Government, Politics and the Economy
Why Is America Still Not Hiring?
With the release of two pieces of important employment data, we see that employers are simply not hiring, showing only on up month out of the last eight even with the economic picture improving. Why? CNBC.com
Job Cuts Top 467K in June – Unemployment Now at 9.5%
Unemployment reached a 26-year high in June at 95% as US employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs, suggesting a tough road to economic recovery. BusinessWeek.com
Management and Operations
Customer Service: Twitter Style
Comcast has made Twitter into a powerful customer service tool. Should you? HumanCapitalist.com
Are You Prepared for a Hostile Takeover?
This year, hostile offers accounted for 47% of the merger and acquisitions in the US, compared with 24% in 2008 and 7% in 2004. In response, the Conference Board issued a report that provides a checklist of issues to consider when facing unsolicited takeover offers. ManageSmarter.com
Legal Issues
New Identity Theft Mandate Takes Effect in August
If you sell products or services on credit, take note: By August 1, 2009, you must be in compliance with the FTC's new “red flag” rules requiring creditors to implement a written program for “detection, prevention and mitigation” of identity theft of consumers’ data. BusinessManagementDaily.com
Taxes and Financial Issues
Will State Tax Breaks Boost Jobs of Hurt the Recovery?
States are doling out billions to lure companies—and jobs—away from other states. The question is whether their incentives are actually undermining America's recovery plan BusinessWeek.com
Cost Cutting: Small Business Owners Cut Down to the Bone
Recent surveys show that to keep their doors open, small business owners are still sacrificing staff, benefits, and personal savings. CNNMoney.com
Technology Issues
Website Design: Determine Your Needs – Determine Your Budget
With ecommerce in high gear these days, if you want to get in on the action, you need a website that is up to the task, but where do you start? You begin with what you need it to do and how much you are willing to spend on it. USAToday.com
Health, Benefits and Labor Issues
Hiring: Jobless Need Not Apply
With unemployment rising, it’s a buyer’s market for those employers that are hiring, a fact that is evidenced by the fact that many employers are bypassing the jobless to target those still working, reasoning that these survivors are the top performers. WSJ.com
Branding, Sales and Marketing
Advertising: It's about Fulfilling Demand, Not Creating It
Advertising is all about fulfilling demand, but it does not create it. Understand the difference and make your ads more effective. ClickZ.com
Advertising: Local Search
What can you do to get people to shop at your business? That is always the big question, especially during hard economic times. Consider these approaches to stretch your range. ClickZ.com
Advertising: Standards Tighten for Tracking Web Surfers
A group of advertisers is announcing stricter rules for the data collected on consumers when they surf the Web or shop online in the hopes of getting ahead of possible new government regulation. NYTimes.com
