Offline Until August 15

The big move is upon us. I'll be offline (and non-blogging) until August 15.

Online Maps

A great feature has resurfaced on the web: searchable maps via A9.com. First, pick your city, then look block-by-block using the magifying glass icon. You'll see actual photos of the streets and buildings on the right! While it's still a beta-version, it works well and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here.

Another great map resource is Google. Just type a street address, city, state and zip code into Google, and from the results, click on Google Maps. You'll see the standard graphic map PLUS a satellite map option. Very cool when you're going to a new place and you want to see it from the air.

RANT: Moving Your Home Office Is Crazy-Making Time

I'm in the process of packing my office to move to a new location. What to keep, what to throw away? What do I need up until the last minute, what can I pack now and clear some stuff out? Did I accidently pack the office cat? (I looked; I didn't pack him.)

With more and more people working out of home offices, the likelihood that you'll have to move your home, and your office, is increased. There are a million details, all of which I've captured, and all of which I'll compile and put into the September ezine for you!

In the meantime, where did I put my stapler??

Ladies Who Launch

I found a great website today, Ladies Who Launch.

It's full of information for women launching their own business, but the best part about this site is the success stories! Each week they'll send you an email with a short story about a woman entrepreneur. These stories will inspire and motivate you.

"Blink" (The Book)

I've just got done reading "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell. Very interesting stuff, folks.

As self-employed small business owners, we need to learn to trust our initial reaction to people, opportunities and our own thoughts. Blink gives us some good reasons to do just that, as well as cautions us about the down-side of making too-rapid decisions based on assumptions.

A definite must-read for small business owners!

Health Insurance Resource for Microentrepreneurs

A recent survey shows that the increasingly expensive cost of health insurance is one of the top concerns for small business owners.

A new set of guides from the Aspen Institute’s FIELD (Microenterprise Fund for Innovation, Effectiveness, Learning, and Dissemination) program offers some useful help to both entrepreneurs and policymakers. For microentrepreneurs,

House Approves Resolution Promoting Small Business Bill of Rights

During National Small Business Week in May, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation calling for a Small Business Bill of Rights that gives America's small employers the tools they need to grow their businesses and create jobs. Highlighting the legislation is the call for association health plans – allowing small businesses to join together to purchase affordable health insurance. Also included were calls for simplified tax laws, a right for small businesses to be free from frivolous lawsuits, the right to be free from restrictive and unnecessary regulation, the right to be free from high energy costs, right to equal tax treatment with large businesses when seeking access to start-up and expansion capital and credits, and the right to compete for federal government business through unbundling contracts.

Who Reads Blogs?

Hmmm...great marketing research question: WHO reads blogs, and HOW MANY readers are there out there? Okay, I don't know the answer, but I'll do some research and see if I can uncover some little-known facts about blog readership and post them for you soon.

Have a Good Pricing Strategy

Research the average fees for your type of business so that you know your prices are in line with expectation. If you can't get competitor pricing information, try Brenner Books. If your experience warrants it, increase your pricing to reflect your higher skills, knowledge and experience. If you're not sure how to create a pricing strategy, research it online or talk with a small business consultant or mentor.

Great Health Insurance Resources

Two great health insurance resources for small business owners:

• Guide to finding health care coverage in your state
  
• Online guide to small business health insurance options
  
  
  

Can Blogs Be A Good Marketing Technique?

Good question. As a small business coach, I get asked this question every day by my clients. So, in an effort to determine whether blogging is for you and your business, I've delved into the world of blogging myself. And I'll write about the experience here, so that you can use my battle stories to help you decide if blogging is for you.

Create your own free blog at Google's Blogger.com site: http://www.blogger.com/ or try one of these other services:

http://www.typepad.com

http://www.blog.com

http://www.blogware.com

http://www.blogspirit.com