A new business model is springing up right under our noses. The big players like Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) have put together a one-stop shop in their app stores.

First off, an app store is just that, a place where you can pick and choose the apps you want to download. The app store is also a place where entrepreneurs can develop an app and with permission place it on the iPhone, iPad or Android device.

Continue reading App Stores: A New Business Model

App Stores: A New Business Model originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: Buffett's Next Buys -- You Pick'em

Serious Money: Buffett's Next Buys -- You Pick'em originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Since 2006, the number of registered users on Facebook has seen near 100% annual growth. We estimate that the number of registered users has increased from around 10.5 million in 2006 to around 595 million in 2010 and has since continued its upward climb. From the time Facebook decided to allow any user above the age of 13 to create an account, the website's number of registered users has seen a meteoric rise.

Continue reading Outlook for Facebook User Growth

Outlook for Facebook User Growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sources close to the social network Linkedln say it is planning to go public, as reported in Reuters. It has filed statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Owner Jeff Weiner told Reuters that he has selected Morgan Stanley (MS), Bank of America (BAC) and JP Morgan (JPM) as book runners. Book runners take the original stock offering and then resell it to retail clients.

Linkedln is a fast growing social networking site with 85 million viewers. Financial information is not available. Company revenues come from advertising. A source close to the company values it at about $2.2 billion.

Continue reading Social Network Linkedln to Go Public in 2011

Social Network Linkedln to Go Public in 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The world of Internet traffic moves at lightning speed. So, too, do the moods and preferences of users. Back in 2007, News Corp's (NWS) MySpace was No. 1. Google.com (GOOG) took the No. 1 spot in 2008 and 2009. In 2009, Facebook has taken the No. 1 spot, with 8.9% of U.S. visits, edging Google.com, which had 7.2% of visits, Reuters reported, citing online measurement service Experian Hitwise.

Facebook was started by Mark Zuckerberg and a few classmates in 2004. Facebook users can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact details and other information. Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature. They can also join interest groups and "like pages."

Continue reading Facebook Edges Google as Most Visited Site in the U.S.

Facebook Edges Google as Most Visited Site in the U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Would You Pay $20,000 for Movies in Your Home?

Would You Pay $20,000 for Movies in Your Home? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fewer business start-ups are being launched, reports the the Wall Street Journal. The Labor Department said that the number of companies with at least one employee fell by 100,000, or 2%, in the year ended March 31. That was the second worst performance in 18 years -- the worst one was a drop of 3.4% the previous year.

Why are these numbers important? In past recessions small business start-ups were the key to spurring the economy. In the three quarters that ended in March, newly formed companies created only 2.6 million jobs, 15% fewer than in the first three quarters of the last recovery.

Continue reading Fewer Small Business Start-Ups Mean Fewer Jobs

Fewer Small Business Start-Ups Mean Fewer Jobs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, LeBron James, was a stock, would you find it was of any value as an investment? From my perspective, it would not be, unless Mr. James were to make some key moves off the court to mirror his talent on the court. The first thing I would tell him is to SHUT UP!

He needs to recognize that it is only natural for people in Cleveland to feel betrayed after years of support and adulation ended in a sputter, with nothing to fill the void. It is only natural for them to feel even worse after the self-serving arrogant way they were informed during a totally over-the-top television special.

Continue reading Sunday Funnies: Would You Invest in LeBron James?

Sunday Funnies: Would You Invest in LeBron James? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Starting next month you will be able to buy gold at an ATM machine. Can that be true? Yes, CNNMoney's story on Gold to go's owner Thomas Geissler says he plans to launch two such ATMs in Las Vegas and Florida. Plans are to expand the Gold to go ATMs in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and Minnesota.

The machines will offer gold coins and bars weighing up to 8 ounces. Prices are updated every ten minutes based on spot gold prices.

Continue reading Next Month You Can Buy Gold at an ATM

Next Month You Can Buy Gold at an ATM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Having accepted a speaking engagement at a university school of business recently, I had to think about what introductory information I could impart to the students about investing that would be practical, immediately useful and establish a foundation for whatever direction their paths might lead. This was supposed to be the first in a series. However, since I pull no punches and can be a little edgy in my candor and presentation, who knew if I would be invited back?

My outline had five basic elements. The first thing I told them was to start now!

Continue reading Chasing Value: Class Is in Session -- Where to Start

Chasing Value: Class Is in Session -- Where to Start originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill

Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: Buffett Going Global -- Part 4

Serious Money: Buffett Going Global -- Part 4 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Trying to figure out what Warren Buffett will invest in next is no small task. Although, you can bet it will not be small. In fact, he may try to acquire whole companies because anything else might not move the needle when it comes to increasing shareholder value at Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A / BRK.B).

This post is a follow up to Serious Money: Buffett Looking Beyond Our Borders, where I concluded that Buffett will seek an opportunity to invest in a company that is paying a dividend and has a very easy to understand product or service that will not become obsolete any time soon.

Continue reading Serious Money: Buffett Looking Beyond Our Borders -- Part 2

Serious Money: Buffett Looking Beyond Our Borders -- Part 2 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: Buffett Looking Beyond Our Borders

Serious Money: Buffett Looking Beyond Our Borders originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Rupert Murdoch Looking for More Subscriber-Based Properties

Rupert Murdoch Looking for More Subscriber-Based Properties originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Running a consulting business can be a juggling act. It's not easy to manage a variety of accounts while also continuing to look for new business. And, in light of the tough economy, clients are looking for ways to cut back on services.

What to do? Well, you can try to find new revenue sources. And one interesting option is to sell software products.

Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Boost Your Consulting Business by Selling Software

Entrepreneur's Journal: Boost Your Consulting Business by Selling Software originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite games was Trivial Pursuit. Although, I certainly had a tough time answering many of the questions. Ironically, that was the main reason I liked the game.

Of course, I was not alone. Since 1981, Trivial Pursuit has sold more than 20 million copies and has generated over $1 billion in revenues (Hasbro currently owns the rights). And yes, this got started during a terrible recession.

Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Bootstrapping a Business Is No Trivial Pursuit

Entrepreneur's Journal: Bootstrapping a Business Is No Trivial Pursuit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a very interesting interview from The Wall Street Journal with Jim Koch, chairman of Boston Beer (SAM), the entrepreneur was asked about the future of craft breweries.

For those who are not familiar with the story of Jim Koch, he was a consultant in Boston who decided to brew a new beer and sold it to Boston bars. The little brewer that could proved that there was a niche for a smaller beer, and Boston Beer is now a publicly traded company. In fact, as the article points out, Mr. Koch "has helped foster a revolution in small-batch American brewing."

Continue reading Boston Beer: The Little Brewery That Could

Boston Beer: The Little Brewery That Could originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

All in all, there are many advantages to a home business. For example, you have more time to spend with your family, you do not have to deal with aggravating commutes, and there is even the home office tax deduction. If anything, the overall costs should be lower -- making it easier to get traction for your business.

Yet, there are definitely considerable risks, which are often overlooked. But the good news is that smart insurance planning can provide sufficient protection. And the prices are affordable, costing as little as $500 per year.

Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Insuring Your Home Business from Disaster

Entrepreneur's Journal: Insuring Your Home Business from Disaster originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading An Interview with America's Sexiest CEO: Hilary Rowland

An Interview with America's Sexiest CEO: Hilary Rowland originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.