LinkedIn Releases One-Click Endorsements for Professional Skills

Have you suddenly been receiving a lot of endorsements?  There's an explanation for that.

LinkedIn recently launched a new feature called Endorsements. The feature allows LinkedIn users to endorse their connections on a specific skill or area of expertise with one click, instead of needing to write a whole review.

And visitors are prompted to leave endorsements as soon as they go to the LinkedIn site.  Here's what the new feature looks like:

The result?  It's now super simple and fast to endorse your connections.  And it is now more likely that YOU will receive endorsements.

How the new LinkedIn Endorsements works

When you visit the LinkedIn profile of one of your connections, you will see a big blue box prepopulated with a list of their skills (examples: entrepreneurship, or online marketing).  You just click to endorse one or more of them.  It's also just one click to remove any skills you don't wish to endorse (click the little x next to the listed skill to remove it from the endorsement box).

If you know of other skills the person has that aren't listed, you can type them in manually. Then that person can accept those suggestions and add them to his or her profile page.

LinkedIn already has a Like feature that lets users give a one-click thumbs-up to posts in groups or status updates. But the Endorse feature is meant specifically for skills.  Unlike status updates or posts, it stays on your main page instead of being pushed out over time as you add more status updates.

When you receive an endorsement, you'll be sent an email as well as a notification on LinkedIn. All of the people who have endorsed you will be visible at the bottom of your profile page.  Their thumbnail picture appears next to the skill they endorsed you for.

The pros and cons of LinkedIn Endorsements

This move creates even more opportunities for LinkedIn users to connect with one another and add credibility to their profiles.

• Validation of your skills - An endorsement from another user you've worked with in the past can help validate the skills you've listed for yourself.  It shows potential employers, partners, or clients that others recognize you're good at core skills.
• Data for employers to screen during recruiting - Likewise, if you are a small business owner or manager who is recruiting potential employees or partners, it gives you another data point.  If one person has 5 endorsements for a skill or capability you consider crucial, versus another person who doesn't, you may decide to reach out to the one with the endorsements.  It's just one more data point signifying that the person actually has the necessary skills and expertise he or she has listed.
• Forge stronger bonds - Endorsements can forge stronger bonds with connections who endorse you.  After all, it's a nice shot in the arm to receive an endorsement, and know that your connections recognize and appreciate your skills.  You probably will get a warm feeling whenever you think of someone who cared enough to endorse you.  And after you receive an endorsement you will be asked if you want to reciprocate - again, another opportunity to forge a bond with that person.

The downsides?  The biggest downside is that the new Endorsements feature doesn't lend itself to much depth.  But consider the new LinkedIn skills endorsements as a starting point, rather than a replacement, for employment screening  or a full recommendation.

For now, LinkedIn Endorsements as a feature is just available in English across the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Endorsements are expected to roll out to all users and all languages over the next few weeks.

Check Out This List! Small Business and Entrepreneur Contests

We are back again with our bi-weekly listing of small business and entrepreneur contests and awards.  Check it out!

Dell $100M Innovators Credit Fund
Ongoing

Dell has launched a $100 million Innovators Credit Fund, with the purpose of helping entrepreneurs “maximize potential for innovation, speed to market and job creation.” The credit fund will offer both funding and technology resources with IT support, depending on what each start-up needs.

To be eligible, you must have already received some angel funding or venture capital before you can apply. Start-ups can get up to 10% of its current funding or up to $150,000 with limited credit terms. See website for details and application.

The Big Reboot
Multiple Contests & Entry Dates

Toshiba, Intel and Staples have teamed up to help small businesses share their stories and win thousands of dollars in new technology. Throughout 2012, they will award $10,000 technology makeovers to American businesses and free Intel-powered Ultrabooks to the people who support them.

Categories include Powering Knowledge, Powering Innovation, Powering Service, Powering Products, and Powering Good. See website for details and entry guidelines.

Best Places to Work in Connecticut
Enter by October 5, 2012

To be eligible for consideration, companies must meet the following criteria:
Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity
Be a publicly or privately held business
Have a facility in the state of Connecticut
Have a minimum of 15 employees working in the state of Connecticut*
Must be in business a minimum of 1 year

MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series
Enter by October 26, 2012

The 2012-2013 MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series (MUES) business plan competition is now open and accepting entries.

Since 1999, MillerCoors has invested more than $1.7 million in the dreams of entrepreneurs. This year brings new opportunities for entrepreneurs like you. Enter your business plan for a chance to vie for a $50,000 business grant and potentially become a MillerCoors supplier.

 

StartupNation Home-Based 100 Competition
Enter by October 31, 2012

The fifth annual StartupNation Home-Based 100 Competition is now open and accepting entries. The Competition is a ranking of outstanding home businesses and the amazing people behind them. With more than 18 million home-based businesses in the United States, StartupNation's competition is aimed at celebrating the most successful businesses in this important segment of the market. Entries are accepted until the end of October. The 100 winners will be published in mid-December 2012. Winners can receive priceless exposure in the media and be positioned to take their business to the next level.

The Small Business Challenge
Enter by October 31, 2012

The Small Business Challenge is a way for companies to compete for up to $50,000 in cash & prizes, while creating new jobs in the USA. Starting September 1st, you can register, nominate or vote for your favorite small business & help create new jobs in America.

Eligible Small Businesses can compete for $25k prize value (1st Place), $15k prize value (2nd Place), and $10k prize value (3rd Place) to help create new jobs in America.

FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
Enter by November 24, 2012

Grow your business with a small business grant of up to $25,000.
Entering is simple. Click the contest registration button below and submit your business story and photo by November 17. Once your application is approved, you can vote for yourself once a day â€" and get all your friends, customers, and associates to vote as well â€" through November 24.
Winners will be chosen from the top 100 companies in the contest based on how compelling your story is and how many votes you can get for your business. So tell us your story today, and you could walk away with up to $25,000 to invest in your business.

Infusionsoft Battle of the Apps
Enter by December 31, 2012

Do you have a great idea for an Infusionsoft App, integration or plug-in that will enhance the Infusionsoft user experience? Then you have a shot at being crowned the Kick Apps Champion in the Battle of the Apps 2013. First prize is $10,000. See website for details.

Shopify Build-A-Business Competition
Enter by December 31, 2012

Shopify has teamed up with four world-class entrepreneurs to
help you build a million-dollar business in just months. Come up with a product to sell, open your online store and pick a mentor. The Shopify community and your mentor will give you great advice and guidance along the way. At the end of the competition, the four stores that sell the most over a two month period will each win a $50,000 investment from their mentor.

The list of awards and competitions is brought to you by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.

To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit our Small Business Events Calendar.
If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through our Small Business Event and Contests Form (it's free).

Please note: The descriptions provided here are for convenience only and are NOT the official rules. ALWAYS read official rules carefully at the site holding the competition, contest or award.

Bank on app alert

Don't upgrade your iPhone software, Kiwibank customers told>

Kiwibank was forced to text its customers asking them not to upgrade to the newest iPhone software - because its app couldn't handle it.

And it wasn't the only Kiwi company that stumbled at the hurdle when the new software was released last week; accounting software firm Xero had the same trouble.

Kiwibank spokesman Bruce Thompson said the problem affected businesses worldwide.

"A late change in Apple's rollout of its new operating system iOS6 on Wednesday night changed the way Safari caches web services - and it had a global effect," Thompson said.

"It meant that customers who had upgraded their Apple device to iOS6 had customer experience issues with cached balances and some authentication problems."

He said there was no financial risk to customers.

"Once we noticed the issue, we got in touch with all affected customers and gave them a workaround, and put in a full fix on Friday. We also got in contact with customers using Facebook and Twitter over those couple of days. There are no further issues with our app on iOS6."

Xero spokesman Matt Vickers wrote on the company's blog: "Unfortunately, iOS 6 appears to have caused some problems with the most recent version of Xero Touch, which is affecting access via the iOS app and via the browser.

"We'll be submitting an upgrade to fix the problem as soon as we can and it will be available as soon as Apple approves it." An update was done that did not require a release to the App Store, but customers were told to reinstall the Xero Touch app if they were still having trouble.

Apple referred queries to the companies themselves.

FWeb developer Iain Spanhake, who was not responsible for the Kiwibank or Xero apps, said it was likely an error by the software giant.

"By the looks of it, it is Apple's fault as the bug is 'embedded' within the new version of their Safari web browser, so it is an error that Apple needs to sort quickly ... An update should be posted in the App Store shortly so when people update, the problem should be fixed."

He said most apps tried to send and receive multiple data "packets" at once, but the bug allowed only one at a time, causing delays.

"A lot of people have been complaining of seeing a little spinning icon on their screens - that's the web app trying to talk to the server, but only sending and receiving one data packet at a time."

By Susan Edmunds | Email Susan

Internet scan finds thousands of device flaws, system weaknesses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- A scan of the Internet over 20 days has yielded terabytes of data and also some alarming weaknesses including misconfigured routers, vulnerability riddled databases and more than 1,000 exposed passwords.

The Internet has gone from this nebulous scary thing that's hard to map to … something that you can gain lot of interesting insight by analyzing information like this.

HD Moore, Metasploit creator, CSO, Rapid7

It's a project that HD Moore calls his hobby. The Internet-wide survey looked for open TCP ports, SNMP system descriptions, MDNS responders, UPNP endpoints and NetBIOS name queries. At the DerbyCon security conference here, Moore told a packed room of hundreds of attendees that the project has resulted in a treasure-trove of data that is continually being analyzed. Computing power has increased and costs have come down to enable mapping projects and data correlation, Moore said.

"The Internet has gone from this nebulous scary thing that's hard to map to … something that you can gain lot of interesting insight by analyzing information like this," Moore said.  "Resources have caught up with scalability of how we use computers."

Moore, the creator of the popular pen testing platform Metasploit and currently chief security officer at Boston-based vulnerability management vendor Rapid7, has been railing against misconfigured systems and remote access weaknesses.  Internet-enabled devices such as routers and video conferencing systems are often deployed at home or in enterprises with default passwords and configurations that can often be a weak point for attackers, he said.  

Moore described some of the results of the project in a blog post in June which highlighted a number of those video conferencing weaknesses. At the conference, he told attendees that any one of them can conduct similar analysis and spot weaknesses and configuration issues. For example, his analysis found more than 43 million devices exposing Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to the Internet. SNMP is used to remotely configure devices. If exposed it can be used by an attacker to gain access to network traffic and detect other vulnerabilities on a system.

The scan also enabled Moore to conduct analysis of the number of MySQL database management systems still vulnerable to a dangerous authentication bypass vulnerability, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by repeatedly authenticating with the same incorrect password. The flaw, which was patched by Oracle, offers instant data loss to attackers if the issue is not addressed, Moore said. The number of systems still vulnerable to the attack is down from the more than 3 million systems that were initially impacted, but Moore said a check in August found more than 90,000 exposed.

Cisco routers were among the most exposed since most people ignore their routers until they break, Moore said. With more than 40 security advisories a year coming from the networking giant, it is difficult to keep up, he said. The analysis determined that the average router has over 60 flaws.

The scan also yielded SSH exposure on F5 BIG-IP system hardware and software. More than 13,500 BigIP appliances were identified as being configured with SSH open, Moore said.

More than 1,000 exposed passwords to database drivers, email clients, point-of-sale systems and retail B2B and eCommerce systems were also uncovered by the scan. HTTP cookie analysis identified specific cookie sessions and further analysis could yield random Web application zero-day flaws, Moore said.

The project has landed Moore on the top attacker's list at the SANS Internet Storm Center's DShield monitoring site. He's had to handle more than 1,700 abuse complaints and 1 out of every 5 ISPs have formally blocked the project from scanning their servers.

"Scanning the Internet annoys people," Moore said. "You can scan the entire Internet with one probe in about 7 hours."

The $100 Startup Informs And Inspires Lean Startups

Start up books can lead your business to success…if you pick the right one.  Selecting the right one is like getting a band to play together. Ask Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith or any member of Fleetwood Mac, for that matter, and you get the idea.  Great music is created when all the pieces come together, but it can be hell getting the pieces arranged.

In the business world, few books really tackle all the ins and outs of microbusiness and lean start up concepts. One that seems to get it is the new book The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make A Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau (@chrisguillebeau).

Chris is a well-travelled business evangelist who wrote a New York Times best seller The Art of Non Conformity.   I picked up a copy of his latest book. And after reading it, I felt it to be a good match for those starting a business. An entrepreneur will be hard pressed to find a better, more concise guide that offers solid tips in a concise manner.

What is $100 worth to an entrepreneur?

$100 Startup incorporates some of the bold image framework used in Rework but offers even deeper text through anecdotes and examples from accidental entrepreneurs successful at spending less than what many people spend on coffee (thus the title's inspiration).

It's this mix of depth but straightforward simplicity that sets the book in its own functional universe of business advice. The refreshing aspect for the reader is that the book offers suggestions that quickly get to the heart of why your business should exist, avoiding certain problems or poor choices as a result.

For example, many businesses have difficulty marketing their offerings because owners haven't thought about what the benefits of their service is.  So Guillebeau offers an opening lesson for business building that spells out the needs for the reader's passion to converge with what others care about â€" imagine two circles overlapping.

This may sound like a duh-big-deal moment regarding matching offerings to customer demand, but Guillebeau emphasizes the notion that not every idea needs to be super sexy to be profitable and attainable.   He also proposes the idea of skill transfer, refining the product or service so that it is specific offer:

“If you're good at one thing you're probably good at other things too. Many projects begin through a process of skills transformation in which you apply your knowledge to a related topic.”

One perspective that caught my attention was the segment The Rise of the Roaming Entrepreneur.  I still think we have instances where being in some locations make a difference, but Guillebeau makes a point about how infused many services and concepts are to the cloud and what it ultimately means to operate a business that fits one's passion as well as a customer service.

How far can $100 go beyond passion?

There is an analytic aspect that belies the presented suggestions. I personally like anything that encourages reviewing your performance in your goals, and the suggestions here are no exception.  The suggestions also become healthy thought starters to make a business go further.  Check out the comment below:

“Regardless of your growth strategy, you'll want to pay attention to the health of your business.  The best way to do this is with a two-pronged strategy:

Step 1: Select one or two metrics and be aware of them at any given time, focusing on sales, cash flow, or incoming leads

Step 2: Leave everything else for a biweekly or monthly review where you delve into the overall business more careful.”

Guillebeau then goes into mentioning a few of the standard metrics used in a business.  This serves a point behind the book â€" to get past the cliché of doing what you love into learning how to apply that love. I liked that $100 Start Up made the explanation simple but essential for the non-SQL/Google Analytics/accounting crowd, even if more is probably needed down the line.

The middle chapters get into launch mode, incorporating the latest ideas for crowdfunding and creating a killer offer. The chapter titles can sound a bit “Your-dream-awaits” in their approach, but this book is meant to bring hope that your analytic approach should yield worthwhile rewards.

If you just have an idea for a business, The $100 Startup makes for one useful here's-what-to-do-next guide.  It avoids excessive used-car-salesman tactics and bad judgment behind concepts that unfortunately litter the Internet.  Guillebeau displays class in noting how a good mix of information and inspiration can bring the right elements for success in place.

Now if he could just do the same for rock bands….