<![CDATA[The Business Forum]]> 2010-09-03T00:18:56Z PunBB http://www.elifelines.org/ <![CDATA[Manual directory submission can help in SEO?]]> please answer

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/71/ 2010-09-03T00:18:56Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/57/manual-directory-submission-can-help-in-seo/new/posts/ <![CDATA[The web site]]> What is the first thing YOU do when you are studying a company you are not familiar with? You go to their web site of course!

Take your time designing and engineering your website because it is likely to be the first way your customers will get to know you. It needs to be:

1) Easy to use
2) Clear to navigate
3) Informative and friendly
4) Uncluttered

Remember, your customer is navigating through your site looking for information.  The easier it is to get answers, and to contact you if necessary, the easier it will be for you to close the sale.

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/3/ 2010-09-03T00:13:56Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/18/the-web-site/new/posts/ <![CDATA[mortgage services]]> The mortgage planner helps you to plan your mortgage prior to buying a home or
refinacing your mortgage.
The mortgage planner uses many tools in his practice which in conjunction
with their education allow them to create a "mortgage plan" for their client.
These tools often include, but are not limited to, advanced software to compare
mortgage products in a side be side comparison, credit scoring services to
determine the best way to help a client to qualify for a particular program,
and additional financial or debt management programs which create additional
options for the client and the mortgage planner to use to achieve their goals.
www.askthemortgageplanner.com

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/77/ 2010-08-04T21:00:56Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/58/mortgage-services/new/posts/ <![CDATA[furniture]]> A consistent look is important but does need to be expensive. I woould avoid buying used furniture. In the past, I budgeted $350 per employee for a desk, chair and small file cabinet from IKEA.  Their stuff looks great, lasts a long time, and is very functional

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/3/ 2010-07-25T14:09:43Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/7/furniture/new/posts/ <![CDATA[greetings from Costa Rica]]> I wanted to introduce myself and my company to this community. I know that I will be able to offer free advice in the areas of telemarketing, corporate motivation and call center management. I look forward to sharing ideas with other posters. Let's learn from each other to make our profits grow.

Best regards,


Richard






http://www.costaricascallcenter.com

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/46/ 2010-07-06T21:45:40Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/42/greetings-from-costa-rica/new/posts/ <![CDATA[Connecting]]> I'm looking to connect with other entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh area but am having a slow time of it. I'm wanting to partner on a business idea. I have ideas but they may or may not be the right one.

I'm looking for other people that have varying experience to partner with, who can support their self as we build a startup business. We will all need to work full-time day hours on the business.

My background is in computer technology, so I would be looking to start a business that either sells a computer hardware/software product or uses proprietary software to gain a competitive advantage in some industry.

Finding the right partners takes time and effort, so I would like to connect with people and start talking informally to let us find out if we are a match.

If anyone is interested please post here and we can make arrangements to first talk on the phone, email, IM, or whatever.


Rich

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/56/ 2008-06-04T20:12:15Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/51/connecting/new/posts/ <![CDATA[The first investors]]> So much as been written about this topic and you can read many great books on the subject.

A simple chronology might look like this:

1) Months 1-6

who: friends and family
how much: $50-100k
where: out of your house, or a friend's office
what: initial marketing review, initial business plan, a concept device

2) Months 6-12

who: Innovation Works, The Digital Collaborative, The Pittsburgh Lifesciences Greenhouse
how much: $100-250k
where: in anincubator, or a shared office suite
what: first prototype, first patent application

3) Months 12-24

who: Individual Angels, Angel Groups such as Blue Tree and Advanced Global Technologies, Innovation Works, The Digital Collaborative, The Pittsburgh Lifesciences Greenhouse
how much: $500k-1M
where: in your own office space
what: first sales, if you are lucky you will have repeat sales

4) Months 24-48
who: your current investors, your customers or corporate partners, venture capitalists
how much: $2-10M
where: in your own office space
what: a path to positive cash flow

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/3/ 2008-01-03T12:21:02Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/14/the-first-investors/new/posts/ <![CDATA[Dean Casutt about a possible Download Section]]> I'm Dean Casutt, I was thinking that a download section will also be welcome. To put there all sort of materials on the subject, and if someone has something wich worths sharing to just drop it there.
   Hope it makes sense and it's not impossible.
  Dean Casutt

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/15/ 2007-02-01T15:53:43Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/26/dean-casutt-about-a-possible-download-section/new/posts/ <![CDATA[Login problems - Glen Kawesch]]> HI, I'm Glenn Kawesch and I tried to post here using Internet Explorer 7 but it keeps showing me the login form, even though I am already logged in. It worked great with Firefox though... I think that's a bug or something.

Regards,
     
Glenn Kawesch

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/16/ 2007-02-01T14:04:09Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/25/login-problems-glen-kawesch/new/posts/ <![CDATA[jack boyajian - rss feeds]]> Hello my name is Jack Boyajian.

My ideea is to add some rrs feeds too.That will be nice.:)

All the best

Jack Boyajian

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/14/ 2007-01-29T18:12:32Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/24/jack-boyajian-rss-feeds/new/posts/ <![CDATA[Your first round of financing]]> I am a big believer in self financing, even if you need outside capital to be very successful.  The first reason is you will get better terms from an outside investor if you can prove your concept with your own money.  Secondly, an outside investor always will feel more confident investing in your business if you have skin in the game as well to lose beyond just your time.  At an Elifelines event held in April of 2005, I believe Glen Meakem used an analogy of walking over glass or something like that and showing total commitment to your company.  A large part of that is putting your own resources at risk.  Also tap friends and family to get initial funding.

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/4/ 2006-09-25T01:42:56Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/22/your-first-round-of-financing/new/posts/ <![CDATA[The Entrepreneur's Advantage]]> Everyone talks about sweat equity as a key advantage entrepreneurs enjoy over larger, better capitalized organizations.  However, the successful entrepreneurs who can grow their business beyond just their sweat equity advantage are often able to brand their business's goal into a larger purpose which their staff can latch onto and motivates them.  It can be more fun to work in a small but committed organization and they tend to feel more passionate about what they do.  As a result, the work effort can be much harder from staff if the entrepeneur can inspire his or her staff to grasp the essense of the higher mission of the company.

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/4/ 2006-09-25T01:38:45Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/21/the-entrepreneurs-advantage/new/posts/ <![CDATA[Lawyers! Arghhhh!]]> Is that how you feel? $250 an hour, if you're lucky, and what do you get for it?

Your corporate counsel, along with your IP counsel, make up the walls and cannons of your company's fortress. A good attorney truly cares:

a) for you as an entrepreneur and a human being,
b) for your company's success, and
c) for your employees' and shareholders' interests.

You must manage your attorney. A poor attorney, or an attorney under company stress will rack up the hours while trying to do a good job for you. You will need to pick through your itemized legal bills with a toothpick.

Conversely:

1) The great ones understand the world you live in, and the orbits you fly on, all the time.
2) The great ones will answer your e-mail quickly, smartly, and effectively.
3) The great ones will take you lunch, or out for a beer, at their expense, once in while, and get you to talk about all the things you keep bottled up.
4) The great ones will make sure their advice is understood and listened to.
5) The great ones will force your hand and not let you sign a contract because you think it the right thing to do when in truth you are refusing to acknowledge an important legal issue.

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/3/ 2006-04-06T19:21:45Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/19/lawyers-arghhhh/new/posts/ <![CDATA[Insurance for your employees]]> For your employees, a good benefits package will include the following iunsurance offerings:

Health, Vision, Dental Insurances
Life Insurance
Accidental Death Insurance
Dependent Life Insurance
Short Term Disability Insurance
Long Term Disability Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/3/ 2006-04-02T19:45:34Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/17/insurance-for-your-employees/new/posts/ <![CDATA[Types of company insurance]]> You will need many if not all of the following coverages for your company:

Property and Liability
Errors and Omissions
Commercial Business Auto
Umbrella
Key Man Life
Workers Compensation
Director and Officers

]]> http://www.elifelines.org/user/3/ 2006-04-02T19:42:19Z http://www.elifelines.org/topic/16/types-of-company-insurance/new/posts/