Step right up for the greatest business show in the blogosphere!
It's the one, the only, it's Carnival of the Capitalists!
The big top is set up. The clowns are all in their tiny cars. There are balloons, bloxes of popcorn, and cotton candy galore. Take your seats for the show, as the lineup is second to none.
I even have donned my top hat, and had my swallow tail jacket pressed, for this momentous occasion.
Don't miss the exciting midway, either, and its games of skill and chance.
We've got marketing. We've got law. We have some politics. From around the world, you'll see international politics. There's even music for your listening enjoyment.
Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I present to you this week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists!
Shine that spotlight on our special guests!
In the centre ring, giving us a superb performance without a net, we have Entrepreneurship.
Jeff Cornwall of the always informative The Entrepreneurial Mind sends us a great post on on the need for entrepreneurs to plan ahead for their staffing needs as the economy begins to heat up once again. As usual, Jeff's advice is a must read for all business owners and managers.
Lachlan Gemmell, whose interesting Lachlan Gemmell - Software Startup blog chronicles success and failure for a new business, sent us a fascinating discussion about meeting with a business coach. Lachlan finds the coach's advice to be just what he was seeking to get his idea a head start.
David St. Lawrence at the essential Ripples, sends us some of his regular sage advice on the basics of starting your own micro-business. Bringing years of practical experience to the table, David knows what he is talking about when it comes to operating your own business. He provides news you can use on the critical issue of exchange. Ya gotta have it, and understand it, to succeed.
Julie from the inspirational Working Virtually shows us the need to find your authentic self. Success in business, says Julie, depends on the necessity to know your own personal strengths and weaknesses. Failure to know yourself could result in a failed business.
Jeremy Wright of the must read Ensight has started a blogging magazine. In the tradition of Open Source, Jeremy invites contributors, critics, and creative people to comment on the idea. I have already signed up for the projct. Just so you know.
You've seen the Entrepreneurship. You've thrilled to their courage and inspiration. Now bring on the Marketers! Again to the centre ring!
John Jantsch of the award winning Duct Tape Marketing provides us with some facts and figures that prove marketing is your highest payoff job. Spending time and money on marketing your product will bring in the dollars to your business. He shows us that hiring staff to perform other duties while you concentrate on your marketing efforts will pay off in a very real way. On your bottom line.
Michele Miller of the rapidly rising Wonderbranding gets us up and offa that thang. As a well trained and accomplished musician, as well as a successful marketer, Michele compares a powerful sales presentation to making beautiful music. Once everyone is in tune, the business becomes a symphony of joy.
Peter Caputa of the widely ranging pc4media discusses ways to successfully market your blog. Peter examines many of the popular multi-blog promotional vehicles, including our own beloved Carnival of the Capitalists, as a means to reaching a wider audience. Sounds good to me!
Trudy Schuett of the blogoliscious WOLves celebrates her one year of blogging birthday describes her successes and failures in advising others to join the blogging revolution. Of particular concern to Trudy, who is a published author, is the failure of other writers to use a blog as an online marketing tool. Marketers need to use every avenue available to market their products. You never know which road will turn into the expressway to fame and fortune.
Thomas Collins of the deserving a wider audience Knowledge Aforethought reminds us that the vaunted PowerPoint presentation can be abused, along with being highly effective, for your presentations. The message from Tom is to never be boring. The best way to be interesting, and engaging to your audience, is to apply the informational design best suited to your audience. If it makes more sales, it makes sense (and dollars) to me.
In a fit of self indulgence, here at Blog Business World, I provide some advice for getting some high search engine rankings on the Yahoo search engine. I like to see bloggers do well on the search engines.
Jen Vetterli at the fun Circadian Shift has a brief, but humourous post on becoming a marketer. With that thought, we bid farewell to our marketing section.
What would the internet be without some monetary value? Any good Carnival, or business for that matter, needs some cash. With those dollars and sense in mind, turn your gaze back to the centre ring. Here comes the E-Commerce!
Les Jones of the ever interesting Les Jones Blog provides some timely information on making your website easier and faster to navigate, as well as more secure, for your customers. It's a cardinal rule in sales that you make it easy for your clients and customers to buy your products and services. Les believes that online businesses would do well to learn that important lesson.
Giselle at the helpful e-commerce blog appropriately titled OSCommerce Experts suggests a number of important factors that go into a successful e-commerce site. Every one of the recommended ideas needs to be addressed, by any online business, to prevent your internet venture from turning into a "page not found". Make sure you mind the store!
Yvonne Divita of the fast growing Lip-Sticking shares a personal story that transforms into a suggestion about e-commerce. As with everything in our lives, ideas get recycled and revived, and reused in sort of a karmic ecological dream. With those returns to popularity arise some opportunities for internet commerce.
We talk about it. We complain and moan and groan about it, but the Economy is with us always. Istead of lamenting, share in the excitement. Focus on that centre ring, as the Economy captures the spotlight!
"Speculator" at the outspoken INCITE notes that strong industrial growth doesn't necessarily mean rising inflation. Because of relatively low industrial capacity utilizational levels, there is room in the economy for growth without triggering the dreaded inflationary spiral.
Rob Sama of the entertaining and informative samaBlog talks about Ronald Reagan, price inflation, and the need for a $500 bill. Using the price of gold as a benchmark, your money has much less real value than it did in the past. Rob also has an interesting tidbit on real money laundering. You won't want to miss that one.
"Z" at the no punches pulled Goobage believes it's time for a producers and providers revolt. Espousing the almost heretical idea of personal responsibility, the post suggests it's time for consumers to consider using the products they buy in a responsible manner. If producers and providers provide shoddy merchandise, they won't be in business long anyway. The government should consider that concept some time.
Jay Solo of the widely acclaimed Accidental Verbosity feels the economy is in the midst of a housing price bubble. Don't miss the interesting discussion in the comments to the post either. Jay believes that to sustain the current highly priced housing market, wages and salaries will have to rise to afford the prices. Housing sticker shock is everywhere. The question on everyone's mind is whether higher interest rates could cause a housing market correction.
John D. of the valuable Drakeview blog discusses the important and often undervalued and underappreciated Project Manager. John says the failure to recognize the necessity of strong project management, is costing businesses and the economy untold losses, in productivity and cold hard cash. The firms that recognize the value of professional project management, will be on the cutting edge of profitable businesses, in the future.
Mike Pechar at the knowledgeable Interested Participant believes that recently applied US import duties placed on imported furniture from China will go far towards leveling the playing field for American manufacturers. Mike suggests that along with more jobs and profitability, in the American wooden furniture industry, may come higher retail prices. He says to lock in your furniture pricing now.
David Tufte of the always interesting voluntaryXchange, in a short and sweet post, notes that politicians make little use of Economics in their decision making process. Who would have ever thought such a thing???
Michael Kantor of the authoritative The Calico Cat asks the often thought, but rarely spoken question, "How does Blogger make money?". Michael is not convinced, that the Google owned Blogger system is a sustainable economic entity, by providing free blog hosting services. He provides some roughed out numbers on advertising revenue, as well as some theories, as to how exactly Blogger might profit.
Jennifer at the straight talking Drink This... believes in equal treatment for all under the law. Jennifer addresses the issues surrounding some politicians, and their encouragement of some illegal immigrants to break the law.
Our Carnival not only has a North American Economy but is global in scope as well. Keep your focus on the centre ring. Feast your eyes on the International Political Economy .
Dave Foster at the thoughtful Photon Courier examines the impact of digitized land-ownership records on rural poverty in India. Dave says computerization of land deeds, and other aspects of rural life in India, is working in favour of the rural poor. He believes the formerly powerful middlemen will have other ideas. For an insight, into a little known world, don't miss this post.
Martin Lindeskog of the important EGO, and also next week's Carnival of the Capitalists host, says he voted in the recent European Parliament election that saw seats won by Euro-skeptics. He discusses the European Constitution and how it's different from the American Constitution. He also ponders the next President of the Executive Commission. This is a must read for Euro watchers.
The always entertaining Vicki Smith of Just In From Cowtown has discovered that controversial film maker Michael Moore has lent his considerable weight (couldn't resist) to the upcoming Canadian election. With his myopic opinion of Canada, he should move north for the experience. He might get some facts for his next movie. Nah!
Hey, it's a Carnival. What kind of Carnival would it be without the children? The students need some time away from school. "Hey Teacher, leave those kids alone!" With that gentle thought in mind, the centre ring is given over to Education.
Arnold Kling of the issue oriented EconLog thinks about and examines the future of education. He sees the emerging trends of technology and cognitive science, and looks at the implications of those concepts for education. Arnold sees more focus on the individual rather than educational reforms. Read this important post for the sake of the children.
All around us is a magical world of Technology. Even this week's humble Carnival is dependent on Computer Technolgy. Watch those flashing lights as they strobe over the centre ring. What you see is our Technology!
Barry Ritholtz of the industry oriented The Big Picture has decided that the recent strong CD sales of supergroup Velvet Revolver is not due to the addition of DRM technology. Barry says that the CD Contraband did not sell because of anti-piracy technology as the music industry claims. For the real reasons and implications, check out the Barry's thoughts on music technology.
Micha Ghertner of the philospophical Catallarchy believes the are case that there are conspiracies against technology are overstated. Micha discusses free energy, free lunches, and entrepreneurs, which are all found in this fascinating post.
It's time to bid a fond farewell to everyone for this week. In closing the down the big tent, and letting the ferris wheel slow to a gentle halt, we close with a tribute to the late legend himself, the great Ray Charles!
Karsten Junge of investment leaning CurryBlog offers a Ray Charles and a market economy tribute. Enjoy!
The ferris wheel has slowed to a halt. The clowns have returned to their tiny car. The animals are all asleep for the night. My top hat is covered with dust.
This edition of Carnival of the Capitalists is over.
Thanks for attending the Blog Business World edition of Carnival of the Capitalists.
Next week, Carnival of the Capitalists will set up the big top at the tremendous blog known as EGO.
Send Martin Lindeskog your entries at:
capitalists -at- elhide.com
See you at Carnival of the Capitalists.
Save me some popcorn!
