Here's a very good article on web site design mistakes you should avoid. Many of the tips take care of my pet peeves about site design, so I really like the advice! As always, feel free to contact us if you need help with any of this stuff – we're glad to help!
43 Web Design Mistakes You Should Avoid
Here's a new site which claims to do a "deep search" of the web. Just enter a name and away you go! I found some interesting stuff about myself. How about you?
I'm a big fan of lists, so I was thrilled to find this list of best web sites on Time.com:
http://websitecleanup.com/go/41fb04
Warning: Leave yourself plenty of time for browsing on this one! 
Have you ever lost power while writing a Word document? Or had the cat step on just the wrong key at just the wrong time? Here's an article that may help you get back what you lost:
http://websitecleanup.com/go/666009
They also provide some recovery software but the different ideas for rescuing your document might prove helpful.
Scammers will do just about anything to make a buck, including sending emails which look legitimate, but aren't. Here's an article which warns of a false Microsoft patch – an email which pretends to be helpful but really isn't…
http://websitecleanup.com/go/8886c1
These people take advantage of human nature – we're afraid of getting a virus or spyware, and so we want to take steps to protect ourselves. It's important to read these types of email carefully, to decide whether they come from a trusted source and if they do, does it really look trustworthy and legitimate? One thing I always do is visit a web site directly rather than clicking on the link in the email. That's a pretty sure way of staying safe, because if I go to microsoft.com, I can be pretty sure whatever I click on from there is going to be OK. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, you can call or email us for assistance.
Here's a great article from CNN which links you to a bunch of wonderful, free resources… some on the web, and some in the brick-and-mortar world:
http://websitecleanup.com/go/8d6bd6
An increasing amount of our lives are stored on small electronic devices that are easy to lose, or may be stolen. This article from CNN lists ways you can protect your gadgets… from labels (so good citizens can contact you for return of the item) to software that "phones home" with information about the thief – even video!
http://websitecleanup.com/go/9c4306
There's no doubt – Google is the best search engine. And there are ways you can enter your searches to get better results… the top tips are outlined here:
dumblittleman.com/2007/06/20-tips-for-more-efficient-google.html
Hopefully these tips can save you some time and energy getting to what you want!
Steve Meisenheimer has a great entrepreneurial advice newsletter – I regularly find helpful info and ways to improve my business from his ideas. The latest issue prompted me to write because he talks about going into the "right" business. As entrepreneurs, we have the potential to re-invent our businesses to suit our interests at the time, and one of the keys to doing it successfully is to make sure you're going in the right direction.
Steve has graciously given his permission to reprint the article for you here. Thanks, Steve! You'll find his contact info at the end of the article.
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HOW TO IDENTIFY THE “RIGHT” BUSINESS TO START
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
– George Bernard Shaw
Would you like to either start or buy a business? If you’re an entrepreneur at heart, the answer is always, “Absolutely!” But how do you identify which business you should be in?
A client told me he wanted to start a new business. I asked him my “Two Critical Questions” for those interested in starting a new business, and it became clear that he had not yet qualified it as the “right” business for him.
The decision to get into a business is one you will either relish for years, or one you will regret for years. The difference is in how you think through the decision of which business to start.
Most people limit themselves to a field in which they feel technically strong or comfortable, however, you should choose a business based on your specific interests, skills, and resources. When you have satisfactorily answered my Two Critical Questions, you are far more likely to start a superior business in every way – one that will grow easier, be more profitable, fit your lifestyle, and be more enjoyable for you to manage.
The Two Critical Questions are:
When a financial advisor makes a recommendation for a particular investment, it will be to balance the client’s ambitions with the client’s tolerance for risk. Starting a company requires a similar approach. For instance, one might prefer slow, steady growth that produces a retirement income with low risk, while another prefers rapid growth for a quick sale, tolerating higher risk. There are many reasons why people start companies; your particular motivations should be what guide the many decisions that lie ahead.
What will be the characteristics of this company?
Skipping this step increases the likelihood that you'll just end up with a “job” – but a “job” where you also happen to own the company and assume all the risk!!!
For example, let's say that you want this list of characteristics in a company before you would consider moving forward:
By each item, you should write down if it’s a “preference” or a “non-negotiable”. Each item on your list will likely be tested as you begin shopping and negotiating the deal. You should decide in advance what the “deal breakers” are.
The secret to this step is to begin your list before you're already infatuated with a particular business. Otherwise, you default to wanting what that business will provide, and not what you really want. The above is an aggressive list, but you must admit, there are businesses out there that can satisfy it.
Lastly, consider my Three-Option Rule: “Commit to not making a final decision until you locate at least three businesses that satisfy your list.” The power of the Three-Option Rule is that it might be your only real ally in making your final (and best) decision. You might see great potential and get very excited about every business you investigate. You will feel time pressures imposed by everyone involved for you to move forward quickly. But when you have three qualified opportunities to choose from (based on your list), you will understand the power of this rule.
The value of the Two Critical Questions and the Three-Option Rule is to help you customize your business so it can serve your interests, while optimizing your skills, and resources. Then you will know the exhilaration of being one of the few business owners who just “luckily” find themselves in the right place at the right time. That, you will find, will make your success made to order.
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Steve Meisenheimer
Steve@MeisenheimerInc.com
www.MeisenheimerInc.com
602.889.0155
Visit Steve's website to subscribe to his newsletter, "Your Strategic Advantage", or to order his books:
* "The Business Owner's Handbook: Volumes I&II"
* "Where Are You Taking Us: A Leader's Guide to Vision and Mission"
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End reprinted article.
If your web site has quality, original content, someone is bound to steal it. That's just a fact of life in the Internet Age. Here's a great article which tells you what to do when your content is stolen. Also be sure to check out the second article, which tells you how to find out if your content has been taken. Their Copysentry service looks like a good way to protect your stuff.
http://websitecleanup.com/go/b8eac4
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