WANTED: More Women in Executive MBA Programs
May 27, 2010 by SmallBiz-Resources.com · Leave a Comment
How can Wall Street get itself out of the current financial crisis? They can start by putting more women at the helm. According to the latest research, companies with female board members traditionally outperform those without, and 80 percent of purchasing decisions in the U.S. are made by women.
If this is true, why aren’t more qualified women attaining business leadership positions? To date, only 15.7 percent of Fortune 500 corporate officers are women.
This may be partly due to the dismal enrollment among women in Executive MBA (EMBA) programs. So business schools are actively courting women, by addressing some of the stumbling blocks that have traditionally kept women from pursuing the degree.
The Work/Life Balance
The Wall Street Journal reports that the nation’s EMBA programs are only comprised of 20 percent females. EMBA courses generally run full days on weekends, to accommodate those anxious to complete degrees while managing full-time work schedules. For many women who see weekends as family time, the EMBA is fairly unappealing.
It’s a work/life balance that women are increasingly seeking and, perhaps mistakenly, believing that EMBA programs and the corporate fast track won’t offer. However, the EMBA may offer more of such a balance than traditional programs, because it can prepare women for career advancement more quickly, without causing them to lose ground at work.
Other reasons many women cite for shunning EMBA programs include: difficulty finding money to cover the cost of the program, the perception that the glass ceiling may keep real advancement at bay, a lack of female role models, a lack of encouragement from peers, family or employers, as well as a lack of confidence in their own math skills.
What Women Have, B-Schools Want
Universally, businesses and business schools alike agree that a diverse population of men and women is extremely valuable. This diversity can enhance fellow students’ experiences by increasing the pool of skills and ideas available, enabling greater networking opportunities, leveling the playing field in the workplace, and producing qualified candidates who may be more likely to identify with businesses’ intended consumers.
Traditionally, the “feminine” traits of emotional engagement, altruism, and cooperation have been perceived as weak and therefore less valuable in the profit-and-loss corporate world. Yet it’s these traits that, in a struggling economy, are vital to finding and building relationships with customers.
Because it pays to draw women to EMBA programs, many business schools are making themselves more attractive. They’re recruiting more female faculty, featuring more women in advertising materials, offering flexibility through online courses, and trying to make more EMBA scholarships available.
A Return on Your EMBA Investment
There are numerous reasons why it can pay to earn an EMBA, not the least of which is that it can enhance your ability to identify with and court clients. The MBA credential offers a boost to your confidence and credibility with colleagues, which can ensure others that you have the expertise needed to take on more responsibility.
Not to mention the salary boost. The Executive MBA Council says that in 2007, students surveyed reported a 21 percent salary increase after completing their EMBA, and 43 percent of students received promotions while still enrolled in their EMBA programs.
An EMBA can provide you with numerous valuable tools, including the know-how to assess risk, harvest innovative ideas, forecast market behavior, and effectively market products. Plus, those female entrepreneurs looking for investment capital or angel funding may likely find that investors are far more receptive to those backed by an MBA education.
So while the sacrifice of time and money may at first seem overwhelming, EMBA programs are becoming more and more accessible and attractive than they’ve ever been, and with the return on investment this degree provides, now might be just the right time to look into it.
Edu411.org is a career education directory for finding colleges and universities, training schools, and technical institutes. For more information about careers, online education and campus based career programs, please visit us at www.Edu411.org.
The Public Relations Toolkit
May 22, 2010 by SmallBiz-Resources.com · Leave a Comment
Product Description
How do you made decisions about products you will buy, services you will try or things you want to learn more about? Chances are that some decisions will be influenced by what you read in newspapers, hear on the radio, see on TV or read on the Internet.
Public Relations (PR) works hand-in-hand with the media that your customers and prospects are exposed to every day. PR takes advantage of the media’s role: To inform, entertain and provide information to their readers or audiences. With a few key tools, it is possible to work with reporters to create visibility for your business and the solutions and services you provide.
PR is a great way for you to make more money and build your business even bigger than it already is. PR can inform prospects about your capabilities and products and create new business leads. It can condition the market by introducing your company name or strengths to potential customers. If potential customers already have a favorable idea of your business, PR can shorten the time needed to convince customers to buy. PR can also reinforce your current customers’ decisions to buy, by creating a positive image for your business and ultimately bring them back for more.
This is a PR Toolkit that gives you the tools you need to perform PR that can make a difference for your business. It includes fundamental tools you can use to get started, including understanding how PR works and how it can benefit you, as well as actual examples of press releases and story ideas you can use today to get immediate results for your business.
Most importantly, though, this toolkit sheds light on proven PR secrets used by its author, John Sternal, a seasoned PR professional of nearly 20 years. During this time, John has successfully generated key media placements and stories in all kinds of leading media outlets, including Business Week, The TODAY Show, The Wall Street Journal, and many more. John has written countless articles and has been published all across the country, and he shows you how to write press releases and pitch letters so that they are the first ones reporters look at for story ideas.
Buy from Amazon –> The Public Relations Toolkit
Bookselling Now On Google
May 12, 2010 by SmallBiz-Resources.com · Leave a Comment
While Google Inc (GOOG) has been talking about publishing orphan (in copyright, out-of-print) books for a while, the company has announced Google Editions, its play in the mainstream digital bookselling business. The story was initially published by the Wall Street Journal.
The plan is to make books easily searchable by mentioning the title in the search box, which would among other links, also provide the link to the Google Editions version of the book. Users would be able to preview a section of the book if they prefer, before clicking to make an immediate purchase.
Therefore, the Google Editions service would be available on any connected device, including ebook readers from top competitors Apple Inc (AAPL – Analyst Report), Amazon.com (AMZN – Analyst Report), or Barnes & Noble Inc (BKS – Snapshot Report) through Google Editions apps.
The Google Editions digital bookselling exercise is likely to gather momentum, as distribution of books becomes much easier. Even smaller bookstores would be able to sell digital versions through Google Editions. Larger publishers will also embrace the opportunity, since distribution will undoubtedly become wider and more hassle-free.
Google already has a substantial number of book publishing partnerships and depending on the way revenue is split, this number could increase hugely.
Google Editions is one in a string of initiatives by the company to branch out its product line. While some have been confused at the large number of varied acquisitions the company has been making, others have commented that they made high-quality investments.
But we are of the opinion that Google is taking aggressive measures to broaden its revenue base, as the online search advertising market gets more competitive. Moreover, the company is a leader in the space, so growth and acquisitions will face substantial regulatory scrutiny (as we have seen in the case of the AdMob deal).
Google has been making small and steady investments in alternative energy and recently spent $38 million on a wind energy project. The company already uses solar power for most of its own needs.
Google has also launched its own mobile operating system, Android, which is currently being used by Motorola (MOT – Analyst Report), HTC, as well as a number of other companies in some of their newer devices. Google’s own smartphone, the Nexus One adds to this strategy.
We currently have a Neutral rating on Google shares, although we are getting more bullish about it. The shares are down 19.2% year to date, representing just 20.3X our earnings estimate for fiscal 2010, so valuation is also favorable.
Start, Run & Grow your Business PLUS
May 6, 2010 by SmallBiz-Resources.com · 4 Comments
- Start, Run & Grow offers 45 essential business tools and services to help you start, run and grow your business
- Start your business with tools for company logos, business cards, letterhead, sample business plans, and more
- Run your business with bookkeeping software, business calculators, legal guides, time-tracking software and more
- Grow your business with email marketing tools, press release software, sales contact software, online surveys and more
- Includes over $500 of extras included and a 60 day money-back guarantee
Product Description
45 Small Business Applications delivered in one easy format! Start, Run & Grow your Business PLUS is designed to address the many needs of new, existing and growing businesses . Start, Run & Grow PLUS is able to deliver 45 “best of breed” tools at a low price because of a unique partnership between some of the world’s top business solutions providers. Companies like HP, The Wall Street Journal, INC Magazine, Network Solutions, Palo Alto Software, Vista Print, Nolo and Entrepreneur Magazine have worked together to create a cutting-edge small business product.Amazon.com Product Description
Start, Run & Grow Your Business Plus is a great collection of tools, resources, information, and discounts to help you get your business up and running quickly. Save time and money and put your focus where it needs to be: your business. Start, Run & Grow Plus offers 45 essential business tools and services to help you start, run and grow your business. Over $650 of extras included and a 60 day money-back guarantee.
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Start Your Business
Everything you need to get your new business up and running
There are a lot of choices to make as you start your new business. Put your focus where it needs to be–on your business–and not on hunting down all of the tools and resources you need to get up and running.
 |
Create your logo Let the experts at Logoworks guide you through the logo design process. You’ll get a professional logo that you can use to create business cards, signs, and more. |
 |
Establish your brand Upload your company logo and receive a free professional consultation. Get personalized expert feedback on the overall look and feel of your brand. |
 |
Choose your business type Not sure if you should incorporate your business? Get a complete guide to all of the options with detailed analysis so you can make the right choice. |
 |
Get a website domain All new businesses need a website. Get online quickly and easily by reserving your company domain name (yourcompany.com) free for one full year. |
 |
Business planning help Get access to video training from planning expert Tim Berry, access to sample business plans, and a free ebook, plus a discount on business planning software. |
 |
Company collateral Put your best foot forward with professional printed materials: 250 business cards, 25 brochures, and 100 postcards for your business are included. |
 |
Business calculators How much money do you need to start your business? When will you break even? Answer these questions, and more, with the included business calculators. |
 |
Startup guide We partnered with Entrepreneur Press to bring you an excerpt of Tim Berry’s latest book, a high-speed guide to launching a business quickly. |
 |
Business eGuides Guides to buying a business and choosing and protecting your company name take the guesswork out of the difficult choices business owners face. |
 |
Business counseling The national network of SCORE and SBDC offices provides valuable resources to business owners. Access the directory to locate the office nearest you. |
Run your business
Improve your productivity and run your business more efficiently
Looking for practical tools to help you run your business more effectively? We’ve got you covered with proven tools to help with your financials, marketing, and more.
 |
Bookkeeping software Professional bookkeeping software from Outright gives you the simplest way to track your business expenses, income, and more, with an easy-to-use online application. |
 |
Manage customer emails Make your customer service remarkable with a free, one-year subscription to Email Center Pro. Start managing your email and contacts more efficiently. |
 |
Presentation templates To put your best foot forward, you need a professional presentation. Easy templates get you started right and help you make a great first impression. |
 |
Office software suite Save money by using the completely Microsoft Office-compatible software included. Produce documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with ease. |
 |
Track your time Whether you’re tracking billable hours or time spent on various projects, build efficiency into your workplace with simple time-tracking software. |
 |
Project management Stay on track and on budget with project management software that makes it easy to produce charts, build calendars and manage resources for your projects. |
 |
Password manager Never forget another password. Store your passwords and other critical business information in a secure encrypted database that only you can access. |
 |
Payroll guide Learn the basics of setting up and managing your payroll and make sure that you are 100% compliant with all state and federal requirements that apply to your business. |
 |
Business credit assessment Plan to apply for a business loan? Learn how to separate your business and personal credit and secure the funds you need without risk to your personal finances. |
 |
Business tax basics Business taxes can seem complex. Our guide will help you learn the fundamentals of business taxes, from sales tax to income tax to franchise tax and more. |
Grow your business
Bring in more customers and profits, starting today!
You don’t have to be a marketing expert to grow your business and bring more customers in the door. All the tools and resources you need are included to keep you on track.
 |
Inc. magazine subscription A free one-year subscription to Inc. magazine delivers advice, tools, and services to help business owners and CEOs operate their business more successfully. |
 |
Online surveys Find out what people think about your products and services with simple tools that let you design and send custom surveys to your customers and prospects. |
 |
Email marketing Save time and money and reach out to your customers via email. Send promos, newsletters, and updates, and track who’s reading and responding to your messages. |
 |
Sales contacts Fill your sales pipeline with leads, and sell better, market smarter, and recruit effortlessly. The Jigsaw database gives you access to complete business contacts. |
 |
The essentials of marketing Get a marketing professional on your team. We’ve teamed with Duct Tape Marketing guru John Jantsch to be your expert guide to marketing your business. |
 |
Build press releases Save time and money and write your own press releases using the included collection of press release examples and Instant Press Release software. |
 |
Online advertising More and more consumers are turning to the internet first to search for products and services. Save on pay-per-click advertising and get found online. |
 |
Press release distribution Save money on press release distribution services, and let the professionals make sure your news gets in front of the people who matter: your customers. |
 |
Phone services It can be tough to reach the active business owner. Connect your cell, office, and even your home phones and get all your calls no matter where you are. |
 |
T-shirt design Brand your business and create company awareness by designing a free custom t-shirt. Upload your own artwork or customize one of the hundreds of images available. |
Bonus!
Exclusive discounts and extras to help you grow your business
- $20 off invoicing service from FreshBooks
- $30 off custom logo design from Logoworks by HP
- $25 off incorporation services from The Company Corporation
- $30 off Web hosting from Network Solutions
- $50 off online advertising from Network Solutions
- $30 off expert business-planning software
- Free business plan review
- 10% off payroll services from E-chx.com
- Free labor law poster from E-chx.com
- 20% off online chat software from Velaro
- $25 off virtual phone system from Grasshopper
- $50 off presentation packages from Presentation Pro
- GO-day free trial of contact management software from Oprius
- 15% off Jigsaw Enterprise products
- 25% off press release distribution services from PRWeb
- 50% off marketing automation software from Infusionsoft
- 30 days free of “Double Your Sales” coaching program
- $80 off Marketing Plan Pro software
Buy from Amazon –> Start, Run & Grow your Business PLUS
Start, Run & Grow Your Business
May 5, 2010 by SmallBiz-Resources.com · 2 Comments
- Start, Run & Grow offers 40 essential business tools and services to help you start, run and grow your business
- Start your business with tools for company logos, business cards, letterhead, sample business plans, and more
- Run your business with bookkeeping software, business calculators, legal guides, time-tracking software and more
- Grow your business with email marketing tools, press release software, sales contact software, online surveys and more
- Includes over $400 of extras included and a 60 day money-back guarantee
Product Description
40 Small Business Applications delivered in one easy format! Start, Run & Grow your Business is designed to address the many needs of new, existing and growing businesses . Start, Run & Grow is able to deliver 40 “best of breed” tools at a low price because of a unique partnership between some of the world’s top business solutions providers. Companies like HP, The Wall Street Journal, INC Magazine, Network Solutions, Palo Alto Software, Vista Print, Nolo and Entrepreneur Magazine have worked together to create a cutting-edge small business product.Amazon.com Product Description
Start, Run & Grow Your Business is a great collection of tools, resources, information, and discounts to help you get your business up and running quickly. Save time and money and put your focus where it needs to be: your business. Start, Run & Grow offers 40 essential business tools and services to help you start, run and grow your business. Over $400 of extras included and a 60 day money-back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
Start Your Business
Everything you need to get your new business up and running
There are a lot of choices to make as you start your new business. Put your focus where it needs to be–on your business–and not on hunting down all of the tools and resources you need to get up and running.
|
Create your logo Let the experts at Logoworks guide you through the logo design process. You’ll get a professional logo that you can use to create business cards, signs, and more. |
|
Establish your brand Upload your company logo and receive a free professional consultation. Get personalized expert feedback on the overall look and feel of your brand. |
|
Choose your business type Not sure if you should incorporate your business? Get a complete guide to all of the options with detailed analysis so you can make the right choice. |
|
Get a website domain All new businesses need a website. Get online quickly and easily by reserving your company domain name (yourcompany.com) free for one full year. |
|
Business planning help Get access to video training from planning expert Tim Berry, access to sample business plans, and a free ebook, plus a discount on business planning software. |
|
Company collateral Put your best foot forward with professional printed materials: 250 business cards, 25 brochures, and 100 postcards for your business are included. |
|
Business calculators How much money do you need to start your business? When will you break even? Answer these questions, and more, with the included business calculators. |
|
Startup guide We partnered with Entrepreneur Press to bring you an excerpt of Tim Berry’s latest book, a high-speed guide to launching a business quickly. |
|
Business eGuides Guides to buying a business and choosing and protecting your company name take the guesswork out of the difficult choices business owners face. |
|
Business counseling The national network of SCORE and SBDC offices provides valuable resources to business owners. Access the directory to locate the office nearest you. |
Run your business
Improve your productivity and run your business more efficiently
Looking for practical tools to help you run your business more effectively? We’ve got you covered with proven tools to help with your financials, marketing, and more.
|
Bookkeeping software Professional bookkeeping software from Outright gives you the simplest way to track your business expenses, income, and more, with an easy-to-use online application. |
|
Manage customer emails Make your customer service remarkable with a free, one-year subscription to Email Center Pro. Start managing your email and contacts more efficiently. |
|
Presentation templates To put your best foot forward, you need a professional presentation. Easy templates get you started right and help you make a great first impression. |
|
Office software suite Save money by using the completely Microsoft Office-compatible software included. Produce documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with ease. |
|
Track your time Whether you’re tracking billable hours or time spent on various projects, build efficiency into your workplace with simple time-tracking software. |
|
Project management Stay on track and on budget with project management software that makes it easy to produce charts, build calendars and manage resources for your projects. |
|
Password manager Never forget another password. Store your passwords and other critical business information in a secure encrypted database that only you can access. |
|
Payroll guide Learn the basics of setting up and managing your payroll and make sure that you are 100% compliant with all state and federal requirements that apply to your business. |
|
Business credit assessment Plan to apply for a business loan? Learn how to separate your business and personal credit and secure the funds you need without risk to your personal finances. |
|
Business tax basics Business taxes can seem complex. Our guide will help you learn the fundamentals of business taxes, from sales tax to income tax to franchise tax and more. |
Grow your business
Bring in more customers and profits, starting today!
You don’t have to be a marketing expert to grow your business and bring more customers in the door. All the tools and resources you need are included to keep you on track.
|
Inc. magazine subscription A free one-year subscription to Inc. magazine delivers advice, tools, and services to help business owners and CEOs operate their business more successfully. |
|
Online surveys Find out what people think about your products and services with simple tools that let you design and send custom surveys to your customers and prospects. |
|
Email marketing Save time and money and reach out to your customers via email. Send promos, newsletters, and updates, and track who’s reading and responding to your messages. |
|
Sales contacts Fill your sales pipeline with leads, and sell better, market smarter, and recruit effortlessly. The Jigsaw database gives you access to complete business contacts. |
|
The essentials of marketing Get a marketing professional on your team. We’ve teamed with Duct Tape Marketing guru John Jantsch to be your expert guide to marketing your business. |
|
Build press releases Save time and money and write your own press releases using the included collection of press release examples and Instant Press Release software. |
|
Online advertising More and more consumers are turning to the internet first to search for products and services. Save on pay-per-click advertising and get found online. |
|
Press release distribution Save money on press release distribution services, and let the professionals make sure your news gets in front of the people who matter: your customers. |
|
Phone services It can be tough to reach the active business owner. Connect your cell, office, and even your home phones and get all your calls no matter where you are. |
|
T-shirt design Brand your business and create company awareness by designing a free custom t-shirt. Upload your own artwork or customize one of the hundreds of images available. |
Bonus!
Exclusive discounts and extras to help you grow your business
- $20 off invoicing service from FreshBooks
- $30 off custom logo design from Logoworks by HP
- $25 off incorporation services from The Company Corporation
- $30 off Web hosting from Network Solutions
- $50 off online advertising from Network Solutions
- $30 off expert business-planning software
- Free business plan review
- 10% off payroll services from E-chx.com
- Free labor law poster from E-chx.com
- 20% off online chat software from Velaro
- $25 off virtual phone system from Grasshopper
- $50 off presentation packages from Presentation Pro
- GO-day free trial of contact management software from Oprius
- 15% off Jigsaw Enterprise products
- 25% off press release distribution services from PRWeb
- 50% off marketing automation software from Infusionsoft
- 30 days free of “Double Your Sales” coaching program
- $80 off Marketing Plan Pro software
Buy from Amazon –> Start, Run & Grow Your Business
