FastUpFront Small Business Blog

One of the biggest trends making waves in the coming year is the increase in the number of people who will use their smartphones, tablet computers, and other mobile devices to access the Internet. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 35% of American adults own a smartphone and 44% of them [...]

I’m sure you’ve seen the articles about how to save money in this up-and-down economy, so you’re likely aware that web conferencing is becoming more and more popular. For those who are unfamiliar, web conferencing is a way to hold a meeting virtually so that everyone can attend and interact, as opposed to talking through [...]

Sometimes it seems as if technology is changing at the speed of light. Blink just once, and suddenly that cutting edge device of yours seems like a clunky relict. Though most small businesses owners may not be hanging on to every advance the tech world has to offer, many still need to be sure that [...]

With all the buzz being generated around Google’s new social networking and information sharing tool, Google+, you could be planning to add this service to your web content in the form of the Google+ button (if you haven’t already). But, as the title to this post suggests, you may want to wait it out a [...]

When the group discount site Groupon first appeared on the Internet radar in 2008, it seemed like a bane for small business owners looking for a way to pump up sluggish sales and attract new customers. It’s daily deals are known to attract hordes of interested, deal seeking consumers.   But as other deal sites [...]

As smart phones and other mobile devices become common place and people increasingly turn to the Internet to help them plan out their daily business and leisure activities, the growing importance and impact of local search cannot be ignored. If you run a local brick and mortar business, you should do what you can to [...]

The high profile search engine giant Google Inc., recently announced it’s new pay-by-phone service, Google Wallet, slated for a limited run this summer. Though many are quick to point out the service’s glaring shortcomings, such as that it only works with the MasterCard network, is available for only one Android phone model, and so far [...]

Laptops and cell phones are natural thieve targets since they are small, easy to snatch and are often accidently left unattended in public places such as a coffee shop, airport or in a car. According to the FBI, 97% of laptops are never recovered after theft- which is bad news for business travelers. Fortunately for [...]

One of the lessons to take away from the devastating destruction that has literally engulfed Japan over the past couple of weeks is that one never knows when disaster will strike. As a small business owner, it is good business practice to be prepared to some extent for the worst, or else you risk loosing [...]

As technology continues to improve and businesses remain focused on cost reduction, there has been a growing interest in telecommuting. Many smaller companies in particular have been embracing this option, as they scramble to maintain a healthy cash flow and stay competitive in this still challenging economy. If your small business is looking to test [...]