Outsourcing has almost singlehandedly revolutionized India’s economy, and cities like Bangalore in Southern India are now synonymous with this subcontracting process. My parents knew Bangalore as a popular honeymoon destination. Now, the city’s residents are surrounded by historical remnants and the burgeoning IT industry. Even though Western sentiment is generally against outsourcing jobs to India, we all should agree that the Indian economy has flourished considerably because of the influx of tech jobs that have become available to the people there. The companies who choose to cut costs by outsourcing are the ones who are “to blame” for depriving their fellow citizens of employment.

Now that Bill Gates has given his encouragement and advice concerning the future of India’s tech industry to the country’s business and government leaders, the India’s “Technology Renaissance” will continue to grow for years to come. I personally don’t mind that when I call for tech support, I speak to someone from India or anywhere else. As long the issues are resolved and I can understand what he or she is saying on the other end, I am content…for now.

Related posts:

1. Did You Know? India and IT
2. Technology: It’s Where the Jobs Are
3. O’Reilly’s Women in Technology series

Why do I bring up the possibility of the lack of access to the Internet? When I heard the news about cyber attacks originating from North Korea, I started to think seriously about what I would do if I could no longer go online without being besieged by maliciously created viruses. The isolated and angry dictatorship seems to be doing its best to launch attacks on South Korea and its allies in any way they can. Could a “cyber war” be in our imminent future? While no lives might be lost in this situation, such an event would definitely damage people’s abilities to communicate and acquire knowledge on any topic in a speedy (yet concise) manner.  

How should we prepare ourselves for the devastating possibilities of a global “cyber war?”  The first suggestion that comes to mind is to keep hard copies of all important documents, images, emails, and any necessary contact information you may need at any time. The other suggestion is to keep posted on the news, without becoming pre-occupied or too nostalgic about the past. Both of these steps are very important when preparing for the worst.

Still, I don’t think that we should become too paranoid and scared about a possible situation. It is hard achieve some sort of balance, but it can be done—at least I hope so.

Related posts:

1. Global Web Conference: Oct 24-26, 2008
2. How to create a global bestseller book or product
3. Cyberspace Behavior When Celebrities Die

The situation is far from hopeless, because she continues to build relationships with designers and boutiques in New York City and beyond, using traditional networking and marketing methods. Even with the economy being what it is right now, I know that more can be done to help boost her profile, reputation, and overall sales. While I am no expert, I have learned (along with millions of others) how important an online presence is for small businesses. My friend is also aware of this, and even though it is an overwhelming feat for her, she is learning the more about the power of social media for business. For example, she has a Twitter account for her business, but she has not spent enough time finding and following other users and replying to their posts. When I told her that this was necessary to help expand her networking and marketing possibilities, she was both surprised and intimidated by the process.

To help my friend overcome her micro-blogging fears, I encouraged her to attend the Webgrrls Workshop: How to Use Twitter for Business on July 29 in New York City. I know there are many entrepreneurs like her who are unaware of the power of social media, and its networking and marketing advantages. Some are so overwhelmed by other aspects of their businesses that they have given up, or won’t even attempt to enter, the world of social media. My friend knows she cannot afford to be afraid anymore, so I know she will soak up as much as she can from the upcoming WG Workshop.  It may be cliché to say it, but “knowledge is power,” and we all need as much of it as we can get.

Related posts:

1. New Marketing Summit: What’s next in Social media
2. How to Develop a Social Media Plan for Your Business in 5 Steps
3. Tips for managing your Social Networks

While I was not in front of a computer when news of Michael Jackson’s death became public, I knew that the news hit the Internet like a tidal wave—it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out in today’s world.  According to CNET News, sites like YouTube, Amazon, Last.fm, Wikipedia , as well as numerous other sites are popular destinations for those wanting a trip down memory lane, access the latest information about the one of the most popular musicians of all time, and purchase his music in droves. It is a sobering and somewhat morbid fact that when a celebrity dies in this day and age, his or her popularity and product sales get significant boosts.   

Farrah Fawcett died earlier that day, which had already elicited widespread reactions from people who remember her iconic hairstyle, her brief stint on the famous TV show, “Charlie’s Angels,” and the overall impact she had on women and men in the 1970s and beyond. I when I checked Google News, I noticed a flood of retrospective articles covering both Michael Jackson’s and Farrah Fawcett’s lives and careers, the reasons for their deaths, and some unsavory reports of the “supposed” deaths of Harrison Ford and Jeff Goldblum, of all people.  These false reports remind me that the Internet is a haven for rampant gossip and exploitation; none of us should be surprised to hear that email spam exploiting Jackson’s and Fawcett’s deaths have already been sent out to unsuspecting Internet users.

I have never been a big fan of Jackson’s, but when I heard about his death, I remembered the song “Human Nature,” which is my favorite of his from the “Thriller” album. I loved that I could find it on Last.fm and post it on my Facebook profile in minutes. So while there are plenty of morbid curiosity-seekers, spammers, and your garden-variety jerks out there in cyberspace, some of us who are looking for some information and nostalgia, without being a hypocrite.  I consider myself one of them.

Related posts:

1. Online Behavior of Digital Moms
2. Harassment & unfair treatment of women in IT – Can we change the behavior and culture?
3. Use your cell phone data connection to go online

Marketing, making connections and getting and giving referrals is what it is all about. Grassroots, warm leads, and leveraging the tools and your network to build your business or propel your career, is a great recipe for success.

Related posts:

1. How to Develop a Social Media Plan for Your Business in 5 Steps
2. Microsoft Social Media Outreach Case Study
3. Social Media Benchmark Study

Perhaps it is that Webgrrls are not affected because they are able to leverage technology to find efficiencies or they do not have to commute and can work from home or as the latest post in the Webgrrls blog, Webgrrls Wisdom, Technology: It’s Where the Jobs Are.

31% of the Webgrrls respondents have had to make major adjustments to their budgets and 15 percent have either lost their job or closed their business. Below are some quick tips to surviving the recession and I also, wanted to offer the following links to articles that have more tips to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Webgrrls Quick Tips to Surviving a Recession:

1. Watch your cash flow – cash is king during tough times
2. Cut the fat/reduce your overhead – meaning all non-critical expenses
3. Trim your staff – keep the high performers and replace those who are not performing well.
4. Call in your accounts receivables on a more timely basis – remember the “squeaky wheel and the grease”
5. Do not turn away business unless the opportunity will be unprofitable.
6. Work on the business not in the business – Use this time to learn new skills or to do some retooling or get the planning done that you have put off for some time.

Other links to articles with more survival tips:
1. How To Survive Oncoming Economic Turbulence
2. Surviving a Slowing Economy
3. Survival Tips

Related posts:

1. Making Money in the Free Economy
2. Webgrrls’ Finds: Tips, tricks and tools to improve your work performance
3. Webgrrls News Breaker: Unemployment Rate Higher Than Stated By Government