Leader
Unclaimed money
There's a frightening amount of money unclaimed and awaiting collection, about $458 million at last count. Are you one of the 500,000 Australians who’s owed something? Find out here. 
How to write a mission statement
This video by Dan Heath over at Fast Company shows you exactly how the mission statement of a small business goes from tasty to terrible in one brainstorming session.
Just how much are meetings costing you?
This basic, but very effective tool easily gives you the answer. Simply tell it how many people are in attendance, their daily rate and the clock starts ticking. Very, very scary! 
Any procrastinating writers here?
Thought so. This little site is a corker. Select how many words you're trying to write, your deadline and punishment mode and you'll get some pretty sharp reminders if you start to slack off. 
Need a financial health check?
Superannuation advice, budget planners and tips for saving are all on offer at the Understanding Money website. This Government operated site provides real back to basics information on how to, err, understand money. 
Font of all knowledge
Not sure what your default font should be? This site is sure to help. Simply paste in some text, choose from hundreds of different fonts and take your pick! 
Feeling demotivated?
The motivation industry has had its day in the sun. How's this for a contradictory view? Despair.com's demotivators claim to 'increase success by lowering expectations.'
Office pod
We want one. Well half a dozen, actually. These office pods have got to be the coolest little workspaces we’ve seen. They look so yummy in the garden.
18 smokin' hot business cards
If you’re just starting up or looking to redesign your business cards, here is a wealth of inspiration from our friends at Freelance Switch.
Wordle on the street
This cool free tool at www.Wordle.net generates funky looking word clouds based on your website or selected text. You can even try different colour schemes and layouts.
Hot or cold?
Stay up to date with the climate debate on this site. Great for those pro action and sceptics, it lists calls to action and dissenting voices from around the world.
Are you free?
If you struggle getting small groups of people together for a meeting, this little gizmo may help. It certainly saves on the email tennis.
Get help from the crowd
The Flying Solo forums are where you can talk and network freely. If you're looking for help, seeking a referral, or just itching to share some news or knowledge, there's a mob of supporters here.
Someone trying to empty your pockets?
SCAMwatch will help you recognise, report and protect yourself from scams that target you or your small business.
Want to get your articles out there?
ArticlePR features a free list of article submission sites or article banks, to which you can submit your articles in order for them to be distributed far and wide.
Keep it simple, silly
More often than not, a soloist’s life is about multi tasking and coping with complexity. If this sounds like you, our friends at Freelance Switch have some worthwhile tips: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Freelance Life.
Calling all Flying Solo fans!
If you're an active networker or involved in any small business groups, we'd love you to get involved in our snappy little promotional program. Find out more. 
Who's following you?
Twitter fans may like Twittersheep, which tells you which kinds of folk are following you. Give it a go! 
When it all gets too much
When it all gets too much. A big thanks to web developer, Simon for this little gem. Apparently it’s where he heads when clients drive him nuts.
Save (on) your energy
Make It Cheaper provides a free service that helps you ditch and switch energy providers. There’s a handy blog with money saving tips, too.
Have you read our manifesto?
If you've yet to read Flying Solo the book, have a read of the Soloist's Manifesto to get a feel for what it's about. Alternatively, browse some reader reviews.
Anatomy of Australia’s micro business owner
Flying Solo’s Understanding Micro Business, 2010-2011 – Australia’s largest micro business survey takes the pulse of this critical business sector. Download the results now.
Get projects over the line
If you admire 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' (and who wouldn't?) and recognise you need some assistance to get over the finish line, this online goal tracker may well appeal.
Text for dummies
Ever wondered where to find that dummy text used by designers? The answer is here. Given it's a practice that's been around since the 1500s, this may not be the original source!
Impress your TED friends
There's no doubt that TED is a wonderful resource and we love it, but FORA is pretty awesome too. Enjoy a short movie with your morning tea.
Please help us spread the word!
If you enjoy your time on Flying Solo, you may like to tell others. Here are a number of ways you can do just that. The larger we get, the greater the combined wisdom. Thanks!
What say you?
Become a member
Join Flying Solo and start promoting your business in our member directory; post comments on articles and dive into the lively forum discussions. It's quick, free and easy. Join the community now!
Profile | Philip Shaw
Philip Shaw
Philip Shaw's mission is to show small businesses that it is possible to grow your business and blow away the competition without spending a fortune on marketing. He believes that by introducing sensible online marketing strategies, you don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to reach your market, you just have to be 'clever'.
Philip used to slave away in the big end of town where he worked primarily in strategy and business improvement. Now he applies his entrepreneurial skills with the best of how successful corporates operate to his clients' businesses.
With online marketing activity being so measurable, his financial and analytical experience provide a strong backbone to the online world - where each click, customer visit, and sales lead can be measured, analysed and improved on.
What gets measured, gets improved.
Articles by Philip
Targeting key business milestones
11 Jan 09Philip ShawSuccess is not about working long hours and weekends, it’s about actively targeting key business milestones in the form of key, or ‘springboard’ events. Here’s how these events can propel your business forward. Read more
Comments: 4Tips for successful Google AdWords campaigns
25 Sep 08Philip ShawGoogle AdWords can be the most profitable advertising you’ll ever do, provided you do it correctly. This article reviews three common mistakes businesses make when running their own Google AdWords campaigns. Read more
Comments: 17Five free SEO tools
15 Jul 08Philip ShawDoes your website rank well in search engines? While search engine optimisation (SEO) can often be confusing and time consuming, here are some useful free SEO tools to make it easier for you to improve your search engine rankings. Read more
Comments: 11Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) mistakes
04 May 08Philip ShawRanking highly in Google can have a massive impact on your sales leads. This article explains five common Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) mistakes which limit your ability to secure a high ranking, and how to avoid them. Read more
Comments: 14Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tips
17 Feb 08Philip ShawMy last article explained how search engine optimisation (SEO) works. Now I will discuss how to use keywords on your website to improve your ranking in search engines and how to get links from other websites to improve your credibility. Read more
Comments: 14How Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) works
13 Jan 08Philip ShawBeing easily found using Google and other search engines can impact the success of your business. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a way of increasing traffic to your website and ensuring your business ranks high in internet search results. Read more
Comments: 11Join the community! It’s free.
Flying Solo is Australia’s micro business community, where thousands of business owners connect, support and network. Become a member today and join in the fun!
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