Have you missed any of my posts around the Net this week? Here’s what I’m talking about:

Mobile shopping is hot–but what happens if your site isn’t up to speed? Learn what consumers are–and aren’t–willing to put up with when shopping on smartphones in my post on Network Solutions’ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

Speaking of mobile, the trend of “checking in” at locations could be poised to gather steam. Read more in my post on American Express OPEN Forum.

And speaking of shopping, it’s no secret men and women behave differently when shopping in retail stores–but did you know they shop differently online, too? Find out how your ecommerce site can cater to men or women in my post on AT&T‘s SmallBusinessInSite.

Read my picks for four other tech trends you need to get in on at SCORE Success blog.

Is your work force more of the same old, same old? Diversifying your team could be the key to greater financial success, new research reports. Get the skinny in my post on Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends.

Does your business still market with direct mail? If you think that method is outmoded today, think again–and read my Huffington Post Small Business post to learn the industries where direct mail is actually a more effective marketing tool than online methods.

Looking for alternatives to hard-to-get bank loans? There are plenty of options–read my Q&A on the SBDC-LA website to get the scoop.

Everyone has their own list of Twitter favorites. Today in a guest post Wasp Code Technologies shares its 10 favorites. Of course we’d add our own Twitter accounts to follow: @Rieva, @SmBizDaily, and @TrendCastFood. As Twitter gains momentum (and active users) it can become more and more difficult to weed out the best handles to follow. Some are spam handles, some share off-topic news, but some are gems. Wasp Barcode Technologies has sorted through some of the more popular accounts, and in today’s guest post, they’re sharing their picks for the Top 10 Twitter accounts relevant to small businesses.

@NYTSmallBiz

Offering a wide variety of news from The New York Times Small Business page, this handle offers articles ranging from accounting and insurance to marketing and retailing.

@SBAgov

Official handle for the Small Business Administration, this handle offers news, tips, and resources for the small business community.

@OPENforum

While American Express OPEN Forum shares news and discussions from a wide variety of topics, they also offer articles directly related to small business owners.

@Manta

Manta is an online community specifically for small business owners to connect and discuss issues surrounding the operations and management of a small business.

@smallbiztrends

This handle is a news aggregator for all things small business. They also have their own website, Small Business Trends, where a variety of authors discuss topics relevant to small business owners.

@WSJSmallBiz

The official handle of The Wall Street Journal Small Business page, this handle provides links to business-related articles in The Wall Street Journal.

@HuffPostSmBiz

For those who don’t already follow The Huffington Post, it is an online-only news provider. Their small business handle is a feed for articles posted on the Huffington Post Small Business page.

@ducttape

The official handle of Duct Tape Marketing, this timeline is full of blogs direct from Duct Tape Marketing as well as other news relevant to the small business world.

@mashbusiness

The official handle for the Mashable Small Business page, this handle tweets all articles from Mashable that are related to small business owners.

@WaspBarcode

And last but not least, Wasp Barcode Technologies is sharing small business tips, news, and offering the latest in barcode software and solutions, so you can spend less time surfing the Web and spend more time running your small business.

If you missed any of my blog posts from around the Net this week, here’s a quick roundup below.

Get a jump on 2012 with my list of 10 key food trends to watch in the New Year, over at Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends.

As you may have noticed, tablet computers are red-hot. Find out how much tablet use is going to grow and what it means to your business at the Network Solutions GrowSmartBusiness blog.

Mobile is big news these days too, but what you may not know is that minority mobile users are an especially hot market. Learn how to target minority customers on the go in my post on AT&T‘s SmallBusinessInSite.

Two things I’m passionate about: entrepreneurship education and young entrepreneurs. Read about some of the most inspiring young business owners I’ve met recently in my column on AllBusiness.com.

Everyone wants to know who’s going to create jobs. Will it be entrepreneurs? Find out in my post on American Express OPEN Forum.

Your youngest employees may seem happy, but are they really? Get the scoop over on Huffington Post Small Business. Also learn while your email inbox might be costing you big time. And if you’re not yet using daily deal sites, discover how you could be missing out–because 2011 holiday retail spending on these sites is projected to hit the jackpot.

Have you got a support system? I sure hope so, but if not, find out how to build one in my post on the SCORE Success Blog.

It’s not too late to make some year-end tax moves that will save you money. Get the details in my Q&A with an SBDC expert on the LA-SBDC website.

Have you missed any of my blog posts from around the Net this week? Take a look below to get caught up.

Have you heard about Q&A sites like Quora? New research shows they can be an effective way to reach some very desirable markets. Learn more in my post on Network Solutions‘ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

Speaking of desirable markets, Gen Y–also known as the Millennials–is a market to court. Boost your appeal to them by understanding the 4 types of Gen Y customers–get the scoop in my post on AT&T‘s SmallBusinessInSite.

And if you’re still doing most of your marketing offline, you could be missing out on other important markets. Learn why in my post on the SCORE Success Blog.

The Startup America program launched with a bang, but eight months in, how’s it doing? Find out in my post on Anita Campbell‘s Small Business Trends.

Trend website Daily Candy has announced the winners of this year’s Start Small, Go Big contest co-sponsored by smInk from Chase. Did you enter the contest (or vote)? Meet the four winners, each of whom will be flown to NYC to get one-on-one business advice from expert mentors:

Cold Spring Apothecary Owner Stacey Wesselman creates all-natural skin, hair, and body treatments using high-grade essential oils and herbal extracts (no synthetic chemicals or parabens).

Quinn Popcorn Husband-and-wife business partners Kristy and Coulter Lewis sell organic microwave popcorn in 100 percent compostable paper bags. The popcorn is made with pure ingredients, pressed oils and flavors like Vermont Maple and Sea Salt.

Amelia Presents Entrepreneur Erin Abbot has owned a store selling gift items such as artwork, journals and local baked goods for two years, but now she wants to start her own furniture line—which mentorship from experts like Jonathan Adler will help her do.

Iva Jean Ann DeOtte created the ingenious Rain Cape, made from durable, water-resistant fabric with piping for extra visibility, a pull-cord system for adjustments, and a high collar for wind protection, that allows bicycling in any weather—even in Seattle.

Read more about the winners at the Daily Candy website.

By Rieva Lesonsky

Did you miss any of my blog posts from around the Net this week? Check out what’s been on my mind.

Money–we all need more of it, right? To discover how making a few small changes in your business can save you big bucks, read my post on the SCORE Success Blog.

Everybody’s talking about job creation, but are small businesses actually hiring? A new study on what entrepreneurs really want before they hire has some interesting insights. Read about in in my blog on Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends.

Thinking about starting a business with your best friend? Read my Business on Main article first–because even if you’ve been buds since kindergarten, running a business together could put your relationship on the rocks.

Holiday sales season is on the horizon–if you’re a retailer, are you ready? Find out what you’ll need to succeed this shopping season in my post on Network Solutions‘ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

Do you know what your competitors are up to? If not, you could be falling behind. Learn some simple ways to keep tabs on your competitors in my post on the Industry Word blog.

Do you target Millennials in your marketing? You should. Find out why these consumers are so important–and the latest on how to reach them–in my post on AT&T‘s SmallBusinessInSite.

If you think Steve Jobs’ leaving Apple has nothing to do with you, think again. Read my post on American Express OPEN Forum to find out the important lesson Jobs’ retirement can teach every entrepreneur.

Catch an employee playing Angry Birds on the job–again? Maybe you should give him or her a raise instead of a warning. Learn the surprising reason why in my Huffington Post Small Business blog post.

At a time when we yearn for an economic recovery in the United States, small businesses should be celebrated and honored for driving growth, innovation and employment. Dell is teaming up with sponsor partners MasterCard and Microsoft to search for “America’s Favorite Small Business.” Recognizing that technology is the tool that propels success, contestants must submit a short video showing why they should be voted America’s Favorite Small Business. The winner will win $25,000 in Dell products, Microsoft software, and a $50,000 MasterCard prepaid card to be applied toward business expenses and supplies. The winner can also promote their business through their own Web reality show on Dell’s YouTube channel.

Businesses must have less than 25 employees and will be judged on the following criteria:

• Positive representation of the ‘American Dream’ (60 percent); (Originality of story and journey; Demonstrated entrepreneurial passion and enthusiasm for your business, with particular attention to customer service; Testimony that technology is a critical part of your businesses success; References may include but are not limited to the following: hardware, software and electronic payment such as credit and debit cards.)

• Quality of Submission (40 percent); (Technical [audio and filming is clear]; Story is relevant and cohesive to the contest.

The deadline for submitting a video is September 11, 2011. For more deadlines, official rules and to submit your video, go to www.Dell.com/AFSB .

With that in mind, Hyatt Place has launched the Road Warrior 2.0 Challenge, asking real-world business travelers to help redefine today’s Road Warrior.

Weekly winners receive a free night at Hyatt Place, and one grand prize winner will win a complete head-to-toe business makeover to help this “Road Warrior 2.0” maximize their efficiency on the road (and have a little fun along the way). The grand prize package is comprised of:

• 10 Free Nights at any Hyatt Place
• Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond status membership through February 2013
• Two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines
• Lenovo Thinkpad X1
• Apple iPad 2
• Samsung Infuse 4G smartphone from AT&T (service not included), The All-New NOOK by Barnes & Noble
• Polaroid Grey Label GL10 Instant Mobile Printer
• Jawbone JAMBOX Wireless Speaker
• Skullcandy “Fix” Earbud
• iSound Portable Power Battery by dreamGEAR
• Hyatt Grand bedding set and Pacific Coast Pillow Fixer travel pillows
• and more.

To enter the contest, visit www.facebook.com/hyattplace and simply 1) Tell Hyatt how you embody or define the modern day Road Warrior, and 2) Create an original, fun name for the modern  Road Warrior.

Last day to enter is October 6, 2011.

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Have you missed any of my posts from around the Net this week? Here’s what I’m writing about.

Consumers are still crazy for coupons. Find out how to make these deals work for you without losing money in my post on Network Solutions’ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

My AOL Small Business column, Survey Says, is now part of the Huffington Post‘s new Small Business channel. Check out this week’s column to find out whether those mobile devices you think are making your team more productive are actually having the opposite effect.

If you’re trying to attract affluent customers, there are a few important things you should know about how they use social media. Find out in my post on AT&T’s Small Business InSite.

Could your small business survive without social media? Get the scoop about how other entrepreneurs feel about social media’s importance in my post on American Express OPEN Forum.

I know this might be hard to believe, but the job market is heating up in some industries and regions. Get the jump on retaining your top workers by finding out which 5 key employee issues you need to know about–my column on AllBusiness.com tells all.

Do you fantasize about retirement? For too many entrepreneurs, retirement may remain just that–a fantasy. Get the scoop in my post on the SCORE Success blog.

How’s the Startup America initiative paying off? Get the update in my post on Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends.

You’ve just started your small business and you’re trying to organize your inventory. Or you feel you’re existing business could run more efficiently if you gave a bit of attention to your organization methods.  Most small businesses could benefit from giving a little attention to their organization and office environment.  Not only could your business run more efficiently, but it would also take the added stress off of you. In today’s guest post, Wasp Barcode Technologies shares five tips to save you time and money, alleviate unwanted headaches and allow you to run your small business more efficiently.

1. Communicate – Communication is vital to the survival of any business—and internal and external communications are equally important. Often, a business owner thinks good communication with a client is more important. But the truth is that communication with your employees is just as crucial. Making sure lines of communication are open between you and your employees will stop problems before they begin, freeing up time that would otherwise be spent working to find solutions.
2. Keep employees happy – Happy employees are productive employees, so praise your employees’ hard work. Provide a reward for above-average efforts. Offer flexible work hours. Make your employees comfortable at work. Include your workers in leadership decisions. These are all ways to build a strong relationship with your employees, which will ensure they gain a sense of ownership in the company.
3. Always adapt to new technology – With the abundance of affordable (and free!) technology available, small businesses today can do more, better, faster and more cheaply. Staying up to date on the latest technologies can be expensive, but the upside to using the latest technologies far outweighs the negatives. There are always improvements and upgrades that will help your small business work more efficiently.
4. Don’t try to be Superman (or Superwoman) – Most successful small businesses aren’t run by a single person. Don’t be the entrepreneur who is afraid to ask for help. Work to build a team of dedicated people. Then refer to Tip #1. Communicate and work as a team.
5. Get organized! – This pertains to your physical work environment as well as your digital organization. Being unorganized will affect every piece of your business–negatively. Get rid of old papers. Organize your computer. Streamline your tracking methods, whether time tracking or inventory tracking. Remove paper whenever possible; digital organization can be much more efficient, in addition to being more eco-friendly.

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