With unemployment stuck at or near double digits, more people seem to be choosing a passion over a steady paycheck. These people are taking matters into their own hands and defining their own jobs. The big question is whether this trend can evolve into a sustainable engine of economic growth. Two technological developments—cloud computing and social networking—have the potential to make that possible. Full Article.  

Clifford Moller, executive director of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority: "Facebook, YouTube, Twitter -- that is marketing in the 21st century." Moller once regarded social networks as being "just for children." He says otherwise now. Full Article.  

When you stop to think about it, the rules of social networking are really about being a good person—basic human behavior that even a child can understand. Most of what small business leaders need to know about being "social" online, they learned in kindergarten, such as sharing with others, treating others the way you want to be treated, etc. Full Article. 

If you run a business, chances are pretty good that a few of your customers are posting their opinions about it on the dozen or so Web sites that review local businesses across the country. In a 2007 comScore study, 24% of respondents said they looked at an online review before making an offline service, and more than three-quarters of respondents call online reviews "influential" in their purchase decision process. Full Article.