4 Trends Your Business Should Take Advantage of Now

Every once in a while it’s a good idea to sit back, take stock and assess how some of today’s current trends could benefit your business. Here are four to consider that have both marketing and operations implications for your company.

1. Going mobile.Mobile marketing is becoming increasingly important as consumer adoption of smartphones increases. Whether you market to businesses or consumers, your customers are increasingly accessing the Internet and using phones as shopping tools. But according to the fifthSmall Business Success Indexsurvey released recently, few small business owners currently use mobile marketing methods such as texting promotions to customers, creating a mobile site or mobile application, and advertising on mobile sites. Just 15 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed said these activities have the potential to be“extremely” or “very valuable” to their businesses. I think this is a big mistake. Young people are an obvious market for mobile marketing, but with smartphones becoming essential tools for everyone from soccer moms to businesspeople, no business can afford to ignore this trend.

And speaking of busy businesspeople, areyoutaking full advantage of your smartphone’s capabilities? With phones doing more and more, lugging your laptop is becoming less and less necessary. Whatever type of smartphone you have, explore its features so you can streamline essential tasks you need to do on the road.

2. Social deal sites.Social deal sites—where customers sign up to get daily emails of deep discounts on products and services in their areas—are sizzling hot. Currently, Groupon and LivingSocial are the biggest names in this industry, but there are plenty of local and regional offerings too. If your business caters to local customers, you’ll want to explore these sites as a marketing tool.

Wish there was a social deal site where businesses could sign up to save on the products and services you need? Then check out Bizy, a company I’m working with, which just launched this week.  Bizy bills itself as the first dedicated deal site for small businesses. The site (BizyDeals.com) offers discounts of 50 percent or more on a range of products and services including office supplies, software and hardware, shipping, legal and accounting services, travel and insurance.

3. Subscription services.Slowly but surely, subscriptions have become woven into our daily lives. I’m not talking about magazine subscriptions (although they still exist) but the subscription business model in which everything from software to IT services to consulting is paid for on a monthly basis by automatic charge. Subscription services can streamline your expenses because you pay only forwhat you need. On the flip side, remember to keep track of your subscriptions and reassess them regularly, or it’s easy to end up paying for things you never use.

For your business, providing products or services on a subscription basis can be a smart way to boost your cash flow by generating recurring income streams. Just about everything can be sold on a set-it-and-forget-it basis, whether it’s a quarterly shipment of skin-care products, a monthly phone consultation or ongoing access to premium information on your website.

4. Seniors.Americans age 65 and older are a hot market, but one that’s too often ignored by small business. A recentMarketWatch articlecited one expert who noted that while the teenage market is trendy,“there is… 10 times as much money to be made from seniors.”In fact, Census data show seniors are more affluent than most segments of the population, with the median net worth of households aged 65 and over at $108,885 in 2000, compared to a measly $7,240 for households under age 35. By 2030, people over 65 will account for 20 percent of the population—so if you’re not already targeting this market, figure out how you can.

Seniors can benefit your business in another way:as employees. If you’re like most small businesses, you could use some extra help right now, but you’re not ready to hire a full-time worker. Consider hiring retirees as part-time employees. Their experience and work ethic can make them valuable assets to your business, without the full-time commitment.

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Women Entrepreneur Role Models: Who Would You Name?

In a recent study,blur Group surveyedmore than 1000 national and international entrepreneurs about the top business people that inspire them the most.  Almost 10% of those surveyed were women. But when it came time to cast a ballot for the top entrepreneurs, women didn’t even receive 3% of the vote.

Richard Branson, British entrepreneur and Chairman of the Virgin Group, received 27.5% and topped the list for his creative ideas and ongoing innovation of new products.  And I agree, he is inspiring. But what about the ladies?  Is it an issue of out of sight, out of mind?

Maybe we just a need a little reminder.  So, here are 10 leading ladies to consider– including the two that made the list, Oprah and Roddick, and the tweet-able mention, Hashemi (she was“tweet-in” after the fact).

MEDIA INSPIRATION

• Oprah Winfrey, has been at the top of the television talk show industry since she aired 25 years ago.  With the production company, the magazine, the television network, the dreams that she launches for other professionals, and her philanthropy, entrepreneurship and inspiration is a lifestyle.
• Arianna Huffington, Founder of the The Huffington Post, is one of Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women. This author and syndicated columnist recently sold her online empire to AOL for $315 million, making her the Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Media Group.
• Tina Brown, considered to be as resilient as Donald Trump (according to author and onetime billionaire, Felix Dennis) is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beast.  Brown is also the author ofThe Diana Chronicles, Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek, and host of CNBC’s Topic A with Tina Brown.

FINANCIAL Inspiration

• Suze Orman,personal finance expert, author and television host, has built an empire around plain talk about money issues. Orman is also one of the Time 100 World’s Most Influential People.

COSMETICS& FASHION Inspiration

• The lateAnita Roddickwas a British businesswoman and Founder of the cosmetics company, The Body Shop.  Mixing her convictions with business, her cosmetic company was one of the first to block the use of ingredients tested on animals. Serving more than 77 million customers in 51 different markets, she referred to “entrepreneurship as survival” and that it “nurtures creative thinking.”
• Diane von Furstenberg, businesswoman and designer, introduced the wrap dress more than 30 years ago and has built and expanded a fashion house around it. She is also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

RETAIL Inspiration

• Sahar Hashemi, Co-Founder of the British coffee bar and deli franchise, Coffee Republic is a lawyer turned entrepreneur and author of“Anyone Can Do It— Building Coffee Republic.”
• Maxine Clark, referred to as the Chief Executive Bear at Build-A-Bear Workshop, left a corporate career to start her own business. Three hundred stores and $437 million later she has taken a child’s shopping experience to the next level.

TECH Inspiration

• Caterina Fakeis Co-Founder of Flickr– the photo-sharing site that Yahoo! purchased for 8 figures in 2005. Fake (that is her real name) is one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People.
• Gina Trapaniis the founding Editor ofLifehacker.com(mega-blog and home of smart and savvy solutions for life and technology) and one of the Fast Company Most Influential Women in Technology.

That’s my list, but there are quite a few women that are at the top of their game— billionaires, millionaires, and power houses in their industries. When you add inspiration to the mix, it seems to change things. After all, we are inspired by the stories that we know and that has a lot to do marketing and transparency.

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The Thank You Economy: Show You Care for People Through Social Media

A great doctor understands your medical history so he or she can give the right medication dosage when you are ill.   If you’re a New York City foodie, you certainly enjoy great service at your favorite restaurants.  And many people can recall a repairman simply because he always had the right suggestion for a household repair.

These examples demonstrate how and why customers chose small businesses to frequent.  And if you askNew York Timesbestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyveeon Twitter), he’ll tell you the instances of considering earlier experiences and how much the service provider cared, when deciding on future purchases, are blossoming.

His new book,The Thank You Economy, explains how this notion has become an online movement that rethinks business value offline.

If you were a bit overpowered by one of Gary’s intense online orations during his first book’s promotion (see Ivana Taylor’sCrush Itreview here), you’ll see a slightly softer speaking tone this time.  It’s more like that seen on MSNBC’s Morning Joe (see a video here). I noticed it listening to him at a Barnes and Noble Tribeca book signing, which is where I picked up a copy ofThe Thank You Economy.

No less passionate, Vaynerchuk just has a different and very informed intensity.  You will experience this tone while readingThe Thank You Economy.

If you suspect social media has started a deeper revolution, read on

Vaynerchuk addresses 11 typical company hesitancies with deepening the customer connection using social media.  He does not advocate specific tools, but digs into corporate concerns about return on investment, message control and consumer backlash. Check out his comment on the need for controlling the message:

“Business leaders consistently underestimate two things. First, they underestimate people’s willingness to forgive. They are afraid to put up fan pages because they think any negative comment is equal to a’60 Minutes’ investigation showing the whole world how much they stink….  Second, they underestimate people’s {B.S.} radar.”

Vaynerchuk offers compelling support through data and large business examples. When customers complained that Ann Taylor LOFT’s new cargo pants looked good only on models, not real-sized women, Ann Taylor showed photos of its employees wearing the pants.  The result? “… tons of comments from women thanking LOFT for listening….”  One customer did not like the pants, according to Vaynerchuk, but she respected how Ann Taylor LOFT handled the complaints.

Although he focuses on social media’s importance, Vaynerchuk tries to avoid rehashing other social media authors. On page 5 he claims the termsocial mediais a“misnomer” of the new economic movement.  Some points will sound similar, however, if you’ve read anything from those aforementioned authors.

But Vaynerchuk asserts that businesses are being humanized by social media, and such reimagined roles will become the essential way of doing business.  Intellectual capital, accessible due to “a massive cultural shift” of Internet usage, powers why people love Q&A in Quora, read reviews on Yelp, and rely on Twitter for news about current events like the recent Egyptian unrest and the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

The Thank You Economyenlightens those who don’t rely on e-commerce and are semi-pondering what their place in the current economy is.   For example, Vanderchuk nails it in describing how a B2B company is influenced by the culture shift as much as an e-tailer:

“Behind every B2B transaction, there is a C. The C in a B2B exchange– usually a purchasing manager, a purchasing agent or a buyer– wants the same thing as any other consumer when making buying decisions: outstanding product and service, and the reassurance that someone is thinking about how to best meet the person’s business needs.”

Vanynerchuk provides personal insights, such as his opening recollection of his dad’s liquor store manger’s refusal of a customer’s coupon request (“I went over to the manager and said “That guy will never come back.”  I was wrong about that….  He came back… to tell us he would never shop with us again.”)  He details how business should consider natural engagement to gain true success:

“One thing that is daunting to many about social media is that it requires you to throw away the script.  The rules of engagement force you, or the person to whom you have entrusted your brand’s voice, to improvise, and be willing to go where the consumer leads you.”

In this world, context of relationship is king, not just content.

Like a fine wine,The Thank You Economycomplements your social media or mobile ideas

If you already know that social media is important, this book is not for you, but it does complement other social media books (check out the social media book list) and enhances the“why” behind manySmall Business Trendstips such as Lisa Barone’s5 Things Learned from Twitter Stalkingand T.J. McCue’s4 Ways to Make or Save Money with a Smartphone.  You can also pairThe Thank You Economywith books likeThe Meshby Lisa Gansky (see a review here) and evenThe Economics of Integrityby Anna Bernasek (book review here) to discover how true connection is creating renewed value from seemingly everywhere.

Vaynerchuk walks the talk throughout this book, ending with a series of suggested book covers submitted through a contest— very thoughtful that he gives props to every contestant.

Pick upThe Thank You Economyand you will win the“contest” for what matters most. As Vaynerchuk says, “If you succeed with social media, it won’t be because of the platform; it will be because you acknowledge that culture and consumer expectations can change.”

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Small Business News: Creative Marketing Secrets

Marketing for your small business can be part art/part science. But however you would describe it, it is the key to both getting new customers and keeping the ones you already have. Want to learn more about marketing creatively. We’ve collected a bunch of resource we hope will help. Please let us know what you think below.

Tips& Trends

Does it make a difference where your product is made? It could, especially in a world of outsourcing where customers value domestic brands that employ local workforces. Here’s a story on a marketing edge being exploited by U.S.-based brands who are finding manufacturers closer to home for some of their products. How can your product’s story be marketed to enhance your brand.Bloomberg Businessweek

Is your marketing copy magnetic? Communicating with prospects and customers via the copy on your Website can create a strong first impression of your brand, so the content you place on your Website is very important. If you want to be sure what you say will grab readers, hold them and keep them coming back for more, follow these simple tips and take your Web content to the next level in just 30 minutes.Digital Marketing Now

109 ways to get press for your small business. The best marketing costs nothing but the time to put it into action. It’s that way with media coverage, still some of the best free marketing there is for a small business. But, of course, there’s a lot more to gaining media interest in your product, service or company than just calling up and asking that a story be written about you. Consider these suggestions when trying to court interest in your brand.Copyblogger

Marketing Overview

The true power of marketing…and what we can learn from it. In the wake of the nuclear disaster in Japan, it’s amazing to consider what the real data tells us about the relative safety of various forms of power in use today. Real data versus our perceptions should tell us something about why consumers really make the decisions they do. Still think presenting just the facts will convince people your product is best? Take another look at the graph in this post.Seth Godin’s Blog

Why sometimes the best marketing is customer relations. Building strong relationships with customers can be the best marketing in a small business owners arsenal. That’s because these connections are tough for competitors to severe even with expensive advertising and marketing campaigns. Also, with some clients and customers, that one-on-one relationship will always trump a less personal marketing campaign aimed their way. So don’t discount the power of these relationships in keeping customers loyal.Bloomberg Businessweek

Adding the oomph factor. So if, as we saw in an earlier post, customers and clients don’t necessarily make their choices based strictly on an objective basics, how do you go about differentiate. Of course, customer service is fine once you’ve got them, but how do you go about convincing prospects or potential customers to go with you in the first place. Well, it’s all about brand…and about adding that extra oomph.One of a Kind Preneur

Tech& Techniques

Direct digital marketing for your business. Direct digital marketing is evolving beyond the e-mail address, the mobile phone number and the Web browser cookie. Today, you can use trackable data to identify your most influential customers within the new context of social media to“light the fuse to the powder keg.” What does the future hold for direct digital marketing and how can you best prepare your business for what lies ahead? The Lunch Pail

How to market (and sell) from your business blog. Of course, your business blog can and should be a marketing tool for your blog as well, but striking a balance between the free content you provide to keep visitors coming back and the marketing or sales copy that makes your visitors aware of the products and services you offer can be a difficult one, especially if you are new to using your blog as a marketing tool.Wake Up Cloud.com

Communications& Resources

Crafting messages to meet clients’ needs. What are your client’s communications preferences, and have you made the necessary effort to communicate in the method they feel comfortable? Whether using texting, telephone, face-to-face or e-mail communications, your marketing, customer service and sales communications must fit the preferences of those you trying to reach? How do your customers want to hear from you? The Sales Blog

10 steps to killer copy. We’ve noted earlier the importance of great copy for your Website or other marketing and sales materials including newsletters, e-mail etc. But how exactly can you be sure you are creating the right content and more importantly content your current and future customers will respond to? Well, among the first steps is to sit down with your sales team and ask them what’s worked and then to go to your customers and ask them too.Austin SEO Academy

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More Businesses Are Outsourcing—to Rural and Small Town U.S.A.

Is your small business dealing with an increased workload and more demand from clients and customers? That’s a good thing. But with the economy still uncertain, many of us are leery about taking on full-time employees to help with the workload—even when we’re overwhelmed.

Well, there is a solution—and it’s closer to home than you might think. I first wrote about the trend of “ruralsourcing” on Small Business Trends in the summer of 2010, when several news outlets reported on the practice. Essentially, ruralsourcing means outsourcing jobs—but instead of outsourcing to India or China, the jobs are being outsourced to small and rural communities in the United States.

As the economy slowly picks up steam, I’m happy to report that the ruralsourcing trend continues to grow, according to new research from oDesk, an online global employment platform. oDesk’s latest “Online Employment Report” a monthly analysis of the state of the online workforce, shows that small towns are outperforming their big-city counterparts in both online work activity and the number of hours worked per contractor.

According to oDesk, small towns (those with populations under 15,000) are keeping pace with large cities in terms of the number of online workers per capita. Not only that, they have proportionally higher“actively working” online populations in terms of hours worked per online contractor. On average, small town contractors worked more than 175 hours in January—far higher than the average for workers in New York City (70 hours), San Francisco (54 hours) and Los Angeles (23 hours).

“Workers in small towns need access to jobs, and the Internet can put them in consideration for job opportunities on a global scale,”says oDesk CEO Gary Swart.

Overall, demand for online work reached an all-time high in January, with a record 71,000 online job opportunities posted. What kinds of workers are most businesses looking to hire? Web development/IT jobs, writing and blogging, graphic design, SEO and personal or administrative assistants were among the jobs with the most postings.

I’m heartened to hear that people in the heartland are finding work through online outsourcing. For small businesses on a budget, outsourcing to remote employees is a smart way to go when more manpower is needed. But outsourcing overseas can lead to quality issues, communication problems and delaysdue to time zone differences (I’ve dealt with this myself).If you can get the work you need done by a remote employee, why not try to get it done in the U.S.?

Creating more work for people in the U.S. is a win-win-win situation for small business owners, the contractors they hire, and the overall U.S. economy.

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Does Your Small Business Have a System?

Every aspect of business has it own unique set of rules. For example, management and building your team has rules. Connecting with your target market while seeing them as a single person with a specific need has rules. The daily operation of your business also has rules.  Even though we are in business for ourselves and can do whatever we want, there are certain rules of engagement that can lead to success and certain violations that can lead to failure. These rules, procedures or standards have great impact on our bottom line.

In other words, it’s all about systems.  If you put us in charge of anything, then we  eventually come up with away of doing it, because systems make“it” easier. Our personal morning routine is a system. Our coffee or tea before the first meeting is a system.  The way the bank processes our money is a system.   In fact, all the elements of business can be reduced to its most basic commonality—business is about systems that help us execute solutions for people.

Whether it’s a one-man production or a well-tuned creative team, there is still a system of some kind. Knowing this and maximizing it can serve us well in small business. In fact, the more order you bring to your business, the more business you can handle.

But here’s the problem. Systems don’t work in small business when they are nonexistent, inconsistent or broken.

We can’t shoot from the hip every day. There has to be some consistent way of doing things. If you intend to scale your business and eventually add to the team of people who help you, then effective systems are a requirement.

I found a few systems from some of ourSmall Business Trendsexperts that you may like:

If you are looking for a sales system for presenting your business, your products, your solutions, your books, etc., then Ivana Taylor has a quick and well-laid-out plan inhow to get what you want in 7 minutes or less.  It doesn’t have to take a long time to get your point across.  This simple system can also double for an internal marketing strategy for presenting new ideas to your team.

Susan L. Reid lists7 actions for small business owners to take nowin the current economy.  Two of her actions, investing in education and following the market, are systems for me. I read the Sunday paper Monday mornings and follow Internet news throughout the week. I learn something new that relates to my business every Tuesday and Thursday before the work day begins and after it ends.For me, having a system makes the behavior automatic. It can do the same thing for your employees.

Does your small business have a coherent strategy?Anita Campbell’s discussion of a recent survey by Booz& Company, reporting that most businesses with a strategy and one to three targeted goals have higher profit margins in their business, should encourage a systematic strategy among small business owners. Plus, if you decide to use Ivana’s sales system to propose and present upcoming changes to your leadership team, then this survey could serve as excellent statistical ammunition to inform and motivate your people.

The quality of our strategy (our plans and organized communication) impacts the quality of our long-term business. But it’s the systems that make the strategy a daily part of the company.  It’s the systems that make it effective.

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UnGeeked Elite Chicago: Social Media, Marketing, Branding Retreat

unGeeked Elite is coming to Chicago in a couple of months. It’s a conference that operates outside the box. It’s not like your traditional business conference. It’s more like a business retreat, where you can kick back and think, away from the usual hustle and bustle.  For example, unGeeked has no keynotes, no presentations which means no PowerPoints (almost) and no barriers to back-and-forth communication.  Let me explain….

Limited Access

With only 125 participants allowed, attendees have better opportunities to interact with the“discussion leaders.”Small Business Trendsand our sister site,BizSugar.com, are media partners, and I will be leading one of the discussions, on Saturday morning. My discussion topic is“your influence graph”— what influence as a thought leader really means (it’s more than just follower numbers), how to become influential, and how to measure your influence.

The unGeeked Elite retreat is Organized by Cd Vann (@thatwoman_is) whom I’ve known at a distance for a number of years, and I’m excited to finally meet her!  And really, that’s what an event like this is all about.  It’s an opportunity to meet andreallycreate a closer connection with people you may know through social media, and pick their brains.

Limited Presentations

Instead of major keynote speakers and formal presentations, this event has 24 international, national and regional influential consultants and authors. This leaves room for an open exchange of what does and does not work in building and promoting your brand. More importantly, the attendees can have in-depth conversations.  With a small group and lots of informal back-and-forth discussion, you have the chance to get your questions answered.  After all, this is a“retreat.”  It’s a laid-back opportunity to think and explore the direction of your business, in depth.

Celebrity Roast

And if you are looking for a way to give back and you want to start your unGeeked experience earlier, then you may want to check out the Celebrity Roast of Chris Brogan the night before the official event starts. That Roast is May 11, 2011.  Don’t pass up the opportunity to share a few laughs with Chris.

There will be24 discussions— here are just a few:

The KLOUT of Your Personal Brand and What it Means Your Employer/Audience
withDiscussion Leader Hajj Flemings

Storytelling and Brand Authenticity
with Discussion Leader Lou Hoffman

Leveraging Employees in Social Media
with Discussion Leader Troy Janisch

Creating Influential Customer Experiences
with Discussion Leader Jeff Wilson

Your Influence Graph: How to Grow it to Become a Thought Leader and Influencer
with Discussion Leader Anita Campbell

LOCATION: University Center Conference Chicago, 525 S. State Street, Chicago, IL

WHEN: May 12– 14, 2011

TWITTER:@ungeekedand #unGeeked

YOUTUBE:YouTube: unGeeked Elite

DISCOUNT: Use the discount code‘SmBizTrends’to get 5% off.  Plus if you register by April 30, 2011, there is a $200 discount for you early birds.

REGISTER: For all of these opportunities of discussion,be sure to register now.

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Small Business News: The Startup Space

Arguably the toughest part of running a small business, the startup can be a tricky time. In fact, getting from idea to functioning business can be at times so misunderstood and so different for every entrepreneur that it becomes difficult to come up with definitive tips for getting through the process. Still there are plenty of resources out there and the best idea can be to sort through this stuff for yourself and see what makes cents to you. Here’s what we’ve gathered from the Web today. Enjoy!

Cash Flow

How to get clients…TODAY! Of course, you can’t really have a business without clients or customers and, unless you have some deep pocketed investor in your corner, those customers or clients need to come sooner rather than later. Getting your first paying customers will establish the cash flow you need to expand and grow your business (and go after even bigger long-term clients and customers in the future.)Epic Launch

Regulation

Oh no they didn’t! In a world emerging from economic downturn, you would think that no one would be actively trying to slow down recovery by actively placing road blocks in the way of startup investment. You’d be wrong. Read Scott Shane’s full analysis of why the Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation of the market for startup shares is a bad idea.Bloomberg Businessweek

Bootstrapping

Starting a business without investment. Think you need investment in the form of VC’s, angels or other outside funding? This case study will follow one San Francisco tech startup whose founders have decided to go it alone. How realistic is bootstrapping especially in the tech startup world where so much VC funding is available? What are the pitfalls? Follow along.NYTimes.com

Strategy

Collaboration vs. Competition: What’s your mindset? What will be your approach to your customers and to other small businesses once your business is up and running? Before launching your new venture, it may be a good idea to explore your philosophy and decide how you will handle your relationship with other business owners. Will you put profits first and view others competitively shoving others out of your market? Or will you put customers first and work with other businesses in an effort to deliver the best service for everyone?Bloggertone

Terminology

Small business, startup or entrepreneur. What’s the difference? Or are they all part of the same idea. Check out the post by Susan Payton and follow the lively discussion in the comment section. How do you most identify yourself and your business venture? Is there overlap? What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear.Small Business Trends

Business Model

Don’t fight your customers. When launching a new venture, creating true value should be your goal. If your customers don’t value your products or services, you may have a big problem with your business model. And figuring out how to strong arm those who use what you create, is probably not the best approach to set things right. Take theNew York Timesand its highly publicized efforts at building a subscription-based business out of content that used to be free.Yahoo! News

Change is gonna do you good. Despite any startups best efforts, there may come a time when your business model just doesn’t work anymore. It may be at the beginning of your business, when you realize some or all of your assumptions are wrong, wrong, wrong. It may be after your business is up and running when you realize the business model you’ve created is just not working, or just not working for you. Making a change can be tough, but at times it’s the only answer. Here’s one entrepreneur’s story.MyWifeQuitHerJob.com

Supplies

Goodbye cash register! One of the most famous pieces of equipment often associated with bricks and mortar businesses may be on its way out for good, replaced by new technology. Time for the cash register to stand aside as an indispensable piece of equipment for your startup. Say hello to the high tech tablet that is making the old standby history.BBC News

Self-development

Planning for your startup. Laura Petrolino interviews Carol Roth in this podcast on the basic qualities that make up the perfect business model and qualities that make up the perfect entrepreneur. What should your small business model be and what is the“it” factor that determines whether a person will be successful as an entrepreneur? You’ll find out after downloading this video.365 Days of Startups

Should you keep your day job. Balancing the questions of everything from conflict of interest to other problems with your full-time employment against the realities of needing to eat and pay the bills until your startup is profitable, it may in the end be necessary to keep your current job until your new business is a success. But there are exceptions and you can examine them and some steps for surving the life of a part-time entrepreneur right here.Startup Professionals Musings

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Search and Social Pack Powerful Consumer Punch

Search? Social? There’s so much involved in each, as a small business owner, which one should you put the bulk of your focus on? Well, you may not like the answer. According to new research from GroupMSeach and comScore, search and social are a bit like peanut butter and jelly – you simply can’t have one without the other.

Last week eMarketer revealed it’s search and socialtogetherthat reallyaids online shoppers, citing data that found clickthrough rates increased by 94 percent when a consumer was exposed to both brand-specific search results and social media. That’s a stat worth knowing. Whether you are an SMB leaning more toward search or a business owner leaning more toward social, the graph below offers a pretty compelling reason why you should invest in both.

Interestingly, when it comes to social media we’re not necessarily talking about Twitter or Facebook. We’re talking about niche industry sites and blogs and, increasingly, review sites. Turns out these are the primary social avenues that most affect consumer buying decisions, with 30 percent of respondents saying they relied on reviews to aid in their purchase decisions. Twitter and Facebook may lead in awareness, but it’s review sites that are a customer’s last stop before checkout.

And that makes sense. Consumers are using search to identify brands and then turning to review sites and peer recommendations as a way of“quality checking” them. As an example of this, Yelp’s Dylan Swiftrecently notedthat sites like Groupon have significantly increased the traffic coming into Yelp. Why? Because when consumers are exposed to a company they are unfamiliar with, before they purchase the deal, the go to Yelp in order to check the company out and hear about other users’ experiences. I thought that showed a really interesting pattern of behavior– citing both the importance of online reviews and making sure that you’re protecting your Google 10 should a new customer go looking for intel on your brand.

The lesson here for small business owners is that it all matters and users are using more and more sources to find local information and content. To grow a successful Web presence you must:

Invest in search: The appearance of social media has not diminished the importance of local search engine optimization. You still need to claim your listings, master your site-specific keywords, localize your content,care about Google Place Pages, and take care of all the other local search engine optimization best practices.

Invest in social: Create those corroborating factors for users to stumble upon–because after they come across your brand website, they’re going to head to the people they see as “experts” to get their take on you. They’re going to read about you on industry blogs, they’re going to read your reviews, they’re going to check out your entire social presence. It’s not enough to just appear in search. You need to back upthat presence with social signals.

Overall, I thought eMarketer presented some really interesting data on customers’ searching behavior and how they’re using the Web to locate vendors. It’s not a one or the other game. In order to attract customers, you have to develop a presence in both searchandsocial.

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Business Book Review: iPhone And iPad App Marketing

Feeling the fever to produce an app for your business?  With the recent app store announcement from Google, combined with the phenomenal growth of iPad sales, it’s understandable. (To learn what’s out there, see a great list of50 iPhone and iPad appsfrom Shara Karasic).

Yet even after creating a working app, your work is not done. You must market the app along with your website, not to mention maintaining a social media presence.  Doing it all can be a daunting task.

EnteriPhone& iPad Apps Marketing: Secrets to Selling Your iPhone and iPad Apps, a short guide in the Que Biz-Tech book series, written by Jeffery Hughes.  Hughes is an application developer and Associate Professor at the University of Vermont.  This guide offers some surprising ways to strategically offer an app for a growing business.

More Than Just Marketing

A number of application development books have been brought to market, butiPhone And iPad Appsis worth reading first.  In its effort to provide marketing tips, it also provides valuable guidance on the steps to takebeforestarting app development.  Example:  it includes a graphic layout to explain and remain focused on the app’s purpose.  It offers specific to-dos that can showcase an app, all of them within reach for a small business.

One great segment is about pricing.  Hughes cautions business people not to expect their app to be successful simply because it is cheap:

“The chances of entering the top 100 in sales on the App store by pricing your app at $0.99 is getting slimmer by the day as more and more apps are added to the store.”

In another segment, Hughes compares the economic cost of creating an app in-house to paying a service to build it for you.

A segment on app promotion with respect to budget is brilliantly explained, as are discussions on considering target audiences for app usage.  Hughes presents plenty of tips and ideas that can be followed in sequence for a newbie or experienced developer.  But even if you jump around when reading the book, you won’t get the sense of missing a needed step.

A few analytics tools are recommended, namely Flurry and Mobelix.  I have not tried either, so I not sure of their effectiveness.  Regardless, I am certain more solutions will come on the market.

The book covers some noteworthy tactics.  Most are eye-opening, although others may already be familiar to those with a lot of app marketing experience.  A SWOT overview is used to determine how to position an app, but you may rethink the advice if the app is a part of a grander business strategy.  Hughes ends with a segment on the potential benefits and pitfalls of releasing an app— a reminder that you need some solid reading (like this book) before marching off to build that dream app.

What Books Does This Guide Complement?

Overall,iPhone& iPad Apps Marketing: Secrets to Selling Your iPhone and iPad Appsis certainly a useful guide.  As of this writing it is one of the few dedicated to app marketing.  Even though some tips may be familiar to old webheads and seasoned marketers, business owners who barely understanding scripting language and online marketing will appreciate the tips regarding Web copy and online benchmarking.  They serve as reminders of the importance of integrating each marketing step into the development and launch of your app.

To pack an even greater punch, you may also want to pick up a sales book along with this one.  Combine ideas for best results. The advice and tactics on pricing could easily complement 1% Windfall(see Ivana Taylor’s review).  If you are working to develop a website, combine this book withEffective Websites for Small Businesses(see Anita Campbell’s great review), which discusses Web design in layman’s terms. You may come up with ideas on website layout that will enhance marketing the app as well as your product or service.

Further still, you may want to read Hughes’ book in conjunction with a social media guide, such asPower Friending(review here) or Social Media Metrics(review here). That way you can expand your social media strategy to encompass promoting your app.

It should be noted, Hughes also wrote an Android app version of this book.  There are some similarities in suggestions and approach. But no matter which app for which device, you certainly will be well on your way to a great start to enhancing your online presence.

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Fresh Roundup of Contests for Small Companies

This list of contests, competitions and awards for small businesses is brought to you every other week as a community service bySmall Business TrendsandSmallbiztechnology.com.

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Crain’s New York Small Business Awards
Enter by March 21, 2011

Crain’s New York Business is seeking successful businessmen and businesswomen for its annual top entrepreneurs feature to run in May. Companies must have been in business for at least three years, and must have demonstrated innovation and rapid growth (current economic conditions will be considered).

To be eligible, a company must have revenue of less than $100 million. Company owners must be willing to share revenue and other details about their companies. Entrepreneurs can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. Past winners have included designer Gaby Basora, Rob Kalin of Etsy, Mark Oldman and Hussam Hamadeh of Vault, Darius Bikoff of Energy Brands Inc., maker of Glacéau beverages, and Liz Lange of Liz Lange Maternity.

Miami Herlad Business Plan Challenge
Enter by March 25, 2011

Have you hatched a great idea for a business? If your business is less than 2 years old or exists only on paper, you can enter the 13th Annual Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge, co-sponsored by Florida International University’s Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center.

The competition has three tracks: A Community Track open to anyone in South Florida; an FIU Track open to students and alumni of the university; and a High School Track for grades 9-12.

Panels of judges will select the three best business plans in each track based on both the quality of the idea and the submitted plan. Readers will be able to vote online at MiamiHerald.com for a“People’s Pick” winner in the community and FIU tracks.

Small Business Excellence Awards
Enter by March 25, 2011

Each year the Chamber recognizes the accomplishments and innovation found in the small business segment of our business community at its Small Business Excellence Awards. This year’s awards will be presented on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at the Millennium Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. Companies can apply for consideration in two of the following categories:

• Emerging Business of the Year – must be in business five years or less
• Minority Business of the Year – must be a certified MBE
• Nonprofit of the Year – must submit a 501(c) form
• 10 Under 10 – 10 businesses with fewer than 10 employees
• Small Business of the Year – 1 to 50 employees
• Small Business of the Year – 51 to 250 employees
• Community Involvement Award

Where Will .com or .net Take Your Business?
Enter by March 28, 2011

Verisign is hosting an international contest for small businesses to compete for a chance to win $25,000 (USD). The contest asks small businesses to address the question,“Where will .com or .net take your business?” Entrants can visit www.DotComForSmallBiz.com or www.DotNetForSmallBiz.net to submit photos and essays addressing the contest theme.

Brother Share Your Bigger Picture Contest
Enter by March 29, 2011

The“Share Your Bigger Picture” contest offers individuals an opportunity to win a $10,000 business grant or one of five weekly prize packs including a $500 Apple® gift card and a Brother MFC-J6710DW inkjet all-in-one printer with 11″ x 17″ capabilities. Participants can enter two ways: commenting on the contest blog or retweeting messages on Twitter. For more details visit the contest website.

Ninth Annual American Business Awards
Enter by March 31, 2011

The American Business Awards are the only all-encompassing awards program that honors outstanding performances in the American workplace. All organizations operating in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations– public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, large and small. The 2011 awards will honor work since the beginning of 2010, and the awards will be announced on June 20 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Nominations are accepted in various categories including management awards, public relations awards, marketing awards, new product awards, HR awards, IT awards, website awards and more. New categories in 2011 include Executive of the Year– Health Products& Services and Best New Product or Service of the Year– Health Products& Services, as well as more than 40 new Marketing Campaign of the Year categories.

R U Gen Z (Generation Zuckerberg) Video Contest
Enter by April 1, 2011

Internet entrepreneur Marc Ostrofsky has launched the R U Gen Z (Generation Zuckerberg) video contest offering over $10,000 in prizes. The R U Gen Z video contest encourages students and struggling job seekers who have the drive and desire to be their own boss to embrace their Zuckerberg-like passion for entrepreneurship. In these videos, students are invited to express frustrations with today’s economy and tout the benefits of being one’s own boss.

Videos can be submitted online immediately at the contest website and will be judged by a group of panelists made up of students from the University of Houston’s Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. The first-place winner will receive $5,000; $2,500 will go to the second-place winner, and numerous other $1,000 prizes will be distributed.

Rhode Island Business Plan Competition 2011
Enter by April 4, 2011

The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition, open to everyone, seeks to promote entrepreneurship and development of startup and early stage companies. Winners and finalists in the 2010 Competition shared more than $195,000 in prizes.

Make Mine a Million $ Business
Register by April 4, 2011

M3 1000 Denver gives women entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses for a chance to win a $1,000 American Express Gift Card and an unrivaled suite of business growth tools– national PR, professional coaching, expert financial analysis, access to financing, peer exchange and events, and a curriculum of live and online educational resources– all within a robust, supportive and inspiring community.

Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley
Enter by April 13, 2011

The MyEntre.Net“Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley” grant contest will award $5,000 to an existing small business that is looking to grow. The contest is open to entrepreneurs 18 and over who are legal residents of Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Grundy and Tama counties and who have between two and 99 full-time employees. Participants can enter their plans online at www.dreambiggrowherecedarvalley.com. Participants can be individuals or for-profit organizations.

Small Business Advocate of the Year Award
Enter by April 15, 2011

Each year, the CalChamber recognizes several small business owners who have done an exceptional job with their local, state and national advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.

The CalChamber will recognize the award winners at its Business Summit on June 1 in Sacramento. The nomination form is available on theCalChamber websiteor may be requested from the Local Chamber Department at .

AMD Visionary of the Year Awards
Enter by April 30, 2011

AMD has announced its first ever VISIONary of the Year Awards, honoring innovation in the three passion categories of Foodie, Photography and Entrepreneurship.

Eligible voters can vote and enter to win one-of-a-kind category prizes, including the ultimate culinary trip to New York City (Foodie category), a $4,000 technology shopping spree (Entrepreneur category), a $4,000 camera (Photographer category), as well as AMD’s $10,000 grand prize.

2011 Small Business Awards
Enter by May 20, 2011

In its 6th year, The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards honors the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000+ small businesses throughout the tri-state area. In addition to the Best of the Year Categories, the New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards will honor 9 small businesses for their accomplishments and best practices.

The Conway Center for Family Business Awards
Enter by August 4, 2011

The Conway Center for Family Business Awards Program was established in 1998 to recognize excellence in family business and has honored more than 115 Central Ohio family businesses during its first 11 years.

Since the 2009 awards, the program honors recipients in categories consistent with the success and longevity of a family business: leadership, planning, communication, support and community service. For more details see the website.

To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit ourSmall Business Events Calendar. In addition, we also have a giveaways page; click to learn more about oursmall business giveawayssection.

If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through ourSmall Business Event and Contests Form. (We do not charge a fee to be included in this listing. )

Please note: The descriptions provided here are for convenience only and are NOT the official rules. ALWAYS read official rules carefully at the site holding the competition, contest or award.

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Facebook, FourSquare Up Analytics Power

How do you know whether a social network is bringing value to your business or how you should tweak it? Analytics, analytics, analytics! And last week two of your favorite (or at least your customers’ favorite) social networks upped their analytic power to give you more insight into how customers are interacting with your brand, which deals are reaching them, and what it all means to your bottom line.

Below includes everything you have to know about Facebook and FourSquare’s recently analytic power plays.

Facebook Insights& Real-Time Analytics

Last week Facebook released a new version of Facebook Insights to give business owners better intel into how people are interacting with their content to allow them to optimize their sites in real-time and get the most bang for the buck. A new post over on the Facebook Developer blog breaks down some of themain feature updates, including:

• Like button analytics: Facebook will now use anonymized data to show the number of times users saw your Like buttons, clicked Like buttons, saw Like stories on Facebook, and clicked Like stories to visit your website.
• Comments box analytics: Similarly, Facebook will show the number of times people saw Comments boxes, left comments, saw comment stories on Facebook, and clicked to see the content on your site.
• Popular Pages: Expanded to show the top 100 pages that people are liking, commenting on and sharing.
• Demographics: Facebook will provide demographic information for the interactions happening both on your site and on Facebook to give insight into who your audience is.
• Organic Sharing: Curious to know how many users are sharing links to your website and/or content by copy and pasting it into their status bar or using the told Share functionality? Now Facebook can tell you. This one is actually pretty cool.

With the Like button analytics, the organic sharing and the comment box analytics, site owners are getting a world of real-time information directly at their fingertips courtesy of Facebook’s new analytics platform. By looking at the content users are engaging with most often,asthey’re engaging with it, business owners can identify the content pieces with the most potential to go viral. That means you can help fan flames while they’re still burning or simply get a better understanding of what your audience wants.

This is really important, as Facebook employs an EdgeRank algorithm that determines whether or not content gets seen. You want to know which types of content your users are most apt to engage with to allow you to build a model of success.

If you haven’t yet, I’d encourage you to skim through the newFacebook Insights Product Guide for Page Owners.

Worth noting: Last week, Facebookalso announcednew reporting on Facebook Page checkins and Facebook Deals. So check that out, as well.

FourSquare Goes 3.0 With Specials, New Analytics Platform

Last week duringSearch Marketing Expo West, FourSquare CEO Tristan Walker was on hand todeliver a keynoteregarding the newly launchedFourSquare 3.0. During his chat, Tristan talked about many of the new features and opportunities that would be available to business owners, including thewhole new world of Specials.

Though FourSquare is no stranger to offering business deal, FourSquare 3.0 will offer business owners even more robust deal options, including:

• Flash Specials for doorbuster-type deals
• Friends Special for when customers check in with their friends
• Swarm Offer to reward people who check in at a location in a large group
• Newbie Specials for new customers
• Loyalty Specials for return customers
• Mayors Specials for FourSquare Mayors

As you can imagine, the specials allow business owners a unique opportunity to target and market toward a wide variety of customer types. However, what’s really cool about them is the new analytics platform they’re all perched upon.

Released alongside FourSquare 3.0 was a new analytics platform that will allow you to run multiple campaigns simultaneously and aggregate stats before and after a special goes live to let you see how successful it was.

If you love data, right now is a beautiful time to be entering the world of social media!

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Small Business News: Movements in Marketing

From changing policies to changing technologies, marketing is in a constant state of flux. And why shouldn’t it be? Marketing is the means by which small businesses of every kind build their brand and eventually boost their sales. Here is a basic idea of how the marketing world continues to evolve…and how the results could impact your business.

Policy

Legislating online marketing. The feds may be telling online business how to market specifically targeting online data gathering and so-called“behavioral advertising.” The Obama administration is urging Congress to make the change. Read up on more details and tell us whether you think this legislation could impact your small business.B to B

What would proposed online regulation of ads look like? Here’s a look at the federal regs being floated by the Federal Commission and apparently pushed by the White House. The FTC calls for a“do not follow” option that would allow online visitors to opt out of any behavioral advertising. One specific suggestion would be“a universal opt-out feature, similar to a pop-up blocker, be made part of all Internet browsers.”B to B

Research

Is your data real time? While governments and consumer groups seem bent on preventing collection of too much customer data, having the right data can also be critical to marketing your brand. One of the biggest problems with online marketing currently is that tools like Google Analytics continue to deliver this information after the fact. But what if you know more about visits to your site while they were happening?Duct Tape Marketing

How can your business benefit from data mining? The fact is that many entities, including the U.S. government are engaged in online data mining, so what is sifting through the immense amount of data online going to accomplish for your small business? How can data right now out there on the Internet right now help you market to your customers better, smarter, faster.Dashboard Insight

SEO

Could locations be the new keywords? Search on the Internet may be changing again with profound impact on your business. In this post, explore the world of Google Places and answer the question that should on every small business owner’s mind. (If you market online that is.) That question: could Google places be the next SEO marketing tool?Abnormal Marketing

Advertising

Does your customer really understand? It may sound like an obvious question, but the fact is that if your customer does not know enough but what you are offering him/her, it’s unlikely you will get a sale. But here’s where it gets interesting. How exactly to you create an effective advertisement that will make a connection with potential customers?Small Business Advertising Strategies

Tools

Why online marketing tools are the means, not the end. Are you way too excited over Facebook and Twitter yet not paying enough attention to other aspects of your business? Hey, how are your products or services? Are customers pleased? Do they go away happy and return again and again telling others about the wonderful work you do. It’s need to see a marketing blog ask serious questions about the limits of marketing. In the end, it’s what you’re marketing that counts.M4B Marketing

Branding

Would you invest in you? Another way to ask this question might be, would you buy from you? Either way, an important part of marketing may just mean getting an impartial perspective on how your business and brand look from the outside. Want to change others’ perceptions of your brand? Start by seeing your company product or service as others do.Bloomberg Businessweek

Startups

Marketing a startup business to investors and customers. When trying to sell an idea to investors and customers, your marketing approach must be somewhat different. But remember, having a great idea that solves a problem is the best way to start. Check out Recyclebank which started on the concept of rewarding people for doing the right thing.Betting Big on Recycling

Conclusion

Whatever you do, do something different. In this post, we look at Kraft singles and why no normal middle of the road product can be beaten on its own turf. What an important lesson about marketing for entrepreneurs! Because, of course, the product is part of the marketing too. If you want to win, be something different, because the normal spot is taken.Seth Godin

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Are You a Bubblehead?

If you’re like many small business owners, you work in a bubble. You figure out everything yourself  and rarely, if ever, connect to your industry peers.Bad idea.

My husband has a startup, and this was his story until recently. We moved to San Diego last year, and hadn’t heard about much of a startup community, so he went it alone. Then he found a few groups that support startups, and he saw what he had been missing.Here’s why you should pop the bubble you’re living in.

1. You Need Peer Support.Heck, even hanging out with your competitors can give you great ideas. But as long as you live in your own echo chamber, how can you really know how far along you are (or aren’t)? My husband said that while he feels he has eons to go in his business, the other startup founders (all twentysomethings) admired him for having come so far in a year.

He said it’s a bit like doing pushups at home all day, every day, then going to a meeting to teach you to improve your pushups. You might think you need work, but when you come in all muscular, everyone looks up to you. Sharing ideas with other people in similar situations is invaluable, and will take your business even further.

2. You Need“I Know a Guy.”We all know it’s who you know that matters. If you’re working in a bubble, you probably don’t know many people at all. But what happens when you need a good, affordable lawyer? Or a venture capitalist? You essentially have to open the phone book (do they still make those?) and throw a dart at it to find one. But if you’re networking, you’ll eventually come across someone who“knows a guy.” And these are often the best referrals.

My husband said that typically, VCs hide when they’re in a room full of startups, because they’ll get pitched to death, but at the meeting he recently attended, a VC introduced himself and asked about his business, then gave him his card. That wouldn’t have happened with a cold email introduction.  Networking is all about helping others, and while you definitely should contribute to connecting people, you will also find yourself on the receiving end.

3. Sometimes Your Ideas Suck.And you need to hear that. As long as your ideas are bouncing around in your head, you really don’t know if they’re any good. But you can gauge people’s reactions when you explain them. Scrunched forehead = back to the drawing board.

Leaping forward in excitement = you’re on the right track. (And getting feedback from your spouse or cat does not count.)

4. You Might Actually Learn Something.Look, I know how smart you are. Wicked smart. But honestly, you could still learn a thing or two, and likely from a fellow business owner. Think of it like this: We all make mistakes. If someone else can tell you about the mistakes they’ve made, you can keep from making the same ones. Make your own mistakes!

So wherever you are in your business, I encourage you to attend networking events, small business workshops, startup accelerators, Chamber of Commerce meetings–anything to get out of your head and among fellow commiserators.

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Small Business News: Lessons In Entrepreneurship

Interested in becoming an entrepreneur? Or perhaps you already own or manage a small business and have been thrust into the world of entrepreneurship with the many hats this requires. Do you ever wish there was an easy training course or a simple set of instructions to follow when learning how to master this complex pursuit? Well, fortunately there is…sort of. It’s on the Internet in the form of tons of helpful articles and posts added to daily by those who have been there, done that. And we’ve collected some of the latest for you to enjoy.

Strategy

What world disasters teach us about entrepreneurship. You may have the finest business planning, the perfect product or service, a dedicated customer base, but the most important lesson entrepreneurs can learn from world events, including the recent disaster in Japan, is that there are no guarantees. Uncertainties abound in life and in business, as Adam Gottlieb explains.The Frugal Entrepreneur

Marketing

How YouTube has changed advertising forever. Though television advertising was once the gold standard in promoting a brand on the local, national or world stage, today all of that is changing. The shift is thanks to online video and, in particular, sites like YouTube which allow friends to share their favorite video, comment and interact with video advertising like never before. Want to learn more? JoshRimer.com

Why you should consider online video marketing. It is a low-cost option and allows plenty of opportunities to boost your brand and show your products on the Internet. In case you are trying to figure out how to leap into this exciting new medium, here is a complete guide to get you started. Of course, online video is bigger than just YouTube. Here’s what you need to know. NYTimes.com

Taxes

Tax facts every small business owner or entrepreneur must know. Taxes are a part of life for everyone, but can be especially tricky for entrepreneurs. Are you paying what your business owes? Are you paying too much? Knowing the answers to these questions can be immensely important to the success of your business. Here are some things you should know.Montreal Financial

Finance

There’s a new business idea out there. And it involves a couple of simple principles we’ve probably all followed since we were eight or nine. If you need something or need your business to grow, don’t go into debt. Small businesses are built one step at a time…slowly. Understanding the basic ideals of waiting on investments you can’t afford while making use of the resources you have will help you chart a new and better course for your business in the future.Big Bright Bulb

Getting the most out of a limited budget. Getting mileage out of limited resources can be a matter of pride among some entrepreneurs. And depending upon how much investment you have to start your business, it may be a necessity, at least in the beginning. But being on a tight budget does not mean looking like you are. Here are some simple thoughts for making your Website, for example, look like a million bucks even without a Web designer.Small Business Internet Marketing

Self-development

How succeeding at small business is like potty training a child. An entertaining post that looks at the similarities between life’s great challenges from parenthood to entrepreneurship, this post will teach you the essence of making a business run successfully while putting a smile on your face as well. Are you overwhelmed by the challenges ahead in your small business. Many of life’s most worthwhile pursuits have their challenges. Here’s a look at two very different such challenges and what they have in common. MyWifeQuitHerJob.com

Startups

How new businesses solve problems…even ones caused by other businesses. For example, check out the story of DealsGoRound, an app inspired by“Groupon remorse.” Founder Kris Petersen had his own problem with the new online coupon company and created a business to solve it. Even great businesses don’t solve every problem. That’s where you come in.Fast Company

Profitability

The key to business profit. Though certainly small business aim first at creating value and at serving customers, but let’s face it. Without a decent bottom line, it’s hard to keep the lights on and your staff paid so making money is also part of the game. But is making your business profitable something that can be mastered like learning a musical instrument? Entrepreneur Jason Fried thinks so and will tell you why.Inc.com

Policy

Could a startup visa program boost U.S. entrepreneurship. Not only is entrepreneurship an important key to economic recovery but the U.S. may be the best place to do it. Legislation aims at offering visas to entrepreneurs who launch companies here that can create jobs. But how would the program work and how can entrepreneurs qualify?Bloomberg Businessweek

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Small Business News: Embracing Social Media

Yesterday in a post onsmall business tips for your next venture, we included a link on getting aboard with social media. Today we enlarge this idea with a post full of advice for small business. Resources include advice by experts as well as new tools in the space that will change your small business forever. Take your time and learn what social media can do for you. The success of your next business may well depend upon it.

Basics

Social media thought leader. In a series of conversations,Social Media Examinerfounder Michael Stelzner talks with David Siteman Garland in this wrap up online video that leads into our small business roundup on social media today. Enjoy!Rise to the Top

Think social media will work for your company? Prove it. Many business leaders have questioned (and probably still question) the value of social media as a marketing, customer relations, branding and PR tool. You could show them all the data you want and put them in touch with plenty of success stories, but in the end, only one kind of evidence is likely to change any one’s mind.Chris Brogan

A recipe for great social media. Whipping up a successful social media campaign isn’t as tough as you may think. Use the right list of ingredients and you will create a sweet and tasty social media channel that will have visitors and potential customers clamoring for a piece. This post will show you how to bake a one of a kind business message with just the right topping. BizSugar Blog

Tools

New app replaces business cards, makes introductions. Social media enthusiast Amber MacArthur a.k.a. Amber Mac introduces us to a new tool that can help you send digital business cards from your smart phone or introduce people via Twitter handle or e-mail. Check out this tool to learn more about how it could revolutionize networking in your business today.The Globe and Mail

How group messaging can change your business? Imagine an application capable of bringing your team into conversations right from your iPhone. A tool expanding smart phone texting beyond the one-on-one into a new social dimension could make messaging a social activity between folks you interact with regularly. How could you use this tool to stay in contact with members of your team? How could it transform your small business communications?WSJ

Advice

Share a bit of who you are. With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, this campaign by Irish folks or just friends of Ireland on Facebook isn’t meant to market anything in particular. But it will have an impact on brands that participate. Social media is about sharing who you are as much as about marketing your products and services. Just like running a business offline, who you are does matter.Bloggertone

Four or five tips for generating leads on social media. Here are some great ideas for using social media not just for marketing and networking but to generate leads and business for your company. Application of the advice may vary with the type of business you run and the kind of social media you use, but if bringing in work or sales is your goal, this is the video to watch.Ivan Walsh

Self-development

The key to social media and business? Be yourself! In this straight forward post from Catarina Alexon, we look at one of the true paradoxes of the social media revolution. In a movement characterized by personal communications and emphasizing individual style, an army of imitators have taken the place of innovators across the Internet. What are your unique visions, talents and dreams? Why not let them shine? The results will be better for youandyour business.Catarina’s World

Tech

New search engine will increase emphasis on social media. In case you’re wondering whether social media could truly eclipse traditional search engine marketing on the Internet, meet 19-year-old Daniel Gross whose new startup may just make it happen. What will the new era of social search mean for your small business?Inc.com

Foursquare creates social data base for entrepreneurs. In another development that may benefit any startup that uses geo-location data in its business model, the social check-in software is planning to allow access to one of the largest geo-based venue list in the world created by its social community. Could your business use a list of every venue on Earth? Have a look.Fast Company

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