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ABC's Small Business Tips

Whether your issue is customer service, the Internet, sales and marketing, or practically any other small business problem, ABC can help with the tips and tricks you need, advice that will make a real difference.

Healthcare Discounts for ABC Members

ABC Members now have access to Careington International Corporation – a leading provider of dental, medical, health and prescription discount plans. These low-cost plans are available to ABC Members, their families and their employees and could be the ideal solution when looking at possible healthcare solutions for your business.

Government, Politics and the Economy

Obama Names Venture Capitalist to SBA Advocacy Office

President Obama has named Venture Capitalist Winslow Sargeant as the chief counsel of the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy. SmallBizJournal.com

Obama: Our Projects Will Boost Jobs, Economy Has `Long Way to Go'

President Obama has vowed to speed up the spending of federal money on public works projects and said there are signs that a US economic recovery has helped lead to a “reduction in fear” in financial markets. Bloomberg.com

Bankruptcy Filings on the Rise

Commercial and personal bankruptcy rates are soaring, with the commercial sector up to 376 filings per day, driven by shrinking sales and tight credit markets. These corporate bankruptcies are then expected to cause another wave in consumer filings. USAToday.com

Management and Operations

Responding to the Recession: The Bosses Took the Paycut

Layoffs, pay cuts, unpaid furloughs – these are all attempts to cut costs and they are mostly hitting the workers while the executives seem immune. That isn't the case with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, one of Boston's leading hospitals. There, something else is happening. BusinessWeek.com

Small Business Inspiration

Learn how some of America's best small companies inspire their workers to boost their bottom line. CNNMoney.com

Taxes and Financial Issues

Venture Capitalists Face New Taxes

The Obama Administration is pushing hard to raise taxes on carried interest, a move that would cut into the profits of venture capitalists, and those efforts will likely intensify as Congress searches for ways to pay for healthcare reform. WSJ.com

SBA-Backed Loans Are Going Up

After six months of decline, the number of SBA-backed loans is on the rise and officials are hopeful that the trend will continue. CrainesDetroit.com

Technology Issues

New Small Business Technology from Cisco

Cisco has announced a number of new products and services for small companies that are designed to improve productivity while minimizing the time small companies have to spend on managing the technology. CBROnline.com

Is a PC Upgrade Cycle on the Horizon?

Question: How long can your business milk its existing PCs without having to upgrade? It turns out that the answer for now is quite awhile, but there are some hoping for a big upgrade push with Windows 7 as the catalyst. ZDNet.com

Health, Benefits and Labor Issues

Healthcare Reform: A Look at an Early Draft of the Legislation

As factions within Congress try to hammer out the healthcare reform plan, there are still some hurdles, such as the details of an employer pay-or-play mandate, to overcome. Workforce.com

Branding, Sales and Marketing

Email Marketing: Time for a Midyear Checkup
With the year now half-over, it is time to have a look at your e-mail strategy and see how it is doing and where it needs changing. ClickZ.com

SEO: Market Your New Web Site
SEO advice from an expert, Non-Linear Creations' Helen Overland, who discusses the ins and outs of marketing a new Website with search engine optimization (SEO). ClickZ.com