Iowa Business Blog

Specials from BreakthroughWebDesign.com

2010-05-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

BreakthroughWebDesign.com is now offering some great deals on your website re-design. Give us a call today to discuss your project! 641-201-0057

KatieJoyPottery.com is a great gift store

2010-04-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Katie Joy Pottery is the result of Katie Joy's creative flair and desire to work with her hands. Within the walls of Turtle Creek Pottery in Saint Ansgar, Iowa you will find signs of her creative touch everywhere. Most notably, however, is her handmade pottery and hand-painted recycled windows.

Katie uses her talents to create both wheel-thrown and hand-built functional and decorative pottery. You will find various mugs, bowls, vases, pitchers, dinnerware sets and wine goblets. Be sure to check out her handmade piggy banks that have character all on their own!

Visit www.KatieJoyPottery.com to shop for your favorite pottery gifts!

Growl Gear Online Store open for business

2008-11-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

Our animal items for fall fun have been hand-picked to encourage kids’ natural love for animals and creativity.

This winter, when it’s time for your little grizzly bear cubs to come out of hibernation, they can stay warm with Bear Hands mittens and bear hats.

So come on in, and bring your imagination! And don’t forget to keep checking back for new items.

Visit the store now at www.GrowlGearStore.com!

Credit Card Processing

2008-10-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Business Owners: Accept credit cards, debit cards and checks easily and conveniently.
Not sure what steps to take to accept Visa/Mastercard?
For immediate assistance call 641-201-0057 or send our office an email.

If your business doesn’t currently accept credit cards… IT SHOULD!

Accepting Visa, Mastercard and others can add a host of benefits to any business such as improved cash flow, quicker access to funds, company image, and more.

Iowa Merchant Services is an industry leader in credit card processing for traditional and Internet businesses. MSC provides the expertise and reliability to enable merchants to accept credit cards, debit cards, gift cards and checks. We offer merchants competitive pricing, customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and one of the largest credit card fraud, loss prevention and chargeback departments in the Industry.

In addition, we provide one of the most extensive selections of Credit Card Processing Equipment. From the establishment of a merchant account to our technologically sophisticated Internet Secure Payment Gateway, Iowa Merchant Services provides a one-stop shop for all types of transaction processing.

-No Equipment Required: Use secure browser-based virtual terminal
-Virtual Terminal: Easy entry from any internet connected computer
-Processing: Enter transactions any time (end of day-evening-morning)
-Versatility: Accept "face-to-face", Internet, telephone and mail order transactions
-Peripherals: Supports card readers, standard and receipt printers
-Payments: Automatically deposited to your bank account, EVERYDAY

Credit Card Processing

Midwest Paint and Tile is Open for Business

2008-08-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Midwest Paint And Tile is currently offer painting, remodeling, flooring, and design services in all of Iowa and southern Minnesota.
I specialize in choosing just the perfect color for your room. I have extensive experience working with realtors, relocation companies, and homeowners to help their homes look their best and sell quickly.

You can see samples of some of my recent painting jobs at here.

To see some recent pictures of tile jobs, visit here.

General remodeling photos can be seen at here.

Give us a call today at 612.209.3473 for a free quote.

North Iowa Realtors

2008-05-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Looking to buy or sell your home? Seeking help finding the best commercial or investment properties? Click here to find the top North Iowa Realtors.

Clear Lake Real Estate

North Iowa Realtors: List your homes for sale on your own web site

2008-03-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Attention North Iowa realtors: Want to save time and hassle updating your web site with your for-sale listings? Maybe you do not have a web page that shows your homes for sale at all. We can help. IowaRealEstateSource.com offers a direct feed of your listings for use on your web site, at no extra cost. When you update your listings in IowaRealEstateSource.com, your web site is automatically updated. This powerful feature will allow you more time to do what you do best, which is sell homes and increase your client network.

Example page: www.timlatham.net/north_iowa_homes_for_sale.html

To get started: www.iowarealestatesource.com/realtors_list_homes.php

IowaRealEstateSource.com - Search North Iowa Homes for Sale

2008-03-03T18:01:00.001-08:00

We are a real estate search engine for North Iowa. Our aim is to help our visitors find the perfect home or property and work with the best North Iowa realtors. We strive to work for and with North Iowa real estate agents to provide great service to customers. Search North Iowa Homes.

Our goals are simple:

Make the home-searching process as easy and straightforward as possible for our visitors.

Remove the clutter of ads.

Simplify the look and feel of the process.

Offer visitors the best tools for sorting through the available homes for sale.

Connect visitors with realtors so they can provide the underlying details of specific homes and communities.

Encourage visitors to our web site to come back again and again.

Become the #1 destination for searchers of North Iowa properties and realtors.

IowaRealEstateSource.com will strive to be the perfect tool for real estate professionals to market their listings, view real estate data and promote their services tastefully. You will be surprised at the services we offer.

If you are a broker or agent, we are here to help you grow your business. Sign-up now.

North Iowa Fishing Launches New Website

2007-11-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

North Iowa Fishing is owned and operated by Michael Petersen. Mike has dedicated his entire life to fishing. His passion for fishing has kept him in the North Iowa Area. Mike has been learning the waters of north Iowa his entire life, and has been a professional guide in the area since 2005.

Check out new website

Mike specializes in providing a professional first class guide service. If there is one thing he is passionate about, it is catching fish. He prides himself in having outstanding customer service and good well maintained gear. When a customer spends a day in the boat with Mike, they leave with the satisfaction that he gave them 110% for their day.

What Mike enjoys the most is watching a customer catch a nice fish, it gives him a sense of accomplishment to sit back and watch someone smile while holding a trophy catch.

North Iowa Fishing specializes in fishing trips throughout North Iowa, including Clear Lake, Decorah, the Winnebago river, and other great locations.

North Iowa Outlaws NAHL Hockey Team Launches New Website

2007-09-04T18:25:00.000-07:00

The North Iowa Outlaws, a NAHL hockey team based in Mason City, Iowa, has launched a new website. The Outlaws posted a story on their website about the launch of the website. Read the story.

Roger Flieth, Century 21 Realtor, Launches Website

2007-08-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Roger Flieth, a Mason City Century 21 Realtor, has launched a new Website at the following address: rogerflieth.com.

As an experienced realtor in North Iowa, Roger is familiar with the most sought-after neighborhoods. Wherever you might be hoping to settle or invest, you can rely on Roger to guide you, advise you, and help you find just what you're looking for.

Walk & Murphy, P.L.C., Launches Redesigned Website

2007-08-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Mark L. Walk and Aaron R. Murphy, P.L.C., Iowa attorneys at law, have launched a redesigned website at the following address: IowaLawPractice.com.

Walk and Murphy have attained high academic credentials, are committed to the pursuit of excellence, and maintain strong involvement and ties to their community.
Contact them at 641-732-3796 if you need legal representation.

Outdoor Designs of Charles City Posts New Website

2007-05-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Outdoor Designs, Inc. of Charles City, Iowa has posted a new website at this address: www.outdoordesignscc.com. Outdoor Designs is the North Iowa Experts in Landscaping, Patios, Pondwork, Retaining Walls, and More. Visit their website or give them a call at 641.228.1347 to see what they can do for you.

16 Rules for Business Owners

2006-07-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

I came across this article the other say, written by the founder / owner of GoDaddy.com, Bob Parsons. It lists his "16 Rules" for small business owners. A great read, and the accompanying blog/message board is worth a look as well.

Here's a few points from the article:
1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we're in our comfort zone. I hear people say, "But I'm concerned about security." My response to that is simple: "Security is for cadavers."

2. Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it's attempted. Just because what you're doing does not seem to be working, doesn't mean it won't work. It just means that it might not work the way you're doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn't have an opportunity.

3. When you're ready to quit, you're closer than you think. There's an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of "undefined consequences." My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, "Well, Robert, if it doesn't work, they can't eat you."

5. Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, "As you think, so shall you be."

6. Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don't look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

Read the rest of the article for the entire 16 Points from Mr. Parsons...
check it out here.

Peace.

North Iowa Poised for Economic Development

2006-06-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

North Iowa may seem like a slow, rural area to some people. But big things may be on the horizon for this area. Now that there is a bustling casino in Northwood and other recent developments, North Iowa is getting busier and busier. The Diamond Jo Casino is drawing a lot of people from Minnesota into North Iowa, and they are spending quite a bit of money here. The Globe Gazette in Mason City published an interesting story about this activity. The question I have is "can North Iowa sustain this type of growth over an extended period of time?" The answer may be "yes", if the population base grows faster than its current rate of growth. Perhaps with the addition of entertainment venues like the Casino, people will relocate to North Iowa or actually not leave in the first place.

Downtown improvements: The taxpayer's responsibility or the property owner's?

2006-05-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

Mason City is facing a little controversy these days in dealing with its aging downtown. It seems that the storefronts and sidewalks need attention and people are not showing up to shop in the numbers people would like. Some members of the City Council are proposing that taxpayers pick up the bill and fix up the downtown area. But many citizens are saying "not with my tax dollars". What is the best solution? Without a vibrant downtown, many people say a town cannot survive...at least in its present state. Who should pay this bill? Should the downtoen even be fixed up? Should the city force the peoperty owners to fix up their property?

Great Fun in Charles City, Iowa

2006-05-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

Party in the Park is great family event that takes place this summer, every other Friday, In Charles City, Iowa. There is is music, food and fun and everyone seems to have a great time. I have personally attended this event a couple of times and testify to the good times everyone has. I recommend everyone attend! For more information, dates and times as well as the lineup of events, follow this link:

Charles City Party in the Park 2006

Web sites for mobile devices

2006-04-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

Now that the Internet is available on your cell phone (and other mobile devices), business owners should be aware that customers will be attempting to view their web sites using these hand-held devices. The problem lies in the fact that mobile devices will not be able to display a regular web site properly. A trained web professional will be needed to design and build a web site for you business just for viewing on a mobile device. Call 641-201-0057 or email matt@iowayellowpages.net for information about converting your current web site to be viewable in mobile devices.

Downtowns In Iowa's Towns

2006-04-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

If you live in a town in Iowa, then you have likely driven through the downtown area. Many towns in Iowa are wondering what to do with their downtowns. They are wondering how to invigorate them, inspire development and bring people back. Towns like Mason City are facing this very dilemma as development has surged westward and left the downtown district struggling. This struggle continues despite a relatively new Music Man Square, a large mall and a facelift for central park. Mason City's leaders are pointing to success stories like Charles City, a smaller town east of Mason City that has seen its downtown come back to life after years of slow times. Another example of a thriving downtown area in Iowa, on a much larger scale, is Des Moines. There are major new developments coming to Des Moines and people are actually flocking to the downtown area to live AND work there. Of course it doesn't hurt to have a brand new freeway system rolling by your downtown. A lot of smaller Iowa towns do not have this luxury. They must make do with what they have. It takes ingenuity on the part of local leaders in these smaller towns to jump start a downtown area that is not what it should be. This should be a priority to anyone with a sense of history, as the downtown area of most small towns is a defining characteristic that is unique and makes the town what it is year after year. What is the condition of your downtown?

Iowa Events Calendar

2006-03-27T21:37:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, be sure to check out the latest events taking place right here in IOWA at this site: www.iowabusinesslistings.com

Thanks!

Urbana, Iowa New Homes

2006-03-13T19:10:00.000-08:00

There is a small city tucked away in Eastern Iowa, right between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. It is a small town of about 1,300. It has some of the best schools in Iowa which really says a lot...Iowa has great schools. In Urbana, there are some really outstanding new residential developments being built right now. These are fine new single family homes in brand new neighborhoods. This is the perfect place to relocate with a family. Just a short drive to Waterloo or Cedar Rapids metro areas, right on the Avenue of the Saints. To learn more about these homes for sale, visit Urbana New Homes or call Paul or Danika Buckley at 319-443-3190.

Touch Play Gambling in Iowa

2006-03-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

Since July of 2005, convenience stores and grocery stores across Iowa have offered Touch Play gambling to their customers. It was reported by the Des Moines Register on Sunday, March 5 that Iowans have pumped over $200 Million into these gambling machines since July '05. This was an extemely interesting article. It states that many of the Touch Play locations that are doing the most business are in the most economically depressed areas. Most interesting was the fact that, per-capita, Mason City spends the most on Touch Play gambling...to the tune of $110 per person since July '05. The next highest amount is something like $66 dollars per person in some other city in Iowa. This is a huge disparity. One must wonder why people in Mason City are spending so much on the Touch Play gambling. It probably doesn't help that one Mason City man won $10,000 at a Touch Play machine at a Kum & Go in Mason City, then, that very day, won $10,000 AGAIN at a Touch Play machine. The next day this event was hyped in the Mason City media. I'm wondering what the down-and-out thought about this. Maybe they thought this Touch Play is their chance to change their lives? I can only speculate. But the whole Touch Play issue is far from dead, as the Iowa Legislature is poised to ban the whole thing. The Des Moines Register has an interesting blog on this topic if anyone wants to read more about this subject. Click here to read their blog. Anyone want to share their thoughts on Touch Play Gambling in Iowa?

How to: Get help starting and running your small business

2006-02-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

Starting and running a small business is a challenge for anyone. The challenges of a small business include: Writing a business plan, cash flow, financing growth of the business, and market research. Fortunately you don't have to have the talents of Donald Trump to get your business off the ground and running smoothly. There are resources our there to help you get going. In Iowa, there are many Small Business Development Centers located throughout the state to serve entrepreneurs. Visit the Iowa Small Business Development Centers web site at: www.iowasbdc.org for more information.

Testing Google Base: Real Estate for Sale

2006-02-18T11:40:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks I have been testing Google Base, a new service recently released from Google, which is is still in 'Beta' mode. According to Google, you can use Google Base to upload items for sale directly into Google, and those items will show up in Google Base, Froogle, Google search and other areas of Google, depending on the relevancy of the items to a given search.

So far, I would give Google Base low marks for ease of use, as it is difficult at best to upload items into the system and track them, or even find them in Google once they are uploaded and 'accepted' by their system. However, now that I have their system learned, I would say that the system has a lot of potential in helping people sell items on the Internet, and if Google can correct the flaws in the system, people will use it successfully.

I have put together my own 'beta' web site, using Google Base, to show real estate that is currently for sale in Iowa. The site is far from complete, and many more tools are on the way. But the site is actually populated by a data feed that goes directly into Google Base, so running the site is a snap. Right now, I am closely following the developments of Google Base, and bringing the site along as Base develops. Check out the site here: www.IowaRealEstateSource.com

Google Base: A New Frontier In Web Searchability

2006-01-29T15:16:00.000-08:00

In November of 2005, Google launched a new service called "Google Base". Base allows people to post any kind of information they want for free and to provide labels to describe it so others can easily find it. Right now, Base is in 'BETA' mode, which means 'test'. Google says "The new beta service allows people to post "all types of online and offline information and images" that will be searchable on Google Base and, depending on their relevance, may be searchable on Google Search, Froogle and Google Local." News.com reports that "some observers have speculated that Google is targeting the online classifieds market space, specifically eBay and Craigslist, with the service, a Google executive denied that that is the company's intent.

My take on this new service from Google called Base is that any way we can get ranked higher in Google, the better. If I can use Base to post my client's products directly into the Google search results, whether is it Froogle, Google Base, Google Search, or any part of Google, the better the chance that my customer will make a sale. When a customer of mine is successful, I am successful. I am working on a new service geared towards a specific clientel which utilizes Google Base. It is very exciting to say the least, and as the service is developed and tweaked, could develop into a very useful marketing and sales tool for me and my clients. Wish me luck!

Business advertising: Local online business directories

2006-01-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

Local online business directories are a great way to advertise your business.

One way advertising in a local online business directory helps promote your business is by giving it a presence on the Internet. Each place your business can be found on the Internet adds a new dimension to your business's online presence. I recommend a large Internet presence, but bigger is not always better if the quality of the presence is poor. Local online business directories tend to be high-quality, rich-content web sites if they are built and maintained properly. By listing your business in local online business directories, you place your business in a site where search engines will reward you. Another benefit is that your local customers are likely to find the local online business directory where your business is listed and therefore find you. Local customers tend to be those who are most likely to want your goods and services. You need to get your business out to these people, make it visible to them. Another benefit of listing in a local online business directory is cost. Compared to other forms of advertising, you will find the cost of listing your business in a local online business directory to be competitive if not much lower than other forms of advertising.

A great example of a local online business directory is www.IowaBusinessListings.com. This particular local online business directory serves the state of Iowa. New businesses are being added every day, so the site is extremely useful to visitors. This site also lists events that are coming up in Iowa. Be sure to visit this site, and list your business right away. Contact the site owner at to list your business.

Workers Compensation Question and Answer

2006-01-14T11:01:00.000-08:00

From Mark Walk and Aaron Murphy, P.L.C.:

Q: What does workers’ compensation do?

A: Workers’ compensation law in Iowa generally requires most employers to provide wage loss and medical benefits to employees injured on the job.

Q: What types of injuries are covered?

A: An injury may include whatever health condition is caused by work activities (except normal wear and tear of the body). Injuries may also include diseases and hearing losses caused by work.

Q: Who can receive workers’ compensation?

A: Most employees injured in Iowa while working in Iowa are eligible. Furthermore, employees hired in Iowa or whose employment is principally in Iowa may be eligible for benefits even if they are injured outside of the state. The law does exempt a few types of employees. Therefore, contact our office with any questions.

For help with a workers compensation issue, please call Aaron Murphy at 641-732-3796 or email amurphy@iowalawpractice.com.

Real estate for sale in Mason City, Iowa

2006-01-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

6 Deer Creek Ct - Mason City

Elegant, Spacious and Quality craftsmanship are the hallmarks of this home. This stunning 4+ BR, 3+ Baths, situated in prime area. Sunken FR/fireplace, bayed window in dinette area enjoy the backyard and garden. ONE OF A KIND Master suite. Need room to entertain...or just want SPACE! This is it! Sumptuous Residence, Cleverly designed with day to day living as well as gracious entertaining in mind. Worth Seeing...Worth Owning! Call Jane Fischer today at 641-424-9400 or 1-877-2GET-C21.

TV, radio, print or Internet: Where should I advertise?

2006-01-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

Advertising for your business is an integral part of its success. You need to be sure you are 'getting the word out' about your business. If you are not advertising, you are losing customers and someone else is winning them.

TV is still the biggest medium for advertising. More money is spent on TV advertising than any other medium. However, Internet has caught up, and experts are predicting that Internet advertising dollars will surpass TV before the end of 2010. Statistics are also showing that radio revenues are down significantly the past several years. Print revenues seem to be holding steady, but the cost of doing business in print is very high. Why print information when it can be sent electronically? You will see most newspapers and magazines go to online-only versions in the future. All this print advertising revenue will end up as Internet advertising revenue at that point.

The cost to advertise is high for TV. Print is notoriously high as well, with radio a little more reasonable. I believe the Internet offers you the best value for advertising your business. By posting an 'Internet presence', you are open for business 24 hours a day. Your Internet presence is there to greet customers at all times. The cost of building and maintaining an Internet presence is very reasonable considering what the competitors are charging and the return on your investment. For the best Internet presence and value for your money, seek out a qualified web professional who can confer with you about your needs and put together an Internet marketing strategy to fit your budget. There is a lot more to this strategy than a simple web site. Visit the Internet Marketing Professionals at www.breakthroughwebdesign.com to get started on growing your business on the Internet now.

As an Iowa business owner, how can I help my web site reach more people?

2005-12-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

The goals of your web site can only be met by reaching out to as many potential customers as possible. In order to reach the largest possible audience, you must make your web site easy to find. Because the Internet is so vast, we recommend that you place links to your web site and information about your business in as many locations on the Internet as possible. In other words, one web site is not be enough to gain you the exposure you need to increase your sales and customers. With nearly 10 years of Internet marketing experience, we make the following recommendations for gaining Internet exposure for your web site:

Trade links with as many reputable businesses as you can.

Blog (write about) your web site and your business on other people's web sites, especially web sites dedicated to your area of expertise or geographically close to your business location.

Advertise your web site locally. For example, always include your web site address in all print and radio spots you run.

Update your web site as often as possible.

Be certain you have the proper HTML meta tags, site description and HTML code on your web site.

List your web site with local and national search directories. I recommend at least one listing with each type of directory. An example of a local Iowa business directory would be www.iowayellowpages.net

What is a blog? How can I use a blog?

2005-12-18T19:51:00.000-08:00

A blog is:
A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
(Definition from www.conceptwebsites.com/SEO/common-terms.htm)

A blog is a great tool you can use to introduce yourself or your business to potential customers. A blog is what you might call a 'networking tool' that is available 24 hours a day and usually costs nothing but time. You can create a blog and write about yourself, your business, world events, just about anything you want. You can use a blog to demonstration your expertise in your field. For example, a lawyer can 'blog' about legal topics and seek feedback from readers. Once readers are comfortable with your blog, they may seek to contact you via phone or email and become actual customers. If you have any questions about creating a blog or how to use a blog, feel free to post your questions right here.

Promote and Market Your Business on the Internet

2005-12-13T20:31:00.000-08:00

Once you have a web site designed to achieve specific goals for your business, you must market and promote your site so that it can be be found. A great web site with no promotion is like an unlisted phone number: No one will find it!
The goals of your web site can only be met by reaching out to as many potential customers as possible. In order to reach the largest possible audience, you must make your web site easy to find. Because the Internet is so vast, we recommend that you place links to your web site and information about your business in as many locations on the Internet as possible. In other words, one web site is not be enough to gain you the exposure you need to increase your sales and customers. With nearly 10 years of Internet marketing experience, we make the following recommendations for gaining Internet exposure for your web site:

Trade links with as many reputable businesses as you can

Blog (write about) your web site and your business on other people's web sites, especially web sites dedicated to your area of expertise or geographically close to your business location.

Advertise your web site locally. For example, always include your web site address in all print and radio spots you run.

Place your web site address on all your office stationary, business cards, mailers, etc.

Update your web site as often as possible.

Be certain you have the proper HTML meta tags, site description and HTML code on your web site.

List your web site with local and national search directories. We recommend at least one listing with each type of directory. A great example of a local business directory is the Iowa Business Listings located at www.iowabusinesslistings.com.

Visit www.breakthroughwebdesign.com to have a great web site designed for your business and to receive a free consultation on promoting your business on the Internet.

Bankruptcy Laws Have Changed

2005-12-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

From Mark Walk and Aaron Murphy, Attorneys at Law:
In December of 2005, major revisions to the national bankruptcy laws took place. Specifically, in recent years, most banruptcy filers sought and received Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Specifically, in recent years, most bankruptcy filers sought and received Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, which meant that through the bankruptcy trustee's gathering of assets and paying creditors to the extent possible, bankruptcy filers' debts were discharged so that the bankruptcy filer was no longer obligated on them. Under the new federal law some people may find it harder to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and may be forced into Chapter 13 bankruptcy, instead. In general, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy does not discharge debts; rather, it reorganizes debts so that bankruptcy filers pay their debts, but in a more manageable manner. Chapter 7 protection has not been eliminated; the conditions for qualifying for Chapter 7 have, however, changed.

In addition, Congress made other changes to the national bankruptcy laws such as mandatory credit counseling. In short, bankruptcy has changed. Many of the old practices and concepts no longer apply. If you have questions about the new bankruptcy laws and how they apply to you, please contact our firm for help by calling: 641-732-3796. You may also visit our web site at www.iowalawpractice.com.

Waterloo downtown a work in progress

2005-11-27T14:56:00.000-08:00

If you've spent any time in Waterloo and made it downtown, you will see that there is a lot of potential there. Lots of old abandoned buildings and plenty of wide streets to channel people in. They also have modern hockey arena that is easily accessed from Interstate 218. I think Waterloo's downtown is going to have an uphill struggle reaching a level of vibrancy that they would like to reach. First of all, there are an awful lot of homeless people walking around the streets of downtown Waterloo. I can't tell you if anything is in place to help these people, but someone in authority needs to address this issue. Secondly, the freeway rolling right through the downtown is both a blessing and a curse in my opinion. It is a blessing because it can potentially bring lots of people to downtown Waterloo's doorstep. It is a problem because people just keep driving right on by! There are no signs that offer any information about any business or event in the downtown as you drive though. The freeway is also a problem due to the poor access points to reach it once you are in downtown. There are too many one-way streets and it is hard to find the on-ramps.
As for the abandoned buildings...I can see these as prime locations for condos and apartments someday if the city enjoys a renaissance. At this time, however, I think that renaissance is pretty far away.

Cedar Falls a Vibrant Community

2005-11-23T14:44:00.000-08:00

You have to admire Cedar Falls and its downtown. Many Iowa communities have tried (unsuccessfully) to 'revitalize' their downtown areas- make them into destination spots full of restaurants, bars and businesses for people to visit. Of all the communities in Iowa I have visited, only Des Moines compares favorably to Cedar Falls (although I have heard that Sioux City is pretty happenin').
When driving into Cedar Falls, take a stroll down Main Street. It is only about 6-8 blocks, but it is loaded with restaurants, bars, clubs and lots of trendy small businesses. Everything is packed into a small area which makes it easy to walk from one place to another. Many of these restaurants and bars have live music, something hard to come by in much of Iowa. There's plenty of parking too. Most of the people in the area are very friendly and courteous. Granted, with a large college population, Cedar Falls has an advantage over other towns. But I believe they went about this in the right manner: Keep it hip, trendy and affordable and people will come in.

Worker's compensation: What are the time limitations to file a claim?

2005-11-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

From Aaron Murphy, Osage, Iowa Attorney:
Unless your employer has notice or knowledge of your injury within 90 days of its happening, you may be denied benefits. The 90 day period begins to run when you knew or should have known that your injury related to your job. When an employee reports a work injury, the employer must file a First Report of Injury if the employee loses more than three (3) days of work or sustains permanent injury or death on account of the injury. The
employer (or its insurance carrier) must file the First Report of Injury within four (4) days of notice or knowledge of the alleged injury with the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner. You must receive Iowa weekly workers’ compensation benefits or file an application for arbitration within two years or your injury or benefits may be denied. If you have received Iowa weekly workers’ compensation benefits, you have three years from the last payment of those weekly benefits to receive additional benefits voluntarily, or to file a contested case proceeding for benefits. If you do not file within the three year period you may be denied additional weekly benefits.
For more information, visit: www.workerscompensationattorneys.net or call Aaron Murphy at 641-732-3796.

Web site content

2005-11-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

It may seem daunting when trying to decide what kind of content to place on your web site. One rule of thumb: Do not confuse your visitors, especially if they are potential customers. Keep your message straight-forward and focused and you will have the best results. Be sure each page of your site is clearly named and that you stick to that theme throughout the page. Another tip: make it easy for visitors to communicate with you. One of the primary reasons to have a web site is so that your visitors may contact you. I suggest a web form on most every page or at least an activated email link.

E-commerce start-up advice

2005-11-03T11:14:00.000-08:00

If you are ready to start selling products on the internet from your own web site, I suggest using PayPal as your payment processor. It is the best solution for small and mid-sized enterprises. There is no fee until you sell an item. PayPal charges nearly the same fee per transaction as the credit card providers. However, there is no monthly fees and little or no monitoring or your account. Anyone can sign up for PayPal, and it is fairly simple to add the PayPal 'buy now' buttons to your web site.

Web site design basics

2005-10-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Business owners are always asking me, "What should I have in my web site?" I always say, "Keep it simple." Stay away from Flash animations and fancy menus. Do not confuse your visitors. The best bet is a professional design that achieves a goal. This goal might be selling products. Usually, a web site is simply there to make your phone ring and your inbox fill up, as well as to spread the word about your business. Your web site should make a visitor feel comfortable enough to purchase from you or at least contact you. With this is mind, design your web site. Make it easy for visitors to find your phone number, email address, contact form, etc. When in doubt, find web sites for other successful businesses and model your site after theirs.

Tough loss for Iowa

2005-10-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City attending the Iowa football game. What a tough loss for the Hawks. I called the game a toss-up prior to the game. Iowa has been shaky most of the season but had the advantage of playing at home, while the Wolverines were on a bit of a roll but playing in one of the toughest venues in college football, Kinnick Stadium. The contest was a 60 minute nail-biter to say the least, with Iowa losing the game in overtime due to missed opportunities. Michigan was given every chance to win the game and they finally found a way. Looks like Iowa will need to claw its way into a low-tier bowl this year. Go Hawks.

Sampled the nightlife of Cedar Rapids Friday night. I must say there is not much to choose from. There are a few popular little bars in the downtown area and they are very crowded (and smoky). Not big on the whole smoking thing. We had a few drinks and called it a night and headed for Perkins! We stayed in the Excel Inn of Cedar Rapids on 33rd Ave. SW. Nice little hotel with a friendly staff and extremely cheap. Booked the room a day earlier using Orbitz. $55 bucks...you can't beat that. We didn't have much choice, as everything in Iowa City/Coralville was booked. If you plan on attending an Iowa football game, a word of advice...plan it early. Use web sites like Orbitz to find the cheapest prices on hotels and airfare.

Hurricane Relief Tailgating Event

2005-10-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

The North Iowa Outlaws are hosting a Hurricane Relief Tailgating Event on October 30th, 2005 from 11:30 am to 1:30am when the game starts. Food and beverages will be served for a Minimum $5 donation to the RED CROSS. Harry-O from KLSS 106.1 will be onhand for entertainment. Many activites will be going on as well. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross. Please plan on attending the event, or even if you could just send a donation. Donations can be mailed to North Iowa Outlaws PO BOX 953 Mason City, IA 50401 I encourage anyone in the North Iowa area to take part! Thanks for your support!

Weekend in Des Moines

2005-10-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Spent a relaxing weekend in the fine city of Des Moines, sampling some great restaurants and lounges with friends. First of all I have to comment on the new MLK Parkway. Finally you can get to the south side of Des Moines without following a confusing maze of twists, turns and stop signs! The MLK is a brand new, wide and smooth thoroughfare taking you from I-235 on the north side straight south to near the Des Moines airport. You can really see some cool new sites along the way. I was surprised at all the freshly painted bridges and extra work that seems to have been put into this project. This will go along wonderfully with the revitalization of the downtown river district. I could really sense a pulse to the downtown area. It is quite a nightlife scene there. Many, many neat restaurants and clubs for every taste and mood. Speaking of 'taste' there was a busy 'taste festival' being held Saturday night downtown. Lots of families there. As the night went on, the crowd seemed to get younger, lots of 20-somethings and 30-somethings. We started out eating at a restaurant called Judge Roy Beans. They serve mostly pasta dishes. I highly recommend their menu. Reasonably priced with a homey atmosphere. From there we ventured to the High Life Lounge. What a trip back in time that was! I was totally impressed with the decor in this lounge. It is 70's all the way: wallpaper, light fixtures, stools, carpet, everything. And the beers they serve: Ham's, Old Style, Old Milwaukee, the kind of beer my dad would have drank in 1978. They played great music in there. Lots of 70's and 80's, very little contemporary music, which suited me just fine. The bar is situated in a very old area of downtown Des Moines that is being renovated. They are turning old warehouses into loft condos. We ended the night at a couple of other hotspots that I cannot name...a martini bar among them. Don't worry, I drank responsibly...but I think I ate too much!

Buying/selling real estate: Earnest Money

2005-10-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

I am always in the market for real estate. Usually buying but I have sold a house too. When I sold my last house, I didn't require the buyer to put any 'earnest money' down on the agreement. After reading this blog, I think I made a big mistake that could have cost me dearly. I should have required earnest money so that the buyer would be more likely to stick to our agreement.

Google launches new BLOG search

2005-10-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

Google is the Internet's most-used search. They have many tools in addition to the regular 'web search'. They have launched a new search tool that only searches blogs. It is really neat. You can find just about any topic on the web to blog! Click here to try it out. Search for IOWA BUSINESS BLOG ... this blog is right at the top!!

Several states begin collecting Internet sales tax

2005-10-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

Although not required by law, Iowa and several other states have streamlined the process for Internet retailers to collect sales tax from their customers. Many big businesses like Wal-Mart already are doing so. I think this is probably in the best interests of everyone. You make a purchase, you pay a tax. That's the way it's supposed to work I guess! Read about the new tax collection rules in this story.

Local directories: Your web site's key to success

2005-09-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

You have a great web site and you have submitted it to the top search engines...but you are just not getting the traffic and page views you thought you'd get. What's the deal?

One way to solve this problem is to look and see where you are promoting your site besides the search engines. Have you listed your site with local directories? More and more people are using online local directories of businesses and professionals to find the service or business that is right for them. These directories typically feature business from one area...they are local. This means customers from near your business can find you if you are listed. Customers from your area are the most likely to call on you. Listing with local dirctories is usually very inexpensive as well. I believe you get a lot for your money with a good listing in the right online business directory. For businesses and professionals from Iowa, I recommend the Iowa Business Listings. The cost is just $180.00 per year and you get your own web page in the Iowa Business Listings as well as a lisitng with the Iowa Yellow Pages, a keyword searchable site. Best of luck with your web site endeavors!

Will a web site help you reach new customers?

2005-09-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

Many small business owners and professionals do not have web sites. They may not make huge sales, but they do enough to be profitable. They get by. "Besides," they say, "I serve my customers. I can't reach or communicate well with customers that are out of my area."

To these people, I say, this is flawed thinking. A web site CAN help you reach new customers and raise your profits and income. By thinking small and being a hermit you you may never reach new customers. If you aspire to greater heights, a web site can get you there.

If you don't have a web site, I suggest you get one. Make sure it is done right, though. It must be optimized for the web, submitted to search engines and marketed properly. Yes, this will take work on your part! The rewards will be there though.

Dubuque is a cool town

2005-09-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend in Dubuque. I was pretty impressed with this city right on the Mississippi River. The west side of the city seems to be the 'new' end. Lots of development and subdivisions going up out there. The closer you get to the river, the older and more charming the city becomes. I enjoyed the downtown plaza area especially. I could see that the city is really on a kick to refurbish this whole warehouse district area. I think this is a great idea. Larger cities like Omaha and Denver have done this and turned land and real estate that was once hardly-used and abandoned into high end property commanding the big bucks. I hope it pays of for Dubuque. I can see a lot of potential in this process for this city. I thought Dubuque really took good care of its streets and landscaping. This is a sign of a well-managed or at least thoughtful local government. I've been other palces where the weeds and grass grow at-will along the roads. Not in Dubuque. They had everything neatly trimmed with flowers and the works. I wouldn't really trust parking my car on some of these hills though...they are so steep I think it would roll down even with the parking break on!

Bush revokes wage rules: A questionable move

2005-09-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

I just a read about how President George W. Bush has recinded part of the 1931 'Davis-Bacon' Act which requires the federal government to pay workers at least the average or 'prevailing' wage in an affected area. In this case we are talking about the area hurricane Katrina devastated. So, not only are these people homeless, but President Bush has now given them a pay cut. I find this move questionable. Why impose lower wages on the people of an area already in need of assistance? I might add that Haliburton and large corporations are rushing in for non-bid rebuilding contracts. Is this a case of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? What good can come from imposing a pay cut to an impoverished region? I give the President the benefit of the doubt, as I am sure he has the nation's best interests in mind. Anyone know anything more about this or have an opinion to share?

Search engines: Are top rankings worth the price?

2005-09-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Business owners ask this question frequently: "It seems like the price to pay in order for my site to show up high in search engine results is very high. Does a top ranking pay off?"

Let me start by saying: "Yes, as long as your site is well-managed and focused." What does this mean? If you are paying top-dollar to drive visitors to your site, you better have a site that pays off for you. It does no good to drive visitors to a poorly designed, neglected site that confuses and irritates a visitor. This does more harm than good to your business.

What is needed is an Internet marketing plan, meticulously thought out, for your web presence. A 'web site' is not enough. Many business owners believe themselves when they say "I have a web site, so I'm good to go with the Internet." In reality, this is not nearly enough. A 'web site' will collect dust and and do nothing for your business by itself. However, with a great Internet plan or strategy, the rewards will be huge.

Great search engines rankings and results are an essential part of your plan. So, yes, go for it...but get an Internet marketing professional to help you lay out your entire Internet plan. Stick to the plan, modify as you go, and you will be on your way to success on the Internet.

Iowa -vs- Iowa State

2005-09-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

Well the game dozen't look good for all of us Hawkeye fans here in the middle of the third quarter. A lot if dropped passes, turnovers, stuff like that from the Hawks. They do not look sharp at all. To make matters worse, ISU is playing the game of their LIVES. Could be an early season L for Iowa unless they turn things around in a hurry...and with Drew Tate out, I'm not sure that's possible. Stay tuned for more commentary...

Mason City has a new Hockey Team!

2005-09-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, Sandi posted some information we should all take a look at..."Tonight is the first game ever for the new NAHL team The NorthIowa Outlaws!They play at 7:30pm in AlbertLea, MN. When they play their first home game, it will be in Mason City IA in October! Check out and support this awesome new team at www.northiowaoutlaws.com!"

I think this is just outstanding that Mason City finally has a hockey team to cheer for. I'm sure the games will be packed at every home game. Thanks for the news Sandi, and good luck Outlaws!

Business needs a small computer network installed

2005-09-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big computer network expert, so let's see if anyone out there can help me out. A friend of a friend has a small business and she needs a computer network set up...only about 8-10 pc's to share. What is the cost involved, and how much time would this take? What network software should be used? What about privacy issues?

Relocating to Iowa

2005-09-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

I have some friends from out of state that are looking to move to Iowa in the near future. They would like some information on how to go about finding the best neighborhoods, schools, banks and other services here in Iowa. Can any of my real estate friends out there give some advice on relocating to Iowa? Thanks!

Web site help for businesses

2005-09-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

Every day I am asked this question by someone: I need a web site for my business...what is your recommendation? Or this question: How do I promote my web site?

Fortunately for the people asking me these questions, I am an expert in this area and can explain what they should do. For the benefit of those of you who do not have these answers, allow me to help you out.

Let's start with question #1. You need a web site- what should you do? First of all, do not just open the phone book and start calling web design 'companies'. Go on the Internet and find other sites you like from your area and see who built those sites. Call the owner of the site or the site designer. Find out how much the site cost to build AND maintain. You might also ask colleagues who built their web site and what the costs involved are. Web sites are generally not cheap, but they should be fairly priced. By this I mean you should feel like you are getting a lot for your money. Depending on what you want in a web site, or what it does, you will spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for a professional web site. I do not recommend trying to build your own web site for a couple of reasons. It is more work than you think, and maintaining it and promoting it will take a lot of your time. It is better to hire a proven professional to handle this job. Getting a web site is no good unless it produces results for you...so the act of building a site and posting it does little good unless the site conveys the proper image for your business. People look at a poorly designed web site, or a site that has not been updated for months, as a reflection of your business. Do not give them the idea that you are a slacker, disorganized, or un-interested in customer service.

Now to answer question #2. How do you promote your web site? This is really the million dollar question. Anyone can build a 'web site' and post it to the Internet...but is anyone finding it? Is your message reaching the correct audience? For example, if you are a real estate agent from Iowa, do you want links to your site to show up next to gardeners from Florida? Probably not. Fortunately, once you have a great web site -professionally designed and optimized for search engines with meta tags- you can do a great deal to promote your site at a small cost. Yes, if you want results, there is a cost involved. Pay-per-click search engines are all the rage today. Google has some great tools available at a low cost (cost of around $50.00 per month) that will place links to your web site near relevant content from your geographical area. I suggest Google because it is the TOP search engine, and the Google ads show up EVERYWHERE. Another great technique is listing in LOCAL business directories. For example, businesses in Iowa might choose to list their business in www.iowabusinesslistings.com. They offer two business listings and a free one-page web site for $15.00 per month. That fits any budget. Search engines love local business directories because these sites are highly organized with relevant content. For those of you on a REALLY tight budget, you can always submit to free search engines like http://www.submitexpress.com/. Submit Express will submit you to about a dozen free search engines for nothing. Also, try link trading with other reputable sites, and be sure to place your web site address on all your business cards, stationary, and any advertising you purchase.

Going to the Hawkeye Football Game

2005-09-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

If you want to have the best time in Iowa City before/during/after an Iowa football game, here are my recommendations.

First get yourself a cooler and fill it up with your favorite beer/beverages and a few Big Mike's Super Subs. Mike's Subs rock. Grab a football to toss around too. Prior to the game, get up early and get yourself a spot to tailgate. Get as close to the game as possible so you can walk to the stadium and scalp tickets. I suggest this spot to tailgate: go to the corner of Iowa Street and Riverside drive and go north just past the train underpass. There is a great green spot there for tailgating. You gotta get there early to get these spots. Now you can tailgate until about an hour before gametime. Get down to Melrose Ave. near the stadium and look for people holding tickets in the air...they are for sale. You'll spend about $50 bucks apiece...but that's what everyone pays. Now you can enjoy the game. After the game, to avoid traffic, I like to hit the Airliner for a few beers and a pizza. I like the atmosphere there best. Not too many young college kids in there till later...mostly the 30-50 year old club till about 10pm. If the 'Liner is packed, try Joe's Place. If you want to avoid the college crowd, head over to Coralville to any of the pubs and sports bars down there. Make sure you harrass the fans of the opposing team too. Tell them their team sucks. Haha. Just kidding I don't condone this type of behavior. Above all, allow plenty of time for anything you wanna do on game day. Iowa City gets so crowded it's hard to get around.

Welcome

2005-09-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my brand new blog!

This blog is dedicated to the businesses in Iowa. I want to know about your experiences and opinions about businesses in Iowa that you have visited. What was good? What was bad? Who do you recommend? Where are the best restaurants, hotels, nightclubs? Who do you recommend for home repair? Did you have a bad experince somewhere? What happened?? I want to know. Make your recommendations to other bloggers.