Search
Small Business Matters
Are you a veteran or service-disabled veteran? Interested in launching your own business? According to the latest SBA data, of the 27.1 million non-farm businesses in the U.S., 2.4 million are owned by veterans. Moreover, statistics show that the success rate of these veteran-owned businesses is higher than other startups – perhaps a reflection of the discipline, skills, and leadership experience acquired in military service. There are a number of resources and programs from a variety of government and non-profit associations that are...
While growth in the travel and tourism business is still in recovery mode, the early warm temperatures across most of the U.S. coupled with an uptick in positivity over the future of the economy could make 2012 a good year for the U.S. tourist industry and the small businesses that support it. Today, Commerce Secretary John Bryson and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the Administration’s National Tourism and Travel Strategy [PDF] – delivering on President Obama’s call in January for a national strategy to promote...
Social media, e-mail marketing, and search engine optimization are all important aspects of any businesses’ online marketing strategy. But what about more traditional marketing activities such as direct mail, trade shows, advertising and events? It may surprise you that many “old school” tactics still have an important role to play in any small business marketing plan and can have a big impact on perception and purchasing decisions. Here’s why they matter and what you can do to dust them off and bring them up to date....
So, you’ve set up a Facebook page and perhaps you are blogging too, but how do you use your online social media presence to actually get customers to frequent your business? Social media engagement is based on a customer’s interest in what you have to offer, and more often than not, your followers will be people who have done business with you in the past. But what can you do to generate repeat customers or even new customers? A lot depends on the trusted “call to action.” Here’s how to make it work for you: 1....
Small businesses around the country can take advantage of free computer security workshops to help strengthen their information security, determine their readiness against security breaches and safeguard their business information from computer attacks. With the growing threat of computer hacking, even against large companies, small businesses should armor themselves. The series of workshops, designed especially for small business owners, is made possible by a partnership between the SBA, Commerce Department’s National Institute of...
Does your small business have a presence on Facebook or Twitter? Are you wondering whether it’s worth investing time and resources in yet another social network? When Google rolled out Google Plus (Google+) last year, many asked the same question. And they’re still asking. There’s no doubt that social media is a great outreach and engagement tool for small businesses with limited marketing budgets. But as more and more social networks come online (Pinterest anyone?) is it really worth the effort to branch out and jump on...
Entrepreneur and founder of The Body Shop Anita Roddick once said: “Nobody talks about entrepreneurship as survival, but that's exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking.” The first few years of small business ownership are undoubtedly the toughest, a huge test of entrepreneurial character. The data prove that getting it right is as challenging as ever. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy (PDF), the survival rate for new employer firms stacks up as follows: Seven out of 10 new employer firms survive...
Next month our nation’s entrepreneurs will come together in Washington, D.C., and virtually via the Internet for a three-day celebration of National Small Business Week – the 49th straight year. The centerpiece of a variety of week-long celebrations is the annual National Small Business Week Conference, May 20-22 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Hosted by SBA, the event includes educational forums, networking sessions, and an awards ceremony recognizing the impact made by outstanding American entrepreneurs and small business owners...
Are you writing a business plan? Planning to expand into new markets? Then it’s worth knowing that Uncle Sam offers access to free data that can help you understand your market and analyze consumer trends and demographics. In fact, the federal government is the largest producer of data in the U.S. with numerous offices dedicated to collecting, analyzing and providing free access to their findings – good news for budget-conscious small business owners. Here are five government sources of market data and statistics that may...
How do you describe your business to the world? What words sum up your brand identity and what you have to offer? Are you clearly explaining your business value? It takes a little time and thought to get your marketing message right, which is why so many small businesses fall back on their “About Us” page or product descriptions to describe what they do and for whom. The problem with this approach is that this message is always about the business itself, and not about those you are trying to connect with – your customers....
Top Rated Articles
Community Help
About This Blog
General small business tips and tricks.
Archive
- May 2012 (14)
- April 2012 (35)
- March 2012 (36)
- February 2012 (35)
- January 2012 (30)
- December 2011 (26)
- November 2011 (40)
- October 2011 (37)
- September 2011 (34)
- August 2011 (34)
- July 2011 (29)
- June 2011 (29)
- May 2011 (28)
- April 2011 (4)
- March 2011 (4)
- February 2011 (3)
- January 2011 (21)
by Caron_Beesley, Community Moderator on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 07:54