Are You Ready for a Flu Outbreak?
Some estimates predict a full blown flu pandemic could cost the U.S. economy up to $700 billion in lost productivity. Small businesses could be hit particularly hard according to recent testimony before the House Committee on Small Business. Click here to see the story and view some of the testimony on SBTV.com Daily News. The Department of Homeland Security and the Small Business Administration are urging small firms to develop a written plan of what to do if H1N1 hits. The report can be downloaded at www.sba.gov/flu

Two New Visual Search Features
Microsoft and Google have two new visual search features to allow users sort through popular search categories by using pictures. Bing's Visual Search and Google Fast Flip are designed to replicate the experience of flipping through pages of a magazine or newspaper, helping users searching for news and information find what they want faster. Google plans to share ad revenue from Fast Flip pages with the original publishers of the content. Check out Bing’s Visual search at http://www.bing.com/visualsearch and Google Fast Flip at http://fastflip.googlelabs.com/

Is Your Business on Facebook?
Why should your business be on Facebook? Facebook's user base is nearly as large as the U.S. population and, for the first time, the site has turned a profit. SBTV.com has a number of tools and resources to help you promote your business via social media. Connect with SBTV.com on Facebook too.

Quickness Counts Online
New research suggests a quick response time is important for small firms doing business online. Forrester Consulting finds online shopper loyalty is contingent upon quick page loading. Now consumers become impatient when pages take longer than two seconds to load. According to Forrester, 40 percent of shoppers will wait no more than three seconds before abandoning a retail or travel site.

Promote Your Business in a New Contest
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to promote their business while competing to become a winner in a unique contest underway. Como Sí: Doing Business Today for Tomorrow - Keep Up and Keep Going" is a competition to choose ten small business owners to travel to Sam’s Club Corporate Headquarters in an all expense paid trip to hear from Sam’s Club suppliers and professionals on topics to help small businesses excel. Any small business owner looking to improve a business or expand an enterprise is eligible to enter through a short online video. The contest runs through October 15, 2009. Complete entry details and rules are online at http://www.comosidoingbusinesstoday.com/. The contest is a joint project of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Sam’s Club.

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