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<title>bizSugar / wontonu / All</title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com</link>
<description>bizSugar RSS feed</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:56:04 -0500</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[US Mobile Internet Reaches a4Critical Massa4 for Marketing]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/ResearchandTrends/US_Mobile_Internet_Reaches_lsquoCritical_Massrsquo_for_Marketing/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/ResearchandTrends/US_Mobile_Internet_Reaches_lsquoCritical_Massrsquo_for_Marketing/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:55:41 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Research and Trends</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/ResearchandTrends/US_Mobile_Internet_Reaches_lsquoCritical_Massrsquo_for_Marketing/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The US is the global leader in mobile internet adoption, with 40 million US mobile subscribers (15.6%) actively using the mobile internet, according to a white paper released by The Nielsen Company. In 16 countries tracked, the US leads in penetration, followed by the UK (12.9%) and Italy (11.9%).Advertising is becoming a common part of the mobile internet experience: Some 26% of mobile internet users view ads while using the mobile internet, and mobile internet users are more receptive to mobile advertising than average data users, Nielsen Mobile said.<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[100 Sites Entrepreneurs Should Visit]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Resources/100_Sites_Entrepreneurs_Should_Visit/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Resources/100_Sites_Entrepreneurs_Should_Visit/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:56:46 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Resources</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Resources/100_Sites_Entrepreneurs_Should_Visit/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Even though bizSugar is missing, it's a good list and includes some blogs I wasn't familiar with.<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[12 Ways to Market to Small Businesses in a Slowdown]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/12_Ways_to_Market_to_Small_Businesses_in_a_Slowdown/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/12_Ways_to_Market_to_Small_Businesses_in_a_Slowdown/</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:53:58 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Marketing/12_Ways_to_Market_to_Small_Businesses_in_a_Slowdown/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Marketing to business owners has gotten tricky with credit markets tight and gas and food prices rising. Marketing adviser Warrillow &amp; Co. recently surveyed 2,036 small businesses with fewer than 100 employees on their expectations and needs during a troubled economy. Nearly 60% say they expect the real volume of goods and/or services sold in the next three to six months would be unchanged or lower.But those woes also present opportunity for marketers. Here are 12 recommendations from Warrillow for reaching and helping small businesses:<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[More small businesses forced to raise prices]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Finance/More_small_businesses_forced_to_raise_prices/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Finance/More_small_businesses_forced_to_raise_prices/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 16:28:22 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Finance</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Finance/More_small_businesses_forced_to_raise_prices/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Inflation has sunk its teeth into small businesses this year. The number of owners citing inflation as their No. 1 concern on the National Federation of Independent Businesses monthly economic index in April was at its highest level since 1982. One in five owners is raising prices, according to William C. Dunkelberg, the trade group's chief economist.&quot;What's happening is every time people open the back door to receive supplies, prices are higher,&quot; Mr. Dunkelberg said. &quot;Right now they are trying to pass it on to their customers.&quot; In April, 35 percent of owners said they raised prices, he added.Officially, the government is indicating that inflation is in check, taking into account seasonal variations. On Tuesday, the Labor Department reported that wholesale prices climbed just 0.2 percent in April. The core rate, though, which excludes food and energy, had its largest year-over-year jump since 1991. And last week, the government reported that consumer prices inched up in April, suggesting cooling inflation.But on Main Street and in households across America - where rapidly rising fuel and food prices are not excluded - the picture is not so rosy. Gasoline prices are now up to about $3.80 a gallon. The cost of diesel fuel, which powers many small business vehicles, set a record yet again on Wednesday, about $4.56 a gallon, up nearly 64 percent from a year ago. And food prices rose at a 0.9 percent rate in April, the biggest one-month jump since 1990.<br/><br/>14 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Holly Buchanan Increases Website Conversions: Part II of II]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Holly_Buchanan_Increases_Website_Conversions_Part_II_of_II/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Holly_Buchanan_Increases_Website_Conversions_Part_II_of_II/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 11:10:36 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Holly_Buchanan_Increases_Website_Conversions_Part_II_of_II/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Every individual that visits your website is unique, looking for different pieces of information and reading websites differently. Each visitor will most likely be persuaded by various aspects and determinants. With Holly Buchanan's personality descriptions of the four most common types of buyers, we can design our websites and copy so that we can persuade each personality type most effectively.This post focuses on designing your website to meet the needs of each unique individual that visits your site by addressing the most common four types of visitors: Methodical, Spontaneous, Competitive, and Humanistic.<br/><br/>7 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Holly Buchanan Shares Secrets on Increasing Conversion - Part I of II]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Holly_Buchanan_Shares_Secrets_on_Increasing_Conversion_-_Part_I_of_II/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Holly_Buchanan_Shares_Secrets_on_Increasing_Conversion_-_Part_I_of_II/</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 11:07:45 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Holly_Buchanan_Shares_Secrets_on_Increasing_Conversion_-_Part_I_of_II/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[For those who were unable to attend eBizITPA's King Conversion: Web Sites that Sell conference a few weeks ago, you missed out on an extraordinary event with a captivating, experienced speaker presenting effective information to help improve your website's performance and your overall conversion rate. Holly focused on both B2B and B2C companies, providing simple suggestions for improvement of the overall effectiveness of the companies' websites. In fact, many exhibitors at the event were so impressed with Holly's presentations, that they were online updating their sites with these simple solutions live, as Holly suggested them. Although it would not be possible to serve you with all of the same information presented to the conference attendees, we would like to provide you with some of the insight shared at this conference on how to increase your web site effectiveness. This is the first post of a two part series to provide you with this valuable information.<br/><br/>7 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The Secret Google Quality Ratersa4 Handbook]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/The_Secret_Google_Quality_Ratersrsquo_Handbook/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/The_Secret_Google_Quality_Ratersrsquo_Handbook/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:33:55 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/The_Secret_Google_Quality_Ratersrsquo_Handbook/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Last month the Google Quality Rater's handbook was leaked online. This is what Google deems important when judging the quality and relevance of a web page.In spite of what many say, Google does not entirely rely on automatic computer-based algorithms in its search engine rankings. They do employ human editors that control the quality of selected sites and they may give a boost to sites these reviewers deem especially useful.The guidelines given to these human editors may also give search engine marketers an idea about what Google is looking for when judging quality and relevance. In short: If you want your site to rank well, it makes sense to take a look at the same guidelines.A few weeks ago, the The Google Quality Rater's Handbook was leaked online. Google managed to get some versions of the file off the web quickly, but by then, of course, it was too late.<br/><br/>16 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How much traffic do your competitors generate?]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_much_traffic_do_your_competitors_generate/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_much_traffic_do_your_competitors_generate/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:26:48 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/How_much_traffic_do_your_competitors_generate/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One way of benchmarking online success is to beat your competitor traffic wise. Pandia takes a look at online services that try to measure the traffic of web sites.First of all: There is no central database measuring web site traffic, which means that there is no way you can get exact metrics for the web traffic of competing sites. Actually, it can be hard enough to get reliable statistics for your own sites.Still, from an internet marketing perspective even flawed data can be better than none. By measuring the success of competing sites over time you can at least get an impression of how their (and yours) tactics are working.Here are a few sources of web site statistics intelligence:<br/><br/>16 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How your website's info can affect in-store sales]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/CustomerService/How_your_websites_info_can_affect_in-store_sales/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/CustomerService/How_your_websites_info_can_affect_in-store_sales/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:08:52 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Customer Service</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/CustomerService/How_your_websites_info_can_affect_in-store_sales/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A recent survey group found that two-thirds of online buyers spent more than 30% of their total shopping time researching products on the Web. Their purchasing decisions are largely made before they set foot in the store. Since these shoppers can get their information from just about anywhere, what can retail merchants put on their Web sites that will lure consumers into their store and not a rival's?<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Small business owners sacrificing family life says report]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/NewsandPolitics/Small_business_owners_sacrificing_family_life_says_report/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/NewsandPolitics/Small_business_owners_sacrificing_family_life_says_report/</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:48:46 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>News and Politics</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/NewsandPolitics/Small_business_owners_sacrificing_family_life_says_report/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Small business owners are sacrificing time with their family to ensure their businesses stay afloat, a report has found.The survey, by accounting software company KashFlow, found that almost a third of business owners said they a4often' forego family time to keep the business going.The company said that with over 3m businesses run a4single-handedly', the figures suggest many entrepreneurs are struggling to maintain an acceptable work/life balance, putting a strain on family life.On top of this, one in five said they had increased their personal debt levels and were relying more on credit cards since they had started their businesses.Almost 20% said they now have a less disposable income, with 8% adding that they a4had not had a holiday in years'. 5% said they had a4less of a social life'.Duane Jackson, KashFlow's managing director, said it was not just entrepreneurs who are making sacrifices, but also their families.&quot;The research was commissioned to help us to gain a better understanding of the personal sacrifices small businesses are undertaking to ensure business success.  &quot;The findings have provided a valuable insight into what measures can be taken in order to assist small businesses with their struggles,&quot; he said.<br/><br/>6 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Does it still make sense to submit your site to a directory?]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Does_it_still_make_sense_to_submit_your_site_to_a_directory/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Does_it_still_make_sense_to_submit_your_site_to_a_directory/</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:28:28 -0600</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Does_it_still_make_sense_to_submit_your_site_to_a_directory/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Once upon a time directories provided value to webmasters who were either looking to get new sites indexed or increase their site's link popularity or both. Now I am seeing a trend where directories are not as helpful in these two areas as they once were. Add to that the rising costs of submission fees and it is easy to see why the small business owner should approach directory submissions very carefully.<br/><br/>13 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Five Questions for Direct Mail Copywriters]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/DirectMarketing/Five_Questions_for_Direct_Mail_Copywriters/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/DirectMarketing/Five_Questions_for_Direct_Mail_Copywriters/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:07:37 -0600</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Direct Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/DirectMarketing/Five_Questions_for_Direct_Mail_Copywriters/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In his DMA 07 Conference and Exhibition presentation, &quot;Running Red Lights: The Keys To Creating Dazzling Direct Mail,&quot; Steve Penn, CEO and executive creative director of Penn Garritano Direct Response Marketing, said he likes to think of the direct mail package as a touchpoint for the entire brand experience. Copywriters always should &quot;tell a story a4 even in today's text-messaged, sound-bitten world,&quot; says Penn. To tell that story, he recommends direct mailers ask themselves the following five questions:<br/><br/>12 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[E-Mail Open Rates Hinge on 'Subject' Line]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/E-Mail_Open_Rates_Hinge_on_Subject_Line/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/E-Mail_Open_Rates_Hinge_on_Subject_Line/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:43:06 -0600</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/E-Mail_Open_Rates_Hinge_on_Subject_Line/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Personalized e-mails boost open rates, according to a MailerMailer study. The e-mail service provider found that personalized &quot;subject&quot; lines in particular increased the number of times recipients opened their mailings. The &quot;subject&quot; line is so important that, even when marketers have recipients' permission, the wrong line can still mean trouble.<br/><br/>10 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Social Media and Conversational Marketing Portends Revamp of Marketing Pa4s]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/ResearchandTrends/Social_Media_and_Conversational_Marketing_Portends_Revamp_of_Marketing_Prsquos/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/ResearchandTrends/Social_Media_and_Conversational_Marketing_Portends_Revamp_of_Marketing_Prsquos/</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:38:58 -0600</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Research and Trends</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/ResearchandTrends/Social_Media_and_Conversational_Marketing_Portends_Revamp_of_Marketing_Prsquos/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Social media and conversational marketing will outpace that of traditional marketing by 2012. Nearly 57% of respondents report that in 5 years time, what they spend on conversational marketing will be greater than that of traditional marketing, while another 24% believed it would be the same as traditional marketing. Significantly, 81% of marketers believe that in 5 years they'll be spending as much or more on conversational marketing vs. traditional marketing. The rise of digital media continues to make significant inroads into the mainstream media pie. Conversational marketing investment will make up the third pillar of the new marketing model. In addition, Jaffe adds Community and Conversation to the Four P's of marketing: Product, Place, Price and Promotion.<br/><br/>6 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Is Your Social Media Marketing Strategy Passive or Active?]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Is_Your_Social_Media_Marketing_Strategy_Passive_or_Active/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Is_Your_Social_Media_Marketing_Strategy_Passive_or_Active/</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:36:57 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Online Marketing</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/OnlineMarketing/Is_Your_Social_Media_Marketing_Strategy_Passive_or_Active/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[When talking with so many companies of all sizes and types about marketing with social media, many are keen on the idea, but don't have a clear idea of the best way to incorporate tactics like social bookmarking into their content promotions.  Anyone can throw up links to Digg, Del.icio.us and Facebook, but does it actually do anything?<br/><br/>8 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Thirteen Tricks to Motivate Yourself]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/Self-Development/Thirteen_Tricks_to_Motivate_Yourself/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/Self-Development/Thirteen_Tricks_to_Motivate_Yourself/</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:04:05 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Self-Development</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/Self-Development/Thirteen_Tricks_to_Motivate_Yourself/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Who needs Tony Robbins when you can motivate yourself? Overcoming the emotional hurdle to get stuff done when you'd rather sit on the couch isn't always easy. But unless calling in sick and waking up at noon have no consequences for you, it's often a must. For those of you who never procrastinate, distract yourself or drag your feet when you should be doing something important, this article isn't for you. But for the rest of us humans, it's good to have a library of motivational boosters to move us along.<br/><br/>11 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Scientists Give PR People a Hand with Two Recent Studies]]></title>
<link>http://www.bizsugar.com/PublicRelations/Scientists_Give_PR_People_a_Hand_with_Two_Recent_Studies/</link>
<comments>http://www.bizsugar.com/PublicRelations/Scientists_Give_PR_People_a_Hand_with_Two_Recent_Studies/</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:00:39 -0500</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wontonu</dc:creator>
<category>Public Relations</category>
<guid>http://www.bizsugar.com/PublicRelations/Scientists_Give_PR_People_a_Hand_with_Two_Recent_Studies/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The results of two interesting social science studies relevant to PR and marketing professionals are out this week. Imagine that when you were small, your mother consistently criticized some aspect of the way you performed or presented yourself. Later you grew up and decided (perhaps after years of therapy) that your mother was, how do we say this delicately, less than rational on this particular point. Yet every time you go to do that thing she disapproved of, you feel the hovering ghost of her criticism. It's a phenomena everyone can understand, and now scientists have proven what we've all suspected all along: negativity is contagious and, once you've caught it, hard to kick. This information is of use not only to psychologists, but also to anyone concerned with her company or product's public image. The research was reported yesterday in the Journal of Consumer Research.<br/><br/>9 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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