As the economy continues to shed jobs, many have turned to or are considering starting their own businesses. There are numerous benefits to being self-employed- especially in recessionary times such as these. One just needs to know how and when to take advantage of them.

The following is a rundown of some good reasons why self-employment is the way to go in a period of economic adversity:

1. Save money on work-related expenses. Depending on the nature of your business, being self-employed may mean that you are spending less on some of the indirect costs of working for someone else, such as transportation, business attire, or food items.

2. Take advantage of rock-bottom prices. In a recession, the cost of raw materials and supplies as well as real estate and even labor tends to drop. That means lower start-up costs and less over head expenses.

3. Have access to a bigger and better talent pool. A surge in layoffs coupled with a drop in hiring means that many talented, often highly qualified and experienced people will be seeking employment.

4. Take advantage of changes in business relationships and business needs. In order to maintain their competitive advantage, many businesses will be looking to establish new partnerships with those companies that can provide better or more innovative ways of delivering products and services. Being a  new kid on the block may open the doors to such partnerships.

5. Get financing from wary investors still looking for a good return. With a volatile stock market and lower interest rates, investors (especially family and friends) may be more willing to invest in your company.

6.  Economic adversity opens the door to new opportunities and innovation. Consumer needs, habits, and tastes often change during a recession paving the way for opportunistic entrepreneurs.

7.  Be a light in the darkness. Creating, promoting, and growing one’s business under difficult economic circumstances, does not only go against the trend, but it demonstrates a different “side” of the market. This will lead to a win-win situation; the human interest stories will sell and the business will gain publicity as a result.

8. Take advantage of any government policy aimed at businesses. The government’s response (in terms of law making and program development) to the economic slowdown can often mean tax breaks and sometimes new business opportunities.

Though there are many sites online that provide business-related news coverage, not all of them were created equal. The blogs and websites in this list consistently provide quality, up-to-the-minute business news in addition to a collection of informative business articles and resources:

1. Forbes: This online version of Forbes Magazine is perhaps most well-known for its set of “lists”, such as the Celebrity 100, and The World’s Most Powerful People. It is also an excellent source for business news and analysis.

2. Bloomberg: This global news service founded by current NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, is one of the world’s largest and reliable sources of financial news.

3. BusinessWeek:  An online version of the weekly business publication of the same name, BusinessWeek is now under the auspices of Bloomberg, LP which acquired the magazine in December of 2009.

4. Reuters: The world’s largest multimedia global reporting agency, providing news, information, and investigations as well as a range of financial and economic services.

5. CNN Money: One of the leading business and finance websites, CNN Money is the online version of Fortune and Money magazines.

6. Kiplinger – A must-read for small and home-based business owners, Kiplinger provides a wealth of personal finance advice, info, and financial management tools. It is also a great place to find general business news and forecasting.

7. Small Business Brief: A social site with a focus on small business news. The blog is easy to navigate and highly informative, providing entrepreneurs with the know how to successfully create, start, and operate a small business.

8. All Business: This site provides a wealth of practical information and news pertinent to small businesses. Be sure to also check out the business blog center.

9. You’re The Boss:  This NY Times small business blog offers small business related news, insight, and discussion.

10. Fresh Inc: Fresh Inc. offers a bold and smart look at general issues and trends effecting the business world. Be sure to check out the resource center blogs.

As a small business owner, having access to the right information at the right time can save not only conserve precious resources but also save you a great deal of headache and heartache.

Those looking for information on the best free government resources have many very helpful sites to choose from. Most of the following list comes courtesy of  SCORE, but I added a few of my own sites that are also worth checking out:

1. American Management Association The American Management Association provides information, seminars and e-learning courses on business management topics. At the top of the home page, AMA features an article or series focusing on a current business issue or topic.

2. Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (USASBE) The mission of the Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (USASBE) is to advance knowledge and foster business development, entrepreneurship education and research.

3. Business Nation Find info and links to local business resources. Select your state and get local business news, resources and links.

4. Business.gov The official resource to help businesses quickly find compliance information, forms and contacts from multiple U.S. government Web sites.

5. Department of Homeland Security The Department of Homeland Security’s Web site includes information to small businesses about potential business opportunities and keeping employees safe in the event of a terror attack.

6. Diversity 2000 This site offers a free database of Minority and Women Business Enterprises  as well as contacts within Fortune 1000 companies.

7. Edward Lowe Foundation The Edward Lowe Foundation helps emerging growth businesses and second-stage business owners.

8. eVenturing eVenturing, run by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, delivers useful information, guidance and contacts to entrepreneurs.

9. eWomen Network, GLOW Project, GLOW Movie eWomen Network is a resource for connecting and promoting women and their businesses. Leader of the GLOW project and the GLOW movie.

10. Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) The sole source for federal government procurement opportunities that exceed $25,000.

11. Fedmarket.com Fedmarket.com offers free content including a “how-to” guide to small businesses interested in entering the federal marketplace. Fedmarket.com also provides products, services and federal sales training to small businesses.

12. FedStats This site lists statistics from more than 100 government agencies, useful when conducting market research.

13. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) FINRA, through the consolidation of NASD and the New York Stock Exchange, is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation, complementary compliance and technology-based services, which include market regulation, policy enforcement and dispute resolution.

14. GiveMe5.com American Express and WIPP.org come together to help women small business owners by educating them and offering tools to help to secure government contracts.

15. Hispanic Business Federal Guide Get information on 8(a) certification, procurement contacts within federal agencies, and grant information.

16. IRS Small Business/Self-Employed Web Site The IRS Web site offers a broad range of products, services and resources to educate and assist small business owners and self-employed professionals.

17. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) A Federal agency established for the encouragement, creation, growth, and expansion of minority-owned businesses in the U.S.

18. National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) NASE is the nation’s leading Web resource for self-employed and micro-businesses. This site provides a broad range of benefits and support.

19. National Business Association The National Business Association keeps members up-to-date and informed on important issues impacting the self-employed and small business community.

20. National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (UIDA) A subsidiary of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, dedicated to developing American Indian economic self-sufficiency through business ownership.

21. National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group that represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals.

22. Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices A wealth of immigration-related employment discrimination information can be found on this Web site.

23. Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) PERI is a nonprofit that offers risk-management resources and training to small businesses. Look for their Risk Management for Small Business publication and their Workplace Safety Kit.

24. SCORE – Service Corps Of Retired Executives Recieve free counseling and business advice from experienced business professionals. This site also contains informative articles and links to various small business resources.

25. Social Security Online This site allows employers to process their W-2s for their employees. The process requires no special software.

26. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) The online CFDA gives access to a database of all federal assistance programs.

27. The Retailer Owners Institute The Retailer Owners Institute is dedicated to improving the financial professionalism of independent retailers.

28. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Center The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Center provides small business news and practical business advice. This is the largest national membership organization of chambers in the country.

29. U.S. Department of Commerce Department of Commerce offers information on foreign markets and international trade. Commerce also monitors and enforces compliance with U.S. trade laws and agreements.

30. U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) BLS is an agency for the Federal Government that produces labor economic data and statistics.

31. U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National business membership organization for Hispanic entrepreneurs with a variety of how to information, national conferences and a membership spanning the nation.

32. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office This site contains everything you need to know about patents and trademarks.

33. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their businesses.

34. USA.gov FirstGov is online collection of federal, local and tribal governments, information, services and resources.

35. Winning Workplaces Winning Workplaces is a nonprofit that provides small and mid-size  employers with proven, practical and affordable people practices, tools and articles to help entrepreneurs improve their workplace practices.

36. WomanBiz.gov A site for woman business owners who are or who want to sell their products and services to the federal government.

37. Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century This site provides women with numerous resources, such as info on government procurement, access to capital,  international business, and online workshops.

38. Women’s Business Enterprise National Council This national council serves as an advocate for women-owned suppliers, and helps women-owned businesses obtain certification.

If you are looking to start your own business you might want to consider the sound advice of famous entrepreneurs- those who have already trodden the path to business success. In the following list, several well-known business tycoons offer a collection of business tips and general words of wisdom to keep you and your business on the right track.

think ahead

1. All successful people have a vision. They have the ability the “see” clearly what they want before it exists.-Bill Gates, Co-founder and chairman of Microsoft Corp.

2. Some of success is luck. Just being in the right place at the right time. –Bill Gates

3. When you find a good idea act on it right away. –Bill Gates

4.  Absorb, assess, and then act. Knowledge without action is impotence. –Donald Trump, Flamboyant Chairman and CEO of Trump Organization.

5. Avoid your comfort zone — it’s probably outdated anyway-Donald Trump

6. Resolve to be bigger than your problems. Who’s the boss? –Donald Trump

7. If you’re honest, you should know the questions that should be asked, as well as the answers. That’s probably why there’s so much confusion out there today. –Donald Trump

8. Do business with people you like and who share your objectives. –Warren Buffett,  chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

9. It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently –Warren  Buffett

10. Borrowed money is the most common way that smart guys go broke. – Warren Buffett

11. Price is what you pay. Value is what you get. -Warren Buffett

12. Strive to become a market leader. Own and control the primary technology in everything you do. –Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Corp.

13. Ask for feedback from customers of diverse backgrounds –Steve Jobs

14. Learn from failures, admit it and move on. –Steve Jobs

15. Learn continually from people within and outside of your company –Steve Jobs

16. You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new. –Steve Jobs

17. Have a clear articulation of what your value proposition is – what makes you different? –Michael  Dell, founder and CEO of Dell, Inc.

18. Tough times present new opportunities and the seeds can be sown for future successful companies –Michael  Dell

19. There’s never been an easier time to connect with customers all over the world – utilize social media opportunities like blogs, Facebook and Twitter –Michael Dell

20. Find something that works well and then replicate it –Michael Dell

21. Take advantage of the resources around you – people, technology and suppliers –Michael Dell

22. Keep your messages simple and clutter free to reach your market faster –Jack Welch, Chairman and CEO of General Electric

23. See change as an opportunity-keep an eye out for changes to your business –Jack Welch

24. Do your homework or hire wise experts to help you. Never jump into a business you have no idea about. –John Templeton, British stock investor

25. There’s no free lunch. You won’t make it big in one day but persistence will take you there. –John Templeton

26. Leadership is not about a title, degree or level. Anybody can lead at any time.-Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and Executive Vice President at AT&T

27. Change is always hard. There is always resistance.-Carly Fiorina

28. Sustainable business planning has long term benefits for your business- Fujio Mitarai, Chairman of Canon and head of the Japanese Business Federation

29. Environmentally friendly products are sustainable for the planet and more sensible from a business perspective-Fujio Mitarai

30. When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts  -Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation

31. Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.- Sir Richard Branson, founder of the “Virgin” brand of over 350 companies.

32. Big businesses will always try to crush small upstarts. To beat big businesses, use the strengths of being small. Big corporations are impersonal; staff are often not treated well. At a small company, you can make sure your staff are proud of working for you and then they’ll work hard to be successful. And small companies are more nimble- Sir Richard Branson

33. If you’re a successful entrepreneur, wealth comes with it. A responsibility comes with that wealth.-Sir Richard Branson

34. A good company runs as if it is a family. If your son messes up, you don’t kick him out of the house- Sir Richard Branson

35. There are no shortcuts. You have to work hard, and try to put yourself in a position where if luck strikes, you can see the opportunity and take   advantage of it. I would also say it’s hard not to fool yourself. Everyone tells you how they are going to be”special,” but few do the work to get  there. Do the work.- Mark Cuban, Chairman of HDNet and owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team

References:

http://freebusinesstips.com.au/people/three-vital-steps-to-success-according-to-bill-gates

http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/trumpsurvivaltips.htm
http://www.christianpf.com/my-five-favorite-quotes-from-warren-buffett/
http://www.1000advices.com/guru/leader_corporate_12_success_rules_sj.html
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/emea/corporate/pressoffice/2008/uk/en/2008_12_11_brk_000?c=uk&l=en
http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/mgmt_new-model_25lessons-welch.html
https://www.franklintempleton.com/retail/pdf/home/splash_PUB/TL_R16_1207.pdf
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/3384.html
http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/hbreditors/2008/10/leading_in_tumultuous_times_ad.html
http://www.twincommas.com/business-advice-from-billionaires
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/entrepreneur/managing/article.jsp?content=20061024_115646_5640

As a new small business owner it may be very gratifying to develop and sustain a business for an entire year- especially if you are doing so under adverse economic conditions. But keep in mind as you celebrate this one-year milestone that there will still be a significant amount of work to do to help ensure that your venture remains viable in the years to come. According to statistics, about half of all new small businesses will fail within the first few years of operation.

After the initial start-up stage, it is extremely important to shift your focus to financial planning, operational efficiency, and strengthening your market position- all of which can only fully occur once a business has been up and running for some time.

Below is a list of some important things to consider when your business turns one year old: 

• Is the business registered under an appropriate corporate structure? Different corporate structures produce different fiscal, taxable, and legal realities for their owners, and it is quite common among small businesses that they change from one structure to another as they grow and develop.

• Are you taking steps to build your business’ credit profile? Building your business’s credit is essential if you want to have access to various forms of financing, but it is not a passive process. Make sure you are entering into transactions that will positively affect your business’s credit history.

• Evaluate your marketing strategies. After operating for a year, it is a good idea to examine your marketing initiatives to see how much Return on Investment (ROI) you are achieving. You should also consider if you are effectively conveying to customers that which makes your products or services unique.

• Evaluate your business’s operations. It is a good idea to take stock of how smoothly and effectively your business is operating so that any changes and improvements can be made. Think: quality control and productivity. Make sure that you also consider how your business is utilizing available resources, including worker input, supplies, and materials.

• Keep tabs on employee and customer satisfaction. If either of these two groups are unhappy then it does not bode well for your business.

• Cash flow, Cash flow, Cash flow! Is there enough available capital to cover operational expenses? What about growth? Make sure you are in touch with any impending cash shortfalls and that you have access to quick, short-term sources of financing.

(Image Credit)

As the 2010 tax season kicks into high gear small business owners should be aware that there are several favorable changes to the tax code that will affect small businesses in particular. These amendments were designed to provide a little relief in our struggling economy, and they should do just that to those who qualify- especially since many of them are applicable to a variety of industries and business sizes.

The following is a brief rundown of the most significant amendments:

First-Time Home buyer Credit

Last fall, this tax credit was expanded in three notable ways:

1. The deadline for purchasing a new principal residence was extended till April 30, 2010 (with the closing occurring before July 1st).

2. Initially, this credit only applied to first-time home buyers Now it is also available to previous homeowners buying a replacement principal residence.

3. Finally, the income limit has been increased, allowing a larger pool of home buyers to claim the credit.

The details and structure of this credit will vary depending on when the home was purchased. Those who run home-based businesses in a new residence may be may eligible for an $8,000 credit equivalent to a 15 year interest-free loan. For more information on the home buyers tax credit, click here.

Business Property and Equipment Depreciation and the Section 179 Tax Deduction

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) created at the beginning of last year extended the bonus depreciation and increased the section 179 deduction. The new legislation extends the 50% depreciation allowance, also known as bonus depreciation, through 2009. Moreover, instead of claiming annual depreciation deductions on capital investments over a multi-year period, small businesses can claim an immediate deduction up to $250,000 on the cost of any qualifying property including machinery, equipment, vehicles, and furniture that was placed into service in 2009.

More information on capital expense deductions is available on the IRS website. Section179.org also provides an assortment of helpful information and advice as well as a Section 179 deduction calculator.

5-Year Carryback of 2009 Net Operating Losses

At the end of last year, President Obama enacted the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. Part of the new legislation allows small business owners to carry back net operating losses (NOLs) from either 2008 or 2009 for up to five years, an increase from the previous two-year carryback period. imposes a 50-percent income limit on NOL offsets in the fifth preceding tax year. This means that NOLs carried back five years are limited to 50-percent of the available taxable income for that year. Any remaining NOL can then be used to fully offset taxable income in the other four carryback years. By carrying back their losses, businesses can secure a refund of taxes paid in a previous year.

Click here for more information on the Net Operating Loss Carryback.

Cancellation of Business Debt

The ARRA allows qualifying businesses to elect to defer recognition of income from the cancellation of certain corporate or business debt instruments in 2009 or 2010. Income recognition can be deferred five years after the reacquisition and then is included ratably over a five-year period beginning in 2014.

More information on the cancellation of debt is provided on the IRS wesite.

COBRA Premium Assistance Credit

The ARRA further allows those small businesses that provided COBRA assistance to terminated employees in 2009 to obtain a 65% credit against COBRA amounts paid. The credit is taken against employment tax liabilities (see IRS Forms: 941, 944, or 943). The credit is regarded as a deposit made on the first day of the quarterly or yearly return period. For more information, click here.

Tax Credits for Green Business Purchases

There are several tax credits extended to those businesses that purchase qualifying alternative energy and energy-conserving equipment. The $4,000 business energy credit for purchases of fuel cells property, micro turbine property, and solar energy property has been extended through 2016.

There are also several credits extended to the purchase or conversion of alternative motor vehicles, including a new plug-in conversion credit and a new plug-in electric vehicle credit.

For more information on the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, click here.

Home-business owners may also be able to take advantage of several home energy tax credits that allow homeowners to claim certain energy saving home improvements.

Work Opportunity Credit

Under the ARRA, two new groups have been added to the work opportunity credit: unemployed veterans who have been discharged or released from active duty and disconnected youth- those aged 16-25 who are not attending school, are not regularly employed, and lack a number of basic skills.

More information on the work opportunity credit can be found here.

(Image Credit)

I want to end off this series of Twitter posts by breaking away a little from the business theme of this blog and take a brief philosophical-type tangent…

The Internet and the technology that both supports and relies on it has been changing quite rapidly over the past couple of decades, and throughout its insurgence many websites have risen and fallen. Remember Lycos and Friendster?

But Twitter is poised to buck that trend. Many users and numerous technology and business experts attribute Twitter’s current success to the fact that it is a versatile networking and information-sharing platform. However, Twitter’s longevity will stem specifically from its role as a business and organizational tool because in this capacity Twitter’s communication model promotes a culture of giving. Twitter asks the question: what do you have to offer to your community? And it does so in a way that is more open and dynamic then the other popular social networking sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook.

The Internet has traditionally been seen as the medium that levels the playing field where those people and groups who may be “limited” in “real life” can suddenly rise to the top and make contributions where they would have never been able to before. One just needs to consider the success and proliferation of user-generated media such as blogs, Wikipedia, and YouTube as well as the open source movement and the increased reliance among businesses on crowd sourcing.

Though all this openness may open the door to a whole slew of fraudulent practices, Twitter is not just about self promotion, automatic responses, or greedy self-fulfillment (though it does still happen throughout the site). In fact far from it.

Overall, the ones who succeed on Twitter (i.e. grow and maintain a community of loyal and active followers) especially when it comes to business are generally those people and groups who are real, considerate, and “real”-ly consistent. Many people tell newbies to look for opportunities to listen before tweeting, to offer useful help, stay away from automatic responses and spammy self-promotion and in short be themselves.

Twitter will last because its culture is bringing some light and positivity into the online social order. Something we should perhaps take note of at a time when so much corporate greed, political bickering, and corruption is being brazenly flaunted in the face of the “every man.” Maybe those who are spreading the “Twitter love” can influence the world at large.

In the spirit of the iPhone, the emergence of every great new technology these days leaves in its wake a clamor of software developers racing to build the applications that will enhance its usage. Twitter is certainly no exception. If you are just now beginning to integrate Twitter into your business operations the good news is that there are hundreds of really useful apps out there that can make a big difference in the way you use the site and significantly increase your ROI. The bad news is that with all the options it could get a bit overwhelming, not to mention a time consuming process trying to narrow down the most suitable apps.

To make the process a bit easier, I have compiled a list of some of the most versatile Twitter tools applicable to small businesses and organized them into functional categories. Some of the apps listed here will over lap in terms of features, so it’s a matter of trying them out to see which ones work best for you and your business.

Just a note before getting to the list… If you are just starting out with Twitter, then you should pick no more than two or three of these tools to use at first. As you become more familiar with the site and your pattern of usage and learn more about your needs, you can then change them or add more.

Twitter Search Tools

ChirpCity- A local Twitter search that allows you to see the latest tweets and the top twitterers in a given location.

Nearby Tweets – Find twitterers near your area; you can also limit your search by radius and keywords

Tweepz – A powerful search engine that helps you find people on twitter. Search within the name, bio and location.

Twellow – A search directory of people by area of expertise, profession or other attribute listed in users’ personal profiles on Twitter.

Tweefind – A Twitter search engine that displays results based on users’ rank

Twazzup - A real-time Twitter search engine. Search Tweets, related photos and the most popular links.

Tracking News and Trends in Real-time

Trendistic – Search trends in the topics discussed on Twitter, and compare trends across topics.

Tweetmeme – A great resource to see the most recent news and trends within your industry.

Keeping Track of and Managing Follower Lists

Twitoria – This application allows you sort through your network of followers and filter out the inactive users.

Tweepler – Sort through new followers and easily accept them or ignore them. This app shows the followers’ stats and last three tweets in one simple screen view.

Twimailer – Use this free email client to receive extensive email notifications when your account gets new followers. Emails contain the follower’s location, followers stats as well as their most recent tweets. It also includes the ability to follow the person or organization back without having to log into Twitter.

Digsby – Manage all your existing IM, email, and social network accounts from one application.

IsFollow. This web-based Twitter app that lets you find out who is following who without having to login.

Topify – Another email client that provides new follower stats and allows you to follow and reply to direct messages by email.

FollowWatch – Receive hourly alerts of followers that you have gained or lost.

Qwitter – Receive an email notification whenever anyone stops following you.

Account Management

Future Tweets -Schedule your tweets ahead of time. You can also schedule reoccuring tweets daily, monthly, and yearly.

Tweetburner – This app allows you to keep track of what happens to the links in tweets you share.

Tweet Later – Track keywords, track replies, schedule tweets, send welcome direct messages.

Splitweet – A multi-account management app and brand monitor all in one screen.

Multi-user Account Management

Cotweet – Manage multiple accounts with multiple users by creating tweet assignments and on duty status, in addition to having access to several other productivity tools.

Hootsuite – Use this Twitter client to manage multiple Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & WordPress profiles as well as montior keywords, schedule updates, and measure your impact.

Group Tweet – This app enables users to send private Twitter messages to specific groups of friends or co-workers.

Tweeting from Your Web Browser

Twitter Toolbar – Use this toolbar to get instant access to Twitter from your browser. Post tweets, check your stats, and access a variety of online Twitter tools.

TwitterFox – A Firefox plugin allowing people to post Twitter updates and recieve them from followers from their Firefox browser.

Feed Monitoring

Monitter – A web-based tool that allows you to monitor Twitter in real-time for mentions of any specified keywords.

Tweetbeep – Set up email alerts so that anytime anyone mentions your brand or any other specified keywords on Twitter, you receive an email notification in your inbox.

Twitter Clients

Tweetdeck – Stay on top of and even update all of your social media sites, manage multiple Twitter accounts, see top trends, and much more all from one screen and all for free. It’s even available for the iPhone.

Seesmic- A versatile Twitter client that includes features such as Twitter list integration and the ability to preview multi-media bit.ly links within the same browser window.

Twitzap – A web-based Twitter client that provides real-time Twitter monitoring and allows users to slice tweet streams into designated channels.

Blog and Website Integration

Twitterfeed – Allows you to feed your blog posts to Twitter.

Twit This – Allow visitors to your blog or website to post Twitter messages.

Twitter Counter – A badge that displays the number of your Twitter followers. You can add this to your site and invite customers to follow you on Twitter.

Analytics

Bit.ly – This popular URL shortener also packs several analytics features.

Twitalyzer – Analyzes how effectively you are using Twitter by measuring five aspects of Twitter use: “influence, signal, generosity, velocity, and clout. The factors that influence these metrics include your number of followers, references by others, your retweet rate, and the number of times others retweet your posts. The new beta version also calculates the “hidden costs” of using Twitter based on your hourly pay.

Twitteranalyzer - Get quick, in depth analyis of your Twitter account activity. Plug in your account name and have instant access to a variety of stats.

Tweetstats – Graph your Twitter activity stats including tweets per hour and month as well as reply stats.

Multi-media/ File Sharing

Bubble Tweet – Use this app to post a short video message that pops up on your Twitter profile.

TwitPic – Share your favorite pictures on Twitter.

Twitxr – Post pictures and updates from your mobile phone directly to Twitter.

Tweetr – Share files up to 10MB via Twitter.

Twiturm – Share your MP3 files and turn them into a Tweet.

Twisten.FM – Listen to all of the music tweeted about in real-time.

TweetPhoto – A photosharing app that can upload photos by email, mobile or web. You can also manage and track who is viewing your photos.

yFrog – Use this app to share images and videos.

FileTwt – Quickly and easily upload and Tweet your files up to 20MB.

TinySong – Share songs with this application.

TweetMic – This iPhone application allows you to publish audio to Twitter

Marketing/Customer Relations

twtQpon – Use this handy app to create coupons and share them with your Twitter followers.

TwitterHawk – This app will send your local Twitter users a response if they tweet a certain keyword in specifc locations.

Information Back-up

Tweetake – Back up your list of Twitter followers, the people you are following as well as of your Tweets.

Twitter Safe – Use this app to ensure that your network of followers will not be compromised.

Miscellenous Business Tools

Track This – Track the progress of any UPS, USPS, FedEx or DHL shipments.

Tweetbrain This is a powerful crowdsourcing service for the Twitterers.

CalendarTweet – Use this app to tag, share and promote events.

Twitterific – An iPhone app that allows you to easily read and update Tweets.

TwitterMass – A paid-for suite of tools to help you grow your Twitter network.

TwitterContd – Expand your tweets to1250 characters and simultaneously upload images, video or audio.

Twiggit – This app works in conjunction with Digg.com. Digg an article, and your Twitter account will be automatically updated with the link.

Twitter Gallery – A collection of profile backgrounds.

Small business owners wondering how they can harness the power of Twitter to increase sales and build their business connections can find several great lists floating around the web. For example, check out here, here and here.

Almost all of these tips essentially boil down to one point: success with Twitter as a business tool revolves around building and maintaining your relationships- something which on the surface seems surprising given that posts are limited to 140 characters. How much can one actually do in 140 characters?

As it turns out, quite a lot.

Twitter is a dynamic online social experience that provides a real-time wellspring of business networking, and customer interaction, as well as critical information and insight from industry leaders and experts. But underlying all this, Twitter allows a community of users to engage with each other in a quick and easy way.

Below is a summary of the most essential tips for small and home business owners looking to break into the Twitter scene for the first time. In a following post, I will examine several Twitter apps which can significantly enhance your Twitter time and information management.

1. Develop your business’ profile page. If you are new to Twitter then your first order of business is to build up your profile page. This is the page that other Twitter users (i.e. your potential business contacts and customers) will consult to find out what you and your business are all about. One of the biggest pieces of advice regarding this page is to let your personality or your business’ brand image shine bright. For a few stunning examples, check out @idesignstudios, @sitepointdotcom, @spurrachel, and @Doubleolee. If you are not the creative type, there are several web apps available, such as, Free Twitter Designer, that can help you create a customized profile page background.

2. In the beginning… silence is golden. Some new to Twitter may be tempted to jump right in and start tweeting away. But before you seriously begin offering any comments, ancedotes, links, or responses, it is a good idea to spend a couple of weeks just following a few of the conversations. Getting used to the tone and flow of a thread before posting will help you to keep your tweets focused and relevant.

3. Build up your followers list slowly. Don’t start following a hundred people on your first day. Begin adding friends and family, then work your way out. By slowly adding people or businesses to your followers list, it gives them the time to get to know who you are and maybe reciprocate by following you.

Another tip: If you are specifically looking to add a certain group of people to your followers list, for example, other business owners in your state or county, then it is also a good idea to send out a tweet letting people know that this is your intention. That way, if you add anyone from this group they will know why they were added.

4. Stay away from spam, and over self-promotion. Though advertisement and self-promotion have their place on Twitter, it should be done carefully and in moderation. One of the biggest turn-offs in the Twitosphere (followed by a quick click on the “unfollow” button) is being bombarded with sales pitches.

5. Focus on building relationships. One of the best ways to build connections and increase visibility on Twitter is to take some time to scan the message stream and retweet or reply to the posts of other users. Specifically look for places where you can offer help or advice. Engaging with your followers is also important. Don’t forget to acknowledge anyone who took the time the RT one of your tweets.

6. Keep your flow of tweets interesting, consistent, and well-balanced. Ideally, your tweets should be a mixed bag of links, “status” updates, responses to other users, interesting retweets, and even a bit of chatter. The goal is to be approachable, engaging, and genuine. If you have a good sense of humor, use it as long as it is tasteful.

7. Use Twitter with time and content management tools. Twitter can be a really big time guzzler. After setting up your profile page and adding a few people, businesses, and/or communities to your follows list, you will want to put some controls in place to ensure that you are not spending too much time with the site. Your “tools” can be as simple as having a daily schedule with your “Twitter time” blocked out at set intervals, or you can use Twitter in conjunction with any number of Twitter apps, such as tweetdeck and tweetbeep.

8. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. There are many creative ways that small businesses can use Twitter. Some examples include: running a Twitter contest, offering discounts to Twitter users, sending out real-time updates of what’s happening in your business, as well as tweeting new product and service announcements.

 As the year and a decade come to an end it is time to both reflect on the past and plan for the future…

I recently came across this survey conducted by the Pew Institute which examined popular attitudes on the most notable technological and social changes of the past decade.

According to half of the respondents the current decade is considered the worst in 50 years. This sentiment is further reflected in the expressions they used to describe it- words such as “downhill,” “poor,” “decline,” “disappointing,” “turbulent,” and “chaotic.”

For many small business owners the past few years have been particularly brutal as consumer confidence and spending dropped and the flow of credit was reduced to an almost indiscernible trickle.

But not all is doom and gloom. The last few years have brought to small businesses a wide range of technology that allows them to significantly improve operations and successfully compete with bigger companies. The recessionary economy has also created a crucible of sorts giving rise to new business ideas and opportunities. Moreover, the spate of corporate bankruptcies that occurred toward the end of the decade left gaps for nimble and advantageous small businesses to fill.

Given all of these trends, I have composed a list of what I feel are the ten most important resolutions for small business owners in 2010.

 1. Acquire healthy business habits: The healthier the core business operations, the better the chances that your business will survive and thrive. This means proper cash flow management, disaster planning, content management, and theft prevention. Where growth is a possibility, look to diversify what your business offers, add more value for customers, and make sure that the level of growth is sustainable.

2. Invest in an Internet presence. Having and sustaining an online presence is an important tool in marketing and image branding. But, small business owners should keep in mind here that quality is more important than quantity with all the bells and whistles. To be effective, your web presence does not have to cost you a fortune in either time or money. Maintain a simple, up-to-date website. Make sure that your business is listed in the major and local online directories, as well as Point of Interest databases. Where appropriate you might want to initiate an email marketing campaign or upload informative videos on to YouTube.

3. Get on the social networking bandwagon: Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have been generating a lot of buzz over the past couple years by providing an easy way for people to connect and share information. Many businesses big and small have joined the fray, by for example, maintaining their own Facebook and Twitter profiles.

Now, with Google’s recent announcement of its new personalized search results, social networking sites are poised to play a more prominent role in bringing traffic to your business website. One cool feature: enter a Google search query and you will see relevant updates and suggestions from your friends in Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. It’s definitely a trend worth noting and incorporating into your online marketing strategy.

4. Bring on the gadgets: From smart phones, such as RIM’s Blackberry series or the ubiquitous iPhone, to netbooks and pocket projectors, the market is literally flooded with some really powerful and handy electronic devices. Where budgets are tight, look to bring in multi-functional equipment.

5. …And load those gadgets up with some good apps: Your equipment is only as good as the tools and programs you put on it. Make sure to check out any free open source versions of popular software programs as well as a slew of low-cost apps that can turn your phone into a powerful business tool.

Though the next four resolutions fall under good business practices, they deserve specific mention:

6. Don’t skimp on security: Make sure your sensitive business information is protected from would-be thieves and hackers-especially if you conduct business online.

7. Be selective in your hiring: The job market is currently flooded with qualified individuals seeking employment. But even if your applicant pool has grown don’t shy away from conducting standard background checks such as calling references and conducting online searches.

8. Build good business credit: With the credit markets holding at a virtual standstill, maintaining a good business credit history has become all the more vital to accessing financing. It also paves the way for future business-to-business transactions.

9. Revamp your debt collection policy: Times are tough, and it may be affecting the ability of your valuable customers to pay up on time. It is therefore all the more important to re-evaluate and refine your debt collection policy to ensure that your cash flow is even and your customers remain loyal.

10. Look on the bright side: Even if your business has been forced to cut back or put off growth opportunities, look for ways to maximize the situation, such as seeking out cost reductions and redefining your company’s product or goals. 

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