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The new year: Time to get in shape
NASE
Another holiday season has come and gone and hopefully all of your best wishes came true. Most of us are now focused on the new year with high expectations and new commitments for success. And in many cases that includes those high minded New Year's resolutions that probably include losing a few pounds or maybe just striving to get in shape. Committing to better health is a great way to start the year whether that includes a better diet, a daily walk or short jog, or maybe even just one less dessert each week. The key is to just pick something and then stick to it long enough to build a habit that leads to the result you want.
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What you need to know about taxes in 2014
Forbes
Kelly Phillips writes, "Tax season opens in 26 days. And here's my big prediction: a lot of taxpayers will be taken by surprise. Despite all of those 'no new taxes' type promises, tax bills are expected to edge higher for a number of taxpayers for the 2013 tax year. And 2014 holds even more surprises. Here’s a quick look at what to expect."
Does your small business need a Wikipedia page?
Miami Herald
Have you ever considered creating a Wikipedia page for your small business? Wikipedia is undoubtedly one of the most popular websites. In fact, Wikipedia is the sixth most visited website on the Internet. Anyone can edit an article on Wikipedia. But the myriad of rules that govern what types of articles can be created, how they are edited and what you can do if you are disputing what's written is lengthy and often confusing. Nonetheless, many small businesses have tried to create Wikipedia pages about their companies but not many have been successful in their endeavors. Here's what you need to know to help you navigate the world of Wikipedia if you're considering it.
Job creation varies by small-business size
Small Business Trends
Economists often talk about small businesses as if they were all the same size. But "small businesses," which comprise 99.7 percent of all companies, include everything from single-person companies to 499-employee firms. Treating them as homogeneous doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Nowhere does this apply more than to the decision to add workers.
The switch to self-employment has mortgage implications
Los Angeles Times
Despite excellent credit, it's still possible to be turned down for a mortgage due to new rules on verifying that borrowers have the ability to pay. Those who are self-employed may want to take note.
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The new year: Time to get in shape
NASE
Another holiday season has come and gone and hopefully all of your best wishes came true. Most of us are now focused on the new year with high expectations and new commitments for success. And in many cases that includes those high minded New Year's resolutions that probably include losing a few pounds or maybe just striving to get in shape. Committing to better health is a great way to start the year whether that includes a better diet, a daily walk or short jog, or maybe even just one less dessert each week.
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10 small-business ideas for women who think outside the box
Top 10 Social Media
When you see an article titled "small-business ideas for women" you can almost predict its content. Nobody needs to tell you about monetizing a blog, selling on Etsy or eBay, selling homemade baked goods or arranging gift baskets. Not that there's anything wrong with these businesses. In fact, many women find them quite profitable but that's the real problem. Too many women are already out there, doing the same thing. To quote Stephen Sondheim, "You gotta have a gimmick, if you wanna have a chance." Here are 10 small-business ideas for women who think outside the box.
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Ring in the new year by paying more taxes
NASE
With 2014 upon us, The National Association for the Self-Employed has released a list of new and rising taxes for America's smallest businesses in the new year. "It is important small-business owners educate themselves about these rising taxes for their 2014 planning. While the small-business community continues to struggle with a growing list of unequal taxes and penalties, these additional taxes will make it harder for them to grow and expand in the new year," Katie Vlietstra, vice president for government relations and public affairs at NASE said.
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Is self-employment becoming the new mantra for success?
Arbitrage
On a daily basis, how many people do you encounter that are self-employed? Chances are they could be freelance writers, home cleaners or even selling goods over the Internet. Then again, most of these jobs have been available for the past decade, right? Then why is it that people can't help but wonder if self-employment opportunities are on the rise?
Client referrals: The key to growing a small business
WBZ-TV
Selling is an important part of a small business. But the best way to grow a business is by getting new business without the hard sell. Your business can accomplish growth without a hard sale through referrals. Customer referrals are one of the keys to growing a small business but they can feel out of reach. Use these tips to improve your customer referral batting average.
Looking for similar articles? Search here, keyword REFERRALS. |
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A guide to Google+ for small businesses
By Mayur Kisani
Google+ is a social network where you can post content and information, join communities and add individuals and businesses to circles. With more than 340 million users and adding 25,000 new users every day, Google+ is no longer a "ghost town." The SEO power of Google+ should not be underestimated as it has been touted as the "social layer" of Google and is slowly being integrated with the whole of Google's ecosystem. You might be missing out on reaching your target audience if you choose to ignore this social network.
Missed last week's issue? See which articles your colleagues read most.
Looking to share your expertise?
Multibriefs
In an effort to enhance the overall content of The NASE Self-Employed OutFront Weekly, we’d like to include peer-written articles in future editions. As a member of the NASE, your knowledge of the industry lends itself to unprecedented expertise. And we’re hoping you’ll share this expertise with your peers through well-written commentary. Because of the digital format, there’s no word or graphical limit and our group of talented editors can help with final edits. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Ronnie Richard to discuss logistics.
Tips for improving small-business websites
WFAN-TV
Maintaining a website for your small business is a necessary step in today's increasingly online world. However, even if your business has a website, you may not be fully taking advantage of it. Here are a few tips to take your site to the next level.
Kings of the 1099 economy: Houston No. 1 in the nation in self-employed trend — by choice
Forbes via Culture Map
Apparently Houstonians like to be their own bosses. A recent report by Forbes — The Rise of the 1099 Economy — puts Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown as the leader in the trend toward self-employment. Using research by Economic Modeling Specialists International, Forbes ranks Greater Houston as No. 1 in the country for fastest self-employment growth.
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