So, that brings us to the question:

Our friends over at Universal Faq Manager wrote up an awesome white paper examining the trends, issues, benefits, costs and implications associated with using an FAQ Manager to manage customer questions in your business. FAQ Management Software is a highly efficient and cost-effective way for any size company to automate the way customer questions are answered, and FAQ software can support a variety of different business applications in any organization.

In enjoyable, easy-to-understand words, you will quickly learn more about using an FAQ Management Software to manage customer questions in your business, including:

• The 5 important areas where businesses fail to measure up to customer expectations - are you guilty of disappointing your customers without even knowing it?
• The 3 top market drivers that impact how customer questions are answered - missing just one means losing your competitive advantage
• The 4 primary challenges associated with managing customer questions - understand them and pump up your revenue; miss them and watch your profits plummet
• The 4 specific measurable benefits of using a FAQ Manager - do you actually know what you need to measure?
• Whether a FAQ Manager finally means freedom from customer calls - or not

And - you will also quickly calculate the exact savings and return on investment that a FAQ Manager gives you.

You can download the customer support whitepaper for free at universalfaqmanager.com.

As an Internet consultant at Resultima I’m responsible for advising our clients on how to get people to buy more products (or services) from their websites. A lot of this advice is internet marketing related and it’s about explaining to our customers how to get the word out on the internet about their products or services. It’s not uncommon that I find that our clients are not using blogs in their marketing campaigns. So, I thought this topic would be appropriate not only for technology clients, but for business brokers, people looking to buy a business, or any other type of business owner.

Blogging has become a necessity of any online marketing campaign. Did you know that over 57 million Americans read blogs? Can you visualize that? (57,000,000). United States readers spend on average, about 23 hours online per week reading blogs. And, it’s estimated that 64% of our neighbors to the north (in Canada) visited blogs in 2007.

That being said, you’re probably saying to yourself… “Ok Tim, I’ve heard all the hype about blogs, and I’m convinced we need one. …but, where do we start?”

Well, here are 7 ways you can use a blog in your business:

1. Toot your own horn. Post news and current happenings. Write about your company, your products, services, industry, and competitors. If you are submitting press releases to the PR websites, write up short blog post announcing that you have releases a press release. If you are releasing a new product or adding an additional service to your offering, let people know. If you have been featured in the media, let your readers know by posting a link to where they can read about you in the press.
2. Tap into your own businesses knowledge. Get your staff involved and take advantage of their knowledge and skills. Have each one of your employees write about something they are passionate about. It can be as simple as asking them to write one or two articles per month. And for those who say …”But I’m not a writer.” (You) tell them, “The article doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. The best articles offer readers clear advice or take-a-ways about a specific issue, approach, or topic. — Bullet points are good. Roundabout text is not. Get to the point quickly. Most effective with a minimum of 300 words.”
3. Answer customers’ questions. Answer common questions that customers ask you in emails, on the phone, etc. Address your customers concerns and questions before they contact you. Answer customer questions quickly, and they’ll reward you by buying your products and services and remaining loyal. This can also help to shorten the sales process.
4. Be a resource. Be a resource and provide links to other relevant articles on the web. Are you worried that if you link to other resources, your readers won’t come back? Don’t worry about whether you think it’s good or not to link to other people’s websites. Take Nike’s advice, “Just do it.” Most people will be happy (and grateful) for the helpful information you pointed them to. And…if you give them valuable information, they will be more likely to return to you for more.
5. Invite guest writers. Invite a guest blogger to write an article (or two, or three, or more). Business owners are always willing to talk about their business. Ask them to write an article about the industry or a hot topic in their business. If you’re a Business Broker, you should be inviting lenders, escrow companies, appraisers, commercial real estate professionals, auction houses, bankers, etc. to write guest blog posts.
6. Write about a customer’s success. If you have worked and done a great job with one of your customers, write about it. They will be so happy for the publicity…and…they are going to tell their friends and family about it. This is the best form of “word of mouth.”
7. Give stuff away. Ever hear of Karma or the Law of attraction? You get back what you give away. Free, valuable information wins lots of incoming links from other blogs, which in turn, increases your traffic. And we all know what increased traffic means. You got it…more sales. Now you’re probably asking “What can I give away?” Well, information is the easiest thing to give away. This can include: business templates, common forms, ebooks, gas cards, gift cards, research, competitive analysis, tools, code, graphics, newsletter templates, etc.

There you have it, 7 quick ideas you can use to get started with your business blog. If you have any additional ideas you would like to share, please let us know by commenting below.

Spring is finally here, for most of us anyway. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and yes, even the bees are buzzing. April showers bring May flowers …and we all know what May flowers bring…pilgrims. Spring is the time when I usually start evaluating and researching where I can go on vacation during the summer months. And with the economic down turn in full effect, spending less is on everyone’s minds.

Here are a few places where you can go on vacation this year where your dollar s still strong.

Argentina
(aka the Paris of South America) has embarked on a dramatic turnaround since the collapse of the Argentine peso, however the place is still amazingly cheap. Stylish hotel rooms, awesome night life, dancing, and fabulous food and wine cost half what they do across the Atlantic. Looking for an enormous thick-cut steak dinner? Its rarely going to cost you more than $25 here.

Bali
Bali has become one of the best island values in Asia. The American dollar has been holding steady against the Indonesian rupiah over the past year. You’ll find luxury bungalows nestled in lush hillsides – which can be rented for about $100 to $200 a night. You can often see free entertainment (or with a small donation) at the countless stone temples through out the country. And half-hour massages typically cost less than $15.

Costa rica
Incredibly, Americans now have about a third more buying power in this natural wonderland than they did five years ago - a dollar equals around 500 Costa Rican colones today vs. 360 then. You can explore beaches good for surfing then go snorkeling in coral reef-filled bays. Don’t miss the lush, green, tropical rainforests, which swarm with wildlife - including rare quetzals with spectacular plumage.

Mexico
Mexico remains a prime destination for American tourists. The peso/ dollar exchange rate steady has been pretty steady over the past couple of years. The hottest area now is Mexico City, booming with new museums, a historical architectural revival, and a vibrant music and arts scene. Entry to the city’s huge Museum of Modern Art, where you can see works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, costs just $2.

Morocco
Though the Moroccan dirham has strengthened a bit against the dollar in the past year, in the ancient cities of Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech many café meals still cost less than $5. Classic budget hotels in atmospheric narrow streets, such as the Hotel El Muniria in Tangier, where Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac stayed, cost around $30 a night. Plenty of luxury hotels are available too.

Panama
This small country boasts mountains, rainforests, 1,500 miles of coast (your pick of the Caribbean or Pacific) and - of course - the magnificent canal, where you can gawk at giant supertankers being raised and lowered through the locks. Forget exchange rates: Panama’s currency, the balboa, is pegged at parity with the U.S. dollar, and the dollar itself is accepted virtually everywhere.

Vietnam
There’s never been a better time to visit one of Asia’s most fascinating countries, with pristine beaches and unique crafts: The dollar goes further against the Vietnamese dong than it did three years ago. You may have enough left to splurge on a fivestar hotel, such as the new Park Hyatt in Ho Chi Minh City ($290 a night vs. up to $675 for a comparable room in Chicago).

There you go, what will be your summer vacation destination?

Yes!

Acquireo accepts bylined contributions from outside writers for its monthly newsletter, article resources, and blog.

Contribute to Acquireo Today

If you are interested in joining our contributors on a one-time or regular basis, here are some guidelines:

1. Articles should be original to the author and should not have been previously published elsewhere. Include your byline and a brief (no more than 25 words) bio to accompany it. You can also include a headshot photo of yourself.
2. Articles should offer readers clear advice or take-aways about a specific issue, approach, or topic. Bullet points are good. Roundabout text is not. Articles should be a minimum of 400 words.
3. Send articles directly to Sini Thomas (contact@acquireo.com) in Word format – no pdf files, please. Include relevant links in parentheses, next to the word/s to be linked. Do not embed links in a Word document.
4. We do not publish your press releases.
5. Do not submit articles about businesses or companies in which you have a vested interest, unless you disclose as much to the audience and truly do provide helpful information.
6. Copyright is retained by the writer. Acquireo may, however, reprint your piece, with full attribution, in companion Acquireo products and marketing materials.
7. We do not pay guest contributors for occasional articles.

So if your a college student - Apply today! - We’ll challenge you, push you, and expect you to go the extra mile and produce results. In return, you’ll join a team of very smart and talented professionals.

Our atmosphere consists of a casual, fun, hardworking, dedicated, and focused team, seeking ways to enhance the lives of others, both organizationally and individually.

What type of interns are we looking for?

Here is a list of areas:

* Copywriters, Bloggers, Search Engine Optimizers
* Public Relations, Customer Service
* Software Developers (.Net), Research & Development
* CSS / HTML Coders, Web Designers, Web masters
* Executive Assistants
* Sales and telemarketers

If your area of interest is not listed here, Apply anyway! The best jobs are those that are created to meet a need and make people’s lives easier.

Steps to take to apply:

1. Prepare your resume - Your resume should communicate your areas of interest, strengths, and should emphasize any prior work experience that makes you the right person for the job.
2. Learn about Acquireo and it’s parent company, Listopica, Inc. - Check out Listopica.com to find out what we do - create a list of questions to ask us about our company, businesses, job openings, and more.
3. Send your resume to contact@acquireo.com in a Word or PDF format. Your email subject should be “Internship applicant” - or something like that, as long as we can identify that it is for an internship its all good.
4. About the interview - Interviewing with us is simple - Don’t stress. Try to relax and go with the flow. Make sure you’re well prepared to talk about your resume, past work experiences, and your goals and aspirations. Interviews are conducted in person, sometimes over the phone, using IM, or any other way we can find to communicate.

Thanks a lot, we look forward to hearing from you!

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

by Timothy Ferriss

Whether you are an overworked employee or an entrepreneur trapped in your own business, this book is the guide for a new and revolutionary world. Ferris gives some great ideas about starting a business even if you don’t have an MBA. He gets you thinking in a new direction — a direction that some may have never even considered or knew was possible. He gives a lot of tips on how to reduce your workload to give yourself more free time to enjoy life — something that we all enjoy. From the 80/20 rule to learning how to batch simple tasks… to finding a business idea and testing it – you’ll find how to streamline your life, live happy, live anywhere, and do the things you want to do.

There is a ton of resources listed in this book that I find myself referencing at least 2-3 times a week. It’s a very easy read (I read it in one sitting) and if you’ve heard about the new generation dubbed the ‘millennials’ it’s a must read – the thinking process is very similar. It’s not for everyone however – I suggest you read the book and keep an open mind – you may just learn something.

Just some of what you will learn:

• How to outsource your life
• How to eliminate 50% of your work using the 80/20 rule
• How to trade a long-haul career for short work bursts and frequent “mini-retirements”
• How to train your boss to value performance over presence
• What automated cash-flow “muses” are and how to create one in 2 to 4 weeks
• How to cultivate selective ignorance—and create time—with a low-information diet
• How to fill the void and create a meaningful life after removing work and the office

New Psycho-Cybernetics

by Maxwell Maltz

With over 30 million copies sold since its original publication in 1960, Psycho-Cybernetics has been used by athletes, entrepreneurs, college students, and many others, to achieve life-changing goals–from losing weight to dramatically increasing their income–finding that success is not only possible but remarkably simple.

This is a full-bodied, real and practical guide for taking charge. HOW you think makes all the difference. YOU control your thoughts. It is based upon using visualization to improve your self image and increasing your performance in life. You control your thoughts and substitute positive, encouraging, creativity enhanced thinking for the habits you may have picked up in the past from family, friends, co-workers, society, etc. Since reading this book, I have gone on to read many more books based on the Law of Attraction. Psycho-Cybernetics is hands-down one of the best books clarifying productive thinking.

“Whatever you want or want to be, you already have or already are.”

The Magic of Thinking Big

by David Schwartz

The Magic of Thinking Big gives you useful methods for getting the most out of your job, your business, your marriage and family life, and your community. He shows that you don’t need to be an intellectual or have natural talent to attain great success and satisfaction. The habit of thinking and behaving in ways that will get you there is what is taught and clarified in this book.
From thinking like a leader, believing in yourself, thinking positively and using goals to get there you will quickly learn how to think positively and lead your self to your goals.

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In

by Roger Fisher

“The ability to see the situation as the other side sees it, as difficult as it may be, is one of the most important skills a negotiator can possess.”

When negotiating, in virtually all circumstances, whether it be an advertising deal, a pay raise, or something as simple as trying to get your kids to go to bed, efforts to dominate or to be combative are unnecessary and are usually counter-productive. When people work together, agreements are usually made that short-change everyone’s interests. This book gives you practical ways to find out what other people want and how to create a win-win for everyone.

Well, there you have it, 4 books for the entrepreneur. They are all fairly easy reads and I’ve found them all to be very helpful in my day to day.

Do you have any book recommendations you would like to add? Have you read any of these books? Please share your thoughts and comments below. Thanks again.

From INC.com: How can you make it through the rough patch that even the most successful companies eventually hit? Start preparing while the good times are still rolling.

Tough times are challenging, but they can be impossible if you aren’t prepared for them. And let’s face it — no one can really be entirely prepared. But everyone can own up to the fact that tough times can happen in any business. So right now, recognize that you won’t always be on a hot streak. And not every project is a slam dunk. Recognize that there will come a time when you’ll be glad you practiced the fundamentals.

Here are the fundamentals:

• Fundamental 1: Have a solid vision
• Fundamental 2: Have people who “can”
• Fundamental 3: Know where you stand, really
• Fundamental 4: Stick to your values
• Fundamental 5: Communicate with everyone

Read the full article >>.

Many women thought they’d won a place at the table in December, when the U.S. Small Business Administration, responding to decade-old orders from Congress, announced a set-aside program that would reserve a portion of federal contracts for woman-owned companies.

But instead of offering a buffet of opportunities, the SBA limited the program to four relatively narrow - and puzzling - sectors: national security and international affairs; furniture building and kitchen-cabinet making; printing and engraving such items as plates to print money; and sales of motorcycles, boats, and aircraft.

Read the full article >>.

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