SmallBusinessNewz

6 Common Errors That Crush Small Businesses

After 17 years spent helping thousands of small businesses, here are 6 of the most common errors I’ve seen.

Google Talks Small Business Growth And the Internet

Google held in event in Brussels this week, along with small businesses, European Commission officials, European parliamentarians, business associations and others. The event was held to discuss how the Internet can drive growth and jobs. 

How "HateSurfing" Can Help Your Small Business

Most of us have heard the statistic that it is about ten times more likely that someone will post a comment online about a negative experience than a positive one.  It is not hard to believe if we just imagine our own experiences.  When we are a satisfied customer, usually the easy thing to do is go merrily on our way.  If the opposite happens, however, human nature is to seek retribution and the web is the perfect conduit. 

Social Media and Your Small Business Website

If you run a small business you may know: You need a website AND Social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, etc.) provide important ways of connecting with potential clients (and current clients). But don’t stop there! Learn ways to integrate social media with your website. Potential clients who find your website might want to learn more by visiting your social networks, and possible customers on your social networks may want to learn more about your business by exploring your website.

Why Profit Should Be Your Most Important Goal

This time of year many business owners revisit goals and objectives for the coming year. I know that I do and it’s a practice that helps me focus on what’s really important all the way to the task level.In all my years of working with small business owners and suggesting they do the same one word hardly gets brought up in the goal setting conversation and that word is profit.

Small Business Borrowing Activity Suggests Economic Gain

The results of the Small Business Loan Index, a joint project conducted by Thomson Reuters and PayNet, were released this morning. The index measures the net volume of loans to small businesses, which are regarded as a valuable indicator of overall economic health, since they respond far more quickly to economic shifts - good or bad - than do larger businesses.

The Key to Making Money in Your Small Business

What’s the number one thing you must have in order to grow a successful small business? It’s not clients or customers, though those are critically important.It’s not effective marketing, though you absolutely need that too. I’m talking about something far simpler. And I know I risk sounding like Master of the Obvious with this, but I’ve seen so many entrepreneurs struggle because they don’t have it… What is this key to making money in your small business? You have to have something to sell!

American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor

Twice a year, the American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor takes a survey of over 800 small business owners to see how they are reacting to the current economy. On October 4, the Fall 2011 survey results were released, comprised of the opinions of hundreds of small business managers and employees. Results indicate that while the National Bureau of Economic Research may have declared us free of the Great Recession back in 2009, nearly 40% of small business owners believe we're not out of the woods just yet.

Facebook Expected to Give Small Businesses Free Ads

Facebook is giving small businesses free advertising, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.  Word is that Facebook has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business on a program that includes giving away $10 million worth of ad credits to various small businesses. 

Three Reasons Social Media Marketing Favors Small Businesses

I’ve spent some time this week attending a few online webinars and catching up on my blog reader and I noticed an interesting trend. The conversations, research, presentations, and case studies focused entirely on large corporations. For example, I sat through a Forrester presentation on new social web marketing analytics and their ideas on measurement took resources that were way out of reach of the small business owner, meaning … most of us.