Clips

2009

November

• Number crunching 2.0 – Been waiting to ditch your desktop accounting software for a Web-based app? Now’s the time. Amex OpenForum.com
• Minding the petty cash drawer – Petty cash is anything but. Lack of strict controls over who’s got access, what it’s used for and how expenses are recorded can get you into big trouble when it comes to reconciling your books. Amex OpenForum.com
• The benefits of outsourcing billing – When it comes to his law practice, Nashville attorney Mark Daly admits he does what he likes and puts off what he doesn’t – including billing. Amex OpenForum.com
• Becoming a collections expert: the small claims option – The April 2009 fundraiser went off without a hitch. It was only 30 days later, when the host still hadn’t paid the remainder of his bill that the event’s planner realized she had a problem. Amex OpenForum.com
• How to livestream a meeting -Ever host a sales presentation or conference and wish customers who couldn’t fly in for the event could tune in anyway? IncTechnology.com
• I need a car loan – You’re in the market for some new wheels, now you need to figure out how to fund them. Whether you dream of flying down the freeway in a shiny red convertible or heading to the mountains in an environmentally friendly Prius, getting a car loan could be your first step towards unlimited mobility. LearnVest.com
• Online therapy clicks with employees – Internet-based counseling and behavioral health services are finding their way into companies’ employee assistance programs. Workforce.com

October

• 7 basic tips to becoming a collections expert – Collecting on overdue bills has always been a challenge for small businesses that can’t afford the legal muscle of bigger companies. The recession’s made it worse. Amex OpenForum.com
• Small business stimulus program gets a boost – When the $787 billion stimulus bill passed in February, hopes were high it would provide a boost for small businesses hard hit by the credit crunch. Amex OpenForum.com
• Twitter’s new tweets for small business – Twitter is rolling out new and improved features aimed squarely at making small and mid-sized business users more comfortable with the social network. IncTechnology.com
• Avoid social media faux pas – If you’re using Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn for business, you don’t want to alienate potential customers before they get to know you, so lay off the auto responder and follow these tips. IncTechnology.com
• Look workplace fabulous for pennies – Less is more. You don’t have to start a whole new job with a whole new wardrobe. LearnVest.com
• Be a social (network) sparkler: present a polished 21st century calling card – Your LinkedIn or Facebook profile is the 21st century equivalent of a calling card, your first chance to make an impression on a recruiter or potential boss, so it pays to make it a good one. LearnVest.com
• Jobing.com looks to rebound – After several years of heady spending, the Phoenix-based job board is trying to put office closures and layoffs behind it. Is the addition of a high-profile blogger the answer? Workforce.com
• Six mistakes smart seniors make online – One of the biggest mistakes seniors make online is being too trusting. YourSecurityResource.com

September

• Bing, Twitter and the new search landscape – Just when you had search engine optimization figured out, the Internet search scene shifted. Microsoft introduced Bing. Twitter and others offered real-time search. Should you switch strategies? IncTechnology.com
• Recruiting blog Cheezhead acquired by Jobing.com – In a move aimed at heading off conflict-of-interest concerns under the new ownership, owner Joel Cheesman says he will alter his blog’s content. Workforce.com
• Special report on rewards and recognitions: back in a giving mood – Companies battered by layoffs are looking for low-cost ways to keep their remaining employees engaged. Workforce.com
• Gift cards’ appeal expiring – Gift cards have been a staple of employee recognition programs for years, but well-known retailers’ high profile bankruptcies and criticism of profits vendors make on breakage are changing that. Workforce.com
• Know your online identity – As you and your brother, father and grandfather join social networks, leave comments on blogs and spend more time on the Internet, it’s become important to protect your online identity, including verifying yourself in the electronic communities you frequent.

August

• No downturn for privacy practices – The recession may have taken a bite out of your IT budget, but it’s no reason to get lax about customer privacy and other data protection measures. IncTechnology.com
• Rodeos hang tough – Local rodeos maintain their balance despite jostling by the state’s rough riding economy. Oregon Business
• Executive recruiters face challenge of helping hard-hit firms fill top spots – Headhunters are being asked to find leaders with drastically different skills from pre-recession CEOs. Wanted: no-risk turnaround specialists with corner-office experience and impeccable professional and personal records. Workforce.com
  

July

• Train for success like a pro athlete Productivity guru and performance psychologist Jim Loehr endorses cultivating energy, not time, to get what you want out of life. CBS MoneyWatch
• Give your thumbs a break Emailing and texting can help get work done, but too much typing on a smartphone can take a physical toll. Inc.com
• Special report on employee relocation: Barely moving – Stagnant U.S. home sales continue to force companies to rein in spending on domestic relocation. Multinationals, meanwhile, are cutting global relocating costs, shortening overseas assignments and reducing their reliance on expatriates. Workforce Management
• Relocation providers: big is out, boutique is in – When it came to being a relocation services provider, it wasn’t so long ago that bigger was better. Workforce Management
• How safe is your e-book reader? – A handful of Kindle owners have had their e-book readers stolen and accounts taken over, underscoring the need to secure the devices and the information they store. YourSecurityResource.com

June

• The thin green line – Oregon companies rely on green seals and local support groups to show there’s substance behind their sustainability claims. Oregon Business
• Designing for the small screen – By following a few simple design rules, you can optimize PowerPoint presentations for smart phones. IncTechnology.com
• Not your father’s business card – Poken, DropCard and other digital business card apps for smart phones, Web, and PCs let you swap contact info and social network profiles. IncTechnology.com
• KellyOCG dumps its old image for a fresh face – Though a major RPO provider, Kelly had an identity crisis. So the company mounted a campaign to play up its well-known brand while showing prospective customers it meant more than temporary staffing. Workforce Management
• Social network safety for boomers – The fastest growing group on Facebook isn’t teens or Gen Xers. It’s Baby Boomers, and as fast as they’re signing on, Internet scam artists are looking to exploit them. YourSecurityResource.com

May

• Tweet safely: Twitter scams to dodge – Monica Bhide didn’t realize what was happening when she innocently clicked on her friend’s Twitter page. YourSecurityResource.com
• Electronic records management: file this under ‘more work needed’ – Thanks to e-mail and software for seemingly every aspect of work, more business records are digital, but most companies don’t have adequate systems for managing them. Workforce Management
• As layoffs end, recruiters await word on what comes next – A recession with no end in sight, baby boomers who can’t retire and Gen Y managers who don’t know how to lead in a downturn—it’s a confluence of troubles the likes of which few HR professionals have ever seen. Workforce Management
• How to hire an SEO consultant – If you can’t afford a full-time specialist, a part-time contractor will do, but do your homework to find one that’s a good fit. IncTechnology.com

April

• Suzy Welch on making career (and life) decision. – Her new book, 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea, describes how journalist, author and wife of former GE CEO Jack Welch developed a unique technique for making tough decisions. CBS MoneyWatch.com
• Three Who Followed the Market to a Better Job – Profiles of three people who switched careers. CBS MoneyWatch.com
• Just the fax: services go online – There’s still a place in most small businesses for a fax, only these days, it’s likely to be an online fax service. IncTechnology.com
• Parents beware the dangers of sexting – Thanks to cell phones, something meant to be private can easily end up splashed across the electronic universe – with severe consequences. YourSecurityResource.com

March

• The new netbooks – Whoever said small is beautiful probably wasn’t talking about netbooks — but they could have been. TheGeekWeekly.com
• Three ways to…Get Web feedback – Web-based apps and social networks are efficient and effective ways to get feedback on a product concept or design. TheGeekWeekly.com
• Three ways to…Get more from cloud computing – Is it time to say goodbye to software on your hard drive? TheGeekWeekly.com
• Taming Twitter: Did they really just say that? – On Twitter anything goes. But forward-thinking companies are mitigating risks of using the social network by designating Twitter reps and updating electronic communication guidelines. Workforce Management
• Companies to expats: come home early – Battling the recession, U.S. firms are pulling assignees back early, reducing overseas assignments, restructuring compensation and using non-U.S. or in-country managers. Workforce Management
• LinkedIn’s corporate play takes aim at recruiters – The business network hopes a new suite of prospecting tools will appeal to the growing ranks of recruiters and HR professionals among its 35 million members. Workforce Management
• New security risks from USB flash drives – Thumb-sized USB drives are so small and convenient they’ve become a fashionable accessory, but they aren’t without their dangers. YourSecurityResource.com

February

• A breakout year for OpenID – By the end of 2008, more than 30,000 websites were using the digital identity protocol that streamlines consumers’ website registrations. IncTechnology.com
• The domain name game – Companies can use descriptive domain names to draw traffic to their websites without having to pay big bucks for online advertising. IncTechnology.com
• Assessment providers scoring well – The tough economy is driving an increase in job applications and, in turn, demand for the evaluations to help employers select the cream of the crop. Workforce Management
  
• Planning for benefits during a divestiture – When a company’s spinning off business units, setting up employee benefits sooner rather than later makes for a smoother transition. Workforce Management
• Old software on new computers – Older programs can run on new computers with the latest software operation systems. YourSecurityResource.com

January

• Good news for small papers – Oregon is dominated by small daily and weekly papers. While they haven’t dodged the recession’s wrath, in today’s declining newspaper market smaller is turning out to be better. Oregon Business
• Doing more IT with less money – The recession is driving small businesses to make tough IT choices. IncTechnology.com
• When one monitor isn’t enough – People who’ve made the switch say using two or more monitors makes them more productive. IncTechnology.com
• A business intelligence software primer – Applications that mine spreadsheets for analytics are now out in software-as-a-service form. IncTechnology.com
• Tech security forecast for 2009 – Experts predict more malware, attacks from mobile devices, social networks. IncTechnology.com
• High-end gym’s growth plan gives talent management tools a workout – Athletes’ Performance hopes a talent management suite can help it hire like a much larger company as the high-end gym staffs up for an ambitious national expansion. Workforce Management
  
• Wachovia acquisition puts leave plan in limbo – The bank’s innovative program gave employees leave for up to 3 years. Workforce Management
  
• Salary.com reins in rapid growth with layoffs – Hit by losses, the HR management application provider lays off 100, will take a $2.5 million fourth-quarter charge. Workforce Management
  
• LinkedIn beefs up recruiting tools -Exclusive report on business network’s new services for corporate recruiters. Workforce Management
• When HR IT goes bad – At the Los Angeles Unified School District, almost anything that could go wrong with its HR payroll system upgrade did. Workforce Management

2008

December

• Pool of talent grows as recruiters find time to be choosy – The real benefit of today’s job market is finding the perfect fit. Workforce Management
• Santa baby, slip these gadgets under the tree – Ultra-mobile PCs, upgraded iPods, HD cameras top holiday wish lists. IncTechnology.com
• Microsoft Office moves to the Web – Microsoft will make scaled versions of popular office productivity programs available as Web apps. IncTechnology.com
• A Windows 7 sneak peek – Microsoft is expected to unveil a beta version of  its successor to the Vista sometime in 2009. IncTechnology.com
• The virtual CIO – By using a contract CIO on a project or part-time basis, a small business gets the best of both worlds. IncTechnology.com

November

• In the hot seat – Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra inherits the team that had the league’s worst record last year. Conde Nast Portfolio.com
• Still drawing, for better or worse – For popular comic-strip artist Lynn Johnston, retirement had to wait. Conde Nast Portfolio.com
• To save or not to save: Email storage management – Deciding which e-mail messages to save is more complicated than it seems. IncTechnology.com
• Christmas parties take a holiday amid downturn – Companies are canceling annual end-of-the-year holiday bashes across the US. Workforce Management
• Not just for expats anymore – Companies are offering more cross-cultural training and using online tools to do it. Workforce Management
• The flip side of cultural training – When an Indian outsourcer sends workers to the US, cultural training is a trip to the old ball game. Workforce Management
• Social network scams – Welcome to the latest Internet hustle, the social network scam. YourSecurityResource.com

October

• Business podcasting 101 – There are lots of reasons to podcast, but instant millionaire status isn’t one of them. The Geek Weekly
• Are smart cards the new cash? – The day is coming when you’ll never carry cash – or even a wallet. The Geek Weekly
• Stem the tide with email archiving -  Create an e-mail retention policy and use an archiving service to keep the right email messages. IncTechnology.com
• Curb costs of mobile device management – It can cost $2,500 a year to take care of a single iPhone.  Here’s how to cut costs. IncTechnology.com
• Whistleblowing in the post-bailout age gets a technology boost – The finance industry bailout renews interest in ethics hot lines. Workforce Management
• Meetings without meeting – With travel costs sky high, companies are opting for online meetings and videoconferences. Workforce Management
• Tripped up – Hard times and higher travel costs are pushing companies to enforce travel and entertainment expense policies. Workforce Management
• Do’s and don’ts of free software – If you’re not careful, you could end up with more than you bargained for, namely spyware. YourSecurityResource.com

September

• Spy Business – Corporate investigator Robert Brenner draws the line at tailing execs. Conde Nast Portfolio.com
• View Finder – Location scout Michael Burmeister can make Utah look like Antarctica. Conde Nast Portfolio.com
• No fly zones: virtual meetings – Small businesses looking to cut travel costs are switching to online meetings. IncTechnology.com
• Market online without spamming – Prevent your small business’ e-mail marketing campaign from landing  in a customer’s spam filter. IncTechnology.com
• Psst! What’s the password? – Companies that don’t protect administrative passwords leave themselves open to disaster. IncTechnology.com
• Gunning for Change – Handgun maker Sig Sauer offers customers ability to track weapons with a RuBee-based inventory management system. RFID Journal
• Jobvite boosts its profile among Web-based recruiters – Hiring a new CEO was the first step to increase visibility in a sizzling market. Workforce Management

August

• Peak Performer – Willie Benegas is part of an elite circle of guides who lead treks up Mount Everest. Conde Nast Portfolio.com
• Cowboying Up – Professional bareback rider Bobby Mote is one of the best in his sport. Conde Nast Portfolio.com
• New tools for stopping e-commerce fraud – When it comes to selling online, you don’t need a big budget to keep transactions safe. IncTechnology.com
• Going with the Wind – Wind farm technicians are a hot commodity in the booming wind energy business. Workforce Management
• Solar Follows Suit – A German maker of solar panels is teaming up with Portland Community College to train technicians. Workforce Management
• Tech Hunt – Take a nod from wind energy companies, be creative to find and keep good help. Workforce Management

July

• Encryption: A critical layer of protection – It’s easy to see encryption’s benefits – using it is a different story. The Geek Weekly
• Running a Virtual Business – There’s more than one way to run a virtual company.  IncTechnology.com
• Providing a safety net for confidential data – The more a business outsources, the more critical it is to have data safeguards in place. IncTechnology.com
• Stop workers from using IT to snoop around – There’s no good reason for workers to spy on each other. IncTechnology.com
• Document this: how to organize computer data – Add-ons, backups and plug-ins make sorting and storing e-mail easier than ever. IncTechnology.com
• Turn Social Networks into Your Recruiter – If corporate headhunters can mine Facebook for job candidates, small businesses can too. IncTechnology.com
• Beware of IT Certification Scams – IT training and testing companies are taking steps to curb cheating on certification exams. IncTechnology.com
• Filling Hot IT Jobs – Demand for experienced IT professionals is high, so small businesses must be creative to fill open positions. IncTechnology.com
• The culture connection – When Herman Miller decided to outsource recruiting, finding a partner was just the start. Workforce Management
• Weak economy slowing but not stopping recruitment outsourcing Workforce Management
• Jobvite hires former Yahoo HotJobs boss as CEO Workforce Management
• That’s the way the Web cookie crumbles – Cookies befuddle people who like convenience but not intrusiveness. YourSecurityResource.com

June

• Company Computer Do’s and Don’ts – To keep yourself out of hot water, stick to your company’s electronic communications playbook. The Geek Weekly
• Traveling with Gadgets – Follow these tips to keep laptops and other hand-held electronics organized, charged and safe. The Geek Weekly
• Take Customers’ Pulse with Web Surveys – Use online surveys to get unbiased evaluations of your products and services. IncTechnology.com
• New Software Helps with Immigration Rules – Web-based software helps small businesses process mandatory federal I-9 forms. IncTechnology.com
• Video Podcasts: It’s Showtime! – Small business owners can use video podcasts to effectively promote their products and themselves. IncTechnology.com
• Aspen signs with Skidata, RTP for integrated RFID/POS system The ski resort will integrate tracking with point of sale systems. RFID Journal.com
• When tests go bad – Cheating bred by brain dump Web sites and lax security has given IT certifications a black eye. Workforce Management
• Keeping a watchful eye – A California court case illustrates the problems using video cameras to monitor employees can create. Workforce Management

May

• A Home with a High IQ – With the Internet and new automation gear, any home can be a smart one. The Geek Weekly
• RFID Tags Are Everywhere – Look closely and you’ll see RFID tags all around, from lift tickets to credit cards, passports to pets. The Geek Weekly
• Let’s Get Visible – Learn what small businesses need to know about supply chain management technology. IncTechnology.com
• Cell Phone Price Wars: How Low Will They Go? – Cell phone users are winning big as wireless carriers offer $99 monthly calling plans. IncTechnology.com
• Banish Blog Spam – It’s great when your company blog gets noticed, but not when the acclaim attracts spam. IncTechnology.com
• How to Start a Business Podcast – Follow these 10 rules to create an podcast that can attract listeners and boost business. IncTechnology.com
• Made in Oregon – Oregon companies find it pays to keep manufacturing local. Take that, China. Oregon Business Ask about reprints!
• Right on schedule – Hospitals use shift scheduling software to reduce overhead and keep nurses happy. Workforce Management
• The new job sharers – New types of job sharers include older workers phasing into retirement and Gen Y employees. Workforce Management
• Don’t Try This at Work – Companies are rewriting do’s and don’ts for email, the Internet and social media. YourSecurityResource.com
• Encryption 101 – Encryption is like flossing – a hassle that prevents much bigger ones. YourSecurityResource.com

April

• Battling Online Fraud – Small businesses are using extended validation SSL to keep online customers safe. IncTechnology.com
• Using Web Software Save on IT Spending – Web-based software is one way to trim an IT budget without skimping on function. IncTechnology.com
• No More Spreadsheets – Small businesses can use sales incentive management software to calculate sales commissions. IncTechnology.com
• You’re Hired! – Web-based recruiting software weeds out good job candidates from bad. IncTechnology.com
• A Business Sparked by the Online I-9 – The new online employment verification form creates a niche market. Workforce Management
• Webcams: Security or Spying? Companies can use Webcams in their offices, with some limits. YourSecurityResource.com

March

• Drive Traffic to Your Business Blog – Driving traffic to your corporate blog takes old-fashioned marketing and contemporary Web tools. IncTechnology.com
• HR Software: Technology to Manage People – Small business options for outsourcing payroll and benefits administration are growing. IncTechnology.com
• Bye Bye Vista – Computer users who hate Vista are uninstalling the operating system and switching back to XP. IncTechnology.com
• Smile, You’re on the Company Webcam – Companies can use Webcams for screening applicants, online learning, monitoring employees. IncTechnology.com
• Bet on Headsets – Cell phones, iPods and video games have erased stigma of wearing a telephone headset at work. IncTechnology.com
• Companies Address Breastfeeding Regs – They’re complying with the new law or bettering existing programs. Oregon Business Ask about reprints!
• Now Showing on the Small Screen – HR software is going mobile. Workforce Management
• States Adopt Workplace Breastfeeding Protections – Fourteen states have workplace breastfeeding laws. Workforce Management
• Escape from ‘Excel Hell’ – Companies are ditching manually calculating sales commissions for sales incentive software. Workforce Management
• Get Your ‘A’ Players Here – Topgrading author and consultant Brad Smart emphasizes loading up on A players. Workforce Management

February

• Outsourcing Privacy Protection – Building and running privacy programs can be expensive. Enter privacy outsourcing. CIOStrategyCenter.com
• Technologies to Eliminate Office Paper – As businesses look for steps to go green, one of the simplest is reducing office paper. IncTechnology.com
• Choosing In-House Blogging Software – Picking a blog platform depends how comfortable you are hosting software, among other things. IncTechnology.com
• Keeping Web 2.0 Safe – Blogs and social networks help foster ties with employees, customers, but strong policies are a must. IncTechnology.com
• Special Report: HR Outsourcing Makes a Move Toward the Middle – Outsourcing will increase at mid-tier companies in 2008. Workforce Management
• Reality Check at NiSource – NiSource’s $1.6 billion contract with IBM didn’t turn out quite as planned. Workforce Management
• A PEO Deal Goes Upside Down – A North Carolina PEO closes, leaving 3,000  in the lurch. Workforce Management
• Companies Winging Phased Retirement – Instead of formal phased retirement programs, employers are winging it. Workforce Management
• Hiring Back Retirees Via Third Parties – Companies are bringing back their retirees through third-party staffing agencies. Workforce Management

January

• Safeguarding Your Biggest Asset – Your Data – Regular audits can help companies pinpoint weaknesses, establish privacy protocols. IncTechnology.com
• Blogging Behind the Firewall – Companies are using internal blogs for everything from communications to job listings. IncTechnology.com
• OurSpace: Create an In-House Social Network – More companies are starting internal social networks to talk and listen to employees. IncTechnology.com
• The Gorge Effect – Tech companies like Insitu, Google, find Columbia River Gorge is great for business. Oregon Business Ask about reprints!
• Dealing with Data Loss – If your computer crashes, here’s how to get the data back. YourSecurityResource.com

2007

December

• Mobile Software-as-a-Service – As people cozy up to Web-based apps, they want them everywhere, including on the road. IncTechnology.com
• Picking a Social Networking Vendor – To pick an in-house social network, decide what it should do, who’ll use it. IncTechnology.com
• Running Away With the Circus – At Cirque du Soleil, actuary Hélène Thibault is as creative as the company she works for. Workforce Management
• A Master Act of Coordination – Behind the scenes work to keep Cirque du Soleil entertainers  insured and protected is daunting. Workforce Management

November

• Upgrading to a Database – When your small business needs more than a spreadsheet a relational database may be the answer. IncTechnology.com
• Picking a Web-based Software Vendor – Small businesses have more software-as-a-service options than ever. IncTechnology.com

2006

• Convergys Rising -  The  No. 2 HR outsourcer must put new contracts to work while serving existing clients. Workforce Management, January
• Breakout year for outsourcing predicted – In 2006, more companies will outsource complex functions, do global deals. Workforce Management, January

2005

• Unicru Breaks Through the Science of “Smart” Hiring – Unicru aims to build on its blue collar jobs success. Workforce Management, May

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