Government and Economy
Obama Doubles Tax Law Enforcement Budget
President Obama has proposed a near doubling of the funds to enforce U.S. tax laws next year, with an aim of more than quadrupling funding for tax compliance to $2.1 billion within five years. Reuters.com
Stress Test: Banks Need More Money, Taxpayers May Not Have to Pay
True, the stress tests show that the banks need more funds, but that does not necessarily mean they will get that money from the government as the Obama administration is suggesting that the rescue money that Congress has already approved will be enough to fill the gaps. NYTimes.com
Consumer Credit Drops as Job Losses Mount and Banks Reduce Lines
US Consumer credit contracted by a record amount in March as the jobless rate broke records of its own and banks made it harder for individuals and businesses to get loans. Bloomberg.com
Management and Financial Issues
Recession Fallout: A New Relationship Between Small Business and Banks
Business owners are saying that they are turning to regional or community banks and credit unions for their banking needs, and away from the major banks. Is it any wonder? The big banks don’t seem to be able to help them anymore. WSJ.com
Technology Issues
Google is Looking For You
Online search leader Google says that most of its revenue comes from working with small companies, and that it needs more of your business. The question is: Should you hire it? CNNMoney.com
Malware-Friendly Search Engines on the Rise
Cybercriminals behind the ongoing attacks that hijack swine flu-related queries in order to introduce scareware, have brought back an old tactic—fake and malware-friendly search engines. ZDNet.com
Benefits and Labor Issues
Using Facebook To Catch 'Sick' Workers
Social networks like Facebook are an easy and cost-effective way to market your small business and even screen potential employees, but can you use it to check on employees who call in sick to work? You bet! BusinessKnowHow.com
The Promise of Voluntary Benefits
More small companies are discovering that voluntary benefits offer a low-cost way to bolster their businesses and empower their employees. MSNBC.com
Supreme Court Reverses ID Theft Ruling; DHS to Target Employers
As a result of a recent Supreme Court decision and policy changes by the Department of Homeland Security, enforcement efforts on illegal immigration will shift away from illegal aliens and toward the employers who hire them. Workforce.com
Sales and Marketing
Integrated Marketing: Social Media Benchmarks
You need benchmarks to know how your efforts are progressing, but not all benchmarks are created equal. Here are some to avoid and others to embrace. ClickZ.com
Attracting Customers in a Recession
During a recession, consumer spending falls, meaning that offering quality products or services at a reasonable price may not be enough of a draw to keep the customers coming in. Four businesses, however, have attracted customers in spite of the recession. Here's how. BusinessKnowHow.com
Local Search: Yelp and Your Online Reputation
With the development of consumer-generated review sites, local businesses need to manage not only their brick and mortar reputation, but their online reputation as well. Here's where to start. ClickZ.com
Email Newsletters: Get Your Customers to Actually Read Yours
Your customers' in-boxes are overflowing, but here are some things you can do to get them interested enough in your company's email newsletters to look forward to them. BusinessWeek.com
