Message-ID: <3.0.5.16.19980612133220.2ef77b74@pop.synapse.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 06:36:24 -0400 From: Jean-Claude Lorin <mailto:jlorin@SYNAPSE.NET> Subject: ENTERWeb News #6 To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Are you looking for QUALITY sources of information on small business, finance, international trade, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and the economy?**************************************************************************** ENTERWeb News #6 April/May 1998 < http://www.enterweb.org/> ****************************************************************************
April/May 1998 have been very good months again for ENTERWeb which was awarded the Jayde Diamond Award and the InternetDay Gold Award in April. ENTERWeb has also been chosen as an Infoseek Select site in three categories: Small Business, International Commerce Development, and Business Resources.
As a result 16,000 pages have been viewed in April, which probably corresponds to about 4,000 visitors
You will find hereunder the titles ( and short descriptions ) of the new sites which have been added to ENTERWeb during the months of April and May 1998. If you are interested in accessing any of those sites just go to ENTERWeb main page < http://www.enterweb.org/> and press on the What's new button which will direct you to the appropriate sections.
*************************************************************************** 1) Idea Cafe: The Small Business Channel
Idea Cafe is a web guide for small businesses, providing tips and advices as well as pointers to useful resources. What I liked most was the emphasis on down-to-earth practical approach. Despite the space taken by advertising banners it is a very good site. Do not miss the "Idea Cafe Fridge".
2) NewBiznet Project in Ukraine and Moldova
Funded by USAID, the NewBiznet Project supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine and Moldova though a network of regional business centers which offer advisory & consulting services, training programs & business information services. Interesting iste but limited to the activities of the project.
3) Horizon local
"Horizon Local" is a data base on local development, social economy and sustainable development, which includes documents on microcredit and alternative financial systems. A surprising and interesting site.
4) Microcredit / Microenterprises Resources
microenterprise resources. Nothing fancy but up to the point. A very good starting point .
5) CCH Business Owner's Toolkit
The CCH Business Owner's Toolkit is also labelled "total know-how for small business". It's more than just plain marketing "hype" as it includes lots of information, including all the essentials on starting, planning, financing, and marketing your small business. Very much focused on the U.S but still extremely useful for anyone starting or operating a small business.
6)Yellow Window
Yellow Window Management Consultants is a prime example of a commercial site providing extensive "free" value added. From tips for searching the web to the use of the Web for business-to-business marketing there is a lot of interesting info in that site. I thought it did deserve a three star rating just for that!.
7) Conference Board
A not-for-profit, non-advocacy organization, the Conference Board: is the world's leading business membership and research organization, connecting senior executives from more than 2,900 enterprises in over 60 nations. Unfortunately, despite the numerous business research areas, not much "free" detailed information is available on site.
8) Black Women On the Web
Black Women On the Web is a virtual community of minority women entrepreneurs and business owners. Their website offers information and advice, networking and support. Do not miss their resource center.
9) Online Women's Business Center
The Online Women's Business Center is designed to be a "one-stop shopping" site, where you can find information about everything from how to start your business to how to operate in the global market place. A site specifically designed for business women but which will be of interest to all entrepreneurs. An excellent site.
10) UNDP' Info21
INFO21 is UNDP's tool for disseminating information and resources on "Information and Communications Technologies for Development" and for showing that they are not only a significant factor in the performance and growth of economies but also an effective tool to help advance sustainable human development. Very good sections on trade, business and commerce, and community centres.
11) Everything International
Everything International provides links to a wide variety of international business, education, and research internet sites. It is intended as an electronic library of resources for faculty, students and practitioners in the field of international business. Focus is mostly on trade & exports.Excellent travel section.
12) NAFTAnet
NAFTAnet Inc. is a private company, provider of news, information, and consultative services in electronic Commerce/electronic data interchange (EC/EDI), international trade (IT), and NAFTA. Interesting site, although mixing the very good with the not so good.
13) International Trade Centre
The International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) is the focal point in the United Nations system for technical cooperation with developing countries in trade promotion. As an executing agency of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ITC is directly responsible for implementing UNDP-financed projects in developing countries and economies in transition related to trade promotion.The site has very much improved lately and due to the richness of its infobase and related links it now ranks as an excellent site Do not miss their various indexes to market information sources and also the section on institutional capacity development for SMEs. Also of interest is the innovative virtual exhibition centre for artisanal products which unfortunately suffers from slow loading due to very nice but quite large graphics.
14) Virtual University for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
TheVirtual University for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises is a global joint venture of educational institutions and business organizations using web-based learning to promote an understanding of how the Internet can build profitable businesses and stronger communities.This is a wonderful idea. Unfortunately the website contains little more than redirecting visitors to the "purchase order" page.
15) Free Advice
Free Advice claims to be "The Most Comprehensive Site for Legal Information" and for the U.S it probably is. Written in easy to understand terms it provides a lot of information with regards to business law, bankruptcy law, financial law, international law, etc. A very good site even if you are not from the U.S.
16) KU International Business Resource Center
The International Business Resource Center, a business outreach program of the Center for International Business within the School of Business at the University of Kansas, was created to encourage trade opportunities and expand international business education. Very good meta-index . I particularly liked their general resources and articles sections.
17) Federation of International Trade Associations
The Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA), fosters international trade by strengthening the role of local, regional, and national associations throughout the United States that have an international mission. Very much US focused but includes an excellent meta-index on international trade resources.
18) Profit Clinic
The Profit Clinic describes itself as an "innovative, entrepreneurial, free-wheeling, subversive, no-bull, no-frills, USEFUL site for Small Business" and indeed it is as unorthodox as can be, and very useful as well. A very good site full of australian humor.
19) OneWorld Online: Microfinance
OneWorld Online is a partnership: over 100 organisations working for human rights and sustainable development. They provide news and comments on a wide variety of themes including microfinance. Interesting articles.
20) ADA & CEREX-LUX
ADA is an NGO located in Luxemburg while CEREX-LUX is a research centre on microfinance aiming to promote information exchange as well as expertise on microfinance related issues. New and promising site. Do not miss the section on Newsbriefs which include interesting e-mail addresses.
21) InvestorGuide
InvestorGuide is a complete resource for anyone wanting to use the web to improve their investments and personal finances. The site offers organized, annotated links to thousands of other investing sites. What I liked most is the fact that it covers investment, personal finances and learning. An excellent site.
22) Encyclopedia of the New Economy
When we talk about the new economy, we're talking about a world in which people work with their brains instead of their hands. A world in which communications technology creates global competition A world in which innovation is more important than mass production. A world in which investment buys new concepts or the means to create them, rather than new machines. A world in which rapid change is a constant. A world so different its emergence can only be described as a revolution." From Wired's magazine Encyclopedia of the New Economy. Quite interesting, and as could be expected, thought provoking.
23) Dow Jones Business Directory
The Directory is published by Dow Jones & Company, Inc., the world's leading publisher of business news and information in every form of media, and provides a guide to high quality websites. Sites are evaluated using four criteria: content, speed, navigation and design and reviews are very thorough. As could be expected the emphasis is on the US and on financial related matters. A very good site which could gain from a broader international perspective.
*****************************************************************************
If you have sites to suggest for review, please let me know. If you have comments or suggestions on the way ENTERWeb should evolve, don't hesitate and drop me a line, and finally don't forget to tell your colleagues and friends about ENTERWeb. The more feedback I receive the better it will be.
Happy browsing
Jean-Claude Lorin ENTER-L owner ENTERWeb webmaster <mailto: mailto:jlorin@synapse.net> <http://www.enterweb.org/>