If you like to participate in contests, check out three at b5media’s Sports Cannel, in other words, Play and Win at the Sports Channel.
 Three of the blogs are participating, Rackets and Balls, Hockey Beat, and World Poker Tour.  Each has a different set of rules.  Prizes include teddy bears and other great stuff.
It becoming more and more common for business to offer some kind of contest or prize drawing to encourage customers to stop by, whether it’s a walk-in business or an online one. 
*Leaving your business card in a fish bowl for a monthly drawing of free meal, free parking, …read more

Laura, at Work from Home Momma, mentioned in her comment on Yvonne’s post, Mystery Shopping Scams – Consumer Affairs Caution – Video , that she’d written today about a mystery shopping scam that’s making the rounds, especially to appeal to those working at home.  So I checked out her blog and thought some of our Home Biz Notes readers might like to read Laura’s post, Mystery Shopping Scam; Work-at-home Scam Alert.
It’s interesting when we find information that reinforces something we’ve written.  Yvonne’s post must be a timely one.  She also wrote about mystery shopping itself, Mystery Shopping – Home Business Savvy.

Are you a freelance writer, working mainly from home, who’s looking for information on job availability?  Check out The Golden Pencil at b5media’s Arts and Design Channel.  Anne Wayman regularly posts writing, editing and translation jobs.
She’s posted 157 jobs this week alone.  If you don’t see anything that interests you here, keep checking because Anne continues to publish her jobs listing and much other great advice for freelance writers.  Anne also publishes two free e-newsletters for writers. 

                                          
Check out the details for this Business Channel contest open to those considering starting a small business or who have just begun one.  Details are available at Jump Start Your Business at b5media’s Business Channel.

This article in Business Week, Before Setting Up Shop on eBay, by Karen E. Klein, provides tips to consider about insurance, taxes, licensing, permits and other similar issues before setting up your Home Business.  Even though it may be an online business, rather than one with customers coming to a shop in your home, you may find several legal and regulatory matters to take care of first.
These regulations may vary from state to state, county to county, and even town to town.  However, it’s better to be aware of them before you begin.
Ms. Klein mentions the book, eBay for Dummies, by Marsha Collier …read more

E-cards or postcards proved a handy way to send a greeting or thank-you to online customers or those with e-mail.  However, business owners have become increasingly wary of using them, as Des Walsh explains at Thinking Home Business in his post, Email Greeting Cards R.I.P.
Because spammers have begun using e-cards or postcards, business owners as well as the general public have become wary of this great way to remember friends, relative, and customers.
“Sadly, I suspect that the days of sending and receiving email cards might be numbered,” states Des, then goes on to explain why.
I realized, after I read Des’s post, …read more