America Leads Countries in Internet Usage August 9, 2007 8:00am      America Leads Countries in Internet Usage Although America leads other countries in its Internet usage, other countries besides the US account for 80% of Internet users. Currently, there are 750 million web users across the globe and the Internet population continues to grow every year. Just last year, the Internet audience grew by 10%. Among the countries with the greatest increase in Internet usage are: Russia, India, and the country with the largest populace, China. China in fact now boasts the second largest Internet population, behind the US. It has 87 million users while the United States has 153.4 million. The Internet's background is rather modest. It started small and in fact was initially intended as a network to be used only by the military and by scientists. However, the Internet's true potential was soon realized so that now, millions of people rely on the Internet for everything from shopping to reading news, booking tickets for travel, and even work.      Read More . . .

Cellular Generation Changing Cultures August 5, 2007 8:00am      Cellular Generation Changing Culture Customs Cell phones and PC’s have gone from expensive luxuries for businesses to become the preferred business communications tools of the Cellular Generation (C.G.).  C.G.’s have similar age profile to Generation Y and grew up with this technology in their home.  Just as we look at generational differences to help us understand work ethics and motivations, we can see and track generational business trends. While one group tends to have a more utilitarian view of cellular, others view phone text messaging, instant messaging (IM), phone photos, and cell phones as a ‘fashion statement’ and a lifestyle requirement, similar to oxygen.           Read More . . .

Who Makes What In America July 23, 2007 8:00am      Who Makes What In America It's only natural to be curious.  Have the six figure salary earners suddenly become the majority? If you’ve noticed the person at the gym, the social gathering, and the person sitting beside on the airplane seems to be saying they are making six figures salaries, some of them may be expanding on their financial facts of life. The actual list of America's top earners contains many expected results (chief executives and lawyers), as well as some that may come as a surprise (air traffic controllers, astronomers). And, of course, there's still plenty of proof that it pays to have an MD: surgeons and physicians dominate the list. Here's a look at some median salaries of America's highest-paying jobs, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.               Read More . . .

Online Sales Double Digit Growth July 20, 2007 8:00am      Online Shopping To Soar 18 Percent The pundits forecasting internet sales saturation had it wrong – again. Online sales are expected to soar in ’07 by nearly 18 percent.    According to a recent report, total 2007 online sales are expected to rise to $259.1 billion.  Online purchases excluding travel will reach $174.5 billion. This strong growth will come off of an impressive performance in 2006. Total 2006 online sales last year rose 25 percent to $219.9 billion. Excluding travel, online retail sales rose 29 percent to $146.5 billion, representing six percent of total retail sales in 2006.*      Read More . . .

Web 2.0 Can Mean Streaming Media July 17, 2007 8:00am      Web 2.0 Can Mean Streaming Media Streaming media is the delivery method allowing the recipient to watch or listen to the information as it travels along a communications network. “Streaming,” moving quickly into the mainstream vernacular, means to access audio and video content.  “Streaming” is more like the faucet than the water.  You may have ‘streamed’ and not even known it.  When you visit a news site, click and watch the brief video, you are streaming.  Streaming music is a fact of life. After surviving the free versus fee music download issues and the introduction of iPod, music streaming has traveled well along its adoption curve.  Video’s journey has just begun.      Read More . . .

Search For Internet Answers July 1, 2007 8:00am      The Search For Internet Answers People say there are no stupid questions.  Well, try this one: Are people willing to pay for something they can get for free?  After four years of trying, Google has finally admitted what many of us could have told them in the first place – “Of course not! If we  are given the choice.”  In December Google Answers, the search engine giant’s contribution to the growing online answers industry, closed its virtual doors for good, surrendering this popular quadrant of cyberspace to chief rival Yahoo and its many wannabe competitors.  Why did Google think a pay service would compete with the gratis offerings of Yahoo et al?  And why is there an et al at all?  What's the deal with online answer services?  Read on for the answers to these and other questions about online answers.          Read More . . .

China Internet Purchases Up June 14, 2007 8:00am      China Internet Purchases Up China online purchasing is taking baby steps.  Like any market in its infancy, they are experiencing growing pains.  Twenty million Chinese Internet users made at least one online purchase last year, spending an equivalent of $20 USD (RMB157). Researchers report this is approximately 15 percent of their online population. The number of people shopping online and the amount they spend annually will follow an upward trajectory, forecasting to increase five times by 2010.  How does this compare to US online shopping?  In comparison, 66 percent of US online shoppers age 14 and older made a purchase last year.       Read More . . .

Check Up On Health Headlines June 5, 2007 8:00am      Check Up On Health Headlines Health sections and media outlets are increasing the frequency of headlines touting health “proofing”, research claims, and blaring dire “health warnings.” If all these headlines were based on sound science, we might have scientific grounds for proclaiming chocolate bars are the new healthy vegetable.  We might even believe that exercise is the cure all – for one and all.  Unfortunately, real scientific and medial research is often treated with same sensationalized sound byte tactics as infomercials.  Today’s Tip:  Avoid jumping on the junk science bandwagon, even if the health headline is in one of your favorite news or life style publications.  We suggest four sound steps to take you behind the scenes of today’s health headlines. Always avoid any major changes of direction without discussing it with your doctor.       Read More . . .

Theft By Copier; Identity Theft's New Face May 20, 2007 8:00am      Personal ID Theft By Copier The newest potential threat to your personal Identity is emanating neither from mail box snatchers nor Internet Phishers and hackers. The newest culprit could be the unassuming photocopier.  According to CBS News, more than 500,000 Americans will be robbed of their identities this year with more than $4 billion stolen in their names. Most people don’t find about the ID theft until they are turned down for a loan or credit card.          Read More . . .

Websites Work Business Owners May 15, 2007 8:00am      Small Business Grows Online Profits Small business owners are crediting their web sites for recent business growth. Nearly eight out of ten businesses surveyed told Interland that their business is healthier and in a more competitive position because they have a business web site. Nothing makes a better case than the business bottom line growth. One third report selling goods and services from their sites and 82 percent are receiving monthly revenue from their sites.                  Read More . . .

Fast Times At Laptop High April 13, 2007 8:00am Fast Times At Laptop High The “Emerging Tech” thread of the Consumer Electronics Show is always fun to follow. Of particular interest were several new products poised for a 2006 release that will significantly improve the business life of the laptop-dependent road warrior. Read More . . .

Death of newspapers myth April 4, 2007 8:00am      Death Of Newspapers Might Be Myth Mark Twain is credited with saying ‘reports of my death were greatly exaggerated.’  The reality is somewhat different.  Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) wrote to Frank Bliss, May 1897, “The report of my illness grew out of his illness; the report of my death was an exaggeration.”  According to new data from the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), reports of the death of newspapers might be mainly mythical. Read More . . .

Help Wanted Signs Up Several Spots March 25, 2007 8:00am      Help Wanted Signs Up For Several Industries Technology and Baby Boomers might be the reason demand job categories like truck drivers and pharmacists are expected to exceed demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that certain jobs will experience a shortage of qualified workers. The job categories include: truck drivers and pharmacists as well as registered nurses, librarians, and machinists.      Read More . . .

Buckle Up On Information Highway March 17, 2007 8:00am      Buckling Up For Safety On The Information Highway The internet can bring the world into our homes – stores, businesses, clubs and organizations.  It can also bring criminals, predators, and Internet bullies. Online crime is growing right along with online commerce – faster than protection software and legislation can keep up.  While everyone is at risk, the dangers are especially acute for children and teens.  What can be done to protect our children and their computers?      Read More . . .

Americans Go Online At Tax Time March 8, 2007 8:00am      Online At Tax Time Americans are online at tax time.  When it comes time to file, one-half of consumers will be logging onto their computers and filing their taxes online.  In addition, one in three will be using computer software to prepare their taxes. According to the IRS Commissioner, the home computer is increasingly replacing the paper tax form.  All e-measures edge upward; more taxpayers are using credit cards for IRS payment and choosing electronic deposit for their refund.      Read More . . .

Canada Internet Use Grows February 21, 2007 8:00am      Canadian Online Commerce Grows  Canadian Internet use at home is holding strong with an estimated 16.8 million adult Canadians, or two thirds of adults, saying they frequently use the Internet at home. The biggest Canadian digital divide is geographic. Those living in larger cities are much more likely to use Internet than those in rural areas and small towns.      Read More . . .

Super Sizing of America February 11, 2007 8:00am          Americans Are Getting Super-Sized A new study reports that almost two-thirds of U.S. adults consider themselves healthy eaters.  If America is eating healthier, why is it getting fatter? Many dieticians and nutritionists are pointing to portion size as a key reason more people are becoming super-sized.  Smaller Plate for a Smaller Waist The size of food packaging and portions has steadily increased over the past 30 years. Diet researchers continue to come up with findings that suggest if you super-size your plates, bowls, and serving spoons, you will super-size yourself. When ‘all you can eat buffets’ and bottomless bowls are the new ‘norm’ for meal portions, we eat more. Think of it as portion peer pressure. Conversely, if you use smaller plates and bowls, you will eat less food.  Consuming smaller, healthy portions translates to a smaller number of daily calories.      Read More . . .

Phishing Don’t Get Caught February 5, 2007 8:00am      Phishing: Don't Get Caught The internet - Love it or hate it; it's here to stay. Undoubtedly one of the most useful things to emerge from it has been the communication revolution that is electronic mail. It's easy, fast, and ever so convenient. However, somewhat frighteningly, it also provides criminals with an opportunity to steal your savings or identity without you having any clue what is happening.      Read More . . .

American Kids Spending Billions January 14, 2007 8:00am U.S. Kids Spent $18 Billion Last Year A telemarketer phones a home and says,  ”I’d like to talk to the person who makes the final purchasing decisions for your family.” The women replies, “I’m sorry, that person is still in kindergarten and won’t be home for another hour.”  The amusing story is closer to reality than some might think. American kids spent over $18 billion last year and influenced many times that amount both in stores and online. While kids were spending $18 billion, parents spent nearly triple that amount, $58 billion, just to feed them.  Parents spent more than $115 billion in other key product areas, such as food, clothing, personal-care items, entertainment, and educational reading materials.  Forecasts say preschoolers aged 3 to 5, younger kids aged 6 to 8, and tweens ages 9 to 11 (a consumer group that’s nearly 36 million kids strong) are expected to represent $21.4 billion in disposable income by 2010. Read More . . .

Avoid Debt December 26, 2006 8:00am      Staying Debt-Free This Season American shoppers are intent on continuing their trend toward using more cash and debit cards for holiday purchases rather than relying totally on credit cards.  Credit card spending was up last holiday shopping season. According to VISA, holiday spending on their cards last year totaled $257 billion, an increase of 17.5 percent over last season. Experts offer specific steps to avoid a New Year spending spree hang over.  They advise holiday shoppers to set a firm budget, followed by planning each individual purchase and subtracting each purchase from your budget total.  If December brings big budget pressure, they suggest increasing gift creativity rather than increasing spending.  Trimming the gift list can also provide some financial relief.  Consider these six tips for avoiding a financial pinch in the New Year.  Read More . . .

New Business Ownership Increases December 12, 2006 8:00am      Minority and Women-Owned Business Grow At High Rate Growth among minority-owned and women-owned businesses continues to outpace the national average of ten percent growth, according to a recent Census Bureau report. Their final report will be out later this year. During the 1997-2002 study period, black-owned firms increased 45 percent, Hispanic-owned firms grew 31 percent, Asian-owned companies increased 24 percent and women-owned firms increased by 20 percent. The nation’s 1.2 million black-owned businesses and 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses account for 12 percent of all U.S. firms.                    Read More . . .

Holiday Sales Growth Soars December 4, 2006 8:00am      Online Retailers Anticipate Hyper-Holiday Sales Growth Online retailers are expecting hyper-growth in holiday sales this year as a record number of people say they plan to shop online.  One-in-five online retailers report expecting to experience hyper-growth this year. Hyper-growth is defined as an increase of 75 percent or more over last year. Growth: An additional third plan to experience ‘strong growth’ from 30-74 percent and one in five are projecting growth between 15-29 percent over last holiday. The growth-focused retailers’ holiday marketing arsenal includes tactics such as:  more free shipping, earlier sales and promotions, broader participation in shopping search engines, and testing new communication channels such as blogs and RSS.  Nearly half (47.1%) of consumers say they plan to shop online this year, up from 36.0 percent three years ago.      Read More . . .

Top Toys For Kids November 16, 2006 1:00am      Top Toys for Under The Tree It seems to happen earlier and earlier every year. Along with the arrival of cooler weather comes a deluge of television advertisements bringing children a never-ending array of new must-have items. The advertising is effective to the extent that children will not merely have a vague interest in the item but will indeed believe they need the item for their very survival and they will make an innumerable number of attempts to persuade you, the parent, that this is in fact the case. However, it is an impossible task for any parent to keep track of all the latest crazes. This article aims to help the busy, working parent; acting as your guide to which toys are in great demand and are touted by toy and tech manufacturers as having the ability to put gratifying smile on the face of your children this holiday season.      Read More . . .

Job prestige November 12, 2006 8:00am      Service Industries Gain Prestige According to the results of the annual survey measuring public perceptions of prestigious occupations, the service and public service sector surged ahead.  Of the 23 professions and occupations measured in the Harris study, firefighters, doctors, and nurses are seen as prestigious occupations by U.S. adults.  Conversely, business executives, stockbrokers, and real estate agents are at the opposite end of the prestige spectrum. And at least one in four adults would tell you that union leaders, real estate brokers, and actors have "hardly any prestige at all."      Read More . . .

Retailers Use Silo Busting To Increase Sales November 1, 2006 8:00am      Retailers Use Silo Busting To Increase Sales Silo busting helps sales. For nearly a decade, customers have expected to be remembered and treated with courtesy, regardless of how they choose to interact with a company, and are regularly disappointed.  A company’s communications and shopping interaction points are called sales channels. The channel might be in a store, online, on the phone, by mail, chat, or email.              Read More . . .

School Bells Ring Profits September 6, 2006 8:00am      Back to School Spending $17 Billion Fall retail spending is experiencing a welcome warming trend. Back-to-school spending is estimated to reach $17.6 billion, up nearly $4.2 billion from fall 2005, with $2.6 billion in sales going toward online shopping.  The biggest gains will be enjoyed by fall apparel, electronics, and computer related purchases.  The average family with school age children will be spending $527, nearly $100 dollars more than last year.  While spending will jump in all categories, electronic and apparel purchases will fuel this year’s back-to-school growth.  It’s definitely time for more personal technology. Total spending on electronics or computer-related equipment, such as home computers, laptops, PDAs, or calculators, is estimated to increase by more than $1.5 billion this year.        Read More . . .

Smart clothes and accessories August 30, 2006 8:00am      Smart Clothes Part of Back To School Cool   Smart clothes and accessories are what’s tech-cool for back-to-school. It’s definitely the post Jetsons’ era featuring clothing capable of real communication.  The newest items aren’t from G-A-P; they’re from M-I-T and Nokia. Being up to date on the “do’s’ and “don’ts” of viral fashion may seem like a lot of additional pressure to place on a parent’s shoulders. However, parents are no longer alone, there are now a plethora of retailers and resources committed to producing and distributing those back-to-school essentials that you never even thought to put on your shopping list.            Read More . . .

Online Dating Business Trend August 21, 2006 8:00am      Dating Sites Gaining Ground   More than one out of every ten Internet users visit dating sites.  When our focus narrows to the Internet population who describe themselves as “single and seeking a relationship,” the number triples. Thirty-seven percent of those who are single and looking for a relationship say they have gone to dating websites.          Read More . . .

Business Wireless Workplace August 9, 2006 8:00am      Mobile Technology Transforms How and Where We Work It’s a perennial problem in the business workplace – the work is here, but the data is there.  The doctor at a patient’s bedside, the farmer in the field, and the business road warrior in an airport all share a common need to access information, programming, and other tools of the trade from remote locations.  Few dimensions of modern business are growing faster than that aimed at expanding the workplace via mobile high tech solutions.      Read More . . .

People Purchasing Cars and Insurance On The Internet July 31, 2006 8:00am      People Purchasing Cars and Insurance On The Internet Remember the first time you bought something online?  Your purchase price was probably negligible (perhaps a book from Amazon.com or a clothing item from Sears), and yet a little uncomfortable.  There was something about buying sight unseen and sending credit card information into cyberspace that initially unnerved the most technologically savvy among us.  Yet, in just a few short years, America has gone from agonizing over minor Internet transactions to conducting major complex purchases online without batting an eye.  Nowhere is this significant economic transition more apparent than in the acquisition of cars and car insurance.          Read More . . .

Internet research means store sales July 12, 2006 8:00am      Search Drives Offline Buys It’s a business fact of life. Studies find the correlation repeatedly - Search drives offline buys and real world business decisions.  Yet, exactly what percentage of offline buys is still open for discussion. The percentage is impacted by product type and shopper’s online experience.  According to a new study by Google and ComScore Networks, more than half...     Read More . . .

Business 411 July 3, 2006 8:00am          Business 411 Business travel is often unavoidable, but some of the travel hassles can be.  Here’s the 411 for choosing cities and flights likely to have on time departures, less stressful airport picks ups, airline quality ratings, and ways to avoid flying fees.          Read More . . .

Meet Generation Wireless June 17, 2006 8:00am Cellphone Top Teen Birthday Wish List Certain birthdays mark special life changes. A birthday could mean becoming school age, driving age, dating age or voting age. Thirteen has become the ‘cellphone of my own’ age. Just 12 percent of kids ages 8-12 have a wireless phone, but that jumps dramatically at age 13. Nearly half of young teens, ages 13-15, have a wireless phone number of their own. That number jumps to 68 percent for the 16-17 age group. The phone may be traveling with the new teen, but the phone bill is still going to mom and dad. Parents pick their children’s wireless service bills in over two-thirds of the cases.      Read More . . .

Internet Sales Set Records June 9, 2006 8:00am Internet Sales Set Records Americans spent over $30 billion during the  holiday season; up 30 percent from previous holiday. The winners in the online product popularity contest, with double to triple digit year-over-year growth, were Apparel, Computer Hardware, and Consumer Electronics.  Online sales exceeded even the most optimistic forecasters. Read More . . .

Sports, Energy Drink Sales Soar June 1, 2006 8:00am Carbonated Soft Drinks Face First Dip; Healthy Drink Sales Volume Soars    Carbonated soft drinks reported their first volume dip in two decades as healthy drinks are enjoying double-digit growth.  According to Beverage Digest, carbonated beverage volume slipped 2% in 2005, with sugared, carbonated drinks being the hardest hit category and energy drinks seeing the biggest volume upswing.   Read More . . .

Health Protein Bars Sales Grow June 1, 2006 8:00am      Sports Bars Boost Business and Engergy   Sports bars, energy bars, meal replacement bars - there are a plethora of names for these healthy snacks. Whatever you want to call them, there is no hiding from the fact that they form a six hundred million dollar market, with an overall annual growth rate of approximately twenty percent. Such evidence seems to absolutely obliterate the long-held public image of these bars as the preserve of fitness fanatics. This group alone would not be able to eat over half a billion dollars worth of health bars; so, what types of people are eating all of these bars? And why are they eating them?      Read More . . .

Business Tools Product Review: Blackberry VS Treo May 29, 2006 8:00am Business Tools  Product Review: Blackberry VS Treo Your communication tools can make or break a business trip. Should your next PDA be a ‘berry’ or a Treo? That depends upon your priorities.  If it is all about email “berry’” may be best and if your business requires communication multi-tasking, Treo may be the right travel partner.      Read More . . .

Customers Counting On Easy Shopping May 10, 2006 8:00am Customers Counting On Easy Shopping Customers count on a positive online experience. Retailers are risking damage to their bottom line and brand when they fail to consistently deliver a positive online shopping experience. Delivering a positive online shopping experience is worth billions to the industry. Researchers report 82 percent of US consumers would be less likely to return to a site where they’d had a frustration shopping experience.  A negative online experience can also decrease the consumer’s interest in visiting your store.  Read More . . .

Private Labels Providing Value May 4, 2006 8:00am Consistently profitable companies create and sustain a strategic competitive advantage in the marketplace.  This strategic advantage is the combination of things that makes them different than their competition.  We might view the competitive advantage as a moat that protects their castle of business success.  Three famous examples of sustainable competitive advantage are Coke, KFC, and Microsoft.  For Coke, it's their branding.  For Microsoft, it's their control of the personal computing operating system.  KFC has several ingredients in its famous secret chicken recipe. Read More . . .

Florence google video beta April 21, 2006 9:00am Google Video Beta   – Reviews Mixed   It may be a case of over Google promise and under Google deliver.  The International Herald Tribune says of the Google Video product, “According to Google, the current Google Video is a beta test, a dry run intended to solicit feedback and suggestions for improvement. That's fortunate, because at the moment, the site is appallingly half-baked. Quarter-baked, in fact. “ Read More . . .

Internet weekly sales billion April 19, 2006 8:00am      Online Retail Sales Passes $1.8 Billion Weekly Mark Online retail sales for the week ending March 5 totaled $1.88 billion, up 21% from $1.55 billion in the corresponding week a year ago, comScore Networks Inc. reports. That compares with a 35% increase for the week ending Feb. 26. Read More . . .

Online Easter Shopping Over $1.3 Billion April 11, 2006 8:00am Online Easter Shopping Over $1.3 Billion Most American’s (76 percent) will be celebrating Easter this year. More than half of the $12.6 billion dollar Easter budget will be spent at discount stores.  One third of the Easter shopping is likely to fill department stores coffers, approximately $4 billion. Online Easter sales will edge over the 10 percent mark for the first time. At 10.8 percent, this represents over $1.3 billion dollars in online sales.  Read More . . .

Bob McEwen Congress: Principles vs. Pork March 28, 2006 8:00am Bob McEwen Congress:  Principles vs. Pork By Billy Florence Each Congressional election impacts our lifestyle and economic future.  Much of Congress’ time is spent either protecting or wasting our money.  Congress impacts our personal financial freedom when they vote to raise taxes or vote to approve wasteful spending.  We may be paying taxes in Georgia, Wisconsin, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, the Carolinas or New Jersey, but congressmen are spending our tax dollars in DC.   Read More . . .

Business Model Nears $30 Billion March 7, 2006 8:00am Direct -To-You Business Nears $30 Billion   Personalized direct sales is outpacing traditional in store retail sales growth. The direct selling industry has enjoyed an 80 percent sales growth over the last ten years, growing from $16.6 billion to nearly $30 billion in annual sales.  Billions are hard to visualize.  If you sat down to count from one to one billion, you would be counting for 95 years. Read More . . .

VOIP Declared 2006 Top Trend March 1, 2006 8:00am VOIP Declared 2006 Top Trend What’s VOIP? It stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol.  Red Herring’s Top Ten Tech Trends for 2005 includes internet phone service. Editors say VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) will become a household word in 2005. Read More . . .

Boomers Turning 60 In ‘06 February 14, 2006 8:00am Boomers Turning 60 In ‘06 The first baby boomers turn 60 this year.  According to the United States Census Bureau, nearly 8,000 Americans a day will turn 60 during 2006, making up over one-fourth of the U.S. population.  This on-demand generation that gave us rock ‘n’ roll and Starbucks will continue to define reality and remain the major financial impact in the marketplace. Read More . . .

Employees Staff Development February 5, 2006 8:00am Happy Employees Can Boost Business Do you workplace, boss, and co-workers provide positive reinforcement and recognition for a job well done?  PARTICIPATE IN WORKPLACE SURVEY.  Negative workplaces tend to create employees that scare off customers.  Do you have a nightmare tale to tell about calling a customer service or technical support line and being treated poorly?  Most of us do.  When it's happened to you, did you tell your friends about it and even a few strangers?  Did you say to yourself, "I'll never do business with this company again!"?  All too often, we have an ongoing relationship with the company due to a contract.  We get even by not missing an opportunity to save our friends from 'the same fate'.  The problem compounds, we talk about it.  This is bad for business. Read More . . .

Online News Sites January 30, 2006 8:00am  Virtual News Reaches Record High Online news consumers are visiting newspaper websites more often and staying longer. NAA (National Newspaper Association of America) reports, one-third of all Internet users visited newspaper websites in September. One theory is that interest in hurricane related news might have been key drivers of visitor increases. Read More . . .

Higher Incomes Bear Biggest Tax Burden January 24, 2006 8:00am Higher Incomes Bear Biggest Tax Burden The brunt of the tax burden is carried by a few, say researchers. The tax code remains confusing and the rules and provisions can border on Byzantine.  Physicists Albert Einstein noted, “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Charitable contribution deductions and business mileage rates may vary but two items remain constant; more than half of Americans say they are paying too much federal tax and those who earn the most continue to bear the income tax burden for most of America. Read More . . .

Florence: On Time Stretcher Strategies January 19, 2006 8:00am Florence: On Time Stretcher Strategies by Billy Florence It is possible to increase your results without increasing the time it takes to achieve them. We've been taught that attaining professional success requires spending many hours with our noses to the grindstone and our shoulders to the wheel. This sounds like - and is - a very uncomfortable process. In the next five years it will be our ability to solve problems and leverage opportunities by working with people that will be most effective in increasing our professional "face value." Read More . . .

Double Digit Holiday Growth for Online Retailers December 22, 2005 8:00am Double Digit Holiday Growth for Online Retailers Online retail is positioned for double digit growth this holiday season. The majority of online retailers told researchers they are expecting a sales increase of 30% or more, compared to last year. During the 2004 holiday season, online shoppers spent a record $23.2 billion online (excluding travel), representing 25 percent year-over-year growth. Over 40 percent of holiday shoppers will be browsing, making online gift purchases, and checking items off their holiday gift lists.   Read More . . .

Search Strategies Can Help You Find Answers December 21, 2005 8:00am Search Strategies Can Help You Find Answers According to Nielsen NetRatings, more than 80% of internet users turn to the top three search sites - Google, Yahoo, and MSN, respectively. According to a U.S. population survey, "How America Searches," 88% of online adults who make purchases online, conduct research prior to completing their purchase.   Search sites promise access to billions of Web pages. But if you don't enter your search terms correctly, you might find yourself swamped with too many results - but not the ones you're looking for. So, how can you improve your search results? There are three ways: Choose your search terms carefully, learn how to use special search "operators" and use keywords. Read More . . .

Online Retail Strong, Store Sales Falter December 1, 2005 8:00am Online Retail Strong, Store Sales Falter Instead of filling the tank and heading to the mall, Americans are refilling their coffee cups and heading to the computer. Rising gasoline prices are taking a bigger slice of the average household paycheck.  Industry revenues hit $67 billion in 2004, according to ComScore and Media Matrix, and sales numbers are up 27 percent coming into the busy holiday shopping season. Online sales for 2005 may be one for the revenue record books. Read More . . .

Early Shopping and Free Shipping Top Wish List November 16, 2005 8:00am Early Shopping and Free Shipping Top Wish List Are you hearing sleigh bells? How about door bells when the UPS guy delivers your first Christmas purchase this year? November marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season.  Online holiday purchasing usually gets the first taste of retail holiday cheer. Topping the wish list for early holiday shoppers is Free Shipping. Read More . . .

Billy Florence Business Update November 11, 2005 8:00am Florence Business Update: Spending Up by Billy Florence Corporate spending for personalized marketing is trending up.  Companies spend budget dollars on things they consider important.  Executives recently told researchers that they consider web site improvements, micro-sites, search optimization and e-mail marketing as "mission critical."  They say they plan to spend between 15 percent and 45 percent of their entire marketing budgets on "target marketing." Read More . . .

Fifty Million Americans Now Bloggers November 9, 2005 8:00am Fifty Million Americans Now Bloggers Nearly 50 million Americans now visit blogs (web logs) and can be described as "bloggers."  This number represents 30 percent of the total American internet population and is a 45 percent increase over the last 12 months Do blog visitors have any common characteristics? Yes. Compared to the average Internet user, blog readers are significantly more likely to live in wealthier households, be younger and connect to the Web on high-speed connections.  Blog visitors are 11 percent more likely than the average Internet user to have incomes of $75,000 or more. They are one-third more likely than average to live in households where the household head is 18 to 34 years old Read More . . .

Leadership Strategy: Bucket Lessons November 1, 2005 8:00am Billy Florence: Leadership Strategy:  Bucket  Brigades by Billy Florence The bucket brigade concept addresses the important  art of the planned leadership leak. The phrase, planned leadership leak, was first explained to me by my friend, John Maxwell.  Florence Leading Out Loud Lesson: Key influencers in an organization are either the leader’s greatest asset or greatest liability. Identify what your leaders are carrying in their buckets.  It should be water and not gas. Read More . . .

Entrepreneurs Most Likely To October 26, 2005 8:00am Entrepreneurs Most Likely To "Love" Their Jobs Entrepreneurs have the highest job satisfaction in the nation.  It's a double digit difference.  For example, while only 22 percent of employees of private industries report, "loving their job" the number of entrepreneurs that feel that way doubles that, at 49 percent.  The thing entrepreneurs like best is "being their own boss". Read More . . .

Computer Recycling October 17, 2005 6:00pm Computer Recycling Risks and Rewards In the last three years an estimated 497 million US computers have become obsolete and are being discarded.  Most unwanted computers are sent to landfills, incinerators or exported as hazardous waste. Obsolete electronics in landfills are reported to account for as much as 70 percent of landfills heavy metal contamination. There are better solutions.  Researchers from the Rethink Project estimate that 50 percent of trashed computers could actually be reused. Which ones? Computers less than five years old with Pentium processors have the most potential of being refurbished for resale or donation. In either case completely removing personal information and finding the right destination are top priorities. Read More . . .

Franchises Too Costly For Most American Families October 17, 2005 8:00am  Franchises Too Costly For Most American Families Franchise ownership in 2005 can come with too high a price tag for many American households. According to Entrepreneur, the estimated start up costs for the 2005 top ten fastest growing franchises range between $34k and $250k.  Curves, a women's fitness and weight loss franchise, is the fastest growing franchise of 2005.  Curves' start-up price tag is between $36.4 and $42.9 thousand dollars and has an ongoing royalty fee obligation of 5%.  Is that all?  No.  A franchise applicant has a required net worth of $75K and verifiable cash liquidity of $50K.  Read More . . .

American Homes Facing Net Threats October 5, 2005 8:00am American Homes Facing Net Threats   Home Internet users have a one in three chance of suffering computer damage, financial loss, or both because of a computer virus or spyware.  Despite the fact that consumers spent more than $2.6 billion over the past two years for protection software, more than $9 billion was spent on computer repairs, parts, and replacement caused by viruses and spyware.  The "2005 Consumer Reports State of the Net" survey found that viruses, spyware and phishing (identity theft) are on the rise; but that spam is easing. Read More . . .

Americans Give Billions Online September 22, 2005 8:00am  Americans Give Billions Online Americans online donations hit more than $3 billion last year. This is an increase of over 50 percent.  Online giving is increasing across all sectors of the nonprofit community. Research firm, Kintera and Luth Research, found a positive impact of website on the generosity of Americans. More than 65 percent of all donors visited at least one of the Web sites of the nonprofit organizations or fundraising events to which they gave. Read More . . .

Many Failing Personal Finance September 15, 2005 8:00am   Many Failing Personal Finance Americans report being concerned about governmental economic issues like social security or the deficit. We want the government to change, but don't hold ourselves equally accountable. We're more interested in talking about economic responsibility than living it; "We judge ourselves by our intentions and other people by their actions." Read More . . .

College Spending Grows September 7, 2005 8:00am Back To College Spending Up One Third Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas?  It might be to electronic, apparel, dorm and apartment furnishings retailers.  Back to college is big bucks.  The combined back to school and back to college spending, is expected to be second only to holiday shopping in seasonal sales.  Consumer spending for Back to College has increased 33 percent since last year and is passing the $34 billion mark. Read More . . .

Seattle Tops List for Wireless Web Access September 1, 2005 8:00am Seattle Tops List for Wireless Web Access Seattle is America's most "unwired city." To translate from tech speak, "unwired" actually means "wireless." According to Intel's annual survey, Seattle edged past last year's winner, San Francisco. Read More . . .

Ring Tones Hit Multi-Billion Level August 24, 2005 8:00am Ring Tones Hit Multi-Billion Level Ring tone sales topped $4 billion dollars worldwide and $300 million dollars in the United States, reports Consect research.  This multi-billion dollar industry didn't exist five years ago; the newest generation of cell phones are driving new phone sales and providing a much-needed boost to the music industry's bottom line.  Ring tones have emerged as a marketing tool and are a promising source of revenue for the music industry. Read More . . .

Consumer Kids Back To School August 17, 2005 8:00am  Back to School Spending Over $13-Billion Back-to-school spending is estimated to reach $13.39 billion dollars this year, with nearly 14 percent of sales going toward shopping online. Clothing, shoes and school supplies will be the strongest sellers in the northeast, where they expect to see the highest back-to-school spending in the nation. Read More . . .

Mom's Major Purchasing Power August 10, 2005 8:00am Mom's Major Purchasing Power For Moms, it's a fact, time is money. With an estimated 75 million Moms in the United States influencing 80 percent of household purchases, these are shoes any business needs to work to make as attractive and comfortable as possible. Read More . . .

E-Commerce Spending Surge Expected August 4, 2005 8:00am E-Commerce Spending Surge Expected One decade after its debut, online commerce is obviously "on the grow again". According to independent research, online commerce sales will grow between 21 and 23 percent this year.  Read More . . .

Biometric Security Trend Grows July 27, 2005 8:00am Biometric Security Trend Grows Your fingerprint or retina could be your password to the future. Business owners might have biometrics in their future. Once only seen in spy movies or top security areas, biometrics is taking a step toward mainstream. Biometrics is a method of verifying an individual's identity based on measurement of something that makes you uniquely – you.  Examples include unique characteristics like fingerprints, voice scan, DNA, or retina. Read More . . .

Library Internet Access Better Than Ever July 19, 2005 8:00am Library Internet Access Better Than Ever Library customers are now counting on a fast and easy Internet connection. Virtually every U.S. public library (99.6 percent) now offers free Internet access. A recent American Library Association study reports that 99.6 percent of libraries are now connected to Internet and offer access to the public. That compares with 20.9 percent providing access in 1994 when the study was first conducted.  Demand exceeds supply. Public libraries are seeking solutions for providing more access for more library customers. Read More . . .

Let Freedom Ring June 30, 2005 8:00am Let Freedom Ring Independence Day - It’s going to be an even bigger than usual red, white and blue star spangled celebration across the nation. Most Americans will celebrate the July 4th holiday this year.  According to consumer surveys, a steadily rising tide of patriotic feeling is behind the continuing trend. Nearly two-thirds of American households have a flag and will be flying it.  More than half already own patriotic apparel and are adding to that collection. Read More . . .

Cell Phone Etiquette June 22, 2005 8:00am Cell Phone Etiquette 1.  Don’t subject defenseless onlookers to cell phone conversations.  When people cannot escape the banality of your conversation--on a plane, on a train, on a bus, or at their restaurant dinner table--spare them.  If you are “hooked” on nonstop communication, send a text message. Read More . . .

Boomer Target Worth Billions June 16, 2005 8:00am As the oldest Baby Boomers, (those born in 1946) prepare to turn 60 in 2006, some marketers and the media are waking up to the power of older consumers.  Unlike today's seniors, Boomers are dedicated Internet users and broadband fans.  As they approach the next phase of their lives, they will challenge companies to keep up with their ever demanding ways, both online and off.  By 2008, nearly 75% of the 50-64 age group will be online.  If your company wants a slice of the trillion dollar pie, start preparing today. Read More . . .

Father’s Day Sales To Top $8 Billion June 9, 2005 8:00am Father's Day Sales To Top $8 Billion Most Americans, 73%, plan to celebrate Father's Day.  Those who do celebrate will spend an average of $85.66, causing Father’s Day at retail to ring up more than eight billion dollars in sales.  More people plan to buy Dad's gifts online this year than one year ago. Read More . . .

Email Overload Impacts IQ and Productivity June 1, 2005 8:00am Email Overload Impacts IQ and Productivity Productivity Impact Study: American workers annually spend the equivalent of 21 business days on personal email. That makes them the clear winners in the "wasting time at work" communications category. The issue is global. Clearswift’s online survey reported that 40% of non IT workers in America, United Kingdom, and Germany spend an hour or so every day emailing their friends and swapping jokes. Only 10% report that they never use the company email system for personal purposes. Read More . . .

Ten Million More Females Online May 27, 2005 8:00am Ten Million More Females Online   Women comprise 51.6% of the US online population and represent 60% of online spending.  By 2008 there will be roughly 10 million more females online than males according to a new eMarketer study.  The product categories traditionally dominated by female shoppers are the fastest growing categories on the web. Read More . . .

Boss Least Likely To Hear Compliment May 10, 2005 8:00am Boss Least Likely To Hear Compliment by Margaret S. Ross The skill of giving effective compliments is part art and part science. It takes practice. A well phrased, specific, sincere compliment can improve someone’s day and it can reflect well on you. There is more to excelling in compliment giving than simply avoiding phrases like, "For a fat man you don’t sweat much." Read More . . .

Most American Adults Want To Own a Business May 4, 2005 8:00am Most American Adults Want To Own a Business The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America.  The nationwide survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Yahoo measured sentiment among the general population about their aspirations for owning a small business and the role of the Internet in enabling the start up of small businesses.  According to the study, 72% of American adults have considered starting their own businesses and 75% said the Internet has made it easier to launch a small business.  In addition, nearly half of those who have considered starting a business but haven't yet (47%), said they would "never be too old" to do so. Read More . . .

More Americans Filed Taxes Online April 20, 2005 8:00am More Americans Filed Taxes Online Americans are counting on getting their tax refunds early this year and they are using technology to speed the process.  According to researchers, more than two-thirds of consumers expect to receive a tax refund this year.  They used early electronic filing and direct deposit of refunds to get the cash into their accounts.  More than half say they will use their refund to pay down debt. Read More . . .

Easter Retail April 6, 2005 8:00am More American's Celebrated Easter More Americans celebrated Easter this year than in 2004.  More than 75% of Americans told NRF researchers (National Retail Federation) they would be celebrating Easter.  That's twenty-five% more American households than celebrated Valentine's holiday.  The increased number of celebrants didn’t translate to increased sales for the apparel retailers; however, candy, food, and cards were on most people's lists.  Why did fewer people say they were buying new Easter shoes and accessories?  The calendar is the most likely answer. Read More . . .

Customer Service Matters -- To Customers April 2, 2005 8:00am Customer service is often the missing link.   If the shopping experience happens online or at a traditional brick-and-mortar store, customer service must be a top priority.  A recent shopping experience survey conducted by American Express and the National Retail Federation ( www.nrf.com ) reports that 99% of shoppers interviewed said that customer service was important to them. Read More . . .

A Decade in the Digital World April 1, 2005 8:00am  A Decade in the Digital World On a typical day, 70 million American adults log onto the internet.  What do they do there?  According to Pew Internet American Life project, they use email, get news, access government information, check out health and medical information, participate in auctions, book travel reservations, research their genealogy, gamble, seek out romantic partners, and engage in countless other activities. Read More . . .

Consumers Less Satisfied With E-tail March 23, 2005 8:00am Consumers Less Satisfied With E-tail We are shopping more but enjoying it less. American's satisfaction with their e-commerce experience declined from a 2003 score of 80.8% to a rating of 78.6% in 2004. That's a drop of 2.7%. Customer satisfaction quickly translates to consumer spending or the lack of it. Read More . . .

Teens Say "Business" Is Top Career Choice Third Consecutive Year March 20, 2005 8:00am Teens Say "Business" Is Top Career Choice Third Consecutive Year For the third consecutive year teens selected a career in business as their ideal career (9.7%).  The career of doctor or teacher came in a distant second at about 6.2%.  The range of business career choices was encompassed by everything from owning a grocery store, a small business, or managing a business, to being CEO of a major global corporation.    Read More . . .

Rising Interest Rates Impact Consumer Cards March 12, 2005 8:00am Rising Interest Rates Impact Consumer Cards by Billy Florence  The direct impact on consumers may be felt in the form of rising interest rates on their credit cards.  The average interest rate on cards is over fourteen percent.  Some are higher than twenty percent. Too many of us get so dazzled by the excitement of a purchase that our brains get numbed by terms like "zero percent financing" and "no payments until 2006".  The only group that wins on this walk is the credit card company or financial institution.   Let’s consider the scenario of a person considering the purchase of a $2,000 plasma television for the upcoming baseball season. Read More . . .

Gone Phishing - Identity Theft On The Rise March 2, 2005 8:00am Gone Phishing - Identity Theft On The Rise Identity thieves use multiple sneaky tactics to steal and use your identity. They do most of their work far away from the internet. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than half-million Americans will have their identity stolen this year.  On average, victims spend over 150 hours and over $800 to clear their names.  Our focus is on ways of keeping your internet identity safe by avoiding a new member of identity theft hall of shame - phishing. Read More . . .

Drugstore.com Does Search Best February 23, 2005 8:00am Drugstore.com Does Search Best Search is critically important to an online retail site’s profit margin. Advanced search capabilities on a retail site can make a big difference.  Forty-five percent of consumers know what item they will purchase when they go online to do their research. Read More . . .

Internet Sales Soared February 20, 2005 8:00am  Internet Sales Soared Shopping malls and discounters had a ho hum holiday compared to internet holiday sales numbers that soared.  American online holiday sales grew by 25% to $23.2 billion, excluding travel.  This year's increase was much better than many analysts had expected and nearly matched last year's record 30% growth. Read More . . .

Digital Cameras Doing Billions At Retail February 16, 2005 8:00am Digital Cameras Doing Billions At Retail A picture has been worth a thousand words for years.  Now it’s also worth billions of dollars in retail sales.  Analysts predict the New Year was welcomed in with 43 million American homes capturing the moment with their digital cameras.  By 2007, that 40% penetration could reach 70%, with the digital camera user looking more and more like the mainstream internet household. Read More . . .

Valentine's Day Spending To Top $13 Billion February 2, 2005 8:00am Valentine's Day Spending To Top $13 Billion Valentine's Day 2005 spending is expected to reach $13.19 billion. More than 60 percent of American consumers will be celebrating Valentine's Day and providing a major retail boost to florists, confectioners, restaurants and jewelry stores.  What's popular?  The most common gift is also the most economical.  More than two-thirds will be giving their spouse or significant other a greeting card. Read More . . .

Women Driving Online Shopping Growth January 6, 2005 8:00am Women Driving Online Shopping Growth She works hard for her money and she’s spending it online.  Last year women accounted for 52% of online buyers and it's growing. Category growth also points to the increasing influence of women online.  The retail segments where women regularly spend the most money are the same ones experiencing the largest online growth.  It will continue.  Jupiter predicts that home improvement, grocery, over-the-counter drugs and personal care categories will see steep online sales growth (30% or more a year).  Mature categories like books and electronics are expected to grow at 10% a year.  Read More . . .

Online Job Sites Boom As Economy Grows January 1, 2005 6:00pm Growing businesses and a healthy economy translate in to good news for people wearing their job seeker shoes. Job recovery in this growing economy has translated into 30% growth for online career sites.  This can be good news for anyone wearing their job seeker shoes.  Americans are now researching and comparison shopping for jobs in the same way they do for product information for consumer product items like appliances, electronics, cars, and beauty products.  They are letting their fingers do the walking while they gather opportunity information from the top three career sites:  Monster.com, Career Builder and Yahoo! Hot Jobs.  Read More . . .

Checks and Bank Balances January 1, 2005 5:00pm It's official.  The "float" is dead.  Or at least it’s been relegated to the endangered financial habits list.  "Float" was defined as the amount of time between when you wrote a check and the time it took to make its way through the banking system.  "Check 21 Act" means when you present a check, it's subtracted from your balance.  No float.  Just financial facts. Read More . . .

Holiday Shoppers Jolly Elf for Self December 23, 2004 10:00am Holiday Shoppers Jolly Elf for Self Holiday retail sales are expected to benefit from the “self gifting” trend.  According to a survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumers will be the “jolly elf to self” spending an average of $89 on themselves this holiday season.  Reports predict that men and young adults plan to spend the most on themselves at $117 and $115 respectively. Read More . . .

Jolly Holiday For Online Spending December 23, 2004 8:00am by Margaret S. Ross Outlook for online holiday retail sales is jolly.  A conservative 20% increase over 2003 is forecast by Forrester Research, Inc.  According to The NPD Group, 41% of men and women plan to buy holiday gifts online this season. When the consumer electronics industry (CEA) conducted its 11th annual pre-holiday survey, consumers said what they most want this year are the things that money can’t buy, "peace and happiness".  However, if the choices offered were limited to electronics, then plasma TV's head the big kids "wish list" and "toys and video games" hold the top two spots for kids.  Read More . . .

Harteis Business Insights : Commerce Dept Report : Income and Spending Up December 16, 2004 4:00pm by Fred Harteis The latest report from the Commerce department was better than economists were expecting.  American consumers increased spending again in October, an encouraging sign that the final quarter of 2004 is getting off to a decent start. Plus, incomes rose sharply. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that consumer spending went up by 0.7 percent in October, up from 0.6 percent rise in September and the best showing since July. Read More . . .

18-34 Year Olds Online In Record Numbers November 17, 2004 8:00am by Margaret S Ross If you’re trying to reach the average 18 to 34 year old, we suggest checking online. The three unique internet trends we find in the shoes of the 18 to 34 year old group are: (1) the need to stay connected, (2) extending the internet with personal tech gadgets, and (3) internet as an entertainment source and an entertainment resource. Read More . . .

Small Business Web Use Grows November 11, 2004 8:00am Small business owners say web sites, search engine key words, and community relations activities are the top three business drivers, according to Interland’s annual “Business Barometer” survey.  The surge has become main stream.  Kim T. Gordon, president of National Marketing Federation, Inc., says, "From using complex e-commerce Web sites to ongoing email communications with customers and partners, use of the Internet is vital to small business success." Read More . . .

Soaring Gas Prices: Answers Online November 3, 2004 8:00am by Margaret S. Ross If you’re spending more money to fill up your gas tank, this web site, could be worth a visit, www.Gassbuddy.com. A non profit, founded four years ago by Minneapolis programmer, Jason Toews has been growing at the speed of gas prices and has been making headlines of its own. The site’s popularity lead to national expansion. The single gasbuddy.com site has grown to into a gas portal site with links to over 170 local web sites. Read More . . .

Bush Beats Kerry In Reader Survey And In America November 2, 2004 11:15am Thank you for voting. Bush Beats Kerry in reader survey in America's popular vote and electoral votes (274).  Last week, 82 percent E-quad readers told us in online survey  they would vote for George W Bush and 16 percent would cast their votes for John Kerry.     If you’d like some tips on how to make informed choices, we suggest reading Bob McEwen’s column.  Why dont conservatives and liberals agree? Dr. Kauthameer summarizes it this way  Liberals think conservatives are Evil.  Conservatives think liberals are Stupid.  Stupid vs Evil read more Read More . . .

Harteis Business Outlook October 22, 2004 1:00pm Shoppers who disappeared from the stores in early summer are snapping up cars and other big-ticket items while raising hopes the worrisome economic slowdown in the early summer will not last long. The Commerce Department recently reported that retail sales rebounded by 0.7% last month.  Consumer demand for autos was strong with the return of attractive incentive offers from auto dealers. Read More . . .

Broadband Customers Edge Out Dial Up October 6, 2004 8:00am Broadband Customers Edge Out Dial Up Broadband has broad appeal.  Broadband connections for the first time have reached 51% of the American online home population.  Young adults and kids are the most frequent users; most seniors are still logging on via narrow band. This 51% level means 63 million people are accessing the internet via broadband compared to 61 million accessing the internet via narrow band (e.g. dial up) reports Nielsen/Net Ratings. “Despite a plateau in the growth of U.S. Internet access, we’ve seen continued high double-digit growth in users’ broadband access,” said Marc Ryan, senior NetRatings director and analyst.  American home broadband access last year was at 38%.  This marketplace grew 13 points in a single year. Read More . . .

Google Delivering Most Site Visitors September 29, 2004 8:00am by Margaret S Ross More is happening at Google than going public.  It has even become a verb.  We now hear the phrase, "to google something," meaning to search for information on a subject. Did you know that Google is the most popular starting point for someone arriving at your web site?  Google's number of referrals has tripled in three years while Yahoo!'s has steadily declined, reports California based web analytics firm, WebSideStory.  In 2001, Google delivered less than 12% of search referrals and it now delivers over 40% of site visitors to most sites.   Read More . . .

Email – World’s Record Holder September 15, 2004 3:00pm      by Margaret S Ross  Of the more than one hundred thousand software applications developed,   the only one that has enough people using it everyday to qualify for the title Killer Application, is Email.       Most consumers who purchased through a permission based Email gave this as their reason for purchasing: Read More . . .

Billy Florence Business Insights September 15, 2004 2:00pm by Billy Florence Read.  Charlie “T” Jones, in his book, Life is Tremendous, says that we will be the same person five years from now that we are today except for the people we meet and the books we read.   The internet is a reading medium.  Want proof?  OK.  You are reading this article and it’s on the internet.  TV is for observers.  We lean back to watch TV but we learn forward to read…even on the internet.  TV provides us with words and pictures.  Little thinking is required.  Books provide us with the opportunity to supply our own sounds and pictures.  We get to think.  We get to imagine. Read More . . .

Busy Business Travelers Want Wi-Fi September 8, 2004 8:00am Coffee shops, hotels, book stores, conference centers and even city parks have been making news as they add hot spots.  A hot spot is a location that provides wireless access to the web.  Twenty-eight percent of Americans own a notebook or cell phone that can connect wirelessly to email or the internet. Read More . . .

Loyal Customers Provide Bigger Profits August 26, 2004 8:00am Top performing companies focus on attracting and keeping customers.  Why? Loyal customers provide greater profitability.  Loyal customers spend 80% more than other customers. Eighty percent of a company’s sales come from 20 percent of their customers. Loyalty can’t be purchased by the pound. Loyalty can’t be stocked on shelves in colorful ‘new and improved’ packaging.  Read More . . .

Blogaphiles Pass One Million Mark August 18, 2004 8:00am by Margaret S Ross Blogaphiles: Defined as blogging enthusiasts. When marketers talk about customer demographic groups, they usually look at groups of people by age, occupation, life stage, or life style.  The term "life style" might be people grouped and labeled as NASCAR fans or Harley Davidson owners.  A new demographic group is being noticed:  blog enthusiasts or blogaphiles.  These are people who read blogs, post messages on blogs and have their own blogs.  There’s an estimated 1.3 million blog owners. Read More . . .

Spies and Cookie Monsters Causing Big Computer Problems August 11, 2004 8:00am by Margaret S. Ross The average home computer is infested with 28 spyware programs.  If you feel you are being watched, you’re probably right. Spyware?!  Are you picturing CIA, trench coats, and the Bourne Supremacy? Internet marketing pundits entertain themselves by writing really long articles explaining the differences between adware and spyware.  Good for them. Read More . . .

Private Label Brands Yield High Margins August 8, 2004 8:00am Private Labels on the Rise Yield More Profit and Greater Customer Loyalty                                 (Part One) by Margaret S Ross Owners want more profit.  That explains their growing interest in finding and adding private label brands.  True private label brands offer owners unique products and higher value products. The word that best represents a “true” private label is “Special.”  Read More . . .

Harteis’ Business Outlook: Senior Internet Use Grows 50 Percent August 6, 2004 8:00am by Fred Harteis The number of seniors online has risen nearly 50% in the last four years bringing that North American number to over 9 million. The person wearing these comfortable shoes may happen to be 65+years-old but we certainly wouldn’t know it by their internet interests. Read More . . .

Consumer Debt Grows July 23, 2004 8:45am Editor’s note: Let’s look at this month’s Frequently Asked Credit Related Questions. E-business purchases are most likely to be paid for with a debit or credit card.  The US Consumer credit picture is important to e-business owners. Read More . . .

Harteis’ Business Outlook: Retail Business Growth July 23, 2004 8:00am Effective business practices are getting results. High performing retailers who get results to their email campaigns have two things in common. (1) Relevance, and (2) Permission.  Relevant, timely offers get results.  Read More . . .

Mobile Phones Come Of Age July 23, 2004 8:00am Introduced 21 years ago, claims one billion world-wide customers Part One in “People Talk” series. Happy Birthday mobile phone.  The first generation mobile phone was introduced in 1983.  People called it “the brick”.  Why?  “The brick” weighed nearly two pounds, was 13-inches-long, and had a suggested retail price of $3,995. Read More . . .

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER July 23, 2004 8:00am Charles Krauthammer, winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, writes a nationally syndicated editorial page column for The Washington Post Writers Group. Krauthammer, also winner of the 1984 National Magazine Award for essays, began writing the weekly column for The Washington Post in January 1985. It now appears in more than 100 newspapers. Read More . . .

Billy Florence - Insights July 23, 2004 8:00am Written by Billy Florence They Always Say Years of owning and building businesses have provided me with the opportunity to meet and learn from some truly amazing people.  You might be surprised to learn that people who achieve in sports, business, and public service have more in common than a casual observer might guess.   Q. What could a winning basketball coach, top CEOs, prime ministers and presidents have in common? A. They tend to think differently than most people but very much like each other.  Read More Read More . . .

Income - In It Comes and Out It Goes July 23, 2004 8:00am by Margaret S Ross "Keeping an eye on what North American makes is a priority for savvy business owners," says Orrin Woodward.   "It all ads up, Woodward continues, And it all matters if you run a business."  Let's take a quick look at what American makes and where more of our money is going this summer. Going Out:  Every time we fill the tank, we're reminded that gas prices are up 50 percent.  A less known fact is that hidden fees and service charges are also cutting into our spending power.  Fees are driving everything from motor vehicle license and tags, telephone charges, and hotel bills up as much as 30 percent.  Your utility bills are up 12% and so is the cost of peanut butter.  College fees and legal fees have increased 10%.  According to the Consumer Price Index inflation is at 4%.  So, it takes more than a 4% annual raise to just stay even.  Read More . . .

Things Change Progress Requires It July 23, 2004 8:00am    Written by Margaret S Ross It’s a fact.  People resist change. Most companies resist change. Companies are willing to expend enormous efforts to maintain the status quo.  Why?  Primarily because people run the place and people work there. Give us your opinion.  Click here and take the E-Quad Reader Quiz.   Read More . . .

Are We There Yet? July 23, 2004 8:00am Americans Worrying About Retirement Summer is a time of family filled cars heading out on vacation.  Even before the tank needs to be refilled, a plaintive voice is heard from the back seat, “Are we there yet?” When it comes to retirement, many of those who had expected to be “there” are waking up to the fact that they may never arrive at their financial destination.  What are they doing about retirement?  Well, for one thing, they are openly worrying about it. Read More Read More . . .

Who’s Spamming Who? It Could Be You. July 23, 2004 12:00am In the grocery store, Spam is a molded, pink, pork-based product that comes in a blue can.  On the internet, Electronic Spam is the junk mail of the internet economy.  This year’s forecast says that we’re receiving seven spam messages a day. By 2008, plan on having to deal daily with 40 unwanted messages at work and 54 more at home. Recent research says that 30 percent of inbound electronic spam could be avoided.  Read More . . .

Bush Leads Kerry 7:1 Readers Survey November 30, 1999 12:00am Bush Leads Kerry E-Quad Reader Survey Bush over Kerry 7 to 1 in reader survey. If the election was held this week, 87 percent of our readers say they would vote for George W Bush and 10 percent would cast their votes for John Kerry.  As interesting as the reader poll results are, you need to vote -  in person - on November 2nd.  It’s the most important thing you’ll do that day.  If you’d like some tips on how to make informed choices, we suggest reading Bob McEwen’s column. Internet Voting A Hit: When asked “how” you prefer to vote for president, this internet savvy readership most of you like the idea of voting on line.  When asked how interested they would be in voting online, 73 percent of E-Quad reader would be “very interested” in having this option and 12 percent would be interested in voting on line. Read More . . .