Inc. Online Exclusives: November 2009

1.Pick the Greatest Entrepreneur of All Time

Bill Gates? John D. Rockefeller? Oprah Winfrey? Vote for the person you believe to be the greatest entrepreneur of all time from a list of 30 luminaries. You may also submit a write-in candidate. So far, readers have nominated entrepreneurs including:

A. James Hill: "Built a transcontinental railroad without government land subsidies."

B. James Cash Penney: "He provided work for many people in small cities who otherwise would not have had opportunities."

C. Hugh Hefner: "Because he made naughty nice for the masses. Because he wore pajamas to work. Because he encouraged his daughter to take over."

2. Use LinkedIn as a Sales Tool

Internet strategist Maisha Walker has written a series of blog posts that describe how business owners can use the popular business networking website to cultivate sales leads.

3. Join Our 16,000+ Followers on Twitter

Sample tweet (11:49 A.M. Sept. 8): Multitasking: An essential management skill or a bad habit? http://bit.ly/ZeVLs

4. Benchmark Profits Against Your Peers

Have you ever wanted to peek at your rivals' books? Now you can. In partnership with the research firm Sageworks, Inc.com has compiled updated financial data on privately held companies in more than a dozen industries. A calculator lets you see how your business stacks up.

5. Hone Your Pitch With George Foreman

The former heavyweight champion of the world has reinvented himself as one of America's most effective pitchmen. In a conversation with Inc.com, Foreman talks about what makes a great entrepreneur: "Someone who's never going to give up -- and who understands there's always something new and someone who's willing to buy it."

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