1. General Electric - Country: U.S., Overall score: 8.24, Rank among Electronics: 1

2. Toyota Motor - Country: Japan, Overall score: 7.18, Rank among Motor Vehicles: 2

3. Procter & Gamble - Country: U.S., Overall score: 8.36, Rank among Household and Personal Products : 1

4. Johnson & Johnson - Country: U.S., Overall score: 7.53, Rank among Pharmaceuticals: 2

5. Apple - Country: U.S., Overall score: 7.45, Rank among Computers: 2

6. Berkshire Hathaway - Country: U.S., Overall score: 8.28, Rank among Insurance: Property and Casualty: 1

7. FedEx - Country: U.S., Overall score: 8.41, Rank among Delivery : 1

8. Microsoft - Country: U.S., Overall score: 7.03, Rank among Computers: 3

9. BMW - Country: Germany, Overall score: 7.38, Rank among Motor Vehicles: 1

10 PepsiCo - Country: U.S., Overall score: 7.62, Rank among Consumer Food Products: 2

Source: Fortune

Bad or negative press doesn’t only happen in the newspapers or on TV. In this digital age, companies and businesses also experience bad publicity online. And as most bad press go, they undermine whatever positive authority the company or business has and can even make it on top of the SERPs!

When faced with this problem, what does an internet marketer have to do to retain a good image of the company or business?

There are two ways:

1. Focus on keywords that bring positive images to your website and company.

We all know the power of keywords. When bad press is associated with a keyword or keyword phrase you’ve been using, you’ll want to stop optimizing on those keywords. But people will most likely type in your brand name or company name as a keyword or keyword phrase to search with. It would be a good idea to optimize on this keyword or keyword phrase and drive in brand-friendly hits. In focusing on your brand name or company name as your keyword or keyword phrase, you’ll be optimizing on the product or service that you are meant to optimize, and as you build on the good image of your website or company with this you are pushing the negative press down the search results.

Create more good press and positive reviews using keyword or keyword phrase you have opted to use. Press release come in handy in these times too.

2. Link building

The bad or negative press is usually pushed to the top because of link building. The online community can spread rumors and links throughout the Web and this would boost the link’s ranking in the search engines. As a counterattack, why not do the same with your positive press? It would be an SEO battle between the bad press and the good press.

Using SEO against SEO, this could only mean that you employ better SEO techniques than what the bad press is based on. In optimizing your positive press through link building, make sure that your content is constantly updated and fresh.

You can also go to the sources of the bad press and make a request that they include rebuttal links. This will result to an additional link from their website to yours, which helps with link building and more exposure to the users who come upon that website.

We can see that SEO can be very influential in terms of the publicity given to companies and websites. A company’s reputation and image can either be pulled up or put down by SEO.

Global brands are now redefining their advertising strategies by focusing more on their business objective of making sales and profits. Creativity isn’t going to help if it won’t garner sales. As a result, focusing on generating return on investment is embedded on the the different branding campaigns, online branding campaigns not excluded.

Online branding campaigns, though, are hard to measure to determine conversion rates and performance. But it is not entirely impossible. E-consultancy gives some channels online wherein the online branding campaigns can be accounted as effective or not:

1. Rich Media Interactions

User interactions with flash and videos can be determined by mouse-over, banners, videos played, dwell time and response.

2. Clicks and Landings

Big global companies could create a microsite that would attract participation from the users. It may be about gossip or tips (related to the global brand). Every click made to the site will be trackable and user response can be measured.

3. Coupon Redemption

Printable coupons that are redeemed in the stores of the global brand companies shows how effective the branding campaign is. It is an effective measure of success at point of purchase.

4. Social Networking

Social networking sites have proven their effectiveness in generating traffic and attracting visitors. With social networking sites, you can ask for reviews, make polls and surveys, and develop word-of-mouth advertising through the online community.

5. Post-purchase Follow-up

Follow up on the users who cater to the products by asking them to drop by your website for free goodies or more sales. This will develop brand advocacy and cross sell opportunity. You’ll be able to narrow down your target market for future advertising campaigns.

Here’s a video that shows you different websites that offer cheap website designs and solutions. These sites are especially helpful to small businesses that seek affordable website design sites.

Webmaster companies do not always provide the specific tasks of their employees to the clients. The companies would usually just provide general methodologies in search engine marketing. This way, the client knows what to expect (even in general terms) and the company gets to keep their tactics their core competency.

Webmaster and SEO companies usually keep their methods to themselves to maintain their position of helping their clients achieve high rankings and boosting sales. Search engine marketing skills are easy to learn and master, and webmaster and SEO companies risk losing their clients once these clients know how to do it all by themselves.

But well-taught and experienced SEO personnel can be hard to find, and both the companies and clients want their personnel to reach this level of work experience and expertise. This would create not just detailed reports from the company about the skills and progress of their personnel. Clients would also want to be informed of the capabilities and progress of their agents. With both the company and the clients vying for the same thing, it is only reasonable that the client also knows of the different and specific tasks that their agents do. While this may seem a little risky for the company, it also has the positive outcome of making all parties concerned more productive.

There can be a lot gained from sharing knowledge to the clients. First of all, SEO tactics constantly evolve. By sharing knowledge with the clients, both the company and the client can think of creative new ways to improve and implement successful strategies. Another reason for this knowledge sharing is to improve on the relationship with the clients. By sharing knowledge and insights, the company and client are both establishing a long-term partnership.

Sharing knowledge and learning more about each other will also help in customizing the SEO methodologies needed to be done for the client. In getting to know the client, the company may find that a certain SEO method may not be the best method for the client. Reversibly, the client may find that the company may have some flaws in their methodologies and would be glad for the help they can get from the client. The clients can help the companies in looking after the changes and developments in the industry, at the same time helping to improve on the methodologies of the SEO company.

1. Build and focus on your global brand and vision.

When you can see that a product or service can be served on a global scale and that everyone can enjoy from it, then that’s a start. Begin with that vision. A business is not complete without a vision and a mission, after all. Focus on building on that and develop your brand with it.

2. Raise and invest in money.

Capital is essential in any kind of business venture. Start with your own network of acquaintances in raising money for the start of your business if you cannot generate money for yourself. Make an opportunity to meet the people who you think are right to be in the business with you. Convince them that there can be no loss for them for this venture.

As much as possible, look for people who are involved in global startups because these people are often in safe jobs and have nothing crucial to lose. People like these are also interested in new business ventures.

3. Be different and better.

Being different sets you apart. Be unique ad you will be recognized. In the business world, this can give you your core competency and a distinct advantage over others. But that’s not all to it if you want to be successful. When you do things, you make sure that you do them better.

4. Use great systems to complement your business.

Even the smallest of businesses have a their own simple system and tools. Your global business is no exception. And with a global business, it cannot be just any system and tools. To compete in the global market, you’ll have to achieve the worldwide standards — e.g fast communication, top-of-the-line security, etc. Great systems like these can ensure you some of the foothold you need to stay in the business.

Don’t forget that in making these systems and in using these tools, you adhere to efficiency and effectivity. A lot of companies also bring down their expenses and concentrate on improving their systems to make them more cost-efficient.

5. Protect your brand.

Your brand should be protected. It’s what your business is all about in the first place. You should be prepared for future risks to protect it. Believing in the business is to believe in the brand and you have to stand up for it. The product may be as simple and as small like a straw or a pill. But it’s your brand and to stay in the global market is to protect it.

6. Protect and improve on your operations

Being a global business you are prone to many competitors wanting to know how you do your operations. To be more discreet on the operations and processes, companies usually split manufacturing and other procedures across countries. You could have formulas made in one country, then ship some of it to another country for processing, and some of it to another country for another treatment. In doing so, take into account the countries benefits and disadvantages. For example, one country you have in mind may have extensive but cheap labor force, and another country may be more technologically advanced than your other options.

7. Create and develop an innovative distribution model

To reach the global market, logistics and distribution channels are taken into careful consideration. How do you reach this part of the world? How can your customer be ensured of a speedy transaction?

To solve this problem, global companies apply their own innovative distribution model. They could give license to people across the world to help you sell your products. With this kind of negotiation, both of you will have profits to gain.

To help you put that into action, Freyvogel offers ten ways you can start strengthening your business relationships in the upcoming year.

1. Be familiar with your co-worker as much as you can,especially the one you work with Then, act on that knowledge. Also, You need to know about your customers, vendors and employees too so that when their needs change, you can be there to provide them with what they need to stay happy with your business.

2. Treat your vendors like honorary employees. It’s important to build good relationships with the people who who service you or your company regularly. This means anyone from the package delivery guy who stops by every day to the materials supplier who keeps your warehouse stocked to the designer who keeps your website updated.

3. Research on everyone’s birthday. Greeting somebody on their special day, already means a lot.

4. Create strong ties among your among your employees and your business. Encourage a sense of ownership ain them.. As if they own a stock in the business since they are the one facing your customers everyday. Inspiring your employees to love your business as much as you do will strengthen your company’s foundation and your business will be that much more likely to survive setbacks and grow to great heights.

5. Have one-on-one conversations with your customers to find out what you can do better. Most of the time unsatisfied customers don’t approach you with a detailed list of the things they’d like for you to improve on. They just leave you for one of your better-equipped competitors. Therefore, you must set aside some time to ask them what they need from you.

6. Be aware of your monthly loan payment. Be sure your start-up loan payments are on time, no matter what. Always have enough money in your account to make your monthly loan payments when they’re due. It’s also a good idea to set up a separate emergency account and make sure you put something in it every month — someday you’ll be glad you did. You don’t want to gain a reputation with your bank as someone who doesn’t make loan payments on time. Staying close to your bankers can also help you secure your finances. Set up a safety system with them to ensure that all of your deposits are going through in a timely manner.

7. Communicate with your mentors frequently. Think about those people who gave you valuable advice when you were starting a business, or that person you call immediately when you need advice. Build a close relationship with her so that she is willing to go that extra mile to help you build your business.

8. Learn to appreciate a job well done. Everyone likes to be commended for a great job, especially your employees. Try implementing an employee of the month scheme and say “Thanks for the great job!”, never miss an opportunity to give your employees the recognition they deserve. And when a client compliments an employee’s work, never steal the credit indeed, be sure to pass the glowing review along to the rightful owner! And let everyone in the company know. It’s good for morale to know that recognition might be coming their way some time in the future.

9. Learn to reach out with the people you count on. It is very important for you to be flexible when those around you run into problems and need to change their schedules since this could affect your business. Maybe one of your vendors needs to make a delivery earlier or later than normal or maybe an employee has to leave to take care of a family problem.

10. Provide everything that your employees need to do their jobs. Nothing frustrates a high-performing employee more than having to struggle to do his job because he doesn’t have the right computer program or because he must make do with faulty equipment.
Above all, It is always important that no matter how determined, hardworking, and talented you may be, you can’t be a successful entrepreneur all by yourself. It takes a village to run a company. Never forgetting that fact is critical to your success. And learn to value the services being offered to you by your employees and give importance to your customers.

Source: AllBusiness

He’s interest in life after high school was politics. But this all has changed when on his sophomore he was falsely accused of shoplifting got kicked out of a Worcester convenience store. Two years after he earned MBA & took a job working for a chain in Boston called the Original Cookie Co.That was when he found his second interest that led him to putting up Au Bon Pain, an East Coast bakery chain that grew from three stores into a $200 million a year company. Many thought Shaich was crazy when, in 1999, he sold Au Bon Pain to concentrate on developing Panera (Charts), its small bakery division. But today Panera is the country’s 17th largest food-service company, boasting some 1,115 U.S. locations and annual revenue of $1.9 billion.

The Company Ethos water was founded by Peter Thum a 23.6-ounce bottle festooned with a map of the world. He always dreamed of providing clean drinking water to third world countries by selling expensive bottled water in the West. His idea was simple: For every bottle sold, Ethos would donate part of the profit to clean-water initiatives in developing countries such as Honduras and Kenya. After three years of bootstrapping a concept that repelled most investors, Thum sold Ethos to Starbucks for $7.7 million in 2005. Already Ethos’s per bottle donations have increased by 263%. By 2010, Ethos plans to give at least $10 million by 2010 to nonprofits that fund safe-water projects.

He spent 13 years of working at his parent’s spice shop in milwaukee. Instead of taking over his family’s business, he came into putting up his own spice company securing first orders from hand made mail order catalog. Now, its revenue ranges tens of millions of dollars. With 270 employees, 600,000 mail-order customers, and 32 retail stores (up from five in 2001, with four more opening by the end of this year), Penzey, 44, has built a fast-growing, innovative company in what was regarded as a sleepy niche of the food industry.

Long before holstered cellphones appeared on handymen’s belts, an interesting gadget has captured everyone’s heart the Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool. Within three months of its first listing in a mail-order catalog, the multifunctional gizmo became essential for thousands of hikers, hunters, and knife enthusiasts. Since then, Leatherman tools have blasted into space with NASA astronauts, severed umbilical cords on newborns, and extracted shrapnel from American troops in Iraq. As founder Tim Leatherman tells it, the idea behind his company grew out of a routine car breakdown. With his wife,they spent most of 1975 touring Europe and Asia in a used Fiat. Its hoses leaked and the wiring failed constantly, and Leatherman’s generic pocketknife lacked the means to fix them. Inspiration struck: Why not add pliers to a pocketknife? By the time the couple returned to the U.S., Leatherman had sketched out a design. A few weeks later he was using his brother-in-law’s machining tools to construct the first prototype. Now, they have 350-employee and sells about 2.5 million units a year of 36 models in 80 countries, from Germany to Mongolia. By December the company plans to introduce five new products.

For Bobby Rahal, the 500 has become a personal tradition he competed 20 races and won both as a driver, in 1986, and as an owner, in 2004, when his team, which he co-owns with talk-show host David Letterman, took the checkered flag. Last year Rahal Letterman entered rookie driver Danica Patrick, who became the first woman to lead the race and finished fourth. But,The team suffered a tragedy in March when Rahal’s No. 3 driver, Paul Dana, was killed in a crash during practice. “a black day for them.” Many racing fans may not realize that Rahal, 53, is an entrepreneur as well. He owns six car dealerships in Harrisburg, Pa., and the Pittsburgh area, representing 11 import brands. A lot of drivers have their names on dealerships, but Rahal, who opened his first outlet in 1989 while he was still racing, gets his hands dirty in every aspect of the business.

Source: Fortune Small Business

1.Easy Money - Richard Branson’s new firm, Virgin Money, will change the face of finance by replacing inflexible loans from big banks with a more personal, nimble approach to lending.

2.Putting the zoom in electric cars - For the first time since the early 20th century, America is seeing a flowering of entrepreneurship in the auto industry. At least 11 new electric car companies, each working on a wide range of technologies, have launched or plan to launch models. These upstarts are not modest. They believe they can do what major automakers have failed to do: bring an electric car to the mass market.

3.A greener charcoal - Walter has started a company called Bagazo to sell low-cost charcoal briquettes made from plant waste to his countrymen. Bagazo is Spanish for “bagasse,” or sugar cane waste, but corn cobs and banana leaves can also be used in Walter’s process. The waste material is carbonized, mixed with a binder, pressed into briquettes, and allowed to dry. The result burns far cleaner and longer than wood.

4.JetPack - Troy Widgery’s company, JetPack International, has spent the past two years developing a device that fulfills those Jetsons-era fantasies - and can keep you airborne for all of nine minutes.

5.Wi-Fly - Should you be doing a lot more business at 35,000 feet in 2008, you’ll have Jack Blumenstein to thank. The CEO of Denver-based AirCell has inked deals with American Airlines and Virgin America to bring wireless Internet access to their aircraft, starting in the first half of 2008.

6.Weedy wine - Not every farmer gives up precious soil space to plants that aren’t his crop. Still fewer bury cow horns beneath flower beds or treat vines with teas made from fermented Holstein manure. But Tunnell, 58, is not your average vintner. In early 2008 he will become one of the first in the U.S. to sell a wine that’s certified as made in an entirely biodynamic vineyard.

7.Real estate in ‘08 - Expect tremors to keep shaking the real estate market along multiple fault lines in 2008.

8.Dash Navigation – Dreaming of a magic box in your car that could tell you anything you wanted to know about your daily commute, Your magic box will be in stores starting July 2008 that could inform you where the cheapest gas is and how could you avoid traffic.

Source: CNN Money

For the past 25 years has been a continues growth of US economy powered by innovative companies which led by these top influential business leaders:

1. Bill Gates, Microsoft
Co-Founded Microsoft then he had top business tactics for PC operating systems and gives away his $56 billion fortune.

2. Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve chairman
He has controlled over the longest economic expansion in U.S. History. And His words became famous over global markets and out of the office.

3. Steve Jobs, Apple
He Co-founded Apple and was out forced in a boardroom coup last 1985. Also he bought pixar the animation company. He then returned to Apple in 1997.

4. Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google founders
Both of them graduated at Stanford University and founded Google in 1998. They have grown so fast that they dominate online searches and advertising. -

5. Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines
chairman of the growing low-cost airline Southwest’s service nationwide over the past 25 years then he made a fun loving corporate culture that has changed the flying experience for a lot of people on top of saving them billions on fares.

Source: USA Today