There is a ton of conferences popping up from startup to usability. Some, (many) are very general and some very focused. As a small business person, with all the conferences available now, how do you decide which is the best one for you to attend?

If you are like most in large or small companies you look at your marketing budget for the year and narrow it down to which ones are going to give you the most impact on your objectives. While South-by-South West may be really cool to attend with lots of networking and ideas to be had… will it really move you forward? After all if I am going to spend a few thousand bucks, I can do that very easily taking my family on a vacation.

So Conferences in my case has to have impact for several objectives on our marketing program. We usually look at a focus areas we want to get more education in, and then evaluate how much the conference is going to meet our objectives in growing our business. As a result we have put together a short list of conferences in core focus areas that we think will help the small business, startup or online entrepreneur move forward in building a solid business foundation in core areas with a primary objective of growing your business.

On Search Engine Marketing
Pubcon: October 21-24

On Interactive Media
South by Southwest Interactive – SXSWi: March 8 – 12

On Startup
Everywhereelse.co The Startup Conference: February 9- 12

On Traffic & Conversion
Traffic & Conversion Summit: January 18 – 20

On Ecommerce
Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition

On Web Development
CMS Expo: May

On Networking
CEO Space: March 17 – 24

On Innovation
Innovation Uncensored: April 23 – 24

On Small Business
The Small Business Summit: August 6

On Leadership
Inc. Leadership Forum: June 10-12

On Inbound Marketing
INBOUND Marketing Conference: August 19-22

On Content Marketing
Content Marketing World: September 9-11

Do you have some conferences that you think were worth the money and that had a significant impact on your business? Let us know by sending us a link on twitter.

Part on the 2013 Grimmster product development plan is to start producing more content using video as a our primary medium. The reason for this is less about marketing, although there is a huge trend right now on Content Marketing, as it is about making products that are easier for our readers to quickly get some value for choosing to click on one of our links.

After all there is so much content online now that it is rare that a searcher will spend more than a millisecond on your site unless you actually have a relevant value to his/her search. This may be because it is often the “Content Marketing” Types that are just producing content (often using mass test broker companies) to gain search leverage for the sake of search rank.

So this year you will be seeing more video content coming out of Grimmster. In our new video services launch we have put together a short questionnaire for our team to better outline the purpose and some elements of our video “idea”.

Film Planning Questionnaire

This planning questionnaire is designed to establish a basic outline for producing a short video.

1. What is the main focus of the video

__ Scripted commercial

__ Live event

__ Tutorial/education

__ other

2. Please provide a summary of your project.

_______________________________________________________

Download the 2 Page Video Planning Questionnaire

It was actually a bit cold out today which is nice, but you can’t complain about the weather in Florida at Christmas time. The Grimm group together before the big feed on Christmas day. No Search Marketing today but plenty talk of outdoor activities. Where is the snow?

Maria and I took a small sojourn to Savannah Georgia over  Thanks Giving Weekend for a wee bit of R & R. The trip is only about a 3 and 1/2 hour car ride from New Smyrna.

We really enjoy the gardens, the over design of the city as well as the restaurants. It a very distinct change from Central Florida. Savannah always seems to infuse a colorful and refreshing mental change as the city is unique even from other areas of Georgia. I took plenty of garden photos as usual and this time a few food photos. It has been  a habit of mine the last several years to take pictures of Maria’s ” Special Event” dinners.

Pubcon is still one of the best Conference and Expos to attend. There was plenty of content and speaker tracks to either focus your time or just get a broad spectrum of whats current in the internet marketing space.

This particular show had a couple of surprises: Starting with Matt Cutts new disavow tool ( basically for letting those that participated in back link shenanigans) for helping those recover from being in too many bad link neighborhoods. Also Ninjas buying webmaster world was not a real surprise.  Jim Boykin seems to be in a bit of a buying mode these days. It seems like the industry is changing still with some of the Bigs buying the Smalls.

We got a lot from this show as usual and look forward to the 2013 show. Maybe there will be some new stuff now that Brett Tabke can devote more time to the Conference.

We have put together a small list of Startup and eBusiness Resources which will get you going quickly. These are some of the more recognized online tools and service brands.

This short list features some of the best in there category and some have thousands of users ranging from micro businesses to fortune 500 companies.

Since we are continually developing, testing and researching more online software tools, if you have some recommendations send us a tweet or leave a comment below and we may add your link to our list.

Online Design Service

99designs – Description: logo/web design Competitive bid site to create custom logos, graphics, company names

Online Meeting Software

Any Meeting – Description: Free online meeting software.

Business App Discovery Tool

Best Vendor – Description: Find the best business apps as voted on by other business users

Beta Testers

Beta Bait – Description – Connects your start-up with beta testers

Outsourcing Web, Technical and Design work

Guru – Description – Competitive bid site to create custom logos, graphics, company names

Technology Database

CrunchBase – Description: free database of technology companies, people, and investors.

Online File Storage

Dropbox – Description: free and paid file storage and synching application.

Data Crunching/Search Engine

Wolfram Alpha – Description: powerful data crunching data searches

Website Wireframe Builder

UXPin – Description: An easy-to-use tool for wire-framing an existing site

Trademark Search/Registrar

TradeMarkia – Description: Search and register trademarks

Investor Reviews

The Funded – Description – Investment groups are rated by company founders, CEOs, and Entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurial Event

Startup Weekend – Description – A core event and source for hearing about entrepreneurship and startups.

Domain Registrar

Omnis Networks – Description: Low price domain name registrar.

Email Marketing

Mail Chimp – Description: Free and paid email marketing. Integrates well with core content management systems.

Business Plan Creation

Enloop – Description: Free Business Plan Creation Tool

Website Wireframe Builder

Mockflow – Description: For organize your thoughts and website concept

Crowd Source Funding

Kickstarter – Description: Free Business Plan Creation Tool

Productivity Tool

Evernote – Description: For storing sharing notes and ideas.

Stock Photo Images

Photopin – Description: Wide variety of free stock photos

Business Templates

Orrick – Description: Business template tools and guides

The information superhighway is rapidly becoming the shopping destination of choice for millions of net savvy buyers who prefer searching for items online rather than standing in line at brick and mortar stores. An e-commerce business is a store that exists exclusively on the Internet. Launching your own e-commerce business allows you to sell products or services of your choosing, be your own boss, reach a worldwide clientele and avoid the expense of renting office space. Successful e-commerce businesses begin with careful planning. Developing a business plan and researching your options are key to avoiding e-commerce financial pitfalls and operating an online business that thrives.

1.Determine What you plan to offer

Determine the type of products or services that will offer you the greatest chance of successful sales in your online business. Decide this by researching the merchantability of individual products and services similar to those you plan to market in your own e-commerce store. Notice trends, making sure there is a demand for the items or services you plan to sell.

2. Build a Budget

Calculate the potential cost of launching your online business and determine if you will require additional funding. If you need a business loan, be sure to shop around and compare various interest rates. Educate yourself about federal grants available for individuals starting small businesses.

3. Research where you will source your goods and services.

Calculate the potential cost of launching your online business and determine if you will require additional funding. If you need a business loan, be sure to shop around and compare various interest rates. Educate yourself about federal grants available for individuals starting small businesses.

4. Shipping

Research the various shipping methods available and decide which best fits your needs. Determine if you will provide free shipping or charge customers a fee, and, if so, how much.

5. Start with a small offering

Consider starting small if you have little or no e-commerce experience.  Launching your online business with a few featured items, rather than hundreds, will allow you to work out any potential problems early.

6. Research and register your domain name

Select and register a domain name of your e-commerce business. Choose a compelling name that reflects the type of online company you plan to operate. Numerous companies on the Internet allow you to search for available domain names and register a name for about $5.00 a year.

7. Research and choose a web hosting service

Choose a web hosting service. Free services are available to small e-commerce sites. But generally the paid web hosts are best for for building an e-commerce business as they offer more web space, can handle large amounts of website traffic and typically have a 24-hour uptime guarantee.

8. Create content for your website

Create titles and descriptions for your products or services. Avoid vague descriptions – also avoid copy that is long. Your goal is to create clear, concise and compelling copy.

9. Develop your website

Create your own website or hire a web programmer that specializes in e-commerce sites to design it for you. Or try a free open source template to get started. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and offers a no hassle shopping cart and secure payment process. Add a PayPal account to your website. PayPal is the largest of the online shopping carts and easy to use. User-friendly e-commerce sites also offer customers a system in which to track items that are shipped.

10. Add in your products and services

Add your products or services to your e-commerce website. Arrange your items in organized, easily navigable, categories. After the last item is added, your online store will be live and your business will be up and running.

11. Start marketing your online store

Drum-up business by marketing you website. Advertise through social media including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. According to Toprankblog.com, about half of all males and females in the U.S. visit social media websites.

12. Set up tracking and analytics

Become an analyst by tracking important data on your site. Website analytics allow you to analyze customer traffic, such as the number of customers referred by specific search engines. Gaining this information and insight assists in determining where and how to direct your marketing.

13. Optimize your site for search engines

Familiarize yourself with search engine optimization (SEO). It is a technique utilized to increase traffic on individual websites. SEO is in use when you search a particular word in a search engine and you are directed to specific websites as a result.

Taking the time to research the components and requirements involved in launching an e-commerce website is key to implementing and operating a profitable online store. The steps listed above are recommended for starting a basic e-commerce website, more complex endeavors require more specialized features. If you have any questions or comments please add them to our comments section or contact us through twitter.

Co-working is a style of work where you can share a work environment but still operate independently. Many of those using co working facilities are independent contractors and work-at-home professionals.

Co-working finds its origins from nomadic Internet entrepreneurs that found a need to separate themselves from the isolation of the home offices by working in cafes and coffee shops. Co-working offered an alternative to working alone with the benefit of being able socialize or collaborate with other like minded and working lifestyle, oriented people.

The trend is possibly because the growing development in startups and independent professionals themselves. This could be from the fact that the very nature of our work is changing. Or it could be, that good future prospects of employment are lacking in certain industries, and many are choosing to start working for themselves.

Co-working for Independents and Start-ups

Co-working helps solve the issues that home-based professionals face. It is also redefining the way independent professionals work.

For Startups co-working offers a sense of community, consistency and possibly just a routine to the daily work challenges of building a new business.  The spaces that are rented out by co-workers foster a sense of collaboration, openness and accessibility.

The benefits of Co-working are several:

Co-working allows professionals the flexibility of a short-term monthly price or in some cases just a daily fee.  This benefit alleviates workers feeling tied to a desk or certain office.  If two workers’ personalities don’t mesh, they can normally find another desk area to work.

Another benefit is that co-workers can keep fresh by being able to move freely between their home space and their working space.  The co working style offers a chance to shift up routines which is often seen as a valuable activity in the creative process.

The first step is to find a space suitable for co-working.  There is a growing trend in spaces being developed throughout the world.

Where to find Co-working spaces?

Worldwide Co-working map of locations

Co-working spaces in the Western United States
Co-working spaces in the Eastern United States
Co-working spaces in the Central United States
Co-working spaces in the Southern United States
Co-working spaces in the Hawaii
Co-working spaces in the Alaska

Co-working spaces in Canada

Co-working spaces in the Europe

How do I get connected to Co-working?

Co-working groups on Linkedin and Google groups

Co-working Stream on Twitter

Co-working Wiki

Some Top Co-working blogs – IndyHall, ThinkSpace, Loose Cubes,  The Cube London

If you know some good blogs and resources that can help fellow startups and independent workers get traction please let us know so we can add them to the Pomalift resources. And don’t forget to follow us on twitter/steadystartups. Cheers

When you are brand new to the world of online business, most likely you may be confused on where to start. You need so many things and there is so much you need to do. However, software and particular online services are some of the things you really can’t go without. Here are 10 resources you can’t do without:

1. LibreOffice. No matter what kind of online business you are into, you will hardly be able to make it without an office package. If you already have a license for Microsoft Office, this is fine but if you don’t, paying for it now is probably the last thing on your mind. Actually, you don’t have to because you can get the free open source office package called LibreOffice and use it for most of your tasks.
2. WordPress. If you are in online business, you can’t go without a site. WordPress is a great choice to power your site because it is free, feature-rich, reliable, and popular. Alternatively, you can get another CMS/shopping cart, like Joomla or Drupal, if they appeal more to you than WordPress.
3. Google Docs. Online collaboration is much easier with Google Docs. You can use it for sharing documents online with your clients and employees.
4. Google Apps. Google Apps is another cool solution from Google and it can be the platform for your email server. It offers free and paid accounts, so when your business grows, you can upgrade your account to include more capacity.
5. Fresh Books. If you have clients, and hopefully you will, you will need to invoice them. Paypal offers invoices but only for your Paypal payments. Since you will be most likely accepting payments via other channels as well, you need a more complete solution, such as Fresh Books. It also has a free and a paid version.
6. A Firefox SEO plugin. Your online business will never do well, if you don’t have decent traffic from search engines. A good solution for SEO research is the SEO plugin in the link. With it, you can also research your competitors.
7. Cofoundr. Business is about networking and one of the best places to establish contacts with other startups, investors, and people to hire, is Cofoundr – a social network aimed at startups.
8. Entrepreneur.com. Timely and accurate information is a valuable asset and you can get it, if you read regularly a good blog about online business. There are thousands of online business blogs but Entrepreneur.com stands out from the crowd. There you will find a lot of useful advice and ideas how to develop your business.
9. Guru. When your business grows, you will need to hire people. Guru.com is a site where you can find pros to outsource work to. There you can find designers, developers, writers, assistants, accountants, and other qualified help.
10. LegalZoom.com. If you already have a lawyer, you can skip this resource. Otherwise, visit the site because it is an online legal service that can assist you from the registration of your company to your daily legal needs. The service isn’t free but the rates are reasonable.

These 10 resources are a good starting point. As your business grows, you will need more and more services but for now, when you are still in the beginning, the services on the list are enough to get you off the ground. Check them and start using them!

If you are running an ebusiness you will likely have many tasks, todo’s, lists and so on. To effectively manage all the activities we have researched and tried many online project management tools to help with workflow.

Since communication is key in our company culture we found that a good easy to use project management tool was essential to keep everyone on the same page as well just keeping our own tasks organized.

We found Trello. Check it out.

We are building a best tools list for ebusiness. Let us know what you think.