Real Estate Information

Why you need a social media intern

Hiring a savvy intern can be an inexpensive way to improve your company's presence on social media, Rhonda Abrams writes. Look for candidates who are interested in marketing and set some guidelines for their social media use, she recommends. Also, look for applicants who are good at writing. USA TODAY (5/10)

Improving security in the cloud

Some organizations may be reluctant to move certain functions to public clouds because of security concerns, notes Robert Scheier. "[W]hatever the model, the automated, consistent processes required for large-scale cloud deployments not only increase the efficiency, reliability and performance of these environments, but also improve security," he writes.PCWorld Business Center (5/14)

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What small-business owners should know about asset disposal

Disposing of your business' assets can have an effect on your tax bill, Bonnie Lee writes. For example, a "repossession or foreclosure of business property may result in a gain or a loss depending upon the circumstances," she notes. Fox Business Small Business Center (5/11)

How businesses can build trust with consumers

Consumers are looking for trustworthy brands, so it's important for companies to be reliable. Businesses can become more trustworthy by being authentic and honoring their commitments, experts say. "Trust can be lost very quickly if a brand doesn't behave the way it promises it will, which can happen to even large brands," said Andy Pontin of Clemenger BBDO. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (5/8)

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Everything has a price; here's how to figure it out

It is possible to attach a monetary value to anything, although it can be difficult to price a product for which there is not an active market. Sellers can overcome this challenge by figuring out what is unique about their products and by thinking about who might want to buy them, according to Ken Marlin of Marlin & Associates. An auction can also be used to create a market where there previously was none, he notes. Inc. online/D.C. Bill blog (5/10)

How to protect yourself from loan-modification scams

Some scammers are targeting consumers who are in danger of losing their homes by promising to help them modify the terms of their loans, warns BBB. Consumers should resist falling for high-pressure sales techniques, BBB advises. ClipSyndicate/KERO-TV (Bakersfield, Calif.) (5/7)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
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Bill-paying scam involves Social Security numbers

Some scammers are targeting the public with a new scam involving Social Security cards, according to BBB. Scammers trying to get people's Social Security numbers claim that the government or other organizations will pay consumers' bills. WAFF-TV (Huntsville, Ala.) (5/8) 

What you need to know about tax nexuses

As more companies conduct business over the Internet, it's important to understand the concept of a tax nexus, which can affect a business' tax liability. The rules surrounding tax nexuses vary by state. BusinessNewsDaily.com (5/7)

How to prevent your website from getting infected by malware

Some hackers are targeting websites of small companies. One scam small-business owners have to watch out for involves an e-mail that purports to be from BBB. The e-mail is fake, and a recipient's computer may be infected with malware if he or she clicks on a link in the message. Bloomberg Businessweek (5/7)

What sets trustworthy businesses apart from the pack?

Companies that exhibit a high level of trust tend to be collaborative and have strong leadership, according to research by Interaction Associates. They also tend to acknowledge the work of their employees and look toward the future. HCI.org (5/10)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

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Be ready before disaster strikes your business

Creating a disaster-recovery plan is key to getting ready to deal with natural disasters and other interruptions to your business operations, Stephanie Faris writes. A cloud-based recovery solution can help to get your business back on track if you lose access to critical data. You should also test your disaster plan to make sure it will work in the case of a real emergency. SmallBizTechnology.com (5/4)

Pick the perfect price for your products

It's a mistake to base the price of your product on the amount charged by your competitors, Nicole Fende writes. This approach assumes they have correctly priced their products -- which might not be the case -- and your company's cost structure is similar to theirs. You should also factor in the cost of your time when setting your prices, she writes. Small Business Trends (5/6)

5 tips for managing your legal costs

Businesses can use strategies to keep their legal bills from getting out of hand, writes Edward Tan. One way to keep costs manageable is to find a lawyer who is willing to work for a flat fee. "While there are some lawyers who won't play ball, remember that there are plenty of fish in the sea," he writes. FindLaw/Free Enterprise blog (5/7)

How to fix a company cash-flow crisis

Failing to pay your company's bills on time could damage your cash flow, Marlene Habib writes. "Pay tax, supplier and other bills on time to avoid high penalties and a bad credit reputation," she writes. Other common cash-flow mistakes include not cutting yourself a paycheck and not making use of accounting software. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (5/10)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

How to protect yourself from scammers during a move

BBB and the American Moving & Storage Association are warning customers who are moving to be on the lookout for scammers. Research movers before selecting one to help relocate your stuff, and be wary of online price quotes, they advise. Also, don't automatically pick the cheapest option. Time.com (5/7)

Can credit unions help to close the lending gap?

Some small-business owners are turning to credit unions as they search for capital to expand their businesses. "Credit unions are filling a void in the marketplace that has existed because many commercial banks have abandoned the small-business sector," said Rohit Arora of Biz2Credit. Meanwhile, legislation has been introduced in Congress that would increase the amount of money that credit unions can lend. Crain's New York Business (5/6)

Can you trust your church with your donation?

Around the world, people are expected to donate more than $500 billion to Christian causes, but it's important to remember that not every religious organization is trustworthy, say experts. Before donating, it's a good idea to ask questions about how the money will be spent and to ask to see financial statements, according to fundraising consultant Laura Fredricks.The Wall Street Journal (5/7)

Report: Lack of security could jeopardize mobile banking

According to a Juniper Networks survey, 63% of mobile-phone users say they're not sure whether they should trust their mobile security. That could hamper the development of mobile banking, the report finds, as the majority of respondents say they would stop using services such as online banking if there was a security breach. eWeek (5/10)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Tips for guarding your social media accounts

You can take several steps to protect your social media accounts from being compromised. It's important to use unique passwords strengthened by using letters, numbers and symbols. You also should be sure to update your browsers and avoid clicking links in suspicious messages. Chicago Tribune (5/3)

How to compensate your employees with stock

If your company doesn't have access to much cash, it can pay employees or vendors with company stock, Susan Schreter writes. But business owners should be careful to avoid giving away so much stock that they lose control of their companies. "Entrepreneurs should be cautious when negotiating stock compensation agreements with employees or vendors and resist making statements that can be construed as guarantees of big profit outcomes," she advises. Fox Business Small Business Center (5/3)

Why estate planning is critical to business-succession success

Small-business owners should create estate plans to make sure their businesses don't end up in probate after they die. "If it goes into probate, the probate court decides who gets what," says Charley Moore of Rocket Lawyer. When developing an estate plan, small-business owners should think about what they want to happen to their companies in the future. Fox Business Small Business Center (5/4)

How to keep your marketing messages out of your customers' spam folders

Maintaining a sterling reputation is key for e-mail marketers, because messages may not make it to recipients' inboxes if the sender is regarded as a spammer, writes Riva Richmond. It's usually a better idea to build your own e-mail list instead of buying one, she advises. It's also a good idea to tweak your content so that it doesn't seem like spam. Entrepreneur online (5/10)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Prepare yourself for the coming uptick in small-business lending

Research shows many banks have plans to step up their lending to small businesses. "As more banks pursue small business lending, you could find yourself with more options, including new banks you may not have considered before," Rieva Lesonsky writes. "Use a variety of sources to keep in the loop as to which banks are most aggressive in pursuing small business loans." Small Business Trends (5/2)

Scammers are targeting military families

Scammers are attempting to extract money from military families by posing as their relatives, according to BBB. You can help to protect against these scams by asking for personal information and by talking with other family members. Avoid wiring money, BBB recommends. WFMY-TV (Greensboro, N.C.) (5/3)

How a lack of trust can hurt your business

Organizations that suffer from a lack of trust may experience many negative consequences, according to Peak Solutions' Richard Fagerlin. Trust is based on three factors, Fagerlin says: integrity, competence and compassion. Society for Human Resource Management (5/2012)

3 top tools for taking payments on the go

If you have to accept payments on the go, a mobile credit card processing service might be the answer. Among the best services available are Flagship ROAMpay Merchant Services, Leaders Merchant Services and Intuit GoPayment, according to TopTenREVIEWS. BusinessNewsDaily.com (5/9)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace

Spring organization tips for small-business finances

To get your business' finances in order, it's a good idea to meet with a CPA and to make sure your business is structured properly, writes Nellie Akalp of CorpNet.com. "Sometimes an entity is formed with one income target in mind, and you might need to reconsider the entity for a different income level," she writes. It's also important to make sure your business and personal finances are separated from each other, she writes. Mashable (5/1)

How an SBA loan can help your business

Small businesses that need to get access to funding should consider Small Business Administration loans. Such loans may come with better terms than other types of loans, said Santiago Perez, SBA sales manager for California Bank & Trust. Smart Business (5/2012)

Samia Morgan is proud to be listed with the Better Business Bureau - 
BBB Accredited business since 03/01/1994

Your San Mateo Real Estate Advisor

BBB - TrustBrief - Advancing trust in the marketplace