* Before giving using text fields, known also as “free form” fields, consider how you will summarize these responses.

As you develop the survey, think about the different types and picture the results that will come from using each type. With your audience in mind, determine which type would provide the most effective results for what you need to find out. You can further refine these decisions when you test the survey, as explained later.

Protect Against Non-Response

It is unavoidable that a percentage of those surveyed are non-responders. The best way to minimize this element in the survey results is to keep the survey short and to the point, follow a clear outline with stated goals, and accurately target who the survey recipients need to be.

Believe it or not, research states that a 10-15% response rate on any survey is considered a success.

Dangle a Carrot

Even with every precaution taken, creating surveys is never an exact science because there is little control over the human element. For whatever reason, you will often scratch your head wondering why people looked at the survey and dropped out, or just never even looked. A carefully executed survey can minimize this - and incentives can take it a step further. Do you have something you can give away, to encourage folks to take your survey? Providing a free item or bit of information, providing a free copy of the results, or some other lure can go a long way towards gathering results.

Fly a Pilot

When you, yourself, develop a survey, it is easy to overlook the elements that might stop your respondents from completing the survey and wording that might not be clear. Always be sure to test the survey on a few people prior to sending it out to your entire audience. This will also allow you to review the results and see if the questions asked and the way they were answered will result in effective results.

Cut it Off

Be sure to tell your respondents when the survey will be closed. Typically, most respondents will respond within 5 days of receipt and so unless you know for sure that a significant portion of your audience needs longer, a week is a fair amount of time. Do not send out the survey on Fridays or over weekends - we all know what we do with mail received on those days! Try Tuesday morning for optimal response, and expect to see approximately 50% of your responses in the first 24 hours.

It may seem like you need a dual degree in cognitive psychology and statistics to develop an effective survey. This not being true for most of us, these guidelines will provide a foundation to improve both the survey and the results of your efforts. There is no better way to find out what your customers want than to ask them, and if they are already online, web surveys are an ideal way to do it.

Some entrepreneurs are afraid to take bigger challenges because they can’t handle the idea of failing. To make matters worse, some say “no” even without even trying. In case you are in this same situation, you might want to do some attitude adjustment. Here’s how:

1. Impossible is Nothing. This famous Adidas advertising slogan is the first step towards better attitude. When faced with a difficult task, you should not give up easily. Explore your options and ask other people for advice.
2. Think big. You should start a business with the dream of becoming a big company in the long run. Combining your think-big mindset and hard work, you can take on challenging projects without fear.
3. Prepare all the time. Instead of dreaming of overnight success, start sharpening your skills and learning new ones. When the big opportunity knocks on your door, you are more than prepared to seize it.
4. Focus on your strengths. Some entrepreneurs spend their time focusing on their weaknesses until they reached a point where they can no longer appreciate their strengths. Find your key skills and learn how to use it to your advantage.

Customer service has transcended from a mere support to become a very important function in every business, irrespective of size and industry. In fact, CNN Money reports that mid-size companies believe this is now a competitive differentiator to fuel growth.

However, there are still many entrepreneurs who do not appreciate the value of this service and continue to commit the 8 common mistakes that will eventually undermine their business performance. These include:

1. Failure to fulfill your promises. Once a commitment is made there must no excuses or apologies.
2. Lack of flexibility. Saying “that’s our policy” is one of the quickest ways to lose a customer. You should explore all possibilities to meet the demands of your customers, even if you have to bend some rules from time to time.
3. Selling substandard products. If you can’t bridge your product claims with actual experience then there is no sense continuing your business.
4. Not accessible to customers most of the time. If customers find it difficult to contact your customer service then don’t feel bad if they switch to your competitors right away.
5. Lack of training. As they say, winning is a habit and so is losing. If you have lousy customer service agents, don’t expect any miracle that they will improve without any effort at all.
6. Lack of proper manners. Basic customer service protocols like greeting your customers and saying “thanks”, “sorry”, and “please” do matter to most customers.
7. Inaccuracy. Misspelled names and wrong contact information can bog down your customer service and might vex even your loyal customers.
8. Ignoring complaints. Some customer service agents like to jot down complaints but don’t really act on it until a customer makes a follow up.

If you are worried that you missed the important news today related to small business or find yourself bombarded with too much information, don’t worry. Starting today, we will gather the important news about small business to save your precious time. So, here we go:

News #1
Entrepreneurs can slow global warming. CNN Money believes that no entrepreneurial firm can tackle huge environmental issues singlehandedly, but with America’s 26 million small businesses representing half of our economy, there is strength in numbers.

Moreover, entrepreneurs can make a big dent in energy demand, for instance, just by using window film to reduce summer heat, and by installing improved lighting, better thermostats and occupancy sensors in bathrooms, offices and storerooms.

News #2
Interested in franchising? Check out the top 10 low cost franchises for work-at-home entrepreneurs.

News #3
If you happen to reside near Corning, New York, there will be a free session for female entrepreneurs on how to successfully grow their businesses.

News #4
OC Register reports that small business owners are addicted to wireless, with 42 percent saying it would be a major challenge to survive (I don’t think we’re talking food and water level of survival here) without wireless technology.

News #5
There are 3 ways technology can help your small business cut costs – automation, real-time business reports, and connect business information & staff. Find out how a Canadian company, Good Earth Café, has improved its operations with the help of technology.

Business intelligence is about gathering information on current market situations, upcoming trends, and competitor activities. If you think this applies only to big companies, think again. A new survey has revealed that poor intelligence results to substantial losses:

58% of surveyed business executives admit that business opportunities have been missed or problems have not been spotted as a result of not having access to relevant information at the right time;

The survey indicates that the Fortune 500 companies are losing approximately $250 million per year in missed business opportunities as a result of inadequate business intelligence.

You may not lose thousands or millions of dollars but the point is you will lose lucrative opportunities and might not stay on top if you don’t take business intelligence seriously. The good news is you don’t need to spend too much money on this, if you apply the following tips:

1. Check your competitors’ websites. Most businesses now do have websites and that is a rich source of competitive information. Important sections include “About Us”, “Press Releases”, and “Products or Services”. Don’t forget to check the profile and competencies of its founders or co-founders to gauge how well they know the market.
2. Internet research. A simple Google search will give you tons of information about the market trends and financial data of your publicly traded competitors. If you are looking for annual reports and financial info, check out Yahoo! Finance and SEC Filings & Forms (EDGAR).
3. Use your network. If you have friends or professional colleagues connected in your industry, why not give them a call or set an informal meeting? This is your chance to collect info not commonly available in websites like hearsays or daily operations.

Most entrepreneurs live in a very fast paced environment filled with mind-boggling problems and difficult decisions to make every single day. At some point, we barely have time to stop, relax, and assess the big picture. If you fit this description, let me share a story with you about a woodcutter…

A man was struggling in the woods to saw down a tree. An old farmer came by, watched for a while, then quietly said, “What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see?” the man impatiently replied, “I’m sawing down this tree.”

“You look exhausted,” said the farmer. “How long have you been at it?”

“Over five hours, and I’m beat,” replied the man. “This is hard work.”

“That saw looks pretty dull,” said the farmer. “Why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen it? I’m sure it would go a lot faster.”

“I don’t have time to sharpen the saw,” the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy sawing!”

This classic productivity story came from the infamous book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. In short, we should take time out to renew our energy and come back strong. It’s more of working smart rather than working hard. Here are some simple things you can do to sharpen your saw:

1. Take a long vacation and spend more time with your family or friends
2. Read business books and listen to
3. audio books to improve your skills
4. Get a good night sleep
5. Take power naps during breaks
6. Eat the right food
7. Exercise regularly to improve your physical well-being
8. Stick to your schedule
9. Listen to classical or chillout music
10. Meditate or take time to be alone to contemplate about your life and business
11. Clean your office
12. Clear your e-mail inbox
13. Study different skills (preferably not related to your small business)
14. Maintain a journal or diary for all your rants and raves
15. Solve complex puzzles or crosswords
16. Talk with intelligent people
17. Take time to laugh
18. Engage in sports and other recreational activities

Do you consider health care coverage important to your business? A recent survey about this subject has some surprising revelations. For one, male entrepreneurs are more concerned about health insurance to employees, compared with the female entrepreneurs. According to USA Today:

The American Express survey of 627 small-company owners and managers found that 67% of men vs. 59% of women feel such coverage is important. The results, out today, are surprising to authorities on female-owned firms who believe women put more emphasis on health benefits.

Moreover, the number of small businesses with health insurance has declined given the rising premiums. Here are some tips to help you minimize your health care expenses:

1. Know all your options. Compare the premiums and perks offered by different insurance companies to get the best deal possible. With so many competitors in this industry, you have a good a chance of getting lower rates. Search over the internet and ask other entrepreneurs in your area about their experience.
2. Be part of a group. If you have less than 10 employees, you can partner with other entrepreneurs to create a bigger group. As your group becomes bigger, your premiums will be significantly lower.
3. Have a wellness program. You should be proactive and create a comprehensive fitness program for your employees to follow. As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It can also include a diet guide and disease management counseling for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and asthma.