Interesting read on the top search engines!  http://chitika.com/research/2010/firefox-2nd-most-influential-player-in-search/

http://www.greenerprinter.com/grp/DpParser.do?templateID=T304491

Excellent article on SEO tips and tricks:  http://freelancefolder.com/5-quick-seo-tips-to-help-freelancers-get-higher-search-engine-rankings/

This is a good read if youre a small business!

Another one of our business card designs are up at Greener Printer. (whoo hooo!)

http://www.greenerprinter.com/grp/DpParser.do?templateID=T304490

I blogged about this yesterday and now its getting worst with every horrid detail.  Good article on this topic: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-aaron/google-verizon-pact-it-ge_b_676194.html

Let’s hope this doesnt happen.

Not sure if you’ve heard about a possible deal between Google and Verizon but its not looking pretty.  Rumor has it they are going to “sell” faster internet to the highest payer.  This something we should all be concerned about.  Found this great article discussing this:  http://www.infoworld.com/t/regulation/google-verizon-and-the-future-the-internet-145?page=0,0

One of my business card designs are up at greenprinter.com:  http://www.greenerprinter.com/grp/DpParser.do?templateID=T304484

Happy Friday everyone!

Google has just started a Small Business Blog.  Should be interesting and hopefully they will have strong content to share.

http://googlesmb.blogspot.com/

What is social networking?  Its the process of building an online community with people who share a common goal or interest.  Through social networking, people are able to interact with each other in ways that has never been done before.  This provides a unique way to send information quickly and to a lot of people with just a stroke of the “send” button.  With each networking site there are various “slang” words you  need to know.  For example on Facebook you can “like” someone; on Twitter you can “follow” someone; On Linkedin you can “recommend” someone.  There are millions of networking sites out there in cyberspace but for right now lets focus on the sites that are the most popular:

Facebook:
Facebook became very popular among college students as a way to connect with students within their own school and schools abroad.  Originally created as a college project, it gained so much popularity that Facebook is now one of the leading social networking sites amongst people of all backgrounds, schools, communities, friends, families, and businesses.

Once you set up a profile, you can list as much or as little information about yourself that people will see.  Facebook came under fire recently about privacy issues, but has since fixed them.  At least we hope so!

You can post your thoughts, share a link, “like” something you read, or “poke” another profile for fun.  You are sure to connect with people and make friends from the comforts of your computer screen!

Twitter:

I was surprised to learn that the founders of Twitter think of it more as a search engine than social networking site.  Twitter is very similar to Facebook in that you can connect and make friends and share information.  One distinguishing difference is Twitter allows people to post comments and/or thoughts of no more than 140 characters.  With the 140 character limit you have to be short and concise, which many people like especially living in a world where we want information quick and fast.

Blog:
Blogs can be a very effective way to communicate your message to your customers or friends.  Its your extended voice to the outside world.  You can write about whatever you want or whatever topic you want to talk about.  People can leave feedback, and sometimes discussions ensue with dialogue going back and forth.  If you’re a business owner, having a blog also helps you rank higher with search engines.

Linkedin:
LinkedIn has really gained popularity over the years.  Its mainly a business networking tool.  You can set up your business profile then connect with other people in your industry, company, and future prospects.  People can “recommend” you and act as a client testimonial about your business.  You can list your resume, your education, and contact information all in one place.  There are several professional organizations that are created where members of that organization can post questions and share information.  This is a must have for any professional or business organization to belong to.

I didnt mention MySpace since most of its members moved to Facebook.  MySpace is still relevant among musicians.  Word is they are gearing up for a re-design in hopes of getting members back.  We will have to wait and see what happens on that front.

Well, there you have it, a brief breakdown on the most popular networking sites as of right now.  Happy networking!

If you are just getting started or you’ve been in business for awhile, this article is good reminder about steps to take when you have a small business.  It talks about branding, finances, and just good business sense.

http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/07/small-business-news-so-you-want-to-start-a-business.html