Computer viruses and internet security are two things that everyone should be worrying about when they are putting their personal information out there – especially small businesses. With so many options out there to try to protect yourself from harmful viruses, attacks, and snooping, what do you use? Norton Small Business is a great solution if your answer was “nothing” or anything but Norton.

In a recent survey, 30% of small business owners ranked technology as one of their top business priorities, even above reducing labor costs. That just goes to show what a huge problem it is. Norton is trying to help small businesses stay say with the Small Business discount on Norton products. They are offering a 30% discount on Norton products. get 30% off Norton Small Business Products now.

As a small business owner, it’s important to protect your businesses information when connected to the internet. You don’t want someone stealing your corporate credit card information or any other sensitive data, now do you? There are two different product choices that you could go with, Norton 360 and Norton Internet Security 2012.

Norton 360 offers more features than NIS 2012 such helping keep your machines running at full speed and not slowing down productivity, safeguards your important files with automatic backups, and lets you access your backed up files securely from any internet connected computer. Norton Internet Security 2012 and Norton 360 both offer features such as freedom to surf the net, chart, and email without having to worry about online threats, protects you against theft of sensitive information, and they both let you know if a file is safe to download or if a website is safe to visit.

With all these features, and the low price, it’s a no brainer to pick up at least one of the software options.

My complaint with running a Norton product has always been that is has slowed down my computer when doing a backup or sweeping for viruses. In the last edition that we purchased for our home computers, the lag and slowdown was completely eliminated and you basically had no idea the program was running in the background.  It’s great to see that this has been fixed and will be a huge help to small businesses as well as the regular household user.

Do you use any virus protection or internet security software for your small business? What’s your experience been?

Be sure to check out the 30% discount on Norton Small Business by Symantec

First, I’m a pretty basic Adobe Photoshop user. I’ve been using it since back in the day when it used to just have a version number, not a CS before it, like back in the time of Photoshop 5.0 (1999 I think). I’ve used it for web design and graphic design mostly but every once in a while, I’ll touch up a photograph or just mess around with it. There have been all kinds of changes in the designing world that have seen trends go through such as vintage looks, trendwhore looks, grunge, and many more. But I never really went past what I would call normal usage. However, my skills were beyond that of many others as was apparent in college when I took two graphic/web design classes in which Photoshop was the focus. I would quickly finish assignments of designing logos and website templates in half the time as others in the class.

But, some of these hidden gems and tricks are way beyond anything I knew was possible with the software or anything that I had ever thought about doing. So without more rambling, let’s dive into some very cool tips. Also – a big thanks to Adobe and Bryan O’Neil Hughes for hosting the session for a such a small group of college bloggers.

One feature that I have used a little bit which I would always get frustrated with was the clone stamp. This would basically allow you to clone different areas of your image to use them in other places. This was helpful on a small scale for taking out cracks in a scanned image or removing part of a photograph that you didn’t want to be there. Now in CS5 there is a cool Content Aware Fill feature that lets you do this same thing but on a larger scale and much more efficiently to fix large areas of an image. Check out this video below from Adobe on how to use the Content Aware Fill feature.

Another feature that links to the Content Aware Fill feature is the Spot Healing Brush to remove lines or similar paths from an image. This cool tip is highlighted in the video below.

Photoshop has tons of these awesome videos post on YouTube and their site. A couple quick responses for you are below.

• Bryan O’Neil Hughes is a Senior Product Manager at Adobe and creator of these videos – http://www.photoshop.com/people/bryan
• The full Photoshop YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/user/Photoshop?feature=watch
• Adobe Labs – http://labs.adobe.com/

Also, if you thought that Phtoshop was just for editing images – you are wrong, you can also edit video within Photoshop CS5.

Adobe is working on so many cool features for Photoshop it’s hard to keep up with! Such as Tutorial Builder – go check that cool one out!

Don’t forget about the crazy cool discounts that students and educators can get on Adobe Photoshop and other programs as well. Check it out on the Adobe website.

Fans of free enterprise are usually unwelcoming of news of new government mandates, but recent proposals put forth by President Obama that can help recently graduated entrepreneurs are not meant to infringe upon the free market. Instead, they’re geared toward helping graduates lead more fulfilling lives by reducing the maximum repayment cap on income-based federal student loans to 10% of discretionary income. Discretionary income is the sum total after things such as rent and utilities are removed from the equation. Obama wants this to take effect starting next year, an edit to the original provision passed by Congress that lowered the repayment cap to 15%, which was written to effect in 2014, not 2012.

“Pay-as-you-earn” is not a new concept in the world of student loans. In fact it’s been a standard practice in nations such as the United Kingdom for years. While allowing the government to essentially cover the leftover bill once 20 years of faithful lowered payments sounds particular unAmerican to ears used to hearing the sweet sounds of independently-won success, such sorts of success are becoming less and less of a likely possibility for recent graduates suffering under massive student loan debt. The average debt accrued from a four-year education is in the $25,000 range. But some people could be having to pay back as much as $60,000 or $75,000 just for a four-year degree. Who, with the exception of the most fortunate and ultra-brilliant among us, can afford to start a business right out of college, or take out a business loan, when we already owe this amount of money?

You might not be a fan of this President, or the idea that the government should step in and help those who borrowed more than they can pay back. But you certainly can’t argue with the idea that those who attended college right before, during, or immediately after the global economic meltdown were given a bad break. If you disagree, stop and really let that next student loan statement figure sink in. Think about how much you could do with even just an extra $100 at the end of every month. You could star a business with that kind of scratch.

Disclosure: This was a paid post submitted to Dorm Room Biz for posting and it’s content are the opinions and thoughts of it’s author and not necessarily Dorm Room Biz.

It’s not hard to see why, because it’s cheap and convenient, although there are downsides to the idea too. For example, it can be a very solitary existence working out of a bedroom, study or even the garage. What’s more, there can often be frequent intrusions and interruptions from well meaning family members and friends. So, while it might be good enough, it’s far from ideal.

A new way forward

Little wonder then that the reasonably recent phenomenon of renting desk space and hot desking has really been taking off, thanks to an endless array of options all of which can be found by using the free and easy services of a comparison website online. What’s more, renting desk space or hot desking can be a really cheap way of getting you set-up in business at a prime location.

You’ll generally find that desk rentals can be had on a short-term rolling basis when it comes to contractual obligations, and due to the fact that landlords out there are desperate to make the most of their vacant office areas, you’ll probably find that prices are surprisingly competitive too.

Flexible and convenient

When you’re in the early stages of running a business then keeping overheads to an absolute minimum is a must, and the desk space rental scenario does just that. Adding to the appeal is that it’s very flexible, so if you start to outgrow your desk then simply ask the landlord to add on some more space. Further down the line you could always look at serviced office scenario, which is a rather grander setup complete with receptionists, IT support and post. However, in the short term, the concept of desk space rental or hot desking is very likely to help you drum up more business. For a start, there is a much greater chance of being able to network when you’re in an office with other like-minded people. It’ll also make a great location for meeting clients and prospective new customers too.

And, if you’ve got a business that needs to look it’s best, especially if you deal with the public on a regular basis, then having a desk space rental option in an upmarket business park or an inner city location will make a lot of difference when it comes to gaining credibility. Adding to that is the fact that you’ll also gain yourself a decent postcode too, which really could prove to be the icing on the cake of a new website or on your freshly printed office stationary.

In short then, if you’re prepared to spend a little time comparing the options that can be found online in mere minutes, then the desk space rental route is a great one to take. It could well be the best business decision you’ll ever make.

About the author: Rob Clymo writes on behalf of www.officegenie.co.uk, the UK’s online marketplace for finding office space in London and across the UK!.

Rule #1

Before you even begin to take any serious steps toward building your business, you have to be absolutely certain that your business model is legitimate.  There is an easy way to do this—ask people!  One of the most common pitfalls that many new entrepreneurs fall into is that they attach ego to the business idea and are afraid to share it with folks who may not like the vision and idea.  You need to do the exact opposite.  You should share your entire business model with at least 5 different, unrelated people in order to gauge their reaction.  These people should be entrepreneurs or business people themselves, but they definitely need to understand business.  If all 5 people think your model is incredible and can’t fail, then you know you are on to something.  On the other hand, if everyone thinks there are major problems with your business model, then it’s time to go back to the whiteboard.  This step is 100% critical in starting a new business, and the good news is that it is absolutely free!  No net working capital is required.

Is It Mission Critical?

If you are going to start a business from a position of being cash poor, you need to make certain that every expense and investment you make is absolutely mission critical to bringing your product or service to market.  The only expenses you should incur are those that involve closing deals and selling your product.  This means you don’t need the fancy office, etc.  You don’t need a $400 ergonomic office chair!  Only spend cash on things that are absolutely mission critical to you bringing your product or service to the market.

What If You Are REALLY Broke?

If you are in college or have just graduated, and literally have no money or net working capital, you are actually in a great position.  Here’s the deal—most people in life never chase their dreams.  This is a fact.  The majority of people get jobs they do not like, they work at them for 30 years, and then retire.  As a young, smart entrepreneur with exciting ideas, these types of people LOVE to give you money because they tend to vicariously live through you!  This is no joke.  If you are in your early 20’s and actually have a solid business idea, you will find folks who are willing to take a bet on you and loan you money to start a business.  There are simply two requirements—the business model needs to be legit, and you have to believe in it deeply.

Starting a business with no cash can be done.  Simply follow these few tips and you will be well on your way to success.

These high office costs leave many business owners wondering whether or not they even need an office setting in the first place. Offices are there in the first place to keep workers together to increase productivity and to provide an air of professionalism. However, if you’re running a small business with functions that are achieved primarily through software and the Internet, then is there really an incentive to house your employees together? If each employee has their own laptop and can access the web with it, then everyone can operate remotely and there’s no need to spend money on an office.

Meetings are still an essential part of running a business, but you don’t need to pay for office space and furnishings just so you have a place to meet up with coworkers and employees. A venture capitalist friend of mine didn’t have an office for the first two years of his SEO company that, at the time, employed over eight individuals. He simply had everybody meet once a week at a coffee shop with Wi-Fi. He was still able to discuss serious company developments face-to-face and flesh out tasks in a way that can only be done in person, while it also enabled his employees to come armed with questions.

You can relax when it comes to whether or not the work is getting done when workers stay home or work from elsewhere. Studies consistently indicate that those who work from home are generally more productive than their in-office counterparts. If you hire the right kinds of employees, there’s no reason you shouldn’t trust them to work from home.

About the whole “got to look good for clients and customers” thing…look, there’s no fooling people that you’re a young inexperienced entrepreneur. Shiny tabletops and rows of workers diligently typing in a conformed pattern aren’t going to make a young business look any more professional, and neither is the mere office environment itself. If anything, clients are going to like the idea that you’re willing to think different and act on it. Saving money without sacrificing skill and capability always looks good to those you do business with.

If you’re at the helm of a start-up and are exhausted by how much money keeping an office space is costing your company, consider dumping the office and working remotely. You certainly won’t have a hard time finding workers who like the idea of doing their job in only their underwear.

Remember a good social media campaign is executed with long-term goals in mind, but we all have to start somewhere. As an entrepreneur short on time and money, try these short, quick hits to get your hands dirty before you move on to bigger things.

Step 1: Define your goals. Are you interested in driving traffic to your e-commerce site? Or are you interested in generating leads for your professional services business? Or perhaps you’re interested in only building awareness for your organization? Figure all that out and then you’re ready to move to Step 2.

Step 2: Get inside the mind of your customers and prospects. Don’t launch any social media campaign without first thinking through why your customers and prospects are interested in connecting with you. What’s in it for them? How is connecting with you in their best interest? What will they learn by connecting with you?

Step 3: Focus your initial energies on a handful of platforms. Start by putting a company profile on LinkedIn. Then create a Fan Page on Facebook. Follow that by creating a Twitter account. But don’t do any of these things unless you will put some serious effort behind it. Don’t create a Twitter account and ignore it—that’s a waste of everybody’s time.

Step 4: Drive people to your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter channels. Remember, a social media channel is similar to a television channel—it’s your specific connection to your “viewers.” If you’re going to drive people to your channels, make sure they have a reason to go there. Will they be able to get helpful information or a white paper? Will they be able to participate in a sweepstakes or a promotion? Will they be directed to a blog post that helps them in some way?

Step 5: Repeat Step 4. We’re serious. Don’t move on until you’ve repeated Step 4 and spent a good amount of energy driving people to your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter channels.

Step 6: Upload content regularly. Now that you’ve driven an initial batch of people to your newly uploaded channels, you need to continuously update them with new and interesting information. Remember, your goal is to build a long-term relationship with your customers and prospects, so be sure to upload information that answers the “What’s in it for me?” question.

Step 7: Keep your initial channels running while you explore other platforms. Don’t move to other social networking channels until the first batch is running smoothly and you are continuously updating them. After that happens, you can shift gears and start exploring some of the other platforms that help you network. Remember, the key is to build (or rebuild) relationships with people before you start doing the hard sell. But when the relationship is established, you can say, “Did I mention that I sell insurance?” or “Have you seen our new e-commerce site that sells premium coffee?”

Now you’ve planted your business-development seeds, begin the harvest!

Jamie Turner is Chief Content Officer for The 60 Second Marketer, an online magazine providing resources for marketers and entrepreneurs. For 20+ years, he has helped firms like AT+T, Cartoon Network, CNN, Motorola, and Coca-Cola grow sales and revenue through high-impact marketing. A frequent media guest and speaker, he was recently profiled in Advertising and Promotion, a leading marketing text. Reshma Shah, Ph.D., Asst. Professor of Marketing at Emory’s Goizueta Business School, has worked in procurement for IBM, litigation consulting for Price Waterhouse, strategic planning for Unilever, and account management for Leo Burnett.

Adapted from HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA: An Insider’s Guide on Using New and Emerging Media to Grow Your Business by Jamie Turner and Reshma Shah, Ph.D. Copyright 2011. Reprinted by permission of Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as FT Press. All rights reserved.

Most business owners when in need of money to either develop their business or to simply help it along, immediately think of a bank overdraft.  But this isn’t the only option, and in most cases isn’t the best option either.  Bank overdrafts have become harder to acquire and often businesses will only be able to lend a small amount of money.  Also, a bank overdraft is repayable on demand, adding yet more worry as this could happen at any time.  For most owners today, Invoice Factoring is the preferred method of borrowing money in a worry-free way.

What is Invoice Factoring?

Invoice factoring is a financial transaction where a business will sell its accounts to a third party in exchange for immediate cash to finance their business.  Many people think of it as a modern day bank overdraft.

Invoice Factoring Vs. Bank Overdraft

A bank overdraft is normally dependant on the length of time your business has been trading and the profitability of your business, making it extremely hard for new businesses to lend money or smaller, niche businesses.  This is where Invoice factoring differs; Invoice Factoring will be awarded against the amount of unpaid invoices of your business.  Business owners can expect to receive up to 95% of funds from unpaid invoices.

What can Invoice Factoring help you with?

• Bridge the gap between raising invoices and getting paid
• Up your cash flow instantly
• Provide you with the funds to grow your business
• You will have bad debt protection

It is crucial to remember the importance of finding a reputable independent financial business advisor if you decide that invoice factoring is the right solution for your business.  Target Business Assist, one of the UK’s expert teams of independent financial business advisors, offer only impartial advice as they are not affiliated with any particular lenders.  They have access to most of the UK lenders, meaning you are sure to receive the best rates for your business, along with simple, easy to understand advice.

Legal Barriers

Before opening a business in the United States, proprietors must jump many legal hurdles, including:

• Zoning restrictions
• Licensing and training requirements
• Restrictions on the legality of the business
• Protection of crucial business processes by copyrights and patents
  

  

• Special legal regulations, such as ingredient labeling for food products

Competition

One of the most obvious barriers to entry is too much competition from large chains with low overhead and deep pockets. If there is too much competition, your prices are pushed lower and your profit margin shrinks. Oddly enough, there is also such a thing as too little competition. If you are introducing a new service and you have no competitors, consider the possibility that you will have to build product awareness.

Lack of Funding

It’s a classic Catch-22: you can’t get a business loan until you prove that you can make money, but it’s hard to prove yourself until you have the capital to give it a try. For this reason, many business owners find themselves dipping into their own savings to get started, or turning to friends and relatives for an initial investment. Business entrepreneur Ehsan Bayat actually received funding from the U.S. government to start Afghan Wireless overseas as there was no competition in that market.

Lack of Physical Capital

In addition to an overall lack of funding, it may be difficult or expensive to acquire some of the tools of your trade. This is particularly true for entrepreneurs who will need a workshop full of costly equipment, such as a furniture maker who needs a woodshop. In addition, building codes and food safety inspectors may require you to upgrade your work space in order to protect the safety of your workers and your customers. Your liability insurance company may also require additional safety measures.

Lack of Resources

Sometimes it’s not a lack of money that kills a small business, but another lack of resources. If you are working a second job or caring for a family, you might not have enough time to devote to your business. You’ll also need emotional support from your family, especially your spouse. In addition, you should consider the resources that your city has to offer. Are there enough qualified workers in the area to staff your company? Is the shipping and transportation infrastructure adequate?

As you consider whether to start your business, consider whether you have the passion and the resources to overcome the obstacles. If nothing else, it will prepare you for the worst.

When she’s not organizing parties, Louise Baker writes about online colleges at Zen College Life. She recently looked at where to get the best court stenographer degree.

Have you guys heard about Re-boost from Boost Mobile? First, I’m not sure how many people are apart of their network, but they are definitely smaller than Verizon, AT&T, etc but they’ve got some pretty cool features and phone plans that may start attracting new customers.

Boost Mobile has designed three simple phone plans to choose from, all with no contracts:

1. Monthly Unlimited – $50.00
2. Blackberry Monthly Unlimited – $60.00
3. Daily Unlimited – $2.00 per day

The Re-Boost feature that they’ve launched gives you flexibility for paying your account balances and adding funds to your account. You get three options for paying: you can pay via credit card on the site or set up automatic monthly payments, you can pay at a local re-boost station, or you can pay by phone. Another cool feature that they have? You can actually “gift” Boost Mobile service to your friends and family by adding funds to their accounts, which goes towards their bill.  If you are looking for a gift that someone could really use for the upcoming holidays, helping pay for part of their Boost Mobile bill would be a pretty good one. I know I’d love it if someone helped pay part of my cell phone bill next month!

Besides their easy and convenient ways to pay your bills, Boost Mobile phones also set up extremely well for the social person. Facebook, Twitter, whatever it is, you can get it on your Boost Blackberry or phone. If you are a social media user like I am, and I know many of you are, then this is a great bonus for you.

I do most of my tweeting and Facebook updates from my mobile phone and Boost’s phones are social by nature and make it incredibly easy to make your status updates, tweet a funny joke, or share a picture of your friend picking his nose in the bar. Having that ability in my hand while I’m out and about is great and makes it easy to connect with others if the opportunity arises.

The best part? All your internet access and connectivity to Facebook and Twitter is covered in the low monthly priced plans that they have. So you don’t have to worry about going over your limit on data usage, text messages, or minutes.

Do any of you guys have Boost Mobile service? My cell phone bill is outrageous, this makes me want to re-evaluate it!