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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

The Recession: Signs of Improvement, No Jobs Yet

There are signs of improvement, sales are picking up, but according to a recent survey of small business owners, layoffs and poor credit are still a problem. CNNMoney.com

Business Groups to Obama: Limit Union Boss Pay

With President Obama intent on capping executive pay, business groups are now daring the President to impose pay caps on labor union bosses as well. WashingtonTimes.com

Management and Operations

Leadership: Improve Your Communication
Harvard Business Publishing recently reported on "The 10 Most Common Leadership Shortcomings." Here are five of those shortcomings that you can instantly fix just by improving your communication skills. ManageSmarter.com

Legal Issues

Data Mining: Prescription Drugs Now, Targeted Web Ads Next?

The saga of prescription-data collector IMS and its fight to stay in business could be headed to the Supreme Court, where it will unfold in a battle over privacy and free speech that could have ramafications for anyone who markets based on collected consumer data. BusinessWeek.com

Taxes and Financial Issues

Pitching the Angels: Do's and Dont's

If you want to land start-up capital from angel investors, two recent studies found that you shouldn't get carried away when you pitch your product and a misstep like a vague reply to a question instead of honestly saying you do not know the answer can also kill a deal. NYTimes.com

ARC Loans: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

According to the SBA, thousands of small-business owners are about to receive some debt relief when the agency begins doling out 10,000 deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000. While this could help some, they will be a small fraction of the struggling businesses out there. WSJ.com

Technology Issues

Microsoft to Enter the Antivirus Business

Microsoft Corp is getting ready to unveil a long-anticipated free anti-virus service for personal computers that will compete with products sold by Symantec Corp and McAfee Inc. Reuters.com

Health, Benefits and Labor Issues

New Legislation Protects Small Business from New ADA Suits

US Congressman Duncan Hunter will introduce legislation to protect small business. His bill will give business owners time to evaluate and correct any alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) before costly litigation starts. Examiner.com

Branding, Sales and Marketing

Email Marketing: Will Twitter Implode Under the Weight of Its Hype?
There is a lot of talk about Twitter and how it can revolutionize marketing, but it seems that the social network comes up short on two fronts. ClickZ.com

Social Media: Where The Girls Are

If women are the market for your product or service, then ignore social media tools at your own peril. Of the 79 million US women online, 42 million of them are actively engaging in some form of social media. BusinessKnowHow.com

Search Results: When They Google Your Name

There is a good chance that your customers have Googled your name, you probably have as well. What did you—and they—find when the results came up? Was it what you wanted? Make sure what they find about you in Google makes them want to do business with you. BusinessKnowHow.com