The express version that i have been using works really well as it prevents the need for uploading large files to FTP space and then trying to explain to the person on the other end how to download the file. For a full review click here.

Uploaded with plasq‘s Skitch!

The interface is simple and easy to use and once you download the software, if you right click on a document in Explorer or Finder the ‘Send by YouSendit’ option appears as a shortcut. I love this feature as it cuts the steps for sending files down to a single click of the mouse.

This a great small business tool for any business that needs to send documents larger than 2MB.

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Technorati Tags: Small Business Tools, Web2.0, YouSendIt

How ‘Add This’ Works

Add This is a tool that most people who regularly read news articles online will have seen. It is the little button that appears below or above articles and allows the reader to share the article.

1. Once the user mousses over the ‘Add This’ button they are instructed to ‘Select a Service’ from a list including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and a comprehensive list of lesser known social media sites.
2. The user then selects the service, for example ‘Facebook’.
3. ‘Add This’ contacts the users account in Facebook and opens a window allowing the user to post a link to their Facebook status.
4. Once the link is posted to the users Facebook status the users’ contacts will see that they have recommended the article and can click on a link to that article.

The process is similar for other social media sites listed on ‘Add This’. The power of the “Add This’ button is that it allows users to easily share articles with their networks.

So how could it work for business?

The traditional application for ‘Add This’ is for news articles and blogs but there is no reason it can’t be applied to many other web pages. For Example, The ‘Add This’ Button could be added to Real Estate property listings allowing for the easy sharing of properties for sale. Retailers and wholesalers of products can add the button to product descriptions for the easy sharing of product details resulting in possible sales. Add This is free, easy to install and highly effective for:

• Increased traffic to your pages/site.
• Better search engine ranking.
• Increased site popularity, awareness and possibly sales.

Setup Add This on your Site:

To setup ‘Add This’ on your website visit www.addthis.com and follow the simple steps in the presentation below:

Add This was launched in 2006 and is used on hundreds of thousands of websites including FOX, ABC, CBS, SAP, TIME Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, PGA Tour and Lonely Planet. With over 20 billion views per month, the Add This button could be a welcome addition to your website. To test how it works click on the ‘bookmark’ link below and forward this article using ‘Add This’. I also welcome any of your feedback on this great tool.

Technorati Tags: Add This, Small Business Tools, Social Media

What Is Twitter? According to the definition on Wikipedia, Twitter is ‘a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users’ updates known as ‘tweets’. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers).’ Once your Twitter account is setup you can nominate to ‘follow’ people (following) and people can nominate to ‘follow’ you (followers). Twitter is available via the web, SMS and instant messaging or emails, and users of Twitter update their posts by answering, “What are you doing now?”. The cross platform functionality and the ability to update on iPhone, Blackberry and mobile devices is very powerful as it allows users to communicate what they are doing, without cost, from anywhere. What are the Business Uses? It took me a while to get an understanding for how Twitter can be used for business but here are some suggestions that small businesses can benefit from:

1. Twitter Search: Twitter has a really powerful search application (http://search.twitter.com/) that allows you to search for people or topics in real time. This provides a useful tool to listen to your customers, prospects or target demographic. Use Twitter Search by typing in your business name and see if anyone is commenting on you, or search for your products by name to identify opportunities around those products.
2. Blog Post Tweets: If your small business has a blog Twitter is a great way to inform your followers about new posts. Using relevant keywords in your Twitter post will result in people searching Twitter potentially following you and getting to know you and your business.
3. Promote Specials: If I’m following a business on Twitter there is a good chance that I’m interested in specials they are promoting. Catalogue specials and promotions that you update on your site could be the subject of your Tweets. Click here for an example of Twitter uses for Restaurants.
4. Mentoring/Networking: Search for and follow the experts, authors and trade publications in your industry. Most will have a Twitter page by now, and by following them you can be the first to find out about new innovations or trends. This can be more valuable than ‘reader feeds’ because the expert you are following will tweet their articles as well as 3rd party articles or information that appeals to them.

Is Twitter A Waste Of Time? Twitter can be a waste of time if it isn’t used properly. Following too many people with countless ‘tweets’ about every passing moment would drive me mad. I follow people I’m interested in and I enjoy their updates due to the value of their tweets and what I can learn from their activity. I prefer to limit the number of people I follow because I couldn’t possibly ‘listen’ to hundreds of people. I think Twitter is a wonderful tool and welcome your feedback about the way you have used Twitter for business. If you like what I have to say you can also follow me on Twitter @sladesherman.

Technorati Tags: Small Business Tools, Twitter for Business, Twitter Search

1. The local discount program that has many 5% discounts (low value offers) is unlikely to attract attention of customers. Saving 5% on a meal isn’t that sexy compared with a 2 for 1 deal! So 5% discounts can lower the perception and uptake of the entire local discount program.
2. For the customers who do take notice of the program, you should expect to get a better result from a 10% deal compared with a 5% deal….it’s natural selection!

I always encourage merchants to think about the discount in terms of ‘what is the perceived saving?’ (view the presentation below to find out more). If you are offering 5% on a meal the saving only equates to 50c on a $10 purchase and I don’t believe this is enough to motivate people to use the voucher. Put yourself in the shoes of the customer and ask ‘would this saving motivate me to use the voucher?’.

Feel free to connect with me on Twitter or subscribe to my blog so we can keep in touch!

Technorati Tags: Discount Coupons, Restaurant Promotion, Small Business Tools

1.    Visit http://maps.google.com/maps and search for your business name. Make sure you include your city name in the search enquiry. 2.    If your business is listed you should be able to view and edit your details and you can also read reviews. If you are given the option to claim your business then claim it! Click here for instructions on claiming your listing. 3.    If you cannot find your business then submit a business listing. So if you are running a brick-and-mortar business get online and make it easier for people doing searches in your area to find you on Google.

Technorati Tags: Google Maps, Marketing Tips, Small Business Tools