If bloggers are a part of your marketing plan, you need to know about the recently released FTC guidelines for endorsements and testimonial ads. You could be liable for false claims and get hit with unspecified fines if you are found violating the guidelines.
So what do you need to know? If you offer free products to bloggers in return for reviews, or if you pay for reviews, you should review the revised guidelines (PDF). Any positive reviews could be influenced by a free product or payment — and the FTC wants that disclosed to the consumer.
While it has been noted …read more

We talked about giveaways, where you try and target to a specific audience that is interested in your product. Remember, if you plan on doing anything with the information you collect, disclose it when people sign up for the contest. Now, what are you going to do with all of the contacts you get from the giveaway?
Hopefully, you thought of that and asked people to opt-in to receive future communications from you about your products and services. I highly recommend an opt-in program, rather than expecting people to remember to opt out, or worse, forcing them to agree to future …read more

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, it’s the day you’ve all been awaiting, no doubt with bated breath. I’m very excited to announce the winners of the delightful Epson Workforce 600 All-in-One printer giveaway.
There were 133 comments, and I put them into the random sequence generator at Random.org. Not all of the comments were eligible (some were trackbacks and some people didn’t follow the instructions), and we just skip right over those. Here are the first six numbers of the sequence (because you really don’t want to see all 133 numbers in random order, right?)
# 128 – Eligible, …read more

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY, 10/21. THANKS! -KK
(www.bizchicksrule.com) — For all you small business owners and work-from-homers out there, have I got a giveaway for you! Epson has gifted me two — TWO!!!! — WorkForce 600 All-in-One Color Inkjet Printers to give to Biz Chicks Rule readers. Two! And they cost like $200 each! But they’re free to TWO winners! I still can’t believe how awesome this is. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to find out how to enter. Read the middle of the post to learn more about the printer.

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — Last week I announced a giveaway of one copy of QuickBooks Simple Start. I am pleased to announce that the winner is none other than LISA, who commented:

I use a template I made in word. I make two copies of the invoice. One goes to the client, and one stays in a folder. Pretty high tech, I know. :)

Congratulations, Lisa! Thanks for reading.
For those who are interested, here is the random sequence:
* 5 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 1
Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King
Tags: womens business blog, accounting, bookkeeping, quickbooks, software, prize, invoices, bills, pay, business, …read more

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — If you run your own business, efficient and accurate invoicing is a must. That’s why I’m giving away a copy of Intuit’s QuickBooks Simple Start for PC with a step-by-step guide to accounting essentials! You can learn about the benefits of Simple Start bookkeeping software on the QuickBooks website.
Important things to know

This is not the 2009 edition. HOWEVER, it will get you started and help you create the foundation for better accounting if you choose to use a more advanced version of QuickBooks later.
The learning guide is interactive and step by step to get you started, …read more

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — As part of my review of How We Lead Matters: Reflections on a Life of Leadership, I promised to pick one random commenter to win a free copy of the book. Congratulations to Lori, who said,

Definitely picking this one up. I think all women who lead (doesn’t that include all of us?) should understand effective leadership. Too often we’re mired in micromanagement in order to prove ourselves to male colleagues. I much prefer a more self-directed approach, and a trust in those who work for me.

Keep an eye out for more giveaways this month on Biz Chicks Rule!
(image: …read more

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — Hello, loyal Biz Chickers! I’m running a giveaway on my freelance writing blog, and I want to make sure you all can get in on the action. Here are the details.
The folks over at Invotrak, a new invoice and time-tracking service for freelancers, are offering a free 3-month basic account for five Inkthinker readers. Invotrak features:

Timesheets for yourself and your employees
Create invoices from timesheets as line items
Track invoices to ensure you’re paid on time
Reports (and pretty graphs!) showing payment histories, money earned, etc.
Less expensive with many of the same (or better) features than other leading services

For more info …read more

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — …win a free Fertility Scope at Kristen’s women’s health blog, Lively Women. The contest is open to all US residents and runs until Friday, August 15, 2008, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, fertility scope, help conceiving, help getting pregnant, ovulation, saliva test, lively women, biz chicks rule, contest, giveaway, kristen king

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — Becky over at My Organized Biz is giving away a cutie-patootie magnetic organizer that is perfect for your fridge or file cabinet. All you have to go is visit My Organized Biz and leave a comment telling Becky how it will help you, and she’ll choose a winner at random. The deadline is Friday, August 8, and 9 p.m. PT / Midnight ET. Comments here at Biz Chicks Rule do not count for the contest.
Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King
Tags: womens business blog, women in business, women and business, women, woman, business, organization, organize, organizer, my organized biz, …read more