Staying socially connected may be just as important for public health as washing your hands and covering your cough. This topic of loneliness has been apparently making its rounds quite often these days, the origin seems to be an article that reported an interview with John Cacioppo, a social neuroscientist. Cacioppo suggests that a feeling of social rejection and loneliness can lead to dire health consequences.

Not unexpectedly, online social networking – the socializing outlet for a vast majority of  Generation Y, also known as the Millennial Generation or Generation Next or Net Generation – was an integral part of the study. A study in the December Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that feelings of loneliness can spread through social networks like the common cold. “People on the edge of the network spread their loneliness to others and then cut their ties,” says Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School in Boston, a coauthor of the December study. “It’s like the edge of a sweater: You start pulling at it and it unravels the network.”

However, Cacioppo did not condemn online social networking sites such as facebook, myspace, twitter as a tool of doom. In fact, he called it a boon as long as users don’t spread loneliness among others because they don’t trust their connections and foster that mistrust in others, as loneliness appears to be easier to catch from friends than from family.

Definitely a point of view to consider but hardly one to obsess over. We all know loneliness and isolation are not good for public health. They lead to depression, which is the launch pad to worse health conditions from Alzheimer’s to heart disease.

However, social networking has become one of the most popular past time activities for all generations. Used by young and old, users join like-minded communities, make friends, link with business associates, share interesting titbits, keep in touch with long distance friends, stay connected with old colleagues and find answers to questions.

Social networking is also viral in nature. This has businesses chomping at the bit, trying to figure out how to take advantage of the social networking phenomena to promote their products and services.  The need for a specific field of advertising called social media marketing has emerged as a result of the wide spread adoption of online social networking .

Social Media Marketing also known as social network marketing or social level marketing, is an advertising method that makes use of social networks to increase the web presence of a business. This ranges from simply advertising directly on social networking sites, viral marketing that spreads throughout the web, email, and word of mouth, or providing niche social networking sites focused around the items being advertised. Social media marketing enables businesses to take their customer relationships to a new level.

Many sites include features where companies can create profiles. For example, on Facebook companies can create “pages” where users can become fans of this company, product, service, individual, etc. Many companies create Twitter, MySpace and Tradeseam pages for themselves. The grassroots nature of these social media networks demands transparency and clarity of communication that requires businesses to maniacally focus and obsess about customers, as one wrong move can flame your company’s brand due to the viral nature and high power amplification of todays social web.

In summary, the social web is here to stay. As long as the social networking on the internet does not take users away from your friends and family in the physical world, you don’t have to worry about becoming lonely. Social Networking sites can be a source for making new friends, linking with business associates, staying connected with old colleagues and long distance friends. And for businesses it can be the most efficient way to reach target audiences, build strong customer relationships and serve their needs.

The volume and the quality of sales leads  are critical for every business to keep the “lights on” in any type of economy. If you can’t generate a sufficient volume of business leads you won’t be able to stay in business for very long. However, if you comproise on the quality of leads you will spend more to generate these leads than you will make in sales. It is very important that you always have a consistent and reliable source to generate qualified sales leads as it is the only lifeline of a sustainable business. Today every business owner realizes the importance of business leads and it is important for you to continously allocate monthly budget to new sources to establish a reliable source for quality sales leads. There are many ways of acquiring business leads today and not all methods work equally well for all businesses even if you are in the same industry. Therefore, you need to test different programs and identify the cheapest sources for qualified sales leads for your business.

With web 2.0 and new online networking platforms such as blogging, social networking sites, marketing your products and services including b2b lead generation has become easier and more cost effective for small businesses. If you want to generate sales leads from your website, you must promote your website via pay per click, SEO or in online blogs, social networking and community oriented websites. Many small businesses have started to use blogging as one of the best approaches for driving traffic to their sites with the goal of generating business leads. With the social media traffic growth, it has become easier to drive more traffic to your websites via social networks than blog posts. Although you cannot engage in aggressively selling your products or services on social networking websites, you can certainly promote your brand name by including it in your online profile and social communications with your network. For your social media marketing efforts to be successful, you must select the right social networking platform. For example, if you sell consumer products or services you should focus on promoting your website on facebook and myspace. For businesses networking, you should focus on linkedin and tradeseam. Twitter can be used for both b2b and b2c businesses.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with Tradeseam. Don’t miss out on this business opportunity! Lead generation has never been easier and more effective for businesses, both large and small. With Tradeseam, you can acquire new customers while sitting on your couch, without having to do any work at all. You don’t need to manage  pay per click campaigns, write content for blogs, build your network on social networking sites, nuturing the leads from lead brokers etc. Acquiring a consistent and reliable flow of high quality sales leads has never been easier. Tradeseam generates not just sales leads but real business opportunities, these are real buyers and customers looking for your products and services online. More importantly, Tradeseam will always be the cheapest lead generation provider for your business because you get to set your own lead price that you can get the return on investment you need for your business.

You can now build your business on Tradeseam and rest assured that you’ll never have to worry about when or where your next customer will come from….

The year 2010 is a harbinger of hope and marks a gradual shift towards a economic recovery. Businesses are focusing on active promotion of their products and services with renewed energy. The power of the internet is being optimized to increase the income potential of businesses and to build a loyal customer base.

Three profit-making avenues businesses can’t afford to miss in 2010 are:

1. Social media marketing

Statistics predict a massive boom in social media activity in 2010. Internet marketers can ride this wave to increase website traffic and generate more conversions. Posting attention-grabbing articles on social media networks can create interest in a brand name, leading to inbound links and more customers for the business. Furthermore joining business networks and subscribing to get qualified business leads, sales leads and networking with businesses in your industry is a no brainer. Studies reveal that consumers who are exposed to a brand via social media or SEO  are at least three times more likely to click and make related searches. Taglines also stick in the minds of people. They search for the brand using the tagline, providing the business with a less competitive keyword. Social media therefore is also an excellent search engine optimization  tool.

2. Internet marketing

Internet marketing drives more traffic to the website, and creates sales leads. Pay-per-click ads qualify consumers automatically while search engine optimization ensures the website has high organic search rankings and gets the attention of consumers searching on topical keywords. Creating inbound links and linking to reputed websites increases website rank and visibility. Affiliate marketing and registering on web directory listings is also an excellent way to direct interested consumers to your website.

3. VOIP

Even in the internet age, a phone call has unmatched value. Addressing a customer’s concerns over phone is more effective than sending a passive email. Businesses can reduce their phone expenses drastically by using VOIP phones  instead of traditional phone systems. VOIP phone systems offers easy maintenance and customization, cheap international calls, one network administration (data + voice), remote calling, low phone costs during travel, and videoconferencing.

Implementing these gems in 2010 can increase business profits without adding much to the expense line of your balance sheet. No business, large or small, can afford to turn a blind eye to such a wining strategy for 2010!

Entrepreneurs are an important element that drive local and global economies. More than 50 per cent of employees in Canada work for businesses with less than 100 employees. According to a global study on entrepreneurship from Babson College almost 15% of the US population is working for startup companies that are less than 3.5 years old. To successfully get these companies off the ground, entrepreneurs face tremendous challenges; building social capital by continously networking in the business community, qualifying business leads to acquire customers, raising capital, hiring talent and navigating the big competitors — while trying to maintain a work-life balance for themselves and their teams.

Entrepreneurs have a grueling schedule with 90 hour work weeks being the norm instead of the exception. One way by which entrepreneurs can alleviate some of the pressure off themselves is to take a well-deserved break before starting a new venture or after a successful exit.

Here are the top 11 vacation destinations for entrepreneurs, CEOs and executives to get those beneficial stress busting neurochemcials flowing in the brain.

1. Bay Of Fire, Tasmania: There is a possibility that you would not have come across this little paradise that is located off the coast of St. Helen’s, a small town of Tasmania. Tucked away in Tasmania’s remote north-east is the holiday heaven, the Bay of Fire. Sparkling turquoise blue waters, pristine private white beaches as far as the eye can see, tranquil coves, capped off by the distinctive fire orange lichen covered granite rock.

2.  Turks and Caicos Islands: Previously a drug smuggling den, this group of 40 islands offers a memorable experience. Home to the Best Beach in the World, breathtaking hues from inviting waters, and legendary diving, snorkeling and fishing, a throwback in time where relaxation is unavoidable and rejuvenation ensured.

3. The Chiloe Archipelago: Chiloe in Chile’s Northern Patagonia, has long been a place of mystery and mysticism. Famous for seafood, handicrafts, and the warmth of its people, Chiloé is a scenic and an increasingly popular destination for walking, biking, fishing, paddling and birding.

4. Bora Bora: Bora Bora island is possibly the single most famous island in all the world. The legends, mysteries, and romance associated with the words “Bora Bora” bring an almost mystical presence to the island. Part of the allure has to be its almost unbelievable beauty. Two towering peaks of sheer black rock dominate the center of the island and make an impressive backdrop to an assortment of blue waters that will dazzle the eyes. Bora Bora’s lagoon is its most treasured feature, and allows the traveler many opportunities to experience it in a variety of ways. Windsurf, jetski, scuba dive, swim, bask in its warmth… the list goes on.

5.  Ko Tao, Thailand: “Discovered” by travelers in the 80’s Ko Tao (literally translates as “Turtle Island.”) has been gradually gaining popularity. Once the haunt of sea-turtles, this small island with its quiet beaches has become a favorite getaway both of paradise seekers and divers who come for the best coral diving in the area. In recent years word of Ko Tao’s natural beauty, beaches, coral and marine life has spread attracting more tourists and visitors to this remote island.

6. Basque Country: The Basque Country (Basque: Euskadi, Spanish: Pais Vasco) is a region at the north of Spain, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and France. It is defined formally as an autonomous community of three provinces within Spain, and culturally including a fourth province and a small portion of France. Basque Country is one of the world’s top gastronomic destinations, with key gourmet centers in San Sebastian, Hondarribia and Bilbao. In Basque culture, fine dining is a means of cementing relationships and building new ones. The northern coast offers sandy beaches and high bluffs overlooking the bay. As important, the Basque culture supports a tradition of self-sufficiency that has spawned a multinational business built around the notion of cooperation rather than competition that might serve as a model for others to follow.

7. Nam Ha, Laos: Nam Ha is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and lofty plateaus, coupled with the culture of some 30 ethnic groups, creating the ideal landscape for eco-trekking. This place is ideal for extreme adventurers who can handle leeches and the steep slopes on a true jungle trek.

8. Whistler, British Columbia: Over two million people visit Whistler annually, primarily for alpine skiing and mountain biking at Whistler-Blackcomb. Its pedestrian village has won numerous design awards and Whistler has been voted among the top destinations in North America. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler will host most of the alpine, nordic and sliding events. However, this Canadian resort town is also popular for mountain biking furing the summer months.

9. Languedoc, France: Bas-Languedoc has long, sandy beaches and dynamic towns like Montpellier, Sète and Nîmes. This place is split by deep gorges and topped by wild upland plateaus for outdoor fun. It also had some exotic hotels and cruise options that will take you along the Canal du Midi which is a nice alternative to the usual French getaway.

10. Yunnan, China: Yunnan is the home of famous tiger leaping trek, jungle tours and the scenery of the sunsets. This environmentally rich land is scattered with ancient temples and small towns and undoubtedly one of the hottest Asian vacation destinations and getaways in 2010.

11. Svalbard, Norway: Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean north of mainland Europe, about midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. There are no roads connecting the settlements on Svalbard. Here you will find untouched arctic wilderness. In the summer, beautiful colors and contrasts provide the frames for dramatic glaciers, majestic mountain formations, buzzing bird mountains and endless arctic tundra with its diverse flora and fauna. The light lures us to this unique place in which the midnight sun shines from early spring till fall. During the winter, the northern lights cast sparkles of light across snow-covered, pointed mountain peaks and an infinite landscape. A stay on Svalbard is the perfect vacation if you want peace, quiet and space for thoughts and dreams.

People with vision and capability often make for frustrated employees. Working for another individual or company shackles their potential to achieve more than the ordinary. These people are motivated by their dreams and ambitions to start their own business. It is tough going initially but they can look forward to steady returns from their self-made business in the future years.

Starting and establishing a business today is much easier and viable than a few decades back. For starters, businesses can choose from a variety of small business loans for starting a business. While the recession has made it tougher for small businesses to get loans from banks and other traditional sources, there are other options such as a business cash advance for merchants that can borrow against future credit card receipts. Business Cash Advance also known as merchant cash advance is an unsecured cash advance forwarded to the business in exchange for a cut in future credit card sales till the whole amount plus interest is recovered.

Small business owners can also outsource non-core functions of the business without investing in in-house expertise. Outsourcing  payroll or call center related services empower businesses by incorporating efficiency into processes without incurring the cost of infrastructure and adding additional headcount. For instance, a small medical practice can increase its income by over 40% and improve its revenue management cycle by partnering with outsourced medical billing companies.

The internet is another cost-effective tool in the hands of small business owners. A small business can take the help of professional website designers and developers to design a website to establish its online presence. Effective internet marketing campaigns developed by reputed online marketing firms can drive qualified traffic to your website. E-commerce solutions enable businesses to sell products on the internet and capture an online customer segment that continues to grow in size.

All these facilities enable small business owners to focus on the core functions of the business, accelerating its growth and profits. However, small businesses also need to innovate and evolve continuously to maintain their competitive edge and retain profitable customers.

Welcome to TradeSeam, the world’s first business network where you can connect with customers, get qualified business leads, find suppliers, compare products or services to get the best deals, saving you time and money on your most important business decisions.

Watch us evolve over the coming months, as we will continue to make our business network the best places on the web for businesses, both small and large.

So start using TradeSeam today. Click here and tell us what you like and what you don’t like about Tradeseam. We promise we’ll not only listen but write you back as well.