In the last few weeks, we've added three staffers to our business department, to fill positions created by departing reporters and to add some journalistic muscle to one of the most important sections in the paper. To fill these positions, we literally looked at applicants from all over the country, then invested in relocating those we hired to the Twin Cities.
You've seen some of their work already. Mike Hughlett, a veteran business reporter, is now covering the food and agriculture industry, and his byline has appeared frequently since he landed here last month. Hughlett was hired from the Chicago Tribune and previously had been a reporter at the Pioneer Press. Wendy Lee, formerly a business reporter at the Tennessean, has joined us to cover emerging technology companies, and Thom Kupper, a longtime business editor at the San Diego Union Tribune, arrived this week after driving four days cross-country (by way of Mount Rushmore) to be a senior editor in the business department.
Since fall, we have also hired two reporters for our political team and a veteran reporter to dig out in-depth stories, and we are interviewing for a data reporter for our investigative team.
These are just some of the investments we have made, and continue to make, to provide readers with strong, thoughtful and engaging content. Just last week, I heard someone in the community proclaim that newspapers were leaving beat after beat unfilled, failing to fulfill their core mission. That may be true at some newspapers in the country, but it's simply not the case at the Star Tribune. That perception may be born of a misunderstanding of what was happening at this company in the midst of a terrible recession that forced significant cutbacks, as it did at businesses around the country.
more information :-http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/93157394.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:U0ckkD:aEyKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Can electric cars break out of niche status in US, China market?
Nearly 52,000 people were wait-listed as of mid-April for General Motors' electric model, the Volt, due in November. As of March, almost 56,000 people had signed up to reserve Nissan's all-electric Leaf, due in dealerships by December.
•In China, leading automakers BYD and Chery have announced plans to roll out their own electric models within the next two years.
•Investors, too, are excited. Electric-car ventures made up nearly 40 percent of $1.9 billion invested in 180 green-technology companies worldwide in the first quarter of 2010, according to a study by the Cleantech Group and Deloitte.
Yet in the United States and China, automakers' caution, weak price incentives, and concerns over the electrical grid are slowing the electric car's introduction. If electric cars can't break out of niche status in the world's two largest passenger car markets, then a transition away from gasoline-powered vehicles could be delayed. And many would-be buyers are likely to be frustrated by the lack of available cars. "There is undoubtedly going to be a backlog, where demand exceeds production for the next few years, due to the trepidation of the automakers that the electric car is not something consumers want," says Marc Geller, cofounder of the advocacy group Plug In America.
Take the 56,000 people who have signed up for a Leaf. Nissan is planning to start deploying it in only five states. Total cars initially available: 4,700.
Other automakers are also proceeding cautiously. Bob Lutz, the outgoing vice chairman of GM, has said the company will produce about 8,000 Chevy Volts in 2011. BMW's Mini is rolling out its electric car in three phases. In 2008 the company released a test fleet of 450 Mini-E vehicles and is getting ready to announce its second phase. The third phase will be released around 2015.
Similarly, in China, the sheer size of the auto industry and the country's ambitious clean-energy goals suggest a potentially huge market for electric cars. China overtook the US last year as the largest auto market in the world.
Still, Chinese auto-makers hesitate to mass-market their electric models domestically. BYD's all-electric e6 production line at the company's base in Shenzhen was "ready for manufacturing" in March, but was only producing the gasoline-powered F6, according to Yang Binbin, who writes for Caixin magazine, a business publication based in Beijing.
In the meantime, the company is focused on government-funded mass- transit projects, which guarantee investment returns. In March, BYD chief executive officer Wang Chuanfu announced that in the first half of 2010 the company will sell only 100 e6 cars, to a taxi company in Shenzhen.
Chinese green-car subsidies on hold
The uncertainty surrounding Chinese demand for electric cars is tied to subsidies, Mr. Yang says. The government-run newspaper China Daily reported on April 8 that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology had postponed its plans to launch incentives for private purchases of new energy vehicles in March.
more information:-http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/2010/0510/Can-electric-cars-break-out-of-niche-status-in-US-China-market
•In China, leading automakers BYD and Chery have announced plans to roll out their own electric models within the next two years.
•Investors, too, are excited. Electric-car ventures made up nearly 40 percent of $1.9 billion invested in 180 green-technology companies worldwide in the first quarter of 2010, according to a study by the Cleantech Group and Deloitte.
Yet in the United States and China, automakers' caution, weak price incentives, and concerns over the electrical grid are slowing the electric car's introduction. If electric cars can't break out of niche status in the world's two largest passenger car markets, then a transition away from gasoline-powered vehicles could be delayed. And many would-be buyers are likely to be frustrated by the lack of available cars. "There is undoubtedly going to be a backlog, where demand exceeds production for the next few years, due to the trepidation of the automakers that the electric car is not something consumers want," says Marc Geller, cofounder of the advocacy group Plug In America.
Take the 56,000 people who have signed up for a Leaf. Nissan is planning to start deploying it in only five states. Total cars initially available: 4,700.
Other automakers are also proceeding cautiously. Bob Lutz, the outgoing vice chairman of GM, has said the company will produce about 8,000 Chevy Volts in 2011. BMW's Mini is rolling out its electric car in three phases. In 2008 the company released a test fleet of 450 Mini-E vehicles and is getting ready to announce its second phase. The third phase will be released around 2015.
Similarly, in China, the sheer size of the auto industry and the country's ambitious clean-energy goals suggest a potentially huge market for electric cars. China overtook the US last year as the largest auto market in the world.
Still, Chinese auto-makers hesitate to mass-market their electric models domestically. BYD's all-electric e6 production line at the company's base in Shenzhen was "ready for manufacturing" in March, but was only producing the gasoline-powered F6, according to Yang Binbin, who writes for Caixin magazine, a business publication based in Beijing.
In the meantime, the company is focused on government-funded mass- transit projects, which guarantee investment returns. In March, BYD chief executive officer Wang Chuanfu announced that in the first half of 2010 the company will sell only 100 e6 cars, to a taxi company in Shenzhen.
Chinese green-car subsidies on hold
The uncertainty surrounding Chinese demand for electric cars is tied to subsidies, Mr. Yang says. The government-run newspaper China Daily reported on April 8 that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology had postponed its plans to launch incentives for private purchases of new energy vehicles in March.
more information:-http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/2010/0510/Can-electric-cars-break-out-of-niche-status-in-US-China-market
Sunday, May 9, 2010
On the market: Southland niches heating up
As experts debate whether the housing market is headed for another dip, sales activity remains brisk in some areas.
Homes in strong markets with lower-priced properties (under $500,000 or under $300,000, depending on the market) are selling quickly, said Steve Goddard, president of the California Assn. of Realtors and broker-manager of RE/MAX Beach Cities Realty in Manhattan Beach. "I think people feel that this is the last chance to get in on a good interest rate before prices go up again."
Goddard pointed out that in 2009, about 55% of all the properties sold in California had multiple offers.
"Properties priced right in certain markets are generating multiple offers and bidding wars," said West De Young, branch manager for Dilbeck Realtors in South Pasadena.
In March, Carrie Bryden, a sales associate with De Young's branch, watched in disbelief as her client with 50% down lost a bidding war to a cash buyer offering more than the $747,000 asking price. Bryden says the client is still looking for a home.
"They are in counteroffers right now on a multiple bid in Echo Park," she said.
Bryden said another client recently came out ahead when bidding on a home in Montecito Heights. But it wasn't easy.
"There were nine other offers on the home, but my client had 40% down and removed her appraisal contingency, which is the reason her offer was accepted over the others," Bryden said. ("I don't recommend buyers remove the appraisal contingency unless they really feel that house is worth what they are paying and have the extra money to cover any difference between the appraised value and the purchase price, which would not be covered in the loan," she added.)
Experts say tax credits are one element driving the trend.
"I thought things would cool off once the federal tax credit expired April 30. But California introduced additional tax credits, and those incentives are keeping the competition in the market," said Bryden, who has been selling real estate in Northeast L.A. since 2002. California's tax credit, which went into effect on May 1, provides as much as $10,000 relief for someone who buys a new or first home, claimed over three years.
Bryden says affordability is another factor luring buyers back to real estate.
"In 2006, my home was valued at about $1.1 million. Today, the house would probably sell for about $850,000. So there is more incentive because prices have declined so much," she said.
Even some higher-priced areas are seeing action.
Alex Lombardo, broker-owner for the Sunset Team Inc. at Keller Williams Realty in West Hollywood, says his luxury home market is seeing some strong competition from buyers looking for quality homes.
more information :-http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/05/housing-real-estate-appraisal-tax-credit.html
Homes in strong markets with lower-priced properties (under $500,000 or under $300,000, depending on the market) are selling quickly, said Steve Goddard, president of the California Assn. of Realtors and broker-manager of RE/MAX Beach Cities Realty in Manhattan Beach. "I think people feel that this is the last chance to get in on a good interest rate before prices go up again."
Goddard pointed out that in 2009, about 55% of all the properties sold in California had multiple offers.
"Properties priced right in certain markets are generating multiple offers and bidding wars," said West De Young, branch manager for Dilbeck Realtors in South Pasadena.
In March, Carrie Bryden, a sales associate with De Young's branch, watched in disbelief as her client with 50% down lost a bidding war to a cash buyer offering more than the $747,000 asking price. Bryden says the client is still looking for a home.
"They are in counteroffers right now on a multiple bid in Echo Park," she said.
Bryden said another client recently came out ahead when bidding on a home in Montecito Heights. But it wasn't easy.
"There were nine other offers on the home, but my client had 40% down and removed her appraisal contingency, which is the reason her offer was accepted over the others," Bryden said. ("I don't recommend buyers remove the appraisal contingency unless they really feel that house is worth what they are paying and have the extra money to cover any difference between the appraised value and the purchase price, which would not be covered in the loan," she added.)
Experts say tax credits are one element driving the trend.
"I thought things would cool off once the federal tax credit expired April 30. But California introduced additional tax credits, and those incentives are keeping the competition in the market," said Bryden, who has been selling real estate in Northeast L.A. since 2002. California's tax credit, which went into effect on May 1, provides as much as $10,000 relief for someone who buys a new or first home, claimed over three years.
Bryden says affordability is another factor luring buyers back to real estate.
"In 2006, my home was valued at about $1.1 million. Today, the house would probably sell for about $850,000. So there is more incentive because prices have declined so much," she said.
Even some higher-priced areas are seeing action.
Alex Lombardo, broker-owner for the Sunset Team Inc. at Keller Williams Realty in West Hollywood, says his luxury home market is seeing some strong competition from buyers looking for quality homes.
more information :-http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/05/housing-real-estate-appraisal-tax-credit.html
Friday, May 7, 2010
Latest Internet Web Design Tool Applicable to Linux and Microsoft
The latest and vamped up web design tool deemed very effective for moneymaking websites. It’s the web design tool that is now available in the market for every web designer’s usage. It’s the new, fast, powerful and easy to use Site 2 Traffic web design tool.
Since web design tool is considered vital in order for a website to draw attention among the billions of other website in the digital ocean, Bronwyn and Keith Stringer created the perfect web design tool software that can be used by anybody who wants to create money–making websites.
Site 2 Traffic or S2T is not like the other popular but tiring web design tools like Dreamweaver or BBedit. S2T is the only kind of web design tool that doesn't require any background knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, or graphic design. Building websites with the aid of this web design tool only lasts 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
The importance of upgrading the physical appearance of a money–making website is crucial among the clients who are looking for quality services from websites provided by the World Wide Web. That is why a very effective web design tool is needed in this kind of trade.
S2T web design tool is every web designers’ friend. It is specifically designed to be an easy, fast, and powerful web design tool. S2T serves the sole purpose of eliminating the tedious task of redoing the very complicated process of website building. This web design tool can build a complete SEO-optimized and monetized website in just a few clicks. It does not only design the webpage with built-in templates to choose from, it can also create RSS feeds and upload the website via FTP.
Professional web designers cannot do without a good set of web design tool. Because it does not only help them create a catchy company or private website but it can provide and meet the client’s preferences. A cost efficient and easy to use web design tool like S2T can enable a web designer create a marketing niche faster.
There are plenty of web design tool in the digital market. All a web designer has to do is find the perfect web design tool that can benefit not only the clients but also the him/ her in the process. Although there are plenty of web design tools out there that promises to assist in creating websites, it still requires the user to be well versed in hard encoding. The creation of niche websites will then be limited with the user’s knowledge and time. The process of other web design tools can be very intimidating to a novice niche affiliate marketer who’s planning to make money via the Web. That's why S2T web design tool was created to be user- friendly.
more information :-http://www.bignews.biz/?id=868873&keys=Internet-website-tool-design
Since web design tool is considered vital in order for a website to draw attention among the billions of other website in the digital ocean, Bronwyn and Keith Stringer created the perfect web design tool software that can be used by anybody who wants to create money–making websites.
Site 2 Traffic or S2T is not like the other popular but tiring web design tools like Dreamweaver or BBedit. S2T is the only kind of web design tool that doesn't require any background knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, or graphic design. Building websites with the aid of this web design tool only lasts 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
The importance of upgrading the physical appearance of a money–making website is crucial among the clients who are looking for quality services from websites provided by the World Wide Web. That is why a very effective web design tool is needed in this kind of trade.
S2T web design tool is every web designers’ friend. It is specifically designed to be an easy, fast, and powerful web design tool. S2T serves the sole purpose of eliminating the tedious task of redoing the very complicated process of website building. This web design tool can build a complete SEO-optimized and monetized website in just a few clicks. It does not only design the webpage with built-in templates to choose from, it can also create RSS feeds and upload the website via FTP.
Professional web designers cannot do without a good set of web design tool. Because it does not only help them create a catchy company or private website but it can provide and meet the client’s preferences. A cost efficient and easy to use web design tool like S2T can enable a web designer create a marketing niche faster.
There are plenty of web design tool in the digital market. All a web designer has to do is find the perfect web design tool that can benefit not only the clients but also the him/ her in the process. Although there are plenty of web design tools out there that promises to assist in creating websites, it still requires the user to be well versed in hard encoding. The creation of niche websites will then be limited with the user’s knowledge and time. The process of other web design tools can be very intimidating to a novice niche affiliate marketer who’s planning to make money via the Web. That's why S2T web design tool was created to be user- friendly.
more information :-http://www.bignews.biz/?id=868873&keys=Internet-website-tool-design
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
InBoundMarketingPR Announces Free Resource for Company Websites
InBoundMarketingPR announced a new resource today for company websites. Companies that are interested in discovering how effective their websites are can submit their website url for a free report and recommendations to the InBoundMarketingPR team.
The report covers marketing effectiveness including all search engine optimization (SEO) parameters, including page titles, page descriptions, optimization of images, videos and other multi-media within the website. The report also will contain a “grade” for company news releases and recommendations for adjustments to ensure news releases have the best possible chance of being syndicated. The service is free, not a gimmick and those that submit their websites will not be hounded relentlessly to pay for other services.
“The great majority of smaller companies have websites that are deficient in one or several areas,” said Tom Allinder President of InBoundMarketingPR. “We created this tool for them so that they can make changes and adjustments to their sites for greater effectiveness. We believe that helping companies organically is the best and most inexpensive way. Advertising campaigns like email, regular mail, postcards, DVDs and what have you are finding their way to recycle bins, both virtual and real in ever greater numbers. Pay-per-click campaigns are great and provide short-term results but if you stop paying, you company’s website immediately plummets down the rankings; often into obscurity and oblivion. As it is said, Organic is forever while pay-per-click is temporary,” concluded Allinder.
On InBoundMarketingPR’s blog, Rosemary Sorg has written about 4 Twitter tools including what the tools do and how effective they are. Twitter is a powerful inbound marketing tool if used properly.
Tom Allinder has written once more on the use of inbound marketing for investor relations for small and micro cap companies.
About InBoundMarketingPR
InBoundMarketingPR is an Inbound Marketing Public Relations Company that specializes in investor relations and brand building strategies such as search engine optimization, search engine marketing, website design and redesign, social media and content development and marketing. InBoundMarketingPR's niche is publicly traded companies but serves businesses of all types and sizes on a regional as well as global scale.
more information :-http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/34303-1273069220-inboundmarketingpr-announces-free-resource-for-company-websites.html
The report covers marketing effectiveness including all search engine optimization (SEO) parameters, including page titles, page descriptions, optimization of images, videos and other multi-media within the website. The report also will contain a “grade” for company news releases and recommendations for adjustments to ensure news releases have the best possible chance of being syndicated. The service is free, not a gimmick and those that submit their websites will not be hounded relentlessly to pay for other services.
“The great majority of smaller companies have websites that are deficient in one or several areas,” said Tom Allinder President of InBoundMarketingPR. “We created this tool for them so that they can make changes and adjustments to their sites for greater effectiveness. We believe that helping companies organically is the best and most inexpensive way. Advertising campaigns like email, regular mail, postcards, DVDs and what have you are finding their way to recycle bins, both virtual and real in ever greater numbers. Pay-per-click campaigns are great and provide short-term results but if you stop paying, you company’s website immediately plummets down the rankings; often into obscurity and oblivion. As it is said, Organic is forever while pay-per-click is temporary,” concluded Allinder.
On InBoundMarketingPR’s blog, Rosemary Sorg has written about 4 Twitter tools including what the tools do and how effective they are. Twitter is a powerful inbound marketing tool if used properly.
Tom Allinder has written once more on the use of inbound marketing for investor relations for small and micro cap companies.
About InBoundMarketingPR
InBoundMarketingPR is an Inbound Marketing Public Relations Company that specializes in investor relations and brand building strategies such as search engine optimization, search engine marketing, website design and redesign, social media and content development and marketing. InBoundMarketingPR's niche is publicly traded companies but serves businesses of all types and sizes on a regional as well as global scale.
more information :-http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/34303-1273069220-inboundmarketingpr-announces-free-resource-for-company-websites.html
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
How To Make $1500 From Profitable Niches Monthly
One truth that website owners cannot run away from is the fact that the niche they build their sites on is very important to making money online. It will be a great mistake to just decide to build your website on any niche you finds convenient, interesting or acceptable to you- it is also very costly too. It will cost you money lost from a niche that is too broad or too narrow-in fact these are not really niches in the right senses of it, but mainstream.
Now if you understand how to choose a profitable niche and then dig deeper to find a sub-niche with less competition and good searches terms and use these as the basis that you build your site on then what you would have succeeded in building are money makers.
So how do go about doing this?
The first thing is to brainstorm for ideas that you suspect to be a good niche markets. You get a clue as to whether an idea is a niche or not from news, magazines, catalogs est. one sign of a niche that will be profitable is when you notice a persistent problem or a trend. Once you notice such you are then to do more research on it online.
The keyword tools are online applications that you can use to find out more about this niche. This are software that will reveal some important statistics about the niche that you want to start your site on or build other money making endeavor on your niche like production of information product.
One statistic that you will look out for is the money that advertisers are willing to pay per click on the keywords you have chosen to use in your niche. For our purpose here it should be between 50 cents and $2. Let us take the instance where you have a niche advertisers are willing to pay $1 per click then target making $5 daily through pay per click program and that will be $150 in a month. To meet the target of $1500/month just build 10 of such sites and making this amount monthly will be possible. I want to let you know that with this strategy even one of such sites alone will be making our target of $1500 if you did your research well and serve content that are optimized with the keywords on your site(S) regularly
for more information :-http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Make-$1500-From-Profitable-Niches-Monthly&id=4205470
Now if you understand how to choose a profitable niche and then dig deeper to find a sub-niche with less competition and good searches terms and use these as the basis that you build your site on then what you would have succeeded in building are money makers.
So how do go about doing this?
The first thing is to brainstorm for ideas that you suspect to be a good niche markets. You get a clue as to whether an idea is a niche or not from news, magazines, catalogs est. one sign of a niche that will be profitable is when you notice a persistent problem or a trend. Once you notice such you are then to do more research on it online.
The keyword tools are online applications that you can use to find out more about this niche. This are software that will reveal some important statistics about the niche that you want to start your site on or build other money making endeavor on your niche like production of information product.
One statistic that you will look out for is the money that advertisers are willing to pay per click on the keywords you have chosen to use in your niche. For our purpose here it should be between 50 cents and $2. Let us take the instance where you have a niche advertisers are willing to pay $1 per click then target making $5 daily through pay per click program and that will be $150 in a month. To meet the target of $1500/month just build 10 of such sites and making this amount monthly will be possible. I want to let you know that with this strategy even one of such sites alone will be making our target of $1500 if you did your research well and serve content that are optimized with the keywords on your site(S) regularly
for more information :-http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Make-$1500-From-Profitable-Niches-Monthly&id=4205470
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Internet and Websites : Student Launches Niche Website - Entrepreneur Resources that will TurboCharge any Business
Officially launching with this press release, EntrepreneurFreak.com invites business students, entrepreneurs, and professionals to gain an upper hand in life and discover new entrepreneur resources that will help them succeed in today's marketplace. Attending business school and reading guru books are not enough in 2010. “It takes specialized knowledge of specific entrepreneur resources to compete at a competitive level in this day and age.” -- Lars Knutsen founder of EntrepreneurFreak.com.
News ImageEssentially, EntrepreneurFreak.com is a dashboard to quickly and easily locate entrepreneur resources to effectively start a business, make money, and enjoy life. Entrepreneur resources are effortlessly found whether searching for ezine advertising, search engine optimization, wholesale/dropshippers, or information on how to trademark a business. The abundance of information available at Entrepreneurfreak.com makes it easy to find specific items as well as discover new resources that will help drive success.
Lars Knutsen is going to show the world that entrepreneur resources are what make dreams reality. Starting with this press release, EntrepreneurFreak.com will use entrepreneur resources featured throughout the website and showcase the results for all to see. Tune in and watch Lars take EntrepreneurFreak.com to the top!
more information :-http://www.prudentpressagency.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16729
News ImageEssentially, EntrepreneurFreak.com is a dashboard to quickly and easily locate entrepreneur resources to effectively start a business, make money, and enjoy life. Entrepreneur resources are effortlessly found whether searching for ezine advertising, search engine optimization, wholesale/dropshippers, or information on how to trademark a business. The abundance of information available at Entrepreneurfreak.com makes it easy to find specific items as well as discover new resources that will help drive success.
Lars Knutsen is going to show the world that entrepreneur resources are what make dreams reality. Starting with this press release, EntrepreneurFreak.com will use entrepreneur resources featured throughout the website and showcase the results for all to see. Tune in and watch Lars take EntrepreneurFreak.com to the top!
more information :-http://www.prudentpressagency.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=16729
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