Google makes backups of websites all the time, and you can access that backup even when the live site isn’t letting you in.

Just go to Google.com then type in the search box the word cache: and the website.  Like so…

cache:ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com

And whammo, it’ll bring up a cached, backup version of the website.

SOURCE: This awesome tip comes courtesy of Mike Michalowicz over at www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com

Every person and business has a responsibility to reduce their environmental impact. That doesn’t mean you have to run or own a totally green business (though it’s awesome if you do!). It just means you need to do what you can to take less and give more.

Here are eight simple ways you can reduce your impact on the earth—and save a few bucks too. Some are easier or more obvious than others. All are worth doing.

1) See the Light

Yeah, I know you’ve heard it before, but if you haven’t already it’s time to switch to eco-friendly “Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs,” or CFLs. They cost a bit more, but they last much longer. Plus, they produce more light and less heat—making them especially nice in retail stores and hot climates. Stores have reported up to a 75% savings on their electric bill after making the switch!

**IMPORTANT: CFL bulbs contain mercury! Do not throw them in the garbage!! **

Instead, take them to a CFL recycling center like IKEA.

If you break a bulb, open the windows right away and leave the room for 15 minutes. Then pick up the shards with a wet paper towel, place them in a baggie and take them to a waste disposal site.

2) Print Green

Use recycled paper with the most post-consumer content possible. These days you can even get nice, heavy weight paper with 100% recycled content at any office supply store.

Print double-sided to save paper. And, when possible, reuse single-sided paper by printing on the back side. You’ll save money while saving trees.

Buy a printer that uses refillable cartridges. Otherwise, recycle cartridges for money back at Staples or other office supply stores. Or get a printer with long-life cartridges.

Most businesses can skip printing fancy brochures now. Instead, send prospects to your Website. There you can also offer a variety of white papers, books, ebooks and more via download rather than printing and mailing them.

3) Work Virtually

Do you really need to drive to that coffee meeting? Does everything really need to be done in-house by employees? Unless you’re in retail the answer is, “no”.

Cars burn gas and oil, create CO2 and other pollutants, and require us to build roads—using more petroleum. Plus, there’s no doubt driving in traffic sucks away time and adds stress.

Really, most client work can be done via phone, email and fax. It just takes some time to get over the habit of meeting in person. And chances are you can get more accomplished working with a Virtual Assistant than you ever do when you have someone in your office. I certainly do.

4) Step Away from the Car

Every entrepreneur needs to get away from the office and get some exercise. What better way than by walking or riding a bike to run errands?

Even riding the bus typically involves some walking, and it gets you out of stressful traffic.

My husband and I have been a one-car family for over a year and it works out fine. Some days he rides the bus or bike commutes. And if I’m going downtown, I ride the bus. That takes less time and costs less than trying to find a place to park.

I also regularly walk or bike the 1-1.5 miles each way to the bank, post office and office supply store. That’s good for my pocketbook, my waistline and my dog. And some of my best business ideas come when I’m out of the office.

5) Turn it Off

Thanks to the outdated advice that you could wear out your computer by turning it on and off, my folks still leave their computer on all the time (no matter what I tell them). I’ve learned firsthand that you’ll burn out the fan and overheat the processor long before you’ll wear out the start button.

So turn computers off at night, and your monitor and printer too. Those “vampire devices” still suck energy even when they’re on stand-by. Plug all your vampires into one power strip so you can turn them off with one switch.

6) Think Inside the Box

Reuse packing boxes and manila envelopes whenever possible. Then pack with newspaper. This keeps packaging costs way down. If you do a lot of shipping, consider purchasing biodegradable corn starch “peanuts”.

You can also reduce the size of product packaging and the number of inserts to save money and cut down on waste.

7) Recycle Your Electronics

Go beyond paper, glass, plastics and aluminum. Radio Shack takes used household batteries and cell phones. Most used computer shops will recycle your monitor and your pc.

While Google Analytics gives you all the info you need to calculate your return on investment, it doesn’t do the mathematics for you. However, the team at Intuitive Websites has developed an online ROI calculator that enables you to determine the return from Web marketing efforts for a lead generation or eCommerce Website once you have all your analytics.

Check it out here:
http://bit.ly/bEZNUT

Okay, while I’ve never been a huge TV watcher, I have to admit that I’ve recently been sucked in by a few shows. Most recently I’ve gotten a bit hooked on American Pickers.

This show features two guys with a company called Antique Archaeology who travel around the country buying random, often rusty, antiques people have collected. Then they resell the items later for a profit through their store in Iowa.

It’s fascinating to see the “junk” that has real resale value. And it’s even more fascinating to hear the stories behind the antiques they see and buy. But in addition to that, there is a huge sales lesson to be learned from watching how these guys operate.

You see, while sometimes they have a hot lead, often they’re doing cold calls. They just pull up to a house with a ton of random stuff in the yard (you know, rusting cars or tractors, old signs, hubcaps, you name it). Then they knock on the door and hand the owner a list of the sorts of things they’re interested in.

If they have what the American Picker guys are looking for, the “junk collectors” are typically thrilled to show off their collections and share their stories with a couple of interested and knowledgeable fellow “pickers” like Mike and Frank. So you get a glimpse inside history as they unveil garages packed with old cars, bikes, signs, pottery and who knows what else.

The real lesson for us entrepreneurs though, comes when you watch the guys try to make their first purchase. Because, the amazing characters they meet aren’t always willing to let go of their treasures (any more than your clients want to part with their dollars)!

Whether it’s for sentimental reasons or simply because they are hoarders by nature, it’s often hard to break the ice and get them to part with that first item in exchange for cold, hard cash. So while the guys on American Pickers might be buying instead of selling, you can learn a lot by emulating what they do.

1) They don’t try to buy right away. Mike and Frank don’t just walk into someone’s shed and make an offer. First they work to develop a real relationship and connection to the person. They make it clear they share the collector’s passion for antiques. And that creates that know, like and trust factor that’s oh so important.

This works equally well in any business. Get to know your clients, then let them get to know you, and it’s much easier to make a sale down the road.

2) They start small. Rarely do the guys throw out an offer for a big-ticket item (a car, or motorcycle) right off the bat. Instead they try to break the ice with something that’s less consequential (oil cans, a small sign). Once they get the first yes, it’s much easier to get the next one, and the one after that.

You can do the same by offering options at a variety of price points. Then start by trying to sell something at the low-end. Once you get the first sale follow up immediately with a second offer at the same price or higher. And stay in touch with more offers down the road.

3) They don’t give up easily. I’ve watched those guys get no after no before finally finding an item the collector is willing to part with. But they don’t let those first few no’s stop them. They just keep making different offers on different items until they get a yes.

If you want to make sales you have to do the same.

4) They make sure it’s a win-win. While Mike and Frank are clearly trying to make a buck on the resale of the items they buy, they never try to screw the other person to make that buck.

They understand that if the other person doesn’t feel there is value in the deal—and they’ve been treated with respect—they won’t be able to buy anything else. This is always true whether you’re on the buying or the selling side of the deal.

5) They know they’ve done a great job when they get asked back to a place to pick it again. You know you’ve done a great job when people come back for more.