See the future, Increase sales in SME's.

Increasing sales in 2013 is likely one of the goals of every small business owner. But, as consumer buying habits and trends change from year to year, often times what worked last year will not work again the next year. This is especially true in today's world where technology has reshaped the marketplace drastically in only a few short years – plunging retailers headfirst into cyberspace, and then once there, quickly and constantly redefining the landscape in which potential customers inhabit. For small business owners to compete they must be able to "SEE" the future and embrace the new consumer landscape.

S = Social Media

The first step to seeing the future is to embrace social media. Small business owners should already be familiar with social media, e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, to name a few, and should be taking advantage of the opportunities they provide to connect with potential customers. But, to be competitive in the foreseeable future, familiarity will not be enough. The fact is social media is a part of the everyday lives of the majority of the consumer base for nearly all types of small businesses. Thus, to not maximize your engagement with social media is to cut-off a major artery of potential sales to your business.

The trick, however, for those who have not mastered social media interaction, is to avoid the temptation to simply dip your toe in the shallow end and spread a little of your business over a lot of social media spaces. Instead, to be competitive, you must own your presence in those social media environments that will give your business the "most bang for your buck," so to speak. This means that the first step for small business owners to take on the road to owning their social media presence is to educate themselves about the business benefits of each available social media option and become an expert on how to put those benefits to work for their brand.

The best place to start is Doctoc's Online Business Courses. Docstoc has in depth courses for small business owners on dozens of topics, including social media. These courses are taught by experts and go far beyond simply introducing the student to the course topics. To take your first step toward owning your business's social media presence devote some time now by taking these courses – Social Media For Business, Facebook Pages For Business, LinkedIn Tutorial & Tools and Twitter For Small Business – and you will have your social media marketing machine running at full strength for all of 2013.

EE = E-commerce, Especially Mobile

There is no sense in denying it, e-commerce is a growing force that small businesses need to embrace to survive. And, if your business is not already offering an online purchasing option to its customers, you are at a major disadvantage. The fact is online e-commerce is already becoming old news because mobile e-commerce is already here. Moving into 2013 consumers expect that they can research, review and purchase any product on their computer or laptop, and by the end of 2013, that expectation will be firmly entrenched in their minds with regards to their smartphones and tablets. Thus, if your product is not already available online, and is not available on a mobile device in 2013, for many consumers, that product might as well not exist.

As shown here, "[a]ccording to the June 2012 Mobile Content Study by Magid Associates, tablet use by American consumers increased from zero to 34% in just the past two years. Moreover, Magid predicts that by the end of 2013 'the tablet audiences will more than double, from 40MM in 2011 to approximately 100 million'. This is in addition to an 'increase from approximately 100 million users in 2011 to 140 million users' of smartphones by the end of 2013. Another research study, this one from ABI Research, predicts that mobile-commerce will account for nearly a quarter of overall e-commerce market revenue by the end of 2017." We said it back in August, and we'll say it again now, "If you are … not optimized for mobile, you've been warned – the clock is ticking."

Fortunately, setting up an e-commerce website, and optimizing it for mobile, has never been easier. There are numerous easy-to-use options available for small business owners with any level of website building experience. Shopify, Volusion, and BigCommerce are a few of the most well-known options.

If you can SEE the future, increased sales in 2013 are sure to follow.

Fallout from the Presidential media chart.

Presidential Aide, Reuben Abati lied on major issues, Mr President implied:

The president put a dent on Mr. Abati, his official spokesman's credibility.
President Goodluck Jonathan, Sunday, contradicted presidential aides on three major issues that have affected the present administration.
During a media chat that lasted just under 2 hours, the president contradicted what his aides, particularly his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said on the issue of power, the first lady's health, and security.
Power
On Wednesday, November 14, Mr. Abati released a press statement to the media on behalf of the president in which he said the president cancelled the transmission contract given to Manitoba.
"Mr. President has cancelled the Manitoba power contract with immediate effect," Mr. Abati said in the statement, a claim Mr. Jonathan has denied.
"Manitoba contract has not been revoked," the president said, explaining that his administration observed that the company "did not follow the law strictly," when it got the contract.
Manitoba Hydro, a Canadian state-owned firm, emerged the highest bidder, in April, to manage Nigeria's transmission network, under the Transmission Company of Nigeria, for three years. The company was initially expected to resume in September.
Instead of resuming, Mr. Abati announced that the contract has been cancelled. Mr. Jonathan has, however, said the contract was not cancelled but is being regularized as due process was not fully followed in the award.
Security
After reports emerged that a man claiming to be a spokesman for the dreaded Boko Haram made a call stating the group's willingness to negotiate with the Federal Government under some conditions, Mr. Abati again said the government was already having some form of discussion with the Boko Haram group.
On Sunday, August 26, Mr. Abati told State House correspondents that the government was in talks with the Boko Haram through "backroom channels."
"When government says it is already talking to Boko Haram, the form of that dialogue must be properly understood.
"The form of the dialogue is that backroom channels are being used to reach across with the sole objective of understanding what exactly the grievances of these persons are," Mr. Abati said.
Three months later, on Monday November 12, Mr. Abati again confirmed to Punch Newspapers that the government was in talks with the sect.
"I can confirm to you that talks are ongoing at the background. But the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians," Mr. Abati said. "The ongoing talk is a back channel one in which those who know members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government."
President Jonathan has dismissed Mr. Abati's claims.
"There is no dialogue between the Boko Haram and government," Mr. Jonathan said during the media chat.
"Boko Haram is still operating under cover, they wear masks, there is no face. They operate under cover. No dialogue that is going on anywhere," Mr. Jonathan said.
Patience's illness
The President also confirmed that the first lady, Patience Jonathan, was ill and treated abroad contrary to presidential aide's claims that she only travelled abroad to rest.
Ayo Osinlu, a media aide to Mrs. Jonathan, told journalists on September 3 that the first lady was not sick but travelled out of the country to take a "moment's rest."
"If you look at her itinerary in August, you would be wondering how she was able to accomplish that. In the course of this week, she will be back home. But remember, it all depends on her plans," Mr. Osinlu told Punch Newspapers.
Mr. Abati also denied the first lady's illness describing it as a rumour.
"(illness story) was a rumour and there is nothing like that," Mr. Abati said.
Mr. Jonathan has refuted the claims by both aides.
"She was ill, she received treatment," Mr. Jonathan said of his wife's trip to Germany.
"When she returned, she had to further recuperate," the president said while explaining the first lady's seeming absence from public glare since her arrival in the country on October 17.

Fallout from the Presidential media chart.

Presidential Aide, Reuben Abati lied on major issues, Mr President implied:

The president put a dent on Mr. Abati, his official spokesman's credibility.
President Goodluck Jonathan, Sunday, contradicted presidential aides on three major issues that have affected the present administration.
During a media chat that lasted just under 2 hours, the president contradicted what his aides, particularly his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said on the issue of power, the first lady's health, and security.
Power
On Wednesday, November 14, Mr. Abati released a press statement to the media on behalf of the president in which he said the president cancelled the transmission contract given to Manitoba.
"Mr. President has cancelled the Manitoba power contract with immediate effect," Mr. Abati said in the statement, a claim Mr. Jonathan has denied.
"Manitoba contract has not been revoked," the president said, explaining that his administration observed that the company "did not follow the law strictly," when it got the contract.
Manitoba Hydro, a Canadian state-owned firm, emerged the highest bidder, in April, to manage Nigeria's transmission network, under the Transmission Company of Nigeria, for three years. The company was initially expected to resume in September.
Instead of resuming, Mr. Abati announced that the contract has been cancelled. Mr. Jonathan has, however, said the contract was not cancelled but is being regularized as due process was not fully followed in the award.
Security
After reports emerged that a man claiming to be a spokesman for the dreaded Boko Haram made a call stating the group's willingness to negotiate with the Federal Government under some conditions, Mr. Abati again said the government was already having some form of discussion with the Boko Haram group.
On Sunday, August 26, Mr. Abati told State House correspondents that the government was in talks with the Boko Haram through "backroom channels."
"When government says it is already talking to Boko Haram, the form of that dialogue must be properly understood.
"The form of the dialogue is that backroom channels are being used to reach across with the sole objective of understanding what exactly the grievances of these persons are," Mr. Abati said.
Three months later, on Monday November 12, Mr. Abati again confirmed to Punch Newspapers that the government was in talks with the sect.
"I can confirm to you that talks are ongoing at the background. But the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians," Mr. Abati said. "The ongoing talk is a back channel one in which those who know members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government."
President Jonathan has dismissed Mr. Abati's claims.
"There is no dialogue between the Boko Haram and government," Mr. Jonathan said during the media chat.
"Boko Haram is still operating under cover, they wear masks, there is no face. They operate under cover. No dialogue that is going on anywhere," Mr. Jonathan said.
Patience's illness
The President also confirmed that the first lady, Patience Jonathan, was ill and treated abroad contrary to presidential aide's claims that she only travelled abroad to rest.
Ayo Osinlu, a media aide to Mrs. Jonathan, told journalists on September 3 that the first lady was not sick but travelled out of the country to take a "moment's rest."
"If you look at her itinerary in August, you would be wondering how she was able to accomplish that. In the course of this week, she will be back home. But remember, it all depends on her plans," Mr. Osinlu told Punch Newspapers.
Mr. Abati also denied the first lady's illness describing it as a rumour.
"(illness story) was a rumour and there is nothing like that," Mr. Abati said.
Mr. Jonathan has refuted the claims by both aides.
"She was ill, she received treatment," Mr. Jonathan said of his wife's trip to Germany.
"When she returned, she had to further recuperate," the president said while explaining the first lady's seeming absence from public glare since her arrival in the country on October 17.

RIM earns security certification for its BlackBerry 10 devices ahead of 2013 launch

RIM announced that its upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices have received FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) 140-2 certification ahead of its 2013 launch. RIM notes that this is the first time it received the certification before its devices were commercially available. The struggling Canadian manufacturer is bolstering its reputation as a secure platform and is hoping to convince government and enterprise users to wait for BlackBerry 10 devices instead of switching to the iPhone or Android.

"Achieving FIPS 140-2 certification means that BlackBerry 10 is ready to meet the strict security requirements of government agencies and enterprises at launch," said Michael K. Brown, Vice President, Security Product Management and Research at RIM. "What differentiates BlackBerry is that it integrates end-to-end security, and includes certified encryption algorithms for data at rest and data in transit. No other mobile solution has achieved the level of security accreditation that the BlackBerry solution has."

Making customers wait might be a difficult task as several US government agencies recently jumped ship or are planing to jump ship in the coming months. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced that it would outfit its 17,000 employees with iPhones, while the U.S. Defense Department is looking at Android, iOS as well as BlackBerry devices for its lucrative smartphone contract.

[Via RIM]
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5 Reasons Why President Obama won re-election

As the World comes to the reality of the victory of incumbent President Obama in the November 6, Presidential election the Business News Global Political team have identified 5 reasons why he won.

First reason was his championing of the middle-class and low income earners interest at the economic front. From the debate to his campaigns he shared his philosophy that to build an economy, it is done from the middle to the other levels.

Stating that no additional tax burden will be put on the middle-class workers but rather the high-income earners to help tackle the deficit challenges of the economy, won the confidence of the middle and low class income earners.

Second is his remarkable bail out of the Auto Industry which saw major corporations like General Motors and Chrysler come back from dead to life, this great intervention that secured thousands of Jobs that would have been lost and that inspired the workers to go out and massively vote Obama in Michigan and Ohio.

Third in his Foreign Policy President Barack  Obama achieved the great  feat of  eliminating America's number one public enemy 'Osama Bin Laden' in Pakistan, without spending much and that remarkable feat went down into the records for him.

Fourth  the unfortunate political comment of his challenger Governor Mitt Romney at a fundraiser that '47% of Americans are victims of the government'  gave him the edge ahead of the elections.

Finally the Hurricane Sandy episode brought out a strong leader in President Obama  as his remarkable coordination of relief efforts for the displaced people and the prompt approval of express funds and aid to worst hit states,  gave him the maximum votes in New Jersey and New York.
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Microsoft Replacing Windows Live Messenger With Skype [REPORT]

Microsoft will retire its Windows Live Messenger chat service, shifting its focus instead to similar functionality in Skype, a new report says. The changeover could happen as early as this week.

Citing "several sources," The Verge reports Microsoft is planning to integrate Windows Live Messenger into Skype in the coming months and then retire Messenger.

On the back end, the merger of the two systems has been happening already. Skype now uses much of the Windows Live Messenger's systems to make and receive calls (the calls themselves, however, still use Skype's peer-to-peer system). Skype also uses Messenger's systems for about 80% of instant messages exchanged on the service, the report says a  merger is also in keeping with Microsoft's broader strategy of consolidating its services under a single Microsoft ID for users, and the streamlining of its services overall (retiring the Zune and Hotmail brands in favor of Xbox and Outlook, to name two examples). Microsoft just launched new Skype apps for both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 as well as a new client for Windows 7 and Mac, making clear that Skype is the company's primary focus as a general consumer communication service.

When contacted by Mashable, representatives for Microsoft declined to comment on the report.

Will you miss Windows Live Messenger if Microsoft kills it? And would you be opposed to using Skype in lieu of it? Share your reactions in the comments.

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A Super-Quick Guide to Building a Website

The business of building your own website may seem a bit daunting, but we've outlined some of the key steps to make it a simpler, more streamlined process.

Getting Started
Whether you're starting a personal blog or designing a site to go along with a product or business, these tips are sure to help you through the task. Take on your piece of the Internet with our guide on everything from picking a platform, to copyrighting a domain name.

1. Choose a Platform
First and foremost, you should research and decide on an appropriate site platform. If you're writing a blog, then you may want to consider WordPress, OnSugar or Blogger. For a more universal platform, try free sites like Webs and Webnode.

2. Brainstorm Branding and Content
Before you launch your site, narrow down your vision. What are your goals? What would you like it to become as time goes on? Keeping your plans specific will help you develop a fitting name and relevant, related content.

3. Consider the Domain Name
When you're deciding on a URL, it's important to think about wording, spelling and length. Make sure to choose a domain that visitors will be able to remember, and pick a phrase that suits your material.

4. Look Into Trademark and Copyright Options
Educate yourself on the nature and purpose of copyright and trademark opportunities, then do a bit of research to see if it's something you may want to pursue. This is especially valuable if you're planning to share your own creative content, like stories or photography.

5. Browse Design Templates and Widgets
Search the web for different templates and add-ons you might like to use for your site. You'll find everything from creative, artistic design elements to functional tools like a search bar or an RSS feed.

Once You're Up and Running
After you've nailed down the basic setup and design of your website, dig deeper into tracking and developing your audience.

6. Sign Up for an Analytics Service
To understand what types of content work on your site, the people who make up your audience and who refers readers to your site, use a tool like Google Analytics or StatCounter.

7. Establish a Social Network Presence
Nowadays, it's a no-brainer: If you have a website, then you should have corresponding Facebook and Twitter accounts. As you decide on usernames, remember to be consistent across sites — you're creating a brand.

8. Decide What You'll Post and How Often
Develop an idea of what you'd like to include on your site, then decide on a posting schedule that works for you. Posting content at set days throughout the week will create a sense of routine for both you and your readers, who will gain a sense of what to expect and when.

9. Find an Audience
You want to make sure people are seeing all your hard work, right? Try to network online to gain readers. Identify other websites you admire or relate to and comment on their posts, initiate link relationships and build an active social media presence to help expand your readership. Depending on your goals, further down the blog life line you can consider advertising opportunities.
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