Small Business Center

There’s plenty to watch in today’s small business news roundup from Small Business Trends. Here are links to the highlights from the news and blogs we follow.

Operations

How do you get more customers even in a tough economy? How about setting prices based on value not cost? Sound crazy? Read on. BusinessWeek

Let’s make a deal. Being successful in small business is about getting what you’re worth, but the key is to make sure you’re giving as good as you get. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur

87% of business owners are satisfied with their jobs. A recent poll suggests business owners enjoy the highest job satisfaction (even over doctors and lawyers.) The pollsters suggest it’s partly because business owners make more money.  While that’s true in some cases, it’s not true across the board.  We at Small Business Trends think that a large part of the satisfaction comes from feeling in control … and being self-sufficient. Gallup.com

Marketing

Where is your online traffic? They’re on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and it’s time to go get them. Here’s how. America’s Best Business Practices

How is your business standing out from the crowd? Are you a helpful book or an annoying direct mail flyer? Open Forum

Why your business really needs a blog. We know, we know. You’ve heard it all before.  But John Joyce explains why you really can’t afford to neglect this most important marketing tool. The Small BizNest

Startup

When should an entrepreneur say no to a paying customer? When doing business with the wrong partner could cost you much more. The Rise to the Top

How do you grow your business on a budget? One word: Magnets! Small Business CEO

Legal

Long Time Coming. The SBA under the Obama Administration has finally proposed a rule to implement a law increasing the share of federal contracts to women-owned businesses  … a decade after it was passed. NYTimes.com

Watch out for “unethical tax schemes”. A recent IRS e-News bulletin warns about schemes specifically targeting home business. While we at Small Business Trends believe you should get the deductions you’re entitled to, don’t fall for tax schemes that seem “too good to be true.” IRS.gov

Policy

Should small business people be calling the shots? A poll finds 51 percent of Americans believe the business community makes better financial decisions than Washington. Rasmussen Reports

How will health care reform really affect your business? Business owners have been screaming for years about the rising cost of healthcare/insurance.  But could the cure be worse than the ailment?  Learn what Washington’s prescription for a healthier America will cost you, according to the NFIB

Washington to the rescue? Really? Congress has OK’d more money for popular SBA backed loans and the media is again portraying small businesses as needing a bailout. But one community banker has a different view. The video is more interesting than the text story — watch it. CNNMoney.com

The Cadillac health care tax. OK, it’s not a tax on your car. But the health care plan being proposed may actually hurt those small businesses already offering coverage. Kaiser Health News

Learn more about what’s important to your small business today. Here is our latest roundup of the news articles and blogs we’re reading and what’s important, from Small Business Trends.

Policy

Will small business really be better off with another layer of government regulation? Some small businesses have come out in support of a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposes. Entrepreneur.com

The road to patent reform runs through the Eastern District of Texas. VC investor Brad Feld runs this op ed about patent litigation in the U.S. and how it could strangle innovative small to medium sized businesses. Feld Thoughts

Employer-provided health insurance remains in proposal.  Excerpts from President Obama’s  remarks on his health care program today.  “The proposal I’ve put forward … builds on the current system where most Americans get their health insurance from their employer.” National Review Online

Tech

Want to know how other small businesses are using social media? Here’s a cool graph with stats and some other information. Mashable

Some things are just too good to be true. Free hosted phone service for your small business may be one of them. Be sure the company will still be around when you need them. SmallBizTechnology.com

Credit

The problem with small business – is it really lack of credit? In this interview, Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) insists he was told by one small business owner that lack of customers or sales was not the problem but only lack of credit due to lack of capital in the banking industry. How many small business owners would agree? TalkRadioNews.com

What do you need to buy a business? Before you even think about trying to secure a loan or other financing here are some things you may need to consider. Business.gov

Marketing

So, what do those little stars next to some Google search results mean? They may be an important factor in your Website’s positioning in the future and an important consideration when marketing your presence online. Wayne Liew Dot Com

New Hampshire small businesses are bucking a trend and exceeding the national average in exporting overseas. How that state’s small to medium sized companies are fostering growth and how other entrepreneurs can imitate their success at marketing abroad. NashuaTelegraph.com

What marketers really can’t stand about advertising agencies. Lack of communications, industry knowledge and insight into clients’ needs top the list in this report. American Association of Advertising Agencies

Who are you following on social media? If you’re just checking your own brand, you may be missing the boat. BetterCloser.com

Operations

Small business payrolls showed a 2% increase in hiring and slightly larger paychecks. From the SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard for February 2010. Data based on thousands of small business payrolls. SurePayroll.com

Despite the best laid plans, your product or service will someday fall short of customer expectations. Roger Breisch, Executive Director at the Batavia, Illinois Chamber of Commerce draws on 25 years of business experience  about when the worst happens. Oops…There Goes My Worldview

What if there were a simple and complete guide on how to keep your customers happy? You’re in luck! Ken Beaulieu has seven tips that should keep customers and clients sticking to you like glue. FuelNet.com

Steer clear of the usual tax preparation pitfalls by keeping good records. Tips from the Associated Press to keep your business out of trouble at tax time. Associated Press

The secret to turning your business into one you can sell. John Warrillow draws on his experiences building his business, which he sold a few years ago. Small Business Trends

How’s the first quarter of 2010 — and the rest of the year — looking for you and your business?

Are you primed and ready to make money this year?

Have you put a plan in place to promote your business and maximize your success?

Here are ten quick, easy-to-implement things you can do that will guarantee your online business will be making you money this year:

Write down your personal affirmation for the month and the year.

The goal here is to help you step back from the hustle and bustle and stay focused on what’s important to you.

Get your story, idea, product, or service announcement out into the marketplace seven different ways, all at once.

Choose from these options to make a powerful impact:

1. Press release
2. Blog post
3. Facebook
4. E-zine blast
5. Email announcement
6. Videocast
7. Downloadable audio snatch
8. Free e-book
9. Podcast
10. Teleseminar

Use free classified ads to promote your business.

If you have a knack for writing short ads, you will be able to increase your site traffic by using free (or pretty darn cheap) classified ads. Place ads where you know your target audience will see them.

Introduce yourself to three potential referral sources.

A nurturing referral relationship can be quite profitable. So think of professionals who would be good referral sources for you. Then make contact with them today.

Add three success stories to your website.

You already may have testimonials from your clients on your website. Now create a space for their before-and-after success stories. Remember to include a link back to their sites so everyone gets some love.

Add a tantalizing promotional “special” to your email signature space.

Put a brief promotional line about the special product or service that you are giving away (or offering at a reduced rate) this month.

Write each of your clients and customers a personal, hand-written “thank you” card.

Thank them for sticking with you through the 2009 recession. Be sure to include a coupon they can use for a special product or service.

Offer a deal, such as “buy-one-get-one-free.” This will increase your sales!

Follow up with all your 2009 leads that showed an interest in your product or service but didn’t buy.

Call (don’t email) them and see if they now have a need for anything you offer. 

Let your clients know about something big you’ll either be doing or offering in 2010.

Here are some big ways to make an impact and get their attention:

• Book launch
• DVD training program
• Keynote speaking engagement
• Public seminar
• Corporate training program
• Boot camp
• Mentoring and apprenticeship program
• Weekend retreat
• Television show
• Membership website program
• Special teleseminar series

As a business owner with an online presence, you need to offer special buying opportunities throughout the year. This list will help you do just that.

Implement one idea each day. You’ll not only be promoting your online business, you’ll also be making certain it will be a success this year.

Editor’s Note: this article was previously published at OPENForum.com under the title: “10 Things You Can Do to Make Your Online Business Money” It is reprinted here with permission.

One frustration I hear from a lot of small business bloggers is that they feel like no one’s reading. They see the big subscription numbers of pros like Darren Rowse or Brian Clark and they’re discouraged that their numbers are just nearly breaking into the hundreds. And then they stop blogging completely. Because, if only 100 or so people are reading your blog, what’s the point?

The point is the 100 people!

As a local business, you don’t need to become the biggest, most well-read blog on the Internet. You just need to connect with your audience and the people on the Web who could become customers. If you’re a local hardware shop in Detroit, Michigan and you’re able to connect with100 people who live in your area – that’s a pretty significant number. There are lots of benefits to being a ‘small-time’ small business blogger. Here are a few more.

More Intimate

Yeah, so you’re probably never going to have the readership that Darren Rowse has at Problogger, but a smaller audience allows you to really get to know the people who are in your community. You get a better understanding of what your customers want, who they are and you can form real relationships with them in a way that bigger bloggers have a difficult time doing. You can reach out to the person who comments regularly on their blog and get to know them on a more personal level. You may even be able to tie the online person with the real-life customer so that you’re better able to target them. Playing to a packed stadium may feel great, but it’s those coffee shop environments that introduce you to your real fans.

More Engaged

At my other blog Outspoken Media last week I encouraged all the lurkers to leave a comment and tell me why they lurk instead of participating and how I could help bring them into the conversation. The response I received from people who had never commented before was amazing. And while reading over their replies, I noticed that many feared commenting on posts that had tons of comments or where they didn’t feel a connection with the blogger and the audience. They were looking for a place where (a) their comment would be heard and (b) a place they could establish a connection. Niche small business blogs are where many commenters enjoy hanging out. It allows them to get to know the blogger and really feel part of the community. Rather than feel like an anonymous person, now they know their voice will be heard and they feel more invested.

Better Signal

Having a smaller audience that you can get to know allows you to target content directly to their needs. There’s no trying to please a bunch of people who will never impact your business – you only have to worry about being useful to your customers. You can write content specifically designed to answer questions they’ve asked, respond to trends you’re seeing, and really talk to the people who matter to your company. It’s a lot easier to get to know your community when it’s made up of tens of dozens instead of tens of thousands. And the matter you know them, the more relevant content that you can create. Content that will get them off your blog and into your store.

As a struggling blogger, I know it’s hard to see the A-listers with their tens of thousands of readers, but for a small business, getting the attention of 100 of your most interested customers is nothing to turn your nose at. Imagine if you had 100 people in your store asking you product questions. Your blog is your customer service desk on the Web.

We hope you’re enjoying your daily small business news roundup here at Small Business Trends. Here is the latest from news sources and blogs we are following regularly.

Marketing

What can Lego teach us about guerrilla marketing? Shane Gibson talks about giving away real value and offering a variety of options in the digital world. Closing Bigger.net

Does your business really need customers? Here’s a completely different way to look at and treat the people you serve each day. Walt Goshert

Self-Development

How to create your own online business training. Whether you attend an accredited business school or design your own “personal MBA” with online and other resources, the key to a good education is the information you take away. Copyblogger

Learn better speaking skills with seven simple steps. When it’s time to do a presentation for your small business, some simple advice will help you shine. MarketingProfs Daily Fix

Tech

Google Translate breaks the online language barrier. Think Skype is something? Joel Libava will tell you about one more tool that will increase your small business’s global reach. The Franchise King

New mobile devices may challenge Apple products. What will a Sony line of products offer by way of small business tech tools? WSJ

Operations

Want to make more money from your small business while putting less time in? Who doesn’t? But the key to success may be much more than simply increasing your efficiency. Bloggertone.com

Embarrassed by your profit margin? Remember, profitability is a sign of a healthy business and of good value delivered to your clients and customers. MyProjectTracker

Does your small business need a lawyer? Better read this first. Open Forum

Do you take notes while meeting with clients? Or when having any kind of important business meeting where issues are being discussed and hashed out? You should and here are some more tips on how to do it right. Sales Tip A Day

Startup

A great business is about more than a great idea. When it comes to launching your next venture, you’ll need plenty of hard work and the right skills. 37 Signals

Actions speak louder than words. What’s the difference between talking about that startup idea and making it happen? The answer is simpler than you think. Chris Brogan

Ever dream of launching an online retail store? Entrepreneur Cristian Dorobantescu talks with one small business owner about his experiences in the competitive world of e-commerce. Entrepreneurship Interviews

Policy

Are more loans really the key to recovery? Or is easy credit what got us into this mess in the first place? Cato Institute

More sales not government incentives are the key to economic growth. Businesses are happy about any tax breaks, but a $15 billion jobs bill won’t create new hires on its own. WSJ

From computers and printers to scanners and copiers, businesses rely on electronics galore these days. But when it’s time to replace all this equipment, it’s not always clear what to do with it.

Throwing away old office electronics hurts the environment, and is banned in many communities. They often contain hazardous materials, such as mercury, lead and arsenic, that can become toxic waste in landfills and leach into the soil. The best solution is giving them away or recycling them. (Make sure the equipment is cleared of sensitive business information before doing anything with it.)

A noble start is seeing if you can donate your old equipment to a nonprofit. Many organizations, including Goodwill Industries, ILoveSchools and the Salvation Army, accept office equipment that they can resell at low prices or give to people in need. It costs you nothing, and you may even qualify for a tax deduction. (It’s a good idea to call ahead: Demand for various types of equipment changes over time, and some nonprofits may not currently take certain types of equipment.)

If you’re unsure of where to give, check out Great Nonprofits. It keeps a list of nonprofits currently in need of various types of office equipment and furniture.

Some Web sites, such as Free Cycle, also can match you up with individuals seeking computers or other equipment. But you won’t qualify for a tax deduction.

If donating or reselling isn’t feasible, recycling old equipment is the next best thing. Recyclers dismantle and harvest old equipment for parts that can be reused or resold. But there’s growing concern about some questionable practices among some electronics recyclers, so do a little research before you select one.

Many electronics manufacturers and dealers, including Apple and Office Depot, offer “mailback” or other such programs that allow businesses to give back used electronics, sometimes free or for a fee of less than $40 per item. You can find lists of electronics recyclers in your area on My Green Electronics and on E-cycling Central.  Local environmental groups may also provide good information on recycling options and practices in your community.

Keep in mind that many environmentally responsible recyclers often charge small per-item fees for their service.

Obviously most people know me as a cartoonist, but I’m also a stay-at-home dad. I quit my last day job soon after my son was born and I’ve been juggling diaper pins and ink pens ever since.

Usually the two roles don’t intersect. I know a lot of cartoonists that get material from their families, but I prefer to have work be work, and Dad be Dad .

But, to be fair, occasionally they can’t help but overlap, such as the above cartoon which came about after a routine checkup at the pediatrician with my daughter.

(And, to be fair, “object permanence” is inherently funny.)