The Web is a boon to business owners - any question you have or resource you need, you can find what you're looking for online. It just takes a little know-how and patience, and that oh-so-valuable commodity: time. And if you're like most business owners we know, you often don't have time available to spend searching the Web, so you may be missing out on some of the best resources and tools available to you. That's why we're sharing just five online business resources we believe are worth your time. Each of our recommendations will provide you with strategies, opportunities, or tools to help you expand your business knowledge and your productivity.
Name: Harvard Business Review
Website: www.hbr.org
This website is one of the best for all topics on business management. From hiring or firing employees and being happier at work to increasing your impact on finances and developing effective marketing plans, it's all covered on this site. One look at their home page and you'll see what we mean. It's a snapshot of everything HBR - including values, innovation, leadership and finance; best practices; latest blog posts; spotlighted stories; and more.
Best of all, HBR is serious about keeping you connected. You can find them on Twitter, http://twitter.com/HarvardBiz Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/HBR and YouTube; http://www.youtube.com/HarvardBusiness sign up for podcasts; or receive daily, weekly, or monthly updates via e-mail. http://hbsp.ed4.net/prefcenter/signup.cfm Our advice? Don't miss out on the Management Tip of the Day.
Name: Marketing Profs
Website: www.marketingprofs.com
You may not be a professional marketer, but if you can't afford to hire one at the moment, you'll have to be one temporarily. No need to stress - this website provides market research, useful tips, and real life examples for implementing successful marketing strategies.
Covering search engine marketing, lead generation, advertising statistics, content, and more - this website will help you gain clarity and ideas in your marketing campaign. Follow Marketing Prof's Ann Handley on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
http://twitter.com/MarketingProfs
http://www.facebook.com/marketingprofs?v=wall
Name: LinkedIn Groups
Website: www.linkedin.com
Business Group Search Example http://www.linkedin.com/groupsDirectory?results=&sik=126394085928
Business Group Discussion Example http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestions=&gid=2877&forumID=3&sik=1263941305651&goback=%2Egdr_1263940859281_1
Connecting with people through online communities is a powerful networking tactic. Whether to build credibility, establish new or re-establish past relationships, get recommendations on candidates for a job opening or service provider, or simply get answers to your business questions in real time, LinkedIn Groups are an excellent resource. We've been able to get the most out of Groups made up of our peers, our target market, and our local community.
Here's how to do it: search for Groups that are meaningful to you, join, and then reach out to Group members by clicking on the "Discussions" tab on your Group Page to view recent discussions, ask questions, and chime in.
Name: Hubspot Marketing Tools
Website: www.Grader.com (also available at www.hubspot.com/marketing-tools)
Hubspot, an amazing source for inbound marketing services, has a specific Grader tools website that provides valuable insight into search engine optimization (SEO) - the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a website. If your business has an online presence, then you need to be aware of your SEO and Grader is a great way to get in the know.
Hubspot's Grader tools allow you to quickly and easily determine how well you are doing with SEO by evaluating and grading different areas of your online presence. There are Graders for your website, for your Twitter and Facebook accounts, and even for your press releases. And just in case you tend to be a little technical in your writing skills, there's Gobbledygook grader to check your content for jargon, clichés, or over-used hype.
Name: Google Reader
Website: http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html
Now that you have these new resources to add to those you already use, you'll need a way to organize all this great information in a way that will help you stay up-to-date with the news, trends, and tips they provide. Enter Google Reader.
Google Reader is a phenomenal tool. It checks your favorite news sites and blogs for new content so you don't have to, it discovers new web content that may interest you, and it even allows you to share things that you find interesting with friends and family. You can make it your own personal inbox for information on the web. Follow Google Reader on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
http://twitter.com/googlereader
http://www.facebook.com/googlereader
Do you have a favorite Online Business Resource or Tool that you think should have made our list? Share your online resources and tools and the reasons you use them with our Collaboration Community. Email smolfino@collaboration-llc.com, and we'll include your comments in an upcoming blog post or next months newsletter.