Links to interesting, informative and useful sites
Writing Resources
Writing Groups
Online Writing Groups
Yahoo's
Writing Workshop List - A very good general resource.
Various Valuable Writing Links
DIY
(Do-it-yourself) Books, Films and Music
Alternative
Media Sources and Reference Links
The ongoing consolidation of major media
in the United States has narrowed the range and content of news made widely
available to the public. Here is a list of additional online news
sources presenting a variety of coverage and analysis of world events.
OTHER WORLD MEDIA
Sites are mainstream or alternative digests, news organizations, sources outside the U. S. Essential for a global perspective.
OTHER SOURCE AND REFERENCE MATERIALS
Muslims, Islam, and the Iraq War This is a detailed portal for those wanting a strong historical context for the complex diversity in the area. Points to various articles, maps, studies and websites to help detail the differences and conflicts between Arab and Kurdish Sunnis, Arab and Kurdish Shi'a, for example. The role of Iraqi Christians, Iran, suspected terrorist sects, underlying causes etc. are represented. Within its framework, this is a versatile guide, especially as the post-Saddam phase begins.
Other sources worth bookmarking:
Strategic Studies Institute Home of the infamous War College, whose January and February 2003 recommendations for post-war Iraq are illuminating in light of current conditions. The link takes you to the page with the reports, but the additional reports on that page - and throughout the site - are worth reading.
"Rebuilding America's Defenses" Well-known document generated in 2000 by the Project for a New American Century. Advocates strategic and military initiatives in the Middle East - well before Iraq and September 11. With the organization's early ties to Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Jeb Bush, the document is viewed by many as the Bush administration's main blueprint.
United Nations
Opposition:
Selected Resources
ResourceShelf
More "Stuff" and Search Tips
( Daily
Newsletter, New Resources,
Search Tips, Read
by Many Writers)
For the Business Searcher
Deadframe Paranormal Research Group
Delaware paranormal Investigators
Ghost Hunters of Southern Michigan
Ghostshounds Paranormal Investigators Network
Scary Cinema
Small Town Newspapers - Find a small town newspaper.
Home Town Locator - Demographics. All you every wanted to know about 42,500 cities, including aerial photos from space.
Small Market Radio Newsletter The only publication devoted exclusively to radio in small and medium communities. Features industry news, sales tips, promotion ideas and management information for the small market broadcaster.
The Community Stewardship Exchange Information, contacts and examples to promote community-based strategies that preserve and protect the ecological integrity of protected lands and, at the same time, meet the economic aspirations of adjoining landowners and communities. Designed as a tool for the people doing this important work. Visit these guys, a very interesting concept.
CEO Express - You may not consider yourself a CEO, but if you're a small business in a small town, there is valuable information you need. This site has a lot of information sites. Newspapers across the country and around the world. You can also set up your own customized CEO page.
Small Town Bound - A great site if you are thinking of moving to a small town. John Clayton is the author of Small Town Bound a great guide to small town life.
Moving to a Small Town - A Guidebook for Moving from Urban to Rural America By Wanda Urbanska and Frank Levering
Cost of Living Comparisons in US Cities: Relocation, cost of living, real estate, apartment availability in towns all over America. If you're relocating, get the info about your new town.
Rural and Small Town Programme - Exploring how rural communities use tourism as a community development tool. Information about entering into research contracts with government and communities to help them address their rural tourism concerns.
Marketing The Uniqueness of Small Towns - A very detailed site with many great ideas. In recent decades, rural-urban migration has begun to reverse itself. People are moving back to small communities in increasing numbers. Some communities have capitalized on this national trend, others have not. How's your town doing? This is
National Associations of Counties - Valuable information about counties across the USA.
Moving To A Small Town - Information and guidance for finding a community to fit your lifestyle. Tired of the worsening commuter traffic, urban sprawl, and declining quality of life in the city? Smaller cities and towns may offer you the best alternatives for a more fulfilling life, including opportunities for employment and self employment, relocating your business, and early retirement.
Entrepreneur America (EA) - Trying to get your business funded, improve its growth, market and product positioning? The gap between the entrepreneurs and the money is larger than the Grand Canyon. helps close that gap by mentoring new entrepreneurs with pragmatic advice from seasoned, successful entrepreneurs. If you need money help check this one out.
Guide To The Best Small Towns - How do you find the perfect small town? Visiting is a good way, but very time consuming. With this link you can search the the best small towns in the comfort of your own home, night or day, rain or shine.
E-Commerce Sites
WS Radio - Entrepreneur Magazine Radio Shows that you can listen to online. Great guests, helpful information on business topics.
Business Plan Help -A great site that walks you through the steps. There is a break-even analysis calculator, information on how to do market research and helpful articles to help you set up and organize your business plan.
http://www.linkpopularitycheck.com/ and/or http://www.linkpopularity.com/ Want to know who is driving traffic to your competition by linking to them?
http://www.changedetection.com - Free site to let your customers know when you add new content to your company's web site.
MindHarbor.com/ - There aren't any sites that can be all things to all people, but this one comes close. If you are looking for business resources, there are a tons of them here.
refdesk - If its not on this page, you don't need it.
Internet.com's guide - This site is a good place to start if you want to do e-commerce business on the web.
Webmonkey Marketing Section - A great source of e-marketing information.
Research Room on E-Commerce - According to them, "The largest collection of articles, links and resources on e-commerce to be found at any single place on the planet."
E-Commerce Tutorials - Want to know how to do something in e-Commerce? Here's a good site. E-Commerce Collections - A variety of e-commerce sites and articles from the same site.
Card Service International - To accept credit cards, your business will need a merchant account. Cardservice International is a leading provider of Internet based Merchant Accounts.
Home Based Business Resources
http://www.entrepreneurmag.com - Entrepreneur Magazine. Information on starting, growing and managing small or home-based businesses. Links to Entrepreneur Magazine Online, Business Start-Ups Online, Entrepreneurs Home Office Online.
http://www.bizoffice.com - Small and Home Based Business links for managing and marketing small and home-based business.
Protection From Bad Guys
http://www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois/ - Did you ever go
to a website and wish you could find out who owns it? Is the owner really
in New York, NY? This site will help you find the owner's
name, address, phone et cetera. Just type the URL in the second box and
click "search." The search feature works with name.com, name.net,
name.edu and name.org.
http://www.antifraud.com/ - If you accept credit cards on your site,
this site helps keep everyone honest.
PayPal - A national company, now owned by e-Bay, that processes credit charges on the net safely and transfers the cash to the recipient by email. Works great. You can also make secure payments from your bank account and set up an account so visitors can safely pay for your products on your web site.
ScamBusters - A site that keeps track of those attempting to separate us from our cash on the world wide web.
Sites That Teach About Business - (Some are free, Some are not)
Marketing Teacher - British site with marketing articles, books, tips and lots of good information.
Free Online Start Your Own Business Course - Walk through a complete business startup from idea to opening the doors. Non-profit group approved by The Small Business Administration. They also accept volunteers to help small businesses succeed.
Business Plan Links
http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs.html#mp-12
http://www.bplans.com/samples/sba.cfm
Sample Plans
http://www.bplans.com/hurdleonline/?affiliate=sba
More Business Plan Guidelines
http://www.bplans.com/hurdleonline/index.cfm?s=specs&id=146&affiliate=sba
Pick your plan
http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/bizplan/0,5971,,00.html
- Writing A Business Plan: Examples and Templates
http://www.inc.com/guides/solo_business/20676.html
- Choosing a Form For Your Business
http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/SBIC/bplans.htm
- Business Plans: More sample plans
http://www.entreworld.org/About/FastTrac.cfm
- How Business Planning Helps You Succeed. Site includes "Final Business Plan Critique." PDF file
http://home3.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness/Tool/biz_plan/try/index.asp
Writing descriptions in your business plan.
http://www.mplans.com/spm/index.cfm?a=mc
- Sample Marketing Plans
http://www.scoreknox.org/bustips/nov02tips.htm
- Do You Really Need a Business Plan?
http://www.businesstown.com/planning/creating.asp
- Helpful business plan links
http://www.prenhall.com/scarbzim/html/plan.html
- Business Plan Evaluation Scale
http://www.inc.com/articles/2000/04/18470.html
- Business Plan Outline
http://www.inc.com/articles/2000/10/14875.html
- Executive Summary as a Guiding Light
http://www.tutor2u.net/business/production/break_even.htm
- Break Even Analysis
http://www.smalltownmarketing.com/breakeven.html
- More break even analysis
http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art5_5.htm
- Conducting an e-Learning Break Even Analysis
http://connection.cwru.edu/mbac424/breakeven/BreakEven.html
- An online Break Even Calculator
http://pf.inc.com/magazine/20000401/18118.html
- Persuasive Projections (Projecting your financial condition)
http://www.inc.com/articles/1999/10/14877.html
- The Financial Section of the Business Plan
Miscellaneous
The Marketing Zone - is a sales and marketing site that helps small to medium sized companies integrate the magic of marketing with the science of sales. Free Resources and recommended reading suggestions.
http://www.findarticles.com - One of the best sites I know of for business research. Not only can you find thousands of articles that have been written on almost any subject, but you can also take the link to the magazine itself to see if you might want to subscribe. Hundreds of magazines are featured. I recommend this site highly.
Online Classes and Degree Programs - Online classes and degrees from a variety of top universities that you can take in your own home at your own pace. A great way to learn and improve your business.
http://www.sba.gov/classroom/ - The Small Business Administration offers several business classes on a wide variety of subjects.
http://www.ideacafe.com - The Small Business Channel serves up "A
Fun Approach to Serious Business" hearty advice on how to start,
finance and run a small business. Cyberschmooz Forums give virtual peer
feedback on business ideas and questions. Free advice from experts, plus
stress-busting fun diversions. - A great business source. Articles
and helpful hints from experts in many fields.
http://www.ed2go.com/
- Site that offers several business courses that you can take on the
internet, tied to local colleges all over the United States. Pick your
state and school and sign up.
SOHO.org - One of my personal favorites. Small Office Home Office offers lots of small business information in various categories and also publishes weekly articles.
http://www.qualityplusco.com/ - Online catalog with books, audio tapes, and video guides which can help you get started in a business of your own, or jump-start your existing business. The owner, Gary Reed, has hand- picked these titles based on his 30 years of business experience, authored by entrepreneurs who are experts in their field.
http://www.audible.com - Downloadable audiobooks
ANCHORED DREAMS® - Azriela Jaffe, business coach, speaker, columnist, and author of "Honey, I Want To Start My Own Business," A Planning Guide for Couples, and Let's Go Into Business Together, Eight Secrets for Successful Business Partnering. Offers practical assistance and emotional support to individuals, couples, and partners in business.
For Women Business Owners
The Institute for Women's Leadership provides leadership training, coaching and consulting to women and men seeking to effect breakthrough change within their organizations.
The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) - Largest women's professional association and the largest women business owners' organization in the country. Resources and services, education, networking, and public advocacy. An organization established to empower its members to achieve career success and financial security.
WOW - Dedicated to women in business, Woman Owned provides business professionals networking opportunities and business information.
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/ - Women's Business Ownership page is geared to assist women who are already in business and those thinking of starting a business. Programs designed specifically for women: Demonstration Training Program, Mentoring Program, Women's Pre-qualification Pilot Loan Program, Interagency Committee on Women Business Enterprise.
http://www.onlinewbc.org/ - Online Women's Business Center. For women business owners or those just starting out.
Government Resources, Information and Statistics
City-Data.Com - All the demographics you'll ever need for any city in the U.S. Great for finding information for your business plan. For example, how many furniture stores are in your city and how much business do they do.
http://www.census.gov - No money to hire market research? Virtually all national, state and local census information you could ever possibly need is available FREE at this government site. Your taxes pay for it, USE IT. If you are looking for specific demographic information about your own city or county start with "State and County Quick Facts."
The Robinson-Patman Act - Deals with price discrimination against small businesses. The intent of this Act is to regulate any attempt to injure competition. Every small business should be familiar with this legislation. Print a copy, read it and keep a copy on file.
NoLo Press Self-Help Law Center - Online legal assistance.
SBFocus.com - The Search Engine for Small Business. The business answer you seek is just two clicks away
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/starting/ - Helpful information about business start-up. Your tax dollars at work.
http://www.uspto.gov/ - This is the place to lear how to get a patent and trademark for your product.
http://www.census.gov/ - Up-to-the-minute population estimates, census data and current population profiles of the United States.
http://www.sb.gov.bc.ca/ - Two business plan sites.
http://www.dnb.com/ - Dunn and Bradstreet site.
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ - Office of Copyright - Need to copyright something?
http://www.business.gov - U.S. Business Advisor provides one-stop access to more than 70 organizations and agencies that assist or regulate business.
http://www.score.org - Service Corps of Retired Executives. Many local chapters.
SBDC - Small Business Development Center. Business plan and financing help. SBDC is pre-paid with your tax dollars so there is no charge for their services. Take advantage of their expertise.
Thomas: Legislative Information on the net. To find out what's happening with a specific bill in Congress. http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html
Melissa Data Corp - Market research information. Free look ups for some of the best free research on the net.
