small business marketing resources

We know that one of the problems of any business is finding reliable resources quickly. We want to help by providing a number of helpful links to other products and services that will save you time, money and headaches!

Some of the sites are goal-specific, while others (noted) are multipurpose. If you have recommendations for other sites, we'd be grateful, and will send you a gift.

If you would like to receive a list of over 100 great Web sites for small businesses -- the same ones I give to my University classes on Internet Marketing -- just click "Contact Us" and ask for "100 Great Web Sites." It's free.

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Great Search Engines and Huge Information Hubs
Ask Jeeves -- ask your search questions in English
Dogpile -- searches dozens of other engines. Our favorite engine.
About.com -- real help on hundreds of different needs
Google.com -- one of the best; finds sites others don't
Information Please -- a king-size helping of resources, including almanacs
US Federal Government -- good place to enter the labyrinth of the US government
Fed World -- another good entry point for US government information
Medical & Health -- if you've got a question about your health, start here. Huge!
Seeking Health -- another great info hub for health. You can't work if you're not healthy.

Sources for Hard Data
US Census Bureau -- it's jam packed, but your data may not be so easy to find.
Library of Congress' Country Studies -- Exporting? Learn about any country here.
Beige Book -- current government economic trends and forecasts assembled from all over USA. Tremendous resource for planning.
STAT-USA -- you have to pay ($150/year), but the amount of trade and economic information you can get is staggering!
Environmental Protection -- start here for questions about the environment and laws
Currency Calculation -- just enter the currency and amount, it does the conversion.
US Customs -- if you're importing or exporting to the US, you need this site.
International Trade -- more good trade stats and exporting advice.
Asia-Pacific Trade -- know the tariffs in and out of about every nation bordering the Pacific Ocean from Mexico to China. Good links and other information, too.
Internet Specific:
CyberAtlas -- great site for the latest Web research.
Computer Industry Almanac -- they sell the Almanac, but their free press releases contain tons of useful information about who's on line.

When Your Business Needs Help, Look Here
All Experts -- free help from experts in nearly every field makes this a terrific site
Small Business Administration -- it's a good place to start looking for help.
www.speakersacademy.net -- want to make public talks to bring in business? Start at the Speakers Academy for bookings and advice.
Ibiz Newsletters -- You'll find hundreds of business-related newsletters here. Great resource for ideas.

Using bulk e-mail to market your business:
Opt-In E-Mail -- opt-in lists are the way to go. They've got plenty.
Tile.Net -- lots of newsgroups and lists. Also find folks with similar problems.
www.egroups.com -- got good reviews; worth checking out. Free. (now owned by Yahoo)
www.topica.com -- Top 100 by PC Magazine. Free.
www.listbot.com -- designed for businesses. Free.

Marketing on the Internet
InterNic -- check on the name you want, and register it. Quick and fairly easy
Internet World -- great place to keep up with new developments, ideas and research
Top Sites -- check out these winning Web sites for ways to improve yours
Banner Mall -- Want to use targeted banner ads?
Banner Generator -- create your own banners, free and easy
Link Exchange -- lots of resources, especially if you're starting out
OnLine World -- a good primer on the Internet with some nice links
SmarkClicks -- swap banner ads for a lot of free exposure, like this.

Bizweb-- get your company listed in this online business directory for free.
ComFind -- another business clearinghouse site. Free listing for your company.
Web Marketing Info Center -- lots of ideas. This is a Must See bookmark!

e-Commerce (selling over the Internet)
Pay Pal -- simplest way to take credit cards and even checks, no upfront fees.
i-Escrow -- sign up to take credit card payments without costly upfront fees.
BeSeen -- helpful site for taking credit cards, many other features.
e-Commerce Reporting Association -- register and use their confidence-building logo if you qualify. We're members, and a contributor to their newsletter

Improving Your Web Site
www.sitecontentmanager.com -- stuck paying a fee for every change to your site? Here's a great, money-saving solution. If you can type, you can use the Site Content Manager. You'll like working with Ron, too.
www.anybrowser.com -- a great place to see how your site looks on various browsers, and get an analysis of your HTML coding. Well worth the visit!
aaaclipart.com/ -- links to dozens of free clip art sites.
websitegarage.netscape.com/ -- great tools to tune up your site, your graphics, and our download time. Don't miss this one!
FusionBot -- Set up a free search engine for your site. Simple and easy to use.
BeSeen -- Great features to download like HTML for Chat Rooms, Quizes, search engine for your site, plus banner ad exchange and credit card services. Don't miss it!
JavaBoutique -- hundreds of free Java applets to make your site do about anything you want, just cut and paste. Beware of increasing your page download time!
JavaScriptSource -- tons of free scripts, easy to use, and free!

Web Library -- everything you want to know about HTML in plain English.
Web Sites That Suck -- some good examples of bad sites. Also some silly "awards" like this one YOU can use.
Freegraphicland.com is the ultimate list for you to use as a daily resource. Featuring graphic design, JAVA scripts, CGI scripts, CCS, HTML, etc.
Image Editor (free) -- edits your images, also makes them download faster.
CGI Scripts -- treasure chest of free stuff to make your site cool & friendly.

Search Engines: Tips on How to Be Found
www.searchenginewatch.com -- a great library of information and ideas on search engine lore
http://www.linkmaster.com/ -- free listing on this engine
Search Engine Links -- links to two dozen search engines, including direct links to register your Web site.
www.rankthis.com -- a site to see how you rank on various search engines.

Keeping Your Office Running / Buying Online -- General
Pricing Central -- links to dozens of different shopping bot sites to search out the best prices
Buy.com -- low prices on office, computer, video, wireless, electronics, etc. Some great bargains.
Wal Mart -- shop online. Also nice design for e-commerce. Worth studying.
Amazon.com -- order books and music. Become an affiliate. Worth studying for your own affiliate program (be sure you look into setting one up.)
Directory of Online Shopping Malls -- this will save you some time, and maybe money

Keeping Your Office Running / Buying Online -- Computers & Electronics
Pricing Central -- links to a dozen different shopping bot sites to search out the best prices
Image Resource -- buying a digital camera? Go here to look at actual side-by-side photos taken with dozens of different cameras. I did, and it changed the camera I picked. Great in-depth reviews, too. Another great site for digital camera reviews is pcphotoreview.com
ZD Net -- if the word "computer" or "electronics" is part of your question, try here. Tons of software for free. So big it's practically a country!
Simtel Net -- like a library of free software to download.
Jumbo.com -- more freeware (we know you don't like to pay!). Lots of links, too.

Links that are Small Information Hubs
Info-Surf -- a fantastic site with links to thousands of online newspapers and magazines, popular and academic. Run by the Univ. of California.
Medical breakthroughs -- watch for new opportunities to profit from discoveries
Free Links -- check this out for your own advertising, too!

Some for Specific Industries
In the APPAREL industry? Apparel News is great, and links to many other sites.
In IMPORT/EXPORT trade? This Freight Forwarder's site has hidden gems -- classified ads for products from all over the world. Interesting. Other good resources, too.

Miscellaneous Sites Really Worth Seeing
Virtual Tourist -- don't miss this site! Contact people all over the world (I even asked about business etiquette in Malaysia!), time zones, currency, languages, much more.
What's the Future? -- want to relax and find out what your future holds? See your biorhythm, ask the I-Ching, or consult the Tarot cards.

Bartender's Jokes -- need a chuckle to make you smile?