Microsoft's New Search Engine Could Change SEO

Microsoft's BING, scheduled to be fully rolled out by June 3, is a new search engine intended to rival Google. 

It's main difference for users is a shift from a "keyword" focus to a "sub-category" focus. As stated in DirectNews: "A search for 'Britney Spears' may organise by the subcategories 'biography', 'videos', 'music' and 'concert information',"

This may have an effect on how marketers optimize their sites for BING.

For more information, check out the following articles: 

New Microsoft search engine 'could affect SEO'

5 Ways Microsoft's Bing Can Be A Contender

Microsoft Bing: Much better than expected

Microsoft’s Bing Vs Google: Head To Head Search Results

Getting it Done

Saving money with free and low cost advertising methods is just smart business, but when you're starting out and trying to do it all yourself it can sometimes translate into a lot of work. 

Don't let that stop you though. Like any big project, it helps to set goals. I help my clients set annual goals, monthly goals and weekly goals. For some it's best displayed on a large calendar. 

Follow the S.M.A.R.T. approach to goal setting. Make them: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. This helps you to identify how you'll achieve your goals and later helps you to determine whether they were successful or not.

I also encourage my clients to post their goals in a prominent spot they can see throughout their working day. This keeps the momentum going and breaks down the overwhelming into the achievable. 

What would you like your marketing to achieve? Set some goals today! 

Startup Nation's Leading Moms in Biz Contest

I'm officially one of the top 200 winners of the Startup Nation Leading Moms in Business contest. Thank you to all my readers who voted for me! It never would have happened without you! I'm also featured on their site. Click here to read.

Do You Twitter?

Check out the ultimate small business twitter list to connect with other small businesses.

Big Jump in SBA Lending in Last 30 Days

Good news for small businesses looking for a loan--lenders have increased their loan activity. Check out this article: www.colemanpublishing.com/public.546.cfm. 

SBA has reported the following lenders have shown some lending activity this past month:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Wachovia SBA Lending, Inc.

Vision One CU

Union Bank, N.A.

U.S. Bank National Association

Tri-Valley Bank

Superior Financial Group, LLC

Sterling Savings Bank

Sonoma Valley Bank

Santa Cruz County Bank

Safe CU

Redwood CU

Merrill Lynch Bank & Trust Co., FSB

Mechanics Bank

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

Innovative Bank

Community West Bank, National Association

Bank of America, National Association

Inspiration from Business Make-Overs

America's ongoing fascination with reality TV also includes small business make-overs. You get a chance to see how other business owners run their business and hear advice from industry gurus on how to turn their business around.

A&E's We Mean Business grapples with impending doom of businesses in jeopardy by showing owners how to reduce expenses, increase profits, limit liability, implement new technologies and more. You might recognize the host, Bill Rancic as a former winner of the Apprentice show. http://www.aetv.com/we-mean-business/index.jsp.

According to Entertainment Weekly, TLC has plans to launch a new series called Mom, Inc. Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos help struggling entrepreneurs.

My favorite series no longer runs but was called The Turnaround and ran on CNN. You can learn more and purchase episodes here: http://money.cnn.com/ontv/turnaround.

For those of you in the food business, there's also Food Network TV's Recipe for Success: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipe-for-success/index.html.

Saving Face on Facebook

For those of you on Facebook, are you aware of all the privacy settings you can set? Keep embarrassing photos from getting published to everyone you know, remove yourself from Google and more, check out this article: 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know.