After less than a year in operation,  Hewlett-Packard Co. is pulling the plug on its online backup service, Upline.  The company did not supply a reason for doing so other than to say it is continually analyzing product lines and decided to discontinued service at the end of this month.  Upline stopped backing up files on February 26 and customers have until March 31, when Upline ceases operations, to download any files that have been backed up using the service.  HP should’ve left online file backup to the pros (see here).

Now, lest you think this post is nothing more than unleashing harsh and vile obscenities (I do have some class), I am merely passing on the good word about Mozy Inc.’s latest and greatest giveaway. Now, if you had taken the time to notice the “:/” that follows the implied “F”, you’ll know that I am referring to a computer drive, not a disrespectful and vile obscenity. So the world’s leading computer backup service is giving away free “Back the F:/ Up” t-shirts to create widespread hullabaloo and fear in those unfortunate individuals who have yet to still implement a safe and secure backup method for their computers – yes, they still do exist. Want a t-shirt?  Here’s the catch: tell them what you’re going to do to get one. The more awesome, outrageous, and memorable, the better.  Oh and beware, if your idea royally sucks, it goes up in the wall of shame. For more information and the official rules, click here.

People are talking – constantly. About a myriad of companies, products, and services; and chances are yours in one of them. The impact of consumer-generated reviews and customer ratings continues to grow as more and more shoppers hop online to peruse the latest product and service reviews posted by their peers. Consumer reviews (from home improvement to weight loss products) can be a powerful tool for any company - but how should you respond to particularly harmful reviews?

1. Embrace the review no matter how damaging you may perceive it. It will not only strengthen the validity of your company and product or service, but will demonstrate to consumers (and potential customers) that you are open and invite honest discussions.
2. Open a line of communication with the reviewer by posting an honest reply on their review. Be constructive, positive, and polite. If the reviewer has legitimate reason to be dissatisfied, be apologetic and validate their concerns.
3. If the review is inappropriate or abusive in any way, contact site administrators to see what the policies regarding review are and what can be done about it. Keep in mind, just because it’s not very nice doesn’t mean it’s inappropriate or not suitable for the site.

Where’s the best place to backup your data? In a land far, far away. Which is why internet backup services are ideal – they’ll protect your important data no matter what happens to (or strikes, decimates, burns, or steals) your local PC. But with so many services and an ever-growing industry, how do you know which service is the best? Mozy, Inc. continues to dominate the competition and is continually named the top online backup service provider by a variety of reputable industry sources:

• ConsumerSearch
• Information Week
• Ars Technica
• Washington Post
• Future Gadgets
• PC Mag

• Employees are looking for comprehensive benefits and even those just starting their career are concerned about saving for retirement. Better benefits equal less employee turnover. Offer attractive, competitive benefits and 401(k) packages.
• Encourage employees to share knowledge and ideas in training, meetings, and presentations. Foster an environment of continual learning and mentoring to ensure employees feel as though they are always growing.
• Always be respectful and polite to employees, especially when addressing sensitive or potentially embarrassing situations. Listen to their suggestions and concerns and express yourself genuinely.
• Express appreciation and praise for a job well done. Always give performance feedback, whether positive or negative.
• Understand that your employees have a life and family outside of work – allow flexible schedules (i.e. later starting times or earlier ending times) as long as core business hours are fulfilled.
• 360 feedback surveys are a great way to give employees constructive criticism and demonstrate your willingness to not only improve the work environment but others around the employee as well.
• Employees should be actively involved with decisions and circumstances that affect their jobs. Involve them in discussions regarding the company’s future, mission, and vision- this will ensure everyone feels a part of the organization.
• To avoid overworked or burnt-out employees, make sure you staff adequately to reduce workloads and overtime.
• Encourage and cultivate company traditions. Sponsor a softball team, have monthly charities, or an annual costume party.
• Support opportunities that allow employees personal and career growth, furthering their education, or taking on challenging projects, such as putting in cork flooring in their house

LotusJump is a new do-it-yourself SEO software system developed specifically for small businesses and start-ups with no prior search engine optimization knowledge. Sound too good to be true? Think again. LotusJump (or LJ, since we’re now well-accustomed) claims it’s “SEO for the rest of us,” implying its program is user-friendly,simple, and apt for the small business owner unfamiliar with SEO but fully aware of its benefits. After perusing the web-based system, I’ve concluded that my grandmother who runs a business selling rare, collectible Barbie dolls (talk about my dream job) could utilize it with unparalled ease – and she just mastered the concept of email!

And among its many features (customized SEO tasks, how-to guides, step-by-step instructions, etc.) and perhaps best of all, it’s affordable. At only $99/month, it’s music  to the ears of small business owners trying to ride out the crap economy that’s now…well, in the crapper. Visit LotusJump.com for more info.

With so much information and a variety of worthwhile resources, it’s hard to choose which aspect of YoungEntrepreneur.com is my hands-down favorite. The Young Entrepreneur forum provides a platform for users to ask questions, garner feedback, offer advice, and take part in the rapidly growing trend of young startups and entrepreneurs. The myriad of well-written, niche articles offer all the basics for Entrepreneurship 101 and provide information on pretty much all things business, from internet marketing to conducting international business. Furthermore, the blog (managed by Evan Carmichael) is an entrepreneur’s dream – fresh, new content daily designed to help you grow and nurture your business.

Ok, so I lied. I do have a favorite part of website: Entrepreneurship University, a weekly post where experts (a.k.a. successful entrepreneurs and business leaders) share advice, experiences, and life lessons. What better place to glean valuable and beneficial information that can help you and your business than from those who have achieved what you are diligently and incessantly striving for?

Struggling with your business model? Want to learn more about personnel policies? How about finding ways to reduce costs and overhead? Check out YoungEntrepreneur.com.

When the economy slows down and begins a steady spiral towards a recession, consumer confidence drops and businesses from Wall Street to Main Street feel the pinch.  Yet a handful of jobs and industries remain stable despite a recession and even flourish.  Such jobs must meet certain criteria in order to thrive during harsh economic times.  They are typically jobs that are in high demand, require certain skills, and continue to provide goods or services despite happenings in the economy.

Energy - Jobs within all sectors of energy including gas, oil, and alternative energy are likely to boom despite a downturn in the economy for two reasons: more than two-thirds of current workers in the oil industry will retire over the next ten years increasing the number of available jobs.  In addition, the massive push to lessen the U.S’ dependence on foreign oil will open jobs to explore alternative energy methods.

Liquor Shops – A slow economy typically means people will be spending their limited discretionary dollars on home-based entertainment in an effort to save money.  Many consumers view alcohol as an affordable luxury, so alcohol sales will remain up and possibly increase as consumers take to the bottle to ease financial stress and worries. Â

Healthcare Professionals - People don’t stop getting sick or injured during tough times so the need for healthcare professionals will remain steady, as many benefit from inflated salaries and secure positions.

Truck Driving Jobs – Did you know that roughly 75% of all consumer goods are delivered by commercial truck?  Without truck drivers, Americans would not have the items that make daily life what it is.  From small, private trucking companies to major carriers (such as Swift jobs), a truck driving job can provide great pay and job security during a weak economy.

Real Estate Investing - Given the subprime mortgage crisis and crumbling of the financial industry, real estate is obviously not a recession-proof industry that comes to mind.  However, if you have the discretionary funds and resources, real estate investors can scoop up foreclosed properties for next to nothing and sit on them until they can turn a major profit.

Crematories - People don’t stop having funerals during a bad economy; however, they are re-thinking how they do them.  Cremation has skyrocketed in popularity because it is a much more affordable alternative to a traditional burial (roughly $1,500 compared to a burial which can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $9,000).

Federal Government – Known for offering employees outstanding benefits, Uncle Sam is also a great employer during a recession (or close to one).  On average, the federal government hires 2% of the American workforce and during harsh economic times, vacant positions are not filled as opposed to letting employees go.

Americans have long had a love/hate relationship with the airline industry.  There’s lots to loathe when it comes flying – the delays, the fees, the less than comfortable accommodations.  Yet, it’s made traveling what it is today – what other mode of transportation can get you to a far-off destination as quickly as an airplane?  And you’ll be happy to know, the airline industry is making strides to make your trip safer, more comfortable, and dare I say…enjoyable?

The Fully Reclined Airplane Bed
Sure, there’s been a lot of imitations but Delta is debuting truly lie-flat seats that can fold into personal sleepers – the first for a U.S. carrier.  So say goodbye to neck cramps and creepy sleeping strangers.

Fuel for Travel
Dreading your long flight cause you know you’ll be bored to tears?  Passengers traveling via the Amsterdam Airport can take a quick pit stop at the Fuel for Travel kiosk and download digital information, music, movies, audio books, and more.

Strap Down the Kiddies!
For all you parents who absolutely loathe traveling with the kids, consider this little contraption next time you’re planning a vacay via plane: the Child Aviation Restraint System.  It has all the effectiveness of a car seat without the bulk.  It fits in your pocket, takes just a minute to install, and makes for very happy passengers (especially the poor chap in front of you).

LiveWire – Keeping You Safe!
LiveWire is a technology company that has developed an electrical circuit test device, which can help airplane mechanics locate fault wiring that can be hard to detect.  So why’s that important?  Remember Swissair Flight 111 or TWA Flight 800?  There was implication that faulty wiring contributed to the horrific crashes of both airplanes.  And not only does such a device keep you safe, but it can help mechancis detect faulty wiring that can be fixed during routine maintenance – meaning, planes spend less time grounded and you take off on schedule.

These days, it seems as though everyone is hoppin’ on the green bandwagon in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint – certainly a good thing no matter what the motivations.  Companies like global food processor Cargill is using meat scraps to make methane, in place of costly natural gas.  Renowned Utah caterers are using biodiesel blended with cooking oil from their very own kitchen to fuel their vans and trucks.  Investors are heavily investing in wind farms throughout the Midwest and the industry of hybrid cars and flex-fuel is quickly seeping into the transportation industry, with carriers such as UPS researching how to reduce steep fuel costs.

How is your company going green?

EMC-acquired Mozy, Inc. now offers data backup for Macs!  The industry leader in web-based backup solutions, Mozy offers unlimited backup with its 1.0 debut.  Online backup has been primarily available for Windows users only until recently, when Mozy and other services have launched solutions that are compatible with Mac.  The MozyHome sevice requires Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5.  

Check this out: NextPage, a Draper, Utah, company has created a software that allows businesses implement a project risk management system that allows them to track the location of all documents relating to the business whether they are on company computers, have been sent via email, are located on an employees personal computer, or even on an external USB drive.  By giving companies tight control over all their documents, it will ultimately save companies millions if they are ever sued or facing regulatory action because they’ll be able to produce thorough and accurate documentation of all company documents.