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Smallbusiness.com News Wire tracks small business-related news, features, and small business blogger commentary.

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1 Economy
2 Policy
3 HR
4 Technology
5 Startup
6 Marketing
7 Management
8 Finance and Accounting
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Economy

Inflation Feels Horrible, But Outlook Is Less Frightening | Kiplinger.com: Soaring food and energy prices make inflation feel much worse than it is, and relief isn?t expected until well into 2009.
Paulson Says Economy Is Starting to Rebound | New York Times: The Treasury secretary, Henry M. Paulson Jr., delivered a guardedly optimistic message to business leaders on Friday, saying that the economy was moving toward a rebound after months of malaise.
Is the recession off? Housing holds key | Reuters: With euro zone growth coming in stronger than expected for the first quarter and emerging markets showing resilience to the slowdown in the developed world, the financial doom and gloom has given way to a renewed sense of optimism.
Housing posts surprising rebound in April | AP: Construction of new homes posted the biggest increase in more than two years in April, a rare spot of good news amid the worst downturn in housing in more than two decades.
April Retail Sales Dipped, but Some Sectors Held Up | New York Times: ?I think it?s a report that tells you the economy is very weak, but if we are in a recession it?s going to be a real short one,? said Robert B. MacIntosh, chief economist at Eaton Vance in Boston.

Policy

NY?s ?Amazon Tax? Takes First Casualty: Overstock Affiliates | TechCrunch.com: Overstock.com has terminated its contracts with affiliates based in New York in response to the state?s recently enacted ?Amazon Tax?. The drastic move is likely the first of many, as online retailers display their objection to the new law.
SUVs for Business Are Big Tax Savers This Year | Kiplinger.com: Get set for whopping tax savings if you buy a heavy SUV for your business during 2008.
Hefty Tax Breaks Designed to Spur Business Spending | Kiplinger.com: Congress is betting that some juicy tax incentives will get firms to open their wallets wider.
Government launches crackdown on unfair credit cards | AP: The Federal Reserve and other regulators are moving to crack down on "unfair and deceptive" practices in the credit card industry that have added billions in debt to people already struggling to cope.
Truckers rally in Washington to protest high fuel prices | AP: Truck drivers honked horns, waved placards and shouted through bullhorns at the Capitol on Monday to protest rising fuel prices they say are hurting their livelihood.

HR

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Technology

My Virtual Summer Job | WSJ.com: As the pool of traditional summer jobs shrinks, tech-savvy young gamers are honing their computer skills to capitalize on growing demand for virtual goods and services.
Why word of mouth doesn't happen | Seth Godin: You're doing everything right, but it's not remarkable, at least not in the sense of "worth making a remark about." What's up with that?
NY?s ?Amazon Tax? Takes First Casualty: Overstock Affiliates | TechCrunch.com: Overstock.com has terminated its contracts with affiliates based in New York in response to the state?s recently enacted ?Amazon Tax?. The drastic move is likely the first of many, as online retailers display their objection to the new law.
How a Good Web Site Can Boost Your Sales | Kiplinger.com: A well-designed Web site that's easily found by search engines is a big help in reaching potential customers -- wherever they may be.
Social Media Marketing for Small Business | SearchEngineWatch: The strengths and weaknesses of several major social media sites, as they relate to small to medium sized businesses

Startup

The Next American Frontier | WSJ.com: Half of all new college graduates now believe that self-employment is more secure than a full-time job.
Credit Crunch Benefiting Some Startups | WSJ.com: For venture investors, the credit crunch is providing an unexpected uptick in business opportunities for some portfolio companies, such as providers of consumer loans and data-management services.
The allure of the .com domain name | The Industry Standard: Most businesses prefer a .com domain name because it is a highly recognized symbol for having a business presence on the Internet.
Degrees Designed for Rural Business | BusinessWeek.com: Some business schools are creating programs so grads can apply their skills to the farms and businesses of rural America.
How Do Entrepreneurs Come Up With New Business Ideas? | Small Business Trends: Rather than "searching" for a startup idea, most entrepreneurs get their ideas from their experience working in an industry.

Marketing

To understand your customers look in the mirror | Small Biz Survival: You wonder about your customers, whey they don't come back, why they choose others. But look at how you function... as a customer.
My Virtual Summer Job | WSJ.com: As the pool of traditional summer jobs shrinks, tech-savvy young gamers are honing their computer skills to capitalize on growing demand for virtual goods and services.
Why word of mouth doesn't happen | Seth Godin: You're doing everything right, but it's not remarkable, at least not in the sense of "worth making a remark about." What's up with that?
Looking Up: Export Opportunities for Small Businesses | Kiplinger.com: Still don't think exporting is for you? Think again. The changing global landscape can boost profits and help your company grow.
NY?s ?Amazon Tax? Takes First Casualty: Overstock Affiliates | TechCrunch.com: Overstock.com has terminated its contracts with affiliates based in New York in response to the state?s recently enacted ?Amazon Tax?. The drastic move is likely the first of many, as online retailers display their objection to the new law.

Management

The Next American Frontier | WSJ.com: Half of all new college graduates now believe that self-employment is more secure than a full-time job.
Improving Company Performance Through Work-Based Learning | Kiplinger.com: Learning programs are moving out of HR and into the hands of managers, who are matching skills being taught to specific company objectives.
The Key to Retaining Sales Talent: Golden Handcuffs | TheStreet.com: Instead of a financial penalty, they represent a potential financial reward. If salespeople leave the company prematurely, they lose their chance to reap the reward.
A recipie for a perfect boss | management-issues.com: Does the perfect boss actually exist? If so, what does he or she do that makes them perfect?
Degrees Designed for Rural Business | BusinessWeek.com: Some business schools are creating programs so grads can apply their skills to the farms and businesses of rural America.

Finance and Accounting

Credit Crunch Benefiting Some Startups | WSJ.com: For venture investors, the credit crunch is providing an unexpected uptick in business opportunities for some portfolio companies, such as providers of consumer loans and data-management services.
SUVs for Business Are Big Tax Savers This Year | Kiplinger.com: Get set for whopping tax savings if you buy a heavy SUV for your business during 2008.
Hefty Tax Breaks Designed to Spur Business Spending | Kiplinger.com: Congress is betting that some juicy tax incentives will get firms to open their wallets wider.
Mortgage applications rise in latest week: MBA | Reuters: Mortgage applications rose for a second consecutive week, fueled by a jump in demand for home refinancing loans as interest rates dropped, an industry group said on Wednesday.
Banks Tighten Credit Standards on Small Business Loans | WSJ.com: The turbulent economy is exposing yet another type of credit where bankers let their guard down: small-business loans.