Winners of the BlogWorld Pass Giveaway

We have our winners for the BlogWorld Giveaway! We had a slew of fantastic social media tips entered into the contest, and our judges found it hard to make the final decision. Thanks to all of you who entered and spread the word about the contest.

We want to thank Dave Cynkin, co-founder of BlogWorld Expo, for providing the passes. We also thank TJ McCue of TechBizTalk and Susan Payton of Egg Marketing for assisting with the judging.

Our winners (and their tips) are:

Matt Siltala of Dream Systems Media Blog - Full Pass

“Find and Identify all of the local News reporters accounts on Twitter in your area, follow them, interact with them, make them wanna follow you. Not everyone will friend you, but when they do it makes it that much easier to get content into the hands that can get even that many more eyeballs on it. Also, doing this gets you some good opportunities to be an expert in certain areas and there is a chance that you can get yourself on TV for an interview (and they allow you to promote your business). So many opportunities following the right people locally.”

Kelly McCormick  of OutSell Yourself- 2-Day Pass

“Social Networking Tip: On sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, I suggest personalizing to your request to connect.

For example, ditch the default message on LinkedIn, ‘I’d like to add you to my professional network.’

Instead, take the time to introduce yourself. Even a simple statement like, “Hi, I don’t believe that we’ve met. However, we seem to know many people in common and I’d like to include you in my network…[look forward to learning more about you, connecting with you..]” You can even add your contact info in case someone would like to find out more about you.

As the term implies, ‘Social Networking’ is about being social. That translates into building relationships. So why not start the process at the ‘invitation’ stage!”

Scott Cowley of Scottergories - Expo Pass

“The tip that has helped me in social media (and by helped, I mean resulted in lifetime friendships, sales, brand awareness, honest customer feedback, speaking opportunities, writing opportunities, learning, effective content sharing, and even a degree of thought leadership):

Make every effort to turn digital friends into real life friends by using social media to host events, attend events, and help with events (even something insignificant like lunch or a drink run). One real life friend is worth more to you and your company’s success than 30+ digital fans, followers, etc. If you’re not weird or overly self-promotional, meeting up and takling is the fast track to friendship – made even better and more helpful after you get back online and stay in touch later.

Thanks for the awesome contest! BlogWorld would be an amazing experience.”

If you didn’t win, you can still save on your BlogWorld ticket. Just use one of these discount codes at Registration:

SBTR20:  Gives 20% off any pass
SBTR50:  Gives a 50% discount on the Expo Pass

Be sure to check out all the amazing social media marketing tips on the blog and Twitter!

About the Author

Anita Campbell is the Founder of Small Business Trends which has been following trends in small businesses since 2003. She is host of the weekly Small Business Trends Radio Show, with over 400 interviews logged; and owner of BizSugar, a social media site for small businesses.

Connect with Anita Campbell:

 

View the Original article

Count Them: 5 Tax Benefits of The American Jobs Act

In a speech to the joint session of Congress on September 8, President Obama laid out his plan to spark the economy and put Americans to work with the American Jobs Act. This jobs bill contains several tax initiatives and incentives to promote investment, and hiring in particular. The President also wants to send billions to help states keep teachers, emergency workers and others employed and fund approximately $50 billion in infrastructure projects.

The plan is targeted more at small businesses than at large corporations – which may reflect the administration’s thinking that big companies have bounced back from the financial crisis more successfully than smaller businesses have.

These initiatives require Congressional approval. And while the President is making his case throughout the country with enthusiastic rallies and “Pass this Bill!” chants, even the savviest political pundit can’t predict how exactly this will play out.

If you’re a small business owner, the impact of the American Jobs Act may be significant. Here’s an outline of some of the initiatives you should be tracking over the coming months:

1. Payroll tax cuts: The plan cuts the employer share of payroll taxes to 3.1 percent on the first $5 million in wages. According to the White House, this tax cut would benefit the 98 percent of businesses with wages below $5 million. By halving the payroll taxes on the first $5 million, the President hopes to stimulate job growth among smaller companies.

In a U.S. News & World Report article, Todd McCracken, president and CEO of the National Small Business Association, was quoted as saying: “The impact of payroll tax cuts is fairly substantial. It gives [businesses] the cash flow that they need to think about expanding. If they’re thinking about hiring, it’s going to make it more affordable for them in the near term.”

2. Payroll tax holiday: The plan would eliminate the entire 6.2 percent payroll tax on any increase in payroll (for added workers or increased wages) up to $50 million above the prior year.

3. Extend 100 percent expensing into 2012: Companies can fully depreciate certain purchases in the first year (instead of having to amortize these purchases over as long as 20 years). The goal here is to encourage new investment.

4. Tax credits for hiring the long-term unemployed: The plan proposes a $4,000 tax credit for any business that hires an individual who has been unemployed for at least 6 months. And considering that a recent review of job vacancy postings on sites like Monster.com by the New York Times revealed that employers have a strong preference for people who are still employed or just recently laid off, the long-term unemployed need all the help they can get.

5. “Returning Heroes” tax credit for hiring veterans: If a company hires a veteran, the tax credit increases to as much as $5,600, and reaches $9,600 if the veteran became disabled in the course of serving. Unemployment rates among veterans are truly shocking (13.3 percent), so most would agree with the idea of encouraging the private sector to hire or train our veterans.

Of course, since the initial framework of the plan was first revealed, many in the small business community have expressed their disappointment that the plan doesn’t address one of the biggest challenges facing small business success and growth: the difficulty startups and small businesses face in securing credit from banks.

And here’s where one of the more compelling initiatives from the Administration comes in. The White House plans to ask the SEC “to reduce the regulatory burdens on small business capital formation in ways that are consistent with investor protection, including expanding ‘crowdfunding’ opportunities and increasing mini-offerings.”

I know that many are skeptical of Washington’s ability to help the private sector. But the potential to get money flowing to startups and Main Street businesses could be a game changer. Small businesses should closely monitor the progress of the above proposals over the course of the next few months.

Image from Mishchenko Mikhail/Shutterstock

About the Author

Nellie Akalp is CEO of CorpNet, her second incorporation filing service based on her strong passion to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs in starting and protecting their business. She has formed over 100,000 corporations and LLCs across the U.S.

Connect with Nellie Akalp:

 

View the Original article

The New Small Business

This isn’t your father’s small business. The small business world has changed a lot in the last few years and small business folks must change with it. Blogging, social entrepreneurship, running many businesses almost exclusively from home: the new small business may seem a bit overwhelming but it offers many opportunities too. Here are some posts to get you started.

Business Blogging

My blog is also paying my bills. To have a successful blog, you must have a subject that you can not stop talking about and one that you will never get tired of. If you are going to make money at blogging, you must offer quality content that is both authentic and useful. NY Times

Getting the most from your business blog. Whether your blog is making money on its own as a business or is basically a marketing, PR or networking tool for your business, the fact remains that, if you operate a blog for your business at all, it should certainly not be an after thought. Here are some ways to make sure you are always getting value out of your blog. Youngentrepreneur

Self-development

Some ways to get started as a social entrepreneur. Is this the time to begin a social venture? Actually there appears to be more interest in doing the right thing in terms of a social mission. However, there are pitfalls. Combining mission and making money in the same business can be very difficult. The small business owner must believe and convince others that the social mission is as least as important as the idea of making money and he must operate his business in that manner. NY Times

5 keys to business happiness. A great difference separates success and happiness. Success occurs when your business is profitable and it is fulfilling the goals that you had or have for that particular endeavor. Happiness, on the other hand, is feeling good about what you are doing and the satisfaction it brings both to you and others. Thoughts are presented that may make you sit back and reevaluate just where you are. Inc.com

Marketing

Cut through the hype: how to create a successful marketing plan. There are so many new tools and information available to the small business marketer. How do you decide which will work for your small business? Failure to make the right decisions will result in lost traffic, lost leads, and lost customers. First you must decide what are the goals of your small business. Then you must work out the details of the steps of the plan. Following these steps as they apply to your small business will result in a good marketing strategy. Small Business Trends

Five ways to give your seasonal business an off-seasonal boost. Creative thinking is needed to maintain a flow of money into your business when your prime season is past. You need not to think of your small business as being seasonal. Your customers have needs throughout the year. Find those needs and change so that you can fulfill those needs. Five ideas to help you get started are presented. Entrepreneur

Home Business

Running a successful family business from home. Running a home-based business can be very difficult with the working member of the family trying to maintain some type of boundary between work and family. Similarly, running a small family business together can tear a family apart. Trying to do both together could cause a combination of unfavorable consequences. However, it can and is being done successfully. The solution appears to be in setting rules and boundaries and respecting each other’s place in the business and in the family. Entrepreneur

Seven ways solopreneurs can grow a home business. You’ve decided that you want to be the sole owner of a home-based business. Does that mean that your business can’t grow beyond what you can do yourself? No! There are many things that you can do to expand your business without adding employees or renting office space. Proper use of the right technology along with outsourcing are only two of many ways to grow your business. Stick to your business plan and meet your clients face-to-face will help assure your success. Entrepreneur

Tips & Tricks

Stupid startup pitfalls to avoid. How do you have a successful small business startup that lasts? After all, more than half of small business startups fail in the first five years. While you need a business plan and you need what it takes to make this endeavor work, most importantly you first need a quality product or service that fulfills a need. After that, there are a number of pitfalls to avoid to insure your small business success. Business Week Daily

SEO: search engine optimization for your company’s Web site. The most cost effective way to develop a prominent position on the web is through Search Engine Optimization. It is estimated that 80% of all visitors to a site get there by way of a search engine. Search engines and Internet marketing are what bring visitors to your web site. Choosing your key words and generating good content are what makes for success. Business News Daily

View the Original article

How People Learn About Local Communities: 5 Takeaways

In case you haven’t seen it yet, the Pew Research Center just released a very interesting report that takes a look at how people learn about local communities and where they go first for information. In the report are many valuable insights for small business owners to learn from and potentially incorporate into their marketing mix. In case you don’t have time to read the whole document or just want the highlights, below are four stats I think every small business owner should know.

1. The Internet is the top source for information about restaurants and other local businesses.

If you’re of the ilk that believes small business owners don’t need a website or a presence on social media, I’d really like you to read that again. Here, I’ll even write it again.

The Internet is the top source for information about restaurants and other local businesses.

Because of the Web’s ability to sort and collect data, more and more users are going online to seek out reviews and recommendations for where they should eat or which businesses they should check out. This represents a significant change in behavior, as it was once newspapers and news organizations that were sought out for this information. In case you’re thinking this just applies to the younger set, that’s not the case. This statistic is true among all age groups, not simply the under-40 demographic.

Interestingly, the survey mentioned that the Web has been a place where locally oriented content creators can share material with groups that have been largely ignored by mainstream media. You have to wonder if this is what’s driving them online – they’re hunting for information that hasn’t been available to them before. They’re seeking reviews and recommendations for products and restaurants of all types. If this isn’t a compelling reason to create a website, claim your social listings and begin building reviews, I’m not sure what is.

2. Adults under 40 list the Internet as their top source for 12 out of 16 information categories.

According to the survey, adults under 40 consult the Internet first when looking for information about:

1. Weather
2. Politics
3. Crime
4. Arts/Culture
5. Local Businesses
6. Schools
7. Community Events
8. Restaurants
9. Traffic
10. Taxes
11. Housing
12. Local Government
13. Jobs
14. Social Services
15. Zoning/Development

That’s quite a large segment of the local news space. If your business is related to any one of them, you had better make sure you’re putting out information that your consumers can find and that you’re engaging with them. And if you’re part of the traditional media that has lost audiences in these areas, that’s a pretty big wakeup call.

3. Among all adults online, the Internet is the top source of information for five local topics.

Because, yes, I know some of you were getting itchy to tell me below that it’s the only the younger users who go to the Web for local information, that’s not the case. According to the report, among all adults, the Internet is either the most popular source or tied with newspapers for five of the 16 topics:

• Restaurants
• Other Local Businesses
• Schools
• Housing
• Local Jobs

And as today’s younger users become the norm and the older users become more comfortable turning to the Web for local information, you can expect these numbers to only increase.

It’s also worth noting that when the study says consumers are going online to learn about housing or local jobs, they’re not going to the websites of local news publications. According to the report, rankings for these sites were way down.

4. Nearly half of adults get local news and information via mobile devices.

I found it interesting to hear that 47 percent of adults get at least some local news and information via their smartphones or tablet computers, whether it be to check weather, find local restaurants or businesses, check sport scores, get coupons or perform some other “out and about” activity. I wouldn’t have imagined the number to be quite so high, but it does show the power of the SoLoMo revolution and why it’s so important that businesses get involved in that space.

5. More than 40 percent of adults are considered “local news participators.”

Another reason SMBs give for why they’re not getting involved in social media is because they believe their audience isn’t there. And that could still be true – but you may want to give it another check to see if that’s really the case. According to the report, 41 percent of adults are considered “local news participators” because of their social media activity.

To be awarded that title, they must:

• Contribute their own information via social media and other sources
• Add to online conversations
• Directly contribute articles about the community.

That’s a large number of people now using the Web to share and contribute content. So before you assume your customers aren’t there, maybe give it just one quick shot.

I’d really encourage all marketers and business owners to go read the Pew Research Center’s report on How People Learn About Their Online Community. It’s fairly lengthy, but it’s packed with some great stats and information. The ones I’ve listed here just scratch the surface.

About the Author

Lisa Barone is Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer at Outspoken Media, Inc., an Internet marketing company that specializes in providing clients with online reputation management, social media services, and other Internet services.

Connect with Lisa Barone:

 

View the Original article

Simplify This: User Experience Experts Are in Demand

It’s about time. If we’re going to be online and be in business online, then I want it to be as easy as possible. I don’t want to log in to some digital tool and get lost before I get to the second screen. And I especially don’t want to have to overthink in order to understand how to use the tool.

I’m at a crossroads and my guess is you may be at the same spot. I’m loving the technology—and the advances and the potential—but I am drawn to simplicity, as in “easy” (or at least “easier”) to use tools that solve my complicated marketing problems. (Most of the tools I use are for marketing purposes, such as content management systems like blogs and website frameworks, social network interfaces, email list building platforms, etc.).

In fact, I have changed my email list-building platform three times so far and every time it was because of the user experience.  Two platforms looked great but weren’t intuitive (enough for me) to use—and I got lost in a maze of links and buttons. The third platform was easier to use, but ugly to look at—and I lost my marketing inspiration in that visually challenged back office.

But the tides are changing.

Are You a User Experience (UX) Expert?

OnwardSearch.com recently released a Guide to UX Careers.  At left is an infographic highlighting the growing demand for User Experience Experts. While it breaks down the jobs and positions in this industry, it also exposes a possible opportunity for specialized small business owners and consultants.

There are more websites today, as well as a demand for more sophisticated components on our websites, such as landing pages and shopping carts. We demand these components look and function a certain way, while also being easy to implement.  And this demand creates an opportunity, suggesting that it may be a good idea for freelancers and professionals in the emerging UX field to polish their skills so that they can take advantage of this shift.

But maybe you are on the other end.

Do You Need a User Experience (UX) Expert?

When the shoe is on the other foot and we find ourselves in front of the counter (as the customer) instead of behind it, then we are looking to have an excellent user experience. Likewise, our clients want the same thing from us. Brian Wallace, owner of NowSourcing.com and the designer of the infographic above, gave me three pieces of quick advice for small business owners who are looking to hire a User Experience Expert. He says:

• GET CLEAR. “Make sure you clearly scope your project. Define what you want to accomplish as well as the projected goals you hope to achieve.”
• BRING THE ENTHUSIASM. “Be prepared to sell the sizzle of your project. The best designers are attracted to the best projects, so be able to demonstrate why this would appeal to their skills.”
• PERSONALITY MATTERS. “It’s not just about their technical skills. Make sure you find someone you can work with, collaboratively, throughout the duration of the project.”

When he’s looking to add new team members to NowSourcing, Brian says he looks for a person with “outstanding creative insight.” And that’s what the user experience is about. At least that’s what we want it to be about—happy customers, easier use and a better look and feel. Now, that’s outstanding.

About the Author

Jamillah Warner (Ms.J), a poet with a passion for business, is a Georgia-based writer and speaker and the Marketing Coordinator at Nobuko Solutions. She also provides marketing and communication quick tips in her getCLEAR! MicroNewsletter.

Connect with Jamillah Warner:

 

View the Original article

Need an Investment in Your Business? Locavesting Has More Than a Few Great Ideas

What if I told you that business lending is expected to grow 66 percent by 2013?

Yes, yes, I’m aware of the economic slowdown; I’m writing this review after the U.S. debt crisis and a stock market week rocky enough to make me skip watching CNBC and Fox Business channels for a long time.  And no, no, I do not have ocean-view property in the middle of the Moab to sell you.

The aforementioned growth is referenced in Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit From It by Amy Cortese, a renowned Brooklyn journalist. The book explains:

“Analysts at the Gartner Group project that P2P (Peer-to-Peer) lending will expand…to $5 billion in loans worldwide. The brisk growth…will be driven by investors seeking higher returns and borrowers shunning (or being shunned) by banks.”

Ready to learn more? Good, because this book is one of the most honest showcases of monetary hope to the small business community, online or off.  Locavesting examines how communities and small businesses band together to establish alternative financing to reluctant banks.  I asked the publisher for a copy after seeing it in a bookstore, and was emotionally well rewarded by its text, summed up in the conclusion’s first sentence: “What would the world be like if we invested 50 percent of our assets within 50 miles of where we live?”

Learn about financial resources that can develop your community

Cortese infuses historical connection into her examination of alternative funding, much like that in The Economics of Integrity by Anna Bernasek and The Mesh by Lisa Gansky. Starting with Blue Sky legislation launched in Kansas, Cortese shows how American culture has conducted and reacted to overinvestment that correlates with the national mood of the stock market.

The author’s tone towards traditional markets is never sullen, but she is definitely critical of standard investment considerations.  “A-ha moments” abound that bring historic events into context with attitudes towards small business today.  Here’s a quote that reflects that enlightenment:

“There is a strong perception that small companies and startups are extremely risky–that’s the reason, after all, the SEC created such high hurdles for those companies to raise money from ordinary investors…Larger companies may have the resources to better weather a downturn, but size no longer guarantees safety. Who would have thought that Lehman Brothers, a 150-year-old investment firm that had just logged its most profitable years, would vanish virtually overnight?…At least you can rest easier knowing that a local business probably isn’t dabbling in highly leveraged derivative trades…”

Cortese also informs us how alternative small business investment can beneficial, such as in the following quote on co-ops:

“In the United States, about one in every four people belongs to a co-op of some sort. The country’s 29,000 co-ops collectively generate $654 billion in revenue….Co-ops tend to fill a need that the marketplace is ignoring.  And often they are at the forefront.  Those crunchy-granola natural food co-ops were instrumental in establishing the organic and natural foods market — well before John Mackey opened his first Whole Foods store in 1980 or Walmart glommed onto the organic trend in 2006.”

The funds and programs explored in Locavesting run the gamut from long-established community banks to newcomers like Profounder.  You will read about a Local Investment Opportunity Network (LION) in Port Townsend, Washington, or the support to Cops and Doughnuts, a bakery run by Clare, Michigan, police officers.  Contributions from rural America are brought to light through the book’s opening view of Milk Thistle Farm, an upstate New York organic dairy farm well known in New York City, and Slow Money, a program that connects local investors to food enterprises.

You also read about the pitfalls that some experiments have encountered, such as Prosper.com’s dealing with SEC claims “despite compliance due diligence” prior to its operation. Cortese notes that the SEC “is acutely aware of many of the issues holding back small business capitalization.”  Other challenges include conducting due diligence on small businesses and capitalization in some instances due to the recession.

Yet interviewee Alan Cantor, vice president of philanthropy at the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, sums up why individuals poured $4.5 million into his fund, “double the amount last year:”

“People are tired of finding out about collaterized debt obligations and tranches and all this chicanery that was happening with their supposedly traditionally invested money.”

Locavesting ends each chapter with a pro-and-con review of each fund devised.   Also, if you are inspired to create an alternative fund for your community, you will have contacts and websites for more information.  Deciding to provide contact information is a brilliant and welcomed touch.

Putting small business in the spotlight

As someone who has been reviewing business books for nearly two years, I can say it’s been difficult finding books that provide financing suggestions tailored to small business.  A lot has been written about Wall Street, and yet so much of Main Street has been overlooked in print. This wonderful read puts small business front and center and is great for background education or for learning about financial resources broader than Kiva and Kickstarter. Read it along with Wealth Creation for Small Business Owners to get the best ideas on how to manage your finances before seeking investments.

Locavesting is an ingenious finance book, but more importantly, a savvy beacon that can help small businesses and communities muster critical ports in a fierce economic storm.

About the Author

Pierre DeBois is the founder of Zimana, a consultancy providing strategic analysis to small and medium sized businesses that rely on web analytics data. A Gary, Indiana native, Pierre is currently based in Brooklyn. He blogs about marketing, finance, social media, and analytics at Zimana blog.

Connect with Pierre DeBois:

 

View the Original article

Improve Your Digital Home With SBA Widgets

Your website is your digital home. You may have several social network pages from one end of the Web to the next, but at the day’s end, you need a home to return to, a website of your own. Your digital house, just like your condo, flat, townhouse, house or apartment, needs constant improvement as well as the occasional upgrade.

At least that’s how I feel about my website – and I hope you feel that way about yours.

It looks like the U.S. Small Business Administration feels the same way, as they have been on a campaign to improve their online presence as well. They have redesigned their website to be more engaging and they have also added the SBA Community.  The SBA has been “social” for a while with their Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube channel.

Their latest change includes a series of widgets that makes it easier for small business owners to access a wealth of information directly from SBA.gov. The site was one of my most frequented websites when I first started my small business. We’ve been using the SBADirect widget in the sidebar here on Small Business Trends and we invite you to check it out. It’s a way to give your visitors access to more content without having to write it yourself.

The 5 widgets being offered by SBA.gov are:

1. SBA Direct: This widget supplies small business information and local services via your ZIP code.
2. Small Business InfoTool: This widget is a non-branded version of the SBA Direct widget.
3. Tools for Small Business: This widget supplies tools and resources for running a small business.
4. Small Business Tax Tool: This widget supplies current tax information.
5. SBA.gov Community: This widget displays issues concerning small business owners from the community.

Here’s the lesson that stands out to me.  The changes at SBA.gov highlight a few areas that all small business owners can address:

Get Social

Have you been holding back on getting involved with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube? It’s time to get social because if your website is your home, then these social networks are how you meet new people and make new friends. Think about it: When you have a party at your “place,” you want people to show up. Well, it’s time to meet people.

Upgrade It

Look at the home page of your website. It may be time for an upgrade. It doesn’t have to be a major overhaul (although it can be).  Maybe a fresh home page is enough for now. Constant improvement is a part of our modern landscape – so embrace the process.

Simple Access

The SBA Direct widget gives your target audience an easier way to engage with SBA.gov content. Are there some changes you can make to streamline your information and give your visitors easier access to what they need?

I appreciate the SBA.gov upgrade, the new widgets and the fact that I feel encouraged to continue to improve my own “house.”

About the Author

Jamillah Warner (Ms.J), a poet with a passion for business, is a Georgia-based writer and speaker and the Marketing Coordinator at Nobuko Solutions. She also provides marketing and communication quick tips in her getCLEAR! MicroNewsletter.

Connect with Jamillah Warner:

 

View the Original article

Tips For Running Your Small Business

Running a small business is tough, but you’re never really on your own. Tons of people are doing the same and meeting similar challenges every day. Here are some ideas that may help you from others who have been there too.

Hiring

Why we don’t usually look for experience when we hire. This employer usually hires employees with experience in the fields of science, finance, and law. However, in other positions the company prefers to hire people just out of college or with only a year or two of experience. Find out why. You’re The Boss

Some advice on hiring that first employee. Let’s face it, it can be tough. What exactly are you looking in your new hire. And how do you know whether you’ve got the right person or whether you’ve got some who just won’t work out at all. Here are some tips to consider. The Frugal Entrepreneur

Operations

Biz Bits: 5 tips for growing a small business. “They didn’t teach me that inbusiness school.” There is much to be learned from the school of experience, especially if you’re running a small business. Check out the 5 tips that are presented. Norwich Bulletin.com

Make health cheaper for small employers. Rising health insurance costs are hurting small businesses more than their larger counterparts. Costs are about 18% greater. Factors that affect this include higher risks due to a few employees with health problems being a larger percentage of the employees, and, because of their size, they can not afford to self-insure. Additional costs are incurred by small businesses in switching insurers constantly to try to find a better rate. Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Growth

When it’s time for a small business to grow up. Growing up in most cases infers, among other things, enlarging the size of your workspace. This can be a scary time for small business owners, but it also has its good points. It gives your customers a good feeling in that they know you will be there for them for a long time. When considering such a change, the owner should make a list of pros and cons and do a thorough analysis. Forbes

Tips for updating your Website. Business expansion isn’t confined to just the fiscal space your company inhabits. Increasingly, today there is your business’s digital presence to consider as well. Your company’s Web presence must be considered a work in progress. Tweaks are always needed to take things to the next level. Small Business Marketing Tools

Marketing

How to nurture prospects. Here’s a tongue and cheek look at the sometimes over competitive view of marketing and a better approach centered around growing your business and nurturing a relationship with your customers. Isn’t this a better way to look at marketing? Copyblogger

The first rule of marketing? Don’t be boring. If you are, says blogger Jackie Purnell, you have no one but yourself to blame. How do you know if your content clicks? Are you providing diversity? Are your followers never quite sure what you’ll do next? Ask yourself what you expect in the content that you follow. Respectfully Disobedient

Leadership

Being your own superhero. When you run your own business, you have the last word…and the responsibility to fix all of the problems that arise. While it might at first feel empowering not to have anyone else’s permission, it’s also a huge burden. Fortunately, your tights and cape are waiting. Chris Brogan

5 Styles of leadership. Which one will you choose? As a small business owner, you lead your organization, even if, in the beginning, it is an organization of one. What is your leadership style and how do you prefer to lead your company. Your style should be governed by your personality and by what style works best for you. Small Business University Blog

View the Original article

Adjusting for Inflation

I try to avoid puns in cartoons. Generally, even though they’re usually popular, I think they’re a lazy path to a joke.

That being said, sometimes even I am not immune to their not-so-subtle charms. So beguiling. So simple. So hard to resist!

I attempted to lessen the effect in this cartoon by putting part of the pun equation into the art, but still, this is kind of a groaner.

What can I say? I was weak!

About the Author

Mark Anderson's cartoons appear in publications including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review. His business cartoons are available for licensing at his website, Andertoons.com.

Connect with Mark Anderson:

 

View the Original article

What Can LinkedIn Do For You?

When we kissed the 1990s goodbye, none of today’s major social networks existed. LinkedIn was the first to launch, but that wasn’t until 2003, followed by Facebook (founded in 2004), YouTube (founded in 2005) and Twitter (launched in 2006). In a lot of ways these social networks are still “babies.” Their “parents” are working to grow them up in order to see the full potential of what they will become and what they can do for the “family.”

As for us, the small business owner, we often have at least one ear in the game trying to see where we should spend our marketing energy. Well, LinkedIn may be the spot. LinkedIn states that it “operates the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 120 million members in over 200 countries and territories.”  According to comScore, LinkedIn is now the #2 social networking site online. That same comScore study from June of this year shows LinkedIn has had a 63 percent increase in unique visitors (while MySpace continues to drop—experiencing a 50 percent decrease during the same one-year timeframe).

So, what does that mean for you?

You probably need to be on LinkedIn (if you’re not already). But before you dive in, here are a few resources to help you get familiar with and maximize this social network opportunity.

How and Why To Use LinkedIn.com

This is a novice-friendly, 8-minute, SmallBizTrends video produced by Jim Kukral. If LinkedIn is completely new to you or you just want a quick refresher/reminder of some things you should be doing on the site including participating in LinkedIn Answers, then this might be the video for you.

New User Starter Guide and the Small Business User Guide

I have struggled to learn how to use some social network sites because I didn’t read the “instruction manual.”  And I didn’t read the instructions because they were nonexistent or they were wordy and boring-looking. Not so with LinkedIn’s current User Guides and other information about how to maximize the site. The Small Business User Guide is a series of short videos; the New User Starter Guide takes less than 3 minutes to read.

Elements of a Good LinkedIn Recommendation

If you need people to give you a recommendation on LinkedIn but you’re not quite sure about how to do it, Chris Brogan has some tips on what to say and how to ask.

Check out the tools I’ve mentioned here, and you’ll have a greater sense of what LinkedIn can do for you and how to start using it.

About the Author

Jamillah Warner (Ms.J), a poet with a passion for business, is a Georgia-based writer and speaker and the Marketing Coordinator at Nobuko Solutions. She also provides marketing and communication quick tips in her getCLEAR! MicroNewsletter.

Connect with Jamillah Warner:

 

View the Original article

Are You Brandwashed? Read This Review of Martin Lindstrom’s Newest Book

Martin Lindstrom (@MartinLindstrom) holds a special place in my heart.  I reviewed Lindstrom’s book Buyology here on Small Business Trends and he was the first author to write and thank me for reviewing his book.  He and I exchanged an email or two, but I hadn’t heard much from him until I received a review copy of his latest book, Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy.

Like Buyology, Brandwashed gives you a peek behind the scenes of brands and campaigns.  It explains why we are so attracted and even addicted to brands.

Lindstrom Falls Off the Brand-Wagon

The book begins with Lindstrom’s personal experiment of going into “brand detox” where he vowed not to purchase any new brands for a year.  He stopped buying gifts, books and a variety of other products for the better part of six months.

He might have been successful were it not for a lost suitcase in Cyprus when he was forced to give a keynote speech wearing an “I (heart) Cyprus” T-shirt.  After that, Lindstrom says, he would have bought anything that had a label and a logo on it.  Quite simply, Martin Lindstrom had been brandwashed.

Are We Addicted to Brands or Experiences or Both?

If you liked Buyology you’ll like Brandwashed.These two books go together and deal with  the same intriguing topic: how our brains work and how marketers use what they know about human behavior and experience to influence our decisions.

Brandwashed will take you on a journey from your first experiences of brands to other behavior influencers like fear, celebrity, fame and nostalgia.  Chapter by chapter Lindstrom shows us that brands are really nothing more than emotional triggers.  As humans, we are wired to have experiences and attach meaning to them.  The smells, sounds and tastes that we live in become triggers for emotions and preferences that marketers use to influence our purchasing decisions.

Early in the book Lindstrom talks about a shopping mall in Asia where owners noticed that expectant mothers spent a lot of time shopping.  So they set the stage by infusing the stores with baby powder smells, the food areas with cherry smells and playing soft music throughout.  Later, they received letters from many mothers who noticed that their babies calmed down every time they came to the shopping mall.

In another example, companies hired an organization called the Girls Intelligence Agency to recruit girls to give slumber parties where they share all kinds of brands as free gifts.  Boys aren’t immune to the influence of brands; companies like Gillette create “Welcome to Adulthood” packs filled with products aimed at adolescents, and companies like Stinky Stink create products that smell like the boys’ favorite experiences such as snowboard wax or even a Playstation 3 video game machine!

Why you should read Brandwashed

In Brandwashed, Lindstrom continues to share backdoor branding habits, and that’s what makes it so much fun to read.  Even though I’m aware that companies go to incredible lengths to influence our purchases, I was blown away by just how creative they got.

Marketers and business owners will benefit from the plethora of stories and secrets that Lindstrom shares.  The challenge for most of us will be to create ways to use this information in a way that endears us to our customers, as well as alert us to the fact that most marketers are playing to our weakness.

For example, in the “I Can’t Quit You” chapter, Lindstrom reveals that market executives at Coca Cola have a confidential model for how many bubbles they should feature in their print ads to generate a “craving” response.  This may sound absurd to you, but mega brands whose profitability hinges on mere percentage points wouldn’t be studying this if it didn’t work.  It made me realize that most of us don’t understand human motivation and how to apply those triggers to our own products and services.

You may not get any revolutionary ideas from Brandwashed. But you will get enough entertaining and educational tidbits to make you the life of any networking event or cocktail party.

About the Author

Ivana Taylor is the publisher of DIYMarketers.com , where she shares daily do-it-yourself marketing tips, and is the President of Third Force, Inc., a marketing firm that specializes in getting your ideal customer to choose you. Ivana is the book editor for Small Business Trends and a contributor to AMEX Open Forum. She is co-author of the book "Excel for Marketing Managers."

Connect with Ivana Taylor:

 

View the Original article

New List of Small Business Events

Every other week we compile a list of great events to help you with your business. The following Small Business Events Guide is worth a close look:

******

Small Business Technology Tour
September 27 – Mountain View, CA
October 12 – Salt Lake City
October 18 – Boston
November 2 – Atlanta
November 10 – Chicago

Smallbiztechnology.com is excited to bring you the second annual Small Biz Tech Tour. This event is a full day of information, insight, energy and fun. I’ve got some  complimentary tickets for the Mountain View, CA event on Sept 27th – get them here!

• Attendees will learn:
• How to boost sales with website analytics
• How smart companies are using mobile technology to be more productive
• Why many small businesses are not getting results with social media and what you must do
• How to stop selling and start publishing content for more sales
• Why websites and email marketing are not dead, and how to get the most out of yours
• How local companies are getting more local customers using technology
• How to increase sales by segmenting your customers

Free NYC Workshops: Prepare Your 2011 Holiday Season Marketing Campaign
September 28 to October 12, 2011

Held in local neighborhoods, workshops provide businesses the cost saving and increased effectiveness of buying and running marketing together. Build a campaign using the full range of individual marketing options as well as break out into groups to develop joint promotions. This collective marketing power results in a big sales driving campaign with a low marketing budget.

BizSmarts Expo 2011
September 28, 2011, Washington DC

On September 28, join the Washington Business Journal, sponsors Capital One Bank and WTOP Radio, and hundreds of business owners, entrepreneurs & decision-makers for a full-day of networking, workshops and exploring our diverse expo!

Featured speakers: Disney Institute • Harvey Mackay • Anthony Pica & Joseph Prezioso from Capital One Bank • Bill Hanbury from United Way of the National Capital Area • Lynn Miller from 4GreenPs • Barbara Lang from DC Chamber of Commerce • Bridget Bean from SBA Washington Metro Area • Joe Andronaco from USA Technology… and more!

PPC Remarketing Strategies For Google & Facebook
September 29, 2011, Online

Remarketing, also known as retargeting, is a technology that allows business owners to target visitors to their websites with display ads. Companies such as Google, AdRoll and others now make it easier than ever to tag specific sections of your site, and then deliver targeted ads to those visitors as they browse sites across the web.

To help small business owners learn the fundamentals of remarketing, American Express OPEN’s SearchManager team and SEMPO are offering a free online web conference, which will teach small business owners about:

Common remarketing options available today for their businesses;
Segmenting their site visitors for retargeting;
Creating an effective remarketing experience to nurture and convert;
Integrating remarketing with their existing keyword and Facebook Ads campaigns.

The Summit for Women in Business
October 6-9, 2011, Pigeon Forge, TN

The Summit for Women in Business is providing and showing you how to implement the needed strategies and tools to remain competitive and current within today’s evolving business climate. Created by women business owners for women business owners, this Summit is designed for SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) entrepreneurs, independent and self-employed professionals.

SocialCrush
October 10-11, Nashville, TN
November 14-15, 2011, Washington, DC

SocialCrush is a 2-day, hands-on social media business conference for small to medium size businesses. SocialCrush brings industry leaders from such noted companies as Google, Bing, Facebook, Edelman Digital, just to name a few, who provide everyday businesses the know-how, tips, advice and skills to effectively build business through social channels.

Western Mass Business Expo
October 18, 2011, Springfield, MA

As the region’s business publication, The Business Journal of Western Massachusetts believes the businesses and communities that comprise Western Massachusetts should be represented at a region-wide trade show to better promote buying and doing business locally. The day begins with breakfast at 7:30 followed by the Expo’s official opening at 9 a.m. and will feature seminars, speakers, lunch and a high-energy, end-of-day networking event featuring music, food and drink.

Media and Entertainment Investing Conference
October 27, 2011, Coral Gables, FL

Sponsored by The Launch Pad at the University of Miami, this conference will cover trends in early-stage investing, the factors that are most important to Investors when they are considering an investment, the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get investors’ attention, strategies to grow their businesses, additional advice for entrepreneurs and, of course, the best ways to reach these and other investors.

 

Brand Power! Are You Building It? What’s Your Wow?
October 29, 2011, Hillsdale College, Moore, OK

The Women’s Empowerment Series Business and Leadership Conference celebrates its 4th anniversary with the addition of an Oklahoma event. Women entrepreneurs and leaders will gather for a fun but full day of discovery, interactivity and learning in a module format at Hillsdale College Barber Business Center in Moore, Oklahoma. ??The theme of this conference will be Brand Power! Are You Building It? What’s Your Wow?

This one day event will bring together some of Oklahoma’s most savvy, accomplished business leaders, authors, speakers, professionals and entrepreneurs to share how they are accomplishing their goals, honing their leadership skills and utilizing social marketing tools. Register here.

Local University by GetListed.org
November 1, 2011, Western New York

Some of the nation’s leading online marketing experts will be in Ellicottville, NY to offer an intensive crash course in Internet marketing.  These 4-hour sessions feature experts such as Web design and search consultant Mike Blumenthal; GetListed.org co-founder David Mihm, a Portland, Ore.-based search engine consultant; Mary Bowling, a search engine specialist and corporate trainer since 2003; Matt McGee, executive news editor for Search Engine Land and an independent online consultant specializing in small businesses; Ed Reese, a Spokane, Wash.-based Internet marketing consultant specializing in organic SEO, local search and analytics; and Cecelia Stewart of Google Places.

This is a purely educational event and no sales pitches will be made.  Attendees may sign up for free website reviews by the speakers.  Get more details and register.  Use code MB2011 for a discount.

Fast Company Innovation Uncensored
November 2, 2011, San Francisco

A mixed agenda format will offer attendees a variety of ways to engage with and employ the innovative ideas that come from the scintillating content and unexpected environment.

The event content is aimed toward anyone who thinks of themselves as an innovative business leader including but not limited to the fields of technology, design, marketing, entertainment, venture capitalism, energy, infrastructure, non-

BlogWorld & New Media Expo
November 3-5, 2011, Los Angeles

BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the first and only industry-wide conference, tradeshow and media event dedicated to blogging, podcasting, social media, social networking, online video, music, Internet TV and radio. BlogWorld conference attendees enjoy more than 120 cutting-edge educational sessions presented by leading bloggers, podcasters and content creators, while the New Media Expo provides the only industry-wide new media marketplace for networking, online business and marketing resources.

Register with the promo code SBTVIP20 to save 20% off any conference pass, or use code SBTVIP50 to save 50% off Expo Passes (which include access to the Exhibit hall as well as all keynotes and parties, just like the conference passes).

Recession Proof Sales Training Seminar
November 7, 2011, Woodridge, Ontario

Recession proof your career with this sales training seminar. You will learn how to increase sales, effective communication, customer retention, marketing strategies and how to attract new customers. Location: Paramount Conference and Event Venue, in Vaughan – minutes north of Toronto, Ontario.

Social Media Makeover Forum at Digital Atlanta 2011
November 8, 2011, Atlanta

This half-day, innovative business conference will take place during Digital Atlanta 2011 – a week-long (November 7-11) calendar of events that will focus on the digital and social media scene in Atlanta. The SMB Social Media Makeover Forum will feature three panels of social media experts from leading brands and agencies. These experts will provide advice to three small and mid-sized businesses who will be selected for social media makeovers.

Are You Ready for Walmart?
November 14, 2011, Miami

Getting a product onto the shelves at Walmart could be the biggest thing to ever happen to your business. But with so much at stake, it’s important for you to understand if you are really ready, before investing the time and money in this relationship.

“Are You Ready for Walmart?” workshop is designed to help companies measure their readiness to do business with the world’s largest retailer, then develop a plan. In addition to instruction in the classroom from people who have tremendous experience selling to Walmart, participants will spend time exchanging ideas and information during multiple question & answer sessions.

NY XPO For Business
November 16, 2011, New York City

On November 16th, business leaders from across New York will gather at the world famous Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the 6th Annual NY Xpo for Business. This highly acclaimed show is expected to draw upwards of 15,000 attendees and over 300 exhibitors as the largest business-to-business marketplace in the region. Free education will be offered throughout the day and will include over 30 quality information sessions covering sales, marketing, advertising, business growth, best business practices, social media and much more!

America’s Small Business Summit 2012
May 21-23, 2012, Washington, DC

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual event—America’s Small Business Summit—unites small business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs from across the country to learn, network, and discuss common legislative and management concerns. Past speakers include former President George W. Bush, former General Stanley McCrystal, Small Business Editor of the WSJ Colleen DeBaise, and many more. Attendees help influence our nation’s economic and political agenda by advocating for pro-business policies through the Rally on the Hill portion of the program. The event will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., on May 21-23, 2012. For more information and important dates, check the Summit website, www.uschambersummit.com.

To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.

If you are putting on a small business event or contest, and want to get the word out, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form (it’s free). Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be included.

Brought to you as a community service by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.

About the Author

Laura Leites is managing editor of SmallBizTechnology. In addition to writing about technology tools for SMBs, Laura manages the day-to-day operations of Smallbiztechnology.com. She also produces their live and virtual events, including the Taste of Technology Small Business Series.

Connect with Laura Leites:

 

View the Original article